A Glad Heart Feasts

Proverbs 15
15 All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].

C. Austin Miles
I’m living on the mountain, underneath a cloudless sky,
I’m drinking at the fountain that never shall run dry;
Oh, yes! I’m feasting on the manna from a bountiful supply,
For I am dwelling in Beulah Land.

Is my heart glad? Are we sitting at the banqueting table, communing with Our Father in Heaven? Are we feasting on the Spiritual manna from His bountiful supply? Some of these things are easy to sing in church but are we living that reality? Are we daily singing God’s praises and rejoicing in His Salvation regardless of our circumstance?
Truly we battle principalities and powers, but most of all we battle our flesh and its constant desire to leave the secret place of the Most High. These past two weeks my situation at work has become very tense and isolating. I have been sitting, writing this during my breaks at work, in a room with three work colleagues who are conspiring against me, looking to find any way to bring me down. This truth has been a beautiful encouragement but also a sharp conviction. In whatever situation I find myself, as a child of God I have access into His presence where I can call upon Him and acquire all that I need to endure. Jesus Christ has given us His gladness. But will I live in it or will I let my flesh determine my actions?
The gladness comes before the feast! It is faith that trusts in God’s Word that allows us to enter His banqueting house and allows us to feast at His table of communion. It is by singing praises unto Him that we eat! Paul and Silas had that faith. Despite their circumstance, with beaten and bound bodies, before there was any tremor in the prison walls, their glad hearts were feasting on the goodness of God!

Acts 16
25 But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them,

Paul and Silas were freed within a few hours but, of course, God’s people can find themselves bound and beaten down for much longer. Consider Joseph serving as a slave or David constantly running from hiding place to Hiding Place. They, along with others, endured terrible circumstances, but by faith, they feasted on The Lord despite what they were going through!
David often writes from a painful and broken disposition, with his heart breaking and a desperate cry for deliverance. Times of sorrow and grief come to us all, we will all be led into the valley of death, in the world Jesus tells us that we WILL suffer tribulation. There is no teaching against sorrow, grief or weeping in God’s word… Jesus has come to tenderly bind up and heal the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1) God created us with emotions and we have been designed to feel them. Each of them is designed to lead us to The Lord and, through faith, He has given us the power to discipline, control and overcome them.

2 Corinthians 6
4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
…
10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

The key to such gladness of heart is faith! It is a very simple choice to either believe God’s word or not. Regardless of our circumstance will we choose to sing His praises, just because we love Him? Not just in church but will we praise Him through the day when the enemy is coming in like a flood and all seems to be against us? David recognises this battle between flesh and faith. He recognises that his flesh may sorrow but he determines that his heart will praise!
This is the day that The Lord has made! (Psalm 118:24) I choose to believe that! He will never leave me nor forsake me! (Hebrews 13:5) I will believe that! I believe His Word! I believe I am HIS! I believe the battle is HIS! I believe He will protect HIS testimony in Me! I will trust in The Lord and cry out for HIS will to be done and trust that He will fulfil it! Happy are those whose God is The Lord! (Psalm 144:15) I believe that!! Oh Hallelujah! I will believe it!!

Psalm 42
11 Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

Sometimes we can feel like Lot, with our souls tortured every day, greatly worn out and distressed; Sorrow and grief may overwhelm us, and sweep the ground from our feet; The enemy make come in like a flood, conspiring, and plotting and it may seem that everything is against us! The Word of God tells us to “weep with those who weep” Romans 12:15 And may we, as God’s body and messengers, be quick to comfort and support the members who need it. I can truly testify and thank The Lord for how His body (loving friends and family) have prayed with and for me and I stand today in the power of Jesus prayers through His body! May we give a shoulder to the weak, strengthen the hands of those who are weary, comfort the sorrowing with tenderness and lead each other to the presence of Jesus where He will minister, for He has come to bind up and heal that broken heart. In Him our hearts can be glad! In Him we can rejoice! In Him we can feast on the bread of life and living water! Whatever our outward circumstance our hearts can be glad in Jesus and feasting on His fullness!

A Righteous Man Falls

Proverbs 24
16 For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.

Righteous men fall. Sometimes it’s a precious comfort, even vital, for us to be reminded of that. God’s word is full of examples of God’s people, righteous men, falling… Falling from the secret place of The Most High, falling from the place of blessing, falling from the place of communion and fellowship, falling from the place of joy, peace and service. But every one of them got up again and continued on! It is the wicked who are overthrown!
Godly sorrow for sin is truly a low and bitter experience. To be found wallowing in sin and shame but then to be reminded of His holiness; or to hear again of His desire for us; to have The Holy Spirit reveal to us afresh the love, long-suffering and faithfulness of God; to see the emptiness and death in our flesh. To see so clearly and evidently who and what we have sinned against! But Godly sorrow leads to repentance! Hallelujah!
Sinful choices may have terrible consequences affecting relationships, testimony, family and posterity but the righteous repent! A righteous heart sorrowing over sin grieves the loss of intimacy and communion with The Father but will confess sin and cry out to The Lord! “It is not falling into water that drowns but lying in it. It is not falling into sin that damns but lying in it without repentance.” Thomas Watson.
Repentance does not necessarily remove consequence! This is a powerful and fearful truth but, praise The Lord, repentance does remove guilt and it does remove shame! Hallelujah! “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10. It is truly shameful to find ourselves fallen… But we need not stay there!! In Jesus Christ there can be restoration of communion and fellowship with our Heavenly Father! How much better to fall into the hands of The Lord than to remain in the torturous hands of the world! (2 Samuel 24:14)

Matthew 18
21 Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? Up to seven times?
22 Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!

If we are commanded to be so forgiving towards our brothers for multiple offences how much more is Our Father willing to forgive us?!! What an incredible comfort for us!! Be encouraged today brother or sister!! Confess and repent where you have to, forsake the flesh and obey The Holy Spirit’s conviction but do this knowing that forgiveness and restoration are what The Father longs for and promises!
GET UP!! GET UP IN JESUS NAME! Get up and get to Jesus! Pour out your heart before Him, cry out to Him! Oh He is slow to anger and so willing to forgive! Hallelujah! Bless His Name!

1 Samuel 12
19 Then all the people said to Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants, so that we will not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil—to ask for a king for ourselves.”
20 Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid. You have [indeed] done all this evil; yet do not turn away from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
21 You must not turn away, for then you would go after futile things which cannot profit or rescue, because they are futile.
22 The LORD will not abandon His people for His great name’s sake, because the LORD has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.

Psalm 37
23 The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].
24 Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.

Psalm 145
14 The LORD upholds all those [of His own] who fall And raises up all those who are bowed down.

Is It Me?

John 6
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.
…
70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

Matthew 26
21 And as they were eating, He said, Solemnly I say to you, one of you will betray Me!
22 They were exceedingly pained and distressed and deeply hurt and sorrowful and began to say to Him one after another, Surely it cannot be I, Lord, can it?

What a truly precious response the disciples had to this claim from Jesus. Their immediate and first concern was to question their own failing flesh and consider their own lack of faithfulness. Each one understood that it could be them! They were not quick to accuse or question others. Isn’t that a beautiful thing?!
⁠Jesus love is so wondrous and perfect that no one but Him knew that Judas was the traitor!! The disciples make no mention of Judas name, they do not doubt him or accuse him at all.
Knowing Judas’s heart all along, Jesus withheld nothing from him. Judas had the same access to fellowship and communion with the other believers; he was graciously blessed, taught and loved alongside his fellows; he served The Lord and his feet were also washed. Jesus did not exclude him in order to “protect” the fellowship of other eleven. Judas was in every meeting, taking part and treated equally with the other disciples!! Jesus knew!!… but harboured no fear, bitterness or disdain. Jesus was utterly yielded to the will and love of His Father.
Jesus withheld nothing from Judas and loved him no less! Jesus, who did not come to condemn (John 3:17-21), didn’t seek to intervene or protect Himself but left Judas to give account of His own life to The Father. (Matthew 12:36/Romans 14:12)
This love of Jesus Christ deserves much consideration. Is it this same love of Jesus that flows through us? Are we as utterly yielded to Our Father’s will? May we yield more and more to Our Father’s love and allow it to flow through us to those who would betray and reject us, for those who hurt us and set themselves against us. May HIS love be shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5) and may we consider our own failing flesh before someone else’s (Luke 7:47).

1 John 4
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.

One Who Serves

Luke 22
25 But Jesus said to them, The kings of the Gentiles are deified by them and exercise lordship [ruling as emperor-gods] over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers.
26 But this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves.
27 For who is the greater, the one who reclines at table (the master), or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst as One Who serves.

Flesh loves to glory in the flesh. Whether it be a man, a ministry, a doctrine, a testimony, performance or experience, the flesh loves to recognise and revere itself. In the world and in the church we find that man looks to man.
May we be careful to glory in none but Christ! To “HEAR HIM” Luke 9:35. Our flesh is subtle and our hearts “deceitful above all things” Jeremiah 17:9. So let us be wary and careful of where our affections lie. God has chosen the low, weak and base things, the rejected, the unimpressive, the unqualified and unskilled… “that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. God uses His people in powerful ways but may we be careful to glorify JESUS ONLY AND ALWAYS for His testimonies in men and women! The flesh life and its works end in death, physical or spiritual, no matter how religious or impressive.
We find Jesus when we are in the place of humble servitude. It is in being the least that we find fellowship in Him. It is in preferring others, giving way to them, in washing their feet… that we find the yoke of The Saviour. After all, it is HIS life within us that desires to serve. It is HIS life that longs to take the lower place and humble itself to lift up others. It is HIS Spirit within us that causes us to live like Him! Which member are we living under? (Romans 7:21-13) A worldly, fleshly heart loathes to serve or sacrifice in the menial, unnoticed and unappreciated. The flesh is utterly opposed to giving without gain or serving without appreciation. Such a heart isn’t looking for The Lord at all but rather self satisfaction and promotion.
Oh, Lord teach me to decrease. Transform me by the renewing of my mind to have a heart to serve, to live denying myself, preferring others and finding more of you in following in your example. May I be obedient and instant to remove any hindrance to your life and testimony flowing freely through me. Forgive me where I have been selfish, lazy and given to comfort and ease. Create in me a clean heart oh, God and renew a right Spirit within me that blesses your name and glories in your fellowship!

John 13
5 Then He (Jesus) poured water into the washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the [servant’s] towel with which He was girded.

Matthew 20
28 … the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Faithful With Very Little

Luke 16
10 Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
…
13 No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Faithful is not a title we can claim for ourselves but a characteristic only others can attribute to us. Faithfulness, like love, is proven in action and not bound by fluctuating feelings. Faith without works is dead as love without faithfulness is dead and both are proven in the very little.
The “very little” things are often overlooked or despised. They are thought little of, easily missed and easily forgotten. They are insignificant to most people and beneath others; unglamorous, inconvenient moments of servitude for which no praise or thanks is given. Faithfulness is proved in little minutes and moments of life, in the unseen and unnoticed parts. It is a daily, moment by moment discipline/battle. It would be easy to stop, most people would understand, even encourage you to take it easy and relax!
On the other hand the flesh in me is eager to prove an ability to be faithful in the “much”. The idea of promotion to something greater appeals to my ego, but spiritually, that is to miss the mark entirely. The great vastness of God’s immense love is proven and demonstrated in the very little, consistent daily details of our lives! “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23. There is great wonder and awe in knowing God spoke all creation into existence in six days but that same voice still faithfully holds all things together and it is in the menial task of caring for each and every sparrow that we get a glimpse of the vastness of His omnipotent love and omniscient care. To have the opportunity to serve our Saviour in the “very little” is far greater testimony of the majesty of God than any notoriety or momentary significance. His tender mercies, loving kindnesses and compassions are seen far more clearly in the very little things that we do for others in His name.
The greatest honour for a man is to be found in faithfulness to God in the least of things. Oh may we be so in love with The Lord that we joy to serve Him faithfully and joyfully in the very little.

1 Corinthians 4
2 Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.

Luke 18
8 … However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [this kind of persistent] faith on the earth?”