Pearls of Great Value

FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY. BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE [the one justified by faith] SHALL LIVE BY FAITH [respecting man’s relationship to God and trusting Him]; AND IF HE DRAWS BACK [shrinking in fear], MY SOUL HAS NO DELIGHT IN HIM. But our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by this confident faith preserve the soul.” Hebrews‬ ‭10:37-39‬ ‭AMP‬‬

 

We are not those who turn back, shrink in fear, or are shaken from our foundation. Why? Because we believe! We believe in Jesus! We believe in His goodness, we stand assured of His faithfulness. We believe in His Word, and hold to the eternal truth that that which He promises IS Yes and Amen. We believe. When all around the world gives way, we focus on Jesus and are not shaken. We are the righteous ones who live by faith!

 

I love how the Amplified Bible puts these verses. It says that by believing in our God and relying on Him, this confident faith will preserve our soul. It will preserve us. Preservation. Oh, how much do we need that right now! Something to keep us from wavering. To preserve our very hearts from sinking into despair and unbelief. It takes courage to stand fast when everyone and everything is shouting the opposite. It takes faith to believe as Abraham did, against all hope and all odds. 

These are dark days, where so many people are confused and have little hope. Many have been deceived by the enemy and it’s so hard to find truth when you don’t believe in Jesus. If He isn’t your anchor, the pressure will make you sway and eventually cave. We, as believers have to sustain and hold steady the culture around us and be a voice of reason and truth. We are called salt by Jesus. He said” You are the salt of the Earth!” The job of salt is to preserve! To keep from spoiling! 

 

I have to remind myself to stay, to have a spiritual focus. And the only way to staying steadfast is to hold on to Gods voice and asking Him continually, “Father, what is it that You are saying in this moment? Where do you want me? Reveal to me the way that I should go. Help me to light in this world.”

Our battle is not against flesh and blood! Let’s remind ourselves of this. It’s against powers and principalities of darkness. So let us who believe, remain. Let’s remain in faith. It is our strength, our anchor that holds us fast. Let’s stay persistent in prayer, not giving up. Let’s choose to believe! And most of all, let’s not fight against or with each other, and so devour the good amongst us. We are here to unite not divide!

 King David is an awesome inspiration when it comes to dark days. In 1 Samuel 30, David was in the darkest of moments, having lost everything he owned, including his family. Even his men turned against him because their wives and children had been stolen. What did David do? The Bible tells us, he encouraged himself in the Lord! He encouraged himself in the Lord and the result thereof was Victory. 

 It’s the only advice that makes sense right now: encourage yourself in the Lord. This word encourage is the word hāzaq in Hebrew and has the definition of: to rally strength, to seize and hold on. To strengthen. It also means to harden your heart( against negativity), a failure to respond to such a person or message. I love that. To resolutely set your heart. To refuse to be swayed even in the midst of pain and terrible circumstances. It’s being courageous and grasping on to that which you know is true. So let us go forward resolutely and strengthen ourselves in the Lord.

 

I can’t help but think, we are supposed to thrive! We who are planted by streams of living water, should bear fruit in every season and our leaf shall not wither. Living by faith isn’t just a nice expression. It’s a lifestyle. A way of living that guarantees victory. Jesus says, that yes, we will face trials and tribulations. We aren’t promised easy. But He then continues on and says, but be of good cheer! How can He say that? Because He has overcome the world. He has won. He has fought the hardest part, so that through every trial and tribulation we can be resolute and encouraged. He is with us and has already overcome. He has the answer to every trouble. That to me, is just a good word! That is good news!

 

I pray: Abba Father, help us to be firmly fixed on You and the Word in these times. To be grounded in You. Help us to be resolute and have a ferocious faith that stands, not wavering. Teach us how to fortify ourselves in You and we ask, fill us with a holy determination. 

God, You are so faithful! And Your Word goes forth to accomplish that to which You send it. That is such an encouragement! We will be anchored in this sure hope. It is Your voice that we hear and listen to and a strangers voice we will not follow! We love you Father,and we praise you, for you are doing marvelous things. Thank you that You do not shift or change. Your kingdom come! Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

 

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]” John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭AMP‬‬