Every now and then I have to stop and give God a high praise. I often use my own words in my own feeble way but I am so blessed when the very word of God fills my memory and my spirit and I am able to praise God with His own words. I love it when I am able to say exactly what He says. So today I just want to share with you a portion of the Word that I've been thinking on. This wasn't what I originally was using for my devotion but when it was referenced in another portion of scripture and I saw the full context I had to just read it over and over again.
So today's blog post is taken from Isaiah 40:18-31 (NIV). I hope it blesses you as it has me. I pray it stirs your spirit up like nothing else can and I pray that as I am doing, you meditate on it so that the very life it represents becomes a part of you.
With whom then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him?
As for an idol, a metal worker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it.
People too poor to present such an offering select wood that will rot. They look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?"
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Jesus, I thank You for Your Word. It is spirit and it is life to me. I pray Your Word never becomes dull to me. Lord, I have put my hope in Your Word for I know Your laws are righteous. May it always be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. May I always, always find comfort in Your Word. In Jesus name.
Amen
Have a Wonderful Word-filled Day friends.
Vickie
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
That incomparably great power
You, however, are not controlled by the sinful nature but are in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you.
Romans 8:9-11
The bible is a fascinating book. It is full of stories of miracles, of lives changed, of healings. It's full of wars, killings, name changing and name calling. The bible is truly a wonderful book. It is full of poetry and romance and awesome promises. I just love it all, but what I absolutely love is the life there is in the word. Somehow I find it difficult to understand - and please forgive me if you're in that place now - how people read the word feel no different. The word is so vibrant, its language so elegant. The connection between the Old and the New is mind-boggling to me. Those that say the word contradicts itself have no idea what they are talking about.
The Psalmist David said, "the entrance of God's word brings light." It makes me think of the sun shining outside, brilliantly displayed, but the windows and doors of your house are all locked. You get up and open the blinds just a tiny bit, at least, and the sun enters through that small opening bringing an immediate difference with it.
When we open up our hearts to the truth of God's word, we see ourselves in such a different light it is absolutely astounding. To think that for 30, 40, even 50 years as a christian you could be looking at yourself in one way. Oh, you're just a sinner saved by grace, you're only human, you're just a man/woman. Seems like forever you've been praying 'Lord build me just a cabin in the corner of glory land.'
Then by the Spirit your eyes are opened to your true place in Christ and you see that Jesus has gone to prepare a mansion for you (not a teeny cabin). You see that by having Christ in your life, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You see that you're a peculiar person, from a royal priesthood, an heir and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. You are not just here dragging your feet along hoping to make it through another day. You are seated with Christ in heavenly places. You're not just hoping to win another battle with the enemy over what is rightfully yours, but you know that thanks be to Jesus you are always triumphant.
Seeing yourself through the eyes of God- and He only sees us through the blood of Jesus- puts a whole new spin on things, as they say. Since I know that to be true, I want to keep my face buried in the word, because I want to see me as God sees me. His view is so much better.
As I read and mediated on the word this early morning, I got another glimpse of God's view and oh how wonderful it is.
Paul reminds us that because of the Spirit of Christ living in us we are no longer controlled by our sinful nature. We have a new nature. It's not an old one that's been fixed up. We have a new nature. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away and all has become new." (2 Cor. 5:17) We now have a righteous nature. So Paul says, yes you have a new nature, a new spirit, but your old body is still there and that old body is still subject to death because of sin.
That's something many of us know but don't let us stop there. Paul says, even though that old body is still subject to death, because of righteousness, because of right standing with God, the Spirit will now give life to that once decaying body. He lives there but He just doesn't care about our spirits. He wants to give life to our bodies.
He is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Let that sink in. Remember the cross and all that happened? The lightning, the thunder, the veil of the temple torn in two? Remember Jesus taking the keys of death and hell? All that power that was on display is available to us.
A whopping hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lord thank You for a new spirit, but what a joy to know that you give life to my body as well.
God is working from the inside out. With a new spirit there is hope for this body that is subject to death because of sin. The righteousness of Jesus makes it all possible, so therefore sin no longer has control over me or control over you.
Because of the righteousness of Jesus, sickness no longer has any rights to our bodies.
Disease even though it may come, has no right to stay in our bodies.
Stress no longer has control over you or I.
Depression no longer has any mastery over us.
Fear has to leave because the same Spirit, get that? The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me.
The power available to us is that same mighty strength God exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right Hand far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be invoked. Remember we are seated with Christ in these heavenly places.
Sickness, disease, poverty, lack, financial ruin, stress, depression, worry, fear, none of these is allowed to reside in heavenly places.
Let's take our place in Christ.
Get to know who you really are in Christ.
2 Peter1:3 says "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."
I want to break that down quickly.
His divine power............the same power that we talked about earlier that raised Christ from the dead.
Has given us everything......everything includes freedom from depression, stress, worry and healing in our bodies.
Through our knowledge of Him who called us..........That's our secret. That's our key. It's our knowledge of Him. It's our knowledge of knowing who we are in Him and what He really did for us that will set us free.
So we have everything that we need to live this life here, not just in heaven, but here, and its through our knowledge of Him.
I am on a quest to increase my knowledge of Him. I want to walk in that abundant life that I see in the Word. I beg you to join with me and let us diligently seek Him out because He promises to reward those that do.
Blessings,
Vickie
Romans 8:9-11
The bible is a fascinating book. It is full of stories of miracles, of lives changed, of healings. It's full of wars, killings, name changing and name calling. The bible is truly a wonderful book. It is full of poetry and romance and awesome promises. I just love it all, but what I absolutely love is the life there is in the word. Somehow I find it difficult to understand - and please forgive me if you're in that place now - how people read the word feel no different. The word is so vibrant, its language so elegant. The connection between the Old and the New is mind-boggling to me. Those that say the word contradicts itself have no idea what they are talking about.
The Psalmist David said, "the entrance of God's word brings light." It makes me think of the sun shining outside, brilliantly displayed, but the windows and doors of your house are all locked. You get up and open the blinds just a tiny bit, at least, and the sun enters through that small opening bringing an immediate difference with it.
When we open up our hearts to the truth of God's word, we see ourselves in such a different light it is absolutely astounding. To think that for 30, 40, even 50 years as a christian you could be looking at yourself in one way. Oh, you're just a sinner saved by grace, you're only human, you're just a man/woman. Seems like forever you've been praying 'Lord build me just a cabin in the corner of glory land.'
Then by the Spirit your eyes are opened to your true place in Christ and you see that Jesus has gone to prepare a mansion for you (not a teeny cabin). You see that by having Christ in your life, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. You see that you're a peculiar person, from a royal priesthood, an heir and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. You are not just here dragging your feet along hoping to make it through another day. You are seated with Christ in heavenly places. You're not just hoping to win another battle with the enemy over what is rightfully yours, but you know that thanks be to Jesus you are always triumphant.
Seeing yourself through the eyes of God- and He only sees us through the blood of Jesus- puts a whole new spin on things, as they say. Since I know that to be true, I want to keep my face buried in the word, because I want to see me as God sees me. His view is so much better.
As I read and mediated on the word this early morning, I got another glimpse of God's view and oh how wonderful it is.
Paul reminds us that because of the Spirit of Christ living in us we are no longer controlled by our sinful nature. We have a new nature. It's not an old one that's been fixed up. We have a new nature. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away and all has become new." (2 Cor. 5:17) We now have a righteous nature. So Paul says, yes you have a new nature, a new spirit, but your old body is still there and that old body is still subject to death because of sin.
That's something many of us know but don't let us stop there. Paul says, even though that old body is still subject to death, because of righteousness, because of right standing with God, the Spirit will now give life to that once decaying body. He lives there but He just doesn't care about our spirits. He wants to give life to our bodies.
He is the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. Let that sink in. Remember the cross and all that happened? The lightning, the thunder, the veil of the temple torn in two? Remember Jesus taking the keys of death and hell? All that power that was on display is available to us.
A whopping hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lord thank You for a new spirit, but what a joy to know that you give life to my body as well.
God is working from the inside out. With a new spirit there is hope for this body that is subject to death because of sin. The righteousness of Jesus makes it all possible, so therefore sin no longer has control over me or control over you.
Because of the righteousness of Jesus, sickness no longer has any rights to our bodies.
Disease even though it may come, has no right to stay in our bodies.
Stress no longer has control over you or I.
Depression no longer has any mastery over us.
Fear has to leave because the same Spirit, get that? The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me.
The power available to us is that same mighty strength God exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right Hand far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be invoked. Remember we are seated with Christ in these heavenly places.
Sickness, disease, poverty, lack, financial ruin, stress, depression, worry, fear, none of these is allowed to reside in heavenly places.
Let's take our place in Christ.
Get to know who you really are in Christ.
2 Peter1:3 says "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness."
I want to break that down quickly.
His divine power............the same power that we talked about earlier that raised Christ from the dead.
Has given us everything......everything includes freedom from depression, stress, worry and healing in our bodies.
Through our knowledge of Him who called us..........That's our secret. That's our key. It's our knowledge of Him. It's our knowledge of knowing who we are in Him and what He really did for us that will set us free.
So we have everything that we need to live this life here, not just in heaven, but here, and its through our knowledge of Him.
I am on a quest to increase my knowledge of Him. I want to walk in that abundant life that I see in the Word. I beg you to join with me and let us diligently seek Him out because He promises to reward those that do.
Blessings,
Vickie
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
The Promise
Therefore the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring - not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. Romans 4:16
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why it was credited to him as righteousness. The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:18-25
I know I may have said it here a few times already but I have to say it again. I absolutely love the Word of God. I love the hope, the promise, the uplifting, the refreshing and all that you find there, when you can find it no where else. As a family we have been trusting God for an open door in a situation for quite a while now. It's one that will literally change our lives. We know the promises of God and we know the plans of God according to His word, but many times when we look at the actual facts around us, sometimes we do feel a bit of despair.
We felt that way yesterday. We felt as though we didn't have any hope. We felt as though we've been waiting so long that it probably will not happen. But I am thankful to God for His word and His promises.
As I spent some time in the word this morning, He spoke so clearly to my heart. He showed me Abraham, who had a promise that seemed like it wouldn't come to pass. He showed me that Abraham's hope was not in the promise but in the One who made the promise.
Verse 16 of this Romans chapter 4 tells us that we, as children of faith, are guaranteed the promise. What is that promise? It's the promise first of salvation and all that it encompasses. The promise of healing, the promise of deliverance, the promise of prosperity, the promise of dreams fulfilled, the promise of receiving the desires of our heart. The word says this promise was not just to Abraham but also to his offspring. We are Abraham's offspring. He is our father.
My heart is so charged up from the reminders in God's word that I don't even remember how it felt before.
Friends do you see the importance and the necessity of a regular dose of the Word of God? No wonder it says that we should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
As if that wasn't enough to let me know that I too am an heir of the promise, the Holy Spirit went on to show me that even though Abraham faced the facts that were before him, he did not let them deter him from the promise God had made to him. If he didn't why should I, why should you?
He looked at the fact that yes, his body was as good as dead, for after all he was almost a hundred years old. He looked at the fact that Sarah's womb was also dead for she was pretty old at that time too. But who today know that facts have nothing to do with the promises of God? God is the One who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. (Vs 17)
The Word says, despite all the facts before him Abraham knew that God had the power to do what He had promised.
O thank you Jesus! Lord thank you today that I can hope against all hope. Lord thank you today that my hope that is in You is hope that is not ashamed.
I think you can tell by now how excited I am at the possibilities presented in the Word of God.
It doesn't matter what your circumstances say today.
It doesn't matter how long you or your spouse may have been unemployed.
It doesn't matter how long you or your loved one may have been facing illness.
It doesn't matter how long your marriage might have been on the rocks.
It doesn't matter how long it looked as though your home was going into foreclosure.
It doesn't matter how long you have been waiting for finances or resources for that small business you dream of.
It doesn't matter how long your children have been outside of the will of God.
It doesn't matter how long that friendship has been broken.
It doesn't matter how long you have been waiting for answer to that prayer.
Friends, lets plant this truth deep deep deep in our hearts from this moment onward and don't let go of it. Let's BE FULLY PERSUADED THAT, GOD HAS THE POWER TO DO WHAT HE PROMISED.
Don't let go of the truths in God's word. God is not man. He does not lie. It's not His nature. He will do what He said He will do.
The promise came by faith. Have faith not in what you see but in what God sees. He sees all good and perfect things for us.
I encourage you to look to the Word. If you feel as though you are getting nothing from the Word, ask the Holy Spirit to show you. Let Him lead you and show you the wondrous things God has promised you and I.
Father, thank you today that we have faith in Jesus. Thank You for a complete work that was done at Calvary allowing us to rest in that finished word. God you are well able to do all that You have promised. Our job is to trust in You. We rest in the truths of Your Word this day, knowing that when we don't waver in our faith, we will see Your Mighty Hand at work in our lives. We receive by faith right now all the inheritance that is ours. In Jesus name. Amen
Blessings,
Vickie
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be." Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah's womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why it was credited to him as righteousness. The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:18-25
I know I may have said it here a few times already but I have to say it again. I absolutely love the Word of God. I love the hope, the promise, the uplifting, the refreshing and all that you find there, when you can find it no where else. As a family we have been trusting God for an open door in a situation for quite a while now. It's one that will literally change our lives. We know the promises of God and we know the plans of God according to His word, but many times when we look at the actual facts around us, sometimes we do feel a bit of despair.
We felt that way yesterday. We felt as though we didn't have any hope. We felt as though we've been waiting so long that it probably will not happen. But I am thankful to God for His word and His promises.
As I spent some time in the word this morning, He spoke so clearly to my heart. He showed me Abraham, who had a promise that seemed like it wouldn't come to pass. He showed me that Abraham's hope was not in the promise but in the One who made the promise.
Verse 16 of this Romans chapter 4 tells us that we, as children of faith, are guaranteed the promise. What is that promise? It's the promise first of salvation and all that it encompasses. The promise of healing, the promise of deliverance, the promise of prosperity, the promise of dreams fulfilled, the promise of receiving the desires of our heart. The word says this promise was not just to Abraham but also to his offspring. We are Abraham's offspring. He is our father.
My heart is so charged up from the reminders in God's word that I don't even remember how it felt before.
Friends do you see the importance and the necessity of a regular dose of the Word of God? No wonder it says that we should not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
As if that wasn't enough to let me know that I too am an heir of the promise, the Holy Spirit went on to show me that even though Abraham faced the facts that were before him, he did not let them deter him from the promise God had made to him. If he didn't why should I, why should you?
He looked at the fact that yes, his body was as good as dead, for after all he was almost a hundred years old. He looked at the fact that Sarah's womb was also dead for she was pretty old at that time too. But who today know that facts have nothing to do with the promises of God? God is the One who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. (Vs 17)
The Word says, despite all the facts before him Abraham knew that God had the power to do what He had promised.
O thank you Jesus! Lord thank you today that I can hope against all hope. Lord thank you today that my hope that is in You is hope that is not ashamed.
I think you can tell by now how excited I am at the possibilities presented in the Word of God.
It doesn't matter what your circumstances say today.
It doesn't matter how long you or your spouse may have been unemployed.
It doesn't matter how long you or your loved one may have been facing illness.
It doesn't matter how long your marriage might have been on the rocks.
It doesn't matter how long it looked as though your home was going into foreclosure.
It doesn't matter how long you have been waiting for finances or resources for that small business you dream of.
It doesn't matter how long your children have been outside of the will of God.
It doesn't matter how long that friendship has been broken.
It doesn't matter how long you have been waiting for answer to that prayer.
Friends, lets plant this truth deep deep deep in our hearts from this moment onward and don't let go of it. Let's BE FULLY PERSUADED THAT, GOD HAS THE POWER TO DO WHAT HE PROMISED.
Don't let go of the truths in God's word. God is not man. He does not lie. It's not His nature. He will do what He said He will do.
The promise came by faith. Have faith not in what you see but in what God sees. He sees all good and perfect things for us.
I encourage you to look to the Word. If you feel as though you are getting nothing from the Word, ask the Holy Spirit to show you. Let Him lead you and show you the wondrous things God has promised you and I.
Father, thank you today that we have faith in Jesus. Thank You for a complete work that was done at Calvary allowing us to rest in that finished word. God you are well able to do all that You have promised. Our job is to trust in You. We rest in the truths of Your Word this day, knowing that when we don't waver in our faith, we will see Your Mighty Hand at work in our lives. We receive by faith right now all the inheritance that is ours. In Jesus name. Amen
Blessings,
Vickie
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