After reading all of these promises, (plus many more in Scripture), I find myself asking, why do I fear? As a child of God, He promises me that He is with me and will never leave me; He will give me strength; and He is fighting for me. This should be enough for me to have confidence when the enemy attacks or life circumstances go awry. Additionally, I believe that if we understand the love and power that God bestows upon us we will have a sound mind and the spirit of fear will be removed. I need to continually remind myself that the battle is God’s and, therefore, I don’t need to fear.

Dear Lord, I ask that You forgive me for dwelling on fear as much as I have. I ask that You help me understand the love and the power You have given me so that I will fear less. I ask that Your promises be made known in my life as I follow You and that You give me a sound mind no matter what my circumstances are.

January 8, 2012

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

When I think of salvation, my mind tends to gravitate toward the salvation of mankind – the general salvation that is available to all who put their faith in Jesus. But salvation is so much more than that. It is personal. It is available to me, to save me from the power my specific sin has over me. And this salvation is only found in Jesus Christ.

I’ve tried talking to friends about my sin, reading books, crying about it, and even fasting – all which are good things, but can’t be substituted for Jesus and Jesus alone. Salvation from my sin can’t be found anywhere or through anything or anyone, other than Jesus.

The Bible says:

Do I believe this?

Dear Lord, I thank You that I can find salvation in You. Forgive me for looking for it in other places. Remind me of who You are and the power You have to deliver.

December 18, 2011

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.” Luke 2:13

This was a prophetic word that the angels spoke to the shepherds on the evening of Jesus’ birth. Jesus came to bring peace between God and man. I want my life and my family and my church to become a fulfillment of this verse! It is in the same manner that I am told in God’s word to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit . . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6) There will be a manifestation of peace in my life, even as I follow Jesus.

Dear Father, thank You for giving me, my family, and my church the grace to be an example to the world of the peace that comes from being one with Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

December 4, 2011

“For by grace are you saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

I have been depressed lately because I have been so focused on trying to get out of my situation. I have found that the more I trust in my own efforts, the more failure comes my way. God is helping me to realize that I must put my trust totally in Him, through “the thick and the thin.” God has showed me that when times get really tough I’ve been trying to think of a plan to manipulate the situation to change my circumstances. The thing that I fail to realize is that God is trying to do a work in me. I have been pointing the finger and blaming someone else for my problems and not taking full responsibility for my own actions. In all this, God is showing me that I can do nothing in my own power for His glory. I must be in total surrender to the One who saved me by grace.

Lord, I thank You for saving me by Your grace and showing me through Your word who Jesus Christ really is. I pray that You will help me to show that grace towards others through “the thick and thin.”

November 20, 2011

“And command the people, saying, ‘You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully. Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.’” Deuteronomy 2:4-5

The Israelites were almost to the Promised Land. God had promised them their own land and that it would flow with milk and honey. They had been waiting years for it! During their journey, the Israelites had proven that they did not deserve or earn this blessing to come. In Deuteronomy 9:6 God says, “Therefore understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.” But God gave it to them anyway. God did it out of His grace.

Before the Israelites reached the Promised Land, they came to where the Edomite people lived. Surprisingly, God sternly warns the Israelites not to touch the Edomites’ land: “I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.” Since the Edomites were the descendants of Esau–who was Jacob’s brother and Isaac’s son—they received from the blessing that God had promised to Abraham and his descendants. That, in spite of the fact that the Edomites didn’t deserve any kind of blessing. God even said in Malachi 1:2-3, “Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated.” But that’s what grace is all about! From the beginning God knows about us and our failings, but yet He still chooses to bless us out of His grace.

Also before the Israelites reached the Promised Land, they discover that God similarly blessed the Moabites (Deut. 2:9) and the Ammonites (Deut. 2:19). He told the Israelites, “do not harass them or meddle with them,” and that He had given them each their land as well. These two peoples were the descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. But even though Lot and his descendants were not technically Abraham’s offspring (Lot was Abraham’s brother’s son), since Lot was adopted by Abraham, he became a part of that family and was blessed by the Lord. Again, this is an example of God’s grace.

Thank You, Father, for blessing me out of Your grace. I do not deserve it, for I too am a stiff-necked person. Please help me to reflect on Your grace in all things. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

November 13, 2011

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a changing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Sadly, love is what is so missing in my life. The Lord revealed it to me so poignantly recently when the most insignificant event “got under my skin” and caused me to react in an unloving way towards a person, even though they did nothing wrong. Here I was, a Christian — someone who is supposed to pursue love in all things — being mean, snappy, and annoyed by the most trivial thing. And then the Holy Spirit — praise God for His wonderful presence — brought to my mind images of me worshipping on Sunday morning, with a smile on my face, and a melody in my heart, and challenged me with the fact that this person could very easily end up in my church on a Sunday morning and see me singing, praising, and professing to love all men as I love God.

Ugh…what a thought. What a point of decision. Should I yield to the Lord and confess my sin? Or should I move on and bury the incident in my pride? What an ‘annoyance’, to go back and apologize for my behavior to a complete stranger! But what an opportunity to walk and act in love! I went back, I apologized, and in my spirit even said to the Lord immediately after, ‘Ok, I did it, thanks. I got the message.’

And then something I didn’t expect happened. Someone I didn’t know had witnessed my apology and said to me — ‘That was a very nice thing you did, apologizing to that person.’

Then it really struck me, that I am so far from knowing the heart of God. My walk with God is defined by whether or not I love. Love must be the underlying reflection and motivation of everything I do!

Dear Lord, help me, help me I pray! Help me to love as You love! Help me to see others as You do! Help me to see me, as You see me! In constant need of a Savior, of a Redeemer, of a Lover of my soul! Lord change my heart I pray! Fill my heart with Your love, love for others! Let me be a true reflection of You, the true embodiment of love! Thank You Lord for Your grace, and Your mercy, and Your love. Thank You for hearing me and helping me each day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

November 6, 2011

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a changing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

What does it truly mean to be a believer of Jesus? These verses tell me that if I am a believer of Jesus, pursuing love must be at the core of my life.

All the things spoken of in these three verses are good things: (i) speaking eloquently, saintly, profoundly, scholarly, (ii) having the gift of prophecy, deep understanding and deep wisdom, (iii) having large amounts of faith, (iv) giving all I have to feed the helpless, the less fortunate, even to the point of sacrificing my own body. All these are good things, things we think of as being characteristics of a godly man or woman. But the Bible says they are meaningless and worthless if they are not motivated by one thing, the greatest thing, love. It was through love that God founded the world. It was through love that He created all things and fashioned man and woman into His image. It was through love that He placed them in the garden of Eden. It was through love that He gave man and woman freewill and a choice to love Him and to honor and to obey Him. It was through love that He sent His prophets to rescue a fallen world. It was through and by love that He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to come into the world to die for you and for me. It is through love that He continues to work and wait patiently for me to draw near to Him and to surrender my heart and my will and my self-righteousness to Him. It is through love that He waits for me to receive His forgiveness for my sins, accept His love, and reflect His love.

Oh Lord, fill me with an understanding of Your love, and help me to pursue love in everything I do! Amen.

October 23, 2011

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in the knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11

Paul and Timothy wrote this letter to the saints, bishops and deacons in Philippi. He begins the letter by thanking the Lord for them (verses 3-5). He tells them that he longs for them with affections of Jesus Christ (verse 8).

Paul cared for and loved these believers. This makes me take a hard look at myself. I don’t always have these characteristics of Paul. But he is living proof of the fruit of righteousness that comes by loving others. The fruit of love is in this letter. Paul loves his brothers and sisters so much that he writes love letters to them and prays for them!

I believe Paul is so in love with these men and women because he is so in love with Jesus Christ! This kind of love only comes from God Himself through our relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. I love my brothers and sisters, only as I love Jesus Christ. And I need to be honest with Him when I don’t love Him! He knows my heart anyway! “Lord, I don’t love You, please help me love You!” Only then can He do His work in my heart! When I empty myself from the lie, He fills my heart with truth and love for everyone, even my enemies. He is so good!

Oh Lord, please help me love You more! Thank You for Your grace!

October 16, 2011

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:1

“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. . .” What does that mean?

As I opened my Bible this morning and asked the Lord to speak to me, I felt like I was “going through it.” Thankfully, nothing major. But the “cares of life,” had been sucking the life out of me. I got to the point where I was saying –

“Yes Lord, I know You have a plan for me. . . yes I know I should be praying about this Lord … yes, I believe YOU know exactly where I am and why I am here. . . . But I don’t!! And I know I should be ok with that, but I’m not! I need You and I don’t even know how to pray to You right now! So here I am! Please speak to me!”

Could I be in a spiritual attack? Yes. Could this be a fire and refining time? Yes. The Holy Spirit through His grace and gentleness and infinite wisdom is showing me my heart, my dissatisfaction, my focus on me, my insistence on having my way, the ugliness of my sin.

Being “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” means confessing my sin, believing that my sins are forgiven, and by faith taking the courage and strength that God promises to provide. “Being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” means not being given over to the cares of this life that wage war against me.

Just as Solomon was when David in his dying hour encouraged him, (I Kings 2:2), just as Asa was when Azariah encouraged him, (2 Chronicles 15:7), just as the churches at Corinth and Ephesus, and Timothy were when Paul wrote to them, I need to allow this exhortation to strengthen me – “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

Dear Lord, thank You for Your word. Thank You Lord for reminding me to take courage, to be strong, to be strong in the grace that is only in Christ Jesus. Lord, please strengthen my feeble hands, feet, and most especially heart. I love You Lord. Thank You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

October 9, 2011

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1

I was nearly brought to tears as I saw myself fail and fail again. I was trying so hard to serve the Lord in all areas of my life, yet the feedback I was receiving was that I was not good enough. “God, what am I doing wrong? Why are You allowing this to happen to me? I thought this was the direction You told me to go. If it is, then why does it feel like I am failing?”

After this cry to the Lord, He spoke to me — “I am pruning you for My glory.” ( John 15: 2, 8 ) Oh! What a comfort these words are to me and always will be! I am on the right path! Those failings were the pruning necessary for my sanctification and the glory of the Lord!

Okay, so now that I have pruned, how do I grow? How do I bear fruit? God’s answer, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4) I will grow through being faithful to abide in the Lord. Reading His word, praying, and surrounding myself with believers will help me to abide.

Lord, help me to abide!

October 2, 2011

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Paul uses the illustration of athletics to communicate the Christian life. I can relate to this Scripture because I consider myself an athlete. I get so competitive when I play sports and I will push myself as hard as I have to in order to win. After reading this Scripture I asked myself: “Am I as aggressive in running the Christian race as I am in playing sports. . . or finding a job. . . or keeping up with the latest fashion?”

I didn’t just come out of my mother’s womb being a good athlete. I needed to be devoted to the sport, have direction while playing the sport, be determined to improve my skills, and be disciplined in order to develop my game. The same is true for running the Christian race. Here’s what it looks like:

Spiritual devotion: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after.” Psalm 27:4?

Spiritual direction: “. . . forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.” Phil. 3:13

Spiritual determination: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” 2 Cor. 9:24

Spiritual discipline: “And the people said to Joshua, ‘The Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!” Joshua 24:24

Lord, I thank You for Your Word and the opportunity to run the Christian race. I pray that I never lose sight of the prize that is ahead. I ask that You give me the strength and endurance that I need to continue running this race. Help me Lord to grow in love with You more every day, to look forward to Your return, to have grit, and to be obedient to Your will. I am honored to run this race and I long to say one day — “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim. 4:7

September 25, 2011

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead (in bodily form); and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:8-10

There are many philosophies in our culture, and there are many of them that we as American Christians hold onto without realizing it. For example, while I may not publicly say that I desire to have the “best things” – the best house, the best car, the best computer – I often say in my heart — “Well, it wouldn’t hurt to have them.” In my heart, I convince myself that life will be better with certain things than without them, when the truth is that life will only be better when Christ is truly is the center of it.

When a part of me buys into the lies of what our culture says about success, physical beauty, material possessions, and earthly gains, I allow myself to be cheated out of experiencing the fullness of the glory of God. God will provide me exactly what I need exactly when I need it, and He will do it for His glory and for His purposes. But when I take my eyes of the Provider and place them on His provision, my perception of reality quickly transforms from the true reality of God to the false realities the world wants me to believe.

Lord, let me place the fullness of my desire on Christ, who loved me enough to sacrifice the glory, comfort, and riches He could have had during His life on earth to die a most agonizing and humble death. Lord, please reveal to me the places in my heart where I hold fast to earthly ideals and philosophies. Please fill me with Your Spirit to continue the work of conforming my heart to be like Yours, and help me to fix my eyes and my desires squarely on the face of Jesus.

September 18, 2011

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrew 11:6

There are times that I worry and am anxious. I worry about finances, relationships, lack of relationship, ministry, family, God’s calling in my life, the saved, the unsaved, and the list could go on and on. In His Word, the Lord tells me that He knows all my needs before I even ask Him (Matthew 6:8), He will supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), and He will do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). When I worry, I question God’s provision and Jesus says that I am of little faith (Matthew 6:30). When I am without faith, I cannot please my Father in Heaven (Hebrews 11:6). So instead of worrying, what am I to do? I am to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) and trust that as I diligently seek the Lord, He will provide my needs and reward me (Hebrews 11:6).

Lord, I don’t like to worry or be anxious, I pray to be someone of great faith and may my great faith please You. As I face different needs, trials, or decisions in my life, may I diligently seek You, knowing that You will reward me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

September 11, 2011

“Therefore, you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgement of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.” Romans 2:1-2

In Romans chapter 1, Paul painted a vividly clear picture of a life void of God and full of sin, so here in chapter 2 he certainly is not saying we shouldn’t call out sin for what it is. Rather, he is addressing a heart attitude towards sin. It is the self-righteous man who sees himself as good and thinks himself to be a righteous judge of others; this type of man does not look at his own heart.

The Jews were judging others’ sin because they thought themselves to be righteous, because they knew God’s law. At the same time, the Gentiles were judging others’ sin because they thought themselves to be good moral people according to the standard of the day. Verse 2 of chapter 2 states that it is only the judgment of God that ultimately matters, and I should not put myself in the place of God. I’ve been guilty of acting like the Jew and the Gentile. I’ve seen myself better than others because I read my Bible, go to church and no longer get drunk or sleep around. I’ve avoided certain people because of how they’ve looked or acted. Yes, I’ve judged them and thought myself more righteous than them because I know the Lord.

Lord, help me to remember that it is only because of You that I am saved. It is only because of You that I go to church, read my Bible and have changed my behavior. Help me to love the lost like You love them. Remove all self-righteousness from me, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

September 4, 2011

“Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind.
I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You.
Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I
desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:21-26

Sometimes I become consumed by my emotions and I turn to myself, not to the Lord. I try too long and too hard to gain strength and wisdom through analyzing and re-analyzing of my feelings. Over and over again, I find myself like the psalmist — with a grieved heart and a vexed mind. Like a beast, stuck in my own emotions.

Oh that I would reach out of my own hurt and lay hold of His outstretched hand, to allow Him to bear my yoke instead of me bearing it. Oh that I would let Him lead me by my right hand!

How wonderful it is to learn from this psalm that it is not necessarily a bad thing for “my flesh and my heart to fail,” because God will be the strength of my heart! He will be “continually” with me — especially during periods of total weakness. Eventually, I will be received into His “glory” (which is the glory of heaven, but also the glory of seeking Him now).

Lord, thank You for being continually with me. I pray by Your grace I would recognize when I am turning to myself for strength. I pray instead I would simply allow You to keep hold of my right hand. Amen.

August 28, 2011

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” Romans 12:9-10

In order to love, it must be done without hypocrisy. What does that mean? Hypocrisy is a pretense of having a virtuous character, or moral or religious beliefs or principles, that I do not really possess. Whoah! Hypocrisy is being a FAKE! I don’t want to be a fake who doesn’t really possess Christian beliefs or principles! I want to possess them! I want to be sanctified and Christ-like.

Jesus said in John 13:35 — “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Christians love, and they love each other. If I am Christian, then I should love at all times, not just when it is convenient, when it is easy, when I feel like it, or when others are watching. I have no excuse not to love because the love of God has been poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit who has been given to me. Romans 5:5 In other words, I have what I need to love, now I just need to obey. O Lord, thank You for giving me the grace to love without hypocrisy!

August 21, 2011

‘So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety.  Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety.  ‘And if you say, “What shall we eat in the seventh year, since we shall not sow nor gather in our produce?”  Then I will command My blessing on you in the sixth year, and it will bring forth produce enough for three years.  And you shall sow in the eighth year, and eat old produce until the ninth year; until its produce comes in, you shall eat of the old harvest.  Leviticus 25:18-22

God already knows my questions, and He already has a response.  Whatever He asks me to do, I can know that He is faithful to carry me through it, and bless me in it.  I must be "…confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).  Am I obeying the Lord today?  Or am I letting fear create disobedience?  Today, I will choose to obey and see God act!

August 14, 2011

"So you shall observe My statutes and keep My judgments, and perform them; and you will dwell in the land in safety.  Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill, and dwell there in safety."  Leviticus 25:18-19

God calls me to obedience.  With obedience to God’s will there is safety and there is blessing. Through this verse, God is asking me to observe His statutes and keep His judgments, which literally means to obey His laws and decisions.  The Lord calls me to a personal relationship with Him through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit living in me.  In this personal relationship, God has made specific decisions about the direction for my life.  So I must ask myself, what has God spoken to me?  How is God calling me to live my life?  Am I obeying His will?  What are His “statutes and judgments” that I am to follow?

If I obey, I will learn that I will “dwell in the land safely.”  This safety is both an inner and outer safety; meaning a spiritual and physical safety.  I will also learn that I will “yield its fruit and [I] will eat [my] fill.”  My obedience will bring spiritual fruit and richness into my life.  I will see the blessings of God because of my obedience!

August 5, 2011

"Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance." Psalm 42:5

One of my enemies in this Christian life is hopelessness.  When life’s circumstances seem out of control and there is nothing I can do in my own strength to fix things, hopelessness drops down upon me like a dark cloud.  The Greek word for “disquieted” is “hamah” and it means to murmur, growl, roar, cry aloud, mourn, rage, make noise, be moved, be troubled.  Yes, I can relate to having a disquieted soul.  I long for escape, even death.  I am moved from the solid rock of faith in Christ to the shaky earthquake soil of defeat and despair.  I am ashamed at how quickly I can fall into this pit. 

I know that hopelessness is sin; it’s the opposite of faith.  I know that without faith I am not pleasing the Lord.  This place of hopelessness is a miserable place, it is not where a child of God should ever be, and yet, I have found myself there.  When I feel hopeless, my flesh wants to embrace the wisdom of men and temporary comforts to pacify the flesh.  It is ugly and dangerous.  I am thankful for the Psalms for they remind me that I am not alone.  I am thankful for His grace because it reminds me that I am loved no matter what.

This Psalm tells me to hope in God!  The Greek word for “countenance” is “face” or “presence”.  I am helped by His presence.  His presence is the light that leads me out of the pit.  Instead of listening to my own soul's groaning, I talk to the Lord.  Instead of murmuring in my heart against God and others, I sing a new song that proclaims His goodness and declares His promises.  Instead of turning to sin to comfort my flesh, I turn to the Living God, back to His countenance, where in His presence, I will be helped.  When I turn back to the Lord He restores me, heals me and brings hope back to my soul.  What an amazing God He is! 

Lord, I am so thankful for You and how You love me.  Keep me safe in Your presence.

July 31, 2011

"I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." Revelation 2:4-5

How is my relationship with the Lord?  When I meditate on this scripture, it occurs to me that at times I leave my first love.  On the outside it may look like I love Him because I go to church, I speak about Him and I do good works, but my heart may not be involved. Thankfully, God is faithful to reveal this to me by the light of His word.  His word reveals things I do that may have begun as spiritual, but have turned into legalistic rituals.  His word reveals when emptiness has replaced a loving relationship.  His word reveals when I am trying to be a Christian by the strength of my own flesh.  His word reveals the reason my life becomes difficult and my trials harder to overcome, because I have left my first love.

Oh how I need to keep the word in my heart!  The word is Jesus! (John 1:14).  I have an enemy that wants to steal from me and destroy me.  (John 10:10)  Jesus has overcome the enemy!  The victory is in Jesus Christ!  My source and supply of everything comes from Jesus! I have received all things by Jesus’ death on the cross and all I need to do is rest in Him and sit with Him in those heavenly places.  He is my first love!

Father, I thank You for showing me when I leave my first love.  Thank You for giving me all things through Your son Jesus.  Thank You for Your awesome presence that I experience through a loving relationship with You.  I know You want me in the world, but I pray that You keep the enemy from me.  I pray that my love for You would not grow cold, but that it would mature and deepen.  In Jesus name, amen!

July 23, 2011

So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me?  Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers?  Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’  I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me.  If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and do not let me see my wretchedness!” Numbers 11:11-15

As a person who has some responsibility leading people, I sometimes find myself in situations like Moses that are out of my control, and am often left feeling like the burden is too heavy for me.  Anger and bitterness creep in and I begin to see my own wretchedness.  What I do with these feelings is of the uttermost importance.

From the above passage of scripture, I learn from Moses how to deal rightly with these kinds of situations:

Run to the Lord
Moses could have gone to the people who were standing outside his tent complaining and rebuked them for their unthankful, despising hearts, but he didn’t do that.  He ran to the Lord first.

Reveal My Heart to the Lord
After running to the Lord, Moses began to reveal his heart to Him.  Moses was very open and honest about how he was feeling and told God that he’s unable to handle it alone.

Recognize My Own Wretchedness
After revealing his heart to the Lord, Moses recognized his wretchedness.  I believe Moses was at a place of such overwhelming frustration with the people, with the Lord and with himself that he thought the Lord killing him was the best solution.  Moses came to a place in his heart that he could not bear to see his wretchedness any longer.

The Lord didn’t strike down Moses and kill him because of how he was feeling.  He still wanted to use him.  The Lord had compassion on him.  He orchestrated help for Moses and even executed judgment on the complaining people.

By running to the Lord first, revealing my heart to Him and recognizing my own wretchedness, I come to a place where I am surrendering, looking for and trusting in the Lord to work both in my situation and in me.

Lord, it is so easy to take things into my own hands, and when I do, I make even a bigger mess.  Help me to run to You first and trust that You will work!

July 17, 2011

"If we endure, we will also reign with Him." 2 Tim 2:11c

The context of this verse was written by Paul, chained in prison, sharing his dying words with a young pastor confronting all sorts of trials, false teachings and adversity in the church.

What is the context of this verse in my life?  

A trial?  Hallelujah!  James says — "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (1:16) Therefore my trial is a gift from God. 

Persecution and affliction?  Praise His holy name!  1 Peter 16 says —  “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." Matthew 5:11 says — "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." How exciting to be identified with the King of glory — to actually have the fragrance of life and death manifested in my daily walk.  Lord, bring me there, and take me deeper!

A period of waiting?  Praise God.  My flesh will be put to death in the process.  

Yes, if I endure, I will also reign with Him!

Lord, thank You that You are enough, that You care abundantly more for my glorification than I can even understand with my natural mind.  Lord, let me, take this promise, that I will reign with You in Your eternal kingdom, by faith!  It is the only way.  Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for this precious promise.  I believe, that somehow through this passing adversity, I will attain a better resurrection. I claim it now by faith, according to Your grace. Amen.

July 3, 2011

“The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.’”  Revelation 4:10-11

Jesus Christ, the King of Heaven had given these crowns to the twenty-four elders.  Why then did they then fall down before the throne of King Jesus and cast their crowns before Him?  The answer is this – they understood who Jesus was.

These twenty-four elders understood that Jesus was worthy and that they were unworthy.  They understood that Jesus was worthy of receiving glory, honor and power and that they weren’t.  They understood that Jesus was the creator of all things and by His sovereign will all things existed.  How could they possibly stand tall in His presence with crowns of gold on their heads knowing these things?  Instead, the elders fell down before Jesus and gave what was given to them back to Jesus as an act of worship and surrender.

While here on earth the Lord hasn’t given me a literal, physical crown; however, He has given me many “crowns.”  My house, my family, the ministries I’m involved in, desires, dreams and hopes.  What am I doing with these “crowns?”  Am I parading them proudly on my head, seeking my will or am I humbly giving them back to the One who gave them to me, surrendering my will?  If I really understand who Jesus is, in heaven I too will fall down before the Lord and cast my crown (i.e., my reward) at His feet with a heart of worship and surrender.

Dear Lord, thank You for all the gifts You have given me and the responsibilities You have entrusted me with.  Please forgive me for seeking my will and not trusting You.  I surrender and lay my crown down at Your feet O Lord, for You are worthy!

June 26, 2011

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21

A friend shared this passage with me, and what struck me is that the Holy Spirit exhorts and encourages me to pursue in understanding the depth and the height of God's kind intention (which is agape love) toward me.  This passage makes me think of “how” and “why” questions.  How could He love me knowing all my sin, weakness, frailty, and stubbornness? Why does He love me?  I can’t help but think that He is important and I am not.  So why did He love me by pouring out His wrath and justice that I deserve on His only Son in order that I might have peace and be restored to Him and no longer be separated from His love?  

I am excited to spend the rest of my life drinking from the well of the knowledge of His love and being nourished and filled by the "fullness of God" poured on us.

O Lord, I want to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge so that I may be filled with all Your fullness.  Please do that work in me Lord!

June 19, 2011

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are little among the thousands of Judah, out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth from of old, From everlasting." Micah 5:2

[1] And it came to pass in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2] This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. [3] So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. [4] Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [5] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. [6] So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. [7] And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. [8] Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. [9] And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. [10] Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. [11] "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] "And this [will be] the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." [13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: [14] "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" [15] So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." [16] And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. [17] Now when they had seen [Him], they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. [18] And all those who heard [it] marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. (Luke 2:1-18)

In order for the Messiah to have born in at the place, time and manner prophesied in scripture, many things had to happen.  Joseph had to meet Mary, Joseph's betrothal to Mary had to be the right timing, the same with Mary's conception, the census, the mandatory travel to Bethlehem, the timing of Mary's delivery in Bethlehem, there could be no rooms at the inn, Mary had to wrap the Savior in swaddling clothes and lay him in a manger, etc.

What if Joseph had not obeyed the decree from Caesar Augustus?  I am sure he did not relish the prospect of traveling from Nazareth to Bethlehem with a pregnant woman.  What if Mary had thought a manger was not the most appropriate place to lay her newborn son?  

I do not always understand God's sovereignty over my life, but I know it exists.  He is ever working out His perfect will.  Sometimes I think that God is not concerned with the little details.  Does it matter where I work or live as long as I'm serving Him?  Is He concerned with where I go and who I talk to when I'm there?  The answer to those kind of questions is a big, emphatic YES!  Like Joseph and Mary, I want to stay in line with God's plan, so I must be ever dependent upon the Holy Spirit to guide me.  I must be watchful, prayerful, in the Spirit.  

Father, help me not to come against Your plans.  Help me to walk every moment in Your perfect will.  Do not let me turn to the left or to the right; keep me on the path that You have set before me.  Help me not to look at others and think that their path is where I should be. Your plans for Mary, Joseph and the shepherds were unique to them.  Your plan for me is unique for me.  Help me to fulfill Your plans for me in Your name.

June 5, 2011

"Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.  As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.  O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You." Psalm 84:5-6; 11-12

Am I in a valley, a long trial, a ministry that involves spending my emotional and physical resources on people?  The Valley of Baca is known as the Valley of Weeping.  This Psalm teaches me that whether it is my weeping or the weeping of others, I am a pilgrim, meaning, I am just "passing through."  This psalm teaches me that I must choose to "make it" a place of springs, for others and myself.  Jesus said His Father prunes the vine (me) so that it will be more fruitful.  The Father is closest to the vine (me) when He is pruning it.  This Psalm teaches that the "autumn rains" (the Holy Spirit) will abundantly water the vine and provide all that is needed for life and godliness.  If things are still difficult, God will shine light in the dark places, and provide protection and guidance where needed — He is a generous God.  He will get me through this trial I am in, for His glory here, and for eternity.  

Am I trusting today in You, Lord of Hosts, God of the universe, Lord Almighty?  Am I trusting in Your timing and Your greater purposes for me?  Help me to be blameless in Your sight, and surely You will withhold no good thing.  Happy is he who trusts in Thee!

May 22, 2011

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray.  Now when evening came, He was alone there.  But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Matthew 14:22-24

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and then He left them, and they rowed out to sea, into a storm.  

Jesus is the lover of my soul, my Shepherd who cares for me, my Redeemer who died for me. But He is also my Trial Bringer.  Can I lovingly call Him my Trial Bringer?  Yes!  What a comfort to know that there are trials that Jesus actually sends me into.  It causes me to remember that He is in control.

After Jesus sent the disciples into the storm, He prayed on the mountain.  While the storm is raging in my life, do I think Jesus has forgotten me?  He has not forgotten me.  He is interceding for me.

During the storm, Jesus went out to be with the disciples in the storm.  "Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea." Matt 14:25  Will Jesus leave me abandoned and alone in the storm?  No!  He will come to me, and His timing is always perfect.

May 15, 2011

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”  Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” John 1:47-48

I am so amazed at God’s foreknowledge of my life.  Many times I find myself wondering what is going on with a particular situation in my life.  I look at the circumstances and think, “what is God doing? Will He intervene?”  As a result, fear begins to take root in my heart.

When I read this passage in John 1:48, I can’t help but to recognize that before God begins a work, He knows all the details, He sees from beginning to end and is in complete control.

Isaiah 40:28 says, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.”  

And David writes in Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.”

When God begins a work He has as specific goal in mind, and often times it is for my benefit that He prolongs His intervention, that I may grow in my trust and reliance on Him. There is nothing too complicated or complex for my Lord Jesus Christ, He upholds all things and by Him alone all things consist, and knowing that is very comforting to my soul.

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24)  Give me the strength and grace to just simply trust in You. Lord, You know my comings and goings.  You know my thoughts from afar off.  You know me altogether.  May my hope and trust be solely rooted in You.  Amen

May 8, 2011

"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts, and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces.  Should I let them inquire of me at all?" Ezekiel 14:3

This passage is speaking of the elders of Judah, religious leaders that were highly respected. Even though they may have appeared devoted to the Lord on the outside by seeking out the counsel of the prophet Ezekiel, God knew the heart of each man.  While these men may not have practiced idolatry outwardly, God knew that they were inwardly, in their hearts.  How often do I do the same thing?  How often do I come before the Lord seeking to hear from Him, meanwhile I am holding on to an idol or sin in my heart?  The Lord forbids any prophet in Israel from prophesying to men like these, but instead declares that He will "set His face against" them.  (Ezekiel 14:8)  God desires my whole heart and my honest and complete devotion to Him.  When I go before Him while holding something in my heart in higher standing than where I hold Him, He abhors it.  It is detestable to Him.  Let me never again approach Him in this way!

Mighty God, please show me if there is any idol in my heart that I hold contrary to You.  I ask for Your strength and Your grace to strip that detestable thing from me so that I might be wholly devoted and pleasing to You.

May 1, 2011

"For the time has come for judgment to begin in the house of God. . ."  1 Peter 4:17

Am I among those in the house of God who will be judged?  Is the Holy Spirit referring to me when He says — "the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God?"  Am I putting into practice what He has taught Me?  Is my house built on the pleasures of this world rather than on Him the Rock?  Is my focus on the Lord, or on my cares, my problems, my vanities?  

One of the names of God is Shaphat (Genesis 18:25) which means judge.  God's judgment is coming on the house of God!  In the Old Testament there were times when God first sent judgment against His own people, it was only after judging His own people, that He began to judge the nations.  Why?  Because He wanted first to complete the salvation of His people.  But to do that He needed to cleanse them of the sin of serving Him with a divided heart.  The Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).  Just as He did in the Old Testament, and throughout history, He will continue to do today.  The Lord will judge His people.  I do not want to be among those in the house of God who will be judged.  God is love.  (1 John 4:16).  He pleads with me today to put away the pleasures of this world and turn to Him with my whole heart.  (Joel 2:12).  

Lord, I want to be found busy about Your work and be counted worthy to not go through this judgment.  Please help me to put all my trust and hope in Your Son Jesus.  I pray that I would love You as You and Your Son have loved me.

April 24, 2011

"Do not fear what they fear."  "The Lord Almighty… He is the one you are to fear… He will be a sanctuary." Isaiah 8:12-14  "The Lord will complete that which concerns me."  Psalm 138:8

The world is in bondage to fear.  The world fears running out of money.  The world fears isolation.  The world fears unfulfilled desires.  The world fears sickness.  The world fears death.

Do I fear what the world fears?  

God's word tells me — "do not fear what they (the world) fear."  God's word tells me that I have not been given a "spirit of fear…" (2 Tim. 2:7).  That means my fear is not of God, but of the world.  God's word tells me my fear is a "snare" (a trap) to me.  Therefore, I must be on guard against fear.  How?!  By fearing the Lord Almighty. (Isaiah 8:13).  If I fear the Lord Almighty, if I grow in my understanding of Him, if I go deep in my relationship with Him, I will realize over time that there is nothing to fear in the world.  Why?!  Because He is Almighty! (Isaiah 8:13).  Because He is in control!  (Hebrews 1:3).  Because He alone is worthy to be feared!  (Isaiah 8:13).  Because He is my sanctuary!  (Isaiah 8:14).  Because "perfect love (His love) casts out fear."  (1 John 4:18).  Because He has promised to complete a good work in me, and guard that work, until the day He completes it.  (Psalm 138:8).

Lord, fill me with Your Spirit, fix my eyes on You, teach me not to fear what the world fears. Amen!

March 27, 2011

"The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them." Psalm 111:2

"God works in mysterious ways."  I have heard this since childhood.  The implication sometimes seems to be that the works of God should not be investigated, thought about, or dissected.  They are atomic, eternal and utterly past my finding out to the point that analyzing them is sin.  But does God feel that way?  

In our natural relationships how do we demonstrate love to each other?  How do we discover love from one to another?  Is it not sometimes through careful analysis of our loved ones' thoughts and actions? 

Like the Psalmist, I want to take pleasure in the works of God.  I want to study the works of God because behind the works of God is the mind of God.  

Even as I take pleasure and sometimes carefully analyze the actions of my loved ones here on earth, I will take pleasure in and study the wonderful works of God even though they sometimes appear to be "mysterious". 

Lord, help me to be as one who studies Your works, even as I take pleasure in them!

February 27, 2011

"If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses?  If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?"  Jeremiah 12:5

Sometimes I feel weak, burdened, and beat.  Just when I get out of a trial, another one begins.  During this time, the enemy's goal is to get my eyes off of the Lord and stare directly at my circumstances.  Why?  Because once this happens, I have forgotten the Lord's promises.  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.  And once I forget His promises, my view of God becomes blurred by the lies the enemy feeds me in my suffering.  

Everything that happens in my life happens for a reason, and I need to trust that the Lord is who He says He is and that in everything He has a perfect plan.  It is not my place to understand why He does things, but I am to trust at all times. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways  and my thoughts than your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth.  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."  Isaiah 55:8-11.  I must allow the Lord to grow me up into a person who will say with all sincerity of heart — "God is good, all the time."  He has something much greater in store for me, but first I must learn to run with the footmen.

February 20, 2011

"Then He (Jesus) came to Simon Peter.  And Peter said to Him, 'Lord, are You washing my feet?'  Jesus answered and said to him, 'What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.'  Peter said to Him, 'You shall never wash my feet!'  Jesus answered him, 'If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.'  Simon Peter said to Him, 'Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!'"  John 13:6-8

"You — King of the universe.  You — God in the flesh.  You — Maker of Heaven and Earth. . .  You?  Wash MY feet?  Me?  The lowly fisherman?  Me?  The impulsive one?  Me?  The one who will deny you three times?  Oh no Lord!  You will never wash MY feet!"  Peter knew that God Himself was about to kneel down in front of him and wash his feet and he just couldn’t fathom it. 

Like Peter, I cannot fathom it either. . .  that God is love, and this marvelous thing called grace is for me!  The God of the universe became a servant for me!  Me — lacking in self-control.  Me — the opposite of quiet and gentle.  Me — selfishly motivated.  Yes, God loves even ME and wants to wash MY feet! 

The Lord says I must allow Him to wash my feet or I will have no part with Him.  "Well then Lord, not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!"

Lord, many times Your grace is beyond my reach.  I know You understand this, because You understood that Peter wasn’t getting it either.  Please help me Lord, to understand and to know the depths of Your love.  Help me abandon myself to Your care, please Lord wash my feet.

February 13, 2011

"At the command of the LORD the children of Israel would journey, and at the command of the LORD they would camp; as long as the cloud stayed above the tabernacle they remained encamped.  Even when the cloud continued long, many days above the tabernacle, the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not journey.  So it was, when the cloud was above the tabernacle a few days: according to the command of the LORD they would remain encamped, and according to the command of the LORD they would journey.  So it was, when the cloud remained only from evening until morning: when the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they would journey; whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud was taken up, they would journey.  Whether it was two days, a month, or a year that the cloud remained above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would remain encamped and not journey; but when it was taken up, they would journey. At the command of the LORD they remained encamped, and at the command of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by the hand of Moses."  Numbers 9:18-23

How long do I stay at this job?  In this neighborhood?  In this particular ministry?  How long do I continue going about my daily devotion time in a certain way?

It is my choice whether to turn my eyes to the Lord for any decision in my life.  I can look to Him:  "Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He has mercy on us" (Psalm 123:2).

Is He really my Master?  My Lord?  Do I look to Him for my marching orders?  Do I rush to His throne each day–let alone for each decision that I have to make?

God's Word tells us, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

February 6, 2011

"The land of Canaan on which you were just walking will be your special possession and that of your descendants forever, because you wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God."  Joshua 14:9

This was God's reward to Caleb for living by faith, and not giving into fear.

Fear.  My flesh is full of ungodly fear.  Fear of the future, fear of the enemy, fear of what I may do if I’m not walking in the Spirit. 

God’s original intention for fear was for man’s protection.  However, when Adam and Eve chose to turn their back on God, fear morphed into something very different.  Something which disables me.  Something destructive.  Something that robs me of the joy and blessing that comes with faith in God. 

Praise God.  He doesn’t leave me disabled in my fear.  He has called me to Himself.  In relationship with Him, I can be as “bold as a lion.”  Proverbs 28:1.  I love the example of Caleb.  He could have feared his enemy — the Anakim (giant) people – when he saw them first-hand at the time he and others spied out the Promised Land.  If Caleb had given into fear, he would not have entered the Promised Land.  Not only would Caleb have missed out on God’s blessing, but also his family and future descendants, all of whom were richly blessed because Caleb acted out of faith in God’s promises and character, and not out of fear.

Father, I want the heart of Caleb who wholeheartedly followed You in the face of his enemy. Please give me the faith to follow You in order that I may have joy today and that my descendants might receive Your blessing.

January 30, 2011

"'He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.' Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, 'Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.'"  John 14:21-23 NASB

Do I want full disclosure?

Jesus says that if I love Him and keep His commandments He will "disclose" Himself to me. Jesus said that if I love Him and keep His word, the Father will love me and Jesus and the Father will come to me and make their abode with me.  This "disclosure" and deep fellowship with God is not given to everyone, but to those who love and obey Him.  It is a conditional promise.  Do I put my love for God into action by obeying Him or is my love lip service only? Do I turn His grace into license to disobey or be lazy?  But "disclosure" and deep fellowship is conditional.  The scripture is clear.  If I want the Lord to show Himself to me, to come into view, to appear and manifest Himself to me, I must not only love Him, I must obey Him. 

Lord, I want full disclosure.  I want to see You clearly.  I want to know You intimately.  I want You to abide with me, always.  Help me to love You like this Lord!

January 23, 2011

"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children." Ephesians 5:1

How can I imitate God?  The Bible says, "No one has seen God at any time," (John 1:18) and the definition of imitate is "to follow or endeavor to follow as a model or example; to make a copy of; to reproduce closely."  Imitation has with it an assumption of proximity or visibility, meaning the imitator can observe the trait being imitated.  So how can I imitate God with my actions and my speech and my behavior if I can't see God, if I can't hear God, if I can't watch how He behaves?

The answer is this — I can imitate Jesus!  Jesus is the express image of the Father in human form (John 14:9) and when I see Jesus act, I see God the Father act.  Therefore, I imitate Jesus.

Now the skeptic will say, "But I haven't seen Jesus either!"  In response to this, Jesus told Thomas (John 20:29) "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."  I have the testimony of the saints and the confirmation of the Holy Spirit in my life.  I also have the very word of God, given to me in the Bible, which declares to me the very person of Christ as though He was standing right here with me (John 5:39).

Why should I imitate Christ?  Because Jesus Christ forgave me.  Ephesians 4:32 says: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as Christ forgave you." Because Jesus forgave me, I should try to forgive others.  Because Jesus loved me, I should try to love others.  Or as Paul says, I should imitate "as a dear child."  Because Jesus has saved me and delivered to me an eternal inheritance, I should live as a child, a child who imitates his godly Father in heaven.  I have the perfect big brother for an example!

Paul also gives me some practical encouragement in this chapter as well.  In verses 2-7 he describes what I should look like and what kind of behaviors I need to leave behind.  I should strive to look more like the Father and less like the world; I must imitate Jesus.

God, help me imitate You today!

January 16, 2011

"He changes rivers into a wilderness,
And springs of water into a thirsty ground;
A fruitful land into a salt waste,
Because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it.
He changes a wilderness into a pool of water,
And a dry land into springs of water;
And there He makes the hungry to dwell,
So that they may establish an inhabited city,
And sow fields, and plant vineyards,
And gather a fruitful harvest.
Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly;
And He does not let their cattle decrease."

Psalm 107:33-38; 42-43

This psalm describes five different situations where God’s people learned of the lovingkindness of the Lord. The fifth, described here in verses 33-42, is about a child of God who witnessed God create something out of nothing. This man got to see God change a wilderness into a pool of water, and a dry land into a spring of water. God gave him a farm to sow seed, a vineyard to plant, and fruit to harvest. God blessed him, multiplied his family and protected his cattle. God blessed the people around him as well, a whole city! I must remember that God did these things to show His lovingkindness.

This was a wonderful act of God, a demonstration of His response to a child of God walking with Him. Verse 43 says I am wise if I give heed (treasure up) and consider this lovingkindness of the Lord.

Lord, how amazing it would be to see You bless my city because of my faithfulness, or because of the faithfulness of the people of my church, or because of the obedient Christians in my city. Give me, give our church, give all believers of Christ in our city, the grace to walk in obedience to Your word! I want to sew in obedience and reap all the gracious things You are willing to give!!

January 9, 2011

"Those who go down to the sea in ships,
Who do business on great waters;
They have seen the works of the Lord,
And His wonders in the deep.
For He spoke and raised up a stormy wind,
Which lifted up the waves of the sea.
They rose up to the heavens, they went down to the depths;
Their soul melted away in their misery.
They reeled and staggered like a drunken man,
And were at their wits end.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brought them out of their distresses.
He caused the storm to be still,
So that the waves of the sea were hushed.
Then they were glad because they were quiet;
So He guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders (wonderful acts) to the sons of men!
Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people,
And praise Him at the seat of the elders."

Psalm 107:23-32; 43

This psalm describes five different situations where God’s people learned of the lovingkindness of the Lord.  The fourth, described here in verses 23-32, is about a child of God who is at his wits' end at his job!  His soul has melted into misery.  God has chosen to raise up an overwhelming storm — LITERALLY — AT HIS JOB to teach this man about His lovingkindness.  Perhaps it was to bring the man to a place of need so He would stop ignoring God and cry out to Him.  Perhaps it was to build His faith in God.  Perhaps it was to cure the man of an ungrateful heart.  Perhaps it was all three!  

Whatever the case, this was a wonderful act of God, a demonstration of His response to a child of God who remembered to cry out to Him.  Verse 43 says I am wise if I give heed (treasure up)  and consider this lovingkindness of the Lord. 

Dear God, I hate being at my wits’ end.  Remind me never to ignore You in my life, to remember Your faithfulness, to praise You for Your faithfulness!

January 2, 2011

"Fools, because of their rebellious way,
And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.
Their soul abhorred all kinds of food;
And they drew near to the gates of death.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders (wonderful acts) to the sons of men!
Let them also offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And tell of His works with joyful singing."

"Who is wise?  Let him give heed to these things;
And consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord."

Psalm 107:17-22; 43

This psalm describes five different situations where God’s people learned of the lovingkindness of the Lord.  The third, described here in verses 17-21, is about a child of God who became a fool because he decided to pursue iniquity.  As a result, God afflicted him.  This is another demonstration of God’s lovingkindness.  He loves His children so much that, out of love, He afflicts them.  As the foolish man draws near to death, he realized who can help him.  He cried out to the Lord.  God graciously saved him out of his distress, sickness, and destruction. I must remember that God put him in the distress to show him His lovingkindness.  

This was a wonderful act of God, a demonstration of His response to a child of God who had walked in foolishness.  Verse 43 says I am wise if I give heed (treasure up) and consider this lovingkindness of the Lord. 

Of course, I hope not to choose to walk in a rebellious way.  But I know when I have in the past,  I cried out to the Lord in my trouble and He saved me out of my distress.  Thank You Lord for Your forgiveness and restoration.  Help me not choose to learn about Your lovingkindness through rebellion ever again!

December 26, 2010

"There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death,
Prisoners in misery and chains,
Because they had rebelled against the words of God,
And spurned the counsel of the Most High.
Therefore He humbled their heart with the labor;
They stumbled and there was none to help.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
And broke their bands apart.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders (wonderful acts) to the sons of men!
For He has shattered gates of bronze,
And cut bars of iron asunder."

"Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things;
And consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord."

Psalm 107:1-16; 43

This psalm describes five different situations where God’s people learned of the lovingkindness of the Lord.  The second, described here in verses 10-16, is about a child of God who has rebelled against the words of God.  Therefore, God in His lovingkindness, humbled this man with hardship and labor.  The man realized that no one could help him out of the pit God had put him in.  Finally, the man cried out to the Lord, whom he had spurned, and the Most High saved him out of his distress.  I must remember that God put him in the distress to show him His lovingkindness.

This was a wonderful act of God, a demonstration of His response to a child of God in his rebellion.  Verse 43 says I am wise if I give heed (treasure up) and consider this lovingkindness of the Lord. 

Lord, if ever I find myself in a time of rebellion, darkness, and misery, show me as You showed this man to turn to You for help and restoration.  

December 19, 2010

"They (the redeemed of the Lord) wandered in the wilderness in a desert region;
They did not find a way to an inhabited city.
They were hungry and thirsty;
Their soul fainted within them.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He delivered them out of their distresses.
He led them also by a straight way,
To go to an inhabited city.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,
And for His wonders (wonderful acts) to the sons of men!
For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, 
And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good."

"Who is wise?  Let him give heed to these things;
And consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord."

Psalm 107:4-9, 43

This psalm describes five different situations where God’s people learned of the lovingkindness of the Lord.  The first, described here in verses 4-9, is about a child (or children) of God whose heart fainted within him.  He was hungry and discouraged.  Then he cried out to the Lord. The Lord, in His lovingkindness, delivered him out of his distress.  I must remember that God put him in the distress to show him His lovingkindness. 

This was a wonderful act of God, a demonstration of His response to a child of God who discovered where to turn when despair descended upon his heart.  Verse 43 says I am wise if I give heed (treasure up) and consider this lovingkindness of the Lord.  

Lord I want to be like this man when my heart faints within me.  Lord, You are my refuge, and I find I need to hide in You more and more often.  Thank You.

December 12, 2010

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Matthew 5:4

I like to focus on the words of Jesus.  After all, we are commanded by Him to teach the things that He taught us (Matt. 28:18-20).  In order for the word of Christ to dwell in us richly, we must meditate on them daily.  It's so easy for me to overemphasize the words of Paul, or of Peter and to thereby miss the mark by going too far to the right or to the left.  

Jesus said it would be a blessing for people to mourn.  Now isn't that an oxymoron?  How is it a blessing to be sad?  More than we realize, depression can be a stimulant to spiritual progress.  How else did David overcome his most difficult circumstances than by suffering in the caves?  How else would Paul be able to say that at all times he was both "sorrowful yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10)?  Every servant of God will suffer, and depression is part of that suffering.  We are still commanded to rejoice, even in the midst of depression.  

That is how we overcome whatever temptation we face.  It is by yielding to the Spirit of God and allowing Him to lead us into all of His ways of peace, even when it feels like we want to run the other way.  Mourning over our own sin can bring spiritual refreshment, and it's something we all need a lot more of (see 2 Corinthians 7:10-11).

December 5, 2010

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Just because I am saved and sanctified does not mean that the rest of my time here on earth is going to be easy.  Jesus says that in this world, I will face tribulation.  After "strengthening the souls of the disciples" and "exhorting them to continue in their faith", Paul and Barnabas said to the churches "we must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)  Romans 5:3-4 says that I should "glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope."  I know that there is no way to bypass the tribulations of this world.  However, I know that Jesus has overcome this world.  I also know that in tribulation I can find peace in Christ (John 16:33), develop perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3-4), and that through tribulation I will enter the kingdom of my Heavenly Father (Acts 14:22).

Lord, thank You for claiming victory over this world through the blood of Your Son.  Help me to look to You, my Conqueror, when I face tribulations, knowing and trusting that You can bring great blessings out of what may be a trying and difficult time.  

November 28, 2010

"… walking in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:31 

How often I look at my walk with the Lord and see a constant need for balance between walking:  1) in the fear of the Lord, and 2) in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  

If there is all fear, and no comfort in the Spirit, all my fruitful labor will be like dead works. Heavy.  Burdensome.  Unenjoyable.  God will become distant, harsh, and hard to please.  How unsatisfying, dull, and unhappy a comfortable Christian life would be without daily living in the fear of the Lord.  

But if I presume upon God's comforts, His grace, the gifts of the Spirit, the benefits of being His child, I will begin to spiritually linger.  I will abandon my role in my relationship with the Lord — self-control, sharing the gospel in season and out, confession, serving, self-examination, my devotional life.  I will get sloppy and lose my joy and the gladness and simplicity of life with Christ.  

How necessary to walk both in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  

Lord, please help me to lay aside every sin, hindrance, snare, and lazy attitude that keeps me from living in the fear of You and that robs me of an abundant and fulfilled life.  Likewise, help me to enjoy Your presence and all the benefits You richly provide at all times through Your Spirit.  Amen.

November 21, 2010

"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16

There are times when I don’t go to the Lord because I am ashamed of my sin or I fear that He is upset with me because I have failed Him once again.  Oh how I don’t understand the compassion, mercy, grace and love that my God has for me!  Jesus wants me to come to Him without shame or fear but with boldness so I may obtain His grace and mercy in my time of need.  My Lord sympathizes with my weakness and wants to help me.

Can I say my heart toward others is like the heart of Jesus toward me?  Am I sympathetic to the struggles others have?  Or do I give them a reason to feel ashamed or fearful?  Am I quick to judge them?  Or do I quickly go boldly to the throne of grace on their behalf in their time of need?

Dear Lord, help me to understand even more Your compassion, mercy, grace and love so I may enter Your throne of grace boldly.  Change my heart to be more sympathetic and less judgmental.

November 14, 2010

"If, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning."  2 Peter 2:20

Say not within yourself ". . . this sin of mine is a light matter, it only concerns outward things which do not belong to the essence of Christianity."  In fact, sometimes disobedience to these "outward things" is sure evidence of a shallow faith, a light-heartedness concerning real obedience to God, and a conscience that is not tender toward the Lord.  By conforming to the world in this manner, we give a "handle" to the enemy of our souls to ruin us, and risk a latter end worse than the beginning. (Bogatsky)

Lord, please help me not to take advantage of Your grace in any area of my life.  I want to give every bit of my life to You Lord! 

November 7, 2010

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."  Philippians 1:3

There are men and women in the body of Christ that I thank God for, every time they cross my mind.  That is the kind of rich, blessed unity the Lord desires in the body of Christ.  A unity where my heart smiles and praises God upon the very remembrance of my brothers and sisters.  Ephesians 1:3 says God blesses us with "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ."  This is one of those blessings — a heart that overflows with gratefulness for the brethren.  Oh how my heart soars when that happens!  I must not let Satan rob me of this spiritual blessing, which is unique to the body of Christ, and not found in the world.

Am I serving people in such a way that over time when they think of me they will immediately thank God?  Lord, give me the grace to do so because I want to bless You with unity in the body of Christ, even as I want to be blessed by unity.

October 31, 2010

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust…” Joel 2:25

Many times when I have faced a trial in my life it seems to trigger a domino effect — where I end up facing not just one overwhelming situation, but seemingly endless struggles.  The devouring locust makes waste of my relationships, my finances, and even my physical health. When I think I cannot take anymore, another type of locust finishes what the rest have left behind.  And then yet another type of locust comes.  It seems it takes different kinds of locusts to weed out the roots of sin in my life.  Yet. . .  in the midst of great pain and loss, the Lord promises to “restore the years” that the locusts have taken.  What a great comfort!  To know that even through my own sin and shame, the Lord promises such a great restoration in my life.  

Even before God brought restoration to Israel, the prophet Joel gave Israel God's promise that He would bring restoration, healing and blessing.  He declared to them — “Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things!”  Even before God brings about restoration in my life, I can trust that He will deliver upon that which He promises.  Therefore even in times of great trial, I can declare to my soul “fear not!” and “be glad!”  

In Hebrews 12:11, Paul writes, “Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  It is in these chastenings (brought about by different types of "locusts") that we become broken, and then all we can do is surrender.  Only then can the Lord work in us, and through us.  Only then can He bring true restoration.

Lord, as I walk through trials, please remind me of the promise of restoration.  Thank you for the times of chastisement, and all that You have restored in the past, and all that You promise to restore in the future.  Please give me perseverance for each trial I face so that I can receive the peaceable fruit of righteousness.  Amen.

October 24, 2010

"When you arrive in Babylon and see it, and read all these words. . . when you have finished reading this book, then you shall tie a stone to it and throw it out into the Euphrates.” Jer. 51:61-63

In Jeremiah 50-51 the prophet Jeremiah gives his last recorded prophecy — regarding the utter destruction of Babylon — and then tells Seraiah his assistant to go to Babylon and read aloud from a book in which the prophecy was written, and then to tie a stone to the book and toss it into the river. When I read this, I could not help but think about how utterly foolish this must have appeared.  Babylon was at its peak of prosperity and power.  It seemed to be an unconquerable nation and immovable city.  The outer walls were 80 feet thick and 320 feet high, wide enough for two four-horse chariots to pass each other.  Babylon had just easily defeated in battle the nation of Judah.  Yet, God wanted a prophet of Judah to proclaim in Babylon about the destruction of Babylon, and then throw the book tied to a stone into the river as a picture of the concrete truth of God’s Word.  Sometimes I face situations in my life where the walls seem 80 feet thick, 320 feet high, and totally impenetrable, but the Lord is calling me to have the faith and courage to stand up and speak the truth.  Just because I cannot move the walls does not mean that they are immovable. "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26).  The way of the world can seem impossible to overcome, but I must believe the concrete truth of God’s Word.  “For the Word of the Lord is right” (Psa. 33:4), and His Words will never pass away (Matt. 24:35).  In John 16:33 Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  

Lord Jesus, help me be of good cheer when I am surrounded by the Babylon of 2010.  Give me the courage to speak the truth without doubt and to have the confidence that comes from knowing that You have overcome the world.

October 17, 2010

"Uzziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. . . as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper . . . but when he was strong his heart was lifted up to his destruction for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. . . so Azariah the priest went in after him. . . then Uzziah became furious. . .  and the Lord struck him [with leprosy]."  2 Chronicles 26:4-5, 16, 19, 20

I have been thinking a lot about Uzziah.  He was a good man, a spiritual man, a man who prospered with God and people and leadership.  But over time something happened, and he became a different man.  What happened?  The Bible says — "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life."  Proverbs 4:23  That means if I don't keep my heart with all diligence, if I allow my time in the word with God to slip, if I become disconnected with the body of Christ, over time, there will be little left but forms of religion — going to church, saying prayers, singing songs.  To the outside world I may look like I am doing ok with God, but inside I am far away.  I never want to go there because I know where that may take me.  It may take me to the same place Uzziah went to.  A place where relationship (with Jesus) is replaced by religion.  A place where substance is replaced by form. A place where the peace of God is replaced by the fury of my natural temper.  That is where Uzziah went, that is where I never want to be.

God help me to feed only upon Christ, and at the same time diligently work out my salvation with fear and trembling!  Philippians 2:12

October 10, 2010

“Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.”  Colossians 4:3-4

Chains tie a person down.  They restrict and confine a person’s movement and put a limit on their mobility.  How can a person run for Christ in chains?  

In Colossians 4:3-4, Paul shows the heart and mind of Christ during his time in jail.  Rather than asking for prayer to be freed from his chains, Paul asked fellow believers to pray for him, that God would use him to share the Gospel with others.  Paul didn’t see his chains as a barrier to the Lord’s work.  He saw his chains as an opportunity for the Lord’s work.  The chains may have restricted Paul physically, but they could not restrict the Holy Spirit from working through Paul.  The Holy Spirit cannot be tied down.  Paul was able to run for Christ in his physical chains!

There are times when a situation in life can leave me feeling chained down, that is, restricted or limited to share the Gospel.   Often, I feel this at my job.  Time and time again, my heart’s response is: “God, what use can I be here if I am restricted or limited from sharing about You?” My heart bends towards discouragement and unbelief.  Yet I take encouragement from Paul’s writings here in the book of Colossians.  The Holy Spirit teaches me, through Paul, that those chains — those life situations that may restrict me — might be the very things God has in place so that He can “open a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.”  

October 3, 2010

“. . .and having your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15

Having your feet shod means to have your shoes on.  For what?  To move.  To go.  To be swift and quick to bring the gospel of peace.  This is only one part of the armor of God listed in this chapter, but it is different in that it is clearly offensive as opposed to being defensive.  The act of putting on this piece of armor represents spirit-led eagerness on the part of the armor-bearer to take action and put faith into practice.  

In Judges 7, before Gideon went to battle, God whittled down a large group of men of war to a small group.  This small group was drinking from the river when God had Gideon divide these men into two smaller groups, and only one group was chosen for the battle.  The criterion that divided these two groups was the way that they drank from the river — those who lapped like a dog and those who got on their knees to drink.  What?!  Why would the way that they drank water matter?  I believe the answer is this — one group was more interested in the drinking part than the battle part!  The group chosen for battle took a few licks of water and was ready to go; they were thinking of the battle to come, and they were chosen.  What was in their hearts came out in the very way that they drank water.

That’s the kind of heart that I want to have.  I don’t want to waste too much time thinking about the process of life, but on the goal of life.   I do not want to spend my thought life in worry, fear, thinking about my failures, and trying to figure out how I am going to survive spiritually.  I want to spend my thought life on “praying continually,” praying for opportunities to share the gospel, praying for my brothers, sisters, and my pastor.   I want to pray for the ministries I and others are involved in.  I want to pray that lives be changed.  That’s being on the offense with my “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

Lord, please give me the heart of Isaiah that says, “Here am I!  Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8).  

September 19, 2010

"So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  When Jacob saw the angels, he said, 'This is God's camp.'"  Genesis 32:1-2a  

"Then the messengers returned to Jacob saying, '. . . your brother Esau . . . is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.'  So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed…" Genesis 32:6-7a

Even though in verses 1 and 2 of Genesis 32 Jacob has a personal encounter with God, days later in verses 6 and 7 he is "greatly afraid and distressed" over what he thinks is a life-threatening situation involving his brother Esau.  How is it possible that Jacob is "greatly afraid and distressed" so soon after his personal encounter with God?  The answer may be this — Jacob let yesterday's experience with the Lord be a substitute for today's experience with the Lord.  I — like Jacob — need today's manna for today's battle, the Lord intended that way.  If He let me rely on yesterday's — or yesteryear's — experience with Him to fight today's battle, sadly I would not daily seek Him in prayer or in His word.  The Lord loves me that much, He wants me with Him every day, coming to Him for my manna.

The wonderful thing is that even when I have lagged behind in my relationship with the Lord, as it appears Jacob may have done, God's grace and mercy always prevails.  After Jacob became "greatly afraid and distressed', he cried out to God in prayer (Genesis 32:9-12), and the Lord heard his prayer.  He may have lagged behind, but with God's grace Jacob went out and won the day's battle, with the manna the Lord provided on that day.  So it must be with me.

September 12, 2010

"Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."  Psalm 62:8

There have been many times I’ve been deeply hurt, felt betrayed, disappointed or let down by the people who are closest to me; friends whom I love dearly.  My natural tendency is to put up a wall and not trust them again because I don’t want to bear the pain of being hurt again. This is not God’s plan for me.  This is not the Lord’s heart toward anyone.

Jesus Himself was disappointed by His disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane when they fell asleep in His time of need, betrayed by Judas and denied by Peter. (Matthew 26)

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked the disciples to watch and pray.  They fell asleep, not once or twice, but three times in the same night!  Jesus could have decided not to entrust Himself to them again, but He did not do that.  He forgave them, continued to be vulnerable with them, and continued to give them another chance.

While still in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas came with the chief priests and elders and gave Jesus the kiss of betrayal.  After Judas kissed Jesus, Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”  Jesus could have decided that Judas was not worthy of being His friend because Judas betrayed Him, but Jesus didn’t do that.  Jesus’ heart was not angry and bitter, but soft, tender and forgiving, calling him friend.

Finally, in the prediction of Peter’s denial, Jesus was not full of anger, bitterness or unforgiveness, but love and compassion.  In John 14:1 after Peter learns of Jesus’ prediction that Peter would deny Jesus, Jesus tells Peter, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."  In Luke 22:32, before Peter’s denial was announced, Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail.  Jesus was encouraging and praying for the one who would deny Him!

Because Jesus trusted in God at all times, He was able to love, be vulnerable with, encourage, and pray for those who were close to Him and called him "friend," the same people who betrayed Him, disappointed Him, and denied Him.

Dear Lord, reveal any sinful lack of trust in my heart and help me to respond the way Jesus responded when people let Him down.  Help me to trust in You at all times, knowing that You are faithful to complete the good work You started in me.

September 5, 2010

"… having a form of godliness, but denying its power…"  2 Timothy 3:5

I may be able to master a certain lust or ungodly temperament in my own strength, but in doing this I have erected a building of my own making.  This is a dangerous thing for me to do because I now have a form of godliness in my life, without power.  This kind of building is like a building built on sand; it will be destroyed when the rain and wind and flood come down on my life.  This kind of building will not profit me at the judgement seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).  This kind of building causes me to rest in a false security, and causes my wrestling with the Lord in prayer to cease.  

Lord, please expose the areas of my life which are nothing more than forms of godliness, without power.  Lord please bring me to the place where I understand that only that which is built by You has any worth or value in my life.  Lord, You only are my righteousness and strength!  Isaiah 45:24

August 22, 2010

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

Anxiety is defined as – “full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried.”

How are the bills going to get paid this month?  How am I ever going to finish all this work on time?  How long do I have to wait for that thing I desire SO much? Why isn't the Lord answering my prayer NOW?

Here in Philippians 4:6, I am instructed to be anxious for nothing.  The word for “nothing” in the Greek literally means, "not even one thing."  While this may seem impossible, the Lord never commands me to do anything without also providing the enabling power to fulfill His command.

In verse 7 of Philippians chapter 4, I am given a glorious promise of peace – the peace of God which surpasses understanding; a peace which I can't even understand; a peace that will “guard” my heart and mind.  How do I obtain this promise of peace?  By doing what I am told to do in verse 6 —  pray and give thanks.  

Luke 10:38-41 shares an account of two sisters, Martha and Mary.  Martha was anxious about many things and was distracted with much serving.  Her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard His Word. Martha questioned Jesus' care for her because she (Martha) was doing all the serving alone.  Jesus' response to Martha was profound — "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

I need not be anxious or distracted with the many troubles of life or the many things that need to get done.  Like Mary, I ought to choose the one needed thing – to sit at Jesus' feet and hear His Word.  I need to pray and give thanks.  These things will not be taken from me, but will lead to my peace.

Dear Lord, help me to choose to do the "needed thing" first and release my anxieties to You. Thank You Lord for Your promise of peace.

August 15, 2010

". . . whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them."  Mark 11:24

King Herod promised with an oath to give the daughter of Herodias whatever she would ask, even to the half of the kingdom.  What a promise!  But how much more so the promise of the Lord!  When God tells us to ask, He does not restrict us to asking for half of a kingdom (like Herod).  No, we may ask for a whole kingdom, even the kingdom of heaven.  It was purchased for us by the blood of the Lamb and it is promised to all believers.  If now we do not enjoy the kingdom of heaven — grace, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit — it is because we have not asked, or that we have asked amiss (James 4:3) — without faith, without patience, or in our own name, and not in the all-prevailing name of Jesus.  "By myself have I sworn" says the Lord, "that in blessing I will bless you."  (Genesis 22:16-17) (Bogatsky)

August 8, 2010

“But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away, and were believing in Jesus.”  John 12:10-11

Lazarus endured a terrible sickness and died, and as a result, others believed.  I wonder if he was glad to go through that trial.  Martha and Mary also  endured the trial.  They had no idea of the reason for the trial, or all the pain that went along with it, until the trial was over.  

The Bible says Lazarus was a friend of Jesus. (John 11:11)  Would I be this good of a friend to Jesus?  Am I willing to go through an extremely painful trial so that others will believe?  Am I willing to believe that God has a reason for my pain, even though I don't understand what it is?

Lord, please help me to trust Your direction in my life.  May I be as devoted a friend to You as Lazarus, Mary and Martha.

July 31, 2010

"For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ."  Philippians 1:8

If Paul longed so greatly for the church in Philippi, then how much greater must the Lord long for me?  My Savior, the Most High and Holy One, Lord of All, longs for me!  And just as Paul longed for the Philippians, the Lord longs for me to grow in knowledge and discernment (1:9), that I may approve of those things which are good and excellent, that I may be sincere and without offense until I meet Jesus face-to-face (1:10), and that I may be filled with the fruits of righteousness, bringing glory and praise to God (1:11).  And if ever I fail in the weakness of