Meditation and Prayer ...

Meditation and Prayer resemble the spies that went to search the land of Canaan: the one views, and the other cuts down; and both bring home a taste of the fairest and sweetest fruits of heaven. 

Meditation, like the eye views our mercies; and Prayer like the hand, grasps those mercies! Or, Meditation is like a land agent, who goes abroad to purchase what we need; and Prayer, like a ship, goes forth and brings in what we desire. Lord, it is my misery, that I cannot be so perfect as not to be in need; but it magnifies your mercy that I cannot be so miserable as not to be supplied. Meditation cannot find out a real need, but Prayer can obtain suitable comfort. 

Lord, if mercy is so free, I will labor to know my poverty that I may be enriched with your grace; and yet I will not rest, until you shall do more for me than I am able either to ask or think! Prayer was appointed to convey, the blessings God designs to give; Long as they live should Christians pray, for only while they pray, they live. 

[Thomas Sherman]

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Joshua 1:8 ... This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Proverbs 15:8 ... The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. ❤

Pick The Right Side

The Bible will keep you from sin. 

 OR 

 Sin will keep you from the Bible. 

 [D. L. Moody]

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Deuteronomy 30:15 ... See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

Isaiah 7:15 ... Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

Amos 5:14 ... Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

Joshua 24:15 ... And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ❤

The Sins of The Saints

Bernard of Clairvaux once mentioned an old man who, upon hearing about any professing Christian who fell into sin, would say to himself: "He fell today; I may fall tomorrow!" The apostle Paul commended the same mindset when he wrote, "let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Corinthians 10:12) 

There is great wisdom in not trusting our own ability to stand. When I was a boy, my father would often say, "The person I trust least of all is myself." It should shock us to hear a professing Christian say, "I would never do that," or "How could anyone do that?" Consider the following: 

If Adam, an innocent man, could choose a piece of fruit over the infinitely valuable God (Genesis 3:6);  if Noah, the most righteous man of his day, could get so drunk that he passed out naked before his sons in his tent (Genesis 9:21);  if Abraham, the most faithful man of his day, could father a child with his wife's handmaiden (Genesis 16:1-4) and twice hand his wife over to other men (Genesis 12:11-15; 20:1-2);  if Sarah, the mother of promise, could laugh at the words of the God of promise and then lie to Him about doing so (Genesis 18:9-15);  if "righteous Lot" could greedily pick the most materialistic and sexually depraved place for himself and his family to live (Genesis 13:8-13), and could hand his daughters over to the sexually perverse men of the city (Genesis 19:4-8);  if Isaac, the son of promise, could show partiality to his oldest son because he liked his hunting skills (Genesis 25:28), and he, too, could hand his wife over to another man (Genesis 26:6-11); and if Jacob, the namesake of Israel, could swindle his brother for a birthright (Genesis 25:29-34), then so could I. 

If Moses, the meekest man on the planet, could act in such sinful anger and unbelief that God would not let him into the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-12);  if his successor Joshua, could disobediently covenant with pagans (Joshua 9);  if Gideon, the mighty man of valor, could fall into idolatry at the end of his life (Judges 8:22-27); and if Samson, the strongest man who ever lived, could be defeated by wine and women (Judges 14-16), then so could I. if David, the man after God's own heart, could commit adultery and premeditate the murder of one of his mighty men (2 Samuel 11);  if Solomon, the wisest man, could foolishly allow his heart to be led astray by a thousand women to worship foreign gods (1 Kings 11);  if Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, could charge God with deceiving His people (Jeremiah 4:10); and if Elijah, a prophet of Israel, could self-righteously run from the mission of God (Jonah 1-3), then so could I. 

 If John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, could doubt the identity of the One to whom he bore witness (Matthew 11:2-3); and if the Apostle Peter could try to stop Jesus from going to the cross (Matthew 16:21-23), deny Jesus (Luke 22:54-61), argue with the Lord about the gospel and its implications (John 13:6-10; Acts 10:9-16), and support division in the church over the doctrine of justification by faith alone (Galatians 2:11-21), then so could I. 

If James and John could use Jesus to get to the top (Mark 10:35-37) and could want to call fire down from Heaven on those who did not believe the gospel (Luke 9:51-55); and if the Apostle John could twice fall down to worship angels (Revelation 19:9-10; Revelation 22:8-9), then so could I. 

We must resist the temptation of thinking that we can stand in our own strength. We must depend on the grace of the One who said, "Apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). The greatest believers are subject to great weaknesses. In no way do these truths give a license to sin; instead, they give a sober realization that by nature, "nothing good dwells in us." (Romans 7:18) 

We must distrust ourselves, bear with the weak, and hold fast to Christ. We must flee to our Great High Priest, who was tempted in all points as we are, yet never sinned. We must go to Him for grace and mercy to withstand temptations, and we must go to Him for grace and mercy if we fall.

[Nick Batzig]  

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1 Corinthians 15:10 ...  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Psalm 119:117 ...  Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. ❤

I Choose ...

It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. 

The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. 

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so, I choose. 

I choose love. No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves. 

I choose joy. I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God. 

I choose peace. I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live. I choose patience. I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite Him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage. 

I choose kindness. I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me. 

I choose goodness. I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I accuse. I choose goodness. 

I choose faithfulness. Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home. 

I choose gentleness. Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself. I choose self-control. I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. 

I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful-ness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. 

If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest. 

[Max Lucado]

Joshua 24:15 ...  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. ❤

The War Room

Meditation and Prayer resemble the spies that went to search the land of Canaan: the one views, and the other cuts down; and both bring home a taste of the fairest and sweetest fruits of heaven. Meditation, like the eye views our mercies; and Prayer like the hand, grasps those mercies! Or, Meditation is like a land agent, who goes abroad to purchase what we need; and Prayer, like a ship, goes forth and brings in what we desire. 

Lord, it is my misery, that I cannot be so perfect as not to be in need; but it magnifies your mercy that I cannot be so miserable as not to be supplied. Meditation cannot find out a real need, but Prayer can obtain suitable comfort. 

Lord, if mercy is so free, I will labor to know my poverty that I may be enriched with your grace; and yet I will not rest, until you shall do more for me than I am able either to ask or think! 

Prayer was appointed to convey, the blessings God designs to give; Long as they live should Christians pray, for only while they pray, they live. 

[Thomas Sherman]

Joshua 1:8 ... This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 5:2 ... Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. ❤

Power in You...

Children of God, 

 Remember: the same God that split the Red Sea in two 

also lives in YOU!

Joshua 4:23 ... For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

1 Corinthians 3:16 ... Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

░J░E░S░U░S░ ░L░O░V░E░S░ ░Y░O░U░ 

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Be Like Caleb.

Caleb was 85 years old when he finally entered the promised land. When you read all of Numbers chapter 14, you see the severe punishment of God to Israel for their murmuring, grumbling, but especially their disregard for His voice. "Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. (Numbers 14:22-24)  

The Israelites feared their children would be plunder for the enemy. They murmured in disbelief of God’s loving care, protection and goodness. Even after seeing God do so many miracles before their very eyes, including the parting of the Red Sea. Contrast that to Caleb and Joshua. Like David against Goliath, they had a bold confidence in God’s goodness, power and protection. How are we doing in the face of giant evil? Are we like murmuring Israel who had forgotten the many times they had seen God’s goodness? Or does God have the great pleasure in seeing our bold confidence in His power, protection and goodness?? 

As we meditate on God’s Word, let us cleanse our hearts and repent of allowing fear, unbelief and forgetfulness rob us of the good plans God has for us and our children. God is not slack concerning His promises. He is not hiding in the basement while sick pedophiles take over the world on the contrary. He sees. And He has heard the many prayers of His Children. And He is indeed judging the wicked and exposing everything done in secret. This is not a time of murmuring and complaining. This is a time of great excitement when we see God in the details. He is indeed involved and moving throughout the earth, even now. Let us all be like Caleb. 

[Troi Nelson Cockayne] 

Joshua 14:10-11 ... And now, look, the LORD has let me live, just as He said, these forty-five years since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, when Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, look at me, I am eighty-five years old today. I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in.  ❤

Be Confident.

Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Rejoice in affliction and persecution and know His love, when it is released is unstoppable. Rejoice in this, that the power of LIFE is in you and flows from you. Butterfly wings will fly. See what He sees. 

Submit, regardless of the threats.  He works to maximize the miracle. His grace is upon you to see its completion. Do not waiver in fear and unbelief. Rise up in His power above the clouds of fear and death. Your family needs you in His sound mind. Redeem the time in His Counsel. You will not be devastated. 

Do not take heed to lies. They lead to rocks of destruction. Be strong for your family. You represent His sound, stable, perfect love. This is what He has called you to be for this time. He alone establishes His pillars firm. Rejoice in affliction and laugh at the schemes of the enemy. Did He not say, ‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper”? (Isaiah 54:17)

Hold fast to His Word and know that He alone is faithful. Rest in His love and rejoice in afflictions. You are not forsaken. He has your Children. How big is your God? Your faith is being tested. Recalibrate back to His love and Counsel. He knows the way through death, do you? Trust His instruction. 

[Troi Nelson Cockayne]

Joshua 1:9 ...  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. ❤

Just a Little Bit, and Off You Go!

Do not many of you read the Bible in a very hurried way, just a little bit, and off you go! Do you not soon forget what you have read, and lose what little effect it seemed to have? How few of you are resolved to get at its soul, its juice, its life, its essence and to drink in its meaning. Well, if you do not do that, then your reading is miserable reading, dead reading, unprofitable reading; it is not reading at all the name would be misapplied. 

May the blessed Spirit give you repentance concerning this thing. Meditation and careful thought, exercise us and strengthen the soul for the reception of the yet more lofty truths. We must meditate, brethren. These grapes will yield no wine until we tread upon them. These olives must be put under the wheel, and pressed again and again that the oil may flow therefrom. In a dish of nuts, you may know which nut has been eaten by a worm, because there is a little hole which the worm has punctured through the shell. It is just a little hole, and then inside there is the living worm eating up the kernel. 

In the same way, it is a grand thing to bore through the shell of the letter of Scripture, and then to live inside feeding upon the kernel. I would wish to be such a little worm as that living within and upon the Word of God, having bored my way through the shell, and having reached the innermost mystery of the blessed gospel. The Word of God is always most precious to the man who most lives upon it. 

Beloved, never be satisfied with a sound creed, but desire to have it engraved on the tablets of your heart. The doctrines of grace are good, but the grace of the doctrines is better still. See that you have it and be not content with the idea that you are well-instructed, until you so understand the doctrine that you have felt its spiritual power. O living Christ, make this a living Word to me. Your Word is life, but not without the Holy Spirit. I may know this book of Yours from beginning to end and repeat it all from Genesis to Revelation and yet it may be a dead book, and I may be a dead soul! 

Oh, cling to Scripture! Scripture is not Christ, but it is the silken clue which will lead you to Him. Follow its leadings faithfully. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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Joshua 1:8 ... This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 1:2 ...But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. ❤

Decide.

All you have to decide is what you will do with 

the time that is given to you. 

Choose wisely.

Joshua 24:15 ... And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Deuteronomy 30:19 ... I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

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Magnify!!

Why do you doubt His love for you?  Is He not in control of all things? If He created the Destroyer that works havoc, there is nothing that death and darkness and destruction can keep from the light of His love for you. 

BEHOLD, He will expel your darkness! Fix your eyes on His face. Meditate on His miracles and open your heart to magnify the light of His love for you. His presence will indeed surround and dissipate your darkness. Worship and rejoice! Release that which brings torment and darkens His counsel. 

Consider the futility of worry. Does it produce any good thing? Cast off that demonic robe and release the lie that He does not care for you. He sees the details of your life. He saturates the fabric of your days and your thoughts. His resurrected life moves on your behalf. You will see Him clearer than before and your family will see His miracle. Rejoice in the waiting. His timing is perfect. Adjust your compass towards His Joy and abiding peace. The focus of your faith is what you become. 

[Troi Nelson Cockayne] 

Joshua 1:8 ... This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Matthew 6:33 ... But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ❤

Meditate!!

We live in stirring days, when deeds are everything when closet work is often neglected for active business, and little time is given to meditation. Yet, with more thought and prayer wholesome activity would be greater in the end, and all our actions more successful.  Time is not lost, which is spent in meditation, in searching wisdom's ways, and seeking out profound realities. There is one who often meditate and yet accomplishes much. There is another who hastens and yet does little. 

None works so heartily, nor reaps so fully as he whose wits are sharpened by prayer and meditation. Reading either Scripture or Christian books, apart from meditation, does little good. It is much the same as not digesting what you eat, this only starves the soul. How many read the Bible thus! 

The art of meditation may be learned by dint of effort. You say, "I am quite unused to meditate. How shall I begin?" Deal gently with yourself at first. Select your subject, some passage from the Word. Then fix the time you choose to give; say, five minutes at a time. Begin, and think aloud. This makes it easier, and saves the mind from distracted thoughts, the hardest task of all. The sound even of your own voice will help you; it is like speaking to a friend.   And what is meditation, but communing with self, that self may be a constant hearer. 

But, more than all, make it a time of prayer of communing with God. This helps the matter greatly. Take the words of Scripture, and ask Jesus what they mean. In doing this, the mind is exercised. A glow of thought attends the effort. You honor Jesus; and He will honor you, by pouring out a largeness of capacity, a quicker mind. The interchange of thought between you and Jesus goes on apace, and you are surprised to find how long the exercise has lasted. Thus meditation grows, the more it is exercised. It feeds the soul, expands the mind, increases thought, and, best of all, it brings you into fellowship with Jesus. This is the very life and soul of meditation. 

 [George Mylne] 

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 Ecclesiastes 7:25 ... I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness:

 Joshua 1:8 ... his book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 Psalm 1:2 ... But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 Psalm 77:12 ...  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.❤

Freewill

I support 100% a person's right to make choices that in my view are inconsistent with my faith, my Christian worldview, and what I see as a detriment to an individual. This means their religion, their life choices, even their sexual identity or lifestyle. Because my faith allows choices because God allows men and women to choose in their life the choices they might make, good or bad. 

However, that by no means suggests that I agree, nor approve, or even respect that belief system. I work with Muslims, some of them are close friends of mine, and while I respect their choice to follow a religion that I deem hostile to anyone seeking to embrace it, I also understand the principles of allowing people the freedom of choice. This by no means suggests that I respect Islam, any more than I respect the ideology of someone choosing a gay lifestyle. It's all the same - a choice. 

God has given men the greatest gift (besides salvation) and that is a freewill. It is that same free will that determines our fate because God holds no man chained to where he wishes not to be. This includes following Christ. God loves us, cares for us, and desires only a relationship with us thru his son. But he will no way force his will upon us, just the consequences of rejecting him. That's the difference. 

I respect my Muslim friends, and I support their universal right of following another path, even if that path will lead them to destruction. But I don't embrace it, nor approve of the spirit behind it, but reject it as a lie from hell itself. That's the problem, we've forgotten who our enemy is. 

 [Christopher Gregory] 

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1 Peter 5:8 ... Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

Joshua 24:15 ... And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.❤

Deep Waters!!

God does not open paths for us in advance of our coming. He does not promise to help before help is needed. He does not remove obstacles out of our way before we reach them. Yet when we are on the edge of our need God's hand is stretched out to help us. Many people forget this, and are forever worrying about difficulties which they foresee in the future. They expect that God is going to make the way plain and open before them, miles and miles ahead; whereas He has promised to do it only step by step as they move on. 

There is a Scripture promise which reads: "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you." (Isaiah 43:2) You must get into the deep waters, before you can claim this promise. Many people dread death, and lament that they have not "dying grace." Of course they will not have dying grace when they are in good health, in the midst of life's duties, with death far in advance. Why should they have it then? 

Grace for duty is what they need living grace now; then dying grace when they come to die. When their feet are dipped in the brim of Jordan, the torrent will sink away! 

 [J. R. Miller] 

Joshua 3:15-16 ... And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)  That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

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Practical Christian Living

The habit of treasuring up a text of Scripture in the morning, to be meditated upon while engaged in the business of the world through the day is both profitable and delightful. It is as a refreshing spring to a weary traveler! Nothing is more helpful and practical in Christian living, than the habit of getting a verse of Scripture into the mind and heart in the morning. Its influence stays through the day, weaving itself into all the day's thoughts and words and experiences. 

 Every verse in the Bible is meant to help us to live and a good devotional book opens up the precious teachings which are folded up in its words. A devotional book, which takes a Scripture text, and so opens it for us in the morning that all day long it helps us to live, becoming a true lamp to our feet, and a staff to lean upon when the way is rough is the very best devotional help we can possibly have. What we need in a devotional book which will bless our lives is the application of the great teachings of Scripture to common, daily, practical life!

 [J. R. Miller]

Joshua 1:8 ... This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

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Moses, Wise or A Fool?

The choice is done. Moses is determined. He has counted the cost: instead of honor, shame; instead of praise, blame; instead of respect, contempt; instead of plenty, poverty; instead of a princely portion, a slave's lot. Was this wise? Was Moses a wise man or a fool? What do you think of Moses was he right, or wrong? But if Moses was right, as I suppose you will admit, allow me to ask: Have you acted rightly? Have you made the same choice?

Have you looked at the world at its best and at true religion at its worst; and have you seriously, deliberately, and prayerfully decided to renounce the world, and embrace the despised religion of Christ, with all the scorn, contempt, and sufferings to which it may expose you?

Moses made his choice between the children of God and their sufferings--and the Egyptians and their pleasures. And you must make your choice between Christ or the world, holiness or sin, the narrow path to Heaven or the broad road to Hell.

"Choose this day whom you will serve!" (Joshua 24:15) A master you must have, and it must be either Satan or Christ. Serve you must, and your service must be either sin or righteousness. Look, then at the world, at its honors, wealth, and pleasures; look also at the church, at its poverty, contempt, and sufferings. Look at Hell, with its bitter reflections, deep sorrows, and indescribable torments; look also at Heaven, with its sweet thoughts, pure enjoyments, and endless felicity. Now make your choice!

Do you choose the world and its pleasures now along with Hell and its horrors forever? Do you chose rather to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time, than to serve and suffer with the people of God though you know your end will be as bitter as wormwood, and as dreadful as the just wrath of a holy and unchangeable God could make it?

If Moses was wise then what can you be, but a fool? And your foolishness now will increase your anguish and agony to all eternity!

[James Smith]

Hebrews 11:24-25 … By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

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Soak In A Few Verses All Day

Some people like to read so many chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather have my soul soaking in a few verses all day, than rinse my hand in several chapters.

Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up into your very soul, until it saturates your heart!

Set your heart upon God's Word! Let your whole nature be plunged into it as a cloth into a dye!

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Psalm 119:97 … O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 1:2 … But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Joshua 1:8 … This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.❤

Deliver Us, Oh Lord!

There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We would be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering spiritual strength for labor in His service through meditation on His Word. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment for our souls out of them.

Truth is something like the cluster of the vine: if we would have wine from it, we must bruise it we must press and squeeze it many times. The bruiser's feet must come down repeatedly upon the grapes, or else the juice will not flow and much of the precious liquid will be wasted.   So we must, by meditation, tread the clusters of truth, if we would get the wine of consolation therefrom.

Our bodies are not supported by merely taking food into the mouth, but the process which really supplies the muscles, and the nerves, and the sinews, and the bones is the process of digestion. It is by digestion that the food becomes assimilated with the inner life.

In the same way, our souls are not nourished merely by listening awhile to this, and then to that, and then to the other part of divine truth. Hearing, reading, marking, and learning, all require inward digesting to complete their usefulness and the inward digesting of the truth lies for the most part in meditating upon it.

Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life?  Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God's Word.

They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the grain, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it. From such folly deliver us, O Lord!

May this be our daily resolve, "I will meditate in your precepts."

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Psalm 1:2 … But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psalm 119:97 … O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:99 … I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

Joshua 1:8 … This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 119:15 …  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.❤

Hideous Monster

Meditation on the sufferings and death of Jesus, produces a hatred towards sin.

It was sin which made it necessary for the Lord of glory to come down from Heaven and take on Him the form of a servant. Sin was the cause of His deep humiliation, abasement and sufferings. Viewing sin through the cross, the believer abhors it, and regards it with perfect hatred. He therefore diligently strives against it, and strenuously resists Satan, from whose iron chains he could never have been delivered, had it not been for the death of the Son of God.

Sin will never appear in its own deformity and horrid nature until we see it in its effects in the Son of God until we "behold the Lamb of God" bearing our sin on the cruel tree. Christ crucified, like a magnifying glass exhibits to view every feature of this hideous monster!

'Anything rather than sin!' is the language of the Christian's heart!

[Thomas Charles]

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Romans 12:9 …  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.



Psalm 97:10 … Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.



Joshua 1:8 … his book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.❤