December 28, 2024

God’s Mercy and Goodness

Remember, Lord, Your great mercy and love for they are from of old
Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways
According to Your love remember me, 
for You, Lord, are good
Psalms 25:6-7 NIV

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You have to love how transparent David is in his prayers to God..David made a habit of pouring out his heart and soul before His Almighty Father.  David was human and he made mistakes just as we do. The only thing is he had a repentful heart; and, most of the time, we are busy and forget to confess our sin.  Then it all turns to regrets, and kind of piles up into such a huge mess that we even forget where the top or bottom is.  Daily…hourly…by the minute we should bring our issues, our thoughts,  our prayers to the throne of God.  Often we need to leave them there, leave them at the foot of the Cross because He is better able to handle each of our needs, wants, and desires.

We as women are relationship-driven.  If a relationship is not going the way we want it to then we worry, stew, and fret over it. There are some we just need to drop and walk away from; and then there are some we truly need to work on…like our marriages.  Keeping God first in our life, our focus then will be our marriage, then children, then all others.  Sometimes this can become unbalanced.  When everything we do comes before God and our marriage, we need to pause and consider: What is our view of God?  Is it the relationship we had/have with our earthly father that dictates our relationship with our heavenly Father? Was our relationship strained or healthy?  Was it dysfunctional or normal?  Once we make this determination we can focus on the repair of the earthly relationship (if not too painful or is even  possible to repair) to become healthy.  Often this can be done by forgiving our earthly father  which makes a way for us to see our heavenly Father as someone different.  I, myself, often like to think of God as a loving grandfather or uncle.

As we grow and mature in our walk we often realize this.  But do not regret what life you have created for yourself—embrace the past, sort it out, but leave it in the past and move on to making a better future.  God will give us mercy for our mistakes when we ask.  Once our life and thoughts are re-aligned, we need to make peace with our spouse.  With prayer, meditation, and true repentance, God will restore to us what has been lost.  For each of us it may look different.   Just know God is a restorer and a preserver; He wants what is best for us. And there are consequences for our choices…those He cannot take away.

For those who have done their walk with God and their marriage, I commend you.  I would love to hear your secrets, your “do’s and don’ts” in marriage.  With this being the season for weddings, I am sure the newlyweds would love some inspiration, too… especially in the first few years of being married.  It is so different when you are dating and then come together to live with one another every day.  Begin each day with God in prayer and meditate on His goodness and love.  Let God be your Guide in all of your decisions; He will not lead you down the wrong path.  Be a listener to the Holy Spirit, for He is your Helper.  Ask Jesus to be your Intercessor.  You will be blessed for your efforts.

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Father, we thank You for David’s example and for his love and understanding of Your goodness and mercy.  For those who are hurting, Lord, give them peace—such a great feeling of peace to fill their soul with Your spirit.  For those who have been walking with You a long time, give them a renewing, a refreshing of their spirit.  Remove the staleness from their everyday and fill them anew.  Help us not be afraid to forgive, help us to have courage to do the hard things we need to do to have a closer walk with You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Steadfast Love of the Lord

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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

This Week…Deuteronomy 7:9

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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

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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.

Faithful, Merciful God

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Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God,
the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy
for a thousand generations with those
who love Him and keep His commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9

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You are a faithful, merciful God…and that my soul knows full well!  Thank You, dear Lord, for the complete and utter confidence we have knowing that You do not change…You are our Faithful God!  Thank You for the comfort of knowing, no matter what, You always keep Your Word.  You are a trustWORTHY God who is always there.  You  always love and care for us.  You provide new mercies every morning.  You never leave us nor forsake us!  May we be counted among those who love You and show their love through obedience.  Abba Father, may we have opportunity today to share with someone else these awesome truths…and may they be drawn to You in peace and comfort.  We pray and ask these things in Jesus’ name.  Amen. 

Faithful God

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

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We see God’s choice of Israel was motivated by His love for them. Moreover God promised to faithfully keep His covenant and show mercy to generation after generation of those who would love Him and obey Him.  Not only was God’s love contingent on their response of love and obedience but also they would receive prosperity, good health, and military success (verses 13-16).

It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity
that you are going in to take possession of their land,
but on the account of wickedness of these nations,
the Lord your God will drive them out before you to accomplish
what He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Deuteronomy 9:5

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.

Therefore, brethren, inasmuch as God shows us His faithfulness, let us seek to obey Him the more. For we will get a reward at the end of the race.

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God
failing to observe His commands, His laws, and His decrees
that I am giving you this day.
Deuteronomy 8:11

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Dear heavenly Father, we thank You for Your faithfulness and Your lovingkindness.  Thank You for Your mercy that is unconditional.  We pray for grace, Lord, to obey Your commands at all times.  Help us to do what You want us to do at the right time and in the right ways.  Direct our paths, Lord; in Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen!!

Don’t Complain…Instead Know That I Am God

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

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The context surrounding this verse is speaking to the Israelites about the Promised Land—the Promised Land that took the Israelites five books in the Bible to get to.  It isn’t until Joshua that we finally see these travelers enter into the promise of God. Many are familiar with the story of the Israelites.  I’ve heard it said that the journey they took should have only taken 11 days.  However, their journey took them 40 years.

How does one take an 11 day journey and turn it into a 40 year journey?  Simple.  With God it’s all about timing…His timing. Deuteronomy 7:9 starts off, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God…”.  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!  I myself have never been physically enslaved, but I would imagine it’s a horrible predicament to be in. 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.  We do it because it is an easy habit to start.  However, complaining focuses on the negative while praise focuses on the positive.  Anytime we choose to complain, we just as easily could have chosen to praise.  Praising isn’t overlooking the bad or just ignoring it.  It’s simply focusing on the better things in life.  Just like complaining is simply focusing on the ‘worser’ things in life.  God has done so many things for us, why not focus on those things rather than the things that are wrong.  And pray.  Philippians 4:6 says,

Do not be anxious about anything,
but in everything,
by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.

Instead of the Israelites complaining about the fact that they had no water, they should have done as Moses did and prayed. Out of all of those people (a whole community), one person prayed.  One.  The nation had a negative focus.  God is faithful and follows through with His promises.

Trust Him.  
Do not complain, but pray.  
Then… wait.
And that doesn’t mean complain while you are waiting.
It means wait.

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Lord, help us to keep our eyes focused on You.  Let us not forget all the good that You have done for us.  I know that it is so easy to complain about the things that we don’t like in our lives or the things that are “wrong”, but this does not glorify You.  Why should we draw attention to the negative in our lives when drawing attention to You should be our number one goal? People aren’t going to be drawn to You by hearing about all we do not have…but rather hearing about all that You have done for us.  Thank You, Lord.

Forever

SeekingHimLogo

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God.
He is the faithful God Who keeps His covenant
for a thousand generations
and lavishes His unfailing love
on those who love Him and obey His commands.
Deuteronomy 7:9 NLT

Give thanks to the Lord
Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand
and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise

Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever, forever

Harvest Church
written by Chris Tomlin

This Week…Hebrews 10:23

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So let us seize and hold fast
and retain without wavering
the hope we cherish
and confess and our acknowledgement of it,
for He Who promised is reliable
(sure) and faithful to His Word.
Hebrews 10:23 AMP

This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we are finishing a mini-series on the subject of HOPE.  Our devotional writers have shared the Truth given us in this week’s passage reminding us that ‘we boast in the hope of the glory of God’!  Here are a few of their thoughts….

In Hope (A Profession), Ann encouraged us with these words…

In the KJV the same verse says, ‘Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (for He is faithful that promised).’

What are we seeing here?  Hope is the profession of our faith.  What is  ‘profession’ then?  In biblical terms, this is a calling.  It is ‘an occupation, practice, or vocation requiring mastery of a complex set of knowledge and skills through formal education and/or practical…’.

So if we take the AMP version that we should hold fast…without wavering…the hope, we are saying we should take the profession of our faith without wavering.

In Unswerving Hope, Ahmee shared her own testimony and reminded us of Abraham and Sarah and their hope….

When I first got saved this verse held me up through many storms and confused nights.  I’d cry from feeling so close to defeat, but would cling to knowing that “He who promised is faithful.”  Written in my Bible I have a note next to this verse that says “regardless of how things seem!” How true?!

God promises us things that seem so impossible sometimes.  We know that His promises are true.  We know He cannot tell a lie and we know He is faithful.  And yet, what our eyes see and our minds perceive is something totally different.  The question remains: “Which do you believe?” We rely on our eyes daily to show us the world around us. Our eyes are tangible. However, we KNOW that God is to be trusted. Both seem right.

A prime example of this type of situation is that of the story of Abraham….

We Praise You for You are Faithful

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Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter
the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

By a new and living way opened for us
through the curtain, that is, His body,

And since we have a great priest over the house of God,
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart
and with the full assurance that faith brings,

Having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience
and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
for He who promised is faithful.|

Hebrews 10:19-23

We praise You and we thank You for Your faithfulness, Almighty God!  We thank You, dear Lord, for Your faithfulness in all things…what You have promised, You will provide.  We rest in Your faithfulness, Your goodness, Your love. we praise You for You are our faithful Father, always providing what is good, what is needful, what is best for us!
O Lord! how thankful, how grateful we are to utter such confessions as ‘confidence to enter the Most Holy Place’ and ‘full assurance that faith brings,’ and ‘hold unswervingly to the hope.’  None of this is of our own doing…but simply because we know to Whom we belong and we know Your heart for us!  It is by Your doing—we have confidence to enter by the blood of Jesus.  It is because of Your faithfulness—we hold to the Hope.
Grant us today, Father, the peace that is beyond our understanding so that we are not anxious about anything, but with prayer and with thanksgiving we let our requests be made known to You as we draw near to You.  We thank You for Your faithfulness…we rest in Your faithfulness.  We praise You for Your  faithfulness!  We come before You praying these things in Jesus, our Lord’s name, amen.

Unswerving Hope

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Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess
for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23

When I saw that Hebrews 10:23 was the verse we were writing on, my heart did a little jump inside.  This is my “most favorite-est” verse in the Bible.

When I first got saved this verse held me up through many storms and confused nights.  I’d cry from feeling so close to defeat, but would cling to knowing that “He who promised is faithful.”  Written in my Bible I have a note next to this verse that says “regardless of how things seem!” How true?!

God promises us things that seem so impossible sometimes.  We know that His promises are true.  We know He cannot tell a lie and we know He is faithful.  And yet, what our eyes see and our minds perceive is something totally different.  The question remains: “Which do you believe?” We rely on our eyes daily to show us the world around us. Our eyes are tangible. However, we KNOW that God is to be trusted. Both seem right.

A prime example of this type of situation is that of the story of Abraham.  In Genesis 12:1-3, God gave (then) Abram a command and several blessings. Genesis 12:4 tells us that Abraham was 25 at the time.  In Genesis 21:1-5, God’s promise is fulfilled.  Genesis 21:5 says that Abraham was (now) 100 years old.  Think of it this way: not only did God’s promise take 9 chapters in the Bible to actualize, but it took 75 years.  Say it with me ‘75 years‘!  God promised Abraham that he would have a son.  He told Abraham this while he and his wife were very young – “the optimized time for child-bearing” and yet! God waited until both of them were old and well passed “child-bearing” age to provide them with a child.

From his story we know that Abraham and his wife got impatient with God and (in Genesis 16) took matters into their own hands.  Abraham laid with his wife’s servant and Ishmael, a son, was born to him.  This, of course, was not God’s plan; therefore, strife resulted from this situation.  We must be careful that we are not trying to rush God’s hand while waiting.  75 years. That’s a l-o-o-o-ng time to wait, especially for children, but for anything at all!

What promise is it that you are clinging to from God?  
Does His word support it?  Yes?  Good!  
Now ask yourself: Are you willing to wait 75 years for it?