Pocket Thoughts - 5/23/25

God * has upheld us since our birth * makes known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what is still to come * tests us in the furnace of affliction.

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The first place a believer turns in times of distress is to the Lord. We know He hears our desperate prayers and that He cares for us. We can praise Him even in the waiting as His best plans for us unfold in His timing. He distinguishes between those of us who follow Him and those who pursue evil ends. The wisest plan of action in our hardship is to praise God, reminding ourselves of His perfect, holy character and His all-encompassing power. We call on His mercy, His strength, and His protection. He is our Shield, our Helper, our Salvation, our Inheritance, and our Shepherd. Pray, praise, and wait. Although His answers may be different from what you expect, your good God will never fail you. – TV

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The Lord promised a consistent provision of food for the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. He also gave very specific instructions about how they were to gather the food He would send down from heaven. This would be a very visible sign to the people of the Lord’s ability to provide for them and of His glory as it appeared to them in the desert. Would they partake of this heavenly sustenance in accordance with God’s instructions? Those who chose to do what seemed right in their own eyes ended up with rotten, spoiled food and empty stomachs. There are always consequences for disobedience – and always opportunities for repentance. God isn’t spitefully watching you to see you fail. He’s vigilantly overseeing your life to help you and to keep you on paths that lead to peace and flourishing. God is for you! Listen and obey to enjoy the full benefits of life with Him. – TV

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In one grand, glorious song, the four living creatures and the elders pour out pure, truth-filled worship to God in Revelation 5. The concise lyrics are packed with the gospel message and God’s beautiful plan of redemption! Naturally, praise for Jesus is the central theme. He alone is declared worthy to open God’s scroll, which contains His plan for salvation and judgment. Jesus’ sacrificial love is lauded as the means for rescuing sinners from every tribe, language, people, and nation. The finale to this brief but impactful song includes the bestowing of God’s purpose for His ambassadors. We’ll enjoy citizenship in His kingdom, service as His priests, and future royal reign with Christ. One day, we’ll join in the heavenly praise in person, but remembering these words now is great practice and is good for our hearts as we reflect on all that Jesus has done for us! – TV

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Lord, if touching the fringe of Your garment can heal a long-afflicted woman, knowing just the fringe of Who You are can surely heal my mind and heart. Just that fringe fills me with awe and wonder. Lord, please – entrust me with more of You! Help me to see and know You in amazing and beautiful ways that I’ve never considered before. Expand my understanding. Open my heart to deeper, truer worship of You – my King, my Savior, Lover of my soul. Turn my face to You. Hold my gaze. Eliminate all distractions, activities, and thoughts that would entice me away from knowing You more fully. As I receive more of You, help me to be more like You – seeking out the lonely, the hurting, the hiding. Give me sincerity of friendship, kindness, patience, selflessness, and loyalty. More of You simply enables me to give more of myself. Fill me to overflowing so that I may be a blessing for Your glory. To the praise of Jesus’ beautiful Name, amen.

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“Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded. God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others.” – Oswald Chambers

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“Praise be to the Lord, Who has given rest to His people Israel just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our fathers; may He never leave us nor forsake us. May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep the commands, decrees, and regulations He gave our fathers.” – 1 Kings 8:56-58