The Prophetic Word - Days 148 thru 153

The Prophetic Word

Day 148: Run to the Lord when you’re hurting.

In preparation for our discussion over the next five days, please carefully read and meditate on these passages of scripture:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Hebrews 11:1-2, 6 NKJV

Psalm 71 (All)

Isaiah 63 (All)

“Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.””

Job 42:1-8 NLT

Christians are not exempted from bad times. Indeed, some of our trials actually serve to aid our spiritual development by strengthening our faith, purifying our souls, correcting our course, etc.

Now, nobody enjoys hard times; but there are things we can do to survive the hard times and emerge from them in victory!

Over the next several days we will look into this crucial topic: How do we survive hard times without despairing or dishonoring God?

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 149: God is a good Father.

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

Matthew 7:9-11 NLT

I have observed a couple of interesting phenomena in terms of parent-child interaction.

First, I’m sure we’ve all seen, or may even remember doing so ourselves, that when a small child is hurt and a parent is near, the child goes running to the parent for comfort. In fact, I have never seen a small child run from their parent when injured, afraid, or hurting in some other way. [Of course, I am here referencing the dynamics in a healthy, loving, parent-child relationship.] Yes, the small child being hurt or threatened, instinctively seeks the arms of their parent(s).

There is another phenomenon I have witnessed where a child has been hurt, and having been comforted by those who are not their parents, when the parent arrives, the child starts crying again and runs to the arms of the parent for comfort and consolation. Now, this doesn’t mean that the child wasn’t somehow comforted by those around them when they were hurt, but the full release from the hurt and pain could only happen in the arms of the parent.

The Lord recently led me to study Psalm 71 in which David is expressing great distress because of his enemies. Not only is he being attacked, but this is being done at a time when he feels vulnerability associated with his advancing age.

After considering this psalm for some length of time, the Lord placed a question in my spirit as to in what manner the psalmist approached God in the midst of his trouble. Now, having learned that generally when the Lord asks me a question, He tends to answer it, I waited for the answer. And, he did answer, saying that the psalmist ran to Him, as a hurting child runs to their parent.

Yes! The hurting psalmist offers no hint of “How dare You do this to me?!” Rather, he runs to the Lord for solace and relief. He runs to his Father!

When we are going through hard times and bad things are happening, when we fear what is coming upon us, it is the tendency of the flesh mind to want to blame God.

Certainly, nothing could happen without the Lord allowing it. However, the dynamics of God’s ways of dealing with a fallen world probably won’t make complete sense to us until we see Him as He is and become like Him (1 John 3:2).

You see, “blame” is a different step from recognizing that God is the ultimate authority over all things. Blame questions whether what He did was “right” or “fair.” Again, it offers a “How dare You?” to the Lord.

For now, we let faith settle the issue regarding whether or not the Lord is to blame for the bad things that happen.

To explain, faith is believing that God is Who He said He is. Now, this involves the fact that He is true to His word and that He is good.

As well, faith assures us that all things are working together for our good; and, the end result will be that we are rewarded.

Given, this is a rather brief explanation of what faith is, the exploration of which has commanded volumes of written analysis to date. However, I borrow it from a reliable source:

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

Now, “believing God is,” as referenced by the writer of Hebrews, goes beyond just believing that He exists, to also believing that He exists as He says He is. Therefore, as stated above, we know that He is all powerful and all good, along with all of the other wonderful qualities making God Who He is. And, as such, He is above reproach and worthy to be praised.

As well, we can be sure that our God is a good Father. His love for us is never-failing.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.”

Romans 8:31-37 NLT

Although we may feel that what we are going through must indicate that the Lord does not love us, or does not love us anymore, hard times indicate no such thing.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39 NLT

There is nothing created that CAN separate us from the love God has illustrated to us, and extended to us, through Christ Jesus!

The only thing that can keep God’s love from sparing us, would be our own turning from Him, no longer loving Him, no longer trusting Him.

“The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.””

Psalms 91:14-16 NLT

That is why the enemy of our souls works so hard to try to make us believe that the Lord does not love us anymore, if, peradventure, he can provoke our turning away from the Lord.

Yes, we can be sure that our God is a good Father Who cares for us and wants to give us good things. And—as we see in our opening scripture—Jesus instructed us concerning this very thing!

When you’re going through hard times, when you’re hurting, or in need or want in some way, it may seem that you have been separated from God‘s love, tempting you to blame God for what is going on in your life. But, make no mistake, God is a good Father Who cares for you. His unfailing love will not fail to bring comfort and relieve you! Just run to Him!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 150: Hard times that bring correction are good.

“Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.””

Job 42:1-6 NLT

Paul had sent a scathing letter to the church at Corinth concerning their apparent siding with a man (or, at least, leaving him unchallenged) who was speaking evil about Paul.

After a while, Paul heard back from Titus that the letter had been well-received. This good news of the Corinthians gladly receiving correction, prompted Paul to lavish them with praise.

“I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.”

2 Corinthians 7:8-10 NLT

Though he was originally sad about the letter, Paul was made glad about it, as it had produced a wonderful change in the Corinthians.

As you may be aware, Psalm 119 extols the virtue of God’s way of being and doing; yes, of God’s commands.

In this psalm we find a powerful statement concerning what the Lord’s correction has done for the psalmist.

“I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.”

Psalms 119:67-68, 71 NLT

Indeed, the psalmist recognizes that his affliction has brought correction in his course. Therefore, he is grateful for it.

“I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.”

Psalms 119:75-76 NLT

As well, the psalmist affirms that the Lord’s ways are always right and then asks God for comfort and restoration.

The writer of Hebrews, after having presented the “Hall of Faith” (Hebrews 11), turns to encouraging the Christian Jews to faithfully run their race no matter what is encountered along the way.

He then exhorts them to receive correction without becoming weary and discouraged.

“And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.” As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

Hebrews 12:5-8, 10-11 NLT

The writer of Hebrews wants the people to understand that correction is a sign that they are God’s children!

He also points out that seemingly harsh correction, if well-received, can lead to spiritual vitality.

“So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.”

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLT

In our opening scripture we see that Job—though he was not afflicted because of personal failings—ended up receiving correction from the Lord, thereby gaining a whole new level of understanding about Who God is.

Friend, if we see our hard times as being undeserved and become bitter concerning our affliction and/or correction, we will never be able to have the next level type of relationship with God that produces people capable of doing exploits.

So, even if we don’t understand why we are being afflicted or chastened, if we will receive it without becoming bitter, the Lord can use it to turn us into a lean, keen, fighting machine for the Kingdom of God.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 151: Our Refuge is mobile.

“In you, O Lord, I have put my trust and confidently taken refuge; Let me never be put to shame. In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me. Be to me a rock of refuge and a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually come; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked (godless), From the grasp of the unrighteous and ruthless man. For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust and the source of my confidence from my youth.”

Psalms 71:1-5 AMP

Let’s face it, our idea of surviving a hard time is that we either never encounter hard times, or are immediately delivered from hard times.

But, the fact of the matter is, just as the Hebrew children were kept safe as they were walking in the fiery furnace, and just as Daniel survived a night with hungry lions after being thrown into their den, just so, our rescue may not involve being removed from the hard time, but rather, being sustained in it and through it.

Think of people who have a mobile home. Wherever they travel, because they are in their own home, they can rest comfortably.

You see, God’s refuge works like that: It’s a “mobile” unit, a mobile dwelling place we can take wherever we go!

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. The Lord will accomplish that which concerns me; Your [unwavering] lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever— Do not abandon the works of Your own hands.”

Psalms 138:7-8 AMP

In the above psalm we see David expressing his confidence that even though he is surrounded by trouble, the Lord will sustain him in the midst of it.

In Psalm 91 (said to have been written by Moses, and is included in the Dead Sea Scrolls as one of the four psalms against demons) we see that dwelling in God’s place of safety does not necessarily mean that we won’t be surrounded by trouble.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.”

Psalms 91:1-8 NKJV

Certainly, if we’re walking through hard times, if we are navigating days of trouble, it’s easy to let what we are seeing overwhelm us, causing us to fear.

Ironically, it is that very fear that actually takes us out of the secret place, out of God’s refuge.

When Jesus said He was giving us His peace, He clarified that it wasn’t the kind of peace that the world gives.

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 14:27 NKJV

You see, the kind of peace we can find in the world, requires that everything is going well in our lives and our circumstances.

But, the peace Jesus gives is His own Spirit of Peace, and is not dependent upon circumstances. However, it is dependent upon our refusing to fear.

In our opening scripture we see David—from a place of great distress and pressing—expresses his confidence that the Lord is his refuge. Even in the midst of his trouble, he will do what he has done from his youth: run to his Refuge, run to his God and King!

Child of God, nobody enjoys hard times; nobody enjoys being pressed. But, don’t make your circumstances worse, and miss the peace the Lord has offered, by thinking your only way for relief and release, is to be out of your circumstances, out of the trouble.

Remember, God’s refuge can be with you wherever you may go, if only you will trust in Him!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 152: If the Great Shepherd is with you, you need not fear!

Tomorrow we will bring all that we have discussed this week together.

For today please meditate on these scripture passages. Read them at least two or three times. Try to form pictures in your mind that represent what you are reading. And most important of all, ask the Holy Spirit to make these words real to you by writing them on your heart and mind.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”

Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV

“But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…”

Isaiah 43:1-3a NKJV

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 153: Our Lord is mighty to save!

“Who is this who comes from Edom, With crimson-stained garments from Bozrah [in Edom], This One (the Messiah) who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His might? “It is I, [the One] who speaks in righteousness [proclaiming vindication], mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? “I have trodden the wine trough alone, And of the peoples there was no one with Me. I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My clothes. For the day of vengeance [against ungodliness] was in My heart, And My year of redemption [of those who put their trust in Me—the year of My redeemed] has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, And I was amazed and appalled that there was no one to uphold [truth and right]. So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath sustained Me. I trampled the peoples in My anger And made them drunk with [the cup of] My wrath, And I spilled their lifeblood on the earth.””

Isaiah 63:1-6 AMP

Over the last several days we have been discussing how to make it through times of pressing, through hard times, without despairing or dishonoring God (please review Day 148 through Day 152).

As we conclude this week’s journey, I want to remind you of a scripture I rehearse almost daily:

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”

Hebrews 10:35-39 NKJV

As well, the Lord wants me to remind you of something written in our “Word of the Day” on 1-27-2021 as commentary on Hebrews 10: 34-35:

“It is true that there are great pressures all around. We are literally seeing all of the actors and agents in the antichrist system (“the beast”) coming together. Now is no time to panic; now is the time to remember that the Lord has warned us of all of these things in advance. Our energy must be focused on keeping our eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, remembering the words that God has spoken, and walking daily in the Spirit of God. No! We’re not going to be counted among those who turn back and lose what has been promised! We’re going to stay the course and receive the prize: everlasting life with God where we rule and reign with Him!”

Now, approaching nearly 3 years later, we see even more reason to stay the course without wavering. As well, we are experiencing even more of the pressure to despair, possibly to the point of causing some to doubt the goodness and faithfulness of God!

My friend, God forbid that we would drawback to destruction! God is faithful and He will enable us to remain faithful under pressure if we keep our eyes on Him.

Our opening scripture paints a picture of our glorious, kingly, Warrior, yes, our Lord Jesus!

Remember, no matter how hard the times, no matter how hard the pressing, Help is always with us; and, He is mighty to save!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!