Remembering and Counting His Continual Gifts of Grace…

 to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening;—1 Chronicles 23:30

and with them Heman and Jeduthun and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His mercy endures forever;—1 Chronicles  16:41

At Jerusalem, where the ark was, Asaph and his brethren were appointed to attend, to minister before the ark continually, with songs of praise, as every day's work required,(vs 37)

Chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the Lord regularly...the King James says continually before the Lord!  Would that that was my heart!   That His praise would always be in my mouth and on my heart.  Good bye to bad attitudes...goodbye to discontented spirits...goodbye to complaining and self-focus. 

I so NEEDED this reminder this morning!

Father, your lovingkindness is always before my eyes!  Your graces toward me are steadfast and sure and as numerous as the the sand on the seashore.  By Your Spirit who lives within me, help me to see them and offer to You a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for each one.  Looking at me as I go about my day, causes my heart to sink and lose perspective...Help me to instead, look to You and remember your continual gifts of grace.  

Beloved…it is a grace to count graces...to purpose in our hearts to be thankful...but it is also the will of God for each one of us as believers. 

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.—John 1:16

Praise the LORD!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD?

Who can declare all His praise?—Psalm 106:1-2

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!——2 Corinthians 9:15

The Fear of the Lord Conquers Every Other Fear…

 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;

He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.—Psalm 112:4

My God is gracious, compassionate and righteous altogether…AND He cares for ME!  He is good and does good. Without the fear of the Lord, my heart would be burdened and filled with anxieties of every kind. I am blessed because He knows my name. I am blessed because He sees me through all that I face.  He protects me and surrounds me with His favor like a shield. Even though at times I sit in darkness, He is a light to me. The Lord my God enlightens my darkness. He sends out His light and truth and they lead me into the light of His marvelous Presence. He is my sure and steadfast Hope…the anchor of my soul. I rest secure, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Beloved…truly the fear of the Lord chases away every other fear.  Look to Him and be radiant.  Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. ❤️ Oh, Father!  Unite my heart to fear Your name.  

He will not be afraid of evil tidings;

His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.—Psalm 112:7

17 And your life would be brighter than noonday.

Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.

18 And you would be secure, because there is hope;—Job 11:17-18

May He Do What Is Good in His Sight…

 When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best and put them in battle array against the Syrians. 11 And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in battle array against the people of Ammon. 12 Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”—1 Chronicles 19:10-13

Some mornings I wake up and life just feels heavier and harder...like I am walking through a thick, unrelenting cloud that makes any movement at all difficult. Like Joab, the battle line is against me.  The enemy (me, myself and I) is both before me and behind me. I want to be strong for my family and others that God has sovereignly placed in my life, but all in that moment appears formidable and just too much to bear. The weight of all those things that “aren’t right” in my life seems to be resting on my shoulders. At times the word of God can even magnify my grief because truth is sometimes hard to swallow.   It reminds me over and over that I am not in control of anything.  My life and the lives of those I love are in His hands.  Most of the time, I KNOW this is such a good thing, but on mornings like this, the eyes of my heart can get lost in the weeds and forget.  I look at the earthly and not the eternal. I am as Warren Wiersbe aptly puts it…crucified on a cross between two thieves: Yesterday’s regret and tomorrow’s worries.”

God used the words of 1 Chronicles 19 to speak encouragement and truth to me this morning.  My Spirit lifted and my heart rejoiced as I read them. 

Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

AMEN! and I will write those words again…

And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

Such a perfect prayer!  

Beloved…It doesn’t matter that, at times, my world (and probably yours also), seem to be careening out of control.  We can trust that our God is not surprised by any of it and that all is under His sovereign control. His will for us comes from His heart of love.  Our job is to be obedient and do the next right thing...the results are ALWAYS up to Him. He is the God who performs all things for us and also makes perfect that which concerns us. May He do what is good in His sight. ❤️

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD I n the land of the living.  Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart.  Wait, I say, on the LORD!   

Ending with Ephesians 6:10-19 from the Amplified Bible. 

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. 11 Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. 13 Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. 14 So stand firm and hold your ground, HAVING TIGHTENED THE WIDE BAND OF TRUTH (personal integrity, moral courage) AROUND YOUR WAIST and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (an upright heart), 15 and having strapped on YOUR FEET THE GOSPEL OF PEACE IN PREPARATION [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. 16 Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

18 With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God's people.—Ephesians 6 10-18

The Lamp of the Lord….

 For you are my lamp, O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness.  (2 Samuel 22:29, ESV)

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid and attacked the Philistine and killed him. Then David's men swore to him, "You shall no longer go out with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel." (2 Samuel 21:17, ESV)

This verse always brings great comfort to my heart. What a blessing to know that when I sit in darkness my God will be a light to me.  Unto those who open their heart to God and believe there arises light in the darkness of this world. He give light to those who sit in the shadow of death and guides their feet in the way of peace. Here, however, is what I learned as I read today.  David was called the lamp of Israel. (2 Samuel 21:17) David gives all glory of that title to His God. God was David’s lamp.  David’s job like mine, like yours, is/was to reflect His light...the light of the glory of God. 

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6, ESV)

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (Revelation 21:22-23 ESV)

Seek the Lord and His Strength…

 1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD!

Call upon His name;

Make known His deeds among the peoples!

2 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;

Talk of all His wondrous works!

3 Glory in His holy name;

Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

4 Seek the LORD and His strength;

Seek His face evermore!—1 Chronicles 16:1-4

Oh Father...No matter where I am right now in my walk of faith, help me to love You more, trust You more and praise You more.  Draw me by Your lovingkindness deeper into Your Presence.  I don’t want to just read your word and forget it...I want to live it. I want it to become the very fabric of who I am.  Help me, as it says in Philippians, to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling for it is You who works in me both to do and to will for Your good pleasure.  Encourage my heart in this today, Father!  The closer I draw to You the more I see the ugliness of my own heart. The closer I draw to You, the more I see how little I love, how little I trust and how little I give You thanks and praise.  By Your Spirit of Grace, help me to be both a hearer and a doer of Your precious word.  Set my heart and my soul to seek You forevermore!  Set it to walk in Your perfect law of liberty which frees me from the power of sin and death and enables me to walk in Your love toward those around me.  Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore, love fulfills the law.  

Thank you, Abba, that You remember the prayers of my heart long after I have forgotten them. Thank you that nothing  overwhelms You. Thank you that all that goes on in my life goes through Your perfect hand of love first. Thank you that You rule and overrule all of it for my good. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

Seek the LORD and His strength;

Seek His face evermore!—Psalm 16:11

The Heartening Word of God…

  In spite of this they still sinned,

And did not believe in His wondrous works.

Therefore their days He consumed in futility,

And their years in fear.—Psalm 78:32-33

Thus says the LORD:

"Stand in the ways and see,

And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,

And walk in it;

Then you will find rest for your souls.

But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'—Jeremiah 6:16

Two different times in Israel’s history of apostasy they responded to God’s warnings in the same way...stubbornness and refusal.  Oh Father...we, even as believers, can be the same!  By your Spirit help us!  We are at times stubborn, prideful and I will add, FORGETFUL.  We want what we want and we FORGET that our very breath is in Your hand...we FORGET to be thankful and in so doing we STEP on You mercy. In both of the circumstances above, what was needed was Israel’s obedience.  It is the same for us today. 

I am so thankful to God for His word because my daily reading and meditation on it is the only thing that keeps me on the “old” paths.  God’s word keeps me from forgetting His laws and His goodness.  It reminds me of who my God is, who I am, and why I am here. The Spirit of God uses the word of God to help me stay the course and abide.  My sin disheartens me, the word of God heartens...it renews, re-minds, and transforms.  It teaches me to be wise in the ways of righteousness and keeps my days from futility and fear. 

O, that I would always follow hard after You, fleeing in my distress, to You, my strong refuge. May your mercy, O God, surround me just as I hope in You.  Blessed is the man who trusts in You.  It is all of grace! 

I Will Call Upon the Lord….

 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.—Psalm 18:3

Yesterday, before I went to sleep, the Holy Spirit took the first six words of the above verse and used them to bring me much peace. 

I will call upon the LORD…

It is difficult to explain the impact these simple words had on my heart as I read them last night and tucked them away for safekeeping. You can know something in your head, but still not really see or understand its true import.  Last night the Spirit opened the eyes of my understanding and enabled me to see and feel just a small portion of the greatness and goodness of God through these simple words.  What a gift we who are in Christ have!  We can call upon the Lord!  We can come boldly before His throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.  

Lately, my heart has been stirred and grieved for a “loved one” that is in the midst of a great trial. These simple words of David that brought me so much comfort last night on my own behalf, also brought me much comfort on behalf of my “loved one”. If I can cry out to my God, they can too!  As God is with me, He is with them also!  Love, grace, mercy, and peace are right there for the asking. I don’t have to feel anxious or helpless about anything or anyone in this life…ever. I can call upon the Lord!  He will hear my prayer.  He will intercede for me. He will do exceedingly abundantly above all that I can ask or even think in each and every person and situation I bring before Him. He loves them so much more than I ever could. He knows exactly what they need.  

To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.—Ps 25:1

He Giveth More Grace - Annie J Flint

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,

To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,

When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,

When we reach the end of our hoarded resources

Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,

Our God ever yearns His resources to share;

Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;

The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,

His power no boundary known unto men;

For out of His infinite riches in Jesus

He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

But I Will Remember…

 But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.”

11 I will remember the works of the LORD;

Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.

12 I will also meditate on all Your work,

And talk of Your deeds.

13 Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary;

Who is so great a God as our God? The 

14 You are the God who does wonders;

You have declared Your strength among the peoples.

15 You have with Your arm redeemed Your people,

The sons of Jacob and Joseph.

Selah—Psalm 77:10-15

Psalm 77 is the remembering psalm. In the first section of this Psalm the writer remembers God and is troubled.  He complains and his spirit is overwhelmed. 

7 Will the Lord cast off forever?

And will He be favorable no more?

8 Has His mercy ceased forever?

Has His promise failed forevermore?

9 Has God forgotten to be gracious?

Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?

Selah

Things begin to change in verse 10.  Here the psalmist purposes to focus on the Lord’s goodness toward him..on His steadfast love and past deliverances.  At this point the psalm ceases to be a lament and instead continues as a hymn of praise.  ❤️Asaph exchanges the spirit of heaviness for a garment of praise.❤️

My daughter and I were in a similar situation just yesterday.  In the middle of our complaining we purposed to take turns sharing thanksgivings instead. Like Asaph, even though nothing in our circumstances changed, our hearts were lightened and our spirits lifted.

Beloved..Life is a spiritual battle.  Trials, depression and discouragement are inevitable in this fallen world. But our God goes before us, is in us and fights for us. In Him, we are more than conquerors.  God’s love and grace are unfailing.  Bring your heart to Him who loves You with an everlasting love.  There has NEVER...no not EVER been a time when His sustaining grace has not met me.  I have never...again...no, not ever...gone to Him and come away uncomforted.

 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me;

Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,

And from the heights of Hermon,

From the Hill Mizar.

7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;

All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song shall be with me—

A prayer to the God of my life.

—Psalm 42:6-8

His waves and billows go over us but they will not overflow us. 

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name;

You are Mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.—Isaiah 43:1-2

“When my soul fainted within me,

I remembered the LORD;

And my prayer went up to You,

Into Your holy temple.—Jonah 2:7

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:8

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”—1 John 5:4

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 8:37-39

22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

24 "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,

"Therefore I hope in Him!"

25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

To the soul who seeks Him.—Lamentations 3:22-25

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.—Psalm 42:11

No Wisdom or Understanding or Counsel Against the Lord….

And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God."—Acts 5:38-39

In these very turbulent times I have found much comfort by meditating on the sovereignty of my God.  It is so good to be reminded that before the day even was, He has said, I am He;  I work and who will reverse it?  Truly there is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD.  Gamaliel’s advice to the Sanhedrin here was good.  If this plan or work is of men, it will come to nothing...but if it is of God, it cannot be overthrown—

Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, For God is with us."—Isaiah 8:10-12

God is with us!  “Our constantly changing world is controlled by our ever-present, all knowing, all powerful, and unchanging God. During our lifetime, we see objects fade, friends change, loved ones die, and both local and global unrest of many kinds.  I am so thankful that I can depend on God’s sovereign control over all.  He rules and overrules all for His good and precious purposes. His steadfast love to us, His children, never ceases.  Only when we understand this can we have real peace and security.  

Consider Caiphas’ unconscious and involuntary prophetic words in John 11...

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation."

49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

As high priest, Caiaphas was used by God to explain Jesus’ death even though Caiaphas didn’t realize what he was doing.  God rules and overrules. 

Scripture tells us that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."  Beloved, the counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.  

Winning is Depending…

Thanking God for this gem in the midst of genealogies in 1 Chronicles this morning. 

And they were helped against them, and the Hagrites were delivered into their hand, and all who were with them, for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.—1 Chronicles 5:20

These words hit my heart this morning. The armies of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh succeeded in battle because in their distress they cried out to God. He heard their cry because they put their trust in Him.  It really IS so simple.  Don’t trust in your own skills, in your own wisdom and in your own strength.  Pray and seek God’s wisdom, God’s direction and God’s strength.  Winning is in depending.  Winning is in remembering God and trusting in His will and His purposes for you. Trusting in me opens the door to pride. 

Father...some trust in chariots and some in horses...By Your gracious Spirit, Father, I will humbly place my trust in You!  I will be faithful because You are faithful.  You will hear my cry and I will be helped.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Closing with the words of one of my favorite hymns by Alan Jackson...

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear

And what a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged

Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness

Take it to the Lord in prayer

Not Cowed or Discouraged…

Peter and John had just been arrested and imprisoned and threatened by the rulers of the Jews for healing a lame man and for their boldness in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that they were released the next day because the council could find no way of punishing them because it was evident to all that a miracle had been performed.

17 But to keep it from spreading further among the people and the nation, let us [sternly] warn them not to speak again to anyone in this name." 18 So they sent for them, and commanded them not to speak [as His representatives] or teach at all in the name of Jesus [using Him as their authority]. 19 But Peter and John replied to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves]; 20 for we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard." 21 When the rulers and Council members had threatened them further, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because [of their fear] of the people, for they were all praising and glorifying and honoring God for what had happened; 22 for the man to whom this sign (attesting miracle) of healing had happened was more than forty years old.—Acts 4:17-22 AMP

I love that Peter and John by the power of the Spirit of God were not cowed or discouraged by the High Council’s threats, but emboldened and their companions with them. Read the next verses with me:

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

'Why did the nations rage,

And the people plot vain things?

26 The kings of the earth took their stand,

And the rulers were gathered together

Against the LORD and against His Christ.'

27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

SO ENCOURAGING!! SO EMBOLDENING!! SO UNIFYING!!  SO COMFORTING!!  

“And now, Lord, what do I wait for?

My hope is in You.—Psalm 39:7

The counsel of the LORD stands forever,

The plans of His heart to all generations.—Psalm 33:11

I am just gonna rest here today.  As Spurgeon is apt to say, I am gonna lay my head down on the pillow of my God’s sovereignty and immutability.  

Praising Him right now not only for His sovereign control over all but also for the comfort that always comes to our hearts as we look into and see the truth of His word.  Oh Father!