Pleasant Places
Category: Encouragement
Fear and Shame
The last three weeks I have had to fight fear over a “lump” that I found. This felt similar to what I had 2 ½ years ago. I had visions of surgery and potentially other treatment. As I made diagnostic appointments (and waited about 1 ½ weeks to go to the appointments), I chose this verse. There is worry involved in medical issues. I had to pray my way through allowing God whatever He chose.
Praise the Lord, he allowed me to only have 2 cysts and a non-malignant spot. No surgery or medical treatment needed. I am grateful for God’s kindness in allowing this news.
I have prayed many times in recent years that I am willing and able to endure whatever God asks of me. I was wrestling with that prayer before finding out the prognosis. I appreciate these verses. Seeking God helps deliver us from our fears. I know that I can feel shame as I wrestle with my fears – verse 5 reminds us that we can be radiant and unashamed as we look to God.
The simple reminder is to seek God and I can be delivered. The difficult reality is that I need to keep working hard to give my fears and worries to God and leave them there. I am glad God is patient and kind in providing for my weakness.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for closing this chapter in health issues. Please help me to continue to give all of my fears to You. Please help me to encourage others to do the same.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
When I Ask Why
How to Hold Fast
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:19-25
I love this passage of Scripture. It reminds children of God that we have confidence in going to our Heavenly Father. Verse 23 is my favorite part – I need to hold fast and God is faithful. I know there are many times I don’t feel as though I can hold without wavering. Yet my loving, heavenly Father is faithful – unwavering.
One help God has provided is other believers. Verses 24-25 tell us what we are to do for each other. God knows we cannot be faithful without other believers. We need to be a network of strength for each other. The end of verse 25 tells us that we need to encourage one another more as time goes on. We need to read and study God’s Word and encourage each other with what we have learned. The more difficult life gets, the more we need to band together – holding each other up.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for giving us instruction in Your Word. Please help us to hold fast and encourage each other to do the same. Please draw us nearer to You each day.
I pray this in Jesus name.
God is so good.
He Hears and I Watch
What
Ephesians 1 is loaded with expressions of God’s generosity. I like verse 18 – as we follow what Ephesians 1 has been talking about we will have our “hearts enlightened”. The “what” is the hope and riches that God promises. I think sometimes we have the wrong kind of hope and the wrong kind of riches in mind. God is more interested in the eternal and we end up getting stuck in the temporal. My desire is to continue studying Scripture to learn about the “whats” in Ephesians 1:18. At least as much as is possible in this life. I expect to learn by leaps and bounds in the next life.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the many blessings I can learn about from Your Word. Please guide me as I learn the “what” You tell us about in this verse. Help me to share this with others.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Chosen for Adoption
The first blessing we see in Ephesians 1 is that of being chosen for adoption. Looking at the culture in Israel during Bible times adoption is a great honor. The first-born son would inherit everything. God adopts us as first-born sons. I’m not sure how well it translates into the American culture that I know so well. In Bible culture this was a very high honor. I want to allow that concept to warm my heart living in what is often a cold, dark (sin-cursed) world.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for choosing me to be an adopted child. Thank You for the beauty of Your love. Please help me to share this with those who know You chose them as well as those who have not learned of this wonderful gift.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
The Wisdom of Praise
I have noticed how easy it is to complain. I think that has always been an issue, but it has been even more prevalent in the last two and half years. I know I should thank and praise the Lord more than I do, but sometimes it feels awkward. I want to work on changing that.
There is great wisdom in praising and thanking God. He has given so many good gifts. If you don’t know what they are, read the Bible.
Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for Who You are and the many wonderful things You have done. Thank You for the gift of salvation, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and Your Word that gives so much insight for life.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Wisdom for Good
I struggled as I thought about these verses. It sounds like the prosperity gospel. The Bible makes it clear that we will have trials and difficulties (James 1:2-3, Phil. 1:29). However, through those challenges, God provides His wisdom to help make our paths straight (Proverbs 3:6). While trials cause pain, wisdom provides life and blessing (Proverbs 3:18). I find that thought comforting.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessing wisdom brings. Thank You for providing help through life’s trials. Please give me the strength to hold fast to wisdom and follow Your way.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Safety
We have heard a lot about safety over the last two years. Unfortunately, we have passionately disagreed on the details. No matter where I stand, or the reason why, I want to seek God for wisdom. Wisdom will direct our thinking through the ever-changing sea of information. God knows everything. He knows how it all fits together. He knows what will happen. He knows the good and bad decisions we will all make.
In Proverbs 2:7-8 we read that God keeps those who follow Him – those who fear Him. He has wisdom reserved for us. He is a shield and watches us. There is safety in the fear of the Lord.
Sometimes we think that the weight of our decisions fully rests on our shoulders. While we need to take responsibility for our decisions, we need to lean on the Lord and seek the wisdom He so freely gives (James 1:5).
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for storing wisdom for us. Thank you for the protection you provide. Please help us to seek You in all our decisions.
I pray this in Jesus’ name.
God is so good.
Pleading in Prayer 