Desire and Strength to Do Good

For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. – (Philippians 2:13, HCSB)

Yes, it is God who is working in you. He helps you want to do what pleases Him, and He gives you the power to do it. – (Philippians 2:13, ERV)

God is energizing you so that you will desire to do what always pleases Him. – (Philippians 2:13, VOICE)

When we seek the Lord and invest our hearts and lives in knowing Him more, He empowers us to both want to do His will and He grants us what we need to follow through. We are all a work in progress and the process transpires throughout our lifetime. The more we walk with Him, the more aware we become of what He wants for us, and the greater our desire to do what He wants us to do. Despite our own shortcomings and weaknesses, His power provides as we abide, and we are granted all that we need to move forward in His strength for His purposes. May we ever seek the Lord and give Him room to move in our hearts and lives so that we have the desire and the strength to do what He is calling us to do.

Ever seek the Lord,

Photo by Nitin Arya on Pexels.com

His strength and His will;

For He is faithful,

With love to fulfill.

He grants us power,

To keep pressing on;

Desire for good,

His love makes us strong.

He shows us His ways,

As we choose to ask;

Equips us with strength,

To complete each task.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You and spend time with You, You grant us the desire and strength to rise up and do Your will. Thank You that it is not something that we can try to be and do better, but rather we seek more and more of You, and the outcome is a heart that longs to be who You call us to be. Forgive us for our stubbornness and independence that keep us from relying on You to be our source and supply. Teach us to trust in You, for You are faithful to lead us, guide us, and equip us for each new day. Show us how to love those around us as You do, so that You love fuels all to pursue the life that You have for us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You to lead us, guide us, and strengthen us to do Your will throughout all of our days. Amen.

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

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I praise Him with my song. – Psalm 28:7

Sing Praise

image by Elizabeth Blank

There is none like You,

our righteous Lord, God.

You who’s done great things,

hope-filled path to trod.

Though life has troubles,

and its share of pain;

You always restore,

bring new life again.

Even from the depths,

You will raise us up;

Granter of honor;

blessings from Your cup.

All comfort from You,

as we are restored,

our Source and Supply;

all praise to You, Lord.

I’ll praise You with strings,

for Your faithfulness;

I’ll sing unto You,

for Your worthiness.

When I sing praises,

my lips will shout joy –

for I am redeemed,

Your child to enjoy.

(Responding to Psalm 71:19-23)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the remarkable gift that we were given when You lovingly exchanged Your life for ours.  Thank You for all of the benefits we behold as believers, as You are our Source and Supply.  Thank You that You are a Healer, Redeemer, Protector, Provider, Restorer, and so much more!  Forgive us for losing sight of the significance of Your sacrifice, made for each of us, individually.  Teach us to embrace all that You are, and may our whole life be lived as a song of praise unto You.  May many be drawn to You through the sweet melody that our love leaves in their hearts and minds.  May a song of praise be in our heads and hearts as we go forth today.  Amen.

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

Seek the Source

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33

image by Catherine Makowsky

“To ‘seek first the kingdom of His righteousness’ means to turn to God first for help, to fill our thoughts with His desires, to take His character for our pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything.  What is really important to us?  People, objects, goals, and other desires all compete for priority.  Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if we don’t actively choose to give Him first place in every area of our lives.” – (NIV Study Bible footnotes)

These are tall orders and tough truths if we are not turning in trust, to Him.  On our own, our priorities quickly become self-centered, rather than God-centered.  When we seek Him first, and trust God to be God and not ourselves, He provides what is needed to walk upright before Him in His strength, not ours.  As He is placed as our priority, He provides that which we lack.  God’s resources are unending – He always is and has enough, no matter where our lack.  He cares deeply, even about our buried and unknown needs.  He provides people to be His hands, voice and heart when we need to hear Him, and He enables us to feel His touch in a tangible way.  He provides peace, even when we are in the pit of peril.  When we are lacking, He is abundantly able to supply.  As we ask, we are heard, and He answers in His perfect time.  He is whom we ought to seek.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that as we seek You, we will find You.  Please forgive us for seeking anything else, before You.  Teach us to trust You to supply all that we need to live and love as You long for us to do.  May our first response – be it in lack or in plenty – be to seek You and honor You, as You alone are our source and supply, and way beyond worthy of all of our worship and praise.  As we learn to seek You first in all things and at all times, may our prioritized pursuit make plain the path that leads straight into Your loving grace to all who are around us.  Thank You that You are our source and supply, who sent Your only Son to suffer and die, so that we would have a way to seek and find the safety that Your loving arms supply.  Amen.

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