“What does your husband do?” Many women are asked that question when first getting to know someone. For a single woman who longs to be married, such a question can be exasperating. For a woman whose husband works in a position she doesn’t respect, the question can make her uncomfortable. But what if someone asked about your husband and you replied, “He’s God of all the earth, the Lord of HOSTS.” Why could we legitimately reply that way?  Isaiah 54:5 says, “For your HUSBAND is your Maker, whose name is the Lord of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.” God describes Himself as our HUSBAND who is committed to us for eternity. That’s something to smile about.   

Lord, HUSBAND, Maker, Lord of hosts, Redeemer, Holy One of Israel, God of all the earth, we love You and thank You for Your tender care and commitment to us. 

When God says something one time, we need to pay attention. When He says it twice in the same breath, we need to sit up and take notice. In Romans 8:26-27  God voices two times that He’s aware there are times when we don’t know how or what to pray. But, He knows our needs and what we need to pray for others.  So, here’s what our Heavenly Father wants us to know: “… the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself INTERCEDES for us with groanings too deep for words, and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He INTERCEDES for the saints according to the will of God.”  Twice, He assures us that the Holy Spirit will search our heart and then INTERCEDE on our behalf. How extraordinary is that?

Holy One, what a joy and peace there is in knowing that You search our hearts and INTERCEDE for us.  Amazing! Thank You!

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Do you need a place to go to that is higher than you, a place where you can scale the heights and look at life from a different, eternal perspective? If you said, yes, that’s understandable. The daily grind can become just that – a grind. The thrill of the chase ends. Romance changes. The kids grow up. The job ends. The money runs out. The other side wins. Sin gets the best of us. We’re disappointed with our life. What do we do in those cases?  Isaiah 33:16 tells us we can go to a place to gain perspective.  “He will dwell on the heights, his refuge will be the IMPREGNABLE ROCK.” If we know we can scale the heights and see life with an eternal perspective, then we must ask ourselves if we are going to God and doing that.  Or, are we trudging through our day bemoaning our circumstances?  Today, let’s scale the heights of the Lord, our impregnable rock, and consider things from His eternal perspective.

LORD, You are the IMPREGNABLE ROCK, our spiritual refuge. Thank You that we can scale heaven’s heights and view our life with Your perspective. 

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Dear friends, we missed Giving Tuesday in the midst of date changes. However, your gift to help fund our ongoing costs and ministry during this time is valuable and deeply appreciated. Whether God has connected us through our 365 Days of Praise, Beyond Ourselves podcasts, Bible studies, or conferences, we have one heart – to spread the Word and Love of Jesus. Thank you for remembering us with your tax deductible donation of any amount.

Are you ever prideful or critical of others? Humility is a godly trait and one we see in our Lord.  Jesus was HUMBLE as Matthew 11:29 explains, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus explained that His humility flowed from His heart. It is the essence of who Jesus is. That’s what we need. Not an attempt at humility, but to truly regard others as more important than ourselves. Jesus said we are to learn from Him. If we’re not HUMBLE, a good first step is to ask Him to fill us with His HUMBLE Spirit.

Lord, You who have every right to be prideful chose to serve us and even HUMBLE yourself to the point of death on our behalf. We praise You, most HUMBLE Lord Jesus, and pray to be more like You.

Do you ever feel shaky; like you might fall? Do you feel like you don’t have the strength to stand, much less make it through the next day or week? If so, be encouraged. In Psalm 18:2  our Lord is described as our strength in this unique way. “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.” If you’re like me, you can understand the Lord being our rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, and stronghold. But what is meant by the Lord being our “HORN OF SALVATION?”  Scholar Herbert Lockyer explains: “the figure of the Horn is taken from those animals whose strength is in their horns. Because the horn was once the instrument of the oxen’s strength, it became the symbol of power. And our God and Savior came as a HORN or mighty instrument of SALVATION. In addition, when horns were fixed to an altar they became projections to which sacrifices were bound and to which those who needed protection could cling.” Jesus is the believer’s HORN OF SALVATION. Cling to Him.

HORN OF SALVATION, we praise You, our strength, and salvation. Thank You that we can cling to You. 

 Can you imagine being told that a relative you barely knew passed away and left you all his money? “That’s nice of Uncle Fred,” you might say, thinking of the last time you’d seen him with his average clothing and car. But then, the executor of the estate continues, “Congratulations! You’re a billionaire!” Stunned, you realize that you never knew all that Uncle Fred possessed. Psalm 16:5 is such a comment to the Christian. “The Lord is the portion of my INHERITANCE and my cup; You support my lot.” In other words, upon Christ’s death and our confession of Him as Lord, we received an inheritance in Christ: His Holy Spirit, divine nature, mind, power, and heaven!” Friends, that ought to set our feet to dancing and put a smile on our face. Do we realize all we have in Christ? Are we living joyfully and mindful of our INHERITANCE with praise on our lips to Him?

Lord, You are our INHERITANCE. What more could we want? We love You, praise You, and rejoice in YOU!