Here is another way we are to be like Jesus. Isaiah 11:3 Amplified says, “And shall make Him of quick understanding, and His delight shall be in the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord. And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, neither decide by the hearing of His ears.”

Multiple times in my life I have jumped to conclusions based on what I saw or heard. 1 Corinthians 4:5 is a verse to help us corral that fleshly reaction. In verse 4 Paul clarified that the Lord alone is to be our Judge. He said, “For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.” Verse 5 says, “Therefore judge nothing before the time…”

Matthew 7:1-2 says, “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Here is another corral verse. 2 Corinthians 5:16 says, “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.”

When we judge by what we see and what we hear, it is backed by our flesh. John 6:63 says that our flesh profits nothing. Judging with a critical spirit is the same as looking down our nose at someone. It is pride!

James 4:12 says, “There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” When we judge another through a jaundiced eye, we are usurping God’s place as judge.

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram fleshly judged Moses. Then the Lord stepped in and judged them. He split the ground. The earth opened up and swallowed them. Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Here is our stance. Hebrews 5:14 says, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

As we read His word, and observe to do it, the truth we take into our hearts will sharpen our discernment. We will judge rightly because we have fed our spirit man solid food. Following the Holy Spirit moment by moment will give us wisdom for all our interactions with others.

Psalm 101 was written by David. It sounds like an oath of office. Verse 3 says, “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.” The Hebrew for wicked is: worthless, good for nothing, unprofitable.”

Verse 6 says, “My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me.”

Since we are in this Psalm I want to continue. Verse 7 says, “He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.” Oh that this would be the case right now in our nation!

Let me remind you that David got into serious sin because of what he saw. He didn’t catch a glimpse, and turn immediately away. He gazed upon Bathsheba as she was bathing. That wicked experience brought severe consequences.

Habakkuk 1:13 was speaking about the Lord. Let’s emulate Him. It says, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and You cannot look upon wickedness…”

Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Does what you look at purify your heart or defile it? Psalm 18:26 says, “With the pure You will show Yourself pure…”

Matthew 6:22 says, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.” What we gaze upon affects every aspect of our lives. What we read and what we watch brings light or darkness into our heart. Our eyes reflect what is in our heart.

Psalm 121:1 says, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills–from whence comes my help?” What did Abraham see when he lifted up his eyes. Genesis 22:13 says, “…and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket…” He saw God’s provision for an acceptable sacrificial offering.

What do we see when we gaze upon the Lord? How does it affect us in every aspect of our lives? It brings inner transformation. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In 1987 we went to Jamaica on a short term mission trip. We were pressed through multiple times of waiting. By the time we got through customs we were tired and hungry. As we boarded our transport bus we heard our first Reggae music. Our driver was blasting “I Waited For The Lord On High.”

I bought the cassette and used to blast it through my house whenever I was pressed in waiting. Why? It reminded me to be patient. The song came from Psalm 40:1 which says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.”

Luke 21:19 says, “By your patience possess your souls.” James 1:4 says, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Trials reveal the hidden dross of impatience. It doesn’t have to be an intense trial. Being late for an appointment because there is a traffic jam is a great example. Are you patient or impatient?

We miss hidden blessings when we fail to wait in patience. Isaiah 64:4 says that God acts for those who wait. Isaiah 30:18 says, “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.”

We glorify the Lord as we wait in patience. You see, it is not about us. It is about Him. He, through our patience, is exalted. He displays His character through us. The next time you have to wait in line, for a traffic light, or for your water to boil: take the time to praise Him!

Here is David’s testimony. Psalm 27:13-14 says, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Waiting requires control over our wayward, negative thoughts. We corral our thoughts and bring them into a progression of tangible truth. God is in control of ALL circumstances. He has ordered my steps. His timing is impeccable. Truth will stabilize our thoughts and direct out hearts to praise Him Who is Worthy.

Tangible truth, in my mind, means that I can wrap my life around it. There is substance that has deep meaning. Let me take Psalm 9:9 for an example. It says, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”

Let me lead you in a thought progression. Refuge in the Strong’s means: a shelter, protection, fortress, a hope, a place of trust, a shelter from storm. From this definition of refuge nine verses came to mind.

Before I go further I want to go to James 2:15. It says, “If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them…be warmed and filled, but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” It doesn’t, unless you give them something tangible.

If I am outside and it starts to rain, it does me no good to say words but I don’t move out of the rain. However, if I run under a shelter I won’t get drenched. To say, “God is my refuge” but continue to worry, doubt, or negative dialogue, what does it profit?

I have to move my present destructive thoughts to wrapping my mind around Tangible Truth. In that case I would repeat my truth, “You are my Refuge” and immediately lay hold of the Lord through the reservoir of verses that are hidden in my heart. I would ‘dwell’ in them through faith, declaring their truth in my heart to bring it up into my thought process.

Our heart is our belief system. If what I believe does not match with the truth of God’s word, I need to throw it out! I do that by renouncing it, which means to disown it. LIke Paul with the deadly serpent, I need to ‘shake it off’ so that it doesn’t continue to cling and permeate with its poison.

Psalm 71:3 says, “Be my Strong Refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my Rock and my Fortress.” I capitalized the way I would think about God as my Refuge.

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our Refuge and Strength, a Very Present Help in trouble.” Saying the words profits nothing, unless we wholeheartedly believe that the Lord truly is One we can hide in. We ‘dwell’ through our thoughts fully engaged by the power of His word that will not return to Him void.

Our bones are the structural support of our bodies. Inactivity weakens our muscles which weaken our bones. Exercise moves the muscles which put pressure on our bones to strengthen them. How does this apply spiritually?

Psalm 31 was written by David. Verses 9-10 express the health impact from his troubled emotions. They say, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief, yes, my soul and my body! For my life is spent in grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.”

David also wrote Psalm 38. Verse 3 says, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.” Verse 7 says, “For my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh.” Verse 8 says that it is because of the turmoil in his heart. Verse 10 says, “My heart pants, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.” Psalm 51:8 says, “Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice.”

To recap: note the words of his inner turmoil that affected his health. There is no cause for inner turmoil to the one who has put their faith and trust in the Lord. However, we must actively resist all temptations. We exercise our minds through daily reading God’s word. His word presses against our unresolved issues to bring them into the light. As we confess them and release them to Him, our inner strength is renewed.

Let me write another recap from Proverbs 3:5-7. When we trust the Lord with all our heart, acknowledge Him in all our ways, fear Him and depart from doing anything in our own strength, the result is verse 8. It says, “It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.”

I like to visit Job 21:23-24 in the Amplified. It says, “One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet; his pails are full of milk (his veins are filled with nourishment), and the marrow of his bones is fresh and moist.”

The strength of our bones comes from inner peace no matter what our circumstances are. Inner peace is the fruit of trust. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You.”

Do you have health challenges? No drug, supplement, or healthy food will bring healing IF you have unresolved issues in your heart. Worry, doubt, fear, unbelief, unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, anger, negativity, a critical spirit, or a buried offense are sin. Unconfessed sin destroys our body which is the temple of the Lord.

Psalm 103:7 says, “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.” I pondered His ways yesterday as I read Psalm 7, 37, 67, 97, and 127.

Psalm 7:11 says, “God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” Yet He holds back His wrath. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that ALL should come to repentance.”

God is exposing hidden wickedness. David had a really strong prayer regarding the wicked. I use his words often as I pray. Psalm, 35:6, 8 says, “Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of the Lord pursue them. Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, and let his net that he has hidden catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall. Proverbs 26:27 says, “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.”

There is hope for every one who is wicked, until they take their last breath. Even though God is angry with them, His way is to be longsufferinig. He has no desire for them to perish.

Here is our wisdom. Romans 12:19 says, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” It is prudent to guard our heart from evil thoughts against the wicked.

Here is God’s way displayed. Luke 6:35 says that He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” Are we? Yes, I am speaking to myself in this. 1 John 2:6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

As we abide in His word daily, we are being transformed through the renewing of our mind. As we practice what we read, we will emulate His character. Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.” Verse 5 says, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” Verse 7 says to rest in the Lord and to wait patiently for Him to act.

Before you read this, please stop and pray for India. The whole nation is in dire straits because of COVID. Ask the Lord to help every believer to keep their focus on Him, and to remain steadfast in hope. Thank you.

I like to meditate on God’s character of Self-Existent. He has no borders, boundaries, no fences or obstacles. Jeremiah 23:23-24 says, “Am I am God near at hand, says the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him? says the Lord; Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord.”

We can box God in through our thoughts, but He is free of any human constraint. Psalm 36:5-6 are two verses that help expand our thoughts. They say, “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep…”

Proverbs 23:7 says that our thoughts form who we think we are. Do you think of yourself as God thinks of you? This morning I want to turn you to Isaiah 54. Though it was written to Israel, here is an application that I want you to consider. In verse 2 I am changing it from them to the Holy Spirit.

When we daily read God’s word systematically, taking in His whole counsel, our thought processes will expand. Old ways of thinking, erroneous mindsets, lies we have believed, and heart-idols will be challenged. Truth that sets us free will take up residence. Our heart-reservoir will be filled with fresh, living water.

It is like putting muddy rocks in a jar. As you consistently run fresh water into the jar, the dirt flows out and the murky waters clear. Here is another verse that illustrates thought-expansion.

Ephesians 3:20 Amplified says, “Now to Him Who by (in consequence of) the action of His) power that is at work within us, is able (to carry out His purpose and) do superabundantly, far over and above all that we (dare) ask or think (infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hope, or dreams).”

Jeremiah 31:14 says, “I will satiate the soul of the priest with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.” Psalm 107:9 says, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.”

The Lord bids us to come and dine. He has spiritual food that satisfies. Psalm 103:5 says, “Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.” Naturally, we eat when we are physically hungry. Spiritually, we can get to a place where other things crowd out God’s word. They are emotional fillers. We return to them time and again because they cannot truly satisfy. 

When you are stressed, upset, or overwhelmed what do you reach for? David’s words show us Who he reached for. Psalm 61:1-2 says, “Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” He also wrote Psalm 34. Verse 8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

Are you tasting of His goodness? Here is a great verse to imbibe. Ephesians 3:19 says, “(That you may really come) to know (practically, through experience for yourselves) the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience); that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fullness of God (may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself)!”

Our natural health depends on the foods we eat. Our spiritual health is the same. The Lord is our Shepherd. He leads us to green pastures. As we eat His word and ruminate on it, it fills our spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. Then we drink deep. Psalm 36:8 says, “They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.”

Isaiah 55:1 says, “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters’; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Do you remember what Jesus said to His disciples when they urged Him to eat? John 4:32 says, “But He said to them, l I have food to eat of which you do not know.” Verse 34 says, “…My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

Psalm 34 is like a delicious banquet. There are so many encouraging verses. As I was reading it yesterday I noted how God hears. What a blessed truth. He does not have selective hearing!

Verse 4 says, “I sought the Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Verse 6 says, “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”

Verse 15 says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.” Verse 17 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

Psalm 4 was written by David. Verse 3 says, “But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly, the Lord will hear when I call to Him.” Psalm 17:6 says, “I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.”

I want to take you to a scene. You can read the whole story in Mark 10:46-52. There was a great multitude. Think about this because multitudes are usually noisy.

Bartimaeus was a blind beggar. He heard a commotion and asked those near him what was happening. When he heard that it was Jesus, he cried out. Verse 47 says, “….he began to cry out and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

I love verse 49. It says, “So Jesus stood still…” I’m so thankful for this story. It infuses me with strength. It empowers me to endure. It reinforces my hope. When we cry out, Jesus not only hears, but He zeros in on our cry.

I’ve watched it happen. We can be in a crowd of folks talking. All of a sudden a child cries out. It is a cry that the parents of that child immediately recognize. Everything stops and they run to see what is wrong.

In the Lord, we have something totally unique to His character. Isaiah 65:24 says, “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

I want you to think back how many countless times the Lord orchestrated your need before you asked. It is His speciality. He is our Master Orchestrator. He knows our need and sets everything in motion to fulfill it through our relationship with Him.

As we are quiet before the Lord, our hearts commune. He knows! He cares! He provides! Even though He knows every thought before we think it, He still bids us to share them with Him.

Psalm 62:8 says, “Trust Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Here is another of my favorites. Psalm 119:147 says, “I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word.”

I had a startling thought just as I sat down to type this. Do you remember what the Lord said to Samuel about his words? 1 Samuel 3:19 says, “So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and let none of his words fall to the ground.” O my. I am so grateful that the Lord did not say that to me. Why? I have said things that I wish I had never said. Have you? Spoken words come from our heart’s true belief.

Matthew 12:34 says, “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Every motive comes from what we believe through what we have experienced. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard folks say, “I will never forgive them for what they did” and that emotional pain remains buried. What about ‘worry’ words? What about fear based actions?

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding.” We say, “Lord, I trust You,” but our words fall to the ground the moment we fear, or worry, or get stuck in a negative dialogue in our mind. We may pray specifically, and when the Lord answers what do we say? Words like, “I can’t believe…” reveal hidden unbelief.

Every fiery dart that the enemy of our soul lobs is a lie. It is designed to undermine and destroy our faith. When that lie penetrates it remains hidden. Yet, like yeast it bread dough it permeates. Our defense is to hide God’s word in our heart. Therefore when the lie comes, His Truth rises from within like a warrior to cut it down, slice it up, and destroy that lie!

We may say, “I love you” and yet have a buried offense in our heart against that person. 1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” The word ‘sincere’ is what the bazaar vendors said to their prospective customers. They wanted them to know that their pots had no cracks filled with wax. The customer would still hold the pot up in the sun to see if their words were sincere.

What happens when our hearts are held up to the Son? Everything inside is revealed to Him. 1 John 2:4 says, “He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Verse 6 says, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk just as He walked.” 

Heart integrity is a character quality forged in the crucible of our fiery trials. Intense, long term, hard trials purify our faith. Established faith is deeply rooted in God’s word. Mark 4:17 was written about those whose hearts had stony ground areas. It says, “And they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” May the words coming from our heart be established in faith, rooted in love, sincere, and pure. Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”