2 Timothy 1:7 “But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.”
John 14: 27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Dear God,
A bright busy new day, my heart is lighted with the sounds, sights and smells of spring bursting. I am grateful for the answers to my prayers, for peace and calmness that come to me and all of us, when we ask and believe all Your words and promises. I have become even more mindful that Your words can only be fulfilled to us as promised; because You are Almighty God. Isaiah 40: 8” The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” 1 Peter 1: 24 “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass…….”
To take these words in brings reassurance and peace, for You are always tuned in to our needs and every word You have ever uttered, will be delivered; as historical writings about Your interactions with humans reveal. I have found that when I focus away from me and my thoughts on the issue, and instead on You, as I give the issue, disquiet or worry to You to overturn, Your peace and quiet came as promised. When I remember that it is only Satan who gives disquiet or anxiety, and that Jesus delights to release our bonds, when I (we) reach up and say I cannot deal with this and ask Him to do so, release and comfort flow into the heart. Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Another text that has given me real encouragement has been, Psalm 31: 24 “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
Thank You, God for providing these inspired words for us, and for hearing and answering prayers.
Amen
Jeremiah 17: 14 “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise.”
Dear God,
I am impressed by Jeremiah, Your faithful prophet and witness, though he did not like being reviled and living with death threats, because he delivered Your dire warnings of the coming death and destruction to the people of Jerusalem. Even so, his heart was ever true to You, Lord all throughout, for he knew You loved him and had control of his life. It is encouraging to realize that I also have You in my heart, and can stay true to You, even if I was to face persecution, and inhumane treatment. I could do so by putting self aside, operating by Your strength and wisdom, being consecrated and enabled by You.
Praise Your glorious name, for You are Almighty God and all powerful. I suspect myself and many others, often do not know ourselves very well and may think we are strong for God, when our heart really is not fully committed to You. This was the case with the apostle Peter, when he predicted that others may deny Jesus, but he never would, and within hours he denied his Lord, three times. But Jesus did not leave him there, and he went on to become a fearless leader in establishing the new congregations of Christianity, after Jesus had returned to heaven. He had then humbled his heart before Jesus, and put his boastful impetuous self aside.
You know us so well God and say in Jeremiah 17: 9, 10 “The heart is deceitful above all things; and desperately wicked; and who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of is doings.”
You God, know me all through and know my heart need, please reveal to me my weakness and lack, so that I can repent, and You will heal me and I will come through trials, humbled and victorious in You. Then You will be able to use me, to be Your representative.
Amen