A Quiet Confidence in God

My hope is in the Lord and my help comes from Him.  He fails not to rescue those who love Him. Today, I am encouraged with these verses:

Psalm 46

1God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2Therefore we will not fear,

though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.

4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

6Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7The Lord Almighty is with us,

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8Come and see the works of the Lord,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear,

He burns the shields with fire.

10Be still, and know that I am God,

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.

11The Lord Almighty is with us,

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

[Journal entry: November 16, 2011]

A New Day to Give Thanks

I will fill my day with thanksgiving to the One who gives me new beginnings every morning.  Thank You, God for a beautiful, cold morning.  Thank You, God for a good night sleep last night.  Thank You, God for preserving my life for another day.  Thank You, God for I am able to breathe today.  Thank You, God for I am able to give thanks to You.

Today is another day to worship and praise You for who You are.  Today is another day to listen to You through Your Word.  Today is the day that I anticipate mighty things that You will be doing.  Today is a new day to meditate on Your Word. Today is a new day to receive Your love, Your faithfulness, and Your mercy.  Today is another day to be filled with Your Holy Spirit.

This is a new day to do the work You have assigned me to do...all for Your glory O Lord...all for You alone!  In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

[Journal entry: November 16, 2011]

Standing Firm, Unwavered

If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, o king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

- Daniel 3: 17-18

The king commanded to the people to bow down and worship the gold image he built.  But these three friends of Daniel stood up to their conviction not to.  They would worship only one God and that is the God of Heaven.  They made a bold statement that whether God would rescue them or not, they will never bow down to other gods except to God.  Wow! That's integrity.  An indestructible one.  Fully tested into the blazing fire. Literally!

What if it were to happen to me?  What if I were one of those who will be put into fire for not following the king's instructions? I'm thinking if I were one of those men, I'd probably be afraid.  But God's mercy and power would be displayed for I believe He would strengthen me and give me courage to stand up to my conviction: to worship God alone.

These men showed incredible faith in God that He is able to save them from fire.  And if not, these men would never change their minds from worshiping the Lord.  These men are worthy of respect and honor for they have shown great faith and total dependence on God.

[PRAYER]

Father God, You are real and alive and You are able to save Your people from danger, even from death.  I pray Lord that You would strengthen my faith in You so that when my faith is put to test like this, I will stand on my unwavering conviction to worship only You.  Great is Your name!  Mighty is Your name! You alone deserve worship and honor!  In Jesus' name. Amen.

[Journal entry: June 2, 2011]