sections of this blog post:
[wrote this after 11 pm because i felt the Lord leading me to do so. and if i wait, i'll forget]
Psalm 16:11 is my all-time favorite Bible Verse. I am comforted in knowing that as long as I am in God's presence and enjoying Him in His fullness, He will direct my path in life. Life has many ups and downs, but the path which our good Lord puts us on at any moment is a path that shelters us from the evils of this world. Yes, we may face temptations and persecutions, but we have God on our side. It is an incredible joy and blessing to partake of this promise that God has graciously granted to those who put their trust in Him and enter His presence. The amazing thing is that not only does God have our life planned out for our good and His glory, He also makes it known to us. God reveals this life that He has in store for us when we read His Word, talk to Him through prayer, and fellowship with like-minded saints in the journey towards sanctification. We need to turn our eyes away from the weariness of our world and focus on God, for then we shall be able to see the plans He has laid out for us. When we enter His presence to acknowledge His control over our lives, we can live with joyful hearts. For indeed, "in His presence is fullness of joy." Sometimes, life takes a turn for the worse, and things do not seem to go the way we want it to. Whatever trials we may face, it is all part and parcel of the race that God has set before us. I need to finish the race strong and look forward to what is to come. I am longing for the day when I can see Jesus face to face. The wait may seem unbearable, but nothing can compare to the joy that we can feel when we sit at the right hand of the Father. What's more? We are promised eternal pleasures that can only be found in God's Kingdom. Everything on earth lasts for a short while, nothing here can satisfy fully. But the pleasures of the Lord will be able to please us fully and forevermore. Whenever we feel like giving up on life, or whenever we feel that God is not there, let us remember this verse. He's always here guiding our paths. We just need to enter His presence and continually look forward to His eventual return to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 6:33-34, on the other hand, are my theme verses for the year 2022. The years 2020 and 2021 have been mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally challenging for everyone, but 2022 does not seem to be an exception. We have no idea what the future will bring, and our lives seem to be in constant turmoil. However, the Bible tells us in Matthew 6 that we should seek God first. We do not need to worry about the next day or the future because there are enough troubles in a day. When we seek God, we are learning to cast all our burdens on Him, for He is mighty and worthy to bear them for us. The act of seeking is to be earnestly looking for something. When life is good or bad, we need to depend on God, earnestly hear for His still, small voice, and trust that He will take care of us. Instead of worrying about what would happen next, we should leave that all up to the One who created us and knows everything. I chose this verse for my theme verse in 2022 to remind myself that God is in control, and I do not have to worry. I just have to trust. I do not need to worry about my necessities, as verse 33 tells us that God will take care of them as long as we seek Him. We cannot rely on ourselves or others, for we have all fallen short of the glory of God. And because God will meet all our needs when we seek Him, we do not need to worry about our future. Verse 33 then ties beautifully with verse 34, which reminds us that we do not need to worry about the next day. God will provide, and He is faithful. I hope that through this year of uncertainties, we will learn to depend on God and cast our worries at His feet. It is burdensome and frustrating when we do not get our way, but God is sovereign, faithful, and just to bring all things to fruition for our good and His glory. Are you willing to depend on Him this year and for the rest of your lives?
The reason for today's blog post was to share with you my thoughts on these three verses. As we start the year 2022 (albeit this post is published slightly late), we need to cling on to the hope of our Comforter and Friend. Life will throw us curveballs, but with God on our side, who can be against us?
I do hope God's Word has encouraged you as we all journey together in our walk with Christ.