Cast down?

 I wonder if you've ever felt like this? I think it's probably that way for all believers at some point... I find it encouraging anyway. I hope you do too.

 

by James Smith 

"I am cast down!"

And why are you cast down?

"My heart is burdened with a sense of my short-comings!

Every duty I perform is so imperfect.

Every purpose I form is so soon frustrated.

Every hope of seeing better days is so soon beclouded.

My heart is so fearfully depraved.

My life is so unlike the life of Jesus.

My temper is so unholy.

My prayers are so brief and heartless.

My praises are so feeble and fitful.

I do so little good.

I live to so little purpose.

My evidences are so dim.

My prospects are so overcast.

I am harassed sometimes with the fear of death.

I cannot realize the glories of Heaven.

I am dissatisfied with the world — and yet glued to it!

I hate sin — and yet fall into it!

I am a riddle, a mystery, a mass of inconsistency!

Is it, then, any wonder that I am cast down?"

No, if you look at yourself, and pore over the things you have named — then it is no wonder that you are cast down! They are enough to cast anyone down! But if you carry them to the throne of grace, if you there confess them before God, if you look to Jesus to save you from them — then, in spite of them — you will not long be cast down.

I know it is difficult to do this. There is a natural proneness to pore over such things. One feels at times a secret liking to indulge in gloomy thoughts.

But we must look away from self — for if we do not, we shall become anxious, doubting and gloomy! We must run the race, not looking at our imperfections, short-comings, and failures — but looking unto Jesus. He knows what we are. He knew what we would be — before He called us by His grace; yes, before He shed His blood for us!

He loved us, as sinners.

He died for us, as sinners.

He called us, as sinners.

He saves us, as sinners. He will have all the glory of saving us, and He will get great glory by doing so, because we are such great sinners; and do not, cannot, do anything to repay Him for His wondrous love! Salvation is by free grace — from first to last! Believe this, and it will raise up your drooping mind!

The life-boat of free grace has put you on board the vessel of salvation, and that will convey you safely to the port of glory! Do not look at your spiritual destitution, or feebleness, or incapacity, or imperfections — but trust in your Pilot, rely on your Captain, and expect His mercy and merit to land you safe in Heaven at last!

As imperfect as you now are, and as imperfect you will be — your dying prayer will still be, "God be merciful unto me — a sinner!"

Hope in God!

His mercy is great unto the heavens,

His grace is as free as the air,

His love is as changeless as His nature,

His promise is as immutable as His love.

Hope in God, for you shall yet praise Him. He will save you for His own sake, and present you before assembled worlds as a monument of His mercy, and a trophy of His grace! 

"A Little Way"

"A Little Way"

--Anonymous

"A little way! I know it is not far

To that dear home where my beloved are;

And still my heart sits, like a bird, upon

The empty nest, and mourns its treasures gone,

Plumed for their flight,

And vanished quite.

Ah me! Where is the comfort? Though I say

They have but journeyed on a little way.

"A little way! At times they seem so near,

Their voices even murmur in my ear,

To all my duties loving presence lend,

And with sweet ministry my steps attend.

'Twas here we met and parted company;

Why should their gain be such a grief to me?

This sense of loss!

This heavy cross!

Dear Savior, take the burden off, I pray,

And show me heaven is but--a little way.

"A little way? The sentence I repeat,

Hoping and longing to extract some sweet

To mingle with the bitter; from Thy hand

I take the cup I cannot understand,

And in my weakness give myself to Thee.

Although it seems so very, very far

To that dear home where my beloved are,

I know, I know,

It is not so;

Oh, give me faith to believe it when I say

That they are gone--gone but a little way."

I don't know about you but I thought that this was a rather good poem.

John Macduff's "Throne of Grace"

 I trust you will also find this very encouraging.

Latest song called Maranatha

 https://youtu.be/krA83x6jGng

Here's the latest song I wrote and recorded, stemming from a few conversations and sermon snippets...

As the days are getting darker, we need to be reminded to look up for our Redeemer is coming quickly! 

Thank You Heavenly Father for the blessed hope!!

I hope you are blessed and encouraged.

 

The Greatest Friend

Reading through the book of Matthew this morning, I came across this little phrase that struck me... 

"But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”" 

The Lord looked with love on the one who was betraying Him. 

Obviously we cannot hear the tone in which the Lord spoke it but what tender compassion He displayed for the man who was by that time personally indwelt by the enemy.

How amazing that our Saviour would condescend to call any human "friend" but at that moment in those circumstances is past comprehension!

He knew the depths of depravity and He still chose such a gracious loving response!! 

I don't think I've ever suffered betrayal, but knowing our human nature I would imagine I would not feel at all kindly towards a betrayer.

Only recorded in Matthew's account, Mark and John say nothing of Jesus's words to Judas in the garden of Gethsemane, while Luke recorded another equally challenging sentence, "But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”"

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." 

Thank You Lord Jesus for being willing to suffer such treatment because You love and forgive those who put their trust in You!

Heavenly Father please help us and keep us from treachery. How we need Your Grace and Mercy to live a life that will bring honour and glory to Your Holy Name!

I find it truly remarkable that Jesus spoke this to all His disciples... 

"for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God."

Thank You Heavenly Father for such a precious gift! We believe and are saved because You enabled us to hear and respond! Thank You for demonstrating Your great love and compassion for us! 

Time for a song

 https://youtu.be/fHg0kQDBPPg

This is the latest one I uploaded, although I wrote most of it in 2020.

I hope you will be blessed by the truth of it. 

Some of R. A. Torrey's thoughts on the topic of Prayer and the Bible

I'd heard the name often enough but I had only read one or two of his quotes. 

Here are a few that I thought are particularly worth sharing. 

"For eighteen centuries every engine of destruction that human science, philosophy, wit, reasoning or brutality could bring to bear against a book has been brought to bear against that book to stamp it out of the world, but it has a mightier hold on the world today than ever before. If that were man’s book it would have been annihilated and forgotten hundreds of years ago…  It stands absolutely unshaken today. At times almost all of the wise and great of the earth have been pitted against the Bible, and only an obscure few for it. Yet it has stood."

"The great need to-day in individuals, in churches and in preachers is that the Wind of God blow upon us." 

"God has not changed; and His ear is just as quick to hear the voice of real prayer, and His hand is just as strong to save, as it ever was." 

"There must be, in any complete revelation of God's mind and will and character and being, things hard for the beginner to understand, and the wisest and best of us are but beginners."

"The truly wise man is he who believes the Bible against the opinions of any man. If the Bible says one thing, and any body of men says another, the wise man will decide, "This book is the Word of Him who cannot lie."

"To have as one's ever-present friend, and to be conscious that one has as his ever-present friend, the Holy Spirit, and to surrender one's life in all it's departments entirely to His control - this is true Christian living."

"It is true that He does sometimes require of us things that to others seem hard. But when the will is once surrendered, the revolutionized life plans become just the plans that are most pleasant, and the things that to others seem hard, are just the things that are easiest and most delightful. Do not let Satan deceive you into being afraid of God's plans for your life."

"To win men to acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord is the only reason Christians are left in this world."

 

"A verse must be read often, and re-read and read again before the wondrous message of love and power that God has put into begins to appear. Words must be turned over and over in the mind before their full force and beauty takes possession of us. One must look a long time at the great masterpieces of art to appreciate their beauty and understand their meaning, and so one must look a long time at the great verses of the Bible to appreciate their beauty and understand their meaning."

"God's Word is pure and sure, in spite of the devil, in spite of your fear, in spite of everything." 

" The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came… Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory."

"Prayer that is born of meditation upon the Word of God is the prayer that soars upward most easily to God's listening ears." 

"If we then let the Words of Christ abide in us, they will stir us up in prayer."

"The chief purpose of prayer is that God may be glorified in the answer." 

" When Jesus died, He died as my representative, and I died in Him; when He arose, He rose as my representative, and I arose in Him; when He ascended up on high and took His place at the right hand of the Father in the glory, He ascended as my representative and I ascended in Him, and today I am seated in Christ with God in the heavenlies. I look at the cross of Christ, and I know that atonement has been made for my sins; I look at the open sepulcher and the risen and ascended Lord, and I know the atonement has been accepted. There no longer remains a single sin on me, no matter how many or how great my sins may have been. "

Hope you're blessed and encouraged as you ponder the Scriptural truth behind them. 

Shavuot

As the Jewish people celebrate the giving of Torah on Shavuot, (and Christians celebrate Pentecost, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) I thought it appropriate to share this: 

 " Hebrew names don’t just have a meaning and a numerical value; every letter also has a pictogram, so every name and word have pictures that tell another story and give another message. How incredible this is. 

All the law (Hebrew: Torah: instruction of God) points to Jesus of Nazareth. Even the very word Torah points to Jesus.

4 Hebrew letters: 1st letter is depicted by a cross, 2nd letter is “nails”, 3rd letter is the pictogram for “The Highest One” and the final letter’s pictogram means “Behold.”

So we have, “On the cross was nailed the Highest One. Behold!” Behold, the Highest One was nailed to a cross- for you. Torah. I hope every time you hear that word, you will remember to Behold the Highest one nailed to the cross.

"Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things out of your law." Psalm 119:18" (part transcript from a sermon I heard. ) 

(I find this fascinating!) 

"In Genesis 1:1, beginning with the first occurrence of the Hebrew letter tav {ת ,{counting 49 

letters the second letter of 'Torah' appears, counting 49 more letters the third letter appears, 

counting 49 more letters the fourth letter appears-- Torah {תורה {is spelled out using every 

50th letter of the text. 

Beginning with Exodus 1:1, Torah is spelled out the same way; every 50th letter beginning 

with the first appearance of the Hebrew letter tav {ת .{

Leviticus does not have 'Torah' encoded, but has YHVH {God's name,} {יהוה {spelled out 

beginning with the first appearance of the Hebrew letter yod {י {and counting forward every 

8th letter (Note: the number 8 

represents new life, resurrection) 

Numbers and Deuteronomy both have 'Torah' encoded in the initial verses of the books, but in

Numbers 'Torah' is spelled out in reverse order using 50 letter intervals. In Deuteronomy, 

'Torah' is also spelled out in reverse order at 49 letter intervals beginning in the 5th verse." (I've adapted this from a pdf I found.) 

So, the Law points to God. It is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. The LORD Jesus is the only Man who ever lived who never broke God's laws, but He was crucified for our sins. His perfection has paid the price for you and I to be accepted by the Father when we turn away from our sins and choose wholeheartedly to follow and trust Him.

"He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." Proverbs 28:13

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you." John 16:13-15.

If the law had not been given we wouldn't realise our need of the Saviour. 

3 more quotes.

 

#worldevangelismday22

 https://youtu.be/iKoQ-Al-NCc

Last year, Joe Kirby (off the kirb ministries on YouTube) declared "black Friday" to be a great day for anyone who wished to do so, to upload Christian content to YouTube. Several did share a testimony or something to tell others about the Saviour.

I didn't participate last year but the above is my contribution this year.

Some words of wisdom from A. W. Tozer

"We must meet the present emergency with a spirit of optimism. This is no time for repining, no time for looking backward, no time for self-pity or defeated complaining. We are on the winning side and we cannot lose. “Lo I am with you” makes ultimate defeat impossible.

Surely the days are evil and the times are waxing late, but the true Christian is not caught unawares. He has been forewarned of just such times as these and has been expecting them. Present events only confirm the long-range wisdom of Jesus Christ and prove the authenticity of the prophetic Word. So the believer actually turns defeat into victory and draws strength from the knowledge that the Lord in whom he trusts has foretold events and is in full command of the situation.

Let us beware allowing our spiritual comforts to rise and fall with world news or the changing political and economic situation. We who leaned Upon Jesus and Trust in the watchful love of a Heavenly Father are not dependent upon those things for our peace.

We have no desire to deny that the signs are ominous and the end is drawing near. But we refuse to get panicky, regardless... We must face today as children of tomorrow. We must meet the uncertainties of this world with the certainty of the world to come. To the pure in heart nothing really bad can happen. He may die, but what is death to a Christian? Not death but sin should be our great fear. Without doubt the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Sooner or later that will come. But what of it? Do not we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness?

Surely this is not the time for pale faces and trembling knees among the sons of the new creation. The darker the night the brighter faith shines and the sooner comes the morning. Look up and lift up your heads; our redemption draws near.

A.W. Tozer 

Of God and Men - Maranatha! Glad Day!

Are you guilty or innocent?

 I heard most of this story earlier today and thought it was powerful so wanted to share.

 God is willing to forgive, cleanse and save all who call to Him in truth, recognising their need of Him.

CHRIST SAVES.

D. L. Moody in Prison. 

I have good news to tell you--Christ is come after you. I was at the Fulton-street prayer-meeting, a good many years ago, one Saturday night, and when the meeting was over, a man came to me and said, "I would like to have you go down to the city prison to-morrow, and preach to the prisoners. I said I would be very glad to go. There was no chapel in connection with that prison, and I was to preach to them in their cells. I had to stand at a little iron railing and talk down a great, long narrow passageway, to some three or four hundred of them, I suppose, all out of sight. It was pretty difficult work; I never preached to the bare walls before. When it was over I thought I would like to see to whom I had been preaching, and how they had received the gospel. I went to the first door, where the inmates could have heard me best, and looked in at a little window, and there were some men playing cards. I suppose they had been playing all the while. "How is it with you here?" I said. "Well, stranger, we don't want you to get a bad idea of us. False witnesses swore a lie, and that is how we are here." "Oh," I said, "Christ cannot save anybody here; there is nobody lost." I went to the next cell. "Well, friend, how is it with you?" "Oh," said the prisoner, "the man that did the deed looked very much like me, so they caught me and I am here." He was innocent, too! I passed along to the next cell. "How is it with you?'" "Well, we got into bad company, and the man that did it got clear, and we got taken up, but we never did anything." I went along to the next cell "How is it with you?" "Our trial comes on next week, but they have nothing against us, and we'll get free." I went round to nearly every cell but the answer was always the same--they had never done anything. Why, I never saw so many innocent men together in my life. There was nobody to blame but the magistrates, according to their way of it. These men were wrapping their filthy rags of self-righteousness about them. And that has been the story for six thousand years. I got discouraged as I went through the prison, on, and on, and on, cell after cell, and every man had an excuse. If he hadn't one, the devil helped him to make one. I had got almost through the prison, when I came to a cell and found a man with his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands. Two little streams of tears were running down his cheeks; they did not come by drops that time.

"What's the trouble?" I said. He looked up, the picture of remorse and despair. "Oh, my sins are more than I can bear." "Thank God for that," I replied. "What," said he, "you are the man that has been preaching to us, ain't you?" "Yes." "I think you said you were a friend?" "I am." "And yet you are glad that my sins are more than I can bear!" "I will explain," I said "If your sins are more than you can bear, won't you cast them on One who will bear them for you?" "Who's that?" "The Lord Jesus." "He won't bear my sins." "Why not?" "I have sinned against Him all my life." "I don't care if you have; the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses from all sin." Then I told him how Christ had come to seek and save that which was lost; to open the prison doors and set the captives free. It was like a cup of refreshment to find a man who believed he was lost, so I stood there, and held up a crucified Saviour to him. "Christ was delivered for our offenses, died for our sins, rose again for our justification." For a long time the man could not believe that such a miserable wretch could be saved. He went on to enumerate his sins, and I told him that the blood of Christ could cover them all. After I had talked with him I said, "Now let us pray." He got down on his knees inside the cell, and I got down outside, and I said, "You pray." "Why," he said, "it would be blasphemy for me to call on God." "You call on God," I said. He knelt down, and, like the poor publican, he lifted up his voice and said, "God be merciful to me, a vile wretch!" I put my hand through the window, and as I shook hands with him a tear fell on my hand that burned down into my soul. It was a tear of repentance. He believed he was lost. Then I tried to get him to believe that Christ had come to save him. I left him still in darkness. "I will be at the hotel," I said, "between nine and ten o'clock, and I will pray for you." Next morning, I felt so much interested, that I thought I must see him before I went back to Chicago. No sooner had my eye lighted on his face, than I saw that remorse and despair had fled away, and his countenance was beaming with celestial light; the tears of joy had come into his eyes, and the tears of despair were gone. The sun of Righteousness had broken out across his path; his soul was leaping within him for joy; he had received Christ as Zaccheus did--joyfully. "Tell me about it," I said. "Well, I do not know what time it was; I think it was about midnight. I had been in distress a long time, when all at once my great burden fell off, and now, I believe I am the happiest man in New York." I think he was the happiest man I saw from the time I left Chicago till I got back again. His face was lighted up with the light that comes from the celestial hills. I bade him good-by, and I expect to meet him in another world.

Can you tell me why the Son of God came down to that prison that night, and, passing cell after cell, went to that one, and set the captive free? It was because the man believed he was lost. 

"My heart and voice I raise" a "Sacred poem" by Benjamin Rhodes

Hi!
My Dad was trying to remember the words to this hymn last night. I only knew different words to the same tune. I thought he was humming Fairest Lord Jesus! I may have glanced at this hymn before but I didn't know it. I found 5 verses in the Methodist hymnbook and the Redemption hymnal. I found 9 online at hymnary.org, and that had a link to page scans of "A Choice Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs.
From this I learned that there are 21 verses recorded!


“A Sacred Poem by Benjamin Rhodes (born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, in 1743, died 1815.

(Part 1)
"My heart and voice I raise, To spread Messiah’s praise: Messiah’s praise – let all repeat:
The Universal Lord, by whose prolific word Creation rose in form complete!

Let there be light – he said- then sullen darkness fled, Obedient to his high command!
And massy orbs above Began to shine- and move- Sustained by His Almighty hand.

Creation’s utmost bound, (how high, or how profound) Declares his Majesty divine:
Thou Everlasting Sire, Thee- shall Thy works admire, and all proclaim the glory Thine.

Man- the supreme of all on this terrestrial ball, in wisdom’s purest gifts arrayed;
From Eden basely fell: To ransom him from hell, - Messiah – suffered in his stead!

A servant’s form he wore, and in His body bore our dreadful curse on Calvary!
He like a victim stood, and poured His sacred blood, to set the guilty captives free!

But soon the victor rose, Triumphant o’er his foes, And led the vanquished host in chains;
He threw their empire down, His foes compelled to own, O’er all the great Messiah reigns!

With mercy’s mildest grace He governs all our race in wisdom, righteousness, and love:
Who to Messiah fly shall find redemption nigh, and all His great Salvation prove.

Hail, Saviour, Prince of Peace, Thy kingdom shall increase, Till all the world Thy glory see!
And righteousness abound, As the great deep profound; And fill the earth with purity.

(Part 2)
In fierce consuming fire shall destined worlds expire! And in his might Messiah rise:
The raging fervent blaze shall lift its voice in praise, While all dissolve in earth and skies!

The mighty Lord of all shall then the nations call – “Ye dead arise, to judgment come:”
The crowds arising see His sovereign majesty, and trembling wait their final doom.

Great day – that shall descry to every wondering eye the secret deeds of day and night!
The sacred volume large its record shall discharge, and bring our every thought to light!

The bold blasphemer there, in rage, and wild despair – In vain would shun impending ire:
Where shall the guilty hide? Or the fierce day abide, The Day of God, revealed in fire?

With pangs unfelt before, Urged by their pain – implore A refuge from tremendous wrath!
Too late! – transfixed with awe, They hear the fiery law condemn them to eternal death!

Bound with relentless chains, they sink beneath their pains, Nor shines one beam of hope from heaven:
With the infernal host, are now forever lost! and down to fiery regions driven.

(Part 3)

Ye happy sons of light, who conquered in the fight, and steadfast to the end endured!
Now view the great reward Messiah hath prepared, and to his faithful saints secured.

In ecstasies of bliss, they see Him as He is, Whose glory fills the eternal Throne:
He bids His servants prove Their Master’s joy above, and be with Him forever one!

City of God, in thee is full felicity: Thy treasures, an unbounded store!
Where- from the Source of Love, The saints, transported, prove, Unbounded joys for ever more!

There saints and angels join in fellowship divine, And rapture swells the solemn lay:
While all with one accord adore their glorious Lord, and shout His praise in endless day.

Salem, secure above, Thy joys when shall I prove, And to thy holy hill attain?
Where weary pilgrims rest, and in thy glories blessed, with God their King forever reign.

May I but find the grace to fill a humble place in that inheritance above:
My tuneful voice I’ll raise; In songs of loudest praise, to spread thy fame- Redeeming Love.

Reign – true Messiah – reign, Thy kingdom shall remain when stars and sun no more shall shine:
Mysterious Deity, who ne’er began to be! To sound thy endless praise – be mine."

I thought it was worth sharing. Hope you're challenged and blessed by it as I have been.

Jesus: Rock, Salvation, Defense, Strength, Glory, Refuge

We who are Christians have this sure rock solid foundation : the Lord Jesus Christ.

His kingdom is unshakable so if we are indeed rooted in Him, we will be standing firm in our faith.

He has given us everything we need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) and there are so many reminders that as long as we're truly following Him, we have no need to fear because He is with us.

Yes the world around us is bound to panic as they have no security in relationship with Jesus. We who belong to Him, who have chosen Him to rule in their lives are convinced that no matter what happens on this earth, we will spend eternity in His presence, giving Him all the glory for His great goodness and faithfulness.

What a blessed privilege to know that the Lord alone is our rock, our salvation, our defense, our glory, the rock of our strength, and our refuge. 

"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” 

Matthew 7:24-27.

Is your life founded on the Rock? 

Or are you on shaky ground? 

Some important truths to remember.

I was reminded of these verses at Church this morning.

We can trust the Lord. He is in control of all things.

Our lives and times are in His hands. 

He has promised many precious things in His Word and He will always be faithful!

Here's the link to the sermon. It's a good challenging one!

https://youtu.be/NjR21V_3JiM

Time for humble pie???

The other day I decided to do a little search on what God says about humility. I think it's fair to say that there are quite a lot of references. God obviously thinks a lot of it...

This is not an exhaustive list, and in no particular order, but I think it's worth thinking about, especially when the same thing is repeated 2 or 3 times.

Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honour.

Proverbs 18:12 - Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility comes before honour.

Proverbs 22:4 - The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honour and life.

Zephaniah 2:3 - Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

Ephesians 4:2 - with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Philippians 2:3 - Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Colossians 3:12 - Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

1 Peter 5:5+6 - Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,”

Deuteronomy 8:16 - who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end.

2 Samuel 22:28 - You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down.

2 Chronicles 34:27 - because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.

Psalm 18:27 - For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.

Psalm 25:9 - He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Psalm 34:2 - My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.

Psalm 69:32 - When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive.

Psalm 76:9 - when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah

Psalm 147:6 - The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

Psalm 149:4 - For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

Proverbs 3:34 - Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favour.

Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Isaiah 66:2 - All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Micah 6:8 - He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 11:29 take up my yoke upon you, and learn from me, because I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls,

  

Matthew 21:5 - “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”

Matthew 23:12 - Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

James 4:6 - But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:10 - Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.


Hope you're as challenged as I was.

Strength

This is by no means an exhaustive list of Scriptures mentioning Strength, but I found them very encouraging. I hope you do too.

"The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 

He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him." Exodus 15:2

"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him." Psalm 28:7

"For You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit;

You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth." Psalm 31:4-5

"For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" Psalm 43:2

"Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob." Psalm 81:1

"The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." Psalm 118:14

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;

‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ” Isaiah 12:2

"Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, And all shall be ashamed Who are incensed against Him." Isaiah 45:24

"O LORD, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction," Jeremiah 16:19

"The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills." Habakkuk 3:19

I wasn’t aware that there were so many different versions of strength in Scripture. I counted at least 5. I found it quite interesting seeing the differences.

Definitions from Strong’s Concordance:

strength in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise): - boldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong.

properly a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally a rock or boulder; figuratively a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous): - edge, X (mighty) God (one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong

a fortified place; figuratively a defence: - force, fort (-ress), rock, strength (-en), (X most) strong (hold).

probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength: - able, activity, (+) army, band of men (soldiers), company, (great) forces, goods, host, might, power, riches, strength, strong, substance, train, (+) valiant (-ly), valour, virtuous (-ly), war, worthy (-ily).

 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ephesians 6:10

I was thinking for awhile about the Lord being our strength, but I was still acting like I had to be strong myself. Now I realise that I missed the point. It is humbling to admit that we have no strength in and of ourselves; we have to rely on the Lord’s strengthening. We can rejoice that God won the victory for us, despite how often we are still so weak. The Lord has all strength and He will equip us with all the fortitude necessary for the things to which He calls us. When we trust Him, He is our refuge and defense. We are secure in Him. A friend of mine gave me these wise words on this subject, but it’s applicable to any truth in Scripture: “It won’t do you any good until you believe and act on it!”

“Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

I’d say that was an excellent reason to rejoice!

What is God the God of?

Did a quick e-Sword search of the things Scripture says God is God of and I found the results quite interesting.

God of : Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jeshurun, Elijah, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

God of heaven

God of heaven and earth

God of Israel (most often repeated)

God of the Hebrews

God of the spirits of all flesh

God of your fathers, their fathers, our fathers

God of gods

God of truth

God of knowledge

God of the armies of Israel

God of hosts

God of the rock of my salvation

God of the land

God of our salvation

God of Jerusalem

God of my righteousness

God of glory

God of my life

God of my strength

God of my mercy

God of my praise

God of judgment

God of the whole earth

God of all the families of Israel

God of all flesh

God of recompences

God of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, of the land of Israel

God of the living

God of the Jews and of the Gentiles

God of patience and consolation

God of hope

God of peace

God of all comfort

God of love and peace

God of our Lord Jesus Christ

God of all grace

God of the holy prophets

A few verses from Psalm 18

A poem, a hymn, some verses and thoughts.

"I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of His salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, His face.

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray,
And He, I trust, has answered prayer!
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.

I hoped that in some favoured hour,
At once He’d answer my request;
And by His love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

Yea more, with His own hand He seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

Lord, why is this, I trembling cried,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“‘Tis in this way, the Lord replied,
I answer prayer for grace and faith.

These inward trials I employ,
From self, and pride, to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou may’st find thy all in Me.”

Written by John Newton

and I thought this hymn tied in quite well.

1. "Jesus, lover of my soul,
   Let me to Thy bosom fly,
   While the nearer waters roll,
   While the tempest still is high.
   Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,
   Till the storm of life is past;
   Safe into the haven guide;
   Oh, receive my soul at last.
2. Other refuge have I none,
   Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
   Leave, ah! leave me not alone,
   Still support and comfort me.
   All my trust on Thee is stayed,
   All my help from Thee I bring;
   Cover my defenseless head
   With the shadow of Thy wing.
3. Wilt Thou not regard my call?
   Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
   Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall—
   Lo! on Thee I cast my care.
   Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
   While I of Thy strength receive,
   Hoping against hope I stand,
   Dying, and behold, I live.
4. Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
   More than all in Thee I find;
   Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
   Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
   Just and holy is Thy Name,
   Source of all true righteousness;
   Thou art evermore the same,
   Thou art full of truth and grace.
5. Plenteous grace with Thee is found,
   Grace to cover all my sin;
   Let the healing streams abound;
   Make and keep me pure within.
   Thou of life the fountain art,
   Freely let me take of Thee;
   Spring Thou up within my heart;
   Rise to all eternity."
6. Written by Charles Wesley
7. 
   
8. Have we actually come to the place where we seek our all in Him? 
9. Where, as long as we have Him, we have everything we need?

As we enter 2018, let's seek the Lord more than we ever have before. 

His return is getting nearer. We must be ready!