Angel to guard you

“I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to a place I have prepared.” (Exodus23:20)

Jehovah would send an angel before them, who should guard them on the way from injury and destruction, and bring them to the place prepared for them, i.e., to Canaan. The name of Jehovah was in this angel (Exodus 23:21), that is to say, Jehovah revealed Himself in him; and hence he is called in Exodus 33:15-16, the face of Jehovah, because the essential nature of Jehovah was manifested in him. This angel was not a created spirit, therefore, but the manifestation of Jehovah Himself, who went before them in the pillar of cloud and fire, to guide and to defend them (Exodus 13:21). But because it was Jehovah who was guiding His people in the person of the angel, He demanded unconditional obedience (Exodus 23:21), and if they provoked Him (תּמּר for תּמר, see Exodus 13:18) by disobedience, He would not pardon their transgression; but if they followed Him and hearkened to His voice, He would be an enemy to their enemies, and an adversary to their adversaries (Exodus 23:22). And when the angel of the Lord had brought them to the Canaanites and exterminated the latter, Israel was still to yield the same obedience, by not serving the gods of the Canaanites, or doing after their works, i.e., by not making any idolatrous images, but destroying them (these works), and smiting to pieces the pillars of their idolatrous worship (מצבת does not mean statues erected as idols, but memorial stones or columns dedicated to idols: see my Comm. on 1 Kings 14:23), and serving Jehovah alone. Then would He bless them in the land with bountiful provision, health, fruitfulness, and length of life (Exodus 23:23-26). "Bread and water" are named, as being the provisions which are indispensable to the maintenance of life, as in Isaiah 3:1; Isaiah 30:20; Isaiah 33:16. The taking away of "sickness" (cf. Exodus 15:26) implied the removal of everything that could endanger life. The absence of anything that miscarried, or was barren, insured the continuance and increase of the nation; and the promise that their days should be fulfilled, i.e., that they should not be liable to a premature death (cf. Isaiah 65:20), was a pledge of their well-being.

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I claim an hedge of protection, by the Precious Blood of Jesus, around myself and my loved ones throughout this day and night. I ask You God, in the name of Jesus, to send angels to surround us today and everyday, and to put them throughout my house and around our cars, souls, bodies, wills and emotions. I call on Your holy angels to protect my house from any intrusion and to protect me and my family and those I've named from any harmful demonic or other physical or mental attacks. I ask all of this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“God’s help is nearer than the door.” (William G Benham)

Sow In Tears, Reap With Songs Of Joy

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping carrying seed to sow,

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy - Though the sowing of seed is a work of labor and sorrow - often a work so burdening the farmer that he weeps - yet the return - the harvest - is accompanied with rejoicing. The truth is expressed in a general form, as illustrating the idea that enterprises which are begun under many difficulties, and which require much labor, will be crowned with success, and that the joy is more than an equivalent for all the weariness and sorrow. Thus it is in respect to the toil of the farmer; the cares and anxieties of the student; the work of conversion and repentance; the labors of the Christian pastor; the efforts of the Sabbath-school teacher; the faithfulness of the Christian parent; the endeavors of a church for a revival of religion; the zeal and sacrifice of the Christian missionary. The particular, allusion here is to the exiles, in their long and weary march to their native land. It was a work of toil and tears, but there would be joy, like that of the harvest, when, their long journey over they should again come to their native land.. (Barnes' Notes on the Bible)

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. A proverbial expression, encouraging faith in prayer put up for the return of the captivity, whether in a literal or spiritual sense. Praying or seeking the Lord is sowing in righteousness, Hosea 10:12; which is often attended with tears and weeping; the issue of them is not always seen soon: these, like seed, lie buried under the clods, but take effect and will rise up in due time: saints should wait patiently for a return of them, as the husbandman for the fruits of the earth; in due time they will produce a large crop of blessings, a plentiful harvest, which the praying saint will reap with joy; as those that prayed and waited for the redemption in Jerusalem; and as those that pray for the latter day glory, the conversion of the Jews, the fulness of the Gentiles, and the destruction of antichrist; the souls under the altar have been sowing in tears, but before long they will reap in joy, Revelation 6:9. It may be applied to the state and condition of saints in common in this life; now is their sowing time, and careful they should be that they sow not to the flesh, but to the spirit: and a sorrowful time it is, on account of inward corruptions, Satan's temptations, divine desertions, and the imperfection of their services; but before long they will reap life everlasting, reap in joy, and be in the fullness of it; now they weep, then they shall rejoice; now they mourn, then they shall be comforted.

“Sorrow is a fruit; God does not make it grow on limbs too weak to bear it.” (Victor Hugo)

When you are unsure of where you will spend eternity:
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be. Amen

 

Seek The Lord & Find HIm

“But it is from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)

And ye shall seek me, and find me,.... When persons seek the Lord aright, they always find him; a God hearing prayer; a God in Christ; bestowing favours upon them; granting them his presence; indulging them in communion with him; and favouring them with fresh supplies of his grace, and everything needful for them; every mercy, temporal and spiritual; that is, when they seek him in Christ, who is the only way to the Father, under the guidance and influence of the blessed Spirit; in the exercise of faith upon him and his promises; with fervency of spirit and ardour of mind; with diligence and importunity; with earnest desires and strong affections; and, as follows, with all sincerity of soul:

With eagerness, with a hearty desire to find Him as men search for gold and silver.

Believe that God exists. It may seem that a seeker of God would naturally believe He exists, but doubt is a temptation--even for the seeker of God. Go outside and look at the stars when doubt persists. Remember the psalmist's words in the Bible, "The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork."

Believe that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. A relationship with God offers a thousand sacred sweets while here on earth, but the bulk of the reward may not be immediate. Have faith that it will come and when it does, you won't be sorry. Heaven's riches are lasting while earth's riches will pass away.

Commit to seeking God daily. Schedule a time of the day when you can focus primarily on seeking God through Bible reading and prayer. The Bible is full of examples of those who preferred to seek God early. The psalmist says, "Early will I seek Thee." This carries the idea that God is so important to you, that you will seek Him before doing anything else for the day.

Read the Bible daily. This is the most important step of all. John 1:1 says that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. When we look in the Bible, we see God Himself. The Bible is our absolute reference point and won't change with the times, opinion pieces, or church trends. Just like God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, so is His Word. Look no further than this.

Ask the Holy Spirit to show God to you. Without the Holy Spirit--the third person of the Godhead, the Word of God is lifeless and is just a book of stories that was written a long time ago. Only those who know the Lord as their Savior will have the Holy Spirit to guide them here. The truth will come alive and begin to change your heart and your life. If you haven't trusted Christ as your Savior, please see the resources section below for a link that will show you how you can have life after death.

Keep a journal. As you go through the Bible, take the time to make a daily journal entry--even if it's only a sentence--to record what God is showing you of Himself. Look for His love, His power, His wisdom, His holiness. Seek to be like Christ. When the Holy Spirit reveals the ways you are not like Him, ask for forgiveness, repent, and depend on God's grace to help you.

“Man looks on the usage and God the heart.  Man considers the deeds and God praises the thoughts.” (Thomas A Kempis)