Guide me in Your Truth & teach me; for You are God my Savior, & my hope is in You all day long. Psalm 25:5 NIV
[Guide me in Your Truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long. Psalm 25:5 HCSB]
Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24 HCSB
Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him, He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Psalm 62:5-8
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. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but 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. Isaiah 40:28-31
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith in to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer. Romans 12:12
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlighten so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe according to the working of His vast strength. Ephesians 1:16-19
...train yourself in godliness, for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. this saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living god, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:7b-9
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by God's power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith --more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire --may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3-7
HOPE - to wait, look for, expect; confident expectation
His Word speaks for itself.
I am struggling with hope - as it entails waiting & patience ;) I find I that I am often placing my hope in wanting my situation to change or people to change and even more wanting myself to change rather than placing my hope in my Lord. It is a moment-by-moment choice that I occasionally get right but more often than not I seem to be falling flat on my face. Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation? Where are you placing your hope? Where I am?
Father God, I want to rejoice in You in trials and not get so caught up in my day to day circumstances and wondering what is to come or trying to figure out the whys. Help me to be persistent in choosing hope and persistent in prayer. Please open the eyes of my understanding so that I may know the restoration of the hope of Your calling in my life. I want to allow You to have all of me and to experience the vast working of Your strength. I want Your wisdom, Lord. Pour out Your love in my heart and enable me to share that love with others in such a way that brings You glory. Help me to get my courage and confidence from You instead of seeking it from other people and things. May I rest in You and place my hope in You all day long. Help me to labor toward godliness and holiness. I know that everything depends upon You and that You are trustworthy. Help me not to just know it but to live as if I know it. Forgive me for not rejoicing in You and allowing fear and anxiety to have its way in me rather than You. I so look forward to heaven, God, that sometimes I am no 'earthly' good. Please help me to long for You and yet surrender to Your timing and the things that You allow to come my way to make me more like You. I choose to set my eyes upon You, period! Create in me a clean heart and restore to me the joy of my salvation, Father. Let my full hope be in You and You alone - confidently expecting You to do Your work in me regardless of what I think I see or know. Trusting that You are always at work to complete the good work You have begun in me through Jesus. Help me to have a thankful heart and a joyful spirit. Thank You that You never get tired or weary and that You will renew my strength in Your time and in Your way.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Saturday, July 18, 2015
LORD, have Your way
Psalm 147:11
The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
Psalm 37:23-24
If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
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I am intrigued by the thought of The LORD delighting in me.
Delight - to please greatly; to accept
I tend to think more often on the fact that I am to take delight in Him (Psalm 37:4) not that He (The LORD - Jehovah, The Self-existing One) takes delight in me. He delights in "those who fear Him".
Fear - to revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be awed, honor, respect.
I find that reverence and awe, even honor and respect is hard for me to show sometimes. I find that in my pride I am more often trying to prove that I am self-reliant, attempting to help myself even when I think I am seeking the LORD, or desiring to.
How do we right our mind-set when all around us we are expected to handle things ourselves? Through praise and thanksgiving. I must praise my LORD, recognize who He is and my mind-set, my vision even, begins to change. This is hard for me. I struggle with renewing my mind and not allowing myself to be conformed to the pattern of this world and because I do I then have trouble being able to test and approve what God's will is (Romans 12:2). I do not necessarily often overtly conform to the pattern of this world but internally I am conforming because I begin to think that I "know" what I need or everyone else needs. I have strong opinions and convictions. That is a good thing when my convictions and opinions are the Truth of the Word of God, but when they simply become my judgments then I have succumbed to pride and I am definitely not revering the LORD but my own opinions.
"Fearing the LORD": It is my job to look to Him and recognize His Greatness, His Power, His Mercy, His Grace, His Sovereignty... then I am in awe of Who He Is and then He is taking delight in me.
What does it mean to 'put my hope in His unfailing love'?
Hope in this verse means to hope for, to wait for, to expect (to trust). Does this seem intangible to anyone else? Does it seem difficult? It is for me. I have found that I am not so good at waiting (at being still). I often find myself taking off on my own so to speak and then getting myself in a mess; whether it be through anxious thoughts or lack of peace, even hope. Thankfully, my LORD never leaves me there, He convicts me and allows me to confess and begin again and then He shows me His unfailing love.
Now for Psalm 37:23-24. If the LORD delights in my way, He will make my steps firm (or establish them) though I stumble I will not fall. I often accuse myself of falling when truly it is only stumbling. Stumbling over my pride and over what I have placed as an idol in my life. The problem is that I begin to look at myself and my part - the stumbling - rather than looking at the fact that The LORD upholds me with His hand.
This is mind-blowing really... The LORD, who is all-powerful, all-knowing and who loves me unfailingly is holding me up with His hand! How ridiculous it seems when I look at it through the Truth of His Word... I need to focus on Him and His strength, who He is rather than my mistakes and failings.
I want with all that is in me to be delightful to the LORD and yet I often allow my feelings, the enemy and others approval or disproval to convince me that I am not when the truth is that I already am delightful and through no effort of my own. The LORD, my Father Himself, has made me acceptable (and delightful) in Jesus.
Ephesians 1:6b-9 "...to the praise of the glory of HIs grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved (Jesus). In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself..."
So the Old Testament guides me in the fact that I need to fear Him, put my hope in His unfailing love and know that He will uphold me and the New Testament relieves me from the standpoint that Jesus has done the final work by making me delightful (beloved in Himself) and ultimately my job is to trust Him and look to Him and stop trying to make myself delightful, but praise Him and recognize Who He is at all times. And to realize that though I will stumble He has me and I am secure in Him.
LORD, so often I find myself basically spinning my wheels, trying to figure out how to put my trust in You, to make myself delightful to You, to put my hope in Your unfailing love and yet feeling as if I am free-falling. My faith is often weak. I am often double-minded. I am full of pride. Forgive me for doubting myself so often and thus having my eyes fixed on me and my capabilities rather than on You and therefore I am doubting You. Forgive me for being full of myself and thinking I need to figure out what is next or why I am in this season etc. Help me to learn to rest in the completeness of all You have done, Jesus. Help me to not excuse myself from doing my part in having awe in You, or not making a deliberate choice over and over to put my hope in Your unfailing love. Forgive me for wasting so much of life being distracted, allowing myself to be deceived in all kinds of ways and for forgetting the lessons that You have already taught me. Thank You for the redemption You provided for me, Jesus and for making me acceptable to the Father. May I live my life in this truth, moment-by-moment, and day by day. May I trust that You will make my steps firm, regardless of what I think I see, may I have the faith (trust in what is unseen) to know that You uphold me and when I stumble to not get stuck there trying to fix myself or figure out what happened but rest in knowing that You will keep hold of me. Help me to forgive myself and let go of what I feel and TRUST IN WHAT I KNOW. Father, may Isaiah 43:18-19 become truth in my life..."Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." Give me eyes to see, LORD. Have Your way in me.
The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
Psalm 37:23-24
If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
I am intrigued by the thought of The LORD delighting in me.
Delight - to please greatly; to accept
I tend to think more often on the fact that I am to take delight in Him (Psalm 37:4) not that He (The LORD - Jehovah, The Self-existing One) takes delight in me. He delights in "those who fear Him".
Fear - to revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be awed, honor, respect.
I find that reverence and awe, even honor and respect is hard for me to show sometimes. I find that in my pride I am more often trying to prove that I am self-reliant, attempting to help myself even when I think I am seeking the LORD, or desiring to.
How do we right our mind-set when all around us we are expected to handle things ourselves? Through praise and thanksgiving. I must praise my LORD, recognize who He is and my mind-set, my vision even, begins to change. This is hard for me. I struggle with renewing my mind and not allowing myself to be conformed to the pattern of this world and because I do I then have trouble being able to test and approve what God's will is (Romans 12:2). I do not necessarily often overtly conform to the pattern of this world but internally I am conforming because I begin to think that I "know" what I need or everyone else needs. I have strong opinions and convictions. That is a good thing when my convictions and opinions are the Truth of the Word of God, but when they simply become my judgments then I have succumbed to pride and I am definitely not revering the LORD but my own opinions.
"Fearing the LORD": It is my job to look to Him and recognize His Greatness, His Power, His Mercy, His Grace, His Sovereignty... then I am in awe of Who He Is and then He is taking delight in me.
What does it mean to 'put my hope in His unfailing love'?
Hope in this verse means to hope for, to wait for, to expect (to trust). Does this seem intangible to anyone else? Does it seem difficult? It is for me. I have found that I am not so good at waiting (at being still). I often find myself taking off on my own so to speak and then getting myself in a mess; whether it be through anxious thoughts or lack of peace, even hope. Thankfully, my LORD never leaves me there, He convicts me and allows me to confess and begin again and then He shows me His unfailing love.
Now for Psalm 37:23-24. If the LORD delights in my way, He will make my steps firm (or establish them) though I stumble I will not fall. I often accuse myself of falling when truly it is only stumbling. Stumbling over my pride and over what I have placed as an idol in my life. The problem is that I begin to look at myself and my part - the stumbling - rather than looking at the fact that The LORD upholds me with His hand.
This is mind-blowing really... The LORD, who is all-powerful, all-knowing and who loves me unfailingly is holding me up with His hand! How ridiculous it seems when I look at it through the Truth of His Word... I need to focus on Him and His strength, who He is rather than my mistakes and failings.
I want with all that is in me to be delightful to the LORD and yet I often allow my feelings, the enemy and others approval or disproval to convince me that I am not when the truth is that I already am delightful and through no effort of my own. The LORD, my Father Himself, has made me acceptable (and delightful) in Jesus.
Ephesians 1:6b-9 "...to the praise of the glory of HIs grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved (Jesus). In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself..."
So the Old Testament guides me in the fact that I need to fear Him, put my hope in His unfailing love and know that He will uphold me and the New Testament relieves me from the standpoint that Jesus has done the final work by making me delightful (beloved in Himself) and ultimately my job is to trust Him and look to Him and stop trying to make myself delightful, but praise Him and recognize Who He is at all times. And to realize that though I will stumble He has me and I am secure in Him.
LORD, so often I find myself basically spinning my wheels, trying to figure out how to put my trust in You, to make myself delightful to You, to put my hope in Your unfailing love and yet feeling as if I am free-falling. My faith is often weak. I am often double-minded. I am full of pride. Forgive me for doubting myself so often and thus having my eyes fixed on me and my capabilities rather than on You and therefore I am doubting You. Forgive me for being full of myself and thinking I need to figure out what is next or why I am in this season etc. Help me to learn to rest in the completeness of all You have done, Jesus. Help me to not excuse myself from doing my part in having awe in You, or not making a deliberate choice over and over to put my hope in Your unfailing love. Forgive me for wasting so much of life being distracted, allowing myself to be deceived in all kinds of ways and for forgetting the lessons that You have already taught me. Thank You for the redemption You provided for me, Jesus and for making me acceptable to the Father. May I live my life in this truth, moment-by-moment, and day by day. May I trust that You will make my steps firm, regardless of what I think I see, may I have the faith (trust in what is unseen) to know that You uphold me and when I stumble to not get stuck there trying to fix myself or figure out what happened but rest in knowing that You will keep hold of me. Help me to forgive myself and let go of what I feel and TRUST IN WHAT I KNOW. Father, may Isaiah 43:18-19 become truth in my life..."Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." Give me eyes to see, LORD. Have Your way in me.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
I am the me, HE wants me to be
God is AWESOME!!! Do you agree??? Praise His Holy Name!!! Worship Him and Him alone!
I am truly overwhelmed by God and His faithfulness, His love, His correction, His hope, His willingness to allow His mercies to be new every morning!!!
In Oswald Chambers devotional for February 10, I am reminded of many things...
"The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control."
"If your own power to see has been blinded, don't look back on your own experiences, BUT LOOK TO GOD. IT IS GOD YOU NEED. (emphasis mine)
"...DELIBERATELY TURN YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR EYES TO GOD." (emphasis mine)
"It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others."
A friend shared a statement from February 7th's as well... "The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not the answer!"
In reading in Exodus this morning, I am stirred with so much...
33:13 "Now He (The LORD) replied (to Moses) 'My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.'"
34: 6a "Then the LORD passed in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed: 'Yahweh -- Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin.'
34:8 "Moses immediately bowed dow to the ground and worshiped..."
34:9b "Even though this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wrongdoings and sin, and accept us as Your own possession."
35:21a "Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD..."
35:22a "Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts..."
36:1b "The Lord has given them wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work of constructing the sanctuary."
36:2b "in whose heart the LORD had placed wisdom, everyone whose heart moved him, to come to the work and do it."
Ok, so I know it is a lot and yet it is only parts of the Scripture so check it all out and see for yourselves.
But God has so vividly reminded me this morning that I am me - not anyone else. He has redeemed me, He has called me and He will prepare me. I do not have to look like anyone but Jesus. I need to look to Him and follow His lead and quick trying to figure 'things' out.
I am truly overwhelmed by God and His faithfulness, His love, His correction, His hope, His willingness to allow His mercies to be new every morning!!!
In Oswald Chambers devotional for February 10, I am reminded of many things...
"The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control."
"If your own power to see has been blinded, don't look back on your own experiences, BUT LOOK TO GOD. IT IS GOD YOU NEED. (emphasis mine)
"...DELIBERATELY TURN YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR EYES TO GOD." (emphasis mine)
"It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others."
A friend shared a statement from February 7th's as well... "The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not the answer!"
In reading in Exodus this morning, I am stirred with so much...
33:13 "Now He (The LORD) replied (to Moses) 'My presence will go with you and I will give you rest.'"
34: 6a "Then the LORD passed in front of him (Moses) and proclaimed: 'Yahweh -- Yahweh is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving wrongdoing, rebellion, and sin.'
34:8 "Moses immediately bowed dow to the ground and worshiped..."
34:9b "Even though this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wrongdoings and sin, and accept us as Your own possession."
35:21a "Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the LORD..."
35:22a "Both men and women came; all who had willing hearts..."
36:1b "The Lord has given them wisdom and understanding to know how to do all the work of constructing the sanctuary."
36:2b "in whose heart the LORD had placed wisdom, everyone whose heart moved him, to come to the work and do it."
Ok, so I know it is a lot and yet it is only parts of the Scripture so check it all out and see for yourselves.
But God has so vividly reminded me this morning that I am me - not anyone else. He has redeemed me, He has called me and He will prepare me. I do not have to look like anyone but Jesus. I need to look to Him and follow His lead and quick trying to figure 'things' out.
Psalm 51:10-12 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit."
Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
I am still to wait expectantly for him, to be still and let Him reveal Himself and then I am to do that which He tells me to. Not what others think or expect or even what I think they think or expect. I know that I know that God has called me to... "give myself (devote; give my attention) to prayer and to the ministry of the Word." Acts 6:4 How ever He tells me to do it and when He says to. Not according to anyone's standards but His, not even my own!!! Such freedom this brings if only I could and would remember it and stop getting distracted by ... so many things, but mainly myself!!! LORD, help me to remember. He causes me to want to worship! He gives me a willing heart. He gives me a heart that is moved and prompted by His Spirit. He gives me wisdom and understanding to that which He has called me to do. He is compassionate to me, forgiving of my wrongdoings, my sin. His presence is with me ALL THE TIME! I must go to Him for the creation of a clean heart and a renewed and steadfast spirit. He will restore His joy in His salvation and He does uphold me by His generous Spirit. And soooooo much more...
What has He called you to?
He wants all of us to be willing and obedient and He does the providing of even that in us if we are willing. Are you willing? Am I? Please God make me willing...moment by moment and day by day.
Father God, I do worship You for You alone are worthy of worship and praise! Thank You for forgiving my sins over and over again. I can be so stiff-necked and proud. Thank You for speaking to me through Your Word. May I listen and obey. May I do the thing that You have placed in front of me to do with my eyes on You, not on myself, the past or what others think. I know it is You that I need. Give me eyes to see You...
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