promises of God, God's promises are still true, inspirational picture for the promises of God, inspirational pictures for For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us, 2 Corinthians 1:20

Promises That Are Still True!

Promises. Oh, my dear ones, the Bible is full of them. Each one is a God-breathed word to His people: “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20). And let me reassure you, not one of them will ever fail or fall to the ground as a non-existent thing.

Today, as you face this day, you may encounter things, situations, or even people who speak against those God-breathed promises for your life. You may even wrestle with thoughts regarding His promises for yourself. Nevertheless, as true as they were when He originally inspired them. As true as they were when those heavenly assurances were written by the Spirit into the heart and by the hand of the one whom He spoke through, they are still true today.

Not only are they still true today, but they are still true today for you!

Don’t get comfortable with the idea of believing that somehow God’s promises are more for others, disqualifying yourself from accepting His holy offers.

No, my friend. As His child, those promises are just as much for you as if your very name were written in the Holy Book next to them. As He spoke for all of His children, so He speaks His promises to you.

With the possibility of facing many ups and downs in the day, the foundation of God’s Word doesn’t change, and in that Word live these promises we hold so dear. For they are our light even in the dark days.

Is there a word you need spoken over your life today? Is there an area where you feel depleted of strength? Is there an encouragement of hope you need to anchor yourself in during these moments? Search for it in His promises. Whatever issue, wisdom, encouragement, or guidance you seek, the answer is in His Book. It’s in the Holy Bible.

Lean upon His Word today. Let His promises fill the crevices that may need extra support. He won’t fail you. His promises will always remain true and in effect.

My Friends, there are sooooooo many promises of God that still remain true to this day, and they always will be. I chose these few to share with you from my heart to yours. I pray that each one will speak life into your life today, and you will feel the embrace of the Father through His written word. May your heart be strengthened as you click on each one and read the encouragement they offer. Blessings~

PROMISES THAT ARE STILL TRUE!

You Are Held: “By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.” Psalm 71:6

You Are Special: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.Psalm 139:14

You Are Not Alone: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world,” Matthew 28:20b

You Are Important: “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17.

And, You Make a Difference to God: “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Luke 15:7

Top Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

You Are Special and Wonderfully Made

Yes, you, dear one, are special. You are made completely wonderful in the eyes of our God (Psalm 139:14). You are a unique creation. You are designer original. There is no one quite like you because you are specially made to be, well…, you.

So, to what others may think. When the Lord fashioned you, He knew your characteristics and the way you would think. Don’t hide them but celebrate those tidbits of you that make up you.

Perfection, according to others, you may not be, but God sees more in you than you could ever believe. Grab hold of that beautiful truth, my friend. Let it rest deep in your heart. Let it permeate the crevices of your mind. You are His. He created you. Before you were even a concept in the womb of your mother, before the new beginnings of life were imagined, God beautifully knew you (Jeremiah 1:5).

Whether you believe it or not, you are so indescribably special to the Father above. When He sat molding you, one can only imagine the time He took to make you perfectly the beautiful you that you are.

At the potter’s wheel, He framed your purpose. He built inside wonderful gifts. With much care and attention, He fashioned you.

Run with the thought of all you are to Him today. Let the truth of His perfect design for you prompt you to continue to move forth in faith to where He is calling you, because you are specially made for this.

Nothing about you was left to chance. You are here on purpose and with a purpose, especially designed for you. Can you see it? Can you awaken your heart to believe it?

The battering of this world can speak so harshly against God’s design. But designed you are, and as long as you have it in your heart to believe in the wonderful you He created you to be, you can take on this day and His will for your life in confidence without missing a beat.

Whatever comes your way, be reminded of the unique love the Father has for you, and lay to rest everything else that speaks contrary to His truth.

Tethered in Hope

Hold on, dear friend, for He is present — your solid source of dependence through it all. Whether the days are of peace or as turbulent as the harrowing storms, there is a God we can wholly link to and rely upon. He will never fail you. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He is your steady rock, your hope realized, and He is everything and anything you need in this journey called life (Exodus 3:14).

You may experience ups and downs, but your days are not spent in futility, as if you are fighting against the wind. The Author and Anchor of your soul is holding onto you as you hold on to Him. As the waves crash about, He buoys your head above the waters, keeping you from going under.

No one wants you to have a successful Christian journey more than God the Father. Today, we lean into Him and secure our faith in Him, holding on to His promises, for they are as sure and reliable as He is.

His holy Word encourages us: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). When we depend wholeheartedly on the immovable power, strength, and grace of our God, my friend, we are kept.

Tired of being wind-tossed? Your safety and surety are in the One who’s never moved, shaken, or stirred by what this world is experiencing. His throne is forever (Ps. 45:6), and He is your forever help (Ps. 48:14). Tether your heart to our dependable God and be filled with peace, establishing your hope and faith on Whom you rely: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” – Psalm 39:7

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.” – Psalm 31:24

“The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” – Psalm 147:11

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” – Romans 15:13

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Don’t Miss the Visit

Friends, it only takes a moment to miss a prime opportunity. In the blink of an eye, what could have been is no more a possibility. Many of the Pharisees who were looking for the Messiah missed the meaning and life of the person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, whom they continually attacked and rebuked. When others in the crowd shouted, “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Luke 19:38), their shouts were one of trying to quench their praises because they did not recognize Jesus for who He really was. Jesus wept over the city and the people (Lk. 19:41) and spoke these words: “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes… thou knewest not the time of thy visitation” (Lk. 19:42, 44). A clear vision of Jesus is imperative to our Christian faith. Don’t miss the visit. Whenever and wherever you see God moving and revealing, lean into it and refuse to let the opportunity slip through your fingers, especially if it is a decision of salvation.

~Word for Life Says

Ended

Friend, what a beautiful word “ended” shall be. It signals rest, completion, ceasing, and finishing. It is forever putting to bed contentions, strife, fighting, and hurting; reasons for tears and upsets, knowing in our Lord it is all finally over. The reward ahead is sure for God is our sure foundation. It will not slip through the fingers of faith. The days of toiling have an expiration date and we will lay ahold of that glorious promise: “For the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended” (Isaiah 60:20).

~Word for Life Says

Reactions

Friends, there are many things we cannot control: the weather, everything that happens to us (for the Bible tells us time and chance happens to us all – Ecc. 9:11), and what people think about us. However, one thing we can control is how we respond to the different scenarios that come our way, especially the people part. We can choose to react with the fruit of temperance (Gal. 5:23), and we can choose to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and guard our reaction when the flesh wants to do otherwise. The Word of God encourages us: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).

~Word for Life Says

Conversations of the Heart

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Conversations of the heart. What is your heart speaking or what is speaking to your heart today? What inner dialogue is taking place? Is it a place of questioning? Is it a pondering some great point? Is what is being spoken there offering you peace and comfort for the days you are facing?

There, in the deepest recesses of your being, in the only place God and you know of, is an exchange of ideas, intentions, thoughts, opinions, and beliefs.

It’s where we form a picture of our lives. It’s where we store wisdom to draw from, love to explore, feel, and give, and it is also where we find encouragement for those less-than-perfect days.

Our hearts need a constant filling of the things that will nurture the inner man. For the soul of a man is fed from the fruit thereof.

Today, I offer you encouragement that will help strengthen the conversation of your heart. May the voice and power of Scripture speak where you need it most.

Blessings~

“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

“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.” John 14:27

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24

“Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30

“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” Psalm 73:26

“Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” Psalm 119:2

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Change Your Perspective

“Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:4

Is the glass half empty or half full? This question determines whether one is a pessimist or an optimist.

How we view things determines how we categorize them, and how we categorize them determines how we deal with them.

For those in the early church, the persecution they encountered could have been categorized as disastrous. The afflictions they faced brought real suffering, and decisions had to be made for individuals to leave their homes and places of comfort and flee. But in the fleeing, something amazing happened: Their faith went with them.

The cause of Christ that burned within refused to be extinguished. Rather, through the hardships they dealt with, it found a place to grow.

In the scattering of the faithful, more people were introduced to Jesus Christ, our Lord.

The situations you face today may not be pleasant, and you may not fully understand how it can work out for your good (Romans 8:28), but God does, and He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” (Ephesians 3:20).

Father God, I may not understand everything I encounter today, but I know that You always have my best in mind, and it is in Your hands I place my trust. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, I pray, AMEN.

Be Patient | Words to Live By

When it doesn’t go your way… be patient.

When it doesn’t fall into place as you imagined… be patient.

When it doesn’t seem fair… be patient.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Everything that is not like God will fade away, but you who endure to the end and remain patiently in hope, will see the reward of your perseverance. “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” James 5:7

It’s A Miracle!

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.” John 2:11

It’s a miracle! That is a word many use loosely, leaving the true meaning in the abstract form or a watered-down version of the true power that reigns within it.

When discussing the word “miracle,” what comes to mind? Do you think of something extraordinary? Something that makes you do a double-take? Something that makes you scratch your head in amazement and wonder?

While we may have those reactions to certain things in life, a true miracle is something heavenly hand-crafted. It is something where you know if it had not been for God’s divine intervention, His holy touch, the outcome of what you were hoping and praying for would have been totally different. 

The wedding in Cana became an event that forever displayed the nature of a true miracle (John 2:1-12). This event showed Jesus transforming the structure of one thing and completely making it something else. There is absolutely no way, outside of supernatural means, you can put plain water into clay or stone pots and draw out red wine. It just cannot be done. Even if one adds other elements to the water, it still would only produce something similar in taste and color, but not the real thing.

The only element Jesus used was His miracle-working power from heaven. The Bible explicitly tells us that nothing was in the pots but fresh water filled to the brim by the servants. That’s it. But Jesus, seeing the need that was in front of Him, stepped in, and divinely altered what they had into what was needed.  

We don’t know how He did it, but if it could be explained so easily then I would have to question if it was a miracle at all. 

As stated above, miracles leave you with no doubt who has worked in this situation or touched this life. Miracles ask for us to just accept what we have witnessed to be true, knowing that God has done something wonderful that cannot be explained according to our finite wisdom and understanding.  

When Jesus performed miracles, people marveled and were amazed. They praised God. And a host of other varied reactions, but not once have I seen them take Him to the side and say, “Explain to me how you did that?”  

Do you think the widow of Nain demanded of Jesus to know how He raised her son from the dead (Luke 7:11-16)? No, she just joyfully accepted it. Her son was alive again! And that was all that mattered. How about the Centurion whose servant was healed (Luke 7:1-10)? No, he just accepted it and took Jesus at His word. 

The same reaction came from those who were delivered from evil spirits, those who were blind, mute, or lame, and then made whole – they all accepted the healing, accepted the miracle, and did not demand to know how He did it. They knew it was a miracle!    

When God visits and miracles flow, lives are dramatically touched, changed, and healed for the better, and more than any thought possible. Miracles were real, alive, and true in the Bible-era days – and today, God can still work a miracle in your life. Just believe.  

“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23).

That’s a miracle!

“The Beginning of Jesus’ Miracles”

“The Great Acts of the LORD”

“I say to You, Arise!”

“Raising Lazarus”

Text Free Image by Larisa Koshkina from Pixabay