Elaine Campbell

 'What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he should choose' (Psalm 25:12). All who fear the Lord will  be instructed in the way he should choose. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The man who fears the Lord, He will give the wisdom to choose aright, to allow Him access  to his heart, mind and soul. The fear of the Lord is also the beginning of knowledge. In order for us to acquire such knowledge, we should let God leads and teaches us the path to take. The man who shows reverence and respect to the Lord is someone whom God will personally take aside and lead, guide, direct, and enlighten. When we allow the Lord to take control our lives, to lead and guide us as He pleases, we will do the right things and step into the path that God knows is right for us. No matter the challenges we face, or the trials we may go through, we should  honour and glorify God, trusting in His Word. Let us examine ourselves, to see where we are with the

 'As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him' (Colossians 2:6). Every single person has the opportunity to accept Christ as their personal Saviour from sin. It is Christ who came down from heaven and die for us so we might have eternal life. In order for us walk worthy of Christ we must abide and rest in him, as we walk in spirit and truth.  We need to submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives willingly and purposefully, acknowledging that we are in need of Christ. All who trusted in Christ for their salvation should walk in His ways and follow his will and not ours. As believers we ought to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and are admonished to continue to live our lives in Him. What a difference it would make if all  would accept Christ in faith and abide in him! Jesus would sooner make his appearance, so we could spend eternity with him. Every believer who does accept Christ in faith must live and think by faith and our walk with God will

 'For the Lord is our defense; and the Holy One of Israel is our king' (Psalm 89:18). Everything on the earth belongs to God and  he is greatly exalted. He is our defense and our protection comes from Him. He raised up kings on the earth to rule nations, but the Lord Jesus, our Saviour is the King of all kings. The God of Israel is both our Ruler and our Defense and we ought to acknowledge Him as our King. He is holy and righteous with a flawless and perfect character. We can surely trust Him, whose promises are sure. He is not a God who can lie because He is sinless and full of truth and justice. We are truely bless to be able to call upon the Lord at anytime and acknowledge him as our God for ever. We are God's creative beings and  should reverence and hold Him in high esteem, because of His holiness. We should rejoice in His name all the day and in his righteousness shall we be exalted. He is our Defense and the Holy One of Israel, who is the legal King of the earth. The

 'O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things: thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth' (Isaiah 25:1). Without God, no flesh would be upon planet earth. God created human so he could love  and have a relationship with them and for them to worship him. His love knows no boundaries and  is eternal. There is nothing we could do for  God to stop loving us. Sin came into the world and death was pronounced on all of us, but God's love was so great that He came down in the Person of His Son to die for the human race, with the shedding of His precious blood to save us. Therefore, God is worthy of our praise and we ought to honour and praise His holy name. He is our God and has done such wonderful things. He has shown the depth of His love and we must believe in Him and trust him totally. In every generation, God has always had a people who trust His Word and believe His promises and give glory and honour to His name

 'He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?' (Psalm 94:9). God is the Mastermind and Architect of our lives. His blueprint for each of us is unique, and we are His Masterpiece. God is the Potter who molded every part of our body and fashion it, including our ears and eyes. We did not just exist out on nothing. It is God who created us in his own image and likeness, and how our bodies are formed proved there is indeed a Designer and Maker who is infinite and transcend all things.The text said, "he planted the ears." When you think about planting, you think of digging deep. God is saying he planted the ear like a tree. He made a hole in the side of our head and with much skill, fitted it with organs capable of receiving sounds. Therefore, God who planted the ear is capable of hearing, even beyond what we can hear. He formed the eye and like a potter, molded and fashioned it in exquisite parts to receive objects and give light,

 'A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger' (Proverbs 15:1). Words are powerful, they can make or break you. They can be life or death depending on how we use or perceive them. They have the ability to help, to heal, to hurt, to harm, to humiliate or humble us. The Bible says, "Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit' (Proverbs 15:4). When someone is angry, a gentle and kind word can calm them, than words that will add fuel to their anger. The text for today, states that a soft (gentle)  answer turns away wrath, but grievous (harsh) words stir up anger. Every human being at some point in life experience both. However, it is how we react that makes the difference. Some people are able to control their actions toward the words, behaviour and speech of others, while others reacts in a negative way. Our words can help, as well as, heal. It can provide hope and encouragement. On the other hand, it can destroy and h

 'He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty' (Psalm91:1). How great is the goodness of God to all who trust and fear Him? He shall hide them in the shelter of his presence safe from those who conspire against them (Psalm 31:20). We are the apple of God's eye and he will hide us under the shadow of his wings (Psalm 17:8). Therefore we must seek and draw near to Him. God's secret place is where all must aspire to be. All who know and have a personal relationship with God will find him to be a refuge and a strong tower of defence in times of trouble. It behoves everyone to seek to know God and have a lasting relationship with him, that they may dwell in His presence and abide with him. Our God is superior to all other powers sovereign above everything. We can find no safer shelter than what the most High provides. God is our Protector and we can rest safely in the shadow of his protection, because we know and trust h

 'Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things; which thou knowest not' (Jeremiah 33:3). The Word the Lord gave to Jeremiah for the Children of Israel is relevant to us today. It is a message of hope in a time of despair. We are encouraged to call unto the Lord and he promised to answer and show us great and unsearchable things we do not know about. What a God! We do not deserve such favour, but our God is merciful, longsuffering and faithful. When we are obedient to the will of God great and mighty things happen, even in the midst of turmoil. We do not even have to fight our own battles, the Lord promises to do that for us. God's promises are sure and true. He will speak to us if we are willing to listen; as believers, He has given us His Word and His Holy Spirit so we are able to discern and keep his promises. No matter what turmoils and calamities that is around us, we can still find peace in God. Jeremiah was faithful to God and his callin

 'Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance' (Psalm 89:15). The purpose by which man was created was for God's pleasure and for them to glorify, honour and worship Him. As His creation, we would also have the pleasure of knowing Him. God is a creative Being and it gives him pleasure to have beings he can have a relationship with. All who are in  Heaven and earth should give homage to the true and living God. God's people are blessed when they hear the joyful call to worship, and will walk in the light of his presence. They will rejoice in His name all the day and exult His righteousness (verses 15,16). When you know God and build up that personal relationship with him, you will learn to rejoice in Him, to walk in fellowship and continuous communion with him. We rejoice when we experience God's favour in our lives, knowing we don't deserve it. All who have a relationship with God will not just hear t

 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God'  (Ephesians 2:8). It is good to consider, that no matter how one perceive themselves; whether they be rich or poor, educated or uneducated that you can never save yourself or give salvation to another. It is a gift from God to all who will believe. Salvation is not a reward for all the good things we have done, therefore we need not boast about it. It is only by God's grace we are saved, by faith in Christ Jesus; so none of us can take the credit. But as a gift from God, we are called to proclaim the gospel. We are to live it, share it and pray for the salvation of others, as we sought to bring them to Christ; that they may experience the promise in Christ of eternal life. We must recognise that the means of salvation is faith. In other words, we have to believe by faith in Christ, as the incarnate Son of God, to be saved. It is God who made salvation available by his grace. It is

 'How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? For ever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?' (Psalm 13 1). When David wrote this psalm, he was going through a very difficult time and was in a state of perplexity. He felt overwhelmed and depressed and needed deliverance from God, so he cried out to God, "how long?" David was considered by God as a man after his own heart. He trusted and had confidence in God, but as human beings when the trials of life become so great, faith in God does not always bring easy answers and we at times become impatient.  David in despair, like any one of us express his frustration to God by questioning God. As believers, we go through hardships, trials and perplexities, and sometimes it seems as if the Lord has forgotten or forsaken us. Seeking deliverance we cry out to God in anguish of heart. Sometimes the situation seems like it will never end, and while we wait on God, we may become impatient and even cultivate a murmuring spirit. When

 'Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved' (Psalm 55:22). All whose trust is in the Lord, know they can cast their cares upon him. They know when they give their burdens to Him, he will take care of them, and not cause them to slip and fall. God loves us more than we can ever think or imagine. His love is immeasurable and eternal! Whatever situation we find ourselves in, we must trust Him, that he is able to take care of us. 1 Peter 5:7 says we are to cast all our anxieties on Him, because he cares for us. When we rely on the Lord for everything, he shall sustain us. In your fear and anxiety, look to Him and be confident that you can lean on His everlasting arm and be safe. Jesus bids us come to him, all who are weary and burdened and he will give us rest. He invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn from him, because he is gentle and humble in heart and we will find rest for our weary souls. For His yoke is

 'The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy' (Psalm 147:11). When we recognised the Lord, that He is God, we will be humbled as we stand before him with reverence, in awe of his love and greatness. How do you feel when the Lord takes pleasure or delight in you? God's heart is full of love and compassion towards his children, who hope in his  mercy as displayed in Christ. It behoves us to praise God constantly for who he is and his merciful and loving care over us. He delights in all those who humbly  trust in his steadfast love; those who have a heart that truly loves, reverences, and adores Him. God sees and delights in those who demonstrate trust in him. He delights in the strength of grace of which he is please to own, through our faith in Christ. As believers, we should seek to exhibit a holy fear of God, that is, a reverence of his majesty and a complacency of his goodness. We must seek to hope in His mercy as we reverence Him. It

 'But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the King's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the Prince of eunuchs, that he might not defile himself' (Daniel 1:8). Daniel was one of the elite young men taken captive from Judah to Babylon. He and his three friends knew God and had a personal relationship with Him, and even in a strange land they still seek to obey their God. The Scriptures said Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's food or his wine. He purposed in his heart to be faithful to God no matter what the cost. He and his friends knew it requires commitment and sacrifice and was prepared to do so. What have you purposed in your heart to do for God, regardless of the situation? David and his friends did not want to defile themselves by eating of the portion of the king's food because it was first offered up to idols and included flesh

 'Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves.  Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith' (1 Corinthians 13:5). Knowing God and accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour from sin, are the most important factors in making our decision to become a part of the family of God. For when we know God we will understand His plan and purpose for our lives. By accepting Christ as our Saviour, is admitting we are sinners in need of One; and that it's the only way to be one again with God, the Father. It is clear  that Christ is our foundation and it is by God's grace through faith in Him that anyone can be saved. There is no other way! If you don't believe in Jesus as the Son of God and Redeemer for mankind, you will not experience eternal life with Him. As believers, we all individually ought to constantly examine oneself, to see if our faith is genuine, and to test our faith to see if Christ

 'Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of my mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed' (1 Samuel 2:3). God cannot be fooled! He sees and knows the heart of every man. As fallen beings we have a tendency to be proud and haughty, especially when we perceive ourselves better than others. But it is God who gives life and everything we possess,  and it is He who has the power to take it from us. The Lord knows all that we have done and will judge our actions accordingly. Our hearts and minds should be geared towards glorifying God and not self. He should ever be in our thoughts!  There is nothing we have that we  should boast about, except Christ and him crucified. We are like the grass that withered away and the flowers that faded. We are here today and tomorrow we may not be, so why boast? It is God who holds the future in his hands, and we are given the opportunity to be a part of that future. Hannah was relecting on the g

 'Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name' (Psalm 86:11). We all need God to teach us his way, to direct us in his path as we seek for grace and favour from him. But first we must accept that He is the eternal God and seek to experience a personal relationship with him. Having a relationship with God will help us to have total trust and confidence in Him. We, like David, need to cry out to the Lord, in total dependence and humility, as we submit to His will, and enabling Him to work in our lives. Each day we go through challenges and difficulties which at times  overwhelmed us. But knowing we can call upon the Lord at all times, and that He will answer us, bring assurance and greater confidence in Him. All who seek to know the Lord, must trust in his steadfast love; obey him more faithfully and praise and honour him more consistently. We are encouraged to seek the Lord in whatever situation we might find ourselves; to ask Him to teach

 'Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name' (Psalm 86:11). We all need God to teach us his way, to direct us in his path as we seek for grace and favour from him. But first we must accept that He is the eternal God and seek to experience a personal relationship with him. Having a relationship with God will help us to have total trust and confidence in Him. We, like David, need to cry out to the Lord, in total dependence and humility, as we submit to His will, and enabling Him to work in our lives. Each day we go through challenges and difficulties which at times  overwhelmed us. But knowing we can call upon the Lord at all times, and that He will answer us, bring assurance and greater confidence in Him. All who seek to know the Lord, must trust in his steadfast love; obey him more faithfully and praise and honour him more consistently. We are encouraged to seek the Lord in whatever situation we might find ourselves; to ask Him to teach

 'Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets' (Matthew 7:12). God is love and we ought to love him and one another. When we love God we will obey him and keep his commandments, out of a pure heart and of a good conscience. In keeping the law of God, we have to also love our neighbour; every single person we come in contact with is seen as our neighbour. When we love one another we are fulfilling the law of God, because love is the fulfilment of the law. Jesus says, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40). When we get this right, we will treat others with the concern and kindness we would like them to show towards us. In other words, Jesus is sayin