He Leads Those Who Seek

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor. – (James 4:10, NLT)

Be humble before the Lord, and He will make you great. – (James 4:10, ERV)

Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet. – (James 4:10, MSG)

 

God’s economy is far different from our own. He lifts up those who recognize their desperate need for Him, and shows His strength and goodness to those who earnestly seek the Lord. A trip to Minnesota was not expected nor anticipated, yet when we discovered the need to be here and realized that with God, all things are possible, each step was paved and all that we needed has been provided. I am in awe of the beauty that surrounds us, and am excited to see what He will do in the hearts and lives of all of the extended family that is gathering to be present for my Viking’s father. May we ever humbly seek the Lord in all things, as He is the One who sets our feet on the path that He has prepared, and provides all that is needed to navigate according to His good and perfect will.

When we come to God,

and humbly seek;

He hears all our cries,

gives strength where we’re weak.

God creates a way,

where it seems there’s none;

He shows us His love,

’til each day is done.

So let us choose pray,

in humility;

for God makes a way,

our stability.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we humbly seek You, You meet us where we are and lift us up to do what You call us to do. Thank You that You are our strength in all things, and that You make a way where there seems to be no way. Forgive us for not getting down on our knees to present our needs. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would seek You in all things, as You are the One who will lead us and grant us strength. Show us how to love those around us well, so that they too, may come to know that You are the God who hears our every heart cry, and You answer those who earnestly seek You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You and trust You to lead and guide us as we go. Amen.

 

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

Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. – James 5:13

Persistent Pursuit

“What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” – (Luke 18:41-42, NLT)

 

“What do you want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, I want to see again.” Jesus said to him, “You can see now. You are healed because you believed.” – (Luke 18:41-42, ERV)

 

Jesus: What do you want Me to do for you?

Blind Man: Lord, let me receive my sight.

Jesus: Receive your sight; your faith has made you well. – (Luke 18:41-42, VOICE)

 

I so appreciate this story about the blind beggar and his exchange with Jesus that led to his healing. The blind man could have sat in silence and kept to himself, yet, he had heard word of this man, Jesus, who had healed others. Somehow, in the depth of his heart, the blind man realized that he had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Hope gave him strength of heart and voice to keep calling out to Jesus from the side of the road, despite the disciples and passersby attempt to keep him quiet. When Jesus saw the persistence of the blind man, He stopped and gave him His undivided attention. In a brief, but intentional exchange, Jesus asked the man what he wanted, and healed him because he had believed. Imagine if we called out to Jesus in the same way… May we go to God without hesitation, trusting that He has the power to do insurmountably more than we could ever hope or imagine as we surrender ourselves and our need to Him.

 

When we go to God, 

And choose to believe;

He moves mightily,

As grace is received.

For if we ask not,

How can we receive?

It is by our faith,

We learn to believe.

All that is required,

Is but a small seed;

For hope to grow faith,

God grants what we need.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You hear our cries for Your help, and You are ready to meet our needs. Thank You that all that is required of us is faithful pursuit of You. Forgive us for allowing what we see or think we know about our circumstances or those around us to get in the way of our asking in faith. Teach us to trust You more, as You are far greater than anything that we face. Show us how to love those around us in a way that grants hope and strength, so that they too see the hope that is held in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we persistently pursue You with unflappable faith. 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 23:6

Rise in Hope

I wake before the dawn and call for help; I hope in Your words. – (Psalm 119:147, VOICE)

I get up early in the morning to pray to You. I trust what You say. – (Psalm 119:147, ERV)

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in Your word. – (Psalm 119:147, NIV)

 

The stillness of the early morning provides the perfect place to pray and set my heart right for the day. When I wake, I am able to direct my mind to my Maker, and allow the truth of His word to cover my countenance before I have a single interaction with another soul. Though I am human and flawed, this practice of seeking space grants me grace that I would not otherwise have, and likely saves many middle school students from responses they’d rather not hear. My patience is still pressed and my buttons still pushed, yet the capacity to extend grace and forgiveness is exponentially greater because my heart is held in His hands. God is good, and He is faithful to answer each request for help that we reach heavenward. His word is trustworthy and true, and we can count on Him no matter what comes our way. May we ever remember to call on Him for help when we rise, trusting that He will be our help throughout each new day.

 

Early each morning,

I choose rise and pray;

It sets heart and mind,

With grace for the day.

I call to the Lord,

For help He provides;

I trust in His word,

It helps, leads and guides.

Let all of our hope,

In the Lord God rest;

For He hears our cries,

And leads and loves best.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we seek You in the early morning, You are present and listening – ready to answer. Thank You that we can trust You and Your every word. Forgive us for not seeking You at the start of our day, or for lacking faith in Your word. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will rise and seek Your help – ever placing our trust in You and what You have spoken. Show us how to love those around us well, so that they might see Your faithfulness through our love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You in the morning and hope in You all day long. 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

Where Good Comes From

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts shifting shadows. – (James 1:17, NLT)

Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from Him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same. – (James 1:17, ERV)

Every good gift bestowed, every perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights. He is consistent. He won’t change His mind or play tricks in the shadows. – (James 1:17, VOICE)

 

All that is good, all that is lovely, all that is worthy of praise, exists because God gives. The trials and troubles that come are not given by God, but rather occur because sin, brokenness, and free will are part of our reality. Even in the midst of our struggles, God is still good, and remains present with us. As the days grow longer, it is a tangible reminder that He is the Father of lights. He times the sun to rise and set, and paints brilliant colors in the process. On dreary days, light still appears, and then darkness returns at day’s end. Just as the coming of a new day is consistent, so too is our God. He doesn’t take time off, nor does He neglect the cries of His people. When we call on Him, He hears. May we ever give praise for every good and perfect gift that comes from God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

 

Every good gift,

That comes from above;

Is given to us,

In God’s perfect love.

The Father of lights,

Continues to show;

How faithful His love,

So our hearts may know.

He never changes,

His love shall remain;

All good gifts from God,

Our hope to now claim.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that every good and perfect gift comes from You. Thank You that You are the Father of lights, and that You do not change nor try to trick us like the light of shifting shadows. Forgive us for forgetting how very faithful and consistent You are. Teach us to give You thanks for every good gift, and to seek Your help in times of trouble. Show us how to love well, all those whom You place in our lives. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we appreciate every good and perfect gift from You, and seek You in all things. Amen.

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

They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness. – Psalm 145:7

Close to Those Who Call

The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth. – (Psalm 145:18, NLT)

The Lord is near to everyone who sincerely calls to Him for help. – (Psalm 145:18, ERV)

God’s there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it. – (Psalm 145:18, MSG)

 

God does not force His way into our lives, but rather waits lovingly, to be invited. When we get real with God and honestly call on Him, He hears our cries and comes close to be our help and our hope. The more we know Him, the greater our understanding becomes of our own need. Yes, we need the Lord to strengthen and help us in times of trial and trouble, but we also need His nearness to navigate our every day lives according to His will. May we call on the Lord in truth as we recognize our need for His ongoing nearness.

 

The Lord He is close,

To all who choose call;

In transparent truth,

Choose tell the Lord all.

For He will listen,

To all those who pray;

Peace and His presence,

As He shows the way.

So call on the Lord,

In all times and things;

His help is our hope,

As only God brings.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are near to all who call on You in truth. Thank You that as we sincerely pray, You hear our cries and come close to help and bring hope. Forgive us for not trusting You enough to cry out to You in our need. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would call on You in all things and at all times, as we need You, always. Show us how to love those around us in such a way, that they might see the hope we hold in You. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we pray to You with sincere hearts, and know Your nearness as You are faithful to answer. 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

Hope Postponed

Hope postponed grieves the heart… – (Proverbs 13:12a, NLT)

 

I know far too many folks who are in the midst of a season of grief. The hope that they had held, seems to be slipping away. Such enormous grief accompanies the loss of something that was held in hope for so long, that to the one who is grieving, it feels as if the weight will never relent. As one who has walked through that space of postponed hope and overwhelming grief, I can attest to the promise that He hears and provides comfort as He loves us back to life once again. Where hope was buried in the burden of pain, God gave comfort and restored the hope that was all but lost. One breath at a time, one moment, one hour, one day… Each a provision of the hand of the Lord to restore what was lost and broken, as He continually loved. May our prayer mirror that of Psalm 10:17, that states, “Lord, You know the hopes of the helpless. Surely You will hear their cries and comfort them.”

 

When death’s ugly door,

Stares you in the face;

There’s nowhere to run,

No place that seems safe.

Yet despite hope lost,

We may rest assured;

When we are in Christ,

Our hope is secured.

No matter the height,

Nor depth that we fall;

In Christ there is hope,

To overcome all.

For He is our Rock,

Redeemer and friend;

Pulls us from the pit,

With us to the end.

Though sorrow may come,

Our hope shall remain;

Forever in Christ,

As we trust His Name.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that despite how we feel, our hope remains in You. Thank You that in the midst of trials, grief and struggles, You are our anchor that keeps us secure. Thank You that You hear every cry and provide comfort to those who call on You. Forgive us for losing sight of hope in You when our grief is great. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would rely on the truth of what is known, rather than what is simply seen. Show us how to love others in such a way, that they would come to know that there is always hope in You who hears every cry. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we call on You for comfort in our grief, and seek You in our struggles. Be our hope to hold forever, Lord God. Amen.

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

When times are good, be happy. – Ecclesiastes 7:14

To Persist in Prayer

Sometimes, it feels as if we are crying out in vain. Our prayers may feel unheard, as they seemingly go unanswered. Like the Gentile woman who was seeking healing for her daughter before Jesus, we too must humble ourselves at His feet, and persistently pray, trusting that He is able to do abundantly more than we could hope or request.

 

As the woman responded to Jesus when He implied that He was not there fore the Gentiles, her answer in faith, moved Him to action. Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. – (Matthew 15:28)

 

May humility and perseverance fuel our faithful prayers, as Christ sees and hears all that we ask in His Name.

 

When prayers feel unheard,

we’re called to press on;

trust He is faithful,

may our hope be strong.

For He hears our cries,

each request we make;

the Lord is for us,

He moves for our sake.

He sees and He knows,

the faith that we hold;

and heals where we hurt,

to help make us bold.

Let us each go forth,

and share what He’s done;

our faithful Father,

His Spirit and Son.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we do not always see You moving on our behalf, You hear our prayers and are doing far more than we could even begin to imagine. Thank You that You consider us faithful, when we are persistent in prayer. Forgive us for lacking the fortitude to stay in the fight when all around us seems to fail. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will persistently pray in faith, trusting that You hear and are doing abundantly more than we can see or understand. Lead us to love others with Your relentless love, and help many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we faithfully persist in prayer, even when we cannot see any answers on the horizon. 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

He Upholds

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. – (Psalm 145:14)

 

Though at times, our burdens seem to be more than we can bear, the Lord is faithful to uphold us. As we submit all things unto Him, He is faithful to meet us where we are, and will grant us the strength necessary to carry on. Christ keeps us on our feet when we fear the path is unsure, and remains with us, every step of the way. When we stumble, He is standing beside us, ready to take our hand, lift us up, dust us off, and lead us on in the direction we are meant to go. May we seek Him with our whole hearts, and allow the Lord to direct our steps.

 

When we fall down,

Christ comes along side;

His loving arms,

extended out wide.

He reaches out,

to lift us back up;

remains present,

again fills our cup.

Submitted hearts,

are held by our King;

He hears our cries,

and each offering.

The greatest weight,

is one we can bear;

as Christ meets us,

and provides His care.

So seek Christ first,

submit all to Him;

the gracious One,

shines light where it’s dim.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You uphold us when our burdens seem more than we can bear, and that You lift us up and help carry us, as we submit all unto You. Thank You that You are our help and our hope, and that we need not fear nor flee the difficult, but rather we can depend on You in the spaces that You have called us. Forgive us for our desire to run or give up when the going gets too tough, and help us to lean all the more into You. Teach us to trust You completely in all things and at all times, as You are faithful always. May we love without reservation, and walk freely in the light of Your love. Let many come to know You as we do. Be glorified, O God, as we seek and rely on You in all things and at all times. 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 23:6

Waiting On a Promise

Moses is remembered as a mighty man of faith, yet his journey between the promise and its fulfillment, was not an easy one.  It all began well, as God appeared to Moses in a burning bush, and spoke to him personally.  God told him He had heard the cries of his people, and that “He had come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey – the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.” – (Exodus 3:8) 

What God next told Moses, however, brought up Moses’ own insecurities, and made him question God.  God told Moses that He was sending him to Pharaoh to bring His people out of Egypt, so Moses started asking questions.  At first, the questions seemed practical and reasonable, yet soon, they revealed his own insecurities about his ability to speak publicly.  In fact, Moses then said, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” – (Exodus 4:13) God was none too pleased with Moses’ response, yet chose to answer his request by allowing his brother, Aaron, to partner with him in this endeavor.

Once Moses and Aaron had met up, and Aaron too had heard the charge from God, they went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord had asked them to do.  Pharaoh did not exactly agree to what they asked.  In fact, it seemed as if the promise that had been spoken, was even farther off than it had been prior to their powwow with Pharaoh.  “Moses returned to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people?  Is this why you sent me?” – (Exodus 5:22)

Isn’t it easy for us to do the same thing?  A promise is spoken, or a dream discovered, and we expect the fulfillment – the fruition to be found – immediately.  Often, there is a long and arduous road in between a promise and it’s fulfillment.  Our character is shaped and developed, as we overcome obstacles and learn to trust Him more.  As we learn from the Israelites, grumbling in said deserts, often delays the promise all the more…

A promise spoken,

the birth of a dream;

hope that is chosen,

God’s blessing, it’d seem.

Then comes the waiting,

and patience grows dim;

weariness finds us,

don’t let darkness in.

The doubt and the fear,

lay each of them down;

fix eyes on the Lord,

where fulfillment’s found.

Despite what is seen,

continue to trust;

for what He has said,

will be done for us.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are faithful to do what You say You will do.  Thank You that Your timing is not our timing, nor Your ways, our ways.  Thank You that You are patient and kind, and that You lovingly lead us where You call us to go, even if it takes years of wandering in the desert to reach the promised place of peace.  Forgive us for our doubts, fears, and our grumbling, and help us to trust completely, despite what we see.  Make us aware of Your persistent presence, and help us to be satisfied in knowing that You are at work in us.  May we live in faith and love with trust, so that others may see You in us.  Let those who are looking, come to know You as their Savior, soon.  Be glorified, even in our waiting.  Amen.

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

Worry’s Worth

When trouble comes, or difficulty is looming ahead, it is in our own strength, impossible not to worry about what we are meant to do, or how to see things through.  However, when we slow down and give it to God (through earnestly seeking Him), we are better able to gain His perspective, and worry seems to give way to faith.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” – (Luke 12:25)

Worry, according to dictionary.com, is to torment or harass with cares, anxieties or trouble.  Interesting word choice, as it sounds much like what we are told is the objective of the enemy of our soul.  That being said, the antonym for worry, is reassurance, which essentially, means FAITH.  Faith is found when our relationship with the Lord is sound.  The more we know Him, the more we are assured of His goodness, faithfulness, and His promises to never leave us nor forsake us – the very things that combat worry.

Worry not,

when troubles come;

great is He,

the Faithful One.

Cast your cares,

unto the Lord;

trust in Him,

all faith afford.

No good comes,

where worry lies;

anxiousness,

defeated cries.

By His strength,

victory gained;

perspective,

in Him, remain.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the Overcoming One.  Thank You that we can cast all our cares upon You, and trust in You – reassured that You are faithful to Your promise to be present and provide what is needed to see us through.  Thank You that You are always good, and that You can use every circumstance for our ultimate good – even when it seems no good will ever be found.  Forgive us for our worrying ways, and help us to press into You.  May faith rise up and silence the whispers of worry that try to freeze our hearts with fear.  Help us to walk confidently by faith in You, and may many come to know the blessed assurance that is found through faith in You.  Let those who are looking, be led into the safety of Your loving grace.  Be glorified through the love lived out in the lives of we, Your people.  Amen.

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