There was a time in my life when I tried to live perfect. The harder I tried the more I failed. Like the apostle Paul in Romans 7, I became frustrated. My spirit wanted to, but the flaw in my flesh didn't. God loved me and kept me anyway.
Psalm 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies:
Nobody does mercy and kindness like The Lord. He's the Father who tenderly and lovingly cares for the needs of His children. He tempers them by grace.
We don't have to fear anything because the precious lovingkindness and tender mercies of God crowns us wherever we are and whatever we do. We can trust Him to guide and protect us.
I would be nothing without Him.
When you're overcome by fatigue and worry, there's grace to help you soar to strength--like eagles
Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.
To be strong again you have to wait on The Lord, and that's not so easy, but it's worth it.
Imagine soaring like eagles above your rubble, your hurt, your valley, your weakness.
When the eagle spreads his massive wings he breaks the grip of gravity with one great flap, quickly soaring higher and higher.
And when he encounters a storm, he doesn't land or fly through it, he turns his eyes toward the heavens and rises above it.
Ok, now we're strong enough to run the Christian race.
Teach me, Lord, to wait.
Our lives are in the hands of God and that's the absolute truth. We may admit to His providence but hesitate to believe He's concerned about every little detail. Oh, but He is.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
The events of your life are not random and unrelated. God is working them, perfectly blending all to your good.
It was a dark day when baby Moses was placed in the river by his loving mother. But didn't all things work together for good?
It was a dark day when they crucified the Savior and buried Him in a borrowed tomb. But didn't all things work together for good?
Romans 8:28 makes perfect sense to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
The infinite God invites finite man to call unto him.
Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.
The God of the Universe isn't too busy to hear your prayer. He won't put you on hold or ask you to leave a message. You can't ask too much or too often.
Sometimes the request is wrong and God says, "No." If the timing is wrong, God says, "Wait." Delays aren't denials. God's timing is perfect. Wait on The Lord.
If you are wrong, God says, "Grow." Unholy motives (James 4:3), unconfessed sin (Psalm 66:18 ), an unforgiving spirit (Mark 11:24-26), and an unstable faith (James 1;5-8 ) will postpone God's answer.
Abundant things, precious things, vast things, and things which know no bounds happen when you pray with faith.
Pray. Stand aside. Watch the glory of God unfold.
We can lose heart when our relationship with God is weak. The apostle Paul knew the secret to overcome a faint heart.
1 Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not: but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
You can reach a place where you can press on in spite of what presses you down.
Each day has its troubles. That's why we need to feed on the Word of God every day and pray to the Father.
As "earthen vessels", we are weak and need a power that is outside ourselves if we are to stand. Take heart, that power comes from God. Ask Him to help you. He will.
It's easy to lose heart and want to quit, but you don't have to be one of those people who used to walk with God.
We can never fully comprehend the deity and glory of God, but we see a beautiful reflection in His Word. One day we'll stand in His very presence.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of The Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of The Lord.
The more we look upon Jesus, the more we resemble Him. If we take the time to study His Word, we will be more like Him.
Resembling Christ is a noble desire, but it's also difficult. When we were saved the old man of sin died, and we were resurrected a new creature in Christ, but we still live in a body of flesh that wants to please itself.
We could never resemble Christ without the guidance of the Spirit of God. The closer we walk with The Lord, the more the Spirit works within us to transform us into His image.
I don't know much, but what I do know, I like.
I know about a REDEEMER. I know Him and He knows me and loves me anyway.
I know about a RETURNER. The Redeemer promised to return from Heaven and take His children out of this ugly world (rapture) to be with Him. He will return again to reign on earth (Rev. 19:11-16).
I know about a RESURRECTION. The Redeemed never die, they just go home. Their soul goes to heaven and their body to dust. I know that one glorious day the body will rise, and be changed.
I know about a REUNION. It's going to be awesome to see my Redeemer and my loved ones.
I find a lot of comfort, hope, and strength in what I know.
Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reigns be consumed within me.
