"Give your mind a break from planning and trying to anticipate what will happen." This jumped off the pages of Jesus Calling early this morning in my Quiet Time. I don't know about you, but I needed permission to give my mind a break from planning! There is always something in my life that needs planning - my daily, weekly, etc. schedule, Sunday School, Women's Ministry and on and on. Sometimes that planning and the anticipation of what might occur interferes with my sleep.
By "nature" I am a planner. That's not necessarily a bad trait, but one can go overboard with a good thing. The key, of course, is to let the Holy Spirit be in control of my day, my week, my future - let Him be in on the planning. Let Him be my Guide.
Psalm 62:5 says, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." To give my mind a break (a rest), I must be ever aware of the Lord's constant Presence with me. This becomes a reality through prayer - constant prayer. Pray, pray, pray. Listen, listen, listen. Obey, obey, obey. Rest in Him.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Chief Liar
The devil is a liar. Jesus said, "When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Jesus also said, "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth for there is no truth in him." (John 8:44)
How do we counteract the devil's lies? Know the TRUTH. Study God's Word. Know the Scripture and yes, memorize the Word. When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, He answered him with Scripture. We can do the same, but we have to know the Word.
We must know the Truth to repudiate the devil's lies. If we don't know God's Word, how will we recognize his lies?
When we saturate our minds and thoughts with God's Word, we will recognize the devil's lies. "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
How do we counteract the devil's lies? Know the TRUTH. Study God's Word. Know the Scripture and yes, memorize the Word. When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, He answered him with Scripture. We can do the same, but we have to know the Word.
We must know the Truth to repudiate the devil's lies. If we don't know God's Word, how will we recognize his lies?
When we saturate our minds and thoughts with God's Word, we will recognize the devil's lies. "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Our Fears - God's Sovereignty
Deuteronomy 31:8 - "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
"Do not be afraid" - God states these words over and over again in his Word. I once thought of myself as something other than a fearful person. Compared to many people, I am not, but when I am completely honest with myself and with God, I have to admit I do have fear in my life.
Okay, confession time! I am dreadfully afraid of snakes. I also experience claustrophobia at times but this is improving. Another fear I deal with is the fear of heights. In high places, I can become somewhat disoriented, dizzy and sometimes overwhelmed. I have actually experienced a panic attack while driving on a very high, crooked road from Durango, Colorado to Silverton.
God spoke to me very clearly one morning recently as I read the devotional and Scripture from Jesus Calling. When God says, "Do not be afraid," that is exactly what He means. God is Omnipresent and He is Sovereign. He has shown me that He is in control of even my greatest fears. He knows where the snakes are hiding (the sneaky things!) and He is even in control of snakes. Because He is Sovereign and in control, I need not fear. He made the beautiful, tall mountains and He is there when we are driving through the high and narrow roads that overlook the valleys below, so I should not fear. He is there when I find myself in a closed-in space like an elevator or MRI.
He WILL deliver me from my fears. It is a matter of trust. When I truly believe that He is Sovereign, my fears will fade away.
Lord, deliver me from all my fears. You are there (Omnipresent). You are in control (Sovereign). Help me trust You.
"Do not be afraid" - God states these words over and over again in his Word. I once thought of myself as something other than a fearful person. Compared to many people, I am not, but when I am completely honest with myself and with God, I have to admit I do have fear in my life.
Okay, confession time! I am dreadfully afraid of snakes. I also experience claustrophobia at times but this is improving. Another fear I deal with is the fear of heights. In high places, I can become somewhat disoriented, dizzy and sometimes overwhelmed. I have actually experienced a panic attack while driving on a very high, crooked road from Durango, Colorado to Silverton.
God spoke to me very clearly one morning recently as I read the devotional and Scripture from Jesus Calling. When God says, "Do not be afraid," that is exactly what He means. God is Omnipresent and He is Sovereign. He has shown me that He is in control of even my greatest fears. He knows where the snakes are hiding (the sneaky things!) and He is even in control of snakes. Because He is Sovereign and in control, I need not fear. He made the beautiful, tall mountains and He is there when we are driving through the high and narrow roads that overlook the valleys below, so I should not fear. He is there when I find myself in a closed-in space like an elevator or MRI.
He WILL deliver me from my fears. It is a matter of trust. When I truly believe that He is Sovereign, my fears will fade away.
Lord, deliver me from all my fears. You are there (Omnipresent). You are in control (Sovereign). Help me trust You.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Be Still Before the Lord
Such a fast paced world we live in! Do we ever really get still? God's Word tells us, commands us, to be still.
Zechariah 2:13 - "Be still before the Lord, all mankind."
Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God."
How will we ever really know God if we do not get still before Him? I don't believe we will. To grow and mature in our Christian lives, we must know who He is. The more we know about His character, His power, His strength, His love, His mercy and His grace, the more we want to know.
The more we learn about the awesomeness of God, the smaller we seem - the more insignificant we become. It really is all about who He is - it's not about me!
"Be still and know that I am God." Learn to be still in His presence. Practice being still before Him - it will not just happen. We have to make the effort, make the choice, to be quiet and still before Him. Learn to listen to Him through His Word and you will begin to know who God really is.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 29:13-14a)
Zechariah 2:13 - "Be still before the Lord, all mankind."
Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God."
How will we ever really know God if we do not get still before Him? I don't believe we will. To grow and mature in our Christian lives, we must know who He is. The more we know about His character, His power, His strength, His love, His mercy and His grace, the more we want to know.
The more we learn about the awesomeness of God, the smaller we seem - the more insignificant we become. It really is all about who He is - it's not about me!
"Be still and know that I am God." Learn to be still in His presence. Practice being still before Him - it will not just happen. We have to make the effort, make the choice, to be quiet and still before Him. Learn to listen to Him through His Word and you will begin to know who God really is.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 29:13-14a)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Isn't God Good?!!
Have you ever noticed when someone dies or we lose something, a baby is often born or something new comes into our lives? Isn't God good?!!
God takes our hurts and our losses and gives us something new and alive. He is All-sufficient and He is always good. He knows our hurts and our griefs and He cares. "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." (Psalm 34:8) "The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made." (Psalm 145:9)
When a marriage ends, it is a loss and our family is experiencing this right now. True to God's goodness, our only granddaughter, Kaylee, got engaged Sunday night to Colton - her best friend. We are all so excited and I could not help but see God's hand in the timing. In the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon says, "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven . . . . . . . a time to mourn and a time to dance." I think it is time to dance! Isn't God good?!!
Colton and Kaylee
God takes our hurts and our losses and gives us something new and alive. He is All-sufficient and He is always good. He knows our hurts and our griefs and He cares. "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." (Psalm 34:8) "The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made." (Psalm 145:9)
When a marriage ends, it is a loss and our family is experiencing this right now. True to God's goodness, our only granddaughter, Kaylee, got engaged Sunday night to Colton - her best friend. We are all so excited and I could not help but see God's hand in the timing. In the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon says, "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven . . . . . . . a time to mourn and a time to dance." I think it is time to dance! Isn't God good?!!
Colton and Kaylee
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Daniel - Committed to Worship
Daniel is one of my favorite characters in God's Word and his commitments influence me to keep him at the top of my list of the most admired men in the Bible. We know he was committed to taking care of his physical body because of his refusal to eat the king's delicacies - rich as they were. Even more impressive is his commitment to worship the One True God at all cost.
In Daniel 6:3 it states that "Daniel so distinguished himself . . . . by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom." But, as men/women will do, his co-workers became jealous and determined to bring him down. However, this task was going to be no small job. "They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." (Daniel 6:4b) These men determined that they would have to devise a plan that had something to do with the law of his God if they wanted to bring him down.
These co-workers flattered the king and urged him to sign into law a decree that stated if anyone prayed to someone other than the king for 30 days, they would be placed in the lion's den. How did Daniel respond to the decree? Daniel 6:10b states, "Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."
Daniel was committed to worship even if it meant facing a lion's den. How important is worship to us? Are we willing to go to the "lion's den" if we are caught worshiping God? God is the One True God - the same God Daniel worshiped - the only God who is worthy of our worship and praise. How committed are we to caring for our physical bodies and how committed are we to worshiping God no matter the cost?
In Daniel 6:3 it states that "Daniel so distinguished himself . . . . by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom." But, as men/women will do, his co-workers became jealous and determined to bring him down. However, this task was going to be no small job. "They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent." (Daniel 6:4b) These men determined that they would have to devise a plan that had something to do with the law of his God if they wanted to bring him down.
These co-workers flattered the king and urged him to sign into law a decree that stated if anyone prayed to someone other than the king for 30 days, they would be placed in the lion's den. How did Daniel respond to the decree? Daniel 6:10b states, "Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."
Daniel was committed to worship even if it meant facing a lion's den. How important is worship to us? Are we willing to go to the "lion's den" if we are caught worshiping God? God is the One True God - the same God Daniel worshiped - the only God who is worthy of our worship and praise. How committed are we to caring for our physical bodies and how committed are we to worshiping God no matter the cost?
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Pleasant Places
I think Psalm 16:6 will have to become one of my memory verses this year because it keeps coming to mind. "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."
Am I saying that everything is going beautifully in my life right now? Absolutely not! But, I have an overwhelming feeling that God has blessed me far more than I deserve. Everything in my life right now is not pleasant, but overall, my life is still in pleasant places. It is because of God's abiding presence and His love. No matter what happens, He is with me and has given me what I need to face all circumstances. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. . . . ." (2 Peter 1:3) Does that mean I don't get sad, grieve and cry? Of course not!
When the news came that our son and his wife will be getting a divorce after 18 years of marriage and two teenage sons, it was and is devastating. It hurts. It's not pleasant. The truth that God hates divorce came immediately to mind. But He is All-Sufficient and will see us all through the difficulties that lie ahead.
My Prayer - well it's just too personal so I will share the end of my prayer: "Lord, whatever you want to teach me, help me get it. Quick! Lord."
Am I saying that everything is going beautifully in my life right now? Absolutely not! But, I have an overwhelming feeling that God has blessed me far more than I deserve. Everything in my life right now is not pleasant, but overall, my life is still in pleasant places. It is because of God's abiding presence and His love. No matter what happens, He is with me and has given me what I need to face all circumstances. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. . . . ." (2 Peter 1:3) Does that mean I don't get sad, grieve and cry? Of course not!
When the news came that our son and his wife will be getting a divorce after 18 years of marriage and two teenage sons, it was and is devastating. It hurts. It's not pleasant. The truth that God hates divorce came immediately to mind. But He is All-Sufficient and will see us all through the difficulties that lie ahead.
My Prayer - well it's just too personal so I will share the end of my prayer: "Lord, whatever you want to teach me, help me get it. Quick! Lord."
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