“Peace Is Not the Absence of Trouble”
of trouble. Peace is the
presence of God.”
Psalm 16:11 (CEB)
” You teach me the way of life.
In your presence is total celebration.
Beautiful things are always in your right hand.”
“In God Alone We Must Rest”
American Standard Version
for the Lord has been good to you.
For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.”
I believe this chapter in Psalms can also serve to remind us that in trying circumstances we absolutely must call on the Lord for our help, and we must purpose to meditate upon His love and care over us. Let us be diligent to think upon these truths that our souls may be calmed. As we walk before the Lord in the land of the living, let us rejoice in His mighty works He has done in our lives!
“May My Words Be Acceptable”
Psalm 19:14 (AMP)
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my
[firm, impenetrable] Rock and my Redeemer.”
It is only God that knows you all too well. He understands how you tend to think and react. He knows every hurt and pain that is still in the healing process within you. He is well able to help you hold your tongue and alter your thought process. It is He that can help us to be rock solid in every area of our life because He is the Rock! Look to Him as often as you need to be your Helper today that you may think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to Him. Lord, help us! We desire that our words are blessing to you and edifying to those around us.
“The Power of Our Tongue”
There is a cliche I have heard often. “It was the straw that broke the camel’s back!” Usually this is said when someone just seems they cannot go on, and they throw up their hands and just give up. It is also used when there seems to be one situation that snowballs into a huge problem, and eventually takes it’s toll on those involved. The idiom the straw that broke the camel’s back is from an Arabic proverb about how a camel is loaded beyond its capacity to move or stand. Many times people become paralyzed by fear of failing again or they just feel they can not go on any longer.
“What you say can preserve life or destroy it;
so you must accept the consequences of your words.”
The truth is our words carry power that not only affects us but it has the power to affect others. On a positive note I love to think of the power of one encouraging word. Have you ever been there?…you are about to give up, and one person speaks one powerful encouraging word, and out of no where you just feel that with God’s help YOU CAN!!!! There is power in our words. Never underestimate the power of death and life in our tongues. May we guard our tongues that we speak words that bring health, healing, and joy to those around us.
“Cause Me To Hear…”
Psalm 143:8 (AMP)
“Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning,
for on You do I lean and in You do I trust.
Cause me to know the way wherein
May we remember to lean on Him not only for His strength and wisdom but for the balance and direction that He can bring to our lives. Thank Him as He unfolds His plan for our day yet be willing to allow Him to interrupt it if He has other plans for us. May we lift up our soul to Him and allow Him to touch us because He loves us so. Lift up your inner self to Him and allow Him to do great things in your life today!
“Trust Is A Must”
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Run to God! Run from evil.”
“Being Courageous In Him”
I can remember a movie I saw a while ago, and there was a particular part that ministered courage to my heart. In this movie there was a young lady that had never ridden a horse before and she desired to do so. There was only one thing holding her back and that was fear. She shared her fear with the young man with her, and he assured her that he totally understood. He said he too at a young age shared that same fear but his Daddy helped him overcome it. He said, “My Daddy sat me on his lap and said courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway!” I just loved this because it was an inspiration of how to face fear with a true heart of courage.
“… Wait for the Lord, and he will come and save you!
Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and he will help you.”
Maybe you could testify of a time that fear has gripped your heart and rendered you unable to move forward. How terrible it is to be held back by a fear. Fear has the capability of robbing one’s dreams, but God desires to release you into your dreams. He understands our every fear and the things that intimidate us, yet He promises to help us overcome any fear that would hold us back. His Word says that the righteous will be bold as a lion!
Sometimes in life we just simply have to “saddle up and face our fears” believing that He will give us the courage and strength that we need for that moment and situation. His grace will always be sufficient and complete no matter what!
“The Center of God’s Wisdom”
by Dona Hake
James 3:17 (The Voice)
“Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy,
and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy.”
God’ wisdom will always rest and be centered on these fruits. Wisdom’s fruits are pure, peaceful, and gentle. His wisdom will ALWAYS be respectful and merciful. It will never be touched with hypocrisy for it is pure and real because it has been tested. God’s wisdom or ways do not change due to circumstance because it is not consistent with His character. God will never change so we can conclude that the fruits of His wisdom will remain constant and unchanging.
When we ask God for His wisdom He desires to bless us with His pure thoughts, and how He sees to do something. He desires to bless us with His good judgments. I encourage you today to seek wisdom before every task. Get God’s mind in all you put your hand to. As you ask God for His precious wisdom, believe by faith that it is going to flow into you, and flow forth from you as pure fresh living water. When people ask you for an opinion on something, stop and purpose to seek His wisdom before you speak. This is what people need, and this is what we need in our personal life…not our opinions, not our experiences, but rather the pure wisdom that comes from above.
“It Is ONLY The Lord’s Mercies!”
to give them to us, those mercies are not broken
pieces or someone else’s leftovers….God has bags
that were never untied, never opened up, but set
aside through a thousand generations
for those who hope in His mercy.”
Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever:
with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
“Where Do You Dwell?”
God has provided for us His place of refuge. He knows exactly what we need to feel secure from the things of this life. He desires that we dwell there, and that we remain. In other words, we cannot allow things to pull us out from that place that He has provided for us.Let us purpose to remain in the place of His peace, love, joy, protection, and all the wonderful things He has provided.
There will be things around us from day to day that will tempt us to walk out from His shelter. Many times people may choose anxiety over peace or bitterness over love, etc. This is only a few of the many choices we can make that can rob us from the hiding place and shelter He has provided. Remember, His shelter is our refuge. Next time you are tempted to get upset, instead of dwelling on the one who upset you or the circumstance, choose rather to run to Him for help, and refuge from the problem.
Psalm 91:1 (GW)
“Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High
will remain in the shadow of the Almighty.”
In our home, my husband and I have lived by a rule since the day we married. We will do whatever it takes to maintain peace in our home. We value the peace in our home and in our hearts. We never leave each other with things unresolved, and we purpose to continue doing this. This is also a truth we imparted to our sons. No one went to bed until we knew there was peace in our hearts. No matter how long it took, we talked until it is resolved.
”When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath
(your exasperation, your fury or indignation)
last until the sun goes down.”
Ephesians 4:26
You see, God well knows our human nature, and that there will be times that we will heed to anger, but the warning here is to deal with it and resolve it. Do not go to sleep with anger in your heart for when you awaken it will be there, and you will surely carry it with you throughout a new day. This is not God’s plan for you! God wants us to live in a place of peace in our hearts as well as in our homes, and those around us.
Today I just want to encourage you to value the wonderful blessing of Him providing a place for you to dwell. Do not allow the negative things of this life to pull you from that place of love, peace, and protection that He has so abundantly blessed you with. For every problem we have, He has a solution. All we need to do is remain in His presence, look to Him, and He will be your helper, and all that you need to keep you there.
This is a good way of teaching the kids to forgive each other(Matt. 5:7). I like the power of this gentle scripture and lesson… Thanks!!
thank you Lisa for sharing. I am blessed that this was a blessing to you!
Ralph &I are really enjoying your devotional together.
So glad this is blessing you both!
Oh, what a wonderful reminder! I want to break the magnifing glass of worry and trust God for each step I take.
It is interesting Selena how the more we worry the bigger and more magnified things get in our minds. Oh how important it is to trust our God for the smallest of things! Thank you for sharing!