Light of Your Presence: Psalm 89:15

15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD. 16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.
Psalm 89:15-16 (NIV)

Blessed and happy are the people who worship the Lord. Praising, Him with open hearts and voices raised in song, making a joyful sound. A sound in biblical times associated with trumpets and singing during feast day celebrations.
To walk in the light of God’s presence, or the light of His countenance means to walk in God’s favor, enjoying His love and blessings. Celebrating and rejoicing; God’s righteousness and grace. Worshiping the Lord with shouts of joy and songs of praise. Delighting; in the light of His presence. ⁘

Are you taking time to worship God and joyfully praise Him? Is your heart open to His Word, and are you walking in the light of His presence?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your righteousness and grace. Joyfully we raise our voices in songs of praise and worship. Lord, you are our hope and salvation, our refuge in times of trouble. Like the open, glowing rose blossoms, let us be open to Your Word and glow with the light of Your presence. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Renewed: 2 Corinthians 4:16

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NIV)

Paul is stating not to give up or lose heart. Though his body was in chains and wasting away, his inward body (spiritual body) was renewed, strengthened, and invigorated daily by faith and grace.
Having faith in God and believing in Christ’s resurrection gives us hope. This hope is greater than any difficulty on earth.
For Jesus overcame the world, achieving eternal glory for all who believe in Him.

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage–I have conquered the world.”
John 16:33 (NET)

Is your hope in Christ greater than your difficulties. Does this hope renew and strengthen you?

Prayer; Lord Jesus, we ask you to strengthen us so that we don’t lose heart; but are inwardly renewed. Teach us to take our difficulties to You in prayer and move forward in faith and hope. Let us find comfort and rest in the knowledge that you have conquered the world. Like the clematis grows back and renews every spring, let us grow in faith and hope and be renewed daily. Amen

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Our Strength: Psalm 37:39

39But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
He is their strength in the time of trouble.
40And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;
He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,
Because they trust in Him.
Psalm 37:39-40 (NKJV)

In this verse, David recounts how God’s strength was his refuge. During times of trouble, while his enemies were after him trying to kill him, the Lord protected and rescued David.
Verse 39 states that the Lord offers salvation to the righteous. He is our strength during times of trouble; He will deliver us and save us. Salvation is from the Lord. He helps us bear burdens, takes our worries, and gives us peace. Our job is to love and trust the Lord following His path for us. God saves those who trust in Him. ⁘

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

When times are overwhelming, where do you put your trust? Do you rely on your wits or God’s strength?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for being our refuge and protection. Teach us to turn to you during troubled times; you are our strength. Help us to embrace Your wisdom and follow Your path. Like the rhododendron branches support the flowers, lifting them toward sunlight, let us lean on Your strength and spread Your Son-light. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

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I believe in the power of prayer. If you need prayer, I would be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺

Prayer of the Upright: Proverbs 15:8

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
Proverbs 15:8 (NAB)

The prayer of the upright; those with hearts right with God. A humble, honest, and sincere prayer is the Lord’s delight. These prayers come from the heart and include thanks for His grace, blessings, forgiveness, and compassion. The character of the sacrifice (or gift) giver is more important than the sacrifice itself. A significant gift from an immoral person does not bring God pleasure.

Verse 8 from the Message Bible states:

⁸God can’t stand pious poses,
but he delights in genuine prayers.
Proverbs 15:8 (MSG)

Righteousness and justice are what the Lord desires.

To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:3 (NET)

The prayer of the upright is the Lord’s delight. ⁘

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Are your prayers coming from your heart?

Don’t worry about having the right words; worry more about having the right heart. It’s not eloquence he seeks, just honesty.
Max Lucado

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for hearing our prayers. Open our hearts to Your teaching; lead us to a right heart. Guide our actions and attitudes, and teach us to be more Christ-like (upright). Like the humbly bowed flowers of the lily of the valley, let us bow before You in humble prayer with thanksgiving. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

God is Righteous: Psalm145:17-18

17 Everything God does is right—
the trademark on all his works is love.
18 God’s there, listening for all who pray,
for all who pray and mean it.
Psalm 145:17-18 (MSG)

These verses in the Message bible are beautiful. The trademark of God in all his works is love. A wonderful truth. God’s love shines in all He does! The Lord is righteous in His ways, holy in His work, and forgiving to us. He is merciful and gracious; He listens to our prayers and guides us. He is close to us and knows us by name.

In Psalm 145, David mentions the characteristics of God; He is righteous, praiseworthy, good, compassionate, and trustworthy. We are blessed to have a righteous, loving, listening God.^⁎

God is righteous, loves you, and listens to your prayer. Have you reached out to Him in prayer today?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your compassion and grace. We are in awe of your righteousness, kindness, and love. Teach us to take our worries to You in prayer. Like the visual beauty of the flowering dogwood, guide us in the beauty of Your Word. In Jesus’ holy and loving name. Amen

I believe in the power of prayer. If you need prayer, I would be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺

Seek Me: Jeremiah 29:13

Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 (AMP)

God is waiting for us, waiting for us to reach out to him. He is waiting for us; to prayerfully search for Him; to search with integrity and sincerity. When you seriously seek God, He promises that you will find Him. How do you seek Him? By searching for Him with all your strength, soul, and mind, with all your heart. God is available and waiting; for us to seek Him, come to Him, and abide with Him.

How do you seek God? Do you seek Him sincerely in prayer and with your whole heart?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, teach us to always seek You. Lord, we thank you for Your timeless promise that when we seek You, we will find You. Help us to seek You with integrity and sincerity. Like the wide-open reaching upward blooms of the peppermint tulips, let us open our hearts wide and sincerely reach out to You. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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Rejoice and Blossom: Isaiah 35:1

1 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus,
Isaiah 35:1

1 Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.
Zechariah 10:1

2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.
Deuteronomy 32:2

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Matthew 6:28-29

May we all take time this spring; to rejoice and blossom in His love. 🌺

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Jesus, Our Salvation

(Save the World) – Jesus didn’t come to condemn or judge people; He came to save the world. The whole world, Jews and gentiles. He was on a saving mission, showing God’s love for all His people.

https://gardenfaith.com/2021/05/10/save-the-world-john-317/

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(Jesus is Lord) – By His grace, God offers salvation to all who believe in Christs’ resurrection from the dead. For all who believe in their heart that Christ is our Savior, that he died for our sins, you are made right with God.

https://gardenfaith.com/2021/11/08/jesus-is-lord-romans-109-10/

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(Take Heart) – Take heart Christ died for us; He paid the price and overcame the world.

https://gardenfaith.com/2021/04/05/take-heart-john-1633/

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(Truth) – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) We need to take time to know Jesus, accept Him, and remain faithful to his teaching. His Word, the truth, will set us free; from the bondage of sin.

https://gardenfaith.com/2021/05/31/truth-john-832/

A re-share of a few Jesus posts. May you feel His peace, joy, and love this week and always. 🌺

Steadfast: 1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58 (NRSV)

Paul is addressing the Corinthian church, expressing his love, and asking them to be steadfast, immovable, and always excelling in the work of the Lord. Paul asks them to be steadfast, meaning faithful to the Lord, and firmly committed to His ways. He is entreating them to be immovable, firm, stable, strong in their beliefs, and uncompromised by their culture. The goal for their church and all churches; is to excel in the work of the Lord, doing His will, upholding Christian virtues, and spreading the gospel and love. Labor for the Lord is not in vain; it is to His glory and is rewarded in heaven.

Would you describe your faith as steadfast, immovable, and your behavior as excelling in the work of the Lord? How can you improve?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, help us be steadfast and immovable in our faith. Teach us to excel in doing Your work and sharing Your Word. Open our hearts to Your way, sharing Your love. As the crabapple blossoms enhance the tree, let our actions enhance Your kingdom. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Light of Jesus: John 1:5

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5 (NIV)

Jesus, Son of God, came into the world; to be the Light of the world. When we accept Him and follow His Word, He illuminates our hearts and souls. Christ came as God’s light; to shine light into the darkness; to expel the darkness of sin.

As foretold years earlier by Isaiah;

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)

God represents goodness, light, truth, and salvation. Darkness is the absence of light and represents evil and sin. The light of Jesus glows eternally. He is the resurrection and the light.

I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.
John 12:46 (NLT)

The darkness has not overcome Jesus’ light and never will. His light is ever shining, in the past, present and future. ◊

Have you opened your heart to the light of Jesus? Do you let the light of Jesus shine and illuminate the darkness?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for the light of Jesus. Teach us to walk in faith and light. Jesus, Light of the World, guide us in Your truth. Like the trillium’s white flowers glow in the sunshine, let us glow with Your illuminating light. Amen