A Refuge for Me

But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel. Joel 3:16b (New Living Translation)

For much of my Christian life I did not know how to allow God to be my refuge and fortress. My shelter and place of protection from storms, dangers, and falsehood. I took my questions as well as my heartaches to people and looked to them to comfort, nurture, and protect me. In the beginning of a Christian life this is normal and even necessary. But God knows that if a transition is not made, whereby eyes and hearts are directed toward Him, the growth and spiritual well being of that individual will be stunted.

The transition happens naturally for some individuals. Somewhere along the line they see their need to shift their focus and their walk with God becomes an intimate one. For others, God must take some drastic measures to begin the process. I personally was not ready or willing to begin solely looking to Him until significant people were removed. Henry Blackaby says that “sometimes God has to remove others from our lives, so He can continue His purposes for our lives.” Does He know it will hurt? Yes! Does He know we will struggle to understand? Absolutely! Does He know we will wonder if we are going to survive the necessary severing? Definitely! But He also knows the result and He knows ahead of time which direction our heart will take.

For me, the losses drove me to Him and now the current difficulties do as well. Last night was a case in point. I had emailed a friend requesting prayer for some specific areas in my life then I went to bed and found it difficult to fall asleep. My mind was consumed with questions and my eyes were filled with tears…once again. But it was at that time that God began to teach me some truth and help me to see things I had been unaware of. As soon as I took in the truth, the tears ceased and my heart became settled. He was my place of repair and rest at that moment and I slept soundly. No one, absolutely no one, on earth can do that for me like God can!

I carry into today that experience and rejoice anew that He has finally brought me to the point whereby He is the One I run to and cling. He is the One to whom I ask the difficult questions. Will He still use people in my life? Very much so because that is one of His purposes for the body of Christ. But He is the One who now has my attention and neither one of us would want it any other way.

Father, I stand in awe of what You have accomplished that I never could do on my own. I praise You and need You! Amen.

YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE - Maranatha Singers
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zej__yFPeK0&feature=related

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

A Cheerful Giver

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:7,8 (New International Version)

At one time, if you had quoted the first half of this passage to me, my mind would have instantly thought of tithing. How easy it is to limit Scripture to one small picture when God intends for it to be a mural of beauty. His Word is not only alive and powerful it has many dimensions and layers. Our joy comes when we begin to see the bigger picture of what God is saying.

Recently, an act of kindness shown to me led to God bringing this phrase to mind, “God loves a cheerful giver.” Then He graciously broadened the image to, “God loves ALL cheerful giving.” That which is done out of joyous, promptness rather than duty or a have to mentality. Instantly, my mind began to formulate the many things that can be given to others beyond material things. The giving includes giving others an encouraging word, the benefit of the doubt, a second chance, a listening ear, the right of way, priority, a kind gesture, a smile, a helping hand, friendship, a shoulder to cry on, prayer support, forgiveness, time, attention, and even a hug. It could also entail giving them entrance into your life or allowing them the freedom to walk away. The list is endless and God will help you to come up with fresh ideas all day long. Once the full scope hits, the passion and desire will arise in you to carry out the very thing that God loves……..ministry to others.

The second half of this passage tells us the “how to” of our giving. He promises to give us more than enough of what we need to abound in every good work. It is all about His influence upon us that strengthens and kindles within us the desire to give to others what God lays on our heart to give. His grace is what affords us the joy, pleasure, and delight to bestow acts of loving kindness on others. God’s favor through us to others! God supplies it and He loves it when we take what He supplies and lavish it on others.

In God’s eyes, no act or moment of giving is insignificant or invisible. After all, in the midst of pompous giving Jesus noticed and mentioned the woman who gave two small coins. Do it and He will see it! Say it and He will hear it! It will never be wasted or go unnoticed by Him. How He delights in seeing His Word and His wishes become a part of our daily life!

Father, You are the ultimate Giver! Jesus’ life is my example as well. My I be an imitator of Him and a giver for You. Amen.

HOW BEAUTIFUL -Twila Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJfSp_rceFs&feature=related

I welcome your questions and comments to any devotional thoughts. I am honored and delighted to share my journey with you and privileged to hear of yours. http://pathways2freedom.blogspot.com/

My Healer

He went on turning away, in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him. Isaiah 57:17,18 (New American Standard Bible)

So often we read the word “heal” in the Bible and we instantly think of physical healing. Throughout the Old and New Testaments there are certainly many references to that. While we may not see such extensive and abundant amounts of healing today, God is still healing people. While I have never experienced a physical healing from a disease, illness, or deformity, I have had the privilege and experience of the kind of healing today’s verse is referring to. A healing of my heart and spiritual sickness.

Isaiah 6:10 speaks of an insensitive heart, dull ears, dim eyes, and a heart that lacks understanding. Jeremiah 3:22 speaks of God healing unfaithfulness. These are conditions of the heart. I remember decade long times in my Christian life when I could not hear God’s voice, could not see His heart in Scripture, was not sensitive to His leading in my life, and was not faithful to daily come to Him in prayer. I was in desperate need of His healing touch but did not know how to go about receiving it.

I did not realize this kind of healing automatically happens as I seek an intimate, personal relationship with Him. He is aware of my need and my propensity to stray from Him. He has had His eye on me from the moment of my conception and has longed to reveal Himself to me as my Healer.

My personal healing took place the day I embraced the truth that God’s love is not dependent on what I do. That was the catalyst for what has now been an incredible four and a half year journey. It has completely changed my approach to prayer and Scripture. I never knew prayer was meant to be a two way conversation, whereby I do some of the talking and God does some of the talking. His whispers at times move me to tears.

I never knew reading the Bible could be so alive either. Every morning before I open my Bible I ask the Holy Spirit to speak to me. I ask Him to cause one verse to really stand out to me. The journal thoughts have been the fruit of those prayers. There are days I cannot write fast enough as He brings the thoughts to mind. And all of this started the day I said, “Father, show me Your heart in Scripture.” He is moved by such requests.

Father, You are so loving, gracious, and generous. Continue to show me where I need Your healing touch. Amen.

A Heart Like Yours by Cece Winans
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Qa_IcFyxmF8

I welcome your questions and comments to any devotional thoughts. I am honored and delighted to share my journey with you and privileged to hear of yours. http://pathways2freedom.blogspot.com/

When God Causes Grief

For if He causes grief, then He will have compassion according to His abundant loving kindness. Let us examine and probe our ways, and let us return to the LORD. Lamentations 3:32, 40 (New American Standard Bible)

There are times I come across a passage of Scripture that speaks volumes to me. Such is the case with today’s verses. I have known grief caused by the Lord…or at least caused by what He has done. I am at a place whereby I can thank Him for it and mean it, but that has not always been the case. For a year and a half He took me through the process of self examination and probing. It was painful, confusing, frustrating, and difficult, but it was necessary in order for me to fully come to Him and return to His ways.

God knows how easily I can seek satisfaction apart from Him. He loves me too much to allow that to happen. Hence, He will remove my props one by one in order to turn my focus and heart back to Himself. It is only in seeing this that I can eventually thank Him for what has caused me grief. For me it has been a process of confronting my idolatry, repenting of that idolatry, and returning to Him. The change has been slow but steady.

The reasons for grief are varied. As I have been reading through the book of Lamentations, grief was a result of sin and rebellion. Even with that, though, God’s desire was the same. He longed for His people to return to Him and live in relationship with Him.

Grief may also come because of the harshness and reality of life. The death of a loved one, difficult health issues, financial loss, unemployment, etc… Whatever the grief, the directive is the same. Know that God will have compassion if He has allowed the grief. We have His word on that and God ALWAYS fulfills His promises. Examine yourself and probe the way you are living. Ask God to show you what things in your life need to change. Cooperate with what He tells you. What you cannot bring yourself to do, ask Him to do for you. The removal of my idol was definitely done by God. I praise Him for doing what I couldn’t do. Finally, know that the ultimate goal is for you to return to Him for restoration of the relationship He longs to have with you.

Remember this, nothing is wasted. There is buried treasure in the caverns of grief and God wants you to discover them. I have recently begun to see the sparkle of those treasures. The joy I thought would never return is making its way into my life once again.

Father, the way has not been easy but it has been worth it. I praise You for the grief You allowed and where it has led me so far. Amen.

Were it not for Grace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3qrFwQOJ8A&feature=related

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

God Will Make a Way

Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 (Amplified Bible)

God’s principles and concepts must be viewed in the way in which He meant them. Our interpretation of what He is saying must be in line with Scripture. If we are not careful, we can make a verse say what we want it to say and give it a meaning or promise God never intended. Then when what we are sure will happen doesn’t, we wonder why God didn’t keep His word. Truth be told, it was not His word, it was our word. Hence the warning in 2 Peter 1:20 which says that no prophecy of Scripture is of any personal or private or special interpretation. There is a danger to taking a verse and pulling it out of context just so it will fit our preconceived ideas and theology.

Sometimes we can draw conclusions and not even realize they are not accurate. Recently I saw this for myself in a song I have come to love. Don Moen sings the song, “God Will Make a Way” and it is derived from today’s verse. It speaks of God making a way where there seems to be no way. For the longest time I thought that meant God would figure out a way to give me what I want be it in relationships, career, opportunities, etc… I not only wanted His stamp of approval on MY plans but I enjoyed thinking He would carve out a path to bring those plans to fruition. God could see my wrong conclusion and has lovingly revealed His truth to me.

God does make a way but it is His way! That which He has designed and desired to carry out in my life will become possible as He opens and closes doors, makes provisions, guides, and clears obstacles. I don’t have to worry that there is no plan and I don’t have to worry that God will be unable to bring about that plan. I must simply rest in His Word, heart, and character, and walk in obedience to that which He shows me. Scripture is full of examples of God making a way for His people as they followed Him. The nation of Israel, Joseph, David, Ruth, Esther, and Moses are just a few of many.

My way? No, God loves me too much to allow that to be His goal. He knows who to cross my path with and what circumstances to use to glorify Himself and bring about the best. His timing is perfect, His tools are wise, and His ways are unquestionable. He is God. I am not.

Father, if allowed to have it my way, there would be no growth for me or glory for You. Thank you for showing me the truth in Your way. Amen.

God Will Make a Way - Don Moen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hOjYR8UZT8&NR=1

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

Purposed and Performed

Lift up a signal against the walls of Babylon; Post a strong guard, Station sentries, Place men in ambush! For the LORD has both purposed and performed what He spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon. Jeremiah 51:12 (New American Standard Bible)

As I have been reading through the book of Jeremiah, I am seeing time and time again the specifics of God’s judgments against numerous nations. What God purposed for each was eventually performed. But this truth is not limited to God’s judgment. Everything God purposes He performs. This is a truth I have been gleaning from a Bible study in which I am involved. It is impacting my life in a significant way and I can tell that once again God is profoundly shaping my walk with Him.

Often have been the times I have felt like “one of many” to God. A nameless face in a crowd. While I knew God did special and specific things with certain individuals I did not feel His intervention and personal attention was directed toward me…..or at least not very often. Feelings of insignificance and invisibility marked my path. But those are lies! The truth of the matter is that God purposes and performs that which He speaks concerning me. I may not always know the specifics but I can trust Him to do all that He plans to do in and through my life.

Eternity will be filled with many “aha” moments as the full picture will be clear. But for now I can catch glimpses of His purposes and performances when I look back and review significant times in my life. Not just wonderful times but difficult times as well. It is my opportunity to see how He has woven relationships and circumstances together to bring about life changing lessons for me as well as life defining moments. No detail is insignificant or unnecessary. Romans 8:28 reminds me that all things work together for good and God causes or allows each of the ALL things!

Insignificant or invisible? Not hardly! God is masterfully designing my life on a daily basis and it is changing my perception and view of everything in my life. Every relationship, every circumstance, every trial, every joy! I matter and every detail of my life matters to God. His sovereignty is a security to me and His heart is trustworthy.

Several years ago the truth that God’s love is not dependent upon what I am doing flipped my Christian life upside down! It was the start of my present journey. This truth about God’s involvement in my life via His purposes and performance of those purposes is making as big of an impact on me. What a joy to see life changing moments occur!

Father, I am breathless with wonder over You! Amen.

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

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

Without Sight

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 (New King James Version)

I remember as a 14 year old, reading this verse for the very first time and seeing the personal significance. It was the first time I had read Scripture and knew it was talking about ME because I was one who had believed in Christ without seeing Him with my physical eyes. Now, three and a half decades later, I am seeing a new truth come alive to me as I once again read this verse.

The Bible says that God is good, works all things together for good, and has purposed good things for our life. It also says He makes roads in the wilderness, gives beauty for ashes, and is conforming us to image of His Son. Some of us, like Thomas, live with a “I have to see it to believe it” mentality. We hold out believing with abandon until we actually SEE what God is doing, how things will turn out, why things are happening, where God is taking us, and when whatever we are experiencing will be over with. When we can finally see what God is purposing and doing we then make our proclamations of faith in Him. In other words, we believe He is Who He says He is and can do what He says He can do when we see it with our own eyes.

Today’s verse can be a personal invitation to us if we allow it. Jesus is saying to each of us, “Believe Me even when you don’t yet see all that I am doing and why I am doing it. The blessing comes as you walk in confidence even without the full picture and all the answers knowing that My view is really the only view that counts.”

I joy in the fact that THAT is the kind of God I love and serve. No matter what is transpiring in my life, He can be trusted, depended upon, believed in, and followed whether or not I understand and see everything. He already knows the end of each story of my life and my confidence in Him does not have to be weakened in the slightest by what I do or don’t see with my physical eyes. Eternity will reveal ALL the things I may question now, but I don’t have to wait until then to take hold of His hand and walk with boldness now. As far as God is concerned, it is ALL a done deal now even before it has begun.

Father, You’ve seen the tears, fears, and questions of my heart countless times. Now may You see the kind of faith that brings blessing. Amen.

God Will Make A Way - Don Moen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RmdzX5XPpM

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