Ever Be

But You are always the same; You will live forever. – (Psalm 102:27, NLT)

But You never change. You will live forever! – (Psalm 102:27, ERV)

But You are the same, You will never change; Your years will never come to an end. – (Psalm 102:27, VOICE)

 

As I read the various versions of this particular passage, song lyrics began to play through my mind immediately. The song, Ever Be, by Aaron Shust, has a line that kept repeating over and over as I took in the truth – “Faithful You have been and faithful You will be…” God is always the same and will not change. His love and faithfulness for us, remain for all time. Before the world began, He was. Long after life as we know it ceases, He will be. The constant is God. When everything that surrounds us seems to be swirling out of control, the one true thing that shall always remain, is who God is and how He loves. He is the anchor of our soul, and the One on whom we can always depend. May we ever trust in the Lord, for He is good and loving and kind, and His faithfulness will never end.

 

For You never change, 

You’re always the same;

Faithful forever,

We trust in Your Name.

Though we are all born,

And will one day die;

You are forever,

Hope never denied.

Help us always seek,

You, our faithful Lord;

All praise be to You,

The One we adore.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are always the same, and that Your Kingdom knows no end. Thank You that Your faithfulness is forever, and we can trust in You. Forgive us for thinking that You are fickle like us, that You would somehow change Your mind. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would readily believe and receive all that You have for us, as You are faithful forever. Show us how to love others with the same faithfulness that You give to us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we give You praise for all of our days that You never change and that Your years shall not ever end. 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

Hold On to the Faith You Have

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. – (Revelation 3:11, NLT)

I am coming soon. Hold on to the faith you have, so that no one can take away your crown. – (Revelation 3:11, ERV)

 

Our hope is found in Christ alone. What we have is the security in knowing that no matter what happens in the here and now, our ultimate destination is assured if we have given our heart to Him. There are days that faith is the only thing that we have to hold, as what is seen seems to dictate anything other than hope. However, when we know the Lord and have seen the work of His hand in our lives, we can trust His word to be true and hold fast to the faith that we have come to know. May we trust in the One who has given us life and breath, as He will be the One to ultimately lead us home.

 

The God of all grace, 

Has promised to us;

A future secure,

Through our Lord Jesus.

The part that’s required,

Is we must hold fast;

To the faith we know,

For His word shall last.

If to Christ we’re true,

Hold tight to what’s found;

Our future’s secure,

As is kingdom crown.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in You, our future is secure. Thank You that we have faith for today and hope for tomorrow. Thank You that we are called sons and daughters when we choose to follow You. Thank You that no one can take away our faith. Forgive us for being fickle or wavering in our walk with You. Teach us to trust You in all things, so that we hold fast to all that we have in You. Show us how to love others with the same grace and fervor by which You love us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we hold on to what we have in You forever. Amen.

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

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. – 2 Corinthians 3:5

Trust in Love that Lasts

Know now then that the Lord your God is the only true God! He is the faithful God, who keeps the covenant and proves loyal to everyone who loves Him and keeps His commands – even to the thousandth generation! – (Deuteronomy 7:9, CEB)

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands. – (Deuteronomy 7:9, NLT)

So remember that the Lord your God is the only God, and you can trust Him! He keeps His agreement. He shows His love and kindness to all people who love Him and obey His commands. He continues to show His love and kindness through a thousand generations. – (Deuteronomy 7:9, ERV)

 

There is one God, and He is faithful, loving, loyal and kind. We can trust Him to be who He says He is, and to do what He says He will do. The Lord commands us to love Him and love people, and in exchange, He shows His love and kindness to us for all of our days. It does not mean that our lives will be easy, but He will always remain with us – present and prepared to provide peace, patience, strength and stamina for every situation that life brings. His love fills us when we are empty, and supplies what we need to navigate our days according to His good and perfect will. May we ever place our trust in God who is faithful forever, and do all we can to obey what He asks of us. Let His love and kindness be evident in our every word and deed.

 

May we understand,

That God is the Lord;

There’s just One who’s true,

Let our hearts adore.

He is so worthy,

Of all of our trust;

Faithful forever,

So obey, we must.

His commands are good,

They show us the way;

To love as He loves,

As we trust each day.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we love You and obey Your commands, You are faithful to keep Your promises and loyal to lavish Your unfailing love and kindness upon us forever. Thank You that You are the only God, and that we can trust in You. Forgive us for being fickle in our faithfulness, as Your faithfulness is unwavering. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would seek You and depend on You in all things and at all times, as You alone are our Source and Supply. Show us how to love You and love people as You are calling us to love. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, as they recognize how loyal and lavish Your love truly is for all who call on Your Name. Be glorified O God, as we trust and obey You with all that we are. 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 Won’t Take It Back

For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn. – (Romans 11:29, NLT)

God never changes His mind about the people He calls. He never decides to take back the blessings He has given them. – (Romans 11:29, ERV)

You see, when God gives a grace gift and issues a call to a people, He does not change His mind and take it back. – (Romans 11:29, VOICE)

 

When God calls us and equips us to do that which we are designed to do, He does not change His mind and ask us to change direction. As broken and fallible humans, we often interpret difficulties we face as either a change in His plan, or a removal of His equipping us to do that which we thought we had been called to do. God is not like man that He changes His mind. What He calls us to, He empowers and equips us to do – despite hardship and adversity. Our charge is to persevere and continue to trust Him, even when all that surrounds us no longer seems to make sense. His plans and His ways are far higher and greater than our own, so it doesn’t matter what we see, but rather what we believe that is essential. May we rise up and trust the Lord in all that He has called us to do; for He is for us and He will not remove the gifts that He has given to go forward, nor will He change His mind about us being a part of His plan.

 

The Lord is gracious,

Vandy Massey Watercolor

Gifts given are good;

Granted for purpose,

His call, understood.

To all we are called,

He also equips;

Gives us what we need,

Trust relationship.

He’ll never take back,

Nor choose change His mind;

For what the Lord gives,

We always shall find.

Blessings flow freely,

Of His love and grace;

As we keep moving,

In this lifelong race.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are not like mankind – for You are not fickle nor foolish, and You do not change Your mind. Thank You that when You call us, You equip us, and You do not withdraw either the call nor the gifts granted to move forward, regardless of our decision to stand. Forgive us for our foolishness that would doubt You and the calling and gifts that You place in each of us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would continue to move confidently in the direction to which You have called, trusting that You will walk beside us, lead and guide us, no matter what surrounds us or stands before us. Show us how to love others in the same way that we are loved by You, as Your loving kindness grants us the courage and strength necessary to keep moving in the direction to which we have been called. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust the steadfastness of all that You are and all that You give, as You remain the same both now and forever. 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

 

Trust in Consistency

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. – (Hebrews 13:8, NLT)

 

Knowing that Christ is consistent provides peace and comfort, regardless of what we are going through. Though our circumstances will change, Jesus will not. We can trust in the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father, as His presence is not conditional and grace is not given based on our goodness. Once we place our trust in the Lord, He comes and dwells in us, and lovingly leads us in the ways in which we are meant to go. Christ is not fickle and will not say one thing and do another, nor will He change His mind. We can trust that what He says, He will do, and the places we’re called He will help us break through. May we trust completely in He who is faithful forever, who loves relentlessly and without wavering, regardless of how we come before Him.

 

True and unchanging,

how great is our God;

faithful forever,

let all hearts applaud.

The love of Jesus,

that was yesterday;

remains forever,

it‘s the same always.

His love – relentless,

kind, faithful and true;

draws us unto Him,

in all that we do.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You do not change – that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. Thank You that when we come to You and place our trust in You, we are Yours. Thank You that our adoption as Your children cannot be revoked because we don’t do enough or aren’t somehow good enough, but rather we are enough, because we are Yours. Forgive us for forgetting just how consistent and faithful You are. Teach us to trust You in all things and at all times, as You are always present and available to all who call on Your Name. Show us how to faithfully extend Your loving kindness and grace to all those around us, so that many may choose to follow after You. Be glorified O God, as we trust in the consistency and faithfulness that is found in You forever, and share the same with all whom we encounter. Amen.

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

Shout aloud and sing for joy. – Isaiah 12:6