The Shepherd speaks to us personally – by name. He knows us inside and out. And when He speaks, it’s in the language of our own personal lives, through a verse or passage of Scripture that just seems to leap up off the page with our name on it.
Again and again God has seemed to speak to me through the pages of my Bible, giving me the secret to restoring love in my marriage when it had run out, reassuring me of my son’s recovery to health before his cancer surgery, directing me again and again in the expansion and priorities in ministry, leading me out of one church and into another. In fact, I do not make a major decision, especially one involving others, without a specific word from my Shepherd.
God speaks personally – are you listening?
His mercy is on those who fear Him.
Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
If you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. § The Lord is near to all who call upon Him … in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
“Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord … and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. § On this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word. § The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.
Luke 1:50; Ps. 31:19–20; 1 Peter 1:17;
Ps. 145:18–19; 2 Kings 22:19; Isa. 66:2; Ps. 34:18
Those who honor Me I will honor.
Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer … Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. § Praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1 Sam. 2:30; Matt. 10:32, 10:37–39; James 1:12; Rev. 2:10; 2 Cor. 4:17; 1 Peter 1:7
We all have dreams of what home should be like. . . . Do you dream of a home with love and laughter and loyalty, with family and fun and freedom?
Do you dream of a home where you are accepted, encouraged, and challenged, forgiven, understood, and comforted?
There is hope! The home you’ve always wanted, the home you continue to long for with all your heart, is the home God is preparing for you! As John gazed at a vision of the glory of Jesus Christ . . . , he stood in awed wonder of “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1,NIV). What he saw was confirmed by the words of One Who was seated on the throne: “I am making everything new!” Imagine it: One day, in the dream home of My Father’s House, everything will be brand-new and you will live in the home of your dreams!
The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Your lamb shall be without blemish. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you. § The blood of sprinkling. § Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. § Being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God. § According to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
Rev. 13:8; Ex. 12:5–7, 13; Heb. 12:24; 1 Cor. 5:7;
Acts 2:23; 2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 1:7; 1 Peter 4:1–2
I have trodden the winepress alone.
Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? § He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. § [He] Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree. § Having become a curse for us.
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. § Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. § He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.
O my soul, march on in strength! § We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. § They overcame … by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.
Isa. 63:3; Ex. 15:11; Isa. 59:16; 1 Peter 2:24;
Gal. 3:13; Ps. 98:1; Col. 2:15; Isa. 53:11; Judg. 5:21; Rom. 8:37; Rev. 12:11
God Himself is not in a sunset or in an act of human compassion any more than an artist is in his painting or a musician is in his music. You and I may see reflections of the artist’s or musician’s personality in his work, but the person himself is separate from it. Likewise, you may see the reflection of God’s personality in a sunset or in an act of compassion, but He Himself is not in either one. He is separate from His Creation. What an important truth! This means:
When something is wrong, He can right it.
When something is broken, He can mend it.
When something is lost, He can find it.
When something doesn’t work, He can fix it.
When something is hurt, He can heal it.
My failures, sins, mistakes, and shortcomings – and yours – in no way dilute or deplete or weaken or harm God!
