Hurt and Trust

Once you’ve been hurt, severely hurt, to the core – are you able to ever again trust that person completely? Right now I’m feeling the walls go up again with someone who caused me a similar kind of hurt. What sparked it? Seeing someone very close to me accept an apology from another someone who hurt them, betrayed them and tossed their relationship right out the window. Don’t get me wrong – I’m all about forgiveness & second chances. But you know that saying? “Hurt me once, shame on you, hurt me twice, shame on me.” I believe that God equips us with these precautionary measures to protect us. An instant fear surfaced that I thought was gone. We had not even experienced the same hurt yet I became extremely overprotective of my “close person” so that he wouldn’t get hurt again also.
I know it’s the enemy causing my spirit of fear and mistrust. It’s also experience with these people who hurt us even though they’ve both been forgiven, long ago.
Is it safe to trust again? Is is ok to let them have any kind of place anywhere near our hearts again? I need to definitely search God’s Word for some advice on this one. So, once I do, I’ll be back and share what I learned….

“Giving It Over” lyrics

In my solitude this morning, before the kids woke, I took a little me and God time by listening to some of my favorite songs….

…..the words to this one song really hit close to my heart. (there were several I could have chosen but this one fits with what’s going on in our lives right now) It’s a great reminder and I pray it reaches you right where you are too…

“Giving It Over”

“I was a teen flat-liner on the joy screen
Dead in the water of life as we knew
you offered me drink,
I wanted more than a sip
But I couldn’t let go of the straws
I was clinging to

Giving it over, giving it over
I was flat on my back, I’d slid ’til it hurt
Giving it over, giving it over
You put my head in the clouds
and my feet in good dirt
My head in the clouds
and my feet in good…Dirt

Devils were crowding my head
With lies they spread
They’d convinced me of
what fools know isn’t true
Quick as an outcast rhyme
you took me back in time
Back to the first love I ever knew

Giving it over, giving it over
Got my broken heart healed
and removed from its cast
Giving it over, giving it over
Yeah, I’m giving myself to
a true love at last
Giving myself to a true love at last

You don’t know where
the wind’s gonna blow
And since you can’t take it with you
better give it away before you go
Yeah, I’m giving it over

Greed is the word, it’s a verb
Wants to bind us all
Bind us together like a platinum truss
Giving it over, giving it over
I’m putting my heart into treasures
that don’t rust
I’m giving it all over to a face I can trust

You don’t know where
the wind’s gonna blow
And since you can’t take it with you
Better give it away before you go
Yeah, I’m giving it over”

Giving It Over Lyrics

song performed by Newsboys in the album Thrive

Listen online via youtube at:

Giving It Over by Newsboys

Encouragement shared but personal

How do you see yourself?

 

A very sweet friend recently blogged about her frustrations and determination, plus needed accountability during her present journey of weight loss. As I read her words I related and appreciated her transparency. But in the end, I felt myself needing the same encouragement, support, and the loving arms of my heavenly Father around me. So, just in case you need the same, for whatever reason….read on and hopefully be blessed….we, girls, need to stick together(:

This was what I wrote to her but it came right back to my heart too -                        (minus the heroine part, haha)

You are my hero(ine)!!
WOW! It took so much courage, strength & determination to post this very transparent blog, let alone, take on this challenge! You are so NOT alone girl! Don’t take this as patronizing but I have to admit-I am so proud & jealous of you & where you are right now! I know the frustration, level of determination & yo-yo effect you’re feeling oh so well! I don’t have the answers either but I know that as long as we still care, still try AGAIN but most importantly know how beautiful we are to God, what our worth is to Abba then we can truly love ourselves, right where we are in life! Only then can we use that strength from God to be even better, to be our best for Him and not man! Look inside sweet friend – you’re amazing!

Believe me when I say, I needed that reminder today too! I love you girl!

Some verses of encouragement & support:

Eph 3:19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Eph 3:20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

See yourself the way Abba sees you

Is it me?

Could I be the reason?
Is it me?
Did I do something?

It’s not that I feel like being their justification for not being a Christian or for not even going to church but….my heart is breaking right now for some I know who are suffering instead of healing, instead of knowing my Jesus….

I do believe that it’s every one of our responsibilities, as Christians, to honestly ask ourselves, these 3 questions. Not just to take a look in the mirror and walk away the same as we first approached those very difficult questions. But in order to set into action whatever necessary steps to change the part of us that could contribute to their justification. Let’s not look at it, for a minute, as their justification but allow ourselves to see us as they do.

Do I judge people who don’t go to church?

Do I act like I think I’m better because I openly profess to be a Christian?

Do I associate with only believers?

Do I cause them to feel terrible or guilty by my attitude toward them? (my interaction with them?)

Do I go out of my way to make a scriptural point every time I see them or talk to them?

Do I genuinely love them and show love to them?

Do I acknowledge them only if they show up at my church?

Do I make sure to point out every single act of theirs as ungodly or not Christ-like?

Do I gossip about them?

Do I judge their dress because it’s not modest or their hair because it’s long or short?

Do I teach my kids to treat people this same way?

These are questions that I’ve recently considered because I do have people in my life who have been hurt by people who profess to be Christians. We, who claim to be Christ-like, can ruin it for people to experience the real Christ and His love for them, because we get in the way! We show them the total wrong impression of Christ.

Don’t mistake this blog for taking all the responsibility off the person who chooses not to have a relationship with Christ but understand that we do have a responsibility also! There are years of evidence to prove, that as churches, we’re not ministering to people or meeting the needs of people the way that God instructs us. There are numerous stories of legalism that requires people to be perfect or we doom them to hell.  There is so much hurt among people who have entered our churches searching for an answer and leave feeling disgusted and dirty because of how we treated them. Others tried to live up to our standards and failed miserably and we were right there to load on the guilt and the utter disappointment at just the time they were really searching for WHO would actually deliver them from their demon. Women, who dressed like the world, and yet still attended our churches because that was the only thing they had in their closet to wear and yet we snubbed our noses at her instead of reaching out to her in genuine love and kindness.  Men, who quietly sat in the back of the church, crying beneath his breath, terrified to be seen for fear of his addiction being discovered and we ignored him instead of welcoming him into our arms and making it a safe place to be transparent. Teens, who were covered in tats, body piercings, spiked or colored hair or whatever else we might consider different, who were angry at the world and felt unloved at home, hoping that just one person would treat him like he or she existed, like they could be seen and heard. Yet, we shied away, hurrying our kids out the door before they saw such an “ungodly” display of “lost youth”. The visitor who bothered to get all their kids dressed, fed and out the door on time to only arrive late and “disrupt” the service who we glared at or whispered the directions to the nursery with an annoyed frown.  Pounding them with scripture, shouting damnation at them and standing superior as we judge their every breath does have to have an impact on their impression of God! Shame on every one of us ever guilty of such a similar offensive act!

I’ve even read where there are many people who consider the treatment they endured as a form of abuse, a traumatic time in their life that they still today, have difficulty recovering from. Can you believe that! Wow! That’s pretty bad! But it made sense to me that they could.

Jesus preached to multitudes and I’m sure they weren’t all believers who were perfect like we’d like to think we are. He reached hearts with His gentle approach, with His love, with His wide open arms. Mark 6:34 “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”  He didn’t beat them up to get their attention and neither should we! It doesn’t work!

So many people in this world have consciously chosen to stay out of church, to stay safe from repeating past hurts because they don’t trust us anymore and honestly, who could blame them? I don’t want to be a reason they could even try to use for not knowing God and being able to worship at the same church that I do, or any church.

I’d sure hate to be in Heaven one day and have God look at me and ask:

“just who do you think you are?

who are you to stand in judgment of them?

Romans 14:10 “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

who are you to decide how they get treated?

are you sinless? are you blameless?

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

didn’t I have to cleanse your sins too?

didn’t you keep messing up too?

you are the one person they had a chance to see ME in – you and you blew it! because of you, they ran as far away from ME as they could get and looked for MY love in other things, in other people -

what do you have to say for yourself?”

Romans 14:13 “Let us not therefore judge one another any more:

but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock

or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”

That one person we shun, run off or treat badly may have been the very one God needed to reach someone else and we’ll never have that same chance they would’ve had. Maybe you or I can’t relate the same that they could so we’ll never know the full impact that we prevented. Pretty sad, right?

I don’t know, maybe it’s just me and I’m the only one feeling conviction & grief over these lost souls. But I doubt it. If I do get to have even a slim chance of being involved in someone’s choice as to whether or not they draw closer to God, I want to be the Christian God wants them to see. The genuine person who shows love and tenderness. Not because of anything I can do for them but because of all that He can do for them and with their lives! God can use each one of us and our lives, our experiences, to reach others to Him.

So, let’s determine to be more Christ-like and treat people the way He did. We can’t help but gain something too if even a better understanding of exactly who we are in Christ! People deserve the same kind of forgiveness, love and mercy He showed to us! That’s just my heart and it came from God so I had to share.

Armor of God defined…

Wait a minute! An armor – I have to wear an armor? So I have to physically put on a heavy armor and carry around a metal shield all day? Seriously I don’t look that great in a helmet.
All kidding aside…
the Armor of God is a protective covering that we have at our disposal because we’re Christians & Jesus lives in us.
Does it mean we’ll escape from any possibilities of trouble or battle? Not hardly. Jesus didn’t, did He?
Protection -
being equipped for battle is a necessity when you approach war so why wouldn’t we, as Christians daily battling Satan & his followers, also arm ourselves? We should!
So, you ask, am I ok as long as I have on the Armor, so that I can go ahead and proceed into places I know I shouldn’t go? Answer: an emphatic NO! Because when you go somewhere Jesus tells you not to go, you’re disobeying God and taking off the breastplate of righteousness. So you will not be safe going there anyway. Satan will try to trick you as he tempts you. He knows you believe God will protect you and that you’re wearing the Armor of God. He uses that knowledge to get you to test God.
Remember when he tried to tempt Jesus?
first) AND THE DEVIL SAID UNTO HIM, IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, COMMAND THIS STONE THAT IT BE MADE BREAD-Lk 4:3.
second) THEN THE DEVIL TAKETH HIM UP INTO THE HOLY CITY, AND SETTETH HIM ON A PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE, AND SAITH UNTO HIM, IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, CAST THYSELF DOWN: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING THEE: AND IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR THEE UP, LEST AT ANY TIME THOU DASH THY FOOT AGAINST A STONE-Mt 4:5,6.
third) AGAIN, THE DEVIL TAKETH HIM UP INTO AN EXCEEDING HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHOWETH HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD, AND THE GLORY OF THEM; AND SAITH UNTO HIM, ALL THESE THINGS WILL I GIVE THEE, IF THOU WILT FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME.

Even Jesus needed God’s Word, His strength and His protection to resist the temptations of Satan! Are we stronger than Jesus? Are we Satan-proof? NOT HARDLY!

As I mentioned earlier, there are 6 pieces of armor for the Christian to “put on” as the Armor of God. I’ll discuss them one by one in future blogs but felt it was crucial to introduce the meaning & necessity behind the entire Armor of God first.

Our “Youth Family” is more than just a group!

just a few words to describe them -

Amazing,

loving – “Your love for one another will prove to the

world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35

wise, Christians, lovers of God, genuine,

transparent, strong,

humble – “Humble yourselves before the Lord,

and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

obedient (to God)  – James 1:22 “But be doers of the word,

and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

followers (of God),

worshipers – “For God is Spirit, so those who worship him

must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24

teachers, preachers,

leaders/examples - 

 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth,

but set the believers an example in speech,

in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

kind-hearted, awesome kids…..

who are they? They’re our church youth family & I am so blessed to know them and be allowed to walk beside them as they grow closer to our God!

The world may think we’re weird but we’re told to be different.

The world may think we’re boring but we have tons of fun!

The world may think we’re going no where but we know where we’re going!

The world may think we think we’re better than them but

we know we’re just forgiven and only by grace are we saved.

The world may not want to get too close because they

feel guilty about how they live but we’re not perfect either.

The world may try to detour us from our path with God

but God is our G od P ositioning S ystem

(no irreverence intended)

and He will never steer us wrong!

God gave me a heart for these dear, young people a while back but He’s drawn me even closer by showing them they can trust this adult. The fact that they feel so comfortable sharing and sometimes even pouring their hearts out to me assures me they know I love them but better yet – that God loves them and it’s easy to see their amazing futures as followers of Christ. They will turn the world upside down! I pray I’m here to see it but if not then I know one day in heaven I’ll get to see them get their just rewards.  They are so much stronger of a Christian than even I was at their young ages. They have a hunger for the Word, a desire to see their friends and families saved and they know who they are, who they serve and where they’re going! I continue to learn from them and consider it for my greater good to gain from their outlook, their wisdom and their stories. God will use their journey on this earth to reach people in their world who I would never be able to reach & I thank God for these youth!  They already know how much they mean to me and that I’m always here for them but they just don’t realize how they’ve ministered to my needs too!

I thank Him for putting me right here, right now, in this time, with this youth family! You guys and girls are always such a blessing to my life! Thank you!

Phil. 1:3
“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.“

New Living Translation

Spiritual Warfare! It’s real!

What is Spiritual Warfare?

This is an important question, because “spiritual warfare” means different things to different people. The term itself is not found in the scriptures, but the concept is taught. Two of the most commonly associated passages were written by the Apostle Paul.

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (one of my favorite verses)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms.” Eph. 6:10-12

Paul reminds us that we have spiritual authority and blessings in the unseen or heavenly realms (1:3). God wants people to be delivered from the power of Satan and his forces (2:1-2).

The good news is that Satan and his forces have already been defeated and disarmed (Col. 2:15). Consequently, there’s no need for believers to fear their spiritual enemy. While Satan still has the freedom to tempt and harass Christians, he has no direct authority over them. The armor of God pictures the protection Jesus gives us against demonic attack.

Satan can’t have a hold on you unless you let him. You have the power within you to resist him.

“Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James:4:7). This promise, however, is clearly directed toward those willing to “submit to God” (same verse) and is immediately followed with the instruction, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (verse 8). (http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/how-can-i-resist-evil-influences-satan-devil)

The closer we get to God, the more uncomfortable the devil is!

6 pieces of the Armor of God

I’ll post more blogs on all this later.  I’ll search scripture and spiritual wisdom to explain the 6 pieces of the Armor of God more in depth so you get a clearer understanding of just how to prepare for this daily battle. I pray a hedge of protection around you as you seek to draw closer to God and ask that you prayerfully ask for guidance in this area of your life too. You’re not alone in this battle!

some comments borrowed from -

http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/how-can-i-resist-evil-influences-satan-devil

http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/questions/theology/spiritualwarfare.html

Inevitable? God changes inevitable!

“If you say that an event is ‘inevitable’ it means it is going to happen and there’s nothing you can do about it. Dictionary definition: certain to happen. unavoidable.”     Read more: http://wiki.answers.com

It may seem, to the outsider, as if we’ve tried to chase dreams in our past by moving state to state. But each time we have truly felt a sense of God’s hand in our move as we considered the decision to relocate, etc. He has placed different opportunities ahead of us that led us to make such moves. We’ve learned to listen to Him!

At a time when we don’t know what lies ahead, where Scott’s talents are best used, we find ourselves facing the daunting task of once again starting over. I know this place. It’s quite familiar.

Today,  I couldn’t help but think of the “inevitable”. Not that I believed it was inevitable to be in this position again in our lives but what’s ahead – that was where that word spooked me. But no sooner had I thought it than I faced the reality that – to God- there is no inevitable – only to man. God is totally capable of changing the “unavoidable” and those so called things that “you can do nothing about, certain to happen”.  Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”  Luke 18:27 (NIV)

There is some truth to the definition where man is concerned but fortunately if, as a Christian, I submit to God’s will for my life, I am not in control of the outcome! That, in itself, should eliminate worry and fears!

So, today, right this moment, as I search the Word for a “hug from my Heavenly Father” – Abba, I’m praying for the assurance that He is in control.   So I read: Job 42:2 (NIV) “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. ” I’m praying for direction so I’m reminded:    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”   Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

I know that God hasn’t given up on us even though it feels so hard lots of times.  Ps.57:2.”Being confident of this very thing,that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  The fact that He’s still got a hand in our lives lifts me when I can’t get up again.

I have assurance. I have hope. I also have a stronger faith today than when we first started our journey together: me, my husband and God – our 1 “cord of 3 strands” (Eccl. 4:12).  He’s brought us closer to Him and to each other – for this I am grateful!

I’m by no means an expert at understanding all the scriptures so I decided to consult a commentary in exploring a very familiar passage online. I know Romans 8 very well. I come here often. But while reading this excellent commentary on Romans 8 tonight, I chose to use the words of the author (with appreciation for the gentle, loving reminder):

“God knows the end from the beginning. A Christian may undergo setbacks presently and all seem to work against him. But he has a hope that everything works together for his good only. God is a sovereign God. No one can stop Him from doing what He has preplanned in the child of God. There is God’s providential care & protection in his life.”   By D.Alexander Jacob http://www.vbvbc.org/bible-verse/romans8-28/all-comments/#comment-224

A Good Look in the Mirror

Who do you see when you look in the mirror?

Scary? Yes. Do you dare? Take a look, as I did, in the mirror and see if you like who you’ve become! Possibly the most convicting and humbling experience you’ll have today! It was for me!

This is always a very hard thing to do but I was forced to take a long, deep look in the mirror today and no, I didn’t like what or who I saw. I’m not talking about being superficial or prideful. I mean really seeing who I was on the inside, like the way God sees me.  It can be totally humbling and convicting, to say the least.

It can come from a stranger seeing you falsely for their first impression of you. It can come from a family member  or old friend pointing out something you swore you’d never become. It can even come from the way a child looks at you when you’ve said or done something. No matter how it comes, when it does, it’s brutal to hear. It’s even more devastating to see when you actually do dare to take that look at the reflection that you honestly thought was that of God. Do you see love, gentleness, kindness, etc? or do you see selfishness, insecurity, stubbornness, anger, hatred, spite, etc?

^{Gal. 5:22} “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. “

I’m not going to share what I saw today but know that it was time and it convicted me to ask God to help me work on the imperfections I saw, to help me become more like Him and less like me – that part of me I don’t like. It doesn’t really matter how I look on the outside but what’s on the inside does flow over to the outside and people are affected by who I am on the inside.

How long’s it been since you’ve taken that look? Be prepared – it won’t be easy! Have a box of kleenex handy if you’re willing to be honest and transparent in front of God! (like you can be anything but, haha) Ask yourself, like I had to ask me, “Do people see Him when they see me or do they see the me I want them to see?” It’s an ongoing battle but I do want them to see the me He wants me to be. I want them to see Him in me!

I’m still a work in progress but I think I’m well on my way if I didn’t listen to the mean criticism of those who only want to hurt me and listen to the heart of my heavenly Father who wants to better me! I know my value to Him (Psalm 139) and even with some much needed improvements I’m still not as bad as the enemy wants to convince me I am.

So, I’ll continue trying, and with God’s help, and a deaf ear to Satan, I’ll become even more of a reflection of God  and the woman in the mirror that I long to see.

Peace and Rest

“Dear God,  Please surround us with a hedge of protection and I pray I see Your hand in all of this and bringing us safely, peacefully to the other side where we will give You all the praise and the glory for Your will being done! I pray for peace, an amazing peace that only You can give! I pray for direction, wisdom and discernment when needing to react to oncoming storms while still on this earth! I don’t know what You have in store for us but my family is in Your hands & I trust You to know what’s best for us! Take this fear away please! Hold me up Lord! I’m breaking and can’t do this on my own! As hard as this is to say, I’m willing to go through this with You if this is where You want me! In spite of my circumstances I have faith in You and know that You are bigger than any storm, any wind, any danger! Tell me what to do please and when to do it! I need to feel Your hand in mine! Thank You! In Jesus Name, Amen”

I had to start with a prayer instead of end with it to put me in the right frame of mind and heart to even proceed.  The past month has been devastating to say the least: tornadoes, complete ruins, tragic losses, fear, sadness, our home town of Tuscaloosa destroyed in a lot of areas, and then my mom’s medical condition worsening.  I’m freaking out at the moment, afraid of the oncoming weather for tonight and tomorrow, wondering “HOW MUCH MORE?” I don’t know how much more of all this we can take! Not just me but those poor people who have already lost so much and are trying to recover or find lost family members still and have to stop searching because of the weather getting worse again! It’s almost the end of May and April was bad enough! The warnings are freaky but I know it’s only to prepare us! So ready to be on the other side looking back. I must be hopeful or I wouldn’t be sitting here copying future school work for my kids as if we’ll be here in 3 years to even do it. My only hope comes from God alone!

Job 11:18 NIV (New International Version)”You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.”

I’m at the end of my human rope emotionally; that’s where God finds me and holds on tight to me! I can’t be the “angel who stays awake to care for her family” tonight! I’m exhausted and there’s nothing left in me to weather another storm! It’s not like before when I was deathly afraid of storms, I got past that! This is so different really! I can’t explain it! I wonder how much longer until I’m able to be HOME safe and sound, with my family and away from all the groaning and moaning of this earth! Away from the hard, the sad, the evil in this world. Only God has helped me be able to find the good, the amazing moments in time and the light at the end of the tunnel, oh so many times! He has blessed me and my family with so much and met all our needs! I just need a little more sleep to be able to handle more – I think – right now.

My husband is so wonderful and has helped me through so much and we’ve grown so much closer to each other and to God through everything we’ve been through, especially since those we thought were once our friends have very little if anything to do with us and we are in this for the long haul together!

This blog is all over the place and probably makes very little sense to the onlooker but if you take anything from this – take that I know my value in God, I know He loves me, I know He’ll take care of me, of us, I just don’t know what that means for our tomorrow! I don’t have to know. I do trust Him. I just need to know what to do next? Sleep or be alert – watching and waiting? Not for Him, (oh how I wish), but for the storms or the next obstacle on this earth. Some people blame “lack of peace in Israel”, some say it’s “God punishing the US”, some say “it’s the end of the world as we know it.” So many opinions, so much hard and hurt!

My thought has to be “what do I tell my kids when they ask why?” or “what do I show my kids when they watch to see my reaction to all this?” How about “what am I teaching them by my emotional roller coaster?” besides that Mommy is hormonal, lol. Those questions are very convicting!

So, since I’m still searching for answers to give them, I need to spend even more time in God’s Word, with the hope that they’ll learn what God wants them to learn from me instead of what the world wants them to think. How’d this end up about my kids? They’re who I think of as the Mommy-protector, them and my husband. They continue to sleep through the storms while I stand guard, listening and waiting for God’s direction and then God’s peace and then my sleep – my rest!

Another comfort that God has provided has been music and one particular song I go to quite often is “Never Let Go” by Matt Redman…….

Here are several direct and indirect Bible references in the song, “You Never Let Go”:

Verse 1:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:a)
Your perfect love is casting out fear (1 John 4:18)
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life (Mark 4:35-41)
I won’t turn back (John 6:66-69)
I know You are near (Psalm 145:18)

Pre-Chorus:
And I will fear no evil (Psalm 23:4b)
For my God is with me (Psalm 23:6)
And if my God is with me (Psalm 46–especially verse 11)
Whom then shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1)
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go (Hebrews 13:5-6; Deuternomy 31:6; Joshua 1:1-9)
Through the calm and through the storm (Isaiah 25:4)
Oh no, You never let go (John 10:27-28)
In every high and every low (Ecclesiastes 7:14)
Oh no, You never let go (Psalm 55:22)
Lord, You never let go of me (Matthew 28:20)

Verse 2:
And I can see a light (John 8:12) that is coming for the heart that holds on (Psalm 27:14)
A glorious light beyond all compare (Matthew 17:1-5; 1 Timothy 6:16)
And there will be an end to these troubles (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
But until that day comes (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2; 1 Peter 1:13)
We’ll live to know You here on the earth (Philippians 3:10-11)

Chorus

Bridge:
Yes, I can see a light (2 Corinthians 4:6) that is coming for the heart that holds on (Psalm 97:11; Psalm 57:4-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:5; Hebrews 10:35-38)
And there will be an end to these troubles (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
But until that day comes (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You (Psalm 71; Ephesians 5:8)

If the song has one overarching Scripture reference, I’d say its Romans 8:28-39 and especially verses 38-39:  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”