A fixed, constant attention to the promises [of God], and a firm belief of them, would prevent solicitude and anxiety about the concerns of this life. It would keep the mind quiet and composed in every change, and support and keep up our sinking spirits under the several troubles of life. . . . Christians deprive themselves of their most solid comforts by their unbelief and forgetfulness of God's promises. For there is no extremity so great, but there are promises suitable to it, and abundantly sufficient for our relief in it.
A thorough acquaintance with the promises would be of the greatest advantage in prayer. With what comfort may the Christian address himself to God in Christ when he considers the repeated assurances that his prayers shall be heard! With how much satisfaction may he offer up the several desires of his heart when he reflects upon the texts wherein those very mercies are promised! And with what fervour of spirit and strength of faith may he enforce his prayers, by pleading the several gracious promises which are expressly to his case!
~from Samuel Clark, Scripture Promises; or, the Christian's Inheritance, A collection of the Promises of Scripture under their proper heads, quoted in J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 115.
Thanks be to God for His great and precious promises:
~He gives wisdom generously and without criticizing to all who ask in faith (James 1:5).
~He will make our paths straight as we trust in Him wholeheartedly, lean not on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:5-6).
~He will never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5).
~Goodness and faithful love will pursue us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6)
~He has not forsaken those who seek Him (Psalm 9:10).
~With the Lord is steadfast love and plentiful redemption (Psalm 130:7).
~There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
~He will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10).
~To those who receive Christ, even to those who believe in His name, to them He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:13-14).
~His way is to be gracious with those who love His name (Psalm 119:132).
~He has a plan for us, and it's a good one (Jeremiah 29:11).
and His gracious gifts this past week:
~time with loved ones in person and on the phone
~all three loved ones with major diagnostic procedures last week received good news
~friends who say they'll pray for me and really do
~praying with a friend on the phone at a crisis moment
~a neighbor sending over a bag of produce from her garden (different plants than Allen has this year)
~listening to a frog sing as I set up the next morning's coffee
~two large orange butterflies in the lantana (Gulf Fritillaries?)
~the feast after a fast
~learning that the giant, three-inch wasps swarming around our backyard are "beneficial, harmless, rarely aggressive" cicada killers and not tracker jackers escaped from the fictional land of Panem, as my dreams would have had me believe
~waking up from a bad dream
~discovering along the way that my "moth as big as a hummingbird" from the spring also has a name and was not in fact a figment of my imagination
~foot doctor freeing me from the heavy boot cast as of this morning
~continuing the healing (of a hairline stress fracture) with a thin metal "shank" insole in my walking shoes and a supportive padded sleeve to relieve pressure on the sesamoid bone
~strength for a long morning
~Ebony waiting for me to take a rest with him after this full morning
~shelter, air conditioning, and no power outages in our first week above the century mark
(#6578-6604 from the gratitude journal)
sharing in community with Ann, Laura, and Jen:
~He gives wisdom generously and without criticizing to all who ask in faith (James 1:5).
~He will make our paths straight as we trust in Him wholeheartedly, lean not on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways (Proverbs 3:5-6).
~He will never leave us or forsake us (Deut. 31:6 and Hebrews 13:5).
~Goodness and faithful love will pursue us all the days of our lives (Psalm 23:6)
~He has not forsaken those who seek Him (Psalm 9:10).
~With the Lord is steadfast love and plentiful redemption (Psalm 130:7).
~There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).
~He will be exalted in the earth (Psalm 46:10).
~To those who receive Christ, even to those who believe in His name, to them He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:13-14).
~His way is to be gracious with those who love His name (Psalm 119:132).
~He has a plan for us, and it's a good one (Jeremiah 29:11).
and His gracious gifts this past week:
~time with loved ones in person and on the phone
~all three loved ones with major diagnostic procedures last week received good news
~friends who say they'll pray for me and really do
~praying with a friend on the phone at a crisis moment
~a neighbor sending over a bag of produce from her garden (different plants than Allen has this year)
~listening to a frog sing as I set up the next morning's coffee
~two large orange butterflies in the lantana (Gulf Fritillaries?)
~the feast after a fast
~learning that the giant, three-inch wasps swarming around our backyard are "beneficial, harmless, rarely aggressive" cicada killers and not tracker jackers escaped from the fictional land of Panem, as my dreams would have had me believe
~waking up from a bad dream
~discovering along the way that my "moth as big as a hummingbird" from the spring also has a name and was not in fact a figment of my imagination
 |
| White-winged sphinx hummingbird moth |
~continuing the healing (of a hairline stress fracture) with a thin metal "shank" insole in my walking shoes and a supportive padded sleeve to relieve pressure on the sesamoid bone
~strength for a long morning
~Ebony waiting for me to take a rest with him after this full morning
~shelter, air conditioning, and no power outages in our first week above the century mark
(#6578-6604 from the gratitude journal)
sharing in community with Ann, Laura, and Jen:
