It does no good to make a list of temptations. There are myriads. I think that might be what Paul was thinking when he wrote Ephesians 6:11. It says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Wiles means schemings or strategies.

Our defense starts with a heart-felt acknowledgment of where we are weak. We are well equipped through God’s word to handle any wily temptation. Yet, if we know that we are prone to a particular temptation, we need to fortify our faith in that area. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man; but God is faithful…” Another way to say this is that we are not the only ones who have ever been tempted. Remember Eve. From there we could take many characters in the Bible and point out a temptation that they faced and conquered or were conquered by them.

We are not alone. It is essential to remember that Jesus understands our temptations. He went through them. Hebrews 4:15 says, “…but was in all points tempted  as we are, yet without  sin.” Let’s make this really clear. We do not have to sin.

Romans 6:1-2 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Verse 11 is our key. It says, “…reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Dead things have no ability to respond to any stimulus. That is how we can be to the devil’s temptations when we stand in God’s word. Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

That ‘evil day’ is any time that the enemy of your soul has set his wily trap for you. Romans 12:2 J. B. Phillips says, “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all His demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”

1 John 1:6 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Psalm 119:3 says, “They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.” When we fall for satan’s temptation, we have veered off God’s path, and iniquity is the fruit. Verse 4 says, “You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently.” Are you keeping them?

1 John 2:3 says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” Here is the key to our spiritual growth. Verse 5 says, “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.” To ‘keep’ His word means to hide it in our heart so that it is a ready arrow in our hand. Think of David. He had the stone ready. God’s hidden word is our stone to slay the giant that opposes God’s will through satan’s wily temptation.

To ‘know’ God’s word also means that we are living it out experientially. Ephesians 3:19 Amplified 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)!”

It is the truth that we read, observe, and apply it to our daily lives that works to set us free. It is never the print on the page. It is the living word that makes our spirit thrive. Jesus is that word that dwells within us. It is only through His word that we can know Him intimately. It is Heart-to-heart communion.

Think about what tempts you, or what is your weakest area of resistance. There are some temptations that we can easily dismiss. Others are not quite so cut and dry. Food has not been an issue for me. Some folks battle certain food addictions daily. Any type of addiction has to be fought through a resolve in the heart before you face the temptation. Temptations are hard to resist when our spirit is weak.

Think about what Jesus said to His disciples. Luke 22:40 says, “…Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Verse 46 was in reference to them going to sleep when He asked them to pray. It says, “…Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” If we are not alert, a temptation will suck us in before we realize it.

1 Peter 5:8 is our warning. It says, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Verse 9 is our key. We can resist all temptations through faith in God’s word. It says, “Resist him, steadfast in the faith…”

Yesterday morning the Holy Spirit spoke something to me that brought instant conviction. How do these words affect you? All grumbling gratifies the flesh. Numbers 11:1 says that the children of Israel’s grumbling displeased the Lord.

I have certain necessary chores that I do not like to do. When it is time, I am tempted to delay the inevitable. Like right now. I have to stop typing and go do them before it gets dark. Alright they are done! It really helped this time to sing while I was choring.

It is essential to have motivator verses. They are verses that are hidden in your heart that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, like a farmer prods a mule. One of my resident ones is James 4:17. It says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Resisting temptations, any kind of temptation, takes inner discipline.

Daniel resolved in his heart long before the temptation was set before him. Daniel 1:8 says, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself…” We see his resolve at work again in chapter 6. He was set up through jealousy. Look at God’s commendation in verse 3. It says, “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him…”

Let’s go back to 2 Peter 1:5. Peter admonished his readers to add certain graces to their faith. The first one was virtue. It means moral excellence. Daniel had added moral excellence to his faith. When the decree went out that anyone who petitioned any god or man, other than the king, would be cast into the lion’s den.

Daniel 6:10 says, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.”

Daniel did not fall for the temptation to not openly pray. Even in the face of impending death, he remained steadfast in his faith. Remember, all temptations are aimed to destroy our faith. Therefore we have to increase and fortify our faith through hearing God’s word. We do that by quoting it to ourselves when we are tempted.

We need verses in our quiver. A good warrior has his quiver full of sharp arrows. All he has to do is pull one out when the enemy approaches. Our enemy comes through fiery dart lies. All temptations are a lie to pull us off track. They are set before us to derail us from God’s purposes. Do not listen to the tempter. Do not give his temptations another thought.

I like 1 Samuel 12:21. It is one of my resisting verses. It says, “And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.” That reminds me of another. John 6:63 says, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits NOTHING. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

James 1:3 says that when our faith is tested it will produce patience. Falling for a temptation reveals several things. One is that we did not take God at His word. Every temptation is set up by the enemy. We need to be very clear about this truth. James 1:13 says, “…God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”

Every temptation to sin tests what we believe about God. Will we believe what God has said in His word and stand in it? Psalm 119:1 says, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!” Undefiled is best described as heart integrity.

Romans 10:9 says that we believe with our heart. One with wholeheartedness clings to God’s word when tempted. They cannot be drawn aside. Knowing God’s word, and hiding it in our heart gives us barnacle faith.

Daniel 11:32 says, “…the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” 1 John 2:14 expressed where the strength came from. It says, “…I have written to you young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”

Here is an example of one who did not know God. It applies to every human being ~ regardless of gender. Daniel 5 was the most unusual scene. King Belshazzar was using holy vessels that his father had taken from God’s temple. Verse 4 says that they were drinking wine and praising false gods.

All at once there were the fingers of a man’s hand writing on the wall. It shook them all up. The queen told Belshazzar about Daniel. Before Daniel gave the king the interpretation, he rebuked him with these words in verse 23. “…the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.”

That is the same indictment that Paul wrote in Romans 1:21. It says, “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

When we fall for satan’s temptation, we sin against God. Romans 3:23 says that we all fall short of the glory of God. Sin misses the mark. That is exactly satan’s plan when he sets up a temptation. He lures us with the expectation that we will fall. God, on the other hand, has made provision for us to stand in our position of grace that He gave us at salvation.

Romans 5:2 says, “Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 8:18 is a promise.  It says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

We joyfully endure because of what is set before us. Resisting a temptation will cause our flesh to suffer. It hates to be denied the sinful pleasure of the moment. James 1:1-4 and Romans 5:3-4 says that it is necessary for us to go through the crucible of suffering in order for our faith to be purified and strengthened. Patience, endurance, fortitude, and steadfastness are fruits of the one who goes through the test to the other side ~ freedom through standing in truth and grace.

There are six verses in Psalm 119 that use the word ‘whole’ regarding our heart. Verse 2 says, “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!” Note the exclamation mark. Verse 10 says that when we seek Him with our whole heart we will not wander away from His word’s influence.

Verse 34 says, “Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.” Joshua 1:8 instructs us to ‘observe to do’ according to what we read and meditate on in His word. Psalm 119: 58 says, “I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; be merciful to me according to Your word.”

Verse 69 says, “The proud have forged a lie against me, but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.” We really need to inculcate this verse into our heart. It will help to fortify us as we are being bombarded with the lies forged against us through this evil concocted pandemic. Verse 145 is a good one also. Let us corporately cry out to the Lord for worldwide revival. It says, “I cry out with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord! I will keep Your statutes.”

This morning I was singing a new song to the Lord. I drank in these words. ‘I am enveloped in Your love Lord.’ Go ahead and sing it to the Lord. It will lift up your heart. The Lord’s love for us has no ebb or flow like the waves of the sea. His love is consistent. Our circumstances change continually. His love is steadfast. Nothing can take us out of His love. His love is IN us. Romans 5:5 says that at salvation, “…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

1 John 4:8 says that God is love. The embodiment of Who He is characterized by love. He dwells in us in all that fullness. What did He set up for us to love Him back? John 14:21 says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me…” Psalm 119:11 says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

We keep His word in our heart when we hide it there through memorization and meditation. John 14:21 continued, “…And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Note that His love is not predicated on whether or not we hide His word in our heart. It is simply an outward demonstration of our wholeheartedness.

Jesus manifests Himself to us through His word. Psalm 25:14 Amplified says, “The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning.” We revere and worship the Lord through keeping His word.

What are some blocks to wholeheartedness? Indifference, distractions, desire for other things, and unresolved issues involve our heart. Worry is a huge distraction. Engaging with fearful thoughts pulls us away from keeping our mind stayed on the Lord which gives peace. Unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, and hidden sin also takes up heart real estate. James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Sin blocks our fellowship with the Lord.

James 1:6-8 are very unique verses. They help me understand the word ‘vacillate’ more clearly. I love to watch the waves break upon the shore. It is a good picture of doubting and believing. We can only do one at a time. Facing our impossibilities is a great setting for this. One moment we may be holding onto truth, and the next moment doubting. 

Verse 6 says that when we ask in faith, we need to be single minded and not doubt. Verse 7 says, “For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” Doubt is flesh driven. Verse 8 says, “He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Note the word ‘all’ as being without exception.

Unstable means to be inconsistent, and not dependable to follow through. Single-mindedness is steadfast, immoveable, undistracted, one accord, dependable, diligent, and one whose word is true. Single-mindedness and double-mindedness are character qualities. Mark 11:22 says, “…Have faith in God.” It is when we put our faith in ourselves, others, or our circumstances that opens the door for the fiery dart of doubt to penetrate.

Doubt is hesitation. Elijah addressed the children of Israel on this subject. 1 Kings 18:21 says, “…How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal, follow him. But the people answered him not a word.” They had no heart conviction in their belief. Joel 3:14 says, “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of indecision!…”

Indecision is a perfect word for double-mindedness. We can’t decide so we sit on the fence. That is only in our mind. God’s word is true. There is no room for vacillation. When doubt seeps in, I turn to Romans 4:20 and quote it to myself. Faith comes by hearing the word (Romans 10:17). It says of Abraham, “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief…” The Amplified says, “…he grew strong and was empowered by faith AS he gave praise and glory to God.” The emphasis is on the ‘as’ because that is what kept him from wavering.

To waver is to doubtingly question. That is what satan did with Eve. He said, ‘Did God really say?’ See the implication to interject doubt? We need to have verses built in as our heart’s weaponry. It is the hidden word that the Holy Spirit brings to our mind when the enemy bombards our thoughts. We never have to question God’s word to us.

It is His hidden word that is the anchor of our mind, will, and emotions. I have anchor verses that I rely on. A lot of them are in the Psalms that David wrote. He had a unique way of expressing his heart. I love all of Psalm 18. Here are David’s declaration in verses 1-2. I put capitals in my mind when I quote them. 

“I will love You, O Lord, my Strength. The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God, my Strength, in whom I will trust; my Shield and the Horn Of My Salvation, my Stronghold.” As we declare Who the Lord is at all times, our mind becomes single focused. It is when we gaze upon the Lord, beholding Him as Who He is, that we are transformed from double-minded to single-minded. Just one glimpse, and the temptation to doubt will fall flat!

When we read James 1:5, it is essential to remember that the Lord is God All Wise. There is nothing He does not know about our trials. That is why He bids us, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” We fall into our trials. We have no warning.

That is true for us, but it certainly is not true about the Lord. He orchestrated our trial. He has always known when, where, and how it would take place. I like to look back to Jeremiah 1:5. Before He formed us in the womb He knew us. Therefore, everything we need in life to be all that He has called us to be was set in the seed of our conception.

I love that God is All Wise. The word ‘all’ is without exception. Romans 16:27 says, “To God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.” Jude verse 25 says, “To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” I encourage you to take a moment and think about your life. Every and all circumstance, event, trauma, and trial is known by the Lord who is All Wise.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” I have found, in my own experience, that learning to be still is paramount to hearing the Lord. Isaiah 55:3 says, “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live…” Incline means to listen favorably.

Luke 4:4 Amplified says, “…Man shall not live and be sustained by (on) bread alone but by every word and expression of God.” We cannot hear clearly when: we come to the Lord with our own agenda, preconceived ideas, or a heart set on a certain answer. We must come with an open heart to hear every word, no matter what it is.

Colossians 2:3 says, “In whom are hidden ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” God All Wise is an attribute that no one, nor anything has. He alone is All Wise. That means that whatever advice man can give, or we can gain from self-help books, research, etc. cannot compare to His wisdom. So why do we seek other things before we seek Him? That is the foolishness of our flesh.

Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” The Lord has insights that we need to be able to navigate through our trials. We will not find them any other way than through Him. There is no one who knows you like He does. Seek Him! Call out to Him! Then wait in silence.

Here is a verse that will help you learn to be still. I use it all the time for myself. Psalm 131:2 says, “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Isaiah 30:15 says, “…In quietness and confidence shall be your strength. But you would not.” Let that not be our case. His impartation of the wisdom we need comes through our intimate communion with Him. 

The word ‘work’ has many definitions. Today I want to look at this word as a potter works water into dry clay. That is the meaning I give to Isaiah 32:17. It says, “The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.” Think also of Philippians 2:12 which says, “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

2 Peter 1:5 says that we are to add some inner graces to our faith. We can use add as we use work. We need to work these graces into our faith like the potter works water into clay. Instead of kneading clay, we knead our faith with: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

James 1:3-5 was written about our trials. In verse 3, the J. B. Phillips says that we are to welcome them like friends. If we resist our trials, the work of patience will not be accomplished. Verse 4 says, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

How does the Lord word patience into our lives through our trials? He uses impossibilities. Facing the impossible allows the dross in our faith to rise. Impatience is usually the first one. The hidden lie of ‘I need to do something’ rises to the surface. Waiting is another way that causes our fleshly impatience to come out of hiding.

We are a work in progress. The Lord is using His orchestrated trials to develop a deeper dependence on Him. He uses them to reveal Himself to us in a new way, and to bestow benefits that we lacked. The dross is always something fleshly that blocks His work of righteousness in conforming our thoughts, purpose, and actions to His will.

The progression is seen in Romans 5:3-4. The Amplified says, “Moreover (let us also be full of joy now!) let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance, and endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character (of this sort) produces (the habit of) joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.”

If it was not for our trials, we would never develop the character qualities that exemplify the Lord to others. Our trials are His wondrous works, working His righteousness into our hearts that can not come in any other way. How do you welcome friends into your home? Joyously, and with hugs and words of welcome. How do we do this with our trials?

It is all in our perspective. When we truly believe that our trial is His best, we will be able to follow His example. Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. That joy was us! He knew that if He did not die we could not live with Him through eternity. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Let us be good stewards of the trials He has entrusted to us.

I want to start with Psalm 145:9 again. It says, “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Five times in this Psalm, we find ‘works’ in David’s words. You can read them for yourself: verses 4, 5, 9, 10, and 17. We are part of His works. Ephesians 2:10 says that we are His workmanship. 

It is essential to remember that every trial in our lives is covered with His tender mercies. Tenderness is one of the Lord’s attributes. We are bid, in 2 Peter 1:4, to be partakers of His nature. How many folks do you personally know that exemplifies the Lord’s character of tenderness? It is a rarity. Why?

Colossians 3:12 is our mandate. It says, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.” The Amplified helps us. It says, “Clothe yourselves…by putting on behavior marked by) tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, (and) patience (which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper).”

Tenderness is a heart issue. When there is any unresolved issue in our hearts, it will block any heart response of tenderness. Colossians 3:12 is bursting with truths that will keep us free to serve the Lord with gladness. I want to unpack it a little bit. It’s too full to cover in one sitting.

Tenderness is a character quality that is only revealed through one who is wholly submitted to the Holy Spirit. I think a cousin to tenderness is gentleness. Here is Strong’s definition of gentleness: a disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious, and that has the passions under control. The person who possesses this quality pardons injuries, corrects faults, and rules his own spirit well.

Let’s look at this from Ephesians 4:22 and 24. It says, “That you put off, concerning your former conduct…and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Sandwiched in between these two verses, verse 23 says, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” 

If there is bitterness in our heart, we have to deal with that first. We cannot ‘put on’ the new man’s character over the old man’s carnal behavior. We must take off the bitterness through repentance. Then we renew our mind. Let’s let Ephesians 4:31 speak. It says, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” When we recognize the fruit of our emotional walls, we can correct our course.

Tenderness in our interpersonal relationships is God’s strategic tool to tear down emotional walls ~ ours and others. When we exemplify this character quality of the Lord, we are His shining light that will dispel the darkness in other’s hearts. Folks with emotional walls are prickly. Our physical or emotional pain is never an excuse for being caustic, bitter, or ornery. We are called to walk as Jesus walked. Luke 6:35 says, “…He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”

In reading the book of Ruth this time, the character of the Lord that stood out was His mercy. Deuteronomy 23:3 says, “An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord, even to the tenth generation none of his descendants shall enter the assembly of the Lord forever.” Yet, Ruth was a Moabite. 

Here is Ruth’s commitment to Naomi. Ruth 1:16-17 says, “…your people shall be my people, and your God, my God…The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.” Boaz commended her. Ruth 2:12 says, “The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

We know from chapter 1 that Naomi was a bitter woman. Have you ever lived with a bitter person? It is not an easy road. Ruth showed Namoi unconditional love. She respected her and followed her advice. Ruth had a generous nature. When Boaz let Ruth eat with them, she ate until she was satisfied. Ruth 2:14 says that she kept some back for Naomi.

Boaz had a generous spirit. He spoke to his reapers. Verse 16 in the Amplified says, “And let fall some handfuls for her on purpose and let them lie there for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” Notice what Naomi says in verse 20 about Boaz. “…Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!…” 

Boaz honored Ruth with his words. Ruth 3:11 says, “…for all the people of my town know that you are a virtuous woman.” When she left the threshing house, he lavished grain on her. Verse 17 was Ruth’s recounting to Naomi. “…These six ephahs of barley he gave me; for he said to me, Do not go empty-handed to your mother-in-law.”

Bitterness creates an emotional wall around our spirit. We were created for love. It imprisons us through toxic thoughts. The bitterness causes caustic acid to drip down upon our neural connections, destroying their pathways. It also causes chemical changes in our bodies. Our health suffers. Naomi’s heart was full of inner defilement. Remember Hebrew 12:15 about the bitter roots? They defile us and those around us.

Yet, Ruth did not allow Naomi’s bitterness to affect her spirit. She was leaning on the Lord. She found her refuge in Him. God brought a Moabite woman into His land, to live with His people. He miraculously intervened through His mercy to strategically set Ruth in His own blood line. How amazing is that! Boaz married Ruth and she had a little baby named Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse who was the father of David.

Watch now how the Lord used Obed in Naomi’s life. The women of the town blessed Naomi with these words about her little grandson. Ruth 4:15 says, “And may he be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, she is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.” The Lord, in His mercy, in our Restorer and Nourisher. Psalm 145:9 says, “The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.”

Emotional walls become a prison of our own making. We are called to freedom in Christ. He came to set the captives free. That’s a gift for everyone. Those who choose His gift enter into an abundant life. Those who don’t? They remain captive to the prince of the power of the air, who works diligently to keep them bound in sin.

John 15:16 sets the record straight. It says, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” Truly, what do we lack? 2 Peter 1:3 says, “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him…”

We lack because we do not know the Lord intimately and His provision for us. James 1:1-5 was written about our trials. Verse 5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him.” Open ended offer. I smile as I type this. Colossians 2:3 says, “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Ah, the key is walking in the fear of the Lord. Psalm 34:9-10 says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him…those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.”

Psalm 25:14 Amplified says, “The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His  covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning.” We can camp right here. We enter into all that the Lord has for us through our intimate communion with Him.

Emotional walls barricade our hearts. They become a garrison that we hide behind. Though they are a figment of our imagination, they were built in deception to keep us believing that they work. 2 Timothy 2:26 says that the enemy uses them to keep us captive to do his will. He hates God and will do everything possible to keep us from truly entering in. Enter into what? Experiential knowledge through our life-giving relationship with the Lover of our soul.

I accepted the Lord when I was eleven. I was thirty years old when I fell into the ravine. It was during my bedridden years that He wooed me. He looked through my walls and drew me to Himself in a way I had never experienced Him before. It was all His doing. All I did was respond. He brought me out to bring me into an intimacy that still sustains me.

Our chains don’t stop His love, Our walls don’t keep Him out. We are the ones who wall off our hearts. Though this is speaking to the Corinthians, hear these words from the Lord to you about your walls. 2 Corinthians 6:17 says, “…Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you…”