May 16, 2025

God of Mercy and Steadfast Love

July 15, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercy and loving-kindness;
for they have been ever from of old.
Remember not the sins (the lapses and frailties)
of my youth or my transgressions;
according to Your mercy and steadfast love
remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
Psalms 25:6 and 7 AMP

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

O Lord, we are so thankful that You are full of mercy and steadfast love!  Truly we do recognize our sins, our faults, our  frailties…but far more important than dwelling on them is to acknowledge  how faithful and good You are in forgiving us!   Thank You for the many examples You have given us throughout the Scriptures…of men such as Your man, David.  Thank You for showing us Your heart towards their repentance.  Thank You for the encouragement we have to do the same, knowing that their God is our God.  And that the same way You remembered not their sins, You will do the same for us according to Your goodness, Your mercy, Your steadfast love.  Thank You!  We love You and adore You!  May our hearts be set to honor and glorify You as we endeavor to be in obedience to You.  We pray these things in Jesus’ name, amen.

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In The Stillness

July 15, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Here in the stillness my heart is at rest
Alone in the silence, that’s where I hear You best
In the rush of the river, like a song in the breeze
It’s here in the stillness You speak to me

When I’m lost in Your Presence the world disappears
Taking all of my troubles…my burdens, my fears
Oh how gently You hold me, You are all that I see
It’s here in the stillness You speak to me

I will be still
I will stand in awe
Oh, just to know that You are my God
You are my God

Yes, it’s here in the stillness You speak to me
You speak to me
Oh, speak to me

Singer/Songwriter – Ali Matthews

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

One of the absolute joys of being in a relationship with our heavenly Father is our ‘quiet time’ with Him.  Not only is it a joy but it is a need, too. It is necessary to dwell in His Presence…to choose to have a dedicated, purposeful, intentional, devoted quiet time.  Of course there are many other components that make up this time with God, such as:

  • reading the Scriptures
  • meditating and considering those words
  • singing our praises
  • thankfulness
  • intercession
  • prayer for ourselves

But I do believe that there is one essential aspect—stillness—which presents itself in two very needful ways:

1) actual physical-absence-of-distracting-noise quiet
(and, perhaps even more necessary,)
2) a quiet, still, peaceful heart

Our Lord recognized His need for quiet and time alone to pray to His Father.  If He, in His perfect sinless life, needed quiet time to be still and alone seeking the Father then we surely do also…and even more so! His example speaks clearly to us.

And in the morning, long before daylight,
He got up and went out to a deserted place,
and there He prayed.
Mark 1:35

…and great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities.
But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Luke 5:15, 16

(Perhaps, when our Lord was alone, He sang words similar to those in that beautiful song we just listened to….)

And there is the second type of stillness—a quiet, still, peaceful heart.  Isn’t this something that each of us yearns for?  Truly I believe it can only be found as we seek Him.  There is a quietness that we are promised as we trust in our Lord.

Be still and rest in the Lord;
wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him;
fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way,
because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
fret not yourself—it tends only to evildoing.
For evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord
shall inherit the earth.
Psalms 37:7-9

Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.
Psalms 46:10 and 11

And. as Jesus Himself said to us,

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden
and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest.
[I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]
Matthew 11:28

In closing, consider these verses in which the psalmist speaks about his quiet time with his God.  As we intentionally pursue having quiet time alone with our God may we ‘pour out our heart before Him; God is a Refuge for us!’

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.
He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress;
I shall not be greatly shaken.
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him..
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
My mighty Rock, my Refuge is God.
Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a Refuge for us. Selah
excerpts from Psalm 62

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

May I suggest, before you and I run along and jump into your ‘to-do’ list, that we each stop for a few minutes and be still and quiet before the throne of God…worshipping and giving Him our praise for the joy and privilege of these times of stillness and quiet alone with Him!  Oh, how He loves us so!

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Divine Remembrance

July 14, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo
Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love
For they have been from old.
Remember not the sins from my youth or my transgressions
According to your steadfast love,
Remember me for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord!
Psalms 25:6-7

This is David’s prayer.  He had searched in his heart and saw that there was no one who could help him at that hour—only Sovereign God. He cried out for remembrance.

To be remembered is ‘to be thought of.’  And you can only remember someone you have had interaction with at one time or the other.  For one to remember you it means there has been a relationship between the two of you.  Why did David call on God to remember him?  David went to a Someone he was comfortable with trusting.

Even in this physical world we live in, sometimes you meet someone who says they know you, but you don’t quite remember them…even when they try to remind you of where the two of you met.  Perhaps you feel confused.  This is the same way with the spiritual realm.  God cannot remember you if you have never been in a relationship with Him.  He will only remember you if you have interacted with Him and that your relationship is strong and operating at the highest level.  David took courage to call for remembrance for he knew His Friend, God, would come to his rescue.

How many of us can boldly come to God today asking Him to remember us without feeling perhaps guilty in one way or another because of unconfessed sin or repeated sins?  Sins hinder us from the hand of God, brethren.

Nehemiah also cried unto God for remembrance.

Remember me, O my God, concerning this,
and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done
for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
Nehemiah 13:14

We also see David in Psalm 106:4 calling on God for remembrance.

Remember me, O Lord, with the favor Thou beareth unto thy people,
O visit me with Thy salvation.

O Lord, Thou knowest: remember me, and visit me,
and revenge me of my persecutors;
take me not away in Thy longsuffering:
know that for Thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
Jeremiah 15:15

And he said unto Jesus “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.”
Luke 23:42

Brethren, for us to be remembered of God it means we are in a good relationship with Him.  Let us work out our relationship with God.  We need Him to remember us in all areas of our lives.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for You are the Lord…full of steadfast love.  Great is Thy faithfulness.  We need Your grace, Lord, to be in good relationship with You.  Help us in our shortfalls, build us with Your love, create in us a clean heart, Lord.  This we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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Sow Mercy

July 14, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I can see her now, her weathered skin
Old straw hat and crooked grin
And she said child, let’s make this garden grow.
Let’s till the soil, and pull some weeds
And here’s your bag of precious seeds
‘Cause grandma’s got a secret you should know
You always reap exactly what you sow

Sow mercy
Sow grace
Sow kindness
Sow faith
Words are like water, sprinkled with love
You will harvest all your heart’s been dreaming of
Sow mercy

We knelt right there and she took my hand
That patch of dirt was holy land
And she said child I learned this long ago
Oh, you can bless or curse
You can live or die
You choose the crop you want in life
That’s the greatest secret Grandma knows
You always reap exactly what you sow

‘Cause one day, God forbid, you act a fool
And fall down hard and fast, ’cause life is cruel
If you ever reached to help a friend
A hand you held might lift you up again
What goes around comes back around you know
You always reap exactly what you sow

Gaither Vocal Band
Written by Reba Rambo-McGuire and Donny McGuire

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

What a great reminder!  I know I can get so weighed down with what others are doing or saying…and become just like them.  I can act hateful, impatient, moody, negative and all the stuff that goes along with it.  But then I hear a song like this and it slaps me in the face. Sow mercy, sow grace, sow kindness, sow faith.  But what does that look like in our everyday walk?

  • Sow mercy can be when we deserve to be fired, but we are given a second chance
  • Sow grace can be when we find out someone has wronged us and they seek (and receive) forgiveness
  • Sow kindness can be giving just a simple cup of water to a stranger or to a child
  • Sow faith can be supporting a friend with kind words

Let’s consider the efforts of our forefathers today.  They endeavored to create a nation, under God, to be the best they knew how to create.  By us looking at how we live and how we interact, we can be stronger advocates for sowing mercy, grace, kindness and faith in our culture. We can pray.  We can bless our nation or we can curse it.  I choose to bless it and ask God to bless it by asking for a revival.  One person at a time.

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From The Inside Out

July 13, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv
A thousand times I’ve failed
Still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I’m caught in Your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing You praise

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out, Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

From the inside out, O my soul cries out
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

Singer-Songwriter: Joel Houston ~ along with Hillsong United

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

My Bible study lesson today was titled “Inside Out” by Beth Moore from her study, Children of the Day.  At first I didn’t relate the title to this song.  The lesson is based on 1 Thessalonians 4:9 AMP:

But concerning brotherly love [for all other Christians],
you have no need to have anyone write you,
for you yourselves have been [personally] taught by God to love one another.

Did you catch that last phrase, “…personally taught by God…”?  The Thessalonians didn’t need anyone to instruct them on how to love other Christians for they had been PERSONALLY TAUGHT BY GOD!  This thought blew my mind.  It totally captivated my attention.  The Thessalonians had learned to love FROM THE INSIDE OUT!  They learned it straight from God.

And you know what?  We can, too!  When we made our decision to surrender to Jesus and follow Him, we literally received the Holy Spirit into our beings.  Look at John 14:26 HCSB:

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit
—the Father will send Him in My name—
will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.

The Spirit of God resides in us and will teach us all things!  Our learning does not have to be from the outside in.  Beth Moore puts it this way:

“God’s Spirit bypasses all formal routes of the learning curve and the lesson comes straight from Him.”

(Wow…if that doesn’t excite you, I’m not sure anything will!)

Then this song came to mind and I looked at it in a whole new light.  What if we truly gave God control—complete control?  What if we allowed Him to teach us, to “consume me from the inside out” instead of being stuck in our preconceived ideas?  What if we truly learned to love as the Thessalonians did…”from the inside out?”

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father God, Thank You so very much for placing Your Spirit within us.  Open us to His teachings.  Teach us, O God, for we cannot learn as much on our own.  My soul cries out to You in praise.  Teach me, O God, from the inside out.  In Your Holy name, we pray, Amen – so be it!

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The Steadfast Love of the Lord

July 12, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercy and loving-kindness;
for they have been ever from of old.
Remember not the sins (the lapses and frailties)
of my youth or my transgressions;
according to Your mercy and steadfast love
remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
Psalms 25:6 and 7 AMP

 

The steadfast love of the Lord ceases
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning
New every morning
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord
Great is Thy faithfulness

Dave Hunt
Written by Edith McNeill

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That Was Then, This Is Now

July 12, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

We used to hide from the light
We made friends with the night
We were headed the wrong way on a one way track
Going nowhere fast

We got used to the dark
We thought this is who we are
And we figured that we were just too far gone
But we were wrong

‘Cause love came running like a river
And we got washed in the water
Then He said you’re forgiven
Your sins are gone

That was then, this is now
You’re bought by the blood,
Saved by the Son the saints all sing about
That was lost, this is found
And it’s time to say goodbye to the old you now

So go ahead, put the past in the past
Box it up like an old photograph
You don’t have to go back
‘Cause that was then and this is now

We’ve been remade by grace
We’ve all got new names
And nothing we do could ever change
What He did that day

If we turn and confess every unrighteousness
He is faithful and just to forgive
Oh, so turn and confess every wrong and regret
And see what it means to live

‘Cause that was then and this is now

 Josh Wilson, singer/songwriter

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

There was a time in my life that I was in the dark for so long that my eyes adjusted to it, and I could see.  Chaos was normal and I definitely made wrong choice after wrong choice.  I accepted my life the way it had become and I even labeled myself as a loser.  The crazy thing was that I had lived more of my life in His light than in the dark; yet the dark became normal.  But one day He became so much brighter than my present darkness and I decided that I wanted to be out there.  His love for me was still so big…so much bigger than my circumstances.  And I surrendered it all that day.

And (as the song says), we have to take the past and ‘box it up‘. There will be times that the memories of those wrong choices still come flooding in.  You will have to make a decision to surrender it again and remember that Jesus came to forgive you.  Everything you have ever done or will ever do was left at the Cross with Jesus.  You are now covered in His blood and you’ve been made new.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ
has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

So take heart!
Claim the grace that is so free for you!
Know that He loves you beyond measure!
You are never too far gone to turn back now!
He is there with open arms…
Today can be the day that your life will change forever!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let us pray: Dear God, You are so amazing!  Thank You for being so full of grace and mercy.  You know the choices we are going to make before we even make them yet You still love us so much.  Even when we sit in darkness, You are so close that all we have to do is move toward You.  Thank You for Your light that shines into our pits.  Oh Lord, we are so grateful for Your Son, Jesus, Who died for our sins so that we will live with You forever one day.  We love You!  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Pray

July 10, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I know that you think you can’t pray after that mistake
But I know it’s the only way you can make it better
And I know situations get too much for you to take
And you feel like you’re gone break and it makes you say

I can’t take it
When will things get better
I’m so frustrated, but it’s gonna be okay ’cause
Got Someone in your corner
Gonna be there for ya
Just fall on your knees, say a prayer and receive
When the world feels like it’s on your shoulders
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your life seems like its upside down
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your lonely nights are getting colder
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
I pray, you pray
(No matter how dark the day)
No matter how dark the day
(All you’ll have to do is pray)

I know you think you’ve gone too far and you waited too late
But I know that He loves you and there’s no love greater so
And I know that it’s hurting and you want your pain to end
And you feel like you can’t win and it makes you say

Our Father which art in Heaven
Hallowed be Thy name
All you gotta do is say
Our Father which art in Heaven
(No matter how dark the day)
No matter
(All you’ll have to do is pray)
When the world feels like it’s on your shoulders
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your life seems like its upside down
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
When your lonely nights are getting colder
(I pray, you pray, we pray)
I pray, you pray
(No matter how dark the day)
No matter how dark the day
(All you’ll have to do is pray)
No matter
Pray, pray

It’s gonna be okay
We’re gonna be okay
It’s gonna be alright, have faith
Everything will work out

CeCe Winans
written along with Mario Winans and Michael Jones
*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Do not be anxious about anything,
but in every situation,
by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
Philippians 4:6

Life is full of changes, situations, and circumstances that are out of our control. Life is full of unpredictable events and unpredictable people.  Through all of the changes and unknowns there is one constant that we can count on…and despite all that we cannot control, there is one thing we can control—our prayer life. We have the ability and power to turn to God at any time…any place.  As Philippians says, in every situation we are to pray.

I chose this song today because it reminds us that prayer is happy.  Although all songs about prayer are beautiful and touch the soul, many are geared more towards worship.  They have slower music and a softer tune which creates an atmosphere that helps us feel the words and feel closer to God.  This song, however, is more of a praise song.  The upbeat tempo and beat helps pull us from our feelings and situation at least for a time.  It is easy to feel down at times when we are dealing with life’s situations, but we don’t have to stay that way.

No matter how dark the day…. This song reminds me that despite what is going on around me, I can enjoy life. I can dance to the music I hear, I can laugh, I can smile.  Despite the things  I cannot change and cannot control, I can control how I react to it, and how I see my life.  Today I choose to pray.  I choose to dance.  I choose joy.  Join me in singing the words of this song, in feeling them in your heart and in living them each day—

in everything pray.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s pray:  Dear Heavenly Father, it is easy to get sucked into the feelings surrounding our life and our circumstances.  But today we choose to pray, to lay our lives at Your feet.  Your Word says to pray in every situation, large or small, no matter how dark the day, You will listen.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

This Week…Deuteronomy 7:9

July 9, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God.
He is the faithful God,
keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations
of those who love Him and keep His commands.
Deuteronomy 7:9

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we  have been so encouraged as we meditated on this wonderful verse!   Our devotional writers have shared the Truth given us in this week’s passage reminding us that our God ‘is the faithful God…keeping His covenant of love…’  Here are a few of their thoughts….

In Faithful God, Ann wrote about the incredible love and relationship that God had with the children of Israel….

It shows God’s gracious gift based on His love and mercy for rewarding the Israelites with faithfulness.   Moses warned the Israelites that continued possession of the land would be contingent on their perseverance in faith and in obedience to God.  If the Israelites became wicked like the Canaanites they, too, would be dispossessed of the land.  In other words, His love and mercy in His giving of the land was not unconditional.  If the people turned away from the Lord and forgot His word they, too, would surely perish.

❦

In Don’t Complain…Instead Know That I Am God, Ahmee reminded us of the complaining attitude of the Israelites ….

God decides when we are ready for something. But often how we choose to look at our circumstances effects how long something takes.  The Israelites complained and complained and complained.  {They loved to do them some complaining!}

  • Numbers 11:1a says, “Now the people complained about their hardships…”
  • Exodus 15:24a says, “So the people grumbled…”
  • Exodus 16:2a says, “In the desert the whole community grumbled…”
  • Exodus 17:2a says, “So they quarreled…”

From all the complaining they did, one would have never guessed that God would free them from captivity.  I mean, that’s kind of big! …Yet, and still, they complained.  Here’s the deal: God doesn’t forget His promises.  Solomon said it this way,

…O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven or on earth –
You who keep Your covenant of love with Your servants
who continue wholeheartedly in Your way.
2 Chronicles 6:14

We don’t need to complain…God has done so many things for us, why not focus on those things rather than the things that are wrong.

❦

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I Place My Hope

July 9, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The troubles of my heart
They’re tearing me apart
How I need Your saving hand
To grant me a new start
Lonely and afraid
I call upon Your name
Save me from my enemies
And cover all my shame

I will lift my eyes
From this fragile life
For You will rescue me
You are my Prince of Peace
And I lift up my soul
To You who makes things whole
Oh, mercy-love of old
In You I place my hope
I place my hope

So guide me in Your truth
Be my strong refuge
Oh, forgive my doubting heart
And lead me back to You
Help me to believe
Your love is all I need
Even when the storm is strong
You will provide for me

Even in my darkest place
There’s a promise I will claim
Those whose hope is in Your grace
They will never be ashamed

Ellie Holcomb
written along with Ben Bannister
*  ~  *   ~   *  ~  * 
This song gives me such a joyful conviction to sing out my profession of HOPE and TRUST in God’s promises. My favorite part is the bridge where Ellie Holcomb sings “…there’s a promise I will claim—those whose hope is in Your grace, they will never be ashamed.”  I, too, claim that promise!  How about you?  We have this HOPE…we do rejoice in this HOPE…we are not ashamed by this HOPE.

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us,
for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts
through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.
Romans 5:5 AMP

Leading up to the promise written above, listen to what Paul writes (in verses 1-4):

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through Him we have also obtained access by faith
into this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope,
and hope does not put us to shame….

I trust (and pray) that these words inspire and strengthen your hearts (as they do my own)!  Truly it is not in our own ability to figure it out but rather to recognize this grace and hope…and believe and trust.  Our part is to ‘hold…firm’ and to “stand” and to “grasp and hold fast.” Jesus did the hard part!  And God has made His promise and oath!

So when trials come (and we know they do!),
and we are suffering (as does happen at times),
we only need to grab hold
of the sure and steadfast anchor of our soul—our HOPE.

For me, memorizing Scripture is the only sure and reliable way to hold these truths from the Bible in my mind.  ‘Cause I can’t always sit down at the computer, and log into some Bible software, and pull up a verse or two!  Or I don’t always have my Scripture memory book or memorization cards right at my fingertips.  But (for better or worse!) I do always have my mind with me…and can reach into this treasure of memorized Scripture passages to be encouraged and made strong.  Here are some additional verses you might memorize (or write down on little cards to carry along with you!).

Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live;
and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
Psalm 119:116

For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end,
Hebrews 3:14 RSV

This was so that, by two unchangeable things [His promise and His oath]
in which it is impossible for God ever to prove false or deceive us,
we who have fled [to Him] for refuge
might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement
to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed for us and set before [us].
[Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,
Where Jesus has entered in for us….
Hebrews 6:18-20 AMP

I encourage you, friends, to sing along with Ellie; be strong in your conviction that “...there’s a promise I will claim—those whose hope is in Your grace, they will never be ashamed.” I am praying for you (myself, too!) that we will remember that we HAVE this HOPE and that we will cling to the anchor of our soul!  God always keeps His promises!

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