Memory and Meditation

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits. Psalm 103:2
Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the LORD. Psalm 104:34

What we choose to remember and what we choose to meditate upon are important. God knew the necessity of purposefully bringing to mind the right things. Time and time again we are told in Scripture to remember the things God has done for us. Two benefits that come from this are gratitude and encouragement. You cannot read through the Psalms for very long without formulating a list of God’s graciousness in your life.

But often times we become consumed by the things we see, feel, and experience. We spend countless hours rehearsing the wrong things in our minds until we find ourselves discouraged, frustrated, and defeated. Our thoughts are powerful….so are our words. Ask yourself what it is that you spend most of your time thinking about. Would the two verses above describe them or stand in stark contrast to them?

Have you ever asked God to bring to your mind the many things He has done for you? It is hard to bless God when we can’t recall any of His benefits. And it is hard to be glad in the Lord when what we choose to meditate on isn’t pleasing to Him. It is for our benefit that we align our thoughts, memories, and meditation with His Word and His acts.

David did a quick “grocery list” of some of the benefits he did not want to forget. He described God as the One who pardons our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from the pit, crowns us with loving kindness and compassion, and satisfies us with good things. A quick read through of the Psalms reminds us of God’s protection, provision, direction, love, and thoughtful attention.
It is essential that we take the qualities listed for us and personalize them. For instance, when we come to a verse that speaks of God’s protection, stop a minute and recall a time when God’s protection of you was evident. Ask God to show you times He gave you direction, provided for specific needs, showered you with love and attention, and answered specific prayers. You’ll be amazed at the recall He gives you.

Father, there is so much to remember about You. Steer my thoughts in that direction today! Amen!

Memorable Conversations

And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. Luke 2:47

At the age of twelve, Jesus sat in the temple talking with the rabbis and spiritual leaders of His day. Questions and answers were exchanged. His knowledge and His answers amazed these learned men. Not realizing they were talking to the God of the universe and assuming Him to be a mere child, this was all quite a stretch for them. Much in the same way a child prodigy amazes people today they were more captivated by His ability than His person and deity. What they failed to see was that the most amazing thing before them that day was not the conversation they held with Him, but the fact that God sat before them in the flesh of a child. Even at the age of twelve, Christ was fully God and fully man.

Lest I am too hard on these men, I am reminded of the years I spent misunderstanding the character of God. The more I get to know Him through Scripture, prayer, and people the more He amazes me. To think that the God of the universe has things to tell me if I will but listen still makes me marvel. His Word comes alive to me as I apply it to my life and my situations.
For decades I did not realize God had both understanding and answers for me. I took my concerns, problems, and questions to people. It seemed easier and safer to get answers and counsel from someone I could actually see rather than from a God I barely knew. But my Christian life took a drastic turn when I finally learned to go directly to Him. I was not only amazed at his understanding in the way of knowledge but His understanding in the way of compassion, sympathy, and concern. He became the God who whispers to me, “Cast all your care upon Me for I care for you.” The more I know Him the more I see His heart behind His words.

His answers also amaze me. I love to walk and it has become a precious question and answer time for me with my heavenly Father. There is such assurance that comes from knowing that as I pour my questions and my heart out to Him, by the time I get back home I am settled and possess answers that satisfy me.

Father, may I never cease to be amazed at Your personal involvement in my life. May conversations with You be what I crave more and more. Amen.

Marveling the Master

Now when Jesus heard this He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” Luke 7:9 NASB

Can you imagine a prayer so radical that it makes Jesus marvel?! This verse and the duplicate account in Matthew 8 are the only places in the Bible that tell of Jesus marveling. It is a word that denotes admiration and wonder. While the crowds were marveling over the miracles Jesus performed, Jesus was marveling over the incredible faith of a centurion.

In short, this centurion had a servant who was gravely ill and close to death. Upon hearing about Jesus, he sent some men to Jesus to request that He heal his servant. The centurion knew with just a word spoken his servant would be healed. He likened Jesus’ authority over disease and sickness to that of the authority he had over soldiers under his command. They did what he told them to do. In his thinking, men obeyed him and illnesses obeyed Jesus. He took the idea that Jesus is Lord over all creation to mean just that…..Lord over all creation.

I look at the accounts in Scripture of things Jesus controlled and it is an extensive list. The weather, waves, animals, demons, death, blindness, deafness, leprosy, food, and fishing expeditions. He was not limited by the boundaries of His creation. He walked on water, turned water into wine, multiplied bread and fish, caused a fig tree to wither with just a spoken word, and raised the dead. Whatever this centurion was told about Jesus he took it literally. He had no doubt in Jesus’ ability to heal his servant. His faith was such that Jesus’ marveled over it and granted the man his request.

I want that kind of prayer life with Jesus! I want Him to marvel at the things I ask Him to do on my behalf. Beth Moore once said, “If you can’t think of anything else to pray for, pray for God to just be BIG!” In other words, pray extravagantly! Pray knowing that God’s power is unlimited and so available to us. I am challenged today to be as radical in my prayer life as this centurion and many others in the Bible.

Father, each time I approach Your throne of grace may I come with boldness and expectancy. May timidity and faithlessness no longer describe my prayer life. Amen!

Locked Up But Not Limited

Herod also added this to them all; he locked John up in prison. Luke 3:20

I wish a journal had been published of John the Baptist’s imprisonment. It occurred to me this morning that there are three prison accounts given in Scripture but John’s is the only one that does not give a lot of detail. I am reminded of Joseph in the Old Testament and Paul later on in the New Testament. In all three cases we are given the reasons for their imprisonments. Joseph was put in prison because of false accusations made against him. But both John and Paul were put in prison because of their boldness to speak the truth! We are never told how long the prison terms lasted. We do know that Joseph eventually was released from prison and promoted to second in command of Egypt. But both John and Paul saw the end of their earthly lives there. Joseph had charge of other prisoners and Paul wrote some of his epistles from prison. But the only prison mention of John was when he grew discouraged and had his disciples ask Jesus if He was really the One they had been looking for. Jesus’ answer included a very positive summation of John’s life.

For all three of these men I would guess that prison could feel like the bottom had fallen out from underneath them. Like life itself had come apart. It would be easy to feel like they were at the mercy of people. So what is it I can learn from their experiences?

Joseph teaches me that even in the most difficult circumstances in my life God is able to bring people across my path with whom I can minister. If I will but take my eyes off myself and my circumstances and look to Him, He will in turn open my eyes to the people around me and reveal where I can be of help to them.

Paul teaches me that writing and speaking for Christ can be done at any place in my life. May the things I go through never silence me or bring my hands to a stand still. God’s character and the truths of His Word stand firmly no matter what happens in my life.

John teaches me that even if others misunderstand, God knows the truth about me and will one day allow that truth to be seen. I rest in that fact daily.

Father, prisons can either confine me or allow You to be uplifted. May I praise You in the midst of any storm, trial, or difficulty. You live! Amen!

Listening With a Purpose

So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him. Luke8:18

I find it interesting that this verse comes after Jesus has given two parables. The first being about a sower and the seed he is sowing. The seed falls on four types of soil. The seed will grow only in proportion to the receptiveness of the soil. Jesus was using this farm scene to help us see the truths of taking in God’s Word. God’s Word takes root as much as the heart is receptive to it.


Then He gives a parable about a lamp and how it is not meant to be placed under a container to block the light. Lamps are meant to give off light to help us see more clearly. Is that not the awesome task of each believer? To give off light so the truths of God and His Word are seen more clearly by those around us?

In both parables, something is being produced depending on a receptive and reliable heart. God’s Word does not return to Him void. When received into our lives it will produce fruit and part of that fruit is giving off light to those in darkness. We are not just lamps. We are beacons….lighthouses even! So if you find yourself in the midst of many unbelievers be encouraged! The darker your surroundings the more profound will be your light.

It only makes sense that Jesus would follow these two parables with instruction about listening. Listening is one of the most vital tools for taking in truth. And God has a conditional promise in this verse. The more you listen and take in, the more He will give you. I like that! There is always an increase as long as my ears, heart, and mind stay open. But with listening comes responsibility to take what I have heard and apply it to my life. James admonishes us to be hearers and doers of the Word.

Allow God to sow His Word into your life. Take seriously the need to apply it to your everyday life. The harvest as well as the light will be evident in more ways and to more people than you ever dreamed.

Father, plow up the soil of my heart so I can readily take in the seeds of truth You have for me. May the lamp of my life in Christ be bright. I am listening, Lord. May what I take in increase and make room for more. Amen.

Life in the Desert

And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. Luke 1:80

I find it interesting how many significant people in the Bible spent time in the deserts or wilderness before entering their public ministries. Moses spent 40 years in the desert tending sheep before God lead him into Egypt as their human deliverer. David spent years in the wilderness running from King Saul before he himself became the king of Israel. John the Baptist spent years in the deserts before his public ministry. Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry.

I think of a desert as a dry, hot, uncomfortable, lonely place. Very little vegetation or shade to speak of. Not the kind of place I would care to live. But in each of the examples I sited above I notice similarities. The desert experiences were necessary and temporary.

That encourages me when I find myself in a desert of sorts. To me, a desert experience becomes my personal habitat when life has become uncomfortable, people have stepped aside for awhile, and I am suddenly sensing an internal loneliness. It is hard at that time to sense growth in my Christian life and yet in John’s case he grew and became strong in spirit while living in the desert.

There was a time in my life when being in the desert was the last thing I desired and the least enjoyable part of my journey. But over the course of time I have come to realize the benefits of such times. While there are many times God surrounds me with Christian friends who greatly encourage me, there are times when He pulls me aside for solitary time with Him. It is then that He takes away the distractions of life and intends to open up heart issues to me that I have failed to see. He becomes my personal tutor and I become the only student in the classroom. The lessons I learn from Him go deep into my soul and real growth begins.

It is also a resting time. But knowing it is temporary gives me an incredible hope that He is preparing me for a work. I don’t know what it is at the moment but I trust Him to bring it about. And He will.

Father, the conditions of my desert are uncomfortable at times but the sense of Your presence and instruction are precious. Teach me all I need to know for what You will have me do when I leave the desert. Amen.

Learning to Ask

Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. Luke 5:12

I find it interesting that a leper uses the word “if“ as he comes to Jesus for healing. It is a word that denotes possibility with no absolute guarantee. It is not a matter of ability, opportunity, or power but rather choice and desire. He is on his face with intensity in his voice as he brings his need to the feet of Jesus.

We are not told how long this man had leprosy but we do know it was one of the most dreaded diseases in Bible times….comparable to AIDS of our day. Because of the contagious nature of leprosy, the leper had to live apart from family and community. He was not allowed physical touch or even to be in close proximity of non lepers. From a distance he would have to make his presence known by calling out “unclean!” Can you imagine the stigmatism, shame, and utter despair that marked this person’s life? And yet he approaches Jesus and wastes no time in letting Him know his heart’s desire.

Jesus’ response? He stretched out His hand, touched him, and said, “I am willing, be clean.” In an instant the leprosy left him! Jesus not only touched the untouchable but spoke the very words that brought healing and restoration. It was a ten word prayer and a five word answer that radically changed the course of this man’s life.

If this were our prayer today, how would we fill in the blank? “Lord, if You are willing, You can__________________.” May we not only come with the simplistic trust of this former leper, but may we anticipate the many times Jesus will respond in willingness. Jesus never intended prayer to be a complicated thing. It is not the length of the prayer or the usage of “right” words that constitute powerful prayers. It is the trusting heart of the person asking and the loving heart of the One answering. While there are times God says “no” to a request, petition, or desire, let us not forget He is willing to say “yes” on many occasions if we would but go to Him and ask. May I learn to ask with expectancy, trust with abandon, and embrace the love of my sovereign God.

Father, my prayers reveal a lot about how I view You. As You transform my view of You, my prayers will be radically changed. Amen.

Learning the Same Things Jesus Knew

And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God…..Get thee behind me, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve…..It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Luke 4:4,8,12

Jesus’ answers to Satan’s temptations were direct, powerful, effective, and practical. When I see them lined up I see them as not only answers for the moment but profound principles by which to live. Imagine the impact it would have if one lived life embracing the Word of God, worshiping God alone, and not tempting God. In other words, determining that God and His Word are supreme and paramount in our lives. But often times that is not the case and the result is defeat instead of victory.

Jesus knew the high price of yielding to temptation. Many times we don’t fully see it until we find ourselves living with the consequences of our wrong choices. Consequences that God intends to be painful enough to drive us back to Him and to resist temptation in the future. I must come to the place where I take the time to see where my wrong actions and attitudes will lead me. Sin has both a trail behind me and a path before me.

Jesus knew who His real enemy was. He was aware of his technique, motives, and agenda. His history with Satan did not start with the temptation in the wilderness. It went all the way back to Satan’s beginning and rebellion as Lucifer in Heaven. A quick overview of Scripture will reveal to me the one tract mind Satan had toward Christ and subsequently has toward me as well. His intent for Christ was to keep Him from becoming the sacrifice for my sin. His intent for mankind is to keep him from coming to Christ for salvation. His intent for me on a daily basis is to keep me from a personal relationship with my heavenly Father. He wants nothing more than to see my fellowship with God broken.

Jesus knew the right weapon to use. He knew the one sword to raise was the Word of God. Scripture not only serves as an answer to the enemy of my soul but it serves as a reminder to me of what the truth is. Every time I speak God’s word out loud I am releasing the power of His word. His words are not just ink on a page. They live and have the same power as when He spoke the worlds into existence. I cannot afford to remain silent.

Father, You have given me everything I need to live the Christian life in victory. Help me to implement all of it into my life. Amen.

Laying the Ground Work

For you will go on before the LORD to prepare His ways. Luke 1:76

John the Baptist was to become the forerunner of Jesus. His ministry would be to prepare people to meet Jesus. He would be used of God to set the stage for Jesus’ ministry. He was a pivotal player in the transition from the Old to the New Testament. His messages would announce the coming of the One who would do what the law could not do…..redeem and reconcile us to God.

Have you ever thought back to the forerunners of Jesus in your own life? For many of us, seeds were planted numerous times before we came to Christ. For me, those seeds came in scattered sentences over the course of a couple years before I was ready and able to receive Christ as my Savior. I had never been given a tract to read nor had anyone just sat me down and explained the plan of salvation to me. Instead, I would hear one person make reference to being born again or saved. Another person might make reference to prayer. They weren’t even talking to me….I overheard their conversations with others. But the words stuck with me. When I finally did attend a vacation Bible school at the age of 14, those familiar words came back to me and by the end of the week I trusted Christ as my Savior.

While I may not be the one to actually lead others to Christ I am encouraged that God can use me to be a forerunner of Christ to them. The more I talk of Him the more seeds are sown into the hearts of those with whom I come into contact. Whether I am speaking to them directly or they over hear a conversation I am having with another person, God is able to take the words and plant seeds of truth into their life. The “forerunners” for me will not even know until eternity that God used them in such a way! Oh, the surprises that await us when we finally see the harvest!

Father, I thank you for the seeds that were planted in me long before I became Your daughter. May I never underestimate the words You can use to reach others. Amen.

Any and All Things

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13 KJV

Over what part of your life do you need this verse engraved today? Surely it is the essential truth that must be joined with any command of God. It is the ability that comes to our aid when faced with any task that seems impossible or improbable. It is our ray of hope on any given day when what we know we should do seems beyond our reach or capability. Maybe it is loving the unloving, stepping out of our comfort zone, standing up for what is right, taking on a new responsibility. It might be a physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental demand that is put on us. The very thing that comes to your mind as you read these words is the place that needs to embrace the truth of doing all things through Christ.

So what does that mean? How do we go about doing all things through Christ? We must believe the strength will come through Him. Strength would entail the ability, know how, and stamina to perform the task. We must be in daily relationship with Him….abide in Him. Spending time in His word, seeking His face in prayer, looking to Him for direction, help, and answers. All that we are looking to others to do for us is what we must transfer over to Him. In this day and age when people and tools are so readily available to us, it is easy to actually live out our Christian life independent of God. I speak from experience here. There is a vast difference between living the Christian life and living the Christian life in intimate, daily connection with God. A huge difference! And finally, we must cooperate with God. As God nudges us, commands us, and shows us the things we are to be doing, we must do them. Not in our own strength but in reliance on Him.

Relying on Him does not negate my part…..it fulfills it! There is no room for us to say, “I can do it myself.” It is not possible and it is not God’s desire or intent for us. It is a partnership of great proportion. It is fleshing out the truth of Philippians 2:13 which says, “it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work.” We are the vessels but He is the substance. May we live out today dependent upon Him, connected to Him, and capable by Him.

Father, living in and out of relationship with You makes all the difference in the world. Keep teaching me how to do that! Amen.