That Which Causes a Shift

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 1 Kings 19:2-3 (New American Standard Bible)

I have often been fascinated by the fact that a threat from a woman was all it took for Elijah to be overcome with fear. Elijah! The one who had just stood against Ahab and 400 Baal worshippers. Elijah! The one who saw his prayer for fire from heaven answered in a dramatic way. Elijah! The one who personally heard the voice of God on numerous occasions. Elijah! The one who was used of God to perform many miracles. Yet none of that allowed him to withstand the onslaught of fear. In time, he once again walked with boldness but for a short season he walked in fear.

Ever notice that it doesn’t take much to open an emotional door in our life and experience being over-taken by anger, fear, anxiety, sadness, loneliness, or a host of other feelings? At times it seems to come out of nowhere and yet when it hits it is very apparent. Many of my worst moments have such insignificant beginnings that I am often too embarrassed to admit what triggered the feelings. If asked, my thoughts are usually that it is bad enough that I am even in the mood let alone having to go through the shame of admitting the childish reaction that set it off. While I may be slow in admitting what it is, I usually have no trouble knowing the exact moment and thing that brought about the internal shift. Even so, the conversation can take on the look of a dance as I side-step the issue and generalize my answer. Change is needed in all aspects.

I take comfort in the fact that God knew how to draw out an honest answer from Elijah and He knew the truth that Elijah needed to hear. Elijah felt he was the only one left standing for God and that perception became fodder in which to plant the seeds of fear in his heart. Discouragement was his breeding ground and it can be ours as well. God let him know he was not alone…many others had not left their faith. Once Elijah had some rest, some food, and some truth he was ready to move forward.

While I am learning the process of moving forward after each failure, my heart’s desire is that I find victory in the midst of an onslaught. That I experience the stronghold weakening rather than gaining strength. That I would stand in confidence that God will bring me to such a place.

Father, You’ve said that all things are possible if I will believe. I believe, Lord, help my unbelief. Help me to allow You to do what You long to do in me. Amen.

By Grace Alone - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lhilgWXIE&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Carried or Clinging?

And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple….While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. Acts 3:2, 11 (New American Standard Bible)

This lame man’s story grips my heart today. I relate all too well with his disposition. Unable to walk, he is carried by others out of necessity. We have all been there at one time or another. Maybe not in the physical sense but maybe in the spiritual or emotional sense. Times in our life when we needed the assistance of another person to come to our aid and carry us until we were able to move on our own again. Maybe this lame man thought he would forever be carried. No hope for healing. No hope for change. Yet his healing did come and the change was profound. His carriers were no longer necessary. I am sure both sides felt the joy of ended roles.

Yet nine verses later, this same man (now able to leap, stand, and walk) is found clinging to Peter and John….the ones God used to bring about his healing. Why? It was not that he needed their help to continue to walk. He was doing that and more on his own. Could it be that he (like us) became enamored with the vessels God used? Did he feel a need to stay connected to them even after their purpose in his life had been fulfilled? Was it that he knew other areas in his life were in need of healing and felt he needed them in order for those healings to take place? Did he limit God’s ability to continue to work in his life without those God used presently? While I do not know if those were the issues playing out that day in the life of a former lame man, I do know they are what tend to play out in my own life and the lives of others.

Today, I am once again reviewing the difference between legitimate needs and perceived necessity. When am I being helped out of necessity and when am I refusing to let go out of fear and skewed thinking? God has used and will continue to use significant people in my life but I still need to learn how to receive their help without becoming a clinger. I need to fully embrace David’s words when he said, I saw the Lord constantly before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down [from my secure and happy state]. To see God as my Source who chooses out of love to use the very people that He uses during specific times in my life. May I learn to cling to Him and appreciate fully the ones He sends.

Father, my need of You is clearly seen each time I desperately hold on to others. Teach me to leap, stand, and walk hand in hand with You! Amen.

Better Than a Hallelujah - Amy Grant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD_pCr_Xrnc

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

His Works, His Hands

But now, O LORD, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8 (New American Standard Bible)

As a branch in God’s hands, I am pruned at appropriate times in necessary ways. As His sheep, I am shepherded and cared for. As clay upon His wheel and in His hands I am molded to His likings. I long for the results that come from His involvement in my life but often squirm during the process. This morning I am asking myself what the process has entailed.

It has entailed taking me out of comfort zones, removing significant individuals from my life, showing me the truth about His heart and character, showing me the dangers of living out of my emotions, correcting wrong steps I take, transforming my character and thoughts, exposing my weaknesses and wounds, teaching me to live according to truth rather than perceptions, redirecting my attention to what He is presently doing rather than what He has done in the past, instilling in me a teachable spirit in the midst of difficult lessons, and wiping away tears that fall when I don’t understand what He is doing or forget that He is doing all things out of love.

I am a recipient and example of His labor of love and that knowledge requires trust on my part. Trust that God knows what He is doing. Trust that He will accomplish that which He has determined to do. Trust that He will keep His word. Trust that He is able to do far more than I could imagine. Trust that my limitations do not limit Him. Trust that at no time does His love for me become merely toleration. Trust that I have not exhausted His supply of mercy, grace, forgiveness, and strength. Trust that He will eventually bring me to the point that I completely release all that I am still holding on to. Trust that His requirements of me are good, necessary, and beneficial.

He knows my personality and make up. My weaknesses and bents. My places of stubbornness. My potential. My fears and insecurities. With that knowledge He has not abandoned me, become exasperated by me, shamed me, or given up on me. His involvement in my life has not waned in the least. I marvel at the thought of that and it comes against all preconceived ideas I have had of myself and Him.

Father, show me where I still lack trust in You. Teach me to fix my eyes on You. Amen.

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

Breaking the Pattern

They will sanctify My name; indeed, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. Those who err in mind will know the truth, and those who criticize will accept instruction. Isaiah 29:23,24 (New American Standard Bible)

I have learned that when an uneasy feeling settles over me or I begin feeling shaky internally, it is time to do some searching. It is not enough to know there is a problem, I must get to the root of the problem. The “symptoms” I am experiencing will not go away without dealing with what is causing them to surface. Today’s verse shows me the issue and the solution. My shift of emotions, attitudes, and feelings can usually be traced back to error filled thinking and a critical spirit. God’s answer for me is to know the truth, accept His instruction, sanctify (revere) His name, and stand in awe of Him. But these are only words on a page unless I put them into practice on a daily basis.

James reminds me to be a doer of the Word and not merely a hearer. Truth only changes me as I apply it to my life. So what makes this so difficult to do? Many things. When one has spent years making wrong choices of thoughts and emotions there is a pattern that must be broken. The strongholds of idolatry and self pity must be acknowledged and torn down. What use to feel good and seem right must be seen as detrimental to my spiritual, emotional, and social health. When one has grown accustomed to jumping into one mental pit after another there comes a time when staying out of the pit must be a priority and accepted choice.

The words of 2 Chronicles 25:8 come to mind which says, “The Lord has much more to give you than this.” The “this” He is referring to for me this morning is all the ways I have learned to cope and survive emotionally. As I make my way around an all too familiar “spiral” God is letting me know He has a better way for me to think and act than what I have been use to. While I may feel shaky, He is reminding me of all the solid things in my life such as His Word, His Spirit, and Himself. This is what He is using to redirect my focus and my heart back toward Himself. As they take center stage for me, the rest begins to lessen and weaken. Calm replaces turmoil. Joy replaces discontentment. Peace replaces uneasiness. It is continually realigning myself to trusting, believing, acknowledging, and accepting Who God is and His ways for me. Precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little, there a little (Isaiah 28:13). Change and growth take God, time, and continual cooperation. With that I move forward instead of down. Praise Him!

Father, the old ways are slowly giving way to Your ways. How You long to free me from what has been a way of life for me. Keep teaching me to turn to You and abide in You. Amen.

Change My Heart Oh God - Eddie Espinosa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEtsHWFE6-w

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Back to the Basics

With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding. Job 12:13 (New King James Version)

Job had it right when he penned these words! I, too often, have slipped other names into this verse and believed in my heart it was okay to view individuals as storehouses of wisdom, strength, counsel and understanding. I ran to them with questions, tuned my ears to any words they spoke, looked to them for all the answers, and pretty much made them my counterfeit messiah. Even when I began to see that it was God who I needed to look to, I still had hopes that significant individuals would come across my path and “fix” anything in me that was messed up, broken, or hurting. While I knew God is a Spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and in truth, I still had a need to connect with others.

People have often told me that we need each other and that is true! God has called us to encourage one another. He uses people in many ways to minister to us and teach us valuable truths. We are not meant to live completely isolated or independent of others. As Job said in Job 13:1, “My eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it. What you know I also know.”

Once again, the problem is not knowing these things, the problem is finding the right balance between seeking God and looking to people. Just when I think I have managed to find that balance the scales of my soul begin to quiver once again. It is an ever present struggle. One in which both God and I are acutely aware. We also know my tendency to go from one extreme to the other. That is to jump into relationships or go it alone! It is the “all or nothing” mental trap.

This morning I once again lay it all aside and realign myself with the basic truth that God is my primary Source for wisdom, strength, counsel, and understanding. With that as my foundational truth, I look to Him and admit I don’t know how to view the relationships in my life. Right now, in the quietness of my home and heart there are a myriad of questions, concerns, and apprehensions running through my mind. I don’t have the answers but I know the One who does. I turn to Him.

Father, I have gotten it wrong so often and You have never failed to welcome me back to You. Help me to find the balance between You and those You lovingly bring into my life. I admit my need of You. Amen.

I Need Thee Every Hour - Selah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2ULhi1szjk

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Free to be Different

He did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left. 2 Kings 22:2 (New American Standard Bible)

As I read through the books of Kings I am struck by the ones who do evil in the sight of the Lord and the ones who do right in the sight of the Lord. As soon as I come to the name of a new king my eyes skip ahead to see which it will be in each case. Very seldom do I notice two kings in a row doing right in the sight of the Lord. There will usually be a number of kings doing evil and then like a ray of sunshine a king comes on the scene with the distinction of doing right. What delight to see it!

Although Josiah’s father and grandfather did evil during their reigns, Josiah did not follow suite. At the young age of eight he not only took the throne, he lived his life distinctly different from those who came before him. His life was defined by three profound principles: he did right in the sight of the Lord, walked in all the ways of his ancestor King David, and stayed the course God had put him on. He had found that what really matters in life is to live within the parameters of what God desires of us, to follow the examples of the godly people who walked before us, and to stay focused on God’s path for our life.

For those of us who came from less than ideal home lives, Josiah becomes our older brother who reminds us that our families need not define us. There may be a long line of family traits that appear to not want to let go of us but God can rewrite ANY story. I did not grow up in a Christian home but God curtailed the direction of my life’s path when at the age of fourteen I accepted Christ and became God’s daughter. By the grace of God I was spared the very things that had come to mark my family: alcoholism, divorce, drug abuse, and immorality. There is no question in my mind that my life would look very different if God had not intervened. It not only benefited me but it broke the chain of generational bents for my children as well.

Father, thank you for forming me in my mother’s womb and then redirecting the steps of my life. In Your hands ANYTHING can be restored, renewed, and redeemed! Amen.

All Who Are Thirsty - Robin Mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrnvSf2dX18&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

When Forgiveness is Fully Received

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. Psalm 32:1-2 (New International Version)

David knew the taste of sin and regret in his own life. He knew what it was like to bring about painful consequences in another person’s life because of his own sin and sinful choices. He knew what it was like to not be able to go back and undo damage he had caused or fix messes he had made. Many have been the people who have lived frozen in that realization but not David. No matter the size or ramifications of the sin, he was one who brought it to God and received the forgiveness only God could give. The consequences were still there but the condemnation and guilt were removed and in that he marveled, danced, and delighted!

Sometimes the most difficult part about walking in forgiveness is believing that we really are forgiven. To have the sense of the Message when it says forgiveness is being given a fresh start and a slate that has been wiped clean. To no longer live under the guilt or condemnation of past mistakes, sins, and wrongs. As long as we feel it is still hanging over our lives, we remain unable to move forward. So we walk in a vicious cycle of guilt, confession, forgiveness, guilt. No sense of release. No sense of closure. It doesn’t go away. We remain trapped. These are a sure sign that God’s forgiveness is not being experienced or embraced.

I have found that some incredible things take place when I have fully understood and experienced God’s forgiveness. First, the condemnation is gone! My spirit is able to breath again. Second, I am better able to extend forgiveness to others. Third, I no longer sense a need to be forgiven by others. While it is imperative that I ask people to forgive me if I have wronged them, their choice to forgive me is for their benefit not mine. In truth, any unforgiveness they hold on to imprisons, controls, and binds them until they choose to walk in forgiveness and freedom.

Now that I know that, I am better equipped to pray for that person with the desire that they really would be released from a heart of unforgiveness. It may take time as they work through the hurt, blaming, anger, and unhappiness but God will be relentless to bring them to a point of realizing their heart attitude is their own responsibility. It is up to them to choose the path of forgiveness. Their freedom comes as they let go of the notion that they are entitled to feel the way they feel and harbor what they are harboring. I have seen God do that very thing in the life of a loved one and I praise Him for it!

Father, receiving Your forgiveness has changed me and my life. Amen.

He Has Forgiven Me - Damaris Carbaugh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQhHN_Ed4sk

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

What Knowing Means

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31, 32 (New American Standard Bible)

I have been intrigued with today’s verse….particularly the phrase “know the truth.” Too often, I limit that to mere cognitive knowledge, instead of the life changing and life freeing KNOWING of truth that Jesus was talking about. That is one of the reasons I can take in a lot of truth but fail to see it make any real difference in me. When I really GET something it makes a difference! I could see this but still needed a deeper picture. Something that would make sense to me. So I did some research and learned something about the original meaning of the word “know”. It is derived from the Greek word Ginosko and means to learn, to know, to get a knowledge of, and perceive. In addition to those words, it also means to feel and THAT was the word I needed!

One of the struggles I often have (and I believe many people have) is with feelings and emotions that run contrary to actual truth…in other words, perceived truth! Someone can tell me the truth and yet my core belief will really be from what I am feeling. I can be told to replace the lies with truth but that is ineffective if deep down inside I believe the lies are the truth. For instance, if I sense that someone thinks the worst of me, it doesn’t matter how many people tell me it isn’t true, I will remain a captive to my mindset. In actuality, my own thinking hinders me from being convinced of the truth that will bring freedom. At times, the battle rages profoundly!

Although I am not suppose to base what I believe on my feelings or emotions, God knows that many times I do! So He is letting me know that when I feel the truths I am taking in then I will fully know them and then they will make a difference in my life. My prayer then becomes, “Father, help me to feel the truth of the words being spoken to me. Help me to embrace them and live out of them. Please, convince me.”

It has taken quite a while for this to be a reality for me with regards to the truth about God and what He is really like. Now the work is being done in regards to the people in my life and the relationships I have with them. As I really come to know the truth about them I will then walk in freedom. Freedom from insecurities, suspicions, and self imposed condemnation. In some instances it is a painful process but I continue to rest in the fact that God always finishes what He starts.

Father, You offer me the truth and even cross my path with individuals who also offer me the truth. Help the truth to seem more believable to me than the lies. Amen.

My Redeemer Lives - Nicole C. Mullen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p4G2GbPYQA&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Healing, Deliverance, or Obedience?

Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise. Jeremiah 17:14 (New American Standard Bible)

The Bible is filled with examples of healing and deliverance. As I have looked over the passages I am seeing something I had often missed. Most references to healing had to do with physical healing such as from birth defects, sickness, handicaps, and diseases. A few verses spoke of healing the soul….possibly from sorrow, distress, and heartache. Deliverance referred to being rescued from enemies or circumstances. It also was used when giving one over to an enemy.

Why the explanations? Because there have been times when I wrongly thought I needed God’s healing or deliverance from something and that wasn’t what I actually needed. I am referring to addictions, habits, sinfulness, idols of the heart, personality flaws, moods, temperament, and weaknesses. In those cases, it is not a matter of healing or deliverance, but rather confession, repentance, and obedience being needed. Although I would much rather have God just wave a magic wand over my life and free me of all the afore mentioned maladies, He is very clear on the way it should be. Simply put, confession is admitting the truth to God, repentance is turning from wrong behavior, and obedience is aligning myself with God’s Word in my thoughts, words, and actions.

The enemy of my soul would like to convince me to just accept my flaws or make excuses for having them. God wants to set me free and that will only happen as I see the truth about my own heart and allow Him to help me change. He is willing to give me the grace and strength to do whatever it takes to live differently, but I must cooperate with Him on a continual basis.

Let me give a personal illustration. I have admitted to being prone to looking to people to give me what only God can give me. While past wounds and experiences may have played a part in this, the bottom line is that it is idolatry. No different from when the children of Israel bowed down to their golden calf! Freedom will only be experienced as I confess it to God, do an about face in my searching, and love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. In myself it would be impossible, but as His child I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.

If there is an area in your life that you need freedom in, ask God to show you if it is healing, deliverance, or obedience that you need.

Father, there are times I need Your healing and deliverance, but also times when my greatest need is confession, repentance, and obedience. Thank you for the forgiveness and grace you so freely give! Amen.

He's Been Faithful to Me - Damaris Carbaugh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNoLUVTtr98&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Seeing the Options

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. Romans 7:18 (New American Standard Bible)

Paul had it right! He was not being narcissistic, he was being realistic. In his flesh, in my flesh, in your flesh nothing good lives. Galatians 5:19-20 spells it out even clearer. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. I have had to come to realize that as long as I live in this body those things will be in me. They are as present and as real as my bones, blood vessels, and muscles. Some are more evident than others. Some surface more frequently than others. But when it is all said and done they are in me.

Why do I stress that to myself and to those reading this devotional? Because for years I lived with the idea that spiritual maturity meant the eventual elimination of them. I thought I should and could reach a point where they would no longer be in me. I thought God could so change me from the inside out that the components of my flesh would somehow be removed. That kind of thinking only set me up for disappointment and discouragement when one or the other “works of my flesh” would appear and shake things up.

Last night was a moment of truth for me. In the midst of a reality check I took a cold, hard look at that which resides in me and with slow and deliberate words I said, “As long as I live in this world, you will always be in me. In this life you are NOT going away.” Did that realization discourage me? No! It relieved me of the pressure I had been putting on myself. It shifted my attention off what could not be changed to what could be changed. The works of my flesh will not change BUT the effect of those works can.

I do not have a choice whether or not I will experience the feelings of my fleshly nature (such as anger, jealousy, self pity, etc…) but I have a choice on whether or not I will let them control me. Being able to do all things through Christ, means I can walk in victory over those things. How? By acknowledging the truth and choosing to react differently to situations. By asking God to help me not give in to my ruling passions. By making a conscientious decision to be ruled by the Spirit instead of by my flesh. Is it easy? No! The pull of my flesh is strong and often I want to give in to it. But when I choose not to, the victory is sweet!

For a long time I have detected the internal shifts in myself that come with flesh moments. The difference is that now I am aware of other options and alternatives that are within my reach.

Father, this aspect of my flesh is as easy to spot now as my brown eyes. Thank you that I am finally seeing how to live in victory rather than defeat. Amen.

East to West - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yza2tru9Z4k&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Receiving to Give

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3,4 (New International Version)


We cannot give away what we do not first possess for ourselves and we cannot possess what we first do not receive. Paul stated this in relationship to his receiving and then passing on to others, the gospel message of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. I, too, never shared the gospel with an individual until after I had received it for myself.

This morning, I am pondering the things I pass on to others because I have received them myself. I listen when another speaks to me because I have had others give me their undivided attention. I forgive and give others a second chance because forgiveness has been extended to me. I ache for the hurt of others because I have had individuals come along side me in times of darkness and pain. I hug another in greeting because arms have welcomed me in ways that hugged my soul as well as my body. I encourage another in their faith because people have so graciously and consistently encouraged me. In other words, I pass on what I first received. I demonstrate what has been shown to me.

This idea of passing on what has been received is one of God’s kingdom principles. It is the way He has designed the Christian life to be lived. It honors Him as it helps others. I thank Him this morning for the people He has used in my life. They have invested their time, energy, and wisdom and I do not want to live as if it were all in vain. I want their actions to bear fruit beyond the branches of my life. I want their kindnesses to be multiplied as I duplicate and imitate them.

When Jesus fed the 3,000 and then the 5,000 he started with a small lunch of fish and bread. He handed to His disciples what was handed to Him. They then distributed to others what had been given to them. Our words and actions are part of the receiving and giving principle. May we learn to be receptive receivers and generous givers.

Father, thank you for all that You have given to me either directly or through the lives of other believers. May my life be one that keeps passing on what I have received. Amen.

Jesus You're Beautiful - CeCe Winans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz8FSUNFXHM

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Staying Power

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 (New King James Version)

What is it that robs you of peace and joy? Circumstances? Failure? Disappointment? Loss? According to James 1:3, those things develop us into stronger Christians. They are what we face in life but they are not the robbers. Our thoughts and what we choose to meditate and dwell upon are the culprits! God’s promise for peace is contingent upon our keeping our thoughts directed toward Him. Looking to Him to sustain and uphold us. To be our leaning post upon which we rest and relax. Not just every once in a while but on a continual basis.

Flowery words? To some. But they are meant to be more than words. They are meant to breath life into our fitful lives. God knows how easily we can drain and strain our strength by the mere practice of looking away from Him and (for the most part) forgetting about Him. We wear ourselves out with worry and anxiety. Like the slow churning of lava prior to the volcanic eruption, we poise ourselves for emptiness and bewilderness. Jesus promised abundant life and we dig our feet into the sod of a cemetery.

So what is it that fills me with anything but peace? Allowing myself to continually dwell on past relationships that did not work out the way I had hoped. Resigning myself to the thought that life holds no more adventure or change. Harboring regrets over past failure and present relapses into dangerous thinking. Allowing perceptions and distortions to play freely across the fields of my mind. It is deliberate thinking in the wrong direction and on the wrong objects.

A read through of the Psalms will quickly give me more than enough to think upon. Reviewing God’s past intervention in my life will equip me to live life peacefully. It is purposeful and intentional meditation upon the heart, character, and actions of God that will break the cycle of peace-draining mindsets.

I write often of the thought life because I experience the painful results of not taking the thoughts captive. Today is a day for redirecting my thoughts and standing guard against any that would be counter productive to God’s desire for me. He who holds my life in His hands longs to be the one upon whom my mind is fixated!

Father, fill my mind with thoughts of You! Amen.

Warrior is a Child/Do I Trust You - Twila Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pzu-jWpcdw&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Living With Blindness

Let them alone, they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit. Matthew 15:14 (New American Standard Bible)

These words were spoken in relationship to the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. There were many things they could not see when it came to Jesus and His teachings. Their view of Scripture was filtered through their own mindset of traditions. How tragic when man’s opinion and preference is put on equal footing with the Word of God. What is it like to be one of the blind being guided by the blind?

For three decades I lived my Christian life out of an inability to freely approach God’s Word and see what it said for myself. When it came to personal standards, much of my “list” was made up of what others said a Christian should and shouldn’t be doing. I am not talking about things that are clearly spelled out in Scripture. Any time you see the words “Thou shalt not” in front of something in the Bible there should be no question as to the necessity to implement that into your life. Who would question the fact that a person should not kill, steal, lie, commit sexual sins, etc….? While some churches have ceased to even mention clear cut biblical commands from the pulpits, praise God for those who still do!

My problem was never with those areas being taught. Yet I did struggle to realize that the gray issues of our society were not to be held on equal footing with direct commands from the Bible. The gray issues for me were things being taught by the church that were not spelled out in Scripture. They usually fell under the heading of scriptural principles when in actuality were the opinions and preferences of people. Each church has its own set of acceptable and unacceptable behavior for Christians. My list would probably look different from yours.

I am not saying that standards are wrong to have. Standards are necessary! The problem is not in having standards. The problem is using those standards as a measuring tool for ones spiritual and heart condition. None could have standards higher than the Pharisees of Jesus’ day and yet their hearts were not connected to God in any way, shape or form.

The day I learned to see my list as coming from people instead of God’s Word was the day my list took a drastic blow! It had become my basis of spirituality and God was letting me know it was not accurate. Spirituality needed to come from my heart and a direct relationship with God instead of aligning myself with the traditions of men. The Bible had to become my place from which doctrine, life style, and choices stemmed. May I never again allow others to take the responsibility of establishing a list of do’s and don’ts for me. May I possess standards that are for my good and God’s glory.

Father, there is a blindness among Your family. Please give me eyes to see the truth, ears to hear Your voice, and a heart to follow You. Amen.

Open the Eyes of My Heart - Michael W. Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Avoiding Captivity

So all Israel was recorded by genealogies, and indeed, they were inscribed in the book of the kings of Israel. But Judah was carried away captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness. 1 Chronicles 9:1 (New King James Version)

It is a phrase that is often repeated throughout Israel’s history in the Old Testament…..carried away captive. Bondage. Being captive was not their choice but rather a result of their choice to be unfaithful to God. The warnings were simple, obey and be protected and blessed. Disobey and fall into the hands of captors. They could not have one without the other. Neither can we!

While I have never been taken captive by a nation, I have tasted areas of captivity in my life. My forms of bondage are results of addictions particularly in the area of food and friendships. When I keep things balanced and in the healthy amounts I do well and walk in freedom. If I start looking to food or friends to be what they were not intended to be I quickly find myself captive to all sorts difficulties.

God has purposes for both food and friends in my life. Food is for the nourishment of my body. He has graciously added taste, texture, and temperature for my enjoyment but the bottom line is that it fuels my body. When I see it as such I derive satisfaction and stamina. When I decide to eat out of emotions rather than hunger I turn to binging, poor choices, and huge amounts. The results are weight gain and sluggishness and an open door to losing control in other areas of my life. It doesn’t take long for me to realize my appetite has become my captor and it is ruthless.

People are social, emotional, and spiritual encouragers. They are often God’s hands, feet, and heart to me. When I see them as such and accept God’s gift of love through them life is a joy. On the other hand, when I make them my personal need meeters and look to them to take responsibility for my emotional well being the dependency issue becomes my captor. The results are a heavy heart, confused thoughts, and a restlessness that is filled with spiraling mood swings.

God’s answer? Be faithful to Him. Look to Him as my primary Source and appreciate the others (food and people) as a part of Himself rather than a competition of Him. It is never a free for all. Boundaries and limits are necessary and together, He and I are working to set the parameters of those boundaries and limits. I want it to be said of me, “She was not carried away captive because of her faithfulness!”

Father, you have stirred my heart with Your truth this morning. The captors are always waiting to carry me away. May this be a day when I give them no opportunity to do so. Amen.

Made Me Glad - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjBBzQBK7po&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

My Past Is Not My Future

Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. Genesis 45:5 (New American Standard Bible)

Terror struck the hearts of Joseph’s brothers because the person who knew what they had tried to bury for so long was standing before them. They expected harsh judgment maybe even death but received mercy and a plea to draw near. Healing of emotions comes with accepting the truth of what has happened along with the release of bitterness, anger, and revenge. We can only give away what we first have received for ourselves ~ grace, mercy, forgiveness.

Joseph had the right perspective of his life and the circumstances he faced. Our trials should carry us to God not from Him. We have a choice to focus on ourselves, our circumstances, other people's treatment of us, or God. Joseph not only saw the big picture from God's perspective but he wanted his brothers to see it as well. His counsel to not be grieved or angry with themselves was meant to help them walk in freedom.

So often we are prone to allow our past sins, failures, and wrong choices to define what our future will be like. It becomes a sign we wear over our life that says, "I did such and such and because of that I do not deserve to be loved, forgiven, or viewed without shame." Sometimes we place the sign over other people's lives. Any success or good thing is dampened because of the past if we hang on to it.

Joseph is not telling them that what they did was okay. He is simply telling them not to spend the rest of their lives under guilt and condemnation. How is that possible when you come face to face with the horrible things you have done? I am sure as time went on and they began to see the full extent of what they had done they doubted things could ever be made right. I find the most difficult time to embrace forgiveness is when my actions have affected another person. Freedom is found when I own what I have done, go to the one I have wronged, and go to God. I must know that there is always a big picture. With a few strokes of His brush He can restore the picture I have ruined.

Who is it today that I need to forgive? What are the words, actions, or perceptions I need to release through the act of forgiveness either toward myself or others? What is it that has me in turmoil as much as the turmoil of Joseph’s brothers? I look to God to show me what is hidden as well as what is being easily ignored.

Father, Your hands hold me and mold me. It will not always feel good but You have promised it will be a masterpiece when You are finished. I like that! Amen.

What Sin? - Morgan Cryar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Wdzzx6-f4&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.