Never Forsaken ~ Part 2

Still feasting off the word "not forsaken" from yesterday. When you feel that you've been left without support, without protection, without adequate help, you fall into despair, which is a state of hopelessness (often manifested by depression). Hopelessness leads to no expectation of something other than what you already have. No expectancy leads to no envision of a better state of being. If I can't envision better, I'm unable to lay hold of better. For the scripture says in Proverbs 29:18a where there is no vision, the people perishes-waste away, die, disappear gradually or to pass from existence.

Powerless-NOT

The Gospel is not powerless. That's the phrase I hear ringing within my spirit this morning. We don't believe or have a powerless gospel. And because the gospel is not powerless, those that believe it is not powerless. Stop defending a powerless gospel. Go back to God's Word and get your POWER back!

Never Forsaken

This morning  Bishop Eddie Long's song Righteous Forsaken was playing in my head. I hear the Spirit of the God saying I never forsake my people. Yet the enemy would have us to believe that we're forsaken.  Forsake is defined as to renounce or turn away from entirely; to leave without intending to return. The word forsake  is synonymous with the word abandon, which means to give up the control or influence of to another person or agent; to withdraw from often in the face of danger or encroachment; to withdraw protection, support, or help; to give oneself over unrestrained; to cease from maintaining, practicing, or use.

I imagine one would be hard pressed to find anybody who hasn't felt forsaken or abandoned by someone in life. However, God promises to never forsake or abandon us. While researching scriptures that contained the word forsake, I noticed that there were times  when God momentarily withdrew Himself from His people due to their sin but He never turned away without the intent to return. Some  times parents leave, boyfriends/girlfriends leave, siblings leave, and/or friends leave but we didn't foresee them ceasing to maintain the relationship. Isaiah 49:15 Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I'd never forget you—never. (The Message)

Scriptures for reflection:

• Psalm 9:10 And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God's Word and the right of their necessity]. (Amplified)
• Psalm 37:24 I once was young, now I'm a graybeard—  not once have I seen an abandoned believer, or his kids out roaming the streets.  (The Message)
• Ezra 9:9 For we were slaves, but in his unfailing love our God did not abandon us in our slavery. Instead, he caused the kings of Persia to treat us favorably. He revived us so we could rebuild the Temple of our God and repair its ruins. He has given us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem. (NLT)
• Isaiah 54:7 I rejected you for a while, but with love and tenderness I will embrace you again.
• Psalm 27:10 Although my father and my mother have forsaken me, yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child]

Not being forsaken doesn't mean that we will not experience hard times or reap the rewards of some bad decisions but that our ultimate end is one where we are PROTECTED, SUPPORTED, HELPED and NEAR our FAITHFUL God.

The Ear-Mouth Connection

I'm currently reading through the book of Mark. Last night as I was reading in Mark 7:31-37 about Jesus healing a deaf and mute man. I found myself inquiring why it was that Jesus first placed His finger in the man's ear before touching his mouth. He essentially addressed the man's hearing problems before addressing his speech impediment. I felt impressed in my spirit that's just the thing we must do as Christians is first attend to our hearing. The Word says that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. If our hearing is damaged or faulty, our speech simply follows. Damaged hearing leads to damaged/diminished faith. We can't speak faith filled words if we are not hearing the Word of faith.

Psalms 115 Prayer

Read Psalms 115 today. Lord displace every idol in my life-in our lives. For they are useless to save us. They are powerless to render aide. For you alone are our True HELPER and our SHIELD. Helps us to trust you fully. Your word declares in Ps 115:12-13 that you, Lord, remember us and that you will bless us. You will bless those who fear you rather great or small. Help us to have proper fear of your awesomeness and to teach our children to reverance you so that they too may be blessed. Thank you that your Word promises us rich blessings in accordance with Ps 115:14. Thank you that you have given us the earth (vs.16). Now help us to know how to subdue it. Teach us how, Lord, to be a good steward of that you entrusted us with. In Jesus name.~ Amen

His Love

In reading the book of Zephaniah yesterday the passage shows two sides of God – the side that brings judgment but also of one who restores. Even in declaring His upcoming judgment, God was gracious enough to offer a warning and an opportunity for prayer and repentance. It’s His love for us that causes Him to be patient with use even when we constantly go our own way. It’s His love for us that sends warning. It’s His love that restores and repositions us back into right fellowship with Him. Thank you Lord that I’m wrapped in your love.

Cover Me Lord

Walking out of the house on Friday morning to a blanket of white was absolutely breath taking. The trees captured my attention. Originally the trees where just bare and exposed for all to see their nakedness, yet this morning they are covered in sparkling white attire. That's the way we need the Spirit of God to cover our nakedness ~ our weaknesses, our frailties, our inconsistencies.