What to do With My Perceptions

But consider now, and see how he is seeking a quarrel against me. 2 Kings 5:7 (New American Standard Bible)

The king of Israel voiced these words against the king of Syria upon receiving a letter requesting that he heal Naaman of leprosy. The letter was sent as a plea for help, not a declaration for war. Faced with an impossible task, the king of Israel feels his back is against the wall and he takes cover under a robe of suspicion and accusations. His perception has blinded him to the truth.

I know how he feels! For I too have misread another person’s intentions, actions, words, and expressions. I look back and am amazed at how quickly I have interpreted such things in a negative light toward myself and others. I assumed the worst, accepted the lie, and clothed myself in my own robe of suspicion and accusations. What I presumed to be an attack, a rejection, or abandonment became my reality and I pulled away in an attempt to not feel further hurt. It has caused me on numerous occasions to miss the blessings of relationships, the joy of living, and an internal world of peace. Until recently, I had no idea where this tendency came from. I knew it was there, I hated the effects, and I longed for freedom. God in His graciousness has begun to enlighten me on not only the root of my suspicions but the affective way to extinguish them.

First of all, He has helped me to see that into my relationships I carry wounds and negative messages about myself. I interpreted certain events in my life in ways that told me I was worthless, burdensome, and unlovable. Once the lies were embraced, I perceived that was what others thought of me as well. With each word, action, or event the old tapes would start to play in my head and I would embrace more lies. Although it was my own false perception, it was real to me. In most cases, this was always the scenario.

God’s solution? Admit I am not a mind reader. I am not God and therefore cannot possibly judge another person’s motives, intents, or thoughts. Know that the attacks are spiritual in nature. As with all attacks I must come against the spirit of accusation. I must renounce it and come against the effects it has on me. I must speak the truth about who I am in Christ instead of what I have come to believe about myself. Then instead of backing away from the person I must begin praying blessings and life over them. When these things take place the attack ends and I stand in a freedom and victory that has revolutionized the way I live my life. It works every time no matter the size of the incident. How I thank my heavenly Father for such insight into what has been such a predominant part of my life.

Father, You heard every negative word I voiced to myself when others never meant to hurt me. Forgive me for the judgments I made and the lies I embraced. I gladly trade the garments of suspicion and condemnation for robes of righteousness and freedom. Amen.

This is My Desire - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obi5ZGujiuU&feature=related

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

Seeing the Way of Escape

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (New International Version)

The truth of this verse is evident….temptation is in our life and experienced by all. Praise God that truth is wrapped in the promise that He will faithfully provide a way of escape for us out of any temptation that comes upon us. We don’t have to wonder if there will be a way out, we can count on it!

Lately, one of God’s more prominent escape routes for me is to see the consequence ahead of time if I give in to the temptation. Much of what I am tempted with on a daily basis is not new to me. I have enough of a track record to rely upon to know what will happen if I give in to the enticement. Let me share a few personal examples.

If I partake of certain foods, I know they will lead to an eating binge. No doubt about it! Without fail (like alcohol to an alcoholic) control will be lost and all resolve to eat in a healthy way will be thrown out the window. If I read material from a ministry that at one time had a powerful hold on me, I will once again be in the throws of emotional dependency and recaptured by the very things from which I have sought freedom. If I give my mind over to negative thinking and wrong perceptions, I will spiral into a pit of darkness. If I allow others to be the center of my world instead of giving God that place, I will become disillusions, disappointed, and discouraged.

How do I know the results of each thing mentioned? I have fallen to those temptations too many times and the outcome has always been the same. The knowledge of that is my way of escape. If I say ‘no’ to the temptation I walk in victory and if I yield to it I face defeat. Last night I experienced victory in the area of not reading the ministry material but I admit defeat when it came to an eating binge. I rejoice in the one and accept today’s fresh start for the other.

Today will be a day which will entail temptations and yet it will also be a day filled with ways of escape. By God’s grace, I plan to take the escape routes each time.

Father, temptations and attacks come against my physical, spiritual, emotional, and social worlds. May the ways of escape be clearly discerned and consistently taken by me throughout this day. Amen.

With All I Am - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns&feature=related

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

Seen in a Different Light

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness " Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (New American Standard Bible)

God’s “No” to Paul’s request for deliverance from a thorn in his flesh led to the writing of this profound section of Scripture. The boasting and strength came from the realization that God’s grace was sufficient for him. Paul had not reached the place where he no longer had weaknesses and failures. He had not reached the place where troubles and disappointments no longer marked his path. Rather, he reached the place of knowing that none of those things defined him or were the end of the story for him. His confidence was not in his own strength or attempts at a perfect record. His confidence was in God’s grace, power, and presence.

I have often failed to understand that maturity and growth in Christ does not mean perfection! Weaknesses, failures, temptations, and troubles are going to be a part of my walk with Christ until I leave this world. The growth and maturity will be evidenced not by the absence of those things but rather by the change in how I handle them. What is that change? It will be seen in the times I ask God for forgiveness, help, and direction. It will be seen each time I turn my attention toward Him rather than toward myself or my circumstances. It will be seen in the small, seemingly, insignificant moments of the day when there is a shift in my attitude and actions.

God is not looking for me to live in perfection….He knows I am not capable of that as long as I possess a sin nature and live in a fallen world. What He is looking for is a heart that desires to know Him, follow Him, cooperate with Him, seek Him, and love Him. How precious of Him to let me know that faltering steps do not cancel out the steps of faith. They simply draw my attention back toward the One who is willing to stand me up straight again and nudge me in the right direction. The One who still leans over and whispers, “This is the way, walk in it.” The One who still infuses His strength and Spirit into every fiber of my being on a daily basis. So when I am confronted by my difficulties, disillusionments, disappointments, and disobedience I can stand in confidence rather than condemnation, because I stand in Christ.

Father, You see me for who You created me to be. It is not that the failures and weaknesses are not there it is that Your presence and power outshine them all. Praise You! Amen.

His Strength is Perfect - Steven Curtis Chapman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC_lld_vUCY

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

Breaking Through the Enemies

And David came to Baal-perazim, and he smote them there, and said, The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the bursting out of great waters. So he called the name of that place Baal-perazim [Lord of breaking through]. 2 Samuel 5:20 (Amplified Bible)

David had many enemies and many deliverances from those enemies. While I do not have enemies in human form, the Word is clear in letting me know that my enemies include the world, the flesh, and the devil. How reassuring and comforting it is to know that the same God Who broke through David’s enemies will break through mine as well. It took me years to realize that God is just as involved in my life as He was in the lives of Bible characters. Ready to move. Ready to act. Ready to deliver. I take delight in such a display of love, protection, and intervention.

Although there were times when God’s deliverance of His people came solely through His own hands, many were the times when it required the cooperation and action of His people. Notice in today’s verse it says that David came to Baal-perazim and smote them (his enemies) THEN he gave the credit and glory to God. He knew where the victory really lay. He knew Who had enabled him to fight and win. He knew Who fought beside him, for him, and through him. I want to follow his example and experience what he experienced in the way of victory over my own enemies of sorts.

I am finding that for every enemy of habit, weakness, and predisposition God has a plan of action. When I am aware of the plan it is imperative that I put that plan into motion. God will enable me to fight as I should. God has already equipped me with everything I need to come out victorious. His Word and His Spirit infuse me with the power I need to be an over-comer in any and all areas of my life.

I know what it is like to live in defeat and I know what it is like to live in triumph. Personally, I prefer triumph over defeat! In the past few days God has given me a battle plan for a certain area in my life and as I have implemented His battle plan the results have been astounding! As I head into a new day I am encouraged by what has happened already and I see this day as one of victory and success. To God be the glory and to me be the blessings of living under His rule and reign!

Father, when You invite us to taste and see that You are good, the results are never disappointing. What a feast! Amen.

The Battle Belongs to the Lord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMZ8D6nTKhg&feature=related

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

To Reign Now

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17 (New International Version)

I remember reading Romans 8:1 several years ago, and for the first time realizing when it said, “There is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,” that it was talking about the here and now (not just some far off time in Heaven). It was my first of many moments of seeing God in a different light and seeing my Christianity in a new way. Today’s verse recently gave me the same experience. In the past I have always seen the phrase, “reign in life” as simply our reign with Christ in the Millennium. Quite frankly, it meant very little to me in the present…until now.

When I read this verse yesterday morning God once again graciously pulled back the curtain from my eyes and helped me to see that as a believer I am equipped to reign now! To exercise influence and control now! To live life to the fullest, in a real, genuine, active, and vigorous way now! Yes, there is coming a day when we will reign with Christ in the Millennium but He wants me to know that there is plenty of reigning to do now in this life.

While there are some things I have no control over there are plenty of things I do have the responsibility and capability to rule and reign over and to do it each and every day. I am called to reign over my thoughts, my words, my actions, my reactions, my appetites, my flesh, my time, my finances, my interactions with others, and so on. There is absolutely no reason to live as a victim. In Christ we are more than conquerors. MORE!

For one who has spent too much time noticing and nurturing personal hurts, disappointments, and wounds, this is not only a freeing concept for me but an empowering one. Hope and promise have been birthed in me and out of that will come a way of life I am ready to taste and experience. How God delights at each of our “aha” moments!

Father, thank you for once again opening my eyes to Your truth. I smile as I consider all the ramifications that will come of it. Amen.

It's Time - Brian Doerksen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZVxjQOwCW0&NR=1

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

Disciplined Thinking

Therefore my disquieting thoughts make me respond, even because of my inward agitation. Job 20:2 (New American Standard Bible)

Zophar spoke these words to Job and I can relate all to well with what he is saying. Disquieting thoughts and inward agitation have been the culprits behind many downward turns on what should be pleasant, joy filled days and experiences. It seems to take mere seconds to go from a “top of the world” feeling to emotions full of disappointment, despair, and negativity. While I can often detect what triggers the shifts, I must admit I have not been victorious in the battle. I can so easily give in to the thoughts and that spells disaster every time.

God, the ever patient and present One, is continually helping me see things that are meant to lead to my eventual freedom. Yesterday, He gave me something to do. It was like He leaned over and whispered, “Try this! Focus on what you are doing at the moment. Direct your thoughts toward where you are, who you are, and what you are doing here and now.” Do you know what I found? When I purposefully set my mind on the task at hand my thoughts were not wandering off in other directions. I was no longer dwelling on past hurts and disappointments. I was no longer fantasizing about the way I wanted things to be. I was no longer filled with anxious thoughts or confusing mental conversations. I was at peace and contentment was marking the moments.

This is new for me because I have spent most of my life with a wandering mind and the trips I would take were usually futile, frustrating, and unhelpful. They prevented me from really knowing myself and appreciating where God had me at the moment. They hindered me from fully enjoying the people in my life and the present blessings God was graciously bestowing upon me.

As with any discipline I wish to develop in my life, this one will take time. It requires constantly bringing myself back “home” in my thoughts. Exercises for me will include, listening to a song and seeing how long I can stay focused on the words and music. Taking a walk and seeing how many signs of spring I can detect. Talking with a friend and taking in every word they say. At times, it may even require just speaking out loud what it is I am doing and where I am at. As much time as I have practiced wrong thinking, I must now devote to right thinking. Purposeful thinking. Focused thinking. Determined thinking. I choose to control the thoughts that have for too long controlled me. By God’s grace I will do it!

Father, keep drawing me back to the present. Help my mind to stay fixed on You and the life you have given me to live each moment of each day. Amen.

I Just Want to Be Where You Are - Don Moen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrBYbjSg3kA&feature=related

May each of you have a wonderful Easter weekend celebrating the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How I joy in all that God is resurrecting in each of us.

Seeing the Whole Picture

Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. Luke 6:47-48 (New King James Version)

As believers, it is imperative that we take in the whole picture of Scripture. Often are the times when people approach the Bible with a “smorgasbord” mentality whereby they see and hear only what they want to see and hear. Many principles go hand in hand and must be embraced in their totality. Today’s passage is one such case in point. At a quick glance one might assume that knowing Christ as Savior will keep them from falling apart when life takes a turn for the worst, when in actuality there is a condition to the promise.

Jesus prefaces His promise of one not being shaken with the personal responsibility of coming to Him, listening to Him, and obeying Him. If those factors are not in place the storms of life will shake us up even though our salvation is secure. It goes back to James’ admonition to be a doer and not just a hearer of the Word.

No matter what the issue or struggle is in our life, there is a verse or principle of truth that will require action on our part. If I am struggling with a dependency issue, God’s call to me is to fix my eyes on Him and trust Him to meet my needs. If I am fearful, He reminds me to allow His perfect love to cast out that fear. If I am focusing on the weaknesses of others, I must align myself with the truth that I am to live with an awareness of my own weaknesses and trust God to strengthen us both.

Last night, I spoke with a friend about an area in my life that is in need of the most change presently…..doing battle when I sense a shift in my mood, attitude, and spirit. In those times when I want to curl up with misperceptions and negative thinking, God has steps of obedience for me to take. Those steps entail taking my thoughts captive, thinking on what is actually true, and renouncing the lies that desire to take up residence in my mind. In order to not be shaken each time the spiraling begins, I must choose to listen to His voice and obey His words. It is a daily (moment by moment) decision that God promises to bless and honor. He will help me if I will but cooperate and accept His help.

Father, I have lost so many battles but You have not given up on me. Thank you for not abandoning me in the midst of failure but rather extending to me hope, help, and healing. I look to You for help to obey. Amen.

Bow the Knee - Paula Orr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9z6l1PXsFE&feature=related

I welcome your questions and comments to any devotional thoughts. I am honored and delighted to share my journey with you and privileged to hear of yours.

God's Desire

And ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 23:49 (King James Version)

The very heart of Scripture and the very heart of God are found in this verse. All that God does is done to reveal Himself to us. Ezekiel chapter 23 is a difficult chapter to read. It is explicit in its detail of God’s people facing the consequences of their idolatry and spiritual adultery. It repeats the phrase of their minds being alienated from the ones they once ran after and God’s mind being alienated from them. A quick read through would leave a person thinking God had totally given up on His people. But the last verse reveals the truth. All is done….all is said….all is brought about so that in the end He is known. Contrary to what we may sometimes think, God is not playing a spiritual game of hide and seek with us. He is not hard to find if we know how to look for Him.

He tells us to look for Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind. That is not possible if our hearts and allegiance are divided. If our lives are filled with other things and our interests are in other places. He will not share His glory with any one or any thing else. God desires our undivided attention so that we can realize His undivided attention toward us. That desire that He has placed within each one of us for intimacy in relationship reveals what He longs for us to find in Him.

I don’t want my mind to be severed from the One who loves me so much! Sometimes God has to allow me to become busy enough, distracted enough, and empty enough to realize I am missing Him. It is then that He begins to probe my heart and show me the areas that need His touch. He is after my genuine, authentic, personal walk with Him. It is too easy to try to duplicate someone else’s walk with Him. God does not want that! He wants me to know Him in a way no one else does. His relationship with me is meant to be a one of a kind relationship. He has no twins!

What He wants me to understand is that my life is worth living and the person He created me to be is worth being known by Him. He wants me to know that I must relate to Him on my own individual level. I want to know and experience Him in an unduplicated, undiluted way. I want to know Him in a real way….His way!

Father, I once again take off the masks and other things I find so easy to hide behind. I can only know You when I come to You as myself. Amen.

Knowing You, Jesus - Robin Mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q_YQPa66kk

I welcome your questions and comments to any devotional thoughts. I am honored and delighted to share my journey with you and privileged to hear of yours.

Interactions in the Wilderness

I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. Hosea13:5 (New American Standard Bible)

I look back at the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings and I marvel at the loving care God displayed to them time and time again. Just His miraculous provisions of food and water leave me in awe. For forty years God had them in a place which forced them to look to Him for their most basic needs to be met. How slow they often were to realize His availability to them. Lessons were learned and relearned. But each time they cried out He answered. Each time they sought Him He was found. If I am ever looking for a picture of God’s tender, compassionate heart I need look no farther than the account of His people in the wilderness.

Isn’t it strange though how often the children of Israel accused God of forsaking them when needs arose? As difficulties came the worst case scenarios played out in their minds and they gave voice to all the doubts. “We are going to die here” became their motto. They could not conceive of the fact that God would get them through each crises. Even when God came through for them each new test seemed to take them back to doubts and discouragement.

It is times like that when the practicality of Scripture becomes a reality in my own life. Each of us have our wilderness experiences in the Christian life. For whatever reason life becomes hard, our spiritual life becomes dry, we feel forsaken and forgotten, our resources no longer help us, and we find ourselves at a place when we have no choice but to look to God for our daily needs. We might even find ourselves giving voice to every doubt and fear that wells up inside us. “I am not going to make it through this one” becomes our motto. The answer?

Realize God leads us into and stays with us through the wilderness times. Review His awareness of, His words to, and His acts of kindness displayed on His people. Know that He is just as involved in your life! If nothing else, find one truth about God’s character and hold on to it. Trust Him even when all the evidence seems to be against you and Him. Wildernesses are the places God desires to display His power on your behalf.

Father, each time I find myself in a wilderness may I look for and sense Your presence. The opportunities will abound for You to act on my behalf. I give You praise! Amen.

He Knews My Name - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXsiWoyjw60&feature=related

Holiness is a furnace that transforms the men and women who enter it. - Eugene H.Peterson