Chosen to Forsake – Praying Pint

And not lose heart

“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

Psalms 116:1 I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

Psalms 18:1-6 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.

Psalms 31:22-23 I had said in my alarm, “I am cut off from your sight.” But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride.

Psalms 34:3-4 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Genesis 35:2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments.

Psalms 55:16-17 But I call to God, and the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

Psalms 145:18-19 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Satan is very crafty and uses any means possible to place doubts, fears, and anxious thoughts into our mind. He never tells the truth and will try to convince us that we are without hope, worthless, that God does not care, that God does not hear our prayer, and that waiting for God is a waste of time. He tries to make us doubt God’s love, promises, sovereignty, power, and faithfulness.

Life has a way of not going according to OUR plan(s). We have disappointments, heartaches, sadness, loss, and feeling like we have been forgotten. We are not immune to these thoughts and feelings. However we can face them with truth. God is all powerful, steadfast in His love for us, promised to be our rock, refuge, fortress, strength, courage, hope, comfort and heavenly Father. Not one single trial, trouble, or moment of loss changes these. Satan’s lies do not change the love God has for those who are called by His name.

When the Israelites had left the Egyptians and were at the shore of the Red Sea. They turned around and were looking at the full force of the Egyptian army coming toward them with intent of killing them. God told them to face the sea and not look back. He showed them looking back turns to fear and doubt (fertile ground for Satan’s attacks)- looking ahead with hope and trust they will see the hand of God, His mighty power, and His faith sustaining and unfailing steadfast love.

Look ahead clinging to, relying on and trusting in God who is able to do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine.

Turn to Me and be saved

“I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

“they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Psalms 98:2 The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

Isaiah 45:21-23 Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’

Isaiah 52:10 The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Luke 2:30-32 for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Romans 10:18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

I wonder if we forget that it is the Lord who has made known salvation. First through prophecy of a coming savior and then through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a light to eternal life. It is a light to a place of refuge, hope, peace, and courage. This life brings fulfilling purpose to our everyday lives. Having a light in the darkness is what gives us hope, builds our faith, and gives us courage to face tomorrow. Share this light to those lost and living in darkness. It is our calling.

Broken Hearted

take care that you be not ensnared to follow them

Nehemiah 1:2
And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments

Ezra 9:1
After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel

Daniel 9:18
O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.

Two separate trials. One the remnant of Jews who escaped exile were living in Jerusalem and the walls were broken down and the gates burned. In the other people of Israel had not separated themselves from others who did not honor God and took wives of nations they were not allowed to marry. In the trail spoken of in Nehemiah he mourned because the city that stood as a symbol of God’s chosen (who by the way had chosen to forsake following Him, and were allowed by God to be, taken into exile) had come to much ruin and were a shame for those who loved God. In Ezra he mourned because of the great sin that had been committed by the Jews. In both cases these two leaders were heart broken over what they heard. Their response was to fast and pray. This is a good example for each of us. When we hear of our culture going down a path away from God – Fast and Pray. When we hear of brothers and sisters fallen away and following a path away from God – Fast and Pray. When Gods word convicts our heart that we are on the wrong path – CONFESS and TURN AWAY from that which God has shown us. Oh God open our ears and our heart to know You and hear Your voice leading us on a path that brings honor and glory to You. Keep God first in all you do.