Faith Blog

GO TO GOD FIRST

What do you do when you receive bad news? King Hezekiah received bad news three times in Isaiah 37-38. Each time, his first response was to go to the Lord. He did not strategize or ask others to help him solve the problems--he went to the Lord. And in each instance, the Lord showed what happens when we cry out to Him: He hears, and He answers.

Let us take our needs to the Lord first, for He hears us, and He answers us!

Isaiah 37:14-15, 21-22 (NIV): "Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord.. Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel,

says: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, this is the word the Lord has spoken against him.'"

NO LONGER SLAVES

Galatians 5:13-26

One of my favorites.  Having been given freedom from the depths of darkness it is important that I not let myself slip back into those behaviors and habits that imprisoned me for so long.

The "freedom" Paul is speaking of in Galatians is freedom from the law.  These verses fit any sort of slavery or chains of imprisonment, as do the exhortations and encouragements.  To use this new found freedom is to stand fast in the faith and to serve ones' brothers.  Of course, Paul also reminds us to follow the Spirit so that we do not do what our sinful selves want.

What I also find helpful is the comprehensive list of how to live found in verses 19-21.  I often find it necessary for myself to have clear direction on how to act and behave, hmmm!  The heartwarming list of the fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control are a gentle reminder of when I am in tune with the Holy Spirit.

Galatians 6 always brightens my day - I should read it more often.  What I did do today is listen to the song "No Longer Slaves" about 20 times.