GOD'S WORD IS powerful.

John 1:1-3

"The word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I please and prosper where I send it." Isaiah 55:11. God's word is powerful.

Never underestimate the power of prayer and the spoken word. I have read that there is a phrase in the bible for every situation that we may encounter in our lives!

Remember some of the verses so that you can repeat them when you need them. It is like having an arsenal of verses at the ready.

"Do not be afraid. I have called you by your name, you are mine". Isaiah 41:10

"Do not be afraid" is written in the bible, so I'm told, 365 times as Jesus knew we would worry.

"Be bold, be strong, for the Lord our God is with you". Joshua 1:9.

One of my favourite psalms is Psalm 34. It is full of God's promises and begins with:

"I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise always on my lips".

My friend gave me a print of 'Blessings' by Pierre Prodervand. It contains lots of blessings to pray over people and their situations. Some I had never thought to pray. Praying over the ground we walk on (like Joshua), chairs that we sit on, beds we lie on etc and the people that use them.

The list is endless. I pray for all the people going up and down our road. I bless their families, neighbours, their finances, food to their table and of course their salvation.

"Bless the Lord my soul and never forget all His blessings." Psalm 103

Do you know the song 'The Blessing'? It is based on the Lord telling Moses how to bless His people found in Numbers 6:24.      

"May the Lord bless you all the days of your life

 May His face always shine upon you

 May He look upon you with kindness

 And give you everlasting peace".  

Glorify the Lord with me. We can always find something to praise and glorify the Lord for through the day. I praise God when I am walking or working in my garden. I can understand what Jesus said, on His way to Jerusalem, when he was asked to stop the people praising Him recorded in Luke 19:40.

Jesus replied, '"f the people didn't praise me, the very stones would praise me".

Did you know that every created thing has its own rhythm. Just like my Magnolia tree. When the wind was blowing furiously, it seemed as through the tree was clapping its ' hands' in praise of its creator. A sight to behold. My ferns, waving in the wind, joining in the dance, so happy. 

Ferns waving in the wind

"I sought the Lord and He answered me and from all my terrors He set me free".

Like the magnolia tree and ferns, nothing held them back from praising the Lord. So many times, then Lord has set me free. I have learned to "cast all my cares on to Him for He cares for me". 1 Peter 5:7.

Cares of worry, anxiety or stress, set free as the worry lifted. Jesus says in Matthew 11:20:

"Come to me you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest."

Are you anxious or worried? Do what the psalmist says "absorb the word, for this one called and the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress".

Psalm 119:105

We don't know how much we help people with a kind word or a gentle hug, showing love but most of all giving a word of scripture. When we are going through 'stuff' to know that 'the angel of the Lord is encamped around us to rescue us' 'those who seek the Lord lack no blessing'.

But be warned 'Guard your tongue against evil and your lips from deceit....do good and pursue it and remember, 

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and He helps us when our spirit is crushed. He also warns us that 'hardships without number beset the upright.’ v19. ‘But with God on our side, who can be against us?’ Romans 8:31

This verse is often used to inspire courage and faith when we find ourselves worrying.

The Lord promises never to leave us. As we put our eyes on Jesus and off the problem, Jesus grows nearer and although the problem, does not go away, it appears to lessen.

So, 'taste and see that the Lord is good' v8.

Read the psalms and be blessed and be a blessing