Oops! God’s Word as my Shield

March 27, 2023March 27, 2023 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Chapter 44 of Isaiah begins with another powerful No Fear passage. God is sending the Israelites more encouragement to help them face those long years that were coming during their exile in Babylon. The words of encouragement are just as real and profound for us today! Ancient words with help and love written all over them from our God. Isaiah 44:1-3

“But now listen, Jacob, my servant,
    Israel, whom I have chosen.
²This is what the Lord says—
    he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
    and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant,
    Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
³For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.

Here are truths and promises I can claim as a believer in Jesus from this passage:

I am chosen by God and special to Him verse 1. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you
God created me and knew me before I was even born verse 2. Psalm 139:13 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”
God promises to help me during my life verse 2. Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.“
God says I can live without fear because He chose me, blesses and helps me verse 2. Romans 8:15 “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 3:26 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,”
God promises to pour out His Spirit upon me and bless me verse 3. John 16:3 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
As a child of God, my descendants and I will receive blessings verse 3. Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

God meant for us to find and claim these verses as God had placed them repeatedly throughout scripture. Which of these will you claim in your life today? Are you in need of feeling special to God? See verse 1. Are you doubting that God created you for a purpose in a special way? See verse 2. Are you doubting God will help you in your current circumstances? See verse 2. Are you living in fear because of your current situation or pressures in your life? See verse 2. Do you need an outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon you today? See verse 3. Are you concerned about your children and grandchildren? See verse 3.

God’s Word is complete and has answers and hope for all of life’s situation! Praise God 2 Samuel22:31 speaks of the flawlessness of God’s Word and how it can be our shield for living. “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” David gives the same idea in Psalm 18:30,“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” Solomon also says in Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” Why not claim God’s promises over you life today and use His word as your shield for living?

Linda

“I’m going to hold your hand”- God

March 23, 2023March 23, 2023 nofearlindaLeave a comment

I love this next portion of Isaiah 41. God shows his love and compassion for His people Israel. He is their heavenly Father and treats them as His precious and special children. God knows they will be in captivity for 70 years and wants to encourage them during that time. Look at the “I”‘s in this passage. Whatever God says He will do, HE WILL DO! God keeps His promises.

Isaiah 41:13-14 “For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.
¹⁴Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,
    little Israel, do not fear,
for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord,
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

These promises by God were to encourage the Israelites but they are meant for all God’s children. He loves and cares for each of us as His own. Romans 8:14 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Galatians 3:26 “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,” Through our faith in Jesus, we are children of God. We are precious to Him. Psalm 147:11 “The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” Be encourage by the love your heavenly Father has for you and how much He cherishes you. When He says, “I Will”, He means it as a promise to each of us.

There are important truths about God and lessons we can apply to our lives from just these 2 verses.

*God promises to personally lead, guide, comfort and help those who believe and trust in Him.

*By holding our hand, God shows He cares for each of us.

*God promises to help us. He knows our circumstances and how to resolve all our problems.

*Since God will attend to us personally, we can know that we mean something to Him and have value in His eyes. We,

each one of us, are loved by the God of the universe!

*God reminds us that He is Holy, His character is pure and blameless, and He is our redeemer.

Be encouraged today by God’s special love for you.

Linda

Jesus is Upholding You, Be Encouraged!

March 22, 2023March 22, 2023 nofearlinda1 Comment

In Chapter 41 of Isaiah we find encouraging passages that would have strengthened and given hope to the Israelites while in captivity in Babylon and that speak to us today with that same strength and hope.

Isaiah 41:9-10 “I took you from the ends of the earth,
    from its farthest corners I called you.
I said, ‘You are my servant’;
    I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
¹⁰So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The Israelites could identify with these words as they knew God had called them while in Egypt and would call them to return to Jerusalem when their captivity in Babylon was finished. They knew that God would keep the promises He made to their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God was giving them hope that He would strengthen, help and uphold them.

As we look at these verses thousands of years later, what do they mean to us today? We know God kept His promise to return them to the land of Israel after their captivity in Babylon. He also returned them to their land as a nation in 1948 when the Jews returned to establish and the independent country of Israel. We can also take comfort in God’s promise to be with us, strengthen and help us. When God says he will uphold us with His righteous right hand, God is referring to Jesus. Jesus is known as the one who sits at God’s right hand. We can count on Him to uphold us 24/7. Here are some lessons and truths we can glean from these verses that will give us courage, strength and resolve for living:

** God is sovereign and we are chosen by God to serve Him. God is in control of all things in heaven and on the earth. All believers are chosen by God to serve Him. He delights in having a relationship with us. Acts 4:24 “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.” Psalm 147:11 “the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.”

**God’s presence dispels fear. (God is greater than any fear we might have!) Psalm 34:4 “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

**Knowing He is my God frees me from discouragement. Nothing or no one can withstand the power of God. Romans 8:31b says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” or Isaiah 49:23b “Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

**God promises to provide strength and help. This promise is found elsewhere too. Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Isaiah 40:29 ” He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Psalm 33:20 “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” Isaiah 50:9 “It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.”

**God promises to uphold me through Jesus, who is His righteous right hand. Mark 16:19 “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.” Acts 5:30-31“The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.” Ephesians 1:19-20 “and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father. He told us he would be with us and uphold us until He returns. John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:16-17 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

May you be encouraged today by our promise keeping God!

Linda

A Promise You Can Count On!!

July 7, 2022July 7, 2022 nofearlindaLeave a comment

My friend Mae’s favorite verse comes from Isaiah 41. God is speaking through Isaiah about how He will deal with those who are opposing Israel. Then God makes promises to encourage and assure the nation of Israel and all believers throughout all generations that seek to follow Him. Mae’s favorite verse is 41:10.

fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

One of the most comforting promises in the bible that is repeatedly given to us is the truth that God will always be with us, supporting, encouraging, guiding and strengthening His people. Here Isaiah is reminding us to not live in fear as the sovereign God of the universe promises to be with us. He specifically reminds us to not be dismayed. Being dismayed means being thoroughly disheartened by sudden danger or troubles, being disillusioned or disappointed, alarmed or perturbed. The reason we are not to be dismayed is because we know that God is God, He is our God and that He is greater than anything we can ever face in life! Isaiah then goes on to list specific ways God will manifest Himself to us- by giving us strength, help and uplifting. The uplifting comes from His righteous right hand who is Jesus himself. God will keep us and lift us up through the power of Jesus! What a beautiful promise! A few verses later in 13, God confirms again his promises. “For I, the Lord your God,
hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
I am the one who helps you.”

In verses 17-20, God proclaims multiple “I will’s”. When God says He will do something it will come to pass. In verse 20, He gives the reason for His promises. “that they may see and know,
may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
the Holy One of Israel has created it.” All God does is for His glory and our good. He wants us to trust Him and see that all things are within His control. He loves and cares for us and we do not need to live fearfully. He desires that we acknowledge Him and recognize His power over all people, places and things in our lives. He is the Sovereign, Almighty, Creator God!

Are you living fearfully because you are not trusting God fully? Do you feel disappointed or dismayed at the circumstances of your life? Seek to look to and lean upon Jesus. He promises to be there for you and lift you up. He will support you in whatever circumstances have come into your life either by your own making and sin or because of our fallen world. God has your back and will keep you for all eternity. You are His and He will not let you go! Thank you Jesus!

Mae, thank you for sharing your verse with me. It is a wonderful reminder of God’s great love and support for me right where I am. May we be lifted up by Jesus today!

Linda

Seeking Renewal? ASK!

June 21, 2022June 21, 2022 nofearlindaLeave a comment

As we age it seems harder and harder to keep up with those young ones around us. Whether it is little children or teens, their endurance is only a remembrances to us! Today’s favorite verse, from my friend Sharon, is Isaiah 40:30-31 which gives us encouragement no matter what our age.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
³¹but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

In these verses, God’s Word is acknowledging our humanness and reminds us that even the young do not have unlimited strength and endurance. To survive in the world, we must rely upon the Lord. He promises to renew our strength when we feel we cannot go on. We do not need to wait until we are spent to call upon the Lord for additional strength. As we learn in walking with Jesus, it is better to call upon Him before we reach the end of our strength as He promises He will lift us up, cause us to soar and be renewed.

I can see how this verse is a favorite as it stands a reminder of God’s strength in all things and our limited resources. When you combine this with Philippian 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” We can be assured that God does not tire, God has unlimited resources and He wants to provide for us. We just need to ask. John 14:13-15 shows us Jesus’ willingness if we ask with the right heart. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Where do you need God’s help today? Is your need physical, mental, emotional or spiritual? What obstacles are you facing that you are allowing pride to get in your way of asking God for help? Do you see problems ahead and need God’s strength to overcome? God has the resources to help you soar and not grow faint. He can give you the wings of eagles to cause you to soar above and be renewed.

Thanks Sharon for the reminder of God’s strength and constant provision. Call upon Him and be renewed!

Linda

On the Road with Jesus, He gives exactly what you need when you need it!

April 18, 2022April 18, 2022 nofearlindaLeave a comment

As we celebrated on Easter morning, Jesus did not stay in the tomb but rose from the dead. He has Risen INDEED! After his resurrection, he appeared many times to individuals, small groups and to as many as 500 at once. He was alive in their midst as He talked, ate and shared himself with believers confirming his life and assuring them of his victory over death. As we move along the road towards his ascension and return to heaven 40 days after his resurrection, we will come face to face with Jesus’ divinity and power over death. Join me on this journey as I look at each of the appearances over the next 40 days.

One of my favorite post-resurrection appearances is the encounter of the two on the Road to Emmaus. Overcome with grief because of Jesus’ death and disbelief over what the women said about seeing Him alive, these two followers of Christ were walking along the Emmaus Road discussing all these recent events and reports. Jesus joined them on their journey without disclosing his identity. As they walked they were surprised that he did not know about all the events that had just occurred in Jerusalem. They told him of their hope that Jesus had been the long awaited Messiah. “Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. ²⁶Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” ²⁷Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27

Wouldn’t you have loved to have been there and listened to Jesus explain all about Himself? A little later in the story when they were sitting down to eat, Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread and began to give it to them. Right then, their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus. He then disappeared from their presence. Even though it was late they quickly returned to Jerusalem to tell the disciples about their encounter with the risen Lord Jesus.

Jesus came to these two when they were filled with grief, despair and confusion, and He cleared up their thinking, encouraged and enlivened them. Can you remember a time when Jesus came to you in prayer or through the actions or words of another believer to give you hope and encouragement? Jesus promises that He will be with us wherever we go. Just like these two, we need to look and recognize His presence with us and the hope that He brings.

I pray that my Lenten Blogs have brought you hope and encouragement these past 6 weeks. I have been mightily blessed by being with you and in the scriptures each day. I am still pondering the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice and all the truths gleaned from the selected ‘put on’ passages. I pray you will bask in the hope of the empty tomb knowing He has Risen, He has Risen Indeed!

Linda

Trust in Him, God has this!

February 8, 2022February 8, 2022 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Today’s favorite verse comes from my friend Mig. Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

This promise of sustaining power and victory over fears was given to the children of Israel because God knew they had hard times ahead and could always look to Him for help. Not many years later they were carried off to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar where they were held captive for 70 years. After the 70 years of exile, they we enabled by God return and rebuild Jerusalem and the destroyed temple. We can also claim this ancient promise in our lives as believers. We are His children through faith in Jesus and are members of His family. Romans 8:14 “For all who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God.”

What do you see in this promise today that you need to sustain you? God promises to be with us always. We do not need to fear or be anxious about the situations, people or circumstances of our lives because God is right there with us. He promises He will strengthen, help, and uphold us with His righteous right hand, which is Jesus. All the help, comfort and stamina to continue facing life’s trying situations will be given to us in the name of Jesus. We know we can count on this promises as God keeps Him promises and is always faithful. Exodus 34:6 “The Lord passed before him (Moses) and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,” We can count upon Jesus’s upholding hand as 2 Corinthians 1:20 reveals “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

Mediate upon the fact that God is with you wherever you go. God has sufficient strength to enable you to overcome whatever obstacles are in your pathway. God will help you. When God says He will, He always does. God provided Jesus’s righteousness to cover, cleanse and uphold you always.

Be encouraged! God has this. Put your FAITH in Him Ask Him for His sustaining power to fill, help and uplift you today!

Linda

The Circle of Generosity

November 19, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Have you ever thought that your gifts of love, food, blankets, or money bring back thanks to God? The New Testament believers in Corinth were asked to give donations to their suffering fellow believers in Jerusalem. Paul was headed to Jerusalem and would carry the offerings to them. Paul explains the benefits of giving to them in 2 Corinthians 9:11-15.

“Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. ¹²So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.” Paul first tells them 2 good things will come from their generosity. Their needs will be met and then they will thank God for providing for them.

Paul then continues, “³As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. ¹⁴And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. ¹⁵Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” Your giving and their thanks will bring glory to God and show your obedience to Christ. Then they will pray for you and give thanks for you and your giving.

Paul is showing us that giving generously to provide for others brings glory to God, and thank-filled prayers for ourselves. Giving comes back to you in thanks. Thanks is something that cannot be measured or quantified but received with grace and turned back to God brings Him glory and you good.

Your giving causes needs to be met and the receiver to be thankful = glorifies God.

Their thankfulness caused by your giving shows how much you love Jesus =glorifies God.

Their thankfulness spurs them to pray for you = glorifies God.

Consider your own generosity at this time of Thanksgiving. Do you know someone who is in need that you can help? Remember your generosity brings glory to God and will result in good for you too. At the very least, it makes you feel good to help others and pleases God by your actions, but knowing our Good God, it will achieve so much more!

Linda

Place or person, who is your refuge?

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019 nofearlinda2 Comments

How many times have you said, “God is my refuge”? These are words that David repeatedly spoke about God. By definition a refuge is a place of shelter or protection from danger or difficulty, or it can be a person who gives shelter, help or comfort. David spent 14 years running from King Saul after being anointed the future king by Samuel. He was hunted, attacked and driven into the wilds away from friends, family and others.

David refers to God as his refuge, a place of safety, in Psalm 91:1-2 and 91:9-10. ” He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
²I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.” 91:9-10 “⁹Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge —
¹⁰no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent.” Abiding with God in your heart, soul and mind each day gives you a refuge, a safe place where you can depend upon God to shelter and protect you.

David also saw God as his refuge, a person who brings protection, help or comfort. In Psalm 62:5-7 David describes his refuge relationship with God. “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
⁶He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory;
    my mighty rock, my refuge is God. David sees God as the one who keeps him secure, steadfast and is his provider of salvation.

Psalm 59:16-17 “But I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.
¹⁷O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love. David is so thankful that God is his refuge providing him with protection, steadfast love and comfort.

Is this the lens through which you see God? Is He your place and person of protection, safely, love and comfort? He can be that and more. Look to Him today and ask Him to draw near to you and He will just as he promised in James 4:7-8. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” David repeatedly resisted the desire and opportunity to kill Saul which would have ended his running, but he did not yield to that temptation and kept drawing nearer to God depending upon Him for refuge. God can do the same for you.

Linda

Pleading with God

April 27, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

If you could write down your prayers, what would they look like? Are they filled with joy, praise, thanksgiving, submission, confession and petitions? In reality, our prayers are filled with all of these but often vary according to our need or level of distress in life. The psalmist in Psalm 119:33-40 pleads with God. Look at the verbs as you read.

He

³³Teach me your decrees, O Lord;
    I will keep them to the end.
³⁴Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
    I will put them into practice with all my heart.
³⁵Make me walk along the path of your commands,
    for that is where my happiness is found.
³⁶Give me an eagerness for your laws
    rather than a love for money!
³⁷Turn my eyes from worthless things,
    and give me life through your word.
³⁸Reassure me of your promise,
    made to those who fear you.
³⁹Help me abandon my shameful ways;
    for your regulations are good.
⁴⁰I long to obey your commandments!
    Renew my life with your goodness.

psalm 119 37 The psalmist is struggling with his daily life and desires God to guide him away from temporal things to a focus on eternal truths that will change and renew his life. God’s goodness will transform our lives is we submit to His truths and follow Him. Do you desire God’s help with your life problems? Seek His wisdom and truth. Open His Word and bow in prayer. He will find you, just like He promised. Hebrews 11:6 challenges us to believe and take that step of faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Does that describe you and your search for God? Turn to Him in faith today. He will find you.