Monday, May 07, 2007

Encouragement for Those Making Decisions

I was sitting in church yesterday morning (a good thing to do, I might add!) And the pastor read a passage of Scripture that went along with what he was going to preach about later in the service. But, the Holy Spirit meant it for me for a different reason.

Someone I know and love very much is facing some decisions about their future. The words in the text encouraged me. Perhaps it will encourage you, too.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and in his good time he will honor you. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you. Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to his eternal glory by means of Jesus Christ. After you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power is his forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11 NLT
There are a couple of things that jump out at me from this passage.
  1. God cares about me and about what happens to me.
  2. Satan is prowling around looking for someone to devour.
So what does that say to me?
  1. The very God of the universe knows me and He cares about me. He knows what I need and He wants to meet my needs.
  2. Satan (the roaring lion) is opportunistic. The lion often lies in wait in the tall grass until the unsuspecting or weak prey wanders by too close.
So what does that mean to me?
  1. I should cast all of my cares, questions, concerns and burdens about the future upon Him. He is Sovereign. He is Love. And that is a powerful combination.
  2. I should stay strong and focused on the God who has brought me along thus far. Even though times may be good, do not forsake Him. Do not be proud and self-sufficient.
I don't know if this will help anyone this week. I know it helped me yesterday!

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:05 AM

    Yield not to temptation,
    For yielding is sin;
    Each vict'ry will help you
    Some other to win;
    Fight manfully onward,
    Dark passions subdue,
    Look ever to Jesus,
    He will carry you through.

    Ask the Savior to help you,
    Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
    He is willing to aid you,
    He will carry you through.

    Shun evil companions,
    Bad language disdain,
    God's Name hold in rev'rence,
    Nor take it in vain;
    Be thoughtful and earnest,
    Kindhearted and true,
    Look ever to Jesus,
    He will carry you through.

    Ask the Savior to help you,
    Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
    He is willing to aid you,
    He will carry you through.

    To him that o’ercometh,
    God giveth a crown;
    Through faith we shall conquer,
    Though often cast down;
    He Who is our Savior
    Our strength will renew;
    Look ever to Jesus,
    He will carry you through.

    Ask the Savior to help you,
    Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
    He is willing to aid you,
    He will carry you through.

    Horatio R. Palmer 1868

    blessings
    Scott

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  2. Anonymous9:21 AM

    good stuff daddy.
    those are some good verses. i really like the part about "casting ALL your anxiety on Jesus" because i can be a little stubborn sometimes and i get to thinkin i can handle things by myself.
    i also shared some of these verses with taylor a few minutes ago, bc i dunno if he knows about your blog or not..
    thanks for posting this daddy.
    i love you bunches, youre fabulous! :)

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  3. I'll tell you what is "good stuff". And that is "seeing" your heart through your response.

    I agree with Taylor, you are "amazing!"

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  4. Scott,

    I love that old song. Do you think we will sing it this Sunday???

    That song would also help another thread on NazNet where sin and temptation were being discussed. It is not the temptation that is sin, it is the yielding that is sin.

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  5. Anonymous12:02 PM

    I am saddened to say that I don't know enough about hymns to be able to truly pick them out. This has gotten me to a point where I am desiring to learn more about hymns. Strangely to say, but this "metalhead" likes a good hymn being sung. I even bought a hymnal at district assembly, I have it with me today for just some reading. Which actually reminds me of a thread I was going to start....

    I think I see which thread you are talking about now, I had not been keeping up on that one. I am trying to juggle I think one too many things on my breaks, lol. Maybe I should post the hymn up on that thread.......or I shall leave that for those already involved.

    Blessings
    Scott

    ReplyDelete