I'm so grateful to be a part of the Word Art Wednesday design team and stand beside these fabulous artist every week while we proclaim God's Word together. What an honor and privilege! This week is near and dear to my heart, since Daydream Designs is a sponsor for our challenge!
Christians are preparing for the coming of the Lord! That's exciting. We are so often painted as doomsday radicals when we speak of end times. But God's Word helps prepare believers for the absolute inevitability of Christ's return giving us all the information we need to have to be prepared. The lack of dates and times builds our faith, and secures God's sovereignty. No man know that time it will happen (Matthew 24:36), but scripture is full of signs of Christ's return and we are seeing the signs with increasing clarity.
How could we possible prepare for such an amazing, unalterable event? James 5:8 explains that we establish our hearts. The New International version says, "You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near." And the New American Standard version (the most accurate word-for-word translation) says, "You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near." To prepare for the Lord's coming we must:
- establish our hearts
- stand firm
- strengthen our hearts
To establish the heart is to anchor it to the right foundation. When our hearts are built on the principles of God's Word we will not be tossed to and fro by the changing tides of our society. Our priorities line up with God's will, our spirit is in harmony with God's Spirit and our lives will honor and please God. When we understand that Christ could return at any moment, our hearts must be well established for Him to find us faithful, serving and being devoted to Him alone.
Everything happening in our culture today could knock believers off balance if it weren't for the Solid Rock upon which we stand. Because of what God has promised in His Word, we can stand firm. The Gospel of Christ is our cornerstone, and upon His life, death and resurrection we build our own lives and we stand on a firm foundation.
I know of few other activities that strengthens the heart more than spending time in prayer and meditating on God's Word. The time I spend in God's presence always serves to strengthen me. Even when I don't find a specific, time-related answer, I never leave my time with Him empty handed or frail of heart. I come away from my study/prayer time strengthened and reassured that God is in control and He will take care of my current circumstances and my future.
Christ is coming! I anticipate that reality with more eagerness now than ever before. It's a consistent prayer of mine. But we also must be patient as God gathers the harvest of believers. Patience is difficult as we watch the increase of evil in our time. But our ancient foe is in the death throes and his destruction is in panic mode. We need not respond in panic; we can stand firm on the rock of our salvation, and know that our Sovereign God holds all circumstances in His hand.
Please join us at Word Art Wednesday to bring your talent to our gallery of participants' creative inspirations.
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