Elaine Campbell

 'Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still' (Psalm 4:4). God knows everything about us, because he is God, our Creator and there is nothing that can be hidden from him. He knows the heart and the intents of the heart; Our thoughts, emotions, desires and motives, whether they be good or evil. He knows the godly from the ungodly, and have set apart those who are godly for himself, and will hear when they call unto him (verse 3). We are all called to be in a right relationship with God. Those who accept this call should have daily communion with Him through the study of His Word, prayer and supplications, allowing the Holy Spirit access in their hearts, that they might not wilfully sin against Him. We need to search our hearts daily and be silent before God as we contemplate his grace and his mercy towards us, and He will reveal Himself to us. When our enemies seek to do us harm, or people speak lies about us, simply look to Jesus and trus...

 'In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you' (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Sometimes it seems easier for us to keep asking something of God than it is to thank him, especially in the difficult times. But here in the Scriptures, Paul is encouraging us to give thanks in everything. That is, in all  circumstances we come across, we should give thanks, because it is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us. In this messed up world of sin, God is still in control and is sustaining us. Therefore, we can rejoice  in Him always because of His eternal love for us. Inspite of the difficulties we might face on a daily basis, there is so much we can give God thanks for. We can thank Him that we are alive; once there is life we have hope. We can thank God that His love never fails us and for his faithfulness.  We thank God that all things work together for our good when we belong to him (Romans 8:28). Thank God for supporting us spiritually, wh...

 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee' (Isaiah 26:3). How can one have perfect peace? Of ourselves it is impossible because we are sinful beings. But when we trust in the Lord and allow him to shape and form our thoughts, motives, inclinations and the desires of our heart; He promises to keep us in  perfect peace - that inexplicable peace that comes from Him. Christ is the only means of our salvation, therefore, we ought to trust him as our Saviour. He will clothe us in His righteousness and will afford us peace with God. We trust God when we know him, we recognised his love and his mighty powers and know where he has brought us through, which gives us confidence in Him. No matter how far you have wandered from God, his love will never fails and he is still seeking after you to bring you unto himself. All one has to do is trust in the Lord and to keep focusing on him, and he will surely grant you his perfect peace. Unb...

 'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee' (Isaiah 26:3). How can one have perfect peace? Of ourselves it is impossible because we are sinful beings. But when we trust in the Lord and allow him to shape and form our thoughts, motives, inclinations and the desires of our heart; He promises to keep us in  perfect peace - that inexplicable peace that comes from Him. Christ is the only means of our salvation, therefore, we ought to trust him as our Saviour. He will clothe us in His righteousness and will afford us peace with God. We trust God when we know him, we recognised his love and his mighty powers and know where he has brought us through, which gives us confidence in Him. No matter how far you have wandered from God, his love will never fails and he is still seeking after you to bring you unto himself. All one has to do is trust in the Lord and to keep focusing on him, and he will surely grant you his perfect peace. Unb...

 'Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil' (Ephesians 6:11). Paul is encouraging us to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. To put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil (Ephesians 6:10,11). God has given his people, that is, those who trust and believe in Jesus Christ, His Son, tools to work with and to utilise for our good. Satan, that old serpent, the devil, is like a roaring lion seeking all he may devour. He has a plan to destroy us, and to let us  doubt God's fidelity towards us. The battle is raging, and even though its between Jesus and Satan, as God's children we are caught up into it. Jesus has already won the battle with his victory at the cross. Satan knows his time is short on this earth and is making every effort to get as much people on  his side for the great battle when Jesus return. We must understand that this battle is a spiritual o...

 'And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers ' (John 10:5). Jesus the Lamb of God, who came to take away the sins of the world, is also the Good Shepherd. A sheep knows his master's voice and will follow only him at his calling. If they do not recognise the voice as that of their master, they will not follow that stranger, but will flee from him. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and all who belong to him will know his voice and follow Him. Are you attune to the voice of Jesus? Christ here is alluding to the fact, that, if you cannot recognise his voice, is because you are not of him, but of another - the Devil. "He that is of God heareth God's words: Ye therefore hear him not, because ye are not of God" (John 8:47). The religious leaders in Jesus' time didn't believe He was of God, the Son of God; the Messiah who came to save the world. This denial came with great consequences for the Jews. They reje...

 'In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even unto his ears' (Psalm 18:6). In the presence of the Lord, there is joy and peace. Come before His presence with thanksgiving and cry out  to God, he will hear us. God cares for each and every one of us more than we can ever comprehend. David said, "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God..." We too, like David, if we cry out to God and earnestly seek his face, He will hear and answer us, because He loves us and cares when we cry out to him. There is a song by Frank E. Graeff that says, "Does Jesus cares when my heart is pained, too deeply for mirth and song; As the burdens press, and the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long? O yes, He cares. I know He cares! His heart is touched with my grief.  When the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Saviour cares." God promises to wipe away ...