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.
Friday, July 22, 2016
An Undivided Mind
PSALM 86:11 (HSCB)
Teach me Your way, LORD, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your Name.
(NIV) Teach me Your way, LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart; that I may fear Your Name.
(NKJV) Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your Name.
(NLT) Teach me Your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to Your truth! Grant me purity of heart so that I may honor You.
(NIRV) Lord, teach me how You want me to live. Then I will follow Your truth. Give me a heart that doesn't want anything more than to worship You.
(MSG) Train me, God, to walk straight; then I'll follow Your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear.
Yes, Lord! May it be so.
I so struggle with a divided mind. Do you? I find myself going in 50 million directions -- at least in my mind. I jump from one thing to the next as if distraction is an art form!!! And because I have allowed myself to become more and more distracted by this life more often than not anyway, I find that I am weary. You know that weary to the core feeling that never seems to go away? Yep, that's me. Grief, disappointment, disillusionment, anger, frustration, fear, anxiety, and on and on. This is a "gift" of a divided mind. Not much of a gift, huh? Exactly!
Thus this reminder from Psalm 86:11!
Please, LORD, teach me Your way and give me Your strength, Jesus, to live by the TRUTH of Your Word! Remind me of what You have for me and help me to obey. Forgive me for so easily giving in to a divided mind and so quickly forgetting to renew my mind as You command. Thank You for Your faithfulness!! Give me a heart that is pure and does not want anything more than to worship You. Give me a fear, a reverence for Your Name that requires me to reign in my mind and surrender it to You when I go off on tangents that are my own. You want me to have a steadfast mind that is in perfect peace, may I allow You to lead me in such a way that this is more a norm than a rarity. Forgive me, Lord, that in this season of life where i feel like I should "know better" I seem to be more divided than ever. Train me to walk straight and give me the strength to do my part and follow Your path, Your will. Give me one heart and one mind that allows me to worship You. I do not want to give place to the enemy in my mind by receiving his "gift" of distraction (or my own fleshly desire) rather than Your strength to focus. You and I both know, Lord, that I cannot do this alone, nor do You expect me to! Forgive me for so often living the day to day in my own strength rather than in the power that You have for me as Your child! Thank You, that You never ever leave me. You never ever give up on me. You never ever stop loving me, Jesus! May I walk in Your way today, and not fulfill the lust of my flesh.
Father, give each person who reads this a knowing that IF they are a Christ follower (they have confessed their sin and recognized they are lost and in need of Your salvation and they have gone on to accept You, Jesus, as their own personal Lord and Savior) that they are never alone and that You are at work in them to complete what You have begun. You have good for them and a plan that is just for them. May they know what it is to have an undivided mind and a desire to worship You moment by moment in this life. You want them to know how very much You love them - in fact Your love is unfailing, unending! And if someone does not know You as their very own LORD and Savior may they recognize their need of You this very day. Thank You, LORD, that You are at work in us and through us moment by moment and that in Your faithfulness, grace, mercy and forgiveness is peace of mind and heart! May we receive all You have for us. Thank You, Jesus!
Would you consider praying through the entirety of Psalm 86?
Teach me Your way, LORD, and I will live by Your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear Your Name.
(NIV) Teach me Your way, LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart; that I may fear Your Name.
(NKJV) Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your Name.
(NLT) Teach me Your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to Your truth! Grant me purity of heart so that I may honor You.
(NIRV) Lord, teach me how You want me to live. Then I will follow Your truth. Give me a heart that doesn't want anything more than to worship You.
(MSG) Train me, God, to walk straight; then I'll follow Your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear.
Yes, Lord! May it be so.
I so struggle with a divided mind. Do you? I find myself going in 50 million directions -- at least in my mind. I jump from one thing to the next as if distraction is an art form!!! And because I have allowed myself to become more and more distracted by this life more often than not anyway, I find that I am weary. You know that weary to the core feeling that never seems to go away? Yep, that's me. Grief, disappointment, disillusionment, anger, frustration, fear, anxiety, and on and on. This is a "gift" of a divided mind. Not much of a gift, huh? Exactly!
Thus this reminder from Psalm 86:11!
Please, LORD, teach me Your way and give me Your strength, Jesus, to live by the TRUTH of Your Word! Remind me of what You have for me and help me to obey. Forgive me for so easily giving in to a divided mind and so quickly forgetting to renew my mind as You command. Thank You for Your faithfulness!! Give me a heart that is pure and does not want anything more than to worship You. Give me a fear, a reverence for Your Name that requires me to reign in my mind and surrender it to You when I go off on tangents that are my own. You want me to have a steadfast mind that is in perfect peace, may I allow You to lead me in such a way that this is more a norm than a rarity. Forgive me, Lord, that in this season of life where i feel like I should "know better" I seem to be more divided than ever. Train me to walk straight and give me the strength to do my part and follow Your path, Your will. Give me one heart and one mind that allows me to worship You. I do not want to give place to the enemy in my mind by receiving his "gift" of distraction (or my own fleshly desire) rather than Your strength to focus. You and I both know, Lord, that I cannot do this alone, nor do You expect me to! Forgive me for so often living the day to day in my own strength rather than in the power that You have for me as Your child! Thank You, that You never ever leave me. You never ever give up on me. You never ever stop loving me, Jesus! May I walk in Your way today, and not fulfill the lust of my flesh.
Father, give each person who reads this a knowing that IF they are a Christ follower (they have confessed their sin and recognized they are lost and in need of Your salvation and they have gone on to accept You, Jesus, as their own personal Lord and Savior) that they are never alone and that You are at work in them to complete what You have begun. You have good for them and a plan that is just for them. May they know what it is to have an undivided mind and a desire to worship You moment by moment in this life. You want them to know how very much You love them - in fact Your love is unfailing, unending! And if someone does not know You as their very own LORD and Savior may they recognize their need of You this very day. Thank You, LORD, that You are at work in us and through us moment by moment and that in Your faithfulness, grace, mercy and forgiveness is peace of mind and heart! May we receive all You have for us. Thank You, Jesus!
Would you consider praying through the entirety of Psalm 86?
Thursday, July 21, 2016
As You Have Received...So walk!
1 John 4:6
You are from God, little children, & you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
You and I, as believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, are conquerors in Him. Let that resonate a moment...
Why am I a conqueror? Because Christ is in me by the power of His Holy Spirit and He is a conqueror, period. Too often I make excuses, but I am weak (why yes, yes I am)...Matthew 26:41 & Mark 14:38 "Stay awake and pray, so that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." AND 2 Corinthians 2:10 "I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Again, why? 2 Corinthians 2:9 "But He (Jesus) said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me."
My weakness is a given; however it is not to be my focus. I am to look to Him and recognize all I am and all I have because of Who He Is!
My prayer for you and I is what Paul prayed:
Colossians 2:2-3; 6-7
(vs. 2-3) "I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery -- Christ. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him."
(vs. 6-7) "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude."
If we go on to Colossians 3 we are commanded to "seek what is above", to "set our minds on what is above" - Christ! Verse 3 states, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God."
We are also commanded to "put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator." Colossians 3:8-10
All of this and so much more is what makes us More Than Conquerors -- In Christ!!
Too often, almost daily in fact, I live as if I am defeated. I do not want to!!! I want to remember and be reminded often of all that I am in Christ!!! Do you?
How do we live this way consistently? I struggle. You struggle. And we will continue to struggle until that glorious day when we are in heaven; BUT I am saying we struggle less if we remind one another of who we are in Christ. If we pray for one another and let the other know that they are prayed for. We are so isolated. We go about our own business day in and day out without even realizing how little we are apart of community. It takes much effort to be a part -- and yet I believe this is one of the tactics of the enemy - to keep us thinking we are to be busy, self-sufficient and unwilling to share the struggles that we all face daily. Therefore we rarely live out what James 5:16 commands, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect." And beyond the sharing, we are to PRAY for one another, not just share the struggle. The burden is not lifted until we pray, but the enemy convinces us our time is better spent doing than being in prayer. Remember it is Christ who is our righteousness, so we do not have to have it all together to pray for others! I am so thankful!
Father God, You alone have made us more than conquerors through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your provision and the fact that You are all sufficient. Remind us and help us to step out and remind one another that we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him! God, may we be rooted and established in the faith. May we set our minds on You moment by moment. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak, Lord, so please get our attention. Forgive me for living as if I am defeated. Forgive me for focusing more on myself than on You and TRUTH that You have provided all that I need to live victoriously. Thank You, Jesus for forgiving me and making me Yours. Thank You for being faithful all of the time, never wavering in Your love for me and for each of us. Reveal Yourself to us through this day and give us ears to hear You and Your strength, Jesus, to obey. It is because of Jesus I pray, Amen.
You are from God, little children, & you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
You and I, as believers and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, are conquerors in Him. Let that resonate a moment...
Why am I a conqueror? Because Christ is in me by the power of His Holy Spirit and He is a conqueror, period. Too often I make excuses, but I am weak (why yes, yes I am)...Matthew 26:41 & Mark 14:38 "Stay awake and pray, so that you will not enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." AND 2 Corinthians 2:10 "I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Again, why? 2 Corinthians 2:9 "But He (Jesus) said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me."
My weakness is a given; however it is not to be my focus. I am to look to Him and recognize all I am and all I have because of Who He Is!
My prayer for you and I is what Paul prayed:
Colossians 2:2-3; 6-7
(vs. 2-3) "I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery -- Christ. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him."
(vs. 6-7) "Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude."
If we go on to Colossians 3 we are commanded to "seek what is above", to "set our minds on what is above" - Christ! Verse 3 states, "For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God."
We are also commanded to "put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self. You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator." Colossians 3:8-10
All of this and so much more is what makes us More Than Conquerors -- In Christ!!
Too often, almost daily in fact, I live as if I am defeated. I do not want to!!! I want to remember and be reminded often of all that I am in Christ!!! Do you?
How do we live this way consistently? I struggle. You struggle. And we will continue to struggle until that glorious day when we are in heaven; BUT I am saying we struggle less if we remind one another of who we are in Christ. If we pray for one another and let the other know that they are prayed for. We are so isolated. We go about our own business day in and day out without even realizing how little we are apart of community. It takes much effort to be a part -- and yet I believe this is one of the tactics of the enemy - to keep us thinking we are to be busy, self-sufficient and unwilling to share the struggles that we all face daily. Therefore we rarely live out what James 5:16 commands, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect." And beyond the sharing, we are to PRAY for one another, not just share the struggle. The burden is not lifted until we pray, but the enemy convinces us our time is better spent doing than being in prayer. Remember it is Christ who is our righteousness, so we do not have to have it all together to pray for others! I am so thankful!
Father God, You alone have made us more than conquerors through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your provision and the fact that You are all sufficient. Remind us and help us to step out and remind one another that we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him! God, may we be rooted and established in the faith. May we set our minds on You moment by moment. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak, Lord, so please get our attention. Forgive me for living as if I am defeated. Forgive me for focusing more on myself than on You and TRUTH that You have provided all that I need to live victoriously. Thank You, Jesus for forgiving me and making me Yours. Thank You for being faithful all of the time, never wavering in Your love for me and for each of us. Reveal Yourself to us through this day and give us ears to hear You and Your strength, Jesus, to obey. It is because of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Monday, May 9, 2016
God's Promises
Excerpt from the book "Breaking Free" by Beth Moore: "God has what you need. He alone has unfailing love, and He wants to flood your life with it. The fullness of God is not a one-time occurrence like our salvation. Every day of our lives --to live victoriously-- we must learn to pour out our hearts to God, confess sin daily so nothing will hinder Him, acknowledge every hollow place, and invite Him to fill us fully! Then we need to continue to fan the flame of His love by reading Scripture, listening to edifying music, and praying often. We also need to avoid things that obviously quench His Spirit."
Wow!!! Psalm 90:14, "Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
I do not know about you, but this passage and the quotation above stirs my heart! I want my life to be flooded with the unfailing love of my Father God. I want to walk in the fullness of life. And the thing is I can and so can you, because our Father promises and He always keeps His promises.
Thank You, Father!!
Psalm 16:11, "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
I do not want to give so much of my life over to the thief and yet by my lack of discipline, or my unwillingness to do battle on my behalf, i.e. submit to God, resist the enemy (James 4:7), set my mind on things above (Colossians 3:2), walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of my flesh (Galatians 5:16) I am doing just that. However, I find myself to be grateful over and over for God's faithfulness to reel me in and provide for me in spite of me.
Father God, thank You for Your many promises to me. Thank You for Your unfailing love, for Your great faithfulness and the fact that You are my Good Shepherd. Thank You for taking care of me and seeking me out no matter how many times I find myself off of Your path. I do pray that You will get my attention and allow me to recognize, hear and listen to Your Voice and walk in Your ways. Remind me to not just think about what I should or should not do but to confess to You and take the very next step. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit so that I am never alone and the opportunity is there for me to experience Your presence and Your joy. Give me Your strength, Jesus, to submit to Your lead and resist the ideas of the enemy. May I spend more time with my mind focused on You than on my circumstances or wants. May I delight myself in You, Lord, so that You may fulfill the desires You have placed in my heart. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. God, help me to step out of Your way and do Your will. Thank You for all that You are!! Help me to walk in the victory that You have for me...
Wow!!! Psalm 90:14, "Satisfy us in the morning with Your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
I do not know about you, but this passage and the quotation above stirs my heart! I want my life to be flooded with the unfailing love of my Father God. I want to walk in the fullness of life. And the thing is I can and so can you, because our Father promises and He always keeps His promises.
Thank You, Father!!
Psalm 16:11, "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
I do not want to give so much of my life over to the thief and yet by my lack of discipline, or my unwillingness to do battle on my behalf, i.e. submit to God, resist the enemy (James 4:7), set my mind on things above (Colossians 3:2), walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of my flesh (Galatians 5:16) I am doing just that. However, I find myself to be grateful over and over for God's faithfulness to reel me in and provide for me in spite of me.
Father God, thank You for Your many promises to me. Thank You for Your unfailing love, for Your great faithfulness and the fact that You are my Good Shepherd. Thank You for taking care of me and seeking me out no matter how many times I find myself off of Your path. I do pray that You will get my attention and allow me to recognize, hear and listen to Your Voice and walk in Your ways. Remind me to not just think about what I should or should not do but to confess to You and take the very next step. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit so that I am never alone and the opportunity is there for me to experience Your presence and Your joy. Give me Your strength, Jesus, to submit to Your lead and resist the ideas of the enemy. May I spend more time with my mind focused on You than on my circumstances or wants. May I delight myself in You, Lord, so that You may fulfill the desires You have placed in my heart. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. God, help me to step out of Your way and do Your will. Thank You for all that You are!! Help me to walk in the victory that You have for me...
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
To Obey...
Matthew 21:28-31 HCSB
28) But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, "My son, do, work in the vineyard today."
29) He answered, "I don't want to!" Yet later changed his minded went.
30) Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. "I will, sir." He answered. But he didn't go.
31) "Which of the two did his father's will?" "The first," they said. Jesus said to them, "I assure You: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!
32) For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it didn't even change your minds then and believe him.
In listening to my pastor preach on this passage I found myself to be convicted. I am often the second son, polite and so outwardly well-intentioned to obey My Father and yet I get no further than the next item of my day than I have either talked myself out of what I think I heard God say to me or I rationalize it away with the thoughts that I cannot do it and surely He would not want me to.
I spend so much of my time thinking about what I think I need to do rather than doing it!! Forgive me, Jesus! I also spend a great deal of time wondering why I am who I am and why I don't do things the way others do! I realize it is ridiculous, particularly as I confess it to you. But the Word says in James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.
I desperately want to be an obedient child of my Father. One that trusts in Him to make the difference rather than constantly evaluating what I should or should not be doing. I want to remember:
Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)
1) "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, see your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2) Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
What about you? Do you see yourself in the parable above about the two sons? What is God calling us to do? Will we do it?
Father, forgive me for so often making the statement that I am going to obey You and yet not following through. I ask You to give me ears to hear You and to walk in Your Ways not turning to the right or to the left or even hightailing it in the other direction. Please, through give me Your Strength, Jesus, to not get stalled looking at what I think or what I have or have not done but to fix my eyes on You and take the next step of obedience. Forgive me, Father, for not trusting You to truly have me and instead trusting in my own thoughts. I pray that all who share in this journey Your way with me, Father, will confess to and pray for one another so that we may be healed. I want to know the powerful effect of meeting with You and being changed. May we reach out to those who are hurting and share our own struggles when it would be a benefit and may we share the hope that You have given us with those who do not know You. Thank You for never being willing to leave me where I am, but constantly convicting, challenging and changing me. I want to step out of Your way and bring You glory, Lord. Thank You that You have made me to be who I am. I submit myself to You once again and ask You to be my Lord and have Your way in me and through me. It is all because of You, Jesus, thank You.
Monday, July 20, 2015
Hope?
Guide me in Your Truth & teach me; for You are God my Savior, & my hope is in You all day long. Psalm 25:5 NIV
[Guide me in Your Truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long. Psalm 25:5 HCSB]
Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24 HCSB
Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him, He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Psalm 62:5-8
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith in to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer. Romans 12:12
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlighten so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe according to the working of His vast strength. Ephesians 1:16-19
...train yourself in godliness, for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. this saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living god, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:7b-9
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by God's power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith --more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire --may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3-7
HOPE - to wait, look for, expect; confident expectation
His Word speaks for itself.
I am struggling with hope - as it entails waiting & patience ;) I find I that I am often placing my hope in wanting my situation to change or people to change and even more wanting myself to change rather than placing my hope in my Lord. It is a moment-by-moment choice that I occasionally get right but more often than not I seem to be falling flat on my face. Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation? Where are you placing your hope? Where I am?
Father God, I want to rejoice in You in trials and not get so caught up in my day to day circumstances and wondering what is to come or trying to figure out the whys. Help me to be persistent in choosing hope and persistent in prayer. Please open the eyes of my understanding so that I may know the restoration of the hope of Your calling in my life. I want to allow You to have all of me and to experience the vast working of Your strength. I want Your wisdom, Lord. Pour out Your love in my heart and enable me to share that love with others in such a way that brings You glory. Help me to get my courage and confidence from You instead of seeking it from other people and things. May I rest in You and place my hope in You all day long. Help me to labor toward godliness and holiness. I know that everything depends upon You and that You are trustworthy. Help me not to just know it but to live as if I know it. Forgive me for not rejoicing in You and allowing fear and anxiety to have its way in me rather than You. I so look forward to heaven, God, that sometimes I am no 'earthly' good. Please help me to long for You and yet surrender to Your timing and the things that You allow to come my way to make me more like You. I choose to set my eyes upon You, period! Create in me a clean heart and restore to me the joy of my salvation, Father. Let my full hope be in You and You alone - confidently expecting You to do Your work in me regardless of what I think I see or know. Trusting that You are always at work to complete the good work You have begun in me through Jesus. Help me to have a thankful heart and a joyful spirit. Thank You that You never get tired or weary and that You will renew my strength in Your time and in Your way.
[Guide me in Your Truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; I wait for You all day long. Psalm 25:5 HCSB]
Be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24 HCSB
Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him, He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Psalm 62:5-8
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith in to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5
Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer. Romans 12:12
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlighten so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe according to the working of His vast strength. Ephesians 1:16-19
...train yourself in godliness, for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. this saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living god, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:7b-9
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by God's power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith --more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire --may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:3-7
HOPE - to wait, look for, expect; confident expectation
His Word speaks for itself.
I am struggling with hope - as it entails waiting & patience ;) I find I that I am often placing my hope in wanting my situation to change or people to change and even more wanting myself to change rather than placing my hope in my Lord. It is a moment-by-moment choice that I occasionally get right but more often than not I seem to be falling flat on my face. Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation? Where are you placing your hope? Where I am?
Father God, I want to rejoice in You in trials and not get so caught up in my day to day circumstances and wondering what is to come or trying to figure out the whys. Help me to be persistent in choosing hope and persistent in prayer. Please open the eyes of my understanding so that I may know the restoration of the hope of Your calling in my life. I want to allow You to have all of me and to experience the vast working of Your strength. I want Your wisdom, Lord. Pour out Your love in my heart and enable me to share that love with others in such a way that brings You glory. Help me to get my courage and confidence from You instead of seeking it from other people and things. May I rest in You and place my hope in You all day long. Help me to labor toward godliness and holiness. I know that everything depends upon You and that You are trustworthy. Help me not to just know it but to live as if I know it. Forgive me for not rejoicing in You and allowing fear and anxiety to have its way in me rather than You. I so look forward to heaven, God, that sometimes I am no 'earthly' good. Please help me to long for You and yet surrender to Your timing and the things that You allow to come my way to make me more like You. I choose to set my eyes upon You, period! Create in me a clean heart and restore to me the joy of my salvation, Father. Let my full hope be in You and You alone - confidently expecting You to do Your work in me regardless of what I think I see or know. Trusting that You are always at work to complete the good work You have begun in me through Jesus. Help me to have a thankful heart and a joyful spirit. Thank You that You never get tired or weary and that You will renew my strength in Your time and in Your way.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
LORD, have Your way
Psalm 147:11
The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
Psalm 37:23-24
If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
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I am intrigued by the thought of The LORD delighting in me.
Delight - to please greatly; to accept
I tend to think more often on the fact that I am to take delight in Him (Psalm 37:4) not that He (The LORD - Jehovah, The Self-existing One) takes delight in me. He delights in "those who fear Him".
Fear - to revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be awed, honor, respect.
I find that reverence and awe, even honor and respect is hard for me to show sometimes. I find that in my pride I am more often trying to prove that I am self-reliant, attempting to help myself even when I think I am seeking the LORD, or desiring to.
How do we right our mind-set when all around us we are expected to handle things ourselves? Through praise and thanksgiving. I must praise my LORD, recognize who He is and my mind-set, my vision even, begins to change. This is hard for me. I struggle with renewing my mind and not allowing myself to be conformed to the pattern of this world and because I do I then have trouble being able to test and approve what God's will is (Romans 12:2). I do not necessarily often overtly conform to the pattern of this world but internally I am conforming because I begin to think that I "know" what I need or everyone else needs. I have strong opinions and convictions. That is a good thing when my convictions and opinions are the Truth of the Word of God, but when they simply become my judgments then I have succumbed to pride and I am definitely not revering the LORD but my own opinions.
"Fearing the LORD": It is my job to look to Him and recognize His Greatness, His Power, His Mercy, His Grace, His Sovereignty... then I am in awe of Who He Is and then He is taking delight in me.
What does it mean to 'put my hope in His unfailing love'?
Hope in this verse means to hope for, to wait for, to expect (to trust). Does this seem intangible to anyone else? Does it seem difficult? It is for me. I have found that I am not so good at waiting (at being still). I often find myself taking off on my own so to speak and then getting myself in a mess; whether it be through anxious thoughts or lack of peace, even hope. Thankfully, my LORD never leaves me there, He convicts me and allows me to confess and begin again and then He shows me His unfailing love.
Now for Psalm 37:23-24. If the LORD delights in my way, He will make my steps firm (or establish them) though I stumble I will not fall. I often accuse myself of falling when truly it is only stumbling. Stumbling over my pride and over what I have placed as an idol in my life. The problem is that I begin to look at myself and my part - the stumbling - rather than looking at the fact that The LORD upholds me with His hand.
This is mind-blowing really... The LORD, who is all-powerful, all-knowing and who loves me unfailingly is holding me up with His hand! How ridiculous it seems when I look at it through the Truth of His Word... I need to focus on Him and His strength, who He is rather than my mistakes and failings.
I want with all that is in me to be delightful to the LORD and yet I often allow my feelings, the enemy and others approval or disproval to convince me that I am not when the truth is that I already am delightful and through no effort of my own. The LORD, my Father Himself, has made me acceptable (and delightful) in Jesus.
Ephesians 1:6b-9 "...to the praise of the glory of HIs grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved (Jesus). In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself..."
So the Old Testament guides me in the fact that I need to fear Him, put my hope in His unfailing love and know that He will uphold me and the New Testament relieves me from the standpoint that Jesus has done the final work by making me delightful (beloved in Himself) and ultimately my job is to trust Him and look to Him and stop trying to make myself delightful, but praise Him and recognize Who He is at all times. And to realize that though I will stumble He has me and I am secure in Him.
LORD, so often I find myself basically spinning my wheels, trying to figure out how to put my trust in You, to make myself delightful to You, to put my hope in Your unfailing love and yet feeling as if I am free-falling. My faith is often weak. I am often double-minded. I am full of pride. Forgive me for doubting myself so often and thus having my eyes fixed on me and my capabilities rather than on You and therefore I am doubting You. Forgive me for being full of myself and thinking I need to figure out what is next or why I am in this season etc. Help me to learn to rest in the completeness of all You have done, Jesus. Help me to not excuse myself from doing my part in having awe in You, or not making a deliberate choice over and over to put my hope in Your unfailing love. Forgive me for wasting so much of life being distracted, allowing myself to be deceived in all kinds of ways and for forgetting the lessons that You have already taught me. Thank You for the redemption You provided for me, Jesus and for making me acceptable to the Father. May I live my life in this truth, moment-by-moment, and day by day. May I trust that You will make my steps firm, regardless of what I think I see, may I have the faith (trust in what is unseen) to know that You uphold me and when I stumble to not get stuck there trying to fix myself or figure out what happened but rest in knowing that You will keep hold of me. Help me to forgive myself and let go of what I feel and TRUST IN WHAT I KNOW. Father, may Isaiah 43:18-19 become truth in my life..."Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." Give me eyes to see, LORD. Have Your way in me.
The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
Psalm 37:23-24
If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
I am intrigued by the thought of The LORD delighting in me.
Delight - to please greatly; to accept
I tend to think more often on the fact that I am to take delight in Him (Psalm 37:4) not that He (The LORD - Jehovah, The Self-existing One) takes delight in me. He delights in "those who fear Him".
Fear - to revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be awed, honor, respect.
I find that reverence and awe, even honor and respect is hard for me to show sometimes. I find that in my pride I am more often trying to prove that I am self-reliant, attempting to help myself even when I think I am seeking the LORD, or desiring to.
How do we right our mind-set when all around us we are expected to handle things ourselves? Through praise and thanksgiving. I must praise my LORD, recognize who He is and my mind-set, my vision even, begins to change. This is hard for me. I struggle with renewing my mind and not allowing myself to be conformed to the pattern of this world and because I do I then have trouble being able to test and approve what God's will is (Romans 12:2). I do not necessarily often overtly conform to the pattern of this world but internally I am conforming because I begin to think that I "know" what I need or everyone else needs. I have strong opinions and convictions. That is a good thing when my convictions and opinions are the Truth of the Word of God, but when they simply become my judgments then I have succumbed to pride and I am definitely not revering the LORD but my own opinions.
"Fearing the LORD": It is my job to look to Him and recognize His Greatness, His Power, His Mercy, His Grace, His Sovereignty... then I am in awe of Who He Is and then He is taking delight in me.
What does it mean to 'put my hope in His unfailing love'?
Hope in this verse means to hope for, to wait for, to expect (to trust). Does this seem intangible to anyone else? Does it seem difficult? It is for me. I have found that I am not so good at waiting (at being still). I often find myself taking off on my own so to speak and then getting myself in a mess; whether it be through anxious thoughts or lack of peace, even hope. Thankfully, my LORD never leaves me there, He convicts me and allows me to confess and begin again and then He shows me His unfailing love.
Now for Psalm 37:23-24. If the LORD delights in my way, He will make my steps firm (or establish them) though I stumble I will not fall. I often accuse myself of falling when truly it is only stumbling. Stumbling over my pride and over what I have placed as an idol in my life. The problem is that I begin to look at myself and my part - the stumbling - rather than looking at the fact that The LORD upholds me with His hand.
This is mind-blowing really... The LORD, who is all-powerful, all-knowing and who loves me unfailingly is holding me up with His hand! How ridiculous it seems when I look at it through the Truth of His Word... I need to focus on Him and His strength, who He is rather than my mistakes and failings.
I want with all that is in me to be delightful to the LORD and yet I often allow my feelings, the enemy and others approval or disproval to convince me that I am not when the truth is that I already am delightful and through no effort of my own. The LORD, my Father Himself, has made me acceptable (and delightful) in Jesus.
Ephesians 1:6b-9 "...to the praise of the glory of HIs grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved (Jesus). In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself..."
So the Old Testament guides me in the fact that I need to fear Him, put my hope in His unfailing love and know that He will uphold me and the New Testament relieves me from the standpoint that Jesus has done the final work by making me delightful (beloved in Himself) and ultimately my job is to trust Him and look to Him and stop trying to make myself delightful, but praise Him and recognize Who He is at all times. And to realize that though I will stumble He has me and I am secure in Him.
LORD, so often I find myself basically spinning my wheels, trying to figure out how to put my trust in You, to make myself delightful to You, to put my hope in Your unfailing love and yet feeling as if I am free-falling. My faith is often weak. I am often double-minded. I am full of pride. Forgive me for doubting myself so often and thus having my eyes fixed on me and my capabilities rather than on You and therefore I am doubting You. Forgive me for being full of myself and thinking I need to figure out what is next or why I am in this season etc. Help me to learn to rest in the completeness of all You have done, Jesus. Help me to not excuse myself from doing my part in having awe in You, or not making a deliberate choice over and over to put my hope in Your unfailing love. Forgive me for wasting so much of life being distracted, allowing myself to be deceived in all kinds of ways and for forgetting the lessons that You have already taught me. Thank You for the redemption You provided for me, Jesus and for making me acceptable to the Father. May I live my life in this truth, moment-by-moment, and day by day. May I trust that You will make my steps firm, regardless of what I think I see, may I have the faith (trust in what is unseen) to know that You uphold me and when I stumble to not get stuck there trying to fix myself or figure out what happened but rest in knowing that You will keep hold of me. Help me to forgive myself and let go of what I feel and TRUST IN WHAT I KNOW. Father, may Isaiah 43:18-19 become truth in my life..."Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." Give me eyes to see, LORD. Have Your way in me.
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