Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Are you happy? When people ask you about your day, do you immediately tell them all the good things that occurred in your life or do you waste your time discouraging them with all the bad things that occurred? Your attitude does affect others. If you are happy and you act like you are happy, then others will desire to have what you have. If you are miserable and act like you are miserable, what hope do you have in ever winning someone over to the Lord?

There is a battle for your emotions. Satan knows that if he can get your focus upon the things of this world, then it will be easy to discourage you when things do not go your way. As long as you are discouraged, the light of God will not properly reflect through you.

One of the blessings of being a Christian is that no matter how bad things are in your life, you know that God is in control. Esther had heard the news that all the Jews were to be killed. Esther had the Jews pray for three days before she risked her life and went before the king. God was with Esther and the king showed her favor and the Jews were saved because of her actions.

God was with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah when they were in the midst of the fiery furnace. These men refused to bow down to a false god and there punishment was to be burned alive. Even though they were going to their death, they had a positive attitude and they acknowledged that God could save them or he could allow them to die, but either way, their lives were in the hands of the Lord.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus started out with nine things that give a Christian happiness. The word blessed means happy. Jesus teaches us that we can be happy when we mourn, when we are persecuted, and for several other things. As a Christian, our happiness comes from God. This means that regardless of what is going on around us, we cannot focus upon our circumstances, we must learn to focus upon God and HIS power in our life.

Do you fear the Lord? One of the evidences of you fearing the Lord will be that you understand that God is in control of your life and as such, you do not have to become worried when life throws you lemons. The fear of the Lord allows you to be content.

Those who do not fear the Lord blame God when they face difficult times. They do not trust God because in their minds, how can a loving God allow such terrible things to occur in their life and in the lives of others. They are not happy because they think that God owes them happiness. Instead of turning to God in their time of trouble, they continue the downward destructive spiral of their life.

You may not be able to control the circumstances in your life but you can control how you respond to them. If you have taken the time to add knowledge of the ways of God and have the fear of the Lord in your life, then your natural response will be to trust God. When you trust God, you do not have to worry or be discouraged because it is out of your hands and you know that God has a purpose. It is only when you insist on doing things your own way that you start the miserable self-destructive cycle that makes you miserable along with everyone around you. Trust in the Lord and in the power of HIS might and you will find happiness. Focus on what the world can give you and you will never be content.

Proverbs 28:5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

Seek and you shall find. It is not always easy to seek the Lord, but the rewards of understanding the will of God will always be worth the effort. Just as a gold miner must actively seek for gold in order to find it, so too must you actively seek God if you desire to find HIM.

Daniel was living in Babylon as one of the advisors of king Nebuchadnezzar. One night Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and he desired to hear the interpretation. Because his immediate advisors could not tell him both the dream and then the interpretation, king Nebuchadnezzar ordered that all his wise men be put to death. When Daniel heard the news that he was to be killed, he asked to speak to the king where he requested that he be given one night to seek God so that he could understand both the dream and the interpretation.

Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah spent the night in prayer seeking to understand those things that Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed about. God blessed these men and HE gave them the understanding that they needed. Once Nebuchadnezzar heard both the dream and the interpretation, he knew that these men had a special relationship with God.

One of the most important aspects of this story is that Daniel did not seek the praises of the king after he interpreted the dream. Instead, Daniel from the very beginning was telling the king that his ability to know what the king dreamed was a gift from God. Daniel tried to point king Nebuchadnezzar to the one true God. Nonetheless, Nebuchadnezzar kept serving himself.

Joseph was another man in the Bible who was given great understanding in interpreting dreams. Joseph like Daniel did not take credit for this ability. Joseph always acknowledged God and that it was God who gave him the ability to interpret dreams.

Both Daniel and Joseph were two men who rose to great power because they had great understanding from God. These men were faithful to God and strived to not live their lives in a way that was displeasing to God. Daniel first had to pass the test of refusing to eat the food that the king had given to him that was contrary to the laws of God. Joseph had to refuse to sleep with the wife of his master.

Daniel and Joseph both sought the Lord and desired to put HIM first in their life. Daniel and Joseph faced many difficult times, but they were faithful to the Lord and the Lord blessed them. The lessons from the lives of these two men are not just a fairy tale. God gave us these stories and put them in the Bible to motivate us in being faithful to doing the will of God.

You must take the time to seek the Lord. If you do not seek the Lord, how do you expect God to give you the understanding that you need in order to live your life. You are not going to find God by spending all your time enjoying worldly entertainment.

Take the time to seek the Lord. Spend your time adding knowledge of the ways of God to your life. As you seek to put God first in your life, you will find that which you need. As you seek the Lord, HIS understanding will place you in a position where others come to you in order to obtain your counsel. If you do not seek the Lord, do not expect others to be impressed with your wisdom. It all starts with you taking the time to seek the Lord.

Proverbs 19:16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

You are responsible for your actions. You cannot blame someone else for the choices that you make. If you fail to obey the commandments of God, you will suffer the consequences of your actions.

After the nation of Israel left the land of Egypt, they reached the Promise Land. Once they were there, Moses sent 12 spies into the land. When 10 spies came back with a bad report, the people refused to trust God and go and conquer the land. Joshua and Caleb trusted in the Lord and they were willing to keep HIS commandments. Because the people refused to trust God, they ended up dead in the wilderness and it was their children who took possession of the land.

Those who kept the commands of God and trusted in HIM lived while those who simply followed the crowd perished as a result of the choices they had made. It is interesting that God choose to allow those 20 and under to later enter the Promise Land. Those who were 20 and under were required to obey their parents and as such, while they suffered with their parents by wondering in the wilderness, God did not hold it against them when it came to entering into the Promise Land.

You are responsible for your actions. Do you think we would know anything about Daniel if he had not purposed in his heart to follow the ways of God? If Daniel had been willing to compromise to simply get alone with his captors, would God had used him to interpret the dreams of others or to give him prophecy of what God was going to do? You know that king Nebuchadnezzar took more than four Israelites captive. However, we do not know much about the other Israelites, God made sure the lives of Daniel and his friends were recorded so that we can learn what God can do through those who put HIM first.

What would have happened had David gone out to battle with the men as was the manner of the kings? David would not have been in a position where he would have seen Bath-sheba and thus allowed him to commit adultery and murder. The sin of David started when he decided that he could live by a different standard. Because David did what he wanted when he wanted, he sinned and his family suffered.

God held David responsible when he chose not to keep the commands of God, why do you think that you are going to be able to avoid punishment from God when you do what you want when you want? This is not the way God works, the choice is yours whether or not you keep the commands of God. If you chose to do what is right in your own eyes, then you will suffer the consequences of your actions. If you chose to do what is right in the eyes of God, then God can bless you.

You are responsible for your actions. You cannot blame your parents, your friends, or your circumstances. One day you are going to stand before God and you must give account for every word, action, and thought. If you want to do what is pleasing in the eyes of God, then you must first spend the time adding knowledge of the ways of God. The more you understand who God is, the easier it will be for you to do what is right in HIS eyes. Follow the example of Joshua and Caleb who lived lives that glorified God.

Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

God told us in the book of 2 Peter that we are to diligently add knowledge to our life. In this verse, we see the source of knowledge that God desires that you obtain. Knowledge comes from God. God is the source and that is who you should be looking for when you are looking to obey God and obtain knowledge of the ways of God.

You would not go to a horse race and expect to see a football game. You would not crack open an egg and expect a stake. So likewise, why would you expect to find the knowledge of God from any other source than from God HIMSELF? It sounds logical, but it is not as easy to live out as it is to preach. It does not matter whether you are a Christian or not, if you desire to obtain knowledge of the ways of God, you need to first turn to God.

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and he desired to obtain the interpretation thereof. Nebuchadnezzar went to his magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers and asked them to not only interpret the dream but also to tell him what the dream was to begin with. The wise men did not have a life centered around the ways of God and as such, they were not able to reveal to the king the dream itself. However, Daniel understood that the God he served not only controlled the hearts of kings but also the thoughts. Daniel knew that God could give him the dream and the interpretation. Daniel and his friends prayed through the night and God gave to Daniel that which he requested.

When Moses told Pharaoh that God wanted HIS people out of Egypt, Pharaoh started a battle with God by seeing just how strong the God of Israel was. When Moses cast his rod to the ground and it turned into a snake, the wise men, the sorcerers and the magicians of Egypt also cast their rods and they turned into snakes. However, while the wise men and sorcerers and magicians were able to turn their rods into snakes, the snake that God had created ate the snakes that the Egyptians created. When God brought a plague upon Egypt, many times the Egyptians were also able to bring the same curse upon their country, but they never could lift the curse. Only the God of the Israelites was able to stop the plagues once they began.

The lesson from the life of Moses is very important. There are many things that we can do on our own. We do not need God to get ourselves into trouble. However, we do need God in order to get out of trouble and to stop the consequences of our actions. We often try to live our lives by our own strength. However, God desires that we start focusing our attention upon HIM and start relying upon HIM to direct our paths.

It is so easy to rely upon your own strength when it comes to making daily decisions. However, if you constantly are relying upon your own strength, you will make many mistakes and your life will not be as fulfilling as it could be if you simply learned to start trusting in God. When you allow God to direct you in the way that you are to go, you will find a whole new contentment for your life.

When was the last time that you went to God and asked HIM for direction for your life? God does care about you and HE desires to show you the way that you are to go. You need to put the things of God first in your life. You need to start looking to God as the source of all knowledge. Allow God to guide you and show you the way that you are to go.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We have been instructed to add knowledge of the ways of the Lord to our life. In this passage, we see that the fear of the Lord is the foundation of knowledge. If you do not have the fear of the Lord, then how can you have knowledge?

In order to have the fear of the Lord, one needs to have a reverence for whom God is. Too many individuals spend too much time relying upon the mercy of God that they do not understand HIS judgment. The fear of the Lord causes one to appreciate the gift that God gave to us, and it encourages them to strive to please God in all that they do.

We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. God has chosen to give us the gift of HIS mercy in that all who confess their sins are able to live for eternity in heaven. Think of the story of the prodigal son. In that story, the son received a great gift, yet he had nothing to show for it. If we choose to squander away our time here on this earth doing what we want when we want, then we are no better than the prodigal son living in the pig pin. He was still a son of a rich man, but no one could tell by looking at him.

In order to have the fear of the Lord, we must learn to understand who God is and what HE means in our life. Just because God does not strike you with lightening the very first time you swear it does not mean that God is pleased with you and that you will go unpunished. When you have the fear of the Lord in your life, you understand that you are accountable to HIM for every word, every thought, and every action. When you understand that you are accountable to God and then you do not do those things that God would disapprove of, that is when you are living your life according to the fear of the Lord.

Daniel along with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah understood the importance of living their life pleasing to God. The king, their boss, told them to do something that they knew was not pleasing to the Lord. They could have made all the excuses in the book as to why it would be permissible for them to eat the meat of the king. However, Daniel and his friends chose to live their lives in a way that was pleasing to God. They knew that they could be punished for their actions, but they would rather please God than to please man.

Why is it that you think God used Daniel the way that he did? Is it because Daniel was in the right place at the right time? Is it because Daniel had a privileged past? Is it because Daniel came from a certain family? God used Daniel because Daniel took the time to put the things of the Lord first. Daniel understood the fear of the Lord and he chose to live his life in a way that is pleasing to God regardless of the consequences here on this earth.

Do you desire to obey God and add knowledge to your life? Then start with the fear of the Lord. Start by changing your life so that you put God first in all that you do. There can be no knowledge without the fear of God. You must start taking the time to understand who God is, and once you understand who God is, then you must start living your life as if you serve a Living God. You may work in a huge corporation and you have never met the president, however, that does not mean that you can avoid following his directions. So likewise, a quick look at this world reveals to you that there is a God and that knowledge should change the way you live.

Acts 23:29 Whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or bonds.

Paul was disliked by the religious leaders of his day because he did not live his life according to their desires. For so many years, they controlled the hearts and minds of the people because the multitudes simply did whatever they said. However, Paul came along and preached the truth of how one is to interact with God. Because the multitudes were following the teaching of Paul, the religious leaders did not appreciate how Paul was taking their power from them.

The religious leaders were more concerned with their political power and keeping everything status quo than they were about the souls of their fellow man. They would rather keep their power than admit that they were wrong and be considered ordinary in the eyes of both God and their fellow man. Power meant too much to them and as such, they desired to destroy anything that came between them and their power.

In your life, are you simply conforming to the world around you or are you reflecting the light of God from your life? The world desires that you simply live and let live. They do not want you to live your life in a way that is a reminder to them that they are not living their life pleasing to God. If you are living your life pleasing to God, then they will be convicted of their sins.

The world would prefer that you learn to conform with their life style. If you live your life like the world lives their lives, you will have plenty of friends just like the Prodigal Son had plenty of friends. The world does not really care about all your talk about Jesus if your life is no different than theirs. They will quickly ignore your Jesus talk because they see that there is no substance to your talk. However, if your life truly is a light unto the world, than the world will be convicted of their sins and they will not always be quick to invite you to join them in their activities.

Daniel and his three friends had the opportunity to conform to the standards of the world. They were offered the opportunity to eat meat and drink wine just like all the other kings men. However, Daniel and his friends were more concerned about pleasing God than they were about pleasing their fellow man. They put God first and God honored their lives. Throughout their lives, they were constantly tested, but as they remained faithful to God, God blessed them and they were used mightily by God to cause many to draw closer to HIM.

Do you have a lot of friends in the world? If you do, you might want to look at your life and see just how much of a light you are being to this world. Paul had a lot of friends early in his life when he was helping the religious leaders to persecute Christians. Because he was mocking God, he had plenty of power and plenty of responsibility. However, when Paul started to buck the establishment, any relationships that he had with the religious leaders was quickly lost.

You must take the time to diligently study the ways of God. The more you know God, the more your life will reflect the light of God. As you draw closer to God, God will use you in a powerful way to work in the lives of those around you to draw many to HIM. If you choose to be like the world, you may have many friends, but your true impact upon the world might be greatly diminished. Because Paul put the things of God first, the only thing that the Jews could accuse him of was their own false interpretation of the law. Paul was not accused of breaking actual laws, he was simply accused of breaking the Jewish traditions.

Acts 16:3 Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

Paul had recently left the church in Jerusalem where he argued that circumcision was not necessary in order to be saved. When Paul reached Lystra, he came across Timothy who was a disciple who was well reported by the Christians in that area. The father of Timothy was a Greek but his mother was a Jew. Timothy did not need to be circumcised in order to be saved, but Paul still chose to circumcise Timothy.

Paul did not circumcise Timothy so that he was saved; Timothy was already a disciple serving the Lord. Because the father of Timothy was a Greek, the Jews in the community knew that Timothy was not circumcised and as such, they tended to think less highly of him. Paul out of discretion had Timothy circumcised so as to help Timothy remove all stumbling blocks to his public ministry. The gentiles did not seem to care whether or not he was circumcised, but the Jews, especially since he was half Jew, did have a hard time believing the spirituality of Timothy since he did not follow the basic teaching of a Jew that you must be circumcised.

Paul could have spent years preaching to the Jews about the fact that there was no need for circumcision, but instead, Paul recognized that by circumcising Timothy, it would free Timothy to have a more effective ministry. It was more important that Timothy remove all obstacles then it was to stick fast to a doctrine. Out of love, Paul had Timothy circumcised. It would not pay to be right and see many refuse to hear the truth of the gospel. Instead, Paul was training Timothy to love those whom he was called to serve and to be willing to lay down his personal rights so that the gospel of Jesus Christ might be spread.

There are times in our Christian lives that we must stand alone upon our convictions and there are times when we need to demonstrate love one to another and put others first so that our listener is not distracted and is able to fully hear our message. Daniel is an example of one who had to stand alone for his convictions. Daniel and his three friends refused to eat the meat of the king and God blessed them for their stand and they were mightily used of God. Daniel could have said that he was in a foreign land and as such, he needed to do what everyone else did. He no longer was in Israel. However, by the wisdom of God, Daniel understood that he was to make a stand and God blessed him.

As a Christian, you will often face difficult decisions like Daniel and Paul. Do you stand by your convictions or do you demonstrate love to those whom you have been called to serve so that the gospel of Jesus Christ can be easily shared. By your own strength, you cannot properly make this decision. Instead, it is going to require that you understand the will of God for your life. If you do not take the time to understand the ways of God, how can you expect to have the full blessing of God upon your life as you daily walk in HIS perfect will? The Christian walk is not easy, and it is full of difficult decisions in which only a knowledge of the ways of God will enable you to do the right thing in the right way.

You must take the time to add to your life knowledge of the ways of God. The closer your relationship is with God, the easier it will be for you to discern how God desires you to interact with the world around you. Draw nigh unto God and HE will draw nigh unto you. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and HE will ensure that you know the way you are to go.

Acts 4:19-20 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

The religious leaders recognized that God had performed a mighty miracle through Peter and John when they healed the lame man. They understood that all of Jerusalem understood that it was God who was working through these men. The religious leaders knew that if these men continued to preach, they were going to be persuading many to follow Christ. They determined to threaten Peter and John and commanded them not to teach in the name of Jesus.

The same tactic is still being used today by those who hate the name of Christ. There is not much religious liberty to share with others the testimony of Jesus Christ. The world desires to do what is right in their own eyes and as such, they do not want to be convicted of their sins. Furthermore, they do not want you leading others to the saving power of Christ because then they will be in the minority and will not have the power to push their deviant life-style upon others.

Peter and John understood what Christ had done through them. They understood that they were commanded by Christ to preach the gospel. They understood that they had the power of God in their life and that greater was HE that was in them then he that is of this world. The apostles chose to do what was right in the eyes of God. They knew that the religious leaders could drag them into prison any day of the week, but it was more important to them to do what Christ commanded rather than worry about the consequences of obeying Christ.

The world will try to shame you into keeping your Christianity a secret. The world is constantly trying to pass laws that will prevent you from obeying the will of God for your life. However, you need to learn to fear God more than man. You need to be willing to suffer for the cause of Christ. Peter and John were powerful examples for the cause of Christ and God used them to bring thousands to the kingdom of God because they feared God.

You have seen how God has worked in your life. You have studied the scriptures and you understand that God desires that you be the salt and the light. Salt is worthless if it stays in the shaker. Light is worthless if you hide it. Who created this world, God or man? Remember, Jesus taught us to render to God the things that are Gods. If God is the creator, then you have an obligation to obey HIS commands here on this earth. Do not be afraid of what man can do unto you. When you are willing to obey God for doing what is right, God is able to protect you.

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were faced with a difficult decision. Do they obey man and bow down to the gods made of the hands of men or do they obey God and worship only the One true God. They chose to obey God rather than man and God protected them. Daniel was commanded to only worship the king for 30 days. Daniel deliberately disobeyed the commands of man and God saved him from the den of lions.

God has shown HIS power and strength. If you are going to add knowledge to your life, you need to understand that it is God whom you serve and that you need to boldly proclaim the truth of HIS ways to this world. It does not matter what man can do to you, God has already demonstrated HIS ability to protect those who are willing to follow in the way.

Psalms 140:7 O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

When Joshua fought against Amalek, Moses stood upon the hill lifting up the rod of God. As long as Moses’ hands were raised, Joshua prevailed. When Moses’ hands grew weary and fell down, then Amalek prevailed. Joshua was only as successful as Moses was able to intercede on his behalf. Because Moses became to tired to hold up his hands, eventually Aaron and Hur had to help Moses keep his hands raised so that Joshua was able to defeat Amalek.

Of his own strength, Joshua was able to do nothing. Joshua could only win the battle if Moses was successful at interceding on his behalf. Moses of his own strength could not hold up the rod of God all day. Moses needed others to help him. Because no one person was responsible for obtaining the victory over Amalek, God was the one who received the glory. God received the glory for the actions of Joshua, Moses, Aaron, Hur and the entire Israelite army.

Joshua was covered in the day of battle by the interceding of Moses. When we are pursuing the battle that God has called us to, than we have HIS protection. Unlike Moses, God does not grow weary and HE will be with us every step of the way. God will protect you when you are in the center of HIS will.

God protected David when he stepped onto the battlefield against Goliath. David understood that HE was doing God’s will and that it would be God who protected HIM, not the weapons of the world. Daniel’s three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah understood that God did not want them to bow down to gods made of man’s hands. They did not know if God was going to save them, but they knew that they were not going to disobey God and not receive the blessings of HIS protection.

What can man do to you when you are doing HIS will? God is able to protect you regardless of the situation that you face. God does not grow weary but is faithful and just to be with you every step of the way. In Psalm 23, David acknowledges that “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” David understood that no matter how dark the situation becomes, God would never forsake him. God would always be HIS cover.

When you are doing the will of God, you will face some difficult times. However, this is not the time to give up and walk away. Instead, this is the time where God desires you to step up and trust in HIM. Make a commitment that you are not going to allow Satan to discourage you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and allow HIM to work through you to do many great things. Let God be your covering in all that you do.

If you are going to see God do great things through you, than you must allow HIM to be your cover and protection. This will require that you no longer lean on your own understanding but instead requires that you fill your mind with the things of God. When you add virtue to your faith and fill your mind with the things that are pleasing to God, God is able to do many mighty things through you.

Psalms 114:7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

In this Psalm we see several example of how God controls the earth. The psalmist draws our attention to the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan River. In addition, we are reminded of how God turned a rock into water. God not only created the earth but HE also has dominion over it. God can use this earth to demonstrate to the world HIS power.

Throughout scripture we see various examples of God using nature to demonstrate HIS power. During the time of Noah, God sent a flood that covered the entire earth. During the time of Elijah, HE withheld rain from the earth to show the wicked king Ahab that God is in control. During the time of Moses, God sent an earthquake at the precise moment and the precise location so as to quash the rebellion of Korah.

God brought fire down from heaven during the time of Elijah to show to a nation that HE was one true God. During the time of Nebuchadnezzar, God demonstrated HIS power over fire by protecting Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from being burned. God controlled the mouth of a lion to kill the young prophet who disobeyed God by not immediately returning to Judah. God also used the mouth of a lion to demonstrate HIS power to king Darius by not allowing the lions to destroy Daniel.

God can do anything. God created this earth and HE has complete dominion over it. Nothing is too difficult for HIM. The earth understands the power of its Creator and as such, it trembles at the presence of God. The question is, do you understand the power of God? Do you fully understand what God can do through you if you will but acknowledge HIS presence in your life?

If the earth trembles at the presence of God, how much more should you recognize the power of God and tremble at HIS presence? God is to be feared. HE knows your every thought, action, and deed. HE is the One who gave you the talents that enable you to obtain the praises of man. There is nothing you can do apart from God’s grace and mercy in your life.

You would think it pretty foolish of a three-year-old to start bragging about how he is self-sufficient. If it were not for the love and care of his parents, he would die. Where does the food come from that nourishes him? Yes, he may have figured out how to open a box of cereal and eat out of it, but if his parents were to all of a sudden die, how is the box of cereal going to be replenished?

Apart from God you are nothing. You need to change your perspective on life. Rather than fill your mind with your own accomplishments and what you can do of your own accord, you need to start looking for how you can be used of God to fulfill HIS will.

God resists the proud but HE gives grace unto the humble. You need to recognize God for who HE is and give HIM the praise that is due unto HIS name. Fill your mind with the virtue of God so that God can use you to do great things for HIM. Do not compromise your standards but instead, watch as God can be honored through your obedience and trust in HIM. God can use nature to demonstrate to the world that HE is the ultimate power. God simply requests that you trust HIM and give HIM the glory.

Psalms 108:13 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

It is important to remember that of yourself you can do nothing. If you take the time to examine many of the Old Testament battles, you will see that it was God working through individuals so that HE receives the glory. God chose to work through man so that HE is glorified.

Who received the glory when the walls of Jericho came down? Joshua simply obeyed God and as a result, HE saw God bring a great victory. Who received the glory when Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah stepped out of the fiery furnace? Daniel’s three friends had to commit their lives unto God and be willing to suffer the consequences of disobeying the king’s commandment. Who received the glory when Gideon and his 300 men killed one hundred twenty thousand men? Gideon simply was willing to obey God and follow HIS commands and allow God to receive the glory.

Throughout the scriptures you see story after story of God using man to win a great victory. David heard Goliath and David was the only individual who was willing to allow God to use him to destroy the one who defied the living God. God works through people, but HE does so in such a way that HE receives the glory. When Joshua was instructed to fight Amalek, Joshua was only successful as long as Moses’ hands were lifted up. When Moses brought down his hands, Joshua would start to lose but as long as Moses’ hands were in the air, God received the glory and Joshua would be winning. Moses’ hands grew weary and he was unable to keep his hands up during the entire battle, as such, Aaron and Hur assisted Moses in lifting up his hands so that God received the glory.

God desires that you understand that it is not of yourself that anything will ever be accomplished. God has given you great talents but it is HE who desires to use those talents to bring HIM glory. If God does not receive the glory for working mightily through you, why should HE use you? Saul was the tallest man in Israel. Scripture tells us that “from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:2). Who better to go fight the champion of the enemy then the king whom God had anointed? Saul had seen God work through him in the past but because of his sin, Saul was afraid like the rest of his army. God used a boy who completely trusted in HIM. God used a boy who was not skilled in the weapons of war, but was willing to use the talents God had given him for the glory of God.

God can do great things through you if you will first take the time to change your perspective. Instead of thinking of all the ways that you can receive the glory, you should start thinking about how God can receive the glory for your actions. It does not matter how formable the opposition, what matters is that you listen to God and fully trust HIM.

Fill your mind with the testimonies of the good things that God has done through you and others. As you seek to fill your mind with virtue, God will be able to direct you in such a way that HE receives the glory for the things that you do. God will protect those who put their trust in HIM and are willing that HE receives the glory. You already have the tools that you need to win the battle, why don’t you just use them?

Psalms 77:11 I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

There is nothing that requires you to remember all the good things God has done for you. God does not require that you spend four hours each day thinking about all the things HE has done for you. However, if you desire that your faith grow, you need to have a change of mindset; you must learn to start remembering what God has done for you in the past so that you will have the faith to do new things for God.

God has shown HIMSELF strong in your life in the past. This is your testimony that HE desires you to remember so that you will have the confidence to trust HIM the next time you face a storm. Satan desires to distract you with worry. He looks for ways to cause you to think about your problems and thus lose focus of God’s faithfulness.

If you are going to see God do the impossible through you, you must first change your mindset. You must continually take the time to remember the things God has done in the past. As you remember how God has directed, protected, and provided for you; God can now do a new things through you because you have complete trust in HIS’ faithfulness.

The nation of Israel understood that it was God’s plan for their lives that they leave the land of Egypt. They saw God’s deliverance as HE parted the Red Sea and utterly destroyed those who kept them in bondage. They had seen God’s provision in their lives as HE provided bread and meat. Yet when they heard the report of the 12 spies, they did not have the faith to follow God’s direction. They did not have the faith because they were more worried about the giants in the land than they were about God’s faithfulness.

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were faced with a difficult decision. They had to choose between being faithful to God and not bowing to an idol and face death or bow down to the idol and live. These three men remembered God’s faithfulness and thus they placed their faith in God. These men saw God do the impossible through them because they remembered the things God had done for them in the past.

In verse 12 of this Psalm, the Psalmist says “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.” The Psalmist understood that he needed to do more than just remember what God had done but that he had to continually fill his mind with the goodness of God. In addition, he needed to tell others because in telling others, not only did he increase the faith of others but he also encouraged his own faith as he acknowledged God’s faithfulness in his life.

You have problems that you are facing and you cry out to God for help. Have you taken the time to stop and remember God’s faithfulness? Have you taken the time to fill your mind with God’s goodness? Have you gone out and told others of what God has done for you? Virtue is filling your mind with a good report. You are commanded to add to your faith virtue. As you fill your mind with God’s goodness and has you praise HIM for the things that HE has done, your faith will grow because your expectations is upon God. You must change your mindset and stop looking at your problems and instead look towards the solution.

Psalms 56:11  In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

What is the worst thing that man can do to you? What is the worst thing God can do to you? Jesus told us that we are to “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). In this passage we see that David fully understood and is living the principle that Jesus commanded us to follow so many years later. David understood that he was to live for God, not in the fear of man.

It is so easy to allow yourselves to be guided by the fear of man. You start wondering what others are going to think about you and slowly you start changing your actions to the point that you actions are being control by others and not by God.

When you made the decision to follow God, this means that you must take the time to allow HIM to guide you in the way you are to go. When HE gives you direction, your thinking should not be what others might think of this new direction but rather how can I ensure that God receives the maximum glory for my following HIS’ perfect path. How many blessings do you miss out on because you were slow to follow God because you were more concerned about the opinions of others than you were about what God thought of your actions.

You serve an awesome God. HIS power is great. HE not only hears your every word, but HE sees every action and knows every thought. If you have a fear of man in you, you will never fully be able to trust in God and understand HIS full power. Daniel’s three friends faced the fiery furnace because they did not fear man but rather they feared God. Because they were more concerned about their reputation with God than they were about their reputations here on earth, they were willing to lay down their lives. Daniel’s friends never would have fully experienced God’s power in their lives if they were not first willing to put their reputations on the line and learn to fully trust God.

God desires to show HIMSELF strong in your life. However, as long as you are willing to compromise who you are because of the fear of man in your life, you will never fully learn who God is and what HE can do for you. It is when you empty yourself of yourself and allow God to take a priority in your life that HE will be able to reveal to you just how much HE cares for you and what HE can do for you.

Satan desires you to think more highly of yourself than you ought. When you dwell upon yourself and what you can do, you will not be looking unto God and how HE can work mightily through you. When you are more concerned about what others think rather than what God thinks, your mind will be clouded and you will have a difficult time fully understanding God’s direction for your life.

When you take the time to add virtue to your life, you change the way you think. No longer are you going to be filling your mind with vain thoughts about what others think of you and how they are going to respond to your actions. Instead, as you fill your mind with the things of God; God should become number one in your life and what HE thinks about you will become a priority. What is the worst thing man can do to you and what is the worst thing God can do to you? Trust your Creator. Put HIM first in your life.

Psalms 11:1 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?

David made a commitment in his heart that regardless what occurred in his heart, he was going to trust in the Lord. David understood that there would be times when things would become difficult and that those around him would encourage him to take matters into his own hands but David made a commitment to God. Regardless what trials occurred in his life, David was going to put his trust in the Lord and not in his own strength.

In verse five of this Psalm, David acknowledges that the Lord brings trials into the life of the righteous. David understood that trials are God’s way of testing HIS children to see who will really trust in HIM and who will rely upon their own strength. When trials come into your life, how will you respond? Have you made a commitment to God that when you seem to face difficult times, your trust will be in God?

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah had committed in their heart that they were not going to defile themselves with the king’s meat. These young men understood that they were going to be tried on this subject, but because of their commitment, they were bold in putting forth an alternate plan. Because they trusted in God, God blessed them and made a way for them to escape the trial of the king’s meat.

However, this was not going to be the only time that these men had to put all their trust in the Lord. There came a day when Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were faced with the choice of bowing down to the idol the king had made or be thrown into the fiery furnace. Because they men had purposed in their heart that they were going to trust God and they knew bowing down to idols was against God’s law, they put their trust in the Lord and watched as the Lord delivered them.

Daniel too had a difficult choice to make. The king whom God had placed in authority over him made a law that for 30 days, no one was allowed to worship any god, but that they were only to worship the king. Daniel chose to continue to pray to HIS God and place his trust in HIM and God delivered him from the mouth of the lions. It would have been an easy compromise to just not openly pray to God for 30 days. Daniel could have easily prayed in his bed when no one could see him. However, Daniel trusted in the Lord and he was not going to flee to the mountains by making soft compromises.

Virtue is filling your mind with the things of God. It is filling your mind with things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of a good report. As you commit to setting your mind upon the things of God, you will receive the power to trust in the Lord regardless of your circumstances. Virtue will give you the strength that is necessary to resist compromise in order to pursue the perfect will of God.

God never said it would be easy. In fact the more God intends to glorify HIMSELF through you, the greater the trial HE must place upon your life. When you face great trials, you must remember that God is in control and that you have placed your trust in HIM. As you put HIM first in your life, HE will give you the strength to overcome the temptation to quit and then prove HIMSELF faithful in delivering you.

Acts 21:37 And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

Paul was just rescued from the midst of a riot. The Jews took Paul out of the temple and shut the doors behind him. This probably was not a polite ushering out of the temple since the captain of the band upon his arrival the Jews stopped beating Paul. The captain of the guard did not treat Paul with any special care since he immediately bound Paul with two chains and then demanded who Paul was and what his crime was. Because of the tumult as the Jews attempted to accuse Paul, the guards carried Paul out of the riot.

Paul was just saved from certain death. He was being led into a safe place away from the Jews, but Paul was more concerned about communicating the truth of the gospel to the Jews then he was about his own safety. Paul had traveled all the way to Jerusalem to preach the gospel and he was deprived of that opportunity when the riot occurred in the temple before Paul had completed the steps necessary to purify himself. Paul understood that once he was in prison, his opportunities to preach in Jerusalem would be greatly diminished, as such, he made his request to the chief captain to speak unto the people.

The normal individual would have been concerned primarily for their own personal safety and not necessarily looking for an opportunity for God to fulfill HIS calling on their life. Paul understood what God had called him to do and he did not want to pass up the opportunity to preach to the Jews in Jerusalem. Paul had a burden to preach the truth of gospel and he actively pursued finding those opportunities even though his circumstances were not right. Not only was he in chains but also his audience was in a riotous mode and would not be prepared to accept the truth shared by Paul.

Paul understood that all things work together for good because he was a child of God. He also know that he had a duty to share the truth and that it was God’s responsibility whether or not HE chose to allow there to be any fruit as a result of Paul’s preaching. Because Paul understood that results were not his responsibility, Paul was looking for any opportunity where he might sow the seeds of the gospel so that God might reap those seeds through another believer some other day.

Paul was not thinking about his own personal safety because he had added virtue to his life and he was thinking about the things of God. Paul was more concerned about finishing the race that God set before him then he was what the consequences could be if he continued to seek opportunities to serve God. You too should be actively seeking for ways that you can fulfill God’s purpose for your life. Yes people might mock you for serving the Living God, but you understand that you might be the only person who ever shares with them that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. If you do not get your mind off of what people think about you, how do you think God is going to be able to use you for HIS maximum benefit.

It is time that you change your thinking. Remember that God has the power to save you from any situation like he did with Daniel’s three friends. Remember that God has the power to orchestrate your circumstances to fulfill HIS’ will like he did with Joseph. Remember that you must add virtue to your life and put the things of God first.

Acts 18:9-10 Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

Paul was in the city of Corinth preaching the gospel unto the Jews. However, the Jews rejected the truth and Paul shook his cloth and told the Jews that their blood was on their own heads and that he was now going to only preach to the Gentiles. Paul evidently had some fear in his life that because of his actions, the Jews were going to kill him. Paul must have been considering leaving the town of Corinth because God came to him by night and told him not to be afraid.

Paul had left both Thessalonica and Berea because the unbelieving Jews had threatened his life. Now Paul evidently was preparing to leave Corinth but God was not ready for Paul to leave. Because God spoke with Paul and Paul obeyed God, Paul ended up staying in Corinth and preaching the gospel for a year and a half.

Paul had become more focused upon the reaction of the Jews then he was upon the will of God. Paul understood that he was called to preach, but as soon as things became tough, Paul was ready to move on to the next community. God needed Paul to learn that his safety was in the hands of the Lord. Rather then looking to his personal comfort as an indication as to when he left a community, God needed Paul to be looking to God and relying upon HIM for protection and direction.

God did not allow Paul to leave Corinth early. God refocused Paul’s life and caused him to once again put his focus and trust upon the Great I Am. Because of Paul’s close relationship with God, God was able to quickly correct Paul and get his’ focus where it needed to be.

Doing the will of God should be the focus of your life. While you do the will of God, you should not worry about the consequences but you should allow God to protect and direct you. God allows you to face certain trials, not so that you change direction but so that you learn to draw closer to God. It would be absurd to think that Daniel’s three friends should have started to worship the golden statute just because their lives were in danger. So too, it is equally absurd for you to change direction in your life just because the trials in your life become more then you can handle. Instead of changing direction, it is time for you to turn to God and add virtue to your life so that your focus is in the right place.

God is good to those who call upon HIS name. However, God does allow you to face difficult situations. If you allow the difficult situations to control your actions, you will constantly be reacting and your effectiveness for God will be greatly diminished. Instead, you need to learn to not allow worry to consume you. You must learn to put your focus upon the will of God and allow HIM to guide you and direct you

God is faithful, if you attempt to get out of HIS will, HE will correct you. You need to be quick to hear HIS correction and stay where HE desires you to stay regardless of the pressure. When your mind is upon the things of God, it will be easier to hear HIS voice. Virtue will enable you to focus upon God’s will rather then the storms that engulf you.

Acts 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

Herod had just killed James the brother of John. Herod saw how it pleased the Jews to kill the apostles so he had Peter arrested. Herod had every intention to kill Peter also. Herod was a man who did that which is right in his own eyes; he did those things that would cause him to gain popularity with those around him. He was more concerned about having people like him then he was about being a just ruler.

Peter was in prison; he knew Herod intended to kill him. Peter was not found weeping and pleading for his life. Peter was not found worrying about what was going to happen next. Peter was found sleeping in-between two guards. The storms were tossing in his life yet Peter calmly waited to see what God was going to do.

Remember when the disciples were in the boat and they thought that the sea was about to destroy them. Peter along with the other disciples woke Jesus up to ask Jesus to save them from their impending death. Peter had changed. Peter understood that God knew what was going on in his life. Peter understood that Herod could do nothing absent it was God’s will for his life. Peter understood that worrying about his problems would not change the circumstances that he found himself in.

Peter understood the power of God. Peter understood that God was able to rescue Daniel’s three friends from the fiery furnace. Peter also understood that God choose not to save Stephen or James from being killed. Peter simply desired to please God and to live his life so that God was magnified through him.

The believers stayed up all night praying for Peter yet Peter slept. You might ask why Peter was able to remain so calm in the midst of the storm and Peter’s reply would most likely be that God’s grace was sufficient for him. God gave Peter peace and Peter pleased God by not worrying about what tomorrow was going to bring.

It is not always easy to do, but God desires that in the midst of the storm that you lay aside the cares of this world and learn to rely upon HIM. God’s strength is sufficient for your daily life. Jesus taught you not to worry about what tomorrow will bring. Instead, cast your cares upon HIM for HE does care for you.

You need to follow the example of Peter who when trials arose in his life, he did not allow his trials to control him but instead, he allow God to show HIMSELF strong on his behalf. Peter had changed. Peter no longer worried about his life. Peter simply desired to do the will of God so he waited for God to make HIS will perfectly clear.

Worry is a natural reaction when things are out of your control. However, when you add virtue to your life, you put on the mind of Christ, you have now changed the way you think so that God receives the glory for your life. When you learn to think upon the things of God, your actions will be different and God will be glorified through your
life. You cannot afford to allow worry to control your mind, instead, learn to follow the example of Peter who allowed the storms to rage while HE set his mind upon the things of God.

Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image that was approximately 90 feet tall. He ordered that upon the sound of the music playing, everyone was to bow down to the golden image. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah refused to bow down to the image as they were ordered. The king was going to give Daniel’s three friends a second chance at bowing down to his golden image. However, when Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah told the king that they were not going to bow down to a false god the second chance was taken away. The king commanded that the fiery furnace be made seven times hotter.

Nebuchadnezzar had Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah bound and thrown into the furnace. The furnace was so hot that the men who threw Daniel�s three friends into furnace died. After being thrown into the fire, Nebuchadnezzar saw four men in the fire walking around and he commented that the fourth was like the Son of God. Nebuchadnezzar called Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah out of the fire and it was determined that the fire had no power over them. The smell of fire could not even be discerned.

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah put their faith in God to deliver them from death and God rewarded their faith. Daniel’s three friends acknowledged that God might not save them and that they were willing to be martyrs for God’s cause. Nonetheless, God determined that the sparing of the lives of these three men would be a greater influence upon Babylon then allowing these men to die for their faith. These three men feared God more then they feared the king and as such, they desired to please God and risk their lives rather then please a man and displease their Maker.

While you may never be asked to bow down to a golden image or be thrown into a fiery furnace, you will throughout your life have an opportunity to make a stand for the cause of Christ. The question will become, what is important to you, your relationship with God or your relationship with man. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah had the faith to put their relationship with God as their number one priority. They trusted God to take care of them and HE did protect them. God protected these three men in such a way that they did not receive the glory but God received the glory for protecting those who served HIM.

From time to time, you may be asked to compromise your standards. Will you be bold and do that which is right in the eyes of God? Will you submit your life, your reputation or your fortune to the hands of God and allow HIM to control the direction of your life. When you compromise, you are taking matters into your hands and showing your lack of faith in God’s direction for your life.

By faith, you can trust God to see you through the most difficult trials. God is looking for individuals who will be willing to stand up and allow their lives to be an example to those around them of the power of God. God does not need cowards who are more concerned about themselves. God needs individuals who will have the faith to trust HIM and allow HIM to direct their paths. Will you please God by completely trusting in HIM?

Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Your faith must be more visible then just to yourself. Your faith must be a vivid demonstration to the world that you serve a living God. The world mocks Christians because they feel that if they submit their lives to Christ Jesus that they will no longer be able to have any fun. The world is correct, if the definition of fun is being able to do whatever you want whenever you want.

The world is afraid of living to a higher standard where they now have to do that which is right in the eyes of God; where they are accountable to God for what they do, say, and think. What they do not understand is that they are already held accountable to such a high standard, the difference is whether they are willing to live by grace and please God, or if they want to do what seems right in their own eyes and live for eternity in hell.

Your faith must demonstrate to the world that God is good, and that just because you are saved it does not mean that you are a robot that has no mind of its own. While you have become a servant of the Most High God, your life is not boring and dull.

Faith is hearing God and obeying. The fellowship of your faith enables you to do great things for God. The world needs to see that when you obey God, not only are you satisfied, but also you have great joy in your life. When the world does what is right in their own eyes, they rarely have joy, they rarely have contentment because sin is never satisfied and sin never brings lasting happiness. The world does not have security yet you have peace because of the practice of your faith.

You have an obligation to God not to allow your light to be hidden under a bushel. You may be tempted to hide your light because you do not desire being ridiculed by those who do not believe. However, Christ was persecuted and HE told us that we would be blessed if we were persecuted for HIS namesake. Rather then worrying about what man can do to do, you should fear the Lord who is not only able take your life but also your soul. You cannot live your life in the fear of man; you must live your life with the fear of God.

As a child, you were not afraid to tell a playmate who your parents were. How often do you hear little boys bragging about how their father can beat up the other little boy’s father? The little boy is secure in the strength and power of his father and he is sure that if needed, his father will come to his rescue and save him from a bully.

Our heavenly Father was strong enough to stop the mouths of lions for Daniel. HE was strong enough to allow Daniel’s three friends to avoid being burnt. HE enabled David to avoid the spear of Saul. Throughout history, our God has a record of saving the lives of those who are called according to HIS purposes. God is more then able to deliver you, all HE asks is that you communicate your faith so that the world can see and hear the good news and be saved from a life of everlasting destruction.

Your faith must be communicated in an effectual way so that God is acknowledged and the world sees that the peace, joy, and contentment that they seek can only be found through HIM. Communicate your faith so that HE will be glorified through you.

Acts 5:19 – 20 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

The high priest was filled with indignation and he had several of the apostles thrown into prison. However, the next morning, when he sent for the apostles, the prison was locked and the guards were intently watching but the prison was emptied.

The apostles demonstrated their faith by their obedience to follow God. If you knew that someone hated you and desired to kill you and they had locked you up one night and somehow you escaped, your natural tendency would not be to go straight to that persons work and make yourself visible. No your natural tendency would be to run and hide. However, these apostles understood that their life was in God’s hands. They understood that they served a God who enabled them to escape from prison. It was their duty to do what God asked them to do and leave the results in HIS hands.

Do you believe that HE can take care of you if you go where HE asks you to go? Faith is understanding that God is bigger then mankind. Faith is understanding that God can control the actions of men. Faith is understanding that God can control the circumstances that you face. Look at the faith of Daniel’s three friends. They were willing to be thrown into the fire knowing that God may or may not save them. They knew that they must obey the commands of God and they left the consequences in HIS hands. Because of their faith, and because God was not through using these three men, God spared their lives and the testimony of faith spread throughout the world.

A little boy is up climbing a tall tree. His father comes out and tells him to come down the tree and that if he jumps he would catch him. The boy has three choices. The boy can obey and demonstrate his faith in his father and fall into his father’s wait arms. The boy can try to climb down the tree on is own. Or the boy can simply clutch onto the tree and cry saying that he cannot jump because he is afraid.

By faith you obey God. However, it is not enough to simply obey God, you must also obey God in the way that HE told you to obey HIM. You cannot attempt to do what God has told you to do in your own power. Instead, you must do what HE said the way that HE said and leave the results in HIS hands.

The apostles were supernaturally released from prison. They saw that God was releasing them and they listened to God to find out what HE desired that they do next. Having discerned the will of God for their life, the disciples obeyed God.

It is not easy to blindly obey God not knowing what the results will be. Nonetheless, that is what you must do. You must serve God and allow HIM to direct your steps. Just like Nathan Hale regretted that he only had one life to give for his country, so too must you regret that you have only one life to give for your God. You must be willing to fully place your life in HIS hands and to obey HIM regardless of what personal sacrifices this will mean for you. When you are ready to give up your life for God, that is when God is ready to give you life.

Hebrews 11:34b escaped the edge of the sword,

Faith is understanding that God has a higher purpose for your life and living your life for that purpose regardless of the fact that it appears you are about to die. David escaped the sword of Saul on several occasions. The Jews escaped the edge of the sword because of Esther’s faith. Elijah escaped the sword of Jezebel. Joseph’s brothers were going to kill him and he escaped death to be sold as a slave.

The Bible is full of examples of individuals who escaped death because they needed to do more for God. Even the New Testament is full of examples of individuals who escaped death. Peter was led by an angel out of prison. Herod had just killed James and was planning on doing the same with Peter. While Peter did end of being killed later, it was not God’s timing and he escaped the sword on this occasion.

All these individuals escaped death based upon their faith that God was not ready for their life to end. Joseph had a dream from God that he was going to be a great leader. David was anointed to be the next king of Israel. Elijah understood he was God’s prophet. Esther knew that if the Jews were killed, it would wipe out God’s chosen people.

When you have a long-term vision of what God desires to do through you, you can live your life by faith on a daily basis not worrying about what is about to come. You can live your life like Daniel’s three friends who understood that it did not matter what happen to them because God was still in control. While you may not face a life and death situation like Joseph, David or Esther, you must live your life understanding God’s long-term plan. If you do not have a vision for how God is going to lead you, then you will lack the faith to make your stand for God today.

A young child was told that they were going to be taking a family trip to Disneyland. Later the next day that same child was told that there was going to be an overnight party at a friend’s house. That young child will reject the offer to go to the friend’s house because it might hinder her parents from taking her to Disneyland.

You need a vision from God what HIS long-term goals are for your life. When you have a vision, you are able to live daily by faith. You do not fear what man can do to you today, but instead live for God and escape the harm that other meant for you. Bad things can occur to you as a result of the life you are living. However, you do not have to fear death as long as you are serving God and understand HIS vision for you.

When you do not have a long-term vision, you live your life in fear what could happen to you. While you may not fear dieing every day, you may fear the loss of your reputation, your possessions, or your loved ones. Without a vision, you parish because of fear in your life. Without a vision, you become near-sighted to the perfect plan of God and how HE intends to use everything that happens to you for HIS glory. Jesus told us that the only thing we are to fear is God. By faith you can live your life for God understanding that the fears of life do not have to hold you down. By faith you can look to the future and understand while things are rough, God is working it for good. By faith you do not live for today but you live for God looking forward to how HE might deliver you.

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king�s commandment.

In this verse, we are taught the faith of Moses’ parents. The verse does not list their names. In fact, the story of Moses’ parents faith listed in Exodus does not even list their names. In order to learn that Amram and Jochebed were the parents of Moses you must examine the genealogies of the tribe of Levi. In studying the genealogy of Levi you learn that Jochebed was the daughter of Levi while Amram was the grandson of Levi. The lesson in this passage is that faith can be demonstrated by anyone who does not allow the fear of man to control their lives.

Moses’ parents were ordinary people. They lived during extraordinary difficult times. The king’s command was that baby boys should die. Moses’ parents probably had heard about the blessings of their fathers that they were to be fruitful and multiply. Moses’ parents were in a predicament when they were forced to obey the commands of God or the commands of a king. Moses’ parents chose to obey the Lord and to do everything in their power to save the life of their child. As such, they are commended for their faith, and Moses’ mother was even rewarded by being paid to raise her own son.

God has a way of bringing difficult decisions across your path. It is at these junctures that you must choose either to obey the Lord or fear man. God desires that HE be the only One that you fear. God desires to reward you as you obey HIM and keep HIS commandments. It is not easy to obey a God that you cannot see. It is much easier to obey someone who you see punishing those who do not do what they say. However, this is faith. Faith is understanding who God is and living your life so that HE is glorified.

You do not have to be an extraordinary individual like Noah, Job, or Daniel to obey the Lord’s command and not fear man. Everyone has the opportunity to demonstrate their faith by simply trusting in the Lord and striving to serve HIM. Just as Moses’ parents hid their child trusting in the Lord to protect them, so too can you trust in the Lord to protect you when you are obeying HIS commands for your life.

A mother eagle pushes her eaglet out of the nest when it is time for the eaglet to learn to fly. However, an eaglet does not learn to fly on its first fall. The mother eagle does not allow her eaglet to fall to the rocks and be crushed but instead swoops down underneath the eaglet and bears it upon her wings prior to the eaglet being dashed upon the rocks. The eaglet obeyed its mother at great prompting to stretch forth its wings and attempt to fly. The mother eagle protected her eaglet until the eaglet developed the ability to fly.

Obedience to God may be scary. There can be consequences in obeying God. Daniel’s three friends had to chose the fiery furnace or disobedience to God. They chose to obey God and were reward for their obedience. The Bible is full of stories of individuals who obeyed God and did not allow the fear of man to control them. These individuals demonstrated faith. God desires that you by faith focus your attention on doing that which is pleasing in the sight of the Lord and abstain from fearing man. As you learn to please the Lord, you will see the Lord protect you in ways you never imagined.