You Are Mine!

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You Are Mine!

We all love a good  love song.     That’s why so many are written.     A good love song tells us  how cherished we are  and how our beloved  will care for us  through thick and thin.     The Bible contains many love songs  in which God declares His love  for His people.     Many of God’s love songs  have modern-day melodies,  using words  from the Bible.

One such favorite declaration of love  that has been made  into various hymns   is found in Isaiah 43:1-3,

But now,  thus says the LORD,  your creator,  O Jacob,    
And He who formed you,  O Israel,    
“Do not fear,  for I have  redeemed you;    
I have called you  by name;  you are Mine!    
When you pass  through the waters,  I will be  with you;    
And through the rivers,  they will not  overflow you.    
When you walk through the fire,  you will not  be scorched,    
Nor will the flame burn you.    
For I am the LORD  your God,    
The Holy One of Israel,  your Savior……”

We belong to God — just because He formed us,  loved us,  redeemed us,  and called us by name.

God knows full well  that we are going through  intense trials,  that He poetically describes as  passing through deep waters,  rivers,  and fire.     Whatever kind of trial  we are having,  one thing is sure.     God Almighty  is beside us  to protect us,  because He is our Savior  and our God.

Because God is holy  and cannot lie,  we can rest assured  that He will care  for us  and bring us  to our eternal home.     Note that the LORD does  let us  go through  all sorts  of horrendous trials.     Each one of these trials  refines our faith,  hope,  love, and obedience.     With each trial,  as we trust  in our Lord,  He helps us  get through it  unscathed.

It was scary.     It looked like  there was no hope.     We certainly were totally incapable  of saving ourselves.     In each trial,  we learned  to trust God more — love God more — see the beauties  of God’s grace — and understand the glorious goodness  of God’s ways.

Let us take comfort  in the everlasting love  of God Almighty.

One of my favorite takes  on God’s declaration  of love here  is in the hymn, “How Firm A Foundation.”     As we think on these truths,  let us realize  how deeply God loves us.

How firm a foundation,  ye saints  of the Lord,
Is laid  for your faith  in His excellent Word!
What more can He say  than to you  He hath said,
To you,  who for refuge  to Jesus have fled?

In every condition,  in sickness,  in health;
In poverty’s vale,  or abounding  in wealth;
At home and abroad,  on the land,  on the sea,
As thy days may demand,  shall thy strength  ever be.

Fear not,  I am with thee,  O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God  and will still  give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee,  and cause thee  to stand
Upheld by My righteous,  omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters  I call thee  to go,
The rivers of woe  shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee,  thy troubles  to bless,
And sanctify  to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials  thy pathways shall lie,
My grace,  all sufficient,  shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee;  I only design
Thy dross  to consume,  and thy gold  to refine.

Even down to old age  all My people shall prove
My sovereign,  eternal,  unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs  shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs  they shall still  in My bosom be borne.

The soul  that on Jesus  has leaned  for repose,
I will not,  I will not desert  to its foes;
That soul,  though all hell  should endeavor  to shake,
I’ll never,  no never,  no never forsake.

These powerful words  are as true for us today  as they were   for the Israelites  in Isaiah’s day.     God will remain God forever.     No one will ever be able  to change that,  no matter how arrogantly  they defy the LORD  and go their own sinful ways.     That is just another reason  we can take comfort  in God’s promises.     He is the Almighty.     We are but men.

Thinking about  how precious we are  to the LORD,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     My Lord,  surely  in all situations,  You alone  are my firm foundation,  my Savior,  my Good Shepherd,  my Redeemer.     Thank You  for Your faithful love.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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