In Need of What He Will Do

And Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. Exodus 14:13 (New King James Version)

Moses spoke these words to the children of Israel when they found themselves between the Red Sea and the advancement of their enemies. Their fear was born out of what seemed like limited options….to be drown in the waters or put to death by the hands of the Egyptians. Those were the only two scenarios that played out in their mind. God had led them out of Egypt and now the Red Sea stood between their future and their past. How they needed the instructions and hope. How we need it as well.

Each of us faces our own moments of feeling trapped between where we are going and where we have come from. We often feel fearful of failure or ruin. Unless we determine to stand in faith and believe to see the salvation of God for us, we too will see only the fragile scenarios that play out in our mind. Those scenarios are usually crafted from past experiences and we limit ourselves to the way things have always been. The very thing that the children of Israel feared was what at one time had them in bondage. Although they were actually free, their past experience still had a hold on them. It would continue to have a hold on them until they experienced God’s deliverance in profound ways. In like manner, our past will continue to have a hold on us until we experience God’s deliverance in a dramatic way.

I have never been in bondage to a person but I have been in bondage to my own emotions. God sees my fearful heart as I contemplate situations in my mind where I can all too easily do what I have always done. Those are my “Red Sea” moments. I have yet to pass through the waters and live in a new place in my life. The enemy of my soul is all too happy to remind me of past failures and stamp the words “impossible” over any thought that things can actually be different. I am not fearful of enemies over taking me but rather of my own emotions ruling me. It did not occur to the children of Israel that God could divide the Red Sea and lead them across on dry land and then destroy their enemies. At the present, I don’t know how God will get me past my own sea of emotions, but I am going to start by allowing the words Moses spoke to be spoken to me, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today.”

Father, I am out of options. Drained to the core. Show me the salvation You have for me. I stand in need of You today and I thank You for what You will accomplish. Amen.

I Need Thee Every Hour - Selah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIRJNgNSqok

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

The Corridors of Life

When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. Exodus 2:15 (New King James Version)

From the palace of Egypt to the wilderness of Midian, Moses entered a corridor of time that lay between his past and his future. From the loving, nurturing care of a father to the prison life of Egypt, Joseph entered his corridor. From the homeland of Moab to gleaning in the fields of Bethlehem, Ruth entered her corridor. From tending his father’s sheep to hiding in the wilderness, David entered his corridor. Many of my Bible ancestors experienced what it was like to leave what they knew to enter a time of wilderness living known as a corridor of passage. None of those places were permanent or comfortable but all were chosen by God to prepare them for His call on their life. We are no different.

This month of February, marks my seventh year of being on a significant journey with God. It began with a decision to leave a life of legalism and performance-based mindset to live with an awareness that God’s love is not dependent upon what I am doing. I entered a time of spiritual nurturing under the care of a significant person and God used her to equip me with many of the tools I still use today. It was a place of familiarity to me…my palace, my Moab, my homeland. On my own, I would have chosen to stay, but God had other plans. He wanted more for me and hence led me into my own personal corridor of preparation away from my place and person of comfort.

Like those who have gone on before me, I am spending years in this corridor. I do not believe this is permanent but rather a necessary place for now. What I am learning and what God is doing is meant to prepare me for His call on my life. I don’t know what that call will look like but He does and He knows what it will take to get me ready. I will be honest, I have not made the transition with ease or joy for the most part. Going from what felt safe and comfortable to what seemed like the darkest time of my life was terrifying at best. My emotions have been all over the map of my soul and yet no amount of questions, tears, or hindered steps have caused my Father to change His course of action. Out of an act of love and purpose, He closed the door of what once was, to lead me toward what will be. He has not left me. He has not given up on me. He has not let go of me. He will help me to rest in His loving heart and embrace this corridor of time with abandon so that my heart, attitude, and reactions take on a different flavor.

Father, oh how I have needed a shift in my spirit. My fear of letting go has prevented me from fully reaching forward. I give you my heart and my hand this morning. Lead on, Oh King Eternal. Lead on. Amen.

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

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

Receiving Help

But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set. Exodus 17:12 (New American Standard Bible)

I can often read a portion of Scripture and pull out the applications that best suit me at the time. Many have been the times I have read this account of Moses being aided by Aaron and Hur only to have my mind drawn toward the individuals God has used in my life to help at pivotal times. Individuals who came along side me with encouraging words and a willingness to hold me up spiritually and emotionally. Times when I felt weak and heavy hearted. They were godsends and ones of whom I have been grateful.

While that is all true, I have often missed a profound aspect of this biblical account of help. Later in the chapter, after Israel has the victory over Amalek, Moses does and says something that stands out to me. He built an altar and named it THE LORD IS MY BANNER. He came away from the experience not focused on the human help he had received but rather on the Lord as his helper. Did he need help from people? Yes! Did he accept the help from people? Absolutely! But when it was all said and done, the ones who helped were not the ones He centered his life around, grew dependent upon, or accredited the accomplishments to. God had sent the help (through people) but did not become replaced by those people.

I marvel at the balance. I long for it in my own life. I have people in my life who know my struggles and are willing to help me get on my “feet” again. For the past few days I have feared receiving the help because I know how easily such help can become a source to me that is addictive. Yet, this morning, Moses’ example is helping me to see that accepting help is not the problem. The problem lies in my own tendency to forget that God is my ultimate Help and Helper. Individuals are used of Him for a time. Their help is needed but it is temporary and meant only to help bring me to a place of moving forward once again.

Moses’ arms were held up when the battle raged but even then he knew God was doing the real holding and helping. May I learn to accept what is being offered to me by God and the helpers He sends. May I not see it as a permanent situation but rather as a present and temporary need.

Father, I raise my hands to You as I receive the support of the ones coming along side me at this time. I look to You as I receive their help. Amen.

You Are My All In All - Dennis Jernigan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9Up58OEtps

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

When It is Time to Let Go

But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go. Exodus 8:32 (New American Standard Bible)

Pharaoh’s refusal to let the children of Israel go was driven by a heart of refusal in regards to God and His ways. Time and time again we come across the phrase found in today’s verse. Each time, it results in further judgment via plagues. Even when Pharaoh claims to be ready to release the people, there is no intent for him to actually do so. What he is holding on to is the very thing that brings God’s hand against him. Each time his stubbornness is exposed, God’s power and control are revealed. It actually brings about the ruin of his land, his army, his people, and his kingdom as he knew it. Just when he thought he was having his way, he wasn’t. It wasn’t worth it for Pharaoh to hold on to that which God was telling him to let go of and it is never worth it for us.

If each of us is honest, we will admit to times when God has told us to “let go!” It may have come through His Word as we read it. It may have come through His Spirit speaking to us in the quiet moments. It may have come through watching another individual live with the consequences of holding on instead of letting go. It may even have been through a ‘Moses’ in our own life who has spoken clearly of what we need to release. Whatever the case may be, we know that we know what we need to let go of. Be it a habit, a way of thinking, or a way of living, we are on dangerous ground when a stubborn heart rules us rather than a submissive spirit. When we tighten rather than loosen our grip.

Pharaoh is a reminder to me that even when we think we are calling the shots and getting our way, we are not. God is sovereign and He is in control. Ultimately He always gets the last word. While this frustrated Pharaoh, it should be reassuring to us. How different the scenario would have been had Pharaoh not had a hardened heart. Had he obeyed God’s command to let His people go. But he didn’t.

I don’t want to be like Pharaoh and I don’t want my life story to play out like his. I am at a place of decision in my life. That which I am holding on to is causing me difficulty, discomfort, and distress. It is a mindset that has a hold on me because I have a hold of it. If I release it there will be change for the good. If I hold on to it, there will be consequences that will be painful. I am looking to God to show me how to let go, how to release, and how to walk in the freedom that He desires for me.

Father, give to me a heart of flesh that pulsates with obedience and love for you. That which You have put Your finger on is presently still in my hands and mind. Give me the grace to finally let go. Amen.

Power of Your Love - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga6Qtxzd6vk&feature=related

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

Knowing God

They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God. Exodus 29:46 (New American Standard Bible)

Countless times in the Bible, God spoke the phrase, “That they may know Me.” He is a personal God who wants to be known, understood, perceived, and acknowledged by His creation…by us. Far from distant, secretive, private, and unreachable, He is intimate and willingly reveals Himself to any who want to know Him. Some will gather the facts and continue to live their life with merely a head knowledge of God. I can tell you from personal experience, that does very little to transform one from the inside out. There is a difference between knowing about God and actually knowing God. Even on a human level this is true. I can know about a certain person without really knowing them and knowing what they are like. Much changes when I come to know them. And much changes when I truly come to know God.

The knowing of God comes through many avenues. First and foremost, it comes through Scripture where God reveals much about Himself. Even in Scripture though, I see other ways that God reveals Himself. Ways such as through creation, through experiences, through conversation, through His actions, through circumstances, and through others. He is far from limited to one way or means of self disclosure and revelation.

Because we are unique individuals with peculiar characteristics all our own and because we learn in distinctive ways, God knows the right methods to use to show Himself to us. He will always use His Word plus many (if not all) of the afore mentioned ways. Whatever it takes for us to see who He is and what He is like He will do. Our part is to become aware of what He is doing and how He is showing Himself. What He shows us is full of variety and ingenuity. Throughout each day we have the special position to see God as One who is faithful, present, powerful, attentive, passionate, caring, sustaining, loving, just, merciful, and kind.

For decades, I had a very small and distorted perception of God. To me, He was a harsh judge who tolerated me more than loved me. Over the course of the last six years my view of God has taken a radical shift. It came through asking Him to show me His heart in Scripture and showing me Himself in each day. He honors and delights in prayers such as, “Show me what You are like. Speak to me. Open my eyes to really see You and know You.” It is a life long journey and I am in awe of what I am coming to know of the One who knows me so well.

Father, for too long You were unknown to me. Continue to show me aspects of Yourself that will change the very fiber of who I am and what I am like. Transform me with the truth of who You are and what You are like. Amen.

All I Once Held Dear (Knowing You) - Robin Mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGbuz8QuhmE

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

Review That Builds Confidence

But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, "Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" Exodus 17:3 (New American Standard Bible)

The children of Israel faced a very real dilemma. They were in a desert area and had no water. Our bodies need water to live. When thirst sat in it was accompanied by fear. The fear brought about a wrong conclusion in their mind. To them, no water meant eventual death. Even though they had witnessed God’s deliverance for them out of Egypt, received manna from Heaven each morning, and already experienced God’s provision of water at Marah, their present situation over shadowed it all. At a time when they should have recalled God’s power and provision of the past, they went into panic mode.

Can you relate? I certainly can! We have no trouble trusting God when all is well and supply is at hand. But what happens when we are confronted with the impossible? A change in job? An empty bank account? Broken-beyond-repair relationships? An inoperable diagnosis? Or any number of untreatable, unchangeable, unfixable scenarios? When no relief is in sight and no help seems to be on the way? If we are not careful, the same fear that hovered over Israel can soon be hovering over us. With that fear can come the thoughts of being forgotten, ignored, or abandoned by God. We would never say it out loud but we can struggle with the deep down belief or feeling that although He sees our plight He is unmoved or unconcerned about it.

Know this, if you are in that place right now, God wants to assure you nothing is further from the truth. It is imperative that you find verses to hold on to such as I will never leave you or forsake you, I will meet all your needs, I will work all things out for good, nothing is too hard for Me. It is crucial that you review times in the past when God brought you through or supplied needs in amazing ways. It is vital that you voice the truths of Who God is and what God can do before, during, and after you voice the concerns and fears. God knows your situation. He knows you intimately. He has a plan and purpose for you. He never fails!

The children of Israel floundered each time a test came their way because they kept seeing the situation or need as being greater than the One who could help them. They forgot the very truths that could have helped them to walk in confidence in the face of seeming hopelessness. They serve as our examples of what life will be like for us if we repeat their words, thoughts, and actions. Remember, we are not called to understand all that God does or doesn’t do but rather to trust Him in the process.

I want to spend today reviewing with God the many, many things He has done in the past for me, to me, and through me. I want that review to be a part of my next time of testing.

Father, I have experienced Your work, presence, and power in the past. I praise You for the history You and I share. May my life be marked by confidence in You! Amen.

Indescribable - Chris Tomlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF9aY49oQTs&feature=related

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

Choosing to Stay

But if the slave plainly says, 'I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,' then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently. Exodus 21:5, 6　(New American Standard Bible)

Why would a slave choose permanent slavery over complete freedom? The love for his master, wife, and children out weighed his desire for liberation. When placed in this context it is understandable and even admirable. Yet, this morning, God is bringing to the forefront two phrases that He wants me to see…..”I will not go out as a free man……he shall serve him permanently.” Why those two phrases? Because I asked Him to show me a biblical example of what I am presently doing in regards to addictions in my own life. Something in me hesitates to ‘go out free’. To completely let go. Just the thought of it sends a ripple of fear throughout my internal world. It is not the picture of this person who chooses to stay a slave out of love, but rather it is a picture of the two and a half tribes who halted, hesitated, and refused to take up residence in the Promise land of God’s choosing.

I wept through a couple episodes of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew late last night. As I saw the hold of alcohol and drug addiction on the residents and listened to Dr. Drew explain the signs of addiction and those things that were necessary to bring about change, my own personal addictions stared me in the face. I come from a family of addicts….both alcohol and drugs. Neither one had a pull on me and yet I find myself addicted to my own food and relationship choices.

I cringe at the fact that I still make things available for myself. I choose to hold on and remain rather than making a permanent decision to let go and live in freedom. Suddenly, I can relate with the alcoholic who keeps a bottle stashed away in a secret place, the drug addict who has a ‘fix’ available should the need arise, the wife who keeps in touch with the abusive husband, the sex addict who still has the porn site housed on his favorites list of his computer, etc….. Whether or not they return to that which keeps them in bondage isn’t my point as much as the fact that those things still represent a form of security to them. I understand the over whelming fear at the thought of giving something up once and for all because that same fear keeps me within reach of my own addiction choices.

Letting go for me will require a change of heart as well as change of mind. I have a heavenly Father who is well aware of every aspect of my bondage and what it will take for me to break free. May all the mental rehearsing I am doing give way to His invitation for a new life.

Father, You know me through and through. Don’t let my place of bondage be a permanent place for me. Amen.

Painting Pictures of Egypt - Sara Groves
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcIA4Cnj6j4

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

What Stands in the Way?

Then Moses said to the LORD, "Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." Exodus 4:10 (New American Standard Bible)

When God called Moses to go to Egypt as His spokesperson and to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, Moses had two responses that he felt stood in the way of God’s plan working. First, he pointed to the possibility that the people would not listen to him or believe God had really spoken to him. God’s response? Moses was given three miraculous signs to give as proof that God had spoken to him. Second, he presented his limitation of a speech impediment. He did not see himself as a great orator and believed that would stand in the way of the message he was to deliver. God’s response? I made the mouth and I know what I am doing. While Moses could see the problems he was missing the power that came from God alone.

Am I not guilty of the same thing every time I allow my thoughts and fears to stand in the way when it comes to sharing my faith? I can so easily focus on how I think others will respond and how I might not say things just right. I can then allow those fears to stop me from even opening my mouth. When that happens, I miss the truth of what God is able to do. The results of witnessing must always be left up to Him. He alone can open the ears, eyes, and hearts of individuals to receive truth about the gospel. He chooses to use us with all our weaknesses and limitations as sharers of the good news! Rather than be a hindrance to God, our inabilities showcase His power and might.

Just as in the case of Moses, God knows what He is doing and who He wants to use to do it. The more the weaknesses the more profoundly it is seen that the results are coming from Him. We are the ones who deem ourselves unqualified and unusable, NOT God! God wants us to see that He can use our experiences, failures, weaknesses, personalities, deficiencies, and handicaps as we share His Word to keep us dependent on Him. Will everyone listen to and accept what we tell them? No, just like Pharaoh and the Egyptians did not listen to Moses. That was not due to Moses’ lack of skill but rather their heart condition.

We often mistakenly think if people do not accept God’s message then we have failed at presenting it in the right way. Not true! We have only failed if we have failed to share!

Father, may my confidence to witness to others be found in You. May I begin opening my mouth and then trust You to work and accomplish things in ways that only You can. Amen.

People Need the Lord - Steve Green
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AibBR6j2g54

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

When in Doubt

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all. Exodus 5:23 (New King James Version)

Moses did not start out as a man of faith and God knew this when He called him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. Moses’ first words back to God at the burning bush voiced his doubts. He doubted the people would listen to or believe him. He doubted his ability to be God’s spokesman to Israel or Pharaoh. He doubted that God would do what He said He would do. He looked at others, himself, and his circumstances and each gave him enough “proof” to doubt the very words of God. He doubted God’s call, God’s pledge, God’s power, and God’s nature. In essence, he was saying, “This is not turning out the way I thought it would, therefore, You are not keeping Your end of the bargain up, God.”

What does God do with our doubts? The same thing He did with Moses’ doubts. He restates the truth about Himself and His promises. He did not condemn Moses for what he said….actually God welcomes our honesty. He knows our thoughts even before the words come out of our mouth. What followed Moses’ statements was God’s proclamation of who He was and what He was going to do. He said, “I am the LORD. I will bring you out from under Egypt’s burden. I will free you from Egypt’s bondage. I will rescue you. I will take you to myself. I will be your God. I will bring you to the land I promised to your forefathers.” God was letting Moses know that no amount of difficulties, no lapse of time, no opposition can thwart His plans and purposes. Moses had to see that God’s truth always trumps his own problems and perspectives.

So what is it I must carry away with me this morning? That which I know to be true concerning God and what He has promised. In the face of anything this life throws at me, I must stand in and speak the truth. God is God. He is all powerful, all present, and all knowing. He will not leave me. He will finish the work He started in me. He will deliver me from strongholds. He will bring about His plans and purposes for my life. He will guide my steps. He will direct my path. He will bring about His ending to my story. His is my God. He is my Rock. He is my Fortress. He is faithful, trustworthy, and unchanging. He has me inscribed on the palms of His hands, keeps me under the shadow of His wings, tells me I am the apple of His eye, and holds me with His right hand. Will I face difficulties? Yes. Will circumstances get hard? Absolutely. Will there be tests of my faith and character? Definitely. Will I go through things that are uncomfortable and troublesome? Without a doubt. But none of that changes the truth statements about God. None of it!

Father, strengthen my eyes of faith. Let Your truth stand out dramatically above all that I think, see, feel, and experience. Help me to be a woman of faith. Amen.

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

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

His Work and His Time

I will drive them out before you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land. Exodus 23:30 (New American Standard Bible)

God gave the children of Israel insight into the way He would lead them into the promised land and how He would bring them to the place of possessing that promised land. As they walked in obedience with Him, He would drive out their enemies and cause His people to be fruitful and to acquire the land of promise. Their inheritance and territory! It would not be a quick and easy process. It would take years. God would work according to His wisdom and His timetable.

I have often watched with fascination the programs which show the make-over of homes. One show demolishes an entire house and rebuilds it beautifully in one weekend! While it is possible to do that with a house, God is letting me know that is not the way growth and victory in the Christian life comes about. His words to Israel are His words to me and His words to you. I am in need of His reminder each morning. I need to hear Him say He is transforming and remaking me little by little.

His process is usually one that exposes my thought patterns, mindsets, weaknesses, and areas of need in order to show me what needs to go and what needs to be embraced. God is faithfully “driving out” those things in me that would hinder me from flourishing and acquiring all that He offers. It is a word that means to divorce. To allow Him to divorce me from how I have come to think, act, and speak. To allow Him to teach me the truth about myself, the way the enemy works, the things He has equipped me with, the power of prayer and speaking His words over my life and circumstances, the authority of the believer, the balance of looking to Him and receiving encouragement through the body of Christ, and many more things. There are days His revelations to me are profound and immediate change is forthcoming. But there are many more days when the steps are small and the progress seems slow. Either way, God is the one who sets the pace for this journey. He is the one who drives things out of my life little by little. I rejoice in the tiniest work and the hugest manifestations of His operations.

Father, You are as present and meticulous with me as You were with the entire nation of Israel in Old Testament times. You know where You are leading me and how You will get me there. I choose to watch You, listen to You, and follow Your lead. Not in my flesh but by Your Spirit. I delight in all You are doing! Amen.

Potter's Hand - Darlene Zshech (Hillsong)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDAITgJXO1I&feature=related

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

An Oak of Shechem

So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods they had and the rings in their ears, and Jacob buried them under the oak at Shechem. Genesis 35:4 (New International Version)

When the children of Israel had made a golden calf and proceeded to worship it, Moses ground it to powder, scattered it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it. When Jacob was handed the objects of false worship he buried them under an oak tree. Both actions represented a distinct closure of wrong turns and the opportunity to start fresh. Both actions showed in a tangible way a funeral of sorts.

My point is this. Sometimes an end of something has to be drastic in order for the door of freedom to open. Hence, the need for alcoholics to pour liquor down a drain, for individuals to burn piles of pornographic literature, for smokers to destroy and discard packs of cigarettes, and for other addicts to do whatever it takes to break free of their addiction. They go beyond getting rid of it or just giving it to someone else. They destroy what seeks to destroy them.

A month ago, I opened myself up to an area of addiction. It wasn’t wrong in and of itself. As a matter of fact, at one time it was a beneficial part of my journey. But that beneficial part eventually became an addiction and had to be removed from my life. Over the course of a year or so I sensed within me a strength to reintroduce part of it back into my life through a couple of avenues including the purchase of a book. That action was enough to throw me off track on a journey intended to bring me to freedom. I was once again in the throws of an addiction and it was affecting numerous areas in my life including significant relationships. Like Moses and like Jacob, drastic measures needed to be taken. What were they?

Confession of wrong choices and accepting once again the truth that this particular area is off limits to me. Not out of punishment but rather for freedom. Some things needed to be deleted from my computer. Then came the question of what to do with the book. Give it away? Throw it away? No, something more profound and tangible that would represent a dieing off. I proceeded to pull the book apart, shred every page in a paper shredder, and then with shovel in hand head to the back yard for the burial. Each scoop of dirt loosened the grip of addiction and released me to continue finding my way to freedom. I awoke this morning with the absence of the oppression and sadness that has marked my path for the past month. My thoughts are clearer and my heart is lighter because I went back to the place where I had veered off the path and repositioned myself to re-enter it with joy! This time I didn’t need a Bethel experience…I needed an oak of Shechem.

Father, You have wooed me back to Yourself in a powerful way. Thank you for the forgiveness and freedom that has resulted from it. 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.

Out of a Willing Heart

Speak to the Israelites, that they take for Me an offering. From every man who gives it willingly and ungrudgingly with his heart you shall take My offering. Exodus 25:2 (Amplified Bible)

The building of the tabernacle in Old Testament times was initiated by God. He gave clear and precise instructions as to the materials that would be used as well as its architectural design. No detail was left unspoken or unrecorded. Yet, before any of those factors were disclosed He laid out the requirements of giving. The offerings were to be given from willing and ungrudging hearts. Other translations say, prompted from the heart and moved by the heart. Mere actions of conformity were not what God was after when it came to this special offering. It is not what He is after in whatever He calls each of us to do as well.

Scripture tells us that God loves a cheerful giver and that whatever we do we should do it heartily as to the Lord. This heart motivation and drive is not limited to financial giving in a church service. It targets every area of our life where we are called upon to act. The ramifications of this truth are huge as I consider them in light of my job, my marriage, my home, my church family, my relationships, my communication, my interaction with people, my entertainment, my health, my walk with God, my walk with others, my reactions to difficulties, and times when I am needing to walk in forgiveness. Whether it is giving a listening ear or a helping hand, God wants it done with a willing and grudge-free heart. A heart that is absent of resentment, complaint, bitterness, or a chip on my shoulder. He wants joy, passion, and enthusiasm to be displayed in my body language as well as on my face.

That can be a pretty tall order when it comes to the things I don’t actually enjoy or feel like doing. The daily grind of life can be filled with less than willingness and joy. So what do I do in those cases? I ask for His help. That which He calls me to do He will give me the time to do, the ability to do, and the willingness to do with a right heart attitude. What I lack in the area of my heart He will gladly give whenever I ask. It is as simple as saying, “Father, give me a willing heart to do the thing you are calling me to do.” I have voiced that prayer several times already this morning and was given exactly what I asked for. What He asks of each of us is what He so beautifully displays Himself. He is the ultimate cheerful Giver and I want to be like Him!

Father, You never tire of hearing my cries for help. You know my weaknesses and frailties and You willingly give what I lack. Give me a heart like Yours to be the driving force behind every action and word I speak today. Amen.

Make Me a Servant - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rznoe3zKxM

Do you have a verse or passage of Scripture that you would like to read a devotional on? If so, send me the verse or passage and I will look to see if I have written one for it. I would enjoy sending you a copy if it is available.

His Word to Me

He said, If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you. Exodus 15:26 (New International Version)

There are certain nuggets of truth that I need to allow God to engrave on the tablets of my heart and impress upon the walls of my mind. One of those nuggets is His title of Healer. Not just the Healer of nations and the Healer of another person’s life, but my Healer as well. I need to embrace this when I become over whelmed with places in me that still need healing. I need to verbalize this when I am tempted to give up. I need to repeat this to myself when there seem to be no other options than to just accept defeat.

This phrase, “I am the LORD who heals you” is a life line to me this morning. It is meant to anchor me with stability and safety. It is meant to keep my head above the waves on the sea of life. It is meant to be the reality I cling to in the midst of thoughts, feelings, and what my five senses experience. It is meant to assure me that He can do what I am unable to do.

One thing I have learned about healing of any kind….God will bring it about and it will take time. Maybe moments of time, decades, or a life time, but it will come. My part? Keep my ears open to His voice. Pay close attention to His daily directives. Walk in obedience to His direction and guidance. Failure to do so hinders my own progress and healing. Yet, I have come to realize that even in these areas I need His help. I need Him to develop in me listening ears, an attentive heart, and willing obedience.

I would love to say I get it right all the time but I know otherwise as do those who know me best. As does my heavenly Father. I drink in His words at a time when failure, floundering, and falling have been apparent. When my own weaknesses are blatantly apparent. When fears abound and hopelessness threatens to darken my path. In the midst of it all, He persists with His loving reminder that He is my Healer. He is my Helper. He is my All.

Father, You give me hope when I am hopeless, strength when I am weak, and clarity when I am confused. Remold this broken vessel into a masterpiece of beauty and dignity. Amen.

You Are My All in All - Michael W. Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVVW5EakyEc&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.

The One Who Teaches Me

I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say…and I, even I, will be with your mouth … and I will teach you what you are to do. Exodus 4:12, 15 (New American Standard Bible)

Moses’ sense and belief of inadequacy, inability, and insecurity made for an interesting response to God’s choosing of him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. God offered Himself as Moses’ personal Teacher so he could learn the things necessary to carry out the responsibilities that lay before him. God knew that Moses’ words and actions would be important aspects of his leadership and He was ready and willing to invest Himself in the development of both.

It is no different for each child of His today. Just like with Moses, God promises to teach us what to say and what to do in any and all circumstances and situations. I, for one, need His help! If left on my own, I say and do the wrong things. What are the things God is teaching me to say and do?

As far as my words are concerned, He is teaching me the necessity of truthfulness. Speaking what is true rather than what is perceived and believed. Those misperceptions and lies can be huge walls and doors that keep out the very things that are meant to be said. They affect the way I think, feel, and act. They limit the freedom God desires that I walk in and (like Moses) they cause me to believe I can’t do the things God calls me to do. One litmus test I am learning to use for determining the truthfulness or falsehood of my words, is to speak them to those who know me. They will usually be able to tell if what I am saying is really true or not. When my perceptions have clouded my view they help to clear the sky of my mind. It is then up to me to take the steps necessary to align myself with what is true and then speak it.

As far as my actions are concerned they must stem from a life of obedience derived from open ears and an open heart to God‘s voice, will, and ways. I can either choose to walk parallel with God or I can choose to walk opposed to Him. Both have huge consequences. The first brings about unity, power, and peace. The second brings turmoil and unnecessary hardships. The first is based on faith while the second is based on fear and self preservation.

How important are my words and actions? Important enough for God to step in and personally instruct me in the way I should speak and the way I should go.

Father, help me to say and do that which You are teaching me. I don’t just want to hear You. I want to walk in agreement with You. Let Your words to me affect my words and actions in profound ways. Amen.

In The Potters Hand - Hillsong (HQ sound)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6beNoG0H0E0&feature=related

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

Already At Hand

"Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Exodus 17:6 (New American Standard Bible)

As I think back on the many miracles of provision recorded in Scripture a truth is coming home to me. Amy Carmichael said it well when she wrote, “Have you ever been strengthened to win a victory perhaps over some inward foe, and have you suddenly found yourself tired out and sore athirst? Quite close, just where you are, there is water. Call, and the Lord will cause it to flow for you; some word of life will come to mind, some line of a hymn, some thought of peace, and your spirit will come again and you will be revived.”

When the children of Israel cried out because of thirst, the rock which brought forth water was close at hand. When thousands were fed from multiplied bread and fish, the boy’s lunch was already in their midst. When the widow set out to prepare a last meal for her and her son during a famine, the meal and oil were already in her home. When Abraham raised his hand to slay his only son, Isaac, the ram was already in the thicket near by. When Hagar placed her son Ishmael under a bush to die of thirst, the well of water was within sight. In these cases and many more, the supply God would use was right there for each individual. None of them could imagine that would be the way God would choose to meet their needs. They became the recipients of His sovereign generosity and compassion without even knowing what God would do or how God would do it.

God is showing me today that the same is to be true in my own life. It is imperative that I cry out to Him for my needs and then watch as He faithfully meets those needs. What He did in the past may not be what He does now but He will do something! I must leave the decision up to Him as to what or who He will use to meet my needs each time they arise. His options are not limited and neither is His ability.

Already this morning I opened His Word after letting Him know I needed refreshment from Him. I was feeling internally shaky and wanted Him to bring about a sense of peace and well being. His Word did that but it was accompanied by the reminder to no longer look to the old ways of satisfaction and help. Allowing Him to determine the supplying of my needs is to be my daily experience. What a God!

Father, looking to You never fails to put me in awe. You are the God who sees me and in that I rest, revel, and rejoice! Amen.

El Shaddai - Amy Grant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la0bQAJTelU&feature=related

An Open Invitation

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting and everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. Exodus 33:7 (New American Standard Bible)

The invitation found within this verse has profoundly stood out to me today. At other times I have missed it but today it is coming alive to me. This tent was not the Tabernacle in which only the priests were allowed to enter. It was not like Mount Sinai where Moses alone met with God. It was a tent for anyone to meet with God. ANYONE! And yet I read how the children of Israel “watched” as Moses went to the tent. They watched as the cloud of God’s presence descended on the tent. They watched as Moses came out of the tent and as Joshua stayed for an extended time with God. And the whole time I am asking myself why they chose to stay distant observers of such an opportunity?

Immediately I am struck by the comparison that can be made today in the life of many believers and of myself for too many years. I spent decades accustomed to observing other people’s walk of faith. Like the children of Israel, I watched them talk to God, listen to God, follow God, connect with God, and know God. I longed to have what they had but I remained a distant observer. Jesus’ words of “come unto Me” fell on deaf ears, blind eyes, trembling hands, and a cautious heart. While I saw what others had with Him and heard them tell me I could experience the same for myself, I doubted it could ever happen. I had no trouble connecting with those who connected with God but limited myself to that connection. I settled for far less than God was offering.

What changed? God used disappointment and pain to bring my gaze around to Himself. My searching was finally directed toward Him. He began to help me hear His voice with my own ears and see His face with my own eyes. Even though my steps are often slow and my insecurities are still apparent, He is passionate about wooing me to Himself. I am learning to ask Him the questions and to listen for His answers. I am experiencing the moments of crying on His shoulders and sensing Him drying my tears. I am learning how to allow Him to reveal truth from His Word to me in order to replace the lies of the enemy. I am learning what it means to have an authentic walk with my Creator and He is faithfully blessing each time I enter the tent of meeting!

Father, Your invitation has finally made its way to my heart. I revel in the relationship You are helping me to establish with Yourself. Amen.

A Fresh Start

Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. Exodus 2:12 (New International Version)

Have you ever had something from your past continue to give you a nagging feeling? I often wonder if Moses was ever haunted by his killing of an Egyptian. Or was David ever tormented by the thoughts of adultery and murder? Or were Joseph’s brothers bothered by their treatment of Joseph? Or…..you get the picture. The Bible is full of examples of people’s pasts that could have easily consumed them and robbed them of peace and joy and the ability to move on. Outside of the grace of God and an owning of His total forgiveness it is impossible.

In the course of a phone conversation last night something was said that I really needed to hear. As I reviewed some areas of regret, wrong choices, and life altering consequences from the past, I was able to take in this truth that my friend shared with me…..I cannot fix or change the past. I must simply move forward and determine by God’s grace to do the right things now. To walk in truth now and follow God’s lead.

I cannot tell you the weight that came off my shoulders as I saw the freedom in what she was saying. The continual questioning and beating myself up over past decisions has kept me from moving forward. It was like being frozen in time. I had wrongly assumed God wanted me to somehow fix everything and make it all the way it was suppose to be in the first place. I felt like a small child standing over the Grand Canyon with a tiny shovel and being told to fill in the hole. Impossible! And so was the idea with my past areas of concern. Not only impossible but a lie that it was even being expected of me.

To the best of my ability I have sought God’s forgiveness as well as that of someone who was hurt by it all. Now God is urging me to live in that forgiveness and walk in the freedom it brings. No more shame. No more condemnation. No more second guessing. No more “if only” statements. Learn from it and go on with Him. Listen for His daily instructions and then act upon what He says. After all, Moses, David, and Joseph’s brothers had no way of undoing or making right their sinful choices outside of God’s grace and forgiveness, and neither can you or I.

Father, thank you for each fresh start You give to me. I rejoice in the freedom of that thought. What I cannot undo need never hinder me from moving forward with You. Amen.

Learning to Fight Back

The enemy boasted, “I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.” Exodus 15:9 (NIV)

These words were voiced by the Egyptians as they proclaimed their intentions toward God’s chosen people. I can sense the venom in their words and the thirst for blood in their eyes as they spewed out their supposed conquest and victory. Of course, I delight to know that their threats were undone as they sank to the bottom of the Red Sea in the presence of their intended victims. The celebration of God’s people was profound that day.

God’s Word says that I too have an enemy. He is like a roaring lion and He is out to completely destroy me! Not just disturb, not just bother, not just intimidate….DESTROY! And he delights in his plan. I went to a Prayer Mapping event this weekend and saw so clearly the tactics he uses and the agenda he has. But I also learned how to fight him. I learned how to use my God-given authority to stand up to him. I learned the power of declaring God’s Word over each attack. I learned I don’t have to allow him to take up residence in my territory any longer.

For over forty years, he has delighted in the fact that I was unaware of his methods and schemes. He knew I was not putting on my armor each day and that I didn’t even know what the pieces represented for me. I was like the person standing on the battlefield confused and unprotected because I didn’t know who my greatest enemy was, what weapons were available for me, or how to use the weapons.

His greatest attack and subsequent victories over me have been in the area of my thoughts. How he has twisted and distorted the truth about God, about others, about myself, about my circumstances, and about the design, calling, and gifts of God on my life. In the past I simply tried to ignore him and hoped he would go away. Today I have come out with my armor on and fully intent on using it! He has messed with this daughter of the King far too freely and for far too long. The fight is on!!!

Father, how You must have grieved to see me walk through my days never using the armor or weapons You made so available. You knew the wounds I was sustaining were not necessary (so did the enemy). Now I know it as well! Amen.

Wrong Focus

Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? Exodus 3:11 (KJV)

I find it interesting that Moses’ questions and doubts to God’s call on his life all center around his view of himself. He questions his own identity and significance. His words are spoken with a tone of regret, resignation, and impossibility. He somehow struggles to feel qualified due to murder in his past and 40 years of ‘backside of the desert’ dwelling. He cannot see himself as a deliverer much less as a leader. If left to himself, his answer to the question of “who am I” becomes “I am an undeserving nobody.”

Not only does he struggle with his identity, but he questions whether or not people will accept God’s call on his life. He wonders if they will be convinced God really sent him. Will they listen to him and follow him? Will they raise objections that he cannot answer? His perception of what ‘might’ happen intimidates him.

As if those two giants of reasoning are not enough, Moses adds yet another hindrance to his ability to accept God’s call and move forward with boldness. His personal limitations. God’s call required proficiency in speech and that was not one of his strengths. Inferiority leaves him with a sense that he could never be successful at the very thing God has chosen for him.

Identity, intimidation, and inferiority is what became his focus and thus he himself became his own obstacle to overcome. Each one can be crippling in themselves and overwhelming when combined together. God’s answer? “I have chosen you, I have gifted you, and I control the outcome of the very things I will lead you into. It all rests on My shoulders. Cooperate with Me, trust Me, and be available to Me. You are My choice for this venture and I will not fail you.”

It is imperative that I allow God to speak the same things to my heart. He longs for me to take the focus off myself and what I perceive I am able or unable to do for Him, and see Him as the God of the impossible. My Christian life must be such that I trust Him, follow His step by step instructions, and agree with Him along the way. Identity is found in Him. Intimidation and inferiority must bow to His presence and power.

Father, like Moses, I have often had the wrong focus. Help me to see You, hear You, believe You, and follow You with abandon. Amen.

Voicing the Questions

And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. Exodus 3:4 (KJV)

This verse gives way to one of the most intriguing exchange of words found in Scripture. Moses’ questions reveal a lot about his thoughts, heart, and view of life. God’s answers reveal a lot about His person, presence, and power. I am struck by the candidness, honesty, and transparency of a man struggling to realize God actually has a call on his life and a desire to use him. While his dream of helping his people died long ago and he settled into what he thought he would end up doing with the rest of his life, God is intent on showing Moses that He has not forgotten him, given up on him, or abandoned him. He has simply spent the first 80 years of his life preparing him for a destiny of great proportion. I listen in as Moses questions his identity, exposes his fears, focuses on his limitations, and tries to convince God that He is choosing the wrong person to display His glory, fulfill His dreams, and carry out His plan.

How often I have believed the lies of the enemy and lost hope in ever having a realization of God’s purpose and involvement in my own life. Moses’ questions give voice to my own internal battles. His words somehow give me the courage to look deep within myself and begin to admit the things that hinder me from embracing the truth that God really does have something for me to do in His kingdom work. They reveal to me where I stand in doubt, fear, suspicion, and resignation. But that is only half of the story.

God’s responses are meant to fill me with hope, realign my belief with His Word, and give me the ability to join Him in all that He purposed for me before the foundations of the world. They are meant to free me from feelings of insignificance, thoughts of unworthiness, and attention on impossibilities.

I invite you to join me as I dig deeper into this conversation between God and Moses that was meant for our ears as well. It was meant to quiet our fears, strengthen our resolve, and renew our hope that God has not yet written the last chapter of our life in Him.

Father, I join Moses in his quest to get his questions answered by You. I am finally prepared to hear answers that will astound me. Amen.