Care

/ Mark Brady / 4 Comments

The day I am writing this post is my wife’s birthday. She has reached that point where she no longer wants to tell her age. I’m not going to tell you either, but it is eighty divided by two. Being such a milestone, I waited for her to fall asleep last night, and then I got up and decorated our dining room. The whole works! Flowers, card, streamers, balloons. In the refrigerator was a cake and some ice cream. I even got those gold mylar number balloons. I gotta say, it looked good.

The next morning, I hid out in the pantry in the dark and waited for her to enter the dining room. and turn on the light. I had the video camera rolling. Her reaction warmed my heart. She loved it.

I posted on Facebook recently that I get nervous when reacting to someone’s serious post with the correct emoji. The “Care” and “Laughing” ones are right next to each other. I mean, you don’t want to “laugh” when there has been a death in the family or something. A few friends commented that they had indeed accidentally clicked on the wrong one.

The Bible encourages us to laugh with those who laugh and to weep with those who mourn. Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. Rom. 12:15 (AMPC) It’s important to take the time to let others know we care about what is happening in their life. Jesus demonstrated this as well.

In John 11:35, we read that when he got to the house where his friend Lazarus had died and saw, heard, and then felt the grief, He wept. I don’t think he did so because his friend was gone for, He knew what was about to happen, but because his friends were sorrowful.

I wrote about Lazarus once, and a friend asked me, “What makes you think Lazurus wanted to come back to life?” The question stumped me for several days. After asking God for wisdom in the situation, I heard in my spirit, “It didn’t matter if he wanted to or not. When he heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ he wanted to be obedient.”

People matter to God. They are more important than the work of the ministry. There will be, and are, times when people interrupt our busy schedules. But I encourage you to stop and take the time to just “be” with them in the moment. Listen to them, and when you do speak, they will know your words are true and from your heart because they will feel you care about them and what they are going through, just as God does.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Words

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Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay

“I have a dream…” “One small step…” “We the people…” “In the beginning…” “Here’s Johnny!”

Words. They are so powerful. They can build up, inspire, offer hope, and make us laugh, or they can tear down, destroy, and invoke fear. It all depends on what words and in what order they are spoken. We use our tongues to form the words that give us speech. The Bible says the tongue has the power to wield life or death.

Words kill, words give life;
    they’re either poison or fruit—you choose. Prov. 18:21 (MSG)

Say the wrong words to a child, and you can destroy their self-esteem. Or the wrong words spoken in a relationship, and it can come to an end. But the right words can do wonderful things.

The right word at the right time
    is like a custom-made piece of jewelry, Prov. 25:11 (MSG)

There may be times, when you are having a conversation with a friend and realize they are about to make a mistake or a wrong decision in their life. It can be difficult to speak up, but I have learned that if you ask for an invitation to speak into their life first, then they can’t get upset if they do not like what you say to them. Hopefully, they will recognize that you are speaking to them words of life because you care for them.

And a wise friend’s timely reprimand
    is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Prov. 25:12 (MSG)

We all should be mindful of the power of words at all times and in all situations. Being slow to speak is a great discipline.

Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God’s righteousness doesn’t grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life. James 1:19-21 (MSG)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

What Does God Look Like?

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Charlton Heston as Moses

If you saw God on a social media site, would you swipe left or right? Would you base it solely on looks? Would He appear to you as someone you want to know?

I met my wife, April, on an online dating site. I was opposed to going that route for the longest time to find a potential mate, but after hearing several success stories at my church, I thought, why not try it?

I remember, after I submitted my profile, I was presented on screen 30 postage stamp size photos or so of potential women. April’s face glowed like a neon sign. Her soft smile stuck out compared to all of the rest, so I clicked on hers. The first line in her profile said, “Looking for a man of God…” I recall thinking, I think I qualify. I guess the rest is history, as they say.

What would you expect God to look like? Do you have a predetermined image in your mind? I do. I think of him looking kind of like Charlton Heston as Moses in the movie, “The Ten Commandments.” That’s probably not fair of me to do so, but we tend to place an image in our minds when we have not ever met someone face to face.

What we can know is what God’s “character” looks like based on scriptures.

God Is Infinite – He is self-existing, without origin

“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:17

God Is Immutable – He Never Changes

“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” Malachi 3:6

God Is Self-Sufficient – He has no needs

“For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” – John 5:26

God is Omnipotent – He Is all powerful

“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” – Psalm 33:6

God Is Omniscient – He Is all-knowing

“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” – Isaiah 46:9-10

God Is Omnipresent – He Is always everywhere

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.” Psalm 139:7-10

God Is Wise – He Is full of perfect, unchanging wisdom

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” – Romans 11:33

God Is Faithful – He Is infinitely, unchangingly true

“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” – Deut 7:9

God Is Good – He Is infinitely, unchangingly kind and full of good will

“O, taste and see that the Lord is good” – Psalm 34:8

God Is Just – He Is infinitely, unchangeably right and perfect in all He does

“The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” – Duet 32:4

God Is Merciful – He is infinitely, unchangeably compassionate and kind

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” – Romans 9:15-16

God Is Gracious – God Is infinitely inclined to spare the guilty

“The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.” – Psalm 145:8

God Is Loving – God infinitely, unchangingly loves us

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.  Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:7-8

God Is Holy – He is infinitely, unchangingly perfect

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord Almighty” – Revelation 4:8

God Is Glorious – He is infinitely beautiful and great

“His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power.” – Habakkuk 3:4

Your image of God affects what you think of Him. My image is of one that is Holy. Of one who is secure and confident. Strong and mighty, but also of one who is loving like a gentle grandfather.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Hacked

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Image by Pete Linforth via Pixabay

Individuals are getting hacked all the time these days, especially on social media. I know my Facebook account got hacked once. Just the other day, a friend told me someone, or a group, got into her “X” (formally Twitter) account. There is even a company now you can pay to try to guard you against hackers getting your personal information and securing loans or, worse, draining your bank accounts.

A few years ago, I took a nap on a Saturday. When I woke, I looked at my phone and saw an email from my bank. I had set up a “Withdrawal Alert” whenever more than a set amount came out of any of my accounts. The email informed me that $9000 had been transferred from my savings. I immediately called the bank and told them I didn’t do it and didn’t authorize it. They finally stopped treating me like a criminal, a “guilty” party, after two hours. I told them the people responsible were tied to the account where the money went. I got the money back, and I have greater security today.

But what happens when someone’s heart gets hacked? What do I mean by that? An individual, perhaps raised in a church, knows right from wrong and believes in God even, but Satan found a way into their heart and, as a result, into their life. His presence in their heart could cause them to act in a way that is no longer pleasing to God. It could cause them to say and do things that are not right. You don’t think it could happen? What about Judas?

Judas was one of Jesus’ disciples. He heard the teachings and saw the miracles. In fact, he probably had a front-row seat. I can only guess he was in attendance every time.

Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them. John 12:4-6 (MSG)

Jesus said, “The one to whom I give this crust of bread after I’ve dipped it.” Then he dipped the crust and gave it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. As soon as the bread was in his hand, Satan entered him.

“What you must do,” said Jesus, “do. Do it and get it over with.” John 13:26-27 (MSG)

See, the scriptures point out that Satan “hacked” into Judas’ heart. He found a way in, and he caused Judas to betray Jesus. The sad end to Judas’ life is he knew he had sinned. He gave the money back to the priests, well, tried to. They didn’t want it because they knew it was now dirty. After Judas did this act, he judged himself and committed suicide. I know that if he had gone to Jesus and asked for forgiveness, Jesus would have done so.

If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins—simply come clean about them—he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that only shows off our ignorance of God. 1 John 1:9-10 (MSG)

Guard your heart by guarding your mind. Bring every thought into captivity. For what you think, you begin to believe. And what you believe, you start to speak and act upon. Don’t let your heart get hacked. You won’t be guilty, and your life will be “locked,” secured for eternity.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Where is God?

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Creation of Life Hands by Leonardo Da Vinci

The other day, a friend called and was catching me up on their life. He told me he had been dating a pretty girl and asked if I would like to see a photo of her. I said, “Sure.” As I looked at her, he shared that they were no longer seeing each other, and he repeated the hurtful words she said to him. Then he asked me, “Does she look like a devil to you?” I wasn’t sure how to respond when it came to me. “I don’t see God in her.”

Have you ever studied the face of a convicted, ruthless serial killer? Their eyes usually seem so dark and lifeless. This girl didn’t appear to be a killer, but there seemed to be an absence of life and love. Knowing my friend’s past and where he usually meets women, let’s say, not at a church social, I know this young lady is searching for Truth, life, and love from God, but she doesn’t know that is where she will find what will satisfy her. She has past hurts and disappointments and is looking for what she thinks she needs from a man. It’s a sad story for many.

The weekend before I wrote this post, I heard from a writer friend who still lives in the town I moved from in Illinois. I would run into her at church and occasionally at a neighborhood grocery store. It always felt good to see her, and as I texted her, I realized why. Whenever I saw her, I felt peace and sensed the presence of God. In her face, you could see life and the love of God.

I know this inner peace and love of God is what drew people, strangers, to Jesus. And perhaps their curiosity about a man, the weather, and even demons obeyed. Not to mention his power over sickness and death. So, I have to ask, “What do people feel or see when they encounter you?” Are you loving and full of life and hope? Or are you all business or more concerned about your rights and getting your way? I hope they see God and, therefore, know where God is because, whether they realize it or not, they are looking for Him.

19-21 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.

21 Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. Gal. 2:20 (MSG)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Keeper of the Light

/ Mark Brady / 2 Comments

On a small parcel of sand along the North Carolina coast sits an old, tall lighthouse. People in the area have found comfort for years in knowing that every night, the light was on.

“Remember, Son, you’re a keeper of the light. And the light must always be on to dispel the darkness so that those who are lost may find their way home.” “Yes, Father. I won’t forget.” “I’m serious. You’ll grow up. You’ll get busy. You will even have a girlfriend someday.” “No way! Not a girlfriend. Ewe! Yuk!” “And the light that is within you will slowly grow dim.”

As hard as he tried, little by little, the light that was within him grew faint but not totally extinguished. His father passed quickly due to cancer while he was in junior high, and his mother died while giving birth to him. After the funeral, he went to live with his aunt and uncle in New York City, the city that never sleeps. Life sped up, and he faced unforeseen challenges that he had never expected. He had never experienced such darkness before.

The son grew up. Graduated from high school and then college. That is where he met his wife. They married, and he landed a good-paying job as an investment banker in Manhattan. Three years later, they had a baby girl. He and his wife talked about going to church. Giving their young daughter the same upbringing they had with an introduction and education about God. But there didn’t seem to be enough time to live their busy lives and get a satisfactory amount of sleep.

As their custom, the now middle-aged man meets up with his buddy and coworker on the “Q” Line subway platform. They greet each other as they wait for their train. A young man approaches them and hands each a little booklet. “Jesus loves you,” he said to them. His buddy looked at the pamphlet and said, “Oh man, this is one of those Jesus tracks. I didn’t know anyone did this anymore.” He threw it down to the concrete. But as he looked at his, he noticed on the cover was a lighthouse with a beam of light going out. He felt something inside of him remember, “Keeper of the light.”

The words of his father came screaming back into his mind, into his soul. He knew at that moment that he needed to change how he was living. He knew he needed to be a spiritual leader in his home, to his buddy, and to the world. He realized he needed to help people who are spiritually lost find their way home.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Mat. 5:14-16 (MSG)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Game of Chess

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The game of chess came about in 1475. Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces, with the objective to checkmate the opponent’s king.

If you have never played, know that the different pieces can only move in specific ways and a number of spaces at a time. There is a hierarchy of pieces from the pawns to the king. There is only one King who becomes the final victor.

The battle between two sides has always been a key part of a good story. Good vs. evil. Light vs. darkness. And, of course, The Rebel Alliance vs. The Evil Empire. I have often thought of God vs. Satan as a chess game, and humans are the pieces that do battle for either side.

Satan wanted to be a god unto himself, but there can only be one at the top. When he and one-third of the angels rose up against God, He had no choice but to banish them from heaven forever. Ever since that time, Satan has been waring against God to get revenge, take over, and destroy His kingdom.

Chess is only a game, but life isn’t! When life ends, there is only heaven or hell. One may say they don’t believe in God. Heaven isn’t real. They may refuse of their own will not to accept God’s gift of salvation to be saved from hell. They may say, “I don’t believe in hell,” but hell believes in them. Satan is not playing a game. Out of hate, he is trying to win. He doesn’t care about humans. He will use them to get back at God and then destroy them. His biggest lie is that there is no God and that there is no punishment for not accepting Him.

I am definitely on God’s side. I am not the King, and I am certainly NOT the queen (LOL), but I have thought of myself as a mere pawn. My moves are limited; therefore, I need to follow the instructions of the King. Who is the King? That is Jesus Christ. The King of Kings. I hope you will choose to be on God’s side. Willing to be led by Him and live according to His ways, which are pure, right, and out of love. For when God says, “Checkmate,” it will all be over once and for all.

7 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 8 but they [a]did not prevail, nor was a place found for [b]them in heaven any longer. 9 So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Rev. 12:7-9 (NKJV)

14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” Rev. 17:14 (NKJV)

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. 10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where[b] the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Rev. 20:7-10 (NKJV)

15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20:15 (NKJV)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Why They Killed Jesus

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“You think if you don’t fight back then maybe they’ll like you, stop picking on you and calling you a freak? Well, here’s what it is. They don’t like you; they don’t dislike you. They’re afraid of you. You’re different. Sooner or later, different scares people. Victim or not? Make a decision.”

Christian Wolf’s father from the movie, “The Accountant.”

I live close to where a young high school girl recently committed suicide. The tragic event made national news. She killed herself the day after an incident in her school had taken place. She had been bullied for her decision to label herself as “non-binary.” I had not heard of that term, so I looked it up. From what I understand, it means one does not identify as being a male or female. “It” is the only pronoun that can apply in that situation. That’s sad!

I think the above quote definitely fits the young woman’s situation. She was different, and her classmates didn’t understand her; therefore, they were uncomfortable around her. I think Jesus Christ found himself in a similar situation. Not regarding his gender or sexuality but by being different. Some were drawn to him and his message and life demonstration of love. Others weren’t.

Several, especially the religious leaders of the day and those who wielded power, did not accept Jesus. He acted so differently than them. He didn’t condemn the guilty, and he was able to heal the sick and the lame. He showed that he had power over nature and even death! Jesus was so different than them that they became afraid of him instead of believing in him. His wisdom, message, and way of life baffled them! As a result, either out of fear of losing control of the masses or they were sick and tired of hearing his name, they decided to kill him. They did not try to understand Jesus. That’s sad!

But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. 1 Cor. 2:14 (AMPC)

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. Pro. 3:5 (AMPC)

Don’t let your life come to a sad end. Open your heart to Jesus and God’s love, whether it makes sense to you or not. Whether you identify as one whom God lovingly and fearfully made to be his son or daughter. God is who you are desperately looking for! He is the answer to all of your questions. Don’t kill the One who offers you hope.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Talking to God

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Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Some may not even know they can talk to God. Others may have learned as children to do it every night before going to sleep. How many genuinely believe that He hears you? A bigger question may be, how many believe that He can answer you?

God can answer in many ways. He can respond immediately with a supernatural act. Or He may use someone else to provide the answer on his behalf. The one way most dislike is with silence. In a world where we are used to “instant” anything, we may find it challenging to wait for his answer.

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
Jer. 33:3 (NIV)

Have you ever wondered what in the world He is doing while we sit in silence? He could be getting us, or our hearts, ready to receive his answer or action. He could be moving certain people into places that He desires to be a part of his master plan.

There was an elderly lady in the Walmart parking lot who was struggling to get 12 packs of soda out of the bottom of those mini carts. I was heading to Walmart but got mad when I didn’t go the route I had wanted to. I realized later that if I  had gone the way I wanted to, I would have arrived too early. As it turned out, I was right on time, God’s time to help the lady.

She let me help her but asked, Where did you come from?” I immediately answered, “God sent me!” The look on her face was priceless. She didn’t say if she had asked him for help or not, but she needed help. God does care.

God wants to hear from us. He loves us. Remember, before the fall, Genesis tells us that God walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden. He wants to know what is on our hearts and minds. There are times when His Spirit will whisper an answer into our spirits. You can learn how to hear and recognize his voice.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 (NIV)

It’s comforting to hear God speak, but when He doesn’t, we have to trust Him. Know that He has heard us and is working on our behalf. Some may talk to God without even knowing for themselves that He is real and alive. If an individual is on a plane that is going down, they will cry out to God to save them just in case.

I recall the story of Beth. She was in distress over her home life. One day, when she got home from school, she found herself alone in the house. She sat at the kitchen table and said out loud, “God, if you are real, move this cup.” The cup didn’t move. Nine years later, she was sitting on a school bus talking to the driver. The driver had a great relationship with God. She paused the conversation and then said to Beth, “I feel like God wants me to tell you that the cup just moved.” when she witnessed Beth’s reaction of tears, she knew, somehow, the message made sense.”

God could have physically moved the cup, but how much more powerful was his demonstration of revealing that He is real? It was to use a friend who didn’t know what Beth had asked. Sometimes, people will refuse to believe in God no matter what they see or hear.

Talk to God. See and know that He is real and that He really cares for you. He already knows what you are going through and may be simply waiting for you to invite him into the situation.

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved

Satisfaction Guaranteed

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Image by mcmurryjulie from Pixabay

Do you fill out satisfaction surveys? Take the time to let companies know how satisfied you are with their service? Do you only fill them out when you are not happy? What about if you are pleased with how your interaction with them went?

I usually don’t fill them out. Even though some say, they will enter your name in a drawing for a cash prize. I guess I am skeptical that anyone ever wins. I do feel convicted, though, to take the time to mention when an individual resolves an issue to my satisfaction.

Would you consider filling out a satisfaction survey on your spouse? Anonymously, of course! What about your other relationships? Children, friends, pastor, or boss? Would you dare fill out one for God?

Perhaps people don’t actually sit down and fill out a form, but how they are responding to what God is trying to do in their life may be a “living form.” For instance, if they drop out of going to church, stop tithing, or discontinue inviting others to attend church services with them. Or they might even press pause on reading their Bible because they are not happy or satisfied with God.

When one who believes in God doesn’t receive the answers they want to their prayers, or if the timing is taking longer than they expected, they can become disgruntled. In a relationship with God, it is vital to maintain total trust in Him. That is why the scripture says, “with all thine heart,” per the King James Version. If you can do this, your satisfaction with God will be guaranteed!

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
    Run to God! Run from evil!
Your body will glow with health,
    your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
    give him the first and the best.
Your barns will burst,
    your wine vats will brim over.
But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline;
    don’t sulk under his loving correction.
It’s the child he loves that God corrects;
    a father’s delight is behind all this. Prov. 3:5-12 (MSG)

Copyright © 2024 Mark Brady  All Rights Reserved