Daily Bible Study for Tuesday July 5,
2016
By: Hanny Lynn Stearns
Fish N
Loaves Ministries, Inc.
“Multiplying
God’s Word Around The Globe”
Chapter Reading
for Today: Please read in
your Bible before proceeding. Note that most translations are considered
paraphrases. The Young’s Literal Translation provides a more accurate
translation since he is the one who authored a concordance. Others are helpful
for seeing a different perspective, but we cannot always depend on their
wording. I hope this is helpful to you. If you are studying in another version,
that is fine. I am studying from the KJV, but for the purpose of this study, I
will keep it with the New King James Version.
One final note: I will put the scripture in italics to differentiate from my
own writing. I am adding red to the letters when
it is Jesus talking – just like the Bible. Thank you.
Bible Gateway Verse of the Day
Isaiah 12:4
And in that day you will say: “Praise the Lord, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make
mention that His name is exalted.
Psalm
100:4
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless
His name.
Song: To Worship You I Live By: Israel and New Breed
Psalm 5
Starting Our Mornings with God
Where do you go in the morning
when you have a new day facing you? And the next question is even more
important - to whom do you turn in the wee hours of the morning as you begin to
take your steps into the unknown of a new day dawning? Today we will hear more
from David on this very subject. We are still early in the book of Psalms, yet
we have already seen how to cry out to God in our distress, and where we can
find perfect peace. Let’s pray…
Heavenly Father;
Thank You for Your goodness
and faithfulness to Your children. Lord, thank You for always being there ready
and waiting each new morning as we arise. Thank You for having a great plan for
each new day. You are with us always, even as we sleep. Father, I ask that You
will help each one reading this lesson to know what You want all of us to see in
our hearts today, or whenever it will be read. Father, I ask You to cause Your word
to go into me and out through me. Use my mind, heart and hands to bring Your
message to Your people whom You love so much. Cause it to go out unhindered and
unchecked by any outside force or my flesh, and we will give You all the glory,
honor and praise as You do. Thank You for always watching over Your word to
perform it in our lives. Help us learn how to really take You at Your word so
it will not be void in our own hearts in Jesus name. Amen!
Think of yourself waking up
this morning. What was on your mind? Did you have concerns that were facing
you? Perhaps you woke thinking all was well, only to find out not too much
later that there were things brewing in your heart that needed to be dealt with.
We have all been there, haven’t we saints. David knew what he had to do first
thing in the morning. He had to pray. And he knew who alone he needed to take
those prayers to – the one true God. His faithful God who would hear him in the
evening, in the morning, anytime he would call out to him. And it is the same
with us, isn’t it?
This life has got its issues.
All of us will be attacked by the enemy. And the more we are believing God to
work great things in our lives, the more we will be challenged by the ultimate
enemy – the devil; satan and all the host of demons that work under his
authority. They are everywhere. They all have a station in the earth to bring
destruction to people’s lives. But we don’t have to fear that because we never
fear the evil one, no way! Psalm 23 says we will fear no evil, and we won’t. He
is the one who should fear us! LOL! But who is the devil’s ultimate enemy? Why
it is God of course! He is lashing out in his evil fury against God by lashing
out at what is precious to God – His children. The devil knows that if he can’t
get to God, which he can’t, then he will go to His children and try to hurt
them, thereby causing Him hurt.
But God is not threatened by
any devil, that’s for sure. The enemy knows he is on a limited tether. His time
here is short. David declared in his prayer today that he knew God hates
evildoers. Those who practice evil cannot stand in the presence of God or in
the day of judgment unless they repent. Let’s look at some ways that the enemy
has hurt God’s kids in order to get back at the Lord.
He is trying to destroy
marriages. He wants to ruin families, businesses, churches. He is causing
strife and division everywhere we turn these days. But then again that is
really nothing new under the sun. Fortunately for us as God’s children, we can
go right into the throne room of heaven because God is rich in mercy toward us…
Psalm 86:5
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
When we go to God in reverence and awe of Who He is, we are entering
into the most holy place because Jesus, by His blood made a way for us to do so
– hallelujah! We get in by the blood, and when we get there we find an
abundance of mercy – glory to God! Our Lord is never short on mercy. How do I
know this? Well just this morning I had an experience I will share. Maybe it
can help you if you have dealt with a similar situation.
Yesterday was a holiday for our nation – the 4th of July,
known as Independence Day. America is now 240 years old! And this nation was
built by God Himself. That’s worth celebrating. My husband and I invited a
family from our church over for a potluck with all the fixins’ for a great
summer picnic meal. They are younger than us and still raising their kids. The
family and their children are super precious and we love them like they were
our own children and grandchildren. They live right by us so we see them almost
daily and it really blesses our hearts.
Just this morning we bumped into each other as we were out walking our
dogs – they have two and we have one. Even the dogs love each other and have
great fellowship together – praise the Lord. As we reminisced about the great
time we had yesterday, I thanked the mom once again and told her how precious
they all were to us – like our own kids. And as soon as those words left my
mouth, a flood of tears welled up in me. I tried to control the emotions the
best I could and we said our “see ya later” as we both walked toward our own
homes.
Once inside I couldn’t seem to stop crying. I fought it and I continued
to praise God as I finished up the morning dishes, preparing to go into my place
of prayer with my King. I did not understand at first where the tears were
coming from, but I knew something was brewing, and it wasn’t the coffee! It was
in my heart. As I went to prayer, I cried on and off again and lifted up
prayers for various people and things as always. Then I could hear the Lord
speaking to my heart inside telling me this, “You are sad about your own children
and the holiday.” I knew immediately that as always, He was right. It had hurt
yesterday down deep inside. I have not heard from either one of my daughters
since December - over 6 months ago.
If you have read my testimony, then you read about how the Lord had
restored my relationship with them. And He did. I saw them last summer in
Michigan. I had gone for a two-week vacation to spend time with them and see
the grandchildren and other longtime friends of mine. I had a wonderful time.
The little ones are a great delight to this Grandma’s heart as anyone with
grandchildren can imagine. So why haven’t my daughters called me in over 6
months anyway? Well, it is simple really. The enemy of God and ours had a plan
to break up that happy family reunion. He knew that if he could mess that up he
would hurt me. Just like he tries to hurt God by hurting us.
Last Christmas I sent a letter to my daughters about all the great
things that God is doing in our lives as a couple for His glory. It is the same
letter that I send out to our friends and family in the body of Christ each
year. What we believe to have happened is that the enemy slipped in and used
that letter to cause the girls to misinterpret something which drew them back
away. It looked like it worked as far as the enemy was concerned. So here we
are, six months down the road and the lines of communication have been stopped
up completely. Not only have I not heard from the older daughter, but the
younger one stopped calling too.
I realized with God’s help that the enemy was at work in this situation.
But here’s the thing. The Lord made it clear to me that I should stand back –
stand way back, and let Him work. Whose enemy is the devil ultimately? God’s.
And who can win the battle ultimately? It is God and Him alone – hallelujah! So
when I discovered this and heard from the Lord I did what He said to do. The crisis
I had gone through years ago had caused a lot of damage for my daughters. And
that kind of damage can only be repaired by our Savior. It is His healing balm
that will need to soothe their hearts in the end. It is His love and mercy on
them that will turn this thing around.
My daughters are precious, but they don’t know what they don’t know yet.
Perhaps like many of your relatives too? And when we go to God to fight the
battle, we have taken the first right step we need to take if we want to truly
gain the victory. He will deal with them, if we let Him. Too many times our
flesh tries to get in there and make something happen. Ask me how I know that?
And most, if not all the time that we are doing that we are sending the cart
further into reverse. We usually do more damage than good and “cut off our
noses to spite our faces” – amen?!
We have no control over other people. Even
if they are really close to us; like parents, siblings and children. We cannot
control one thing they do. The sooner we get that through our heads, the freer
we will be. Here is a promise I mentioned before from God about the restoration of
my family relationships, including my daughters…
Ezekiel 36:11
I will multiply upon you man
and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as
in former times, and do better for you than
at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.
Look at the ERV…
I will give you many people and animals, and they will grow
and have many children. I will bring people to live on you as in the past. I
will make it better for you than before. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
The Lord gave me this verse before either daughter ever started speaking
to me again. And since then, all the things in this verse have come to pass. He
brought the kids back with grandchildren – 4 to be exact, a new and very
special puppy, and the icing on the cake is my new husband – a strong man of God
whom I love and cherish – glory to God! But when God restores, He makes things
better than they were in the beginning. Here is another verse that the Lord
light illuminated to me by Holy Spirit back in the days when I had not yet
spoken to either daughter in a long while…
Job 8:7
Though your
beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
Friends, I am sharing my story of pain with you
to encourage you. This is not about me. But if what happened to me can be used
to encourage you, then I count it all joy to tell you about these things. Total
restoration is on its way with my daughters. Our relationships will be better
that they have ever been. I know this down to the depth of my soul. I do not
doubt God one single bit on this. Even as I cried this morning, after I knew
what it was that was ‘bugging’ me, I kept thanking God for working on my behalf
in the situation and confessing that it was all working together for my good because
I love God and I am His called according to His purpose. (See Romans 8:28).
I never allowed myself to speak negatively about
the situation. I did not grumble, whine or complain. I stood in faith as much when
the tears were flowing as I do on any other day when I feel lighter and less ‘pressed’
with the issues. I prayed in the spirit for them and I prayed in the natural. I
cast my cares to the Lord. I literally put my hands up and made sure I handed those
cares over to God so I do not hold on to them. That is critical. He cannot work
on our problems if we refuse to turn them over. As I sat with the Lord this morning,
He reminded me that I needed to look at Him and sit in that chair with Him
while He rocked me and comforted me.
As we rocked, the song came up in my heart that
says, “There is no one else like you.” I began to sing it out loud. My heart
began to feel lighter. I kept rocking. I could feel in the spirit His wonderful
comfort. I started relaxing more and more. Then the Lord asked this question, “Isn’t
this better than turning to food or anything else for your comfort?” I replied,
“Yes Lord.” And it was. Once it was all out, I felt much better. It’s a little yucky
to put it this way, but I call it an experience similar to “vomiting up”
something that is not agreeing with me. I have to get it out. Until I do it
will make me feel sick, nauseated and uncomfortable. But once it is out me I
have instant relief.
It is amazing how God does what He does. He knows
when we need comfort. The minute those tears came this morning, I knew there
was something, but I wasn’t yet sure of what. How did I have the first clue saints?
When we start to cry without knowing why we are, it is a sure sign that there
is something bothering us on the inside, and it needs to come out. Suppression
will never work. Drugs won’t mask it – for very long. Other people can’t help
us. Alcohol, food, none of it can comfort us.
When we turn to those things we
will always come up short! After we indulge in an addiction, we will feel worse
than we did before we did it, and go back to continually trying to medicate the
pain that just doesn’t seem to want to go.
Oh friends, but God! He is so full of love and
comfort. Let’s look at the scripture again and be reminded of what He can do
for us in the way of comfort…
Isaiah 66:13
As one whom his
mother comforts, so I will comfort you; and you shall be
comforted in Jerusalem.”
Friends, there is more to God than we give Him
credit for. Yes, He is a father to the fatherless, but He is also a mother to
the motherless. It’s true! There are certain ways that a good daddy can comfort
us and there are different ways that a mother comforts us. Today I received
both. The comfort of my Father and the comfort of my Mother in heaven – all wrapped
up into one amazing and comforting, loving God! Hallelujah!
Even though God is
a male (in Jesus), He has the ability to comfort us like a loving mom who would
scoop us up into her arms and hold us and rock us. The Lord rocks me many times
when I need it. That’s why I must always have a cozy rocking chair – so I can
sit in it and allow Him to hold me and rock me when I need it.
Maybe that sounds strange to some of you. But
here’s the thing. God is so intimately tender with us when we get really close
to Him. He wants us to bless His heart and minister to Him too. That’s how a
healthy relationship works. We comfort each other when it is needed. We should
minister to the Lord every day and allow Him to minster to us. From there He
can teach us, correct us and lead us in the way we should go – amen?!
David
started off his day going to God. He knew according to the words he spoke in
this Psalm that he could come to God, pour out his heart and needs and then sit
back (in His loving arms) and wait for the answer, or the help to come. Look at
this verse in the NIV…
Psalm 5:3 NIV
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in
the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
Friends, are you going to God every morning to
meet with Him? Are you expecting to hear back from Him? If not, you are missing
out on the most important part of your day. I have done it more than I care to
admit. I got busy and concerned about the tasks, and allowed that to get in the
way of my time with Jesus. Like Martha,
I had a ‘busyness’ problem. Many times addicts have more than one vice to
overcome – that was me. I still have to work hard to keep that in check. Look
at what Jesus said to Martha…
Luke 10:38
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village;
and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had
a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But
Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said,
“Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore
tell her to help me.”
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha,
Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is
needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from
her.”
On a recent trip I took with my husband, we were out to
dinner with some very dear friends. I have been sending them my Bible study
emails, but when the husband mentioned receiving them, he said with a smile, “Ya,
I am seeing them but I am too busy to read them.” I was sad. Not because of my email
– but because of what he is missing out on in his mornings. I don’t know
exactly what he does in the morning, that’s entirely his business. My hope for
him is that he is getting fed and communing with God somehow.
If we are too busy to go to God in the morning, then we are
too busy. And I am preachin to myself as much as to anyone reading this. In
reality saints, isn’t our only right way to start any day to go directly to the
top? God is waiting. He has a glorious itinerary all laid out for our time
together with Him each day. And it is so rich that once we get there we don’t
want to leave and get about our business.
But He knows we have things we are supposed
to do. He fully expects us to take care of our responsibilities, and perform
them with excellence as unto Him. But if we don’t start with Him, then we are seriously
missing the best and richest part of our lives. That is really SADD-U-CEE! Will
we build our day on the solid Rock – or on shifting sand and watch it all
crumble throughout the day?
In closing, I think…
Life can cause us to be terribly weary if we are not
careful. But here is what Jesus said about that…
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for
I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden
is light.”
My dear friends, I can testify to you that after my bout of
tears this morning, after spending time rocking with Jesus in my chair, I felt
a whole lot better. That nagging thing in my chest making me want to cry was
gone – completely. I was full of joy and bubbling up with gladness once again –
praise His name forever! Like David told us in the word this morning, people
who are putting their trust in God will be full of joy and gladness –
hallelujah! And who doesn’t want that? The Lord blesses us; He gives us favor
in our lives and circumstances. He protects us when we fully trust in Him. I
would say that is an unbeatable deal, wouldn’t you?
Questions:
Where do you go first thing in the morning? Explain your
answer.
What does God think about the enemy? Give details.
How do we as God’s children approach Him according to this
chapter?
Why can we approach Him? Give two reasons from this study.
Who is the devil really the enemy of? Who can deal with him?
List the benefits of trusting in God.
Lamentations
3:22-23
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail
not. They are new
every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
There are three main points to
consider from today’s study…
Meeting with God in the morning
should be a daily habit for the Christian
God is the One who will deal with
the enemy in the end
When we trust in God we are blessed,
given favor and protection
Let’s
pray…
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for being there for me in the nighttime,
in the morning and all the time. Father, I know that there is none I can
fellowship with like You. You have all the love, all the instruction and all
the provision I need for each new day. Father, I ask You to forgive me for the
times that I have put other things before meeting with You. Help me see the
time and the place that I can get alone with You in the morning – even if it is
in the bathroom, away from other distractions. Lord, I want to meet with You –
before that nothing else matters. I live to worship You in spirit and in truth
all the days of my life. Thank You for always having the help I need to face
every situation in my life. I give You all the glory, honor and praise in Jesus
name. Amen!
How do you start your days?
And God Said… You fill in the blanks.
Isaiah
26:9
With my soul I have desired
You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early;
for when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the
world will learn righteousness.
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