Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours. Psalm 62:11, 12NLT
No force in the universe is more powerful than the Most High. Artificial light cannot outshine the sun and moon I spoke into existence. Technological advances never do away with the overwhelming need to humbly bow before the Almighty. The Most High God is transcendent—holy, high, above all, outside everything created, distant from earth.
Yet no friend anywhere is more personal than the God who is Love—immanent, nearer than your hands and feet, closer than your very breath. I am big enough to rule the world, and small enough to live in your heart.
Because My Son condescended to become a human being, you can see My glory in His face—He reflects My love and faithfulness. No one is nearer My heart than He is—the closer you draw to Him, the closer you get to Me. His grace and truth flood the believing heart with blessing and reality.
St. Augustine reflected poignantly in his autobiography Confessions: “Our hearts are made for Thee, O God; we are restless until we rest in Thee.” Wait in My Presence—and experience the strength I alone provide. Make Me your Center of Gravity—and discover the true meaning of life. Nestle near My heart—and relax in My dependable care.
I am your Happiness—so you are not sad in the world’s shadows.
My strong love inspires a song in your heart.
I am your Help—so you are not shaken by violent faith quakes.
My strong love energizes you to keep on going.
I am your Hope—so you are not sarcastic or down-in-the-mouth.
My strong love puts a spring in your step.
I am your Honor—so you are not a self-centered egomaniac.
My strong love overshadows your flawed reputation with glory.
I am your Home—so you are not stranded in an impersonal world.
My strong love makes us inseparable friends.
If I were great and not good, My awesome power would make Me a punishing tyrant, a heartless despot, and a demanding dictator. If I were good and not great, I would be merely an abstract ideal, of no practical value, and powerless to assist you. I am great and good—strong and loving, authoritative and compassionate, just and merciful, powerful and caring.
Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you.
Psalm 55:22THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE
I am infinitely superior to all the idols the world worships. False gods of the heart cannot satisfy your deepest yearnings. No-gods are less than nothing. You do not pray to the god whom you may or may not know, as the Babylonians did. You do not have to take a shot in the dark and petition the god whom it may concern, as those pagans did. I am the One and Only God—and I am concerned about you!
You can cast all your anxieties and concerns and worries on Me—rest assured I care for you affectionately and watch over you day and night. You can be sure I am always thinking about you—it matters to Me what happens in your life. Let Me have your cares, and you can live carefree. This approach to living is far more effective than the naïve philosophy that advocates “don’t worry, be happy.”
Often you are care-full, when you could and should be care-free. Here is Myrecipe for peace—pray about everything that concerns you; tell Me what you need; thank Me for My answers; focus your mind on truth, honor, right, purity, loveliness, and excellence. If you do this, you will enjoy the pleasure of My company and experience My calm.
When you were a child, you had trouble blowing up balloons. You did not seem to have the breath for it. Now that you are grown up, you still have some trouble with balloons—and with life’s frustrations. When weariness takes all the wind out of your sails, I can reenergize you and pump you up by My Spirit Wind. When you are all worn out, the Breath of Heaven can lift you up. Here is My formula for a worry-free life—prioritize living for Me and make My kingdom your primary goal, and I will take care of the rest.
When the peace of God is elusive, your trouble is that you keep attempting to carry your own cares, and in the process you get crushed under the heavy, impossible load. If you will give your cares to the God of peace, I will carry them—and you. Submit to My gentle mastery as you reread My cordial invitation to you: Come to Me all who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
Let go of your stresses and let Me sustain you—I will bear your burdens on My strong shoulders and make your heart lighter than air.
I manage the universe—do you think I cannot manage your stress?
Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.
Psalm 54:4NIV
The most critical decision you need to make is to trust Me. Take My invitation and challenge personally—make the Almighty God your help, and I promise to hold you together.
I stand beside you by My Presence. When you are surrounded by spiritual forces of malignant evil that would undermine you, I support you by goodness and undergird you. Do not tremble in fear thinking of forces stronger than you— a Power far greater than any other is on your side and fighting battles for you. Be strong in the Lord. Storms will not orphan you. War will not kill you. Satan will not defeat you. You will not be forsaken—because I am your Friend.
I stand for you with My power. When you are struggling with temptation that would demoralize you, I enforce you by grace and deliver you. Suit up in My armor and take a stand in opposition to satanic schemes. Carry the heavenly faith shield to extinguish hellacious flaming arrows. You will not fail—because I am your Freedom.
I stand within you by My peace. When you are stressed out by pressures of unrealistic deadlines that would unravel you, I sustain you by My rich gifts and breathe supernatural calm into your soul. I still can hush the high seas to sleep. When you are in a perfect storm, I am your Bridge over troubled water. You will not fall apart—because I am your Fortress.
I stand beneath you by My Providence. When you are stumbling under the weight of overwhelming cares that would crush you, I stand under you by My government and carry you. I can do more than you can imagine. When you panic in quicksand, I am your Solid Rock. You will not fall—because I am your Foundation.
I stand ahead of you by My promise. When you seek equilibrium in roller-coastersituations that would undo you, I secure you by My greatness and stabilize your heart. I illumine tomorrow’s path. And when the time is right, I will inaugurate My master plan for the eons. You will not falter—because I am your Future.
The Changeless Rock of Ages stands under you, and the Compassionate Friend of sinners understands you. Live confidently today—assured that I will see you safely through perplexity, pain, pressures, and problems. At the end of the day, sunset will be a personal victory celebration—bow your head and say thanks.
God looks down from heaven on the entire human race;
to see if there is even one with real understanding, one who seeks for God.
Psalm 53:2 NLT
My search for people who understand who I am and what is right invariably leads to disappointment. Crowds loiter in a valley of indecision—opinion polls are still out about who I am and how to relate meaningfully to Me.
Reflect on your conscience. Human nature being as it is, everyone has turned away from Me, and in the process they have become thoroughly corrupt. Forsaking the Good Shepherd, people attempt to shepherd themselves through life. The majority live as if I do not exist. Nominal Christians live like practical atheists. Without Me, you cannot be good.
Only the Savior can erase your sins. You are not an exception to the universal rule of sinfulness and death. Everyone—including you—falls short of My glorious standard. The payoff is death. The other side of the moral coin is more encouraging—though you are a sinner, you can freely receive My unmerited grace. Heaven’s gift of eternal life through My Son is yours for the taking. You cannot earn this gift, and you do not deserve it; but if you repent and believe, it is yours.
Kneel at the cross. Turn from evil—really live! Banish from your mind the verythought of doing wrong—my pardon will flood your soul with peace and reinvigorate your spirit to enjoy life.
Keep the change. Only I can educate you to understand the solution to the sin problem. Without Christ, you are miserably corrupt. With Christ, you are changed—a heart transplant gives you a new, tender heart; birth from above gives you a new character; faith eyes give you a new perspective and hope; new life from the Holy Spirit transforms you into a brand new person. Focused on new goals and driven by new ambitions, you are different.
My search for people who conscientiously seek My face is often futile. However, your search for Me is fulfilling and delightful. I promise that if you seek Me with all your heart, you will find Me. Pursue life’s noblest quest—yearn for My Presence and experience My transformational strength. Sing the ancient song of saints intent on living in the moral highlands.
Make a conscious effort! Be desperate for Me—I promise that you will not be disappointed.
Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:9-10NLT
Individual confession is the temperament you need for a new creation.Judging others merely adds to your own iniquity. It is you that needs forgiveness, your transgressions that should concern your heart, your personal iniquity that burdens you, your sin that clouds the sunshine of spontaneity. Claim the promise of the second chance—confess your sins, and I can be depended on to forgive and purify you.
Dismount your high horse of imagined goodness! Quit sneering in contempt at dirty faces of sinners around you. You cannot change yourself—only I can, so give up your haughty habit of criticizing others not measuring up to your standards. Confess and renounce your superiority complex—humble yourself and be lifted up.
Internal cleansing is the miraculous therapy only I can do.When I wash you, you are snow-white. Heart cleansing is My work. Transplanting tender hearts for stony hearts is something only I can do. Confess and renounce your subterfuge—be honest to God and learn.
Immaculate change is transformation only I can make happen.I alone purify your heart and give you a clean bill of health. In Christ alone is there new creation—new life and a fresh start. Confess and renounce your sin—pursue holiness and live in My love.
Intimate companionship is the highest thrill you long for.You are not an orphan on life’s high seas—you are the apple of My eye. You experience no drought of joy—a river of life flows through your soul. Quit singing the blues; dance My jig of joy! Confess and renounce your sadness—be truly happy and love life.
Intense celebration is the triumph of a right relationship with Me.When you are pure in heart, you see Me. When you are near My heart, you sing hymns of optimism and praise even at midnight. Confess and renounce your sulkiness—be hopeful and lean on Me.
Instructional conversation is teaching that you do in My Name.My converting work in you is heart-to-heart conversation influencing your words and deeds. You are My masterpiece, My work of art with a noble purpose of good works that influences and inspires others on their inner journey. Confess and renounce your selfishness—be helpful and lead.
Be still, and know that I am God … Selah. Psalm 46:10a, 11bNIV
Uncomfortable with silence? Addicted to comfort of noise? Why not turn off your gadgets, call a halt to hectivity for a day, and ponder what you are aiming for and why you are living? Acknowledge I am irrevocably and totally responsible for everything. Get out of fast forward mode—push the pause button …
I am your Eternal Refuge in the storms of life. In difficulties, I am your Mighty Fortress. In faith quakes, I am your Rock. On high seas, I am your Captain. I am not a very absent help in time of trouble—I am your Invincible Hiding Place. Satan cannot disturb your rest when you are nestling near My heart. I am your Castle of courage—when you are humbly relying on My grace, NO FEAR is far more than a t-shirt motto. Exit bumper-to-bumper high-speed traffic—take a scenic route.
In the turmoil of life’s pandemonium, pause to calmly think about Me—I calm your raging storms by My Presence.
I am your Ecstatic Resource in the sorrows of life. I am your Delightful Festival of celebration, cascading your inner being with joy from the unseen river of My Holy Spirit. Perfect peace cures worry. Heavenly patience slows hurry. Living Water quenches soul thirst.
Jerusalem did not have a river, but it had the LORD Almighty. I was more than enough for them—and I am more than enough for you.In the trauma of life’s pain, pause and calmly think about Me—I cure your sadness by My peace.
I am your Exalted Ruler in the struggles of life. I am the Prince of Peace who will unite unsettled nations, inspire warriors to become farmers, and halt senseless combat.
Human solutions have not fixed problems of planet Earth. The military solution has aggravated international disputes. The economic solution has widened the gap between rich and poor. The political solution has broken innumerable empty promises. The white-horse Rider who judges righteously is heaven’s Final Answer. I am your Dependable Future of confidence—brightening tomorrow.In the terror of life’s perplexity, pause and calmly think about Me—I cheer your soul by My promise.
I am the God of your yesterdays—recall the times you celebrated Me. Triumphs came not because of your sword, but because of Mine. Success came not by your limited ability, but My infinite strength.
The light of My smile has illuminated the darkness of your fears time and time again. Memory of your history is encouraging when you reflect on Unfailing Love. You have never gone wanting for good things, so you should not complain about your current frustrations.
Recall My peace—let heartfelt praise transform your depression into delight and give you a new view.
I am the God of your today—rejoice in conquests you experience in Me. By heaven’s power you overcome ferocious spiritual enemies. In My invigorating energy, you win life’s battles before they are fought. Pledging undivided allegiance to the King of your heart, you are guaranteed victory at every turn.
Through the Name above all names you defeat evil threatening to overwhelm you. Suited up in heavenly armor, you still stand tall after the smoke of battle clears. My mastery is your confidence in struggling with temptation—Satan will not throw you when you cry out for My help.
Rejoice in My power—let heartfelt praise transform your defeat into dynamics and give you a new vitality.
I am the God of your tomorrows—rely on My constancy. Even if it seems I have given you up, rest assured I will keep My promises. Resolve to obey Me no matter what—I honor that kind of commitment.
If you feel like retreating before foes, depend on My Holy Spirit to cause a turnaround and inspire you to seize the initiative again. Saints are sinners who keep trying—never give up! Though the world makes fun of your faith, make Me your Refuge and survive the storms. Do not let mysteries of the unknown cancel your hope—count on Me.
Rely on My promises—let heartfelt praise transform your doubt into devotion and give you a new vision.
Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
Psalm 42:11 NLT
In your grief, surrender through your trials. Crying sad tears as society scoffs at faith’s radical perspective? Heartbroken as skeptics make fun of your optimistic
creed? Sighing and singing the blues as cynics deride your hopeful stance? Tempted to wonder where I am as atheists question My existence? Return to Me.
In your grappling, search through your trouble. Thirsty for significance in a world experiencing spiritual drought? Reach out for Me. Yearn for My Presence as a deer pants for the brook. Do not settle for anything less than infinite joy. I do not ration My Spirit—it cascades from My heart to yours—drink deeply at the Fountain.
In your gladness, sing through your travels. Nostalgic about how it used to be? Reflecting on good old days when crowds celebrated My love? Remember high points of worship. Conduct therapeutic self-talk—respond to disturbing inner voices. When you are down-in-the-mouth, place your hope in your Creator. Fix your eyes on your Face Healer—I will put a smile on your face. Reflect on your relationship to the One who will always be here for you.
In My goodness, struggle through your tension. Whatever disturbs or dismays you will pass, but I never change at all. Look forward to looking back on whatever has worried you on earth. Remembered from eternity’s perspective, difficulties will become blessings. Heartaches are steppingstones along an upward-winding trail. Be patient and poised—heaven will never be surprised by any emergency.
Trust My guidance and unfailing love—gladly sing My praises. Faith quakeswill stop. Storms will subside. The sun will shine again. Rely on Me—nestle near My loving heart. In your midnight hour, believe in Me and you will hear nocturnal echoes ofheaven’s melody of hope. Trust Me, however sad life gets—then you can dance the jig of joy. Remember what a Jewish girl named Etty Hillisum wrote in her diary as she endured a World War II concentration camp: “There will always be a small patch of sky above, and there will always be enough space to fold two hands in prayer.”
