Upon What Does It Hinge?

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! Psalm 32:1 (New American Standard Bible)

David reveled in God’s forgiveness of his sins because he took God at His word that sin would and could be forgiven if brought to Him. In Old Testament times a sin offering was brought in the form of a lamb or goat and upon the shed blood of that sacrifice forgiveness was promised (Leviticus 4:20). Jesus Christ later became that sacrificial lamb on the cross of Calvary. It is His shed blood that becomes the premise for God’s forgiveness today (1 John 1:9).

So what exactly IS God’s forgiveness? It is a pardon. In legal terms it means the forgiveness of a crime and the cancellation of the relevant penalty. While we may still be subject to the earthly consequences of our sin, the eternal penalty in Hell is cancelled. It means when sin is forgiven it is no longer held against us and we are no longer viewed in light of that sin. It is gone!

If that be the case, why do so many of us live as if the sin is still hanging over our head and God is reluctant to actually give the forgiveness He has promised? I have been asking God that question this morning and He has been quick to bring the answer. It has to do with that upon which I think forgiveness hinges. God is letting me know that my own pre-conceived ideas are getting in the way of me receiving His extravagant offer. While He says the price has been paid and forgiveness will be extended each time I bring the sin to Him, I stand entangled in the following thoughts:

*God withholds forgiveness until I am no longer sinning in that area.

*God does not take my confession seriously because I still fail.

*I have no right to ask His forgiveness if I have not come to the place of victory over the sin.

*I am an exception to His grace because I am not sinless yet.

I was stunned at how much was hinging on my behavior. I am no different than the person who says they will come to Jesus for salvation when they get their life together. Sort of like the person who cleans the house before the maid shows up! God is helping me to see that His forgiveness is not contingent on how good I do afterwards. It fully rests on the payment that was made by Christ on the cross. I never have deserved it and never will deserve it apart from Christ’s sacrifice and God’s grace.

Father, I have been hesitant to take You at Your word, yet You have never withdrawn Your hands that offer such a gift as this! Change will come as a result of Your forgiveness not as a prerequisite for it. Amen.

What Sin? - Morgan Cryar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Wdzzx6-f4

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

The Avenue of Help

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high [and defend you]; Send you help from the sanctuary and support, refresh, and strengthen you from Zion. Psalm 20:1, 2 (Amplified Bible)

I cannot tell you the number of times I have read a verse and exclaimed, “Why didn’t I see that before?!” I am so use to David speaking of his help coming from the Lord that I can sometimes miss the avenue God chooses to send that help. I would expect today’s verse to read, “May God send you His help and strength.” But instead it states from where God is going to send the help and support. It will be coming from the sanctuary and from the city of Zion. God’s house and God’s city! Within both are His people.

Many have been the times God has chosen to use His people to deliver His help to those in need…..to me when I am in need. It is not a sign of weakness to accept that help but it is a sign of trouble to refuse it. I stand amazed each time I struggle through problems only to eventually find the answer from the wisdom and counsel of others. They are willing to help if I but ask. They have so much to offer if I am willing to receive.

With that said, I must also be aware of who God has actually placed in my life for that help. Receive the help, yes. Hold on to the one who helps as if they are the only one each and every time, no. I have had the joy of knowing some incredible women of faith in my nearly 40 years of being a Christian. If I had a personal wall of faith numerous portraits would be on that wall. Yet, many of them are no longer the helpers God is using presently. Their season of involvement in my life is a treasure of my past and they still hold a special place in my heart and mind. God used them to help shape me into the woman I am today. At times, I have wanted to still be helped by them, but it is clear God’s intentions are different for them as well as for me.

So when I face my own personal days of trouble it is God I must first look to and then I must perceive who it is He has purposefully placed in my life as the much needed helpers. They may not be in the picture at future moments, but for now I praise God for the treasures that they are.

Father, You have hand-picked the help You’ve sent…each and every time. I love You and I love them. Amen.

You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y83-vMeWc9E&feature=related

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

Callings and Desires

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God. Romans 1:1 (New King James Version)

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. Psalm 73:25 (New King James Version)

I want Paul’s ability to identify himself according to God’s description and Asaph’s desire for God above all others. Did it mean a perfect life for either? No! Did it mean struggles ended and bliss marked their every waking moment? Absolutely not! They each had their own set of difficulties, weaknesses, and failures but those things did not define them or consume them. If I were to put these verses into my own words they might read something like this. “Pam, enslaved to Jesus, called to teach, and singled out for God’s message of salvation to others. No one but You, O, God!”

My first thought after reading both these verses was a strong awareness of how far short I fall of the reality of both. I am aware of my own actions and attitudes that do not portray the fact that I am His called and separated servant. I know all too well those desires that compete with my desire toward God. I am humbled and broken by the truth. But I am also aware of God’s desire and ability to bring me to the place whereby these verses mark my path and my life. My failures and shortcomings are not the end of the story. It is not too late for me to turn these verses into my own prayer request! God is still in the process of transforming me.

Sometimes we convince ourselves that we cannot possibly live up to the walk of others. It is like they have an inside track to God and godly living and we keep missing it. Comparisons are dangerous and deadly. Change comes when I become more enamored with the Creator than with His creations. Appreciate them? Yes! Learn from them? Yes! But my patterning, dependency, longing, trust, and focus must be primarily on Christ. If I am trying to get needs met through people, fulfillment out of opportunities, and pleasure out of circumstances I am only living on the scraps of what God offers me. I end up living with a frustrated, deprived spirit. But if God is my desire and the One I long after, then being His servant becomes my daily reality. When I walk in agreement with God and have my strongest desire toward Him I am on a path with no comparison!

Father, be my desire above all others. Help me to fully live out my calling as Your servant! Amen.

With All I Am - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0AyxEMFRbI

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

It's All the Same to Him

Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. Psalm 139:12 (New American Standard Bible)

A number of years ago, this verse changed my walking patterns. I use to never walk after dark, but the idea that God’s vision is not limited by darkness gave me the courage and freedom to do so. What I needed to know was that walking after dark was the same as broad daylight to God. I would envision the whole area lit up profusely! I came to love the canopy of stars that were displayed over my head. It has been a while since I have been able to take a walk in the moonlight but if given the chance I would do it again in a heartbeat.

God’s Word is so multi-layered. He not only wanted me to see this verse in light of evening strolls, but He wanted me to see that the circumstances of my life are the same as well. Whether my days are filled with dark moments or brilliant light moments, God is still not limited in His vision and watch care over me. Storms do not throw Him. Clouds do not block Him. Torrential down pours do not fill Him with uncertainties. And He wants it to be the same for me. He speaks peace in the midst of the storms and at the right moment calms them.

Not only are my light and dark circumstances all the same to God, but so are my various moods. I use to be concerned if I was not on a continual “high” of emotions. I did not want the low times or the even kilter times. Those always spelled danger to me as I frantically searched for something or someone to lift me up. What I am learning is to relax and rest. To picture Jesus right there with me whether I am on a mountain top or in the depths of a pit of despair. He never walks away and simply waits for me at the end of my tunnel, valley, or gulf. He holds and upholds me the entire way. That has helped me to see that the moods will pass. The down days of darkness will always give way to light. I am learning to believe that and anticipate it.

In my times of dark circumstances or moods, I am learning to lift my eyes to my Father and say, “Abba Father, I am Yours, and You always take care of Your own. You formed me in my mother’s womb and You have carried me ever since. I am inscribed on the palms of Your hands as well as on Your heart. I rest in You.” These are not just words to Him or me. They are words that shift my internal world and shelter me. Tears still flow and fears still surface, but eventually they give way to hope and healing. I am no longer left with a feeling of being stuck with no means for escape.

Father, thank you for the storms that have caused me to seek shelter in You. May I continue to see light and darkness as the same because of who You are! Amen.

Draw Me Close to You - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB1yDv9_N1k&feature=related

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

Unnoticed but Undeniably True

Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth. Psalm 115:15 (King James Version)

I am being reminded of something I need to consistently stand guard against. For if I don’t, it will awaken many sleeping giants within me. That culprit is called “comparison.” The moment I make the mistake of comparing myself with someone else in any area I open the door to discontentment, envy, jealousy, unthankfulness, ingratitude, and dissatisfaction. It becomes ice water to my spirit and causes many problems in my relationship with people and with God.

God’s antidote? Acknowledge and embrace the truth that I am presently and abundantly blessed by Him. There is much truth to the song, “Count Your Blessings.” I am not referring to merely the physical, material blessings but the spiritual, emotional, and social blessings as well. God is extravagant to each one of us in countless ways and I so often go from day to day with little or no awareness of it. What I don’t notice I fail to appreciate, but God is pulling back the curtain of my mind and is showing me the very things He has lavished on me. I find myself asking numerous questions and each one is opening my eyes to His goodness and favor.

What if the many things I take for granted were suddenly lost in a house fire? What if God had never given me a means to communicate with Him through prayer? What if I lived in a place where there was absolutely no other believer in my life? What if the Bible was never translated into my language? What if the Holy Spirit was never given to me and I was left to muster up the changes and obedience on my own? What if music didn’t exist? What if every significant person I have ever known had never crossed my path? What if any or all of my senses (seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling) were never given to me? What if I had never heard the gospel? The questions are endless as are the blessings! God has placed these and many others into my life and He delighted in doing it. At the top of the list is the fact that He is so personally involved in my life. He knows me and is making Himself known to me.

This morning, I am acutely aware of the fact that someone besides me needs this reminder. May we no longer give the enemy the ability to distract, discourage, or dishearten us with what we don’t have and instead joy and dance in what is ours. May each one of us allow God to re-ignite within us a profound awareness of Who He is and what He does for us on a continual, daily basis. For we ARE blessed indeed!

Father, forgive me for the many times I have been blind and deaf to Your blessings and gifts to me. May praise be forthcoming from my lips and my heart! Amen.

Made Me Glad - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Zc_VWJJoI

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

From My Mouth to God's Ear

I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD; I make supplication with my voice to the LORD. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. Psalm 142:1,2 (New American Standard Bible)

I remember hearing sermons in the past referencing the fact that we have been crucified with Christ and are dead to sin. Illustrations were given of a dead corpse and how nothing could affect that corpse. I would walk away with the assumption that if I were truly “dead” to the things of this world nothing should have an affect on my thoughts, emotions, feelings, or moods. The words and actions of others would be incapable of affecting me. How far from the truth I was living!

I kept thinking something was wrong with me because I still had feelings, sorrows, and hurts. Ashamed to admit it to myself or God, I tried denying, burying, and ignoring the fact that life WAS affecting me. To me, being sad, lonely, down, or disturbed was unacceptable behavior. I lived with the fear that I was a disappointment to God because I still battled the negative responses to life. I wasn’t “dead” enough but very much alive with feelings, aches, and reactions.

The enemy had a wonderful time with my misunderstanding and misinterpretation of Scripture. He reveled in the fact that I missed the prayers of David in the Psalms. David was a man who knew how to express his true heart, feelings, and thoughts to God. He had complaints, troubles, heartache, fears, disappointments, anger, anguish, and a host of other things he freely brought to God. He knew how to give voice to the emotions within himself.

Charles Spurgeon said it well. “We do not tell our troubles to the Lord that He may see them, but that we may see Him. It is for our relief, not for His information, that we speak plainly to Him concerning our problems.” David knew such relief and the power of pouring his heart out to God. I, too, am learning the benefit and necessity of telling God when I am lonely, hurting, sad, fearful, uncertain, frustrated, and just out of sorts. For as soon as I get the words out, He begins to minister to me in profound ways.

Father, telling You what was really going on inside of me use to be a foreign concept. How You longed for me to find out the truth about this aspect of prayer. Thank you for hearing my cries for help. Amen.

He Will Shelter You - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgtu5dhqUYE&feature=related

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

Trust Amidst Troubles

I will rejoice and be glad in Your loving kindness, because You have seen my affliction, You have known the troubles of my soul. Psalm 31:7 (New American Standard Bible)

The words rejoice, be glad, affliction, and troubles of my soul seem to be an oxymoron…a combination of contradictory or incongruous words. The ability, desire, and practice of rejoicing in God’s loving kindness is the most difficult when we are afflicted and troubled. But that is also when it is the most necessary. When all of life seems to be telling us that God is anything but loving or kind, that is the time we need to proclaim it the loudest. When what God chooses to do or not do causes us to doubt His care for us, that is the time we must hide under the shadow of His wings and allow Him to be our shelter.

Job expressed his trust in God amidst the loss of fortune, family, and health. David spoke of God’s safety during the very times he was being hunted down and his life in danger. Paul reveled in contentment amidst persecution and imprisonment. Were these men super human? No. Were they ever fearful, discouraged, uncomfortable, or angry? Absolutely. But they had discovered the value of drawing close to God during the times of greatest hardships. They knew that the things they endured did not change the character or truth about who God is.

I have learned that life is going to be full of troubles whether I trust God or not. But I have also learned my soul will find rest only as I seek my shelter and security in Him during those times. When my world falls apart, when the tears come, when the feelings of foreboding want to engulf me, I have learned to shut my eyes and view a precious picture. The scenes may vary but I always picture Jesus standing right by me, with His arm wrapped around my shoulder. I take in His words like, “I will never leave you or forsake you. I am with you always. I will work all things for good. I will take care of you.” No one on earth can speak such words to me besides Jesus. No one else has the ability to carry out those words.

So this morning I choose to proclaim Him as my shelter in all storms, my safety in all dangers, my provision in all losses, my help in all troubles, my comfort in all heartache, and my defense in all battles. There is no other way to live life victoriously.

Father, Your voice speaks louder than any whispers from the enemy. He would love nothing more than for me to buy into his lies. I refuse! Amen.

Warrior is a Child / Do I Trust You - Twila Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pzu-jWpcdw

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

Signs of Life

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3 (New American Standard Bible)

There are many conditional promises in the Word of God. Today’s verse is one of them. There are times when I seek solitude in a beautiful cemetery in our city of Indianapolis called Crown Hill. It is massive with rolling hills and numerous trees. At moments when everything in me seems like it has died, I find this place of burial so similar to how I feel on the inside. I go in hopes that God would once again resurrect in me hope and healing for the journey.

One visit to Crown Hill comes to my mind this morning. As the tears flowed I heard God say to my heart, “Speak to Me. Tell Me what you are thinking and feeling.” When the tears ceased and the lump in my throat diminished I spotted a large tree with absolutely no leaves on it. I felt like that tree; bare, vulnerable, and exposed. I looked around at some other trees. Pine trees that were still green. Large oaks and maples that displayed beautiful fall colors. But the bare tree was my mirror and Psalm 1:3 seemed far removed from my experience.

God quickly assured me the bare tree still had life sap flowing through it. The potential for foliage next spring was still there. Its outward appearance was not the total picture. One woman said it so clearly, “Like a bare tree you may be in the winter of life right now. But God is still working. The sap is still running even when we don’t see it and there is nothing on the limbs.” What I see and feel cannot be my measuring stick for reality. My view and emotions are often skewed and limited. My faith must be in a God who sees clearly and completely the entire sphere of my life.

And yet there are conditions for baring fruit and leaves. The previous verse states those conditions when it says, “His delight is in the law of the LORD and in His law he meditates day and night.” Whom I delight in and what I meditate on will make all the difference in the world. It made a difference in the way I left the cemetery and will continue to make a difference in how I live each day.

I have not been to Crown Hill for quite some time now and yet the lessons learned from that former visit is speaking to me once again this morning. God is still working. The “sap” is still running. Potential for growth and change lies within me by His grace.

Father, I no longer fear the times of sadness that come over me. They have become Your invitation for me to meet with You. Be my delight and meditation today. Amen.

You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIAdgLR1ZGw&feature=related

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

An Unending Quest

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. Psalm 105:4 (New American Standard Bible)

If put in my own words, this verse might read, “Resort to the Lord’s presence and might without interruption.” To do so is both necessary and helpful. To seek His presence is to talk with Him and be aware of Him on an on going basis. It seems that every time I turn around I am asking God to help me, advise me, cheer me up, or over whelm me with Himself. This is what He has wanted all along and I am only recently coming to see and do that.

It has taken me quite a while to see how many places in me are there to help me see my need of Him. Every thing I hunger for is really a search for Him. Every need I have is really what He desires to use to draw me to Himself. He longs to see me look to Him when I start to falter or get shaky in my inward thoughts. It happens a lot and hence His usage of the word “continually.” That word holds the same meaning as eternal!

Our God who is ever lasting has instilled that quality and expectation in the relationship He has with each of His children. Whether out moods, circumstances, feelings, and dispositions are good, bad, pleasant, or in need of improvement, God wants us to have on going connection and communication with Himself. He wants to hear all about whatever is going on inside, outside, and around us.

What I have had to learn is to turn to Him as soon as I experience changes of any size or dynamic. No longer should I wait until things get out of hand or over whelming. The earlier I seek Him, the better! I stand amazed at how quickly I can begin to feel His peace, joy, and comfort. My down moments have become signals to me and I heed them. They are the neon lights of my soul pointing me in His direction. I no longer have to fear them, cower in their presence, or wonder what is wrong with me. I can simply see them as the very things God will minister to as I let Him.

It has become clear to me over the past few years that what I experience on a daily basis, others are experiencing. So I know without a doubt that the words I share in this devotional have meaning for others as well. I use to marvel when someone would let me know a particular devotional was what they needed at the moment. Any more I simply realize God did it again! What a joy to seek Him!

Father, help my seeking of You to be continual. May my attention and my heart be directed toward You at all times. Amen.

Open Our Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XJu0mnn_b4&feature=related

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

Until It Passes

My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word. My soul weeps because of grief; strengthen me according to Your word. Psalm 119:25, 28 (New American Standard Bible)

Do you ever feel what David is describing in these verses? Dust. The rubbish and debris of this world. The rubbish and debris of your life. Grief. That heaviness and sorrow that can often be more felt than explained. How we long for relief. Actually, we long for more than just relief. We long to be raised up, established, fulfilled, and empowered. To be sustained and living prosperously in our spirits. At least I long for that. There are times I get a taste of it. Times when the joy abounds and the sheer delight of living is evident to me as well as those I come in contact with. I soar and feel I will continue to soar for a very long time. But my flight patterns are inconsistent and unstable. Just as quickly as I take off, I come down, and it is in the times of being down that I struggle. Finding myself in that all too familiar place is not occurring presently, but when I do I ask God to show me what to do until it passes. He is quick to answer and instruct me. I offer some of those answers to you now.

Start praising Him. Praise Him for anything and everything that comes to mind. From the beauty of His creation to the perfection of His character and everything in between.

Limit your thoughts. There are certain things I cannot afford to dwell on because of skewed thinking and clouded views. This is not the time to make important decisions, dwell on lost relationships, try to figure out what others are thinking, plan ahead, sort through difficult issues, or assess my growth and progress. My mind needs to rest, just like my body would need to rest if I were physically ill.

Feed off of Scripture and music. Both are like life lines to my spirit and will instill truth in me when all seems hopeless and dark.

Stay connected to the body of Christ. Stepping away from studies and church is tempting at times but dangerous. I need the fellowship of believers. Even if I do little more than sit in silence and stare, I need to be with them. They will know something is amiss (even if they have no idea what it is) and they will pray.

Pray. As Joyce Meyer has said, “Run to the Throne instead of the phone.” This is a hard one for me. I am use to taking my problems and heartaches to people. Use to letting them see me through the hard times. I am thankful for the times they do just that but God often reminds me they are His tools…..He is ultimately the source!

Wait. Sometimes, many times, the release from the pull down is slow in coming but worth the work.

Father, You keep holding on to me. Your grip never slips. Your love never falters. Until reviving and strength come to me, I will stand all the closer to You. Amen.

But For Your Grace - Rita Baloche
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1InpFHRE1ko&p=B564999B82337D7C&playnext=1&index=10

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

Limitations

As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. Psalm 103:13, 14 (New King James Version)

I take great delight and comfort in the fact that God knows my human frailties, limitations, and weaknesses. He shows mercy and forgiveness in the midst of every one of them. As He does, He urges me to do the same toward myself and toward others. I am learning something that is making that understandable and doable.

Failures primarily come because of two different reasons. They come due to either my sin or my limitations. I am neither super human or perfect therefore I fail. Seeing this truth gives me direction as to what to do with the failure. If it is because of sin, I need to confess it to God and turn from it. As His child, I am assured of His love, mercy, and forgiveness. If, however, my failure is due to a limitation in ability, time, or resources then I need to see it as such and seek God’s grace to accept it or His intervention to change it. It is a reality check based on truth rather than a time for beating myself up.

This is not only a new way for me to start living my life, it is also a powerful ingredient to introduce into my relationships with others. Due to my own insecurities, I can often misunderstand and misperceive what others can or cannot do. A change of plans, an inability to give me what I want, or an unenthusiastic response can send me reeling with the idea I am unloved, unwanted, and unwelcome. I am not proud of this aspect of myself, but I am acutely aware of it.

Thankfully, God is showing me the necessity of practicing discernment rather than embracing perceptions. I must separate sinful acts from human limitations. If it is a sin, I must choose to forgive and show mercy. If, however, it is a human limitation I must see it as such rather than as a sign of rejection or disinterest. Rather than recoil, I can pray for them, extend an offer to help, and come to a fresh realization that they too are dust. Words cannot describe the freedom that comes when I simply acknowledge, “They are tired, they are busy, they are ill at the present. It really isn’t personal. It is life.” When I look at life as a whole, this lesson is a huge one for me to learn!

Father, forgive me for the times I have handed out condemning indictments against myself and others rather than seen the truth about our limitations. Teach me wisdom and discernment and fill me with grace and mercy. Amen.

Only You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgmezEn-zvE

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

Who I Really Need

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1 (King James Version)


Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 (King James Version)

Today is a day when I just want to crawl into the truth of who God is. David and Isaiah are both telling me where to take any inner turmoil. God is using their words to probe my heart. He is asking, “What are you looking for? What do you need?” No matter what I tell Him, no matter what I say, His response is always the same. “I am your refuge. I am your strength, I am your help, I am your salvation, I am your song!”

All of my attempts to find what I am looking for in external sources are met with His words. He is not being mean, but rather is doing the most loving, beneficial act toward me. He is actually answering a prayer I voiced several years ago. I saw another person’s walk with Him and wanted to know Him in the same way. I wanted to stand with a confidence that can only be found in Him. I wanted reliance that was aimed at Him. I wanted to live every day of my life out of an intimate relationship with Him. I did not know all that would entail in order to make it a reality in my own life, but He knew!

He knew it would require the removal of all my external props. He knew it would involve taking me out of my comfort zones. He knew it would necessitate learning to cry on His shoulder, take my heart aches to Him, and allow Him to search me thoroughly. He knew I would have to face my own skepticisms and suspicions about His ability to meet my deepest needs. He knew I would have to learn to transfer all of my dependency off my idols and on to Him. And He knew none of those things would come naturally or easily to me. But His knowledge is matched with His patience.

I am learning maturity in Christ does not mean I no longer struggle. It means I know where to take the struggles. At any given moment, as my needs arise, I turn to Him.

Father, life hurts. It is full of disappointment that often leaves me with a sadness inside. I bring it to You again. I need You alone. Amen.

There is None Like You - Lenny LeBlanc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_N-JK9iZcrg&feature=related

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

Full Disclosure

My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (New King James Version)

Knowing the truth about myself and the truth about God is a prerequisite for growth and development in the Christian life. As long as I live deceived or misinformed about either I will fail to mature in my faith and experience transformation at any level. If I am not careful I will make the mistake of trying to present to God what I KNOW He wants my life to be like rather than what I presently am. God is not into appearances whereby I try to appear to be more than I am. He wants authenticity, transparency, and honesty. Those are the attributes I need to harness as I come into His presence. Within an atmosphere of openness I must also learn the strength and freedom that comes from acknowledgement. Not only acknowledgement of my reality but acknowledgement of all that God is as well.

David knew the power of truth telling prayers. He made it a practice of stating a truth about himself and then followed it up with the truth about God. Today’s verse is an example of that. In essence he was saying, “I am weak, but You, O God, are my strength.” It was an “I am, You are” conversation. There are times God does the same thing. They are found in His statements of “I am the shepherd, you are the sheep. I am the vine, you are the branches. I am the potter, you are the clay.”

I have not always seen the necessity or benefits of such prayers. I now sense and accept His invitation to approach Him with Psalm 73:26 type prayers. They may sound somewhat like this…”Father, I have been wounded, You are my healer. I am empty, You are my filler. I am unsure, You are my teacher. I am lonely, You are my companion. I am in need, You are my supplier.” It is not long before I feel an internal shift and a radical change in my demeanor. When that happens praise erupts. There really is no God like our God.

As I learn there are no limits to what I can bring to Him, say to Him, and admit to Him my prayers take on an intimacy and depth God and I both delight in.

Father, Keep teaching me how to approach You in new ways. I thrive under the shadow of Your wings. Amen.

Psalm 23 - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVYh63ZF_Vo

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

What Was Lacking

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1 (New International Version)

Yesterday was a day of feeling unsettled, uneasy, unsatisfied, and unhappy. I spent a better part of the day discouraged, disheartened, and in an internal seething mode. I felt it and others noticed it. It did not take long for God to begin to reveal the problem to me. It wasn’t my circumstances but rather my heart response to those circumstances. My focus had shifted from a God centeredness to negatively viewing life. Miserable does not begin to describe it. I knew I had lost my joy, my purpose, and my thankfulness. The wrong motives of my heart became prominent and began to steer me in wrong directions. Physically I felt drained and emotionally I felt weak.

God’s first word to me was to begin thanking Him. I’ll admit the list was short at first. Not because there was not an abundance of things to be thankful for but because my heart was in need of priming much like a water source that has not been active for a while. If given enough time, callousness can set in with grumbling, murmuring, and complaining and the softening of the calloused heart and mind takes time as well. The “softening” followed two significant steps. First, I had to spend time admitting my own heart attitudes that were wrong. Second, I spent time with some women in a Bible study last night who helped redirect my focus on to God. They encouraged me through their words and examples to let go of what I wanted and embrace what God wanted.

This morning, the thanks flows easily from my heart and mouth. With that thanks comes a change of perspective, a relinquishment of “rights”, a joy, a strength, and a sense of well being. If yesterday was a dungeon of sorts, today is an open field of wonder! I find it interesting that the only things that really changed were my attitude, my thoughts, my focus, and my desires. Yet, those changes make everything else look and feel completely different.

Living my life with an unthankful spirit is much harder than living with a thankful one. Hence, Jesus’ words ring in my ears, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” What He places on me in the way of kingdom principles is definitely more conducive than what He helped me take off and give to Him.

Father, You have once again given me beauty for ashes, strength for fear, and gladness for sorrow. Your exchanges never cease to amaze me! Amen.

Give Thanks - Don Moen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBpv-ZzcQD8

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

Reality Check

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19 (New King James Version)

I have been spending some time in the Psalms this morning. I didn’t want to leave! The Lord was reminding me through David’s words that life is full of trouble and He is the only true Deliverer. While difficulties marked his path, praise flowed from his lips. Countless times he asked God to forgive, deliver, preserve, protect, and defend him. His was not an easy life but he knew where to take every uneasy aspect of it. He knew how to pour his heart out to God. When circumstances over whelmed him, enemies attacked him, fear consumed him, sin ruled him, friends abandoned him, and afflictions accompanied him, he brought it all to the throne of grace and allowed God to bring peace, rest, and delight to his soul.

When I started on this journey six years ago, I had a lot of misconceptions. I thought I could get to the point where the hurts and hassles of life would no longer affect me. I thought it was possible to live without pain, disappointment, loneliness, and emptiness. And when that did not happen, I struggled with thoughts of failure and wondered what I was doing wrong. I looked at individuals whom I THOUGHT had nothing but good days, who handled every situation correctly, and experienced only joy, satisfaction, and victory every step of the way. I desperately tried to accomplish the same thing in my own life and couldn’t do it. How naïve I was! There are no such people on this planet.

My premise was all wrong. Life is full of trouble and I am the cause and recipient of some of it. We all are! As long as we possess a sin nature and live in a fallen world we are going to experience heartache and failure in one form or another. But that does not mean that is all we will experience. In the midst of any storm, God is the anchor of our soul. He is our deliverer, healer, restorer, and constant companion. He longs to strengthen us, dry our tears, comfort our hearts, and renew our spirit. But that will not happen if we remain at arms length. It starts by acknowledging the truth about ourselves and our circumstances as well as the truth about God. Pour out our hearts to Him, YES, but also proclaim His attributes! Psalm 18 is an excellent example of how to do just that.

I invite others to learn what I am learning. The abundant Christian life does not mean the absence of sin, heartache, and trouble. It means knowing Who to take it all to. It means learning to cry on God’s shoulder, seek His counsel, and follow His heart.

Father, I am between the Garden and Heaven therefore I need Your grace, mercy, strength, direction, and protection every step of the way. My needs are constant therefore my dependency upon You must be constant as well. Amen.

Help Me God - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-wL7KWO8Ys

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

He Is Not a Withholder

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You! Psalm 84:11,12 (New King James Version)

A statement that Beth Moore once said is continually being brought home to me. She said the area that continues to trouble us and cause us distress is the very place we are distrusting God. I find there may be many areas I readily trust God in with abandon. No question mark lines the halls of those corridors. It is exclamation points galore! Yet I am in agreement with what she said regarding the areas of turmoil. When it is all said and done the bottom line really does come down to trust in God’s ability to take me through storms, trials, and difficulties, and to bring me out on the other side having experienced today’s passage.

I looked at today’s verses and God pinpointed the very phrase that was meant for my eyes and heart. NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD. There are many things I may want but whether I receive them or not, His word remains. Whether I experience a loss, rejection, or sorrow in no way is He withholding a good thing from me. He remains my sun and shield. He faithfully gives grace and glory. He is the author and finisher of my faith and although I may not always understand what He is doing I can stand in confidence that it is being done out of love with right motives and extraordinary purpose.

Any trial I may face only comes upon me when God knows that He has fully prepared me for it. I loved something else Beth Moore said along these lines. “The very area where you are most tempted to distrust God is the very place He has most chosen to trust you. Maybe all along He was saying, I knew you could. I know what’s in you. Because I am in you and I am your all surpassing power in a jar of clay. Watch me show off from the inside out.”

As I step into a new day it will be better for me to take my eyes off the people who might disappointment me and the circumstances that hurt me at the core, and look to see where God Himself is working in the deepest parts of me. He has many tools He uses to mold and shape me. He does not allow me to pick and choose which tools He will use. If He did that, I would never select the ones that would be the most beneficial. The trust comes in to play as I once again see Him as the potter and myself as the clay. He knows what He is doing and why He is doing it. I yield.

Father, be the One to consume me. Let my attention, passion, and heart be centered on You. Amen.

Be Still and Know That He is God - Steven Curtis Chapman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C01lLxEo3xM&feature=related

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

Coming Continually

Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:3 (New King James Version)

God is not someone I have chance meetings with or include in my morning hours only. Relationship with Him must be daily….moment by moment. I pay a high price when it is not that way. Thinking I can meet with Him once in the day and then be sustained on that is like a person who thinks she can take in one good breath of air and live off that for the next 24 hours. Impossible! There is too much going on in my life to not run to Him on a continual basis.

Too often I have waded through issues, faced frustrations, fought off temptations, felt the effects of loneliness, and floundered with unmet needs without crying out to Him and asking for help. By the time I turned to Him I was warn out physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What I failed to realize was how “off” my timing was. At the first sign of struggle I needed to resort to Him. He longs to be a fortress for me. How exactly does that work? Let’s get practical.

I work in an education warehouse and spend a good part of my day repetitious work. My mind is continually dwelling on many things. As I am working and thinking I may be struck with a strong sense of sadness over something. It not only hits me emotionally but I can actually feel a physical manifestation of it. There is a pressure that arises in my chest….right in the center. If I don’t run to God with it I will be pulled down by it. So I have learned to go to Him IMMEDIATELY. My prayer might sound something like, “Father, I feel the sadness. Come fill the place of emptiness in me with Yourself. Let your joy be my strength. I need You.” That’s it! It is not long but it is effective! That which weighed heavy on my mind and was felt so profoundly in my chest leaves and in its place is a peace that is profound. Prayer does not have to be complicated to be powerful. I may use Scripture or I may just use the principles of Scripture. The point is, He hears me when I call and He answers every time.

At first, I was surprised that this worked so quickly. But the surprise has been replaced by anticipation and expectation. Today, there will be many times this will take place. I joy in the fact that I already know what I will do each and every time!

Father, I marvel at Your availability and power. There is no time limit or removal of the welcome mat. I gladly come to You continually! Amen.

Hungry (Falling on My Knees) - Darlene Zschech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYlpIdEyzX4&feature=related

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

My Help Comes From the Lord

My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2 (New King James Version)

The One who created the universe is my Helper! I am trying to wrap my mind around that thought. I can recall the many people who have helped me in one way or another during the course of my life but who compares to the One who made everything?! Whatever I face today, I can proclaim with David the fact that my help comes from the LORD. David faced giants, enemies, failures, fears, and betrayal and did so with God as his helper. The same help and Helper is available to me every moment of every day!

Wherever I stand in need…my help comes from the LORD. Whatever the task I am given….my help comes from the LORD. Whoever I am called upon to love….my help comes from the LORD. Whenever and whoever I need to forgive…my help comes from the LORD. When my strength fails me…my help comes from the LORD. When I grow weary with the journey…my help comes from the LORD. When the questions of my heart pile up….my help comes from the LORD. When I am spent…my help comes from the LORD. When life gets uncomfortable or messy…my help comes from the LORD. When circumstances overwhelm me…my help comes from the LORD. When loneliness, sorrow, or sickness mark my path…my help comes from the LORD. When I am in need of internal healing….my help comes from the LORD. When losses are experienced…my help comes from the LORD.

There is nothing I stand in need of that surpasses the creation of heaven and earth. I will never need help and find God unable to help. My Helper divided the Red Sea, defeated vast armies, and brought water from a rock. He gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, healed lepers and lame ones, calmed the storms at sea, walked on water, drove out demons, and raised the dead. In light of that, is anything too hard for Him? Absolutely not!

I can think of individuals with whom I would be thrilled to have their help. Their counsel, assistance, and companionship would be invaluable. How much greater that the King of kings and Lord of lords comes to my aid and rescue. He is not distant, unavailable, unmoved, or unaware of my needs or deaf to my cries for help. May I go through every day fully realizing my help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth, and He will move heaven and earth to give me His help.

Father, I feel so cared for, safe, and protected. I stand in awe of You and in need of You. Because of You, I am never helpless! Amen.

I Will Lift My Eyes - Bebo Norman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtAjrNqEsoM&feature=related

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

Every False Way

From Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:104 (New American Standard Bible)

The teachings, truths, principles, commands, and statutes of God’s Word are what will bring discernment, instruction, and right perspectives. Apart from that, I am left on my own to wade through lies, deceptions, disappointment, and falsehood. Instead of freedom and strength, the way of life becomes a tangled web of confusion and failure.

When I choose to believe a lie or wrong perception I am following a false way. When I choose to think the worst of another person I am following a false way. When I choose to let the enemy define and describe life to me I am following a false way. When I choose to replace what God says with what I think I am following a false way. When I put anything or anyone in place of God in my life I am following a false way. When I make choices opposite of what God wants for me I am following a false way. When I allow my emotions to rule me instead of God’s Spirit, I am following a false way. When I look for answers and direction apart from God and the Bible, I am following a false way.

As far as David was concerned, false ways were to be hated! Why? They are destructive, misleading, dangerous, and toxic to our whole being. I can attest to the truth of that because I fight a daily battle to choose between false ways and God’s ways. When I lose the battles (as was the case yesterday) I am devastated and discouraged. When I win the battles (by God’s grace) I am ecstatic! So why, when I know those outcomes do I continue to follow false ways at times? Why in the middle of a battle do I not choose the right path?

I am pondering those questions and more this evening. Like the Apostle Paul I find myself not doing what I want to do and doing what I don’t want to do too much of the time. Like the disciples, my spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. I want the victory and yet I fail. I want others to see Christ in me but the ones who know me best often see the worst. I want to live out of the truths I have taken in over the years but they often seem stuck in my head without making it to my heart.

So where do I start at this point? Scripture! Prayer! Confession! I must go back to what I know to be true and reconnect with my loving heavenly Father. I must stop allowing fear to control me. I must open myself up to trust the ones God has brought into my life as helpers. I must choose to take one more step forward.

Father, I keep coming to you with failure, brokenness, and tears. You keep receiving me with open arms. I am in amazement at such mercy and grace. Amen.

Beautiful One - Tim Hughes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9m8MjI-mhU&feature=related

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

No Place for Review

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalm 32:1 (New King James Version)

Have you ever experienced it? That sense of forgiveness and that all is well between yourself and God or yourself and another individual? No more strained relationship. No more uneasiness or inability to look another person in the eye. No more knot in the pit of your stomach. That is exactly what transpires when I have genuinely sought forgiveness and graciously received it. It is what happened last night when I sat down with two people who mean a lot to me, who I had disappointed and hurt, who I asked forgiveness of, and who readily extended it. I left their home with no more weight on my shoulders or heart.

Yet amazingly enough, when I turned in for the evening the scenario of my wrong actions came flooding back to my mind and regret began to pound in my heart once again. Just as amazingly though the Lord began to speak to me in the privacy of my thoughts. He reminded me of the forgiveness I had been given and He urged me to live in the joy of that forgiveness rather than in the regret of wrong choices. He reminded me of Paul’s words in Philippians 3:13 that says to forget those things which are behind. He let me know that the quickest way to be robbed of joy and peace is to continue to replay what has been forgiven. He said in essence, “Your mind does not belong there anymore. Revel in the forgiveness. You don’t have to review the past any longer. I am not. They are not. You cannot!”

Reviewing past mistakes, sins, and failures has been a pattern for me throughout my life. A pattern that God wants broken. A pattern I too want broken. The breaking of it is starting with a simple of exercise. When the thoughts come back (which they have on countless times this morning) I simply remind myself I have been forgiven. With that reminder the scene that is playing across the walls of my mind vanishes. What comes in its place? The living room scene where two people extended the forgiveness I sought and the scene at Calvary where the price of sin was paid in full. When my mind reviews those scenes, the joy returns and with it, the ability to move forward.

Father, when I hesitate to embrace forgiveness I weaken my own ability to extend it to others. I want the joy and freedom that comes from receiving with abandon such a gracious gift. Amen.

What Sin? - Morgan Cryar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3Wdzzx6-f4

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