God Our Strength

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?  No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

Psalm 121:1-2 The Message

In this life, the most important thing to me for you to understand next to the salvation message of the Gospel is this. Any strength you see in me, any courage, insight, or peace comes straight from God, my Saviour (King James’ spelling).

Any “good” in me is ALL God. His Word tells us if we live in Christ, old things are passed away and we are made new. The person I was before Christ was so fearful and so afraid I couldn’t see over the walls I’d built around myself. 

All glory and praise to God, that’s not who I am now!

In business, there’s a template for just about everything, or someone’s document or guidelines from lessons learned. In my life, that’s the Bible. It’s the only thing I know to be Truth - ALWAYS. So when I encounter issues in this life, I have to know what the Bible says about it. 

It does NOT say I won’t have issues while on this planet.
It DOES say I will overcome them.
It DOES say I am victorious.
It DOES say Christ has given me His peace – the peace that passes all understanding.
It DOES say He will never leave me, nor forsake me.

You tell me I am strong. I am thrilled you can see strength in me because it is Christ in me, the hope of glory. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for Your Truth found in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that Your grace is all we need, and Your power works best in our weakness. We stand on Your Truth, confidently knowing You will never leave us or forsake us. By Your grace and power, help us to fulfill Your plan for our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Who Said What?

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 NKJV

Are you sick and tired of hearing about CoVID? I know I am. So much has changed in the last two years that I don't think we will ever go back to what we used to consider normal. The only thing we know for certain will come back is Jesus... when the Father sends Him to get us. 

Meanwhile, we're still here trying to move forward and yet, still stuck in some semblance of limbo - can we or can't we? It seems the worst is trying to figure out who you can believe with regard to the so-called facts about the virus, its prevention, and its treatment. That is enough to wear you out. The more people we lose, the more there is such a heightened sense of fear and distress... but for God.

I have determined as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. The ONLY unchanging Truth in all of this is God. The only One who never changes His story, the only One who has had it right from the very beginning is Almighty God. And HE says, 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.

Prayer:

Father,

           Thank You that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank You that You never change. You are always good. You are always right. You are always with us, Immanuel. Thank You for never leaving us, never forsaking us, for never lying to us. Thank You for being the Rock on which we can stand when the storms of life rage all around us. Help us to keep our focus on You and the promises of Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Power and Strength

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 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 is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-20 NLT

In North America, Spring is the season for powerful thunderstorms, fascinating to observe, but potentially horrific in property damage. However, no matter how large the storm nor how fierce, eventually they blow themselves out and lose their power and strength. 

We're rather like that. We start running with an idea or a mission we believe God has given us, but we try to get things accomplished in our own power and strength, and eventually acknowledge that we cannot sustain the level of power and strength required... especially if it has to do with changing something about ourselves or our lives. 

The good news is that God never asks us to do anything without Him! He provides the power and the strength, the wisdom, the knowledge, the wherewithal - whatever is needed to accomplish everything He asks of us! And He alone can sustain the power and strength within us. As our Promise for Today clearly states, Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for the power and strength You give us to carry out Your purpose and plan for us. Help us to stay focused on Your will for our lives. Keep us ever mindful that it is in You and You alone that we can accomplish anything worthwhile.  In Jesus' Name we pray.