“The Lord will fight for you;
you need only to be still.”
(Exodus 14:14 NIV)
Like a loving father, God sometimes takes my head in His hands and turns my face to Him. In a gentle way, He says, “Look at me! Ignore all the distractions. I will fight for you. You only need to be still. Rest in my arms.” No matter how fiercely the battle rages, I am secure with my Savior. He will give me the next steps. I will look at Him. I hope you will, too!
“And the peace of God,
which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.”
(Philippians 4:7 NIV)
If I present all my requests to my heavenly Father with thanksgiving, I will experience His holy peace, power, and presence. He warns me to not be anxious about anything, because He is always with me. There is nothing too difficult or too big for Him. He lives in the details. He created the atoms and molecules of all life. I will rest in Him. I hope you will, too!
“But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your
love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.”
(Psalm 59:16 NIV)
Paul David Tripp wrote, “Each morning the people of God are blessed with mercy from the Lord that is form-fit for the trials, opportunities, pressures, obligations, griefs, and temptations of that day.” Jesus is our only Reason for Hope. He will deliver me from all the storms that attack me and try to rob me of my peace in Him. I will trust Jesus. I hope you will, too!
“I know, O Lord, that a man’s life is
not his own;
it is not for man to direct his steps.”
(Jeremiah 10:23 NIV)
Proverbs reminds me in chapter 16 that I can plan my daily course, and even my life’s path, but my heavenly Father will determine each step along the way. The steps, the minute details are in the hands of my God. He gives me the vision, then lays out the steps before me. I dare not wander away. I will stay close to Jesus today. I hope you will, too!
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people,
holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience.”
(Colossians 3:12 NIV)
What is the main purpose of a dress or slacks and a shirt? I like to think it is a cover, something for my true appearance to hide behind. What can compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience cover up? What nastiness in my heart needs to be camouflaged behind holiness? Only the Holy Spirit can clothe me in a way that glorifies my Lord. I will put on the clothes of the Spirit today. I hope you will, too!
by Macy Johnson
“As the toes were partly iron and
partly clay,
so this kingdom will be
partly strong and partly brittle.”
(Daniel 2:42 NIV)
Jeff, my
husband, and I relaxed in our rocking chairs on the porch early one Saturday
morning. Storms had passed in the night and water dripped from the trees in a
pitter-pat rhythm. Hummingbirds flitted around the lantana and salvia bushes,
back and forth, to and from our feeders full of nectar.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and
knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the
door,
I will come in and eat with him, and he
with me.”
(Revelation 3:20 NIV)
Oh, the sovereignty of God! There is a sweet peace when I think of Jesus coming to me. I cannot save myself. In fact, I have pushed the Holy Spirit away too many times to count. He never gives up. He pursues those He loves. I will listen for His knock and ask Him to live in my heart. I hope you will, too!
