Our Eternal Rock

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal. – (Isaiah 26:4, NIV) 

Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing. – (Isaiah 26:4, MSG) 

Trust in the Eternal One forever, for He is like a great Rock – strong, stable, trustworthy, and lasting. – (Isaiah 26:4, VOICE) 

Life continues to feel uncertain with little being predictable or ordinary. Teaching online with no certain end in sight, growing responsibilities being heaped upon one another, in this time and space I am eternally grateful for the One to whom I can trust. Even when all around me is uncertain, He remains the same forever. His love, kindness, mercy, grace, and strength, are ever present and available to all who call on His Name. When all is unstable, I crave a strong, stable, trustworthy and lasting place. There is such a space; it is in the hands of Jesus. We can be strong, stable, and trust in His lasting love.  

Lord, teach us to trust, 

In Your endless love; 

Our Rock and shelter, 

Certainty above. 

Forever we trust, 

In You and Your Name; 

For You are our peace, 

And hope we can claim. 

Lord, hold us so close, 

That we are assured; 

Of grace and goodness, 

Hope in You, secured. 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the eternal Rock, the One in whom we can trust forever. Thank You that You remind us and show us again and again that You are good. Forgive us for our fearfulness and anxiousness in the uncertain. Teach us to trust and lean into You, for You are faithful forever. Show us how to love those around us in ways that provide peace and security, grace and goodness. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we depend on You, our faithful Rock forever. Amen. 

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

There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides You; there is no Rock like our God. – 1 Samuel 2:2

Wage Love

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” – (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

 

People do not always play nice. Situations and circumstances, the obstacles that come our way, are not simple nor predictable. However, when we are in Christ, we have help to overcome every obstacle that comes our way, and the power to persevere and keep loving people, even when they are less than loveable. Our “weapons” are the things that God gives to us to aid us in our lives – His word, the Holy Spirit, prayer, faith, hope and love. All of these are powerful and effective, and can help us through anything that is thrown our way. He is good and His presence is promised forever.

 

When we are washed in His word, our thoughts are centered on Him. It is much easier to be obedient to that which is known. Prayer is our ongoing conversation with God, Himself; so it is essential for hearing and knowing His will and His direction. Faith is the very thing that fuels our foundation in Christ. Hope is what we hold, even when the road is rough. Love is what lives in us and shines through us, leading the lost to the Lover of our souls. May we wage love, rather than what is wielded by the world.

 

Though in the world,

play not by its rules;

offer kindness,

His traits as our tools.

In Him, there’s strength,

we have never known;

power to stand,

He calls us His own.

God gives us love,

where others would not;

He offers hope,

our eternal spot.

Fighting ended,

strongholds are destroyed;

nothing can stand,

where God is employed.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that though we are in the world, we do not have to fight as the world does. Thank You that You provide us with Your word, Your Holy Spirit, prayer, faith, hope and love – all of which are powerful weapons against anything that might try to come against us. Thank You that You are our help and our hope, and that our strength is found in You. Forgive us for not depending on You when the world seems to wage war against us. Help us to run to You, and trust You to be our help and our hope. Teach us how to hear Your still small voice, even when the world around us is raging. Lead us to love others as You love us, and may many come to know the mighty hope and help that is found in You alone, personally. Be exalted in everything we do and say today. Amen.

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

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