Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning. Psalm 30:5b
In Oswald Chambers devotional "My Utmost for His Highest" he makes several statements that God used to bring me conviction and peace this morning. "Once you have right relationship with God through salvation and sanctification, remember that whatever your circumstances may be, you have been placed in them by God. And God uses the reaction of your life to your circumstances to fulfill His purpose, as long as you continue to 'walk in the light as He is in the light' (1 John 1:7)"
Anyone who knows me knows I have been floundering for quite some time. Battling with emotions and dealing with depression in ways that I never knew possible. Truthfully, I have spent a great deal of time being disappointed in myself and "the reaction of" my life to my "circumstances". I still am.
I spent many years trying to be all that I thought a "good" daughter, wife, mother, homeschool mom, staff wife and friend should be and all of that under the umbrella of being a "good" Christian. All the while I have sought the Lord to the best of my ability and yet I spent an exorbitant amount of time trying to be what I thought fit the mold of "godly" and not only just according to what the Word says, but what I thought others expected. One of the biggest challenges has been my own tendency toward perfectionism and realizing that I can never measure up and being devastated that I disappoint. I know what I am supposed to think, supposed to do, supposed to be and yet I haven't accepted the truth as often as I should to live victory in Christ, that of course, I don't measure up, no one does. Yet, because of Jesus, God loves me and because of His righteousness I "measure up."
I have not handled the changes in life with grace as often as I wish I had, instead I have been angry, disappointed, hurt and grieved beyond measure. I question God as to why He has me in this place and in His mercy, grace and forgiveness He just holds me and tells me to cease striving, stop fighting, be still and know that He is God - Psalm 46:10. And yet apparently fighting and striving are what I do best - ha! So He has had His work cut out for Him to truly teach me this. I am on this Journey His Way and I am learning ever so slowly, but oh so gratefully, that He is faithful and that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. I hold on to the fact that joy will come in the morning!
We all struggle in some way, shape or form, but we can hold on to the Truth of His Word and of Who He Is!!!
I am determined that I will trust God because I know He will give me the strength to do so. He has me and He is fully aware of my shortcomings, of my circumstances and my desire to overcome. I want to truly learn to rest in Him and be one of those "who believes in Him, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within" (John 7:38). And as a godly woman I once heard teach shared, His Living Water will then fill me to overflowing and splash out all over those I come in contact with. I don't have to see it to trust that God will do this work in me if I chose to walk in the light as He is in the light and trust that I am right where He wants me to be.
He will do the same for you, my friend. Trust Him where you are...
Father God, You know the plans You have for me, plans for good and not harm, plans for my future and a hope. You know exactly why You have me right where I am today. Forgive me for doubting You and for not believing that You have everything under control. Please Lord, may You increase and enable me decrease. Forgive me for so often getting in Your way with my own ideas, plans and my emotions particularly. Thank You for teaching me that it is okay to grieve and it is okay to be disappointed. Thank You for reminding me that You never change and that my effectiveness for You is not the main thing but that my heart for You is. I can trust You to make me as effective as You want me to be. Give me ears to hear You and the strength to obey. Thank You for the depression (though I still ask that You remove it) because it is that thing that You use to keep bringing my eyes back to You. I trust that there is joy in the morning because I know You are there just as You are in times of weeping. May I not wait for the joy or for it to look like or feel like I think it should but to be careful to praise You and thank You for what is right now. Thank You for holding me, Father. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
THIS I KNOW, GOD IS FOR ME
Psalm 56:8-13
(8) You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records? (9) Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me. (10) In God, whose Word I praise, in the LORD, whose Word I praise, (11) in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (12) I am obligated by vows to You, God; I will make my thank offering to You. (13) For You delivered me from death, even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life.
My deepest desire in life is to do this journey called life God's way. And yet I fall so far short so often that I get discouraged or I begin to question many things concerning my part in the journey. I trust God is doing His part and yet I spend much time not resting in the knowledge that He has me and that He will always have me that I guess the truth is I have trust issues with Him after all. I don't want to. And I don't want to be completely honest here and say that I struggle more than I don't, but there you have it.
Anyway, I am intrigued by these verses this morning. God, Himself, has recorded my wanderings - He knows everything after all. I find much comfort in this today. He understands who I am and what makes me the way I am. He created me after all and though I often take matters "into my own hands" so to speak, He is still in control. He still knows. Thank You, God! Thank You for understanding why I do what I do and for refusing to leave me there and for loving me regardless.
He has put my tears in His bottle?! Wow. A really big bottle ;) Seriously, though, this gives me so much comfort as I ponder it. He cares that deeply and knows me that intimately that He keeps up with my tears. What a mighty, loving, wonderful God I serve!! Thank You, God!! Help me to understand Your infinite love for me.
My enemy and yours is Satan, not the people around us (Ephesians 6:12). He must retreat when I submit to (call on) God (James 4:7). How do I know? Because God says so and He is for me!!! Thank You, God!!! May I do my part in submitting to You so that You can do Your part in making the devil flee.
Do you see it? Will you declare it with me? THIS I KNOW, GOD IS FOR ME!!!
Look further with me: In God (Elohim - The God) whose Word I praise. In the LORD (Jehovah - The Existing One) whose Word I praise...what? I trust... and because I trust in Him I will not fear! I so want this to be an everyday reality in my life. When I spend time praising God, looking in His Word for Who He is and then turning it back to Him in praise then everything else in life loses it's effect in the light of how awesome He is and then I am able trust Him more and fear stuff less!! God, I do praise You because You are the One True God and there is No One Like You, period. LORD, I praise You because You are the Great I Am. There was No One Before You and You just ARE!! Thank You that in knowing this Truth my trust in You increases because Your Word shows me just how awesome You are. Help me to remember this when it comes time to chose faith or fear in the next circumstance that comes up. Thank You that I do not have to worry about what is done to me or might be done to me, You are here with me and You are able to handle it all.
Thank You, God, for saving me and allowing me to "vow" to be Yours. Help me to have a thankful heart and not take my salvation (the fact that You have delivered me from death) for granted. Forgive me when I do just that. Help me to recognize that though You have saved me for eternity, You save me (or rescue me) in many ways throughout each day as I stumble and fall. May I do my part, Father God on this journey Your way to walk before You in the light of life! Forgive me for growing weary and for being disobedient to not trust in You to renew my strength (Isaiah 40:30-31). I praise You, Father, that You never grow tired or weary of forgiving me, of hearing my many words and that You love me unfailingly. I praise You for Your faithfulness and I thank You for speaking to me through Your Word. May I take Your Truth with me from here and not just talk about it, but live it in the moment by moment. In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen.
(8) You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records? (9) Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me. (10) In God, whose Word I praise, in the LORD, whose Word I praise, (11) in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (12) I am obligated by vows to You, God; I will make my thank offering to You. (13) For You delivered me from death, even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life.
My deepest desire in life is to do this journey called life God's way. And yet I fall so far short so often that I get discouraged or I begin to question many things concerning my part in the journey. I trust God is doing His part and yet I spend much time not resting in the knowledge that He has me and that He will always have me that I guess the truth is I have trust issues with Him after all. I don't want to. And I don't want to be completely honest here and say that I struggle more than I don't, but there you have it.
Anyway, I am intrigued by these verses this morning. God, Himself, has recorded my wanderings - He knows everything after all. I find much comfort in this today. He understands who I am and what makes me the way I am. He created me after all and though I often take matters "into my own hands" so to speak, He is still in control. He still knows. Thank You, God! Thank You for understanding why I do what I do and for refusing to leave me there and for loving me regardless.
He has put my tears in His bottle?! Wow. A really big bottle ;) Seriously, though, this gives me so much comfort as I ponder it. He cares that deeply and knows me that intimately that He keeps up with my tears. What a mighty, loving, wonderful God I serve!! Thank You, God!! Help me to understand Your infinite love for me.
My enemy and yours is Satan, not the people around us (Ephesians 6:12). He must retreat when I submit to (call on) God (James 4:7). How do I know? Because God says so and He is for me!!! Thank You, God!!! May I do my part in submitting to You so that You can do Your part in making the devil flee.
Do you see it? Will you declare it with me? THIS I KNOW, GOD IS FOR ME!!!
Look further with me: In God (Elohim - The God) whose Word I praise. In the LORD (Jehovah - The Existing One) whose Word I praise...what? I trust... and because I trust in Him I will not fear! I so want this to be an everyday reality in my life. When I spend time praising God, looking in His Word for Who He is and then turning it back to Him in praise then everything else in life loses it's effect in the light of how awesome He is and then I am able trust Him more and fear stuff less!! God, I do praise You because You are the One True God and there is No One Like You, period. LORD, I praise You because You are the Great I Am. There was No One Before You and You just ARE!! Thank You that in knowing this Truth my trust in You increases because Your Word shows me just how awesome You are. Help me to remember this when it comes time to chose faith or fear in the next circumstance that comes up. Thank You that I do not have to worry about what is done to me or might be done to me, You are here with me and You are able to handle it all.
Thank You, God, for saving me and allowing me to "vow" to be Yours. Help me to have a thankful heart and not take my salvation (the fact that You have delivered me from death) for granted. Forgive me when I do just that. Help me to recognize that though You have saved me for eternity, You save me (or rescue me) in many ways throughout each day as I stumble and fall. May I do my part, Father God on this journey Your way to walk before You in the light of life! Forgive me for growing weary and for being disobedient to not trust in You to renew my strength (Isaiah 40:30-31). I praise You, Father, that You never grow tired or weary of forgiving me, of hearing my many words and that You love me unfailingly. I praise You for Your faithfulness and I thank You for speaking to me through Your Word. May I take Your Truth with me from here and not just talk about it, but live it in the moment by moment. In Jesus' Mighty Name, Amen.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Praising God through Psalm 86
As I prayed through Psalm 86 today God has lead me to praise Him by focusing on Who it says He is and His provision verse by verse. I praise You, Father God...
(1) You listen, LORD (Yahweh - the Existing One) & You answer. You are rich.
(2) You are able to protect my life & You are faithful in doing so. You are my God, personally, and
You save me. You also provide the ability for me to trust in You.
(3) You are full of grace toward me. You are available all day long.
(4) You provide joy. You provide reason to hope.
(5) You, Lord, (Adonai), are kind, ready to forgive & abundant in faithful love to all who call on
You. I praise You for allowing me to call upon You.
(6) You, LORD, hear my prayer and You listen. You provide mercy.
(7 ) You are available when I am distressed and You will answer me.
(8) THERE IS NO ONE LIKE YOU. THERE ARE NO WORKS LIKE YOURS.
(9) All will bow before You and will honor Your Name. I will.
(10) You are great & You will perform wonders. YOU ALONE ARE GOD.
(11) You teach me Your Way. You enable me to live by Your Truth. You give me an undivided mind
to trust You are who You say You are.
(12) You enable me to praise with my whole heart & to recognize that You are the Lord my God.
You allow me to honor Your Name now and in eternity.
(13) Your faithful love for me is great. And You deliver my life from the depths of hell for eternity &
provide deliverance today.
(14) You protect me from the enemy. You are the Victor, period.
(15) You are compassionate & gracious, slow to anger and abundant in faithful love & truth
as You provide for me.
(16) You see me. You are full of grace toward me all the time. You provide me with strength to do
what You call me to do. You take care of my children and those that I love.
(17) You reveal Your goodness in ways that I can recognize. The enemy will be put to shame
because through Jesus, You, have provided all I ever will need.
Oh Father God, thank You for allowing me to praise You!!! I praise Your Holy Name. Thank You for Your Word and for All Who You Are!!!
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
No One Like You, Lord!
Psalm 86:11 Psalm 143:8
Teach me Your way, Yahweh, Let me experience
and I will live by Your truth. Your faithful love in the morning,
Give me an undivided mind for I trust in You.
to fear Your Name. Reveal to me the way I should go
because I long for You.
Let's define some terms according to Strong's Concordance:
Teach - direct, inform, instruct Experience - to hear, listen to, obey
Way - path, journey, direction Faithful love - mercy, kindness, goodness
Undivided - join, unite Trust - be confident, be secure
Mind - inner man, will, heart, soul, understanding Way - journey, road, manner, path
Fear - stand in awe of, respect, honor Long - to desire
It so jazzes me to look up words - lol!
So what do we see? First of all Yahweh in Psalm 86:11 refers to God as Jehovah (the Self-Existing One or Eternal One)! It is often translated as LORD or God. Think about His Name here for a moment; how He describes Himself. Do You recognize the peace and hope that is ours just by knowing His Name??? He exists without any help from anyone or anything! He is and always will be! He is our LORD and our God!! Praise His Name!!!
Do you get it? It is because of Who He Is - His very Name, His very Existence that we can experience His faithful love, trust in Him, live by His Truth, have an undivided mind to fear His Name, to know which way He wants us to go and to even long for Him!!! Wow, He is so very good to us isn't He?!?
He is ALL we need!!!
Yahweh, thank You for being Who You Say You Are! Thank You that You ARE. No one created You and no one controls You. You are completely and utterly in control and fully trustworthy! Thank You that You know all and You see all. You are never caught off guard by anything in the big picture of life all over this world or in the small details in our personal worlds. You are amazing! Thank You for loving us! Thank You for Jesus! Teach us Your ways that we may experience You and all that You provide - love, peace, hope, joy, gentleness, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, forgiveness, mercy, grace and so much more. May we recognize just how trustworthy You are and see Your faithfulness in our day by day because You are ALWAYS trustworthy and faithful regardless of what we think we see or know. Forgive us for our tendency to trust in ourselves. Forgive us for making decisions on which direction to take on this journey of life based upon our feelings or own wants. Help us to long for You, to have respect and honor for You in our actions and in our words. Thank You for pouring out Your mercy and grace upon us over and over again without end. There is No One like You, Lord!
Teach me Your way, Yahweh, Let me experience
and I will live by Your truth. Your faithful love in the morning,
Give me an undivided mind for I trust in You.
to fear Your Name. Reveal to me the way I should go
because I long for You.
Let's define some terms according to Strong's Concordance:
Teach - direct, inform, instruct Experience - to hear, listen to, obey
Way - path, journey, direction Faithful love - mercy, kindness, goodness
Undivided - join, unite Trust - be confident, be secure
Mind - inner man, will, heart, soul, understanding Way - journey, road, manner, path
Fear - stand in awe of, respect, honor Long - to desire
It so jazzes me to look up words - lol!
So what do we see? First of all Yahweh in Psalm 86:11 refers to God as Jehovah (the Self-Existing One or Eternal One)! It is often translated as LORD or God. Think about His Name here for a moment; how He describes Himself. Do You recognize the peace and hope that is ours just by knowing His Name??? He exists without any help from anyone or anything! He is and always will be! He is our LORD and our God!! Praise His Name!!!
Do you get it? It is because of Who He Is - His very Name, His very Existence that we can experience His faithful love, trust in Him, live by His Truth, have an undivided mind to fear His Name, to know which way He wants us to go and to even long for Him!!! Wow, He is so very good to us isn't He?!?
He is ALL we need!!!
Yahweh, thank You for being Who You Say You Are! Thank You that You ARE. No one created You and no one controls You. You are completely and utterly in control and fully trustworthy! Thank You that You know all and You see all. You are never caught off guard by anything in the big picture of life all over this world or in the small details in our personal worlds. You are amazing! Thank You for loving us! Thank You for Jesus! Teach us Your ways that we may experience You and all that You provide - love, peace, hope, joy, gentleness, kindness, patience, goodness, faithfulness, self-control, forgiveness, mercy, grace and so much more. May we recognize just how trustworthy You are and see Your faithfulness in our day by day because You are ALWAYS trustworthy and faithful regardless of what we think we see or know. Forgive us for our tendency to trust in ourselves. Forgive us for making decisions on which direction to take on this journey of life based upon our feelings or own wants. Help us to long for You, to have respect and honor for You in our actions and in our words. Thank You for pouring out Your mercy and grace upon us over and over again without end. There is No One like You, Lord!
Monday, August 15, 2016
Praying for each of us...
Ephesians 3:16-21
16) I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, (17) and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that You, being rooted and firmly established in love, (18) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, (19) and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (20) Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us -- (21) to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Along with the Apostle Paul, I pray this for you and I.
Father God, please grant us, according to Your riches in glory, strength in the very heart of who You have made us to be through Your Spirit. Jesus, I know You dwell in my heart and I pray that for each one who reads this. Father God, may we truly be rooted and firmly established in Your love - may we hunger for Your Word and thirst for Your righteousness to be evident in our daily lives. May each of us truly grasp as well as we can this side of heaven the expansiveness of Your love for us and for those around us. May it be more than a head knowledge, Lord, but a heart-knowing. May it be such that Your love overflows from us to others because we are truly filled with all the fullness that You provide. May we each know that we know that You are able to do above and beyond all that we can think to ask or imagine according to Your power and may we know that it is You that are working in us. Forgive us for falling so often to our pride in thinking that we can handle things on our own. Forgive us for seeking other people and things with more diligence than we seek to know You, Jesus. Please God have Your way in us and receive all the glory from our lives. Thank You for the Truth of Who You are! In Jesus' Mighty Name, I ask it all. Amen.
16) I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, (17) and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that You, being rooted and firmly established in love, (18) may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, (19) and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (20) Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us -- (21) to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Along with the Apostle Paul, I pray this for you and I.
Father God, please grant us, according to Your riches in glory, strength in the very heart of who You have made us to be through Your Spirit. Jesus, I know You dwell in my heart and I pray that for each one who reads this. Father God, may we truly be rooted and firmly established in Your love - may we hunger for Your Word and thirst for Your righteousness to be evident in our daily lives. May each of us truly grasp as well as we can this side of heaven the expansiveness of Your love for us and for those around us. May it be more than a head knowledge, Lord, but a heart-knowing. May it be such that Your love overflows from us to others because we are truly filled with all the fullness that You provide. May we each know that we know that You are able to do above and beyond all that we can think to ask or imagine according to Your power and may we know that it is You that are working in us. Forgive us for falling so often to our pride in thinking that we can handle things on our own. Forgive us for seeking other people and things with more diligence than we seek to know You, Jesus. Please God have Your way in us and receive all the glory from our lives. Thank You for the Truth of Who You are! In Jesus' Mighty Name, I ask it all. Amen.
Saturday, August 6, 2016
A Student of His Word and Prayer
Wow, what a journey.
Truly it is so much better when I chose to submit to doing it His way. Oh how I look forward to heaven one day when His way is the only way! But for now I am determined to submit to Him and prayerfully I become more obedient than not. I am so thankful that He never leaves me to do it alone and He keeps His Word regardless of what I see or think I know.
Psalm 86 has become particularly meaningful to me as I have mentioned before. I challenge you to read His Word and allow Him to speak to you and in turn speak His Word back to Him. Use His Word as a catalyst for what You need to share with Him. Communicate with Him, do not just speak at God, make sure to truly converse - share and listen. There is nothing like knowing, truly knowing that Your Best Friend is Your Heavenly Father, Your Daddy, Your Healer, Your Comforter and so much more. He is the very best of everything and He wants a personal intimate relationship with you and me! Incredible!! He is so good!!!
As I was praying through Psalm 86 He prompted me to share with You a book. It is called "How To Pray...When You Don't Know What To Say" by Elmer L. Towns. It has been a while since I read it, but He reminded me this morning that I need to continue in the principles that are set out there. It is book written about using the Lord's Prayer as a model for prayer, Matthew 6:9-13. Mr. Towns states, "When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we don't leave anything out -- it's the most complete and comprehensive prayer that was ever given to us." He teaches us how to use the components in prayer not to just repeat the words of the prayer but to make it our own. Priceless.
Do we ever consider becoming a student of prayer and the Word as we do so many other things in life? We put so much energy toward learning - intentionally or even unintentionally - for our jobs, for parenting, to be a good spouse, how to shop more efficiently, our hobbies, etc. But do we put forth that same energy to practice prayer and the application of the Word? I do not; however I want to and I want Him to increase my want to.
Our relationship with Christ is the main thing that matters in this life and EVERYTHING else is to flow from that relationship. And yet we spend less time on this endeavor of walking with Christ (even to the point that we think maybe it isn't all that important) and that the busyness of our lives should take precedence - our social media time, our time taking our kids to one event to the next, education, furthering our careers, even trying to love people in the Name of Jesus. How can we do all of these things when ultimately we end up doing them in our own strength because we are not talking over and taking each part of our lives to our Father? As Christ Followers end up burned out, disillusioned, unimpassioned, weary, disheartened, ineffective, isolated and on and on, thus giving place to the enemy and giving in to his goal to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10a NIV).
I do not want this. I have lived this. I am still living this in many ways. And yet I cannot measure my effectiveness for Christ. Not my job. I am to continue in His Word and prayer and trust that He "has plans for me that are for good and not for disaster, to give me a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB).
Jesus came that I might have "life and have it to the full" (John 10:10b NIV). And that I will "know the Truth and the Truth will set me free" (John 8:32 HCSB) Remember, Jesus is the Word (John 1:1); therefore He is the Truth and He is the one to set us free. I must know His Word and I must have conversation with Him to truly KNOW it (Him) as Life not just as knowledge.
Yep, a lot to say today! I hope if I say it enough I will truly hear it and walk in it!
Will you consider what I have shared and come alongside me to encourage one another to put more effort into walking this journey of life His Way? Remember, He gave us each other.
Father God, I praise You for being my Daddy. For making the way available to me through Jesus to come directly to You as One who sees me through eyes of grace, who loves me as a daughter and have delight in me. Teach me to pray, Lord. Help me to not only say that I want Your Will but to obediently do Your Will in the moment by moments of my day. Help me to trust You in those moments rather than trust myself or what I can see. Forgive me for so often giving in to my own wants rather than trusting You for what is best. Forgive me for doing more talking than I do listening to You, for trying to figure out the whys and whats in life rather than taking that next step that You reveal. Thank You that You have everything covered, all the time. You are never caught off guard and You know exactly where I am today in every way. You have all those that I love in Your hands as well and once again, I know I can trust You with them as well as myself. Help me to forgive and extend mercy and grace out of the abundance of what You extend to me. Remind me. Forgive me where I forget and where I become self-righteous. Convict me and enable me to repent with godly sorrow, Jesus, in Your strength. I do pray that You will deliver me from the ways that I chose to not walk in Your ways and thus give in to the desires of my flesh. Give me Your mind, Jesus. Teach me to renew my mind and chose to think on what is noble and right and good. Help me to have a thankful heart and to chose to rejoice in You. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and help me to recognize that You, Lord, are my confidence. I fall so far short, but I am so thankful that I cannot fall so far that You let me go. Your faithfulness truly amazes me, Lord. I love You and I ask that You would please help me to live as if I love You, that my life will be way more than words. Please allow me to bring You glory, Lord. Use me however You will. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Truly it is so much better when I chose to submit to doing it His way. Oh how I look forward to heaven one day when His way is the only way! But for now I am determined to submit to Him and prayerfully I become more obedient than not. I am so thankful that He never leaves me to do it alone and He keeps His Word regardless of what I see or think I know.
Psalm 86 has become particularly meaningful to me as I have mentioned before. I challenge you to read His Word and allow Him to speak to you and in turn speak His Word back to Him. Use His Word as a catalyst for what You need to share with Him. Communicate with Him, do not just speak at God, make sure to truly converse - share and listen. There is nothing like knowing, truly knowing that Your Best Friend is Your Heavenly Father, Your Daddy, Your Healer, Your Comforter and so much more. He is the very best of everything and He wants a personal intimate relationship with you and me! Incredible!! He is so good!!!
As I was praying through Psalm 86 He prompted me to share with You a book. It is called "How To Pray...When You Don't Know What To Say" by Elmer L. Towns. It has been a while since I read it, but He reminded me this morning that I need to continue in the principles that are set out there. It is book written about using the Lord's Prayer as a model for prayer, Matthew 6:9-13. Mr. Towns states, "When we pray the Lord's Prayer, we don't leave anything out -- it's the most complete and comprehensive prayer that was ever given to us." He teaches us how to use the components in prayer not to just repeat the words of the prayer but to make it our own. Priceless.
Do we ever consider becoming a student of prayer and the Word as we do so many other things in life? We put so much energy toward learning - intentionally or even unintentionally - for our jobs, for parenting, to be a good spouse, how to shop more efficiently, our hobbies, etc. But do we put forth that same energy to practice prayer and the application of the Word? I do not; however I want to and I want Him to increase my want to.
Our relationship with Christ is the main thing that matters in this life and EVERYTHING else is to flow from that relationship. And yet we spend less time on this endeavor of walking with Christ (even to the point that we think maybe it isn't all that important) and that the busyness of our lives should take precedence - our social media time, our time taking our kids to one event to the next, education, furthering our careers, even trying to love people in the Name of Jesus. How can we do all of these things when ultimately we end up doing them in our own strength because we are not talking over and taking each part of our lives to our Father? As Christ Followers end up burned out, disillusioned, unimpassioned, weary, disheartened, ineffective, isolated and on and on, thus giving place to the enemy and giving in to his goal to "steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10a NIV).
I do not want this. I have lived this. I am still living this in many ways. And yet I cannot measure my effectiveness for Christ. Not my job. I am to continue in His Word and prayer and trust that He "has plans for me that are for good and not for disaster, to give me a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB).
Jesus came that I might have "life and have it to the full" (John 10:10b NIV). And that I will "know the Truth and the Truth will set me free" (John 8:32 HCSB) Remember, Jesus is the Word (John 1:1); therefore He is the Truth and He is the one to set us free. I must know His Word and I must have conversation with Him to truly KNOW it (Him) as Life not just as knowledge.
Yep, a lot to say today! I hope if I say it enough I will truly hear it and walk in it!
Will you consider what I have shared and come alongside me to encourage one another to put more effort into walking this journey of life His Way? Remember, He gave us each other.
Father God, I praise You for being my Daddy. For making the way available to me through Jesus to come directly to You as One who sees me through eyes of grace, who loves me as a daughter and have delight in me. Teach me to pray, Lord. Help me to not only say that I want Your Will but to obediently do Your Will in the moment by moments of my day. Help me to trust You in those moments rather than trust myself or what I can see. Forgive me for so often giving in to my own wants rather than trusting You for what is best. Forgive me for doing more talking than I do listening to You, for trying to figure out the whys and whats in life rather than taking that next step that You reveal. Thank You that You have everything covered, all the time. You are never caught off guard and You know exactly where I am today in every way. You have all those that I love in Your hands as well and once again, I know I can trust You with them as well as myself. Help me to forgive and extend mercy and grace out of the abundance of what You extend to me. Remind me. Forgive me where I forget and where I become self-righteous. Convict me and enable me to repent with godly sorrow, Jesus, in Your strength. I do pray that You will deliver me from the ways that I chose to not walk in Your ways and thus give in to the desires of my flesh. Give me Your mind, Jesus. Teach me to renew my mind and chose to think on what is noble and right and good. Help me to have a thankful heart and to chose to rejoice in You. Restore to me the joy of my salvation and help me to recognize that You, Lord, are my confidence. I fall so far short, but I am so thankful that I cannot fall so far that You let me go. Your faithfulness truly amazes me, Lord. I love You and I ask that You would please help me to live as if I love You, that my life will be way more than words. Please allow me to bring You glory, Lord. Use me however You will. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Clothing Choices
Therefore, God's chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. Above all, put on love -- the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15 ((HCSB)
As a Christ Follower I am God's chosen one. I am holy because Jesus is holy (Colossians 1:21-22). Because of Jesus I have the strength (Philippians 4:13) to follow His commands. In Colossians 3:12 I am commanded to put on (or clothe myself with - in the NIV) heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Compassion - sympathetic consciousness of other's distress with a desire to alleviate it.
Humility - the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people.
Gentleness - having or showing a kind and quiet nature; not hard or forceful.
Patience - bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint.
I have to ask myself what am I putting on? What am I wearing? I need to make a deliberate choice to clothe myself with these traits as God has commanded me too; otherwise I will likely have on my default clothing of impatience, judgment, unkindness or at least some level of sarcasm and have little love being exhibited in my life. I so easily revert to the old ways (Colossians 3:5, 8) It is a constant battle and process to surrender my life to Christ and walk in His ways rather than my own.
I am so thankful that I do not have to do any of this on my own. Aren't you?
I am told to accept others as well as to forgive them. I can forgive when I remind myself that I have been forgiven much (Matthew 18:21-35). It is not easy but I benefit when I am obedient.
I am commanded that above all I am to put on love - clothe myself in love. How? I am Christ's and He is love (1 John 4:16). I am to love others just as He loves (John 15:12). I need to look for things in others that I can relate to and then I am able to begin to love them at least a bit.
How do I benefit from being deliberate in choosing what I will clothe myself with? His peace controls my heart and then I am able to be thankful. Everything He requires of me is a process and He provides all I need to be obedient. I need to surrender and be willing to be obedient. I need to ask Him for His strength and then rely on Him. He is trustworthy. He will provide.
In each situation I find myself in I have to decide what I will be wearing :) Am I going to show compassion or judgment? Am I going to be kind and gentle or harsh? Am I going to exhibit patience and acceptance or anger and rejection? Am I going to forgive or am I going to be bitter?
Choice after choice. Will I walk this journey He has me on in His way or will I choose my own way? What about you?
Father God, thank You for Your unfailing love for me. Your faithfulness that is great and Your mercies that are new every morning. Thank You for forgiving me and making me Your very own. Please Jesus, through Your strength, help me to choose to clothe myself with love, compassion, acceptance, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, humility and patience. Thank You, Holy Spirit, that You live within me and You give me the ability to walk in Your ways. Forgive me when I react in ways that are not glorifying to You, particularly with my family. Change me from the inside out. Remind me of the Truth of Your Word throughout my days and help me to hear You and obey. Help me to be thankful more often. Thank You for providing for me more than I can think, ask or imagine. Thank You for saving me and for refusing to leave me in the state I am in. Thank You for the abundance of Your mercy and grace toward me...help me to extend that same mercy and grace to others. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Monday, August 1, 2016
In Season or Out?
Psalm 1:2-3
...his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and who leaf does not wither...
Delight - great pleasure or satisfaction
Instruction - an order or command
Meditate - to spend time in quiet thought
I am to take great pleasure or have satisfaction in the Lord's order or command (His Word) for me and then I am to spend time in quiet thought (of His Word) day and night. A few things must take place before I can do this. I must be spending time in HIs Word in order to recognize His instruction for me personally. It is not my job to determine what the Lord's instructions are for everyone else, just for myself. Then I am commanded to think on Him and the instruction He has for me at all times.
I will mediate on Your precepts and think about Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word. Psalm 119 15-16
What do I find myself taking pleasure in? What am I consistently thinking about? Are these things lining up with the things I am taught in the Word or am I letting my flesh determine what my mind is engaged in?
In sitting here thinking about the analogy of the tree planted by streams of water and the fact that it bears fruit in season I have been struck by the fact that my job is to meditate and take delight in God's Word and His job is to decide when it is the season for me to bear fruit. I am thinking rather abstractly here... I realize that we are to bear the Fruit of the Spirit all of the time... LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL (Galatians 5:22); however, I am referring to bearing fruit in the seasons of life. Just like the change in seasons we face winter, spring, summer and fall in our lives. The timing of the seasons is not up to us. We may spend short or long times in each one or even experience different seasons in different parts of our lives at the same time. For example, the empty nest can be seasons of both winter and spring. Some things have ended and other things are just beginning.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches, he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5
I often spend more time wondering about what I am doing or supposed to be doing rather than meditating on His Word, abiding In Him and then taking action when He instructs me to! I work way too hard trying to bear fruit - to accomplish things or to appear a certain way - when I am to put my energies toward abiding in Jesus, in obeying His commands and trusting Him for the outcome... for the fruit bearing if you will. I am so easily distracted into taking matters into my own hands rather than looking to Him and resting in the fact that He is in control of the seasons in my life. I must abide (remain in) Him in my thoughts and in my actions and quit spending so much time trying to recognize the fruit I am supposed to be bearing fruit. I need to trust Him that He is working and that because I am meditating on His Word and seeking Him then I am bearing fruit according to what He has planned not according what I used to do, or what I think I should be doing.
Whether it is my season to be tilled, planted, watered, pruned, to bear fruit or to be re-planted is not up to me but up to my Father. I have a choice to trust Him whether I am "in season or out".
Father God, I want to do my part in being in Your Word and finding satisfaction there and yet I know I cannot without the strength of Your Holy Spirit. Forgive me for so often getting my priorities mixed up - in spending so much time trying to bear fruit rather than resting in You and trusting You for the outcome. I do want to be that tree that is planted beside streams of living water. I want to trust You for the seasons in my life and stop judging myself so harshly because I think I should be doing something that looks more like what I have always done and realize that I am in Your hands no matter the season and that You are at work in me regardless of what I think I can or cannot see. Please give me ears to hear You as You lead me through Your Word. Give me strength to obey whether I understand or not. And restore to me the delight that can only be found in You. Teach me to abide in You and to meditate on You day and night. Get my attention quickly, Holy Spirit, when I stray and please help me to step out of the way and bring You glory. Change me from the inside out, Lord. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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