God’s gift . . .
God, Who Called Me Here Below,
Will Be Forever Mine
I see you . . . I want you to know that if you are reading any part of this right now—I see you—I care about you—I pray for you—I even worry about you . . . Even if I don’t know you personally, I see you . . . You are worthy, loved, appreciated, and cherished because you are a child of God . . . as believers, we’re all family . . . and because you’ve taken the time to consider a closer relationship with God . . . Each one of you, all of us together, are genuinely connected, seen, understood, and named through our Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit . . . We truly belong—“God who called me here below”—because each of us has been called here on earth by our heavenly Father.
“I have called you by name. You are Mine!
Isaiah 43:1b
Those words, “I have called you by name and you are mine,” are among the most powerful in all of Scripture . . . God says, “I see you, I know you, I call you my own” . . . “God knows each of us, sees us, and calls us” . . . And that “us” includes me and it includes you (Yes, you!) . . . God has called you by NAME . . . The One who created you knows you intimately . . . He hasn't abandoned you . . . He reminds us, “I understand what you're going through because I'm right there by your side. You matter. You are mine.”
I don't know about you, but sometimes I have moments of insecurity and fear . . . What’s going on around me makes me lose hope and doubt that things will ever change . . . That's when I need to remind myself that fear is a liar and knows nothing about me. . . . But God knows us and He’s here with each of us . . . Listen to His whispers from Scripture ----
"Don't fear for I am with you.
I gave you a name and know the number of hairs on your head.
I created you with great detail.
If I went to all that trouble, why would I ever turn my back on you?"
God knows us better than we know ourselves . . . Not only did He give each of us a name, but He also took it a step further
. . . God CALLED each of us by name . . . He didn't give you a name and send you on your way—God has a call and a purpose for each of us in our lives.
INSIGHT . . .
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine.
But God, who called me here below will be forever mine.
This verse speaks of hope and belief in our eternal future . . . John Newton’s imagery is taken from Scripture, looking ahead to the day when creation is dissolved and God begins again.
“The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine” emphasizes that nothing earthly is forever . . . even the earth and sun will pass away . . . But the future holds a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness lives, created for God’s people . . . It’s here that we’ll spend eternity worshiping and enjoying God without the hint, stain, or memory of sin.
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.”
Isaiah 65:17
"But God, who called me here below” refers to God reaching out to each of us during our earthly life ("here below"), kindling an awareness of God’s grace within our hearts and souls, and drawing us toward Him away from sin or despair.
“I have called you by name. You are Mine!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
When you pass through the rivers, they will not flow over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.
The fire will not destroy you.”
Isaiah 43:1b-2
"Will be forever mine" expresses a deep, personal promise of salvation . . . It means that once God has claimed a person in His grace, that relationship is unbreakable and lasts into eternity—even when physical life ends or the physical world fades away . . . and God has claimed you and me!
Despite worldly endings, God remains . . . The earth will pass away, but God will not . . . “But God who called me here below will be forever mine.”
INVITATION—TO SPEND TIME & TALK WITH GOD . . .
God’s calling is the invitation given to all, to accept salvation in His kingdom through Jesus Christ, and then to participate in His redemptive work in the world . . . Do you believe in God’s call? . . . What do you feel God is calling you to do? . . . Pray, pray, and pray again to help you follow God’s will for your life, to figure out what He is calling to you is.
“For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power,
everything you need for living a truly good life.”
2 Peter 1:3a
~~~~~
“We know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Start with ~ Seeking God Daily
You need let go of what the world wants in order to understand what to “truly put God first” means . . . and instead, follow your heart and soul in seeking the presence of the Lord.
“Ask, and you will be given what you ask for.
Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened.
For everyone who asks, receives. Anyone who seeks, finds.
If only you will knock, the door will open.”
Matthew 7:7-8
~~~~~
“Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:32b-33
Knock on the door . . . Open your heart to welcome God’s presence . . . God is so good to you, and yet sometimes you wonder why . . . Just try . . . He is already there waiting for you.
Gather . . . the thoughts that get between you and God . . . Gather the struggles and stumbling blocks that stop you from reaching out to God and give them to Him.
List . . . your desires, your thirst for guidance, and your hopes for mercy, grace, forgiveness, and love that only God can give you
. . . Note in your mind, on paper . . . whatever works for you.
Be willing to . . . listen to His answers, trustingly follow Christ, and be assured that God already knows what you need . . . He is just waiting for you to seek and ask, so that He can open the door.
Imagine . . . holding a balloon in your hand . . . As you begin to breathe into the balloon, imagine that each breath is something you need to give to God . . . Breathe out struggles . . . breathe out worries . . . breathe out stress . . . breathe out tense muscles and a frowning forehead . . . Give each one to God . . . Now tie it off . . . They’re all in there . . . Let your shoulders relax as you begin to open your eyes to the creations of God around you . . . Feel His presence . . . Now imagine popping the balloon! . . . When you do, God is there with you to take it all, and He is there to hold you up too . . . Allow His presence to give you strength
. . . And it’s okay if it takes more than one balloon.
Reflect . . . on each day of your life with God . . . When do you talk with Him? . . . Is it daily, or only when times are rough? . . . Do you start your morning in conversation and prayer or is God an afterthought? . . . He wants to be a part of your daily life . . . God is with you, in you, and around you always . . . You just need to consciously open your eyes, your heart, your mind, and your soul to actively seek Him . . . His living presence is a gift of grace that you can take advantage of constantly.
Take this image with you . . . To find God, when you are unsure, squeeze your eyes tightly closed . . . Tilt your head down for a few seconds, take a deep breath in and then out . . . Now tilt your head upward a few seconds, then position it head straight forward and open your eyes . . . No matter what is in front of you, no matter what you are looking at, God is within your sightline . . . Trust in Him and what you see, and He will be your strength and anchor.
Going Deeper ~ Following Christ Always
Do you understand the importance of accepting Christ in your life? . . . Do you realize how that acceptance affects your development of faith and your trust in Christ throughout your life?
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower,
you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’”
Matthew 16:24
~~~~~
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children
and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1-2
Think about . . . what your life would be like if you followed a Christ-like existence . . . How would your life be different? . . . the same?
Turn away from . . . the worldliness that causes your stress and struggles, that pulls you away from the ability to focus on Christ and seek His Light.
Turn toward . . . the Light of Christ, knowing that He will lead you through the darkness . . . knowing He will provide a positive path forward in life’s journey.
Step out in faith and follow . . . Follow the path Christ creates for you, trusting Him to protect and guide you, as He leads you to the joys of living.
Imagine . . . a swinging pendulum . . . If it weren’t for air resistance and gravity it would move freely, smoothly, forever . . . The continual rotation of the earth is the catalyst of the motion . . . This represents your life on earth . . . It can flow smoothly and constantly, if it weren’t for resistance, stumbling blocks, and detour-causing influences . . . Now imagine Christ supporting you through distractions, so that you overcome the resistance with a different attitude . . . Following Christ always, welcoming Him by your side, accepting His help, forgiveness, and love will open yourself up to a more joy-filled life . . . Will it be perfect . . . no . . . but it will be a smoother, more joy filled journey.
Reflect . . . on Deuteronomy 31:6 . . . “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” . . . Remember, it’s in the midst of your struggles that Christ can help
. . . if you turn to Him, if you follow Him . . . Keep the Lord with you at all times.
Take this image with you . . . There will be times in your day that it seems it is impossible to feel Christ’s presence, let alone hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit’s guidance . . . When this happens, TURN DOWN THE NOISE! . . . Society is so “chatty” nowadays that words are actually losing their impact, their meaning . . . Be proactive, give yourself a break . . . Turn off the TV or radio, set your phone aside and ignore it, shut down the computer . . . just for a while . . . A little “break” can help you hear God again.
ILLUMINATION . . .
I like the mute button on our remote control . . . I like to mute out noise and sounds that are distracting, annoying, loud, and unnecessary to hear (and commercials) . . . The mute button—whether on a device, a social media feed, or as a metaphor for personal boundaries—is important because it gives us control over our attention, mental health, and peace.
The world is filled with noise . . . It’s actually hard to find a place for quiet reflection anymore—we’re constantly bombarded with sound—some good and some not so good.
I am an introvert (believe it or not) . . . I love people most of the time, smiling as I engage with crowds and conversation . . . But I’m refreshed and renewed in moments of solitude and silence . . . Times like this are when I find comfort and relief . . . Quiet times refuel my soul . . . especially when I can find quiet times with God.
But a lot of people are uncomfortable with silence . . . Maybe quiet intimidates some or makes them feel alone . . . Maybe the hum of a TV in the background hides an inner voice they’d prefer not to hear . . . I’m not sure why, but too many of us fill our environment with white noise of a sort, and avoid silence as if it were the plague . . . I wonder if we’ve filled our heads with so much information, news, opinions of others, and stuff that we’ve forgotten how to reflect, meditate, and think on our own.
You know, being silent doesn’t mean you have nothing to say . . . The absence of sound means the absence of distraction . . . In silence, we can think clearly, calm our nerves, organize thoughts and emotions, find our inner voice, and hear God better . . . Silence has its purposes, if we can learn to embrace it.
So, here’s my challenge . . . hit the mute button—often! . . . Find a place and time to quiet your heart, mind, and soul every day . . . And if your life is crazy-busy, get up early and invest in at least the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee or tea alone before the craziness begins.
I’m grateful for modern technology . . . I use it . . . I like it . . . But I refuse to let it rob me of what I need most—moments alone—quiet time to ponder, contemplate, ruminate, and listen.
How about you? . . . Introvert or not, every one of us needs daily downtime to maintain our sanity . . . Don’t wait for it to happen—Make it happen . . . Don’t be afraid to hit the mute button.
INSPIRATION—PRAYING THROUGH MUSIC . . .
Music can change or strengthen the mood we are in . . .
it can relax, transport us to a different time and place,
energize us, be an outlet to help express or deal with difficult emotions . . .
It can provide a sense of awe and wonder, be inspiring and uplifting
and truly helpful to our mental wellbeing.
I encourage you to take time to listen to any or all the songs below . . . there is no right or wrong style of music—it is what speaks to you . . . listen to the melody and the lyrics and feel the response of your heart to what God wants you to hear . . . and I do understand that music doesn’t speak to everyone . . . and that is okay too.
♪♬♪ Current . . . Good God Almighty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUYBZI5wd0w&list=RDoUYBZI5wd0w&start_radio=1
♪♬♪ Praise & Worship . . . O Come to the Altar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCpVJ4hUO6s&list=RDxCpVJ4hUO6s&start_radio=1
♪♬♪ Traditional . . . Amazing Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD1nsacz_bs&list=RDAD1nsacz_bs&start_radio=1
INTO EACH DAY AHEAD . . .
“Amazing Grace” is not just a hymn—it’s a story of brokenness transformed by God’s divine mercy . . . Whether we’re singing it in worship, learning it on guitar or piano, or just reflecting on its powerful lyrics, it reminds us of a grace that is undeserved, yet freely given . . . Its message of hope, redemption, and eternal love continues to speak to every generation.
God tells us today and every day, “I see you. I know you. I love you. You are mine” . . . God sees us truly as we are, warts, sins, fears, and doubts included . . . But this should give us strength and hope when we find ourselves feeling invisible and lost in the world, when we are caught up in circumstances beyond our control . . . Always remember, your Father in heaven, has called you by name as you live on this earth—and you will be His throughout eternity because you heard Him and believed.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine.
But God, who called me here below will be forever mine.
Heavenly Father, You have called each of us by name because we are Yours.
Thank you for knowing us, loving us, and caring for us.
Help us remember that fear is a liar,
and that our trust and hope throughout our lives and into eternity
is only secure when we believe in You.
In Jesus’s name—AMEN
“A Journey Through Amazing Grace” © 2020 by Debra L. Parcel
“Amazing Grace” is a Public Domain Christian hymn published in 1779, with words
written in 1772 by English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton (1725–1807)
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Prayer Paths (written by Dr. Debbie Parcel)
is a weekly email letter designed to “fuel”
your active prayer life, help you stay engaged in
focused prayer, and encourage a
growing relationship with our Triune God.
To receive Prayer Paths by email each week—send a request,
with your name and email,
to BarnabasRoad2025@gmail.com
(Prayer Paths is offered through Barnabas Road Ministries)