February 28th, 2014

February 27th, 2014

“therefore i live for today-

certain of finding at sunrise

guidance and strength for the way.

power for each moment of weakness,

hope for each moment of pain,

comfort for every sorrow,

sunshine and joy after rain!” 

― Billy Graham, Hope for Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith

February 26th, 2014

February 25th, 2014

February 23rd

February 22nd

He has promised not to turn you away. “Whoever 

comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). By this 

act of faith God will unite you to Jesus. You will be “in 

him,” and in him you will be now and forever loved, 

forgiven, and righteous. The light will rise in your dark­

ness in due time. God will hold onto you (Jude 24). You 

will make it. That is his promise: “Those whom he 

called he also justified, and those whom he justified he 

also glorified” (Rom. 8:30). The glory is coming. 

In the meantime, “this slight momentary affliction is 

prepar­ing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all 

com­parison, as we look not to the things that are seen but 

to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen 

are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 

(2 Cor. 4:17-18). 

-John Piper

February 21st

It will be of great advantage to the struggling Christian to remember that seasons of darkness are normal in the Christian life. I don’t mean that we should not try to live above them. I mean that if we do not succeed, we are not lost, and we are not alone, as the fragment of our faith cleaves to Christ. Consider the experience of David in Psalm 40:1-3. "I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD."

-John Piper

February 20th

O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You;

    my soul thirsts for You;

my flesh faints for You,

    as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 

 So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary,

    beholding Your power and glory. 

 Because Your steadfast love is better than life,

    my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live;

    in Your name I will lift up my hands.

 

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

    and my mouth will praise You with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed,

    and meditate on you in the watches of the night;for You have been my help,

    and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy. 

 My soul clings to You;

    Your right hand upholds me.

-Psalm 63 

February 19th

Changeful experience often leads the anxious believer to inquire "Why is it thus with me?" I looked for light, but lo, darkness came; for peace, but behold, trouble. I said in my heart, my mountain standeth firm; I shall never be moved. Lord, thou dost hide thy face, and I am troubled. It was but yesterday that I could read my title clear; today my evidences are bedimmed, and my hopes are clouded. Yesterday, I could climb to Pisgah's top, and view the landscape o'er, and rejoice with confidence in my future inheritance; today, my spirit has no hopes, but many fears; no joys, but much distress. Is this part of God's plan with me? Can this be the way in which God would bring me to heaven? Yes, it is even so. The eclipse of your faith, the darkness of your mind, the fainting of your hope, all these things are but parts of God's method of making you ripe for the great inheritance upon which you shall soon enter. These trials are for the testing and strengthening of your faith--they are waves that wash you further upon the rock--they are winds which waft your ship the more swiftly towards the desired haven. According to David's words, so it might be said of you, "So he bringeth them to their desired haven." By honour and dishonour, by evil report and by good report, by plenty and by poverty, by joy and by distress, by persecution and by peace, by all these things is the life of your souls maintained, and by each of these are you helped on your way. Oh, think not, believer, that your sorrows are out of God's plan; they are necessary parts of it. "We must, through much tribulation, enter the kingdom." Learn, then, even to "count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations."

"O let my trembling soul be still,

And wait thy wise, thy holy will!

I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see,

Yet all is well since ruled by thee."
-Charles Spurgeon

February 18th

Here's the song from yesterday's post

February 17th

"Lord I Need You"

Lord, I come, I confess

Bowing here I find my rest

Without You I fall apart

You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You

Every hour I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more

Where grace is found is where You are

And where You are, Lord, I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You

Every hour I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

Teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus, You're my hope and stay

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You

Every hour I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

You're my one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

-Matt Maher

February 16th

As God's beloved children, we are called to faith, not fear. Faith says, "God is in charge of my life; I will trust Him, even when circumstances might suggest He's not there. I believe God loves me and knows what is best for me." Faith always crowds out fear.

My heart longs to live in faith; however, at times this is difficult. But here's the key: "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).

If I haven't made time to hear from God through His Word, I find my prayers being more of a monologue of fear-based worry.

But when I make time to listen to God, I'm reminded of His promises and I become familiar with His voice. As a result, my prayers really do change from panic to praise. In bed at night, a dialogue evolves (no longer a monologue). When I turn to God with my concerns, I can hear His response. As John 10:27a tells us, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them ..." (ESV).

God's Word reminds us to put the kingdom of God first and the things we need will be ours (Matthew 6:33, ESV). In other words, when I devote myself to God first, all the rest will sort itself out, and this brings peace.

What is most pressing in your life right now? Whatever that is, put God's Word there instead. Replace worry with the truth of God's love and power. Then we can trust that God will do as He says: "keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed" on Him (Isaiah 26:3a, ESV).

As I think about God's promises, panic turns to praise, praise turns to peace and peace turns to sleep. I begin to understand what Paul meant when he said, "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand" (Philippians 4:7a, NLT).

It is possible to experience God's peace. When we learn to cast our cares on God and trust Him to handle them, faith replaces fear. Worry sees problems, but faith sees the God who can handle the problems.

God's Word changes how we cast our cares. When we choose to cast them onto Him instead of into the air, we'll find comfort in His promises. 

-Nancy McGuirk

February 15th

February 14th

“What will ye that I shall do unto you?”

 “…ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2

“…because of his importunity he will rise and give him

 as many as he needeth” Luke 11:8

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we

 ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” 1 John 5:14

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what

 ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7

“And Jesus said unto them…If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed,

ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall

 remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20

“…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth

 much.” James 5:16

^“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too

hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

“I will not leave you comfortless…”John 14:18

“And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye

 that I shall do unto you?” Matthew 20:32

(compiled by Sam Ludvicek)

February 13th

February 12th

Whatever your especial need may be, you may readily find some promise in the Bible suited to it. Are you faint and feeble because your way is rough and you are weary? Here is the promise--"He giveth power to the faint." When you read such a promise, take it back to the great Promiser, and ask him to fulfil his own word. Are you seeking after Christ, and thirsting for closer communion with him? This promise shines like a star upon you--"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Take that promise to the throne continually; do not plead anything else, but go to God over and over again with this--"Lord, thou hast said it, do as thou hast said."
-Charles Spurgeon

February 11th

“When the night shadows are falling, when the night hawk is descending, when food is needed by you in your hunger,

or when my love yearns for a closer embrace,

you shall find a safe and delightful shelter under the shadow of My wings.” (A.T Pierson)

"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust." (Psalm 91:4)

February 10th

February 9th

February 8th

February 7th

My song is love unknown,

My Saviour’s love to me;

Love to the loveless shown,

That they might lovely be.

O who am I, that for my sake

My Lord should take frail flesh and die?

He came from His blest throne

Salvation to bestow;

But men made strange, and none

The longed-for Christ would know:

But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,

Who at my need His life did spend.

 Sometimes they strew His way,

And His sweet praises sing;

Resounding all the day

Hosannas to their King:

Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,

And for His death they thirst and cry.

Why, what hath my Lord done?

What makes this rage and spite?

He made the lame to run,

He gave the blind their sight,

Sweet injuries! Yet they at these

Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.

They rise and needs will have

My dear Lord made away;

A murderer they save,

The Prince of life they slay,

Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,

That He His foes from thence might free.

Here might I stay and sing,

No story so divine;

Never was love, dear King!

Never was grief like Thine.

This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise

I all my days could gladly spend

February 6th

February 5th

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” ~James 1:12

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” ~ 1 Peter 5:6-8

February 4th

God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved... Psalm 46:5 (Amplified Bible)

February 3rd

February 2nd

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6 & 7 Amplified Bible

February 1st

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

by William Cowper

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs

And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break

In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

But trust Him for His grace;

Behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,

Unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste,

But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err

And scan His work in vain;

God is His own interpreter,

And He will make it plain.