Strength -

I Wait For The Lord

“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” Psalms 130:5

Are you waiting for the Lord? Is your hope in His word? Many do not have patience. Patience involves perseverance when we are waiting for answers to our prayers. There may be some kind of delay, but the answer is on its way. Prayer is the key to receiving those answers from God. Patience is needed to wait upon the Lord to receive the blessings of the Lord. These days many do not want to wait due to self-gratification. We want it now instead of waiting for the answer or manifestation of what we are seeking from God. These days many do not take the time to read God’s word. Yet, God’s word is the bread of life to direct our path. In Hebrews chapter four, verse twelve, it reads as follows:

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Many do not want to hear what the word of God has to say because it pierces the soul and spirit. God’s word discerns our thoughts and intents of the heart. Those who are of the faith in the Lord Jesus, must stay the course and surrender every day their thoughts to the Lord. Our hope is in the word of the Lord. We must know that the everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of the earth does not faint or is weary, [see Isaiah 40:28]. Listen to what else Isaiah has to say,

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

In verse 30, Isaiah said that even the youth shall faint and be weary. But, those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary. They shall walk, and not faint. Even David knew that God satisfies the mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s [see Psalms 103:5]. Reading the word will renew your strength. The word is the provision of God. We must wait, and meditate on the word.

I wait for the Lord, and in His word do I place my hope. My hope is in the Lord God.

“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” Psalms 71:5

In your youth and old age, the Lord God will give you strength. God shall redeem your soul from deceit and violence. Let us praise the Lord for He will bring us out of trouble. Pray to the Lord to bring you out of trouble. Declare God’s wondrous work. Cry out to God not to forsake you when your strength fails. God will make haste to help you in your time of need. Pray and ask, and you will receive.

Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. Psalms 71:4

Let us pray like David and rely only on the word of God. Our confidence is not in the unfaithful man, but it is in God alone. The Lord is good and ready to forgive.

“In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” Psalms 86:7

In the day of your trouble, call upon the Lord and He will answer you. Surrender your will and be quickened in your body and soul in the name of Jesus. Teach me thy ways Lord, and I will walk in thy truth, [Psalms 86:11]. Help me to wait upon you Lord and renew my strength today, in Jesus name, we pray, Amen.

The Lord will do great things

“Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice for the LORD will do great things.” Joel 2:21

Fear not, and rejoice, for the Lord will do great things. Do you believe that the Lord will do great things on your behalf? I hope your answer is, yes. The Lord will restore what has been taken away from you. He has restored Job and others in the word. What is in the word applies to those who walk by faith and not by sight. What the grasshopper has eaten in the field, will be restored. You shall eat plenty and be satisfied. Are you satisfied? You shall not be ashamed. Don’t worry, God is on your side and will do great things. When I had lack of food, God supplied. I never went hungry nor my family.

Beware of those who have a harmful influence over you. These are those who make merchandise out of you and use you for their own benefit. What they have taken from you will be restored. The Lord will fight for you and your family as you build yourself up in His Holy word. Stay the course in faith having your shield up. Whatever work you are doing, pray that God will bless it and sustain it. Even if you lose your job, it will be restored. Your adversaries may come against you, but you will stand strong in the Lord.

“For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” Isaiah 25:4

Against the wall of evil is the storm, but the Lord will be our hope and strength. Purify your heart before the Lord and trust in Him.

Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore, my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Psalms 28:6-7

Whatever opposition you receive, the Lord will be your strength and shield. We can read about Nehemiah and see how those who oppose through ridicule, greed, and craftiness will be judged under the hand of God. Read chapter 5 of Nehemiah and see the cry of the people who have mortgaged their lands, vineyards, and houses that they may buy and eat during the famine. Some have borrowed money to pay their taxes. God is in the business of restoration to those who repent and believe that God is their strength.

(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 2 Peter 2:8-10

Those who are corrupt shall utterly perish in their own corruption. There is no escaping God’s judgement for those who are unjust. However, God will restore the years that the locust hath eaten, [see Joel 2:25]. Now, look at verse 24 of chapter 2 of Joel that states the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil. The Lord answered their cry by giving them corn, wine, and oil. This was after they were sanctified, consecrated unto the Lord. God said, “You will be satisfied.” You will be contented at what the Lord has done for you. He will give you what you need or what has been taken from you, and you will be satisfied.

The Lord will even restore your health as is stated in Jeremiah chapter 30 verse 17.

“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.”

Have you been called an outcast? Have you been rejected by someone? Today, we have mothers and fathers rejecting each other and their children. Jesus rejected no one and even allowed the children to come and be healed, [see Matthew 19:14]. If you have been injured in any way, God will heal you. Pray and receive it now in Jesus Name. The Lord will do great things in your life every day when you trust and believe in Him.

The Path of Joy

“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Psalms 16:11

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15:11

The path of joy is being in his presence. The path of joy is abiding in the vine. Jesus is the vine. We have two scriptures that point to the path of joy. These two scriptures speak to having the fullness of joy in our life. An example of joy can be described as on a wedding day or the birth of a child. Joy is happiness, but it is much more than an emotional response. It is the fulfillment and long-lasting satisfaction of something being confirmed. One might say it is the satisfaction of life.

Joy is meant to be lasting in a person’s life. Yet, we know that it can be a fleeting emotional experience. How does one keep the path of joy? Real joy is being in the presence of God. Real joy is abiding in the love of God and keeping the commandments. Real joy is continuing our walk in the love of God. The path of joy is understanding the word of God.

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehamiah 8:10

Nehamiah was governor of Persian Judea under Artaxerxes 1 of Persia. Nehamiah and Ezra, the priest helped the people to understand the word of God. The people wept when they heard the words of the law [see Nehemiah 8:9]. In verse 10 of chapter eight states, “for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” They had understood and because they understood, they were weeping. Here is the path of joy, understanding the word of God and then going to eat the fat, drink, and send a portion to those who have nothing. This day is holy unto our Lord and the joy of the Lord is our strength. Is the joy of the Lord your strength?

Has the Lord done great things for you? I love to see the Lord’s manifestation of doing something for someone, if they would only believe in the power of the Lord. Each day is holy unto the Lord and His desire is to be our strength in doing the impossible. We can remember past blessings, but let’s allow the Lord to give us present blessings.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalms 126:2-6

The path of joy brings laughter and singing where those who do not believe can see what great things God has done for those who do believe. Oh! Turn again our captivity Lord with streams of living water. We may sow our seed in tears, but we will reap in joy. We are the clay molded for the master’s use in being a servant of the Lord shining the light of his love to those around us. We may pray with tears, but the end result is reaping in joy the blessings that God has bestowed upon us.

Every day can be a blessing when we give of ourselves to God and share it with others. That God’s spirit can work through us to the glory of God. That we may have joy unspeakable and full of glory. That our tongue may speak of the wonders of God and sing His praises. Keep the word of God and we shall abide in His love. Abiding in the vine through the word of God brings the fulfillment of joy as is stated in John chapter 15. It is the experience of repentance, cleansing, baptism, and sanctification that brings joy into our hearts. Just look at the following verses.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
1 John 1:3-4

These things were written that your joy may be full. Fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ is the path to joy.