“And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts”. (2 Peter 1:18-20 KJV)

This present darkness

Looking around at all the unrest and evil happening everywhere; the USA, for instance, is politically split down the middle with people in power calling evil good and good evil. It would be easy to get discouraged if you didn’t know who is behind all of it. This evil condition is nothing new! Notice in the following passage, the writer refers to it as “this present darkness.” That’s because the enemy has continually been at work making hearts evil for a very long time. And we’re reminded in Scripture that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but is against spiritual forces. 

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”(Eph. 6:12 ESV)

God’s Word is light  

The good news is we have “a light that shines in a dark place.” And, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy.” (2 Peter 1:18-20). And many other Bible passages say the same. 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 ESV)

“For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28 ESV)

The Word of God shines light in our hearts

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6 ESV)

Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you

“So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (John 12:35-36 ESV)

Therefore…

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 15:14-16 ESV)

Quotes:

“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine.” - Dwight L. Moody

“We are to order our lives by the light of His Law, not by our guesses about His plan.” - J.I. Packer

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Do God’s work wholeheartedly

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Col. 3:23)

God’s favor establishes the work of our hands

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 80:17)

Therefore…

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)

"For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

There are lots of things that are impossible for man, but not for God, the creator of all things, who can do the impossible. 

“Ah Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heaven and the earth by your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)

See what God has done

• An Ax head floats (2 Kings 6:1-7)

• The sea parts so God’s people can walk safely through on dry land. (Exodus 14:21)

• Three men survive in a blazing fiery furnace without even the smell of smoke on them. (Daniel 3:23)

• A donkey speaks. (Numbers 22:28)

• Peter walks on the water. (Matthew 14:29)

• A man, dead for days, comes back to life. (John 11:43)

Don't limit God!

“But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'” (Matt. 19:26)

Therefore…

“'Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?'” (Jeremiah 32:27)

Quote:

“Our beliefs and possibilities have to be in line with the will of God. That’s how Jesus lived His life and how He taught His disciples to live (John 5:30). When our lives are lived in obedience to God’s will, nothing is impossible. Dream big — but dream biblically! Just as He parted the sea for Israel, reversed the events in Esther, raised Jesus from the dead, and converted Saul of Tarsus, God is capable of reversing our irreversible problems.” – David Jeremiah 

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14)

 It's not about secular leadership!

This verse says it very clearly. It says, “If my people.” It doesn't say, “If the president of the USA” or “If the Kings or Queens of the world,” or “If the combined world leadership.” No! It says, “If God’s people, who are called by His Name” will do certain things, then God will do certain things.

What “God's people who are called by His Name” must do:

• Humble themselves

• Pray

• Seek His Face

• Turn from their wicked ways

How God promises to respond:

• He will hear from Heaven

• He will forgive their sin

• He will heal their land

Therefore, the real answer to the wickedness in our land is not political, it's spiritual! It's up to God’s people to wake up and respond according to His Word!

“The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” (Prov. 15:29)

“Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.” (Psalm 107:28-30)

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Eph. 6:18)

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” (John 17:15)

“He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea.” (Psalm 102:17)

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)

What you think about is very important!

What you think about it is an indicator of who you actually are. The Bible says it this way, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” (Prov. 23:7). In other words, what you think about is who you actually are. An old saying puts it this way: “You aren’t what you think you are, but what you think, you are!” So, true! 

Work on what you think about

You do have control over what you think about and the Bible says you must take every thought captive. That means you can do something about all thoughts that are not well-pleasing to God, before they enter your heart, and before they become a part of you. 

“…take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)

What you put in is what you get out

A big part of what you think about is what you feed into your brain (mind) in the first place.Your mind is like a computer in that it produces only what is programmed into it. For instance, if you watch a lot of television, secular news sources, visit social media, watch unwholesome movies, you will soon be thinking along their negative, even destructive, mental pathways. 

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:5-6 ESV)

Be careful!

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23 ESV)

Therefore…

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8 ESV)

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 ESV)

“Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” (Rom. 4:19–21)

Don’t give up!

If you think about the impossibility of things, it’s easy to allow yourself to get discouraged and to give up!

We all have many big challenges that come our way. But, God is not limited by our limitations! Just look at Abraham and his wife, Sarah. Their situation was completely impossible from a human standpoint. They were way too old to have children, yet God promised them that they would. Abraham was strong in faith and believed that God was able to do the impossible. And, it happened just as God said it would!

Therefore…

Don’t put limits on God! He is able to do much more than you think! Even things that are humanly impossible!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Eph. 3:20)

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23)

Because of God’s great love…

• We are not consumed! Consumed is defined as: done away with, destroyed, burned.

• His compassions never fail! Compassion is defined as:  sympathy, empathy, care, concern, love, tenderness, mercy, leniency, tolerance, kindness.

• They are new every morning! New is defined as: made fresh, as if for the first time.

• God demonstrates great faithfulness! Faithfulness is defined as: true, devoted, staunch, constant, loyal, with dependability, and devotion.

Therefore…

“Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Col. 3:12-13 ESV)

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32 ESV)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Cor. 1:3-4 ESV)

Quote:

Dare to Be

“When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you’re feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you’ve done your best.

Dare to be the best you can –

At all times, Dare to be!”

 - Steve Maraboli, Life, the Truth, and Being Free

---

CLICK HERE TO HEAR MIKE’S WEEKLY PODCAST

Or visit the following:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/17178

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32)

You will have ever-present peace in your heart

Just because you are a believer, a follower of Jesus, a redeemed person, doesn’t mean your life will always be trouble free! Jesus makes it clear that “in this world you will have trouble.” We do live in a sinful world with an adversary who continually attacks and messes up so much! But, Jesus promises you that you will have peace. Yes, trouble visits everyone from time to time, but we can have His ever-present peace in our hearts, no matter what happens!

Don’t be afraid or let your heart be troubled

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Therefore…

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 5:7)

The Bible is filled from cover to cover with “whosoever” promises. Whenever the word “whosoever” is used, it means you, because you are in fact, a whosoever! Here are a few of them. 

• Whosoever does the will of the father is Jesus’s family

“For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matt. 12:50)

• Whosoever shall give a drink of cold water won’t lose his reward

“And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.” (Matt. 10:42)

• Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)

• Whosoever humbles himself as a child is greatest in the Kingdom of heaven                                              

“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)

• Whosoever drinks of Jesus’s water shall never thirst 

“But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:14)

• Whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved                                              

 “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (At target 2:21)

• Whosoever hears and does what Jesus said is wise and strong                                                       

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house on a rock.” (Matthew 7:24 NKJV)

• Whosoever says and believes without doubt in their heart, it will be done for them                                                                         

“Truly I tell you, whosoever says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” (Mark 11:23)

• Whosoever confesses Jesus before men  He will confess before the father! 

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32 NASB)