Category: Our Exceptional God

Praying Silent Whispers In The Dark

Silent Whispers in the Dark

Christian friends, I know you can think of someone you deeply care about who denies the fact that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it?

Is it a family member, a dear friend, or maybe even someone you’re about to marry?

Why won’t they listen?

The conversations you’ve started with them about salvation through Jesus seem to go nowhere.

Do any of the following responses sound familiar?

“I just don’t feel that way”

“Nope! Not interested”

“Jesus is a myth”

If only they knew how important their eternal lives are to God.

If only they knew how much you want to see them in Heaven.

Praying those silent whispers in the dark on your loved one’s behalf seem to go unanswered.

It’s troubling.

Don’t they see what’s going on in our world?

Don’t they see the growing divide between good and evil playing out before our very eyes?

Keep Praying

Our loved ones’ salvation could take a very long time.

But also, in our heart of hearts, we have to face up to the fact that some of the people that we love will not go to Heaven.

They will continue being the wonderful people they are here, but their  hardened hearts will send them to Hell forever. 

I know we don’t like to think about it – but it’s true. 

Faith can’t be forced on someone if they are not called.  

Your Silent Whispers in the Dark are Heard

silent whispers in the dark

Going forward, it doesn’t matter how long your lost loved ones continue to reject Christ, keep praying for them.

Even though it seems like they’ll never change, the Heavenly Father hears your silent whispers in the dark.

God knew the exact timing for you to come to Christ, and He knows the exact timing for your loved one . . . even if it’s years down the road.

If they are called to salvation, it will happen. 

Do you want to hear something beautiful?

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9, (NASB).

Peter, a friend and disciple of our Lord, spoke those words.

He saw deceivers coming into the church trying to influence God’s people.

confusing messages

Look around – is anything different in today’s world? There are wicked people everywhere looking to spread their hate for God to all generations. 

And yet, God is not willing for any to perish.

He, not we, knows who His elect are, and that’s why it’s so important to bring the gospel to all people.

So why won’t some of the people you care about accept the gospel message?

God willing, they might, but it’s all in God’s timing.

The Lord is never late.

Praying for Lost Loved Ones

How do we pray for them then?

Some people have trouble finding the right words.

Regardless, God will hear you so don’t get caught up in trying to make it flow like you have to be perfect.

This should be a cry from the heart.

Even the length of the prayer doesn’t matter.

You’re praying for God to open their hearts to hear His Good News. 

Don’t Give Up Praying Those Silent Whispers in the Dark

Here’s an example of a prayer that you’re welcome to use – maybe it could be a springboard for your own personal prayer for your lost loved ones.

Father God,

I have some special people on my heart today.

The __________ family,

___________,

and ____________.

Father, nothing seems to work.

No matter how much I pray, they don’t want to talk

about Jesus at all.

I know You hear all of my prayers.

As it says in Your Word, You love us so much that 

You’re not willing for anyone to perish.

Thank You for Your patience with me,

and for Your patience with my lost loved ones.

I pray that they won’t wait until there’s no turning back. 

I pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me in any future conversations I have with them about repentance and salvation. May the words of my mouth help plant those seeds that can lead them to Christ.

We fail You daily and yet, through Your compassion and mercy, You have provided us with a way to have eternal life.

As this world grows darker, help them to see that You are the only way to their salvation.

I know all things are done in Your timing. Your will be done.

I pray this through Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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Created With Love

Created With Love From God Above

Have you looked outside lately?

If you haven’t had a chance to notice yet, colorful flowers are blooming everywhere!

springtime blessings

Springtime is definitely here, and I’m ready to frolic!

I mean that in the best way.  😉

As you can tell, flowers bring me a lot of joy.

World famous French impressionist painter — Claude Monet, once said,  “I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”

To think that God designed everything in the creation around us is an amazing thought that I continue to delight in.

All of this beauty – created with love from God above.

created with love from God above

From One New Creation To Another

The colorful springtime flowers all around us are literally bursting forth with new life.

Likewise, as Christians, we have reason to celebrate our new lives in Him.

Christian brothers and sisters – how does it feel to know that you are a new creation? 

I think it feels pretty great, and humbling at the same time.

The meme below says exactly what I felt the moment I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart.

Not only did my perspective on everything change, I couldn’t wait to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and what’s to come in the future.

created with love

What You See Around You Was Created With Love

If you find yourself feeling a little down today, please take heart.

We all get that way sometimes.

I love this encouragement from Susie Larson’s Daily Blessing. 

Springtime is a beautiful time to slow down and notice the fresh life springing up all around you. It’s the perfect time to consider both God’s vastness and His nearness. With a few words from His mouth, He spoke the galaxies into existence. And with great care, He crafted you into an absolute work of art. The starry skies and the sparkle in your eyes both speak of what a wonderful Father He is. He told the waters where to stop, and He stretches out His hand against the enemy of your soul.

He moves mountains, and He opens doors. He speaks peace, and He calms the storm. With a word of instruction, He sends warring angels to fight for you, and with a whisper across your heart, He reminds you how much He loves you. He sent His Son to earth to save you, restore you, and redeem every aspect of your story. The gospel isn’t old news. It’s now news. It’s the Good News. It’s the best news ever. Celebrate this springtime season with holy expectancy. New life springs forth! – Susie Larson, author.

 

You were made in His image.

Be blessed!

# # # 

Claude Monet Quotation, courtesy of https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/claude-monet-quotes.

Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “I am a new christian. What is the next step?” n.d., para. 5. Web. Accessed April 20, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.gotquestions.org/new-creation.html

Susie Larson, courtesy of Susie Larson.com, “New Life Springs Forth.” April 5, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.susielarson.com/daily-blessing/2021/4/5/new-life-springs-forth.

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Who Else Works Overtime?

Who Else Works Overtime Besides You?

Who else works overtime besides you?

Here’s to all of you who have to work overtime – my hat’s off to you.  🙂

Give yourself a pat on the back for taking on those extra hours when duty calls.

I’m not just talking about hospital workers.

You know who else works long hours to help to make this country great?

Men and women serving in the military

Police officers

Secretaries

Biblical pastors writing their sermons

Delivery drivers

And many other occupations that don’t get the media accolades.

We’ve probably all worked overtime at some point in our lives.

I remember working overtime often over the years, even overnight as a reporter camped outside a breaking crime scene.

It’s just what you do to get the job done, and to do it well.

While we’re on the subject, guess who else works overtime, but not for the good like all of those dedicated workers mentioned above?

Evil Doesn’t Sleep

Spiritual Enemy No. 1, Satan, also works overtime.

The Enemy of our souls spends hour after hour, every single day, looking for ways to trip you up, make you doubt your faith, and throw every conceivable distraction at you so you don’t have time for God.

Fact: The Enemy hates every single one of us.

Satan is geared to the destruction of God’s people, primarily. Obviously he wants to damn the whole human race, but his particular preoccupation is with those who belong to God, i.e., Adam and Eve and Job and Peter and Paul and others. His hope is that if he can’t destroy their faith, he can destroy their integrity before God by a long list of indictments. – John MacArthur, pastor and bible teacher from Grace To You.1

And so he acts the same with us.

Satan also works overtime

Satan’s time is short.

Is he invincible?

No!

Jesus Will One Day Take All Of This Evil Away

Fortunately for us, there’s someone greater, omnipotent, and sovereign who works overtime.

That someone is Jesus – our Sovereign God who has already won the battle against evil.

Christians know that troubling times continue up ahead.

It’s easy to get discouraged during all of this craziness – but don’t stay in that place for long.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.

We have blessed assurance that every last repentant sinner who recognizes Jesus as Savior will be saved.

Jesus Christ, our Deliverer, works overtime praying for you and for me, and at the appointed time, He will come back for us.

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1 John MacArthur quotation, courtesy of GTY.org/library/sermons-library. 20 February, 2000. para. 17. Web. Accessed 19, April, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-236/the-character-of-satan

* Charles Spurgeon, influential pastor, quotation was accessed April 14, 2021 and retrieved from https://www.thekingdomcollective.com/spurgeon/sermon/92/. n.d., Para 39. Web. Photo used under the Pixabay License – free for commercial or private use – an artistic derivative created by me of the background photo original.

 

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True Grit Christianity

Do You Have True Grit Christianity?

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when I say the words, “True Grit”?

Probably the movie by the same name, right?

In my opinion, no film “remake” can beat the 1969 original movie which starred the one and only John Wayne.

John Wayne movie

In his Oscar-winning performance, Wayne was the cantankerous U.S Marshall, “Rooster” Cogburn.  In the film, a determined teenage girl hires Rooster to track down the heartless outlaw that killed her father.

As to whether the “true grit” description applied to her, or to the John Wayne character, it’s up for debate.  I think it can apply to both.

And it also applies to us as Christians.

Do you have “true grit Christianity”?

The Odds Are Stacked But . . .

Without a doubt, these are troubling times we’re living in.

With many Christians across the country still not attending indoor church due to virus concerns, the lack of fellowship and corporate worship has taken a toll.

And Satan is loving every minute of this.

This is not the time to give up on God.

In fact, it’s never the time to give up on God’s promises, despite what Satan might be whispering in your ear.

God doesn’t exist

There is no absolute truth

When you hear lies like that, as Barney Fife used to say, “Nip it! Nip it in the bud.”

You have the option to stand your ground and be prepared for a heated debate, or you can walk away and talk about the good news to someone else who desperately wants to hear about Jesus.

Keep reading your Bible, and get back to a biblical church as fast as you possibly can.

True Grit Christianity

true grit Christianity

As Christians in today’s world, we are facing giant-sized obstacles that can keep us separated and also roadblock our mission to share the gospel with others.

True grit is holding onto faith despite those roadblocks.

As more time passes, the world will try and tell you to denounce your faith in God. That’s what secular humanists do.

We can expect it.

Will the bad news all go away if I just turn off the mainstream media?

Hardly.

We must be prepared – through prayer, reading God’s Word, and trusting our Savior.

I know you’ve heard it said before that “God is in control.” 

I love that reminder because it brings everything (even the bad things we see going on) into a godly perspective. 

Unlike the plans of men, God’s plans are eternal, they serve a purpose, and they will bring Him glory.

The “true grit” Christian trusts God’s will and sovereignty.

Anything under God’s control is never out of control. – Chuck Swindoll, Christian pastor and author. 

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1 John Wayne photo, courtesy of The searchers Ford Trailer screenshot 29, 2018, January 16. Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Accessed and retrieved April 5, 2021. 

2 Chuck Swindoll Quotation, influential Christian pastor and author, courtesy of AZquotes.com.

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Our Redeemer Lives

Our Redeemer Lives – Rejoice!

Our Redeemer lives

Dear friends in Christ –

Here at delight-in-God.com, we wish you an Easter that is as joyful as the most beautiful spring day!  

In this world of confusion, remember we have a blessed hope ingrained in our hearts that can never be cancelled.

We can rejoice because our Redeemer lives!

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said . . .

– Matthew 28:6.

Look up at the beautiful deep blue sky, and know that our blessed hope is on that horizon!

Our Redeemer Lives and He’s Coming Back for us

Recently, I came across a beautiful medley of Easter songs from the group “Anthem Lights” and wanted to share it here.

It’s about three minutes long.

I hope you enjoy the soothing harmonies as much as I do.

This Easter medley almost brought me to tears – tears of gratitude.

It’s humbling to remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us and that He came to save us, despite our brokenness and sin.

What a wonderful merciful Savior we serve.

Happy Easter 2021!

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Scripture quotation is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

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