My Joy is in God

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:5-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

To be in the world, but not of the world, is to be spiritually minded. Having the thoughts conformed to the mind of Christ, and the affections set on the things above, is to walk in the Spirit. Not by fits and spurts, but all the time. The longer we go throughout the day without thinking about God, the weaker our spiritual battery becomes. Look for moments throughout the day to plug into the Word to snatch a little recharge from the Spirit. There are certainly times when business requires our total focus, but when business is done let the mind return to the Lord. Some thoughts are like evil birds of prey. We may not be able to stop the birds from flying over our head, but we can certainly deny them a place to land and chase them away. The ability to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ is a hallmark of the spiritually mature worthy of all aspiration. (1 John 4:19; Zephaniah 3:17; Colossians 3:2; Romans 12:2-3; 1 Timothy 4:16; Ephesians 4:27-30; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:11-18; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; John 17:14-19; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Romans 8:5-6; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; John 7:24; James 4:3; Galatians 5:16-26; Mark 11:22-26; 1 Peter 3:7; Ephesians 5:15-20; Philippians 4:8-9, 23)

Spiritual Food

1 I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.
2 I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.
5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
6 Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.
7 He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord. Psalm 101 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Meet the conditions, reap the promises. A baby cannot grow without love and milk. God has proved His love for us by sending Jesus to pay for our sins, and He has given us His word so that we can grow up in our salvation. Love must be two ways. The Cross is evidence of God’s love toward us, and our love toward God is manifested in our desire for godliness. As milk is food for the baby, so the Word is food for the spirit. The divine plan is to cause each of us all to grow up into the fullness of Christ, the place of the unswerving faith of Jesus. I am convinced that there is a way of life where all things are possible, and it can only be reached by those who dare to believe. (Galatians 6:7; Hosea 10:12; 1 John 3:7-12; 1 Timothy 6:3-12; Hebrews 12:1-3; Mark 9:23-241 Peter 2:2-3; John 6:27-35; Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12; Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 21:25, 13:58; Romans 10:17; Mark 11:22-24: John 11:40; Matthew 13:18-23; John 3:1-9; Mark 9:23; Galatians 2:20; Mark 4:26-29; James 5:7; John 15:1; Ephesians 3:14-21)

Bring Me to Your Holy Mountain

3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.
4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:3-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Pursue the best things and resist the temptation to chase after vanities. If we pursue the best things, what we are now doesn’t matter as much as what we will become. If we fall into the habit of spending hours scrolling down the social media rabbit hole, we lose the opportunity to pursue what is better. Or maybe like me, its sitting in front of an Ultra-HD big screen watching and eating that is your greatest vain indulgence. The definition of worldliness in our day and age is that which distracts the head, heart, and hands from pursuing God’s best. Ruthlessly eliminate vanities! Vain time wasters only slow the becoming of who we are meant to be. Ask yourself what is best in this moment, and then choose to do it. (Ecclesiastes 1:1-2; Mark 8:36; Ecclesiastes 7:2-4; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 John 2:15-17; Colossians 3:2; James 1:22-25; Proverbs 16:3; Galatians 6:7; Psalm 1; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Proverbs 23:31-35; 1 Corinthians 12:31, 13:9-13; 1 Peter 4:1-7; Psalm 138:8; Philippians 2:13; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

The Lord Reigns Forever

146 Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul.
2 While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
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 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

There is no limitation in God. Faith must be based on this knowledge, and this knowledge comes only by the Word of God. The Word is God, and faith in God is the substance, the solid spiritual rock that belief must built upon. Everything else is shifting sand. Prayer must leave the earthly confines of self and penetrate the heavens to receive this grace. Lord, help us! (Genesis 1:1-4; John 1:1-5; Romans 8:6-8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:21; 1 Peter 2:2; Romans 10:17, 1:17; Proverbs 20:27; Psalm 18:28-30; Romans 5:2-5; Matthew 16:24-6, 11:28-30; John 14:15-23; Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 10:1-7; Philippians 3:8-11; Hebrews 11:1-6, 4:16, 10:23; 1 Chronicles 29:11-13; Mark 9:24; Ephesians 3:14-21)

Bless His Holy Name

103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul. Psalm 103:1-5, 19-23 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

The weak amen ends a prayer with a small “let it be so” petition. Make your Amen strong. A mighty mountain moving Amen is the exclamation point punctuating the prayer of faith. Practice the thought “it is so because God has spoken” until the corresponding feelings arises. When the prayer is according to the Word of God, this assurance will come. A strong Amen is firm: It is so because God has spoken. First be convinced: All things are possible to the one who believes, because all things are possible for God. I can do all things through Christ, because Christ can do all things through me. Let your Amen grow stronger and stronger. (Acts 26:8; Luke 1:37-38; Psalm 62:5; Numbers 6:24-26; John 11:41; 1 John 5:14-15; John 15:7-11; Luke 17:5-10; John 6:28-29; Psalm 40:8; Mark 11:22-26; 2 Peter 1:19; Hebrews 6:19; Psalm 37:6; Revelation 22:5, 16-21)

He Has Given Us His Word

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:9-16 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Some things are necessary, and most change according to the season. There are two things however, that always remain essential. Have faith in God, and pray for the grace to exercise your faith. All who have done so have never failed. You can read the record of many of the pioneers who have done so in the Faith Hall of Fame written in Hebrews chapter 11. These are our living examples recorded as shining testimonies for all time. This most excellent glory calls to each of us. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-15; Hebrews 11; John 11:35-40; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 1:13-25; Exodus 25:40; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Luke 12:32; Ephesians 3:17-19; Psalm 72:17-20)

Strengthen by the Lord

20 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. Psalm 20:1-5 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Faith that receives knows the promise and the fulfillment are one. Faith comes by hearing a good report. In God we trust, when we reckon the promise and the fulfillment equally sure. As you will feel at fulfillment, cultivate the same with praise and thanksgiving from the promise, and the joy of the Lord will be your strength. (Ephesians 2:1-8; Hebrews 11:1-6; Romans 4:16-25; Colossians 3:2; Romans 14:17-18; James 1:2-4; Hebrews 6:19-20, 7:25; John 14:8-27; Nehemiah 8:10; Romans 8:24-39; Psalm 100:2-5; 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Recount the Praiseworthy Deeds of the Lord

1 Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God. Psalm 78:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Physical perfection is only skin deep, while spiritual perfection is a delightful beauty down to the innermost parts of the soul. We must be willing to wrestle with this word ‘”perfection” if we are to have a correct understanding of what John Wesley called “Christian Perfection.” Christian Perfection is both a being and a becoming. These are not contradictory, but opposite ends of the same profound truth. Christian Perfection is not about being physically perfect or incapable making mistakes. There is no such lasting physical perfection in this life do to the weakness of the flesh. Christian Perfection is being of the same character of those in heaven, where there is nothing that offends. The becoming part of Christian Perfection will happen upon the resurrection of the just. When the flesh is transformed at the twinkling of an eye into a glorious spiritual body like our Lord Jesus Christ. How do we obtain both ends of this Christian Perfection? It is both hard and easy. It is hard to find, because the way is narrow. It is easy to follow for the same reason, because the way is narrow. Take His yoke upon you and learn the way of Christian Perfection. (Proverbs 6:20-26; Mark 8:36; Psalm 49:6-15; Matthew 5:6; Romans 14:17; Matthew 5:48, 7:7-8, 11:28-30, 7:13-14; Mark 4:26-29; James 5:7; Hebrews 10:36;  Matthew 13:45-46; Philippians 3:8-16; 1 Corinthians 15:39-58; Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:27, 22:10-21)

Proclaim with Me the Greatness of the Lord

34 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalm 34:1-8 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Our shortcomings can be ignored, rationalized, or acknowledged. Only one of these leads to victory. Examples of shortcomings are eating something we know we should not have eaten, saying something we know we should not have said, or doing something we know we should not have done. Such shortcomings are like the head, torso, and limbs of what the Bible calls “the body of this death.” Life in self is the problem and Christ is the only answer that leads to certain victory. To cover our shortcomings by ignoring or rationalizing, is to live in total bondage to the desires of self and to be cut off completely from Christ. To acknowledge our shortcomings, is to move in the direction of the victory that comes from being dead to self and alive in Christ. Take no backward step before reaching the tipping point were living some in self gives way to living more in Christ. First comes the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear. (Proverbs 28:13-14, 27:12; Psalm 34:14-16; Romans 14:22-23, 7:11-25; Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9; Mark 4:26-29; Luke 9:62, 17:32; Hebrews 10:36; 2 Peter 1:19; Colossians 2:6-15; Luke 9:23-24; Romans 6:6-14, 8:36-39; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 2:6-7; Revelation 3:21; John 15:16; 1 Peter 5:6-11)

Arise

24 The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah Psalm 24:1-6 (KJV)

The Morning Exhortation

Weight training is to body what prayer is to the spirit. Age doesn’t necessary make one weak, but a lack of weight training and prayer certainly will. Lift up your heart to the Lord by acknowledging Him in all your ways. Beware of being stuck in the mud with those who are great in their own eyes. Live in meekness, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (Proverbs 3:5-8; 1 Peter 3:3-4; Psalm 92:12-15, 18:1-3; Isaiah 46:4-5; 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Psalm 10:4; Proverbs 11:22; James 4:4-6; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 10:12; Numbers 12:3; Exodus 34:29-30; Deuteronomy 34:7; Psalm 90:12; Acts 26:8; Psalm 18:25-36; 2 Corinthians 10:4-6; Proverbs 16:3; 2 Corinthians 6:3-7; Philippians 4:5-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18; 1 Chronicles 29:13; 2 Corinthians 13:11-14)