Or to paraphrase…Let us not become discouraged. When we become discouraged, it debilitates us and weakens our mind. We become exasperated at the sheer difficulty we face, and that can lead to depression. We shut down…and give up. But giving up is a decision we make…not the Lord’s will for our life.
Tag: love of god
Psalm 119: 130 ” The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
After speaking at a Ladies Breakfast yesterday, I reflected on what I had gleaned from the experience. Yes, I learn something every time I speak…for within all the preparation and presentation, the Lord speaks to me also. Insight into God’s word makes the simple wise, and I’m grasping after His truths daily. Insight into His heart is like a rose slowly unfolding its petals…becoming more beautiful and precious every day.
I John 2:15 ” Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
The world view of love is selfish…it focuses on greed, ambition, self-glory, and what I can get out of. In contrast, God’s love – agape love – is unconditional. It’s not depended on what you can do for me, or what I can get from you. Agape love can not be offended, it will never retaliate, it will never stop loving…for agape love is a decision, not a feeling.
Psalm 111:2 ” Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.”
I just came in from spending about 2 hours cleaning out the perennial flower bed that stretches across the front of the house. To me, Spring is hope and new life…and every time I pulled away dead leaves, my happiness grew. For underneath, peeking out, was fresh green life and the hope of beautiful flowers. The Lord’s miraculous works were on display for me to marvel in as I toiled in that flower bed…filling my heart to overflowing with joy and thankfulness.
Hebrews 2:1 ” We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.”
Slipping off the right path can happen so slowly and insidiously that we aren’t really aware of it until something drastic happens. We compromise a little here…we give in a little there…and before we know it – we’ve wandered far from where the Lord wants us. That’s why it’s so important to be ever vigilant…ever on guard for things that will cause us to jeopardize our faith.
Psalm 95: 6-7 ” Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.”
We are the sheep under the watchful eye of the Good Shepherd. Ever protected and cared for, we need not wander away from His ever present safety and security. Thank you Lord for being such a good Father.
Daniel 9:18 ” We do not make requests of You because we are righteous, but because of Your great mercy.”
We are unfaithful…but He is ever faithful to us. We are mean-spirited and unfair to others…but He is always compassionate and gracious towards us. We are judgmental and unmerciful…but He is ever full of grace and loving kindness.
Psalm 95: 1-2 “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our Salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.”
We tend to go to the Lord in bad times only…when life is treating us unfairly and we’re filled with sadness. But the Psalmist is telling us – Go to God when your happy and content…Go to Him when life is good and you feel truly blessed of Him. For He desires to hear you during the hard times…but He delights in hearing your praises.
I Corinthians 13:12 ” Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
Who can understand God? Who can comprehend His ways or grasp His greatness? What we perceive now falls so pathetically far from what we’ll then realize…when we’re face to face.
Isaiah 61:11 ” For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden cause seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.”
Just as the warming soil causes things to germinate and bud, so the Lord causes His power to be shown before all the earth…His honor and glory on grand display for all to see. For as the mystery of life is unveiled each Spring…God’s goodness and majesty is made evident the world over.
Safetypinlove 