New Wineskins 16 of 21 – Always There for You

Today, thank God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for always being there for you:

In the courts above, Christ is pleading for His church—pleading for those for whom He has paid the redemption price of His blood. Centuries, ages, can never lessen the efficacy of His atoning sacrifice. Neither life nor death, height nor depth, can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus; not because we hold Him so firmly, but because He holds us so fast. If our salvation depended on our own efforts, we could not be saved; but it depends on the One who is behind all the promises. Our grasp on Him may seem feeble, but His love is that of an elder brother; so long as we maintain our union with Him, no one can pluck us out of His hand. (AA 553)

Dear Heavenly Father,

What am I that You are mindful of me, that You visit me? A woman may not show compassion to the child of her womb, yet You will never forget me, for You have engraved me on the palm of Your hand; My walls are continually before You. You have called me by name; I am Yours; You, the Holy One of Israel, my Savior, gave Egypt for my ransom.  Since I was precious in Your sight, You have honored me and loved me. You have satiated my weary soul, and replenished my sorrowful soul.  You promise to build me, to turn my mourning to joy, to comfort me and make me a well-watered garden, to cause me to walk by the rivers of waters, in a straight way in which I will not stumble, for You are Father to me.

Today, I want to sit in Your shade with great delight, for Your fruit is sweet to my taste.  Bring me to Your banqueting house, for Your banner over me is love.  I am my beloved’s, and Your desire is toward me.  Lord, when You found me, the one whom You love, You held me and would not let me go. You set me as a seal upon Your heart, as a seal upon Your arm; for Your love is as strong as death. Many waters cannot quench Your love for me, nor can the floods drown it.

I praise You, dear Father, for the hope and comfort in these treasured promises You make to me personally today. I thank You that no matter how much I struggle with sin and trials, with doubt and worry, You never give up on me but rather, are constantly interceding for me in Your sanctuary.  I thank you that nothing in all creation can separate me from Your strong love. Help me, to always remember that, Lord, and be determined never to let You go.  May I sit down, today and every day, in companionship with You—for this is what I need:  not a mere pause for a moment in Your presence, but time feasting at Your banqueting table.  Lord, in every area of my life, even in the way I spend my time, may You ever increase, and may I decrease!

And I want to say that I love You, too, God!  In the name of Jesus, Chief among ten thousand, I pray, Amen.

Read Jeremiah 31 and experience the heart of God who yearns for you!

Ps.8:4; Is. 49:15,16; Is. 43:1,3,4; Jer.31; Song of Solomon 2:3,4; 3;4; 7:6,7; 6:3; Ed 261; John 3:30