A fresh start...a steady walk

But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.~Isaiah 52:12

God always gives me exactly what I need to hear at the exact time I need to hear it.  He is has done it over and over again.  He looks at the core of my heart and sees the issues that flow from it and then responds in the most loving and gentlest of ways.  Over and over again He reminds me that He has my front and my back.  And while I may flee from sin I never have to flee from Him.

This morning I woke up feeling dejected because I have not ended this year the way I would have wanted.  I have been wrestling with things and I am afraid I have allowed myself to get pinned to the mat way too often.  I have struggled with trusting God and feel like I have allowed ways that I thought I had taken off to put back on.  I don’t like it.  God has been so good to me.   I have come so far and it feels like I have dropped the baton just as I am getting ready to cross the finish line.

But here is the thing and the beauty of our Lord.  He never told me run swiftly.  He told me to endure until the end.  The new year is not the finish line, but only the start of another leg of the race.  I don’t have to enter the new year in haste and I don’t have to flee from my past.  I can let the past stay in the past and I embrace the fresh start of this day and approaching year.  My race is not over and my Lord is in front of me calling me forward and He is behind me pushing me forward and cheering me on.

The rhythm of life is a steady pace as I walk with God.  It intentional steps being ordered by God.  It is constant and consistent movement towards Him.  It is walking in peace with Him as I learn to trust that He is guiding me to still waters. It is not my failures or success that propel me, but rather His Amazing Grace.

Father I thank You for hearing the silent pleas of my heart.  Thank You for holding me close to You and reminding me of Your love me.  Thank You for putting my eyes back on the Cross.  Father, keep my gait steady and my faith steadfast.  I love you Lord for all that You are!  In Jesus name. Amen

This Day!

This is the day the Lord has made;

We will rejoice and be glad in it.~Psalm 118:24

God has given me this day.  Yesterday has already passed and I do not know what tomorrow will bring.  In fact, I do not know if there will be a physical tomorrow for me, no one does.  Yet, too often I live my days ruminating over what I did or did not do yesterday and being anxious about what is approaching in the coming days.  This is not what God desires for me.  This is not the yoke that He has placed upon me.

God does not want me weighed down by my constant striving to perform up to expectations that I will never meet in my own strength.  In fact, the only thing that God expects me to do is love Him and my neighbors more and more each day. 

God wants me to rest in Him.  He wants me to be still with my thoughts.  He desires me to stop trying to plan the outcome, but rather trust Him with it.  He desires me to stop putting back on burdens that He has taken off.  

He has given me this day and in this day their is beauty.  There is a blessing with each breathe that I take.  There is hope in the expectation in seeing the work of His hands this day.  He wants me to embrace this day and rejoice.  

Rejoice in knowing that He is with me from my getting up to my going down.  He is with me to guide my steps.  He is with me to open my eyes to the beauty of His creation.  He is with me to witness His power in my weakness; to bathe in His grace.

He has made this day.  He has done great things in this day.  I will rejoice in this day.  I will leave yesterday to the past and tomorrow to the future.  I will be glad for He is with me.

Father I thank You for the blessing of this day.  I thank You for the time I have been given to be in your presence, to sit at your feet and learn from You.  I thank You for the rest you provide and the refreshing of my soul.  Forgive me for grumbling and missing the beauty of your work on this day.  Teach me Father how to be still.  Teach me how to trust.  To You be all the glory, power, and majesty.  In Jesus name. Amen

You can’t have my joy!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.~Romans 15:13

Today is Christmas!  A day of celebration as we soak in the truth that a Savior was given to us.  A day where we can pause and share the joy of the gift of Jesus Christ being born to the world and into our life.  We rejoice in hope because God gave us His Son so that we can be free from the curse of sin.  

This should be a joyous day as all the world gets silent and looks to the light of hope and peace for all men.  Yet, for so many hearts are heavy and burdened. For so many it feels like the enemy has come in a robbed you of your most treasured possessions; swapping out the good for “lumps of coal”.

Here’s the thing though, coal can be used to fuel a fire.  It can fuel the fire of praise and trust as we remain confident in the blessings of God. Let it fuel the flames that will destroy the weapons of the enemy. Let us destroy the destructive thoughts and distractions from this world.  Let it fuel the light that draws us even closer to Jesus so that we can count it all joy.  Let us be still and watch how our amazing God turns everything around for us.  

The enemy wants to steal your joy, don’t let Him.

Let’s not allow the enemy to rob us of our peace.  May we open our hearts to receive the overflow of His Spirit and love.  May the power of God break every stronghold and lift every heart as we rejoice in God our Savior.  May we have Christmas everyday as we remain in awe of the blessing of Jesus Christ in our lives.  May we sing with angels and rejoice in Whom God is and worship Him.

Father, You have given us joy and peace.  The enemy is trying to steal it.  May your people speak boldly and proclaim that he can’t have it.  What you have given to me is for me and I thank You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Immanuel

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”~Mathew 1:23

Immanuel! God with us! I am so grateful for God’s gift.  I am grateful for His good will and peace towards men for without Jesus I would surely be lost.  My Father is with me.  He dwells inside of me.  He fills me with His Spirit and I am humbled.  

I am humbled that my Lord would think of me and love me.  I am grateful that He chose to send His Son to walk among us teaching us how to be in relationship with the Father.  I am grateful for His gift of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. 

I am overcome with joy knowing that God is with me. I am not alone and all is well with my soul. Immanuel, God is with me, so I have nothing to fear and no need to worry.  Immanuel, God is  with me, thus I am safe and secure even when  trouble is all around me. Immanuel, God is with me and I am blessed. I am blessed to celebrate Christmas everyday because the gift of God is eternal.  

Father I thank You for being with me.  I thank You for gift of your Son and my King.  May I celebrate the gift of You every day.  May my heart rejoice and my spirit be full of joy as I worship You in spirit and in truth.  May I bow before You and submit to your will.  May I stay in your presence and continually seek your face.  May I share the gift of You with others as I abound in your love.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Am I making room for Jesus?

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.~Luke 2:6-7

Jesus was born in a manger; a barn with animals.  No one bothered to give us their beds for a pregnant woman about to give birth?  There was no one willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of another?  So easy to point the finger, by my thumb points back at myself.  This question boomerangs back to me.  Am I making room for Jesus?  Am I willing to be uncomfortable so that the needs of others can be met?

I would love for my answer to be a resounding yes, but that would be untrue.  Sure I love Jesus and He stands at the center of my heart, but loving Jesus also means that I am loving my fellow man.  It means I am making room for others to be invited into my space to fellowship and grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This will require me to make room for differences in personalities, cultures, and experiences.  I need to seek to make those whom I don’t know yet and may be some I know “too well” feel welcomed. I am going to have to clean out some of my rooms built on traditions, rooms filed with attitudes of it “must be done my way”, and throw away the hurts of the past.  I am going to have to get up and open the door of my heart wider so that Jesus can take up every nook and cranny.  I have to make room for Jesus because He does not belong on the outside.  

Father I thank You that for your humility and grace.  May I follow after You and be humble.  May I make room for others, embrace love, and give love.  I don’t want to shut You or those you send out.  In Jesus name. Amen

What am I giving Jesus?

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ~Mathew 2:11

I notice that I spend a lot of time asking God for things. I ask Him for strength, comfort, peace, wisdom, discernment, and healing for myself as well as others.  I ask Him because He is my provider and my source of life.  I am so grateful to have access to  His throne  without fear.  I am grateful that He allows me to just lay my head on His shoulder to be comforted during my times distress.  He is always near and my ever present help.  I love, beyond words, that Jesus calls me friend, but Jesus is also my King and as my King, He is to be worshipped.  

I want to be like the wise men who traveled from afar.  I want to daily seek Him out. I want to bow down and worship Jesus.  I want to sit at His feet and shower blessings upon His name.  I want to worship Him because and focus on His goodness and His character.  It is an honor to be allowed into His presence and my communion with Him allows everything else to flow.  Jesus is worthy and is to be praised.  

I want to give good gifts to Him.  I want to give my life to Him daily as a living sacrifice testifying to the goodness of Who He is- My God, Savior and King. I can never repay God for all He has done.  I can’t out give Him, but I can give Him my best everyday.  

It is so important to remember that this special season and everyday is about His birth, life, death, and resurrection. So as I bustle about trying to make Christmas a  special day for my family,  I just need to seek the reason for this season.  He must be at the center of it all.  I must bow before Him and worship Him, the Holy One.  I must reflect on the most precious gift of all- Jesus and praise Him.  

Father, I thank You that You allow me to come to You with my cares.  I thank You for interceding on my behalf and others.  You give and give and give with joy.  But Father let me not forget to seek You.  May I go the distance and draw near to You.  May I just fall at your feet and worship You.  May I give gifts that honor You in Spirit and in truth.  In Jesus name. Amen

What does my heart treasure?

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.~Luke 2:19

Whenever I read this verse I picture a woman full of grace and peace as she soaks up all that is happening around her.  I imagine an “ out-of-body” type of experience where you here and see it all, but it takes you a moment to truly grasps it’s meaning. 

I could not imagine being Mary. Young, unwed, talked about, most likely judged in ignorance, but yet steady and steadfast as she commits to the Lord’s will.  With grace and humility she becomes the blessed one; the mother of our Lord and Savior.  What an awesome responsibility, what a privilege.

Yet, we don’t find Mary boasting as praises and adoration are being heaped upon her child.  We don’t find her with a “how do you like me now” attitude.  No, we see her quiet and still soaking it all on it.  We find her reflecting on what it really all means.  She may be pondering on what it means to have the Savior born.  Or what it means for Him to be King. Mary is taking it all in and treasuring it all in her heart.

Her quietness encourages me to take the time to just sit and be still.  To ponder the goodness of the Lord that I witness and benefit from everyday. It encourages me daily reflect on what it means in my life to have Jesus as my Savior and my King.  It keeps life in perspective and directs me to place my heart on things that are eternal and store up treasures that will get me through the tough days.  I don’t have to boast.  I don’t have to say look at me now.  I can just be still and know that He is God.  I can praise Him and fill my heart with gratitude for His faithfulness and mercy towards me.  

Lord, as I celebrate your birth and your gift to me and this world may I take the time to reflect upon those things that matter.  The blessing of love, family, and fellowship with mankind.  May I treasure the gift of peace and reconciliation that You have give to all men.  May I treasure You above all else.  In Jesus name. Amen

Covenant Love

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.~Deuteronomy 7:9

I love to read scriptures about God’s complete authority and faithfulness.  The truth of His word comforts me.  Just knowing that my God does not fail, lie, or disappoint gives me peace and assurance.  The Lord has entered into a covenant with His people.  Let me make this personal, He has entered into a covenant with me.  A covenant of love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace.  I have been chosen by God. He has adopted me into the family and calls me His own!  Wow!  

I have no special qualifications.  I am just an ordinary girl who was lost, sitting in a dunghill of mess, but he still wanted me.  He took me out of all it and has given me they keys to His mansion.  Blessings upon blessings He has bestowed upon me.  Not because of who I am, but because of Who He is.  He is God.

It would be easy to stop right here and focus on what He has given me, all of the hope, joy, goodness, and promises that I can’t even imagine.  Yet, there is more to the covenant.  A covenant is a contract whereby people who enter into it agree to certain conditions.  God without a doubt keeps His end of the “deal”.  He is faithful even when I am not.  He never falls short and extends me in my limited state.  However, His amazing grace does not negate my responsibility and my part in the covenant. 

Yes, He established the covenant.  Gave His life to make it even easier for me to be up under it.  God has done all of the heavy lifting.  He cleansed me with His blood, paying for my debt of sin.  He has justified me and redeemed me.  He has shown me the gate that I must enter in and given me access to it.  He has done it all, yet I sometimes I still act like I have nothing to do.  As if there is no requirement on my part.  That is a selfish attitude and a misguided  one.  I can’t abuse God’s grace.  If I want to experience the promises of God.  If I want to be under the covering that His covenant provides I need to keep His commandments.  What He asks me to do is not hard. He has commanded me to love Him with everything I got ( heart, soul, mind, ) and to love my neighbor ( Mathew 22:37-39). He has given me a easy time; the best deal ever and I am grateful.

Father I thank You for your faithfulness.  You are God and You are good.  Forgive me those times when I am lazy and complacent.  Help me to do my part.  May I love You with a sincere love.  May it be live in action as I seek to love others and be a servant.  Not just in words but in deeds.  I thank You for enduring and everlasting love.  In Jesus name. Amen

Believing the promises of God

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!~Luke 1:43

Do you want to be blessed? I do!  And I know that the Lord wants to bless me and all of His children, but in order to receive that blessing we must believe.  We have to believe in the promises He has given to us.  We must believe His Word  as a matter of fact.  His Word is not theory or supposition.  God’s Word is true and reliable.  The Word of the Lord will never fail ( Luke 1:37).

Therefore, every promise that God has made to me will be fulfilled.  When I exercise my faith by proclaiming and living out my belief in the power and promises of God I am blessed.  I am blessed with a peace that surpasses all understanding.  I am blessed with self control and am able to turn the other cheek when someone offends me.  In fact, I can check myself for being so easily offended because I have no reason to fret because of Who I know.

I am blessed with the joy of the Lord which is my strength to endure the trials and tribulations in this earth knowing that it is making me into pure gold.  These test are purifying me so that I can be presented before my King.  I am blessed  because my God supplies all of my needs.  I am humble and secure because God is with me, Immanuel!  

During the Christmas season the secular world focuses a lot in believing in Santa Clause and the “spirit” of Christmas.  People seek to be kinder for a moment and do good to others.  There is nothing wrong with kindness and showing love, but it is often only temporary because they believe in a temporary thing.  I choose to believe in the everlasting truth of God.  I believe in the Father who gave His Son to the world.  I believe in the Son who gave His life for me and rose again with all power.  I believe in the Holy Spirit that lives in me and guides me to all truth and righteousness.  I believe in the promises of God and I am blessed.

The past does not determine our destiny

This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham; Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.~Mathew 1:1;5-6

I am guilty of skipping over the passages in the Bible that outline genealogy.  I honestly never viewed it as “meat” to chew on, but today God corrected my misconception.  He tells us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  Therefore, every stroke and letter in His Word is for our benefit as it prepares us to good work for His glory.

So as I was reading the genealogy of Jesus, two names jumped out at me: Rahab and Ruth.  Two women who were not born of Jewish birth.  One was once a prostitute ( Rahab) and the other a Moabite, with a pagan background.  Notice I said what they  once were.  These women started one way, but through the grace of God and faith ended with their stories being written in the Bible.  If you just looked at the past and their circumstances, you might not think they would ever amount to anything or become more, but with God all things are possible.  Our past does not have to dictate or determine our destiny. 

He created Rahab and Ruth with a divine purpose and Work.  Both of these women stepped out on faith.  Rahab hid the Hebrew spies in Jericho and hung a scarlet scarf so that she would be spared ( Joshua 2). Her life was changed because of her faith.  She believed in the God of Abraham and His power and became an ancestor of Christ Himself.  The mother of Boaz, who would be a  guardian-redeemer; a pre-cursor for the true Redeemer. ( Joshua 2:14)

And then there is Ruth who left her homeland and all that she knew to go with Naomi to an unknown place. She chose to serve God and care for her mother-in-law ( Ruth 1:16). She gleaned from the fields without complaint and by His grace and through her faith owned the very field she worked ( Ruth 2:2;4:13).  She went to beggar to “lender”. She too is an ancestor of Jesus the great grandmother of David (Mathew 1:6).

Wow! Just look at what God has done and still is doing for us.  Rahab and Ruth future was greater than their past.  They are evidence of how God works all things out for our good according to His purpose ( Romans 8:28).  It is a reminder that we are uniquely and beautifully made.  We are here for a reason.  Our future is bright because He is our hope. Our past does not define us, He does.  He tells us every day just how much we are loved.  We are wanted and chosen.  

Father I thank You for every bit of your Word and truth.  Forgive me for my tendency skip over parts.  May I realize that by doing that I am missing precious gems that You have prepared for me in advance.  Lord let me walk in my present with humility and by faith in the hope of the future You have prepared for me.  I love you Lord.  Blessing and praises be unto your name. In Jesus name I  pray. Amen

He’s Calling

Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”  So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. ~Mark 10:49-50

Bartimaeus was a blind man sitting on the side of the road in Jericho.  He cried out to Jesus to have mercy upon him. Some tried to quiet him, but he kept on calling out.  Bartimaeus had a need and he called out to the One he knew could provide.

I can imagine the anguish and pain in His voice as he called out to the Jesus.  I have been there and if I am being honest am there.  We all have those seasons in life where the wind blows a little colder or perhaps like Bartimaeus we are blind. The  adversity we face is making things seem dark and so we cry out to God for the mercy of His light. 

I don’t know what you face. Maybe it is financial hardship, a struggling relationship, difficulties on the job, sickness, grief, or loneliness.   Maybe you think that you have prayed long enough without result.  I encourage you to not give up or give in. Take heart and cheer up! 

I know it’s not easy to be cheerful when life is so hard. In fact I use to get down right angry when someone said those words to me.  I felt like they were dismissive of my pain and suffering, but here’s the truth.  We can cheer up because there is hope.  If you have Christ, there is always hope and a reason to hold on.

Hold on to your hope. Hold on to God because He hears you and He knows your name. He is calling You to come Him with all it. just as He is calling me.  He is calling us to leave our cares of this world with Him.  He is inviting us to trust Him to provide us with what we need.  We just have to get up and go to Him.  We have to answer the call.

Father I thank You for your comfort and the assurance of your love found in Your Word.  May You be glorified.  In Jesus name. Amen

When you feel broken

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.~2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Broken. That’s how I feel.  I have every reason to feel joy, but yet here I am with this gray cloud hanging over my head.  There is no rhyme or reason that I can point to.  I don’t know what needs to be “fixed”.   I am battling a familiar enemy on all sides.  So what do I do? Where do I go from here?  I go to the Truth.  I go to the Word of God and speak the things that I do know.

For example, I know that while I am being pressed on many sides, I will not be crushed.  God has a host of angels surrounding me, protecting me. I can’t stand how I am feeling and I want it to go away, but it’s just a feeling.  The fact is that the enemy’s job is to persecute me, but my God has already declared me victorious.  So the weapons fly, I am getting nicked here and there, but I will not be destroyed.  Jesus lives in me.  Satan can not defeat Him.  He knows this and is trying to distract me so that I will forget this truth. 

I also know that while others may not understand the weight of depression and chronic illness, my God does.  I know that He cares for me and will never abandon me.  So regardless of how dark it may seem, there is always His light that lights my path to peace and wholeness.  He is my “silver lining” in every cloud.  I might feel broken, but I know that by His grace and mercy I am not beyond repair.

Lord, I thank You for listening to me and having compassion on me.  I thank You in advance for the victory You will give me in this battle with depression.  I thank You for your peace and your wisdom.  I thank You for your comfort. May your light shine through my broken places.   In Jesus name. Amen

Enough?

Now to Him who is able to do 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 ~Ephesians 3:20-21

Jesus gets me so excited!  The way He confirms His Word just amazes me.  I should be use to it by now, but I never want to lose my awe for the Lord.  I never want to think I have grasped all of Him because I never will.  Yet, amazingly what He gives me always completes me and fills me up.  It keeps me yearning for more.  I stay thirsty and His well of love and truth never disappoints.

This morning I was blessed to read two insightful and powerful devotions that honed in on the word enough. I took away a few things that I want to share.  First, knowing God from an intellectual perspective is not enough.  What is in our heads must move to our hearts so that we can have a change in our mindset. My mind will not just seek to know about Him, but I will seek to be a part of His life and He mine.  In essence relationship where time spent in His word establishes me and roots me in His love.  It is only that space, as He resides in my heart, that I will begin to grasp how deep, wide, and long His love for me is. The beautiful thing is that He is so much that I will never grasp Him completely, yet He fills me to the brim.( Ephesians 3:16-19)

This leads to my second take away.  I must stop limiting God.  His love and grace is continually flowing and in order to keep being filled I must empty myself.  There is always more room in me for Him.  I can’t contain all that He wants to do in and for me.  So I must stop trying to put limits on Him.  My Father wants to bless me exceedingly and abundantly above anything that I can even think to ask for( Ephesians 3:20).  Yet, so often I settle. I operate as if I have “enough”.   I don’t operate in the power that is at work in me.  I let my little mustard seed of faith stay tiny.  I don’t ask God for big things.  I only ask for just enough. Oh sure,   I cover this type of thinking by saying that I am trying to humble or not greedy.  But God says He will give me the desires of my heart if I delight myself in Him( Psalm 37:4)  

Therefore, if my heart is aligned to His character, Word, and will then why not ask for the big stuff? Why not ask for freedom from debt so that I can use my income to Sis seeds into the kingdom instead of a creditor? Why not ask for complete healing in my body so that I can minister, worship, and praise?  Why not ask for reconciliation in marriages so that our families can be strong and united in Christ?  Why not ask for the spirit of rebellion to be broken in the lives of students in the classroom? Why not ask for more than enough so that God will be glorified when others witness His power flowing? Asking God to fulfill His Word is not being greedy or ungrateful.  I am just going to the source who supplies my needs.  I need more of Him. 

Jesus, You are the only thing that is enough and I will never have enough of You.  So please empty me so that I can grasp more of your love.  Fill me with your Spirit.  Increase my faith and keep me from limiting your blessings in my life.  Change my heart and my thinking so that it is in line with what You want for me.  Give me the courage to ask You for things great and small believing that You will supply all of my needs exceedingly and abundantly above all that I can r en ask or think. In Jesus name. Amen

Preparing Hearts for Jesus

and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a sign, all that John said about this man was true.” 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.~John 20:41-42

This verse touches my heart and it reminds me of my purpose as a believer and follower of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus has given every one of His disciples a mission to proclaim the good news.  We are to go through this world telling people about the availability of salvation, the forgiveness of sins, through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ( Mathew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15).  

Like John the Baptist, we are preparing the way. We are preparing hearts and minds to see and receive the truth of who Jesus.  John did not perform any signs, but He spoke truth. John the Baptist was not a fancy man.  He did not wear designer labels. He lived in the wilderness.  He ate of the land.( Mathew 3:1-6). He ate of the goodness of the Lord and shared what he knew to be true to others.  He remained humbled.  He knew his position and purpose. In the face opposition, to the point of death he stood firm.

God allows us to see a glimpse of John’s harvest of faithfulness.  The people who had heard what John had said about Jesus meet Him for themselves and believe.  What they heard, the truth, was confirmed by the reality of the truth of Jesus.  

You might have noticed how much I have referred to the name and person of Jesus.  It’s on purpose because at the front, center, and back of what we share with others must point them to the truth of who Jesus is!  Our lives, my life, should bare witness of Him and His great love.  I don’t have to use fancy words or know every scripture.  I just have to speak the truth and live the truth.  I may not see the results, but I can plant seeds.  I can prepare the way and watch as God does the heavy lifting.

I am so grateful for all in my life who prepared me to meet Jesus for myself.  I am grateful for the time they invested in me.  The prayers they offered as they stood in the gap.  Their compassion as they saw me struggle, but never judged or condemned me.  I am grateful for the John’s in my life who called me to repentance and shared the love of Christ with me in spirit, truth, and love.

Father thank You for letting me see the sweet nuggets of your word.  Thank you for meeting me where I was and taking me to new places and adventures with You.  Thank You for your abundant mercy and grace.  Thank you for your Son Jesus who died for me and arose that I too can live.  May I share the truth of you with others and may they also believe in You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Faith Requires a Response

Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee.~James 4:7

Today I heard a definition of faith that rang so clear in my ears.  Faith is a response.  It is a response to what we hear and choose to believe. Think about it.  If the weatherman says it’s going to rain we take an umbrella.  We respond!   God has sent forth His Word.  It is spoken, written, and it has dwelt among us in the Son Jesus Christ.  God requires a response.  Do we believe Him?  Do we believe His word?  If so, then our response should be one of obedience and action because we believe the report of the Lord.  We are not believing in what we can do.  We believe in the One who can do all things.  We respond to the truth that because He lives in me I can do all things through Him that strengthens me ( Philippians 4:13).  Therefore,  I can hear His word, receive it and then respond.

So today. as I sat in Sunday School class, I was presented with a choice.  Was I going to respond with assurance in what God said or was I going to respond based on my emotions?  Whom was I going to believe and believe in?  My response was yes and amen to God.  My response was to submit to God, resist the devil and walk in victory.  My faith was not in what I could do or my willpower to obey.  My hope, my faith, was totally in my reliance and dependence on the author and finisher of my faith ( Hebrews 12:2).

I prayed, waited on God, and received a blessing like no other. My response of surrender and submission to God allowed me to enter into His presence, to be strengthened by His great compassion, and praise Him with joyous abandonment.  I praise Him because He did what I could not. He allowed me to respond to my Lord, Savior, and King.  Christ in me the hope of glory ( Colossians 1:27). He gave me the strength to resist the devil and he flees because he can not stand in the light of the Lord.

Whatever battle you may be facing.  Whatever situation that seems hopeless.  No matter how much you may feel like you are being pulled a part at the seems.  Know this! Our God reigns!  His Word can be trusted.  His promises are true and He loves you. Jesus intercedes on our behalf.  We are not forsaken and the enemy has no hold on you.  Respond to the great love that Jesus has for you.  Draw near to Him without fear of rejection.  Embrace a pure and powerful love.

Father I thank You for the gift of You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Patient in Affliction

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.~Romans 12:12

This week I wrestled with myself and with God over my affliction of a chronic illness.  I found myself uneasy and unsure.  The constant up and down of my health frustrates me.  The attacks of my body are like thunderstorms that come out of the blue.  Trying to figure out the triggers is like me trying to understand which direction the wind is going to blow next.  

So I begin to question.  I questioned my inability to exercise my faith.  I asked God to show me what I was doing wrong.  I have prayed for healing and yet I am not.  Why not? Is it because I lack faith? Then I went to the other end and debated with myself over my desire to just accept the illness because I had settled in my mind that it was being used for His purpose.  But was I accepting it because I doubted that He could it wanted to heal me?  I was driving myself crazy and the enemy was loving it.

The enemy was loving it because as long as I wrestling with myself and being doubled minded I could not focus on God.  My lack of focus impaired my ability to hear from Him and do His work. God revealed to me that I was asking the wrong questions.  I was asking Him to provide me the wrong things. He equips me the right tools, but I was asking for a hammer instead of a flashlight.

The question or what I should have been asking God to provide was endurance and patience.  God is going to heal me in this life or with my eternal body, but while I am here my focus needs to be on learning how to be patient in my affliction.  I must learn to never lose sight of or grasp of my hope which is Jesus Christ.  I am not dismissing the pain and the stress the body takes, but God has given me so much grace.  I have to find my praise and joy.  When I do that, I stay before Him and in His presence.  He renews my strength.

There is a purpose to my affliction.  It is uncomfortable, but it spurs my growth in Christ.  To God be the glory.

Father I am thankful for all the faithful prayer warriors lift me up and stand in the gap.  I am thankful that You intercede on my behalf.  I love you. Thank you for giving me a flashlight so that I can see my way through.  In Jesus name. Amen

Battling Pride

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.~1 Thessalonians 5:11 

Lately, I have been taking a figurative whip to myself.  Every time I mess up or miss the mark I find myself leaping coals upon my head.  I keep operating in this cycle of pride.  Why do I say pride?  I call this pride because I falsely assume that I am going to to everything perfectly.  I am going to say all the right things, think all the right things, and do the right things.  But none is perfect but Christ Jesus.  It is prideful and arrogant to think that my righteousness is nothing but a filthy rag before the Lord ( Isaiah 64:6).  It is pride when I dismiss the grace that God freely gives me.  

My intentions to please Him are good and noble, but my propensity to beat myself up is taking Him off of the throne in my life as I seek to dish out my own punishment.  I have allowed legalism to creep in.  I have also allowed my focus to be taken off what Jesus wants in the guise of me “trying” to do right and be right. How so?  God does want me to live a godly life right? Yes, He does want me to live a life of holiness and surrender to Him as He has given me everything I need to do so (2 Peter 1:3). However, if my focus is so caught on me then I loose sight of Him.  I am working so hard at doing that I am not being.  I am not letting the power He has given me, the power that lies within me, to do its work.  

My job is to surrender.  When I sin or miss the mark, I am to confess it ask for forgiveness and move on.  I am not to beat myself up and drown out what He speaking to me.  I am not to be so narrow in my view that I miss my true purpose and calling.  Not building myself up, but others.  I am not on this earth for me.  I am not on this earth to give myself a pat on the back for growing in the Lord.  I am not on this earth to hit myself with a two-by-four when I mess up.  I am on this earth to tell the world about Jesus.  I am on this earth in great humility to share my testimony to encourage someone else and to help them in their journey. All the other stuff, the pride, is a distraction from my commitment to Christ.  To have peace my mind must be stayed on Him and not myself.

Father thank You for your Spirit that wrestled with me until I wake up to the truth.  Thank You for your grace and your amazing peace.  Thank You for being God and may my thoughts and actions be centered on the work you have for me this day.  May I encourage others in the body of Christ.  In Jesus name. Amen