I don’t have to tell you I’m significant

God knows everything about me, and he reminds me that I am significant.  Sometimes we just need that little reminder and God is more than happy to give it to us.

• Psalm 147:4 – He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.
• Psalm 147:5 – Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
• Psalm 19:1 -The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

SIGNIFICANT

The heavens declare the glory of the Lord, the skies proclaim the works of his hand, stars flung into space in creative beauty their numbers determined by our God, each one known to him by name, his might and power proclaiming his majesty and how much more will he remember me, I don’t have to tell you I’m significant, my magnificent God knows me, my name is engraved on his hand, my path hand chosen by God in advance, the exact moment of my birth determined by our ever present God, I am a serious contender working for my Saviour who is great in mighty and power with unlimited understanding, demanding my all, I answer his call, a heavenly citizen more than significant to our magnificent God

Your condition is not terminal

God fills my heart with joy, if you are not a Christian you probably don’t understand that but it’s so true.  All our lives we spend seeking joy and happiness but it won’t come, you will never be satisfied until God is in your life.  You may find temporary happiness but until you find God it will be just that, temporary.

• Psalm 90:14 – Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
• Psalm 23:3 – He restores my soul
• Psalm 94:19 – When anxiety was great within me your consolation brought me joy.
• Psalm 62:5 – Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him

GOD SHAPED HOLE

I can’t explain God’s love but you can experience it for yourself, I can’t give you my faith but you can have your own, I can’t give you peace but I know a  man who can,  I can show you the way, point you in the right direction but you have to make that decision, until you do one thing’s for certain, that God shaped hole in your heart ain’t gonna get filled with sex or drugs or alcohol, it’s not gonna get filled with money or fame, there’s only one way to fill that void, one way to destroy the pain, ask God to take it away, ask God into your heart to fill that part of you that is missing, your condition is not terminal, see God’s love for you is personal his power to change you is unimaginable and OK so it may not be fashionable to wear a label, but being God’s child isn’t that desirable?  God is more than able to fix you, he’s waiting to meet you as you finally acknowledge you really do need him, he’s waiting to show you his eternal Kingdom, to give you peace here on earth, another opportunity a new second birth.

As I stared into the darkness you called my name

I was sent a verse this morning by a friend who knows that I am struggling at present.  It’s a verse from Psalm 94 and is something to be grasped and believed.

• Psalm 94: 18-19- When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy

I was watching a clip of the Brownlee brothers in the World Series triathlon today, the younger brother was struggling to finish and his older brother came up behind him, helped him on the last stretch and then selflessly pushed his brother over the line in front of himself to take second place.

That’s exactly what God does for us, he knows our struggles, he sees and recognises the signs and then he comes alongside us and supports us to reach the finish line.  Not only that, I think also like Alistair Brownlee he will push us lovingly over the line, doesn’t matter where we finish the race as long as we finish but I believe God will allow us to enjoy that moment while he stands behind us in the shadows like a proud and loving Father.

SLIPPING

When I felt my foot slipping you came with your love and held me steady until I was ready to take another step, you didn’t let me fall, you didn’t let me falter, your love towards me didn’t alter, you quietly and lovingly supported me, feeling my anxiety you blanketed me with love and care, yes you were there, as I stared into the darkness you called my name the same way you took my shame when I knelt at the foot of the cross, lost but not alone I remember that I have known days like these before and have been restored, Lord hear my cry and let me lie still, quieten my mind and help me find peace, belief, fill me with joy once more, reveal to me your view of me and let me be secure in the knowledge of your love, remembering all that you have told me, imagining you singing over me with love as you wrap your arm around me and guide me to the finishing line of victory drawing me safely into a heavenly eternity.

Forgiveness sought, forgiveness given, sin forgotten

Sometimes we may have a bad day or things don’t go to plan and as humans we give ourselves a hard time.  I believe that God doesn’t want us to, once we give our worries and sins to him they are forgiven and forgotten by God.  “Forgotten” why then do we continue to worry about them, why do we ask forgiveness for the same sin twice!  God has forgotten it, move on….

Psalm 143:8 – Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Lamentations 3:22-24 – Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’

ON FIRE

Move on, forgiven and forgotten, God is not one who constantly reminds us of our sin, forgiveness sought, forgiveness given, sin forgotten, his compassions new every morning and every morning brings word of his unfailing love, for I have put my trust in him, the Lord is my portion, my inheritance, great is his faithfulness, and every morning he loves me the same, no blame, no shame, I’m becoming more like Jesus every day, he’s transforming my story to bring him the glory and all glory be to God on high who stands by me through the storms, may I never be accused of being lukewarm for God lest he spit me out, I am on fire for my Saviour may my behaviour display that burning passion, may I be on fire for Jesus and for life everlasting.

I run to you in times of trouble

Love Sunday Psalms (my daily reading is always a Psalm on Sundays) and today we were looking at Psalm 59.  The commentary on this was interesting as in “consider this Psalm from the viewpoint of someone living in a land where Christians are persecuted” and it made it so much more real.  In the UK it is relatively safe to be a Christian, we are not persecuted but so many of God’s children have a much different experience.  Praise God that he is our strength whatever we are going through

OUR STRENGTH

God is my strength when I am weary, my safe place when I am insecure, my stronghold, my safety net, he is the Lord my God and he gives me his strength.  I come before you God with thanksgiving in my heart, I shout joyfully with Psalms, for the Lord my God holds me in the palms of his hands, I sing of your strength, I celebrate your love, I run to you in times of trouble, humble myself before your throne knowing I am never alone, knowing you’ve walked with me throughout my earthly history, knowing that you’ve already gained the victory, knowing that nothing happens by my strength but yours oh Lord, nothing is achieved by my power yet you have empowered me to claim victory over the enemy, on earth as in heaven you have given me power and authority, you are my strength, my place of safety, you took my frailty and prepared me to face the enemy

Darkness is alive with God’s radiance

My reading this morning was Psalm 56 and the one verse that stood out for me was the last verse.

Psalm 56:13 – You have saved me from death. You have kept me from tripping and falling. Now I can live with you in the light that leads to life. 

Amen to that, we serve a God who has already saved us from death, is constantly looking out for us to prevent us from stumbling or falling in our faith and who leads us to life eternal.  We can live in the light, away from all the past shame, regret or blame, we are radiant and our faces never covered in shame…

Psalm 34:5 – Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame

WALK IN THE LIGHT 

When you walk with God you walk in the light, doesn’t matter whether it’s day or night, walking with God is an amazing experience, darkness is alive with his radiance, his name enough to light up the darkest moments of your life and in times of worry or strife God’s name shifts your focus to see the light, the light of the world who delivered you from sin and shame, the same God keeps you from stumbling and falling, he’s been calling your name since before you were born, turn your eyes to God and you will be rewarded, following God is not for the fainthearted but once with him you’ll never want to be parted, he saved you from death and is the breath of life, yes he is the best and his light is ablaze in my heart, I am perfectly and wonderfully made, confident in the grace of my God who lights my path through good and bad, sad times or times of great joy, God’s destroyed the enemy and leads me safely by still waters, along the paths I need to follow away from evil and back to the light, he’s all that is good and pure and right and I can freely live with God in the light that leads me to eternal life.

Held in the palm of your hand, where I can look and see my own name engraved

My online reading today started with a reference to Psalm 18:2.  I am also doing a prayer assignment which today really honed in on God’s protection and love and included the other bible verses listed below.  This is just a handful of so many verses that show how much God loves us and how he is watching out for us.  I suppose it really hits home that God knows that we live in a difficult world, he knows that as humans we will falter at times and take our eyes off him and so we need constant reminders of how much he cares for us…

Psalm 18:2 – You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter’

Psalm 34:7 – The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them.

Psalm 121:8 – The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.

Psalm 138:7 – Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me.

Proverbs 3:25-26 – Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

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.

Isaiah 54:17 – no weapon forged against you will prevail and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and this is their vindication from me,’
declares the Lord.

HELD

Held in the palm of your hand, where I can look and see my own name engraved, saved by your grace and I look to your face, fix my eyes on Jesus and your unconditional love, I am safe in your holy room behind the curtain, no longer apart from your certain and sure love, held securely in the arms of a solid God, you are my rock and salvation, ruler of all nations of whom or what shall I fear or dread, trouble may come but trouble will go, you protect me from the anger of my foes, you save me from disaster and ruin, I have no fears, I’m not dismayed for no weapon formed against me will prevail, all accusers will be refuted and I know you have noticed me, sent your angels to encamp around me, protecting me, keeping me from falling, you are calling me, stretch out your right hand towards me, you love me and I declare that you are with me, shielding and protecting me, hemming me in from in front and behind, watching my comings and goings with the eyes of a knowing God, you walk beside me as a friend, defend me as a mighty warrior, uphold me as a loving Father, I claim your victory over every scheme of the enemy for I know that you are championing me, by your grace I am free, through your mercy I am redeemed.