Teach Me

Today I'm looking at Psalm 143:8-12:

"Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You;
Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You.

Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God;
Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
For the sake of Your name, O Lord, revive me.
In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
And in Your lovingkindness, cut off my enemies
And destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am Your servant." (NAS)

I still am surprised sometimes the way the Holy Spirit can suddenly speak to me through words in a particular passage - and the way in which He uses different Bible versions and daily experiences to suddenly give me a new thought.  I found myself looking at verse 8 the other day as I was looking at various passages that spoke about experiencing God "in the morning".  But I found myself coming back to this particular passage, because it speaks to what I so often want from God - "Teach me the way in which I should walk."  I want Him to "direct my paths" (Prov 3:6).  As one who sees the whole picture, He is much better able to choose the best path for me to take!  

As I continue to work to illustrate verses that speak to me, I find things happening that direct me in unexpected ways.  In this case, it related to preparing the photos for this post.  I decided to zoom in a bit on the illustration.  I took the top half and saved it to a separate file, so we could see a close-up of the words "Teach me the way".  I then took the bottom half and thought I had done the same. But something happened and all I saw when I went to the directory on my computer, was the name of the first extra file I saved.  I thought about going back in to the software and creating the close up of the 2nd half again, but decided what I really wanted to focus on was "Teach me the way" so I just left things as they were.  However, as I started to write about it here, I realized that what I must have done was overwrite my first saved 1/2 picture, and what I have left is the portion that says "I should walk".  To me, this is God's voice telling me that there is something specific, I need to do here.  I can't just ask for guidance - I have to be willing to WALK the walk!

I know this can be an issue for me - which is why most mornings when I ask for guidance for my day, I also ask for willingness and ability to follow that guidance.  

As I was pondering this passage yesterday morning, several parts of it stood out to me:

• "Let me hear Thy loving kindness in the morning" - I do, Lord, Thank You!
• "Teach me the way in which I should walk" - yes, Father!
• "Teach me to do Thy will" - Yes, Lord!
• "Let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground" - Yes!
• "And in Thy loving kindness cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul" - Wait - What?  Father God, while there is an occasional person who seems to have set themselves up to be my enemy, I don't want them destroyed! That sounds so harsh and bloodthirsty! Jesus, as my example, prayed for those who were killing Him, and told me to "love my enemies, bless those who curse me, and pray for them who despitefully use me" (Matt 5:44). 

As I sat thinking about this, another verse came to mind.  "What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Matt 15:11 (NIV)  And then another "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matt 12:34 NKJV). And I suddenly realized - those enemies who afflict my soul are NOT people out there somewhere - they are the negative thoughts and the pockets of selfishness within me.  They are any parts within me that are unlike the fruit of the Spirit.

Then, as I continued with my day I caught myself!  As the day moved into afternoon and things weren't going as planned to meet the deadlines I had, I started to get stressed about things.  As I heard myself speak in frustration, I realized that I was NOT living in "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Gal 5:22-23 ISV) in that moment.  I was allowing the things of the world to take my mind off my knowledge that God is in charge and is working all things together for my good (Rom 8:28) - and to focus instead on the outward appearances - leading me to think that all was not right with my world.  I KNOW better!  I've seen over and over again how God takes things that look like mistakes or "bad" in some way and turns them to my good!

Father, forgive me for forgetting how well you take care of me!  Father, please create that clean heart within me and fill me with the fruit of your Spirit.  May Your "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" so fill my heart and mind that these are the ONLY things that influences my words and actions - today and everyday!  Father, whether it is a seeming lack of time or sleep, a body that's hurting, unexpected things coming up, or any other circumstance that tries to take my mind from its focus on you, may I ALWAYS keep my mind on you and your love for me, and may this be what fuels my thoughts, words and actions!  Thank you, Father!

And then I get it. God told me through circumstances today (photo closeups for this blog) that there is something I need to be doing.  As I re-read today's focus verses, I realize it's plainly there in black and white. I was focusing on what I wanted from God in these verses - not what was MY part in it all!  I read it again - this time in the ISV (emphasis mine):

• In the morning let me hear of your gracious love, for in you I trust. 
• Cause me to know the way I should take, because I have set my hope on you. 
• Deliver me from my enemies, Lord.  I have taken refuge in you. 
• Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. 
• Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For the sake of your name, Lord, preserve my life. Because you are righteous, bring me out of trouble. Because of your gracious love, you will cut off my enemies. You will destroy all who oppose me, for I am your servant.

God has spoken pretty clearly to me this morning.  This is the path I should walk:

• Trust in Him (I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! - Mark 9:24)
• Set my hope on Him.
• Take refuge in Him.
• Remember He is God (and have no other gods before Him!)
• Serve Him as He directs - I am His servant.

Father, thank you for showing me yesterday how far I still need to come in fully trusting you and taking refuge in you.  I think back to the verse you brought back to me a few days ago, "You will keep perfectly peaceful the one whose mind remains focused on you, because he remains in you." (Is 26:3, ISV)  Father, may I keep my mind focused on YOU, this day and every day - trusting you, hoping in you, taking refuge in you, making you my God, and serving you as you direct.  Thank you, Father!  You are INDEED my Father - a loving, patient, gentle Father, guiding my steps to bring me ever closer to you.  Thank you, Father!

Faith working through Love

I'm finding myself still a bit surprised at how much the process of Faith Journaling is helping me to hear God's voice at a deeper level.  Today, I continued working on the page I've been thinking about much of this week. 

Earlier in the week, I focused on the Fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-23).  I recognize that these are all traits I want to express more fully.  

As the week went on, I found myself also drawn to verses 6, 13&14:

" For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” " (NIV - emphasis mine)

The NAS says in verse 6, "faith working through love".  The more I pondered that phrase (as I practiced my lettering over and over so it hopefully would look okay when I lettered directly in my Bible), the more I realized that this really sums up the Fruit of the Spirit - faith working through love.

As I actively seek to express the fruit of the Spirit more fully in my life, I don't really need to remember all 9 of those fruits by name and try to keep my focus on them.  I simply need to focus on faith working through love.  As I, through faith, focus on the Holy Spirit's voice within me and seek to step forward as directed, all I really need is to open to God's love and allow it to flow through me.  The automatic result is the expression of the fruit of the spirit as listed in Galations 5:22-23 - Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.

Father, thank you for your love and guidance.  Once again this day I ask that your love flow through me in all I say and do this day.  Father, please guide my steps this day.  You know the challenges I am facing and the fear that is trying to force its way into my spirit.  Father, I am so grateful that your love drives out fear (1 John 4:18)!  May I step forward in faith, allowing your love to work in and through me that the fruit you wish to grow in me matures to a sweet harvest.  Thank you! I love you, Father!

Journeys & Destinations

Today as I continued with my Bible art journaling, I realized something.  I've often heard folks talk about how it is the "journey, not the destination" that counts.  Of course, destinations DO count, but I'm beginning to understand that too often I let my concerns about the destination get in the way of enjoying the journey.  

I'm sure the page in the picture above looks somewhat familiar - but there are certainly differences between this and what I posted yesterday.  I'm finding that often, even when I THINK that a particular piece is complete, it isn't.  Already there have been several pages that I added to after posting them.  In this context, a text from Deuteronomy stood out to me today:

". . . the Lord your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go."  Deut 1:32, 33, NIV

Just like God guided the Israelites, He wants to guide me.  But even with God directing me, I won't always reach my destination immediately.  In those cases, He searches out places for me to camp along the way.  I think what happened yesterday was a good example of that.  I THOUGHT I was done with that particular journaling piece - but I wasn't!  It was just a camping spot before I continued my journey.

This is such an important life lesson for me!  I have a terrible time with time management sometimes.  Too often, I find myself stuck in one of three ways of doing things that don't serve me well:

1. I get so focused on completing a task, that everything else goes by the wayside.  I may get that specific task completed, but I haven't fixed proper meals for myself, haven't kept up with things around the house, haven't taken time to relax, etc. etc.    OR
2. I get so overwhelmed with trying to figure out how to do EVERYTHING that I quit before I start and don't get anything done!
3. I just give up and work on what is most appealing to me - regardless of whether or not it is most important in the moment.

Sometimes, I bounce back and forth between these approaches - starting with method 2 or 3 until something is time critical, and then moving to method one - burning the midnight oil as needed to finish what needs to be done.  Even when actively seeking God's guidance for my day, I too often get caught by the first thing He leads me to and focus so intently that I forget to listen to Him regarding when it is time to "camp" regarding that project.  

Father, thank you for your goodness to me and your willingness to guide me.  May I have ears that hear your direction and a willing heart to follow your lead.  May I listen to ALL the instructions - not just the first one! :)  Thank you for your patience with me.  Please lead me this day.  Father you know everything that I need to accomplish (and you know those things which really DON'T need doing too!).  I trust you to guide me to those things most important for me to accomplish this day - including not just the many "tasks" I see need to be done, but also things like spending time with you, taking care of personal things, taking time to relax.  Father, I know you know about the physical healing I need in my life, and I hear your words from Isaiah 58:8 "Your healing shall spring forth speedily".  Thank you, Father!  I am so grateful for your love.  I love you, Father!

The Fruit of the Spirit

As you can see, my focus today is the "Fruit of the Spirit".  I was actually brought here by spending more time contemplating Romans 8:11-17.  I can't remember if I wrote about it here or not, but I was recently once again taken to the idea that I am God's adopted daughter!  The Good News Translation says it this way:

^"If the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from death, lives in you, then he who raised Christ from death will also give life to your mortal bodies by the presence of his Spirit in you. So then, my friends, we have an obligation, but it is not to live as our human nature wants us to. For if you live according to your human nature, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death your sinful actions, you will live. Those who are led by God's Spirit are God's children. For the Spirit that God has given you does not make you slaves and cause you to be afraid; instead, the Spirit makes you God's children, and by the Spirit's power we cry out to God, “Father! my Father!” God's Spirit joins himself to our spirits to declare that we are God's children. Since we are his children, we will possess the blessings he keeps for his people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for him; for if we share Christ's suffering, we will also share his glory."

Paul makes it pretty plain in this passage that if we have indeed accepted the Spirit into our lives, we can expect to see changes in our lives.  We will no longer be ruled by human natures, but by the Spirit.  Today's passage in Galations clarifies what these "deeds of the flesh" versus "fruit of the Spirit" are.  The Amplified Bible puts it:

"Now the practices of the sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit]. We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another."  Gal 5:19-26

It's a pretty tall order - some seem relatively easy, but others are incredibly challenging.  But I want my life to overflow with these fruits.  According to Strong's concordance, the original Greek adds these meanings - capitalized words are taken from the NAS version - words in parenthesis are either my own thoughts (italicized) or dictionary definition of the preceding word:

1. LOVE - affection or benevolence (a kindly act, a gift given out of generosity)
2. JOY - cheerfulness, calm delight
3. PEACE - peace literally or figuratively - freedom from war, harmony between individuals, security, safety, prosperity (Thank You, God! It's an interesting thought that prosperity is linked to peace.  More food for thought there.), tranquility of the soul.
4. PATIENCE - endurance, forbearance (patient self-control, restraint and tolerance), perseverance, longsuffering (patience in spite of troubles - especially those caused by other people), slow to avenge wrongs
5. KINDNESS - usefulness, excellence in character or demeanor, integrity
6. GOODNESS - good, virtue (behavior showing high moral standards) or beneficence (the state or quality of being kind, charitable, or beneficial, the act of doing good)
7. FAITHFULNESS - from word meaning "to convince" - persuasion (I get the picture of not only behaving in a faithful way, but that behavior being a persuasive testimony to others of the power of God in a life), belief, fidelity (the character of one who can be relied on), moral conviction
8. GENTLENESS - stems from a word meaning "mild" - gentleness (considerate, amiable), by implication - humility (the state of being humble - Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.  Showing deferential or submissive respect, unpretentious)
9. SELF-CONTROL - self-control (restraint over ones feelings, emotions & reactions) - especially continence (abstinence or restraint in regard to sexual activity), temperance (moderation and restraint - especially regarding yielding to ones appetites and desires)

Clearly, I can only fully live this way through the direction and power of the Holy Spirit and allowing Him full reign in my life!

Father, I am so grateful for the gift of Your Spirit within me.  I want to be very fruitful, Father - to have my life overflow with the fruits of the Spirit in me.  I know there are weeds that have sprung up attempting to crowd out some of this fruit, but I trust your Spirit, Father, to work with me to root out those weeds and cultivate the fruit that brings life.  I am so grateful for Jesus life here on earth, Father.  He lived such a clear example of what it means to live this way.  Father, with the Psalmist, I ask "Search me O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Ps 129:23,24) Sometimes it seems like you won't have to search very hard to find areas where my human nature tries to assert itself!  Father, I ask that these areas be rooted out that the fruits of the Spirit may grow abundantly.  Thank you, Father!

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I recognize God giving me some opportunities to cultivate the Fruits of the Spirit through drawing the grapes on this page!  I started out trying to draw the grapes directly on the prepared page (prepared with gesso as usual) and quickly discovered that pencil marks would NOT erase!  I know my human nature would have been quite upset about all those marks on my page that I couldn't erase, but I recognized the opportunity to "be thankful in all things" and simply chose to create a "sticker" to cover it.  I took a plain piece of paper and put double-sided adhesive on the back before cutting it to size.  Then I drew on that - colored it with watercolor pencils when I was happy with it - drew the names of the "fruits" with my Millennium Pen, and put the sticker in place over the marks that wouldn't erase.  I was able to create the grapes without anxiety (despite my lack of drawing experience) in part because I was creating it on the "sticker" and could easily just make another if I wasn't happy with it!

A big "thank you" to the editors of Publications International Ltd. for their article on "How to Draw Grapes".  Creating this art in my Bible would have been much more difficult without your help!