THINKING GOD’S THOUGHTS
Today’s Reading: Matthew 16-17
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
An hour drive north of the Sea of Galilee is Caesarea Philippi, also known as Banias. Here you can view the remnants of the Temple of Pan. It was here that Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” Peter’s answer to that question is today’s key verse.
Key Verse: Matthew 16:16
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Six verses later Peter actually rebuked Jesus. Jesus tried again and again to tell His disciples that He would be killed and would rise again. For some reason He could not penetrate their preconceived beliefs in the Christ who would overthrow the Romans and establish Israel as a sovereign state. So Peter moved from thinking the thoughts of the Father to thinking his own thoughts, receiving this response from Jesus, “Get behind Me Satan.” Peter’s mind was the battleground in the war between the Father, God, and the liar, Satan. To which voice will you listen? How do you know which voice is truth? The answer is to know God’s thoughts as revealed in His Word. This is the very reason this two-year journey through God’s written Word is so important!
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Please, Holy Spirit, do for me as Jesus promised. Guide me “into all Truth.” Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
In 1954, I rented a hall in a northern Ontario village and began a Sunday School for my public school students and others. People began to regard me as a minister. For example, a lady named May, about 70, showed up at my door and announced, “Win is dead (her railroad-engineer husband). I want you to take his funeral.” I said, “I’ll find a minister.” “No” she said, “He told me that you were the only one who prayed with him, and if you don’t do it, I’ll just stick him in the ground without a service.” I stood in front of the coffin in May’s little cottage and said something like this, “We don’t know why God would take Win.” Actually, Win was 85 and had a heart condition. After the burial, back in my one-room apartment, I confessed that I didn’t know God’s Word well and I took my Bible, opened it, and placed it on my head, saying to God, “With Your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, I will learn to think Your thoughts, and I will then be able to speak with assurance.” Then I went to Bible College and set out on a lifetime commitment to know God’s thoughts. In the first month at the college I was required to memorize 50 Scripture verses. I walked up and down the corridor outside my room hugging my Bible. It became so precious to me.
Daily learning His thoughts,
David
P.S. Our daughter, Elaine Stacey, has the very Bible that I mentioned above. It was a gift to me for Christmas 1952, less than a month after I had made my lifetime decision to follow Christ. I remember that it was falling apart after constant use for years, and I bought a new one. Some time later Elaine asked for my old Bible.
From Streams in the Desert, L.B. Cowman, June 17:
“Then, ah then, we can go like lightning, and turn not as we go but go straight forward whithersoever the Spirit goes. (Ezek. 1:1, 20)
“Be still! Just now be still!
Something thy soul hath never heard,
Something unknown to any song of bird,
Something unknown to any wind, or wave, or star,
A message from the Fatherland afar,
That with sweet joy the homesick soul shall thrill,
Cometh to thee if thou canst but be still.
“Be still! Just now be still!
There comes a presence very mild and sweet;
White are the sandals of His noiseless feet.
It is the Comforter whom Jesus sent
To teach thee what the words He uttered meant.
The willing, waiting spirit, He doth fill.
If thou would’st hear His message,
Dear soul, be still!””
Be Still (with lyrics)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLSbwo7xN2w
Good morning, Beverlee. Thank you for the reminder that echoes God’s call to “Be still and know that I am God.”
Thank You, Lord – great is Thy faithfulness! You never fail. You are always there for us, even when the skies are dark and cloudy and we can’t see You. Thank You (as David would say), thank You, thank You, in Jesus’s name, amen
Amen
Amen Beverlee Kay
Thank you for the song and the reminder
It was great hearing from you today
Blessings to you 🙏
Amen
Thank you for sharing the reading from Streams in the Desert and the living rendition of Be Still.
Good to hear from you today.
Edward is doing ok and had one transfusion which perked him up a bit.
Now he his going to see the oncologist every other week, so that gives us a bit of a break.
Hope you are doing ok.
Blessings Eleanor.
Beverlee Correction: Meant to say lovely not lively.
God bless you Eleanor. I continue to pray for Edward’s strength and healing. God’s love and peace to you.
Amen. Thanks so much for the lyrics. I so needed that reminder today. “Be still and know that I am God”. I have been going through a very stressful situation and pray that it is soon resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. Please stand with me in prayer for this situation. Thank you and may God bless each and everyone of you
HJR I am praying to the Lord for the situation that is stressing you out. He knows exactly what it is going on, He will see you through it. So just rest in this knowledge knowing that He has in under controll. 🙏🙏. Blessings Eleanor.
Great prayer song – good to hear from you Beverlee. These are difficult days. Walking with the Lord is such an amazing blessing.
Blessings all.
Am en
Beautiful writing by LB Cowman and Song. Thank you Beverlee.
Prayers for HJR to ‘fix her eyes on You, Lord, so that she can stand strong in this difficult situation.
May we all ‘be still ‘ and listen, hear and obey, as we turn from this unseen battle-ground, to YOU, LORD.
Amen Laur. Agreeing with you in prayer for HJR.
May God bless everyone on this blog, in Jesus’
Holy Name, Amen.