Craig's Living H2O

July 31st - "Too Busy"

"This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."   Isaiah 30:15

When we are too busy to daily pray, read, and meditate upon the Scriptures, we are too busy. We are really saying to God, "Hey, I know I should, but I have to too many other things I need to take care of." In reality, our dependence is not upon God , but upon our own strengths and our own abilities. When you are this busy, you are spending time that is not really yours to spend; it really belongs to Him. Father will let this go on for a while, but He will let it all come crashing down on you if you don't heed His promptings and warnings. God wants to speak this Word to His Church today: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Heed the Word of the Lord today. Don't force God's merciful judgment to fall upon you as it did on Israel in this passage.

July 30th - "The Watchers"

"This sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will and sets over it the lowliest of men."   Daniel 4:17

The angels of the Lord are watching over the affairs of men, and as incredible as that is; this passage records that these "watchers" were doing more than just actively watching. A decision was reached, a decree was proclaimed, and a sentence was carried out - all by these angelic beings. Today, we remain for the most part so unaware of angelic activity and of the spiritual world that is active all around us. Most live such carnal lives that heavenly matters escape their consciousness. They are simply too busy to hear from God, even in the most elementary ways of daily prayer and Bible reading. They never fast or spend any length of time in dedicated times of prayer. Consequently, they rarely, if ever, tap into such heavenly things as visions, dreams, prophetic insights, angelic visits, etc. Because of this, many arrive at the conclusion that, "If these things are real, they are not for today." Such conclusions don't make these things any less real or true. The Apostle Paul instructed us to, "Follow me as I follow Christ." So let's do it. Let's strive to follow the Apostle Paul's example when he states: "I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord." (2 Corinthians 12:1b) Here, Paul, a man who had already received so much revelation from the Lord, makes it clear, "I am going on to more!" Make this your own determination, to become more aware and involved in spiritual warfare.

"And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven..."  Daniel 4:23a

July 29th - "The Greatest Teacher"

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.'"   Isaiah 48:17

"Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'In those days ten men from all nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"   Zechariah 8:23

God is with and for us! He has already declared His favor and companionship over us. The follower of Christ can rest assured that no matter what trial may come their way, God is with them as a personal instructor; teaching them how to "profit and to know the way they should go." These are awesome promises for us today. Life can be quite the maze, leaving us at a loss as to what to do or where to turn next? But God has promised to lead us into a blessed future. Quiet your soul before Him and listen for His instructions. He is the Creator God full of creative solutions to your problems. Listen and obey.

"Do not My Words do good to the one walking uprightly."   Micah 2:7

July 28th - "Refreshing Showers"

"Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”   Hosea 6:3

What a wonderful Scripture for us to go on today! What a glorious truth! As I press to "know Him," He will reveal Himself and make Himself known to me. "He will respond to us." And just how confident can I be about this? "He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”  As surely as the arrival of the dawn He will respond to us! Oh hallelujah! He will come and meet with us as we press to know Him!

July 27th - "Full of Joy"

Jesus clearly told us His aim in John 15:11, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.”

 

The problem with people, according to Jesus, is not that we are too happy for God’s taste, but that we are not happy enough.

 

“To miss out on joy is to miss out on the reason for your existence.”  Lewis Smedes

 

“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” C. S. Lewis

July 26th - "Our Priestly Duty"

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."   1 Peter 2:9

This is a description of every child of God who has been truly born again of God's Spirit. We have been made priests to God, "that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." This is to be our job and passion now. When you are truly born again the words coming out of your mouth begin to change. You begin to talk differently and about different things. I am not referring to some kind of new religious jargon, where we suddenly sound like a DJ for God; but our conversations do change. The Prophet Malachi accurately describes for us what these changes looks like:
"For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, and from his mouth men should seek instruction—because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty."   Malachi 2:7

Does this accurately describe your life? If not, you must sit at the Master's feet more. We can give life-giving words to others, when we simply speak what we have heard Him say. Jesus said He only spoke what He heard the Father say. The more we sit at His feet, the more we will have to give, and the more we will fulfill our priestly duty.

July 25th - "Wrestling With God"

"Yes, he wrestled with the angel and prevailed; He wept and sought His favor. He found Him at Bethel and there He spoke with us, even the LORD, the God of hosts, the LORD is His name. Therefore, return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually."   Hosea 12:4-6

Amazingly, Jacob wrestled with an angel and prevailed. Jacob would not be denied, even with a dislocated hip . Hosea records this event for us with greater detail, "He (Jacob) wept and sought His favor." This is what wrestling in prayer looks like - there are tears and tenacious travail. It is a wrestling match with God. Hosea then says, "Therefore," or because you know this, you do the same. "Therefore, return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually." Do you get in the ring? Lost souls are waiting on you.

July 24th - "The Two Conditions of Prosperity"

"Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the LORD gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged."   1 Chronicles 22:13

Within this Scripture are the two conditions for prosperity: 1. Walk in obedience to God's Word, 2. Reject fear and discouragement and walk in courageous faith. Jehoshaphat met the conditions and look what happened to him:

"The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David's earlier days and did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did. So the LORD established the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and and did not seek the Baals, he had great riches and honor."    2 Chronicles 17:3-5

July 23rd - "Be At Peace"

"'I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,' declares the Lord GOD."   Ezekiel 34:15

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation."    Isaiah 12:2

Are you getting this? You are safe in His hands. Do not fear saint of God! You will be safely provided for. Put on faith and strength. "God is not a man that He should lie."

"O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness."    Isaiah 25:1

July 22nd - "Death is Beaten"

"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law." 
1 Corinthians 15:54-56

Shout it out! Jesus is alive! Death has been beaten, the grave is empty, and because He lives we shall live also. There can be no better news than this. Oh today, lets make sure we share this tremendous news with someone.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."   Isaiah 9:6