The Great Divider

The crucified him, and two others with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the middle. (John 19:18) Many summers ago we went to the Rockies to visit a friend. While there we climbed to the top of Trail Ridge Road where we were able to stand on the Continental Divide. I learned that the Continental Divide in the Americas is the line that divides the flow of water between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean. Rain or snow that drains on the east side of the Continental Divide flows toward the Atlantic Ocean while precipitation on the west side drains and flows toward the Pacific Ocean. (However, some rivers empty into the desert and don't end up in the oceans.) The continental divide runs from northwestern Canada along the crest of the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico. Then, it follows the crest of Mexico's Sierra Madre Occidental. In South America, the Continental Divide lies along the Andes. Every continent except for Antarctica has a continental divide. Antarctica is an endorheic basin. An endorheic basin is a closed drainage basin that retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but converges instead into lakes or swamps, permanent or seasonal, that equilibrate through evaporation. Where a continental divide meets an endorheic basin, such as the Great Divide Basin of Wyoming, the continental divide splits and encircles the basin. (That is your geography lesson for the day.) All of this is a part of God’s phenomenal creation. God created another Divide that is more phenomenal and much more wonderful than the Continental Divide – It is the Great Divider – Jesus! He is the final “divider” of us all. Just as He hung on the cross between the two thieves, He was dividing them more than physically. His division put them “worlds apart,” literally. Each of the thieves made a decision which was the dividing point – one made a decision to repent of his sin and be forgiven, which brought him to eternal salvation. The other refused repentance and forgiveness and consequently determined his eternal destination – he was “lost” to eternal punishment and separation from God. Jesus is also the Great Divider in our lives. Our choice of what we do with Him (accept or reject Him) is the dividing line in our lives. Our decision determines where we spend eternity – with Jesus in heaven or with Satan in hell, the place prepared for him. Unlike the precipitation that falls and must, by the affects of gravity, flow east or west, and it is inconsequential where its final destination is, our decision to follow Christ is vital to where our final destination is. The Great Divider is calling us to decide for Him; He has sought for your acceptance since you were born. His love for you is so complete that He was willing to hang on that middle cross, between those two thieves, and die a criminal’s death. He took our place; He took our sins; He took our guilt. He is the Great Divider Who requires a decision from us, either to accept Him as the only way to eternal salvation, or reject Him to be eternally lost. This decision must be made before we stand before Him whenever our lives ends. Unlike the rain and snow which can’t determine which side of the Divide it may fall and where its destination may be, we have a choice as long as we are alive. Our days on this earth are already determined – we don’t know when our lives may be snuffed out. Do you know on which side of the Great Divider you will be? Are we too blinded to see the Truth and reality of Who He is? – THE GREAT DIVIDER! Choose, while there is still time!

Two Little Words (Giving Thanks "In" and "For" Everything)

(Updated: June 18, 2014) "I thank You that you are able to do abundantly more than I could ask or imagination in my tribulation (Eph.3:20). I thank You that You are proving You will never leave me nor forsake me (Heb.13:5). I thank You in the middle of this problem that You have promised to supply all my needs" (Phil.4:19). Every living human being, if they live long enough, will have problems. Life is made up of problems, and God has the answer, because He is the answer to all of them, and He has a purpose for all of them. God has a purpose for what we consider the good things and the bad things that come into our lives. God has a purpose in every problem we may have and He will perfect each one that concerns us if we will trust Him (Ps.138:8a). Problems bring possibilities to us that would not have otherwise happened. Remember the saying, “If life hands you a bag of lemons, make some lemonade.” We can thank God for the sack of lemons we have been handed, otherwise He could never help us make lemonade from them. Lemonade is sweet and good and refreshing, but without the lemons we couldn’t enjoy the lemonade. It is so easy to be thankful while everything is bright and beautiful, but it really tests our willingness to sincerely be thankful when things are not bright and beautiful, actually they “stink.” When we have tried to do our best at living life with a “smile,” and then relationships get in the pits; our health is poor; our finances are strained and our dreams are crashing around our feet, then that “smile” gets to be rather artificial. Is that normal? It is normal for the world, but not for the true Christian who has learned and knows how loving, how sufficient, how mighty our God is. If we really believe He knows, and cares, about every problem, every illness, every financial struggle, and every broken relationship in our lives, then we can sincerely smile and say “Thanks” in and for everything. The scriptures admonish us to do these two things – “Thank God in everything, no matter what the circumstances may be, (be thankful and give thanks) for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus” (I Thess.5:18 (Amp.). Is this easy? NO! But when we know God is there with us in the middle of the hardest situation; when we know He cares and that He is able to make all things work out for our good (Rom.8:28); when we know He will give us the strength (Phil.4:13) to fight this battle and come out victorious in the end. In fact, II Cor.12:9, tells us that it is in the middle of our weakest, most difficult times is when He can prove His strength to be perfect in our weakness. So we should rejoice and be thankful in the hard times – thankful that His strength is powerful enough to get us through any situation and is sufficient for any contingency, and His presence is so sweet and precious. I have heard more than one preacher say, “We are to be thankful in all things, but not for all things” – wrong! Ephesians 5:20 plainly tells us, “At all times and for everything, giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” We can thank Him for any problem we may be facing, spirit, soul or body because He wants to use our helplessness and our incapacity to “fix” our problem, to show Himself mighty on our behalf. Andre’ Crouch said in his song, “Through It All,” “If I didn’t have a problem I wouldn’t know that God could solve them.” We thank Him for that financial problem because it causes us to cry out to God for help, and then we watch Him as He works out that problem we could never have solved. We may have a relationship problem and when we give it to God and thank Him that He is the “Restorer of the breach,” we can thank Him because, “In His time He makes all things beautiful” (Eccl.3:11). If we had never had that problem we would never be able to see how God could solve it, and see that the relationship was stronger and sweeter than before. We can thank God for permitting us to see His miracle working power in our hearts. Problems have a way of stopping us in our tracts. He desires that we get quiet and wait before Him so we can hear His still small voice. I do not like all the cloudy, rainy days we have been having lately because I am not able to get outside and do some most needed work, but I am thankful for the rain, we have needed it so badly, so I have been playing “catch-up” inside and thanking the Lord for the rain that gives me the opportunity to work inside, and time to study and write that I neglect when I can work outside. Long distance running requires a lot of training. The typical marathon runner spends months preparing for the race. The training is disciplined and difficult. He gets up early and hits the road, focusing on his goal; he pushes through mental and physical exhaustion, looking for his “second wind.” He runs often, he carefully watches what he eats and gets plenty of sleep, all to build endurance. Although it is not easy, the discipline is essential if he wants to win that 26.2 miles race. Likewise, in our Christian race, we must understand that endurance is imperative to win the prize. James 1:2-4 tells us what builds spiritual stamina – enduring tests and tribulations; and we should even welcome them, and “rejoice” in and for them because when we let endurance, steadfastness and patience have full play, and do a thorough work so we will be fully developed, we will be lacking nothing. This “proves” our faith.” James is talking here about being thankful in and for any, and all challenges we may face with the inner strength and power of the Holy Spirit. Charles Stanley says to ask yourself the question, “Am I willing to go through this intense workout today in order to win the race tomorrow?” Tribulations (troubles and testing’s) will come so why not be thankful in and for them and let your faith grow strong for the bigger testing’s that will come, and those testings will work out for you “a greater weight of glory” (II Cor.4:17. Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have perfect peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer (take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted)! For I have overcome this world. (I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.)” (John 16:33). Through It All Andre Crouch I’ve had many tears and sorrows, I’ve had questions for tomorrow, There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong; But in every situation God gave blessed consolation that my trials come to only make me strong. I thank God for the mountains, and I thank Him for the valleys, I thank Him for the storms He brought me through; For if I’d never had a problem I wouldn’t know that He could solve them, I’d never know what faith in God could do. Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God. Through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP - How We Should Then Live - "With A Thankful Heart" (Part 3)

“Be thankful in all things, for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus.” (I Thess.5:18) “At all times, and for everything give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” (Eph.5:20) Thanksgiving is coming in two weeks. I have already done some baking and put it all in the freezer so I won’t have so much to do at the last minute. We should be thankful every day for all God’s benefits; I will mention a few. Today I am thankful for many things we take for granted like: electricity which runs my freezer; it runs my fridge, lights, heater, hot water heater, etc. I am thankful for my warm, safe and beautiful home the Lord has given us. I thank God for my husband of 56 years; for our three children, seven grand children and ten great-grand children – we are blessed! God loves a grateful heart! I am thankful for the beauty of the season – the yellows, golds, reds, rusts and greens mixed in are spectacular! I am very thankful I have my eyesight to enjoy all of God’s creation, even the armadillos who bore holes in our lawn and flower beds, and the raccoons who crawl up the post of the “squirrel-proof” bird feeder to steal the seeds. We enjoy seeing the grey and red fox as they come out of the back woods and cross our property, walking so arrogantly and determinedly toward their focused destination; and the deer who are so prolific. This time of year is the “rutting” season so we have been able to enjoy watching the big racked bucks as they “hang around” the does. How we enjoy watching all the wildlife in the water with their created uniqueness and purpose – the wood ducks, the diving ducks, the turtles who line the bank on sunny days, the jumping fish and even rare sightings of beavers. We enjoy watching the hawks that come to sit on an old “snag” down by the water to watch for fish they can quickly swoop down to catch for their meal. I am very thankful for all my senses to enjoy God’s wonders! I am thankful for my good health. I am thankful for the country in which I live where I am not persecuted or tortured for my faith; for freedom to worship my God as I choose; for freedom for opportunity to follow my dreams; for freedom to choose my doctor, my school, my church, etc. Most of all I am thankful for God’s love for me and His plan of salvation and all the package of benefits that comes with becoming a child of God. I hope you know who you are in Christ and what your inheritance is. You are a child of God because you “know” Him. Most inheritances come into effect after the death of the benefactor. God’s inheritance can be enjoyed, even though the Benefactor (Jesus, our Savior) died on the cross, He rose from the grave and is now alive, and is sitting on the right hand of the Father. The greatest gift of inheritance for which to be thankful is that we who have been born-again into God’s family receive is the gift of the His Spirit, and He brings all the treasures of our inheritance with Him. The Holy Spirit is forever with us and within us to empower, comfort, guide, teach, and protect us from Satan’s tactics to steal from us, to kill us (if he could), and destroy us. How thankful I am for the Holy Spirit Who lives forever within me! If you don’t recognize your full inheritance in Him, I will name some of your other treasures by virtue of simply being born into the family of God. Because of the abundant grace in which we can firmly and safely stand, we have inherited joyful and confident hope – hope of eternal salvation which will never disappoint, because His love is poured out in our hearts (Rom.5:2-5). Because He has chosen to make us His child (His choice) (I Jn.5:1), we have hope because He has become our heavenly Father to live with Him in heaven some day. Part of our inheritance is that “place” in heaven Jesus is preparing for us (Matt.25:34; Jn.14:2). What a wonderful treasure we have in Jesus Who has become our friend (Jn.15:14); and the Holy Spirit is our Helper (Heb.4:16). He will help us to grow in our faith and go on to stronger maturity (Heb.12:2). We can be thankful and rejoice greatly because we have been reconciled to the Father (Rom.5:1-11). Because of our sin we were once estranged from God, but since Jesus paid the price for our reconciliation, through His death and resurrection, and our sins are forgiven, we now can have fellowship (I Jn.1:3-7) with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! This fellowship is with the God of the universe – doesn’t that blow your mind?! In fact, He invites us to come boldly right into His presence to receive His mercy and grace (Heb.4:16). These are both inherited gifts also. Grace is “God’s gift to us that we do not deserve” (Eph.2:8-9). Mercy is “God’s restrained justice that we do deserve” (Rom.9:22-23). I am thankful for God’s reconciliation, fellowship, mercy and grace. Jesus came to give us His peace (Jn.14:27). Peace is the absence of fear, worry, anxiety and emotional turmoil (II Tim.1:7). Depression is a big “enemy” to a growing number of people. We all have struggled with it at some time or another, and there are those who are clinically depressed. But in Jesus there is hope for victory over depression. Jesus is Jehovah-Shalom, the “Prince of Peace” (Isa.9:6). If we trust Jesus we can have “perfect peace” (Isa.26:3). If we keep our minds off of what others think and try to please only God we can have peace. What a wonderful gift from God’s inheritance basket. Our world may be in great turmoil; the stock markets may be falling; jobs may be vanishing; our health may be failing; our family may be falling apart; our children may be in trouble; our church may be cold and indifferent; but if we stay focused on the Word of God, and His promises to remain with us, provide for us and keep us, rather than spending our time watching the fear-mongering news broadcasts and listening to the negative nay-sayers of what is going to happen tomorrow, we can have this perfect peace by keeping our minds “stayed”on God. We must keep our minds on His Word that tells us of His love for us – to keep us, protect us and provide for us in every way, spirit, soul and body. If we take this anecdote for fear and worry, then Isaiah 26:3-4 promises us “perfect” peace because He is our Everlasting Rock. I am so thankful for God’s perfect peace. Another gift from our inheritance for which to be thankful is the fact that “He leads us in triumph in all things” (II Cor. 2:14). We have no worth, no abilities, and no goodness on our own. But God blesses us with inadequacies so we may show His strength through our weaknesses; His strength is made perfect in our weakness. (II Cor.3:5-6; 12:9). As Charles Stanley teaches, “Our inadequacy forces us to live our weak lives in the power of the Holy Spirit. Awareness of our limitations can relieve us of the burden of trying to do God’s will in our own strength. Without the Holy Spirit, we will be crushed by weights we cannot carry. Such awareness “frees” the Lord to use us to the maximum of our potential. When we are lowly (humble) enough to feel our need, then God will raise us to great heights. Acknowledging our shortcomings allows God to get all the glory for His work. Inadequacy can enable us to live in contentment and quietness of spirit. Either we will give God our burdens and cease striving, or we will proceed in our own strength and become overwhelmed. We should not claim competence in ourselves but rather acknowledge that our adequacy is from God” (II Cor.3:5). Thank You, God, for causing us to Triumph in all things. A treasure we may not have considered is what we think of as “our influence.” Do you want to be a strong influence in someone’s life – a child, spouse or a friend? God even uses our weaknesses to make us a strong influence. How can that be? I Cor.1:25:31 answers that question – “God has chosen the weak and foolish things of this world to shame the strong and wise.” Look at how this truth proves true in the stories in the Bible of Rahab, the harlot, and she became an ancestor of the Messiah. An infertile woman named Hannah cried out to God about her inadequacy and she becomes the mother of Samuel the prophet. Ruth, who was an alien and a Gentile, became the great-grandmother of King David. Abram trusted God, leaves his native land and people behind and becomes the Father of all who believe. Then there is Mary, the unclean woman, who poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ head and gains for herself an eternal monument in Biblical history. To encourage you when you have feelings of insignificance, just remember all those in Jesus’ genealogy. Some were righteous, some not, some were Jewish and some Gentile; one was from an enemy country; one was an adulterer; one a murderer; and one was even a prostitute from an enemy nation. But God made all of them to be influential in His plan for the lineage of Jesus, His Son. Don’t be deceived by outward appearance by those who may appear to be strong influential people in this world. The ones who make the real impact are those who recognize their inadequacies. They trust God completely for His adequacy and have proven themselves to be “blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom they appear as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15. You may not think that your light is very bright by this world’s standards, but when the Lord calls you a luminary, you can agree with Him and keep on shining (Charles Stanley). If we just love and trust Him, Jesus will lead us to triumph in all things, even in our small influence to make a difference in someone’s life. God can use “anyone” to accomplish His perfect will. We are all “called” to be a godly influence in our world. “Thank You, Jesus, that we don’t have to be exceptionally smart, attractive or gifted. If we just love and trust You, You will cause us to be a godly influence in someone’s, life. Thank You, Jesus, for even our small influence, and may all who come behind us find us faithful. I am forever thankful for the Bible – The Truth - God’s Word, and though heaven and earth may pass away His Word is everlasting. The Father has given us His Word and all of His precious Promises from the Word as part of our inheritance. “God is not like man that He should lie. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good” (Num.23:19). We can trust His every word explicitly, without fear of His failing or disappointing us. Heb.6:18 tells us that “there are two things that are unchangeable - His promise and His oath and it is impossible for Him to lie or deceive when He promises something or takes an oath He will perform it.” Titus 1:2. He is“the ever truthful God.” Jehovah God is a god of integrity, He is “the Truth.” There is a popular saying, “If God said it, I believe it, and that settles it.” There’s no debating God’s Word. Even the most trustworthy man will fail to be completely truthful at some time, but “Jesus never fails.” What a rare jewel that God has given us – His Precious Promises – and they will not fail. There are so many more gifts of our inheritance in Christ, but the last I would like to mention at this setting, is the gift of our citizenship in heaven. I read a story from one of my devotional books about a family who came to the U.S., from India in 2006. After the required five years they inquired about U.S. citizenship. They learned they had to pay fees to cover the cost of fingerprints taken and to have an interview to answer 100 questions. It was difficult for them to prepare for the interview because they had no spare time since they worked full-time jobs, taking care of everything just to live and function in this society; and reading and meditating on God’s Word. By their own testimonies it was only by God’s grace they obtained citizenship. This story demonstrates the vast difference between receiving an earthly country’s citizenship and that eternal citizenship in heaven given freely by the love, grace and mercy of God Who gives to all Who trust in Him, and eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come to take us HOME. To be a citizen of heaven a person need only accept Jesus’ invitation – to be born again by repentance and confession of his sins. Thank You, Jesus for providing our heavenly citizenship, and it is never too late to prepare for citizenship in heaven – “Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation” (II Cor.6:2). Thank You, Jesus, for our citizenship in heaven. Thank You, Father, for making me Your child and for all Your gifts of inheritance: 1) Redemption and forgiveness through the blood of Christ (Rom.3:24) and because we have been redeemed and forgiven we have: 2) Deliverance from the power of sin (Rom.1:16) 3) Grace and mercy extended to us abundantly (Rom.3:24) 4) His wisdom and understanding of the Truth, and to know the mystery of His will, if we ask in faith believing we receive, and all of His precious promises - all we find in His Word (Jas.1:5-8; Eph.1:9) 5) The indwelling Holy Spirit (another Comforter) (John 14:26) 6) Eternal Salvation (John 3:16) 7) Mercy, Grace, Reconciliation, Fellowship (Romans 5:1-11) 8) Hope (Romans 5:2-5) 9) Peace of God (John 14:27) 10) Triumphant in all things (II Cor.2:14) 11) Strong influence in this life (our witness) (Phil.2:15) 12) Our heavenly citizenship (Eph. 2:19) Because of who we are in Christ – “a child of God,” these are our benefits – our inheritance! Thank You, Jesus!! “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is deepest within me bless His Holy Name”!! (Ps.103:1)

THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP - How Then Should We Live? - By God's Word - Part 1

Our world today, as we know it, is in such a chaotic and ungodly mess, and as someone said, “Going to hell in a hand basket.” A few Christian leaders have been bold enough to speak out and willing to lay the blame at the foot of Church. This is very sad but true, that the western Church has become “lukewarm” in its faith and zeal for Christ and doesn’t seek out the “down and outer,” but seeks out only the “up and outer” to witness to and befriend. It is neither “hot nor cold,” thinks it is rich and doesn’t need anything; not knowing that true riches is a zealous, genuine faith that has been tested by God’s fire of discipline, which results in being clothed with His “Robe of Righteous” (Rev.3:14-22). They plan social programs to draw in the crowd instead of planning days set aside for prayer, fasting, repenting and for revival, renewal and a fresh filling and anointing of the Holy Spirit. How sad, even when these rare times are planned very few will take part – they are too busy or unconcerned. Are we part of the real Church or the Laodicean church? The contemporary Church here in America so often compromise God’s principles and is willing to “go along to get along,” and is willing to overlook, excuse, and even sometimes condone blatant sins, instead of confronting and calling them out and practicing the discipline of Matthew 18. The western Church has lost its broken heart for the lost. It’s “heart” has become hard by refusing to “hear what the Spirit has said and is saying to the Church, and repent,” (Rev.2:7, 11, 17, 29; ch.3:6, 13, 22). It is too busy to meet together and pray. It has become too full of pride to repent, even when God has told us, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, pray, seek My face and turn from their wicked way, then I will hear them from heaven, forgive their sins and heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:14). It is no wonder our families, our churches, our government and our nation are in such disrepair, and even destroyed, in some cases. It is because the Church has permitted Satan to “steal, kill and destroy” our devotion to God and for His rightful and essential priority of first place in our lives. Satan wants to “steal” our testimony to the world by subtly persuading us to become Pharisees (hypocrites), claiming to be “Christian,” but living just like the world. There’s an old saying that speaks to this which says, “Your actions speak so loud that I can’t hear what you are saying.” The world may not recognize it, but it is hungry for Truth, for meaning to life, for joy, peace and hope. They don’t realize it but they are looking for Jesus. The true Church of Jesus Christ, the alive, moving, righteous Church has the only answer to the needs of this crying world. If this “sleeping Giant” would only wake up, shake itself, eat the Word, drink the “new wine,” and go forth revitalized and restored to newness of life, and have a new zeal to tell the world that Jesus is the only answer to their hunger and thirst, by living a faith-filled, overcoming, loving lifestyle before them, and as Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words”. John wrote, “Let us not love in Word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth” (I Jn.3:18). In light of all of this “mess,” Francis Schaeffer” wrote a book with the answers to, How Then Should We Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture. His brief answer is: “By the divine power that is within us.” The Word of God, II Peter:1:3 says, “His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that are requisite and suited to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us by and to his own glory and excellence.” My version is that God’s power (the Holy Spirit living within all believers) has given us all things we need to walk a godly life through the knowledge of Him Who has called us to His excellence. Jude 1:24 reiterates this thought, “He is able to keep us from falling and present us blameless in triumphal joy before the presence of His glory with unspeakable delight.” The Holy Spirit that lives within all believers gives us the power and ability to live triumphantly. The key to be able to live this triumphant life is to “be” and continue to be filled with the Holy Spirit. God’s Word tells us “how to” live this triumphant life with the Spirit’s power. The first step is to keep ourselves pure, faithful and committed. Paul tells us, as he told the Colossians in 2:6-7, “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so regulate your lives and conduct yourselves in union with and conformity to Him. Have the roots of your being firmly and deeply planted in Him, fixed and founded in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving” (Amp.), and “The just shall live by faith” (Heb.10:38). Solomon tells us in the fourth chapter that to live and have a successful life we must (1) obey God, (2) get the principle thing - godly wisdom and understanding, prize it and embrace it and it will give you a crown of glory, (3) avoid the way of evil men, turn from it and pass on, (4) above all you guard, guard your heart with all vigilance for out of it flow the springs of life, (5) put away dishonest speech, and willful and contrary talk put far from you, (6) let your eyes look right on with fixed purpose, (7) and consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be ordered aright. Turn not aside to the left or the right; remove your foot from evil. The first Psalm, verses 1-3, gives us the key instructions how to “guard our hearts” as we live in this chaotic world. This Psalm promises we’ll be happy, fortunate, prosperous and enviable if we do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly (following their advice, their plans and purposes), nor stand submissive and inactive in the path where sinners walk, nor sit down, relax and rest where the scornful and the mockers gather. But our delight and desire must be in the law of the Lord, and on His law (precepts, instructions and teachings) we must habitually meditate on day and night. Then we will be like a tree firmly planted and tended by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything we do will prosper and come to maturity. We hide God’s Word in our hearts by reading, studying, meditating then acting on Its truths, as it says in this scripture. We also must guard our hearts by sincerely asking the Lord to “search our hearts to see if there is any hurtful way in us, and to lead us into the way that is everlasting,” as David prayed in Psalm 139. When God shows us any hurtful (sinful) way we have (any way that would hurt us or others), we must then “confess it and turn from it, and God will cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). We can walk clean and pure before Him if we follow these instructions. They say the human mind is like a computer. If you put good data in good data will come out, or garbage in, garbage out. “As a man thinks in his heart so is he” (Prov.23:7). We become what we let our minds dwell on. Philippians 4:8 tells us how to “guard our hearts” with our thought-life. Sow a thought, reap an act. Sow an act, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. So we are to “fix our minds on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and whatever is kind and gracious. If there is any virtue or excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh these things and fix your minds on them”(Phil.4:8), then we won’t reap any undesirable acts, habits or characters. Refuse the negative, enticing, condemning and destructive thoughts Satan loves to put in our minds to depress us and pull us down. When these thoughts come “submit yourself to God, resist the devil and stand firm against him and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). You can resist the devil by quoting scripture to him like Jesus did when He was tempted (Matt.4:1-11). Satan can’t withstand the Truth – God’s Word. We are told in II Cor. 10:5b “to lead every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ.” This is why we must “hide God’s Word in our hearts so that we will not fall into sin” (Ps.119:11). “God’s Word speaks and is alive and full of power, making it active, operative, energizing, and effective; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life and the immortal spirit, and of joints and marrow of the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart” (Hebrew 4:12). Put on all your spiritual armor every day (Eph.5:11-19), and sharpen your “sword of the Spirit” (your only offensive weapon) – God’s Word, by reading, meditation, study, memorizing and then obeying the Truth therein. It is the answer for us, individually and the Church, to know “How Then Should We Live?” It is by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.