How to Worship God in Spirit and Truth

Last week we settled on the following definition for worship…

Worship is an offering of your entire life. Your everyday, ordinary, sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life.

It’s as much attitude as action!

Do you ever get confused by the Jesus’ words about worshipping in spirit and truth?

“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way.For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23–24

Me too! So I did some digging…

Worshipping God in spirit and truth means to worship Him with both heart and head and comes from both knowing God and loving Him.

But how? What can you and I do to both know and love God? What does worshipping Him in spirit and truth look like?

How to Worship God in Spirit and Truth

Worship begins with recognizing God for who He is . . . not who we think He is but who He says He is. That’s worshipping Him in truth.

And by God’s grace, we have the presence of His Spirit to teach and remind us of His truth.

Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive Him because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know Him because he lives with you now and later will be in you.“ John 14:16–17

Only with His Spirit living within us and helping us are we able to worship God as He wants.

4 Ways to Worship God in Spirit and Truth

Worshipping God in spirit and truth means worshipping Him the way we love Him . . . with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

1. To worship God with all your heart = adoring Him with your emotions.

I will be filled with joy because of You. I will sing praises to Your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. 1 Chronicles 29:11

“When you focus on how wonderful God is and all the great things He’s done… is doing… and even will do in your life, your natural response will be praise, adoration, and awe. Don’t let yourself ever get used to it… stay amazed!” ~Joyce Meyer

2. To worship God with your soul – is like breathing, it is all-encompassing and only made possible by God’s Spirit living with us.

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. Genesis 2:7

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. Romans 8:26

And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6

“Your soul will never find rest unless it finds its home. We find it in the simple daily discipline of asking ourselves, “Is God here in this moment?” If he is not, he can be.” ~John Ortberg

3. To worship God with your mind = using knowledge and truth from God’s Word to honor and adore Him.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31–32

When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 1 Corinthians 2:13

“The purpose of the Bible? Salvation. God’s highest passion is to get His children home. His book, the Bible, describes His plan of salvation. The purpose of the Bible is to proclaim God’s plan and passion to save His children.” ~Max Lucado

4. To worship God with your strength = intentional all-in acts of adoration.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22–23

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25

“To love the Lord with all our strength means to love Him “exceedingly” “richly”, “lavishly”, with reckless abandon out of simple devotion.” ~Greg Simas

Worship in spirit and truth says – with all my heart for all my life all I need is you, Lord. It is intimate and personal.

So like love, worship is more than a feeling or emotion.

Worship does.

And I can’t do it on my own. With all life’s temptations and distractions, with all the busyness and my own self-absorption, I will never worship God the way He wants or even the way I want.

But God…

Yes, there they are again . . . those two words that change everything.

But God through His grace has given you and me His Spirit. The One living within us who alone makes spirit and truth worship possible.

So I will…

♥ Ask – to be filled with the presence of His Spirit that I might know and love Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.

♥ Seek – to know His truth through the study of His Word.

♥ Do – follow His will as He reveals it to me.

Why? Because God’s love overwhelms me.

You and I have been bought at an exorbitant price. The very lifeblood of God’s own Son, Jesus. The God of the universe loves us so much He gave His life for us. And friends that inspires a life of worship.

“Worship of the living and true God is essentially an engagement with Him on the terms that He proposes and in the way that He alone makes possible.” -David Peterson

Will you pray with me?

Father, I need You. Forgive me. I am selfish and self-absorbed. I want to worship You as You desire but I make everything about me. I give in to the temptations of busyness and distraction. I chase whims and desires. Help me, Father. I want to love you with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. I want to worship and glorify You with all my life. By Your grace, change my heart. Fill me with Your Spirit. Teach me Your truth. And help me live each day completely surrendered to Your love. In Jesus name, Amen.

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You Need to Know What You Really Worship?

10 / 10 / 1610 / 10 / 16

^{You and I will worship someone or something.}

^{It’s in our nature.}

God created us for a relationship with Him and part of that relationship includes worship.

But since Satan decided he’d like to claim worship for himself and convinced Adam and Eve that they too could “be like God” we’ve often missed the mark when it comes to worship.

What Do You Really Worship?

Remember from Truth You Want to Know About Worship – worship is best defined as:

1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.

2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence.

3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.

It is so easy to compartmentalize who or what we worship.

God gets Sunday morning. That box gets checked. I worshiped God this week. Now it’s time to go live my life and “worship” everything else.

I get it. It’s hard.

Everything else is in your face crying for attention.

Money
Success
Power
Beauty
Pleasure
Youth
Fame
Position
People

The marketer’s goal is to make us believe we can and should have it all and there’s still a little wanting to be “like God” that has us giving adoration, honor, and extravagant love to “idols.”

For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world. 1 John 2:16

And we struggle because, in 21st Century America physical pleasure, success, and wealth are not only offered they are affirmed and applauded.

Paul wrote the following near the beginning of his letter to the Romans:

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:20

God makes Himself known but the battle for our hearts and minds is so distracting and tempting. Paul continues with…

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. Romans 1:21–23

They think up foolish ideas of what God is like.
Their minds become dark and confused.
They claim to be wise and became utter fools.
Instead of worshipping God, they worshiped __________.

Convicting? Yep! I’m sure I don’t get it right. In fact, lately, I’ve challenged myself my foolishness and asked myself what things I’ve come to believe just because someone taught me or we’ve “always” done it that way.

Idolatry happens a bit at a time. It sneaks in when we don’t realize it.

So, I’m asking some questions…

Questions to Ask to Know What You Really Worship

What if anything am I terrified to live without? What would be almost impossible to give up for even a short time?
What do I need to make my life complete? Is there something I feel is lacking that I can’t stop thinking about?
What do I need to be happy and satisfied? What are my “if only’s?”
What do I need to feel safe? What do I have or feel I need to feel secure and protected?
What do I think about most? Where are my thoughts in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning?
What unanswered prayer could make me turn away from God? What makes me angry at God? Where do I feel He’s holding out on me? What makes me doubt His love?
What do I need to feel validated and successful? What do I need to make me feel better about myself?
What do I need to know I have value? Where do I turn to know I am loved?
What do I worry about most? What makes me feel anxious and distracted?
Where do I turn when life is hard? Who or what comforts me?
Where do I invest myself the most? What do my calendar and my credit card statements say about my priorities?
Whose approval do I need? Who am I pursuing to feel okay about myself? Whose rejection would destroy me?

OUCH! Okay, double OUCH!

That was hard, wasn’t it?

I don’t want to face the idea that I worship idols. But the goal of asking those questions isn’t guilt, it’s acknowledgment, repentance, and change.

Maybe you’ve memorized Jeremiah 29:11. You know the one about God having plans and purposes for us.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Look at the promises in verses 12 and 13…

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

That’s the reason I’m asking myself hard questions.

To seek Him and find Him.

Did you see the next words?

When you seek me with all your heart.

God does not want to be my top god or even my most important god.

He wants to be my only God!

He wants that for you too!

Not a heart divided and distracted but one totally surrendered to His extravagant love.

Remember worship is—To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.

And we are only able to honor, to seek, to worship in response to God’s extravagant love poured out through Jesus and made known through the Holy Spirit.

The thing I try to remember to remind myself every day is that any other thing I worship . . . any person, place, thing, position, or pleasure is only temporary.

Certainly, I invest in my relationships with people because I want to celebrate with them and love them with God forever.

But worship…

Take my breath away, fall on my face flattened awe, adoration, respect, and honor—that is saved for the One who alone is worthy.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.” Luke 4:8

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11

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How to Have More Joy – Make Obedience Worship

10 / 7 / 1610 / 25 / 16

I’ve been reading through Leviticus and Numbers lately. I know. Who reads through Leviticus and Numbers?

Obedience. Worship. Lists. Rules. Count this group. Assign this task. Offer that sacrifice.

And we can’t help but wonder why?

What is the message of these two hard to read and harder to process Old Testament books?

In Leviticus, Israel is camped around the base of Mount Sinai while God meets with Moses giving laws that set His people apart from the nations around them.

What set God’s laws apart?

Love. His love for people and His desire for them to love Him and love each other.

Every law of God is based on love.

Jesus summed it up in His conversation with an expert in Moses Law:

Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”

The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” Luke 10:26–27

Obeying God is an act of love and failure to obey . . . well, it feels like a lack of love.

Obedience is not a way to earn God’s love and favor. God has already given us His love and favor. Obedience is our worshipful loving response to everything He has already given.

I remember when our children would stand up tall, puff out their little chests, cross their arms and say, “I can do it myself.”

And you know what? That’s exactly what I’m doing when I regress into a “good little church girl” mode . . . I know the rules and I can keep them all by myself.

Or the times they said, “I don’t want to.” AKA “NO.”

I have a friend who tells the story of the day her young son ran out in the street. She’d told him a million times it was dangerous but they day he decided to test the boundaries.

So, she grabbed him out of the street and took him inside and had a moment of “discipline.” She asked him to sit and think about it and after several minutes asked him if he was ready to go outside and try again.

He said he was . . . so out they went.

Guess what? As soon as they got outside he looked over at her and promptly ran out into the street.

She told that pattern repeated a half dozen times that day.

I’m happy to say her strong-willed child has grown into a wonderful adult.

Truth is, I’m like that too.

When I’m impatient, quarrelsome, selfish, jealous . . . you get the idea.

Any time I fail to love well, I’m disobeying. I know God wants me to love well but I still “run out into the street.”

So, I’m trying to change my thinking. I don’t want to think of obedience as following God’s list of rules. Going forward I want to think of obedience as an act of worship.

I made a simple acrostic to help me remember.

O.B.E.Y.

O – Only = Without the addition of anyone or anything. Alone. Solely. Exclusively. Only God’s Way – given in love for my good.

B – Because = For this reason or due to the fact that. I choose to obey because of all that God has done for me.

E – Empty = Containing nothing of its own. Being empty of my own stubborn selfish attitude. Worshipful obedience is not about me.

Y – Yielding = To give up, give in . . . to surrender. Yielding to God’s will. Surrendering to His plans and purposes by the power of His Holy Spirit.

Put it all together…

I am able to obey God’s Law of Love—Only Because (I am) Empty and Yielding.

Yielding love reminds me of the movie The Princess Bride. I love the moment when Buttercup realizes that every time Westley says, “As you wish,” he is really saying, “I love you.”

It’s what Jesus said in obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Mark 14:36

When you and I empty ourselves of stubborn pride and selfishness yielding to God’s plans and purposes with an attitude of loving worship we’re saying, “as You wish,” — “because I love You.”

“I want your will to be done.”

A theme of the Bible from beginning to end is that God loves people . . . every rule and command comes from a loving Father who wants our lives to be blessed and beautiful. And obedience is our loving worshipful response to Him.

The fact is, I can’t do it myself. On my own, I will continue to try to be “a good little church girl” or “run into the street.” But with God’s help, I can surrender . I can be empty and yielding.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

With my heart and mind focused on God’s all-sufficient grace, His healing mercy and perfect love I can surrender all and worshipfully obey trusting His will is for my good and His glory.

That’s exciting.

It takes obedience out of the “have to follow the rules” category and puts it into the “get to worship” one.

And like everything else, it’s all about my attitude. Where my heart is.

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Luke 12:34

And the desire of my heart is to trust and obey my Father.

To know without any doubt His will is best because He loves me. Then I will enthusiastically respond with “As You wish, Father.”

Quotes to Remember Obedience is Worship

“True worship is obedience to God for no other reason than that you delight in God.” ~J. D. Greear

Loving God means keeping His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 5:4

“It’s one thing to worship and praise God at church; it’s quite another to move out into the real world and worship Him through daily obedience.” ~Dave Branon

So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship. Romans 12:1

“God created us for this: to live our lives in a way that makes him look more like the greatness and the beauty and the infinite worth that he really is. This is what it means to be created in the image of God.” ~John Piper

Father, by your grace, help us to worship You through obedient living. In Jesus name. Amen.

Now it’s time for…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

[Tweet “I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun! “]

Deb Wolf
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I’m excited to share the following posts with you this week.

Why All People Have Dignity and Worth

by Dawn Klinge

@ Above the Waves

Last Friday a gunman entered a mall and killed five people. My mind has gone back to this news, over and again, often, over these past days- more than is usual for these types of things. It happened less than sixty miles from where I live, and when I first heard the news, I had only just returned from a shopping trip at a different mall. I know people in the community where it happened. It was too close to home.

and

How to be Spiritually Fit

by Valerie Murray

@ Cord of 6

Every Friday, I drag myself to the gym and stand in line for the most intense workout of my week—cycle class. It’s here that I know I’ll be pushed to my limits. I feel like I’m literally going to die or fall off my bike because my heart is going to explode from beating so fast.

Thank you, Dawn and Valerie, for partying with us!

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab the Button or link back to CMB.

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May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray for others who have left requests.

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25 Promises – God is Worthy of All Worship

10 / 5 / 1610 / 5 / 16

In response to Satan offering Him everything in the world for His worship, Jesus replied, ”

Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God
and serve only Him. Matthew 4:10

Who is this God you and I worship?

The “I AM.” The One who insists that He alone is worthy of our worship and praise.

I want to know, don’t you?

So, I went digging through Scripture to make a list of verses of Who God is.

The Bible Shows us – God is Worthy of Your Worship

God is…

Trinity

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” Exodus 3:14

Then they will know that your name is Yahweh— that you alone are the Lord. They will know that you are God Most High, ruler over all the earth! Psalm 83:18 (ERV)

That men may know that Thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the Most High over all the earth. (KJ21)

Then they may know that You alone, Whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth. (NLT)

Father/Creator

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (NLT)

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. Ephesians 3:14–15 (NLT)

Jesus/Savior

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again— my Savior and my God! Psalm 42:11 (NLT)

But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Luke 2:10–11 (NLT)

And now He has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 2 Timothy 1:10 (NLT)

Spirit/Teacher/Comforter

But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. John 14:26 (AMP)

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22–23 (NLT)

All-Knowing

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. Psalm 139:1 (NLT)

We cannot wrap our minds around God’s wisdom and knowledge! Its depths can never be measured! We cannot understand His judgments or explain the mysterious ways that He works! Romans 11:33 (VOICE)

All-Powerful

Tell everyone about God’s power. His majesty shines down on Israel; His strength is mighty in the heavens. Psalm 68:34 (NLT)

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty powerthat raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 1:19–20 (NLT)

Ever-Present

Where can I go to get away from your Spirit? Where can I run from you? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the grave, you are there.If I rise with the sun in the east and settle in the west beyond the sea, even there you would guide me. With your right hand you would hold me. Psalm 139:7–12 (NCV)

“I am a God who is near,” says the Lord. “I am also a God who is far away. No one can hide where I cannot see him,” says the Lord. “I fill all of heaven and earth,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23–24 (NCV)

Truth

We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we can know the True One. And our lives are in the True One and in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and the eternal life. 1 John 5:20 (NCV)

Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. John 14:6 (NCV)

Wisdom

Even the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25 (NCV)

But the Lord made the earth by His power, and He preserves it by His wisdom. With His own understanding, He stretched out the heavens. Jeremiah 10:12 (NLT)

Forgiveness

If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us.But if we confess our sins, He will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done. 1 John 1:8–9 (NCV)

For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. Psalm 103:11–13 (NLT)

Love

This is how God showed His love to us: He sent His one and only Son into the world so that we could have life through Him.This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us. He sent his Son to die in our place to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9–10 (NCV)

And so we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Those who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16 (NCV)

We love because God first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (NCV)

This is just the beginning, a small sampling. The more you and I get to know God, the closer our relationship to Him grows and the greater our worship.

We can’t help it! It’s a natural response to who He is and all He does.

God, Jehovah Yahweh . . . who alone is worthy of worship.

“Let us occupy ourselves entirely in knowing God. The more we know Him, the more we will desire to know Him. As love increases with knowledge, the more we know God, the more we will truly love Him. We will learn to love Him equally in times of distress or in times of great joy.” ~Brother Lawrence

“God must speak to us before we have any liberty to speak to him. He must disclose to us who he is before we can offer him what we are in acceptable worship. The worship of God is always a response to the Word of God. Scripture wonderfully directs and enriches our worship.” ~John Stott

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Truth You Want to Know about Worship

10 / 3 / 1610 / 3 / 16

It’s October. Three more months until we close The Faith Project 2016. Although, I do believe it is a life-long pursuit.

Thank you for joining me and digging deep into freedom, love, humility, patience, goodness, stillness, humility, wisdom, and prayer.

Now I want to explore worship.

Another word that is used often and comes with plenty of thoughts and opinions.

If you ask a friend or acquaintance about worship you’ll typically hear about a service they attended or about their favorite praise music. So, we’ll look at corporate worship too.

But I want to know more. The what, why, when, and who of our worship.

Paul wrote the following to believers in Rome…

Christian brothers, I ask you from my heart to give your bodies to God because of His loving-kindness to us. Let your bodies be a living and holy gift given to God. He is pleased with this kind of gift. This is the true worship that you should give Him. Romans 12:1

I like the way it’s written in The Message…

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 you love that!

Worship as an offering of your entire life. Your everyday, ordinary, sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life.

Maybe it’s easier to compartmentalize worship into an few hours on the weekend than it is to think of it as a 24/7 attitude.

What is Worship Really?

The word worship is derived from the Old English weorþscipe, meaning worship, honour shown to an object, which has been etymologised as “worthiness or worth-ship”—to give, at its simplest, worth to something. (Wikipedia)

I like to think about worship as humbly coming before an all-worthy God in reverent praise and adoration.

Worship is commonly defined as follows (1): Noun- 1. The feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. 2. Adoration or devotion comparable to religious homage, shown toward a person or principle. Verb- 1. Show reverence and adoration for (a deity); honor with religious rites. 2. Treat (someone or something) with the reverence and adoration appropriate to a deity 3. Take part in a religious ceremony. (Patheos – Dr. Michael Williams)

Look at the Webster’s Dictionary definition from 1828:

1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.

2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence.

3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission.

Adoration. Respect. Honor.

My favorite…

Extravagant love and extreme submission!

I want that! It sounds like…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” Mark 12:30

So, this week I will take a closer look at God. The “who” of worship. I want to know and trust everything that makes Him worthy of worship.

I have a friend who says God is All—”Almighty. All-knowing. All-loving. All-merciful. All-grace. All-powerful. All-present. All I need.”

Almighty God, Creator, Redeemer, Spirit of Truth! Worthy of worship and praise.

True worship confesses God and all His power and glory in everything we do and say. The highest form of praise and worship is to trust and obey God and His Word. Not because He needs it but as a response to who He is and all He does.

God’s grace and mercy give us everything. Underserved blessings: His forever love, underserved grace, unimaginable peace, complete joy, wisdom, faith, freedom, daily guidance, forgiveness, adoption, eternal life, strength, every need met, His Word, absolute truth, patience, and much more.

It’s easy for me to get caught up in my own little world and forget just how huge and complete God is. And it’s true, I will never completely know and understand God this side of heaven, and that’s okay. I don’t need to understand Him; I simply want to know Him. I want to be overwhelmed with awe.

“When our worship is small, it is because our concept of God is small. When we offer God little-bitty sacrifices, it’s because we have somehow reduced Him in our hearts to a little-bitty God… God is huge! He is ginormous! He is greater than every thought we have ever had of Him.” ~Louis Giglio, Indescribable

Worship with humble awe. Surrendered and trusting.

I can’t wait to learn more about this thing we call worship but more than anything I want to know about God, the One who is worthy.

Quotes to Inspire Worship

“As worship begins in holy expectancy, it ends in holy obedience. Holy obedience saves worship from becoming an opiate, an escape from the pressing needs of modern life.” ~Richard Foster

Come, let’s worship him and bow down. Let’s kneel before the Lord who made us, because he is our God and we are the people he takes care of, the sheep that he tends. Psalm 95:6–7

“Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.” ~Charles H. Spurgeon

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.For our God is a devouring fire. Hebrews 12″28–29

“Sometimes I go to God and say, “God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already. God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.” ~A.W.Tozer

That’s worship!

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All You Need to Know to Live with God’s Peace

9 / 30 / 161 / 30 / 20

God’s Peace – that tranquil feeling that flits in for occasional moments and then disappears for far too long . . . everyone wants it but few have it.

When I started the month I wanted to know . . . more about having peace with God and finding peace in a sinful world, how to have peace when life gets bumpy and the differences between peace-makers and peace-keepers.

You can click on any picture to visit that post…

So once again I began vertically with the God of Peace.

Jehovah Shalom

Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full.

God’s peace that is beyond our ability to understand is complete and makes us whole.

I want that!

If you’d known me a little over a decade ago, you’d have said I was the
last person in the world who should be talking about peace.

I lived with more fear and anxiety than I like to admit.
I believed Jesus had overcome the world for my eternal future
but I didn’t believe His overcoming meant I could be an overcomer.

By His grace God gave me…

7 Powerful Verses for Peace

Life can be hard but God is . . . with always you.
He is sovereign, eternal, preparing, guarding, accomplishing, and loving.

7 Powerful Verses That Will Give You Peace

Because God is always with us offering peace you and I can have…

Peace in the Storms of Life

How to Have Peace and Rock Solid Faith in a Storm

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
Psalm 46:1

Through God our refuge and strength it is possible
to have peace even when your heart is breaking.

This is for the One Hurting with Silent Grief

God sees you. He knows you. He gathers your tears and hears every prayer.
He is with you. And He will help you and give you peace.

And because you and I are afraid of grief, pain, and suffering
we struggle to surrender.

You know.

Those hard words…

“Not my will but Yours be done.”

5 Ways to Surrender to God and Enjoy Peace

I don’t want to surrender to pain and problems but it is always amazing
to see the awesome things God can do in and through a surrendered life.

Sometimes those amazing awesome things God is doing look “weird”
to onlookers. That’s why I told you about my “weird” Aunt Marion.

10 Steps to Know the “Weird” Peace of God

All found in Philippians 4.

It’s weirdness, that impossible to explain or understand, supernatural,
awe-inspiring peace, that makes people look into us and see Jesus.

The hard to understand part is how God is able to give us peace in
the battle. You know, the battle the enemy uses to disrupt our lives with
real problems and attack our minds with “what ifs.”

I hate the battle for my peace of mind.
And I’m guessing you do too.

We need unshakeable faith.
The kind of faith that trusts God completely.

That kind of faith is built on time and experience.

How to Have Unshakeable Faith and Know God's Peace

Because I know it takes strong unshakeable faith to have big peace . . .
especially when life is hard. Strong faith in anything that isn’t true
or able to keep promises might make you and me feel better
but it won’t give us real and lasting peace.

We need to know God is who He says He is.

I found 35 “I am” verses. Things God says about Himself because
He wants us to know and trust Him. He wants to give us peace.

35 “I Am” Verses

35 Powerful "I Am" Verses God Is Who He Says He Is

Verses like…
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10

(Don’t forget to get your copy of the printout of all 35 verses.)

It overwhelms me to realize God wants us to know
Him . . . not just about Him but know Him.

So we can have daily peace and find it possible to lay guilt and worry
at God’s throne of grace and live in the airlock space of today.

5 Disciplines to Living Life One Day at a Time

You Can Only Experience Peace One Day at a Time

It’s funny, one day at a time is the way life is lived whether
we like it or not. It’s up to us whether we will live those moments
with peace or sacrifice them to regret and worry.

It’s all about attitude.

You know you need a positive attitude. But how..?

I came up with 15 “Be-Attitudes” to help.

15 Be-Attitudes That Will Help You Have Peace

“The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness
from common things.” ~Henry Ward Beecher

And it’s true, relationships challenge our peace.
I can’t do a series on peace without looking at the difference
between peacekeepers and peacemakers.

10 Things You Need to Know about Being a Peacemaker

Finally, the thing that robs me of peace more often than anything is my
dissatisfaction with me. My appearance, thoughts, words, and actions…
any one of them can send me spiraling into an agitated mess.

I want to do better. Maybe you do too.

There are two things to remember and twenty ways to celebrate God’s
purposeful planning in creating you and me.

If you want daily peace you must stop beating yourself up
look in the mirror and realize how very much God loves you and
wants you to know and enjoy His peace.

God Made You

How to Celebrate the You God Made and Enjoy Peace

That’s it!

Our month of studying God’s peace that goes beyond understanding.
Where do you struggle most to know God’s peace?

Make sure you come back Monday for our next topic in The Faith Project.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

Take a moment to subscribe to Counting My Blessings and join more than 7500 of us as we read the New Testament together. We will share short posts every Monday through Friday that you can read each day or save for the weekend. Let’s study God’s Word together!

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and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

I’m so excited to tell you about my new book!

No matter what a busy week may throw your way, God is with you in every moment. Take a breath and find peace in Him with the 52-Week Devotional Journal for Women, a weekly devotional full of Scripture passages, unique insights, and journal prompts. Strengthen and deepen your relationship with God as you focus on faith over the course of the year.
Get your copy here!

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How to Celebrate the Wonderful You God Made and Enjoy Peace

9 / 28 / 169 / 28 / 16

You’re wonderful!

Yes, you!

But if you’re like me, you’ve already thought of a dozen ways to disagree those words. I never think of myself as wonderful.

Most of the time I go straight to the superficial . . . to appearances. And all I see are imperfections.

I started treatment for acne last week. Seriously, there should be a law – once you have to cope with wrinkles you shouldn’t have to deal with acne too. It’s just wrong!

That’s just the obvious stuff. I could share a long list of things that are not wonderful.

And don’t get me started on my not wonderful thoughts, words, and actions.

I desperately need grace!

Grace that looks past the surface to God made wonderful.

Two important things you and I need to know about being wonderful.

Whether you feel like it or not…

1. God made you wonderful.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

I love the way the MSG. says it…

Body and soul, I am marvelously made!

It’s not about feelings. Whether you “feel” it or not, God made you wonderful and marvelous . . . one of a kind. Perfect for His plans and purposes. Out of all the possible DNA combinations, God chose 46 chromosomes specifically for you.

There are 8,324,608 possible combinations of 23 chromosome pairs. Each chromosome contains dozens to thousands of different genes. The total possible combination of alleles for those genes in humans is approximately 70,368,744,177,664. This is trillions of times more combinations than the number of people who have ever lived. ~Reddit.com/AskScience

“You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.” ~Max Lucado

2. Celebrate being wonderful if you want peace.

Obsessing about all your flaws and faults robs you of both peace and happiness.

Satan wants to steal your joy kill your purpose, and destroy your kingdom usefulness.

The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. John 10:10

But God in His mercy changes all that when we keep our focus on Him and celebrate His life-giving love and power.

The second part of Psalm 139:14 in The Message Translation says.

I worship in adoration—what a creation!

What a creation! That’s you! That’s me!

You are not a blend of flaws and faults. You are God’s marvelous creation!

How to Celebrate the You God Made and Enjoy Peace

Make a list of your greatest strengths and abilities. You’re kind. Smart. Funny. Musical. Artistic. Strong. Make a list of everything you do well.
Make a list of things you like about the way you look. Just do it. Beautiful eyes. Cute nose. Strong arms. Find a minimum of 5-10 things to celebrate.
Ask your closest friends to help you make your list. They love you. You’ll be surprised by the blessings they see in you and the things they like about you.
Spend less time thinking about yourself and more time loving others. You will feel better about yourself. I promise.
Refuse to compare your appearance, gifts, or abilities with anyone else’s. Comparing is the thief of joy and peace. Don’t do it!
Do your best and have peace with the rest. Live today with enthusiasm. Then put the day behind you and start again tomorrow.
Take a Facebook break to take a break from comparing. Everyone puts their ideal on social media. If you find yourself discouraged while scrolling through posts . . . walk away.
Reject negative self-talk. Stop it! If it’s sin, confess it, receive forgiveness and celebrate God’s grace.
Forgive yourself for unhealthy and unwise choices. Don’t deny what God has done through grace. Forgive yourself for past mistakes.
Do something positive every day to become the person you want to be. Let God work in you to grow you for His purposes. Learn something new. Exercise. Eat a healthy diet.
Do something for someone else every day. Your family. Your friends. A neighbor. A stranger. Be kind. Smile. You will feel better about yourself.
Limit your time with toxic and negative people. You can’t avoid them all but you can lessen their ability to discourage and defeat you.
Be patient – think long term. Expect progress, not perfection. One of my favorite sayings is, “Baby steps are still steps.”
Cherish values like honesty, integrity, kindness, etc. Follow the Golden Rule and treat others the way you want them to treat you.
Speak a minimum of five positive and encouraging things to yourself every day. Remember Stuart Smiley’s quote,”I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me.”
Do one nice thing for yourself every day. Take a long bath. Read a chapter of your favorite book. Light a candle. Use your good dishes. Celebrate today.
Pursue a close relationship with the One who created you. Spend time in prayer and Bible study. Ask Him to help you become the best version of the you, He created.
Ask God to help you see yourself the way He sees you. He loves you so much! The God of the universe calls you precious.
Remember how very much God loves you. Memorize His promises to speak truth to your heart when you feel discouraged.
Remember – God looks past the surface to the heart. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

5 Verses to Remember How Much God Loves You

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” John 15:9

But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8

But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. Ephesians 2:4–5

The Lord your God is with you; the mighty One will save you. He will rejoice over you. You will rest in His love; He will sing and be joyful about you. Zephaniah 3:17

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Finally, and this is important…

Have an eternal perspective.

All of the things that discourage and annoy you are temporary. Your soul, who God made you to be in Him, in His image, will last forever. And that person is someone to celebrate.

So, there you have it . . . the post I needed.

Maybe you need it too.

God loves you. He made you YOU for His glory and for His plans and purposes, and for eternity. It’s time to celebrate His goodness by celebrating you!

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and pray for others who have left requests.

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10 Things You Need to Know About Being a Peacemaker

9 / 26 / 165 / 10 / 19

There are differences between being a peacekeeper and being a peacemaker. Here are ten things you need to know about the kind of peacemaking Jesus wants. #Faith #blessedlife #truth #seekGodfirst #CountingMyBlessings #relationshiphelp

Are you a peacemaker or a peacekeeper?

As I ask that question, I want to make the point that this isn’t about military or law enforcement peacekeepers . . . today we’re talking personal and relational!

You see…

I hate conflict and for much of my life, I was a peacekeeper.

I did whatever it took to avoid conflict!

I have a secret for you…

Peacekeepers operate out of fear.

And trying to manage life through constant fear of conflict and upsetting people is a miserable way to live.

5 Characteristics of Fearful PeaceKeepers.

Peacekeepers believe in peace at any cost. Peacekeepers walk on eggshells to not upset anyone.
Peacekeepers walk on eggshells to not upset anyone. Peacekeepers hide their true feelings to prevent arguments.
Peacekeepers hide their true feelings to prevent arguments.
Peacekeepers work to avoid and prevent conflict.
Peacekeepers can be vulnerable to people who will bully and abuse them.

Jesus did not tell His followers to be peacekeepers.

He told them to be peacemakers.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

A peacemaker is defined as – one who makes peace through reconciliation.

Do you see the difference?

Peacekeepers keep peace out of fear through avoidance.
Peacemakers restore peace out of strength through reconciliation.

If fear is keeping you in the peacekeeper category. I’ve learned some things I believe will help you go from peacekeeping to the kind of peacemaking Jesus wants for His followers.

10 Things You Need to Know About Being a Peacemaker

A peacemaker has God’s peace.

Take time to grow in your relationship with God and ask Him to remove your fear and fill you with His impossible to understand and explain peace.

I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in Him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

A peacemaker has genuine love for others.

Make love your goal. Encourage and build each other up that way when conflict and confrontation become necessary your relationship is built on a strong and healthy foundation.

You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 1 Peter 1:22

A peacemaker prays.

Ask God to help you to know if confrontation is needed. Pray for His wisdom, direction, and peace. Ask Him to help you listen with compassion. And to give you words that will help not hurt.

Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. Psalm 25:4–5,9

A peacemaker builds trust in every relationship.

Be truthful and trustworthy. Live with integrity. Reconciliation and peace are more likely when there is trust and honesty in the relationship. If you believe a person cares about you and wants what is best for you . . . you are more likely to work together toward peace.

Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8–9

A peacemaker identifies and addresses conflict.

Know when it’s important to confront and when it’s better to keep silent. That’s not easy. Here are three questions to ask yourself:

1. Does this behavior or situation dishonor God?

So you do not belong to yourselves because you were bought by God for a price. So honor God with your bodies. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20

2. Does it hurt the individual?

Respect for the Lord gives life. It is like a fountain that can save people from death. Proverbs 14:27

3. Does it hurt our relationship?

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. Ephesians 4:3

A peacemaker wants to understand.

Listen! Approach every conversation with a desire to understand not to respond and stay compassionate. This isn’t about being right or winning . . . it’s about loving and helping.

The mind of a person with understanding gets knowledge; the wise person listens to learn more. Proverbs 18:15

A peacemaker controls his/her anger.

Watch your tone and body language as well as your words. This is hard, isn’t it? When emotions are high it’s hard to stay calm. You can do it! Practice and pray!

Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. Never do anything evil. Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ. Ephesians 4:31–32

A peacemaker speaks the truth with love.

Choose your words carefully. Make every effort to communicate how much you value the person and the relationship as you talk about the problem.

When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need—words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you. Ephesians 4:29

A peacemaker works toward resolution.

Do what you can. Do your best. Then trust God with the outcome. Continue to pray. And keep an open heart and mind.

The whole body depends on Christ, and all the parts of the body are joined and held together. Each part does its own work to make the whole body grow and be strong with love. Ephesians 4:16

A peacemaker is not overcome by fear.

You will have conversations that make your stomach do flip-flops. I know I do. But start at the top of the list and begin again. Don’t give in to fear.

God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Peace-making is hard work!!

It’s not easy. Sometimes it feels easier to be a peacekeeper. But you and I are not called to peacekeeping, we’re called to peacemaking.

I believe by God’s grace and with His help . . . it’s possible or He would not have told about the blessing of peacemaking.

Those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:18

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35 Powerful “I Am” Verses – God Is Who He Says He Is

9 / 19 / 167 / 12 / 20

Part of Seeking God First is knowing what He says about Himself. Here are 35 "I Am" Verses - where God tells us who He is and what He does. #Jesus #GreatIAM #Jehovan #GodisWhoHeSaysHeIs #Faith #Hope #WWGGG #CountingMyBlessings #BibleVerses #IAMVerses

I know it takes strong faith to have big peace . . . especially when life is hard.

But strong faith in anything that isn’t true or able to keep promises might make us feel better but it won’t give you and me real and lasting peace.

Have you ever believed any of the following things and then realized they were untrue?

It’s easier to avoid my problems than to face them?
Life should be fair?
If I feel it, it must be true?
I can’t help it. It’s just who I am?
I can’t be happy until..?

I know I have. And there was no peace in avoidance, shoulds, and feelings.

To know “the peace that goes beyond understanding,” you and I have to know and trust the Giver of true peace.

So, I went digging.

Digging to know the Giver better.

Who Does God Say He Is?

And I found 35 “I am” verses. Things God says about Himself because He wants us to know and trust Him. He wants to give us peace.

35 Powerful “I Am” Verses – God Is Who He Says He Is

“I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Genesis 17:1
“I am the God of your father, Abraham,” He said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. Genesis 26:24
“I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” Exodus 3:14
And God said to Moses, “I am Yahweh—‘the Lord.’ Exodus 6:2
“I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:26
“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. Exodus 20:2
“I am merciful.” Exodus 22:27
“Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:6
“If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 18:5
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken. Isaiah 28:16
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.” Isaiah 42:8
I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord. Isaiah 43:11-12
“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” Isaiah 43:13
This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the Lord, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me when I made the earth?” Isaiah 44:24
“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.” Isaiah 46:9
“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?” Isaiah 51:12
“I am a God who is near,” says the Lord. “I am also a God who is far away.No one can hide where I cannot see him,” says the Lord. “I fill all of heaven and earth,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 23:23-24
“For I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen.” Ezekiel 12:25
“I am the Lord, and I do not change.” Malachi 3:6
Jesus answered, “I am. And in the future, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the Powerful One, and coming on clouds in the sky.” Mark 14:62
Then Jesus said, “I am He [the Messiah]—I, the one talking to you.” John 4:26
“I am the bread that gives life.” John 6:48
“I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!” John 8:58
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” John 10:11
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. John 11:25
Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” John 14:6
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or believe because of the miracles I have done.” John 14:11
The Lord God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the One who is and was and is coming. I am the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8
“I am the One who lives; I was dead, but look, I am alive forever and ever!” Revelation 1:18
“I am coming soon. Continue strong in your faith so no one will take away your crown.” Revelation 3:11
The One who was sitting on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this, because these words are true and can be trusted.” Revelation 21:5
Jesus, the One who says these things are true, says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20

I’m saving this list so I can reject peace robbers and lies by comparing them to the truth.

It overwhelms me to realize God wants us to know Him . . . not just about Him but know Him. His character. His desires. His commands. His heart.

You and I can trust God is who He says He is. And that is a blessing that gives peace . . . the kind of peace that goes beyond understanding.

For a printable version of this list click here.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

I’m so excited to tell you about my new book!

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

I’m asking God to bless you today!

How to Have Unshakeable Faith and Know Peace

9 / 16 / 169 / 16 / 16

There’s a battle going on inside of you and me. A battle for our peace of mind.

Sure the enemy would love to rob us of our eternal future, but if that’s not possible stealing our peace today is good enough.

And he’s a master at it, isn’t he?

If he isn’t disrupting our lives with real problems, he’ll attack our minds with “what ifs.”

All to make us doubt God’s goodness and power.

How can you and I fight well-planned efforts to destroy our daily peace?

By knowing and trusting God completely.

I don’t trust easily. Life experiences have taught me that not everyone is trustworthy. So for me, trust happens when I get to know a person . . . through time I spend with them I learn whether they have integrity. If they are who they say they are and they do what they say they’re going to do.

It’s impossible to know that about someone we’ve just met or someone with whom we have very little connection.

But time and relationship teach us a lot about a person.

And it’s through time and relationship you and I learn we can trust God.

He has integrity. He is who He says He is. And He keeps His promises. And that makes Him trustworthy.

How do I know?

I was a slow learner. Remember, I said I don’t trust easily and Satan was really good at stirring up fear and feeding doubt in my life.

I’m so thankful God didn’t give up on me. He wanted a relationship with me even more than I wanted one with Him. So He allowed life to shake me up a little and brought me to a place where I was desperate for unshakeable faith.

Faith built on time and experience.

How to Have Unshakeable Faith and Know Peace

Spend time in the Bible.

You don’t need a special formula or fancy plan. Just show up.

I loved Sarah Koontz recent post – One Secret that will Transform Your Bible Study Routine. It’s easy and doable!

There are lots of articles out there that will give you all kinds of tips for journaling, coloring, and personalizing your Bible and they’re all great if you’ll actually do them. But when I make it too big and complicated it’s easy for me to lose momentum.

And notes and artwork are great if they really make you focus on the Lord and grow closer to Him. I’m concerned I will focus more on a pretty Bible with impressive notes and end up making it all about me.

I need a Bible Study plan I will do. Because the more I spend time with God in His Word the more I trust His promises like:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

My God will use His wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need. Philippians 4:19

But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ERV)

You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on You because they trust You. So, trust the Lord always, because He is our Rock forever. Isaiah 26:3–4

Spend time in prayer.

Stop and spend talking with God. Again, you don’t need a special formula. Just show up.

Keep a prayer journal. Pray Scripture. P.R.A.Y. Spend time on your knees.

I’ve joined Ruthie Gray’s C2K Challenge – Join the September Couch to Knee Prayer Challenge. I love it! No formula . . . just kneeling.

I’m a prayer journal girl and have written my prayers for years. But I’ve noticed something important as I put down my journal and got down on my knees I noticed…

Knee prayer pours out more and opens me up to the Spirit. I love to sit and write my prayers, but they can sometimes feel more academic and scripted. I catch myself think about what someone would think if they read my words. I want my prayer journal to be pretty and make me look good. (Can you relate? Tell me I’m not the only one.)

But…

Knee prayer gets raw and I need that! It’s just the Lord and me. Real, honest, and unscripted. Less of me and more of Him.

That’s it! Easy right?!

Maybe not easy. Life gets crazy busy and we’re so easily distracted. But it’s doable and it’s OH SO WORTH IT!

When I’d see people with unshakeable faith I thought there must be some special formula. So, I spent years reading books and doing studies trying to find that formula.

I was making it too complicated.

Just show up and ask God to work unshakeable faith in you.

Faith that is complete trust grounded on the solid rock of God’s promises fulfilled through Jesus and affirmed through prayer.

Unshakeable faith that knows peace.

Now it’s time for…

Faith ‘n Friends Link Party

I’m so glad you’re here!

This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.

I’d love to connect with you on social media!

[Tweet “I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun! “]

Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest

I’m excited to share the following post with you this week.

I loved this insightful conversation Mary had with her
physically challenged friend. You will love her ability to
laugh at herself and teach us all a valuable lesson.

Have You Ever Had One of Those Days?

by Sandra J

@ This Day God’s Way

Thank you, Sandra J, for partying with us!

No More Rules Link Party

Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.

I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab the Button or link back to CMB.

[inlinkz_linkup id=663272 mode=1]

May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!

Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…

and pray for others who have left requests.

Never Miss an Update

I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

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10 Steps to Know the “Weird” Peace of God

9 / 14 / 169 / 14 / 16

Everyone I knew called my Gram’s sisters, “Weird Marion.”

Even in college, I learned that one of my professors knew her as “Weird Marion.”

But the more I learned about her “weirdness,” the more I wanted to be just like her.

You see, it was the way my Aunt Marion lived out her faith that made her weird.

She believed BIG!
She watched for Jesus imminent return.
She memorized Scripture so she’d know it well, in case she couldn’t read it someday.
She lived her faith.
She had God’s “weird” peace.

Her life wasn’t perfect. Aunt Marion had struggles just like the rest of us. Maybe even more than some, but no matter what was going on around her . . . everyone she met knew she loved her Lord.

It’s hard, isn’t it?

When life is bump free it’s easy to say, “God is good.” But when life is hard…when relationships are challenging and health is fragile, when finances are tight and days are difficult those are the moments where our faith gets real.

That’s when you and I need God’s “weird” peace.

Because it’s that weirdness, that impossible to explain or understand, supernatural, awe-inspiring peace, that makes people look into us and see Jesus.

When observers see peace instead of the meltdown they’d be having . . . well, they just may want to know more about how to have a little of it themselves.

Paul talked about “weird” peace in Philippians 4:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4–9

Let’s pull it apart into bite-sized pieces.

10 Steps to Experience God’s “Weird” Peace

1. Always be joyful.

Blessing counting inspires joy. When I focus on God’s goodness and countless blessings, I can’t help myself…I’m just more joyful.

“The very nature of joy makes nonsense of our common distinction between having and wanting.” ~C.S.Lewis

2. Be kind and considerate in all you do.

Not only is kindness the right thing to do, I could almost be kind for selfish reasons. I’m more likely to receive kindness when I give it. Kindness defeats conflict. How about that for a peace maker? Try it. It works!

“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.” ~Frederick W. Faber

3. Don’t worry.

Worry is a peace robber. It’s impossible to have the peace that surprises and inspires when I’m worried.

“You find no difficulty in trusting the Lord with the management of the universe and all the outward creation, and can your case be any more complex or difficult than these, that you need to be anxious or troubled about His management of it?” ~Hannah Whitall Smith

4. Pray about everything.

Praying about everything is being constantly aware of God’s presence. Knowing He wants me to talk with Him about everything. Big, small, or in-between.

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.” ~Brother Lawrence

5. Tell God what you need.

It’s not easy to know the difference between my wants and my needs. I believe it’s good to pray about both while I stay confidently content my Heavenly Father will meet my every need.

“The life of less, one bent on simplicity, and not needing or wanting anything other than what God has deemed good for you turns out to be all you could ever need or want.” ~Hayley DiMarco

6. Thank God for all He has done.

Thankfulness leads to satisfaction and satisfaction leads to peace. Praising and thanking God every day is a foolproof way to change my attitude.

“A grateful heart is one that finds the countless blessings of God in the seemingly mundane everyday life.” ~Anonymous

7. Focus on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.

As a recovering fearful worrier, focusing on God’s positive does not come easily for me but if I want peace I must keep counting my blessings and stay focused on His truth.

“There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.” ~W. Clement Stone

8. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

It’s easier to notice people’s faults than to find reasons to praise and encourage them but if my goal is personal and relational peace then I must look for the good in others and tell them.

“Love people who hate you. Pray for people who have wronged you. It won’t just change their life…it’ll change yours.” ~Mandy Hale

9. Live by the truths of God’s Word daily.

I can know God’s commands and Jesus’ “Blessed are…” quotes but if I don’t apply them to my life it will be impossible for me to enjoy peace.

“The word of God hidden in the heart is a stubborn voice to suppress.” ~Billy Graham

10. Experience God’s peace.

I’ve lived too many years with anxiety. Peace is better.

“Blessed are the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy much peace… If you refuse to be hurried and pressed, if you stay your soul on God, nothing can keep you from that clearness of spirit which is life and peace. In that stillness, you know what His will is.” ~Amy Carmichael

“Weird” peace is best!

I want God’s “weird” peace that is hard to understand and impossible to describe. And the wonderful part is it’s possible.

10 steps to possible.

Are you ready to follow His 10 steps and experience “weird” peace? Are you ready to join me and be like my Aunt Marion?

Leave your prayer requests…

and pray for others who have left requests.

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5 Ways to Surrender to God and Enjoy Peace

9 / 12 / 169 / 14 / 19

Complete surrender to God begins with saying, "Not my will, but Yours be done." Although it can feel hard at times it's the only way to enjoy God's peace. #Bible #Trust #Peace #Isaiah #Surrender

Last week, I asked you if you’d like an early warning system for your life.

Over the weekend, we received another Red Alert phone call in the middle of the night. 4:00AM to be exact . . . first, the land line rings and we answer it; then, about 5 minutes later, both of our cell phones ring.

Sleep was a thing of the past as potential danger disturbed the peace.

One of the hardest sentences in a Christian’s life is…

“Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done.”

That’s surrender to God!

Trusting God is who He says He is.
Being confident He is able to do what He says He will do.
Living completely at peace in the knowledge of His love.

Jesus showed us how to completely surrender and trust God’s will . . . through obedience and sacrifice. But surrendering to God’s will didn’t begin with Jesus…

I found help in the Book of Isaiah as well.

5 Ways to Surrender to God and Enjoy Peace

1. Let Go of Control and Surrender to God’s Plans and Purposes

I’ll admit, I like to control what happens in my life. I want what I want and I want it now. But fighting God’s plans for me is not a path to happiness and peace. It’s never worked.

So, I’ll pray and with God’s help, I will surrender to and trust His will . . . remembering His past faithfulness and my control-driven failures I’ll live today through faith.

Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
Isaiah 46:9–10

2. Let Go of Worry and Surrender in Faith

If worry was an Olympic sport, I’d have a trophy case of medals. The list of things I’ve worried about is too long for this space. I’d memorized the verse “don’t worry about tomorrow” but I failed to apply it.

And there is no peace for a worrier. None!

So, I’ll pray and with God’s help, I will trust Him to give me peace as I surrender my concerns to His care.

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3

3. Let Go of the Past and Let God Heal Your Heart

You can’t have peace and keep reliving the past. I know. I’m guilty as charged. God has graciously forgiven my past and gives me all I need to forgive those who have hurt me. I need to surrender to His healing.

So, I’ll pray and with God’s help, I will trust Him to help me live in this moment. And I will anticipate new things to come.

But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
Isaiah 43:18–19

4. Let Go of Impatience and Trust God’s Timing

I like a dinner I can make in 15 minutes or less and I like God to answer my prayers about as quickly. I’m not very good at waiting on His timing.

And there is no peace in fighting God’s perfect timing.

So, I’ll pray and with God’s help, I will trust Him to give me peace and strength when I need to wait on His timing.

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaian 40:31

5. Let Go of Willfulness and Surrender to God’s Commands

I can be a creature of habit and not all of them are good.

And there is no peace in disobedience.

It’s a big deal! Peace isn’t the only thing I sacrifice when I disobey God. I end up dealing with unpleasant consequences and reduce what others think about Him.

So, I’ll pray and with God’s help, I can believe His ways are best. I can have an attitude of obedience. Not to earn His favor but to glorify Him and show His goodness.

Lord, we show our trust in You by obeying Your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify Your name.
Isaiah 26:8

I surrender!

Not on my own. I can’t.

But with God’s help . . . I can!

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

These 10 quotes inspire me to surrender to God’s will and enjoy peace.

♥ “If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine!”~Elisabeth Elliot

♥ “There is never a moment when God is not in control. Relax! He’s got you covered.” ~Mandy Hale

♥ “Surrendering to Christ is like signing your name to a blank check and letting the Lord put in the amount.” ~Billy Graham

♥ “It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him” ~Hannah Whitall Smith

♥ “I have held many things in my hands, and have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” ~Martin Luther

♥ “What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt.” ~John Newton

♥ “May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love and joy of God’s presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of myself as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love.” ~Andrew Murray

♥ “Real contentment must come from within. You and I cannot change or control the world around us, but we can change and control the world within us.” ~Warren Wiersbe

♥ “Peace is the deliberate adjustment of my life to the will of God.” ~Author Unknown

♥ “We do not segment our lives, giving some time to God, some to our business or schooling, while keeping parts to ourselves. The idea is to give all of our lives in the presence of God, under the authority of God, and for the honor and glory of God. That is what the Christian life is all about.” ~R. C. Sproul

Prayer to Surrender

A dear friend shared this prayer this prayer with me:

I surrender this day to You, Father. I will follow where You lead and do Your will as You reveal it to me. Help me live this promise – that I may live today for Your glory. In the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

May it be the way I begin each day, and with God’s help lived out one moment at a time.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

I’m so excited to tell you about my new book!

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

I’m asking God to bless you today!

This is for the One Hurting with Silent Grief

9 / 9 / 164 / 29 / 19

This is for you, the one hurting with silent grief.

The one whose life has been altered by a loss or event that’s left you feeling broken and alone.

You can’t talk about it. There are reasons known only to you.

You see people grieving openly and you envy the love, support, and understanding they receive.

But you grieve behind closed doors. In the dark. Alone.

No one understands why you’re not as social as you once were. They don’t know how much you hate answering simple questions like…

Tell me about your family?
How many children do you have?
What are your kids up to these days?
Do you have any grandchildren?
How’s your spouse?
Or __________?

You’re uncomfortable meeting new people. Every introduction comes with the normal get to know you questions. And every question takes you back to what isn’t. To what you’ve lost.

So you pause over every invitation. Will it be worth the effort? The reminders? The pain?

This is for you because…

No matter how silent grief feels . . . you are not alone!

7 Reasons You Never Grieve Alone

You belong to God – He sees you.

Always under God’s watchful care, He sees you as valued, beautiful, and loved. Your grieving heart matters to Him.

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”
Genesis 16:13

You belong to God – He knows everything about you.

God made you. He calls you His child. Nothing in your life shocks or surprises Him. Even that thing you are grieving is known to Him. God cares. His hand of blessing is on you.

O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do.
You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.
You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too great for me to understand!
Psalm 139:1–5

You belong to God – He collects every tear.

Not one tear falls without God’s care and compassion. He gathers every tear and records every sorrow-filled moment. Each one matters to Him. You matter to Him.

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in Your bottle.
You have recorded each one in Your book.
Psalm 56:8

You belong to God – He hears every prayer.

Cry out. You don’t need perfect words or a carefully crafted format. Just pour your heart out to God and He will guide you and comfort you with His perfect peace.

I cry out to the Lord;
    I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
I pour out my complaints before him
   and tell Him all my troubles.
When I am overwhelmed,
   you alone know the way I should turn.
Psalm 142:1–3a

You belong to God – He is with you always.

Always! Forever! God’s Spirit is with you. You are never without His comforting presence. Jesus promised.

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20

You belong to God – He will help you.

Your Father doesn’t just offer you a listening ear, He will help you. His love never fails. When people make you feel judged and uncomfortable . . . turn to God’s love. You can count on His healing love.

God said…

“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”
Hebrews 13:5b

So we can say with confidence…

“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”
Hebrews 13:6

You Belong to God – He will give you peace.

Jesus, the Prince of Peace, wants to give you peace. Nothing you experience is new to Him. He was betrayed, rejected, abused, and denied. He knows and understands your pain and offers to replace it with satisfaction and calm assurance that with Him you will be okay.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
John 14:27

So, to you the one with silent grief.

You are not alone.

Your Father sees you, the Holy Spirit is with you, and Jesus offers you His peace.

THERE’S ONE MORE THING I WANT YOU TO KNOW…

I needed this. I wrote it for me. If you’re blessed, I’m thankful.

I wrote it for me because I know what it’s like to live with silent grief. I know what it’s like to feel judged and have people gossip and speculate.

Like you, I need a regular reminder of God’s promises that I am not alone.

I can’t control what other people think. But I can control what I think and when I struggle with silent lonely grief I have to go to God’s truth that gives me peace.

God sees me. He knows me. He gathers my tears and hears every prayer. He is with me. And He will help me and give me peace.

AND GOD DOES THOSE THINGS FOR YOU, TOO.

No matter what you’ve done or what has been done to you . . . my friend, you are not alone. You are loved and precious. More than you will ever know.

For the Lord, your God is living among you.
    He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
    With his love, he will calm all your fears.
    He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Zephaniah 3:17

I’m praying for you and asking God to comfort you and give you His peace.

God bless you!

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a thank you to BibleGateway.com for sources.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

You can also…

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

I’m so excited to tell you about my new book!

Check out our new Facebook Page/Group – #WWGGG – What Would Give God Glory. We’d love for you to join the movement!

And always remember – I LOVE hearing from you! So, please take a minute to say ‘hi’ by leaving a comment.

If this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Send it to a friend, family member, coworker, or share it through the links below…

I’m asking God to bless you today!

How to Have Peace and Rock Solid Faith in the Storm

9 / 7 / 169 / 10 / 16

We have an Early Alert System in our community. An automated system that calls to let us know when a potentially dangerous storm is coming.

I wonder if you and I would like an Early Alert System for our lives?

Something that would let us know when we are about to be hit by a big ol’ storm?

I don’t know about you but…I don’t think I’d want to know. Sure maybe I could make some plans and prepare but most likely . . . I’d just worry.

No one really likes storms. Health problems. Relationship problems. Career problems. Parenting problems. Financial problems. And the list goes on and on and on.

The truth is whether we get a warning or not, storms will happen and you and I need to know how to withstand them.

For followers of Jesus, faith does not mean we have a home built in the land of no storms. We have something better, a home no storm can destroy.

“Everyone who hears my words and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock. Everyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house, and it fell with a big crash.” Matthew 7:24–27

When I started writing this, I thought I’d focus on the Scripture account where Jesus calmed the storm. But I just couldn’t think of anything to say that you haven’t heard a thousand or more times before.
And truthfully, although it’s nice to think about God simply speaking a word and stopping the storm, all you have to do is look around to realize even when you and I cry out . . . sometimes the storm will still rage around us.

What I need, and I imagine it’s what you need to know too…

How to Have Peace and Rock Solid Faith in the Storm

With or without an early warning system, there are some things you and I can do to prepare in advance for the next storm.

And there will be a next storm.

Wow! That thought used to terrify me.

What will it be? How will I get through it? When will it happen? What if?

That is NOT the right thoughts for foundational preparedness.

Looking back, I’m thankful God allowed me to weather some extremely powerful storms. It’s through those storms He calmed my fears and taught me the following lessons…

5 Ways to Prepare in Advance for the Next Storm

Know and Trust God’s Promises.

I have to spend time with God every day. I need to know His promises and repeat them often. Promises like:

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in Him. Nahum 1:7

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. Psalm 46:11

“I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1–3

Lean into God’s Almighty Power.

This encourages me to stay connected and pay attention to what God is doing.

Have you ever watched someone get through a difficult time with amazing strength and courage? You wondered how they could show such bravery and hope through a horrible loss or crisis. And if you ask them the answer is, “God did it!”

Whatever your situation! He is almighty!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” Revelation 1:8

Live God’s Personal Purpose and Plan.

Don’t compare your life to anyone else’s. Good or bad!

God created you exactly the way He wanted you. He has a plan for you. Trust Him.

He is able to equip you for anything He allows. (Wow, I wish I had believed that years ago.) It’s true! God has proven His ability to meet my needs. Rarely early but never late. Right on time equipping to be used for His glory.

Now may the God of peace—
   may He equip you with all you need
    for doing his will.
May He produce in you,
    through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to Him.
    All glory to Him forever and ever! Amen.
Hebrews 13:21

Praise Him for All He’s Done.

Remember and celebrate the times God gave you strength and met your needs in the past.

When I look at a storm through the lens of past experiences, I know God has gotten me through worse trials than the one I’m currently facing. Remembering gives courage and hope.

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Psalm 77:11–12

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Ask God to calm the storm. Sure. Ask Him to make it a thunderstorm, not a hurricane. Absolutely.

Ask Him to make it a thunderstorm, not a hurricane. Absolutely.

Then…

Ask Him to help you know and feel His presence. Ask Him to give you strength and courage. Ask Him to give you everything you need to weather the storm.

Pray – something like this…

Father, I’m afraid. This storm You’ve asked me to live through is hard. And if it is Your will, I ask you to remove it. But if not, please give me everything I need to weather it safely. Please give me courage and strength. Allow me to feel Your presence and peace. Please help me. I need You.

You promised to never leave me or forsake me. You promised to be my refuge and strength. You promised I could trust in You to meet my needs.

I need You, my Rock and my Foundation.

Thank you for the many times you have helped me through past storms. I believe You will meet every need I have today. Thanks and praise now and forever. Amen.

Storms are frightening. But with the Holy Spirit’s help, you and I can have a home built on rock solid faith in Jesus Christ. And that it a foundation that will never fail.

“All self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation.” ~Dr. H. A. Ironside

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7 Powerful Verses That Will Give You God’s Peace

9 / 5 / 169 / 8 / 16

I’m excited to dig deep into peace this month.

If you’d known me a little over a decade ago, you’d have said I was the last person in the world who should be talking about peace.

I was diagnosed with high anxiety depression, living in a constant state of agitation and worry.

Peace always seemed like it was just beyond my reach. I knew my lack of peace was a faith issue, but the truth about life’s “trials and sorrows” pushed the possibility of peace right out the door.

I knew Jesus words:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

They just didn’t translate into my everyday living.

I believed Jesus had overcome the world for my eternal future but I didn’t believe His overcoming meant I could be an overcomer.

I doubted the power of God’s peace in my life.

Truth…

Life is hard and there are plenty of things to worry about.

Maybe you’re worried about something now:

Your health.
Your children.
Your finances.
Your marriage.
Your friendships.
Your parents.

Add things you hear on the nightly news and it’s not surprising that more people are being medicated for depression and anxiety than every before.

I’m going to make myself vulnerable here and tell you that although medication made me feel better it wasn’t able to give me peace.

God’s peace finally came as the result of a long journey through of grief and pain. I needed His help just to get through the day. So, I spent every free minute reading my Bible. I cried out and God poured out.

He graciously allowed me to feel His presence and bit by bit allowed me to know His power to give me peace . . . incomprehensible unimaginable peace.

So today, I want to share 7 verses I hold close when I need to remember God’s peace even when life is hard.

7 Powerful Verses That Will Give You God’s Peace

God is With You.

Wherever you go and whatever your circumstances, you are never alone. God knows every detail of your struggle. Nothing is hidden from Him and nothing surprises Him.

He leads you. He protects your soul.

A blessing of peace with Him.

Your Spirit is everywhere I go.
I cannot escape your presence.
If I go up to heaven, you will be there.
    If I go down to the place of death, you will be there.
If I go east where the sun rises
    or go to live in the west beyond the sea,
even there You will take my hand and lead me.
    Your strong right hand will protect me.
Psalm 139:7–10

God is Sovereign.

God is on His throne. He reigns over all things.

Nothing happens outside of His permission.

That has always been hard for me. Why would God allow His children to suffer pain? But I’m learning to trust the bigger picture of His will and trust that God is able to carry me through whatever He allows. He is in control.

A truth of unlimited peace.

The Lord is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. Psalm 93:1

God is Eternal.

Problems are Temporary.

It can be hard to have an eternal perspective with your feet planted in the present. But with God’s help and your focus on enjoying His forever presence doing today with peace becomes a blessed possibility.

A promise of eternal peace.

We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles. We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:17–18

God is Preparing

The forever home God is preparing with Him includes the promise that every tear will be wiped away, and there will be no more death, sorrow, or pain.

A hope of enduring peace.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them.He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 3:21

God is Guarding

Quiet time with God is like a hedge of peace around each day. Laying concerns down before Him and trusting He will give everything you need that day.

A comforting indescribable peace.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7

God is Accomplishing

The Lord is always at work around and within you. He is able to give you peace even when everything around you feels overwhelming.

A prayer that gives peace.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

God is Loving

God is for you. He loves you. He wants you to enjoy true and lasting peace. So much so that He provided everything you need. Everything.

A gracious gift of peace.

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? Romans 8:31–32

I hope these verses bless you with peace.

God is . . . with you, sovereign, eternal, preparing, guarding, accomplishing, and loving.

He is able to give you peace. Enough to overcome any problem you face today.

Leave your prayer requests…

and pray for others who have left requests.

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I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.

And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…