In Times Like These

Thought For Today - June 29
In Times Like These
By: Robert A. Searles

There are times when we as Christians find ourselves in seemingly impossible situations. It seems that the sea is in front of us, the enemy pursuing behind us, and barriers on either side of us. We don't know what to do, and it seems that there is no escape. We think that there is no help for us, that we are lost and forsaken.

In 2 Chronicles chapter 20, we read that Jehoshaphat king of Judah, found himself in a similar situation. We are told that : "It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle." 2 Chronicles 20: 1.

The bible says that Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

"And Jehoshaphat feared and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. and Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the Lord: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord." 2Chronicles 20: 3-4.

Jehsohaphat did the smart thing. He set himself to seek the Lord, and all Judah committed themselves to prayer and fasting to ask help from the Lord.

My Christian brothers and sisters, we know from the teaching of the word of God, and from the witness of the Holy Spirit within us, and from the reproofs of life, that the wisest thing that we can do if we are lost, back slidden, or in any kind of trouble is to seek the Lord and ask his help, Recognizing that we who by faith have received the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, God's Love gift to us, are the born again children of God, and God has promised to care and provide for his own.

Principles involved here are -  When we know not what to do in any given situation, focus our eyes upon the Lord: "Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you". 1 Peter 5: 7.

When we, who are the children of God, call upon the Lord for help, he fights our battles for us, and we shall not need to fight, but stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Before any visible signs of victory are evident, start singing praises to the Lord, and be thankful for what he will do.
When we believe God, and our praise and thanksgiving begins, God begins to work in our lives.
Jehoshaphat told his people to start singing and praising the Lord for what he was about to do for them.

"And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth forever. and when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten." 2 Chronicles 20:21-22.
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God is present wherever people are truly praising him. He inhabits or lives with the praises of his people. Wherever God is present, his enemies, and our enemies flee away and are destroyed.

Bless the Lord At All Times

Thought For Today - June 29
Bless The Lord At All Times
By: Robert A. Searles

Let his praise be continually in my mouth - "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34: 1

At all times, when things are going well with us as well as when the times are not so good; In the valley as well as on the mountaintop - in times of famine, as well as in times of feasting; let his praise be continually in our mouth. God is always near us to save and protect, and comfort, and to bring us eventually to our desired safe haven.

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he hath chosen for his inheritance." Psalm 33: 12

"Behold the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine; Our soul waiteth for the Lord; he is our help and our shield for our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord be upon us according as we hope in thee." Psalm 33: 18-22.

God Fixes Things

Thought For Today - June 28
God Fixes Things
By: Robert A. Searles

God, our heavenly Father, is a kind, loving father who takes great delight in his redeemed children whom he has reconciled to himself by the precious blood of his only begotten, beloved son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

If we have been fortunate enough to have had a loving, kind earthly father here on earth, we know that we can run to "daddy", as it were, when we are afraid or in trouble, and he will rescue us. When our toys are broken, he will fix them. When we are afraid of the dark night, he will go with us.

Even better than we have ever known on earth, our heavenly father loves us with an infinite love that cannot be equaled. He who formed us from the dust of the earth, and breathed into our nostrils his own breath of life, will never forsake us. He will be there when we slip and fall to lift us up and set us back on our feet again. He is more than willing to forgive our sins when we acknowledge and confess them to him and ask for his forgiveness.

We make many mistakes in the course of our lifetime. We commit many sins; we go down wrong roads. Sometimes our lives are all but destroyed; our hearts are broken; our bodies are near destruction. But God our father is there to fix them, and he does fix all things for us if we will allow him to. He can and will turn our mourning into dancing and rejoicing for his glory and honor. 

"Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sack cloth, and girded me with gladness. to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever." Psalm 30: 11,12.

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Have You Called Unto God This Morning?

Thought For Today - June 27
Have You Called Unto God This Morning?
By: Robert A. Searles

"Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me, lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplication, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts." Psalm 28: 1-3.

We need to hear from God each and every morning so that we might know the road we should travel on that particular day. If we do not fellowship with God each morning through prayer and meditation in his word, we tend to be drawn away with the wicked and workers of iniquity. If we do not hear from God ,we fall into a pit of despair and depression. When we do not regard the word of God - when we do not seek him the first thing in the morning, and give him praise and thanksgiving for all that he does for us, and all the good things in our lives - our blessings diminish and we become spiritually destitute.

The light is always burning in God's window, as it were, to lead us safely home. His arms are open wide to welcome and receive us back into fellowship with him, and give us the assurance of his love and protection for us.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him." Psalm 28: 7.

Wait on the Lord

Thought For Today - June 26
Wait on the Lord.
By: Robert A. Searles

"Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait I say on the Lord." Psalm 27: 14.

One of the most difficult lessons we must learn as the children of God is to realize that God's ways are not our ways, and God's timing is not our timing. We want things, and we want them now, and even yesterday, if that were possible. God has told us in his word that whatsoever things we have need of , to ask of him and he will provide them for us as he sees fit. God knows and sees the end from the beginning, and the beginning from the end, and he knows what is best for us, and the right time for answering our petitions.

We know that God will not withhold any good thing from us if it will profit us and bring glory to himself. When we have learned this lesson to wait patiently for God to fulfill his purposes in our lives, then we have great peace and contentment in knowing that however long it takes, God will come to our rescue and meet all our needs.

He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory

Thought For Today - June 25
He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory
By: Robert A. Searles
 
What a wonderful promise and consolation we have from God our father through the Lord Jesus Christ that: "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it." Isaiah 25: 8

The day will come when God will completely fulfill this promise when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ returns to earth to claim his throne. He is the righteous King to whom all creation belongs. When he comes, death will be abolished, and the sting of death swallowed up in victory. There will be no more need for tears, for in his reign and kingdom there will be no sorrow. His people will no longer be looked upon as the down trodden and outcast of the earth. On the contrary, they will rule and reign with him forever.

"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God. We have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." Isaiah 25:9

Those of us who have called upon the Lord Jesus Christ to save us have the witness of the Holy Spirit within us which causes us to rejoice in our salvation. We know that all of God's promises are true. We wait patiently and longingly for the great day of the Lord to come, and for Jesus to be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

The Lord is My Shepherd

Thought for Today - June 24
The Lord Is My Shepherd
By: Robert A. Searles

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23: 1-6.

Sheep. for the most part, are helpless creatures and have no effective defense against predators and their enemies. Whatever sheep want or have need of they are provided for by their shepherd. If their shepherd is a good one, the sheep lack nothing and are content to lie down with confidence that they are being cared for.

David, the psalmist, likens himself to sheep, and praises God that he has the confidence in God, his shepherd, that even in the midst of war and turmoil and danger, his shepherd will go before him and prepare a way for him, and spread a table for him in the presence of his enemies. The good shepherd will find the green pastures, and the still waters, and the safe places.

We too are God's workmanship and the sheep of his pasture. We are born into a world of dark shadows. The shadow of death haunts us from the cradle to the grave. Everywhere we go we see the shadow of death. We see it in the vegetation; we see it in the animal world; we do not have to go far to see something that has died, and we are reminded that we too face the same fate. We also are reminded that our shepherd will see us through from the cradle to the grave, from birth to death, no matter how soon or how late that may be. If we, his sheep, follow our shepherd we have no reason to fear either life or death.

Those who have not received Christ as their Savior, and follow him as their shepherd are lost sheep and are wanderers in a hostile world of darkness and the shadow of death, and unless they bow their knees to him and confess that they, by nature are lost sinners, and ask him to save them, have every good reason to fear. The lost as well as the saved walk through the valley of the shadow of death every day. The saved have the confidence and assurance that their shepherd will lead them safely home through the valley of the shadow of death, whereas ,the lost will be swallowed up in death and cast into hell.

Are you saved and a sheep with a shepherd, or are you a lost wandering sheep? Only you can answer that question.

Does God Forget Us?

Thought For Today - June 24, 2022
Does God Forget Us?
By: Robert A. Searles 

Read Psalm 22: 1-31.

" My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken Me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them." Psalm 22: 1-4.

Even as David prayed and wondered why it was that it seemed that God had forsaken him in his times of great distress, we sometimes pose the same question.

This prayer of David was a forerunner of the prayer of Christ when he was hanging on the cross. In his humanity he cried out: "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?".

When we are in pain or troubles, and it seems that no help comes, does it not seem that God has forsaken us? In these times of darkness and desperation we must keep trusting and believing God and we shall be delivered.

This psalm was prophetic of that which Christ would suffer and be temporarily forsaken by God the Father when he was dying on the cross - it was for me and you and all the rest of mankind so that God our Father would  never forget or forsake us. Praise God!

God delivered David from the hand of Saul and made him a great king, and God delivered his own son, the Lord Jesus Christ from the power of the grave, and gave him power over death for all of us. So, even in darkness we must keep our faith in the promises of God and continue to live in the light of his word, and be assured that we will be delivered.

Telehelp Publications Christian Literature Ministry

                                        Psalm 26:7

Rejoice Greatly in Our Salvation

Thought For Today - June 22
Rejoice Greatly in Our Salvation.
By: Robert A.Searles

"The king shall joy in thy strength, O Lord, and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!"

We ought to rejoice greatly in our salvation. Let us meditate on the strength and power of God our Father. Consider his holiness ,and think of what it means for us to be saved from his righteous wrath and judgment. If we were to receive that which we deserve based upon our own righteousness and merits, we would find ourselves in the deepest hell. But God loves us from the beginning, and gave himself for us so that we might escape his judgment, and be given an inheritance in his household. For this we ought to greatly rejoice.

"Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips." Psalm 21: 2
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Let us also consider our position in the household of God our father. As his redeemed children, we can come boldly to his throne of grace and make our desires known to him, and he always gives to us whatever he sees will be best for us, for our good and his glory. When we ask, we receive, and he grants the desires of our heart.

"For thou preventest him with the blessing of goodness: thou set a crown of pure gold on his head: he asked life of thee, and thou gave it him, even length of days for ever and ever." Psalm 21:3, 4.

God daily goes before us and pours out his blessing upon us in ways that we do not understand. His mercy is great, and his salvation is free.

For all these reasons we ought always rejoice and give God the praise.
Thank you Lord!

Sweetest Name I Know

Thought For Today - June 21
Sweetest Name I Know
By: Robert A Searles

"Jesus! Jesus! Jesus! sweetest name I know," - as the song writer has said: "fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go".

Think of all that Jesus is, and means to us: He is our God - The creator of us all. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." John 1: 1-3.

He is our savior - our sin substitute. He who knew no sin was made sin for us, and died in our place so that we sinners might be justified and stand righteous before God.

He is our high priest - He is in the presence of God, the father, always pleading our cause and offering his own blood on our behalf as a sacrifice for us

He is our advocate - our lawyer in heaven.
He is our closest relative - our elder brother.
He is our personal physician - "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies: who satisfieth thy mouth with good things: so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103: 1-5.

He is our best friend - A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
He is our comforter in times of trouble, and distress and great need.
He is our tour guide to Heaven. "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me," Jesus said.

Jesus is all these things to us and much more. Blessed be his holy name. Could we ever love him and serve him too much for all that he is, and has done for us? I think not.

Thought For Today - June 20
O Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
By: Robert A. Searles

"O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him all the earth. Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously." Psalm 96: 9,10.

May the message of our lives to the world be that God is sovereign, and that he reigneth, and in him alone is salvation. May we be a living testimony to the world around us of the holiness, grace, mercy, and goodness of God in the lives of all who will acknowledge him and trust him. 

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." Psalm 107: 2.

Rejoice because the Lord is coming again as he has promised. He is coming to judge the earth and bring forth righteousness

"The heavens declare his righteousness, an all the people shall see his glory." Psalm 97: 6.
"Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness." Psalm 97: 12.

Exalt the Lord Our God

Thought For Today - June 19
Exalt the Lord Our God
 By: Robert A. Searles

"The Lord reigneth,; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubim; let the earth be moved." Psalm 99:1

"Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy." Psalm 99:5.

We must worship God in spirit and in truth. We worship God in our thought life: by what we think about God. We worship God in our speech: by what we say about God. We worship God by our actions: in what we do to serve God.

If God is our God, then he deserves our worship. He deserves to be the chief object of our thought life. He deserves to be the chief subject of our conversation. He deserves to be the one for whom we work and perform our duties.

"Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy." Psalm 99: 5.

How Long Lord?

Thought For Today - June 18
How Long, Lord?
By: Robert A. Searles

"How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? For ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved. But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord because he hath dealt bountifully with me." Psalm 13

Sometimes when we have problems and trials, it seems that either God has forgotten us and abandoned us forever, or that he doesn't even exist. Satan, our enemy, would like to have us believe that lie. We know that God is true, and that eventually we shall rejoice in our salvation and sing unto the Lord ,because he hath dealt bountifully with us.

Why Sit in Darkness?

Thought For Today - June 17
Why Sit in Darkness?
By: Robert A. Searles

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most high: Therefore he brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters: these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depth, their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stager like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them to their desired haven." Psalm 107:8-30 

If we are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron, then, we are not in God's perfect will. It is not the will of God for his redeemed to sit in darkness, and to be fearful of living and dying, and being shackled, as it were, in irons by our problems. Christ died and rose again to set us free from our captivity in darkness, and the fear of death, and he took all the bars away. So, why does the child of God still sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and continue to be shackled by worry and cares? The answer is because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most high. When we neglect God, when we fail to seek God and to pray, when we do not attend to the word of God and obey it, then we find ourselves sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, and bound in affliction. But, when we seek the Lord and draw close to him, then he draws close to us and delivers us out of darkness and the shadow of death, and breaks the bonds which hold us captive.

Pray for One Another

Thought For Today - June 16
Pray For One Another
By Robert A. Searles

"To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day." 2 Timothy 1:2,3.

How should we pray for one another? We ought to pray for each other as Paul prayed for Timothy: That God would give to our beloved wife, or husband, or children, or parents, or friends, grace, mercy and peace. Grace- the unearned gifts from God. God's unmerited favor, undeserved forgiveness and pardon, unearned, and undeserved eternal, everlasting life, and undeserved provision for their moment by moment needs.

Mercy - God's infinite compassion for us, that is, God not pouring out his wrath and judgments on us when he would be justified and righteous in so doing, also, God's willingness to come more than half way to meet and greet the runaway prodigal and rebellious child, and welcome him back into the family.

Peace-That peace that only God can give to comfort our hearts when we are in the center of his will, a sense of well being, and knowing that everything is all right in our father's house, and so it is well with us who are his children.

May we learn to pray for one another that God would grant his grace, mercy, and peace Even as Paul prayed for Timothy.

God Does Not Hold Grudges

Thought For Today - June 15
God Does Not Hold Grudges 
By: Robert A. Searles

"If thou, Lord shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope." Psalm 130: 3,4,5.

Praise God! He does not hold grudges and hold our sins and wrong doing over our heads to condemn us; but he is ever ready to hear our confession and self judgment, and remember our sins no more. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness, otherwise, if this were not the case, who could stand? Who would be able to serve him? Who would be able to preach and to teach? For none is worthy unless he accounts them to be worthy through his grace, and mercy and forgiveness, for - :" There is none righteous in himself, no ,not one, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

 Therefore, once having brought our sins before God, and claiming the cleansing power of his shed blood, let us go our way rejoicing and sin no more.Each new day he gives us a clean new slate upon which to write the history of our lives. Beginning today, the first day of the rest of our lives, with the strength of our forgiven, redeemed lives and resurrected souls, let us be renewed in our mind and empowered by the Holy Spirit to go forth today to our place of duty and service and be glad, and do all that God wants us to do for him.

Are Our lanps Trimmed and Burning?

Thought For Today - June 14
Are Our Lamps Trimmed and Burning, Waiting For the Lord's Return ?
By: Robert A. Searles

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. and five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. and at midnight there was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying Lord, Lord, open unto us. But he answered and said, verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh." Matthew 25: 1-13.

I wonder, if Jesus should return suddenly without warning, how many of us Christians would find no oil in our lamps. Has the fire and enthusiasm, for the things of the Lord in our lives gone out?
Are we so wrapped up in the things of the world that we fail to keep our spiritual lamps trimmed, and the spiritual fire burning, and a light shining in the window, waiting expectantly for the Lord's return? Jesus has told us to keep watching and waiting, and praying, for we know not the day nor the hour when he shall return for his bride.

They That Trust in the Lord Shall Abide Forever

Thought For Today - June 13
They That Trust in the Lord Shall Abide Forever
By: Robert A. Searles

"They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity." Psalm 125: 1-3..

Praise be to God! If we are in fact the redeemed of the Lord, we are kept in the palm of his hand, as it were, and no one or nothing can pluck us out of his hand or separate us from his love.
"The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." Psalm 126: 3 

Not to be proud and haughty, but grateful:

"So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun, when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19.

The Secret Place

Thought For Today June 12
The Secret Place.
By: Robert A. Searles

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. I will say of he Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalm 91: 1,2

We put to shame the grace of God when we fail to live and dwell in that secret place that God has provided for his redeemed children. The secret place of the most high - As the song writer has expressed it -"There is a land that is fairer than day", where God dwells, “Beulah land”. In “Beulah land” we are delivered and kept safe from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisesome pestilence.

Christ is the door to this secret place, and our faith in him is the key which unlocks the door.

God in his power and grace has made it possible for us that while our feet are still on earth, our mind and our soul can be soaring in the heavens. "A higher plain than I have found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground."

In “Beulah land “, in the presence of God, there no evil can come upon us, no plague shall come near our dwelling.

Create in Me a Clean Heart

Thought For Today - June 11
Create in Me a Clean Heart
By: Robert A. Searles

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise." Psalm 51: 7-15.

Bad odors rise up from a dirty and cluttered basement. Likewise,, bad attitudes and negative ideas germinate in the depths of the heart of people whose minds have not been thoroughly purged of the residue of former things that were contrary to the will of God and not pleasing to him. The bible tells us that we need to have the inner man, or our heart of hearts, (our sub conscious minds), renewed and washed daily in order to be rid of the bits of sin that so easily beset us and cause a bad stench to rise up from within us, and cast a bad reflection on the works of God. We need to take a bath, as it were, in the word of God daily, and ask God to wash us with the water of his word and make us clean, and create in us a clean heart.

Thy Will Be Done As It Is in Heaven

Thought For Today - June 10
Thy Will Be Done As It Is in Heaven
By: Robert A. Searles

Jesus taught us, through his disciples, to pray to God our father, and to say: "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

When we are born again and become the children of God by God's grace, and our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we not only become the children of God, but we also become citizens of Heaven. As citizens of Heaven, we are under the jurisdiction of the king of Heaven. Thus, while we remain on earth, we are , as it were, strangers in a foreign land, subject to, and responsible for keeping the laws of the country of our residence, but as citizens of America, or whatever country we may be citizens of, if we find ourselves in trouble in a foreign country, we have a right to appeal to our home government to assist us in our difficulty.

So it is with our heavenly citizenship: we are told that we sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We are citizens of Heaven. When we pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, we are appealing to our king that all that happens in our lives here on earth would be the same as if we were already at home in Heaven.

When the will of our King of kings and Lord of lords is being accomplished in our lives, then, all that transpires in our lives here on earth is the result of his power and authority. "The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters he turneth it wither so ever he will."

Would it be God's will for me to be lost forever in Heaven? Would it be God's will for me to be discouraged if I were in Heaven? Would it be God's will for me to be unhappy if I were already in Heaven? Would it be God's will for me to be sick and poverty stricken if I were in Heaven? I don't know the final answer to all these questions; but I tend to think the answer would be no to all of them. Heaven is a happy, healthy, wealthy, eternal place where God is. I believe that none of these situations can coexist in the presence of God, therefore, If God's will is done in us on earth as it is, or would be if I were already in Heaven, what is the conclusion of the whole matter? What does God desire, and what is his will for us while here on earth?

No Strange Gods

Thought For Today - June 9
No Strange Gods
By: Robert A. Searles

"Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou will hearken unto me; there shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. I am the Lord thy God which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it." Psalm 81:8-10.

May it be said of us that there be no strange Gods in our lives. Let us always remember it was the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, and the God of Israel - the father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who saved us. He called us unto himself and set us to dwell in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Strange gods are not necessarily only the ones we more often think about such as stone statutes or wooden idols, false religion, humanism -  but strange gods can be little insignificant things that can keep us from meeting with God, and having fellowship with him, such as comforts of the flesh, petty habits which we refuse to abandon, things we put our trust and confidence in other than God.

When we cast aside all other objects of worship and leave off the petty things that rob us of the blessing and fellowship of God ,and wait patiently for the Lord, then the Lord is faithful to subdue our enemies and feed us with the finest of the wheat, and with honey out of the rock. If we will open our mouth wide, even as the young bird in the nest, then the Lord promises to fill us with his blessings.

Dwelling on High

Thought For Today - June 8
Dwelling on High
By: Robert A. Searles

You may say to me that I have my head always in the clouds, in another world, as it were. Well, why not? A child of God is provided with a private resort where he can enjoy a perpetual vacation away from the cares and troubles of the world.

"In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape. Incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, where unto I may continually resort: thou has given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress." Psalm 71:1-3.

At what point in our lifetime did we loose ourselves from the hand of God, and take our own life into our own hands, and worry about ourselves and our welfare?

"Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and thy honor all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.." Psalm 71: 8,9.

"But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof." Psalm 71:14,15.

A Privilege to Serve christ

Thought For Today - June 6
A privilege to serve Christ
By: Robert A. Searles

"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor , and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in un belief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1 Timothy 1: 12-15.

What a privilege and an honor it is for any one of us who by nature are sinners and blasphemers of God, to be chosen and called of God, and placed in a ministry for his honor and glory. To preach or teach the word of almighty God is the highest calling in the universe, and to assist others to preach or teach the word of God is equally a high calling of God. Not that we should be puffed up and proud; but that we should humbly thank God that we can work together for him as his servants, for his glory.
We can all say with Paul as in verse 15 of 1 Timothy 1: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world t save sinner; of whom I am chief."

Ours For the Aking

Thought For Today - June 5
Ours For the Asking
By: Robert A. Searles

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." Isaiah 55: 1-3.

"And he said unto me, it is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that over cometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." Revelation 21: 6,7.

Think of all the things that we work and strive for in this world - the things that we spend our time and money on in trying to achieve. What energy and time is spent on pure vanity, while at our finger tips, free of charge, ours for the asking and taking is the wonderful gift of God, the fountain of life eternal!

Think of what it means that eternal God is our father, and we are his children; heirs of the promises of God and equal, joint heirs with Christ.Thank you dear God our father for granting us the privilege to become your children, and giving us access to your Holy presence. Let us strive to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior that we might become more and more like him, and be and do what you want us to do and to become.

Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

Thought For Today - June 4
Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit
By: Robert A Searles

"Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily." Psalm 86: 1-3
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God loves us and wants to provide for all our needs. We have the privilege of calling on him and laying our burdens on him; but we must surrender all to him, and trust him completely, and truly desire his will for our lives. God will not help the person who is self sufficient, or thinks he is, one who has no need for anything, or anybody. We must recognize our depravity and sin, and receive Christ as our sin sacrifice and Savior before we can receive God's help and blessing.

The Fall of Evil

Thought For Today - June 3
The fall of Evil
By: Robert A. Searles

In 1 Samuel chapter five: we are told that during battle with Israel, the Philistines had captured the ark of God,( which represented the very presence of God to Israel), and carried it away to the temple of Dagon, their false God. When they arose in the morning they found that Dagon had fallen on his face before the ark of the Lord. Why of course, how could that which is false and evil, stand before that which is true and holy? Worshipers of Dagon restored their god to its' former place in the temple, and again on the morrow, the idol had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon, and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold, only the stump of Dagon was left of him.

"Therefore, neither the priest of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coast thereof. and when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said: the ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us; for his hand is sore upon us and upon Dagon our God." 1 Samuel 5: 5-7.

Just as the wickedness and sin of the world is an abomination and grievous to the true born again children of God, so likewise, the things of God are an abomination and grievous to the evil doers of the world and worshipers of devils. God in the midst of an unregenerate world, or even in the life of an unsaved individual, means nothing but guilty consciences, the wrath of God laying heavily upon him , and anguish. This is why God is expelled from government, politics, public schools, and every public event. Those who are guilty of denying God cannot endure anything that reminds them of the presence and power of God. 

We see, however, the things of God triumphant in the end, and always victorious over evil. As Dagon was destroyed, so shall all that is evil be destroyed by the almighty power of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Walk With the Lord Today

Thought For Today - June 2
Walk With the Lord Today
By: Robert A Searles
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Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is no longer in Jerusalem, no longer walks the shores of Galilee, no longer in the fisherman's boat; no longer hangs on a cross, and no longer in the tomb. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has risen and ascended into heaven as our great high priest, our advocate, our lawyer, interceding for us, and preparing a place in his kingdom, and calling his people. One day we shall hear the trumpet sound ,and we will be drawn away to the King of kings, and dwell and reign with him forever.

It is a good thing to study history, and remember our beginning and consider our roots. It is good to remember, and never forget the miracles and the righteous, holy life style of our Lord. It is good to remember that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, took our sins upon himself, and bore our iniquities - his blood the only cleanser of our sin and guilt.

It is good to reflect and remember, but we must not stay in the past. We must consider where we are today in our relationship with him. We must be constantly in communication with him today to know his will and get instruction for our daily activities. He has promised that from heaven he will hear our prayers, accept our praise, and provide for all our spiritual and physical needs

Let us learn to keep our minds and our hearts stayed and focused on him, and walk in the spirit, and grow in wisdom and grace. He has promised to keep us in perfect peace when our minds are stayed on him.