Holy, Humility, Seeking God, Through Prophets, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

The Holiness of God (Exodus 19:16-25)

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How often do we pause to consider the holiness of the God we worship?

Key Verse:

“So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.” —Exodus 19:16 NASB

Background Context:

After several days of preparation, the long-awaited moment finally arrived. The Lord descended upon Mount Sinai in fire, accompanied by thunder, lightning, thick clouds, smoke, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet. The mountain shook violently as God’s presence descended upon it, and the people trembled before Him.

This dramatic scene prepared Israel to receive God’s covenant and the Ten Commandments in the following chapter. Before God gave His instruction, He revealed His holiness and majesty so that His people would understand who was speaking to them.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 19:16-25

   16So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

The LORD Visits Sinai

      18Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. 22“Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, or else the LORD will break out against them.” 23Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.’” 24Then the LORD said to him, “Go down and come up again, you and Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break forth upon them.” 25So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Reflection on Exodus 19:16–25:

The description of God’s appearance at Mount Sinai is unlike anything else in Scripture. Thunder roared. Lightning flashed across the sky. Smoke covered the mountain like a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. The sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder until the people could do nothing but stand in awe before the Lord.

These signs were not intended merely to impress Israel.

They revealed the holiness and majesty of God.

Throughout Scripture, God’s holiness sets Him apart from everything He has created. He is perfect in righteousness, completely pure, and utterly unlike sinful humanity. When people encounter even a glimpse of His glory, their first response is often humble reverence.

Isaiah experienced this when he saw the Lord seated upon His throne.

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts… Then I said, ‘Woe is me, for I am ruined!'” (Isaiah 6:3–5)

Likewise, when Peter witnessed the miraculous catch of fish, he fell before Yeshua and said,

“Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8)

The closer we come to God, the more clearly we recognize both His holiness and our need for His grace.

Another important lesson from Sinai is that God alone determines how people may approach Him. The boundaries around the mountain were not arbitrary restrictions. They reminded Israel that sinful humanity cannot casually enter the presence of a holy God.

This truth runs throughout the Bible. Nadab and Abihu would later learn the danger of approaching God according to their own ideas rather than His instruction (Leviticus 10:1–3). Even King Uzzah lost his life when he handled the Ark contrary to God’s commands (2 Samuel 6:6–7). These accounts remind us that God’s holiness is never to be treated lightly.

Yet the story does not end at Sinai.

One of the beautiful themes of Scripture is that the God who descended upon Mount Sinai also made a way for His people to draw near. Through Yeshua, the barrier created by sin has been removed.

The writer of Hebrews intentionally contrasts Sinai with the New Covenant:

“For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched… But you have come to Mount Zion… and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant.” (Hebrews 12:18–24)

What an incredible privilege.

Israel stood at the foot of the mountain and was told not to come near.

Through Messiah, we are invited to draw near with confidence because He has borne our sin and become our great High Priest.

But notice what Hebrews concludes:

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28–29)

God’s holiness has not changed.

What has changed is our access to Him through Christ.

That truth should never make us casual in our worship. Instead, it should fill us with even greater gratitude. The holy God who caused Mount Sinai to tremble now invites us into His presence through His Son.

May we never lose our sense of wonder.

May we approach Him with confidence because of Yeshua, but always with the reverence and awe that His holiness deserves.

Application:

  • Take time to reflect on God’s holiness as well as His love.
  • Approach worship with reverence, gratitude, and humility.
  • Thank God that through Yeshua you have access to His presence.
  • Remember that God’s holiness calls us to pursue lives that honor Him.
  • Let your awe of God deepen your worship and strengthen your obedience.

Closing Prayer:

Father, You are holy, righteous, and worthy of all honor and praise. Thank You that although I could never approach You on my own, You have made a way through Yeshua to come into Your presence with confidence. Help me never to lose my sense of awe before You. Teach me to worship You with reverence, humility, and gratitude, and let my life reflect the holiness to which You have called me. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Fear / Reverence for God, Holy, Holy / Set Apart, Seeking God, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Prepare Your Heart to Meet with God (Exodus 19:7–15)

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How intentionally do we prepare ourselves when we come before the Lord?

Key Verse:

“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments.’” —Exodus 19:10 NASB

Background Context:

After calling Israel to be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation, the people responded with one voice, saying, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do.” Before speaking the Ten Commandments, however, God instructed Moses to prepare the people. They were to consecrate themselves, wash their garments, and be ready to meet with the Lord on the third day as He descended upon Mount Sinai.

These instructions were not given because clean clothes could make sinful people holy. Rather, the outward preparation symbolized a much deeper inward reality. God was teaching His people that approaching His holy presence requires reverence, humility, and hearts that are set apart for Him.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 19:7-15

      7So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him. 8All the people answered together and said, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD. 9The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.

      10The LORD also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12“You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13‘No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”

Reflection on Exodus 19:7–15:

One of the striking features of this passage is that God did not immediately appear before the people. Instead, He instructed Moses to prepare them over several days. Their clothing was to be washed, boundaries were established around the mountain, and the people were called to consecrate themselves before the Lord.

These outward actions pointed to an inward truth.

God has always been concerned with the condition of the heart.

Throughout Scripture, external acts of worship are meant to reflect an internal posture of faith, humility, and repentance. Washing garments did not remove sin, but it reminded Israel that they were about to stand before a holy God and should not approach Him casually.

David expressed this desire centuries later when he prayed:

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

Likewise, James writes:

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)

The emphasis remains the same. God desires hearts that are devoted to Him.

Another important lesson is found in the boundaries God established around Mount Sinai. The people were not free to approach God however they wished. His holiness required that they come according to His instruction.

Our culture often encourages us to approach God on our own terms, defining worship according to personal preference rather than according to His Word. Yet Scripture consistently reminds us that God is holy. He lovingly invites us into His presence, but He also teaches us how to approach Him with reverence and awe.

The writer of Hebrews echoes this truth:

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28–29)

The good news is that through Yeshua we have confidence to enter God’s presence. Hebrews tells us:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus…” (Hebrews 10:19)

What a remarkable contrast.

At Sinai, the people were instructed to remain at a distance because of God’s holiness.

Through Messiah, the barrier created by sin has been removed, and we are invited to draw near to our Father. Yet the holiness of God has not changed. Our privilege of access should deepen our reverence, not diminish it.

This passage also challenges us to consider how we prepare ourselves for worship. It is easy to rush into prayer, Bible study, or gathered worship while our minds are distracted by countless other concerns. Israel spent days preparing to meet with the Lord. While we no longer prepare through ceremonial washing, we should still prepare our hearts through repentance, prayer, gratitude, and a desire to hear God’s voice.

God is worthy of our thoughtful preparation because He is worthy of our wholehearted worship.

May we never approach His presence casually.

Instead, may we come with humble hearts, grateful for the privilege of drawing near through our great High Priest, Yeshua the Messiah.

Application:

  • Take time to prepare your heart before prayer, worship, and studying God’s Word.
  • Ask God to reveal anything that needs repentance before coming into His presence.
  • Remember that God’s holiness has not changed, even though we now have access through Christ.
  • Approach worship with reverence, gratitude, and expectation.
  • Thank God that through Yeshua you are invited to draw near to Him with confidence.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for inviting me into Your presence through Yeshua. Help me never to approach You casually or take Your holiness for granted. Prepare my heart to worship You with reverence, humility, and gratitude. Search me, cleanse me, and draw me ever closer to You. May my worship always reflect the honor and glory You deserve. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Holy / Set Apart, Obeying God

Called to be a Holy Nation (Exodus 19:1-6)

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What kind of people has God called us to be?

Key Verse:

“Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” —Exodus 19:5–6a NASB

Background Context:

Three months after leaving Egypt, Israel arrived at Mount Sinai. Here, God would establish His covenant with the nation and soon give His Law through Moses. Before speaking the Ten Commandments, however, God reminded His people of what He had already done for them and revealed His purpose for calling them. Israel was not chosen because of its greatness but because of God’s grace. He redeemed them so they could belong to Him and represent Him before the nations.

It is also important to remember that the people gathered at Mount Sinai were not only the descendants of Jacob. When Israel departed Egypt, “a mixed multitude also went up with them” (Exodus 12:38). Men and women from other nations had witnessed the Lord’s mighty works, chose to leave Egypt behind, and joined themselves to the people of God. Together, this covenant community stood before the mountain to hear the Lord speak.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Exodus 19:1-8

   1In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain. 3Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.

Reflection on Exodus 19:1–6:

As Israel gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai, they stood at one of the most significant moments in biblical history. God had delivered them from slavery, protected them through the wilderness, provided manna from heaven, brought water from the rock, and given them victory over their enemies. Before giving them His commandments, He first reminded them of His grace.

The Lord said:

“You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.” (Exodus 19:4)

Those final words are beautiful.

God did not simply deliver Israel from Egypt.

He delivered them to Himself.

The purpose of redemption has always been relationship. God’s desire was not merely to rescue His people from bondage but to bring them into covenant fellowship with Him. The same is true for us today. Through Yeshua, we are not simply rescued from the penalty of sin—we are invited into a restored relationship with our heavenly Father.

This pattern is found throughout Scripture. God acts first in grace, and His people respond in loving obedience. Israel did not earn their deliverance by perfectly keeping God’s commandments. They were redeemed first, and then God taught them how to live as His covenant people.

Likewise, we are saved by God’s grace through faith, not by our works (Ephesians 2:8–9). Yet Paul immediately continues by saying that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Obedience does not earn our salvation; it is the grateful response of those who have already been redeemed.

God then gives His people an incredible calling:

“You shall be My own possession among all the peoples… and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

A priest represents God before others. Israel was called to display God’s character so that the surrounding nations would come to know Him. Their holiness was never intended to make them proud or isolated, but to make God’s glory visible to the world.

It is also worth remembering who was standing at the foot of Mount Sinai.

Scripture tells us that a mixed multitude had come out of Egypt with Israel (Exodus 12:38). God’s covenant community already included people from more than one nation who had chosen to follow the God of Israel. Later, God would make this principle even clearer by declaring:

“The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you.” (Exodus 12:49)

And again:

“There is to be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a perpetual statute throughout your generations.” (Numbers 15:15–16)

From the beginning, God demonstrated that His instruction was given to His covenant people, which included not only those born into Israel but also those from the nations who joined themselves to Him in faith. This foreshadows the beautiful picture we see fulfilled through Messiah, as God calls people from every tribe, tongue, and nation into His family.

Peter intentionally echoes this passage when writing to believers:

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Peter is not inventing a new calling. He is reminding believers that through Messiah they now share in the same mission—to belong to God, reflect His character, and proclaim His greatness to the world.

Notice that God’s invitation includes both privilege and responsibility. His people are His treasured possession, and He calls them to listen to His voice and keep His covenant. Relationship and obedience have never been enemies. Throughout Scripture, those who love the Lord desire to walk in His ways because they know His commandments reveal His wisdom, His holiness, and His love.

The world should see something different in those who belong to God. Our priorities, our words, our relationships, and our obedience should point others to the One who has redeemed us.

Just as God brought Israel to Himself at Mount Sinai, He has brought us to Himself through Yeshua. May we joyfully embrace the privilege of belonging to Him and faithfully live as His representatives in the world.

Application:

  • Thank God for redeeming you and bringing you into a relationship with Him.
  • Remember that God’s grace always precedes our obedience.
  • Live as one of God’s people, reflecting His holiness and love in your daily life.
  • Look for opportunities to represent God well before those around you.
  • Rejoice that through Messiah, God is drawing people from every nation into His covenant family.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for redeeming me and bringing me into a relationship with You through Yeshua. Thank You that Your grace reached me long before I deserved it. Help me to joyfully walk in Your ways, not to earn Your love, but because You have already made me Your own. May my life reflect Your holiness and point others to Your goodness. Use me as Your representative in the world, proclaiming Your greatness to all who will hear. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Wise

God Made Us Upright (Ecclesiastes 7:23–29)

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Where does the brokenness we see in ourselves and in the world come from?

Key Verse:

“Behold, I have found only this, that God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.” —Ecclesiastes 7:29 NASB

Background Context:

As Solomon concludes Ecclesiastes 7, he reflects on the limits of human wisdom and the reality of mankind’s sinful condition. Although he has devoted himself to seeking wisdom and understanding, he recognizes that there are mysteries only God fully comprehends. His search ultimately leads him to a profound conclusion: God created humanity upright, but people have continually chosen their own paths instead of God’s.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Ecclesiastes 7

      23I tested all this with wisdom, and I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. 24What has been is remote and exceedingly mysterious. Who can discover it? 25I directed my mind to know, to investigate, and to seek wisdom and an explanation, and to know the evil of folly and the foolishness of madness. 26And I discovered more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, whose hands are chains. One who is pleasing to God will escape from her, but the sinner will be captured by her.

      27“Behold, I have discovered this,” says the Preacher, “adding one thing to another to find an explanation, 28which I am still seeking but have not found. I have found one man among a thousand, but I have not found a woman among all these. 29“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”

Reflection on Ecclesiastes 7:23–29:

Throughout Ecclesiastes, Solomon repeatedly reminds us that human wisdom has limits. In this closing section of chapter seven, he admits that despite all his searching, some things remained beyond his understanding. This is a refreshing reminder that even the wisest man who ever lived recognized that God’s wisdom is infinitely greater than his own.

There is great humility in admitting that we do not have all the answers. Our culture often celebrates self-confidence and independence, encouraging us to trust our own understanding. Yet Scripture consistently points us in the opposite direction. Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us:

“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.”

The more we grow in our knowledge of God, the more we recognize how much we still have to learn.

Solomon’s search eventually brings him to one of the most important conclusions in the entire book:

“God made mankind upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”

This verse beautifully summarizes the story of Scripture. In the beginning, God created mankind in His image and declared His creation to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Humanity was designed to live in fellowship with God, reflecting His character and walking in His ways.

The brokenness we experience today did not originate with God.

It originated when mankind chose to depart from His design.

Beginning with Adam and Eve in the garden, people have continually pursued their own wisdom instead of trusting God’s. We devise our own plans, redefine right and wrong according to our preferences, and convince ourselves that our way is better than His. Solomon describes these pursuits as “many schemes”—countless attempts to find fulfillment, purpose, and wisdom apart from the One who created us.

Paul describes this same reality in Romans 3:23:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The problem is not that God’s design was flawed.

The problem is that humanity has repeatedly rejected it.

Yet the good news of Scripture is that God did not abandon His creation. Through Yeshua, He has made a way to restore what sin has broken. Paul writes:

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The Gospel is not merely about forgiveness.

It is about restoration.

God is transforming His people into the likeness of His Son and restoring us to the purpose for which we were created.

As Ecclesiastes 7 comes to a close, Solomon leaves us with both a warning and a hope. The warning is not to trust our own schemes or imagine that we can improve upon God’s design. The hope is that our Creator has not given up on us. His wisdom remains perfect, His ways remain good, and through Christ He invites us back into the life He intended from the beginning.

The wisest path we can take is not creating our own way.

It is humbly walking in His.

Application:

  • Trust God’s wisdom even when you do not fully understand His ways.
  • Examine your life for areas where you may be following your own plans instead of God’s.
  • Remember that sin originates from humanity’s rebellion, not from God’s design.
  • Rejoice that through Yeshua, God is restoring His people to Himself.
  • Commit yourself to walking in God’s ways rather than pursuing your own schemes.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for creating me with purpose and for never giving up on Your creation. Forgive me for the times I have trusted my own understanding instead of Your perfect wisdom. Help me to reject my own schemes and to walk faithfully in the path You have set before me. Thank You for the restoration You offer through Yeshua and for continuing to transform me into His likeness. May my life reflect Your wisdom and bring glory to Your name. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Protector / Deliverer, Psalms

Lead Me to the Rock That Is Higher Than I (Psalm 61)

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When life feels overwhelming, where do you turn for refuge and strength?

Key Verse:

“From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” —Psalm 61:2 NASB

Background Context:

Psalm 61 is a heartfelt prayer of David during a time of distress. Although we are not told the specific circumstances surrounding its writing, David speaks as one who feels far away, overwhelmed, and in desperate need of God’s help. Yet even in the midst of his struggles, he expresses unwavering confidence that God is his refuge, his strong tower, and the One who hears his prayers.

This psalm beautifully demonstrates the progression from desperation to confidence. David begins by crying out to God from a weary heart and ends by praising Him with confidence that God will faithfully care for those who trust in Him.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Psalm 61

Confidence in God’s Protection.

For the choir director; on a stringed instrument. A Psalm of David.

1Hear my cry, O God;
Give heed to my prayer.

      2From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

      3For You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.

      4Let me dwell in Your tent forever;
Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.

Selah.

      5For You have heard my vows, O God;
You have given me the inheritance of those who fear Your name.

      6You will prolong the king’s life;
His years will be as many generations.

      7He will abide before God forever;
Appoint lovingkindness and truth that they may preserve him.

      8So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may pay my vows day by day.

Reflection on Psalm 61:

One of the most comforting aspects of this psalm is David’s honesty. He does not pretend to be strong when he is overwhelmed. Instead, he openly admits the condition of his heart and immediately turns to God.

He prays,

“From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

There are seasons in every believer’s life when we feel exactly as David did. The pressures of work, family, illness, grief, uncertainty, or spiritual battles can leave us weary and discouraged. Psalm 61 reminds us that God never asks us to carry those burdens alone. He invites us to bring them before Him.

David’s request is especially significant. He does not ask God simply to remove his problems. He asks to be led to “the rock that is higher than I.” David recognizes that he cannot rescue himself. He needs someone greater than himself—someone unshaken by the storms that overwhelm him.

Throughout Scripture, the image of a rock points to God’s strength, stability, and faithfulness. Moses declared,

“The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Likewise, the psalmist writes,

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.” (Psalm 18:2)

When everything around us feels unstable, God remains unchanging. His character does not shift with our circumstances, and His promises remain secure.

David continues by describing God as both a refuge and a strong tower. A refuge provides shelter during life’s storms, while a strong tower offers protection from enemies. Both images remind us that our greatest security is not found in our own strength or in favorable circumstances, but in the presence of God Himself.

This truth is echoed in Proverbs:

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

Notice that the tower is already there. We do not build it ourselves. We simply run to it.

The psalm concludes with David expressing confidence that God hears his prayers and preserves those who fear His name. His circumstances may not have changed yet, but his perspective has. Having brought his burdens before the Lord, David ends with worship instead of worry.

That progression offers an important lesson for us. Prayer does not always change our circumstances immediately, but it often changes our hearts. As we remember who God is, our fears begin to give way to faith, and our anxiety is replaced by confidence in His care.

No matter what overwhelms us today, the invitation remains the same.

Run to the Rock.

He is higher than we are.

He is stronger than we are.

And He is always faithful.

Application:

  • Bring your burdens honestly before God rather than trying to carry them alone.
  • Remember that God’s strength is greater than your greatest challenge.
  • Find your security in God’s unchanging character rather than in changing circumstances.
  • Make prayer your first response when your heart feels overwhelmed.
  • End your prayers with worship, trusting that God hears and cares for you.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for being my Rock, my refuge, and my strong tower. When my heart is overwhelmed, help me to run to You instead of relying on my own strength. Remind me that You are higher than every challenge I face and that Your promises never fail. Fill my heart with peace as I place my trust in You, and help me to respond to every circumstance with faith and worship. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Father / Yahweh, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Jesus Christ / Yeshua

Yahweh Reveals Himself Through the Holy Trinity

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Many struggle to fully understand how one God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Some even fall away from true faith over their lack of understanding in this issue, or hesitate to follow Yeshua because of it. Others may simply dismiss it. Blessed are those who accept it on faith and those who study God’s word to gain a clearer understanding of it. Whatever your understanding, scripture is clear… Yahweh reveals Himself to us in three key relationships… that of Yahweh the Father, Yeshua the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:16-18 16After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Matthew 28:18-19 18And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Take note of the importance of the Holy Trinity by its explicit mention by God in both the beginning of Jesus’ public earthly ministry at baptism and the end after He has died and been raised from the dead. The fact that God finds it important to express Himself to us in this way is undeniable. He does not shy away from it. It is front and center and important.

We could do well to conduct a detailed Bible study on each aspect of the Trinity, and I encourage you to do so as you read through the Bible and study. I encourage you also to prayerfully ask God to reveal Himself clearly to you. For today’s devotion, I will summarize at a high level.

Let me first begin with a simple example that may help remove some of the mystery, and then we will explore Biblical insights into the persons of the Trinity through which God reveals Himself to His people.

Try not to get hung up on someone revealing themselves through three persons. It seems impossible at first, but consider even God’s humble people. I am a servant of God. So too am I a husband and a father. Further, I am a neighbor and a citizen of a city and a nation. I am an employee and also a leader. I am a son and a brother. I could go on. I am one person, but through many different roles, I reveal myself in different relationships with people I meet. I am the same person, yet the way I act towards my children is different in some ways from the way I act towards my employer. Each relationship is consistent with the person being revealed, but each may show a different aspect or part of that person. So it is likewise with God.

Also, allow for the fact that there may be nothing else exactly like it we can relate to. God is supernatural. Thy physical may help us understand Him, but may not be a perfect match.

God the Father, Yahweh

God the Father is the Creator, the Alpha and Omega… beginning and the end, He is our Father, our Provider, our Protector. He is sovereign. Respect and honor who God is. Take a few moments and be still before God. Contemplate the character of God:

  • The Great I Am
  • Creator of All
  • All-Knowing (omniscient)
  • All-Powerful (omnipotent)
  • Present In All Places At All Times (omnipresent)
  • The Beginning and the End (Alpha and Omega)

God’s name is to be separated from the world. To do this, we must separate from the world and focus on God. Focus on the Old Testament names for God.

God the Son, Yeshua

The word of God became flesh in the person of Yeshua and dwelt among us. He showed us how to live in relationship with God the Father and our fellow man. He suffered and died and was raised from the dead so our wrongs could be forgiven.

John 1:1-5 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:14-18 14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” 16For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. 18No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

John 14:6-11 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10“Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.

God The Holy Spirit, Ruach Chodesh

The Holy Spirit is a helper that God sends for each of us who believe in Him through the person of Jesus Christ and submit our lives to Him. The Spirit represents God living inside of each believer to help comfort, counsel, teach, and guide us.

John 14:16-26 16“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

18“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19“After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20“In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” 22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?” 23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24“He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

25“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Embrace God’s word and allow God to more fully reveal Himself to you through each of these relationships He has chosen… God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to more fully understand the mystery of how you reveal yourself, three persons in one. You are one God, but You reveal Yourself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Let me not reject the truth because I do not fully understand it, but rather help me to accept Your word and continue to grow in understanding. Help me not to redefine Your word to fit my understanding, but rather redefine my understanding based on Your word.  Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Learning To Pray Effectively, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant

Is God Ignoring My Prayers?

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Sometimes Yahweh may be answering our prayers, and we don’t even know it. Perhaps His answer is “no” or “not right now”. However, if we feel like He is not answering us, we should also prayerfully reflect on whether or not we are in right relationship with Him. The problem, if there is one, is with us…not with Him. We must turn the lordship of our lives over to Yahweh. We need to die to self and increase in Him.

John 3:30

30“He must increase, but I must decrease.

What are some situations in which the LORD will not hear our prayers? Keep in mind, this is not simply speaking about those who outright rebel against Him, but rather to those who claim to follow Him. Also note, this is not comprehensive, not even close. I encourage you to study more on your own to learn more about what may stand between you and the LORD.

The LORD hears the prayers of the righteous, but is far from the wicked, or sinners.

 31“We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him. (John 9:31)

29The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29)

   2But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)

12“FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, aND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, bUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”(1 Peter 3:12).

Related to the one above, the LORD does not hear the prayers of one who turns away from the law, the teachings of God. This is actually the standard by which we can judge sin.

9He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (Proverbs 28:9)

Again, the next one is related to the ones above, but with a different emphasis that helps to drive additional clarity. We must choose to fear, or in this context, respect, the LORD as we would a father who has authority over us. When we reject the LORD and choose to go our own way, He will let us, and we will face the consequences. However, do not assume that if we choose to go our own way, He will then “bail us out” by answering our prayers when things go wrong.

24 “Because I called and you refused,  I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention;  25and you neglected all my counsel and did not want my reproof; 26I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27When your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD. 30“They would not accept my counsel, they spurned all my reproof. 31“So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. (Prov 1:24-31)

Specific sins are called out for emphasis at times also:

7You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)

Sometimes people make empty prayers, for show before man, more than based in humility and reverence before our Father.

 46“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, 47who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.” (Luke 20:46-47).

  5“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 7“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.  (Matthew 6:5-8)

Sometimes people may pray with words, but their heart is far from being submitted to the lordship of the Father.

  13Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, (Isaiah 29:13).

9And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13“But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14“I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14 )    

Do not ask, not believing that He can answer.

 6But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6-8)

Reconcile with your brother (in Christ) before coming before the LORD. Seeking forgiveness from others is important when we have done wrong.

23“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. (Matthew 5:23)

These are just a few examples. I encourage you to seek out more and perhaps even add them to the comment trail on this article. When there is a problem in our prayer life with the Father, it is important to remember that the problem lies with us, not with Him. The first and best approach is to fully embrace and submit to Him, asking forgiveness and guidance.

For more, read Learning to Pray Effectively.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please forgive me for my sins. Help me to repent and turn to Your ways. Please draw me near to You and help me to be in right relationship with You so that You would hear my prayers and answer. When You answer “no” or “not now”, please help me to understand and stand strong in my faith and relationship with You. Amen. 

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Learning To Pray Effectively

The Heart of Effective Prayer

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God has a lot to say about prayer in the Bible. It is a very important two-way communication between God and His people. He wants to hear from us and wants us to hear from Him. God also wants us to selflessly pray for others, not just for ourselves.

Prayer is a topic that can and should be studied at great length by every believer. This teaching is longer than most that we provide. As such, you may expect to go through it thoughtfully will take more than just a few minutes. Take it in pieces and come back to it if that helps, but get started even if you can’t finish it all at once.

For this teaching, as a starting point to lead you toward righteous prayer, we highlight several scriptures regarding prayer, but will only break down into greater detail the teaching of Jesus, Himself, regarding prayer in Matthew 6:5-14. It was in this way that Jesus began teaching His disciples how to pray.

To learn more about prayer, you can review our devotions on prayer by selecting the Category “Prayer” or consider other resources, such as those recommended on our site at “Study the Word: Books and Other Study Tools“.

1 Timothy 2:1-8

1First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 7For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

8Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.

Ephesians 6:18-20

18With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, 19and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Philippians 4:4-7

4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 5:23

23“Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

Matthew 26:36-46

36Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

39And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” 40And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? 41“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43Again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46“Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”

Matthew 6:5-14

5“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

7“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

9“Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.

10‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.

11‘Give us this day our daily bread.

12‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]

14“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15“But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Please do not skip over verses 5-8. While these are not included in what we commonly refer to as “The Lord’s Prayer” or “The Our Father”, they are critical points in teaching common mistakes that we should not be making. Do not pray for attention before men, but rather pray in secret for relationship with God. Do not use meaningless repetition… including just empty recitation of the prayer that Jesus shares in verses 9-13! This prayer is not a formula of specific words that must be recited, but rather an outline to help you focus your prayer in relating to God. It is meaningless to just memorize and repeat the words without truly dwelling on what they mean and how to relate to our God!

To explore this further, we will explore how to apply this outline for prayer with greater depth, so we draw near to God rather than repeat memorized words. (I am grateful to those who shared with me what I now share with you, as I find it a very good application of the Lord’s Prayer.)

“Our Father who is in heaven,”

Respect and honor who God is. Take a few moments and be still before God. Contemplate the character of God:

  • The Great I Am
  • Creator of All
  • All-Knowing (omniscient)
  • All-Powerful (omnipotent)
  • Present In All Places At All Times (omnipresent)
  • Unchanging (immutable)
  • Eternal (without beginning or end)
  • Incapable of Making a Mistake (flawless)
  • Without limit or boundaries (infinite)
  • Holy (worthy of devotion as one perfect in goodness)
  • Just (behaving according to what is morally right and fair)
  • The Beginning and the End (Alpha and Omega)

In Ephesians 1:18-19 Paul prays “…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”

Reflect on the greatness of God’s power toward you as:

  • God the Father: Father, Provider, Shelter, Protector
  • God the Son: Righteousness, Holiness, Peace, Truth
  • God the Holy Spirit: Comforter, Counselor, Teacher, Guide

“Hallowed be Your name.”

God’s name is to be separated from the world. To do this, we must separate from the world and focus on God. Focus on the Old Testament names for God.

Consider also focusing on God through a worship song.

“Your kingdom come.”

God’s kingdom is where He has total rule and authority. It is a kingdom of righteousness based on free will. His servants choose willingly or even enthusiastically to obey Him.

This scripture represents submission to God to rule and control your life. You are asking God to transform your character to be more like His character to make the fruit you bear more like the fruit of Jesus’ life and ministry.

We must first pray “my kingdom go” before we can truly pray for God’s kingdom to come. Pray for God to take control of these areas of your life; release them into His hands.

  • My family
  • My future
  • My job
  • My finances
  • My ministry
  • My thought life

Write in your prayer journal any areas you feel like God is directing you to pray for specifically.

God’s character should be reflected in our character.

  • Compassionate
  • Gracious
  • Humble
  • Pure (in body and mind)
  • Merciful
  • Giving (in time and resources)
  • Slow to anger / Patient
  • Filled with love
  • Truthful
  • Forgiving
  • Kind
  • Faithful (to God)
  • Wise
  • Servant’s heart
  • Disciplined (self-control)
  • Joyful
  • Holy (set apart from sin; set apart for God’s purpose)
  • Just (e.g., justice)

Periodically (e.g., once a week), pick one of God’s characteristics, starting with your weakest, and study its meaning completely, including a study of its application in scriptures. This activity will renew your mind in that area and, in turn, transform your character to be more like God and our Lord Jesus Christ. After completing the list, start over again.

“Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

This should be our personal acknowledgment of God’s will to be done in our lives in His timing and His way. Ask God what His will is for decisions that you need to make this week or later this year, and then listen and wait for His answer.

Proverbs 3:5-7 guides us to”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. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”

Write in your journal the decisions you have to make and the answers from God. Expect Him to answer, and then test the answer you hear against the scripture to ensure you are hearing from God and not from your own sin nature or from Satan.

God’s answer may not come during prayer time. It may come later that day or even the next couple of days. Often, His answer is not what we expect.

Pray for upcoming events as you write them in your journal. They may include things such as government (federal, state, local), schools, Christian leaders or ministry/church staff, missionaries, pastors, and of course, events personal to your own life or that of your family and friends.

Pray for God’s will to be done for any individuals or groups for whom you are responsible or for individual people for whom God puts on your heart a desire to pray.

Consider writing down a prayer strategy in your journal and referring back to it periodically.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

At this point, ask God to provide for your needs (e.g., home, family, finances, church, ministry, friends, etc.)

The body needs food to live, but the spirit also needs food to live. Jesus is our food because He is the Word. Ask Him to speak a word to your spirit. Consider reading a devotional from a book and/or a few verses from the Bible. Write down what stands out to you. Meditate on it and write in your journal an action plan for applying it to your life as you feel led by the Spirit. (Meditation in the Christian walk is not emptying the mind and seeking nothingness as in some other faiths, but rather actively using our God-given minds to think about and apply the written word of God in our lives.)

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

This was so important to Jesus that He came back to it in verses Matthew 6:14-15.

14“For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15“But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Examine your heart and be completely honest with what you find because your Father knows anyway. Confess these things to God and ask forgiveness. Then turn from them and sin no more. Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you and reveal any sins you are unaware of at this time. Confess these sins to God and again ask forgiveness, turn from them, and sin no more.

If there is a particular sin that keeps recurring, create an action plan to address it. The plan should include prayer, focused Bible study, and possibly additional resources or partnering with an accountability partner with whom you can share your struggle honestly.

Pray that God would forgive, bless, and be good to the people who you believe have mistreated you. The only way God will continue to forgive us is if we continue to forgive others. Hold no bitterness or resentment in your heart. Purge from your heart any desire for revenge.

“And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Ask God for protection. Ask Him to show you any snares of the enemy so that you might not be caught in them. This is where you must ponder your footsteps and consider where you are going or by whom something is coming. Write in your journal anything new that is coming into your life or anything that is already in your life that you do not have peace about. Now, ask God if this is from Him or from the enemy or from our own internal sin nature. Test each situation against the word of God revealed in scripture. If something does not line up with the word, do not do it. If it lines up with the word, but you still can not get peace about it, seek advice from a mentor. Godly counsel can be very helpful.

“[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]”

Acknowledge God and all of His attributes. Realize that God is on the throne and He is in charge. Everything is under His control. Let this truth comfort you.

Thank God for being with you during your prayer time and thank Him that He will be with you all day, because He will… our Father loves us!

Praying meaningfully through the Lord’s prayer can easily grow to take thirty minutes or more. Do not try to rush it! If you do not have as much time, pick some of the areas to focus on in each part of the prayer and then rotate which areas you focus on from day to day. Whatever you do, please heed Jesus’ advice:

5“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

7“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8“So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

To study more teachings about effective prayer, review our category of teachings about Learning to Pray Effectively.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Justice / Judgment

The Harvest Will Come (Revelation 14:14-20)

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Are we living with the awareness that God will one day bring every life to harvest?

Key Verse:

“Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.” —Revelation 14:16 NASB

Background Context:

After encouraging believers to persevere in faith and obedience, John is given another vision. He sees “One like a Son of Man” seated on a white cloud with a golden crown and a sharp sickle in His hand. This is followed by a second harvest involving grapes gathered for “the great wine press of the wrath of God.”

While interpreters differ regarding whether the first harvest represents the gathering of the righteous or another aspect of judgment, the overall message of the passage is clear: God has appointed a day when He will bring history to its proper conclusion. His judgment is certain, perfectly just, and carried out according to His timing.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 14:14-20

The Reapers

      14Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. 15And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe.” 16Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

      17And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe.” 19So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.

Reflection on Revelation 14:14–20:

Throughout Scripture, harvest is often used as a picture of both blessing and judgment. A harvest represents the culmination of months of growth, revealing what has been planted and what has matured. In Revelation 14, John sees that same imagery applied to the whole earth. The time for sowing has ended, and the time for harvest has arrived.

One detail stands out in both harvests: God acts only when the harvest is ripe. Nothing happens prematurely. Throughout Revelation, we have repeatedly seen God’s patience displayed even as humanity continues in rebellion. Warnings have been given. Opportunities to repent have been extended. Yet there comes a point when God’s perfect justice must also be displayed.

This balance between God’s patience and His justice is found throughout the Bible. Peter reminds us:

“The Lord is not slow about His promise… but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

God delays judgment not because He is indifferent to sin, but because He is merciful. He desires that people turn to Him while there is still time.

At the same time, Scripture assures us that His patience should never be mistaken for the absence of judgment. Paul writes:

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

Just as a farmer eventually gathers the harvest, God will one day bring every life to account. Nothing escapes His notice. Every act of faithfulness, every hidden act of obedience, every injustice, and every rejection of Him will ultimately be addressed with perfect righteousness.

For believers, this truth should not produce fear but hope. Our Judge is also our Redeemer. Through Yeshua, we have been reconciled to God, and we look forward to His return with confidence rather than dread. At the same time, this passage reminds us of the urgency of sharing the Gospel while God’s invitation to repentance remains open.

The imagery of harvest also challenges us to examine what we are sowing today. Every decision, every word, and every act of obedience shapes the harvest that follows. As followers of Christ, may we faithfully sow righteousness, trusting that in God’s perfect time He will accomplish His purposes.

Application:

  • Thank God for His patience and mercy, which give people opportunity to repent.
  • Live each day remembering that God sees every act of faithfulness.
  • Examine what you are sowing in your daily life and relationships.
  • Share the hope of the Gospel while God’s invitation remains open.
  • Trust that God’s judgment will always be perfectly just and perfectly timed.

Closing Prayer:

Father, thank You for Your incredible patience and mercy. Thank You that You have provided salvation through Yeshua before the day of judgment comes. Help me to live each day faithfully, remembering that You see every act of obedience and every opportunity to serve You. Give me compassion for those who do not yet know You, and help me faithfully share the hope of the Gospel while there is still time. May my life bear fruit that brings glory to You. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Obeying God, Revelation

Faithful to God’s Commandments and to Yeshua (Revelation 14:8–13)

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What distinguishes God’s people in a world that continually calls us to compromise?

Key Verse:

“Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” —Revelation 14:12 NASB

Background Context

After proclaiming the eternal gospel and calling the world to worship the Creator, Revelation 14 announces the coming judgment upon Babylon and warns against worshiping the beast or receiving his mark. These warnings remind us that every person must ultimately choose whom they will worship and where they will place their allegiance.

In the midst of these sobering announcements, John pauses to encourage believers. Rather than focusing solely on judgment, he reminds us what God’s faithful people look like. In just one verse, John gives one of the clearest descriptions of those who belong to the Lord.

(Continued and expanded after scripture.)

Revelation 14:8–13

  8And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”


Doom for Worshipers of the Beast

      9Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

      13And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”

Reflection on Revelation 14:8–13

Throughout Revelation, humanity is consistently presented with two paths. We are called either to worship the Creator or to worship the beast, to follow the Lamb or to follow the world. As the warnings of judgment become increasingly severe, John reminds believers that God knows those who belong to Him and that faithfulness remains possible, even in the most difficult circumstances.

At the heart of this passage is Revelation 14:12:

“Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.”

This description should immediately remind us of an earlier passage. In Revelation 12:17, John described those against whom the dragon wages war as “those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” Now, only two chapters later, he repeats essentially the same description. This is not an isolated statement. John intentionally emphasizes these two characteristics because together they identify God’s faithful people.

Notice that John does not present obedience and faith as opposing ideas. He does not tell us to choose between keeping God’s commandments or trusting in Yeshua. Instead, he presents both as complementary marks of genuine discipleship. God’s people trust completely in Messiah for their salvation, and because they belong to Him, they desire to walk in obedience to their Father’s instruction.

This theme is consistent throughout the New Testament. Yeshua said,

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)

Likewise, James writes,

“Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” (James 2:17)

Neither passage teaches that obedience earns our salvation. Scripture is clear that we are saved by God’s grace through faith. Rather, obedience is the natural fruit of a heart that has been transformed by that grace. We obey because we love the One who first loved us.

John also highlights the perseverance of the saints. Revelation was written to believers facing pressure, persecution, and the temptation to compromise. Their perseverance was not based on their own strength but on their confidence that God is faithful to fulfill every promise He has made. They remained steadfast because their hope rested in the Lord, not in their circumstances.

That same encouragement applies to us today. While our challenges may differ, every generation faces pressure to compromise God’s truth in favor of the world’s values. Revelation reminds us that faithful discipleship requires both steadfast faith in Yeshua and a willingness to live according to God’s ways, even when doing so is unpopular or costly.

This passage also serves as a beautiful reminder that God’s commandments and faith in Yeshua are not competing messages. Yeshua Himself summarized God’s Law by teaching us to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves, explaining that “on these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40). Faith in Christ does not replace God’s instruction; it enables us to live it from transformed hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit.

As followers of the Lamb, may our lives reflect both unwavering faith and joyful obedience. These two qualities have always characterized God’s faithful people, and they continue to do so until the day our Lord returns.

Application
  • Trust fully in Yeshua as your Savior and Lord.
  • Let your love for Christ be demonstrated through joyful obedience to God’s commandments.
  • Persevere faithfully when the world encourages compromise.
  • Encourage fellow believers to remain steadfast in both faith and obedience.
  • Thank God that His grace not only saves us but also transforms us to walk in His ways.
Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for saving me through Your grace and for calling me to faithfully follow Yeshua. Strengthen my faith and give me a heart that delights in keeping Your commandments. Help me to persevere when I face trials or pressure to compromise, remembering that my hope rests securely in You. May my life be marked by steadfast faith, joyful obedience, and a deep love for You until the day I stand in Your presence. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

John Golda

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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