In Immanuel's Land

 

 

We read the headlines, tumbling one after another. Stories of war, abuse, and deprivation. No good news, just the bad. Of the headlines it could be said, "Of the increase of the trouble and woe there will be no end." Man has never known a different world.

But another world is still to come, waiting for its coming creation. A greater reality will one day dawn upon us, and God has promised that this current reality, the only reality man has ever known, will not even be remembered, nor come into mind.

"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." ― Isaiah 65:17

Did you even know that promise was there? These thoughts came to me after reading a line from another verse in Isaiah. It is from chapter 9, verse 7.

"Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end."

Can we even imagine a world like that? It's a world mankind has never known before as a whole.

What a hope! Jesus will be King. Over the whole earth. Now, that will get you excited on your worst Monday morning. What if all the bad stuff happening now is just ushering in the best day of our lives?

He's coming . . .

But even in this present world, don't we, who are His faithful followers, experience this reality in our daily lives? When we're surrendered, when we're submitting to His gentle power, there is no end to His government and peace over us! His abiding presence controls and comforts regardless of the circumstances surrounding our lives, for we exist even now in His kingdom, and we know the benefit of His benevolent rule over us. We are citizens of the heavenly kingdom, with His banner soaring high over us. It is not the red, white, and blue, but the pure scarlet of His blood that He shed for the ones He so loved. The anthem of His country is ringing in our hearts, not the anthem of spangled stars, but of a rugged cross, the anthem of Immanuel's land, where glory dwells.

"Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end."

One day His government and peace will be known through all the world. The best part is that it will never end. It's not a fairy tale. The perfect ending our spirits long for will truly be ours, only it's not an ending but just the beginning!

The sands of time are sinking;
The dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I've sighed for,
The fair sweet morn awakes;
Dark, dark has been the midnight,
But dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Immanuel's land. 

― Samuel Rutherford

Prayer

 
“Prayer at its best is the expression of the total life.” ― A.W. Tozer

“Prayer is to the spiritual life what the beating of the pulse and the drawing of the breath are to the life of the body.” ― John Henry Newman

“Prayer is a work to which we must commit ourselves if we are to make sense of our lives in light of eternity.” ― Terry Glaspey

"What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so prayer is to the soul." ― Corrie ten Boom

How Perfect the Rest

"If all that happens to you can be traced directly or indirectly to the hand of your loving Lord, then how gladly should you bear life's burdens, and how perfect should be the rest in which heart and mind should dwell!" ― Susannah Spurgeon

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." ― Deuteronomy 33:27

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." ― Isaiah 26:3

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." ― Romans 8:28

Led by His Hand

"Like a child holds his father’s hand, we can stay close to God and follow Him. He has promised that whatever He leads us through, He will be with us through it. In fact, He has prepared us for these exact circumstances in life and He will get glory if we allow Him to work through us. He encourages us not to be troubled, not to allow our hearts to be gripped with fear, but like a little child to trust Him." ― Lori Frauenhofer

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." ― Isaiah 41:10

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." ― John 14:27

Let Your Heart Rejoice!

"Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face for evermore." ― Psalm 105:3-4

Praise protects our hearts from being calloused by complaining and worrying. It builds a fortress of protection around our souls and guards us against defeat. It prepares us for what is to come, covers what is already done, and fills us with joy in the present moment. It turns our eyes from our problems and onto our Problem-Solver, and reminds us that our mountains of trouble are only small hills before the Lord. He sees the big picture and is in complete control, even when we are not.

Praise fixes our gaze on the eternal. Worry fixes our gaze on the temporary. Praise worships the beautiful work of Christ on the cross. Worry worships the what-ifs.

Praise lifts up others, equips us for battle, and spills over onto all who are around us. Worry tears down, distracts from our mission, and drags down all who hear.

Colossians 4:2 tells us to “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Prayer and praise go hand-in-hand. Let’s put first things first this week: pray boldly and praise him abundantly. Because He is always good, no matter what may come.

― Gretchen Saffles

At His Disposal

 

 O LORD GOD,

There is no blessing we implore but Thou art able to give,
    hast promised to give,
    hast given already to countless multitudes,
      all unworthy and guilty like ourselves;
Make us willing to receive the supply of our need from Thy bounty.
To this end convince us of sin,
          soften our hard hearts,
            to bewail our folly, ingratitude, pride,
            unbelief, rebellion, corruption.
Through the law may we die to the law,
    then look with wonder, submission, delight,
    to the provision Thou hast made for the glory of Thy Name
       in the salvation of sinners.
Give us a hope that makes us not ashamed,
        a love that excites to holy obedience,
        a joy in Thee that is our strength,
        a faith in Thy Son who loved us and died for us.
May we persevere in duty when not fully conscious of Thee,
        wait upon Thee and keep Thy way,
        be humble and earnest suppliants at Thy feet,
        live continually as on the brink of eternity.
Let us be at Thy disposal for the duties and events of life,
      submit our preferences to Thy wisdom and will,
      resign our enjoyments if Thou shouldest require it
        as our absolute Proprietor and best Friend.
May we know the blessedness of men whose strength is in Thee,
    and in whose hearts are the highways to heaven.

― The Valley of Vision

Bright and Visible

 

 

"God sees our care for those around us. He places a high value on the meals we make for our hungry family, the care we give to our sick relatives and neighbors, the countless drinks of water we serve to our children and grandchildren, and the welcome we offer to people by opening our home. Jesus made it clear that when we provide for others' daily needs, we're giving directly to Him. We serve Christ by serving those He loves. With this in mind, within the limitations of our hours and days we can make significant, eternal contributions by caring for those God loves. We serve in an upside-down kingdom where God is pleased with the small and unseen, with the widow's mite, the mustard seed, and the loaves and fishes. Faithfulness in the little things will make the invisible kingdom bright and visible."

― Andi Ashworth

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." ― Matthew 25:40