“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” – Isaiah 12:2.
Tag: salvation
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Maintain a steady course
Winter Wonderland Creekside (photo by Steve Lasher) “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me” — Psalm 13:5–6 (NIV).
Feeling a bit in the dumps today? Unloved? Unrecognized? Unmotivated? One five letter word may be what you need to hear and focus on. T-R-U-S-T. Trust in God, his unfailing love, and the gift of free salvation.
In the Old Testament, God brought Moses and the Israelites through the wilderness, out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. The journey involved bumps, doubts, and inevitable pain. This may be what you’ve experienced with your writing career journey. Both acceptances and rejections are part of an overall plan.
Rather than remain bogged down in the negatives, why not choose to celebrate mini-victories along the way.
- Maybe you received a thank you for a heartfelt note you wrote to a friend in need. Success!
- What about an article you researched and later published in a church newsletter? Victory!
- You volunteered to facilitate the discussion in your small group meeting — another success!
Winter berries (photo by Steve Lasher)
God is there congratulating and encouraging you to keep on writing and telling your unique story. Don’t give up; rather continue to keep trusting God through the slow and tough times. You’ll be glad you did!
“I’ve thrown myself headlong into your arms — I’m celebrating your rescue. I’m singing at the top of my lungs, I’m so full of answered prayers” — Psalm 13:5–6 (The Message).
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Garment of Salvation
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” — Isaiah 61:10.
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Fashion Tip for the Day
“I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” — Isaiah 61:10.
What better garments than a garment of salvation or a robe of righteousness? No one could be better clothed than with the adorning described above.
Yet, I still fuss and worry about my hair and makeup, about coordinating the top with the bottom. I shouldn’t be concerned about whether the fashionistas would approve or not.
Isaiah, the prophet, speaks of internal clothing about joy & praise, salvation & cleansing …precious jewels from within vs. any external covering. The results are astounding as when a priest is properly outfitted in service or when a bride dresses for her special day. The exciting part is that even though the results occur inside of a person’s heart and mind, external results can also be seen.
God can “dress” you in beautiful garments when we delight and rejoice in him. Are you allowing him to clothe you every day?
Dear God, I confess that oftentimes I’m more concerned about my outward appearance and neglect my inward beauty. If I take the time to be with you alone, my outward beauty will shine for all to see.
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Are you in over your head?
Muskegon, MI pier – photo by Steve Lasher “Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God.
But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me.
Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me” — Psalm 69:1–3, 13, 16.
Ever feel like the waters of tribulation have come up to your neck and beyond? I have. And it’s not a pleasant sensation. At times, I’ve been so overcome with grief that I didn’t know how I’d make it out of bed, let alone cope with the regular routine of daily life and living.
I suspect I am not alone. Life becomes hectic, random, and oftentimes throws us a curve ball. The curve may come in the form of a pink slip from a boss, a child’s bad decision, or a broken dryer. Regardless, I’ve felt like I’m drowning in a sea of despair and sometimes rage.
In Psalm 69, David shares with us his cry of distress in his sea of trouble. Chased, threatened, and lonely, David knew the meaning of despair and loneliness firsthand.
Where do you go when the walls shrink around you? To whom do you turn when life as you know it may as well be over? David prayed to God and pleaded for answers and relief. He knew God as being good and that he would show mercy.
Going to the right source for help is the answer. God cares and loves us. He longs for us to seek him with our whole heart.
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The God of All Creation
“You blanketed earth with ocean, covered the mountains with deep waters; then you roared and the water ran away — your thunder crash put it to flight … you set boundaries between earth and sea; never again will earth be flooded.” (Psalm 104:6–9; The Msg)
Grand Haven pier (Michigan) Father, God, you are great and greatly to be praised!
All of creation stands ready at your beck and call. You didn’t just create beauty, but you continue to maintain control over land and sea. This created world brings joy and contentment to my heart in the midst of a confused and sometimes dark world.
You also created each of us human beings uniquely. No two are exactly alike. We each have a story to tell. My story is different from my sister’s story, from my neighbor’s story and so on. That’s why it’s important to tell others my story of salvation and lessons learned along the walkway with God. I must share with my children and children’s children so they can be strengthened and encouraged to carry on.
Help me, God, to live in the present. I realize that each day carries with it troubles of its own. My desire is to live in today and not borrow tomorrow’s troubles. Thank you for saving my soul and watching over each of us.
Is there something troubling you today and causing you to remain immobile? Can you step aside for a period of time and tell God your heartache? He created you and he loves you best.
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Rest in him
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (Isaiah 30:15) It is the returning to God, repenting and turning away from my former ways, that I receive forgiveness. Rest is then my reward. Confidence and quietness becomes my strength to face the trials and joys of the day.
God longs to show me his gracious and compassionate nature—to share in all the blessings. I have no idea what today may bring, but he does. He will show me the way when I wait and place ultimate trust in him.
Prayer: Dear God, I return to you. I trust you to calm my soul trusting in your strength to carry out necessary tasks today. Thank you for showing me compassion and grace I do not deserve.
Ask: Are you confused about which task to do next? Feeling overwhelmed and full of unrest? Have you tried leaning on God for wisdom and stability?
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Adopted
“He predestined us to be adopted as his sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:5a).
Because of God’s sovereign and gracious act in providing for your salvation by adopting you, there is a blessed climate of intimate love and trust between you. How infinitely precious and worthwhile you must be to him!—Kay Marshall Strom
Adopted…by the King of Kings—how awesome is that!
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Fears
“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? (Psalm 27:1)
Fear…small word, yet so powerful. Just what am I afraid of today? Is it that I won’t please someone, look good enough, finish (or begin) a project? Too many fears immobilize and cause me to accomplish very little results. I’m been there and today is that day.
I started out the day with high hopes and expectations rising early only to spiral down to a huge headache and precious little to note as finished. Now I look at the day as wasted. There must be some redeeming factor in this day.
“Seek his face! Your face, Lord, I will seek” (Psalm 27:8). Now I see the redeeming factor for the day. Because of my frustration of feeling like a failure and that I’d accomplished nothing; I turn to God’s word. In times like these, I turn to the Lord, the strength of my life. I can go on, in the absence of fear, knowing that God is on my side.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for being here when I need you the most. You’ve told me I have nothing to fear when I place my trust in you. When I feel like a failure, you still love me with an unconditional love like no other. I chose not to worry about today knowing tomorrow brings light and life and the hope of a brand-new day.
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Shout Hosanna!
“Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle (lowly) and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).
Righteous King…gentle…this multi-faceted dimension is hard for my human mind to wrap around: a King exhibiting both righteousness and gentle humility all incased in one! My Lord showed such great humility as He rode into Jerusalem during His triumphal entry. John 12 tells us, “…the great crowd that had come for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!” Jesus then found a young donkey and sat upon it—not a stallion or warrior house, but a common donkey.
I wonder if Jesus rode into town today, would I be excited enough to lay down palm branches and shout out loud accolades of Hosanna? I truly hope I’d go door to door, e-mail blast…anything to awaken those around me.
Ask: Am I doing all I can to alert others of God’s return to earth? Do I take every opportunity to tell others what He’s done for me yesterday and today?
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for sending your one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to take on my sin and the sin of all those who put their faith in you. Thank you for showing us what true humility looks like. You are truly to be blessed—the King of Israel!
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