A Matter of My Will and Choice

And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17 (New American Standard Bible)

God desires to instill within me peace, quietness, and confidence. When those qualities are missing in my internal world and I find myself walking in turmoil, restlessness, and uncertainty, I can be sure something has gone awry. While there are bound to be times when life gets messy and off-centered, there is need for concern when I find myself unable to move forward and regain my sure footedness. When my thought life, words, and emotions become wrapped and entrapped in negativity, self pity, and prolonged grief, I can be sure I have taken my eyes off God, closed my heart to His work, and embraced lies over truth. What may start out as a reaction to circumstances can quickly become a place in which I willfully choose to dwell.

There are numerous things in life that I do not necessarily cause, choose, or wish to happen. While I may not be personally responsible for their introduction into my life, I am responsible for the way I respond to them and the duration of time I allow them to negatively affect me. When I have crossed the line from being hurt to becoming bitter, I have entered a place that is far removed from peace, quietness, and confidence. God in His graciousness and wisdom brings about enough discomfort and pain to coax me into a desire for change. It is never His intent that I continue to live in a prison of my own making.

So what does it take to move out of an emotional box that I have constructed and crawled into? TRUTH!!!! I must be willing to see the truth about my circumstances, heart, and mindset in light of what God says and does. Getting me to that point may have many avenues. At all times, I have God’s Spirit living in me and if I listen to Him He will reveal heart changing truth to me. I have God’s Word which will definitely show me truth that is meant to set me free. I also have truth tellers in my life who are connected enough to the heart of God to plainly tell me the very things I need to hear. While they assure me of their love for me and interest in me, they know better than to sugar coat or water down the truth God leads them to share.

Many have been the times when these individuals have come along side me to encourage me to once again see the truth and embrace it. While their hearts go out to me and their prayers go up for me, they know better than to simply give me a listening ear, strong shoulder, and an endless supply of sympathy. They consistently and lovingly speak the truth and as I receive it for myself I experience a return of peace, quietness, and confidence. Amazing!

Father, thank you that when my will and emotions choose a wrong path, You graciously and purposefully redirect my mind and my steps. Amen.

Your Name - Phillips, Craig, & Dean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=othYj8jWSwc

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

Equal Individuals

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22 (New American Standard Bible)


Paul’s view of other believers touches me deeply. He was not one to put himself or anyone else on a pedestal or in a place of insignificance. Surely, as a Pharisee, before he came to know Christ, there would have been a lot of comparisons and competition, but that changed when he became a Christian. Fellow citizens, fit together, and built together as a place for God Himself to dwell…THAT’S how Paul saw it. That’s how God sees it. That’s how each of us need to see it.

I took a moment this morning to see how many ways Paul used the word “fellow” in conjunction with other words. The list is astounding. Fellow heirs, fellow workers, fellow partakers, fellow citizens, fellow members, fellow soldiers, fellow bond-servants, fellow prisoners, and fellow servants. To Paul, if you were a member of the body of Christ, you possessed the same citizenship as other believers, were a companion in God’s work, joint partner, joint participant, and served the same Master. The unity and equality must not be missed here. As far as Paul was concerned, we are in this together!

For any who grew up feeling less than others, wanting to be someone other than themselves, filled with feelings of unimportance and worthlessness, Paul’s words are meant to rewrite those messages of insignificance. While there is variety within the body of Christ when it comes to gifts, talents, ministry opportunities, material possessions, callings, education, experience, and location, the bottom line is one of likeness when it comes to who we are in Christ and what we possess ….. the Holy Spirit, eternal security, and access to the throne of grace to name a few. While God may have a different calling on a person’s life, He does not play favorites or have favorites. None are a lost face in the crowd to Him When that is not our belief, we can be sure we have bought into a lie about ourselves and about Him. If that be the case, may we allow His Word to speak necessary truth into our minds and hearts. May any false view or negative feeling be replaced with the joy of our equality and unity in Christ.

Father, for too long I compared myself, my walk, and my life with others. Thank you for individuality and uniqueness that does not take away from what You are showing me. Help me to see my specialness in Christ like never before. Amen.

Mighty to Save - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR8rlTIU8_Y&feature=related

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

Stay the Course

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57 (New American Standard Bible)

One of the aspects of God’s Word that I have come to appreciate has been it’s reassuring promises. Today’s verse can be a sign hung over any situation in my life. Anything I face and anything I am confronted with each day already has victory attached to it. And the wonderful truth is the victory is going to come through Christ…..each and every time! It may not look the way I thought it would look but when it is all said and done the victory will be apparent.

Sometimes we can be filled with fears and insecurities. Doubts weigh heavy on our heart and mind. The journey-road we are each on can become daunting at times. That is when I need God to whisper the reminders to me. Sometimes, His reminders come to me from two different sources…devotional books and His Word.

Once, at random, I opened the book I AM WITH YOU by John Woolley. Each day’s entry is written as if Jesus is the one talking. This paragraph strengthened me. Do not take back any of the matters which you have committed to Me…I, your Lord, am aware of every recurring doubt, but deep within you, there is bound to be the growing certainty of attainment…My plans for you are being perfected. The next day, the Apostle Paul said it this way in I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

So what is it God wants me to hear and walk away with? Once again I am to see the importance of truth and cooperation. God is involved in my life and will lead me step by step in accomplishing all He has planned for me. My part is to stay the course, not get distracted or discouraged, and cooperate fully with Him. Let Him continue to do the transforming work in me as I take in His truths each day. Have my ears open to the sound of His voice and obey the nudgings that are from Him. While it is a walk of faith that does not entail a lot of detail or glimpses into what lies ahead, it is also a journey that has plenty for me to see, hear, and experience along the way. He is the initiator and I must be the responder. Therefore, I walk in confidence of who He is and what He can do.

Father, don’t allow me to get sidetracked. Help me to fix my eyes and heart on You and You alone. Amen.

Trust in You - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiFkLn4gcJY

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

Limited Perspective

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7 (New King James Version)

God’s words to Samuel, as he considered the next king for Israel, became instructional for me as I do some soul searching and truth seeking. Which of us have not been guilty of drawing false conclusions based upon that which we can see with our physical eyes? Which of us have not experienced being on the receiving end of such conclusions? There are times when our conclusions fall in favor of another person and times when they go against them. The problem is, one can be just as false as the other.

For decades people drew the conclusion that I was a strong Christian and right with God based solely upon the fact that I carried the “right” Bible, listened to the “right” music, attended the “right” church, spoke the “right” words, fellowshipped with the “right” Christians, and did the “right” things. Their criteria for spirituality was faulty. All those “right” things were easily done without having an intimate walk with God. It was not that I didn’t want it, it was that I just didn’t have it. I somehow felt if I could just keep doing the “right” things it would eventually result in closeness to God. I had the religion of Christianity down pat. Even knew Jesus as my Savior. But I faltered in my daily relationship and connection with God.

Several years ago that all changed and so did people’s conclusions. When I dared to step out of the acceptable “box” I had willingly lived in for so many years I was then labeled as backslidden, rebellious, and a liberal. The part that crushed me and can still so easily bring me to tears was that at neither point could these individuals see my heart. God is tenderly teaching me THAT is the reason I must not seek the approval and acceptance of people. God, and God alone, knows my heart, sees every detail of my life, and has witnessed every experience I have been through. Some know me better than others but NO one knows me like God knows me. Like myself, they are limited and must operate by their five senses. Unless God gifts them with true discernment they most likely will conclude the wrong thing. We all will!

I need to see and be reminded often that the One who knows me best and loves me most is the One whose opinion and favor I must seek. His is the only one that really matters.

Father, whenever I have wrestled with painful issues You have been gracious to settle my heart and mind. May I daily acknowledge my own limited perspectives and that of others. I bow to You as the only qualified and righteous Judge. Amen.

Came to My Rescue - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAMbEPZfWCY

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

When Tempted to Remain Silent

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:10,11 (New King James Version)

Jesus was confronted with an issue that was meant to entrap Him. A woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Him with the intent of having her stoned (the penalty for committing adultery). What started out as a tense moment with an angry mob quickly became an audience of two. The one who was without sin could throw the first stone was an invitation no one was able to receive. The sinfulness of their own hearts was exposed, the stones were dropped, and the crowd was disbanded. The only One who was sinless and could rightly throw a stone simply engaged this woman in conversation rather than bring about her death. The conversation began with a question and ended with confrontation in love.

Today, the world would say to label something as sin means you are judging the person and judging them with condemnation and hypocrisy. They are quick to quote Scripture saying, “Judge not!” But Jesus sets the standard with balance. First, He didn’t put the woman to death. Second, He didn’t condemn her as a person. Third, He expressed the truth that her actions were sinful and she was to not continue in them. He knew that real freedom and the ability to move forward in her life would come only as she abandoned her immoral lifestyle. He knew how to confront this woman in love. We are not told the end of her story but my belief is that she left that day a changed woman with a changed life!

So where does this leave us when it comes to facing people who have made sinful choices? First, we must see the sinfulness of our own life. We may or may not have committed the same sin but we have sinned. Second, we must see the person as beside us rather than beneath us. Hating the sin but loving the sinner is impossible if we view the person as disgusting, repulsive, or one to be avoided. While their actions certainly affect them, they do not define them. Third, reach out to them in love, affirmation, and acceptance. Not acceptance of what they have done but rather acceptance of who they are. Forth, let them know the necessity of abandoning their sin. To leave them with the idea that things do not have to change is not only unloving but unbiblical as well. May God give us the grace, wisdom, and knowledge to approach others in the way Jesus so beautifully demonstrated.

Father, when I am tempted to think less of others because of their sin, stop me with the realization of my own. When I am tempted to remain silent on the issue of sin, help me to open my mouth and say what has to be said out of love and in love. I want to be like You! Amen.

Mary's Alabaster Box - CeCe Winans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65S3GyA5E3o

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

Being Aware of His Presence

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Genesis 28:16 (New International Version)

Her words struck me. While listing for me all the pressures of life that were mounting up for her….online college courses, young children, settling into a new home, wading through marriage issues, etc… she admitted to having relegated God to the “back burner”. She was over whelmed with much of what had to be done and felt that if she could just get organized enough she could resume the walk with Him that she had a one time. The conversation ended before I could ask what the “back burner” meant to her, but I imagine it may have had to do with Bible study, prayer life, and such. Those activities which center around spending time with God and focusing on Him.

Ever feel like that? Maybe at one time spending time with God was higher up on the list of things to do. Maybe the thought of the energy it would take to get back to that point is daunting in itself. Someone once said that “God is not to be our top priority…He is to be our life.” We miss that if we view our time with Him as merely a certain part of each day. Like Jacob, we need to wake up and become aware of His presence in the very place we are standing. Not just the physical place we are standing, but where we are in life. Every task, every responsibility, every relationship, every conversation, every moment of the day and night we can proclaim with confidence, “Surely the LORD is in this place.” He is never on the “back burner” so to speak. The problem is that when it comes to His presence, like Jacob, we are not always aware of it. He is with us even when we don’t know it, recognize it, or acknowledge it. What a difference it makes when we wake up to that truth!

So how do we live with a consistent realization of God’s presence in our life…in the place we are at? Talk to Him throughout the day. Don’t think of prayer as being relegated to just a particular time set aside but rather as a continual conversation with God where you talk and listen. When life gets hectic, thank Him for being there with you. Verbally invite Him into each aspect of your day. See Him as not only present but involved in your life. Take time to read His Word…even if it is simply a verse or two…and then think on what you read throughout the day. Have Christian music playing while you are in the car or cleaning the house. Visualize God right along side you during every task you are called upon to perform. One person even suggested that at the top of each hour, stop whatever you are doing and say, “Abba, Father, I am Yours!” It will be the start of experiencing God at the forefront of your life rather than the proverbial “back burner.”

Father, I welcome You into my day just as You have welcomed me into Yours. May my awareness of You grow with each fresh realization of Your presence. Amen.

Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place - Don Marsh Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP1kYuOLYqg

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

It is Not Left Up to Me

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6 (Amplified Bible)

Have you ever stopped to ponder God’s consistent and purposeful involvement in your life? In particular, the growth and development of your Christian life? If you are like me, you can become weighed down with the responsibility of striving, obeying, cooperating, and serving to the point that you draw the false conclusion that it ALL rests on YOUR shoulders. You might even be tempted to view God as One who simply sits back and watches how you are doing. While you know His Spirit lives in you to empower you and instruct you, and His Word gives you knowledge and wisdom for the journey, you still come away with a feeling that it is ALL up to you. The only thing you are “convinced” of is that you must keep up the pace and eventually there will be the pay off of growth.

Through the inspiration of God, Paul is coming along side us this morning to whisper essential truths to us. Primarily, the truth of God beginning the work, doing the work, and perfecting the work He started in each one of us. Recall the words of Isaiah the prophet who said in Isaiah 64:8, “ Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of you hand.” Make David’s words of Psalm 57:2 your prayer, “I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]. Review the words of Psalm 138:8, “The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your loving kindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Hence, God’s assurance in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

So what is it God is reminding each one of us this morning? He is the One doing the work in us! Yes, we are to cooperate. Yes, we are to obey. Yes, we are to daily connect with Him. My own journey has included reading a multitude of books, devouring Scripture, thriving under rich relationships, sitting under sound teaching, embracing incredible music, and replacing a lot of lies with the truth. But He is the one doing the changing and producing the growth. And He is the one doing so in you as well. Dance in the midst of it all! Delight in the awareness of being held in His hands as He accomplishes His masterpiece which is you! He is not only completely capable of such a thing, He is joyfully doing it!

Father, I am not on my own and You are not a distant observer. With a heart of joy I review the many ways You have worked in my life so far and anticipate all that You will accomplish in the days and years ahead. Amen.

By Your Side - Tenth Avenue North
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95rAr0gOFU

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

Signs of Life

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3 (New American Standard Bible)

There are many conditional promises in the Word of God. Today’s verse is one of them. There are times when I seek solitude in a beautiful cemetery in our city of Indianapolis called Crown Hill. It is massive with rolling hills and numerous trees. At moments when everything in me seems like it has died, I find this place of burial so similar to how I feel on the inside. I go in hopes that God would once again resurrect in me hope and healing for the journey.

One visit to Crown Hill comes to my mind this morning. As the tears flowed I heard God say to my heart, “Speak to Me. Tell Me what you are thinking and feeling.” When the tears ceased and the lump in my throat diminished I spotted a large tree with absolutely no leaves on it. I felt like that tree; bare, vulnerable, and exposed. I looked around at some other trees. Pine trees that were still green. Large oaks and maples that displayed beautiful fall colors. But the bare tree was my mirror and Psalm 1:3 seemed far removed from my experience.

God quickly assured me the bare tree still had life sap flowing through it. The potential for foliage next spring was still there. Its outward appearance was not the total picture. One woman said it so clearly, “Like a bare tree you may be in the winter of life right now. But God is still working. The sap is still running even when we don’t see it and there is nothing on the limbs.” What I see and feel cannot be my measuring stick for reality. My view and emotions are often skewed and limited. My faith must be in a God who sees clearly and completely the entire sphere of my life.

And yet there are conditions for baring fruit and leaves. The previous verse states those conditions when it says, “His delight is in the law of the LORD and in His law he meditates day and night.” Whom I delight in and what I meditate on will make all the difference in the world. It made a difference in the way I left the cemetery and will continue to make a difference in how I live each day.

I have not been to Crown Hill for quite some time now and yet the lessons learned from that former visit is speaking to me once again this morning. God is still working. The “sap” is still running. Potential for growth and change lies within me by His grace.

Father, I no longer fear the times of sadness that come over me. They have become Your invitation for me to meet with You. Be my delight and meditation today. Amen.

You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIAdgLR1ZGw&feature=related

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

Learning Where to Stand

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. I Corinthians 2:4,5 (King James Version)

I get excited when I come across people who have a dynamic and intimate walk with God. I see characteristics in them that I want in my own life and before I know it I am in a struggle to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus…the author and finisher of my faith. They suddenly take center stage in my thinking and have much of my attention. I hang on their every word, read any book they have suggested, follow their advice, and rub shoulders with them as often as I can. The problem with that is my Christian life becomes too entangled and tied to a person. Without meaning to I begin to look to them for answers, direction, and growth. While my goal may be to get to know God better, I end up going about it the wrong way. In the end, God has to expose my idolatry and take me through a painful time of correction, repentance, and restoration.

Paul had such a desire for believers to base their faith on God’s wisdom and work. He sought to point people to God as their source for faith and growth through his life, words, actions, and message. For someone to become enamored with him instead of with God would have been tragic in his eyes as well as in God‘s eyes. That is why he often referred to himself as a vessel, a servant, a prisoner, and a messenger.

How I must take Paul’s words to heart each day. For if I do not guard my heart I will find myself once again in the throws of following the creature more than the Creator. Beth Moore’s words are a wake up call to me when she says, “People crave a human worth worshiping.” Ouch! That craving has side tracked and side swiped me more times than I care to admit. It is one of the hugest battles I fight on a daily basis.

So where is my hope and answer? In God! As He has shown me this aspect of myself, He has also presented Himself as my Healer. He redirects my steps, adjusts my focus, and woos me back to Himself. He is faithful in contrast to my unfaithfulness. He sees my desire for change and will continue to bring about that change.

Father, keep showing me what hinders me from abandoning myself to You and abiding in You. Help me to worship You alone. Amen.

In Christ Alone - Brian Littrell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alm6YWm-zfc&feature=related

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

Not Setting Myself Up

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12 (New King James Version)

Paul knew there were many things he was allowed to do and yet if doing those things led to addiction or bondage he avoided them. Unless things are spelled out specifically in Scripture and begin with the phrase, “Thou shalt not” each of us must individually determine what to steer clear of….what to avoid. Sometimes, many times, the knowing of those things is brought about after experiencing the pull.

This truth is easy for me to grasp when it comes to an area such as food. Certain foods are trigger foods for me. To partake means an over whelming urge to over indulge. They are not the foods I can eat in moderation therefore they really should be avoided. This is cut and dry for me. It is a black and white area. I have no question as to whether or not I should make other choices. I know my limits. I know the consequence if I don’t apply this principle. My track record speaks for itself.

This morning, I am applying this truth to another area of my life. Unlike food, this is not a physical aspect but rather an emotional one. I am aware of certain things that will trigger negative emotions in me. Presently, I do not do well when those emotions are triggered so it is necessary for me to see what things should be avoided so that I am not “brought under the power” of a downward spiral.

I look back over the past week, one that has been filled with battles in my mind, and I see certain things I could have chosen NOT to do….certain things I could have not said, certain emails I could have not sent, certain expectations I could have not entertained. With each one a negative emotion resulted. I paid the price as did those who crossed my path. God and I will be walking through those instances in a time of acknowledgement, confession, and receiving of forgiveness. It will allow me the fresh start I need as I head into a new day.

I look forward to the day when the things I avoid now can once again be enjoyed. When my walk becomes such that a trigger is handled in the right way. For now, I would rather not set myself up for a battle.

Father, bring me to the place whereby I operate out of faith and confidence rather than out of dread and fear. Amen.

A Different Road - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P2awWTLmGU

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

Ongoing and Unchanging

Why has my pain been perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream with water that is unreliable? Jeremiah 15:18 (New American Standard Bible)

Perpetual and incurable. Ongoing and unchanging. Do you have issues or circumstances in your life that feel like that this morning? It may be poor health, financial difficulties, habits and addictions, or failure upon failure. For me, it is emotional battles and faulty perceptions. It is the cycle that continues to repeat itself. Short lived victories, repeated desires for change, restated decisions to do better “next time.” Each time I succumb to the pulls downward everything becomes clouded and the view I have of myself, God, and others becomes clouded as well.

Unlike Jeremiah, I don’t see God as One who deceives me or is unreliable. But I sense His displeasure, disapproval, and disappointment. I sense the same from others and at that point, my default mode is to pull away in order to do less damage. My hopes are that I can get away, get my act together, and step forward later on in better shape. All the while hoping the relationships will still be intact but fearing that they won’t be. People are people and their patience and resolve may or may not last. Hence, the war in my mind perpetuates and the pendulum swings between feeling loved or unloved.

God’s answer to me is found in the very next verse, “If you return, then I will restore you.” Returning for me implies getting things right once again with God. Stop running, start confessing, and stay close to Him. Ask Him for truth and correct views. Embrace the forgiveness and mercy He offers. Learn from the mistakes and as verse 19 says, “extract the precious from the worthless.” No matter how deep the sin, no matter how horrible the fall, there is always something precious I can take from the experience.

The precious I am taking is the sense that I am not a lost cause, a ruined vessel, or a hopeless case. As long as I get up one more time than I fall, I am still on the journey and there is still hope for improvement.

Father, I don’t know what others are thinking of me now, but I find comfort in the thoughts You have toward me. I don’t understand Your love but I receive it! Amen.

Unfailing Love - Chris Tomlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_MyC6kJzPg&feature=related

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

In All Honesty

Jesus called His disciples and said to them, I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance. Mark 8:1-3 (New American Standard Bible)

When Jesus walked on this earth He never failed to connect with the heart of the people. That was because He knew them….not as a group but as individuals. He knew their strengths and weaknesses, where they had come from and where they were headed, and what their needs were. It is one thing to see those qualities of compassion in another individual. It is quite another thing to see them in the Creator of the universe.

Two of the most profound aspects of God that I have come to realize is His unconditional love for me and His individual knowledge of me. He knows me thoroughly and still loves me. It has taken me a long time to crawl into that truth and feel at home. It has also taken a long time for me to see that when God reveals my own internal world to me He does not do it to condemn and shame but rather He does it show me what He desires to touch, heal, and restore. Taking in that truth has done more for me than anything else to cooperate with His process.

I have found that growth on this journey is possible only as I admit to God and myself what is really going on in my heart, mind, and emotions right now. Not dwelling on the past or longing for the eventual change He will bring about in my life. But rather it is standing in His presence stripped of all pretenses, masking, and camouflaging and simply acknowledging the truth of my mindsets, my feelings, and my perspectives pertaining to God, myself, and others. It is a time of coming clean and setting the record straight. It is easier for me to “hide” with the hope that I can fix whatever is wrong and then be able to present God with a more palatable picture. Oh, how He must ache for us to step away from all that and walk in truth. When I do that, I find acceptance not rejection. I find freedom and not condemnation. I find compassion and the realization that I have moved forward one more inch!

But what of the times when I don’t walk in truth? The times that I remain in the darkness of my own thoughts. He waits until I finally step in His direction.

Father, Your ways continue to astound me. You do not see me through the lens of yesterday or tomorrow but rather this moment. I marvel that Your mercy, love, and compassion truly are new every day! Amen.

One Desire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUbbq6t0qT0&feature=related

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

When Things Don't Match Up

I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land…..and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he told them. Jonah 1:9,10 (New American Standard Bible)

Let the world know that you are a Christian and they will expect your actions to match what you say. When there is a big difference between what we say and what we do, people will ask us the same question these men asked Jonah, “How could you do this?” It did not make sense to them how Jonah could SAY he feared the LORD and yet BE fleeing from His presence. His words and his actions were polar worlds apart from each other…they were incongruent and dissimilar. This kind of inconsistent living is easy to spot.

The harder cases are those who externally display the life of a Christian but internally their world is falling apart. They have the actions down pat, but their heart is far removed from God. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day come to mind. That is why Jesus always directed the conversation back to their motives, their thoughts, their heart. He called them white-washed sepulchers (graves). In other words, their outward show was beautifully decorated but inwardly there was death and decay. Others may not have been able to detect the contradictory life but Jesus could. God was not fooled! His desire was to help them see the truth about their spiritual condition and allow Him to transform them.

For me, it was having God bring me to the point where I was confronted with my core beliefs of who God was and what my relationship was like with Him. I had the outward things down pat….church attendance, involvement in spiritual activities, sporadic conversations with believers that sounded good. I had my sterling moments as a believer but in the privacy of my own life I carried a secret. I had a wrong view of God that kept me at arms length from Him. I knew Jesus as my Savior but failed to relate with Him on a deep, personal level. My mental assent of God was not sustaining my heart. It was when I finally admitted my own emptiness that I made room for God to fill me with Himself. He taught me how to say, “God, I need You!” His desire has always been that my internal relationship with Him matches my external show. I love the change!

Father, You are remaking me and I marvel at Your work! Amen.

Make It Real - Mark Lowry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-B3IeE9K58

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

Knowing the Difference

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)

Sometimes I can read a portion of Scripture and walk away thinking I know what it is saying, only to discover later that one aspect completely escaped me. This morning that aspect that is being seen is from the phrase, “know the truth.” To me, it meant the taking in knowledge. To be told something, to read something, to hear something would equate knowing it and would hence lead to freedom. This morning I realized that I was confusing knowing ‘about’ something with knowing it.

I know that knowing about someone is different from actually knowing them and being in relationship with them. Knowing about a certain food is different from actually tasting it. Knowing about an activity is different from knowing it from experience. Cognitive knowledge is not the same as experiential knowledge. It is no different in the spiritual realm.

This is explaining to me why I can spend years searching Scripture, reading books, sitting under wise counsel, and even praying and still live with a sense that areas of my life have not been affected or transformed past the surface. Mindsets, actions, and heart issues remain pretty much unchanged and I am now seeing why. It is not due to a lack of desire or lack of knowledge. It is due to knowing more ’about’ the truth than actually knowing the truth. To understand it, perceive it, feel it, take it to heart, apply it, but most of all to depend on the Spirit of God to get it into the deepest part of me.

I have the ability to change my actions and modify my behavior but that will only be a temporary fix at best. I thank God for individuals who have shared profound truth with me over the years, but because they are simply people and not God, they did not have the ability to get that truth fully into me even though many times that is what I looked for them to do. My heart needs to change and my mind needs to be renewed through God’s Word and by God’s Spirit. Then and only then will I begin to walk in freedom.

Father, I have often looked to people and books to help me change. While they can give me knowledge ONLY You can help me truly know. Free me through the truth as I come to know it not just know about it. Amen.

Ancient Words - Michael W. Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vmTkXNpwzs

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

Available Guides

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Acts 8:30-31 (New American Standard Bible)

An Ethiopian eunuch saw his need for help, asked for help, and received help. Philip, one of seven deacons mentioned in the early chapters of Acts, was available to be that help. The eunuch desired a guide and Philip became that guide. It was not a long encounter but it was God directed, God ordained, and God approved.

I rejoice in the truths that are pointed out from this passage of Scripture. Life is filled with moments when the help of others is not only needed but God purposed. I am a witness to that! I have had times in my life when human guides were sought and found. At just the right time, at just the right season they (like Philip with the eunuch) saw my need and became available to guide me. It was often only after the fact that I could look and see the full scope and value of their investment in my life. While many have been used of God to teach and guide me, three in particular are standing out in my mind this morning.

The first is a mentor who guided me as I transitioned from the entanglement of legalistic thinking to freedom in Christ. The second is an accountability partner walked me through the darkest season of my life and is still guiding me as I transition from looking to people to fixing my eyes on Jesus…the Author and Finisher of my faith. The third is just beginning the guiding process which I believe will help to transition me from a life of emotional bondage to finding emotional wholeness in Christ.

The common threads? All three have had a history with God. All three have walked through their own hurts, disappointments, and struggles. All three have accepted God’s call to guide others when prompted by Him to do so. I rejoice in being the recipient of their guidance but I also desire to be a guide to others. I want to be available (whether for a single conversation or an ongoing relationship) to be to individuals what others have been to me.

Father, You have always been faithful to send the right guides at the right times. I thank You for that and rejoice! I trust You to continue that pattern in and through me. Amen.

May I Be His Love - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B6ieQL_Q-k

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