REST in the LORD, and WAIT patiently for HIM...

" Say to them that are of a fearful heart, BE STRONG, FEAR NOT..." Isaiah 35:4

This past week I have been thinking much about my need to rest in the LORD. I came across verse 7 while reading  Psalm 37.... and instantly found myself thanking the Lord for His beautiful reminder to me. The Lord knew my need this week... He knew I needed to be reminded that He is in control of all things.... and that I should rest.

In the midst of life's trials and afflictions, our hope is to rest in the Lord. How often I find myself not resting in the Lord....

Are you often in the same predicament? Fearing, fretting, faithless, uneasy?

I'm sure we all have fears that cause us to live moments of unrest.  But, oh  how much better for us to trust our heavenly Father. 

"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, 

that it cannot save; 

neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear."  

Isaiah 59:1

Our loving God knows and hears our need, our situation... Is He not capable to work all that concerns us for our good?

So often we are brought into paralyzing moments because of fear... but fear is not from God! 

Psalm 37 is a wonderful reminder of God's desire for us to put away fretting from our lives.We are to commit our ways to Him... and rest in Him.... and wait patiently for His deliverance. 

The best medication when we are fearful... is to rest.

" Finally, my brethren, 

be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might."

 Ephesians 6:10

Heavenly Father, thank you for being our refuge, in whom we find complete rest. Help us to be still and know that you are God in the midst of our trials. Make us to know the peace that keeps our minds and hearts in Christ Jesus by being anxious for nothing.

May you be encouraged to rest and wait patiently for the Lord to complete His work in your life.

~Ellie

And Jesus stood still...

"... For HIS WORD was with power." Luke 4: 31

I'm always amazed when I read through the life of the LORD JESUS, as related in the gospels, and find the same words I may have read over and over... once again renewed to me. 

This time around though, I was encouraged with a simple phrase I must have skipped over so many times,

And JESUS stood still...

For some reason when I read those words, I immediately noticed the Lord's ways... in the simple fact that HE stood still... 

In His stillness, He manifested His kindness...His compassion...His gentleness as He reached out towards those in need.

The Lord Jesus, though busy in the midst of a great multitude which followed Him... found the time,

...to STOP 

...to BE STILL... 

and 

...HEAR the cries of 2 blind men when they cried, " Have mercy on us, O Lord, Thou son of David." 

"  And Jesus stood still 

and called them, 

and said, 

"What will ye that I shall do unto you? " 

Matthew 20:32

The words of Jesus... powerful.

Words the 2 blind men hoped to hear... " What will ye that I shall do unto you? " 

The Lord stood still for them... and His words had power... for it brought hope and healing.

And then I couldn't but think how the Lord Jesus Christ is the same today... just as in the times when He healed the blind and the sick. 

The gospels relate the amazement of the people.... when they saw the result of Jesus' words in His teaching, in the healing of diseases and in the forgiveness of sins.

"... He taught them.., insomuch that they were astonished, and said, 

Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?" 

Matthew 13:54

 "...For His word was with power." 

Luke 4:32 

"What a word is this!..." 

Luke 4:36

Yes, even today, His WORD has power and authority.... to save and deliver... and forgive sins.  

He stops and inclines His ear towards us as well and hears our cries,

" Because HE hath inclined HIS ear unto me, 

therefore will I call upon HIM as long as I live." 

Psalm 116:2

What a joy to know the power of the LIVING WORD... that we too, as the blind men, can cry to the LORD GOD  for mercy and bring all our petitions and requests before the ONE who is able...

"Blessed be God, 

which hath not turned away my prayer, 

nor HIS mercy from me." 

Psalm 66:20

Precious Father, How thankful we are for the Lord Jesus, the WORD of life. Help us to treasure your Word and trust in your unfailing promises towards us. Thank you for hearing our cries for mercy and having compassion on us.

May you delight in the living WORD of the Lord Jesus... and find rest for your souls in the presence of a mighty KING.

~Ellie

The LORD shall open unto thee His GOOD TREASURE....

" This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein..." Joshua 1:8

This morning while reading through Ephesians chapter 5, and while undergoing a trial that brought about unrest, I found joy and kindness from a loving Savior who desires to pour out His good treasure upon His children that hearken and obey His voice...

Such peace we gain from God's HOLY WORD... that I felt the need to write down a few points that encouraged my husband and I this morning....

Because it's not always easy to accept a trial in our lives with joyfulness... nor is it easy to give thanks for a hurt you are experiencing... I found God's gentle encouragement in His Word to be the nourishment we needed  this morning... to lift our eyes above the clouds and give thanks in ALL things.

Yes, God is faithful!

And so, chapter 5 of Ephesians was loaded with a list of reminders for us to follow...

...for just as in Joshua 1, if we observe to do according to God's Holy Word, ..." thy way shall be prosperous and thou shalt have good success." Joshua 1:8b

Encouragement that gave us rest from the unrest:

EPHESIANS 5

• Be ye therefore followers of God (v.1)
• Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us (v.2)
• Ye are LIGHT in the Lord, walk as children of light (v.8)
• See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (v.15)
• Redeem the time, because the days are evil (v.16)
• Be filled with the SPIRIT (v.18)
• Sing and make melody in your heart to the LORD (v.19)
• Give thanks ALWAYS for ALL things (v.20)
• Submit yourselves to one another (v.21)

If we think on the things above... the things below will slowly fade away.

Father, How gracious you are towards your people. You rejoice over us to do good to us when we obey you. Help us to serve you with joyfulness and gladness of heart for indeed you've poured your abundance upon us in all things.

May you be encouraged today to put your faith and hope in a God that changest not... a God that is mighty to save.
~Ellie

But thanks be unto GOD, which gives us the victory...

" Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye STEADFAST, UNMOVEABLE, always ABOUNDING in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labour is NOT IN VAIN in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58

Some months ago I read a verse that has stayed with me for a great while. And this morning I was thinking about it... and thought how needful it is for us, that we be not weary in well doing. 

I thought about the military men and women, the firefighters, the policemen and all those who have given their lives for us,... so  that we might have freedom here on earth. Those that have put their lives in harm's way. Yes, we should be most thankful for the people that gave their lives for us...  

And yet, I thought of the verse that spoke to me months ago:

" Men that have hazarded their lives 

for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

 Acts 15:26

Yes, to risk our lives,

... for the furtherance of the gospel, 

... for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,

... that others might have eternal freedom.

How important it is that we would be devoted to serving our LORD GOD... in good times and in bad... for HE has indeed given us reason to rejoice. The LORD JESUS CHRIST, the ONE who offered/gave His life willingly for us... that we might know the only TRUE GOD and have eternal life. 

Oh, that our desire would be for those around us to know the LORD JESUS CHRIST.... that we would be steadfast, unmoveable... always abounding in the work of the Lord.

For indeed He gives us the victory to overcome whatever comes our way, so that His glory might be seen in us and through us.

And so this morning I was encouraged to sing a hymn as a reminder to serve Him in all I do or say.

May The Mind Of Christ My Savior Live In Me From Day To Day

1

May the mind of Christ my Savior

Live in me from day to day,

By His love and pow’r controlling

  All I do and say.

2

May the Word of Christ dwell richly

In my heart from hour to hour,

So that all may see I triumph

  Only through His pow’r.

3

May the peace of Christ my Savior

Rule my life in every thing,

That I may be calm to comfort

  Sick and sorrowing.

4

May the love of Jesus fill me,

As the waters fill the sea;

Him exalting, self abasing,

  This is victory.

5

May I run the race before me,

Strong and brave to face the foe,

Looking only unto Jesus

  As I onward go.

6

May His beauty rest upon me

As I seek the lost to win,

And may they forget the channel,

  Seeing only Him.

Lord, help us to be devoted to you... that the gospel may not be maligned, but rather be seen in us.

May you be encouraged to stand strong amidst the trials... knowing victory is in the Lord's hands.

~Ellie 

That NO flesh should glory in HIS PRESENCE...

" That in EVERY THING ye are enriched by HIM, in ALL utterance, and in ALL knowledge." 1 Corinthians 1:5

Lately, I've been thinking about my need to have the LORD JESUS CHRIST dwell richly in me. I find myself lacking often to " put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh." How easily I fall prey to the flesh.

-Pride creeps in,
-Selfishness abounds,
-and Christ is minimized in my life.

And then I think how perfectly the LORD GOD orchestrated our lives... He perfectly knows us and our tendencies. And how easily we want self glory.

Indeed God knows our tendencies,

"And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, 

and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart 

was only evil continually."

 Genesis 6:5

And so I think upon my need to glory in the Lord... to glorify the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD, worthy of ALL praise.

Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out: 

He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice:

 He will not afflict. 

Men do therefore fear Him: 

He respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Job 37, 23, 24

Dominion and fear are with Him...

Job 25:2

How good to remember my  place before a Holy and Righteous God... and to remember that He alone enriches us with the the right words to speak and fills us with the knowledge of His will when we are humble before Him. For I am reminded that I can do nothing apart from Him.

"... for without me ye can do nothing." 

John 15:5

AND in all things, I am to glorify my Father in heaven,

" Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." 

John 15:8

O Righteous Father, help me to fear your name, and flee from self-exaltation. Enlighten my eyes to behold your glory with adoration as you continue your mighty work in me.

May you be encouraged to exalt the Lord on High today.... for in everything we are enriched by Him.
~Ellie

Giving NO offence in ANY THING...

" But in ALL things approving ourselves as the ministers of God..." 2 Corinthians 6:4

This morning I happened to catch a devotional being read while preparing breakfast. Normally my thoughts "run to and fro" while getting things ready for the table... but the radio is still in the background  with music or scripture being read. Sometimes I don't always hear everything amidst the noise of preparing breakfast. However, there's always a "nugget "of treasure that keeps me encouraged...

A verse was shared this morning ... and with the verse, the thought that we possess ALL things. How wonderful the thought! I quickly made a mental jot to look up the verse after breakfast and meditate on the treasure given me. 

" ... as having nothing, yet possessing All things." 

2 Corinthians 6:10

I started reading at the beginning of the chapter to understand the verse a bit  better... and how blessed and encouraged I was! 

Too often I forget... how RICH I am... and that I posses ALL things... IN Christ! 

"... and you are complete in Him." 

Colossians 2:10 

Have you ever felt yourself lacking? I know most of us often associate richness with material things, but being rich isn't about the things of this world... 

Have you ever felt yourself.... 

• without the "means" to get through the day?
• at "loss" when it comes to... going the extra mile, showing kindness, applying grace to someone who's wronged you?
• "poor" and "hopeless" and "without knowledge" when it comes to applying Christ-like attributes ... be it to others, or in situations where surroundings test our "worth"?  

I was overwhelmed with the encouragement I received from the verses I read. Oh, what wealth of knowledge has been given to us... indeed we posses ALL things and we lack NO good thing!

I thought to write down the key points from 2 Corinthinas 6:1-10... as a reminder of what God's power and His Holy Spirit can do in our lives... when we are faced with various trials.

As workers together with the LORD... we are not to receive the grace of God in vain: 

• Giving NO offence in ANY THING... that the ministry be not blamed.

 As ministers of God...  approving ourselves in ALL things:

• in much patience
• in afflictions
• in necessities
• in distresses
• in stripes
• in imprisonments
• in tumults
• in labours
• in watchings
• in fastings

Working and ministering... 

• by pureness
• by knowledge
• by long-suffering
• by kindness
• by the HOLY GHOST
• by love unfeigned (genuine, without hypocrisy)
• by the WORD OF TRUTH
• by the POWER OF GOD
• by the armour of righteousness, on the right hand and on the left 

In  ALL situations...

• by honour and dishonour
• by evil report, and bad report
• as deceivers, and yet true
• as unknown, and yet well known
• as dying, and behold we live
• as chastened, and not killed
• as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
• as poor, yet making many rich

AS HAVING NOTHING, YET POSSESSING ALL THINGS.

Lord, may your power and Holy Spirit work in us to be strengthened with all might... working in us all... a patience and long-suffering... that is accomplished with joyfulness.

May you be encouraged today to give no offence in any thing... and be reminded that in Christ we possess ALL things.  We are more than conquerors through Him... who loved us to the the end.

~Ellie

For the Lord thy GOD bringeth thee in a good land...

" When thou hast eaten and art full, 

then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which HE hath given thee." 

Deuteronomy 8:11

Do you ever wonder why we go through trials? Do you ever wonder what good is it that GOD would take us through a long "wilderness" in life?

Why do we have to go through times of adversity... where we are tested and tried in various ways? Why are there trials we face that bring about fear and anxiety... or doubt and unrest?

The wilderness for the Israelites brought such trials in their lives... trials for 40 years. But through those 40 years, GOD was faithful.... 

To show His mercy. 

To show His holiness. 

To bring glory to His name.

What may have been a time of rebellion, unthankfulness,  and disobedience for the Israelites, God's merciful hand was gracious to carry them through a wilderness that lasted a long time.

But He provided for their every need... in abundance.

As I was reading through chapter 8 of Deuteronomy, I was so thankful for the beautiful reminder...

Trials are indeed good for us!

I know it isn't the easiest to go through trials... but the more I read of God's Word, the more He reveals to me the need to be still before Him. 

He is at work in me... to test me, to prove me, to make me to know what is in my heart. 

God knows what is in my heart... but He wants me to know what is in my heart.

My God knows what I need of... and He desires that I might not forget His power, His holiness, His righteousness.  There's lots of things in my life that need to be brought to the obedience of  the Father's will. A ton.

" And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, 

to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, 

whether thou wouldst keep His commandments, or no." 

Deut. 8:2

Isn't the verse powerful?

That's why God takes us through the "wilderness"... not just to test us and know what is in our hearts... but to humble us before a HOLY God! 

We tend to think we have all the power... and forget that God is the One who blesses us with all things good. 

We are a proud people. 

We are stiff-necked people.

"And thou say in thine heart, 

My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth." 

But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God;

 For it is He that giveth the power..." 

Deuteronomy 8:17,18

But graciously, even through the wilderness, God is still merciful. 

He leads us. 

He carries us. 

As He takes care of us through the wilderness, God sees that:

Our clothes wax not old... 

when we " clothe ourselves with humility"(1Peter 5:5)

Our feet swell not... 

when our feet are "shod with the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15)

We are fed with manna from above...  

when we live by "every word that proceedth out of the mouth of GOD" (Deut 8:3)

And He chasteneth us a Father would... that we would learn to walk in His ways... in obedience.

Through the trials that I face, God feeds me through His word, to humble me, to test me... and in the end...

... to do good unto me.

"  Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, 

that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee,

 to do thee good at thy latter end." 

Deuteronomy 8:16

What love! The love of the Father... to do us good in the end! 

And so today I'm thankful for the Father's reminder that my "wilderness" is there for me to accomplish His purpose... 

... to humble me before a Holy God... to test my heart... and do me good. 

The "wilderness" is a good land!

May the word of God be the "manna" for your soul as you face the trials of the day... and know the Lord God is working to perfect that which concerns you.

~Ellie