March 7, 2023 Verse Of The Day
Deliverance
Philippians 1:19 Works Out For Deliverance
for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. Philippians 1:19
Bad things happen to people on a regular basis. When it occurs, people often only see the bad in it and cannot see anything good happening. Millions every year give up any hope of surviving the bad situation and end their lives.
Many people put all of their hope in situations that they can control, then get crushed when things outside of their control occur.
Paul had been in prison at the time of his writing this letter to the Philippians. the church was worried and praying for him. Paul believed that his being in prison would turn out for his deliverance.
When a person is going through a difficult time, it can be very difficult to continue to have hope. All that is seen is the trial set before them, with no apparent window of end or release in sight. Giving up appears to be the only option.
Believers will sometimes fall into the same mindset, forgetting who God is and how big He is. Looking through their own eyes, they only see as the world sees, nothing but the problem.
However, believers can have a hope and trust in God that goes beyond any logic or circumstances set before them. The God, who created the heavens and the earth, is still in control. With prayer and trust in Him, He can turn around the worst situation in a person’s life and deliver the person from the trial. This is done for His glory and honor.
God never allows a person to stay permanently in a bad trial. As a last option (in man’s eyes) God takes the person home to heaven. Otherwise, God always delivers the believer from the trial.
You may have some bad situation in your life. Do not give up or give in to it and the way of the world’s thinking. Pray to God and tell Him about it. As you are going through this trial, give God praise and put all of your hope and trust in Him.
At the right time, God will deliver you from the fiery trial you may be going through. Know that God will use what you are going through to deliver you and spread the gospel message to a fallen world.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will trust God in every situation; that you will pray to God about every situation; that you will see God’s hand of deliverance in your life; and that you will give God praise in and through every trial in your life.
Isaiah 37:20 Prayer For God’s Honor
Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God. Isaiah 37:20
Desire for deliverance from a problem is desired by all people. No one really wants to go through a struggle or tough time. Even more so, most people do not want an enemy.
Yet, in life there are many struggles that face every person on a regular basis. As troubles occur, people seek out ways to overcome or stop that trouble that is in their life. The will seek self-help books, friends, astrology, doctors, religion, lawyers, drugs and many other people, places and things.
The entire reason for searching for help is for selfish reasons. It is all about making life better for self.
Hezekiah was being attacked by the enemy. As he prays to God for some help, he tells God to deliver them from the enemy so that the world may know that there is only one God and that He is that one.
Along with the rest of the world, believers have many struggles and enemies in life. They may be physical human enemies, or spiritual ones, habits, thoughts, or beliefs. Most will seek God for help against these enemies and struggles that they have.
While there is nothing wrong in seeking God for help against the struggle, many are only seeking it for relief in their own life. They are seeking it to help self, rather than to help others or be a witness of God’s great power.
Every believer is to be a witness of who God is. This is something that is to occur day-to-day with everything that they think, say and do in every situation.
The prayer of the believer should be for relief so that God may be glorified and honored. The answer to the prayer is to be a witness to others of who God is and what He can do, not just for personal relief.
As you are struggling in some situation in your life, go to God for help. As you seek His help, also seek ways to use that answer as a tool to be a witness of His great love and power. Be willing to use that answer to build His kingdom, rather than just hoard it to yourself.
The answers to your prayer are not to just make your life better, but to build you and His kingdom up.
What is your motivation in your prayers?
I pray today that you will know God’s power in your life; that you will have a desire to pray to God daily; that you will use all answers of prayer to be a witness of God’s great love and power; and that God will help you remove all selfishness in your prayers.
Proverbs 11:4 Worthless In The End
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 11:4
Seeking extreme wealth is the goal of many people. They feel that being wealthy is the greatest goal in life and that wealth will solve all their problems.
Having great wealth gives the appearance of security. When one has a lot of money, believe that they can purchase whatever they need, whenever they want.
While wealth can purchase a lot of things, it cannot purchase everything. It cannot purchase peace, joy, or the greatest need on this earth–life. Many wealthy people are lying on their deathbed with a sickness that cannot be cured. Many who are wealthy have ended their life out of depression or stress of striving to gain more wealth.
Solomon was the richest man who ever lived, yet he said that wealth was worthless in the end. It could not save during the day of wrath, nor could it purchase righteousness which delivers from death.
The thing people search for in wealth can only be found in the righteousness of Jesus. Jesus came to this earth to bring true life that every person is seeking. He wants to provide joy, peace, comfort, strength and eternal life. The very thing that every one who is seeking wealth desires.
Every person needs to seek the righteousness of Jesus in their lives. He is the one who brings about forgiveness of sins and gives eternal life. As a person is living in the righteousness of Jesus, he will have peace, comfort, security and eternal life, the very things that people seek in wealth.
On the day Jesus returns to judge the earth, all material wealth will be completely worthless. It will be unable to purchase forgiveness of sins. It will be unable to purchase righteousness before God. Only belief in Jesus can do those things.
Instead of seeking to gain more wealth in your life, strive to gain the righteousness of Jesus. Strive to be more righteous and holy as Jesus is.
In living in His righteousness and holiness, you will be able to stand on the day of judgement and wrath of God. His righteousness will deliver you from death and the wrath of God.
It is not your works, money or abilities that will save you, but the righteousness of Jesus. Make His righteousness the goal of your life. Seek His righteousness as much as some seek wealth and see what God can do in and through you.
I pray today that you will know the salvation that Jesus provides; that you will know the righteousness of Jesus; that you will strive to be holy as God is holy; and that you will seek God with all of your heart, soul and mind above everything else.
Psalm 56:13 Your Purpose In This Life
For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13
Survival of a major disaster or sickness often leaves people wondering why they were able to survive when someone else did not. The greater the disaster, the more questioning occurs.
People want to have purpose in life, but few find true purpose in living. Then when they suddenly make it through a challenge they are seeking reasons as to what their purpose must be in life, since they survived.
Some begin to go around speaking to others about how they survived. Others drum up support to help others survive similar situations. While these and many others things may be good, they are all temporary in their nature.
David had been delivered by God multiple times from life-threatening situations. He realized this and knew the reason for the deliverance. His deliverance was so that he would be able to walk before God in true life.
Every believer has been delivered, at a minimum, from death of sin. Sin in the life brought about an eternal death that no person can overcome on his own. Through Jesus, that death has been removed.
Along with salvation, many have been delivered from life threatening situations in their life. There has also been many who have been delivered from difficult situations in life that challenge how they live. Some will wonder why God has delivered them.
Either way, the purpose is the same–to be able to walk before God in His light and in His life.
Walking before God is walking in the path He has for each person. This can bring about more life and purpose than anything else in this life. It is an eternal purpose, not just a day-to-day living purpose.
God’s love for you is greater than anything or anyone on this earth. It is eternal and perfect.
He has a purpose for your life here on this earth. It is to walk in His ways and follow Jesus. It is to become more like Jesus everyday. This is the true light of life.
Realize that when God delivers you from sin or some great tragic situation in your life, it is so that you may walk before Him and be His witness on this earth.
God has delivered you for His purpose. Now go out and live that purpose out each day.
I pray today that you will know the salvation Jesus brings; that God will reveal your purpose in this life; that you will walk in the ways of God; and that you will God with all of your life.
Insights From Tom 