“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
“You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.”
Psalm 139:1 NIV
(This photo was taken at the Nakalele Blowhole on the island of Maui, Hawaii)
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6 NIV
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15 NIV
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake near Plymouth, Minnesota)
“So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
God’s Presence restores and renews us, it comforts us
He provides for us even when we are not paying attention to Him
God meets all our basic needs…our role is to believe in Him and obey His Word
His Word is not a burden or only a bunch of rules to follow…
His Word and His Presence give life, comfort, peace and hope
Think about circumstances and events in your life that have occurred in the last few days, weeks, months and in the past year…
Throught it all, God was with you…so where did you see Him?
Give thanks and trust in the Lord…
Remember He provides for you with His Presence every day, all the time
“Praise the Lord.[a]
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”
Psalm 106:1 NIV
(This photo was taken at a lake in central Minnesota)
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:7-9 NIV
At the end of the Book of Deuteronomy and the beginning of the Book of Joshua, Moses dies and Joshua is being promoted to fill his shoes
Just like Moses was apprehensive to lead the people out of Egypt when God called him, Joshua is uncertain he should be the one to lead after Moses
In both situations God reassures them to “be strong and courageous because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
We would do well to listen to these words when we are uncertain and have doubts about situations and events in our own lives
God is with you and God is for you
He loves you and will go with you wherever you go
Be strong and courageous
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?“
Psalm 27:1-2 NIV
(This photo was taken in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming)
“Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 1:6 NIV
Father God, thank You for being faithful
Thank You for making a way for us in this life
When we reflect on past events give us an eye for gratitude in all circumstances
Please show us how You are at work in our lives
We want to choose to patiently wait on You
Becasue we know that You will finish the work You have started in us
In Jesus name, Amen
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 NIV
(This photo was taken at sunset by a lake in Plymouth, Minnesota)
“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV
When you feel lost and alone
Frustrated and disappointed
Uncertain and afraid turn towards the Lord in prayer
Put your trust in Him, He is always with you
“Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:3-4 NIV
(This photo was taken at Temperance State Park in northern Minnesota)
““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 NIV
Father God, You know everything about us
You know all of our thoughts, desires and intentions
Help us turn our focus to treasures in heaven
Please remove any ideas or behaviors that will keep us from becoming the people You created us to be
In Jesus name, Amen
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV
(This photo was taken at Sapphire Point near Dillon, Colorado)
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10:9-10 NIV
Father God, open our eyes to what we are truly devoting ourselves to
Help us as we fight against selfish desires and worldly ways
We want You at the center of our lives
When we drift away refocus our hearts and minds on You, and Your Word
In Jesus name, Amen
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
Colossians 3:1-2 NIV
(This photo was taken while traveling through southern New Mexico)
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
The faith journey can feel like a repetitive cycle
We read God’s Word, we go to worship, we listen and learn
We believe we understand and will now go and live according to what we have learned…then as humans tend to do, we try to take control and go off our own way and end up frustrated and wonder what happened?
Then it’s back to God’s Word and going to worship and drawing closer to God
And then off the rails again and again…
How can this cycle be broken?
When we get to a point where we are about to take some form of action or control, we need to pause, step aside and pray about it
Ask God what do you want me to do here?
Ask Him to give you wisdom according to His plan and then wait, watch and listen
If we don’t we could end up spending a siginificant amount of our time on something God never intended for us to be doing
The only way to find out is between you and Him
Seek the will of the Lord for your life and live your best for Him
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV
(This photo was taken near Arches National Park in Utah)
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
Father God, You make all things beautiful in their proper timing
Nothing is too hard for You to accomplish
You are faithful to keep Your promises
So often, we forget this and grow discouraged when our situations don’t seem to change
In those moments, it’s easy to forget that You are not done working
Through Your Holy Spirit, please change the way we think and behave
When we start to grow weary, help us remember that You are near and You are faithful
In Jesus name, Amen
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
(This photo was taken at sunrise by a lake in northwestern Wisconsin)
Take Your Faith With You 