Thursday, June 30, 2016

Back on Track

Time has passed.  Things have happened...some good and some bad.  

You slept a few times... eaten lunch... talked on the phone... emailed a client... dealt with a headache... and driven your child to karate....

Lots of different things have happened...

But I say that maybe nothing has changed.  

If you’ve worried... nothing has changed.
If you’ve stressed...nothing has changed.
If you’ve felt like giving up... nothing has changed.

In these daily devotionals,  we read promise after promise from God’s word about how He feels about you, what you mean to Him, how He wants you to live your life, and how important you are.

But then the next day came.  And perhaps nothing changed.  Same worries...same stresses...same feeling of hopelessness...same pit... same clouds... same life.

You were made for more.   

As your Pastor, I want to take a few minutes with you today... and give you some more scripture.  More promises.  A gentle reminder that God never changes... no matter how we feel, He stays consistent... and loving... and with us.  

The first part of this week may not have seen change.. but today you’ve got a fresh set of 24 hours to believe these promises.  Not believe they are great for only the flawless... but true and relevant to the flawed.  To me.  To you.  

Ready?

God will NEVER leave you
 
“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”   Deuteronomy 31:6

God will ALWAYS watch over you 

“The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever.”  Psalm 121:7-8


God will give you POWER when you need it.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
    Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
    I will hold you up with my victorious right hand”  Isaiah 41:10


God will GUIDE you

The Lord will guide you continually,
    giving you water when you are dry
    and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like an ever-flowing spring.  Isaiah 58:11


God will give you REST

“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28


God will CLEANSE us from what we’ve done.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”  1 John 1:9


God will be GOOD to those who do what is right.

“For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.
    He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing
    from those who do what is right.”  Psalm 84:11


God will NOT allow you to be defeated.

“But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior.
    Before him my persecutors will stumble.
    They cannot defeat me.
They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated.”  Jeremiah 20:11


These promises aren’t just words on a page.  They weren’t just meant for people in the Bible.  

They are yours.  Every last holy syllable... written for you.  Re-read these verses... and put your name in them.  Every time you see “us” or “me” ... put your name there.  

They are powerful and true... and yours. 

Let’s stop living defeated lives and really believe that God means what He says.  He has such a plan for your life...far more than you might ever imagine.  It’s my prayer today that you would claim these promises for your own amazing life... and face each day as it comes with the strength that His word provides.