Strengthened by His Word...

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. 

Each month I give away a $10.00 gift card to someone who posts on my blog. This month the gift card comes from Starbucks. So stop by, share your insights, bless lots of people, and maybe you'll win a fresh cup of java for your and your friend. 

Now on to my topic...

In light of the turbulent times, how is your perspective? Are you feeling anxious, worried, and fearful? If you are, you're normal. I believe we have truly stepped into the beginning of the end. For those who mock Christ and make light of the God of our salvation, well, they should be worried, because for them, the news is not good. And of course, we need to pray for them and freely share the love of God with them.

But for those of us who are saved, we stand on the Provision of God, we walk in the Presence of God, and we cling to the Promises of God!

During the day, I am able to keep a sound perspective and for the most part, I'm able to consider the day in light of eternity. But recently I realized that I veer way off track at night, just before I go to bed. Since I work at home all day (writing and speaking prep), I never have the TV on. Nighttime, is my chance to catch up on the day's news. My husband and I put the timer on the TV and fall asleep listening to the news. My goodness, whose great idea was that?

I don't know about you, but I am NOT a night person. My ability to see clearly and reason through things diminishes incredibly. So to use that vulnerable time to try and process the reports of economic doom and gloom, well, that's just downright idiotic. 

Often times I go from peace and faith during the day, to anxious worry in the middle of the night. It's time for me to make a few adjustments. I'll catch the news while I'm of sound mind, and I'll feed my soul before I go to bed.

I want to share with you a Psalm that I believe is a Word for our times. My husband and I read it together every single day. God wants us to be confident and fearless. He wants us to be full of faith and standing on His Word. Now is the time to display the best of who God is. When everyone else is grabbing for themselves, may we be generous and lend freely. When everyone else runs to and fro in desperation, may God be the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. 

Read this powerful Psalm (112):

Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD. Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed. They themselves will be wealthy, and their good deeds will never be forgotten. When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly.

Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.  They give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will never be forgotten. They will have influence and honor. The wicked will be infuriated when they see this. They will grind their teeth in anger; they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.

Let's read this Psalm every day until it gets into our soul, our perspective, and our core belief system. 

Praise the Lord!

BE JOYFUL.

Declare the blessing of God over your children!

BE GENEROUS 

Do not fear bad news!

BE CONFIDENT AND FEARLESS!

Declare influence and honor over your life!

STAND STRONG AGAINST THE THREATS OF THE ENEMY!

The times call for Believers to hope in the Lord and to stand on His strength. Be at peace once more, my friend. For the Lord has been good to you, and He'll be good to you again.

Have a fruitful and powerful week!

PS ~ If you haven't signed up for my quarterly Ezine, please do! I give away great books from my author friends, challenge you with a devotional thought, offer great book recommendations, and leave you with a couple of great quotes and a prayer. Sign up today! Here is the link:

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Comments

[Stephenie]

I need to stop setting the timer on the television as well. My husband and I often watch the news as we are falling asleep. So much for sweet dreams! Thank you for sharing the psalm. I will be reading it daily until it seeps in to my soul.

[Anna Melissa K.]

Hi Susie, Great posting today- I topped off my Wednesday lunch fast/devotional with your post and I couldn't be more strengthened today by Psalm 112. Thank you!

I am really excited to share psalm with my husband today after work (I am the one who just recently got married this past December). Blessings~

[Lynn F.]

Susie, When I saw that your blog was on Psalm 112, my mouth dropped. On December 24th, I asked God what He wanted to see from me this New Year, and He quickly impressed me with Ps. 112:7 "They do not fear bad news, but confidently trust the Lord to care for them." Then He followed up with Ps. 1:3 "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. This is also cross-referenced with Jeremiah 17:8 "He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought." Wow, this is a tall order. But, yours is the third family I have heard of in 2009 that God has impressed Ps. 112 upon their hearts for these days and times in which we live. I am personally on a fast from TV news, as much as possible, as it causes me to stumble, robs my peace and hinders my prayers. Thanks for the affirming Word and confirmation of God's message.Bless you,Lynn

[Rebecca]

Oh yes I want to be comforted and strengthened by God's word!My devotion yesterday was titled,Keep my mind stayed on You.The scripture reference wasIsaiah 26:3-4You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

I found this so encouraging, and I thought it correlated well with what you were saying.Bless you~ Rebecca

[Rachel]

Thank you so much for posting this blog. I know so many who are fearful during these turbulant and unstable times in the U.S. It seems I've been hearing so much about the economy. I felt it impressed upon me within the last few months that as Matthew 7:24-25 states (paraphrased)...if we build our house on the solid rock although the storm comes, the house will not collapse because it is build on the rock. God's word does not say that the storms will not come. It just states that we'll be able to withstand it! **They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.** Because they are built on the solid rock. Amen! God bless you, sister!

[kimberlee]

Wow, what a perfectly titled blog entry. Thank you for pointing us to our Father's scripture reminding us the victory is His and that He is on our side.

[Susie Larson]

Dear Stephanie,

Isn't it all too easy to fall asleep to the news? No wonder our sleep isn't restful! But old habits die hard. :) Here's to redeeming the evening!Be blessed~

[Susie Larson]

Dear Anna,

What's a Wednesday,lunch, fast, devotional? It sounds powerful! ;)Thank you so much for your post. I'm so glad you and your husband will be sitting under the Psalm 112 promise! Blessings~

[Susie Larson]

Dear Lynn,

Isn't that neat? God is speaking a similar message to many of us!May your faith arise and your peace increase.Blessings to you~

[Susie Larson]

Dear Rebecca,

What devotional do you use? I have a few that I use on rotation. I've really been enjoying my prayer times lately. God is near. What an amazing gift that is!Blessings to you~

[Susie Larson]

Dear Rachel,

I love how much your passage from Matthew relates to Psalm 112. Troubles will come, but those who call on the Name of the Lord will stand strong and be a blessing to world in need. :)

[Susie Larson]

Dear Kimberlee,

Thanks for stopping by. Here's to being strengthened by His Word today.Bless you~

[Rebecca]

Hi Susie,I have several that I use to guide my prayer time and scripture reading. The one I was referring to here is my favorite, it's Oswald Chambers, "My utmost for His highest".Bless you~~

[Susie Larson]

Rebecca,That one is a favorite of many! I'd be curious to hear from others who visit this blog. What do you use for your devotional?Bless you, Rebecca!