“If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” (Psalm 139: 9-10, ESV)
Our Lord God is always with us. Not distant at all, so close; His hand holding us. Wherever we go, and whatever we are going through.
In times of celebration and in tough times.
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:13, ESV)
God has promised, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2, ESV) “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.” (Psalm 91:15, ESV). God is with us. Our Lord Jesus, called Immanuel (which means, God with us) (Matthew 1:23, ESV).
Our loving and powerful God says, “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
From what I have experienced, there is most definitely a help that only the Lord Jesus can give us.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121: 1-2, ESV).
In looking back on this year 2020, during which I have spent most of the time physically alone, I think on situations when I needed help that only my Lord Jesus could help me with. Jesus is a Friend like no other, Who is with me all the time. Jesus Name is above all names (Philippians 2:9). He is for me (Romans 8:31). I needed to reach out to Him, as I have done in previous years, and He provided me with help, encouragement and peace. My heart was uplifted by how deeply and personally Jesus cares for me, as He does each person, and how close He is to me in my home and in my situation. Jesus notices the details of my day, and what I care about matters. As one of God’s children, after surrendering my life to Jesus, I can enjoy my relationship with God each day. In such grace and love, Jesus died on the cross for me, as He did for each person.
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:13-15, ESV). These are such encouraging words from Jesus. Our Lord Jesus walked on this earth, and is now still with us.
You can step into anything you know God has called you into, because He is right with you in it. You may have moments when fear tries to hold you back; but God is along with you, every step of the way. We depend on God, which is good. We can live with confidence, courage and joy.
Our courage comes from knowing our Almighty God Who loves us, is with us, every step of the way.
The Lord reassured Joshua, as he prepared to lead the Israelites to enter the Promised Land, to, “…Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, ESV). And in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (ESV).
Jesus said to His disciples, “…I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, ESV); after He had given them the great commission to go and make disciples of all nations. Our Lord Jesus is always with us in whatever He has asked for us to do. You can surrender to God, because you know He will never leave you alone wherever He is leading you.
We reach out to God, and in His presence, we live in such joy.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11, ESV)
Such joy in experiencing life with God. Jesus described the Holy Spirit as our Helper, who will be with us forever (John 14:16, ESV). We “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, ESV). Joy being one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, also love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). We rejoice in that “…now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13, ESV). When we accept Jesus as our Saviour, the Holy Spirit dwells within us (Romans 8:9) and guides us (John 16:13).
We can know God helps us in the unique journey we each have. You can become more and more aware of how close God is to you. God wants a relationship with you. He will always be with you.
Prayer
Dear Father God,
Almighty God, Lord of all, there is none like You. Jesus Name above all names; our Saviour.
Thank-You for always being with us, for being for us, and for never leaving us.
Thank-You that in Your presence we have rest (Exodus 33:14). May I become more aware of how much You love me, how close You are to me God, and I invite You to come have Your way in my life that You have specially planned for me.
In Jesus Name, Amen.