Friends, there is a stillness of heart and soul one must appreciate and long for. When the world demands noise and roars its desires, the Lord beckons us to steal away in His presence and just be still (Psalm 46:10). It is in the quietness of this moment where we shut out the world’s demands and wrap ourselves in the familiar embrace of knowing our God.
~Word for Life Says
Friends, tried and tested are His faithful ones. It is no strange thing to face such afflictions (1 Peter 4:12), but the process of refining is to bring out the value from that which is not. While on paper, it may sound simple, in life these trials carry with them hurt and disappointment. Nevertheless, as our Lord suffered (not to be refined but to be the agent of refining us), so too must we bear our own crosses and acquaint ourselves with His sufferings (2 Timothy 2:12) knowing that in the end: “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” Job 23:10. Nothing we go through is wasted.
~Word for Life Says
Friend, do you ever feel like you can’t? Oh, how that contraction of perplexity hinders our progress of moving forward. But as we prepare to cross the threshold into the new year, we can choose to override that contraction and replace it with the Bible’s language of faith. The Bible says we “CAN” and when it comes to our faith and where God is leading us in the next season of life, the words of Philippians 3:14 can be a great source of encouragement: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
~Word for Life Says
Have you ever participated in one of those throwback posts? You know the ones. This was me or us, five, ten, or even fifteen years ago.
These “blasts from the past” moments can bring smiles to our faces. Some for the fondness of the memory presented. Some, let’s be real, because we can’t believe we wore our hair that way or dressed like that, and so on.
These moments can be fun but viewing bygone days can also be a time of sobering contemplation. It was something the Israelites became acutely aware of years after returning home from their captivity.
Reading in Nehemiah 9, the priests and the Levites recorded Israel’s history. In telling their story, they showed the ups and downs of what their nation experienced.
Starting with Abram and how he became the one through whom God would establish His covenant, through their time of Egyptian slavery, wilderness wanderings, and beyond, the testimony of their story was written.
Noted in the recitation of their history was the many times Israel chose disobedience rather than God’s Law, their way opposed to His, and because of that, many times it is recorded they faced enemies and had to deal with life in the less-than-ideal way God intended.
But, in contrast to their faithlessness, God continued to show Himself faithful. While they strayed and suffered the consequences due to it, God turned to them, kept His covenant, and showed them mercy time and again (Vv. 17, 19, 27-28, 31-32 – verses can be found below). God stepped in the middle of their mess and restored them.
His history of mercy is mind-boggling, not only for Israel but for us as well.
Anyone in a true relationship with Christ will readily admit that we had much litter trashing the roads of our past. The history of the streets we have walked has not always been the cleanest they could be.
Our personal testimonies tell the story of what once was, the choices we made, and the grace and mercy God performed in our lives.
While our history may not be the best to look at, God’s mercy is.
For in it, we find God’s love working in ways human love cannot fathom. We see Him giving us blessings and care we didn’t deserve (grace) and withholding things we do deserve (mercy).
If we took the time as the priests and Levites did, and recited our personal histories, how often do we see the hand of God show up with mercy in tow?
The longer I live, the more chances I have to reflect. In that reflection, I see new, and even more ways God has shown up when I did not deserve it.
Today, I truly thank God for His mercy shown.
When you look back on your history, can you see those mercy moments you’ve experienced? Thank God for each and every one for they are a sobering reminder of His unfailing love.
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalm 86:5
Nehemiah 9 verses from above:
“And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.” (Nehemiah 9:17)
“Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.” (Nehemiah 9:19)
“Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of their enemies, who vexed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.
But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee: therefore leftest thou them in the land of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies.” (Nehemiah 9:27-28)
“Nevertheless for thy great mercies’ sake thou didst not utterly consume them, nor forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God.
Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.” (Nehemiah 9:31-32)
Thank You, God, for all the mercies shown in our bygone days, for the mercy of salvation, and for the mercy of today:
“(For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.” Deuteronomy 4:31
“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.” Psalm 116:5
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
“To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;” Daniel 9:9
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.” Micah 7:18
“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” Luke 1:50
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;” 2 Corinthians 1:3
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Titus 3:5
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” John 14:6. Therefore Father God, today we pray that many would find that way, that truth, and that life. We are praying for hearts to come and submit to Your holy will. We pray that people will find the grace and mercy they seek in You. We pray for many souls to pursue You, for many eyes to look to You and find the deliverance and salvation needed for their eternal security.
We pray for chains to be broken, O God, for spirits to be made free. We pray for newness of life and hope to shine upon a life today as they discover the joy of entering into a holy relationship with You.
You, O God, are the One that makes a difference in our lives. So, we pray they would find You through Your gift of salvation, our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.
“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5
Joy is not a passing fling for the believer. His heart is ever rejoicing because the God of all heaven instills in him the ability to find a reason to praise regardless of the season one is encountering. Be it sunny skies or rainy days, the seed of praise still grows in the heart of His, and their joyfulness cannot be sequestered. Even if the skies or tides do not turn in our favor, God above all, is still worthy to be praised.
As noted in “Singing in the Rain,” dreary situations may come, and times of trouble and hardship can arise, but our hope for these less-than-fair days, and every day, is in our Heavenly Father. Therefore, whether sloshing through the rain of affliction or traipsing through the meadows of peace, we can say, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” Psalm 43:5.
Our hope is in God who never changes even if our situations do.
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
Our King is not so high that He cannot hear. Our King is not so secluded behind palace walls that He doesn’t see the plight of His people. Our King has granted us an open access policy to reach Him when hard times weigh us down. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” (Hebrews 4:16). Therefore, we cry out, “Save, LORD! May the King answer us when we call,” (Psalm 20:9, NKJV).
Adapted from “The King to My Rescue!”
Many will try to speak verbally or non-verbally and suggest that you can’t. But when God is leading you and He puts His stamp of approval on your destiny; nobody, and I mean nobody, can reverse what God has ordained over you. Your job is to determine who you’re going to listen to.
“For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?” Isaiah 14:27
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11
”Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6
I have about twenty-seven baby strawberry plants in my house. This year it was time to remove the old ones and the new ones I wanted to start are a different variety I wanted to try because I was not pleased with the previous variety I had or its production.
To prepare them to grow properly and eventually to go outside and overwinter, I had to start them inside where the temperature was more reliable and even. Another key factor to starting them inside is root development. For them to thrive, survive the winter, and eventually be productive growers next spring, they need to develop a strong root system.
I would say having a strong root system is a vital component of the Christian life for us to thrive and be productive, also.
Friend, we will not be all that God has called us to be in not taking great care for what we are established in and getting caught up in every little thing that comes our way. Our firm foundation is in Christ alone, and it is in Him that we must well plant our Christian root system.
Colossians 2:7 admonishes us to be, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith…”
There are many swaying doctrines, but only one Christ. There are many thoughts and theories, but only one way of truth (John 14:6). If it is not Jesus, it is not our right source. If it is not our right source, it will not properly encourage the healthy growth that we need. Where there is no growth, the plant and our walk of faith will be stunted and/or eventually die off.
But the one who is properly rooted will be fed, nourished, supplied, thrive, grow, and eventually produce a mighty harvest.
We are meant to grow.
We are meant to produce more and more fruit.
Our Christian life is all about Jesus because Jesus is the reason for our Christian life. He is the central reason and the center of our faith that we are to bring everything else back to.
Don’t let the questions and uncertainties of this life stunt your growth. Place your roots deep in Jesus Christ alone, my friend, and you will grow.
Thank You, God, that You have given us this position of prayer, this place of power where we can not only lay our burdens down but also intercede for others in our lives. We can pray for the unsaved status of souls, petition heaven for healing or hurts, and seek answers for the help we need. A place where God, our Heavenly Father, has given us permission to come and unload it all before His holy throne.
When we fall on our knees, we fall before the only true King of all eternity. In that place, we open our hearts and pray.
Therefore, don’t stop. Pray, pray, and pray some more. Never give up. God hears and is attentive to the praying heart of His children: “𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓖𝓸𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝓶𝓮; 𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓿𝓸𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓻𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓻. 𝓑𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓮 𝓖𝓸𝓭, 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓱 𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓻𝓪𝔂𝓮𝓻, 𝓷𝓸𝓻 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓬𝔂 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓶𝓮.” 𝓟𝓼𝓪𝓵𝓶 66:19, 20
Text Free Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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