Category: Faith

Psalm 103:5 (NLT), “He fills my life with good things…”

Empty Hands Full heart, is a phrase that has been coming to me a lot over the last couple of weeks. What this phrase is referring to are those times in life when your heart is so full of God and His promises, His love and His hope, but especially His hope. You just can’t seem to let go of hope, hope that things will get better, and hope that He has a great future in store for you. But yet in some ways your hands are empty. When I say empty I mean that you haven’t yet grabbed hold of those things you are hoping for in your life, even though you have them all in your heart. Your heart is so full but in reality there are prayers God has not yet answered, dreams you have that have not come true or goals you have that have not yet been reached. You have been diligently doing your part but it just always seems like there is something to get in your way, or someone trying to pull you back. But because your heart is full you keep doing your best to cling to God and His Word and keep walking by faith and not by sight like He tells us to do.

In your mind you may sometimes wonder if it’s worth going on, if it’s worth continuing to trust God, if it’s worth the fight or the effort. But in your heart you don’t want to give up. You want to hold fast to God and to His promises. You want to keep having that hope, and keep having that faith that everything is going to work out even though you don’t understand how. You may be tired or feel discouraged at times, but still you choose to believe with everything in you that things will work out in your favor. Today I am writing this for those whose hearts are full but their hands are empty. In spite of the things you do not understand or do not yet have, don’t give up. Look to God for strength, keep the faith and just believe. Keep believing that God has a miracle in store for you and keep being honest with Him about your feelings. Don’t try and hide your feelings and don’t try and be strong apart from God because our strength comes from Him. If you feel weak then tell Him so and rely on Him to refresh your soul. Every day keep pouring your heart out to Him and receive His love. Let that fullness that is in your heart flow throughout your life and into the lives of those around you. Trust God to fill your emptiness and don’t give up because you have come too far. Believe that He will move in your life and work all things together for good.

Whatever it is you need, rather its healing, rather its financial provision, rather it’s restoration in a relationship,  you just have to keep holding on and believing God to bring about the needed change. Even on your worst days when you may feel guilty or unworthy, that is when you look up and you remember that He loves you more than you could ever know. Look up toward heaven and say, “God thank you for a new day and thank you that you love me, thank you for your grace and your mercy, thank you for your never ending peace that surpasses all understanding. Thank you for holding me in your arms, thank you for never leaving me nor forsaking me, thank you for giving me strength to go on and thank you for filling my hands with all that You have for me.”

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 34:17 (NIV), “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”

A couple of days ago I was speaking to a friend of mine whom I had not spoken to in quite awhile. She shared with me some of the trials that she was in the midst of. She was pressing her way through many spiritual, emotional, financial, relationship, and even mental battles. She said the enemy was attacking her from many different directions. But as she spoke she never stop professing her faith and trust in God. She said she knew that in Him she would be victorious and that she would not accept any of the negative reports that the enemy was trying to throw her way. I was inspired by her strength and through her testimony I was reminded that regardless of what we maybe facing we can still make a firm decision to believe in the faithfulness of God. We can settle any doubt in our minds by meditating on the truth of His Word and we can encourage ourselves by proclaiming what it says. We can’t rush God or His plans but we can call out to him any time of day or night and He promises to hear our cries for help and give us exactly what we need in that moment. That’s one of the many things I love about the character of God, He always knows exactly what we need and when we need it. His ways are perfect and the decisions He makes for our lives are flawless.

Before the convenient GPS days, did you ever end up driving through a neighborhood looking for a particular place and end up a little turned around or maybe even completely lost? Then you turn down a particular street hopeful that you will be able to finally find your way out of the maze only to discover the street you turned down leads to a dead end. This can be frustrating to say the least. Because now, not only do you have to turn around but you also have to start over and search for another way out. It’s the same way with life, we may at times find ourselves searching for a way out of a difficult maze that has come our way. The “maze” maybe, health problems, relationship problems, emotional problems, financial problems, the list can go on, but just remember that Christ is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). In Him we are equipped with all we need and He has promised to direct our paths if we trust in Him (Proverbs 3:5-6). Even when we feel we have come to a “dead end”, we can rest assured that Christ knows the way out and He will guide us safely to our destination. His love is always present with us wherever we go.

Father,

Thank you for leading us everyday. You Word says you guard the course of the just and protect the way of your faithful ones (Proverbs 2:8). When we find ourselves at a “dead end”, help us to recognize it as another opportunity to trust You more while being confident that you will never leave us and that you will open the right doors for us at the right time.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 89:13(NLT), “Powerful is your arm; Strong is your hand! Your right hand is lifted high in glorious strength.”

I’m not sure how old I was, but I know I was just a little girl as I sat on the floor and looked up to my Daddy and asked him this question, “Why are your hands so big?” I can still hear his voice in my mind as he answered me, “I guess because I’m a big man”. I remember briefly examining my Daddy’s hands once more, before deciding I was satisfied with his answer to my curiosity. For years I’ve managed to remember our short dialogue about his hands. Daddy always worked really hard.  He made a living working at a shipyard as a welder, or as he would always say, “a first class welder.” I can still hear the sound of his car starting up early in the morning as he would leave home to drive to work. But even outside of his normal career, he could build and fix things and he was great at repairing cars. He also enjoyed working in the yard. Our grass looked like a nice, plush, green carpet and everyone admired it. My favorite thing that him and I did together is when we would spend time listening to gospel quartet groups like the Mighty Clouds of Joy and the Gospel Keynotes. I still listen to some of those same songs today and instantly it makes me feel close to him and remember the good times we shared. I would prance around joyfully without a care in the world as the music played. There was something special about being in my Daddy’s presence and spending time with him. As a little girl, I didn’t realize it then, but now I know this experience was a forerunner to the much higher joy I have now when I worship in my Heavenly Father’s presence.

Looking back, I can reminisce on the things that my earthly Father’s hands were able to accomplish. He passed away many years ago but I’m truly thankful for all he did. However, my earthly Father’s hands were human hands and human hands have limitations, but oh the strength, the power, and the glory in the supernatural hands of my Heavenly Father! His abilities are unlimited. His love is unmatched. In Isaiah 49:16 (NIV) God the Father says, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” He sees us every time he looks at His hands. And furthermore, our elder brother Jesus says in John 10:29, that no one can snatch us out of His Father’s hand. His Father is our Father and our Father’s love gives us life. I can’t breathe without His love and I’m glad I don’t have to go one day without it. He extended His love before we were born through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Every day I can sense Him watching over me, like a good father always does with his children. No matter how old we are, Daddy God is always there. Most of us have experienced some type of hurt in life, but His Spirit penetrates even the deepest places of our hearts and He heals wounds that we sometimes didn’t even know existed. Psalm 147:3 says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

I pray that you will rest in His arms, while letting Him heal any wounds you have, and find peace knowing He watches over you every day and has you engraved in the palms of His hands.

Father,

Thank you. I feel safe knowing that Your powerful arm and strong hand carry me always. I’m comforted because I can live each day knowing Your love never ends.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.