He Is Covering Me

For our Ash Wednesday Worship Service the ministers at my church ministered on the “Redemptive Names of God.” Each one took a name of God and preached on that for 5-7 minutes. As I reflected on their messages on yesterday, three things seem to echo in almost all their messages for me.

The first was trust in God and not in self/man. For so long I have been waiting on certain people in my life to confirm/approve of where God is taking me, as I listen to the ministers on Ash Wednesday, I heard, “I can trust God with everything concerning me.” I heard God can always be trusted. That for me is a big thing, because over the years, so many that I trusted in, did something to hurt me but to know I can completely and totally trust in God is awesome. I knew I could but the messages at Ash Wednesday service confirm it for me. I was wrestling with this trust in the plans God has for my live, for three or so years but not I am convince He can be trust. So as Proverbs 3:5 says, I WILL…”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Anymore!

The second was God’s protection and providence in my/our lives. The scripture that comes to mind is Romans 8:31, says, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? I looked back over my life and I can see the protection and providence of God in my life. There are many things God has protected me from. From the times I tried to commit suicide to the poor choices of hanging out with the wrong people. It has been His hand on my life that has kept me in the past and I was reminded on Ash Wednesday that same protection and providence is there for me know and will be there for me in the future. So, I will, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”(Deuteronomy 31:6).

The third was being obedient to God. The prophet Jeremiah tells us God has a plan for our lives.  For the last three years I have been trying to ignore, avoid, distance myself, restructure, and deny the plan/vision of God for my life. I tried to offer God parts of my, when He was calling for all of me. It was parts of God’s plan/vision of my life that I wanted to accept and others I wanted to live at the door, with a thanks but no thanks note to God. I falsely thought the sacrifices I was making with giving my time, talent and treasure was good enough, when God was calling me to be obedient to what His plan/vision for my life was. In the book of 1 Samuel 15:22 where the prophet Samuel said, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” I have decided to walk in obedience to God’s plan/vision for my life. In the book of Deuteronomy 5:33, it says, “Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.”

I have listed the Redemptive Names of God below:

JEHOVAH-JIREH- “The Lord our provider”- This is also the name Abraham gave to the place where the Lord provided a sacrifice in place of Isaac. (Gen. 22:14)

JEHOVAH- NISSI- “Our banner, a banner of love and protection”- Also the name Moses gave to the altar he built after defeating the Amalekites (Ex. 17:15)

JEHOVAH-SHALOM- “Our perfect peace”- Also the name Gideon gave to the altar he built at Ophrah (Judges 6:24)

JEHOVAH-TSID-KENU- “The Lord is our righteousness”- The name is applied to a future Davidic king who would lead his people to do what is right and thus bring peace (Jeremiah 23:6) and to the restored city of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 33:16). THE name is possibly a play on the name Zedekiah (Righteous is the Lord) who reigned from 597 to 587 B.C.

JEHOVAH- SHAMMAH- “The One Who is with us everywhere for He is Omnipresent”- The Jerusalem of Ezekiel’s version (see Ezekiel 48:35 margin) was known by this name. Compare text at Isaiah 60: 19-20 and Revelation 21:3.

JEHOVAH-SABAOTH- “The Lord of Hosts, our Protector.” C.H. Spurgeon said this about the phrase “The Lord of Hosts. The Lord rules the angels, the stars, the elements, and all the hosts of Heaven of heavens is under His sway…[the Lord] is on our side—our august Ally; woe unto those who fight against Him, for they shall flee like smoke before the wind when He gives the word to scatter them.” See text at Psalm 46:7

JEHOVAH-RAAH- “Our Shepherd Who tenderly leads us, loves us and will keep us safe.” The famous Psalm 23 tells us that “The Lord is our Shepherd and we shall not want…”Being illustrated as a shepherd implies a relationship with His sheep (His believers). The term shepherd appears approximately 80 times in the Scriptures, denotating, meanings of: feeder, keeper, companion, friend, pastor and herdsman.

JEHOVAH RAPHA- “I am the Lord Your Physician or I am the Lord Your Healer- this name especially was a Name God prophetically spoke about Himself, not one that someone gave In The Bible by Herbert Lockyer used as source for certain material.

May the peace, love and blessings of God be with you!!!!

I Give Up

Today makes the first day of the Lenten Season for many Christians across the world. The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday. A day in which ashes that were blessed from the previous year on Palm Sunday are burnt and placed on the foreheads of believers. The ashes are placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross. Ash Wednesday/Lenten season is a time of reflects for many Christian, including myself.

This Ash Wednesday I find myself reflecting on the promises God has made me over the years. I find myself looking in the mirror of my soul/spirit with some very critical questions for myself. There is one question I keep asking myself. Why do you keep allowing fear to consume you?

On Ash Wednesday many Christians begin to fast from food or they give up something that takes their time away from God. For me today starts the first day of giving up the spirits of my will, fear, procrastinates, and low self/spiritual worth (not feeling like I am worthy of God blessing me the way He has in mind to do) . I am starting today, by encouraging myself in the LORD. In the Word of God, He tells me, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful.” (Psalm 139:14, NIV) I am taking the necessary steps to rid myself of these spirits, so that I can live the life God has pre-planned for me. What are those steps?

First, I plan to look over the 10 year life plan God gave me in November of 2010 and pick those things I can do now that will lead me to the blessings in my career, life and ministry. Secondly, I will stop denying who God has said I am and called me to be. Finally, I will just trust and obey, there is no other way for me to rid myself of these spirits and hindrances but to just trust and obey God’s instructions in my life.

I desire, want and need a closer walk with the LORD! I know to get it I must give up those things that are hindering me from drawing closer to Him. So, during this Lenten season and for the rest of this earthly life, I plan to trust and obey the direction/plan God has for me. It was God who told the Prophet Jeremiah, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV) I desire/want/need what it is God has for me. With that Ryane has to die daily that Christ may live in me and that I may experience Him on an even greater level.

During this Lenten Season, what do you plan to give up (for good) so that you may draw closer to the LORD?

May the peace and blessings of our Savior/God rest with each one of you!!!

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