Hello steadfast ones in the LORD!
Psalm 112:1, 6-8 says,
- Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments (His Word). Surely he will never be shaken…(he’s settled). He will not be afraid of evil tidings (bad news); his heart (core) is STEADFAST (fixed – settled in concrete), trusting in the LORD. His heart is established.
I love the word, “STEADFAST“. It means:
- Loyal, faithful, committed, devoted, dedicated, dependable, reliable, steady, true, constant, solid, firm, determined, resolute, single-minded, unchanging, unwavering, unhesitatingly, unfaltering, unswerving, unyielding, and uncompromising.
Whoa, family! This is who YOU become when you fear the LORD and delight greatly in His Word!
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of this man who walks by faith:
- He will be blessed, fortunate, and prosperous.
- His children will be mighty and blessed on the earth.
- Wealth and riches will be in his house.
- His righteousness endures forever.
- Light arises in the darkness.
- He deals graciously and lends and is full of compassion and in right standing with God.
- He conducts his affairs with justice.
- He will never be shaken.
- He will not fear bad news.
- His heart is STEADFAST, trusting (confidently relying on and believing) in the LORD.
- He gives freely to the poor.
- His horn will be exalted in honor.
In 1 Corinthians 15:58, we are exhorted to:
- Be STEADFAST, immovable, and always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that in the LORD, our labor is not in vain.
This has always been one of my favorite scriptures. I memorized this when I first got saved at the age of 17 and can remember reciting it to a group of colleagues just before a missions trip for the summer.
There are so many amazing verses in the Bible that refer to STEADFASTNESS. James 1:12 says,
- Blessed is the man who remains STEADFAST under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.
Wow! What an amazing reward! Receiving the crown of life! Not a temporal trophy or reward, like a runner running a race, but a reward that we will receive from the LORD JESUS after persevering through temptation, trials, and persecution.
So, be encouraged if you are experiencing severe temptation, trials, or persecution because if you will persevere through them, you will receive a special blessing, honor, privilege and recognition in the future, eternal reign of JESUS.
Remember to count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds because the testing of your faith produces STEADFASTNESS. And let STEADFASTNESS have its full effect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
I exhort you with these words from Psalm 125:1,
- Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
Love from your immovable, striving to always abound in the work of the LORD sister,
Lisa Gordon
Jesus City Church