the apple of his eye
Good morning!
“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,”
Psalms 17:8 NKJV
Sometimes life comes at you from all directions at once. You may just be cruising along feeling like things are just fine and bam! Something comes out of nowhere and stops you in your tracks.
God says:
“for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Matthew 5:45 NKJV
The human condition is a level playing field. Being a Christian doesn’t mean you have a free pass through life. How you handle adversity and trials is what sets you apart. Who do you run to?
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.”
Proverbs 18:10 NKJV
Who do you look to or cry out to?
“Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.”
Micah 7:7 NKJV
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.”
Psalms 34:17 NKJV
Knowing God, trusting Him, having faith in Him, believing in Him and knowing that He IS your source, strength, shelter, shield and Savior in times of trouble.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.”
Psalms 28:7 NKJV
“The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.”
II Samuel 22:3 NKJV
The rain is going to come, Jesus assures us of that. When it does remember what He said:
“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 NKJV
Growing up in church, I’ve heard Pastors preach that we should “dance in the rain”, “praise in the storm”. I’m pretty good at some things but dancing isn’t one of them. I am getting better at looking beyond the rain and:
“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.”
Psalms 121:1-2 NKJV
Looking through the storm:
“But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.”
Matthew 14:24-25 NKJV
And then they saw Jesus through the storm!
“And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.””
Matthew 14:26-27 NKJV
How we respond is what makes us different. Knowing God IS always with us:
“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go,””
Genesis 28:15 NKJV
God will never leave you:
For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV
That IS our confidence.
“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 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In the Mighty Name of Jesus-Amen
-Pastor Doug
