THE GOD WHO STAYS

 

Marcella Ward      March 1, 2023

 

When adversity comes, when tragedies come into our lives, we know that God is always with us.  As born again believers in Christ we know, through the scriptures, that God will never leave us.  We may walk away from Him but He is always there to welcome us back.  God is ALWAYS WITH US!

DEUTERONOMY 31:6

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  NIV

DEUTERONOMY 31:8

⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  NIV

JOSHUA 1:5

⁵ No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  NIV

JOSHUA 1:9

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  NIV

MATTHEW 28:20

²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  NIV

ROMANS 8:28

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.  NIV

 

The following song really sums up God’s love for us even when we sin or walk away from Him, His arms are always open wide to welcome us back.  The following lyrics to the song by Matthew West have touched my heart over the years and I pray they touch yours.

 

Matthew West Lyrics

"The God Who Stays"

If I were You I would've given up on me by now
I would've labeled me a lost cause
'Cause I feel just like a lost cause
If I were You I would've turned around and walked away
I would've labeled me beyond repair
'Cause I feel like I'm beyond repair

Oh, but somehow You don't see me like I do
Somehow You're still here

You're the God who stays
You're the God who stays
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

I used to hide
Every time I thought I let You down
I always thought I had to earn my way
But I'm learning You don't work that way

'Cause somehow You don't see me like I do
Somehow You're still here

You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)
You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands (You're the God who stands)
With wide open arms (With wide open arms)
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

My shame can't separate
My guilt can't separate
My past can't separate
I'm Yours forever
My sin can't separate
My scars can't separate
My failures can't separate
I'm Yours forever
No enemy can separate
No power of hell can take away
Your love for me will never change
I'm Yours forever

You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)
You're the God who stays (You're the God who stays)
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands (You're the God who stands)
With wide open arms (With wide open arms)
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays
You're the God who stays
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

 

 

Open the link below to listen to the song on YouTube.

 

https://youtu.be/8wJIeZMSxLs

 

Marcella Ward    March 1, 2023   Author of “Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One”

                                                               SHOUT LOUDER

 Marcella Ward June 22, 2022

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.  2 Kings 6:15-18 NIV

“Pastors in Nazi German told their congregants to “sing a little louder” while millions of Jews were being hauled away like animals to Hitler’s extermination camps where they would be burned alive in ovens.”  (Published on Jun 14, 2012 by CleanTVcom)

Who are the ones that are “shouting louder” in our world today?  Do you hear the shouting of the “fake news” media shouting louder?  Do you hear the sound of the “woke” participants shouting louder?  Do you hear the politicians on the left shouting louder? 

Why are they shouting louder?  I believe it is because there are only a few willing to shout louder than they.  As in the case of Elisha who spoke to the servant, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2 Kings 6:16 The angel armies of the Lord showed up.

In contrast to Elisha’s faith to believe that God would save them, many pastors in Germany used “sing louder” to try to cover up the sound of the train that carried the Jews to death camps.  There were many pastors who did not stand up for what was happening to the Jews.

Can we ignore what is happening in our world today?  Do we just shut out the news and live in our own world and ignore what is happening before our very eyes?  Until it comes to our front door then maybe our eyes will be opened.  Unfortunately, it is happening now on our front door because of the gas prices, the “woke” culture dictating who we are, food shortages, etc. and also, like in the holocaust, abortion killing our precious babies. 

We need to decree who God says we are.  We are made in the image and likeness of Almighty God.  We have authority given to us by Jesus Christ through the shedding of His blood on the cross.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,  Ephesians 2:6 NIV

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  Luke 10:19 NIV

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  James 4:7 NIV

Julie Green June 17, 2022  Prophet of the Lord

“For I, the Lord, this day command My children to get up from your places of despair and defeat, those dark places your enemy has kept you enslaved in with such bondage. No, My children, you are no longer slaves. The Lord has brought your enemy to nothing and destroyed his power over you. He can no longer hold you!

So break free from those chains, My children. Break free with the Name and the blood of Jesus Christ. What He did on the cross and what He did to destroy the power of hell on this earth against you, get this revelation. Your enemy is a loser. He is defeated. See him that way. See him under your feet. See him as small as he truly is. You are bigger and have more power than he does because I am on the inside of you always.

Remember that I go where you go. I am always with you. Don't do things on your own or in your own strength and ability. No, that is how the world lives. Live as a child of the Most High God should live in this world but not of this world. No longer settle for second best or for their sickness, debt, or the bondage they have kept you in. I have said let My people go. Those words are still at work today, and the manifestations of it the world will soon see. So get up now with My Word, My children, and arise higher than your circumstances. They can no longer hold you hostage when you know the truth, saith the Lord your Redeemer.”  (open link to visit Julie Green International Ministries website for more prophecies (www.juliegreenministriesinternational.org)

Let your voice be heard no matter what the circumstances are!  The voice of God is stronger than all the voices of the evil one manifesting through people with a demonic agenda.  God gave us a voice that was heard the second we were born with the cry of a newborn announcing to the world, “Here I am”!

God works through His people.  One of the greatest gifts He gave us was free will.  He will not force His will upon us but it is our choice to act on His Word. 

Remember, there are more of us, than there are of them, so let’s all shout louder!

Marcella Ward   June 22, 2022   Author of “Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One” 

   

 

 

 

                                       FAITH AND TRUST GO HAND IN HAND

 

“Faith and trust have similar meanings, and often people will use the words interchangeably. Even Merriam-Webster defines faith as “belief and trust in and loyalty to God.” For most people there is no practical difference between faith and trust; to them, the two are synonymous. Any differences that exist are very fine.

In Scripture, faith is defined as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). In other words, faith involves trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove. Faith is inseparable from trust; it’s the confidence that God can and will do what He says in His Word. Faith includes both intellectual assent to something and trust in it. So we believe something to be true, and we also place our trust in it—we rely on it. Faith recognizes that a chair is designed to support the person who sits on it, and trust demonstrates the faith by actually sitting in the chair.

Faith without trust is not faith. Belief without reliance is empty. Many people believe certain facts about Jesus Christ, but knowing those facts to be true is not what the Bible means by “faith.” The biblical definition of faith requires trust in—a commitment to—the facts.

An example of the relationship between faith and trust is a trust-fall. You have faith that your friends will catch you even though your back is turned to them. You believe they will not let you hit the ground. The act of falling—as the name of the exercise implies—is trust. You demonstrate the faith you have in your friends. Trust in God is a core aspect of biblical faith.”  (What is the difference between faith and trust?  GOT QUESTIONS)

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.  Hebrews 11:1 NIV

 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.  Mark 11:24 NIV

 For we live by faith, not by sight.  2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV

Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.  Mark 10:52 NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6, New International Version)

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act. (Psalm 37:5, ESV)

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8, NIV)

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD Himself, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:3-4, NIV)

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. (Psalm 118:8, NIV)

Faith and trust walk hand in hand.  They are almost synonymous.  It appears that faith is the first step and trust removes any doubt.  For example, a child has faith that when his father  promises something, that he will do it.   He trusts in his father’s word that it will happen.

We need to have child-like faith in God and believe His Word and His promises and know that He loves us and we can trust Him to meet all of our needs and answer our prayers. 

 

Prayer for Unwavering Trust

O God, my Strength, I put my trust in You. You have never forsaken those who seek You. You have never let me down. I know that You never will let me down because my life so far has been a testimony of Your greatness. Mold me into Your image, and hold me close to You. Show me how to mature as a Christian and improve on my walk of faith. Steady my trust in You so that it never wavers, no matter what battles I face on this earth. I declare that my faithfulness to You will be strong at all times. Amen. (9 Powerful Prayers for Faith and Trust in God Nov 2, 2018 by Editor in Chief)

Marcella Ward    March 30, 2022