But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; Psalm 46:10a
Sometimes when my husband and I are taking a ride in the woods around our house, we turn off the ranger and sit still. We don’t speak or move. We just listen. We’ll often hear birds chirping, leaves rustling in the wind, an occasional squirrel running, or even the movement of trees. It’s very peaceful and calming.
The only way we can enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature is to turn off all the other noise. The sounds are always there; we just need to make the effort to listen closely so we can hear them.
I think it’s the same with our Heavenly Father. He wants our attention, but we have so many “noises” in our lives that it makes it hard to hear or listen. God’s word says that He gives “peace that passes understanding.” We can’t feel peace if we don’t stop for a moment, turn off the noise, and listen closely.
Jesus wants us to come to Him to receive rest. We can’t experience rest if we aren’t willing to shut the noise off, sit for a moment, and listen.
God is here for you. He wants to give you rest, peace & comfort. He wants to give you whatever it is you need. He wants to be your supply. We must be willing to turn the noise off to listen to the one who has been here all the time.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; Psalm 46:10a
How will you devote2day?
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23
“He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it.” Phil 1:6
What did God begin in you? Was it healing? Was it hope? Was it a dream? Was it His will in your life? Whatever God began in you, He will complete. His word is true!
I pray you are reminded of God’s faithfulness today. Remember- what He started in you, He will finish.
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
Sunday, June 15th
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me, (leaned)
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.
Psalm 40:1-3
He didn’t want to forget:
And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14: 28-32
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.” 1 Samual 17: 45-47
So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Mark 11:22-24
The picture dad never wanted deleted was of an amputated toe area. What’s your picture look like?
What does God want to bring you from?
Where has God brought you from?
What did God teach you while he brought you?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Notes
1. Prayer & Fasting Make a Difference
While they were worshiping the Lord & fasting, The Holy Spirit said: Set apart for me Barnabas & Saul for the work to which I have called them. Acts 13:2
2. Sometimes Serving Means Sacrifice
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. Romans 12:1
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up His cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23
3. God Provides Every Need (and More)
And my God will supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, Ephesians 3:20
4. Don’t Let People Talk You out of what God Can Do
…and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able to also perform it. Romans 4:21
5. Never Forget What God Brought You Out of
I Waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my steps. Psalm 40:1-2
If anyone lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you.
“Don’t delete it.”
My dad would say those words when I scrolled through the pictures on his iPad. His iPad contained lighthearted pictures of his grandkids, and maybe the occasional picture of my mom, sisters and me. It contained funny videos he would take recording the moments he beat his grands in a game of monopoly. Those words weren’t said as I scrolled through the fun pictures. Those words were said when I came to a picture that always caught me off guard no matter how many times I saw it. It was the horrific picture of his amputated toes. Every time I saw it, I threatened to delete it, to which he would respond, “don’t delete it.”
One day I finally got tired of seeing this horrible sight amid all the funny pictures and videos he had, and I was getting ready to delete it, when He got very firm with me… “Don’t delete it.” I knew at that moment according to his tone I would never bring up the subject again. Before I let it go, I asked him why he was so insistent on keeping the horrific picture.
His response? “I never want to forget where God brought me from.” Wow! His response was powerful. I will never forget it. I never thought about deleting that picture again.
What was it dad never wanted to forget? Was it the many times he was told by doctors he needed to have his leg amputated to the knee?
Was it the doctor who was ready to amputate to the knee who said he would be in a wheelchair the rest of his life?
Was it the surgery he was entering to have his leg amputated when they literally saw blood in his toe area which caused doctors to cancel the amputation surgery and instead send him home to heal? A miracle took place in seconds.
Maybe he didn’t want to forget the more than 6 months of setbacks which could cause anyone’s faith to waiver until finally seeing complete manifestation of the healing He received the day they sent him home?
Maybe he didn’t want to forget how it took 2 years of everything from hyperbaric chamber, skin grafts, surgeries, toe amputations, being told leg amputation was imminent, to a finality that he not only didn’t need his leg amputated, but he was able to walk with no help for the rest of his life.
God performed miracle after miracle so that dad could walk for his final years of life. I will never forget the huge miracle moment when the doctors saw blood instead of performing a leg amputation. I will never forget all the other miracles before and after that led to my dad walking without assistance for the rest of his life.
Thank you, dad, for not allowing me to delete the picture.
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3