“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.” Psalm 62:7

Thoughts on today’s verse

Who we are, what becomes of us in life, is in God’s hands. We cannot purchase or achieve lasting honor for ourselves without his blessing. We cannot secure the future or our safety without his protection and blessing. The basis of all achievement and glory is dependent upon us placing our lives in his care.

Prayer:

O Rock, Fortress of my life, I place myself in your care. Take charge of my future and use me for your glory. In you I take refuge, and on your strength I rely to make my days worthwhile. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

By Phil Ware
Used by Permission
from:  Phil’s daily devotionals on https://www.verseoftheday.com

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FURTHER READING

• Eternal Love
• Fully Surrender to the Lord

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we may say with confidence, “The Lord is my  helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

While visiting my daughter in Swaziland (S. Africa) I needed a break from all the travelling we were doing. I asked to be excused from the next sightseeing trip. “I will be  just fine spending the week in your little duplex here on the school compound,” I said. The next morning I bravely said good bye to my son and daughter. But when I saw the tail lights of their car disappear over the sandy ridge, panic seized me. What have I done? We were told to never be alone. It’s too dangerous. How will I survive the next week all alone?

I ran into the house, double-locked the door as I’d seen my daughter do, climbed under the mosquito net and lay there shivering. Whom will I call in case of an emergency? I don’t know a single person.

A voice as clear as if it had been spoken out loud said, “Me! You call on Me. I have not left you.”

I grabbed my Bible and read “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we may say with confidence, “The Lord is my  helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

As I kept repeating the words, a calm settled into my soul and with it came a plan of action. I got out of bed, grabbed a small photo album I’d brought with me, and stepped outside. In the yard next door, I saw a young woman and small boy. “Would you like to see my photos?” I blurted out. She did. After I told her about my life in Canada, she told me bits of her life. (Luckily she spoke English)

Soon a group of children gathered around us. They loved the action choruses I taught them and they laughed at my funny pronunciation of their language. Then the children wanted me to come home and meet their parents. I was delighted to find that some knew Jesus. What a rich time of fellowship we had!

I learned so much from this experience. God is present with us as a real Person, not just in a thought or wishful thinking. A real Person who speaks comfort into our hearts:  “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Thank you, Father, that when you say “never will I forsake you,” you mean never. You are with me now.

By Helen Lescheid
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•   Did You Know that You are Someone Special?
•   A Poem of Hope
•  Salvation Explained

The post God Is Present with You Now appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

People are saved when they trust Jesus Christ as Savior and choose to follow Him. Right then, most Christians realize that they will dwell with Him forever in heaven. But many don’t understand what they can expect for the remainder of their lives on earth.

One benefit that’s available immediately is a growing relationship with the Lord. The Father’s oneness with Jesus (John 10:30) illustrates the intimacy God wants to have with His children. He had this type of closeness in mind at creation—a relationship with man is an avenue for Him to express His love and for us to worship and understand our Maker.

Another advantage is that Christ-followers are promised clear guidance through God’s Holy Spirit. Decision making is a part of everyday life. It is impossible for a mere human to know every variable and nuance before choosing which path to take. But the Lord knows all things—past, present, and future. With godly wisdom available, it’s hard to understand why anyone would prefer to trust his own hunches.

Provision is yet another blessing guaranteed for believers. There will be hard times, but God gives Christians everything necessary for following Him (Philippians 4:19). And His grace will always prove more than sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).

How abundantly God gives to His children! One word of caution, though: these gifts are effective only when believers walk obediently with Him. Sin can stifle them.

The heavenly Father desires that all of His sons and daughters have these blessings; if you’re living in obedience before Him, they are available to you. Is anything getting in the way of your total submission to Him?

by Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by permission:
https://www.intouch.org/

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FURTHER READING

Intimacy with God by Sylvia Gunter

“Have You Ever Been Alone With God?”

The Intimacy of Total Reliance

The post In Step with God appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped.” Numbers 9:17

I put a lot of thought into figuring out God’s will for my life. I don’t know about you, but I fret over where I need to work or live. I pray and ask God if I’m headed in the right direction. I want to make sure I am following where he leads.

Though my intentions are good, I don’t think following Jesus is as complicated as I like to make it. A local radio personality puts it this way, “We are called to love God and serve people.” It’s that simple.

When the Israelites left Egypt, God led them to the Promised Land. Along the way, God appeared in the form of a cloud above the camp. All they had to do was follow the cloud. When the cloud moved, they moved. When the cloud stopped, they stopped. Sometimes the cloud settled for several days. Sometimes it was only there for one day. God’s people never knew how long they would stay in one place. They simply followed the cloud.

I suppose we modern Christians tend to think we need a long-term plan in order to follow Jesus. Just as with business or personal goals, we like to map out where we want to be in 5 or 10 years. I think we all need to remember that God will lead us when we need to move. His Spirit will show us the way. We merely need to know Him so that we recognize his voice and move when he tells us to.

Lord, help me relax when it comes to your will for my life. Help me to know you so that I know when you tell me to stay or go. Amen.

By Debbie Wet
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

We Plan – God Directs

The Plan

He Has the Master Plan

The post The Cloud appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.” Psalm 89:2 NLT

Do you ever question where you’re at in life?

Do you ever wonder why a certain thing happens to you and not to others? Maybe you lost your job but your friends have theirs. Or you’re sick. I can’t even guess what you are going through. And, friend, it can be so hard to understand why bad things happen, right?

Even though we may have many questions about life’s heartaches, it’s so important to know that God is still powerful. He is still on the throne.

Sometimes it’s only when we look back that we can understand the lesson through adversity. Or it can be the mistake we made so we can learn to improve in the future. Or someone else’s mistake.

Every moment of your life, even in adversity, is an opportunity for God to show you his love and faithfulness. Remember and believe that God loves you. His presence is with you. That’s why we can trust God, no matter what happens, because we know how much he loves us.

He can give me and you a new beginning in any area that we need. We can ask him for renewal, to transform.

Wait on him with hopefulness. I encourage you to rely on God. His love never fails. God can do beyond what you and I can imagine or think. It’s never too late for him to show his love.

David said, “What, what would have become of me had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living!” (Psalm 27:13 AMP, Classic Edition)

Heavenly Father, no matter what I have been through, I thank you for listening to me. I pray that you strengthen me in my faith so I will never ever forget that your love never fails and that you are with me.

Today: Think about the love that never fails. Stay thankful for God’s faithfulness.

By Fab Batsakis
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

To Be Loved By You

Amazing Grace. Unfailing Love

Unfailing Love – A Devotional by Daniel Forster

God’s Unfailing Love – Devotional by Charles Stanley

The Relentless Tide of Gods Love – by Gail Rodgers

The post The Unfailing Love appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished.”  1 Chronicles 28:20

I’m trusting that the weight of the tasks before you this week are not too burdensome. I have been encouraged by David’s charge to Solomon and it is my prayer that you are too.

Jeremiah reminds us,

“...This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD’S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:21-24

And the Psalmist says,

“…put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.”  Psalm 130:7

Remember:

“We can do everything through him who gives us strength.” Philippians 4:13

My prayer for us this week

“Thank-you our Creator God for giving us the courage and stamina to accomplish the tasks you set before us each day. We put our hope in you, giving thanks for your unfailing love. In Jesus name amen.”

by Alec Niemi
Used by Permission

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FURTHER READING

To Be Loved By You

Amazing Grace. Unfailing Love

The Unfailing Love

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The secret to loving is living loved. It’s the forgotten first step in relationships. Remember Paul’s prayer? “May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love” (Ephesians 3:17 NLT).

Many people tell us to love. Only God gives us the power to do so. We know what God wants us to do. “This is what God commands. . .that we love each other.”  (1 John 3:23). But how can we? How can we be kind to those who are unkind to us? How can we love as God loves? By being loved. By following the principle: receive first and love second. God loves you personally…powerfully…passionately! He loves you with an unfailing love. Others have promised and failed. But God has promised and succeeded!

By Max Lucado
Used by Permission
From: A Love Worth Giving

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:    
https://maxlucado.com/about-max/

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Have you ever taken the time to evaluate your journey with God?

Are you growing in your love relationship with Him? You may be thinking, “Can you really know if you are growing spiritually?”

Yes, there are ways you can evaluate your spiritual growth. One way is to think through your prayer journey. Are you praying more? Because prayer is talking with God, ask yourself if your communication with Him is getting better.
I encourage you to take the time to think through your prayer journey. The following are some of the elements in my prayer journey that show me if I am growing spiritually:

Trust in His Promises
Am I trusting God and His promises more that I did twelve months ago?

“Up to this time, you have not asked a single thing in my name; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy may be full” (John 16:25).

Ask Specifically
Am I asking for specific things, or do I pray generally? You will recognize when your prayers are answered if you ask specifically.

“For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him. And then helping you do what He wants” (Philippians 2:13).

Intercession
Am I praying for others on a regular basis?

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone” (1Timothy 2:1).

Cultivate a Quiet Heart
Do I have a quiet heart? Panic and peace cannot occupy the same place.

“When He gives quietness, who then can make trouble?” (Job 34:29).

Resting, Trusting, Leaning
Do I trust and rest in God, or do I let circumstances determined my feelings?

“But I have stilled and quieted my soul...” (Psalm 131:2).

Thankfulness, Praise and Worship

“A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most complete prayer.” – Gotthold Lessing

Spiritual Warfare
Do you dress yourself with the armour of God each day?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 5:12).

Pray Without Ceasing
Talk to God about everything.

“Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

“The real reason for prayer is intimacy with our Father.” – Oswald Chambers

Father, we know You want to have a close, growing relationship with us. Lord, we also want to know You more. Deep within our souls we want to know You. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING:

Articles on How to Talk to God

How to be sure God Listens to your Prayers

How to have a “Quiet Time”

What Should Be Included in Prayer?

Prayer is Talking to God

Praying with Confidence

Foundational Core Truths about Prayer by Sylvia Gunter

The post Prayer Journey appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“You are good and what you do is good” Psalm 119:68

God will never run out of goodness. Everything He made (and makes) is good.

“God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31).

His creation is filled with His goodness. He made colors so we could enjoy them. He made flowers, mountains, sunrises, sunsets, and a loved one’s smile because He is good. He gave us eyes to see His beautiful creation.

He gave us ears to hear — the birds singing, children laughing, and choirs singing.

“The earth is full of the goodness of God” (Psalm 33:5).

He has given us the ability to taste and enjoy food — fruit, vegetables, meat, bread, and much more.

“The tender mercies of the Lord are over all His works” (Psalm 145:9).

Today, as you reflect on the goodness of God to you, think about this verse,

“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men” (Psalm 107:8)!

Often we take God’s goodness for granted. Like children, we think we are entitled to all of His blessings.

Take time today and thank Him for His goodness to you!

Father, thank You for being totally good, that there is no shadow of evil in You! Your goodness is everywhere. Help us become aware of Your goodness and be amazed. Amen.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

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Further Reading

•  How to Fall in Love with Jesus 

•  Why Know the Father’s Heart 

•  Salvation Explained

The post God is GOOD appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

What does that say to you?

“But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.” Malachi 3:2-3

After changing into some coveralls, we entered the mine shaft elevator and descended some two miles below the surface of the South African earth. As we exited the elevator and boarded the mining train, I was surprised that the temperature exceeded a hundred degrees. After travelling what seemed like miles at such a slow speed, but was probably only a few hundred yards, we arrived at the mining site. Miners with heavy hydraulic tools were chipping ore from the vein. As the hoppers of the train cars were loaded, the gold ore began its long trip to the surface.

Once on the surface, we followed the refining procedure. First, the ore was broken into smaller pieces with a giant machine and then through a water screening process and finally crushed as fine as sand between giant rollers before once again being filtered through water to separate out the pure gold. Two piles of material were produced, one was a giant pile of processed ore and the other a small pile of pure gold.

The ore was hauled away and the gold was put into a hot fire. Heated at exactly the right temperature in the right amount of time, the gold turned into a reddish gold colour. The impurities floated to the top and were skimmed off and discarded leaving the pure gold that was slowly poured into a mold, where it was allowed to cool. Gold cools quickly and in a short time, the gold brick is snapped out of its mold and someone handed me the seventy-five pound brick to hold and admire.

As I looked at this beautiful and valuable ingot of precious metal, I thought of all I had seen it go through to go from being trapped in rock two miles below the earth to being subjected to the toughest of physical procedures and then being melted into a viscous state so that it could be pure and be molded to the mining master’s precise specifications.

God is like the mining master and we are His precious gold, but before we can become pure, we too have to be forged by fire, separated from our natural impurities and then molded to His specifications for serving Him. It is not easy and it is not fun, but when it is all done, it is so beautiful. Is God waiting to purify and sanctify you?

by John Grant
Used by Permission

John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

• Energizing Verses for Every Day
• Weighed Down
• Why We’re Less Likely to Try Great Things for God

The post From Rocks to Pure Gold appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.” Psalm 91:4 (HCSB)

“May you receive a full reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” Ruth 2:12 (HCSB)

Being under His wings means being close to His heart—you are not only sheltered, you are loved; you are not only secure, you are cared for; you are not only covered, you are reassured.

by Roy Lessin
Used by Permission

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

• No Fear in God’s Hiding Place
• God’s Wings of Healing
• His Wings Shelter You

The post Under His Wings appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Psalm 119:105  “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.“

Do we take God at His Word? This is an important question because for some people it means that we have to logically understand everything He says–and that is impossible. Does that mean we don’t take Him at His Word, or does it mean we engage our faith?

Yes, we must engage our faith to take God at His Word. God’s ways are higher than our ways and we will never understand everything He has written to us in our Bible. But we can believe what we don’t understand…by faith.

Faith is definitely required to take God at His Word and it begins the moment we exercise faith to receive Salvation and is integral in living out our new life in Christ.

It is also important that we read our Bible and know what God actually says in His Word and not just rely on teachers and preachers. We need to read our Bible and allow God to teach us. Not everyone is a studied theologian, but everyone can read Genesis through Revelation and ask God to teach them and increase their knowledge and wisdom.

Everyone can also benefit from the use of a concordance that is either in your Bible or buy one to use when you read the Bible. There are so many convenient and free online tools that can help with Bible study and we need to reap the benefits of the resources that are now online.

Why is this so important? We need to know what we believe and why we believe so we can be grounded and rooted in our faith. We need to know God’s Word so it can help us navigate our life.

We need to know God’s Word in order to benefit from the many promises He has given us.

His Word tells me if I believe on Him then I am saved: John 3:16, Romans 10:9  

His Word tells me once I am saved that I am His forever: John 10:27-30

His Word tells me nothing can separate me from his love: Romans 8:38-39

His Word says He has a plan for my life: Jeremiah 29:11

I will take Him at His Word.

Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.”

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

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FURTHER READING

• Knowing Jesus’ Voice
• The Art of Listening
• We Hear His Voice

The post Take Him at His Word appeared first on Thoughts About God.