Jeremiah 17:9-10

 
Lovely flowers from my friend, Kathy's garden!

Jeremiah 17:9-10

“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

‘I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind,

to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.’”

God knows everything about us, especially our heart. When we make a decision, God knows why we made it. When we do something that isn’t good for us, God knows what prompted us to do it. As much as we want to believe our heart is totally good, the truth is our heart can be bad.

That’s why I like this verse. Instead of looking at something we did or decided that turned out bad, God searches our heart and examines our mind to determine what really went on inside our brain. His perfect knowledge and discernment is His focus.

Bibleanalysis.org: “This verse encapsulates the biblical viewpoint that the human heart, often seen as the seat of emotions, thoughts, and intentions, is inherently flawed. The term ‘deceitful’ suggests that the heart can lead individuals astray, prompting them to pursue desires that may seem right in the moment but ultimately lead to detrimental outcomes . . . The phrase ‘I the Lord search the heart’ reveals God's intimate involvement in the lives of individuals. It highlights a relational aspect of divine inquiry—God is not distant but actively engaged in understanding human intentions and motivations . . . This understanding serves as both a comfort and a challenge: while God knows our innermost thoughts, it also calls for accountability and introspection. Knowing that God searches the heart can inspire believers to strive for authenticity in their lives, aligning their actions with a sincere commitment to righteousness.”

God knows all things which makes it such a comfort knowing He understands exactly where we are coming from when we make poor choices. He’s not here to beat us down but helps us understand and learn from every choice we make. He’s in the business of transforming our life so we become more like Him.

Godsbless.ing: “When we come before God with sincerity and humility, confessing our sins and shortcomings, He is able to cleanse and transform our hearts. We need to constantly seek God’s guidance and allow Him to renew us from within, shaping us into individuals who reflect His love and righteousness. Through prayer, repentance, and a genuine desire to follow God’s will, we can experience a deep transformation in our hearts that brings us closer to Him.”

We should always be striving to learn in this life. Asking God for His help. Asking Him for guidance. Thanking Him for cleansing and transforming our hearts. Thank you, Father.

By His Grace . . .

Jeremiah 33:3

 Jeremiah 33:3

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

How much will God tell us? This verse says God will tell us great and unsearchable things that we do not know. Are we ready to listen?

These are the words He told Jeremiah. The circumstances were during the terror of a siege and promised judgment. God spoke a word of hope and invitation to Jeremiah.

Studylight.org, Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes: “We must ask the Lord for some things before He will give them to us . . . While God is always ready to answer the cry of the human heart, man must first request assistance . . . God desires a hearer who is already reaching out to him . . . What follows are incredible promises concerning the restoration of the nation, its rulers, and its worship leaders.”

The only way we will be able to understand great and unsearchable things is if we’re in touch with God and desire His help. He will reveal if we are seeking Him.

Bibleoutlined.com: “The phrase ‘and tell you great and unsearchable things’ further emphasizes the bounty of what God is willing to reveal. It points to the deep mysteries of life, wisdom beyond our comprehension, and truths waiting to be uncovered . . . It encourages us to approach God in faith, knowing He has knowledge that we wouldn’t be able to grasp on our own. This is not only a comforting thought but also a driving motivator for us to earnestly seek Him.”

Those things which are hidden can mean inaccessible, beyond the normal reach of human knowledge. God must provide divine revelation for us to understand. And He will if we ask. Every day presents an opportunity to deepen our faith and understanding.

Godsbless.ing: “This powerful verse from the Bible reminds us of the incredible promise that God makes to us when we seek Him through prayer . . . When we call on God, He promises to answer us, not with ordinary or easily known things, but with great and unsearchable knowledge that is beyond our understanding. This verse underscores God’s readiness to communicate with us and His ability to reveal truths and wisdom that are beyond our human capabilities.”

When you need help, call on God. He is always ready to listen. When we “call” to Him, it indicates a need, a reliance on God’s wisdom and strength. He will not fail a faithful, seeking and honest believer. He will tell you great and unsearchable things!

 By His Grace . . . 

Zephaniah 3:17

 

Zephaniah 3:17

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

God sings. I remember when someone pointed this Scripture verse out to me. I was like, WOW. God sings. Over me. One of those things God does for His people who He loves.

I think most of us enjoy singing, even when we don't think we can sing. We sing off key, too loud, make a mistake or just have no rhythm at all. When I was in my 30s, I had a muscle spasm in my throat. When it was over, I could not sing. And I haven’t been able to sing since that time.

But I still love to sing. Nobody hears me, but I can hear me. It still is a thrill singing hymns and songs I love. But to think God sings over me. That He rejoices over me. That’s a WOW”!

Enduringword.com: “We don’t often think of God singing, but He does – and He sings over His people. This is how much joy and delight we give to the LORD – that He breaks into song!”

Spurgeon: “Think of the great Jehovah singing! Can you imagine it? Is it possible to conceive of the Deity breaking into a song: Father, Son and Holy Ghost together singing over the redeemed? God is so happy in the love which He bears to His people that He breaks the eternal silence, and sun and moon and stars with astonishment hear God chanting a hymn of joy.

“If God sings, shall not we sing? He did not sing when He made the world. No; He looked upon it, and simply said that it was good. The angels sang, the sons of God shouted for joy: creation was very wonderful to them, but it was not much to God, who could have made thousands of worlds by His mere will. Creation could not make Him sing . . . When all was done, and the Lord saw what became of it in the salvation of His redeemed, then He rejoiced after a divine manner.”

Christianitypath.com: “This verse is a beautiful reminder of God’s love and power. God, being in our midst, is not just a passive presence but an active and mighty warrior. He is capable of saving us from our troubles and hardships. Imagine having Someone who is both powerful and caring right beside us! This verse captures that essence. The way God rejoices over us is not just a casual celebration; it is a deep, heartfelt joy. It shows how much He truly cares for each one of us individually. God’s joy is so immense that He expresses it through singing! This is a majestic image of God taking the time to celebrate and delight in our relationship with Him.”

The next time you need a word of encouragement, remember that God sings over you. You make Him happy. You are His child and He will forever find joy in you. After all, He rejoices over you with singing!

By His Grace . . . 

Romans 8:26-27

 

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”

Romans 8:26-27

This well-known verse reassures us that when we are broken and hurting God still hears our heart. We often don’t have words to pray when things are crushing our spirit. But we have the Holy Spirit living in us and He knows our heart and brings it before God. We can be confident that God hears our heart because the Holy Spirit tells Him.

Yet, the Holy Spirit does so much more. He is our Helper, guiding us in the way of truth. He is our Comforter, reassuring us at all times. He is our Teacher, guiding us in understanding Scripture. He is our Empowerer, equipping us with spiritual gifts for service and enabling us to live according to God's will.

The Holy Spirit is also called holy. The Bible says, “Be holy, became I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) One of the Holy Spirit’s ministries is to help make us holy—to become more like Christ.

And most of all, He is the third member of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit lives inside us when we accept Christ and helps us grow closer to God. If you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in you. He sees everything, knows what is in our heart, and knows what is in our mind.

Biblehub.com, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: “The Holy Spirit is the spring of all desires toward God, which are often more than words can utter. The Spirit who searches the hearts, can perceive the mind and will of the Spirit, the renewed mind, and advocates His cause. The Spirit makes intercession to God, and the enemy prevails not.”

I like the words "the spring of all desires toward God." I haven't heard it put that way before. How can we lose? The Spirit is within reach of our God and Savior. He brings them ever close so we can feel their presence and understand their will.

As believers we are never alone. Our God, our Savior and the Holy Spirit is always with us as we live our life each day. The Holy Spirit has a powerful role in our lives. Thank Him each day for His role in your life.

By His Grace . . . 

Romans 3:10-12

 
Snapdragons by Kathy

“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God.

All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

Romans 3:10-12

 No one. Not one person. Nowhere on planet earth is there anyone good enough to get into heaven.

Somebody told you about Jesus. You may have heard of Him from your parents, a sibling, a co-worker, a church service, the radio, or any other number of ways, but you heard about Him.

Ruth Chou Simons, in her book, “Emmanuel,” writes: “We will not recognize the birth of Christ as a miraculous gift of promise until we realize the miserable condition of desperation we would all know otherwise . . . But what if, by some miracle, someone loved you enough to come into your impossible mess and not only help you with the problem, but take it on in its entirety?

“As harsh as Romans 3 may sound to us, the apostle Paul tells the truth we need to hear about our condition without Christ . . . This is the very gift of Christmas—God coming into our impossible mess and making a way out of our despair . . . There is no repair for our despair apart from our wonderful Savior, Jesus, the Messiah.”

Knowing the truth and what Christ has done for us, should stir our souls to tell others. Shouldn’t we find some way to tell others what we are thankful for?

It’s hard to accept that you are not good enough. People don’t like to be put down. But if they don’t realize they live in sin, they will never find Jesus.

Although it may have hurt, aren’t you glad someone told you? Aren’t you glad that you accepted Jesus into your heart and live in peace with Him and God? Your eyes were open to God’s world, and you were enabled to see His good and perfect way.

Just singing a hymn in the presence of one who does not know the Lord will plant a seed. Just praying before a meal in a restaurant or at your home, will linger in someone’s mind. Just going to church each Sunday morning before joining friends will make an impression.

No one does good, no not one. Consider it your heart’s joy to tell someone about Christ. Because we’re all not good enough. Without the blood of Christ covering you, you would be miserable.

By His Grace . . . 

Psalm 130:5-6

 

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Psalm 130:5-6

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in His word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
    More than watchmen wait for the morning,
    More than watchmen wait for the morning.”

Do we wait on God with our whole being? Just what does “more than watchmen wait for the morning” mean?

We find ourselves waiting on God many times during the course of our life. Especially when we don’t know what to do and want Him to guide us in the direction we should go. Sometimes it does feel like we are waiting all night, wondering when we’ll hear from Him.

We do hear from Him. His timing involves preparing our hearts to accept whatever He tells us. During our waiting time we should be reading in His Word, listening to messages that encourage and inspire, and seeking Godly counsel from trusted brothers and sisters in Christ.

Enduringword.com: “The poet used a vivid image to express his patient anticipation in waiting on God. We see a watchman in the darkness of the early morning, scanning the horizon for the first sign of the dawn. The watchman doesn’t doubt that morning will come, but only wonders when, and watches for it diligently. So it was for the singer who watched for God and the help God promised to bring.”

We know that God will answer. And, yes, sometime that waiting period is difficult to go through. The longer we live for God, the more we understand His desire to bring us to the right decision in His time.

Godsbless.ing: “This verse from Psalms beautifully expresses a deep sense of anticipation and yearning for spiritual connection. Just like watchmen eagerly anticipate the break of dawn to signal the end of their night shift and the dawning of a new day, the psalmist’s soul yearns for the presence of the Lord. It speaks to a profound longing and hope for divine guidance, protection, and comfort . . . Psalm 130:6 illuminates the importance of waiting on the Lord with unwavering faith and hopeful anticipation. As we reflect on this verse, may we embrace the practice of waiting with patience and confidence, knowing that God’s plans are perfect and His timing is always right. Let us hold fast to the assurance that in our waiting, God is at work, shaping our hearts and leading us towards His ultimate good.”

We wait for the Lord with our whole being and we put our hope in Him. No matter how long. Even if it’s as long as the watchmen waiting for morning.

By His Grace . . . 

Psalm 107:2

“Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those He redeemed from the hand of the foe.”

Psalm 107:2

We are the redeemed. We have been redeemed by Jesus and owe Him our life. We have benefited from God’s plan and have an eternal home with Him.

Christianity.com: “Psalm 107:2 is not merely a call to give a preacher an ‘amen.’ But it is a call to respond to the mighty acts of God. If God has redeemed you then you are called to declare His mighty works.”

This verse is a reference to God’s people who were delivered from Egypt, and perhaps from Babylon also. He redeemed His people, bringing them out of bondage into freedom.

We, also, have been delivered from the bondage of sin and delivered into the Hands of Almighty God. Our home is now with Him. We are secure and can never be taken from Him. We are redeemed.

Garycombs.org: “If we have been redeemed (bought back, ransomed, delivered from the penalty of sin) by the Lord, the Word encourages us to ‘say so!’ We can never repay the One who gave His life as a ransom for us, but we can certainly give Him thanks and praise. We were sinful, separated and spiritually dead, but Christ has redeemed us, granting us His righteousness, sonship, and life.”

We are to proclaim God’s goodness and mercy. We are to shout it out to the world so all may know what our God and Savior has done for us.

You have a story. At some point in your life, you turned to Jesus and became His. You may have a simple story of being raised in a Christian home and led to Christ as a child. You may have experienced the dangers of sin as a young adult and shown the way home to Jesus. You may be an older, retired person who listened to the story of redemption and gave your life to God. No matter what your story is, tell it.

As God’s redeemed people, we need to do our best in telling His story. If our words are rejected, those words have still been heard by the rejector. They have been pushed into a back corner of their mind. God’s Word says: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, So is My Word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

Say it! Tell it! Sing it! You have been redeemed!

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story!

By His Grace . . .