Increase our faith, O merciful Father, that we do not swerve at any time from thy heavenly words,
but augment in us hope and love, with a careful keeping of all thy commandments, that no hardness of heart, no hypocrisy, no concupiscence of thy eye, no enticement of the world, draw us away from thy obedience. Amen. --John Knox
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John 14:26 The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all the things that I said to you.
David Jeremiah writes: The Holy Spirit’s other name is Comforter. That is my favorite name for the Holy Spirit. The word "comforter" is a Greek word, paraclete, and it is the same word that is translated "encourager." The Holy Spirit is my Encourager. He comes and puts His arm around me when I am discouraged, and He encourages me. Yes, there are times when this pastor loses his perspective a little and becomes discouraged. I may have actually slipped into depression once or twice (not recently, thank the Lord). It’s the same with anyone in leadership; sometimes you feel as though there is hardly anywhere to run. You just have to get alone with your Bible, get down on your knees in prayer … and then the Spirit of God comes to bring encouragement to your heart. I’ve had that experience time and again. It is almost (almost!) worth experiencing the dark and heavy times, because the encouragement of God’s Spirit is so sweet. I praise God that the Holy Spirit is my Comforter and Encourager and Helper. Jeremiah, David. Sanctuary: Finding Moments of Refuge in the Presence of God. Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers, 2002. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (Philippians 2:14–15, ESV)
These are verses easier read than obeyed. It requires little effort to survey the landscape of our lives and find reasons to complain. How quickly we can bemoan a God who has dealt us a bad hand and recoil from trusting in his goodness. But take a moment and reflect truths about God. Hopefully they reorient your perspective. He is the God who "works for those who wait for him." (Isaiah 64:4) He is the God who withholds no good thing "from those who walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11) He is the God who rejoices to do us good withal his heart and soul (Jeremiah 32:41) He is the God who pursues us with goodness and mercy all our days. (Psalm 23:6) He is the God who knows the hairs of our heads and without whom not a bird falls to the ground. (Matthew 10:29-30) He is the God who works for good with those who love him." (Romans 8:28) He is the God who "did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, and will surely give us all things with him." (Romans 8:32) He is the God who "disciplines us for our good so that we may share in his holiness." (Hebrews 12:10) He is the God through whom we can do all things. (Philippians 4:14) He is the God who supplies "every need of ours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19) He is the God who rejoices over us with gladness and exults over us with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17) He is the God who will complete in me the work he began. (Philippians 1:6) When I feel the temptation to slip in to "Eeyore Mode" I must take a few moments to step back and reflect on this precious truths. I do not have a God who uncaringly withholds good things from me, but a God who has endowed me with the richest of spiritual blessings and who has wrapped me in his eternal loving care. You are an omnipotent God!
You indeed do have power! You can do anything! Nothing is too hard for You! There is no sickness that You cannot heal. There is no problem that You cannot solve. There is no challenge that You cannot meet . . . There is no committee that can thwart Your work in the church of Jesus Christ. You are the all-powerful, magnificent, amazing, beyond comprehension, God! Lord, You are more than anything that I could say about You. There are no words to describe Your greatness and glory and majesty. -David Jeremiah |
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