To Be On Our Guard

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. – (1 Corinthians 16:13)

 

These are weighty and wise words by which we are meant to live. To be on our guard, means that we are aware of what is around us – the things that are influencing us and affecting us, and taking a posture of readiness. Standing firm in the faith requires us to know what we believe. In order for that to happen, we must invest time in the Word and in prayer. The more we invest in knowing God, the more secure we can stand when storms come our way. Courage and strength are gifts that God supplies as we need them most. Even when we don’t necessarily feel courageous nor strong, when we choose to do the next right thing, or take the next obedient step, we are actually operating in His courage and strength. Finally, to do everything in love, is to allow the Lord to flavor all that we do. Let nothing be out of selfish ambition nor with malicious intent, but rather to love as Christ first loved us. When we have to take a stand or step back from spaces that are toxic, even then, there is room to do so in love. If we are listening to the Lord and allowing Him to direct our steps, we can trust that He will work all things out for good. May we each be on our guard; standing firm in our faith; as men and women of courage and strength, as we do all things in His love.

 

To be on our guard,

means we are aware;

of what we take in,

and what is out there.

We must choose stand firm,

in faith to what’s true;

as we seek the Lord,

for He makes us new.

Both courage and strength,

are gifts from the Lord;

granted as needed,

blessings He affords.

So may we each do,

all we do in love;

so hearts may be turned,

to the Lord above.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You give us direction in Your Word as to how we are meant to live life as You intended. Thank You that in all that You ask, You provide what is needed to do as You call us to do. Thank You that You equip us to be on guard and stand firm in our faith, as You give us courage and strength to do all things in love. Forgive us for being unaware of that which surrounds us, or for being deaf to that which You are speaking to our hearts. Teach us to trust You more, so that we may hear You well, and embrace the courage and strength that You supply so that we go forth doing everything You ask in love. Lead us to love as You love us, and may many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we are on our guard, standing firm in the faith with Your courage and strength to do all things in love. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

For the Lord your God will bless you, …and your joy will be complete. – Deuteronomy 16:15

Do Not Be Moved

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. – (1 Corinthians 15:58)

 

Whatever He calls us to, we are meant to stick to; for He calls us with purpose and has a plan for each of us. When we know that to which we are called, we are meant to give ourselves fully to the task, as whatever we do, is unto Him. Anything that we do unto the Lord, is not done in vain. May we stand firm in Christ’s strength, allowing nothing to move us from the place to which He has called us.

 

Let us each stand firm,

may we not be swayed;

by life’s distractions,

lest we’ll be afraid.

For when we’re in Christ,

we shall not be moved;

steadfast to the course,

that He leads us to.

Let’s fully invest,

to what the Lord calls;

for all unto Him,

His strength He installs.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in You, we may stand firm and not be moved. Thank You that as we give ourselves fully to that which You call us to, our investments of time, talent, and treasure are not in vain. Thank You that the risk is always worth the reward, even if it is not seen until we see You face-to-face. Forgive us for our lack of firm footing or our half-heartedness in that which we are called to do. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will stand firm and do all things fully as unto You, so that we may honor You in the process. Lead us to love others well, so that they may see You through us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, Lord. Be glorified O God, as we stand firm and whole-heartedly invest in all that You call us to do. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Father, I thank You that You have heard me. – John 11:41

His Perfect Peace

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. – (1 Corinthians 14:33)

 

Though in context, Paul was speaking to the church in Corinth about order during worship services, the same reality is true for our lives. God does not intend for us to carry on in constant chaos, rather His plan, regardless of mountains we must climb or valleys we are meant to cross, includes order and peace. He is the calm in the storm and light in the darkness. With Christ, order is restored and peace shall reign. No matter what comes, His peace is possible when we choose to rely on Him. May we look to the Lord in all things at all times, and allow His peace to reign as He orders our days.

 

For God’s not a God,

of chaos at all;

His plan includes peace,

for us, lest we fall.

No matter what comes,

the Lord shall provide;

the calm in the storm,

with Him by our side.

We need never fear,

but rather, just trust;

for our God of peace,

is the Lord with us.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are not a God of disorder, but rather You are the God of perfect peace. Thank You that no matter what we face, You are present, and You provide peace, even when it seems there should be none. Thank You that Your plans are good and that You provide order even when all seems to be swirling about us. Forgive us for our fear when chaos seems to reign, and help us to trust You more. Teach us to cling to You, as You restore order and peace in the places where turmoil tries to take over. Lead us to listen and love others as we are called, and may many come into a saving relationship with You. Be glorified O God as we seek Your order in the storms and Your peace in the perilous places. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. – Psalm 34:8

Staying the Course

There are times when the Lord leads us to a space of unknowns. It is dark and terrifying and without Him, we know not where to go. However, the Lord is good and His plans for us are good. He leads us to freedom, where we had once been held captive, and strength, where we had previously been with none. Though it may be a long and arduous journey, His path for our lives leads to perfection. Knowing how the story ends is enough to hold fast to the hope that is found in Christ alone. Because the nature of God has been made known, we can respond to these spaces of darkness just as David did.

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in You.” – (Psalm 39:7)

May faith rise in us as we face our spaces of unknowns, and the Lord’s strength be ours as we trust in Him.

Lord, in the darkness,

Your hope is my light;

when facing unknown,

Your love fends off fright.

For You are so good,

and You never change;

though obstacles come,

Your path You’ll make plain.

Please lead us, Lord God,

no matter the fears;

remind us again,

that You are so near.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You alone are whom we should look for, as You are where our hope is assured. Thank You that though there will be legs of our journey that are long and difficult, You will never leave us nor forsake us, and in the end, perseverance will have been worthwhile. Forgive us for our fears in the face of adversity and unknowns, and help us to fix our eyes on You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will look to You, no matter what lies before us. Lead us to love others in such a way, that they too, will fix their eyes on You. May many come into a saving relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we stay the course to which we are called. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 25:6

God Within Her

I have been in a seemingly long and wearying season. This is my busiest time of year, and the constant chaos tends to take its toll. God is ALWAYS faithful to meet me each morning, and His strength and grace sustain me through my days. That being said, the very thought of this day, is a bit overwhelming. After such a long week, I am ready to fast forward to the weekend. As I read my scheduled reading plan, there was really nothing that was standing out. My typical default in such times, is to turn to the Psalms. No sooner had I turned back the pages, did the following verse stand out as if it were in bold type: God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at the break of day. – (Psalm 46:5)

 

Today, I will hold fast to this word, for He is within me and will not allow me to fall. He is with me as I rise, and remains present wherever I go. The Lord is my strength and my song, even in chaos and weariness. It never ceases to amaze me how He chooses to remind us just how much He loves us. Even as I look back over this past week, I am in awe at having received several texts from friends that were very encouraging; some of which were from friends who had no idea that the week had been such a crazy busy one. Just as He is with me, keeping me from falling, so too, is He with you. He is our help and our hope from the moment we rise to when we close our eyes, at our day’s end. May we each hold fast to the promise of His faithful presence, and trust in His unfailing love.

 

The Lord is present,

He’ll not let us fall;

from when we first rise,

He stays through it all.

God is ever near,

no matter what comes;

from the break of day,

to the setting sun.

His strength is enough,

to trust for today;

embrace what is true,

let Christ lead the way.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we place our trust in You, You are within us and will keep us from falling. Thank You that You are our ever present help, from the break of day to the setting sun. Thank You that there is no limit to Your goodness and faithfulness. Forgive us for forgetting that all of the strength that we need dwells within us, in You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will rely on You and Your provision for all that we need each day. Help us to live and love in such a way, that others come to know Your love and faithfulness. Be glorified O God, as we go forth in Your strength, remembering that You are within us, providing what we need for this day. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things.  Who, O God, is like You? – Psalm 71:19

To Stay the Course

As Joshua’s life was drawing to a close, he gathered together the leaders of Israel and admonished them with words of warning and wisdom. He reminded them of God’s faithfulness to them, and of the promises that were present if they would continue to walk in all of the Lord’s ways. “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.” – (Joshua 23:6)

 

For us, Jesus fulfilled the Law, yet we are still charged with much of the same. We are called to be strong in the Lord, and to not turn away from His will for our lives. Our strength to stay the course is not innately ours, but rather comes from Christ when we seek Him as our help and our hope. May we go forth this day encouraged in the Lord’s strength, to stay the course to which we are called.

 

Be strong in the Lord,

and choose to obey;

no turning aside,

from His path, don’t stray.

For we have been called,

equipped and made strong;

to do all He asks,

for our whole life long.

May we ever seek,

the God of all grace;

and serve the Lord well,

’til we see His face.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that our strength comes from You alone. Thank You that our ability to stay the course to which we are called is not our own, but rather a gift that is given by You when we seek You. Forgive us for attempting to muscle our way through things on our own, and help us to completely depend on You. Teach us to trust You more, as You are the Source that is safe and secure. Lead us to love well, so that many may be encouraged to follow after You. Be exalted O God, as we stay the course to which we are called in the strength that You provide. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Listen… be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. – Proverbs 23:19

Constructive Permission

“Everything is permissible” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is constructive. – (1 Corinthians 10:23)

 

There are many things that are neither good nor bad, they just are. For some, they bring forth benefit, yet for others, they can lead to detriment. These gray areas are the places where the rubber meets the road and we must rely on the Holy Spirit, and listen to His instructions for us, individually. What is acceptable and reasonable for one, may be unacceptable and off limits for another; not because God has a double standard, but because He knows where each heart goes when we partake in various fodder and festivities. May we each seek the Lord and His direction in all that we do, being sensitive to the Spirit’s leading, so that we partake only in the permissible things that are beneficial for us, individually.

 

Though much is allowed,

not all things grant gain;

what’s okay for one,

brings another pain.

It matters to God,

that we seek and ask;

understand His will,

prior to a task.

Lord please help us see,

the gray through Your eyes;

so that we are clear,

on “yays” and “denied”.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though all things are permissible, You show us what is not beneficial nor constructive. Thank You that when we ask, You answer. Forgive us for thinking that because something is “permissible” that it is acceptable for us individually without seeking You first. Teach us to trust You enough to come before You in all things and at all times, seeking Your will for all that we do. Help us to hear You clearly and to obey what You ask. Lead us to love others, just as You so perfectly have loved each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, Lord. Be exalted O God, as we partake in only that which You deem permissible for us individually. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

I thank and praise You, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power. – Daniel 2:23

To Run With A Race Plan

For me, running has been a parallel to my Christian walk. Some runners jump out of the gate with enthusiasm and train hard for a short season. Some burn out before they even attain their goal of reaching race day, while others arrive on race day, run, then are over it. Then there are those of us who recognize the need for consistency over time. Accountability and a buddy help too. When discipline and decision enter in, and training is turned into a lifestyle, running becomes a part of who you are, rather than something you once did.

 

Our faith walk is the same way. Some eagerly join Bible studies or participate in activities, yet until there is a commitment to make Christ a priority, time with Him will go by the wayside. When a choice is made to create the intentional time to be with Him, to spend time in His word and in prayer, it becomes a part of who we are, and our day will no longer feel complete without it.

 

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. – (1 Corinthians 9:25)

 

The race we are running is a marathon, not a quick sprint. This race requires purpose and discipline. If we are to gain the crown that lasts forever, we must seek and follow the Lord’s race plan, rather than our own. His plan requires hard work, self-discipline and stamina. However, each of these things He will provide as we are dependent on Him. May we seek the Lord daily and depend on Him as we each run the race He has called us to run.

 

Let’s not grow weary,

in this race we run;

it takes a lifetime,

before it is done.

Training is needed,

to finish our race;

time spent with the Lord,

as we seek His face.

We seek not the crown,

that soon fades away;

but rather the one,

for heaven’s display.

Don’t go it alone,

instead, invest well;

united bodies,

together impel.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us not to a sprint, but to a lifelong race. Thank You that You do not just say “GO” and expect us to figure it all out as we go, but rather You have given us all that we need to run well with endurance, the race You are calling us to run. Thank You for Your word, Your Spirit, and the body of believers that surround us. Forgive us for trying to run ahead of You, or for falling behind, for fear of what lies ahead. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will run our race – that which You have called us to – individually. Lead us to love others well, just as You so wonderfully love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You as they recognize just how faithful You are in each of our lives. Be glorified O God, as we run our race with endurance, trusting You and Your race plan for our every step of the way. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence. – Acts 2:28

Our Provider

We are currently in the midst of a series at church, where my pastor is unpacking the roles of Jesus. Yesterday, the topic of study was Jesus is Our Provider. Among the many names known for the Lord, Jehovah Jirah means, our provider.

 

During Jesus’ time on earth, He proved to be a provider to many. Just after Jesus had learned that His cousin, John, had been beheaded by Herod and was setting out by boat to a solitary place, the crowds followed Him on foot, and in their zeal to see Him, arrived before Him. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. – (Matthew 14:14) More than that, it was on that same occasion that Jesus fed the multitude from five small loaves and two fish. Again, the Lord saw the need of the people, and He provided.

 

God wants us to trust Him with our time, talent and treasure. In return, He gives us enough to sustain us and to give away. Even when it feels like we don’t have what we will need, the Lord wants us to ask Him to provide for each day, and He is faithful to meet us accordingly. When Jesus taught us how to pray, He said to say: “Give us today our daily bread.” – (Matthew 6:11) We are to ask for what is needed today, and let tomorrow worry about itself. For as our day is, so too shall our strength be.

 

And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. – (Philippians 4:19)

 

May we ask of the Lord what is needed for this day, and go forth in faith, trusting that He will provide all that we need, according to His glorious riches.

 

Jehovah Jirah,

our great Provider;

full of compassion,

true hope decider.

For He has taught us,

to choose ask each day;

for what is needed,

come to Him and pray.

Our needs shall be met,

one day at a time;

enough to sustain,

His power divine.

Let’s bring to the Lord,

time, talent, treasure;

and He will pour out,

with lavish measure.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Provider. Thank You that as we pour out, You provide. Thank You as we trust You with our time, talent and treasure, You meet us where we are at, and grant us the strength and supply as each day comes. Thank You that You even taught us how to pray – to ask You each day for that which is needed, one day at a time. Forgive us for worrying about things too far down the road, or for spaces where we are short supplied. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will seek You first, and ask for that which is needed for this day, as we go forth and sow generously with our time, talent and treasure. Lead us to love well all those whom we encounter, just as You so wonderfully love each of us. May many come into a saving relationship with You. Be exalted O God, as we trust all of our time, talent and treasure in Your hands, and seek You for what is needed each day. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me. – Genesis 21:6

Credible Counsel

At times, if we can simply hold fast to the promise of the Lord’s presence and the hope of our future forever with Him, whatever we are facing presently, becomes a bit less overwhelming. Asaph, the writer of the seventy-third Psalm, recognized and declared the truth and his confidence in God’s presence and guidance.

 

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory. – (Psalm 73:23-24)

 

Whether we feel His presence or not, the Lord is with us. He hears our every cry, and He holds us in His hands. Our hope is secure in the safety of our Savior. We need only remember to turn to Him and listen, as He is present and prepared to guide us with wisdom and insight as to which we we are meant to go. May we ever look to the Lord and listen, trusting in His counsel now and the glory that is yet to come.

 

The Lord’s always near,

He’s holding our hand;

guiding with wisdom,

to fulfill His plan.

He’s hope for us now,

and promise to come;

our future glory,

the battle’s been won.

For it matters not,

the trials we face;

for God is with us,

both now and always.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are always with us, holding us up by Your hand. Thank You that You guide us with Your counsel, and that You provide us the hope of the promise of entering the glory of Your presence forever. Forgive us for our fears and failure to recognize Your power and presence within us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we may rise up in Your strength and face whatever comes our way with the courage that comes from You alone. Lead us to love others with the sort of love and care that points people directly to You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we go where You guide us. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; …write them on the tablet of your heart. – Proverbs 3:3