Tag: trouble

God is Our Help

God is Our Help

Today we’re meditating upon the truth that God is our very present help at ALL times, but especially in the times of trouble.

God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble.  (Ps 46:1 CEB)

In my distress I called on the Lord, and cried for help to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry for help came before Him to His ears.  (Ps 18:6 MEV)

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  (Ps 121:2 NIV)

Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.  (Ps 124:8 NKJV)

I am the Lord your God. I am holding your hand, so don’t be afraid.  I am here to help you.  (Isa 41:13 CEV)

As these passages from the Scriptures remind us, God is not only our refuge and strength, but He is the One who helps us.

Whenever we are in trouble, pain or distress, the Lord wants us to turn to Him for help and for deliverance.  Who better to help us than the very One who created the heaven and the earth? Because the Lord is holding our hand, we need never be afraid.  We can be assured that He is ever with us to help us, deliver us, and to save us.  Glory be to God most High!

Do Not Love This World

Do Not Love This World

The Bible gives us some helpful information about the world that we live in, and we do well to pay attention to it.

No one can serve two masters, because either he will hate one and love the other, or be loyal to one and despise the other.  (Mt 6:24 ISV)

The wisdom of the Scriptures is apparent here in reminding us that no one can serve two masters.  If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer, then we serve only Him.  To try to do otherwise is folly.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  (1 Joh 2:15 NIV)

We’re advised that we should not love the world or anything in the world.  This is not speaking about people, but about material things and the world’s way of valuing what is important. 

The most important thing in life is to serve the Lord and to maintain a vital and living relationship with the Lord Jesus.

. . . for whoever is born of God overcomes the world, and the victory that overcomes the world is our faith.  (1 Joh 5:4 MEV)

We’re reminded that we who have accepted Christ as our Savior are born of God, and we are overcomers!  Glory to God!  What do we overcome?  The world and its systems and its empty values.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  (Joh 16:33 NIV) Jesus is speaking to us in this verse above in John 16.  He says that in this world we’ll have trouble.  But He reminds us that He has overcome the world.  It is Jesus’ victory that makes His followers overcomers.  Rejoice in this truth today.

Guard Your Words & Emotions

Guard Your Words & Emotions

It is important for us to guard our words and our emotions.  Words are very important in life, and the Bible attests to that.  Let’s see what the Scriptures tell us.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.  (Jam 1:19 NIV) 

Those who guard their mouths and their tongues guard themselves from trouble.  (Prov 21:23 CEB)

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.  (Prov 10:19 ESV)

Whoever controls his temper is better than a warrior, and anyone who has control of his spirit is better than someone who captures a city.  (Pro 16:32 ISV)

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  (Col 3:8 NKJV)

We’re taught by the Word of God to be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry.  Do you notice that the only thing we should be QUICK about is listening?  Isn’t that opposite to what usually happens?

The wisdom that we can glean from God’s Word is that:

  • Restricting our words keeps us away from trouble;
  • We should control and limit our words;
  • Curtailing our lips is sensible and discreet;
  • Being able to control our own spirit is better than conquering an entire city; and
  • We should put away anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy and all filthy language.

As we live in harmony with and obedience to the Word of God, we invite God’s blessings upon our lives.  Hallelujah!

Inner Strength

Inner Strength

God gives inner strength to every person who trusts in Him and in His salvation.  Here are several Bible passages on the topic:

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  (Isa 41:10 NKJV)

I ask God from the wealth of his glory to give you power through his Spirit to be strong in your inner selves . . .  (Eph 3:16 GNT)

. . . strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy . . . (Col 1:11 NKJV)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  (Phil 4:13 NKJV)

This is one of the blessed benefits of our salvation—to receive inner strength and perseverance from God, our Savior.  Whenever we face difficulties, challenges, sorrows, or calamities, we may cry out to the Lord in our trouble and He will deliver us. Take note of these Bible verses:

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses.  (Ps 107:6)

. . . persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.  (2 Tim 3:11, emphasis added)

What a loving and mighty God we serve!  Look at just some of the blessings that He pours out upon each and every one of His people:

  • He is always with us and will never reject us. 
  • He upholds and sustains us.
  • He gives us grace to enable us to serve Him and to fulfill our callings. 
  • He provides health, healing, reconciliation, and mercy continuously. 
  • He justifies us and grants us peace with our Father God. 
  • He loves us perfectly
  • He has given us a salvation that will provide us with joy in the presence of the Lord now and for all eternity.

Become aware of and use the inner strength that God has given to you.  Study these blessings and benefits of our salvation in order to support and to sustain your inner strength.  Blessings upon you!

We Are Friends of God

We Are Friends of God

We are friends of God.  Does that blow your mind?  This truth fills me with joy.

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.  (Jas 2:23)

Abraham’s faith in God qualified him to be called the friend of God.  All who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior are also friends of God, as the Scriptures teach us.

And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  (Lk 12:14)  Jesus warns us, His friends, to beware of those who can harm us spiritually rather than physically.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  (Pro 17:17)  Jesus is the Friend who loves each one of us at ALL times!  And in adversity or trouble, He will fight for us.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  (Joh 15:13)  Our Friend, Jesus, has laid down His life for each and every one of us.  Glory to God!

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  (Joh 15:14)  When we obey Jesus and His teachings, we may rest assured that we are indeed His friend.

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  (Joh 15:15)  Jesus has taught us everything that He heard from His Father God; and in doing so, has made us His friends. Rejoice in the knowledge that each of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord has become a friend of the Most High God–the Living God!

Are You Under Attack?

Are You Under Attack?

Are you aware that you’re under a spiritual attack of some sort?  It may not look like it’s a spiritual battleground at first glance—but make no mistake, it IS a spiritual battleground!

Is a neighbor causing trouble for someone in your family?  Are things happening at work that just aren’t right?  Have financial stresses come out of nowhere?  Have you received a sudden, serious medical diagnosis?  Or maybe it’s an unexpected hostility between two of your adult children . . .

If any of these things sound familiar to you, realize that the origin of most negative scenarios like these is the evil one.  (Joh 10:10)  The Good News is that Jesus, our Lord and Savior is our solution in each and every circumstance!

“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says the Lord who has compassion on you.  (Isa 54:10 NASB)

God says that His lovingkindness hasn’t been removed from you nor has His covenant of peace with you been shaken.  Hallelujah!

“If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.  Whoever assails you will fall because of you.”  (Isa 54:15 NASB)

This reassures us that evil attacks upon us, regardless of their nature, never come from God.  But He guarantees us that the attack and attacker will fall and be absolutely defeated.

If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him.  For the temple of God is holy, which temple YOU ARE.  (1 Cor 3:17, emphasis added)

In this verse from the Bible, God says plainly that He will destroy the one who attacks His temple; we are His temple.

Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, and the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; for I will contend with the one who contends with you, and I will save your sons.  (Isa 49:25 NASB, emphasis added)

Lastly, the Scripture above declares that God will oppose the one who dares to oppose YOU.  All glory to God!  Put your hope, faith, and trust in Jesus; and rest in His love and His mighty power.

My Defense is of God

My Defense is of God

In the Bible, the Lord is shown again and again to be our defense in times of trouble or difficulties.  Defense means protection, security, cover, or shield.  It can also mean justification or vindication.  Assuredly, Jesus Christ is our justification!

My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.  (Ps 7:10)

I will wait for You, O You his Strength; for God is my defense.  (Ps 59:9)

He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.  (Ps 62:2)

But the Lord has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge.  (Ps 94:22)

The Lord is our protection; and this is something that we all need to recognize and to trust in, since we live in an increasingly hostile world—one that is growing even more antagonistic to the message of the gospel.  Let us remember to confess, along with the Psalmist, “My defense is of God.”

It is essential for us to remain in a strong and vital relationship with the Lord.  The Word of God feeds us and increases our faith.  It reminds us who we are and of the One we serve.    Don’t allow yourself to become complacent, or to wander away from daily Bible reading and contemplation. 

Continue to worship with other like-minded believers on a regular basis because we’re encouraged to have fellowship with our brethren. (Heb 10:25)  As we fellowship with other believers, they will support us and encourage us, spurring us on to good works!  Glory to God!