“You are all around me–in front and in back–and have put your hand on me.” Psalm 139:5 (NCV)
We wonder with so many miraculous testimonies around us, how we could escape God. But somehow we do. We live in an art gallery of divine creativity and yet are content to gaze only at the carpet.
The next time you hear a baby laugh or see an ocean wave, take note. Pause and listen as His Majesty whispers ever so gently,
“I’m here.”
Psalm 5:12 “For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
And
Job 10:12 “You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.”
Beloved one, know the assurance of your Father’s blessing, his presence, his favor, and his surrounding grace. Who you are and everything you have is the result of his favor. He is your sun and shield, and his honor validates you (Psalm 84:11). Your Abba wants to take you as his precious child right up next to his heart today. He will keep you close and make his face shine on you and be gracious to you (Numbers 6:24-25). Your Father smiles on you today with his compassion and his full blessing as you seek him (Isaiah 30:18). He has written this day of your life in his book. He knew you before you were born (Psalm 139:16). You are constantly on his mind (Psalm 139:17-18).
Be blessed to know that your Father’s providence goes before you to provide for your every need. He is with you to strengthen you and keep you from harm (1 Chronicles 4:10). Be blessed as his favor rests on his appointed work through your hands (Psalm 90:17), because his purposes and power for you are great.
Dear one, you need favor with your authorities whom God has placed over you and with those in decision-making positions (Ezra 7:27; Nehemiah 1:11). His Word says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases” (Proverbs 21:1). Be blessed as God breaks through all hindrances and uses all concerned with you to fulfill his will on your behalf.
Let your Abba protect your emotions, as he surrounds you with the shield of his presence (Psalm 5:12). He promises that weeping may endure for a night, his anger is but for a moment, but joy comes in the morning, and his favor lasts for your lifetime (Psalm 30:5). He keeps you today in the favor of his love and faithfulness (Proverbs 3:3-4). He withholds no good thing from you as you live before him blamelessly (Psalm 84:11).
Be blessed in the name of the One who rejoices today in doing you good. (Jeremiah 32:41).
Written from a quote and recorded by several artists, it became a popular tune. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” also reminds of Jesus discourse in Matthew 6:25-34. In it He gives us a real formula for a happy life.
I confess; I am a worrier. I worry too much, often about things in the past, often about things over which I have no control and often over things that probably won’t even happen. Jesus wants us to live a day at a time and trust Him. I need to apply these words of Jesus to my life and write them on my heart and so do we all.
Here are Jesus’ words in seven bite size morsels, a list for us to chew on about why we should not worry.
Remembering that planning (with the Lord’s direction and guidance), is not worry:
6:25 – The same God who created life in you can be trusted with the details of your life.
6:26 – Worrying about the future hampers your efforts for today.
6:27 – Worrying is more harmful than helpful.
6:28-30 – God does not ignore those who depend on Him.
6:31,32 – Worrying shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God.
6:33 – Worrying keeps us from real challenges God wants us to pursue.
6:34 – Living one day at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry.
It can be hard to comprehend the Biblical concepts of joy and happiness because our culture has trivialized and sentimentalized these states of being. Society tells us real joy is impossible if we are not always happy with our relationships and possessions.
Paul had something about not worrying as well. (Philippians 4:6-7). “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
