Psalm 25

"Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long." Psalm 25:4-5 

I challenge you to pray this prayer boldly. Ask God for guidance and instruction daily. Happy Wednesday!

Strength in The Lord

"...Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10B 

Psalm 119:11 says "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." When scriptures are memorized, it's easy to recall what God's word says about a particular situation. When your emotions are under attack, reflect on Nehemiah 8:10 because God's promises always come to pass. Happy Monday! 

My portion

"Whom have I in heaven but you?

    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 

My flesh and my heart may fail,

    but God is the strength of my heart

    and my portion forever" Psalm 73:25-26 (NIV)

In this season of Lent (or any time of fasting), it can be easy to become focused on rules and restrictions. You start to crave the very thing that you're giving up, which can cause you to lose focus. However, Psalm 73 puts it all into perspective.

When I think of the word "portion," I immediately think of food. A portion is an allotment, a serving, it's all that you need to be satisfied, it is ENOUGH. God wants to be our portion. He wants us to be so consumed with Him that we no longer focus on the trivial things of this world. He wants us to be so consumed with his will for our life that we no longer fast out of obligation, but out of a desire to grow closer to Him. 

So when the world starts to look appealing, get to this place: 

"...I’m in the very presence of God—

    oh, how refreshing it is!

I’ve made Lord God my home.

    God, I’m telling the world what you do!" Psalm 73:28 (MSG)

Psalm 130- God's Unfailing Love #SheReadsTruth

This post is also linked on www.shereadstruth.com! :)

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. (Psalm 130:1-2)

Have you ever been there- stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, worried, [insert other negative emotions here]? Instead of seeking comfort from televisions, relationships, and other distractions, seek Him. Those are the times where God is longing to hear from you. He's longing for you to depend only on him and not your own strength. 

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. (Psalm 130:3-4)

But we have the audacity to hold grudges. We, mere humans, harden our hearts to those who have wronged us. Meanwhile, The Creator, offers his children an immeasurable amount grace. That grace allows us to continue to serve Him with a pure heart, even after we've messed up. *praise break*

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord  more than watchmen wait for the morning,  more than watchmen wait for the morning. (Psalm 130:5-6)

Waiting is a foreign concept, in today's society. We are not accustomed to waiting for letters, harvest, meals cooked from scratch, or dial up internet :). I actually find myself willing the microwave to speed up cooking popcorn (max 2 minutes)! This concept of waiting is one that has not changed since the beginning of time. But the cool thing about waiting on God is that he'll never be late. He'll never forsake you. Waiting is a time for preparation and expectation. (See 2 Peter 3:9)

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. (Psalm 130:7-8)

*drops mic* What commentary needs to be added? The Lord is unfailing. We simply have to trust in him. 

I have been obsessed with this cover since I saw Joe perform it live last year. This song is Psalm 130 in a nutshell. 

Happy Friday!

Plugged In

"It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep." Psalm 127:2

We are a very "plugged in" society. We keep our phones on and share our lives with all of our social media "friends." This constant connection with people and little time of rest can affect us overtime. Pulling away to relax and spend quiet time with Christ is vital. Even Jesus did it!

"Then Jesus said, 'Let us go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." Mark 6:31

(Original Post: October 14)

Our Desires vs. His Will

"... and this is our confidence, that if we pray according to His will, He will hear us and give us what we ask for because our desires are in agreement." 1 John 5:14-15

God longs to give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4) but our desires must be in line with His will for our lives. To ensure that we are walking according to His plan for us, we have a part to play. We must seek Him diligently in prayer and reading The Word.

"Yahweh is close to all who call on Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will hear their cry" Psalm 145:18-19

Cry out to God. Let Him know that you need Him and you long to walk in His will. He wants your WHOLE heart. Be encouraged. Stay focused on your dreams, aspirations, and goals.

(Original Date: September 10, 2013)