Aug 4 The Faith Train

“You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?
You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Yet sometimes I have felt in the dark.  I have been afraid of what may happen to me or to my loved ones.

Sometimes I feel so ill prepared to handle what comes up that it leaves me feeling overwhelmed – with emotion, with circumstances, with decisions, with worry.  I have been anxious over so many things that never happened.  It is because I am relying on “feelings.”

The truth is that my “faith” is based on “facts.”  The “facts” fuel my “faith” which is the engine that drives the train.

They pull my “feelings” along behind like a caboose.  The problem is that I sometimes forget and allow myself to be driven by the caboose.

The fact is “in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”  Father, You have promised to keep me safe.  And my faith in You is steadfast.

But sometimes when I don’t “feel” You near me, I forget that You are there.  The fact is You have promised never to leave me!  So just because I cannot feel You, doesn’t mean You are not there.  Again, I let myself be driven by my feelings.

When I remember the facts of who You are: Creator God, Yahweh, the Great I Am, Jehovah Jirah – my provider, El Shaddai; I can say in the strength of my faith:

“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”

When I state these “facts” and speak aloud the truth of my faith, my feelings fall into line.  And I am strengthened and encouraged.

“You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?
You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

A-MEN !

Psalm 27:1-6

Aug 4 The Faith Train

“You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Yet sometimes I have felt in the dark.  I have been afraid of what may happen to me or to my loved ones.

Sometimes I feel so ill prepared to handle what comes up that it leaves me feeling overwhelmed – with emotion, with circumstances, with decisions, with worry.  I have been anxious over so many things that never happened.  It is because I am relying on “feelings.”

The truth is that my “faith” is based on “facts.”  The “facts” fuel my “faith” which is the engine that drives the train.

They pull my “feelings” along behind like a caboose.  The problem is that I sometimes forget and allow myself to be driven by the caboose.

The fact is “in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”  Father, You have promised to keep me safe.  And my faith in You is steadfast.

But sometimes when I don’t “feel” You near me, I forget that You are there.  The fact is You have promised never to leave me!  So just because I cannot feel You, doesn’t mean You are not there.  Again, I let myself be driven by my feelings.

When I remember the facts of who You are: Creator God, Yahweh, the Great I Am, Jehovah Jirah – my provider, El Shaddai; I can say in the strength of my faith:

“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”

When I state these “facts” and speak aloud the truth of my faith, my feelings fall into line.  And I am strengthened and encouraged.  “You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

A-MEN !

Psalm 27:1-6

Dec 4 God is Love – He loves me!

Father, You have given me the confidence to live my life encouraged.  Through John, You have shown me how to discern truth from falsehood and how important love is.  Holding on to those things will help me live a godly life.

There are so many influences in the world today it can be hard to know which are truly good and which are truly evil.  Evil masquerades as good.  It can appear justified, acceptable, even beneficial.

Evil influence can even come from well-intentioned people.   And You assure me that when I come up against evil, worldly influences, “greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world.” 

Since You ARE love, every one who belongs to You will have that love in them.  Your love is total, complete, sacrificial, perfect, and saves me.

This is not “I love ice cream” kind of love, or brotherly love, or even romantic love.   It is the Greek word agape– a total, selfless, unconditional love that overcomes sin.  You loved each one of us before we loved You or even knew of You..  It is a perfect love that has no fear, but drives out fear.

It is Your love, Father, that I seek in my life every day!  I need it to drive out the fear that gains a foothold in me through circumstances I don’t understand, through stressful things happening to my loved ones, through the evil I see prospering in the world.

Father, there are days I feel so overwhelmed and unlovable that I deny Your love because I don’t “feel” it.  Forgive me when I doubt Your amazing, perfect love.

Do not let me be led by my feelings – they have nothing to do with the truth of and the absolute certainty of Your love.

Help me sense Your love, and be lifted up by it, so I can share it with my brothers and sisters.

Let me walk in Your love till the end of days, or the end of my days, whichever comes first.  Thank You for Your amazing love.  Amen

I John 4:1-21

Nov 27 Your Gifts

“Your divine power has given [me] everything [I] need for a godly life…”  “You have given [me] Your very great and precious promises…”

Thank You Father, that I have all that I need:

prayer as a way to hear from and talk to You
Your Word as a guidebook.
the Holy Spirit who reveals spiritual truth to me

You have promised me:

Your eternal love
Your constant presence
Your faithfulness
Your protection
Your provision

All this because You are my personal Savior.

Help me live in the light of these gifts.  And nurture qualities that will lead me to be effective and productive.  Peter tells me these qualities are: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, kindness and love.  Some of these are the Fruit of the Spirit and will grow in me as I am obedient to Your Spirit’s leading.  Help me embrace opportunities for each of these qualities to grow in my life.

“Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”  Your Word, the Scriptures, are that light for me.  When I am not sure which option is best, Your Word tells me “Trust in the Lord with all Your heart and lean not on Your own understanding.”

When I feel frustrated with some results, You tell me “Do not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time [you] will reap a harvest…”  Or when I feel discouraged, alone and depressed, You tell me “I have carried you since your birth…I will continue to be with you and sustain you, even when you have gray hairs.  I will always carry you; I will always sustain you; I will always rescue you.” [paraphrased to personalize]

Your Word helps me see that next step and take it.  Thank You Father, that You care so much for me that even in the darkness of this world and its “wisdom” You have made a way for me to stay on Your path and keep moving ahead safely.  Amen

II Peter 1:1-8; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 3:5; Galatians 6:9; Isaiah 46:3-4

Aug 4 The Faith Train

“You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Yet sometimes I have felt in the dark.  I have been afraid of what may happen to me or to my loved ones.

Sometimes I feel so ill prepared to handle what comes up that it leaves me feeling overwhelmed – with emotion, with circumstances, with decisions, with worry.  I have been anxious over so many things that never happened.  It is because I am relying on “feelings.”

The truth is that my “faith” is based on “facts.”  The “facts” fuel my “faith” which is the engine that drives the train.

They pull my “feelings” along behind like a caboose.  The problem is that I sometimes forget and allow myself to be driven by the caboose.

The fact is “in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”  Father, You have promised to keep me safe.  And my faith in You is steadfast.

But sometimes when I don’t “feel” You near me, I forget that You are there.  The fact is You have promised never to leave me!  So just because I cannot feel You, doesn’t mean You are not there.  Again, I let myself be driven by my feelings.

When I remember the facts of who You are: Creator God, Yahweh, the Great I Am, Jehovah Jirah – my provider, El Shaddai; I can say in the strength of my faith:

“Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”

When I state these “facts” and speak aloud the truth of my faith, my feelings fall into line.  And I am strengthened and encouraged.  “You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

A-MEN !

Psalm 27:1-6

Dec 4 God is love – He loves me!

Father, You have given me the confidence to live my life encouraged.  Through John, You have shown me how to discern truth from falsehood and how important love is.  Holding on to those things will help me live a godly life.

There are so many influences in the world today it can be hard to know which are truly good and which are truly evil.  Evil masquerades as good.  It can appear justified, acceptable, even beneficial.

Evil influence can even come from well-intentioned people.   And You assure me that when I come up against evil, worldly influences, “greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world.”

Since You ARE love, every one who belongs to You will have that love in them.  Your love is total, complete, sacrificial, perfect, and saves me.

This is not “I love ice cream” kind of love, or brotherly love, or even romantic love.   It is the Greek word agape– a total, selfless, unconditional love that overcomes sin.  You loved each one of us before we loved You or even knew of You..  It is a perfect love that has no fear, but drives out fear.

It is Your love, Father, that I seek in my life every day!  I need it to drive out the fear that gains a foothold in me through circumstances I don’t understand, through stressful things happening to my loved ones, through the evil I see prospering in the world.

Father, there are days I feel so overwhelmed and unlovable that I deny Your love because I don’t “feel” it.  Forgive me when I doubt Your amazing, perfect love.

Do not let me be led by my feelings – they have nothing to do with the truth of and the absolute certainty of Your love.

Help me sense Your love, and be lifted up by it, so I can share it with my brothers and sisters.

Let me walk in Your love till the end of days, or the end of my days, whichever comes first.  Thank You for Your amazing love.  Amen

I John 4:1-21

Aug 4 The Faith train

“You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Yet sometimes I have felt in the dark.  I have been afraid of what may happen to me or to my loved ones.

Sometimes I feel so ill prepared to handle what comes up that it leaves me feeling overwhelmed – with emotion, with circumstances, with decisions, with worry.  I have been anxious over so many things that never happened.  It is because I am relying on “feelings.”

The truth is that my “faith” is based on “facts.”  The “facts” fuel my “faith” which is the engine that drives the train.

They pull my “feelings” along behind like a caboose.  The problem is that I sometimes forget and allow myself to be driven by the caboose.

The fact is “in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”  Father, You have promised to keep me safe.  And my faith in You is steadfast.

But sometimes when I don’t “feel” You near me, I forget that You are there.  The fact is You have promised never to leave me!  So just because I cannot feel You, doesn’t mean You are not there.  Again, I let myself be driven by my feelings.

When I remember the facts of who You are: Creator God, Yahweh, the Great I Am, Jehovah Jirah – my provider, El Shaddai; I can say in the strength of my faith: “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”

 When I state these “facts” and speak aloud the truth of my faith, my feelings fall into line.  And I am strengthened and encouraged.  “You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?  You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”  A-MEN !

Psalm 27:1-6

 

 

Dec 4 God is love – He loves me!

Father, You have given me the confidence to live my life encouraged.  Through John, You have shown me how to discern truth from falsehood and how important love is.  Holding on to those things will help me live a godly life.

 

There are so many influences in the world today it can be hard to know which are truly good and which are truly evil.  Evil masquerades as good.  It can appear justified, acceptable, even beneficial.

Evil influence can even come from well-intentioned people.   And You assure me that when I come up against evil, worldly influences, “greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world.”

Since You ARE love, every one who belongs to You will have that love in them.  Your love is total, complete, sacrificial, perfect, and saves me.

This is not “I love ice cream” kind of love, or brotherly love, or even romantic love.   It is the Greek word agape– a total, selfless, unconditional love that overcomes sin.  You loved each one of us before we loved You or even knew of You..  It is a perfect love that has no fear, but drives out fear.

It is Your love, Father, that I seek in my life every day!  I need it to drive out the fear that gains a foothold in me through circumstances I don’t understand, through stressful things happening to my loved ones, through the evil I see prospering in the world.

Father, there are days I feel so overwhelmed and unlovable that I deny Your love because I don’t “feel” it.  Forgive me when I doubt Your amazing, perfect love.

Do not let me be led by my feelings – they have nothing to do with the truth of and the absolute certainty of Your love.

Help me sense Your love, and be lifted up by it, so I can share it with my brothers and sisters.

Let me walk in Your love till the end of days, or the end of my days, whichever comes first.  Thank You for Your amazing love.  Amen

I John 4:1-21

Aug 4 The Faith train

“You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”

Yet sometimes I have felt in the dark. I have been afraid of what may happen to me or to my loved ones. Sometimes I feel so ill prepared to handle what comes up that it leaves me feeling overwhelmed – with emotion, with circumstances, with decisions, with worry. I have been anxious over so many things that never happened. And a theme here is that I am relying on “feelings”.

 

The truth is that my “faith” is based on “facts”. The “facts” fuel my “faith” which is the engine that drives the train. They pull my “feelings” along behind like a caboose.

The problem is that I sometimes forget and allow myself to be driven by the caboose.

The fact is “in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.” Father, You have promised to keep me safe. And my faith in You is steadfast. But sometimes when I don’t “feel” You near me, I forget that You are there. The fact is You have promised never to leave me! So just because I cannot feel You, doesn’t mean You are not there. Again, I let myself be driven by my feelings.

When I remember the facts of who You are: Creator God, Yahweh, the Great I Am, Jehovah Jirah – my provider, El Shaddai; I can say in the strength of my faith: “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.”

When I state these “facts”, and speak aloud the truth of my faith, my feelings fall into line. And I am strengthened and encouraged. “You are my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? You are the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”  A-MEN !

Psalm 27:1-6

May 7 It’s all about You

Father, let me be like Hannah.

Let me be earnest and persistent in prayer as Hannah was, pouring out my feelings and heartaches to You. When I make a promise to You, help me to be true to my word as Hannah was, no matter how hard it is. Hannah gave back to You the very thing she prayed for: a precious son. Help me hold Your blessings loosely enough that I do not love them more than I love You.

I will rejoice as Hannah did over all You do for me. Help me acknowledge that all my blessings come from You. It is You who give life and take it away, You who send poverty and wealth. It is not by strength that I or anyone else prevails, but You who guard my feet and give me strength and victory over my enemies.

I delight in Your deliverance and in Your justice. You are the Lord God Almighty who knows and weighs all deeds. You laid the foundations of the world and set it in place. There is no one holy like You.   Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

I Samuel 1:1-2:21