Deuteronomy 7; Psalm 90; Isaiah 35; Revelation 5

My identity in Christ is probably the most important part of my walk with Jesus. When it is threatened, I can go into places of despair quite easily. God’s Word and His promises are the hopes that sustain me during these times and today is no exception.

 Do this because you belong to the Lord your God. From all the peoples on earth he chose you to be his own special people. Remember that the Lord your God is the only God and that he is faithful. He will keep his covenant and show his constant love to a thousand generations of those who love him and obey his commands. So do not be afraid of these people. The Lord your God is with you; he is a great God and one to be feared. – Deuteronomy 7:6,9,21 GNT

I am holy to God, He chose me to be His and I am special to Him. God is so faithful and wants me to love Him and follow Him. I do not have to be afraid for God walks with me.

It is helpful to get inside the prayer life of so many great leaders in the Bible and the prayer of Moses in Psalm 90 is no exception.

I come away with these thoughts – I know God’s hand is on me and it causes me to be full of faith. In Him I am secure. God never fails, never changes, is the same for ever. God calls me by my name and how can I resist such grace. He teaches me the value of time and that my real place is in eternity. So I take time to repent and ask for forgiveness for my sins, for not engaging in His Word and not taking time to pray. I also ask God to fill me with wisdom and I find that He meets me in my quiet time to love me. There is a transforming power that comes from Him working in me. I take on His image more each day. It is His favour on my life that makes His work in me so established.

As I spend time with Him I know that others see the results of that experience when they see my joy.

They will reach Jerusalem with gladness,
singing and shouting for joy.
They will be happy forever,
forever free from sorrow and grief. – Isaiah 35:10 GNT

Chris Tomlin sings a song called “Is He Worthy?” that really expresses my heart. It reaches into the book of Revelation where the call came asking who was worthy to open the scroll.

And I saw a mighty angel, who announced in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” – Revelation 5:2 GNT

The song that was sung was that Jesus was worthy – He is the one who has redeemed by His blood for all peoples everywhere and because of this I am invited to reign with Him.

And sang in a loud voice:

“The Lamb who was killed is worthy
    to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength,
    honor, glory, and praise!” – Revelation 5:12 GNT

My prayer today Jesus is no different – You are Worthy!

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

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Ezra 7-10; Psalm 97; Revelation 4

When God loves me, He expresses it through so many different ways.  He cares for me, protects me and keeps me safe. Here is the simple story told through the eyes of Ezra and King David.

Beside the Ahava River,^[n] I^[o] asked the people to go without eating^[p]and to pray. We humbled ourselves and asked God to bring us and our children safely to Jerusalem with all of our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king to send soldiers and cavalry to protect us against enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king that our God takes care of everyone who truly worships him, but that he gets very angry and punishes anyone who refuses to obey. So we went without food and asked God himself to protect us, and he answered our prayers. We are slaves, but you have never turned your back on us. You love us, and because of you, the kings of Persia have helped us. It’s as though you have given us new life! You let us rebuild your temple and live safely in Judah and Jerusalem. – Ezra 8:21-23;9:9

 

Love the Lord
    and hate evil!
God protects his loyal people
    and rescues them
    from violence. – Psalm 97:10  CEV

I know it sounds too simple but it is.  I mean every day of my life I enter into it knowing that I am loved this way.  It does something to me each morning as a learn a new character trait of who God is and how He thinks.  But this simple story, the one of care, protection and safety do not grow old on me.  I find that when Revelations describes worship, I fit right in.

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord,
the all-powerful God,
who was and is
and is coming!”

“Our Lord and God,
you are worthy
to receive glory,
honor, and power.
You created all things,
and by your decision they are
and were created.”

Revelation 4:8,11  CEV

Father, You know more than anything on how much I want to honour You and Your purposes in my life.  Even though I cannot wait to join so many others in worshipping You in Your Kingdom, I can wait for such a time once my work is done here on earth.  In the meantime, I know I walk with You and in Your care, protection and guiding eye. I am so thankful and am enjoying all the attention You are giving me.  I love You.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

1 Chronicles 17; James 4; Jonah 1; Luke 6

Spending time with God, talking to Him, listening, and engaging with His word is something I treasure and enjoy every day.  The fact that God spends time with me gives me incredible encouragement to keep spending time with Him.

For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him; therefore your servant has found it possible to pray before you.                          1 Chronicles 17:25   NRSV

When I learned very early that God was not a vending machine where I inserted my time and effort and earned the right for a product to come sliding down into my hands, I knew that my life would never be the same. Love had entered the picture, and I accepted God’s love for first time, not in faith as in salvation, but in trust and hope that He was my Father.

 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. – James 4:3   NRSV

Sometimes I am in control and feel safe in His arms and other times I am caught up in my own world and forget to leave my matters in the palm of His hand.  Sometimes I simply forget that He is watching me, caring over me and loving me.  When I do mess up, He never leaves me.  There are times I have felt His arms around me even though I have suffered some extreme loss.

But the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. – Jonah 1:17   NRSV

People wonder why my hands are outstretched when I pray.  It is a sign of surrender, for sure, but for me it is more about inviting God into my life to do what He does best – change me, make me whole, restore my life because I am Yours.

 After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. – Luke 6:10   NRSV

Father, You see my hand stretched out to You. Sometimes I can say words, sometimes I can only breathe deep breaths and sometimes when You love me so much, I can only cry.  I can pray because You have blessed me with promises and every one of them You have kept.  I can pray because You have shown me that you are more than God, You have come to me as my Father.  I can pray because in my weakest moments in life, Your arms are around me.  I can pray because I love being with You. I love You and thank You that You are always You – each and every day. Amen.

evanlaar