Never Moved
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress. I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:2 NIV
He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. Psalm 62:2 NKJV
Author: Lori Casto
Planted
Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
Psalm 1:1-3
This is the Day
This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
Rejoice and Be Glad
My prayer for you? May you praise and worship so much today that joy oozes out of every cell of your body.
This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
Today we have a choice to rejoice and be glad. We can achieve that goal by continuing to praise the Lord. The praise comes from our mouth. We need to speak it. We can add to our praise by getting our body involved. I personally love lifting my hands while I praise. We can even add a melody while we praise. It’s amazing that what begins with praise, ends with worship.
Great is Your Faithfulness
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
God’s Example
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:20-21
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not parish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
- Compassion– A deep awareness of another’s suffering coupled with a deep desire to alleviate it.
- Mercy– forgiveness or leniency when it’s within your power to punish
- Grace– unmerited favor, love and kindness of God toward us
- Faithfulness– unwavering loyalty, reliability, and trustworthiness
- Love– selfless, unconditional, sacrificial
We don’t deserve it. We don’t deserve the love of Christ that caused His sacrifice at Calvary. We don’t deserve His mercy that’s new every single day. He’s loyal, kind, and faithful. He shows us compassion. He is here to help us through anything that may come our way. We don’t deserve any of it, yet He gives it freely.
How blessed am I? How blessed are we? I’m so thankful for His mercy and compassion aren’t you?
But wait. Aren’t we endeavoring to be more like Jesus every day? What moves us to compassion? Who should we show mercy to? Are we as kind as we should be? Are we loyal? Are we patient?
Maybe today is the day I show more patience, kindness, and love. Maybe today I exercise mercy at a deeper level.
Dear heavenly Father:
Please help me to remember every single day your love toward me and everything that comes with that love. Help me to exercise your attributes at a deeper level every single day.
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” – Ephesians 5:1-2
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 2:5
It Was Good
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. Genesis 1:31
Recently we celebrated my grandson’s first birthday. People were talking, laughing, and having a good time. My daughter-in-law’s family and some of their friends along with my family, and my ex-husband’s family, all gathered as one big family to celebrate the first birthday of the cutest kid any Nonna could ask for.
After experiencing so much loss over the past several years, it’s natural to wonder who will spend time around the table. Today we had 8 tables- 8 picnic tables full of people. It was a joy to look around our new pavilion and see so many happy faces. My husband and I had dreamed about having a pavilion built ever since we dug a hole in making our lake. This fall, with the help of a friend, our dream became reality.
As I was looking around the new pavilion and all the people enjoying themselves, I was reminded of God’s creation of the world and the words in Genesis 1… “And indeed, it was very good.” Can you imagine how God must have felt after everything He had set out to create was finally accomplished? He looked around and saw it was good. That struck me in such a powerful way. While He rested, He looked around and saw that the lakes, oceans, and rivers were good. The mountains, valleys, and meadows were all good. The wide variety of fish, birds, and other animals were all good. The sunset and sunrise were beautiful and good. When His work was completed and He took time to rest, He rested well knowing what He created was all good.
I went back to the house after the party and everyone had gone home, and I glanced out at the fire pit by the new pavilion. I noticed my husband sitting there taking in the peace, calm, and quiet. I could tell he was thinking… “It’s all good.”
In the stillness of the moment, The Holy Spirit gently hushed my mind. I hadn’t felt the hush in a while. He reminded me that sometimes I just need to stay still. I don’t need a plan, a goal, or a calendar. I don’t need to figure anything out. He has no requirement from me other than for me to be still. He simply wants me to sit still, look around, and see that it’s all good. That’s when His peace overwhelmed me.
Dear Heavenly Father,
It’s not easy for me to be still. The stillness, however, causes me to feel quiet peace from your Holy Spirit I’ve been craving. I will do my best to stay still. Work however you want in my stillness. May you be exalted as I sit still.
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10
Miracles
I’ve had this song by Elevation Worship on repeat in my car, home, and brain. (Million Little Miracles) It sums up how I feel. I’m so grateful for God’s goodness. My life is one great big compilation of the grace of God. Things in my life can’t be considered coincidental or lucky. I’ve witnessed so many miracles as well as lavished blessings.
He’s worked in my life even when I get in the way. I don’t ever want to get comfortable or complacent. Jesus certainly wasn’t feeling comfortable on His way to the cross.
How has God worked in your life?
What miracles have you seen along the way?
What are you grateful for?
Start counting the miracles He’s performed in your life. I bet you can’t count them all!
All my life I’ve been carried by grace
Don’t ask me how ’cause I can’t explain
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here
I’ve got some blessings that I don’t deserve
I’ve got some scars but that’s how you learn
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here
I think it over and it doesn’t add up
I know it comes from above
I’ve got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Yeah, miracles on miracles
Count your miracles, 1-2-3-4 I
Can’t even count ’em all
You held me steady so I wouldn’t give up
You opened doors that nobody could shut
I hope I never get over what You’ve done
I wanna live with an open heart
I wanna live like I know who You are
I hope I never get over what You’ve done
It’s not coincidence and it’s not luck
I know it comes from above
I’ve got miracles on miracles
A million little miracles
Miracles on miracles
Count your miracles, 1-2-3-4 I
Can’t even count ’em all
Equipped
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Your Will/ God’s Will
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28: 18-20
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
How has The Holy Spirit prompted you to serve Him?
Is He calling you to more?
What does “blind faith” and doing God’s will look like in your life?
What does “get out of your comfort zone” mean?
What does “taking a step of faith” require?
What is an example in your life where you chose to take the easy way out?
Would God have wanted more?
To what lengths are you willing to go to serve God?
The Belt of Truth
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist Ephesians 6:14a
“You can’t handle the truth.” If you’ve seen A FEW GOOD MEN, you know that line well. It was made famous by Jack Nicholson. However, in Ephesians 6, Paul said to “buckle truth around your waist.” In Philippians He says to only think about things that we know are true.
In this world of AI, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to determine what is true and what is false. Even in our daily lives, there can be so much concern about optics, that false reality is easily created. What we perceive may not be true. With so much misinformation all around us, where can we get to the truth?
In John 14, Jesus says He is the truth. In the very same sentence, He calls Himself the Way and the Life. So, when Paul is telling us to stand firm with the belt of truth around our waste, we can be rest assured that Jesus is our belt. The wonderful thing about confessing Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have access to His Holy Spirit and His blood. That’s a lot of power to have buckled around our waist.
If we surrender to Jesus, we can experience truth because He is the definition of truth. When we experience truth, we experience freedom.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist Ephesians 6:14a
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. John 17:17
The Shield
Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Ephesians 6:16
Faith- The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Trust, Belief, Confidence, Conviction Complete trust or confidence in someone or something Merriam-Webster
Quench– extinguish, put out, smother
No ‘maybes’ about it. No “Ifs, ands, or buts.” The enemy is always watching and waiting. He’d like to take us out with one of many “fiery darts.” (because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.1 Peter 5:8)
The devil doesn’t limit his attacks on just you. He will attack your family and friends. (whom He may devour)
To make matters worse, he will try to attack in the areas where you struggle the most trusting God. He won’t attack just once. He will attack repeatedly. That’s why we need to be prepared. We can prepare. We should prepare. The enemy has been described as serpent, tempter, schemer, adversary, father of lies, evil one, and real.
However, He also is destined to be defeated, and he is under our feet if we put him there.
Jesus conquered sin, death, and hell and gave us equipment to be more than conquerors. (His word, blood, and the Holy Spirit) Through the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6, He gave us full instructions on how to survive attacks of the enemy. “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.” I would rather be victorious than defeated, wouldn’t you?
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Ephesians 6:10-18