Tag: God is with us

Another year–Don’t go it alone–

A new year presents a fresh start and a physical reminder to readjust our mind’s eye toward an upward and forward way of thinking. Mankind by nature is so—well… human— and prone to doubt, fear, anxiety (replaying worse-case scenarios), pain, viruses, aging, depression, and etc. I’m so very thankful that among God’s wonderful attributes are mercy, long-suffering, patience, and faithfulness. I often think, as David did in Psalm 8, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,  What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?“

Isaiah 43:2-3, 5 says,

“When you pass through the waters,

I WILL BE WITH YOU;

And when you pass through

the rivers, they will not

sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

Your Savior…

Do not be afraid,

for I AM WITH YOU.”

                Note that the above portion of Scripture says, “When you pass through” and “When you walk through”.  In Psalm 23:4 it says, “When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Jesus told his disciples (in John 16:33), that in this world they would have troubles, but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. Everything a believer needs to live a victorious life is found in Christ Jesus (2 Pet. 1:3, Gal. 5:22-23). God, sacrificially, through Christ’s shed blood on the cross, provided access for all those who believe to come to His throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace in their time of need (Heb. 4:16, Eph. 2:13-14, 2 Cor. 12:9-11, Phil. 4:19). 

God does not prevent the believer from going through trials and tribulations, but He promises to be with them and give them His strength. The apostle Paul knew something about this as he was abandoned by all men near the end of his life, but the Lord stood with him and strengthened him (2 Tim. 4:16-18, Phil. 4:11-13). The Lord Himself was tempted like us so He is more than able to sympathize with what we are going through and provide the strength we need to sustain us (Heb. 2:18, 4:15).

                Why would we choose to live in fear by placing our trust in man rather than the Lord who has complete knowledge of our inner workings and our comings and goings? (Ps. 118:8, 139) God has provided us with His presence, protection, and purpose in the midst of the evil age we live in (Gal. 1:4). Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that mankind does not wrestle against flesh and blood, but rather against dark, wicked spiritual entities. The only recourse men and women have to withstand in this evil age is to shed their own garments of self and put on the armor of God. It’s only in Christ alone that man can be righteous and protected. Just as blood sustains the physical life, Christ (the armor of God) sustains us spiritually (Lev. 17:11, 14, Eph. 4:22-24, 6:11, Rom. 13:12). The moment we try to go it alone we become exposed to the wiles of the devil and his flaming darts (Eph. 6:11). The moment we rely on our earthly riches and material possessions we fall prey to the snares of the devil (Prov. 29:25, Ps. 52:7, 1 Tim. 6:9.17). The moment Peter took his eyes off Jesus and placed them on his own troubles he started to sink (Matt. 14:29-31).

                Satan’s end game is to distract the believer from the knowledge that God is truly with them. The enemy wants to draw the believer away from the Lord and delude them into believing that they can be sufficient and victorious on their own (just as He deceived Adam and Eve in Genesis 3). Before long a deceived heart begins to idolize and worship the dead piece of wood that they cut down to cook with (Isa. 44:15-20, James 1:14). 

                When just one area of God’s armor is lacking, a Christian’s stance becomes weakened and is susceptible for the enemy to attack (Eph. 6:10-17). A stance that’s firmly planted on the Rock of Salvation becomes unmovable. God, through Christ, is the only foundation that will sustain us through the storms of life (Ps. 118:22, Matt. 21:42, Eph. 2:19).  A believer is only safe and strong when they allow the Lord to be their strength (Eph. 6:10, Prov. 29:25). God is with us and so we need to seek His wisdom (in His Word and prayer) in all things. It will provide the discernment that’s necessary to give us a peace beyond our feeble understanding as well as protect our heart and mind through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7, Eph. 6:17).

                Although we may not literally go through a fiery furnace like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did, there are real spiritual flaming darts of the enemy (via satanic temptations), that are out to destroy us. When our faith and trust is in the Lord, we will be protected from the fiery spiritual flames just as the three Israelites were protected from the physical flames (Dan. 1:7, 2:49, 3:12-30, 1 Cor. 10:13, 2 Peter 2:7).  We may not all (literally) be thrown into a lion’s den, as Daniel was, but we may find ourselves in impossible situations where we see no way out (Dan. 6:16-22). In all circumstances, the Lord is available to sustain us and help us through — eventually leading us into life everlasting.  You don’t have to go it alone on this journey through our fallen world. This year and beyond allow God not only to be with you, but help you navigate through the storms and fires of life. 

Choose faith over fear and have a great new year!

                Laura

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Trusting in an All-Seeing God

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” Matthew 10:29-31

                Sometimes it appears that God is distant and unaware of our sorrow or troubles. It’s easy to get discouraged in this life on fallen earth and become transfixed on what is wrong. Each and every individual of the human race has been born with the stigmatism of sin that impairs their spiritual vision (Rom. 3:23, 5:12). In order to correct it and increase spiritual acuity, one needs to focus on the One with perfect vision. God’s vision sees past, present and future simultaneously. He notices the details as well as sees the big picture. God also has ‘x-ray’ vision and looks beyond the outward surface that man is limited to (1 Sam. 16:7, 1 Cor. 2:14, 1 John 3:20, Prov. 5:21, 15:3). In Psalm 139, the following is presented: God’s omniscience (in verses 2-5), God’s omnipresence (in verses 7-16), God’s omnipotence (in verse 19), and deliverance from self (in verses 23-24).

                Civilla Martin, who penned the lyrics of “His Eye is on the Sparrow and I Know He Watches Me”, said this:

“Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience.”

Here are a few of the verses:

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,

Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,

When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,

And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;

Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,

When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

                Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). The key is to pay attention to where your ‘mind’s eye’ is focused. A pessimist sees only the negative and focuses on the problem. A Christian should see things differently. They may see the same problems, but understand that their spiritual vision can be corrected when these difficulties are viewed through a Biblical lens (God’s perspective).  This way of looking at things helps them from becoming discouraged and giving up. In the lyrics to DC Talk’s song, “Mind’s Eye” is, “It’s in my mind’s eye, I see Your face. You smile as you show me grace… We can ride the storm, endure the pain—you comfort me in my hurricane—and I’ll never be alone again…”  Near the end of the Apostle Paul’s earthly life, many had forsaken him in his time of need—all except the Lord. The Lord stood with him and strengthened him so he could keep fighting the good fight, finish his course, and keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7, 16-18).

Our days will start out much better if we look to the Lord and His Word first and foremost rather than to the news or social media. The media, public opinion, political leaders, etc. can’t guide you through your own unique, individual circumstances—only God can (Ps. 139:1-13).  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” Psalm 32:8.               

You’ll feel less strain when you take your eyes off worthless things and fix them on a Worthy God (Ps. 101:3, Heb. 12:2, 2 Cor. 4:16-18, 10:5).  Even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, there’s nothing to be fearful of because God is right there too (Ps. 23:4, Heb. 13:5). You can have peace when you cast all our cares upon Him, because He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7, Phil. 4:6-7). You can endure as Moses did by taking your eyes off the seen (your circumstances, disappointments, worldly events…) and place them on Him Who is invisible (Heb. 11:27). Walk by faith and trust in an all-seeing God (2 Corinthians 5:7). 

Laura              

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