"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen." Jude 1:24-25
It’s June already. Can you believe it? By the way, how’s your new year’s resolution going? Or are you like me, and messed up the resolution on January 2nd? All joking aside, six months have gone by and how have they been for you truly?
Last night I grabbed my Bible and realized how many papers were stuck in it. I started cleaning my Bible out to make room for upcoming sermon notes and also to make it easier to read without stuff falling out. I saw the different papers from the last six months; from programs, encouragement cards, scrap papers with email addresses, papers from Columbia mission trip, sermon notes, and everything in between. I realized how much stuff really happens in life. I was reliving and going through all the emotions from the good times and the bad ones. It got me thinking about how God has been there through it all. Through the good times (like getting married, going to Columbia, church services, new Thursday night services, bible studies, and family time), and through the bad times, (stress with not having a job, fights in a newly married life, family drama, financials, father being hospitalized, and my grandfather passing away) and how I’m still here because of Him. From how great the mountain tops were to how low the valleys were, that the one constant lifeline through it all has been God’s strength and love through Christ Jesus. I was never alone, and through Christ I have the strength and ability to stand tall because He was able to keep me from falling. When we turn to God, and focus on His love and promise through Christ, we will prevail even though everything else around us is falling apart.
I picked these verses because it was a beautiful praise to God, and a reminder of where our strength comes from through Christ. The verses remind us that we pray to God, who gave us an everlasting gift; He will prevent us from falling, give us the strength to take one more step, or even pick us up if we’ve repented from turning away from Him. He is the same God yesterday, today and tomorrow. We have nothing to fear because Christ is our savior and has secured our future in His death and resurrection. He will “present [us] before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.”
As you take time to spend with God, take a moment to thank Him and praise Him. Take time to remind yourself of what has happened the last six months and remember how, through Christ, God was there for you. Take time to thank Him and praise Him for what He is about to do in your life. Have no fear for whatever you will face, from upcoming known trials and tribulations to the unknown ones; for you have a powerful God as your father. God created the Earth in six days, defeated pharaoh and his armies, parted the Red Sea, flooded the world for forty days, and sent His son to save you from yourself, because He loves you beyond human understanding. So thank God, Praise God, be at peace and be encouraged. Face the rest of today, and this year, with boldness and fearlessness for you have a powerful loving God through it all. All praise be to God and to Christ Jesus. Amen.
In Him,
Grant Ballester
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