A look at a few of Paul's words in Philippians.
Philippians 1:20b-21, I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
Philippians 2:12b-13, Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
Philippians 3:10a, I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him.
Philippians 4:11b, I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.
Philippians 4:13, I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.
I have been contemplating my lack of contentment and in so doing I found myself looking at Paul and wondering how he claimed contentment?
He trusted Christ, period, whether he was to live or die, no matter what came. He knew that He belonged to Christ and thus he would live for Him, regardless and he looked forward to dying. In other words, he did not worry about what was happening to him or what would happen to him. He trusted Christ. Oh God, I want to trust You like this. Give me the faith of a child.
He tells me it is vital that we work hard revealing the fact that I am saved through Christ and to be determined to obey God, no excuses. After all, God, Himself, is the one who works in me giving the very desire and the power to do what pleases Him. Father God, please forgive me for trying to do things in my own power instead of using my energy to be determined to obey You. I am often more concerned with what I am doing instead of whom I am doing it for. I trust You to provide the desire and the power. I do want to please You.
Paul's desire was to know Christ and experience His mighty power. Is that my desire? Do I truly want to know Christ and experience more of Him or do I just say that I do? Am I wiling to suffer with Him/for Him? His contentment came with this and the fact that whatever came he knew he could do it because Christ would give him the strength he needed. He was never left on his own. Jesus, please give me the desire to know You and experience You more each day. May I not be content with anything less than to know You more. And may I trust, really trust that You will provide all the strength I need no matter what.
Father God, may You receive glory from my life and this daily struggle to surrender fully to You. I pray for Your strength to be content and full of joy. You alone know me and understand my battles and yet You promise victory, ultimately. May I put my eyes on You with more regularity and may I truly desire You as evidenced by my actions not just my words. I know that anything is possible with You, Jesus. Thank You for providing all that I need to live this life for Your purpose. Have Your will and way in me...
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Friday, November 18, 2016
The LORD is My Rescuer
Some verses from Psalm 18.
(vs 1) I love You, LORD; You are my strength. (vs 2) The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. (vs 3) I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies. (vs 4) The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. (vs 5) The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. (vs 6) But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. Help heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears.
(vs. 16) He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters. (vs 17) He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. (vs 18) They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me. (vs 19) He led me to a place of safety He rescued me because He delights in me.
(vs 28) You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.
(vs 30) God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection. (31) For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock? (vs 32) God arms me with strength, and He makes my way perfect.
(vs 46) The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!
Father, I thank You that You are my strength, my rock, my fortress, my protection and my savior. You LORD, are worthy of my praise. Once again, Lord, I have asked You to rescue me from the enemy of my soul and his deceptive ways of manipulating my emotions and You did!! Thank You! I have asked You to rescue me and draw me out of the deep waters and help me to cast my burdens on You and release them and You have given me the strength to do that! Thank You! Thank You, Lord, for taking delight in me. Enable me to obey You and to be faithful as You are faithful. Thank You, Lord for lighting up my darkness & for providing relief from the weight of it. I praise You once again for Your rescue and that You never, ever leave me or forsake me.
The Lord has been teaching me of late, the importance of coming to Him as a little child. In complete trust, hope and a knowing that He will do what He says He will. As as adult, I often find myself analyzing, actually overanalyzing, and trying to figure things out, particularly the things of God, rather than trusting Him simply as a child. You know, taking Him at His WORD. James 1:17b says, "He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He is trustworthy. He will do what He says He will. And I know it because He has proven it to me over and over and I am so thankful!
Father God, please continue to remind me to have the faith of a child. Thank You for showing me so much and for refusing to ever leave me in the hard places alone. You are there with me and when the time is right, You rescue me. Help me to trust in You before the rescue seems apparent and take my worries to You and release them to You and receive Your peace regardless of the circumstances or my feelings about them. Enable me to be intentional in holding onto the Truth of Your Word. Forgive me for casting my cares upon You and not releasing them into Your capable hands. Forgive me for lacking faith and trust in Who You say You are. Thank You for Your willingness to always hear from me and Your desire to relieve me of the pressures of this world when I focus on You rather than on anyone or anything else. Thank You that Your ways are perfect and all Your promises are true. May I bring You glory today as I surrender my will to Yours, Jesus. Thank You, LORD for being my Rescuer!
(vs 1) I love You, LORD; You are my strength. (vs 2) The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. (vs 3) I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies. (vs 4) The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. (vs 5) The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. (vs 6) But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. Help heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears.
(vs. 16) He reached down from heaven and rescued me; He drew me out of deep waters. (vs 17) He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. (vs 18) They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me. (vs 19) He led me to a place of safety He rescued me because He delights in me.
(vs 28) You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.
(vs 30) God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection. (31) For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock? (vs 32) God arms me with strength, and He makes my way perfect.
(vs 46) The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!
Father, I thank You that You are my strength, my rock, my fortress, my protection and my savior. You LORD, are worthy of my praise. Once again, Lord, I have asked You to rescue me from the enemy of my soul and his deceptive ways of manipulating my emotions and You did!! Thank You! I have asked You to rescue me and draw me out of the deep waters and help me to cast my burdens on You and release them and You have given me the strength to do that! Thank You! Thank You, Lord, for taking delight in me. Enable me to obey You and to be faithful as You are faithful. Thank You, Lord for lighting up my darkness & for providing relief from the weight of it. I praise You once again for Your rescue and that You never, ever leave me or forsake me.
The Lord has been teaching me of late, the importance of coming to Him as a little child. In complete trust, hope and a knowing that He will do what He says He will. As as adult, I often find myself analyzing, actually overanalyzing, and trying to figure things out, particularly the things of God, rather than trusting Him simply as a child. You know, taking Him at His WORD. James 1:17b says, "He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He is trustworthy. He will do what He says He will. And I know it because He has proven it to me over and over and I am so thankful!
Father God, please continue to remind me to have the faith of a child. Thank You for showing me so much and for refusing to ever leave me in the hard places alone. You are there with me and when the time is right, You rescue me. Help me to trust in You before the rescue seems apparent and take my worries to You and release them to You and receive Your peace regardless of the circumstances or my feelings about them. Enable me to be intentional in holding onto the Truth of Your Word. Forgive me for casting my cares upon You and not releasing them into Your capable hands. Forgive me for lacking faith and trust in Who You say You are. Thank You for Your willingness to always hear from me and Your desire to relieve me of the pressures of this world when I focus on You rather than on anyone or anything else. Thank You that Your ways are perfect and all Your promises are true. May I bring You glory today as I surrender my will to Yours, Jesus. Thank You, LORD for being my Rescuer!
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
God's Guidance is BEST
Psalm 32: 8-9
The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control."
I do not know about you, but I often find myself being that "senseless horse or mule" referred to in the verses above. It is maddening to me just how often I try to take charge of things in my life - particularly by overanalyzing and trying to figure things out.
The Lord reminds me over and over as I read His Word to Trust Him. He has the plan for me and my family fully under control and He really does not need my input! He is reminding me to put my energies toward being thankful to Him and focusing on Him. Colossians 4:2, "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Isaiah 30:15b, "Only in returning to Me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength."
Isaiah 30:18, "So the LORD must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help."
He is good to repeatedly remind me to repent (return to Him) and to rest in Him. It is in resting in Him that I find I can wait on Him and then quietness and confidence in Him becomes my strength. I struggle to rest in Him. I struggle with waiting on Him. And yet when I turn to Him and share my heart in full disclosure in prayer and repentance, He shows Himself faithful and He does provide that rest, strength, hope and joy that can only be found in Him. Then He reveals His path for me.
Father God, I am sorry that I am often like the senseless horse or mule that will have none of Your leading though I often mask it in ways that makes me feel like I am following. Convict me Holy Spirit and do not allow me to walk so often on that particular path, but give me eyes to see and ears to hear as You lead along with a willing and pure heart that will follow. I know that I know that You are trustworthy God and truly it makes no sense that I would continue to give in to my flesh and follow my own lead, but I often do. Please God, transform me from the inside out and enable me to have full confidence in Your strength as represented by my actions not just my words. I want to become better at waiting for You, Lord, instead of running out ahead of You. Forgive me. Show me the best pathway for my life and help me to walk on it in quietness and strength. Give me a heart's desire to devote myself to prayer, being watchful for who and what You want me to pray about and to be thankful, regardless. Thank You, Jesus, for Your provision, for Your unfailing love and for making a way for me to have relationship with God through the shedding of Your blood that paid my sin debt and for raising to life again guaranteeing me eternal life. Please help me to walk in the abundance of what You already done for me in this life! Thank You that I do not have to wait until heaven. It's is all because of You, Jesus, Amen.
The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control."
I do not know about you, but I often find myself being that "senseless horse or mule" referred to in the verses above. It is maddening to me just how often I try to take charge of things in my life - particularly by overanalyzing and trying to figure things out.
The Lord reminds me over and over as I read His Word to Trust Him. He has the plan for me and my family fully under control and He really does not need my input! He is reminding me to put my energies toward being thankful to Him and focusing on Him. Colossians 4:2, "Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Isaiah 30:15b, "Only in returning to Me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength."
Isaiah 30:18, "So the LORD must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help."
He is good to repeatedly remind me to repent (return to Him) and to rest in Him. It is in resting in Him that I find I can wait on Him and then quietness and confidence in Him becomes my strength. I struggle to rest in Him. I struggle with waiting on Him. And yet when I turn to Him and share my heart in full disclosure in prayer and repentance, He shows Himself faithful and He does provide that rest, strength, hope and joy that can only be found in Him. Then He reveals His path for me.
Father God, I am sorry that I am often like the senseless horse or mule that will have none of Your leading though I often mask it in ways that makes me feel like I am following. Convict me Holy Spirit and do not allow me to walk so often on that particular path, but give me eyes to see and ears to hear as You lead along with a willing and pure heart that will follow. I know that I know that You are trustworthy God and truly it makes no sense that I would continue to give in to my flesh and follow my own lead, but I often do. Please God, transform me from the inside out and enable me to have full confidence in Your strength as represented by my actions not just my words. I want to become better at waiting for You, Lord, instead of running out ahead of You. Forgive me. Show me the best pathway for my life and help me to walk on it in quietness and strength. Give me a heart's desire to devote myself to prayer, being watchful for who and what You want me to pray about and to be thankful, regardless. Thank You, Jesus, for Your provision, for Your unfailing love and for making a way for me to have relationship with God through the shedding of Your blood that paid my sin debt and for raising to life again guaranteeing me eternal life. Please help me to walk in the abundance of what You already done for me in this life! Thank You that I do not have to wait until heaven. It's is all because of You, Jesus, Amen.
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