- araratchurch
- May 19, 2025
- 2 min read
“For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.“
Psalms 116:8 NKJV
An old hymn we used to sing, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” extols the benefits of having such a Friend as the Lord.
“What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer”
The reality of our earthly friendships is that no matter how much another person may love us, no matter how sincerely they may want to help us, there are times when they cannot cure what ails us, times when nobody can.
Indeed, there are threats beyond the realm of human protection, sorrow beyond the reach of earthly consolation, and predicaments beyond human solution or rescue.
But, nothing is impossible for our Lord. Indeed, our Lord is never at a loss to extend a lifeline to those on the brink of death.
“For great is Your lovingkindness and graciousness toward me; And You have rescued my life from the depths of Sheol [from death].”
Psalms 86:13 AMP
He can bring comfort in the midst of unbearable sorrow.
“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.“
Psalms 147:3 NLT
And, He can help us safely navigate life’s often treacherous terrain.
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
Habakkuk 3:19 NLT
In our opening scripture, we see the psalmist enumerating in what ways the Lord has dealt bountifully with him. Indeed, the Lord has delivered him from death, grief, and danger.
Child of God, there is nothing and no one able to stand against the Lord. No matter what you are going through, let Him help you. Cry out to Him as the psalmist did. Nothing can withstand Him. The Lord is your best Friend! If He is for you, who or what can stand against you?
“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?“
Romans 8:31-32 NLT
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- May 19, 2025
- 2 min read
“Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.“
Psalms 116:7 NKJV
It was in England around 1762. A young cleric, Augustus M. Toplady, was traveling across a gorge. Suddenly finding himself in the middle of an intense storm, the young reverend sought refuge in one of the many clefts in the rock wall. It was from there that Toplady was inspired to write the words of the beloved hymn, “Rock of Ages:”
“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.”
Toplady, having found refuge from the storm by hiding in the cleft of a rock, was reminded of the saving power of the Rock of our Salvation, Jesus Christ.
He knew, as did the psalmist, that true rest comes only from the Lord.
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.“
Psalms 62:1 NIV
Indeed, our Lord invited us all to enter into His rest.
“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 NKJV
However, the Lord’s rest is only available to those who will submit to (live in obedience to) His yoke: the Holy Spirit.
Sadly, even many Christians suffer needlessly because they insist on doing things their own way.
“Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”
Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV
Yes, even in the midst of trouble, even seeing their repeated failures, some people will continue in their own ways of being and doing.
But, for those who will accept the Lord’s invitation to come to Him, for those who will trust and follow Him, rest can be a constant state of being, no matter the circumstances.
In our opening scripture we see the psalmist, after having been rescued by the Lord, instructing his soul to return to its place of rest.
Child of God, it’s easy to let what you’re going through pull you from your place of rest in Jesus. If you’ve let that happen to you, get back into your rest! Get back into Him! Trust Him! Follow Him!
Remember, the Lord doesn’t just give you rest, He is your Rest!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- May 18, 2025
- 4 min read
“The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me.“
Psalms 116:6 NKJV
You are probably aware of the “Proverbs 31 woman.” What you may not realize is that all of chapter 31 of Proverbs is the advice given to King Lemuel by his mother. [We don’t really know who this “King Lemuel” was. Some say it was actually Solomon. Others say it was Hezekiah. But whoever he was, he had a very wise mother.]
Before the description of the “virtuous woman,” his mother offers some other very important advice:
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.“
Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT
Not only was this good advice for one who would be a good king, it is actually what God requires of all those in positions of power.
You see, God is Himself One Who makes a practice of lifting up the lowly, mightily using the discounted, and advancing the marginalized. He truly is the Hero of our story!
“A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation. God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.“
Psalm 68:5-6 AMPC
“He raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap, That He may seat him with princes— With the princes of His people.“
Psalms 113:7-8 NKJV
Indeed, the Lord is strength for the weak. He helps them soar above their adversity.
“O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.“
Isaiah 40:27-31 NLT
Apostle Paul pointed out that God makes a habit of mightily using those who are despised by their peers.
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.””
I Corinthians 1:26-31 NKJV
Now, we all know what it feels like to find ourselves out of options. We know how it feels to try to find comfort “between a rock and a hard place.” Oh how wonderful it is to know that when we get to the end of ourselves, the Lord is ready and willing to help.
But make no mistake, the Lord will not help those who are not yet aware of their own poverty, not yet aware of their need of His saving grace.
“In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.“
1 Peter 5:5-7 NLT
Sadly, some people must face a crisis that robs all their resources, exhausts all their options, leaving them desolate, before they will humble themselves before the Lord.
But, whether you are humbled by your circumstances, or you willingly humble yourself, the Lord will respond to your earnest cry for help.
In our opening scripture we see the psalmist has been brought low by circumstances. But when he called to the Lord for relief, the Lord heard and answered.
In the last destination of my Spiritual Journey I found myself with no one to rescue me. But, the Lord strengthened me to be able to overcome hell’s minions without the intervention of anybody else, only Him.
Child of God, if you have found yourself at the end of your rope, please know that the Lord will help you! It’s Who He is. He is the Hope at the end of your rope!
And for you who are still going it alone: Be advised, that “rope” you are trusting in made up of your own devices, isn’t as long as you suppose.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!