He Takes Notice

But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. 2 Kings 10:31 (New American Standard Bible)

Do you ever get discouraged with the way you are living your Christian life? Maybe you feel nothing is counting for good because you can’t seem to do it right ALL the time? I spent years beating myself up over failures, short comings, and unfinished tasks. I somehow developed a mindset that said, “If I slip up it will cancel out what I did manage to do .” It was the opposite of thinking my good will outweigh my bad in the end. Like the parent who won’t accept the A’s on a report card because of the one B that is standing out, I mistakenly thought God was entirely focused on my imperfections. But the story of Jehu reveals the truth about God to me in a special way.

While 2 Kings 10:31 is a sad commentary on his life God says an astounding thing in the preceding verse. He tells him his sons for the next four generations will sit on the throne of Israel because he had done well in executing what is right in God’s eyes and done according to all that was in God’s heart. God not only noticed what he did right but He acknowledged it and rewarded him for it!

I see the same graciousness extended when David was called a man after God’s own heart even though he had a trail of sin behind him. Abraham was called a friend of God even though he had some not so sterling moments in his life.

I envision Heaven being filled with surprises. So often people focus on the loss of rewards, but oh the joy we will experience when God rewards us for things we didn’t even realize He noticed! God is an expert at finding the rare diamonds in the caves of our lives. Those things we never dreamed amounted to anything stood out brilliantly to a God with perfect vision.

I am not saying our sin does not matter. And neither am I saying our salvation is based on works or our good out weighing our bad. What I am saying is that God does notice the times we get it right, yield to Him, and cooperate with His work in our life. In the midst of failure God sees the gold!

Father, for too many years I felt like such a disappointment to You. Now I am beginning to see delight in Your eyes. Amen.

Who Am I - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWeEYKqAdQ8&feature=related

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

Beyond Mere Endurance

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (New International Version)

David said in Psalm 119:161, “My heart trembles at Your Word.“ This morning I know what he means. God is showing me a truth that literally has me trembling like I have just taken in a huge amount of caffeine! My mind is racing, my heart rate is up, and I am trying to contain the joy because of something I am seeing for the first time.

I have often read 2 Corinthians 12:9 without fully realizing what God was saying to Paul, and in reality, what He was saying to me. Paul had asked God to remove a thorn of some sort from his life. Possibly this was in the area of a physical weakness…maybe poor eyesight or an actual disease of the eye. Whatever the case may be, the answer was “no” with the promise of God’s grace being sufficient for him. All that meant to me was God was going to give Paul the ability to endure. To be quite honest with you, that gave me little comfort. It felt more like a disappointment then an assurance because I could not see what God was really saying.

I am seeing the meaning of three very important words and it is causing this verse to come alive. In this verse, grace is referring to God’s loving-kindness, favor, and strength. Sufficient not only means to have enough to defend or ward off but to possess unfailing strength in a satisfying and sufficient amount. And rest means Christ’s power descending upon one, working within him, and giving him help. When I put all the puzzle pieces together I am seeing God’s promise to EMPOWER me with His strength in the midst of whatever has come into my life….especially those things that are not going to go away. It is in my weaknesses, infirmities, and inabilities that God’s strength and power will be evidenced and showcased in my life. It will come upon me, work in me, and help me physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.

In the midst of tremendous loss, earth shattering news, devastating medical diagnosis, financial crisis, weather related catastrophes, or any other life altering dilemma, I can tell myself and any other child of God, that His power will mightily infuse them. It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead! It is not simply endurance. It is victorious empowerment!

Father, I need these words this morning as I look ahead to the things I can’t face, handle, or survive on my own. I admit my weakness and embrace Your strength. May the manifestation of Your power in my life be magnified and multiplied! I stand in awe at the implications and importance of Your words to me. Amen.

Praise You in the Storm - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHdcyue0bSw&feature=related

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

Superabounding Grace

But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded. Romans 5:20b (Amplified Bible)

I have within myself the capacity to sin because I possess a sin nature. We all do! I may not give in to every urge but the ability to sink to the lowest depths of depravity is present in me as it is in you. Yet as a believer I also have God’s divine influence on my heart….His grace. While sin may increase and abound, the influence of God superabounds! The comparison is encouraging because God’s help far exceeds my weaknesses. His advantages for me far outweigh my disadvantages.

I feel led to do some comparisons this morning and the results will be astounding! Keep in mind that each time I use the word “grace” I am referring to God’s divine influence, favor, and help that is present and available in me. Proportionately speaking God’s grace exceeds every ungracious thing in me. Grace exceeds my strongholds. Grace exceeds my addictions. Grace exceeds my weaknesses. Grace exceeds my mindsets. Grace exceeds my wrong choices. Grace exceeds my failures. Grace exceeds my misperceptions. Grace exceeds my depraved words, actions, and thoughts. No matter what I place on the scale of comparisons, God’s grace outweighs, out shines, out lasts, and out powers it. In other words the potential for victory is greater than the potential for defeat.

The question now becomes, will I walk in that grace and allow it to be reflected in my life? By His grace I can! Once again I am reminded that living the Christian life is not a matter of self made virtues. It is a matter of allowing God to do His work in me. It is looking to Him to give me the desire and ability to follow Him, cooperate with Him, and obey Him. I want transformation and change. I want to continually NOT be the person I was a year ago, month ago, week ago, or even day ago!

As I go through my day and come up against any temptation, test, or sinful desire, I want to realize I have MORE grace than that! There is also more grace than grief, sorrow, loss, or pain. It is like comparing an ant hill to a mountain, a pond to an ocean, or a twig to a forest. Superabounding, super abundant, super accessible is God’s grace. As the hymn so eloquently states, “Grace, grace, God’s grace! Grace will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, Grace, God’s grace! Grace is greater than ALL my sin.” Amen! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Grace indeed!

Father, keep me aware of Your grace in me. The excessiveness of it all astounds me! Amen.

Amazing Grace ( My Chains are Gone) - Chris Tomlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyFxArMeRDI&feature=related

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