Living Water Ministries

Sleeping with the Lord

Songs of praise laying me safely in rest

Sleeping in safety amongst the dark

Waking within the light

Peace be still

Within me the Holy Spirit dwells.

Peace be still within the night.

2 Samuel 1:9
“Then he begged me, ‘Come over here and put me out of my misery, for I am in terrible pain and want to die.’

There have been days we all have felt like this time and again but all God wants for us is life it’s Satan who wants us to feel this way and wants harm and death done to us had God wanted death he wouldn’t have given us life to save us yes even I myself question my life and why I am here at times but we do have reasons why we are where we are God knows the reasons even though we may not yet know and he doesn’t want us to die then we can’t carry out our reasons he chose life for us

Lamentations 3:33

New Living Translation

33 

For he does not enjoy hurting people

    or causing them sorrow.

God wants the best for us only best nothing less he doesn’t look to hurting people and doesn’t like hurting people or causing pain and sorrow the one who enjoys that and is playground to it is Satan I pray for wisdom and a sincere heart when I feel horrible when I’ve only tried to be sincere but have accidentally caused sorrow and pain and I don’t know how people who enjoy doing that love for they definitely don’t live for God I pray for each of you who whom have hurt someone for the affects can hurt yourself and make you feel horrible may God be with us all

Matthew 23:12
New King James Version

12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

As people we try to have positive outlooks and be highly respected and responsible so that others will think highly of us and honor our goodness those who think honorably and proud in themselves and think highly of themselves God will show honor and show favor as those who think highly of themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be honored in fullness and made great

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 107:150)

Verse Thoughts

This lovely Psalm explodes into a song of thanksgiving to God, because His mercy and loves endures forever. But it is a Psalm which verse by verse continues to build up to a crescendo of grateful thanks, as it lists the many things that God has done for His people – Israel, and the many ways that He has responded to their cry for help. Although this is a Psalm that lists the many ways that God responded to their need and sheltered them from their enemies – it also targets-in on the truth of God’s steadfast love-

God redeemed Israel from their enemies; He heard and responded to their cries when they were alone in the wilderness or far away for their home and loved ones. He fed them when hungry, gave them drink when they were thirsty and refreshed their weary souls when their hearts were fainting. He responded to their cries and poured out gracious goodness to them – even when they rebelled against the word of the God or proudly forged-out their own pathway. In this beautiful song of praise Israel recognised that the goodness of God was not dependent on them – but on His everlasting faithfulness – His eternal grace – His loving-kindness which is never-ending. They understood that the Lord hears every cry of their heart and that He alone responds to their pleas and brings them through their troubles and trials.

This is not only a Psalm of the past, that celebrates Israel’s grateful thanks to their faithful God, Whose steadfast love endured forever – but it is a hymn of praise for the present – it is a song of thanksgiving that the church age can chorus with equal gusto and grateful hearts. Not only does this lovely Psalm explodes into a song of thanksgiving but concludes with the pronouncement that all who are wise will see that God’s steadfast love toward Israel’s – is the same faithful love, yesterday, today and forever.

It was Paul who encouraged us to give thanks in everything – so let our hearts and voices explode into a great hymn of praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, for He is good – His steadfast love endures forever for His faithfulness extends throughout time and into the far reaches of eternity.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Many people would ask what are you thankful for in conversation which is a good conversation we can give thanks for many things and practices of thanks are of good they are a proper way of giving your gratitude

Gratitude for the gift of life is the primary wellspring of all religions, the hallmark of the mystic, the source of all true art. ~ Joanna Macy

Benedictine monk, Br. David Steindl-Rast, suggests that two qualities belong in our basic definition of gratitude. The first is appreciation: You recognize that something is valuable to you, which has nothing to do with its monetary worth. The second quality Br. David mentions is that gratitude is gratis: freely given to you.

Robert Emmons, perhaps the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, also argues that gratitude has two key components: “First, it’s an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received.”

In the second part of gratitude, he explains, “we recognize that the sources of this goodness are outside of ourselves…We acknowledge that other people…gave us many gifts, big and small, to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.”

In her book, Living in Gratitude: A Journey That Will Change Your Life, Angeles Arrien writes: “Gratitude is essentially the recognition of the unearned increments of value in one’s experience.” She goes on to say: “Gratitude is a feeling that spontaneously emerges from within. However, it is not simply an emotional response; it is also a choice we make. We can choose to be grateful, or we can choose to be ungrateful—to take our gifts and blessings for granted. As a choice, gratitude is an attitude or disposition.”

There is a variety of things that can conjure positive feelings of appreciation or gratitude that may guide people towards meaning and better health.

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson offers a helpful introduction into what practicing gratitude can look like, and this article will begin there and explore the current psychological research behind this value.

Gratitude is an emotion similar to appreciation, and positive psychology research has found neurological reasons why so many people can benefit from this general practice of expressing thanks for our lives, even in times of challenge and change.

To begin though, we need to define what we mean by “gratitude.”

Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our 3 Positive Psychology Exercises for free. These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values and self-compassion and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students or employees.

What is Gratitude? 

Many of us express gratitude by saying “thank you” to someone who has helped us or given us a gift. From a scientific perspective, however, gratitude is not just an action: it is also a positive emotion that serves a biological purpose.

Positive psychology defines gratitude in a way where scientists can measure its effects, and thus argue that gratitude is more than feeling thankful: it is a deeper appreciation for someone (or something) that produces longer lasting positivity.

Before continuing with that definition, we offer 10 definitions to provide a cultural context for how the word has changed over time.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, gratitude is simply “the state of being grateful.”

The Harvard Medical School provides more detail, writing that gratitude is:

“a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives … As a result, gratitude also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals–whether to other people, nature, or a higher power” 

This provides a more helpful context, leading us into the next definition from psychiatry researchers, who define gratitude as:

“the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself and represents a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciation” (Sansone & Sansone, 2010).

Researchers also offer this definition:

“an emotion that is typically evoked when one receives costly, unexpected, and intentionally rendered benefits, and is thought to play a key role in regulating the initiation and maintenance of social relationships” (Forster et al., 2017).

Another simple definition of gratitude that comes from psychology research is:

“a social emotion that signals our recognition of the things others have done for us” (Fox et al., 2015).

This definition is important because it brings a social element into the definition of gratitude.

The social aspect of gratitude from this theologian says:

“if we acquire a good through exchange, effort or achievement, or by right, then we don’t typically feel gratitude. Gratitude is an emotion we feel in response to receiving something good which is undeserved” (Lacewing, 2016).

Another definition emphasizing its social aspect comes from social psychology researchers, who claim that:

“gratitude is a positively valenced emotion that can arise when another person–a benefactor–does something kind for the self (Algoe et al., 2016).

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

Since gratitude is a way of our thanks this is a practice we should practice with God many things we can be thankful for and show our gratitude but the most important thing and for is God and his works showing gratitude and thankfulness to God shows strong morals and respect to the one who deserves it most he is good and wonderful showing mercy to all for the honor and respect he gives us showing us mercy for everything his mercy experiences full gratitude and gratefulness forever for all of us

Psalm 37:4 (New King James Version)

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Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

What more could we ask for not one other person can measure up to the delight we should feel in the love and relationship with God when we fully turn our life over to one with God we should have joy and be in delight in ourselves and in the only other person who matter to also find delight in The Lord when we do this we practice a in depth fervent relationship with Jesus as well as release all worries to he who already knows all and wants to provide you in abundance of all you need and only wants best for you if you shall delight yourself in the lord he will do exactly what he says giving you all the desires of your heart he won’t cut you short he will bless you in abundance he says ask and it will be given

Psalm 118:6

New King James VersionOpen menu

6 

The Lord is on my side;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?

The Lord promises in so many scriptures in many different words and ways that he will always be with you and side with you on all things within your life we’re taught to not fear and seek in him in all things no man can stop what God promises what can he do it’s simple nothing read Mark 10:27

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible. Mark 10:27

God can accomplish anything.

Psalm 27:14 (New King James Version)

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Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Verse Thoughts

Patient endurance as we wait for the Lord to work in the difficult circumstances of life, encourages our faith in God to be strengthened. Conversely.. faith is often tested in those long and painful seasons of life when patient endurance is called upon – as we trustingly wait for the Lord to act.. and as we submissively wait on the Lord’s promises to be fulfilled, in prayer and praise and thanksgiving.

We need to confidently wait for the Lord to act on our behalf, knowing that His promises are “yes’ and “amen’ in Christ Jesus, and we need to faithfully wait on the Lord with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making music to the Lord – in our hearts with thanksgiving and praise.

When we are abiding in Christ our inner heart is empowered and our courage is enlarged. When we are resting in His love our soul is strengthened by the Spirit of the Lord, for His strength is made perfect in our restful weakness.

When we take God at His Word and trust Him unquestioningly.. despite our inner fleshly nature and outer distressing circumstances, which scream at us to do something.. we will be enabled from within to wait on the LORD and be of good courage, for we have been promised that He shall strengthen our heart – WAIT, I say, on the LORD.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/psalm-27-14-b

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

This is the hardest thing as a Christian we want him to be there as mankind and guide us as he does in spirit teaching us in person and wanting him here though no one knows his timing or place or when but we all would rather him be here

I once was questioned if you were to sit on a bench with someone who would you want to sit with my answer was in all honesty Jesus If he has so many to write the longest Book and most famous book in history I’d want to know a real human relationship conversation with him and have him teach me so much more though as much as I would want this they do say patience is a virtue though yes even I admit that in itself is hard to do as well though as much as we long for an out of spirit relationship at least we can build and take head in the relationship He does allow us

But I encourage you to stay strong and make yourself even stronger building this relationship for what it is so that when he does come back you will be prepared for that seat on the bench with him it definitely is more productive and prosperous to wait on the Lord he WILL be returning and when he does it will be the best day you will ever have so I deeply encourage you to take hope and courage within yourself to keep knowledge in Psalm 27:14 which urges us to wait for the biggest and best thing that will be in your life Jesus sitting with you on a bench God being with you once and forever it will be nothing like a relationship between you and another who comes and goes he will stay with you throughout everything forever no matter he promises to make life with him eternal life and forever with him so make it be the best and study up in the word of God and know him personally before you get that chance to begin to know him wait and have courage

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

When Jesus returns He will make all things clear.

“Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify” Zephaniah 3:8

My Prayer

Father my prayer today is heart felt in so many ways

First I want to pray for Shane who we almost lost yesterday from a collapsed lung due to Covid and for me as I just returned from a three month hospitalization in both medical and mental hospitals and I don’t want the extra stress to affect me again

I have high hopes that those reading this will remember to wait on you and put their trust fully in you and to have you encourage them through this as I personally know how hard this is myself I pray for each of you that you will begin to practice this and build their relationships and knowledge and learn to wait on you

Verse Thoughts

The promises of God pepper the pages of scripture like crystal droplets of sparkling rain, sprinkling life into a dry and dusty desert and scattering hope into the hearts of all God’s people. The promises of God tumble and glimmer through the Word of God like a myriad of twinkling stars, peeping through the glowering skies of doubt and sorrow – refreshing the soul; giving hope to the faint-hearted and providing encouragement to the weary.

Though the context of this verse is Israel’s Babylonian captivity and their eventual restoration and redemption, this precious verse states an eternal principle and timeless promise – that the Lord is ever near to all who seek Him, and those that search for Him aright, are certain of finding Him. This is a verse that promises all those who seek the Lord, in spirit and in truth, will be sure to find Him, for the Lord has promised: you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart.

Israel had been carried into captivity as a consequence of their sin and apostasy, and the people are encouraged by Jeremiah to prepare for a prolonged sojourn in Babylon. They were exhorted to build houses, grow crops, get married and have children, because God had ordained that the punishment they justly deserved would last for 70 years. Some would die in the land of their captivity, but God had plans for His people. He had plans for their good and not their harm. He had plans to prosper them and to give them a secure future and a great hope.

But during their exile, when they are separated from their promised land, the people were not to forget the Lord. They were to continue to trust Him and teach their children to do the same. And they were given a very special and encouraging promise, “You will seek Me and you will find Me… when you search for Me with all your heart.”  God would not be lost to His people forever, but they must set their heart to search diligently for the Lord – to search for Him with ALL their heart; ALL their soul, ALL  their mind and ALL their strength.

The promise given to Israel by Jeremiah was that those who earnestly sought the Lord would find Him. They would discover Him to be the godly Way; the singular Truth, and the Path to perfect peace with God. They were given the assurance that those who diligently and conscientiously look for Him, WILL find Him. They will find Him to be the only Way, the singular Truth, and Life eternal. Those that sincerely search for the Lord will gain the abundant Life He promises – a life that only comes through faith in Christ.

The majority of Israel have yet to discover that the One for Whom they are to diligently seek is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is their Messiah, Who came to rescue them at God’s appointed time, as foretold by Scripture. He is their kinsman-Redeemer and their Dayspring from on High. He is the prophet of the Most High God and a light to lighten the Gentiles. He is the glory of His people Israel and the One Who will heal their soul and guide their feet into the way of peace.

He is the Word made flesh Who came to dwell among His people and to shine light into their darkened hearts. He came to His own people at God’s appointed time – but they did not recognise Him as the only Way, the singular Truth and Life eternal and He was rejected and cruelly crucified.

As Christians, we already know Him as Jesus, our Saviour, for Christ died to bridge the unbridgeable gap between a holy God and the imperfect race of man. But like Israel, we are promised a much deeper knowledge and closer communion with Him, if we will plough into the depths of His Word; reach into the heights of His Truth and look steadily into the Light of His Countenance – the face of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Like Israel, we have been promised that when we seek Him and search for Him with ALL our heart will find Him. Let us, therefore, with wholeness of heart; fervency of spirit; sincerity of soul and diligence of mind freely abandon the good to search for the very best, knowing that ALL who seek the Lord, will find Him to be rest for their soul; healing for their heart; hope for the future and life everlasting.

Praise God that ALL who seek Him and search for Him have been promised, in His WORD, that He will be everything they need, when they search for Him with their whole heart.

Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/jeremiah-29-13

Seek and ye shall find its something that’s been said for decades this reminds us time and time again to seek in him and trust in him and he will be everything we need we can’t just search and not know what we’re looking for we have to earnestly seek in The Lord when we seek him we will find him only if we seek him earnestly with our whole heart and are in favor of He that we seek

J. Palmer

Psalm 56:3

New King James Version

3 

Whenever I am afraid,

I will trust in You.

So this one can be a hard one to accomplish so the Bible says when I am afraid I put my trust in you and I know some things can be really scary especially to young children that you or them won’t have a strong faith and will have no other thing to do but to trust in God I know sometimes it’s storms that awaken my fear but it lies same for Prayer it’s something I’ve always been taught in time of worry turn your worries to prayer instead, faith over fear all these are strong reminders of turning you negative fears into positive faith yes it may be hard but the more we practice it the more we use it and easier it becomes so next time one of these happens to you remember the verse psalm 56:3 whenever I am afraid I will put my trust in you the more that you do this the more you start to see responses it also says in Philippians something similar as well as also in many other scriptures as well as Franklin Graham reminds us again today in his tweet

My Prayer

Father God you know how difficult it is to remember you in desperation and times of need and fears I pray that myself and those reading this will begin to remember that you are with us through everything even those times of desperation and fear may you help us to remember to trust more in you in these times and not focus on the situation of the world happening around us giving us the negative and fear filled thoughts help to remember you also are there and remain with us and we’re not alone and that as hard as it seems to focus our trust on you during it you also are with us and bro focus on you instead of the situation and put more trust in you

Release Anxiety Pray Instead J. Palmer