When The Lord Turned The Captivity Of Job

In the book of Job, Satan is allowed to sift this man of God and everything is taken from him: his children, his health, his affluence, his reputation, nearly EVERYTHING. (See Job 1:1, 6-12, 20-22)
Despite what looks like an attack of divine wrath upon him for no apparent justification, Job maintains his faith and trust in God and belief that God cannot be punishing him for any known sin he has committed. 

 In the beginning of the book, Job offers sacrifices for his children, intercedes and prays to God on their behalf. (*See Job 1:5)

The Bible suggests that Job’s prayers are more to prevent something evil from happening. After his crisis he laments, “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.” Job 3:25 NLT. 

After everything is taken from Job, he doesn’t curse God, but he is thrown into an abyss of self pity and depression, focusing on his troubles and wishing only for death.

“At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. “Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived. Let that day be turned to darkness… Job 3:1 NLT (*see Job 3:1, 3-6)

Then his friends come by to comfort him. However, when they hear him talking so negatively they begin to assault his integrity, though they have no justification for condemning him other than the fact that he has been mercilessly persecuted through myriad tribulations.

They are judging him by his misfortunes adding to them by heaping sorrow upon sorrow.
Like Job, we cannot understand our trials sometimes for they seem so unfair. 

Why should we be afflicted when others are not?  We may wonder if God plays favorites. 
Yet the Bible reveals “For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:11 NLT

After studying God’s Word we gain a better understanding of suffering, how God views pain and affliction, and the purpose of trials. 
We will never have all the answers this side of eternity, “

Some people may go through severe trials as Job did, and they come through the long dark tunnel emerging into a broad new path. 

God rewards them with a wonderful new life and all their former misery seems to vanish away in a beautifully restored life through His measureless mercy and grace.

And then there are others who seem to be destined to suffer through serial trials and misfortunes throughout their lives. 

Their Divine Coach gives them short reprieves to sit on the bench for a rest from their suffering every so often, but then He sends them back into the Divine Game as First Stringers, to combat their spiritual Opponent. 

This seemed to be what the Apostle Paul experienced as did many of the other apostles.

 

We are all of us in this war together, but some souls God seems to use to fight in the trenches facing the opposition more frequently and getting more battle wounded because of this. 

Because of his special revelations Paul wrote that he was given a painful thorn to bear:

“So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT

Some may seem never to suffer. However, to everything there is a season, and a time and purpose to everything under the heavens. 

Also, some types of suffering go unseen, for appearances are deceiving. Only God knows all hearts. 

What today is, tomorrow may not be. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1)

 “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT

God knows what the limits of each person are and He never gives us more than we can tolerate. (See 1 Corinthians 10: 13)

The Lord tests each of us according to His Word to see if our faith is genuine. 

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 

These trials will show that your faith is genuine.

 It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 

So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT

God’s Word says that our Heavenly Father chastises each one of His children to make us holy.

“As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. 

Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 

Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. 

But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! 

But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Hebrews 12:7-11 NLT

As we glean from studying the Book of Job, it is never wise to judge people or God by their or our own afflictions.

 “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? “Job.38.1, Job.38.2

 Romans 8:28 reveals that God is working all things together for good to those who love Him. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 admonishes us to pray without ceasing, rejoice always and to give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

After the Lord appeared to Job and counseled him, Job prayed to God and worshiped Him, repenting for his misunderstanding of God:

“I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. Therefore I loathe [my words] and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6 AMPC

Ultimately God was angry with Job’s friends who had condemned Job unfairly.

He told them to go have Job pray for them and bring sacrifices for him to offer to the Lord on their behalf.

After Job prayed for them, the Bible says,  “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends…”

God rewarded Job and blessed him with more than he’d started out with. 

The book of Job teaches us that prayer sets us free from bitterness and releases God’s love in our hearts so that He can bless lives through us. 

God will restore us once we throw off the shackles of unforgiveness, which leads to an unhealthy focus on the self, breeding self pity and resentment, the bitter roots of depression,  making our attitudes negative, hopeless, and dark. 

Prayer and Forgiveness open the door to God’s love and light in our hearts and sets us free to experience God’s healing mercy and grace. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Thy immeasurable love and mercy towards each of us. When we suffer through trials help us to understand that You do love us, that You have not forsaken us and never will, and that You suffer with us in our pain through Christ who’s Spirit dwells in us. Thank You for Thy Word that assures us of these truths; bless and encourage all who are suffering through trials and fill them with rivers of Thy peace and strength to make it through, in Jesus’ name, amen.

The Lord Will Wash Away All Our Tears Someday © (p) 2022, Meditations For The Journey, Keyboard Instrumentals, by Suzanne Davis Harden, through the Indwelling Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by The Holy Spirit, To The Glory of God The Father, In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

All Rights Reserved. 

 

The Path of Faith

Abiding Faithful on The Path of Faith

Album Notes: Paths of Faith Christian Prayersongs Inspired by the Holy Spirit

It is with a humble, grateful heart that I announce the publication of my 29th musical album to God’s precious children, inspired by His Holy Spirit, who enabled me to create it through the risen Lord Jesus Christ within me, to the glory of our Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name.

Paths of Faith is an appropriate title for this album of prayersongs, the first vocal album the Lord has inspired me to release since Paths of Mercy in 2019, just before the Coronavirus Pandemic broke out in December of that year.

In 2009 the Lord gave me the gift to sing and create instrumental music. He had to ask me three times if I would sing for Him so reluctant was I to be a musician for His glory.
I had been a visual artist all my life and art was my passion. I had always prayed to be an excellent artist, illustrator, and children’s book writer for His glory. When He asked me to sing for Him,  He said that He needed my voice of all things!~I felt I needed to remind Him that my little boy had howled when I’d sung Him “Jesus Loves Me” once.
 

Undaunted, the Lord would not give up. He wanted me to surrender my will and to walk a new path with Him by faith.

I loved the Lord so much. He had given up everything for me when He suffered and died on the cross to redeem our souls. How could I not now give up everything for Him? Though it felt like dying, I said I would sing and make music for Him. I hardly knew what I was getting myself in for, but trusted that my Lord Jesus Christ would never do anything to hurt me.

At first I felt like I was being thrown to the lions. Having been a professional in one career, now He was plunging me on a path where I would be like a baby learning to crawl, following Him, whom I could only see and hear by faith.

What is faith?

The Bible tells us “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear…

But without faith it is impossible to please (God): for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

Hebrews 11:1-3,6 - KJV

I knew nothing at all about the music industry but trusted God to guide me every step of the way. He instructed me to do everything the opposite of the way the world does things. Which made no sense. All He would say was, “Trust Me, My child.”
After all, it was His music. I had not up and made myself a musician~ the Lord had. He knew what His plans for it were.

I learned that the Lord wanted to communicate to His children through His music. I should have known that from the beginning. Duh.

The songs were inspired by His word through His Holy Spirit.
They were motivated by prayer and worship from abiding in my Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus had said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 - KJV

The Lord told me that the songs were to be “Musical Conversations” with His children. If they would take the song titles and go into their prayer closets with their bibles and look up the reference that the title referred to in their bibles and meditate on the verses or bible story and study the word of God and pray to Him and abide in Him alone, that He would speak to them what He wanted to say to them.

The important thing was that His children should get back to their prayer closets and abide in Christ and return to studying His word, allowing HIM to teach them through His Holy Spirit.

The Lord was seeking a personal relationship with His children. He said they were distracted by many things and had lost sight of Him. They had gone after the world.

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and *mammon.”Matthew 6:24 - KJV

(*Mammon means money or the world or anything that makes the soul’s heart beat faster than Jesus or God~ mammon therefore is another word for an idol.)

Anything that takes the Christian’s attention away from the Lord Jesus Christ can become an idol whether it be a relationship, a hobby, social media, a ministry, an organization, politics, any pursuit whatsoever that seems right but misses the mark ever so slightly. In fact another word for sin is to “miss the mark.”

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 - KJV

The Path of Faith is one in which we keep our eyes on our Master who is the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, who is the Lord Jesus Christ and we surrender our wills and lay our lives down for Him.

Christians must not keep our eyes on this world. No matter what is going on.

Paul lived under the malevolent emperor Nero of Rome of whom it was believed that he torched the city to justify building a more magnificent one. Because of the intense criticism he received, he devised a plan where he blamed the followers of Christ for the crime. In A.D. 64 brutal persecution erupted there against the Christians.
 Tacitus (c. A.D. 60-120) a Roman Historian, wrote in his Annals (XV.44).

“…Besides being put to death they were made to serve as objects of amusement; they were clothed in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs; others were crucified, others set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed.
Nero had thrown open his grounds for the display, and was putting on a show in the circus, where he mingled with the people in the dress of charioteer or drove about in his chariot. All this gave rise to a feeling of pity, even towards men whose guilt merited the most exemplary punishment; for it was felt that they were being destroyed not for the public good but to gratify the cruelty of an individual.” ~quoted from http://christiancourier.com

Despite this horror, what does Paul say when he mentions the government? He wrote: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4 - KJV

Peter wrote, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed;
but let him glorify God on this behalf.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping
of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:16-19 - KJV

Both Peter and Paul mentioned in their epistles that our true Kingdom is not of this world.
It would have been truly foolish and dangerous for them to go about writing “our true Emperor and King ~the Only Lord and God Jesus Christ to whom we alone pay honor and allegiance….and we don’t obey any laws but His…”

Instead, they wrote as the Holy Spirit led them.
They must stay alive and preach the Gospel which was their true mission therefore they must be peacemakers so they could carry out the Lord’s work,
keeping Christ’s command to walk in love.

James the Apostles wrote: “But the wisdom that comes from God is like this:
“First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please.
This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others.“ ERV James 3:17

 Jesus told Pilate when asked if He was a king, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight…” John 18:36

The apostles did not go looking for a fight.
Paul wrote, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Timothy 2:4 - KJV

Their true commitment was to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom they loved with all their heart, soul and mind and strength. If a worldly law conflicted with God’s Holy Law, of course they must obey God.

For example, in the Old Testament when the Pharaoh commanded all the baby boys to be drowned Moses’s parents did not comply with his edict but obeyed the Lord to save their child.

For the Lord Almighty is our true King and His commandments must prevail and this is what the word of God teaches.

The apostles imply this even when they don’t come right out and say it for the danger it might have presented.

They walked a Path of Faith ~ surely Peter had trod this Path with Christ on the Sea of Galilee when he’d briefly walked on its waters with the Lord before taking his eyes off his Master, then sank beneath the waves. The Lord had quickly rescued his Apostle when Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!”

The Prayersong on my album  “Thy Voice Comes Over The Waters” was inspired by this Bible story and it deals with trying to recognize Christ in the gray areas of His word.

Peter wrote, “Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. (*Sinful desires are any desires opposed to God’s will~not exhibiting the love of Christ is disobeying Christ’s will for Christ said, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love  one another.” John 13:34-35 - CSB)

Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day He visits.
Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority or to governors as those sent out by Him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good.

For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” 1 Peter 2:11-17 - CSB

Paul wrote: “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities,

since there is no authority except from God,

and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.

So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command,

and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves…” Hebrews 13:1-3

Eventually because the early Christians trusted Christ and walked according to the word of God and the path of faith, they obeyed both Christ and His word to submit to human authority for the sake of the Lord, by the third century under the Emperor Constantine the Great, Christianity became the dominant religion of the Roman Empire.

Christians had but to obey Christ their true King for this to happen.
They had to always be abiding in Christ to know and understand His will.

Paul wrote, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17 - KJV

 Jesus said, “But when you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father. He is there in that private place. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.”
 
Abiding in Christ  is getting alone with our risen Lord and Savior by faith and reading His word and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us apart from the distractions of social media, friends, or work, or anything else.
It is a very private, sacred holy affair between you and the Lord and the only way we can will grow closer to the Lord.

Jesus said, “ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”

Christ may lead us down a thorny path.
No one can or should judge any child of God for the Path that Christ leads them to follow. Never judge a child of God by their afflictions.

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.” ~James 4:11 - KJV

Who are we to condemn the child whom Christ suffered, bled, and died to redeem?
My prayersong “Father, Forgive Me” deals with how our sin hurts others and Christ ultimately.

The Path of Faith may lead to persecution or martyrdom.
Paul wrote, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12 - KJV

Jesus said, “And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of Me will find it.” Matthew 10:38-39 -CSB

The Path of Faith is the path that leads with Christ to the cross. It is a path of suffering. But if we go to the cross with Christ we will also rise with Him in His resurrection!

For we are being conformed to His image on this journey.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 - KJV

Along this path we must learn to let go of our own will and say to our Heavenly Father along with Christ, “Father, not My will, but Thy will.”

We must pray, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
But those who will not love as Christ loved us, who will only read Christ’s words and filter out the parts they do not agree with, do not truly love Christ for Christ said,

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
The one who doesn’t love Me will not keep My words. The word that you hear is not Mine but is from the Father who sent Me.”
John 14:23-24 - CSB

The word parse means to break down, analyze, or scrutinize and is the opposite of accepting by faith as a little child.
One cannot parse a cup of water Christ gives them to drink. We either drink it in front of Him or pour it on the ground and say “No thank You, Lord, I don’t trust it.”

Christ and His Holy Spirit are the Living Water of Life. We receive the Lord by faith. We receive His words by faith. If we fight and rebel and scrutinize, analyze, complain, revile and scorn, we don’t love the Lord or keep or believe His word.

Paul wrote that Christ was the Rock in the wilderness, where Moses got the water for the Israelites and they grumbled and grieved God over their unbelief.

“Now I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them, since they were struck down in the wilderness."
1 Corinthians 10:1-5 - CSB

“Today If You Hear God’s Voice” Vocal Prayersong is a song the Lord gave me on my new album to witness to that Bible story.

Listen to the song or to a clip. Then go into your prayer closet with your bible and look up and read the story in the scriptures it refers to.
Pray and ask the Lord to help you hear His voice and to walk His path of faith.

There are many prayersongs on this album that refer to bible stories and concepts. Please use the songs to let God speak to your hearts through His Holy Word, and abide in the Lord Jesus Christ, our True Vine.
He is speaking through His word, through His Holy Spirit in these songs He inspired from His Word.
May He help us turn our attention towards Him and away from all that distracts us in this world.

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses
surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us,
keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
For the joy that lay before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.
 In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 12:1-4 - CSB

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for this new album of beautiful prayer songs inspired from Thy word. Thank You for encouraging me to walk Thy path of faith with You even though its been so difficult, for You have been with me all the way and so faithful even as You promised. Please encourage Thy children to walk with You down the path of faith and to trust You in the way You are asking them to and never to doubt that You keep every promise forever. Help each one to hear Thy voice speaking to them in their hearts today and through Thy holy word and may You guide them with Thy wisdom and discernment, and fill them with Thy holy love and mercy and grace, In Jesus’ name, amen. Thank You, Lord, we love You.


More Encouraging Scriptures

Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble.
Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath,
because it is written, “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,” says the Lord.
 But If your enemy is hungry, feed him.
 If he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head.

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.
Romans 12:16-21 - CSB

Let everyone submit to the governing authorities,
since there is no authority except from God,
and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.
So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command,
and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.
Do you want to be unafraid of the one in authority?
Do what is good, and you will have its approval.
For it is God’s servant for your good.
But if you do wrong, be afraid, because it does not carry the sword for no reason.
For it is God’s servant, an avenger that brings wrath on the one who does wrong.
Therefore, you must submit, not only because of wrath but also because of your conscience.
And for this reason you pay taxes, since the authorities are God’s servants, continually attending to these tasks.
Pay your obligations to everyone: taxes to those you owe taxes, tolls to those you owe tolls, respect to those you owe respect, and honor to those you owe honor.

Do not owe anyone anything, except to love one another,
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

The commandments, Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal;  do not covet; and any other commandment, are summed up by this commandment:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Love does no wrong to a neighbor.

Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 13:1-10 - CSB

Preview Paths of Faith at my Hear and Now Website by following this link:

 https://suzannedavisharden.hearnow.com/paths-of-faith-christian-prayersongs-inspired-by-the-holy-spirit

Paths of Faith Album Notes: Copyright © 2021 by Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved.

Album Cover Paths of Faith Christian Prayersongs Inspired by the Holy Spirit Original Illustration by Suzanne Davis Harden Copyright © 2021 All rights reserved.

Through the Indwelling Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by The Holy Spirit, to the Glory of God the Father, In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture Quotations: King James Bible: Public Domain/ The Christian Standard Bible: Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers/
ERV (Easy To Read Version Bible) Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International
 
History Quotations from Tacitus (c. A.D. 60-120) Roman Historian, Annals (XV.44) http://christiancourier.com

A Badge Of Honor

A Badge of Honor

They bear the scars of Jesus,

They bear Christ’s holy scars,

They wear them on their bodies 

And in their suffering hearts.

They suffer for Christ’s glory,

They share His holy pain,

His scars their badge of honor

Though others call it shame...

In their humble weakness 

Christ displays His strength;

In them He rises yet alive

Through His almighty grace.

The sick and suffering, poor, oppressed

Bring glory to the Lord,

When they praise Him in their pain

Despite their vicious storms...

They bear the scars of Jesus,

They bear His holy scars,

They’ll become a crown of gold 

He’ll place upon their heart...

Someday He will look at them,

He’ll look at them and say,

“Well done my little one 

You honored Me each day,

With the life I gave to you

To worship Me and praise;

Now come live in Paradise 

And be with Me always,

In Jesus’ name, amen.

(Prayer Poem) All Glory To God, Copyright © 2020, Suzanne Davis Harden,  All Rights Reserved.  

__________________________________________________

Scriptures for Meditation

“ “On my own body are scars that prove I belong to Christ Jesus...” ~ Galatians‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭CEV‬‬

“God's Spirit makes us sure that we are His children.

 His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ 

we will be given what God has promised. 

We will also share in the glory of Christ, 

because we have suffered with Him.

 I am sure what we are suffering now 

cannot compare with the glory 

that will be shown to us.” 

~ ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:16-18‬ ‭CEV‬‬

“For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake, 

not only to believe and confidently trust in Him,

 but also to suffer for His sake, 

[and so you are] experiencing the same [kind of] conflict 

which you saw me endure, 

and which you hear to be mine now.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:29-30‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“...but Christ has said to me, 

“My grace is sufficient for you

 [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—

always available—regardless of the situation]; 

for [My] power is being perfected 

[and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” 

Therefore, I will all the more gladly 

boast in my weaknesses, 

so that the power of Christ 

[may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.

 So I am well pleased with weaknesses, 

with insults, with distresses, 

with persecutions, 

and with difficulties, 

for the sake of Christ; 

for when I am weak [in human strength], 

then I am strong 

[truly able, truly powerful,

 truly drawing from God’s strength].”

‭‭~2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9-10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Unto The Least Of These, All Glory to God, Copyright © 2020 by Suzanne Davis Harden, All rights reserved.
Original Prayer Poem, “Badge of Honor,” Original Scripture Paintings, May Christ be Honored, Copyright © 2020, by Suzanne Davis Harden, All rights reserved.Scripture quotations: CEV Bible (Contemporary English Version Bible) Second Edition) Copyright © 2006 American Bible Society, All rights reserved. /AMP (Amplified Bible) Copyright © 2015 by the Lockman Foundation, All rights reserved.

Their Voice Has Gone Out To All The Earth

All Glory To God Forever (Inspired by Psalm 19)



The heavens sing of Thy glory,

The skies reveal Thy work 

Every day they sing of Thee

In songs that have no words...


Every day and night they sing

They pour forth melodies
 
In a language without sound

Their love to Thee they bring.



Though their speech be silent

Their grammar be unknown
Their syntax may be foreign
Yet God will make them known...


Everywhere in all the earth

In every place they go 

God makes their language understood

Where their songs are sown.



They sing God’s holy truths

Every night and day

They glorify the Most High

They praise His holy name...



Before all of the Angels

And all the Universe

Their songs are triumphs of His grace

That display His works...



All glory to God forever 

They’re singing all the day...

All glory! Glory! Glory!

May Christ be ever praised!


All glory to Christ forever

Who saved the world from sin

May Christ be praised forevermore

By all who honor Him,

In Jesus’ holy name,

Amen.


(Prayer Song) All Glory To Christ, 
Copyright © 2019 by SD Harden All rights reserved.
 
___________________________________________________

For Meditation

• “The heavens declare the glory of God. The expanse shows His handiwork. Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display knowledge.

    • There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their voice has gone out through all the earth, their words to the end of the world...” Psalms 19:1-4 WEB 
 


• “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known of God is revealed in them, for God revealed it to them.


• "For the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse."         

• 
"Because, *knowing God, they didn’t glorify Him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened.”~ Romans 1:18-21 WEB    


*Please note that Paul addresses these words to those who are Believers in God, to those who DO KNOW GOD. The word Paul used for *know is:

•    Strongs1097 γινώσκω [GINW/SKW] {ginṓskō} \ghin-oce'-ko\a prolonged form of a primary verb; to "know" (absolutely)(allow, be aware (of), feel, (have) know(-ledge), perceived, be resolved, can speak, be sure, understand.

*Please re-read the above passages in Romans 1 -not as addressed to unbelievers, -but as to the believer who has suppressed the truth about God in Christ...
One needs to READ the Bible and not merely books ABOUT the Bible, i.e., --commentaries by people. 
Because we are ALL human and we all make mistakes.

One needs to read what our Lord Jesus and the Apostles taught~~not what so and so taught, or even what a denomination or school or theology or philosophy that professes to be Christianity taught or teaches ~because our destiny is at stake.

Jesus said, “But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers. Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” ~Matthew 23:8-12 WEB

If we argue that the pastor or a famous person is more educated and better able to teach us than Jesus Christ from His Word or the Holy Spirit through His word, then we do not truly believe Jesus’ words.

We become a follower of our pastor or famous teacher, author, philosopher, or school rather than Jesus Christ when we believe their words have more authority than the risen Lord and Savior whom we profess to love and serve.
However, that person we are following and putting our faith in cannot save us from our sins.

If we are a follower of a human and not actually following Christ, we confess by our lives that we do not actually believe the above words Christ spoke that He alone must be our MAIN TEACHER~ RABBI; nor will we ever comprehend or really believe in our hearts the following verses ( *See below) from the Word of God.

If any teacher or leader suppresses these important teachings or tries to explain or twist  them so that they do not mean just what the reader absolutely understands that they mean, then those leaders deny Christ and suppress the truth about God.

Meditate on the following bible verses…they reinforce Jesus’ teachings that we must abide in HIM, allow His Holy Spirit to privately teach us as we maintain a consistent prayer life with Him, worship Him, and personally study His Word with Him that we might come to know our Lord and Savior personally and glorify Him as we were created to.

All we have is idolatry if we reverse His paradigm of worshiping Jesus first and foremost.
If we make anything but Jesus our Head, we will have only an idol.

The first commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

If we stop loving JESUS as our Head, we will wander off into error and we will, before we know it, change the truth of God into a lie and be self deceived yet still call ourselves a Christian.
Meditate:

    •    Jesus said, “He that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings: and the word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me."

    •    "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

    •    "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you."

    •    "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it unto you.” ~ John 14:24-26,16:7,13-14 KJV  

    •    Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

    •    For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

    •    And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 


    •    Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

    •    They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

    •    But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

    •    Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

    •    Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. 



    •    Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

    •    And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life. 

    •    These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

    •    But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.

    •    And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 


    •    If ye know that He is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.”~ 1 John 2:15-29 - KJV     

Unto The Least Of These, Copyright © 2019 by SD Harden, All rights reserved, All Glory to God, Prayer Poem, All Glory To God, Copyright © 2019 by SD Harden, All rights reserved, All Glory to Christ,Scripture Collage Painting, Copyright © 2019 by SD Harden, All rights reserved, All Glory to God, Scripture Quotations taken from the King James Version Bible, and World English Bible WEB) (Public Domain)






The Angel of the Lord Encircles Me

My prayer song "The Angel of the Lord Encircles Me" was inspired by Psalm 34:7
"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them."

According to the Strong's Bible Concordance, the "angel of the Lord" often referred to the "theophanic angel" ~ a divine visitation of God appearing in the form of an angel.


Many bible scholars believe that the theophanic angel was the pre-incarnate Christ. 
 The word means, "messenger of God, an angel, prophet, priest, or teacher."

  The words "encamp about" mean to "dwell in, or all around as in a circuit, on every side."
 The words in the definition convey the idea that the angel  (the messenger from God who is a teacher, priest, and prophet) is building a strong fortress all around the person he is guarding. 
 
If a person fears the Lord, (by fear, the Psalmist means, honors, is morally reverent, and afraid to dishonor or offend the Lord), and if they abide in God’s strong fortress with the angel, and if that Angel is the Lord Jesus Christ, then something truly wonderful is going to happen.

That Angel is going to deliver them.

According to the Strong’s Bible Concordance, the word deliver means: "to remove, to draw out, equip for war, rescue, be armed, to make strong, to brace, to be saved."
 
What are we going to be delivered from?

• Jesus is going to deliver us from whatever overwhelms, overcomes, or oppresses us.

• Jesus is going to remove whatever hinders us from advancing toward fulfilling His purpose in our life.

• First, Jesus saves our souls and forgives all our sins, washing them away as far as the east is from the west when we invite him into our heart to be our Lord and Savior.

“Therefore Jesus is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” Hebrews 7:25

• Jesus is going to heal us from whatever soul sickness that blinds us and keeps us from knowing and growing in Him.

“He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.” Psalm 107:20

• Jesus is committed to equipping us for spiritual battle; God is on our side~ He wants us to succeed:

“God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect. He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.” Psalm 18:32-34

•  Jesus make us strong through helping us to read and understand His word, and giving us the grace and power to obey it:

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” ~Philippians 2:13

• Jesus delivers us so that we can overcome temptation.

“And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)

• Jesus is going to give us victory over what had formerly overcome us:

"For this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4

• Finally, Jesus delivers us from our enemies when we put our trust in Him. He is committed to making us strong and whole.

"To them that have no might He increases strength." Isaiah 40:29

Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for sending Thy Son Jesus Christ to by my Protector and Guardian, Savior, Redeemer, and Friend, who ever guards me night and day through His Holy Spirit who lives inside my heart. May You help me to truly understand all of the wonderful things my Lord Jesus does for all who trust Him as their Savior and Lord, in Jesus holy name, amen. 

“The Angel of The Lord Encircles Me” is a comforting, inspirational 2 minute 45 second Video Produced, Directed & Narrated by SD Harden with additional videography by MC Harden © 2018 All Rights Reserved.
The Prayer Poem and Illustration are from "Paths of Love Illustrated Prayer Song Book: Prayer Songs Celebrating God's Love" ©  2015 All Rights Reserved.
The original piano solo,“The Angel of The Lord Encircles Me” used in the video is on the album “Paths of Love: Songs for Worship and Meditation” © 2015 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.
Unto The Least of These © 2018 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.