Assured by His Presence

Lo, I am with you always. Matthew 28:20 (New American Standard Bible)

These were the words spoken by Jesus as He gave the great commission to His disciples, but they serve as words of comfort to me this morning. Right now, in this moment, I am not on a spiritual high and neither am I in a valley of despair. I am somewhere in the middle and I just need the reminder that He is with me even now. I am glad He knows what I need.

Earlier as I read Scripture and a number of devotional books nothing in particular stood out. Actually, I was finding it hard to concentrate and focus. That always makes me wonder. In fact, it can fill me with thoughts that are far from secure. God knows that about me and wants me to learn to relax with Him. To know that right now, He still holds me, watches over me, and nudges me forward.

While I am one who loves excitement, today feels so normal it is almost scary. And God whispers, “I am with you.” I don’t know what today holds, and He says, “I do and I am with you.” I feel uncertain, but He says, “I am very certain and I am with you.” He is inviting me to live out of His words in Matthew 11:28-30 which say, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

My soul needs rest. To be still and know that He is God. No striving, no struggling, no trying to figure it all out. Just rest, stillness, and knowing Him. For He knows that unless I learn to “settle in” with Him in this moment, I will not be ready to walk with Him through more challenging moments. It all comes down to yielding and trust. Tenseness must give way to His voice. Life has slowed down and God wants me to slow down as well. Not necessarily on the outside. I will still head off to work in about an hour. But rather to slow down internally. Savor the preciousness of His presence. Trust the moving and impulses of His Spirit rather than the direction of my own personality, temperament, and flesh. That in itself will make an otherwise ordinary day extraordinary!

Father, I am not use to this. Without Your persistent assurance I don’t think I would see this as beneficial. So today I choose to rest in You. Amen.

Telling What He Has Done

Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul. Psalm 66:16 (New American Standard Bible)

Look back over any period in your life and try to discern what God has done for your soul as a result of that time. Think of the lessons learned, the steps taken, and the growth that resulted. God’s desire is that we share it with others. Why? So that their view of God is enlarged and He is glorified. Can you identify moments in your life that would do that? Are you willing to tell someone about it?

I find that the most precious conversations can arise from the most difficult trials and testings we have been through. To sit with another individual and share with them the things that you thought would do you in and what God accomplished through all of it. Not just the painful moments of life, but the failures and weaknesses as well. Sad to say, too many believers are still trying to put on a brave front that says I am getting through this life without skinned knees and bruised elbows. They wouldn’t dare let someone know about their places of vulnerability, regrets, hurts, and struggles. Hence, the things they have learned remain a secret as well. Their “mannequin” life keeps others at a safe distance and their story of what God has done continues to be untold. Oh the richness that is lost when that is the case.

I think of King David and how his words of reveling in God’s forgiveness are so profound because we are told of his adultery and murder that needed the forgiveness. I think of how the reception the prodigal son received is so touching because we know of his waywardness. Time and time again God displayed His work in lives on the backdrop of dark moments in those lives. And He desires to do the same with us.

I have individuals in my life who rejoice with me as God brings me through my own journey of freedom from emotional dependency. They know the specific struggles and cheer me on as each step of victory is taken. That wasn’t always the case. Shame and embarrassment kept that part of my life a secret for too long. Now it is with joy that I share the things God has done for my soul in the midst of it. The lessons I am learning and the growth that is resulting are being freely shared because they are meant to be shared. Transparency and authenticity mark our life when we dare to admit we are human but serve an incredible God! Merely telling of the struggles would be morbid and of little value. But when we share how God has worked in all of it and what He has accomplished, the sharing comes alive with meaning and power. May I never stop doing that!

Father, Your work in me is worth sharing. And that sharing is more powerful when people know the story behind the story. May my transparency reveal Your workmanship. Amen.

His Kind of Love

The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 (New American Standard Bible)

The many facets of this verse continue to astound me. It was one of the first truths God used to revolutionize my Christian life four years ago. His love! A love that is not dependent on what I do. A love that is lasting. A love that is consistent and lavishly given. A love that is not easily understood because of its width, breadth, length, and depth. Just when I think I have accepted His love for me and am walking in that love, God steps in and shows me a new aspect that He is aware I have not begun to grasp.

It happened yesterday. I found myself wincing at an aspect of myself that I don’t like seeing is still a part of me. I am learning we all have things in our life we must confront and continually bring before God. Areas that make us cringe and we want desperately to be rid of. But I am learning that in the process of God’s transforming work He has multiple things to teach me through those very things. Admitting the truth about myself to myself and God took time. He had to unwrap the many layers of shame and condemnation that had cocooned me. I didn’t realize the “hiding” was a self-imposed prison. I had to learn that voicing the truth to Him would lead to a freedom to relax in His presence. Yet something was still amiss.

It was in the process of sharing with Him my continued dislike of this area in me that He was able to help me see an aspect of His love that had eluded me. It was a time for Him to say, “You wince at your weakness because you still have a wrong view of Me. You are failing to see my compassion and mercy for you in your fallen moments.” How well He knows our thoughts! The truth of the matter is that when I bring an issue to God, He is not standing there with His arms folded, a scowl on His face, and irritated disappointment. Instead, He is drawing me with cords of loving kindness and finding pleasure in the process. He is not a God who simply tolerates me. He is a God who loves me with an everlasting love even when I am undeserving of it. I marvel.

I offer these words of encouragement to any who fail to see this same aspect about God’s love. To any who cower or cringe in His presence. His heart is still that of the father who welcomed the prodigal home! He always rejoices at our drawing near to Him. Always!

Father, my view of You is being transformed continually. You are so gentle with my finiteness and imperfection. With You I am safe. With You I am loved. Amen.

How Do I Do That?

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (New American Standard Bible)

I find great difficulty in doing something that I don’t understand. For years I have heard I should take my thoughts captive but failed to understand exactly what that meant and how to go about doing it. I would hear illustrations, like when a cowboy ropes a calf or when a soldier takes a prisoner hostage, but the pictures didn’t show me HOW. I had learned the source of my damaging thoughts and imaginations was myself and the enemy but I was finding myself with more failure than victory in the area of “taking the thoughts captive.” It seemed for a while I would guard myself against the thoughts entering but if the enemy remained persistent I usually ended up dwelling on wrong thoughts and going down a mental and emotional trail that led to pits, dungeons, and prison cells of great proportion. Then the thoughts of hopelessness and “you will never change” would set in and defeat would be the only picture that hung over my horizon.

God knows better and He desires better for me! First, He began assuring me that He was exposing this area in my life to show me what He wanted to transform and then He reminded me that He always finishes what He starts. What eventually came to me was a very simple yet powerful prayer that WORKS every time I speak it and it comes right from today’s verse. At first, when a thought came to mind that I knew was not of God and not good for me, I simply said, “I take that thought captive to Jesus Christ.” And instantly the thought was gone! Now I have begun adding to that phrase and finding joy in the anticipation that it will work every time. I have prayed it several times already this morning and want to share with you an example of what my prayer now entails.

“I take that thought captive to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is based on a lie rather than truth. I choose to think on what is true. I have the mind of Christ and God’s Spirit living in me. Purify my thoughts and my motives, Father. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”

Whether the thought is based on lies, jealousy, insecurities, feelings of abandonment, suspicion, or any number of things, I know now to identify it and state the victorious opposite. May this help others as much as it has helped me.

Father, it is so essential that I handle my thoughts in the right way. Dwelling on the right things and taking captive the wrong things is one huge key to victory for me. Thank you for continuing to transform my life and my walk with You. Amen.

Learning How to Fight

We are not able to go up against this people, for they are too strong for us. Numbers 13:31 (New American Standard Bible)

These words were spoken by ten of the twelve spies upon returning from their forty day assignment in the land of Canaan. The land God had promised to bring them into and cause them to possess. But what they saw with their eyes and believed in their heart resulted in fear, unbelief, and disobedience. In other words, they embraced lies rather than truth! For any of us, that spells danger and disaster every time! If only they had embraced God’s promises to them and reviewed the past deliverances He afforded them. If only we would do the same!

I am becoming acutely aware of the persistence of the enemy to introduce many negative thoughts to me or exaggerate the ones I come up with on my own. Like the children of Israel, I come to believe the very things I should reject and the longer I dwell on those things the more powerful the stronghold becomes. I can tell when this is happening because my mind becomes filled with negative, condemning, fearful, hopeless, frustrating, and confusing thoughts. It is a trap he loves setting for me and delights when I step into it and remain in it. Any time I voice the words of Numbers 13:31 over a situation in my life I can be sure I have exchanged God’s truth for Satan’s lies.

After a two day battle, I finally decided it was time to change my position. It was time to become savvy and discerning in regards to the activities of my mind and those of the enemy. I knew that my primary need was to flesh out the truth of taking my thoughts captive but sometimes that concept can seem intimidating and elusive. So I googled the phrase “taking thoughts captive” and discovered a treasure cove of articles that had rich information for me to feed on. I learned some things about the enemies tactics, the things in me that he uses, and the power of using my Ephesians 6 armor to resist him.

Already this morning I have been aware of several attempts he has made to walk me down a path of emotional turmoil and each attempt was met with resistance and a closed door. I am amazed at how ineffective his schemes are when I apply the truth of God’s word, stand on the promises of God’s word, and wield my sword (God’s Word) at every lie and distortion.

Father, You invite me to stand against the schemes of the enemy and take every thought captive. I want to become a valiant soldier on the battleground of my mind. Teach me! Amen.

Seeing Who It Comes From

Thus says the LORD: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel. Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.” Therefore they obeyed the word of the LORD, and turned back, according to the word of the LORD. I Kings 12:24 (New King James Version)

War was diverted among God’s people with this one verse. How essential it is that I allow God to speak these same words over my life in any given situation. For God knows my tendency to focus on the difficult circumstances or people in my life and miss the precious truth of His sovereignty and involvement over and through all things. How easy it can be to fight the very thing that God is either causing or allowing. There is no rest or peace when I choose to resist that which God is doing.

Rather than fight it, God implores me to return to my home, and Psalm 91 reminds me where my home is. It is in the shadow of His wings, for He is to be my dwelling place, refuge, and fortress. God wants me to realize that I am to abide in His presence for my shelter, safety, and security.

As I step into a new day (and month) God desires me to hear Him voice His five word phrase to me on a continual basis. When I face a difficulty, “This thing is from Me.” When I sustain a loss, “This thing is from Me.” When a medical diagnosis threatens to turn my world upside down, “This thing is from Me.” When relationships change, “This thing is from Me.” When disappointment marks my path, “This thing is from Me.” When that which I desire to hold on to slips through my fingers, “This thing is from Me.” When my plans fall apart, “This thing is from Me.” When the storms of life hit hard, “This thing is from Me.” When dreams die, “This thing is from Me.”

As I receive the words He is speaking then I will find the peace that passes all understanding. I will no longer view myself as a victim of other people’s choices and actions. I will stop being consumed with self pity, condemnation, and grief. Each portrait the enemy has painted on the walls of my imagination will be replaced with artwork painted by the sovereign and loving hand of God. I will begin to notice the many positive, uplifting, and encouraging gifts with which God graces my life. And I will experience the truths of Zephaniah 3:17 which say He will quiet me with His love.

Father, there is not a day in my life when I do not need to hear you say these things are from You. I receive them as words spoken from a heart of love and a desire for my good. Amen.

Deciding Ahead of Time

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. Psalm 56:3 (New King James Version)

Soldiers do not enter a war without a military strategy. A football player does not enter a game without a game plan. A surgeon does not proceed with an operation without a predetermined medical procedure in mind. A construction worker does not begin to build a building without an architectural plan. And we had better understand that we do not enter a single day without a plan. We do not know the totality of what will be in this day but we can determine ahead of time certain game plans for it. David is sharing one such plan with us today. Ahead of time, he already determined his course of action when fear would hit. He would trust in God.

This morning I want to take his strategy and apply it to all areas of negative responses and emotions. Each and every one can be slipped into this verse with the same predetermined action! Whenever I am afraid, angry, confused, disappointed, hurt, stressed, worried, weak, offended, or in turmoil, I will trust in God. Trusting God means I am placing my confidence, security, and belief in Him. How He must delight when we do that! To start our day with the attitude that, come what may, we are trusting Him! Then when the storms of life hit, the winds of adversity blow, the valley of death approaches, or any number of rugs get pulled out from under us, we already know what we will do. Above and through it all we will trust Him and place ourselves in a position to receive His strength, peace, and safety.

Many of us had to learn the hard way that living the Christian life did not mean we would not have trials and troubles. We definitely will have them, but God desires to teach us where to go when those things arise. If we allow them, they become the arrows that point us straight to Him as our source and resource in the midst of any tragedy. But we cannot wait until we are in the middle of an upsetting moment to figure out what we are going to do. Before the storm hits we should determine where our shelter will be. That is the essence of what David was saying. He knew fear would be his companion at one time or another and he resolved ahead of time to trust God. Each of us knows which emotional challenges become issues for us. Let’s place them in this verse and then place our trust in God.

Father, I have so often floundered with negative feelings and emotions, when all the while You were urging me to trust You. Bring this verse to my mind throughout today. No matter which word I put in it, I have already decided I will trust You! Amen.