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 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!

Wise words from Elihu

 

Good reminder. Thanks Elihu! 

Every now and then it can be very helpful to take a few moments to ponder on His wonderful deeds and recount to yourself His faithfulness in your life through however many years you've been walking with Him.

Remembering how the Lord has kept me and provided for me and how He is still patiently dealing with me should cause great rejoicing and gratitude.

"With my song I will praise Him,

 He has been so good to me.

He heard my prayer and He answered. 

My strength, my shield and my hope. 

My heart will rejoice in the LORD."

(inspired by Psalm 28)

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? 

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!

Another poem

I read this poem in Streams in the Desert and rather liked it.

Excerpt from today's Checkbook of Faith

I read this in Spurgeon's Checkbook of Faith today, and it really blessed me. Hope you're blessed by it too.

"Let us rest ourselves upon Him. He is our refuge, let us hide in Him;
He is our strength, let us array ourselves with Him;
He is our help, let us lean upon Him;
He is our very present help, let us repose in Him now.
We need not have a moment's care or an instant's fear.
"The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

C.H. Spurgeon

J.R. Miller's "In Green Pastures" devotional for February 14th.

"The Value of the Reserve

There is a wide difference between worrying about a possible future of trial and being ready for it if it should come. The former we should never be; the latter we should always seek to be. It is he who is always prepared for emergencies, for the hard pinches, the steep climbing, the sore struggle, that gets through life victoriously. In moral and spiritual things it is the same. It is the reserve that saves us in all final tests - the strength that lies behind what we need in ordinary experiences. Those who daily commune with God, breathing his life into their souls, become strong with that secret, hidden strength which preserves them from falling in the day of trial. They have a "vessel" from which to refill the lamp when its little cup of oil is exhausted."