Conversations with the enemy

Have you ever had a conversation with the enemy? You may not think so but you have. Maybe even this morning.

Let's look at the very first conversation with the enemy.

It is found in Gen 3.

Gen 3: 1-13

Just as God is real, there is a real enemy. We don't walk around looking for the enemy under every rock, but we need to know he is real.

Is 14 Lucifer became full of pride and wanted to be above God

Rev Angels continually sing Holy, holy, holy

There is no match or comparison to God.

When we get to heaven and see the enemy with spiritual eyes we will be surprised that this little thing caused so much trouble for us here on earth.

Jn 10:10 The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy

Gen 3:5 Your eyes will be open, this was truth, you will be as gods, this was not, you will know difference between good and evil, this was truth.

He will always wrap the lie in just enough truth to get you to believe it.

Gen 3:12 Adam blamed all of it on Eve

Lessons learned from the first conversation with the enemy:

1. Made her desire the one thing she couldn't have

Instead of being thankful and focusing on what we do have, we often focus on the one thing we can't have and are miserable.

2 Doubted what God had told them

Gen 3:1 The enemy questioned what God had told them and got her to doubt. The enemy brought doubt to the very words of God.

When God gives us promises in His word, the fist thing that happens is the enemy comes with doubt.

God will never question what He has already told you.

Matt 3:16-17 Jesus gets baptized, heaven opens, the Spirit of God comes down and speaks that this is God's Son

Mat 4:1 Jesus was led by the Spirit to the wilderness

Matt 4:2 the enemy comes when He is at His weakest and questions whether He is God's Son

Jesus answered him with the word of God. That is our greatest weapon when the enemy tries to talk with us other then not having the conversation at all with him.

4. Don't engage in the conversation in the first place.

Gen 3:2-3 By talking with the enemy she allowed him to cause her to doubt. She shouldn't have continued to carry on the conversation. We do the same thing in our mind thinking we are reasoning things out but it is the enemy talking with us sometimes. Even if you have peace with a decision, if it goes against what God has promised or told you it is not the right decision.

5. She made a choice to disobey God

Gen 3:6

She changed her perspective about the tree and fruit based on the conversation she had with the enemy. Before when she looked at the tree it was undesirable because God had forbidden it, now it was the one thing she had to have. When she took it and ate it she chose to disobey God.

God only gave free will and choice to mankind. He will never cross your free will.

God could have stopped her from eating it. He saw her, He sees everything. But He wouldn't cross her free will. When we are tempted we also have a choice to make.

Jesus had a choice when it came to the cross. He chose to go to the cross for us.

6. She hid herself from God

Gen 3:7-10

Until verse 10 there was no fear. Once sin entered fear entered. When we sin our first response if fear and to hide.

God can't restore anything that is kept hidden. He knows it is there. We can't hide anything from Him.

The longer you try to hide the greater the fear becomes.

Gen 3:21 God made garments of skin for them. This is the first account of shedding of blood for sin.

Even with their sin, God still loved them. Just as when we sin, He still loves us, but not our sin.

7. Identify the enemy

Gen 3:13 She came clean with God

She admitted being deceived and sinning.

At the end she did the right thing.

Women have a good sense of identifing the enemy. She didn't see it while it was happening, but she did in the end.

When God asked her she didn't run and hide or blame Adam. She told God exactly what happened.

No matter how bad your sin is you can come clean with God and ask His forgiveness.

Eve, the first daughter

Ps 119:11 I have hid Your word in my heart.

Gen 2:15-25

Gen 2:22 made in the NAS is fashioned

fashioned means to frame, to put in order, equipped for His intended purpose, or God's creative handiwork

God made us so special there are doctors who specilize in just treating women.

God created us with a purpose and for a purpose. He has equipped us with everything we need to fulfill that purpose.

Gen 1:26 God created man and woman to have dominion over the earth. He separated us between men and women. He gave man authority and woman influence. Men have influence but not to the extent women do and women have authority but not to the extent men do.

Eve was a daughter before she was a wife or mother. She was a daughter to the Creator and so are we.

We must realize what it means to be a daughter to the Creator before we can be a godly woman, wife or mother.

Some have fond memories of being a daughter to our natural parents. Most don't. I don't have fond memories. Because of that it is difficult for us to see God as a different kind of parent then our parents are/were.

If we didn't receive love, protection, forgiveness, mercy, grace, encouragement, etc from our natural parents, we have a hard time receiving it from God.

We have to stop looking at Father God with our earthly vision. We need to look at Him with spiritual eyes.

We must remember He is not like our natural parents.

Roles of daughters:

1. Receive our Father's unconditional love for us. God loves us period.

We can't earn His love. He loves us totally and unconditionally no matter whet you have done good or bad, or what you do in the future for Him. If you never did another thing "for God" He would still love you.

Jn 3:16 God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

Do you believe in Jesus and what He did for you?

Rom 8:35, 37-39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We may not accept His unconditional love but that doesn't change the fact that His love is there for us always.


2. Our Father has priority in our hearts.

He must come first. Period.

As little girls the first man you give a piece of your heart to is your daddy. Sometimes they don't treat that treasure right. It causes you heart break and you think your heavenly Father will treat it the same. He won't. He will treasure it as it should be.

This was very hard for me to accept and at times I still struggle with it. My earthly dad was only concerned with me if I was in front of him. If I was out of sight I was out of mind. It affected me in alot of ways. I found it hard to totally trust a guy to not forget about me if we weren't right in front of each other. It was the only think I knew. But my wonderful husband of 36 years changed that. He always let me know from the beginning that he thought about me even when we were/are apart. He shows up sometimes with small bouquets of flowers from the grocery. For no reason other then he thought about me when he saw them. Those flowers mean more to me then the dozens of roses he has sent in the past. Don't get me wrong, I love the roses, lol, but usually those are for special occasions. The spur of the moment ones, those mean it doesn't have to be a special reason for him to want to bless me. Just as my heavenly Father doesn't have to have a special reason to bless me.

When we don't trust our heavenly Father with our heart, we will never be able to have the right relationship with anyone else. We will never fully trust anyone else with our heart.

There is a place in your heart only God can fill. Nothing or no one else can fill it. You may think for a little while that someone or something else has, but it will only be temporary.

3. Believe the words of affirmation our heavenly Father speaks over us.

We have no problem giving compliments but how do we receive them? We don't accept the affirmation God speaks over us either.

All you wanted to hear as a child was that we did a good thing, or did something well. If we didn't receive that from our natural parents we have a hard time receiving it from anyone else including from God.

Jer 29:11 His plan for us is good

Is 49:1 He called you before you were born

Ps 139:14 I am fearfully and wonderfully made

Eph 1:4-5 He chose us in Him before the creation of the world

4. His desire is to bless us, we cannot earn that blessing.

Love, peace, forgiveness, mercy, grace, etc. You can't earn those. They are freely given to you by God.

We must walk as a daughter to our heavenly Father.

Then we will believe and except all He has for us. Then we can be the woman, wife, mother He wants us to be.

Why is it so easy to hear and accept what is wrong with us, but not what is right with us?

It goes back to the way we look at God through our natural eyes.

Will God discipline us if we need it? Absolutely. But it is easier for us to receive that from Him then to receive the blessing He wants to give us.

Remember today, you are a daughter of God.

God's Purpose for Women

Jer 9:23 Thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

If we want to be proud of something, it should be that we know God.

Gen 1:1 God's spirit still hovers over His creation

God's creation of woman was not an accident. He had a purpose for creating her. And she has a purpose.

Gen 1:26-27 man means mankind here

Gen 2:18-20 God was letting Adam see there was no suitable helper for him.

Gen 3:12-14 Everyone was blaming each other

:15 enmity - means hatred

God spoke curse over devil because of his part in it

Most women wrestle with low self esteem

God put the enemy under our feet. Not him over us, but that is what he tries to make us believe.

We were made to walk upright not lowly.

3 Purposes we have as women:

1. Develop an intimate relationship with God.

We must spend time in His word and with Him daily to do this.

Not just do you believe in God, but have you received Him as Lord and Savior? Do you have a personal relationship with Him?

2. To be a helper to man

Man wasn't complete without woman. We weren't created to compete with men.

He created us to work alongside man but to serve a different purpose.

We have authority as women but it is a different authority then God gave to man.

He gave us influence. Our attitude if good, causes us to have a good influence on others. But if our attitude is bad, we will have a bad influence on others.

It isn't our decision whether or not to be an influencer. But we can choose whether to be a good or bad influence.

3. To be a crown to your husband.

Pr 12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

crown: hebrew definition is to encircle against attack, to bring protection

Our husbands bear a weight every day that we will never understand. We weren't designed to bear that weight. We were designed to bear a different weight. But we shouldn't add to that weight they bear. We are to come alongside and help however we can.

God is the only one who can change someone else's heart. We only have the power to change our own.

Sometimes when we try to change our husband, we get in the way of the Holy Spirit. All we can do is pray and turn it over to God and get out of His way.

We each have a full time job watching the condition of our own heart.

If God were to look at our husband's crown would it be beautiful or rusty? We are responsible for the condition of his crown.

God won't hold you accountable for your husband's heart, but He will hold you accountable for your heart and for the crown you are to your husband.

I'm Coming back to the heart of worship

I am doing my fall cleaning and listening to praise and worship music. Thought I would share this one with you today.

Ps 55

:1-5 David talks to God about his enemies oppressing him

:6-8 David really wants to flee the trial he was in at this time. Ever feel that way? No, trials are not fun to go through, if they were fun, they wouldn't be trials. Some are harder then others. But just as David couldn't fly away from his, we can't run from ours. We have to go through it, not over it. It is how we grow our faith.

:9 Brings him back to God asking for God to destroy them.

:10-11 He continues to document to God what they have done. Do you think God needed a full accounting of what they did to David? Or for that matter from us when people do something wrong to us? Now I am not saying don't tell God, but don't tell Him over and over.

:12-14 Here David explains it was a friend. Those wounds are always the ones that hurt the most aren't they?

:15-19 He asks God to deal with them again.

:20-21 He again talks about what was done to him

:22-23 He says he will trust God.

What are you believing for?

The post below this one has a wonderful song. It tells of believing in miracles. Do you believe God is still working miracles today? I do! He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So since in the past He worked miracles that means He is still doing them. But in order to receive your (or my) miracle we must truly believe. Without doubting. At all.

That last part is hard sometimes isn't it? Or is it just hard sometimes for me? That is possible. But I think if we are all honest we must admit that sometimes doubt creeps in.

Deut 1:32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,

Are you truly believing God in the thing you are praying for?

Isaiah 43:10 KJV
Ye are My witnesses, saith the LORD, and My servant whom I have chosen : that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He: before Me there was no God formed , neither shall there be after Me.

Here is reason to believe Him.

Matthew 9:28 KJV
And when He was come into the house, the blind men came to Him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto Him, Yea, Lord.

Are you believing for healing?

Mark 9:23 KJV
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe , all things are possible to him that believeth .

Jesus said all things are possible if we will believe. We know He only spoke truth.

Mark 11:23 KJV
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed , and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass ; he shall have whatsoever he saith .

Not doubt in his heart. Alot of times that is our problem with believing for a miracle.

So again, what are you believing for? And how are you preventing doubt to enter into your heart?

Dare to Believe

What's your worse fear?

The world is full of fear. Let's look at a couple.

First of all are you born again? If so here are some things from God's word on fear and some things people fear

Hunger

Neh 9:15 And gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which Thou hadst sworn to give them.

Ps 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that see the Lord shall not want any good thing.

Ps 37:25 I have been young, and now I am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Now you may say, oh that is fine for you but you have food.

Well let me tell you a little about my past.

When I was a small child, it was just my mom and I. She had health issues among other things. Many nights all we had to eat were stale crackers and cocktail onions. Was it what I would have liked to eat? No! But it was enough to eat that we survived.

Later there was a time when I was put on bed rest by the doctor awaiting the birth of our 4th child. While I was out of work during that time, my husband lost his job. Total strangers showed up at our door with bags and boxes of groceries. They all said the same thing. The Lord told them what to buy and where to bring it. I have never seen them again. So I do speak from experience. God is faithful.

Is your fear what man can do to you?

Pr 29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Afraid of death?

2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

And finally,

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Turn those fears over to the Lord, and leave them with Him. He is bigger then your greatest fear.

Peace, be still

Mk 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
:38 And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest not Thou that we perish?
:39 And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
:40 And He said unto them, why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey Him?

Ok, let's look at a few things.

First off, why were they surprised the wind and sea obeyed Him? If they didn't think they would, why wake Him? What good did they think waking Him would do?

Why was Jesus able to sleep through all the tossing of the boat? Because He totally trusted God to get the boat across to the other side. He knew His Father was in control.

The secret to being calm in the midst of storms is not to change the circumstances that are out of your control, but to change you. Christ in you will get you through.

We live in south Louisiana. We have a boat and fish quite a bit. There have been times that we have ventured out into the bay and it has been smooth as glass. Then all of a sudden things will pick up and you may be looking straight down into the water coming off the top of a wave. Yes it has happened and it is SCARY. I can understand why they were afraid. But they had Jesus with them. Obviously they thought He could do something about it or they wouldn't have woken Him up.

What do you (and I) need to totally trust God with today, and tomorrow, etc?

When Jesus rebuked them he said they had no faith. Prayerfully He won't say that about us.

What are your thoughts?

Are your thoughts holy?

Pr 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Your thoughts are as loud to God as your words are when you speak loudly.

Pr 15:26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

Dan 5:24 Then was part of the hand sent from Him; and this writing was written.
:25 And this is the writing that was written, ME'-NE, ME'-NE, TE'KEL, U-Phar'-SIN.
:26 This is the interpretation of the thing; ME'-NE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
:27 TE'KEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
:28 PE'RES; Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.

How would you like the hand of God to write your thoughts across the sky for everyone to see? He could.

Jn 8:6 This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not.

Jn 8:8 And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

We must not only repent of sin of our words and actions, but of sinful thoughts also.

Is 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Ps 51:6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

Sin of the body first begins in the thoughts and heart.

Mt 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Satan will come to you in thoughts to tempt you to sin.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Don't argue with the devil. That is not resisting. It is what he wants. Once you get into a conversation with the devil, he has the battle half won.

Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

How do we know when evil thoughts come from our heart or from the devil?

If our immediate reaction is hatred of the thought it is from the devil. Otherwise it came from us if we try to justify or explain it.

If we are continually bombarded in one area of our christian life by attacks from the devil, we know he has been listening to our words or watching our actions. He can't read our minds. But he can use words or actions to figure out our weaknesses and attack there.

Mt 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

We are only as pure as our thoughts are pure.

Influences and sin

What areas in your life influence you to sin?

Habits, friends, peer pressure, heredity?

Mt 18:18 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.

Jn 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Maybe we sin because of past experiences. Our spirit may have been wounded. If we have totally forgiven the ones who have hurt us, we can come in faith and ask for healing of those memories.

Is 53:4 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.
:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him: and with His stripes we are healed.

It is sometimes hard to forgive others when they hurt us.

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you , and thereby many be defiled.

Principles of total forgiveness:

1. Forgiveness is an act of will. I must want to forgive. Resentment is destructive to my mind, body, soul and spirit.

Pr 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

2. I will not be forgiven by God unless I forgive those who have hurt me.

MT 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Mk 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

3. Think about all that God has forgiven you.

Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one anothe, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

4. Thank God for the blessings the person who hurt you has been to you.

1 Thess 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

5. Think about the needs of the person who hurt you, then and now. They are probably greater then yours.

Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better then themselves.

6. Ask God to help you love them and forgive them as He does and receive it by faith.

Rom 5:15 And hope maketh not ashamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

7. Ask God to give you opportunities of expressing His love to them in work and deed.

1 Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

8. Become an intercessor for them.

MT 5:44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.

9. When we have fully forgiven others, we won't want to speak of how they wronged us.

1Pet 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Ask God to show you how to change the habit patterns, believing that He will.

Find verses addressing the sin, memorize them.

We must forgive ourselves because God has forgiven us.

Repentance

Rev 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.
:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

If we truly believe we are in the last days, we will understand the need for the bride of Christ to make herself ready.

Repentance precedes revival. Revival produces more repentance.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God's call to us for repentance is an act of His love.

Is 5:16 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

If we don't repent He will come in judgment.

Rev 2:5 They had placed other priorities before loving the Lord with all their heart.

Rev 2:16 They had compromised.

Rev 2:22 They were corrupt

Rev 3:3 They were dead

Rev 3:19 They were lukewarm

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

Sin dims the revelation of Jesus.

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Confesion is key to getting rid of guilt.

Jer 3:13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgresed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the Lord.

Jer 2:29 Wherefore will ye plead with Me? ye all have transgressed against Me, saith the Lord.

Jer 2:35 Yet thou sayest, because I am innocent, surely His anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

Is there something you are covering up? You can't hide it from God.

Pr 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Sometimes we must repent in our relationship with others.

We are only as close to the Lord as we are close to the person we love the least.

1 Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Mt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus taught repentance from the beginning.

Mk 1:15 And saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mk 6:12 And they went out and preached that men should repent.

Lk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.
:31 Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained: whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

Pr 29:1 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without rememdy.

Num 32:23 Satan tells us no one will know

Gal 6:7 Satan says sin and you will get away with it.

God doesn't let us get away with anything, even when sometimes it looks like we will. Sin always has consequences, and it always separates us from God.

Heb 10:30 For we know Him that hath said, vengence belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people.
:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Remorse is our reaction to how our sin has affected us.

Regret is our reaction to how it has affected others.

Repentance is how we respond to sin from God's prespective from His word and how it has affected God and others.

Our Attitude Toward Sin

There are 4 levels in our attitude toward sin I am looking at. They are:

1. Person doesn't sin because consequences are too great. They may have hate or lust, etc in their heart, but don't murder or commit adultery etc. There is no hatred of evil or fear of the Lord, only fear of the consequences.

2. Lives by golden rule. Wants peace at any price. Can be full of sin of selfishness or self-righteousness and not be aware of it. Often does good deeds.

3. The sincere Christian who earnestly desires to please the Lord. Wishes he could find an answer to why he is always having to confess over and over again the same sins. Longs for freedom from those sins.

James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

4. Person who has fear of the Lord. Hates sin; therefore, he seldom sins. If he does there is quick awareness and repentance. Willing to humble himself before others if that is what the Holy Spirit tell him.

Pr 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord, men depart from evil.

We don't commit sin because it is the right thing to do or we are forced into it. We choose to sin, because we love that sin more then we love and fear God. If we have God's attitude toward sin, we will not be doing the same sin over and over.

Ps 25:14 The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them His covenant.

God created us for intimate friendship with Him, He wants that more then we do.

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

We can't serve God and the devil at the same time. We must choose each moment who we will follow.

Have you forgotten?

God's Holiness

To fully understand God we must first understand His holiness.

2 Cor 5:21 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

Is 6:3 And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory.

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them si wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

How important to God holiness is!

Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

Ps 11:7 For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright.

Pr 23:17 Let not thine heart eny sinners; but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

If we stay in the fear of the Lord all day, we will remain holy in our thoughts, words and actions.

Deut 10:12 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God, require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

:13 To keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

Notice the first thing mentioned is to fear the Lord? And we are told to do these things with all our heart and all our soul. If we do that we will be walking in holiness.

September 10, 2010

Pr 29:25 the fear of man brings a snare

When we only fear God's reaction and not man's we have freedom.

We should say I know what man thinks, but what do You think God. Then we must act according to what God thinks.

Is 50:10 Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay (rest) upon his God.

Jer 6:10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised (closed) and tehy cannot hearken: behold, the word of the Lord is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

If we neglect the word of God, we are rejecting it.

Ps 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts.

Lam 3:25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him.

Sometimes when we ask God for direction, it takes awhile for an answer. We must wait till we hear clearly from Him and not do anything till we know it is what God wants us to do or not do.

Think back to situations where you were seeking the Lord for an answer about if you should or shouldn't do something or go somewhere.

The time came when you had to make a decision and still no answer. So you did it or went only to have everything turn bad. Know why? God's no answer may have been a test to see if you would move ahead without His direction. When you did, you opened the door for the devil to attack.

Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

I believe part of that account will be whether we waited on God or went ahead when He didn't clearly answer us one way or another.

Jn 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

We have no spiritual authority outside of obedience to God.

Sometimes people confuse forceful speaking, even when it is the truth being spoken, with spiritual authority. Only what is spoken with God's authority will touch men's spirits and cause them to take the steps of obedience that will change their lives. Everything else touches their mind or emotions.

1 Thess 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

Mt 12:36 But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

September 9, 2010

I am doing some studying on the fear of the Lord. Here are notes from today.

Lk 4:4-15 Jesus tempted by the devil. Jesus used the Word of God against the devil and that is what we should do also.

Fear (reverential fear) of the Lord is what will keep you from sinning.

There is good fear (reverential ) and bad fear. Adam had bad fear when he hid when naked before the Lord. Good fear draws you closer to God, not causes you to hide from Him.

We should seek daily to link our heart to God's.

Pr 8:13 Fear of the Lord is the hatred of sin.

God hates sin so much, He will not compromise with it and neither should we.

Lev 19:2 Be holy because God is holy.
Mal 2:5 Be afraid or in awe of God's Name.
Ex 3:14 He is the I AM. What do you need? That is what He is.
Ps 33:8-9 God spoke and it was done, do we really need more reason to fear Him?
Heb 1:3 He upholds all things by His Word.
2 Pet 3:7 The heavens and earth are kept by His word
2 Pet 3:13 He will bring new heaven and new earth by His word
Ps 22:22-23 We are to praise Him and give Him glory as we fear Him

We need to take God seriously.

Matt 10:26-28 He knows everything, instead of fearing man who can kill the body,and not the soul, we need to fear God.

Acts 5:1-13 God will reveal your sin. He struck down Ananias and Sapphira because of their lie. It was their money, they could have just said they wanted to give some of it instead they lied and said they would give all.

Ps 99:1-3 The Lord's Name is holy.
Ps 2:10-11 We are to serve with fear
Ps 119:120 We should fear God's judgment
Jer 5:22 We should tremble at His presence. He placed the sand as boundary for the sea.
Jer 9:23-24 We need to know God and glory in Him

When we have understanding of God's unconditional love for us, demonstrated by the price He paid for our redemption at Calvary, we will always feel safe and secure in Him.

Ezra 9:4, 10:3 We should tremble at His word

My greatest need is to have a far greater revelation of what God is really like.

God doesnt reward causual inquiries, only diligent seekers.

We must be careful in our studying and time with God that it doesn't become routine, that we do it with out absorbing what He is saying to us.

Obedience because of Who God Is

Gen 22;12 Because he feared God, Abraham was going to do as God said and sacrifice Issac.

When you argue with God or delay obeying Him, it shows a lack of fear.

Jonah 1:9 Jonah said he feared the Lord, but his actions proved he didn't.

Jonah 1:14-16 the others on board feared God

The consequences of disobedience are always harder then the act of obedience, no matter how hard. When we disobey we come under God's judgment.

Ps 130:3-4 When we repent God forgives us

The more we learn of God and Who He is, the easier it is to obey Him.

The fear of God is evidenced in our lives by instant, joyful, and total obedience to God. That is biblical obedience. Anything else is disobedience. Delayed or partial or obedience with murmuring is disobedience.

Heb 11:5 He rewards those who diligently seek Him.

When God gives us something to do, we need to keep the emphasis on who He is not what He wants us to do.

Alot of times we don't understand why God wants us to do something. It is not important that we understand why, it is important that we obey.

Pr 3:5 Don't rely on your understanding but on His.

Pr 28:26 He who trusts in his own mind is a fool.

Lk 22:42 Not my will, but Yours.

James 4:7 Resist the devil when he tells you not to do something God has called you to do

Jn 10:3-4, 27 His sheep hear His voice and follow Him

Ps 32:8 He will show us the way and teach us

Ps 34:11-13 Lips free from deceit

Pr 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

WHen God requires obedience without explanation, it is one way your faith is built.

Pr 31:29-31

I decided to finish off Proverbs 31 this morning.

Pr 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

This is the first verse that speaks more personally and to her. The rest have said she, her, etc. This one uses thou or you.

Here it says others are virtuous even though we know they are rare and hard to find. So it is possible for others, she wasn't the only one living a virtuous life.

Pr 31:30 Favor is deceitful, and beauty if vain; but a woman who feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

There is good fear and bad fear. If we fear God in the right way, it will draw us closer to Him.

Pr 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

A godly and virtuous woman will be rewarded. She will reap from what she sows.

She has been busy doing the things God wants her to do. He rewards those who diligently seek Him with not only their words but with their actions. Words are easy. Living those words can be hard.

Pr 31:28

Pr 31:28 Her chilren rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

The word blessed is sometimes translated happy.

She is blessed because she seeks God and His will for her life first. If you seek happiness itself, you may not find it, but if you seek God, happiness is often a result.

Here are some verses that tell how to be blessed.

Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Ps 2:12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.

Ps 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteh in Him.

Ps 40:4 Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust.

Ps 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in Thee.

Ps 84:12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee.

Ps 94:12 Blessed is the man who Thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of Thy law.

Ps 112:1 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments.

Ps 119:1-2 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.

Ps 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord, that walk in His ways.

Ps 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.

So basically, we need to be careful who we get counsel from or associate with. We need to put our trust in Christ alone. That one is so important that in just these few verses it is mentioned 4 times. We need to find our strength in Him. The joy of the Lord is our strength remember. We need to accept His chastening and learn from it and His word. Which means we need to spend time in His word. We need to have fear of the Lord and keep His commandments to us. We need to seek Him with our whole heart. Our hope must be in Him and nothing else.

Awesome!

Pr 31:27

Pr 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness.

Looketh well means to keep watch.

She watches over what her children are doing. Making sure they are forming good Godly habits.

She is not idle. Idleness means sluggishness or laziness.

That doesn't mean she never has a time of rest. Just that she doesn't waste any of her time when she needs to do things the Lord has called her to do as a virtuous woman.

As an older woman, I have found over the years that if I take care of the things God has called me to do around my home, or for my family, that He multiplies the time and makes it productive. And He makes time for me to do the things I enjoy. I enjoy them more also knowing that the things I should be doing are all done.

Pr 31:26

Pr 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

This is the only verse that talks about her words. Probably because she guarded her tongue all the time and that is all that needed saying.

What comes out of your mouth is what is in your heart, so be very careful when you speak. Your heart is showing.

The same love of the Lord that guards her heart, guards her tongue.

Ever say anything that you wouldn't say if Jesus was in the room with you? Guess what if you are born again, He is ALWAYS with you. He hears every word that you say. Matthew 12:36 says and this is Jesus speaking, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Lord help me to guard my tongue every minute of every day and only speak words that are pleasing to you.

Pr 31:25

Pr 31:25 Strength and honor are her clothing, and she shall rejoice in time to come.

The Lord provides the clothing mentioned in this verse.

She knows the joy of the Lord is her strength and she totally embraces that . What a joy it must be to be around her.

The word rejoice means laugh. It says she can laugh at the future. That is because she totally relies on the Lord.

She has been wise and made provision for the future as much as she is able. And she relies on the Lord for everything else.

While she (like us), didn't know what the future held, she (like us) know the One who holds our future.

Pr 31:24

Pr 31:24 She maketh fine linen and selleth it, and delivereth girdles unto the merchants.

Girdles encircled the waist like a belt.

She helped bring in money to her household without neglecting all the other duties she had as a wife and mother. I wonder if she taught her children to work alongside her. I bet she did. She would want them to learn the skills they would need later in life. I doubt she would have been called virtuous if she neglected teaching her children the skills they would need later in life.

Pr 31:23

Pr 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

Do you find it unusual that in these verses about a virtuous woman we find one about her husband?

If you think about it, in earlier verses it mentioned him and how she did only good to him.

It really isn't unusual that he was well known where her worked. He would not be able to devote the time to his work that was necessary for him to do the best job he could if she didn't do all a virtuous woman is called to do every day.

While the husband has been called by God to be the leader of the home, and yes even if he isn't saved, we are to have him lead, but not into sin, God has called us to be a help and not a hindrance to him in all he has been called to do in leading the family.

Pr 31:22

Pr 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

She dressed well. She didn't think to be virtuous she had to look poor. Her outward appearance matched her inward beauty. No one suffered in her family or the poor she ministered to because of her clothing or coverings in her home.

While it is ok to have money to dress nicely, we are told not to trust in our riches.

We can have nice things, as long as we don't trust in them, or seek them for the wrong reasons.

Pr 31:21

Pr 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She wasn't concerned about the weather. Whatever came, they were prepared.

Here in south Louisian, we don't get alot of snow. But we do get hurricanes. And while we don't have to dress warmly when one comes (it is usually very hot here when we get one), we do have to have preparations made for food when one hits. We could be without electricity for a week or more.

I read this verse as a call to readiness, no matter what comes our way, or when it comes our way.

Oh, and the last part, about being clothed with scarlet. I see that as a call to be clothed with the blood of Jesus.

Oh, that we might walk daily under His precious blood. The precious blood He willingly gave so that I, and you if you have received Him as your Savior, might be called a daughter of the Living God!

Pr 31:20

Pr 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She has compassion towards the poor, and she acts on their behalf.

Just as there are physically and financially poor, there are spiritually poor also. Even among christians. No one can progress as a christian until they accept how needy they are of what only the Lord can give them.

All through the word, God looks out for the poor and needy. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't be wise in who and how we help those in need.

Some would seem to need basic necessities, yet if you gave them money would you it on alcohol or drugs, etc. Sometimes the right thing to do is nothing. Be sure before you rush in to help someone you think is in need, you seek God first and what He would have you do to help them. The answer may surprise you sometimes. It could be do nothing, it could be give them money, buy them a meal etc. The only way we can be sure we are helping in the manner God wants us to help is to seek Him first.

Pr 31:19

Pr 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

These verses talk about her spinning fibers she would later use to make clothing or other things needed by her family and others.

Now while I don't spin (I tried it, but didn't like it), I do knit, crochet, sew and quilt. Do I think every woman should do those things? Well if they enjoy it they should. But I don't think you have to do those things to be virtuous.

What I think these verses show is our hands should be busy doing something that glorifies God. They shouldn't be idle or doing something God wouldn't approve of us doing.

Pr 31:18

Pr 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

Here she is reaping the reward of her hard work.

The last part of the verse says she was up at night doing things. She obviously gets some sleep because the earlier verse said she rises early.

So does that mean we can stay up all night and sleep all day? Not according to the earlier verse. She gets the sleep her body needs but no more. She is not lazy.

We must also be careful how we use our free time. All of our time belongs to the Lord. Sometimes we forget that. What ever we are doing is for Him. Are we glorifying Him every minute of our day?

Pr 31:17

Pr 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

She prepares her body for the work the Lord has called her to do that day and everyday.

As I sought the Lord this morning a few thoughts came to me.

Ever been busy all day, yet at the end of the day, felt like nothing, or not much was accomplished? Ever been busy all day doing things you feel is important, yet when you finished the task, felt no real accomplishment?

Maybe what you were busy doing, even though YOU felt it was important wasn't what God had planned for you that day. OUCH!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Pr 31:16

Pr 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

She didn't rush out and purchase it because it was what she wanted to do. She considered it or counted the cost first. It wasn't an impulse purchase.

From what we have learned about her, we know she didn't act independently of her husband. But he did trust her to make the purchase without him. I am sure they discussed it first.

Then it says she planted it. The fact that it would require some work after purchasing was part of counting the cost. She again gets right in there and does the work. She doesn't expect others to do all of it for her.

Just as she gave alot of thought to her purchase, so should we. Are we willing to do the work involved after the purchase?

Pr 31:15

Pr 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

Some believe that in order to be virtuous, we need to be up before dawn. I believe some are called by the Lord to do this, while others aren't. Sometimes we are called to be up that early for a season of our lives. But I believe you can be virtuous and sleep in till 7 or 8. I think the important thing is what we do after we are up. It is easier when there are little children in the home to rise early before them and spend time with the Lord.

Also the last part of the verse says she gives a portion of the food she makes for her family in the morning to her maidens. These were her servants. Some may wonder wy they didn't get up and make food for her and her family while she slept in til later. I think it proves her virtue that she would come alongside or ahead of them and do some of the work she easily could have required them to do for her.

We always had our children help around the house. But rarely were they working alone. I was usually working along side or doing something near by. We did it together. It helped them to do it with a good attitude when they knew I was not wasting my time and neither should they. And it went quickly since we were all in it together. Also I was there to supervise and make sure the job was done correctly, or to instruct how it needed to be done. No surprises later on when they were off doing something fun, and I checked and something wasn't done or not done correctly.

All four of our children have always been complimented by their bosses on the job they do. We are always told how they can be taught what needs to be done and left to do the job. Their boss knows when they come back later it will be done and done correctly. They were taught at an early age to do it that way and now as adults they have great work ethics and habits.

Pr 31:14

Pr 31:14 She is like the merchants' ships: she bringeth her food from afar.

She gives her family a variety of foods to eat. She doesn't go to far off places to get the food. She has learned which merchant ship has the best quality and variety for the best prices.

Now today there are grocery stores on almost every corner. And my job as a virtuous woman is to decide if the sales each offer are worth the cost of gas it will take to go from store to store. Yes I know there are some stores that offer to match prices. But as I am sure you have noticed not all groceries at all stores are created equal. Especially fresh fruit and vegetables, or meat. So I must consider that also in deciding where to shop. I bet you thought shopping was easy lol.

When I was a young wife I would just shop at the nearest store. As a young wife and mother, that made sense to me. As I began to study Pr 31 over the years, the Lord began to show me that I needed to really consider my shopping habits. Now I usually shop more then a couple of stores each pay period. Once my large shopping is done, I usually only need milk, bread, eggs before the next shopping trip. We are paid twice a month, so I come up *usually* with a meal plan that will take us to the next check and purchase in the next two days anything that won't perish. Fresh foods are picked up every few days with the milk, etc. Thankfully I have 4 stores within a 10 mile area of my home, and one other that is a little over 10 miles.

How do you shop for your family? Just something to think about.

Pr 31:13

Pr 31:13 She seeth wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

The next few verses can be intimidating and overwhelming. It is hard to believe that she does everything in these verses. And in verse 13 it says she does it willingly. Could that be part of her secret to getting all of it done?

Let's look at what willingly means. It is from a word meaning delight, pleasure. She enjoys caring for her family. It is not seen as a chore, but rather something she finds pleasure and satisfaction in having completed.

I know when I willingly do something it goes so much faster and easier then when I am unwillingly but do it anyway. Maybe part of it is my attitude. When I do the things like care for my home and family as God has called me to do, He is able to come alongside and give me energy and strength to do it.

I have done a study every year on this woman for many years now. And I don't ever remember picking up on the word willingly before. I just love how you can read and study the word of God over and over and He can show you something new. The word doesn't change, but hopefully I do, and I guess I wasn't ready to see that word till now.

Because she willingly works with her hands, and as we learned yesterday, her husband can safely trust her to always have his best interests in mind, he can go about the work he does knowing all is taken care of at home. How big a relief that must be for him!

I that this says she works with wool and flax. These are used to make clothing etc. Does that mean God wants us to make all the clothing for our family? I don't think that is it, but He may call some to do that. Remember back then it wasn't easy to buy clothing. But He does want us to use our time wisely and work willingly with our hands caring for our family. He gave us the family He did because He knew we were the perfect person to care for them. Whether you have a large or small family, whatever your situation, that is the one He has called you to be faithful in. Keep in mind while you are doing the things you may not always find pleasure in, who you are really doing it for. We are not really doing it for our husband or children even though they benefit, we should be doing it for the Lord cause it is what He has called us to do. I know that will give me encouragement as I do the things I would prefer in my flesh to not do today. What about you?

Pr 31:12

Pr 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Good means morally excellent; virtuous; righteous; of high quality, excellent; well-behaved; kind, friendly; agreeable; pleasant; honorable or worthy; genuine, honest, not counterfeit; reliable; dependable; responsible; beneficial; not spoiled or tainted; cheerful; optimistic; amiable.

Harm means physical injury or mental damage; hurt; moral injury; evil; wrong

Looking at verse 12, I see that my attitude toward my husband is as important as my actual deeds. Maybe more so. My actions are going to be a direct reflection of my attitude toward him. But in this verse it says all the days of my life. That is hard to do on days when I am upset with him. Even if I have a right (or think I do) to be upset with him, it still says I have to do him good. Well forgive me Lord cause in the last week, I haven't done that. I was upset with him about something and I didn't want to do him good. Now don't get me wrong I didn't do him evil (or at least I didn't mean to if I did) I just didn't want to do him good. When I am upset with him (and I know NONE of you are like this, just me), then I may do him harm with my words and actions either to him or to someone else about him. OUCH!

Look at the definitions above. The only way any of us can do only good to our husband all the days of our lives is through Christ Jesus and with His help. Obviously I failed in the last few days. I will have to ask the Lord's and hubby's forgiveness.

A man is really blessed if he can trust his wife to be honest, discreet, and dependable. Being the woman our husband can trust is one of the things God has called us to do. It is not always easy, especially when we are upset with him.

We must not only be honest with our husband and others but with ourselves also. That is sometimes the hardest.

In doing good to her husband, the Pr 31 woman is consistent. It says all the days of her life, not just the days she feels like he deserves it. (okay Lord you can stop stepping on my toes this morning, I get it). Her godliness toward him is consistent.

Eph 3:14-19 This is where our daily and lifelong faithfulness comes from. From Christ being in our hearts by faith. That we are strengthened with might by His Spirit, that we are rooted and grounded in love for God and others.

The Lord's faithfulness to us is daily and constant. Not depending (Thank GOD!!) on what we do or don't do or how we feel at the moment.

Jer 29:11 says the Lord has thoughts of peace and not evil toward us.

Doing good and not harm is the very definition of love and what God demonstrates to us.

Aren't you glad the Lord wants only good for us all the time even when we don't deserve it? I know I am.

The Virtuous Woman Continued

Before I start my notes today I thought I would give you something to think about as I do this study. Like Pr 31 isn't enough to think about right :-)? Well this goes along with the study really.

Have you ever compared the woman of Pr 31 with yourself or the woman of today? Or of any day? God's wisdom is timeless and she is very much like us or any woman of any other time period.

She runs a household, makes important decisions for her family, juggles meal planning, shopping, helps worthy causes, and cheers on her children and is a helpmeet to her husband.

Wisdom is not just timeless but it takes time to get wisdom.

I don't know of anyone who can honestly say they have it all together. I surely can't. But I think we need to be striving daily to become more like her. We need to keep moving forward even if we are moving slowly. The problem comes when we start moving backwards instead of forward, or when we aren't moving at all. Just as water becomes stagnant and smelly so do we. If you have ever past by stagnant water you know what I mean. That is how we must smell to God when we are not moving forward. I know the word says be still and know that I am God, this is not what I am talking about.

Ok here we go after much chatter over the last couple of days on just the first verse lol. This may be a long few days.

Even if we don't do everything listed in the verses 10-31 we can still be a virtuous woman. As we have been learning it is a heart attitude.

God does have a set of standards for us as women, and they are found in these verses. These verses will be the outward result of a heart following after God.

In Phil 3:12-14 it says: Not as though I have already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

It doesn't happen in one day. God knows we are not perfect and haven't fully arrived. We won't be perfect until we are with Christ and transformed.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus daily gives us the strength to face our day and whatever is in store for us that day according to God's will.

With these thoughts in mind let's look at 31:11

Pr 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

Dependable, steadfast, trustworthy, wise

Dependable means That may be depended on; as dependable friendships.

Steadfast means 1. Fast fixed; firm; firmly fixed or established; as the stedfast globe of earth.
2. Constant; firm; resolute; not fickle or wavering.
Abide stedfast to thy neighbor in the time of his trouble.
Him resist, sted fast in the faith. 1 Peter 5.
3. Steady; as stedfast sight.

Trustworty means deserving of trust or confidence; dependable, reliable

Wise means 1. Properly, having knowledge; hence, having the power of discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and what is false; between what is fit and proper, and what is improper; as a wise prince; a wise magistrate.

Do our lives reflect these words? If not are we self-focused? Are we over committed? Do we think we won't make that much of a difference in someone else's life so why bother?

Even the most responsible person can slip into being undependable if they become self-focused.

If we have over committed then we need to start to say no to the people and situations that distract us from where and what God wants us to go or do. We need our priorities to line up with God's.

Many problems arise when we fail to live up to the responsibilities God has called us to, or we take on responsibilitites He has not called us to.

If we take on things we shouldn't here is what happens:

1. We don't have the time to spend with God that we should.

2. We can't serve as our husband's helpmeet as God said we should.

3. We don't have the time or energy to train our children according to God's word.

4. Everything else we are called to do, minister to others, housework, etc suffers.

You can't be there for everyone all the time. I am not talking about for your husband or children. You have to say no sometimes to people. Being truly available and trustworthy to the few God sends to you is more important then being available and untrustworthy and superficial to everyone.

Let's look at two wives. Noah's and Job's.

We don't know much about Noah's wife. We don't even know her name. She isn't mention very much at all.

In Gen 6 God tells Noah to build an ark.

Can you imagine what she must have thought when he came home from work one day and said God told me to build an ark? What would have been your reaction? Or mine? Then in chapter 7 he tells her they all have to get in the ark with all these animals and live that way till God says differently.

Can you imagine what the other wives said to her while he was building the ark? They must have ridiculed her horribly.

But no place does it say she ever complained. His heart could safely trust in her to support him. But remember he probably made it easy for her because the word says he and his family were spared because Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord in Gen 6:8. He wasn't selfish, overbearing, untrustworthy.

Now by contrast let's look at Job's wife.

Job was perfect and upright according to Job 1:1. This is why the devil wanted to test Job. Now I understand that when his wife told him in Job 2:9 to curse God and die he had lost everything. But Noah's wife had to leave her home to live in the ark. The big difference here is obvious. Noah's wife loved and trusted God and Noah enough to know Noah wouldn't be doing it if he wasn't sure God had told him to do it. Job's wife on the other hand had enjoyed their life till God let the devil test him. When things got uncomfortable she no longer trusted God or Job.

It is easy sometimes for us to brush off those who care about us and we care about. We figure they will understand. But what about when we brush God aside because we would rather do something other then spend time with Him? Or we want to do something we know He wouldn't approve of but our flesh wants to do it anyway? Remember He sees you no matter what you do or where you do it.

As we develop dependability and trustworthiness in our relationship with God, it will spill over to our relationships with our husband, children and others.

Pr 31 part 2

The Virtuous Woman - continued

Pr 31:10b for her price is far above rubies.

Value is to esteem, to hold in respect, to highly regard, or to have great significance.

Our worth and value come from what is inside us.

We should be more valuable as we get older just as jewels are mover valuable as they get older. The world sees things differently. Thankfully God sees us as very valuable.

Precious gems are hard, and have rough edges when they are first found. We see them after they are buffed and shiny. But we don't see the process they go through to get that way. When we first begin to walk with God we are the same way. We are hard and have rough edges. We will always have some rough edges for God to work on. But they should get smaller and fewer as we grow in the Lord. He uses people and situations to file our edges down and sometimes, alot of times it hurts or is uncomfortable.

Gems sparkle in the end and so should we.

If we look up to other christian women and want to be like them, we need to find out what it took for them to get there. It was a process for them just as it is for us. And we will most likely find that it was a hard and difficult process. Are we willing to go through whatever our process will be? It will be different for each of us. Each of us are different, we will have different struggles we will have to face and deal with.

God has always valued us as women. Virtuous women are hard to find, just as rare jewels are hard to find.

6 Strategies of the enemy to come against women

The enemy will try to rob us of our value.

If we don't see our value we can't pass it on to others to see theirs.

1. He will come to attack your identity.

Most women don't place enough value on themselves.

Gen 3:1 He questioned what God said
Mt 4:1-3 He questioned who Jesus was even though at the end of chapter 3 God made it very clear He was the Son of God

If he questioned Jesus about His identity he will surely question us.

He will make you question your salvation and your walk with God.

Jn 1:12 says those who receive Him become children of God. Have you received Him? There is your identity. Don't let the enemy tell you differently.

2. Comparison

He will try to get you to compare yourself with other women. That is a no win situation. There is a difference between comparing yourself and aspiring to be more virtuous because of something you see in someone.

If in comparison you find you are better then them, that leads to being prideful. If we are equal to them, that leads to being competitive, if we are less then them, you become inferior.

We have all compared ourselves to someone at one time or another. We need to take a stand against the enemy and not do it anymore.

Ps 139:14

We need to thank God for the way He made us. Doesn't mean we can't strive or aspire to be better. Doesn't mean we have always taken care of the body He gave us the way He wants us to, but we should be thankful He created us the way He did in the beginning and strive to be all He wants us to be.

3. Insignificance

He will make us feel unworthy. He will point out how far we have left to go instead of how far we have come.

You listen to one lie of the enemy and end up under a wave of insignificance and unworthiness.

Jer 1:4-5
Jer 29:11

God gives us a little at a time of the plan He has for us because He knows we couldn't handle all the great things He has planned for us at one time.

4. Unrealistic expectations

He will try to get us to carry an undue weight and responsibility.

90% of the responsibility we have, we took on ourselves. If a responsibility comes from God, He will provide everything I need to handle it also.

When we take on responsibility that God hasn't given us, we are trying to take the place of God. When responsibilities are to heavy for us to carry, they are not from God.

You will have peace and strength for anything He has called you to do. If we take on responsibility that He didn't give us, it can weigh us down even when we are trying to do the things He has called us to be responsible for.

5. Doubt

Alot of times we carry on a conversation in our minds and we think it is ourself but it is the enemy.

This is the same thing that Eve did in Gen 3. She had a conversation with the enemy. And we know how that ended. Our conversations with him won't end any better.

The enemy will try to make us doubt the very thing we know God has spoken to us about.

In MT when he is talking to Jesus, just two verses before God said Jesus was His Son.

A woman of resolve dispels fears and doubts.

The more we have discussions with the enemy the more we become defeated.

God will never question or change what He has told you before.

If you haven't heard from God lately, what is the last thing He gave you to do? You must not be completed finished with that yet.

James 1:6

6. Discouragement

He will remind you of your failures and mess ups.

It doesn't all happen in a day. He does it a little at a time.

When you are discouraged it is hard to witness or do anything else for God because you feel unworthy.

Ps 121:1-8

Discouragement keeps your eyes cast down.

Remembering where your help comes from will cast out discouragement.

No one will value you as God does. No matter how great they are. Your value and worth come from who you are in God.

Pr 31

A Virtuous Woman

Jer 9:23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
:24 but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exerciseth lovingkindness, judgement and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents (attitude) of the heart.

2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Pr 31:1 The kings mother taught him- these are her words to him- all the other chapters were written by Solomon. This is the only chapter that God says exactly what a godly woman should be.

This is what God wanted him to look for in a wife. Inspired by God, but told from a mother's heart.

Pr 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

virtuous is translated in some versions as noble character. You can't find a virtuous woman easily.

Virtuous means strength, able (ability), might and power.

Same hebrew word used to describe valant men of war.

Not power of our own strength and power but of His in us.

He placed that in us to help us work through whatever comes our way even when we think it is to much for us.

We must show the younger women that they have that strength from God also. We must teach them because today there is an attitude among young women that they don't have it in them.

3 Characteristics of a Virtuous Woman. (There are more in other verses)

1. She is a woman of character.

There are no real descriptions of her outward appearance. It is all about her inner beauty. Her beauty comes from her character in her heart.

Character means features and traits that form the individual nature of a person. Its her moral or ethical quality.

Qualities of honesty and integrity. Its who you are really on the inside, when no one else is around.

2. She is a woman of resolve.

Resolve means determined, to clean away or dispell fears and doubts, to make up one's mind, a firmness of purpose or intent.

She recognizes the lies the devil brings to her to cause fear.

She is not indecisive.
She knows what she believes and why.

3. She is a woman of determination.

There is a difference between stubbornness and determination.

Stubbornness means unreasonably obstinate, unyielding, unsubmissive, resistant, difficult to handle.

Determination means to settle or resolve, to have a purpose or firm intention.

Be honest with yourself about if you are stubborn or determined. The difference is the attitude of your heart. And God always sees the truth.

You can be determined and still be submissive to God, but you can't be stubborn and submit to Him.

You can be all these things and still have a submitted heart.

Submitted to God first, then our husbands if we have one, and then to others in authority over us.

Some theologians think Proverbs 31 is a picture of the perfect woman and that no one can live up to it. But God wouldn't have set that standard for us if we were not able to achieve it with His help.

More to come...

What I have been doing

I was finishing up the bible study I started back in March. Tomorrow I hope to revisit Proverbs 31. I do this once a year, usually around my birthday. Since that was this past Wednesday, this seems like a good time to do it again.

This year while studying it I have 4 cds from my pastors wife I will be listening to. I will share a little from them I am sure.

Pr 24, Ps 53, 2 Sam 23 and 24

Today I finished 2 Samuel.

Pr 24
:8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischieveous person.

Ps 53
:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

2 Sam 23

:1-39 This chapter gives the names of the men highest in David's men and their deeds.

2 Sam 24

:1-9 The anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel and he had David number Israel and Judah. Joab didn't agree but did it cause the king ordered it.

:10-11 When they return David realizes he sinned by doing it.

:12-15 The Lord gives David 3 choices. 7 years of famine, 3 months fleeing before his enemies, or 3 days of pestilence.

:16-25 David buys the threshing floor where the pestilence stopped to build an altar to the Lord.

July 17

I never got around to typing in on the 17th so here it is.

Pr 17:20 He tha hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hat a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

Ps 52
:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

2 Sam 22
:1-50 David sang a song to the Lord the day He delivered him from Saul.

Quote I read

Tim Hansel in "You've Gotta Keep Dancing" said that perhaps one of the most commonly used sentences in the English language is: If I can just get through this problem then everything will be all right.

He goes on to say the birth of maturity is when we realize tthat once we get through our present problem, there will be another one slightly larger and a little more intense waiting to take its place. If we are to grow up and grow in Christ, the time must come when we make this realization.

Pr 29, Ps 51, 2 Sam 21

Pr 29

:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Ps 51

:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

2 Sam 21

:1- There was a three year famine. The Lord told David it was because of Saul.

:2-9 David asked the Gibeonites what he could do to appease them for the things Saul had done to them.

:10-They wanted seven of Saul's sons to kill and David agreed.

:11-14 David got the bones of Saul, Jonathan, and the seven and had them buried.

:15-David went to war with the Philistines again and grew tired.

:16-22 David was almost killed and the men said he shouldn't go out to war anymore. There were many battles with the Philistines.

Pr 28, Ps 50, 2 Sam 20

Pr 28

:5 Evil men understand not judgement; but they that seek the Lord understand all things.

:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

:13 He that coverth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Ps 50

:7 Hear, O My people and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.

:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

2 Sam 20

:1-2 The men of Israel said they had no part in David and followed Sheba. The men of Judah followed David.

:3 David put the concubines he had left to keep the house in isolation and they lived as widows till their death.

:4-6 David sent Amasa to assemble the men of Judah and he took longer then he should have taken . David sent Abishai after Sheba.

:7-10 Joab and his men went after Sheba. Amasa went also. Joab shew Amasa.

:11-26 A woman comes to Joab at Abel and says she will toss Sheba's head over the wall and she does. Joab and his men return to David.

Pr 27, Ps 49, 2 Sam 19

It has been awhile. I have been going to doctors, etc alot and just haven't had time to post. And sadly I have not always been in the word. When I have, it has been just quick short studies and not part of my usual bible study that I post here. So here is the next in the series.

Pr 27

:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

:12 A prudent man forseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Ps 49

:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave; for He shall receive me. Selah.

2 Sam 19

:1-4 The people heard how David mourned his son.

:5-7 Joab tells David he and the people are upset that he is mourning Absalom who tried to kill and the people.

:8-10 David went out to the gate and met the people. The ones who had been following Absalom talked about bringing David back as king.

:11-18 They welcomed David as king.

:19-23 One of the men who cursed David when he left came to meet him. He repented but some still wanted to kill him. David said no.

:24-43 Others came to meet him also. Some argued they had more of David then others.

Pr 23, Ps 48, 2 Sam 18

Pr 23

:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners, but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.

Ps 48

:1 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, in the mountains of His holiness.

:2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

2 Sam 18

:1-14 Joab and two others take men out to battle Absalom. Absalom gets caught by a tree branch and even though David said to not hurt him, Joab puts 3 darts in him.

:14-33 News is sent to David about Absalom and David mourns for him.

Isn't the love of a parent amazing? Even though Absalom did evil to David and would have killed him if given the chance, David still said for his men to not hurt him and mourned him when he died.

Pr 20, Ps 47, 2 Sam 17

Pr 20

:29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

Ps 47

:6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises unto our king, sing praises.

2 Sam 17

:1-14 One advisor (Ahithophel) says give me men and let us go after David. The other (Hushai) says gather everyone and you go after David. Absalom listens to Hushai.

:15-16 Hushai sends word to David.

:17-23 David crosses over Jordan with his people. When Ahithophel sees his counsel is not followed, he goes home, puts his house in order and hangs himself.

:24-29 Absalom passes over Jordan. He makes Amasa captain of the hosts instead of Joab. Shobi feeds David and his men and gives them a place to rest.

Pr 19, Ps 46, 2 Sam 16

Pr 19

:11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

Ps 46

:10 Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Ever get really busy with life? Do you still find time each day to be still and know that He is God? I am sad to say there have been days I have not taken the time. Prayerfully I won't have any more like that.

2 Sam 16

:1-David is told Absalom has taken over in Jerusalem. He meets up with Shimei and he curses David. One of David's men wants to kill him but David says it is from the Lord.

:12-23 Absalom goes into David's concubines.

Pr 18, Ps 45, 2 Sam 15

Pr 18

:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord.

Ps 45

:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

2 Sam 15

:1-6 Absalom set himself up at the gate and acted as judge even thou David didn't know. He won the peoples hearts from Hebron by doing that.

:7-11 Absalom gets the ok from David to go worship the Lord in Hebron. But that is not what he had planned. Even the men with him didn't know he had sent spies ahead telling the people at the sound of the trumpet they were to say he reigned in Hebron.

:12-16 They get word to David and he flees with the people leaving ten concubines behind to keep the house.

:17-21 David tells Ittai to go back as he is a stranger but he says he is staying with the king.

:22-30 David sends the ark back to the city with the priests. He tells him to let him know when it is safe to return.

:31-37 David is told of a spy. He sends a spy to Absalom and tells him to send word to him by the priest's sons. Absalom enters the city.

Pr 16, Ps 44, 2 Sam 14

Pr 16

:3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Ps 44

:7 But Thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

2 Sam 14

:1-33 The chapter starts out with Joab going to a wise woman and tells her to go to the king and exactly what to tell him. She does but in the end the Lord shows David what Joab had done. When David asks her she confirms. David has Joab send for Absalom but he can't see the king. It says also that Absalom was very handsome. At the end of the chapter Absalom is allowed to see David and David kisses him.

Pr 14, Ps 43, 2 Sam 13

Pr 14

:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Ps 43

:3 O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me: let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacle.

Amen!

2 Sam 13

:1-14 Amnon loved his half sister Tamar. He rapes her. (what a horrible way to show love)

:15-He hates her once he has raped her (probably mixed up with self loathing for what he has done to her)

:16-20 Her brother Absalom tells her to keep secret what happened to her.

:21-28 David finds out what happened. Absalom waits two years to kill Amnon for what he did.

:29-31 David is told Absalom killed all his brothers, but it is not true.

:32-33 David is told it was only Amnon.

:34-39 Absalom flees. David mourns Absalom. He was relieved Amnon was punished for raping Tamar.

Pr 13, Ps 42, 2 Sam 12

Pr 13

:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Ps 42

:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

2 Sam 12

:1-7 God sends Nathan to David about his sin using a parable.

:8-13 David admits his sin.

:14-19 Nathan says the child will die, he fasted while the child was sick asking God to spare him.

:20 Once he heard the child had died, he washed, worshipped, and ate.

:21-23 The servants don't understand why now he will eat. He explains he didn't know if he kept seeking the Lord if the Lord would spare the child.

:24 He comforted Bathsheba and she bore Solomon. The Lord loved Solomon.

:25-31 Joab sent word to David of how the battle was going. David went out to meet him and captured the city.

Pr 11, Ps 41, 2 Sam 11

Pr 11

:27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favor: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

Ps 41

:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Ever been betrayed by a close friend? All of us have at me time or another. Those are the betrayals that hurt the most. ZBut if you allow the Lord to enter that part of your heart, He can and will heal it. The friendship probably won't be the same as before, but it can still be a good one. And yes, I speak from experience.

2 Sam 11

:1-3 David sees Bathsheba.

:4-10 David tries to cover his sin but Uriah doesn't go home.

Have you ever tried to cover up your sin? Just as David's sin was seen by God and dealt with by God, so is ours.

:11-18 David sends word to Joab to have Uriah killed in battle.

:19-24 Joab sent word to David Uriah was dead.

:25-27 Bathsheba mourned her husband, then David sent for her and made her his wife. But what he did displeased the Lord.

Pr 10, Ps 40, 2 Sam 10

Pr 10

:3 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but He casteth away the substance of the wicked.

Ps 40

:1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

2 Sam 10

:1 The king of Ammon died and his son Hanun took his place.

:2-7 David sent servants to comfort him in honor of his fater, but his servants told him they were coming to spy, so he shaved half of David's men heads and cut their clothing. Then he hired soldiers from other kings. When David heard he sent Joab out to meet them with all the host of the mighty men.

:8-13 Joab split the men up between himself and his brother. When he came out against the Syrians they fled.

:14- When Ammon's people saw the Syrians flee they did also.

:15-19 The Syrians that were left gathered together. David gathered with all of Israel and came out against them. David won and all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer joined Israel. The Syrians were afraid to help Ammon any more.

Pr 6, Ps 39, 2 Sam 9

Pr 6

:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

Ps 39

:13 O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more.

2 Sam 9

:1-13 David sends for Jonathan's son and takes him as his own son. He gives him everything that belonged to Saul.

Pr 5, Ps 38, 2 Sam 8 and MRI results

First off I got the MRI results and it came back clear. Now just waiting for the results of the other two tests.

Pr 5

:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings.

Ps 38

:18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Am I really sorry for my sin? If so then I won't repeat that sin.

2 Sam 8

:1- David smote the Philistines and subdued them.

:2 He smote Moab, some were killed, others became his servants.

:3-6 He smote Hadadezer, Syrians.

:7-8 He took from Betah brass, Hadadezer gold.

:9-18 Toi sent his son to salute David. He brought silver, gold and brass that David gave to the Lord. He made servants of Edom. He put men over different places and things that needed to be done. The Lord preserved David where ever he went. As a side note my bible says preserved means the Lord gave victory to David.

Lord I need You to preserve me in my health.

Pr 2, Ps 37, 2 Sam 7

Pr 2

:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Ps 37

::39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their shield in time of trouble.

2 Sam 7

:1-8 David wants to build a house for the ark.

:9-14 God says He will be David's father and chasten him if he needs it.

:15-17 He won't remove His mercy from David as He did from Saul. Nathan tells David all the Lord said.

:18-29 David goes in and give thanksgiving to the Lord.