Prayer – Lord, I am sitting quietly—being still—and knowing
that You are God. Powerful. Almighty. Providing a safe place and strength for me,
my family, friends and neighbor—all the time. You are awesome.
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help
in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the
mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains
tremble as the waters surge! A river brings joy to the city of our God, the
sacred home of the Most High. God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
From the very break of day, God will protect it. The nations are in chaos, and
their kingdoms crumble! God's voice thunders, and the earth melts! The LORD of
Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Come, see
the glorious works of the LORD: See how he brings destruction upon the world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the
spear; he burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the
world." The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is
our fortress. Psalm 46:1-11 
Pacific Ocean - Oregon Coast
Oceans roar and foam.
Meditate. Can you “be still” before the Lord God?
Read through this Psalm three times…it is short, so it won’t take long. What verse stuck out to you…spoke to you the most?
The verse…Be still, and know that I am God! is a favorite
of my sweet 96-year-old Auntie Mercedes. She has been through some turbulent
times and this scripture has given her comfort and strength, helping her to
focus on who is really caring for her. Following her example, I’ve relied on
this same passage during the recent anxiety times we’ve all felt. God is good—He
doesn’t change or give up on us. I’m glad that He provides a safe place…a
refuge…and strength. I know I have certainly needed an extra dose of that in
the last couple of years.
There is always an element of joy with the Lord. Consider a couple of scripture (underlined for emphasis) concerning Jesus and joy.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Hebrews 12:1-2
At that same
time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said,
"O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things
from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the
childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.” Luke 10:21
Even in times of turmoil, stress, and abandonment, Jesus
focused on the joy that He received from the Father. Likewise, we can find joy…especially
in the morning.
Teach us to
realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. O LORD, come back
to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each
morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of
our lives. Psalm 90:12-14
Life is short. Seek Jesus in your life…on a daily basis, moment by moment…and find the joy that surrounds life with Him.
Verses of Salvation ~ In that day you will sing: "I
will praise you, O LORD! You were angry with me, but not any more. Now you
comfort me. See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be
afraid. The LORD GOD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory."
With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation! Isaiah
12:1-3
Memory Verse of the Week ~ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16
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