10-07-06 Lamentations 3: 55-57

Lamentations 3: 55-57 (KJ21)
I called upon Thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: "Hide not Thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon Thee; Thou saidst, "Fear not."

Lamentations 3: 55-57 (NAS)
I called on Thy name, O LORD, Out of the lowest pit. Thou hast heard my voice, "Do not hide Thine ear from my prayer for relief, from my cry for help." Thou didst draw near when I called on Thee; Thou didst say, "Do not fear!"

Lamentations 3: 55-57 (NIVUS)
I called on your name, O LORD, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: "Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.” You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear."

Lamentations 3: 55-57 (NLT)
But I called on your name, LORD, from deep within the well, and you heard me! You listened to my pleading; you heard my weeping! Yes, you came at my despairing cry and told me, "Do not fear."

Have you ever heard a news report in which one person was accosted by another? The word accost shows you that the meeting was not a friendly one, but one that could have involved anger and violence. It definitely was not a casual meeting, but a forceful one. Did you know that God uses this word as a definition of calling upon Jehovah? Of course, you can do no violence to Adonai or His Kingdom, but God does not get upset when you forcefully bring your case before His throne.

There are, however, gentler ways to approach the Most High. You can cry out, calling the Lord by name. When you wish to have an encounter with the Lord your God, you can simply invite Him to be your guest. If the church as a whole needs to meet with God, then a published proclamation may the best way of bringing you together. At all times, you should honor God's authority and character; you should not come before Him with a flippant attitude, but one of respect.

When you are in the lowest depths, then you should cry out to the Almighty. If you believe you are on the bottom, locked in a dungeon, then lift your voice to call loudly upon the Lord. This is a good time for you to accost the throne of God, for from there your help will come. You can be sure that Adonai will hear you. You will certainly get His attention, for He knows the sound of your voice. Whether you sing, whisper, or yell, God will hear you. He will not hide Himself from you. He is not blind to your needs. His ear will give you audience; He can even distinguish your very breath. Therefore, do not hesitate to cry to the Lord; you have the freedom to seek His help in trouble.

When you call to Jehovah, He will come near. He will offer His hand to you to draw you out of the pit. He will take His stand joining Himself to you. He will make you ready to produce, no matter what circumstances you are in. When He offers His help, be quick to take it. Do not fear His approach, for He is your Savior and Deliverer.

10-06-06 Lamentations 3:33-36

Lamentations 3:33-36 (KJ21)
For He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. To crush under His feet all the prisoners of the earth, to turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most High, to subvert a man in his cause—the Lord approveth not.

Lamentations 3:33-36 (NAS)
For He does not afflict willingly, Or grieve the sons of men. To crush under His feet All the prisoners of the land, To deprive a man of justice In the presence of the Most High, To defraud a man in his lawsuit—Of these things the Lord does not approve.


Lamentations 3:33-36 (NIVUS)
For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men. To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land, to deny a man his rights before the Most High, to deprive a man of justice— would not the Lord see such things?

Lamentations 3:33-36 (NLT)
For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow. But the leaders of his people trampled prisoners underfoot. They deprived people of their God-given rights in defiance of the Most High. They perverted justice in the courts. Do they think the Lord didn’t see it?

Many people see Adonai as hard and demanding. They thin He is constantly breathing out fire and threats. However, these people do not understand the Father-heart of God. The Almighty actually cares for you and wills the best for you. He does not have a hard or stiff heart, but one that is kind and tender towards his children. He does not wish to browbeat or look down on you. You are not abased or afflicted in His sight. He does not want to deal harshly with you, but to show you gentleness. His will is not to bring you low; grief and sorrow should not be normal aspects of your life.

God will not beat and bruise you, for you are His beloved child. Even though He has the power to crush and destroy you, He will not break you in pieces. You are not under Adonai's feet, where you could be oppressed and injured. You are not a captive prisoner, bound to an oppressive tyrant's will.

As a valiant, strong man or woman, you have certain rights and privileges that the Lord will not set aside. He will not stretch out His hands to take them away. He will not bend you until you yield. He desires that you come willingly before His face; He wants you to freely seek Him. As the Most High God, Adonai could force your obedience and submission, but He wants you to have the liberty to choose. He does not want to contend with you over your cause; He does not want to wrest from you hands. Overthrow and subversion are not the Lord's style. Jehovah does not even approve of such actions.

God desires that you enjoy your experiences with Him, instead of striving. Jehovah looks on you with regard and respect. You should treat Him in the same way.

10-05-06 Lamentations 3: 31, 32

Lamentations 3: 31, 32 (KJ21)
For the Lord will not cast off for ever. But though He cause grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies.

Lamentations 3: 31, 32 (NAS)
For the Lord will not reject forever, For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His abundant lovingkindness.

Lamentations 3: 31, 32 (NIVUS)
For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.

Lamentations 3: 31, 32 (NLT)
For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion according to the greatness of his unfailing love.

You know that Adonai is Sovereign, with ultimate and complete control in the universe. He is your owner, Lord, and Master. You believe that He can change anything in your life, but sometimes it seems that He has removed Himself far away form you. You feel rejected and forsaken; you think the Lord has cast you off. At those times, you must put your faith in His word; He promised to never leave you or forsake you. Even though you cannot see evidence that God is working on your situation, you must continue to trust, for He will save and gather you to Himself. He will not always conceal Himself from you. You will reach your goal in strength and victory.

If you are grieving and sorrowful now, your God will show you His love, mercy, and compassion. You may have suffered loss, but Jehovah the Lord still wants to increase and multiply you. His plan for you is always abundance. He desires to rain myriads of blessings on you, out of His kindness and goodness. He will bestow His mercy and favor on you. He will deal with you in courteous grace. Therefore, continue to put confidence in the Almighty, for He encamps around you and dwells with you.
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10-04-06 Lamentations 3: 37,38

Lamentations 3: 37, 38 (KJ21)
Who is he that saith and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the Most High proceedeth not evil and good?

Lamentations 3: 37, 38 (NAS)
Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass, Unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That both good and ill go forth?

Lamentations 3: 37, 38 (NIVUS)
Who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come?

Lamentations 3: 37, 38 (NLT)
Can anything happen without the Lord’s permission? Is it not the Most High who helps one and harms another?

Words are so important. With words you ask and answer questions. Through words you are appointed to a position of which you can boast. Words certify, challenge, and command. Words can also tear down and hurt.

Whenever you speak, you should try to build up yourself and others. Use your words to commune with Adonai and to declare His promises. Publish and report everything good that God has done and is doing in your life.

You should know the power of your speech. You can make demands of the Most High, speaking out your desires. Your words are able to determine the course of your life; you, therefore, should plainly name what you want and require of Almighty God. However, not everything that you or someone else speaks over your life will come to pass. Adonai is your sovereign Lord and Master; He is the One who rules and controls you. Only what He commands and appoints for you will come and what He forbids will be forbidden.

God is supreme and is elevated above all else. The words that go out of His mouth are not bad and evil. He does not speak adversity, affliction, or calamity over you. Instead the Lord your God always commands good for you. He sends things for your well-being and to make you better. He wants your life to be filled with His joy, grace, kindness and love. He is always ready to bless and favor you.

Therefore, let the good words that come out Adonai's mouth fill your mind and your mouth. When you agree with what He says, you will see God's best come to pass in your life.

10-3-06 Lamentations 3:24-26

Lamentations 3:24-26 (KJ21)
The LORD is my portion," saith my soul, "Therefore will I hope in Him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:24-26 (NAS)
The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him. The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:24-26 (NIVUS)
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

Lamentations 3:24-26 (NLT)
I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him! The LORD is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.

If you have ever been on a diet, you know that the portion size of your food plays a big role in whether or not you will lose the weight that you need to lose. But what exactly is a portion? It is a part of a whole. Therefore, when you eat a portion, you are only eating a part and not the whole thing.

The Bible tells you that the Lord Jehovah is your portion. Is this portion the same as a portion of food? The Lord Jehovah should be much more than a small portion of food in your life. However, if you look at the portion as the amount that will keep you alive and healthy, then you can make this comparison. If Adonai is your portion, then He is everything that He gives to you and everything that you receive from Him. When you choose the Lord God as your portion, you will find that your way is now smoother than it was. God separates you from mankind as a whole and deals and distributes blessings to you that others cannot or will not receive.

You, therefore, should speak to your soul--your mind, your will, and your emotions--to remember that the Most High God is your portion. Tell yourself to continue to hope, trust, and wait on God for all that you need. As you patiently wait, you will see the goodness of the Lord. He has beautiful and bountiful things in store for you. You have His favor, for you are precious and valuable to Him. Jehovah the Lord wants to make you glad and prosperous. Pleasant sweetness is your portion from His hand.

You, however, should look expectantly and eagerly to the Lord for all that you need and all that you desire. As you linger over precious memories and words from your loved one, so you should linger over the Word of the Lord and the memory all that He has done for you. Seek His face frequently and always consult Him in your decisions. Daily worship and pray to the Most High God. Study His ways and practice what He says. Follow closely on His heels, so that you will always know the next step to take.

As you wait in silence and stillness before Almighty God, you will see His goodness, kindness, and mercy. As you tarry in His presence, you will be cleansed and washed. Then you will see His salvation and deliverance. Victory will be yours.

10-02-06 Exodus15:13, 17

Exodus15:13, 17 (KJ21)

Thou in Thy mercy hast led forth the people whom Thou hast redeemed; Thou hast guided them in Thy strength unto Thy holy habitation...Thou shalt bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in, in the sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.

Exodus15:13, 17 (NAS)

In Thy lovingkindness Thou hast led the people whom Thou hast redeemed; In Thy strength Thou hast guided them to Thy holy habitation...Thou wilt bring them and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance, The place, O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thy dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.

Exodus15:13, 17 (NIVUS)
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling...You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance— the place, O LORD, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established.

Exodus15:13, 17 (NLT)
With unfailing love you will lead this people whom you have ransomed. You will guide them in your strength to the place where your holiness dwells...You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain—the place you have made as your home, O LORD, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have made

The Lord God Almighty, who is kind, merciful, good and faithful, is the One who has taken away our reproach and shame. He leads and guides His own chosen people out of dark places into His light. Jehovah has redeemed and ransomed us. He has made us His kin, adopting us into His family.

He leads us to a place of rest, where there is plenty of water to refresh us. He brings us to the goal that He has already planned for us, but He takes us to that place in stages, so that we are not overwhelmed.

His strength helps us to prevail and He makes us stand firm and strong in Him. He brings us into His holy place, a place that is set apart and separate from anything in the world. He has consecrated and sanctified us for Himself. He is devoted to us and dedicated to our salvation. He has brought us into His beautiful home and we will dwell in rest with Him forever.

He has brought us near, carrying us into His holy mountain. There He has planted and established us. We belong to Him and are part of His inheritance, which is valuable and precious to Him. He has put us in a place that has a firm foundation. We are secure and well provisioned.

We abide in the Lord Jehovah's sanctuary, in His temple. There we endure and remain stable; for He has restored us.

10-01-06 Lamentations 3:21-23

Lamentations 3:21-23 (KJ21)
This I recall to my mind; therefore have I hope: It is through the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23 (NAS)
This I recall to my mind. Therefore I have hope. The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIVUS)
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23 (NLT)
Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the LORD never ends! By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.

There are certain things that you need to leave in the past, for remembering them causes you to remain in a defeated state. You are not defeated, but you have victory through Jesus Christ, your Lord. However, there are things which you should always bring back to your mind for they give you strength. These things will comfort your heart and build you up.

One of the most important concepts that you should continually remember and return to is the fact that the Lord Jehovah is always extending His mercy, goodness, and kindness to you. As you repeatedly return to God, you will repeatedly find restoration and refreshment coming to you from His hand. He will repair what is broken; He will also repel and defeat your enemies. Remembering Adonai's merciful nature will give your hope and an expectation of good.

You will never find shame and reproach in God's house. Even though the Almighty is a consuming fire, He will not consume or destroy you. Instead He will complete your life and make you whole. He makes you sound and unimpaired, so that you can walk uprightly.

The Lord your God loves you with tender affection and compassion. He cares for you as a pregnant woman cares for the baby in her womb. As her body surrounds and protects her unborn child, Adonai surrounds and protects you. He will never cease to care for and nurture you. His mercies will never fail you: they will never be exhausted. In fact, every morning you find new and fresh mercy at your disposal. You can trust Adonai, for He is faithful and you will always find abundant support in Him.