That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors
because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. John 20:19 NLT Recently I discovered a song by Elevation Worship that repeatedly asks, “What would you do if Jesus walked in the room?” I was challenged by that. Have you ever asked yourself the same question? What would you do? The disciples in the verse above were terrified at first. I’m sure some of us would fall to the floor in awe of the living Lord. The song asks what would you do, how would you praise, how would you shout, what would you do if he walked into the room? But in the last few phrases Isaiah Templeton sings what I think Jesus really wants us to know right now, “He’s here right now! A very present help in the time of trouble. The King is in the room! Your Savior..., your Healer …, your Provider..., your Redeemer..., your Champion is in the room” right now. How can we be sure? God’s true Word, the Bible, tell us so. “... And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (John 14:20) “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3) “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5) We never need to feel alone. God is with us. He is in us. He hears us, he sees us, he knows exactly how we feel and what we need. So, what will you say now that you are reminded that God has walked into your room, into your heart, and will never leave? How will you respond today? Dear friends, be blessed with confident assurance that Jesus is with you and will never abandon you. Know that he has gone to a great deal of trouble to bring you to an awareness of himself and deeply desires an intimate relationship with you, close up in the everyday happenings in your life. May that reality become increasingly real and fill you with overwhelming joy! In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen. Mary Sumner ~ October, 2020
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May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace. Numbers 6:24-26 NLT
Several years ago this ministry learned there is power in the words we speak for good or for evil. For example, through our words we have been given the authority to release God’s blessings. When we speak blessings over others, our circumstances, even over ourselves, the atmosphere shifts and we make a way for God to work in our hearts and lives. This is definitely not a new concept. In fact, thousands of years ago the Lord God gave the blessing above from Numbers 6 to Moses who was to teach it to his priestly brother Aaron and his sons. The Israelites had been led out of slavery in Egypt and were about to wonder the desolate wasteland for years. They were quick to forget how God had saved them and was providing everything they needed. Perhaps they were a lot like you and me, in being too fast to complain when things seemed to go wrong. In this environment God trained Moses what to pray over his people. Moses may have been overwhelmed with the responsibilities of leadership and fed up with their groaning. But God wanted his people to understand that he had not given up on them, but wanted to continue to bless them, even SMILE on them. Maybe you are going through a rough time right now. You need to know that God, not only is there with you and loves you, but HE LIKES YOU. Your gracious God looks at you and smiles. So, here is the lovely blessing that God himself gave us to speak over ourselves and our families. It is timeless and powerful. The Lord knew exactly what his people needed to hear. The Holy Spirit wants to teach you how to bless others, too. Join God in the blessing business and learn to shift hearts and atmospheres. Dear friends, may you remember every day that God is smiling on you. You can never disappoint or disobey him so much that he gives up on you. Look to him, turn from ways that you know displease him, and accept the truth that you are loved, understood and cherished. Receive his blessings. Amen. Mary Sumner ~ October, 2020 … Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. … Hebrews 6:18-20 NLT
We have had plenty of opportunities to feel things were out of control these days. Fear can set in, even when we remember who we are in Christ and that Father God’s loves us and protects us. When my soul gets anxious, here are three truths that help me. Jesus lives in me, and my heart is rooted, secure, in the Father’s love. Therefore, it may feel like things are out of control, but nothing can snatch me out of God’s favor and gracious presence. Ephesians 3:17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Jesus is my refuge. I am confident in him. When I trust in him I am safe. Nothing can blow me off the path he has planned and ordained for me. Hebrews 6:18-20 (above) Jesus and the Holy Spirit are praying for me and interceding on my behalf. They know what is happening, so I don’t need to know what to pray. They have me covered. This brings me comfort when everything in my life seems to be turned upside down. Hebrews 2:17,18 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested. Romans 8:26, 27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. There are many other truths in God’s Word that he has given us to reassure us and comfort us. May the Lord give you the one that will bring you peace in every situation. Dear friends, be blessed as you look to Jesus for help, refuge and reassurance. You are dearly loved and precious to God. Nothing can snatch you out of the Father’s heart or hand. Rejoice that you belong to such a strong and compassionate God, your refuge in the storms. Amen. Mary Sumner ~ October, 2020 |
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