Stands Forever – Psalm 33:11

The plan of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. – Psalm 33:11 (NASB)

The Lord’s promises are steadfast, wise, and good. God’s plans are unchanging and enduring; they stand forever. What the Lord plans, He will do; His plans succeed. We have security for God’s promises endure forever.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.

Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

The Lord’s plan stands forever; human intentions may falter and change over time. God’s authority and plans remain steadfast from generation to generation. The plans of His heart for His people are ones of love, peace, grace, and mercy. For the Lord is good; his love endures forever.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:5 (NIV)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your mercy and grace. Your word and your promises are steadfast; they stand forever. Help and guide us to follow your word and plans for us. Teach us to rest in security, knowing Your promises endure forever. As the balloon flower balloon-like buds open into beautiful blooms, let us open our hearts and minds to You and bloom in Your light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Refuge and Shield-Psalm 119:114

You are my hiding place and my shield. I find hope in your word.

– Psalm 119:114 (NET)

Psalm 119 is a message of confidence and trust in the Lord. In times of trouble, the psalmist trusts the Lord, his refuge and shield. He is our hiding place, our safe place, our shield to protect us from danger, and our place of comfort during life’s storms.

Like the Psalmist, we can rest in God’s promises and put our hope in His divine word. During adversity, we can find hope and strength in God’s word. As the CEV version says, Your word is my only hope.

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, you are our refuge and shield. Thank you for Your compassion and grace toward us. You are our hope and our salvation. Your word guides, comforts, and assures us. As the colors of the hyacinth brighten spring days, Your promises bring hope and brighten our days. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Under a Basket – Luke 11:33

No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. – Luke 11:33 (NLT)

Hiding a lamp under a basket, is mentioned in Luke 8:16-18, Matthew 5:15-16, and the above verse from Luke 11:33. The central idea is light is to be seen, not hidden. Pharisees, instead of accepting Jesus and sharing His light, rejected Jesus. They made false accusations, rejected the truth, and embraced darkness rather than light.

34“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. ”

The word light in the Bible is often used to represent truth, knowledge, and goodness. Many feel that light (lighted lamp) in this verse represents Jesus. Your eye is the lamp of your body when you believe in Jesus and grow in truth, you shine with God’s light. Instead of hiding His light, you place it on a stand, illuminating the darkness and revealing His light to others. Let His light shine in you.

33-36 “No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they’re going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a musty cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.” -Luke 11:33-36 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, let us shine with Your light and truth. Teach us to follow You by guiding our path and illuminating our way. Let us increase in knowledge and goodness, spreading Your light. Like flowers need light to grow and blossom, let us not hide our lamp under a basket but grow in faith and blossom with Your light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Perfect Peace – Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. – Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

What is perfect peace? The original Hebrew text says shalom, shalom. A single shalom is peace; a second shalom intensifies the meaning from ordinary peace to “perfect peace.” God is offering us perfect peace, an abundant, and complete peace.

When you are worried, overwhelmed, and life’s storms surround you, how do you find perfect peace? By trusting in God, believing His promises, and keeping a steadfast mind firmly focused on the Lord.

And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:7 (NET)

However, perfect peace isn’t an absence of difficulties, it instead is a profound sense of security, a peace that surpasses all understanding, when we focus our minds on Jesus.

I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you’ll have trouble, but be courageous—I’ve overcome the world!” – John 16:33 (ISV)

Trusting in the Lord and anchoring our hearts in Him allows us to accept God in our minds and maintain perfect peace.

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace. Teach us to be steadfast in faith and to follow You. Help us keep our minds focused on You rather than on our difficulties. Like the gerbera daisy petals are open and reaching toward the sun, let us be open-hearted and follow Your Son, Jesus. Amen

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Reflected – Proverbs 27:19

As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person.

Proverbs 27:19 (NLT)

Reflections are visible in calm water; its mirror-like qualities reflect the item. In still water, a face is reflected as a face.

A person’s heart, inner thoughts, and attitudes reflect the real person. In Jeremiah, it says that hearts can be wicked and deceitful.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

When we look in a mirror, we examine our faces; we also need to examine our hearts to see what we are reflecting. Our heart is the origin of our moral decisions. We should check our hearts to confirm our inner thoughts are not evil but holy, pure, and good. Our heart reflects us showing the real person.

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What are the thoughts of your heart reflecting about you?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace. Like still water reflects items, let Your love be reflected in our hearts. Guide us to maintain inner thoughts that are wholesome, pure, and good. As flowers reflect in still water, let us reflect and glorify You through good works. In Jesus’ name. Amen

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