But God

I saw a post on instagram not too ago. It had the caption “But God”. It caught my attention and I decided to do some reading on the phrase. I couldn't help but notice how  it was a reminder of God's righteous intervention in human affairs. It was also helpful to see how the impossible becomes possible. For us, yes, it is impossible, 'but God'! Here are some "but God"verses that we can use;

Genesis 50:20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring i about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

1Samuel 23:14 and David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

Psalm 49:15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Isaiah 40:8 the grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible

Romans 5:7-8 for one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
1 Corinthians 3:7 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Ephesians 2: 4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved.

Next time you feel discouraged, look up some “but God” verses and be reassured of God’s involvement in the lives of those who love him.

Prayer

Been going through a phase lately that has left me each time on my knees. It is the only place i can go to vent, cry and talk to an ever present help.  They say there’s power in prayer and too often we do not make use of this privilege that we have; to make our requests known to God. Listened to a couple of sermons on prayer, read some books and here are the lessons I have drawn. Please note, am not saying am an expert in the area, am still learning to hear Gods voice in various circumstances I face.

• ·         It is all about God. He does sovereign and does whatever he pleases. Psalm 115:3 says our God is in the heavens and he does whatever he pleases.

• ·         He will not always give the answer that we desire. Sometimes the answer is ‘no’ but we ought to trust him, because no good gift will he withhold from those who walk uprightly (psalm 84:11).

• ·         He works according to his timing, we cannot slow it down or fast forward it because he has made everything beautiful in his own time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Not one promise shall miscarry,

Not one blessing come too late,

Though the vision long may tarry, give us patience Lord to wait

(Jane Crewdson)

• ·         He hears our prayers, sees our tears and will surely answer

• ·         Through prayer we acknowledge our weakness and accept that only God can help us. His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses.

• ·         There’s peace that comes with laying it all down at his feet knowing that God’s got it. Fanny Crosby put it this way:

At the blessed hour of prayer, trusting him we believe

That the blessings we’re needing, we’ll surely receive

In the fullness of this trust, we shall lose every care:

What a balm for the weary oh how sweet to be there.

• ·         Prayer makes us expectant waiting to see how God will answer or in what way he will act.

• ·         God is the ruler of all nature. Nothing takes him by surprise. For example;

Jonah 1:17, God appointed a big fish to swallow Jonah, Jonah 4:6 God appointed a plant to provide shade for Jonah.

He is concerned about the details of our lives, knowing even the number of hairs on our head (Mathew 10:30). As we pray we should acknowledge with John Ryland in the hymn he has penned titled Sovereign Ruler of the Skies that all my times are in thy hand, ordered by his wise decree.

As we pray regarding various situations that we face let us remember that God has our best interests at heart because he cares for us....

                                                                      Signed, kaps

Be still....

This is one of the many posts tucked away and hidden in my journal. Decided to post it up here because it keeps coming up, be it in a song I’m listening to or someone sharing something with me or my devotions. Also, it has been a constant struggle lately. I want to take control of almost anything, worry about everything and am learning to tell myself to rest, rest in HIM.   The message remains the same, “be still”. So I did a little research, read some commentaries and thought I share their thoughts here.

Psalm 46:10a- be still and know that I am God.

Exodus 14:14- the LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.

 Mathew Henry says;

God brings us into straits that he may bring us to our knees. It is always our duty and interest when we cannot get out of troubles, yet to get above our fears; let them quicken our prayers and endeavors but not silence our hope and faith. Stand still, think not to save yourselves either by fighting or flying, wait on Gods orders and observe them. Compose yourself by Gods confidence in God into peaceful thoughts of the great salvation God is about to work for you. If God brings people into straits he will find a way to bring them out.

Mathew Poole puts it a little differently;

Ye shall contribute nothing to your victory, neither by your words nor by your deeds. This signifies cessation from speech and action too, cease your murmuring against the Lord.

God purposefully designs our weak places and assigns them to us. When we feel ourselves trapped in them we can be deeply discouraged, panicky or even angry. God’s purposes in such experiences are typically not clear to us at first. Things just look like he has made a huge mistake or he is capricious. But he is neither. At first it does not feel like great mercy but later, sometimes much later, we discover it was a gift of measureless mercy. And then God really becomes our song.

                                         Lord teach us to be still....

                                                                   As always, k