Stand still! Stand firm! #godindailylife, #thebibleindailylife

February 26, 2025ANXIETY, CURRENT EVENTS, ENCOURAGEMENT, HARD TIMES, HOPE, TRUSTING GODFreda Farmer

Reasons for great gratitude. I flipped backward through my Bible, stopping to re-read and ponder each of the passages where I had inserted a slip of paper, passages densely marked with underlines and arrows, pencil and red pen. They were Malachi 3:16-17, Habakkuk 3:17-19, Lamentations 3:17-28, Jeremiah 15:19, Isaiah 55:6-13, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 32:10, and Psalm 33:18-22. These were my latest chain of personally noteworthy verses, the ones I read over most every morning and whenever I need a fresh breath of God’s truth. I was reading them this afternoon with great gratitude.

Late afternoon sun slanted through the window, spilling over the brown rug where Lily bugs lay, soaking up the sunshine largely absent the previous month of cold, gray days. Last week, with several below freezing mornings and overcast days with afternoons requiring a coat, gloves and scarf, I had felt tucked in, making chicken soup, studying and writing, trying to maintain a steady course in spite of the loss I wrote about on February 6.

Yesterday, though, when another blow came I did not feel like seeing sunshine. I wanted to hide somewhere in the dark and the gloom. I felt like giving up, on a lot of things.

“Oh, Father! You know this feels like 2020, when You first trained me to meditate on Your Word desperately to conquer the negative, depression-causing thoughts. If I do not do that now, with fervor and desperation, I know I could fall back into depression and despair. You have never, no never, no never failed me in any regard, (Hebrews 13:5) dear Father, and I trust You now. . . “

I closed my eyes, pressed the Bible to my chest and hugged hard.

“Father, in times like this I really wish I could see Your face and hear Your voice and feel Your loving arms around me. Nevertheless, I know You are here, all around me and in me, closer than my very breath. Thank You, Lord, thank You.”

Filled with fury. The enemy “is filled with fury because he knows his time is short.” (Revelations 12:12, NIV). So many good things are happening in the U.S. and the world that it is hard to keep track. We must keep pressing on with prayer and doing all we can to support the righteous leaders God has put in place. We must also be mindful that the enemy is stirred up, overflowing with rage as his plans are being ruined and evil is being exposed, as God promised in Luke 8:17 “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” (NIV)

Romans 8:28 – unfailing comfort. Beloved, we can be sure the enemy is working harder than ever to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). I know that many, many of us are experiencing vicious attacks of the enemy.

In my own recent case, I can by grace alone say that, though nothing is resolved yet, I see how God has already used this hard thing for good. How? (1) It has gouged out (and I use that word on purpose for that is what it has felt like) deeper trust in God. (2) God’s own compassion has gushed out from places hitherto untouched in my heart. (3) Finally, self-focus has shrunk.

Stand still! And stand firm! When I first got the news, I sat in my chair and stared out the window. A long time. Then I went outside, sat on the stairs, and gazed at a tree visible above the rooftops. A solitary bird perched on an outermost branch swaying in the gentle wind. All day I felt numb, trying to talk with God but unable to feel His presence. This morning though, I woke up with two Biblical phrases in mind: stand still and stand firm.

Stand still! “Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again. ¹⁴The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest. (Exodus 14:13-14 AMPC)

Notice that standing still means to be “firm, confident, undismayed.” Read all of Exodus 14 and you will see that Moses said these words to the Israelites when the Egyptian army drew near to them and they sarcastically asked Moses why he had not let them stay in Egypt as slaves rather than die in the wilderness.

When the enemy closes in and seems about to destroy us, God says stand firm, have confidence in Him and do not let your courage be melted down. When you do that, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. “ (Exodus 14:14, NIV, emphasis added)

This is the same promise God gave to King Jehosaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:15 when he, like Moses and Israel, also faced possible annihilation: “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (NIV)

This truth we must imprint on our hearts:

“For the Lord your God is He Who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:4, AMPC)

What happens if I do not stand and face the enemy? I might run right into the enemy’s trap, as the Israelites would have done had they tried to run. Remember they were hemmed in on three sides when the Egyptians caught up with them.

Stand firm! “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13, NIV). That phrase “after you have done everything” includes a lot! In the coming weeks I plan to share about what that has meant for me lately while God has been teaching me about prayer and fasting.

Briefly, what might that everything include? Asking God to reveal anything in your life in general and anything in this particular matter where you may have sinned and asking for forgiveness; fervent earnest prayer; agreeing with others in prayer; and saying or doing all you can.

Go back now and read all of Ephesians 6. After giving specific instructions for children and parents and slaves and masters (workers and bosses in our modern world), Paul says:

¹⁰In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

¹¹Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11, AMPC, emphasis added).

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I can draw my strength from Him. Paul says that if we draw our strength from God and put on His whole armor (see Ephesians 6:14-17) we will be able to stand up – successfully! — against all the enemy’s wicked plots and schemes. And why does Paul say to put on – and use – the spiritual armor of God? Read verse 12.

¹²For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.”

Phew! The believer is engaged in a supernatural, spiritual battle far greater in scope than we can ever imagine. I can only echo King Jehosaphat:

“O our God, will You not exercise judgment upon them? For we have no might to stand against this great company that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12, AMPC)

But, thanks be to God, we can by His great grace learn to stand still and, like King Jehosaphat’s people, sing out our praises to God as we face the enemy – and God Himself will fight for us.

It may seem like thousands of fearful, discouraging, angry, doubting, resentful, self-pitying, threatening thoughts are attacking our minds and there may be many painful or threatening situations in our life over which we have no control. HOWEVER, God will empower us to sing, like Paul and Silas in prison (Acts 16:22-25). If we just choose to try, God will empower us to praise Him by recalling the wonderful deeds He has done for us, thinking gratefully on those things and thanking Him for His mercies and faithfulness to us in the past.

And our God will fight for us, just as He did for King Jehosaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 and for King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14 and for the Israelites in Exodus 14.

A few more thoughts. I sincerely pray that the following thoughts comfort you as much as they comfort me. Here they are:

[1] The enemy attacks God, through attacking me.

[2] God longs, far far more than I can understand, that I live in peace.

[3] God will take care of the enemy and He can keep me in peace while He does that.

[4] But . . . I must make the decision to trust Him and I must do my part in keeping myself calm. (Isaiah 26:3)

God is right there in the trial with you. What a comfort is the following passage from the prophet Isaiah!

But now [in spite of past judgments for Israel’s sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

²When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.

³For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; (Isaiah 43:1-3a, AMPC)

I chanced (providentially, of course) to hear those verses last night, after a full day battling fear, anger, frustration, doubt, hurt, self-pity. And I was able to sleep and sleep well.

“The very instant you turn. .” Our loving God is so kind! Here is part of the April 2 devotion from “Streams in the Desert, Morning and Evening” audiobook I heard this morning. The author, L. B. Cowman, urged readers to form the habit of looking for the silver lining of clouds and to focus on that silver lining, rather than yielding to discouragement. “no matter how severely stressed or surrounded by problems you may be. A discouraged soul is in a helpless state. “ Such a one cannot “stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11) nor pray for others.

The author urged us to find specific promises from God and say them aloud, adding ‘This promise is mine.” Then, “if you still experience feelings of doubt and discouragement, pour your heart out to God, asking Him to rebuke the Adversary who is so mercilessly harassing you.

The very instant you wholeheartedly turn away from every symptom of discouragement and lack of trust, the blessed Holy Spirit will reawaken your faith and breath God’s divine strength into your soul.” (emphasis added)

I experienced that this morning, dear friend. I pray you will too, the next time the enemy comes against you with a vast host of doubts and fears. Nothing can stand against our God – nothing! He never, no never, no never fails us in any regard! (Hebrews 13:5)

As I step outside at the close of this day, I look up and see the intricate array of clouds God has stretched out. “He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. (Job 9:8, NIV). And I ponder Psalm 103:11 “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him “ (AMPC)

Only in heaven will we begin to understand the love and the goodness and the mercies and the lovingkindness and the power of our great and awesome God.

Trusting God in loss, #godindailylife, #thebibleindailylife

February 6, 2025ANXIETY, DAILY LIFE, DEPRESSION, ENCOURAGEMENT, HARD TIMES, TRUSTING GODFreda Farmer

I pushed back the curtain a bit and set the steaming cup of chamomile on the wide window sill running beneath the two side-by-side windows on the southeast wall, the windows I always look out each morning. Though only a slice of sky rather than a panoramic view, most mornings I see changes from black to dark blue, then purple, and finally blendings of yellow, orange and red. I eased into the rocker and picked up my Bible, holding it to my chest.

Silently, Lily Bugs landed on the window sill. I stood up and opened the window a creaky three inches so she could feel the cool air, smell the rose bush climbing the drain pipe just outside the window and watch early-morning dog walkers.

“Father, I just do not know where to start. I do not know what to even try to say. It’s just. . . “ I stopped and closed my eyes, trying to concentrate.

“No! I do not want to close my eyes. That makes the thoughts too real.”

I stared into the darkness, feeling my face pinch into a frown, that look of intense inward concentration you see when someone focuses on a difficult task. Softly, I began praying in the Spirit, using my private prayer language. (If you do not know about praying in the Spirit, start reading at page 15 in the booklet “The Remedy for Desperation” at www.wordsofhopeandhealing.com.) After a while, I closed my eyes and kept them closed. That’s when the feelings surged up.

That’s when the tears finally came, from deep inside, the tears that God’s shielding cushion had suppressed for three weeks, those three weeks when the loss had been too much to comprehend, and then when my mind had rebelled against believing it was real.

Now, though, now the sorrow of it all floated into consciousness, that despair and discouragement as much a part of loss as the hand’s dorsal and palmar sides are part of each other.

As the crying turned to sobbing then quiet weeping, I kept talking with God.

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Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105, NLT) “Father, thank You that I know You will take care of me, that I know everything will be alright. Thank You that I know You are right here with me, that You will never leave me or fail me or let me down in any way, (Hebrews 13:5), that I know You will keep supplying everything I need and so much more (Philippians 4:9).

Thank You that I know, although I do not feel it right now, that there is no sorrow or heartache You cannot heal (Psalm 103:3). Thank You that I know You are close to the brokenhearted, and You save those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18, NIV).

Praise You that You will be “my strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army” and that You will make “my feet like hinds’ feet, and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places of trouble, suffering, and responsibility.” (Habakkuk 3:19, AMPC).

In spite of all this, Lord, I know You will help me to say, “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation.” (Habakkuk 3:18, AMPC). Thank You that I know You will give me Your strength to do the things that must be done today, and the next day and the day after. Thank You that You will guide my steps as I lean on You, even though I do not understand this at all (Proverbs 3:5-7).

I am grateful, dear Father, for the experiences You have used to train me to make a sacrifice of praise (Psalm 49:14-16) and choose to rejoice in You, no matter what, and to follow the other steps in Philippians 4:4-7, where Paul said:

^“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I am grateful You have taught me that if I keep my mind fixed on You, if I lean on You, rely on You and hope confidently in You, that You will keep me in complete and constant peace (Isaiah 26:3). Thank You for teaching me that keeping a verse or a passage before my eyes all day long and pondering on it keeps the enemy’s thoughts out of my mind and fills my mind with good things, the things You tell me to think about in Philippians 4:8.

⁸Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

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⁸Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Joshua 1:8, NLT)

By then, gentle sunlight dappled through the leaves in the tree where a sparrow perched, inclining his head from side to side before flitting away. I blew my nose one last time.

“You know, Father. I think I need to review Psalm 18 again. I’ll study that one again and then print some verses to carry around and meditate on until I memorize them.”

I opened my Bible and quickly scanned the psalm before moving to the desk.

“Well, Father, I think the first verses I’ll meditate on until I memorize them is verses 33 and 34.

He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places.

He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

These verses also talk about high, dangerous places, only this time it calls them places of testing and trouble. And I see how the next verse talks about You equipping us for battle. That’s what this is all about, I know. That spiritual battle we are in with the enemy of our souls. This loss is just one more attack from him, one more attack like he has used on millions of others before me.

But Your Word and Your love have never failed. You delivered others from the snares of the enemy (Psalm 91:3), You have delivered me countless times before and I know You will deliver me from this one, too, Lord. So, we will just start with verse one and see what You have to show me. I love You, Lord, and I trust You.

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Salvations and Edifications, #thebibleindaily life, #godindailylife

January 16, 2025BIBLE STUDY, CHRISTIAN VALUES, ENCOURAGEMENT, TRUSTING GODFreda Farmer

A note from me to you: I am going to be writing long blog posts, rather than breaking them into two or more short ones, as before. Short writings do not work well for me. So, I will trust you to read a bit and then return to it later, as the Lord leads. So, here we go, with 2025. It is going to be an awesome year in Jesus!

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Two days before New Year’s. I opened my eyes and stretched. In the darkness, I saw a small white shape next to me, then Lily Bugs was standing on my chest. I rubbed her velvety ears, then gently scratched under her chin, feeling the thrumming, silent rumbling that is her purr.

“Well, Lord, You know I do not really want to but I know my desk and all my papers need to be organized, really organized. You know, where I go through each folder or stack of papers on my desk and all the cubbies. Thank You for helping me get so much year-end organizing and planning done already this week.

So, Lord, once again I roll this day’s work upon You. I “commit and trust this day’s work wholly to You. I know You will cause my thoughts to become agreeable to Your will, and thus shall our plans be established and succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3, AMPC, personalized)

Two hours later, after morning devotions and some preliminary work on organizing the desk, I sat down with a second cup of chicory. On a clean sheet of paper, using the post-it notes on which they had been hastily scrawled as the ideas had come to mind, I made an orderly list of my personal spiritual goals for the year. And that felt good.

Two worthy goals. Besides goals concerning worldly things (paying down debt, getting in better shape, etc.) do you have spiritually-focused goals for this year? Have you prayed about what you hope to achieve for the kingdom of God this year? Have you asked God to show you an area where you can grow spiritually?

Two of my spiritual goals are to lead souls to salvation (I am praying about a specific number) and to prepare myself to be better at mutual edification. Let me explain.

GOAL #1. Will there be any stars in my crown? Remember this soul-stirring song written by Eliza Edmunds Hewitt in 1897? It asks the question: When I get to heaven, can I know that I have helped win some souls to Jesus? Here is one stanza.

“In the strength of the Lord let me labor and pray
Let me watch as a winner of souls
That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day
When his praise like the sea billow rolls.”

We must be busy about our Father’s work, just as Jesus was (Luke 2:49). We must not be lazy or idle. In Hebrews 6:11-12 God tells us He wants each of us “. . . to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. ¹²We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. “ (NIV, emphasis added)

Am I prepared to labor in the harvest? (Mathew 9:38) If I wish to be a soul winner, I must (1) be prepared and (2) be praying for God to put souls in the path of my daily life.

How do I prepare to be a soul winner? Many books have been written about leading hearts to Jesus. Ask your pastor or mature believers what books they recommend. One book I trust, because I trust the authors (T. L. Osborn and LaDonna Osborn), is Soul Winning: How to Share God’s Love and Life to a World of Despair.

Another excellent book is One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven by Mark Cahill. I have read portions of this book and highly recommend it. Here is the description written on the back of the book:

“Are you ready for eternity? If so, are you helping others get ready for that journey into eternity that each of us must take? As believers, we all know we should tell others about the Lord, but we often don’t know how. This practical book will give you ideas for starting conversations, examples of witnessing situations, and answers to common question. It will help motivate and equip you to reach both friends and strangers for Jesus for the rest of your life.”

A very simple way to lead someone to salvation is the Romans Road. Here is a link to a simple explanation. What is the Romans Road to salvation? | GotQuestions.org If you have these five or so verses of the Romans Road memorized, you will be ready when God puts some hungry soul in the path of your everyday life, at work, the grocery, the gym, or your neighborhood.

rectangular leaning mirror with brass-colored frame Begin memorizing these verses now while you read a good book or some articles about soul winning. Next, practice at home in front of a mirror or with a friend. Then, pray and watch God work.

You will likely not be able to lead someone to salvation every time, but you can be certain that you have planted seed in their heart and you can be certain that God will send another laborer to water that soul. Someday, one of God’s laborers will harvest that soul. The apostle Paul said, “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.” (I Corinthians 3:6, NLT)

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Be confident as you prepare yourself and pray to win souls. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave His followers what is known as the Great Commission. Jesus said:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (NIV)

Because God clearly tells us to win the lost, we can be sure when we pray for help that God hears us and we shall have the thing we ask of Him (I John 5:14-15).

Jesus does not limit this commission to those whose full-time work is that of a pastor, evangelist or teacher. The Great Commission applies to all of us, no matter our circumstance and situation. But what if you do not like to study or are “slow of speech” like Moses? God made you, and He does not make mistakes. Put your apparent limitation on the altar, try with all your might to obey God and then watch what He does for you.

GOAL #2: Our obligation of mutual edification. Building each other up spiritually is clearly God’s specifically expressed will for every believer. Where does the Bible say that? For starters, study Romans 5:12, and 14:19, Philippians 2:4, Ephesians 4:15-16 and Ephesians 4:29. These verses are for every believer, as is the Great Commission. When we edify each other by “speaking the truth in love” we help each other grow up into Christ (Ephesians 4:15).

So, I ask myself the same two questions about this goal of edifying other believers: (1) Am I prepared to edify fellow believers at every opportunity? And (2) Am I praying for opportunities to do that and keeping my eyes open, being willing to give of my personal time and energy to do that?

How do I prepare to edify fellow believers? Let’s look at Ephesians 4:15-16 a bit closer. These verses are part of a section the NIV calls “Unity in the Body of Christ.” In this passage, Paul is urging the believes at Ephesus to grow up into maturity. Take time now to read Ephesians 4:1-16.

Do you see God’s master plan for building up the Body of Christ? We are to live in loving unity and we are to use the grace God has given us, whatever that may be, so that we may all become mature. To be mature is to be a fully functioning member of the Body of Christ. Then, Christ will cause all of us to “grow and build each other” up in love, as we each do our part. We can be ready in every situation to edify each one whom God puts in our path, inside as well as outside the church.

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Practical tips for how to edify others. As believers, we strive to be doing good at every opportunity, inside and outside the church, and not just when we feel like it. The person siting next to us in Bible study group may desperately need to share a cup of coffee and some one-on-one time with a fellow Christian. They might be desperately hungry for just one hour of true, personal conversation.

That stranger we meet outside the church may be a believer or not, but regardless, that stranger is a person God loves. If we are praying and looking for opportunities, we can speak a quick word of truth to someone standing in line at the grocery or sitting next to us in the doctor’s reception area.

God’s truth benefits anyone who hears it, whether they seem to receive it or not. Our part is to scatter the seed, then pray for God to grow the seed. So, what to do? Pray for help and study to equip yourself with the Word!

Step One: Meditate on verses that you think would be good to share with others. You can start by recalling what God has done in your life. For example, if God has helped you out of deep financial trials, meditate on verses like Philippians 4:19:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)

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Use a concordance or the internet and find other verses on the subject. Then, when you encounter someone in financial struggles, you can offer them comfort and encouragement through the Word and through hearing your story of victory through God over similar problems.

If you know a close friend is struggling with a particular temptation, meditate on and memorize I Corinthians 10:13

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (NLT)

Think about your own story and think about people’s needs in general. God will lead you to the portions of His Word that meets those needs, no matter your level of knowledge. You already know more Scripture than you think. Simply take and use what is already in your mind, just as God told Moses to use what was in his hand (Exodus 4:17.)

And one important note: do not worry about saying the verse word for word. If you cannot memorize it and/or if you cannot remember it, God will still help you speak out the essence of the verse. Trust Him and just try.

Step Two: Practice speaking the Word out loud so that you become accustomed to hearing your own voice saying God’s Words. Then it will feel natural and will sound natural. Remember, though, the Word of God is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). His Word will touch the spirit and soul of that person you are seeking to help. God loves that person far, far more than you can, and nothing is too hard for God (Jeremiah 32:17). God makes the eyes to see and the ears to hear (Proverbs 20:12). Touching the heart is His part. Our part is to speak the Word in love, to be the living channel through which God can touch others.

Usually, there is no need to pause dramatically in the conversation and say, “Now, friend, I am going to share a Bible truth that I think you need.” Think how Jesus talked to people in need. Just talk naturally about what they need and what God has said about that need.

If you are talking with a friend struggling with family troubles, say, “You know, I finally learned that God will keep me in peace during rocky times when I remind myself that God promises to keep me in complete peace if I trust in Him and keep my thoughts fixed on Him. (paraphrase of Isaiah 26:3, NLT)

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Share the light you have. Beloved, you have been given a measure of a vast and limitless treasure, a measure of the light of God’s truth. Countless millions are walking in darkness and desperately need the light you have. Small as it may seem to you, the light you have is a bright path to souls staggering in darkness.

When you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you were saved (Romans 10:9-10) and Jesus, the Light of the World, took up residence in your heart. Think about that. The God Who made all that is lives inside you. You have all that you need in Him.

In the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus was teaching about salt and light, He said:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (NLT)

People all around us need to hear God’s wisdom. Will you turn away and leave them blindly groping in the dark, shackled by fear, doubt or some other torment from the enemy? If you saw a little child stumbling about near a deep ditch, would you not stop in your busy life and run to pick that child up? Friend, that is what Jesus has done for each of us. We must do that for others. We must feed His sheep (John 21:15-17).

Helping others we see in need is not an option if we are to walk in right standing with God. I must take to heart the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:37-46.

³⁷“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? ³⁹When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

⁴⁰“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

⁴¹“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. ⁴²For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. ⁴³I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

⁴⁴“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

⁴⁵“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

⁴⁶“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” (NLT, emphasis added.)

That “they” in Verse 46 means the unrighteous, those not in right standing with Jesus. Why are they not in right standing? Jesus said “I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.” (Verse 45).

Notice that this passage is part of Jesus’ discourse about the end of the age, the time when “the love of most will grow cold”. That is beyond question the times in which we live.

Am I in right standing with God regarding this? Oh, Lord, open my ears and let me take to heart the truth in Verses 45 and 46! God says we are not in right standing with Him, if we refuse to help those in need.

I have usually heard this passage taught as concerning doing physical acts of service but the principal also, I believe, concerns sharing the Word of life, just as we would share a cup of water or food or clothing.

When we reach out to others with God’s love—be that His Word or some tangible physical way—we let God Himself flow through us. He can use us to touch fellow believers, those who are lost, and all with whom we come in contact.

Further, there is another general Biblical principle that I believe applies here:

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. ²⁸If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you. (Proverbs 3:27-28, NLT)

woman in gray shirt standing on green grass field during daytime

Photo by Gonzalo Facello on Unsplash

We must be ready for the great harvest that has already begun! Friend and fellow pilgrim, we must pray, equip ourselves and then be looking for ways to let God do good through us, to win the lost and to edify our brothers and sisters in Christ, in church and out in the world.

What a privilege! What a sacred responsibility! And oh, oh, oh! What a light He sheds on our way!

“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

- Refrain:
  Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
  To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

(“Trust and Obey”, by John H. Sammis, 1887)

empty street in between of tall trees during golden hour Photo by Leo Visions on Unsplash

Merry Christmas to you!

December 24, 2024UncategorizedFreda Farmer

Merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones! May the Lord give us a spirit of gratitude as we reflect on all the wonderful things He has done this past year for us and all the wonderful plans He has for our future.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. (Jeremiah 29:11, AMPC)

And most of all, may we give thanks that He came to earth, fully Divine and fully human in the Person of His beloved Son, to save us from our sins and empower us to live holy lives for His glory and His praise.

Then suddenly there appeared with the angel an army of the troops of heaven (a heavenly knighthood), praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased} men of goodwill, of His favor]. (Luke 2:13-14, AMPC)

3 men sitting on ground

Photo by Myriam Zilles on Unsplash

What do you see? #godindailylife, #thebibleindaily life

December 6, 2024ANXIETY, ENCOURAGEMENT, GRATITUDE, TRUSTING GODFreda Farmer

What do I see? What do you see in this first picture?

I see a tree that has suffered loss, the sliced off ends of branches silent testimony to many major losses happening at the same time.

What do you see in this next picture?

I see that the tree is set next to many of its fellows. They are together fulfilling the purpose for which they were planted: to help mark the boundary of a fence line. The tree that lost many branches is indeed smaller but it fulfills its purpose in the original place where it was planted just as the other trees do. I barely notice the scars of the tree’s past.

And how about this last picture. What do you see? I see that there are many of these boundary marking trees spread along the fence. The fence frames a broad and lush pasture, where cows graze. And beyond that one pasture, and that one farm, lies another farm, then another, and still beyond that I see vast stretches of untouched countryside, with trees, brush and the natural undulations of land unmarred by the hand of man, a countryside filled with sounds of birdsong, squirrel chirrups and the rustlings of many common creatures sheltering there.

What do I choose to see? Especially in the Christmas season, unrealistic expectations so often create disappointment and stir up painful memories and hurts. I can easily be tricked into gazing into the past, focusing on all that went before.

Or, I can choose to focus on something greater my own concerns. If I do, I begin to see the purpose God has for my life and how He has used the trials of the past to shape me more into His image (Romans 8:29). And I see that God’s purpose is good and that others have a similar purpose and similar experiences.

I see what I choose to see. Yes, by God’s great grace, I can choose to take a broad, high view, like that of an eagle. With an eagle’s eye, I see only beauty.

When I see from an eternal perspective—from God’s perspective–I see only God’s purposes being fulfilled in me and in the place of this life where He has planted me. I do not see the scars of my past. Thus, the enemy cannot steal the joy God has lovingly planted along the path of this day especially for me.

¹¹Light is sown for the [uncompromisingly] righteous and strewn along their pathway, and joy for the upright in heart [the irrepressible joy which comes from consciousness of His favor and protection]. (Psalm 97:11-12, AMPC).

Oh, open the eyes of my heart, Lord! Oh, Lord! Help me get my eyes off of self and all that is past! Help me “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” (Colossians 3:2, NLT) Help me fix my eyes on things above. Help me expect You and look for You, and hope in You! For so shall You change me and give me a new kind of strength and power.

Oh, Lord! Help me soar with You! As a man mounts a horse, so the eagle mounts the wind. An eagle merely spreads its wings and mounts up upon the wind and is effortlessly carried along. So, Lord, by faith I spread wide the wings of my heart. And I soar, Lord, I soar with You. In Your limitless strength I shall indeed “run and not be weary”. I “shall walk and not faint or become tired.” (Isaiah 40:31, AMPC)

²⁸Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

²⁹He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

³⁰Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

³¹But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. (Isaiah 40:28-31, AMPC, emphasis added).

Dearest Father, grant me a willing heart throughout this special season to keep my eyes on You and on letting You love others through me. Thank You for the settled peace that always brings. Amen.

bald eagle flying under forest during daytime Photo by Kea Mowat on Unsplash

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

November 28, 2024GRATITUDEFreda Farmer

white candles on round table Photo by LIbby Penner on Unsplash

I can find no better words for this special day than Psalm 100.

¹Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!

²Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!

³Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

⁴Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!

⁵For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. (AMPC)

Dear Father in heaven,
We thank You for all You have done, for us individually and for our nation and our world. Oh, Lord, help us remember every day and every hour to give You the worship and praise and gratitude You deserve. Help us love You and serve You with an undivided heart. You are our King and our very great delight. Thank You for loving us! Amen.

Please pardon the technical error!

November 22, 2024UncategorizedFreda Farmer

I made a big mistake! The November 2 blog post announced that a new book–“God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security”–was available on the Books, etc. page of this website. However, I made the link go to a single page of verses the book is based on rather than the actual manuscript.

If you tried to download the book and found only one page of verses, I am sure you were frustrated. I am so sorry! Please forgive my lack of technical expertise and try again.

Below is a revised description of the book.

“God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security” unfolds nine Bible passages that will anchor your soul in the unshakeable peace and security only God can give the human heart. True-life experiences are woven into explanatory study of the nine Bible passages.

Personal experiences meditating upon and applying these Scriptures demonstrate how to attain not only peace and security but the God-pleasing habit of meditating on the Word day and night.

^“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” (Joshua 1:8, NLT)

Meditating is not as difficult as you may think, and this book shows you how. I pray that you give it your sincere effort. You will not be disappointed. God always, always, always rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).

So, dear friend, once again I have proven that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1. KJV). I only discovered my mistake by Divine “accident”. How richly blessed we all are that God watches over us with care! (Genesis 28:15).

Love and prayers,
Freda

How much love is enough? Part Four #godindaily life, #the bible in daily life

November 14, 2024ANXIETY, BIBLE STUDY, DAILY LIFE, TRUSTING GODFreda Farmer

Happy father young man and baby girl little daughter having fun on bed in room at home Photo for Getty Images on Unsplash

But if one loves God truly
[with affectionate reverence,
prompt obedience, and
grateful recognition of His blessing],
he is known by God
[recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love,
and he is owned by Him]. (I Corinthians 8:3, AMPC, emphasis added)

Review of Parts One through Three. In Parts One through Three we studied the first half of 1 Corinthians 8:3, which is the if part of the if/then promise — If we “love God truly” then we are “known by God.”

We saw that God wants us to be reverent toward Him, but He wants that reverence to be like the same affectionate respect a young child has toward a loving human father. God also wants us to obey Him quickly and to have a sincerely thankful heart for His blessings.

Why we approach God with confidence. We ended Part Three with the well-known passage Hebrews 4:14-16. Did you find the connections between that passage and 1 Corinthians 8:3? The connection I see is that I Corinthians 8:3 gives one of many reasons why I can approach God with confidence. Here is Hebrews 4:14-16 again.

⁴Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. ¹⁶Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV, emphasis added)

With these words Our loving Father is urging us to draw near to Him, with confidence, when we need help. Why? Because through what Jesus experienced, He feels what we feel. He has “a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation”(AMPC). God has the same fatherly compassion on us as a human father has on his children because God “knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.” (AMPC)

Now consider the second half of 1 Corinthians 8:3. The one who loves God truly “. . . is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him].” Think about a cherished little boy. He runs to his papa for comfort or help or to ask for whatever he needs. He does so with confidence, no hesitation at all, because he knows his papa’s loving character. That child has personal acquaintance and experience with his loving papa. He is like the believer God speaks of in Psalm 91:14

¹⁴Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never]. (AMPC, emphasis added).

God is talking about someone who understands His character, who knows what He is like because that person has personal experience with God’s mercy, love and kindness. That person trusts and relies on God—on the basis of that knowledge of God—and knows God “will never forsake him, no never!” That person approaches God with confidence.

But what if we are not confident about approaching God? Now think about another cherished little boy just adopted into that same family. This little boy had an abusive early childhood and was then in an orphanage where other children told him adoptive parents were cruel and harsh.

Before this hurt and misinformed little boy can approach his new father with confidence, he must hear and believe the truth about his new father. He needs words of love and reassurance from his new father, and he needs actual experience with his new father’s mercy and loving kindnesses. All that happens naturally as that little boy just lives with his new father. His new father adores him, knows what little boys need, and knows that this little boy in particular needs extra love and reassurances and patience and tenderness.

Before we knew the Lord, we were abused by the world and by the enemy of our souls, Satan. Satan lied to us about what God is like. Even after we become acquainted with God, the enemy strives mightily to prevent our having an intimate relationship with God. Satan tells us that God demands perfection and that we can never be good enough. He says that when we err God withholds His love. Or he hisses in our heart that we are not loving God the right way or that there is only one formal way to talk with God. He says how we worship God is not as good as how other people worship so we should just stop. He says God does not love us as much as He loves others, that He is not really with us all the time, that He really cannot meet all our needs, that we cannot really learn to sense His presence. . . and on and on! The enemy takes the beautiful truths about God and whispers the exact opposite.

boy leaning on white chair Photo by Chinh Le Duc on Unsplash

If that is your situation, ask God to reveal His loving nature to you and then diligently study and meditate upon passages in the Bible about His love. We can never earn God’s love, but we can all learn more about His love.

“he is known by God [recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him.” Websters 1828 online dictionary defines to know as “to perceive with certainty; to understand clearly; to have a clear and certain perception of truth, fact, or anything that actually exists.”

When a husband arrives late to a neighborhood barbeque and sees his wife, he will immediately know who she is. He will in that same instance recognize that it is appropriate to give her a kiss and a hug. That same man will not, however, hug a woman he does not know. Why? Because he clearly knows, or recognizes, that this second woman is not his wife. She does not belong to him. Therefore, loving, intimate behavior with her is not appropriate – because she is not his.

In I Corinthians 8:3 God tells us that if we truly love Him, He considers us deserving of His closeness and His love, just as a husband or wife recognizes that their spouse is worthy of intimacy and love. “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19, NIV) God knows whether a person has truly believed in Him.

God knows the human heart. He knows right where each of us are in our relationship with Him. He understands our human nature, and He knows that some of us have an especially hard time believing and then feeling that God really does love us, just as we are, with all our imperfections. I think that is one reason the Bible is filled with so many statements about God’s love for us and His merciful, compassionate nature. (The Bible is also filled with truths about the holy and just parts of God’s character, and we must keep those in mind but I am talking about here about God’s compassion.)

“Learn to know God.” We should all be seeking closer closeness with God. Though the world, our human nature and the devil create obstacles we can, through God’s grace, overcome those obstacles.

When David commissioned his son Solomon to build the temple, he summoned all the officers and commanders of Israel. In their presence he charged his son Solomon to obey all the commandments of the Lord. Then King David said:

(9) “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind. For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] you will find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever! (I Chronicles 28:9, emphasis added)

Notice how the AMPC clarifies what David meant by “know the God of your father.” To know God, as David meant it, is to “have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him and to appreciate, heed, and cherish Him.” It also meant to keep your heart blameless and your mind willing. Why? That is the only appropriate human response to God, of course.

Also consider the part of the verse after the word for. David warns Solomon that God understands every thought of the heart, every little wandering thought. God knows if we are sincerely putting Him first in our life, and if we are, God promises we will find Him.

We must build our relationship with God, a privilege beyond price. Consider verse 10 of 1 Chronicles 28:

(10) Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary. Be strong and do it! (1 Chronicles 28:8-10, AMPC, emphasis added)

Since New Testament times, believers in Jesus now have God dwelling inside them, rather than in “an earthly tabernacle made with hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1) as in Old Testament days. As God, through David, charged Solomon to build the temple, so God, through His Word, charges us to build our relationship with Him. We hear this message clearly throughout the New Testament. Consider I Corinthians 13:11 and 14:20, Ephesians 4:13 and 6:10-12, Hebrews 5:12, and 1 Peter 2:2, to name only a few of many.

How privileged we are! How carefully we should build up and maintain our relationship with our indwelling, loving, Almighty Heavenly Father! David, whose name means beloved, gathered all the materials necessary for his wise son Solomon to build the temple. Jesus, our Beloved Lord, has through His blood shed on the cross, provided everything we need to build a deep and intimate relationship with God. I must ask myself: Am I consistently doing all that I can?

In conclusion: I Corinthians 8:3 is one of the many Bible passages where God explains how much He loves us and how much He wants to be intimate with us! He is like a father pulling a little toddler in close, forehead to forehead, saying “I love you, I love you, I love you!” then chuckling as his child squeals with glee.

Happy father young man and baby girl little daughter having fun on bed in at home

Photo for Getty Images on Unsplash

I ask you: If human fathers and mothers delight in being affectionate with the children they own, how much more would God? Remember 1 Corinthians 8:3 tells us that if we love God truly, we are owned by Him. If human fathers and mothers take care of the children they own, how much more does God take care of the children He owns? Does He not supply our every need? Does He not

“do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us? To Him by glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Beloved, God has done everything needed for us to be close to Him. The rest is up to you and me. Strive to draw closer to God. Feed on His Word day and night (Psalm 1). Nestle in close to Him, under His feathers and thus hide your heart from the storms of the world as you abide in the secret place of His presence (Psalm 91). You are precious in His sight (Psalm 103). He daily carries your burdens (Psalm 68:19) and carries you close to His great heart of love.

Even to your old age I am He, and even to hair white with age will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry and will save you. (Isaiah 46:4, AMPC)

Let Him gather you in His strong arms like the little lamb you are and carry you close to His heart (Isaiah 40:11).

baby taking selfie

Photo by Dakota Corbin on Unsplash

A new book – God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security

November 2, 2024UncategorizedFreda Farmer

A new book is available on the Books, etc. page of this website. The title is “God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security”. This is a full-length book that demonstrates how to use God’s Word to acquire a heart-deep foundation of peace and security. Consisting of blog posts from 2020 through 2024, true-life experiences are woven into explanatory study of nine key Bible passages.

Reading this book will give you solid understanding of nine fundamental truths that show you how to keep your heart in peace and how to feel secure. Studying these Bible passages phrase by phrase will help you hide them in your heart.

In “God’s Arsenal for Peace and Security”, written by a layperson for lay people, you will find a companion for the trials and triumphs of your daily life with God.

NOT wearied out through fear! #godindaily life, #thebibleindailylife

October 31, 2024ANXIETY, BIBLE STUDY, CURRENT EVENTS, DAILY LIFE, HOPE, TRUSTING GODFreda Farmer

^“Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, AMPC)

Desperate – again. For thirty minutes I stayed in bed, eyes closed, listening to “Faith’s Checkbook”, a powerful book of devotions by Charles Spurgeon. Then I got up, dressed fast, and went into the kitchen to feed Lily. Next to the sink was the sheet of paper with Psalm 100 printed on it. After some desperate prayer, I had put it there the night before to remind myself to return, with focus, to my habit of meditating on a fresh portion of Scripture each day.

Not stopping for Lily’s usual brushing and morning playtime, I went directly to the rocker by the window, picked up my AMPC Bible and held it to my chest. I pressed it tight against me, feeling the roughness of its cover with my thumb, looking out into tree branches where sparse autumn leaves reflected the slanting rays of the morning sun. I pressed my eyes closed, shutting out the world, focusing with all my might on God, the Unseen Eternal One.

“. . . I will not, in any degree . . . relax My grip on you. [Assuredly not!] (Hebrews 13:5. AMPC)

“Oh, Father! I am so tired of everything being messed up and so confusing! I don’t know what to do about this latest batch of problems. I am so afraid, about so many things lately. I am just afraid and everything looks so hopeless. I don’t see any way out of all this. . . “

Tears came then, the tears that had not come during the past week or so of car trouble, other bills, and hiatal hernia symptoms that require radical rearranging of how, when and what I eat and how I exercise and sleep, and on and on. I had allowed the multiple problems, all at the same time—the “cares of this life”—to stop my practice of daily meditating on a new Bible verse or passage. Oh, I had still kept repeating the verses I already know but I had not taken time with God to find new verses for meditation each day. Furthermore, I had let His fresh words for me “depart from before my eyes.” I had not kept His fresh manna “In the center of my heart.” (Proverbs 4: 21, AMPC)

But yet, in spite of all that, God had never, no never, no never once “relaxed His hold on me.” And when I got desperate enough, and sought Him with all my heart, He found me.

^“29But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will find Him if you [truly] seek Him with all your heart [and mind] and soul and life.” (Deuteronomy 4:29, AMPC)

Encouragement for you and for me. That was this morning. The long shadows of late afternoon now stretch across the grass. The trees outside my east-facing window stand in deep shade. My heart is, once again, blessedly at peace. No, the problems are not all fixed but I am completely confident and trusting that God will keep me in His peace as we walk this path together, and as I keep my mind fixed on His Word and other eternal things, rather than the “light and momentary” troubles of this life on earth.

^“10And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God’s Word and the right of their necessity].” (Psalm 9:10, AMPC)

It has lately been on my heart to write a blog post about encouragement. I know you have your own set of personal troubles. I also believe that you are probably having more than the usual amount of difficulty just living your life. The enemy is desperately trying to destroy our world and, of course, especially those who believe in and live for Jesus.

Let’s look again at the first part of 2 Corinthians 4:16 and take warning.

“Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). “(2 Corinthians 4:16a, AMPC, emphasis added).

The reason I grew so discouraged and allowed Satan to drag me out of the good path I was following with God is that fear had “wearied me out”. I had become, in a sense, spiritless, living controlled by fear, not by the Spirit. And that had worn me out. That is Satan’s plan for each of us.

Please, please, please meditate on God’s Word! Although this world is filled with “troubles, trials, distress, and frustration” (John 16:33), God has provided a sure way of escape from all the plans of the enemy. When we obey God with all our heart, and when we meditate day and night on His word, we live continually in the secret place of His presence, and we are safe.

That is what I have been wanting to remind you of, dear friend. No matter how dark the world seems to be getting, no matter how your personal world seems to be crumbling, God is earnestly looking to keep you in hope and comfort and peace and security and aware of His great love.

“And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!” (Isaiah 30:18, AMPC, emphasis added).

In Proverbs 4:20-22 God urges us to think on His Word constantly. He says:

“. . . attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.²¹Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.²²For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh.to keep His Word before our eyes

Four verses that never, ever, no never fail me. What I intended to be a short piece of writing is, as usual, getting longer. But the main thing I wanted to share with you is four verses that I have been meditating on first thing in the morning and throughout the day for months now. It is like putting on a suit of spiritual armor. His Word–my protection and provision—keeps me covered in His peace and guides my steps.

[1] Habakkuk 3:17-19. ^“17Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls,

¹⁸Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!

¹⁹The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!”

Photo by www.dreamstime.com “Endless Landscapes of Iceland”

Briefly, notice that the prophet is saying that even if his whole world falls apart, still he will not only rejoice in God, but he will exult in God. Why? Because God will be his strength, his bravery, and his army that cannot be conquered. God will enable him to keep moving forward and make progress in his spiritual life in the midst of danger troubles, sufferings, and responsibilities. (For more thoughts on this passage, see the blog posts “Yet I will rejoice” on August 15 and 29, 2024.)

[2] Psalm 28:7. “The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him.” (emphasis added)

Notice that the psalmist uses his voice to praise God and His loving protection. Then he says because I trust in God, with confidence, I am very happy, and I sing praises to Him.

[3] Psalm 32:10. “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness.” (emphasis added).

How many mornings have I sat and looked at these words! How many mornings have I said, “Lord, thank You! This verse promises me that if I trust in You, rely on You and lean on You with confidence that You will completely encircle me with mercy and with lovingkindness. Everything I experience will come through Your mercy and loving kindnesses.”

[4] Psalm 33:18-22. “¹⁸Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness, ¹⁹To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

²⁰Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.

²¹For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name.

²²Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.” (emphasis added)

The psalmist reassures himself that God is carefully watching over those who have reverential and worshipful fear of Him, those who depend upon Him and wait for Him and His mercy and lovingkindness. Why is God doing that? To deliver them from death and things associated with death, like discouragement, and to sustain them during times of lack (or famine.)

Though they are hidden in my heart, it is a deep comfort to read these these verses each morning, and pay fresh attention to the words I have underlined in red, words that show me my part in all these priceless promises.

My part is to trust in, rely on, and lean on Him with confident expectation, actively knowing in my mind that He is protecting me and actively trusting He will give all that I need for this day, “in proportion to my waiting and hoping for Him.”

Closing prayer. Dear Father, Your Word is such a comfort and guide! Thank You for it, Lord, and for teaching us how to study it and “rightly divide it,” so that we may run in the path of Your commands, with the strength and joy that Your presence never, no never, no never fails to give.

Help us this day, Lord, as we go about our own personal life to know, perceive and recognize that You are with us, that You are carefully, lovingly watching over us. Oh, have mercy on our flesh, Lord, and help our hearts be undivided toward You. Help us feed on Your Word so that we may be able to trust in You, to lean on You, and to rely on You so that You can help our heart and we can greatly rejoice in You!

Whether our path today be through storm or sunshine, keep our hearts and minds fixed on You and on things above, where Christ is seated at Your right hand, Father, and through Whose shed blood we have forgiveness of sin and the power to live a holy life as we fulfill the plans You made for each of us when we were yet in the womb.

Oh, Father! Give us a hunger for Your Word. Help us keep it before our eyes and in the center of our heart. Help us guard our hearts, for we know that out of our heart, flow the issues of our life (Proverbs 4). Let rivers of living water flow from our inmost being so that we may share with others that eternal life that only You can give. Amen and so be it!

aerial photography of sea clouds Photo by Emmanuel Appiah on Unsplash