Anchored Hope

Anchored Hope

May we attain an unmitigated understanding of Who anchors and authors our hope, help, peace and purpose.

Thus, as we wait quietly upon The Lord's will...we can say with all that we are, because of all that He is...it is well with my soul, because my hope is anchored in Him.

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain...

Psalm 38:15
For I hope in You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God.

Psalm 71:5
For You are my hope; O Lord GOD, You are my confidence from my youth.

Psalm 62:5
My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.

Psalm 37:7
Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him...

Psalm 62:1
...My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation.

Psalm 130:5
I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope.

Psalm 39:7
And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee.

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Philippians 1:20
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Colossians 2:5
For although I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit, and I delight to see your orderly condition and firm faith in Christ.

Supernatural Strength

Supernatural Strength

Never forget the very same power that raised Christ on the third day resides in all believers!

Tap into the indwelling power of The Holy Spirit and receive supernatural strength from The One Who gave His life for yours...

Romans 8:9
You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 Corinthians 6:19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Ephesians 2:22
And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Patience and Perserverance

Patience and Perseverance

"Be reconciled to the place God in his providence puts you in, whatever it be."
~Matthew Henry

Perseverance and patience are virtues that we may not willingly welcome into our spiritual transformation. In order for our character to be honed with these, it means we must face difficulties and hardships. These often occur in clusters, sometimes resulting in whole seasons of despair.

We grow weary and worn from the battle, and sometimes feel as though we cannot possibly proceed another day in this way. We feel frustrated, even angry, and may begin to believe that God is far away and doesn't hear our pleas for mercy.

While these seasons can be tremendously difficult to endure, we must not lose hope. Perhaps the outcome is irrelevant, because the lesson lies in the process of moving through the mountain. Thus, we can pray for God to remove our obsession with the problem and expel our own expectations of acceptable solutions; acknowledge that He alone is on The Throne, has the absolute answers and is equipped for the battle. We can ask the Teacher to reveal what He would have us learn in these trials; pray for Him to strengthen our resolve while we wait upon Him. We can carelessly continue to claw forward, or we can allow Him to carry us; pray for His comfort, rest in His embrace and ask that He pour His refreshment into us. We should reconcile the situation in ourselves; accept His portion, provision, help and healing. We must pray persistently for the fulfillment of His promises over our lives; claim victory with confidence and in Christ's Name.

But most of all, we must persist in our hope and trust in The Lord. We must pray for patience and perseverance, regardless of how we "feel" and get real with ourselves and God in our prayers. He already knows about yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is intimately acquainted with our weaknesses and the struggles we face. He knows the best possible outcome for every problem. He has already designed all the ways He intends to shape us. Regardless of the cause of the issue, He can tailor it to a useful and beautiful benefit for His purpose.

And when He deems it time to prevail and we have our blessed breakthrough, we can reflect on all of the marvelous miracles we are able to see in our hindsight. We must praise Him for sustaining us with His righteous hand...for increasing our faith...for fulfilling His promises...and for maturating our character with spiritual patience and perseverance.

Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere, so that after you have done God's will, you will receive what He has promised.

Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.

Luke 21:19
By your patient endurance, you will gain your souls.

Romans 2:7
To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

Romans 5:3-4
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

More Than Conquerors

May you remember that the enemy is a liar who says the opposite of what is true.

If he says you’re worthless, stand up and declare, “I’m treasured by God Most High! ”

If the enemy say’s you’re sick, you tell him, “I will not die but live and declare the works of the Lord!”

If he says you’ll fail, you declare, “Overwhelming victory is mine in Christ Jesus!"

If he tells you-you have no protection, you declare, “I’m hidden in the shadow of God’s wing!”

Do no LISTEN to the enemy, TELL him to Go where Jesus will send him.

It’s time to tear down the picture he’s trying to paint of your life; it’s time to turn a deaf ear to his threats and to live like you believe the promises of God. Have a victorious, faith-filled day today!

Author Unknown

Eternal Perspective

A key factor in achieving peace in the midst of adversity is maintaining our eternal perspective. This strengthens our resolve as we wait patiently on The Lord. We focus on our Lifeboat, Who provides a refuge of still waters, regardless of the surrounding stormy seas.

Eternal perspective is gained through prayer and intimate fellowship with The Father, help from The Holy Spirit, saturation in the scripture, and by consciously removing our gaze from the worldly temptations Satan surrounds us with.

Eternal perspective lends a Godly view...the REAL big picture...and assists us in overcoming temptations and weathering storms, while maintaining perfect peace of mind.

When we look through the Christ lens, we experience love and grace, and we extend the same to others. We have everlasting peace, because we understand we were carefully crafted with purpose; that God intends for us to live an abundant, fruitful life, not one constantly tainted with misery, regret and uncertainty. As our faith is strengthened in the presence of our Savior, we glean more of Who our God really is and we gain a more personalized understanding of His design for us.

Our eternal perspective is founded in God's truth and is steeped in His cherished promises. We are enabled to make each day count for our King, because we have our eyes on the prize. So, at the end of an enormously tough day or season, we know with all that we are, it is virtually non-existent when compared to the reward of an eternity with Jesus.

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Philippians 3:14
I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!

John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

John 14:2
In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your minds on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.

Revelation 3:21
To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Romans 8:17
And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ--if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ...

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

2 Samuel 22:31
As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the LORD is tested; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

From Guilt to Grace

From Guilt to Grace

When we find our identity in Christ, we need to fully embrace God's marvelous grace and let go of the guilt and shame accumulated in our wanderings.

In His family, we are able to achieve a whole, healed identity...an enriched life blessed with freedom, peace and joy.  With our salvation, we have an opportunity for an abundant and fruitful life, which results from receiving His unconditional love.

Let us cling to this picture of His acceptance and forgiveness!

Let us rejoice that He deems us worthy!

And may we envelope ourselves in His mercy and forgiveness, given freely to those who believe and receive Him as their Lord and Savior.

"And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:14-15)

Omniscient One

Are you making time to not only acquaint yourself with, but to sincerely have an intimate relationship with your Abba Father?

Do you understand even a glimmer of the power, peace, sufficiency, strength, sovereignty, love, healing, grace and mercy...the attributes and the essence of your Maker?

Do you believe in His omniscient power so that you can truly find peace and receive His Grace when you run to Him, your Tower of Strength?

Do you grasp how He planned your existence long ago and loves you so dearly that He provided an atoning sacrifice - HIS SON - for your sins so you may be reconciled fully unto Him?

Do you know that He understands and lingers over the deepest desires of your heart more clearly than you do...that He longs to work things together for your good?

Do you understand that He is the Most High, All-knowing, All-seeing, Self-sufficient, Healer, Provider, Banner, Sanctifier, Peace, Shepherd, Protector, Lord over all, who is ALWAYS THERE?

If you knew Him more deeply would you approach The Throne of Grace with more confidence and trust in His Will? Would your faith, therefore, be unshakeable? Would you, in turn, have peace that surpasses all understanding regardless of your circumstances because you know your God?

Oh, friends, let us seek Him with an insatiable desire so we may more fully understand and admire the inexhaustible abundance and omniscience of our Abba Father God! That in Him, we may thrive, as we are made more complete in Him...while preparing for eternity with Him!

For, from Him and through Him and to Him are ALL things, and all glory is to Him, forevermore!

Job 28:24
...for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.

Isaiah 44:24
This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:
I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself...

Psalm 139:1-4
You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.

Job 11:7
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.

Job 37:5
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.

Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?MOr who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life

Eternally Equpped

God alone equips and qualifies us for our eternal employment, through our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, let us not only be blessed, but also be a blessing.

Let us partner with Him today and every day to perform His ordained work.

May we serve as vessels of honor for The Gospel of Jesus, according to His will, and all for His glory!

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.

2 Timothy 3:17
...so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

2 Timothy 2:21
So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.

Gathering Strength from Grace

When we are faced with calamity and chose to walk in The Spirit, God's magnificent grace becomes the source of our strength. 

By receiving His grace and believing the beloved blood of The Lamb preserves us, we are able to maintain perfect peace while The Lord acts on our behalf.

And if our supremely great, almighty, all-powerful and all-omniscient God is with us, what can possibly prevail against us?

2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Psalm 46:10
"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 118:6
The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?

Isaiah 26:3
"The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, Because he trusts in You.

Loved by Him

We praise You, Father!

For, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, by You and for Your purpose and pleasure!

You have carefully crafted creation and breathed life into all that exists, both seen and unseen;

Yet, we are thought of, loved and adored by You, in ways we cannot even fathom.

Oh, we are truly blessed, for we know that not only do we live, but that we are delightfully designed to spend all eternity with You! 

In Christ's Name,

Amen.

Psalm 139:14
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Job 5:9
Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.

Colossians 1:16
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Nehemiah 9:6
You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You.

Ephesians 1:4
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence...

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus...

1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.

Whiter Than Snow

Whiter Than Snow...

Let us cry out to Abba Father for sanctification and purification of our souls.

Let us invite Him in to cleanse and condition our hearts...that He might bathe and soak us in The Holy Spirit, as we truly experience His Grace.

Let us petition Him to remove all shame, fear, guilt, anger and uncertainty...all the lies we've received in our earthly existence...and, in turn, receive and believe His immutable truth.

And may He may produce in us the authentic, Holy Spirit-filled being He intended and created in us...with a heart whiter than snow.


Psalm 51:2
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

John 13:8
"Never shall You wash my feet!" Peter told Him. Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me

John 13:9
"Then Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well."

Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Hebrews 10:22
...let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.

Proverbs 22:11
He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious, the king is his friend.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all men, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

The Battle Belongs to The Lord of Hosts

The Battle Belongs to The Lord of Hosts...

What giants are you facing today?

Would it make any difference if you just stopped...got still with God...and considered that your conflict is not against flesh or things seen, but against spiritual wickedness in high places?

Would you get on your knees in obedience...align your will with His...and surrender it to The LORD of Hosts, Jehovah-Sabaoth?

Why place your faith or trust in something less than the All-seeing, All-knowing, Almighty Creator? Why take on the battle without The Lord when there is so much power in His Name alone?

Do not fear. Do not be dismayed or discouraged. Stand firm in your faith at the feet of Jesus. He is always with you and will NEVER leave or forsake you!

HE IS RULER OVER ALL principalities and powers seen and not seen....and the battle belongs to Him!


"...Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15)

"And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:47)

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright."(Psalm 20:7-8)

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 124:8)

"The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8)

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

"No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power." (Jeremiah 10:6)

Father of Compassion

Lord God,

We praise You for each and every promise,

including those brand-new today.

We pray to walk with You and know You,

in every single way.

You are a great and faithful Father

to those who fear and follow You;

So, to Thee we lift our praise...

Thank You for loving us completely, as only You can do!

In Jesus Christ's Name,

Amen.

Psalm 103:10
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Malachi 3:6
"For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

Psalm 105:8
He has remembered His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations.

Psalm 106:45
And He remembered His covenant for their sake, And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness.

Psalm 69:16
Answer me, O LORD, for Your lovingkindness is good; According to the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me...

Psalm 63:3
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips will praise You.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold resolutely to the hope we confess, for He who promised is faithful.

Lamentations 3:24
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."

Irrevocable

Praise God that His grace, mercy, promises, love, forgiveness, redemption and salvation are never ending and unchanging.

Take heart that no matter what circumstances you find yourself in today, our God is mightier. He knows all about yesterday, today and tomorrow. He has gone before you and prepared a way, according to His predestined purpose, because He loves you.

His love for you is pure, passionate, promised and predestined. And, there is absolutely nothing that you can do to alter His love for you. For His gifts and His call are irrevocable...

Romans 8:30
And those He predestined He also called, those He called He also justified, those He justified He also glorified.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

Ephesians 1:4
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love...

2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time eternal.

Titus 1:2
...in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

Ephesians 3:18
...may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love...

Romans 8:39
...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Divine Understanding

May The Lord captivate our minds and pour His Holy Spirit into our hearts, so that we might have Divine understanding...that we might come to know Him intimately, and comprehend who we are in Him, proclaiming the victory of The Mystery of Jesus Christ...forevermore.

Job 33:16

Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction...

1 John 5:20

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true--in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

John 17:3

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

1 John 5:11

And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

1 John 5:13

I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Colossians 4:3

...as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

1 Corinthians 2:7

No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.

Refuge In The Name of The Lord

Refuge in The Name of the Lord

When we are fearful, uncertain, hopeless, overwhelmed, facing danger and enemies from every side only true safety is found in the arms of Jesus. There you will find comfort, safety, provision and peace.

Hold fast to the truth of God’s word. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10

He is…….

Jehovah-Jireh – The Lord My Provider

Jehovah- Rapha – The Lord My Healer

Jehovah-Shalom – The Lord My Peace

Jehovah-Raah – The Lord My Shepherd

Jehovah-Shammah – The Lord Who is there

Jehovah-Nissi – The Lord My Victory

Jehovah-Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts (Angel Armies)

Jesus is our Savior, our Rock, our Refuge. He is our Strong Tower.

Are you feeling hopeless, overwhelmed, distressed, fearful? Do you need refuge? Run to Jesus. He will provide safety and rest for your weary soul. He is faithful to meet you in your greatest need.