Soul Feeds: Hope and Perseverance

While I was reading last night some verses struck me which I believe I need at these moments.. Everything is happening so quickly and a surge of emotions both good and bad have sunk me into a wave. It's that push and pull thing when you feel you've done something right yet have done something wrong at the same time. It's like knowing you've accomplished so much yet it doesn't matter and then suddenly you feel you've done so little.

For some reason two nights ago, there was this coffee table book I spotted on my mom's desk - Bible Inspirations for Women. It seems to have been there for quite some time but I didn't notice it but at that instance only. I scanned the pages and almost every page rebuked me. Okay. So there I was swallowing my pride at every word I read, recalling my shortcomings, apologizing earnestly, and vowing to myself to try and start being the best person I am, you are -we are potentially created to be.

Then here comes a load of work from all directions. The pressure of this big event on August. Promising everything, spanning all aspects of my life, and assuring nothing. This is nothing I could control and nothing I could do about. But after all that I've done the past few weeks do I deserve it? I'm reaping all the consequences for what I did and would this be another of those?

Finding answers to my questions, I found time for my ideally-daily devotion.. Let me share you the verses I found comfort in... 

Lamentations 3:25-27 

 ²⁵ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
   to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
   for the salvation of the LORD.
²⁷ It is good for a man to bear the yoke (God's will)
   while he is young.

Let me hope in the Lord, I seek for Him. Let me do God's will and bear His will. Let it be all natural to me and may I do it tirelessly.

Lamentations 3:31-33 

 ³¹ For no one is cast off
   by the Lord forever.
³² Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
   so great is his unfailing love.
³³ For he does not willingly bring affliction
   or grief to anyone.

Though I may fall from Your grace time and again, You have been merciful and loving to me. Not giving me what I deserve but giving me room to learn. Let me not inflict pain and malice upon others but make me an instrument to spur one another toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:124)

James 1:2-4 

 ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 

Let these trials, anxiety and grief strengthen my soul and give me joy so that I may persevere in loving you and improving my imperfections.  My hope is only in you.  Let these things that befall me test my character so that I may reach the fullness of my being in you.

And believe me, God continues to reach out to me and even to you. In places you never thought of  or in moments you never dreamed about. We all just need to feed our soul continuously so that we may be mindful of ourselves and sensitive to God's will in our lives. <3

Tidbit of the Day: He himself will be with me... Deuteronomy 31:23

This morning as I walked towards my station, I saw my co-worker Brian hunched on his seat and fussing about. Curious as I was, I asked him what he was busy with. Then he showed me a little square box that contained paper pieces of inspiring Bible verses. I'm really not a fan of bible cutting and choosing verses randomly but for whatever reason, he offered me to pick one and I did. On the little brown and square paper I picked it said...

 

"Be brave and steadfast... I myself will be with you" - Deuteronomy 31:23

I asked him what it could possibly mean. He jokingly said that I'd probably know by lunch time.  OK then. But 12 Noon passed and nothing really came up. I looked up the full verse on the net and here is what it said.

 

"Then the LORD commissioned Joshua, son of Nun, and said to him, "Be brave and steadfast, for it is you who must bring the Israelites into the land which I promised them on oath. I myself will be with you." - Deuteronomy 31:23

This led me then to read the whole chapter that consisted of this Bible verse. To summarize chapter 31, Moses was already about to die and the Lord was giving out final orders. Due to a sin that Moses committed, he wouldn't be able to see the promised land. So the Lord commissioned Joshua, son of Nun to lead the Israelites into this place. Strength and courage was required for Joshua to be able to carry out this huge task and responsibility. But the Lord is true to His word. In this verse He assured Joshua that He himself will be with His loyal servant as they walk into the promised land.  

 

I suddenly remembered what I read last night in Hebrews 6:16-20 which reaffirms the certainty of God's promise. God's word is alive and active today and everything He says is true.

 

What I got from all these then is that when God tells us to do something that may seem too big for us to comprehend, or too big for us to accomplish on our own - something beyond our capabilities, we should remain strong and steadfast because God himself will be with us. There is no need to fear or worry that we may be too little, or too weak, or too unequipped because we desire to live God's will and nothing else should matter, He is true to His promise - He guarantees His presence and His strength most especially in our biggest weaknesses...

 

Now that I've thought about it, there are a lot of times that I know I should do what I have to but I don't have the courage to push through. But keeping this verse to heart, I know that I would be able to do things unimaginable, things that I know I myself could not do in a million years even if I wanted to. The Lord is great, His might incomprehensible, He is my fortress and He is true. God indeed finds ways how to communicate these with me - whether it be in random verses or whatnots - and for me to be able to share these with you.

 

So let us trust in and live faithfully to God's leading in our lives, let Him be your strength as He is mine. And know that He is ALWAYS with you.