Rest Assured

We get several bank statements at work. This month the one for my office was late arriving. I called the bank to see about it. I was told that because of the weather the mail had been delayed. She said rest assured, as she told me that ours would be there. Sure enough it did come in the next day’s mail. I need that statement to reconcile our checking. Without the information on the bank statement I wouldn’t be able to prove a thing and thus would not be able to report on it. I waited and was concerned but it came through in the end.

Rest assured.

God speaks to my heart: Rest assured in Me. I am all the assurance you need. And when you have assurance, when you know that you know, you will find rest in Me as well. In this world you will not find such promises and oaths. But in Me you are assured that what I have pledged I will do. While you may be looking for answers that haven’t arrived yet, you can rest in the fact that I AM with you, so keep you, to guide you and to reconcile you to Me. My love covers all and through it, you will find confidence, composure and calm assurance. There is no place else to wait except in My presence. Fretting and worrying and wondering and wringing your hands will do nothing. But resting in assurance for Me to deliver the answer is your place of ultimate safety. This is how you reconcile your life to Me – in waiting in faith and believing in Me no matter what it looks like, knowing that I will reconcile all things for you in Christ.

Oh beloved, have you been seeking God for His comfort? Are you wondering why God has not answered? Maybe you think that God is not going to answer at all. Just because the answer hasn’t made it all the way to you doesn’t mean God is not answering. Now is not the time to give up. Keep praying and keep holding onto God. Continue to trust in His Word for what He says He will surely do. He knows how hard it is to rest assured in all things, but you are destined to be confident in Him and you are ordained to rely on His Word. Remember that you are not stuck in the situation, but you are on the way to glory. Even when waiting, you are learning to lean on Him more and more. The enemy of your soul wants you to believe God will not come through, so that you will weaken and feel doomed. But God’s Word is your only Truth to rely on. It transcends what the mind and body feel. It permeates your soul and awakens your spirit as you live in the light of His Word.

God loves you and He’s for you. This is your rest as you reassure your heart and mind that God will always give His answer and it will always be right on time.

Romans 4:21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Psalm 91:1-2 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my God, and I trust Him. NLT

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. NLT

Psalm 130:5 I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His word. NLT

God's Fingerprint is on Your Life

The funeral for Danny’s aunt was held in North Central Baptist Church. The men who officiated at the funeral knew his aunt quite well.  The man who sang was one of Danny’s childhood friends.  All three men talked, through tears of grief, of growing up under her guidance in that very church.

The pastor talked about Uncle James pastoring the church for so many years. They were instrumental, Danny’s aunt and uncle, in building the new sanctuary (now 20 years old). They talked of her tireless efforts to help build the building, teach the Sunday School class and feed the grieving at oh so many funerals. They also spoke of her reminding them to live for the Lord and how they each wanted to do better just to please her. They spoke over and over about her love for them, for their children and now their children’s children. Her dedication to the Lord left them grieving even more at their loss.  

As one speaker put it, “Her fingerprints are everywhere in this church.”

We loved her and we knew a lot about her. After all, she was Danny’s aunt. But I don’t think any of us knew the exact scope of her inspiration and spiritual fingerprints on all who knew her.  She was a friend to sinners, a mother to those who needed mothering and a helper to her husband and daughter and congregation.  She did everything with love and tender care.

Not everyone has a person in their life who was such an inspiration. It could be that some folks grow up without the spiritual influence of a loved one. Not everyone lives their whole life within the shadow of the church walls.  There are times when grief is overwhelming and no one knows life’s hurts and trials. You may be thinking that God must have loved her a lot; God must have loved her church family a lot to let them have her in their life.  You may be wishing for just such an influence.

Oh beloved, there is One whose fingerprints are everywhere in your life! From the foundation of the world you were cared about. Before you were conceived you were planned! Before you were born, every issue of your life had its resolution. Even in the times when your birth family was less than it should have been, the Lord Himself was tending your life! He wants to remind you this morning, He speaks from His heart as He woos you, I love you – your name is graven on My hands. Your life is hidden in Me. Your past is paid for, your present is secure and your future is with Me! I love you and I am always with you, He calls out again. He speaks Truth into your heart and His plan is that you should live your entire life with His fingerprints on every aspect of your life!

If you will let Him, He will take the things that are less than great to remember and put them away. He will replace your hard times with His tender mercy. He will remove your guilt and give you grace to make it in times of need. He will move you from ordinary to extraordinary so that when it’s all said and done and life here is over you will be welcomed to your real home in glory! And that’s worth living for Him!

Colossians 1:27-28 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.

I Peter 4:2 You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.

Matthew 6:25 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

2 Peter 1:4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.