RESTING IN THE LORD!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. —Psalm 28:6

• The Lord is my strength
• The Lord is my shield
• The Lord is fully trustworthy
• The Lord helps

How much strength do you and I really have?  Some little germ floating through the air can knock us down if it invades our body.  Pollen is so small and can make life miserable for those affected by it.  Even when we are in good health we are not very strong.  But our Lord is all-powerful and it is He who is my strength.  How glad I am that I can rest in His strength!

We have very little protection as well, not only from that which might invade our body, but from so many things on this earth.  Think about what people die from every day.  Take car accidents for an example.  How many times has our Lord shielded us from a car accident that could have ended in death?  Yes, I am grateful our Lord is our shield, our protector.  Only that which will further His purposes will happen to us.

Our Lord is fully trustworthy and I will trust Him even though it might not make sense to me.  I know that He is good and that He has my best interests in mind.  Again, He and only He is 100% trustworthy.  All other relationships with fail us, but He will never, never fail us.

He is my help.  This can be seen clearly in my life.  Things that I do not have the strength or natural desire to do He helps me to do.  How many times have I said, “Lord, you said you would never leave me nor forsake me.  You said that you would be with me until the end of the age.  So I will trust You for this.”  That is true when I am proclaiming His Word on a Sunday morning or a Saturday prison Chapel or at seminars or missions speaking.  I know that I would not naturally be doing these things if it were not for Him and His help.

Remember— The Lord is your strength!  The Lord is your shield!  The Lord is fully trustworthy!  The Lord helps!  That is true today and for the rest of your life.

Dear Father I am grateful to know these things and that I can live them out by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  May I do so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0gu0nOaFsI

TRUST HIM!

I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. —Psalm 25:2

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. —Psalm 20:7

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. —Proverbs 3:5-6

            Who do you truly trust?  Or what do you truly trust?  Do you trust anyone or anything?  Are you truly trusting God and how is that seen in your life?

To know my life is safe in the Lord’s hands.

Resting in knowing He has my best interests in mind.

Understanding His will is going to be done.

Sovereignty belongs to Him and I know this.

Thankful to know He knows what is going on when I don’t know.

            There is not another we can trust as we can in our dear Lord.  May you and I trust Him whatever comes our way today or for the rest of our lives.  Trusting Him to bring us home…  Ah yes, let us trust Him.

Dear Father may I trust You for the race You have marked out for me while I keep my eyes fixed on Jesus who is the author and finisher of my faith.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  So be it!

JESUS IS MY SHEPHERD!

            Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11).  With that in mind look again at Psalm 23 and inserting His Name at the proper places.

JESUS is my shepherd; I shall not want.  JESUS makes me lie down in green pastures; JESUS leads me beside quiet waters.  JESUS restores my soul; JESUS guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for JESUS IS with me; JESUS’ rod and JESUS’ staff, they comfort me.  JESUS PREPARES a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  JESUS ANOINTS my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house JESUS forever.

Jesus is my shepherd!  I am so grateful for One who is so caring and always looking out for me, guiding me and giving me what I need. “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). 

Jesus brings me to the place where I can be nourished, settled and satisfied. “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty” (Jeremiah 15:16).

Jesus quenches my thirst and quiets me.   “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water” (John 4:10).

Jesus restores my soul.  When I am in a low spot He picks me up and encourages me. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus leads me in the right way.  “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Jesus is always with me, even in the shadow of death. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3).

Jesus’ rod and staff comfort me in knowing He is my protector and encourager.  “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter” (John 14:16).

Jesus prepares a table.  “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Revelation 19:9).

Jesus anoints my head with oil and my cup overflows.  “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit–fruit that will last” (John 15:16).

I will dwell in Jesus’ house forever.  “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:2). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx9-LkuVWt4

Dear Father I am so grateful that Jesus is my Shepherd.  Please help me to follow closely behind Him.  May this be so in the power of your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.

OUR AWESOME LORD!

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.  All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads: “He trusts in the LORD, let the LORD deliver him; let the LORD rescue him, since He delights in him.” —Psalm 22:6-8

Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”  In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.  He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. —Matthew 27:38-44 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUxI-y

       Jesus was:

Scorned by men

Despised by people

Mocked

Insulted

Sneered at

Heads shaken at

Rejected

Suffering

Familiar with pain

Held in low esteem

Pierced for our transgressions

Crushed for our iniquities

Punished for our peace

Wounded that we could be healed

Oppressed

Afflicted

Silent as a lamb to slaughter

Judged

Assigned a grave with the wicked

Assigned with the rich in His death

Not violent

Not deceitful

Crushed

Going to prosper

Going to see the light of life

Going to be satisfied

Going to justify many

Going to divide a portion with the great

Going to divide the spoils with the strong

Going to pour out His life unto death

Numbered with the transgressors

Bearing the sins of many

Making intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah chapter 53)

Dear Father, I am astounded, overwhelmed, utterly amazed what Jesus went through for me.  Please help me to live a life that is pleasing to You in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  So be it!

NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR OUR LORD!

”Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the LORD of hosts is his name:  “If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever.”  Thus says the LORD: “If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the LORD.” —Jeremiah 31:35-37

Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. —Jeremiah 32:17

            We cannot even begin to fathom the power of God.  He has given us dominion over the earth and what kind of job have we done with that?  Yet He rules over all His creation.  He gave the sun for light during our days.   Just think of that!  The sun is 870,000 miles in diameter.  One million Earths could fit into it.  Temperature inside the Sun can reach 15 million degree Celsius.  Yeah, that will burn your burger!  But even hotdogs would be heated into oblivion with surface temperatures ranging from 9,000 and 10,000 degrees https://theplanets.org/the-sun/.  If the fixed order of the Sun ceases to exist then Israel will cease being a nation forever.

            Again, so it is with the fixed order of the moon and stars given us for light at night.  If that fixed order ceases then so will Israel forever.  Also, “If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the LORD.”  But man will never be able to measure the heavens or be able to explore the foundations of the earth.  Man is not as smart as he thinks he is!  On the other hand, be it the order of His creation or anything else, nothing is too hard for the Lord… nothing! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpM-rPD0TPs

            Ok… so what are you going through?  What are your difficulties?  He is “big” enough to help you in them and through them.  Will you trust Him?  Heaven is the end result!

Dear Father I am utterly astounded as I power who You are and then for Jesus to come to this planet that

HE IS THE OWNER AND GIVER

It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. —Jeremiah 27:5

            By God’s great power He made:

• The earth
• The men on the earth
• The animals on the earth

By God’s great power He gives that which He made “to whomever it seems right to (Him).”  He has plans and purposes that He is working out all over this planet.  The nations that ruled in the past, are ruling in the present and that will rule in the future do so in the fulfillment of His plans and purposes.  They do not exist by chance or coincidence.  Our Lord God Almighty is at work.  He is always at work.  He is the owner of it all and is moving it all, working through it all according to His perfect plan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO77-m4SS3M

In a world that has so much wrong in it, God is at work doing what is right.  In a world that groans because of sin, God is in the process of redeeming men out of it.  For those of us redeemed by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 1:5) He has given us purpose even in this sin sick world.  Let us each be responsible with what He has given us to be and do and may it all be for His glory(Ephesians 2:10; II Timothy 3:16-17). 

Yes, Dear Father may this be the case in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son.  Oh, that I would be and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight.  May it be so!

OUR SOVEREIGN LORD OF INDIVIDUALS AND NATIONS

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: “Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will let you hear my words.”  So I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was working at his wheel.  And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter’s hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.  Then the word of the LORD came to me:  “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.  If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.  And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. —Jeremiah 18:1-10

For I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good, declares the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.’ —Jeremiah 21:10

            The vessel the potter was making was “spoiled” and he decided to start over and rework the clay into another vessel.  That was his choice.  That was within his power and that is what he did.  So also is it with the Creator of all things.  It is within His power to do what He desires with individuals or nations.  As the potter works and moves the clay with his hands so our Lord works with and moves individuals and nations with His hands.  As the clay is subjected to the hands of the potter so individuals and nations are subject to our Lord.  They may not think that this is the case, but it is.

            If an individual, nation or people group is going to be brought into disaster by the Lord, if they repent He may relent.  This was the case with the City of Nineveh as mentioned in the Book of Jonah.  The message God sent Jonah to the people of that city with was “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned!” (Jonah 3:4).  Yes, God was going to bring judgment on that city.  But what happened?  We are told that “the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least.  When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.  Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands.  Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish” (Jonah 3:5-9).  What was the result of their repentance?  “When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them” (Jonah 3:10).  God cared “about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well” (Jonah 4:11).

            Yes, our Lord is in control of all individual and nations.  He will do what He desires to do with them just as a potter decides what to do with the clay in his hands.  Let us take comfort in knowing our Lord is sovereign over all! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x8TZiwPGa0

Dear Father I am so grateful to know that none of what is happening is out of Your hands, but that You are working through all things to further Your plans and purposes.  May I be faithful in the race You have marked out of me in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son.  May it be so!

HEAVENLY BODIES AHEAD!

 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. —Psalm 17:15

Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. —Psalm 90:10

Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. —Philippians 3:21

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable.  It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.  It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being;” the last Adam a life-giving spirit.  The spiritual, however, was not first, but the natural, and then the spiritual.  The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven.  As was the earthly man, so also are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.  And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man. —I Corinthians 15:42-49

Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. —I John 3:2      

            Imagine… to be in His likeness… our bodies “fashioned like unto his glorious body.”  Compared to the glorious body we will have this present body is “vile” because of sin’s impact.  We will be receiving imperishable bodies!  It will not be affected by sin!    This present body is perishing.  Wow!  Don’t we know that!  Don’t we feel terrible when we have health issues?  Our present body tires.  Our present brain aches.  Muscles ach… feet ach… back ach…  Yes, we know what it is to be “of the dust of the earth.”  We do not know what “is the heavenly man.”  But just as the heavenly man is, Jesus, so also we will be!  We will be like Him!

            Oh glorious day… to be with Jesus and to be like Jesus… forever in that perfect place with Him and all who love Him.  This is our hope.  This is our expectation.  This is our reality!  Hallelujah!  Rejoice!  However many years we will live, then we will fly away to be with Jesus!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3yUyDzP3z4&list=UUf1NPIFOBwzTLVQiEDnq4Cw&index=16

Dear Father I so look forward to that time, but may I live faithfully for You while I am here.  And may this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.

CONFIDENT IN HIS WILL

I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. —Jeremiah 10:23

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. —Proverbs 16:9

A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way? —Proverbs 20:24

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him. —Psalm 37:23

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. —Proverbs 3:5-6

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. —Psalm 32:8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Zp586pvZg

            How does one know they are walking as the Lord would have them walk?  It is really not that difficult to understand.  The Lord is the One who directs us.  Man makes his plans but he should always keep in mind that “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15).  The will of the Lord will be done.  He wills to accomplish His plans and purposes.

            The way to know you are doing God’s will is “to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).  We will know He is directing our steps and are in His will when we: 1- Offer ourselves as living sacrifices (totally yielded to His desires)  2- Living holy lives (doing what is right)  3- worshipful service 4- Not conforming to this world  5- Being transformed by the renewing of the mind.  It is only then we “will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

            When we are living like this then “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).  When we are faithfully following Him then we can trust that He will give us the right desires for our heart to desire.  Then out of those right desires we will make right decisions.  “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13).

“Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23).  May “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands” (Psalm 119:10).  Let us be people after His heart that our hearts would line up with His heart.  Then we can know we are making decisions accord to His will and walking in His ways.

Dear Father may I have a heart after Your heart that I could be faithful to Your desires.  May this be so in the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  Yes, may it be so!

BOAST IN THE LORD & BE LIKE THE LORD!

Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” —Jeremiah 9:23-24

            Don’t boast in your wisdom.  Don’t boast in your might.  Don’t boast in your riches.  Instead, boast in that you understand and know the Lord.  Boast in He who practices “steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.”  These are the things He delights in.  Do we delight in them? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diQPE7lYNsQ

            He practices steadfast love.  Do I practice steadfast love?  Or, does my practice of love have faulty applications? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PemhmovZRec

            He practices justice.  Do I practice justice?  Or, is there faulty favoritism or neglect in my practice of justice? 

            He practices righteousness.  Do I practice righteousness?  Or, are my righteous actions only toward those I favor? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A14THPoc4-4

            So we are to boast in knowing the One who practices and delights in “steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth.”  We are “predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29).  We are to “live as Jesus did” (I John 2:6).  We are to be like Him and love those things that He loves.

            So here’s the question— How am I doing in the areas of practicing “steadfast love, justice, and righteousness?”  Those are things He loves!

Dear Father I fail so often in these areas, but I truly do want to be more like Jesus in practicing them.  May it be so by my yielding to Your Holy Spirit and the authority of Your Son.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9YCvwthi7o