Tag: strength walking by faith

Posted in Bible study, LGG Study

In Jesus I Am … Empowered

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Week 4, Day 4

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-11, 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9; SOAP: PHILIPPIANS 4:13

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13 NLT

Reflection Questions:

  • What does it mean that we are able to do all things through Christ?
  • How can you find peace in your weakness or in difficult circumstances knowing He is always working, even in your weakness?

In God’s kingdom, we are at our strongest when we are weak, and we are our most independent when we are dependent on God. Our verse today does not mean that we should do all things, but that we can find joy as we rely on God to empower and equip us to do the work He calls us to do.

Read today’s full Love God Greatly devotional here
Posted in Prayer Starters

Which Message?

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The Following Prayer Starter is shared from “Prayers to Start Your Day” by Criswell Freeman, Smith Freeman Publishing.

Good morning ☀️ for the sake of peace I almost skipped this particular prayer starter – but seeing how it feeds so perfectly into our current “Know Love” study I am trusting it is meant to be shared. I am praying for openness as you read and an understanding that this is not meant to bash “the media” – not to focus our attention in the media but rather to remind us where our true focus is to be. I believe that media can be, and is often, used for good. However, there is no denying the truth of the statement that it can distort the truth and draw our mind to focus on the world. In this “2020 culture” may our prayer daily echo this mornings starter: “Lord, help us to focus not on the world’s [message], but on the message of Your Son.”


Journey Through the Word
In This World

Posted in God is good

My Everything

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Father, You are good and You have taught me that when I keep my eyes on You – and remember You are with me – I will not be shaken.

I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

You are my Protector, my Defender, my Strength, my Comforter, Deliverer, Hope and Light and so much more. You are my Everything. Blessed be Your holy name and the Truth of Your promises. 💜

This morning’s prayer reminded me of an old hymn and that led me to chasing down some Scriptures. I’m sharing both (the song and the Scriptures) with the hope and prayer that they will bless your day as much as they have mine.

How Firm a Foundation (John Robbins 1787)

VERSE 1
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word
What more can He say than to you He hath said
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled (Matthew 7:24-27)

VERSE 2
Fear not, I am with thee; oh be not dismayed
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand (Isaiah 41:10)

VERSE 3
When through the deep waters I call thee to go
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress (Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 46:1; James 1:1-2)

VERSE 4
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine (1 Peter 4:12-19; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Isaiah 48:10)

VERSE 5
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to its foes
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake (Matthew 11:29; Proverbs 18:10; Psalm 16:8; Deuteronomy 31:6)

Posted in Uncategorized

Good Reminders

Posted on by MaryEllen

Do you ever wake to thoughts of the past that stir up regrets or to thoughts of the future that stir up fears? This morning was one of those mornings for me.

As I lay there, struggling with the ‘if onlys’ of the past and the ‘what ifs’ of the future – God, in His goodness, prodded me with His Spirit – reminding me (speaking words right into my very soul, it seemed) to fix my thoughts on Him. He was specific, reminding me that this is the day that the Lord has made and I should rejoice and be glad in it. He whispered, Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. I quickly rose in the strength of the reminders – knowing they were words of life and victory over the enemy’s attempt to steal and kill and destroy – but found myself still trying to shake off the regrets and fears that had been stirred up – unfortunately, they didn’t shake off like sand but stuck like caked-on dirt. He rescued me though with one final word – PEACE – reminding me that those who trust in Him and fix their thoughts on Him are kept in perfect peace. With that I was able to move forward free from the debris of fears and regrets and finding myself in worship and awe of God’s goodness. 

As I spent time in the wonder and worship of what had just transpired I looked up the reference He had whispered about Jesus being the author and finisher of my faith – curious as to why that one for this situation and I found these words preceding those: 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down (i.e. Fears and regrets) especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us fixing our eyes on Jesus … Hebrews 12:1-2

Familiar words for sure, hidden away but not thought of or quoted for a while now – but certainly putting into deeper perspective the beauty of how God uses His Spirit and His Word in our lives. 

…the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. John 14:26

My child pay attention to what I say, listen carefully to My words. Don’t lose sight of them, for they are life to those who find them and healing to their whole body. Proverbs 4:20-22

Prayer: Father, You are good and in Your goodness You have won the battle over the thoughts of regrets and fear that plagued my mind. When You are for us what can stand against us? So, it is in gladness I have risen up to meet this day and it is with thanksgiving that I fix my eyes on Christ, the author and finisher of my faith, and through whom I find forgiveness and renewed strength. It is with steadfast HOPE that I entrust – not just this day – but all the days of my future, whether here on earth or in heaven with You. Yes God, You are good and I praise You for Your Presence in my life and for the work of Your Spirit to remind me of everything You have said. You are a good good Father! It’s who You are and You are mine because of my faith in Jesus Christ. I know You are working all things together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose – and in this TRUTH I find PEACE. Thank you for intimately knowing every detail of my life, for knowing the words I needed to hear this morning and for speaking them into me. Is it any wonder that I love and trust You? For surely I have tasted and seen that You are Good! 

Blessings – from the Inside Out 💕

Posted in Uncategorized

My Battle Cry

Posted on by MaryEllen

“Father, You Are Good!” This is my heart cry – my battle cry – each new morning. For the knowledge and experience of His Goodness – NOT just what He does but who He is – is what gets me through each day. The knowledge and experience of what He does and Who He is is my STRENGTH when I am weak. It is my PEACE when I am anxious and CALMS me when I am fearful. It is my LIGHT when my pathway seems or is dark and confusing and it is my GUIDE and my COUNSEL when decisions lie before me. It is my COMFORT when I am lonely or sad and my PROTECTION when I am in danger. It is my REST when I am tired and weary. It is the SOLID GROUND beneath my feet when life becomes like shifting sands and it is the very AIR that I breathe when panic seizes me. It is the HOPE of each new day and the GUARDIAN of my mind when I lie down to sleep at night. It is my daily FREEDOM from the law of sin and death and my FORGIVENESS when I fall. Such knowledge and experience EMPOWERS me to WAIT EXPECTANTLY and to TRUST with EXCEEDINGLY GREAT HOPE.  It is my JOY and the DELIGHT of my heart to know Him and His goodness. 

Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!  Psalm 34:8