“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one” Deut 6:4 He is our refuge and strength. It is in him we live, and move and have our being. He is our strong tower, we run to him and are saved. He is our hope; we trust in him and see the desires of our hearts accomplished. It hurts him when we speak harshly against him.
Malachi 3:13-15
“You have said harsh things against me,” says the Lord. “Yet you ask, ‘what have we said against you?’ “You have said, ‘it is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty?”
How many times have you said in your heart, I have done right in business and yet it is the wicked that seem to prosper? I have waited for a mate from the Lord and kept my purity, yet it is the promiscuous that are getting married? I have been faithful and yet the Lord has not given me children, and here is someone on her 3rd abortion? How many times have you spoken harshly against the Lord, regretting service to him and following his commands because you did not see the desires of your heart accomplished when you thought you would?
Is 49:14 –16a
“But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’ “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands…”
I know what that’s like, to feel forgotten by God. To feel disappointed by God (Let’s be real here). You hope and you confess, and you do all things like you are supposed to. And every time you get a different instruction. You ask him what you should do and he says “fast and pray”… nothing. You go back to him and he says “sow a seed”… nothing. You go again and he says “only believe”… nothing. Finally you say to yourself, it is better not to hope at all for “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” But God does not want us to feel that way. Delay is not denial!!! You promise is coming and when it does you will know that “…those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” Is 49:23b
Malachi 3:16 & 18
“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name… And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
Keep fearing the Lord, keep speaking good things about him, a scroll of remembrance is being written in his presence. Soon we will see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked. You service and your obedience are not in vain!
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