“The Eternal God is your shelter; He holds you up in His everlasting arms.”
Deuteronomy 33:27a (VOICE)
Just Be Held ~ A beautiful message to remind us that God will never let go, no matter what.
“Your world’s not falling apart, it’s falling into place. Not a tear is wasted, in time you’ll understand. He’s painting beauty from the ashes; Your life is in HIS hands.” ~ Just be held. (Casting Crowns)
“He reached down and drew me from the deep, dark hole where I was stranded, mired in the muck and the clay.
With a gentle hand, He pulled me out to set me down safely on a warm rock;
He held me until I was steady enough to continue the journey again.”
Psalm 40:2 (VOICE)
Have you ever been so low that “up” is the only way out? If you find yourself in a situation like that today, remember that God is the ROCK in your bedrock. No matter how deeply mired you are in life’s muck and the clay, He is right there beside you ~ ready to take your hand in His and lift you to higher ground. He sees each teardrop that streams down your cheeks and hears your cries for help. His love is greater than anything you are going through.
So go ahead and reach out to God’s gentle grasp. He will pull you out of that dark hole where you find yourself stranded, and set you down safely on a firm foundation. He will hold you there, wrapped in His divine embrace, until you are steady enough to continue on your journey again. In your weakness, He will be your strength.
Take comfort in knowing that He is the Rock at the bottom of your pit!
“The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Savior; my God is my Rock in whom I find protection. He is my Shield, the Power that saves me, and my Place of Safety.” Psalm 18:2 (NLT)
“The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack,
tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven,
kept taut by Hope.”
Colossians 1:4 MSG
Purpose: the object toward which you strive or the reason for which you exist; it is your aim or your goal.
Where are your “lines of purpose” tied?
Are they tied tightly to your future in heaven? Or are they tied to your bank account balance or to a-certain–someone? Or your ideal image or weight?
If I were climbing a mountain using ropes, I would want to be sure that my ropes were tightly anchored to something secure. I want the same to be true of my purpose in life. How tragic it would be to realize that my reason for existing was anchored to something temporal and fading rather than something eternal! Colossians 1:4 reminds us that our lines of purpose should be tightly tied to our future in heaven ~ never growing slack ~ kept taut by Hope.
What are you striving for today? What is your main goal in life? God created you with a grand purpose, and you are uniquely qualified to fulfill a certain mission in His divine plan. Have you asked the Creator to reveal that purpose to you? You’re never too old or too young to secure your lines of purpose in His kingdom. May yours be tightly tied to your future in heaven.
“But by the Grace of God,
I am what I am…”
1 Corinthians 15:10
I am…
I keep a list in my journal which I have entitled “I am…” I add to the list as I read God’s word and come across verses that remind me of who “I am” as a child of God. Sometimes during my quiet time, especially when I am feeling less than significant, I turn to the list and read aloud, taking time to grasp the meaning of each phrase as it pertains to my relationship with my Heavenly Father. No circumstance will ever change the way He feels about me. By reminding myself of who I am in Christ, I am encouraged, inspired and energized to begin my day living out the divine purpose for which I was created.
…and so are YOU!
The beauty of the list is that it is not unique to me. Anyone who is a child of God is included in these promises. He cares about EACH of His children the same way. Below are a few items on the list. Read them out loud to yourself as His child, taking time to absorb the significance of each phrase. Before you read each phrase, repeat the words, “I am…” to personalize them to your relationship with your Heavenly Father. These promises capture a glimpse of the essence of how God feels about you, and they are all found in His word.
“I am…”
“See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;” Isaiah 49:16
“I bow before You, looking to Your holy temple, and praise Your name, for Your unfailing love and Your truth; for You have placed Your name and Your word over all things and all times.” Psalm 138:2 (VOICE)
As my family rounded a corner on a winding coastal road in Maine, we came upon this inviting sea-side chapel. We were drawn to its entrance by a sign out front that said “All Welcome.” It wasn’t a Sunday, but the front door of the church was standing wide open, welcoming inside anyone who wanted to enter. The church, built with sea-washed stones, has been standing in this spot for over 125 years, creating a symbol of unwavering permanence ~ just like God’s unfailing love and truth.
While walking around the exterior of the church, I imagined all the extremes in climate that this little building had weathered through decades of time ~ from tempestuous tropical storms and hurricanes, to the massive nor’easters and piles of snowdrift during the harsh New England winters. Yet through it all, this enduring chapel has survived. As we passed through the front door of the church, we immediately felt a sense of peace. The effect that this little place of worship had upon us was awe-inspiring. We wanted to bask in the reverent atmosphere and linger in the presence of God.
And just like the front door of this stone church, God’s arms are open wide, welcoming anyone to come inside. You don’t have to enter a sea-side chapel to experience His peace. His unfailing love and truth are for everyone. He is our Rock in whom we can take refuge. You can linger in the presence of God right where you are today. No matter the phase in life you are going through at this moment, remind yourself that God has placed HIs name “over all things and all times.” He’s there in your most joyous moments as well as the dark and grungy times; your seasons of elation, as well as frustration; your mountain-top experiences and your deep-in-the-valley periods; your days of good health and those of pain and suffering. And through it all His unwavering truth and unfailing love are constant. Step inside and experience His peace…All are Welcome!
“The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him.” Nahum 1:7
“What a wonderful God we have—He is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mercy,and the One who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us.”
2 Corinthians 1:3 – 4 (TLB)
God is the Father of Compassion and the God of all Comfort. When we go through trials and heartache, He comforts and strengthens us. But that’s not where it ends.
Like one-the-job-training, when we experience difficult circumstances, we become uniquely equipped to help others who might be experiencing similar hardships. While some might see failure and loss, God sees divine qualifications to be used mightily for blessing others. Our painful struggles give us a vocabulary to encourage and support other people who are going through the same things, and our despair allows us to empathize with their difficulties. When you view life’s anguish through God’s perspective, your miseries can be turned into your ministry.
Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud today!
“Think of the kindness you wish others would show you; do the same for them.”
Luke 6:31 (VOICE)
Go in confidence and grace—no rushing, no frantic escape.
There’s no need to be anxious—the Eternal One goes before and behind you.
The God of Israel paves the way with assurance and strength.
He watches your back.
Isaiah 52:12 (VOICE)
“Our yesterdays present irreparable things to us; it is true that we have lost opportunities which will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ. Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him.” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (1956). Section “December 31”).
God is the God of your yesterdays, your todays, and your tomorrows. Often memories of the past keep you from fully experiencing God’s grace and joy for today. It’s possible that you are longing for days gone by because they were happier times (the good ‘ole days), or it could be that you are wallowing in the junkyard of past memories, allowing the blunders of the past to overshadow God’s blessing for today. In either case, you are stuck in the quicksand of yesterday, and you can’t move into the future that God has in store.
Just remember, that God’s got your back! He’s your rear guard, and His hand can reach back into your past and settle any claims against your conscience. He can use yesterday’s mistakes and turn them into today’s ministry of growth for your future. He has a grand plan for your life, so let the past rest in God’s sweet embrace. He’s paving the way ahead with assurance and strength, so step confidently into your irresistible future with Him! “And He will be leading you. He’ll be with you, and He’ll never fail you or abandon you. So don’t be afraid!” Deuteronomy 31:8 (VOICE)
A personal message from your Heavenly Father:
“But now, God’s Message,
the God who made you in the first place…
the One who got you started…:
“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you…:
That’s how much you mean to me!
That’s how much I love you!
I’d sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.”
Isaiah 43:2 – 3 (MSG)
So today if you are experiencing deep waters of difficulty, and you feel like you’re in way over your head, don’t be afraid and don’t lose hope. God knows you by name, and He knows every messy detail of your life. He’s right beside you in the rough waters, and He will bring you safely through them ~ You will not go down. This feeling you have, like you’re between a rock and a hard place, is only temporary. God has big plans for your future, and He can use everything you’re experiencing for your good. Your Savior paid a huge price just for you ~ That’s how much you mean to Him! That’s how much He loves you! Trust that He is capable of bringing you through this tumultuous period. Nothing is impossible for Him, and there is no limit to the boundless strength He can provide for you. With Him by your side, you can endure anything.
“Try to remember that the ‘bottomless sea’ can’t hurt us as long as we keep on swimming”…with God!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Be still,
be calm,
see,
and understand…
I am the True God.
Psalm 46:10 (VOICE)
If your mind is whirling with anxious thoughts, take time to simply be still in the presence of God, thanking Him that He is already in your future. Relax in the knowledge that He is in control of every detail of your life. The things you are worried about right at this moment will probably never happen, so why waste your time and energy with useless, tiresome fretfulness? You don’t have to pre-plan for every possible scenario. Your Heavenly Father knows the future, so go to Him with all your apprehensions and concerns and trust that He will equip you to handle whatever comes your way.
Quiet your mind and take in deep breaths of His indescribable Peace. Allow His holy presence to permeate your thoughts and calm your spirit. Notice how the knots in your stomach gradually dissolve as you place your trust completely in Him. Be confident that He is watching over your life, and know that He is with you every step of your journey. Give all your cares to Him and receive the precious treasure of His Peace. Simply be still…and know that He is God.
“Look! I’m making everything new.
Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.”
Revelation 21:5(MSG)
On the first day of a brand New Year, are you looking forward to closing the door on your past and opening the door to your future? Perhaps you are glad for the chance to breathe in the freshness of the new possibilities that the coming year might bring. Are there pages (or entire chapters?) that you would like to delete from your life’s story? “My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in.” Ephesians 3:14 – 17 (MSG)
By opening the door of your life to Christ, He promises to bring about a glorious transformation inside of you, and you’ll be renewed from the inside out. There’s no better way to start out the new year than by accepting the gift of a fresh start with God. He alone can erase the pain of your past and the mistakes you’ve made along the way. You don’t have to spruce up for God or clean up your act before turning to Him. He meets you right where you are with His limitless love and grace. By inviting Christ to be the center of your life, He’ll be the compass guiding you along the path to your very best future.
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12: 1-2 (MSG)
Now take a deep breath, close the door to your past, open the door to your best future, and step through to a new life with God!
everyday encouragement 
