Some seasons are hard to praise God through. But worship can’t wait for easy days. That’s because worship is rooted in Who God is, not in how we feel, our current situation, or what we’re facing. This kind of worship is deliberate and thoughtful…it’s the kind of worship that carries the most weight…because it comes from a heart that has suffered and still chooses to praise God. It doesn’t feel natural, it goes against our common sense, but it’s necessary. For this type of worship is intentionally focused on the transcending goodness of God…regardless of our present season of affliction, misery, or injustice.
Psalm 143:8 ” Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.”
We need to greet each new dawn with gratitude and the heartfelt desire to experience God’s steadfast love anew. And with each new morning, there is hope, as we allow God’s mercy to shape our attitudes, actions, and interactions that are to come. Our prayer should simply then be, “Teach me what I cannot see.” (Job 34:32)…acknowledging our limitations with humility and submission… and seeking God’s guidance and accepting His correction.
Both faith and fear demand you to believe in something you can’t see. The choice is yours as to what you believe.
If you look through the Bible, you’ll see that both fear and faith are written about a lot. We see many Bible characters vacillating between the two emotions as they lay their troubles before the Lord. And over and over again, the Lord gives assurance that fear is not from Him, (II Timothy 1:7) that He is always with us, (Isaiah 41:10) and that we should stand firm in our faith. (I Corinthians 16:13) For God is our foundation, and as we hold on to the core Truths of His Word…we can remain steadfast in our faith despite the challenges.
Isaiah 45:7 ” I form the light and create the darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.”
Adversity is equally as purposeful in the eyes of our sovereign God as is abundance and joy. In the Old Testament, Job replied to his wife, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” in the midst of their utter devastation and loss. (Job 2:10) And Paul points out in Romans 5:3-4 that adversity can refine our character and deepen our faith. That’s because, facing trials with a spiritual perspective (knowing that God’s sovereignty is over all aspects of our life) allows us to not see them as set backs but rather as opportunities for personal growth and transformation. (James 1:2-4) And we have further assurance of this in Romans 8:28, when Paul wrote that all things work together for the good to those who love God.” Finally, as Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Don’t be anxious about tomorrow.” For yes, we don’t know the future, but we do know the mighty God Who holds it in His hands. So we must then trust Him for the outcome and obey His lead.
“The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything they have.” Mother Teresa
Ecclesiastes 5: 19-20 tells us that true contentment comes from enjoying what God has given us…and in Ecclesiastes 7:14 it states, “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made one as well as the other.” So when we’re faced with blessings or challenges we need to realize that they are both part of God’s sovereign plan. It’s then our decision whether to be joyful, happy, and grateful… or miserable. For even in the middle of challenges, we can be content and reflective…allowing our faith to grow deeper.
John 15:4 ” Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
In the 15th Chapter of the Book of John between verses 4-10, Jesus used the word “abide” 10 times…emphasizing the permanence and steadfastness of His relationship with His disciples. Abiding or remaining in Christ isn’t a one time emotional epiphany, but rather a daily committed relationship with Jesus. On our part it involves faith, obedience, dependance, and communion in order that our spiritual life will be fruitful. “Abide in Me, and I in you.”
Nehemiah 1:11 ” Give Your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
Nehemiah served in the trusted role of cupbearer in the palace of the Persian king Artaxerxes. He was far from his beloved Jerusalem and knew that it lie in ruins. The Book of Nehemiah starts out with a heartfelt prayer asking God not only for guidance, but for favor before this heathen king in asking to go and rebuild Jerusalem. And God granted Nehemiah success…touching the heart of Artaxerxes so that he was willing to supply all the things necessary to rebuild. Nehemiah knew that his success in this situation could only come from God intervening on his behalf. It was similar in Exodus 3:21, where God’s divine favor transformed in a supernatural reversal the hearts of the Egyptians…moving from open hostility to blessing God’s people with all they needed to journey back to their home country.
James 1:22 ” Don’t merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
The evidence of spiritual maturity isn’t how many Bible verses you can recite. It’s how many Bible verses people can see in your everyday life. It’s wonderful if you can recount word for word Galatians 5:22…but if people don’t see the fruits of the Spirit in you…it’s all just memorized words. Jesus taught about this in Matthew 7:16-20 when He asserted that we are recognized by our fruit…in other words, by our conduct & our concrete ethical behavior. That’s because, true hearing of the Word must always lead us towards Godly action. (Colossians 1:10)
Proverbs 3:21-22 ” My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.”
Many places throughout Proverbs we are admonished to follow the way of wisdom. Proverbs 4:20-22 tells us to pay attention to wisdom…keeping it always before us. For if we hold on to Godly wisdom and understanding, it can only bring life, honor, and guidance in our life. Or as it says, “an ornament to grace your neck,” which is a metaphor for beauty and protection…symbolizing the benefits of wisdom… which are the honorable character traits of dignity, trustworthiness, and esteem. (Proverbs 1:8-9) Therefore, if we follow the way of wisdom, it will shape our actions and character.
Acts 28:30-31 ” For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Paul was under house arrest in Rome awaiting trial. There he could entertain his friends and minister to anyone that visited…including the Roman guards assigned there. He received all with gracious hospitality and boldly proclaimed the Good News of the Gospel to anyone that would listen. In his letter to Timothy, Paul, observed that, though he himself was in chains, the Word of God wasn’t bound. (II Timothy 2:9) But so many times, as we get older with physical limitations, we think God is done using us. But instead, we need to pray that the Lord will bring people across our path that we can share Jesus with. And you’ll be surprised as to who will darken your door…for just as Paul’s home became a place of peace and spiritual growth for anyone who visited, your home can also become a place where God’s work can continue.
Safetypinlove 