His Faithfulness

"But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you." (John 14:26)

The Lord has been my Reminder lately.  He keeps reminding me of His faithfulness to His people...to me.  He reminds me that He has saved, healed and delivered so many times that I could never count them.  I believe this is a vastly important focal point in these times for all believers.  With all the fear that is circulating in the world we need to remember the faithfulness of our Living, Loving God.  

The stories of old - Moses, Abraham, Joseph, David, etc. - they may be deep in history, but they are still pertinent to our faith.  We still need to read their stories because they put the faithfulness of God to His people on display.  We need to jump into the scriptures with hungry souls, feeding on the living, active testimonies of how great and how faithful He has always been.

I like the idea of journaling all that God has done for me because it reminds me in times of trouble how faithful He is and has been to me.  I like recording the ways God has introduced Himself to me.  How He delivered me from this or that.  How He rescued me into the arms of salvation.  How He set me free from strongholds.  I like journaling my delight in His goodness towards me.  It helps me recall ways He has spoken to my heart and promises He made to me.  

When the spirit of fear jumps up in front of my eyes, I can very easily be tempted to lock eyes with it.  Once eyes lock, it takes a lot of Holy Spirit reminding me of all God is and all He says about me.  He reminds me of the stories I've read…and of my own stories of encountering His loving faithfulness.  When I focus on the faithfulness of God, I am no longer overcome by fear.  I'm no longer focused on the threatening circumstances.  I'm focused on His love, kindness, goodness, etc.  Then I'm not afraid.  I am secure.  I am trusting Him.  

I think that's why I receive so much from worship.  And why I turn on worship music when I need a shift in my perspective or attitude.  It lifts me up…shifts my gaze to God.  Holy Spirit reminds me through the songs Who He is and what He does and what He says.  Worship reminds me of how good He is!  How big He is.  How mighty.  I also love the fact that in most songs, the chorus is repeated multiple times.  And the more it's repeated, the more it sticks in memory and the more prone I am to sing it throughout my day.  It gets stuck in my brain! 

Lately, I've had a Kristene Dimarco song on repeat because it's speaking to me in my present circumstances.  It's reminding my heart to stay steadfast.  To remain focused on the Lord.  To trust Him.  

"Open up my heart to trust…
open up my eyes to see…
that He who placed the sun, the moon and stars
is here with me."

I am thankful - so thankful - for His faithfulness.  I'm so thankful for His Spirit reminding me of this part of Him we would be lost without.  Constant.  Loyal.  Steadfast.  True to His nature.  I just think our culture begs us to forget  this aspect of God…or in general.  Faithfulness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and should be emanating from believers as well.  Our culture exudes the idea that you can give up, quit, walk out on… marriages, family, friends, churches, etc.  But covenant is covenant.  It is not meant to be broken, nullified, or thrown away.  We are to remain faithful.  Just like our God.  

Lord, help us to remain faithful to You.  Your Spirit produces faithfulness, so produce it in us as well.  Let us be a people of loyal, true, steadfast faith.  Let us be a people that displays Your faithfulness.  Let it be a comfort and a magnet to unbelievers that don't know You yet.  Let it be something that draws them to Your heart of love.  

Learning to Spend My Inheritance

Psalm 31:21-22 Praise the Lord, because he showed me how wonderful his faithful love is when the city was surrounded by enemies. I was afraid and said, “I am in a place where he cannot see me.” But I prayed to you, and you heard my loud cries for help. 

Do you find yourself in that place today?  Where you think to yourself,  'I am in a place where he cannot see me'. 'I'm out of sight, out of mind.' 'God is not hearing my prayers.'  Are you feeling alone - like you're being swallowed up by oppression... fear, hopelessness, grief, doubt, depression...? When things like that hit us, we feel so alone...weak and vulnerable.  We feel like we are disconnected from the Lord and can start believing the lie that says we might not make it out. That things won't get better. That He gave up on us. Or that we aren't worthy of His attentive help. 

But God sends His Holy Spirit to remind us of His faithfulness. He reminds us of all the times He has dug us out of the trenches.  Scooped us up out of the waves. Lifted our weary heads. Led us through the sea on dry land.  Spoken a word that empowered us to persevere. Sent us a friend we didn't know could relate. Wrote a song just for us to hear.   All these things are the Lord saying, "I'm here with you, darling.  I see you - it's impossible for me not to see all because I'm everywhere. Lift your eyes to Me, where your help comes from. I will be your help in these times of trouble. Call out to Me and I will answer.  You're never alone. It's never too deep for Me to pull you out.  I chose you. I want you to be with Me. I love you with an everlasting love. My faithfulness reaches to the skies." 

If you are not in that place of oppression currently, can you recall a time when you were?  Chances are yes, you can. And when you recall His faithfulness to you in that place, remembering how He was your help, hear God saying this to you. "I have showed you My kindness and My faithfulness. I have showed you I'm trustworthy. I have pulled you from the miry clay. Sing of My love and faithfulness. Share your story. Share the hope I've called you to and the inheritance I've given so generously to you. Tell of My mighty deliverance.  Receive My Spirit. Allow Me to equip you to shine a light in dark places. Allow My Spirit to anoint you to preach the good news, heal the broken, proclaim freedom for captives and release for the prisoners, to comfort the sad, and to rebuild the ruins."

Isaiah 61:1-4 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations."

God does not save us, deliver us and heal us so that we can keep it to ourselves. He gives us a chance to partner in His story. A chance to use and apply the gifts He has entrusted to us. Ways to spread His love. Ways to lend a hand to our brothers and sisters that have come upon hard times. To testify of His goodness. To encourage people to believe the message of salvation, healing and deliverance that is in and through Jesus Christ.  To be a servant of our living, mighty God that formed us and knit us together.  It is what we were made to do. To worship Him. Devote ourselves to Him. Love Him. 

1 Corinthians 1:9 Amp - "God is faithful, reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on; by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."

When we shift our thoughts to dwell upon His faithful love, we cannot help but be swept up in a resounding gratitude and a certain awe of Him.  Our hearts respond with an adoration - an honest, pure desire to break open our alabaster jars and pour our perfume over His feet.  We realize as we gaze upon His splendor that He is worthy of all of it. 

Don't hold back today. Give Him everything you've got!  Because what you have is enough for Him!  He multiplies it and makes it way more vast and effective then you ever dreamed. 

"Jesus, we love You!  Oh how we love You! You are the One our hearts adore. 

Our affection, our devotion, poured out on the feet of Jesus..." -- Paul McClure

In love, 

Kerri