Fasting & Prayer

Yesterday I chose to participate in a call for prayer & fasting with regard to the covid-19 pandemic. This is the first time I have done something like that, and the experience did NOT go as I anticipated.

During my usual morning devotions, I was directed to two topics I've been brought to before.  The first was about what strengthens our spiritual immune system (see blog post here). The other was the words in Isaiah chapter 58. The whole chapter is important, but here are a few excerpts: "Cry loudly, do not hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet, and declare to My people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek Me day by day, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that has done righteousness, and has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, they delight in the nearness of God. Why have we fasted and Thou dost not see? Why have we humbled yourselves and Thou dost not notice? . . . Behold, you fast for contention and strife . . .  You do not fast like you do today to make your voice heard on high. Is it a fast like this which I choose, a day for man to humble himself? Is it for bowing one's head like a reed, and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? . . . Then you will call and the Lord will answer . . . If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted. . . " (NASB - emphasis mine)

There is so much food for thought here, and I've journaled about this passage many times before (here, here, here, here, and here).  In fact, the entire existence of this blog is based in this chapter of Isaiah (see this post).  I've looked for ways to help others, and continued to do so yesterday, feeling I was doing pretty well with the type of fast God wanted.  I DID notice early in the day that I did some "finger pointing" at my husband, so asked forgiveness for that from him & God, and continued with my prayer and fasting.

I had no idea that was just the tip of the iceberg!  Partway through the day I found myself in an argument with someone over the politics that are affecting the nation's response to covid-19.   Even after I recognized how uncomfortable I was with the way that conversation went (it was NOT an example of me being a peacemaker as I want to be!), and asked forgiveness from God & the people involved for getting into an argument, I was still very upset.  Here I had dedicated that day to seeking God & I ended up in an argument! Father, how could this happen?

I still didn't realize the depth of my mistake.  It wasn't until this morning that it finally hit me.  ALL of this divisiveness over politics is "pointing the finger" at someone!!!!  No wonder we're in trouble as a nation!  It is what we are known for right now.  And I was as guilty as the next person - though feeling justified because I thought my viewpoint was "right"!  After all, I could clearly see the error of their ways!

The moment the truth hit me, I felt such sorrow.  God had warned me!  He had put that passage in front of me and early on pointed out my tendency to point the finger as I interacted with my husband.  But I hadn't really understood.  I had no idea how much I did this! 

I think I have a better idea now of how Peter felt when he heard that cock crow and realized how he had denied Jesus. Father, I'm sorry!  Please forgive me! I felt TERRIBLE. I don't want to be one of those who is an "accuser of the brethren"!  This is NOT the way I want to behave!  This is NOT the way I want to think - especially on a day dedicated to seeking you, Father!!! PLEASE change me!!!  I knew that through His amazing love and mercy He forgave me, but I still felt such pain and sorrow.

And yet, in the midst of all this, I kept hearing that still small voice saying "What about your immunity?  Can you rejoice even in this?"  How, Father?  I've been so wrong.  I think of how much I've been doing this over the YEARS and I am appalled and ashamed!  I've allowed the accuser inroads into my life - even on the day I dedicated to prayer and fasting!  As I continued to talk with my Father, I realized there was at least one thing I could be grateful for in all of this.  He finally managed to get through this thick skull of mine!  As I thought about the accuser, I looked up that passage, "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down." Revelation 12:10 (NIV)   

Yes, Father, you're right!  The accuser has indeed been hurled down today!  I know I can trust you to change me.  To create in me that clean heart.  I am so grateful.  I praise you for your love and mercy.  You have loved me through the years despite all my blind spots - and even times when I've been rebellious!  You continue to GENTLY lead me in paths of righteousness, tenderly pointing out my errors, holding me as I cry in shame and disgust, and compassionately leading me back to joy and praise. You are such a loving Father, and I am SO grateful!  NOW have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah.  Wow, Father!  Thank you! 

The words to another verse comes to mind: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." II Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)  

Father, thank you for your promise!  Please open the eyes of the others in this nation as you've opened mine.  May we turn from pointing the finger.  We need your forgiveness and your healing so much.  Father, forgive them for they know not what they do - just like I didn't know what I was doing!  Thank you for your amazing forgiveness & love.  Thank you for Jesus' willingness to come here & die to free us from such chains.  May we not let that sacrifice be in vain, Father!  May Jesus blood cleanse us as Paul wrote to the Hebrews: "How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!" Hebrews 9:14 NIV  Thank you, for your your love for each one of us, Father!  Thank you for your leading!  Thank you for not only forgiving us, but CHANGING us!  I am SO grateful, Father. 

Obedience & Faith

Today's message is a bit of a continuation of the message I posted about a week ago.  It's focused on the words from Hebrews 11:8-10 "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

This message was very meaningful to me with our recent move.  We had not been planning for this move - we just were suddenly made aware that God was telling us to move.  When I was feeling afraid, God reminded me that at least He hadn't asked me to do as he asked Abraham - to move when he had no idea where he was going!  He told us where we were moving! 

Now, though, as I face those "giants" in the land, I'm given another reminder.  I have been given a comfortable home.  No, it is not yet as comfortable as our previous home, but we have not been asked to live in a TENT!!! I know from that verse in Jeremiah (29:11) that God's plans are to prosper me, so there is NO excuse for whining! I need to trust God and thank Him for His leadership, rather than complaining like the Israelites were always doing!

Father, THANK YOU!!! I am so grateful you gave us this nice home and are not expecting us to live in a tent!!!! Our home kept us very comfortable over the winter, and I am very grateful.  I know if there is not room for something, it is because we need to downsize.  I know that if something seems to not be working out right, we just haven't yet seen your solution.  Thank you for fighting those giants in our lives and for all the blessings you have given.  We are so thankful for our home & the opportunity to be near family.  Thank you, Father, thank you!

FAITH

Today I was taken to Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  I've been reading the story of a man who had a very special encounter with God.  His son was in a coma and the doctors had told them there was no hope - but God told him otherwise.  As he prayed, God spoke to him in an audible voice so there was no doubt!  God promised him that his son would be healed and told him to go tell the others at the hospital.  The man describes how when he went back to the hospital, nothing had changed in the physical world.  To all appearances, his son was still dying.  But he had been given the assurance by God and was convinced that things were happening in the UNSEEN world that would soon manifest in the healing of his son in the physical world.  

This is the faith that is needed to experience miracles - the assurance of things hoped for - the conviction of things not seen.  Certainty of God's power and willingness to change the situation.  I'm reminded that this faith is a GIFT. (Eph 2:8)  

Suddenly I have better understanding of at least one of the reasons Jesus told us to KEEP ON ASKING.  It keeps us centered in that gift of faith, helping to ensure our certainty of God's promise and ensuring that seeds of doubt are not allowed to grow and flourish and steal our miracle from us.

Father, thank you so much for your gift of faith!  You know there are yet things I do not yet understand in Jesus' teachings on this subject.  But you've shown me that my certainty does not rely on my own understanding - it relies on the gift of faith in your love and power - your character.  I KNOW you love me and that you can be trusted.  I KNOW you want me to have freedom from fear and a solid faith walk full of joy and peace - and that you are gifting me with that now!  Father, I choose to continue to boldly come before your throne of grace so you can keep my feet planted on the path and keep the weeds of doubt from growing as you continue your work in me.  Thank you, Father!

Dangers of Immaturity

"Therefore, leaving behind the elementary teachings about the Messiah, let us continue to be carried along to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead actions, faith toward God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment." Hebrews 6:1-2 ISV

For some reason this morning, I found myself reading in Hebrews.  I read about those who instead of growing up to eat solid spiritual food, continued to subsist only on "milk" as though they would be babies forever. Then I came to these verses at the beginning of Hebrews 6.  I've never before realized that this passage is describing what it means to live only on the "milk" (probably another instance of letting the arbitrary division of the bible into "chapters" interrupt the flow and cause me to miss something).

This passage has really given me food for thought.  Am I still needing to be reminded to "repent from dead actions", to have faith, etc.?  If so, I'm still not mature enough for "solid foods".  The next few verses go on to talk about those who instead of allowing God to work in them, continue to behave in a way that causes God to be held up to ridicule.  These immature Christians are warned that if they continue to bring forth briars and thistles instead of the fruit of the Spirit, they are in serious danger. 

Father, what about me?  Am I allowing you to work in my life as I should?  Am I allowing your transforming power to touch each part of my life? Or am I holding some corners back?  Once again this morning, Father, I ask that you work in me to both will and do of your good pleasure.  May I continue to grow and mature in your love, Father.  Thank you!

No Arguing Either?

"Do everything without complaining or arguing" Philippians 2:14 NIV

This morning I was brought back to this verse, and realized not only do I complain at times, but sometimes I even argue.  Yesterday I had the unpleasant experience of arguing with my spouse.   Fortunately that is not a common occurrence, and we fairly quickly caught ourselves and made up, but it was still unpleasant in the moment. It once again showed me how easily I can fall into behavior that I really want to avoid. It just takes a short moment of focusing on myself and taking my eyes off my Heavenly Father and Guide.  

With this reminder from Philippians ringing in my ears, I decided to see what else the Bible had to say on the subject.  Here are some of the verses that caught my eye:

• "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." James 1:19-20 NIV
• "But if you have bitter jealousy and rivalry in your hearts, stop boasting and slandering the truth. That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic. For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is grown from the seed of peace planted by peacemakers." James 3:14-18 ISV
• "Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and slander be put away from you, along with all hatred. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another just as God has forgiven you in the Messiah." Ephesians 4:31-32 ISV
• "Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14-15 ISV  
• "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9 KJV

Father, thank you for your guidance this day.  So much for me to think about!  I want to be quicker to listen - to you and to those around me.  I want to be slow to give advice and slow to become angry.  I want to focus on the wisdom that comes from you - wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, and full of compassion and good deeds.  I choose to be kind to others, compassionate and forgiving and to pursue peace with everyone. Father, I want to be known as your child!  I know only in you is it possible to consistently make these choices.  Only by keeping my eyes off myself and on YOU can I live this way on a day in, day out, basis.  When I remember your promises - that you "keep everything running right", that with you "all things work together for good", and that you have "set before me an open door that no one can shut", there is no reason to argue about anything.  As I remember that you are in charge, I can indeed pursue peace with everyone.  Thank you for your continued work in me to "will and to do of your good pleasure", Father!  Thank you for your loving guidance, for your gentle reproof, and for your example. May I do your will always.

For Today

This morning I find myself feeling rather overwhelmed.  I have several decisions to make and I just really don't know what to do about several things.  As I turned to God this morning, I didn't even know how to put it all into words - I just knew I need the guidance that only He can give.  In that context, these words from the Lord's prayer struck me in a slightly different way than they have before:

"Give us today our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11, ISV)

As I read these words once again, they seemed to speak of more than food for body and soul, but to any needs I might have for the day.  And I remember that this really is a hidden promise, reminding me that God does indeed supply all my needs. As it says in Philippians:

"And my God will fully supply your every need according to his glorious riches in the Messiah Jesus." Philippians 4:19 ISV

My needs this morning are not physical in nature, but I trust my Heavenly Father to supply them.  I don't know what I need this morning, but my Heavenly Father does and will meet the need.  Another verse comes to mind as I ponder all this:

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." (Romans 8:26  NIV)

This is certainly the way I'm feeling.  I don't know what I need to pray for, and I am glad that the Holy Spirit is with me to intercede and bring clarity!

Father, this morning I do again lift my voice to you.  I am so grateful for all you have given and that you are my Father.  I am so grateful that you keep everything running right.  I have seen you work miracles over and over as I face the tasks you set before me.  Today I am facing what feels like Mount Everest, but I know even that is not bigger than you!  Please Father, guide my thoughts and my activities this day that I remain in your will and best meet the needs of those I serve.  I've seen miracles even the past few days and I am SO grateful for them!  And I know that you will continue to keep everything running right as you have promised.  Father, you know the miracles I need this day.  You've been so generous that I hate to ask for more, but I remember Paul's advice to: "keep on coming boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16 ISV)  So that is what I'm doing, Father.  I know only through your guidance this day will I know how to move forward and have the ability to do so.  Thank you, Father!

Why Are You Afraid?

This morning, I started out looking at verses that talked about faith.  This one jumped out at me:

Jesus answered, "Why are you afraid? You don't have enough faith." (Matthew 8:26 NCV)

This is a question I ask myself on a regular basis.  Why am I afraid?  I wish it weren't so, but too many times I find myself hesitating in life because of fear, and I continue to seek God's power in my life to clear me of my fears.  Another verse from Matthew addresses a similar issue: "Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter. Jesus said, "Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31 NCV)  Doubt is another face of fear that too often pops up in my life.

John said, "There is no fear where love exists. Rather, perfect love banishes fear, for fear involves punishment, and the person who lives in fear has not been perfected in love." (1 John 4:18 ISV)  

These verses tell me something about the remedy that's needed.  I need to be perfected in love and I need greater faith. This becomes even more important as I read another verse in Matthew that says, “According to your faith, let it be done for you!” (Matthew 9:29 ISV)  Clearly, if I want to experience a life of miracles, I have to have faith.  But what does this really mean and how do I get there?  How do I increase my faith?  Here are some ideas that come to me:

• Focus on God's love. As that verse in 1 John says, no fear can exist in the presence of love. Experience shows me that my faith is increased as I remember God's love for me and understand His love at an ever deeper level.  Father, thank you for your amazing love!
• Thank God for His goodness.  "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" Psalms 107:8 KJV  Once again, I can say from experience that as I focus on gratitude for what God has done, my faith grows stronger.  Thank you, Father for the many blessings you've brought into my life!
• Thank God for what He is doing now - even if I don't understand it! "Seven times each day I stop and shout praises for the way you keep everything running right." (Ps 119:164 - The Message Bible)  As I've started putting this advice to work, I've seen amazing miracles as God demonstrates His willingness and ability to keep everything running right.  Thank you, God!
• Focus on the faith I have, even if it doesn't seem very big. "I tell all of you with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20 ISV)  A mustard seed is pretty small, and when my faith is that small, it is easy to focus my attention on the storms around me instead of on that seed of faith - but the results of doing so speak for themselves.  
• Focus on Jesus.  Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that Jesus is the "author and finisher of our faith".  As I study His life and teaching, and as I talk with Him during the course of my day, my faith is increased.

Well, there are many more verses that talk about faith, but I think I've read enough this morning to get me started.  Father, I thank you for your work in my life.  I thank you for the gift of faith that you've given me and ask that you help me nurture this seed that it my grow large enough that there is no room for doubt and fear left in me!  I thank you for the many blessings and miracles you perform on my behalf daily, and I thank you for the way you keep everything running right.  Once again, I seek your will in my life, Father.  May your will be so entwined with mine that I see clearly what your will is for me each day.  Father, please guide the decisions of this day.  It has seemed you are moving us forward in a specific direction, but PLEASE clearly block us if this is not your will!  Thank you for your guidance and direction in my life.  This morning I pray with the father who came to Jesus for healing of his child, "I do believe! Help me to believe more!" (Mark 9:24 NCV)  And I thank you that you have promised that when we pray for bread you will not give us a stone.  Thank you for my daily bread this day.  Amen.

Thank You, God!

This morning I am once again SO grateful for God's guidance!  I believe the words of Psalms 127:1 -- "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it".  And I am very clear that I want God in charge of whatever building I'm involved in doing!  He has opened and shut doors for me in amazing ways!

One small (but for me very exciting) example of the way God has opened and shut doors was regarding the creation of a flyer announcing our intent to start classes soon.  I had been encouraged by a friend to create such flyers to advertise at a state-wide event.  But when the time came to print them, I couldn't do it!  My first plan had been to print one sheet and then use the photo copier to copy it onto some pretty border paper.  But the copier wouldn't work - for no reason that we could discover!   Next I tried printing it on our main printer.  No luck.  No matter how many cleaning cycles we put it through the black ink didn't print clearly.  Finally I tried it on my photo printer.  But it wouldn't work either!  It acted like it was out of some of the colors of ink, but I couldn't figure color(s) needed to be replaced!  Despite knowing that I had a printer utility on my computer to help with that task, and that I had put in a place where I could find it easily, I could NOT find it!  It seemed pretty clear to my husband and me by that point that we were being told to NOT print that flyer!

And now, for "the rest of the story".  This morning, I ran the print utility on the photo printer to see what ink needed to be replaced so that I could print up some little reminder cards of some of the texts I've shared on my blog and want to remember.  Suddenly, all colors were printing JUST FINE without my having done a thing!!!  I indeed want to shout God's praises for the way He keeps everything running right! (Ps. 119:164)  What an amazingly clear demonstration of the way He opens and closes doors to keep me in alignment with His will!  Thank you, Father!  Please continue to open and close doors that I may not step outside of your will.

As I gratefully remember His guidance in the past and once again seek His guidance for this day, these final verses from Psalms 119 really resonate:

"May my cry arise before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word. Let my request come before you; deliver me, as you have promised. May my lips utter praise, for you teach me your statutes.  May my tongue sing about your promise, for all of your commands are right. May your hand stand ready to assist me, for I have chosen your precepts.  I am longing for your deliverance, Lord, and your instruction is my joy. Let me live, and I will praise you; let your ordinances help me. I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come find your servant, for I do not forget your commands."  (Psalms 119:169-176  ISV)

I seek to understand God's will - and to be delivered from those "sins that so easily beset" me, and I praise God as He continues to show me His way.  He is an amazing God and so willing to guide in even the most mundane tasks!  I am so grateful that He works in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure! (Phil. 2:13)  On my own, I am indeed like a lost sheep!  I am so grateful that he seeks and finds me and guides me into safe pasture!

Thinking of the "sins that so easily beset" I look up that passage in Hebrews 12:1-3:

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." NKJV

Yes, indeed, I see the need to lay aside every weight.  We have been told to cast our cares upon God, and I need to do that.  It's too easy for me to worry about things.  Yet look at how I was protected from making a mistake with those flyers! And I have no doubt they would have been a mistake, though I can't say I know all the reasons why - except that perhaps we needed to focus our attention in a different direction and not be distracted by whatever would have come from those flyers.  I DO know that it turned out that there were VERY FEW people at that state-wide event that came from the area in which we'll be teaching the class -- and those that did already knew about it.

So this morning I again read the last few verses of Psalms 119 -- this time from The Message Bible.  Some of the phrases really stand out to me:

"Let praise cascade off my lips; after all, you've taught me the truth about life!  . . . And let your promises ring from my tongue; every order you've given is right. . . .  Put your hand out and steady me since I've chosen to live by your counsel. . . . I love it when you show yourself! . . . And should I wander off like a lost sheep — seek me! I'll recognize the sound of your voice." (Psalms 119:169-176 - from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

Thank you, Father for making yourself so clear to me that I can recognize your leading!  Thank you for continuing to lead me and for your promise that you will see the work you've begun in me to completion. (Phil 1:6) Thank you for building this "house" that you are building - and for promising that I won't be required to get up early and stay up late to make it happen - that you give sleep to those you love! (Ps. 127:1,2) Thank you for your word about the "open door" (Rev 3:8,9), and for continuing to open and close doors for me as you see fit.  Please keep me on Your path, Father!  Thank you so much for all you're doing -- not just the guidance, but for making it so clear!  I am SO grateful!

What's Sleep Got to Do with It?

I picked up another Bible version yesterday.  It's called the International Standard Version Bible - a new one to me. I look forward to seeing what it adds to my study since it is the first to take into account some of the Dead Sea Scrolls in the translating.  The passage for today is taken from that version.

"I have cried out with all of my heart. Answer me, Lord!  I will observe your statutes.  I have called out to you, “Save me, so I may keep your decrees.”  I get up before dawn and cry for help; I place my hope in your word.  I look forward to the night watches, when I may meditate on what you have said.  Hear my voice according to your gracious love. Lord, revive me in keeping with your justice.  Those who pursue wickedness draw near; they remain far from your instruction.   You are near, Lord, and all of your commands are true.  I discovered long ago about your decrees that you have confirmed them forever." (Psalms 119:145-152 ISV)

As is too often the case, I find there are some passages here to which I find it difficult to relate.  While I have certainly cried out with all of my heart for God to answer me, and for His will to be done in me, the idea of asking to be saved for the EXPRESS PURPOSE of keeping His decrees is at first a difficult one.  But then I hear that still small voice ask, "What is the Psalmist wanting to be saved FROM?"  Immediately I am reminded of the times that I've found myself feeling like Paul described in Romans:

"For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but I cannot carry it out. For I don’t do the good I want to do, but instead do the evil that I don’t want to do. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am no longer the one who is doing it, but it is the sin that is living in me. So I find this to be a principle: when I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me. For I delight in the Law of God in my inner being, but I see in my body a different principle waging war with the Law in my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin that exists in my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is infected by death? Thank God through Jesus the Messiah, our Lord, because with my mind I myself can serve the Law of God, even while with my human nature I serve the law of sin.
     Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with the Messiah Jesus. For the Spirit’s law of life in the Messiah Jesus has set me free from the Law of sin and death. For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the flesh, God did. By sending his own Son in the form of humanity, he condemned sin by being incarnate, so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to human nature but according to the Spirit.  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To focus our minds on the human nature leads to death, but to focus our minds on the Spirit leads to life and peace. That is why the mind that focuses on human nature is hostile toward God. It refuses to submit to the authority of God’s Law because it is powerless to do so.  Indeed, those who are under the control of human nature cannot please God. You, however, are not under the control of the human nature but under the control of the Spirit, since God’s Spirit lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of the Messiah, he does not belong to him. But if the Messiah is in you, your bodies are dead due to sin, but the spirit is alive due to righteousness.  And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then the one who raised the Messiah from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive by his Spirit who lives in you." (Romans 7:18-25, Romans 8:1-11  ISV)

Suddenly that passage from Psalms makes sense to me.  Of course!  How many times have I been frustrated because I find myself doing things I didn't want to do (like overeating) and not doing the things I want to do (like eat in a healthy way)?  How often have I cried out to God for deliverance?  In these situations, ONLY God's saving me from my own sinful human nature enables me to do His will and "keep His decrees"!  Thank you Father, for "so great salvation" (Heb 2:3)!

The next part of the passage from Psalms 119 brings a new thought.  "I get up before dawn and cry for help; I place my hope in your word.  I look forward to the night watches, when I may meditate on what you have said."  I have often found those hours before dawn to be so precious! And life goes much more smoothly when I start and end my day focused on God's word to me.  I contrast these verses with those I have been brought to so often in recent weeks, "It is useless to get up early and to stay up late, eating the food of exhausting labor—truly he gives sleep to those he loves." (Psalms 127:2 ISV)  

I've been grateful for this message that God gives sleep to those he loves, because I often don't get as much sleep as it seems my body would like.  I've found that meditating on this verse has often enabled me to go back to sleep when I wouldn't otherwise have been able to do so.  That has been a real blessing!  This new thought about getting up before dawn to cry for help and looking forward to the night when I can meditate on what God's said - combined with the example of Jesus and his habit of spending part or all of the night in prayer - shows me that there are indeed times when it might not be God's will for me to get a full 8 hours of sleep each night.  

As with so many things, it looks to me like living in a healthy way is more about motivation that specific action.  Why is it that I'm not sleeping?  Am I missing sleep so that I can commune with my Father and think about things He's brought to my attention, or is it because I'm worrying about something instead of trusting Him?  Is it because I'm burning the candle at both ends to try to accomplish the tasks set before me - despite the promise that God's "yoke is easy and His burden is light" (Matt. 11:30) - or is it because I'm seeking my Savior?  I suspect that motivation makes a HUGE difference in the way I experience my day.  And continuing with today's reading reminds me that God can indeed "revive me" (verse 149) if I have been "seeking first the kingdom" (Matt. 6:33). And he loves me enough to do so.  Thank you, Father!

Father, thank you for your care for me!  I'm so grateful, Father, for the habit you've formed in me of meeting with you each morning.  But I realize as I read these verses today that meditating on your words to me as I head to bed would be much more edifying than relaxing with a novel or a TV show!  And, I suspect this would also help curb my inclination to want to eat late at night when I know it's not good for me.  Father, please give me the willingness to focus on your words each night - to form a new habit of seeking you out in the evenings too.  Thank you!  Also, Father, may I be more open to opportunities to demonstrate your love to those around me and more focused on them than on myself.  And Father, if it be your will, please give us the miracle of your gracefulness on the dance floor this evening as we dance in the showcase.  And keep us in your will this day, Father.  May we get clear guidance as to the direction you'd like us to go with regard to classes and cueing.  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.

Grace

My husband and I have been asked to showcase a dance at a statewide dance festival in about a month and a half.  The dance will be a Foxtrot and is one of the harder rhythms to make look graceful.  We're practicing and working on issues of technique, but I sometimes wonder if we will ever be as graceful as we'd like to be.  Since we practiced last night before bed, it was on my mind as I went to sleep.  This morning I woke up with a verse on my mind that made me laugh at God's humor - and be filled with gratitude at the same time.

"Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it."  (Heb 4:16 NCV, emphasis mine)

What a promise for me at this time!!!!  My first thought was, "I know that isn't what that word in the Bible is really referring to."  But then I realized I was in danger of tossing away God's gift of reassurance to me!  I decided to do a bit more looking at what the Bible says about grace.  

It's a word that is used A LOT, but one verse really jumped out at me. It's a verse from I Peter and says:

"GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (I Peter 5:5 - New American Standard, Updated)

Clearly I'm being given instruction here.  If I am in a space of pride, I can't expect the grace I want!  Immediately, I think of another verse that reinforces this idea:

"Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall." (Prov 16:18 - Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.)

I CERTAINLY don't want to fall as we dance the showcase!

Father,  as we dance this showcase, and in all of my life, I want to be an open channel for your love and grace to flow through.  Father, I want all bits of pride removed - and I don't want to fall!  May I be teachable with true humility of spirit, not thinking of myself more highly than I ought, but measuring my value by the amount of faith you have given me (Rom 12:3).  Father, I want to trust you in this showcase - and in all the rest of my life.  As the Biblical father said, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24) Thank you, Father, for lifting my fear and anxiety about this showcase as I accept your promise of grace.  I love you, Lord. Amen.

 

God Will Fulfill His Purpose for Me!

When troubled or discouraged, I have often returned to a text found in Philippians: ". . . being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6 NIV) This text reminds me that no matter how slow my progress may seem, or how far from God I might feel at any given time, He IS working in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Phil 2:13).  This morning, I came across a similar promise in one of the Psalms:

"The Lord will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever — do not abandon the works of your hands." (Ps 138:8 NIV)

I love reading the Psalms - especially those written by David as this one was.  David's walk with God was so REAL. David clearly wasn't perfect, but God called him a man after his own heart! (I Sam 13:14, Acts 13:22)  David was sometimes afraid or discouraged, and sometimes fell far short of what he should in his actions and faith, but He continued to look to God - the "author and finisher" (Heb 12:2) of his faith.  I love the verses that say that God saw David as a man who kept His commandments and and followed God with all his heart (for example, I Kings 14:8) - despite David's human failings. This verse from Psalms 138 is a great reminder.  David's words suggest a fear of abandonment, but a steadfast faith in God combating that fear.  This morning, I choose to take David's words as my own - with gratitude.

Father, I am so grateful that your love endures forever and you will not abandon me but will instead fulfill your purpose for me!  I am so grateful that you will carry your work to completion in me, as I, too, look to you as both the author and finisher of my faith.  I am grateful that you continue to work in me both to WILL and to DO of your good pleasure.  You know the current challenges in my path.  I trust you to remove them if it is the best way to fulfill your plan in my life - and to give me the courage and strength to continue moving forward despite these challenges if that is what you see is best.  I am grateful for your continued guidance in my life, and the strength you give each day! I love you, Father.

Strangers

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."  (Luke 14:12-14 NIV)

This morning, these verses reminded me of an experience I had this past Friday.  What happened? I was in line at the grocery store when someone came up to me just as I was about to slide my credit card to pay for my groceries and said, "Have you heard of pay it forward? I'd like to buy your groceries for you."  Now, I had just run out to pick up one thing, so it wasn't as though the expense was great, but the fact that a perfect stranger wanted to do that for me made a real impact. I didn't need the money.  It was no hardship to pay for the small item myself. But I had been having a bit of a rough day, and it was like God in human clothes reached down to me and said, "It's okay.  I love you and everything will be all right!"

Why has this never occurred to me before?  When I've looked to give someone groceries, for instance, I've looked for someone who "needs it".  But is it the financial status of the person or the inner being that has the more important need? "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam 16:7 NIV)  Surely it can be of value to give to someone who physically needs it, but I can't discount the value of those who don't "need it" in that way.  Some of the people I know that most need a loving touch are quite well-to-do financially, but are very "poor in spirit".

What a marvelous thing - to be the hands and voice of God in touching another person's life!  How might I better incorporate this into my life? What might I be able to do for a perfect stranger to lift their spirits and brighten their day and be the hand that shows God's love to them? Who are "the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind" in my life?  And how might I give them a "banquet"?  How might I bless those who cannot repay me?  The example someone gave me in the grocery store is one way.  What are some other possibilities?  I remember seeing a story on TV about someone who started writing "love letters" to strangers.  The story really impacted me and is told briefly here. Another source of ideas is the Random Acts of Kindness website.   

Father, what would you have ME do?  What can I do today to touch the life of a stranger?  "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." (Heb 13:2 KJV)  "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matt 25:40 NIV)

Father, my heart is so moved at the thought of what various people are doing for strangers throughout the world!  May I look for opportunities to be a channel of your love to those around me. May I listen to your nudge in my spirit and may that nudge be more important to me than anything else I may be doing!  Thank you, Father, for the opportunities you give to make a difference!

Forget Not to Communicate!

I am grateful to have friends and family with whom I share this journey. One of them shared a part of their story with me today, and reminded me of some things I've written here pretty recently.  As they did so, I realized that I had already forgotten to implement that particular piece into my own life!  How shocking and humbling to see how quickly I can forget! I decided to look to see what the Bible had to say about forgetting and came across this verse: "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."  Hebrews 13:16.  

To do good and to communicate - this is indeed a sacrifice at times.  There may be things going on in my life that tempt me to focus on myself and to forget my priorities.  This is a good reminder. In this particular case, my forgetfulness started with my choosing not to blog yesterday.  Now sometimes, I am led to set the blogging aside for one reason or another, but that was not the case yesterday.  I simply had things to do and chose not to take the time to communicate. This led me down the slippery slope of putting my own will first - and led to some real discouragement this morning. 

Father, I am so grateful that someone DID offer the sacrifice of communication this morning! Their willingness to share has changed the course of my day and put me back on track.  Thank you, Father, for placing such people in my life and for using them to speak to me! I ask your blessing on them in a special way this day. I also ask that you guide my own thoughts and actions; may they be in accordance with your will.  And may I REMEMBER what you're teaching me and put it into practice!  Thank you, Father!  Amen.

Faith

Today I came across something else that was written about Jesus prayers: "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered . . . "  Heb 5:7-9 NIV

I guess I've never really thought about it.  I know Jesus struggled in the garden of Gethsemane, but I still thought somehow that faith and obedience came easily to him.  Yet the picture presented here - praying and petitioning God with loud cries and tears - does not fit that picture at all.  In Jesus we truly have a picture of a man who has suffered and struggled just as we do - or more so. 

This is so encouraging to me!  Sometimes I indeed feel my faith is small as a mustard seed and I feel discouraged and alone and all I can do is cry out to God.  This reminds me that when I'm having a hard time and feeling overwhelming feelings, I'm in good company.  If Jesus prayed and petitioned the Father with loud cries and tears, surely I needn't beat myself up for doing the same!

I'm thinking about that phrase - faith as a grain of mustard seed.  It comes from Matt 17:20 - "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."  When my faith is small, I certainly don't always experience these sorts of miracles.  Why?  The answer comes to me.  I don't always PLANT my seed of faith!  

I'm reminded of the parable Jesus told about a mustard seed: "Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof." Matt 13:31-32  It does me no good to just save my little mustard seed of faith.  I must actually PLANT IT in order for it to grow into a demonstration of the kingdom of God!

So, how do I plant it and see that it grows?  What I read here in Matt 13:31-32 and again in Luke 13:19 suggests that all I have to do is toss the seed on the ground in the garden of my heart, reminding myself that I can trust God and that faith in Him can move mountains. I don't even need to worry about watering - God has promised to be a spring of living water in me!  I am reminded once again of a verse in Isaiah 58 - "And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." (verse 11)  Truly His yoke is easy and His burden is light! 

There's a song that Sandi Patty sings called "Meeting Disaster Face to Faith". (You can read the lyrics here.)  It reminds me that when things get rough my best choice is to meet my challenges with faith. 

Thank you, Father, that you are indeed a God of mighty miracles and that you can turn the most difficult circumstances into reasons for rejoicing!  I ask this morning that you take my little mustard seed of faith that I've planted in my heart and water it as you've promised, nourishing it as you nourish the rest of me - that the work you have begun in me will indeed be seen to completion.  As the AA 3rd step prayer says, "God I offer myself to thee to build with me and to do with me what thou wilt.  Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.  Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.  May I do Thy will always!"

How to Pray

As I've been learning to "enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise" (Ps 100:4) I've been thinking once again about the "proper" way to pray.  Figuring I can do no better than to go to what Jesus himself taught on this subject, I returned to Matthew chapter 6 to re-read His instructions.  I had figured to once again go through The Lord's Prayer, to see what I could uncover, but I got caught up in several verses before that - starting with verse 6. 

When looking at a passage which I've read over and over again and know by heart, I often find it helpful to go to the original language to see if there are things I can better understand that way.  Not knowing the original languages myself, I rely on reference materials - most commonly Strong's concordance. I used that again today.

The first word I looked up was the word translated "pray".  I've been taught so many different things about what prayer is, but I wondered what it actually meant in the Greek.  I found that essentially it means "wishing to God".  How much more valuable a technique than wishing on a star or birthday candles!  I've sometimes thought that wishing for something is bad.  After all, I know I've been told that it is best to be content with what I have (Heb 3:5). So how do I reconcile that with the fact that prayer literally means to wish to God?  I am reminded of something I recently heard about the word "enthusiasm".  It literally means to be possessed by God or to have God within. Is it possible that I can be so possessed by God, so filled with Him and directed by His will, that my desires are His and a form of guidance?  

Father, I am so grateful that you are my daddy and that I can trust you to have my best good at heart.  I am so grateful that YOU know how to give good gifts to your children better than human parents ever could.  I am so grateful for all of these gifts - that in you I live and move and have my being!  Father, I ask that you live within me and that your will be done in my life - that you so fill me that my desires are indeed Yours.  Thank you, Father, once again for the promise that you will see the work you've started in me to completion. I love you, Father!      

School Shootings

Like many of you I've been greatly saddened by the recent shootings.  The ones in the mall in my own back yard so to speak, has really brought this home.  And then those shootings in Connecticut!  I have mourned with those parents and teachers, wondering how anyone could target such young children!

It's easy to feel that the time in which we are living is "going to hell in a hand basket", and there are certainly events out there to lend credence to that idea.  And yet, while this Holiday Season reminds us of Glad Tidings, there were some horrors associated with the story of that first Christmas, too.  For me, this shooting in Connecticut brings home the horror that occurred in Bethlehem so many years ago when so many babies two and under were murdered. I've heard the story so many times that it's easy to gloss over it and focus on the part of the story where Jesus was saved from this terror in his infancy.  It's a wonderful miracle story - just like there are wonderful miracle stories associated with these recent shootings.  That doesn't negate the pain, horror, and loss that some have had to go through, and my heart aches for them.  And those events in Bethlehem were certainly every bit as horrific to people living in those days as the shooting in Connecticut is to us.

Unfortunately murder is nothing new.  But neither is HOPE.  While HOPE doesn't take away our pain, it DOES remind us to look to the one who knows what it is like to have His Son murdered, and who willingly endured that pain to ensure our freedom and our healing.  There are many things about that story that I don't understand, but the most important question for me right now is this: Do I appreciate such a sacrifice?  Do I make active use of that gift given to me at such great price? How can I take a gift like that for granted?  God's gift promises freedom, yet how often am I content to remain bound? As Romans 6:1,2 says, "What shall we say to all this? Are we to remain in sin in order that God's grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow?  Certainly not!"  And Hebrews 12:4 reminds me, "You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your own blood."  Why am I so complacent? Too often, its as though I've been drugged and can't seem to wake up to the seriousness of my situation and grasp the way of escape I've been given.

What is it that has me in its grasp today? What do I want and need to be freed from?  I have been given that very costly gift of freedom if I will but accept it!  In times past, I've needed freedom from depression, from debt, from worry - and I've received that to a large degree. Thank you, God! These are tangible proofs of your power in my life and I am so grateful!

Today, I seek freedom from poor food choices. It strikes me that many people are in this same boat. We know the statistics around weight loss spending to be very high. And here God offers freedom - no money down - EVER!  No matter what I feel enslaved to, Isaiah 58: 6-11 is my prescription - complete with a promise of speedy healing.

Father, may I be filled with compassion and the willingness to act on it - not only during the holiday season, but all year through.  May I be an open channel of your love is my prayer.  And please grant me freedom from my enslavement to appetite. I've seen how choosing to place food ahead of your will for me - to worship food instead of you - has dulled my spiritual senses and increased my selfish and self-seeking tendencies. And I ask for YOUR power and strength and a knowledge of and acceptance of YOUR will that I may make better choices in the future.  Thank you, God!