God Himself has set His Faith and Hope (Absolute Ernest Expectation) on His Word and called all mankind especially us the Church, His Children, to that Hope.
Ephesians 1: 18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), (Amplified Classic)
We are not in this alone. Our hope (Ernest Expectation) is connected to God’s Own Hope (Absolute Ernest Expectation).
When I apply my Faith and Hope to the Living Word His Faith and Hope are already applied to the Living Word.
Our Loving Heavenly Father wants us to know Him and the Hope (Ernest Expectation) that He Himself has set before us.
There is a deep heart cry from God to all mankind saved and unsaved to come and experience real Living Hope.
The precious loving Holy Spirit is constantly calling us to come. We have an open invitation to come.
1 To adjust your eye, a lens, a TV, or similar item to produce a clearer image.
2 To fix or settle on one thing; to concentrate
3 To focus one’s attention on a specific subject or question.
One of the main tactics that the enemy uses is to try and keep our focus on the wrong thing. He works hard at drawing our focus away from God and His Living Word.
Throughout Scripture we see people who had their Faith and Life focus on God and His Living Word.
In order for their Faith to work they had to be Focused on Love, the Word, and Faith. Faith works by Love. Faith is applied to the Word.
They corrected themselves, their emotions, and the way they responded to the circumstances of life based on God and His Word.
Their life focus was their relationship with God.The same should be true of every Christian.
Psalm 25: 1 – 2 UNTO YOU, O Lord, do I bring my life. (2a) O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. (Amplified Classic)
Psalm 27: 1 THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation–whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid? (Amplified Classic)
What in your life do you focus on the most? What is Your Life Focus? What we focus on the most becomes who we are.
To be successful in any area of life we must be focused in that area. If we are not focused, we will not be successful.
We must decide where our focus should be. What we focus on goes farther than just being successful in this life. Our life focus will determine our destiny in this life and our eternity that follows.
God gave man the right to choose. He will back our choice. The choices we make determines our focus.
Romans 8: 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (NKJV)
Matthew 6: 33 – 34 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (34) So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. (Amplified Classic)
Our Life Focus must be on God’s Living Word first of all.
Colossians 3: 1 – 3 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (2) And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. (3) For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. (Amplified Classic)
Colossians 3: 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (NKJV)
In order to properly understand what it means to trust in the Lord we must understand that Trust cannot be earned it must be granted. A person can position themselves to be trustworthy but cannot earn trust. No matter what a person does to become trustworthy that trust must be granted it cannot be earned.
Our trust in God and His Living Word must be on a higher level than our trust in anyone or anything else. God and His Living Word are ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
The Amplified Bible says to believe in God is to adhere to, trust in, and rely on God.
When I truly set my love upon God and habitually walk the Love Walk as a lifestyle, I will trust God no matter what takes place in my life.
When we trust God, we position ourselves for Him to accomplish His Will in our lives.
Psalm 31: 19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men! (Amplified Classic)
I cannot truly Trust the Lord without setting my Love upon Him. Setting my Love upon Him opens the door for God to pour out His Blessings upon us.
Psalm 91: 14 – 16 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness–trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. (15) He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (16) With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation. (Amplified Classic)
God has already determined the path that He desires for our life. Our job is to discover and align ourselves with that plan, not create our own. When we truly trust God, we align ourselves with His Way not ours. He is our life, our shield, and our refuge.
Psalm 18: 30 As for God, His way is perfect! The word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. (Amplified Classic)
We must trust God no matter what takes place or what we may think or feel.
2nd Corinthians 1: 3 – 4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, (4) who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (NKJV)
All of us at one time or another need to be comforted. No matter who we are we all experience times of problems and storms of life. We all need someone or something to comfort us, but we all want something or someone that is real and lasting.
We need someone or something that we can lean on in the times of trouble and storms of life.
We are searching. But many times, we search in the wrong place. What we find is a false or fleeting temporary comfort or ease. We find that people and things let us down or just simply do not understand.
Jesus Is Calling all who labor and are heavy laden!! Come to Me!!! Softly and Tenderly
Matthew 11: 28 – 30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] (29) Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. (30) For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. (Amplified Classic)
Hebrews 13: 5B – 6 … for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] (6) So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? (Amplified Classic)
Colossians 3: 14 (Amplified Classic) And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony].
Matthew 6: 33 (Amplified Classic) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (34) So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
When you truly set your love upon God, Who IS Love, the worries and fears of life no longer concern you because He IS with you.
Colossians 3: 1 – 4 (Amplified Classic) IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(2) And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. (3) For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.
We build our strength to walk in love in our inner man or our Spirit man.
We can build the strength of our bodies and strengthen our minds and still not strengthen our Spirit Man which is the real man.
Our real strength flows from our inner man or our Spirit Man. In order to walk in Love, we must strengthen our Spirit Man. We must root ourselves in Love.
Colossians 2: 6 – 7 As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. (7) Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving. (Amplified Classic)
Philippians 4: 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. (Amplified Classic)
Proverbs 3: 5 – 6 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. (6) In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. (Amplified Classic)
Psalm 31: 1a In You O Lord do I put my trust and seek refuge. (Amplified Classic)
Confidence must be developed. We must develop confidence in God and His Word before the problem or issue comes. We need to practice our trust and confidence in God and His Word every day in every circumstance and situation of life. Not just when problems are present. If we wait till the problem arrives, we will have a difficult time developing our confidence.
If we really had the confidence and trust in God and His Word that we say we have, we would respond differently to the problems and circumstances of life. If I really do have confidence in God and His Word, I will trust Him in every area of my life.
David knew where to place his confidence. It was a habitual lifestyle for David. You find him constantly declaring his confidence in God and His Word. Do you?
Like David many of us have had some trouble in our lives but let’s take a look at how David handled the troubles and problems that he faced in life. We should be responding in the same way.
Psalm 56: 3 What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. (Amplified Classic)
Psalm 31: 14 – 15 But I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God.(15) My times are in Your hands;(Amplified Classic)
Psalm 25: 1 – 2a Unto You O Lord do I bring my life. O my God I Trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in you. (Amplified Classic)
Psalm 31: 5 Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth and faithfulness. (Amplified Classic)
1stCorinthians 13:7 – 8 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. (8) Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]. (Amplified Classic)
Romans 5:5 Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. (Amplified Classic)
Romans 8:31 – 39 What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] (32) He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? (33) Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] (34) Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? (35) Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? (36) Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, (39) Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Amplified Classic)
1st John 4: 4 Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world. (Amplified Classic)
Proverbs 4: 23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. (Amplified Classic)
To have and continue to develop an established heart the person must set His love upon our Loving Father God. This is not a one-time decision. It is an on-going moment by moment decision that we make continuously in all circumstances. The Father will always respond to a person who sets his love upon Him.
Psalm 91: 14 – 16 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness–trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. (15) He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. (16) With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.(Amplified Classic)
A person being led by the Spirit having an established heart or being Spiritually minded is a person who is at rest no matter what the circumstances of life may bring.
An established heart is fixed, steadfast, unwavering, trusting in the Lord always and in all circumstances no matter what those circumstances are. The established heart does not weaver in times of trouble or distress.
A person who wavers or a person who is controlled by their feelings and emotions does not have an established heart. The person who wavers is a person who is being ruled by their feelings and emotions. They are carnally minded. Fear, worry, and depression are ruling in their lives. They are troubled minded. They focus on the problem instead of the answer.
A person with an established heart does not worry, fret, or fear. They do not focus on the problem but on the answer.
We cannot walk in the Spirit and be carnally minded. In order to walk in the Spirit we have to have an established heart and be Spiritually minded.
A person with an established heart has their focus on God’s Word. God’s Living Word is abiding in their hearts.
John 15: 7 (Amplified Classic) If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
A person with an established heart is always prepared and ready unmoving no matter what happens.
A person with an established heart has set their love upon the Father.
An established heart is Spiritually minded, and God’s Word ruled. God and His Living Word is first place in this person’s life. They are not ruled by their senses, emotions, or feelings.
As believers, it is essential that we know and understand God’s Love and Mercy. That we develop trust in His Love and Mercy. This is the message that He so deeply desires for the world to know. It is our message to a dark and hurting world.
If we are to have faith and confidence in Him, we must trust in His mercy.
We must Develop Faith in the Mercy of God. God is faithful to His mercy.
Deuteronomy 7: 9 (NKJV) Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;
2nd Thessalonians 3: 3 (NKJV) But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
The entire Word of God emphasizes God’s Love, Mercy, and Goodness. We can trust in His Mercy. His Mercy endures forever.
Psalm 145: 9 (NKJV) The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.
Psalm 106: 1 Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
God the Father wants us to trust and have confidence in His mercy. He wants us to build our faith concerning His love and mercy. He desires for us to step out on it and give Him a chance to demonstrate His mercy toward us.
To adjust your eye, a lens, a TV, or similar item to produce a clearer image. To fix or settle on one thing; to concentrate. To focus one’s attention on a specific subject or question.
One of the main tactics that the enemy uses is to try and keep our focus on the wrong thing. He works hard at drawing our focus away from God and His Living Word. Throughout Scripture we see people who had their Life focus on God and His Word, or they did not.
No matter what was going on in David’s life, good or bad, David placed his life focus on God and His Word. He corrected himself, his emotions, and the way he responded to the circumstances of life based on God and His Word. The one thing that was most important to David, His life focus, was his relationship with God. The same should be true of every Christian
Psalm 25: 1 – 2 (Amplified Classic) UNTO YOU, O Lord, do I bring my life. (2a) O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You.
Psalm 27: 1 (Amplified Classic) THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation–whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?
Right in the middle of the storms of life David asked one thing of the Lord.
Psalm 27: 4 (Amplified Classic) One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.
David was a man with a life focus. A life of real worship.
We need to change our focus in life to see our lives through the eyes of Love and God’s Living Word. Place your focus in life on God and His Living Word and watch the circumstances in your life change.
When we do that, we will be filtering everything through the Love factor which will bring confidence, faith, rest and peace. It will also put us in a position to hear from the Holy Spirit as he guides and teaches us. He already knows the answer.
Matthew 6: 33 – 34(Amplified Classic) But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. (34) So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.
Are you in need of a refreshing? Are you weary in your body, mind, and spirit? Are you being beat up by the circumstances of life? Do you need a change? Do you know that God Himself has already prepared the place of rest, refreshing, and revival for us? He has already given us the keys to enter that place. It is God’s desire for us to be in a continuous state of refreshing before and even during the storms of life that come our way.
Act 3:19 (Amplified Classic Bible) – So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord;
Jeremiah 6:16 (Amplified Classic Bible) – Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it!
Ephesians 6:10 (Amplified Classic Bible) – In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
John 14:26 – 27 (Amplified Classic Bible) – But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. (27) Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
God is the one who qualifies us to walk with Him. On our own we could never qualify ourselves. He has already paid the price and completed the work. When we got Born Again He put in us by The Holy Spirit everything we needed to qualify for a personal relationship with God The Father Himself. No matter what comes our way in this life He has made a way for us. He will teach us how to stand in the midst of the storms of life.
Every Commandment and every Promise in God’s Word are absolute Truth. They cannot be changed or altered. God cannot lie.
God and His Word are ONE – When you receive, believe, and act on The Word, you are receiving and believing God Himself. You are activating and putting into action what He says, and it will come to pass. It is the absolute truth of God’s Word abiding in the heart that brings forth the harvest.
Psalm 19: 8 – 10 (Amplified Bible Classic)The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes. (9) The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. (10) More to be desired are they than gold, even than much fine gold; they are sweeter also than honey and drippings from the honeycomb.
God’s Commandments and Promises require a response. A choice must be made. No response is a response.
The Living Word must enter the heart before it can be unfolded. Once unfolded in the heart it will bring forth light or revelation even to the simple.
Psalm 119: 130 (Amplified Bible Classic)The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.
Where is your confidence? That is a question that we all must answer every moment of our lives.
When the problems of life come our way where do we place our confidence? Do we really have confidence in God and His Word?
If we really had the confidence and trust in God and His Word that we say we have, we would respond differently to the problems and circumstances of life.
Confidence must be developed. We must develop confidence in God and His Word before the problem or issue. Our confidence in God and His Word must be full time, never ending, continuous, and be our habitual lifestyle.
We need to practice our trust and confidence in God and His Word every day in every circumstance and situation of life. Not just when problems are present. It is the only way we can be ready when the real problems and storms of life come our way.
Are we sure that where, what, and who we are placing our confidence in is trustworthy, secure, solid, and faithful? God and His Word are always trustworthy, solid, and faithful.
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