April 25, 2024

Trust In The Lord

October 11, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding
In all of your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your paths straight

Don’t worry about tomorrow
He’s got it under control
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And He will carry you through

Lord, sometimes it gets so tough
To keep my eyes on You
When things are going rough
But when I turn my eyes up to the sky
And I hear Your voice, it says to me

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
Lean not on your own understanding
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your paths straight

Don’t worry about tomorrow
He’s got it under control
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And He will carry you through

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And He will carry you through

Sung by Rob and Heidi Paoletti

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your path.
Proverbs 3:5-6

I love this Scripture!  You might say it is my life verse.  Whether I know what the day is going to hold, or not, my desire is to trust my Creator God with every moment of it.

Here are just two of many reasons I desire to trust Him:

  • Since He is the Beginning and the End, He also knows about everything in-between.  As believers, this fact should give us a comfort that He’s got it under control.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End,”
says the Lord God. “I am the One Who is, Who always was,
and Who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
Revelation 1:8

  • He already has a good plan for me!  Jeremiah 29:11 reassures us with this quote from God Himself,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”

It’s very true that life gets rough and tough, and that makes it hard to keep our focus on God sometimes.  In those times, oh, how we need to keep listening for His Holy Spirit’s sweet guiding voice, and keep our eyes on Jesus, our Savior and our example.  Men and women, like Ruth, Esther, Peter, and Paul, are prime examples of those who went through rough times, and yet they followed the leading of God’s Spirit, accomplished God’s plan for their lives, and blessed others along the way.

I have a friend who, for me, has been an example of this verse.  As a young adult she trusted the Lord, and He prompted her to get her nursing degree.  She listened, and she watched for doors to be opened and closed according to what God wanted for her life.  As a single woman she went into dangerous foreign mission fields, because that’s where God led her, and she trusted Him.  Through the years He also blessed her with a godly husband, and together they continued to go where God “made their paths straight.”  They served Him together on several more mission fields before they retired.  It sounds glamorous, but there were many rough and tough spots along her/their path. If they hadn’t trusted the Lord—if they hadn’t kept their eyes on Him, and their ears open to the Holy Spirit’s leading—many people would have never heard about Jesus and His love.

My friend is widowed now.  She has had to make some tough decisions about her future.  Instead of “leaning on her own understanding,” she is trusting the Lord to direct her path.  She is anticipating that He has more ministry for her to do, and He will carry her through.

In the rough and tough times, I have a tendency to want to control things.  Since listening to this song and meditating on this Scripture, I must question myself…

Am I really trusting the Lord with all my heart?
Am I really acknowledging His sovereignty
and allowing Him to direct my path?

If I can answer ‘yes’ to those questions, then God will make my path straight, and I will have opportunities to share Jesus and His love with others.  How will you answer these questions?

Trust Him.  He will direct your path.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Dear Lord God, we know that You love us just as much as You loved Ruth, Esther, Peter, and Paul.  You love us just as much as You love my friend.  You have a good plan for each of us, and You know the beginning, the end, and all the in-between of our lives.  Please help us, Lord, to trust You with our whole heart, to acknowledge Your sovereignty, and allow You to direct our path.  We love You, and want to live wholly for You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Help Me Find It

August 25, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I don’t know where to go from here
It all used to seem so clear
I’m finding I can’t do this on my own

I don’t know where to go from here
As long as I know that You are near
I’m done fighting, I’m finally letting go

I will trust in You
You’ve never failed before
I will trust in You

If there’s a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can You help me find it?
Can You help me find it?

I’m giving You fear and You give faith
I giving You doubt, You give me grace
For every step I’ve never been alone

Even when it hurts You’ll have Your way
Even in the valley I will say
With every breath You’ve never let me go

I will wait for You
You’ve never failed before
I will wait for You

I lift my empty hands (come fill me up again)
Have Your way my King (I give my all to You)
I lift my eyes again (was blind but now I see)
‘Cause You are all I need

Sidewalk Prophets – David Frey / Ben McDonald / Jason Ingram

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

This is my ‘go to’ song—every time I find myself struggling with a decision, or wondering which path to take.  It is a reminder that God is in control (are you humming “God is in Control” by Twila Paris now?) and I need to seek His will instead of trying to solve the problem on my own.  Ephesians 1:17 (NLT) encourages us to ask “God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give <us> spiritual wisdom and insight so that <we> might grow in our knowledge of God.”  James 1:5 (NASB) states if we lack wisdom we are to “…ask of God, Who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given….”  God will help us find His will.

Often that requires patience.  I joke that I am not a very virtuous person because patience is not my strongsuit.  Pain, doubt and hurt make us want to rush ahead. We don’t like being in that valley.  But, many times, that is where we grow the most in our relationship with Christ.  He gives us faith and grace in those valleys. He never lets us go, He is always with us, as Deuteronomy 31:6 and 8 HCSB remind us:

Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them.
For it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.
The Lord is the One who will go before you.
He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.
Do not be afraid or discouraged.

Sidewalk Prophets used the following Scriptures as a basis for this song:

  • Be still, and know that I am God; (the NASB version says “Cease striving”)

 Psalm 46:10a NIV

  • Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

Psalm 119:105 HCSB

  • Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.  In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP

I love the Amplified version of Proverbs 3:6— “HE will direct and make straight and PLAIN your paths.”  If only we are willing to wait.

This quote from Bishop T.D. Jakes is a good reminder of what can happen if we don’t wait:

“People who don’t understand God’s timing, don’t get His rhythm.  They birth things prematurely, threatening the very lives of their God-given dreams.”

Waiting can be scary.  But I am more terrified of making the wrong decision.  So I gladly sing:

“I will wait for You
You’ve never failed before
I will wait for You
If there’s a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can You help me find it?
Can You help me find it?”

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Thank You, Lord, that Your ways are not our own, that Your ways are higher, beyond our comprehension.  Thank You for directing our paths.  Teach us to wait for You…to seek Your wisdom and guidance instead of striving to resolve our issues on our own.  Your timing is perfect and You have such great plans for us.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen – it IS so!

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We Believe

August 23, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

In this time of desperation
When all we know is doubt and fear
There is only one foundation
We believe, we believe!

In this broken generation
When all is dark, You help us see
There is only one salvation
We believe, we believe!

We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He’s given us new life
We believe in the crucifixion
We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the resurrection
And He’s comin’ back again, we believe

So, let our faith be more than anthems
Greater than the songs we sing
And in our weakness and temptations
We believe, we believe!

Let the lost be found and the dead be raised
In the here and now, let love invade
Let the church live love our God will save
We believe, we believe

And the gates of hell will not prevail
For the power of God has torn the veil
Now we know Your love will never fail
We believe, we believe!

 Songwriters: Travis Ryan, Richie Fike, Matt Hooper / Performed by Newsboys

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

I often feel like I am living in a puzzle that will never get solved. I am a puzzle piece that somehow connects to another piece on the table. I know I connect, and I believe that I will connect. Christians are being persecuted. A radical group in the Middle East is heck-bent on taking over the world. I just feel like I am a piece of a puzzle that will not get put together as things go from bad to worse.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God…
Ephesians 2:8

We see the faces of those being oppressed every day when we watch the news on television or read about it on the Internet. I believe, however, that this is all part of God’s master plan for the world and time. Times are getting desperate. People are getting desperate. The earth is getting desperate. The number of extreme storms and earthquakes are increasing. The birth pangs look to have begun. For Christians, these may be a few of the signs that Christ’s Return is getting nearer—nearer than ever before.

Believers know that Jesus died for us, and that He rose from the grave. As believers, we know that He will return one day to take us home. Jesus gives us new life when we believe with faith that He died for us on the Cross. We are released from the desperation of being human when we accept Jesus as our Savior. We believe with faith that Jesus defeated death and sin when He left the tomb. A mere human could not do that. Only Jesus could do that.

Our faith in God is what gets us through the rough times. Our faith in God is what keeps us going when we feel like we have nowhere else to go. Our faith is what allows us to know that Jesus died on the Cross, but He defeated evil when He rose from the dead. He showed Himself to the disciples who then relayed the good news that He would return again.

God’s love is what saves, but only if we accept it. We must believe with our whole hearts that Jesus died on the Cross for us. Then, we must share this same faith with those who are lost. By doing this, we spread the word of God’s love. We show our faith in God when we show His love to others.

*  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your wonderful gift.  Thank You for defeating death.  We believe that You died for us, and that You will return soon to take us home.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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God’s Promises

January 1, 2014 by

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.
Psalm 91

What a beautiful communication of Almighty God’s love for us! Full of promises telling us of just how God desires to care for us, and declarations of all He will do for us! If I have counted correctly, God makes thirty promises to us just in this one psalm.

God is faithful to each and every promise He has made…we stake all of our beliefs and our trust in Him on this absolute fact, true? But we must remember that sometimes He has attached a condition to be met (by you and me) to receive the fulfillment of a promise. Such as here, in verse 1…the writer of this psalm declares God to be El Shaddai which is interpreted as God Almighty or All-sufficient. If you and I ‘dwell in the shelter of the Most High’ then these promises are covering us. His shelter and His shadow provide refuge for those who dwell and abide.

This week in the Seeking Him daily devotional blog, our sisters are writing on Psalm 46. There, too, the psalmist confesses the Truth of just Who God Almighty is—our Refuge and our Strength.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way….
Verses 1 and 2

As we go forward from today, the first day of 2014, may we yearn to know God’s promises, do our part (where necessary), and be oh-so-very-thankful for all that we receive from our Faithful Father God!

Can I encourage you to try a little exercise?  Pick up your Bible, turn to the page where Psalm 91 is printed, and read ALOUD all the promises (30 of them remember!) included in just this one short psalm.  Every place there is a pronoun relating to us (he, him, you, your) replace it with your own name.  For example, speak your name where the   ♥   is.

Because {   ♥   } has loved Me, therefore I will deliver {   ♥   };
I will set {   ♥   } securely on high, because {   ♥   } has known My name. {   ♥   } will call upon Me, and I will answer {   ♥   };
I will be with {   ♥   } in trouble; I will rescue {   ♥   } and honor {   ♥   }.
With a long life I will satisfy {   ♥   } and let {   ♥   } see My salvation.

* * * * *

Almighty God, we praise You and thank You for Your awesome promises! How blessed we are by all Your promises! You have promised to provide for, and guide, and protect, and rescue, and deliver, and hear, and answer us. May we hold Your word(s) in our heart so that we do not sin against You. We surely need Your help to faithfully do so! We love You so very much, Lord! We pray and ask these things in Jesus’ name.    ♥  Amen.

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My One Word ~ Joyful

December 31, 2013 by

I just love this concept of having ‘a word’ as a spiritual discipline. (I’m sure you have stumbled across this idea…recently the blogging world has been crazy busy writing about it!) Somehow…ok, God’s grace, of course…I was introduced to this idea three years ago. A bit ahead of the crowd which is sort of typical for me. You see, I don’t do trendy things, I surely dance to the beat of a different drum. But I am perfectly settled with that…it is who I am and who I imagine I will always be.

Here’s how it works:  the plan is to pray and, following God’s lead, choose ‘one word’ that will be your focus for the next year. In working through this concept it seems to be so simple and, yet, so vast in its application. I have found that my eyes and ears (and spirit!) are aware and attentive to ‘hearing’ my word whether in the Scriptures, or in study of other books, or in listening to a sermon or teaching, etc. But isn’t that just the way that the Holy Spirit leads, and guides, and teaches us? It is the still, small voice that we hear. It is His gentle leading that always bring us to ‘see’ a revelation. Haven’t you found this true?

Each of my words has always been in relation to Almighty God. My ‘one word’ in 2013 has been TRUST, in 2012 it was PEACE, and in 2011 my word was REFUGE. And these are the verses that I began with and stood upon:

TRUST
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.
In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?
Psalms 56:3 and 4

PEACE
Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything,
but in every circumstance and in everything,
by prayer and petition (definite requests),
with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul
assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God
and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace]
which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard
over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6 and 7

REFUGE
But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy,
and spread Your protection over them, and that those who love Your Name may exult in you.
Psalm 5:11

I can honestly tell you that drawing closer in my relationship with God in light of each of those words has changed my heart. No doubt about it; absolutely! And so I joyfully anticipate ALL that God is going to do in me in 2014 as I focus on one word—JOYFUL.

You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 16:11

So, what do you think…is this something you might consider doing? If you have already been praying and asking God to lead you in selecting your ‘one word,’ I would love to hear about it! And, if not, pray! Seek God’s guidance and direction! He surely knows what your heart needs. He absolutely knows what will come along your path in the next year. And, most importantly, He loves you so very much and wants to guide you along the right path for you!

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
Lamentations 3:25

I am praying for you, too! If you would like, I would love to pray with you…send me a FaceBook message!

*  *  *  *  *  

{ For those of you who love to read, Pastor Mike Ashcraft wrote this marvelous book My One Word: Change Your Life with Just One Word sharing the journey that he took along with the congregation of the church he shepherds. It’s a great book and in it he shares much more of the heart behind the discipline of ‘one word.’ }

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

Trusting God’s Word

October 31, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogoOne afternoon my mom, nephew Tae, and I went swimming.  My mother spent most of the time carrying Tae.  I dunked him, and needless to say…he didn’t want me holding him.

My mom wasn’t able to enjoy swimming or floating while carrying around Tae, so she finally gave him to me—with much protest from him.  I couldn’t take it anymore!  He would sit on the steps holding the metal bar.  He did venture to stick his foot down and touch the ground, which wasn’t as far as he thought, but the water was distorting the actual distance between his feet and the ground of the pool and he kept getting scared he’d fall.

I do the same thing Tae did, but with the Word of God.  I hold on to God’s Word…the metal bar that is unmoveable…and then I get adventurous and build up the courage to actually put the Word into action, like with tithing.

Sad thing is I often can’t see the floor and, when I don’t see results fast enough, I pull back, clinging to the word of God, but afraid to put it to action because “I tried and it didn’t work.”

Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
Psalm 62:8

Ah…trust. Trust can be hard when what our eyes see and our minds reason poinst to the impossible.  When the gap between our feet and the floor appears to be too far and we worry if we can actually reach.  This is known as doubt.  Our tangible factual conclusion can poke holes in our faith; after all, we are tangible beings.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Hebrews 11:1

We live by faith not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7

We as Christians are called to live by the Word of God, not with our eyes or own understandings.  We are to operate with THE TRUTH—”… the Word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all he does” (Psalm 33:4).

And I am always honest with God about my doubts. He alone can provide the assurance I need to truly replace my doubts.

As for Tae…I took him to the other side of the pool, grabbed hold of his foot and pushed it down, with resistance and a little screaming, all the way to the floor of the pool. Once he realized his foot was on the ground he let go of me and started walking around in the shallow end.

* * * * *

Thank You, Lord, for Your Living Word.  Thank You for those people who You place in my life to encourage me.  Thank You for those timely words that push me forward!  And help me to trust You more than the tangible world around me.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

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Glorious Living w/ Coach Megan: Trusting God {a prayer exercise}

October 18, 2013 by

GL header

Dear Megan,

Lately I have really been struggling with trusting God and I feel horrible about it. In my heart, I know what I need to do, but my mind is fighting me every step of the way. I don’t know if you can help, but I just don’t know where to begin.

~T

My dear T, we have all walked through these seasons and I am so happy you have reached out for help. In addition to being in the Word daily and having as much quiet time with the Lord as possible, I have found this prayer exercise to be very helpful in training my heart to work with my mind in letting go and trusting God with every single little thing. I pray this is a blessing to you.

Trusting God {a prayer exercise}

A five-minute exercise you can do anytime you need to.

Your heavenly Father promises relief from adversity for those

who honor him, have faith, and trust him.

A word from scripture:

Even in darkness, light dawns for the upright. Psalm 112:4 (NIV)

 ***

The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

which shines ever brighter until the full light of day. Proverbs 4:18 (NLT)

Meditation Guidance:

 1. Tell your Heavenly Father that you are looking to Him for relief, like the dawn, to come. Talk about your faith and trust in Him. Speak of your doubts also. Use these scriptures to shape your prayer:

I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.

I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise.

In your faithful love, O Lord, hear my cry; let me be revived

by following your regulations.

Psalm 119:147-149 (NLT)

***

Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! Psalm 31:14 (MSG)

***

To you, O Lord, I offer my prayer; in you, my God, I trust. Psalm 25:1-2a (GNT)

***

But even when I am afraid, I keep on trusting you. Psalm 56:3 (CEV)

***

Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me.

Psalm 23:4 (GNT)

2. Talk to your heavenly Father about the despair and darkness in your life. Cry out to God. Use these scriptures to help you:

O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.

Psalm 5:1-2 (NLT)

***

Listen, God, I’m calling at the top of my lungs: “Be good to me! Answer me!”

Psalm 27:9 (MSG)

***

Hurry with your answer, God! I’m nearly at the end of my rope.

Don’t turn away; don’t ignore me!

Psalm 143:7 (MSG)

***

Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.

Psalm 13:3 (NIV)

 

3. As you wait for your heavenly Father to answer your prayer, meditate on these scriptures to strengthen you:

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

 ***

Only God gives inward peace, and I depend on him. Psalm 62:5 (CEV)

***

You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need. You let me rest in fields of green grass.

You lead me to streams of peaceful water, and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths.

Psalm 23:1-3 (CEV)

***

I can lie down and sleep soundly because you, Lord, will keep me safe.

Psalm 4:8 (CEV)

 ***

I know that I will live to see the Lord’s goodness in this present life.

Psalm 27:13 (GNT)

4. Repeat as often as needed and let each and every word in the Scriptures penetrate the depths of your soul. Breathe  in the truth of God’s Word and let satan’s lies tumble on out.

Your assignment: give one thing over to God today to trust Him with.  It can be as small or as big as you want it to be…just give it to Him.  Once you do, it is not yours anymore.  Do this exercise to keep that thing out of your imperfect hands and safely in the magnificent hands of our Lord and Savior!

Blessings,

Megan 🙂

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Esther – Chapter 2:16-20

September 12, 2013 by

HolySpirit_Fox_Wk2

Esther asked for little and was given much! The Word doesn’t say that after a period of time King Xerxes decided he “liked” Esther. It says when Esther was taken into his presence, he “loved her above all other women.” And not only that but she also “won his favor (grace) and approval more than any of the other virgins!” (Esther 2:17).  To show his affection and approval, the king elevated Esther from a lowly position of a concubine (for that’s what she would have become had he not chosen her; Esther 2:14) to be his queen, and gave her a royal crown so no one would mistake her position in the kingdom.

Our author, Darlene Schacht, has us reflect on Hannah’s prayer of praise in I Samuel 2:4-8, which comes after years of barrenness and humiliation.  As background in I Samuel 1: 1-28, we read the story of Hannah and Elkanah.  In the eyes of their society, Hannah was “a nobody” and a disgrace to Elkanah since she hadn’t borne him any children.  But Elkanah didn’t see her that way.  No matter what…he loved her for herself.  And God loved her and had a plan.  In His timing, God took a humiliated, barren woman and honored her by blessing her with Samuel who would serve the Lord in the temple all the days of his life.  Hannah saw first-hand how God would “lift the needy” in His timing, and she raised her praise to Him in prayer.  From barrenness to blessed.  From humiliated to honored.

Esther was one of the Jewish exiles who lived as a common citizen of the community surrounding the palace, even though Mordecai, her cousin, sat at the king’s gate and had responsibilities in the palace (Esther 2:5-7).  She was lowly with nothing to offer the king—but her submission and trust.  The king saw that and more in her, and he lifted her up and blessed her.  The king presented her before his people and celebrated with a great feast in her honor.  From “barrenness” to blessed.  From humbleness to honored.  With grace and honor, he set her among his royalty and crowned her to share in his throne and kingdom!  And perhaps, Esther prayed Hannah’s prayer of praise, especially I Samuel 2:8,

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.

From my perspective, I’m like Esther was—just a common citizen with nothing to offer the King of kings, but my submission and trust.  Ephesians 2:4-7 tells “the rest of the story”:

But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in Heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Wow, what an honor—what a celebration! And I praise my King!

Did you notice in Esther 2:18-20, that even in the midst of all the honor and celebration, neither Esther nor Mordecai forgot their relationship and responsibility to each other?  Even though Esther was now in a pretty secure position, she still respected Mordecai’s wisdom and submitted to him because, I believe, she knew he loved her and had her best interests in mind.  God has our best interests in mind, too.  And, like Mordecai, the Holy Spirit of God is standing close by watching over us, loving and guiding us in all His grace and wisdom.

One other point from Darlene about this relationship: Esther was an orphan and Mordecai had taken her in and cared for her as his own.  As we follow this story we see that Mordecai continued to watch out for her best interest.  Darlene points us to James 1:27, “Pure and genuine religion (unstained devotion) in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”  Mordecai demonstrated pure religion as he watched over Esther.  He “walked his talk.”  In the Book of Ruth, Ruth demonstrated pure religion by caring for her widowed mother-in-law (Ruth 2:17-18).  God wants us to demonstrate our pure religion by living out our faith. Perhaps we should check ourselves each day with this question, “Am I walking my talk?”

*****

Let’s Pray:

Dear Lord,
We thank You, Lord, that when we were “a nobody,” like Esther, we were a “somebody special” to You.  We have nothing to offer You except ourselves; and, come to find out, that’s exactly what You are looking for!  You are looking for our obedience and courageous submission so that we can come into Your Presence, as Esther came into her king’s presence.  You are eager to lift us up “from the ash heap” and seat us with You, the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  Help us to remember that You have our best interests in mind.  You have promised us that Your Holy Spirit will be close to us to guide and comfort us.  Please Holy Spirit, help us daily to “walk our talk” so others will see You even when we don’t speak Your Name.  In Jesus’ Name.

Amen.

 

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Trust the Great I AM

August 15, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord:
in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me,
and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
Psalms 141:8-10

Putting my trust anywhere is one of the hardest things that I have trouble doing.  It all comes from experience.  As most of us know, it is Back-to-School time.  For my family, it is Start-to-School time.  Our son starts Kindergarten this fall.  I worry about my son as he begins Kindergarten and the journey through school—academics, sports, friends—i.e., that word friends is the worriesome part.  I was a victim of bullying in school; hence the trust issues that I have.  However, I do trust the Lord will protect him.  We are blessed to be zoned for a school where we know that most of the teachers and administrators for the three schools (elementary, middle, and high) are Christians. We go to church with some of them, and I have looked at the online bios of others.  The Lord is looking out for us and not leaving us.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts Him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.
Psalm 28:7

For us as children of God, there are those out there who are jealous of us.  However He protects us from them.  He looks out for us when we walk into their traps.  We are rescued when the wicked fall and are punished.  We escape the fate that awaits the wicked when the final judgment comes because we have faith in the Lord.  The Lord has His ways of looking out for His children.

The Lord provides for His children in many ways.  He gave His only Son to the Cross, so we could be with Him.  He has protected us from the never-ending punishment that awaits the wicked in the final judgment if we accept Christ as The One and Only way to stand at His throne.  This is the escape of the righteous from the wicked in the final moments of what we know as time.  The Lord protects and answers the prayers of those who call on the Great I AM for deliverance.

God answered the calls of the Israelites when Egypt held them in bondage through Moses.  He delivered David from the hand of Saul when David worshipped the Lord in prayer and song and dance.  The Lord protects those who call on Him, no matter the day, time, or season.  He will deliver us from this world soon, and we should be ready for His joyous return.

* * * * *

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask for Your protection.  We trust that You are always with us no matter the time or season.  We praise You in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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I Need Thee Every Hour

June 29, 2013 by

I received an email the other day from Dear Friend who was checking in to see how I am doing and sharing about the current joys in her heart and life.  ‘Why an email’ <you might be thinking>, ‘when she could connect with me much quicker with a Facebook message?’  Yes, I surely understand your query…I mean if she did that…my iPad would sound out that I had a message and, perhaps, I would run right over and check it out…plop down in my chair…and immediately respond to her!  (Been there?  Done that?  Me, too…many, many, many times over!)  But, see, right now I am having a mutiny against the excess of media in my life.  So, I am severely limiting my Facebook time which includes messaging as well as cutting out any texting along with eliminating other media influence (television, radio, iPad apps, Pinterest, online games).

May I share with you what I wrote to Dear Friend?

“To answer your query about how I am doing…well, this is quite the ride!  Just sayin’!  Oh, the things that God is choosing to unearth…oh my.  He is showing me a thing or two (or twelve or twenty!) about some issues in my little heart.  Like what I do—or at least am tempted to do—when my little heart is distressed.  It appears that I try to assuage those feelings. Not good…. It has been brought to my attention that I do NOT consistently run to Him with my worries, my fears, my doubts, my hurts, and my pain.”

Yes…there it is.  This is where God has really gotten my attention!  He has unveiled my eyes to see that I allow other things to take His place as my Father, Provider, Protector, Healer.  He has promised to be my Stronghold, to help me, to deliver me, to save me…if I take refuge in Him—rather than trying to deal with it on my own.

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
Fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
Over the man who carries out evil devices!
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them
from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.
Psalms 37:1-9, 39 and 40

There is a word I used in my note to Dear Friend—‘assuage.’  And when I wrote it I wasn’t quite sure it communicated just what the Lord had been reproving and correcting me about.  So I checked the dictionary (yes…online) and here’s what I found:

assuage, verb
pronunciation: [uh-sweyj]
definition: soothe, relieve
synonyms: allay, alleviate, appease, calm, compose, conciliate,
ease, fill, lessen, lighten, lull, make nice, mitigate, moderate,
mollify, pacify, palliate, placate, pour oil on, propitiate,
quench, quiet, sate, satisfy, soften, still, surfeit, sweeten,
take the edge off, take the sting out, temper, tranquilize

Ouch!  Wow!  Did that ever set me back in my seat!  And then the tears came…and I repented.  Because I surely do NOT ever want to be taking over where my heavenly Father wants to take care of me!  He is so much better at it than I; His care is perfect and meets my every need!

Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
And You forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let all the faithful pray to You while You may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with My loving eye on you.’
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love
surrounds the one who trusts in Him.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Psalms 32:5-11

AND, I must be honest, this has not all been light and easy!  But some good and encouraging things have surfaced, too!  One thing, for example, I realize that I am disciplined and not easily tempted ALL of the time.  Like my morning quiet time…just no way that I am allowing ‘you-know-who’ (satan) to steal that from me and my God!

And so I am encouraged!  With God’s help and by His grace…maybe His mercies that are renewed every morning, too…these things CAN be changed in my little heart!  I am a thankful girl for the purging and cleansing and purifying and sanctifying that my heavenly Father is choosing to do in me!  He is the Potter…I am the clay.  And thankfully I am getting molded more and more into the image of my Lord!

May I encourage you also?   ♥ 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty Hand,
that He may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:6 and 7

Praying for each of you!  ♥ 

♥  coleen

_________________________________

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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