"Godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)
Feeling a little discontented these days? Ask yourself, "Why?" Do a little soul-searching and while you are searching, remember that you are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). You are a unique creation of the Creator God.
Paul said in Philippians 4:11b, ". . . . .I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Paul had learned the secret of being content in every situation. That secret is found in Philippians 4:13 - "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." God can and will give us a spirit of contentment. We have to ask.
I confess, this is an area I have prayed about consistently because I often find myself lacking in the area of contentment. God gave me the verse in 1 Timothy 6:6 years ago when I was confessing my lack of contentment.
I desire above all else to be the godly woman God wants me to be, therefore, I must learn to have a spirit of contentment. The key (secret) can be found in learning to lean on Him and trust Him in everything. Contentment may not come quickly, but it will come when we completely depend on Him for our strength.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Have We No Shame?
The LORD was referring to all the people, even the prophets and priests, when He stated, ". . . .they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush" (Jeremiah 6:15b). The people had gotten so far away from God they had no shame.
America comes to mind. Have we no shame at all? Do we ever blush? The depths to which our morals (as a country) have fallen, cause many to have no shame about anything they do. Our country's standards may have changed, but God's remain the same. He remains unchanged. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). His commandments are still as applicable today as the day they were engraved on two tablets by God.
Prayer: Convict us Holy Spirit if we feel no shame when we sin against God. Lord, cause us to blush once again at the wrongs around us. Help us protect our eyes, ears and minds from anything that does not please you.
America comes to mind. Have we no shame at all? Do we ever blush? The depths to which our morals (as a country) have fallen, cause many to have no shame about anything they do. Our country's standards may have changed, but God's remain the same. He remains unchanged. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). His commandments are still as applicable today as the day they were engraved on two tablets by God.
Prayer: Convict us Holy Spirit if we feel no shame when we sin against God. Lord, cause us to blush once again at the wrongs around us. Help us protect our eyes, ears and minds from anything that does not please you.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Did I make the right decision?
I have been pondering all week the sermon Ray Pritchard preached at our Awaken service Sunday evening. He began with examples of people asking, "Did I make the right decision?"
Don't we all second-guess ourselves? What can you do now if you did make a wrong decision? Well, you can't change the decision you made in the past, you just have to go forward. One thing Ray said has stuck with me all week. "Quit trying to have a better past. It is what it is."
How many times have you wished you could change your past? The fact is, no one can change their past so let's "quit trying to have a better past." Let's get on with the process of living, of going forward because how we view our past affects how we live out our future.
Ray used Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose."
If this verse is true (and it most certainly is!), then even our past will work together for our good if we are one of His children.
Did I make the right decision when I (fill in the blank)? We may not know here on earth, but we can rest in the fact that God is Sovereign and He will work out even the wrong decisions for our good and for His glory if we will allow Him to.
Ray Pritchard: "I can't go back, I can't stay here, I must go forward."
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:18-19a)
Don't we all second-guess ourselves? What can you do now if you did make a wrong decision? Well, you can't change the decision you made in the past, you just have to go forward. One thing Ray said has stuck with me all week. "Quit trying to have a better past. It is what it is."
How many times have you wished you could change your past? The fact is, no one can change their past so let's "quit trying to have a better past." Let's get on with the process of living, of going forward because how we view our past affects how we live out our future.
Ray used Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them that are called according to His purpose."
If this verse is true (and it most certainly is!), then even our past will work together for our good if we are one of His children.
Did I make the right decision when I (fill in the blank)? We may not know here on earth, but we can rest in the fact that God is Sovereign and He will work out even the wrong decisions for our good and for His glory if we will allow Him to.
Ray Pritchard: "I can't go back, I can't stay here, I must go forward."
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing!" (Isaiah 43:18-19a)
Monday, October 4, 2010
Seeing God In Everything
It is easy to see God in the good things in life. It's even easy to praise Him for all His blessings. But, if we could learn to see God in everything that happens to us, that would be a major breakthrough in our Christian lives.
Do you want to become more Christ-like? If you do, then learn to ask God what He wants to teach you through your difficulties rather than asking Him why you are having to experience tough things. Learn to see God in everything.
God always has a purpose in allowing everything that touches our lives. Sometimes, God takes me through difficult times because He sees something in my life that needs some pruning - some cutting away. He sometimes allows deep hurts so I will rely on no one or no thing except Him.
When we come to a place where we can truly say, "Your will, not mine Lord," then He will teach us. He will give us what we need to endure our trials and He will bring us out on the other side changed into one who looks more like Jesus. Isn't that what we desire - to be more Christ-like? (I confess, it is an ongoing process in my life.)
Because God is Sovereign, we must learn to see Him in everything. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Do you want to become more Christ-like? If you do, then learn to ask God what He wants to teach you through your difficulties rather than asking Him why you are having to experience tough things. Learn to see God in everything.
God always has a purpose in allowing everything that touches our lives. Sometimes, God takes me through difficult times because He sees something in my life that needs some pruning - some cutting away. He sometimes allows deep hurts so I will rely on no one or no thing except Him.
When we come to a place where we can truly say, "Your will, not mine Lord," then He will teach us. He will give us what we need to endure our trials and He will bring us out on the other side changed into one who looks more like Jesus. Isn't that what we desire - to be more Christ-like? (I confess, it is an ongoing process in my life.)
Because God is Sovereign, we must learn to see Him in everything. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)
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