One Day at a Time

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34 (New King James Version)

Worry and the thoughts of what lies ahead can become distracting, discouraging, and daunting to the process of our journey. For some it may be the futuristic worries of finances, health, or security. Twelve step programs have it right. Their mantra is often, “One day at a time” and THAT day is the one being presently lived!

While I do not struggle with worries over physical issues, I recently caught myself being worried about the breaking of addictions and how I would be able to continue to walk in freedom for the rest of my life. I was becoming overwhelmed until God reminded me that I do not have to think about the “rest of my life” but rather just focus on His provision and power TODAY. That simple redirection of thought put my mind and heart at ease.

“Today” is a manageable amount of time. I have been through some changes and made some changes in my life and God’s instruction to me is to walk in obedience and cooperation with Him moment by moment for victory. Will there be setbacks and sidetracks? Absolutely! Will there be times when what seemed complete suddenly seems to come unraveled? Yes! Those are a given due to the fact that I am human and live in a fallen world. God’s reminder to me is to realize anew that it is all a process….a journey. He alone knows the full scope and end result of where He is leading me. He alone provides the where with all that empowers me to make right choices and live victoriously. He alone brings about the wholeness and fullness He has promised.

My responsibility is to do what He tells me to do and when I fail to quickly confess, repent, and embrace His forgiveness. It is not about perfection! It is about being in relationship with Him and walking in dependence upon Him. The problems come when I allow any thing or any one to come between me and His will and His ways. He is my Source! He is my Provider! He is my Necessity! Those are my “starting point” phrases that are meant to place my hands on the plow and feet on the path once again.

I cannot afford to think beyond today when it comes to living out His plan and purpose for me. The deliverance I seek is not to be found in a “moment” but rather in a life time of connecting to my Abba Father!

Father, thank you for giving me a life time to get it right! Amen.

One Day at a Time - Christy Lane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ExFtojY4Y0&feature=related

He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. Job 36:16

An Incredible Combination

Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul. Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in You. Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground. Psalm 143:8-10 (New American Standard Bible)

Trusting God, lifting up my soul to Him, taking refuge in Him, and acknowledging Him as my God are the essentials for hearing Him, learning from Him, and being led by Him. One does not happen without the other. How glad I am that He has not left me to figure things out for myself. He has not intended for my Christian life to be lived in a self-learning or self help mode. So much of what I want to learn from Him, He is willing to teach me. As I read today’s passage I decided to make it my personal prayer. God in His graciousness answered it with Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. My prayer…His answer….what a precious combination. I don’t have to wonder if God will do this. I have His word, His promise, His commitment to do so.

Lesson one for today has involved steps of obedience to take in order to break free of continued dependency issues. I can see now what I have been doing that hinders the freedom from coming. His instructions have been clear to me with the assurance that as I act upon them I will see good results. Not only has He shown this to me, but He has assured me of His help and enabling to do what He says. I am not on my own and I am not helpless!

How much I miss when I fail to see God as my personal Instructor for all areas and issues of my life. Nothing is off limits to Him. Nothing is too much for Him. Nothing taxes or tires Him. With His eye watching me and His hand holding me and guiding me, I am ready to step into this day with all the assurance, confidence, and strength I will need. These do not come from me but rather are gifts to me from my Father. He is true to His Word to be my Helper, Defender, Deliverer, Refuge, Shelter, and Teacher.

Father, I am eager to learn that which You are eager to teach me. Amen.

Have Your Way - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZiCf2-0xJ8&feature=PlayList&p=20545CC92CF8C7ED&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11

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

Accepting the Oil

Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked. Psalm 141:5 (New King James Version)

In the middle of a Psalm where David is acknowledging the works of his enemies and asking God to take action against them and not allow their agendas to be successful, lies this precious verse that is an aspect of authentic friendship. It speaks volumes to me and allows me to see rebuke and correction in a whole new light.

When an individual has to call me on the carpet for wrong attitudes and actions, my natural tendency is to back away and feel hurt. To me it doesn’t feel kind or soothing. I can quickly draw the conclusion that their rebuke comes out of a dislike of me rather than a heart of love for me. As a matter of fact, it doesn’t even have to be a verbal rebuke….it can simply be the withholding of what I want from them. Yet they and God have better plans for me. Plans for success and wholeness.

Relationships are so much a part of my life. I thrive in them. Lately though, God is shifting some things and the scenes of my life are taking on a whole new look. I keep seeing myself on a frozen lake attempting to ice skate. The falls are many and often painful. It was easier when others stood next to me and kept me on my feet. Their help was a necessary part of my journey, but the time has come for them to take some steps back so that I will truly learn how to skate on my own. That is the only way for me to gain necessary skill, coordination, and muscle development.

So where does today’s verse come in? Last night, a person who knows me better than most came out on the lake, gave me words of correction and instruction, pulled me to my feet again, and reminded me of the necessity to make wise choices. Not all of her words were easy to hear but they were definitely oil on my head. Oil that would have a profound affect on my thoughts and motives. She didn’t stay on the lake with me. She is purposefully and wisely standing at a distance to watch and pray. She knows that what was helpful at one time would be a hindrance now. She and God both want me to experience free style skating with all the turns, whirls, and grace that is possible.

This morning I am starting my day with the oil still on my head and thankful for the one whom God used to put it there. Today will be a day of staying on my feet a little longer as I continue to master the art of skating!

Father, keep showing me any debris on the lake of my life that hinders me from truly skating free. I look forward to the day when freedom of movement marks my path. Amen.

In His Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-rGzx2OZk&feature=related

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

Temporary Times

When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent) So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. John 9:6, 7 (New American Standard Bible)

I have been thinking today of not only this miracle account in Scripture but many that played out in similar fashion. Every physical situation imaginable… blindness, deafness, leprosy, cripples, paralysis, demon possession, epilepsy….were no match for Jesus’ pronouncement of healing. What I find fascinating is that in each case the problem was permanently gone! This man who was blind from birth and received his sight, did not spend the rest of his life battling any trace of blindness. His sight was his from that point on. In each case where a miracle had happened the healing was permanent…excluding the raising of the dead who later died again. Their healing was complete and permanent.

I long for Jesus to apply a type of clay to my soul and heal me of my internal issues as profoundly and permanently as the physical healings I read of in Scripture. To no longer be confronted with returning bouts of sadness, emotional dependency, loneliness, and heartaches. When I have a good day I mistakenly think it is permanent. I have felt healed and even proclaimed it, only to eventually see the “healing” fade and the issues resurface. I have come to realize one thing. What I often deem as a healing is more of a temporary reprieve. It is a restful time but not a permanent place. At those times, it feels good to laugh and smile. How disheartening when the laughter dies down and the smile subsides. How anti climatic to realize I am living in a fallen world, with a fallen nature, and weaknesses too numerous to count. I despise the patterns and cycles!

Today has been a day of understanding the ebb and flow of my emotions. I am accepting the fact that permanent relief will most likely not be mine until I leave this world and become a permanent resident of Heaven. Strangely enough, this is comforting for me to realize. It takes away the pressure to be perfect and puts a stop to the condemning thoughts that I am doing something wrong. I want to begin noticing the many emotional reprieves God blesses me with throughout each day rather than cringing at the failures. While I cannot claim a healing for now, I can rejoice in progress made and with that I smile.

Father, just when I think the abundant life is out of reach for me, You come and comfort me. In the midst of every emotional battle, move me forward. Amen.

I Have A Shelter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhmS6VvPm84&feature=PlayList&p=F0BA1ACD8C2BFC55&index=54

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

God's Word to Me

The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8 (New American Standard Bible)

I absolutely love it when I read a verse and know without a doubt that it is God’s Word to me right now….right where I am at! It may answer a question or show direction or fill a need. It may be the summation of what He has been doing. Whatever the case, it re-ignites my faith and hope for the journey. Those are the two major things that take a hit when I fail or struggle with a heart issue. Yet, when I come away from the failure and the struggle subsides, God is there with a lesson, with instruction, with assurance, and with a word.

The past few days have been wrought with wrong thinking and conclusions. Questioning where I was at on the journey and feeling more of a failure than a success, I so badly wanted to crawl back under the care of others, have them strengthen me emotionally, and make them responsible for me. The pull toward depending on others and giving into that pull will only serve to strengthen the very addiction I want to be free of. Yet, God blocked that from happening last night. He blocked a conversation from taking place, He blocked a phone call from being made, and He blocked an email from being sent. Why? He knew that each would only be done as a way to feed off a substitute for Himself. That is not what He wants for me. That is not what is good for me. That is not what this journey is about. I went to bed with one prayer voiced, “God, show me where I am at on this journey.”

When I awoke this morning what had such a strong pull on me last night was weakened and I was strengthened. I began to see the truth of who I am in Christ. A victor not a victim. Whole not incomplete. Healthy not in need of healing. A precious vessel in His hands not a broken piece of pottery in the hands of others. Then I came across today’s verse and heard His word to me. He is working on me, loving me, and sticking with me. The answer to my prayer of last night of where I am at is this…..right in His hands, under His care, and close to His heart. Am I in need of care, emotional strength, and change? Yes, His!!!!

Father, You never give up on the work of Your hands. You never deem me an impossible case. Keep teaching me. Keep showing me. Keep molding me. I give You praise. I rest in Your love. Amen.

Shout To The Lord - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I71XhjqoHvs

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

Looking for the Balance

Then the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18 (New American Standard Bible)

It has always puzzled me that when Adam had only God and the animals in the Garden of Eden God said it wasn’t good for him to be alone. As one who battles dependency issues on a daily basis, God’s words spoken about Adam confuse me. I keep thinking God is suppose to be enough. God is suppose to be all I need. There is the pull toward others but I am told it is an idol of my heart. I am told that God gives us people in our life to encourage us, help us, strengthen us, and love us. Yet when I look for those things I am told to get my eyes back on Jesus. There seems to be a limit and I feel I am always stepping over that limit.

As a child, I never thought I loved people too much. All I know is that I enjoyed friendships. As an adult, I am told to come to Jesus like a child and live out my Christian life in child likeness. Yet when it comes to relationships I feel I am asked to live on a college level. Accept help from others but don’t look to them to be your help. Fellowship is necessary for us but don’t get excited over it. Interactions with others has become an area of my life that lacks freedom and spontaneity. I feel I am constantly tightening the reigns on my natural longings and desires. I am told to be myself. Be the person God made me and yet for the most part that entails denial of how I think and feel and a holding back.

God said it was not good for man to be alone and yet I feel like I am suppose to live isolated from anyone who is special to me. Relationships are like a swinging pendulum to me….always going from one extreme to the next. So where do I find a balance? Realize it is not an either/or choice between God and people. People are God’s gift and He wants me to come to place of being able to appreciate and accept those gifts of friendship with Him at the center. When I meet with a friend it is really a three-some…me, the person, and God. God is not upset that I delight in the ones He crosses my path with. My relationship with others is meant to be a good thing. At times, people are used to fill the voids and holes in my life. I just want to be at peace with that rather than live with a sense of condemnation and failure. I want to find the balance between relationships with people and my relationship with God. May God speak His “not good” over every wrong conclusion I draw.

Father, help me to see that my walk with You includes (not excludes) others. Settle my mind and my heart on this issue. I bring my questions to You for only You can supply the answers. 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.

Means for Encouragement

By all this we are encouraged. 2 Corinthians 7:13 (New International Version)

Have you ever known someone who never seemed to have a bad day? They seemed to walk in victory 24/7. They seemed to handle sin, sorrow, and difficulties with confidence and ease. I have naively believed that to be the case with a few people. I finally asked a woman whom I greatly admire if she ever struggled with the issues of life. I was profoundly struck by her answer. Knowing that I was under the assumption that she was above the struggles, she let me know that she faces many struggles and (like every one else) has to apply the truths and principles of God’s Word to her life on a DAILY basis. Her admittance to me served as an encouragement that struggles do not mean I am failing, they mean I am simply breathing and still living in a fallen world with a sin nature.

So knowing this, what is it that encourages me? God is reminding me of a number of things that He uses to help me when life gets hard and tears water the path I am on. I turn to them often out of necessity. My internal world will not see growth or change without them. Let me share them with you.

Music! In the early part of 2004 I asked God to give me the freedom to listen to music that ministers to me. What I didn’t realize at the time was how powerfully music would do just that. There are so many songs available today that were written out of difficult circumstances and they serve as balm for my soul on a continual basis.

Believers! I am encouraged by the walk of other Christians. When I hear their stories and see how far God has brought them, my faith is strengthened that He will work in me as well. I marvel that at one time they voiced the very things I voice today. The radical change I see in them causes me to cry out to God for the same to be done in my own life.

Honesty! When I come before God, stripped of all pretenses, pretending, and facades, I open myself up to His encouragement. As I have learned to pour out my heart to Him and admit what is really going on inside, He has comforted me and given me a fresh supply of joy for my sadness. The exchange is always refreshing!

Scripture! For too much of my Christian life I rarely opened Scripture on a daily basis and when I did I failed to apply it to my life. Speaking His Word over my circumstances and implementing it into my prayer life has been the catalyst for growth and change. There is no encouragement without it!

Father, I have not listed all the ways You encourage me but these have been profound. They are a part of my connection with You that keeps expanding. Amen.

Everlasting God - Chris Tomlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgyokeWf54k

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