Friendship 101

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (King James Version)

There are times when I miss seeing the promise in a verse. I do not know how many times I have read today’s verse and walked away only seeing the conditional aspect of to have friends I must be friendly. Yet, this morning the promise calls out to me….. You WILL have friends if you show yourself friendly!!!!!! It is not saying that EVERY person I am friendly toward will in turn be my friend. But I will have friends if I live my life as a friendly person.

The question now is, “What is a friendly person?” I first must look to Scripture to begin answering that question. Proverbs 17:17 says a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Those two phrases are a wonderful starting place. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is a “how to” book on love. Therefore, if I am patient and kind and seeing the good in others, I WILL have friends. If I am not rude and self seeking, I WILL have friends. If I believe the best about others and am there for them in times of trouble, I WILL have friends. In myself these things do not always come naturally, but I am not on my own to muster them up. I have the Spirit of God living and working in me and therefore I have His fruit….the first being love! Here’s the exciting part! With time and nurturing, fruit grows!!!!! What is in me will grow as I cultivate and develop it.

The Bible is filled with example after example of love in action with the climax being laying ones life down for another. Bible characters show me self sacrifice, serving, coming along side, comforting, and giving, to name a few. As I read God’s Word, I can ask Him to help me take notice of the signs of friendship being displayed.

Then there are the real live examples that I see before me on a daily basis. I can watch and learn from them. Their smiles, kind words, hugs, listening ear, and warmth are tutors to me. Again, the Spirit of God is in me to help me do any of these things in times when I feel least like doing them.

I needed the truth of these thoughts this morning because although I have friends who are dear to me, I have insecurities that can block me from fully enjoying them or can get in the way of me being enjoyable to be around. I went to sleep last night asking God to show me how to begin changing so that the emotional battles no longer have such a hold on me. I woke this morning with the first of His words to me. BE FRIENDLY.

Father, I can tell when it is You doing the talking because You tell me what I would never come up with on my own. I take delight in the lesson You have given me this morning. I take Your hand as I now live it! Amen.

Good and Faithful Friend - Andi Rozier
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py6FrhH-TGI&feature=related

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

When I Don't Understand

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (New King James Version)

There are times when the questions of my heart go far beyond my ability to understand certain aspects of life. When there just doesn’t seem to be plausible answers for me to rest in. When the questions that start with “why” are not met with satisfying answers. It may be the circumstances of life, the actions of another, or any number of issues. Whatever the case may be, in the end it will come down to a matter of trust. Not trust in myself or trust in another individual, but trust in the Lord. To take whatever has been handed to me that produces more tears than joy or questions than answers and hand it over to Him for safe and proper keeping. To entrust Him with my life and my heart.

Sometimes I can have something happen and not give it much thought. But other times it seems that I enter a mental maze of questions and searching that take me on a journey that is futile and never ending. There just isn’t anything that makes sense. No logic, no answers, no understanding and hence no peace, no joy, no contentment. Life comes to a standstill until I begin once again to live out the truths of Proverbs 3:5.

God wants me to understand that I don’t have to have things or people all figured out. The heart and motives of others are not discernable to me just as the root system of a tree is not within my view. When it is all said and done I have to concede that I just don’t know and that is when God says, “It’s okay. Trust Me. Trust Me to take care of you, to protect you, to satisfy you, to meet your needs, to love you. When those who have been primary encouragers to you have stepped away, trust Me to introduce you to new encouragers. When direction is needed, trust Me to give it. You are not on your own, you are not abandoned, you are not helpless. You have Me and I have a hold of you. Trust Me.”

I need the reminders. Sometimes they come from other Christians and sometimes they make their way from God’s mouth to my ears. Sometimes they enter my mind while I am sleeping and the thought jolts me awake like a charge of electricity. However it happens, it is enough to turn my gaze back toward God and to nudge me forward on my journey once again. How gracious of Him to allow me to trade my misunderstanding for confidence in Him!

Father, You know my thoughts and my feelings. I confide to You all the unanswered questions and find assurance in Your invitation to trust You. Speak the “Peace be still” to the storms of my soul. I take refuge in You. Amen.

Do I Trust You, Lord? - Twila Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSopilUouw8

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

Words to Live By

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5,6

Probably aside from John 3:16 and Psalm 23, this part of Proverbs is one of the most familiar verses to many people. While many of us have it memorized and can easily quote it, do we flesh it out in our daily lives? Is it evident in the way we speak, respond, and act? When the storms of life hit, the way becomes unclear, or everything seems to be against us, do we take the words literally as our banner of proclamation and maxim? This morning I want to pull these phrases apart and examine them more closely.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart. Have full confidence and reliance in God. Often times we put more confidence in people and what they can do for us. We run to them for comfort, advice, assurance, protection, and strength. Take the most profound person you know and they are still limited in what they can do for you. What help they are able to give you is temporary at best (unless they are directing you back to God). That is why when you call them and pour out your heartache to them, the feelings of sadness and loneliness return as soon as you hang up the phone.

Lean not unto thine own understanding. We are so good at trying to figure things out for ourselves. We use our own thoughts, our own feelings, our own interpretation of things to assist us through the mine fields of our life. We rack our brains into the late hours of the night or early hours of the morning mulling over every possible solution we can come up with. We somehow feel the answer lies in us. We believe if we think it through long enough we will come up with a way to fix our life and move forward.

In all thy ways acknowledge him. Recognize and admit the truth about God. Stand on the reality of His power, presence, and protection available to you. The more difficult our situation the more necessary it is to proclaim the truth about Him.

He will direct your paths. We are not on our own. He is involved in the process of bringing us through this life. His promise rests on His character but is also conditional to our trusting, leaning not, and acknowledging. May this passage become my maxim for life!

Father, saying the words can come easy. I must choose to take each step spelled out in the passage. Help me to do that! Amen.

Do I Trust You, Lord - Twila Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSopilUouw8

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

Receiving Their Words

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. Proverbs 27:2 (New American Standard Bible)

I have often read this verse and walked away with two conclusions: I should not brag on myself but let others do the complimenting. Yet this morning the first word in Proverbs 27:2 grabs my attention. How many times have we NOT let someone say something affirming to us? Rather than receive their kind words we brush off what they say with, “Oh, it was nothing.” Or we dismiss what they are saying with a contradictory negative statement. Or we feel the need to quickly compliment them back which comes across as insincere and forced. Why are we finding it so difficult to accept and embrace the verbal or written praises of others?

Maybe our view of ourselves is so distorted that we feel undeserving of anything nice being said to us. Maybe we question the sincerity. Maybe we mistakenly think that a refreshment to our soul is somehow being prideful. Maybe we have a wrong picture of humility. Maybe we think the worst parts of us nullify anything good that might be found in us. Maybe we grew up with very little affirmation and encouragement, therefore the words are foreign to us and make us squirm. Maybe just maybe we fail to see God’s gift to us in those words.

Whatever the reason may be, the enemy accomplishes two things when we fail to let someone celebrate, commend, affirm, or compliment us with their words. He prevents us from receiving something that was intended to minister to our soul in a deep and satisfying way. And he causes the other person to feel somewhat foolish for giving out kind words and it could lead them to shut down the attempt in the future. Let’s not let him have such a victory!

For some of us, it will take time to begin seeing compliments as a good thing and learning to drink them in with thanksgiving. Maybe the next time someone pays us a compliment in any way we could start with just this simple phrase: “Thank you for your kind words!” Those words spoken with good eye contact, a smile, and a possible hug would do tremendous things for both the recipient and the giver of gracious words.

Father, help me to fully embrace generous words spoken to me and to also become extravagant in voicing affirming words to others. You are my role model in rich communication. May I follow Your example! Amen.

Amazing Love - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NeKnC4WXCs&feature=related

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

What He Sees

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts. Proverbs 21:2 (New American Standard Bible)

The true test of any action is not what we think or see but rather what God considers. He goes beyond the surface of our behavior and examines the motives that are driving us to act. Whether it be our relationships with others, our performance at work, our carrying out of responsibilities, or our many multi tasking ventures, His litmus test is always our hearts. Our heart can mislead and deceive us but it can never escape God’s perfect examination.

Since God is the one who knows my heart, it is imperative that I continually go to Him and ask Him to reveal to me what He is seeing. Even with the best of intentions I can be prone to live with self deception if I am not seeking to know what is crystal clear to Him. There are questions I can take to Him and He will graciously answer them. Here are just a few: Why am I about to say that? Why am I taking on this new responsibility? Why am I going in this direction? What is driving me to do the things I am doing?

Along with questions I can also seek clear understanding. Show me where pride is present. Show me where I am seeking praise and applause. Show me where I am trying to derive value, meaning, and significance from relationships and situations. Show me where revenge, hurt, and anger may be involved.

Each of us wants to believe that our motives are pure and our actions are what they appear to be. Heart examination is painful at times because it exposes the truth that can be uncomfortable to admit. But the reason for such an exercise is not to bring shame or cause us to throw up our hands in resignation and defeat. The reason is so that God can begin to purify us and allow us to act out of the right motives. He desires us to align our hearts with His and bring forth actions that result from our relationship with Him.

There is much I can put my mind and hands to today. There are things I will say and tasks I will perform both in private as well as in the public arena of life. Ultimately it won’t be the opinions of myself or others that matter. It will be what God determines. I cannot hide or disguise any part of myself with Him. As my view of Him continues to be corrected, that brings about a sense of safety rather than dread. May I delight in the fact that His eye sees it all!

Father, open my eyes to the real me. Let me see what is behind every word and deed. Bring me to the heart of every matter. Amen.

Empty Me - Jeremy Camp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW4aCmI_uiw&feature=related

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

Finding My Confidence

Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Proverbs 3:25, 26 (New American Standard Bible)

Fear takes hold of us when we think about a future event, perceive the outcome of that event, and react to what we believe is going to take place. We don’t fear the past because we already know what happened. We don’t fear the present because it is right in front of us. We fear the unknown. Within that context I have come to see my two greatest fears are of loss and failure. Loss of anything or anyone I hold dear. Failure to live differently than I have in the past. The fear is often accompanied by feelings of darkness, despair, despondency, and discouragement. It is like having a wet blanket wrapped tightly around my mind and soul.

The question becomes in who or what is my confidence resting? If it is in myself, another person, things not changing, or any number of things I can control or desire to control, that confidence will be shaky and unreliable at best. The people and possessions in my life come with no guarantees and I often want guarantees. I want to know that I can count on the important things and relationships not changing. There is no peace and joy in such wishing. It brings about a restlessness of thoughts and emotions. It depletes me of energy and enthusiasm. So on whom should I place my confidence, trust, and reliance? God!

Scripture is full of doing just that. Today’s verse speaks of God being my confidence and protection. Confidence comes as I see God as my Helper (Hebrews 13:6), as the Finisher of the work He has started in me (Philippians 1:6), as the Supplier of all my needs (Philippians 4:19), as the Worker-outer of all things for my good (Romans 8:28), as the One who will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).

On a practical level, I can be confident that God will wisely and lovingly intersect my world with people whom He will use to help me on my journey. Fear of them leaving is over-come by recognizing Who really determines the times and seasons of each relationship. I can be confident that God is willing and able to give me victory in areas of my life that have only known defeat. Fear of failure is overcome by acknowledging that my past does not define me…God does!

Father, where I walk in doubt and fear birth in me a boldness and confidence in You! Amen.

My Life Is In You, Lord - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0M0NALW7EM&feature=PlayList&p=B72B181C3BB024FD&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=49

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

Truth That Was Skewed

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6 (New American Standard Bible)

Wounds go deep. A physical wound may require anything from a bandage to stitches to major reconstructive surgery. An emotional wound is often harder to detect and more difficult to remedy. The first time I ever read this verse I equated it to simply being told the truth by a friend even if the truth hurt. It was a concept that made me squirm. Why? I didn’t like being hurt, even if it was for my good and even if it was necessary. Why? Because I developed a spirit of suspicion toward others at a young age.

Discipline, correction, and punishment in our home was often given out in anger, impatience, irritation, and harshness. Afterwards there was not a time for reassurance of love or welcoming back into good graces. I simply waited until things seemed to be back to “normal” and life went on. Hence, when my actions evoked the displeasure of my parents, the message I took in was that I was unlikeable, burdensome, disgusting, and unloved. There was not an opportunity to develop a healthy attitude when it came to being corrected, even by well meaning people. I didn’t realize until years later that my view of being corrected and my view of the one doing the correcting was skewed. What God had intended to be a picture of His heart for sin, correction, and reconciliation, had quickly been distorted by the father of lies, Satan.

This distortion did not begin or end with my parents. It was the experience they were raised with and it became my own experience when it came to my correcting others. The day I saw my parents in me was a jolt beyond words. But God is assuring me the cycle can be broken. He is not only capable of helping me to see the right view of friend-induced wounds but the right way to be that kind of friend to others. It comes as I admit my own bankruptcy in this area and my own weaknesses. It entails discovering the root of my attitude about myself and others. It demands confession of my wrongs, exchanging many lies for truth, and a desire to see life from God’s perspective. He has given me countless individuals in the Bible who did it right and many who did it wrong. As I read their examples, may they become my personal tutors in the school of life.

Father, I have experienced changes in some areas and have a long way to go in others. Your unchanging love for me helps me to continue this process of growth. Amen.

Make It Real - Mark Lowry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-B3IeE9K58

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

Finding My Way Back

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. Proverbs 18:21 (Amplified Bible)

If the power of life and death are in the tongue, surely the engine for that power is our mind. The words we choose to use and indulge in are cooked in the kitchen of our thoughts. What we speak and what we think on are vital and result in life or death to our spirit, our circumstances, our outlook, and our internal world.

I’ve seen first hand the killing effect of wrong thoughts and wrong words. My mind gets clouded with negative, hopeless thoughts and the longer I indulge those thoughts the more powerful their grip is. Afterwards I find it hard to believe how dark it gets. I cannot see any positive aspect of my walk with God and that sends me into a place of fear. Fear that all is lost. Fear that the journey I have been on is leading to a dead end. Fear that connection with God is not a reality for me. Fear that I am no better off than I was in the throws of legalism. Fear that I will never get it right or keep it right.

When it passes and I prepare for a new day, I look back on the darkness and I pick out the valuable jewels of truth that are available to me. One truth is that what I choose to think on and accept as believable is what will dim the light in me and cause all to seem dark and lost. I cannot afford to think on what will bring about death to my feelings, emotions, and spirit. When I do I pay a price and the price is enormous. Another truth is that even in my darkness God still has His eye and hand on me. He does not step away during my times of struggle. He does not roll His eyes and say, “Here we go again!” Instead, He begins to woo me back to Himself with full confidence that I will once again find Him. Another truth is that returning to a place of safety with Him is always possible. He does not force me to stay any longer in the darkness than I am willing to stay. It always astounds me that while entering a dark time can be gradual, coming out of it can be so instantaneous.

I cannot get back the time I’ve lost when I lived without the peace and joy God always desires for me. I am, though, the richer for it because of the lessons I have learned. Today I choose to live under the canopy of His love and grace rather than the cloud of regret over past choices.

Father, sometimes it gets dark but You lead me back into the light of Your presence. You calm my fears and settle my heart. I feel the hold You have on me and within that hold I am safe. Amen.

The Protector of My Soul - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRyPKdHmwB0

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

The Way of Love

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Proverbs 3:3 (New International Version)

There are times when I want to pull away from everyone I know. My mind makes a decision to not answer phone calls, emails, or letters. It is called shutting my heart down, resisting the urge to need anyone, and safe guarding myself from disappointment, dissatisfaction, discouragement, and depravation. But God is letting me know that is not the way He would have me live. That is living out of my flesh instead of out of my spirit. It will grieve Him and do no one any good whatsoever.

God’s Word tells me to love others. I must allow His command to be more than words on a page and a sound in my ear. On a practical level, loving one another means I keep myself open to fully receive others as God brings them across my path. I welcome their conversations and listen to what their needs are. I ask God to show me ways to minister to them and allow His Spirit to infuse me with the love, desire, and ability to do so.

It also means setting aside the thoughts of who I would like to be involved with and watching for how God intersects my world with the ones of His own choosing. It becomes a time of anticipation rather than frustration. It also becomes a way of life whereby I receive abundance from Him and become a conduit of encouragement to others as I give to them what He has graciously given to me.

Will He encourage me through others? Absolutely! Will He allow others to be His conduit of grace to me? Most definitely! But He will choose the person and the timing. His desire is that I learn to rest in His hands and in His ways. Not squirming! Not sulking! Not closed off! But rather open to all that He intends this day to bring forth through me and to me.

Above each activity and each moment I need to display the words, “His ways are higher than my ways. His thoughts are higher than my thoughts. His plans are good. His love is enough. He is God!” Learning to live in trust and cooperation with Him and sensing His presence and His smile throughout my day is what will make today unique, powerful, and precious. May I go forth with praise on my lips, joy in my heart, and arms open wide to give and receive.

Father, thank you for the way that only You can redirect my thoughts and actions. I bow to the wonder of You. Amen.

Worship Song - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMpbm2p-1mo

Fixing my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith!

Right to the Heart

For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Proverbs 2:10 (New American Standard Bible)

I often mistakenly think that truth has a way of getting into my mind and must somehow be worked into my heart. Just last week I shared with a friend how I have a lot more things stored up in my head than in my heart. It seemed I knew more than I was living. This morning, God is opening my spiritual eyes to a precious truth to take into the new year. When He gives me wisdom it enters my heart! Actually, when comparing different versions I began to see that heart and mind are interchangeable words. Rather than being two separate places in me they are the same.

I take delight in this concept. It gives me hope. It helps me to see where my energies need to be directed. It is not a matter of getting knowledge from my head to my heart. It is a matter of seeing my need to obey and cooperate with God in the areas He has shown me. It is a matter of applying the truths that have entered into me, not only this morning, but in the decades of my Christian life. They are all in me, not just in a part of me. My obedience and His empowerment will be what makes the difference.

That wisdom, truth, and knowledge that I speak of is received from many different avenues. Primarily it comes through His Word but secondarily it also comes through friends, books, music, experiences, His Spirit, and a host of other options God freely chooses and uses. Whichever means by which God desires to bring wisdom to my heart is up to Him. He is perfectly creative and ingenious.

So what has been the wisdom that has entered my heart this morning? I get to put the failures and mistakes of last year behind me. I no longer have to live under the banner of my past. I enter this new year a new person with a fresh start. I can view relationships in a different light because they have changed but not ended. My interaction with individuals will be different this year because the reasons for the places in each others lives are different. I am free to embrace all that God offers me in this new year because some chains of bondage fell of during 2009 and more are to fall in 2010. Things that did not make sense to me last year may very well come through loud and clear this year.

Father, I joy in You and the hope You have given me. I choose today, with Your help, to live out of the wisdom that has entered my heart! Amen.

Shout to the Lord - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I71XhjqoHvs&feature=related

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

An Insatiable Hunger

A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. Proverbs 28:25 (New International Version)

Does God ever pinpoint an area in your life and when He does you have no trouble knowing what He just pinpointed? It just happened to me while reading a devotional by Mary Southerland entitled “Guarding Greed.” She asked and answered a question that shed light on something for me. It went as such, What happens when we live as if He is not enough and He is not all we want? Greed happens. While most of her devotional centered around material greed, God directed my attention toward that for which I tend to display greed.

Greed is that strong desire to have more of something. To acquire or gain more than is necessary or intended. An inordinate desire to have in excess. It’s twins are jealousy, envy, and covetousness. It is a robber of thankfulness and joy. It imprisons one in a shell of selfishness, pride, and continual hunger. When my goal in life is to fully satisfy my need for more I live frustrated, empty, and in a continual state of want. What God wants me to see is that satisfying the greed is impossible but conquering it is not!

As I read Mary’s question, my area of greed quickly came to mind. Relationships. God uses them but greed desires more from them then what is needed or intended. Greed wants more of what is there and when more is given more is desired. I see this played out when it comes to another person’s time, attention, acceptance, and affirmation. One dose is not enough. As soon as I take in what is offered I crave more! I have known this about myself for quite some time but have never seen as an aspect of greed.

Today’s verse sums it up very well. My greed brings about conflict and disruption yet when I place my expectations, hopes, desires, and trust in God He prospers me in more ways than any human relationship is able to do. The bottom line is that what I am craving from people is actually what I need from Him. People are His representatives but I so easily attempt to make them His replacement. His desire is that I would turn my attention and appetite toward Him and I do that one step at a time.

My steps? Acknowledge the truth about my greed. Confess it to Him and receive the forgiveness He offers. Understand that while I may not be entirely free of this tendency in this life, I can certainly walk in victory over it. Through Christ I can control how it affects me. Depend upon Him to show me each time greed stirs within me and how NOT to feed it but rather turn the desires toward Him. Lastly, realize that greed is okay when what I am greedy for is more of Him!

Father, within this heart of mine lies a voracious appetite that seeks to be fed off sources other than You. Help me to walk in victory with a satisfaction found only in You. Amen.

He's Been Faithful - Damaris Carbaugh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdO2cRXVHII

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

Feelings Versus the Truth

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7 (New King James Version)

Just under a week ago, I asked God to show me what was wrong with me. For some reason, I was not connecting with some basic truths and I did not know what that reason was. Truth was making its way into my head but not affecting my life. Struggles were still struggles. Issues were still issues. I felt like I was standing still in certain areas of my life. I couldn’t figure it out so I turned to the One who could.

Recently I have been reading a book by Neil Anderson entitled Who I Am In Christ. As I read that I was called, chosen, forgiven, redeemed, and so forth, the words remained just words to me. I wanted them to be life changing but they remained distant and foreign sounding, until I read a sentence that caused the light to finally come on. He wrote that he often asks a person who is struggling to forgive how the other person’s actions made him feel. It is essential for us to see the necessity of knowing that, for how we feel is what we perceive ourselves to be. What we perceive is what we eventually believe to be true about ourselves and what we believe to be true is what we will act upon. People will always act out of what they believe to be true about themselves.

It was then that I looked back and saw that with each heartache, hurt, disappointment, and loss, I felt a certain way and saw myself in a certain way. What I often saw was a person who was worthless, unlovable, unwanted, and disgusting. What I thought to be true became truth to me. My answer was often to find someone who could make me feel differently about myself and that was a futile search. What I am now realizing is that how I feel does NOT determine what or who I am. God determines that and His Word is full of the real truth! When I began to see what God was saying about me, all the lies began to lose their grip.

My feelings and emotions will never be trustworthy sources for me. If given the chance they will always paint a false picture. I have spent too many years of my life believing the false pictures and am finally being impacted by the portrait God has painted. This is a turning point for me. This is profound and life changing. Many have tried to tell me what God has finally helped me to understand. As with any spiritual truth, until God opens our eyes and ears we remain blind and deaf.

Father, I have thought the worst of myself and believed every lie. Thank you for helping me to see what my problem was. I see the truth and it is setting me free. Praise You! Amen.

Who Am I? - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqKp314B8DM&feature=related

Fixing my eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith!

God's Open Invitation

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (New American Standard Bible)

I am having one of those mornings when the questions are beginning to pile up in my mind and I am finding myself with few answers. It is times like this when I am forced to admit to myself that I do not have it all figured out and that can bring about an uneasiness within me. When things do not make sense to me I don’t always know what to do with them. When my thinking has been skewed I don’t always untangle the knots well.

I have come across verses from the Bible and sentences from books that I can’t seem to wrap my mind around. The concepts are coming up against some preconceived ideas and distorted thinking I possess. Allow me to list a few.

Jesus says in Revelation 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.” From a human stand point, I don’t take rebuke well when it comes from another individual because it seems like condemnation. So when I read Jesus’ words I squirm with discomfort. Even though my head tells me it is for my good and growth, my heart cowers.

A number of sources I have read this morning warn against seeking the advice of others instead of looking to God. I struggle with the balance. While I know we are to encourage one another, I somehow think I am suppose to not need that and when I seek it I am doing something wrong.

I want to grasp the concept that someone can care about me without being involved in my life. Changes in relationships usually have a negative connotation for me even if I know it is for my own well being or part of God’s design for this present part of my journey.

Because I am so acutely aware of my faults and failures, I tend to not notice or acknowledge progress that has been made in my walk with God. I don’t always realize that even if I don’t see it, He does.

Yet, in the midst of my questions and inability to fully grasp the concepts, I am drawn to the words of today’s verse. I am invited to trust Him instead of depending on myself to get it all figured out and straightened out. In essence, He is saying, “You don’t have to understand it all to reap the benefits of living out of its truths. Trust Me and trust my principles. It is not a matter of you being able to do something or the people in your life being able to do something, it is a matter of knowing I can do all things necessary in your life. I am not expecting perfection or brilliance from you. As much as I am aware of your insecurities and failures, you must be aware of my Person, Power, and Presence. I will help you. Trust Me.“

Father, You know that I don’t understand. Help me to trust You. Amen.

An Extension Of Himself

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 (New King James Version)

If I fail to search Scripture and implement it into my daily life, I can so easily take the wrong approach to situations. When life gets messy and failure marks my path, the enemy of my soul is all too anxious to take me to extremes. In order to avoid making the same mistakes, I will build up walls of defense and mistakenly assume I am walking in safety. God has recently revealed to me an area in my life where this was happening and is showing me how to redirect my thinking and my journey.

For a couple years, I sat under a mentor who gave me much wisdom and insight into the Christian life. I feasted off the question and answer times with her. But the day came when it was necessary for this mentor to step away and for me to live independent of her influence. THAT was painful and led to God walking me through a difficult transition time. As I began to see what He was doing in all of it, I came to a wrong conclusion. I felt that in order to avoid future dependency issues and hence more pain, it was time I “made it on my own.” That meant (in my thinking) that all future concerns, questions, and difficulties had to go to God and only God. What I had to come to realize was within God’s system of operation He is the One who has established the vehicle of human agencies. While He is to always be my main Counselor and Guide, He also encourages me to seek the advice, help, and direction of the godly people He has graciously brought into my life. I have a handful of people whom I readily turn to at certain times and I am the richer for it. The people vary according to the situation.

When I have made an important decision, I have a couple women who serve as my witnesses to the vows I am making. Telling them my plan of action solidifies the area of surrender and helps me to stay the course. When I am confronted with areas of turmoil and uncertainty, I have people who will listen and give me the perspectives I need but have been missing. When I am headed in the wrong direction but am not quite sure how to get turned around, I have people who will lovingly but firmly tell me the truth and encourage me to walk in it. And when a time of deep prayer is needed I have several people I can call and one who even affords me the opportunity to come to her home and avail myself of her kneeling bench. The only prerequisite to all of these encounters is that I have first taken the issues to God and sought His heart. Once that has taken place, He is then the One who brings the right people to mind. Within that context, I am safe to seek out counselors for their wisdom, discernment, and instruction. God bless each one!

Father, You have enriched my life with a multitude of counselors. They have listened and then wisely advised. You have gifted me with them as an extension of Yourself. I embrace this aspect of the journey! Praise You! Amen.

No Tolerance for Spiritual Lethargy

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles were covering its face, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction. Proverbs 24:30-31 (Amplified Bible)

I have witnessed enough accounts in Scripture to learn that God often uses physical objects to reveal the state of our hearts and teach kingdom principles. Today’s passage strikes me as a sad commentary on the spiritual state of too many Christians. It serves as a reminder of my own internal world of the not too distant past and the realization of it becoming a present condition if I do not intentionally guard against it. Spiritual lethargy has the painful consequences of covering our lives with wound inducers and the over throwing, tearing down, and destroying of protective walls. It is not God’s intent or desire for us to possess thorns and allow easy access to the enemy of our souls.

My walk with God must have balance. It is imperative that I possess a determination and steadfastness to practice spiritual disciplines as well as increase my dependency on and for God. I am not left on my own but neither am I void of the responsibility to take in truth and daily apply the truth. Scripture makes it clear that I am to feed my spirit, put on my armor, appropriate spiritual warfare tactics, be filled with the Spirit, live a life of obedience to God, and poise myself with a teachable spirit. This is not possible if I simply live with a haphazard mentality concerning my relationship with God.

There are certain things that must be non negotiable in my life. For decades I failed to make them a vital part of each day and the disarray of my Christian life was the result. On the outside things appeared fine but on the inside I stood defenseless, confused, and empty. I was wide open to thorns and wounds that were not only useless but unnecessary. So now I guard the time I spend in the Word and prayer along with surrounding myself with that which would encourage and increase spiritual growth……fellowship with Christians who are passionate about their walk with God, reading rich books that feed me necessary truths, listening to music that attributes praise to God as well as enlarges my view of Him, and keeping my ears attuned to His still, small voice. Then and only then am I equipped to minister to others out of the overflow of a deep rooted relationship with my Abba.

Father, may I keep my hand on the plow and my eyes on You. I desire to live well protected and in Your presence! Amen.

Crucibles for the Heart

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts. Proverbs 17:3 (New American Standard Bible)

The Bible is filled with word pictures that are meant to help us take in truth in an understandable and meaningful way. Such is the case when God speaks of refining pots (crucibles), furnaces, and heart tests. The processes and end results are quite similar….purification by fire. The heat (trial or test) is what exposes the impurities, the skimming removes the impurities, and the eventual result is a pure and useable substance. God desires to work with my heart in the same way that a refiner works with precious silver or gold. What He starts with is not beautiful in itself but He knows what will eventually come forth.

I have known for some time now that God exposes areas of my life for the purpose of healing and transforming me, not for the purpose of shaming me. That issue was settled when He helped me grasp Romans 8:1 which says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He continues to fix the images I have of Him and correct the distortions and lies the enemy has given me in regards to His character and heart. What I am learning is helping me to trust in Him and cooperate with Him more fully.

Like everyone else, I do not like trials or discomfort. If it brings tears, pain, or heartache I want no part of it. But God is letting me know that is the only way to show me what is inside of me. The hardships of life reveal where my trust lies, what I really believe about God, in whom my security is tied, what my real desires are, and the many areas that need to be changed. As I learn to connect with Him on a daily basis the revelations are powerful.

Just last night He opened my eyes to something I had been missing and He used a sense of sadness to do it. As the sadness hit, I found myself wanting to contact somebody….anybody. Relationships have always been great pain relievers for me. Sort of like Novocain for my soul! That is when God intervened and began to show me my own tendency to avoid pain through external sources rather than take the pain to Him for true healing and wholeness. I was opting for a bandage instead of surgery! I was settling for miniscule, temporary fixes at best while God was offering me continual, lasting comfort and change. As I ended my day with Him, He ministered to me in a way no human could come close to doing. May He continue to do His refining work in me.

Father, I have often misunderstood the process and power of Your refining techniques. You have once again peaked my interest, aroused my curiosity, and captured my heart. I love You! Amen.

Armed and Ready

In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:26 (New King James Version)

My level of confidence is proportionate to my view of and relationship to God as is my sense of security. I find that the times I am in turmoil, distress, confusion, or emotional resignation are the times my mind and eyes are no longer fixed and focused on Him. His truths must be the plumb line for my thoughts, words, and actions. It is imperative that God is my object of confidence and my place of shelter. Not just a shelter from the dangers and storms of life but from falsehoods that abound.

The enemy of my soul knows all of this. Therefore his main objective is to chip away at my connection to God. If I am not on guard to his tactics and lies, I can very easily have my confidence shaken and my outlook on many things distorted. If I am not intent on purposefully bringing my thoughts captive and in line with truth, they will actually work against me and fill my soul with a foreboding darkness.

It has been my practice to write devotionals in an honest and open way. Usually God’s instructions to me include remaining general enough so people are able to see themselves and their situations in the truth I am sharing. This morning I sense His nudging to be specific with a personal example. Yesterday’s devotional centered on walking in God’s forgiveness of past sins and mistakes and moving forward. Little did I realize when I sent it off that I would later become engaged in a four hour attack from the enemy over that very issue. He was ruthless!

While at work, the enemy fed me a lie about a past situation. His interpretation and conclusion of the event left me with a feeling of being a disappointment to the body of Christ, to myself, and even to God. I lost perspective on everything that my journey of the last three years entailed. I could not sense one moment of God’s delight in me. The darkness enveloped me until I was able to identify the enemy being at work. With the renouncing of lies and embracing of truth, my thought process became clear and my confidence and security returned…..until later in the evening when he sideswiped me again as I emailed a friend. I can reread the email I sent her and literally see where my conversation shifted and the enemy’s lies surfaced.

This morning I woke with a completely different perspective. There are no dark thoughts, no question of God’s view of me and love for me, no overwhelming sense of despair. The enemy has backed off but I know he will return. Before he resurfaces with repackaged lies I must put on the armor of Ephesians 6 and stand ready to stand in truth. I must realign myself with what God’s Word says and place my reverential trust in Him and Him alone. He is my covering for any battle that takes place today.

Father, I sustained wounds from the enemy yesterday. May I not give him such pleasure today. I take Your hand, Your Word, and Your Spirit with me into every confrontation that lies ahead. Amen.

Awakening Our Hunger

A worker’s appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on. Proverbs 16:26 (New American Standard Bible)

Appetites run strong in each of us. They drive us to possess the very things we hunger for. Most of us do not have to work at having a hunger for food. It is one of the reasons we get up each day and go to work. Our jobs provide the necessary income to purchase the food with which we stock our cupboards. In the early days of our country, the colonies had a problem with people not wanting to work. The solution was to enforce the biblical standard that if you don’t work you don’t eat. The eventual hunger drove the people to work when their own initiative failed them. In that case, their appetite worked for them and urged them on to work.

The same is true of our spiritual appetites. The hunger and thirst we have to know God is what urges us on to open His Word and take in His truth. It is meant to be more than an occasional snack. It is meant to be a feast and the sustenance our souls crave. It does not take long for our bodies to feel the effect of going without food. Go without food long enough and you experience weakness, hunger pains, a headache, and a general feeling of not feeling well. Our bodies crave food and the negative effects drive us to eat.

And yet hunger for the right foods can be dulled by taking in a lot of sweets and empty calories. I speak from experience when I say, I can feed on so many unhealthy choices that I no longer desire what is good for me. After a while I am eating but not finding satisfaction and a sense of fullness. There are also people who struggle with eating disorders and can eventually shut down the cravings for food all together. Not healthy!

Again, the same is true in a spiritual sense. A hunger for God’s Word is dulled by numerous other activities or shut down completely by pure starvation. But I assure you, the hunger is still there. It just needs to be reawakened. It is simply a matter of asking God to show us how hungry our souls really are for Him. At first, a person may open His Word and nothing seems to happen. But over time, with consistent feedings, the appetite gets stronger and reading His Word becomes an actual desire. It really is a rich food source!

Father, You are never insulted when I ask You to awaken my hunger for You. May my appetite be ravenous! Amen.

Becoming a Possessor

A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. Proverbs 1:5 (New American Standard Bible)

Today starts a personal journey into the book of Proverbs. I have enjoyed and drank deeply of the Psalms and am ready to venture into the book of wisdom. God is wasting no time in letting me know how to become a possessor of His wisdom. To not only take in truth, but to know how to implement it into my daily walk. He has graciously prepared me for this time and He has done it in progressive stages.

A few years ago, God began to show me how often I failed to walk in truth about Him, His Word, and His ways. He showed me how much of my thinking was connected to the lies of the enemy. Lies about Him, about others, and even about myself. As I began taking in the truth, a profound thing began to happen. I began to hunger for it. This was an essential shift for me, because the hunger led to a willingness to be taught. It affected my hearing as well as my receptability to what was being said or read.

Today’s verse goes beyond being a mere “how to” verse. It is a verse packed full of results and promise. It actually describes the characteristics and advantages of being a wise person. The first half is a stated fact. A wise man will listen and will yield to godly instruction, advice, and wisdom. His open ears and obedient heart are what mark his life. If he is truly a wise person, he will listen and he will act upon what he is being told when it lines up with truth. The result? He will add and join himself to learning, instruction, and teaching. As he does that, he becomes a possessor of the wise counsel he is being given. The way to own something from a store is to purchase it. And the way to own wisdom for oneself is to listen to and obey the words of wisdom that come from God and others.

Many have been the times when I not only refused to listen because of pride and self sufficiency, but I refused to act upon what was being said. It wasn’t until God began to show me the purpose and beauty of hearing and obeying that I finally became open to experience what today’s verse is saying. It is much easier to take in the very things I am hungry for. That is why my daily prayer has become, “Father, instill in me a tender and teachable spirit toward You.” For if that is the kind of spirit I have, I will begin to hear, yield to, and acquire the wisdom that God is continually offering me through Himself, His Word, prayer, and a multitude of sources.

Father, open my ears to wisdom so that I will increase in my learning and possess the wise counsel given to me on a continual basis. Help me to listen, learn, and acquire much today! Amen.

Better Than Secret Love

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Proverbs 27:5 (King James Version)

I have never been a person who enjoys being rebuked. Does anyone? The first time I saw this verse I cringed. It conjured up in my mind an angry person glaring at me while spewing out harsh, condemning words. After the rebuke ended I would then walk away in shame and condemnation. Not a comfortable thought and not an accurate picture of this verse!

Last week I received an email that epitomized this verse in a beautiful way. While the person had to be direct with me and say some things that were difficult to read, it was done in a way that showed me her heart and desire for God’s blessing on my life. While the initial sting of rebuke was felt, my spirit quickly detected the truth in her email and that is what arrested my attention and my heart. I knew without a doubt that freedom and growth would come if I heeded her warnings and advice.

So what does an open rebuke entail? First, it should come about after much prayer. I believe this person prayed and desired God’s message to come across to me. Second, it should be based on truth! Her rebuke involved truth about my wrong choices, truth about the consequences if I continued in the direction I was headed, truth about what God really wants to do in my life, and truth about her desire for God’s favor and freedom in my life. Third, it should include a directive. She left no question as to what I should do….fully cooperate with God.

Call it tough love. Call it truth telling. Call it open rebuke. Whatever we label it, it is better than a love that sits idly by and remains silent. I don’t know about anyone else, but when I am headed in the wrong direction and in the process of making unwise choices I want what is best. Give me the open rebuke! But do it in love and with a heart that is living connected to God. Let me see that your words are not spoken out of impatience and with a ”last straw” mentality. Be the mouthpiece of God with absolutely no compromise of the truth.

On my part, I too must be daily connecting with God and desiring truth to be my compass and rudder. As God works and develops in me a tender, teachable spirit, I will have no trouble knowing when an open rebuke is coming from Him through another individual. I will have no trouble seeing the truth and then acting on it.

Will it be easy? Rarely. Will there ever be tears? Most likely. Will others understand? Maybe a few. But God’s voice and direction will be clear and the growth will be astounding. Like it says in John 8:32, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Father, thank you for the one who was willing to speak the truth in love. Your message came through loud and clear. Keep my heart tender and teachable toward You. And when necessary, help my open rebukes to be as loving and truthful. Amen.