Hello Beautiful People
1. A simple prayer to pray when we face uncertainty or can't find our path
What a beautiful truth that God " does not change like the shifting shadows. " ( James 1:17 ). I've been studying this verse the past few days and the weight of God's unchanging nature became so clear- our very hope as followers of Jesus rests on this attribute of God. And oh, how much do we need His unchanging nature to be true, for it is our ROCK to stand on rather than the shifting sand of so many circumstances and relationships that are changing before our eyes. Because God is unchanging, He can't be less forgiving or less loving today than He was yesterday. Because God is unchanging, His promises are just as true as they have ever been.
Because God is unchanging, He can be our fixed reality when things feel like they are crumbling. Because God is unchanging, we can trust that His word is also ( despite when people change their mind about it ). The unchanging nature of God is the anchor of our lives when we are tossed to and fro by the storms of life. The unchanging nature of God is everything, and it is where our peace rests on in a world of growing fears and anxieties, in a world of spinning change and instability. Lord, root us in your unchanging nature today.
Your unchanging nature can be a healing balm to our anxieties today and tomorrow, and we want to look to you as our refuge. " The glory of God will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind. " ( 1 Samuel 15:29 ) " For I , the Lor , do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob Jacob, are not consumed. " ( Malachi 3 : 6 ) 5 " Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. " ( Hebrews 13 : 8 )
LIFE IS HARD ( because of " various trials. " )
Oh how I needed this beginning , and so many are walking through the truth right now that life is Hard. It's amazing James begins this way because he was the half brother of Jesus . I would have been proud to begin with that. Instead he describes himself as a " servant " of the Lord Jesus Christ. What an apologetic of faith! Do you know a sibling that would see their brother as Lord ( translated Master )? James was either out of his mind or a testimony to the reality that Jesus is King. Given the evidence to the Bible, I trust James. " Life is hard " is the foundation of the letter ( the Jewish believers were persecuted ) but isn't this a theme of life? Life is hard, but God is good and we can live like Him in a dark world; James bookends his letter by reminding us.
God is " compassionate and merciful? " ( 5:11 ). This is truly a message for today as we lament about hardships in life but look to the future hope of His return: Life is hard, but we endure so that we grow into maturity and wholeness and receive the crown of life ( 1 : 4 , 1:12 ). Life is hard, but we should walk in and receive the word of God through trials because it saves our souls ( 1:21 ). 87 Life is hard , but we should continue to love our neighbor as ourselves because it shows our hold to faith ( ch . 2 ). Life is hard, but we can endure in hardships because mercy will triumph over judgement ( 2:13 ). Life is hard, but we walk in wisdom in speech , behavior , and through humility so we might display heavenly riches and strength ( ch . 3 ).
Life is hard , but we should be careful not to try to comfort our heart with money, instead, " strengthen our hearts " with the promise of the Lord's return ( 5 : 1-9 ). Life is hard , but we have a compassionate and merciful God who will give a redemptive outcome ( 10-11 ). Life is hard, so let's pray because God comforts, heals, forgives, and answers prayers for daily needs! ( 5 : 19-20 ). I have barely scratched the surface but reading through this book made some of its themes stand out. Praise God for His word. Praise God that today we can strengthen our hearts, because the Lord's coming is near.
Psalm 19 reminds us there is SO much more to life than simply knowing about God, and it is knowing Him personally. I know this in my head yet sometimes I drift back into a distant relationship with Him. But God didn't send His son to die for a half - way relationship with us. He didn't pour out His words for us to rely on another person's relationship with God , a pastor's sermon for a once - a - week spiritual high, the next Bible commentary - while all helpful things - these things were never meant to replace one of the most amazing truths of life: The creator God, the sustainer of the universe, wants a constant and intimate relationship with YOU and ME, and He wants to speak to us !
We have direct access to the personal, living God ! G Psalm 19 begins with the depiction of creation proclaiming the glory of God. The heavens , the skies , the sun , all of creation stands as a testimony to the majesty of God, of a glorious designer who is like no one else. But in vs. 7 there is an abrupt shift to the very words of God. But that isn't the only shift, and wow! I am amazed by how intricate and purposeful His word is. In vs. 1 the Psalmist uses the generic form of the Hebrew word " God " - " El " - when he describes creation , but when he shifts to talking about God's word he uses a very personal name for God- " Yahweh ".
In another words created things tell us about God , but His word is a more personal revelation. The expanse of the skies and the wonder of the sun can tell us that He is a glorious God, but only His word can speak into the intimacy of the relationship He invites us into. Only His word can tell us that He has called us by name and we are His ( Is . 43 : 1-2 ), that He knows the hairs on our head ( Lk . 12 : 7 ), that He knows our coming and going ( Psalm 121 : 8 ), that He loves us with an incomprehensible kind of love ( Eph . 3:18 ) ! Only His word- through the Holy Spirit - can speak into every detail of our life. Oh that we would crave the Bible this week as our daily bread, turn to it as quick as we do our cell phones. oh that we would continue to get to know our Creator. God please wake up our hearts this week to the personal and intimate revelation of your word !
Does your heart need a new song this week?
It's easy to wonder: " Why do so many seem to have it all together? Am I really growing spiritually? Why do I struggle with some of the same sins? " At times our sin can feel overwhelming and we allow it to define and tell us who we are, and condemnation comes pouring in. But I love that Psalm 40 speaks into this. How great are His words! How practical and comforting are His truths! His word speaks into things we have a hard time sharing about even in our church circles.
I felt this the other day on a walk. I was repenting, crying out to God, and I felt like I couldn't see spiritually straight. And how amazing that the Psalmist - David- expressed this very thing in chapter 41: " For troubles without number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me; I am unable to see. They are more than the hairs on my head, and my courage leaves me. " How beautiful that he acknowledged he couldn't see straight; our sin, guilt, and shame can cloud our spiritual vision. Sometimes we can't see the path forward, the way out. But David didn't give up, and he didn't give in. Earlier on he says, " I waited patiently for the LORD , and he turned to me and heard my cry for help " ( vs. 1 ). David most likely even recalled to mind that those who wait for the Lord will never be put to shame ( Psalm 25 : 3 ). Sometimes the way forward IS to look back, to remind ourselves of truths He has sustained us with in the past. In doing so, David tells us that God put a new song in his mouth, a hymn of praise to God ( vs. 3 ).
And that day on my walk, God gave me a new song. Suddenly I spoke out loud : " Yes, I am a sinner. But I have an advocate, Jesus Chris, Son of God, who stands before me as my atonement, declaring my debt has been paid! " ( 1 John 2 : 1- 2 ) Do you need a new song today? A song that breaks the melody of shame, despair, or sin in your heart? He can do it. How precious the child of God that may not be able to see spiritually straight or see a way forward , but simply knows to cry out to God, " Lord , be pleased to rescue me; hurry to help me, LORD. " ( Psalm 40 :13 ) Thank you, God, that you abound with new songs for our heart today.
The Good Shepherd has prepared a banqueting table for us this week, but will we be hungry for the feast He has made? Years ago a pastor of mine gave a sermon illustration I will never forget. He spoke on the power of the Bible and the way it is meant to nourish our souls like nothing else, to fill us with incredible peace, purpose, and joy. While he was sharing his sermon, however, there was an executive chef of a famous restaurant ( who attended our church ) that was cooking on stage. As our pastor spoke, the aroma of the gourmet food he cooked filled the sanctuary. Our pastor described in detail the incredible meal that he was making and the delicacies and flavors that were included . Our mouths were all watering.
But then the pastor did something peculiar. He pulled out a bag of Cheetos and cheap candy and started eating them. He talked about how crazy it must have looked ( and was ) to fill up on the cheap, processed food while a gourmet meal was being made and offered by a chef. And yet, he said that is what we do so often with God's word. We sometimes turn to cheap substitutes to fill us and wonder why it is so hard to be hungry for the word of God. We begin craving the gifts more than the gift giver. We are full from shallow things, leaving little room for the richness of His words. And as I turn to Psalm 23 today that tells us about the table that is being prepared, my heart is overwhelmed with the reminder of our Good Shepherd. There is nothing else in this life that can supply all of " what I need " ( vs. 1 ).
He can guide and lead our soul to the greenest of pastures, to the quiet places of rest, and He can renew our life ( vs.3 ) this week if we sit with Him at His table. And the Good Shepherd has prepared this table in the presence of our enemies ( vs. 5 ), lest we forget that our enemies have no hold over us, because His " goodness and faithful love " are pursuing us " all the days " of our lives ( vs. 6 ). How great is our God ! How healing are His words! God, help us to crave your word this week as our daily bread. Remind us of your incredible love, that you have made for us a feast of soul food with the riches of heaven's delicacies.
God's steadfast love will endure through anything that comes our way this week. This is more than just a takeaway from Psalm 136, this is an exhortation to live by. Every day, every moment, His love will endure. The Psalmist repeats the phrase, " His steadfast love endures forever ", 26 times. He is emphasizing to us: Don't forget. Preach it into your heart, sing it from the rooftops, whisper it through your tears when trials come: God's steadfast love will endure forever , in and through all things.
This Psalm is bookended by God's love enduring in the creation and presence of the heavenly realm ( vs.5 ), and yet also ( this is where my tears came ), " It is he who remembered us in our low estate " ( vs. 23 ). The point is that God's love stretches from the highest of heavens all the way down to His children, meeting us in our brokenness and sin. He meets us in our low estate with His love. This phrase was sung by King Solomon and the people at the celebration and dedication of the temple in response to the glory of God ( 2 Chron. 7 : 3,6 ), but it was also sung by King Jehoshaphat and the rest of God's people as they battled the invading Ammonites and Moabites ( 2 Chron . 20:21 ). In another words, " His steadfast love endures forever " is a praise when we are in awe of God and life is good, but it is also a cry when the battle rages and life is hard. So whatever comes this week , may we praise, sing, whisper , or cry out these words:
" His steadfast love endures forever ": God , the pain hurts so bad, but help me to abide in your steadfast love that endures forever. God, I can't believe you answered that prayer, thank you, your steadfast love endures forever. God, this relationship is failing and I'm brokenhearted, but I am resting in that while others ' love doesn't endure, your steadfast love endures forever. God I can't understand why you are allowing these things to happen in the world, but teach me to trust that your steadfast love endures forever.