April 19, 2020
JESUS KNOWS IT ALL
Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
As the LORD of creation, GOD’s creative power has not ceased to amaze me. He worked new things in the life of Noah, of Abraham, of Isaac, of Jacob, of Joseph...Moses, Caleb, Joshua, David, and many more of His chosen ones all the way to the New Testament saints. He’s not a GOD of stagnation and definitely not one who slumbers. GOD has not stopped working despite all the forces that are against Him. He is unstoppable!
GOD continues to amaze me with every breathe I breath and every waking hour of a new day. My whole being awaits Him daily with great expectancy at what He will do next. I wonder how this world will be like after this pandemic? I wonder if His children seek Him and desire more of Him while we’re all under quarantine? No matter what, I still believe that GOD is doing something good for all of humanity, especially for everyone whose names are written in The LAMB’s Book of Life! Today’s scriptures assure me that I can depend on the LORD. I can and I will keep on trusting Him, and I wait with great anticipation at what GOD will do for you and for me, and for everyone across the face of the earth, in the days and weeks ahead. Meanwhile, I wait with Expectancy, I watch with Expectancy, and I work with Expectancy. Why? Because my Redeemer lives and He keeps on working amazing things! I’m not going to worry nor will I let fear run my life. JESUS KNOWS IT ALL!
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
April 9, 2020
HOPE MATTERS
Psalm 147:11 ( NIV)
“the LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.”
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
“May the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy SPIRIT.”
Hope is the focus in these Bible verses, that the GOD of hope would cause us to overflow with hope. In St. Paul’s words, he does not directly pray for hope. Rather he prayers for what will produce hope within us.
The first step in this process is that we believe in the GOD of hope. We should not expect GOD to do anything for us if we are not walking in faith. As we believe, GOD would fill us with all joy and peace. Joy and peace come, not from external circumstances, but through our relationship with GOD. We can have real joy and real peace only when we are walking with the One who made us. But all too often we allow the troubles and cares of this world to intrude, dampening our joy and peace. Seeking to have GOD fill us with joy and peace is not a one time request. It should be the ongoing desire of the believers heart.
The end result of being filled with joy and peace is that we will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy SPIRIT. Hope is not just a wishful desire. Rather it is a firm confidence in GOD’s great and precious promises given to those who believe and claim JESUS CHRIST as Savior and Lord. And that hope grows in the soil of joy and peace, tended by the Holy SPIRIT. If your hope is weak, seek the joy and peace GOD will give to those who believe. Then you can enjoy overflowing hope in your life.
Pray with me....
LORD, help me and those in my family to hear you saying, "I am your hope" over all the other voices. LORD, your word says, you are the hope for the hopeless so I'm coming to you with both hands stretched out and holding on to you. Fill us up with hope and give us a tangible reminder today that hope is an unbreakable spiritual lifeline.
FATHER GOD, you know those things in my heart that I barely dare to hope for, today I give them to you, I entrust them to you, and I believe that you can do more than I could ever ask, think, or imagine or request from you. LORD, my GOD, you are my hope and I trust you. Make firm our faith. I pray this in the Great Name of JESUS...Amen.
April 8, 2020
HOPE HELD HIGH
Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)
“Since, then, you have been raised with CHRIST, set your hearts on things above, where CHRIST is, seated at the right hand of GOD. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Psalm 46:1-2“GOD is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..”
In some of the most difficult times in life, I’ve learned the power of praying GOD’s words back to Him. After all, the Bible says that His Word is trustworthy. GOD’s Word has the ability and the power to soothe our souls, to refresh our spirits, and cause hope to rise above the uncertainties that surround us. And though our circumstances may not be immediately changed, though our hearts may still sense trouble and our faith feel challenged, we’re reminded through His Word to set our eyes on JESUS. Our Savior is seated at the right hand of GOD. And that’s the best place for us to focus. That’s where we fix our eyes...way above and beyond all of life’s challenges and circumstances. Be assured today, GOD knows the best for us. He has not and will never forget us, and He’s still at work, even through the most difficult of times. Hallelujah!
Let’s pray...
FATHER GOD, You Word reminds us over and over that You are always with us. You tell us not to fear and You draw us close into Your Presence. LORD, You’re the only place we find refuge in the storms that surround us right now. You’re the only place we can find peace and strength. So we ask You for Your words of truth and power to strengthen us in our inner being as we lift our hearts to you. Thank You for Your goodness, thank You that You know the way we should take and you have a great plan for Your people. We look to You today, our Savior and Lord, it’s Your face we seek, it’s Your will we desire...In Your most Holy Name we pray. Amen.
April 6, 2020
PRAISE THE LORD
Psalm 150:1-6
1-“Praise the LORD. Praise GOD in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. 2-Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness. 3-Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, 4-praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, 5-praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals. 6-Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. PRAISE THE LORD.”
How often do you think about praising GOD outside of church on Sundays? The psalmist encourages us in Psalm 150 to praise GOD every day and in every part of our lives no matter how good or bad.
Psalm 150:2 says, “Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.” GOD is great all the time, not half the time or just on Sunday. GOD wants to be a part of our daily lives and our daily praise. He values time with us. He cherishes it when we praise and thank Him. GOD is also great, not just in one thing, but in all things.
Because GOD is great in all things, we can praise Him in every way all the time. There is no limit to how, when, or where we can praise the LORD. Praising Him in every circumstance gives us joy and pleases GOD. The LORD gets glory from every act of praise no matter what shape or form. How are you doing with praising GOD? Do you take advantage of opportunities to praise Him in all circumstances? How often do you praise Him?
We should never allow anyone nor anything to prevent us from praising GOD. He deserves our utmost praise for GOD alone is worthy!