Much of what I post is actually for me. As I learn, I like to share. Many times, we suffer from ignorance (Hosea 4:6.) Being absorbed by society’s to-do list and social media, we find time slipping away. The intended five minutes to “check things” turn into two hours. Am I right?

If we spent those five minutes (aka two hours) in the word of God to muse on His writings, we’d be more stable in our Christian walk. Read my entry on Musing or Amusing. Some time ago I wrote about How much to you believe what you read. In this entry, I’ve returned to that subject.

Let’s mediate (muse) on these verses.

In this love has been made perfect amongst us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement, because as he is, even so are we in this world.

1 John 4:17

As He is even so are we in this world – not the world to come, but here, now, today. Jesus doesn’t have cancer. Jesus doesn’t have a deviated septum. Jesus isn’t hungry. Therefore, we too are free of these thing via Jesus’ finished work. As HE IS SO ARE WE. Do you believe?

Speak

Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. For most certainly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and doesn’t doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is happening; he shall have whatever he says. Therefore I tell you, all things whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received them, and you shall have them.

Mark 11:22-24

Be Persuaded / Convinced

As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations.” This is in the presence of him whom he believed: God, who gives life to the dead, and calls the things that are not, as though they were. Besides hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, “So will your seed be.” Without being weakened in faith, he didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn’t waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what he had promised, he was also able to perform. Therefore it also was “credited to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

Romans 4:17-25

Be Convinced which is the meaning of faith – strong conviction of a belief – Isaiah 1:18.

One man esteems one day as more important. Another esteems every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind.

Romans 14:5

Meditating and speaking the word of God moves mountains. If you have a mountain, speak to it.

Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.

John 14:12-14

If the Ferrari you ask for is for His glory alone, then you’ll get it. But asking for something to satisfy your lustful flesh then it isn’t going to happen, James 4:3.

John 14 is quoting Jesus’ own words. Due to the lack of the power in the “church” many do not believe the word of God. They remain sick, poor, and ignorant. When things get tough, everyone quotes Romans 8:30, but they never seem to quote verse 32.

He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?

Romans 8:32

All things. Believe the word of God.

Here’s the real translation of the Psalm.

​The LORD is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.

Psalms 23:1

So many read other versions that say “I shall not want,” but with society’s microwave entitlement thinking, they latch onto “want” (“I want a Ferrari / win the lottery!”) which in the Hebrew want really means to lack, be without, decrease, be lacking, have a need. Let’s return to the word of God for the truth.

Psalms 39:3
My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: I spoke with my tongue

The prefix a- from Greek, can denote the meaning “not” and “without.”

• Amoral = not moral
• Atheist = not a theist
• Atonal = without a tone
• Asocial = not social
• Away = not the way
• Amuse = not muse

Then, what is musing? It means to be deep in thought, in contemplation, or in meditation.

To amuse is to capture one’s attention, occupy, entertain, divert, absorb. It used to mean to delude, to deceive, to mislead. The idea is like a magician deceiving you into believing in the magic by slight of hand. Today’s society provides a never-ending state of amusement. Without time to muse, creativity is lost, solutions unrealized, problems ignored, relaxation minimized. Artists still use the word muse to indicate they “found their creativity” in something or someone.

Amusement is often perceived as an enticing escape from reality. However, the reality is that it often exacerbates our own worries and fears, as we unconsciously absorb and internalize the concerns of the protagonists we encounter. In fact, the archaic definition of “amuse” still resonates today: to delude, to deceive, to lead us astray from the truth. The deceptive illusion created by our friends’ seemingly perfect lives on social media adds to the falsehood. We witness their flawless relationships, extravagant vacations, and seamless existence, while we struggle with our own imperfections, lacking that idyllic life, perfect partner, and rejuvenating getaways. It’s crucial to recognize that these representations are fabricated, serving as a means of control, designed to perpetuate fear and discontentment and narcissistic behavior.

Like many others, I find myself caught in the grip of my remorse, racing through a labyrinth of yesterday’s regrets, today’s challenges, and tomorrow’s uncertainties. My mind relentlessly plays out numerous scenarios, fueling anxiety and confusion, and mercilessly robbing me of peaceful sleep.

The devil has cunningly twisted and distorted countless words from the Lord, distorting their original meanings and leading people astray. While many how-to sites may advise clearing your mind, focusing on breathing, and practicing mindfulness, it is important to remember that the word of God provides a different instruction to individuals like Joshua and all of us. Instead of emptying our minds, the Scriptures encourage us to fix our gaze upon God’s word and make it the center of our focus and attention.

To muse in Hebrew is הגיג (hagiyg – haw-gheeg’ – H1901) meaning whisper, musing, murmuring. It is akin to the root word הגה (hagah – haw-gaw’ – H1897) meaning moan, growl, utter, muse, mutter, meditate, devise, plot, speak, roar.

Hagiyg (הגיג) is only found twice in the Hebrew Scriptures, Psalms 39:3 and Psalms 5:1 when David cried to God, “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.” Hagah (הגה) is found in 24 verses, but the first mention of meditation is found in Joshua 1:8.

Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

Joshua was under the Covenant of Law, we are under the Covenant of Grace (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Isaiah 54:13, Acts 10:43, Micha 7:18, Romans 11:27, Hebrews 8:8-12, Hebrew 10:16-17, John 6:45).

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Grace transcends mere conceptualization or abstraction; it is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. While the law was conveyed as a distant communication, akin to receiving a letter from a faraway land, grace and truth arrived as an intimate and personal encounter – Jesus Christ.

In Greek, the word for “grace” is “charis” (χάρις). It carries a rich and multifaceted meaning that encompasses several related concepts. In its most basic sense, “charis” refers to an undeserved favor, kindness, or goodwill extended towards someone. It involves acts of generosity, mercy, and forgiveness that are bestowed upon others without any obligation or expectation of reciprocity.

In Hebrew, the primary word used to convey the concept of “grace” is “chen” (חן). “Chen” encompasses a range of meanings related to favor, charm, beauty, and graciousness. It is often associated with finding favor or acceptance in the eyes of another person, including God.

The first time חן is found in Genesis 6:8 when Noah found grace (חן) in the eyes of the Lord. What is amazing about Hebrew is that each letter has a meaning. Chet (ח) means to protect like a tent wall or fence, and separate. Nun (ן) means seed, fish, life – to continue. Chen also means camp and beauty because the tent is where the family is together, free from outside influences and social norms.

Take time to muse in God’s word and speak it over an over to let it wash over you. Romans 10:17 Ephesians 5:26 Grow in faith.

NOTE: I have utilized AI to paraphrase my original text. Please let me if you find this version preferable to my usual choice of words.

George Washington died because they let out his blood “thinking” that they were releasing the fever. We don’t do blood letting today (except for Hemochromatosis) because blood letting kills. This was so stated in the word of God. Genesis 9:3-4 “Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. As I gave you the green herb, I have given everything to you. But flesh with its life, that is, its blood, you shall not eat.” Life is in the blood. If “scientists” then would have believed the word of God, then they would not have killed George Washington in their ignorance.

What about dark matter? A hot topic in science today. On day one, Genesis 1:3-4 “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.” This isn’t the sun, moon, and stars as they were created on day four. Right there, dark matter is written in the word of God. The word light can just mean visible, including energy, microwaves for example. In fact, visible light is just a fraction of the energy spectrum. The opposite is invisible – things not seen – that is, the word seen can mean observable, perceive, and discover, meaning that you need to dig to find the truth.

If you dare to believe the word of God (in the originals) and not just dismiss it, you’d be further along in your “science” (to know). Case in point. Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) believed Psalms 8:8b “… passes through the paths of the seas.” His success is directly linked to his belief in the word of God. As such, he spawned an entire study of Ocean Currents i.e., Oceanography. Today, “paths of the seas” is called Thermohaline Circulation.

Read the word of God for truth, not for man’s religion.

Like a Ghillie suit, think on this verse!!

Romans 13:14 But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not make forethought of the flesh, for its lusts.

Think on the word of God and pray in the Spirit to manifest in your flesh what Jesus did for us by overcoming sin, condemnation, and the Law which is the ministry of death and condemnation! 2 Corinthians 3:7, 9

My niece, as the story goes, ate some bad sushi and caught anisakis – a parasite. It feeds off the continued fish eating. She was cured a year later by not eating any more fish. Sin is just like this parasite. The more we feed it with our minds, we suffer. But Jesus condemned sin in the flesh and we are FREE in Christ from sin. We are dead to sin and condemnation.

1 Corinthians 15:56-58
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Romans 6:11
So also you must count yourselves to be truly dead to sin, but alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 7:8-12
But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

The “seizing an opportunity” is the Greek word ἀφορμή (Aphorme) which means “a place from which a movement or attack is made, a base of operations.” The Law demands perfection but does nothing to help us! The vary condition, the war within us, Paul cries out:

Romans 7:24
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

The answer is the next verse!

Romans 7:25
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

We must reckon ourselves dead in Christ and raised to Life in Christ Jesus! Romans 6:11

So how do we fight back? With our MIND! (Also read Galatians 3 – slowly!)

Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, my brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honest, whatever is just, whatever pure, whatever lovely, whatever of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

If you think on the things of the spirit (the word of God’s promises) you will have peace!

Romans 8:6
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Every sin committed started with a thought. When we are weak, then Jesus is strong. When I want to do that which is wrong, I stop and pray in the Spirit (tongues), and this gives me the power to overcome because it is Jesus’ doing NOT my willpower. I just have to ask, believe, and speak God’s promises.

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

That frustrated groaning you feel when sin is at the door of our thoughts that you want to reject but at the same time wanting to indulge in the flesh, that’s what the Spirit hears and acts to give us strength in Jesus’ finished work. We must reckon (take into account) that we are free from sin!

Romans 6:7
For he who is dead has been freed from sin.

Romans 8:2
For the Law of the Spirit of life which is in Jesus Christ set me free from the law of sin and of death.

Therefore:

2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

I am the righteousness
of God in Christ!

The Good News! Meditate on these three verses, and it will change your life!

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

When you take ownership of the truth of this verse and accept the Lord Jesus, the gift of the Father, you are adding the One to you. Therefore adding “1” to this verse you get:

• John + 1 = 1 John
• 3 + 1 = 4
• 16 + 1 = 17

1 John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

As He is, so are we in this world!

Ephesians 5:30
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.