“Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!” The bible says blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God is aware of every tear that falls down your face (Psalm 56:8). He knows exactly what we are dealing with when it comes to trouble in our lives. What needs to be understood is God allows the trouble in our lives to happen, proportioned to the blessing that comes after going through it successfully. Releasing our tears helps in ways we may not realize. When tears fall we release pressure from within our souls. When tears of joy fall we experience the height of enjoying that moment. Tears of pain are linked to the direct release of moral conflicts and agitating spirits that stress us out. We cry when we get hurt physically, mentally, emotionally, or any other way. They are a form of release for our make-up as humans. Right after we cry because of trouble, there’s a brokenness, we are in a vulnerable state which the Lord can now impart strength and revelation knowledge of the situation to help comfort us. Dry your eyes, because the Lord is at work to comfort and restore that which was taken from you wrongfully. Dry your eyes because the law of reciprocity is in effect, they’ll get what’s coming to them for their cruelty against you. God’s on our side, who can be against us (Romans 8:31).

“Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous–with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!” The poor in spirit are those who are not inflated with pride. To be humble in spirit is to gain the kingdom of God. Sometimes we need to be lacking in an area of life to learn of its value. A haughty spirit will always lead the way to a fall, and pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Pride, that dirty weed that blocks the blessings from flowing to you from God. There are many ways to get to the unacceptable level of pride. There’s the pride of life, which is indicative of loving this world more than God. An unsaved person still walks around with the deceitful heart which is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), full of pride. Sometimes there can be that laid back pride. It only raises its head when someone else is being recognized or celebrated. Pride which is connected to envy and jealousy can bring us down as well. These are all God blockers. The Lord can only reveal Himself and His love to us when we have a humble, receptive spirit. Be poor in spirit, because pride is an unwelcomed guest ready to take your stuff.

“I sought (inquired of) the Lord and required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. [Ps. 73:25; Matt. 7:7.] They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces shall never blush for shame or be confused.” If you want deliverance from all of your fears, seek the Lord now. David in this verse has found this out in his day. If God did it for David He’ll do it for us in our day and time. The thing that most christians have a problem with is their lack of discipline to be still before Him and listen. We must always get quiet before the Lord before receiving instructions. Since we walk by faith concerning God, and not by sight, it is vitally important to cultivate our faith which works by love. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). God wants to deliver us from fear once and for all. Perfect (mature) love drives out fear (1John 4:18), so waking in love towards people is the way. I know, certain folk don’t deserve your love, and neither did we deserve the love Jesus gave on the cross, even dying for us. We must die to self centeredness, and the many appetites of our bodies. Seek and you shall find, knock and the doors will be open for you. God wants to deliver us from all fear, but our participation is the only way. Don’t be that lazy person who can’t see beyond their own nose the reality of the scriptures that promise us victory. The word of God is conditional. Work His word, and lose the fear.

To be humbled or to humble one’s self, that is the question

“The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” There is a reward of humility and the worshipful fear of the Lord. Riches and honor and life. That word life is the abundant life the Lord has promised while still here on earth, and it is the Zoe life of God in us which lasts forever. The bible says, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and He will exalt you in due time (1Peter 5:6). As we go through life we are inundated with everything that can puff us up with pride. Mankind in general wants to make a name for ourselves. In this world the system is geared towards fame and fortune. These things can fill us with pride. Unless we stay humble we can never receive from the Lord His best. His will must be our desire, and we must be Christ inside minded. If you don’t humble yourself, the Lord will humble you, and it won’t be pleasant. He wants the best for us even though we can’t see it. All we see is, how could you let this happen to me God, why? And that bad experience was self inflicted by you because of your inflated pride, and arrogance. We can think of ourselves highly but not more highly than we ought to (Romans 12:3). Knowledge also can puff us up, we think we know it all because we have studied the bible and gained much information. Paul who wrote two thirds of the new testament got thorns in his flesh because he got puffed up with much knowledge (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Humble yourselves, the riches and honor will follow.

“Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord!” Our strength comes from the Lord. The joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). We can take courage through our joy of the Lord. Relationship with God comes once you’ve received Jesus as Lord of your life. Him being our Savior in all things comes through close fellowship with Him. Everything concerning our lives should be connected to and springing from our close fellowship experience with God. We can draw more than just strength and energy from the Lord. But wisdom and knowledge about the human makeup and how we fit into God’s plan of reconciliation, is attainable. Our existence is and always has been about purpose. A life of leisure is not of God. Without purpose there’s no true reason for living (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21). We’re not here to simply do nothing that doesn’t help others. As our hope is genuinely in the Lord, our purpose is energized with strength. We will always have to fight the good fight of faith no matter what we’ve individually been called to do. Living, moving and having our being in Christ is indicative of having all power and might at our disposal (Acts 17:28). We can be about God’s business, or continue on a lower level of life. We never know what we’re missing out on until we experience the goodness of the Lord. Take heart, and hope in the Lord.

“I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.” Jesus talking here about our salvation. The person that listens to, and acts on these words of eternal life shall not come under condemnation or the sentence of judgement. We are totally forgiven of all sin once saved, becoming a christian. God’s not holding over us the rod of correction every time we do something wrong. We can work on being a better person, less likely to sin by receiving Him as Lord and Savior. Understanding what we have in Christ can make the difference between failure or success. We must always ask God to forgive us when we know we messed out, and He will. You’re not perfect down here on planet earth. We can live better and cleaner lives more free from unnecessary trouble we bring to ourselves. Passing over from death to life in this verse means, you were hellbound but now you’re heaven bound because of Jesus Christ our Lord. Live free but obey the rules.

“Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” We are ambassadors for the Kingdom of God while here on planet earth. We are in this world but not to be a part of it ( John 17:14-16). We are the salt of the earth, preservatives of the planet keeping it from being totally evil. Once we’ve joined with the way of this world we become useless to God. By the renewing of our minds with the washing of God’s word can we change things, and not get caught up with the wrong doings of life. We have been given treasure in these earthen vessels, our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:7). Because the Spirit of God lives in us we have the power to overcome this world’s evil ways. It is vital we renew our minds with the way the Lord thinks to be able to stand our ground in this world. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. You’ll be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will.

“If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.” Shying away from your hope as a believer is like denying Jesus. Our faith is built on the Rock Christ Jesus, not to have a solid answer for someone when asked about your hope as a believer gives you a picture of your maturity in Christ, or lack of knowledge who you are supposed to be. When we give a right now word to someone, by way of witnessing, it could be the words to stay the hand of unnecessary trouble in their life or even their demise. The Christian believer should have a ready word to help in their mouth, in season or out of season. Always be ready and prayed up. We are the salt of the earth but when we have lost our salt content we are useless to help. Stay salty for Jesus my friends.