Scriptures of Encouragement ~ Shackled

True story.

Blonde, curly tendrils hung low over her piercing blue eyes. She wanted to hide, to run away from the despair threatening to consume her spirit. Her young faith clung to the Truth that God would never leave her nor forsake her - that He, alone, is the constant in her rapidly changing world.

But could she hang on or would she simply let go of her dreams and watch them slowly drift away from her grasp?

The Israelites encountered something similar.

In Exodus 6:7 & 8, the Lord is speaking, "I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord."

Promises. Sweet, sweet promises for the child of God. Promises we can stake our life on. 

But look at verse 9:
"Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their DISCOURAGEMENT and cruel bondage."

The Israelites were blinded to the goodness of God because of their very real and justified discouragement.

Life comes at us hard, rocking our world with confusion, anxiety, and fear. Discouragement sets in - if we let it - if we allow it to whisper failure and despair into our weary souls. Yes, discouragement will set in. You can bank on it. 

But the promises of God do not submit themselves to discouragement. He changes not. His love is from everlasting to everlasting. His hand is upon His child - the sheltering shadow of His Presence a lasting place of refuge.

My friend  made her choice. With every ounce of determination she could muster, she fell to her knees and cried out, "Lord! Lord...help me. I choose You Jesus. You are my Rock, my constant. I choose You. I belong to You...You are mine."

Her circumstances did not change, but she changed in the midst of her circumstances. Hope flowed through her and opened her eyes to see God in her midst. Inexplicable peace settled upon her, wrestling the fear to the pits from which it came. Her thoughts became filled with things worthy of praise - good things, things of good report. And her feet, once shackled by chains of discouragement now danced free.

All because she fell to her knees.




Father God, We belong to You...YOU! The Creator of the Universe, the Maker of heaven and earth! That reality is beyond our comprehension. Lord, open our hearts to know and take hold of this Truth, this promise. Thank You for loving us so very much. Grant us understanding of Your sovereignty in our lives and, through this knowledge, obtain Your perfect peace. In all things. In all ways. Fully. Create in us a clean heart God. Restore unto us the joy of our salvation. Renew a right spirit within us and fill us to overflowing with Your love and joy. Thank You, Lord. We love you.
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If you received Morning Glory via email, please - you really MUST - visit the Morning Glory page. I found a music video by Jonathan David Helser titled, "Abba". From what I can gather, this song was a spontaneous moment of worship that occurred during a recording session. You will be SO blessed by this. I know you will experience God's sweet Presence as you listen. I love you my precious readers. God be with you...