Psalm 46

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling." Psalm 46:1-3 ESV

Everyday, we are surrounded by things that can threaten to shake our faith. When we put our trust in anything outside of Christ, we commit adultery. I know this may sound harsh, but the point here is understanding that God alone is who we should place our ultimate faith and trust in. Humans sin. Objects eventually fall apart and break. God is constant. He is more constant than  the greatest mountains on earth and more faithful than the most reliable people we know. 

Signiture Passage Here!

In ancient Roman times, when a family chose to adopt a child, that child was considered part of the family permanantly. Oftentimes, an adopted child might even have more rights with their adopted family than a biological child would. Adoption with God as our Father is the same. Once God has chosen us as His own, there is nothing we can do to lose our salvation. Our adoption with Christ is forever and reinforces His sovereignty over all things. God having chosen us rather than us choosing Him first means that nothing we could do could cause us to lose our salvation. The model of adoption in relation to our salvation paints a powerful image of the perfect and sacrificial love that Christ has for us. This illustration has become even more impactful in my life as I have had the unique privilege of having two close friends who are adopted that I have known over the past 5 years. Let me explain: when a child is adopted, they are chosen. When we are saved, Christ chooses us. God didn't have to choose us. He did not owe us anything and had no obligations. He simply chose us because He loved us. Although the idea of being chosen by God may be a bit intimidating; we should view our spiritual adoption with Christ with humility and gratitude. Instead of trying to reason away why we were chosen, let us thank God for His sacrificial love that saw past our sinful state and saw something worth saving.

Dust for Diamonds

Sometimes in our Christian life, we must be willing to surrender that which is known to God for the unknown. Its like a child who clutches onto a dirty rock, unwilling to leave it for the unfamiliar object that lay in their father's hand. All that child knows is that rock and how it feels. They refuse to let go of that rock made of dirt and sand and trade it for the precious gemstone that lies in their parent's hands...if only they would trust. How often in our own lives as Christians are we afraid to surrender the familiar and the known areas and people in our lives because we fear that which is unknown and unfamiliar? How often do we cling to the dust in our lives, unaware of the diamonds that God has held in His hand ready to give to us; if only we would trust Him. That first step can be scary. Like crossing a narrow bridge with a bottomless drop off below. The way may seem uncertain yet God draws us forward, putting one foot in front of the other as we go. Are you ready to let go of the dust you so tightly cling to that is keeping you from growing closer to God and surrender it for the incredible plans as precious as diamonds that lay in His outstretched hands?

You Will Never Walk Alone!

What is your first, initial response when someone asks you how you are doing? Like many people, I find myself quick to answer back, “doing well.” In a world that values its privacy, people often keep to themselves and don’t tend to share the issues that affect them on a personal level. We don’t like to put ourselves out there, vulnerable to others, because we fear rejection and embarrassment. Due to this, people often hesitate to discuss personal struggles, being left to face them alone. But we aren’t alone. King David, “the man after God’s own heart”, was not unfamiliar with trials in his own life. Loneness was oftentimes something that met him around every corner. David encountered many instances of immense grief and fear. One example that stands out most to me personally is in the book of Psalm 4, in which David finds himself hiding out in a cave in fear of his son, Absalom who seeks to take his father’s life. Yet in the midst of David’s fear he says, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; For you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (v.8) We serve a God, that like with David the King of Israel, gives us the strength to overcome times of great fear and uncertainty with unspeakable peace and hope. No matter how dark the road or how narrow the path our feet walk, we will never walk alone with the Lord ever by our side!

Trust is a Big Deal

This week has been a whirlwind of prayer  and much anticipation! I apologize for not posting this week up until today. However, I am thankful to God for answered prayer and for His enduring patience.

Trust is easy when life is smooth; but how do we deal with it when life is rocky and uncertain? How do we block out all our doubts and worries and just trust God for who He is? I learned this lesson this week first hand: Approaching this week, I was apprehensive about an appointment I had made in order to further my education. With so many things up in the air these days, I often find myself taking my weeks day by day. Trusting God is oftentimes found in the baby steps when we can barely see the next step in front of our feet. It making the choice to keep putting one foot in front of the other despite what we fear.

What difficulties from your past has God used to encourage you about your worries today? 

The Lord's Prayer

Growing up in the church my entire life, I have heard the Lord's Prayer many times over the years. However, it wasn't until a few years ago when I received a book given to me as a freebie while a freshman at a local university that this seemingly routine prayer developed new meaning in my life. The book was titled, "The Holiness of God", by a well-known theologian named R.C. Sproul. Ever since i first opened it, this book has greatly impacted my faith and understanding of Christ. R.C. Sproul's "The Holiness of God" enlightened on one small verse that begins the Lord's Prayer, a small but highly foundational verse. The Lord's Prayer is found in the book of Matthew, chapter 6 verses 9 through 13. The passage begins like this, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." I never realized fully what this short verse meant. Rather than being a petition, "our father in heaven, hallowed be your name" is an acknowledgement that God is to be regarded as Holy. This verse is foundational to our understanding of the Lord's Prayer. R.C. Sproul described this concept so perfectly and concisely: " God's kingdom will never come where His name is not considered holy. His will is not done on earth as it is in heaven if His name is desecrated here." Who knew that such a powerful truth could hinge on such a short verse! How has Christ's holiness impacted your life?

Nourishment for Thought

As I was reading today's devotion in the book of II Timothy dealing with the application of scripture; I couldn't help but think about how important the Bible is to our whole life. 

"All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."(II Timothy 3:16-17) How truly wonderful it is to know that we can go to our Heavenly Father through His Word for guidance in our lives. Finding comfort and instruction gives us the strength to keep going, like finding water in a desert. "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."(Ps. 42:1-2) When we come to the place where we truly have absorbed who God says He is, the peace and reassurance we feel is like finding fresh water in a barren desert. God's Word is nourishment to every vein of our existence.

What scripture passages do you find refreshment and comfort in your everyday life?