THE UPS AND DOWNS

2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Each season of life has its different challenges and we increasingly realise how much we need the Holy Spirit’s guidance, His comfort and His help for each new day, to enjoy the ups and overcome the downs. The secret is not to allow negative experiences or emotions to dampen our faith but to trust God with our day to day.😊 

Our verse reminds us we’ve not to walk by what we see, or what happened to someone else or according to our past experience, not by how we ‘feel’, but we’re to walk by faith, keeping our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). It’s the only way to start the day, to navigate our emotional ups and downs, and to hear His Spirit remind us we are loved beyond measure.

There are days when the enemy comes to tell us we’re not doing very well, that we could do better but it doesn’t change the fact that we are forgiven, and God sees us as holy and righteous because we are in Jesus and He is perfect. It’s not what we do, it’s what Jesus has done for us and we are a work in progress.😊

The next time you have a fit of the ‘not doing too wells’ just remember you are called and chosen by God because of His great love for you and that He still has good plans for your life to prosper you and not to harm you. Keep looking up!

God knew what He was getting when He chose us, and He loves us when we get it right and even when we don’t! We can be encouraged because He has promised to sustain us, uphold, strengthen and help us, not just now and again or whenever He remembers, but every second of the day and night.

He says He will never let us go, that nothing can snatch us out of His hand and He has made us more than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us. 

So don’t look down, and don’t look inwards, but keep looking up and know as you do He will lift you up too.

Thank You Lord, we choose to keep looking up to You. In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo by Todd Trapani on Unsplash

ANGELS

 Psalm 34:7 NIV The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.

The other day as I thought about our surprise robin visitors, it reminded me of other surprise visitors we might have, of a more powerful nature! Hebrews 13:2 NIV Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. The thought of entertaining angels unawares has always fascinated me because I think I’d like to know!😊

Hebrews 1:14 NIV Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? That’s us! God has given us angels sent to serve and help us every day which is wonderful.😊

Psalm 91:11-12 NIV For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. They’re assigned for our protection as well and I’m sure they have rescued us out of dire situations we may never have even been aware of!

Psalm 103:20 NIV Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. When angels hear God’s word coming out of our mouths they’re assigned to go and make it happen. They obey His word which is a huge encouragement to us to believe and speak God’s word!

Daniel 10 reminds us they are sent in response to our prayers. And if we’re allowed to see an angel, it says in 1 John 4:2-3 to check if they are from the Lord, and not Satan disguising himself as one. Ask them if they acknowledge Jesus came in the flesh as a man. If they say yes then we know they are of God. If they don’t, they’re not!

So while Paul reminded us in Colossians 2:18 we’re not to worship angels, there’s definitely more to them than we think, especially when we read one angel wiped out 185,000 of Israel’s enemies in one night (2 Kings 19:35). How wonderful these powerful beings are, sent to minister to you and me!😊 Amen.

Photo by Duncan Sanchez on Unsplash