Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 157

Day 157

Psalm 18:1

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.”

In Psalm 18:1, the declaration of David, the psalmist, was an intelligent one. He was not just saying he would love God who was his strength, and on whom he was taught to depend. He knew the Lord to be his strength by experience.

When we hear that we can rely on God to be our strength, we may call on Him in time of trouble, because of what we have heard about Him. When we experience Him as our strength, it makes a difference when we call on Him again. In Romans 5:4, Paul tells us that experience brings hope. Hope is an image we have, based on facts. When we are told something by someone credible, we consider it factual inf by someone credible, we consider it factual information. We can create an image, based on their words. Once we have had an experience for ourselves, that image becomes more vivid. Since faith is released because of hope, it is easier to release faith when our hope is stronger. Our hope can be stronger after personal experience.

The more we experience the Lord as our strength, the more we will be able to say what David said, “I will love you, O Lord, my strength.” Just like someone would say to another who has helped them tremendously, “I love you, my helper,” so we will say to God, “I love you, my Strength.” These are not just words. It is an emotional response out of gratitude for the relationship that has been so beneficial. The experience we have with God should increase our appreciation and love for Him.

I will release faith based upon the hope I have. My faith will produce experiences that will increase my hope. My increased hope will enable me to release my faith and have more experiences. Out of gratitude to God, I will express my love and appreciation for each and every experience we enjoy together. My love and appreciation for the Lord is increasing continually.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 156

Day 156

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.”

Jesus went through a lot to provide salvation for us. As I Peter 2:24 reveals, He took care of our sins and sickness on the cross. As we think back on Calvary, let us appreciate and appropriate all that was provided.

Our Savior set His face to go to Jerusalem one day. It took dedication, determination, and great love to finish the course of redeeming mankind. He was betrayed by a man he loved. Judas worked with Him for three years, during which time Jesus met all his needs. Then, for thirty pieces of silver, he betrayed his master. His other disciples fled, when He was arrested. Peter and John stayed close by to see what would become of Him. Then, Peter denied knowing Him, for fear of what it might cost him, if they found our he was one of the twelve who served Christ faithfully. Ashamed of what he had done, Peter wept bitterly, as he left the scene. John was the only disciple of the twelve who remained close by until the end to see what would become of the Son of God.

Jesus was dragged before unjust men and tried as a criminal in a court that was unfair. He was mocked, badly beaten and humiliated, as they spat on Him. Foreign soldiers beat His back 39 times with a whip, ripping open his flesh. A crown of thorns was placed on His head, and blood flowed all over His body. He was made to carry a cross up Golgotha’s hill. After He fell under the load of that cross, someone else had to carry the tree the rest of the way. Then, they nailed his hands and feet to the cross. The sinners He was dying to save helped carry out the sentence upon this just Man. He prayed for their forgiveness, as He prepared to breathe His last breath as a human being. Matthew 27:46 records his agonizing cry to His Father, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” For the first time, He experienced the horrible separation from God that He came to deliver man from. As Jesus took upon Himself the sin of the world, God had to turn away from His only begotten Son.

He spent three days and nights in Hell and took the punishment we would have received, so we would never have to experience it. Then. when justice was served and the price was paid fro our sin. He officially defeated the powers of darkness and loosed the Old Testament saints, who were waiting for Him in a place called “Abraham’s Bosom”. He was resurrected. He returned to Heaven and placed His blood on the mercy seat to begin a new era for humanity. The blood represents His successful venture to make a way for man to be free of Satan’s power and live eternally with God.

He took our sins, so we could have His righteousness. He bore our sicknesses and diseases, so we could enjoy health. When someone works hard to give us something, if we really want to make them feel like everything they went through was worth it, we would tell them how we used the gift and how much it helped. Let us express gratitude, as we receive and walk by faith in the benefits provided for us.

I receive what God has provided for me through Jesus Christ. By faith, I will walk in my salvation. I am free from sin and sickness and disease.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 155

Day 155

Ephesians 4:28

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

In Ephesians 4:28, Paul said the man who is a thief should not just stop stealing, but he should begin giving. Stealing comes from selfishness. Practicing giving will replace the selfishness and strengthen us against the temptation to steal again. When we are set free from one thing, we are delivered to something else. We move from stealing to giving, from being bound to setting others free, from hating to loving , and so on.

We are blessed to be a blessing. God wants us to receive, so we can have something to give. When we cease to function in our purpose for being delivered, we can backslide into the bondage we came from. Jesus said when an evil spirit leaves, if he comes and finds that his previous place has not been occupied, he will re-enter, bringing more wicked spirits with him. Refraining from doing bad things is not good enough. We must be constantly doing good.

Jesus taught us to forgive. He said prayer should be offered for those who mistreat us. When we forgive, we replace bitterness with love, as we bless those who curse us and pray for those who hurt us. If we do not do something positive to replace the wrong feelings that came to us when we were offended, it can prolong our healing from the pain. It can also make repeating the offense more likely. We do not have to jeopardize our safety to do something positive for an enemy. However, we must be careful to do something. If nothing else is appropriate, praying for that person will suffice. Then, we can be led by the Spirit of God, if there is anything else to be done.

When we were saved, we were delivered from selfishness. We gave up everything at that moment, as we surrendered our entire lives to Christ. Shortly after that, the temptation came again for us to selfishly run our lives. If we became regular church attendees at a place where the Word of God was taught, we most likely received help in replacing bad habits with good ones. If we began reading our Bibles and praying, that should have helped us. Satan will continue to test us to see how selfishly he can get us to live again. He will encourage us to look out for ourselves first and always try to have things our own way. If we are going to stay on top, we must not only refrain from evil, but we must also practice doing good.

Let us look around today and see what we have to give to someone in need. We can probably think of things we have has around for years, like clothing, furniture, etc., that we have planned to use, but somehow have never gotten around to it. These are things we have to give. Let us do it. If someday we were to decide we could have used the things we have away, we will be in a postilion to get them again. God gives seed to the will be in a position to get them again. God gives seed to the sower and multiples the seed sown. We will reap what we sow.

I will practice giving, I have received things to be able to give. I am blessed to be a blessing.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 154

Day 154

Psalm 103:1

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”

The psalmist David considered God to be so great, that he wanted to bless him with all he had. We may have sung the song, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” and thought of verbal praise to God. However, we can take it a step further and consider our actions on a daily basis as opportunities to bless the Lord with our lives.

Colossians 3:24 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men.” Our lives should bless the Lord, as we seek to honor Him in everything we do. The words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts should bless Him. Our actions should bless Him, as we do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

We can take it a step further by commanding our bodies to function properly as God designed them to. As we do our part to take care of our bodies, which are God’s temples, our limbs, organs, tissues and cells - all that is within us, should bless the Lord, by functioning in perfection.

As we speak, act and live healthy and whole as unto the Lord, we can bless Him with our souls and all that is within us. Let us start thinking more like this today, and may the song, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” take on new meaning for us and become more meaningful to God as we sing it.

I will bless the Lord with my soul and all that is within me today. I will speak and act in a way that will bless Him. I will command my body to function in a manner that will bless Him. I will bless the Lord.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 153

Day 153

Psalm 60:12

“Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.”

It is through God that we can do all things. Through God we overcome every obstacle, defeat every enemy and accomplish every impossible task. Paul said in Philippians 4:13 (JB Phillips translation), “I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me.” That is why we must develop a God consciousness. When we are constantly aware of God’s presence, we are invincible. As we set out to fulfill His will for our lives, He provides the tools necessary to accomplish every task.

The Psalmist said, “For it is he that shall tread down our enemies.” Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:9, “For we are laborers together with God.” This is not our show. We are performers in a drama written and directed by someone else. It is not up to us to provide the props or other necessary things or even to determine the outcome. We simply need to read our lines and follow the instructions of the director, who knows the end from the beginning. Our Father does not produce failures. We can only fail if we write our own lines and choose our own plan of action.

So, let us stay with God. It is through Him that we shall do valiantly. For as we labor with Him, He will tread down our enemies, as He goes before us and prepares the way for His plan to be accomplished.

I am a laborer with God. I will cooperate with His plan and follow the script He has written for me. Through my God, I shall do valiantly. It is He who will tread down my enemies. I see nothing but victory ahead.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 152

Day 152

Matthew 2:2

“Saying where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

Nearly 2,000 years ago, some men who studied the stars (possibly astronomers and astrologers) came to Jerusalem in search of a king they believed was there. They were led in their search by an unusual star in the east. We cannot be certain how far they came from, but we know they traveled for some time, because their journey began about two years before they arrived in Jerusalem. If they began following the star several months after it had appeared, they would still have been traveling for several months. According to Matthew’s account, these men were so confident they would find the young king, that they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and asked, “Where is he?”They did not ask if a king had been born. They asked where he was.

This story is a lesson to us about faith. To what extreme will, we go if we really believe what we say we believe? Because the seekers from the east were so confident, they left their homes and traveled for a long time to discover what they were sure they would find. People sometimes make sacrifices for things they are not sure of. Hope alone drives people to extremes.

How then, do we explain the faith of those who say they are convinced and make no effort to find or accomplish anything? The confident expectation of the woman with the abnormal bleeding condition caused her to ignore the rules of society and press through a crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Four men believed Jesus could raise up their friend. Their belief caused them to climb a roof and let him down through the tiling where the Master could get to him.

It is important that we realize the need to increase our faith, by hearing God’s Word and acting on it on a consistent basis. As James said, faith is demonstrated by works, not just words. When our faith is strong, we will not just talk about it, but we will also show it. Until we can “put our money where our mouths are,” let us be slow to speak around others about what we believe, and speak mostly to God and ourselves, as we build real faith.

I will measure my faith by my works . I will hear and act on God’s Word and build strong faith continually. My faith will be seen by my performance.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 151

Day 151

Proverbs 12:13

“The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips; but the just shall come out of trouble.”

Some of us, or maybe all of us, have had a particular spiritual test more than once. We have failed miserably in the way we handled it, and before too long, we got another chance to see how we would fare. Solomon said in Proverbs 12:13, “The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips.” It is not just because of his wickedness that a person gets into trouble, but his wickedness comes through his mouth and causes the trouble. If he would say the right things, he could save himself. The same is true for us, the righteous. The verse above states, “the just shall come out of trouble.” It is not only because he is just that he is delivered, but his righteousness comes from his lips and saves him. Either he speaks out of his faith toward God, or he calls on God for help.

In times past, we have been trapped in the same way the wicked have brought hurt to themselves - by wrong reactions to our trouble. We have uttered the wrong words. Our self control was overridden by our desire to serve our flesh for a moment. Our behavior exemplified that of someone who has no hope, or no God. Our test grade was “F” that time. If we are realistic, we know another opportunity will come to pass the same test again. So, we need to make preparations. We need to study and condition ourselves to prepare for success. We have what it takes. God will not allow us to experience a test that is too difficult for us to pass. However, He will not do our homework for us or guarantee our success, without our having to do our part.

As we study, let us meditate on how we should have responded. How would Jesus have responded? If we already knew the right response, we must question why the wrong reaction was manifested. If our flesh was dominating at the time, we need to restructure our time to feed our spirits more than our flesh. We may need to allocate more time to prayer, Bible study or declarations of God’s Word. Or, perhaps we only need to give one area in particular more attention. Whatever the case, may we be better prepared when the test comes around again.

I will fortify myself to be able to pass the tests I have failed. By the help of God, I will overcome and glorify my Lord by the manner in which I conduct myself.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 150

Day 150

Numbers 23:24

“Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion, he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.”

Look at how God not only declared victory for His people, but how he also bragged on them. Numbers 23:24 expresses the way God looks at us and expects us to act.

We must rise up with confidence like great lions. We must pick ourselves up on the inside, like young lions who do not intend to stop their fight until they have conquered. We should envision victory before we get started. Let us see the end from the beginning, realizing our victory before the fight begins. When we do this, we will not quit until we are finished - until we taste the victory.

I will not fight with “maybes” in my mind. I will win, and I will win big. I will not quit until I experience the victory paid for by God, my father. I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 149

Day 149

Numbers 23:23

“Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, What hath God wrought!”

During the time when Baalam was asked to curse Israel, the world was full of all kinds of idol worship. Witchcraft and other forms of the occult were common. When the king of Moab asked Baalam to curse the children of Israel, he did not understand that he had not only come against Israel, but also the Almighty God. There was no enchantment against God, who was on their side.

We must stay in fellowship with God and walk in confidence, free from fear of any contrary powers. Jesus said, “ All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” If God has all power, then there is none left for anyone else, including Satan. Any power that Satan or any human being has is null and void in the presence of God. If we ever think someone is attempting to harm us in any way, including using witchcraft, we should boldly declare our protection from all power that is not of God.

Isaiah 54:17 declares that the servants of God have victory over every weapon formed against them. It says they have the right to condemn every word spoken against them. Our enemy has already been conquered for us. We are responsible to enforce that defeat. Just like it happened with Israel, after all the enemy’s attempts, people will be able to look at us and say, “Look at what the Lord has done!”

“No evil can work against me. I am eternally victorious. I stand firm in my freedom from the powers of darkness. God is on my side, and others will look at me and say, “Look what the Lord has done!”

Come Up Higher, Vol. 1 | Day 148

Day 148

Numbers 23:22

“God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.”

Egypt, which was a type of the kingdom of darkness, was a place the Israelites were never to return to. Numbers 23:22 says, “God brought them out of Egypt.” Israel’s deliverance from their place of slavery was a very significant event. It is mentioned in this prophetic passage, because it represented the supreme, unmatchable power of the Almighty God.

We must meditate on our deliverance from the kingdom of darkness, until we appreciate just how dynamic an event it was. It was a demonstration of God’s sharing with us His power to overcome. He enabled us to defy all the power of our enemy and come through unharmed.

We must meditate on our deliverance from Satan’s kingdom, until we would never be foolish enough to return to it or even look back. By a mighty hand, God has brought us out. The power He gave us to leave the kingdom of darkness is the power we have to remain in the Kingdom of Light.

God brought me out of darkness into His marvelous light. I appreciate that. The power of the Holy Spirit that has brought me out will keep me strong and firmly planted in the Kingdom of Light.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 147

Day 147

Numbers 23:21

“ He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his god is with him, and the shout of a king is among them.”

By the time this prophecy was spoken, the children of Israel had provoked God to anger many times. It is amazing that He found no fault with them. What a merciful, gracious and forgiving God we serve! He removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. He remembers them no more.

Once Israel had repented and followed God's requirements to cover their sin, it was over. All they had was the blood of cattle and types of shadows of Jesus, yet God beheld them blameless. How much more, then, will He see us faultless who have been washed in the blood of His son! When we obey God and repent of our sins, we must accept God's forgiveness and restoration to right standing. As we see in Numbers 23:21, the way God sees us spiritually affects our victory. Because He did not find fault with Israel at that time, He was ready to fight for them, and there was no chance they would lose.

"The shout of a king," the verse said, "is among them." That meant victory in this case, because the context is war, and God was on their side. A king never shouts  meaninglessly. When a king shouts, there is either reason to celebrate, or something else is about to change. According to Revelation 1:6, Jesus has made us kings unto God. Since He is on our side, guaranteeing us victory, from time to time we ought to hear ourselves shout the victory.

Let us rejoice in our great salvation. Let us show gratitude and appreciation to our Heavenly Father, who has shown such great loving kindness and tender mercies toward us. Jude 24 and 25 says, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God and Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."

I will appreciate and be grateful to God for His great mercy and grace. I will celebrate the guaranteed victory He has given me and shout like a king.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 146

Day 146

Numbers 23:20

 "Behold, I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it."

God gave the commandment to bless, and then He performed the blessing. In his prophecy concerning Israel, Balaam spoke forth what God had done. There was  no way out of it. The Lord initiated it and then confirmed it. He  is determined to bless His people. The prophet said, "I cannot reverse it."

Once again, the scripture is clear about God's attitude toward His own. We are the only ones who can reverse our blessings, because we are the recipients. We can  receive  or reject them. We can cooperate with God and walk in what  He has provided, or we can rebel and hence, remove ourselves from the path of blessing.

One way we can reverse our blessing is  by attributing the work of Satan to God. When the enemy attacks and we receive it as punishment, God's teaching or working our ultimate good, we blaspheme against God and deny His blessing. When we resist the enemy, God's blessing produces victory over him. However, when we do not realize who our enemy is, we cannot resist him. Instead, we assist him.

No one, not even Satan, can reverse our blessing. Once God has blessed, it is final with Him. Our failure to receive it does not change anything from God's end. Knowing this can deliver us, because if we wake up to truth, we can reverse the curse we may have opened the door to in our lives. We can do this, because the blessing is still in effect. We can rise up, resist the devil, and he will flee from us. Then, with the words of our mouths, we can declare that we receive the blessings of God that belong to us.

I reverse the curse and receive t/re irreversible blessing God !,as pronounced on me.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 145

Day 145



Numbers 23:19

 "God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son  of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall  he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"

In Numbers 23, Balaam prophesied, as God directed him. As he spoke, he declared a difference between God and man. Man can lie, but God cannot. That is an extremely important fact.

Sometimes people, in an attempt to explain what they do not understand, blame everything on God. They may say God is sovereign and He has a purpose for everything. These people generally do not recognize the authority God gave man, or the activity of Satan. They also do not recognize God's integrity. Whether good or evil, pleasant or unpleasant,  the responsibility is usually placed on God for all of it.

We should be glad that God is sovereign. This means He is supreme in power and authority. We should also be glad He has given His Word and cannot lie. That is the only way we can know what is of God and what is not. He said in Psalm  89:34 that He will not alter what He has said. So we can trust Him.

If God was totally mysterious and we never knew what He was going to do, it would be difficult to know Him or trust Him. Trust is based on a knowledge of current facts. Thank God He does not change. The facts about Him are always current. What He said, He will do. What He spoke, He will make good. How comforting it is to be able to go to His Word in a time of need, knowing that it is always dependable. Our faith can grow exceedingly, as we meditate the Word with this understanding.

I will remind myself of God's integrity and build my faith with His Word daily.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 144

Day 144

Numbers 23:3

"And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt offering, and I will go: peradventure the Lord will come  to meet me: and whatsoever he sheweth me, I will tell thee ..."

One important lesson we must learn is that of strict obedience. Balaam said he would report precisely what he was shown. Because we do not understand all God tells us, we can always be tempted to alter the instructions we receive from Him. Sometimes our disobedience can be the result of pride or fear. We can also attempt to adjust what we have heard so  it will make sense to us. In whatever way the temptation may come to alter God's Word, we must resist it. If we were following  a recipe, assembly instructions, or directions to a particular location, one modification could cause a small problem, or it could mean disaster.

Let us think for a moment about the kind of relationship we would want to have with a person who, from time to time, without notice, alters our instructions. Although we may be merciful and patient, we would not look to give them an assignment of great importance. We would only try to use them on minor projects.

Strict obedience comes through spiritual growth and practice. We must dictate to our flesh and not vice versa. The next time God instructs us, let us remember  the words of Mary in John 2:5, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."

I will, with God's help, practice and walk in strict obedience to God's instructions. I am obedient.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 143

Day 143

Judges 6:17

 "And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me."

In Judges 6, Gideon communicated with an angel who came on God's behalf to inform him of a divine assignment. Gideon was not accustomed to hearing from God, and therefore needed a sign to help him believe. In that chapter, Gideon received three signs to reassure him that God had spoken to him and would help him with his assignment.

Like Gideon, all of us had to begin somewhere in our relationship with God. The less we knew Him, the more we needed signs. As we grow in our personal relationship with the Lord, we will need signs less frequently to perform His will.

Gideon said, "If now I have found grace." He was not sure of God's favor (His willingness to use His power on Gideon's behalf) towards him. Asking for signs and waiting for confirmations exposes our level of relationship. Regardless of where we are, we should strive to grow closer to God by spending more time with him, so our confidence can increase.

Paul said, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him." He also said, "That I may know Him." He had increased in knowing God, which increased his confidence, but he realized there was stiII room to grow.

God can use all of us. However, the more  our confidence in Him increases, the more useful we will be to the kingdom of God. We can be available to do more things on short notice when we do not need a sign for every instruction. We can go places others are afraid to go, because of our assurance that God's grace is with us.

I will draw closer to God and increase  my confidence in His favor toward me. I will need signs or confirmation less and less, as I know Him more and more.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 142

Day 142

Romans 8:12

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors? not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. "

It can be a relief to us if we comprehend what Paul is saying in Romans 8:12. It may come as a surprise to most Christians that we do not owe our flesh anything. The only thing we can be sure it has done for us is cause trouble. So, why do we struggle when our flesh is tempted to do wrong?

If someone who has been nothing but a "pain" asks us to do something out of order, we probably would not struggle over whether or not we will cooperate. If they beg and plead, we may not feel we owe it to them to respond affirmatively, especially when it will probably get us in trouble. So why do we struggle with, and sometimes give in to the flesh, when it will hurt us?

The struggle is mainly a result of misunderstanding. We are three-part beings. We are spirits that have souls and live in bodies. Our spirits are supposed to be in charge. We need our souls and bodies to function on our planet. They assist the spirit. Some people do not know the distinction between the  three parts. They have become confused at times about who is in charge and have responded without a clear understanding  of what they were doing. Others are aware of the difference, but have not allowed the Word of God to saturate their hearts and minds to a point of a clear separation. They have responded to the flesh out of habit before they were fully aware of their illogical behavior.

If we will strengthen our spirits and train our souls (mind, will and emotion) with the Word of God on a consistent basis, we will be better able to stand up to our flesh when temptation arises. Romans 8:12 helps us understand the attitude we should take when dealing with the flesh. With this attitude, we should speak aloud to our flesh and  "straighten  it out." The more we grow close to God and desire to please Him totally, the easier it will be to speak up to  the  flesh  and  say,  "It  doesn't matter to me how you feel or how bad  you  want  to  do  that.  I don't owe you anything. You serve me. I don't serve you.  I  am under authority, and I take orders from Heaven. You will  take orders from me! Now here's what we will do."

I do not owe my flesh anything. I will not serve it. It will serve me. We will glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 141

Day 141

John 15:14

"You are my friends if you do what I command"

Jesus wants us to be His friends. He said His friends are those who obey His commands. Since He gives commands, He must want us to obey them. Since He wants obedience, and obedience creates friendship, He must want friends.

Are we His friends? How intimate is our friendship? Are we casual friends, who are occasionally obedient or are we close friends who are always obedient? Can He always depend on us? It is up to us how deep our friendship will go. He has given us His commands in the Bible and continues to speak to us by His Spirit. We choose how much we want to obey.

Let us examine where we are and how far we want to go and behave ourselves accordingly. It is amazing how much more fulfilling our lives can be when we become consumed with  doing the Master's will. It will become impossible to be depressed and give up. Though it may present itself, we will not have enough idle time to allow depression to get a grip. We become people of purpose and destiny. Better than that, we become His friends.

 I will increase in my obedience to Christ. I will become a close friend of His.

Come Up Higher, Vol. 2 | Day 140

Day 140

Hebrews 4:16

"Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need. "

Hebrews 4:16 lets us know the kind of attitude we  should have when we approach God in a time of need. We should come expecting to obtain mercy and find grace to help  us. Our degree of hesitancy or confidence reveals the state of our relationship with God and the level of our faith in His Word.

Our goal is to come boldly. When we come boldly, we have confidence and are not afraid of being rebuked or denied. The verse said we should come boldly to obtain something. So, we must release faith. Faith is based upon a knowing. That knowing comes from an understanding  of the Word of God and a relationship with God that gives us confidence in His integrity.

We can monitor how we are growing in our relationship with the Father, as we see how bold we are before the throne of grace. Let us press toward the mark of knowing Him so well,  that it does not ever occur to us that we might not get what we need when we approach Him. Let us grow to the place where we go with excitement, knowing that He knows what our need is  and looks forward to meeting it. At that point, we will probably find ourselves bypassing asking and just thanking Him in advance, knowing that He takes pleasure in giving us what we need and more.

I will grow in my relationship with God, until I have such confidence in Him, that I approach Him boldly, thanking Him in advance for all I know He will do.

Come Up Higher, Vol.1 | Day 139

Day 139

Daniel 4:36,37 NIV

"At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisors and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. Ami those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

In Daniel 4, the story of King Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation is a reminder to us that our high estate can  be reduced to nothing in a moment, if we forget our source. The king was extremely proud of his accomplishments and boasted about them as though he, by his own might and intelligence, had brought about all his success. Daniel told him that for seven years, he would look and act like an animal, until he acknowledged that the Most High is sovereign over  the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.

Such humiliation was not necessary, except that it was the only way Nebuchadnezzar would recognize that he was nothing without God. He had to realize that God allowed his success and could end it at anytime. What a pity it would  be if we had to endure extreme humiliation as Christians because of not realizing who we are and who we are not, or what we do or do not control. After all, as children of God, we can boast of nothing outside of Christ. We are who we are in Him. We can do all things through Him. In Him we live and move and have our being.

Let us humble ourselves before God daily, especially when we are praised for "our" accomplishments. We have nothing of real value that we did not receive. There can  be no big fall, if we never climb a high wall.

I will daily humble myself before God. When others give me praise for the little things I do, I will return the praise to Him, because He is the source of my supply.

Come Up Higher, Vol.1 | Day 138

Day 138

Proverbs 3:8

"It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."

The book of Proverbs contains wise sayings for many areas of life. One of the areas covered is physical  health. Because we see this book as a spiritual book, we have not recognized the medical value in it. Many statements in this collection of wise sayings give us a connection between spiritual and physical well-being. • Proverbs 3:8 reveals the natural, physical effect verses one through seven have on our body.

The verses preceding the eighth verse in the  third chapter of Proverbs are not just for spiritual benefit.  They literally affect our physical well-being. Verses one and two encourage us to be faithful to God's Word and receive  long life as a result. We will live longer, with less stress,  if  we continually remember and keep the Word of God. The third and fourth verses tell  us the results of operating  in mercy and truth. If we live closely with mercy and truth, our lives would be less stressful, because we will be highly favored and esteemed by God and man.

Verses five and six advise us to put God first in our decision making. When we trust and are confident in God, leaning and relying fully on Him, instead of our own understanding, we will make better decisions. As we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will direct our steps. Again, we will relieve ourselves of stress, which has a negative affect on our physical health.

The seventh verse tells us not to think we are smarter than we really are. It admonishes us to reverently fear and worship the Lord. If we follow that advice, we will stay away from evil and experience positive results in our entire body.

Let us realize that spiritual things affect our physical health. Let us use that knowledge to motivate us to be more diligent to live reverently in respect to God and His Word.

I will increase my reverence for God and His Word. I will be healthier.