“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
With all the turmoil going on in this world, we can be tempted to think (by the “liar” John 8:44b) that the Lord God Almighty certainly doesn’t have time to concern Himself with the small details of our lives or the confusing thoughts we struggle with. But here is truth: He loves you and has told you to seek Him and that He will be found. As a believer, He lives within you and is always “here”. He is not far away or disinterested in what concerns you. He is here, full of love. And perhaps you need to hear this encouragement from His heart (receive this if it resonates with you):
I am proud of you. You have done hard things, and I am rewarding that obedience. I am a rewarder of those who seek Me. Oh, the things we can do. Don’t look ahead to other things. You have ideas and then run past them for other ideas. Let’s do the things. Be faithful where you are. Do the necessary WORK so that this future obedience too can be rewarded and used. Do the next right thing.
Let me share some thoughts that may encourage you with your “next thing”. It always feels momentous when I end a journal and start another; it’s like another fresh start and a blank canvas. The following was written as I came to the end of a journal last May and asked the Lord: “Is there a way that I need to wrap up this journal? A statement of belief?” Below is what came from my heart and off my pen that day. It has been good to be reminded of and to proclaim (and challenge myself with) often. Perhaps it will be useful to you as well and a great reminder of important points to be thankful for this week.
Lord,
I believe that You ARE and that You are a rewarder of those who seek You (Hebrews 11:6). I believe that You work in and through me and, therefore, call me to an obedience that produces the work that You want to do through my life (Phil. 2:13). I believe that You can. You ARE able (Eph. 3:20)! I believe that You will. I trust You (Isaiah 26:3, 4).
I TRUST You.
I will guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells within me, the treasure (good deposit) which has been entrusted to me (2 Tim. 1:14). I will press on and not hold back. I will not listen to and entertain the “who do you think you are?” or “what do you think you can do (accomplish)?” taunts*. I will listen to my Father who loves me and created and called me and blessed me to be a blessing (Gen. 12:2). I will not bury the treasure. I will use it and multiply it and expect to receive more to USE – to be a blessing (Matt. 25:18-23). I will speak (1 Peter 4:11) as one speaking the utterances of God, the One who is faithful and true (Rev. 19:11). I will say “yes” and DO the hard work. I will do hard things. I will plan and discipline myself accordingly. I will study to show myself approved – a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). I will be diligent (to exert myself, endeavor, give diligence, to make every effort, to do one’s best1).
(1greek def. of the word “diligent”)
To TRULY believe any one of these truths (which means acting upon it) is actually quite challenging. They are all quite profound in that way. What in my daily life (or even in my thought life) changes if I believe and live this truth out? I can ask myself this question about each and every one of these statements. Perhaps you’ll find the Lord directing you to as well.
Take the time to thank Him for the powerful truth of His Word (and commit yourself to it – to know it). Thank Him for how He reveals, through His Word, both Himself and how we can live a victorious, abundant life that fully pleases Him.
“The Lord is good, and His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (too many verse references throughout scripture to pick just one, but Psalm 136 may be a great Psalm to meditate on this week)
“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.” Psalm 63:3-5
Ok, I need to wrap this up, but those words from that Psalm came to mind, and I just can’t leave it there without directing your attention to the first two verses of this Psalm. Go to Psalm 63 and check out what the psalmist has “seen” in verse 2. Then note that the verse begins with “Thus” (NASB version). Look to see what verse 2 is a result of from verse 1.
Friends, we really are in a good, good place, that then leads to verse 2 if we will let it and then verses 3-5: satisfaction and praise and joyful lips. (We’ll have to talk about this someday here!)
But next week I want to talk about those “taunts”*.
