April 19, 2024

Jehovah Jireh

September 7, 2014 by

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.

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

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!

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Redemption

September 2, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Into your hands I commit my spirit, redeem me O Lord the God of truth.
Psalm 31:5

Redemption is the topic of my devotional this week. We read of redemption in many of the Scriptures, such as,

He provided redemption for His people;
He ordained His covenant forever – holy and awesome is His name.
Psalm 111: 9

O Israel put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with Him is full redemption.
Psalm 130:7

But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!”
Isaiah 43:1

Praise be to the Lord the God of Israel because He has come and had redeemed His people.
Luke 1:68

And many, many more Scriptures concerning redemption.  But our question should be “What IS redemption?”

In simple and well-calculated manner it means “ to pay off.”  We are so lucky, my friends! While we were yet sinners, Christ came to die for us.  He paid the highest price and took us to Himself.  We were kind of in an auction—where someone has to bid and then later pays off.  We are the redeemed of Christ and we are rightful to claim anything that our Redeemer has.  Because if you redeem, you are taking a thing to yourself for it now belongs to you.  Let us allow Christ to operate in us fully for He redeemed us.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father, we thank You for redeeming us from all bondages in this world—sicknesses, failures, etc.  We pray for more grace in our lives…in Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Esther – Chapter 7:3-4

October 15, 2013 by

Wk7_Ellison_Esther

Esther 7:3-4

Then Queen Esther answered and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king’s loss.”

Redemption. What is redemption? Well, technically, the following is the definition of the word:

 re·demp·tion

1. an act of redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake, or the state of being redeemed.

2. deliverance; rescue.

3. Theology. deliverance from sin; salvation.

4. atonement for guilt.

5. repurchase, as of something sold.

What does redemption mean to you? To me, it means being saved or being rescued from something.  We all have times in our lives when we need to be redeemed. Some days I feel like I need to be constantly redeemed, constantly saved—sometimes from big things and sometimes from small things, sometimes from things that are my own doing and sometimes from things out of my control.  Thankfully, not often do we find ourselves in Esther’s shoes, with our lives needing saving from the hand of a tyrant or the lives of our people on the line.

Imagine our lives being sold into the hands of someone who hated us simply for existing.  This man planned to kill us for the price of gold and riches, for power and for bragging rights. Imagine us having to play Esther’s role, having to plead for our safety, having to share a secret that could harm us or help us; imagine how vulnerable she felt at that moment.

Imagine how vulnerable we feel when we have to ask for redemption for whatever reason, when we have to open our heart and mind to Christ when we need saving, when we need redemption. Remember in these times what that vulnerability brings, what this admittance of weakness brings. Remember how close we feel to God, how He wraps His loving arms around us. Remember the price He paid for us.

Yes it was Haman who purchased Esther and her people, but we have to remember who purchased us.  Who paid the ultimate price for our lives?  No matter what or who aims to destroy us, the price that Christ paid can never be matched. The redemption that He offers us can never be replaced or taken away.

 *****

Let’s Pray:

Our Lord and Redeemer,  thank You for the price that You paid for us.  Thank You for the redemption offered and available to us.  Whether it was our doing, or the doing of another, You paid the price with Your life.  Your love reaches further than our pain could ever reach.  Your ultimate price could never be matched by the price paid by the Haman’s in our lives.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.

Amen

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,