Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, My Rock and my Redeemer.
The psalmist already knew that the Lord looks not only at our actions but at the heart. Jesus came to show us that the thoughts we have are part of our sin. We cannot possibly control every aspect of our being, even if we are disciplined enough to control our outward action. Our inner thoughts get the best of us. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit can our hearts be transformed so that our minds can be renewed in the holiness of our Father. For me, the hardest part is stepping back and letting God have every bit of who I am. This may mean that there may be times when I have to admit I've been wrong in order to move to a new journey. God does the refining, as long as I will allow Him at my heart. It's not easy, but if I want my words and my meditations to be pleasing to God, then I have to let Him do the refining.
Monday, July 2, 2018
Thursday, June 21, 2018
God Will Speak
Psalm 12:6 And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.
I have been challenged by God to stop trying to figure things out and, instead, listen for His voice and His words as He speaks them. I have this habit/need to try to problem solve everything, whether that be to look at all that has transpired in my life and figure out what it all means, to read specific scriptures and try to make it fit my current situation, or to ask my spiritual mentors what they think and find an answer. I am an answer seeker, a sense maker, a problem solver. God shared this nugget of truth with me today. He will be clear and He will speak when there is something I need to know or do. He is working tirelessly on my behalf to bring about the best for me and for His Kingdom. All I have to do is spend time with Him, know Him, and listen for Him. He will speak when the timing is right and He will take care of all of my needs.
I have been challenged by God to stop trying to figure things out and, instead, listen for His voice and His words as He speaks them. I have this habit/need to try to problem solve everything, whether that be to look at all that has transpired in my life and figure out what it all means, to read specific scriptures and try to make it fit my current situation, or to ask my spiritual mentors what they think and find an answer. I am an answer seeker, a sense maker, a problem solver. God shared this nugget of truth with me today. He will be clear and He will speak when there is something I need to know or do. He is working tirelessly on my behalf to bring about the best for me and for His Kingdom. All I have to do is spend time with Him, know Him, and listen for Him. He will speak when the timing is right and He will take care of all of my needs.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
An Un-tempt-ible Heart
Matthew 4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, an serve him only.'"
Do you ever feel the need to say these very words to Satan? Do you ever feel attacked or annoyed by his attempts to thwart you? I certainly do. We all have moments that we need the courage and the reminder that God is in charge. We are not, and Satan is not. Satan even has to ask permission of God. This alone should confirm who our one true Lord is. As we are tempted, we must stand firm in our Lord and remember that Jesus experienced it all too. We have someone we can turn to who understands our struggle better than we understand our own. Jesus was in the desert for 40 days without food, in great need, when Satan showed up to bring Him low. Jesus responded out of His love for us with every temptation. "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word from God." "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." He quoted scripture, the Word of God, every time. What scriptures do you lean on when Satan comes to tempt you? How do you withstand his ploys? Is Jesus your go to? As Jesus said, "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil". I ask the Lord to change my desires so that those things that once tempted me no longer have any power over me. That's what the words from the Lord's Prayer mean to me. I don't want to have to defend myself against Satan's attempts. However, I am a work in progress so I use the words of the Lord's Prayer along with others God provides in my times of need. Getting to know Jesus and becoming familiar with God's Word are great defenses against the evil one, but transformational grace is what I'm really after. A heart that is un-tempt-ible. (I don't think that's a word, but I'm gonna use it anyway. 😏)
Do you ever feel the need to say these very words to Satan? Do you ever feel attacked or annoyed by his attempts to thwart you? I certainly do. We all have moments that we need the courage and the reminder that God is in charge. We are not, and Satan is not. Satan even has to ask permission of God. This alone should confirm who our one true Lord is. As we are tempted, we must stand firm in our Lord and remember that Jesus experienced it all too. We have someone we can turn to who understands our struggle better than we understand our own. Jesus was in the desert for 40 days without food, in great need, when Satan showed up to bring Him low. Jesus responded out of His love for us with every temptation. "Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word from God." "Do not put the Lord your God to the test." "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." He quoted scripture, the Word of God, every time. What scriptures do you lean on when Satan comes to tempt you? How do you withstand his ploys? Is Jesus your go to? As Jesus said, "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil". I ask the Lord to change my desires so that those things that once tempted me no longer have any power over me. That's what the words from the Lord's Prayer mean to me. I don't want to have to defend myself against Satan's attempts. However, I am a work in progress so I use the words of the Lord's Prayer along with others God provides in my times of need. Getting to know Jesus and becoming familiar with God's Word are great defenses against the evil one, but transformational grace is what I'm really after. A heart that is un-tempt-ible. (I don't think that's a word, but I'm gonna use it anyway. 😏)
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Guaranteed
Romans 4:16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring - not only to those who are of the law by also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
I just read a devotional that talked about this very verse. It fascinated me to consider that the "promise comes by faith, so that it may be...guaranteed". Faith doesn't seem like something that guarantees anything at all. Faith is a being sure of what we hope for and believing in something unseen. This type of hope isn't like, "Oh I hope I get this job". That's a hope that is unsure and considers luck as a part of the equation. This type of hope is absolute assurance, a guarantee, of something we know, not with our minds or eyes, but with our hearts. This hope is spiritual in nature, not physical or emotional. Faith is the guarantor. Example, our faith in Jesus is what guarantees our salvation. Seeing faith as the guarantor of the fulfillment of a promise, that is a new way to seek the will of the Father.
I just read a devotional that talked about this very verse. It fascinated me to consider that the "promise comes by faith, so that it may be...guaranteed". Faith doesn't seem like something that guarantees anything at all. Faith is a being sure of what we hope for and believing in something unseen. This type of hope isn't like, "Oh I hope I get this job". That's a hope that is unsure and considers luck as a part of the equation. This type of hope is absolute assurance, a guarantee, of something we know, not with our minds or eyes, but with our hearts. This hope is spiritual in nature, not physical or emotional. Faith is the guarantor. Example, our faith in Jesus is what guarantees our salvation. Seeing faith as the guarantor of the fulfillment of a promise, that is a new way to seek the will of the Father.
Monday, June 18, 2018
Just Be Together
I'm struggling to write today. I have read several passages, including full chapters out of Kings, Psalms, Hebrews, and none of them are hitting me with anything particular. See, this is what happens to all of us. We have moments where we seek God intentionally and He seems to elude us. Don't get me wrong, there are great things in all of these scriptures and they are truths that need to be shared. It just so happens that today, I'm not hearing the words to share. Sometimes God is silent. Sometimes He is simply seeking to just be with us, not talking or anything. At times like this God reminds me that He just likes me. He likes to sit with me. He likes me to sit with Him. He doesn't always want to have to tell me something or have me tell Him something. He simply desires my presence, just as I desire His. I am my Beloved's and He is mine. (There's a little scripture reference for you. 😉) Sit with Jesus today, not talking or anything, just be together.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
It's Not Crowd Energy
Joel 2:29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Have you experienced the Holy Spirit? How do you know? Where were you? What was it that let you know it was the Holy Spirit? I think there is a surprising disconnect we have when it comes to the Holy Spirit. We may have the wrong idea of what it feels like to be in the presence of the Holy Spirit. You see, we mix up the Holy Spirit with the energy of people. A group of people at a sporting event can have a massive effect on your feelings. You can become excited or angry, happy or sad, based on the energy of the crowd. This can make it difficult to discern what actually is the Holy Spirit. However, if you've ever actually been in the presence of the Holy Spirit, you won't ever get that mixed up again. You will have a great sense of His Presence. My first real and personal experience with the Holy Spirit was in a worship setting in college at a large convention. I knew it was the Holy Spirit and not the energy of the people around me, because it felt differently from every other experience I had ever had. There was incredible peace and joy, a fullness of my spirit. I didn't want to leave the space, not because I was energized by the people, but because I didn't want to leave the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was incredible. After that moment, I sought out situations where I felt the Holy Spirit. I have found that you can meet the Holy Spirit at any time, in any place, with or without people. I have spent time with Him in corporate worship settings, in solitude, with a friend, at my job, at the workout center, and the list goes on. The key is that I had to have that first encounter. Words cannot explain what is different about the presence of the Holy Spirit, it's a heart thing and it is obvious when it happens. Seek Him and you will know Him when you find Him.
Have you experienced the Holy Spirit? How do you know? Where were you? What was it that let you know it was the Holy Spirit? I think there is a surprising disconnect we have when it comes to the Holy Spirit. We may have the wrong idea of what it feels like to be in the presence of the Holy Spirit. You see, we mix up the Holy Spirit with the energy of people. A group of people at a sporting event can have a massive effect on your feelings. You can become excited or angry, happy or sad, based on the energy of the crowd. This can make it difficult to discern what actually is the Holy Spirit. However, if you've ever actually been in the presence of the Holy Spirit, you won't ever get that mixed up again. You will have a great sense of His Presence. My first real and personal experience with the Holy Spirit was in a worship setting in college at a large convention. I knew it was the Holy Spirit and not the energy of the people around me, because it felt differently from every other experience I had ever had. There was incredible peace and joy, a fullness of my spirit. I didn't want to leave the space, not because I was energized by the people, but because I didn't want to leave the presence of the Holy Spirit. It was incredible. After that moment, I sought out situations where I felt the Holy Spirit. I have found that you can meet the Holy Spirit at any time, in any place, with or without people. I have spent time with Him in corporate worship settings, in solitude, with a friend, at my job, at the workout center, and the list goes on. The key is that I had to have that first encounter. Words cannot explain what is different about the presence of the Holy Spirit, it's a heart thing and it is obvious when it happens. Seek Him and you will know Him when you find Him.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Reason for the Hope
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
I always hope that people will see my hope in Christ and ask me about it. It has happened a time or two, and what's amazing to me is that it is usually in a situation where I am unsure whether or not speaking the name of Jesus will be accepted. I find that after being able to speak it aloud, I am renewed with an even deeper hope. It's not easy to set your heart apart for Christ, much less tell someone about it. As I have grown in my relationship with God, I have found that the more I am willing to talk to others about it, the closer I become to Him. I spent time practicing those types of conversations with others that I knew were believers. Talking with other believers helped me to practice the gentleness and respect needed when sharing with a nonbeliever. I became comfortable with speaking out about my reason for hope simply by responding to people who asked, when I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to be honest. Pay attention to those inner prompts and those thoughts that come to mind when someone begins asking you about your hope. Give God the glory He is due and you will find something amazing happens between you and Him. I can't explain it, so go live it! 😊
I always hope that people will see my hope in Christ and ask me about it. It has happened a time or two, and what's amazing to me is that it is usually in a situation where I am unsure whether or not speaking the name of Jesus will be accepted. I find that after being able to speak it aloud, I am renewed with an even deeper hope. It's not easy to set your heart apart for Christ, much less tell someone about it. As I have grown in my relationship with God, I have found that the more I am willing to talk to others about it, the closer I become to Him. I spent time practicing those types of conversations with others that I knew were believers. Talking with other believers helped me to practice the gentleness and respect needed when sharing with a nonbeliever. I became comfortable with speaking out about my reason for hope simply by responding to people who asked, when I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to be honest. Pay attention to those inner prompts and those thoughts that come to mind when someone begins asking you about your hope. Give God the glory He is due and you will find something amazing happens between you and Him. I can't explain it, so go live it! 😊
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)