Marissa Henley

Encouraging weary women to hope in Christ alone

The Lord is Your Light and Your Salvation {No Matter What Monday}

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ps27.1

 

If you’ve read the Bible for more than about 10 minutes, you’ve probably come across the idea that those who belong to the Lord have no reason to fear. Do not fear, do not be anxious, do not be afraid . . . these phrases are all over the Scriptures. 

 

If the Lord repeated this idea so often, it must be important. But at the same time, it seems so impractical. The world is a scary place. It’s filled with uncertainty and suffering and trouble, and sometimes it seems to be getting worse every day.

 

How can we possibly live without fear? 

 

Psalm 27:1 offers an answer to that question: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 

The Lord is our light. When all feels dark, the Lord’s light shines even brighter. Micah 7:8 says, “When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” Isaiah 60:20 refers to the everlasting light of the Lord. Our Heavenly Father promises to always shine His unfailing light into our darkest places. 

 

The Lord is our salvation. Colossians 1:13-14 tells us He’s delivered us from the dominion of darkness, brought us into the kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ, and given us redemption and forgiveness. 

 

I doubt I will completely conquer the temptation to fear this side of heaven. But remembering that the Lord is my light and salvation helps me to face a frightening world with less fear and more confidence in the Lord’s promises. 

 

No matter what you face this week, the Lord is your light and your salvation—you have no reason to fear! 

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God is With You {No Matter What Monday}

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A few weeks ago, I woke to hear the loud rumbling of thunder. I knew what would happen next. Sure enough, a few minutes later the outline of a little girl darkened our bedroom doorway.

 

My daughter was scared. She didn’t want to be alone. Her dolls and stuffed animals couldn’t provide the comfort she needed. She sought comfort in the presence of those who knew what she needed and love her.

 

I’m trying to teach my daughter to turn to the Lord when she’s afraid—and not just so she’ll start sleeping in her own bed through a thunderstorm. I love comforting her when I can, but I know there will be times when life is hard and I’m not just down the hallway. I want her to learn that there is One who loves her even more than I do. Her Heavenly Father is always with her.

 

Psalm 139:7-10 says: Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

 

God is present everywhere we go. He is always with us, and He is always leading and holding us. He cares about every detail of our life, every moment of our struggles. Everywhere we go, He is there. Every decision we wrestle with, He will lead us. Every storm we endure, He will hold us.

 

No matter what you face this week, God is with you. 

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Our Help Comes from the Maker of Heaven and Earth {No Matter What Monday}

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What in God’s creation takes your breath away? Mountains rising high? The vast expanse of the ocean? The intricate knitting together of a newborn baby? The colors of a sunset radiating through the clouds?

 

Everywhere around us, God is giving us a glimpse of His power, goodness and might.

 

What in your life causes you to worry? Your job? Kids? Future? Health? Finances? For me, the list includes all of those and a few more. When the stresses of life start to overwhelm me, I think about these words from Psalm 121:

 

“I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.”

 

The God who raised those mountains from the ground? He’s planned my future.

 

The Lord who holds the ocean depths in the palm of His hand? He loves my children.

 

My Father who knit me together in my mother’s womb? Every cell in my body answers to Him.

 

When you cry out to the Lord for help, you are depending on the One created the universe and upholds it by His will. Let the wonders of His creation remind you of His power and might at work in your life and in your circumstances.

 

No matter what you face this week, your help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth.

 

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The Steadfast Anchor for our Soul {No Matter What Monday}

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heb 6.19

What is your anchor? When the storms come and the wind throws your small boat up into the air, what keeps it from being tossed so far that it’s destroyed by the waves?

 

When the waves threaten, we need an anchor. Anchors are strong. Anchors are immovable. Anchors provide stability when life around us is turbulent.

 

In Hebrews 6:19, we are given a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor . . . ”

 

What is this anchor? If we at the context of the chapter, we see this anchor is the unchanging character of God’s promises. Theses promises are sure and steadfast because of the character of the One who makes them: His unwavering faithfulness.

 

What else in your life is unchanging? What else can you cling to that will never fail or waver? I haven’t found anything in my life that is more steadfast than the promises of my Heavenly Father.

 

Our Creator, Redeemer and Lord beckons us to find refuge in Him. He makes these promises and guarantees them with an oath to show us the “unchangeable character of his purpose,” so that “we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us” (verses 17-18).

 

Are your circumstances tossing you haphazardly? Does life feel chaotic or out of control? Find refuge in the Lord. Let his arms wrap around your rocking boat as he lowers the anchor of his steadfast promises.

 

Because the Lord is holding fast to you, you can hold fast to the hope set before you and face the storm ahead.

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