Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 111

Day 111

Deuteronomy 7:2

 “And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:”

In the Old Testament times, the enemies of the Israelites were people who served idol gods. When they arrived at the promised land, the people of God were assigned to destroy the heathen there, who would seek to turn them away from the true God. They were not permitted to make deals with them, or show mercy to them.

Today, under the New Covenant, we are not fighting flesh and blood, but our attitude against our spiritual enemies should be the same. We have been given the privilege of occupying a spiritual promised land. To do so, we must annihilate the enemies that would hinder us from entering in and taking full possession of what Jesus paid for us to  have. God said He has provided us with health, peace, prosperity and victory over sin. Jesus came that we might have abundant  life. He was bruised for our transgressions and sicknesses, and he  paid the price for our peace.

As we possess our promised land, let us not make deals with the enemy or show mercy towards him. May we press on, accepting nothing short of what has been guaranteed us. At times, it may have been tempting for the Israelites to make deals with their enemies, rather than to fight. However, God warned them that it would hurt them to do other than what they were told.

An examination of the church's attitude toward sickness will serve as an example of how our attitude towards  our enemies will make a difference in the quality of our lives. When we look at the record of the New Testament church in its early stages, we see an intolerance for sickness. The apostle  James told the church to call upon the elders if there were any sick among them. Over the years, sickness began to be tolerated among believers. It was no longer treated as an enemy. In some cases, it was even proclaimed to be a gift from God. (What an insult!) Now, we suffer with widespread doubt and unbelief in the church. Many are ill and unable to give what God has designed for them to contribute. Elders in James'  day were told to pray the prayer of faith that would cause a healing to come to the sick. Today, elders pray the prayer of doubt that helps many sick get worse, or even die. Satan has kept health and life from many people, because they have made deals with him or shown mercy on their spiritual enemies.

Let God arise and His enemies be scattered! He will arise and perform on our behalf, when we arise and determine not to tolerate the enemy any longer.

I will examine my attitude toward the enemies I encounter in my life, as well as in the lives of others. I declare stepped up warfare against the enemies in my promised land. I have no mercy for my spiritual enemies, and I am  not interested in making any deals with them.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 110

Day 110

Psalm 27:1

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Since God is our Creator, it is obvious that we owe all honor and praise to Him for all we are able to do  naturally. When the psalmist, David, said the Lord was his light and salvation and the strength of his life, he was recognizing God as his source for more than just natural things. He was declaring his acceptance of God as a personal Savior. That enabled David to receive supernatural help. He experienced strength he would not have had within the boundaries of human limitations.

A songwriter wrote that the blood (referring to the blood of Jesus) that gives strength on a daily basis would never  lose  its power. He was alluding to a source of strength that surpasses human ability.

Jesus referred to Himself as a vine, and to us  as  branches that draw life from the vine. He cautioned us that we must stay connected to Him to avoid becoming useless. There is a supernatural source of power available to us, but only if we choose to benefit from it.

Let us choose to draw strength from God today. Like David, may we, from our hearts, declare the Lord to be the strength of our lives. As we declare it, let us realize that we need to stay connected to Him to be able to go beyond our natural abilities. He will help us do what we cannot  do without  Him, and we will glorify Him for it.

The Lord is the strength of my life. I remain connected to Him, thereby drawing life from Him. I will glorify Him for all I can do, because of His life flowing in and through me.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 109

Day 109

I Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

God gives us the victory, so we should not feel we must earn ig. We were unable to obtain it for ourselves. Our heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son to suffer and die, descend into Hell, and be raised from the dead for us.

Colossians 2:14 tells us the evidence of our guilt and unworthiness was nailed to the cross, where Jesus died. That freed us from doom. The forces of darkness would have kept us bound, but verse 15 reveals that Jesus triumphed over them. God did not need to fight them for His sake. Darkness was never a threat to Him. It was done for us. Jesus became a man and represented us in the battle of the ages. He won! Therefore, we win!

Let us lift our hearts, our heads and our voices today and declare our victory boldly and proudly. We cannot brag on ourselves, but we are certainly proud of our Savior. What a privilege to be children of the Most High God. May we accept our victory with an attitude of gratitude. First, we must act as though we believe God. Then, we must let our dedication to Him demonstrate appreciation.

I believe God has given me victory. I will conduct myself accordingly. I will demonstrate my appreciation through my dedication to Him.

Come Up Higher. Vol. 2 | Day 108

Day 108

Jeremiah 23:16

 “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not our of the mouth of the Lord.”

Jeremiah proclaimed to the nation of Israel that the prophets they were listening to had not heard from God. He said they were false prophets, declaring their own visions. They had not spent time with God. From their own minds came visions  that would tickle the ears of listeners.

An important observation here is that the prophets had not spent time with God. All of us have creative minds given us by our Creator. Whether men are saved or lost,  their  minds affect the quality of life they will enjoy, as their ideas are transformed into goods and services. Since we all have  the ability to get visions from our imaginations, as Christians we must spend time with God to be certain our visions do not conflict with His. (The word "vision" refers to our goals and plans, not just dreams or apparitions.)

Our own dreams and plans may be exciting and motivating. However, spending time with God can save us time and money. It can spare us disappointment and frustration. It is good for us to see clearly from the natural perspective, but as people of God, we have an advantage we should use. We can see from God's perspective and adjust our plans accordingly. A songwriter wrote that we forfeit peace, and bear needless pains when we do not carry everything to God in prayer. If we do not take advantage of the counsel available to us, we deserve all the trouble we encounter.

Let us submit our plans for approval. Perhaps the plans were put in our hearts by God. That does not excuse us from checking with Him on our strategy. Our walk with God should  be one of consistent fellowship. His complete plans for our lives are often revealed line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little.

I will stay in constant fellowship with God. He will give me visions for my life and ministry. I will receive both  the vision and the strategy to flow with it step by step.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 107

Day 107

Genesis 1:1

 "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

It is of no small significance that the Bible tells us of the preeminence of God. If anything began before Him, then our search would not begin or end with Him. However, knowing that nothing came into existence without Him enables  us  to recognize where our total source is. For some reason, we often seem to forget this simple fact. Perhaps, we forget to acknowledge His proper position because we do not see  Him with our physical eyes. That is why the Bible teaches us to walk by faith and not by sight.

Genesis 1:1 is not regarded as a particularly outstanding scripture that affects our daily living. However, when we grasp the impact of this verse, we may reconsider how often we should meditate on it. If we owned a product and needed help understanding how it worked, we might ask someone we thought was knowledgeable about it. If, while consulting that person, the maker of the product walked in, the attention of everyone would probably go immediately to him. Who would know better how something operates than the one who made it?

If we were attempting to get more understanding about an incident to help us know how to respond properly, we would look for people who were there when it happened. It would probably help us if someone, who had insight into why it happened, could be found.

How much more would we seek God for help, if we  were aware that He were the creator of everything, and that He was here before anything existed? He has insight into the reason for every incident that occurs on earth.

We forget sometimes that God has the answer to everything. Sometimes, we simply forget He is present. Let us celebrate both His preeminence and His presence today. It will help life go easier. We will turn to Him first and not as a last resort, when we finally remember who He is and where He is.

I will celebrate the preeminence of God and His presence. As a result, I will more easily overcome life's challenges.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 106

Day 106

Acts 13:3 Amplified Version

 "Then after fasting and praying, they put their hands on them and sent them away."

Sometimes, a mission we are about to embark on can stretch our faith beyond the limits we have already experienced. According to Acts 13, the ministers who heard from God about Paul and Barnabas' ministry saw fit to fast before they sent them away. The church was still fairly young, and the trail Paul and Barnabas would be blazing was new. As Jesus pointed out in Matthew 27, fasting sometimes helps rid us of unbelief. As a result, our faith is strengthened.

Paul was about to face hostile Jews, who were rebellious against the message that Jesus was the Messiah. He would meet Gentiles, who were profiting from the worship of idol gods and would not sit quietly while their customers turned to the true God. Then, there were the intellectuals, who would scoff at the idea of someone being raised from the dead. Most of all, there was the unknown, which could always have brought fear.

Denying the flesh and concentrating on spiritual things through fasting and prayer always strengthens the spirit and allows faith to increase. Paul and Barnabas, along with the other ministers at Antioch, were very wise to fast and pray before launching their challenging ministry. May we humbly see and follow their example, as we are lead by the Spirit of God. We must know, however, that we are fasting to prepare  ourselves and not to guarantee successful ministry. Successful ministry is guaranteed by obedience to God and by faith.

I will fast and pray to prepare  myself  for  ministry. I will fast and pray to get rid of unbelief and to strengthen my faith.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 105

Day 105

Acts 13:2 Amplified Version

"While they were worshiping the Lord  and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate now for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

While prophets and teachers were fasting and worshiping God in Antioch, they heard from God. The Holy Spirit revealed to them God's wisdom about a certain part of the apostolic ministry. Paul and Barnabas, who subsequently  went on a successful missionary journey, were set apart for team ministry at that time.

It seems absurd to think of putting a bank card in a cash machine and going through the proper procedures, but not knowing cash is coming out. Although the money would come out in that instance, we could  leave the machine empty  handed. It is important that we know what to expect when  we practice  the Word of God. We can obtain this knowledge by reading in  the Bible about those who served God.

In Acts 13, we see that the results of fasting and ministering to the Lord produced wisdom and direction. When  we set aside time to fast and minister to the Lord, we should not walk away without looking for results. Sometimes, our failure to receive may not have been a lack of response on God's part. It could have been our lack of expectancy. We may have walked away after doing our part, instead of looking and waiting for God's response.

I will expect and wait for God's response to  my ministry to Him. He always responds. I must always anticipate His response.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 104

Day 104

Ezra 8:21 Amplified Version

 "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Altava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a straight and right way for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. "

King Cyrus of Persia had received a command from God to build the temple at Jerusalem. Once construction got underway, enemies began to interfere. Ezra, an Israelite priest, was coordinating the efforts to complete the project. There was danger along the route they had to travel, but Ezra was ashamed to request protection from the king. He had bragged to the king about God giving favor to all who seek Him.

Before they left for Jerusalem to take items they needed to complete the temple, Ezra proclaimed a fast. They were seeking God's direction.

Fasting allows us to quiet our bodies and tune in to the Spirit of God. To get the full benefit, we must not only abstain from food, but we must also seek God during the time we would normally be eating. It is important for us to realize that our helter-skelter behavior in times of crisis is not due to God hiding direction from us. We race about, because we do not take time to receive His guidance. Sometimes, receiving the insight we need requires more than just a few minutes of prayer and quietness before God. Fasting and dedicating our meal time to  seeking God can make a tremendous difference in our ability to receive from Him. Jesus once told His disciples fasting could eliminate unbelief that would hinder mighty works of God from being performed through them.

We should be ashamed to fall desperately before the ungodly for help, when we have boasted about how great our God is. Surely, all we have said about God is true. So, let us seek His face for guidance as to how He plans for us to accomplish the tasks He has set before us. God is not haphazard. If  He orders an ark to be built, the package always comes with specific instructions.

I will seek God for direction to accomplish the tasks set before me. When necessary, I will fast and pray, and God will give me revelation.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 103

Day 103

James 5:14

"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:"

It is interesting to note that James asked, "Is there any sick among you?" It sounds like sickness among the Body of Christ was not acceptable to them. James gave instructions to the church on how to get the sick back to health.

The leaders of the church in its early stages were intolerant of sickness and disease. There is no record of anyone giving God glory by remaining sick. James 5:15 said the elders' prayer of faith would save the sick, and the Lord would restore him. Although doctors and medicine were available during that time, that was not where the Christians were told to look for  their deliverance. No one condemned the medical profession or gave any commands to shun physicians. Christians simply assumed that God was the source of their help. They also assumed that healing would always be the result.

James was very bold in his statement in verse 15 about the Lord raising up the sick. He used no "ifs" or "buts." Very matter-of-factly, he said God would raise them up. What is our attitude about sickness and disease? Do we tolerate it as just a normal part of life? Is seeking God's help a last resort?

Let us catch the spirit of James, relative to healing. If disease attacks our bodies, let us treat the occurrence as  an illegal invasion. We must not flow with it, but resist it.  If we need assistance, let us call for spiritual  help first. May we  look to God always and expect total victory, whether we use  a doctor's help or not.

I will be intolerant of sickness and disease. If it comes my way, I will look to God as the source of my healing and health.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 102

Day 102

I Peter 2:24

 "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

Should we feel trapped by sin, as though we are powerless against it? What an insult it would be to the sacrifice Jesus made for us, for a child of God to accept defeat by sin. Jesus bore our sins in His body at Calvary, so we could be liberated from the power of darkness. We are also delivered from sickness and disease, because He took all of it upon Himself. Because of the stripes he bore, we are delivered from sin and sickness.

We must declare our victory over all the works of darkness. The songwriter wrote that we are signifying the Lord's death until He comes. When we do this, we should be reminding ourselves of what He took for us, so we can be free.

I declare victory over sin, sickness and disease. Because of what Jesus did for me, I am free.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 101

Day l0l

Psalm 21:7

"For_ the king trusteth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved"

David went through many challenges in his life. He had some tremendous victories. He also made some very foolish and costly mistakes. David's failures were enough  to cause anyone  to become completely discouraged with himself and doubtful about having a healthy relationship with God again. However, David believed in God's mercy. After honest repentance, he received that mercy and lived to be an old man--his relationship with God still intact.

Most of us have not messed up "big time" as David did, measuring by human standards. Yet, in whatever ways we have fallen short, we are often tempted to feel permanently defeated. We will probably continue being Christians, but our zeal and excitement may have diminished in some aspects of our lives. Subconsciously, we may begin to relate to circumstances based on our shortcomings. Now, some things are obvious connections to our past. However, unless the Holy Spirit shows us this connection, it is not our business to guess or assume. On the  other hand, if He does show us, then, God's grace will help us through these things and make it easier for us.

Let us remember that we cannot punish ourselves without insulting the blood of Jesus. Even in the things we suffer for obvious reasons, we are to respect the blood and expect God's grace to create good from our negative circumstances. We must always, like David, trust in the Lord and rely on His mercy. It is  a gift, not an earned reward. Then, we too, will not be moved. May we be inspired to go full steam ahead, having put away every self-created weight, as we endeavor to avoid vain imaginations that rob God of the pleasure of making us all  we can be.

I will trust in and rely confidently on the Lord, knowing that through His mercy and steadfast love, I will remain firmly planted in Him. I will forget the past and let  every  day be a new day of adventure with Him, not assuming anything is a hindrance, unless He has revealed such to me. Even with obvious hindrances created by my own doings, I  will  expect His grace to assist me. Regardless  of the mistakes  of the past or shortcomings of the present, I will rely on God's love for me and His divine ability to make me all I can be. I  am going for the gold!

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 100

Day 100

Romans 8:1

 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

In Romans Chapter 7, Paul described the spiritual warfare he experienced. He would do wrong when he really wanted to do right. In verse 24, he asked who could deliver him from his wretched condition. Then, in the next verse, he declared that victory comes through Jesus Christ. This preface must be read to understand Romans 8:1.

The "therefore" in Romans 8:1 is there,  because  of Romans 7:25. There is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, because Christ gives us the victory in the war against  sin. Romans 8:2 says the law of the Spirit of life, under which we now operate, has freed us from the law of sin and death. We are never unable to resist sin. Sin is what produces death.

Paul encouraged the Roman Christians to see themselves as those who walk after the spirit and not the flesh. We have complete victory over sin, but we must still exercise our wills-­ our choices to walk in what is ours.

There is no condemnation to us who are in Christ. There is no need to beat ourselves over the head for sins and failures, as though we are helpless. If we fall, we must face the fact that we do so, because we choose to walk after the flesh - not  because  we could not help it. So, we should just repent and get back to walking in the spirit. That does not mean we should take sin lightly. We should be truly sorry and have honest repentance. However, it does not profit us to permit  condemnation,  since that would be participating with Satan, instead of God.

God does not wink at sin, but he does not want us to magnify failure. When we are sincere, He is ready to forgive, cleanse and lift us. Our Father wants to restore us and take us higher in Him, where we fail less and less, and please Him more and more. Our enemy, Satan, on the other hand, wants to condemn us and discourage us, so we will feel unworthy to serve God. He would like to discourage us until we fall lower and lower and please God less and less.

Let us open our eyes, then, and see the forces on both sides. Let us choose God's side. As long as our Lord reaches out to us, let us disappoint the devil and respond pleasingly to Our Father, who loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die in our stead.

I wilt turn away from the road to condemnation and follow the road to restoration. With God's help, I will live higher above sin every day.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 99

Day 99

Malachi 3:6 NIV

"I the Lord do not change. So you, 0 descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed."

God's patience is remarkable. His endurance and mercy are beyond description. He keeps His Word, even when  we fail to do our part. In Malachi 3:6, it looked like God had run out of every reason, except for His integrity, to refrain from destroying Israel. Yet, He still loved them.

The goodness of God should lead us to  repentance. When we consider how merciful He has been to us, despite our unfaithfulness, we should fall down and worship Him. There is none like our Father. He is rich in mercy and loving kindness, and His love for us cannot be matched. What we see in God should make us do all we can to serve Him faithfully and bless Him continually.

Let us look at the Father today and be changed. Let us cancel our plans to do wrong today, no matter what may tempt us. Whoever we may have planned to retaliate against, let us forgive, release and bless them in the name of the Lord. If we would give away all the mercy we receive, we would never punish anyone ever again.

I will examine myself today. If I need to repent for past sins or unfaithfulness, I will. If I need to  repent  for  things I am tempted to do today, with God's help I will. I will live this day, mindful of the mercy of God toward me, so I can show more love toward my fellow man.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 98

Day 98

Hebrews 11:27

"By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible."

Moses was able to deal with Pharaoh fearlessly. He left Egypt with sufficient courage to make it all the way to the promised land. The only reason he could endure the things he faced, from the beginning to the end, was he was able to see something beyond the natural realm.

The author of Hebrews said Moses saw Him who was invisible. When there is no natural reason to go on, only the assurance that we have supernatural help enables us to press forward. Endurance is produced by focusing on a goal, believing we can make it all the way.

We must first, however, have a goal - a purpose. As Christians, the most important goal for us is completing our divine assignment. We should want our lives to count. The love of God in us should make us reach out with a desire to help as many people as we can.

Secondly, we must know we have the strength to make it. Paul once thought God had to deliver him from the assignment Satan had brought against him. He was bothered over and over again, no matter where he went. After a while, he felt as though he could not take any more. Then, the Lord informed him of the power of grace that was his. His concern was over. He happily moved forward, realizing he had what he needed to win and defeat every attack of the devil. He acknowledged that when he had run out of his own ability, the power of Christ would rest upon him. Not only was that comforting to Paul, but it was thrilling. He boasted about his own inability, so he could experience the power of Christ upon him.

Let us focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Let us follow His example. He concentrated on  the  reward before Him, to produce the endurance he needed to  reach  the end of the race.

I will focus on the Lord, who is the source of  my strength. I will endure to the end, knowing that a reward awaits me, if I go all the way.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 97

Day 97

Ephesians 6:17

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God."

The soldier's helmet is the piece of armor that protects his head. The skull is the part of the head which covers the brain. The brain sends messages to the entire body and gives instructions on how to function. If something goes wrong with the brain, the whole body becomes dysfunctional. Thinking processes become confused, and our effectiveness as a part of society is reduced or eliminated.

The spiritual armor of salvation protects our brains from improper spiritual thinking. If we do not see ourselves in light of the great salvation, which has been provided for us, our thinking processes become confused. Our effectiveness as a part of the army of God is reduced or eliminated. Through salvation, we have been made the righteousness of God. That means we have a right to stand before God as if we have never sinned. We can go boldly before the throne of grace to receive mercy and help in times of need. If we sin, we can be cleansed immediately, as we confess our sin with sincere regret. Without this consciousness, we rob ourselves of fellowship with the Father. We  bear needless pains and burdens, because we misunderstand our relationship with God.

Our salvation has provided physical and material prosperity. We do not need to be sick or poor. Without this enlightenment, we will accept sickness and lack, which make us unable to fulfill the plan of God for our lives in the best way possible. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and he needs us healthy, so we can be used by God more effectively. It costs money to accomplish the things we are assigned to do. If we do not understand that God supplies our needs, we will accept lack and not progress as we should.

Our salvation has provided emotional health. Jesus  gave us His peace. Without this knowledge, we will accept confusion and depression. Like many around us, we will say things like, "This is driving me crazy." The peace of God enables us to stay calm, when it would otherwise be impossible. When we stay calm, we remain under control. When we are under control, we can make better decisions. When we make better decisions, we become more of an asset to the Kingdom of God.

Let us study all that is included in our salvation, and put our helmets on snugly. God wants us to be effective, and we owe it to Him to give our best.

I will be aware of my salvation and what is included in it. I will be an asset to the Kingdom of God.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 96

Day 96

Ephesians 1:18

"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened: that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,"

Paul told the church at Ephesus that he prayed for their spiritual understanding, so they would know the hope they had been called to and the riches of the glorious inheritance  Jesus had in the saints. We do not have to understand everything we  act on, but understanding does help us. Sometimes,  understanding will determine whether or not we act properly. Lack of understanding can cause us not to respond when we should. It can also cause us to do the wrong things. Understanding is valuable.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:19 that when a person hears the Word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the devil snatches away the Word that was sown in his heart. On the other hand, He said in the 23rd verse that the one who understands the Word will bear fruit.

Reading can help us gather knowledge. Meditation and study, combined with prayer, will produce understanding of the knowledge we obtain. Knowledge alone is not very helpful. Furthermore, it can be harmful without understanding and wisdom.

Let us seek to increase in knowledge and understanding. This means we should not hurriedly gather information in quantity only. We should take more time to get understanding of what we learn.

I will pray before and while I study and mediate God's Word. I will increase in knowledge and understanding and be fruitful.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 95

Day 95

Psalm 119: 98-99

"Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation."

The psalmist claimed that meditating God's Word increased his wisdom and understanding. He was wiser than his enemies and had more understanding than his teachers. He did nothing difficult to accomplish that. However, he had to be diligent.

We can increase our wisdom to whatever degree  we desire. It depends on how much effort we are willing to  put forth. Our understanding can grow if we are not lazy. Sometimes our understanding of one thing depends on our having clarity in another area. Like the psalmist, if we love wisdom, we must make meditating and studying God's Word a priority.

Let us ingest the Word at least as many times in a day as we ingest physical food. We make sure we eat to keep  our bodies healthy and strong. That is a priority for us. We should consider our spiritual health and strength no less important. As a matter of fact, we need to keep in mind that good spiritual health and strength will positively affect our physical well-being.

I will give attention to the Word of God daily, at least as many times as I feed my body. I will be healthy  and  strong, both spiritually and physically.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 94

Day 94

James 3:13 NIV

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom.”

As we examine ourselves to see how much wisdom we are walking in, it is good to remember that wisdom and humility are inseparable. It is totally unwise to walk in pride. It is possible to begin operating in godly wisdom and slip into earthly wisdom, when we begin to experience positive results. We can be so mindful of our need for God’s help before we see success. Then as things start to go well, we can begin to lean on our own understanding. So, walking in the wisdom from above is not a one-time decision that permanently determines our state of affairs. A quality decision to walk in true wisdom is important. However, we must constantly monitor our behavior and motives to stay on the right road.

We should review our course every day and, if necessary, repent from walking in devilish or sensual wisdom. No effort needs to be made to flow with the spirit of the world, because it permeates the air around us. If we are going to walk in the spirit, we must make a conscientious effort to do so. We must depend on God, not our own strength, as we press toward our goal.

I walk in humility daily, as I continue to operate in godly wisdom. With God's help, I will remain on the right path.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 93

Day 93

James 3:17 NIV

"But the wisdom tltat comes from Heaven is first of all pure; tlten peace-loving, considerate, submissive,ful/ of mercy and goo,I fruit; impartial and sincere."

We already know the wisdom of God will not contradict the Word of God. There are also ways we can test the source of wisdom we believe we have' received. James gives us eight points to consider. Let us put them in question form.

Is it pure? This question will be settled to a great degree by measuring it through God's Word.

Does it produce peace? As much as possible, we should choose the direction that will produce a peaceful outcome. The Bible instructs us to do our best to live peaceably with everyone. Everything that is pure will not necessarily promote peace.

Will we be submissive when we do it? God respects order. If we do things that prove we are rebellious to those in authority, we have not operated in God's wisdom.

ls it full of mercy? We do not need to do everything we have a right to do. It is God's wisdom for us to show mercy. That does not necessarily mean we should allow someone to get away with wrongdoing. It does mean, however, that we should not go to the extent we could rightfully go to. This is wise, because we need very much to sow seeds in our areas of need. We all need mercy.

Does it produce good fruit? A tree is known by its fruit. We can determine the wisdom of our actions by the long-term results. Is it impartial? We mujst be fair, because God is fair. That does not mean we should treat everyone the same. It just means our treatment should shold not vary for selfish reasons. In other words, we should not give special treatment for personal gain.

Is it sincere? Are we performing to give people a false impression of us? If we are trying to win favor by living two lives, we are certainly not representing God. He does not alter His standards for anyone. Nobody wants clean food on a dirty plate. Most people want to be ministered to by those who do what they do from their hearts.

If we would use this checklist to examine our decisions, it can save us from many blunders. We can become more and more like Jesus, if we practice operating in heavenly wisdom.

My actions will be pure, peaceable, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial and sincere. They will produce good, long-term results.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 92

Day 92

I Corinthians 3:129 NIV

“ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness.”

We must always remember that God sees and knows far more than we do. No matter how much experience we have had or how much insight we have gained on a subject, there is One who understands better.

Men do extensive research and come up with answers. They perform scientific testing and come up with solutions. Nevertheless, they continue to change their minds, as new evidence which contradicts previous discoveries is found. Something is revealed to alter what they thought were conclusive findings.

It is most disgusting to see humans come up with “answers” that contradict God’s Word. That is the ultimate stupidity. In any event, God is not moved by man’s feeble attempt to show how smart or self-*sufficient he is. He continues to baffle their minds, often using less educated, less skilled people who trust and rely on Him for insight. He shows what they consider foolish advice to be superior to their diligent studies.

If you want to stay ahead in life and receive the best advice, we must not rely solely on man’s wisdom. God can use something foolish to humiliate those who act as though they do no not need him. God’s wisdom does not always make sense to the carnal mind, but it will always be the best advice, if we want to guarantee success.

To stay ahead, let us seek God’s face continually. We can avoid blunders and humiliation by submitting our intelligence to the source of all true wisdom.

I will seek God’s face continually. I will receive and act on the wisdom. He shares with me and continue to succeed in life.