Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Eagles and Buzzards

Do you soar with the eagles or hover with the buzzards?

Eagles spend their time soaring and when they’re not, they’re solitary, off some where in a high place waiting. This reminds me of Psalm 91: "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty!"

Buzzards spend more time on the ground than they do in the heavens. In fact, buzzards like to live in places like garbage dumps. They hang around the side of the road waiting for an accident. A buzzard’s discernment is not that accurate but it is trained to smell death. And that is the only thing a buzzard is interested in. It is interested in death. It is interested in rotten flesh and it likes to feed on it. It thinks it’s found a prize when it finds something that’s dead. Buzzards rejoice when they find death and gossip and slander.

An eagle on the other hand will not eat anything dead. They focus on life. They see past the problem and see the potential that the Lord has hidden in people. We have to make a commitment to look for the good, to soar high with the eagles, and to stay away from the garbage dump where the buzzard lives.

The only thing it takes to see what’s wrong with someone is a critical mind and one working eye. Let's strive to look at each other through the loving eyes of God. Each person is more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows. Let's soar with the eagles!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Warfare Worship

Spiritual Weapons
(2 Corinthians 10:4) Let's remember some of the weapons that pertain to warfare worship:

Playing an instrument like David did (1 Samuel 16:23).

Psalms 144:1 says, "God has trained our hands for war and our fingers for battle." Singing praises silences the enemy (Psalms 8:2).

Shouting scatters the enemy (Joshua 6:20) and brings down the walls of strongholds like Jericho.

Clapping strikes the enemy (Psalms 47:1).

Dancing places the enemy under our feet (Malachi 4:3) and rhythm creates the tempo for God to beat the enemy through our praise (Isaiah 30:32).

Prophecy is the voice of the Lord that shatters the enemy (Isaiah 30:31).

The ultimate weapon is the presence of God which causes the enemy to melt like wax (Psalm 68:2).

Today's prayer: "God, I will sing praises to you and my enemies shall be silenced; I will shout loud praises to you, yes, and they shall scatter; I will clap my hands and dance before my God, placing the enemy under my feet; and I shall seek your presence, which will cause them to melt like wax. For you alone are God and you are the one I praise."

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Weapons of War

As long as we're doing what God wants us to do we're going to continue being attacked, but "when the enemy comes in like a flood the Lord will raise a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19)

John Wesley's Explanatory Note on this scripture: "When" - At what time soever the devil, or his instruments shall make violent irruptions upon the church. "A standard" - God shall make known himself to take their part and defend them, by his spirit alone.

Today's prayer: God, it seems like the enemy is coming in like a flood. Therefore, I KNOW that you will raise a standard against him. Thank you for the promises in your WORD. I cling to them; I cling to You; I will not be defeated. Amen.