Foreigner

Today I'm looking at the third section of Psalms 119 - verses 17 through 24.

Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word. Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. I am only a foreigner in the land. Don't hide your commands from me! I am always overwhelmed with a desire for your regulations. You rebuke the arrogant; those who wander from your commands are cursed. Don't let them scorn and insult me, for I have obeyed your laws. Even princes sit and speak against me, but I will meditate on your decrees. Your laws please me; they give me wise advice. (Psalms 119:17-24 Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

I have often felt like a foreigner in this world.  I was raised in a different culture from that which I was born into (and now live), and so often I have felt a challenge in my relationships.  It seems like society's expectations have been hidden from me and I just don't understand the "rules" that everyone else seems to know intuitively, because the culture in which I was raised did things differently, honored different things, and defined polite behavior differently. 

Today in these words from the Psalmist, I'm hearing a similar idea. This world is NOT my home, but having been raised in it, sometimes the right way to live seems foreign - it is quite different from what the world around me believes is best!  Because of this, I need God's expectations and the "rules" for living in His society to be spelled out clearly because I can't base my choices for living on what I see around me.  So, I can relate to the cry, "Do not hide your commands from me."  Understanding this helps me understand better how I can come to "love God's law".  That's what helps me know what is expected.  As I love God's teachings and seek to better understand them and live them, those teachings can provide comfort and support.  When those around me don't understand or even attack me because I'm different, an understanding of God's teachings helps me handle it. They give me "wise advice" for handling challenges and relationships and I am grateful.

Thank you, Father, for your wise advice!  Thank you for teaching me how to live in peace and with love for those around me - no matter how they are treating me at any given moment. May I not wander from you and your teachings, Father!  I know you can be trusted, and I am grateful.

A Clean Life

Continuing with my study of Psalms 119, I look at the next section - verses 9 through 16.

"How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I'm single-minded in pursuit of you; don't let me miss the road signs you've posted. I've banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won't sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I'll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you've done it. I relish everything you've told me of life, I won't forget a word of it." (Psalms 119:9-16 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Here's a prescription for living a clean life.  Thank you, Father for helping me to better understand how best to live my life!  Taking these verses a bit at a time, my first question to myself is: "Am I single minded in my pursuit of God?" I remember Jesus agreed that THESE were God's commandments: 

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:25-28 NIV)

Do I love God with ALL my heart, ALL my soul, ALL my strength, ALL my mind?  Easy to say - not so easy to do.  I need to be single minded in my pursuit of God!  If all my heart, soul, strength, and mind is tied up in that pursuit, there's no room for anything else.

What about missing those road signs?  I'm sure many of us have had the experience of driving down the road chatting with a friend only to realize we just passed the turn we intended to take.  Why did it happen?  We were NOT single minded.  Our attention was not on our driving!  How much more important to make sure I don't miss God's signposts on the highway of life!

I love the imagery of storing the promises in the vault of my heart!  As I move through life, it can be so encouraging as I see God's promises to me.  I like the idea of storing these up for when they might be needed later. And when I face challenges that require more than my normal daily resources, these stored up promises can support me through them - just like an emergency fund in a bank.

And what about retention?  Can I say in confidence about all that God has told me, "I won't forget a word of it"?  Wow!  My memory is NOT what it used to be and I can get so frustrated at times at how easily I forget things.  But hidden here in these verses are part of the cure for this.  I need to TALK ABOUT the guidance God has given me - "transfer it to my lips".  I need to keep my priorities straight - keeping what God has to tell me about living at the top of the list - way above gaining riches!  I need to PONDER every morsel of God's wisdom. I need to ATTENTIVELY WATCH how God does things.  I need to RELISH everything He's told me.  Doing these things are what help me remember.  If I spend enough time talking about something, I WILL remember. If I spend enough time thinking about something, pondering it, I WILL remember.  If I pay attention and really focus, I WILL remember.  If I really relish something I WILL remember. 

Father, thank you for your guidance.  I take these words to heart and store them as promises that if I am willing to talk about, ponder, pay attention, and relish your guidance, I WILL remember. Thank you, Father!  I want you to be the "Lord of all the kingdoms of my heart", Father!  May your will be done in my life today.  May I single-mindedly love you with ALL my heart, soul, strength, and mind!  Thank you, Father!

Walking the Road He Has Set

I am finding that I want to look more closely at Psalms 119 to see what more I can learn about God's teachings.  Though I seldom am given direction for several days at a time, it seems perhaps I have been for now.  Since this Psalm is so long, and since it was so carefully constructed into sections of 8 verses each, it seems right to take it 8 verses at a time - and to do 8 more each day (at least until re-directed).  Here are the first eight:

"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.  You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.  That's right — you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me."(Psalms 119:1-8 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Another Bible version replaces the word "blessed" with "happy".  For some reason the word blessed has so many religious overtones (old tapes) associated with it, that I find the word "happy" easier to understand.  And I know this is indeed the truth.  I am happiest when I walk the path God has set for me.  

I see several hints about how best to do this - what I need to do to walk that path:

• Walk steadily -- don't let unexpected events throw me or turn me from the path God has set - but be open to His direction at the forks in the path.
• Do my best to find Him and follow His directions.
• Don't go off on my own!
• Stay on the path! (walk straight)

I'm reminded of what I posted yesterday about following God's lead, as I think about doing my best to follow Him and not go off on my own.  And I know this is what brings me to "learn the pattern" of His "righteous ways", just as doing my best to follow my dance partner's lead helps me to learn the pattern of HIS ways.  The words come to my mind - "practice makes perfect".  And then the verse: "let patience have its perfect work" or as the Message Bible puts it: 

"So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (James 1:4 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Patience is NOT my strong suit.  I have much to learn about being patient.  As my husband and I work to prepare our Foxtrot showcase, I find myself so frustrated at times about how slow we both are at learning new ways of doing things!  I wonder if we will ever learn in time.  

And I'm the same way sometimes in my relationship with God.  I can get so frustrated and discouraged when I realize I've once again missed following His lead.  Patience is required - and the willingness to keep on the path despite any discouragement.  

And I realize something else.  While it can take some time to learn to follow someone else's lead, it is really quite easy to recognize when I'm not doing so.  In my dancing, when I'm able to follow well, things go smoothly.  When I don't, I know right away because we aren't moving together.  There can be bumping into each other, or each of us doing our own thing.  It's very clear when we're not moving together! And the only way to really move together smoothly is for him to lead well and for me to follow well.  

The same is true in my walk (or dance!) with God - except that I never have to worry about Him not leading me well!  As I'm learning to follow God's lead, I might not always recognize the lead or the times when I'm heading out on my own, but the results speak for themselves.  I can tell when we're not moving together smoothly.  I can let that discourage me, or I can let it simply be a reminder to pay more attention to following well.

Father, thank you for leading me so gently and yet firmly.  May I pay better attention to your lead and follow you rather than striking off on my own.  May I practice patience when I see that we aren't dancing together as well as I would wish, remembering that is simply a reminder to pay more attention to your lead.  Thank you so much for the way you teach me with concrete examples that make it so much easier to understand!  You are such a great teacher, Father!  And I DO love to learn.  Thank you for making sure my lessons are just what I need each day - not too hard, not too boring, but just what I need.  I am so grateful, Father!

Lead Me On!

As I've continued to think about the idea of loving God's teaching, I've been pondering what it really means to let God lead in my life. There are several verses in Psalms that speak of this.  Here is one:

"Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you." (Psalms 25:5 - Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

My husband and I are preparing a foxtrot for an upcoming dance showcase.  To dance a foxtrot well requires me to follow well - something I am still learning to do.  And even though we think of the man as "leading" in a dance, to lead well, he also must follow.  He needs to follow the music.  Both the lead of the music and the lead of a dance partner can be quite subtle at times.  To follow well takes practice paying attention to these subtle leads, and it requires that you stay in the proper dance position or you won't even feel the leads. It also requires that you WAIT for the lead instead of just heading out on your own.  This is something with which I still have some trouble!  As one is learning, it requires that you really pay close attention. As you practice it, however, it begins to become second nature until you can follow effortlessly without even thinking about it.

This is what I want in my experience with God! I want to learn to follow so that it is second nature and happens automatically.  I want to remember to WAIT for His lead instead of heading off on my own.  And I want to pay attention and notice the subtle nudges of guidance. I want to stay in proper position - close to God at all times.

I am once again reminded of a passage from a few days back:

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him . . . Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him . . . those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land." (Psalms 37:5-9 - NIV)

I KNOW that God's way is the best, and I want to learn to follow gracefully and automatically. This means I want to pay more attention and to WAIT for his lead. As the Psalmist says:

"Wait for the Lord;  be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalms 27:14 ESV)

As I think about waiting for God, I am reminded of that verse about patience:

"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:4 KJV)

Thank you, Father, for your willingness to lead me.  Thank you for your patience with me as I am learning to follow! May I also be patient as I am learning to follow. Patience, waiting, and following are not things that are automatic for me yet and I am so grateful that you are willing to help me learn!  As I work to learn to follow you gracefully, I remember the truth that your grace is sufficient for me - and I am grateful. Thank you, Father!

What Is God's Law?

As you might surmise from my recent posts, Psalms 119:165 made a deep impact on me.  I've been doing a lot of thinking about what it means to love God's law. Through the years there are so many things I've been told about what God's law is.  So many rules - some of which make little sense and seem to put piety above caring about other people.  What really IS God's law? I think of something Jesus said in Matthew:

"They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." (Matthew 15:9 NIV)

I think this is part of what has made me cringe a bit when I think about loving God's law.  I've thought that rules taught by men were God's!  I was reminded of a passage in Luke:

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." (Luke 10:25-28 NIV)

Sometimes I can feel pretty overwhelmed about the idea of God's law.  What is His law?  There are so many "laws" recorded in the Bible that seem to pertain to another time and another culture.  What is important for me now?  What is important to God?  Jesus answers this question in these verses.  LOVE is what is important - love for God and love for others. Another verse also comes to mind - this one from Micah:

"The Lord has told you, human, what is good; he has told you what he wants from you: to do what is right to other people, love being kind to others, and live humbly, obeying your God." (Micah 6:8 NCV)

While I can't say I always live up to these words, this is certainly the way I WANT to live. Understanding that THIS is what God wants from me, and knowing that He will see the work He has begun in me to completion, I can relax and trust. And certainly I can love the law of love!!!!

Thank you, Father for your clarity! Thank you for your guidance.  Thank you for your gentle leading.  Thank you that you work in me both to will and to do of your good pleasure. I love you, Father! 

Old or New

Continuing with the thoughts of the last few days about loving God's teachings, I've realized something else. The idea of God's "commandments" makes me nervous!  I've spent quite a bit of time pondering why this is when God has been so good to me and I KNOW he only wants what is best for me.

I've come to realize that mostly it is "old tapes" - ideas and beliefs from childhood that see God as a petty tyrant with a list of demands who is watching everything I do so He can prove what an awful person I am.  I now KNOW that is not the truth of God. God LOVES me! But those old tapes still play from time to time.

And beyond that, there are tapes that say, "these words mean this" and the THIS doesn't always line up with what I know of God as a God of love or sometimes they seem to contradict other of God's words.  As I've been thinking about this, one of Jesus parables was brought to my attention:

Jesus told them this story: "No one takes cloth off a new coat to cover a hole in an old coat. Otherwise, he ruins the new coat, and the cloth from the new coat will not be the same as the old cloth. Also, no one ever pours new wine into old leather bags. Otherwise, the new wine will break the bags, the wine will spill out, and the leather bags will be ruined. New wine must be put into new leather bags. No one after drinking old wine wants new wine, because he says, 'The old wine is better.'" (Luke 5:36-39  NCV)

If I try to pour new wine (new understandings) into old leather bags (me and my old "tapes") it won't work very well.  Somehow I have to lose those old tapes and become a new leather bag!  But HOW?  These words from Corinthians come to mind:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."  (2 Corinthians 5:17-18  NKJV)

Thank you, Father!  Once again I pray with David, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me!"  I want to be that NEW creature so that your words can penetrate deep and take root in soil that fully accepts them rather than forcing them to fight with the weeds of those old tapes!  Father may I be completely willing to have you in charge of my life!  May I let you lead in all things and seek your guidance always.  My your will INDEED be done on earth, and in my life, as it is in heaven.  Thank you, Father!

Loving God's Words

I've been doing a lot of thinking about the things I wrote about in my last post from Psalms 119:165  

"Those who love your teachings will find true peace, and nothing will defeat them." (NCV)

I've been thinking a lot about loving God's teachings (or God's law, God's commandments, God's words - depending on the Bible version you read).  I've realized that part me really hesitates about the idea of "loving God's words". I don't feel I really do this - despite the fact that I seek God's guidance daily!  There are things in the Bible I just don't feel I understand and it's hard to feel that I "love" those words!  

And then I realize that for the writers of the Psalms, the "Bible" as God's word or law would have been a foreign concept.  They did not have daily access to that!  While they might have appreciated listening to the books of Moses if they were read at some religious gathering, their daily experience of God's word and God's law would have been what was written in their hearts.  It would have been that still small voice speaking to them and telling them "this is the way, walk ye in it."  This indeed is something I LOVE!  I am so grateful to God for His guidance, even though I know I don't love it as fully as I wish I did.  There are times I forget to seek guidance or when I try to argue with God for a bit.  Even still, I can certainly say with truth that I love God's teaching when I look at it this way. 

Father, I am so grateful for your guidance! I am grateful for your patience as a teacher and that you want me to really learn your teachings fully, not just parrot back to you the words I've heard or read.  I'm so grateful that you understand when I ask questions and don't see me as someone trying to challenge your authority, but simply as someone seeking to understand!  Once again this day, Father, I ask that I remember to seek your way in all things, that your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Once again I ask for the willingness to let you lead in my life and to follow what I know to be your guidance - whether I understand the reasons or not.

Peace

Today I woke up with a verse from the longest Psalm in my mind. Psalms 119:165 says:

"Those who love your teachings will find true peace, and nothing will defeat them." (NCV)

Having tasted God's peace in such an amazing way this past week, I find myself wanting to live in that space ALWAYS, and this is the prescription. And it comes with a second promise.  Not only will I find true peace, but nothing will defeat me!  Wow!

I find myself wondering - what does it really mean to LOVE God's teachings? I think about how I relate if I am intrigued by a particular diet plan.  I'll spend time researching and understanding what I can about it and spend more time figuring out how to incorporate it into my life and daily routine. And I'll naturally remember a lot about it because of that research.  How much time do I spend researching and seeking to understand God's teachings?  How much time do I spend working to incorporate His teachings into my life and daily routine?  This verse from Psalms suggests that these things are what will bring me true peace and success.

As I think about this, I think about the fact that this verse is found in the longest Psalm.  Unlike Psalm 117 which only has 2 verses, this Psalm has more than double the number of verses of any of the other Psalms - probably more than triple but I haven't counted to be sure!  This Psalam has 176 verses!  I find myself intrigued by this chapter.  Footnotes for this chapter tell me that 

"This psalm is a Hebrew acrostic poem; there are twenty-two stanzas, one for each successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight verses within each stanza begins with the Hebrew letter named in its heading." (Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

Someone has taken a lot of time to write this Psalm very differently than all the rest, and it certainly draws attention to it.  What is the topic that merits all this attention?  God's teachings.  Yes, this longest Psalm is focused on God's laws, God's teachings, God's words to us.  And the way the Psalm is put together really makes me wonder what might be hidden beneath the surface.  My interest has been peaked and I expect to spend more time with this chapter as time goes on.  Surely this chapter is a good one to start on as I seek to increase my love for God's teachings.

Father, thank you so much that you care enough to teach us how best to live!  As I say this, I am reminded of what Jesus told the disciples shortly before he was arrested in the garden:  

"I have many more things to say to you, but they are too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will lead you into all truth. He will not speak his own words, but he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come. The Spirit of truth will bring glory to me, because he will take what I have to say and tell it to you."  (John 16:12-14 NCV)

Thank you, Father, for making allowances for my human weaknesses - for understanding what I need and when I can best handle it.  Thank you for the gift of your "Spirit of Truth" to guide me!  I trust you to guide me as I continue to seek your will.  Father, may your will indeed be done on earth - including the earth of my life - as it is in heaven!  May I be open to your guidance and welcome your leading, Father - each and every day of my life.  I love you!

Serenity

I've been thinking about Serenity this morning.  I continue to be amazed at how the Lord is protecting me from fear in a situation in which I would ordinarily be spending a great deal of my time worrying.  I am SO grateful!  Instead of panicking about what may be happening with attempted fraud, as my human tendencies would dictate, I find myself praising God for his protection and guidance and I feel a peace in my soul.  Amazing!  Talk about miracles, this is one of the biggest!  These words from Psalms are on my mind this morning:

"The Lord  is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord  is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"  (Psalms 27:1 KJV)

Thank you, Father for being my light, my salvation, and my strength.  You are an amazing God!

These words from II Samuel also speak to me this morning:

"The ways of God are without fault; the Lord's words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him.Who is God? Only the Lord. Who is the Rock? Only our God. God is my protection. He makes my way free from fault.  He makes me like a deer that does not stumble; he helps me stand on the steep mountains. He trains my hands for battle so my arms can bend a bronze bow. You protect me with your saving shield. You have stooped to make me great. You give me a better way to live, so I live as you want me to." (2 Samuel 22:31-37 NCV)

Father, I am so grateful for you this morning.  Thank you for being my shield, my rock, my protection.  As a "recovering perfectionist" I am particularly grateful for the promise that you will make my way free from fault! Thank you for the promise to keep me from stumbling no matter how steep the terrain!  Father, may I so live within your will for me that I can say with the writer of 2 Samuel, "I live as you want me to."  Thank you for keeping me in the hollow of your hand where no one can pluck me out!  I love you, Father.

Stillness

This morning snippets of several verses are on my mind: "Be still and know that I am God", "I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee" and "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

So, as usual, I'll look at these verses in greater depth (and other versions).  Starting with the last one, I find this in Isaiah chapter 30:

"God, the Master, The Holy of Israel, has this solemn counsel: "Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete  dependence on me — The very thing you've been unwilling to do.  You've said, 'Nothing doing! We'll rush off on horseback!' You'll rush off, all right! Just not far enough! You've said, 'We'll ride off on fast horses!' Do you think your pursuers ride old nags?  Think again: A thousand of you will scatter before one attacker. Before a mere five you'll all run off. There'll be nothing left of you —  a flagpole on a hill with no flag, a signpost on a roadside with the sign torn off."  But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right — everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones." (Isaiah 30:15-18 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

This morning this feels like clear counsel that I've done all I need to about handling the attempted fraud for now.  I had thought there might be something else I should do, but that feels like an effort to save myself this morning. I don't want to be one of those that says "nothing doing, I'll ride away really fast".  I choose to wait and depend on God.  I trust He will guide me to anything else that I need to do, and I am SO grateful for His guidance and protection!

And in the next passage is more assurance:

"Don't worry, because I am with you. Don't be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.  All those people who are angry with you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who are against you will disappear and be lost. You will look for your enemies, but you will not find them. Those who fought against you will vanish completely.  I am the Lord your God, who holds your right hand, and I tell you, 'Don't be afraid. I will help you.'" (Isaiah 41:10-13 NCV)

And yet, my human mind is so slow to trust!  I'm ashamed to admit that I find myself almost immediately moving into fear, thinking, "Oh no, what's going to happen now, that I would be so tempted to be afraid?"  Father, I want to follow your advice, I don't want to feel this fear! I want to be full of trust in You! And I've already seen your salvation in a powerful way these last couple of days.  I KNOW you can be trusted.  Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief!  Please fill me with your perfect love that casts out fear!  Thank you for your promises to me this morning that you will help and save me and that I have nothing to worry about or fear from those who are arrayed against me.  I am so grateful, Father for your love and guidance and protection! Blessed indeed are those who trust in you! 

I'm reminded of my experience of a couple days ago.  I was given advice that could have scared me, but at the time it wasn't what I was focused on.  My focus was on trusting in God and delighting in Him.  As it turned out, something WAS going on that made the advice very timely, but clearly I didn't need to worry about it.  God had it handled before I even knew there was a problem.  Clearly I can trust Him to be my Saviour in EVERY way. My experience then gives guidance for now.  What am I focusing on?  I need to focus on trusting my Heavenly Father and delighting in Him.  I think of a child with a human father. Suppose that father is loving and protective and has all the power necessary to protect his child and yet the child insists on crying in fear about every little thing.  Certainly a loving father will comfort and support his fearful child. Yet how much better will things be for both of them if the child simply trusts her father and enjoys life in his presence?  It seems to me that this is what I'm being called to do.  To simply trust my Heavenly Father and enjoy life in His presence.  

Thank you, Father!  Thank you for your love! Thank you for your guidance! Thank you for your protection! I am so grateful to be your child and to have such a strong and capable Daddy to look to for my daily needs!

As you have reminded me:

"Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress. (Psalms 46:10-11 - Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

Father, thank you for understanding my fearful human nature and for being my comfort and strength.  Thank you for being so ABLE!  It's amazing to me that you could have already removed my fear!  You are AMAZING!  Thank you that with you there is nothing to fear and that I can trust you to give me guidance as needed and to be my strength, today and every day.  I praise you, Father, for your protection and love.  Thank you for being a Father that indeed knows how to give good gifts to your children.  I love you, Father.  Again, today I choose to trust and delight myself in You. I think of the words of that song, "God is so wonderful".  You are indeed, Father, and I am grateful!

Praise God!

This morning I am thinking a lot about these words from Isaiah:

For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains. They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune. For they are people blessed by the Lord, and their children, too, will be blessed. I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! (Isaiah 65:22-24 Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

God promises to answer before we even call!  I had an experience of that yesterday.  Yesterday afternoon I discovered that someone had tried to defraud me, and the verses I had been given that morning from Psalms 37 came back to mind.  I had been promised that as I trusted in God, he would make my "innocence radiate like the dawn" and the justice of my cause "shine like the noonday sun".  He even gave me important advice - "Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes."  And "Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm."  (An important reminder as I deal with red tape!)   And He gave me the promise, "the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land."  So, this morning I am praising Him!  

Father, I am SO grateful for Your loving guidance and caring support!  You are an amazing God!  You do INDEED answer prayers before we even know they need to be prayed!  Father, I am so grateful for these additional promises this morning - promises of your blessing on me and my children, and that I will be able to enjoy my "hard-won gains".  Father, you know how impatient I can get.  When I read those verses yesterday I couldn't imagine loosing my temper or why I might need that admonition.  I feel like Peter must have felt after the cock crowed.  You know how impatient I became with the red tape and how close I came to loosing my temper entirely.  Father, thank you for your words of admonition and comfort.  Thank you that I can trust you to handle things for me.  Thank you for giving me the strength I've needed to follow through with the things that needed to be done as a result of this matter and for your continued blessing and protection. Please set a watch on my lips and guard my heart as I seek to "let patience have her perfect work" (James 1:4) in my life.  Father, I remember those words from a few days ago:  

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-4 from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

At the time, I couldn't imagine seeing tests and challenges as a gift, but was open to increased understanding.  This morning, Father, I understand this concept much better! Without the tests and challenges I faced yesterday, I wouldn't have had the experience of seeing Your amazing protection and guidance BEFORE I called!  That has indeed been a major GIFT.  Father, I am SO grateful.  I just can't praise you enough.  Thank you, Father!  Thank you!

Trust and Delight

This morning I was reading in Psalms:

"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.  For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land." (Psalms 37:3-9 Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

I'm remembering words from a song from childhood - "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey." While the sentiment in that song is undoubtedly true, it is not quite the same as what I see here -- trust and take delight!  Who could not take delight in the face of the amazing promises in these verses?  And yet, how often do we really take delight in the Lord?  How often do we worry and fret instead? I know for myself, it is way too often.  

I love the promises here!

1. Trust God and do good -- you'll live in safety and prosper.
2. Take delight in the Lord -- you'll be given your heart's desires!
3. Commit everything you do to God & trust Him -- he will help you and make your innocence radiate to those around you and the justice of your cause shine like the noonday sun.
4. Be still in God's presence and wait patiently for Him to act, don't worry or fret, let go of your anger, and trust in God -- you will posses the land.

Over and over, I am reminded to TRUST!  But more than that, I'm encouraged to take delight in my Heavenly Father.  Do I do this?  Over and over in scripture we're reminded to make a joyful noise -- to delight in God.  Can I quit taking life so seriously and just enjoy spending time with my Father? I think of words to another childhood song, "Joy, joy, my heart is full of joy".  This is the way I want to live.

Father, I AM full of joy as I think of the way you have led me and the many, many blessings you've given!  You are an amazing Father. I am so grateful that you chose to adopt me! May I remember to trust in you and to allow your joy to fill me to overflowing.  May I let go of earthly cares and worries and relax into your love.  May I delight myself in you - my whole self so filled with joy that there is no room left for worry or anger or other worthless emotions is my prayer.  Thank you, Father.

Thank You, Father!

On this day when we honor our fathers, I find myself encouraged to remember my Heavenly Father.  There are many verses that speak of God as our Heavenly Father.  This is one of them:

"But Lord, you are our father. We are like clay, and you are the potter; your hands made us all." (Isaiah 64:8 NCV)

And here's another:

"The Lord has mercy on those who respect him, as a father has mercy on his children.  He  knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.  Human life is like grass; we grow like a flower in the field.  After the wind blows, the flower is gone, and there is no sign of where it was.  But the Lord's love for those who respect him continues forever and ever, and his goodness continues to their grandchildren" (Psalms 103:13-17 NCV)

Father, I am so grateful for this promise.  Just as we do, sometimes our children make choices that do not honor you.  I am so grateful for this promise that extends not just to me but to my progeny as well!  I remember another verse you gave me:

"For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children." (Isaiah 49:25 NKJV)

Thank you, my Heavenly Father, for your many blessings and promises to me!  Thank you for your mercy and understanding. And thank you for your amazing love! May I be an open channel of that love - today and every day!

Joy

This morning I'm thinking about joy:

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4 - Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

Sounds pretty good, right? How about this one?

"My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience. Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete and will have everything you need." (James 1:2-4 NCV)

Hmmm, how likely am I to live up to that one? When I have many troubles I should be full of joy because it will give me patience??? My first thought is - I'm not sure I WANT patience that badly! :-) And yet look at that promise. If I let patience show itself perfectly in what I do, I will be perfect and complete and will have everything I need! Wow, what a promise! It's certainly worth developing patience for isn't it?

As I was looking at verses about joy, I came across this story in Nehemiah:

"All the people of Israel gathered to gether in the square by the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the teacher to bring out the Book of the Teachings of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought out the Teachings for the crowd. Men, women, and all who could listen and understand had gathered. At the square by the Water Gate Ezra read the Teachings out loud from early morning until noon to the men, women, and everyone who could listen and understand. All the people listened carefully to the Book of the Teachings. Ezra the teacher stood on a high wooden platform that had been built just for this time. On his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. And on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book in full view of everyone, because he was above them. As he opened it, all the people stood up. Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people held up their hands and said, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. These Levites explained the Teachings to the people as they stood there: Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah. They read from the Book of the Teachings of God and explained what it meant so the people understood what was being read. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher, and the Levites who were teaching said to all the people, "This is a holy day to the Lord your God. Don't be sad or cry." All the people had been crying as they listened to the words of the Teachings. Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy good food and sweet drinks. Send some to people who have none, because today is a holy day to the Lord. Don't be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong." The Levites helped calm the people, saying, "Be quiet, because this is a holy day. Don't be sad." Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send some of their food to others, and to celebrate with great joy. They finally understood what they had been taught." (Nehemiah 8:1-12 NCV)

It sounds to me that as God's teachings were explained the people realized how far from God's way they had strayed and were sad and crying because of it.  That I can understand, but the response of their leaders is unexpected. I think of church leaders I have known and I believe many of them would have been glad the people were feeling convicted of their sin and were so saddened by it. They might even have encouraged them to go home and seriously think about how far they had strayed. But this was not the response the people got from God through their prophets and priests.  Instead they were told to go throw a party! 

This verse in particular stands out to me - "Don't be sad because the joy of the Lord will make you strong."  No matter how far I've missed the mark, God doesn't want me to be sad.  In order to be strong enough to make the changes needed, I need to open to the "joy of the Lord".  What a concept!  And how different from human thinking that wants to see us upset about our mistakes in order to know we are truly sorry for them!  And yet, I am reminded of scientific studies that demonstrate how health and strength are affected by joy and sadness.  And I've seen this in my own life.  I am much stronger and healthier when living in joy.  The joy of the Lord is indeed my strength!  And I love that last verse of the passage!  It says they went and did as they were told, celebrating with great joy, and it ends with these words: "They finally understood what they'd been taught."  Wow!

Father, today, I choose to celebrate with joy. You are an amazing God - so understanding and forgiving! And I choose to trust you and believe that as I focus on joy, you will strengthen me - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually - and I am so grateful!  Your burden on me is so light I feel as though I can just float through the air!  Thank you, Father, for your love and your generous spirit.  May I be an open channel for that love!

Pride

I've been thinking a lot about that verse from Psalms I read a couple of days ago:

"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat —  for he grants sleep to those he loves." (Psalms 127:2 NIV)

It really reminds me to look to God for direction in my daily tasks.  And I was indeed granted a good night's sleep last night, and I am grateful.  

Today I realized something else.  Part of why I worry so much and work so hard is that I'm afraid I'll fail if I don't, and I don't want to be humiliated.  I think the public "failing" I experienced recently was indeed a blessing on so many levels.  One of them was to keep me humble.  These verses come to mind:

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV)

"The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts." (Isaiah 57:15 - Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

I know I was becoming prideful, and I'm grateful that God took steps to wake me up about that!  I want my life to be one of those holy places with a contrite and humble spirit!

The second thing that came from my "failing" was an increase in support from those around me and increased camaraderie!  I am reminded of a quote: 

"It is weakness, not strength, that binds us to each other and to a Higher Power and somehow gives us the ability to do what we cannot do alone."  (Overeater's Anonymous) 

I am so grateful that when I make a mistake it does not mean that I am no longer of value to anyone like my perfectionism tries to tell me!  I've seen many times how my failings make me more approachable and make it easier for people to relate to me. Sometimes I am meant to be a "vessel for dishonor" (Rom 9:21), and I am learning to trust God even in this.

But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?   (Romans 9:20-21 NKJV)

And so far as my new endeavors go, I am taking this verse from Proverbs as my watchword for today:

"Whoever listens to what is taught will succeed, and whoever trusts the Lord will be happy." (Proverbs 16:20 - NCV)

Thank you, Father, for giving me sleep, and that your yoke is indeed easy!  Thank you for protecting me from my tendencies toward pride! Thank you for reminding me to look to you in all things, and for this promise of success and happiness as I trust you and seek to remain humble and teachable.  May I always do so, Father! Amen.

Sleep

This morning I woke later than usual feeling quite tired.  As I lay in bed asking myself why, I realized I had been quite late getting to bed.  It also felt like I hadn't slept well and I realized I had probably once again been worrying about how I was going to get everything done.  This verse came to mind:

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.  In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat —  for he grants sleep to those he loves." (Psalms 127:1-2 NIV)

These words of Solomon hit home to me again this morning as I realized that once again I was starting to worry about things instead of trusting God.  While I don't particularly see it as toiling for food to eat, I certainly have been rising early and staying up late trying to get things done.  This verse reminds me that even when it comes to things I know need to be done or feel called to do, I STILL need to check in with my heavenly Father to see what is mine to do each moment - what is His timing for me?  It also reminds me that even when it comes to tasks I feel God has set before me, He doesn't expect me to burn the candle at both ends to get it done!  He grants sleep to those he loves!  Another verse comes to mind:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

 I can be so driven at times.  Sometimes when I see something that needs to be done it's hard for me to rest until I see it to completion.  But God doesn't expect me to be run ragged!  He grants sleep to those he loves!  

Father, thank you for this reminder this morning!  You know I needed it! I want to be yoked to you, Father, so that I can learn to proceed at Your pace.  May I learn that I can trust your timing, trusting you to guide me to what is mine to do this day.  I know that when I do that, the important things get done and the rest can wait until another day.  Thank you, Father!

Courage

For the last couple of days I have been battling fear and discouragement.  I messed up recently in a public way and it's been really hard to remain enthusiastic about my new endeavors because of it.  It's not only embarrassing, but that negative voice in my mind starts telling me, "See, you can't do it.  Who do you think you are? Why are you putting yourself through this?"  It can be SO hard to ignore that voice sometimes!  This has been a real matter of prayer as I've struggled with my feelings.  

This morning I awoke with a quote in my mind.  It's one I found one day as I was working on my paper crafting and it says, "Courage doesn't always ROAR. . . . Sometimes it is the quite voice at the end of the day saying 'I will try again tomorrow'". (Mary Anne Rodmacher)  I feel so grateful.  God knows how fragile my ego is right now and how difficult it is for me to keep putting myself out there, and has given me words of encouragement through this quote.  So often I think of courage as facing something big, but I think perhaps it is harder - and more important - to develop that courage that simply says in the midst of discouragment, "I will try again tomorrow." And that is what I am being called to do today.

God continues to encourage me this morning through a verse in Deuteronomy:

"Be strong and courageous. Don't tremble! Don't be afraid of them! The Lord your God is the one who is going with you. He won't abandon you or leave you." (Deuteronomy 31:6 - from GOD'S WORD Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations Bible Society. All rights reserved.)

I KNOW that for whatever reason, this is the work He has called me to do at this time.  This verse reminds me of that and that He won't abandon me.  Yet it is SO hard to let go of my fears!  I rely once again on the promise that God's perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18) and I seek to be filled with that love so there is no room left for fear. Please, Father, fill me with your love!

I am reminded once again that He that hath begun a good work in me will see it to completion (Phil 1:6), and of the importance of perseverance: 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith . . ." (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)

Today, one of those sins that so easily entangles me is perfectionism.  When I give it space in my thoughts, I find myself too easily discouraged and wanting to give up - and it keeps me thinking about myself instead of keeping my eyes on Jesus where they belong!  I am once again directed to the words in James:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."  (James1:2-8) NIV

Or as the The Message Bible puts it:

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

So, Father, this morning I thank you for your many gifts - including the opportunity to learn perseverance as I face my embarassment that I couldn't be perfect the other night.  I didn't realize  how little it can take to make me want to give up sometimes!  I am embarrassed as I see that. This experience has indeed forced my faith-life into the open and it clearly is still closer to that mustard-seed size than the healthy tree that it is meant to grow into.  Thank you for this opportunity, Father, to grow my faith.  Father, too many times I really don't know what I'm doing.  I once again thank you for the guidance and support you have sent my way and that I know you will continue to send.  May I be freed from my worry and fully open to your leading in my life!  Thank you for the promise that as I let perseverence do it's work, I will become "mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way!" Thank you, Father!  And now, as I move forward into my day I ask for your courage and strength to vanquish these demons of fear and insecurity and to do with all my might the task that you have set before me this day.  Thank you, Father!  I thank you for your many gifts and especially right now for each bit of encouragement and strength you have sent my way.  I love you, Father.

Don't Be Afraid, I Am Here!

Today I re-read the story of Jesus disciples on the sea in a storm:

"That evening Jesus' disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. But as darkness fell and Jesus still hadn't come back, they got into the boat and headed across the lake toward Capernaum. Soon a gale swept down upon them, and the sea grew very rough. They had rowed three or four miles when suddenly they saw Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. They were terrified, but he called out to them, "Don't be afraid. I am here!" Then they were eager to let him in the boat, and immediately they arrived at their destination!" - (John 6:16-21, Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

What wonderful words - "Don't be afraid, I am here!"  How often have I allowed the storms of life to make me afraid? This morning I am reminded that in every storm, God is here, walking on the waves in total control.  All I have to do is welcome Him into my boat and let go of my fears! And the most amazing part is that when I do that, I may find that I immediately arrive at my destination!  Those storms may look like obstacles in my path, but with God in my boat, the storms lose their power to scare me or to hinder me.  Thank you, God!

I am reminded of one of the Indian gods.  I learned from a Sufi I once spoke with, that though many people in India indeed think of their many gods as individuals and pick and choose among them, there are also Indians (including the Sufi I spoke with) who recognize that there is only ONE God.  These recognize the many gods as representations of the many facets of the One. Seen this way, I love the facet of God that is represented by the elephant-headed god Ganesh. Now, I haven't made a study of the many Hindu gods - haven't even studied Ganesh in any depth, but I love the part of God that he shows me from the little I do understand about him.  

Ganesh is seen as the god of Wisdom and Learning.  We know from James (see yesterday's blog) that if any of us lack wisdom, we can ask of God who liberally gives to all - so this is indeed a facet of God.  There is one other aspect to Ganesh, though that I really love - and that explains the elephant headed representation.  Ganesh is the remover of obstacles - like an elephant walking the path before us sweeping his trunk back and forth to clear the path - just as in this story of the disciples in the storm, where God removed the obstacle of the storm and immediately they were at their destination. 

It may be due to years spent in Africa and the times I watched the elephants there, but for some reason, picturing the elephant sweeping his trunk back and forth across the path really helps remind me that God can and will remove obstacles from my path - unless they are there for an important reason.  So, no matter what the obstacle in my path or how frightening the "storm" may seem, I can rest assured that God is walking above it all and will see me safely to my destination.

Father, I am so grateful for your guidance!  Whether it comes in the form of removing obstacles in my path, or of placing them there to ensure I go a different direction, I know I can trust in you. Father, please forgive me for those times when I forget and become afraid.  May I see and recognize you as you walk across those waves to guide me safely to shore!  May I keep my eyes on YOU instead of on the storm! And may I always remember to trust in you.  Thank you, Father!

Prayers for Guidance

I've been thinking more about the topic of answered prayer, and those times when it seems prayers are not answered.  These verses from James came to mind:

"But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to all people, so he will give you wisdom. But when you ask God, you must believe and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind. Such doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. They should not think they will receive anything from the Lord." (James 1:5-8 NCV)

Perhaps my most common prayer is one seeking guidance and wisdom. Sometimes it can be so challenging to know the best course of action to take in life!  

Have I always received the guidance I sought, or have I sometimes continued to feel confused?  These verses tell me why I've sometimes continued to feel confused.  How many times have I prayed for guidance, received an answer, and then worried that I might have misunderstood the guidance.  Clearly when I do that, I am "wavering" and not asking in faith.  And sure enough, when that happens, I lose my first joy at being given the guidance I sought, and just end up feeling confused and frustrated.  What a shame to miss out on the guidance I so desperately need and God wants to give me, simply because of a lack of faith!  

One way I've found to combat this is to talk to God about what I THINK is the guidance I've received, and ask Him to block me from moving in that direction if it is not truly His will for me.  Then, I can move forward in confidence.  Of course, when I do that, I have to remember to be grateful if I suddenly find a roadblock in my path - as that too is an answer to my prayers!

Father, thank you so much for your willingness to give me wisdom!  May I be willing to accept your guidance without doubting it!  May I trust you to be a good enough communicator that you will ensure that I understand what you have to tell me as long as I am open to hear that still small voice within me. Thank you for the many blessings you give me each day and for the spiritual food you set before me. May I fully digest it and glean each bit of nourishment! I love you, Father.

When God Answers Prayer

This morning I was struck by these words from John 15:7:

"If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours." (from GOD'S WORD Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations Bible Society. All rights reserved.)

What a promise!  We can ask for anything we want and it will be ours!!!

But what if it isn't?  I suspect that many of us have had the experience of praying for something that we do not receive.  Why does that happen?  It seems to me that this verse gives at least a part of the answer - "If you live in me and what I say lives in you".  

I think of what it says in 1 John 4:18-19: "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." (NKJV)  How often have my prayers for something been based in fear?  Whenever this is the case, this verse makes it clear that I am not fully living in God and His love, so I've not met the condition for answered prayer.

Are my prayers for something based in worry?  If so, clearly Jesus words aren't "abiding in me" -

 "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on." (Matthew 6:25 - NKJV)

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:34 - NKJV) 

". . . do not worry about how or what you should speak. . . . " (Matthew 10:19 - NKJV)

"And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind." (Luke 12:29 - NKJV)

Do not have an anxious mind!  Now there's a tall order for someone like me!  And yet, if I'm fully abiding in God and His words fully abiding in me, I wouldn't have an anxious mind, would I?

Paul gave similar advice to the Phillipians:

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (Philippians 4:6-9 - Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

As I think about these things, I realize two things:

1. There are so many times God has given me things I've asked for even when I wasn't following these guidelines and fully living in Him and having His word live in me!  God is so good to me!
2. One prayer that has always been answered is, "Father, I believe, help thou mine unbelief!"  When I find myself anxious or worried about something, this prayer brings me that peace that passes all understanding.  When I express my concerns to God and ask that I be brought into alignment with His will and that His will be done, and when I determinedly follow Paul's advice to the Philippians - thanking God for all He's done and focusing my thoughts on what is "true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. . . . [and] excellent and worthy of praise", my worries ARE lifted - whether or not I am suddenly given some sort of material answer to my prayers.

Father, I am so grateful this morning for your love and understanding.  May I continually become more deeply rooted in you and your love.  As I go through my day this day, may I focus my thoughts on the beautiful and positive things in my life - your many gifts to me.  Father, thank you for so many blessings in my life - and for many, many answered prayers even when I didn't fully meet these conditions!  I love you, Father!

Thank you, God!

This morning I was once again reminded of the importance of gratitude as I read this passage:

Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thessalonians 5:17-18 KJV)

Sometimes my prayers tend to focus on requests - even if that request is simply to know and do God's will in my life.  It's too easy for me to forget gratitude.  I think of the story of the healing of 10 lepers told in Luke 17:12-19 - particularly the question that came when one of them came back to say thank you.  Jesus asked, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?"  How often does my behavior raise a similar question in God's mind?  How often do I remember to say thank you for the many blessings of each day?

Father, again this morning I enter into your gates with thanksgiving and into your courts with praise (Psalms 100:4).  I am so grateful for your leading.  Thank you for opening doors for me and for sending such caring and supportive people into my life.  Thank you for life and health and strength.  Thank you for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mind to reason.  Thank you for friends and family.  Thank you for material blessings - and for the even more important spiritual ones.  Most of all, Father, I am so grateful, for your love for me!  May I be an open channel of that love to those around me, today.

Begats

I've often wondered about the many lists of names and descendants in the Bible - the "begats" of the King James Version (so and so begat so and so . . . ).  But today, as I read Spurgeon's daily reading, he pointed out a gem hidden among these genealogical lists.

"These were the potters, and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah: there they dwelt with the king for his work." (1 Chronicles 4:23 ASV)

Hidden in this verse, in the middle of a bunch of begats, is the idea of "dwelling with the king" and serving him - even if it is a work as mundane as working with clay and making pottery.  There have been many times in my life where I've wondered about what God's will was for me in terms of career.  I've looked for something grand and "spiritual", but have often been led to work that is much more mundane.  I'm grateful today for this reassurance that no matter how mundane the task, I can still dwell with the king and be working for him!

Father, this morning I once again ask for your will to be done in my life this day.  Thank you for your reassurances this morning.  May my desires be fully brought into alignment with you so that I say with David, "I delight to do your will, oh my God" (Ps 40:8).  Thank you for the promise that you are working in me both to will and to do of your good pleasure (Phil 2:13).  I love you, Father!

Quiet Strength and Discipline

This morning I awoke so differently than yesterday!  Ever since my posting yesterday, I've been filled with such peace!  I am SO grateful!  For my devotional time this morning, I decided to look up more about the "peace of God" - the phrase used in the KJV of the verse I quoted yesterday from Philippians 4:7.  The concordance only listed one other passage with that phrase.  It is found in Colossians:

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ — the Message — have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! 17 Let every detail in your lives — words, actions, whatever — be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. (Col 3:12-17 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

What if every morning, as dress my body for the day, I also take the time to consciously dress my mind and heart with these "clothes"?  What a wonderful habit to start!  What would it mean for me to consciously dress in compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline, even-temperedness, forgiveness, love, peace, and gratitude as I begin each day?  How would this affect the way I live my life? 

As I look over this list, I see many attributes that I seek to embody on a regular basis.  A couple of things in this list stand out to me today: quiet strength and discipline.  It seems to me that clothing myself in these attributes contributes to experiencing that peace that passes all understanding.  For some reason I've never before thought of "quiet strength" and "discipline" as spiritual attributes to aspire to.  And yet, when I think about it, the only way I can live in quiet strength is by placing my trust in God to see me through the challenges each day brings, and discipline is required to keep at it until it is an established habit. A phrase flits through my mind - "in quietness and confidence shall be your strength."  I look the verse up and find it in Isaiah:

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.  But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.  (Isaiah 30:15-18 KJV)

How many times in life have I run from my problems?  Yesterday morning when I was feeling so anxious, it was so tempting to run away from the feelings by stuffing myself with food!  And I could have justified it so easily by telling myself that eating a good breakfast is important to my health!  I'm SO GRATEFUL that I chose to take my concerns to God instead!  The result of that decision was that not only did I have peace yesterday, but instead of waking up this morning feeling bloated and still anxious, I was able to awaken feeling peace and contentment!  Thank you, God!

Father, I am so grateful for the peace you've given me!  How amazing it is that I can experience such peace when nothing has changed relative to the CIRCUMSTANCES in my life that had created the anxiety.  All that was needed was a change of heart and mind - a reminder to rely on you for guidance and strength and to trust your leading in all things!  Thank you for the opportunities you are bringing my way, and the strength you give to see them through. And thank you for the clothes you've given for my mind and heart! I love you, Father!