Being without peace is a miserable place.
You toss and turn at night. You have unrest. Dissatisfaction consumes you. You hear good news but are quick to find the inevitable bad that comes with it. Your world feels filled with gloom and you can't find the door to release it all.
Being without peace is a miserable place.
Luckily, there is always a door, always a window that can be opened to let the gloom out and peace come in.
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." Colossians 3:15
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3
I had been without peace lately. Honestly, there are many little reasons, many little things that I allowed to rob me of God's perfect peace. It's a dangerous place to be. I was miserable. I couldn't sleep. I would let the things get to me, roll around over and over in my mind and I couldn't shut it off. I was frustrated.
Isaiah 26:3 perfectly describes how I got to the miserable state of no peace - I got my mind off of Him. I took my mind off Christ, His will, His Word, His desires and I focused my mind on me - my problems - the things I do have that I don't want or the tings I want but don't have. It gave root to discontentment and resentment.
Just when I thought I was stuck in the rut though, His Word still penetrated my hardening heart.
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Psalm 119:165
Through the preaching of His Word, I was reminded that He gives peace that passeth all understanding and I can claim that peace. I can grab it, hold onto it, trust it, rely on it and keep it. The verse from Psalms 119 reminds me of where I can always find it when I feel God's perfect peace begin to slip away or when I begin to let my mind and focus fall away from Him. Keep your mind on Him - keep His perfect peace.
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." Colossians 3:15
I am so thankful I can obtain God's perfect peace and let it rule me, my heart and my life. Are you experiencing God's perfect peace today?
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Throwing out your fleece
I hate making decisions.
I am not good at decision-making. I toss and turn the possibilities around in my mind until the last possible minute. If I could, I would hire someone to make all my decisions for me. Then I realized, I already have a professional decision maker...
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Yep, I can trust in the Lord and lean on Him to guide an direct me in ALL ways of life.
This is one set of verses that are memorized quite often and for good reason. We need the constant reminder to not trust our own understanding, we have a tendency to make a mess of things (or I know I do at least) and need the reminder to trust Him will all things. It can be be easily memorized but not always so easily put to practice.
When considering this idea of decision making I thought of the story of Gideon. God wanted him to lead the army against the Midianites and Gideon thought that was a little hard to believe at first. So what does he do? He wanted to double check and make sure it was really God's will before he led hundreds of men into battle.
"Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water." - Judges 6:37-38
Pretty amazing, huh? Gideon, wanting to make sure God's direction was true, requested that God make the fleece wet over night an keep all the ground around it dry and the next morning, when Gideon woke up, that fleece was so soaked it filled a whole bowl full of water and the ground around it...bone dry!!
Well, it doesn't stop there.
"And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground." Judges 6:39-40
I love how God proves His will to Gideon through this simple fleece and through Gideon's simple requests. He is always there, we can take all our cares and decisions to Him and He has every answer that we need. And if we question it, like Gideon, even twice...He is patient and long suffering and willing to prove His direction for us.
God's will isn't a mystery that we must figure out like a jigsaw puzzle, nor do we have to search for it like hidden treasure. God will guide and direct us, as long as we are willing to trust Him and ask Him. And just to make sure, we can always through out our fleece...just to make sure!
I am not good at decision-making. I toss and turn the possibilities around in my mind until the last possible minute. If I could, I would hire someone to make all my decisions for me. Then I realized, I already have a professional decision maker...
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Yep, I can trust in the Lord and lean on Him to guide an direct me in ALL ways of life.
This is one set of verses that are memorized quite often and for good reason. We need the constant reminder to not trust our own understanding, we have a tendency to make a mess of things (or I know I do at least) and need the reminder to trust Him will all things. It can be be easily memorized but not always so easily put to practice.
When considering this idea of decision making I thought of the story of Gideon. God wanted him to lead the army against the Midianites and Gideon thought that was a little hard to believe at first. So what does he do? He wanted to double check and make sure it was really God's will before he led hundreds of men into battle.
"Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water." - Judges 6:37-38
Pretty amazing, huh? Gideon, wanting to make sure God's direction was true, requested that God make the fleece wet over night an keep all the ground around it dry and the next morning, when Gideon woke up, that fleece was so soaked it filled a whole bowl full of water and the ground around it...bone dry!!
Well, it doesn't stop there.
"And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground." Judges 6:39-40
I love how God proves His will to Gideon through this simple fleece and through Gideon's simple requests. He is always there, we can take all our cares and decisions to Him and He has every answer that we need. And if we question it, like Gideon, even twice...He is patient and long suffering and willing to prove His direction for us.
God's will isn't a mystery that we must figure out like a jigsaw puzzle, nor do we have to search for it like hidden treasure. God will guide and direct us, as long as we are willing to trust Him and ask Him. And just to make sure, we can always through out our fleece...just to make sure!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tolerance
The Bible tells us that in the last days, men will call good evil and evil good. I believe we are living in that time right now. We live in a time when sin is tolerated too much. It is now considered "normal" to live together before marriage, lying and cheating are no longer frowned but practically required in the business world. Sinful lifestyles are to be "accepted" nowadays and if you don't you are quickly labeled "intolerant".
Well, I am sick and tired of it and so is God.
But I can't change the world. I will let God take care of that (and He will). But one thing I can change is me.
As I thought about the word "tolerance" this week, I asked God to show me what He wanted me to learn about it. I have to admit, I don't quite think I was prepared for His answer.
Christian, before we get our bony, pointy finger of judgment in position and ready to aim it at the wicked and sinful world, we must get up and stand in front of a mirror and wave that bony finger at ourselves first.
That is what God told me about tolerance this week. What am I allowing or tolerating to permeate my life that God would not allow? The words I speak, would He tolerate them? The thoughts I think, would He tolerate them? The shows I watch, the music I listen to...would God tolerate any of it?
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written. Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 13-16
That is the highest standard imaginable, one of which I am always short of obtaining, however I must continually strive for.
God pinpointed something in my life this week though about this subject of tolerance. He highlighted the selection of music found on my iPod. Now, I have plenty of good music on there but there are some songs on there that don't need to be...songs that He would not tolerate and therefore, I should not tolerate. So this week, I am going through my iTunes and doing some much needed cleaning. After the iPod, I am know there are more areas of my life God will highlight and have me examine, but this blog is a devotional, not a confessional. :)
But I do ask you, Christian, take some time this week, or better yet, take some time today and ask God to help you examine your life. What are you tolerating? Would God tolerate it, too?
Well, I am sick and tired of it and so is God.
But I can't change the world. I will let God take care of that (and He will). But one thing I can change is me.
As I thought about the word "tolerance" this week, I asked God to show me what He wanted me to learn about it. I have to admit, I don't quite think I was prepared for His answer.
Christian, before we get our bony, pointy finger of judgment in position and ready to aim it at the wicked and sinful world, we must get up and stand in front of a mirror and wave that bony finger at ourselves first.
That is what God told me about tolerance this week. What am I allowing or tolerating to permeate my life that God would not allow? The words I speak, would He tolerate them? The thoughts I think, would He tolerate them? The shows I watch, the music I listen to...would God tolerate any of it?
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written. Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 13-16
That is the highest standard imaginable, one of which I am always short of obtaining, however I must continually strive for.
God pinpointed something in my life this week though about this subject of tolerance. He highlighted the selection of music found on my iPod. Now, I have plenty of good music on there but there are some songs on there that don't need to be...songs that He would not tolerate and therefore, I should not tolerate. So this week, I am going through my iTunes and doing some much needed cleaning. After the iPod, I am know there are more areas of my life God will highlight and have me examine, but this blog is a devotional, not a confessional. :)
But I do ask you, Christian, take some time this week, or better yet, take some time today and ask God to help you examine your life. What are you tolerating? Would God tolerate it, too?
Monday, June 13, 2011
Best Friend
Friends are great...and needful.
I have been blessed with phenomenal friends. Friends that are there when you need them. Friends who are there to celebrate victories with, friends who are there when you need comfort, there to help you move and there to help you shovel water away from your front door at 11:00 at night. I have friends to laugh with and friends to cry with, friends that encourage me and friends that challenge me. I even have friends that bring a smile to my face just by thinking about them.
In the past year or so I have developed a friendship with someone that goes deeper than any other friendship I've ever had. I've known this friend for years but have never needed Him like I have recently. He's a friend that really truly loves at all times. He knows all my faults better than anyone and yet loves me still. He never falls asleep when I talk with Him, He always has an ear for me and honestly, He gives the best advice!
This friend is also my Father, my Lord and my Savior. He is Jesus Christ. He is the dearest Friend, I've ever had.
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Greater love. He shows and gives the greatest love imaginable. He laid His life down for me. No strings attached, no benefit in it for Him, just pain and torture and agony but still He laid it down in my place, shed His blood for me. He paid my debt of sin.
He is my best friend.
Last week I heard this song that stopped me in my tracks and caused me to hang on every word. It put to words my thoughts and feelings and I thought I'd share it as I find it fitting for this topic.
Every tear that falls, Jesus sees them. Every cry I make, He hears them. When burdens come too hard to bear, the times I feel that no one cares, I turn around to find, He's here with me. He's here with me and He said He would always be with me. In time of trouble, He's my strength and my stay. What I'm feeling, He doesn't have to guess, for He knows the pain of loneliness. When I need Him, He's never far away. He's here with me.
Jesus knows what it means to be lonely. Remember in the garden long ago, He knew the price that must be paid and His heart was broken as He prayed for the road that lay ahead Him, He walked alone. He walked alone. And He said, He would always be with me. In time of trouble, He's my strength and my stay. What I'm feeling, He doesn't have to guess, for He knows the pain of loneliness. When I need Him, He's never far away. He's here with me.
My best friend....is here with me.
I have been blessed with phenomenal friends. Friends that are there when you need them. Friends who are there to celebrate victories with, friends who are there when you need comfort, there to help you move and there to help you shovel water away from your front door at 11:00 at night. I have friends to laugh with and friends to cry with, friends that encourage me and friends that challenge me. I even have friends that bring a smile to my face just by thinking about them.
In the past year or so I have developed a friendship with someone that goes deeper than any other friendship I've ever had. I've known this friend for years but have never needed Him like I have recently. He's a friend that really truly loves at all times. He knows all my faults better than anyone and yet loves me still. He never falls asleep when I talk with Him, He always has an ear for me and honestly, He gives the best advice!
This friend is also my Father, my Lord and my Savior. He is Jesus Christ. He is the dearest Friend, I've ever had.
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
Greater love. He shows and gives the greatest love imaginable. He laid His life down for me. No strings attached, no benefit in it for Him, just pain and torture and agony but still He laid it down in my place, shed His blood for me. He paid my debt of sin.
He is my best friend.
Last week I heard this song that stopped me in my tracks and caused me to hang on every word. It put to words my thoughts and feelings and I thought I'd share it as I find it fitting for this topic.
Every tear that falls, Jesus sees them. Every cry I make, He hears them. When burdens come too hard to bear, the times I feel that no one cares, I turn around to find, He's here with me. He's here with me and He said He would always be with me. In time of trouble, He's my strength and my stay. What I'm feeling, He doesn't have to guess, for He knows the pain of loneliness. When I need Him, He's never far away. He's here with me.
Jesus knows what it means to be lonely. Remember in the garden long ago, He knew the price that must be paid and His heart was broken as He prayed for the road that lay ahead Him, He walked alone. He walked alone. And He said, He would always be with me. In time of trouble, He's my strength and my stay. What I'm feeling, He doesn't have to guess, for He knows the pain of loneliness. When I need Him, He's never far away. He's here with me.
My best friend....is here with me.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
A Challenge
"Do all things without murmurings and disputings." Philippians 2:14
Short verse. Easy to memorize, hard to put to practice.
A few years ago, a group of friends and I decided to see if we could go a whole week without complaining.
Sadly, we were unsuccessful.
It's a shame too. Considering we live in America, we have our very own copies of the perfect and preserved Word of God, we have the freedom to meet together in church, sing praises to Him and boldly proclaim the Gospel.
I was sad and disappointed in myself at how quickly I found myself complaining.
However, I think I am ready for that challenge again, to see how long I can go without complaining. This time, when I feel a word of complaint about to tumble from my lips, I hope to catch it quick and replace it with a word of praise. He is worthy to be praised and I am unworthy of all the gifts He has given. To sit back and allow murmurings and complaints to spew from my mouth, is disgraceful and displeasing to Him.
So next time I find myself ready to complain about the weather, I am going to choose to thank God for another day that He created, for me to serve Him. If I am about to complain about pain in my leg and how it still is an issue, I am instead going to praise Him for saving my leg and the ability I have to walk, as there are many today who do not have the capability. Before I complain about a bad call at work and how rude the member may be, I am going to thank Him for providing me with a job as He is the One who gave it to me and I know there are many especially these days as I know there are many who do not have a job to go to Monday morning.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings." Philippians 2:13-14
Short verse. Easy to memorize, hard to put to practice.
A few years ago, a group of friends and I decided to see if we could go a whole week without complaining.
Sadly, we were unsuccessful.
It's a shame too. Considering we live in America, we have our very own copies of the perfect and preserved Word of God, we have the freedom to meet together in church, sing praises to Him and boldly proclaim the Gospel.
I was sad and disappointed in myself at how quickly I found myself complaining.
However, I think I am ready for that challenge again, to see how long I can go without complaining. This time, when I feel a word of complaint about to tumble from my lips, I hope to catch it quick and replace it with a word of praise. He is worthy to be praised and I am unworthy of all the gifts He has given. To sit back and allow murmurings and complaints to spew from my mouth, is disgraceful and displeasing to Him.
So next time I find myself ready to complain about the weather, I am going to choose to thank God for another day that He created, for me to serve Him. If I am about to complain about pain in my leg and how it still is an issue, I am instead going to praise Him for saving my leg and the ability I have to walk, as there are many today who do not have the capability. Before I complain about a bad call at work and how rude the member may be, I am going to thank Him for providing me with a job as He is the One who gave it to me and I know there are many especially these days as I know there are many who do not have a job to go to Monday morning.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings." Philippians 2:13-14
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
God is...
I came upon the following list this weekend while sorting through some papers. It lifted my spirits at a time when they needed lifting so I thought I would post it on here and hope it would be a help. Sometimes it's great just to sit back and mediate on Him.
He is...
He is... love
He is... purity
He is... joy
He is... comfort
He is... mighty
He is... my salvation
He is... my Redeemer
He is... my Counselor
He is... my Creator
He is... my Father
He is... my friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)
He is... humility
He is... mercy
He is... patience
He is... peace
He is... power
He is... wisdom
He is... protection
He is... not just my King but the King of Kings
He is... not just my Lord but the Lord of Lords
He is... forgiveness
He is... righteousness
He is... the beginning
He is... alive
He is... still on the throne
He is... wonderful
He is... sovereign
He is... satisfaction
He is... perfection
He is... compassion
He is... faithful
He is... truth
He is... strength
He is... honor
and He is worthy!
He can...
He can... forgive me
He can... save me
He can... redeem me
He can... cleanse me
He can... sanctify me
He can... teach me
He can... direct me
He can... expose me
In no way is this list all inclusive. The poet penned it best in the last verse of the hymn, "The Love of God"
Could we with ink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made, were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade. To write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky.
Take some time today, take some time everyday to just meditate on Him and who He is.
He is...
He is... love
He is... purity
He is... joy
He is... comfort
He is... mighty
He is... my salvation
He is... my Redeemer
He is... my Counselor
He is... my Creator
He is... my Father
He is... my friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24)
He is... humility
He is... mercy
He is... patience
He is... peace
He is... power
He is... wisdom
He is... protection
He is... not just my King but the King of Kings
He is... not just my Lord but the Lord of Lords
He is... forgiveness
He is... righteousness
He is... the beginning
He is... alive
He is... still on the throne
He is... wonderful
He is... sovereign
He is... satisfaction
He is... perfection
He is... compassion
He is... faithful
He is... truth
He is... strength
He is... honor
and He is worthy!
He can...
He can... forgive me
He can... save me
He can... redeem me
He can... cleanse me
He can... sanctify me
He can... teach me
He can... direct me
He can... expose me
In no way is this list all inclusive. The poet penned it best in the last verse of the hymn, "The Love of God"
Could we with ink the ocean fill and were the skies of parchment made, were every stalk on earth a quill and every man a scribe by trade. To write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry, nor could the scroll contain the whole though stretched from sky to sky.
Take some time today, take some time everyday to just meditate on Him and who He is.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)