datethewordtest

Category: Verse to DATE

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 20 (11/20) is Proverbs 11:20

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 20 (11/20) is Proverbs 11:20
    Proverbs 11:20 says, “Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.”
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 20 (11/20) is Proverbs 11:20.  Proverbs 11:20 says, “Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.”

    As far as contrast goes Proverbs 11:20 may be one of the greatest for contrasting God’s feelings (attitude and actions) toward our behavior. Toward those who are perverse (think crooked, think twisted, think depraved, think dishonest) He finds them to be an abomination, to be DETESTED and despised.  Let us make no mistake that one’s perverse and depraved behavior is detested and despised by God.  On the other hand, toward those who are blameless (think upright, think one with INTEGRITY) He finds them to be His DELIGHT.  

    One might say the perverse brings PAIN to God’s heart while the blameless brings PLEASURE.   

    It should be the AIM of each of us to do that which brings pleasure to God, doing what is PLEASING to God.  2 Corinthians 5:9 says “We make it our AIM – our AMBITION – to be WELL PLEASING to God.”  Our actions are acceptable to God!

    As well, it should be our desire to despise any depraved action.  That which is despised by God should be despised by His children.  Proverbs 8:13 says, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”

    A great example of how one might live is found in Job. The book of Job opens with a description of Job and it is a description we should desire to be used to describe us.  Job 1:1 says, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil (turned away or stayed away from evil.)   I trust you agree that this is a description that should be desired!  Job was right with God and right with people!  There was nothing crooked in his dealings with people.  

    In considering Proverbs 11:20 we asked what is your heart’s daily desire. Is it to bring pain to the heart of God or pleasure to the heart of God?  Is it to have God despise your actions or be delighted in your actions?  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 20 (11/20) is Proverbs 11:20.  It says, “Those who are of a perverse (crooked, twisted, depraved, dishonest) heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless (honest, upright, having integrity) in their ways are His delight.”

    Your choices have consequences!

    Continue Strong, desiring to delight the Lord!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 19 (11/19) is Deuteronomy 11:19

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 19 (11/19) is Deuteronomy 11:19
    Deuteronomy 11:19 says, “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 19 (11/19) is Deuteronomy 11:19.  Deuteronomy 11:19 says, “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

    The T in PARENT means TEACHER

    Looking at Deuteronomy 11:19 we need to immediately know that the “them” refers to God’s Word from verse 18.  Deuteronomy 11:19 gives instructions to PARENTS to INSTRUCT their children and gives parents a variety of ways to INSTRUCT children.
     
    I want to say that as a former Head of a Christian school and a former Campus Pastor at a Christian University there is no doubt, I believe in Christian School education.  And as a pastor, I believe in Sunday School and Youth Groups.  BUT more than Christian Schools and Sunday Schools I believe in HOME SCHOOL for BIBLICAL TRAINING. The BIBLE clearly teaches that PARENTS are to be TEACHING the WORD of GOD to their CHILDREN. One of the key verses for this belief comes from Deut. 11:19. Read it again. It says, “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

    So often we think of a place to teach our children but it is a PERSON(s) that is to teach our children and the first person with the top responsibility of teaching God’s Word to their children is the PARENTS of the children.   

    For some of you, this is INCREDIBLY challenging.  It was for me.  It is one thing to be a learner and a whole different thing to be a teacher.  I had to learn to teach.  One of the lessons I learned for teaching was that I was to be learning not just for myself but for my children.  This meant that during my quiet time I was reading for me and for them.  This meant that when listening to a sermon I was listening for me and for them.  There would be numerous times I would read or hear something that I knew the Holy Spirit was impressing me to share with my children.  

    Another big lesson for me was to be watching for as well as creating TEACHABLE MOMENTS in order to pour into my children Biblical truth.  Teachable moments arise when questions come up.  Be ever so careful when your child is curious and asking questions about spiritual things. Don’t quench that curiosity.  Give answers to their question or find the answers. Matter of fact fuel curiosity by you asking questions.  Jesus not only answered questions from the disciples He Himself would ask questions! 

    As you look at the instructions from Deut. 11:19, it really does give some very practical “suggestions” for teaching your children.  There is the time sitting in your house which today may be when you are eating a meal. There is the time when you are walking which today would be driving.  Then there is when you lie down and when you rise up.  I have a friend, Stu Epperson, Jr, who likes to say BIBLE BEFORE BED and BIBLE BEFORE BREAKFAST. Friends, end each day with a Bible verse and start each day with a Bible verse.  It could be the same one for a week. It could be a different one for each day.  What is important is you are teaching some of God’s Word to your children!

    Parents (and grandparents) may I ask what is the last Biblical truth you taught one of your children? How are you applying the teaching of Deuteronomy 6 and Deuteronomy 11:19 to TEACH your children?

    It takes WORK and TIME to be a TEACHER!  (Just ask any who does it for a living.) God has entrusted you with children in which you are to TRAIN THEM UP in the way they should live (Prov. 22:6)!  Be diligent to do the hard work and MAKE the time to teach.  Look back at Deuteronomy 11:18 as it gives ideas for keeping God’s Word before your eyes AND (listen) your children’s eyes!

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 19 (11/19) is Deuteronomy 11:19. It says, “You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”

    Continue Strong passing God’s Word on to the next generation!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 18 (11/18) is Deuteronomy 11:18

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 18 (11/18) is Deuteronomy 11:18
    Deuteronomy 11:18 says, “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 18 (11/18) is Deuteronomy 11:18. Deuteronomy 11:18 says, “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”

    KEEPING GOD’S WORD VISIBLE for VIABILITY

    In order to obey the instructions of God’s Word we are given instructions for PLACING God’s Word so that it can be easily seen, remembered, and applied. As one reads and hears God’s Word, we are to lay it up or “hide” God’s Word in our hearts.   David said in Psalm 119:11 that he had hidden God’s Word in his heart so that he might not sin against God.  Some versions translate “hidden” for TREASURE.   Solomon writes in Proverbs 7:1 that his son should “keep his words, and TREASURE his commands within him.”

    One of the most important spiritual disciplines is memorizing God’s Word.  We read and hear it, but we also must memorize it so we can have immediate recall as we face decisions, especially when we face temptations.   Are you memorizing God’s Word? 

    To help with the memorization we are instructed to bind them on your hand and put them in places where they can be seen.   For us today that means having them on a note card or on your phone in notes.  It means placing verses in frames and hanging them on walls.  It means placing a verse on your refrigerator or on a mirror in the bathroom.  I challenge you to be creative in placing key verses in places where you can easily see to be reminded of what God’s Word says!   

    Not only should your heart be filled with Scripture, but have your home filled with Scripture. 
    For me, it seems that as I keep God’s Word visible it helps to make it more viable!  

    Take a little inventory based on Deuteronomy 11:18.  How much of God’s Word is hidden in your heart?  Look around your house and see how much of God’s Word you see.  What about where you work?  If allowed you should have Scriptures on your desk and maybe on your walls.  Inventory and put Deuteronomy 11:18 into practice. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 18 (11/18) is Deuteronomy 11:18. Deuteronomy 11:18 says, “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”

    Continue Strong, 
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 17 (11/17) is Luke 11:17

    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 17 (11/17) is Luke 11:17
    Luke 11:17 says, “But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.”

    DIVISION = DESOLATION

    Whether it is a family or an organization or a team or a church, etc. unity is essential for success. I believe it was from Dr. John Maxwell that I first heard the concept, “WORKING TOGETHER PERCEDES WINNING TOGETHER.”  For years it has been said TEAM stands for TOGETHER EACH ACCOMPLISHES MORE.  The military tells us there has to be UNITY IN THE UNIT!

    From the teaching of Jesus in Luke 11:17, we must learn and understand the DANGER OF DIVISION for it leads to DESOLATION and DESTRUCTION.   

    Without going into a full discipleship lesson on unity it is worth considering one of the root causes of division which is PRIDE.   Notice a few verses:
    Proverbs 16:18  Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
    Proverbs 13:10  By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom.

    As I deal with conflicts I ask the question, “Who is displaying pride?”   Who wants to have it THEIR WAY?  You probably can think of a time that someone brought division to a team because of THEIR pride.  And you probably can think of a time that YOU brought division to a team because of YOUR pride.  

    In working to bring about unity there are a couple of quotes I like to use.  Dr. Maxwell taught the 101% rule saying find the 1% you do agree on and give that 100%.  I am not sure if he got this from studying Philippians 4:2.  In Philippians 4:2 Paul implored “Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.”   The 1% was they were both IN THE LORD so they now needed to give 100% to both being in the Lord.  

    Steven Covey taught that we should SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE SEEKING TO BE UNDERSTOOD.  (Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.)  Not sure if Mr. Covey was drawing from Phillipians 2:3-4 or not but the idea of looking out for the interest of others is clearly taught by the Apostle Paul and taught for bringing about unity.  

    Philippians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2  complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, (PRIDE) but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  4  Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.

    Friends, we are ALL different and we have differences and we have differences of opinions.  What we must guard against is allowing those differences to divide us to the point we destroy each other.  Growing in maturity means learning to disagree agreeably.  I have many friendships in which we have decided to agree to disagree.  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 17 (11/17) is Luke 11:17.  It says, “But He (JESUS) knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.“

    Know the DANGER OF DIVISION for it leads to DESOLATION and DESTRUCTION.

    Continue Strong seeking unity in whatever unit you are in!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD!!

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 16 (11/16) is Deuteronomy 11:16

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 16 (11/16) is Deuteronomy 11:16
    Deuteronomy 11:16 says, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,”  
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 16 (11/16) is Deuteronomy 11:16.  Deuteronomy 11:16 says, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,”

    Guard your HEART!

    “Take heed” is a warning that is used in Scripture 50 plus times with Jesus using TAKE HEED fifteen times. Several times the emphasis of the warning is to NOT BE DECEIVED, especially being deceived into who or what should really be worshipped. Instead of trusting the One and only true God, we find ourselves deceived into placing trust in false gods. These false gods are usually tangible and for a time seem to be able to meet our immediate needs. We make idols/false gods of money or pleasure or fame or people or even of ourselves. We turn from the true to the false. Being deceived we pour energy into serving these false gods. Being deceived we will soon experience great disappointment for they never satisfy the true longing of our hearts!

    Regarding experiencing great disappointment, the Psalmist’s words come to mind from Psalm 115.  Starting in verse 4, “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 6 They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; 7 They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. 8 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.” 

    The idol looks SO REAL, but it is completely DEAD!  What a sad state of affairs for one who makes his own idols.  

    Pause for just a second and compare Deuteronomy 6:4-5 with what you just read,
    Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!  5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

    With our God, we have a RELATIONSHIP!  We have a living, loving relationship.  He loves us! We love Him! And yes, we love Him because He first loved us.  

    Friend, please heed Deuteronomy 11:16 and “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,”  Hear the truth of Scripture that those false idols, false gods DO NOT LOVE YOU and CANNOT LOVE YOU!  

    Honest assessment: Are you worshipping the living God or dead idols?

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 16 (11/16) is Deuteronomy 11:16.  It says, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,”

    Love and serve God who loves you!

    Continue Strong guarding your heart!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 15 (11/15) is Revelations 11:15

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 15 (11/15) is Revelations 11:15
    Revelations 11:15 says, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 15 (11/15) is Revelations 11:15. Revelations 11:15 says, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

    And HE SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER!!!

    We live in a world that is known as the kingdom of darkness
    See Eph. 6:12 … against the rulers of the darkness of this age.” 
    See Eph. 2:2 “in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” 
    See 1 John 5:19 “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 
    See Matthew 4:8-9 “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

    These kingdoms oppose and resist Christ, but they will not win. Revelation 11:15 tells that there is coming a day when Christ will conquer.  His first coming was to be crucified.  His second coming will be to conquer. There will be no kingdoms that will be able to stand against Him. Individually or corporately, make no mistake HE WILL REIGN OVER ALL FOREVER AND EVER!

    What a glorious day that will be! May His kingdom come!

    BTW, when I pray the Lord’s prayer that appeals “Your kingdom come” my mind goes to Revelation 11:15.  And then I add Revelation 22:20 “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 15 (11/15) is Revelations 11:15. It says, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

    Yes – play and/or sing Handel’s Messiah “The Hallelujah Chorus”  It is based on Rev. 11:15!

    Continue Strong,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 14 (11/14) is Proverbs 11:14

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 14 (11/14) is Proverbs 11:14
    Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” 
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 14 (11/14) is Proverbs 11:14. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

    The BEST ADVICE is to get the BEST ADVICE

    A summary of Proverb 11:14 would be that the best advice wisdom can give is to get the best advice! I am a firm believer that each person should have a personal “board of directors” to go to for advice.  These will be those who have your best interest in mind!  You can ask questions of them and they can ask questions of you.  Godly counselors can help you move from making a good decision to making a great decision!

    Please heed the warning of this verse. It warns us that “where there is no counsel, the people fall.”  I know it is hard to hear but you really are not smart enough to figure out life’s decisions by yourself.  Trusting your own thinking brings only what you know to the table.  Having a multitude of counselors allows for much more to be brought to the table as each one has PAST EXPERIENCES To DRAW ON!

    So I ask do you have a “multitude of counselors?”  Have you established a “board of directors?”  If not, heed the advice of Proverbs 11:14 and create this personal board.  Cultivate relationships with a few godly, wise men and women that you can invite into your life so that when decisions come you can say, “WHAT DO YOU THINK?”

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 14 (11/14) is Proverbs 11:14. It says, “Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”

    The BEST ADVICE is to get the BEST ADVICE!

    Continue Strong with a strong personal board of directors!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 13 (11/13) is Proverbs 11:13

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 13 (11/13) is Proverbs 11:13
    “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.” 
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 13 (11/13) is Proverbs 11:13.  Proverbs 11:13 says, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.”

    The BETRAYER Versus the TRUSTWORTHY

    Reading through Proverbs you will see the word BUT used many times as it seeks to give the CONTRAST of a variety of actions.  In seeing the contrast one can then make better decisions on how to live.  Proverbs 11:13 contrast the results of one who is a gossiper with one who is trustworthy.   The gossip garners the reputation of being a BETRAYER.  Nothing is safe with them.  Whereas the one who is trustworthy KEEPS information secure.  

    Are you a gossiper?  In defining a gossiper, I like to say a gossiper is one who tells another person something about you that they would never tell another person if you were standing right beside them. 

    In other words, they will say something about you behind your back but not to your face. 

    Are you prone to gossip?  Does it excite you to share tasty bits of information about people? 
    Proverbs 18:8 says, “A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being.”   It seems to me that this verse speaks of two types of gossipers.  There is one who talks and the one who listens.  So we should be asking not only do you enjoy spreading information but are you prone to listening to secrets, to gossip? 

    *****You should KNOW that someone who will share gossip WITH you will also share gossip ABOUT you!”

    We should listen to the INSTRUCTIONS of Proverbs 20:19 as it says, “The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth.”

    In Proverbs 11:13 we have a verse that challenges us to be a TRUSTWORTHY person.  I think we can glean that it also challenges us to be careful who we share what with about ourselves. 

    Please commit today to not being a gossiper.  HOLD YOUR TONGUE!  GUARD YOUR WORDS! Guard your ears. Don’t listen to gossip!  
    Commit today to be a TRUSTWORTHY person!  

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 13 (11/13) is Proverbs 11:13.  It says, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.”

    Oh, be careful little tongue what you say, especially about others!

    Continue Strong holding your tongue!
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

    PS ***A ministry/leadership note:  Occasionally someone will come to you for HELP and they start by saying, “I need to tell you something but you have to promise me that you will not tell anyone.”  Friends, don’t make that promise!!!!
    Listen close!! “Never tell a person you will never tell a person.”   The only promise you make is that if you can’t help them with what they tell you is you will only involve those who can help.  
    Listen again carefully: “Never tell a person you will never tell a person.” 

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 12 (11/12) is Deuteronomy 11:12

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 12 (11/12) is Deuteronomy 11:12
    “a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.”
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 12 (11/12) is Deuteronomy 11:12. Deuteronomy 11:12 says, “a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.”

    STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

    Deuteronomy 11 talks about the “PROMISED LAND.” Starting at verse 8 one reads, “Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and POSSESS the LAND which you cross over to possess, 9 “and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD PROMISED to give your fathers, to them and their descendants, ‘a land flowing with MILK and HONEY.’ 10 “For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; 11 “BUT the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the RAIN of HEAVEN, 12 “a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.”

    As the passage about possessing the promised land concluded one should have noticed starting at verse 10 that something is VERY DIFFERENT about this land.  To highlight the difference let me ask and answer the question, Why was the Promised Land called the Promised Land? 
    There are TWO basic reasons:
    1. because it was a land God promised.  
    2. It was a land where the people would have to believe the promises of God. This is what makes it so DIFFERENT!   God’s people would have to TRUST Him to PROVIDE as He said He would. This land would be different because IT NEEDED RAIN. Those living there would have to DEPEND on GOD!!! 

    The promise land did not make the people of God independent of Him BUT more dependent on Him.

    Pause to recall the Lord’s prayer where one is to ask God to PROVIDE DAILY BREAD!  It is prayer of DEPENDENCE!

    As believers God wants us to grow in dependence on Him, to stand more firmly on the promises of God!

    And just as He had His eye on the land, He has His eye on you!  That is one of His promises. 
    Do you have your eyes on Him?  Are you living DEPENDENT on God?  Are you standing daily on His promises to be present with you and to guide you and lead you and provide for you and to protect you?  

    Read it again: The promised land did not make the people of God independent of Him but more dependent on Him.

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 12 (11/12) is Deuteronomy 11:12. It says, “a land for which the LORD your God cares; the eyes of the LORD your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.”

    Read it again: The promised land did not make the people of God independent of Him but more dependent on Him.

    Continue Strong STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

  • Verse to DATE the Word on November 11 (11/11) is Hebrews 11:11

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 11 (11/11) is Hebrews 11:11
    “By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”
     
    Our verse to DATE the Word on November 11 (11/11) is Hebrews 11:11.  Hebrews 11:11 says, “By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”

    Believing based on WHO is being BELIEVED

    As God gives a promise to Abraham in Genesis 18 that in his old age he will have a son there is another person who is going to have to have faith.  That person is Abraham’s wife, SARAH.   And if you recall her initial reaction was not belief but LAUGHTER.  She did not just reject the idea of her having a child, she LAUGHED AT IT!!

    It is worth reading the moment from Genesis 18:10-15;
    Genesis 18:10  And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.” (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 11  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 
    12  Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
    13  And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child since I am old?’
    14  “Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
    15  But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh!” 

    You kinda feel a little bad for Sarah.  She got caught laughing on the inside about what God was promising and then got caught lying about laughing.  Definitely a pretty embarrassing moment for Sarah with God.  

    This is one of those stories you would like to see fully unfold because at some point later Sarah is going to move from disbelief to belief.  At some point, Genesis 26:14 is going to grip her heart and she is going to believe what God has said.  While we don’t have the full story laid out for us we do have the cliff notes from Hebrews 11:11. 

    After laughing and being rebuked for laughing and lying and being confronted for lying SARAH is going to make a judgment call on God.  Hebrews 11:11 says she JUDGED Him.  Other versions will translate the word to be SHE CONSIDERED Him.  The idea of the word is to weigh carefully or to think through thoroughly. 

    For Sarah it was not WHAT was said that changed her mind but WHO said it.  Hearing that you will be having a child when both you and your husband are too old is hard to believe.  And it would have probably continued to be hard to believe if a family member or a friend or even some stranger had said.   What moved Sarah from doubting to believing was WHO said it.  She evaluated God and she judged Him FAITHFUL!  At some moment SARAH said GOD SAID IT and I BELIEVE HIM because when God says He is going to do something HE DOES IT!  HE IS FAITHFUL!

    For you who are being challenged to take a step of faith with something that seems absolutely undoable, you are going to have to grow in your knowledge of WHO is guiding you to make the decision.  Psalm 9:10 says, “And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”

    While the WHAT that God calls you to do may scare you and bring huge doubts you must FOCUS on the WHO that is speaking, not the WHAT.  Know His character.  If He is calling you He is faithful to perform it.  God provided what Sarah needed when she had faith to believe that HE COULD! 

    Verse to DATE the Word on November 11 (11/11) is Hebrews 11:11.  Hebrews 11:11 says, “By faith, Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.”

    Where God guides HE provides. Believe HIM!!

    Continue Strong,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD