"Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to Your Name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness." (Psalm 115:1)
I am caught up in His love and faithfulness today. Totally caught up. Amazed at His wonders, His grace, His transformation. He's just so good to us, y'all.
Psalm 115 ends with a challenge: "The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth He has given to man. It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence; it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore. Praise the Lord" (Psalm 115:16-18).
While we're on this earth, may we make every effort to give Him the praise He is so deserving of.
Thank You, God - Thank You for the opportunity to praise You. May we not be silent, but extol you, both now and forevermore. God, bring to mind today for us, all the many ways You have showered us with Your love and faithfulness. We just want to be caught up in it ... Totally caught up. Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to Your name be the glory, because of Your love and faithfulness. In the Saving Name of Jesus, Amen.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Winning Team
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)
As I was driving in my car last night, just thinking through all that is happening (or not happening) in my life right now, I became overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy. "Oh no, Lord ... Not this again." For a very short period of time, I became discouraged and started to fret. Dreadful thoughts cluttered my mind - thoughts such as: You're not good enough; You're not smart enough; You're not gifted enough; You're crazy if you believe that; God will never use you that way; It's going to take more than a miracle for that to happen; It's all in your head; Your circumstances are not going to change; You're undeserving. (Yeah, tell me about it - Yuck!) For literally about 30-45 seconds, I began tail spinning into believing this garbage. 30-45 seconds does not sound like a very long time - However, consider the fact that it took me several YEARS (yeah, the 365-day kind) to overcome the lie/stronghold of inadequacy in my life. So, 30-45 seconds to be "back in that awful place," was like ... hmm, 30-45 seconds too long! I panicked, y'all. "No, Lord! No! I'm not going back there! I will NOT do it! HELP!"
I am pleased to announce that the Holy Spirit Himself came to save the day. He once again, successfully saved me from myself. Fact is, He showed up. Right when I needed Him. As soon as I cried out, I had a revelation that I know hands-down, was straight from Him. I immediately knew I had to begin speaking Scripture - Words of Truth needed to start flowing from my mouth - Out loud. So, I began quoting every Scripture that came to my mind - whole verses, passages of verses, fragments of verses here and there, Names of God ... whatever! Just Scripture. I just knew I was in a battle, and I knew who had to win - Yes, very much for the sake of His Name ... but also girls, selfishly, for my own sanity. I was not about to let the enemy have a grip on my soul! Nope, wasn't happening ...
When I got home last night, I fell on my bed and opened my Bible to a familiar Scripture in Psalm 108. I just praised the Lord for fighting my battles for me - and for winning them! Psalm 108:13 says, "With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies." Amen to that! There's just something about being on the winning team, girls. It gets us all riled up and ready for more. Because our God truly is invincible. What a glorious thing it is, that He takes delight in you and I being on His winning team!
So, this whole episode got me thinking about 2 things:
#1) As God's women, we must practice the apostle Paul's admonishment to the church at Philippi, in the verse listed above (Phil. 4:6). I read a wonderful commentary on this specific verse. Listen to this: Fret and worry indicate a lack of trust in God's wisdom, sovereignty, or power. Delighting in the Lord and meditating on His Word are a great antidote to anxiety (MacArthur). It's not about just "brushing it off" - It's about investing in prayer, which will then lead to a lessening and eventually an absence of anxiety. Spending time reading the Word and praying, is the antidote to anxiety!
#2) As God's women, we must meditate on (and memorize) Scripture. Psalm 1:2 says, "But (her) delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law (she) meditates day and night." Joshua 1:8 similarly urges us to know and speak Scripture: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you will be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful wherever you go."
One of my goals for 2009, is to memorize more Scripture. I bought this cute little index card book in July, but am just now really taking full advantage of the idea. Good timing, huh? (Considering my 'bout with doubt' last night!) Oh, and if you're wondering about the teeth marks - No, they are not from me. (Although, it could have been a possibility had I purchased the chocolate brown/white index card book. I refrained, as to me it very much resembled an ice-cream sandwich, which would have made me hungry each time I went to work on my memory verse!) In actuality, it was my 1-year old golden retriever, Chloe, who decided she would gnaw on it the other day. My mother's response was that Chloe wanted to 'feast on the Word of God'! I laughed. (Not a bad idea though, huh?!) I purchased this little index card book at Target. It's the 'Real Simple' brand. It's perfect and will fit right in your purse or glove compartment in your car.
As I was driving in my car last night, just thinking through all that is happening (or not happening) in my life right now, I became overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy. "Oh no, Lord ... Not this again." For a very short period of time, I became discouraged and started to fret. Dreadful thoughts cluttered my mind - thoughts such as: You're not good enough; You're not smart enough; You're not gifted enough; You're crazy if you believe that; God will never use you that way; It's going to take more than a miracle for that to happen; It's all in your head; Your circumstances are not going to change; You're undeserving. (Yeah, tell me about it - Yuck!) For literally about 30-45 seconds, I began tail spinning into believing this garbage. 30-45 seconds does not sound like a very long time - However, consider the fact that it took me several YEARS (yeah, the 365-day kind) to overcome the lie/stronghold of inadequacy in my life. So, 30-45 seconds to be "back in that awful place," was like ... hmm, 30-45 seconds too long! I panicked, y'all. "No, Lord! No! I'm not going back there! I will NOT do it! HELP!"
I am pleased to announce that the Holy Spirit Himself came to save the day. He once again, successfully saved me from myself. Fact is, He showed up. Right when I needed Him. As soon as I cried out, I had a revelation that I know hands-down, was straight from Him. I immediately knew I had to begin speaking Scripture - Words of Truth needed to start flowing from my mouth - Out loud. So, I began quoting every Scripture that came to my mind - whole verses, passages of verses, fragments of verses here and there, Names of God ... whatever! Just Scripture. I just knew I was in a battle, and I knew who had to win - Yes, very much for the sake of His Name ... but also girls, selfishly, for my own sanity. I was not about to let the enemy have a grip on my soul! Nope, wasn't happening ...
When I got home last night, I fell on my bed and opened my Bible to a familiar Scripture in Psalm 108. I just praised the Lord for fighting my battles for me - and for winning them! Psalm 108:13 says, "With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies." Amen to that! There's just something about being on the winning team, girls. It gets us all riled up and ready for more. Because our God truly is invincible. What a glorious thing it is, that He takes delight in you and I being on His winning team!
So, this whole episode got me thinking about 2 things:
#1) As God's women, we must practice the apostle Paul's admonishment to the church at Philippi, in the verse listed above (Phil. 4:6). I read a wonderful commentary on this specific verse. Listen to this: Fret and worry indicate a lack of trust in God's wisdom, sovereignty, or power. Delighting in the Lord and meditating on His Word are a great antidote to anxiety (MacArthur). It's not about just "brushing it off" - It's about investing in prayer, which will then lead to a lessening and eventually an absence of anxiety. Spending time reading the Word and praying, is the antidote to anxiety!
#2) As God's women, we must meditate on (and memorize) Scripture. Psalm 1:2 says, "But (her) delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law (she) meditates day and night." Joshua 1:8 similarly urges us to know and speak Scripture: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you will be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful wherever you go."
One of my goals for 2009, is to memorize more Scripture. I bought this cute little index card book in July, but am just now really taking full advantage of the idea. Good timing, huh? (Considering my 'bout with doubt' last night!) Oh, and if you're wondering about the teeth marks - No, they are not from me. (Although, it could have been a possibility had I purchased the chocolate brown/white index card book. I refrained, as to me it very much resembled an ice-cream sandwich, which would have made me hungry each time I went to work on my memory verse!) In actuality, it was my 1-year old golden retriever, Chloe, who decided she would gnaw on it the other day. My mother's response was that Chloe wanted to 'feast on the Word of God'! I laughed. (Not a bad idea though, huh?!) I purchased this little index card book at Target. It's the 'Real Simple' brand. It's perfect and will fit right in your purse or glove compartment in your car.
Let's be prepared for the battles. Those everyday battles that grip us when we're least expecting it. When we take time to invest in God - meditating on and speaking His Word- It sets up to be victorious in the Lord. God will gain the victory. Now ... Go purchase you a cute little index card book. And let's get to memorizing!
I want to be on the Winning Team ... Don't you?
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Exceedingly Abundantly!
"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 the glory." (Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJV)
Thought someone may need to hear that word this morning. May He abundantly exceed your expectations ...
Thought someone may need to hear that word this morning. May He abundantly exceed your expectations ...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Desert Season
"He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert." (Psalm 105:41)
An unlikely source. A deep need. An opportunity for God to bless.
Once in a while we find ourselves in the desert. An all out, nothings-going-right, God-is-being-silent, this-isn't-how-it's-supposed-to-be, can't-take-this-another-day, my-life-is-out-of-control, did-I-mention-the-not-hearing-from-God-part? ... desert. It is in those times, that we can very easily slip into the "Is God really in my midst?" trap. It is probable that during these times, we may contemplate whether He cares at all. I mean, "How can He not see that I'm on the brink of disaster?"
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 says: "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with his manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
You may very well be in a desert. Dry, isolated, wondering, and thirsty. I encourage you to not be like the Israelites in Exodus 17 who questioned whether or not God was in their midst, whether or not He was even aware of their situation. He is with you, dear sister. He is aware of your situation. In fact, He cares deeply about what you are going through right this very moment.
Despite how uncomfortable the "desert" season can be, God will use this season for a purpose. As you are walking through the desert (or perhaps you're at the crawling stage by now; maybe even the belly crawl stage??), remember:
#1) The desert is a season. You will come through it. Alive. Triumphant, even. 1 Peter 5:10 says, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
#2) God is leading you through the desert. You are not alone. He has not forgotten you, and is very much in your midst, even though you may not "feel" Him. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
#3) God has something profound to speak into your life while in this season. There are tremendous lessons in the desert. Some which you will not even recognize until this season is over and done with. What results from this desert season, will forever be a part of your testimony of His faithfulness in your life. We can become bitter and cynical in our desert, or we can become dependent and desperate for the Word of God during our desert. Keep your eyes on Him - and remember that when this is over, He will use it for His Kingdom's purposes. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."
Our God of great reversals will provide all of your needs. I am praying today, that He will cleft the rock, allowing springs of abundance to flow forth ... in your very life.
"He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert." (Psalm 105:41)
An unlikely source. A deep need. An opportunity to bless.
Isn't that just like our God?
Love to you - May He be the quencher of your thirst today.
An unlikely source. A deep need. An opportunity for God to bless.
Once in a while we find ourselves in the desert. An all out, nothings-going-right, God-is-being-silent, this-isn't-how-it's-supposed-to-be, can't-take-this-another-day, my-life-is-out-of-control, did-I-mention-the-not-hearing-from-God-part? ... desert. It is in those times, that we can very easily slip into the "Is God really in my midst?" trap. It is probable that during these times, we may contemplate whether He cares at all. I mean, "How can He not see that I'm on the brink of disaster?"
Deuteronomy 8:2-3 says: "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with his manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
You may very well be in a desert. Dry, isolated, wondering, and thirsty. I encourage you to not be like the Israelites in Exodus 17 who questioned whether or not God was in their midst, whether or not He was even aware of their situation. He is with you, dear sister. He is aware of your situation. In fact, He cares deeply about what you are going through right this very moment.
Despite how uncomfortable the "desert" season can be, God will use this season for a purpose. As you are walking through the desert (or perhaps you're at the crawling stage by now; maybe even the belly crawl stage??), remember:
#1) The desert is a season. You will come through it. Alive. Triumphant, even. 1 Peter 5:10 says, "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
#2) God is leading you through the desert. You are not alone. He has not forgotten you, and is very much in your midst, even though you may not "feel" Him. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
#3) God has something profound to speak into your life while in this season. There are tremendous lessons in the desert. Some which you will not even recognize until this season is over and done with. What results from this desert season, will forever be a part of your testimony of His faithfulness in your life. We can become bitter and cynical in our desert, or we can become dependent and desperate for the Word of God during our desert. Keep your eyes on Him - and remember that when this is over, He will use it for His Kingdom's purposes. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."
Our God of great reversals will provide all of your needs. I am praying today, that He will cleft the rock, allowing springs of abundance to flow forth ... in your very life.
"He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert." (Psalm 105:41)
An unlikely source. A deep need. An opportunity to bless.
Isn't that just like our God?
Love to you - May He be the quencher of your thirst today.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Stop Dragging. Start Doing.
"Because you have satisfied me, God, I promise to do everything you say. I beg you from the bottom of my heart: smile, be gracious to me just as you promised. When I took a long, careful look at your ways, I got my feet back on the trail you blazed. I was up at once, didn't drag my feet, was quick to follow your orders ...
I get up in the middle of the night to thank you; your decisions are so right, so true - I can't wait till morning! I'm a friend and companion of all who fear you, of those committed to living by your rules. Your love, God, fills the earth! Train me to live by your counsel." (Psalm 119:57-64, The Message)
I just have to tell you something on this beautiful snow-covered afternoon. God has satisfaction and fulfillment in mind for you, dear sister. It is possible. It is achievable. It is not just an unrealistic fantasy - It can be a reality. Through Jesus, we have the ability to let go of years upon years of failures, fears, struggles, bondages.
Fear really can be driven out of your everyday life. You really can forgive that person. Bitterness really can be overcome. Anger, frustration, jealousy, resentment, insecurity, anxiety and stress - Strongholds in our lives that have the ability to completely overtake our minds - they really can just vanish.
It begins with our own acting out on obedience. If we can simply agree to follow God's orders, submitting in obedience, He will bless us. We just have to DO the thing He's asking us to DO.
If we know this, then why is it that we all too often, drag out feet?? You know the deal: We know we should stop gossipping about that family member or co-worker ... but we don't. We know we should stop over-indulging in food that makes us unhealthy ... but we don't. We know we should serve in that area of ministry in our local church ... but we don't. We know we should stop worrying ... but we don't. We know we should stop complaining or nagging ... but we don't. We know we should stop procrastinating ... but we don't. We know we should end that relationship that brings us down ... but we don't. We know we should pick up the phone and mend that broken friendship ... but we don't.
I have a sweet family member who was recently faced with a tough decision. God was asking something of her that was difficult. She was having to reorganize her life quite a bit. It was an uncomfortable process, as many people whom she loved, did not see eye-to-eye on this situation. You know, in their eyes, she was quite possibly being a little "too extreme." Extreme, no ... Biblical, yes. She was agreeing with God to make a decision that went against the grain. As she was thinking through some of the details that went along with this decision, I said to her: "Just do it. Blessing follows obedience. God is asking you to step out in faith and believe Him. Carry your obedience out." She committed to her decision, acted it out, and God provided the details. Praise God!
What is God asking you to DO?
Be intentional in the doing. God will bless you. And then you know what will happen next? You'll desire to keep on doing. Because you will find satisfaction in being obedient to God. What a wonderful and marvelous process. Now, let's stop dragging ... and start doing. Be quick to follow His orders. Satisfaction and Fulfillment are awaiting you!
I get up in the middle of the night to thank you; your decisions are so right, so true - I can't wait till morning! I'm a friend and companion of all who fear you, of those committed to living by your rules. Your love, God, fills the earth! Train me to live by your counsel." (Psalm 119:57-64, The Message)
I just have to tell you something on this beautiful snow-covered afternoon. God has satisfaction and fulfillment in mind for you, dear sister. It is possible. It is achievable. It is not just an unrealistic fantasy - It can be a reality. Through Jesus, we have the ability to let go of years upon years of failures, fears, struggles, bondages.
Fear really can be driven out of your everyday life. You really can forgive that person. Bitterness really can be overcome. Anger, frustration, jealousy, resentment, insecurity, anxiety and stress - Strongholds in our lives that have the ability to completely overtake our minds - they really can just vanish.
It begins with our own acting out on obedience. If we can simply agree to follow God's orders, submitting in obedience, He will bless us. We just have to DO the thing He's asking us to DO.
If we know this, then why is it that we all too often, drag out feet?? You know the deal: We know we should stop gossipping about that family member or co-worker ... but we don't. We know we should stop over-indulging in food that makes us unhealthy ... but we don't. We know we should serve in that area of ministry in our local church ... but we don't. We know we should stop worrying ... but we don't. We know we should stop complaining or nagging ... but we don't. We know we should stop procrastinating ... but we don't. We know we should end that relationship that brings us down ... but we don't. We know we should pick up the phone and mend that broken friendship ... but we don't.
I have a sweet family member who was recently faced with a tough decision. God was asking something of her that was difficult. She was having to reorganize her life quite a bit. It was an uncomfortable process, as many people whom she loved, did not see eye-to-eye on this situation. You know, in their eyes, she was quite possibly being a little "too extreme." Extreme, no ... Biblical, yes. She was agreeing with God to make a decision that went against the grain. As she was thinking through some of the details that went along with this decision, I said to her: "Just do it. Blessing follows obedience. God is asking you to step out in faith and believe Him. Carry your obedience out." She committed to her decision, acted it out, and God provided the details. Praise God!
What is God asking you to DO?
Be intentional in the doing. God will bless you. And then you know what will happen next? You'll desire to keep on doing. Because you will find satisfaction in being obedient to God. What a wonderful and marvelous process. Now, let's stop dragging ... and start doing. Be quick to follow His orders. Satisfaction and Fulfillment are awaiting you!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Walking by Faith?
I am reading a book by Elisabeth Elliot. Wise woman. Challenging. I just finished a chapter on submission. I thought the following to be especially encouraging to the season of "singleness":
"I would ask my challengers to reflect on the design of the Designer; to ask what it means; to test the way they treat the opposite sex with these questions: Is it fitting? Is it in accord with the pattern I'd like my life to follow? Does it harmonize with my best understanding of God's plan? What is it that brings God's man and God's woman near each other with delicacy and grace? Do I want to walk, here as in all areas of my life, by faith, or will I take things into my own hands?" (Elliot, Passion and Purity.)
I found the last statement to be most thought-provoking. Do I want to walk ... by faith, or will I take things into my own hands? Applying this to singleness, I will unapologetically insert that this would be not Elisabeth Elliot's opinion, but the biblical standard on pursuit: It is the man's responsibility to pursue, and we as single women, should have no desire (whether intentional or not) to rob the man of that. It also is God's design that He orchestrate all areas of our lives, including the love life. We do not need to morph God's well thought-out and intricate design of man vs. woman. We need not manipulate. We must trust. Trust God. Have faith that God knows what He's doing.
Now, from a general standpoint, outside the realm of specifically relationships - The following application question: Do I want to walk ... by faith, or will I take things into my own hands?
"I would ask my challengers to reflect on the design of the Designer; to ask what it means; to test the way they treat the opposite sex with these questions: Is it fitting? Is it in accord with the pattern I'd like my life to follow? Does it harmonize with my best understanding of God's plan? What is it that brings God's man and God's woman near each other with delicacy and grace? Do I want to walk, here as in all areas of my life, by faith, or will I take things into my own hands?" (Elliot, Passion and Purity.)
I found the last statement to be most thought-provoking. Do I want to walk ... by faith, or will I take things into my own hands? Applying this to singleness, I will unapologetically insert that this would be not Elisabeth Elliot's opinion, but the biblical standard on pursuit: It is the man's responsibility to pursue, and we as single women, should have no desire (whether intentional or not) to rob the man of that. It also is God's design that He orchestrate all areas of our lives, including the love life. We do not need to morph God's well thought-out and intricate design of man vs. woman. We need not manipulate. We must trust. Trust God. Have faith that God knows what He's doing.
Now, from a general standpoint, outside the realm of specifically relationships - The following application question: Do I want to walk ... by faith, or will I take things into my own hands?
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Be Happy: It's a 'God' Thing!
"The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant." ~Psalm 35:27b
Well-being, by definition, is the state of being happy, healthy, or prosperous.
Delight, by definition, is a high degree of gratification; joy; extreme satisfaction.
Are you ready for this? We serve a God who is extremely satisfied and joyful, when:
1. We are happy.
2. We are healthy.
3. We are prosperous.
Yep, I said it. Happy, Healthy, Prosperous. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I just have to be completely honest with you, in case I'm not the only one who has been warped by this way of thinking and functioning. I am ashamed. You know why? Because for some reason, I have been straight up in a pit! Ok, here it goes: So, we know that our God is delighted when we give up and surrender of ourselves, when we endure suffering for His sake, when we go through trials and find our strength and comfort in Him ... Right? Right. He most definitely is pleased when we adopt that type of surrender and submission to His will. Scripture tells us that the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). Get it? Got it? Good. Moving on ...
What I am personally ashamed of, is that I have fallen into a pattern of thinking that my happiness is the least of God's priorities. WRONG! Lie from the enemy - Strike it down! (We have also adopted warped views of health and prosper, but in this particular case, I'm going to narrow in on the happiness aspect.) Who in the world has taught us this? It's so ... weird. And so ... not biblical. Our treasure is in heaven, not on this earth (Matthew 6:19); however, God wants our lives to be abundantly good while on this earth (John 10:10, Jeremiah 29:11). He wants us to recognize Himself as the God "who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20)!
The scripture above says that our God is DELIGHTED when we are happy (Psalm 35:27b). Girls, this is not my opinion - this is biblical. So, after bringing my awful mindset before God - confessing and repenting to Him that I have been stuck in a pit .....
Delight, by definition, is a high degree of gratification; joy; extreme satisfaction.
Are you ready for this? We serve a God who is extremely satisfied and joyful, when:
1. We are happy.
2. We are healthy.
3. We are prosperous.
Yep, I said it. Happy, Healthy, Prosperous. Maybe I'm alone in this, but I just have to be completely honest with you, in case I'm not the only one who has been warped by this way of thinking and functioning. I am ashamed. You know why? Because for some reason, I have been straight up in a pit! Ok, here it goes: So, we know that our God is delighted when we give up and surrender of ourselves, when we endure suffering for His sake, when we go through trials and find our strength and comfort in Him ... Right? Right. He most definitely is pleased when we adopt that type of surrender and submission to His will. Scripture tells us that the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). Get it? Got it? Good. Moving on ...
What I am personally ashamed of, is that I have fallen into a pattern of thinking that my happiness is the least of God's priorities. WRONG! Lie from the enemy - Strike it down! (We have also adopted warped views of health and prosper, but in this particular case, I'm going to narrow in on the happiness aspect.) Who in the world has taught us this? It's so ... weird. And so ... not biblical. Our treasure is in heaven, not on this earth (Matthew 6:19); however, God wants our lives to be abundantly good while on this earth (John 10:10, Jeremiah 29:11). He wants us to recognize Himself as the God "who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20)!
The scripture above says that our God is DELIGHTED when we are happy (Psalm 35:27b). Girls, this is not my opinion - this is biblical. So, after bringing my awful mindset before God - confessing and repenting to Him that I have been stuck in a pit .....
I am making a covenant with my God to experience my joys in a new light, a new fashion. From now on, when something good happens, when something in my life makes me happy (or healthy, or prosperous) - I am going to picture God smiling and being extremely joyful over this 'good thing' in my life. Because after all, it's not just a 'good thing,' but a 'God thing.'
How differently would we react to good news, if we were to picture God standing right next to us? Picture this: Our Creator God, The Great I AM, Jesus Himself - extremely joyful, gratified, and satisfied - smiling, over our personal Victory? Heck YES! Give Him the PRAISE He so deserves! That is how we are supposed to be experiencing joy, sisters. Now, go - go celebrate in the great joys God has brought you. And don't forget to let Him in on the party!
The LORD be exalted.
Be All There
"Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." ~Jim Elliot
Live to the glory of God. Without restraint. Pour your heart and soul into whatever season of life you may be in at this very moment.
Live to the glory of God. Without restraint. Pour your heart and soul into whatever season of life you may be in at this very moment.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Be Willing in the Present
"Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, 'Abraham!' 'Here I am,' he replied. Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.'
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.' " (Genesis 22:1-5)
Alright, first question: Why in the world would God give Abraham a son at the ripe age of one hundred, only to take that son away from him? For those of you who are familiar with this story in the Bible, we know that Abraham ends up going through with the process of placing Isaac on the altar before God. Seconds before Abraham is ready to sacrifice Isaac, the angel of the Lord calls out to Abraham:
"Abraham! Abraham!" '
"Here I am," he [Abraham] replied.
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son" (Genesis 22:11-12).
Laying down what God is asking of us presently, does not necessarily or automatically infer that God will ask us to lay that particular thing down permanently. The present is not always permanent (I hear some of you shouting, "Praise the LORD for that!"). Perhaps you are wanting to be married, so badly wanting to be a wife and a mother, that your heart literally aches at times. Maybe you are waiting on a certain career opportunity to come through so you can begin putting your gifts and talents to work. Perhaps you are desiring that a certain relationship work out for you, or maybe you want to have a baby ...
What is the desire of your heart that God is not presently fulfilling? We know that if we are abiding in Him, truly abiding, that we can trust our desires to be His own. I feel the need to say something this evening - something that I do not believe is solely opinion (as many of the things are on this blog), but rooted in Truth. Do not overlook the fact that God could very well be the One shaping, molding and creating in you those desires, dear sister. God created us in the flesh, enabling us to have both fleshly and spiritual desires. We often take on the heaviness of believing any desire we have that is not as "spiritual" as some, is in vain. Let me just tell you this: The desire to be a wife and a mother - that is spiritual. The desire to live your life, excelling in your God-given gifts, operating in the area of your talent, with purpose - that is spiritual. God created woman, and God created marriage, and God created motherhood. God created your intellect, passions, talents, and gifts - not to be wasted, but to be effectively utilized. So, don't get caught up in that trap. In a way, it's a little over-zealous and pompous of us, when you think about it. I mean, who are we, that we actually think we could even come up with half of our goals and dreams on our own? I am going to suggest that we just allow the Creator, to do the creating. I'm just going to go along for the ride ... Trusting that He knows what He's doing. Just do me a favor and accept what He has put in your heart - Stop questioning and fighting it, for goodness sake.
So, I ask you again: What is the desire of your heart that God is not presently fulfilling? Does your desire fit into one of the categories above, or is it something completely different?
Are you struggling with trusting God with that specific desire because you feel like if you let go of it, that He will take it away, never to give it back? Are you questioning God, asking Him why He would have placed such a desire in your heart, only to not have it fulfilled? OK, listen ... consider this:
Abraham was given a son by the plan and ordination of God Himself. God clearly put that desire in his heart, as it would not have been Abraham's own plan - He would not have conjured this idea up by himself. (You know, the whole 'having a child at 100' thing. Yeah ... weird.) But God still, in order to test Abraham's heart - to see where Abraham's allegiance was - asked Abraham to give that most prized "God-given" possession up. For the Lord - out of obedience.
If Abraham would have run from the Lord, ignored His command, held onto Isaac a little tighter, thus taking things into his own hands - It would have only delayed the process. The process of learning, and submitting to, obedience.
Instead, Abraham submitted, believing all along that God would come through for him - that God would give him back his son. (Notice in Genesis 22:5 Abraham says, "We will worship and then we will come back to you.")
I believe Abraham knew that God was calling him to be willing. In the 3 day span, from when God called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac before Him, and the actual following through of the sacrifice, do you actually believe that Abraham became completely disconnected emotionally with his son, was peacefully at ease with his decision to act in obedience, and free of ALL worry and fear? He was human, remember? But what overrides Abraham's fear, is his undeniable knowing of the character of His God. He believed His God. And because of that - because He knew that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) - He was WILLING.
Ladies, God wants us to be ... willing. He doesn't want us to be robots - free of want and desire and passion and purpose. He wants women, who are willing. Willing to say: "You know what, God? I don't know why you would have given me this desire, only to have it not presently fulfilled. But based on who I know you to be, through the Power of Your Word and through Your endless and unfailing love for me demonstrated through the death of Your Son on the old rugged cross ... I will believe You. I will lay this down for You, as Abraham laid his son Isaac down on Mt. Moriah ... because, I believe You presently want me to hand over control. My present is not always permanent - What You are asking me to lay down and give You control over today, is for today - I'm going to trust You for tomorrow. And I'm going to trust that the desires of my heart ... are from You, and that they are for You. Yes God, I am willing ... for the sake of obedience."
Sisters, being willing is not easy. It is at times, suffice to say, excruciating. By definition it is of or relating to the will. Our wills are a powerful part of who we are as individuals, which makes it ever so difficult when it comes to letting go. We literally are giving up of ourselves. Accepting someone else's will for our very own lives - It seems foreign, doesn't it?
But just take a look at Abraham. Don't you think he loved his son Isaac more than ever after that? Can't you just see him embracing him, crying and hugging him, appreciating him as never before? And more than that - Don't you think he loved his God more than ever? Because the character of his God was proved true. Abraham knew at that moment, probably more than ever before, that he served a God who knew what He was doing. A God who could be trusted - trusted with the desires of his heart. A God ... who was worth being willing for.
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, 'Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.' " (Genesis 22:1-5)
Alright, first question: Why in the world would God give Abraham a son at the ripe age of one hundred, only to take that son away from him? For those of you who are familiar with this story in the Bible, we know that Abraham ends up going through with the process of placing Isaac on the altar before God. Seconds before Abraham is ready to sacrifice Isaac, the angel of the Lord calls out to Abraham:
"Abraham! Abraham!" '
"Here I am," he [Abraham] replied.
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son" (Genesis 22:11-12).
Laying down what God is asking of us presently, does not necessarily or automatically infer that God will ask us to lay that particular thing down permanently. The present is not always permanent (I hear some of you shouting, "Praise the LORD for that!"). Perhaps you are wanting to be married, so badly wanting to be a wife and a mother, that your heart literally aches at times. Maybe you are waiting on a certain career opportunity to come through so you can begin putting your gifts and talents to work. Perhaps you are desiring that a certain relationship work out for you, or maybe you want to have a baby ...
What is the desire of your heart that God is not presently fulfilling? We know that if we are abiding in Him, truly abiding, that we can trust our desires to be His own. I feel the need to say something this evening - something that I do not believe is solely opinion (as many of the things are on this blog), but rooted in Truth. Do not overlook the fact that God could very well be the One shaping, molding and creating in you those desires, dear sister. God created us in the flesh, enabling us to have both fleshly and spiritual desires. We often take on the heaviness of believing any desire we have that is not as "spiritual" as some, is in vain. Let me just tell you this: The desire to be a wife and a mother - that is spiritual. The desire to live your life, excelling in your God-given gifts, operating in the area of your talent, with purpose - that is spiritual. God created woman, and God created marriage, and God created motherhood. God created your intellect, passions, talents, and gifts - not to be wasted, but to be effectively utilized. So, don't get caught up in that trap. In a way, it's a little over-zealous and pompous of us, when you think about it. I mean, who are we, that we actually think we could even come up with half of our goals and dreams on our own? I am going to suggest that we just allow the Creator, to do the creating. I'm just going to go along for the ride ... Trusting that He knows what He's doing. Just do me a favor and accept what He has put in your heart - Stop questioning and fighting it, for goodness sake.
So, I ask you again: What is the desire of your heart that God is not presently fulfilling? Does your desire fit into one of the categories above, or is it something completely different?
Are you struggling with trusting God with that specific desire because you feel like if you let go of it, that He will take it away, never to give it back? Are you questioning God, asking Him why He would have placed such a desire in your heart, only to not have it fulfilled? OK, listen ... consider this:
Abraham was given a son by the plan and ordination of God Himself. God clearly put that desire in his heart, as it would not have been Abraham's own plan - He would not have conjured this idea up by himself. (You know, the whole 'having a child at 100' thing. Yeah ... weird.) But God still, in order to test Abraham's heart - to see where Abraham's allegiance was - asked Abraham to give that most prized "God-given" possession up. For the Lord - out of obedience.
If Abraham would have run from the Lord, ignored His command, held onto Isaac a little tighter, thus taking things into his own hands - It would have only delayed the process. The process of learning, and submitting to, obedience.
Instead, Abraham submitted, believing all along that God would come through for him - that God would give him back his son. (Notice in Genesis 22:5 Abraham says, "We will worship and then we will come back to you.")
I believe Abraham knew that God was calling him to be willing. In the 3 day span, from when God called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac before Him, and the actual following through of the sacrifice, do you actually believe that Abraham became completely disconnected emotionally with his son, was peacefully at ease with his decision to act in obedience, and free of ALL worry and fear? He was human, remember? But what overrides Abraham's fear, is his undeniable knowing of the character of His God. He believed His God. And because of that - because He knew that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) - He was WILLING.
Ladies, God wants us to be ... willing. He doesn't want us to be robots - free of want and desire and passion and purpose. He wants women, who are willing. Willing to say: "You know what, God? I don't know why you would have given me this desire, only to have it not presently fulfilled. But based on who I know you to be, through the Power of Your Word and through Your endless and unfailing love for me demonstrated through the death of Your Son on the old rugged cross ... I will believe You. I will lay this down for You, as Abraham laid his son Isaac down on Mt. Moriah ... because, I believe You presently want me to hand over control. My present is not always permanent - What You are asking me to lay down and give You control over today, is for today - I'm going to trust You for tomorrow. And I'm going to trust that the desires of my heart ... are from You, and that they are for You. Yes God, I am willing ... for the sake of obedience."
Sisters, being willing is not easy. It is at times, suffice to say, excruciating. By definition it is of or relating to the will. Our wills are a powerful part of who we are as individuals, which makes it ever so difficult when it comes to letting go. We literally are giving up of ourselves. Accepting someone else's will for our very own lives - It seems foreign, doesn't it?
But just take a look at Abraham. Don't you think he loved his son Isaac more than ever after that? Can't you just see him embracing him, crying and hugging him, appreciating him as never before? And more than that - Don't you think he loved his God more than ever? Because the character of his God was proved true. Abraham knew at that moment, probably more than ever before, that he served a God who knew what He was doing. A God who could be trusted - trusted with the desires of his heart. A God ... who was worth being willing for.
Be willing in the present ... trusting Him for the permanent.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Are you there, Lord?
"Does He who implanted the ear not hear? Does He who formed the eye not see? Does He who disciplines nations not punish? Does He who teaches lack knowledge? The LORD knows the thoughts of man; He knows that they are futile." (Psalm 94:9-11)
Next time you contemplate that perhaps God cannot hear your prayer, that He is not present amidst your circumstances, that He has no instruction or advice to lend to your situation - Remember that He is the author of Life. He is the Creator of sound, of sight, of wisdom.
"He made you hear; can he not himself hear? Unanswerable question! It overwhelms the skeptic, and covers him with confusion. He gives us vision; is it conceivable that he has no sight himself? If there be a God, he must be a personal intelligent being, and no limit can be set to his knowledge" (Spurgeon, Psalms: Vol. II).
Next time you contemplate that perhaps God cannot hear your prayer, that He is not present amidst your circumstances, that He has no instruction or advice to lend to your situation - Remember that He is the author of Life. He is the Creator of sound, of sight, of wisdom.
"He made you hear; can he not himself hear? Unanswerable question! It overwhelms the skeptic, and covers him with confusion. He gives us vision; is it conceivable that he has no sight himself? If there be a God, he must be a personal intelligent being, and no limit can be set to his knowledge" (Spurgeon, Psalms: Vol. II).
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Satisfier of my Soul
"Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits - Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles."
~Psalm 103:1,5 ~
Oh, that I would not forget a single blessing, God. You have been so good to me. From head to toe, I praise You.
I have literally been wired all week. Since last Sunday evening, to be exact. My soul is so full of the presence and the work of my God. It was as if He gave me a glimpse into all the footprints He has left on my soul - all the many ways He has worked in my life - and I am left standing in complete AWE. So full of Him that I want His eternal purpose to be the goal of everything I embark upon. Oh, that I could experience this joy and satisfaction every day, all day. Doesn't He want that for us? To constantly be aware of how He has worked on our behalf - the unique and specific ways He has benefited us, as the Scripture above points out?
Today, let's praise Him for being the Satisfier of our souls. Suffering of our souls is inevitable. Allow the suffering to lead you to the light of Life - to Jesus Himself. When the suffering of our souls, encounters the Satisfier of our souls - We are changed. How could we possibly remain the same?
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
Friday, January 9, 2009
It's All About Him
"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."
~Philippians 3:7-9
I am totally captivated - He deserves all honor, glory and praise. Is He receiving all the attention from me that He is so worthy of?
May the vision of You be the death of me.
-Shane & Shane
~Philippians 3:7-9
I am totally captivated - He deserves all honor, glory and praise. Is He receiving all the attention from me that He is so worthy of?
May the vision of You be the death of me.
-Shane & Shane
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Result-Oriented
"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:7-8)
Our God is result-oriented. His Will acted out in our lives, always has a purpose. God does not purposely call us to take action, without having a result in mind.
Turning back in the text a little, we read:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:1-2)
Alright, so He sees something good in our lives - which He obviously created in us, for His purposes - but He wants to enrich it, to make it vastly effective and even more fruitful. So, be prepared to maybe be shaken up a little bit ... But, hang in there! It's for a PURPOSE. There is an end result. Reading on:
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)
Ok, so in these 3 passages we learn the following:
1. It is God's desire for us to be vastly effective and fruitful.
2. In order for us to be vastly effective and even more fruitful, God reorganizes our lives to get our attention on Him.
3. When our attention is on Him, He can fully use us.
Are you ready for this? It's so not about us. It's not about me, and it's not about you. It's about Him using us to accomplish His purposes. The purposes of our Creator God. If we want vastly effective and more fruitful lives, then may I make a recommendation? Let's allow God to reorganize our lives, so that we may in turn be more fruitful for His purposes.
When we reorganize our closet at the beginning of 2009, what is our goal? Our goal is that the organization will result in more effective living, right? That we may more effectively be able to find that pair of shoes, or that sweater with the tags still attached that we received Christmas 2007. Our intent is that the de-cluttering may make life a little more ... focused.
God's intent is the same. His de-cluttering, His reorganization, too, will make life more focused. One of my favorite scriptures so far this year is from Proverbs 4. It says: "Let your eyes look straight ahead; Fix your gaze directly before you" (Prov. 4:25). It's reminding me to stay focused - to stay focused on the goal of accomplishing the purpose of God in my life - because a result-oriented God, always has an end result in mind.
Like ok, the whole fact that by abiding in Christ, I am going to be in tune to knowing God's plan for my personal life - that I am going to be working with God to accomplish His purpose ... The whole fact that apart from Him, I cannot accomplish any of this - OK, that just totally blows my tiny MIND. That gets me FIRED UP!
Our Creator God wants you and I, to be vastly effective for His Kingdom. He wants you and I to bear much fruit, for His glory. My advice to all of us, myself included, is that we allow Him to make the adjustments in our lives. Just go with it. Submit and obey. Because girls, it is for a PURPOSE. There is an end result. Oh, and hey - the end result, it's good. Psalm 139 tells us that God doesn't make less than wonderful. And if you're questioning whether or not God's end result is better than your end result ... Have you looked around? Could you have done any of this? You know, like let's see ... laid the foundations of the earth, set the stars in motion, created the intricate human body ... ?? Yeah, I didn't think so. Enough said.
Trust your Result-Oriented God. He's got plans. I just know it ...
Our God is result-oriented. His Will acted out in our lives, always has a purpose. God does not purposely call us to take action, without having a result in mind.
Turning back in the text a little, we read:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." (John 15:1-2)
Alright, so He sees something good in our lives - which He obviously created in us, for His purposes - but He wants to enrich it, to make it vastly effective and even more fruitful. So, be prepared to maybe be shaken up a little bit ... But, hang in there! It's for a PURPOSE. There is an end result. Reading on:
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5)
Ok, so in these 3 passages we learn the following:
1. It is God's desire for us to be vastly effective and fruitful.
2. In order for us to be vastly effective and even more fruitful, God reorganizes our lives to get our attention on Him.
3. When our attention is on Him, He can fully use us.
Are you ready for this? It's so not about us. It's not about me, and it's not about you. It's about Him using us to accomplish His purposes. The purposes of our Creator God. If we want vastly effective and more fruitful lives, then may I make a recommendation? Let's allow God to reorganize our lives, so that we may in turn be more fruitful for His purposes.
When we reorganize our closet at the beginning of 2009, what is our goal? Our goal is that the organization will result in more effective living, right? That we may more effectively be able to find that pair of shoes, or that sweater with the tags still attached that we received Christmas 2007. Our intent is that the de-cluttering may make life a little more ... focused.
God's intent is the same. His de-cluttering, His reorganization, too, will make life more focused. One of my favorite scriptures so far this year is from Proverbs 4. It says: "Let your eyes look straight ahead; Fix your gaze directly before you" (Prov. 4:25). It's reminding me to stay focused - to stay focused on the goal of accomplishing the purpose of God in my life - because a result-oriented God, always has an end result in mind.
Like ok, the whole fact that by abiding in Christ, I am going to be in tune to knowing God's plan for my personal life - that I am going to be working with God to accomplish His purpose ... The whole fact that apart from Him, I cannot accomplish any of this - OK, that just totally blows my tiny MIND. That gets me FIRED UP!
Our Creator God wants you and I, to be vastly effective for His Kingdom. He wants you and I to bear much fruit, for His glory. My advice to all of us, myself included, is that we allow Him to make the adjustments in our lives. Just go with it. Submit and obey. Because girls, it is for a PURPOSE. There is an end result. Oh, and hey - the end result, it's good. Psalm 139 tells us that God doesn't make less than wonderful. And if you're questioning whether or not God's end result is better than your end result ... Have you looked around? Could you have done any of this? You know, like let's see ... laid the foundations of the earth, set the stars in motion, created the intricate human body ... ?? Yeah, I didn't think so. Enough said.
Trust your Result-Oriented God. He's got plans. I just know it ...
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Practical and Effectual
"In the day of my trouble I will call to You, for You will answer me." (Psalm 86:7, NIV)
The Message translates the above verse, by saying: "Pay attention, God, to my prayer; bend down and listen to my cry for help. Every time I'm in trouble I call on You, confident that You'll answer."
Alright, so here's the thing .... Are you ready? This is very intense, extremely deep ...
When we pray, He listens.
All sarcasm aside, it truly takes some a lifetime to come to this realization - even Bible-believing Christians. Like, I need reminded of this very truth ... OFTEN.
I read the following commentary on the above verse, and I must say, I am totally in love with this thought:
"It is useless to cry to those who cannot or will not hear. Our experience confirms us in the belief that Jehovah the Living God really does aid those who call upon Him, and therefore we pray because we really find it to be a practical and effectual means of obtaining help from God in the hour of need. There can be no reason for praying if there be no expectation of the Lord's answering" (Spurgeon, Psalms, Vol. II).
Yes, that's it! Our Jehovah, our Living God - He really does answer those who call upon Him. Why pray if we don't expect Him to answer? We pray, ladies, because "we really find it to be a practical and effectual means of obtaining help from God"!
I challenge us, myself included, to pray differently this week. To pray with the intentional mindset that our communication with the Living God, really is a "practical and effectual means of obtaining help" from Him.
Let me know how it changes things. And remember the simple, yet life-changing truth ... When we pray, He listens.
The Message translates the above verse, by saying: "Pay attention, God, to my prayer; bend down and listen to my cry for help. Every time I'm in trouble I call on You, confident that You'll answer."
Alright, so here's the thing .... Are you ready? This is very intense, extremely deep ...
When we pray, He listens.
All sarcasm aside, it truly takes some a lifetime to come to this realization - even Bible-believing Christians. Like, I need reminded of this very truth ... OFTEN.
I read the following commentary on the above verse, and I must say, I am totally in love with this thought:
"It is useless to cry to those who cannot or will not hear. Our experience confirms us in the belief that Jehovah the Living God really does aid those who call upon Him, and therefore we pray because we really find it to be a practical and effectual means of obtaining help from God in the hour of need. There can be no reason for praying if there be no expectation of the Lord's answering" (Spurgeon, Psalms, Vol. II).
Yes, that's it! Our Jehovah, our Living God - He really does answer those who call upon Him. Why pray if we don't expect Him to answer? We pray, ladies, because "we really find it to be a practical and effectual means of obtaining help from God"!
I challenge us, myself included, to pray differently this week. To pray with the intentional mindset that our communication with the Living God, really is a "practical and effectual means of obtaining help" from Him.
Let me know how it changes things. And remember the simple, yet life-changing truth ... When we pray, He listens.
Stiff-Arming Sin
Some profound words spoken this morning from our Teaching Pastor, Matt Hahn. He preached on the life of Joseph from Genesis 39. I'm going to do a re-cap because I just thought it was that good.
What can we learn about the character of God in the midst of trial?
I. In the midst of trial, God is with us - He is ever-present.
II. In the midst of trial, God is worthy of our obedience.
III. In the midst of trial, God has a plan.
He brought that message home with the following statement ...
"When I think about the death of Jesus on the cross ...
I am more compelled to stiff-arm sin in the face, and run toward obedience."
Amen. Amen. AMEN. Because that, my girls, is what happens when we seek God - in the valleys and on the mountaintops. We begin to hate sin, and a desire for obedience rules our hearts - for the sake of Christ.
Happy Lord's day! Oh, and I haven't told you yet, but Happy New Year! I pray 2009 will be a year of blessing. I pray that you will experience God's remarkable and irreplaceable presence in your life, this year - more than ever before.
What can we learn about the character of God in the midst of trial?
I. In the midst of trial, God is with us - He is ever-present.
II. In the midst of trial, God is worthy of our obedience.
III. In the midst of trial, God has a plan.
He brought that message home with the following statement ...
"When I think about the death of Jesus on the cross ...
I am more compelled to stiff-arm sin in the face, and run toward obedience."
Amen. Amen. AMEN. Because that, my girls, is what happens when we seek God - in the valleys and on the mountaintops. We begin to hate sin, and a desire for obedience rules our hearts - for the sake of Christ.
Happy Lord's day! Oh, and I haven't told you yet, but Happy New Year! I pray 2009 will be a year of blessing. I pray that you will experience God's remarkable and irreplaceable presence in your life, this year - more than ever before.
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