Joshua 24:15

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day

whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates,

or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.

But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

This should be the statement of every man and woman who have been saved by the blood of Jesus and brought into the family of God. But every household cannot say this. Many of us, if not all of us, have unsaved family members living in the same house, if not the same town or the same state, or across the country.

I want to focus on the words “But as for me.” You. Me. Whoever is reading this. As for you. Will you serve the Lord? Will you make a difference by living for God and standing for truth?

Yes, many of us will and do make a difference and stand for truth. With all our heart we want to be able to say, “and my household.” My sister. My brother. My father. My mother. But many of us can’t say that.

It’s hard when a loved one rejects what you believe. A heartbreak that just won’t go away. A sadness that lingers through every day. Always the question, “What can I do?”

You can pray. It’s the best thing you can do. God hears prayer.

Godsbless.ing: “The above verse speaks to the power of individual choice and personal commitment to faith. Joshua, a faithful leader, declares his unwavering dedication to serving the Lord, setting an example for his household to follow. The verse highlights the importance of making a conscious decision to align oneself with God and prioritize His teachings in all aspects of life.”

That’s what we can do. Choose. Commit. Set an example. Pray. God wants to see your household following Christ. It all starts with your firm commitment and secure belief.

We won’t win everyone. Even members of our families. God seeks our desire to live for Him and trust Him with everyone else.

Stand tall and bravely say with confidence, “But as for me.”

By His Grace . . .

Lamentations 3:21

 

“This I call to mind and therefore I have hope.”

The above words come before a well-known verse in the book of Lamentations, but they are unfamiliar to many. I became aware of this verse from a Sunday School lesson, and it has been a favorite ever since. The well-known words? Verses 22-23:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Many Christians know the above words by heart and call on them often. But the words before it, verse 21, are not noticed. They are important though. They tell us to use our mind and remember what God has done before. This brings hope.

Bible.art: “The verse can be divided into two parts: the act of recalling to mind and the resulting hope. The act of recalling to mind serves as a deliberate effort to remember the character and promises of God. Choose to focus on God's faithfulness and goodness in the midst of suffering and devastation. This deliberate act of remembering is a powerful spiritual discipline that enables us to find hope and comfort in God's steadfast love.

“The resultant hope that emerges from this act of recalling to mind is rooted in the character of God. We find hope in God's unchanging nature, His love, and His promises to His people. This hope is not simply wishful thinking, but a confident expectation that God will fulfill His promises and bring restoration and redemption to His people.”

When you need encouragement and hope, call to mind God’s past faithfulness and you will find hope  revived in your soul. Memorize verse 21 as a new addition to God’s faithful words in verse 22 and 23.

With the dawn of every day there dawns also the mercies of our God. Lamentations 3:22 is a life anchor. It’s a reminder that God’s love and mercy are as reliable as sunrise. We call to mind these words, trusting in the eternal faithfulness of God.

Godsbless.ing: “Isn’t it comforting to know that God’s love for us never runs out and His mercies are fresh every single day? . . . Just imagine the incredible gift of a clean slate each morning, a chance to start anew with a heart full of gratitude and a spirit ready to receive God’s endless love.”

“This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope.” Truth to live with each day.

By His Grace . . . 

1 Peter 1:7

 

Picture from "PeacefulMomentsForWomen" Facebook page.

1 Peter 1:7

“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—

of greater worth than gold,

which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise,

glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Trials are difficult. Nobody wants to go through them, but we all will throughout our life. This verse says our faith is greater than gold. Gold is desirable and expensive. We purchase it mostly in jewelry. Bullion coins and gold bars are made out of gold. Dentists use gold for tooth fillings, crowns and bridges. It’s used in medicine and electronics.

Yet as rich and important as gold is, our faith is greater. We are given an opportunity to participate in giving praise, glory, and honor to our Lord when we come out of trials stronger and victorious. That’s an excellent reason to persevere and trust God when we are going through trials.

We may be distressed for a season, but we can also rejoice when our trials come to an end. Our thankfulness to God for taking us through can bring joy and strength to our faith.

“When we remain steadfast in our faith despite the challenges we face, our perseverance and trust in God bring about praise, glory, and honor. This verse encourages us to see our struggles as opportunities for growth and transformation, knowing that our faith will shine even brighter when Christ is revealed to us. It reminds us that the difficulties we encounter are not without purpose, but rather opportunities for our faith to be refined and strengthened for the glory of God.

“The testing of faith is not meant to break us but to build us up. It is a way for believers to grow in their spiritual maturity and deepen their relationship with God. Believers demonstrate their resilience and steadfastness in the face of adversity by facing challenges with unwavering faith and trust in God. Having faith tested is a transformative experience that ultimately leads to a stronger and more authentic faith that can withstand any trial or tribulation.” Godsbless.ing

Our goal is to honor our Lord and bring Him praise. When we look at trials in this regard, we can accept and trust as we walk through the fire, knowing our God is working in us.

"Of greater worth than gold."

By His Grace . . . 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I'm thankful Paul wrote about being weak and how God’s power is enough in all circumstances. And I’m very thankful Jesus said His power is made perfect in weakness.

From the greatest of us to the smallest, we all have periods of weakness. We are human. This isn’t a trait of certain people. It’s a trait of all people.

But how can we handle our weakness?

Godsbless.ing: “This verse reminds us in those moments that it is okay to feel weak because God’s power is most evident in our weaknesses. When we acknowledge our limitations and turn to Christ for strength, we allow His power to work through us, filling us with courage and resilience . . . This verse teaches us that our weaknesses do not diminish our worth or abilities; instead, they become opportunities for us to rely on God and experience His strength in a profound way. We open ourselves up to His grace and transform our vulnerabilities into sources of spiritual growth and empowerment by surrendering our weaknesses to Christ.”

Charles Spurgeon: “Great tribulation brings out the great strength of God. If you never feel inward conflicts and sinking of soul, you do not know much of the upholding power of God.”

Weakness. As humans we don’t want to think of ourselves as weak. We think it is a negative quality. Yet we can gain so much when we are weak. When we see what God can and will do for us when we are weak, our faith is strengthened, and we are filled with understanding of our God’s power and ability.

God’s grace is sufficient during times of weakness. His marvelous and powerful grace, freely given, always works on our behalf.

Weakness. When you are in God’s family and serve Him, weakness is a stepping stone to God’s Almighty power and strength. Hallelujah!

By His Grace . . .