Isaiah 58:8-9
Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.

Message:
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that helps us center our attention on the Lord and discover His will so we may act according to it. People fast in different ways: some abstain from food while others refrain from various activities. The period of time can vary as well. But the focus in each case is to be the same—to seek God and know His will.

When we begin to deny ourselves, several things happen. First, the Holy Spirit will enable us to set aside earthly matters. Relationships, work, and pleasure will take a lesser place in our mind as we concentrate on Him and His purposes. Second, our attention will shift from ourselves to the Lord. Thinking will become clearer, and our ability to understand God’s plans will sharpen because we are not distracted by other things. Read more »

Psalm 84:6

As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools*.

*blessings.

Message: ‘They’ here refers to those who are blessed because their strength is in the Lord. They go from strength to strength as in a pilgrimage in this lifetime. Blessed people are truly blessed. All they do, all they are, all they put their hope on (or desire to happen) is blessed. The paths they tread are blessed. They pass on blessing to blessing and they never run out. The blessed ones leave springs for travelers trailing behind to enjoy as they, too have experienced the resting place set before them by those who went ahead. Their main goal is to finally rest in the presence of the Great Blesser from whom all good things glow. Better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere, is their hearts’ song. Read more »

Psalm 100:4 (Good News Translation)
Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise Him.

Message:
Sometimes, we Christians feel God is distant from us. He is NOT; however, most of the time, that’s what we feel. We go through waves such as difficult circumstances, discouragements and thus feel that God is so far from us. It says in Psalm 100:4, Enter His gates with thanksgiving. In other words, GIVE THANKS! It doesn’t only teach us how to have the right attitude when entering His presence; it is the way to His presence.

As I read all verses of chapter 100, a EUREKA moment hit me. With that, I even realized I am good in Mathematics; so good, I was able to create my own equation:

Thanksgiving + Praise = His Presence (God lives where He is acknowledged) Read more »