To God be The glory, Amen

I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee

I need Thee every hour
In joy or pain
Come quickly and abide
Or life is vain

I need Thee, O I need Thee
Every hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee
O bless me now, my Savior
I come to Thee

To be thankfull and spillover with gratitude. God inhabits the praises of His people!

 “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel”. It means that God dwells or sits enthroned within the sincere worship and adoration of His people. 

This concept carries a rich spiritual and historical background: 

• The Original Context: In the original Hebrew, the word for “inhabit” is yashab, meaning to sit, dwell, or remain. The word for “praises” is tehillah, meaning a song of praise or adoration.
• Theological Meaning: It conveys the idea that when believers gather to praise and honor God, they are establishing a “throne” or dwelling place where His presence is uniquely experienced and welcomed.
• Encouragement for Worship: Many believers draw on this verse to find comfort in prayer, emphasizing that shifting one’s focus from personal burdens to praising God’s character invites His peace and presence into a heavy or difficult situation. 

Psalm 126:5 states: “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” 

This verse, found in one of the Bible’s “Songs of Ascents,” offers a beautiful and enduring spiritual promise. Here is a breakdown of its meaning: 

• The Principle of Sowing: Just as a farmer must work hard to plant seeds—often in difficult, exhausting, and uncertain conditions—we too face seasons of hardship, grief, and pain.
• The Promise of Reaping: “Reaping” represents the result of your perseverance. The verse promises that no faithful effort, prayer, or sorrow is wasted; God can and will turn seasons of weeping into seasons of ultimate joy. 

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8.

God is not limited in His ability to provide for your life. He knows your needs, sees your struggles, and promises to supply what is necessary at the right time. His grace is more than enough for every season you face.

When God blesses you, it is not only for your own needs, but also so you can be a blessing to others. He gives strength, wisdom, provision, peace, and grace in abundance so that your life can reflect His goodness.

Do not live in fear of lack. Trust the God who owns all things and faithfully cares for His children. He is able to provide more than enough.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for Your abundant grace and faithful provision. Help me to trust You in every season and use what You have given me to bless and encourage others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God bless you abundantly.

Standing with God or being against Him is a foundational concept in Judeo-Christian theology, emphasizing that spiritual alignment requires a clear choice. The Bible teaches that there is no true neutrality; thoughts and actions either align with divine purpose or work in opposition to it. [1, 2, 3]

Biblical Perspectives

• No Neutrality: The teachings emphasize that those who do not actively gather with God are described as scattering, creating a binary division between good and evil, truth and falsehood.
• Active Support: Standing with God involves aligning your life with His teachings, practicing righteousness, and loving others.
• Opposing God: Working against God can be intentional rejection, or it can be a consequence of passively standing in the way of His will and purposes.

Key Principles in Scripture

• Matthew 12:30: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” This verse underscores the belief that inaction is effectively a form of opposition.
• Acts 5:39: Warns against the peril of fighting against God’s overarching plans.

The Bible frequently reminds us that God stands with us and promises His constant presence. One of the most prominent verses for this promise is Joshua 1:9, which says: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Other powerful verses sharing the same message include:

• Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
• Matthew 28:20: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
• Deuteronomy 31:8: “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

The core message of faith is that you are never walking alone. Even when you are struggling, hurting, or feeling abandoned by others, God promises to be right by your side, giving you the strength to stand firm.

Knowing you are supported is a deeply personal and comforting reminder during difficult times. You can explore how this presence is described, or read encouraging words about God’s support and love, through the following resources:

• Reflect on Faith: Read inspiring thoughts on 180 Chicago Church to recognize how God’s presence guides you.
• Encouraging Devotions: Find daily hope and encouragement on Devotions by Chris Hendrix.
• Scriptural Comfort: Explore Guideposts for Bible verses that remind you of God’s constant support.

No matter what you are facing, His strength is there to uphold you.

9 Ways to Know that You Stand with God & God Stands with You.

By Karl Clauson

Fear of the unknown is a genuine fear (we are Created by God, for God, for a specific purpose/reason.)

You were uniquely created by God, designed with intention, and placed on earth for a specific reason. Throughout Christian theology and biblical teachings, this ultimate purpose is generally understood through a few core themes:

• To know and love Him: God created humanity not out of need, but to share His love, enjoy fellowship with you, and have a personal relationship.
• To glorify God: Your life is designed to reflect His character, grace, and goodness to the world around you.
• To serve a specific calling: God gave you unique gifts, talents, and experiences so you can make a meaningful impact and serve others.

To explore and unpack this personal calling further, resources like the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association or the Desiring God ministry provide deep biblical reflections on finding your God-given purpose.

So not knowing where you stand with God can be debilitating. What follows will either serve to confirm that God has saved your soul or that you need to fall to your face and discover God’s love for the very first time.

Why is this so important? Deception is a tactic Satan uses incessantly. He’ll deceive some into believing they are truly “born again,” when they aren’t (Matthew 7:21-23). And he’ll also try to trick others into thinking they’ve never experienced salvation when they may have.

My personal experience is that good churches are filled, or half-filled, with people who don’t know Jesus personally. They haven’t experienced most of what you’ll find here. But some are genuinely transformed and just need a shot of hope and truth that they’re on the “narrow path.” Jesus calls those who are saved “friend” and invites them into an adventure – never questioning their salvation again. Where do you stand with God?

The following are discernible characteristics of authentic faith. These characteristics are just that – not perfectly reflected in us at all times but truly characteristic of us, and we know it to be true. Some of these God reveals more clearly over time, but you readily agree that all are true or must become true of you as you grow. Here are your NINE WAYS TO KNOW:

1. You believe that God’s plan for your life is best, that God alone can turn your life around, and that you cannot receive this life or earn it apart from God. Genesis 15:6
2. You know it’s God’s righteousness and not yours that saves you. That it’s Jesus’ righteous life and death that paved the way for the salvation of your life. You’re so convinced of this that as a child of God you know who gets the credit and you’re eager to admit it. II Corinthians 5:20-21
3. You feel deep conviction and sadness when you sin (miss the mark). You desire not to let this sin become a pattern of behavior in your life. Deep conviction of sin is evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in your heart. John 16:8
4. You are willing and ready to claim Jesus as your savior. You don’t shy away from boldly stating if asked, that Jesus is the one who saved you from your old life. Your relationship with Jesus is cherished, and you’re willing to talk about it. Matthew 10:32
5. You have a hunger to obey the teachings of Jesus. Your passion to know and apply God’s word is not out of pride or obligation, but knowing that God wants you to stand firm through the storms of life. You know that neglecting to obey God’s word is costly, so you aim to understand and apply truth. John 14:23, Matthew 7:24-27
6. You know that your ability to produce good fruit and attractive behavior is dependent on your proximity to Jesus. You are fully aware that if there is light shining out from you, it is God at work in you. You know for sure that apart from Jesus, you can do nothing to produce fruit in your strength. Matthew 5:16, John 15:5
7. You love to be truthful with God and walk in his light. When walking in sin, you don’t lie about it, but you admit it and return to the light of truth. One of the greatest joys you have of walking in the light of truth is the deep connection you make with God and his children. You desire to connect with God and his kids. I John 1:3,6-7
8. You desire to live a life that is purified by God. Sin will never be eradicated from our life here on earth. But you don’t want patterns of sin to persist. I John 3:3-6
9. You are an overcomer! You have seen God change you and give you victory. You know it is God’s work and not yours. Faith in God is powerful, and you know it to be true. I John 5:4

Do you stand with God on these? I trust the Holy Spirit to work in your heart. If you need to surrender your life to God, do so right now. Ask him to forgive your sin, cleanse your heart, fill you with his life and power, and confess him as the new leader of your life.

These nine characteristics give us a way to both know where we stand and to move in our relationship with God – growing in confidence, not stumbling, and getting a champions welcome into eternity. I Peter 1:10-11

God speed to you,

Karl

Luke 6:43-45
‘”For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”