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3 Bible Verses About Peace

I’m continuing my series based on the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Each month, I’ll pick a fruit and share a few thoughts and verses about it.

I’m focusing on the fruit of joy this month.

My late Pastor of more than a decade used to share a story about a painting of a bird that was on a tree branch singing. There’s nothing extraordinary about a singing bird. That’s what they do all the time, right?

When it’s bright and sunny outside, you can hear the beautiful sound of birds chirping away.

But that wasn’t the scene in the painting. What made this painting so memorable is that the bird was singing away as a storm raged all around it.

That, my friend, is a picture of peace!

It’s natural to feel peace when you’re lying on the beach or on vacation somewhere. It’s supernatural to feel peace when all hell is breaking loose around you.

How can Christians stay at peace despite the winds and the waves howling around them?

That comes through the Holy Spirit living inside of us! It’s not our ordinary peace that sustains us, but His extraordinary peace that helps us through whatever storm or trial we are facing.

Here are 3 Bible verses I hope will encourage you as you meditate on them, believe them, and apply them to your life:

  • “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
  • “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
  • “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

God is not surprised or unaware of what you are going through. Be at peace knowing that God Almighty is powerful enough to keep you and guard you no matter what struggle you are going through. He will see you through!

Did this encourage you? Get my weekly blog posts emailed to you for free by clicking here or the image below. When you sign up, you’ll also get access to the new “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Help You Wait on God Well” PDF as a free gift.

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For more encouragement, read my books Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough and Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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7 Bible Verses to Help Fight Fear!

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Is watching the news and reading the papers leaving you feeling fearful? Are you scared because you just got a troubling doctor’s report or afraid of your upcoming job review?

There’s no shortage of things that can strike fear in our hearts. We all battle fear at different points in our lives.

What do you do with your fear?

I hope you take time to talk to the Lord about your fears, cares, and worries. He can handle them!

Life can get scary sometimes, but we don’t have to be paralyzed by fear. When I’m feeling afraid, I find comfort in remembering how mighty God is and that He is in control! Nothing surprises Him!

I also read and re-read certain Bible verses. I’ve listed a few of my favorite verses to combat fear below to help fill you with courage. I pray that you will mediate on these verses and will believe and receive them for yourself:

  • “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
  • “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
  • “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
  • “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
  • “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” (John 14:1)
  • “‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17)
  • “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” (Psalm 91:1-6)
If these Bible verses have helped to bring you peace, I’d love to know. I’d also love to know what some of your go-to verses are to combat fear. Please feel free to leave a comment on Abounding Faith’s Facebook page. Blessings to you as you continue trusting God and walking by faith.

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Want to know what’s happening at Abounding Faith? Join the mailing list and get updates about Abounding Faith’s books, events, podcast and more. You’ll also get access to the “7 Journal Writing Prompts to Fuel Your Faith” PDF.

For more encouragement on your faith journey, read By Faith, Abounding Faith, Crossing Your Jordan River and Waiting on God Well  (on Amazon) and visit AboundingFaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Abounding Faith’s Latest Designs – An Ode to Majestic Mountains

Abounding Faith Mountains

God willing, my second book Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible will be on sale on Amazon next Monday. Glory! As I gear up for the launch, I wanted to share some of the newest designs added to Abounding Faith’s online store.

I created these items to match the cover of Abounding Faith. These majestic mountains are none other than the Swiss Alps! I took this picture during my Epic European vacation last year!

There is something so special about mountains! I smile whenever I see them. I’ve seen quite a few mountains in my travels starting with the Catskill and Adirondack mountains in upstate New York. I’ve been to breathtaking Pikes Peak in Colorado. I’ve seen the incredible mountains in Alaska. I’ve walked on the amazing Andes mountains in Ecuador and the marvelous mountains in Israel!

As a city girl who grew up surrounded by New York’s skyscrapers, I take great delight in getting away outdoors among God’s creation.

Perhaps I’m fascinated with mountains because they remind me of the grandeur of God! They remind me how small I am in this vast world. They inspire me. They leave me awestruck.

While I’m enthralled by looking at mountains and absolutely love being on the mountain tops, it’s a whole other story when I face issues that feel like mountains in my life.

My first reaction is usually to be intimidated by the mountain/issue instead of facing it head on and charging up to the peak. Thankfully after prayer, the Lord usually gives me the strength to keep moving forward.

What about you? How do you handle the mountains in your life? It’s ok to be honest…

Do you ever speak to those mountains?

I’d like to remind you what Jesus said to His disciples. “Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.’” (Matthew 21:21-22)

What an amazing promise! That issue you are facing (perhaps doubt, depression or discouragement) has to bow down to the name of Jesus!

Since we’re on the topic of mountains, I’d like to share three more Bible verses that I hope will encourage you:

  • “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)
  • “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 125:1-2)
  • “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

Did this encourage you? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts emailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement, read my book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Dream and Do!

Calling Courageous and Committed Women!

If you’ve been following my journey these past few years and if you’ve read my book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! you know I’ve been in a time of transition.

After much prayer, waiting, and obeying God, I was blessed with an Epic Year last year filled with many breakthroughs. And I’ve entered into a *new* season in 2016.

I’m enjoying writing and speaking for God’s glory. This didn’t happen overnight. It was a long process. There’s more to come. My story is still unfolding.

Your story is still being written, too! Did you know that there are good works that God has ordained for you to do?

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

I love that God placed gifts and talents inside of us and that He empowers us and guides us so that we can fulfill all that He’s called us to do.

What dreams and desires has God placed in your heart? What steps are you taking toward your goals?

I would like to help you as you live out your God-given purpose and passion through my *new* “Live Your God-Given Dreams” Life Coaching Group that starts on January 26th.

I am looking for a group of motivated women who are dreamers, visionaries, and creative entrepreneurs to work with for the next 12 weeks. As your Life Coach, I will help you:

  • Discover what’s blocking you from moving forward in God’s plan for your life.
  • Gain clarity on how to live out your God-given passion and purpose.
  • Prayerfully map out a plan to help you stay focused as you transition into the next chapter of your life.
  • I will also give you short assignments and help to hold you accountable as you reach for your goals.

This group is perfect for women who are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are looking for some extra motivation during their transition time, and who value the power of prayer and reading God’s Word!

You can learn more about it here.

I know what it’s like to live some amazing God-given dreams! I also know what it’s like to feel frustrated and stuck and wondering what to do next.

Here’s what a few people have shared about speaking with me:

  • “I found it very reflective getting to discuss with Nancy my inner thoughts about myself and my outlook on life.” – Mikki
  • “I am a person who is in the habit of consistently reevaluating my life in the pursuit of becoming more self-aware. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was able to learn even more about myself while speaking my thoughts out loud with Nancy.” – Lauren

I hope you will consider joining my “Live Your God-Given Dreams” Life Coaching Group and will tell your friends about it. Private Coaching is also available.

I pray that you will continue to keep Jesus at the center of your life and will surrender to His plan for your life and to His timing. May you know the joy of accomplishing those good works that God has especially for you! Blessings!

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement, read my book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. Check out Abounding Faith’s online store here. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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12 Free Journal Writing Prompts

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Over the years, quite a few people have shared with me that they enjoy writing and that they would like to write a book on day. Beautiful! One of the best things you can do is to start writing often. That includes keeping a journal. Did you know that when you sign up to receive my weekly blog posts e-mailed to you, you also get a free PDF file with 12 Journal Writing Prompts? Go ahead and sign up here. And enjoy this week’s post where I share my response to one of the journal writing prompts:

This Bible Verse has Been Speaking to Me Lately …

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

The above verse has been following me lately. It’s like the Lord is speaking to me in surround sound again. I heard it in a sermon right around the time that I was getting ready to Cross My Jordan. I’ve also been seeing it on social media.

It’s comforting to know that God is in charge of my life. He is in Control. I don’t have to fear. He is with me. And He is providing for me.

I love the reminder to not be afraid or discouraged. Why? Because God is all powerful. He is my strength. He will uphold me!

Friend, are you worried, anxious, or discouraged? Take heart knowing that God is alive and is working in your life. He will not fail you! Walking by faith may not be easy, but it is worth it!

Now it’s your turn? What Bible verse has been speaking to you lately? Feel free to share your answer in the comments below.

Here’s my response to the journal prompt “If You Could Chat With One Person From the Bible, Who Would it Be?” 

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

button (24)For more encouragement, read my new book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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3 Bible Lessons From The Met

3 Lessons From The Met (3)

I recently decided to treat myself to a lovely day at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I enjoyed getting lost in the exhibits and traveling from one time period and culture to another. It was fun meandering around and taking in the sights from ancient Egypt and Greece and seeing masterpieces from Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Pablo Picasso.

I could go on and on about all the beauty I saw, but for now I’d like to share the Biblical lessons that stood out to me. Yes, I saw God’s fingerprints all throughout the museum.

I hope the following photos and lessons will be a blessing to you!

1. We really can’t take things with us!

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The ancient Egyptians had the custom of being buried with their jewels and other possessions. They would probably be horrified to know that all these centuries later their treasures are on display for the world to see. These beautiful necklaces from one of the exhibits remind me that we really should be storing up treasures in heaven instead of trying to gain so much wealth and “stuff” in this life. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

2. The armor of God is the best suit ever!

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I tend to zoom past the war and weapon section of the museum, but this time I took my time looking at the different armor. And this uniform stood out to me the most because it reminded me of how I feel when I go into uncertain territory including missions trips and outreaches. When I step out in faith, I don’t go in my name but in the name of Jesus. And I don’t go alone because the Holy Spirit lives inside of me! I’m reminded that no weapon formed against me shall prosper! The blood of Jesus covers believers from head to toe! Here’s what our real armor looks like: “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:11-18)

3. The sword of the Spirit trumps them all!

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These swords are all very impressive. The soldiers must have felt unstoppable wielding them, but I’m reminded that the Word of God found in the Bible is even stronger! There is great power in speaking the Word of God! We can use it to fight off the enemy just like Jesus did. The Word of God also has power when we read it and apply it to our own lives. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

button (24)For more encouragement, read my new book Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Tempted to Rebel?


Joe Shlabotnik / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

 

I went to visit one of my dear sisters in Christ the other day and she was telling me about some of her 14-month-old granddaughter’s latest escapades.

One of the stories that stuck out to me was about the time she caught her granddaughter pulling a piece of fuzz from the couch. The little girl mischievously looked over her shoulder to make sure grandma was watching as she slowly inched the foreign object closer to her mouth.

My friend obviously recognized the danger and flew across the room to grab the object out of her granddaughter’s hand before the curious toddler had the chance to eat it.

As I heard this story, it gave me a picture of what we must look like to our Abba Father when we’re getting ready to do something we know we shouldn’t do.

Ever find yourself tempted to sin and sheepishly glance over your shoulder to see if God was watching? C’mon, be honest!

I’ve had moments when I’ve said, “Lord if you don’t do X, then I’ll do YZ.” I know that sounds terrible, but it’s true.

Thankfully, my loving Heavenly Father just lets me vent and then calls my bluff. He knows I don’t really want to willfully walk outside of His plans for my life.

But even when we are tempted to rebel and sin, many times isn’t it because we think God wants to spoil our fun or because we’re not happy with how He’s answering our prayers? In reality, He’s like my friend who wanted to protect her granddaughter from the awful consequences of eating that piece of junk.

God knows how harmful our actions, thoughts, or attitudes can be. That’s why He’ll send us warning signs to stop us from going down certain paths.

I don’t know what you may be struggling with, but if you feel the Holy Spirit convicting you and warning you not to do something please heed His voice. He knows what’s best for you!

Thankfully, when the enemy starts lying to us and tempting us to sin we can:

Resist Him – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

Fight Back with Scripture – Jesus was tempted three times while in the wilderness and each time He quoted Scripture. “Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10)

Look for God’s Way Out – “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Confess our Sins and Struggles to Mature Believers – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

Unfortunately, we sin every day though. The Good News is that as Believers we have forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7). When we do sin, we can repent and ask God for forgiveness.  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God forgives us and loves us unconditionally? That doesn’t give us a license to sin. It does give us the security to know that we can turn to God no matter what!

God will give us the strength to overcome whatever temptations we may be facing! What an Awesome God we serve!

Did this encourage you? Please click “Like” or leave a comment below.

To get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox weekly, and to get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots from the Mission Fields, click here.

For more encouragement, and to learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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My Help Comes from the Lord

 

 

In the Bible study class I’m taking, we’ve been asked to write a prayer based on scripture. Since the Psalms is one of the books we’ve been covering, I chose Psalm 121. It’s one of my favorites. I love how it focuses on God’s protection!

There is something so powerful about using words straight out of the Bible in your prayers and using those words as inspiration to share what’s in your heart and on your mind. If you’re not sure what to say while praying, I encourage you to pray through the Psalms. They are filled with wonderful descriptions of God’s power, might, and love as well as honest expressions of the ups and downs of life!

Here is Psalm 121 as it appears in the Bible, and below is the prayer I wrote for class.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.”

Here’s my humble prayer that I wrote for my class assignment. May it be a blessing to you!

Dear Heavenly Father,

I thank you that all I have to do is lift up my eyes and see you! You are Greater and Higher than anything or anyone. And my help comes from you, and you alone! You are all-powerful and matchless. You are the maker of heaven and earth. Yes, Heaven and Earth belong to you. We are made by you and for you!

I am never alone. You promise to not let my foot slip and to watch over me. You neither slumber nor sleep and because of that, I don’t have to fear. There is never a time when you’re asleep on the job. Nothing surprises you. Nothing catches you off guard. You’re always watching over me as well as my family and my loved ones. Thank you! Thank you for your divine protection. Thank you for being so mindful of me.

You are my shade. No matter what season I’m in. No matter what time of day. I can trust that you are there covering me from external threats as well as protecting my inner being. Nothing is too big or too small for you to handle. What concerns me, concerns you. And you are mighty to see me through anything and everything I face.

You promise to keep me from harm. Nothing comes into my life without your knowledge and permission.  And you’re working everything together for my good! You promise to watch over all of my life! You knew me before I was in my mother’s womb. You were with me when I was a child. You know everything I’m going through right now, and you already know what’s in my future. You are omnipresent. You are the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end!

You watch over me wherever I go. You’re there when I’m traveling to and from work. You are with me at my job. You are here with me now. And you watch over me while I sleep. I can rest because you never rest. No matter if I’m here or traveling far. You are everywhere. Not just for today. Not just on good days. You are with me every day, all day long. And you will be with me when I see you face-to-face in heaven where we will spend eternity together. Thank you for loving me so.  Thank you for your tsunami of love, protection, grace, strength, and mercy. In you I live, and move, and have my being. You are God alone and beside you there is no other. You are worthy to be praised. I love you and thank you forever, Jesus. Amen.

To hear the beautiful song “My Help” by The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir that is based on Psalm 121, click here.

Did this encourage you? Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. For more encouragement, visit www.aboundingfaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

 

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Protected

knowhimonline / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

 

The other day I got into work and read a flurry of e-mails that had gone out the night before alerting the staff that the computer server had problems, and the guys in the IT department were doing their best to get everything back on track. The e-mails continued early the following morning. Each one alerting us about the status of the problem.

The last message went out saying the problem had been resolved. Great!

What struck me was that because the trouble had started after I had left work the night before and it was solved by the time I had gotten into the office the following morning, I was blissfully unaware of everything that was going on.

The issue had been taken care of without me having to fret about it or having to lift a finger. Sweet.

Now this was a computer problem we experienced, but I immediately started thinking of the spiritual applications.

There is a spiritual battle going on all around us, as you may know. While sometimes it’s on our radar and we can feel the fiery darts attacking us from all sides, other times we are oblivious to what’s going on around us. Why?

One reason is because our Heavenly Father is fighting the battle for us!

Just like the IT department was working feverishly to correct the problem at hand, the Lord and His army are fighting battles that we may never, ever know about.

Doesn’t it feel wonderful to know that God Almighty, yes Jesus who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, is fighting for us! Amazing!

I’m not sure what battles you’re facing, but let me encourage you fellow believer. Jesus is fighting on your behalf. And if God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

I’m reminded of the story of Elisha and his servant when they were in the city of Dothan. The king of Aram was enraged with the prophet Elisha so he sent his troops to hunt him down. It looked like the prophet and his servant were doomed, but Elisha didn’t panic.

“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. (2 Kings: 15-18)

I love this story because it shows that we are not alone. God is there fighting for us.

And the Bible says that Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

No wonder the Bible says over and over again to Fear Not! We can’t lose with God on our side! Praise God!

So keep reading, studying, mediating, believing, proclaiming, obeying and living out what you read in the Bible! Trust that God is there fighting for you, and that you are protected.

I hope this encouraged you. If so, please feel free to leave a comment or to hit “Like” below.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Untouchable

 

*BlueMoon / Love Photos / CC BY-NC

 

The other day I was minding my business while walking to the train station to go to work. It was an ordinary Thursday morning. I saw this lady coming towards me with her dog, but I thought nothing of it. I grew up with dogs, so normally I’m not afraid of them at all.

But as the Rottweiler got closer, it barked right at me. No biggie. I kinda laughed it off, but when the beast lunged at me that was a whole other story! My laugh instantly turned into some nervous sound that I can only describe as a yelp. In that moment, I knew that if Cujo wanted me for breakfast there was no way his petite owner could stop him.

Thankfully, he couldn’t quite reach me because of his leash. He immediately lost interest in me. The owner quickly apologized. I just stayed silent and continued down the block.

When I got to the corner and was out of harms way, I started laughing at my reaction. I also started wondering what that was all about. I knew there had to be some reason for this incident. Something more than just being mindful and not sleepwalking on my way to work in the morning. I had walked this way hundreds of times and had never seen this dog before.

What was this all about?

The lesson soon came into focus. I felt like the Lord was showing me that that is how the enemy works. He can bark, and snarl, and lunge at us believers and take his best swipes and throw fiery dart after fiery dart at us, but in the end he is allowed to get only so close to us because God is there to protect us! The enemy still has to bow down to the name of Jesus. What a Mighty Savior we have!

I don’t know what kind of battles you’re facing today, but I’m here to remind you that the enemy is a liar and he is defeated!

Don’t just take my word for it. The verse that comes to mind is “… no weapon forged against you will prevail..” (Isaiah 54:17)

If you think of Job, remember that the enemy had to abide by the guidelines that God gave him. (Job 1:12, 2:6)

No matter what you are going through today, know that God is still on the throne and still very much in Control! He is with you and will fight for you!

Let’s remember to always put on the full armor of God:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

(Ephesians 6:10-18)

I hope this helped encourage you! Feel free to leave a comment below.

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