Heralds Digest

  “You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Promise keepers are children of God, who are cautious with promises; because their words are their sure snares. Whereas, the bulk of the challenges in today’s relationship is related to the wide gap between promise making and promise keeping. Even without the documentation of marriage covenant, business agreements, and employment contracts, believers are called to the minimal standards of taking their words as sure snares. And without prejudices to the human constraints and uncontrollable circumstances in the society, the believer's faith in his sure snare encourages diligence, discipline, and devotion to the tasks of keeping the promises made. Even when there are delays in the fulfillment of promises made to the people by a believer with a strong commitment to his sure snare, everyone in the relationship circle can still retain the confidence in the believer’s status...

  “The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ While reflecting on the transition to glory of a beloved Uncle on account of heart problems, I can only imagine the impact of the distress expressed by the psalmist. Whether to glory or to more grace, ‘Bring me out of my distresses’ is a deep call-out for a fruitful fellowship with God. Unfortunately, we are often tempted to run into more distresses with a resultant high-blood pressure when the troubles of life knock at the door of our hearts. ‘Why is that…What is that..Who is that…and How is that.. ?’…resulting in an endless fellowship agenda with the distresses, instead of a sweet escape into a fruitful fellowship with God in prayer. Whereas, Jesus Himself invited everyone to “ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest ” (Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬). No other person anywhere or anytime has ever promised rest from life’s distresses. Therefore, the only f...

  “The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way. My eyes are ever toward the Lord, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.” Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭9‬, ‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Without hurdles on believers’ paths, following God would be an easy peasy for any seemingly religious person. Unfortunately, no one is allowed to brag on the highway of holiness, filled with humble hurdles and different sorts of discouraging drags. For example, Moses initially thought he had gotten hold on how to figure out the way to the promised land and the leadership challenges with the assistance of Aaron. He later discovered his error through the humble hurdles created by Aaron; and then raised an SOS to the Lord with a plea “ If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here (Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭15)”. The humble hurdles created by the seemingly helpful assistants and organized methodologies against progress in life will certainly introduce delays, drags, and disappointments. Notwithstan...

  “To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭25‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Trust in a relationship is more about accepting a partner’s position than receiving a personal preference. And in relationship with God, when the psalmist says ‘O my God, I trust in You’ , he underscores the acceptance of God’s position on TRUST (time, righteousness, understanding, sincerity, and teaching). Whenever we choose to adopt a different position on these variables, as influenced by personal and societal pressure against the counsel of God, it just shows we have a trust problem. Whereas, true trust must pass the litmus test of time - God’s promises are always fulfilled at His own time, not ours - “ Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed (verse 3)”; it must pass the litmus test of righteousness - heaven helps the righteous, and not those who must help themselves - “ Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously with...

  “Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets?” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Family dinner, devotions, discussions, and decisions are just a few out of the numerous benefits of the family fountain, designed for mental, spiritual, and emotional stability of homes and the society. Unfortunately, today’s social media, entertainment, and peer pressure have created several abroad-dispersed fountains for the destruction of divinely-ordained family institutions. And when it is becoming difficult for families to pray, plan, and play together, it is no longer a surprise that our nations, societies, and institutions are getting more motivated in the enterprise of utilizing the advances in knowledge for the development of IEDs (improvised explosive devices). For example, by drinking water and feeding on abroad-dispersed fountains, love is fabricated as lust, decency is celebrated as d...

  “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.” Psalms‬ ‭24‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The access between the kindred for glory and the King of glory has been the battleground from the beginning; and the challenge has always been the setting up of gates to prevent the passages of the King within His kingdom. The King is the Creator of heaven and earth, whose earth and the fullness thereof are His and represent the kingdom. Since the fall of man and the loss of access into the presence of the King, believers have been privileged to be called, chosen, and commissioned to access and dwell in the presence of the King through a consistent daily lifestyle. Notwithstanding, a pure passage can never be a one-way traffic of believers into the throne of grace. A pure passage also embraces the unhindered coming of the King of glory into His kingdom, which is the heart of man and all his daily affairs. Therefore, when the psalmist says ‘Lift...

  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The evidence of the Lord  becoming believer’s Shepherd and Sufficiency is found, not when he is surrounded with pleasantries in people, places, and purpose; but rather when he walks through the fear simulator, like the valley of the shadow of death. Since the singular purpose of fear is the depletion of faith in the sufficiency of God in a believer's life, it is only a focus on what God is doing with all the instruments of fear that saves believers from the purpose of the enemy. And like Job defeated the purpose of the enemy by staying with God, in times of his walking through the valley of the shadow of death, we can see why and what the psalmist declares and means by “ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬). We shall not want, even though in want, when God alone has truly become o...