The Yoke of Christ

The following is an excerpt from the 34th chapter of Desire of Ages

All are weighed down with burdens that only Christ can remove. The heaviest burden that we bear is the burden of sin. If we were left to bear this burden, it would crush us. But the Sinless One has taken our place. “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isa. 53:6. He has borne the burden of our guilt. He will take the load from our weary shoulders. He will give us rest. The burden of care and sorrow also He will bear. He invites us to cast all our care upon Him; for He carries us upon His heart…

Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are you wounded? He will heal. The Lord “telleth the number of the stars;” and yet “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Ps. 147:4, 3. “Come unto Me,” is His invitation.

Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon the Burden Bearer…. We are to take upon us His yoke, that we may be co-workers with Him. The yoke that binds to service is the law of God.

The great law of love… is that which binds the human worker to the will of God…. [God] desires that we shall patiently and wisely take up the duties of service. The yoke of service Christ Himself has borne in humanity. He said, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8. “I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” John 6:38. Love for God, zeal for His glory, and love for fallen humanity, brought Jesus to earth to suffer and to die. This was the controlling power of His life. This principle He bids us adopt.

There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs…. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. He invites them to accept His yoke; He says, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added. Worry is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief…. We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God.

[Christ] was never elated by applause, nor dejected by censure or disappointment. Amid the greatest opposition and the most cruel treatment, He was still of good courage. But many who profess to be His followers have an anxious, troubled heart, because they are afraid to trust themselves with God. They do not make a complete surrender to Him; for they shrink from the consequences that such a surrender may involve. Unless they do make this ]surrender, they cannot find peace.

It is the love of self that brings unrest. When we are born from above, the same mind will be in us that was in Jesus, the mind that led Him to humble Himself that we might be saved. Then we shall not be seeking the highest place. We shall desire to sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him. We shall understand that the value of our work does not consist in making a show and noise in the world, and in being active and zealous in our own strength. The value of our work is in proportion to the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Trust in God brings holier qualities of mind, so that in patience we may possess our souls.

When our will is swallowed up in the will of God, and we use His gifts to bless others, we shall find life’s burden light. He who walks in the way of God’s commandments is walking in company with Christ, and in His love the heart is at rest. When Moses prayed, “Show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee,” the Lord answered him, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” And through the prophets the message was given, “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Exodus 33:13, 14; Jeremiah 6:16. And He says, “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18.

Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping, their lives to His ordering, will find peace and quietude. Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence. In perfect acquiescence there is perfect rest. The Lord says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3. Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory—character—of Christ will be received into the Paradise of God.

Bible Promises For Anxious Minds

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 42:11. “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24. ” Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7. “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.” Psalm 34:18. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3.

“A righteous man may fall seven times and rise again… ” Proverbs 24:16. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Psalm 37:23-24. “The Lord lifts up the humble…” Psalm 147:6. “The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14.

“..Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” Jude 24. “He will rejoice over you with gladness” Zephaniah 3:17. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. “A merry heart does good, like medicine” Proverbs 17:22. “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22.

“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. and the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, Because they trust in Him.” Psalm 37:39-40.  “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!” Psalm 105:4. “The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11.

“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Psalm 27:14. “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:30-31

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.” Psalm 57:1. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” Psalm 51:10-11.

“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me.” Psalm 101:3 “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” Psalm 16:8. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.

“Sin shall not have dominion over you” Romans 6:14. “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” Romans 5:20. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15 “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). “Resist [the devil], steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5:9. “Pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:22-25. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). “Exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

“Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133. “Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:104. “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9. “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11. “Great peace have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalm 119:165 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16.

“Peace, be still!” Mark 4:39. “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest..” Isaiah 57:20a. “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” Romans 5:1. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways”. Isaiah 55:8. “My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11.

“…I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die…?” Ezekiel 33:11″ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10

“….Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin… My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:1-6

“I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death.” Psalm 118:17-18

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2-3. “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.

Put on “the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” Ephesians 6:16-18. ”

“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.” Job 22:21-22. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Proverbs 30:5. “You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.” Psalm 115:11. “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19b.

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness” Romans 3:22. “the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ…” Romans 3:22 “…faith working through love” Galatians 5:6. “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” 1 Thessalonians 5:8. “Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” Ephesians 6:15

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:12-14. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Galatians 3:27.

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3. “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:8-11

“Look to Me, and be saved” Isaiah 45:22a .“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. “I know the things that come into your mind.” Ezekiel 11:5b “. Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1.  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you….” Jeremiah 1:5 “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” Jeremiah 31:3. “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands…” Isaiah 49:16.

“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth” Isaiah 54:4a. “I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, and like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” Isaiah 44:22. “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“Do you want to be made well?” John 5:6. “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1. “Go forward” Exodus 14:15.”For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 4:7.

“Give me your heart” Proverbs 23:26. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Ezekiel 36:26-27

“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid” Joshua 1:9a. “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10. “I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua 1:5b.”For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’” Isaiah 41:13. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy” Psalm 107:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:2. “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14. “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you.” Isaiah 49:15. “Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, and I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life.” Isaiah 43:4.

“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25. “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid Of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass?” Isaiah 51:12. “All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:6b-8

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27. “Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” John 10:5

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:17-18. “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3. “In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1. “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:6. “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4-5.

“Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad.” Proverbs 12:25. “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8.

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:26-34

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29–31

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.” 1 John 4:18a. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. “You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.'” Romans 8:15.

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17

“If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:11-13

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11. “You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2. “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24

Remember,  Christ “always lives to make intercession” for us Hebrews 7:25. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1. “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” 1 John 3:20

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Also see, A Love Letter From God and How to be strong in the Lord

Nobody can believe for me

I feel like King David when he said “My sin is always before me.” Like the song called “Blessings”, I’m wondering what if God’s healing comes through tears. What if the sleepless nights I have worrying about this issue is what it takes to know that He is near? What if this trial is His mercy in disguise?

This morning, I remembered the song “Open My Eyes Lord I Want to See Jesus….”. I was feeling bad about being misunderstood and how they never replied to my messages.

Then suddenly out of my muddled thoughts, the following scriptures came flashing to my memory very quickly all at once

“Call upon Me… I will listen… Seek me and find me… If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain.. ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be cast into the depths of the sea… Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

Jeremiah 29:12-13, Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21, Micah 7:19, John 11:40

It was as if God was reminding me that I was using the consequences of my mistakes as an excuse to doubt in His promises of forgiveness and victory over my worrying problem. Then I remembered the following verses which remind me that nobody else can believe for me, I need to believe in God for myself:

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive…” John 7:37-39a. ”

“Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets? Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you.” Proverbs 5:15-17

I’m also reminded where Jesus says to come to Him and believe so my soul will never thirst and that He won’t cast me out.

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst… All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.”
John 6:36, 37

It’s as God is saying to me:
“Don’t worry, even if your friends block you, I’ll never block you”

Later this morning, the song “Blessings” played on the radio

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we’d have faith to believe
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home

The rest of the day, I began compulsively collecting bible verses, looking at the symbol of water or rivers in the bible, and seeing it point to Jesus who offers joy, peace, and rest to the soul through the Holy Spirit.

God promises the Holy Spirit and He will not withhold any good thing to them who asks (Luke 11:13, Psalm 84:11). I had become so focused on my spiritual thirst that I forgot about Jesus, the fountain of living waters (Jeremiah 2:13). I became as the ancient Israelites who tempted the Lord saying “Is the Lord among us or not?” Exodus 17:7. In that context, I’m reminded of these passages of scripture:

“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’” Psalm 95:7b-11

Hebrews 3:18-19 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Hebrews 4:9-13 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

When you abide in Christ and meditate on God’s Word, you will bear fruit as a tree that is planted by rivers of water.

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:7-8

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Now also I’m reminded of why I really need to go on a technological fast or at least stay away from the computer as much as possible. It would help me focus on praying to God for guidance to know what I should do with my time (because I haven’t found a job).

I want to walk in good old way, the Jesus Way. (Jeremiah 6:16, John 14:6). John said: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 2:6. Peter puts it this way: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” 1 Peter 2:21.

I want to always go to that spiritual river to pray in hunger and thirst for “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” Romans 14:17. As I study the scriptures which points to Jesus, the good old way, I should believe in Him so that I may have life. (John 5:39-40). I need a life and that life is found in Jesus (John 1:4, 1 John 5:11).

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” James 1:12. Jesus tells us “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life… but hold fast what you have till I come.” Revelation 2:10, 25. “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Revelation 3:11.

Those who wear the robes of Christ’s righteousness are those who have had their faith tested and were cleansed by His blood (Revelation 7:14).

Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.

 

Songs Inspiring Certainty

I suppose any hymn would inspire certainty and confidence in God and His Word, but if any song should turn your focus away from uncertainty to certainty, it would have to be these songs which either use the words “I know” or “sure”. I also show supporting bible passages.

[I cannot tell, verse 2]
I cannot tell how silently He suffered,
As with His peace He graced this place of tears,
Or how His heart upon the Cross was broken,
The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, He heals the broken-hearted,
And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
For yet the Savior, Savior of the world, is here.

[How Deep The Father’s Love For Us]
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Isaiah 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

[That’s When The Angels Rejoice]
There’s only one thing that we’re sure about
That can make those angels jump and shout
It’s when a sinner makes the Lord his Choice
That’s when the Angels rejoice!

Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

[Because He Lives, Chorus]
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

[I cannot tell, verse 3]
I cannot tell how He will win the nations,
How He will claim His earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
Of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,
And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,
And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor
When He the Savior, Savior of the world, is known.

Job 19:23-27
Oh, that my words were written!
Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!
That they were engraved on a rock
With an iron pen and lead, forever!
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself,
And my eyes shall behold, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!

We are not left in uncertainty

Daily, hourly, we must be actuated by the principles of the Word of God. Self must be sanctified by the principles of the righteousness, the mercy, and the love of God. At every point of uncertainty, pray, and earnestly inquire: Is this the way of the Lord? With your Bibles before you, consult with God as to what He would have you do. Holy principles are revealed in the Word of God. The source of all true wisdom is found in the cross of Calvary. Lt 94a, 1909

Clear light has been given us; the Lord has spoken to everyone in His Word, and that Word is luminous with light and waiting with precious ore of truth. In the Bible we have a perfect rule on conduct, and we will be safe in following it. With reverent hearts we should bow to God’s expressed will. We are not left in uncertainty, for in all the varied circumstances of life we walk in accordance with the instructions of God, which are based upon the golden principles of truth, and revealed in the precepts of His love. In the Bible there are rules to meet every case. A complete system of faith has been revealed, and correct rules for practice in our daily lives have been made known. [Lt 19, 1887]

I am so glad that we can go to the Lord for counsel. He will never regard indifferently the request of those who seek Him that they may know the mind of the Spirit of the Lord. We must not release Jesus or turn from His companionship for one moment. We must commit everything to Jesus in earnest, trusting prayer; but we show unbelief if we worry. The Lord does not leave us to uncertainties, to “guess-so,” in doing battle for Him. He knows our weakness. He knows just how we need to be braced up to do that work, and He is going to give the earnest seeker wisdom to act his part, and then he must believe that the Lord will act His part, and not have a shadow of doubt resting on his soul.

Does not Jesus know all the wiles of the devil? Does the world’s Redeemer not know we never can overcome the powers of darkness in our own finite strength? Indeed, He knows all about it, and the Captain of the Lord’s host takes the field with all His heavenly intelligences to do battle against Satanic powers. The Lord God of hosts is fighting our battles for us. Only trust Him, only believe. This is what He asks of us, and He will do the work and get glory to His own name. Lt 19b, 1892

Seeking the Lord through His Word

The point of this post it to show that God’s word can powerfully change your life. The objective of studying God’s word is to get to know Jesus and if you seek Him, He will help you in your life’s struggles.

The Power of God’s Word
“The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword… a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. God’s Word has creative power (Psalm 33:6), the power of healing and deliverance (Psalm 107:20), and the power to cleanse the sin-sick soul (Psalm 119:9, John 15:3). The power behind God’s word isn’t found in the letters of the biblical text, but rather in the Spirit, “for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). We need the Holy Spirit to understand spiritual things and God is more than willing to give His Spirit to those who ask (1 Corinthians 2:14, Luke 11:13).

The same Spirit which inspired scripture, will testify of Jesus through scripture (2 Timothy 3:16, John 15:26-27, John 5:39). This is why we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we read scripture. We need to pray to receive the Holy Spirit, who will convict us of sin and then we will be forgiven and cleansed as we confess our sins to the Lord (Luke 11:13, John 16:8, 1 John 1:9).

The Power to Overcome
We need to seek the Lord daily through the prayerful reading of God’s Word so that His Spirit will continue to transform us into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18). To overcome temptation, you need to watch and pray (Matthew 26:41), then “when the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19. God’s Spirit will bring the Lord’s words to your memory to help you overcome (John 14:26). “If you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:13. If you’re about to fall and lose your hold on God, the Lord promises to uphold you and keep you from stumbling (Isaiah 41:10, Jude 1:24). As you see the changes God does in your life, your faith will be strengthened in knowing that He keeps His promises.

The Simplicity of Knowing Jesus, Personally
Why worry about uncertainties when you have the sure word of God (2 Peter 1:19)? Why complicate the plain and simple revelation of God with worries about what you don’t know (Deuteronomy 29:29)? There is no point in “always learning” if you aren’t faithful with the little things that God has already revealed (Luke 19:17). “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.” 1 Corinthians 8:1. What you need to know isn’t a creed or a set of facts, you need to know a Person, He is God, and He is love (Jeremiah 9:24, 1 John 4:8).

When Jesus prayed to the Father for those who would believe in Him, He said “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3. Eternal Life is as simple as knowing and believing God and His Son Jesus Christ, the Word become flesh. (John 1:14).

Knowing Jesus doesn’t get old
Life is made simple in knowing and trusting in the Lord and yet we find a “mystery” that never gets old. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16. This mystery is to be seen in our lives: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation and it is a mystery that even the angels desire to look into (Romans 1:16, 1 Peter 1:12).

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Seek the Lord meditating on His Word with prayer
Personally, I can resonate with what the Psalmist says here to the Lord: “I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.” Psalm 119:146-148. The more you get to know the Lord through His Word, you too will find yourself saying as the Psalmist:, “I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.” Psalm 16:7

Seek the Lord and His strength
Don’t cling to man, but cling to the Lord, for He is your life (Deuteronomy 30:20). Don’t seek the mortal face of man, “for all flesh is grass.. But the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:6, 8. “Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!” Psalm 105:4. Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

Seek God for help and deliverance
“Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Isaiah 55:6-7. For He “neither faints nor is weary.” Isaiah 40:28. Let the “The Lord strong and mighty” fight your battles (Psalm 24:8). Say like the Psalmist, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121. The Lord says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” Psalm 50:15.

When you’re delivered, you’ll say, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4. “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.” Psalm 27:14. I sometimes used to fear that I would die from worrying too much about things (due to insomnia and heart problems). Then, I’d said within myself “The Lord is the strength of my life” (Psalm 27:1) and I claimed this promise: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” (Psalm 118:17). God has also been teaching me to do this: “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”. Psalm 27:14.

Have a field day in God’s promises

I’m going to be honest and say I fell into the snare of the “fear of man” again early this week, but now that I’ve had a closer experience with Jesus, God’s grace helped me to get back up again and recognize the stinking-thinking that I was having.  Upon further self-examination, turns out unbelief may be why I was still experiencing fear, guilt, resentment, and self-pity. Realizing this, I decided, by God’s grace, enough is enough, the enemy isn’t going to have a field day with me! I choose to believe God! I choose peace instead of fear, forgiveness instead of guilt, love instead of resentment, and compassion for others instead of self-pity!

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Faith will grow under pressure if we let it. Instead of letting the enemy have a field day with me, I’m going to have a field day clinging to God’s promises. That’ll make Satan mad as the devil (that’s because he is the devil, lol).

This is the victory that overcomes the world- our faith. (1 John 5:4). Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37). Praise God, for in Christ we are called to be winners and conquerors! Let Jesus enter and reign in your heart as the King of Glory, “The Lord mighty in battle” Psalm 24:8. Praise the name of Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved! (Acts 4:12).

I’m reminded of that daydream I had last Saturday morning of a Christian brother holding on to the “gold” of faith, hearing the phrase “look heavenward” and then seeing the brother covered in God’s armor of light. This reminds me of a three part series of sermons by Pastor Derek Morris (from Hope Channel) called “Radical Prayer”. The last sermon refers to putting on God’s armor on as “radical protection”, so sometimes I remind myself “put your armor on!”. It seems I tried walking around without Jesus as my armor earlier this week.

I’m learning that faith God’s word and prayer is how the armor is put on. It’s only when you have put on Christ as your armor that you will be able to face the battles of faith that you will have to face each day. We are called to”be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Ephesians 6:10.

Speaking of having a field day in God’s promises, check this out:

The Word of God is like a garden filled with beautiful, fragrant flowers… Will you not pluck the flowers, the roses, the lilies, and the pinks of His promises? Rest in His love. No tongue can express or finite mind conceive the greatness and richness of His promises for just such weak and trembling souls as you are. Simple faith and trust is your part; the Lord’s part He never fails to fulfill. By faith draw close to the precious Sin-bearer, and then cling to Him by faith. Do not worry; this will not help the matter at all. Believe that Christ Himself rebukes the enemy, and that he can have no more control over you. Believe that Satan has been rebuked. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up for you a standard against him. [Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 325-326]

So, go into the garden alone with God, claim His promises, and you will have a “field day” like you never had before! 🙂

Overcoming the fear of man

“All experiences of the fear of man share at least one common feature: people are big. They have grown to idolatrous proportions in our lives. They control us. Since there is no room in our hearts to worship both God and people, whenever people are big, God is not. Therefore, the first task in escaping the snare of the fear of man is to know that God is awesome and glorious, not other people.” When People are Big and God is Small, p. 95

“When God and spirituality are reduced to our standards or our feelings, God will never be to us the awesome Holy One of Israel. With God reduced in our eyes, a fear of people will thrive.” When People are Big and God is Small, p. 85

“A growing knowledge of God displaces the fear of people, and it casts out our tendency to be casual with our secret sins. And the good news is that it can be learned…You must simply be a person who prays and seeks after this great gift.” When People are Big and God is Small p. 107-108.

I believe God led me to find these quotes in a sermon with the same title as the book that these quote are found in. I feel like I’m dealing with the fear of man. As a coping mechanism not to worry what others think, trying to lean on their spirituality, and even turning them into idols.

“Sin is much more than doing the wrong thing. It begins with loving, worshiping, and serving the wrong thing.” Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands, p. 67

I wish I feared God and not man, clinging to good and not bad habits. The bible says, “Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.” Proverbs 8:13 “You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.” Psalm 97:10. I often remind myself to do this: “I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me.” Psalm 101:3

I’m also reminded of these verses: “Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133. “Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.” Psalm 119:104. “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.” Psalm 51:10-13.

I’m also reminded of these promises: “Sin shall not have dominion over you” Romans 6:14. “Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” Romans 5:20. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16. “He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25

I think of how I’ve been leaning on the spirituality of others. I seem to forget that it is God alone who can save. It’s God alone who has saving grace to give and His grace more than sufficient for me. Why should I idolize fellow vessels of clay, forgetting God who is our Potter?

Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? Isaiah 29:16b. But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10.

“All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” (1 Peter 1:24-25). “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” Psalm 18:30. God says, “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:22

I wish I’d remember these verses when overwhelmed with obsessive thoughts: “You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day” Psalm 91:5. The Lord will be your “shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.” Proverbs 30:5. “You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.” Psalm 115:11

Jesus, our precious Saviour, could not see us exposed to the fatal snares of Satan and forbear making an infinite sacrifice on our behalf. He interposes Himself between Satan and the tempted soul and says, “‘Get thee behind me, Satan.’ Let me come close to this tempted soul.” He pities and loves every humble, trembling suppliant. [That I May Know Him, p. 77]

To those who are tempted, I would say, Do not for a moment acknowledge Satan’s temptations as being in harmony with your own mind. Turn from them as you would from the adversary himself. [Ms 31, 1911]

By faith draw close to the precious Sin-bearer, and then cling to Him by faith. Do not worry; this will not help the matter at all. Believe that Christ Himself rebukes the enemy, and that he can have no more control over you. Believe that Satan has been rebuked. “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up for you a standard against him.” [Isaiah 59:19] [Selected Messages Book 3, p. 325]

 

Praying and Singing your fears away

2 Chronicles 20:1-3 It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Psalm 56:3-4
Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.

Read Jehoshaphat’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:5-12 for yourself and notice how instead of focusing on the problem, he starts out by focusing on God’s greatness, how He has led in the past, and His promises. Only after that, then did he speak of feeling helpless in this situation, but even then, he made the choice to keep his eyes focused on the Lord.

2 Chronicles 20:15, 17, 22 And [Jahaziel] said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s… You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you… Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

Psalm 56:4
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?

Look and Live

Isaiah 45:22
Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Hebrews 12:1-4
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.

The Snare of Discontentment

Numbers 21:4-5 Then [the Israelites] journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.”

Because they had been shielded by divine power they had not realized the countless dangers by which they were continually surrounded. In their ingratitude and unbelief they had anticipated death, and now the Lord permitted death to come upon them. The poisonous serpents that infested the wilderness were called fiery serpents, on account of the terrible effects produced by their sting, it causing violent inflammation and speedy death. As the protecting hand of God was removed from Israel, great numbers of the people were attacked by these venomous creatures. [Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 429]

1 Timothy 6:6-9 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

How to resist discontentment: Gratitude and Praise

Many of the diseases from which men suffer are the result of mental depression. Grief, anxiety, discontent, remorse, guilt, distrust, all tend to break down the life forces and to invite decay and death… Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, promote health and prolong life. A contented mind, a cheerful spirit, is health to the body and strength to the soul. “A merry [rejoicing] heart doeth good like a medicine.” Proverbs 17:22. [Ministry of Healing, p. 241]

Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings–as much a duty as it is to pray. If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the way to our Father’s house? Those professed Christians who are constantly complaining, and who seem to think cheerfulness and happiness a sin, have not genuine religion. [Ministry of Healing, p. 251]

Song is a weapon that we can always use against discouragement. As we thus open the heart to the sunlight of the Saviour’s presence, we shall have health and His blessing. [Ministry of Healing, p. 254]

The bible encourages gratitude and praise:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Colossians 3:16

Stay your mind upon God

Psalm 121:1-2
I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

While engaged in our daily work, we should lift the soul to heaven in prayer. These silent petitions rise like incense before the throne of grace; and the enemy is baffled. The Christian whose heart is thus stayed upon God cannot be overcome. No evil arts can destroy his peace. All the promises of God’s Word, all the power of divine grace, all the resources of Jehovah, are pledged to secure his deliverance. It was thus that Enoch walked with God. And God was with him, a present help in every time of need. [Messages to Young People, p. 249]

Luke 21:25-28 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

Rest in the sheltering arms of Jesus, and do not worry yourself out of His arms; just believe, and praise God, and go forward. We are almost home. The Lord is coming. “Look up, and lift up your head; for your redemption draweth nigh.” [Luke 21:28.] [Lt49-1888]

Colossians 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Colossians 1:26-27 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:31-34 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 24:12-14 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Sin’s Antidote: Look and Live

Numbers 21:6-9 So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived.

1 Corinthians 15:56-57
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 3:14-15
As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so was the Son of man lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life

All who have ever lived upon the earth have felt the deadly sting of “that old serpent, called the devil, and Satan.” Revelation 12:9. The fatal effects of sin can be removed only by the provision that God has made. The Israelites saved their lives by looking upon the uplifted serpent. That look implied faith. They lived because they believed God’s word, and trusted in the means provided for their recovery. So the sinner may look to Christ, and live. He receives pardon through faith in the atoning sacrifice. Unlike the inert and lifeless symbol, Christ has power and virtue in Himself to heal the repenting sinner.

While the sinner cannot save himself, he still has something to do to secure salvation. “Him that cometh to Me,” says Christ, “I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. But we must come to Him; and when we repent of our sins, we must believe that He accepts and pardons us. Faith is the gift of God, but the power to exercise it is ours. Faith is the hand by which the soul takes hold upon the divine offers of grace and mercy.

Nothing but the righteousness of Christ can entitle us to one of the blessings of the covenant of grace. There are many who have long desired and tried to obtain these blessings, but have not received them, because they have cherished the idea that they could do something to make themselves worthy of them. They have not looked away from self, believing that Jesus is an all-sufficient Saviour. We must not think that our own merits will save us; Christ is our only hope of salvation. “For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

When we trust God fully, when we rely upon the merits of Jesus as a sin-pardoning Saviour, we shall receive all the help that we can desire. Let none look to self, as though they had power to save themselves. Jesus died for us because we were helpless to do this. In Him is our hope, our justification, our righteousness. When we see our sinfulness we should not despond and fear that we have no Saviour, or that He has no thoughts of mercy toward us. At this very time He is inviting us to come to Him in our helplessness and be saved.

Many of the Israelites saw no help in the remedy which Heaven had appointed. The dead and dying were all around them, and they knew that, without divine aid, their own fate was certain; but they continued to lament their wounds, their pains, their sure death, until their strength was gone, and their eyes were glazed, when they might have had instant healing. If we are conscious of our needs, we should not devote all our powers to mourning over them. While we realize our helpless condition without Christ, we are not to yield to discouragement, but rely upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Look and live. Jesus has pledged His word; He will save all who come unto Him. Though millions who need to be healed will reject His offered mercy, not one who trusts in His merits will be left to perish.

Many are unwilling to accept of Christ until the whole mystery of the plan of salvation shall be made plain to them. They refuse the look of faith, although they see that thousands have looked, and have felt the efficacy of looking, to the cross of Christ. Many wander in the mazes of philosophy, in search of reasons and evidence which they will never find, while they reject the evidence which God has been pleased to give. They refuse to walk in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, until the reason of its shining shall be explained. All who persist in this course will fail to come to a knowledge of the truth. God will never remove every occasion for doubt. He gives sufficient evidence on which to base faith, and if this is not accepted, the mind is left in darkness. If those who were bitten by the serpents had stopped to doubt and question before they would consent to look, they would have perished. It is our duty, first, to look; and the look of faith will give us life. [Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 431-432]

Look away from self to Jesus

When the mind dwells upon self, it is turned away from Christ, the source of strength and life. [Steps to Christ, p. 71]

It is not wise to look to ourselves and study our emotions. If we do this, the enemy will present difficulties and temptations that weaken faith and destroy courage. Closely to study our emotions and give way to our feelings is to entertain doubt and entangle ourselves in perplexity. We are to look away from self to Jesus. [MH 249]

We should not make self the center and indulge anxiety and fear as to whether we shall be saved. All this turns the soul away from the Source of our strength. Commit the keeping of your soul to God, and trust in Him. Talk and think of Jesus. Let self be lost in Him. Put away all doubt; dismiss your fears. Say with the apostle Paul, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. Rest in God. He is able to keep that which you have committed to Him. If you will leave yourself in His hands, He will bring you off more than conqueror through Him that has loved you. [Steps to Christ, p. 72]

By faith draw close to the precious Sin-bearer, and then cling to Him by faith. Do not worry; this will not help the matter at all. Believe that Christ Himself rebukes the enemy, and that he can have no more control over you. Believe that Satan has been rebuked. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up for you a standard against him. [Lt36-1900]

Forgetting self and abiding in Christ in order to serve others

Jesus says, “Abide in Me.” These words convey the idea of rest, stability, confidence. Again He invites,”Come unto Me, . . . and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. The words of the psalmist express the same thought: “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” And Isaiah gives the assurance, “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” Psalm 37:7; Isaiah 30:15. This rest is not found in inactivity; for in the Saviour’s invitation the promise of rest is united with the call to labor: “Take My yoke upon you: . . . and ye shall find rest.” Matthew 11:29. The heart that rests most fully upon Christ will be most earnest and active in labor for Him. [Steps to Christ, p. 71]

If those who are suffering from ill-health would forget self in their interest for others; if they would fulfill the Lord’s command to minister to those more needy than themselves, they would realize the truthfulness of the prophetic promise, “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily.” [MH 257-258]

Matthew 6:22  The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 John 2:10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

Remember how God has worked in your life

Deuteronomy 4:7-10 For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day? Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’

Deuteronomy 8:2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you….

It is for our own benefit to keep every gift of God fresh in our memory. By this means faith is strengthened to claim and to receive more and more. There is greater encouragement for us in the least blessing we ourselves receive from God than in all the accounts we can read of the faith and experience of others. The soul that responds to the grace of God shall be like a watered garden. His health shall spring forth speedily; his light shall rise in obscurity, and the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon him. [The Ministry of Healing, p. 100]

Look to Jesus and be transformed

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Did not our Exemplar tread a hard, self-denying, self-sacrificing, humble path on our account in order to save us? He encountered difficulties, experienced disappointments, and suffered reproach and affliction in His work of saving us. And shall we refuse to follow where the King of glory has led the way? Shall we complain of hardship and trial in the work of overcoming on our own account, when we remember the sufferings of our Redeemer in the wilderness of temptation, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on Calvary? All these were endured to show us the way and to bring us the divine help that we must have or perish. [3T 371]

It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross. [Desire of Ages, p. 83]