Hope, Courage, and Strength

Good morning 

The other morning, as I lay awake very early, I was reading in Psalms 27 and ran across these two verses which seemed super appropriate. 

Psalms 27:13-14   --  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.” 

Vs 13 shows hope. The psalmist says that he would have fainted (or in modern terms, fallen to pieces) if he hadn't believed the promises of God.  In the same way, we cannot lose sight of the hope we have through Jesus.   We must have faith that no matter what comes in the future, that God will strengthen and keep us until He calls us home.

vs 14 encourages us.  We have nothing to fear, for with God, there is no such thing as the "unknown ". He knows all, and will guide us step by step.  He is able to strengthen our hearts, if we are only patient and wait on Him.  If we try to rush into things, without waiting for His guidance, then we will mess things up.  The Bible is full of examples of people both rushing and waiting.  Care to guess which ones work out better in the end?

I know that I keep encouraging us all to focus on Jesus and to Abide in Him. Truly, I believe, that unless we abide in Him, it is impossible to live the life God has called us to. Only through Him, can we truly live. 
May our eyes and hearts be opened to The Holy Spirit today. May we grow in Spirit and in Truth. May the Spirit of God flow through us to accomplish His will today. 

Friday is Here! Thanks and Praise

I hope you have all had a good week. I'm happy it is Friday, though. 

Psalm 7:17 says, I will thank the Lord because He is just, I will sing praise to the name of the Most High. 

Stop and think... how often do we thank the Lord for who He is? Do we ever praise His name? 

The scriptures state that we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. If we aren't walking in thankfulness and full of praise for God, then, we are not walking in His presence. Yes, He will never leave us Or forsake us, however, we cannot experience the joy of His presence first hand without thanks and praise being in our hearts. 

I encourage each and every one of you to try this today... Set some time when you can be alone and thank God for what He has done for you. Count those times He has extended grace and mercy to you. Thank Him for each one. Praise Him for His attributes, love, grace, mercy, patience, faithfulness, persistence, provision, and ever listening ears to hear our cry. Be sincere. And watch how quickly His presence surrounds you. I guarantee that you will experience a joy that you can't explain. For God inhabits the praises of His people. 

May you experience that joy and peace today. May you walk closely with Him and shine as a beacon wherever you are today. --  JP

In the Shelter of the Almighty

I was reading some scripture tonight about Security in the Lord.  This brought to mind the following passage from Psalms 91.  King David (from the Old Testament) is somewhat of a role model for me.  God, Himself, said of David "He is a man after my own heart."  I cannot think of a higher honor than that.  

Anyways, King David went through all sorts of hell in his life.  He was betrayed by family. He committed murder and adultery.  How can God call a person who committed such acts as these "a man after my own heart"?  I truly believe it is because of David's faith, and repentance..  The following passage was written during some of the darkest times in David's life.  The faith of David is legendary, and is clearly shown in the following verses of Psalms 91

1 He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence.
4He shall cover you with his feathers, and under his wings shall you trust: his truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;
6Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
8Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation;
10There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13You shall tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the serpent shall you trample under feet.
14Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he has known my name.
15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
16With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

I do not believe that there is a clearer passage in scripture where God's mercy and grace are spelled out for those that abide and trust in Him.  Does this mean that we won't go through trials and dark times?  No.  It just tells us what will happen when we go through those times.  We are not alone, and never will be.  

I thank God every day that he was with me during my darkest hours.