Tag: God’s Promises

I AM the God who Provides

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I have always been fascinated by the I AM statements God makes about Himself in the Bible.  They convey the power, majesty and greatness of God and increase my trust in who God is.  The second I AM proclamation I’m going to look at is in Genesis 22 and was made before God’s revelation of I AM Who I AM in Exodus.  This was made to Abraham on Mt Moriah where he went to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, by God’s direction.  Isaac Gen-221asked where the sacrifice was going to come from and Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”  Genesis 22:8    Then they proceeded up the mountain together.  This story has always troubled me as God had asked Abraham to do the unthinkable, sacrifice his only son.  It is a picture to us of the anguish God must have felt in sending Jesus to die for our sins.  He provides for us the ultimate sacrifice to remove our sins forever through His only Son’s sacrifice in Jesus’ death on the cross.  I have thought that Abraham knew  and trusted God’s promise of becoming a great nation, children as numerous as the stars and blessing the whole world which God had given him in Genesis 12 and 15.  He trusted God to provide whatever was needed and even to the point of resurrecting Isaac if needed.     Genesis 22:13-14 tells us what happened.  “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”   God showed himself as the provider of life, of sacrifice, of hope, of the future and of faith to Abraham.  He had great faith in his God who would provide.

Do you see God as the I AM who will provide?  One of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”   God promises to provide what I need just like He did for Abraham on that mountain.  It is a matter of trusting God to provide.  Claiming and reciting this verse makes me focus and remember that God can and will provide for me even when it seems that the odds of that happening are very much against it.  I believe Abraham would have said the same as he trudged up the mountain with the wood and his son.  Take a step of faith closer to God today.  Trust Him instead of worrying.  Let the anxiety go and place it his-provisionin God’s hands.  “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”  1 Peter 5:7

Loving Jesus requires a walk of trust in His great provision.

Linda

Seeking Heart relief from God

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Two heart verses spoke to me this morning.  Knowing our hearts are deceitful and driven by original sin, God promises to do a work in our hearts that is amazing.  trust-pope francis qutoeProverbs 3:5-6 is a well quoted verse that speaks of God’s power to lead and guide if we will trust and acknowledge Him in our lives.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
 do not depend on your own understanding.  6 Seek his will in all you do,  and he will show you which path to take.”   God is the one with the transforming power in our lives if we will seek to know and trust Him.   My second verse is found in  psalm 34 18Psalm 34:18 “The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
    He rescues them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
    he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”  David wrote these words during a very difficult time in his life.  He knew God. He knew He would hear his cries for help.  He knew God would and could rescue him.  He knew from experience that God was near to him when his heart was broken and his spirit crushed.   David knew God and had experienced His love and care during times of great need.  

God knows our hearts and sees what we need even before we ask for help.  God knows our desire for guidance and He alone has the power to mend our broken hearts and crushed spirit.   Seek Him like David did and lay your sorrows, hurts and needs before Him.  He promises that those who seek Him will find Him.  Moses told the children of Israel just  before they entered the Promised Land, “But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.”  Deuteronomy 4:29   God promises to be found if we seek with and God doesn't failopen heart.  Seek Him today and tell Him about your broken heart, your crushed spirit or your desire to be guided by Him.  God can and will answer your prayers, just as He promised.

Seeking His comfort and jclinging to His promise as I  walk with Him daily,

Linda

God’s Character Proclaimed, can you?

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god-speaks-listenThe psalmist reveals how he knows and sees God in this Qoph portion of Psalm 119:145-152.  He is struggling with persecution and fears for his life, but he stands on the truth of God’s Word and character.  Read this section from the Message and let it speak to you.   145-152 I call out at the top of my lungs,
    “God! Answer! I’ll do whatever you say.”          The psalmist knew God is Accessible.
I called to you, “Save me
    so I can carry out all your instructions.”            He knew God is a Savior.
I was up before sunrise,
    crying for help, hoping for a word from you.     
I stayed awake all night,
    prayerfully pondering your promise.               He knew God was with him 24/7.
In your love, listen to me;
    in your justice, God, keep me alive.                  He knew God listens. 
As those out to get me come closer and closer,                         
    they go farther and farther from the truth you reveal;          He knew God 
But you’re the closest of all to me, God,                            knew his enemies.
    and all your judgments true.
I’ve known all along from the evidence of your words      God and His Word are 
    that you meant them to last forever.                             eternal and trustworthy.

Do your words reflect what you know and believe about God?         Is He Accessible to you 24/7?           Do you feel that you can call upon Him to save you and preserve you in the difficulties of life?       Do you know that God is omniscient and knows what you face each day?         Do you stand on His Word with confidence and believe that His Word is eternal and will last throughout the generations? 

god-always-has-something-for-youThe psalmist was confident God would answer as he laid his heart open before Him?  Will you present your difficulties and fears before God today and call upon Him for help?   He will answer and bring you peace and comfort as you cling to the truth of who God is and what He can do.  God is totally trustworthy and keeps His promises.

Blessings today as you cling to God.

Linda

Need a guide? Look to God’s Word.

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In Psalm 119:105-112 the Psalmist speaks of the guiding power of God’s Word and it’s ability to instill a sense of well being, care and staying power when times are difficult.  I want to focus on verse 105 as I have included this verse in my book Promises for Dynamic Living.  It is a promise that we can claim each and every day and use it to bring praise to God for all eternity.   psalm 119 105Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet  and a light to my path.”   This verse is a promise to each of us that the Bible, God’s Word, will give us direction and light for living.  We can trust that God’s Word will guide, give us truth when we are so often surrounded by falsehoods, point us to the true light, Jesus, and reveals to us that God cares about the way we live and the choices we make each day.
This truth about God’s Word and it’s ability to guide us is found throughout the Bible.  Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God proves true;  he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.”  His Word holds absolute truths that we can cling to and take refuge in.  Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  His Word is alive and has power to help us to see right from wrong and be able to tell truth from lies.   John referred to Jesus as the Word of God. John 1:1 “ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” and John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”   Jesus was God’s fullest expression of His Word among us.  God’s Word has power today to transform and guide us just as when He created the universe by His Word.  He spoke the world into existence, Genesis 1:3 “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”   His Word has power.  Rely upon it’s truths to guide and direct you, learn about God in it’s pages and allow His Holy Spirit to gods-guidance-is-like-a-small-lamp-good-night-768x768transform you as you step out in faith believing in His Word, Jesus.

Look for His guidance and light as you go through your day.  It will be bright enough to show you the way.

Linda

 

 

Knowing Faithful God = Assurance +

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In verses 89-96 of Psalm 119, the psalmist proclaims God’s faithfulness to each generation, to the earth He created and to me-the individual.  His Word is eternal. If you understand the Word of God to be what God says to us in the Bible, you know the truths contained within it are eternally true.  God does not lie and He will be forever faithful to uphold His Word.  If you take the Word of God to mean Jesus, as in John it say 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” then you know the living Word of God who is eternally with us and always faithful.

psalm 119 90God is faithful to each generation and to the earth He created.  vs 89-90   Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable].    Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation;
You have established the earth, and it stands [securely].              They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all things [all parts of the universe] are Your servants.  AMP

God is faithful to me vs 92-94                                                                                                            If Your law had not been my delight,
Then I would have perished in my time of trouble.
I will never forget Your precepts,
For by them You have revived me and given me life.
I am Yours, save me [as Your own];
For I have [diligently] sought Your precepts and required them [as my greatest need].

The psalmist arrives at his conclusion, the only one he feels he can make in light of all the evidence in the world and in his own life.   verse 96                                                                 I have seen that all [human] perfection has its limits [no matter how grand and perfect and noble];
Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].

What is your conclusion about God and His faithfulness at this time in your life?  Do you see His mercies new each morning (Lamentation 3:21-23)?  Do you cling to the hope yo have in Jesus (Hebrews 10:23)?  Do you know you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)?  Do you believe God is good and has good things planned for you (Jeremiah 29:11)?   Do you have peace and rest in Jesus (John 14:27)?  Look into His Word and claim His Word over your life, take His Word into your very being and you will undoubtedly come to the same conclusion the psalmist did.  There is no limit to how grand and glorious God is and His Word stands now and for all eternity.

note-to-self-may-24thStanding on God’s Word is firm ground.

Linda

I’m claiming God’s promises for my own, how about you?

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psalm 119 76The next section of Psalm 119 in verses 73-80 the psalmist speaks of his joy that God created him and the joy that living as one who fears the Lord brings.  I think the heart of his message is  in 76-77:    “Let your steadfast love comfort me  according to your promise to your servant.   Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;  for your law is my delight.”  The psalmist is praising God for loving and comforting him just as He promised.  He knows that God will be merciful to him and give him life as he learns to live delighting himself in God’s Word.

Do you know these truths about God for yourself?  Do you experience His steadfast love and comfort?  Do you see His mercies in your life?  Do you find that praying, reading God’s Word and worshiping Him brings you delightful peace and assurance?  The psalmist reminds us that all of these are promised by God to those who believe and stand upon His Word.  Here are a few promises you can claim in your life and hold onto their truth.

God keeps his promises

Lamentations 3:22-23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;  his mercies never come to an end;  they are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.”

Psalm 86:5-7  “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,   abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.  Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;  listen to my plea for grace.   In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.”

Psalm 37:23 “The steps of a man are established by the Lord,  when he delights in his way;”

Ask yourself today, where do I see God’s love and mercy and where am I delighting in doing things God’s way?  God will keep His promises.  Claim victory in Christ today!

Walking with love and mercy given graciously by Jesus to me,

Linda