Tag Archive | comfort

A Mourning Heart Comforted

May28

He (Jesus) opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:2, 4 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.5.2-4.NASB1995

‭He gives rain on the earth And sends water on the fields, So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
Job 5:10-11 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/job.5.10-11.NASB1995

What is it that a Christian mourns?

Could it be regret for the lifestyle lived before salvation?
Could it be the times of sin now that disappoint our Father for which we seek forgiveness?
Could it be the lost that surround us today?
Could it be tribulation or persecution?
Could it be for our Savior who we long to see face to face?

‭Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
James 4:8-10 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jas.4.8-10.NASB1995

Christian, take your repentant mourning heart to Jesus so He may comfort you.

‭‭These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.16.33.NASB1995

🌹for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”
Revelation 7:17 NASB1995‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/rev.7.17.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Decisions

May19

Warning: this is a long one.

Testimony:
I know you have been there, where you are faced with a circumstance you don’t know how to handle. In your carnal (fleshly) mind you think of a quick, rash decision. But . . . God.

Recently I was faced with a circumstance that made me angry. It brought me to tears. I cried out to the Lord for help. The next few events happened without my really being aware until I looked back over my day and saw the trail of guidance my Lord left for me.

I received a phone call asking for assistance if I could. I did. This godly, prayer warrior woman, without her even knowing, revealed that I needed to persevere. I needed to continue to pray, pray, pray. I needed to trust the Lord.

Before and after this encounter I had received a few texts from another friend regarding scripture references from a Bible Study she attended. It is here where God moved in a miraculous way and I can admit I am so glad that I am human and in the hands of my Lord.

I was given Psalm 53:7-12
This is not what I looked up and read, but this is:

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:7‭-‬12 NASB

Not Psalm but Isaiah. My Lord Jesus faced life oppressed and afflicted and didn’t open His mouth. He had a mission to fulfill no matter the cost. Who am I to expect a perfect life when the perfect One suffered?

Oops, or was it really? It wasn’t Psalm 53, but 52:7-12 and again I was looking in Isaiah.

How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, They shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes When the Lord restores Zion. Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God. Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the Lord. But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives; For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 52:7‭-‬12 NASB

God has made a way! He reigns! He will comfort! I am redeemed! Salvation is mine! Victory is coming!!

Again, another change. God at work. Psalm 51:10-12 but I read, again, Isaiah.

Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over? So the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass, That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?
Isaiah 51:10‭-‬13 NASB

Praise God, I have something to look forward to, hope. My God is mightier than any circumstance so I will persevere until His return or He takes me home.

God’s word is so amazing and I would not want to neglect the Psalms that were sent to me. God is an amazing, wonderful, loving, caring God who is always a prayer away.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Psalms 51:10‭-‬12 NASB

🌹“Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire.” But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones. Psalms 52:7‭-‬9 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Giving Thanks

Dec15

Then you will say on that day, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord; For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me.
Isaiah 12:1

O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. For Your anger is but for a moment, Your favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. I thank You, Lord God for Your forgiveness and faithfulness. Thank You for the undeserved favor You bestow on me. Thank You for Your promises. I will give thanks to You, O Lord! Amen.
Isaiah 25:1/Psalms 30:5 NASB


🌹For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says the Lord who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Philippians 2:25-28

Jun20

But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you.
Philippians 2:25‭-‬28 NASB

God, You are awesome!! Not only do I have 24 hour access to You but I have brothers and sisters in Christ who also have that same access. Anytime night or day we can come to you and convey our burdens, struggles, fears, needs, joys, praise not only for ourselves but on behalf of others.
God I pray to have a deep concern for Your church and for those who are led into sin, to keep them in my prayers.
What a true gift was given us of the Holy Spirit who also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Blessed are You, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by You. Praise to You for the fulltime access we have available through prayer on behalf of others. In Jesus name, amen.
Romans 8:26‭-‬27/2 Corinthians 11:28‭-‬29/2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NASB

🌹Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you;
1 Samuel 12:23a NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

God of Comfort

Apr30

But God, who comforts the depressed (humble), comforted us by the coming of Titus; and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more.
2 Corinthians 7:6‭-‬7 NASB

What a beautiful picture of our God. The Father of mercies and God of all comfort. He comforts each of us through His own beloved people. The church, God’s people, being the hands of comfort during trials, struggles, uncertainties, fear, etc. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit we are comforted and in turn comfort others. Aren’t you amazed when a brother or sister comes to comfort you and you find they have gone through a similar thing as you and share how God got them through? And they will probably reference someone who came along side them who had already experienced a similar situation.

God knows your afflictions, your woes, etc. Call out to Him, watch and wait to see how the Comforter, our Lord, will respond.

🌹Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3‭-‬4 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Are People Seeing Jesus?

Nov20

I work for a Christian Bookstore chain and have the opportunity of meeting so many different people from all walks of life. I have been blessed by so many – hearing their stories, adventures, and heart.

The other day I had such a blessing.

A mother comes in with her soon to be six year-old daughter on her hip. Her daughter is a down-syndrome child. They were there to buy a Bible for her birthday. I was the one blessed to help with that task. As Mom and I were talking, the girl reaches out for me to hold her. With permission I got to hold this adorable little one as she clung to my neck with her arms and waist with her legs. When it came time for them to leave Mom had to pry her from me but not before a kiss on the cheek given by this loving child. She totally made my day.

I share this story because, I wondered, after they left why she was so drawn to me. She had no apprehension. Did she see something in me that made her feel safe . . . comfortable . . . loved? Did she see Jesus in me? I like to think that is what she saw.

As in water face reflects face,
So the heart of man reflects man. — Proverbs 27:19

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

 

Edified And Multiplied

Dec3

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. — Acts 9:31 (KJV)

This verse so intrigued me that I kept reading it over and over again. Looked it up in other versions and here it is in the KJV. A time of peace for the churches had come. Saul was no longer pursuing Christians. They were being built up, encouraged, moving forward in the work of the Lord. 

In that edification they were walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. In this the church was multiplied. Makes me wonder if the church is walking in encouragement today — seeking the Lord in reverent fear and in the comfort and trust of the Holy Spirit. Is it possible to see the church multiply today?

How is your walk?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Psalm 84

Oct6

Psalm Chapter 84 is a marvelous piece of scripture. It has so much hope, insight, peace, comfort, etc. If you haven’t tasted of it before I encourage you to spend some time there at your leisure. This chapter closes with:

O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You! — Psalm 84:12

Have you been there? Are you there? That is where I am camping this week. Resting in the blessedness of trusting in my Lord. What a great place to be. No matter what the circumstances, no matter what the outcome, I will trust in the Lord. Try it. You will be blessed. Bible says so.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Days Are Coming

Sep6

“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the Lord. 12 “People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, But they will not find it. — AMOS 8:11

Pray for a thirsty land and a thirsty you. Pray that God will make hungry the USA for the word of God and seek it while it is still able to be found. Pray that God will give you a thirst for His word. None of us are beyond the need for God’s word. Hide it in your heart. One day we may not have the word of God so easily available to us, so we will need to have it in our hearts to recall it for strength, comfort, guidance, and hope. Heed the warning and tell others of God’s word. What we take for granted now — a Bible or two or more on the bookshelf –we may not have access to one day. Think about it. Can you live without access to the Holy Bible?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

He Is Everywhere

Aug13

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. — Proverbs 15:3
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. — Psalm 139:7-10

God is omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time). There is no hiding, running, escaping His watchful eye. This can be either good or bad depending on your perspective. The Lord’s eyes are in every place watching the evil and the good.

If you have no regard for God or don’t believe in Him I guess this would not bother you. It should since He is real, alive and there is no escape from your Creator. For those of us who believe in Almighty God through Jesus Christ we might find this intimidating. To think He is with us seeing everything we do. Everywhere we go. Hearing everything we say. It would behoove us to remember this as we journey through our day.

A comforting perspective is that God is with us at all times. We can’t possibly be anywhere that He cannot reach us. If you know Jesus and walk with Him you can take confidence in this promise (fact). No matter where we are He will lead us and His strong right hand will hold us. That is something to rejoice about. Take confidence in the One True God. Seek Him to know Him. Therein lies your comfort, peace and confidence.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon