Jehovah Meohalti (The Lord Our Deliverer) 2 Samuel 22:2

2 Samuel 22:2

In 2 Samuel 22 a song of praise that King David offered to the Lord is recorded.. He praised him for His power and His righteousness; and he thanked God for protecting him from his enemies, such as King Saul and many hostile nations. We also find this song of praise in Psalm 18. We too, like David, have much to praise our Jehovah Meohalti, especially because He has also freed us from the fierce enemies who kept us captive—sin and eternal death.

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (worldliness, way of life), God gave you life together with Christ, having forgiven us [free of charge] all our sins, 14 having canceled the certificate of debt consistent with legal demands [which were in force] against us and that they were hostile to us. And this certificate has put it aside and removed it completely by nailing it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed principalities and powers [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made them a public example [exposing them as captives in His triumphant procession], having triumphed over them through [the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-15 Amp Bible)

Thank you Jehovah Meohalti for your deliverance and conquering our freedom through our Savior Jesus Christ!.
I want to share with all of you the following meditation so we can exalt Him for all His Grace and Favor to us:

The Battle is the Lord’s. Our enemies are God’s enemies, and He is the Mighty Warrior active and aggressive against them. We face an enemy who has already lost the war but will not back down without a fierce fight. Throughout His history of dealing with His people, God affirmed that the battle is the Lord’s.. Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still and you will see the release the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see them again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14).

Many of the Psalms could aptly be called “Battle Psalms”. It was no coincidence that the most excellent worshiper of the Bible was also the most successful warrior. David focused on praise in one of the great spiritual warfare passages of Scripture. David gave God all the credit for his defense. “With your hand you expelled the nations and planted our fathers; You crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish” (Sal 44.1-2).

Praise be to the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. He is my loving God and my fortress, my fortress and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues the peoples under me. Psalm 144:1-2

Generations later, God still reassured his unfaithful people: “Nevertheless I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them, not with bow, nor with sword, nor with battle, nor with horses or people on horseback, but by the Lord their God” (Hosea 1:7). In all ages, the purpose of the battle is always to exalt the Lord and to draw us closer to Him, to see His glory and praise Him for His victory. Indeed the psalmist prayed to God that he would not take all his enemies, that the people would not forget their God (Psalm 59:11).

Oh, that we should not be weak of heart when God hath provided himself as ours El Gibbor, the strong God; the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle; El Shaddai, the Almighty God; the Lord our defence; the Lord our deliverer; Jehovah Sabaoth, the Captain of the heavenly armies of the Lord. Isaiah said, “They will see the glory of the Lord, the excellence of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and strengthen the weak knees. Say to the fearful in heart, ‘Be strong; do not be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with recompense of God; He will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:2-4).

Take the Word of God seriously for your defense and victory as a vital part of the whole armor of God. It is the sword of the Spirit that is always ready in the mighty hand of God. (Prayer Essentials for Living in His Presence, Vol. 1, pages 260-261. © 2000 Sylvia Gunter. )
Amen! Hallelujah! He is Worthy of all Honor and Glory!.

Mari Sandoval

The Enduring Joy of Yahweh Shammah’s Presence – Ezekiel 48:35

Ezekiel 48:35

The history of Israel is a tumultuous one. They were constantly stuck in a cycle of rebellion and repentance. And here, in the book of Ezekiel, Israel found themselves in trouble again. Rebelling against God, they did what was right in their own eyes. As a result, God let them be taken into captivity for seventy years. Yet God also gave them hope through a vision he gave the prophet Ezekiel. One in which a new, millennial Jerusalem would be built. And it would gloriously called, “Yahweh Shammah,” The Lord is there. 

For us, knowing that God is “Yahweh Shammah” means we can find comfort and security in His constant presence. And we can be assured that wherever we are, whatever situation we find ourselves in, God is right beside us. He brings peace in times of trouble, strength in moments of weakness, and guidance in times of uncertainty. Understanding God as “Yahweh Shammah” also reminds us of His faithfulness. For He has promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

God’s eternal presence is a testament to that promise. Because it assures us that through every trial and triumph, we are never alone in our journey of faith. Our precious “Yahweh Shammah” is there encouraging us to continually cultivate a deeper relationship with Him. And through prayer, the studying of God’s Word, worship, and obedience, we can do just that. For our greatest need isn’t just for His blessings or guidance, but for His presence. And it’s in His presence, where we find true fulfillment and abundant life.

Oh what joy it is to know God as “Yahweh Shammah.” When we feel alone, His comforting presence brings peace to our hurting heart. Amidst life’s storms, His steadfast presence offers strength and reassurance. And when we seek direction, His guiding presence illuminates each step of our path. In His presence alone, we find refuge, renewal, and restoration, experiencing the fullness of His love and grace. And one day, we will each have the wonderful honor of dwelling in the new city of Jerusalem, where we will be with our “Yahweh Shammah” forever and ever! 

Don’t’ forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.

💕 Lisa

Finding Hope in God’s Promises – Luke 1:5-25

Luke 1:5-25

When we talk about the Advent of Hope, we have to include the prophet Zechariah. Because through Him, the Lord reassured His people that although they endured suffering, a hopeful future was on the horizon. His words ring true for us as well.

A hopeful future isn’t just wishful thinking. It’s a truth found in the Lord. The One who came to restore, rebuild, and anchor our hearts in the truth of God’s Words and promises. So how can we carry the hope of Zechariah in our hearts not just at Christmas, but all year round? 

Reflect on God’s Faithfulness – Begin the season with reflective moments, acknowledging God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Use Zechariah’s vision as a springboard for personal reflection on God’s past faithfulness in your life.

Pray for Restoration – Zechariah’s vision speaks of divine intervention in restoring what was broken. In your prayers, seek God’s restoration not only in personal areas of your life but also for a world in need of healing.

Anchor Hope in God’s Sovereignty – Declare the sovereignty When we talk about the Advent of Hope, we have to include the prophet Zechariah. Because through Him, the Lord reassured His people that although they endured suffering, a hopeful future was on the horizon. His words ring true for us as well.of God over any challenges you may face. Recognize that nothing is impossible for God. He can overcome any obstacle and rebuild what seems beyond repair.

Engage in Acts of Kindness – As you anticipate the celebration of Christ’s birth, embody the spirit of hope by engaging in acts of kindness and restoration. Reach out to those in need, demonstrating God’s love through your actions.

Read and Meditate on Scripture – Include readings from Zechariah into your daily devotions throughout Advent. Allow these verses to shape your perspective, anchoring your heart in the hope of God’s promises.

The Advent season is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with the hope and wonder of the Lord. A time of great anticipation grounded in God’s unwavering promises. May the season kindle the flame of hope within us all, guiding us to the transformative joy found in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Don’t’ forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.

💕 Lisa

The Lords Prayer

Prayer is a mystery. There are many different opinions and views on how it works, why it works, when it works, when it doesn’t work, what exactly it accomplishes, how often it should be done, etc, etc. There are many books written on prayer and many sermons preached on the topic as well.  Just as it intrigues us today, it intrigued those of the past and so it is no surprise that the disciples asked the Messiah how to pray. 

I love that Jesus answered the question about “How to pray”  by giving examples of how NOT to pray. He specifically called out the spiritual leaders of the day as being hypocritical with their showcase prayers. They were seeking the approval of man  and they were turning what was meant to be a conversation with God into elaborate, vain, wordy speeches. They were making prayer more about religion and ego than a personal relationship. They were not approaching God with humble dependence and reverence.

Jesus  gave us a profound glimpse into the beautiful connection God desires with us.   He said God already knows what we have need of and yet He encouraged us to meet with Him and to have private prayer time. So that means that God, who knows all about everything in our lives wants us to unplug from life and spend some time intimately connecting to Him.  Jesus also gave us the most recognized prayer ever prayed which is known as The Lord’s Prayer. This prayer is simple, with few words and yet it is full of much that we can meditate and reflect on and it encourages pursuit of deeper connection to God and each other. 

The Lord’s Prayer is a prayer I often use to help ground me and focus me in my quiet time because it has such simple, but important spiritual elements. 

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

• This portion of the prayer makes me reflect on the vastness of the Universe and a Creator who transcends time, space, and matter. I think of all the fine tuning of the Universe that only an incredibly intelligent designer could have put in place and how that was all done to make life possible for mankind. I am in awe of His power and reminded of how insignificant man is compared to the vastness of Creation and yet God is so interested in each of us that He wants to be “Our Father” and lovingly attends to us as “His children”. When you really think about how powerful and awesome God is, praise and wonder is a natural reaction. It’s also comforting to know that God’s Will is for what is best for mankind and even the pain, suffering and evil we know in this life will ultimately serve a purpose. 

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 

• This reminds me that God knows my needs for each day  and can provide them. I ask forgiveness for any discontent or grumblings I have which often come from trying to compare my current circumstances to others or expectations of what I think is lacking. Just as the Israelites complained about the mannah God provided in the wilderness, I don’t want to become ungrateful. I want to trust and be dependent on God to provide my needs rather than my wants. 
• I also am reminded that God forgave me when I could not measure up to His Holy standards. How can I expect forgiveness from Him and then  be unwilling to extend such grace and favor to others. God is a God who values unity and relationships. Relationships can be complicated and challenging and yet they are often His training ground for maturing us spiritually. We need His help to reflect Christ to others.

And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. 

-Sometimes it feels like a big, scary world out there.  This reminds me that no matter what is playing out on the world stage, God is still in control and I pray about His interventions and I rest in His timing and that His ultimate plans are unfolding.  I may not understand or have all of the answers to what is going on in my life or the lives of others but I know that He knows all and He is sovereign. This is where trust and obedience become  vital to our Christian walk. I pray for His help to build my faith daily. 

These are some of my reflections? What about yours? What role does prayer currently play in your Christian walk? If you don’t have personal daily prayer, then I encourage you to unplug from this world and plug in to the One who holds the world in His hands and loves you more than anyone could. 

I Call To You, Lord – Psalm 141

Psalm 141, John 17:17-19

One of the things I love most about the Psalms is the beautiful imagery David uses to express his feelings about God. And there isn’t a more glorious picture he paints then our arms raised to the sky in worship. And our prayers ascending to heaven in the cool of the evening, rising like a sweet-smelling fragrance to our Heavenly Father. David knew that prayer is a powerful tool to connect us to God. To bring about change in our lives, and to receive God’s blessings, love, grace, and guidance. But more than just the beauty and power of prayer, this Psalm also has wisdom we can apply to our daily lives.

1. Our dependence on God – Not a single second of a single day goes by where we don’t need God in our lives. We are weak and vulnerable, and apart from Him, we can do nothing. (John 15:5) And so humbly and thankfully, we need to acknowledge the Lord as Sovereign in our lives and turn to Him in times of trouble.

2. The danger of temptation – Even the strongest Christian can fall to the lure of sin. That’s why we need to be vigilant about recognizing and resisting temptation in our own lives. And when we feel the pull of sin taking hold, ask God to help us. For He will provide all we need to endure, overcome, and escape. (1 Cor. 10:13)

3. Trust in God’s justice – It’s frustrating to see the wicked prosper. But we serve a just God. (2 Thess. 1:6) And we can trust that in His perfect timing He will bring about perfect justice to punish the wicked. And one day very soon, God will ultimately set all things right and bring about a world of peace and righteousness.

The days are growing darker. And as the time hastens until the soon return of the Lord, we need now more than ever to draw near to God. To lead dedicated prayer lives, have eyes open to the evil around us, and to trust the Lord completely in times of trouble.

Pause and Reflect – 

How can I deepen my prayer life and connect more deeply with God? What are the areas of my life where I am most vulnerable to temptation, and how can I seek God’s help in resisting these temptations?

Lets pray together, 

Our dearest Father in heaven above, Ruler and Creator of all things, hallowed be Thy name. Father we come before you in humility, recognizing our need for Your help and protection. We ask that You would hear our prayers and guide us in our journey of faith. Father help us to resist temptation and to stay on the path of righteousness. Protect us from the lure of sin and help us to remain vigilant in our walk with You. Above all, Father we ask that You would draw us closer to You. And may we always turn to You in times of trouble, trusting  in Your perfect justice and mercy. In Jesus precious name we pray, Amen.

Don’t’ forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.

💖 Lisa