This week as I struggled with issues I’m facing, I was comforted by the great care my heavenly Father provided.  I found comfort in this verse and the loving picture it evoked in my mind.  I pray that this promise from God will encourage you today.

Blessings,    Linda

Psalm 91:4

“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Promise:   God promises shelter, refuge and protection through His faithfulness.

I love the word picture that this verse gives us of our Heavenly Father. He is like the mother goose or eagle covering and protecting her young within the folds of her wings. This protective covering makes us feel loved and protected from a world that seeks to harm us.   However, the promise states that we get this feeling of love and protection from and through God’s faithfulness. Knowing that my Heavenly Father is always with me, ever true and unchanging in his love for me provides me with an invincible shield from the world’s attacks. Relying upon God is our surest defense and one that will never fail us. We are reminded in Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him,” Do you rely upon God’s faithful character when you are troubled? Do you seek refuge in Him?   Begin right now to rely on God’s faithfulness to give you the encouragement and the hope you need to face the challenges of this day and the next.

Lessons and Truths:

1. God is all powerful and can and does protect me.
2. God is faithful.
3. I can depend upon God’s faithfulness.
4. God’s faithfulness gives me a sure defense 24/7.

Prayer: Lord, you alone are faithful every hour and minute of the day. You are merciful and loving, wanting the very best for me. Thank you for your protection and faithfulness towards me. Help me to live each day depending upon your faithful character and boldly standing to meet the challenges in my life knowing you are always with me. May others see your faithfulness in my life. Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

Where have I experienced God’s faithfulness in my life?

Do I have a situation where I need to seek God’s refuge and protective faithfulness today?

Promise Confirmation: Deuteronomy 33:26-27a, 2 Samuel 22:2-3, 31-34, Psalm 31:19-20, 57:2-3, 61:4 and 100:5, Lamentations 3:21-23, 2 Timothy 2:13

Matthew 24:35

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Promise: God promises that His Words are eternal and more certain than the existence of the universe.

What do you know for certain? We know the sun will come up tomorrow, we have to pay taxes and death will someday come to all of us. These are all certainties in our lives that we can count on no matter what. Although we joke about these certainties, we know them to be real. I would challenge you to think of godly assurances that we have through faith in Jesus. We know that God and His Word are eternal. God’s words have been working since creation when God spoke the universe into existence.  His words have the power to create, mold, sustain, guide and keep us until the end of time. God does not change and there is not a shadow of doubt in Him. We can depend upon God and His Word to be consistent in all situations.   We are assured that even when all things cease to exist in heaven and earth, God’s Words will still remain. Open your Bible today and take a fresh look at God’s Words.  They have the power to change your life just as they changed the universe from nothingness into being.  There is power in the Words of God.

Lessons and Truths:

1. God is eternal.

2. God is immutable, the same yesterday, today and forever.

3. Heaven and earth are temporary places created by God.

4. God’s Words will remain forever.

Prayer:   Lord, you are eternal and your words are powerful beyond any measure in heaven or on earth. I can depend upon your Word as you do not change your mind and what you say and do is immutable. Help me to stand firmly rooted in your Word and to treat it with reverence. Cause me to hunger after your Word and to hide it in my heart. Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

What is my attitude towards God’s Word, the Bible?

When and where am I going to study God’s Word?

Promise Confirmation: Psalm 102:25-27, Psalm 119:89, 160, Isaiah 65:17-19, John 1:1, Hebrews 4:12-13, Revelation 21:1-4

I pray that you are challenged by this promise and will pursue a serious study of God’s Words.  Here are a couple of suggestions:  contact your local evangelical church and ask about possible Bible studies they have, go on the web and look up classes for Bible Study Fellowship (www.BSF.org) as they have classes throughout the world or look up classes for Community Bible Study (www.CBS.org).  Both of these organizations have Bible based studies that will help you to learn about God and His Word.

Just as God’s Words changed the universe, He can change us through the study of His Word.  Blessings as you study,

Linda

Isaiah 58:11   “The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”   (NIV)

Promise:  God will always guide, satisfy, strengthen and care for me.

When I first encountered this verse, I was studying the book of Isaiah in a Community Bible Study group.  It was our verse to memorize for the week.  As I pondered the words, I realized the depth of God’s love and care for me.  He sees me as a young growing plant in his garden of life.  He is the eternal gardener who cultivates, nourishes, waters and supports all the plants in His garden.  Since I identify with this picture, being one who loves to garden and care for my plants, I realized that only God is the perfect gardener.  I stumble, fail and definitely fall short in the caring, watering and nurturing of myself and others.  I need to remember that God’s garden of life is a protected place where I will always be cared for, comforted, strengthened and guided along the pathways of life.  I need to trust God to provide and guide so I will flourish in His garden.  Being in God’s garden will give what the Psalmist calls the well-watered look.  Are you well-watered?  Do you read the Bible, pray, listen to Christian music, talk with Christian friends or read Christian literature?   We need to trust God and claim this verse, holding steadfastly to the truth of God’s gardening care.

Lessons and Truths:

1.   God is my guide in life.

2.   God is my provider.

3.   God is my source of strength.

4.   God cares for me and wants the best for me.

5.   God is eternal.

Prayer:  Lord, you promise to care, guide, satisfy and strengthen me.  Show me today each of these in a new way.  Help me to realize that you are with me 24/7 and that I can always depend on you.  Cause me to stand steadfastly on your Word and boldly speak to others about you.  Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

Am I trusting God to provide and guide me or am I trying to do things myself using my own power and strength?

What evidence do I see in my life of God’s care, satisfaction and guidance?  Thank Him today.

Promise Confirmation:  Psalm 25:9 and 48:14, Isaiah 40:31, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Philippians 4:13 and  4:19, 1 Peter 5:7

Blessings today as you enjoy and delight in being in God’s garden of care and love.

Linda

 What journey does God have you on this summer?  Can you find your way or do you need a direction reminder?  Look to Jesus and He will show you the way to go.

Blessings on your journey.  Linda

1 John 5:11-12

            And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.  (ESV)

Promise: God promises eternal life through Jesus and death to those who do not know Jesus.

We live in an age of tolerance and it is not thought to be polite, proper or loving to say that there is only one way to God. Many would espouse the idea that there are many pathways to God. God’s word does not allow for tolerance of other ways to reach a relationship with God.  God specifically says that Jesus is the only way to come before God and have life in Him. Knowing Jesus is the only way to heaven and eternal life with God. Stand firm and keep ahold of this basic truth for true salvation demands it.

Lessons and Truths:

1.     Faith in Jesus results in eternal life.

2.     Not believing in Jesus brings death.

3.     Jesus is God’s son sent to save us.

Prayer:   Lord, you are immutable and do not waver on the truth of how I can have eternal life. Your word is true and shows us the only way to salvation is through your Son. Help me to stand firm on your word and proclaim Jesus as my Savior. Give me compassion for those who doubt and words to encourage them towards faith in Jesus. Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

Who do I know that needs to know Jesus as savior?

Do I know the steps to receiving Jesus as savior?

1.     Confess that you are a sinner. Romans 3:10-12, 23 1John 1:8-10

2.     Believe that Jesus, the Son of God, went to the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. Jesus is the only way to restore our relationship with God that was broken by sin. John 3:16-18, John 14:6, Romans 5:8-9, Romans 6:4

3.      Pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart as your Lord and Savior. John 1:12-13, 2Corinthians 1:21-22 and 5:17.

Promise Confirmation:   Jonah 2: 8-9, John 3:16-18, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 6:23.

The promise God gave to Noah in the rainbow is one of the most well known in the Bible.  It is told to children with the story of Noah and the Ark and is one of the earliest promises we are taught.  Do you take this promise seriously?  Take a new look at what God promises in His rainbows and see if you can receive new insight from His Word today.

Blessings as you meditate on God’s Word.   Linda

Genesis 9:11-13, 16

            “I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.….When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”   (ESV)

Promise:   God promises to never again destroy the creatures of the earth by flood, and the rainbow will be our sign of His remembrances.

Don’t you love to see rainbows in the sky? Usually they occur after or during a storm and remind us of God’s faithfulness to his creation. Storms will come, but God promises that whatever storm comes it will not destroy us.   I think you can take this literally with storms of nature but it also applies to emotional storms that invade our lives. God’s rainbow gives us hope that he is eternally present and His Word is everlasting. We can depend upon him no matter what the storm may be because He is sovereign and greater than anything we can face. Like Noah, we can have faith in God as He keeps His promises.

Lessons and Truths:

1.     God’s covenant is eternal and will stand no matter what I do.

2.     I don’t need to fear destruction of the earth by flood as God keeps His promises.

3.     God wants me to be assured of His faithfulness and gave me a reminder sign in the rainbow.

4.     God’s word is eternal and everlasting, and He will not change his mind in the future.

Prayer:   Lord, help me to trust in your word and truly believe that you keep your promises. When you say something, it has eternal value as you do not change your mind. Thank you for being faithful to me even when I am not faithful to you. Hold me in the palm of your hand and show me ways to strengthen my faith and trust more fully in you. Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

How have I experienced God’s faithfulness in my life?

Where am I experiencing fear that God may change his mind? (Example: Do I fear losing my salvation, grieving the Holy Spirit, not getting answers to prayer, doubting God’s plan for my life, etc.?)

Promise Confirmation:   Job 42:2, Psalm 86:15, Hebrews 6: 17-18 and 10:23, James 1:17, 2Peter 3:8-9.

This week I have been stressed over situations in my life.  I cannot change the situations but I CAN change the stress level.  By focusing on God’s faithfulness, I can move forward and leave the stress with Him.  He is sovereign over all things, circumstances and people and He is forever faithful.  I pray this promise about God’s faithfulness speaks to you today as it has to me.

Blessing as you walk trusting in God’s faithfulness,

Linda

2 Timothy 2:11-13

The saying is trustworthy,  for:

      If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

      if we endure, we will also reign with him;

      if we deny him, he also will deny us;

     if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.                  

Promise:   God promises that our actions towards him will be rewarded and that above all He is faithful.

Have you ever felt your actions for good will go unrewarded or that the things you say when trying to witness have fallen on deaf ears? This promise calls us to account for our own actions towards both man and God. The thing that makes this doable is God’s faithfulness in spite of our failings. If we will cling to Him in faith, we will be victorious. Today if you are tempted to doubt doing what is right or struggle in professing faith in Jesus to others, call on God’s faithfulness to see you though.

Lessons and Truths:

1.     Giving my life to God and living sacrificially brings the assurance of eternal life with Christ.

2.     God rewards perseverance in faith filled living..

3.     Rejecting Christ will result in judgment for eternity.

4.     Stumbling in my walk with Christ and faltering in my faith does not mean Christ will lose faith or give up on me.

5.     God is faithful.

Prayer:   Lord, I am so thankful for your faithfulness. You are always with me and desire that I live for you. Help me to glorify you in my daily encounters and speak boldly about Jesus and the transformations You have performed in my life. Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

How am I being faithless in my daily walk?

How am I being faithful?

Who do I need to speak to about Jesus?

Promise Confirmation: Proverbs 3:3-4, Colossians 3:23-25, James 1:2-4.

This promise spoke to my heart today for as relaxing as summer is- there are times of stress with family, coming changes and pressures with expenses.  As I reflected on the courage we can receive from God’s abiding presence, I was encouraged.  I pray you will be too.

Joshua 1:9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)

Promise: God promises to be with me wherever I go and His presence will dispel fear and discouragement.

God knows that I get fearful and discouraged as I face the trials of living each day. The people and circumstances that surround me often lead to discouragement, depression and fatigue. Without God to give me encouragement, direction and courage, I can become overwhelmed with despair. God faithfully reminds me that He is with me and His Spirit indwells me giving me His power to persevere. Praise God!

Lessons and Truths

1.     God is greater than anything or anyone that I might fear.

2.     God’s presence dispels fear.

3.     God is omnipresent.

4.     God is sovereign.

Prayer:   Lord, help me to live each day with the assurance of your presence. Give me the encouragement and courage to claim this promise and keep it near to my heart and mind. Thank you that you are greater than anything I will face today and that You are in control of all things.   Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

Today will I strive to walk with God and rely upon Him. What fears do I face today that I need to give to Him?

How can I practice living in God’s presence?

Here are a couple of practical tips that may help you to live in God’s presence today:   Pray in the moment– arrow prayers of needs as you see them. Memorize Joshua 1:8-9 so that you can say it when you need assurance of God’s presence.    Ask God for assurance of His presence during your day.

Promise Confirmation:    Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 139: 7-10, Matthew 28:19-20

Blessings as you let this promise live in you today.

Linda

 

 

Psalm 119:9, 160

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word…..All your words are true: all your righteous laws are eternal.”  (NIV)

Promise: God promises that His Word is eternal, righteous and a guide to godly living.

When you get new appliances they come with a manual for operation or installation. Once I purchased a new sewing machine. The purchase came with 2 introductory classes to learn about the machine and the things you could make it do. When I got to the class I sat down, set up and threaded my machine in preparation for our work. The instructor came around and asked me, “How did you get the machine threaded?” He was shocked that I had accomplished that task without his assistance. I replied, “I followed the directions in the manual.”   In today’s world Google and U-Tube have become our convenient manuals for resolving questions about how things work.  What about in the area of godly living? Where do you go for guidance when you have problems with people, money, jobs, stress, etc? God tells us that all we need is in His Word. We do not need to worry that God’s manual will become out of date, have misleading information or lead us into wrong actions as He says His Word is true, eternal and righteous. His Word is our perfect manual for living our lives His way. Be sure to consult your manual often. You can depend on it!

Lessons and Truths:

1.     Following God’s Word leads to purity in our lives.

2.     God’s Word is true, pure, righteous and eternal.

Prayer:   Lord, instead of consulting friends, Google, or other worldly advice, cause me to look to you and your Word for wisdom. I know that You and You alone have the perfect answer. Give me patience as I wait for your answers and increase my trust in you.  Cause me to hunger after your righteous, eternal Word.  Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

How is my life reflecting the truths of God’s Word?

How am I allowing God to lead me towards truth, purity and righteousness?

Promise Confirmation: Psalm 119: 11,105, Proverbs 30:5, Matthew 24:35, John 6:68 and 17:17, Hebrews 4:12, James 1:22-25

I thought this promise was appropriate for the week of the Fourth of July.  Enjoy the holiday and cherish your freedoms.

John 8:31-32, 36

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’…’So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed,’”

Promise: God promises freedom, truth and discipleship in Christ

Where and when do you feel truly free? As Americans, we pride ourselves on our independence, self-initiative and having freedoms to claim and practice in our daily lives. As we know our freedoms are defined and limited by the society in which we live. Sometimes we agree with these limitations and sometimes we don’t. We struggle each day to survive and maintain our freedoms within our family, neighborhoods and society.

The freedom that God promises is dependent upon Christ not us. We just need to believe and accept the true freedom and then live a life dependent upon God. We need to accept the truth that God provides in His Word and the truth of who Jesus is and what He did for us on the cross. We need to accept our place in His family and take up the job of living for Him as His disciple. Working for God’s truth in our world will bring greater freedom than anything we think we can obtain or receive here on Earth. So do as Jesus commands, accept His freedom and be free indeed!

Lessons and Truths:

1.     Belief in God involves action.

2.     God is Truth.

3.     Knowing Christ, brings truth into my life.

4.     God gives freedom, true freedom through Christ.

Prayer: Lord, you are truth. Open my eyes to the true freedoms I have in Christ. Guide me to make choices that are glorifying to you and show my willingness to be a disciple of Jesus. Open ways to tell others about Jesus and the freedom you offer in Him. Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

How am I experiencing God’s freedom and truth in my life?

As a disciple of Jesus, how am I holding to my faith and living by His Word?

Promise Confirmation: Psalm 31:5 and 86:11-13, Luke 14:26-27, John 14:6, Romans 8:1-2, Galatians 5:1, Revelation 1:4-5

Be free indeed through Christ,

Linda

 

 

Mark 11:22-24  “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.  “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

  Promise:  God promises that faith-filled prayer will result in answers.

Jesus emphatically says that prayer changes things and can be the cause of mountains being moved.  When you think about it, do you see things you prayed for that seemed impossible at the time like broken relationships being healed, healings, job offers, moves, an unsaved person you have prayed for coming to know and serve Christ, mission trips and the gospel being spoken in ways you never dreamed possible, happening.  Prayer warriors, those that constantly and consistently pray for themselves, their families and others, know for a fact that prayer changes things.  When my children were younger, I belonged to a Mom’s prayer group.  We met weekly to pray for our kids, teachers and their school.  Over months, I found that the worries I had about school and feelings I had towards the teachers changed.  They had not changed as a result of prayer but I had.  My attitude was soften, heart opened and I saw their needs from a different perspective. I found that prayer works on those we are praying for and our own hearts as we pray.  Jesus says here that believing God can accomplish anything is essential to effective prayer.  There is no room for doubt.  Will you seek to pray this week believing God for the results?  Will you allow God to move mountains for you by trusting Him to accomplish His work in and through you?

Lessons and Truths:

1.     Prayer requires faith in God that He can accomplish what is being asked.

2.     Prayer changes things.

3.     Prayer shows God’s power to me.

4,     Effective prayer requires the absence of doubt in the results.

Prayer:  Lord, open my eyes and my heart to greater faith.  Remove all doubt from my mind and help me to resist Satan’s attacks of unbelief.  Hold me close and show me your love as I pray for others and myself.  Allow me to see answered prayer in the little things of life so that I can build my faith and trust in you.  Amen.

What is my response to God’s promise?

Am I not seeing answered prayer due to my lack of faith?      If so, ask God to increase your faith and trust in Him.

When I pray, am I only looking for answers my way or am I really openly seeking God’s answer in God’s time?        If you see this happening, pray directly for God’s will to be done so your thinking does not even enter your mind.  God’s way is always better than anything we can even imagine.

Promise Confirmation: Matthew 21:21-22, Philippians 4:6, James 1:5-8 and 5:15-16,  1Peter 3:12