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Writer's pictureDeborah

Mighty

Series: Renewal



Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

Psalm 100:3 ESV


I grew up in a age when television was just gaining popularity on market.


When I was three years old the television screen was so tiny (even though the television itself was big) my older brother and I would huddle up and sit as close as we could get to the screen.


I remember my Mother frequently and emphatically telling us to “scoot back so we won’t get radiated” by the television.


We would temporarily scoot back just long enough for Mother to get busy again and we would slowly inch forward so we could see the screen.


From my part, I was ALL about watching every move the mouse made!  My mouse hero was not the first mouse to appear on the big screen, and he didn’t have a long run, but he was my hero!


I loved it that there was a Super Hero (long before the days of mass super heroes) who was small.


Not only was I always one of the youngest children in my class, I was ALWAYS and forever the smallest, even in high school when everyone else still seemed to be growing (long after I stopped in 7th Grade). No one told me I didn’t stand a chance of catching up anyway.


The absolutely tallest woman in my family growing up was 5’ 2” tall. I maxed out at 4’11” tall.


BUT…because of the mouse, I have pretty much always believed I may be really small but I am still really mighty.


I was also raised to believe that my God is a mighty God who can do anything.


I knew even when I was young that my God can do anything.


Zephaniah 3:17 is one of my all time favorite verses because it says:

“The Lord your God is in your midst,    a mighty one who will save;he will rejoice over you with gladness;    he will quiet you by his love;he will exult over you with loud singing.”


Zephaniah’s words to the people of God are a perfect reminder of how God feels about us. We are His sheep. Psalm 100:3 tells us, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”


Zephaniah reminds us that God is in our midst. God did not create us and abandon us. We may from time to time be so distraught and filled with intense pain that we do not feel like God is with us, but even when we cannot feel God we are not alone. By turning to God (even just once) we can remember our connection to God. Our own memory of our connection with God serves as our reminder of God in us.


God will save. There are also times when we do not feel like we are saved and we are safe in the arms of God. By turning to God and asking the Spirit to show us we belong to God we initiate a request God will most certainly (and quickly) answer. We can ask God to speak, act, exhibit or highlight the care God has for us. Ask and wait. God will show up.


God will rejoice over YOU with gladness. Even though we may be amazed that God rejoices over us, we must remember we are God’s children. All who choose God are children of God. We choose. Once we choose who we belong to we become the sheep of God’s pasture. God rejoices over our choice to love and be loved!


God will quiet you by His love. So, what does it “look like” to be quieted by God’s love? It’s simple but difficult. By sitting still with God in the silence of God we experience the quiet stillness of our creator. We must turn out the world to experience it. Turn off the sound. God is in the silence. Sitting in silence can be difficult for some because it’s counter-cultural. We have to let go of everything we know from this world in order to experience the stillness of God’s love. It’s difficult to explain what that will look like for every person because it’s different for every person. God’s love for you is yours. Another person can tell you what they experienced, but they cannot tell you what you will experience. Just know that God’s love for you is unique and customized for you. God loves you for who you are…who God created you to BE.


God will exult over you with loud singing. The prophet was telling the people of God (Tribe of Judah) that God delights in His people. When we accept the light of God from the Son we choose to be the people of God.


We choose.


We choose to be children of God.


The prophet’s words are a personal reminder that God loves His children…His people and God rejoices over us.


That is difficult for some to comprehend and accept.


It’s not something we can personally explain for another person. We can give witness of our relationship with God and how God spoke to us, but we cannot predict or tell how God will speak to others. Each person is precious and unique to God.


Each child matters. God is mighty to save.


Zephaniah’s words bring us great joy today. It’s a perfect example of what the people of God mean to God!


Spiritual Practice: Sit With


Sit in the silence and ask God to show you love.


In God, Deborah

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