What greater way to be a light in this world than to know when to be still. Psalm 46:10 reminds us that God is in control of the storms in life. I have a choice to focus on the confusion and chaos of this present world, or to listen to God and put my trust in him. He has already won the battles that we face, and if we will allow him, he will direct our steps in his will. We must learn to think for ourselves and filter everything through God’s word. A true test of our strength is when we have a strong opinion about issues of the day, but we choose to be silent.

It is not a sign of weakness or uncaring when I remain silent. Believe me, I could shout my opinion from the rooftops, and it would probably be dismissed or dissected by others who have equally strong opinions from another viewpoint. So, what is the ultimate goal for me: to be known for how loudly I voice my concerns, or to be truly heard? The bible tells us in James 1:19-20 to, “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

It is okay to have differences of opinion, but I am learning to go to the word to find help. When I spend more time praying and less time analyzing a situation I can be at peace knowing that God is working out all things for my good. Dare to be a beacon of hope in this present world.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

We honor fathers, today, so it is only appropriate for us to give honor to God, our heavenly father, who always causes us to triumph.

“Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?  In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:8-12)

The Lord wants to bless us abundantly, but he is waiting on us. We’ve been given the authority to take back everything that Satan has tried to steal from us: our joy, our victory, our faith, our finances, our salvation. When we entertain Satan’s accusations and begin to believe that what he says is true, we need to realize that it is a lie, because he can’t tell the truth. So, if he says that you are sick, you know that it’s just more of his lies because the Word says: “by his stripes we are healed.”

When he tells you that you can’t make it; look him square in the eye and tell him the truth: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). When you feel like you can’t go another mile in your walk with God because you’re so weary from battling Satan day after day, remember that the battle belongs to the Lord. He goes before us, and he has already won the victory. Do not doubt the promises that he has told you, because God can not lie, and he does not fail. He said that he would meet your needs and you can depend on it. “Have faith in God.”

 How many times has the Lord commanded us to put him first in our lives? Instead, we busy ourselves living our lives, working, worrying about how to pay for everything that we have acquired: somewhere along the way if we don’t watch ourselves, we’ll begin to lose some of our momentum in our walk with God.

Maybe we become apathetic and struggle to pray with the same fervency as we used to.  The same could be said about our faithfulness to the house of God, or our zeal in serving him. We get so tangled up in the cares of this life that we forget that we are missing the primary keys to unlock our spiritual, physical, and financial blessings for all eternity: obedience; faith; and trust.

“And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:29-32).

“I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Let’s seek him with our whole heart today.–

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:6-7).

In this week’s Lattereign we take a look back on a sermon from Brother Jim Wood from 2015, in honor of Father’s Day. (Click on the link, and it will open up in a new window.)  A Message to Men.