Notes on
God With Us-1
Finding God in the Valleys
Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
It is so easy to believe that God is with us when things are good.
Mark 6:47-48 When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them.
Psalm 23:1-3 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me;
God’s intention for life is that we enjoy God on the mountaintops, but in the valleys His intention is that we get to know Him intimately.
Psalm 84:5-7 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
Action Step #1: In the valley, find your strength in God.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
I Corinthians 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
We were created by our God to depend on Him and to depend on others.
"What joy for those "whose strength comes from the Lord, "who've set their minds "on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem."
Action Step #2 is to set your mind on God and the things of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Matthew 6:25, 31-33 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear…. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Peace is not the absence of strife. Peace is a spiritual quality that comes out of our spirit in the most turbulent times.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Valleys are places we pass through, we don’t stay in them.
Action Step #3: In the valley, take a step of faith until God moves in your situation.
After you have sought God’s strength, set your mind on Him, dug your well-stepped out in faith, now, is the time to wait for God to move in your situation.
Habakkuk 2:1 I will take my stand and keep watch. I will take my place on the tower. And I will keep watch to see what the Lord will say, and how I should answer when He speaks strong words to me.
When God shows up in our life, He often shows up through His people, the church.
Psalm 18:29 For by You I can run upon a troop; And by my God I can leap over a wall.
Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.
