REFUGE AND JOY

Psalm 5:11-12 NLT 

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them sing joyful praises forever.

Spread your protection over them,

that all who love your name may be filled with joy.

12 For you bless the godly, O Lord;

you surround them with your shield of love.

NKJV 12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Surrounded by love and God’s favour. It doesn’t come any better than that, does it? We can wrap those verses around us like a cloak, secure in the knowledge that we have a refuge against all the storms, or whatever blows our way in the coming days.😊

When we keep our eyes on Jesus we all have something to rejoice about, in every situation, because our God is always with us. Not everybody has a refuge, not everybody has chosen to dwell in the secret place of the Almighty, but when we do, He has promised us His protection. He says when we make God our refuge we will be filled with joy, but so often we don’t recognise it. It doesn’t say just a trickle of joy, or the odd bubble, but filled with His joy.😊

If we’d like some of that joy then we can read these verses over our lives constantly and remind ourselves of what God has promised - His protection, His blessing, His love, His favour and His joy - and remember it’s all ‘Yes and Amen’ in Jesus. 

When you really think about that, it’s wonderful, and we can praise our God with thankful, joyful hearts today and forever.😊 Praise His wonderful name. Amen.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

Proverbs 18:21 NIV The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

I wonder if you ever stop and listen to what you’re saying? It’s at those unguarded moments when things have ganged up on us, it pays to listen to what is coming out of our mouths because it’s what is in our hearts and we may not have realised it.

Whatever we’ve been saying is actually setting our course, but even if you’ve been having a moan, why not turn it round and start speaking some positive confessions instead? We can produce some good fruit with our words.😊

How about saying how great your God is, or how no weapon formed against you will prosper, or declare ‘this problem didn’t come to stay - it came to pass’. How about: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’, or ‘I am an Overcomer through Jesus’.

If we do that, then God will show up and make things happen on our behalf  because He says He’s active and alert to perform His word which we’ve just spoken over our lives. We can’t make things happen but God can, and when we release our faith we’re releasing Him so He can do what He’s promised.😊

If things are needing changing in your life, can I encourage you to speak out God’s words over those areas and resist the enemy, tell him to take his hands off your life, off your circumstances. Remember God’s word says, ‘We’re above only and not beneath, that we are the head and not the tail.’

So next time you feel beneath, or things are not going the way they should, start declaring what God says - you are a blood bought child of God, filled with His Holy Spirit, anointed, and empowered by the Greater One living on the inside. You’re on the Victory side going somewhere to triumph and God is turning things round for your good, no matter what it looks like.😊 In Jesus name. Amen.

Have a blessed weekend.x

Photo by Vincent van Zalinge on Unsplash

DISPENSERS

Ephesians 4:29 NLT Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Some of the soap dispensers we see are very pretty while others are just functional but they all do the same job, they all dispense the same thing - soap!😊

As I was thinking about that I asked myself what are we dispensing into the lives of those around us? Are we giving out words of encouragement that uplift and wash away all the negative things people are being bombarded with on a daily basis? Are we dispensing God’s thoughts and words which cleanse us of our own wrong thinking? Probably not always, if we’re honest!

Not all dispensers are for soap, but some are for drinks. Press the right button and out comes your required beverage. Some people though, have a gift for pressing our wrong buttons, and sometimes out comes the wrong thing! I’m sure we’ve all experienced that at some time or another.

We know the Lord wants us to be dispensing loving kindness when we see someone who needs a helping hand or maybe some patience and understanding and the other fruits of the Spirit.😊 

There are times though, when we need to learn to turn our dispenser off, when we’re tempted to dispense criticism or judgement, or unhelpful comments or opinions! I know I need to! We need insight on a moment by moment basis, given to us by the Holy Spirit, as to what to dispense and when, don’t we? 

So, next time we use our soap dispensers, (and I’m speaking to me first), I hope we can remember to just check that what is going to come out, is good and helpful like our verse says.😊 In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo by Steven Ungermann on Unsplash

SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN

Judges 6:14 NLT Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

Do you ever find yourself making excuses as to why you can’t do something? Moses and Jonah were like that and so was Gideon! 

He was hiding from his enemies down in a wine press when the angel of God found him and told him what God wanted him to do. But in v.15 Gideon gives his excuses when he says he’s from the weakest tribe and he’s the least in his family. He was telling God He’d picked the wrong person! Moses said the same thing. Do we sometimes feel like that? 

“God I’m not the best candidate to do what you’ve asked. There are far more able people you could use!” But  God doesn’t make mistakes. He knows He has put in us whatever is necessary to do what He asks, and our part is to just say “Yes.”😊 

God’s reply to Gideon was “I will be with you”. He says the same thing to us. It doesn’t matter how weak or least we feel we are, when God is with us there is hope, there is courage, He has a plan and something is about to happen!

He tells you and me to go with the little bit of strength we do have and He will supply the rest. He will provide the strength, show us what to do, and provide whatever we need, but He will also give us the success He has already planned. Strength + Strategy + Supply = Success.😊 

We can be so encouraged today because God uses the weak and foolish things of this world to bring about His purposes. God doesn’t see us the way we see ourselves. He sees us as He has made us to be - mighty men and women of valour, as able to do the job because we’re not alone, God is with us indeed.

If we will cooperate and do as He tells us, then something is about to happen! Amen.😊

WHEN GOD’S HEART BROKE

Genesis 6:6 NLT So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.

Have you ever felt broken hearted? When something couldn’t be fixed or maybe when a relationship you thought was forever crumbled into dust before your eyes?

So many things can cause heartbreak but whatever caused it, God understands it because His heart was broken by mankind and their wickedness. He knows what it’s like, and yet the love of God remained steadfast because He is a faithful God and He already had a plan to rescue those who wanted to be rescued.

God also has a plan to rescue each one of us when our hearts are broken. Very often we want to ask why when something goes wrong, but God didn’t need to ask why when He saw the people He’d made turn against Him. He already knew what would happen before He made the world and yet it still broke His heart.

But He found one righteous man - Noah! A man who didn’t compromise, and he found favour in the eyes of the Lord. He didn’t know it could rain and didn’t even live near water, but simply obeyed the Lord’s instructions to build an ark and fulfilled God’s plan and purpose for planet earth in his lifetime.

So take heart today if anything has broken your heart, God understands how you feel, but He has a plan to turn it around for your good. He gave us rainbows to remind us His promises are true, His power is limitless and His love is forever.

Your turn around is on its way, so just do whatever God says and He will enable you to stay afloat above the floods that may come, and give God all the glory. In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo by Mateus Campos Felipe on Unsplash

THE BACKING OF GOD’S NAME

Psalm 138:2 NLT … I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.

We’re probably all familiar with the expression, “What’s in a name?” It can carry a lot of authority or influence depending on whoever is associated with that name. It’s connected to the character of the person or organisation so when people hear the name they know what to expect.

When we’re dealing with God’s name or names though, we’re suddenly in a different category all together. We know Jesus has been given a name which is above every name and every knee must bow to Him because His name holds the highest honour in the universe.(Philippians 2:9-11)

Now bear that in mind when we read that all the promises of God are backed by the honour of His name. We’re being called to recognise just how powerful God’s name is, and how honour bound He is to fulfil His promises to us because His name is on the line. It’s His name that is backing His Word and His promises. It’s the name of the One who loved us enough to be nailed to a Cross for us, who is The Truth.

Immediately, we are being raised to a higher understanding, a deep confidence that whatever God has promised, He will do it. So, following on from yesterday, the Holy Spirit wants us to member the powerful significance the name of God carries when we claim His promises. They are unbreakable, unshakeable because they’re written in the blood of Jesus, by the power and backing of His wonderful name.

I hope that has encouraged us and stirred us up to claim those promises personally and declare them again and again over our lives, no matter how long it takes until we see them manifest, because God is asking each one of us today, “What promises are you believing Me to fulfil in your life, because they’re all backed by the honour of My name and they’re all Yes and Amen in Jesus.” 

Glory to His name! Amen.😊

YES AND AMEN!

2 Corinthians 1:19-20 NKJV For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us ….was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

Have you ever heard someone say, “You never know what God is going to do. You win some, you lose some” and it’s said in a doom and gloom voice?

Well, that may sound reasonable but it isn’t a true statement because our scripture says differently. It’s coming from our unrenewed minds when we think that way! God says He always leads us in triumph, we will win. So how does it work?

Our verse reminds us that all the promises of God in Jesus are Yes and Amen. When we say Amen we’re saying we agree wholeheartedly. God’s Word is His will, so whatever promise we’re standing on, God has said Yes! It is His will. We know for sure that’s what He has said and that He does what He says because He doesn’t lie.😊

The thing is, God is looking for our faith for Him to make it come to pass. When we’re in doubt and fear we’re giving God nothing to work with, but when we come into agreement with His word and His promises, He says His word will not return to Him void. He says He is alert and active watching over His word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:12 AMPC)

Are you wanting some things to change in your life? Then show God you’re in earnest and find the promises of God on it. If we don’t know what they are we can tap in to the internet ‘verses on guidance’ (or whatever) and it will show them. 

Start declaring the promises every day and saying Amen and thanking God He’s making them happen in your life, even before you see them. God calls it walking by faith. I did that 18 years ago with healing promises, and praise God He performed His word in my life. Thank You Lord!

So, as we enter our new week, be encouraged and full of confidence to stand on God’s word and not be moved by what we see or what we feel, but declare by faith our AMEN which sets the promises in motion. When we do our part God will do His part. 😊

Thank You Jesus. Amen.

THE NAME AND THE GOOD NEWS

 ISAIAH 52:6-7 NLT

But I will reveal my name to my people, 

and they will come to know its power. 

Then at last they will recognize 

that I am the one who speaks to them.”

7 How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,

the good news of peace and salvation,

the news that the God of Israel reigns!

When Isaiah wrote those words they did not know the name of Jesus, but praise God we do now. It’s the name above all names, the name to which every knee will bow. The name at which demons flee. It’s the name that brings healing and freedom and we thank God for Jesus and His name! Have we come to know it’s power for ourselves? I know I need ongoing revelation of it. How about you?😊

But he goes on and reminds us to be the messenger of good news in our world, our own sphere of influence, to bring the peace of God to those who are in turmoil. They want to know where to find peace and it’s only found in Jesus, the only Mediator between God and men.

We can be so thankful today that our God reigns over all and that this is still the day of grace, the day of salvation, the day of forgiveness and being able to hear His voice telling us He loves us with an everlasting love. It’s the best news in the whole world.😊

Thank You Lord for the name of Jesus, and that You will reign forever. Help us to grow in our understanding of the power of Your name. We praise You and give You all our thanks today. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Be blessed as you listen to  ‘I Speak Jesus’ by Josh Baldwin: 

https://youtu.be/wFeQBcTJJf4?si=i5tnuJiyj9X1rswJ

Photo: Daniel Gutko on Unsplash

GOD SAYS ALWAYS

2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,…

Always! Do you ever hear people saying, “I always get a cold this time of year, or I always mess things up”? They’re unfortunately believing for the wrong things! Their ‘always’ is sadly leading them in the wrong direction, drawing the wrong things to them, because our words are the rudder for our lives.

God says He ‘always’ leads us in triumph and we need to bring our words into agreement with God’s word. Always means at all times, on all occasions, so God doesn’t leave us with any room for misinterpretation because when He says always, He means always!😊

The first step for us to experience His always is just to agree with His word, even when it feels or looks differently. So often we see things only half done, or half way through, but God has the big picture and He wants us to believe that whatever we’re looking at, whatever has happened, if we’ll stay in faith, He will bring it round to a triumph in Christ - always!😊

Let’s never forget we’re ‘in Christ’, we’re on the victory side and 1 John 5:4 tells us it’s our faith, (which He’s already given to us), that overcomes the world. No matter what we’re facing we can turn our face to look at Jesus and say, “Thank You Lord You’re leading me in triumph in this situation. You’re turning it round for my good. I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living.”

Be encouraged today, God is still on the throne, His promises are true and they are for whoever will grab a hold of them and agree with them. If your ‘always’ has been negative lately, turn it around and start declaring God’s triumph is for you personally, today and every day - always, because you are in Christ, in Jesus. 😊

Thank You Lord, Amen.

Have a blessed weekend.x😊

WHO WE ARE - PART 2

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Back on the 1st March we looked at ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ based on who God says we are in scripture. But today the Holy Spirit is nudging us with further reminders of who we are, to encourage ourselves further each day.  

He knows when things come against us in life, they can try to make us feel less than and it could be easy to forget we are supernatural new creations!  I hope you can find time to let them soak in and that they help.😊

I am greatly loved by God. (Ephesians 2:4 NIV)

I am Jesus’ friend (John 15:15 NIV).

I am a part of Christ’s Body (1 Corinthians 12:27 NIV).

I an established, anointed and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV).

I am confident that God will complete the work He has begun in me (Philippians 1:6 NIV).

I am given God’s glorious grace lavishly (Ephesians 1:7-8 NIV).

I am called by God. (2 Timothy 1:9 NIV)

I am assured all things work together for good for those who love God and who have been called according to His purposes. (Romans 8:28 NIV) .

Whenever we feel discouraged or need confidence, or just to boost our faith, we can look these scriptures up and allow the Holy Spirit to give us fresh courage for each new day. Even if we can’t remember them all, if we take only one or two of those truths into our day, it will be a blessing.😊

We are who God says we are, we can do what God says we can do, and we can have what God says we can have. Isn’t that a great thought to carry around with us?

And if you’d like to have another look at ‘Who Do You Think You Are, Part 1’, this is the link. https://myberrythoughts.blogspot.com/2025/03/who-do-you-think-you-are.html

I hope it has put a smile on our faces and renewed our confidence in who God has made us to be through Jesus. Amen.😊

Photo by Sebastian Knoll on Unsplash

 

VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS

Psalm 23:4 NLT Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

We all experience ups and downs in life.😊 Sometimes there are wonderful mountain top experiences where we have great expectations for the future. Other times we walk through a valley where it feels like we’re walking through treacle, when we can’t see the way ahead.

Psalm 84:6 NLT When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.

This is a promise for anyone going through a valley and it’s good to remember every valley has an exit point. If you’ve had a valley of weeping recently, the good news is God is still your God in the valleys, where He’s close beside you, as well as on the mountain tops. There is no place, no situation too low, too deep where God’s grace and mercy can’t find us, rescue and refresh us. Even if we’ve put ourselves into situations which were our own fault, God’s mercy is bigger than our mistakes.

Maybe someone has put us down, or blamed us for things we didn’t do, or they don’t seem to understand where we’re coming from, but God does. Isn’t that reassuring? Perhaps our tears are for loved ones but our God knows the end from the beginning and His mercies are new and fresh every single morning, and they’re available to us 24/7 and on into eternity.

God is a good God and He is kind. Even though He knows all our failings, all our weaknesses, He still calls us His friend. He still loves us, whether we’re on the mountain top or down in the valley with our feet stuck in the mud or the mess. 

So be encouraged today to know God knows whatever our situation is. He knows when we need help or more strength and as we call on Him, He will change our valley of weeping into a valley of refreshing. He will clothe us with His blessings, and bring us back up on to higher solid ground. In Jesus name. Amen.

ACCESS GRANTED

Hebrews 9:3 NLT Then there was a curtain, and behind that curtain was a second room called the Most Holy Place.   

We probably all have curtains somewhere in the house, but now winter is here we love to close them at night to keep out the cold and dark.😊

But as we read Hebrews 9 we discover the curtain in our verse was to stop anyone from trying to go into the Most Holy Place, as only the High Priest could go in once a year, and only under certain conditions or even they would die!

Then we read how Jesus is now our perfect High Priest and He entered the Most Holy Place and took His own blood as a sacrifice and bought our redemption.(v.12) At the crucifixion the curtain in the temple was ripped from top to bottom, it was no longer shut. So what difference does that make to you and me today?

The Holy Spirit reminds us that through Jesus’ shed blood we can enter in beyond the curtain to the very throne of grace, to the Most Holy Place, to God’s own presence and sit down with Him in heavenly places because our sins are forgiven! How mind boggling that is! 

Access has been granted, and we have the privilege as His children, to go in any time and find the mercy we need and all the grace we could possibly want for each day that comes along, because of Jesus.

Do we forget, and not realise how immensely privileged we are and how sad if we don’t take full advantage of it! Instead, do we struggle on our own sometimes and forget the curtain has been torn in two and all we have to do is acknowledge Jesus shed His blood for us, and go in to our Father and receive whatever we need by faith?

On the Bible App yesterday I read this: “The God who created the universe is eager to spend time with you. Come as you are, and draw closer to your Creator. Your presence matters here.” 

What a wonderful invitation extended to us all, now access has been granted.😊

Father, we praise and thank You for all Jesus has done and we come to You today to sit with You and receive Your mercy and wonderful grace right now. In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo: Mitchell Lou on Unsplash

CLEARING OUT

Isaiah 43:19 NLT For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

The other evening I had a mad moment and decided to have a grand clear out of various drawers, and in the process I discovered I needed to throw away some old socks!🤣 

How about you? Have you done any clearing lately? Maybe it would be good to have a sorting out of our mental cupboards. Those things that have cluttered up our minds recently, or for decades. Old worn out thoughts or ways of doing things which can be hard to let go of they’re so familiar, or hurts or offences we’re hanging on to, maybe without even realising it.

There may be resentments or frustrations that pile up and then something happens which is the last straw! I’m sure we all know what that’s like!😊 Those are the kinds of things that hinder us and steal our peace.

Maybe at the bottom of our sock drawer there are some old prejudices that crop up when we least expect them to, or we have a wardrobe of old attitudes that went out of fashion years ago but we still keep wearing them?

Whatever we have in the closet of our minds, let’s allow the Lord to show us what they are and be willing to finally let them go. If we do what He says it will make room for all the lovely new things He wants us to enjoy, but we have to clear some space first.😊

Our verse encourages us to know God has new ideas, new thoughts, maybe new ways to do things, new people and new paths to take us out of any wilderness we’ve been stuck in.

We were reminded last week that nothing is hidden from God, so now would be a good time to let Him help us have a grand clear out, don’t you think? And look out for the new strength, new joy and peace, new things God wants us to experience in our lives when we do.😊 In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

TODAY IS A GIFT

Psalm 118:24 NLV This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be full of joy and be glad in it.

It’s good when we stop and realise that today is a gift from God. There will never be another one like it, and when we’ve used this one up, we’ll never see it again. We have a choice to make, will we live it grumpy and dissatisfied, or will we live it in faith, live it in victory with a grateful and thankful heart?😊

God knows if there’s anything weighing us down, because He knows us inside out. He knows how many hairs are on our heads, and He says to offer up those heavy things that drag us down, let Him lift them off so we can start the new day, the new week with a lightness in our spirits, with joy in our hearts.

Sometimes we used to sing, ‘As the praises go up, so the blessings come down’. Well I believe as we also release those cares, those worries to the Lord, so the blessings, new insights, new favour will come down to help us be the overcomers Jesus has said we can be, so we can rejoice in our day.

Psalm 55:22 NIV Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Now is a perfect time to release those things, to cast our burdens on the Lord because the Psalmist reminds us if we’ll do that, God will sustain us. 

Could you do with some sustaining today? Then bring all those problems that are weighing you down, all the upsets or disappointments, the discouragements, and let the Lord show you His love as He takes them off you.

As we go into the new week, remember today is a gift, and the choice is ours. Instead of hanging on to all the things that steal our joy, let’s choose to let God sort them out and we will go out in victory, in faith in a mighty God, with a smile on our faces and hope in a good God for a blessed week ahead. In Jesus name.Amen.😊

Photo by Ubaid E. Alyafizi on Unsplash

THE COMPASSION OF GOD

Psalm 145:8-10 NLT 

The Lord is merciful and compassionate,

slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

 The Lord is good to everyone.

He showers compassion on all his creation.

 All of your works will thank you, Lord,

and your faithful followers will praise you.

When you think about God I wonder what comes to mind? Some people have a picture of a wrathful God who’s just waiting to bash them over the head. They feel like He wants to pounce on them and point the finger in judgement. Others may see Him as distant and not caring.

I’m so thankful the truth is nothing like that! It’s a lie of the enemy and the Psalmist puts us right. He paints a wonderful picture of our God, showing us His mercy and compassion towards us. We know compassion is when someone feels our sadness, but who has a deep desire to alleviate our suffering. Our God not only has the desire but He also has the ability to do just that.😊 When the bottom has fallen out of our world for some reason, He doesn’t just give us a pat on the shoulder and then carry on regardless. He  draws alongside to help us out of our distress.

It’s those times when we’ve blown it or not done as well as we hoped, our God comes to encourage and help us, because He sees us through the lens of Jesus and His shed blood. When our trust is in Him then all our sins have been forgiven and God is not mad at us any more. His heart is to bless and lift us up again.

Some people may say God has not been particularly good to them, but they forget His forgiveness is for whoever wants and accepts it, whatever their creed, race, colour or political persuasion. Whether they’re old or young, clever or not, rich or poor, God’s compassion and mercy are for us all. God is good to everyone!

We have a truly amazing God so let’s thank and praise Him for all His goodness to us today. In Jesus name. Amen.

LOVED WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE

Jeremiah 31:3 NIV The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

When I opened the blinds yesterday morning I saw a huge moon shining down but there were little wispy clouds blowing across it so it looked like it was flickering. I thought about the saying ‘I love you to the moon and back’, but then the Lord reminded me Jesus loved you and me to the Cross and back. There is no comparison!😊

Sometimes the love of God is shown to us through the love of other people towards us when they demonstrate His love. Other times God orchestrates lovely things to happen in our lives which reveal His loving care and we like to call them God incidences; those moments when God showed up in unexpected ways, especially in the details of life.

Scripture tells us God is Love, (1 John 4:8), but not as we understand it because our human love just can’t be compared to His love for us. His love caused Jesus to give up Heaven’s glories and brought Him to earth. His love took Him to the Cross, but then, when He rose from the dead, He gave His love to us by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5 NLT …For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.)

The bottom line is, God loves us, whether clouds try to obscure it or not, His love never fails, it never flickers, or disappears like the moon. It undergirds our lives, it holds us steady and secure, it will last forever and it’s for each one of us to receive. Nobody deserves it but it’s freely given. How grateful we can be for the love of God today.😊

Next time you look at the moon, wherever you are in the world, or right this moment, why not just take a minute and let the love of God flow over you, in you and through you, because only when we have received His love can we go out and give it to somebody else.😊

Sending you God’s love today. Be blessed this weekend.x

Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on Unsplash

THE HIDDEN THINGS

Hebrews 4:12 NLT For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Paul must have seen the Roman soldiers wielding their swords at different times and he compares the powerfulness of God’s word as being like a double edged sword to do the job of cutting things away that need to be removed in our lives.

We know the only way to reach the hidden marrow is by cutting through the hard outer layer of the bone itself and scripture says the word of God is actually alive and it penetrates those things hidden away that are hard to reach in us, like the marrow in a bone. Those hard outer shell walls we may have built up around ourselves, or the innermost feelings or thoughts that only God knows we’ve been thinking.😊

v.13 NIV Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

There’s nothing that God doesn’t already know about, so there’s no need to try to hide anything from Him! He knows all our secrets if we have any.😊 

There are probably some things we’re not even aware of, but God gradually uncovers them, not to shame us, but so they can be cut away, or dealt with by the Word of God. The Word tells us that it rebukes us but it also restores, revives, heals, and feeds us as well.

The lovely thing is, we can remember that Jesus Himself is The Word of God, and He loves us so He’s not about to hurt us. He’ll just reveal the things that hinder our progress, that need His touch to set us free from them, and He uses His Word to do it but we have to allow Him to have His way.😊

So if the Lord has been showing you some things that He wants changing, be encouraged, because He only rebukes those He loves and we are all a work in progress, being changed from one degree of glory to another with His help and by His grace.😊Amen.

DON’T DO IT!

Philippians 4:6 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

The other day I had a fit of the discouragements! Ever get those? Then I felt the Lord say ‘don’t be dismayed or discouraged’. It was quite a loud sense of ‘don’t’! Then I began thinking about some other ‘don’t’ commands God gave us, so I thought I’d pass them along and pray they help you too.😊

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Did we get that? It’s a bit like saying, “Stop it!” I expect we all have some things we’re tempted to be discouraged about and I noticed it runs along with being afraid. God doesn’t want us to be either, because they debilitate us in our walk with Him. We have to make a stand against them with His help, because He’s with us, which makes all the difference.😊

John 14:27 NIV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you…. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Here it is again from Jesus Himself. He’s saying if we receive His peace it will give us the ability to take control and not allow ourselves to be troubled and afraid, not allow them to steal our peace, 

Romans 12:2 CEV Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think… If we’re not careful, we adopt the world’s way of thinking about things, but God doesn’t want us to be like that, He wants us to think like He does. It’s our own thoughts that often pull us down, so let’s exchange them for His thoughts which lift us up.😊

Luke 8:50 NIV Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Jesus gives us the antidote to it all. He says, “Just believe”.  When we’re afraid or discouraged, anxious and troubled, or thinking like everybody else, it’s because we’ve let go of our believing what God says. We’ve started doubting, dwelling on the negative, started believing the enemy’s lies and ‘what ifs’. 

I know it’s not easy, because it’s a battle in our minds but God is with us to help us. Let’s decide to believe, and dump anything God says don’t do, and stop it, and grab a hold of our faith and say, “No devil, I believe what God has said, I resist you. Now get out!” In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo by Tachina Lee on Unsplash

BACKPACK AT THE READY

Ephesians 6:14-18 NIV Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Places to go! Backpack on! All ready for the day ahead! This photo of a little boy just made me chuckle and it speaks of purpose. He’s going somewhere and probably has his sandwiches all tucked away ready for later.😊

How about you and me? Have we packed our backpack ready for the day? Here are some things we need to bring with us, whatever we have planned to do, or wherever we need to go.

Pack your sword, the word of God. In other words take a verse or two with us like ‘I can do all things through Christ today. I have the favour of God surrounding me like a shield.”

Pack your passport - your identity in Christ just in case you’re stopped at customs. No matter what or who we face today we can remember we are a child of God, filled with His Holy Spirit, above only and not beneath, and with His help we will be more than enough for every challenge because God Himself is with us.

Pack a roll of love, and a packet of forgiveness just in case someone upsets you. And don’t forget to pack a tube of compassion and understanding because you never know when you might need them.

I always like to have something sweet in my bag so pack some sweet, encouraging words to share with anybody you meet along the way to make them smile.😊

Most of all, remember to put your whole armour on just like this little boy’s coat which totally covers him, and then go for it! 

Whether you’re going shopping, to an appointment, or work or to church, or just on a day out, don’t forget your backpack of goodies and you’ll be all prepared to step out and meet whatever the day may bring.😊 Amen.

Photo: Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

THRIVE NOT JUST SURVIVE

Hebrews 12-13 NLT So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

I was chatting with someone yesterday and they have just been through a prolonged season of testing but they are now coming out the other side and have proved God’s faithfulness to them. They’re not just surviving, they’re thriving and it was so encouraging to hear. 

Maybe we look around at people and see them strong in the Lord, but we don’t know what they’ve been through, the battles they have fought and won, to reach that place.😊

So what is their secret? How do we finish our race of life strong in the Lord and in the power of His might? How do we thrive, not just survive?

Jesus said that the way to build our house was on the rock of His teaching, not just hearing it, but obeying it because then, when the storms of life hit, they won’t be able to bring us down. In order to do that though we have to know what God’s word says so we can follow His instructions.

God says if we’re willing and obedient to His word we can eat the good of the land, that if we keep His word in our mouths and meditate on it we shall have success. It’s not just for those on the platforms, it’s for you and me, for we are all the sheep of His pasture, all His children. We all matter to Him and He wants every one of us to finish well with our eyes fixed on Jesus and all He has done for us.

God’s wants us to be a people of power, a people of praise, but He recognises we all need encouragement especially when we’re going through trials! So I’m here today to remind us we’re on the Victory Team, even if we’ve been feeling a bit earth bound or weak-kneed.😊

Let’s keep looking to the Lord to strengthen us as we run our race, practice doing whatever His word says, and remind ourselves we’re seated with Him far above whatever tries to bring us down, so we can thrive and not just survive. In Jesus name. Amen.

Photo: Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash

BE LIFTED UP

Isaiah 41:10 NLT Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

The other morning I rescued a ladybird which was sitting in a puddle of water in my washing up bowl. Why she didn’t just use her wings I don’t know, maybe all she could see was grey bowl and she felt trapped. When I lifted her up and put her on the worktop she was upside down with all her little legs wiggling about but I turned her the right way up and she disappeared eventually after she’d dried out.

I was thinking we can be a bit like that. Maybe we’re sitting in a puddle of self pity, or a puddle of grumpiness and all we can see is grey bowl. Maybe it’s a puddle of discouragement or despair over some situation. It’s when we need someone to rescue us and remind us we have wings of hope, eagles wings to lift us up above the puddle, whatever kind it is. 

So be encouraged today, remember you are chosen by God before you were born, before the world came into existence, God chose you. 

So even if you feel trapped, or you’re all upside down, He’s telling you today that He still has good plans for you, that His love is so vast you will never come to the end of it, even in eternity ages to come. It’s from everlasting to everlasting so let His love dry your wings out. Let it dissolve your doubts and your fears and your grumbles.

Believe His word and allow Him to put you back on your feet on solid ground where He can show you what He wants to do for you, and what He has put in you still waiting to come out and be a blessing to others.

If a ladybird can do it so can you.😊 Lift up your head and let the King of Glory come in, but whatever you do don’t stay in the puddle! Stretch your wings. The Holy Spirit is there to help you, strengthen you and lift you up as you go into your new week. In Jesus name. Amen.

HOW DESERVING OF PRAISE

 Psalm 48:1 NLT 

How great is the Lord, how deserving of praise…

v.9 O God, we meditate on your unfailing love

As we worship in your Temple.

As your name deserves, O God,

You will be praised to the ends of the earth.

Your strong right hand 

is filled with victory.

How deserving of praise!  Sometimes we look at people and think they deserve to be applauded or praised for the things they’ve done or are doing, but more than anybody it’s our God who deserves our praise every day, not just on Sundays.😊 No one else can possibly compare!

One of Korah’s descendants wrote this psalm and he was obviously a godly man as he speaks of his time spent in meditating on God’s wonderful, unfailing love. Maybe if we thought more about how much God loves us, we wouldn't become so upset or distressed by things in our lives. 

Nothing changes God’s great love for us, no matter what has happened, because the blood of Jesus is more powerful than any sin, His name is greater than any problem, and they have to bow the knee to Jesus’ name.

I always love it when scripture talks about our God being filled with victory. We’ll never read how He was ever defeated, and the glorious thing is He has put us ‘in Christ’ and given us His victory too. Now it may not always feel like it, but it’s still true.😊

So just in case you’ve been meditating on your problems lately, let’s pull the stops out today and praise our God who deserves every ounce of praise we can give Him as we meditate instead on His unfailing love. Amen.

Why not follow the link and give the Lord some praise today?😊

https://youtu.be/z3POCwIVHNE

GOODNESS OF GOD

Mark 10:18 No one is good but One, that is, God.

Have you ever heard anyone complaining about God, speaking about Him with disrespect, as though He ‘owed’ them something and how they want to challenge God with their questions when they get to heaven? Now I know we all have our ‘Why God’ moments sometimes, but do we forget how we owe absolutely everything we have to Him, that He gave us His best by giving us His Son?

Our God is immensely good to every one of us and its good to encourage ourselves to remember just how good God is, so the next time we want to rant and rave at Him, instead we can praise Him for His goodness and be thankful even when things haven’t worked out our way.😊

Exodus 34:6 NKJV The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. Aren’t you glad God is overflowing with goodness and He’s longsuffering when He hears our complaints?

Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. God doesn’t show favouritism. He gives goodness and mercy to all of us. Thank You Lord!

Matthew 7:11  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! How wonderful that we can ask Him for good things and He’s delighted to give them to us.😊

Psalm 27:1 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. If you’ve been losing heart lately, remember this verse and believe it.

1 Chronicles 16:34  Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

There are too many verses to write but let’s remember this last one every single day and have hearts that are so thankful for all God’s goodness to us. In Jesus name. Amen.

Have a blessed weekend.x

Photo by il vano on Unsplash

THROW THEM OUT THE WINDOW

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Do you sometimes have days when you’re watching the ‘Worst Case Scenario’ Channel in your mind? Those times when wrong imaginations bombard our thinking? God tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds and that we have to tear down imaginations and anything that’s trying to exalt itself over what He has said in His word. 

They’re the thoughts where all we can think about makes us miserable, when we ignore what God’s words has said and choose to believe the enemy’s lies instead. 

When we’re diagnosed with some illness and a voice says, “Oh that’s bad, there’s nothing you can do about it!” But God’s word says, “I’m an overcomer through Jesus and by His wounds I’m healed.” (1 Peter 2:24) We have to remember God’s report can change the doctor’s report if we believe!😊

If we lose our jobs or unexpected bills come in, we ‘imagine’ not having enough money. We have to cast down those negative thoughts because God has promised to provide all our needs according to His riches in heaven by Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:19)

Maybe we’re anxious about our children. Instead we grab hold of God’s promise that great will be the peace of your children, (Isaiah 54:13) and you and all your household will be saved. (Acts 16:31).

Have you been having some miserable imaginations about anything lately? Well, be encouraged, God’s word will not return to Him void, it is powerful to bring down strongholds, but we have to believe it and use it to tear down those strongholds!😊

So let’s decide to reject the wrong imaginings that try to destroy our peace, that feed our insecurities. It’s time to open our windows and throw them out, cast them down, and declare what God has said, “All will be well for the godly.” (Isaiah 3:10)

And remember the windows of heaven are also open, pouring down God’s blessings on our lives instead.(Malachi 3:10)  Why not let your imagination run riot on that wonderful thought and carry it with you today!😊 In Jesus name. Amen.

CHARIOTS OF FIRE

2 Kings 6:16-17 NLT Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

There are times when we seem to be surrounded by the enemy and we feel like Elisha’s servant, as though we’re on our own fighting our battles. But nothing could be further from the truth because Jesus said, “I will never leave you.” Which just goes to show how our feelings are very deceiving!😊

So what do we do? We go to the scriptures and see God has provided us with His mighty angels who He describes as flames of fire, who can appear in chariots of fire when they’re needed! One angel can also open prison doors and wipe out 185,00 soldiers in one night when necessary!

Hebrews 1:7 NLT Regarding the angels, he says, “He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire.” V.14 Therefore, angels are only servants - spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.

God’s angels are sent to help us, wherever we are, and God uses the imagery of flames of fire because it let’s us see how powerful they are! They’re not little pink cherubs!😊

Psalm 104:4 NLT The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.

2 Kings 2:11 NLT As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven.

God wants us to see that no matter what enemy we face, He is sending in the angelic beings to either sweep us up to safety or destroy them as we speak out His word in faith. Psalm103:20 tells us his angels listen for God’s words and as we speak God’s words out, so our angels make them happen! 

Lord thank You for our angels and open our eyes to see how powerful Your words are in our own mouths, that we’re giving our angels something to do to carry out Your plans in our lives! Amen.

Photo:Javier Cachafeiro on Unsplash

UNPLUGGED

Exodus 33:14 NLT The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." 

That quote resonated with me because I’ve learned when my machines don’t work, it’s often because they need turning off and on again! We can be a bit like that- we need turning off and on again! It’s called rest.😊

We can be so busy doing things for the family, our friends, the workplace, the church, that by the time we come home at the end of a busy day’s schedule we’re spent out. But God never intended us to go from one day to the next, or one week to the next without a rest, without a bit of recharging time for ourselves, and we shouldn’t feel guilty when we do. God rested on the seventh day for a reason!

He wants us to unplug for a while from those things that press in on us, so we can plug into Him for a download of His love and care. It’s called fellowship.😊 He wants to give us His fresh insights, fresh vision, fresh energy and strength, fresh perspective, fresh attitude. I wonder which one you need, or maybe you need all of them?😊 

So this is a gentle nudge to take a few minutes here and there and take some time off for yourself, not to do the chores, but to enter His rest. God promises to restore our souls, to lead us beside still waters but we have to turn off the phones and screens and follow His lead and not go off on another busy track, no matter how much it distracts or calls to us!

If things are not working too well for you at the minute, or you’re struggling, maybe it’s time to unplug from some things and plug into God. Allow Him to give you His perspective, His peace, His rest, even if it’s only for a short while. He says He will reward you if you do.😊 Amen.

Photo: Masantocreative on Unsplash

A TRUE FRIEND

Proverbs 17:17 NIV A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Attached to one of my gifts this past week was a lovely tag which said, “A true Friend encourages you to be your best and loves you just the way you are.” We all want friends like that, but we also need to be that friend to others too!😊

As I thought about it I remembered that we all have a True Friend in Jesus. He encourages us always to be the best we can be, but He loves us just the way we are. Then He goes further, and loves us so much He doesn't leave us the way we are, but helps us to become the way His Father wants us to be, more like Jesus Himself, day by day, with the Holy Spirit’s help.

On the night Jesus was betrayed by His disciples He said this … John 15:13-15 NIV Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

As we walk through our week, we have this assurance that Jesus is our True Friend, even if we, or others, have let each other down. Jesus is steadfast and faithful and has promised to never abandon us or leave us alone. 

He has given us His own Holy Spirit to comfort us when we need it, to help us when we ask for it, to strengthen us because He never designed us to do life on our own. 

He’s the Friend we can always call on, who is never too busy to be there for us, night and day.

So let’s be very encouraged as we remember we have a true friend in Jesus, the best friend there is, and be His friend too by doing what He tells us to do - to love one another. 😊 In Jesus name. Amen.