Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Let all of Israel repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.” Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. Psalm 118:1-5 (NIV)
We often hear and see stories about freedom. We are inspired by such stories are we not? But freedom is more then being physically free; freedom is about being spiritually free. If we are not spiritually free then physical freedom is of little comfort. God is all about setting us spiritually free in the understanding of his love and wisdom of his love.
“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:7-8
God showered his kindness on us. That means God’s kindness is passionate. It is pure. It is full of Him; it is not half-heartedly given but given in the fullness of HIS LOVE.
Through humble submission and trust in God’s love we gain a greater strengthening understanding and wisdom that expels the things that aims to tear down and undermine the love of God in our lives. The love we desperately need at all times in our lives. The love we especially need in those times -where the situations of life seem to be waging war against our soul. “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world. Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:16-18
Think about what happens inside of us when we put an emphasis on the world, circumstances, others, and ourselves… don’t we all succumb to the pressures of life?
I have never found putting emphasis and favor in the world, circumstances, others or myself a good thing. These things can all change at a moments notice. They are insecure and unstable but I find when our attention, focus and trust is on God and HIS love - worries and anxieties, comparisons, trying and difficult circumstances, what if’s, worldly enticements and persuasions, debilitating thoughts, are subdued and put to rest.
FAITH in God has a peculiar influence on our life, as we trust Him. What normally would cause us unrest and anxiety- feelings of insecurity and alarm are reduced dramatically. What would be considered as a daunting task before would be deprived of it definition of “daunting” by the reality of God’s love for us.
God wants to be our source of strength and spiritual supply. God is our Heavenly Father but as our Heavenly Father he is also our Comforter, Encourager, and Advocate as well.
Ever think about why we suffer so badly internally at times?
I know when I have thrown a pity party for myself and am down right miserable, it has taken me sometime to get my focus where it is suppose, where my true source of joy, peace, hope, and happiness is meant to be kept in. I know it’s only by Holy Spirit that I recognize where I have gone wrong in my thinking and by God’s grace he continues to perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish me in his awesome love.
God wants us to know the stronghold we have in Him. Through faith, the Lord becomes the stronghold of our life.
“The LORD is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1
THE PEELING of LAYERS
I have found that in the midst of battles combined with faith in God, battles do a lot for us to strengthen our faith in God’s love then if we had no battles at all.
Battles peel away the worthless layers of ourselves, the layers that get in-between God and us. And as these layers are peeled away, they reveal another deeper aspect, confidence and assurance in our Heavenly Father. And in this grace filled realization of our Heavenly Father’s faithfulness and love for us, a deeper faith is tunneled, channeled and solidified within us. It is a faith, one cannot find if they don’t see a need for God’s freeing love.
Not to sound hokey but the deeper the need of God’s marvelous love, the greater assurance and confidence we have and the warm glow of God’s love lives in us.
Jesus said, “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3
Do you see your need? Do you see a need for God’s spiritual blessings and love in your life?
I think how amazing this growing realization is -considering this would not be possible and known to us without Jesus Christ.
Think about it: Through Jesus we could call out to God to be saved. Through faith in Jesus Christ, God has given us the Holy Spirit. And He, the Holy Spirit, will not only raise our lives to eternal life in heaven but is now at work within us, raising us from our own understandings to building and maturing us in the “deep knowing” of God’s glowing and marvelous love.
God is working from what we were and understood to the core, which is HIM. Where the soul was created and where it will end up.
“In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word [Jesus] was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
I would venture a guess -none of us really have it together in ourselves but when we trust in God - we are put together. Our soul is built up, protected, put on the unshakable foundation of ROCK. We are armored up in God’s love.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NASB)
BEYOND OUR MEANS
Ever felt, “THIS IS BEYOND MY MEANS”? When we face something that is beyond our means we should expect in faith God will intervene in that situation. We should remind ourselves and ask God to remind us of ALL He is. We should refresh our mind in all the things he has done. We should humbly relinquish our burdens and concerns to Him admitting our weakness for such a task. Then we should see how he abundantly answers.
David wrote “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” Psalm 5:3
In 2 Chronicles 20 King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah and Jerusalem found themselves in precisely in that type of situation - a situation beyond their means.
The king prayed along with all the people and this is how the LORD answered.
“As the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives and children, the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a descendant of Asaph. He said, ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions, then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with you! Then King Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the LORD. Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud shot.”
Wow! He tells them don’t be afraid or discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not theirs but His. Then knowing precisely what is happening and going to happen he tells them to march out against them but they won’t even need to fight them. He says pretty much, “Watch what I will do for you!” Then he again tells them to not be afraid or discouraged for He is with them.
I think, “That is great!" and then God tells me, “Isn’t that what I do for you as well, not just in situations that are beyond your control but in every aspect of your life?”
We all have “mighty armies” in which we face in our lives but God says go march out in faith and see what I will do for you. See that battles are already won. See that I am with you. See there is no reason to be afraid or discouraged. God loves and takes care of us more then we could possibly know!
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope for? Ephesians 3:18-20
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