Devoted to sharing the Word of God - in uplifting, informative and encouraging posts.
" It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

Sunday 14 February 2021

The UPWARD look! ..“Strengthen me with strength in my soul”..

(An excerpt from BTP Daily Light calendar) 

Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail:...” Isaiah 33:21

“O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.” Isaiah 54:11

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:8

Still I will trust, though all my hopes lie shattered

 In broken fragments at my feet; 

Though all my plans, like driven leaves, are scattered

By winds of darkness and defeat;

For in my need I hear my Saviour saying,

In answer to my pleading and my praying,

“I am thy God; be not afraid;

I will be near; be not dismayed “.


Looking upon this page in my daily calendar, I thought of prayers not seemingly answered!
Of burdens so heavy upon my heart..
I was comforted by these words. 
After all the children of Israel for 400 years in bondage in Egypt cried unto the Lord, and God heard all of those sorrowful cries (Exodus2: 23, 24) “God heard their groaning..”
If we look through scripture and or if we are saved for a while, in our own experience we see when the LORD moved mightily. 
And so He will again. 
In HIS TIME! 
Not OURS! These thoughts came to mind.. the need to look up.

In all things as believers in Christ Jesus, our Saviour, we need to

keep the UPWARD a look,

NOT the OUTWARD a look

Or the INWARD look!

Focussing on our Lord is keeping our perspective on TRUTH!

For Jesus said “I am the Way, the TRUTH and the Life..”. With a “Jesus” focus we will be obeying my life verse.

“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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:2


We will in our walk be given grace for the day, strength for the way.

Tomorrow’s strength grace and mercy for tomorrow’s burdens will not come until tomorrow.... if it comes!

We will not be given the grace and strength for another’s burdens...  only for our own, so don’t try to bear another’s burdens yourself, as we will fail. 

Except in prayer and practical help.. for there we are commanded to “bear ye one another’s burden and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Gal 6:2

This refers to practical help - like a meal, a word of encouragement, and most of all prayer.

 Greatest gift is to pray earnestly and regularly for them to seek God’s strength for themselves.

For Jesus said “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

How can this be?

Ah, it’s ONLY when we get the order right!

And seek grace just for the day and burdens at hand. 

Video hymn link, if not showing, is Here!

 For thou hast been a STRENGTH to the poor,

 a STRENGTH to the needy in his distress, 

a REFUGE from the storm, 

a shadow from the heat, 

when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Isaiah 25:4 

I don’t know about you, but when health fails, the world around you seems so anti God, seemingly even more so today, Satan loves to torment that all this is not worth while. 

However remember history - violent persecution under Roman rule, through the dark ages, and many centuries till today, in China, Iran, Burma, many countries and all ages, God’s people have suffered.

So when we see ungodly men in high places, we must not despair no matter how dark it seems! 

Especially here in Aust for those in the state of Victoria, the anti -God government has made it a criminal offence if a parent prays for their child, even at the child’s request, on matters relating to LGBTQI. 

This legislation reaches beyond state borders to criminalise anyone anywhere who says anything that causes “harm” by their definition to a LGBTQI person in the state of Vic. A prayer for your child in this legislation makes you guilty of child assault.

Just look at that conglomerate of letters! 🤔

Doesn’t that reflect the level of confusion they are evolving from, and inflicting of others by this? and we know who is the author of confusion. It’s not God, but the evil one..  

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, ..” 1 Cor 14:3a

Watch this video (link here if not showing), it will make you weep with sorrow, but informed hearts will truly pray earnestly ... why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem? Because of what He saw and knew, and He prayed the more earnestly... than we in our finite minds do!

We need to pray for those ones in power to be saved and/or removed. 

We are commanded to pray for them.

I think of US, UK Europe Middle East and Asia we see Satan so busy in every corner of the earth... this is his domain, but his power is limited and his days are numbered.

God does hear, and answers every prayer, in His time and way..

Wherever you are, whatever your burden, I pray for you to be comforted by our Lord God. He alone is our Anchor, our Stronghold in a time of storm. 

This world is a place of sorrows and great grief, but one glorious day we shall be free from this fallen, broken world.

Broken hearts will be mended and saved as we pray and trust. 

Even if it takes 55 years of prayer, as it did with my darling dad to know the Lord Jesus as his Saviour, or many centuries of waiting as they did for Jesus the Promised One to first come. 

And Glory!

Jesus is coming again... perhaps today? 

“Therefore be ye also ready: for n such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.” Matt 24:44

We need to pray for all men everywhere to repent before the Lord comes.

For it will be an hour when we don’t expect it. 

Surely I come quickly! 

Amen, even so Come, Lord Jesus!” Rev 22:20 

THIS is the last prayer in the bible.

It should be ours daily.


Praying God’s watch-care upon you and all you love - wherever you maybe. 
“Our Heavenly Father knoweth.” 
“He careth for you.”

“Keep looking UP, NOT at the mud underneath.” (Bro. Mac)

Prayer Hugs, 🙏🤗❤️
Shaz in Oz.x 

Special message to Rita R. Sorry, I did not get your email. I have added the same email link to this blog too, and tested it and correct email came up. Your message not in spam, so not sure where it went. Maybe try again? 
God bless you in all things, and keep you looking up.

 
PS If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

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9 comments:

kiwimeskreations said...

Oh Shaz, what an encouraging post - thank you.
I preached today on Lot, and when you really 'look' at Sodom of the day, it was pretty messy there too! Mankind cannot change without the Lord as he is the only one who can guide us out of the mess of this world and into His light and life both here and in Eternity.
Here we are now in level 2 alert as of midnight, and Auckland is at level 3, as there has been a community outbreak of Covid in Auckland...
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

Martha Jane Orlando said...

How can Australia possibly uphold a law such as that, Shaz??? Yes, the devil is hard at work in this world, but we know the One who has overcome the world. I will cling to Jesus!
Blessings!

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, Shaz, what a beautiful blog post and one that truly resonates with me. Definitely good for me to remember to always look upward! Amen and amen! It is just so horrible for Australia not to allow parents to pray for their children in this way. In the States we are having similar issues with LGBTQI and are finding so many girls are seeking medical treatments and surgeries. It's a horror. Even so come Lord quickly now!! Amen to that. Here's an article from WORLD that talks about this rise in girls seeking treatment and then findings that show so many regret it. https://world.wng.org/content/researcher_fights_for_transgender_answers?fbclid=IwAR2vuz1AtqXs2MxJNESpFRE93noGkSQJTCcrz7uyaR7hqON__Rp5LdUWS8o Much love and continued prayers, precious Shaz! You are dearly loved and prayed for! xoxo

CherylQuilts said...

P. S. The link I saved doesn't show probably. But I've posted it on FB for you to read. It's not very long but informative. xoxo

Cheryl said...

I tell you, satan himself fights you and I leaving comments on each others' posts. I just had a long comment going, and my whole computer froze and I lost it all. I can't recall all I said, but one thing I was mentioning is how my dear Mom used to say when she was praying, "Yesterday's grace is gone, tomorrow's grace may not be needed. Lord, we need grace for today." I miss her so much. The song you included is a song that my dear husband and I sing together. The words are so comforting. Thank you for your stand for truth, dear friend.

Brenda said...

I don't understand how any part of anywhere in the world could possibly uphold a law like that. It's crazy and yes the devil is very much hard at work. Man can not change without the Lord. So I cling to hope and prayer that all of man will come to the Lord one day. Wonderful post, keeping looking up and not down at the mud! Blessings my sweet sister and love, Brenda

R's Rue said...

❤️❤️❤️❤️

David C Brown said...

Thankful that the upward look is always bright.
Grace be with you.

Diane Ronzino said...

Shaz, I was feeling guilty cause I had not come to your blog in a while. But, what perfecting timing Abba had for me to read this today. I must remember (with what I am going through) not to look outward or inward, but UPWARD. Yes, thank you.

I was shocked to read about your law against praying for your children. I've never heard anything like that. And of course, how could they possibly enforce that? Anyway, it's coming to America...Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

God Bless you!