By Faith – Hebrews 11:3

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)

By faith, we understand the worlds were created by the word of God. Because of this, we can have confident expectations of the Lord and firm belief in His power. By faith we have firm belief in what is unseen, an assurance of God’s promises, and a confidence in the future. Faith in God is not wishful thinking, but a deep assurance and complete confidence in Him.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

– Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)

Godly faith is trust, trust in God’s nature, character, and promises. It is putting our trust in God and relying on Him where we cannot see. His good works, grace, and help in the past allow us confidence in the future.

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. Hebrews 12:2a (CEV)

We go forward by fixing our eyes on Jesus, who perfects our faith.

By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

Hebrews 11:3 (AMP)

Our Heavenly Father, our Loving Creator, thank You for Your love and grace. Help us to live by faith and in obedience. Teach us to go forward in Your truth and grow in faith. Let our light shine bright, just like the mountain azalea flowers that are gathered together and brighten spring days. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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The Word – Isaiah 40:8

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

Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah contrasts the temporary nature of flowers and grass to the enduring promise of God’s word.
Earlier in verse 6, Isaiah compares people to being like grass and their love and faithfulness being as fragile as a wildflower. Which withers and falls when the wind sent from the Lord blows on it.

“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:6b-8 (NIV)

Permanence and stability are found in the eternal word of God, which endures forever. For God is steadfast, His promises never fail; they last forever. When we trust in God’s word and live in obedience, His word will sustain us for now and forever. The word of God stands firm; it endures forever.

“These people are nothing but grass,
    their love fragile as wildflowers.
The grass withers, the wildflowers fade,
    if God so much as puffs on them.
    Aren’t these people just so much grass?
True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade,
    but our God’s Word stands firm and forever.” Isaiah 40:6-8 (MSG)

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Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, thank you for Your grace and love for us. Thank you for Your word and Jesus, The Word. Teach us to read Your word and follow Jesus. May Your word guide and direct us. Your word stands firm and forever, giving us hope. Though we are fragile, like dandelions and wildflowers, let us be strong and secure in our faith. Amen

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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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Sharper than a double-edged sword – Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 (NET)

The word of God is living and active; by it, we learn the true will of God. The word of God is more than printed words; He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, prophets, and by the eternal Word of God, Jesus.

The word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword; the word of God can discern between spirit and soul. Like a double-edged sword, the word of God can penetrate a person’s heart to expose the good and evil within. God can detect hypocrites and self-deceivers.

But he (Jesus) said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Luke 11:28

Following the word of God is a lifelong process of discerning, listening, and obeying, of leaving our old life behind and becoming new in the likeness of Jesus.

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God’s word is alive and sharper than a double-edged sword. It’s a way God communicates with us, are you taking time to listen?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your living and active Word. Teach us to be open and obedient to Your will. Your Word is powerful; may it lead us to be more like Jesus. Like the bright blossoms of the tropical milkweed plant glow in the sunlight, may we blossom in Your Word and glow with Your holy light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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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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Guard Your Heart: Proverbs 4:23

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

God’s Word has the power to transform your heart. Reading the scriptures and meditating on God’s Word opens your heart, enlightening and renewing your thoughts and actions. A transformed heart that is right and pure has the right beliefs and focuses on God’s Word.

Like David, in Psalm, 51:10 we need to pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”

In 1 Samuel 16:17b, The Lord says to Samuel: “People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

God’s Word can strengthen and heal your heart; guide you in wisdom. Guard your heart; follow the right path, allow God to direct your steps, to keep you from evil.

23-27 Keep vigilant watch over your heart;
that’s where life starts.
Don’t talk out of both sides of your mouth;
avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.
Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust.
Proverbs 4:23-27 (MSG)

Will you let God’s Word guide your heart and direct your path?

Prayer; Lord, create in me a clean heart, guide my path. Teach me to guard my heart, to keep my eyes focused on You, and to resist evil. Let my words and actions be acceptable in Your sight. Like the flowers of the bleeding heart plant reflect sunlight, let my heart reflect the light of Christ. 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.🌺

Live by Faith: 2 Corinthians 5:7-9

⁷Our life is lived by faith. We do not live by what we see in front of us. ⁸We are sure we will be glad to be free of these bodies. It will be good to be at home with the Lord. ⁹So if we stay here on earth or go home to Him, we always want to please Him.
2 Corinthians 5:7-9 (NLV)

When we live by faith, we trust and rely on God’s Word. We walk God’s path for us, listening to the Holy Spirit’s direction. Faith allows us to trust in the unseen, to rely upon with confidence, Jesus, and God’s Word. When we live by faith, we look forward with happiness to spending eternity at home with our Lord in Heaven. As children of God, living in faith, we want to please God by doing good works, with compassion and love.

When we live by faith, we trust in God. When you are uncertain, distracted, or confused, do you rely on Him?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your forgiveness, grace, and love. Help us to grow in faith and guide us along Your path. Let us trust with our hearts the unseen, and live by faith. Teach us to follow Your Word, to be good Christians, and to help others. Like the bright petals of the coneflower radiate from the center of the flower, let us shine bright in our faith, and radiate Your love. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

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

Open My Eyes: Psalm 119:18

Open my eyes so I can truly see the marvelous things in your law!
Psalm 119:18 (NET)

In the bible, there are many hidden wonders and inspiring stories. To understand and comprehend them, we need God to open our spiritually blind eyes, allowing us to perceive the greatness and depth in His word. To open our eyes so we can truly see, gain insight, and glean wisdom from the bible. To be able to meditate on and view glimpses of truth, and gain a new perspective on the marvelous things that God is saying to us.

Are your eyes opened so you can discern God’s word and message to you today?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, help us to grow in faith, and open our eyes to Your biblical wisdom. Teach us to meditate on Your word, and grow in insight and wisdom. Help us to immerse ourselves in Your ways, and have clear sight to follow Your path. As the bold and bright echinacea blossoms, petals radiate from the center, let us be bold and bright in compassion, love, and radiate Your light. In Jesus’ loving and holy name. Amen

While writing this post, the song “Open My Eyes” kept returning to mind. Here Fountainview Academy sings the hymn “Open My Eyes.”

I want to thank Dawn, Drawing Closer to Christ, for nominating me for the Whosoever Tag. I highly recommend Dawn’s blog it is inspiring, full of God’s love, and spirit-driven.

I believe in the power of prayer. Need prayer? I will be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page. 🌺

Good Soil: Luke 8:15

The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Luke 8:15 (NIV)

How do we become noble, have a good heart, and become good soil? By reading God’s Word (the bible), keeping His Word, and obeying His Word. In Luke 8, Jesus is explaining what kind of soil we need to become to produce a good crop, much fruit. People with noble, honest, and good intentions hear God’s Word cling to it are good soil. The power, strength, compassion, and love of God flow through those who hear His Word retain it, with perseverance maintain it, and produce a fruitful crop.

Is your spiritual soil rocky, thorny, hard, impenetrable soil, or good soil?

Prayer: Our Heavenly Father, teach us to read, maintain, and follow Your Word. Lead us and teach us to have a noble and good heart. Help us to become good soil, and to produce much fruit. Like the lady slipper wildflower needs soil with a special fungus to grow, we need to follow God’s Word and have a good heart to produce good soil and grow spiritual fruit. Show us Your way. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

If you need prayer, I will be glad to pray for you.

Please leave me a comment or a message on the contact page. 🌺