When Comfort is Needed

Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. Job 2:11 (New King James Version)

Job’s friends were not privy to the story behind Job’s story. They (along with Job) knew nothing of God’s conversation with Satan. How God extolled Job’s life and character and how Satan sought to use loss and pain to evoke Job to curse God. All Job and his friends could see was the result of Satan’s work. When life fell apart for Job at a proportion few of us could begin to fathom let alone relate with, they came for the purpose of being a help through grieving and comfort.

Although their intention was to bring comfort to Job it did not come about. They fell short of their goal. Why? Because they viewed Job and his situation with only one conclusion in mind….all this was happening because of sin in Job’s life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Their inability to see beyond their preconceived ideas hindered their ability to comfort. Have you ever been in their shoes? Wanting to comfort an individual in their time of sorrow, grief, or loss and not being able to? Looking to others to bring you comfort and coming up empty?

It is in our times of deepest hurt when we can become most teachable in the area of comfort. I look back on several years of deep grief and sorrow over the loss of a relationship and what comes to mind the most is the comfort God gave me through the heart and hands of friends. Although few could fully relate to or understand what I was going through they did some helpful things. They listened. In the very beginning of my darkest days they allowed me to talk about what had happened and how it was affecting me. In time, they gave me small doses of truth that I needed to hear, but the truth was said in love and with compassion. They directed me toward the God of all comfort, reminding me that God had not forsaken me or distanced Himself from my situation. They prayed for me and they prayed with me. They knew from whom my healing would eventually come. They let me know when they saw progress and change in me. They stayed with me. In all of that, they became my mentors in the art of comforting others.

Where am I today in light of this dark season of my life? For the most part, I am moving forward and only occasionally feel the ache. More importantly, I am now walking along side an individual who is in the midst of her own dark cave. What I received from others I now give to another.

Father, thank you for each person who listened, advised, and prayed for me. You used them in the same way You are now using me. I praise you for the comfort You give through others. Amen.

You Are My Hiding Place - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zej__yFPeK0

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.

Gaining Control

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

Zophar’s words to Job speak volumes to me this morning, for I, too, can find myself responding to my own disquieting thoughts and inward agitations. I am amazed how frequently I can allow those very things to control me, my outlook on life, my view of others, and my opinion of myself. The odd thing about it is that it usually has to do with things I don’t really know for sure but perceive to be true none the less. Case in point, what another people might or might not be thinking of me. Due to my own weaknesses, internal wounds, and inconsistent emotions, I can often decide that others think the worst of me, yet the truth of the matter is that I don’t really know what they are thinking. The enemy loves to see me play mental gymnastics that lead no where but down. He loves for me to draw the conclusion that I am not loved, wanted, or even liked by others, and then proceed to withdraw into my own little world of self loathing, fear, and abandonment. Unmet needs, expectations, and longings become the fodder that I can mentally feed upon and the scene plays out like a tragedy.

A conversation with a friend via the internet last night helped me to see the dangers of this tendency as well as a way to get myself back on the right track spiritually and emotionally. I was reminded of the necessity to let go of past hurts and disappointments, to think on what I know to be true, and by the grace of God, to live out the things God has been teaching me. For me, each of those things become decisions I have to make regarding where I allow my mind to dwell. I cannot afford to review unchangeable history. The whys and what ifs are too numerous and unproductive at best. When I presume to know what another person is thinking I must see that as a form of judging on my part and take myself off the throne upon which only God has the ability to sit. I have to choose to meditate on what God says and thinks about me, which is ultimately where my true identity is based. Freedom and growth will come for me as I implement these things into my life the NEXT time the battle of my mind is raging, I am faced with unfounded perceptions, or I am tempted to withdraw into my own emotional cocoon.

Life is too short and the opportunities to live an abundant life in Christ are too many to continue living in a defeated mode. It is time once again to put on the armor of truth, righteousness, peace, and faith so that I can move forward in my Christian life, enjoy and love the people in my life, and be productive in the kingdom work of my Heavenly Father.

Father, help me to now live what I have just written in this devotional. Help me to make the right choices. The wise choices. The necessary choices. Amen.

JESUS,Lover of my soul (it's all about You)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZdMOx_HY&feature=related

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

The Wrong Conclusion

And he said: “ Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21 (New King James Version)

The question was asked at a study I attended last night that seemed easy to answer…at first. It went as follows: “Deep down inside, do you believe God is a giver or a taker?” My mind instantly went to today’s verse and I chose to say He is both…Job said so! Then something dawned on me. I had to consider the fact that Job’s perspective was faulty due to his limited view of things. He spoke those words of the Lord giving and taking away, after the loss of his children, property, possessions, health, reputation, and human support. At first glance he seemed to have a healthy view of things. After all, he served a sovereign God. Yet, I am struck by the fact that the one who actually took the things and people out of Job’s life was not God but Satan. Job didn’t mention that or think of it because, quite frankly, he wasn’t aware of Satan’s involvement in his life or of the conversation that led up to that involvement. He simply believed all his loss was at the hands of God when it actually wasn’t.

This realization is causing me to rethink my original answer to the Bible study question. Even as I ponder other Biblical accounts of people losing things I am coming to see the “other” hands besides God’s at work. Not only was there Satanic involvement but there were many aspects of just living in a fallen world. People take things, sickness takes things, nature takes things, and economic down turns take things. Sometimes, God chooses to intervene with healings. Sometimes He replaces what is taken. He teaches us things through the losses. He helps us see Him in a whole new light after the loss. But all of those are examples of giving. If I see God as a taker I get scared. Fearful that if I make a wrong move He will grab something from me.

For the longest time, when I thought of a significant relationship that had ended, I thought God had taken the person out of my life as a means of punishment. I displeased Him and therefore He took. How far from the truth that is! The broken relationship was the result of my own dependency issues and the other person’s change of heart. After the loss, God in His graciousness showed me aspects about Himself that were precious. He taught me many things. He brought other individuals into my life. He continually gave and He will continue to give. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Some who are reading this have experienced great losses. If those losses have caused you to view God as a taker (like I had viewed Him), I encourage you to ask Him to show you who really did the taking and to also show you how much He is giving!

Father, Jesus was the ultimate display of Your giving nature. Thank you for the many giving moments You continue to have. Amen.

My Praise - Phillips, Craig, & Dean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwPeud_V7cg&feature=related

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

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.

The Preservation of My Spirit

You have granted me life and loving kindness; and Your care has preserved my spirit. Job 10:12 (New American Standard Bible)

One of the aspects of God’s loving kindness and watch care over us as His children is the preservation our spirit. To guard it, protect it, and keep it safe. In the midst of hurt, disappointment, troubles, or loss…when the bottom of life seems to fall out from underneath our feet….when life’s worst circumstances make their way into our once peaceful abode, He is faithfully and lovingly keeping our spirit alive and intact. That part of us that seeks after God, that desires fellowship with God, and that longs to know Him continues to pulsate with life even when our heart is breaking or our mind is in turmoil. It is as constant as the beating of our heart.

So how can we tell our spirit is being preserved? We are still open to God and His ways. Turning our back on Him and walking away is not our intent or experience. We are looking to Him for direction and comfort. We continue to stand on the foundational truths of His Word. We remain teachable to the things He wants us to know and learn. Over time we see the growth in our life that has come about by the very thing we thought would do us in.

Often though, we mistakenly think that because we shed tears, ask why, experience a full range of emotions, feel internally at odds, and walk with a heavy heart and mind that our spirit has not been preserved. That is not the case! Just as we will bleed if we are cut, the problems and difficulties of life will hurt. God is not surprised by our pain. He knows how deeply it hurts or scares us but He also knows what He will use to bring us out on to the other side of whatever we are walking through. He is holding on to us even when our own grip is weakening.

My heart’s desire is to come away from whatever God’s causes or allows in my life with more knowledge of Him, more trust in Him, more awareness of Him, and more love for Him than I had before the storm broke. That is a part of the preservation of my spirit. Who but God could do such a thing? Who but God would even think of it?

I don’t always get it right but He does. He is passionate about bringing me through this life molded into the image of His Son…complete, whole, and mature in Him. I trust Him for the process, timing, and accomplishment of it all.

Father, You keep astounding me at every turn. Amen.

You're Still God - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvclzwpAMxg

There are now over 800 previous devotionals housed on this blog site. Read them according to date, theme or book of the Bible. Copy them for a personal notebook. Share them with others. Enjoy!

It's a Choice

Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. Job 34:4 (New International Version)

If I had to put my most recent God-taught lesson into one simple phrase it would be this, “I have a choice.” I have recently experienced the rewards, benefits, healing, and blessing of making right choices and I have many memories of the painful consequences that are forthcoming when I make the wrong choices. The truth of the matter is that for years I was blind to the options. While some people have faltered in the area of morality, responsibility, addictions, or legal issues, my struggle has been with emotions and feelings. What has ruled me for so many years is becoming a targeted area for freedom by my Abba Father.

While there are numerous examples I could give, my attention is being drawn to one this morning. God is revealing to me my tendency to follow patterns of thought and behavior….particularly when it comes to disappointment. It is in times when people are not able to give me what I want or plans have been interrupted or changed that certain feelings surface. Up until recently I wasn’t sure what to do with the feelings. While I would condemn myself for having them I quickly chose to simply bury them and go into a withdrawal mode. Relationships would suffer as I curled up into a ball of hurt, anger, and pity. My focus was off and as a result I was imprisoned in a damaging cycle of emotions. Praise God that is not the end of the story!

After months of a friend’s counsel and input, I decided to test a truth she had shared with me. I decided to accept the fact that the problem was not in what was happening but rather in my interpretation and resulting feelings. “What am I feeling at this moment” became my soul searching question. Events and situations are usually triggering emotions from painful memories. As I allow God to help me identify the feelings and we work together to go back to the early introductions of those feelings, I am then able to release them to Him and stop the cycle I have become accustomed to living out. I have stood open mouthed with amazement that I have this option and that it works! I have seen the power in this process and experienced freedom beyond my wildest imaginations.

I have crossed a bridge of choice and proceed to burn that bridge behind me as a way of not returning to an old way of living. My emotions and feelings have ruled and fooled me for far too many years. Choice and truth are what God is using to set me free and I am embracing them both!

Father, I marvel that I went so long unaware of choice. But I marvel even more at the freedom that is coming through You! Amen.

Crossing the Line

Acquaint now yourself with Him [agree with God and show yourself to be conformed to His will] and be at peace; by that [you shall prosper and great] good shall come to you. Receive, I pray you, the law and instruction from His mouth and lay up His words in your heart. Job 22:20-22 (Amplified Bible)

When I think of an acquaintance I usually think of someone I know on the surface level. We may talk occasionally in passing but are somewhat limited in our knowledge of each other. That is NOT what is meant when we are told to acquaint ourselves with God. It goes deeper. It means to be familiar with and know intimately. The results of such knowledge yield peace and reward. It also implies being usable and conformed. Wrapped within the context of all that is the necessity to trust and yield. The basis of my trust is found within a growing awareness of who God is and what God is like. As my knowledge is enlarged, my trust increases. And as my trust increases my ability to yield is forthcoming.

I am finding that just as growth is a process so is yielding. I have a will and a mindset that continually needs to be aligned with God’s will, ways, and Word. When there is hesitancy or straining it can usually be traced back to a trust issue. It is at this point that God and I must wade through the issues of my heart and determine where the trust is fractured and faltering. Is it an authority issue? Is it fear based? Is it a spiritual attack? Is it the embracing of lies? God knows the root of each distrust and is longing to help me find it and extract it. He wants me to once again joy in the fact that His ways and thoughts are higher than my own.

But I am finding that the enemy of my soul desires to distort and confuse the lessons God is diligently teaching me. Most recently I have seen this take place in the area of yielding. In the course of a conversation earlier this week, I realized I had crossed a fine line between yielding and resignation. Yielding is based on truth, trust, and choosing God’s plans and purposes over my own. Resignation is based on lies, fear, and hopelessness. Yielding brings peace and renewed strength. Resignation brings restlessness and an internal draining. Yielding is God’s desire. Resignation is Satan’s delight.

So what is it that God whispers to me this morning? “Yield but don’t resign yourself to limited visions and dreams for your life. I still have ‘much more to give you than this’. Trust me. I have not forgotten you. I have not left you. Meditate on all I have told you and shown you so far. Walk with Me.”

Father, You are not the author of confusion or resignation. Thank you that You stand ready to welcome me back each time I cross a line not intended for me. Amen.

Losing My Grip

Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord! Job 1:21 (Amplified Bible)

I take loss hard. The more significant something or someone is in my life the harder it is to experience the departure. Whether it be relationships, seasons of life, health issues, jobs, or experiences each must be viewed as a gift from God subject to change and temporary status. If I mistakenly believe otherwise, I am merely setting myself up for disillusionment and disappointment. But if I see God’s involvement in all things, then I can treasure the moments yet hold them loosely. My ability to do that will increase as I become more aware of God’s nature and heart.

If I stand suspect of Him and think He is cruel and out to ruin my life the losses will appear to be “proof” of that very mindset. But if I see Him as a loving, heavenly Father who knows what is best for me and is intent on molding my life for His glory, then I learn to rest in what He is doing and trust Him during the process. It is His desire that I learn to view life through His grid of truth and with spirit eyes. Living each day cognitive of His presence, person, and involvement in my life. My days are not made up of mere random, pointless events. God is working in profound ways and I can so easily miss the realization of that truth if I shift my focus away from Him.

These thoughts were triggered last night as I reviewed the dynamics of changed or lost friendships over the years. Without the awareness that “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away” I can too easily live in a state of grieving as well as torture myself with the question of “What did I do wrong?” Last night, God interrupted my thoughts with some precious instructions and reminders. He whispered to my spirit, “Pam, don’t limit your thoughts concerning the people and events of your life. You must see My hand and involvement in it all. Most of the people in your life and the relationship you have with them is for a season of time and a divine purpose. I am the One who “lends” you the moments. It is not about their change of heart or yours. It is about My timing and My design. Trust Me. Cling to Me. I am your permanent Source and Companion. Enjoy my gifts to you but don’t refuse to let go of them when I initiate the change. Poise yourself to receive the new things that await. Rest in My love.”

Father, I now see what I have been blind to for so many years. You are constantly aware and constantly working on my behalf. May I hold the things of this life loosely while You hold me tightly. Amen.

Teach Me

Teach me what I do not see. Job 34:32 NASB

I spotted this verse yesterday and it has remained with me and come to my mind numerous times. It has quickly become the cry of my heart. Any time I go through a difficult circumstance or situation there are things I do not see, understand, or comprehend. Things about God and things about myself. Areas of my life begin to resemble a huge jigsaw puzzle with countless missing pieces. I walk with more questions than answers. The pain outweighs the joy. It is then that I realize that if God does not begin to teach me the things I am blind and ignorant to I will be stuck in a place from which I desperately want to escape.

Today was a day of needed revelation. God knows there is an area of profound sadness that continues to house itself within me. He knows I want release and freedom. I have confided in a small handful of people the details of an ongoing heartache. They have listened with compassion and offered healing words of wisdom. I have been reading a book by Sheila Walsh entitled The Heartache No One Sees. It is filled with messages I need at this time. Messages that have come out of her own broken story. I have realized God’s purpose in allowing this particular hurt to come into my life. I have sensed God’s presence and provision to help me go from one day to the next. But I could not understand after all that why the sadness remained. So I asked Him to teach me what I could not see.

His answer stunned me. He let me know the healing of my heart was not going to come from the taking in of more knowledge. It will not instantaneously happen when I finally get the last “puzzle piece” of information. The healing will come from His hands. It will be His doing and it will take time. Just as in surgery and recuperation there is pain involved and felt, so in the lessons and heartaches of life. The fact that I feel pain and sorrow does not mean I am not still on a journey with Him and it does not mean He is not working in me. It simply means I am human. If I am cut I will bleed and if I am deeply hurt I will ache. The deeper the hurt, the more profound will be the healing. The greater the death in an area the more miraculous the resurrection.

Two things I desire above all other things. That I would come through this knowing God in ways I never knew before and ministering to others as a result of my own broken story and places. May it not be in vain and may it not be unprofitable in His kingdom work.

Father, I once again look to You to do in me what I cannot do myself and no one else can do for me. Hold me, help me, and heal me. Amen.

The Sound of His Voice

Listen to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom. Job 33:33 NKJV

These words were spoken by Elihu. He was a young man who listened in on the conversation between Job and his friends. Out of respect, he waited until they were completely finished before he voiced his opinion. Often times, there will be people in our life who seem to have the answers we are looking for. Several are coming to mind that I would take up on their offer of wisdom. They have a good track record with me. In the past, if they gave me advice I reaped the benefits when I heeded what they said. They are among the first ones I would call if I were seeking godly counsel. Some have been in my life for decades and some have only recently crossed my path. I thank God for them and treasure the gift they are to me.

But more and more the One who speaks Elihu’s words to me is God Himself. He daily invites me to listen to Him. This listening is more than just taking in the sound of His voice. It is active listening with the intent of obeying. When I do that He has much to teach me in the way of wisdom. It is not just a matter of knowledge but rather the application of knowledge. His desire is to teach me what to do with the knowledge He gives. I want the kind of relationship with Him whereby He is teaching me personally. While He will still use people and books in my life, I want the experience of receiving wisdom, answers, and guidance directly from Him.

I have lived too much of my life depending on “middle men” to get me through a minefield of questions. For most of my Christian life I trusted people to tell me what God was saying. It was always easier and felt safer to sit under their canopy of wisdom. I hung on their every word and for the most part they were godly words. But as long as they were the only ones I was going to for wisdom, I was missing out on learning to converse with God. His desire has always been for me to meet with Him directly.

If God chooses to speak to me through people I will accept that. But I have had enough conversations with Him to know the joy of hearing His wisdom spoken from His Word or in prayer. Many have been the times when taking a walk and pouring out my heart and my questions to Him have resulted in answers that left me in amazement and tears. Will I ever still seek the advice of people? Absolutely! But nothing compares to the sound of His voice in my ears.

Father, however You choose to speak to me today, I am listening. Amen.

When Others Have It Wrong

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Job 32:1 NIV

This verse follows 30 chapters of conversation between Job and three of his friends. They thought they knew the reason for the loss of Job’s children, wealth, and health. Stripped of everything but his life, they were convinced it was all due to something Job had done wrong. They brought accusation upon accusation against Job and he simply responded with the truth. They based their judgments on the belief that difficulties only come into one’s life because of personal sin. It was obvious to them that God had turned His back on Job and was punishing him for something he had done. No matter what Job said they were sure they were right.

What they did not know was that the difficulties had to do with satanic involvement not personal failure. Although Job was not sinless, God gave an impressive report about him to Satan. According to Job 1:8, God stated of Job, “there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God, and shuns evil.” Satan was sure this was only due to the fact that Job had it so well in life. Convinced that he could get Job to turn away from God by bringing pain, suffering, and loss into his life, God allowed him to carry out his plan. God knew Job well enough to know he would pass the test! Job knew his heart and did not let the opinions of others persuade him otherwise. He has become a shining example to me!

I am sure each of us can attest to a time in our life when we were misunderstood or misjudged. We have done it ourselves and have had it done to us. There are times others may have it right. God has given them the ability to discern us wisely and accurately. But there are also times this is not the case. They think they know us and have drawn conclusions from a limited perspective. It is during these times that we must ask God to show us His truth and perspective. He is the only One who really knows our heart and our full story. He will let us know if another person’s words are meant for us or if we need to simply walk away from what is being said. As a person who is use to crawling under the care of people, I can bear witness to the difficulty of walking away from the opinions of others. But it is necessary if I am going to take God up on His invitation of “come unto Me!”

I don’t ever want to ignore God’s message to me when it comes from the mouth of a person. I have been blessed to have Him send individuals into my life for that very purpose. However, I have also experienced well meaning people who had it wrong and the enemy used their words to attempt to shut down the very thing God was doing in my life. May God help me know when either is happening.

Father, help me to trust Your voice above the voice of others. If they are sent by You to speak to me let me see that. If their words are not of You let me see that as well. Amen.

A Heart and Face Lift

For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. Job 22:26 NKJV

My affections and my attention have a powerful effect on the direction of my attitudes, actions, emotions, feelings, and motives. What I derive pleasure from and who I am constantly looking to will shape my entire day as well as my life. This verse is now my heart’s cry for I have tasted of the fruit that has come when anyone but God is my delight or my primary source of comfort, direction, and acceptance.

This morning I finally admitted the weariness of my own soul. I have spent the past couple of weeks nursing a wound of rejection. It has been tender and painful. I have mulled over the situation, sought godly counsel, shed many tears, claimed verses, fought the enemy of my soul, separated my feelings and perceptions from actual truth, acknowledged the ending of a significant relationship, and engulfed myself in a capsule of pain. But this morning I woke up desiring a new way to live in the midst of a new season of my life. I simply told God I was tired of holding on to all the hurt and ache. I was ready to let go of the spider web of emotions that had wrapped itself around every fiber of my being. I gave the entire “bundle” to Him. A huge weight has been lifted off my back as well as my heart because I know He graciously takes what I willingly give to Him. While the situation has not changed the effect it has on me did change.

I am now free to live out the principles of Job 22:26. When I am tempted to obsess over my loss I can now proclaim, “My delight is in You, O God! I lift up my face to You!” God’s word says the power of life and death are in the tongue. He has given me life-giving words to speak to Him. They are words full of healing, comfort, strength, and freedom. They are the key to unlock the chain that has been draped around my internal world. Just when I thought the darkness would be my only companion, His light has broken through and my path has suddenly burst forth with life! The enemy of my soul has lost big time and God has recaptured my heart!

I have noticed one huge thing. The longer I am on this journey and the farther I go, the more profound and deep the lessons are becoming. While the trials seem to be harder the victories are definitely sweeter. God is intent on wooing me to Himself and helping me to experience Him as my all in all. It will mean exposing the many hindrances that remain in the way. It will be a matter of releasing one thing after another to take hold of His hand. These cannot just be noble sounding words. They must be the life lines for my soul!

Father, You have waited all this time for me to give You what Your hands were ready to receive. Thank you for walking me through another valley of tears. I delight in You and I look to You. Amen.

When Others Hurt

I also could speak as you do, if your soul were in my soul’s place. I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief. Job 16:4,5 NKJV

When we experience difficulty, loss, or grief in any amount we long for someone to come along side us to strengthen and comfort us with their words. Often the ones to do that best are the ones who have been in our place of pain. They bear the scars, recall the wounds, and know the ache. They reach out to us in a way that very few can. It goes beyond mere sympathy or pity. They KNOW how we feel and actually enter into our situation emotionally. With them we feel safe to open up and verbalize what is going on inside us. We know they will not think less of us, label us, or brush us off. We know we will see in their eyes and hear in their words a kindred spirit. They will connect with us in a special way because our story will have traces of their own.

God has been faithful to bring such individuals into my life at just the right moments. While He assures me He will walk through all difficulties with me, He also lets me know He will bring others along side of me to listen, empathize, and speak words of healing to me. I can always tell that they have been where I am at. Their circumstances may have been different but the effects were the same. Because of what God has brought them through, they now walk with wisdom and love. They are willing to open their arms, hearts, and ears to others who hurt. May God bless them and increase their kind on the earth.

I want to join their ranks! Knowing how they have ministered to me, I now want to minister to others. It will require some things. It will mean being open to the needs of others. Allowing God to show me when someone is hurting and being willing to invest the time to hear their story, sense their pain, and speak words that will comfort and relieve. Letting them know I have been where they are at and assuring them they will be okay will validate their feelings and give them hope. I rest in the fact that my past experiences will keep my words from sounding hollow and heartless. Each time I am able to reach out to another individual who is hurting and sense that it is helping will be an opportunity for God to redeem my own story of loss or pain. I will see Him graciously giving me beauty for ashes! They in turn will someday do the same.

Father, thank you for each person who has reached out to me during the darkest times of my life. Their words and actions made a profound difference to me. Help me to now be that to others. Open my eyes, ears, and heart to the hurting, hopeless, and helpless. Amen.

Look and Live

But as for me, I would seek God, and to God I would commit my cause ~ Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. Job 5:8,9 NKJV

Where we look and what we focus on during the hardships of life is a primary factor in the amount, depth, and direction of our growth in Christ. If we dwell upon the hurts and disappointments of life we will clothe ourselves in garments of bitterness and live within walls of pain. But if we choose to do what Job did and keep our eyes fixed on God we will live out of His gifts of grace, strength, and endurance.

This does not mean the issues will disappear and the effects will not be felt. Job certainly knew how to express the excruciating parts of his life. He left no question that there were times he preferred death over life. Times that his particular suffering was unbearable and indescribable. He grieved his losses and felt the daily physical pain of his body. But today’s passage was an anchor for him. He had made up his mind to seek God, commit his life to God, and review the innumerable acts of God.

Let’s face it! There are times your brain and spirit need a rest from that which would overwhelm. If you do not purposefully choose to direct your thoughts toward God you will find yourself sinking lower and lower mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. God and His Word are the life lines EVERY time! This is not a denial of facts, a burying of issues, or a refusal to face life. It is a safe place to house those facts, interpret and work through the issues, and live life.

In the midst of whatever I may be going through I know these things. The enemy wants to hand me the meaning of everything and that meaning is full of distortions and lies. Now I can choose to listen to him and buy into his interpretations OR I can hold on to the God of grace and allow Him to grow me up in Christ through all of it. While wading through any painful waters of loss or disappointment I must choose to keep my thoughts on what would lift me up rather than what would pull me under. God has provided so many rich experiences and dear people in my life. My choice today is to focus on Him and His ways instead of the individual capsules of painful thoughts that would grow if left unchecked. There are times to do battle with the enemy and my own mindsets and there are times to lift up my eyes and hands to an incredible God who remains my help, strength, and life! I choose Him!!!!

Father, You see each thing that affects me. I am not alone in my pain or my pleasures. Clothe me in Your comfort and surround me with Your grace. I look to You and live! Amen.