November 21, 2024

My Help and My Deliverer

September 13, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

Let all those that seek and require You rejoice and be glad in You;
let such as love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!
[As for me] I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me.
You are my Help and my Deliverer. O my God, do not tarry!
Psalms 40:16 and 17

OK, please raise your hands up, everyone who has cried out to God like this….  OK, now hands up—raised in praise—everyone who has cried out to God like this KNOWING that He is your Help…He is your Deliverer…and that He will not tarry.  Oh, how we love to praise Him for His goodness, His grace, His help; yes?

There are days when we are feeling so very poor and needy…days when it takes effort, sometimes great effort, to continue to confess the truth that the Lord DOES take thought and DOES have plans for us.  God knows this; He knows we struggle.  He encourages and revives us with His promises.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,
thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil,
to give you hope in your final outcome.
Then you will call upon Me,
and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, says the Lord…
Jeremiah 29:11-14

These are such sustaining promises made to you and me by our Faithful, Trustworthy God.  Have you ever considered memorizing God’s promises?  What an incredible weapon to have at your disposal—the Word(s) of God that He is faithful to bring to pass!  Either of these groups of verses that we have considered today would be wonderful to have at the ready in your memory…for those times when you are feeling poor and needy.

And so I ask you…

Do you seek Him and require Him?  Then rejoice and be glad in Him!

Do you love His salvation waiting expectantly for His return?  Then say, ‘The Lord be magnified!’

* * * * *

Oh, Lord, we totally and completely recognize our great need for You!  And we know, we absolutely know, that You are our Help and our Deliverer!  Thank You, Lord, for the comfort of these promises!  We rest in You!  Amen.

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Tender Mercy

September 12, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

The other day, one of my precious children was irritable.  He didn’t want to sit down for breakfast.  He didn’t want to be touched.  He didn’t want anyone to talk to him.  He didn’t want to go to the potty.  He didn’t want his Pull-Up changed.  He just wanted to be left alone.  (I just wanted him to be happy.)

So, I left him alone and just watched him.

Eventually, he began to follow me around. When I decided to sit down, he walked up to me and said, “I sit.”  I knew what he wanted.  He was waiting for me to sit and cross my legs….

He had been less than loving to me earlier.  He didn’t want anything to do with me, then.  I didn’t get a “good morning!” or even a smile.  All I got was an irritated response to everything…even when I was trying to comfort him!  How rude!!  Did his behavior deserve my kindness or love?

Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
Psalm 40:11

Have you ever had a moment when your behavior was, nicely put, less than stellar?

  • Peter did…when he denied Jesus three times in one night.
  • Paul did…when he was zealously busy persecuting Christians.

Yet, God extended mercy, forgiveness, love and kindness to both men.

We need to be careful how we behave when we are in a funk, but we also need to be forgiving of others who treat us poorly—because they are in a funk. No, it is not your fault they are unhappy, but we don’t need to take these moments personally. Don’t hold it against them! We are all imperfect human(s).

Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him.
Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.
So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for him.
2 Corinthians 2:7-8

What happened with the little boy?  Not one ounce of any hesitation was present—I sat and crossed my legs in less than a second and was ready to hold and snuggle him.  The thought of denying him his request to be comforted, never came to my mind.

I pray I can be as understanding with adults.

* * * * *

Lord, thank You for being so merciful.  Teach me to extend this same mercy to those around me. Help me to choose to not be offended when others are rude to me, and help me to be kind when I am feeling irritable.  I want to love others, even in their less than stellar moments.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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Showing Christ and Being Christ-like

September 11, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained lips, as you know, O Lord. I have not hidden Your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
Psalms 40:9-10

When we accept Christ, we are supposed to tell it to the world.  One way to do this is through baptism.  But what about after that?  Have you ever stopped and wondered about “after acceptance and baptism?”  I have often wondered about it myself.  We are supposed to show the great congregation, which is not just the church but the world as well, that we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  We are not supposed to hide Him away within our hearts, as many today would like us to.  We are charged to spread the good news about Jesus and the eternal message of hope and love He brings to us.  In today’s world, it is often a fight to share the message and show our faith.  But, it does not necessarily mean showing our faith verbally.

In 1st Timothy, Paul writes to his young colleague Timothy on how to fight the good fight of faith:

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, Godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:11-12

Paul writes that, to show the world that you are a child of God, we (just like Timothy), should pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. We are to be Christ-like in our actions.  Verbal communication about our love for Christ are not enough.  We must also show it in our actions as well.  Christ loves us, and He loves everybody in this world.  Jesus knows that He is not going to be accepted by all.  He even warned His disciples that His followers would be persecuted because of Him.  But Jesus still expects us to act Christ-like even during persecution.  Jesus expects us to be like Him—no matter the time or the place. We are not to conceal Him at anytime.

* * * * *

Dear Lord, You are my Savior.  You are my Lord.  I accept You in this time of persecution and peril.  Please be with me as I share Your message and Your love with those around me. In Jesus name.

Amen.

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Look to God Alone

September 10, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
Psalm 40:4

Only in God can we find true joy and happiness in this life—complete fulfillment! Jesus said this: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

God created in each of us a desire to know Him.  No one will ever be satisfied who tries to fill that void with any kind of substitute.   No person, activity, or thing can fill that void.

When I look and see how the worldly “rich and famous” have such a huge following, I am burdened.  First, I am burdened that many in our society who have reached the pinnacle of having achieved much are often empty because they don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus and are chasing after money and material things.  Secondly, I am burdened for those who follow these “stars” so closely as if they are trying to find someone who they can attach themselves to because they see the rich and famous as being “great” or perhaps seeing them as “greater” than they see themselves.  May I shout this?  “Put your trust completely in the Lord ALONE!”

Let’s not look to the proud—who chase after fulfilling the desires of self and pleasing self.  To follow them in such a way is to look toward those who turn aside to false gods.  And to chase after those people is to replace Jesus as top priority which He alone deserves.  Chasing after anyone other than Jesus is to allow the pursuit of false gods in your own life!

Friends, direct your love, trust, and pursuit toward the ONE AND ONLY great God Who came to earth as man, lived a perfect and sinless life, died on the Cross for our sins, and rose again to be a living Lord and King!

Pray to God to protect you from casting your eyes toward false gods and to give you a keen sense of awareness of what He desires for you.  Be aware of the Holy Spirit’s leading.  Is He asking you to turn off the TV at times?  Are you to stop reading magazines which cause you to idolize “superstars”?  Do you need to be careful when you talk to others about how wonderful people are to the point that you put people on a pedestal?  All people will disappoint you, but Jesus never will disappoint because He is God—and He is God alone! Let us always be mindful that our complete trust should only be in God.   People are…simply people.

* * * * *

Lord, help us always be aware that You are God alone!  Let us keep our eyes focused on You, knowing that You alone sit on the throne in our hearts as King of kings and Lord of lords!

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

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God is Trustworthy

September 9, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1

Sometimes we are so impatient.  We want everything yesterday!  But we fail to wait upon the Lord when we demand that everything happen when we want it to happen and in our appointed time.   Isaiah 40:31 tells us that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  God’s timing is always perfect.  He is never late, and He is never early.  He may not act according to our schedule, but He is always right on time.

We should not be mad at God when things are not going our way.  Rather we should be delighted in Him always. We delight in the Lord by spending time with Him on a daily basis despite the problems we are facing—by reading the Word; by praying in the Holy Spirit; by building ourselves up “on our most holy faith” (Jude 20); and by speaking in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19).  The nearer we draw to God, the bigger He becomes in our sight.  And the bigger God becomes to us, the smaller our problems in this world seem.

God is trustworthy to take care of all our anxieties. We have to patiently wait and rely on Him. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”  Many Christians try to be self-sufficient.  When they have a problem, they try to figure their own way out.  For example, if they need finances, they think of family members or friends they can borrow money from.  But instead of trusting in our own strength and wisdom, we should rely upon God…and trust Him to solve our problems.

Draw near to God and rely on Him for your strength.  Rely on the Spirit of God within you.  The same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you (Romans 8:11).  He will quicken your mortal body, give you wisdom, bring you peace, comfort you in times of trouble, and help you in every situation!

God listens to our prayers always.  Even at times when we pray not according to His will, He still hears and answers us—in a way He feels is best  for us at that time.

If we patiently wait upon Him we will:

  • sail through no matter how deep or dark the situation is; God can turn it around
  • be lifted up and be established
  • come to a place of confidence and security

* * * * *

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for You are a caring, trustworthy, loving Father.  You take care of our hearts—however we may have wronged You by doing things our own way before coming to You.  Please forgive us and restore unto us the joy of our salvation.  Thank You for who You are in our lives.  In Jesus name we have prayed.

Amen!

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Praising Him In Spite of the Storms

June 8, 2013 by

This week, I have had the joy of being surrounded by women lifting their hearts and their praises to our Great God!  It has been so encouraging and inspiring!  There has been MUCH praise spoken and sung.

And in the midst of it…all throughout the week…I have been thinking of those who continue to praise our Awesome God throughout the storms of life.  My loved ones and friends who set their hearts towards our Faithful God recognizing His goodness and grace and mercy and lovingkindness.  In spite of losing loved ones who have died, struggles in marriages, increasing financial burdens, loss of jobs, sadness due to broken relationships, worry over children, concerns with serious health issues and a myriad of other hurts, anxieties, and pressures—they continue to acknowledge how wonderful God is!  I have heard them express their hearts praising their Father God using words that are so similar to what the Psalmist wrote,

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done,
and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You!
If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered.
Psalms 40:5

During times of trial—perhaps even DESPITE the things we go through—our hearts and minds must be focused on the goodness of God.  He loves us unconditionally.  He is Faithful and True.  He never leaves nor forsakes us.  He keeps His promises. He never changes.

Remember:

  • we treasure and hide His Word in our hearts so that we don’t sin
  • we remind ourselves of the TRUTH so that we cannot be deceived by lying thoughts
  • we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ
  • we put on the whole armor that God has provided for us so that we can stand
  • and we speak and proclaim and shout and sing our praises!

Consider this psalm; perhaps you might read it aloud using it to express the words of your own heart!  May you be encouraged through these praises to always bring your own thoughts back to the One Who loves you so and to proclaim His faithfulness, His steadfast love, His trustworthiness, His truth.

Psalm 40
I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings.
And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered.
Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey; burnt offerings and sin offerings You do not require.
Then said I, Behold, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me; I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is within my heart.
I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as You know, O Lord.
I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart; I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not hid away Your steadfast love and Your truth from the great assembly.
Withhold not Your tender mercy from me, O Lord; let Your loving-kindness and Your truth continually preserve me!  For innumerable evils have compassed me about; my iniquities have taken such hold on me that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed me and forsaken me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let them be put to shame and confounded together who seek and require my life to destroy it; let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish me evil and delight in my hurt!
Let them be desolate by reason of their shame who say to me, Aha, aha!
Let all those that seek and require You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!
As for me, I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me. You are my Help and my Deliverer. O my God, do not tarry!

Praying for each of you!  ♥ 

♥  coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blog post, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

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