It is Not an Insult to Ask

And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? 2 Kings 20:8

I am surprised that Hezekiah is asking for a sign that God will do what He said He would do. After all, Isaiah had just told him what God had said in relationship to his sickness. Not only would he be healed but he would live an additional fifteen years! But instead of rejoicing and resting in the realization that he has been granted such an extravagant answer to his prayer, he is asking God for some proof that it will actually happen. Much like Gideon who put out fleeces to make sure he really was hearing from God via an angel’s visit. Was God’s word not good enough for them? Apparently not.

My surprise turns to amazement as I see God give Hezekiah and Gideon what they asked for. Hezekiah is given a choice of seeing a shadow recede or progress by ten degrees. He chooses the recession of the sun’s shadow. Gideon places a fleece out (on two occasions) and sees the dew affect the ground and fleece in opposite ways. Both men are given physical demonstrations to encourage them in their faith. God was gracious to show them with their eyes what they struggled to embrace in their spirit. What a personally involved God we serve!

My Bible has some interesting notes regarding signs and the possible reasons God so willing gave them. God gave signs to strengthen their faith, as proof or a guarantee that He would fulfill His promise, to demonstrate authority, provide assurance, bear testimony, give warning, and encourage faith.

It is no different for us today. In the course of our daily lives we sometimes need confirmation of God’s leading in tangible ways. It may be through a verse, words spoken in conversation, some physical display, or any number of creative methods God chooses to implement. Whatever the case may be, my heavenly Father isn’t insulted by a genuine desire for assurance. He will go to any length to help me walk by faith!

Father, while my faith pleases You, I know I can be honest with my uncertainties and doubts. Your response is always loving! Amen.

It Is Never Insignificant

Come and see the works of God, Who is awesome in His deeds toward the sons of man. Psalm 66:5

Recently God has begun to show me a truth that I have missed for decades! The truth is that EVERYTHING He does is significant, important, meaningful, and valuable. So often we want to say that is true about the BIG things like miracles, creation, and radical intervention, but lately I am struck by the fact that even the “small” seemingly insignificant areas of our life are to be included. It does not matter what it is, if God’s finger is touching it there is significance.

Know this, if I label something as insignificant than I am ultimately saying God is insignificant and so are His works. That is certainly not true. If I wait for the big things to happen in my life I will miss many opportunities to see God’s hand at work in my every day moments. Just yesterday God set aside a surprise for me! I went to the Christian bookstore and decided to look at some music CDs. Anyone who knows me very well knows I enjoy Kathy Troccoli’s music. I spotted a CD I wanted to purchase and it was marked down to $10. I thought that was a great deal. But just before I stepped over to the cash register to buy it, someone handed me a 50% off coupon. Hence, I bought it for a mere $5! If I don’t see God’s involvement in my life I could easily shrug my shoulders over a mere coincidence. But seeing God’s work as significant evokes praise! My heart spills over with thanksgiving, appreciation, and joy!

I don’t want to miss His gracious acts throughout each day. And neither do I want to base my own significance on what I think of myself or what others think of me. Each of us live with the negative effects of people’s negative words, attitudes, and actions toward us. It is time I formulate a list of what God says about me and all the ways He adds significance to my life. His thoughts toward me are too numerous to count, His mercies are new to me each morning, He loads me with blessings on a daily basis, His goodness is evident. May my own personal significance stems from a realization that God’s works are abundantly significant. May I learn to hold up truth against everything else that may attempt to fill me with feelings of insignificance.

Father, keep making Your presence, power, and provision known in my life. Don’t let me miss a single detail of Your involvement. Amen.

It Always Leads to Actions

But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him, and when he saw him, he felt compassion. Luke 10:33

An Israelite is leaving Jerusalem and heading for Jericho. On the way he is robbed and badly beaten….even left for dead. A priest and Levite both see him but ignore his plight. They have no sense of responsibility to get involved. A Samaritan sees the same thing they see, a person in desperate need of help, and he feels compassion. To him, it doesn’t matter that he has places to go, people to see, and things to do. He felt compassion and compassion is always the catalyst for action.

It is incredible to see the list of things this Samaritan does for a fellow human being. If you are not familiar with this story take a moment and read Luke 10:30-37. I don’t know if he planned to do all the things he did or if along the way he did something and then kept asking himself, “Is there something else I can do?” Each thing he chose to do took more time and investment on his part. And when he was finished we never read whether or not the person he helped ever thanked him or even saw him again. We just know that his compassion was displayed in tangible and multiple ways. Maybe he had been in that situation of need himself at one time. Or maybe a loved one had been in a similar plight. Whichever the case may be, his compassion and his actions leave us a rich example to follow.

We live in a world that is full of needs. People are hurting and in need of help. It may be physical, spiritual, social, economical, emotional, or mental help they need. They are in our homes, our churches, our work place, and our community. Are we in tune enough with God and people to see the needs around us? Compassion always leads to involvement….otherwise it is simply pity. Many times in Scripture we read how Jesus was moved with compassion and then actions followed.

I am asking myself this morning, do those words mark what I did yesterday? Did I notice anyone in need, feel compassion, and then become involved? It does not have to be just in the area of finances. Did I listen when someone needed a sounding board? Did I embrace a person who just needed a hug? Did I write a note of encouragement? Did I do something besides notice and just pass by?

Father, today, help me to see the needs of those around me. Give me insight, compassion, and practical ways to minister to others. Amen.

More Than We Can Handle

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19 KJV

Sometimes it is easy to allow the things of this world to weigh us down. We might find ourselves thinking or saying, “I cannot take one more thing!” We live with a feeling of being over whelmed, over worked, and over run. If that is you this morning, may today’s thoughts bring about a new twist to your thinking.

Amidst all the troubles of life God wants each of us to know the truth of Psalm 68:19...that He daily loads us with benefits. He has acts of tenderness, loving kindness, and generosity in store for each of His children today and every day! If we are not aware of that and if we are not on the look out for those benefits, we will miss them. They will be there but we will miss the joy of discovery and the richness of experiencing them.

I have been on a hunt this morning and already I am seeing the first load of benefits being dropped into my spirit! God awakened me with the realization that there are ways to spend my day that will enrich my fellowship with Him or rob me of it. I am allowing His revelation to alter my activities, schedule, and objectives for today. I have already permitted music to minister to me! I love the song MAKE MY LIFE A PRAYER FOR YOU by Kathy Troccoli and have listened to it several times to let it saturate me. I received two emails that were such a blessing to me. One encouraged me greatly and the other gave me some spiritual truths that astounded and nourished me. He is letting me know there is more to come!

The benefits might be spiritual, physical, social, or emotional in their nature. They may have to do with His provision, protection, power, or presence but they will be apparent. I don’t want to miss any of them. Throughout the day I want to be aware of His deliveries and by the end of the day I want to feel like the kid who just went on a free shopping spree at Toys R Us!

I have lived too many years of my Christian life unmoved and unaware of God’s involvement in my life. I did not live with a daily amazement of Him or His gifts. I do now and that delights Him!

Father, I sense the glee in Your eye as You begin to lavish on me today‘s benefits. May I acknowledge each one with gratitude and delight! I open my arms and heart to receive them all. Amen.

He Has and Is What You are Looking For

Leah conceived and bore a son and named him Reuben for she said, “Because the LORD has seen my affliction; surely now my husband will love me.” Genesis 29:32 NASB

I am struck by the desperation of Leah as I read of her life, marriage, and search for love. Her affliction was barrenness and a marriage void of love. The children she conceived became her means whereby she hoped to gain the love and companionship of her husband. Her desire was to be valued and counted as dear. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be loved. It is an inward desire we were created with. The problem is how we go about trying to obtain that love….especially when it is withheld.

I find it interesting that after multiple pregnancies and births, love from her husband is still not realized. Her actions have not earned her the favor she had hoped for. While her womb, arms, and home are full of children she still lives empty and deprived. Her “surely now my husband will love me” words have not come to pass.

It has taken me years to realize my heart needs are what drive me to do the things I do. It is so easy to look to people to heal my wounds, ease my worries, and just plain fix me. I somehow want to place on them the responsibility for my spiritual well being and maturity. When all the while God is inviting me to come to Him and live my life out of my daily connection and relationship with Him.

He has recently taken me through three essential steps in my walk with Him. He brought me to the place of realizing everything I am and need is found in Christ. Not only my salvation but my very existence. He then walked me through the process of transferring my dependency on individuals over to Himself. Then He helped me to see that living out of my spirit (my relationship with Him) must replace living out of my soul (my mind, will, and emotions).

It has been His way of saying, “I have much more to offer you than you could ever hope to find in people.” He is helping me to see what has hindered me from taking Him up on His invitation to “come unto Me.” As the hindrances are realized and removed I am finding a satisfaction and completeness in Christ that I never imagined would be possible.

Father, You are teaching me how to come to You. Thank you for never allowing people to do for me what You alone can do. Amen.

They Are Meant for You Too

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. Genesis 28:15 NASB

How many times do we read a portion of Scripture and think only of the person to whom God was directly speaking? For years, I failed to make a connection between God speaking to people in the Bible and God speaking to me. I thought David was so fortunate to have a God who delighted in Him. I thought the nation of Israel was so blessed to have a God who would never leave them. I thought Jacob was so privileged to have a God who promised to be with him. But I failed to see the same messages were meant for me. God’s intent had always been for me to hear Him say the words to me as well. He desires for each of us to take the words He spoke centuries ago and own them for ourselves. God’s words are meant to leap off the pages of Scripture and house themselves within us. If we limit them to only being meant for the person God originally spoke them to, we exclude ourselves from their power in our own life. It is imperative that we not separate ourselves from all that God wants to say to us through His Word.

So when we face unchartered territory we must listen as He says, “I am with you.” When difficulties arise we must drink in His whispers of “I will keep you wherever you go.” When we feel abandoned, forgotten, or alone we must take in His words of “I will not leave you.” It is meant to be just as real for us as it was for Jacob. That is one of reasons we say God’s Word is alive. He not only spoke to Jacob, He speaks to us presently. It is the same God, the same words, but different ears. Ours!

I love the note in my Amplified Bible next to the phrase ‘I am with you, and will keep you.’ It says “watch over you with care, take notice of.” It is said with compassion, warmth, tenderness, and affection. It is one thing to have a friend join you at a time of need. It is quite another thing for the Creator and Sustainer of the universe to be your very present help at all times! May His words be THAT personal to you not only today but every day.

Father, I am touched by Your words this morning. They really are meant for me! They are meant to draw me into close communion with You. May they become as much a part of me as my very breath. Amen.

God's Individual and Unique Work

Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing, be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:1 NASB

A leper came to Jesus for healing. Jesus touched him and spoke and the leprosy was cleansed. A centurion came to Jesus on behalf of his paralyzed servant and Jesus merely spoke the word and his servant was healed. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever and Jesus touched her hand and the fever was gone. People brought many others to Jesus who were demon-possessed and Jesus cast out the spirits with His word. This all took place in the first 16 verses of Matthew 8. What a powerful example of the variety and uniqueness of Jesus’ healing ministry. Sometimes He spoke, sometimes He touched, sometimes He spoke and touched. Sometimes individuals came for themselves and other times they brought others in need of healing. The needs varied as well as the methods. Jesus was not limited to just one particular way of doing things.

So often we look at how God is working in an individual’s life today and we want the same thing done in us. We want the same methods used and the same picture when God is finished. But God sees us and deals with us as individuals. He is creative and distinguishing in the interactions with His children. No two people are exactly alike. There may be similarities but each possesses qualities, personalities, backgrounds, strengths, weaknesses, gifts, and relationships that are unique to them. The combinations and variety are astounding.

God has a special design on each life and because of that He will individualize His way of working in those lives. He determines the trials, blessings, hardships, events, and interactions of my life. The choice of tools is His. The finished product is His. Now I can either fight Him or cooperate. I can either squeeze myself into other molds or allow God to mold me. I can either wish for duplications of His other works or learn to joy in what He is doing in me and has planned for me. I choose cooperation over comparison. May I seek His choice for me!

Father, I am like no other child of Yours. Therefore I trust the way You are working, the tools You are using, and the results You are planning. I find comfort in the uniqueness, creativity, and distinctiveness of all You do! Amen.