A Continual Process

And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52

If ever there was a verse I would want to hang over my life it would have to be this one. If ever there was a verse to pray over my life and the life of my loved ones it would have to be this one as well. It is fascinating to see the effect of inserting one’s own name in a verse. I did it with Luke 2:52 and would encourage others to do it as well. And _________ kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. My desire is that daily those words would be alive in me and become my quintessence.

This verse reminds me that mental, physical, social, and spiritual growth was a continual process for Jesus while He lived on this earth. Therefore it is a continual process for me as well. None of those areas are a culmination of a one time event. There is never a point in this life where one can sit back and say, “I am finished learning, growing, and developing in my mind, soul, or spirit.” There is always room and necessity for more!

These same words of growth were spoken of Samuel as a child. He grew in the presence of the LORD (spiritually), in stature (physically), and in favor with God (spiritually) and men (socially). As a child! And look at the profound impact he had on an entire nation in his adult life! Our spiritual growth will ultimately affect others. Our internal world affects our external world. So if you are one who is experiencing growth in your Christian life, anticipate the manifestation of that growth in tangible outward ways.

As you draw near to God, spend time with Him, and make Him the focal point of your life, people will notice! Just like Moses’ face shined when he came away from meeting with God, your countenance will display the rich relationship you have with your heavenly Father. It will change the way you interact with others and even the times you are alone. May we keep growing!

Father, continually cultivate, nurture, and develop in me the essence of Yourself. As I stand in someone’s presence may Your presence in my life be evident. Amen.

A Good Example to Follow

Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 2 Kings 19:14

Hezekiah knew what to do with the threats brought to him by the enemy. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, flexed his muscles and his mouth, proclaimed his supposed victory, reviewed his past victories, and dared anyone to defeat him. His arrogance was as evident as his ego was inflated. His scare tactics were delivered with intimidation and lies. It had worked before and he was confident it would work again. The only problem was this time he was coming against the living God who was poised to defend His people and God’s servant who trusted in that defense.
Hezekiah had no problem taking the threatening letter out of the hand of a messenger and placing it into the hand of the God of the universe. He knew he served the one, true God. He knew his God loved His people and would fight for them. It is obvious that Hezekiah was a man of prayer. He knew how to come to God with confidence and to spread out the specifics of his situation.

How well do we do at times of turmoil in our own lives? How quick are we to take our situations to God with an expectancy that He desires to act on our behalf? Hezekiah leaves me an example to follow, because I love and serve the same God he loved and served. What is it I can learn from my ancestor of Bible times?

Prayer is a weapon of offense! I must learn to take everything to God and anticipate His loving response to me. Just like with Hezekiah‘s prayers, my prayers move God to act on my behalf. Nothing is too hard for God. Nothing is beyond His reach. As I place my situations, worries, and problems in His hands I can rest assured He will handle things in the right way. I trust His heart! Although He may not always act in the way I want, I know He is always loving, always good, always right, and always in control.

Whatever it is I bring to Him today, His hands are already reaching out to take hold of it. I am not bothering Him with my requests. I am inviting Him to intervene on my behalf and interact in my life.

Father, You are still God! Your Word shows me Your interaction with Your creation. You are still that personal, that involved, and that willing to act on my behalf today. I come to You! Amen.

A Limited and Temporary Transaction

And the devil said to him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.” Luke 4:6

This verse literally sent chills up my back! To think that any part of God’s creation would be handed over to such a one as Satan is tragic. I think of world leaders like Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and Stalin and I see what they did during their rule. When they held such power in their hands they took life instead of giving it. They devastated their own people instead of blessing them. Their rule was based on greed and self promotion. Those under their “care” were used, abused, and discarded. So horrible were their crimes against humanity that any footage shown is hard to watch. But they simply reflected the one who gave them their kingdoms to rule. They served him well and pleased him immensely.

I cringe when I realize what Satan gives away was at one time handed over to him. There is no recorded place in Scripture where this transaction took place so we can only surmise. I am assuming the kingdoms of this world were delivered to him when Adam and Eve chose to sin in the Garden of Eden. At some point, he became the possessor of something that was not originally intended for him. The Bible says all things were created by and for God.

There is no doubt he is the prince of the power of the air as well as the ruler of darkness. From the moment he rebelled against God as one of God’s most beautiful creations, his intent has been to destroy anything he can get his hands on. And his prime target is that which was created in the image of God…men and women.

But today we must realize the very things that Satan himself already knows. His rule is limited and temporary. Limited in the fact that he can only be in one place at a time and that he still must seek God’s permission for certain acts (as in the case of Job). Temporary in the fact that one day his influence on God’s creation will come to an end. He knows he has so little time left in comparison to eternity. But he also knows that because of Calvary we have been given authority to come against him in what is called spiritual warfare. May we take that authority seriously.

Father, all is not lost. Help us to see the truth about Your enemy and ours. Greater is the One in us than the one that is in the world. Amen.

A Tool for Encouragement

Each one helps his neighbor and says to his brother, "Be strong!" So the craftsman encourages the smelter, and he who smoothes metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil, saying of the soldering, "It is good," and he fastens it with nails, so that it will not totter. Isaiah 41:6:7

Oh that we would begin to encourage others with the same passion as these idolaters encouraged one another!

Recently I have begun to realize the power of spoken words. I find that when I speak truth out loud, it has a way of shifting my inner world for good. And there have been numerous times a word of encouragement has been spoken to me by a friend that has been life giving.

Each of us has the power to speak life or death over other people's lives. We speak life whenever we quote portions of Scripture, speak truths about God, speak positive words over a person, or speak hope into situations. We speak death when our words are critical, abusive, negative, or insensitive.

Last week, God lead me to write a two page letter to my husband. At present, he walks in discomfort over circumstances in his life that are out of his control. I know what God is doing. He is using all of it to help Tim find his security, identity, and refuge in Christ. I wrote the letter to speak truth and life into his soul. It will be the platform for future conversations with him. My own journey over the past two years will become a reference point for me.

Whether it is my husband, a family member, a dear friend, or an acquaintance, may I take each interaction with them to verbally encourage them. It WILL make a difference for them. I saw it work in my own life and still do.

Father, may my mouth be Your tool to encourage others. Amen.

A Necessary Change

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12

God’s principles are such that they don’t always come naturally to us. We live in a world where needs run high, expectations run deep, and longings run rampant. How easy it is to live our lives looking for others to fix us, heal us, encourage us, affirm us, carry us, restore us, and just plain love us. While we are looking to receive, God is urging us to give.

I have often looked at a verse like Matthew 7:12 and limited its meaning to treating people the way I want to be treated. The idea (in my thinking) was that if I do that they will reciprocate. In a sense, I am simply giving to get. God’s ways are higher!

Last night this verse hit me in a way I have not been able to escape. I have pondered it through out the night and it still has my attention this morning. What is God doing with it? He is causing me to search my heart and ask myself what it is I am looking for others to do or be for me. Then He is taking that “list” and helping me to see the necessity of doing and being exactly that to others. For instance, start encouraging others, speak affirming words to others, be upbeat and positive toward others, show an interest in others, nurture others. Why? So they will in turn be that way toward me? No! That would mean I am dependent on them and connected to them to meet my deepest heart needs. God knows that is an endless cycle and doesn’t work.

My Christian life is meant to be such that I live so connected to the heart of God that He fulfills the needs of my heart. As I take in what He has to offer me on a daily basis I am free to then live for others out of ministry instead of deprivation, hunger, and emptiness. God will give me what people are unable or unwilling to give, and out of the abundance of what He gives me I can turn around and lavish it on others. This is a new thought for me and one that is meant to change the way I have been living in relationship to others. May God guide me in the process of seeing it become a reality!

Father, I am catching a glimpse of one of Your principles this morning that is about to revolutionize my life. May I live out its truths today! Amen.

His Strength Is Perfect

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might he increases power. Isaiah 40:29

I have a friend who lives with a difficult disease. There are days she expresses the weariness of her particular battle. Not only does her physical condition drain her but the treatment to slow its progress is hard on her as well. Another friend is going through a family crisis. I don't know the details but I have seen and felt her heavy heart. There are days she is simply spent by it all but still clings to God tenaciously. Another friend has recently lost her husband of over 60 years. As the sorrow and loss fully hit, her body and soul will suffer excruciating pain.

The list could go on and on. I could become overwhelmed by the many stories of discouragement, depression, and discomfort. But today's verse shows me the power surge God will faithfully administer to each one. I know that each friend I mentioned looks to Him for the strength and power that only He can supply.

Right now, the terrain of their journey is rugged. Their situations have not seemed to change much. But in the midst of their storms God is faithful to infuse them with strength that they cannot produce on their own. He will send friends to encourage them but the actual strength will be administered by Him directly.

Like a life guard breathing life into a drowning victim, like an IV bag infusing medication into a patient, like a cord being plugged into a power source, they are connected to an ever present, ever ready, ever willing Source of strength and power. Therefore, I can continually lift them up in prayer and know His grace will be sufficient.

Father, You care about my friends even more than I do. Thank you for the strength You are giving them as their storms rage. You are not only their safe harbor and lighthouse You are the Provider of strength they need. Amen.

Roots and Fruit

The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward. Isaiah 37:31

Fruit trees bear fruit as their roots go down deep into the soil for minerals and water. They are tapped into a rich source that is necessary for life. Jesus told us to sink our roots into Him by abiding in Him and it would result in us bearing fruit.

There are many things I can do without abiding in Christ and being connected to God's heart. I can join a church, get involved, teach, sing in the choir, go on visitation, work in children's ministries, attend seminars, read books, and do countless other things and STILL not see fruit. While these things are good they are not meant to be my life source. They are not what connect my heart to God's heart.

Connecting and abiding transpire when I simply come to God and receive from Him what He longs to give me. I have spent years looking to people and things to fill the emptiness in my life, to give me my identity, to meet my deepest needs. But as I did, I missed the true Source. It wasn't until I finally stopped and turned to God, and said, "You fill me where I am empty" that I found the connection and I marvel at what has transpired.

I know fruit will come of this ~ it is only natural. But it will not be because I am straining to produce it on my own. It will come because it is the natural result of abiding in Christ. While Satan would be quick to give me a list of things to do, God says to just stay connected to Him. Right now He is nurturing my spirit in ways I have never known. This is all new for me.
He has things for me to do and He has a work He is calling me to. But I must sink my spiritual roots downward in Him before I can begin to bear any fruit upward.

Father, I am in awe of how this works. Nurture me fully and produce Your fruit in me. You are my Source. Amen