I AM the Shield

November 9, 2018 nofearlinda1 Comment

In Deuteronomy 33:29 the LORD gave 2 names by which God is known- the Glorious Sword and the Shield. Previously I wrote about the Glorious Sword but today my focus is on God’s name-the Shield. “Blessed are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will tread on their heights.” God was the shield for His people in Old Testament times and today He is a shield for all believers. Through faith in Jesus we can claim God as our Shield and helper. I looked up the word shield and found several definitions – armor held to ward off blows or missiles, a person or thing that guards, protects or defends and a shape in various forms that protects in tunnels from cave-ins, a heavy metal screen like a heat shield, insulating wire that shields against electrocution, or a protective screen against radiation. As you look at the verses below-see how God is the perfect shield in all circumstances!

Ephesians 6:16 “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” God is a Shield against Satan’s arrows or missiles.

Psalm 3:3 ” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. God is the person who shield and defends.

Psalm 5:12 “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

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.”

Is God your all around shield that protects you in all circumstances against the world that seeks to destroy your witness and lead you away from Him? Consider these verses:

Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 84:11 “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Psalm 91:4 “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

Proverbs 30:5 ““Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

As a believer, God promises to be the Shield in your life. American Civil war hero, Stonewall Jackson, claimed God as his shield and was so thankful. How about you? Be encouraged today!

Linda

I AM the Glorious Sword

November 6, 2018November 6, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Lord sword Two new names of God appear in Deuteronomy 33:29, Glorious Sword and Shield.   “Blessed are you, Israel!
    Who is like you,
    a people saved by the Lord?
He is your shield and helper
    and your glorious sword.
Your enemies will cower before you,
    and you will tread on their heights.” Moses concludes his blessings to each tribe with this overall statement of the blessed position the children of Israel had since the Lord was with them, fighting for them and protecting them. As believers, we belong in God’s family today and have God as our protector, defender and shield.

The image of God having or wielding as sword is seen throughout scripture. David refers to God’s sword in Psalm 17:13 “Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down;
with your sword rescue me from the wicked.” David knew that God would defend him and calls upon God to use His sword in action. In Isaiah 66:16 God is shown to be the avenger and judge at the end of time. “For with fire and with his sword the Lord will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the Lord.” Jesus himself adds to this image as he explains his mission was one that would result in divisiveness between those that believe and those that do not. Matthew 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. Later, the apostles described the power of God’s Word to be like a sword. Ephesians 6:17 “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” We are to go into battle with God’s sword-the Word of God as our offensive weapon. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” God’s sword can cut through anything physically or spiritually. Lastly, in the book of Revelation the image of God’s glorious sword is in the mouth of Jesus combining both images of a physical sword and a sword of the Words of God. Revelation 1:16 “In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” Revelation 19:15 describes Jesus as an avenger and judge for Holy God’s honor and hatred of sin, “Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.“

How can God’s glorious sword help or comfort us today? God promises to listen and hear our prayers. We can call upon God to be our protector and defender just like David. We can rest in the knowledge that God will avenge wrongs done to us and will judge all evil in the future. We can take God’s glorious sword ourselves and use the power of His Word to conquer unbelief in those around us. God’s Sword will divide, discern and always be victorious. We can hope in a future where God, the glorious sword, will reign bringing justice and peace to all who believe. Great images to take with you today that can bring peace, hope, restoration and victory to our lives.

Linda

I AM the Eternal God

October 30, 2018 nofearlinda1 Comment

Everlasting God God revealed the attribute of His eternality to Abraham in Genesis 21:33 “Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God.” Abraham had just had a disagreement with Abimelech over a well Abimelech’s servants had seized that Abraham had previously dug. They settled the disagreement with a treaty and peace offering made by Abraham. After the incident Abraham planted a tree of remembrance and called on the Lord. Abraham knew that God had given him the land as He had promised, Genesis 15 and 17. He trusted in the eternal God to keep his never changing, everlasting promises.

Here are some verses to reassure you about our Eternal, Everlasting God:

Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’

Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

Psalm 102:27 “But you remain the same, and your years will never end.“

Isaiah 40:28 “Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.”

Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

2 Peter 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

Revelation 4:8-9 “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,”

What an amazing eternal God we serve. Be encouraged and filled with HOPE today because our sovereign, eternal God is watching over you and you can depend upon Him now and forever.

Linda

I AM the God who is There

October 23, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Do you ever think about where God is? In the Old Testament God came to dwell in the wilderness Tabernacle filling it with His Shekinah glory. As they traveled in the wilderness God went with them guiding their way with a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. When they had their camp set up, God dwelt in the tabernacle in their midst. Exodus 40:34-35 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lordfilled the tabernacle. ³⁵And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” It is a beautiful picture of God’s abiding presence and guidance. Ezekiel had prophetic visions of the future and closes his book with the rebuilt temple and city of God in the future. Ezekiel 48:35 “The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.,” Jehovah-Shammah. John’s prophetic vision of the City of God in Revelation 21:3 also speaks of God’s abiding presence there. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”

It is God’s intention to live with us. He is Personal and desires a relationship with each and every believer. In the past God dwelt in the tabernacle and temple, in the future, God will dwell with us as described in Ezekiel and Revelation, but what about now? Jesus speaks of the benefits of abiding in Him, living with Him. We will be living free in His Word, John 8:31. We will be bearing much fruit for God, John 15:4. We will have the power to live for Him, John 15:5. We will be connected to God and see answers to our prayers, John 15:7. We will be surrounded by His love, John 15:9. We will be able to honor God by keeping His commandments, John 15:10. Jesus promised to send the comforter, counselor to guide us and abide with us after His death. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 2 records the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and how God’s Spirit indwelt the believers giving them power to live for Him. Peter preached to the crowd that day, And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”Act 2:38. Later in Acts Paul and Silas were in prison and the Lord shook the prison and opened the cells. The jailer rushed in thinking they were gone and found them in their cell. “Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” ³¹And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:30-31 Just like the Philippian jailer we can experience that indwelling power of God’s Holy Spirit and have God abiding, living within us. We can follow his example and believe in Jesus. When we abide in us do, God promises He will send His Holy Spirit to abide or live with us. He will be with us to guide and comfort, strengthen and love us from the inside out. God is There with us.

Abide in Him,

Linda

I AM the God who Provides

October 12, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

jehovah jireh This revelation of God’s character appears in Genesis 22:14. “Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Abraham was doing as God commanded on Mt Moriah, preparing to sacrifice his only son, when God provided the ram of sacrifice. Abraham believed God’s promise that from him would come a great nation so he must have believed God could resurrect his only son if the need arose. It is a picture of what God did in Jesus to save us all.

This name for God, Jehovah-Jireh, is one of my personal favorites. Think back in your life and recall a time when God provided exactly what you needed when you needed it and it seemed impossible for that to have happened. That was the type of moment Abraham experienced on Mt Moriah. He trusted God, and God answered in a miraculous way. It seems that God always answers ‘outside the box’. I think of ways God could answer my prayers, and it is always beyond my imagining. Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” reminds us that God’s ways and thinking are not human, not like us. His solutions or answers are always perfect in context and timing!

We can be encouraged today, as we serve a God who provides. Claim Philippians 4:19 in your life and let the stress and pressures of life rest in His hands. “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Step out today with the faith of Abraham and trust God to provide exactly what you need when you need it.

Learning to walk in trust,

Linda

I AM the God who makes you Holy

October 5, 2018October 5, 2018 nofearlinda2 Comments

Holiness is an attribute of God that he desires that we emulate. In Leviticus 11:44 “I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” We can only do this through His power. In the Old Testament, Moses was instructed by God on Mt. Sinai to have the Israelites observe the Sabbaths and worship Him regularly. In Exodus 31:13 God tells Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” God alone has the power to make us holy. During Old Testament times they performed sacrifices and brought offerings that all pointed to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus was the great High Priest and brought the need for sacrifices to an end. Hebrew 7:27^“Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” Our pathway to righteous and holy living is through Jesus alone.

So how does one ‘be holy’? When we believe in Jesus we need to continually seek His forgiveness for the sins we commit daily. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Coming to God often to seek His cleansing is very important. Then we need to fill ourselves and our thoughts with good things. Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” We need to stay in God’s Word, Psalm 119:9 and 11 “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Fellowship with believers, worship and serving others are all ways to immerse oneself in activities that point towards personal holiness in Jesus. Lastly, 1 Thessalonians 5:22 admonishes us “Abstain from every form of evil.”

Being holy is a life-time growing process that can only be achieved through faith in Jesus. It is not an option as God commands us “be holy because I am holy.” We can take heart in Jesus’ words, “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Striving to be more and more like Jesus,

Linda

I AM the God who Provides

September 21, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

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 asked 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. ¹⁴So 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 in 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

Who is God? I AM

September 18, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Moses fled out of Egypt for killing a Hebrew slave, Exodus 2, and ended up in Midian. He married a Midianite woman and settled there as a shepherd. He was out in the wilderness when God appeared to him in a ‘burning bush’ that was not consumed. God told Moses he was to return to Egypt and bring the Israelite people out of Egypt to freedom in Promised Land of Canaan. Moses was reluctant to say the least and posed many questions to God as excuses as to why he could not possibly go and do this for Him. He objected with why me? Then what if they don’t believe me? I’m not eloquent enough. God patiently responded to each of his objections. In Exodus 3:13-14 Moses I am questioned who God is, His name. Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” ¹⁴God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Why is this answer of who God is important? It reveals God’s name YHWH, Yahweh or His divine name. It was written without vowels as they did not even speak the name of God because it was so holy. It tells us that God is who He is –self-existent and not dependent upon anyone for His existence. It tell us that God is the creator and sustainer of all that exists. It tells us that God is- unchanging and immutable, has been and always will be. It tell us that God is eternal, He always existed and will always exist. It assured Moses that God in His sovereign power can do all things and will be with him on this journey back to Egypt and beyond.

We too can be assured by the great I AM. He is immutable and we can depend upon Him. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He will never leave us nor forsake us. Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Knowing God is eternal and dependent upon nothing else gives us security and assurance of our future with Him. John 14:1-2 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

Have a blessed day as you cling to the promises of the great I AM.

Linda

God looks at the Heart

September 7, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

I love studies of the Old Testament as I learn so much about the character of God. His attributes shine through as He exhibits His faithfulness and sovereignty over all creation. In 1 Samuel is the story of God sending the prophet Samuel to identify the son of Jesse that He has chosen to be the next king of Israel. The Lord gave Samuel some good advice that we need to take to heart as we look at others and even ourselves. But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 When God looks at us, He looks at our hearts. Therefore, He desires that our hearts be transformed, renewed and cleansed. He wants more for us than we can even imagine. He sees what is truly in our hearts and knows our innermost thoughts. It is a humbling and sobering thought that God knows all and in His love and mercy He see what I can be not what I am at the present. God looks at our hearts.

I am comforted by Psalm 10:17 where the psalmist proclaims what God will do for him. “O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear” God will listen to me and the cries of my heart then He will strengthen me. He knows I need transformation and will listen to my heart cries and then give me strength to persevere in pursuit of His transformation in my life.

Our challenge today is seek His transformation for our lives from a heart filled with obedience and love and then to seek to see others as God does. We are limited and can’t see the heart of others but we can learn not to judge by outward appearances and seek to reach out to others with love and kindness. We can ask God for insight and wisdom in dealing with others.

Thankful for a loving God that will give me strength to live for Him,

Linda

A Transformed Heart brings results

August 24, 2018 nofearlindaLeave a comment

1 Kings records a sobering charge from King David to his son Solomon. He is giving him wise advice when he is near death. 1 Kings 2 records David’s words, “²“I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. ³Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.” His advice was to have courage to stand up for what is right and follow God’s ways. David goes on to say what the promised results of this type of life would be, “⁴If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’ David had been chosen by God to lead the people of Israel. He knew first hand what could happen to a leader who refused to follow God. He had been pursued for 14 years by King Saul who knew God had chosen David to be the next king, and God had removed His blessing from him because of his sinful life and poor leadership. David did not want that fate to befall his son, Solomon, and desired that his descendants would reign over Israel for years to come.

David knew that a transformed heart, committed to God would produce results. The results in this case would be a descendant continuing to be king. What about us? What are the results of our transformed and committed heart to God? Do you see God’s blessings on your life for following Him, reading and studying the Bible, going to worship and fellow-shipping with fellow believers? God promises results for committing our lives to Him and following Him faithfully. Take a look at your life today and take note of the many blessings that are the results of godly living and commitment to Jesus. Then take time to Thank Jesus for those results.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for touching my life and transforming my heart. I long to serve you and have the fruit of the Holy Spirit be evident in my life. Your results are eternal and show your great goodness and mercy towards me. Thank you, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.