You are secure.
Deuteronomy 33:12 Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long…
I am your defender and defense.
Zechariah 9:15 (NKJ) The LORD of hosts will defend them.
Your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:3 … your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
I am your hiding place.
Psalms 32:7 You are my hiding place…
You are lifted out of the depths.
Psalms 30:1 You lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
I am your burden-bearer.
Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
You are clean.
John 15:3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
The blood of the Lamb cleanses you from sin.
1 John 1:7b The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
You are refined by fire.
1 Peter 1:6-7 … your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-
I am your God, a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:29 Our God is a consuming fire.
You are my handiwork.
Ephesians 2:10 We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…
I am your Creator.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth…
You are encouraged.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts…
I am your comforter.
Isaiah 51:12 I, even I, am he who comforts you.
You have a place prepared for me.
John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.
I am your dwelling place through all generations.
Psalms 90:1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
You are a friend of God.
John 15:15 I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
I am your friend.
John 15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
You have rest in me.
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. … you will find rest for your souls.”
I am God of stillness.
Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God.
You know all things work for good.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God…
I am good.
Psalms 100:5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever…
You abide in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 13:14 May the…fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
I am the Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 2:13 You were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit.
You are mine.
Isaiah 43:1 Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
I am the I AM.
Exodus 3:14 “I AM WHO I AM … say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’
You are an heir of all things.
Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
I am your inheritance.
Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance…
You are not lacking wisdom.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally… and it will be given to him.
I am your teacher.
Psalms 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go…
Your days are ordained by me.
Psalms 139:16 Every day ordained for me were recorded in your book before one of them came to be.
I am the keeper of your times.
Psalms 31:15 My times are in your hands…
(http://www.biblegateway.com/)
With love from,
your Abba
“Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off EVERYTHING that hinders…” Hebrews 12:1
It’s a new year and the slate is clean. Although some of our resolutions may already be broken, we truly do want to begin again. We talk about the grace of God which not only forgives but gives power to live by the Spirit of God. But can we actually live this way?
And then comes that whisper of the Spirit: “This is the way; walk in it.” We hear the whisper, we even see the way laid out before us, but past experience with our own weakness and the toughness of life make us hesitate. “I’ll follow, but…” I’ll obey, however…” “I’ll speak, except…”
The Old Testament given as an example is filled with vivid illustrations of those whose lives were filled with buts, excepts and howevers.
He did what right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly. (2 Chronicles 25:2)
Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high place. (1Kings 3:3)
He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…The high places, however, were not removed… (2 Kings 15:34, 35)
“That is too high a standard,” we exclaim. “No one can attain—and maintain—that kind of life.” And that is exactly what God is waiting to hear. The only One with no buts, excepts or howevers in His life was Jesus and He, living within us, promises to give us the power to present ourselves as living sacrifices, ready and willing to experience all that He is ready to give.
Where are you tempted to add a but, except or however in following after Jesus? How do you think God, in His grace, would answer you?
Thank you, Father, that your grace, love and forgiveness covers every point where I’m tempted to hesitate in following you wholeheartedly.
