Nourish means to keep in one’s mind, typically for a long time.  We are encouraged through several Scriptures to be rooted and grounded in our faith, and to remain steadfast, immoveable, and enduring.  Trials purify our faith to make it strong.

This morning I read the book of 1 Timothy.  I was delighted when I came to chapter four and verse  six.  It says, “If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.”  The Amplified says, “…ever nourishing your own self on the truth of the faith…”

Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Each time we meditate on the truths from God’s word, we are nourishing our faith!

This morning I had a revelational encounter during the speaking part of our church service.  Our speaker was recounting the life of Joseph.  Connecting the will of God to man’s sinful ways.  It was as though I instantly saw how He has threaded each seemingly destructive event with the one following.  All of them had to be included to make up the tapestry of my life.

The incredible orchestration through it all to bring me here where I now live.  Each rich insight gained in the crucible, strung together with the next as a garland of praise to Him.

So it is in each of your lives.  Nothing is in vain.  He redeems it all.

We cannot navigate our trials through our minds.  It takes spiritual discernment through God’s wisdom, and His empowerment of grace.  He wants us to process our thoughts through who He is.  Not to process them through our limitations and impossibilities, but through His unlimited ability and power.  This is His higher purpose in maintaining inner peace.

Last night I was telling the Lord something I was concerned about.  Immediately this thought came from Him.  Our flesh worries, but our spirit is confident in You.

When we worry it is our flesh which profits nothing.  When we START to worry, we must quickly acknowledge that worry as sin.  We switch our thoughts by saying, “Your will Lord, not mine.”  That immediately changes our fleshly focus on our circumstances, and moves us over to our spirit who communes with the Lord.  With our spirit we can  confidently affirm who the Lord is in our present situation.  It is truth that sets us free.  Our circumstances are constantly changing, but He remains who He is at all times.

Romans 6:4 says, “…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”  The Amplified says, “…by the glorious (power) of the Father, so we too might (habitually) live and behave in newness of life.”

We have no past except in our thoughts.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”  The Amplified says, “…Behold, the fresh and new has come!”

Ephesians 4:23 Amplified says, “And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude).”

Each time we think of something in our past, we are renewing our mind.  If it is a negative thought, then we are digging a deeper rut.  Each time we meditate on God’s Word, we are renewing our mind.  Which is beneficial for your present?

One of the young men in our church wrote this poem.  I wanted to share it with you.  He has been going through the book of Hebrews.

Understanding is supernatural impartation of spiritual truths.  Meditating on God’s word opens our understanding.

1 Corinthians 2:10 Amplified says, “Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the (Holy) Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny).”

Revelational insight is beyond our natural ability.  It is Spirit communicating to spirit.  Our fleshly pride blocks true understanding.  It is given to the humble who cry out for it, knowing it is beyond them.  Proverbs 2:3 says to lift up our voice for understanding.  Verse 6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Encompass means: surround, enclose, encircle.  Let me review some delightful verses with you.  First off is Psalm 63:5.  The Amplified says, “My whole being shall be satisfied…”  With that in mind let’s look at some other verses.

Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.”  Deuteronomy 32:10 says that the Lord encircled Israel.  Psalm 91:4 says, “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge.”  Psalm 5:12 says, “For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.”  Psalm 32:10 says, “…he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.”  The Amplified uses the words compassed about with mercy and loving-kindness.  Psalm 139:5 says, “You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.”  The word hedged means enclosed.

Now let’s take all these verses together.  Say with me: I am encompassed, encircled, enclosed, and surrounded in God’s presence continually.

“Wait” is a word of direction for our heart to rest in God’s impeccable timing.  Psalm 5:3 says, “My voice You shall heart in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.”  The Amplified says, “…watch and wait (for You to speak to my heart).”

Isaiah 30:18 says that those who wait for the Lord are blessed.  That means that waiting bears fruit that glorifies the Lord.

Waiting is another way that the Lord gives us strength.  Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”  Isaiah 40:31 says that He strengthens those who wait on Him.

Psalm 62:5 reminds us that waiting is silencing our heart.  It says, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.”  To wait is the posture of trust.

Last night I was meditating on Psalm 40:4 and the phrase “and does not respect the proud.”  A proud person will give you their opinion from their flesh.  If they have unresolved issues hidden in their unconscious, the advise will be tainted from their own hurtful experiences.

A humble person, walking in the spirit and in grace, will impart to you the wisdom the Lord gave them in a similar situation.  They will speak truth from God’s word.  Why would we ask advise from a proud person that is being resisted by the Lord?  God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Psalm 1:1 says that the one who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly is blessed.

Yesterday morning I read Joshua 9.  Verse 14 says, “…but they did not ask counsel of the Lord.”  As a result, Joshua and the leaders were deceived.  Daniel 2:21 says, “…He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.”