Oh, how great is Your goodness!

 Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men! Psalm 31:19

How many there are who have tasted His goodness, how much His goodness is worthy of admiration and gratitude, how much His goodness has amazed us.

How many times I have seen His goodness to me, how unworthy I am to receive it, how ungrateful I have been.

How great is my joy when I think of His goodness, how great is my regret that I have often failed to appreciate His amazing, infinite goodness.

How I long to see His great goodness in all the days of my life. How great is my gratitude for His wonderful lovingkindness.

From my diary,

January 8, 2023

His anger is but for a moment

 For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

No matter how long the night is, it is not eternal, every night is followed by morning. Weeping is not a permanent resident, it is a night guest that will leave early in the morning.

From my diary,

January 7, 2023

Deny the worldly lusts

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Titus 2:12

Those who want to live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world should reject ungodliness and worldly lusts.  It is possible to win in every battle if you have learnt to answer all the temptations, suggestions of  the devil with one two-letter word: No! You don't have to start a conversation with him, you just have to say no.

This is a very safe, reliable and effective way to fight sin.

From my diary,

January 6, 2023 

 

I will hold fast God's Word in my memory, in my heart, in my life

 

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:13

I will  hold fast the Word of God  firmly in my memory ; I won’t forget it, I will  hold it fast in faith;

I won’t doubt it,  I will  hold it fast in my heart ; I will  love it with all my heart, I will  hold it fast in  my life: I will apply it. I will hold fast God’s Word, I will reject human interpretations.

From my diary,

January 5, 2023 

Faithful in small things

 

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Luke 16.10

There are no small things  in true godliness. He who obeys the Word of God is faithful in the smallest things.

If I want to please God, I must watch my every step, every word, pay attention to my  every thought.

God does not require those with lesser talents to do the work of those with greater talents. A diligent janitor  is as important to God as a preacher.  Therefore I will  do my small duties with great faithfulness, I will do my small tasks with great love, use my small talents with great joy, walk in the little light I have, use the little opportunities for the glory of God, apply my little knowledge of the Bible  to advance in sanctification.

I will be  faithful in the little things I have.

From my diary,

January 4, 2023 

Ready for His coming

 

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning’’. Luke 12:35

The Lord will come to take those who are ready, we can not say at His coming, "Wait, Jesus, let me get ready and I will come." No, we should already be dressed, with our lamps burning, in a ‘’travelling mood’’. I must seriously prepare for the coming of Jesus. His coming is certain, it will be sudden. Therefore, my main goal should be to prepare for His return.

From my diary,

January 3, 2023 

Early morning: time to talk with Jesus

 

My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. Psalm 5:3

Early morning is the time for conversation with Jesus. When the Lord hears my voice first every morning, the voices of the enemy's army do not reach me during the day. When the Lord is the first one to hear my voice in the morning, I hear His voice more easily  while reading the Word and doing my daily activities.

When the Lord is the first one to hear my voice, others who will hear my voice after Him will receive edification, blessing, comfort. Early morning is the  time for conversation, a conversation with Jesus!

From my dairy,

January 2, 2023 

Seek those things which are above

 

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1 

To seek the things above one must be born again. No one will search for things they are not interested in. He who has a new nature seeks the kingdom of God who makes all things new. It takes a new heart to love the heavenly things. The one who loves Jesus seeks the place where Jesus is. He who loves Jesus, loves also those who belong to Jesus, therefore he longs to be in the same place with them.

Those who are not born again,  do not love God’s children , therefore they don’t love to be in their presence now, and surely they will not want to be with them in eternity.

He who praises  God wants to go where there is constant praise.

Those who are born  of God long  for their  father's house.

The one who seeks  the things above knows that he has  a Home above, so he reads the letter sent from Home. prepares to go Home, talks with his Father.

He who seeks  the things above, seeks God's will, not his own, seeks the benefit of others, not his own, seeks God's face and God's Word.

From my diary,

January 1, 2023

He heard my prayer, He will also hear my praise.

 

I will praise Thee: for Thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. Psalm 118.21

Here is a good testimony: Thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

Here is the right response, the good decision: I will praise Thee.

The psalmist is not ungrateful, he received an answer to his prayer and does not remain silent, he praises God.

Answered prayer should lead to praise. He heard my prayer, He will also hear my praise. He is the Hearer of prayer, I shall be the giver of praise.

Talking with God about every single thing

 

’’…continuing instant in prayer’’ (Romans 12:12)

This is what prayer is: talking with God about every single thing.  When you always have something to tell Jesus, something to ask, something to request, then you have a spirit of prayer. I come across prayer topics everywhere and at all times. I find prayer topics in God's commandments,  in His promises, I find prayer topics in my daily life, in the responsibilities given to me, in all  difficulties,  in problems, in all my struggles and worries. Even when the devil brings temptations, he does not know that he is actually giving me new topics for prayer.

Having a lot of things to pray about,  having a  Father waiting for my prayer, let me always take those  prayer topics,  and go to the throne of grace. I will  take God's promises to His mercy seat and receive their fulfillment. If  my enemy, the devil brings sinful thoughts and temptations, I can go to my heavenly Father and complain about it. I should not argue with the devil,  I should never listen to his suggestions, but I should run at once to my heavenly Father and tell Him everything.

Forgiveness of sins

 

Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Romans 4:7

The worst thing is the burden of sins, the greatest joy is to be delivered from it. There is no greater miracle than the miracle of the forgiveness of sins, no greater happiness than being forgiven, no greater victory than the victory over sin. The assurance of forgiveness of sins is a powerful sin-killer and a
worry-killer, if our sins are forgiven, no trouble will trouble us.

Nothing is too hard for God

 

Ah Lord God! behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee. Jeremiah 32:17

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

Jeremiah knew that nothing could be too hard  for God who made the heaven and the earth. And God confirmed this with a rhetorical question: Is there any thing too hard for me? When we hear from the Lord personally, our faith is strengthened; He has repeatedly said and demonstrated by deeds that nothing is difficult for Him. He never answers prayers with these words: "You want something difficult, I will try to do it." He made all things, can't He do everything? Could not the Creator of the sea open the sea for His people? Could not the Creator of the sun command the sun to stand still? Couldn't He who made  lions shut the lions’ mouth? If something is God's will, let it not be difficult for me to believe that it is not difficult for Him to do it, and if it is not His will, let it not be difficult for me to accept His will.

So I will not worry about my difficult situations, my difficult duties, my difficult tasks, my difficult problems, my difficult struggles, because none of these difficult things are difficult for my God.

Conversation with my heart

 

I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. Psalm 77:6

Here is Asaph's interlocutor, his heart. He communes with his own heart. I want to do the same. What should I talk about with my heart? My heart needs restoration, I will  talk about God's Word that restores,  my heart needs comfort, I will tell about the love of Jesus, about His great mercy. My heart speaks about its worries. I will  say that Jesus has a solution for every problem, an answer to every question. My heart needs faith, I will tell  about the works and miracles done by the Lord in the past, I will remind that He is the same yesterday, today and forever and can do miracles even today. My heart needs joy, I will  speak of the statutes of  the Lord that rejoice the heart (Psalm 19:8). 

My heart seeks Jesus, I will  say that those who seek Him find Him. The subject of my conversation with my heart is one Person, my Lord. 

When I speak to my heart, it is not a dialogue, but a conference, because my Lord is present and participating in the conversation.

From my diary 

Such a quick reply!

 

Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Isaiah  65:24

What a quick answer to prayer --- to receive the answer before calling, to receive a reply before sending the letter. And so what a delight, what a joy to pray to such a quick-answering God. Shouldn't this encourage me to pray more, to trust more in my prayer-hearing God?

From my diary,

December 4, 2022

True prayer --- taking hold of God

 

And there is no one who calls on Your name, Who stirs himself up to take hold of You…  (Isaiah 64:7).

A good reminder for me, the definition of true prayer --- taking hold of God. That’s what Jacob did. Coldness on prayer is dangerous. Let me remember that there is someone who doesn’t want me to call on the Name of the Lord, to take hold of Him. That one is my enemy who is trying to  prevent me from praying.  And there is One who is waiting for my prayer, that One is my Lord who is ready to listen to my prayers.

From my diary

God’s kindness to His people

 

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, said the LORD that has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:10

What a comforting promise, what a sweet mercy for God's people, His kindness will not depart, His covenant of peace will not be removed.  People may leave us, friendships may falter, trust may falter, but God's children have a precious promise. Since His kindness does not depart from us, then worries, anxieties, fears, sins are far away, and  His love, the wonders of His Word, the power of His Holy Spirit are near, if His covenant of peace will not be removed,  then our peace, hope, trust and joy  will not be removed.

From  my diary,

30.11, 2022

It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord

 

It is a  good thing to give thanks unto the Lord. Psalm 92:1

It is a good thing, because the Lord is worthy of thanksgiving. It's a good thing, because it's good to have a reason, an occasion to be thankful. Everyone has such a reason. It is a  good thing,  because it is  good to have a contented heart. It is a gift from God. It is good to give thanks to  Him with words because it will inspire and encourage others to do the same. It is  a good thing because the grateful person does not doubt God's power, wisdom, goodness, knows that God never makes mistakes. And on the contrary, complaining is an evil thing, because it is unbelief, ingratitude, lack of respect for God.

From my diary

Chorus in my heart

 

The song of praise within me should not be a solo or a duet, but a chorus. There must be a choir in me, in which my voice, my heart, my will, my mind, my life, my works, my energy, my desires are involved. And in order for the song to sound in perfect harmony, there must be a conductor, and all the singers must listen to him. That conductor that directs the song of praise to God is the Word of God.

From my diary

Trust in the Lord

 

Gifts from heaven

 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

 It is easy to always be content, happy, if you always remember that every good thing that you have, every blessing that you enjoy, is a gift sent from heaven, sent by the heavenly Father, and the gifts that He gives are always good, high quality and useful.

Gifts from strangers are not always the best. When you get a gift from someone who knows you well and loves you, that gift is always good because they know what you like, what you don't like, what you need, what will make you happy, what you will definitely use. Someone who doesn't know me can give me a lipstick because they don’t know I don't use it, but my closest friend will give me a notebook because she knows I will be happy and I will surely use it. My mother, my sister  will give me what I want and don't have, and they will never be mistaken.

And He, who knows me best and loves me more than anyone else, always gives the best gifts, which are necessary, useful,  beautiful, pleasant and make me happy. He knows better than me what I really need, He knows what is my dream gift, and if He doesn't give it, then He knows it's not a good gift for me.

Earthly parents will want to buy their child's dream gift, but they  will not always have the means to buy it. But  our heavenly Father has everything, can do everything.

So I will rejoice, I will  be grateful for all the gifts I have received and I will not worry about those I don't have.

Not only spiritual gifts, salvation, forgiveness of sins, victory over sin, holiness, joy, peace, etc., but also earthly, material gifts and blessings are also gifts from my Father. Not only is God's Word a precious gift to me, but so is my jounaling Bible. How should I accept the material, earthly gifts, blessings sent by God?

1. With thankfulness  and meditation of the goodness and generosity of the Giver; that’s God!  It will teach me gratitude.

2. Humbly thinking about unworthiness of the receiver of the gift, that’s me!  It will teach me humility.

3. Realizing the temporality of earthly goods. It will teach me moderation and having the right priorities.

Let me accept the gifts sent by my heavenly Father with gratitude, humility, and use them in moderation.

From my diary

In everything give thanks

The Lord has given us innumerable blessings, both spiritual and material, and He gives them every day. If we do not see them, then we do not have a thankful heart. An ungrateful heart affects spiritual vision, and a person cannot see the mercies bestowed by God.

Let us ask for a grateful heart to see and rejoice in so many blessings. When there is a grateful heart, there will be peace, joy, praise; there will be no murmuring, unbelief, discontent.

To have a grateful heart requires humility. A proud person cannot be thankful. He will think that he earned the blessings he has, and he deserves them. When you know that all you have is by God’s grace alone, and without Him you would have neither spiritual nor material blessings, you will be thankful.

From my diary

 

Speak Lord

 

Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening!

(1 Samuel 3:9)

Let these prayer of Samuel be my first prayer in my quiet time with the Lord. When I say "Speak Lord!", let me not forget to add: "Because Your servant is listening!" It would be hypocritical if I say, "Speak, Lord’’, when I am not ready to listen" May I pray this prayer with a willingness to listen to His Word, eagerness  to obey His commandments, with delight in His Word.

Speak, Lord, that I may learn your statutes, speak that I may know You, speak that I may walk the narrow path in the light of Your Word. Speak that my mind be renewed,may my life be sanctified, speak so that Your Word fills my heart and leaves no room for anything else.

Speak, Father, for Your daughter is listening.

                                                                                                                                   From my diary,

August 25, 2022

When God sends His servants somewhere, He Himself goes with them

 

" Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh…?" (Exodus 3:11).

" Certainly I will be with thee…" (Exodus 3:12).

When Moses asked, "Who am I?" God did not answer his question, but encouraged him by the promise of His presence, "I will be with you."  It did not matter who Moses was; it only mattered who was the One going with him.  Not only is this promised to Moses, but to all who do the work of God and do His commission. When God sends them somewhere, He Himself  goes with them.

He comes with us, therefore  we will not be afraid of road dangers. The Lord protects us.

He comes with us, therefore we will not get lost on the way, He knows the way well, He guides us.

He comes with us, therefore we will not stumble in the dark, for His Word is our lamp.

He comes with us, therefore if we have questions about the assignment, we can ask Him.

He comes with us, therefore the road will be safe, the assignmemt  will be successful.

He comes with us, therefore we will not attribute the success to us. He provided the safety of the road, He bestowed wisdom, knowledge, skills to do the task.

So when the Lord gives me an assignment, let me not say, "Who am I?" Because I know who He is: He is my Leader, my Protector, my Teacher.

From my diary,

June 25, 2022

Երբ Աստված Իր ծառաներին տեղ է ուղարկում, Ինքն էլ նրանց հետ է գնում

 

«Ես ո՞վ եմ, որ Փարավոնի մոտ գնամ…»  (Ելից 3:11):

«Հիրավի Ես քեզ հետ կլինեմ…» (Ելից 3:12):

Երբ Մովսեսը հարց տվեց՝ «Ես ո՞վ եմ…», Աստված նրա հարցին չպատասխանեց, այլ Իր ներկայության խոստումով քաջալերեց՝  Ես քեզ հետ կլինեմ: Կարևոր չէր, թե ով էր Մովսեսը, կարևոր էր, թե ով է նրա հետ գնացողը:

Ոչ միայն Մովսեսին է սա խոստացված, այլև բոլոր նրանց ովքեր Աստծո գործն են անում, Նրա հանձնարարությունն են կատարում: Երբ Աստված նրանց ինչ-որ տեղ է ուղարկում,  Ինքն էլ նրանց հետ է գնում:

Նա գալիս է մեզ հետ, ուրեմն ճանապարհի վտանգներից չենք վախենա. Տերը պաշտպանում է մեզ:

Նա գալիս է մեզ հետ, ուրեմն ճանապարհին չենք մոլորվի,  Նա ճանապարհը լավ գիտի և առաջնորդում է մեզ:

Նա գալիս է մեզ հետ, ուրեմն մութ ժամանակ չենք սայթաքի, որովհետև Նրա Խոսքը մեր ճրագն է:

Նա գալիս է մեզ հետ, ուրեմն եթե առաջադրանքի վերաբերյալ հարցեր ունենանք, կարող ենք Նրան հարցնել:

Նա գալիս է մեզ հետ, ուրեմն ճանապարհը լինելու է ապահով, գործը՝ հաջողված:

Նա գալիս է մեզ հետ, ուրեմն գործի հաջողությունը մեզ չենք վերագրելու. Նա է ապահովել ճանապարհի անվտանգությունը,  Նա է շնորհել իմաստություն, գիտելիքներ, հմտություններ այդ գործը կատարելու:

Ուրեմն,  երբ Տերը գործ է տալիս, չասեմ՝ «Ես ով եմ», որովհետև գիտեմ, թե ով է Նա՝ իմ Առաջնորդը, Պաշտպանը, Ուսուցիչը:

Իմ օրագրից,

Հունիսի 25, 2022

Made in heaven

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

In this verse I noticed these three words with the same root: blessed, bless, blessing.

Blessed is the One who dwells in heaven, who has blessed the citizens of heaven  still dwelling on earth, the blessed One who has given spiritual blessings to those who are led by the Spirit. Spiritual blessings are made in heaven, coming from heaven, given to the citizens of heaven whose names are written in heaven, these are blessings that will  take them to heaven.

The citizens of heaven enjoy the blessings made in heaven while living on earth.

There are many spiritual blessings:  the eternal life, the forgiveness of sins, the true holiness, the heavenly original one, not the earthly counterfeits,  the unspeakable joy, the peace  that surpasses all understanding, the heavenly wisdom, the treasures hidden in the Word of God, the victories in the spiritual warfare, the safety of Psalm 91, the love of 1 Corinthians 13, the  faith of Hebrews 11, the hope of  1 John 3:3  and many more.  

When I say "God bless you" to God’s children, I don’t  wish them  material goods, but victory, spiritual strength, deliverance from sin, progress in holiness, a better prayer life and the presence of God.

From my diary,

15.12.2021

A meeting arranged by the Lord

 

Eliezer prayed, Rebekah went to the well to draw  water, Isaac went to the field to meditate, but the important meeting was arranged by the Lord. When Rebekah gave water to the camels, she did not know that those camels would take her to her future home, when she was walking to the well, she did not know that a stranger was describing her in his prayer, when her hands were busy drawing water from the well she did not know  that her hands would soon be adorned with gold bracelets. When people faithfully do their ordinary works, the faithful God does His extraordinary work.

From my diary,

16.10.2021

The One who does not forget the sparrows does not forget me.

 Sparrows sold at a very cheap price are not forgotten before God. How can those bought at the highest price be forgotten?

Why do I forget that the One who does not forget the sparrows does not forget me?