Tag: hope

Rest In Jesus

Matthew 11:28 NLT, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus gives us rest, spiritually and physically. He paid the price for our sins so we don’t have to wear ourselves out trying to compensate for our wrongdoing with our works. We can rest in His finished work on the cross . I recently heard a sermon that stressed how important it is for us to also rest physically. Our bodies need time to heal from the daily toil of life. Even God rested during creation.

Genesis 2:2 NLT, “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”

Photo by: Lisa Fotios of the UK 🇬🇧

Rest is something that is definitely worth praying over. Through prayer we can stay connected to Jesus and He will help us to maintain balance in our lives spiritually and physically. We can trust Him to give us the rest we need. Don’t let fear or worry hold you back from finding rest in Jesus.

Always Be Prepared

1 Peter 3:15 NIV, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

We may not always be aware, but there are people who are watching us when we claim to be a Christian. They are watching to see how we respond in certain situations. They are examining our words and our actions. In the world today, truth has become whatever people want it to be, instead of what God says it is.

Many live their lives focused mostly on their own desires, with little or no regard for the Lord. Living that way leads to hopelessness. As Christians we have the privilege to help bring hope to a dying world through Jesus Christ. We must be careful not to get caught up in the ways of the world, so that we will be an effective witness for Him.

Photo by: Nappy of the USA 🇺🇸

We must also be prepared to give an answer explaining why we have placed our faith and hope in Jesus. We must be ready to explain why we love our Savior and have chosen to give our lives to Him. We must know in our hearts, what makes being a Christian different from any of the other “truths” that people believe in.

As we answer questions about our faith in Christ, we must do so with gentleness and respect. Love must be the root of our faith so that it will be what we show to others. People aren’t really impressed with how many times a week we go to church, or how many Bible verses we know. However, when we show people love through our actions, they will be more prone to believe the words that we speak, and want to know more about our Jesus, the Savior of the world.

Photo by: Christina Morillo of the USA 🇺🇸

Early Morning Prayer

Psalm 5:3 NIV, “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

Have you ever had those times in the wee hours of the morning where God woke you up for prayer? We know that our God is not limited by time. He’s always available around the clock. Whenever He wakes us for prayer, we shouldn’t hesitate to answer His call to spend quality time with us.

God uses these quiet and still times to enjoy a unique type of intimacy with us. Embrace those moments, where because of the quiet, you can clearly hear His voice. Even if you don’t seem to hear God speaking anything specific, just enjoy the moment and sit quietly in His presence.

For many of us, the days are so busy, so it’s a blessing when we have these special times to commune with the Lord. There have been many times God woke me, and I felt Him nudging me to pray, and whenever I’ve taken advantage of His offer, I can honestly say, I’ve never been disappointed.

Psalm 119:147 NLT, “I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words.”

Photo by: Pixabay

Living a life of devotion to the Lord may require us to get less sleep for whatever the reason. It could be because of early morning prayer, or because of a late night phone call with a loved one who needs someone to talk to. But I’m thankful that He is our strength through it all.

When it comes to the Lord, the gains of obedience to Him, far outweigh any losses we may have. When He asks us to give something up (extra sleep included), it’s because He has something far better waiting for us on the other side of our obedience.

Prayer, an Honor and Privilege

Philippians 4:6 NLT, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

I’m very familiar with the NIV version of this verse, but I recently read it in the NLT version that I mentioned above, and loved it just as much. We don’t need to worry or be anxious about anything. It’s an honor and a privilege that through Christ Jesus, we can carry all of our needs to God in prayer. Nothing is too small for God to care about, and nothing is too big for Him to handle. We need to challenge ourselves to entrust all things to Him in prayer.

Photo by: Luis Quintero of Panama 🇵🇦

It’s a joy that we can talk to God anytime and anyplace. There is no one formula when it comes to prayer. He delights in hearing our voice, as we tell Him what we need. He is our loving Father who cares about the details of our day. As we pray, we can joyfully thank Him for all He has done and all He will do in the days to come. Don’t worry, just pray to God, about everything.

The Barnabas Award

Thank you to my little sister Herry @ Herry Chic Counsels for this award nomination. Read Herry’s About Me page to discover more about the purpose of her blog. Her posts are a true blessing, and will inspire you in your journey with Christ Jesus. 🌺

Here are the guidelines: 🤗
1) Thank the person who nominated you and share their blog. 2) Think of five bloggers that encourage and inspire you and nominate them. 3) List five things about yourself. 4) Answer the questions you got asked. 5) Finally, ask your nominees five questions. Why five? Because it is the number that signifies grace.

“You have been chosen for this recognition because of the encouragement and inspiration you bring to your readers.”

Five Things About Me: 👩🏿

1. My favorite season is spring. The flowers are beautiful. 🌷

2. I like spicy food. 🌶

3. I used to have 2 pet lizards named Cocoa and Verde. 🦎 🦎

4. My favorite part of flying is takeoff. ✈️

5. My favorite Bible verse is John 3:16. ✝️

Here are the questions that Herry asked me to answer:

  1. Who is the person that has most influenced you in your faith walk? Tell us a little about him/her. My mom. She shares her faith in Jesus daily through her actions of love and kindness.
  2. Other than the Holy Bible, is there another book that you read that encourages you? Can you recommend it to us? 30 Days to a Stronger More Confident You: Secrets to Bold and Fearless Living by Deborah Smith Pegues. This book talks about developing confidence through knowing Jesus Christ.
  3. If you could walk anywhere to spend some “alone” time with God, where in the world would you want to be and why? The park is my favorite place to spend time with the Lord, because being out in nature reminds me of Him.
  4. Do you have a favorite praise song? What is it? I love so many, it’s hard to name one. But I’ve been listening to “Raise a Hallelujah” by Bethel Music a lot lately.
  5. Do you ever send notes or cards of encouragement to someone? Why or why not? Yes I do, it’s a blessing to encourage others. We all need encouragement.

I nominate the following 5 bloggers. If you choose to participate, please answer the same 5 questions. Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement you bring to me and others. Your blog is a blessing! ❤️☀️❤️

Pippi’s Poetry

Garden Faith

The “F” Word

Just a Jesus Girl

Merry Mence

Protected By Our Lord

Proverbs 2:8, “He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.”

I’ve had this verse on the dash board of my car written on a little piece of paper for the last several years. It brings me comfort to be reminded that as I go about my daily tasks, driving to and from, the Lord is protecting me. When I read it, I usually focus on God’s physical protection, but recently God reminded me that He is also protecting us spiritually, mentally, emotionally and financially. He protects His children in every way.

I admit that there are times I don’t always understand God’s protection, simply because I don’t always understand how He is working in every area of my life. However, I know He loves me. And I also know that the way to remain within His protection is through obedience to His Word.

Photo: Aleksejs Bergmanis of Riga, Latvia 🇱🇻

When life happens, we may have times we feel we are not being protected by God, but it’s during those difficult times where we have to choose to believe that our Heavenly Father is present, and that He is making a way for us. When we make godly choices, it opens the door for us to see God at work, and know Him in an intimate way.

Take comfort in knowing that the Lord is guarding your path and protecting you as you faithfully serve Him. I pray that you continue to rest in God’s sovereignty. Even during times when you don’t understand all the details of how He is working in your life, the lives of those you love, or in the world around you, trust that He has a perfect plan.

Feeling Insecure?

Psalm 16:8 ESV, “I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

We live in a world that is constantly changing, and even in our own lives we often experience changes that can leave us feeling insecure. There is no guarantee that tomorrow will be like today, or that today will be like tomorrow. Not only do situations change, but people change. Sometimes we have moments that we’re not even completely aware of what is causing us to feel shaky and insecure. We just know that we’re not ourselves.

Photo by: Kat Jayne of Australia 🇦🇺

During these frustrating times, prayer truly works. A short (or long) talk with the Father will set us back on the right track. Talking to Him reminds us of His continuous presence with us, and allows us to refocus on what matters most. Negative, hopeless thoughts are not God’s will for us. Proclaiming what God’s Word says, will fill us with joy and hope.

Our security lies in the Lord. When we allow Him to be the anchor of our souls, we can be confident that He will see us through and cause everything to work out for our good. When you find yourself wrestling with insecurity, remember He who lives within you, is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Then boldly proclaim to yourself and your situation, “I shall not be shaken.”

Keep Resting Secure in Jesus

Photo by: Pixabay