02 Jul 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a heat warning in effect, a nudge from the Lord, A Prayer For Success In All My UNdertakings, a strong will, abundancegood healt, air conditioned comfort, an appropriate prayer, another blistering day, as you go, be accomplished in God's time, be strong and of a good courage, be with me, blessed be thy name, builds our faith, Canada Day celebrations, check if our lives are successful, christianity, clear direction for my life, come to know and love God like we do, courage, creativity, curse, desire to know God's will for our lives, faith, favour, fear not nor be afraid, for all thy children, given me y life, God does not tell us everything all at once, God expects us to improve lives here on earth, God is guiding us one step at a time, God will never fail us because He's promised it, God's purpose for our lives, good friends, good health, guide my steps every day, have success and good fortune in my undertakings, He will not fail thee neither forsake thee, heat wave, help me to be good and honest and pure in heart, help me to make a wonderful success of my life, help me to work hard, helps us learn to trust God every day, holy spirit, I promise to do my best, I shall not grow tired, if I know you are leading me to success, In Jesus' name I pray, in what I undertake, it is enough that you guide me one step at a time, Jesus Christ, led the Israelites day by day, LOVE, make me listen to what you tell me, make this a better and happier world, mercy, need to have faith and patience, negative word, one step at a atime, open the way before you, Our Father which art in heaven, overcome all obstacles, place our sincere faith and trust in Almighty God, Prayer for Success, put me here on earth, put my feet on the path once more, salvation, self-control, self-discipline, step by step, sun screen, supernatural wisdom, talent, the BIBLE, the Holy Spirit leads us today, the light only shows the path right at your feet, the Lord doth go before thee, the Lord thy God, the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me, the pillar of cloud, the wonderful purpose known only to thee, these troubled and uncertain times, thou seest all and knowest all and plannest all, thou wilt never fail me, to health and happiness and success, to the work you want me to do, truth, undeserved blessings, walking in the dark with a flashlight, wisdom, wish I could see into the future, wish we could see into the future, you know how hard I try to do thy will
Today’s Scrip-Bit 2 July 2026 Psalm 38:8a.
Psalm 38:8a. ‘The Lord will perfect (complete) that which concerneth me.
And then it was Thursday; the Canada Day celebrations are over, and the work scene begins again. And yes, it’s sometimes hard to celebrate one day, then go to work the next. But I’m sure the smart ones have found a way to get these last two work days off, so they can have a long weekend. Now it’s going to be another blistering day, with another heat warning in effect. Like we’re finally getting what Europe’s been undergoing for a couple of weeks now, with so many places over there never ever experiencing such heat waves, and numerous people dying because of it.
So please, let’s stay inside as much as possible, hopefully in air conditioned comfort, or if you have to go out, make sure you put on your sun screen and a hat or something to protect you from those challenging rays of the sun. And talking about air conditioned comfort, it’s nice to note that the Duchess and I have not come to loggerheads over the AC just yet, (smile) for even she who likes the heat, is wary about going out in it. Thank the Lord!
And today I want to share one of the many encouraging things I have posted all around my office, which I never seem to notice, although I’m in here every day. And I only noticed this article last night possibly because I got a nudge from the Lord when I changed the wall calendar from June to July. For although the prominent article in big print, is pinned to the wall right next to the calendar, and I change the calendar every month, I don’t ever seem to notice it. So it must be the Lord’s doing. Now, don’t ask where I got it from, or when, and it must be fairly old because the paper has begun to yellow, as old paper usually does.
Anyway it’s titled: ‘Prayer For Success In All My Undertakings.’ And it begins with this verse; ‘The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.’ (Ps. 138:8) Now please pray with me: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, Thou seest all and knowest all and plannest all. Thou hast put me here on earth for the wonderful purpose known only to Thee. And Thou hast given me my life that I might make this a better and happier world for all Thy children.
O Father, Thou knowest how hard I try to do Thy will. And sometimes I do wish I could be able to see into the future and find out whether I will ever have success and good fortune in my undertakings. But then I know it is enough that Thou guidest me only one step at a time. Help me, dear Father, help me to make a wonderful success of my life. Put my feet on the path once more to health and happiness and success in what I undertake.
Guide my steps every day, dear Father; to the work Thou wantest me to do. Be with me and I promise to do my best, Father. Make me listen to what Thou tellest me and help me to be good and honest and pure in heart. Help me to work hard that I may overcome all obstacles. For I shall not grow tired, dear Father, if I know Thou art leading me on to success. Blessed be Thy name, dear Father; for I know Thou wilt never fail me! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’
Oh friends, isn’t that a beautiful and most interesting, as well as an appropriate prayer for these troubled and uncertain times, where many of us don’t know whether we’re coming or going! I suspect that it must have been written long ago because of the ‘Thys, Thous and Thees,’ but nonetheless it contains stuff that many of us pray every day. We know that God has placed us down here to improve life, and we all desire to know His will for our lives. And we all wish we could see into the future and check out if our lives are successful, but we need to have faith and patience and know that God is guiding us but only one step at a time.
One overview tells us, ‘God usually shows us the way a little bit at a time. He does not give us the whole map all at once. This builds our faith and helps us learn to trust Him every day. Think of walking in the dark with a flashlight. The light does not show the end of the road. It only shows the steps right in front of your feet. God’s guidance works in the same way.’
It’s like the literal translation of Prov. 4:12 says: ‘As you go, step by step I will open up the way before you.’ The pillar of cloud led the Israelites day by day. And the Holy Spirit lead us today, for the guidance we’re seeking from God, comes through the Holy Spirit. We need to listen to Him very closely every day for God’s guidance. And when we place our sincere faith and trust in Almighty God, then we’re assured that God will never fail us because that’s His promise, which you can find throughout the Bible.
Moses said it thus to the Israelites before they went into the Promised Land: ‘Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go before thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.’ (Deut. 31:6) And it’s what we also need to believe in these chaotic times if we expect to do God’s work successfully. That’s exactly why Bruh David could write in Psalm 38: ‘The Lord will perfect (complete) that which concerneth me.’ (Ps. 38:8) We must not doubt that the Lord will ensure His purpose for our lives will be accomplished in His good time.
And to help us do His earthly work. He so generously bestowed on us these undeserved Thursday Blessings. So let’s declare and activate them right now nuh. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, we’re now obliged to go out and share those undeserved blessings with others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…God’s plans for our lives will all come true…if we follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
25 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a most important characteristic of our faith, a positive outlook on life, a strong will, above all these things put on charity, abundance, and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, and with what measure ye mete, anger, as far as the east is from the west, As God for christ's sake forgave you, as the elect of God, based upon prejudicial information, be ye kind to one another, christianity, clamour, come to know and love christ like we do, courage, creativity, curse, delivered him unto the tormentors, divine protection, do also unto you, don't care who we hurt, don't condemn the inner motives of another, don't use yourself as the standard of judgement, even as Christ forgave you so also do ye, evil speaking, faith, for our benefit, for with what judgement ye judge, forbearing one another, forgive not every one his brother their trespasses, forgiven of a huge debt, forgiveness, forgiving one another, God's love in action, hath shewed no mercy, holy and beloved bowels of mercies, holy spirit, humbleness of mind, if any man hath a quarrel against any, if ye forgive men their trespasses, if ye forgive not men their trespasses, if ye from your hearts, it shall be measured to you again, Jesus Christ, judge not that ye might not be judged, judged by the law of liberty, judgement without mercy, kindness, let all bitterness, likewise shall my heavenly Father, living in an evil and ungodly society, longsuffering, LOVE, malice, meekness, mercy, mercy rejoiceth against judgement, mercy triumphs over judgement, negative word, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your tespasses, no need to worry, pay all that was due to him, Praise the Lord, refuses to forgive a small debt, remorse, render a verdict, salvation, self-discipline, so far hath he removed our transgressions, so little remorse over the wrondoing, so much wrongdoing in our world, so speak ye and so do, supernatural strength, talent, tender mercies, tenderhearted, the BIBLE, the bond of perfectness, the gospel truth, the parable of the unforgiving servant, through Christ who strengthens us, true judgement will come from God, truth, use our blessings to help others, we can handle anything that comes against us, wisdom, wrath, wrath clamour anger be put away from you, ye are sealed unto the day of redemption, your heavenly Father will also forgive you
Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 June 2026 Matthew 6:14.
Matthew 6:14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
And we’ve come to Thursday, the second to last day of our work week, a day that begun with some cloud and a little sun, but has now morphed into total cloud and some drizzle. But there’s no need to worry, for we can handle anything that comes our way through the amazing power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who strengthens us. And all God’s people gave a loud and grateful shout of ‘Praise the Lord!’
And today we’ll look at a very interesting aspect of our faith, that’s forgiveness. Jesus made it very clear that forgiveness is one of the most important characteristics of our faith. But unfortunately, today, it’s not something that we practice as much as we ought. Now it all stems from Jesus coming to earth to die on the cross so that the Father could forgive us our sins. And consequently, Jesus clearly stated what the Lord desired of His people, in terms of forgiveness. ‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.’ (Matt. 6:14-15)
Oh my brethren, it’s oh so clear that the Lord forgave us of our trespasses, as the psalm says, ‘As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.’ (Ps. 103:12) Now He desires us to forgive each other in the same spirit that He forgave us. But our current society is so evil and ungodly, with so much wrong being done against each other, that it’s sometimes difficult to forgive the wrongdoers, especially when they don’t appear to have any remorse over the wrong they committed. And believe me, like forgiveness, remorse in today’s society is almost non -existent. For we knowingly commit wrongs and don’t give a care who they hurt.
But the covenant still stands, as Jesus says: ‘Judge (condemn) not, that ye be not judged (condemned). For with what judgement (condemnation) ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete (use), it shall be measured to you again.’ (Matt. 7:1-2) In other words, we are not to judge or condemn the inner motives of another, or render a verdict based upon prejudiced information, neither are we to use ourselves as the standard of judgement, because it will be the same standard of judgement used against us. The only true judgement will come from the Lord on the day He chooses.
Jesus also bore down on the subject of forgiveness when He told the parable of the unforgiving servant; one who owed his master a lot of money and when he couldn’t pay it, begged for forgiveness, and the master forgave him the debt. But then the same servant had a fellow servant owe him a much smaller sum and when he couldn’t repay the debt, he refused to forgive him, and had him cast into prison until he could pay. However his fellow servants on seeing such unforgiveness went and told the master about it.
The master called him and said to him; ‘O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst (begged ) me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth (angry), and delivered him unto the tormentors (torturers), till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.’ (Matt. 18:32-35)
Yes friends, our God is very serious about our forgiving each other, because He forgives us. As I heard one preacher recently ask, when has the Lord refused to forgive you of a sin eh? And the answer is NEVER! That’s the point the Lord is trying to drive home to us. If he could forgive us, so can we forgive our fellow human beings.
It’s as Bruh Paul wrote to the Ephesians: ‘And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’ (Eph. 4:30-32) Yes my people, we grieve the Spirit of God when we refuse to forgive each other.
Then to the Colossians, Bruh Paul wrote almost the same thing: ‘Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies (tender mercies), kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing (bearing with) one another, and forgiving one another, if any man hath a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity (LOVE), which is the bond of perfectness.’ (Col. 3:12-14)
It could not get any clearer than that my brethren. James though adds a perfect ending to our discourse, when he writes: ‘So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgement without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against (triumphs over) judgement.’ (James 2:12-13) And that’s the gospel truth friends, mercy triumphs over judgement every time! So please, let’s practice it nuh, as it’s all for our benefit.
And just to show how generous and forgiving is our God, let’s declare our Thursday Blessings, undeserved blessings bestowed on us to help do His earthly work. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…forgiveness…God’s LOVE in action…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
11 Jun 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a great family, a strong will, abundance, be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage, behave like the Pharisees, being spiritual is not everything, caught up in our spirituality, challenging, Charlie Brown, christianity, clear direction for my life, come to know and love christ like we do, courage, creativity, curse, divine protection, doubted I'd ever reach the goal, enjoying intimacy with us, faith, Feeling Spiritual, for freedom Christ freed u, freedom from the law, fulfillment, God formed us in the womb, God knows all about us, God put His breath of life in us, God wants to be totally involved in our lives, good friends, good health. favour, holy spirit, hypocritical airs and grace, I could not feel spiritual, I keep remembering, I was delighted, in the liberty, in the quiet of our family room, it's foolish to try and fool God, Jesus Christ, just you and me, let's read it together, lighten up, lose the freedom Christ died for us to have, LOVE, man looketh on the outward appearance, mercy, negative word, never worry about feeling spiritual, One Year Book of Bible promises, our happy time last night, promotion, reading a devotional book, Ruth Harms Calkin, salvation, self-control, self-discipline, sentences twirled, share everything with me, stand fast, stop trying to hide from the Lord, subject to a yoke of bondage, success, suddenly the book felt heavy, supernatural strength, talent, tantalizingly calling our names, the BIBLE, the Lord is that Spirit, the Lord looketh on the heart, the Lord seeth not as man seeth, the penultimate day of the work week, the siren call of Friday and the weekend, the spirit of God indwells each believer, the truth shall set you free, the whole weight of the world on our shoulders, there is liberty, too focused on Friday and the weekend, truth, undeserved blessings, very inspirational, we read and laughed, where the Spirit of the Lord is, wherewith Christ hath made us free, wisdom, with all my valiant effort, words collided, ye shall know the truth
Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 June 2026 2 Corinthians 3:17.
2 Corinthians 3:17. ‘Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.’
And then it was Thursday, our penultimate day of the work week, and unfortunately too many of our minds are focused on Friday and the weekend rather than on Thursday and what challenges it presents. But that’s the siren call of Friday and the weekend, (smile) so difficult to ignore, especially when it keeps on tantalizingly calling our names. However, we need to develop the discipline to not look forward too much to Friday and the weekend, and concentrate on the day before us, if we want to be successful.
Anyway, today, we’re going to look at a very interesting poem from our One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings by Ruth Harms Calkin. All right, I understand, all of them are very interesting…but this one is also amusing, neither do I remember sharing it, as if I ever remember sharing any. (smile) However, it’s simply titled ‘Feeling Spiritual.’ Like many more of us ought to be. So please read with me:
‘Lord, I keep remembering Our happy time last night – Just You and me In the quiet of our family room. I had been reading a devotional book Very “spiritual” Very inspirational So challenging I doubted that I’d ever reach the goal. Suddenly the book felt heavy Sentences twirled Words collided And with all my valiant effort I simply could not feel “spiritual.” Then, glancing at a Charlie Brown book I thought I heard You say “Let’s read it together – You and me.” I was delighted. We read and laughed and read and laughed… And just as we finished the last page You said what I needed most to hear: “Never worry about feeling ‘spiritual.’ Just share everything with me.”
Oh friends, that’s why our God is so great and wonderful! He would like us to be spiritual, but being spiritual is not everything. However, He does desire to share everything with us. He wants to be totally involved in our lives. Whatever we’re doing He wants to be included in it, because that makes Him feel wanted and desired and a part of our lives, and enjoying the intimacy with us He so dearly desires. Besides, He cannot do His best for us unless He’s involved in every aspect of our lives.
And I hope that that poem causes some of us to lighten up and stop trying to be this big, holy, spiritual person, behaving as though we have the whole weight of the world on our shoulders, because we don’t. Life was made for living and once you have God, first and foremost in your life, you will be fine. You don’t have to behave like the Pharisees of old and put on all the hypocritical airs and graces of being spiritual and godly. For God knows who we really are.
Remember what He told Samuel when He sent him to anoint a king from Jesse’s house and Samuel looked on the fine appearance of the eldest son Eliab and assumed he was the one? ‘For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’ (1 Sam. 16:7b)
So friends, it’s time we stop trying to hide from the Lord, for He knows all that we’ll ever think, say or do. Remember He’s the one who created us, who formed us in our mother’s womb, and put His breath of life in us. So it’s foolish to try and fool Him. But many of us still try to do it. And when we do, like a wise and LOVING but disappointed Father, He just shakes His head and sadly chuckles at our unwise attempt to fool Him.
And interestingly enough the Bible verse for the poem comes from the pen of Bruh Paul, where in talking to the Corinthians about the Glory of God, he states: ‘Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.’ (2 Cor. 3:17) In other words, wherever the Spirit of God is, there’s freedom, you don’t have to worry. And since the Spirit of God indwells each believer, then we’re free, we don’t have to trouble ourselves because sometimes we don’t feel particularly spiritual, because the Lord is right there with us…always and forever.
As Bruh Paul say in Galatians: ‘Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.’ (Gal. 5:1) And as the scholars explain: ‘The verse could be rendered: “For freedom Christ freed us. therefore stand fast, and do not again be subject to a yoke of bondage.” The “freedom” in view is freedom from the law, here called “a yoke of bondage.” Paul wants the Galatians ( as well as us) to “stand fast,” that is, retain their spiritual freedom.’
And that’s exactly what we also need to do my faithful brethren; don’t let the law coax us back into its bondage, for we know the truth about it, and when we know the truth, as Jesus says: ‘And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’ (John 8:32) And when Jesus says it, then that’s it, full stop! (smile)
Now let’s declare and thus activate our undeserved Thursday Blessings which the Lord has generously bestowed on us to help do our earthly work. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And with that declaration we’ve become obliged to go out and use those undeserved blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…sometimes we get so caught up in our spirituality…that we lose the freedom Christ died for us to have…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
21 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a great family, a strong will, abundance, christianity, Christians, come to know and love God like we do, courage, creativity, David behaved himself wisely, David his ten thousands, dying for Friday to come, end of sermon, faith, favour, God's awesome wisdom, good friends, good health, holy spirit, if God spares life, in a more refined manner, jealousy, Jesus Christ, Jonathan stripped himself, Jonathanand David made a covenant, LOVE, loved him as his own soul, make a mess of today, mercy, negative word, one of the devil's most successful tools is jealousy, promotion, prosper and succeed, receive clear direction for my life, rise to today's challenges, salvation, Saul eyed David from that day forward, Saul hath slain his thousands, Saul was very wroth, self-control, self-discipline, share those undeserved blessings, small things can easily stir up jealousy, still warlike and bloodthirsty today, success, supernatural strength, talent, the BIBLE, the green eyed monster, the head of the Philistine in his hand, the interesting relationship between Saul David and Jonathan, the long and short of the story, the love that's possible despite tough circumstances, the son of thy servant Jesse, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, the women came out singing and dancing, their blood took to one another, truth, undeserved blessings, viewed him suspiciously, what can he have more than the kingdom, what jealousy can wreak in our lives, wisdom, with tabrets with joy and with instruments of musick
Today’s Scrip-Bit 21 May 2026 1 Samuel 18:9.
1 Samuel 18:9. And Saul eyed David (viewed him suspiciously) from that day and forward.
And it seems that this Thursday will be another bright and sunshiny but mid-teens temperature day. But we’ll take it any day over the cold and miserable winter weather! (smile) And many of us are just dying for Friday to come so that we can rest up after our hectic Victoria Day weekend. However, remember that we’ve still got to rise to whatever challenges today will bring, so please don’t think too much about tomorrow and the rest period following it, or else you might just make a mess of today. End of Sermon!
And today we’re going to take a look at the violence and damage the green eyed monster, jealousy, can wreak in our lives, as portrayed by the relationships between King Saul and Bruh David, as well as the LOVE that’s possible, in spite of tough circumstances, as portrayed by Bruh David and Jonathan, Saul’s son and heir. We see the relationships begin with Bruh David’s victory Goliath. King Saul enquired whose son Bruh David was, but his captain Abner had no idea. So Saul told him to find out.
The Bible then tells us: ‘And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.’ (1 Sam. 17:57-58) Imagine that nuh, a young boy, only in his teen age years, walking around with the head of a man he’d slaughtered held in his hands! But we’re no different today, still warlike and blood thirsty, just in a supposedly more refined manner.
But the Bible continues: ‘And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David (the life of Jonathan was bound up with the life of David), and Jonathan LOVED him as his own soul.’ (1 Sam. 18:1) I guess Jonathan was hanging around his father when he spoke to Bruh David, and possibly after some conversation, the souls of the two young boys just took to each other. Or as the old people would say, their blood just took to one another. But however it happened, that day, saw the beginning of a very strong relationship develop between the two youngsters.
And per the Good Book: ‘And Saul took him (Bruh David) that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.’ (1 Sam.18:2) Such was the power of the king, and his apparent liking for Bruh David. ‘Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he LOVED him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of (took off) the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.’ (1 Sam. 18:3-4)
The scholars speculate that ‘Jonathan’s transfer of his royal attire to David may indicate his covenantal pledge to transfer his privileged position as heir to the throne.’ Who knows? Jonathan most likely knew that Bruh David had already been anointed as the next king of Israel, and with a strong religious background felt it the right thing to do under those circumstances. The long and short of the story though is that Bruh David ended up working for Saul, both as a warrior and as a harp player to pacify Saul’s soul with the music when the evil spirit took it over.
The Bible states: ‘And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely (prospered): and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine(s), that the women came out of the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tabrets (small drums), with joy, and with instruments of musick (three stringed instruments).
And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very wroth (angry), and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David (viewed him suspiciously) from that day and forward.’ (1 Sam. 18:5-9)
Ah friends, how these little things can stir up jealously and cause us to do crazy and evil things. So what if Saul only slew thousands and David slew ten thousands? Saul was still the king, and David his servant. But no, we always want to be doing better than anyone who is supposedly below us in social status. Unfortunately though, time and space have run out on us, so tomorrow, if God spares life, we’ll continue with this most insightful story, between Saul, Jonathan and Bruh David.
Now let’s declare our undeserved Thursday Blessings, which the Lord in His awesome wisdom and generosity had seen fit to nonetheless bestow on us to help us do His earthly work. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and use those undeserved blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord bestowed them on us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him, like we do! Much LOVE!
…jealousy…one of the devil’s most successful tools…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
14 May 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a strong will, abundance, access by faith into grace, being justified by faith, belief, by the Holy Ghost which is given to us, character, Christians, clear direction for my life, courage, creativity, culminates in eternal life, curse, divine protection, even the youths shall faint and be weary, experienced, faith, favour, for what a man sees why does he yet hope for ir, fulfillment, glory in tribulations, God's faithfulness, God's supernatural wisdom, have peace with God through Christ, He gives power to the faint, holy spirit, hope does not disappoint, hope for what we don't see, hope in God, hope is the basis of faith, hope keeps us holding on to our dreams, hope keps us going, hope maketh not ashamed, hope of a good futre, hope that is seen is not hope, hope that things will turn out alright, I know the thoughts I think toward you, I wait for God my Saviour, I watch in hope for the Lord, I will look unto the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation, Jesus Christ, LOVE, mercy, my God will hear me, negative word, patience, penultimate day of our workweek, plans to give us a future and a hope, promotion, rejoice in hope of the glory of God, run and not be weary, salvation, self-control, self-disicpline, self-sacrifice, shall mount up with wings like eagles, talent, the basic catalyst, the BIBLE, the gospel truth, the groundwork called for in God's word, the level of our belief based on our hope, the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, the young men shall utterly fall, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end, to them that have no might he increaseth strength, tribulation worketh patience, truth, undeniable truth, walk and not faint, we are saved by hope, wisdom, with patience we wait for it, without hope you cannot have faith
Today’s Scrip-Bit 14 May 2026 Jeremiah 29:11.
Jeremiah 29:11. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).’
Ah friends, the penultimate day of our work week, Thursday, has opened somewhat cloudy and chilly, but let’s not lose hope, for yesterday afternoon turned out to be quite nice, despite the poor early morning weather. And if it’s one thing we Christians have is hope. Hope in God, and hope that things will turn out all right in the end. For without hope, what’s the purpose of living? None whatsoever! Since hope is the basic catalyst that keeps us going; keeps us holding on to our dreams and desires, whatever they may be. With hope we expect things to get better and those dreams to materialize at some point in time.
And that’s why the Bible, God’s Word is filled with so many wonderful verses on hope. So let’s look at some of them, and see how they boost our faith. for remember without hope, you cannot have faith, as hope is the basis of faith. And possibly the most well known and favourite verse of hope in the Bible is this one from Jeremiah. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil (calamity), to give you an expected end (a future and a hope).’ (Jer. 29:11) Yes my fellow believers, that’s what the Lord has in mind for us; hope of a good future, that culminates with Him in eternal life. And there’s nothing better to look forward to than that!
Then there’s this other amazing promise from the prophet Isaiah, that we all know and mouth, but don’t always believe, otherwise we would not be so often lacking in hope. ‘He giveth power to the faint (weak); and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.’ (Is. 40:29-31)
What a marvellous promise! But if we don’t truly believe it, then it will not happen for us, for that’s the groundwork called for in God’s Word; belief, which is born of hope and topped by faith. As Bruh Paul says in Romans. ‘For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience (perseverance) wait (eagerly wait) for it.’ (Rom. 8:24-25) And that’s the gospel truth! For hope is looking and waiting for something we don’t see. If we see it, then there’s no point in hoping for it.
Then there’s this interesting verse from the prophet Micah, where he declares: ‘Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.’ (Mic. 7:7) Now that’s a tremendous statement of hope and faith. As this translation puts it: ‘But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.’ And that’s more undeniable truth my brethren. If we wait and hope in our God, He will hear us and provide salvation. But then again, that all depends on the level of our belief that’s based on the amount of our hope. (smile)
Now these are also important verses on belief and hope, but I don’t think we appreciate them as much as some of the others. Why? Just listen. ‘Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh (produces) patience; And patience, experience (character); and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed (does not disappoint); because the LOVE of God is shed abroad (poured out) in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.’ (Rom. 5:1-5)
Ah mih people, we all like the end product, but none of us like to go through the middle section that talks of tribulations and perseverance. However, that is a most basic and foundational aspect of truly living for Jesus. It’s the calling of self-sacrifice that all followers of Jesus are expected to engage in, following His glorious example. And there are several more interesting scriptures on hope, but since time and space have runout on us, we’ll look at those tomorrow, if God spares life obviously. (smile)
And to help us find and keep that hope, the Lord has also most generously bestowed on us undeserved blessings, we call our Thursday Blessings. So let’s declare and activate them right now! In one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…there are too many examples of God’s faithfulness…to ever lose hope in Him…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
30 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a complete satisfaction, a genreal designation of the dwelling place of the saved, a proof of spiritual rebirth, a strong will, abundance, acknolwedges their sin, be as a tree planted by the waters, behooves us to go out and share those blessings, being fortunate, blessed a certain characterisitic of someone who want to serve God, blessed are the meek, blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are they that mourn, blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, blessed is the man tha trusteth in the Lord, children of the Most High God Jehovah, christianity, Christians, clear direction for my life, come to know and love him like we do, comforted by the compassion of God, comforted in confession, courage, creativity, curse, delay the greenery of spring, divine grace, divine protection, experience a deep desire for personal rightousness, experience profound inner joy and spiritual well being, faith, favour, favoured by God, frost avisory warning, future possessors of earth, good freinds, good health, got a zeppo, gratitude for life's gifts, he filleth the hungry soul with goodness, he satisfieth the longing soul, her leaf shall be green, holy spirit, how prideful foolish and unwise nakind can be, humbled by the grace og God, hunger and thirst for what only God can give, if God spares life, independent of circumstances, inherit the kingdom of heaven, Jesus Christ, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, LOVE, mercy, mourn for human anguish, mourn for sin, negative word, neither shall cease from yielding fruit, promotion, salvation, shall not be careful in the year of drought, shall not see when heat comes, spiritual poverty, spreadeth out her roots by the river, supernatural wisdom, talent, the Beatitudes, the BIBLE, the kingdom Jesus preached is both in you and yet to moe, the opposite of the proud and haughty in spirit, the penultimate day of our work week, the presently installed rightful heirs, the Sermon on the Mount, their dependence on God to save them, theirs is the kingdom of heaven, they shall be comforted, they shall be filled, they shall inherit the earth, those who mourn for sin cahll be cmforted in, to possess divine favour, true blessings only come from sincere association with God, truth, ultimately share in the kingdom of God on earth, wanting something but not willing to pay the price, whose hope the Lord is, wisdom
Jeremiah 17:7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
And then it was Thursday, the penultimate day of our work week, and are we ever looking forward to Friday and the weekend. But wait, am I seeing correctly? The computer is giving me a Frost advisory warning. Between the last day of April and the first day of May, we should expect frost… Let’s hope that isn’t true, for the young buds are just beginning to appear on the trees, and a frost cover would only inhibit their growth and thus further delay the greenery of spring that we’re all just dying to see, after a tough winter.
But yuh know what, we can handle anything that comes against us because we are children of the Most High God Jehovah and thus are blessed. And talking about being blessed, I read a scripture earlier this morning that talked about it, and afterward got a zeppo that we should check out some scriptures that deal with the subject. (smile) And there are several interesting ones in the Bible. But before we begin looking at scriptures about being blessed, it might be useful to first have a definition of what we mean by being blessed.
And this overview explains it thus: ‘”Be blessed” generally means to be favored by God, to possess divine favor, or to experience profound inner joy, peace, and spiritual well-being independent of circumstances. It signifies being fortunate, consecrated, or fortunate to have something. The term is used in both spiritual contexts (divine grace) and secular, everyday language (gratitude for life’s gifts).’
So, however we take it, blessed means to be rich or well-off in certain aspects of life. And the scripture I read earlier on certainly displays those sentiments. And it’s a scripture that we all know from the prophet Jeremiah, speaking on the Lord’s behalf ‘Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see (fear) when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful (anxious) in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.’ (Jer. 17:7-8)
Wow! What a marvellous blessing! You’d think that all of us would then be running down such an awesome blessing by totally putting our trust in the Lord God Jehovah. But we’re not. However, we all want to be blessed like that tree. That just goes to show how prideful, foolish and unwise mankind can be; desperately wanting something but not willing to pay the price to get it. Yes friends, we all want to be blessed by the Lord, but we don’t want to live the way He desires, so foolishly we forego His many blessings.
And Jesus brought the message of blessing to the forefront by giving us the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount. Each of the Beatitudes begins with the word ‘Blessed’ and talks about a certain characteristic of a person who wants to serve God, or who has been saved. Jesus begins with ‘Blessed are the poor in Spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matt. 5:3) And the scholars explain that by saying: ‘The poor in spirit are the opposite of the proud or haughty in spirit. They have been humbled by the grace of God and have acknowledged their sin and therefore their dependence on God to save them. They will inherit the kingdom of heaven; is a general designation of the dwelling place of the saved.’
Then the next Beatitude says: ‘Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.’ (Matt. 5:4) And the scholars offer this explanation of that verse. ‘Those that mourn … shall be comforted. The depth of the promise of these statements is almost inexhaustible. Those who mourn for sin shall be comforted in confession. Those who mourn for the human anguish of the lost shall be comforted by the compassion of God.’
Now here’s the next Beatitude: ‘Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (land).’ (Matt, 5:5) Which the scholars say refers again to those who have been humbled before God and will not only inherit the blessedness of heaven, but also will ultimately share in the kingdom of God on earth. Here in the opening statements of the Sermon on the Mount, is the balance between the physical and spiritual promise of the kingdom. The kingdom of which Jesus preached is both “in you” and is yet “to come.”
We then hear this awesome promise from our Lord and Saviour: ‘Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.’ (Matt. 5:6) And the scholars say that ‘These future possessors of the earth are its presently installed rightful heirs, and even now they hunger and thirst after righteousness. They experience a deep desire for personal righteousness, which in itself is a proof of their spiritual rebirth. Those who are poor and empty in their own spiritual poverty recognize the depth of their need, and they hunger and thirst for that which only God can give them. They shall be filled refers to a complete satisfaction. The psalmist proclaimed: “He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.’ (Ps. 107:9)
Ah friends, I do hope we’ve gotten an understanding of the Beatitudes that we’ve covered so far, only halfway, because time and space are forcing us to stop for today. So tomorrow, if God spares life, then we’ll continue looking at the Beatitudes and some other scriptures that talk about being blessed. Now, let’s turn and declare our Thursday Blessings; undeserved blessings which the Lord has so generously bestowed on us to help us do His earthly work.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord bestowed them on us, so that they can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…true blessings…only come from…sincere association with God…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
23 Apr 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a sense of humour, a serpent of brass, a source of spiritual confusion, a strong will, a symbol of deliverance, above all things have fervent charity among yourselves, abundance, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, brake in pieces the brasen serpent, Caleb and Joshua said they were well able, charity shall cover a multitude of sins, christianity, Christians, come to know and love God like we do, complaining, concentrate on the challenges of today, courage, curse, cut down the groves, did what was right in the sight of the Lord, duty bound, everyone that is bitten, faith, favour, forgiving iniquity and transgression, God's supernatural wisdom, good freinds, good health, great family, holy spirit, I have pardoned according to thy word, idolatrous worship, Israel burned incense unto the brass serpent, Jesus Christ, king Hezekiah, lack of faith in God and His promises, looking forward to tomorrow, LOVE, love shall cover a multitude of sins, make thee a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole, mercy, Moses spoke God's own words back to him, Moses talks the Lord into not totally destroying Israel, negative word, removed the high places of pagan worship, salvation, self-control, self-disicpline, shall live when he looks at it, smite them with the pestilence, success, supernatural strenght, talent, ten spies said they could not take the land, the bearer of life, the BIBLE, the dire consequences that can result from complaining, the Israelites reluctance to enter the Promised Land, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years., the Lord is longsuffering and of great mercy, the Lord said unto Moses, the Lord's wrath is stirred up when we refuse to believe His signs and wonders, the negative image of the devil incarnate, the second to last day of our work week, the solution to the Israelites snake bite problem, truth, use hospitality to one another without grudging, wisdom, wooden images, worshipping the bronze serpent
1 Peter 4:9. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling).
And so we come to Thursday, the second to last day of our work week. It’s a nice, warm sunshiny day, but I believe too many of us are looking forward to tomorrow, Friday, the end of the work week, instead of concentrating on the challenges of today. And we need to be very careful with those kinds of situations, for we can cause ourselves serious problems if our minds are not focused on what’s happening in front of us right now. Remember, Jesus warned us to concentrate on today’s problems, rather than what might happen on the morrow. (Matt. 6:34)
Anyway, as promised yesterday, if God spared life today, which He’s most generously done, (smile) then we would continue looking at some of the scriptures that deal with complaining and the dire consequences that can result from it. Now, yesterday we stopped where, after the Israelites complained, the Lord had sent fiery serpents into the camp to bite them and many of them died. Then they repented of their complaining and asked Moses to pray to God for them, and Moses did as asked.
And anyone who thinks the Lord doesn’t have a sense of humour or of the unexpected and unconventional, had better think again, for here’s His solution to the Israelites snake bite problem. ‘And the Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, he shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld (looked at) the serpent of brass, he lived.’ (Num. 21:8-9)
Now, only our mysterious and unconventional God would choose to have us look on the same thing that caused our problem to be saved from it, especially when it was a snake that held the negative image of the devil incarnate. But it worked then, and according to the scholars the bronze snake played a large role in Israel’s life, and remained a symbol of deliverance, but unfortunately by Hezekiah’s time it had become a source of spiritual confusion and idolatrous worship, and they fell back into the ancient pagan way of thinking and worshipping the bronze snake as the bearer of life.
It was not until Hezikiah, who developed a great trust in the Lord and did what was right in His sight, that the idol worship was destroyed. The Bible tells us that Hezekiah, ‘Removed the high places (places for pagan worship), and brake the images (sacred pillars), and cut down the groves (wooden images), and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it, and he called it Nehushtan (a bronze thing).’ (2 Kin, 18:4) So, we can see how easy it is for something man made to be turned into idolatry if it lasts long enough in our societies.
Meanwhile, the second incident of complaining that Bruh Paul spoke about in his letter to the Corinthians stems from the Israelites lack of faith and reluctance to enter the Promised Land, after the 12 spies came back from checking it out. They foolishly believed the ten who said it was indeed filled with milk and honey, but there were giants whom they could not defeat. And summarily refused to countenance Joshua and Caleb’s contention that they were strong enough, especially with the Lord’s help to go in and take it.
And they murmured and grumbled and complained so much that the Lord said unto Moses. ‘How long will this people provoke (despise) me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the (miraculous) signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.’ (Num. 14:11-12) Yes friends, that’s how the Lord’s wrath can be stirred up when we refuse to believe his signs and wonders and complain about our situations.
However, the Israelites were lucky that Moses intervened on their behalf and reasoned with the Lord that if He destroyed them all, then the other nations would hear about it and claim that ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he had slain them in the wilderness. And now I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, Pardon I beseech thee, the iniquity of these people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even unto now.’ (Num. 14:16-19)
Moses certainly knew how to get God’s attention, basically with God’s own words and His merciful behaviour so far to the Israelites. ‘And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted (tested) 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.’ (Num. 14:20-23)
And to make a long story short, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all those who had come out of Egypt died and only Joshua and Caleb, because of their strong faith, entered the Promised Land with the new generation of the Israelites. And it all came from their complaining and the lack of faith in the God of their forefathers, even after all the miraculous signs He had showed them. And sadly, many of us today feel and behave the same way, and eventually we will pay for our lack of faith and belief.
That’s why this scripture from Peter is so important. ‘And above all things have fervent charity (LOVE) among yourselves: for charity (LOVE) shall cover a multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling).’ (1 Pet. 4:8-9) And our God is so wonderful and generous that He has further bestowed on us undeserved blessings to do His earthly work. We call them our Thursday Blessings, so let’s declare and thus activate them right now nuh.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, we’re now duty bound to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…grumbling and complaining…in spite of God’s goodness and mercy…only raises God’s wrath…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
1 Peter 4:9. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling).
And so we come to Thursday, the second to last day of our work week. It’s a nice, warm sunshiny day, but I believe too many of us are looking forward to tomorrow, Friday, the end of the work week, instead of concentrating on the challenges of today. And we need to be very careful with those kinds of situations, for we can cause ourselves serious problems if our minds are not focused on what’s happening in front of us right now. Remember, Jesus warned us to concentrate on today’s problems, rather than what might happen on the morrow. (Matt. 6:34)
Anyway, as promised yesterday, if God spared life today, which He’s most generously done, (smile) then we would continue looking at some of the scriptures that deal with complaining and the dire consequences that can result from it. Now, yesterday we stopped where, after the Israelites complained, the Lord had sent fiery serpents into the camp to bite them and many of them died. Then they repented of their complaining and asked Moses to pray to God for them, and Moses did as asked.
And anyone who thinks the Lord doesn’t have a sense of humour or of the unexpected and unconventional, had better think again, for here’s His solution to the Israelites snake bite problem. ‘And the Lord said unto Moses, make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, he shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld (looked at) the serpent of brass, he lived.’ (Num. 21:8-9)
Now, only our mysterious and unconventional God would choose to have us look on the same thing that caused our problem to be saved from it, especially when it was a snake that held the negative image of the devil incarnate. But it worked then, and according to the scholars the bronze snake played a large role in Israel’s life, and remained a symbol of deliverance, but unfortunately by Hezekiah’s time it had become a source of spiritual confusion and idolatrous worship, and they fell back into the ancient pagan way of thinking and worshipping the bronze snake as the bearer of life.
It was not until Hezikiah, who developed a great trust in the Lord and did what was right in His sight, that the idol worship was destroyed. The Bible tells us that Hezekiah, ‘Removed the high places (places for pagan worship), and brake the images (sacred pillars), and cut down the groves (wooden images), and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it, and he called it Nehushtan (a bronze thing).’ (2 Kin, 18:4) So, we can see how easy it is for something man made to be turned into idolatry if it lasts long enough in our societies.
Meanwhile, the second incident of complaining that Bruh Paul spoke about in his letter to the Corinthians stems from the Israelites lack of faith and reluctance to enter the Promised Land, after the 12 spies came back from checking it out. They foolishly believed the ten who said it was indeed filled with milk and honey, but there were giants whom they could not defeat. And summarily refused to countenance Joshua and Caleb’s contention that they were strong enough, especially with the Lord’s help to go in and take it.
And they murmured and grumbled and complained so much that the Lord said unto Moses. ‘How long will this people provoke (despise) me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the (miraculous) signs which I have shewed among them? I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.’ (Num. 14:11-12) Yes friends, that’s how the Lord’s wrath can be stirred up when we refuse to believe his signs and wonders and complain about our situations.
However, the Israelites were lucky that Moses intervened on their behalf and reasoned with the Lord that if He destroyed them all, then the other nations would hear about it and claim that ‘Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he had slain them in the wilderness. And now I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation, Pardon I beseech thee, the iniquity of these people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even unto now.’ (Num. 14:16-19)
Moses certainly knew how to get God’s attention, basically with God’s own words and His merciful behaviour so far to the Israelites. ‘And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word: But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord. because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted (tested) 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.’ (Num. 14:20-23)
And to make a long story short, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years until all those who had come out of Egypt died and only Joshua and Caleb, because of their strong faith, entered the Promised Land with the new generation of the Israelites. And it all came from their complaining and the lack of faith in the God of their forefathers, even after all the miraculous signs He had showed them. And sadly, many of us today feel and behave the same way, and eventually we will pay for our lack of faith and belief.
That’s why this scripture from Peter is so important. ‘And above all things have fervent charity (LOVE) among yourselves: for charity (LOVE) shall cover a multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging (grumbling).’ (1 Pet. 4:8-9) And our God is so wonderful and generous that He has further bestowed on us undeserved blessings to do His earthly work. We call them our Thursday Blessings, so let’s declare and thus activate them right now nuh.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, we’re now duty bound to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…grumbling and complaining…in spite of God’s goodness and mercy…only raises God’s wrath…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
12 Mar 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a compassionate heart, a positive outlook on life, a strong will, a tree with a third of its leaves in winter, abundance, according to His abundant mercy, acquiring earthly treasure should not be your number one goal, an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, can't take your earthly treasure with you when you die, cannot be divided between him and one's material possessions, cannot worship material wealth and God simultaneously, check out a junkyard, come to know and love God like we do, consequences to every action, courage, creativity, curse, detest making mistakes, don't ignore today's challenges, don't look forward too much to tomorrow, drive you to do all kinds of evil, everything in the junkyard was once new, faith, favour, forgive me, getting soft in the head, go out and share our blessings, god moves in mysterious ways, gospel truth, hate the one and love the other, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, hold to the one and despise the other, holy spirit, interesting phenomenon, Jesus Christ, kept by the power of God, lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, LOVE, mercy, morally untainted, negative word, no man serve two masters, not one of meritorious benefits, not subject ot the ravages of time, our foucus is concentrated on our treasure, our improper attitude of enslavement toward wealth, reserved in heaven for you, rewards for faithful service, salvation, self-control, Sermon on the Mount, supernatural wisdom, talent, that fadeth not away, the accumulation of things, the concept of laying up treasures in heaven, the current worldly trend, the indisputable truth, the LOVE of money, the penultimate day of our work week, thieves break through and steal, thieves do not break through and steal, through faith unto salvation, to be revealed in the last time, to run down earthly wealth, total loyalty to God, truth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, where neither moth and rust doth corrupt, where your treasure is there will be your heart also, wisdom, worked our tails off, Ye cannot serve God and mammon, your number one treasure ought to be seeking the kingdom of God and His righeousness
Matthew 6:21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Oh friends, it’s Thursday, our penultimate day of the week! It’s a windy one with some sunshine, but also a cloud cover, and please, as Jesus says, don’t look forward too much to tomorrow and thus ignore today’s challenges. (Matt. 6:34) The weekend will come in due time and give you enough troubles to manage.
Anyway, I don’t know if the ole fella is getting soft in the head or what, (smile) but I just noticed that I sent our yesterday’s Bit as the 10th of March instead of the 11th. And I always check the dates and headings before I send them out. But the problem lies in the fact that I usually copy the headings and just change the dates, apparently though, I forgot to do that yesterday. Please forgive me. And I know you will, but it’s if I can forgive myself, for I detest making mistakes, especially such glaring ones, although I know they are a human possibility. (smile) But please don’t worry, we will get over it eventually.
Now here’s an interesting phenomenon I noticed some time last week. On looking out my bedroom window on to my backyard, I suddenly noticed that the big tree in my neighbour’s yard still had about three to four dozen leaves attached to it from the bottom branches to a third of the way up. And they are not new growth, for they are light brown in colour. That means they must have weathered the winter with all the snow, strong winds and lack of proper nourishment. I can’t remember ever seeing this sort of thing before, where two thirds of a tree was bare while the remaining third had numerous leaves on it’s dry branches. And I wonder how come I never noticed it before, as I look out my bedroom window every day to see what’s happening out there.
But who knows why and how it happened? So we’ll just place it in the God moves in mysterious ways folder, until we know better. (smile) And here’s another most important and appropriate message from Jesus to His followers. This from His teachings on the Sermon on the Mount, where He strongly admonishes us: ‘Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt (ruin), and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ (Matt. 6:19-21)
And we all know that’s the indisputable truth; wherever our treasure is hidden that’s where our focus will be concentrated. But unfortunately, too many of us still kill ourselves working, or scamming, to lay up earthly treasures for ourselves, despite knowing the truth of Jesus’ warning. But just check out a junkyard. Everything in there was once bright, shiny and new, and we worked or stole our tails off to get them. But with the passage of time they withered, rusted, or rotted and are now considered junk.
Then things like money and jewels are stolen or fraudulently acquired every day. Banks are robbed, big museums are robbed in broad daylight despite the many intrepid alarm systems they possess. So there’s really no safe way to hoard your earthly possessions. And Jesus didn’t even talk about the worse part of hoarding earthly treasures, that is when you die you don’t carry them with you, but leave them right here on earth for others to waste or fight over. So what’s the point of running down earthly treasures eh? None whatsoever!
Now Jesus didn’t mean you cannot acquire earthly treasures, but that should not be your number one goal. Your number one goal should be seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness, which would allow you to lay up treasures in heaven, where there are no moths, rust or thieves, and whatever you lay up there is completely safe. And Peter seconds Jesus’ warning when he writes: ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively (living) hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.’ (1 Pet. 1:3-5)
Yes my fellow believers, if the Lord could raise Jesus from the dead, and keep our inheritance of salvation and eternal life imperishable or indestructible, morally untainted and not subject to the ravages of time, why can’t He keep our other lesser treasures and rewards that we store in heaven safe eh? No reason at all. And the scholars offer this explanation on the subject of treasures. ‘The attention of the believer is directed toward treasures in heaven. The term ‘treasures’ implies the addition or accumulation of things. The two kinds of treasures are conditioned by their place (either on earth or in heaven). The concept of laying up treasures in heaven is not pictured as one of meritorious benefits but rather rewards for faithful service, as illustrated elsewhere in the teaching of Jesus.’
And with that explanation come this other warning, where some of us try to ride the fence. Jesus rightfully declares: ‘No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and LOVE the other, or else he will hold to the one (be loyal to one), and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.’ (Matt. 6:24) That’s more gospel truth friends! You cannot worship material wealth and God at the same time. As the scholars say: ‘Total loyalty to God cannot be divided between Him and one’s material possessions… Jesus is not condemning money or possessions in and of themselves, but the improper attitude of enslavement toward wealth.’
But how many of us are listening to Jesus eh? Not a whole lot, for the current trend in our world is to run down earthly wealth like it’s going out of style. Anyway, unless we choose to listen, nobody can really tell us how to make our individual way in this evil, greedy and ungodly world. But let’s remember there are consequences to every action, and some of those consequences can be very dangerous and damning. So please pay serious attention to the warnings of Jesus, for He knows whereof He speaks.
Now let’s declare and thus activate our underserved Thursday Blessings that God has so generously bestowed on us to do His earthly work. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline!
I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and share those blessings with others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him as we do! Much LOVE!
…the LOVE of money and/or material wealth…will drive you to do all kinds of evil deeds…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
05 Feb 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a strong will, acknowledge God's sovereignty, adoration, adrift among the dead, as a man that hath no strength, as we forgive our debtors, ask and it shall be given you, ask and it shall be opened, babbling, be realistic, blessed with God's supernatural widom, christianity, cleanse our hearts before we go to God in prayer, clear direction for my life, come to know and love jesus like we do, communicate with our heavenly Father, conformity with the nature and purpose of God, counted with them that go down into the pit, counted with those who are dying, courage, creativity, cried out day and night before thee, curse, cut off from the land, deliver us from evil, divine protection, don't make empty meaningless prayers, don't make vain repetitious prayers, don't pray in a showmanship manner, don't try to impress men with your prayers, drive ourselves crazy, every one that asketh receiveth, faith, false prophets, favour, for thine is the kingdom, forgive those who wrong us, forgive us our debts, fulfillment, give us this day our daily bread, hallowed be thy name, he that seeketh findeth, holy spirit, if ye forgive men their trespasses, if ye forgive not men their trespasses, in Jesus' name, incline thine ear unto my cry, it shall be opened, Jesus Christ, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, knock and it shall be opened unto you, lead us not into temptation, learnt to live with each day, let my prayer come before thee, like the slain that lie in the grave, listen to my cry, LOVE, man looks on the outward appearance, mercy, my life draweth nigh unto the grave, my soul is full of troubles, negative word, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses, on earth as it is in heaven, Our Father which art in heaven, prayer is an act of spiritual expression, promotion, prosper, reverence, salvation, seek and ye shall find, speaking without thinking, succeed, the BIBLE, the Lord looks on the heart, the Lord sees not as man sees, the penultimate day of our work week, the power and the glory for ever, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, to him that knocketh, truth, undeserved blessings, use those blessings to help others, we cannot fool God, whom you remember no more, wisdom, wishing for Friday and the weekend, your heavenly Father will also forgive you
Psalm 88:1-2. O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried (out) day and night before thee: Let my payer come before thee: incline thy ear unto my cry (listen to my cry);
Then it was Thursday, our penultimate day of the work week, and many of us just can’t wait for Thursday to be over and for Friday to show up. But we need to get real, be realistic; and learn to live with each day as it comes along, or else we’ll simply drive ourselves crazy wishing and hoping for Friday and the weekend. And the most important thing we can do each and every day is pray! Yes friends, prayer is super important, ever necessary, if we desire to communicate with our heavenly Father and Creator.
And I’m chuckling here, because I never expected to be still talking about prayer in a third message. I assumed it would be one message. But then I realized it needed at least two… And then I discovered that at least three were necessary, if I was to cover the subject thoroughly. So, we’re now on to message number three of the Bits on Prayer. (smile) And as we said earlier on in this series of messages, prayer can take any form, once it’s sincere, and not being made as a show for mankind. And the best examples of different kinds of prayer is found in the psalms, where the psalmists cry out to God for whatever reason.
It’s like Psalm 88, titled ‘A Trouble-Filled Soul’ from the Sons of Korah. ‘O Lord God of my salvation, I have cried (out) day and night before thee: Let my payer come before thee: incline thy ear unto my cry (listen to my cry); For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh (near) unto the grave. I am counted with them that go down into the pit (are dying): I am as a man that hath no strength. Free (adrift) among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from the land.’ (Ps. 88:1-5)
And that is one thing about the psalmists, they were not afraid to cry out to God, but we in this sinful and hypocritical society think it unbecoming to do so. But let’s remember these encouraging words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount. ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.’ (Matt. 7:7-8)
And Jesus went as far as to give us an example of a simple but very effective prayer. He says: ‘After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.’ (Matt. 6:9-13)
There you have it friends; a basic example on which to build our prayers. First of all, there must be some acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty, before we ask for what we need. And most important is the need for us to forgive those who wrong us, for as Jesus later says: ‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses.’ (Matt. 6:14-15)
Now that says it loud and clear my brethren! Many of us go to the Father with unforgiveness in our hearts but expect Him to forgive us and answer our requests. But according to Jesus it doesn’t work like that, which means we have to cleanse our hearts before we go to Him in prayer. And let’s remember we cannot fool God, for He looks at the heart not our outward actions, as He so plainly told Samuel when He sent him to anoint a new king for Israel from the house of Jesse.
Samuel saw the good looks and physical excellence of the first son, Eliab, and concluded that he was the one. ‘But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused (rejected) him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.’ (1 Sam. 16:7) And we all know which heart the Lord found most pleasing – that of Bruh David. So although prayer can take any form, there are a few basic do’s and don’ts. Like, do address God’s sovereignty in your prayers, with reverence and adoration, and approach Him with a clean and sincere heart. For if you are not forgiving, neither will He.
Meanwhile, do not let your prayer be mere showmanship, that is to impress others; neither make repetition a part of your prayers, for if the Lord is going to hear them, He will do so on the first uttering. That brings us back to the gospel of Matthew (6:7-8) where Jesus warned us against vain repetitions. The scholars tell us that denotes babbling or speaking without thinking, which the heathens do. And good examples of that can be found in the ecstatic babblings of the false prophets in the Old Testament and in the prophets of Baal who confronted Elijah on Mt. Carmel. (cf. 1 Kin. 18:26-29)
And we’ll end this series of messages on prayer with these very useful explanations from the scholars. They say that ‘Prayer is not man’s attempt to change the will of God. Prayer is not conquering God’s reluctance to answer, but laying hold of His willingness to help. Prayer in the life of the true believer is an act of total confidence and assurance in the plan and purpose of God. And furthermore, the sample prayer that Jesus gave us which we call ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ is in reality a disciple’s prayer. In no way does the prayer itself embody all of Jesus’ teachings about prayer; and having just warned against vain repetition, He did not intend for this particular prayer to be merely recited with empty meaninglessness.’
Unfortunately though, many of us do just that. However, after delving deeply into the subject of prayer, I do hope we have a better understanding of it, and that our future prayers will be indeed better prayers, (smile) in reality, better communication with Almighty God. Now let’s declare our Thursday Blessings, undeserved blessings that the Lord has generously bestowed on us to do His earthly work.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration, it now behooves us to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord bestowed them on us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…Prayer is an act of spiritual expression…that brings us into conformity…to the very nature and purpose of God…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
29 Jan 2026
by randyobrien50
in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living
Tags: a father of the fatherless, a good family, a judge of the widows, a positive outlook on life., a strong will, abundance, all ye that are upright in heart, an object of scorn, as smoke is driven away, as wax melts before the fire, be glad in the Lord, Bible, by his name JAH, children of God, clear direction for my life, come to know and love christ like we do, curse, David danced before the Lord, divine protection, drive them away, duty bound, everything will turn out right in the end, extol him that rideth upon the heavens, faith, favour, find great joy in God, generously bestowed, give thanks, God brings out those bound in chains into propserity, God in his holy habitation, God is a defender of widows, God sets the lonely in families, God's supernatural wisdom, great adoration, he that trusteth in the Lord, heartfelt gladness, holy spirit, in every thing give thanks, Jesus Christ, let God arise, let his enemies be scattered, let the righteous be glad, let the wicked perish as the presence of God, let them exceedingly rejoice, let them rejoice before God, let them that hate him flee before him, LOVE, many sorrows shall be to the wicked, mercy, mercy shall compass him about, negative word, pray without ceasing, promotion, prya, put in a nutshell, rejoice, rejoice before God, rejoice evermore, rejoice ye righteous, self-disicpline, share our undeserved blessings, shout for joy, sing praises to his name, sing unto God, talent, the ark of the Lord, the destruction of God's enemies, the penultimate day of our work week, the presence of God, The Triumphant God, these cold and uninspiring day, this is the will of God in Christ concerning you, true believers in Christ, truth, undeserved favour, weep and moan regulalrly, wisdom
Psalm 68:3. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
Then it was Thursday, the penultimate day of our work week. And there’s some joy showing through as the week slowly peters out. (smile) And it’s amusing that since the snowstorm on Sunday, everyday has been mostly bright sunshine and not the dreary cloudiness we had hitherto been saddled with. I don’t know if regular sunshine in the winter months is worth the price of such a massive snowfall, but we’re surely glad to see the sun to brighten our spirits, especially in these cold and uninspiring days. (smile)
But on a more serious note, today, I want us to look at a few verses from Psalm 68, titled, ‘The Triumphant God.’ The scholars say that although there is no superscription explaining when this psalm was written, there is general agreement that it was written when the ark of the Lord was moved from the house of Obed-edom to the new location in the tabernacle specially built for it in Jerusalem, and Bruh David danced before the Lord. (smile) (2 Sam. 6:1-18 )
However, what I want us to consider in the first few verses is the magnificent manner in which Bruh David desires the destruction of God’s enemies, talks of His might and power, praises His Holy name, while encouraging us to also sing His praises with joy and great adoration. So please read with me. ‘Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol (praise) him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH (Lord), and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge (defender) of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary (lonely) in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains (into prosperity): but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.’ (Ps. 68: 1-6)
There again, like yesterday, we see friends God’s great interest in the widows, orphans and the downtrodden. But today I want us to focus on the third and fourth verses, that encourage us as the righteous of God to be glad before him, to rejoice exceedingly, to sing praises to his name, to extol Him. And that word ‘extol’ does not simply mean to praise but to laud, to magnify, to exalt, to glorify, to acclaim and greatly celebrate! Yes friends we ought to find such great joy in our wonderful God that we just let it all hang out with praises and worship, fellowship and heartfelt gladness.
It’s like when Bruh David brought the ark home to Jerusalem he felt such a joy and blessing that the Good Book tells us, he danced before the Lord. But to his wife Michal, it was a vile and disgusting behaviour, not fit for a king. However, Bruh David was of a different opinion, and because of her snotty snobbishness, he banned her from his presence, and she was thus childless all of her days. (2 Sam. 6:20-23) That obviously made her an object of scorn and inuendo, for remember the great importance placed on wives bearing their husbands children in those days.
Anyway, getting back to the praise and worship due our magnificent and generous God, listen to these words of Bruh David from Psalm 32, titled ‘Confession and Forgiveness.’ He ends it with these very purposeful verses. ‘Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about (surround him). Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.’ (Ps. 32:10-11) And I believe that’s something not enough of us do on a regular basis. But we do weep and moan very regularly. (smile)
Now, if our God is so good, why do we weep and moan more often than we rejoice and be glad eh? If we know and believe God’s promise that everything will turn out all right in the end (Rom. 8:28) then why are so many of us still so fearful? It means that we don’t truly believe. And what did Bruh Paul encourage the Thessalonians to do? ‘Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.’ (2 Thess. 5:16-18)
That puts it all in a very nice nutshell my people. (smile) Our basic duties are to pray, rejoice and give thanks! And even though it’s difficult to do in these crucial times, we desperately need to increase all three activities if we are to remain true believers in Christ Jesus and children of God. Now let’s do some giving of thanks by declaring our Thursday Blessings; underserved favour most generously bestowed on us by our marvellous God to do His earthly work.
As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment!
I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’
And having made that declaration (yesss!!!) we’re now duty bound to go out and use those undeserved blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!
…God made mankind to LOVE…pray to…sing His praises and worship Him…
Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien
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