God's Mysterious Word - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) January 31, 2023

We need to be ready to pick up the Bible to study it again and again and again.

Why? Because no matter how long you've been studying the Bible, there's always something new that God wants to teach in His word.

Case in point, recently, I thought I'd be studying something else but ended up in the Book of Micah. Personally, I let the Spirit of the Lord lead me to wherever He needs me to study each day. I've learned that He will teach me something one way or another.

It felt like I hadn't read this particular Book in a long time. That was until I got to a certain verse and thought, Hey, this reminds me of something the Lord taught me not long ago. I flipped through my notebook only to realize I'd actually studied Micah approximately six weeks prior!

I was stunned and sat there with all sorts of concerns. Did I not pay enough attention the last time I read Micah? To answer that question, I went to my notes from that period. They were rich with understanding on issues involving myself and others. So, I couldn't claim I wasn't paying attention.

Could it be that I wasn't getting enough sleep or something? Was that why I'd forgotten how recently I'd studied the Book? That could have been possible but I noticed that my sleep pattern didn't interfere with the depth of knowledge I received from the Lord while studying both times.

So what was it? I turned to God for the answer and it was straightforward. The Lord wanted me to remember that the Bible is a new book every time I open it. This is by His design. A mystery. The Bible will always have something new to reveal or to remind me of what I need to know.

I immediately understood that this lesson wasn't to make me feel uncertain. I already knew that the Bible is evergreen and will always be fresh in every era an. Nevertheless, this practical lesson certainly humbled me for my own good. It was to ensure I never think that I've learned everything there is to know from God's word. For that will never be the case. After all, we are told in Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

God's word is alive, dynamic, and endures forever. Though penned centuries ago, it's significance never dims with the passage of time. We must therefore never allow our Bibles - His word - to get 'dusty' be it physically or in our hearts. When last did you look at your Life Manual and have quiet time where you asked God to reveal the deep insights within? If it's been a while, make some time to do so today and continue to do so regularly. There's something new He wants to teach you.

May the word of God be a delight that is new every morning to you, IJMN Amen.

For more, please see:

1. Praise For The Written Word & More

2. Listen & Check the Word

Storytime: The Tentacles of The Occult

Many of us think the occult is an issue impacting other people. It doesn't occur to us that occultism can and often does touch our existence in one way or another. I used to think this way. Then God showed me how the occult can trickle into a person's life in the most subtle but dangerous ways.

For my family and I, the Lord spent a period of almost 3 years gently identifying occult-tainted items in my life. Some were trinkets I'd had for so long, I couldn't remember where they came from. Others were things received from people. Many were very expensive and even rare. It was shocking to learn why and how certain things had to go.

And so today, we continue with the occult but this time, we consider specific items and practices that are stained by the practice. May the Lord open our eyes to how this issue affects us so we don't focus on others but ourselves to His glory, IJMN Amen.

The Lord helped me understand why certain things had to go with the following scripture, Deuteronomy 7:6 - Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you, like it, will be set apart for destruction. Regard it as vile and utterly detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.

God detests objects that are tainted by the enemy and tied to idolatry and satan. It was shocking to learn some items in my possession stemmed from origins that weren't agreeable to the Lord. I had things from people whom the Lord helped me see where dabbling in the dark. Once He opened my eyes, it was so obvious. They'd never actually hid their belief system, I simply didn't recognize it for what it was for years! Needless to say, the trash became their resting place.

Then there were the items that, once I took a moment to be frank with myself, I rushed to dispose of. I'd been a yoga practitioner for over a decade and had items tied to that belief system. For me, it had never been anything more than a couple of gravity-fighting poses to keep in shape.

That was until the Lord pointed me to the origins of yoga. It stems from a region where the people, lovely as they may be, serve multiple idols and gods. Yoga itself has ties to the religious practices from that region. Therefore, could I really believe that yoga had nothing to do with the gods of those lands? The yoga mats were promptly removed from my home.

I remember when the Lord helped me understand I had no business frequenting a certain discussion thread on political happenings. One day, I was about to enter the thread only to see that right there in the name was the word 'Tarot'. It had always been there but I previously didn't catch the significance. Within the discussion were links and references to the opinions of tarot card readers about politics and politicians.

It had all seemed like a harmless past time - sharing political events and opinions with other like -minded individuals. Yet, the thread was deeply tied to the tarot - a popular New Age practice that relied on spirits other than God's Holy Spirit. Rather than give that any more of my time and energy, I left the thread and never returned.

If one is to be honest, it seems very daunting to start considering all the many places occult practice might somehow touch a person's life. This is a true and realistic assessment. And that is why, we humans can't adequately keep the tentacles of the occult away without the help of the Holy Spirit.

I pray, that you will recognize the need for the Lord, His Son - Jesus - and His Holy Spirit to help you. This will require submitting to that greater power and not the idols, the gods, and other tactics that idolatry, New Age 'spirituality' and satanism (in all its forms).

May the Lord, in His mercy, watch over us and rescue us from the snares of the enemy. May His loving hand guide angels to lift us up so our feet do not touch any stones. May He be glorified in our lives now and till the end of time, IJMN, Amen.

For more, please see:

1. Let Go of Idols

2. Jezebel: An Introduction

3. Again, on Jezebel

4. Avoid The Occult (At All Costs)

5. Consequences & The Occult

6. Specific Occult Practices & God's View

Specific Occult Practices & God's View - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) January 27, 2023

Our review of occult practices and how they violate God's precepts continues with a look at specific things we have all done or are doing that create separation from the Lord (Isaiah 59:2). When this series began, we looked at the need to avoid the occult at all costs plus some consequences of failing to do so. Since then, we reviewed scripture which stated God's punishment for those who choose to disobey His command to not serve anyone or anything other than Him.

Consider the mantras and affirmations people listen to in order to manifest their self-motivated desires. These include desires to get rich, be beautiful, attract/repel a specific person etc. Now, this is the toughest issue for practitioners of the occult because their 'religion' is founded on self-actualization and self-determination. There's no room for God's plan and purpose for them since they see themselves as gods. However, the Bible tells us we were predestined for God's purpose and He knew us before we were born (Ephesians 1:4). Therefore, His children must submit to becoming what He intends for them to be. Does this mean you can't ask God for the things you'd like? Of course not, it just means that you ask knowing God will provide those things because He has the power to do so. Not you.

Another example is sage burning. I confess I have grown sage on occasion and kept some in my house for cooking purposes. I also confess that I found it confusing when I learned people were wasting seasoning to deal with evil. Especially people who say they are Christians. Yet, the practice of sage burning is presented as a means of 'cleansing' places, people and things of spirits. But why choke on smoke when a brief prayer in Jesus's name would suffice? In fact, the mere mention of that name makes demons flee in fear because of its power (Philippians 2:10). And if the spirits dare persist, double down the way Jesus taught in Matthew 17:21 - But this kind of demon does not go out except by prayer and fasting (AMP). Plus, prayer, and fasting, are free and accessible to all.

Same with crystals that are supposed to 'shift energies'. Why not find God's word on peace (or whatever issue you have) and proclaim it? It actually takes less energy to search the Bible online with the word 'peace' than to study the many new age recommendations on the topic. Or pay for the books, consultations, stones or other items that should work but somehow years pass, and those who believe in this 'fix' are having to keep spending for a solution that doesn't seem to work. God, on the other hand fixes problems permanently. When He says it is finished, it is indeed done.

Then there's yoga. It stems from a region where idols and many other gods are worshipped. Hinduism, for instance, potentially has up to 33 million deities. Yoga is deeply woven into the gods they serve over there and, therefore, not just a form of exercise. How, then, can your practice of an 'exercise' that is tied to the gods of that land not constitute the very thing God is warning you to stay away from?

So many of us believe we need yoga to be mindful and to relax, but do we? God rested on the seventh day so we would know that even we need to, and can, relax. Consider going for a prayer walk. Craft time to observe the Sabbath by shutting off some, if not all, electronics. During that time, sleep, read, eat well, have a glass of wine (but please don't get drunk) and acknowledge the Lord your God in meaningful ways. I assure you, you'll come out of the Sabbath rested and rejuvenated. Besides, God gives rest to His beloveds (Psalm 127:2). It is a covenant promise He must keep. If you love Him and genuinely live like you love Him, He has to give you that precious rest.

And with that, we have come to the end of this series on understanding how occult practices, idol worship, and the worship of satan via other gods disobey God's word and will for all whom He created. I pray that the Lord will touch you and show you how to walk away from anything that might qualify as detestable to Him, IJMN, Amen.

I'm also sharing a personal 'story time' on how the Lord showed me how the tentacles of occultism touched my life. I have never knowingly been a dabbler or practitioner and thought occultism was a problem for others. That was until God showed me it was nevertheless an issue I needed to address. I pray my story edifies you and helps you move closer to where God stands on this subject. To view the post, click here. You will be taken to my site outside of this website.

See you for fellowship at Noon EST. God bless you.

For more, please see:

1. Let Go of Idols

2. Avoid The Occult (At All Costs)

3. Consequences & The Occult

4. Specific Occult Practices & God's View