In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, Paul uses the following terms to describe his situation:

• Burdened above measure, beyond strength (2 Cor 1:8)
• We despaired even of life (2 Cor 1:8)
• Hard pressed on every side( 2 Cor 4:8)
• Perplexed (2 Cor 4:8)
• Persecuted (2 Cor 4:9)
• Struck down (2 Cor 4:9)

Do any of these describe your situation? In this letter, there are some of many inspirational bible verses that point to the encouragement that we need to be triumphant in the midst of our trials.

Know God

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort 2 Cor 1:3

God is the God of all comfort. He is the source of all true and lasting encouragement and consolation.

…but our sufficiency is from God (2 Cor 3:5)

God is El Shaddai. He is the Almighty God, the all sufficient one. When we abide in Him, every need will be met.

… God who raises the dead (2 Cor 1:9)

the excellence of the power may be of God (2 Cor 4:7)

This is God who created all things out of nothing. This is the God who is outside of time and space and the “natural laws”. This is also the God who desires to have an intimate relationship with us and to show the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (Eph 1:19). This is the God who wants to fill us with His power as He pours out His Holy Spirit in and upon us.

Seek God’s comfort

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation.. 2 Cor 1:3

Our God, the God of all comfort, is able to comfort us in ALL our trials. There is not one situation, not one trial, too big or too hard for Him.  We will often turn first to family and friends, but the true source of lasting encouragement is God Himself. Spend time with Him, in prayer and in His word. Ask Him to soothe your pain, to strengthen you, to renew your mind, to keep you in perfect peace as you fix your thoughts on Him.

Lean on God for His strength

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being  from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God (2 Cor 3:5)

Paul indicates that he was burdened above measure and beyond strength. At the same time, He realized that he did not have the strength to get through this. We cannot get through tough trials in our own strength, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Pray for His strength and His wisdom. Ask El Shaddai, the Almighy God and all sufficient One to guide you and to lead you through this.

Know the purpose of your trial

God promises to work out everything to good for those that love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). What man means for evil, God works out for good (Gen 50:20).

Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, THAT we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead (2 Cor 1:9 – emphasis added)

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, THAT the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (2 Cor 4:7 – emphasis added)

…always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, THAT the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body (2 Cor 4:10 – emphasis added)

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, IS WORKING FOR US a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Cor 4:17 – emphasis added)

the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, THAT we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Cor 1:3-4 – emphasis added)

In these trials, we learn our own frailty and weaknesses and learn to turn to and depend on God, who raises the dead and is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think.  His grace is sufficient for us as His strength shines though in our weakness. As we go through the trials in His strength, we live out the gospel. This shines through our earthen weak vessels so others can see Him and that He is the source of our strength, hope and joy. He also molds our character and refines us in these trials to be more and more like Him. God then equips us to comfort those in ANY trial, not just those trials we have personally endured.

Know God, seek His comfort, lean on Him for strength and know that that God is working out your situation, even if it causes heartache, for eternal good. Reflecting on these truths, we can see that even if we are in rough circumstances, all is not lost and we need not lose heart and we can say that even if we are

• hard-pressed on every side…we will NOT be crushed
• perplexed…we will NOT despair
• persecuted…we will NEVER be forsaken
• struck down…we will NOT be destroyed

In our trial, may we focus, not on the things that are seen and temporary, but on the things that are unseen and eternal (2 cor 4:17-18).

These are just a few inspirational bible verses taken from the first four chapter of 2 Corinthians. Many other truths are revealed in Scripture that will encourage and strengthen you through your difficult circumstance. Spend time in the Word and be blessed, yes, even in the midst of a trial.

Months of persistent dizzy spells and a brain MRI led my doctors to a Chiari I malformation diagnosis. . My symptoms may go away if I undergo surgery but the recovery from this type of surgery promises to be long, difficult and painful. If I opt not to do surgery, the condition will continue to impact my quality of life and could possibly get worse.

Before I met with the neurosurgeon this Monday, I was not seriously considering surgery. Now I see surgery as an avenue to hope. Hope that these dizzy spells will no longer be a way of life.

I have been seeking God’s guidance while I search for information on the condition, on the surgical procedure and the recovery process. I want God to guide my decision. The first decision is whether or not to do surgery. If the decision is to undergo surgery, then I want Him to guide my selection of the surgeon and the timing. I know where I am leaning, but I want His counsel.

Yesterday as I thought about these decisions, I got a reminder that He is my Shepherd, and that as He leads me through this journey, He is leading me safely home. His path, not mine, is the perfect way there. My role is to pray, to seek godly counsel and the prayers of the saints as I weed through the information. Whether or not I make the right decision will not be determined by the outcome of the surgery or the consequence of not going through with it, but by how much I allowed God to direct the decision.

Today, He sent me a message of grace …a reminder that He is involved in and in charge of all of the little details of my life. Tears immediately came to my eyes during lunch today as I checked my email messages.

I joined a Chiari support group on Wednesday morning to learn more about the surgery, the risks and recovery. One email referred to one a Dr Ben Carson of the best neurosurgeons in the area for this condition but bemoaned the fact that he only saw children. I recognized and remembered the name only because a good friend of mine read Ben Carson’s biography last year and raved about his testimony. By God’s providence, Dr Ben Carson will be giving a keynote address at a conference that I will be attending this weekend. This conference has nothing to do with Chiari malformation and when I was registering for this conference two months ago, I was thinking of the needs of my two sons with autism.

I am not expecting Dr Carson to handle the surgery. Maybe I will get a chance to speak with him and get some information… maybe not. But I know that this is just one little thread in the tapestry that God is weaving. We will definitely see the end result in that Day.

My prayer: “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You” Psalm 143:8

God’s response: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.” Psalm 32:8

His response will be the same to you. Seek Him!

If you say “fiction” and you do not believe that the New Testament accounts are true, if you are wrong you will spend most of eternity regretting it. Do not dismiss this lightly; you owe it to yourself to spend some time examining the arguments.

If you say “fact”, you ought to know that your faith is based on evidence and on reason. If these events did not occur then Christianity is foolishness…the Bible is foolishness. This is laid on the line in 1 Corinthians 15:
If Christ is NOT risen

• our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty(v14)
• Your faith is futile (v17)
• You are still dead in your sins (v17)
• Those who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished (v18)
• We are of all men the most pitiable (v19)

If the resurrection did not occur then Easter is merely about egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, family gatherings for Easter dinner, and, for the Jamaicans among us, Easter buns and kite flying. Nothing more. ..

May I recommend the book “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel for a thorough review of the evidence of the resurrection and the rebuttals of atheists and skeptics. These include

• An examination of non-biblical sources to determine whether these confirm or undermine the information on Jesus’ life, death and resurrection in the Bible. Included in this review are writings from secular Jewish and Roman historians that confirm Jesus’ death under Pontius Pilate, that refer to the earthquake and darkness at the time of His crucifixion and speak of Christians worshipping Jesus and their firm stand for Jesus despite being tortured.
• A look at the empty tomb and the explanations tendered by opponents of the Christian faith. The counterclaims by the Jews indicate that the body was in fact missing.
• A look at the arguments that this was a conspiracy and that the disciples stole the body. This theory falls flat as he points out that the disciples would not have died for what they KNEW was a lie.

Spend some time to look at the arguments and follow the evidence where it leads. If the resurrection is true, Jesus Christ stripped Himself of His deity, came to earth as a man, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose again on the third day, and paid the penalty for our sins. If you believe this, you need to live in the light of this by turning away from your sins and self-directed life, and putting your trust in Christ and allowing Him to lead your life. If you do not believe this, please reconsider as if you reject this, you are judging yourself unworthy of eternal life (Acts 9:46).

God bless.

³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (2 Peter 1:3, New King James Version)

⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8, New King James Version)

   
¹⁶ I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16, New King James Version)

   
¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— (Ephesians 6:10-18, New King James Version)

   
¹² All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1 Corinthians 6:12, New King James Version)

¹⁷ Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17, New King James Version)

³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:34-36, New King James Version)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17, New King James Version)

¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.   
¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:12-14, New King James Version)

   
¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (Titus 2:11-12, New King James Version)

God bless you!

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
² When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
³ Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.
(Psalm 27:1-3, New King James Version)
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¹³ I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.

¹⁴ Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psalm 27:13-14, New King James Version)

⁴ I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
⁶ This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.

⁸ Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
⁹ Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
¹⁰ The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
(Psalm 34:4-10, New King James Version)
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¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
¹⁶ The face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸ The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.
(Psalm 34:15-18, New King James Version)
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¹ Do not fret because of evildoers,
Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.
² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,
And wither as the green herb.

³ Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
⁶ He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
And your justice as the noonday.

⁷ Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.
(Psalm 37:1-8, New King James Version)
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¹ God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
³ Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.  Selah
(Psalm 46:1-3, New King James Version
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³ Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
⁴ In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?
(Psalm 56:3-4, New King James Version)
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¹ Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.
² From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³ For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
⁴ I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.  Selah

⁵ For You, O God, have heard my vows;
You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name.
⁶ You will prolong the king’s life,
His years as many generations.
⁷ He shall abide before God forever.
Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!

⁸ So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may daily perform my vows. (Psalm 61, New King James Version)
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³ You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
(Isaiah 26:3, New King James Version)
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¹⁰ 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.’
(Isaiah 41:10, New King James Version)
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² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
(Isaiah 43:2, New King James Version)
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²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25-34, New King James Version)
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²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, New King James Version)
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⁸ We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, New King James Version)
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¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, New King James Version)
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⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, New King James Version)
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⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
(1 Peter 5:7, New King James Version)
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God, the Creator of this vast universe loves you with an everlasting, steadfast love. How much does He love you? The Bible describes the love He has for us as reaching to the heavens…comparing it to the expanse of this universe.

“Yes, I have loved you with an EVERLASTING love…”. Jeremiah 31:3a

“Your STEADFAST love, O LORD, EXTENDS TO THE HEAVENS “. Psalm 36:5 ESV

God loves you personally. He is not a distant God. You are not just a number. He knows the number of hairs on your head (Luke 12:7), He is aware of every tear you have shed (Psalm 56:8), and His thoughts toward you are precious and more in number than the sand (Psalm 139:17-18).

God also demonstrated His love for you when Christ paid the ultimate price for our sins.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10

We can either accept or reject His love. If we turn our back on His love we have decided that we would rather perish (John 3:16). If we accept His love by agreeing with His view of our sins and turning from a self-directed life to one where we trust in and are led by Him, we will experience and know His love with which no earthly love can compare.

For those of us who have received His love, He calls and empowers us to love others as we have never done before. This love for others is the evidence that we are now His.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:11

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know god, for God is love. 1 John 4:7-8

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. 1 John 4:20-21

He also tells us how we truly love each other.

* In 1 Corinthians 13 we see that true love is patient, kind, thinks the best of others, and is not envious, boastful, rude, self-seeking or easily irritated.
* We are called to love one another in the same self-sacrificing way that Christ has loved us – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34).
* We are to love each other fervently, forgiving offenses – “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins”. 1 Peter 4:8

Now for the clincher…He also tells us that this love should not only be toward those who love us. This love should be without any expectation of reciprocity and should also be toward those who are in we may consider “unlovable” .

But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:32-36

When I read this I am convicted. How I fall short!  I should not pass this off as too tall an order. This is THE love that Christ has for us. We are unworthy recipients of His love and grace. We cannot love like this in our own strength but this is the love that He is able to give us for others“…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us”. Romans 5:5b

He has blessed us so that we can be a blessing to others. It is good to celebrate with our loved ones but may we also ask Him to give us His love for the world so that today we will reach out and lend a helping hand to someone who needs it, give a word of encouragement to someone who is discouraged, visit someone who is lonely, comfort someone who is mourning, be kind to someone who is in no position to return the favor, and bless someone who has been unkind to us.  May we experience His extravagant love and be vessels of this love so we can pour this love out on others in return.

Now

When should I seek Him? Now! I need to do this today, not next week or when I get around to it. If I realize how much I need His presence, guidance and work in my life I will have a sense of urgency. Starting today I need to jealously guard the specific times that I have to spend personal time with Him. Starting today I need to make the most of opportunities that I have to memorize and meditate upon His Word.

Set your heart and soul

How should I seek Him? I will be intentional about this. This will not merely be an intellectual activity but will come from my heart, from the core of my emotions and passions.  Because this is a heart commitment, I will obey Him when my flesh rebels.  My soul should thirst for the living God as the deer pants after the water brook (Psalm 42:1-2).

To Seek

What does it mean to seek Him? Seek is translated from the Hebrew word darash, which means to inquire, to require and to consult with care in prayer and worship. I need to pursue Him and to follow Him. I need to fix my eyes on Him, not just in my quiet time but as I walk through the day. I need to seek His guidance when I am faced with a decision (big or little). I need to seek His grace when I am losing patience with someone. I need His strength when I am weak and tempted. I will worship and praise Him while I am washing the dishes or in between meetings at work.

The LORD your God

Whom do I seek? I seek the LORD my God, YAHWEH my Elohim. He is the Creator, the great I AM, the covenant God. He is the God who though transcendent is active in His creation and in my life. Knowing whom it is that I seek gives me confidence and anticipation.

• He loves me with an everlasting love and with loving kindness He draws me near (Jeremiah 31:3).
• He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:16).
• When I call on Him He will show me great and mighty things (Jeremiah 33:3).
• He alone knows the future and declared the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).
• His ways and thoughts are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9).
• All His ways are just and perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4).
• His plans for me are for my good (Jeremiah 29:11).
• Without Him I can do nothing (John 15:5).

The year ahead promises to be challenging on many fronts, but if I adopt and live this inspirational bible verse in the days ahead, I will be in His will, Christ will be my Rock and my Anchor in any storm and I will have fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11) despite the circumstances.

How about you? Are there any bible verses that you will use as a resolution for the year ahead?

Thank God by His grace I now celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.  Here is one of the many inspirational bible verses that give us a reason to celebrate Christmas.

“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” 1 Tim 1:15

I am a sinner.  I have lied. I have looked at others with lust in my heart. I have not always honored my father and mother. I have not put God first and other things have taken His rightful place. Just by these few admissions, and believe me there are more, I have broken several of God’s commandments. My sin separated me from a holy God. No matter what good I did, how many good deeds or kind acts I did, these could never cancel the debt I owe for my sin.

The bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23). This is what Jon Courson calls the “Great Switcheroo” - “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. “2 Corinthians 5:21. He came to pay a debt He didn’t owe because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay.

By repenting of my sin and accepting this gift, I am now reconciled to God. I have a new attitude toward sin. I no longer have a desire to sin. He gives me the strength to say “no” to sin, and when I do sin, if I confess He is faithful to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me of it. (1 John 1:9)

When I did this 8 years ago, I knew that I was making peace with God, and I knew that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. However I only knew a part of it. Jesus said that He came that we “may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 b). I had absolutely no idea what depth He would add to my life. I had no idea that He would be my joy, my peace, my strength in difficult circumstances.  I tasted and indeed I saw that He is good.

Why do you celebrate Christmas? I hope that the following  inspirational bible verse has true meaning for you…”Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)!

Jehovah Shammah! The LORD is there! Earlier Ezekiel warned the exiles already in Babylon of imminent judgment. He warned that the glory of the LORD will depart from the temple and that Jerusalem will fall into the hands of the Babylonians. The warnings of the prophets fell on deaf ears as the people remembered the promises of God, but forgot that these promises were conditional and were only applicable if they were obedient. After Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians, Ezekiel now tells of God’s plan for restoration and as he describes the New Jerusalem in painstaking details, he ends with God’s promise that the glory of the Lord, this glory that had previously departed, will be there. He delivers a message of hope. God punishes sin but He has a plan for restoration. What an inspirational bible verse! What a promise!

With the fall in the garden of Eden, the glory of the Lord departed from mankind. Our sins have separated us from God. However for those of us who have a personal relationship with Christ, we have every reason to rejoice as we can say, the LORD IS HERE! Right now! Right here! Although this in no way compares to what we will behold in the New Jerusalem, this beats every other experience that can be had this side of heaven. Christ is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). We are now the temple of God and the Holy Spirit indwells us (1 Corinthians 3:16). Christ has indeed “dwelt among us and we beheld His glory” (John 1:14). We do know that having repented, that times of refreshing do come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19). We now have His sweet presence and know that in His presence there is indeed fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).We are indwelt by all Persons of the Godhead. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would dwell with and be in His followers (John 14:15).

God’s presence with a believer is also contingent on our obedience. Jesus said to the one that loves Him and obeys Him, both God the Father and God the Son “will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). Our obedience demonstrates our love for Christ and is also the way to a deeper revelation of Him (John 14:20). Let us not be like the exiles. We cannot be habitually disobedient and willfully engage in things that would grieve God and at the same time expect God to manifest Himself to us. May we purpose in our hearts to be joyfully obedient and to avoid all that would quench or grieve the Spirit.

What we see now are merely glimpses of His glory and we look forward in eager anticipation when we will see Him face to face. But what we have today, right now is HUGE! God who created everything out of nothing, God who rules the universe, this holy God abides in us who are His. Right now we “may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19). This God of infinite power, infinite mercy and infinite grace can supply all we need to face this moment, to face this day.

Let us rejoice! Jehovah Shammah!