This Day

 

Psalm 118:24 ESV

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

I love Friday's.  Friday's signify the end of the work week and tell me that I have made it.  God has seen me through.  But as I reflect on my carefree attitude I realize that this feeling of joy should be felt everyday.  My Monday's should be just as joyous because God has given me another day.  He has allowed me open my eyes to His brand new mercies.  He gives me strength on Monday  just like He does every other day of the week.  There is always a reason to celebrate.

Now, I go a little deeper.  I a human and Friday's do cause me to have an little extra pep in my step.  But I wonder if I looked at each day with an eternal perspective.  The end is almost here.  God is coming back. These days of toil and tears will one day soon come to an end. He will wipe every tear from my eye and all of our eyes.  If I celebrate the grace that God has granted me each day every day will feel like Friday.  I can smile wide and release the burden that I place on myself to carry the day because I know that God is the one doing the heavy lifting.  So the hope I have of rest is coming as I rest in Him.

Lord, You are a magnificent Father.  I thank You for Friday's and all the days in between.  I thank You for keeping me and for all the many blessings that You give me daily.  You have made this day and it is beautiful.  You are beautiful.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Search me God

 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.~Psalm 139:23-24

I need a tune up.  I need God to examine me and search my thoughts and heart.  I want Him to remove anything and everything that is unpleasing to Him. I want my walk, talk, and thought to align with His word and His will.

Examination means exposure.  Bringing things out of the darkness into the light, but I don’t have to fear this because walking in the light draws me closer to God.  I can experience the grace of His love as I acknowledge my sin.  I can acknowledge any self reliance or idols that I have let creep in. I can ask for forgiveness and be led by God into an everlasting way.

I want to live with an eternal mindset.  This means that I want to live for Christ.  I want to walk in faith and have my steps ordered by Him. I don’t want any bitterness to rule me.  I don’t want offenses to block my path.  So I invite God to show me my heart and my my thinking so that I can live an abundant life.

Lord, I know that perfect love casts out fear.  So I humbly request that You search me and reveal the ways in which I may be coming up short.  Help me to repent and move forward with an eternal mindset. In Jesus name.  Amen

Our portion

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.~Psalm 73:25-26

When I read this verse the first question that comes to my mind is who or what am I putting before God?  Is He my only desire?  Do my actions line up with the thought process that sole purpose is to seek God and His will?  

I then think about the grace of God because no matter what He is with me.  When I have no one else.  No one who might understand what is going on within the chambers of my heart, I have God.  He is my constant.

When I fall flat on my face, He is the one who lifts me.  When I can’t take another step, He is the one that carries me.  He is my strength and my portion. He is my hope. 

Father, I am amazed at your love for me.  Thank You for being my strength and my portion.  Help me to seek You first and to put nothing before You.  Touch my heart Lord.  In Jesus name. Amen

Yet

 

Lamentations 3:21-22 NIV

Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

"Yet", insert "but God".  When  all seems lost or when heartache is upon if we pause and think of the goodness of God we have hope.  If it had not been for God where would I be?  Yet, when I think of His love for me.  Yet, when I think of how he saw me through a rough patch. Yet, when I saw His light in the darkness of depression. Yet, when I think of how His Son bled and died for me because He loves me, I have hope.

So whatever I am facing will not consume me.  It will not defeat me.  It will not cause me to turn back because His compassion, His heart for me never fails.  God is kind in His mercy towards me.  His heart is open to me.  He sees my suffering and he cares. All is not lost because God is good and His love is great.

We can hold on to this truth and let it be a balm to our soul.  We shift our focus from all that's going wrong to everything that is right with Christ.  Our strength and hope can be renewed in the valley.  He can nourish our soul.  He is God and He is good so think on His goodness. Reflect and praise and be filled with hope because His compassion fails not.

Lord, I thank You for the "yet".  I thank You for all the times You have seen me through, over and under.  I thank You for the valley experiences that draw me closer to You.  I thank You for your mercy and Your grace.  In Jesus name. Amen

Peace

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

When researching the term peace, I came across these words: completeness, soundness and well-being.  Being in right standing with God.  Being in right relationship.  It is the absence of harm.  This type of peace the world cannot give.  It only comes from God. 

His peace surpasses all understanding for when all around you seems to be misaligned your alignment with God allows you to breathe.  You hear His voice telling you that everything is going to be okay.  His peace is the hope that you will rise above your circumstance as you keep your eyes on the One who is in control.

His peace will allow you to smile even when there is great suffering and stress.  For you usher in His peace as you lay your burdens down at His feet. The Lord tells us not to let our hearts  be troubled nor are we to be afraid.  Why?  Because He is with us and He is our peace.  He is our covering. So let us place our eyes on Jesus and breathe in the rhythm of His heartbeat.  Let us rest in Him.

Lord, thank You for the promise of Your peace.  Thank You for You.  Help us to breathe in Your Spirit when troubles swirl around us and remember that You are Sovereign.  Grant us hope.  Let us not look to the temporary solutions that this world offers for it only offers an illusion of peace.  Let us trust and believe in You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Increasing Measure

 

2 Peter 1:5-8 NIV

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reading this passage of scripture something stood out to me.  The words “increasing measure” grabbed at my heart.  As I walk in faith, I am to add some ingredients and not just once, but in increasing measure.  For me this means that I can not become stagnant or complacent.  

I need to be constantly and consistently adding to my faith goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection and love.  If I want to grow in His image I must have faith in Him and do good things.  I must study His Word and not be reactive, but proactive.

I must persevere through trials knowing He has my back.  I must walk humbly with Him reflecting His character.  I must love my fellow man.  I don’t do any of this on my own, but through God who gives me strength.  I must do a little more each day.  I want to decrease so that He might increase.

Lord, I thank You for shining a light on Your Word.  Help me to be intentional in my walk with You for You have given me everything I need.  Forgive me for those times when I am idle in the faith.  In Jesus name. Amen

Bearing with one another

 

Ephesians 4:2 NIV

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  

Full transparency, I struggled with this command this week.  I had a lot on my plate and I felt behind the eight ball.  I took my frustrations out on others.  I was impatient and I was not bearing with my neighbor with love.  

When the Lord convicted me of this in my spirit I repented and became intentional about my actions and my mindset.  I sought grace and sought to extend grace to others. The Lord helped me turn my trajectory and week around.  I became patient and let the sandpaper people rub me into a more precious jewel.

I became a gentler woman of God. The woman God intends for me to be and I was happier for it.  Walking in humility with God always bring joy and peace. I fell down, but God picked me back up.

Lord, thank You for the conviction of Your Word and Your Spirit that guides me back to truth.  Thank You for you mercy and grace.  Help me to be kind and humble, showing compassion to my fellow man even when its not returned.  You did it for me.  In Jesus name.  Amen