A Big Heart

"I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart." 

Psalm 119:32

Those who love the Lord, love His word. They are eager to hear and obey it. Obeying God is not burdensome for them, for they understand that His precepts are meant for their own good. There is great freedom that comes from knowing this. Through His spirit, God enlarges the believer's heart with wisdom, so that they have a greater capacity to love Him and follow His commands. 

Out of the Darkness

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."

John 8:12

Throughout the Old Testament God's presence is represented by light. He led the Israelites through the desert to the Promised Land in a pillar of fire. The psalms speak of the "light of His face, and that He "wraps Himself in light". Darkness, on the other hand, is representative of the absence of God's presence. To live in darkness is to live apart from God, under the power of sin and Satan (Acts 26:18). No one has to live that way. Christ's invitation to follow Him is for all people, no matter who they are. Those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior will have the "Light of Life" in their lives.

Eager Expectation

"In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;

         In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch." 

Psalm 5:3

The majestic bull elk stands there in the early morning light, watching and listening. His harem is grazing under his attentive eye. All except one cow. She stands with her head held high, looking off into the distance as if she knows something the other females don't. So much of this scene reminds me of Psalm 5:3. The Lord is ever alert.   Even in the early morning hour, when others might be sleeping, the Lord is watching and listening. When I call to Him, He recognizes my voice immediately. I place my requests before Him and then look expectantly to see Him work in my life. Do you pray with a ho-hum attitude, not really expecting great things from God? Or do you pray in eager expectation of how He will answer?

Why Am I Here?

^"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." 

Ephesians 2:10

Salvation is a gift from God. It comes by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:8-9). You and I aren't saved by good works, but rather saved to do good works. The good work is part of God's plan, and it has been His plan since before we were born. The work I'm called to do will bring glory to God and purpose to my life. The work He has planned for you may be quite different from mine, but if you will pursue it the Lord will be glorified and you will find the purpose for your life, too. This is great news if you're wondering, "why am I here?"

Be Transformed

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." 

Romans 12:2

Aligning our thoughts with the way the world thinks only takes us further away from God and His will. If we want to know the will of God, we need to spend time reading the Bible. As we do, our thoughts become more like His, and our desires follow. The customs and patterns of modern culture are no substitute for the word of God. 

The Only Way

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." 

John 14:6

In this age we live in, it is very unpopular to say that there is only one way to God. Those who hold to such a belief are labeled "intolerant". Books teaching that all paths lead to God exist in great number, and there are many churches that hold to this tolerant view. But Jesus plainly said that He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. For more on this subject, go to http://www.casm.org/site.casm/gospel/only_way.html

Forever Peace

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

The buck peacefully stood there as I photographed him. Although he was alert and aware of what was going on around him, he was not afraid.  In Rocky Mountain National Park he was safe. This is how those who have received the Lord Jesus as Savior should behave in the midst of worldly struggles; alert and aware of what is going on around them, yet filled with courage. In Christ we have spiritual peace. Any peace the world offers is temporal, but what He offers us is eternal. Through His death, burial and resurrection Jesus overcame Satan and Hell. He has promised us His peace here on earth, and forever peace in Heaven with Him when we die.Tribulation can never touch us there.