Tag: Fasting

He is faithful

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

 

Joe 2:12
“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the LORD your God?

Deuteronomy 4:29-30
But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice.

1 Samuel 7:3
And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Acts 26:20
but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

Hosea 14:1
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

Zechariah 1:3-4
Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the LORD.

“Do not be like your fathers – even when I cried out to them they continued in what they were doing and rejected my pleas”  How would you feel if this is what God is telling your wife, your children, your husband about you? I am confident it is impossible to hear His cry and pleas to return when we spend no time in His word.  We will not seek Him for guidance for our day, we will forget what purpose there is in this life, we will be influenced more and more by what seems right in our own eyes or is socially accepted, we will become deaf and blind to His leading.  God knows all of this and proclaims in His word over and over again “Return to me and I will return to you,” “I will deliver you,” “You will find me,” “Search for me with your whole heart,” “Repent,” “I know your heart, thoughts, and intent,” “I love you so much that I will sacrifice my son for you,” “I will give you peace,” “I will give your strength,” “I will be your rock,” “I will guide your path,” and so many more words of warning and blessing.  Be the father, mother, son, daughter that is spoken of by God as one who did right in His eyes.  Be the one who is a light in the darkness.  Be the one who is able to rightly proclaim God’s word.  Spend time in His word today.

He is in Control

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;”

Hosea 12:6
“So you, by the help of your God, return,
hold fast to love and justice,
and wait continually for your God.”

Joel 2:12
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;

Deuteronomy 4:30
When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice. For the Lord your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

Why is it we expect people, who have no desire for God and serving Him, to have actions in their life that would display these attributes?  They are lost and don’t know what they are doing.  I was recently very upset at the action of a person, those who sided with that action, and the outcome of that action against a dear friend of mine.  I have never felt so helpless and could not even be good counsel to my friend.  My heart hurt deeply for this person.  My friend was upset and I could do nothing.  I wanted to say something that would encourage them but anger, revenge, and possibly hate filled both my heart and mind against those who did this against my friend.  And then out of the mouth of my friend came these words “God has a plan for me and this is just part of that plan.  He is in control.” I was the one being encouraged and ministered to from the person who had so much to complain and feel sorry about.  I was the one with a heart that needed to seek God and praise Him for who He is.  I was the one that needed to be reminded God is in control.  I was the one who needed to be put back on a path with my eyes on God and not the situation.  My friend’s heart and soul stayed pure even when wronged.  It is good for us to remember God is alive, He is all powerful, He loves us, He will allow nothing to come our way that is not in His plan for our life, He will never leave or forsake us, He will comfort us, He will give us rest, He will lift us up.   All praise, honor and glory to Him alone.