Tag Archive | hope

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

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True Reverence

May17

And if you call upon Him as [your] Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, [then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short].

You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold,

But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot.

It is true that He was chosen and  foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you.

Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.

1 Peter 1:17-21 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

Am I walking through this life with true reverence for God?
Is my life fruitful?
Do I recognize that my life has been purchased with the precious blood of Christ?
Is my faith and hope centered and resting in God?

🌹Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.
Psalms 26:2 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Hold Fast Without Wavering

May16

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
Hebrews 10:23 NASB

Brothers and sisters, as partakers together of a heavenly calling, let us consider our confession — Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
Christ was faithful over His house, whose house we are, so let us hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
God is faithful, calling us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hebrews 3:1/Hebrews 3:6/1 Corinthians 1:9 NASB

God is faithful to keep His promises. . .

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11 NASB

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB

🌹Would you join me in this heavenly calling to boldly confess the hope we have in Jesus so others may also know Jesus as Lord?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Hope of The Glory of God

May5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2

We can rejoice exceedingly; be highly elated, jubilant in the hope of the glory of God! How can we have this hope?

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
Romans 5:3-‬4 NASB

I want to look at just one portion of this verse where it speaks of hope. . .

“We exult in our proven character knowing that proven character brings about hope.”
Romans 5:3-4 NASB

I was so excited when the Lord opened my eyes to this portion of the verse. I pondered how proven character brings about hope.

As I have examined myself over the years of my life I have seen many flaws to my character. I am a flawed character. But God. . . He stepped into my life, brought me salvation and then started working on my character with the help of His Holy Spirit living in me. God’s work in me has changed me. When I look at myself and see a different person than I was, that brings me hope. God changing me into the person He created me to be. The growing pains have been difficult but worth it when I see how God is sanctifying me. Not by what I have done but by what He has done in transforming me. My proven character came by the work of the Holy Spirit in me. That is hope.

🌹and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:5

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Faith in the Faithful God

Apr11

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11 NASB

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
Hebrews 10:23 NASB

For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37 NASB

🌹“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”
Jeremiah 32:27 NASB

‘Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, amen.
Jeremiah 32:17 NASB

How’s your faith? Does it go beyond the belief that Jesus is your Savior? Is it a faith that sees you through the good, the bad, the ugly, the devastating, the hurt of this world, the pain. . . ?
Does your faith bring you to the foot of the cross everyday with a surrendered heart, trusting God with your day?
He waits with open arms and a listening ear for you.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

New Every Morning

Mar1

Came across this and just had to share again . . .

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” 

Lamentations 3:19-24

Have you ever experienced bitterness? That something that is hard to bear, distressing, painful, grieving your soul that brings the taste of bitterness? Remember lest that bitterness turns to fierce, cruel, ruthless, relentless or hostile bitterness, that there is hope.

This is our hope: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

God has a plan and sometimes that plan doesn’t sit well with us causing bitterness. Take your bitterness to the Lord. His compassions never fail. He is faithful. Trust Him and wait on Him. He is our portion. He is all we need and the answer to all our woes and bitterness. He will renew you with His faithfulness and compassion every new day. Praise the Lord God Almighty.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Reblog June 9, 2014 indasharonjesus.org

1 John 3:21-22

Sep13

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before (toward) God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 John 3:21‭-‬22 NASB

Confidence: full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of . . . GOD

Lord God, powerful, faithful, Sovereign are You. I pray for the confidence I find by placing my full trust in You. You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth.
I place my confidence in You alone God and will not forget Your works, but will keep Your commandments. I will abide in You, so that when You appear I will stand in confidence and not shrink away from You in shame at Your coming. May I be pleasing in Your sight by the keeping of Your commandments so I may receive in prayer all that I ask because I ask for Your will to be done through me. This I ask in Jesus name, amen.
Psalms 71:5/Psalms 78:7/1 John 2:28 NASB

🌹Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Philippians 3:18-19

Jul8

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
Philippians 3:18‭-‬19 NASB

God, my heart breaks and aches for those who have turned away from You. Those who are devoured by the lust of the world as they seek to wet their appetite and in turn are consumed by it, allowing their appetite to be their god.
For such as these are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.
For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward You, God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please You, God. I choose not to walk in the flesh but to walk in the Spirit under Your almighty power and direction my God, my Lord, my everything.
To do that I will set my mind on (be intent on) the things above, not on the things that are on earth. May I never be a stumbling block to others by setting my mind on man’s interests instead of Your interests, Lord God. For You, God, are the reason for my existence. My existence is to fulfill Your perfect purpose. So, I will look to You and set my mind on Your way. All for Your glory Father in the name of Jesus, amen.
Romans 16:18/Romans 8:5‭-‬8/Colossians 3:2 NASB/Matthew 16:23 NASB

🌹Lord, may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Galatians 6:14

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

Philippians 1:18b-20

Jun2

Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance  (salvation) through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Philippians 1:18b-‬20 NASB

Sovereign God, I rejoice in knowing that through the prayers of Your saints and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ in me that I will not be put to shame in anything. The provision of the Spirit, is that He is in control for allowing or restraining my efforts, my way, my path in life. My great expectation and hope does not disappoint, because Your love, God, has been poured out within my heart through the Holy Spirit who was given to me. If I should suffer as a Christian, I will not be ashamed, but with all boldness, glorify You, Father, in the name of Jesus. For I have been bought with a price: therefore Christ will, even in persecution, be exalted and glorified in my body whether by life or by death. My hope of seeing Your glory gives me boldness to speak of Your glory. Amen.
Romans 5:5/1 Peter 4:16/1 Corinthians 6:20/2 Corinthians 3:12 NASB

🌹for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Romans 14:8‭-‬9 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon 

The Shield

Mar4

Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.
Psalm 33:20–21 NASB

Our shield is our trust in the God of all creation. No matter our circumstances –  the highs and lows; the good; the bad; the downright awful; the joy; the pain – our heart rejoices.
God, my soul waits in silence for You only; From You is my salvation. (Psalm 62:1)
But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
Psalms 13:5 NASB

Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, According as we have hoped (waited  for) in You.
Psalm 33:22 NASB

“According as we have hoped in You”. That is quite the statement. Our hope, waiting on the Lord, trusting His shield is protecting us in every circumstance in life, that He is our protector. . . What is your level of hope in God?

🌹The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him.
Psalms 28:7 NASB

Continually Seeking Him, 

Sharon