God Will Satisfy You With Long Life

What are your thoughts fixed on today? Are they focused on the mess our world is in or the trauma currently in your life? Or…are you engrossed in what God promises you in His Word? Some thoughts can break you while others build you up. The choice is yours alone.

“Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel” Joshua 14:14.

Can you guess what the secret to Caleb’s long life was? He was simply following the Lord. 

Hebron was the name of one of the cities of refuge. In Hebrew, Hebron means ‘fellowship’ or ‘association.’ It expresses intimacy, closeness, and connection with our Lord.

No Set "Formula" For A Long Life

Do not look at the prayer of protection as a mantra. Many Christians cannot leave their home in the morning without asking God for protection. If they forget and something negative happens, they believe it is because they forgot. 

There is no set formula for protection or long life other than having an intimate and close relationship with Jesus. Turn your request for protection into one of thanksgiving – praising God for what He has promised you in His Word. We are under the shadow of the wings of Almighty God.

Remember that everything Caleb experienced was under the old covenant. His renewal of youth, strength, and vigor was experienced even though he lived under the law.

A Renewal Of Youth

How much more should we be experiencing a renewal of youth, energy, and length of days under the new covenant of grace that is established on God’s promises? (Hebrews 8:6)

You may have heard Psalms 90:10 quoted when people discuss our length of days. “The days of our lives are seventy years, and if because of strength they are eighty years.”

When you read this text, you need to put this Psalm in the context of the children of Israel being in the wilderness and under God’s wrath. Yet, even under that old covenant Caleb transcended his lifespan and was going strong at 85. Stand on God’s Word which tells you “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my Salvation” Psalm 91:16.

God Cares About Our Lives

God cares about our lives – and our needs. He desires to bless us abundantly. 

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” John 6:35.

The fundamental element to living a satisfied life is to stay close to our Lord Jesus. We can live long, strong, and under His protective covering.

Do you remember how the chief priests and Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus shortly after He raised Lazarus from the dead? This same Jesus who opened blind eyes, and deaf ears, and cleansed those stricken with disease, was now a threat to them. 

God looks at our hearts and what is in our hearts manifests in our lives. Recognizing Who Jesus is in our lives is the truth of the Word come alive. Just as the Pharisees of old, many people still choose to live under the law and are in bondage.  

How To Get The Truths of God's Word

Religious leaders need to teach us how to get the truths of God’s Word into our hearts – where the Holy Spirit will quicken it when we are in a time of need. 

Head knowledge leads to lip service. Repeating Bible verses does not necessarily mean that we have the truth of those scriptures in our hearts. 

Many people use the Bible to bring condemnation and judgment to others. Or they may take a scripture out of context and promote it without the eyes of understanding in their hearts. It has no life. It becomes vain repartitions instead of heart knowledge which brings freedom and life. 

Do not be impressed by how much Bible knowledge someone has – listen to the positive confession of the heart that exhibits an abundant life. Less is more when you apply the simple truth of God’s Word and live it. That speaks volumes and God honors that faith and trust in Him. 

You can be a recognized student of theology but lack severely in faith. God is looking for a relationship with us – an intimate one that understands how great His love for us is.

Please Do Not Misunderstand Me...

Please do not misunderstand me – of course, we need Biblical knowledge to comprehend scriptures. But we need the Rhema Word in our hearts to see results in our lives – in our witness to others, in our prayer life, and in seeing miracles. 

There is an important message in the story of the Mount of Transfiguration to bring understanding of the Word in our hearts.

“And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him” Luke 9:35.

Jesus brought His disciples, Peter, James, and John up to the mountain to pray. “…as He was praying, the appearance of His face was transformed, and His clothes became dazzling white” Luke 9:29.

Then, two of the most renowned figures in the Jewish faith, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. Can you imagine what the disciples were thinking? They must have been in shock. It is interesting to note that one of these great men represented the law and the other represented the prophets.

Peter must have felt compelled to say something, so he blurted out, “Master, it is good for us to be here, and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

What Peter did not realize was that by saying this he was putting Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah, and he needed to be corrected. While he was still speaking, a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

Immediately the disciples hit the ground in fear. Jesus touched them and said “Arise, and do not be afraid” Matthew 17:7. When they looked up, they only saw our Lord.

Jesus’ first words to them were words of grace. And here is where we see the nature of our Lord. His presence and His words will always bring peace and revitalize you– they will not condemn. 

On that mount of our Lord’s transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were standing with Jesus. Moses was the lawgiver and Elijah was an Old Testament prophet and the law-restorer when Israel went after other gods. 

The law of Moses had served its purpose to bring man to the end of himself. The prophets had also served their purpose of reminding man of God’s laws. But NOW it is the day of grace. It is the day of the Son of God – not the servants of God – but the Son of God.

Many people still put Jesus (grace) on the same level as the law of Moses. They see themselves as law restorers and fight for the law to be restored. But that is NOT the heart of the Father. This is why the Father spoke and said, “Hear Him.”

“Therefore by the deed of the law, no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on who believe” Romans 3:20-22.

With Long Life...

You can choose to live in the now or in the past. We are now under the New Covenant bought and paid for with a price.

With new understanding, we can live in the refreshing and restoration of our soul. (Psalm 23:3)

Jesus took our infirmities, sicknesses, fears, and doubts and wants to see us live the abundant life He has promised. (Matthew 8:17)

Psalms 23:3 tells us that He restores our soul. The translation for soul is nephesh which includes our life, emotions, and our mind. Even if you have noticed degeneration, the Lord can restore it. To restore is to make new – to refresh.

Get the truths of God’s Word into your heart – not just on your lips. Begin to thank Him for what He has promised you. Praise Him for Who He is – no matter what is happening around you – and watch things change in your life.