“But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13:5-6 NIV
Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
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I went to my office, laid my head down on my Bible, and sighed in defeat, “Lord, I don’t know what to do.” As soon as the words slipped from my mouth, I remembered something that I had read earlier in the day.
When King Jehoshaphat was warned that a vast army was coming against him, he was alarmed and resolved to inquire of the Lord. He called a fast for all of Judah and the people came together to seek God.
King Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly and cried out to God in prayer. He ends the prayer with these words:
“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you!” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV
I quickly found the passage in my Bible and read it over and over. God was telling me what to do: Keep my eyes on Him! I can do that! Immediately my anxiety melted away. My fear disappeared and I felt the comfort only God can provide.
I also remembered, “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV
“I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV
What does it mean to keep your eyes on the Lord? Here are some thoughts.
You might be wondering what happened to King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah when they fixed their eyes on the Lord instead of the problem.
This is what the Lord said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. (v15) Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. . . Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.”(v17)
“Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. . .Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord . . . ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” (v18&21)
Take away: They depended completely on the Lord. They worshipped Him. They thanked Him. They praised Him. The Lord threw their enemies into confusion and they were defeated.
Read more about Jehoshaphat’s battle here. (2 Chronicles 20:1-30)
When our battle is too hard, let us fix our eyes on Jesus. Let us worship His holiness, thank Him, praise Him, and give Him glory. When you read God’s Word, God Himself will teach you and encourage you because He says,
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 NIV
Thank you for letting me share my journey with you, today. Comments are welcomed and appreciated.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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Sometimes, if you begin to sing in a halfhearted mood, you can sing yourself up the ladder. Singing will often make the heart rise.”
Charles Spurgeon
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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realchristianwomen.blog
“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.” Psalm 68:19 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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realchristianwomen.blog
“Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.” Psalm 47:6-7 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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“…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
I want to share a true story with you, an example of how God glorified His name through a handful of praying Christians, many years ago.
Next month will mark the 204th anniversary of the church I attend. In 1818, a small church of about 26 people in Rockfield, KY began to pray that God would help them start a new church in Bowling Green, Warren County, KY.
Providence Knob Baptist Church sent 4 members to Bowling Green to start a new church. The church they started is the one I worship in today, 204 years later.
To put this in perspective, 1818 is the year the famous American Patriot, Paul Revere, died. In fact, Warren County was named after General Joseph Warren of the Revolutionary War, who dispatched Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride.
The population of Warren County was less than 12,000 then, as compared to over 125,000 at the present time.
Today, the church planted over 200 years ago thrives. A magnificent choir of 50 sings praises to our Lord. A team of singers and musicians lead the congregation in worship, and little children sing of Jesus’s love. An orchestra plays heavenly music in praise to the Lord. People are being saved. The Word of God is being proclaimed. Missionaries are being sent abroad. God’s work is being done and God is glorified.
The obedience and prayers of those pioneers who, in 1818, prayed for God to build a church in Bowling Green resulted in God being glorified. When God answered their prayers, He did “immeasurably more” than all they could ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
Those faithful saints never really saw the fruit of their labor, but God was, and is, and will be, glorified in this place.
It made me think about my own life. Do I want to bring glory to God only? Or do I want glory for myself? Do I want God to do “immeasurable more” than all I ask or imagine? Do I want Him to use me according to His will, even if I never see the fruit of my labor? These are heart-searching questions. May we have the courage to ask them.
God’s plans are bigger than our ability to imagine. I understand now, that God’s plan for my life might bring forth fruit that I don’t live to see, just as these church planters didn’t live to see the fruit of their obedience and prayers.
I would imagine they probably became discouraged at times. It couldn’t have been easy to start a new church in a new city. But they persevered and God answered their prayers.
“Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1 NIV
Jesus prayed to His Father,
“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” John 17:4 NIV
God has the plan. Will we surrender our will to Him? Our part is to be willing. He will do the rest.
“…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 NIV
We may not always see the fruit of our obedience and service, but if we are surrendered to His will and obedient to His Word He will glorify His name. This is God’s plan – To glorify His name.
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.” Psalm 28:7 NIV
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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realchristianwomen.blog
“I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you and you can give me glory.” Psalm 50:15 TLB
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?
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“Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
For each day he carries us in his arms.” Psalm 68:19 NLT
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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realchristianwomen.blog
“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3 NLT Read full chapter
With Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?
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Real Christian Women 