My Invisible Friend

 "One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

    What characteristics define a friend?

    First of all, a friend should love unconditionally. "Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2: 4, 5) 

    A friend should be available. "I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me." (Psalm 120:1)

    A friend should be a good listener. "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." (Psalm 5:1)

    A true friend should never leave me. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)

    A friend should know me like the back of his hand. "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways." (Psalm 139: 1-3)

    Sometimes, a really good friend can even finish your sentence for you. "Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely." (Psalm 139:4)

    A friend should have my back. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10)

    A friend would take me in, even if my family should reject me. "Though my mother and father forsake me, the Lord will receive me." (Psalm 27:10)

    If bullies surround me, a good friend should come to my aid. "The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies." (Isaiah 42:13)

    When I am wrong, I need a friend who has the guts to correct me. "Blessed is the one whom God corrects, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty." (Job 5:17)

    We are doing very well on this list of traits, but what kind of friend would actually lay down his life to save me? "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13) "The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

    May I now introduce you to Someone who really does possess all of these qualities and more? I hope it doesn't matter to you that He is invisible. No, not make-believe, just invisible (for now, anyway.) His name is Jesus. He is the best friend you or I will ever have. 

    Am I a good friend to Him? 

"Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In his arms he'll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there." 

- "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"

    

    

Thank Who?

 "Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given you the autumn rains because He is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before...You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the Name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you." Joel 2: 23, 26

    During my small group Bible study, one of my sisters in Christ made a valid point: People these days don't seem to need the Lord for anything.

    The problem is we have it too well, and we seemingly live just fine independently of God. Needs are met by whipping out the credit card. Freebies and grants are sought and easily obtained from the government. The spigot produces water, we dash to the store for food. Doctors run scans and jot out prescriptions for our healing. The smart phone works our wonders for us; we turn to social media for advice and wisdom. Everything came from nothing, so we've no need of a Creator. All we ever needed is found from within ourselves. Who needs God?

    "Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things." (Philippians 3:19)

    Those who live in such a way, whom do they thank on Thanksgiving? 

    When I sit down tomorrow before an array of vittles, may I be satiated by the Bread of Heaven. When I turn on the faucet to fill our glasses, may I, with joy, draw Living Water from the wells of salvation. When happy greetings arrive from loving kin, may I praise their Creator who made them and brought us together as family. When the remains of the meal are washed from plates in sudsy water, may I rejoice in the washing and rebirth purchased for me by the precious blood of Christ. When I turn down the covers at night, may I rest in the peace that passes all understanding, knowing my Heavenly Father watches over me. 

    I've oodles to be thankful for and none of it came from me; I am just the grateful recipient. May giving thanks to God bring happiness to you tomorrow and every day.

"Shout for joy to the Lord; all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100: 1-5

Soul Armor

 "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56: 3, 4

    A Christian media news outlet has been keeping me updated on the war in Israel. As the reporting progresses and, depending on location, the reporter may be shown wearing body armor as the evidence of war bombards behind him. I marvel at his ability to deliver the news without showing signs of fear. How can this be?

    When a person comes to Christ, he or she receives soul armor. When amid the clashes of good and evil, when spiritual enemies seek to slash our souls, we stand unmoved, untouched and unscathed. How can this be? 

    There was a story in the Voice of the Martyrs newsletter which told of a woman who was deeply involved in the occult, immersed in a secret society. Though she was able to inflict harm on others through witchcraft and voodoo, she was unable to have any influence on the Christian. How can this be?

    He, who has the power to raise the dead, whom demons obey and in whom rests all authority and power and dominion - He is the One who holds my hand and has promised to never let it go. Jesus not only holds my hand but He dwells within me, having sealed me with His Spirit until the day of redemption! That's how this can be. No wonder He tells me over and over again to "Fear Not."

    This gives me so much comfort; may it do so for you as well. If you have never confessed your sins and bared your soul to Jesus, do so now; today is the day of salvation. He loves you so and He will protect you from all evil.

 "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:28

"I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 38, 39

What If?

 "Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek Him." 2 Chronicles 20: 3, 4

    Almost daily, I have been watching the news of the war in Israel. Though I do not pretend to know all the ins and outs of the Middle East, I do know this is a spiritual battle. The demonic warfare against the Israelites that were perpetrated in the holy scriptures is the same spirit of the antichrist we see in action today.

    This has led me to my Bible. Time and time again - from David vs. Goliath to the release of Peter from prison - we see the Lord's deliverance in His timing and in His way. The human beings in these accounts were eyewitnesses of a battle between the King of Kings and Satan, the father of lies.

    While reading the twentieth chapter of 2 Chronicles, when the enemies of God's kingdom of Judah came against King Jehoshaphat, it was with great interest I read of what happened next. When the king was told that a "vast army" was coming, did he run for cover? Did he take assessments of his armaments and troops? No, he inquired of the Lord first, then proclaimed a fast for all the people. He stood in full view of everyone and prayed, acknowledging "power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you." (vs. 6)

    So, I got to thinking... What if Prime Minister Netanyahu, while positioned before the flags of Israel, looked into the many cameras focused on him and publicly, confidently prayed? What if he, filled with the Spirit of the Lord and in full submission to His sovereignty and authority, would hear the word of the Lord saying, "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours but God's...Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you." (verses 15, 17)

    Can you imagine if Netanyahu, still following in the footsteps of King Jehoshaphat, "appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army" (vs. 21)? Would you say this was foolhardy? Would it be an invitation for Israel's enemies to mock and revile as did Goliath to David?

    If this seems like archaic fairy tales, think again. Biblical prophecy tells us exactly what will happen in the future: "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of His coming." (2 Thessalonians 2:8)

    What if we stood firmly on the strength and promises of God? Imagine the victories that would be ours!

"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3

"Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore." Psalm 131:3