An interesting Hebrew meaning for the word “salvation” here is to be rescued either personally, spiritually, or nationally…and right now, the nations of the world could sure use some deliverance from all the distress, calamity, and frightening events surrounding this Corona virus. It’s time to stand in the gap for the nations and seek deliverance from the Lord. And how better to pray than to pray Scriptures back to God. Father, we lift all the nations of the world to You and ask for deliverance from this evil called COVID 19, (Psalm 3:8) For we know all those who take refuge in You are blessed (Psalm 2:12) and that You will never forsake anyone who seeks You. (Psalm 9:10) We thank You for sending help (Psalm 20:2) as Your Spirit encamps around us (Psalm 34:7)… so we humbly beseech You to save our nations from this enemy. (Psalm 18:48) In the precious Name of Jesus… Amen
Tag: God will never leave or forsake you
Psalm 35: 9-10 ” Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in His salvation. My whole being will exclaim, ‘Who is like You, O Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.’ “
Here’s a thought I heard yesterday that you may be guilty of…I sure am. You’re praying for someone and you ask the Lord to “be with them during this difficult time.” Do you realize just how wrong that statement is? God hasn’t gone anywhere, and He will never forsake the poor or needy. (Isaiah 41:17) Now it may seem like He’s far away to us, but He’s not…and in our mind it may appear that things are getting worse instead of better…but it could simply be that we aren’t seeing what we think should be happening. God promises deliverance from our enemies as we focus on Him and not our circumstances. Psalm 18:17 says, “He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.” Our hope then must come from God alone…for He promises He will never leave us nor forsake us.
Psalm 9:9-10 ” The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.”
Deuteronomy 33:27 goes on to assure us that, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” The Lord should be the very first one to turn to in times of pain and suffering, and prayer should be our first action, not an afterthought. For there is a place of security and a sense of peace amid any turmoil…it’s found only beneath the loving and everlasting arms of Jesus.
Romans 8:26 ” In the sameway, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
We’ve all been there. That deep moan of grief or pain escapes our lips…but that’s all. No words are spoken…because there are no words. Our mind is a confusing jumble of our frail mortal condition. That’s when the Holy Spirit can express for us the unutterable, inexpressible words we can’t find. And that’s when the Holy Spirit can step in and make intercession for us according to the Will of God. (Romans 8:27) The indwelling Holy Spirit is always there to pray…when we can’t.
II Chronicles 15:2 ” The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.”
James 4:8 tells us to, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” What does “coming near to God” look like though? It starts with communing or fellowshiping with our Heavenly Father…and that means getting to know Him. It’s similar to when you first started dating your spouse…you talked together endless hours, getting to know each other. God wants us to know Him…and He wants us to trust Him. But we have to know Him before we can trust Him…and that means reading His Word and praying. God assures us that if we seek Him, we will find Him…for He’s longingly waiting for that opportunity to be known by us.
Job 42:1-2 ” Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.’ “
God is not up in Heaven right now pacing and wringing His hands…nor is there the slightest sign of uncertainty or doubt on His face. Rather, God is seated on His throne in total and absolute control of every situation happening today. For there is no person or thing that can successfully oppose or block God’s Will. That’s because His ultimate plan and purpose is always being worked out perfectly to conform to His Will…for with God all things are possible.
Jonah 2:1-2 ” From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and You listened to my cry.’ “
When life’s going along smoothly…we tend to ignore God. We smugly think it’s us that’s making it all happen. So when disease, death or tragedy hits – we’re thrown for a loop. ” How can this possibly be happening to me…what am I going to do…how can I fix this?” It’s at that point of distress, we finally cry out to the Lord. But how do we know God’s listening to us…how do we know we have His attention? We can start by reading His Word. The Bible is full of times when God miraculously answered His people’s cries for help. And each time He answered, their faith was built up a little more. The Psalmist showed this confidence when he wrote, “Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me.” (Psalm 86:6-7) It’s that assurance from past answered prayers that enable us to have confidence every time we cry out to God anew.
Ephesians 2:12-13 ” Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
We were all once, “…without hope and without God in the world.” We were separated from Him by a chasm so deep and wide… there was no way of getting across by ourselves. In this bleak darkness our desperation grew, and we felt the hopelessness of being abandoned. But God then provided the bridge across that vast chasm…it was in the shape of a Cross. The gracious gift of redemption and reconciliation was bound to this Cross as the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ, ran down it. Yes, we were all once hopeless and cut off from God…but then God built a bridge for us…in the shape of a Cross.
Psalm 118:8 ” It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”
For all of you that enjoy Bible trivia, the middle Scripture of the Bible is this verse, Psalm 118:8 . It’s the very center point of God’s Word. So was it placed there by chance or divinely inspired? Many times I’ve prayed to find God’s perfect plan and purpose in my life…to be in the very center of His Will. For I know that’s the safest and very best place to be. And if I look at the fundamental truths in this verse, it makes that search easier. Where am I placing my faith and trust…whose promises am I putting stock in…and where really does my confidence lie? If it’s in man, I’m going to be disappointed…but if my trust is in the Lord, I will find His ultimate plan and purpose for my life.
Job 42:1 ” Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that You can do all things; no plan of Yours can be thwarted.’ “
If you get nothing else from this devotional today…please grasp this concept – nothing is too hard for the Lord. Job’s personal relationship with God helped him understand that nothing could hinder or stop God’s plan and purpose. Ephesians 1:11 says, “According to the plan of Him Who works everything in conformity with the purpose of His Will.” There is nothing that can prevent God’s Will from being fulfilled, for all power and might are in His hands. So if you’re facing impossible challenges today…take heart, nothing is too hard for the Lord.
Safetypinlove 