Tag: Hope

God as Our Guide, YES!

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One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 58:11. A friend pointed me to this verse and it sooths my soul as it speaks of God as our constant Guide in life. “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” I love the image and truth that His guidance leads me to places where He will fulfill my needs in spite of my circumstances and that I will perceive my existence as that of a well-watered garden. A well watered garden is one that is loved and cared for, nurtured in and out of season. My God treats me like that! God being my guide in life is one of the most profound characteristics of God. He takes a personal interest in His creation = that is me and you!

Here are some other verses that speak of God’s guidance in our lives. Psalm 25:4-5 “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” As our guide, God teaches us and gives salvation to which my response is to patiently wait on God’s timing. Sometimes, not so patiently, but we know that God’s ways are not our ways and that His timing is different than ours. He sees the whole picture and knows where things are headed and in what order things need to happen. Psalm 32:8 adds another perspective, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” We can be assured that God is watching and knows what is happening in our lives! Psalm 48:14 adds another assurance to God’s guidance. “that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.” We may not understand God’s timing but we can know that it is eternal and He will never stop being our guide.

Those verses were all from the Old Testament but God continues His role as guide in the New Testament. Jesus is our guide. He spoke of himself in the gospels and showed us ways to God that we could follow. He gave us 7 ‘I AM’s in the book of John, revealing aspects of himself that show His heart, love and guidance in our lives. John 6:35 “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,” John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” In these 7 I AM statements Jesus revealed himself in direct ways to guide us to Him so that we can abide in Him in faith. Which of these is most meaningful to you?

God also revealed Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit after Jesus’ return to heaven. Jesus told us about this in John 16:13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”

Guide is an extremely important character trait for us to see in God. He assures us of this in both the Old and New Testaments and lets us know that it will continue until the end of time. God is forever and all His character attributes endure forever. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured that God will guide me though His Word and Spirit until I come home to Him. I can rely upon Him and look to Him for guidance 24/7. Thanks be to God!

Linda

God’s Unending Grace

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Amazingly enough, during my 6 weeks of blogging during Lent I did not write about God’s grace. It touches so many aspects of His character and is so very precious to every believer. The Bible is filled with references to this phenomena known as God’s grace. There are many aspects to it and books have been written on it. Here is a brief glimpse into the importance and meaning of God’s Gracious character. By definition God’s grace is God’s kindness to those who do not deserve it. God is slow to anger and longs to forgive his people. His grace in salvation powerfully reaches out to us and makes us alive in Christ when we were dead in sin. God shows grace to all people- life, sunshine, rain, music, talents, etc. as good gifts even to people who do not love Him. God wants all mankind to have look at His grace and this is what is called common grace. All of us get to experience some of the goodness of our God.

How many times have good things happened you did not expect and were purely from the hand of God due to His grace? God owns his grace and can give it as He sees fit. Exodus 33:19 “And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.” We can’t tell God- Hey! it is time for some grace. No, He give is as He sees fit, in His place and His time. I do believe that someday we will see how each piece of His grace He bestowed upon us fits perfectly with what we needed right then.

One of the most beautiful blessings is given in Numbers 6:22-25 “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Often pastors use this blessing to send people out for the week as it gives comfort, hope and assurance that God will be with us and will be gracious each and every day. We just need to look for it and He will show us His grace!

David often pleaded with God to bestow His grace upon him. When he was troubled, he sought God’s kindness, even though he knew he did not deserve it. Psalm 25:16-18 “Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged;
    bring me out of my distresses.18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.” We too can call upon God’s gracious character and see His grace upon our lives. God loves to hear from us and will listen and respond to those who are sincere. However, God is not a cosmic bell boy just waiting for us to call. God always responds to our cries but not always in the way we think He should. We have to trust Him on this.

The New Testament speaks of God’s grace being fully revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17 “ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” That grace also bring us to Jesus and allows us to be saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” We did nothing to deserve God’s rescue of us. We did not earn it at all. God saved us because of His great love for us as He tell us in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” His saving us through sending Jesus to redeem us was pure Grace on His part!

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 12:9. It speaks to me of the great grace of God and how I can rely upon His grace to give me all that I need in every situation. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” God’s grace is unending, deep, fathomless and pure. He has more to give than I will ever need-hence sufficient. That means no matter what the circumstances we face, He alone is enough to meet our needs. I don’t need to worry that I might use up God’s grace as His grace, like His character is limitless. He can meet my needs if I lean into Him and look to Him for that sustaining power only He can provide through His grace

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know and receive God’s grace in my life that brings fullness and assurance to each and every day. May it be so for you too!

Linda

Elohim, Creator God

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Today’s name for God is Creator or Elohim. The Hebrew name carries with it the meaning of Creator God, all powerful and mighty not just one who is able to create. Creator God is seen throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. God created the world in the beginning and He continues to create within us as He transforms us through His Holy Spirit.

Let’s start at the beginning and all that was created was created by God. Genesis 1:1 “ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Later in Psalm 19:1 the psalmist describes this work of God. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Creation involved the physical world we see on earth and in the heavens above. Nehemiah also describes God’s creation in Nehemiah 9:6 “You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.” He reminds us of God’s power to not only create but to preserve and how those in heavens worship Him.

Paul goes a bit farther in Colossians 1:16 when he adds the dominions, rulers, thrones or authorities. God is creator of all the systems of earth and they are under his control, He is sovereign over all- creation man and beast. “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” The sovereignty of God is important as God did not only create all things but they are under His direction and control. Consider Isaiah 45:7 “I form light and create darkness;  I make well-being and create calamity;
    I am the Lord, who does all these things.” and Acts 17:26 “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,” All that is or was made or will be made are done at God’s directions. That means God can and does use any power on earth to accomplish His will.

Let’s get more specific about creation and direct it towards man. Psalm 139:13-16 makes it clear that we are known to God even before we are born and are created by Him. “For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.” It is humbling and comforting to know that God made me who I am and has a plan and a purpose for me. Jeremiah 29:11 always brings a smile to my face. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

One of the plans and purposes God has for each of us is to know Him and His Son, Jesus. When we accept Jesus as God’s son and the work of redemption He performed on the cross, we become a child of God and have His spirit within us. Both David and Ezekiel spoke of this transformation before Christ came. Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Ezekiel 11:19 “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.” Faith in Jesus leads us to 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,” Knowing Christ brings a permanent sealing by the Holy Spirit into a new life in Him. We are new creations, 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Praise God!

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can have new life created within me, a new spirit from God. Thank you Jesus for making this possible. As Revelation 4:11 states, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they existed and were created.” Amen.

Linda

The God Who Restores, Adonai Meshiv

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Writing every day during Lent is exhausting and yet exhilarating too. God is so faithful and constantly gives me what He wants me to say. The list of for the names of God, from the Bible Recap program, that I was using as my springboard still has names remaining in addition to others that I’ve added. I plan to continue blogging on the names of God as I find it so reassuring and it brings hope and light to my life. I pray it does the same for you.

The name I’m going to start with this time is Adonai Meshiv or The God who Restores. There are so many passages in scripture where God promises restoration to the Israelites and to us as New Testaments believers. God can and does restore health like He did for Mariam in Numbers 12:10 “When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.” Moses and Aaron both pleaded with the Lord for her restoration and God relented in 12:13-15 “And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her—please.” 14 But the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again.” 15 So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again.”

God can and does restore fortunes and when the Israelites would humble themselves and walk in obedience God would bless them with restoration. Deuteronomy 30:2-4 “and return to the Lord your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there he will take you.”

In Psalm 23:3 David reminds us that God can restore our sick, sad, lonely and longing souls. “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” In Psalm 51:12 David shows God’s power of restoration over our emotions and feelings as He can and will restore our joy and give us a willing spirit. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.“

In the New Testament, Jesus was a major restorer of sight, crippled limbs, and health both emotional and physical! Each miracle was a demonstration of God’s restorative powers. Mark 8:25 “Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.”

1 Peter 5:10 speaks of the final glorious restoration we will all receive from our Lord and Savior. “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.”

How has God restored you? Has He healed you physically or emotionally? Has He reversed your fortunes and blessed you with abundance? Has He restored your joy and given you a greater appreciation of your salvation? Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can count of God’s restorative powers in my life if I humble myself and seek His restoration. He is faithful! He desires to restore each of us.

Linda

The Word

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Yesterday’s name for God, Wonderful Counselor, focused my attention on Jesus and a name given to Him, The Word. Most places in the Bible speak of the Word of God as the Holy Scriptures, the words spoken by God or by Jesus. The Bible is referred to as the word of God. Psalm 119 is all about God’s Word. Psalm 119: 105 ” Your word is a lamp to my feet  and a light to my path.” Psalm 160 “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” We all depend upon God’s word to guide us in our daily lives. However, scripture refers to Jesus as The Word in John in various places and in his heavenly vision in Revelation.

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The essence of God, His Words to us, spoken at creation are embodied in Jesus. He represented God’s Words to us when He came to earth.

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.” Here John is more specific and defines the Word as the flesh and blood Jesus who was filled with the grace and truth of God himself. He was God come to earth.

1 John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—” John wanted his readers to know and believe that the Jesus they knew was God and that He brought the words of life from God to them.

John had a vision from God on the island of Patmos. It foretells of Jesus coming again and many things that are to come in our future. It tells how the story of creation and battle with Satan will end and reveals that Jesus will reign eternally. Sin will be eliminated and we will live with Him forever in a New Heaven. In Chapter 19 he saw a vision of Jesus- the one with a robe dipped in blood, known as The Word of God. Revelation 19:11-14 “11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.” 

The Word of God is a name filled with power and might. He is one to be feared and revered but also remember He has the Words of life! Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I am open know the Word of God and His transforming power in my life. I pray you too know Jesus, the Word of God, and feel His presence in your life. His Holy Spirit will transform your life if you walk with Him.

Linda

Immanuel, Not just at Christmas Time

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Do you only associate the name Immanuel (God is With Us) with Christmas story? The term God is with Us is used other places in the Bible and appears in one of my favorite verses. 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.” I find great comfort in knowing that now matter what God is with me!

The ones we are most familiar with are those prophesies in Isaiah about the coming Messiah. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” and in Matthew 1:23 when the angel appeared and spoke to Joseph in a dream, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” Joseph would have know of the prophecy of Isaiah and hearing it from the angel must have been an amazing affirmation of his faith and the truth of God’s Word. Knowing that the long awaited Messiah would be coming and that he would have a part in God’s story must have been humbling.

The term, God is with us, is used again in Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Looking at these passages, what does the term Immanuel or God is With Us mean to you? I see it as the physical Jesus that came to earth as our Savior and also the concept of Immanuel-God is with us. I can take both of them as truth. Jesus did come and thankfully will come again. In the meantime, we can know the God is with us. In the Old Testament times, Moses encouraged Joshua who was to lead the people after him, that God would be with him. No matter what he see or hears, he was to have courage and know that God would never leave him and definitely would not forsake him. The author of Hebrews want the early Christians to be encouraged but also to be aware of the snares and pitfalls that exist in the world. He did not want them consumed with worldly pursuits and pleasure but the focus on being content and relying upon God.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured of God’s continual presence and His indwelling Holy Spirit that will never leave me. By faith we are His and He is not going to relinquish us ever. Claim John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” and 2 Timothy 1:14 “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” Hold onto these eternal truths! God keeps His promises and will be with us always.

Linda

The Wonders of Having an Abba, Father

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“Abba” is the precious name we have for our beloved heavenly Father. It is like daddy, familiar and endearing to both father and son/daughter. Jesus used the term when praying to God at his hour of deepest need in the garden of Gethsemane. Mark 14:36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Later in Romans and Galatian the Apostle Paul uses the term “Abba, Father” for God in reference to our relationship with Him. Because we are believers and adopted into His family through our faith in Jesus, we can claim God as our Abba Father. Romans 8:14-16 “ For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” He also references this in Galatians 4:6 “And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

So what difference does this name of God make to you and me? It establishes a close family tie between us and our heavenly father. He is our loving, eternal father who has provided for us in Jesus a way to be reconciled and redeemed. He has indwelt us with His Holy Spirit and provided for us freedom from the slavery of sin and a perfect and protected inheritance kept in heaven for us. Ephesians 1:13 tells us we are sealed by His Holy Spirit, “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,” He has provided eternal protection for us and I claim the truth of John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” whenever I am in doubt about my salvation. He has me and won’t let me go!

Whatever you earthly father was like- good, bad, indifferent or even cruel, your heavenly father is totally, pure, holy, just, righteous, open, and filled with steadfast eternal love for you! Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can claim God as my Abba Father along with Jesus as we are family! Lean into God with Jesus and claim Him as your loving heavenly father, too!

Linda

The Perfect Hiding Place

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Do you think of God as your hiding place? God’s Word describes God as our hiding place. It is a name of comfort for us as we strive to exist in this hostile world filled with sin and all its temptations. When does one need a hiding place? It is not a place where you bury your head in the sand and ignore the world. It is not a place to dwell constantly as if secreting yourself away from the world and its temptations. No, a hiding place in my mind is a place of refuge where I can go in times of need or trouble. God does not want me living there permanently, but He is there if and whenever I need it. Someday we will be with him always and His hiding place will be our home residence in heaven.

Psalm 32:7 describes the hiding place of God when in troubled times “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” What a comfort to know we have this place with God available 24/7.

Psalm 119:114 describes the hiding place God provides in His Word, “You are my hiding place and my shield;  I hope in your word.” We can always go to God’s Word for encouragement and solace and He will provide us with cover, compassion, grace and mercy.

Isaiah 32:1-2 speaks of a time in the future that Jesus will be reign. “Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,  and princes will rule in justice.
2 Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,
    a shelter from the storm,
like streams of water in a dry place,
    like the shade of a great rock in a weary land. This assures us that being with Jesus in His kingdom will be the perfect hiding place for eternity!

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured of a hiding place with God that is available to me 24/7, is filled with His grace and mercy and awaiting me as my final home in heaven.

Be sure to encourage someone else today with the knowledge of God as our hiding place! There is Hope in Him always.

Linda

Jehovah Shalom, Peace a gift from God

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Peace is something we all strive for as we think, if we achieve it all will be good and calm. However, the only one who can truly grant us peace is God. Gideon was called of God to rescue the Israelites during the time of the Judges. Judges 6:22-24a “ Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace,” Jehovah Shalom in Hebrew was Gideon’s name for God, The Lord of Peace, and describes how he felt after this encounter with God. Many other writers in scripture use God’s name, Lord of Peace, as a form of blessing or to describe the quality of peace that God can bestow upon the believer! Gideon felt God’s peace and was ready to move into action. God’s peace motivates us to live for Him and surrounds us with His comfort too.

Paul used the name, Lord of Peace, as a sign off in Romans and 1 Thessalonians. Romans 15:33 “May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” When they were departing by ship, walking or with a letter, they wanted the receiver to know that God was with them always and that He is the granter of peace in our lives. Paul wanted them to look to Jesus for their peace.

Another aspect of God’s peace is action oriented and we can depend upon this peace to produce action or results in our lives. In Romans 16:19-20 Paul wants his readers to know that the God who gives peace also will take care of evil. He will crush Satan as he has promised. “For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Action also involves focus on Him. You can’t get peace without keeping your mind on Him as we are told in Isaiah 26:3 “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” I love this action as it is a promise that we are assured peace if we remain focused upon God.

Jesus told us in John 14:27 that He was leaving peace for us, from God, and it will keep your troubles from becoming overwhelming and keep away fear! “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Paul expanded on how to access this peace of God in Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Do you want to know the peace of God or the Lord of Peace? Scripture tells us it is ours as a gift from God. Nothing is required other than faith in Jesus and trusting Him. He will give us the peace that passes all understanding, and He will see that our hearts and minds are guarded in Him. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know, feel and live in God’s peace as the Lord of Peace is always with me! Be assured that God is the God of peace, but Jesus himself is known as the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Jesus is our prince always bringing us peace! Thank you Jesus.

Linda

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Second Sunday of Lent, Trust God for Answers

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We have seen such wonderful names of God this first full week of Lent. Rewarder, Forgiver, Promise Keeper, Light, Righteousness and Everlasting, each of these give us hope, thoughts to bring to God in prayer and repentance. Here is a continuation of the Psalm we started last Sunday, 103:11-19.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; How big is your God’s love?
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Do you trust Him to thoroughly remove your sins?
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. Do you allow God to show you compassion?
14 For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust. Do you trust Him to number your days justly?

15 As for man, his days are like grass;
    he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, God knows were are fleeting.
    and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
    and his righteousness to children’s children, God covers us with his Love and righteousness.
18 to those who keep his covenant
    and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, God wins and has an eternal home for us.
    and his kingdom rules over all.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know all things are Yes in Jesus and I can trust Him with all my questions. May your prayers be rich today and lead you to a deeper relationship with Him.

Linda