Necessary Awareness

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God. John 13:3 (KJV)

I have recently watched a couple episodes of American Idol. One thing stands out to me above all other things with that show. It is the misdirected trust the contestants place in the hands of the judges. They not only come with their dreams to succeed, they build their identity, worth, and value on what those judges think of them.

I ache for them because they remind me of myself and all the times I have looked to people to tell me who I was and what I was worth. Their opinion of me became the determining factor of how I viewed myself. I had yet to learn what Jesus knew! His total identity was found in the relationship He had with His Father. He knew that every thing in His life passed from His Father’s hands to His hands…..the joys as well as the sorrows. He knew where He came from and where He was going. Nothing in this life could take away or add to what He knew to be true.

I have found there is only one way for God to instill that kind of knowledge in me. It is in drawing me aside in solitude with Himself. He has spent the last year removing anything or anyone from my life that would hinder me from knowing Him and hence knowing who I really am. He knew what I was clinging to for security, identity, assurance, significance, and belonging. As He would purposefully pry each idol from my closed hands I responded with tears, fear, and dejection. I did not understand why He was doing what He was doing….until now. His ways seemed harsh and unloving at the time. But I have finally come to realize His desire all along was to get me to look to Him, know Him, and embrace Him. That is not possible if anything else stands in the way, has my attention, or holds my heart. He was simply clearing the way so we could finally be together.

I am still in a wilderness place with Him but I am beginning to see signs of life, evidence of growth, and the reality of His presence. My tears are being replaced with joy, my fears are being replaced with confidence, and my loneliness is being replaced with His companionship.

Father, You give and You take away in love. Continue to remove any thing from my life that distracts me from knowing You. I open my hands to release any thing or any one I am holding on to in place of You. Amen.

The Power of Conjunctions

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth; yet they have not prevailed against me. Psalm 129:2 (KJV)

David had a right take on life. He knew how to state the problem as well as stand on the promise! He was not one who feared to acknowledge the truth of his external circumstances or the internal battle of emotions, but that was not his final statement. He was a man of conjunctions! The “yet” of this verse lets the reader know the previous phrase is not the end of the story. It is like saying, “Even though THIS is happening to me it will not do me in.” May I too look for God’s conjunctions in my life.

Afflicted is an interesting word. It comes from the same Hebrew word that means cramp, besiege, bind up, oppress, shut up, trouble, and vex. It is the actions of an enemy who is intent on destroying you. For some that would be the people in their life, the circumstances of their life, or the thoughts that rage within them. But what I must daily realize is that those are merely the tools the enemy of my soul is using against me. He will take anything within reach and present it to me with his own twisted interpretation. He is a master at misrepresentations and false advertisements. He is out to slander God, me, and the people in my life. He will stop at nothing to get me to believe lies, live in defeat, and retreat in hopelessness and tears.

But I have the assurance of God’s Word that he will not prevail. In order to have the victory he must be stronger, predominate, and superior. One need only look at the New Testament twin verse to see that is not the case. For I John 4:4 becomes the battle cry of every believer as it proclaims, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Last night my thoughts became dark and I could sense myself slipping into an all too familiar pit of despair. The enemy was delighted as long as I curled up with my own thoughts and his lies. But he quickly retreated when I began to proclaim the truth found in God’s Word. All it took was a reminder that he will not prevail.

Father, help me to be more aware of where the thoughts are coming from and who the real enemy is! I cannot afford to listen to him or interpret life through his grid of lies. You are Truth and I trust You alone to define me and interpret the circumstances of my life. Amen.

Given to be Given Away

And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. John 6:11 KJV

The kingdom principles that Jesus taught and demonstrated in Bible times are also meant for us today. Our God is unchangeable and so is His ability to work in amazing ways. As I read this verse this morning the theme that literally jumped off the page to me was, “Give away what is given to you. Share with others what I share with you. I still multiply the things that are not hoarded for oneself.”

The disciples saw this truth displayed in a powerful way when Jesus gave them the opportunity to distribute lunch to 5,000 men. The few elements of a small boy’s lunch became a feast of great proportion with leftovers that far exceeded what they even started out with. Their wonderment of how so little could go so far was soon replaced with amazement and evident sufficiency. What could have been kept by a little boy, by Jesus, or even by the disciples was given out and multiplied miraculously.

So what insight can I take with me and apply to my own life?

*God has plans for whatever is placed in His hands.
*Multiplication is the result of giving away what He graciously gives to me.
*Others will benefit from what is passed on to them.
*Hoarding actually causes me to miss out on God’s intended purposes.
*There is no better way to live than to leave the results with God.
*Partnership with God is the doorway to any miracle.

While there are many things I am privileged to receive from my Father and then pass on to others, I have found great joy in seeing this principle work each morning as I send out an email devotional. What started out as private journal notes written on paper eventually became something I desired to share with others. A little over one hundred individuals now become the recipients of what God first shares with me in the quiet morning hours. Some have let me know they forward the devotionals on to others. That touches my heart because I then become a witness of God’s multiplication principle. Indeed it is alive and well today!

Father, Your ways never fail to amaze me. The fact that You allow me to be a distributor of Your truths leaves me in awe. I gladly join You! Amen.

Daily Directives

Then the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. Matthew 21:6 Amplified Bible

A couple of years ago, I took a trip from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Athens, Georgia. I printed off directions from MapQuest and got an early start! I knew where I was going and even had the printed instructions for how to get there, but I misread them and ended up adding many miles and hours to my trip! Later on, I discovered what I had done wrong and the trip back was shorter and faster. That error turned into a lesson of great value in how to read and follow MapQuest directions.

Fleshing out Matthew 21:6 took longer for me to learn. I had become adapt at following the directions of individuals and churches but I floundered to hear Jesus’ instructions to me. I was unsure of His voice, intentions, and desires. The thought that Jesus wanted to be personally involved in my every day life was foreign to me. I did not know how to go to Him for answers, directions, instructions, help, comfort, or wisdom. Not only was I uncomfortable talking to Him, I was unsure of how to listen to Him. “The Lord told me” was not a part of my vocabulary. The relationship I had with Him was strained, uncomfortable, and shaky much of the time.

I now read of the disciples going and doing what Jesus commanded them and the words seem more familiar to me. Their relationship with Jesus was such that they knew when He was talking to them, what He was saying to them, and what it was they were suppose to do. Their obedience was in response to His voice. There was no second guessing, no confusion, and no need to consult with others.

I want their confident obedience to be what marks my daily life. I want to be aware of His directions to me personally. Whether it has to do with my words, actions, thoughts, or motives, I want to hear His instructions and follow them with abandon. And that is possible because now I know His words to me are built on a foundation of love, mercy, and grace, I also have the assurance that His Spirit will give me the ability to carry out His commands. It is a matter of uniting my heart, mind, will, and emotions with His. When that happens, then Matthew 21:6 becomes a reality for me rather than just a description of someone else’s life.

Father, may hearing Your voice and obeying Your commands be my daily experience of knowing You. Amen.

Testing Our Words

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ephesians 4:29

God’s standard for conversation is high! His desire is that each of us would qualify our words thru the grid of Ephesians 4:29. This verse entails much more than the avoidance of certain language. It goes beyond what we should not be saying and urges us to see our words as a means for encouraging others.

Corrupt communication is alive and well in many homes, businesses, and churches today. While some of us would avoid swearing and telling off color jokes, we might think nothing of gossip, crudeness, sarcasm, or telling someone off. We seem to think the only qualification for our words is whether or not what we are about to say is true. Lashing out at others is “justified” in our minds because of our own hurts, disappointments, rage, or frustration. But God has a better way.

We need to ask ourselves if our words are accomplishing the things God would desire. Anything within the hearing range of another person should be good, edifying, and gracious for them and us. They should walk away from the sound of our voice encouraged, built up, nurtured, and refreshed. Not troubled, disheartened, or spent.

The motive behind our words is as vital to check as the message of our words. Before we say something to or around another person we must see why we are about to say it as well as what we are about to say. If it is to make us feel betterand release our rage, it would be better to leave it unsaid. Confrontations and conversations should be full of grace, love, and mercy.

Here are some good measuring tools for us to use in regard to our words. Speak to others the way you want to be spoken to. Make sure that what you are about to say is true, kind, necessary, and helpful. Since the words we speak begin in our heart, it is imperative that we take the issues to God first and ask Him to help us over come any bitterness, anger, or hurt that will affect our conversations if left unchecked. He has our best interest at heart as well as the best interest of the ones who will hear us speak today.

Father, may the words of my mouth be pleasant to other’s ears as well as Your ears. Help me to be a conduit of wholesome speech. Amen.

The More and Better Life

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 KJV

Jesus never spoke promises half heartedly. His words can be taken at face value and owned. Jesus promised that He would give us life more abundantly. Do we have any idea what a more abundant life looks like? The MESSAGE defines it as a “more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” The Amplified Bible says it means “to the full, till it overflows.” According to Strong’s Concordance, the original Greek definition of abundantly is “superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); excessive, exceeding abundantly above, more abundantly, very highly, beyond measure, superfluous.” If we limit this to just the physical, material possessions of our life, many of us would assume the abundant life was not what Jesus intended for us.

Jesus Himself did not pattern a life of affluence, popularity, comfort, or ease. He knew tears, betrayal, cruelty, and homelessness. He felt the sting of rejection, misunderstanding, disbelief, and scorn. From a crude manger for a birth place to the cross of Calvary, He did not live a life that most people would consider abundant! But maybe that is because they have a wrong concept of an abundant life.

It has been said that we cannot give away what we don’t first possess for ourselves. Jesus is offering to give us life more abundantly because that is the kind of life He possessed here on earth and still possesses today. What were the marks of His abundant life? A walk of obedience and connection to His Heavenly Father. It was not found in what He had but in who He knew. Not in what He did but in who He was. Now He did many miraculous things but none of them defined Him. They simply showcased His identity.

What does all of this mean to me this morning? The quality of my life is based on my connection to God and demonstrated in my obedience to Him. My words and actions flow out of my relationship with my heavenly Father. Each day I have an opportunity to showcase my identity which is found in Christ. I am His precious, cherished, much loved child! Therefore I am given a life that truly is more and better than I ever dreamed of!

Father, today I open my hands to receive the more and better life You offer. May it flow out of me in marvelous ways! Amen.

Learning to Receive What He Offers

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 NASB

On the very night that Jesus was to be betrayed and eventually crucified He left His disciples with the assurance of His Spirit and His peace. Troubled and fearful hearts were apparent, but it is not condemnation I sense in His words to them. He has the presence of a mother holding a frightened child close and speaking words of comfort. He knew His words that night would shake up their world and He was telling them of the gifts He had for them to receive.

The Christian life is meant to be lived out in daily relationship with God. He has much to give us if we will but open our hearts to receive it. In addition to peace, He offers us countless things such as love, joy, satisfaction, confidence, definition of who we are, purpose, nurturing, comfort, strength, and direction. Who in this world isn’t looking for those very things? But He wants us to know they are different from the duplications the world attempts to give us and we attempt to receive from them.

I remember being somewhat confused when I realized my needs were legitimate and God-given but where I sought to get the needs met was actually hurting me. There is not a thing I look for from people that God is not offering to give me. So I must do some comparisons. What I receive from people is usually temporary, incomplete, and shallow. While their words and actions can certainly make me feel good for a while they cannot make a lasting change in me. What I crave and what they are able to give are proportionately worlds apart. But God’s gifts are different. He wants to meet my needs on a deeper level and the work He does is lasting. He wants to be my ever-available Source.

So as my needs surface, may I take them to Him and experience His ability to meet every one of them. Will He still use people in my life? Absolutely! But I must see them as the faucet while He is the main source of Living Water.

Father, drinking from the broken cisterns has left me thirsty. Only You truly know my needs and are able to satisfy the longings of my heart. Amen.