trusting God

DEAR GOD: We Are Yours In Unity Forever~

by // // No Comments

God's Love for Us Meaning & How He Expresses It

“I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.”
John 17:9-10 (NKJV)

__________________________________________________________

  “Glorified in Unity”

In this poignant passage, Jesus offers a heartfelt prayer to the Father. His words resonate across time, touching our hearts and inviting us to explore the depths of His Divine love, unity, and purpose. Let’s together as children of the Light and the LORD -embark on a reflective journey through these verses.

__________________________________________________________

Morals and Reflective Questions

Divine Focus: Jesus prays specifically for His disciples, emphasizing their unique relationship with God. How can we cultivate such intimacy in our own lives?

Worldly vs. Kingdom Perspective: Why does Jesus refrain from praying for the world? What does this reveal about His mission and priorities?

Ownership and Unity: The profound exchange of “Yours” and “Mine” underscores unity. How can we apply this principle to our relationships within the body of Christ?

____________________________________________________________

Christianity Today: A Lens on John 17:9-10

In our modern context, these verses illuminate several aspects of Christian living:

Intercession: Jesus models intercessory prayer. As believers, we are called to intercede for one another, lifting each other up before God. Praying for others is a powerful action for Christians. It is the action and belief that a higher power, Christ can intercede – and is listening to our requests, at all times.

Selective Prayer: Jesus’ focus on His disciples teaches us discernment. We pray not only for ourselves but also for those entrusted to our care. When we pray for others, we represent Christ and His light. His Spirit guides us through the process and the unction from the Spirit provokes us to respond accordingly. We take responsibility in the name of CHRIST and let our requests be known, and if according to His will – it shall be done.

Glorification: Our unity with Christ brings glory to Him. When we live in harmony, reflecting His love, we magnify His name. When we purport to live according to His commandments and His Gospel, we are magnifying His glory to not only ourselves, but to others as a witness to His Magnificence and Omnipotent power and Presence.

___________________________________________________________

Ethical Implications

Inclusivity: Jesus’ prayer extends beyond His immediate circle. It went to ALL individuals, no exceptions. He loved mightily and freely. He extended that mercy upon all who were willing to receive it. How can we broaden our prayers to include others?

Stewardship: Recognizing that all are God’s, we become stewards of His grace. We accept that role readily and without hesitation respond in a loving and sincere fashion in all we do and speak.

__________________________________________________________

God’s Love: The Heart of John 17:9-10

God’s love permeates every word. Jesus prays for His own, affirming their belongingness. His love transcends boundaries, embracing us as His children. We, too, are recipients of this Divine affection, it extends to ALL generations, has in the past, currently, and into the future generations – until the end of the age. His love knows no boundaries – He loves unconditionally- and He waits with open arms for us to accept Him as our LORD and Savior, our Redeemer, the one true Son of the only living God!  Have you accepted Him?

___________________________________________________________

Meditative Takeaway

Consider the intertwining threads of ownership, unity, and love. Ponder how your life glorifies God. As you pray, remember that you are part of a grand tapestry—a beloved child of the Father, and as Christians we are called to respond as children of the LORD, in all ways acknowledge the LORD, follow His voice, and love Him with all our might, heart, mind, and soul!

United Prayer

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of unity. May we cherish our fellow believers, recognizing that we are Yours, and that You are our LORD and Savior.  Guide us and help us continue to glorify You through our lives, help us to intercede fervently and love unconditionally, and see and hear as Your Son does, this day and all the days of our lives, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

_________________________________________________________

May John 17:9-10 continue to inspire and transform while drawing us closer to the heart of Christ.

 

Bible Verses About God's Love | GospelChops

 

DEAR GOD: I Have   Confidence in You and Your Divine Discipline

by // // No Comments

What does god’s discipline look like – Socialest

 “I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is.” – Galatians 5:10 (ESV) –

Context and Background:

The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians to address a serious issue: false teachers were infiltrating the church, promoting legalism, and undermining the gospel of grace. These Judaizers insisted that Gentile believers must follow Jewish customs and laws to be truly saved. Paul’s response was passionate and urgent, emphasizing salvation by faith in Christ alone.

 Confidence in the Lord:

Paul begins with a bold statement: “I have confidence in the Lord.” His trust is not in human abilities but in God’s work within the Galatian believers.

As Christians, we can also have confidence in God’s faithfulness. He who began a good work in us will carry it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Unity and Sound Doctrine:

Paul expects the Galatians to remain steadfast in their faith and not be swayed by false teachings.

We, too, should hold fast to sound doctrine and avoid being led astray by deceptive ideas or worldly philosophies.

Divine Discipline:

The phrase “the one who is troubling you” refers to those promoting legalism and undermining grace.

God’s discipline is not necessarily punitive but corrective. False teachers will face consequences for their actions.

Reflective Questions:

  • Where do we place our confidence? Are we relying on our abilities or trusting in God’s faithfulness?
  • How do we discern false teachings? What safeguards can we put in place to avoid being led astray?
  • Have we experienced God’s corrective discipline? How has it shaped our faith and understanding?

Meditative Thoughts:

  • Confidence in God: Our confidence rests not in ourselves but in the Lord who sustains us. May we walk in His truth and grace.
  • Spiritual Vigilance: Let us be vigilant against false teachings, seeking wisdom from the Holy Spirit to discern truth from error.
  • God’s Corrective Love: Divine discipline is an expression of God’s love. It redirects us toward His perfect will.

A Moral Story: “The Gardener’s Pruning”:

Once, in a beautiful garden, a skilled gardener tended to a young fruit tree. The tree grew lush and green, but its branches tangled and twisted. The gardener knew that without pruning, the tree would bear little fruit.

One day, the gardener approached the tree with shears in hand. The tree trembled, fearing the pain of the cut. But the gardener spoke gently, “Trust me, little tree. This pruning is for your good.”

As the shears snipped away dead branches and unruly growth, the tree winced. Yet, with each cut, it felt lighter, freer. The gardener whispered, “I am shaping you for abundance.”

In time, the tree blossomed. Its branches stretched toward the sun, laden with sweet fruit. The gardener smiled, knowing that the pruning had borne fruitfulness.

Such is our lives today. At times we need the “Master’s” hands to shape us and prune us of issues and circumstances that might be inhibiting our growth in Him which-ultimately- may be rotting our roots in Christianity. So at times our growth may be “painful” but in the overall picture and aftermath, it will be worth it as we develop higher into the realm of our faith and love for the LORD!

How Can We Apply This Today:

  • Unity: Let us stand united in the gospel of grace, rejecting legalism and embracing Christ’s finished work.
  • Discernment: May we discern false teachings and hold fast to sound doctrine.
  • Trust: Like the pruned tree, trust God’s loving discipline—even when it hurts—knowing it leads to abundant life.

Unified Prayer:

“My Dear Lord, grant us unwavering faith and confidence in You. Help us discern truth from error, and may we remain anchored in Your Word. Strengthen us to resist troubling influences and uphold sound doctrine. Help us in the growth of our spirituality, help us to get closer to You in all we do and say, all the days of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

“May this encourage us to walk confidently in the LORD’s truth, and offer us encouragement in a dark world, as we follow His Light, and embrace His love, while we love Him in return!”

PPT - God’s Discipline PowerPoint Presentation, free download - ID:3115518

DEAR GOD: How Can We Tell Others To Be Still & Let You~

by // // No Comments

Pin by Emmy on SUNRISE..SUNSET | God, Pictures, Christian art

“…Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10

Can we ultimately stop and just stand still and think “God, I know You have me and all good intentions towards me, so I’ll stop and let YOU be YOU!”

It can be life affirming to some to recognize the need to “let God take over and be God” in your life. For those who are “control freaks” let go – and let God be God. He is the ultimate Warrior and Savior and He conquered death, performed recorded miracles and countless others I’m sure that weren’t recorded, and He loves us with the intensity of ten thousand suns and more! So, why do some have problems letting go and letting God be God?

Well, the aforementioned one “control” is one of the reasons. A lot of Christians in a “tepid” relationship with Jesus may not have fully come to the understanding that we are “to go to Him in all things” both big and small, good and bad.  That is kind of a reason that sits atop a lot of people’s way of thinking. As a matter of fact, I ran a support group and that was the number one reason for the group. “I have to be in control – if I surrender that seems I’m a failure.”  NOT TRUE!

When we as believers go forward with the mind-set of “not allowing God to be God and acquiescing to His will, and His ways, and His commandments – that’s when we “fail.” We don’t fail when we give in to God, we fail miserably when we don’t.

I am trying to help some individuals who are just becoming Christian. They were acquainted with who Jesus is – but never really in the Word or understanding why or how to behave as a Christian.

Then God showed me verses and gave me the wisdom to show them what they can do, and where they could start. We spoke at length and there were many questions pouring forward, all rushing out at once. And it was quite a drenching in the Spirit, because they all gave themselves to Jesus and were born of the Spirit. It was fabulous!

If one tries to help those who are deeper in the Word, yet also don’t feel they “should bother God” with little things, so they do it on their own. This to me is probably worse than not knowing at all. Remember what was said in Revelation? Jesus used water supply as a spiritual metaphor. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).

So, for those who should know better – it retracts and meanders into another whole perspective. We should be aware that God is God, and in as much – know that He is capable of doing anything and has proven it over and over in the Bible – as well as in your life today. I’m sure you can think back to issues or circumstances where God took over – and brought you safely to a place of peace, or healing.

Jesus warned them that He would spit them out of His mouth, meaning that He would reject them and cast them away from His presence. This was a severe judgment that indicated their spiritual condition was wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17).

Let God be God – be still…and enjoy the inherent joy of being a child of the King of kings, LORD of lords. And then watch how living as a Christian and going to God for all things will bring you a life WORTH LIVING! Amen!

“Father-thank You for being You and taking care of all things on my behalf, You are in control and I surrender to You fully and completely, You are my LORD and Savior, and I am Yours, may I remember to ‘be still and know that You are God’ all the days of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

DEAR GOD: You Are My Choice Over Everything & Everyone~

by // // No Comments

Prayer of Daniel

Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. So, this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Daniel 6:26-28 (KJV)-

Daniel understood God’s law prohibited eating foods that were being offered to idols. He was in Babylon in full captivity—a place that worshiped false gods—when he soon faced a difficult decision.  King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that only the finest foods be sent for Daniel’s consumption, but only after being presented to idols.

The question became for Daniel “was it better to merely obey the king—or disobey God to please the king? The underlying issues were about allegiance to God.  He could have reasoned that breaking the divine command was because he had no choice, that he was just a servant. That would have been an easy justification for disobedience. However, Daniel was filled with a driven desire to do what was right in the eyes of God—and so as a result, he resolved not to eat the royal food, and sought instead, for a way that would honor the Lord by keeping God’s laws.

Prayer and a reverent mind and heart helped Daniel, and only through God, was he fully strengthened, and able to pursue the righteous path instead of the thorny road.

It’s vital to realize that obeying God is clearly the right choice. No matter what the world is doing, or what your friends think is “cool” – outside of God’s will and laws, it’s like walking the tightrope without the protective net below. However, with God—should we fall, or slip -He is always there to catch us.

Prayers and daily dedication/worship is the preponderance of servitude in His eyes. To become like Daniel, it’s crucial to facilitate a wholehearted commitment to follow the Lord and consistently apply Scripture to circumstances and decisions. Then, when a challenge comes, we’ll have the courage and wisdom to obey God’s commands.

Which path will you choose?  For me -I will choose GOD each and every time!

“Father, I will choose You over everything and everyone each and every time in my life, may I be strengthened by Your love, and Your Spirit as I go through my daily tasks in life, may I be humble in my request to reflect Your light in all I do, and may I acquiesce to Your commandments and adhere to Your Word while honoring You, obeying You, worshiping You, and most especially loving You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

 

DEAR GOD: Your Rain Brings Growth & Renewal~

by // // 2 Comments

What’s behind the behaviour? There’s always something. - Hannah Beach

“Into every life a little rain must and will fall.”  Thus, the saying about life and challenges and hardship.  There are storms that will lurk literally and figuratively throughout our lives. And sometimes — a life challenge will require enormous strength in order to get through it.  Strength as humans we cannot and would not achieve were it not for the Holy Spirit who provides the supernatural fundamentals in order for us to achieve and survive each storm we encounter.

Jesus Christ, and His power is released when we acknowledge our weakness and submit to Him and accept His help.  When we surrender, we can and will endure suffering and adversity while maintaining and preserving internal joy and His perfect peace.

When the ground is extremely dry you can see virtual cracks in the foundation.  When we strive to do things on our own it’s our “foundation” that’ll crack and dry up. We need the life force of our Lord to keep it from crumbling around us. Our souls are like the soil we need to keep it watered and nourished. We need His living water to sustain and nourish our souls.

When the sun comes out after a storm the aftermath is serene, tranquil, a sight to behold.  Dew seemingly sparkles like diamonds on the leaves of trees, on the grass, and on the flowers. A rainbow oft times will be present to further declare the power of God and His love.

We’ll all go through times of grief, sorrow and valleys of woe.  It’s faith and His love that’ll provide us the ability to catapult over the hurdles thrust in our paths.

It’s His strength that’ll pick us up when we are weak, it’s His hands of grace that’ll wipe our tears away and replace it with gladness and joy. He will deliver us from the suffocating grief or depressive circumstances we’re going through. He defeated death for us to give us eternal life. He raises us up at all times as we exalt Him and love Him and trust Him.

Turn to Him every day, acknowledge His greatness, and give Him continuous praise and glory. Seek His face daily and accept Him openly. God doesn’t promise that we won’t experience sadness and loss or hard times – however He does promise that He’ll uphold us with His right hand of righteousness, and He will bring us through it each and every single time.

The result?  The ability to be a vessel for the Lord as we attempt to soothe others as they’re going through similar circumstances we went through. All the while glorifying God and giving Him the praise and the victory!

“Dear God, thank You for all You are, all You do, and all You continue to do all the days of my life, may I glorify You in all I endeavor to do, today and always, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;-  2 Corinthians 1:9-10 

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.   Proverbs 3:5-6

How Heavy Rainfall Can Affect Your Plumbing - Miller's Services

 

DEAR GOD: Thank You For The Bridge To You~

by // // No Comments

See the source image

 The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17

 

Adversity is a bridge to a deeper relationship with God.

When we read Joshua, there are key elements that are glaringly apparent throughout the book.  We become aware of God’s presence that energizes our work. We become critically and keenly aware of how we must TRUST GOD, and by so doing, it means trusting Him fully because He can see beyond what we can see.

We must remember that God doesn’t require us to understand His will, but in fact…simply obey it, even it is seeming unreasonable to “our mind” which is far inferior to that of our Father’s mind.

He instructs Joshua to stay in the “Word” and not to depart from His “law.”

In Joshua 1:8; the Lord states with undeniably clarity and tenacity, “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.”

He is reinforcing the importance of staying with His Word and Law, and doing what is required in order to fulfill His Will.  And, assuring us that when we do, we will be prosperous and have good success!

This was the same command He issued to future Israelite kings in Deuteronomy 17:19–he was to meditate on the Word of God everyday knowledge of God’s will is crucial to doing so.  And this is so to this day.

God didn’t change.

His Word didn’t change.

His Will and Law didn’t change-(Sacrificial blood ordinance changed…Jesus Blood took care of that).

His plans for our success and purpose didn’t change.

And, most especially…His love didn’t expire or change…He still loves all of His children.

He declared in Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

It is so easy to focus on “our problems” which we can see, and not on God, whom we can’t see.  As Joshua discovered, “God is with us no matter where we are, no matter what we are going through, and He is with us no matter how big or how small our problem is…He is with us ALWAYS.

He will never leave us nor forsake us.

He will never stop loving us.

He is a faithful and merciful God.

He will forgive us, over and over again.

Remember that Joshua knew all about adversity. He wandered in the wilderness for forty years. He was “way qualified” in the adversity department.  But He never lost sight of the fact that God was with Him throughout it all. And when it was time for the people of God to cross the Jordan River, Joshua was named by God to take over.

When we go to Him in prayer, we are trusting Him and surrendering to Him.  Understanding that God’s way is far different than ours is a vital and critical component in connecting with Him on so many levels.

For although He is with us, He is far above us in all aspects, and so this is why we must surrender to His will. Trust Him fully in order for Him to provide a deeper realm and open up to Him and expose yourself entirely to His hands of mercy and will.

Obedience is a “must” and a high priority in every believer’s life. The Holy Spirit enables us to walk obediently before God, in His strength, and His power. Amen.

Choose to obey Him, even if you don’t understand why. He is asking you to do something…when we do, we can fully expect to become the person God is molding us to be, and to bear fruit that is highly favorable with the Lord almighty.

When we do all of this according to His will and purpose, you can expect to receive rewards that will overwhelm you with joy and love.

So, at times, we need to be still and know that He is God… in order to fulfill our purpose according to the Master.

He is God.  We are His.  His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Be prepared and prepare to do all that He wills in your life.

“Thank You Father, for leading, guiding and directing me all the days of my life, in Jesus’ name, Amen and Amen!”