Searching for affirmations this morning in Joel chapter 2 I feel much like Simon Peter must have felt in John 6: 68-69 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Day after day I am amazed and overwhelmed at the word of God. The treasures that are found there just blow me away. Morning after morning I go on this treasure hunt for affirmations and most days capture many more than I can share. Today I was sent to the book of Joel, which I know very little about by just one comment by John Baker in the Celebrate Recovery Lesson on Amends. The point of Mr. Baker’s comment was one of hope. In lesson 16 on amends where those in recovery are going back to attempt to seek forgiveness and right their wrongs, Joel 2:25 was intended to remind them that God promises to repay us for all those lost years we have lost.
Upon going to the www.blueletterbible.com and looking up Joel Chapter 2 the Lord begins to overwhelm me. In Chapter 1 alone: Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand:
“For the day of the LORD is coming.” Joel describes a fire in front and behind the people that comes on like “Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run.”
All of a sudden I felt really small and slow. The day of the LORD is coming and how would I react? Would I run around like Joel describes here? What would you do? My first thought was to just drop to my knees and praise the LORD. To just be consumed by Him and His fire. Would running really help?
OK, back to the present search for affirmations. I begin to look verse by verse seeking to be touched by the affirmations found there and just some are listed here:
- I turn to the LORD with all of my heart.
- I return to the LORD and find grace, mercy and kindness.
- I am satisfied by what the LORD provides to me.
- I am glad and rejoice for the LORD has done marvelous things.
- I rejoice in the LORD my God.
- The Lord will restore me.
- I have plenty and am satisfied and praise the LORD my God.
- The LORD has dealt wondrously with me.
- He is the LORD my God and there is no other.
- The LORD pours out His Spirit on me.
- I call on the name of the LORD and am saved.
Which one would you have chosen for today? Can you find other promises in Joel chapter 2? Yes I am overwhelmed with gladness and a rejoicing in the LORD, the great Yahweh who is coming. I am so thankful that He has offered His Son and His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts when we turn it to Him. Thank you for pouring Your Spirit on us O LORD. You are too good to us. Where else shall we go? Do you ever feel overwhelmed by God’s word?
Tom Raines
Christian Affirmations 4 Life
Tom: can I say “all the above”? I simply cannot, at this moment, pick one that stands out above another. I know, I know, the coward’s way out but… 🙂
HA…thanks Bill for dropping by I know you are a busy man! Like you I am not sure each day and just have to trust that the Holy Spirit will put the right one out there. I think If I will just turn to Him with ALL my heart…a lot of the others will fall in place. This God thing is CRAZY!
“I return to the Lord to find grace, mercy and kindness…”
and once more I’m humbled.
He is there for us each and every time we turn to Him. I too am humbled..thanks for stopping in!