The Bible is such a place of revelation, light, hope and salvation. It helps us return our gaze from fear to faith. Especially now in such uncertain times we need an anchor for our souls and the sacred text is just that.
I’ve learned many things in 2020, but one of THE most important lessons I learned was to return wholeheartedly to the Lord my God and take shelter in His Word.
I’ve learned that when I don’t focus my whole heart on God -idols form. The Word of God will keep our hearts from wandering away after such idols. This process doesn’t take long either. And the distractions come in many forms. Ministry itself beame a distraction and idol for me.. what is yours?
Maybe it’s your job, your children, or a hobby. You name that thing and it becomes an idol when you turn your whole heart and focus to it.
For some this year it was sports and entertainment. These idols were stripped away very quickly this year and we were able to see more clearly just how wrapped up we all had become in something other than the Lord our God.
God knows our frame, and He knows just how quickly our hearts will wander from loving him. This is why he gave the Jewish people this command.
“Hear oh Israel the Lord your God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength.”
To the Jew, this passage of scripture from Deuteronomy is known as the Shema; it is recited every morning and evening, and is also the last words on their lips before they die.
Why you may ask? Because God knows the heart of mankind and the tendency for our hearts to wander, so He gave us this command to keep us safe. God never gave his Word or the commands of his Word to punish us or control us. He gave it to us so that we would be positioned safely close to him.
Fear has gripped the hearts of many, these last eight months, even the most faith filled people.
It’s so easy to make the Headlines from the news our focus and source of truth, when God wants us anchored in Him and the promises of His Word. He always has the answers to our questions; and THE GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ is found woven all throughout scripture.
We cannot afford to place our trust and confidence in CNN, FOX NEWS or in any other news media outlet. The greatest source of truth is the Word of God. It doesn’t mean we don’t educate ourselves, or that we stick our heads in the sand; but it does mean that God‘s Word should be our go to-not our last resort.
The Scriptures remind us that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except through him. His Word is pure and undefiled and has no man made agenda or propaganda. It can be trusted and relied upon always, but especially in times of uncertainty and unrest.
The Lord gives us the promise that he will never leave us or forsake us. His Word gives us confidence of his sovereignty, his wisdom, peace and grest love for us. God’s Word assures us that he will give us justice, and protection from all forms of evil and deception.
Deception never looks or feels like deception and that’s why it’s able to succeed. But when we stay connected to God through His Word, our paths are clearly lit-knowing which way we should go.
2020 did not take God by surprise-and unlike many of us, God is not on His throne wringing his hands in fear or wondering what is coming next. His Word is forever settled in heaven and He will never be shaken; and neither will we, as we place our trust in Him.
In the days ahead we will need the promises of scripture like than before.
The Word of God reminds us that “the earth is the Lord’s, the fullness thereof, the world and the people in it“ ...so there is always hope!
Father God gave us a beautiful and magnificent world to occupy, and He sent His only begotten Son to redeem it, so He is not finished with us yet.
In this time of divine reset and restoration, let us return our eyes and focus to the Lord. Let us do this in part by returning to His Word.
“Thy Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Take refuge dear ones in the sacred text.
Psalms 121:2-8 “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.”
Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalm 91:2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”
Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
Psalm 9:9 The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.
2 Samuel 22:3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence.
Psalm 61:3 For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy.
Psalm 119:14 You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.
Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble,
And He knows those who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Psalm 118:8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
Psalm 16:1 Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
Psalm 37:40 The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
Because they take refuge in Him.
GOD IS OUR SALVATION SCRIPTURES
Psalm 27:1 A Psalm of David.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?
Psalm 25:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.
Psalm 27:9 Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help;
Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation!
Psalm 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
Micah 7:7 But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.
Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”
Psalm 118:14 The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.
Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
SCRIPTURES OF HOPE
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 5:1 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.
Psalm 39:7 And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
Psalm 71:5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Mark 9:23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 146:5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Hebrews 12:2 We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!
Proverbs 23:18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Stay in the Holy Scriptures my friends and stay sheltered in hope.
Shalom-
Dana