Struggles . . .
"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember You." Psalm 42:5-6
How often do you find yourself struggling with your life's situation? Overwhelmed by your job, children, household responsibilities, projects due, demands placed on you or just too much on our plate. Where/who do you turn to, how do you react?
The answer is found in the verse above ~ "put your hope in God" . . . "remember." Too often we simply complain or whine rather than claiming His promises that are ours in Christ Jesus. Remember you are His treasured possession, if you have trusted in Christ as your Savior (Romans 10:9-10), and He will always lead you in the right direction for His glory. (Psalm 23:1-3) Even when that path seems rocky at times. Cry out to the one who is enough and BIGGER than anything you face. In doing so, your focus is redirected and the self-centeredness, the "Me's", the "I's" disappear.
"You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry." Psalm 10:17
"May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." 2 Thessalonians 2:16:17
"Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4
Monday, August 12, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Encouragment for the Journey ~ 2013
"The Lord is my Shepherd . . .
. . . I shall not want."
Psalm 23
~ I praise You my Shepherd that You provide for all my needs ~ spiritual, physical, mental, emotional and financial.
~ I thank You for the times You make me lie down ~ stop ~ when I'm too busy.
~ I praise You for Your quiet, refreshing, Living Water that nourishes my soul.
~ I praise You for always guiding and leading me in Your perfect direction ~ for Your namesake and Your glory!!!
~ I praise You for the dark valleys; for it's in those valleys that I feel Your beautiful presence -- keeping -- sustaining -- protecting me.
~ I praise You for being my comforter and the One who prepares me for times of adversity when the enemy's presence presses in presses down.
~ I praise You for anointing me for service; sharing the love of my Savior -- the Giver of life - my true love -- the lifter of my head.
~ I praise You for abundantly blessing me with Your goodness, mercy and grace -- all undeserved!!!
~ I praise You for the eternal security I have in You.
. . . I shall not want."
Psalm 23
Monday, May 13, 2013
Handling change . . .
First, remember that “God will direct your steps.” Proverbs 16:9 The key is . . . we have to let Him.
For most of us we know ahead of time when change is about to happen. But how do we as believers handle unexpected change? First, be assured it isn’t a surprise to God, but I do believe He watches to see how we handle a situation like this when, or if it arises. The only response that will bring honor to the Lord and fill you with complete joy in the process is to give Him the freedom to move you in the direction He chooses. We also need to let go of any fear that keep us from trusting in Him and Him alone.
First, remember that “God will direct your steps.” Proverbs 16:9 The key is . . . we have to let Him.
For most of us we know ahead of time when change is about to happen. But how do we as believers handle unexpected change? First, be assured it isn’t a surprise to God, but I do believe He watches to see how we handle a situation like this when, or if it arises. The only response that will bring honor to the Lord and fill you with complete joy in the process is to give Him the freedom to move you in the direction He chooses. We also need to let go of any fear that keep us from trusting in Him and Him alone.
There are five sure ways to deal with
change regardless of how it happens.
1.
Pray ~ our immediate response should be, stop,
drop and pray, otherwise we’ll be fanning flames that will quickly get out of
control ~ seek the Lord’s face so we can know His direction ~ being careful to
check our motives that they are pure.
- “Even when you ask you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure.” James 4:3
- “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.” 1 Peter 3:12
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7
- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6
- “Even when you ask you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure.” James 4:3
- “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer.” 1 Peter 3:12
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7
- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6
2.
Listen ~ be still before Him (Psalm 46:10a) My
prayer has always been, Lord, let me hear Your voice louder than anyone else.
- [Jesus] says to you, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10
- “You will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:12-14
- [Jesus] says to you, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10
- “You will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 29:12-14
3.
Wait ~ remember His timetable is different
than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Sometimes He
answers with a quick yes or no, but most often its wait. Waiting, although hard produces a strengthening
of our faith.
- “The wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter.” Ecclesiastes 8:5-6
- “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.
1 John 5:14-15
- “The wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter.” Ecclesiastes 8:5-6
- “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him.
1 John 5:14-15
4.
Act ~ follow in obedience to His Word.
- “The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130
- “To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy hill.”
Psalm 3:4
- “It is the LORD your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.”
Deuteronomy 13: 4
- If anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him.” 1 John 2:5
- “The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” Psalm 119:130
- “To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy hill.”
Psalm 3:4
- “It is the LORD your God you must follow, and Him you must revere. Keep His commands and obey Him; serve Him and hold fast to Him.”
Deuteronomy 13: 4
- If anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him.” 1 John 2:5
5.
Rest
- “The LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” Proverbs 3:26
- “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4
- “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1
- “The LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” Proverbs 3:26
- “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 26:3-4
- “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2
“Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1
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