Shalom,


Psalm 120:1-2:


1 IN MY distress I cried to the LORD, and he answered me. 2 Deliver me, O LORD, form lying lips and from deceitful tongues.


This Psalm is one of the Psalms of degrees, or ascents. The natural idea is of pilgrims making their way up to Jerusalem. The idea in the spiritual realm is that of growing up, or maturing, in the things of God. That happens through our study and meditation of the Word of the God, and obeying what we know to do! As New Covenant believers in Jesus of Nazareth, we know HOW to get Him to hear when we "cry out"! 1 John 5:14-15:


14 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us: 15 And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.


Now THAT is quite some promise! All that we have to do to get our prayers answered is to make sure that HE hears them! What does He hear? Things asked for that line up with His WILL! Where do we find His will? His Word IS His Will! Find out what the Word of God says about your particular situation, then refuse to even THINK about anything else! When He hears - we HAVE! AMEN! Thank You, Jesus!


In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul says this in verses 24-25:


24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. 25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temporarily and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither. 


In a natural race, there is only 1 winner! In OUR race that Paul is speaking about, EACH person wins, IF we win! How do we win? By fulfilling God's will and purpose and plan for our lives! Remember that REAL success is being where God wants you to be, doing what God wants you to do! No other person can beat us in our race! Our enemy, the devil, cannot beat us in our race! The only person who can affect OUR race is US! Make the determined purpose right now that you want God's will for your life more than any other thing! Paul goes on to say in verses 26-27:


26 Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary. 27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it  by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]. 


Now that doesn't mean you won't be in Heaven! It simply means that for all of  our TALK about the Gospel, if we don't put our own bodies under and make them come in line with the Word, then we REALLY don't BELIEVE the Gospel we preach! Don't ever let your body decide ANYTHING for you! Don't let your body tell you when to eat, when to sleep, when to exercise, when to get up, when to praise, when to pray....! You get the idea! Make your every decision based on the Word of God and your body will learn that it has NO SAY in the matter! AMEN!  


My favorite verses in Joshua 13-14 are found in Joshua 14:10-11:


10 And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 yet I am as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so is my strength now for war and to go out and to come in.


Joshua and Caleb had been the only ones of the twelve men sent out to spy the land who came back with a good report that they were well able to take the land. They had complete faith, trust, and confidence that the One, True God would deliver the enemy into their hands! That same faith in HIM caused Caleb to stand before Joshua and say what we just read! Do YOU want to be able to say that when YOU are 85? Then start NOW by refusing to believe anything contrary to that about yourself! Feed daily on the Word of God and stay filled with the Spirit of God and you, too, will find your strength grow instead of abate! AMEN! Now remember that Caleb was living under the promises of the Old Covenant! We have a new one and WE are living in the "Aftermath" of all that Jesus has provided for us! Hillsong United's "Aftermath":

Shalom in Him!