Tag: Faithful

Cling to God’s Faithfulness- He will bring you through it!

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God’s faithfulness is a subject you can never talk enough about. Today’s promise is found in 2 Timothy 2:11-13 and is in a poetic format in the Apostle Paul’s letter to his ‘son’ Timothy.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 11 Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,  we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,  he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Promises: God promises that our actions towards Him will be rewarded or punished in kind 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 call us into account for our own actions towards both man and God. What we say and do does matter! The thing that makes this doable is God’s faithfulness towards us in spite of our failings. If we will cling to Him in faith, we will be victorious. Today if you are tempted to doubt that what you are doing is right then stop and ask God to guide you. Lean into Jesus and call on God’s faithfulness to see you through. Jeremiah 33:3 is one of my favorite truths to hold onto, “3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’

What does this verse teach us about God: faith in Jesus brings assurance of salvation, God rewards perseverance, rejecting Christ will result in judgement, when I stumble in my faith God does not lose faith in me, God is faithful.

Lenten Reflections: How am I being faithful in my walk with Jesus? What doubts or temptations do I need to turn over to faithful God?

These lines make me think seriously about how I am relating to and speaking about God. He expects a lot from me in faith but He has given me everything for eternity. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know the faithfulness of God and cling to Him.

Linda

Related Verses: Jeremiah 33:3, Proverbs 3:3-4, Colossians 3:23-25, James 1:2-4

God Preserves

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Today’s promise comes from Psalm 31:23-24. It holds both promises and a warning- a cautionary note from God.

Love the Lord, all you his saints!
    The Lord preserves the faithful
    but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
    all you who wait for the Lord!

Promise: God promises to preserve those who faithfully follow Him and chastise those who act pridefully.

The world present us with constantly changing circumstances. The life of one who follows Jesus requires strength and courage; it is not for the fainthearted! God promises that He will be preserve us as we wait upon Him and strive to follow His ways. He promises to look out for those who belong to Him and even calls us saints! This does not mean we will not have challenges or heartbreaks, but that we will be preserved. The best verse I can think of for this is John 10:27-29 “ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” We are protected through our faith in Christ. No one, nothing, can take us away from God once we are His. Once committed to Jesus, we cannot lose our salvation as no one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand! He preserves us and our salvation is safe. Our eternal life is secure!! Another verse that helps us see this is Ephesians 1:13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,” We are sealed though the power of the Holy Spirit.

God’s caution about being prideful is shown through multiple examples in the Bible. 2 Chronicles 26 tells us about King Uzziah who became prideful before God, 2 Chronicles 32 tells us about Hezekiah’s prideful actions that almost cut his life short until he repented. Daniel 4 tells of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who admired all he had built  “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,” He then lost his kingdom and spent 7 years roaming the woods like an animal until he repented. Only then was he restored to health and power. Proverbs 16:18 puts it this way, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.’

What we can know from these verses: God is worthy of my love and praise, God is committed to preserving me for eternity, God hates pride/arrogance, God supports those who wait upon Him with courage and strength.

Lenten Reflection: Do I truly believe that you belong to Jesus? If in doubt, pray and ask God for assurance of His promise that you are sealed and preserved for all eternity. Do you suffer bouts of pride or arrogance? Be quick to repent and acknowledge God as your Father and provider.

Knowing the Lord loves you and has your back for all eternity is a great comfort in this hectic and often evil world. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can live with assurance of God’s faithfulness and His safeguarding of my salvation.

Linda

Related Verses: Psalm 145:3, John 10:27-29, Ephesians 1:13, Proverbs 16:18, 1 John 2:16-17, Psalm 97:10, Romans 1:7.

Advent Day 17, Restoration Assured in Jesus

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Our Advent calendar takes us to Psalm 126 today. This psalm is one of a group known as the Psalms of Ascent which were sung as worship songs. This song is one of praise and pleading to God for mercy.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
    and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
    we are glad.

In this first stanza the psalmist praises God for the great things He has done in their midst. He brought them back from captivity in Babylon after 70 years. He has restored their joy and their place among the nations. Praise is due to God in great abundance for his great mercy towards them.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
    shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    bringing his sheaves with him.

The second stanza asks for further restoration. They have seen what God has done and exclaim to Him what joys his grace and mercy have brought. God’s restoration has an electrifying effect on the people as it turns sorrowful tears and hard work to shouts of joy with great productivity.

As you reflect this Advent season, what has God done in your life this year that you are most grateful for? Did He turn circumstances around in your life? Did He bring blessings to you in a special way? Did He help you to mend a relationship or have the strength to end an addiction? Did you narrowly escape an accident or calamity? Did timing fall just right when you were waiting for results? God does many things in our lives and we need to take time to reflect and praise Him. Look for the hand or God, His providential care in your life- it is there! God is the great restorer. 1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Our hope is placed in Him who can redeem and restore us.

What do you desire God to restore this Advent season? Take a lesson from this psalm- praise Him for what He has done and lay before Him where you need mercy and grace. Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” God is faithful beyond measure and is merciful.

Linda

Could You Write a Magnificat about God’s Blessings to YOU?

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Today’s scripture is one of my favorites. It is know as the ‘Magnificat’ and it is Mary’s response to the Lord and His work within her. It is beautiful and shows her servant heart.

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.” Luke 1:46-55

Mary starts with her praise to the Lord for what He has done within her. She seeks to glorify God with her words of praise and to acknowledge the enormous blessings He has brought and will continue to bring into her life through the coming child. Then she begins proclaiming the goodness of the Lord as experienced through the ages by her people. He has done mighty deeds and yet held the proud and arrogant ones accountable from the smallest to the highest among them. God has shown compassion by keeping them fed and has helped them even when underserving Israel had strayed. She is thankful for God’s mercies and His promises to Abraham and his descendants. Mary proclaims her God, the God of Israel, is faithful from generation to generation.

Can you echo Mary’s words in your own life?

What is God doing in your life right now that creates in you an attitude of praise? Are you seeing His work within you as you speak to others, seek to help, or show kindness and gentleness to others? God is at work in you in the small things- look for them. How have you seen God’s mercy in the past? Mercy is not giving you what you really deserve. Has He allowed you to work, serve or be in friendships that really should not have been? But God allowed it and brought you blessings because of it. Has God humbled you and helped you change your arrogant attitude towards someone or something? When has God fed you either spiritually or physically that was unexpected? What promises has God faithfully completed in your life? As you ponder these questions consider your blessings. Think about how God has intervened in your life and the transformation it has brought.

Each of us could write a ‘Magnificat’ of our own. God has blessed us with salvation, eternal life, hope, security, a place in heaven, a character that is to reflect Jesus by His indwelling Holy Spirit. His character gives us generosity, kindness, gentleness, self-control, patience, joy, peace…. Like Mary you and I have answers from God that apply to our lives specifically. There is so much to be thankful and praise God for.. do it today!

Linda

COME! to Him

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Today’s favorite comes from Matthew’s gospel and my friend Lee, chose verse 28. I have added the surrounding verses to give a better picture of our Lord’s meaning and scope.

Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus’ words bring comfort to our hearts and minds as He recognizes our humanness and the difficulties of this world in which we live. Consider the Jews Jesus is addressing when His words were spoken. They were harasses and overburdened by the religious leaders of their day. They had constant rules and regulations which they need to abide by be considered faithful. Most of these were man-made rules that were a great burden to the people and caused them great distress. They were also citizens of an occupied country. Rome was a formidable ruler that demanded much from those they enslaved. They were also living in troubled times and families struggled for existence- food, shelter and peace. Jesus’ words of peace and promised rest were music to their weary ears.

Is it not so with us? Do you long to hear words of comfort from your Savior? Jesus promises He is gentle, loving and by coming to Him He will make your burdens lighter. Belonging to Jesus will not add to your burdens, but will free you spiritually to be able to rise above the earthly worries as you cling to Him. Jesus promises belonging to Him means He will walk beside us and help us carry the burdens we have in life. If need be at times, He will carry us. Resting in Jesus is the safest place to be. In 1 Peter 5:10 Peter spoke these words to believers, “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Jesus’ rest is a rest that restores, strengthens, confirms and helps establish us in faith. Praise God!

Thank you Lee for pointing us to this verse. May we be reminded of Christ’s command, COME! You cannot receive the blessing of rest and restoration unless you come to Him.

Linda

Advent…Unbelief or Belief, Your choice

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Scripture tells us that Zachariah was a godly man, followed the law and was blameless. He was a man of faith and lived his life devoted to serving God. What happened next surprised me, but when I think of my own faithlessness and doubts it shouldn’t. Zechariah let doubt and unbelief take hold of his thoughts and mind and here is the result. Luke 1:18-22 from The Message translation.

18 Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.” 19-20 But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”

21-22 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

Zachariah heard the message from Gabriel about the son that would be born to he and Elizabeth, and he did not believe God capable of making that happen. He let the fact that he and Elizabeth were old be greater in his mind than the resources and power of God. Gabriel saw and heard his unbelief. Unbelief is sin and sin has consequences before Almighty God. Gabriel did not strike him dead but touched him in a way that Zachariah would know beyond a doubt that God was in control and He is not to be doubted. Later in our story Mary questions Gabriel, but her questions do not come from unbelief or doubt in God’s ability to make it happen like Zachariah. God is okay with questions but not with unbelief. So, Zachariah’s ‘punishment’ would be his inability to speak, since the words of doubt came out of his mouth, until the baby was born. My guess is that immediately Zachariah knew his error in judgement and went from doubt to faith in a heartbeat. Now he had to live with the consequences of his unbelief until the birth of his son.

The crowds were waiting outside the temple for the priest to come out from offering prayers and they immediately knew something had happened to Zachariah. His gesturing showed he could not speak but probably there was a look on his face that revealed his wonder at the encounter with an angelic being as they concluded he had seen a vision from heaven. What outward signs are evident in your countenance that you have been with God after a time of prayer? Does your prayer time give you peace and hope? Do you allow this peace to be expressed towards others?

This real life story of godly Zachariah speaks to my heart as I see my own doubts and fears lived out by him. I am reminded of the scene from Mark 9:23-24 where Jesus helps a mute, demon possessed child brought by his father after the disciples had failed to cure him. He came seeking Jesus’ help and wondered if He could cure him. “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” 24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

I am so with the father of this child as I too pray for Jesus to help my unbelief. Prayer changes things and helps us to solidify our faith as God speaks to our hearts and minds and reassures us of who He is. When you find yourself overcome with doubt, be like this father, pray for Jesus to help you overcome your unbelief. He will answer as you seek to know and trust in Him.

Linda

Thankfulness Day 12: The Faithfulness of God

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Timothy includes the possible words of a Christian hymn in 2 Timothy 2:11-13. The words are meaningful as they give hope and assurance to our hearts. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure hardship,  we will reign with him. If we deny him,  he will deny us.13 If we are unfaithful,  he remains faithful,  for he cannot deny who he is.

Timothy’s words give true hope as they are based upon the character of God. The truth of knowing if we die knowing Him, we will live with Him. If we suffer, which we will, He will reward us in heaven. If we deny Him, He will deny us when we stand before Him to make accounting of our actions, not a pleasant thought at all, but a truth to be realized. If we are unfaithful, sin, fall away, are seemingly lost, confused or lose hope, He is always faithful as it is an integral part of His being.

Because of our sinful nature, living in a world surrounded by sin and its temptations, we will sin. God know this so He gives us His Holy Spirit to indwell us and give us courage, strength and direction. He gives us the hope of eternal life and resurrection with Him. He gives us His Word to be a lamp to our pathway in life filled with encouragement, promises and guidelines for combatting sin and living a life honoring to Him. I cling to the truth that even when I falter and fail in my walk with Him, I cannot fail as God is the one who sustains my faith. We are assured over and over in the Bible that God is faithful and we can depend upon His faithfulness to sustain, uphold, keep us in His hand and in His love.

Here are a few verses to meditate on the faithfulness of God. Let them create thankfulness in your heart today! Psalm 36:5 “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,  your faithfulness to the clouds.” Psalm 86:15 “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Psalm 100:5 “For the Lord is good;  his steadfast love endures forever,  and his faithfulness to all generations.” Isaiah 25:1 “O Lord, you are my God;  I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things,  plans formed of old, faithful and sure.” Lamentations 3:21-23 ” But this I call to mind,
    and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;    his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.” Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

As you depend upon the faithfulness of God for each breath you take today, will you thank Him for His unending faithfulness? Let these verses lead you toward greater thankfulness, knowing the truth of Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” HE IS ALWAYS FAITHFUL.

Linda

All-Knowing God provides Victory!

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daniel 2 20Daniel 2:20-23 gives Daniel’s praise to God after having received the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.   Daniel and all the wise men of the kingdom were going to be killed if the meaning of the King’s dream was not revealed.   Upon receiving the King’s death threat, Daniel went to his believing friends in the palace and asked them to pray concerning this mystery asking God to reveal the meaning of the King’s dream so they might be saved.  Here is Daniel’s response after God revealed the dream’s meaning to him in a vision.      Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
21 He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things;
    he knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers,
    I give thanks and praise,
for you have given me wisdom and might,
    and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
    for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Daniel begins by praising God for who He is- the Sovereign Eternal God of the universe with all things, people and circumstances within His control.  He praised God’s knowledge and wisdom and His ability to reveal things to those who love Him.   He praised God’s purity, and that in Him there is no darkness.  Daniel thanks God for revealing His wisdom to Him and for letting him know what the King’s dream was about, thereby saving him.

who-is-godDo you know who God is?  Do you praise Him for His glorious character  and for how He has kept all His promises?   Try incorporating  praise for who God is into your prayers today.  List His attributes so you can think about Him as you pray.   The more we love and know God the greater our trust in Him will be.

Linda

A Timeless Praise is on my lips today!

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Today I needed to focus on God and remember to be thankful.  I love Psalm 100.  Its simple message is timeless and always uplifting.

A Psalm for giving thanks.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!                                    Being in the Lord’s presence
Come into his presence with singing!                      always brings joy to the believer.

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;                              He is creator God and He
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.                        cares for me.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!                                           His name is above all names 
Give thanks to him; bless his name!                              and worthy of our praises.

5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,                              God is good and He will love 
and his faithfulness to all generations.                          us faithfully forever.

Verse38-Psalm100.4I pray the joy of the Lord will be yours as you worship our creator, caretaker, good, loving, faithful, eternal and Almighty God.

Linda

 

I AM the God Almighty

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Gen 17 1God revealed himself to Abraham as the God Almighty, El Shaddai, in Genesis 17:1-2.  “When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.”   God has always desired a relationship with his creation, man.  He walked with Adam and Eve in the garden.  But after they had eaten of the tree of good and evil, they hid themselves from God because of their nakedness and fear at disobeying the Lord. (Genesis 3:8-10)  Due to sin, we were separated from God, but God in his infinite mercy and wisdom had a plan to restore us so we could commune with holy God.  This story of redemption began with choosing Abraham and his descendants to lead the way to the coming of Jesus, our Redeemer and Savior.  God established a covenant, agreement, with Abraham filled with promises of life, restoration, and future hope.  Revealing himself to Abraham as El Shaddai is significant as it begins a revelation that continues throughout the Bible.  God shows himself to Abraham, and us, as being a God that is real, personal, a promise-keeper and one who is capable of the impossible.  God revealed himself to David in Psalm 91:1-2 “He psalm 91 1who dwells in the shelter of the Most High  will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”   God is our secure refuge and will provide us a place of rest- now and in the future.  Then multiple times God reveals himself as God Almighty in Revelation the book of the Bible that shows us a glimpse of the end of story here on earth.  Revelation 11:17 speaks of His eternality and future reign, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,  who is and who was,  for you have taken your great power and begun to reign.”

Do you know this God Almighty?   He is the all-powerful God of the Bible who is above all others, hates sin, loves righteousness, is holy, gives life and blessings to those who know Him, knows each one who believes in Him and knows the future.  He is indeed God Almighty, El Shaddai.  We can personally know God Almighty by knowing and believing in Jesus and being filled with His Holy Spirit.  Then we can walk with Him each day being in communion with Him.  He will enable us to walk with Him blameless in a relationship made possible through our faith in Jesus.  If you have time today, read 1 John 1 where John describe this relationship with God through Jesus and tells us how to begin this relationship.  1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Knowing God personally is as life changing for us today as it was for Abraham.

El ShaddaiStep out today with God Almighty by your side confident and assured that God Almighty, our all powerful God, is with you.  Have a blessed day!

Linda