Reflections on God's Word

by Victoria Robinson

In the beginning … ahhh those famous first words recorded in the book of Genesis. Beginnings so often start with a sense of great hope and wonderment. This was the fresh starts of all fresh starts. A blank canvas with limitless possibilities. Girlfriends, don’t you just love a fresh start? A chance to begin anew with no past mistakes. There are times when we just need to start over.

Spiritually speaking, a new beginning is found in the book of John. That new beginning is found in putting our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The apostle Paul spoke of this transforming faith in the book of Titus. he said, “… a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time …” Acknowledging that a new life is only possible through Jesus Christ is the only way to have a fresh start. In fact, Jesus said to a man named Nicodemus, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Born again—let’s start over! If this is your desire, click on this Heaven link and learn more. Heaven

If you already have a relationship with Jesus Christ then you surely know what a wonderful feeling it is to be able to “wipe the slate clean” and start over. King David came to a place in his life when he desperately needed to start over. Troubles surrounded him due to his disintegration into a sinful life. The enemy of his soul had enticed him to indulge in lustfully gazing upon a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. This led to sleeping with her apart from marriage as set forth in the Word of God. Once it becomes known to him that Bathsheba is pregnant, we see the actions of a desperate man. So panicked by his circumstances that he engaged in a murderous plot to kill Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah. If ever a person needed to start over it was King David.

The good news is David repented and turned his heart back to the Lord. David’s fresh start resulted in the Lord speaking these kind words about him after his departure from this world, “… walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness …”

King David whose life was ravaged by his sinful choices, but who got a fresh start from the heavenly Father, has been memorialized by the Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus.  He wrote, “David was truly a man after God’s own heart.”

This is an encouraging story when we reach a point in our life where we need a new beginning. If that is where you are today, then praying the very words King David prayed after he repented are appropriate. In the book of Psalms David wrote, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”

Near the end of Lamentations, a book of poetry written to lament the destruction of Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah makes a plea to the Lord. He says, “Bring us back to you! Give us a fresh start.” What a wonderful way to cry out to the Lord when we have a remorseful heart and want to start over!

Dearest girlfriends, let us turn our hearts towards our heavenly Father and receive a new beginning.

by Victoria Robinson

The storms of your life come with clouds. The prophet Nahum said, “His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.” The Lord is there in the midst of your storm clouds.

The Word of God is filled with instances where the Lord is present in clouds. When we are enduring the storm clouds of life it is important to recognize His presence. Girlfriends, He is right there to bring you safely through whatever troubles you are experiencing. Trust in Him when the clouds are so dense you cannot see what your future holds. Nahum goes on to say, “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him …”

Dearest girlfriends, let us trust in His presence during the storms of life.

by Victoria Robinson

There once was a man named Jacob who had total assurance that God was his constant companion throughout his life. Sounds so comforting to think of his thoughts recorded in the book of Genesis, “… God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone.” God had assured him earlier in his life that, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go …”

The psalmist also proclaimed great hope that the Lord would never abandon him. Girlfriends, rejoice in the fact we have that same hope. Whatever you may be dealing with in your life today, rest assured God is with you at all times and will never leave your side.

Dearest girlfriends, let us be strong and courageous allowing the words of God to comfort us in knowing He is with us wherever we go.

by Victoria Robinson

The idea of being enraptured in the presence of our heavenly Father is comforting beyond any other comfort I could imagine. Think about this for a moment girlfriends. There is the yummy warmth of comfort food. The comfort of shopping for jewelry, and purses, and shoes … oh my! The comforting love of best friends. And of course, the sweet indulgent comfort of chocolate! Yet all these pale in comparison to the comfort of the presence of our Lord.

Dearest girlfriends, whenever you are facing difficulties in your life, allow yourself the wonderful indulgence of being comforted by the presence of your heavenly Father.

Your goodness is so great! You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you. You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world. You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues. ~ Psalm 31:19-20 NLT

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. ~ Psalm 89:15 NIV