April 19, 2024

Stars In The Night

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

No matter where you lead, we want to follow You
Trouble is we forget who we belong to
We chase the wind and tides
We chase the reasons why
Chase the spark inside each other’s eyes
Desires are a war, we want that final shore
Sailing on until we find what we’ve been looking for

Hallelujah, we’re running to You
On fire from the mercy in Your eyes
And through the dark, singing we are Yours
Your love will lead us through the fight
Like stars in the night
Stars in the night
Stars in the night
Lead us through the fight

We fix our eyes on what we know is true
Even in our shame, grace makes a way through
Be our obsession, our constellation
You are light in and out of every season
So we keep pressing on with our redemption song
No one can undo what You’ve done

All our lives for the other side, where we’ll never die
And in the darkest night, we will lift our eyes
The life that lies ahead is more than all we leave behind

Tenth Avenue North
Mike Donehey, songwriter

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What if the only thing we really chased after was God’s own heart?  And what if the things of this world really didn’t matter and we consciously thought of how fleeting they truly are…because they really are.  What if the spiritual gifts were the only gifts that we asked for.  What a beautiful, loving, peaceful world we would live in!  But it seems we are really always looking for and hoping for something else to fill the void. We want what our friend has…or what we used to have…or what we have always dreamed of.  That void can only really be satisfied with God, your Father and your Creator.

And when we really have tried it all and nothing works—not money or alcohol or a woman or a man—we run as fast as we can to the God Whose arms are waiting and Whose love can really heal all wounds and fulfill all our needs.  Even though there may be shame in how far you may have gone, your Savior took your guilt away.  There is enough grace,  too, for every sin you ever have or will commit.  There’s redemption, too, in His name.

Are you down today?  Dear soul, I ask you to lift up your face and look up. There is hope and healing today.  And though it has been dark, His light shines bright.  No, we cannot go back and change the past…but we can cling to the One that holds our future and it is full of Jesus!  And, remember, this is but a blink.  Earth is so temporary as we are created for so much more than this…Heaven waits for us.

But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love Him…”
1 Corinthians 2:9

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His Name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their Light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 22:1-5

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Pray with me today…

Dear Lord, You are so amazing and awesome.  Your Name is above all other names and You are worthy of all praise and honor and glory. Lord, may we realize that all this chasing and looking for things that we think will make us happy or fill our cup is only a temporary fix.  We will never be fully satisfied until we empty everything and fill the void with only You.  And though You have made this world full of beauty and wonder, it is not our permanent home…Heaven is ours and we will live with You!  What a day of rejoicing that will be!  But until then, keep our eyes on You and our hearts so full of You that love just spills over.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Jehovah Jireh

SeekingHimLogo

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Psalms 103:1-5

As I read this passage “Jehovah Jireh” came to mind.  According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary the name “Jehovah Jireh” means, “Jehovah will see to it. Jehovah will provide.”  1 Timothy 6:17b (AMP) states we are to set our hopes “…on God, Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment.”  God continually provides for us.  It is not a “one and done” event. He is always giving—concerned with even the smallest details of our lives.

In this passage there are at least six benefits mentioned that God provides:

  • Forgiveness
  • Healing
  • Redemption
  • Love, compassion & mercy
  • Goodness, good things
  • Renewal

Most of these are self-explanatory and such monumental occurrences that they are not easily forgotten.  But what about “goodness” and “good things”?  What does that encompass?

“All my need fully supplied, and everything “good.” Goodness is God expressed.”
– Frederick Whitfield

Good things not only supply our every needbut they are our personal blessing, our choicest favors.  They may not be monumental occurrences or breathtaking events.  Maybe they are small things we sometimes overlook, like finding a parking spot or campsite at just the right time in the perfect place.  Or having the sun break through just in time for a special event or occasion.  Perhaps it is a majestic view, a stunning sunrise, or a glorious sunset.  It could be something as simple as a reassuring or encouraging word appearing (and reappearing) at the point it is needed the most.  Often we fail to recognize these choice favors and we take these good things for granted.  Yet they are personal blessings designed specifically for us.

Psalm 116:12 (AMP) poses a very important question…

What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?
[How can I repay Him for all His bountiful dealings?]

How could we possibly repay Jehovah Jireh?  What could we offer Him?  1 Corinthians 2:9b (AMP) offers a partial answer: “…promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed.”  Being obedient and grateful is definitely a step in the right direction. But the first two verses of Psalm 103 hold the key:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;

Charles Spurgeon summed it up this way:

“Surely the goodness of God has been the same to us as to the saints of old. Let us, then, weave his mercies into a song. Let us take the pure gold of thankfulness, and the jewels of praise and make them into another crown for the head of Jesus.”

“Bless the Lord, oh my soul, oh my soul and worship His Holy name.”  Jehovah will see to it and we will gratefully praise and worship Him with all that is within us.

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Father, thank You for all the good things You provide.  Forgive us for the times we fail to recognize or take for granted Your blessing and favor in our lives.  Make us aware of Your Presence in the even the smallest details of our lives so that we may gratefully lift up praise and glorify You.  In Your Holy name we pray, Amen – it is so!