The grace and mercy of God is so beautiful, it is undeserved, yet freely given. I think that's what makes it so beautiful, there is nothing we could do that would ever make us worthy of His love and mercy. Yet, He continuously pours it out on us. What an amazing God we serve! I've been thinking a lot lately about the concept of being enough and what I have come to understand is that it is only in and through Him that we are enough.
We are enough because He is enough and He pours out HIs love and mercy on us. I don't know about you, but that makes me excited! There's a song the reminds us of this fact, 'I am enough, cause you are enough'. When we place all our hope and faith in who God is and the promises found in His word, I think that is when we begin to understand what our worth really is.
I love this reminder in Psalm 23,
"The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in fields of green grass and leads me to quiet pools of fresh water. He gives me new strength. He guides me in the right paths, as he has promised. Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid, Lord, for you are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff protect me. You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honored guest and fill my cup to the brim. I know that your goodness and love will be with me all my life; and your house will be my home as long as I live." - Psalm 23:1-6
I love that, 'the Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need'. It's so true, when we have Jesus there is nothing else we will ever need. Throughout the new testament we are reminded that if God is for us who can be against us, no weapon formed against us will ever prosper. I love how this passage continues, ' He guides me in the right path, as He promised. Even if I go through the deepest darkness, I will not be afraid'.
Another version says, 'even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear, for you are with me', how amazing is that! It doesn't matter what we may be walking through, God walks with us along the way. Its hard to wrap my mind around it honestly, I mean the fact that God would continue to pour out love and mercy on us even though we could never begin to deserve it. It's beautiful to see just how much He loves us and desire to have a relationship with us.
The next chapter paints a beautiful picture, let's read it together;
"The world and all that is in it belong to the Lord; the earth and all who live on it are his. He built it on the deep waters beneath the earth and laid its foundations in the ocean depths." - Psalm 24:1-2
The earth is the Lords and everything in it, I love what this chapter says later on in the passage,
"Who has the right to go up the Lord's hill? Who may enter his holy Temple? Those who are pure in act and in thought, who do not worship idols or make false promises. The Lord will bless them and save them; God will declare them innocent. Such are the people who come to God, who come into the presence of the God of Jacob." - Psalm 24:3-6
I want you to pay close attention to the last four verses of this chapter, they are packed full and paint us a beautiful picture of who God is,
"Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the great king will come in. Who is this great king? He is the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, victorious in battle. Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the great king will come in. Who is this great king? The triumphant Lord—he is the great king!" - Psalm 24:7-10
Fling wide heavenly gates and let the king of glory in, the Lord is great and mighty. He has already won every battle we have ever faced or will face. What an amazing God we serve! I would encourage you to read the entire book of Psalm when you have time to, but for now I would encourage you to read chapters 23-25. There is so much power and truth packed into these chapters.
I know we have covered a lot of scripture today, but I want to leave you with one final verse,
"Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me. I always trust in you." - Psalm 25:5
It is because He is enough, that we are enough. In and through Him we have everything we could ever need and so much more!
Much Love friends,
Alianna