May 10, 2025

He Is Our Strength

August 26, 2014 by

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Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Psalm 81:1

It is the simplicity of this sentence that grabs my attention—a simple act that makes such a difference.  In life there have been countless times when God has proven His love for me, countless times when the only way I made it through a situation was by relying on God for my strength.

I look at what God for Jacob and for Israel.  I look at the battles won, the victories celebrated, and I know that the glory for those victories belongs to God.  He gives strength in the tough situations, He gives strength in day-to-day life…and everything in between.

Shouting for joy is a simple request compared to what He has accomplished in my life.  I’ll sing His praises to my kids, to my husband, to my friends and family.  I’ll thank and praise Him in my quiet time, when I’m driving, during soccer practice, while working, and whenever I can because it is in these times when His strength sustains me.  It’s in the everyday when His strength surpasses the weakness of my flesh.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s Pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, Lord, teach us how to sing Your praises! Thank You for accepting our songs and shouts, for reminding us that what we have to offer in thanks is good enough.  Thank You for the victories in the everyday and in the tough spots.  Your love gets us through it all.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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My Strength for the “Impossible”

August 25, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob.
Psalm 81:1

How?  That’s a question I ask myself often when reading the Word of God.  I want to know exactly how things are going to work…down to the tiniest detail…and then, if it makes sense to me, then I’ll trust.  However, God is Almighty and Sovereign, therefore He make promises that seem impossible to the natural part of us.  And I don’t always have the luxury of knowing every detail.  I simply have to trust God’s Word, regardless of how things seem in the natural.

How am I supposed to trust in something that makes no sense to me?  How do I keep up the momentum to do something that defies what I know to be possible? How did Peter walk on the water? How did Jesus face the cross?

Let’s take a look at Peter,

“But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.” “Come,” He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
“You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:27-31

Peter was able to walk on water because of his focus and trust in Jesus.  God is our strength; nothing else can sustain us like the Father.  God is the spiritual version of caffeine—except there’s no type of crash afterwards and you can’t build up a tolerance for Him.

Jesus relied on the Father to strengthen Him during, what I feel, is the most challenging and seemingly impossible thing God could ask a person to do. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful that Jesus died for me, but one man to die for ALL mankind…that doesn’t make sense.

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him.
Luke 22:42-43

If Jesus saw it fitting to lean on God as His strength, then we should, too!  If God would strengthen Jesus, then He will do it for us, too.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, thank You so much for being my strength in good times and bad. Amen.

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Sanctified

August 24, 2014 by

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Sing for joy to God our strength; shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
Psalm 81:1

This summer I am working through a Beth Moore study called “Believing God”. The current chapter is entitled “Believing God Can Sanctify Your Mouth.”  Say WHAT?!?  Psalm 81:1 shows us what our mouths should be doing—“sing(ing) for joy to God our strength; shout(ing) in triumph to the God of Jacob.”

Each one of us is called to glorify His name.  But…Psalm 10:7 (NLT) also tells us: “Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats.   Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.”  God and satan both desire to have authority over our mouths.

Beth Moore puts it this way:

“A wayward tongue signals a wayward heart.  A clean mouth unplugs a primary pipe of divine power.”

Now take a look at this familiar passage:

Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things.
See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!
And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members,
contaminating and depraving the whole body
and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal can be tamed
and has been tamed by human genius (nature).
But the human tongue can be tamed by no man.
It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:5-8(AMP)

So, according to this Scripture, we cannot tame our tongues. So, is it even possible to sanctify our mouths?   Are we ever going to be able to “…guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue; <and> will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence” (as David says in Psalm 39:1 NASB).

As Psalm 81:1 reminds us, God is our strength. It is only by daily dependency on Him that we can control that unruly muscle in our mouths. When we develop that intimacy with Him, His Word becomes ingrained in us. Then, “We too believe, and therefore we speak,” (2 Corinthians 4:13b AMP).  As Luke 6:45b (AMP) points out: “…for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks….”

Inconsistency in our talk may be common but it is very costly. It deprives us of God’s divine power flowing through us. That is not a price I am willing to pay. (Are you?!)  If not, then let us boldly approach the throne of grace and seek Christ’s assistance in consecrating our hearts and sanctifying our mouths.

All we need to do is lift our faces to Him and ask.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father God, we come before You today very much aware of our unclean lips. Forgive us for our wayward hearts and inconsistent speech.  We ask that You set our tongues ablaze with Your Holy fire so that we continually glorify Your name. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus.  Amen – it is so!

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Made Me Glad

August 23, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to Your name give glory
Because of Your loving kindness, because of Your truth.
Why should the nations say, “Where, now, is their God?”
But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.
They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see;
They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell;
They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk;
They cannot make a sound with their throat.
Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them.
O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their Help and their Shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their Help and their Shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their Help and their Shield.
Psalms 115:1-11

I will bless the Lord forever
And I will trust Him at all times

He has delivered me from all fear
And He has set my feet upon a rock

I will not be moved, and I’ll say of the Lord
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion
Deliverer, my Shelter, Strong Tower
My very present Help in time of need

Whom have I in heaven but You
There’s none I desire beside You
You have made me glad, and I’ll say of the Lord

You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion
Deliverer, my Shelter, Strong Tower
My very present Help in time of need

Songwriter: Miriam Joy Webster / Performed by Hillsong

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Trust In God

August 22, 2014 by

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O Israel, trust the Lord!
He is your Helper and your Shield.
O priests, descendants of Aaron, trust the Lord!
He is your Helper and your Shield.
All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!
He is your Helper and your Shield.
Psalms 115:9-11

trust

lean on…rely on…depend on; believe in…have confidence in; or commit to someone or something.

We trust in the Lord, Jehovah, because He is our Help and our Shield.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “God helps them that help themselves”?  We know this is so NOT true.  God helps them that trust in Him as their Help and their Shield and their Strength.  God helps those whose hearts rejoice in Him and who wait upon Him for their deliverance.  If a person decides to help themselves and “do it on their own”…they will find themselves truly on their own. Trust God and He will be your Help and Shield.

Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.
For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted in His holy name.
Psalm 33:20 and 21

The Lord is my Strength and Shield.
I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.
Psalm 28:7

David rejoiced and sang this song proclaiming his trust in God Who protected and helped and shielded him from his enemies and the hand of Saul:

He said,
“The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer,
my God, my Rock, in whom I take refuge,
my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation,
my Stronghold and my Refuge,
my Savior; You save me from violence.
I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies….”
2 Samuel 22:3 and 4

“All you who fear the Lord (that’s us!), trust the Lord! He is your Helper and your Shield.”
May this be our constant confession…in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Life Can Be an Idol

August 21, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, But to Your name give glory
Because of Your loving kindness, because of Your truth.
Why should the nations say, “Where, now, is their God?”
But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands.
They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see;
They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell;
They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk;
They cannot make a sound with their throat.
Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them.
O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their Help and their Shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their Help and their Shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their Help and their Shield.
Psalms 115:1-11

“Their idols are silver and gold…” —and jobs and people, and money, and dreams, and aspirations, and things, simple things.  We place these things above our Heavenly Father; and we put a value on these things that we shouldn’t.  There are days when I ask myself where my cell phone is…but have I asked myself when the last time is that I prayed?  I wonder if my check is going to be on time…but was I on time when God nudged me to minister to that woman the other day?

This passage reminds me how easy it is to fall into the trap of letting life and all that it entails become our idol; and the trap of looking to other people and to other things to fill the void only the Lord our God can fill.  This Scripture also reminds me that through it all, He is still there—His loving-kindness, His truth. When we find ourselves focusing on other things around us, we need to step back and remember that He is our Help and our Shield; we trust in Him and not in the things of this world.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s Pray – Dear Heavenly Father, life has so many distractions that it is easy for us to place them higher in our life than we should.  Thank You for Your loving kindness, for Your grace, and mercy. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

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Strength and Shield

August 20, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

1 Lord, You should receive the honor, not us.
    The honor belongs to You
    because of Your faithful love and loyalty.
2 Why should the nations wonder
    where our God is?
3 Our God is in heaven,
    and He does whatever He wants.
4 The “gods” of those nations are only statues
    that some human made from gold and silver.
5 Those statues have mouths, but cannot talk.
    They have eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears, but cannot hear.
    They have noses, but cannot smell.
7 They have hands, but cannot feel.
    They have feet, but cannot walk.
    No sounds come from their throats.
8 The people who make and trust in those statues
    will become like them!

9 People of Israel, trust in the Lord!
    He is your strength and shield.
10 Aaron’s family, trust in the Lord!
    He is your strength and shield.
11 Followers of the Lord, trust in the Lord!
    He is your strength and shield.

Psalms 115:1-11

What does it look  like to love God with all of your strength?  Mark gives us great advice:

To love Him with all your heart,
with all your understanding
and with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Mark 12:33

For me, this is easy to do. Obedience is where I would say I fail. Obedience is where I should choose to study His word and not give into distractions. Obedience says not to place my expectations on others. Obedience is forgiveness of others. Obedience is forgiving myself. When our heart becomes aligned with God’s truths then all else will fall into place.

Sometimes it is stepping out in faith when we feel that we are called to fulfill a calling on our lives. God will honor our choice to be obedient and reward us. We will be laying up our treasure in heaven by submitting to His will. I hope to see my ‘mansion’ in heaven. I do not think I would mind a small one, but then, I am not sure I would stay in that building because I would want to be in His presence all day.

In John 14 Jesus says,

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (Verses 1-4).

What a comforting passage to us. We know the story and how Jesus died on the Cross and was raised in three days.  To the robber who was crucified alongside of Him, Jesus told the man he would be with Him in paradise. Jesus, always thinking of others, not of Himself.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father, thank You for Your Scriptures.  Thank You for teaching us and showing us Your heart. Help us become more like Jesus—obedient, loving, kind, and always thinking of others.  Not to be blind, but to have compassion, to have discernment, and wisdom. Wisdom in knowing how to help someone or when to refer them to someone else.  Thank You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Modern Idols

August 19, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

But their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
They have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.
They have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk,
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Psalms 115:4-7

When I was growing up, I always thought that idols were statues.  That was how they had always been portrayed as being in the movies and my own imagination. However, when I reached my teens and young adult years, I learned that idols are more than just statues that are worshipped as gods.

One dictionary definition of idol is any person or thing regarded with blind admiration, adoration, or devotion.

The Bible definition of idol is an image of a deity other than God.

In my opinion, an idol is anything that turns your attention away from God.  With so many things to grab our attention, it is easy to allow something or someone to grab all our attention. Cell phones, TV, work, family activities, etc., can keep us from doing what we really should be doing. When it comes to God, these can also affect our relationship with Him.

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” He said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.” The blind and the lame came to Him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things He did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant.

Matthew 21:12-15

The merchants of Jesus’ time had made His temple a place of idolatry.  The merchants and the priests were more worried about money and the power they had then of having a true relationship with God.  When Jesus took their idols away, they became indignant.  If you were to try to do that to someone or a group of people today, it would become total chaos.  Rights are taken away, and the rights of the people who are seeking to do the right thing are taken away.
However, one day Jesus will return, and He will turn the tables on the idols of the world again.  Until then we should strive to keep the idols out of our view.  We should focus our lives upon God.  We should work and live for the glory of God.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Heavenly Father, I strive to put my focus on You.  You have saved me from the clutches of sin.  Idols have no place in my life.  I love You and work to glorify You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Glory! Glory be to…Wait, Who is glory for?

August 18, 2014 by

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Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness.

Psalm 115:1

A few days ago, I finally re-enrolled in college. I came up with quite a few reasons why I couldn’t go back; but overall, every one of my excuses were fear based. Even now, some of the logistics of this new endeavor have yet to be worked out. But (as I had to remind myself going in)—trust God and He will guide you.

Now, that I’m re-enrolled, I’m kind of excited! I’ve told the news to many of the closest people in my life, and heard plenty of “I’m proud of you!” Which, of course, is easy for me to soak up. Yes, I do feel good about accomplishing something that I’ve said I was going to do and, oh, how easy it would be for me to feel self-accomplished. But without the Lord’s favor I wouldn’t be going back to school at all…so glory be to Him!

For years I’ve been denied free financial aid. This year out, of the blue and at the very last minute, I received a grant…finally. I practically talked myself out of taking the grant, until a random comment to the most unlikely person turned into a handshake and a promise that I’d at least go to the school and talk with an advisor. So first I had to wait for a letter that came 3 days before I had to have everything done. Then I was told I had to take a 3 hour-long test (3 hours before I had to be to work), and then I was sent on a scavenger hunt all around campus trying to finish things up.

Every bit of the way, I had a voice in my head trying to give me excuse after excuse for why I should not be doing this. But, with every excuse, that little voice gave, I heard a louder voice give me reason after reason to trust in God. And thank God for that! All I did was take the steps the Lord placed before me and for that He deserves all the glory.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Thank You, Lord, for being glorious beyond all measure.  Amen.

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Who Is Your God?

August 17, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory,
for the sake of Your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in the heavens;
He does all that He pleases.
Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.
O Israel, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!
He is their help and their shield.
Psalms 115:1-11

As I was reading this passage and the related commentaries, my mind kept circling back to one thought: we all worship something.  Every one has a “god”—a guiding principle, a passion that is master of their life.   As I continued reading, I realized that verses 1-3 and 9-11 reveal a lot about the One True God.   Verses 4-8 illuminate the contrast of idols.  So I created a chart for comparison.

One True God                              idols

Loving & merciful                                           hard & unfeeling
Reigns in Heaven                                            resides on earth
Sovereign, has dominion                            controls nothing
Always has been, is & will be                      man-made
Holy                                                                     dirty from ore dug from earth
Alive & powerful                                             dead
All-seeing                                                           blind
Always hears our prayers                           deaf
All-knowing                                                       dumb
Transforms man into His Image               made in the image of man
Has done everything for us                        can do nothing for us

This passage begins and ends with God.  Ironic, isn’t it?  Verses 1-3 remind us everything is for His glory and not our own.  His mercy is freely given and cannot be earned.  Therefore we boast in Him alone.

Look at these two verses:

You will show loyalty to Jacob and faithful love to Abraham,
as You swore to our fathers from days long ago
Micah 7:20 HCSB

He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for His mercies to them.
Romans 15:9a NLT

God made plans long ago to be faithful and merciful to us. Verses 10–11 sum the passage up by reminding us wherein our strength and protection lie. The Lord is our “help and our shield” if we only will trust Him.

Acts 10:35 (NASB) tells us: “…but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”  And not only are we welcomed but Psalm 147:11 (AMP) says our reverent fear delights Him:  “The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.”

“God is seeking to make us like Himself” – Chuck Smith

Either we are making a “god” like ourselves and indulging in self-idolatry OR God is transforming us daily into His image.  Our actions reveal our “god.”

What are your actions saying?

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Lord, we just want to thank You for all You have done for us.  We treasure Your faithfulness and mercy towards us.  Show us if we are allowing another “god” to become our passion.  Stop us before it happens.  We boast in You alone.  May our actions and our lives bring You glory.  In Your Holy name we pray, Amen – so be it!

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