Month: January 2021

Posted in Hiding His Word

Let Me Not Be Ashamed

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Passages for today: Exodus 12:14-13:16; Matthew 20:29-21:22; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 6:12-15

The Lord brought us out
And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.

And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
-Exodus 13:8-9, 14

That our eyes may be opened
And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. – Matthew 20:30-34

Let me not be ashamed
O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. – Psalms 25:20-21

Broken without remedy
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. – Proverbs 6:12-15 KJV

Read the same verse in the Amplified Bible. It gives some clarity.

A worthless person, a wicked man, Is one who walks with a perverse (corrupt, vulgar) mouth. Who winks with his eyes [in mockery], who shuffles his feet [to signal], Who points with his fingers [to give subversive instruction]; Who perversely in his heart plots trouble and evil continually; Who spreads discord and strife. Therefore [the crushing weight of] his disaster will come suddenly upon him; Instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing or remedy [because he has no heart for God]. – Proverbs 6:12-15 AMP

Thank You, Lord, that you are my God! Thank you that you brought me out of the bondage of the enemy and that you are not left me ashamed while I trust in you and Your mighty hand. Thank You that You preserve me as I wait on You! Father, thank You so much that You sent Your Son, Jesus, as the remedy for my brokenness. Thank You for Your Word that gives me Life. Oh, today, I just want to thank You and say I love You, Jesus! I love You, Father! I love You, Holy Ghost.

Posted in Hiding His Word

The Way You Choose for Me

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Today’s passages: Exodus 10:1-12:13; Matthew 20:1-28; Psalms 25:1-15; Proverbs 6:6-11

That you may know that I am the Lord
And the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh: for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might shew these my signs before him: And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord. – Exodus 10:1-2

Everything that God was doing, all the plagues, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was not just to change Pharaoh so he would let God’s children go. It was also, maybe even more so, for the Israelites. A sign that the Israelites and their children and their children’s children and all the generations to come would know that He is the Lord. THAT YOU MAY KNOW “that I am the Lord.”

Many are called, but few are chosen
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Many people are called to follow Jesus and do God’s work. God uses all types of people in many different ways. The reason only a few are chosen is that when people are called, they don’t respond, or they choose to ignore the call. Many want Jesus, but they don’t want the duty of following Him. We must go when we are called and do it speedily. If we don’t, we will miss the great opportunity and great blessing of following and serving Him.

But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. – Matthew 20:16, 22-23

The Son of Zebedee and their mother did not know what they were asking. When Jesus asked them if they could drink of His cup and be baptized in His baptism, they replied, “We are able.” What was the cup and the baptism? It was a cup and a baptism of suffering for the sake of the Kingdom. It was also a cup of death…the cup of God’s wrath.

It is interesting to note what happened in the lives of these two sons. James was beheaded in Jerusalem. He was the first of the disciples to be martyred. He drank from the cup of death. John did not die a martyr although he gave his life willingly to the Lord to die a martyr, a miracle of God spared him, he was baptized in the baptism of suffering. He was hated and persecuted. He was exiled to the Island of Patmos. In Rome, they tried to kill him by plunging him into boiling oil. But John did not die. He escaped, and because of the miracle and escaped from death, he went on to plant churches and write books of the Bible.

Teach me, O Lord!
Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. ~ Psalms 25:4-5

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and testimonies. ~ Psalms 25:10

What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. ~ Psalms 25:12

Oh Lord, give me a holy fear and teach me in the way You choose for me! Teach me Your paths and Your truths, my God!

Provide and Gather
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. ~ Proverbs 6:6-8

Do everything you can today to make sure you have a harvest and be prepared to gather it.

Heavenly Father, I thank You that You have called and chosen and are teaching me. I ask You to give me strength day-by-day to follow and serve You. Help me to hide Your Word today and to get in so deep in my heart that it will do an excellent work and never leave me. Your Word is my bread Lord, and I pray that in season it will bring forth a great harvest. Holy Ghost, I ask You to go where I can’t go and touch those in my family and community that need You. Bring conviction and repentance to our hearts. Bring revival to our homes and churches, and nation. Bring revival to me, Jesus. I know You order my steps, and I ask You to use me as You will today. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

The Things that Bind

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Today in the One Year Bible, we read these passages: Exodus 8-9; Matthew 19:13-30; Psalms 24; Proverbs 6:1-5.

Our promises that bind us
And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses. – Exodus 9:34-35

We, like Pharaoh, often cry out to God when we are in distress. We make promises and take vows only to break them when the crisis is over—making a promise to God, though is binding. Making a promise to others is just as binding. We should be people known for keeping our word.

Our wealth that binds us
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. – Matthew 19:16-24

The rich, young ruler wanted to serve God. He obeyed the commandments and came to Jesus seeking eternal life. But the young ruler had great wealth, and Jesus offered him the same thing he offered his disciples. “Come and follow me!” Only, he told him first to sell all he had and give it to the poor. And what is one of the saddest verses in the Bible was the verse about this young ruler’s response. “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” His identity was in the things he had accumulated. Is ours? Would we be willing to not only stop accumulating wealth but to give it all away to have eternal life? Jesus offers us the same thing He offered this young man. “Come and follow me…”

Our dirty hands and heart bind us
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. – Psalms 24:3-5

If you want to enter into the holy places of God, you must have clean hands and a pure heart. You must live in holiness. Sin of any kind cannot and will not stand in His holy place!

Our debt binds us
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. – Proverbs 6:1,5

This proverb speaks of debt. Debt, even incurred while helping another, can lead to problems. We shouldn’t  live beyond our means. If we find though that we have  overextended, it’s time as this proverb teaches us, to get it taken care of. Get to work and settle your debts because it binds your to other people o institution in ways that make your more vulnerable to corruption.

This passage isn’t just a warning for the poor with debt. Very wealthy people who accumulate huge debt are even more vulnerable to corruption. They can do harm to themselves, their families, and other people because their creditors have so much power over them and can pressure them into compromise. Debt, no matter how innocently or wickedly incurred, can bind us to the world systems and the enemy while drawing us farther and farther away from God.

Thank You, Lord, for Your Word, Your warnings, Your wisdom, and Your teaching on some of those things that can bind us. Our promises, our wealth, our sin, and our debt. Help us to take and heed Your Words and what You have revealed today that we may be free. Thank You that You have told the devil to “Let Your people go!” and that we can live in that freedom if we do not turn and bind ourselves again to the enemy. Lord, help us to be bound only to You!!! Thank You for Your blood and the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus, that we may have eternal life and live victoriously through Him. I love You, Jesus. Reveal to us, Holy Ghost, any other areas in our lives and our hearts that are still bound to this world. In Jesus holy Name I pray. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Forgive Again and Again

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Today’s passages from the One Year Bible – Exodus 5:22-7:25; Matthew 18:21-19:12; Psalm 23; Proverbs 5:22-23

Lord, why have You not moved – yet?
And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy Name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all?  – Exodus 5:22-23

When I first read this, I thought Moses sounded disrespectful. But Moses saw his people suffering and had received promises from God about a great deliverance for them. Ultimately, he is asking. Lord, why have You not moved on behalf of Your people yet? 

Haven’t many of us asked that very same question lately??? I know I have.

Forgive again and again and again!
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. – Matthew 18:21-22

Jesus instructed us to forgive – over and over again, just as He has forgiven us. If you read the rest of the scripture in Matthew 18:23-35, you will see this truth – If God forgives you and you refuse to forgive others, Jesus says that you are wicked!!!

Forgive – to grant pardon; absolve; to give up all claim on; to grant pardon to; to cease to feel resentment against; to cancel an indebtedness or liability.

God will display His fruit (in your life) to your enemies.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. – Psalms 23:5

Your enemies may think they have you under their thumb and that you are defeated… but God will raise you with a great display and celebration right in front of your enemies. 

Sin leads to death!!!!
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. – Proverbs 5:22-23

Sin may feel good for a season, but one day you will see that you are trapped in the “cords of sin.” You will die in that trap if you do not go to Jesus and ask Him to be Your Lord and Savior. Jesus is the only One who can free you from the grip of the enemy and death. 

My God, I come before You this day, and I glorify You. I thank You for Your blessings and Your peace during such a season as we find ourselves today. Father, I thank You for Your Word today that has been a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I pray that I never forsake it and that I continue down Your path. I want to be right in the middle of Your perfect will. Holy Ghost lead me and guide me; teach me and fill me to overflowing with Yourself that I may be a light to this world shining for Your glory. Please show me and convict me of any wickedness in my heart that I may deal with it now. Lord, I pray for my enemies. I pray for those who despise me, and I pray that You reveal Yourself that they may feel the freedom and peace and joy in You that I feel. Thank You for my deliverance and salvation. Please help me as I question why some promises are delayed. Help me to have a heart that forgives entirely and quickly. Thank You for forgiving me! Lord be with me and all that read this post. You’ve ordered our steps today. Please help me to walk those steps faithfully. I ask this in Jesus’ precious and holy Name. Amen. Amen.

Posted in Hiding His Word

Your Mission (if you choose to accept it)

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Passages for today – Exodus 4:1-5:21; Matthew 18:1-20; Psalm 22:18-31; Proverbs 5:15-21

God, can You send someone else?
And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. – Exodus 4:10-16

So often, I have prayed for God to use me, asked Him what is my purpose, said to Him, “Here am I, send me,” and yet when God calls and commissions me to join Him on a mission, my first reaction is – please Lord, send someone else! Moses did this, and most of us know exactly what he felt. He gave part of his assignment to someone else. Moses was a great man of faith, but at that moment he didn’t have faith that God would be true to His Word to be with him. He was given a mission that he was uniquely prepared for. He accepted parts of the task but not all of it. How many times have I done the same thing? I wanted the mission, but the fear caused me to hand parts of it to another. Help me, Father!

Be careful how you treat the “little ones” 
“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” – Matthew 18:10-14

In our world, there is so much evil directed against children. Abortion, trafficking, all kinds of abuse. How much most you despise a child to make them suffer in any of these ways? This verse applies not only for the natural but also to the spiritual. This verse reminds us that their angels are beholding the face of God even as they are there, witnessing the good and bad toward these “little ones.” The same is true of baby Christians. We should not despise or hinder their walk with Jesus in any way.

Bind evil and loose righteousness 
“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” – Matthew 18:18-20

The mission that God has called us all to is to confront and destroy the evil on this earth. Here is another KEY that He gives us to have victory as we work for Him to see this mission through. Bind on this earth what is not of God (evil) and loose on this earth what is of God (righteousness and holiness). Bind the enemy and loose JESUS!!!

God sees, hears and responds to the afflicted
For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. – Psalms 22:24

God has seen the afflictions put on you, and He is not okay with it. He has heard your cries, and if He hears, He responds. Who has He put on His mission to pray for you, command His healing for you, to witness to you. Are you that someone for another? If so, have you set off on your mission, or have you asked God to send someone else? First, though, I ask myself, have I?

God knows your ways and where you are on His path, or if you are off His path
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. – Proverbs 5:21

God knows where you are. He know if you are running from your call or if you are somewhere on that path working for Him. He is pondering where you are right this minute.

Does that cause you to stop and ponder it yourself? It does me.

Ponder – to consider something deeply and thoroughly; meditate; to weigh carefully in the mind; consider thoughtfully.

Father, I come before You today and now before You in repentance for all of the times I have run from Your perfect plans for me. Forgive me, Lord! Help me trust You in all things knowing that You have promised never to leave me or forsake me. Help me to stand as Your mouthpiece to confront and bind the evil in this world. Help me to loose Your love, your peace, Your will into this lost and dying world. Thank You for loving me and teaching me so much today. Help me to ponder these things and plant them in my heart. Help me to never depart from those Your Words and ways. In Jesus Name! Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Depart Not from the Words of His Mouth

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Today’s Scripture passages – Exodus 2:11 – 3:22; Matthew 17:12-27; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 5:7-14

God Remembered His Covenant
And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. – Exodus2:23-24

God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He has a covenant with them and with every one of His children. He remembers His covenant with me. Do I remember my covenant with Him?

Covenant – an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified; the conditional promises made to humanity by God as revealed in Scripture; the agreement between God and the Israelites in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.

I Am the God of Thy Father
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. – Exodus 3:3-6

When God calls me, do I stop and say, Here am I? Do I take my shoes off in reverence? Do I take the time to hear Him?

I AM THAT I AM
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. – Exodus 3:13-14

Never be ashamed to go forth with the Word of God. I AM THAT I AM sent you too!!!

Faith as a grain of mustard seed
And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me” And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” – Matthew 17:16-21

Jesus was trying to get the disciples to see that what He is asking them to do in faith was not a supernatural thing, but a normal thing.

It bothered me today that Matthew 17:21 was not read by the person I listen to for my devotions. It was a different translation than the KJV which I normally read. That being said, I can’t ignore any part of God’s Word and especially this one, as I have been changed by the power of both prayer and fasting (together) bringing deliverance!!! Because it is left out of so many versions, many don’t have the chance to receive the revelation of this passage and the manifestation of it in a personal way. It is KEY in my life, but even more – it was KEY here!!!

Our fathers trusted in Thee
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabits the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. – Psalms 22:3-5

Depart not from the Words of His mouth
Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: – Proverbs 5:7, 9

My Father, I come before you this morning at the beginning of this day that you have given to me, and I thank You for the Words You have given to me. Help them not to depart from them but to ponder them all day long. You are a holy and wonderful God, and as all of the mothers and fathers of the faith living and that have gone before me to be with You, help me to trust in You, Help me to walk out and speak out the faith that You have given me to see those issues of life that loom like great and mighty mountains in people’s lives, depart at the declaration of Your Words. Help me to be a woman of prayer and fasting and help me never to depart from Your Words or forget their revelation and manifestation in my life. Help me remember my end of the covenant I have with You as I know You will never forget Your covenant with me. Oh God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob change me today so that my life lines up with Your perfect and holy will and plan. Please give me a great burden for the lost and help me to walk in Your Love! Touch our nation, Father. Give our leaders encounters with You that save, deliver, and set them on the course You alone have prepared that they would yield and lead our nation according to Your perfect will. I ask this all in the name of Your beautiful Son, Jesus! Amen! Amen!!!

Posted in Hiding His Word

He Shall Reward Every Man According to His Works

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Today’s passages in the One-Year Bible: Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13-17:9; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 5:1-6

THOUGHTS AND PASSAGES THAT SPOKE TO MY HEART

God will use the schemes of the wicked for your good
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. – Genesis 50:19-20

The wicked will see the prosperity, strength, and fruitfulness of God’s children as a threat
And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Rameses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour. – Exodus 1:9-14

Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus. We are saved by faith, not works but right here we can know that after we are saved, we are to do His works. I often wonder what will that reward look like because one thing I have found about doing His works – there is such a great blessing and reward even as you do them.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” – Matthew 16:24-27

The king that trusts in the Lord shall not be moved
The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

For the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the most High he shall not be moved. – Psalms 21:1, 7

Attend, Bow, Regard, Keep
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. – Proverbs 5:1-2

BECAUSE I LIKE TO NOTE AND STUDY WORDS

Attend – to be present at; to take care of, minister to; devote one’s services to; to wait upon; to take charge of.

Bow – to bend the knee or body as in reverence, submission, salutation or acknowledgement; to yield, submit.

Regard – to look upon or think of with a particular feeling; to have or show respect or concern for; to think highly of, esteem.

Keep – to hold or retain in one’s possession; hold as one’s own; to maintain, especially in accordance with specific requirements, a promise.

Oh Father, I come before you today and I ask that you help me to focus my mind on You. Lord, help me to take up my cross today and follow You. Help me to focus on Your will and doing Your good works. Help me to trust in You and yield to Your strength will will carry me and help me to stand firm during the schemes of the enemy. Thank You that You have promised You will use all those evil schemes for good. Thank You that You have given to us an abundance of provision and strength and protection and fruit. Help me now to stand as I know the devil will not let it go without a fight. Show me how my Lord to attend to Your wisdom, to bow and reverence Your understanding, to esteem discretion, so my lips will keep Your knowledge. Lord give me a true and heavy burden for the lost and help me to LOVE like You LOVE. I ask this all in Jesus Name. Amen!!!

Posted in Hiding His Word

We Will Remember the Name of the Lord

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

The passages read today in the One Year Bible were: Genesis 48-49; Matthew 15:29-16:12; Psalm20:1-9; Proverbs 4:20-27

THE PASSAGES THAT SPOKE TO MY HEART

Let my name be named
And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. ~ Genesis 48:15-16

Ephraim – His seed shall become a multitude of nations
And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. ~ Genesis 48:17-21

No sign except the sign of the prophet Jonas
“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” ~ Matthew 16:4

Beware the doctrine of Pharisees and Sadducees
”How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.” ~ Matthew 16:11-12

Some trust in chariots and some in horses
Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. ~ Psalms 20:4-8

Keep they heart with all diligence
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. ~ Proverbs 4:20-23

Oh Father, Help me always to remember Your beautiful Name. Help me to seek not so much that my name be remembered but that our name be always attached to Yours. Help those around me to know You as they get to know me. That it is be said that someone served the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (and Melissa) that they would know that they know the God I served was You and You alone. The One True and Living God. Help me today as I begin this day to go forth with Your praise on my lips, Your Word in my heart, and Your Glory surrounding me and all that I am called to do. I ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen! Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

The Meditations of My Heart

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Todays Bible passages in the One Year Bible were – Genesis 46:1-47:31; Matthew 15:1-28; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 4:14-19

The Passage that Spoke to My Heart

Every shepherd was an abomination to the Egyptians. Shepherds or ministers today are fast becoming an abomination to this world, and yet as in Joseph’s day, being obedient to that call will be what protects, sustains, and grows the Kingdom of God.
And it shall come to pass, when Pharoah shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. ~ Genesis 46:33-34

Joseph fed his family from the bread he had stored. Jesus commands us to feed others with the bread (the Word) we have stored in our hearts,
And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families. ~ Genesis 47:12

It is not what goes into your mouth, but what comes out of your heart – spoken through your mouth – that defines who you are!
“Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people drawers night unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defiled a man; but that which comets out of the mouth; this defileth a man.” ~ Matthew 15:7-11

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable, O Lord
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. ~ Psalm 19:7-14

If there is wickedness in my heart, I will stumble (and won’t even know why)
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. ~ Proverbs 4:18-19

Thoughts and observations
In today’s passages in Genesis, we learn how the children of Israel (70 in all) got to Egypt. They were saved there and prospered there. They increased in numbers and grew into a great nation there, but they would also be enslaved there for 400 years!

In Matthew, Jesus quotes the book of Isaiah. That prophecy spoken by Jesus from Isaiah in many ways sums up the ministry of Jesus. He is trying to call the truth out in people’s lives.  And the truth is born out in how they conduct themselves, not in what they say. Because what they said showed incredible hypocrisy, control, and hiding. That kind of echos back to Genesis 3 – when Adam and Eve were naked and ashamed. From that moment in Genesis 3, humans have been hiding and putting a false front out there, while the truth remains hidden in the darkness of our hearts. Here Jesus is calling out the truth. He asks them to unite what they say with who they are, not who they pretend to be.

So what was the Scripture in Isaiah that Jesus was quoting? It was Isaiah 29:13 but verses 14 and 15 are so relevant to what Jesus said and what I am mediating on today.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?  ~ Isaiah 29:13-15

It was Jesus’ ministry and is no less relevant today. The world we live in now is naked, ashamed, and hiding. We try to present a perfect version of ourselves, but it is exhausting. Why can’t we just relax and be made perfect…for real…so we don’t have to hide?.So we can be true and reveal the Kingdom of Heaven that is among us?

Father, transform me through Your Word today. Holy Ghost change me, I pray. Convict me of the meditations of my heart that are not of You and help me to line my actions and words up with Your perfect Word so that they are acceptable in Thy sight. I ask this in the Holy and Beautiful Name of Jesus! Amen!!!POSTED IN

Posted in Hiding His Word

His Instruction is LIFE

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Every morning I during my time of prayer and devotion, I read the One-Year Bible. Today’s passages were Genesis 44:1–45:28; Matthew 14:13-36; Psalm 18:37-50; and Proverbs 4:11-13. Following are a few of the Scriptures that stood out to me today and the thoughts I had as I read them.

God Prepares a Way for Me to Be Fed
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. ~ Genesis 45:4-8

As He has Fed Me From His Word and Commands That I Also Feed Others
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. ~ Matthew 14:14-16

God Protects, Provides, and Shows Unending Mercy to His Anointed Ones
It is God that avengeth me, and subdueth the people under me. He delivereth me from mine enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. Great deliverance giveth he to his king; and sheweth mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore. ~ Psalms 18:47-50

He Has Given Me Wisdom, Instructed Me, and Led Me (His Instruction is LIFE)
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. ~ Proverbs 4:11-13

Thank you for Your Word today, Father. Your Word is my Bread, my Purpose, my Protection, my Provision. It is my Instruction and through it I am given Wisdom and Understanding. Truly Your Instruction is LIFE!!!