The Overwhelming Importance of Christians having a Storehouse of Faith to remind Them of God’s Constant LOVE and Presence!

30 Jun 2026 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Today’s Scrip-Bit   30 June 2026   Psalm 63:7.

Psalm 63:7.        Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

Then it was Tuesday, a very hot and mostly sunny day. It’s also the last day of June, meaning half of the year has already gone by, and it’s time to take stock of what  progress we’ve made so far in it, especially in terms of our New Year’s Resolution, of growing closer to Jesus. Yes friends, it’s time to stop and consider how we’ve fared so far in our LOVE and faith walk with Jesus. See where we’ve improved, or where we’ve fallen behind, and need to make the extra effort to improve, so that our overall faith journey can get back on the right track, for it’s only when we’re on the right track with Jesus that our lives become truly meaningful! End of Sermon! (smile)

And on this last day of June, we’ll look at the prayer in the June edition of the In Touch Devotional. So please pray with me: ‘Father, when I feel alone, teach me to collect evidence of Your LOVE like a child gathering shells – an act of kindness here, a glimpse of beauty there, a gentle word freely given – until my pockets are heavy with proof. When loneliness creeps in, I can pull out a memory, examine the detail again, and be reassured You tend every corner of my life with fierce attention, even when I can’t feel it. In Jesus’ name, amen.’

And sadly, in these troubled and uncertain times many of us need a prayer like that, when things are not going right, despite our best efforts and we need to reassure ourselves of God’s LOVE, compassion and presence throughout each and every moment of our lives. For sometimes when the world throws it’s best shot at us, we aren’t truly prepared for it, and all kinds of doubts and fears rise up to disturb our souls. That’s why we need to have a treasure trove of God’s goodness stored deep in our hearts to always remind us of how wonderful He is to us, in spite of all the negative things happening.

We also need to remember that although He might not take away our problems, He will see us through them, so there’s no need to worry about His eternal presence. It’s like Bruh Paul assured the Corinthians and consequently us: ‘There hath no temptation taken (overtaken) you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear (endure) it.’ (1 Cor. 10:13)

Now that should surely be one of the treasures in our treasure trove of God’s goodness and mercy. And Bruh David is certainly one of the best examples of that in the Bible, for throughout all his problems, especially when running from king Saul who desired to kill him because of a jealous spirit, he never doubted that the Lord was with him, probably remembering the times when as a lowly shepherd boy, protecting the sheep, he killed the lion and the bear, and also when he killed the Philistine giant Goliath with a small stone from a sling shot. He had to know and understand that all of that was the Lord’s hand working on his behalf, and not his own doing.

It’s like he says in Psalm 63 – A Thirsting Soul, when he was in the wilderness of Judah running from Saul. ‘O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee (looked for thee) in the sanctuary. Because thy LOVING-KINDNESS is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow (the best) and fatness (abundance); and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion (prey) for foxes (jackals). But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.’ (Ps. 63:1-11)

Oh my people, what assuredness Bruh David had in his God! For how many of us while running for our lives in the wilderness, from an enemy determined to kill us, would, or could write such a glowing testimony about our God? Not too many, for we’d probably be more concerned with the serious state of our problems and too busy with self-pity and wonder where God was, to ever envision a song of praise under those overwhelming circumstances. And truthfully, that can only happen when we’ve had some experience with Lord, where we’ve seen Him move in our lives, and have thus built up a storehouse of faith, to help us keep believing when there appears to be no way out of our problems.

To remember that our wonderful, omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present God can always make a way, where there seems to be no way. Remember what the angel Gabriel said to Mary, Jesus’ mother, when she wondered how she could become pregnant without knowing a man. ‘For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ (Luke 1:37) And Jesus, having told the disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, reiterated Gabriel’s words. ‘With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.’ (Matt. 19:26)

And that is something we desperately need to always keep at the forefront of our minds: the Lord might not do what we desire, but it’s possible for Him to do anything He desires, so we must not give up our hope, faith and trust in Him. Now let’s go home declaring our Tuesday Mantra, letting all and sundry know to whom we belong, lock, stock and barrel. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘In God’s eyes, I’m not what I do. I’m not what I have. I’m not what people say about me. I am the beloved of God, that’s who I am. No one can take that from me. I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to hurry. I can trust my friend Jesus and share His LOVE with my immediate neighbours, as well as with the whole wide world! Glory be!’ 

That now makes us duty bound to go out and share the amazing LOVE and friendship of Christ with others, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!

…faith can only grow stronger…through more personal experiences with God…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today​’s Scrip-Bit 17 March 2019 Philippians 2:9.

17 Mar 2019 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Philippians 2:9.    Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.

Sunday, O Sunday! Wherefore art thou O Sunday! Thou art the Sabbath: the day of rest, the day of fellowship, praise and thanksgiving, of souls being refuelled with LOVE, confidence and assurance in the promises of the One True God, He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! What a blessed day you are Sunday, O Sunday! (smile) 

And since we’ve said all that friends, we’ve got to make it come true by going to the Lord’s sanctuary to renew our vows of faith and trust and receive His blessing so that we can keep that faith and trust alive and well for at least another week, before returning to His sanctuary for refuelling. Ah friends, it sure is a steady cycle, but we need it, if we are to keep our faith in Jehovah God strong. 

But enough talk! Right now I want to sing! And today’s song is a thrilling anthem to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! We sung it before on the Bit, but it just rose up in me this week, calling out to be sung once again! (smile)  It’s a gospel song written by one Will Reagan, and I listened to two powerful, moving versions on You Tube; one by Tasha Cobbs and another by Jesus Culture Lyrics. It’s titled ‘There is Power in the Name of Jesus,’ or ‘Break Every Chain.’ 

I’ve taken the liberty to add a couple of extra lines from each version, as well as a li’l touch of my own. I’m sure the original songwriter will also be overjoyed to hear our version this morning. So without further ado, let’s tell the unbelieving world the way it is, as we raise our voices in sweet harmonious gospel song. 

‘O There is power in the name of Jesus There is power in the name of Jesus There is power in the name of Jesus To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain (Repeat) There’s an army rising up There’s an army rising up There’s an army rising up To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. 

All sufficient sacrifice, freely given, such a price. On our redemption Heaven’s gates swing wide, That’s why we believe that There is power in the name of Jesus There is power in the name of Jesus There is power in the name of Jesus To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain. We believe that there is power, power, wonder-working power in the name of Jesus. 

And that’s why There’s an army rising up There’s an army rising up There’s an army rising up To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain! Oh He’s our Jesus, Jesus – the Mighty Conqueror! That’s why we hear the chains falling, the chains are falling! 

Shout it out! I hear the chains falling I hear the chains falling!  I feel the freedom, freedom from the bondage of sin! Yes! He has set us free, because there is power in the name of Jesus, power in the name of Jesus, power to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain…’ 

Mama Mia! What wonderful singing my faithful brethren! All Heaven was held spellbound by it! A big, proud grin split the Father’s face, as He nodded in approval, raised His closed right fist and said a hearty ‘Yeah!’ Meanwhile, Jesus sat quietly nearby and smiled His shy, boyish smile at the enormous amount of praise we were lavishing on Him. But that shouldn’t surprise us, because He’s always shied away from taking any praise for Himself, diverting it all to the Father. 

And that’s exactly why the Father, in exceedingly great appreciation for His selfless sacrifice and obedience here on earth did what He did: ‘Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of (those) things in heaven, and (those) things in earth, and (those) things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (Eph.2:9-11) 

Oh friends, how could that kind of exaltation not add tremendous power to the name of Jesus eh…to be able to break chains, set us free from the bondage of sin and save our lost souls! And today all I want to do is look at a couple of scriptures which also lift up the name of Jesus. But before we do that listen to this story about me and that song. 

Early one Sunday morning last year, I was on my way home from having an MRI of some part of my body, don’t remember which one, I’ve had so many done over the last few years, but the Tasha Cobbs version was playing on the Gospel Music Machine Radio Show broadcasting from the University of Toronto Radio Station. There was little traffic on the three-lane road, but I got in the right lane, who knows why, but me and Tasha were singing up a storm as we went along. 

All of a sudden I heard a loud bang and the car veered off to the left! And was I ever surprised at those unexpected actions. On checking, I discovered that the right lane I was driving in, ended at the traffic light I’d just gone through, and I’d rammed the right wheel of the car against the curb, as there were now only two lanes. Thankfully there was no damage to the car or myself. But that just goes to show the power of Jesus’ name; it can get you so carried away, that you lose your mental perspective! (smile)  

Now let’s check out some scriptures like I promised. Hear the angel of the Lord to Joseph on the birth of Jesus. ‘And she (Mary) shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus (Saviour): for he shall save his people from their sins.’ (Matt.1:21) And John says: ‘But as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power (the right) to become the sons (children) of God, even to them that believe on his name.’ (John 1:12) 

Yes friends, yuh see the kind of power in Jesus’ name! Believe on it and you become the child of God! Wow! Why then are so many people refusing to believe in Him eh? And we’ll give the last word to Peter when he appeared before the high priest. Filled with the Holy Ghost, he proudly proclaimed: ‘Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.’ (Acts 4:12) That says it all my people! 

As the scholars explain: ‘4:12. The name of Jesus Christ is the centre of contention (vs.7, 10, 12) and ever will be. Salvation for Jew and Gentile alike is exclusively through the name of Jesus Christ (cf. John 14:6).’ And that’s all there is to the argument! So let’s be wise and get on the good foot with Jesus nuh! (smile)  It’s the only option that makes any sense! Much LOVE!

…I am the Way…the Truth…and the Life…no man comes to the Father…but by ME…  (John 14:6) 

P.S. Yes, it li’l bit long and late, but fellowshipping after church kept me back, and shortening it would have lost the special flavour. And if yuh can’t spend a li’l extra time on Jesus’ Word on a Sabbath Sunday…in Lent to boot, then why bother to spend any at all eh? (smile ) Much LOVE!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 
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