Author: Emily Wooten

by Emily Wooten
Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 46: 1-2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
God never promised us that we would not be challenged emotionally, physically or spiritually. Jesus, our example, was tempted many times. He showed us the way to defeat every challenge was to consider, meditate on and speak God’s word to the situation. Our first response should always be to look for God’s opinion. He shared with us his heart. It would be different if he kept his plan secret and we had to guess what he wanted. There would be room for confusion if that were the case, but it’s not. God caused his will for us to be written where we can see it clearly.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
John 10:9-10 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Those are Jesus’ words. He was speaking of us. He came that we might have abundant life.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Jesus is still speaking about us. We are his sheep. Jesus calls us his. We read where God is our ever present help. What does that mean to you?
When adversity presents itself, what is our first emotion or expression? No matter what the news we have comfort or help.
Jesus said, when he left this earth, he was sending another comforter. His name is Holy Spirit. We can see in the scriptures many ways Holy Spirit helped humans throughout history. That same God who caused strong winds to blow all night and hold back the Red Sea so his children could go through safely is the God who is our help. He is with us, if we acknowledge him, he will lead us into his perfect will. When challenges come our first response should be to thank God he already has made a way of escape.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

by Emily Wooten
When we were children many of us learned the 23rd Psalm. In it is a verse that I think we may have overlooked.
Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
What does it mean to have goodness and mercy following? The word translated follow in that scripture has many variations: to follow after, pursue, and aim eagerly to secure. Who would not enjoy feeling secure and safe?
Psalm 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
God’s ways are perfect. This one says he is a buckler, which means to defend, cover and protect.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
In this scripture we are encouraged to be courageous. He promises to be with us. and strengthen us. He will help us. That word help is the same word used to describe feeding a baby with nourishment. He will uphold us. That word includes being held or supported.
Romans 8:31 Paul tells us, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
The failure comes when we don’t acknowledge or choose to retain God’s promises in our memory, with him being viewed as our champion.
Psalm 121:7–8 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:
All God asks us to do is you trust and obey. Even in times of challenges God is waiting for us to surrender our fears and trust him, hear him and obey him.
Have you ever had a situation where you felt like you shouldn’t do something but you did anyway? We can relate to that because we sometimes don’t see the reason why. If we train ourselves to listen to the Holy Spirit, he will warn us and instruct us. It is God’s good pleasure to help his children but it depends on our ability to hear and willingness to do.

by Emily Wooten
In the day to day hustle of managing our lives there is one important things we should not forget to do too keep our peace about us.
Psalm 34:14: Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Romans 12:18: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
James 3:16-18 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Jesus taught that His peace is a divine gift that differs from worldly calm and helps believers overcome fear and trouble.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Read these out loud to remind yourself, the angels of God and Holy Spirit what you believe about God’s peace in you. Make the scriptures your own.
(Philippians 4:6-7) I will not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I present my requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
According to (Isaiah 26:3) God will keep me in perfect peace, because my mind is stayed on him: because I trust him. I will trust in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:
(Psalm 4:7-8) You have put gladness in my heart. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for you, Lord, makes me dwell in safety.
(Psalm 23:1-4) Lord you are my shepherd and I shall not want. You lead me beside calm waters. You restore my soul. You lead me in paths of righteousness. I will fear no evil. You comfort me.
We can see from Jesus’ example in Mark 4:39 where he spoke to the winds and said to the sea, “Peace, be still.” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
We see in Galatians that one of the realities of the fruit of Holy Spirit living in us is peace.
Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:10-11 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

by Emily Wooten
Psalm 107:19-21 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
In Luke 17:12–19 we see ten men that were lepers, who lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them turned back, and glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. Jesus said, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.” And he said unto him, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
As we read this reference, we see Jesus going about teaching and healing. Ten men were cleansed or healed, but only one chose to turn back and express his gratitude. He was a Samaritan. Jesus called him a stranger. In ancient times, Samaritans were shunned and considered impure by the Hebrew nation. Both the Samaritans and the Hebrew nation had left the true worship of the one true God.
Scripture tells us the ten were healed as they went, so they weren’t healed before they went. Receiving their healing required them to start moving toward showing themselves to the priest before their skin had changed. Scripture says only the one who returned to give thanks was made whole. Ten were healed and cleansed yet there was more to be had. We know that lepers suffered various stages of sores to the point where sometimes they lost fingers, a nose or other elements to the disease. The word for being made whole or well (soso) carries the deeper meaning of being saved. By returning to fall at Jesus’ feet and give thanks, the Samaritan connected the physical gift of healing to the giver, Jesus. His gratitude demonstrated a living faith that restored his soul, not just his body.
In Mark 3 there was a man which had a withered hand. Jesus said to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. He stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Before he had been unable to stretch forth his hand. We see that his hand had been shriveled up but when he made the effort to stretch it forth, faith caused the bones to align, skin covered a normal hand and the man experienced a miracle.
In John 5 we see a certain man was there, which had been paralyzed thirty-eight years. In verses 8-9 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked:
If the man had lain there he would not have received the healing offered.
These people had been stricken with an affliction. One man had never known what it was like to have two good working hands. Spiritual or physical healing requires we act on God’s word he sent to heal us. Are we receiving the healing and restoration God is offering?

by Emily Wooten
Proverbs 2: 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
God teaches us through his word that there is wisdom, knowledge and understanding available if we seek for it.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him.
We see that God promises, if we ask and seek we will receive and find. We are told that wisdom is more valuable than riches in God’s opinion.
Proverbs 3:13-15 Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Proverbs 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeks knowledge: but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the prudent gets knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
We see in scripture where God invites us to come and learn. He provides a tutor who knows everything. Inside every person who has accepted Jesus as their savior, is the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
John 14:26-27 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Jesus was speaking in these two scriptures of the Holy Spirit. Remember in Genesis we read where the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters. God said or declared, “Let there be light: and there was light.”
Holy Spirit is not an ambiguous teacher who is vague. His words are clear and to the point. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are ever present, on our side and looking for a way to help us overcome. Ask for Holy Spirit to help you learn. He will show us, teach us and help us communicate, if we listen and obey.

by Emily Wooten
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraid not; and it shall be given him.
Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
We see in scripture that God is for us. It is his good pleasure to help us, when we ask.
Proverbs 2:1-7 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou cry after knowledge, and lift up thy voice for understanding; If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
For teachers and students, there is wisdom in asking God to help. For the teacher God wants us to pray they will have sound wisdom, understand how to present information in a way their students can comprehend. God wants to give them insight, patience and wisdom.
For students we can pray according to the Ephesian 1 prayer that God would give then the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of their understanding being enlightened; that they may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power. From Ephesians 3: that he would grant to them, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Then from Colossians 1: 9…they might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
One might argue that these scriptures are talking about spiritual knowledge. God our father knows everything there is to be known. As we fellowship with him and present ourselves to the ultimate teacher, Holy Spirit, he will help us retain the information needed to help us succeed. It is still necessary for us to study, to show ourselves approved, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, but with God’s help we will be like Daniel and his friends.
Daniel 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them (Daniel and his friends) ten times better than all the wise people that were in all his realm.
This scripture says wisdom and understanding. It doesn’t limit their grasp of knowledge to spiritual information. Let’s acknowledge God in all our ways and trust him to direct our path. See Proverbs 3:6-7

by Emily Wooten
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins.
These two scriptures might lead a person to think if we love someone we can overlook their bad behavior. Especially when we see where Jesus taught we should forgive 7 times 70.
Matthew 18:21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Jesus wasn’t teaching tolerance. In his ministry Jesus clearly defined the lines of sin and spoke against it.
Mostly he shared positive lessons of things we should do instead of focusing on all the things we shouldn’t do. In John 10 he said he was the good shepherd, his sheep knew his voice and another they would not follow.
The illustration of the shepherd and his sheep shows us Gods provision and protection. No where does it suggest we can do whatever comes to mind without consequences. Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.
Matthew 22:35-40 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Colossians 3:12-15 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
Mark 11:25-26 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
While we should not think more highly than we ought about ourselves, we also find the truth that we should love God and one another. Humility is not a fake show of self-deprecation. Loving others means we genuinely look out for their well being and consider their feelings. When we are wrong we are to quickly repent and as we forgive ourselves for the bad judgment we learn ways to prevent that wrong behavior in the future. That is how we grow. Loving others helps us find grace to forgive their errors as well. Learning to discipline ourselves in these areas is pleasing to God. He is eager to give us wisdom and strength if we ask.

by Emily Wooten
First fruits is the biblical principle of giving God the very first and best portion of our increase.
Exodus 23:19 The first of the first fruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God.
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:
Romans 11:16 For if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Malachi 3:6-11 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
In ancient times a family’s crops were their lively hood. Humans bartered trading goods for other goods. It isn’t complicated. Whatever the increase, 10% of it is to honor God.
People don’t often look at tithing as worship, but we should. God said we should bring our tithes and offering to him so “that there may be meat in mine house.” Provision for God’s house is a biblical principal. We see examples of people who showed their love and appreciation for God by worshiping him with tithes and offerings.
When we think about the many ways God loves us and has provided for us, it causes us to experience a feeling of gratitude. In response we submit to God the first fruits or 10% of our increase. Offering money, time and other resources is one of the ways the body of Christ continues his ministry today, reaching out to those who are lost and teaching God’s people how to access all he has for us.
Salvation didn’t stop when God raised Jesus from the dead. His ministry didn’t stop when he went up to heaven. We are his voice in the world today.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

by Emily Wooten
1 John 2:19-21, 27 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Many are confused or dismissive about the Holy Spirit’s role in the church today. God established the Holy Spirit as our teacher and guide. If we choose to ignore him or count the unction of the Holy Spirit as unimportant, we are missing a valuable resource, our lifeline and connection to God in this earth.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now he which established us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
We can’t afford to ignore the Spirit’s leading. It is the Holy Spirit who leads us to ask God for forgiveness of sin. He welcomes us in to the body of Christ and comes to dwell in us.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Whether we are looking to God for salvation of our spirit, soul or body, God has provided Holy Spirit and he requires we listen to him and follow his instructions. Absorbing the word is essential to believing God and learning to live by faith. Listening to the unction of the Holy Spirit and doing what he says is how we receive anything God has provided.

by Emily Wooten
The children of Israel wanted a king like the other nations. God chose Saul. In the beginning of his reign, Saul was humble. It only took a couple of years before he fell into a trap that isn’t uncommon. He allowed his own ideas to become more important than God’s instructions.
In 1 Samuel 13, we see where Saul made a mistake. Instead of repenting and asking for mercy, he tried to explain away his error and justify his actions.
Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Humans have the capacity to make good decisions, but in Romans 7:21 Paul said, “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”
Paul was explaining that living by faith requires us to fight against evil and resist its influence.
1 Timothy 6:11–12: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
God found in David a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).
But David wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes, yet when the man of God showed him his error, he accepted responsibility and repented.
We will be challenged, and sometimes we may fail. We can learn from David’s example by being quick to recognize our failures and just as quick to correct them.
Psalm 34:9, 22: “O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The Lord redeems the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.”
Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
David knew God as his source. He recognized that every good thing was God’s idea. He chose to look to God for his answers, and when he failed, he threw himself upon God’s mercy and asked for grace to correct his course.
Psalm 51 is David’s cry to God in repentance. In verse 10 he said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” This is a man whom Scripture says was after God’s own heart, yet here we see him asking for mercy and correction. That is how David kept favor with God. He wasn’t perfect, but he asked God for mercy, corrected his wrong behavior, and trusted God to give him strength and protection.
Psalm 138:8: “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me: thy mercy, O Lord, endures for ever.”
Hebrews 4:15–16: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”