A Scribe on the Wall

Several years ago now, I believe that God gave me a message, He would be telling me things and it was up to me to tell others. To me, it's much like the Watchman on the Wall as described in the Old Testament. The Watchman was told that it was on him to warn others about any approaching dangers. God's apparently gifted me with being able to type and write. So I put the old definition of a writer along with the concept of a watchman together. Jesus is coming soon...are you ready?

Saturday, September 26, 2026

God's Promises Are More

by David Brenneman

“If the Lord had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, One which devises mischief by decree? They band themselves together against the life of the righteous And condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has been my stronghold, And my God the rock of my refuge. He has brought back their wickedness upon them And will destroy them in their evil; The Lord our God will destroy them.”Psalms 94:17-23.

My Dear Reader, God's promises in Christ Jesus, aren't just for your daily life, your daily needs.

His promises are throughout the Scriptures that cover all aspects of your life. Some indeed you will see the fruits thereof, some may come after you or after you've moved on. But they will happen.

It doesn't take long for some unfortunate atrocity to happen and people grab a soapbox to rage on someone's behalf or if it's personal their own behalf.

For the Believer in Jesus Christ, who counts Him as their personal Lord and Savior...leave such at His feet and walk away. He will keep His promise to you and, in His time, will indeed deal with such people. It's not for me or you to plot, plan, determine a course of action, for revenge, for payback.

Whether it's in our lifetime or at the Final Judgment seat, justice will be served.

Ours is to trust the Lord with all our hearts and to not lean on our own understanding.

All too often we can throw our testimony in Christ Jesus right out the window because of our reactions to injustice or inequities we perceive.

Pray about it, pray often if such thoughts won't leave you be, but pray. What does it say? "“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7.

The non-option is this: "“Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21.

It's not about you being His instrument of wrath. It's not about you seeing, observing, participating, regulating, any aspect of what's to come.

It's for you to pray, and leave at the feet of Jesus.

My Dear Reader I speak from extreme experience when I talk of such things. Just as my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ has been extremely abundant in His providing for our needs, He has been extremely aware of and has dealt with those who chose to be our enemies in this life as well.

I have seen the fulfillment of today's Scripture in my life many times over.

Trust Him.

Scripture cannot be broken, as it says of itself. God cannot break His word to you.

But it hurts! The anguish! The tremendous grief! The rage I feel!

My Dear Reader, He knows. He KNOWS! He knows what you are experiencing and tells you what to do.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30.

While your plans might bring short-term relief to you or might bring a few moments of joy, you forget God's plan for salvation that still applies to those who wrong us in any way.

Jesus is still seeking to save even those who wrong us until they are taken from this world.

The Apostles, the newly saved in Christ, were in fear of their lives of a man named Saul. People were living in great fear. Until that day when Jesus met Saul on the way to Damascus. When Saul became Paul. Ananias was fearful but obeyed Jesus and Jesus told Ananias that Paul would be shown how much he would suffer for His Name.

Paul embraced what he knew was coming from the Lord. Even when it got rough, he wrote about running the race set before him.

We are also in the race set before us. Regardless of how life is or how we are treated, we are to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to not lean on our own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge Him and He will make our paths straight.

Pray. Leave it with Jesus. You can and should tell Him how you feel.

Trust Him to take care of you and your situation. Continue to take up your own cross and follow Him.

Don't tarnish your testimony among men and women.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Friday, September 25, 2026

Your Life in His Hands

by David Brenneman

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, But it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, Nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down. “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.””

Psalms 91:1-16.

For those who think that it's a lot to read Scripture...consider this: you just read a whole chapter.

Why oh why would you make excuses to not spend time hearing from your risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

Look at what He's saying right here in this chapter alone about you and I!

While our enemy prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour...resting in this promise keeps him at bay.

Yesterday evening we should have had cause to be alarmed due to not discovering til too late that a website my Wife went to was fake. Even I missed it right away but soon discovered that it was malicious. Thing is it was right there in the midst of all the legitimate website results. These people managed to register it with Google search.

While normally a reason to panic, my God was already always watching out for us. He put me immediately on a path of whom to call, of what to say, and the danger was squashed.

There's residual work to do today as well as the coming week for the free credit report stuff but the proof of this passage this morning is so reassuring! To think, had I not made the commitment to be reading God's Word, I would have missed it.

Your woes, your sorrows, your various stressful situations, consider going to God's Word for therein lies your assurances that your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ never slumbers nor does He sleep.

He is always watching the whole Earth. Nobody gets away with anything against His sheep...be it immediately or at the Final Judgment...all who have wronged His sheep will be held accountable.

“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”

Psalms 94:19.

“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, You knew my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me. Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.” Psalms 142:3-5.

Would not it be a good thing to keep "“I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!””Psalms 91:2. In mind along with "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

My Dear Reader...make the time. Give up whatever you must, but, make the time.

We see it over and over as an abundantly used plot line in television and movies...the grand sorrow that envelopes the main characters when, after a significant character dies, they find a letter that fills them with regret. Never having heard in person the words on the pages before them now.

The whole Bible is God’s love letter to mankind...to you my Dear Reader. Do you really want to admit before Jesus that you just didn't have the time to read His words of love towards you?

Do you really want a life only filled with your own thoughts on hope and love when Jesus has so much more to show you in what He wrote to you?

You're wanting hope, you're wanting relief. You're wanting peace.

Jesus said specifically to come to Him who are weary and troubled and He will give you rest.

As of this morning my troubles are at bay. I have a few minor inconveniences to address later but in this here this now...my God in whom I trust is watching over me now and forever more.

His Word says so.

An I believe Him.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Thursday, September 24, 2026

Be Grateful...Give Thanks

by David Brenneman

Oh what comes from the mouths of men and women!

Tis a sad sad state to see a professed Believer in Jesus Christ be in when they are abundantly blessed and yet find nothing good in it and find complaint all the day long! They're totally missing the joy of the Lord's provision!

This thought caught my heart almost off guard. A person I know really is a decent person who is doing this complaining.

Charley Pride had a song called "Be Grateful" from 1976.

Blind man can't see flowers

Growing in the garden

Crippled man can't walk places where

He wants to go

Man that can't talk things he will never say

And a man that can't hear

Words he will never know

So if you can see and if you can walk

If you can hear and if you can talk

Then be grateful be grateful

For what you've got

Cause for some folks these things

Would mean a lot

I once heard a man say all he

Wanted out of life was money

To be the richest man have

Wealth and fame untold

But he could see he could walk he

Could hear and he could talk

And for some folks this would

Mean much more than gold

So if you can see and if you can walk

If you can hear and if you can talk

Then be grateful be grateful

For what you've got

Cause for some folks these things

Would mean a lot

So if you can see and if you can walk

If you can hear and if you can talk

Then be grateful be grateful

For what you've got

Cause for some folks these things

Would mean a lot

Cause for some folks these things

Would mean a lot

What many don't see or get is that falling down this path leads away from the life in Christ that we are supposed to be living in.

There's probably countless people who would love to have the "problems" this person whom I know has.

What's worse is this person's "problems" all stem from the same thing as, again, countless trillions of people in the world. Coming to Christ for salvation yet are wanting their own image of what a happy, successful, life looks like.

We who are among the saved in Christ Jesus are to put our all on the altar of God.

There's, again, many many people who would love to have the problems this person whom I know has.

In the last few years recently married. Recently a father. New to them home. Plainly obvious that God's been providing for them. Yet from their lips is a almost seemingly endless list of what's wrong in their life...and this to unbelievers and Believers alike.

My Dear Reader...when we come to Christ for salvation, it is then when we are taking up our own cross and following Jesus. It doesn't take much to read the 4 Gospels to see what it takes, what it means, to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said plainly to His Disciples that they must deny themselves take up their own cross and follow Him.

Another great song on this thought was brought out by Don Moen, written by Henry Smith 1978.

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart

Give thanks to the Holy One

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

Give thanks with a grateful heart (with a grateful heart)

Give thanks to the Holy One (to the Holy One)

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

Give thanks with a grateful heart (with a grateful heart)

Give thanks to the Holy One (to the Holy One)

Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

And now let the weak say, "I am strong"

Let the poor say, "I am rich (I am rich)

Because of what the Lord has done for us"

Give thanks

We give thanks to You

Scripture backs up these songs well in "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; ”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-21.

Be very very careful my Dear Reader.

"So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, ” Philippians 2:12-15.

What we say, what we do, what we think, shapes what our lives in Christ say to those in our lives see of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be Grateful...Give thanks.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Turn Your Eyes

by David Brenneman

"Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.” Psalms 139:4-5.

“Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” Psalms 86:11.

“Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.”

Proverbs 23:26.

“Buy truth, and do not sell it, Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.” Proverbs 23:23.

“Listen, my son, and be wise, And direct your heart in the way.”

Proverbs 23:19.

“Apply your heart to discipline And your ears to words of knowledge.”

Proverbs 23:12.

“Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always.” Proverbs 23:17.

At times, the lessons of life will appear too much for us to handle. The Lord calls us to an impossible task, permits our dreams to be shattered, pinpoints something important in our lives that we need to relinquish, or allows such profound loss that it leaves us reeling.

At that point, perhaps our instinct is to run away from God-

resisting His claim on our lives and escaping what He requires of us. We just cannot face it all. Our hearts are too weak, our fears too real, our suffering too profound. We don't want to yield to Him-to release our will to His. We say, "Lord, I know what You want me to do, but I can't. There has to be a better way." But how do we run from the presence of the infinite God, who is everywhere at all times constantly beckoning US to return to His arms?

You cannot-and that's on purpose. Friend, Jesus does not

leave you alone, because He loves you. He knows this situation is

difficult for you, and He wants to help you. So don't be scared of

facing Him. There is strength, healing, and hope with Him. So

stop running. Go to Him and live.

Jesus, I'll stop running, Thank You for helping me. Amen.

-"Trusting God with Today" by Dr. Charles Stanley.

You and I, my Dear Reader, are beyond any form or kind of special in the eyes of God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God. There's oh so much more to this life you're to be living than you can possibly imagine if only you put your whole trust in Jesus.

We're not like the world whom wander aimlessly trying to make something of themselves in their spiritual darkness. We have the light of Jesus Christ within us to show us His still better way.

When we're trying to live lives apart from His will for us it's not going to work out so well. Perhaps you have already experienced the struggles and setbacks associated with that. I know that I have. Unfortunately I have all too many stories to tell of my attempts at living a lukewarm lifestyle in Christ.

Jesus wrote of His profound love for us throughout the Scriptures. He wrote of things yet to come that He tells us to be excited about.

He wrote of what this world doesn't have to offer that is found only through obedience to God's Word.

He wrote about why the world won't understand.

All too often, in our feeble attempts at seeking understanding, we go to the world rather than our Father in Heaven about the things we are facing in life. Only God knows what we are experiencing is of Him or not. Contrary to popular belief or thinking, quite often what befalls us is our own sin nature. It's not God nor is it the devil, just our poor choices and bad decisions.

We get it in our heads some failing notion of what's important enough to pray about and what we think is ridiculous to bring to Jesus in prayer.

Jesus made it incredibly clear to bring everything to God in prayer.

Nothing is petty to the One who loves us so unconditionally!

Your life, your relationships, your situations...all of it...bring it to the Lord in prayer.

Doesn't say to seek first your own way then when that doesn't work then come to Me.

Doesn't say to ginormous amounts of time, energy and effort in your own understanding and estimation then after you're at your end then go to Him.

My Dear Reader these ways only lead to failure after failure.

Scripture says that we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works that we might walk in them.

We quite often get it in our heads that we have a right to tell Jesus what that should look like.

We attribute sadness, despair, disappointment, resentment, bitterness, anger even, at His rejection of His plans for us.

“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord,”

Jeremiah 29:11-14a NASB1995

Really really sink your teeth into that last portion of this passage.

We came to Christ for salvation. We owe Him our everything.

We should be trusting God with our everything.

We should be loving Him with our everything.

This absolutely must include the direction of our lives.

My Dear Reader we have this:

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ”

2 Corinthians 4:7-10.

So when we're in pain, life not making much sense, we're a work in His progress. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.

“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. ” Colossians 3:23-24.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim...in the light of His glory and grace.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Refocus, Regroup in the Lord

by David Brenneman

“How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah. How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion!

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”

Psalms 84:1-5, 10-12 NASB1995

How often do your thoughts go to those of your new home in Heaven?

How often do you long to finally get embraced by your living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

King David was obviously meditating on this thought.

We are often, and increasingly so each day it seems, to be more and more consumed by the things of this world. Be it this situation or that one, this breaking, that needs attention etc.

Yet the lesson of Mary and Martha is often overlooked.

Jesus said what about Martha's question concerning her sister helping her with preparations?

She has chose the better part and it will not be taken from her.

Do we choose the better part each day? Did not the Lord Jesus often make the Disciples stop, get away, and rest? Wasn't He making them to see: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalms 23:1-6?

We are in an ever increasingly busy world. Paper calendars can't keep up. We are being forced into a mode of living that has but one purpose: be too busy for Jesus.

We are also being made to be too busy to think. For decades, between intentional over medicating and psychological thoughts, every attempt is being made to get people to push people to let others do their thinking for them. This spills into even the Church. People come in to church to listen then go their own way...not at all trying to apply what they've learned because of various things like not stopping to rest in the Lord.

My Dear Reader we will become like Elijah's last days if we aren't careful.

We will live days where things overlap and collide. Where we don't have time to catch a breath let alone a break.

We have to break that mold that society has us trying to conform to.

There's something you need to remember and recognize. This is ENTIRELY a scheme of the devil.

It's not just the pressures of keeping up. It's intentional busyness even in the pleasures of this world. Keeping up with other's who have more than we do. Spending time and money on worthless things rather than to be as intentional as we can be in growing in Christ as a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ.

We don't see nor attempt to comprehend what Jesus was meaning by storing up treasures in Heaven where moth and rust do not destroy.

We are drowning in the thoughts of status. How well we look before others and not how we look before our Savior Jesus Christ. How well we keep up our home, what kind of vehicle we drive and how much bling it has. What clothes we wear. Is it the latest style. What stuff fills our house. What worldly interests are we keeping up on to honestly make us look appealing to others and increase our status before others.

Stop.

Stop and rest with Jesus.

Stop and get your intentionality on the right thing.

Your world is supposed to be as much about the Father’s business as Jesus's was when He was here in person.

Jesus said that the world would hate us because it first hated Him.

The world won't if we're unwittingly conforming to the world.

So what if you have money to relax and be at ease or if you're living paycheck to paycheck.

You, like what Jesus told Peter, need to recognize and understand that YOU need to follow Jesus. Not the world. Not so-and-so. Not this image or that image of success.

Are you investing in your life in Christ or are you investing in your status in this world? One is the selfless action the other is the selfish action.

The schemes of the devil are wanting you to convince yourself that you don't need to give Jesus all of your time, energy and effort. That it's ok since God's not stopping you from what you're doing, saying or thinking.

Jesus said if anyone wishes to come after Him that they must deny themselves, take up their own cross, and follow Him.

Is this a reflection of your life and life's choices?

Look at your calendar or at your week or even just today.

It's up to you to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

It's up to you to choose the better thing.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Monday, September 21, 2026

HALT and Find Peace in the Lord

by David Brenneman

"HALT! Halt I say!" Halt is one of those words in German that was brought over into English.

H.A.L.T. is also a very apt acronym for Hungry Angry Lonely Tired.

Elijah is a very good example of when someone doesn't HALT. In both respects he didn't HALT. Perhaps you too are in need of HALTing.

“Then the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel. Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.” He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, “Arise, eat.” Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you.” So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Then he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.””

1 Kings 18:46-19:1-14.

Elijah is one of the more powerful, in the Lord, people of the Old Testament. He is the one who was prophesied to come before the Lord. As Jesus told the Sadducies so we all must remember that God is the God of the living. Elijah is still indeed alive in the Lord.

But take a slower look at this portion of his life. Exhaustion was at his doorstep. He hadn't eaten in a long time. Anger, righteous anger, swelled up within him to slay the prophets of Baal. These began adding up and in comes loneliness whereas he leaves his servant behind for the wilderness a day separated from him.

Then we see him collapse before the Lord. Certainly not sounding very rational or composed.

Indeed he wasn't looking beyond himself anymore at the time he began asking the Lord to take his life.

How often is what we read, Dear Reader, a description of our life's experience?

We too need to recognize when we're cutting it close with not paying attention to when we are approaching being hungry, angry, lonely or tired.

A tired body means a tired mind, a tired mind makes mistakes. Read that once in a book and never forgot it.

So here we have the example and the warning. We really do add to our woes in life when we neglect to recognize our limitations.

We take it out on others.

We remove ourselves from others.

We say things, do things, that we later need to apologize for.

We...really become more and more self-centered.

Then in a very real way give the enemy of God a reason to rejoice. Because we've become ineffective in our service to the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Heavenly Father.

Now you know a bit more as to why you need a regular night's sleep.

Now you know why you need to pay attention to regular eating habits.

Now you know why you shouldn't let anger get the best of you.

Now you know you know why you shouldn't self-isolate.

Now you know, with certainty, what happens when you don't HALT.

Anxieties grip you. Words are said you can't take back. Relationships are bruised or broken. Decisions made might not be reversible.

You might even believe that the Lord has indeed forgotten you or forsaken you. Both of which are impossible.

Pray without ceasing. Conversational praying is possible throughout your day.

Priorities must be set. Letting go of things that rob you of your sleep.

Eating appropriately.

Not letting anger or any other emotions get a grip on you.

HALT as often as these things get compromised and run to the Father, fall into grace, as the song says.

God's mercies are new every morning the Scriptures say to us.

God's grace is ours in the fullest measure every day all day.

We are ambassadors for Christ with a job to be doing. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. My sheep hear My voice. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Rest at the feet of Jesus.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Sunday, September 20, 2026

Is He?

by David Brenneman

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.”

Proverbs 20:27.

“Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord, How then can man understand his way?”

Proverbs 20:24.

“The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9.

“Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.”

Proverbs 16:3.

Ever have the thoughts of "It's not supposed to happen this way!" or "I know what I am going to do!". We all have. One is along a path of despair the other jubilation. But both are wrong in the eyes of our Creator.

We are not the one who should be setting the path for the life we live if indeed we claim the Name of Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. This is what were we all get it wrong.

We walk with Jesus.

We sometimes run with Jesus.

We oftentimes stand still with Jesus.

But the leader of our lives is to be Jesus.

Ours is to follow.

Ours isn't to tell Jesus what we're doing or where we are going to go or do.

If Jesus sends someone into our lives then we're to accommodate them.

If He so chooses to redirect our lives then hang on because it's Him who leads.

If our lives take turns that we cannot comprehend...hang on because He is still the same Lord yesterday, today and forever.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30.

What more is there to say?

We are to lay it all down before Jesus.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds.”

Matthew 16:24-27.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Making a bit more sense now?

If even the Disciples made mention of everything they gave up to follow Jesus, should not we expect to do the same?

We don't dare take the lead in living the Christian life.

Jesus is to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.

Yes it might mean giving up your plans and dreams. Isn't it also said by our Lord Jesus Christ that we are to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness?

Do you believe at all that your choices, your path, will be better than He whom knows you better than you do?

The workmanship He is doing in your life is there to bring about your sanctification...your becoming more like Jesus Christ. It isn't to get you your dream job your dream car your dream home. It isn't to give you a slice of paradise here on Earth. It's to put you in a position to grow in Christ and lead people to Jesus to be saved.

So if you're not interested in His leadership of your life you need to stop and consider your foolishness.

If you're making the decisions for the direction of your life without consulting Jesus stop and consider your ways.

My Dear Reader He IS to be the Leader of your life...the question is...is He?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org