Tag: enduring

Wait for the Lord

Wait for the Lord

A challenge for many of us is the instruction to “wait for the Lord.”  Waiting can be a hugely difficult challenge.

The word “wait” means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust.  Waiting requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.

Here are only three Bible verses about waiting for the Lord:

In the path of your justice, Lord, we wait for you; with all our being, we long for your name and your acclaim.  (Isa 26:8 CEB)

Notice that we wait for the Lord IN THE PATH OF HIS JUSTICE!  With every fiber of our being, we long to bring glory and honor to the Lord’s Name.

O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for You.  Be our strength every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.  (Isa 33:2 MEV)

In this Scripture verse, Isaiah reminds the Lord that he has waited for the Lord.  He asks for the Lord’s strength every day, and for salvation in times of trouble.  We know that the Lord heard and answered those prayers.

Therefore be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.  (Jam 5:7-8 NASB)

In the book of James, we’re reminded to be patient and wait for the Lord.  We’re reminded of the patience of the farmer, who waits for the harvest of the seeds he planted.  We are encouraged to be patient, just like that farmer.  And we are encouraged that the Lord’s deliverance is close at hand.  Be strong and steadfast; hang on!

Can Anything Separate Us from God’s Love?

Can Anything Separate Us from God’s Love?

Here’s something positive to focus upon and to meditate upon.  God’s love for us is stronger than any force that would try to interrupt it or stop it.  His love for us is eternal, unfailing and sacrificial. 

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Rom 8:38-39 NKJV)

And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.  (Eph 5:2 NKJV, underscoring added)

“I made your name known to them, and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have for me may be in them and I myself may be in them.” (John 17:26 ISV)

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  (1 Cor 13:8 NKJV)

Most human beings desire and need to feel loved.  It is a normal and healthy need that I believe our creator God instilled in us.  And since God is love (1 Joh 4:8), He is the perfect One to fulfill the need that we have for love.

From the Bible verses I’ve included above, you can see a small sample of what God has to share with us in His Word about His wonderful love.  The best way to learn about His love and the enduring nature of it is to read and to meditate upon His Word.  His Word is not only His promises to us but His Word is also His will for us!

God has created each one of us to be in a loving and lasting relationship with Him.  Turn to Him when you need comfort and reassurance.  Pray to Him when you need human arms to hold you, help you and to comfort you.  He will send you some friends or relatives who will be able and willing to meet your need for love.  Glory to God!

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God Holds Us

God Holds Us

The Word of God tells us that the Lord has engraved [inscribed, imprinted, etched] us on the palms of His own hands!  Wow!  What a concept!  That’s worth meditating upon.

Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands . . . (Isa 49:16a ESV) 

God also tells us that He holds us by the hand, and He reminds us that He is the One who helps us.  What an honor and a blessing to be helped by the all-powerful, living God!  He is not only “close” to us, but He is actually holding us by the hand.  Glory!

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”  (Isa 41:13 ESV) 

Even if people who are blood relatives of ours desert us, our Savior God holds us close to His heart.  He will never leave us nor disown [reject] us.  (Hebrews 13:5)  God’s love is constant, enduring and unfailing.  (Ps 136:26; Rom 8:39)

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.  (Ps 27:10 NLT) 

NO ONE has the strength, might or power to be able to take us out of our Father God’s hand.  Praise the Lord!

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.  (Joh 10:29 ESV, emphasis added)

The Lord says that He is our God for our entire lives.  Once we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, He cares for us and will carry us and save us—even into eternity!

I will be your God throughout your lifetime – until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.  (Isa 46:4 NLT) The Lord upholds [sustains] our very lives.  (Isa 54:4 NLT) 

Did you realize that?  Return His perfect love and worship Him today!

Unfailing Love

Unfailing Love

God, alone, is capable of bestowing UNFAILING love upon a person or a group of people.  Since God is love (1 Joh 4:8), we can see why this would be possible as well as understandable.

Here are three different versions of the same Bible verse about God’s love:

Because your faithful love is right in front of me—I walk in your truth!  (Ps 26:3 CEB)

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth.  (Ps 26:3 NKJV)

. . . for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.  (Ps 26:3 NIV, emphasis added)

There are many more verses in the Word that talk about God’s precious, beautiful, unfailing love (all NIV):

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.  (Ex 15:13)

Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.  (Ps 6:4)

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  (Ps 13:5)

See also Psalm 18:50; 21:7; 32:10; 33:5, 18, 22; 36:7; 44:26; 48:9; 51:1; 52:8; 62:12, and many more!  Further research into this truth will strengthen and support your faith in all circumstances.

What I hope to accomplish here is to remind us all how very deeply and how faithfully God loves each one of His children.  God’s love is unfailing, and it is unconditional.  There is no love anywhere else in creation like the love of God for His people.

God’s love is dependable, constant, consistent, unshakable, and enduring.  His love is more important than anyone else’s.  When you are the object of His love, His love for you makes you a better, kinder, and more loving human being.  His love enables you to love others in a more mature way than ever before. 

Meditate upon His unfailing love. Make it a practice to have an awareness of His constant, abiding love.  It will bless your life and faith immensely.