Praise Is the Key 07/17/2011
A bird does not sing because it has an answer.
It sings because it has a song.
- Chinese Proverb
It sings because it has a song.
- Chinese Proverb
Praise is the key You've given me, lifting my voice in song to praise, to praise my Lord and Savior. And my song is always with You - I always have a song!
I ascend into the mountain of the Lord through praising in song.
I sound His song on my flute and then I arise,
I arise to new heights, to heights soaring in His love,
lifted by His presence upon His wings.
I am an eagle, I fly, I fly high, higher and higher,
yet deeper and deeper into the heart of the King.
I am His royal daughter. I am a worshiping warrior, called by His name, spreading His fame.
The mountains shake with His presence. The winds blow strong, His fire burns away the chaff and ignites me in His love and jealousy over me.
He is my God, my King, my Father watching over me, Abba. And I will arise and I will praise You my God, and I will ascend with the song and with the flute, in praise and victory, to the mountain of the Lord, my Rock, the Lord God, my God.
I ascend into the mountain of the Lord through praising in song.
I sound His song on my flute and then I arise,
I arise to new heights, to heights soaring in His love,
lifted by His presence upon His wings.
I am an eagle, I fly, I fly high, higher and higher,
yet deeper and deeper into the heart of the King.
I am His royal daughter. I am a worshiping warrior, called by His name, spreading His fame.
The mountains shake with His presence. The winds blow strong, His fire burns away the chaff and ignites me in His love and jealousy over me.
He is my God, my King, my Father watching over me, Abba. And I will arise and I will praise You my God, and I will ascend with the song and with the flute, in praise and victory, to the mountain of the Lord, my Rock, the Lord God, my God.
"You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept, and gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, to come into the mountain of the Lord"
- Isaiah 30:29
- Isaiah 30:29
It is in using the key You've given me (PRAISE with the SONG!) that I ascend into Your heart, that I ascend to the mountain of the Lord. In all things let me lift my heart and lift my voice in praise to You, my God!
2 Comments
Nothing to Fear 12/14/2010
You have nothing to fear. Your times are in My hands; you are in My hands. I am holding onto you, holding you to My heart. Beloved, remember that I have not given you a spirit of fear, but within you is My Spirit: power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7).
May I hold onto You, Lord. May I trust in You and not fear. My life and all that concerns me - all is in Your hands.
Fix your eyes upon Me. Gaze into My eyes, the eyes of love and truth. Look at Me and not at the circumstances and happenings around you. Gaze upon Me even when you are in the presence of others, in any place or situation. Lock in on My eyes. I alone am your Strength, your Source, your Life. Lock your gaze into Mine. I am your Help at all times. (See Hebrews 12:1-2).
"I lift mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which maketh Heaven and earth" (Ps. 121:1-2).
Help me to fix my eyes on You always. Why must I fear? After all, what matters alone is You and You are sovereign and in control of all things. Whatever happens, You are there - the Great I AM. Nothing can separate us from Your love. You, Lord, You are fully faithful!
May I hold onto You, Lord. May I trust in You and not fear. My life and all that concerns me - all is in Your hands.
Fix your eyes upon Me. Gaze into My eyes, the eyes of love and truth. Look at Me and not at the circumstances and happenings around you. Gaze upon Me even when you are in the presence of others, in any place or situation. Lock in on My eyes. I alone am your Strength, your Source, your Life. Lock your gaze into Mine. I am your Help at all times. (See Hebrews 12:1-2).
"I lift mine eyes to the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which maketh Heaven and earth" (Ps. 121:1-2).
Help me to fix my eyes on You always. Why must I fear? After all, what matters alone is You and You are sovereign and in control of all things. Whatever happens, You are there - the Great I AM. Nothing can separate us from Your love. You, Lord, You are fully faithful!
No More Offense 12/11/2010
I just recently began working through the book Bait of Satan: Living Free from the Deadly Trap of Offense by John Bevere. What a message we are in need of living out! I have realized so much lately how often the enemy tries to get us to pick up an offense toward others in his ploy to create division in the Body of Christ.
The enemy only wants to cause us to put up walls between each other and not love with the agape love of Christ. We are to be a team unified in the Spirit and the enemy wants nothing more than to tear that team apart. It is truly an every day task of taking every thought and feeling captive and by the grace of God putting down all that exalts itself against the knowledge of Him.
Fighting the good fight of faith, walking by the unseen instead of by our natural senses and feelings, dying to self instead of picking up an offense even when we perceive that we have been wronged: It is a battle we must actively fight every day. It is unending and we cannot in any way be passive; everything must be brought into the obedience of Christ.
What a task it is to live dead to self and never pick up offense. I know I must fight it as all do, and I am seeing more and more just how many of our thoughts must be cast down: Those that come from our sinful self-focused nature and those that come from the enemy trying to desecrate the vessel of God that we are made to be.
The enemy only wants to cause us to put up walls between each other and not love with the agape love of Christ. We are to be a team unified in the Spirit and the enemy wants nothing more than to tear that team apart. It is truly an every day task of taking every thought and feeling captive and by the grace of God putting down all that exalts itself against the knowledge of Him.
Fighting the good fight of faith, walking by the unseen instead of by our natural senses and feelings, dying to self instead of picking up an offense even when we perceive that we have been wronged: It is a battle we must actively fight every day. It is unending and we cannot in any way be passive; everything must be brought into the obedience of Christ.
What a task it is to live dead to self and never pick up offense. I know I must fight it as all do, and I am seeing more and more just how many of our thoughts must be cast down: Those that come from our sinful self-focused nature and those that come from the enemy trying to desecrate the vessel of God that we are made to be.
May I be an instrument for Your glory alone.
Lord, help me to live as dead to self and sin and let Christ live through me. Teach me to fully trust You, counting all else loss, not picking up offense.
May I love as You have loved me.
You humbled Yourself, suffered and died all for the sake of Love. Put Your agape, sacrificial love in me fully and perfect Your love in me.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
(2 Cor. 10:3-6)
(2 Cor. 10:3-6)
Reflection of the Son 12/04/2010
"Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm."(1 Tim. 1:5-7)
It is all about love and truth, God's purity in us--Christ living in and through us, not we ourselves living for ourselves.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Gal. 2:20)
I want You to live through me, Lord.
What is in my heart? In the great unseen depths within me, what is truly there? Is there light or is there darkness? Is it self-agenda consuming me within, or Christ's agenda?
Make me a vessel of Your love, joy and peace, of Your truth and of Your glory.I want to be living deep on the inside, living from the inside out--"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27).
I want deep Desire living inside me and overflowing out from me. Your desire, Your love, Your living flame on the inside of me burning brightly, burning strong.
I don't want just a language of love and truth without the reality on the inside of me. I want Your depth within--deep calling deep calling deep. I want union with You, my Lord. I want to be a dwelling place fit for the King of kings, the Lord of lords.
I want to stop living for myself or the world in anyway that I still do, and to truly live for You, Father. Come and have Your way, and may I embrace the flame that is refining and purifying me from the inside out.
What is in my heart? In the great unseen depths within me, what is truly there? Is there light or is there darkness? Is it self-agenda consuming me within, or Christ's agenda?
Make me a vessel of Your love, joy and peace, of Your truth and of Your glory.I want to be living deep on the inside, living from the inside out--"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col. 1:27).
I want deep Desire living inside me and overflowing out from me. Your desire, Your love, Your living flame on the inside of me burning brightly, burning strong.
I don't want just a language of love and truth without the reality on the inside of me. I want Your depth within--deep calling deep calling deep. I want union with You, my Lord. I want to be a dwelling place fit for the King of kings, the Lord of lords.
I want to stop living for myself or the world in anyway that I still do, and to truly live for You, Father. Come and have Your way, and may I embrace the flame that is refining and purifying me from the inside out.
I want to reflect Your Son
like the purest lake
reflecting a snow-capped mountain.
Beautiful, glorious -
A vessel set apart, a vessel of You.
God's Best 11/04/2010
We look out into the world with all it's luxuries. We see the people around us striving to "make it big" for themselves in living their lives. We see folks working for what does not satisfy and see that what the world thinks is "best" really is a waste of time, resources and energy.
God's best, now this is what we are to seek and allow Him to provide for us, even when to the world it seems shabby, less than, foolish or not what they would consider valuable. What is best in God's kingdom is quite different from what is best in the world's eyes.
God's best, now this is what we are to seek and allow Him to provide for us, even when to the world it seems shabby, less than, foolish or not what they would consider valuable. What is best in God's kingdom is quite different from what is best in the world's eyes.
"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Corinthians 27:29
God's best for our lives can leave us with less than what the world might think we should be satisfied with, yet even in the struggle to meet needs, God's best means we lean on Him and not the perishing things of this world. The Lord wants for us to reap a great harvest of treasuries in the heavenlies and in eternity, not here on earth where moth and rust destroy (Matt. 6:19-20).
It's not about what we get in the world now, but how we will use our lives in this current age to further His Kingdom, give Him glory and store up treasures in eternity. In other words, it's not about us and having what we want, but about submitting to God and trusting Him to provide the best for us as He sees it.
It's not about what we get in the world now, but how we will use our lives in this current age to further His Kingdom, give Him glory and store up treasures in eternity. In other words, it's not about us and having what we want, but about submitting to God and trusting Him to provide the best for us as He sees it.
Father, may we see with Your eyes and Your perspective,
knowing that Your best for us in this age
will truly reap the greatest benefit in eternity.
You are God, our good Father giving good gifts,
and our generous Shepherd
providing for all we need for life and godliness.
knowing that Your best for us in this age
will truly reap the greatest benefit in eternity.
You are God, our good Father giving good gifts,
and our generous Shepherd
providing for all we need for life and godliness.
The Way of Encounter 10/26/2010
Encountering God in the place of prayer enables us to live wholeheartedly for Him, to deny ourselves and allow Christ to live through us. We must ascend "the hill of frankincense" (Song of Songs 4:6) on a habitual and consistent basis - that is, posturing ourselves before Christ in the place of prayer, allowing ourselves to be emptied so that He can fill us.
In walking with God there are mountains to climb, valleys to pass through, and storms to overcome. Without continual abiding in His presence, it is far more difficult to put off sin, persevere through trials, and press through even the dullness that can affect our hearts.
Nita Johnson says that the crucifixion of the sinful nature can only come in the life of a person of prayer. Mike Bickle of IHOP-KC shares a similar reflection: "Our prayer life empowers our heart to embrace the cross with self denial. We can only embrace the mountain of self denial to the measure that we go up the hill of prayer."
In His presence we are changed
It's not so much about "doing" as it is "being" with God - dwelling in His presence, growing in intimacy with Him and beholding who He is. It is impossible for us to love as God loves on our own and impossible to serve Him without getting to know Him in deep relationship. We grow in possessing God's love and personality in our own hearts by coming to know that very Personality in the Secret Place. How can we be truly merciful if we have not first been shown mercy? How can we be patient with others' weaknesses if God does not show us time and time again how long-suffering He is with ours?
It's a continual happening - day by day we come before the throne, surrendering everything to God and allowing Him to have His way in us as we worship Him, meditate on His Word, listen and pray. We are then more and more empowered to allow Christ to live through us each day, and to love as Christ first loved us.
Even on days of trudging through, struggling, or feeling distant from God, don't be discouraged! God is always near to His children, even when we don't sense it. He sees your heart; He delights in you! He is faithful even when we fall short as each one of us has. God will complete the work He started in you. He who calls you is faithful and will do it. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Keep seeking, for this He promises:
In walking with God there are mountains to climb, valleys to pass through, and storms to overcome. Without continual abiding in His presence, it is far more difficult to put off sin, persevere through trials, and press through even the dullness that can affect our hearts.
Nita Johnson says that the crucifixion of the sinful nature can only come in the life of a person of prayer. Mike Bickle of IHOP-KC shares a similar reflection: "Our prayer life empowers our heart to embrace the cross with self denial. We can only embrace the mountain of self denial to the measure that we go up the hill of prayer."
In His presence we are changed
It's not so much about "doing" as it is "being" with God - dwelling in His presence, growing in intimacy with Him and beholding who He is. It is impossible for us to love as God loves on our own and impossible to serve Him without getting to know Him in deep relationship. We grow in possessing God's love and personality in our own hearts by coming to know that very Personality in the Secret Place. How can we be truly merciful if we have not first been shown mercy? How can we be patient with others' weaknesses if God does not show us time and time again how long-suffering He is with ours?
It's a continual happening - day by day we come before the throne, surrendering everything to God and allowing Him to have His way in us as we worship Him, meditate on His Word, listen and pray. We are then more and more empowered to allow Christ to live through us each day, and to love as Christ first loved us.
Even on days of trudging through, struggling, or feeling distant from God, don't be discouraged! God is always near to His children, even when we don't sense it. He sees your heart; He delights in you! He is faithful even when we fall short as each one of us has. God will complete the work He started in you. He who calls you is faithful and will do it. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Keep seeking, for this He promises:
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13
And in the place of His presence,
He transforms us whom He loves,
making us into the likeness of Jesus.
Jeremiah 29:13
And in the place of His presence,
He transforms us whom He loves,
making us into the likeness of Jesus.
Further Reading:
The Altar and the Tent by Watchman Nee (pdf download)
Studies in the Song of Solomon - Session 16 by Mike Bickle (video/audio/pdf)
Canticles of the Exchanged Life by Nita Johnson (free book--only pay S&H!)
The Nearness of God (final section of transcript) by David Wilkerson
Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence (free online)
The Altar and the Tent by Watchman Nee (pdf download)
Studies in the Song of Solomon - Session 16 by Mike Bickle (video/audio/pdf)
Canticles of the Exchanged Life by Nita Johnson (free book--only pay S&H!)
The Nearness of God (final section of transcript) by David Wilkerson
Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence (free online)
Give Us the Prayers of Your Heart 08/24/2010
Recently I've found I'm longing even more for 24/7 prayer and worship to come in full to our house of prayer. I know it's rooted in that deep sense for unity in the Church and that we need to be interceding more together as a Body. The Lord so desires the establishment of sacred assemblies crying out to Him 24/7 in heartfelt prayer and devotion.
"...Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.'
So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him...
Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation...
Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, 'Spare Your people, O LORD...
Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" Joel 2:12-17 (excerpts)
Below is an excerpt from a passage given to my spiritual mom at our house of prayer this week:
"...This day is a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth." 2 Kings 19:3
I've especially been praying for the ending of abortion--both physical and spiritual. We need spiritual mothers and fathers, running strong in the Lord and His might, training up those of us under their mentorship. The enemy wants nothing more than to take out the mothers and fathers--the leaders and forerunners of the spiritual children to come--of us who God is raising up--to prevent our own generation from growing into spiritual parents ourselves. But God shall prevail and victory is already His!
"Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.''" 2 Kings 19:20
In prayer lately I find myself going back to a few key points:
What prayers has God been speaking through your heart lately?
"...Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.'
So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him...
Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly;
Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation...
Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, 'Spare Your people, O LORD...
Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" Joel 2:12-17 (excerpts)
Below is an excerpt from a passage given to my spiritual mom at our house of prayer this week:
"...This day is a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth." 2 Kings 19:3
I've especially been praying for the ending of abortion--both physical and spiritual. We need spiritual mothers and fathers, running strong in the Lord and His might, training up those of us under their mentorship. The enemy wants nothing more than to take out the mothers and fathers--the leaders and forerunners of the spiritual children to come--of us who God is raising up--to prevent our own generation from growing into spiritual parents ourselves. But God shall prevail and victory is already His!
"Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard.''" 2 Kings 19:20
In prayer lately I find myself going back to a few key points:
- the ending and prevention of abortion both physical and spiritual
- the raising up of the Joel 2 generation
- for us as Christ's followers to live in love and truth, causing unbelievers to see God as He truly is
- unity [in the Body], intimacy [with Christ], and maturity [spiritually]
- the "rough edges" of my own heart to be tenderized for what is on God's heart
What prayers has God been speaking through your heart lately?
Lord God Almighty, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. Father, Son and Spirit. Jesus Christ be seen--lifted high, glorified! Lord of all, our all-in-all. The GREAT I AM! ... Praying unceasingly, we worship our King in holy abandonment.
Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness, gaining ground in ourselves and all the territory that is rightfully His.
Walking by the Spirit, focused on things above; living for God, denying self and crucifying the flesh and its desires.
Walking in His agape love and His truth. Walking by the only true Way--Christ--by His light shining forth brighter than the noonday sun.
Trusting and following Him, leaning on our Beloved and not on our own understanding; acknowledging Him as Lord in all our ways and thus living as yielded vessels, holy and surrendered to our King.
Our path made straight before us as our God is directing, and we shall not stumble as we keep our eyes fixed on Him. By His grace we shall stand firm in Christ and overcome, for we are overcomers by Him who conquered death, hell and the grave!
We shall desire Him above all else, that His glory be seen and Him alone glorified; and we shall not love our lives even to the death, giving all He asks, denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following the Lamb wherever He goes.
We are the end times generation! We are His, possessed by our God and soon to walk in all the fullness of His Spirit and divine fire within.
May it be so in all purity, O Lord of hosts! Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus. Amen!
Seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness, gaining ground in ourselves and all the territory that is rightfully His.
Walking by the Spirit, focused on things above; living for God, denying self and crucifying the flesh and its desires.
Walking in His agape love and His truth. Walking by the only true Way--Christ--by His light shining forth brighter than the noonday sun.
Trusting and following Him, leaning on our Beloved and not on our own understanding; acknowledging Him as Lord in all our ways and thus living as yielded vessels, holy and surrendered to our King.
Our path made straight before us as our God is directing, and we shall not stumble as we keep our eyes fixed on Him. By His grace we shall stand firm in Christ and overcome, for we are overcomers by Him who conquered death, hell and the grave!
We shall desire Him above all else, that His glory be seen and Him alone glorified; and we shall not love our lives even to the death, giving all He asks, denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following the Lamb wherever He goes.
We are the end times generation! We are His, possessed by our God and soon to walk in all the fullness of His Spirit and divine fire within.
May it be so in all purity, O Lord of hosts! Your Kingdom come, Your will be done. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus. Amen!
Time & Time & Time Again 07/01/2010
The place of loyalty to You
Is too often a place of loneliness
Wanting to follow You no matter the cost
So we put our Isaacs on the altar
(time and time and time again)
Wondering just how You will shift our circumstances this time
Jesus is our only Hope. He is the Resurrection and the Life.
Even we Your people miss it
(time and time and time again)
We criticize each other
We gossip, we slander
We sabotage the destiny God has for one another
Letting the enemy use us against each other
Both knowingly and unknowingly at times
All the while we still have a great mission
That You long to help us fulfill
And so You pour out Your mercy
(time and time and time again)
Go and sin no more. Deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Me.
And You heal us up and put us back on our feet, saying:
"Rise up, O daughters of Zion,
Listen closely, My children.
For I have called you each by name
Together to be the Body of My Son,
A people purified, set apart for Me,
Living by My Spirit's strength alone."
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us!
Father, heal Your Church today!
For we are sick
And we need You desperately!
Though we often forget
(time and time and time again)
That we are nothing without You, our King of kings
Come, Lord Jesus, make Your Bride pure and white!
May You return to find her lovesick and set apart for only You!
Is too often a place of loneliness
Wanting to follow You no matter the cost
So we put our Isaacs on the altar
(time and time and time again)
Wondering just how You will shift our circumstances this time
Jesus is our only Hope. He is the Resurrection and the Life.
Even we Your people miss it
(time and time and time again)
We criticize each other
We gossip, we slander
We sabotage the destiny God has for one another
Letting the enemy use us against each other
Both knowingly and unknowingly at times
All the while we still have a great mission
That You long to help us fulfill
And so You pour out Your mercy
(time and time and time again)
Go and sin no more. Deny yourself, take up your cross, follow Me.
And You heal us up and put us back on our feet, saying:
"Rise up, O daughters of Zion,
Listen closely, My children.
For I have called you each by name
Together to be the Body of My Son,
A people purified, set apart for Me,
Living by My Spirit's strength alone."
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us!
Father, heal Your Church today!
For we are sick
And we need You desperately!
Though we often forget
(time and time and time again)
That we are nothing without You, our King of kings
Come, Lord Jesus, make Your Bride pure and white!
May You return to find her lovesick and set apart for only You!
To You I Lift My Eyes 05/08/2010
"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11
Such peace and joy at the reminders of Your love are possible. "I have reserved you for Myself, dear one... Let all else go and rest in Me, abide in My love. Trust in Me."
I am hidden in Christ (Col. 3:1-4), especially reserved--a polished arrow in the quiver of the Father (Isa. 49:2). "I am your Shield, your exceedingly great reward," He said to Abraham (Gen. 15:1). I am His, I belong to no one else.
Moments of doubt, moments of failure; times when others may be blind to the workings of God in our lives and do not perceive us as He does. It matters not what I nor anyone thinks--only His thoughts matter. Nothing can keep me from Him unless I let it. Nothing can separate me from His love (Rom. 8:31-39). This must I remember. I am My beloved's and He desires me (Song 7:10).
"'For the mountains may depart And the hills be removed,
but My steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and My covenant of peace shall not be removed,'
says the Lord, who has compassion on you." Isa. 54:10
All around me could continually shake, others could insult or misjudge, my own heart and flesh could fail, yet You will never leave me. He whom my soul loves, He who made me for Himself. Surely the words of the Psalmist are true:
"You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel...
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Ps. 73:23-26
May I lift my eyes to Adonai, forgetting self and all else, knowing You are near and that I live to glorify Your name. Help me to live by Your truth, Father! Nothing can separate me from You!
Such peace and joy at the reminders of Your love are possible. "I have reserved you for Myself, dear one... Let all else go and rest in Me, abide in My love. Trust in Me."
I am hidden in Christ (Col. 3:1-4), especially reserved--a polished arrow in the quiver of the Father (Isa. 49:2). "I am your Shield, your exceedingly great reward," He said to Abraham (Gen. 15:1). I am His, I belong to no one else.
Moments of doubt, moments of failure; times when others may be blind to the workings of God in our lives and do not perceive us as He does. It matters not what I nor anyone thinks--only His thoughts matter. Nothing can keep me from Him unless I let it. Nothing can separate me from His love (Rom. 8:31-39). This must I remember. I am My beloved's and He desires me (Song 7:10).
"'For the mountains may depart And the hills be removed,
but My steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and My covenant of peace shall not be removed,'
says the Lord, who has compassion on you." Isa. 54:10
All around me could continually shake, others could insult or misjudge, my own heart and flesh could fail, yet You will never leave me. He whom my soul loves, He who made me for Himself. Surely the words of the Psalmist are true:
"You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel...
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Ps. 73:23-26
May I lift my eyes to Adonai, forgetting self and all else, knowing You are near and that I live to glorify Your name. Help me to live by Your truth, Father! Nothing can separate me from You!
