Words are not enough

 

And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments. Ezra 9:10

In Ezra's prayer of confession, there was sincere repentance for the sins of his people; he called the sins by their names, mentioned the mercy of God, and His commandments, expressed great sorrow for their sins.

There was no self-justification in his prayer, he did not call sins by other names.

But there came a time when there were no more words in prayer. What shall we say after this? He was so grieved because of sins that he could no longer find words.

Every Christian has experienced the same, when words are not enough to express the hatred for sins, the anger at oneself, the longing to be free from sin, the gratitude for God's mercy, the willingness to obey the Word of God.

Words are not enough, but God hears the voice in the heart.

From my diary,

June 30,  2023

The hand of our God is upon us

 And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me. Ezra 7:28

Ezra testified that he was strengthened, and also explained why. He was strengthened because God's hand was upon him. His testimony displays humility and thankfulness.

No victory, no success, no achievement can be attributed to ourselves. If we have won victory, it is because the hand of our God has been upon us.

From my diary,

June 29, 2023

 

God is with me

For I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you… (Acts 18:10)

He who said these things to Paul is speaking to me as well. If I know this, why do I worry, despair, and fear?

God is with me. What else do I need but His presence? If God is with me, it does not matter who is against me. If He is with me, then I have help in the time of trouble, comfort in the hour of sorrow, strength for serving Him, a wonderful counselor in impossile situations, and assistance in my works.

From my diary,

June 28, 2023

 

Through many tribulations

 Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14.22

Paul and Barnabas exhorted the disciples to continue in the faith, not by telling them that by remaining in the faith they will be free from tribulations, but on the contrary, they said that they will have many tribulations. The tribulations are great, but indescribably great joy awaits those who pass through them and reach their destination, the kingdom of God. Tribulation is temporary, but God's kingdom is eternal.

From my diary,

June 27, 2023

Prayers sent to heaven

 Тheir prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven. 2 Chronicles 30:27

If prayer has come up to heaven, then the answer to prayer will come down to earth. For a prayer to reach heaven, it must be sent; no one can expect their letter to reach its destination if they don't send the letter. I love Spurgeon’s quote on this subject: ‘’ Prayer is an open door which none can shut! Devils may surround you on all sides—but the way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will not fall into the enemy's hand.’’

Satan cannot stop a child of God from praying, and NO ONE can stop God from answering His children’s prayer. So I must not hesitate to send prayers to the holy dwelling of my heavenly Father, being confident that He will send me the answers.

From my diary,

June 26, 2023

Trust in the Lord, pour your heart before Him

 Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8

The psalmist knows that people tend to look elsewhere for help. Therefore he exhorts us to trust in the LORD, to trust in the Lord ALONE and to trust in the Lord at ALL times.

The one who trusts in God opens his heart before God, without hiding anything in the corners of his heart. He who trusts in Him seeks refuge in Him. He is worthy of trust and has proven every single time that He never disappoints those who trust in Him.

If I want to please my Lord, if I want to disappoint the devil and if I want peace and joy in my heart, I will always trust in my Lord.

From my diary,

June 25, 2023

Our eyes are upon You

 For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. 2 Chronicles 20:12

I have often been in Jehoshaphat's situation, when I have no strength, no right orientation, and I don't know what to do. Jehoshaphat knew that they did not have the strength to face that great multitude, he did not know what they should do, but he knew to whom they should go to ask for help. All they could do was pray, and that was enough.

When a person is persuaded that he has no strength and cannot find a way out, he will completely depend on the Lord. If I say "I don't know what to do", let me also say. "Lord, You know what to do, how to do it, and when to do it."

I don't have the strength, so I'll turn to the One who has the strength, I don't know anything, so I'll ask the One who knows everything.

I don't see a way out, but I have seen God's works and miracles many times.

From my diary,

June 24, 2023

 

Volunteers needed for God's work

Аnd next to him was Zichri's son Amasiah, who had volunteered to serve the LORD. 2 Chronicles 17:16

There is no biographical information about Amasiah, the Holy Bible does not tell about his deeds, but only one thing: he volunteered to serve the Lord.

Whatever service we do among God's people, the important thing is that we serve the Lord willingly. The Lord is still seeking volunteers to serve Him, not such people who need to be persuaded to serve in Christ's Church, but volunteers who serve willingly, with all their heart.

Many people take pride in serving persons in high positions, how much greater honor is it for us to serve the King of kings.

My brother often tells me that if I had been self-confident, brave and resourceful, now I would be translating the president of the republic like my teacher of French language does. But I know it is a greater honor to translate the servants of the King of Kings.

I want to serve in the church of Christ willingly, joyfully, without getting tired and bored. I would like it to be rightfully said about me: "Hripsime, who volunteered to serve the Lord."

From my diary,

June 23, 2023

 

A divided heart can't be joyful

 And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around. 2 Chronicles 15:15

They rejoiced because they had entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God with all their hearts (2 Chronicles 15:12) and they had sought Him with all their souls and found Him. The result of seeking the Lord was the great joy. When there is a lack of joy, then there is a lack of heart in the vow and there is a lack of soul in seeking the Lord.

A joyful heart is a heart that seeks the Lord entirely. A divided heart cannot be joyful. The genuine, heavenly joy will not consent to dwell in a heart divided between God and the world.

From my diary,

June 22, 2023

Double minded man's prayer can't be answered

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:7, 8

Without faith it is impossible to please God, without faith no prayer will be answered. A double minded  man will receive nothing from God. A double minded  man may pray, but instead of relying on God, he will  rely on himself or on someone else, a double minded  man may say, "Let Your will be done", but he will decide to implement his own plan. A double minded  man may pray but he will  say that it is impossible to get the answer. A double minded  man may ask for something he doesn't really want to get. A double minded  man can say: " And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil " but at the same time he will not avoid the places where temptation is inevitable. A double minded  man may ask, " And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors ", but after the prayer he will say that he will never forgive someone.

Those who pray with faith they know God's promise, believe God's promise and long to receive it, they know that He is faithful who promised.

I want to learn to pray with unwavering faith. If I know for sure that something is according to His will and it is promised in His Word, I  will know for sure that I will receive it.

From my diary,

June 21, 2023

 

God keeps His promises

 The LORD therefore hath performed His word that He hath spoken. 2 Chronicles 6:10

What Solomon said at the dedication of the temple every child of God can say also. What a joy to see the fulfillment of God's promise with our own eyes.

Thinking about God's promises relieves worry, seeing His promises fulfilled brings peace and joy to my heart and strengthens my faith.

There has never been a time when He failed to fulfill His promise, and there never will be.

From my diary,

June 20, 2023

Jesus is able to save completely!

 Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25

The enemy of our soul will make every effort to convince us that salvation is impossible, will do anything to prevent us from believing this blessed truth. He will always disturb, slander, and raise doubts. It is indeed impossible to be saved by our own strength, but there is One who is able to save completely. He can save from all kinds of sin, from consequences of sin, from desire to sin.

And salvation is not for some people, but for all those who draw near to God through Jesus.

Compleate salvation is for all comers. That salvation includes forgiveness of sins, victory over sin, a clean conscience, a pure heart, a heart that seeks heavenly things.

I have a great Savior who saves me from great sins, that’s why my joy and gratitude are great, my great Savior deserves great praise.

From my diary,

June 19, 2023

Jesus knows everything!

And had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. John 2:25

He whose opinion is the most important to me, He whom I most want to please, knows everything about me.

He not only knows more about me than others do, but more than I know about myself.

People see deeds, they hear words, Jesus sees the motives of deeds, hears the voice of thoughts.

He not only knows my temptations, but also sees my struggle against them, and knows the means of deliverance from them.

He knows all my desires, goals, fears, doubts.

He knows everything, so He can help with everything.

From my diary,

June 18, 2023

 

Abide with me

 “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them. Luke 24:29

The disciples who went to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus at first, for them He was a person who was in Jerusalem but was unaware of recent events, then they found out that He was a person well-versed in the Holy Scriptures, and only after receiving the bread from Jesus' hand did they know who He was; the risen Lord!

They constrained Jesus to stay with them and He agreed. Those who love the Word of God love the presence of Jesus. Their hearts had burned within them when He talked with them on the road, therefore their hearts did not want to lose His presence.

Lord, my heart also burns within me when I listen to Your Word. That is why I am asking You the same; ‘’Abide with me!’’

From my diary,

June 17, 2023

What more can Hripsime say to You?

What more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant? 1 Chronicles 17:18

This is a true prayer of thanksgiving. David rejoices in the blessings already received, as well as those promised, showing his faith in the Promiser. He humbly accepts God's blessings, considering himself unworthy, considering God's blessings only as a mercy and a gift, not something he has earned.

And he can't find words to express his gratitude; what more can David say to You?

When I think about God's great mercy, wonderful works, care, blessings, I also do not find words to express my gratitude; what more can Hripsime say to You?

From my diary,

June 16, 2023

Talk of God's wonderful works

 Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! 1 Chronicles 16:9

Our Lord does wonderful things, and we must talk of them. If we always talk of His works, we will not have time to talk of the works of others, or of our works, which may discourage us. But talking about the works of our God will strengthen our faith, and the faith of those who listen to us, and inspire thankfulness and gratitude in our hearts.

We read about His deeds in the Bible, we see them in the lives of others and in our own lives.

We see His works every day, so we have something to tell every day.

From my diary,

June 15, 2023