A SIMPLE KEY TO SUCCESS!

 

Friday, July 10, 2026

 

A SIMPLE KEY TO SUCCESS!

 

Josh 1:8

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

 

          Success is universally desired so why is there so much failure? Perhaps it’s because many do not have the key that unlocks success in so many ventures. In our text above, The Lord gives Joshua a golden key to success as he leads Israel after the death of Moses. This key is the Bible.

 

          Read it! In fact, the clear indication is that it should be read aloud! God says that “it shall not depart out of thy mouth.” When we read out loud the words enter the eye gate, swirl around the mind, exit the mouth and then re-enter through the ear gate and lodge in the mind.

 

          Meditate! Quietly contemplate the spiritual truths presented when you read the Word of God. Mull it over until it makes sense and forms a plan of action for the day – or night.

 

          Do! Act on the wise instructions found in the Law of God. There are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. You can read one chapter every day and finish the book within a month. Plan your day, your job, your home, and your life by these instructions.

 

          Prosper! Watch God produce gains because of your wise obedience to His Word. 1 Sam 2:30 says: “them that honor me I will honor.”

 

          Succeed! Give your plans to the God you are honoring. Success is the Hebrew word sakal and simply means “to make intelligent decisions.” Now that you have that golden key, go find some locks!

 

Dear Lord, let me quietly contemplate the truths of your Word. Let me act upon the wise counsel you give. AMEN

 

A SONG FOR THE BURDENED HEART!

 

Thursday, July 9, 2026

 

A SONG FOR THE BURDENED HEART!

 

Ps 61:1-4

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

 

          I often sense the burdens that others are carrying. It is a part of the shepherd’s assignment and can’t be denied though I try. Sometimes I can help but often I feel somewhat helpless. It can be overwhelming to deal with the overwhelmed.

 

          The word “overwhelmed” is from a word that means “to cover over” like a thick blanket. There is darkness, confusion, and a heavy weight that covers and conceals the victim.

 

          David needed a rock or military high ground. He needed to be able to see far and clearly. He needed to be safe from trouble. He needed peace, safety, and comfort. That rock is Christ (1 Cor. 10:4).

 

          Jesus promised, in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The word “comfortless” is the Greek orphanos and means “to be orphaned.”

 

Dear Rock of my Salvation, thank you for not leaving me and orphan. Thank you for safety, peace, and comfort. AMEN

 

HOW TO MAKE A GODLY DECISION!

 

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

 

HOW TO MAKE A GODLY DECISION!

 

Pro 2:11 Discretion will watch over you, Understanding and discernment will guard you, 

Pro 2:12 To keep you from the way of evil and the evil man, From the man who speaks perverse things; 

Pro 2:13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness To walk in the ways of darkness; [Amplified Bible]

 

          Consider the consequences. Remember that decisions produce consequences. Often the consequences define the decision as either wise or foolish. That is why it is essential to consider the consequences first.

 

          Check the record. Is there a parallel in Scripture? Many issues we are forced to deal with daily are not mentioned specifically in Scripture. Complicated situations arise, and there seems to be no biblical parallel to use as a guide. In these situations, we are to turn to wisdom. We are to ask, "What is the wise thing to do?"

 

          Move to the center! Try to get as close to the center of God’s will and wisdom as possible. Don’t play around the edge. In other words, do what you absolutely know to be right. Don’t dabble in questionable actions and decisions.

 

          Watch for warnings! If it doesn’t “feel right” it probably isn’t. God has given us the Holy Spirit to “guide us into all truth” (John 16:13). Don’t ignore His warnings.

 

          Ask: “How would this look on the front page?” Warren Buffet says that he can afford to lose money, but he can’t afford to lose his reputation. My momma said: “If you stir in it, you’ll get it on you!” To put it another way, always dress your decisions in your Sunday best and don’t play in the mud.

 

          Wisdom, as described in Proverbs, is like a spiritual sixth sense. It enables you to evaluate circumstances and people and make the right decisions in life. -Warren Wiersbe

 

Dear Lord, today I will be presented with many opportunities to choose. Guide me into godly choices. AMEN

 

ROCK OF AGES

 

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

 

ROCK OF AGES

Exo 33:17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 

Exo 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 

Exo 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 

Exo 33:20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 

Exo 33:21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 

Exo 33:22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 

Exo 33:23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. 

 

          Important things are found in this portion of Scripture. We the comforting assurance of relationship when God says that He knows Moses by name. How wonderful to know that He knows me well.

 

Isa 49:16 “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands…”

 

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in thee;

let the water and the blood,

from thy wounded side which flowed,

be of sin the double cure;

save from wrath and make me pure.

 

Hide me Lord and let me steal a glimpse of You as you pass by. AMEN

 

HE GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT!

 

Monday, July 6, 2026

 

HE GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT!

 

Isa 40:28-31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord , the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 

          The deterioration of our culture and the fearful march toward world conflict seems to have arrived at an inconvenient time. Everything seems to be uphill and further away than I remember it. My reach is shorter than my grasp. If you are young, then this paragraph will only be a puzzle to you but if you wait long enough you will understand.

 

          Paul, at the end of his life, was able to declare that he had “run a good race” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). He had kept faithfully and energetically the assignment given to him. In a dungeon and awaiting death, Paul passed the baton to his young protégé Timothy who would finish the last leg of the relay for him. Life, and especially the Christian life, is a battle. There will be casualties. All decisions have consequences and some have horrific consequences, yet we may continue the race although hamstrung and limping along. 

 

          Dr. Charles Stanley said: “God doesn't require our lives to be perfect in order to finish strong. We can live life fully and be ready to meet our Maker by surrendering, walking victoriously with Christ, and serving others. If Jesus called you home today, would you--like Paul--be confident that you lived well until the end?”

 

   Lord, hear our prayer for those who, growing old

   Feel that their time of usefulness is told.

   Let them still find some little part of play,

   Nor feel unwanted at the close of day.

 

Dear Lord, for me and for my growing-older friends, let us find your purpose and your strength for today. AMEN

 

LOYALTY IS LOVE

 

Sunday, July 5, 2026

 

LOYALTY IS LOVE

 

1 Cor 13:7

7 [Love] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 

          There is not a single verse in our King James Version that uses the word “loyalty.” The concept, however, saturates the Bible in many places. Ruth is a prime example.

 

Ruth 1:16-17

16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

 

          I am now a care partner. I made vows to my wife 58 years ago while looking toward an uncertain future. Now, because sickness has replaced health,  those vows demand payment.

 

          The word “endureth” in the verse above is from the Greek hupomeno which literally means “to remain.” When the going gets rough will you remain?

 

Dear Lord, I may not be the best example, but I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to remain! AMEN

 

DIFFICULTY – DECISION – DECLARATION!

 

Saturday, July 4, 2026

 

DIFFICULTY – DECISION – DECLARATION!

 

Josh 24:14-15

14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

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

 

          It is amazing to me how our nation’s formation and Christian faith so strongly parallel. Our nation was formed out of great struggle and DIFFICULTY. The restrictions imposed by England upon the inalienable rights of the Colonies fueled a hunger for independence. When “in the course of human events” the tyranny of Satan becomes too much for sanity to side with, severance from his devilish grip and an alliance with Jehovah is called for!

 

          Some of the founding fathers never imagined that July 4^th would be a day to remember. It was July 2^nd that they thought worthy of remembering. Consider the following…

          On July2, Congress finally adopted a resolution in favor of independence, and on July 4 approved the Declaration of Independence. John Adams sat on the committee appointed to draft the document and encouraged Thomas Jefferson to write the original draft, which was accepted with some modifications. As is typical of John Adams, he recognized the historical significance of the event but was just slightly off in his analysis of how it would be remembered – he was convinced Americans would always celebrate July 2 as “the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.”

John writes to his wife Abigail from Philadelphia July 3, 1776:

          The Second Day of July 1776 will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

          You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will triumph in that Days Transaction, even although We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.

          So, it is when the human spirit can no longer sustain the pain of servitude to the evil one. He first must DECIDE and then must DECLARE.

 

Rom 10:10

10 For with the heart man believeth [with the heart a decision is made] unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

Dear Lord, I have decided to follow Jesus! Let me declare it to all who will hear! AMEN

 

THE ROOTS OF FREEDOM!

 

Friday, July 3, 2026

 

THE ROOTS OF FREEDOM!

 

John 8:32-36

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

 

What has come to be called The Great Awakening was led by George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards and Gilbert Tennant. It swept the mid-Atlantic colonies in the 1730’s and 1740’s. This sweeping spiritual revival focused on those who were already church members! It challenged their rituals, their piety and their self awareness.

 

Jonathan Edwards’ most famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” was based upon Deut 32:35 “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” It is said that those who listened to this sermon held onto the pillars of the meeting house for stability fearing the floor would open and hell would swallow them up!

 

While some discount its importance, the impact upon the American Revolution seems clear. The American Revolution was less about tea and taxation than it was about tyranny, freedom and man’s inalienable rights handed down by the Creator. Just as Jesus said, “the truth shall make you free.” The foundation of the truth preached by Whitfield, Edwards and Tennant created the air in which freedom could breathe.

 

The need today is not so much a return to political conservatism and integrity but a spiritual revival which would produce a climate in which government reform could take place. Without a spiritual revival political reforms will only serve to replace one tyrant with another. The most important thing I can do for my country is to be a godly citizen!

 

Prov 29:2

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

 

Dear Lord, our nation needs you desperately! Create in us a thirst for godliness and return to us in great strength. Hear us when we pray! Restrain evil in our land. Oh Lord, revive us again! AMEN

 

FREEDOM’S SAFEST PLACE!

 

Thursday, July 2, 2026

 

FREEDOM’S SAFEST PLACE!

 

Acts 22:27-28

27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

 

          Paul was about to be whipped by a Roman guard when he mentioned that he, himself, was also a Roman. It meant something! It meant that he had rights and immunity of a Roman citizen. He had freedom! It kept him safe!

 

          The word “freedom” in verse 28 is the Greek politeia preceded by the definite article ho. You will probably notice that it forms the basis of our word “politics.”

 

          The captain said that his freedom was purchased at a great cost, but Paul said that he was “free born.” The original literally means “countryman.”

 

          Being born again places us in the family of God. We are adopted and given rights and privileges the unsaved do not have. It was purchased for us at a great price.

 

Eph 2:18-19

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the [very] household of God.

 

Dear Father, my safest place is in YOU. Thank you for the great sum spent at Calvary so that I might be free born. AMEN

 

REPENTANCE!

 

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

 

REPENTANCE!

 

Ps 51:1-3

51 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 

          Merriam-Webster says that “repentance” is an intransitive verb that means “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.” That’s pretty good from a non-theological source.

 

          Repentance has assumed a cultural transformation. Today repentance often means one of two things. [1] “Lord, I’m sorry that I got caught. I’ll be more careful in the future.” [2] “Lord, I feel guilty about this and will work harder so I can relieve myself of this guilty feeling.”

 

          Repentance denies certain natural tendencies and desires. Paul acknowledged the struggle of the two natures in Romans chapter 7. It is not easy to truly repent.

 

          Repentance means “to change your mind and amend your actions.” It requires one to agree with God regarding sin and to follow God in a new pattern of behavior.

 

 Jer 18:11

…return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.

 

Dear Lord, every day is a struggle to agree with you regarding sin and to follow you in my behavior. Please give me your Holy Spirit for guidance and your grace for cleansing. AMEN

 

RECONCILIATION!

 

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

 

RECONCILIATION!

 

Col 1:19-22

19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

 

          The etymology of the word “reconcile” is from the late Middle English: from Old French reconcilier or Latin reconciliare, from Latin re- ‘back’ (also expressing intensive force) + conciliare ‘bring together.’

 

          Legally, in human relationships, reconciliation is seldom possible unless restitution has been made. If something has been stolen it should be paid back. Even so there must also be repentance, a promise never to do the wrong ever again, and forgiveness. Forgiveness is treating the offending party as if the offense had never happened. It is easy to see how difficult this is!

 

          When we offended God, He paid the debt himself by the death of His Son Jesus. Restitution was made, forgiveness was possible, and reconciliation then was offered to the guilty. The only thing preventing God and man from coming together is man’s refusal of God’s offer. When man refuses God’s offer, either because of a lack of faith or will, he remains in the realm of guilt and condemnation because of his choice.

 

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for making it possible for me to be brought back and brought together with you. AMEN