Are You With Me?

 

You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its farthest regions,
And said to you,
‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’  Psalm 41:9-10 (NKJV)

 

My mom and I spent a year in Boston while she was finishing her Masters degree.  She was often sick that year, and while she was finishing a major paper from a hospital bed, I would go home alone to study and rest.  It was not that I did not have people to watch over me.  In fact, several friends would stop by our apartment to just check in on me to ensure everything was alright.  One might suspect that at times I might have had a level of loneliness.  That was not the case at all.  I always felt my mom was there with me, and I behaved as such.  My faith was not as big to me then as it is now.  Today with children and grandchildren, there never seems a moment when I’m alone, but at times when it is late at night and I am trying to figure out what to write in my devotion, there can be a sense of loneliness.  “God?  Are you with me,” I say to myself?  I know He is there.  But it is a subtle reminder of where my focus is for that moment.  I could be watching the game or an episode of one of my favorite shows, but as I have previously written, sometimes you have to tune out the noise around you so that you can focus on God.  The simple utterance of the words, “Are you with me,” ensures for that moment, my focus is truly and exclusively on Him.

It is good for us to take time out to focus on God’s presence in our lives.  I love these verses in Psalms because of how reassuring it is, and while it is easier to understand using the New Living Translation, I preferred the New King James because it both read like a poem and felt more personal.  No matter how far we may seem, God is there, and we are His most prized possession.  We have no reason to be afraid or discouraged.  When we are weak, God will strengthen us, and when we are weary, He will hold us up.  These two simple verses cover so much ground.  Even when we think we are, we are never truly alone.  David prefaced this in the 23^rd Psalm saying, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me.” (Psalm 23:4a NKJV) This reassurance is invaluable in times where we might be on a solo mission.  When no one believe in you, God does.  He is there to help, talk, guide, instruct, and strengthen.

There are no boundaries that can withstand God’s pursuit of us.  This leaves us with a very simple question.  Why would we ever feel alone?  If we have an authentic and loving relationship with Him, we would not.  So if you are lost or just wondering, remember the old African hymnal:

No, never alone!  No, never alone!  He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone!

Never Alone (Unknown)

What is driving your feelings of loneliness?  What void of abandonment can Jesus fill today and beyond?  My prayer is that we know God is with us, and reassure ourselves as much by simply asking God, “Are you with me?”  Amen.

In Remembrance

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.³ Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.  After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.  Hebrews 12:1-4

When we are alone, we are never truly alone.  There was a time that I felt utterly by myself.  No one to understand me and no one to care.  That sounds extreme because I had loving parents and a large family who lavished me with love.  However somehow, I had worked myself into this mental trap where I felt useless to those around me.  This was me at nineteen (Am I the only one hearing ‘Steely Dan’ in my head?).  Lost.  Feelings of failure and hopelessness ran through my mind.  Then a voice said to me in song, “Put the weight on my shoulders.”  This was the first time that I truly knew there was a God.  It was then I knew everything would be alright.  Thirty one years later, He’s still there, and has never left me.  Yes, I’ve grown in my faith by leaps and bounds, but it is good to always remember where God’s presence affected your life because it strengthens you knowing where He can take you if you trust in Him.

We must always look past our current circumstances by remembering how faithful God has always been.  Paul spoke to the Hebrews about God’s righteous discipline of His children and how we are to embrace it with enduring strength by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.  Think of how tough a sale that was!  Even though my dad past away years ago, I remember that last whipping from him like it was yesterday.  Not sure unconquerable strength was one of the virtues I got out of that one!  However, Paul was trying to prepare them for what was to come instead of remind them what had happened.  He wanted them to keep fighting for their journey of faith would not be an easy one, and God and others would test them as they struggled with the weight of their sinful ways.  Thus, his words were incredibly insightful not only for them but also us.  It is for us to remember that when things get rough, we have a savior who endured far worse circumstances.  He will be with us through our trials, and when no one cares or understands, He does!  Just hang on for as you keep your eyes fixed upon Him, strength to endure will come, and you will be victorious in the end.

Joy always comes in the morning if you can withstand the tests in the darkness.  I listened to a song that reminded me that I will eventually overcome my struggles because I serve a God who with Him I cannot lose.  But until then, I will keep loving Him.  That is what our journey of faith is about.  It’s seeing victory beyond our current circumstances, and in the meantime, keep loving God with our whole heart.  What is shackling you from focusing on Christ?  How can God’s past promises reassure you of a brighter tomorrow?  My prayer is that when faced with challenges we look to Jesus and His past faithfulness in remembrance.  Amen.

Thursday Devotional - Alone?

John 16:27-33        No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.²⁸ I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

²⁹ Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. ³⁰ Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

³¹ “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. ³² “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

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.”

Where do you feel alone? Or when have you felt alone? Jesus has felt your pain. Being a child of God, though, we don’t ever have to be alone!

James was explaining to both sets of grandparents (and aunts and cousins) about accepting Jesus as His Savior and having Jesus in his heart. (Of course, I had already told them, but we were all together for Sarah’s 3^rd birthday and James was talking about it). As James was explaining it in his own words, he declared “Jesus is there to stay and won’t ever leave!” Yes, as a believer, God will never leave us nor forsake us!

Joshua 1:5    No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Where do you and I need to cling to that truth today? What peace can you and I experience now, knowing Jesus has already overcome the world and it’s prince and all our pain?

Alice

Friday Devotional - Is It Best Jesus Left?

Jessica is out sick today and still doesn't have power back, so please pray for her! I am posting a devotional in her absence...

Have you ever wished you lived during the time Jesus lived on earth?  Have you ever thought it would be easier to make decisions if you could ask Jesus questions face-to-face rather than having to rely on the Holy Spirit?  I have.  In the following passage, though, Jesus tells His disciples that it’s better to have the Holy Spirit inside of them than for Him to remain on earth with them.  

John 15:26-16:7  ²⁶"When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. ²⁷And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.  ¹"All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. ²They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. ³They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. ⁴I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.  ⁵"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' ⁶Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. ⁷But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

I love how Jesus was so careful to prepare His disciples for His departure (John 13, 14, 15, 16, Acts 1, etc.)!  They certainly didn’t remember it all, even though Jesus waited until right before His death to tell them most of these details. However, as Jesus promised in John 14:26, the Holy Spirit would remind them of everything He taught. 

Jesus also warned the disciples of times of suffering (vs 2).  He was specific, yet promised to provide the Holy Spirit to be with them through it all.  This reminds me to be so thankful for the Holy Spirit!  There will never be a day I need to feel alone because He will always be with me until the day I do join Jesus face-to-face!  

How well do you and I value and use the gift of the Holy Spirit?

Alice