Tag: Pour out your heart

I will look to the LORD

Psalms 118:8  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

Psalms 40:4   Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!

Psalms 62:8-9   Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.  Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.

Jeremiah 17:5-7     Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.  He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

Micah 7:5-7    Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms;  for the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.  But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.

In times of trouble, uncertainty, confusion we have a tendency to first rely on self (self reliance)  rather than God and will always lead us down a path away from God.  When we place God in the right place in our heart, mind, and soul – seeing Him as sovereign, mighty, powerful, all knowing and loving – our problems have a away of turning to deeper faith and peace that passes all worldly understanding.  I recently had two dear friends speak this into my life last week about an hour apart.  It is amazing to see how God speaks into our lives through His word and our friends. He knows the struggle we are running through our head a 1,000 times a day and in a single hour puts them to rest.   This is what was sent to me.

Okay.  I don’t mean to be preaching to the choir but……

This is from “Jesus Calling” devotional for today and I thought of you. 

Do not resist or run from the difficulties in your life.  These problems are not random mistakes they are blessings designed for your benefit and growth.   Embrace all the circumstances I allow in your life, trusting Me to bring good out of them.   View problems as opportunities to rely more fully on Me.  😇

AMEN!

Delusional

Psalms 62:4  They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.  For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Those of low estate are but a breath; those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath.  Put no trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.  Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God,  and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love. For you will render to a man according to his work.

Job 33:14  For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings, that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man;

2 Chronicles 33:10  The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention.

Proverbs 1:24   Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

Proverbs 1:29   Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

Isaiah 6:9   And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

Mark 8:17  And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?

Luke 24:25   And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

John 3:19   And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Foolish, hardened hearts, ears that do not hear, not remembering, not seeing, not perceiving, not understanding, hating knowledge, choosing to not fear God, refusing to listen, paying no attention, and putting trust in riches are all given in today’s scriptures.  They describe the heart of man and we must be mindful of the natural inclination of our heart and mind.  We are instructed to desire God with all our heart, mind, and soul.  We are instructed to love Him more than things of this world.  We are instructed to confess sin.  We are instructed to repent/turn away from sin.  We are instructed to humbly serve Him, honor Him, follow Him, listen to Him, and obey Him.  We are instructed to give generously.  We are instructed to be in unity.  We are instructed to put others first.  We are instructed to pray.  We are instructed to cling to, rely on, and trust in Him alone.  We are instructed to cherish His word and to meditate on it night and day.  We are instructed to be set apart and be an example.  We are instructed to make disciples.  We are instructed to not be angry.  We are instructed to encourage the weak, help the poor, give to the needy.  We are instructed to keep our eyes on Him.  We are instructed to listen to Him speak to our heart. We are instructed to keep our eyes focused on Him and eternity.  We are instructed to be kind.  We are instructed to not have trust in our power or our riches or the might of others.  I fear we look at these instructions as recommendations that can or can not be lived in our lives.  I fear we think more about God’s grace, love, and mercy and forget about His wrath.  I fear we don’t do what is instructed because we choose to live outside of the knowledge and understanding of them.  I fear our christian walk has been diluted to thinking that nothing more is expected of us rather than going to church on Sunday.  I fear so many are delusional, lukewarm, and living apart from what God has instructed for those who are called to Him.  For certain we need to examine our heart and mind and life in light of His word, and the instruction, promises, and warnings contained in it.  We have a choice to serve Him with our whole heart, mind, and soul.  We have a choice to honor, follow and obey Him.  We have a choice to place Him first in our life.  We have a choice to be used by Him.  Choose to commit to a humbly live serving, honoring, following, obeying Him.  Choose to read His word, meditate on it, believe it and proclaim it.

You were not willing

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

“So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

Psalms 46:1   God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,  though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Psalms 62:7  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.  Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalms 91:1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.  You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,  nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.  Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge—

Psalms 142:5   I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Proverbs 14:26    In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

Proverbs 18:10   The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Hebrews 6:18    so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Deuteronomy 4:7   For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?

2 Samuel 22:17  “He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters.  He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.  They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.  He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

It is easy to say that God is my strength, refuge, rock, and ever present in time of trouble but do we believe it with all of our heart, soul and mind?  In the heat of the terror, trial, issue, burden do we confidently say “God is my rock, my fortress, my strength, ever present, faithful, unchangeable, Almighty strong confidence?”  In Luke Jesus tells of gathering people into a place of comfort under the wings of God and those to whom this was intended it was rejected for they were not willing to accept it.  In Psalms it is just the opposite where David says “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.  Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge”.  There is a difference in the lives of those who humbly server, honor, follow, and obey God.  They are willing because they have stayed in His word, they choose to keep their focus on Him, they trust in, cling to, and rely on Him and His promises.  They seek to be lead by God.  Their ears are open to hear the quiet voice of His leading.  They fill their mind with His word.  Spend time in His word, think about it, and ask God to give you wisdom and understanding.  He wants your whole heart, mind, and soul everyday, every minute.  Choose to give it to Him.

Guard your heart

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

 

Psalms 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

Psalms 28:1-2
To you, O LORD, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me, lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to you for help, when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctuary.

Psalms 55:16
But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.

Psalms 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Philippians 4:6-7
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Luke 1:78
because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Acts 2:21
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

It is common for each of us to be anxious about something at different times of our lives.  We don’t have to think back very far to remember these times.  What was going through your mind?  Worry, fret, upset?  God has given us many scripture to comfort us in our times of trouble if we would just trust in His loving hands and power.  If we would seek Him rather than run to “worry”.  If we would trust Him rather than the circumstances that surround us.  If we would learn to cast our cares and worries  on to Him.  The troubles that come our way do not have to be ours to bear alone.  God is ever present and wanting us to acknowledge Him as our rock, refuge, stronghold.  Why do we want to go it alone? Do we actually like to worry, have anxious thoughts, and unable to sleep?  The next time worry, doubt, and anxiousness knocks on your door, ask God to answer it. In His hands we can certainly have a peace that surpasses all understanding.

My refuge, my deliverer

“Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.”

 

Psalms 7:10
My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.

Psalms 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalms 84:11
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Psalms 89:18
For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Proverbs 2:21
For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it,

Proverbs 11:20
Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those of blameless ways are his delight.

Proverbs 28:18
Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

Psalms 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.

Reading these verses gives us hope in no matter what comes our way God is our strength, refuge, deliverer, fortress, rock and shield.  How do we find this when things around us seem to be falling apart?  I am not sure in the heat of it we can do more than claim it and gain peace by laying it as His feet.  Trust in, rely on, and cling to Him alone.  It is a good time for those of us who’s world is not falling apart to be an encouragement to those who need it.  Stay close to God, listen for His guidance, and obey His leading.