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Jan 4, 2005
Faith
Isaiah 41:10 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.
Psalm 139:9-10 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
You've probably heard this quote before -- "I believe in the sun when it's not shining, I believe in love even when I feel it not, I believe in God even when he is silent." It goes with what's on my heart today.
Have you ever felt that God was silent or far away, or that you couldn't feel or see Him in Your present circumstances? Or the world's circumstances?
David in Psalm 13 certainly knew this feeling.
Psalm 13:1-2 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look at David's response to these feelings. He chose to trust the Lord anyway, he chose to believe God was still there even when God seemed silent.
Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Here's a neat idea about faith. Maybe faith is reaching out for the Lord's hand in the darkness, believeing in the Lord and His love for each of us, especially when God seems silent or not present. Next time God seems silent in Your life, remember His hand is still there waiting for you to reach out. Trust in the Lord, reach out for His hand, let His hand protect, guide and hold you fast.
Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we a have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
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Thank You Lord for Your mighty hand, reaching out for us to hold us fast. Next time circumstances close in on us and God seems to be silent, help each heart remember David. Help each heart persevere, trust in the Lord and reach out to take hold of that mighty hand. Fill each of our hearts with hope today. Pour out Your love on each of us thru the power of the Holy Spirit you have given each. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Trust in the Lord!
Believe.
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Jan 4, 2005
Faith
Isaiah 41:10 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.
Psalm 139:9-10 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
You've probably heard this quote before -- "I believe in the sun when it's not shining, I believe in love even when I feel it not, I believe in God even when he is silent." It goes with what's on my heart today.
Have you ever felt that God was silent or far away, or that you couldn't feel or see Him in Your present circumstances? Or the world's circumstances?
David in Psalm 13 certainly knew this feeling.
Psalm 13:1-2 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look at David's response to these feelings. He chose to trust the Lord anyway, he chose to believe God was still there even when God seemed silent.
Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
Here's a neat idea about faith. Maybe faith is reaching out for the Lord's hand in the darkness, believeing in the Lord and His love for each of us, especially when God seems silent or not present. Next time God seems silent in Your life, remember His hand is still there waiting for you to reach out. Trust in the Lord, reach out for His hand, let His hand protect, guide and hold you fast.
Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we a have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
___________
Thank You Lord for Your mighty hand, reaching out for us to hold us fast. Next time circumstances close in on us and God seems to be silent, help each heart remember David. Help each heart persevere, trust in the Lord and reach out to take hold of that mighty hand. Fill each of our hearts with hope today. Pour out Your love on each of us thru the power of the Holy Spirit you have given each. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Trust in the Lord!
Believe.
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