Abba, Father...

 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”  35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”—Mark 14:32-36

Over the course of years, I have read this section of Scripture many times. I confess to never noticing that Jesus’ calls His Father, Abba, in verse 36.  

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.

Jesus was about to endure the full fury of God’s wrath on our behalf.   Verse 34 tells us that His soul was exceedingly sorrowful even to death.  Yet, Jesus, in His soul crushing anguish uses an intimate, endearing term for Father that is equivalent to the English word “Daddy”. 

He used this term despite knowing the terrible, terrible ordeal He was about to go through..

He used this term despite knowing that He would shortly suffer abandonment by His Father on our behalf.  

How could Jesus submit to His Father’s will?  Because He knew who His Father was...He understood His nature and His character.  He could be trusted.  Jesus, in His humanity, submitted Himself here in the Garden of Gethsemane completely into the care of Him who judges righteously...His Abba, Father...His Daddy.  

Father,

Thank you for dying on the cross for me. Thank you for suffering abandonment from Your Father so that I would never have to. Thank you for providing me a way to live forever with You in heaven.  Thank you that nothing can separate me from Your love. Thank you that you bear my griefs and carry my sorrows.  Thank you for Your Spirit who dwells in me and Is ALWAYS with me.  Thank you that You are my “Daddy”.  Thank you that because I am Your child, I can, submit to Your perfect will for me as my Jesus exampled. 

I confess, Father, that some of my physical pain and suffering is likely because my heart is carrying burdens that are too heavy for me...burdens that are Yours and not mine to bear. Help me to humble myself under Your mighty hand...casting all my care upon You, because You care for me.  You are my Daddy...my Beloved.  Fill me with Your fullness.  Saturate my heart with Your word. I want to be so secure in who You are...so convinced of Your love that fear cannot penetrate my heart.  I want to truly want Your will and not mine because You DO KNOW BEST. You see what I can’t. You know what I don’t. You are God and I am not.  Root and ground me in Your love. Put Your song of grace in my heart. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me to see Your lovingkindness before my eyes.

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.—Ephesians 3:16-21

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him

For the help of His countenance.

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 42:5-8

Be like Moses...

 15 Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying: 16 “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.” 18 And the LORD said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. 20 And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him—all the congregation.”—Numbers 27:15-21

Beloved...May we be like Moses...even facing his own death he considered the people. Instead of arguing with the Lord on his own behalf, Moses accepted God’s decision and advocated for the people.  He wanted them to have a good leader to shepherd them after He was gone. His words in verses 16 and 17 brought  the care and compassion of Jesus to mind.

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.—Matthew 9:36

None Can Stand Against Us...

 Then came the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, from the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and these were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the leaders and all the congregation, by the doorway of the tabernacle of meeting, saying: 3 “Our father died in the wilderness; but he was not in the company of those who gathered together against the LORD, in company with Korah, but he died in his own sin; and he had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers. 5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD.  6 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 7 “The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right; you shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.—Numbers 27:1-7

I have always loved this story.  There is more to it further on in Numbers, but right here we see that the daughters of Zelophehad knew they mattered to God.  Despite the fact that at this time in the history of the world, women had no more rights than cattle, these women brought their problem to the leaders of Israel...to the door of the tabernacle of meeting...to the place where God dwelt and was honored...He would hear them. 

So Moses brought their case before the Lord...He didn’t have an answer for the daughters, but He knew God did. I love God’s reply...the daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right!  You shall surely give them a possession of inheritance among their father’s brothers, and cause the inheritance of their father to pass to them.  

Can you imagine what those words meant to not only the heart of each of the daughters, but also to the hearts of all the women of Israel. The daughters of Zelophehad’s earthly father was dead but they had a Father in Heaven who heard their cries and was on their side. He was their Protector and Provider.  He would never leave them nor forsake them. 

Beloved, it is the same for each of us.  We serve an all powerful, all knowing, everywhere present God. He SEES us!!  HE hears us!!  HE loves us!!  HE is for us!!  Truly, none can stand against us.  Go to Him.  Cast your care upon Him. He cares for You. 

Praying today that God would be my strong habitation to which I continually resort. 

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress;

My God, in Him I will trust."

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers,

And under His wings you shall take refuge;

His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,

Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

And ten thousand at your right hand;

But it shall not come near you.

8 Only with your eyes shall you look,

And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge,

Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

10 No evil shall befall you,

Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.

12 In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,

The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble;

I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him,

And show him My salvation.—Psalm 91

Waiting Upon My God...

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.--Psalm 34:5

Father,

Thank you for this verse...shame disappears when I look at you because in You there is neither darkness nor fear.  In You even the night is light about me and Your perfect love casts out fear.   I look to You, Father, and I am helped.  You look upon the humble and contrite heart...you save those who seek Your face in sincerity and truth.  When I focus my gaze on You, Your light continually flows to me and I am radiant.  You, O Lord, put Your light in my heart.

As a maid servant looks to her mistress, let my eyes wait upon You until You have mercy on me.  You alone are God and there is no other besides You.  I will look unto You, my Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith.  I will look unto Him who endured the cross for the salvation of my soul, despising the shame!  Help me Father, not to grow weary or faint...Bring to my remembrance the hostility Your Son faced...Help me to recall that I have not yet suffered to bloodshed as He did, striving against sin.  Help me to press on knowing that You have a purpose in all my trials and tribulations.

What a joy and a privilege if someone might see Your light in my life and look to You and be changed....

Brought Me up Out of the Horrible Pit....

 “God is not a man, that He should lie,

Nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do?

Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

20 Behold, I have received a command to bless;

He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.—Numbers 23:19-20

Here in the context of book of Numbers, God is reaffirming His faithfulness to the Abrahamic Covenant and his purpose to bless Israel. (Genesis 12:1-3). For us today it is a reminder that our God always keeps His word. All of the promises of God, the Bible tells us, are yes and amen in Jesus, His Son.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but the word of God will by no means pass away. It abides forever.  

As I read verse 19 then, my heart was glad!  God is NOT a man! I am a human and without the Spirit of God in my heart, I am full of every manner of sin...unreliable, insufficient, weak, hopeless and helpless.  

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (KJV). 

The Hebrew word for  “desperately wicked” can be translated “incurably sick”.  We are totally depraved...Romans illustrates this point well. 

“They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”—Romans 1:29-32

“What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.’ ‘Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.’ ‘The poison of vipers is on their lips.’ ‘Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.’ ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know.’ ‘There is no fear of God before their eyes.’”—Romans 3:9-18

Are you beginning to see why my heart rejoiced as I read Numbers 23:19?  God, in stark contrast to us, is holy.  He is faithful...even when we are not.  He cannot lie and He does not change. He is the SAME...yesterday today and forever.  How comforting is that!!  What He says, ALWAYS comes to pass.  We can trust Him.  

Beloved, the condition of our human heart is without an earthly remedy.  God’s supernatural intervention is needed...without it we are destined for an eternity in hell. 

For the wages of sin is death—Romans 6:23a

The Lord, in His love, mercy, justice and grace, however, has provided a way for us to be healed and to live forever with Him in heaven.

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Romans 6:23b

Because of His great love, I stand before Him justified and forever grateful. He has shown me the path of life. In His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forevermore. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.—John 3:16-17

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.—Ephesians 2:1-10

1 I waited patiently for the LORD;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

3 He has put a new song in my mouth—

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust,

And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works

Which You have done;

And Your thoughts toward us

Cannot be recounted to You in order;

If I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered.

6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;

My ears You have opened.

Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.

7 Then I said, "Behold, I come;

In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

8 I delight to do Your will, O my God,

And Your law is within my heart."—Psalm 40:1-8

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.—Jeremiah 31:33

20 Our soul waits for the LORD;

He is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him,

Because we have trusted in His holy name.

22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,

Just as we hope in You.—Psalm 33:20-22

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.—Romans 8:1-11

The Eye of the Lord is Upon Them That Fear Him and Hope in His Mercy...

 He does not delight in the strength of the horse;

He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

In those who hope in His mercy.--Psalm 147:10-11

I so love this.  What an encouragement for us to place our trust in Him!  Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him and hope in His mercy.  Our soul waits for Him...He is our help and our shield. Our hearts will rejoice in Him because we have trusted in His holy name. 

Our God's eyes search to and fro over the entire earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal toward Him. He knows and sees our inward man.  When we give Him our hearts and place our trust in Him...we give Him the glory...we magnify His name on the earth. We can shout for joy and be glad because we favor His righteous cause...we can say continually, let the Lord be magnified who takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.  We who know we are wretched, poor, miserable, blind and naked can magnify His name by clinging to Him!  Are you seeing His mercy and grace to us in this.  How kind and tenderhearted of our Father to make the one thing that we really need to do anyway because of our wretched estate, the thing that glorifies His name.  Oh, but how we resist our weakness and fraility!  How often do we say in our own pride and arrogance instead,  I am rich and in need of nothing.  

Beloved, the God who made heaven and earth is the God of the poor and needy...of the broken and contrite heart. He delights when we trust in Him...when we depend on His wisdom and His power and place all of our hope in Him. Consolation...and I love that word because it reminds me of the kind of comfort you give a crying child...IS IN HIM.  Blessed are we if the God of Jacob is our help and our hope!!

The Stone Which the Builders Rejected...

 Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that he might receive some of the fruit of the vineyard from the vinedressers. And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.  And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.'  But those vinedressers said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard.  "Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this Scripture: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. THIS WAS THE LORD'S DOING, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?" And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He had spoken the parable against them. So they left Him and went away.--Mark 12:1-12

The owner sent servants to collect fruit from His vineyard.  The ones sent were either beaten or killed by the servants of the tenant farmer.  The owner then sent His Son...they killed him too. What would the owner of the vineyard do? He would destroy the vinedressers and give His vineyard to others. Isaiah explains the vineyard reference...

 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.--Isaiah 5:7

The man who planted the vineyard was God and  the vineyard was Israel.  The hedge set around it was the law of Moses...which protected them and separated them from the Gentiles.  The vinedressers were the Pharisees and the religious leaders.  


Jesus speaks  prophetically in verse 10 about His rejection and death by the leaders of Israel...He was the stone which the builders of Israel rejected.  After His resurrection He was given pre-eminence, His Father made Him the chief cornerstone in the church. Read below what Peter says in chapter 4 of Acts.


 "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." --Acts 4:10-12

Now the Jewish leaders understood what Jesus was saying.  He was quoting Psalm 118 which speaks of the Messiah.  Jesus was applying these verses to Himself. In fact, they understood so well that they tried to lay hands on Him then but feared the people.  The very next section of Scripture shows a joining of bitter enemies...the Pharisees, the Saducees and the Herodians in a  plan to trick Jesus into saying something that could be used against Him.  

The beauty of this story is obvious...But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved...sent His Son not only to warn us but to die for us.  And not for us only, but also for the very ones who nailed Him to the cross. The story also highlights the Father's love and patience with His disobedient people by sending prophet after prophet to warn them that judgment would come. Unfortunately, we usually don't appreciate God's long suffering until it is too late. We also mistake God's longsuffering and patience for either indifference or inability.  God's longsuffering is His kindness to us.  His will is that none should perish.   When judgment does come it will fall on those who did not "reverence His Son."   Psalm 2 comes to mind here...I will end with it. Pay special attention to verses 10-12.

Psalm 2

The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

 ¹ Why do the nations rage,
         And the people plot a vain thing?
 ² The kings of the earth set themselves,
         And the rulers take counsel together,  
         Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
 ³ “Let us break Their bonds in pieces
         And cast away Their cords from us.”  
      
 ⁴ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
         The Lord shall hold them in derision.
 ⁵ Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
         And distress them in His deep displeasure:
 ⁶ “Yet I have set My King
         On My holy hill of Zion.”  
      
 ⁷ “I will declare the decree:
         The LORD has said to Me,  
         ‘You are My Son,  
         Today I have begotten You.
 ⁸ Ask of Me, and I will give You
         The nations for Your inheritance,  
         And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
 ⁹ You shall break them with a rod of iron;
         You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”  
      
 ¹⁰ Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
         Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
 ¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear,
         And rejoice with trembling.
 ¹² Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
         And you perish in the way,  
         When His wrath is kindled but a little.  
         Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Can you read those verses as well as the story above and not see that the Bible is a beautifully integrated message system that speaks of Jesus in one way or another on every page. Truly, it is a beautiful tapestry of His love for each of us.  Take the Psalmist advice...Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

God’s Perfect Placement...

Therefore you and your sons with you shall attend to your priesthood for everything at the altar and behind the veil; and you shall serve. I give your priesthood to you as a gift for service, but the outsider who comes near shall be put to death.—Numbers 18:7

There is often no accounting for where my thoughts goes as I read sometimes.  As I read verse 7 from Numbers 18 this morning, my mind traveled back to when I was six and was first beginning to notice (and evaluate) other people’s mothers.  I can remember allowing myself to think on what it would be like if they had been my mom.  No matter how nice that mom might have been, the thought of being her child instead of my own mom’s made me shudder.  I feel similarly when I compare my life, ministry, station and trials with those of others around me.  Thinking on being anywhere but where God has sovereignly placed me fills me with dread. That is such a good thing. 

I am thankful then, that it is God who gifts us with ministry. Wherever I am and whatever I face, I know that the good hand of God has placed me there. My God knows me. He knows where I would function best. I can trust Him to place me where my heart will be happy and my spirit content.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.—Philippians 3:11-13

FORGIVEN!

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

Whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,

And in whose spirit there is no deceit.—Psalm 32:1-2

This truth brings joy unspeakable to my heart EACH and EVERY time I contemplate it. 

Me...who was without hope, without God 

Me...who was weary and heavy laden...He bid to come to Him

Me...who was a dead in trespasses and sins...

He has forgiven and made ALIVE...

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.—Ephesians 2:4-9

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."—Matthew 11:28-30

He has pardoned my sins...they are cast behind His back and He remembers them no more.   I stand forever in His favor...justified...just as if I had never sinned.  I am now safely ensconced IN CHRIST and when God sees me...He sees not me, but His Son.  In Christ, I am perfectly reconciled to my awesome and wonderful Father in Heaven. I can enter His loving Presence boldly as His daughter to obtain mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need. There is no more condemnation and no more fear.  His perfect love surrounds me. All manner of blessings are now mine. The eternal God is my refuge, and underneath are His everlasting arms.  

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

9 He will not always strive with us,

Nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

12 As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father pities his children,

So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

14 For He knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust.—Psalm 103:8-14

17 Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'"—Revelation 3:17-22

There is No Fear in Love...

 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” 32 And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. 33 There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

1 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”—Numbers 13:31-33; 14:1-4

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.—1 John 4:18

Fear, cowardice and instability...all of us, like the Israelites, have been there.  Fear makes our thinking at best skewed and at worst chaotic.  We become like unbelievers running to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine.  We read, believe and feed on lies instead of immersing ourselves in the truth of our God’s word. We forget the ONE in Whom we believe and trust in our own abilities and schemes to protect us.  Praying today that each of us would look to our Lord and Savior.  That we draw near to Him...spending time with Him in His word, in worship and in prayer.  

Father,

How often does my mind go down wrong paths?  Paths of unbelief that lead to fear, grief and torment.  Paths where I worry about "evil tidings" lurking down the road...paths that lead me to be anxious and apprehensive rather than peaceful and serene.  Sometimes Father I am so afraid of what might lie ahead for me and for my loved ones...so afraid of pain and grief overtaking me and  being unable to bear up under it. 

Deliver me speedily, Father, from this kind of fear.  I never want to doubt Your promises to me or Your faithfulness.  I don't ever want to insinuate that You could forget one of Your children or withdraw Your hand of mercy.  As a believer I have been set free from this kind of fear.  You are my God and You are with me....I place my trust in You...in You I am confident.  I know that whatever may occur in my life, You, Father, will overrule it for good for me, your child.  Your word promises me this.  I do not have to be afraid of "evil tidings".  My heart is steadfast...fixed and trusting in Your mercy.  I am surrendered to Your will...Your desires for me, Father, are my desires.  I have learned that Your paths and Your ways are perfect.  I have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but I have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby I can cry out, Abba Father! You, my God, have not given me the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

You are my God of love who dwells in me and perfects Your love in my heart as I, abide in Your word and surrender to Your will.  Your will for me comes from Your heart of love...I will not fear.  I am confident that You who have begun a good work in me will continue it until it is finished when Your Son Jesus returns.

Do as seems good to You in my life Father...I trust You.  I leave it all in Your hands of love. Make me perfect me in Your love...

19 Oh, how great is Your goodness,

Which You have laid up for those who fear You,

Which You have prepared for those who trust in You

In the presence of the sons of men!

20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence

From the plots of man;

You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion

From the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the LORD,

For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!

22 For I said in my haste,

“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;

Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications

When I cried out to You.

23 Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!—Psalm 31:19-23