The bleak Winter landscape is suddenly broken up by the robins announcing that they are back. What a joy it is to hear the chirping…knowing that Spring has to be right around the corner. The Psalmist must have had the same kind of hopeful optimism when he wrote, “Sing to the Lord a new song!” Fresh, new music to praise God…full of hope and anticipation for what is to come. Allow yourself to be filled with that same kind of wonderful hope today, as you yourself sing a “new” song of praise to our Lord!
Tag: relationship with god
Psalm 103:11 ” For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.”
You may not be too willing to admit that you have one in your house…most times they are messy, unorganized, and a catch-all for everything that has no specific place to go…I’m talking about a junk drawer. Oh, what things we can find in the back of that drawer! Every cast-off, odd, or thing without a place will end up there for lack of anywhere else to put it. Sometimes we too can feel like we’ve been thrown in the world’s junk drawer… we don’t fit in the perfect, usual or customary places… so we’re judged because of our oddity, eccentricity, or peculiarity…and then delegated to junk drawer status. But, God has no junk drawer to throw us in because we may not “fit in”. His love for us is unfathomable as to how wide and long and high and deep it is towards us. In His eyes, we will always be worthy of a place of honor, rather than in the back of that drawer.
Isaiah 55:11 ” …so is My Word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
There is nothing as powerful as God’s Word. It is living and active, it cannot be revoked, or delayed…it is always fulfilled. When the Lord first started speaking to me about writing these daily devotionals, first and foremost was the desire to get His Word to as many people as possible. The pittance that I add is nothing compared to you reading His Written Word. Reading God’s Word changes us…from the inside out….it changes us for the good…it changes us forever. His Word will never return to Him without first executing His desired plan in our lives. As John so aptly stated, ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” When we take the time to immerse ourselves in His Word, we will emerge from the encounter different than when we started.
Matthew 28:20 “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the ages.”
Has something ever happened to you that you felt abandoned by God? Maybe it was an ugly incident when you were a child that has haunted you for years…maybe it occurred yesterday. Regardless of the time-frame, those negative emotions of feeling forsaken, forgotten, and discarded can pursue us forever. We may “feel” abandoned by God…but we also need to realize that the Lord was there with us all the time. He has never left us, nor will He ever…He will be with us indefinitely, forever, and into eternity. God says He will be with you always…He has never, and will never, abandon you!
Psalm 31: 7 ” I will be glad and rejoice in Your love, for You saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.”
Psalm 31, for anyone who has gone, or is going through traumatic times, is one of the greatest Psalms to read outloud…back to the Lord. You can voice it through tears, you can express it with anger, you can utter it in total dispair…but regardless of how you verbalize it, God not only is listening to you, but He understands, and knows intimately what you are going through. He has heard your cry for mercy when you called…”Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
Numbers 6:24-26 ” The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”
God gave Moses this Priestly Blessing for the Levites to pray over the people. In John 14:27 Jesus said, ” Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” He was using this invocation to comfort and instruct the Disciples before He went to the Cross. But this wonderful prayer is also for you now…this blessing, something the Lord wants to bestow on you today. The Lord will bless and guard you… the Lord’s light, His Presence, and mercy will ever be on you…the Lord will raise up His eyes and regard you face to face, and at that moment the Gospel of Peace will be established in your heart, and this peace Jesus told about, will be yours forever.
I Corinthians 10:23 ” Everything is permissible – but not everything is benefical. Everything is permissible – but not everything is constructive.”
As a Child of God, we have unbelievable freedom in Christ…but as a Believer, we also must be prudent in what we do. Just because we’re permitted to do something, doesn’t make it profitable…and just because we’re allowed do something, doesn’t make it edifying to our mind, body, or spirit. Discernment is the key…having that Godly insight and understanding as to what is the very best for us in every situation. The Apostle Paul summed it up beautifully by saying…”Everything is permissible for me – but I will not be mastered by anything.” In other words, control what you do…don’t be controlled by it.
Esther 4:16 “…When this is done, I will go to the King, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Even though she was Queen, Esther had to be summoned by King Xerxes to enter the inner court. If he did not extend his golden scepter towards her, she would immediately be put to death. Esther entered that inner court with fear and trembling, not knowing how the King would react to her. By contrast, we can enter the Great Throne Room of Grace like a little child running into their parents room…laughing, joyful, without fear, totally trusting we won’t be rejected by our Heavenly Father. The Lord wants to spend time with you today..listening to every little thing you have on your mind. So go boldly into His inner court…He’s waiting for you!
Colossians 2:6-7 ” So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strenghened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Why shouldn’t everyday be an overabundance of appreciation?… Why do we spend a good part of our days grousing rather than being grateful? If we haven’t put into place the elements of the first part of this verse, unfortunately, we will never achieve the latter. It says that once you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are to continue your Walk…growing in the knowledge of Him, ever-increasing your trust and confidence as you learn from your Teacher and Lord. Thus, with this ever-increasing Faith within, you too will overflow with thankfulness and gratitude.
Ezra 4:4 ” Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.”
The Israelites were rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem, when their enemies approached, wanting to be part of the building project also. The Jews refused the offer, and so their enemies set out to frighten and discourage them… even hiring people to intentionally work against them and frustrate their plans…so they would become disheartened and give up. How many times has the Lord told you something, when suddenly here pops the enemy, whispering in your ear that it won’t work…that you’ll fail…or that you don’t know what you’re doing and you might as well give up. The Israelites were following the Lord’s plans and purpose for their lives, despite what their enemies were telling them…don’t allow the enemy to discourage you from moving forward in the plans and purpose the Lord has set forth for you.
Safetypinlove 