Wells of Salvation

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Psalms 96:2, KJV Sing unto the Lord, bless his name. Show forth his salvation from day to day.
Isaiah 12:3, KJV Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

When I think of "salvation", I think of just one salvation: the salvation by believing Jesus lived, died and rose again.

But I believe he saves us in different ways, and these are the wells of daily salvation.
     --not hit a deer with a car
     --not drop an expensive anything (cell phone, dish, antique)
     --give favor with a job interviewer
     --give favor with a judge in a custody court case

Jesus prayed before going to the cross and we need to pray to draw from His wells of salvation. When we do, we will know the joy coming from the wells of salvation.

Merry Christmas!

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Multitude of Counsellors

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Where no counsel is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14

There were some children playing on the slide at the playground with the parents watching. The children wanted to slide down faster, so they put water on the slide.

The parents laughed. Sure enough the children slid slower rather than faster. They had not asked their parents advice.

Asking for good advice from experienced people is always a good idea. They may know how the other side thinks and feels. They may have experience to base their opinions on. Or, like me, they may be able to imagine what will happen.

Jesus is called Counsellor (Isa 9:6). It is always a wise idea to invite God to get involved.

Expectation of the Wicked

      The desire of the righeous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. Proverbs 11:23.

                                                    

     The wicked desire things for pleasure, for profit, or for vanity. Not all wicked desire violence or drugs. But do they really expect wrath? I can believe they ignore what will make other people or authorities mad. But do they really expect wrath to happen to them?  Do they even bother to think about being accountable to God when they do those things?

      Or is the "expectation of the wicked" referring to the righteous' expectation of the wicked? The righteous can fall into wrong desires too, so we cannot just point a finger at them.

     The righteous get their desire from God or the Bible. One big advantage of being righteous is that we can identify desires we need to get rid of or control.

The Power of Praise

Psalms 22:3 (KJV) But thou art holy, thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

            I read a book by Stormie O’Martian called The Prayer that Changes Everything. Her answer for problems is to praise and worship. Stormie says, “Worship is opening up the channel through which we communicate our love to God and God transmits His love to us.”[1]  

            My praise and worship has freed me from negative thoughts and emotions. I have had problems with memories of regrets: how much money I have wasted, my lack of compassion, problems with family. Someone told me to replace negative thoughts with good ones.  That didn’t work for me. I tried meditating on verses, but that was only a little more effective. After reading her book, I tried praising God. I bragged on God by listing the times He cared for me; I told Him how unbelievable it is to me that we can be partakers of His divine nature; I thanked him for hope in this life and the next through Jesus.

            Praise drowned out the evil thoughts.  I felt His love and peace, and didn’t have a problem with those thoughts the rest of the day.

            The Bible says God inhabits the praises of His people. Combining prayer, verses, and praise is a potent power, whatever the problem.

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[1] Stormie OMartian, Prayer that Changes Everything (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2004) Page 57.

No Wrong Time to Give Thanks

1 Thes. 5:8, in everything give thanks.

There is no wrong time to give thanks. Corrie ten Boom wrote in the Hiding Place that she and the other prisoners thanked God for fleas. It seems the fleas kept the guards away, and they could read her Bible in peace.

The Bible says God inhabits our praises.  It's easy to think of giving thanks for food and clothing. But are you thankful if you lose a ballgame so you can demonstrate good sportsmanship? Or how about giving up a chance to see a concert of your favorite singer, just so you can tutor a student in math? These are "sacrifice of praise" (Heb. 13:15) When we thank God, we are sacrificing ourselves so God will get the praise and glory.

We may not realize the accumulative impact of our giving thanks, but when it is a habit, we will receive blessings from it.

God's and Satan's Ways

Having peace in God's ways is like riding with someone who knows where we are going and has been there many times.

Satan's ways are like a roller coaster. When you are high up, you worry about falling off.  When you are in the valley, it looks like you will never be able to climb out of it.

The wicked says "I can separate the people from God with a few lies." God says,"What advantage is there in pride?" He also says, "I will show the wicked his lies, and use My bonds of love to hold My people closer to me." 

The wicked says "Why should I believe the Bible?" He is used to taking action through lies. He can't see the truth because he doesn't know the truth and can't recognize it. He uses just enough truth as bait to catch someone with itching ears.

The righteous speak a word in season to the weary. God's truth has hope in it: hope of newness of life through Him, hope of seeing loved one's again, hope that he will be a partake of His divine nature, and never be moved.