Do you ever feel like you have waited so long you wonder if God has forgotten you?
Maybe you have prayed and heard no response? You’ve looked to find comfort in Him and have not been able to feel it? You’ve begged for your circumstances to change, but they haven’t?
Oh, friend, you are not alone. It is so hard to wait, especially when our prayers seem to be hitting the ceiling and bouncing back. But the truth is, even when we don't feel like God is listening or moving on our behalf, He has not abandoned us.
Psalm 27:13-14 says "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"
Sometimes we have to take courage and be strong while we wait, but we can say with confidence that we shall see the goodness of the Lord come again. He is still good and He is still for us!
Hey Revealers! When we talk about faith, we sometimes equate faith as some kind of blind faith.
We can have this false belief that our faith and trust in God loses value if there are reasons why we believe in God. This idea that somehow a faith that is blind to reasons is more powerful than faith that has reasons.
This type of mentality can lead us into separating faith and science into two camps where a believer is forced to choose on: Faith or science.
But, in reality, science helps discover the truths of God and His creation. We need not be afraid of science, we need not be in denial of science.
Be careful glorifying this idea that our faith in God needs to be a completely blind leap of faith.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. Psalm 145:5
This verse is exactly what my heart was yearning to do this week, to meditate on the majesty of the Lord. To be silent and still before the King of all, to bow in awe and reverence before His throne.
The Lord’s majesty refers to His greatness, power and strength; to His sovereign and complete rule over all things, to His magnificence and splendor. He is exalted as Head above all, all authority is His. All things come from Him, were created by Him, and are sustained by Him. He is indeed worthy of our time spent meditating on and praising Him for His majesty.✨
I love how these verses describe the Lord clothed or robed in majesty, what a breathtaking visual of our beautiful King of glory. These verses also connect His majesty with His marvelous works. And we also see that His voice is full of majesty 🙌🏼
As you can see, all of the verses for this week are in Psalms. I am excited to be spending time in this wonderful book, and if I can encourage you to read the entire Psalm that contains the verse/verses of the day, that would be so great. Each Psalm is so beautiful and paints a great picture of the Lord’s majesty. 📖
The beauty of God’s will and the importance of following His will is this week’s bible verses theme. The will of God can be a complex subject with different aspects. Over the last two days, I’ve done a dive into understanding more of what it means when we hear the term “God’s will”. It’s a topic to continue studying and learning.
In my reading, I’ve seen that there are two main yet very different meanings for the will of God. The first is the sovereign will of God. And the second is His revealed will for us in His Word on how we are to live as followers of Christ. This second meaning of God’s will is what we will be focusing on this week.
In one of the articles I read from Desiring God called, “What Is the Will of God and How Do We Know It?”, John Piper refers to this second meaning as God’s Will of Command: “Now the other meaning for ‘the will of God’ in the Bible is what we can call his ‘will of command.’ His will is what he commands us to do.”
The will of God for how we are to live has been written all throughout scripture. The will for us to walk in a manner that glorifies Him, to live in a way that is pleasing to Him, to live in a way that is good and reflective of Christ. To love Him with all our hearts and to love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40). To seek Him and His kingdom first and honor Him as Lord.
His will is for us to be transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ; for us to be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3) and filled with His righteousness, bearing good fruit; to have a pure heart that has been cleansed by the Spirit. There is a connection I’ve noticed in scripture between walking in the will of God and walking in a way that is pleasing to God. And with the mind of Christ, we are able to better understand and discern what is pleasing and acceptable to God.
Holy Spirit, please help us understand, apply and live out God’s good and perfect will that has been revealed to us in scripture. Transform us and lead us. Amen 🤍
Truly, think about it. I, with all my heart, believe that the beauty of our God far surpasses anything we’ve ever seen. His creations speak loudly to His majesty and power and testify to His glory, and yet, they just don’t come close to how beautiful He is.
I was looking out over the ocean in awe when this thought hit me. My heart began to worship, my tears couldn’t help but praise Him. The grandness and wonder of Him. The splendor. The brilliance.
And then to think how we have the enormous honor of knowing Him and being loved by Him. How we get to spend our lives loving Him and dwelling with Him. That He desires a relationship with us. Honestly, it’s hard for my soul to take it all in, it’s overwhelming. How great, how wonderful, how beautiful is our God! 🙌🏼
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20
Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. Psalm 111:1-3
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4 🤍
Tomorrow a new month begins. A new month to continue seeking God, truly and earnestly seeking Him with all our hearts. 🤍
We know He was with us every moment of this past month, and we know He will be with us each day in this coming month. What a comfort to remember we are not alone, even when it may feel like we are at times, we aren’t.
For those who may be hurting or carrying pain from last month, I pray Jesus would heal your heart and relieve the pain. I pray He would help you walk into these new days with fresh hope. I, too, am needing fresh hope from our gracious God. May He restore our souls and guide us along the right path for His name’s sake. May He surround our hearts with His peace. 🙏🏼
In the last portion of the prayer, a main focus is being silent before the Lord. I’ve been trying to be more silent before Him. As I pray, I’ve been intentionally adding in times of silence. Leaning in and pressing in to hear His voice. Opening His Word in prayer and seeking His leading and guidance. It’s something I definitely need to and want to grow in. I pray this will lead to deeper communion and a beautiful way to abide greater in Him this month of August.
Things of this world attempt to offer us peace, joy, rest, nourishment, understanding, guidance, purpose, comfort and hope; but they will never stand the test of time. They just won’t. It’s impossible. That’s why people often jump from one fad to the next, one new promise of inner peace and wellness to the next. It’s because we do all yearn for something that will give us true, deep, lasting peace, joy, purpose and contentment. But that something is not a thing. It’s Someone.
I think there are some things God gifts us, like nature and loved ones for example, that can contribute greatly to this life and to our peace, joy, purpose and contentment. But never in place of Him, never above Him. Only as gifts from Him. Only as blessings from Him. Only He can provide the constantly refilling stream of peace, joy, rest, nourishment, understanding, guidance, purpose, comfort and hope. 🤍
Verses referenced in slides:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 23:1-3
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. Isaiah 40:28
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. John 16:13
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. Revelation 14:12
This was strong on my heart for this week’s verses: a call to endure. I think many are feeling weary, and so I pray that we would all seek the God of endurance and encouragement this week and that the scriptures would fortify our hearts and increase our hope as we continue to run with endurance the race that is set before us.
We begin this week looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who endured most beautifully, who is our perfect example of endurance. We keep our eyes on Him so that we may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Throughout these verses we are also encouraged to remain patient as we wait for the coming of the Lord and for the promise of eternal life. We remain persistent and continue to stand in the sufferings we endure, knowing the fruit that suffering produces in Christ. We are reminded that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:3-5).
Also in scripture, we are reminded to consider Job, an example for us of steadfastness, of enduring and remaining faithful. Then we read the promise Jesus spoke in Matthew: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” So we hope in and hold on to this glorious promise 🙌🏼 And we do not lose heart as we continue to endure 🤍
These words have been an anthem in my heart these last few days. When God is our hope, strength, refuge, peace and joy none of these can ever be taken from us. Because God can never be taken away from us. He is our true hope, strength, refuge, peace, joy and delight. When my heart breaks, when I suffer, when I grieve loss and pain, I still have my God. Always and forever.
I have realized this significance, this powerful truth, especially this week. He will never leave us, He is always with us, no matter what, to the end of the age. Though my heart has been broken in this life, though I’ve walked through valleys, I remain satisfied in God alone. Through the pain, He remains. And so does my hope, strength, peace and joy.
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. Psalm 43:4
Sometimes we need to be reminded that it’s okay to cry, that it’s good to cry. God gave us the ability to weep and feel and pour our hearts out before His throne. We have emotions given to us by our Creator, He knows us so intimately already.
We must not skip over these emotions but be honest with God and draw near to Him. This is one of the things I’ve learned and continue learning in my grief and in times of pain. So let us remember the importance of going to Him in our pain, sadness and sorrow. Our tears matter to Him, for His Word tells us so.
Father, I pray for the ones who needed this prayer. The ones who are in pain and have tears they need to release to You. Please hold them so tightly and comfort them. In their vulnerability, may they feel Your presence and Your gentle, tender love. I pray they would feel You healing the parts of their hearts that are hurting. Please would You heal my heart too. We praise You, our Father, for Your goodness, holiness and faithfulness. Thank you for all things, for You are so wonderful and mighty and beautiful. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen. 🤍
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57
As God’s Word always does, I felt renewed in strength and reminded of the victory we have in Christ. Though we have tribulation in this world, we can take heart and we can have peace that surpasses understanding because Jesus has overcome the world. And through Him we too overcome the world, we overcome the sin that once enslaved us, we overcome being led by the flesh, we overcome until the end, until we win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).
This is the focus for this week’s verses - the victory we have in Christ 🙌🏼 Victory over sin. Victory over the darkness and evil in this world. Victory over death. Salvation and righteousness have won and will always win for all of eternity. Victory was accomplished on the cross. And although to the world it first appeared as defeat, it was the greatest victory of all.
Also, through tribulations, trials and suffering there is victory as He grows us in righteousness, in our faith and in spiritual maturity.
Scripture reminds us that we are children of God and that we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. We fight by prayer and by the Spirit. We fight by taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.
We are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:37), and so we remain confident, remembering that if God is for us, who can be against us?
Jesus, thank you for the victory we have in You. Thank you for our salvation, thank you for Your love. Help us when we feel weary, tired or in need encouragement to stand firm and keep standing firm for You. For You always and forever hold the victory. We will continue to take heart, Lord, because You have overcome the world. 🤍
God is our strength and will forever be our strength. Sometimes I think we forget to go to Him, but the absolutely beautiful thing is that we can go to Him over and over again, continually. His strength never runs out. And He never tires of us needing Him or going to Him. He delights in our desire and need for Him and our surrender to His complete care over us. He promises to be our strength as we journey through the hills and valleys of this life.
I desperately needed to read these verses today and wanted to share for others who may also need this encouragement from His Word. Bible verses we can save and reference whenever we need to be reminded where to go when we need strength.
Lord, we praise You and thank You for being our never ending strength. What would we do in this life without You? We couldn’t make it through without Your loving hand holding us up. You are our safe place, our peace and our shelter. We love You so much. amen 🤍
In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3
The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26
I love you, O LORD, my strength. Psalm 18:1
When I put together the verses for this week and wrote the caption, I had no idea what I would be walking through this week and how much each of the verses has strengthened me and ministered to my heart. It has been an unexpected time of uncertainty and pain, but I will continue to proclaim to the Lord, over and over and over, “I trust You, You are my God”.
Whatever you may be walking through or whatever we may walk through in the future, let us hold tightly to His hand, let us gather around His throne together as His children to worship Him, praise Him, trust Him. For He is trustworthy today, tomorrow and for all of eternity.
Lord, You are our Almighty God. I trust in You. Even when this life hurts and things are uncertain, I will continue to declare Your goodness and sovereignty. I will continue to stand firm in my trust in You. Thank you that every decision to trust You builds our faith. It builds our strength, builds our perseverance, and builds our peace. And thank you, my Father, for Your steadfast love that greets me every morning. How You are my comfort. I love You. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen 🤍
But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14
This is the focus for this week’s verses - trusting in God 🤍
If we believe God to be good and sovereign, we can relinquish our tiring attempts at control in this life and wholeheartedly trust. There is no greater peace when we let go and trust in our God, who is worthy of our trust and belief.
Throughout the Bible, we see stories that show us that often the invitation to trust God and keep trusting Him is in the middle of a difficult situation. And we too recognize that significant moments in our lives can be marked by trusting God in the middle of something hard, trying or uncertain.
In a few of this week’s verses it encourages us to:
Trust and not be afraid.
Trust when the heat comes.
Trust, He is our refuge.
Can trusting in God still look like wondering sometimes at His plans, especially when they hurt? When they break our hearts? Yes, even more so in those times do we trust in Him to carry us, hold us, strengthen us. I have personally found the more I’ve trusted in Him the more I’ve seen His hand. And the more of His peace I have experienced in the middle of deep sorrow and suffering when I decided to keep trusting in Him and His plans and His will.
But I also want to encourage us to trust in Him in the joyful times as well as in the day to day moments. Every moment, trusting Him.
We trust Him to be what we need in the joyful times and in times of suffering. We trust Him in life and in death. We trust Him in grief and in the celebration of new life. We trust Him to care for us, His sons and daughters and to work all things together for the good of those who love Him. Trust shows Him our belief in Him and our dependency on Him.
And if we ever struggle to trust, we can pray and ask Him for His help that we would continue to trust in Him and in His goodness. He is faithful to help us 🙏🏼
*Somehow when the slides posted, it duplicated Monday’s verse two times and left out the Tuesday & Wednesday verses - so sorry! Sharing the phone wallpaper graphics for these two days and their verses in my stories 🤍
A gratitude prayer reflecting on God’s beauty and love and goodness this week. 🤍 It is a most wonderful treasure seeking God, loving Him and getting to know Him greater and greater. 🙏🏼
On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. Psalm 145:5
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:26
As I was writing the caption for the verses for this week, I began writing this thank you prayer to Jesus. I finished it today and wanted to share as we continue this week reflecting on the theme of light and Jesus being the light of the world. Jesus, the One who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.✨
As I mentioned in the prayer, I had a season of life where I walked in darkness. And I just feel so very grateful 🥹 as I thought about this season and how, in His mercy, grace and love, He lifted me out of the darkness and brought me to Him, He brought me into His light.
Many people are hurting and lost, they do not know where they are going. I pray we would radiate Christ’s love, goodness and kindness to those walking in darkness. May we reflect His light to help others see the Way.
May we remember we are children of light. May our lights shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven. Always, always for His glory 🙏🏼
The rich, beautiful theme of Light. That is the focus for this week’s verses. Light is a message used all throughout scripture. Since it’s so often used, it’s clear there is an emphasis for us to understand and grow in light, for God is light (1 John 1:5).
The reference to light throughout the verses is spiritual light and spiritual truth; all that is good, pure and righteous. This divine light is what gives us life, true abundant life.
We begin this week with John 8:12 and in my gathering of verses I read an article titled, “What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the Light of the World” (John 8:12)?” and I loved this excerpt: John 8:12 records, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.’” The allegory used by the Lord in this verse speaks of the light of His Truth, the light of His Word, the light of eternal Life. Those who perceive the true Light will never walk in spiritual darkness.
After this verse in John, with great gratitude, we read in Ephesians that we are no longer in darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Praise God! We are to walk as children of light. We are told that the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true - help us Jesus bear the fruit of light.
Jesus is the Light, and through Him, we are also lights of the world. We are to let our light shine before others, so that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). This is something to remember always. We shine the light of Christ so others will see our Father, so they will give Him glory. 🙌🏼
We walk in the light, we cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, the armor of righteousness. Christ is our righteousness so we are putting on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14) as our armor, our amor of light.
Lord, please help us this week as we learn Your Word. Please fill our hearts with Your righteousness and Your marvelous light. Amen 🤍
I feel such a deep need to keep my eyes upon the Lord. I want to look to Him as soon as my eyes open each morning. I want to begin my day intentionally with thanksgiving and praise rather than thinking of the things I need to do or the things that may be on my mind. I want Him to be my very first thought.
My eyes filled with tears as I recently read Psalm 57:7-9. It is exactly how I want my heart to respond waking up to a new day: “My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.”
Goodness, those are such beautiful verses. 🥹
I was also reflecting on His new mercies and new compassions that are within every new day. How comforting this is as we trust in Him and as He leads the way into days He already knows how will unfold.
As we walk with Him, He can help us take one day at a time, one moment at a time. That has been something He has been teaching me, to take it day by day and to not rush through to the next thing on the list or the next moment. I love my to-do lists but I don’t want to live to check it all off and get so focused on the completion of things that I miss the actual moments of doing and living and being.
It’s by His help that we are able to slow down and savor the days and moments He gifts us. And savor the memories we get to make with Him each day.
He is so good, so kind. May our lips, hearts and thoughts glorify Him and may our love for the Lord be apparent throughout this month and always. 🙏🏼
Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? Psalm 113:5-6 🙌🏼
There is no one like our God, there is no God but You, our Sovereign Lord. No God like You, none can even compare! Every other god is a worthless idol that cannot speak or listen or create - for idols are themselves created, crafted by human hands, they are utterly useless.
We serve the Living God. The One who is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens. The One who is clothed with splendor and majesty, the One who made the heavens and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. He gives life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship Him. For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is His. His is the kingdom, and He is exalted as head above all. (Psalm 104:1, Nehemiah 9:6, 1 Chronicles 29:11)
Clearly and beautifully we see that there is none like our God! This is the focus for this week’s verses 📖
We will be spending time in the Old Testament, as all the verses are in the Old Testament this week. We will read how Moses, Hannah, David, Solomon, Jeremiah and Micah all proclaimed throughout the generations these same words and echoed the same heart, ardently declaring “who is like You, God? There is none like You!” 🤍