As we talk these days at Valley about some foundation truths of our faith; I continue to be convinced of the importance of nurturing and growing in our walk with God, so that we might have a more confident faith; that we might have the kind of faith that will encourage us to stay on the path with God, to bless others, to live well and finish well. God knows how frail we are as human beings so throughout His Word He continually seeks to recalibrate our hearts and minds; to strengthen and build up His people.
As you read this posting, I invite you to allow the Word of God to speak into your life; to give to you strength and courage, hope and assurance as you continue your journey with the Father.
The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. (Psalm 56:3-4)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…
(Psalm 46:1-2)
But, when I am weak, then I am strong. – because He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10) And God has promised…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. (12:9)
Isaiah 12:2 reminds us, Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense.
The Bible tells us He is abundantly good. (Psalm 145:7) He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Friends, He has been good, so very good to you. He wants us to rest in / abide in that love.
Jesus invites us, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
David writes in Psalm 34:
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:4-8)
In Isaiah 40:31 we have the sure promise of God: Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. All of God’s words, His promises to us, rest in His character; in His sheer goodness and grace and love, which He pours out abundantly in our lives.
Jeremiah would write:
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. (Lamentations 3:19-25)
I hope you will be among those who seek Him, for He is a true to His Word, promise-keeping, covenant keeping God. He made a promise to Noah and He kept that promise. He established His covenant with Abraham, Moses and David; all through their lives, even when they doubted and fear and failed, God was faithful. He was faithful to Joshua and Elijah and Jeremiah and Nehemiah; to Peter and Paul and John, who has an old man, exiled to the Island of Patmos, still held tightly to the One who had been faithful to him all his life.
John heard the words of the Lord Jesus and perhaps more than any other New Testament character,
John learned to live in and rest in the promises of Christ and the love of the Father. John was the one who wrote, How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God. (John 3:1)
In Revelation chapter 4 John is given a glimpse into heaven; he sees a wonderful picture that reminds us of a powerful truth, a truth that is incredibly reassuring: there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. (4:2) There is a throne! The One who sits on it is the sovereign Ruler of this world, the Ruler of all of history and all eternity, and we are secure in Him; sometimes we just need to be reminded of this truth. They are for us words of comfort and encouragement and reassurance; words of life, of life eternal. Therefore, we need not be afraid. We need only to continue to trust, to rest in His promises and lean into His strength, until he comes or calls us home.
The Apostle Paul would declare: I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)
My friends at Valley, in this truth we rest with great confidence and hope!
As you read this posting, I invite you to allow the Word of God to speak into your life; to give to you strength and courage, hope and assurance as you continue your journey with the Father.
The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. (Psalm 56:3-4)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…
(Psalm 46:1-2)
But, when I am weak, then I am strong. – because He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10) And God has promised…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. (12:9)
Isaiah 12:2 reminds us, Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense.
The Bible tells us He is abundantly good. (Psalm 145:7) He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Friends, He has been good, so very good to you. He wants us to rest in / abide in that love.
Jesus invites us, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
David writes in Psalm 34:
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:4-8)
In Isaiah 40:31 we have the sure promise of God: Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. All of God’s words, His promises to us, rest in His character; in His sheer goodness and grace and love, which He pours out abundantly in our lives.
Jeremiah would write:
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. (Lamentations 3:19-25)
I hope you will be among those who seek Him, for He is a true to His Word, promise-keeping, covenant keeping God. He made a promise to Noah and He kept that promise. He established His covenant with Abraham, Moses and David; all through their lives, even when they doubted and fear and failed, God was faithful. He was faithful to Joshua and Elijah and Jeremiah and Nehemiah; to Peter and Paul and John, who has an old man, exiled to the Island of Patmos, still held tightly to the One who had been faithful to him all his life.
John heard the words of the Lord Jesus and perhaps more than any other New Testament character,
John learned to live in and rest in the promises of Christ and the love of the Father. John was the one who wrote, How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God. (John 3:1)
In Revelation chapter 4 John is given a glimpse into heaven; he sees a wonderful picture that reminds us of a powerful truth, a truth that is incredibly reassuring: there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. (4:2) There is a throne! The One who sits on it is the sovereign Ruler of this world, the Ruler of all of history and all eternity, and we are secure in Him; sometimes we just need to be reminded of this truth. They are for us words of comfort and encouragement and reassurance; words of life, of life eternal. Therefore, we need not be afraid. We need only to continue to trust, to rest in His promises and lean into His strength, until he comes or calls us home.
The Apostle Paul would declare: I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. (2 Timothy 1:12)
My friends at Valley, in this truth we rest with great confidence and hope!
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