exceedingly great & precious promises / blessed is she who believed
i woke up yesterday morning asking the Lord, “where’s my joy? why am i not happy?” instantly He said, “because you’re not trusting in Me, & the promises i’ve given you…” thus began a little scripture study, & my heart found its way again! He reminded me of this verse, & a string of others, which i will share with you today for your own encouragement…🤎
“Happy are those who trust in the Lord, who rely on the Lord. They will be like trees planted by the streams, whose roots reach down to the water. They won’t fear drought when it comes; their leaves will remain green. They won’t be stressed in the time of drought or fail to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 CEB
then i recalled the evening before, just before bed, i’d read in andrew murray’s devotional Experiencing the Holy Spirit, “Set your heart without distraction on what God has said that He will do & then on the omnipotence which is prepared to bring the promise to accomplishment.”
there are all of the beautiful general promises of scripture—yes!!! but i’m sure that many of you also have those very personal promises that God has given you—the ones He’s highlighted to you in scripture to claim as yours in Christ, but also the ones He’s whispered to you in the quietness of your heart. there are two particular ones i’m clinging to right now, reminding Him of always—He knows what they are, & He knew these were the ones that would come to mind when He spoke about the promises He’d given me.
i began a little scripture study, & shared it with the kids during our devotional time that morning. (*most of these posts here are things that the Lord shows me in my morning quiet time, that i then share with my kids during our morning discipleship time)
“Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Psalm 144:15b Good News Bible UK
“Happy are those who are humble; they will receive what God has promised! Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires; God will satisfy them fully! Happy are the pure in heart; they will see God!”
Matthew 5:5-6, 8 GNBUK
this morning i was continuing my study. i’ve been immersed in psalm 119 for the past week…
“Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life.” Psalm 119:49-50 NRSV
“Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.” Psalm 119:74
spend some time in 119. ask the Holy Spirit to highlight what He wants you to see. for me it was especially helpful to circle all of the times “word” and “promise” are used. as i read it over again this morning i also noticed…the entire (long!) chapter is introduced by two verses on happiness!
“Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Happy are those who keep his decrees, who seek him with their whole heart.” Psalm 119:1-2
i’ll wrap this up quickly, as i’m trying to get these little devotionals out in the mornings before school without feeling the need to make them perfect :) may you be blessed this day as you spend time in His presence & His word. may He bring to mind all that He has promised you, & give you the gift of faith through the Holy Spirit to trust in His word & His omnipotence to bring it to pass!
“Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” Luke 1:45 NRSV
(wallpaper is “fernwood” by colefax & fowler in beige)
