The Most Gentle Whisper

Psalm 81:5 (MSG)

“I hear this most gentle whisper from One I never guessed would speak to me.”

Maybe you feel like a relationship with the God of the universe is a no go. Maybe you’ve been told that you’re not good enough or that you’re too dirty to even set foot on the doorstep of heaven. Maybe you’re convinced that if there is possibly a God out there, you’ll be last on his list, and that a conversation with him is certainly impossible.

Well, the truth is, there is no such thing as ‘not good enough’. ‘Too dirty’, ‘too impure’ and ‘too broken’ don’t even exist. Open up your life to the God and King of the universe, and you’ll find these words spoken over you:

Psalm 81:6-7 (MSG)

"I took the world off your shoulders, freed you from a life of hard labour.

   You called to me in your pain; I got you out of a bad place.   I answered you from where the thunder hides…”

Jesus can set you free. All your burdens and all your shame, Jesus, your saviour has overcome! It is by grace that you can be set free. No good works necessary, in fact, no works are even allowed (Ephesians 2). Simply by confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing that he died on the cross for you, this freedom will be yours (Romans 10:9). Cast your burdens and your world onto Jesus for he cares for you and he is strong (1 Peter 5:6-7).

God hears your cries, and he will meet you where you are at (More Than Halfway). God sent Jesus to the darkest of places that he may bring you out into the brightest of lights (2 Samuel 22:29). In the midst of the storm and chaos of your life, call out to Jesus and he will answer you. His beautiful, life-giving whisper will drown out the loudest of storms.

Listen.

Your Love Is Strong

Heavenly Father You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come in my world and in my life
You give me the food I need to live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive the people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation; deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window, the birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune or out of place
I walk at the meadow and stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl on her wedding day
So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens is now advancing
Invade my heart, invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself to buy the one you've found?
Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Your love is strong

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

Take Heart

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Fact #1: We will have trouble. It’s guaranteed by the One who sees and knows all things. Stop being surprised when troubles and difficulties come.

Fact #2: Jesus is the Prince of peace and in Jesus we may have peace. That ‘may’ (‘might’ in the KJV) kinda puts the ball in our court. Jesus opens the door for us to his mind-blowing peace. It’s ours to lay hold of through doing those things he told us and getting into him.

Fact #3: Jesus has overcome, and in Jesus we have overcome. Victory can be ours.

Moral of the story? Get your life into Jesus.

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But more than the facts, my favourite thing about this scripture is this:

Jesus has told us that he will give us peace and that he has won the victory. It’s all taken care of. But he does ask one thing of us. He says, “But take heart!” Be brave! Have courage! Be strong! Have confidence! Be of good cheer!

Jesus has overcome the world. Live in that victory. Take heart!

Mind Over Matter

Psalm 13

1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

    How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts

    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,

4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”

    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;

    my heart rejoices in your salvation.

6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,

    for he has been good to me.

This is contradiction at its best. One moment David is crying out, complaining and whining and seeming to be utterly depressed and hopeless. Yet only two verses later he is writing about trusting, rejoicing and singing. How can this be?

I think it could be this:

Although the circumstances and environment around David left him feeling alone, hopeless and depressed; those dark days could not touch the deeply rooted beliefs inside David’s heart.

FEELING: Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?

BELIEF: I trust in your unfailing love.

FEELING: How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?

BELIEF: My heart rejoices in your salvation.

FEELING: How long will my enemy triumph over me? My enemy will say, “I have overcome him.”

BELIEF: I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.

David was open and honest with God about how he felt, yet he made certain that his belief and trust in the King of kings triumphed over his feelings.

Mark 9:22-24

“‘…But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.’

‘If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’

Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’”