Tag: hope

How to Really Discern God’s Will for Your Life

How to Really Discern God’s Will for Your Life

How do I really know what God’s will for my life is? That is a question we often ask in our lifetime. We ask it about our relationships, about our careers, and about where to live. How can I know with certainty that the choices I make are the ones God desires for me? It must begin with prayer. We are on day 29 of this prayer challenge. The only way to know God’s will for your life is to spend time alone with God. There in the quiet hours with him, he will guide you through the help of the Holy Spirit.

40399546_mRemember what Christ said in Luke 11:” 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Look very closely here. He did not say that whatever you ask, you will be given. He did say that “God will give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.”

[bctt tweet=”The Holy Spirit will guide us, comfort us, and provide us with the wisdom of discernment we need for every situation.”]

Continue reading “How to Really Discern God’s Will for Your Life”

3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World

3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World

David’s life with all the ups and downs, the great victories and the moments of failure is a portrait of our Christians lives. Each step of the way, David was drawn toward an ever increasing passionate love for God. David had moments of great joy and seasons of deep sorrow. His Songs to God reflect these very emotions. Yet if we look a little closer we also see the gospel of grace being portrayed. How amazing it is that David’s moments of conflict were used to portray Christ’s crucifixion is Psalm 22. Then raised from the dead the shepherd cares for the sheep in Psalm 23. And finally the chief Shepherd appears as King of glory to own and reward the sheep in Psalm 24. A trilogy of Psalms portraying the Gospel. Look a little closer.

THE CRUCIFIXION PORTRAYED

jesus christ picturePsalm 22:(NIV) “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?” Are these not the same cries that we hear from the cross of Christ? Is this not the good shepherd who gave his life for the people?   Then we see the foreshadowing of Christ again  as  they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.” Are these not the same cries of the people against Christ in Matthew 27:43.
picture used with permission of Ronald Barba  for information about his artwork go to  http://barba-art.com         

   Then we see the picture of the cross itself. ” I am poured out like water, all my bones are out of joint.  My  heart has turned to wax; it has melted within   15 My mouth[d]is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.” This  is a picture of crucifixion. The joints being pulled out of place, the blood and water poured forth, the intense perspiration, the parched lips, the intense strain upon the heart and the death. Then we even see the “18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” David with great detail gave us the picture of Christ to come. Was he aware of that? Or did God use David’s moments of conflict to form the words that would point to Christ? A question we must ponder as we look at our own moments of conflict. Are they a means to portray Christ to the world?

Continue reading “3 Psalms Proclaiming Hope, Joy and Grace to the World”

HOW TO ACTUALLY REJOICE IN HOPE WHILE FACING TRIBULATIONS

HOW TO ACTUALLY REJOICE IN HOPE WHILE FACING TRIBULATIONS

Rejoice in hope while facing tribulations? How can that even be possible? Yet, that is precisely what Paul and Peter called us to. In the midst of our darkest moments, we are told to do just that. Yet, without at least a glimmer of hope; how does anyone get up and even put one foot in front of the other to face the day? Without a glimmer of hope, when facing dark, treacherous valleys; a person would be lost in despair and loneliness. Hope then is a good thing without which we just die to life itself.

There were many years in which I faced so many trials. Year after year in which illness, pain, loneliness, and valleys of trials were present. That was when I wrote Mountaintop Experiences in the Valley with all the raw emotions of those valleys. I am now rewriting the third edition to provide even more insight into how I survived those years and continue to face the trials that arise along this journey of life. One thing that remained although at times very dimly was a ray of hope.

HOPE HAS A NAME

[bctt tweet=”That ray of hope however dim it began was the light that kept me going forward toward JOY!!”]

Let us look at some scripture which will guide.

Continue reading “HOW TO ACTUALLY REJOICE IN HOPE WHILE FACING TRIBULATIONS”

Can Praying the Lord’s Prayer be actually powerful?

Can Praying the Lord’s Prayer be actually powerful?

We find in the Bible two recordings of Jesus instructing his disciples to pray. Once in Matthew 6 and the second time in Luke 11. These do appear to be at different times because the one in Matthew is while Jesus was preaching the Sermon on the Mount. The prayer in Luke is amongst a much smaller crowd and occurred when one of His disciples had seen Jesus praying and then asked if Jesus would teach them how to pray. The differences between the two prayers are minor.

Of note, in Matthew; a few verses before Christ had warned against repetitious prayers. “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matthew 6:7). Then Jesus proceeds and says, “After this manner therefore pray ye” (Matthew 6:9). The Lord’s Prayer that follows was to be a template, a guide. Still, can we use it as our prayer? There are those times when it can be actually very powerful, when we pray it from our heart.   Let’s exam it- section by section.

Our Father Which Art In Heaven (Matthew 6:9)

llsas0003

 

 

 

 

What an amazing truth those words.  God is my Heavenly Father The fact that we can call God Father reflects that this is a relationship.  I have the wondrous gracious privilege to talk to my Heavenly Father; because of the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.

 

 

© Liz Lemon Swindle/Licensed from GoodSalt.com

[bctt tweet=”I can sit beside God, My Father with childlike wonder and tell Him all about my day.”] No pretenses. No need to hide my flaws. I can sit beside Him, babbling on in my child like speech; knowing that He listens. I also know that He will guide and teach as a loving Father who desires my best. And, note;the word “our”. In this relationship with God, I have many brothers and sisters, including Christ Jesus. I am not alone; rather,

Continue reading “Can Praying the Lord’s Prayer be actually powerful?”

5 Verses That Inspire Your Heart to see God’s Glory

5 Verses That Inspire Your Heart to see God’s Glory

How are you doing with the challenge? For me it is becoming a part of my early morning routine. In fact, I awaken with a hunger for those moments alone with God. I do get my cup of coffee and then retire to a chair—just my Bible in hand. Occasionally, I have been tempted (by old habit) to turn on the computer first thing; but, that I have laid aside.

God I long

[bctt tweet=”When you don’t know what to pray, reading God’s own words out loud can be a very powerful prayer”]I have chosen these 5 verses to help you today.

Continue reading “5 Verses That Inspire Your Heart to see God’s Glory”