fears – Praying Pint

5.s. “Are the comforts of God too small for you?”

Job 15:11 Are the comforts of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?

2 Corinthians 1:3-5    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 may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Isaiah 51:12    “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass,

Psalms 34:2-6    My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.  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.  Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.  This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

John 14:18     “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

John 14:16     And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,

John 14:26   But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17     Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,  comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Asking the question, “Are the comforts of God too small for you?” is good of us to ask of ourselves. Too often we are not content with God supplied comforts or of His word that deals gently with us. Too often we are not content with the “Helper”, “Holy Spirit” because we have closed our hearts and mind to Him. We find that yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit is lacking in our daily life and wonder what it even means to be lead by the Holy Spirit. One reason we may not hear the leading of the Holy Spirit is that we have not cultivated an ear to hear Him speak into our lives. We can certainly seek and desire to have this leading but being actively listening requires an intentional choice to not only hear but to be willingly going where and doing what the Holy Spirit is leading us. Another reason why we may not hear the leading of the Holy Spirit is that we are not willing to wait for this leading and we move forward in our own strength, power, and wisdom. When we do this we leave no room for God’s will to be done but rather what our will expects to be done. Another reason why we may not hear the leading of the Holy Spirit is that we are complacently walking in sin.

Whatever the reason for walking apart from the leading of the Holy Spirit there will always be the consequences of lacking power, faith, joy, peace, love, generosity, courage, faith, and hope in our life. In this lacking, we will find ourselves being content with worldly things and allowing them to bring meaningless meaning to our lives. “Are the comforts of God too small for you”

He lifted them up and carried them

Exodus 3:7Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey

1 Samuel 9:16  “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have seen my people, because their cry has come to me.”

Psalms 22:24  For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

Psalms 34:4  I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Isaiah 63:9  In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Psalms 106:44  Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.

Psalms 142:3 When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!

Hebrews 4:15  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Psalms 145:19  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

When we face trials we never know when they will end or how hard they will become, or when God will lead us out of this dreaded darkness. How many times do we wish the trial never happened to us? How many times do we question why me, why now? What did I do wrong?

Certainly there are some trials that are the consequence of our own doing. We know it or we come to that understanding after trying to blame everyone else. Other times it is because of things out of our control and when this happens so come the questions?

Is God there?

Does He hear me?

Will He do something?

When will He act on my behalf?

Does He care?

We must remember that we live in a sinful world and trouble happens. We live in a world where satan and demons are real and able to influence bad things from people. We live in a fallen world with sinful people who will sin and do us harm. Does this in anyway mean that God is not sovereign, powerful, loving, steadfast, merciful, full of grace, and all knowing? No it does not.

We are told this is not our home for God has made us a home in eternity. Things that happen here are temporary and happen for a reason that fits into God’s plans and purposes even if we don’t understanding and knowledge of the details. God loves us. He gave His Son as a ransom for us. He prepared us a place in eternity. He sent the Holy spirit to comfort us, lead us, teach us, and help grow our faith in God through these trials.

Does placing our troubles in God’s powerful and loving hands mean they are going away in what timing we think they should. No it does not. It does though transfer the full weight of the burden on Him and gives us hope for today and joy for tomorrow.

Everyone of us can attest to the troubles that have come our way. Some heavier that others. Some we can say we that we gave them into God’s hands during our darkest time and the burden was lifted but the trial was still present. There was a peace that came over us that allowed us to face the day and then next. We found strength and hope. We knew in our heart, mind and soul no matter what happens we are confident in God’s plan and purpose. We came out the other side of the trial with greater faith, being more humble, better able to empathize with others, willing to help others, and a greater reliance and comfort in God.

Look carefully then how you walk

“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?”

Psalms 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.

Psalms 37:25-26 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

Deuteronomy 15:7-10 “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.

Job 31:16-20 “If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow), if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,

Proverbs 24:30-34 I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 18:9 Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

Romans 12:11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

Proverbs 24:27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

There a few of points I take home from today’s verses. Use time wisely. Give thought and prepare for the tasks at hand. Take care of what God has provided. Look carefully at our walk (application of God’s word in our life). Give to the needy. Be generous. Serve the Lord. Help the poor, fatherless, and widow. We need to be mindful of how we spend our time, resources, and what we spend it on. If it is only about gaining riches, we fail. If it is only about what can be gained with the least amount of effort, it’s a waste. If it is not with the intent to humbly serve, honor, glorify, follow and obey God, it is to our destruction. Listen to what God says to your heart and mind in His word. Desire and learn to hear His quiet small voice of leading and directing you for His honor.

Heals the brokenhearted

“Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.”

“And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.”

“who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,”

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Malachi 4:2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts. “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.

Psalms 85:9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.

Isaiah 66:1 Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

Hosea 6:1 “Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

Jeremiah 33:6 Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.

We serve this God – “All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” This is the God who’s hands have made and by which all things came to be. God seeks those with a humble and contrite heart. To these there are many blessings and promises given. It seems like today we have so much information at our finger tips that we lose sight of God and trust rather in what we find on a google search. Remember to put Him first and seek His guidance and direction. Yes He surely can direct and lead us through all of our decisions, trials and troubles. He is the mighty awesome powerful creator.

Day of Wrath

“ But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”

Psalms 58:11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

Psalms 92:15 to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Malachi 3:14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts?

Isaiah 3:10 Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

Romans 6:21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Psalms 9:16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

Psalms 64:9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

Psalms 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

Psalms 96:13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

2 Peter 3:4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Do you ever wonder how you will be judged by God? It is never based on comparing ourselves with others. I see those who pretend there is nothing wrong in their life which leads to a very complacent walk with God. I see others who try to preform various acts to overshadow that which they know is contrary to being right with God. Do you think we are judged based on how bad other people are or how well we preform? We will be judged according to what is found in His word. Those who come to God and believe it is in what they do that makes them right before Him – “Trying to earn it” – His word says being made right before God is a gift of grace to all who believe and not by works less any man would boast. What in our life can stand up to His holiness? What can make us clean if we can’t earn it? Believing in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, trusting in, clinging to, and relying on this alone to be right in God’s eyes. It is not by what we do but by believing in what He has done. If we have trust in anything else we fall short. If we try to make up for it by some act of kindness we fall short. We can not earn something that is given freely. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” It is by belief not works. However there are outward signs of those who believe. At least there should be. Joy and Praise – because of God and His grace and mercy, Hope – because of His promises, Peace & Rest – because of knowing our lives are a work of His hand, Strength & Courage – because God is our rock and sovereign over all, Love and Kindness and Sacrificial Giving – because of His demonstration in giving us His son to redeem us. Our lives should reflect humble service, honoring, following, and obeying God for the single purpose of who God is, what He has done, and what He will do. God asks for our whole heart, mind and soul. Stop pretending everything is ok. Stop preforming, thinking this makes you right before God. Start with a heart deep desire to honor, serve, follow and obey. Spend time in His word each day.

Worthy of Praise

” I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

“I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”

“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

Psalms 34:2 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. 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. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

1 Timothy 1:13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,

Psalms 32:5-6 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

Psalms 22:22-24 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

Jeremiah 9:24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”

Psalms 105:3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

When you think about praising God what comes to mind? How many things can you list? Try writing them down for the next 5 minutes. I imagine at the end of this time you are just getting a good start and more and more flood your memory. There is much we can praise God for past, present and future. God is an awesome God and worthy of praise, honor, and glory. Humbly submit to Him, seek Him, follow Him, obey Him and continually PRAISE HIM!!!!