Tag: dismayed

Attacks, Doubts, and Upheld

Psalms 94:12  Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law,  to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.  For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;  for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.  Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers?  If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.  When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.  When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

Psalms 17:5     My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

Psalms 37:23-24    The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.

Psalms 38:16    For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me, who boast against me when my foot slips!”

Psalms 119:116-117     Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope.  Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for your statutes continually!

Psalms 121:3    He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.

1 Samuel 2:9    “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.

Isaiah 41:10     fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Peter 1:5    who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Have you ever been in a situation where it seems you are in way over your head with no way out?  During times like this our mind is open to the lies of Satan.  He speaks doubt, fear, panic, and hopelessness into our thoughts.  He wants us in despair to keep us from trusting in, clinging to, and relying on God.  Recognizing these attacks is essential.  Last evening some of these thoughts were running through my head.  I prayed “God please protect me from these thoughts and remove them”. He took them away as immediate as they came.  Rest comes hard enough in times of trouble but in Him rest comes, peace floods, and our heart, mind and soul are refreshed.  God is ever present, ever-loving, and can do more than we ask or can imagine.

Prayer of Moses

Psalms 90:1  A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.  You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”  For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.  For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.  For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.  The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.  Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.  Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!  Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.  Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.  Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

This prayer from Moses sums up much of life.  granted many of us do not see this because of the luxury we live in.  This is not true for most of the world.  We live with freedom and complain.  We live with education and complain.  We live with running water, heat, electricity and complain. We have transportation, technology, medical care and a place to call home and we complain.  We have more than enough food and we complain.  There might be a slight chance we don’t complain but we certainly are not truly thankful.  We don’t express our thanks to God for the many blessings He has given us.  Sometimes I wonder if they are blessings because they seem to trap so many into thinking there is no need for God.  How sad is it when we get to a place in our thoughts that we think we are entitled to these blessings, forgetting they are gifts from God who is to be praised and thanked for them.  If you strip it all away and leave us with just our body, mind, and soul is God still real and worthy to be praised? YES YES YES, He is.  He is God.  And for this alone He is worthy of praise.  However, He has added to this many blessings to show of His steadfast love, mercy, and grace for the purpose of drawing a people to Himself.  Scripture says “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”  and also says: “The LORD is a jealous God,filled with vengeance and rage.He takes revenge on all who oppose himand continues to rage against his enemies!The LORD is slow to get angry, but his power is great,and he never lets the guilty go unpunished.”  For those who hear His voice and come to Him,  He is a loving Father.  To those who reject His voice and is full of rage.  Submit to Him, cling to Him, rely on Him, and trust in Him.  Our life is short and finds fulfilling purpose when humbling serving, honoring, following and obeying God.

He is our true peace

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

“the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

“Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

John 16:33    I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Psalms 29:11    May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Psalms 72:7     In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!

Psalms 85:10     Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Romans 5:1    Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians 2:14     For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility  by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,  and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

2 Thessalonians 3:16     Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

Philippians 4:7    And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 27:1    The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalms 56:3     When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

Psalms 56:11     in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalms 91:5    You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

Psalms 112:7    He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.

Isaiah 12:2     “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Isaiah 41:10     fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Jeremiah 1:8    Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD.”

When things are going well we understand peace, or at least we think we do.  But true peace from and through God is understood when in the times of trials and trouble we find peace that passes all understanding.  Being afraid, having concern, and worry are natural responses and common to all man in times of uncertainty.  I heard a person speak once that said: “you can not stop initial thoughts from coming to your mind but certainly what you do with them you can”.  We have our Heavenly Father walking with us.  He has given us great promises of peace even though we are under attack from situations that seem to surround us.  At times it appears we are alone in this but in fact we have our great defender, who is all powerful, all knowing, ever present at all times.  Peace is found in trusting in, relying on, and clinging to God.  Our hope and faith is built on the Creator of all there is.  We seek and find peace when it is all laid at His feet and we are carried through in His ever loving arms.  We do not know when life will throw us trials and troubles.  Keep your eyes, heart and mind on the only one who can and will protect, lead, and give you place of refuge.

Glorious reunion

Zechariah 14:1  Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst.

Isaiah 2:12    For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low;

Ezekiel 30:3    For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.

Isaiah 13:6     Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt. They will be dismayed: pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame.  Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.  I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

Zephaniah 1:7   Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near;

Zephaniah 2:2   before the decree takes effect —before the day passes away like chaff— before there comes upon you the burning anger of the LORD, before there comes upon you the day of the anger of the LORD.  Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, who do his just commands; seek righteousness; seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the anger of the LORD.

1 Thessalonians 5:2    For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Malachi 4:5    “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

There is quite a difference between grace and mercy and anger and wrath.  From a human view we can understand just a small portion of what it means to have your grace and mercy rejected. How much more so from God the Creator.  He not only showed His love by reaching out but also in redeeming us through His son Jesus Christ, cancelling all our sin, giving us the Holy Spirit to live in side of us to direct and lead us, giving us precious promises of joy, power, strength, courage, hope, love, peace, happiness, His ever steadfast love and protection, and eternity with Him.  All of these promises come with a qualification – trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul.  Believe in Jesus Christ and repent, turning away from that old self.  There is no wrath, anger, or destruction in your future.  There will be a reunion with your Heavenly Father in eternity.  I imagine at the time we enter eternity we will see His Holiness in it’s fullest and seeing it we will humbly bow saying Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.  Remember the time of choice is this side of eternity.  Choosing to live for self will end in destruction.  Choosing now to believe and live humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God will not end but will grow into a glorious reunion with God forevermore.

Be Encouraged

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.  Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.”

Psalms 54:4  Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

Psalms 118:6  The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?  The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

Psalms 118:13    I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the LORD helped me.

1 Chronicles 12:18  Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.

Isaiah 41:10    fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 42:1     Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Isaiah 50:7  But the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.  He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.  Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Romans 8:31    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Hebrews 13:6   So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Isaiah 54:17   no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”

John 10:28  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

1 John 4:4   Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

We all find times where we seem to be alone in our issues, trials, and troubles.  We are not strange or abnormal in these thoughts as scripture indicates many before us have similar thoughts.  Notice all of the references used to encourage others: “He will strengthen”, “He will uphold”, “He will never leave”, “His hand hold us”, “He will help”, “He is for us”, “He is on our side”.  God never changes and His promises are never empty “HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US”.  Be encouraged and stand firm in His promises.  Fear not and be confident in Him.  We are never alone.

Strong in the Lord

“Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.”

“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.”

Psalms 31:24  Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!

Psalms 27:14   Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!

Isaiah 35:3-4  Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”

Hebrews 12:12-13   Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

James 5:10-11  As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Psalms 138:3   On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

Psalms 146:5  Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,

James 5:7-9   Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

Isaiah 41:10  fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:13 For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.”

On this side of eternity we seem to face times of uncertainty, confusion, anxiousness, worry, and fear.  This seems to be the way life is but, God continually reminds us to fear not for He is the one who will strengthen, help, hold us up, lift us up, and save us.  It is in Him we face these times.  It is in Him alone we patiently wait with hope and confidence.  We do not need to face these in our own power and strength.  Call on Him and wait for His steadfast love, mercy, and grace revealed in and through you.

 

Whose Battle Is It?

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent

Joshua 10:25
And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight

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

Deuteronomy 3:22
You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you

Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent

2 Chronicles 20:15
Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s

Nehemiah 4:20
Our God will fight for us

Deuteronomy 1:30
The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you

Joshua 1:5
Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you

 

How many things do we do battle with something every day in our own strength?  How many battles do we try to handle on our own?  How many battles are we facing and worrying about?  How does it make you feel to know you have neither the strength, courage, or will to handle it?  I already know the answer. I face this all the time in my own life.  Many times I worry and fret without even giving thought to turn it over to God.  Why do I want to do this?  Don’t I believe in the power of God? Certainly I do but for some reason I choose to keep the issue to myself.  Sometimes I just want to bury my head in the sand and hope it blows by.  Does this in any way sound like it is a life that is being lived to honor and glorify God.  No it does not.  I have work to do in this area.  I am not sure about you but I must confess it and turn these over to God and watch His power intercede over it.  I hope to share what God has shown me today in these scriptures with you in the future.  Honor and glorify Him by giving your battles and issues into His capable hands.