The Lord has each of us on a learning curve. Developing us and deepening our dependancy on Him. As storms in our lives hit we learn more and more how much we need to rely on His hope, for it is an anchor to the soul.
A few months ago God gave me a verse to hang on to
.....2Tim 1:12b..for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him....
This verse is precious to me it's a constant reminder of a promise from the One who cannot break His promise.
As I was working on my study this week God further developed my thinking through some phrases in Romans. I know I've shared them before but they became brand new this week
.....Rom 4: 18 - 24... In hope against hope Abraham believed......without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own inabilities......yet with respect to the promises of God, he did not waiver but grew strong in faith......being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able to perform..... now not for Abraham's sake was it written...but for our sake....
My hope is in the Living God who is always trustworthy. He will guard what I've committed! He will be the victor! My hope is not in vain!
In the Bible we're told to be holy as God is holy..is it possible?
The question has had me thinking and searching ..... is holiness attainable? Too quickly we often respond..."not this side of heaven" or "we're only human living in a fallen world".... but is that valid? As I've pondered and prayed and searched I am coming to believe that when we respond that way we're setting up a "failure clause" , in essence giving ourselves permission to fail. We do it in other areas of our lives, dieting, exercising .....maybe I'm doing it spiritually too.
As a born again child of God I have the fullness of God Almighty dwelling in me and if I fail to be holy as He is holy then it's because I choose to fail. Maybe if I would live in the knowledge that all things including holiness are possible through God who lives in me then my Christian life would be more effective... more dynamic.
Is God big enough to do this work in me? Absolutely!.......Will I let Him?
There are moments on our journey
following the Lord
When God illumines every step we take
There are times when circumstances
make perfect sense to us,
As we try to understand
each move He makes.
But when the path grows dim
And our questions have no answers
turn to Him.
There are days when clouds surround us
And the rain begins to fall
The cold and lonely winds
won't cease to blow.
And there seems to be no reason
For the suffering that we feel;
We are tempted to believe
God does not know....
When the storms arise,
Don't forget we live by faith,
And not by sight.
Bow the knee;
Trust the heart of the Father
When the answer goes beyond
what you can see.
Bow the knee;
lift your eyes toward heaven
And believe the One
who holds eternity.
And when you don't understand
the purpose of His plan
In the presence of Your King
Bow the knee.
Days I cry out to You...let me hear Your voice...yet silence answers
Days I long for evidence of Your caring
Days I strain to hold on to what I know of You in my head....yet my heart breaks...burdened
Why do You with-hold?
You say You give wisdom liberally to those who ask
So I'm asking.....because I don't understand
Are the desires of my heart wrong?
You say Your plans hold hope
Reveal Yourself...
Renew my hope....
Give me a glimpse of Your hand.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask of God, who gives generously..... James 1:5
O Lord, You have searched me and known me....
You understand my thought from afar.......
You have enclosed me behind and before and laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.......
You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.....
in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me when as yet there was not one of them......
How precious are Your thoughts to me, O God!.......
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Today I celebrate the half century mark.
(My daughters have it posted on my garage door in case at my advanced age I forget) Help me celebrate by taking a moment today to thank God for this day He has given you.
Each day is a gift from Him, to be used for His glory!
