Author: James Cheef Wright

12. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas.

People often ask two questions concerning God, “Did God create evil?” and “Why does God allow evil to happen?” In a single sentence, Psalm 81:12 answers both questions with a resounding “NO” and “He doesn’t!” God does not create evil, and He definitely does not condone it. However, He has given free will to believers and nonbelievers alike, and He will not force His will upon either.

To the contrary, at the risk of accepting responsibility for our own actions, we must acknowledge that we not only create more ways of doing evil, but we also accept, normalize, and condone the evil that is contrary to the righteousness of God. Whether in word, action, or deed, this current generation has become less inclined to the ideas of godly living, leaning instead on its own understanding and desires of the flesh.

God has always allowed mankind to follow its desires. For the individual child of God, His discipline becomes the method to bring the lost soul back into alignment with Him. But with the hardened heart, discipline is ignored and dismissed as merely bad luck. Prompting “Why me” moments, and self-inflicted wounds become reasons to question God. The proud heart may never even recognize God’s calls. Pride becomes a guard against pain, making them judgmental of others as a way to deflect from their own shortcomings and misfortunes — pacifying themselves instead of repenting. Godly discipline should not be shunned but embraced. Hebrews 12:10 reminds us that, “For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.”

God’s desire is for His children to walk in His ways. When we do, He can bless us with the desires of our hearts, protect us from the evil that lurks, and satisfy us with His peace. Yet sometimes things beyond our control will happen, leaving us without understanding. The righteous will suffer many afflictions in this fallen world, but God promises to deliver them from them all (Psalm 34:19). His blessings, promises, and protections are not blocked by earthly circumstances — only by hearts that are hardened against Him. Humble hearts hear and respond to God’s calls, but a proud heart is blind to discipline, resists correction, missing the protection God wants to give.

By letting us follow the desires of our flesh, God is showing us the consequences of our choices when they align with the world, and not His ways. Allow His discipline to lead to self-discipline. Fear not the shedding of relationships, habits, and misguided teachings handed down. Instead, dare to come boldly seeking new understandings that reveal you to be the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Unblocking the blessings and rewards that God has for your life.

Father God in Heaven, my faith has stayed in you, although my heart has swayed far from You at times. The desires of my flesh scream louder than the groanings of Your Spirit when I am weak. Correct my path, gently cure my thirst with your living Word, that it may go well with me, and my worldly pain turns into spiritual pleasure. In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray. Amen.

1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 
2. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law does he meditate day and night.

It is said that we are not sinners because we sin, but we sin because we are sinners. Paul explains in Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” So we understand by this passage that just as we are born dying, we are also born sinners. At first glance, these truths would seem to relegate Psalm 1:1 to nothing more than poetic ‘injustice’ — for if we are born into sin, how can we fulfill what Psalm 1:1 commands?

“Free will” isn’t explicitly stated in the Bible, yet we see throughout the Old and New Testaments, that God allows believers and nonbelievers alike to follow the path of righteousness, or the path of sin. The path of righteousness is not without sin, but to the contrary, the path of sin is without righteousness. Though we are born into a fallen world, and as such we will stumble, it is God’s desire that we don’t fall into a life lead by sin — which is a life that excludes Him.

For the vast majority of us, we begin life on the path led by sin. God, knowing this would be our condition, sacrificed His only begotten Son to bear our sins and pay our sin debt. When we turn from the path of sin to the walk with Jesus, Psalm 1:1 becomes poetic ‘justice’. God can now bless us because we are no longer walking in the counsel of the ungodly or standing in the path with sinners. We become meek with humility, no longer angry with a scornful tongue, that speaks the devils lies to weaken others.

Walking with Jesus means you have accepted Him as your Lord and Saviour. In your heart — not with your tongue only — you believe the Gospel: that Jesus died, was buried, and rose three days later. When God sees this faith in your spiritual heart, He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within you. This begins the transformation of your desires from being carnal to spiritual. You practice denying your flesh while growing a desire to be obedient to God. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.” This is the true definition of being “born again.” The words of scripture become clear where they used to be misunderstood or overly complex. Where you once saw a God of anger, you now see a God of love and discipline in the Old Testament — a Father that chastised His children to bring them back to Him — just as He does with us today.

Don’t believe the voice of the evil one who tells you you’ve done too much wrong to be deserving of God’s grace. Instead, get to know God by reading His Word and seeing the many examples of those that were forgiven — and even chosen to serve Him. Paul was the chief persecutor of those that followed Jesus, not only imprisoning, but sending many Christians to their deaths. He lived with a devilish desire to eradicate all that followed Jesus, whether they were Jew or Gentile. Yet Jesus chose Him to be the apostle to the Gentiles, and to establish churches throughout the then known world. Paul is a testimony that God, in His infinite wisdom, will choose what we consider to be the “worst of the worst”, to bring the brightest glory to His name, gathering lost sheep back into His fold.

Father God in Heaven, being born into this world, I was born into a life of sin that separated me from you. Your calling to my heart proves you will never leave nor forsake me. Your sacrifice of Your only begotten Son proves that neither hell nor high water can keep your love from me, unless I choose to deny it. I pray for strength to walk the path lit by your light, that leads to life — with conviction to live godly in the way of the righteous, sitting among the humble. In Christ Jesus’ Name, Amen.

11. For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 

The focus of Jeremiah 29 is the captivity of the Israelites in Babylon. As is common in the Old Testament, the Israelites were repeatedly chastised by God for their idolatry, adultery, and stiff-necked disobedience. Even though God provided prophets like Jeremiah to speak His truth, the Israelites chose false prophets that would tell them what they wanted to hear, despite living in direct contradiction to God’s law. Because of this, God’s judgment for His people was for them to be held captive in Babylon for seventy years before returning them to Jerusalem — where they would be free and hopefully mindful of His Commandments.

To keep them hopeful and content while captivity, God sent a message through Jeremiah, instructing the Israelites to build homes, plant gardens, work, even to marry and have children to increase their numbers. God also commanded them to get rid of the false prophets He did not send. If they obeyed, their time in Babylon would not feel like captivity. And when they returned to Jerusalem in seventy years, they would be a stronger, wiser, and more faithful than they were when God first removed them.

This is where we see God’s true unconditional love for His children then, and even for us today. The sins of today are not unlike those of the Israelites. Idol worship is still practiced when love for a person is stronger than love for God. Material things are coveted more today. Adultery and fornication remain common practices. Yet and still, God’s love for His children today, is as strong as it was for Israel. Romans 5:8 speaks this truth when it says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God wants our lives to be filled with peace, not evil, so He can bring us into eternal life with Him — 2 Peter 3:9 “not willing that any should perish”.

God doesn’t expect perfection — He expects obedience. And obedience is not the absence of sin. As humans, we will stumble, but we are not to live sin-filled lives. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). When we focus on that love, we live with more peace, reflecting the righteousness of God, while leaving less room for sin.

Take time throughout your day to ponder God’s love for you, and consider what a life looks like that reciprocates that love. Dare to express your love for God in your daily walk. Risk change in exchange for the rewards God has prepared for you. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Our God is a full-time God, that desires full-time love from His children.

Father God in Heaven, as the world around me becomes louder, I pray for your peace that surpasses all understanding. In your peace I seek your will for me, that you may loosen the bonds of earthly captivity that wage war against my mind. When I stumble, straighten my walk with obedience. When I fall, raise me in humility. In my darkest hours, let Your light shine through me, that You may receive the glory when I search for you. In the name of Christ Jesus, I pray. Amen

7. Only be thou strong, and very courageous, that thou may observe to do all the Law, which my servant Moses commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left, that thou mayest prosper wherever thou goest.
8. This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then shall thou make thy way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success. 
9. Have not I commanded thee? be strong, and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee, wherever thou goest. 

Joshua chapter 1 is a magnificent new beginning: Moses, God’s chosen leader of His people has died, and God chooses Joshua to succeed him in leading the people to the Promised Land. By verse 7, God is repeating His instructions to be strong and very courageous — going even further, commanding Joshua to not be afraid or dismayed. It’s understandable that Joshua would be overwhelmed at having to fill the shoes of Moses, but why so overcome with fear that God would have to repeat Himself three times?

Certainly, Joshua would have witnessed the rebellion of the Israelites towards Moses. He saw first-hand their disobedience to God, even idolatry in worshipping a golden calf. But he also would have had the privilege of experiencing the miraculous wonders God performed again and again, to gain the trust and obedience of the Hebrews — the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea then drowning of the Egyptian army in the same sea, manna for food, water from a rock for thirst, and the glory of God descending on Mount Sinai and the tabernacle. He would’ve been privy to hearing God’s voice first-hand, and without a doubt Moses would have shared with him divine instruction only those in the ministry were privy to. So why would God need to repeatedly instruct someone with intimate knowledge of His awesome power and authority, to be strong, courageous, and have no fear?

The journey of the Hebrews reveals profound truths about the human condition, we live with doubts and fears that have been with us since Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. Regardless of whether we view the journey from the perspective of the people, or the ministry, we see stumbling blocks, real and imagined, are a common theme. The Hebrews faced them being led, and Moses and Joshua faced them as leaders — and we face the same mental barriers today. Fear, doubt, insecurity, the weight of responsibility; struggles that aren’t new but are woven into the fabric of fallen humanity.

Today, we are not under the Law of Moses, but we are under God’s Commandments, which produce the same promises from God if we are obedient to Him. Not only did God repeat the instruction to be strong and very courageous, He also repeated the promise of prosperity and success. So why is it that the promises don’t stand out to us, but the instructions do?

Since the fall from grace, humanity has been conditioned to expect and see the worst, while not feeling worthy of God’s best. Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’ The thief Jesus speaks of is the same devil who stole grace from Adam and Eve, brought death upon them, leading to the destruction of a perfect earth. His strategy remains the same today — his desire is to steal your confidence, kill your courage, and destroy your trust in God’s love for you.

No matter how often scripture reminds us that God has not only forgiven, but forgotten our sins, forgiving and forgetting is a struggle for many. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. These are the attributes God originally gave His children before the fall, and through Jesus Christ, they remain available to us today.

Father God in Heaven, you have blessed me with a Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. I tend to lose sight of that blessing because the evil is so clear and present in this world. I come before you fallen and humbled, asking that your Spirit strengthens me spiritually, so that I am ever mindful of who I am in Christ Jesus. Keep my soul anchored to your truth, and my courage rooted to the sacrifice of Christ. Amen.

7. Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? 
8. If I ascend into heaven, You are there, If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9. If I take the winds of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10. Even there Your hand shall lead me, And your right hand shall hold me.

Although the word omnipresent is never used in scripture, we use it to describe the ever-presence of God — that He everywhere at all times. In fact, it is used along with omniscient to describe God’s knowledge of all things past, present, and future, and omnipotent to describe God’s power. These words help us to describe what Scripture teaches us about God’s nature. Even the biggest of brains have grappled with understanding how can this be, often concluding that our limited human brains are not capable of understanding how one Being, can be present in all places at once. But is it really that difficult to understand and accept?

As humans we tend to compare other beings to ourselves. We claim to have “animal instinct” and see human-like behaviors in animals. If we’re being honest, most people imagine God as a human-like figure residing in another dimension call Heaven. Even referring to Him as the “man upstairs”. But these misunderstandings are corrected in Scripture. John 4:24 tells us that “God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him, must worship Him in Spirit, and in truth.” David illustrates this perfectly in Psalm 139, painting a perfect picture of God’s all-seeing, ever-present, and ever-guiding providence.

We know from 1 Corinthians 3:16 that God’s Spirit dwells inside all believers in Christ. We also know that God created all living things, even in a way that the health and survival of all living things are interconnected by His design. This isn’t limited to humans, four footed beasts, creeping things, birds of the air, or fish in the sea. By divine design trees provide oxygen for us to breath and removes poisonous carbon dioxide that would kill us. Seeds are buried and die bringing to life fruits, vegetables, and herbs that provide key nutrients we need to survive. This, in itself, is a reminder of the resurrection of Christ — life springing forth from what was dead. Even the season of spring is a testimony of the Gospel, when it revives the life all that was dead during winter. Rain hydrates all the living, while the sun gives heat and light that bounces off the moon at night to guide us.

We know from the prophets that the anointing of the Spirit was so strong on the chosen that they became spokesmen for God. Abraham and Sarah, Lot, Zachariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph — each visited by angels of the Lord carrying His message and being the very presence of God. Miraculous stories of survival in modern times tell us that God still send His angels to protect us, just as He has done throughout time. His heavenly messengers do not act on their own; he sends them, filled with His Spirit to carry out His will to protect, strengthen, and guide His children.

We were not promised a life free from affliction, trial, and tribulation. In fact, 1 Peter 4:12, tells us to not think it is strange when we are tried. In Romans 8:17, Paul tells us that as heirs of God in Christ, we shall share in the sufferings of Christ. But God also promised He will never leave or forsake His children (Deuteronomy 31:6).

The god of this world is Satan, and he has spiritually blinded those that don’t believe in God (2 Corinthians 4:4). The influence that Satan had over Cain shows us that the devil is also a spirit, and he has his seeds on earth as well. It is his desire to separate you from God through sin and unbelief. He does this by creating doubt about the very presence of God — and even better when he can make you believe God is responsible for the evil that he creates.

Whether witnessed in the beauty of creation among us, the awe inspring cohesiveness of God’s intelligent design, the “sixth sense” many call intuition, protections we can’t explain, or the recurring seasons that mirror the resurrection — God is visible everywhere and in all things.

6. Be anxious for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
7. And the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

In an age filled with constant emotional stimulus, is it realistic to be “anxious for nothing”? Or is it that, as some suggest, Paul’s words are not relevant today? Not only are his words very relevant today, but it’s as if they were written for the world we live in. And we can confidently say that it is as impossible today, as it was then to never feel anxiety. But this is where understanding scripture matters — and to remember that all scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit and is everlasting.

Paul isn’t suggesting to Christians — then or now — to believe that it is possible to never feel anxiety. The epistles we read as part of the New Testament were individual letters written to young churches that were under constant pressure: persecution from the government of Rome and Jews that had not converted, false teachings keeping the new church in constant confusion, modern medicine had not evolved so sickness and disease led to death more frequently, structured law enforcement didn’t exist so the vulnerable were more exposed, just as the poor and needy. If anything, the early church had more reason to be anxious than we do today.

Paul’s words echo Proverbs 3:5 which states ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.’ This is exactly what he is urging through humble prayer with thanksgiving to God. When we become anxious about things within or beyond our control, we are leaning on our own understanding — which diminishes communion and our ability to discern guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Jesus says in John 16:13 ‘Howbeit, when He the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth:’ Paul isn’t asking believers to suppress our anxiety, but to trust the consistency of scripture — that casting our cares on God through prayer works, and that it is the Holy Spirit, not our intuition, that will guide us to the best possible outcomes in every situation.

So, whether thoughts that make you anxious arrive when you first awake, interrupt sleep with whispers at night while trying to sleep, or randomly during the day — talk to God and make the devil flee (James 4:7). This will produce the ‘peace of God which surpasses all understanding’. Your own understanding tells you that you should be stressed out and on edge. God’s peace surpasses that understanding, bringing you into a state of calming clarity, that allows you to hear the tranquil voice of His Holy Spirit inside of you. Amen!