12-28-07 1 Peter 3, 12, 13

1 Peter 3: 12, 13 (NAS)
FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE UPON THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL. And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?
1 Peter 3: 12, 13 (Philips)
For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears unto their supplication: But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. After all, who is likely to injure you for being devotee to what is good?
1 Peter 3: 12, 13 (NLT)
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil. Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?

Jesus, your Lord and Master, constantly has you in His sight, for He knows that you are daily becoming wholly conformed to the will of God. In His eyes, you are innocent, faultless, and guiltless. Adonai approves of you and you are acceptable, for you have given Him proof and evidence of your faith.

Therefore, when you seek God and make your entreaties to Him, His ears attend to your requests. He understands your needs, wants, and desires. He knows where you lack and suffer privation. He perceives where Satan has you bound. However, the Lord has also bound Himself to you, putting Himself under your obligation. And His duty demands that He come to your aid. The Lord will declare Satan's hold on you to be illicit. He will prohibit and forbid the enemy's destruction to continue in your life.

The Lord God has turned His face away from the wicked and evildoers. He will not even look upon them. He does not know them; in fact He does not even acquaint Himself with them. He takes no heed of and does not care for them, as He does His children. He knows that they are nothing but millstones that grind on the faithful, bringing trouble, injury, and destruction.

But you do not need to fear any harm, maltreatment, or oppression, for the wicked and evil have no part in you. Instead you are follower and imitator of the good God; you are becoming more like Him with each passing day. You have a good, pleasant, and agreeable nature. You are upright, honorable, excellent, and distinguished. You reflect that joy and happiness that you have found in Yeshua.

12-27-07 Deuteronomy 33:3

Deuteronomy 33:3 (NAS)
Indeed, He loves the people; All Thy holy ones are in Thy hand, And they followed in Thy steps; Everyone receives of Thy words.
from you.
Deuteronomy 33:3 (NLT)
Indeed, you love the people; all your holy ones are in your hands. They follow in your steps and accept your instruction.

Adonai, certainly, cherishes and loves you fervently. You may not realize how passionately and enthusiastically that He cares for you. He may have seemed to withdraw and hide Himself from you, but that is only because He wants you to seek Him. His love for you has never diminished.

You are His child, one whom He has set aside for Himself. You are consecrated, sanctified, and dedicated to Him and His purposes. You are holy, sacred, and honored by your Lord. You are held secure in the hollow of His hand. From His hand comes strength, support, fullness, and abundance. Jehovah has armed His hands against your enemies, so that you can accomplish and complete all that He has ordained for you. Then you shall be fully satisfied.

The Lord your God has made the way clear for you to come into His presence. He allows you to recline and lay down at His feet in rest. When He speaks to you, His words lift you up and carry you. Everything that He says supports and sustains you; you, therefore, are able to endure. Adonai's promises and commands aid and assist you, so that you are exalted.

12-26-07 1 Samuel 2:9

1 Samuel 2:9 (NAS)
He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail.

1 Samuel 2:9 (NLT)
He will protect his godly ones, but the wicked will perish in darkness. No one will succeed by strength alone.

The Lord your God has called you to go about the land, exploring for His Kingdom and spying out the defenses of the enemy. As you walk the way Jehovah has taught you to go, you need have no fear; He is keeping and guarding each step you take. He watches and observes you continually, protecting and preserving you. You have no problem keeping the pace He has set for you.

He has seen your faithfulness and how good and kind you are to others. He knows you are godly and holy. He calls you a saint and you know that He is not ashamed of you; nor does He reproach you.

However, those wickedly criminal and sinfully hostile to Adonai are not under His protection. He holds them guilty and condemned. They must remain silent and dumb before Him, for they have no defense. They will be cut off and perish. Destruction, darkness, and obscurity are their end.

They have relied on their own strength and might. However, they shall not prevail, for the Lord has restrained them. They shall not prosper in their ways, but shall only grow weary and tired through their toil and labor.

12-25-07 Isaiah 9:6 Revisited

Isaiah 9:6 (NAS)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT)

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Almighty God, the Heavenly Father, has brought forth His Son, born of a woman. He has given that Son, Jesus to men and to the children of men. He was entrusted into the hands of men and then delivered up to death by those same hands. It was the task His Lord assigned Him and He committed Himself whole-heartedly to it.

Adonai has bestowed on Him all rule and dominion. He now has the power to contend for the souls of those same men who delivered Him up. He holds the government of the affairs of mankind on His shoulders, for He has been raised up and sits at the right hand of God.

His name is proclaimed throughout all of creation. His reputation, fame and glory are well established. He invites and summons the sons of men to meet with Him. When these decide to accept His invitation with glad hearts, the Lord shares His name with them, covering them with His glory.

He is Wonderful, having carried out God's judgment and redemption in His own body. Although this act of love is difficult for men to understand, it is marvelous and extraordinary.

He is Counselor, for He has been made unto men Wisdom, Sanctification, Redemption, and Righteousness. By His Spirit, He establishes His purposes and plans in the hearts of those men who belong to Him.

He is the Mighty God. He is strong, powerful, and great. He is valiant and prevails mightily against the enemy of men, the accuser of the brethren.

He is the Everlasting Father. He is the Word, who was with God from the beginning. He was with God and He was God. He, then, became the Word made flesh and dwelt for a short time with mankind. He now reigns forever as the Head of the Church, for He was the first born of many brethren.

He is the Prince of Peace, Shalom! In Him, men are made complete, whole, and sound. His kingdom is one of quiet tranquility and contentment. Health, prosperity, and safety are received through His friendship. He is Lord and reigns forever over all.

12-24-07 Proverbs 3:25, 26

Proverbs 3:25, 26 (NAS)
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes ;For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught.
Proverbs 3:25, 26 (NLT)
You need not be afraid of disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

Satan's most effective tool is fear. He often suddenly and surprisingly attacks your mind and your emotions with terror and dread about your future. He knows that if he makes you afraid, then you will no longer be in faith. And if you are not living in faith, then the fulfillment of God's promises in your life will be pushed further and further away. In an instant he could change your life's course: for when you are in fear, then you are open to devastation, ruin, and waste. His wicked and condemning forces can then align themselves against you.

However, you do not need to be afraid. Jesus, the Lord, is your confidence and hope. He will guard and keep you. He will protect you and save your life. You are God's treasure and He has bound you to Himself through the blood covenant of His Only Begotten. What He has vowed to you, He will do. He will not allow you to be taken captive. He has taught you how to walk and walk you will!

12-23-07 Job 4:6

Job 4:6 (NAS)
Is not your fear of God your confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope?

Job 4:6 (NLT)
Does your reverence for God give you no confidence? Shouldn’t you believe that God will care for those who are upright?

You know that you can have confidence because you fear, honor, and revere Adonai. Those who do not respect the Lord are given over to stupidity and folly. However, you have been strengthened and given wisdom because of your attitude towards God. As you trust in Jehovah, life comes forth from your loins and your flanks are strengthened to stand.

The Lord has made you upright, complete, and perfect. Through Yahweh, the integrity of your being is sound and unimpaired. You know that He will bring you to completion in every area. At the end of your course, you can have confidence that all concerning you will be finished and whole. Integrity will mark the path that you take and you will lead others along the way.

Therefore, keep your expectation and hope in Jehovah, your Lord, for you know that the outcome will be good. You have been bound to Him with the cord of His love. Nothing can keep you from receiving what you are waiting for, as long as you eagerly look to God and linger in His presence