Give thanks to the Lord

 

1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

God is so unbelievably good.  He walks with me and talks with me.  He tells me that I am HIs own.  He showers me with tender mercies and love.  He is so very worthy of every ounce of thanksgiving and praise.

This week I have started posting 'I'm grateful' post daily on Facebook.  I am being intentional about looking for and thanking God for blessings He showers upon me daily.  Like reminding me to stay patient with my students. Or giving me the strength to continue to physically stand when my feet are hurting as well as spiritually stand when the enemy would seek to test my faith.

Life can be hard, but it pays us to remember to look beyond our circumstances to the One who is over all.  To the One who is compassionate and good.  It is refreshing to recall His good works and offer praise.  Praise is freeing and it ushers in His presence.  We are filled with His Spirit that lifts us higher. So let us take moments to worship God and give Him praise.

Lord, I love you and I thank You.  I thank You for your consistency of character.  Thank You for seeing me through another week.  Thank You for never leaving me or forsaking me.  You are good and worthy of all the praise. Forgive me for those times that I grumble rather than thanking You for your goodness.  In Jesus name.  Amen 

Effective

Psalms 86:11 NIV

Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Something hit me this morning while doing my quiet time with God.  The enemy would love to render me ineffective.  I have salvation.  Jesus paid the cost.  My sins are forgiven.  I am eternally secure, but I also have a purpose here on earth.  While God breathes life into my body I have a task to share the good news about Jesus, to encourage others, and to teach.

If I am not careful I can get lulled into thinking about my relationship with Jesus, but not what He wants me to do with it.  I need God to teach me His ways so that I can walk in faithfulness.  I need an undivided heart.  My heart needs to be centered on Christ to be effective.  I need His Spirit.  I need to reverence His name and live my life accordingly.

Jesus I thank You for Your Spirit that leads me to revelation.  Thank You for teaching me.  Forgive for those times when I have rested on laurels and have been ineffective.  May I be impactful for Your Kingdom.  Give me an undivided heart.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Remember who God is

 

Revelation 1:8 AMP

“I am the Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End],” says the Lord God, “Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].”

It’s time to go back to school.  I should be geeked with excitement, but transparently I’m a little nervous and anxious.  I could get stuck in a trap of dread and despair if I keep my mind on what I can do rather than who God is.

I am a child of God and my unknown school year(future) is in the hands of the Almighty God.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.  He is and will always will  be.  That’s whom I serve.  This is who I call Abba so I have nothing to fear.

The school year will be fine as long as I keep my eyes on and trust in Jesus. The One who knows my future.  The One who promises me hope( Jeremiah 29:11). The Almighty is my help.

So I am determined to filter everything through the knowledge of who God is and who I am in Christ Jesus.  Anxiety will not win. Fear will not be given a place.  I serve the Almighty and He will not let me falter.

Lord, You have given me an assignment in the school system.  Help me to fulfill it and walk according to Your Word.  Help me to remember who You are and stand strong in Your strength.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Running the race

 

Hebrews 12:1 AMP

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us

Life is a journey that is not ran as a sprint, but rather a marathon.  It might appear difficult, but we don’t run it alone. We have proof that it is worth it for we serve a faithful God. 

 To run this race we have strip away sin and unnecessary weights like anxiety because God cares for us( 1 Peter 5:6-7)  We have to let go the cares of this world and keep our eyes on the prize( Philippians 3:14). 

Sin keeps impedes our stride.  Sin of pride, jealousy, strife, bitterness and unforgiveness entangles us.  It’s like trying to run with legs tied together at the ankles.  We have to confess our sins to a loving Father who will forgive us (1 John 1:9) and run the race before us.  Not our neighbors race, but the one God has set before us.

We have to let go the love of this world and exchange is for the love of God.

We have to run with active persistence.  This means we run with intent.  We gather our breathes from the Spirit and we inhale and exhale with each step.  We persist through trials and storms.  We trust God to get us to the finish line.  We run with faith. We run to Him.  We endure.

Lord, the prize is eternal life with You.  You enable us to run the race.  You breathe life into our bodies.  Let us cast aside those things that would have run in quicksand and let us run with abandonment to You.  In Jesus name.  Amen

God is my salvation

 

Isaiah 12:2 NIV

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”

Surely, without doubt, God is my deliverance.  He is preservation and my protector.  So no matter what comes my way I will trust in Him and not be afraid.  

My youngest son is a senior this year and we will face many changes and challenges.  My son has a disability called Asperger’s. It affects his ability to connect and communicate, but he knows what he wants to do in life-be an animator.  I think about all the obstacles and then I look to God.  I remember who He is.  He is my God.  He is my son’s God.  He is our salvation and defense.

So I will not let fear overwhelm me.  I will trust in God.  I know that He will lead the way.  He will be my strength.  My son will be okay.  He will have a good life because God is in control.

Lord thank You for being my Savior.  Thank You for saving my soul, for redeeming me.  I thank You for being my deliver and strength.  Thank You for being my defense against the attacks of the enemy. Thank You for Your Son and my son.  I thank You for being my God.  I love You Lord. In Jesus name. Amen

The Goodness of the Lord

 

Psalm 27:13-14 KJV

I had fainted, Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

The news can be quite depressing and disturbing as it reports on the turbulence in life.  It highlights the sin sick world that we live in, but thanks be to God we do not have to lose hope.  We know that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  

We will see how neighbors come together to rebuild communities.  We will see how God moves mountains to make provisions for the sick and the poor.  How He is there for the needy.  We will see Him comfort us when loved ones are lost.  We will see and feel the balm to our souls.  

We can take heart and be strengthened because our God lives and is mighty. He will not tarry.  He is with us and He is good.  We just have to trust in Him and have hope. We have to believe that His promises are true.  No matter what we are going through God sees, cares, and will fix it.  We will see His goodness.

Lord thank You for being my hope and strength.  Thank you for always being present.  Thank You for never leaving me or forsaking me.  Thank You for being God.  Keep my heart safely in Your hands.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen 

He’s on our side

 

Romans 8:34 NIV

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

I am studying the book of Job and I am reading where his friends continue to condemn him.  Job is suffering and they can only assume it’s because Job has sinned.  They keep telling him to confess and Job holds onto his innocence.  Job is confused as to why he suffering as well.  We know the back story of how God allowed the enemy to test Job.  To attack his possession, family, and even his health.  Job got to the point of despair, he wondered where God was and his friends who had initially come to lament with him stand as his accusers.

The enemy would like to stand as our accuser. He taunts us with our mistakes, our missteps.  He would have us despair. But the enemy has no power and we don’t stand condemned because Jesus lives and He intercedes to the Father for us.  Jesus is on our side. 

Romans 8:34 NIV

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Christ died for our sins and took the punishment for us and He arose and lives, conquering death.  When God sees us He sees Jesus’ righteousness.  He hears Jesus telling Him that we are His. Job did not stand condemned either, he was going through a testing of his faith.  A test that God knew he would pass because was on Job’s side just as Jesus is on ours.

So rebuke the enemy’s attempt to condemn you and remember that it is Jesus who intercedes on your behalf.

Lord, I thank You for being on my side.  Help me to remember that You are always with me.  Through every test and even when I falter.  You are there Jesus interceding on my behalf bring me great hope.  I thank You for love.  In Jesus name.  Amen