The Warrior's Key to Peace

 

 

 

 

Andrew Knox - Vice President, The 700 Club, cbn.com

 

The warrior is in hiding. Pleading with God, he cries out for deliverance and admits his weakness. He is troubled and distraught. This is the scene we encounter as David begins Psalm 55. In his anguish, the battle-hardened man pursues God with earnestness, asking his Lord to listen. David proceeds to state he is living in terror, anguish, and fear. He is overwhelmed. The turmoil he finds himself in is due to violence, betrayal, and a family in ruins — and it has crushed David to the point of envying the birds of the air, who can fly away and flee to deserts and places of shelter.

Yet in the midst of his lament, he speaks light to the darkness in his own soul. David states he calls to God, morning, noon, and night. He reminds himself that God hears his cries of distress, saves him, and keeps him from harm. In this moment, David has benefitted so greatly from vocalizing his pain, heartbreak, and fear to the God he knows hears him, he concludes his Psalm by encouraging us centuries later to

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you (Psalm 55:22 NIV).

In fact, the heart cry that began in terror, concludes with the declaration,

As for me, I trust in you (v.23).

There is power in expressing our pain, anxiety, and fear to our loving Lord. I’ve experienced this many times. On one occasion just a few years ago, one of my children was involved in a terrifying accident. Doctors gave grim reports. I was living in terror. I was distraught. Heartbroken.

However, like David in Psalm 55, I reminded myself I not only have a direct audience before God; He also loves me and my family. So, I cried out. Literally. I screamed. I voiced my deep pain and anguish — told Him I was terrified. I then experienced what David described in the psalm, as my soul was encouraged that as I cry out, no matter the time of day, the Father hears, cares, and sustains.

Emotionally exhausted, I felt my fear subside and give way to comfort and an infusion of faith. I am humbled to say my son made a full and complete recovery, thanks to doctors, my amazing wife and son, and the power of prayer. I moved forward understanding it is a life-changing experience to pour out my heart before the Lord. David knew this, and his reminder is spread throughout his psalms.

David was brave, a man of action, who surprises us with his vulnerability and fear in his writings. We too will have these moments of trouble in our soul. Voice your heart cry to God, knowing He hears and cares. In those moments, He will meet with you. And instead of desiring to flee like a bird, you also can rise from your knees and declare, “As for me, I trust in You.”

A Clean Heart

 

 

Vernell Windsor – Prayer Center Coach, cbn.com

Have you ever met someone you would consider to be a snob? There was just something so condescending about the person, but you could not figure out why. They say that confession is good for the soul. Well, I was a big spiritual snob. I could look down upon those who did not know the Bible or serve God as legalistically as I did.

I can hardly believe I just shared this publicly! Truly, God has been at work. I have no idea how I ended up that way, but I thank God that He circumcised my heart. This confession comes after reading Romans 2:1-3:

Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? (NASB1995).

This Scripture took away all excuses! Is it even possible to say one loves Jesus and looks down upon someone else?

In Psalm 51:1-4, we see a penitent King David:

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.

God has been gracious to me too. He took me by the hand and led me out of the darkness into the light. Holy Spirit’s conviction brought me to that place of “sackcloth and ashes.” King David tried to cover up his sin. Far be it from me to judge him, but I can relate with his agony in Psalm 51:10-11 because I have been there too:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

David must have been terrified about the thought of life without the Spirit of God, and so am I. The Lord already knows all the skeletons in our closets, and He still loves us! Confession really is good for the soul. It cuts the enemy off and helps us find our way to Jesus.

When I tried to wash my sins away in the shower, it did not work. A “broken and contrite spirit,” and a heart of “repentance” can set us free from a plethora of maladies. We can all come before the Lord with humility. He will not turn us away. This reality has washed away that stain of sin I foolishly tried to cleanse in the shower!

Celebrating Creation

 

 

Ian Walton – Regional Director, Southern Africa, cbn.com

A few days ago, I had the chance to get into the mountains around Cape Town, eager to be alone for a few hours with just my small backpack and the Lord. As I drank in the crisp winter air and clambered over the wind-worn rocks, I was reminded of Paul’s stirring words about nature and how it constantly proclaims His presence and goodness to those who are listening:

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20 (NLT)

I scrambled up a huge cluster of granite boulders and they whispered to me about His faithfulness, His immovability, and His trustworthiness. My Father was reassuring me, and I felt strength entering me again with each panting step I took. And as I mounted the top and caught my first glimpse of the vast Atlantic Ocean stretching out beyond the horizon, it shouted to me about His majesty, artistry and goodness. My God was reminding me just how great and holy and beautiful He is. I felt exhilarated as I took in the view above and below me—and worshipped Him.

All around us, God is speaking about His glory, character and love. His Word, the Bible, is speaking through every chapter. The Word (Jesus), is speaking through His life on earth and directly into our hearts by His Spirit. And creation is singing His praises and declaring His majesty with each sunrise, wave, growl, chirp, and baby’s cry!

God is speaking so powerfully—through the Bible, through the life of Jesus, and through creation—and we need ears to hear. You see, what sets us apart from the rest of creation is our free will. This is perhaps the most affirming gift that God gave us, yet also the one that can keep us humans, the crown of His creation, apart from Him. His desire is that we listen to Him in all the ways He is speaking to us. He invites us to believe Him, to love Him and to follow Him. But we have to choose to do so. Each day, each step, each moment.

Are you choosing to listen to His voice during the noise of this busy year? Are you still celebrating creation, despite everything going on around us? Are you living with fear, or living by faith in His strength and hope? These are questions I am asking myself right now, even as I write this.

A prayer for myself, for my family—and for you—is that we fight to keep listening for the voice of the Lord. And when there seems to be only silence, that we lean in and seek it out in His Word, as we worship His Son and as we continue to celebrate His amazing creation.<< 

Our Lives Are in God’s Hands

 

 

Emmanuel de la Fuente Monforte – Accountant – CBN Mexico

What are God’s plan and purposes for your life?

Whenever I ask myself this question and then learn about the life of God’s servants in the Bible, He always reminds me that it is about Him — for His glory, for His plans to be fulfilled and His will to be done.

Personally, my understanding is that God doesn’t just have plans for my life, but rather, He has plans with my life. This plain and simple word that I have come to understand has changed my way of seeing what God reveals to me every day and what He does.

A person like Paul became an instrument in the hands of God, who sought above all to make the name of Jesus known to non-Jews. God completely changed who he was and accomplished His will with him.

As we read the 28th chapter of Acts, we can see that everything that is written there is fulfilling God’s purpose with Paul’s life. God preserved his life and that of those who accompanied him in the storm and the shipwreck. Arriving on an island to testify, he did not die of a snake bite because God’s plan with his life had not yet been fulfilled. He preached about Jesus on his way from Malta to Rome and the times he was in those places, God’s plan was being fulfilled with the life of Paul and with the people who heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Arriving in Rome, he spoke to the Jews who were there and continued to fulfill God’s purpose. And so, it was with Paul until the end of his days and in his letters to the people in the places where he had been, leaving instructions on life and doctrine for the church of God.

And this is only what is mentioned in chapter 28 of Acts. But if we remember everything Paul experienced to fulfill what God had commanded him, we know that he was stoned, persecuted, imprisoned, a couple of times they already left him for dead, more than once he received 39 lashes, and all this just to win Christ, leaving everything aside, even his titles and position to serve God.

Something I learn from the life of Paul is to accept and endure what God allows, to let God perfect Himself in weakness, and also to wait for God’s will with me. Today, I can practice my career and serve others and work for God, leaving my life in His hands and always giving glory to God in everything, and for everything.

Our great and wonderful God used and will always use his children to fulfill His plans and purposes.

Perhaps, instead of thinking about what God has for our lives, we should consider what God is going to do with our lives, serve Him and believe that this is the best for us. Paul did what God had told him to do and was diligent in doing His will. God’s will is pleasing and perfect (Romans 12.2).

I think we must understand that following His path, living our lives only for God and serving Him, is to know and understand that God is doing His will with us, as Paul writes:

It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13 NKJV).

And for this reason, we must always be ready and attentive, able to raise our hands and say, “send me” (Isaiah 6:8). Would you pray a prayer to the Lord to use your life and place you in His perfect will, with Him?

We can learn to be always grateful for the will of God because we are instruments in His hands.  We can also say that God’s plan with our lives is being fulfilled for His glory, understanding that when those plans are fulfilled, we will also say:

I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

God Controls the Outcome

 

Nia’s been at CBN for almost seven years. She’s pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication with a minor in Leadership at Regent University. She lives in Virginia with her husband and family.

Nia Taylor – Trainer – Virginia Beach Prayer Center, cbn.com

How do you gain favor in bad situations? It’s easy! You trust and obey God. Sometimes God uses you to save others, and sometimes He uses others to save you. We can never understand the fullness of His reasons, but we need to trust it even if the situation turns dire. You may be the reason some people are thriving.

I look back at my life, and I have been in some shady situations. I know myself and the people around me only made it out by the grace of God. Maybe the favor on my life saved us, but there was no doubt it was God.

I grew up in a rough neighborhood, and even when God delivered me from it, I found a way to get in the middle of trouble. I caused a lot of my problems. I remember when I was falsely accused and facing legal troubles, God used my cousins – who were not Christians – to save and help me in my time of need. God allowed me to have supernatural favor with them, and they were able to help me. What the devil meant for evil, God turned it around for my good. The charges were dropped, and my record was clean. God cleared my name, and I learned a huge lesson about being with the wrong people. God spared my life may be to do what I am doing now, sharing my testimony to bless someone else’s life.

In Acts 27:27-44, Paul was the reason everyone on a shipwreck survived. He was favored and blessed, so those around him received the blessing.

“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way, everyone reached land safely” (Acts 27:42-44).

Paul’s wisdom from God helped keep them alive. The soldier didn’t understand, but God was using him. Even if you are with people who don’t know Jesus, God can use them. He may give you favor with them to save your life and to be a testimony to someone else. Paul was spared to save another. Know that your life is not your own. God controls all things for His Will. How cool that we get to be part of His story!

I Will Praise God

 

Lorie Hartshorn – Co-Host – The 700 Club Canada, cbn.com

All of us have moments when we feel discouraged by life’s circumstances. People may try to lighten our load or lift our spirits, but sometimes their efforts fall short. In these times, we wonder if we will ever emerge from our struggle with our joy intact. Instead, we can find ourselves in despair. In Psalm 42, the psalmist questions the reason for his despair:

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:5 NIV).

Maybe this is you today; you’re in despair over circumstances in your life. Lean in and listen to what the psalmist says. Note those two little words, “I will.” This is a determination, a choice, not a feeling. It’s a forward-facing outlook versus a downcast perspective. The psalmist is choosing in the middle of his struggle and emotional despair to praise God, lift his perspective, and focus on the One who has victory. He reminds himself to put his hope in God, not in anything or anyone else. So often, our disappointments in life are based on unmet expectations of ourselves or others because we put our hope in circumstances and people.

When we choose to put our hope in God, it’s not wishful thinking but an expectant hope, a confident hope. God is faithful, and He will come through for me. Jesus’ last words to His disciples were a promise to always be with them.

Praising God in the hard times doesn’t minimize or deny our heaviness of heart. Instead, it redirects our focus to our Savior and God. He promised never to leave or abandon His children, so we can count on His presence, even when our emotions can’t confirm it.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

God sees our despair, but He doesn’t want us to stay there, looking down. Instead, he tells us to look at Him. We can be people who say, “I will.” Choosing to give thanks in the middle of sorrow is the key to experiencing hope. It gives us perspective in our trouble. It can be a habit that becomes our natural response over time. Even when circumstances don’t change, we will find ourselves choosing to praise God because He is a good Savior, our God. He’s got this!

This releases the power of the Holy Spirit in us so that the fruit of the Spirit will overflow in us even in troubled times—yes, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control! That is supernatural living right here, today.

So, if today you’re asking yourself that same question — “why am I downcast?” — then start a new habit today and lift your head and say with the psalmist, “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5). And I will praise him again and again and again because He’s my Savior and my God! That’s courageous living!

Keep on Asking

 

Allen Carter - Head of Development/ CBN Europe

There is something about being a child that intrigues me: the simplicity of childlike faith that doesn’t take time to reason or to filter what is said—and has the confidence to ask and the simplicity to believe that they will receive. Childlike faith asks from a place of vulnerability with the expectation of an answer.

I can remember living on a farm as a child, and my brother and I coming up with an idea to ask our parents for a horse. It had always been our dream, so we came up with a plan: We would ask, and if the answer was no, we would pray and ask. We even came up with a chant which, looking back, was quite annoying: “We want a horse; we want a horse!” After many weeks of asking and using the power of persuasion, Dad and Mum eventually gave in, and we became the owners of a beautiful horse.


In Matthew 7:7-8 AMP there is a familiar passage of Scripture: “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.”

There is something about asking that opens doors of opportunity—doors that probably won’t open without an initial, persistent ask. When we choose to ask, it creates a God-given moment and space for Him to demonstrate His goodness and kindness toward us.

In these verses notice how many times the phrase “keep on” is mentioned after the ask, seek, and knock. To “keep on” speaks of persevering and continuing. Whenever we ask and keep on asking, God’s Word says “it will be given to you.” And that “when you seek and keep on seeking you will find, when you knock and keep on knocking the door will be opened to you.” There isn’t any suggestion of perhaps or possibly or it might happen. There is absolute certainty that God will respond with, “It will be given, it will be opened to you.”

A – ASK
S – SEEK
K – KNOCK

Verse 11 reads: “If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him.”

God already knows the secret desires of our heart, and yet He wants us to communicate and ask Him. Our heavenly Father longs, and desires, to give good gifts and things; however, there are times that we are reluctant to ask because we are uncertain of the outcome, or we don’t realize that the thing we want is freely available.

I wonder how many gifts and answers to prayers are stored up in heaven simply waiting for us to ask?


John 15:7 reads: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you [that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart], ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.”

When we have a living, vibrant relationship with Jesus and allow His Word to abide and remain within us, there is a flow that proceeds from His heart toward us. Every day is a new adventure filled with opportunities and possibilities.

Children have no problem in asking; it’s in their nature. However, as adults, we somehow lose the desire to ask. We need to learn to pray big, audacious prayers, believing that our Heavenly Father can and will answer with no strings attached.

James 1:17 reads: Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes].

God is a good God, and an incredible Father—and everything good within our lives comes from Him. He is the source, and we cannot take any credit. His goodness and free-flowing, extravagant grace are freely available every day.

Can I encourage you to be childlike and to continue asking your heavenly Father, believing that you will receive? You won’t be disappointed!

Your Steadfast Love

 

 

Maria Stockman – Digital Copywriter, cbn.com

Do you ever feel like everything in this world changes so rapidly that it feels almost impossible to keep up? With 24/7 news, social media, family, friends, and co-workers with solid opinions, how hard is it to keep up with what’s happening today?

I remember in early 2020 there was a massive debate about whether zinc would help build your immune system. Some experts said yes; others said don’t waste your money. Is cow’s milk better than nut milk? What about raw dairy? Or one of my favorite debates is whether carbs or fat are the true enemies of weight loss!

There’s just so much new information, outdated information, and old ways of thinking that it’s hard to make informed decisions and opinions today. Not only is it hard to make an informed decision, but many are looking for the next best thing, which typically leaves us feeling empty and defeated. But what we can always count on is God’s love for us. King David says of the Lord,

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O Lord. Psalm 36:5-6 (ESV)

While the world always has something new, God is steadfast and unchanging. His love for us is precious and strong. So, if you feel overwhelmed with what’s on the news or the latest press release from the White House, remember that God is constant. He does not change. In Hebrews 13:8, the writer sums this up so well, saying,

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

What a relief that the God of the universe is unchanging. He does not get swayed by politics, feelings, or world events. He is constant, and He is good.

How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 36:7). Thank You for being constant in a changing world. Thank You for allowing us to take refuge in you when we feel overwhelmed by the world. Thank You for providing all the answers we need. Father, when we get caught up in the world’s ways, remind us that You are steadfast, and we can always find refuge in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

You Are What You Behold

 

 

Robyn Hattingh – Communications Manager – CBN South Africa

According to the KJV dictionary, to behold is to “fix the eyes upon; to see with attention; to observe with care.” The actions used to describe beholding (fix, see with attention, and observe) all take time to do. As with paintings in an art gallery, beholding involves time—to fully take in and comprehend what is being seen.

This concept of beholding is one that many of us have heard before. Even more likely, you’ve heard it in a Christian context. Hearing it challenges us to question where we are focusing our time and energy. What do we spend most of our time doing? What consumes most of our thoughts? And most importantly, are we good stewards of what has been placed in our hands?

If we are honest with ourselves, we get carried away with work, social activities, family, ambitious ventures, mindless scrolling and watching our screens, and so much more. Our lives are so fast-paced. It has become normal to celebrate the “busyness” as a victory, as a sign of success. But is it?

I’ve found that we get so carried away with this busyness that we miss God. And people I’ve been chatting with also feel the noise of busyness drowns out His voice. In the small moments where He delights in the daily pleasures with us, and in the big moments that we will remember for a long time. In the moments with our families, in the quiet of the morning, in the challenging times. We miss God in it all because we get so caught up in the busyness, that we forget to take a step back and behold what He has placed around us and how He is working every single day.

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame (Psalm 34:5 NIV).

As you look to Him more and more every day, His radiance falls on you. There will be a glow about you. I imagine it to be like gazing upon something that makes us happy, like in an art gallery, and you walk away from it radiating the joy of gazing upon something truly beautiful. And God certainly is beautiful… just look at His creation.

As a team at CBN South Africa, we’ve been encouraged to lean into God in the small moments — the mundanity of the day-to-day, the busyness, the quiet at the end of the day. To not only wait for and rely on the big moments, but to be consistent and look for those small moments with God. Often, the small moments lead to bigger ones. So today, as you read this, start thinking about how you can seek more of the small, precious moments with God as you tackle the rest of this year so that you may radiate Him wherever you go.

Trusting God During Grief

 

 

Dayna Lovelady, cbn.com

Several years ago, more than 10 close family members, friends, co-workers, and ministry team members died in less than 24 months. It was a difficult time. At times, the grief was tremendous and, in my exhaustion, all I could do was cry out to God. The psalmist David shared a similar experience as he lamented,

“Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress, my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing” (Psalm 31:9-10 ESV).

During this time, I began to wonder how long my season of grief would last. As I walked through my mourning, I asked God to lead me and be my strength as I processed my emotions and slowly moved forward with my life, dreams and goals. The words of the psalmist David once again echoed my own experience as he wrote,

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:3

Often the Lord would lead me to Scriptures, and even to people, that encouraged me through empathetic words, prayers, meals, housework help, and errands. All of this encouraged me to trust in God even more as my healing continued.

Through my time of grief, I also experienced God’s peace and comfort. As He comforted me, he reassured me through His Word that grief was a normal human reaction to loss. I also came to the realization that losses of many kinds can lead to grief. Whether it is a job loss, a relationship loss, or even loss of a favorite regular routine such as many of us experienced during the pandemic, a form of grief often follows.

Trust God in hard times. Even when times are hard and grief seems to be a constant companion, trusting God is possible. In my time of loss, I chose to trust that God was still with me and still had a glorious plan for my life. As David said in Psalm 31:14,

But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”

With tears streaming down my cheeks, sometimes I would just whisper, “I trust in You, God.” Those words encouraged me to continue to trust God, and they were also my way of saying to God that I still trusted Him even when I did not understand why I was experiencing such tremendous loss.

May the following prayer encourage you if you find yourself experiencing grief of any kind.

He Heard My Cry

 

Nia Taylor – Trainer – Virginia Beach Prayer Center, cbn.com

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to cry out to the Lord with everything you have? I remember it like it was yesterday. My daughter stopped breathing when she was two months old. We rushed her to the hospital, and they were able to revive her, but they said things would never be the same for her. At that time, I wasn’t living my life for God, but I knew from being raised in the church that HE was the only one I could call on.

Like David in Psalm 30, I cried out:

I will exalt you, LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.
You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead; you spared me from going down to the pit.

Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

When I felt secure, I said, “I will never be shaken.”
LORD, when you favored me, you made my royal mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed.

To you, LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy:
“What is gained if I am silenced, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help” (Psalm 30:1-10 NIV).

For weeks my family, friends and church family prayed for my daughter’s recovery. The doctors had nothing but bad news for me. They said she will never see, walk, talk, or function as a normal child.

I was taught not to put my faith in human limitations, but to stand on the Word of God. I told the Lord if He saved my child, I would give my life back to Him.

She was sent home after two weeks in the ICU. Then began her journey to healing. She is visually impaired but not fully blind. She has brain damage, but she is only mildly delayed. She has a mild weakness on her left side, but she doesn’t let that stop her from doing anything she loves to do. She loves to act in local stage plays, she hosted a radio show for a while, she currently is perfecting her job skills in a job training program for people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). She loves the Lord, and she is very evangelistic in her community.

I thank the Lord that:

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever (Psalm 30:11-12).