NEW MERCIES, FRESH HOPE

One of God's greatest guarantees is His constant flow of faithfulness toward those who put their hope in Him. We can fully relax and surrender ourselves to His supernatural keeping and care, regardless of how things look to our natural eyes.

"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." - Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)

We cannot bankrupt His unending supply of mercy and compassion. No matter how many "withdrawals" we make through the course of the day, there's a fresh, new supply every morning. Just imagine what that would look like in our worldly bank accounts, to know that there would always be more than enough. How much more valuable is the currency of heaven – limitless mercy from our loving Father?

The verse continues:

"I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

All we have to do is quiet ourselves and believe. Trust, and wait with confidence.

To run ahead of Him, to try and "figure things out on our own" will only bring us fatigue and frustration. He is the true and only reliable source of all that we need, and our greatest need is already met – the need for His love, compassion and acceptance.

Father God, thank You that Your mercies are indeed new every morning. Cause me to awaken each day with fresh hope, eager anticipation, and the promise of Your abiding Presence. Fill me with Your perfect peace. I trust You, I believe You, I love You and I thank You. All I need, I have in You. You are faithful.

HIS INVITATION

The one I love calls to me.

Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling.

Come away with me!

I have come as you have asked

to draw you to my heart and lead you out.

For now is the time, my beautiful one.

The season has changed,

the bondage of your barren winter

has ended, and the season of hiding

is over and gone.

The rains have soaked the earth and

left it bright with blossoming flowers.

The season for singing and pruning

the vines has arrived.

I hear the cooing of doves in our land,

filling the air with songs to awaken you

and guide you forth.

Can you not discern this new

day of destiny breaking forth

around you?

The early signs of my purposes and plans

are bursting forth.

The budding vines of new life are now

blooming everywhere.

The fragrance of their flowers whispers,

“There is change in the air.”

Arise, my love, my beautiful companion,

and run with me to the higher place.

For now is the time to arise

and come away with me.

- Song of Solomon 2:10-13 (The Passion Translation)

This is His invitation to us, individually and as a group. The season has indeed changed. A new day of destiny is at hand. It's time to seek His face, minister to His heart and obtain the fresh oil we will need for our lanterns as we wait for His arrival. The hour is late. Many of us are sensing a greater urgency to pursue His Presence than we have ever felt before.

Others of us feel a sense of sadness that we have not pursued Him as relentlessly as He has pursued us. But there is no condemnation. His mercies are new every morning. You can begin today, right now, to turn away from the distractions of the world, and seek His face. He is, once again, extending His hand to you. Make haste, my Beloved.

Lord, I accept Your invitation and I am humbled by Your great love for me. It is my desire to know You and be known by You. Draw me continually into the secret place with You, and cause my heart to respond with joyful anticipation. I am Yours.

THE GIFT OF NOW

We’ve all said it. Someday I'm going to make some time to spend with Jesus. Someday I'm going to make some time to get my prayer life together. Someday I'm going to make some time to read the Bible all the way through.

Our "someday" is now. In the midst of this pandemic pause, God has handed us the very thing we've been promising Him, and ourselves -- time. The truth is, we can't make time. All the time that has been and ever will be has already been made… by Him. We can't make a single minute of time. But we can take it.

Taking time to do something presents us with the reality that, in order to devote time to a certain thing, we will have to take time away from something else.

For most of us, myself included, this will take practice. We're probably not all going to become wise stewards of our time overnight. And maybe we don't even know how or where to begin. But God, in His infinite wisdom and kindness, has given us in these past few weeks a starting point.

Regardless of how the present crisis started, whether it was natural or man-made; despite the media manipulation and political wrangling, it has created a vacuum in our lives that the Lord can use to carry out His magnificent plan. And His plan, from the beginning, was to reconcile the world to the Father. And that starts with you and me. One person at a time.

This gift He has given us – this time – is more valuable than we may realize. Someday soon, this pause will come to an end. And I believe that when it does, we should have something to show for it. Some offering to bring to him. Some evidence of how we used this time for the one thing that really matters.

"So teach us to number our days, That we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 4:12 (AMP)

Some of us will come out of this pause with our spring cleaning all done; organized closets, sparkling floors or an immaculate garage. Others will come out loaded down with gifts that can only be exchanged in the secret place of His Presence… wisdom, revelation, clarity, provision and peace. And what we carry, we will share.

How are you spending the time that has been given to you by the Maker of Time in this opportune moment?

Lord, reveal to us the things You would have us to change about the way we spend our time, both now and in the future. Rearrange our priorities to bring glory to You and let Your Kingdom be established in our midst. Draw our hearts to meet with You in the secret place, where communion and consecration bring miraculous transformation. Thank You for this gift of time. May we steward it well.