Avoiding That Which Hinders

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12 (King James Version)

There are times when doing things that are good in and of themselves is not necessarily good for us. If those things get in the way of, hinder, or slow down our journey to a desired end, then it is best to avoid doing them. Those are the things we definitely do not want over powering us, controlling us, or mastering us.

Food in and of itself is a good thing. God has graciously given us a variety of things with which to nourish our bodies. Yet even though all foods are allowable for me, there are some foods I choose not to eat at certain times or at all times. Why? I know they will trigger an eating binge for me. To eat them awakens in me a desire to over indulge for long periods of time. They are my red light or trigger foods and avoiding them for the most part is necessary for me. It’s a healthy choice I have come to make and it is the best choice for me.

I am finding, that just as there are certain foods I should stay away from, there is certain behavior I should also say “no” to. There are some things that are not bad in and of themselves, yet I know that if I act upon the desire to do them they will trigger emotional responses in me that are not good. My journey to freedom, walk of victory, and life of wholeness will be hindered and blocked big time!

I am learning that in the times when I am out of sorts I must discern what brought on the thoughts, feelings, and mood. One such time was last night and I had no trouble knowing the moment the emotions were triggered and the spiraling downward began. For now, I struggle in those times and hence they last far longer than they should. So for the present, while I am able to choose, I must resist an action that will get it started. Is it an action that will forever be forbidden? No. It is simply a necessity for the time being. Until I am able to handle the emotions in the right way, it is imperative that I avoid that which stirs those emotions. Within time, avoidance will be replace by moderation and moderation will eventually be replaced by the freedom to act.

Father, it is hard but so necessary to resist the things that are enjoyable but dangerous for me. Give me the wisdom to know when an end result will be opposite of what both You and I desire. Renew me, refresh me, and restore to me the joy of Your salvation. Amen.

Spirit Song - Maranatha Singers (Evie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqkvIhs7Ijg

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

The Trust Factor

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (New International Version)

Who can we look to for joy, peace, and hope? God! How can we have the joy, peace, and hope He offers us by the power of His Spirit? It is the result of trusting in Him. Believing Him, obeying Him, resting in Him, abiding in Him, relying upon Him….trusting Him. When am I not trusting Him? When I am trying to figure things out for myself with my limited knowledge and understanding. When I am holding on to the past instead of embracing His forgiveness. When I am placing my hope and expectation for satisfaction in anything or anyone other than Him. When I am living under the weight of my own perceptions. When I am harboring thoughts of worry, discord, and fear. When I am out of sorts with fellow believers. What is the red flag that I am not trusting Him? A lack of joy, peace, and hope.

Last night, in the course of a phone conversation, a friend shared a verse with me that took on a whole new meaning for me. It was a verse that is so familiar to me that I could say it in my sleep and yet I have limited its power and truth. The verse is Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” I use to see this as a necessary verse for times when I needed direction in life. Times when I did not know what to do. It was for times when I needed to cry out, “Lord, show me what to do!” I am not minimizing the importance of doing so but God is certainly broadening my scope of interpretation.

I instantly saw the “leaning on my own understanding” in the area of relationships. My understanding many times is based on my perceptions and what I think! The problem is that often my thinking is distorted and my perceptions are skewed. If I am not careful and discerning, past experiences, failure, and circumstances have a way of clouding and coloring my present world . What I think is true is based on my emotions, feelings, longings, prejudices, observations, and interpretations. Add to that a sense of insignificance and insecurity and my “understanding” is pitiful at best. If I live according to my understanding it gets me into trouble every time.

So where does trusting God come in? What does trusting God look like? I am to trust in the fact that He knows all things clearly. He will work all things out for my good. He will supply all my needs. He knows what is best for me. He loves me unconditionally, passionately, and always. My understanding cannot possibly come close to comparing with that!

Father, help me to see the moment I go from trusting You to trusting in my own understanding. In the times when I think I have it all figured out, help me to see I don‘t. It is Your joy, peace, and hope I want and will have as I trust You. Amen.

You Are My Hiding Place - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zej__yFPeK0

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

When It Is Not of God

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (New King James Version)

There have been many times when the fear I was experiencing was definitely not of God. It was not a reverential trust in Him. It also was not a safe guard against danger. It was an emotion that could keep me frozen in my tracks and unable to experience life as God meant it to be experienced. Many were the times I feared taking a step in a certain direction because I believed by doing so would guarantee a consequence in which I wanted no part. I never questioned the source of my fear or the possibility that the fear was unfounded. I simply allowed it to be a stop sign to me and a hindrance to any movement.

There have been times in the past when I have decided to move a “stop sign” out of the way and step out uninhibited by speculative thinking. That which I feared would happen didn’t! Did this mean I should have acted sooner? Maybe not….I don’t know. What I do know is that testing the waters proved to be a good and necessary thing at the time. It gave me the freedom to test the validity of a fear that had kept me from actually walking in power, love, and a sound mind. Each time the experience would serve me well in future situations.

Often times, walking by faith will entail risks. I run the risk of being wrong, of being hurt, of being adversely affected, or of being thrown for a loop. When that happens I know Who to turn to for comfort, counsel, and further direction. I am not helpless or hopeless even when I face unpleasant consequences. I am human but my Father is God and He will see me through any wrong turns. As He does, I will come away all the wiser for it. As my pastor once said, “Even our sinful choices can teach us life lessons if we are willing to learn.”

On the same token, if I don’t take some steps of faith, I run the risk of missing out on intended blessings, spiritual growth, godly insight, and adventures intended for me to experience. I, for one, do not want that to be the predominant theme of my life.

It will take many trial and error moments to gain the insight and discernment I need for this journey. I would rather make and recover from some mistakes because of risk taking than continue to live life with a fearful stance whereby I miss out on the aspects of the abundant life God continually offers me.

Father, that which I fear happening does not always take place and I am so glad! Take me further on this journey than I have ever been before. In both victory and failure I will praise You. Lead on O King Eternal. Amen.

Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwsvqVmFV6Y

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

Based on What?

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 2 Corinthians 5:9 (King James Version)

At first glance, this verse appears to be saying that God’s acceptance of me is based on my works for Him. I can look back to over 30 years of my Christian life whereby I thought that God’s acceptance of me was based on my performance and good deeds. If I did well, I felt acceptable to Him. If I failed, I felt unacceptable to Him. Understand, I did not base my salvation on my works. I knew Christ paid the penalty for my sin on Calvary and hence my salvation was not something I could earn. I knew I would spend eternity in Heaven with Him because of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Yet, I lived with an uneasiness as to how He viewed me as His child. Toleration at best and dislike at worst. It was the foundational lie upon which I built my legalistic faith walk. When that is the case, there is no peace, no joy, no rest.

It is imperative that we see the meaning of the words we read in the Bible. It helps to take key words and see what they mean in the original language. The Greek word for accepted is euarestos and it means well pleasing and acceptable. With that in mind, look at how this verse reads in the New Living Translation: “So our aim is to please him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this body.” When I see it worded that way, I am made aware of the fact that my actions are to please God, which is far removed from thinking I have to work for God’s acceptance and approval.

When it comes to God’s view of me, I must remember to separate His view of me and His view of my actions, motives, attitudes, thoughts, and words. I am accepted through Christ, my Savior (John 1:12). My behavior is either pleasing or displeasing to Him depending on whether or not it is aligned with His desire and will. Because of Christ, I will always be accepted by God. When my actions displease Him, it is necessary for me to confess and repent the wrong and move forward in obedience. It is for His pleasure not His acceptance.

This is a pivotal truth for me as it helps me to see that I really am accepted by God. His view of me is one of approval and affirmation. While He is not always pleased with what I do, He delights in me as His daughter and in that I am free to live life to the fullest!

Father, Your view of me is becoming clearer to me and is replacing the distortions of the faulty belief system I can easily embrace if I am not careful. I joy in what I am seeing! Amen.

Friend of God - Phillips, Craig, & Dean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMnMN08sv4k

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

His Word to Me

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10 (New International Version)

Battles leave me drained and in need of refreshment. They bring me to a point of desiring truth to once again make its way into my thoughts, life, and situation. Last night, I drifted off to sleep with one phrase running through my mind: “Is anything too hard for God?” Each time the question was asked, the resounding answer was “No!” It gave me assurance to know that my personal struggles, weaknesses, and failures are no match for God’s power and work in my life. How precious that today’s verse was waiting to great me when I woke this morning.

Although I have recently come off a bout with sinus infection, I don’t often suffer in the physical sense. Persecution by the government does not mark my path either. I have a job, a family, a roof over my head, food in my pantry, dependable automobiles in my driveway, clothes in my closet, a precious church family, and friends who stick with me through thick and thin. For each I am thankful! At the same time, I live in a fallen world, possess a sin nature, have an enemy of my soul who is intent on distracting, discouraging, and destroying me, and too often fall victim to spiraling moods, emotional over loads, and insecurities. Yet, by the grace of God, I am given many promises.

My Father, the Creator of the Universe and sustainer of His creation, will restore me and make me strong, firm, and steadfast….not just in eternity but in my everyday battles. He is fully aware and fully present in each hour of need and He wants me to know that each incident is NOT the end of my story. He promises that I will get up again after each stumble. I will regain my composure after each fall. Each doubt will be answered by truth. Each moment of weakness will be followed by His power and strength.

My journey with Him is a process of learning, growing, and gaining. Is it a task that is too hard for God? Am I a person that is too much for Him to work with? Absolutely not! Who better to rely upon and rest in than the One who sees it all, knows it all, and can handle it all?

Father, I long to walk in victory but when I don’t, You promise restoration, rejuvenation, and renewal. Make me strong, firm, and steadfast as I look to You. Amen.

Sing for Joy - Don Moen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jjb1wOUt4I

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

Filling the Cavern

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" John 7:38 (New American Standard Bible)

My innermost being. That place in me that is like a cavern of hunger and thirst. That part of me that I long to have filled. Jesus offers me (and you) a river of living water that flows in the depths of my internal world. That place was not made empty by my past experiences of life. It was in me before I took my first breath. Created in me by God to be filled by Him alone. That place in me that hungers and thirsts for significance, identity, love, acceptance, affirmation, and approval.

Some try to fill their voids with success, wealth, notoriety, accomplishments, possessions, positions, or education. Some, like myself, seek to fill the void with significant people. What we find in the end is that whatever amount of life’s “fill dirt” we shovel in, it never seems to reach the bottom or last long. I find that even the effects of the most special times and conversations begin to wane moments after they have taken place. My answer is to then go on a search for more and in the end my search is both futile and disappointing.

Jesus tells me that I am significant, loved, and valued because I am His. He speaks those words over and into my life, even though I have sought for it in other sources. This morning He is showing me how much of a bondage this is for me. Bondage to my needs. Bondage to my thoughts. Bondage to my search. At the same time He is reminding me that He came to set the captive free! I am that captive and I am in need of the freedom He offers.

Acknowledging the problem and seeing the root of that problem is only the first of many steps I am beginning to take. Recently, friends have told me I am persistent in my quest to find God’s love sufficient and to live out of that love. They are right. Of all the things I long for in this life, that is the ultimate desire of my heart. What encourages me the most is that I know it is God’s desire for me as well.

Father, my search has accomplished one thing…..it has pointed me to You. Show me how to let You fill up my innermost being with Your living water and presence. I am in need and I bring that need to You. Amen.

He Knows My Name - Maranatha Singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXsiWoyjw60

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

When the Brook Dries Up

It happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to him. 1 Kings 17:7 (New American Standard Bible)

If we misunderstand the purpose and tentative nature of our God-given places of spiritual refreshment and sustenance we can be in for a time of great confusion and discouragement. One of the biggest and yet most difficult lessons for me to learn in my Christian life has been the temporary nature of the very things God provides me with for a time. The first time the brook of relationship dried up for me it sent me reeling. It shook the false foundation of security I was standing on and I was sent back to the very basics of my faith.

It was a time when the temptation ran strong to never again open my heart to a meaningful, significant relationship. The option that played in my mind was to distance myself from ever again experiencing the pain of loss. I feared I could not trust myself to not repeat the same mistakes if I were to cross paths with another caring and nurturing person. I bought into the lie of the enemy that there would never be change and never be freedom for me in this area. God knew better and now I do as well. It has taken nearly two years but I am finally living out of the truth of God’s intentions.

First, I had to see God’s purposeful gift of friendships to me. There are things He wants to teach and show me through other believers. I cannot read Scripture and not see the power of relationship that God means for each of His children. Every significant person that God has ever crossed my path with has left a profound mark on my life and I would not be the person I am today were it not for God’s use of them in my life.

Second, I had to see that although God was using them in mighty ways the focus still had to be on Him. He was the One pouring the very things through them that I needed. While they were the vessels, He was the Source. Their words of encouragement and life were coming from Him.

Third, I had to come to a peaceful resolve that none of them were meant to be a permanent part of my life….at least not in such a hands on and personal way. Once the purpose for their involvement was fulfilled there would be a shift of access and activity. They would no longer be the ones I took questions to or from whom I sought advice. It wasn’t rejection or abandonment. It was a drying up and leading on. There would be new directions we both would go and yet never without God’s continued watch care and voice.

I originally wrote this devotional in October of 2008. I read it now for refreshment and needed review. Since the first writing, God has allowed me the precious experience of new significant relationships and I praise Him for allowing me to live out the truth of what He showed me a year and a half ago.

Father, I have sat beside the dried beds of friendship and struggled to move forward. Thank you that the steps are finally being taken to enter the new places You have for me. Amen.

For Good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzrGFQysfYU

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