comfort

today’s prayer

Posted on by Grace Day

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

Lord, the world is full of crushed and broken people, people left full of empty spaces after tragedy comes like the thief in the night, robbing them of their loved ones, robbing them of their peace and of their joy – leaving them with gaping holes in their hearts and in their lives – spaces that need to be filled – spaces that only You are able to fill.

There are many in Texas right now in desperate need of You, Heavenly Father. Their hearts have been broken wide open and their spirits crushed by the loss of their loved ones who were swept away by the flood waters which most certainly came as the thief in the night, leaving behind destruction, devastation – raw pain, open wounds – everything laid bare – all the cracks and holes in our hearts and our souls exposed for all to see.

Who will enter in to such overwhelming grief and sorrow? You, Heavenly Father, have said that You will enter in and that You will stay with us through whatever we encounter. We have Your promise –

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Lord, I pray that Your Presence enter in and fill all the empty spaces, all the open wounds, fill every crack and crevice currently filled with pain, with Your comfort and hope and love – You alone must fill these spaces if the people are to continue on after so great a loss. Please be the Lifter of every head, the Healer of every broken heart and the Mender of every crushed spirit. Lord Jesus, may those suffering loss know that You truly experience and carry their pain right now in these unbearable moments and days. We know You do because Isaiah said this about You –

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. . . . Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3-5)

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:19)

Lord Jesus, You Yourself are described as a man of sorrows. You know what it is to grieve and You too, have been crushed in spirit. We know You cried when Lazarus died, even though You knew You were going to bring him back to life in just a few moments. Yet still, You cried. You understand our grief. And You grieve right along with us.

Let Your Presence fill, sustain and protect all those left wounded and defenseless in the wake of the floods. Let them remember the promise of Your words –

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. . . . For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:10 & 13)

Lord, those who are grieving need Your help now as never before. May they experience today this reality, described in Your Living Word –

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Heavenly Father, enter in to all these shattered lives, fill all the empty spaces with Your restoring, redeeming, life-giving Presence which “fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:23) Be mighty to save. Quiet their mourning spirits with the infinite, unfailing love You have for each one of us. May they know with assurance that just as “not a sparrow falls to the ground without Your knowing it” – You hold in Your hands each one that the flood waters took from our hands. As they grieve, may it not be as those without hope – BUT –

“May the God of hope fill them with all joy and peace as they trust in You, Lord, so that they may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Lord God, let Your love, stronger and deeper than any flood waters, surround those who are mourning, let Your love fill all their empty spaces, may Your love sustain them and carry them. Heavenly Father, we pray for all impacted by this flood, the same thing the apostle Paul prayed so many centuries ago,

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19)

Heavenly Father, heal every hole in every heart, create a new spirit in the crushed and fill every empty space with Your abiding love.

sincerely, Grace Day

the joy of comfort

Posted on by Grace Day

Do you ever get tired of living life with a broken heart? I know I do. I walk into this New Year wounded, desperately desiring comfort. Comfort sustains, though it does not heal. Fortunately for me, my Heavenly Father is the God of all comfort. Paul mentions this in his letter to the church in Corinth, saying –

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

Paul also explains further, saying –

“For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” (2 Corinthians 1:5)

That’s what I crave these days – overflowing comfort. Maybe that’s why I picked “comfort” as one of my words for this year? Paul says that God “comforts me in all my troubles.” That promise in God’s word is in itself comforting to me. God’s abiding Presence provides me with comfort despite what my current circumstances might be. Kind David acknowledged as much when he said,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

I too often find myself walking through things and in places I would not choose. During these times, my path is not a comfortable one. On the contrary, it is difficult, scary, painful and even dangerous – kind of like the valley of the shadow of death that David was traveling through in Psalm 23. It is during these parts of my journey that God’s Presence gives me the comfort I need to sustain me. God’s comfort allows me to hope and to have courage, which enables me to keep going even in tough times.

Comfort comes in many ways. During these current days of sub-zero weather, I find comfort in a warm blanket and a cup of hot tea. While my physical comfort can be addressed by adjusting the thermostat or wearing warmer clothes, my emotional and spiritual comfort require something more than comfortable shoes or comfort food. The embrace of a friend, the companionship of kindred spirits, kind words, encouraging words – all these provide much needed comfort when my heart hurts and my spirit sinks beneath the burdens of the day. I think Solomon agrees with me that words can provide much needed comfort because he said this –

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” (Proverbs 12:25)

“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word!” (Proverbs 15:23)

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” (Proverbs 16:24)

God has promised His comfort to me and to you, dear readers, and actually to anyone who desires it. God stands ready to comfort those He has created.

“The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.” (Psalm 145:9)

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

My Heavenly Father’s Presence is my comfort. And I have His comfort twenty-four/seven because He has said –

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews13:5)

Jesus promised His disciples this before He left them –

“But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” (John 14:26 ASV)

The Holy Spirit is referred to by many different names, including the Helper, the Counselor, the Spirit of truth, and also as the Comforter. I feel like “the Comforter” is an especially apt name for the Holy Spirit because God’s abiding Presence with me certainly does bring me His comfort as I face whatever uncertainties, fears, hurts and losses the day brings my way. It is God’s comfort that sustains me, bandages me up and sends me back out again into the world to do whatever He has called me to do on any particular day.

My Heavenly Father’s comfort is the cloak I wear, the cloak I wrap myself in as I head out into a less than kind world each day. God’s comfort revives my hurting heart and brings me joy in my journey. His promises give me comfort, promises such as this one –

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

What is more comforting than a lullaby sung to an anxious child in need of soothing? Our parents did that for us, we sang over our children – and our Heavenly Father has been singing over us, watching over us, walking with us, ever since He created us in His image. He truly is the God of all comfort, which is good because I seem to be constantly in need of comfort!

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for the comfort of Your constant Presence walking with me in this world. Your comfort gives me joy in the middle of the hurt, loss, fear, pain and suffering that I inevitably experience in this life. Your comfort sustains me in all my trials and circumstances. I have Your promise!

“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1)

“Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts His people and will have compassion on His afflicted ones.” (Isaiah 49:13)

thank You, Lord, for the joy of Your comfort –

sincerely, Grace Day

post Advent ponderings continue

Posted on by Grace Day

“Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy! Oh tidings of comfort and joy.” You would think I would be done with Christmas carols by now. The radio has stopped playing any Christmas music, of course, and we are no longer singing carols at church. But “tidings of comfort and joy” continues to echo in my mind even after all my Christmas decorations are packed away, out of sight and out of mind for another year. Still, the words “comfort and joy” persist, remaining with me.

Maybe they should be my new words of the year? I don’t think there’s a rule stating I can only have one word per year, is there? My word for the year has been “hope” for at least the last three years running. Perhaps I have been holding onto “hope” for too long at this point? Pun intended, although I don’t ever want to give up hope, whether figuratively, by choosing a different word, or literally.

However, I am intrigued by the combination of the words “comfort and joy.” I don’t usually think of these two words as going together. Still, the more I think about them – the more I realize how much I long for each of these two things in my life – comfort and joy. I need them both. I would welcome more of each into my life. The reasons for this are self-explanatory. Life can be hard and painful, we all need comfort to sustain us during times of loss and sadness. And joy – who doesn’t want more joy in their life? Moments of joy may be few and fleeting, but I cherish them and crave more of them in my life, as you probably do also.

Why are the words “tidings of comfort and joy” in a Christmas carol? Perhaps because the news of Christ’s birth is a tiding that brings both comfort and joy to all mankind. The angels said as much to the shepherds when they announced Jesus’s birth –

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.’ ” (Luke 2:10-11)

The news of Jesus’s birth was cause for joy – great joy. I read this in Matthew about how the Magi received the news of Jesus’s birth –

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.” (Matthew 2:10)

The Magi were overjoyed to see the star because the star would lead them to the child, the King, the Savior that they were earnestly seeking. And it did just that!

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

Jesus’s birth was definitely an occasion that brought much joy to everyone. The word “joy” was prominent on some of the Christmas cards I received this year. I also received a Christmas gift that was the word “joy” in handcrafted letters strung together, ready to hang on a tree or otherwise display. And another Christmas gift I received was a decoration with the words “wishing you peace, comfort and joy.” I have been sensing a theme. BUT –

so much of daily life, of my current circumstances and situations, is painful, that it seems difficult if not impossible for joy to breakthrough, let alone to enter in with the intent to abide. But Jesus is joy. His arrival brings joy. Jesus came to abide. Joy is here to stay!

Even so, I am still in need of comfort on a daily basis. In fact, I crave comfort. Fortunately, Jesus’s arrival brings me comfort as well as joy. Isaiah talked about this when he said –

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, . . . And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:1-2 & 5)

Jesus’s birth brought great comfort to all those who had been waiting long for God’s promised Deliverer, Messiah, Savior and King. This is particularly true for Simeon, who took much comfort and joy in seeing for himself the newborn Savior, Jesus. We read Simeon’s story in Matthew –

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.’ ” (Luke 2:25-32)

“the consolation of Israel” aka, the comfort of Israel, what God promised Simeon he would see for himself before he died, had arrived! Jesus had been born and Simeon had the joy and the comfort of beholding God’s salvation with his own eyes right there in the temple courts. Jesus’s birth not only brought Simeon comfort and joy, (he said he could now die in peace) but Jesus’s birth was also to bring comfort and joy to Israel and eventually to all who would believe on His name.

Surely, the news of Jesus’s birth, or the “tidings” were indeed tidings of both comfort and of joy to all who, like Simeon, had waited with longing for God to make good on His promise to send them a Savior who would rescue all people from the death sentence their own sin had brought them. What joy to have my death sentence lifted! What comfort to know I am forgiven and loved unconditionally! The message of Christmas, therefore, is one of both comfort and joy – two things I definitely desire.

I have found that knowing Jesus and walking with Him, brings me both comfort and joy on a daily basis. These are two priceless gifts His Presence bestows that I never want to take for granted. So I think I will choose “comfort” and “joy” as my words for this New Year. I will be thankful for all the ways His Presence comforts me in my troubles and for all the moments of joy I experience in His Presence.

I pray for each of you, too, dear readers, that 2025 will bring you many moments of comfort and of joy as you not only hear the tidings of this good news that the Savior has come, BUT you actually experience for yourself His Presence as you walk with Him into this New Year. (previous post -“walking into the New Year”)

“You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)

“I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

may God give you each His comfort and His joy in this New Year –

sincerely, Grace Day

He is everything

Posted on by Grace Day

He is the lifter of my head.

“But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (Psalm 3:3)

He is the holder of my hand.

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand.” (Isaiah 42:6)

He is the bearer of my burdens.

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:19)

He is the collector, the counter and the keeper of all my tears.

“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.” (Psalm 56:8 NLT)

He is the watcher of my ways.

“the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:8)

He is the fixer of my feast.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” (Psalm 23:5)

He is my light in the darkness of this world.

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

“You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.” (Psalm 18:28)

He is the forgiver of my sins and my healer.

“If we (I) confess our (my) sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us (me) our (my) sins and purify us (me) from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, . . . who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,” (Psalm 103:2-3)

He is the ordainer of my days.

“All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)

He is my shelter in the storm.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. . . . He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:1 & 4)

He is my rescuer in times of trouble.

“”I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” (Psalm 40:1-2)

He is my provider.

“The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:15-16)

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

He is my protector.

“You hem me in – behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.” (Psalm 139:5)

“You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7)

He sings me to sleep at night.

“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

He leads me in the right direction.

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8)

“He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:2-3)

He comforts me in my sorrow.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

He is my one constant in this ever changing world.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

He is the One who loves me no matter what.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

“for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

My Heavenly Father is all these things to me and so much more – He truly is everything to me.

“For in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

sincerely, Grace Day