Words of Encouragement and Thoughts (6)
- Thread starter Moriah Ruth 777
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~ MORNING DEVOTION ~
Satisfied and Strengthened
May the Lord strengthen your frame and heal your soul.
May He satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land.
May you receive all He so lovingly pours out on you and become like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
And may many be nourished by your life and come to know Jesus more intimately because of your healed, whole life.
Live full of faith and free in Him today!
Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
JEREMIAH 17: 14
(BLESSINGS FOR THE MORNING- Susie Larson)
Satisfied and Strengthened
May the Lord strengthen your frame and heal your soul.
May He satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land.
May you receive all He so lovingly pours out on you and become like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
And may many be nourished by your life and come to know Jesus more intimately because of your healed, whole life.
Live full of faith and free in Him today!
Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
JEREMIAH 17: 14
(BLESSINGS FOR THE MORNING- Susie Larson)
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The Ultimate Rescue Net
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him(Psalm 34:8, esv)!
When we go through hard times, we need truths to cling to for dear life. We need the truth of God’s presence: He is always with us. We need the truth of God’s sovereignty: He is in absolute control and ordering the circumstances of our lives. And we need the truth of God’s goodness, which takes us close to God’s heart. God’s goodness is the ultimate rescue net under all of life’s experiences. No matter what we face, soon we will see and say, “God is so good.”
The goodness of God is stamped all over the Bible. Let’s do a flyby of Scripture that boasts in the goodness of the Lord.
God’s goodness is the eventual conclusion of every generation of His children.
“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations”(Psalm 100:5). Every generation learns the truth of God’s goodness. You might not think it now, but if you’re one of God’s children, then you’re going to figure it out by the end of your life—God is good. Before your last day, “God is good” will come from your lips. He may have to take you through a lot to get you to that place, but eventually you will conclude, “The Lord does all things well; He is good.” Everything He allowed, everything He withheld, every difficult season, every stretching circumstance, He meant for good, because He is good. His disposition is kindness. His default action is for your benefit. He’s good!
God’s goodness is something He wants us to experience.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him”(Psalm 34:8)! God invites us, “Taste! Sample and see. Find out for yourself that I am good.” This isn’t mental; it’s experiential. Taste it!
God’s goodness is all over what He does.
“The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made”(Psalm 145:9). God may not be super-fast in answering our frantic questions: “Why did You allow this, God? When will this trial end?” But in everything, overarching everything, are His goodness and mercy.
God’s goodness may not be immediately obvious.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him”(Lamentations 3:25). Wait for God. Too often we rush His agenda: “I have to see it now, God! You have ten days to show me You’re good, or I’m out of here.” God doesn’t respond to bullying, and our ultimatums don’t leave Him shaking. That’s not how it works. Because God is good, even His timetable is good—but we can only see this after events have transpired. We have to learn to pray, “Father, I choose to wait for You, because I know You are good, and that includes what You do and when You do it.”
God’s goodness is a refuge, and He is aware of the people who find it.
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him”(Nahum 1:7). As God watches our lives, He points to us and says, “She’s trusting,” or “He’s not,” or “He’s trusting a bit,” or “She did last Thursday.” He knows those who are taking His promises to heart. He’s proving the Word of God in our lives. He knows the people who are resting in and the people who are resisting His promises. Stronghold is what God’s goodness looks like to the enemy on the outside; refuge is what God’s goodness looks like to us on the inside. “He knows” in this context doesn’t just mean He recognizes but also that He draws near in intimate fellowship. God’s character is our protection.
Have life’s difficulties caught you off guard? Do you wonder today if God is good? This is a life raft in the storm, a truth you can cling to, come what may: God is good.
Journal
Father, by faith I affirm that You are good. Even when life is hard, You are still and always good. Your goodness is over all You do. I choose to wait for You, because I know You are good, and that includes what You do and when You do it. You are my stronghold and protection, and I choose to take refuge in You. Because You are good, I can trust You, knowing You want what’s best for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Our Journey with Pastor James MacDonald
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him(Psalm 34:8, esv)!
When we go through hard times, we need truths to cling to for dear life. We need the truth of God’s presence: He is always with us. We need the truth of God’s sovereignty: He is in absolute control and ordering the circumstances of our lives. And we need the truth of God’s goodness, which takes us close to God’s heart. God’s goodness is the ultimate rescue net under all of life’s experiences. No matter what we face, soon we will see and say, “God is so good.”
The goodness of God is stamped all over the Bible. Let’s do a flyby of Scripture that boasts in the goodness of the Lord.
God’s goodness is the eventual conclusion of every generation of His children.
“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations”(Psalm 100:5). Every generation learns the truth of God’s goodness. You might not think it now, but if you’re one of God’s children, then you’re going to figure it out by the end of your life—God is good. Before your last day, “God is good” will come from your lips. He may have to take you through a lot to get you to that place, but eventually you will conclude, “The Lord does all things well; He is good.” Everything He allowed, everything He withheld, every difficult season, every stretching circumstance, He meant for good, because He is good. His disposition is kindness. His default action is for your benefit. He’s good!
God’s goodness is something He wants us to experience.
“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him”(Psalm 34:8)! God invites us, “Taste! Sample and see. Find out for yourself that I am good.” This isn’t mental; it’s experiential. Taste it!
God’s goodness is all over what He does.
“The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made”(Psalm 145:9). God may not be super-fast in answering our frantic questions: “Why did You allow this, God? When will this trial end?” But in everything, overarching everything, are His goodness and mercy.
God’s goodness may not be immediately obvious.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him”(Lamentations 3:25). Wait for God. Too often we rush His agenda: “I have to see it now, God! You have ten days to show me You’re good, or I’m out of here.” God doesn’t respond to bullying, and our ultimatums don’t leave Him shaking. That’s not how it works. Because God is good, even His timetable is good—but we can only see this after events have transpired. We have to learn to pray, “Father, I choose to wait for You, because I know You are good, and that includes what You do and when You do it.”
God’s goodness is a refuge, and He is aware of the people who find it.
“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him”(Nahum 1:7). As God watches our lives, He points to us and says, “She’s trusting,” or “He’s not,” or “He’s trusting a bit,” or “She did last Thursday.” He knows those who are taking His promises to heart. He’s proving the Word of God in our lives. He knows the people who are resting in and the people who are resisting His promises. Stronghold is what God’s goodness looks like to the enemy on the outside; refuge is what God’s goodness looks like to us on the inside. “He knows” in this context doesn’t just mean He recognizes but also that He draws near in intimate fellowship. God’s character is our protection.
Have life’s difficulties caught you off guard? Do you wonder today if God is good? This is a life raft in the storm, a truth you can cling to, come what may: God is good.
Journal
- By the end of life, every child of God concludes that He is good. Are you there yet? To what extent do you believe in the absolute goodness of God?
- God wants us to taste and see that He is good. How have you experienced the goodness of God?
Father, by faith I affirm that You are good. Even when life is hard, You are still and always good. Your goodness is over all You do. I choose to wait for You, because I know You are good, and that includes what You do and when You do it. You are my stronghold and protection, and I choose to take refuge in You. Because You are good, I can trust You, knowing You want what’s best for me. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Our Journey with Pastor James MacDonald
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The Watershed of History
Psalm 129:1–2, 5–6
“Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up.” Let Israel now say, “Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me. May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward, let them be like grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up.” NASB
There’s a very important principle contained in those verses. God identifies Himself with His people, even when His people are weak and persecuted. God does not turn away from them. And the way that we treat His people is reckoned by God as the way that we treat Him. We cannot oppose Zion; we cannot oppose God’s people and God’s purposes in this earth and have the blessing of God.
The Scripture says there, “May all who hate Zion be like grass upon the housetops which withers before it grows up.” The prosperity of those who oppose God’s purposes and God’s people is very short lived. They may begin to sprout like the grass, but it’s the grass on the housetops which really has no soil to grow in and as soon as the sun rises, it withers and they are left there like a relic of something that could have been great but has failed to achieve greatness.
The key to greatness, both individual and national, is to identify with God’s purposes and God’s people, and that means the people that God is restoring and bringing back to their land, to their city, the people of Israel and the church of Jesus Christ. That’s where God’s heart is, and as we identify with that we are blessed of God.
—Derek Prince
Psalm 129:1–2, 5–6
“Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up.” Let Israel now say, “Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me. May all who hate Zion be put to shame and turned backward, let them be like grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up.” NASB
There’s a very important principle contained in those verses. God identifies Himself with His people, even when His people are weak and persecuted. God does not turn away from them. And the way that we treat His people is reckoned by God as the way that we treat Him. We cannot oppose Zion; we cannot oppose God’s people and God’s purposes in this earth and have the blessing of God.
The Scripture says there, “May all who hate Zion be like grass upon the housetops which withers before it grows up.” The prosperity of those who oppose God’s purposes and God’s people is very short lived. They may begin to sprout like the grass, but it’s the grass on the housetops which really has no soil to grow in and as soon as the sun rises, it withers and they are left there like a relic of something that could have been great but has failed to achieve greatness.
The key to greatness, both individual and national, is to identify with God’s purposes and God’s people, and that means the people that God is restoring and bringing back to their land, to their city, the people of Israel and the church of Jesus Christ. That’s where God’s heart is, and as we identify with that we are blessed of God.
—Derek Prince
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Shalico2007
Jesucristo es el Rey! Que Dios te Bendiga!
I'm glad you like the postings, Moriah. I like all of your uplifting and encouragement, as well. It's so nice how God places people in each other's pathway. And also thank you for starting the thread.
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Shalico2007
Jesucristo es el Rey! Que Dios te Bendiga!
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This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums
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