“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” The crisis you face right now may seem insurmountable. But God will see you through any crisis in your life. He will give you strength, healing, a sound mind, and hope for a new day!
NAAV Prayer Warriors are praying for our nation’s service members, veterans, and their caregivers and family members nationwide for their body, mind, soul and spirit through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please visit NAAV Moments of Meditation for encouragement and hope from the Word of God. NAAV shares many testimonials with its visitors as well as praying for each caller and request received worldwide before God’s Throne of Grace.
Some people refuse to believe that Jesus, the Christ is God in the flesh. Some people just don’t care. God’s love doesn’t affect them one way or another. However, many open their hearts to God and receive the benefits of His love because they are aware of their sin and the need for salvation. Some people are overwhelmed with thanks for God’s love through Christ Jesus and welcome it freely. Some people, overwhelmed by God’s love, love Him deeply in return and grow in that love.
Everyone is loved by God, but not everyone responds to that love in the same way. The Lord God doesn’t force us to accept His love. He leaves that up to us. We can either believe in Him or refuse.
As for me, I choose to love Him with all my heart, mind, soul, spirit, and strength and my neighbor as myself. For this is His very first commandment. Every day I give thanks to the Lord God and the blessed trinity for grace, salvation and eternal life through Christ Jesus.
How Can I Keep Myself in God’s Love?
I believe the answer rest in Jude vv.20, 21 when he wrote:
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Jude recognized that we can do much more than we are doing to receive the love of God and to reflect it on to others. Christ also said the same to His disciples:
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandants, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love (John 15:9.10).”
Remember that God love you and NAAV love you too! Everyone, at some time in their lives, deals with a crisis or problem. For some, the crisis is overwhelming: a hurricane (Katrina); a fire; a tragic car accident; a loss of a loved one; health problems, disappointment of a dream; or an early retirement. No matter their size, crises or problems can make people feel like God has abandoned them. How could God allow this to happen to me? If you are feeling that way right now, don’t worry. You are not alone. A common reaction to problems or crisis is fear or abandonment. I have lost everything, you think. No one can help me now.
Well, Friends, I have good news for you. You have not lost everything. And someone can help you: God. God your heavenly Father did not cause your crisis or problem to happen. But even as you read this, he is right beside you, waiting patiently for you to turn to him. That might seem hard to believe. But it is true. And if you let yourself believe it, even just a little bit at first, you will find that your impossible-seeming situation has a solution. For with God, all things are possible.
I know that with God, all things are possible. God can calm all fears, help you deal with sorrow, regain your strength and, ultimately, live a life of hope. The Holy Bible tells us that a person who turns to God “shall not be afraid of evil tidings. His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” With God, you can and will not only overcome your crisis; you will emerge intellectually, emotionally and spiritually fortified. As you will read and learn in the message written by NAAV Contributor and Servant of the Lord is that the Lord sent you my way and that it is truly a blessing to be used by God to help others in need of salvation and God’s love.
Scripture Verses for Meditation
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 9:9)
“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” (Psalm 9:9)
“In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” (Psalm 62:7)
“Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.” (Psalm 16:1)
“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” (Psalm 118:8)
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! (Psalm 34-8)
“But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of trouble.” (Psalm 59:16)
“He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.” (Psalm 91:4)
Scripture Verses for Meditation (continued)
“I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:1-2)
“The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)
“The way of the LORD is strength for the upright, but destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.” (Proverbs 10:29)
“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah” (Psalm 32:7)
Prayer:
Lord God, please renew the right spirit with me. Give me clean hands, a pure heart and order my footsteps in Your Hold Word so that I might not sin against You in my words, thoughts, deeds, and actions. Lord, please help me to be a doer of Your Word and obedient in every way to You in all I do and say. Lord God may my will be Your perfect will and purpose You have given me through Christ my Lord and Savior. Lord, help me to pass Your Message and Your Plan of Salvation to others daily. Help me Lord to give the message You have given me to this generation so that someday I may hear You say, “well done good and faithful servant.” … enter my eternal rest. Help me Lord to reach at least one lost soul each day for You I pray. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
All Scripture verses are taken from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.
By Constance A. Burns, NAAV Volunteer Contributor and Servant of the Great High Priest for NAAV Scripture Readings and Moments of Meditation, email: info@naavets.org and cburns@naavets.org.