Our Greatest Advocate

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

~Isaiah 41:10

When I start the day with these words, I cannot think of any reason to doubt that it will be an amazing day.  Regardless of what series of events unfold, we have an Advocate who is there for us when we turn to Him.

Giving it back to God...

Honor the LORD with your possessions,

And with the firstfruits of all your increase;

So your barns will be filled with plenty,

And your vats will overflow with new wine.

~ Proverbs 3:9-10

I used to think I was not a slave to my possessions, until I went through financial hard times and the meanings of "want" and of "need" became more clearly defined for me.  I had always given freely to the church and to those in need, had no debt to speak of, and was extremely proud of my impeccable credit rating.  I never would have classified myself as a foolish spender.  In fact, I saved.  I counted every penny and calculated my giving.  I was proud of my retirement portfolio, and how lovely it all looked on paper.  I thought I was "set".  Then, like many business owners, the mix of a soured economy and outsourcing hit me hard.  I walked through a "desert" in my life for about 5 years, digging my heals in to save my home and investments and praying it would all get better.  I figured it had to, because I figured I had done everything right.  What the Lord revealed to me was that I had an issue of pride.  Pride is sin.  Sin gets in the way of God blessing us.  I had to let go of my attitude, as well as a lot of tangible, meaningless "stuff" (meaningless in view of eternity).  Both are baggage, and both stand in the way of us coming to know and experience Christ, God's only Son who spent His adult years walking the earth without a home.  I can now say I really appreciate the meaning of a roof over my head, food on my table, and bills when they get paid.  I don't have new clothes every season, have never bought an iPod, reuse just about everything I can, and still have not repaired the damage my car suffered 3 years ago in a minor accident.  It's just not important to me anymore to have a closet full of cute shoes.  These days, these happy days, I have discovered the freedom of letting go and running barefoot through life.  There is freedom in knowing my life is now led by my trusting and allowing God to make the decisions for me.  I now know He knows better than I do what is right for me, and now I am listening for the Spirit's voice.  While I once thought it was enough to honor Him with my financial firstfruits, I now understand what He really wants is my heart, my focus, my finances and my time, uncalculated.  This is a God I will know for eternity, so it seems only fitting to get to know Him and trust Him now, because what we do here in life today matters.  I have learned that sometimes the only way God can truly get our attention is to strip away the strongholds in our lives, the things that keep us self-centered.  I was not aware I even had any, until He revealed them.  Then, with the ability to see clearly as through an open window, one free of clutter and pride, there I finally saw the character of God, and each day has become a new journey with Him.  And now, slowly but surely, my vats are being filled as with new wine, and my barns to overflowing.

Our Greatest Comfort

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:6-7

It amazes me how much God loves us.

When You Don't Know What to Pray...

For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
~Romans 8: 24-28

I have found myself in a "desert place" in my life for a while now. In my confusion, I find my prayer life has been suffering. I have not even been able to find the words to say to God lately. At church last Saturday, I was reminded of these verses in Romans, chapter 8. It was like the hug you get from a good friend when the words won't come...and you realize things will be alright.

Rejoice!

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.
~ Psalm 28:7

My Deliverer

I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
~ Psalm 34:4

When God Seems Distant

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
~ Jeremiah 29:11-13

Sometimes we feel ready to give up on God, simply because He doesn't seem to be answering us when we pray to Him. This is a common assumption we make as humans. We hate being ignored!

Although I had read the first sentence of this passage from Jeremiah several times over the years, it wasn't until I read on that I made a discovery that changed my relationship with God. Go back and read the entire passage as it is written above. It says that "then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart".

It dawned on me that God really does desire relationship with His children. He does not want us to half-heartedly ask Him for things. He wants us to first want Him, to actively go and pray and seek and search Him with all of our hearts. I have found that in doing so, my desires and requests have begun to align more with His desires and will for me. I am happier. I see the fingerprints of God in my life every day, and it fills me with joy. I am never alone.

God wants us to be like the Psalmist, who wrote:

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
~ Psalm 42:1

What a beautiful truth!

Our Safe Refuge

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be moved,
And though the mountains be carried
into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
~Psalm 46:1-3

The Promise of Heaven

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
~Revelation 21:4

Are You Burdened?

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
~ Matthew 11:28-30

This verse was pointed out to me by a friend about 15 years ago, before I became a Christian. I have always found this verse comforting, calming, and reassuring. In these past 15 years since then, it has also proven to be true. I have found rest for my soul in Jesus.

Perfect Peace

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
For YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
~ Isaiah 26:3-4

We can have peace in the most uncertain of times if we learn to put our trust in God to handle the details of our lives. It doesn't mean life will get easier and our problems will disappear. However, there is peace in knowing that God is ultimately in charge of our lives, every breath we take, and we are not created to handle life on our own. In fact, to try to handle life on our own is to take the position of power from God. It just doesn't work.

Safe With God

You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
~ Psalm 119:114

Trust Him

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
~ Proverbs 3:5-6

I am finally learning to trust God fully. If you've been hurt or betrayed, as most of us have, this is easier said than done. But the trusting is worth the rewards.

God of Comfort

For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you."
~ Isaiah 41:13

With Wings Like Eagles

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the LORD,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have not might
He increases their strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
~ Isaiah 40:28-31