Our Help and Our Shield

 “We wait in hope for the Lord;

he is our help and shield.”

Psalm 33:20

“Because I am your Help, you don’t need to fear your inadequacy.  When the task ahead of you looks daunting, rejoice that I stand ready to assist you.  Openly acknowledge your insufficiency, trust in My infinite sufficiency.  You and I together can accomplish anything, as long as it is My will.  

You definitely need Me as your Shield.  I protect you from many dangers - physical, emotional, and spiritual.  Sometimes you’re aware of My protective work on your behalf, but I also shield you from perils you never even suspect.  Find comfort in this assurance of My powerful Presence watching over you.  Fear no evil, for I am with you.”

~ Jesus Always by Sarah Young

Ask God For Help

“God is our refuge and strength, 

always ready to help in times of trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

Is there really a God? Will He help you?

Sometimes God will help you and fix the crisis you’re going through, but He doesn’t always do it. Even after you hand the problem over to Him and ask for His help, there’s no guarantee. You can see examples of this in the Bible.

The Apostle Paul was one of the greatest missionaries, establishing multiple churches across a large region, and God described him as “my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). During Paul’s ministry, he was imprisoned multiple times for his faith. He spent years under arrest and only once did God intercede and free him. Why? Did God help Paul in other ways or was there a larger plan?

Will God help you during difficult times? First, He reminds us we don’t have to go through struggles alone if we know Jesus. You are adopted into God’s family once you commit your life to Jesus. You become a child of God. On top of that, God comes to live within you through His Holy Spirit—providing assurances of His love and hope for your future.

Second, God desires to give us wisdom to help us through our problems. When we encounter trouble, many people begin trying to solve it on their own and they miss out on their best tools for solving problems. 

1. Talk to God first and ask Him for help.
2. Seek out fellow believers and their godly advice.
3. Open the Bible and gain wisdom from His Word.

God has made it clear He is ready and able to help you. The Bible says, “I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” (Psalm 121:1-2).

But sometimes your troubles continue longer than you want. God offers you strength and patience to persevere through hard times. Everyone encounters problems and life is full of them. But it’s better to go through times of trouble with God than without Him—and His plan for you is certainly the best.

~ peacewithgod.net

 

True Peace

 “You Lord, give true peace to those who trust in you,

because they trust you.  So, trust the Lord always,

because he is our Rock forever.”

“We can never avoid strife in the world around us, but with God we can know perfect peace even in turmoil.  When we are devoted to him, our whole attitude is steady and stable.  Supported by God’s unchanging love and mighty power, we are not shaken by surrounding chaos.  Do you want peace?  Keep your thoughts on and your trust in God.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

God’s Fullness

 “And to know this love that surpasses

knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure

of all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:19

“The fullness of God is expressed only in Christ.  In union with Christ and through his empowering Spirit, we are complete.  We have all the fullness of God available to us.  But we must appropriate that fullness through faith and through prayer as we daily live for him.  You can ask the Holy Spirit to fill every aspect of your life to the fullness.”

~ Life Application Study Bible

Why Read The Bible

 “May the Lord direct your hearts

to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.”

2 Thessalonians 3:5

“I believe the first and most important reason to read the Bible is to have a relationship with God.  We should read the Bible because it comes directly from God.  It is God-breathed, God-spoken, God-inspired. Yes the Bible is written by men, but they were inspired by God to write every word.

God’s word is alive and active.  This means that it’s always relevant and always applies to any situation.  God can speak directly to whatever situation we are facing through the words of the Bible.

The Bible is also an essential tool for teaching, training and correcting us.  It teaches us right from wrong and shows us areas in our lives where we need some adjusting.  God’s word cleanses us, sanctifies us, and purifies us.

When we read the Bible and meditate on scripture, we are promised blessings and prosperity.”

~ HappyHealthierProperous.com

Anchored In God

 “We have this hope as an anchor

for the soul, firm and secure.”

Hebrews 7:19

“These two unchangeable things are God’s nature and his promise.  God embodies all truth; therefore, he cannot lie.  God is truth, you can be assured in his promises; you don’t need to wonder if he will change his mind.  Our hope is secure and immovable, anchored in God, just as a ship anchor holds firmly to the seabed.  To the true seeker who comes to God in belief, God gives unconditional promise of acceptance.  When you ask God with openness, honesty, and sincerely to save you from sins, he will do it.  This truth should give you encouragement, assurance, and confidence.”

~ Life Application Study Bible 

Rejoice

 “ This is the day the Lord has made;

    we will Rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24. Each day is a rich and precious gift from God, with new grace and new opportunities.

Jesus says that we have only this one day, and we must not be anxious for the day tomorrow. Even though it has gone badly before, it can be completely new and glorious today. If there is something that bothers our conscience from the past, we have abundant grace and power to bring it in order today.

Let us rejoice

As the Word says, let us be glad and rejoice over each day. It is the Lord who has made it and planned it for us. He is faithful and takes care that today we will not be tempted and tried beyond our ability to bear. He will make the temptation and the way of escape so that we can bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) We also know that today all things will work together for our good. (Romans 8:28) Today the good works are being prepared for us, and we will have abundant grace and strength to walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

We must learn to number our days and live as if each day were our last. Today could be the only day, the last day we have, to show all goodness and love to each other. Today we are to glorify Jesus' name in everything we say and do and let the sun of our love rise over the evil and the good.

It is today that we shall endure, suffer, and bear everything with joy, fully believing that God is in control. Today we shall be bold and not lose courage, but rather look to the things that are not seen, because then our tribulations will be light and temporary and will work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

“This is the day the Lord has made.”

~activeChristianity.com 

Celebrate Freedom

                     

 “It is for freedom that Christ has

set us free…”

Galatians 5:1

Today we celebrate the day our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, declaring our freedom as a nation even though the battle for freedom went on until 1783. What’s interesting is that the Founders declared their freedom first and celebrated their decision to fight, and then they stood their ground until they had the victory to live as free men and women.

In the same way, we have to be determined to stand against the opposing forces in our lives. There may be some freedoms that you’re fighting for today—freedom from an addiction, an anxiety, a lack, a fear. No matter what battle you are facing, let this be the day you declare you are free and celebrate your freedom, because victory is on the way. You may have to stand and press through for a little while, but know that freedom is yours the day you declare it. Let freedom ring loudly in your life, for he whom the Son sets free is free indeed!

~Joel Osteen