Examining and refining

 Psalm 7:9 "The righteous God who probes minds and hearts" (NIV)  The Passion translates this verse, "examines the thoughts and motives"  MSG "You get us ready for life, you probe our soft spots, you knock off our rough edges"

Probing implies to me revealing anything underneath, hidden.  God does this not because he doesn't know what we have hidden but to reveal it to us so it can be dealt with.  God is refining me  This is not always easy, but his promise to me is, Philippians 1:6

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I am a work in progress, but God is not going to give up on me!

Guiding

After reading  Psalm 5:8   "Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies - make your way straight before me." I thought of the way God guides me.  Psalm 23 tells me "He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake"

The promise I chose for today is Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you always;  

He will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

The conditions for this promise must not be ignored. 

Loose the chains of injustice,

Set the oppressed free

Share your food with the hungry

Provide the poor wanderer with shelter

Clothe the naked

Not turn away from your own flesh and blood.

 Sun scorched lands implies dry, barren  places.  Even in dry places God will give me what I need and strengthen me. I won't be barren but fruitful 

Fulfilling his purpose

As i was praying today I was reminded of Paul's journey to Rome.  He experienced a fierce, long storm, a shipwreck and a poisonous snake bite.  God had clearly shown him he must go to Rome.  God has a purpose for him being there and nothing could stop him.  God has plans and purposes for me, for my good and not harm to give me a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)  Whatever happens he will fulfill his purpose for me if I cry out to him (Psalm 57:2 ESV) .

There are good works that God has prepared in advance for me to do (Eph2:10)  He will give me that grace to achieve them. 

My promise for today is Psalm 138:8 in ESV:

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.

God answers prayer

 Psal 3:4  "I call out to the Lord and he answers me from his holy mountain."

There are so many promises that God will answer me when I cry out to him.  And so many examples in the Bible where people call out to God and he answers them.  In fact it happened time and time again in the history of Israel.  In Psalm 3 David is calling out to God as an individual, even though he was king at the time.

My promise for today is Jeremiah 33:3

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

This verse  is not only a promise that God will answer me in action, but that he will also speak to me.  Prayer has to be a two way exercise. I need God's perspective in every situation. When in trouble it is easy to just ask God to act, but he wants to do so much more and give me wisdom in the situation.  

God is my refuge

Psalm 2 ends with "Blessed are all who take refuge in him"   There are many verses in the Bible about God being my refuge.  It is a place of safety (Psalm 16:1), of help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1), a place where I am protected with his shield(Prov 30:5, Psalm 18:30)  "No-one who takes refuge in him will be condemned" (Psalm 34:22) It is a place where no shame (Psalm 31:1)

You flee to a refuge in times of trouble.  This led me to my promise for today from Psalm 46:1:

The Lord is my refuge and strength, 

an ever present help in trouble  

In times of trouble I can run to God, who will be with me, protect me and help me.

I

I am being watched over by God

 This morning I read in Psalm 1:6 "The Lord watches over the way of the righteous"  This led me to today's promise (Psam 121:7,8)

The Lord will keep you from all harm -             he will watch over your life;

The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore.

This was confirmed to me by the Lion bites from today which was entitled 'I am watching over you' and begins saying God is watching over me as a shepherd watches over his flock.

Psalm 121 repeats that God watches over me 4 times.  

Psalm 121:3 "He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber"

Psalm1215-6 "The Lord watches over you- The Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night"

Do not worry, do not be anxious

 It has been over 8 years since I added a post to this blog.  Yesterday I felt God prompting me to record his promises.  I  thought of posting one promise per day that I can stand on and I then remembered I had started this blog.  I therefore have decided to continue with it.  Whether I will take themes as before or just highlight individual promises I am not sure.  But today I thought about God's word regarding not worrying or being anxious, so I will gather those promises.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus"  Philippians 4:6,7 

God promises his peace but the condition is th.at we pray with thanksgiving.  His peace prevents anxiety dwelling in our mind and heart.  It takes away those worrying thoughts, the 'what ifs' and brings peace to my churning stomach, which is from the heart

Jesus told his disciples not to worry in the Sermon on the Mount, specifically about what we should eat or drink or wear or tomorrow.  "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33.  He promises God will supply all I need so I don't have to worry, but rather I should seek his kingdom and righteousness.   

God is my Father, I am of great worth to him, so I have no need to worry. "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" 1 Peter 5:7   "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don't be afraid you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31