There is something beautiful about a billion stars held steady by a God who knows that He is doing.
From Isaiah 40:26: Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because He is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.”
Donald Miller (born 1971) is an American author, speaker, and business owner. Many of his personal essays and reflections deal with faith, God, and self-discovery.
Zion’s
Labor pains
Father delivers mercy
Drink deeply with delight
Rejoicing
Spirit’s
Overflowing stream
Father’s grace bestows
Faith flourishes, hearts rejoice
Reassuring
Comfort
Like mother’s
Rejoice with Jerusalem
Father reigns high above
Loving
From Isaiah 66:12-13: “For thus says the Lord: I will extend prosperity to her like a river and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream, and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm and bounced on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
God is Holy. Exalted. He is the only wise God, the Creator, the Maker, the Sovereign Lord. He is the Master. We have but one directive, and that it is to do His will.
From Psalm 97:12: “Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to His holy name!”
From Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Created with purpose
Breathing with His desires
Divine God stirs up grace
Planting what life requires
Need for community
Designing faith’s pathway
Communion joins many
Tasting Savior’s buffet
Encouragement in Christ
Sharing in Spirit’s love
Saints gathering as one
Feeling joy from above
Fellowship’s lasting bonds
Confessing sins, repent
Prayer lifts others up
Witnessing God’s intent
Blueprint for believers
Bearing life’s overloads
Love shared with each other
Transforming faith’s crossroads
From James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”
From Romans 5:8: “But God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.”
Knowing Father loves you
Sharing His peace, believe
Molding each life’s purpose
Pouring out grace, receive
Breathing with hope’s mindset
Tasting glory of God
Following divine Word
Seeing through evil’s fraud
Promising you His love
Filling each wayward heart
Leading away from sin
Bringing life’s fresh, new start
Sending His Son to you
Adding up sin-filled debts
Erasing through Christ’s blood
Freeing from deepest nets
Remembering always
Accepting Father’s love
Receiving Spirit’s gifts
Walking with Christ above
From 1 John 4:8-9: “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.”
Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
From Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power.”
From Isaiah 43:2: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Man navigates life’s way
Some survey ocean’s charts
Searching through its vastness
Peace fills every heart
Other times, sailing ahead
Without any vision
Vanishing in darkness
Journey’s poor decision
Life’s opportunities
Man’s knowledge not enough
Setting sail, just by chance
Tomorrow’s seas, too rough
Sound advice waits with God
His Word highlights life’s route
Sharing grace, peace follows
Time’s fate, never in doubt
God’s righteous hand steering
Toward harbor’s safe dock
Aligning ship’s rudder
Destination . . . faith’s rock
From Psalm 37:23-24: “Our steps are made firm by the Lord when He delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”
To set our mind on the things of God, we must consistently choose to have the Lord’s viewpoint and reject conformity with the ways of the world.
From Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
If you would test the character of anything, you only need to enquire whether that that thing leads you to God or away from God.
From James 1:2-4: “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face various trials, consider it all joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance complete its work, so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing.”
Watchman Nee (1903-1972) was a Chinese church leader and Christian teacher. He authored a collection of Christian books, and he endured persecution for his beliefs. Ultimately, he died while being imprisoned for the final twenty years of his life.
When God asks us to surrender our will to His, it’s our job to trust He will show us the way.
From Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”
