Bearing Fruit Takes Time

12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
15 To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 92:12-15 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Get unstuck. Change doesn’t come from things remaining the same. Something must change for things to be different. Go back to the basics and then be willing to try something new. The longer it takes to start moving in the right direction, the longer it will take to reach the destination. It’s normal to take some hits when you’re in a fight, and only drunks and fools feel good when taking licks. It is just as normal to sometimes get hit with bad feelings in the good fight of the faith. Complaining, grumbling, and fault-finding can only lead us to where we don’t want to go. When the mind is occupied with its own bad feelings, it effectively pushes us out of the peace of God. It is in thanksgiving rather than complaining, praise rather than grumbling, and prayer rather than fault-finding which keeps us in the peace of God that surpasses understanding. All circumstances are temporary and God is in control of all things. When you know that God is faithful, all difficulties can joyfully be accepted as an opportunity to exercise faith in God. You will see the glory of God if you are willing to believe. Faith in God changes what cannot be changed otherwise. (Deuteronomy 2:1-3; Matthew 23:37; Proverbs 31:1-2, 10:16-26, 26:14, 23:29-35, 31:3; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Timothy 6:12; James 1:2-8; Matthew 17:21; Ephesians 6:10-12; Colossians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:13-18; 1 Peter 5:6-10; Philippians 4:8-9; John 14:13; 1 Peter 5:11)

Be Prosperous, Happy, and Free

5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God:
6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7 Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:
8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:
9 The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10 The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 146:5-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There are beautiful women, there are rich men, there are smart women, and there are powerful men. The prosperous soul will be happier than them all. A prosperous soul is adorned with the beatitudes, is rich in good works, is wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove, full of the fruit of the Spirit, happy with much or little, and totally given up to trust in the love of God. Build up the soul in the love of God to be prosperous, happy, and free. (Proverbs 11:22, 23:1-3; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Proverbs 10:22; 1 Timothy 6:10; Proverbs 6:23-26; Revelation 2:18-29; Galatians 5:19-26; 3 John 2; 1 Peter 3:3-4; Matthew 5:1-16; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Matthew 10:16; Romans 8:35-39; Isaiah 28:10; 2 Peter 1:3-11; 2 Timothy 4:1-4; Jude 1:20-25)

Rejoice!

63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2 To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Psalm 63:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Life is full of mystery. Science is limited to reasoning based on physical realities, intellectual opinions, and statistical probabilities that cannot pass beyond the second heaven let alone reach into the third. Faith is the only faculty given to man that is capable of penetrating the cloud of unknowing that surrounds life on earth. The only needful thing to get right is to believe in God and choose to trust Him, or the awful day will come when all who don’t will be counted among all those who believe in God and tremble. Empirical knowledge enlightened by knowledge of the Scriptures and the power of God makes for great faith. From here, just as it is written, nothing will be impossible for us. (2 Corinthians 12:2-5; Colossians 1:9-29; Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 6:12; Matthew 17:19-21; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; James 2:19; Matthew 22:29; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Matthew 8:5-13; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Psalm 18:1-3; Philippians 4:13; 1 Peter 5:6-10; Ephesians 3:14-20; 1 Peter 5:11)

Excellent is the Name of the Lord in All the Earth

3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8:3-9 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Freedom doesn’t come from having unlimited choices. Having 10,000 wrong choices only creates 10,000 bad consequences, not freedom. True freedom comes from a willing heart that chooses what is right. Habitual right choices cultivate godly character, and godly character shares abundantly in the fruit of the Spirit. We come to know that we are holding to the narrow way by the fruit. Sometimes through fatigue or loss of focus we stray. Rest when you must, repent when necessary, and return to following the first principles to get the train back on the track of freedom and firmly attached to the empowering third rail of the Spirit of liberty. (Revelation 2:1-7; Proverbs 24:30-34; Luke 6:46; Proverbs 30:20, 20:11; Matthew 7:16-21, 22:29, 7:13-14; John 8:31-36, 20:24-29; Galatians 5:1; 2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 5:28-30; John 6:63; Luke 17:20-21; Galatians 5:16-25; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; 1 John 1:9-10; Philippians 2:13; 1 Timothy 6:3-21)

Maker of Heaven and Earth is Our Help

15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalm 89:15-17 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Just like beauty, big is in the eye of the beholder. Big and small are useful labels for comparison between things that differ in size. At least two things must be in view to make a comparison. Our problems in life are not the problem. The problem is in the reference used to make the determination of it as a big or small problem. If we compare our problems with the problems of other people, our problems can easily be seen as bigger or smaller. If we compare our problems with our ability, they will be as big or as small as our ability to handle them. The problem is not in the comparison, but in our frame of reference used for the comparison. Nothing is bigger than God and all problems are small in comparison to Him. The universe is bigger than we can imagine, yet God is bigger still. It is easy for our problems to be too big for us, yet everything is small when compared to the infinite God. Remember God in all things. Lean not on your own limited understanding and ability. Trust God and rely on His love. (Acts 17:16-34; Isaiah 53:1; Hebrews 11:6; Mark 16:9-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; Matthew 7:7-8; Romans 8:32-39; Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 21:34; 1 Timothy 4:16; Acts 20:28; Psalm 92:1-2, 18:1-3, 30:12, 89:52)

Strong in the Presence of the Lord

15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. Psalm 89:15-17 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

To be human is to be born swimming in a sea of error with truth being our only life preserver. Errors of opinion, errors of thought, and errors of speech surround us like blood thirsty sharks ready to attack. Knowledge of the truth is the first essential, and following the truth is the next equally essential action. Without the first the second cannot be taken, and without the second, hypocrisy rushes in to devour. Truth is a life preserver. It cannot be grasped without simultaneously letting go of error. Righteousness comes from ordering life in accordance with the book of Truth and the righteous increase strength. This book, the Holy Bible, is it from God or from man? Answering this question correctly is the first stroke toward wisdom. (Matthew 13:18-23, 44-51; Luke 6:46; Luke 20:1-8; Psalm 33:13-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Job 28:28; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; John 8:31-32; John 15:16; James 1:21; Proverbs 24:5; Romans 13:7-14; 2 Peter 1:21, 1:3-11; Revelation 22:21)

Happiness Starts Here

10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. Psalm 34:10-14 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Muscles and faith both become stronger only after they are exercised. It is easy to overload a barbell with way more weight than you are able to lift safely, but with the Comforter as your personal trainer, He will not allow you to be tested beyond what you are able to handle. Faith grows to match the level of our trust in God. When you can say with complete confidence like Job, “though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” your faith will be strong enough to do the greater works Jesus promised. (John 14:12-14; John 11:40; Matthew 17:19-20; Luke 17:5-8; James 4:3; Hebrews 4:9-16; 1 John 5:14-15; 1 Corinthians 9:7-10; Hebrews 11:1-6; John 14:12517; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:2-4; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Habakkuk 3:17-18; Job 13:15;Philippians 4:4-7; 1 Peter 5:6-10; Philippians 4:8; Philippians 2:13; 1 Peter 5:11).

My Lips Will Sing with Joy

21 Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
22 I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed. Psalm 71:21-23 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Aging with strength is a process, not an event. This distinction is important because a process requires continuous action and an event happens once and is done. Aging with strength requires fundamental knowledge, careful preparation, and proper execution of both knowledge and plan. Youthful strength is so uncommon among the aged because most don’t understand that it takes a process to achieve and maintain such a state. It is easier to drink the poisoned Kool-aide that to get old and weak is normal. Everybody likes flat guts and big butts, but they come from a process. Stop looking for short-cuts to the easy finish line of big gains. The only finish line is an event called death and there is no short-cut to finishing this life well. The only way is straight and narrow. Resist any temptation to believe otherwise. (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:14-21; 1 John 2:15-17; Genesis 4:1-10; Hebrews 11:4; Matthew 7:12-14; John 14:6,  17:3; 1 Samuel 15:22; Mark 12:30-33; Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:5-15; Jeremiah 45:5; Mark 8:34-37; Psalm 49:20, 42:5; Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 3:6-8; 3 John 2; Galatians 6:9; Ephesians 3:14-21)

Precious Is the Steadfast Love of the Lord

5 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Psalm 36:5-10 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Ora et labor. Latin for pray and work. Pray because everything depends on God, and work like everything depends on you. These are not contradictory statements. They are merely opposite sides of the same profound truth. God gives and we receive. God, the Most High, is the only true sovereign and source of all. Therefore, everything depends on God. The grace of God is like a wind. Do we put up the sail and go to work, or do we take it in vain to power the wheels of our lusts? We are given the free choice, therefore everything depends on our response to the grace of God. (Philippians 2:12-14; 2 Corinthians 6:1-2; John 3:27; Revelation 2:18-29; 1 Corinthians 10:1-14; James 4:1-10; 2 Chronicles 16:11-12; Isaiah 50:10-11, 55:6-7; James 1:2-5; Matthew 7:7-8; James 5:13-20; Psalm 32:5-11; 1 Corinthians 16:13-14; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Lead Me, Lord, In Your Righteousness

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. Psalm 5:4-12 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Strengthen the body with exercise. The way to do this is not always easy, but the way is well known. Strengthen faith by fighting the good fight. The way is not always easy, but the way to do this is also well known. Renew the mind daily with the Word of God. Resist the faithless thoughts suggested by the inner tempter designed to avert the gaze from the Spirit and truth. Let faith in God be non-negotiable, and humbly hold on to the truth to the very end. The Word of God is truth and it will never fail. Faith doesn’t add anything to God. Faith receives from God. Know beyond merely understanding that there is a placed predestined for you before the world began at the table of the wedding feast of the Lamb. This present world is only a preparation for the next. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and trust God to lead you to that paradise He has prepared for you. (Proverbs 12:10, 14:4, 22:13; Matthew 16:23; Colossians 3:2; Luke 14:15-24; John 6:27-29, 4:19-26; Matthew 17:19-21, 18:1-3, 7:9-11; Ephesians 1:3-5; Romans 8:12-19; Hebrews 11:6; Mark 11:22-24; James 4:10; 1 Kings 3:7; 1 Peter 5:6-10; Revelation 22:14-21)