Drawing Strength

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. – (Ephesians 6:10, NIV)

Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you. – (Ephesians 6:10, TLB)

Finally, brothers and sisters, draw your strength and might from God. – (Ephesians 6:10, VOICE)

 

For whatever reason, be it the full moon, the constant fog each morning, spirit week at school, Halloween drawing near – whatever it is, there has been an abundance of energy and distraction in the classroom so far this week, and two days have felt like an entire week. In my own strength, I would have had to tap out about halfway through Monday. However, when I seek the true Source of strength and rely on His power already placed within me, I am equipped and empowered to press on. It does not mean that it is easy or that all is smooth sailing, but it does assure me that He is present and He will not leave me alone, even on the most trying of days. Though yesterday was rough, I had the strength I needed to navigate the day and was slightly less weary than the day prior. As I continue to draw my strength from He who is my strength, I trust that all I need will be supplied. He is faithful forever and I will trust in Him. May we ever be strong in the Lord, who is our strength, for He will grant us what we need to navigate each new day.

 

Let us remember, 

Where true strength comes from;

From when our day starts,

To when it is done.

Faithful forever,

The Lord will be near;

To supply our needs,

Our requests, He hears.

Trust in the Lord’s grace,

His power and might;

The strength that He gives,

To fight the good fight.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that we can call on You to be our strength and You are faithful to supply what we need for each new day. Forgive us for attempting to “power through” on our own, rather than seeking You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would come to know Your faithful provision of power when we feel powerless. Show us how to love those around us in a way that strengthens and lifts up those who are weary. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust in You and Your strength to successfully navigate our days. Amen.

 

 

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

 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:1-2

Do Right and Build Up

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. – (Romans 15:2, NIV)

(We should not do what pleases us) but do what pleases them and is for their good. We should do whatever helps everyone grow stronger in faith. – (Romans 15:2, ERV)

We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord. – (Romans 15:2, NLT)

Our goal must be to empower others to do what is right and good for them, and to bring them into spiritual maturity. – (Romans 15:2, TPT)

A sweet colleague and friend whom I appreciate and admire, who also happens to be a fellow blogger, published a post yesterday that leads me to the application of the verse that my heart landed upon this morning. The gist of her post, though I am not doing it justice, was that despite the struggles, challenges and obstacles that we are facing daily, her heart, with hope, is to have no bad days. One way that we can contribute to the betterment of the days of others is to look for ways to build them up and to empower them. How can we do things that increase the faith of those around us? If we can find good in each day and extend encouragement to others, we not only grow the faith in others, but in ourselves as well. May we seek to do what is right and pleasing so that others may be built up and press on, even on the hardest days.

Help us look for good,

Ways to choose build up;

To please our neighbors,

In faith, fill their cup.

As we do what’s right,

And opt extend grace;

Empowered rise up,

As they find fresh faith.

Let’s not grow weary,

In choosing what’s right;

Help and love others,

Let’s fight the good fight.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to do what is good and pleasing for others to help them grow and be built up in faith. Thank You that as we choose to focus on others, You fill and refresh us in the process. Forgive us for somehow thinking that we have nothing to offer in our own space of weariness. Teach us to trust You more, as You fill us and build us up, providing all that we need and more. Show us how to love well the people who You have placed around us, so that we would do what is right and pleasing to build them up and help grow their faith. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for bringing good unto us when we are depleted, and for growing our faith in You so that we may in turn do the same for those around us. 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

Represent with Thanks

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. – (Colossians 3:17, NLT)

When we belong to Christ, our every word and deed are representing who we are in Him. If we present ourselves from a position of thanks and praise to Him who gives us life and breath and our very being, God is glorified as He ought to be. However, if our natural state is one that withholds gratitude and fails to give glory where glory is due, we are missing opportunities to show His goodness to those around us. Yes, we all struggle and fall short, and it is good for us to also be genuine with people, but we cannot stay stuck in our sorrows or struggles. As those around us see us rise and fight the good fight with a heart full of thanks for Him who gives us strength, they too may be moved to earnestly seek Him. May we choose to give thanks to God in all that we do and say, for He alone is worthy, and we are His representatives.

Let each word and deed,

be flavored with praise;

giving thanks to God,

for all of our days.

No matter what comes,

the Lord is still good;

faithful and present,

makes grace understood.

May we represent,

our Lord Jesus well;

through word and action,

let our choices tell.

Tell of His glory,

speak of the Lord’s grace;

share of His goodness,

’til all seek His face.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are good and faithful and kind. Thank You that all thanks and praise belong to You. Thank You that You allow us to be Your representatives to those around us, through our words and deeds, as we choose to give You thanks. Forgive us for not representing You well with our words or deeds, and help us to do and say the things that You would choose. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would listen to Your leading in every situation and circumstance, giving You thanks all the while. Lead us to love others well, so that they may see You through that which we do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek to represent You well with thankful hearts, in all that we say and do. 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

Encouraging Each Other

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. – (Hebrews 3:13)

                                                                                                                                                            To protect our hearts from unbelief, we need to be invested in fellowship with other believers.  Our charge is to talk about our shared faith, so that we may build each other up, increasing awareness of the deceitfulness of sin, and covering one another with the love and concern of Christ.  Isolation allows temptation to take root and thrive; but being surrounded by those who share the same passionate pursuit of the path that Christ has set before us, protects our hearts and minds from that which would try to lead us astray.  May we each invest well in the body, and encourage one another daily in that to which we have been called.

For this is the day,
that the Lord has made;
given as a gift,
to keep our path straight.
We’re not meant to walk,
this road on our own;
but beside others,
so His grace is grown.
When we’re surrounded,
by those seeking Him;
all can encourage,
fend off lure of sin.
May all of our words,
be love and be light;
encouraging all,
to fight the good fight.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You created us to be a part of a body of believers, and do not intend for us to do life on our own.  Thank You that You call us to encourage each other, and help keep one another from falling into the snare of sin.  Forgive us for thinking that we need to fight the fight on our own, or for isolating ourselves and trying to power through.  Teach us to trust You more, so that we will hear Your call as to whom You are leading us to let in, and allow our hearts to trust to speak into our lives.  Show us how to encourage others well, so that Your love may be made evident through us.  May many come into a lasting relationship with You.  Be exalted O God, as we encourage one another and keep our hearts soft before You.  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

Braving the Battles Before Us

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. – (2 Corinthians 10:3)

 

When we live in the world, it is a struggle to remember that we do not need to wage war by the world’s rules of engagement. As followers of Christ, we are held to a higher standard, and He calls us to something more. In Him, we have to hope and trust, and walk out our faith, rather than respond with a knee-jerk reaction in every challenging situation. As we learn to depend on Him, and listen for His voice, even when it feels as if an all-out assault is being unleashed, we can walk confidently in Christ, as He is our anchor in the storm and our Strong Tower to whom we can safely run. Ultimately, no matter what transpires in the moment, we know who wins in the end. Our hope goes beyond today, as our trust remains assured for our eternity. May we rise up in faith and fight the good fight according to God’s good and perfect will. Let not the world’s way of waging war win us over, but rather help it compel us to cling to Christ all the more.

 

Though we’re in the world,

may we not engage;

in the ugliness,

from acted out rage.

Rather, let us seek,

to hope and to trust;

to listen to Christ,

and do as we must.

The fight is not ours,

when we are the Lord’s;

He’s our Defender,

all grace He affords.

Let not emotions,

rule how we react;

instead seek Jesus,

defense from attack.

Always remember,

no matter what comes;

this is just right now,

our hope’s in the Son.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we live in the world, we do not need to wage war as the world does. Thank You that Your ways are higher than our ways, and Your thoughts, higher than our thoughts. Thank You that as we seek You, You reveal Your very best for us, regardless of how things appear. Forgive us for reacting in the heat of the moment, rather than seeking You and Your very best for us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we will rise up in faith and face adversity in Your strength, rather than our own. Lead us to love others, just as You so completely love each of us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You, Lord. Be glorified O God, as we rise up and allow You to lead us through the battles before us. Amen.

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

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy. – Hebrews 4:16

Diligent for All of Our Days

God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. – (Hebrews 6:10-11)

 

God is fair and He notices what we do in love as His representatives, even when no one else does. He calls us to love others just as He has loved us, and when we do so, we are honoring Him. Every act of help, encouragement, and kindness, is seen by our Heavenly Father. Though we are not saved by what we do, our actions are expressions of the hope to which we hold. Let us not become weary in doing good… (Galatians 6:9)

 

Do not grow weary,

in doing what’s right;

do as the Lord asks,

and fight the good fight.

For our God, He sees,

each act in love done;

He sees how we help,

our great Holy One.

Press on in the faith,

stay true to the Lord;

our hope is assured,

through Him we adore.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You see and know all that we do unto You. Thank You that it matters not who knows in the here and now, as the only reward that matters is eternal. Thank You that our hope is secured in You. Thank You for the privilege of being Your representatives to the world. Forgive us for when we fail to represent You well, and help us to honor You with our every word, thought and deed. Teach us to trust You more, so that we may be an extension of Your help and Your hope to all those who are around us. Help us to be diligent for all of our days, until at last we see Your face. Lead us to love well, just as You so perfectly love each of us. May many come into a saving relationship with You as we work, love and help unto You. Be glorified, O God, as we seek to serve diligently all of our days. Amen.

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

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. – Galatians 5:22-23

For Freedom, We’ve Been Set Free

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. – (Galatians 5:1)

 

Jesus came and bore the cross in our place so that we would no longer have to live under the weight of a long list of laws and regulations that were impossible to obey in their entirety. His sacrifice set us free from the chains that enslaved us to our sin, and has granted us new life – freedom to follow His ways of loving God and loving people. Because of Christ, we can now do what was impossible before – live unselfishly unto Him, rather than to indulge our every desire. Yes, we will still struggle with our own humanity, but we are no longer ruled nor enslaved by the sins that once bound us. May we stand firm in the freedom we have been afforded through the loving sacrifice of Christ.

 

Freed from the chains,

that once held us down;

cleansed from our stains,

by His thorny crown.

Our weighty yoke,

He’s taken away;

given instead,

His strength to obey.

Not a long list,

but two simple things;

love God and man,

is what He’s asking.

Eyes looking out,

to God and to man;

selfishness fades,

in freedom we stand.

No more we’re bound,

to sin’s slavery;

held in Christ’s hands,

beloved and free.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that in Christ, we have been set free from the yoke of slavery of our sinfulness. Thank You that in You, we are able to stand firm, and fight the good fight, as You are our Champion and our Strength. Forgive us for taking our eyes off of You, and allowing sin and anything that would try to entangle us to have a foothold. Protect us from the snares that seek to enslave us, and grant us Your wisdom to know where to walk and how to stand firm in You. Teach us to trust You more, so that we remain firm in the freedom we have found in You. May many come to know the freedom that You offer, as we live and love as You call us to do. Be glorified, O God, as we stand firm in the freedom of our faith. Amen.

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

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