We Are His

On May 6, 2025May 4, 2025 By vickleaIn promises, Scripture4 Comments

Do Not Fear (YouVersion, Daily Refresh, 05-04-25)

In Isaiah 43:1, God speaks to His people with a message of hope and encouragement:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

These words are not just a reassurance—they are a reminder of who we are, and whose we are.

God is both our Creator and Redeemer. He is the one who formed us, knitting us together in our mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), and He is the one who redeemed us, bringing us back into relationship with Himself through Jesus.

We can rest in peace and confidence knowing are not forgotten or abandoned, but intimately known and cared for by the God of the universe.

When God says, “Do not fear,” He is not ignoring the challenges you face. He is acknowledging the reality of fear and offering comfort in His presence. Fear often arises from feeling alone or uncertain, but God’s promise is clear: He has called us by name, and we belong to Him. We are His, no matter what we face.

Whether you are walking through a season of uncertainty, facing personal challenges, or carrying burdens that weigh heavy on your heart, this verse invites you to rest in the truth that you are redeemed, known, and loved.

God’s call on your life is unshakeable. Today, stand in that assurance and walk forward with courage, knowing you are never alone and always held in His loving care.

My Thoughts

What a great follow up devotional from the previous one about worrying! My greatest takeaway is that God doesn’t say there is no fear. He acknowledges that fear exists, it’s real, but we can overcome it by realizing that He knows who we are and what we fear. We can be courageous in whatever we face because we don’t face anything alone.

As we prepare for our long trip, I am thankful that God continues to reach out to me with assurance that no matter what happens, He will be there. I am not confident in my body being strong or our car being reliable. But I am confident that God is able and He will love me through this adventure that has me tied up in knots. I am trying to focus on positives, the pleasure of seeing grandchildren graduate and visiting with family. I am working on thinking on the good things just as God encourages me to do in His Word. I appreciate your prayers as I fight this battle with my mind.

May God bless and keep you.

Be Courageous

On March 8, 2024 By vickleaIn Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

I have to confess that I have not been feeling very courageous lately. In fact, I have been more like a coward after hearing the word cancer spoken about my beloved grandson. I have feared the future for him, the suffering he must go through and just the general fear of such a diagnosis. But God has been speaking words of comfort all week and today, this devotional spoke courage right into my spirit. I have told myself and you many times that God is in control, but when my faith is tested, I backed away from that strong belief. God is drawing me back into the place where I belong. He knows my doubts and fears and He is right there with me. He is right there with our grandson, answering his questions and doubts. It is easy to believe in God when all is going along just as we expect, with no big issues or problems. The hard part comes when there is a challenge to our faith. Satan uses these challenges to test our faith, to see if we can be pulled over to his side. Remember that Job’s wife told him just to curse God and die. Basically, she was telling him that there was no more reason to believe in God any more as much as he was suffering. However, the opposite is true. When the suffering, testing, and challenges to our faith come, that is when we cling tighter to God and He moves closer to us. The courage comes not from within me, but from knowing that God is on my side and He is working on the problem even as I go about my daily routine. God hasn’t forgotten Isaac; He is more beloved of God than he is of me and my husband. God has the situation under His control, so we can courageously say that it will be okay because God is with him and with us.

God is with You

Throughout the Bible, there are various moments where God tells someone to not be afraid. Each one comes at a time when the hearer has every reason to be very afraid.

In one instance, Joshua, the leader of Israel after the death of Moses, was taking the Israelites to their promised land (see: Exodus 3). He was leading over one million people to a place God had promised, and it meant going through some overwhelming and terrifying situations.

In the midst of this, God commanded Joshua to do two things:

Obey the Word of God and, be strong and courageous because the Lord was with them. (See: Joshua 1:7-9)

In Matthew 28, Jesus says something similar just after His resurrection. He is with His eleven disciples and He tells them:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV (Emphasis added)

Jesus tells His disciples two main things:

– Obey His word (“go into all nations and make disciples”) and, He would be with them.

– God is always the same. He was the same God when He gave Joshua His word and the assurance of His presence, and He is the same God who gives us His Word and assures us of His presence. We are known, loved, and cared for by the faithful, consistent God—and He will never leave or abandon us.

Today, reflect on the ways you can teach others about Jesus and His words. How does His Word and His presence make you strong and courageous? Before leaving this time, thank God for His promise to always be with you.

With Us

On June 1, 2023May 31, 2023 By vickleaIn Scripture, Song2 Comments

When Jesus ascended to Heaven, He reminded the disciples that He would always be with them. He continues to remind us of that today, but we have to take the time to be with Him.

Jesus only spoke of two commandments and both were about love. Love God and love your neighbor. He is with us as we fulfill those commandments and as we spend time with Him seeking the ways we should be showing love to God and to others.

I think that my alone time with God, reading His Word, praying and singing, is the most important part of my day. It sets the tone for the day and allows me to speak freely to God as I go through whatever challenges the day may present. Jesus, God’s own Son, spent time praying to His Father. Following His example, we should feel compelled to spend time with the Lord, not just telling Him our problems, but listening for His solutions and encouragement. Ok;.;.;.;

In the Garden-Alan Jackson