God supplies — trust Him!

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:25–34)

Fifty plus years ago, Jesus came into my life and one of the first lessons He taught me was that He would meet my needs. I was newly divorced, had no job or hope for one, lived on a farm with my two children, and my ex neglected financial support even for them. I did custom knitting with a machine and painted animal portraits, selling these to buy groceries. That first summer my propane tank rental came due and I did not have the $100 it would cost to heat our home for the winter.

God stepped in. I received a letter from someone in another province. I didn’t know her, or how she got my name. She included a photo of her dog and wanted me to paint its portrait. She also paid in advance — $105, enough to cover postage to send the painting back to her.

God made it plain. If He was at the top of my priority list, I didn’t need to worry about having what I needed. Since then, He has repeatedly kept His Word and taken care of all physical needs. I have a full fridge, a full closet, and lots of clean water, without anxiety about any of such things.

Lord, even when I’ve felt needy about other things, You have taken care of those physical needs too, as proof that You will cover all needs. I just need to trust You. People have told me this does not mean sitting on my backside and waiting for cash to come floating down. How silly. But You honor faith, often with surprises that go above and beyond my expectations. May all Your children know that Your love covers needs and sometimes even wants. Truly I am blessed and sometimes call myself ‘God's spoiled brat’ because of Your mercy.

 

When threatened…

Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah: “Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! Thus says the king: ‘Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each one of his own fig tree, and each one of you will drink the water of his own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? (Isaiah 36:13–18)

While this passage sounds like today’s political ramps and promises, it also sounds like the junk that my spiritual enemy, the Liar, tosses at me. Don’t trust the Lord. Trust yourself and you will prosper. Blah. Blah. Blah.

King Hezekiah was not so easily thrown into a panic at this threat nor interested in the false promises of this enemy. He “tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord.” Then he called on other spiritual leaders and said: 

“This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ” (Isaiah 37:1–4)

Isaiah also sent a message to this king: “Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the young men of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’ ” (Isaiah 37:5–7) Hezekiah then prayed:

“O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made the heavens and the earth. Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.” (Isaiah 37:14–20)

God responded to the threatening king: “I know your sitting down and your going out and coming in, and your raging against me. Because you have raged against me and your complacency has come to my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will turn you back on the way by which you came. . . . . For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.” And the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of Assyria returned home and as he was worshiping in the house of his god, his sons killed him. (Isaiah 37:28–38)

Jesus, this encourages me. I’ve had similar lies threaten me, lies against God and causing me a struggle to pray in faith that He will rescue me and those I pray for. I need the courage and trust of Hezekiah, realizing the lies, but also having wisdom to know how to encourage others who fall for the same threats.

 

Affirming God’s will

There is a voice that tells me I must do everything… share the truths God gives me, serve in the church kitchen, teach Bible classes, encourage those who need it, give generously, be a leader, show great compassion, do all that is put in front of me. At my age and stage in life, my energy level questions that voice.

Praying about it, I read, “Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10) and “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), and this one too: 

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:24)

I remember the woman who argued that her hubby was not treating her as Jesus treats His church and then read this verse: “However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:33). At the time, I thought she didn’t respect her hubby very much, but after years of seeing spousal abuse, even in the church, this is not as simple or straight-forward as it seemed then.

For example, I know a man who recently abandoned his wife and family and ran off with another man’s wife. Jesus isn’t like that, does not do that to His bride, nor would we respect Him if He did. However, the Bible tells women this:

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external. . . . but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 

Sobering too, yet then it adds, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:1–7)

Both spouses have challenges. Neither of us can do what God commands without His strength and patience. I cannot advise the wife of the man who abandoned her, but I can pray for my own perplexities, particularly what God wants me to do (I cannot do everything) but can see that if demands and the will of God are in conflict, no matter where those demands come from, I need to obey God and watch out that my many ideas and ambitions are not overriding His will.

Today’s reading winds up here, and affirms to me all I need to know…

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. . . . fasten on the belt of truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, and the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith. . . . extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. . . . keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. . . .” for boldness in those who proclaim it… (Ephesians 6:10–20)

Ephesians winds up saying to do whatever I do “for the Lord’s sake” and in His grace and wisdom. It isn’t so much about what I do but why I do it. If any activity does not glorify God, it is not from Him.

PRAY: This answers the questions I had this morning and shows me how the enemy attacks what I already know. Satan would rather I worry about being a total failure instead of remembering that You are all I need and that You have already given me all You want me to do: be a godly wife, pray about everything, and listen for any further instructions.

 

Freedom from distractions…

Yesterday and today are best described by the word distractions. A distraction is anything that diverts my attention. Sometimes it is offering recreation or entertainment, like one evening this week I watched old comedy clips from Carol Burnett because laughter felt very good. 

But diversion is not always fun. It can be an agitated mental state from bad news. Before I got up yesterday my hubby told me an email arrived from our granddaughter who has been teaching in another country. She fell and broke her ankle and kneecap, has had surgery on the ankle with pins, and is searching for tickets to come home.

I cannot think of much else. Praying, yes, but distracted by more email and more information and knowing she will arrive in a couple days and need more medical attention and lots of time to heal.

This word is used only once in the NT but distraction is an extension of other words that mean a state of concern, anxiety, burden, daily pressure, troubled. . . .  

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38–42)

In my situation, the distraction could be like the straw that broke the camel’s back — just another stress in an already too busy life. But not so. I’m feeling her pain, wanting to encourage her and help, etc. The distraction is not concern for me but for her. She lived with us, promised one day to push my wheelchair to repay me, and now we will likely be pushing hers, or at least involved in getting her to where she needs to go. 

As for the stress, Jesus offered Martha the solution to her distraction. “Sit with me. Listen to me. Don’t be troubled by all that needs to happen…” He is right and I need to do what He says.

This next passage is about anxiety with principles when I’m anxious for others:

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. . . . For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?. . . .  Do not be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. (Luke 12:22–31)

As well as taking care of physical needs, God cares about spiritual well-being, and I know that He can use this for good in her life. He knows what she needs in her heart and attitude, more than pins and plaster and 24/7 care for a short while, but a long-term trust in Him for all things. He is able to meet physical needs and encourage her to keep her thoughts on His promises as she mends. 

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5–7)

This is for me and for her. God is with us. We can ask for what is needed, but also be thankful and experience peace — and for both of us, a focused mind.

PRAY: Jesus, this burden is Your burden too. You ask us to cast all our cares onto You — which shows Your willingness to carry them for us. Yet to do that, we need to let You distract both of us from all anxieties, my concerns and our dear granddaughter from her pain and worries. Enable us to just sit at Your feet and hear You speak.

Why worry?

 

There is something in the human heart that likes to worry. Worry is a false sense of being in control rather than feeling totally helpless. A friend laughs saying, “Why pray when you can worry?”

Worry is taking a task that can be solved or accomplished by God and loading on ourselves, making it my responsibility to ‘fix’ even though I cannot fix it. When that happens, I have decide that I can ‘fix’ it by praying, but instead of asking God to attend to it according to His will, I am telling God what to do, another form of control.

Whether it is mine or another person’s dilemma, what if the problem is actually God’s will? He does allow tough circumstances and uses all things to make His children more like Jesus. We suppose that His will has the purpose of making us happy — without realizing that something might need to change in my heart before I experience the comfort of His joy.

I read this morning how God’s laws are not given in His authority so we will respect His glory, but given in wisdom with the purpose to benefit us.  

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7–11)

The will of God is perfect. Without it, I would be like an animal, without justice, faith, and other things that are good for body and soul. His world would be changed if everyone could live according to what God wants for us. It be summed up by love God and love one another. Even those who break His laws tend to see and agree that they are good. All realize that love would bring an end to enmity, and the noise of groans and cursing would not be heard. Peace would prevail and much joy and singing would fill the air. As Job 36:22 says, “Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?”

Our problem is not that God wants good. We might agree on that in principle, but are not able to express it in practice. His love is not a mushy feeling and impossible is without the presence of faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. Note this brief description:

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

Mothers can be patient and kind with their babes, but as they grow and have minds of their own, that patience easily gets tainted with other attitudes that do not come from God’s kind of love. I boast about my kids; it makes me look good. I can be arrogant or rude or want my own way. Human love is so often selfish. The only cure is to be filled with the Spirit of God who gives what is needed by producing what I cannot do apart from Him:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 5:22–26)

Love is a God-thing. Being crucified is a gospel event, another God-thing. Keeping in step with the Spirit is another God-thing. I cannot turn off my conceit, or any other bad attitude. I can only confess it as sin and experience the important God-thing of forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9). Without that, faking it is a form of boasting (not love) and is also living in my own way (not love).

PRAY: Jesus, I know that worry is not love either. It is a God-denying self-effort to make right something that I cannot fix. It is an arrogance, not love for You or even respect for Your great power. Instead of worry, enable me to love You and encourage those who worry to also love You rather than worry about anything. You rule the universe and because You love us, You can deal with all our teeny problems!

Making the best choices

 

It is easy to say I want the will of God, but this past week has been filled with tests to that desire. One option was fine in size but terrible in color. I wanted the size but could I live with what did not appeal to me?

Another option looked good in the beginning but it had some serious flaws that would make life very challenging. Could I live with the cosmetics and deal with the flaws? Praying for the will of God seemed to mean a lot of compromise, yet it turned out neither option was His will. Then came yesterday.

Weeks ago we bought tickets to an outdoor event. But it was cold, very windy, and we were exhausted. I put on a winter vest and a windbreaker. I didn’t want to go. But we did and immediately, in a large crowd of people, found a cousin and his wife — and the reason it was God’s will that we attend this event. I don’t know him very well, but made a significant connection at our family reunion where he invited us to this event. He was involved in it in a small way, but so delighted that we came to encourage him.

Today’s reading speaks of this life of faith. We were burdened all week trying to figure out the will of God and relieved but exhausted to finally know what He wanted. How true that He says:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

I’m not to worry about anything, certainly the ‘big’ issues of life but also the small, everyday stuff that can be a bother, particularly when I feel so helpless about it or so tossed with the choices. This week was filled with both, yet the simplicity of getting outside in the cold to make another person smile has more merit than all the struggles about choices that seemed vital at the time. Helplessness is good if it turns me from my I-wants to make simple decisions based on what the Spirit of God has clarified.

Again, as today’s reading says, I must remember that my chief strength in knowing and doing the will of God is my weakness, even utter helplessness:

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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

Knowing what choices to make apart from seeking the will of God is folly. It is easy to rely on preferences or what seems good and wind up making big mistakes. It is easy to choose what feels comfortable and wind up missing an opportunity to be a blessing to another person.

PRAY: Lord, I know my strengths easily hinder me from discovering Your will. I also realize how praying that Your will is done is stepping into a war zone. Our enemy is not at all interested in that kind of surrender. I hear the prayers of others and realize the conflict that so easily thwarts this desire to see You at work. My prayer today is that Your will is done — in my life and in the lives of all Your people, but also that we want it with all our hearts because trusting You and knowing what You want for us far out-weighs what we suppose to be the best choices. Amen.

Burdens from God — or me worrying?

 

Over the past few weeks I’m realizing the difference between spiritually-motivated Christian living and that which is from the old nature trying to be godly. Oswald Chambers says, “Every element of self-reliance must be slain by the power of God. Complete weakness and dependence will always be the occasion for the Spirit of God to manifest His power.”

What comes in to counter that power from God? The world says I’m to have self-confidence. I’m to be sure of myself and trust my abilities and judgment, moving forward in everything with an assurance that I can do it without any problem. God says:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

If I don’t conform to the ideas of the world about confidence and instead discern the will of God, what can be expected? Here are some things:

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Romans 12:3)

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. (1 Corinthians 12:4–6)

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7–10)

So much for the wisdom of the world. And the above verses also apply to my so-called confidence in my old nature with its sinful ways of thinking. Jesus adds this just to make sure I’m not putting my confidence in me:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4–5)

What about the lies of Satan? I once did a Bible study through much of the NT where I read the truth God says, then pondered the lies that counter it. For instance, God says this… but the enemy says this…

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (John 15:9–10)

God does not love you the way you want to be loved. He sent his son to be scorned and die; is that love? You don’t need to accept that because if you do, you are going to wind up like Jesus and suffer.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

God wants you healthy, wealthy and wise. Work hard to make money. Let your lack of contentment drive you. That lack is just more evidence that God does not love you or want the best for you. He is busy with other things and not  even with you because he does not care about you.  

There are many ways to illustrate the lies, but only one way of exposing them; read the Word of God and believe it, keeping sin and doubt confessed and trusting the truth of God. Be spiritual disciplined but not trusting me — only Him. He is the Savior; I am not.

PRAY: Jesus, this day I am bombarded with things I could worry about. Family members who are suffering, Christians who are tangled up in worldly and fleshy thinking, unsaved neighbors without interest in you, and more responsibilities that I can handle. Abiding in You seems difficult. Fruit-bearing? Where is it? Yet the weakness I feel indicates there is power lurking. Enable me to keep trusting You, no matter what the world or my flesh nags me about, and enable me to sort lies from truth so I can live in Your power and not worry about anything.

Worry = ?

 
Recently someone said that it is normal to worry because we are human and God gave us our human nature. That surprised me. This person knows the Word of God so I responded with: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

While that verse tells us not to worry, I’m thinking about the bigger picture. God did create us with our human nature, yet made in His image. However, at the evil suggestions of Satan in snake disguise, disobedience to God (sin) marred that nature. Since that first sin, all are born with a sin nature and fall short of the glory of God. The NT makes it clear that no one is able to live as God intended. Our spirits are separated from Him. The NT uses the term ‘dead in sin.’ 

God’s redemption plan began immediately with a promise to send a Redeemer. He did. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s solution to the sin problem that ruined our human nature.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Jesus traded His perfect righteousness and took our sin, paying its penalty by dying for us and giving us a new nature. This is not about behavior change. We are forgiven, clean before God, and given a new nature, our spirits made alive to God.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

With a new nature, comes the ability to live a new way. Instead of listening to the world’s way of thinking, or that old nature with its desire to rule, or to the lies of Satan, God gives us the ability to listen to Him and do what He says. That means we need not worry about anything.

However, that old nature is stubborn. Even though it is dead to God, Christians who listen to it instead of the Lord, allow those ‘I wants’ to govern rather than trusting the Lord. We even ask God for things we want without asking for what He wants and then, when no answers come, we start to worry…

Worry has many synonyms. It is giving way to anxiety or unease; allowing one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. It is also fretting, being concerned, agonizing, brooding, feeling panic, losing sleep, getting worked up and in a fluster, overwrought, stressed, torturing oneself, being perturbed, bothered, unsettled, harassed, feeling nerve-racked, upset, traumatized, grave, afraid, and so on. None of these are what God gives us through His Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

The Bible does not include worry as part of a God-directed life because it is not only harmful to us, it hides an important truth. Worry opposes faith and self-effort takes the place of praying. Worry is not believing God will answer our prayers with wisdom and grace but a wasted effort concerning what we want without relying on God. Instead of resting in Him, worry produces such things as lack of sleep, ulcers or headaches.

God knows that if we are united with Him in our inner being, we will certainly do right outwardly. At the same time, He gives much instruction of what comes from flesh, and what is the result of hearing and obeying the Spirit. Worry and anxiety are activities of that old sinful nature while trusting God is enabled by His Spirit. I need to cooperate by recognizing and denying that old nature, and refusing to walk in it. This means being in the Word and obeying it. As some quip, why pray when I can worry?

The Galatian Christians lost sight of how the “new creature” was the only thing that helped them grow in grace. They began with faith but had “fallen from grace” because they chose the “oldness of the letter” to replace “newness of the spirit.”

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4).

PRAY: Jesus, keep me walking with You. Warn me when I listen to anyone or anything false. My prayer is for others too — as even those with Your ‘new nature’ can be deceived. Grant each of us discernment quickly whenever we are tempted. Don’t allow deception ruin our walk with You and block that new nature from governing our lives. You are enough for every problem; worry adds nothing. It actually blocks You from shining through our lives.

Why Pray when you can Worry?

Consecration is about having the obstacles removed that keep God from bestowing God’s full blessings. While the devotional for today say this purging is something we do and describes it as being entirely abandoned to God, that is not entirely true. Our willingness is part of His saving work. Many times I have said to Him, “Lord Jesus, I am totally unable to be all that I should be; You are the Savior — save me from this…” whatever it is where I keep trying but fall short.

The Bible says this:

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:21)

Yet what cleanses us from that which is dishonorable? Is it not this:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

To become clean, consecrated, abandoned to the will of God in that entire surrender of the whole being to God—spirit, soul, and body placed under His absolute control, for Him to do with what He pleases, the only way is through keeping short accounts. This involves recognizing my sin and agreeing with God about it. It does not involve “try harder” but confession and repentance.

Repentance isn’t mere acknowledgment. It is responding to the Holy Spirit in such a way that the sin is replaced with righteousness. That is His work. I cannot remove my sin without the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes this means a number of tests to determine if it is still my desire to keep on doing it. This is like the young missionary who said, “The trouble with a living sacrifice is that it keeps crawling off the altar.” My old nature is dead/separated from God and I need to consider that to be true.

The other thing to consider is that much of sin is the result of believing a lie. Instead of trusting what God says, life’s circumstances often open our ears to that old Liar who whispers, “God does not really want the best for you…” and we fall for it, take matters into our own hands, and sin.

Consecration is having that “Thy will be done” attitude that no matter what, and then resting in the trust that He does love me and even in tough situations, His will is the most blessed thing that can happen, no matter the circumstances.

In discussions with other Christians, some actually say they are afraid to totally trust the will of God. At that, they are obviously not hearing His Word but the words of the enemy who does not want any of us to understand that God’s perfect will means loving-kindnesses, tender mercies, and unspeakable blessings — even if it also means hard times. Think of Jesus: His greatest suffering produced the greatest blessing God could give us.

Yet in the tough times, that whisper from my enemy produces anxiety. He uses hard times to suggest to me that God is not loving because He is messing with my comfort, my Eden. I need to remember how that old snake tells preposterous and bald-faced lies to keep me from trusting in the love of God and His unfailing promises.

PRAY: Satan uses dreams (nightmares), adverse circumstances, nasty people, even my imagination, to get me to think wrongly about You, Lord. Forgive my foolishness of listening to the lies instead of “storing your Word in my heart” and letting it be “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” — and I pray for those who continually worry because they have forgotten that You love them and that the Liar uses that to keep them from praying.

Faith like a Child

 

The past two days have had a measure of great satisfaction and ridiculous frustration. First the frustration — definitely a first world problem. Normally my computers work in my car. It is an older vehicle but if my android phone is on, I have Wifi even traveling a couple hundred miles from home. This time, we took my hubby’s newer vehicle with all sorts of bells and whistles. His phone calls and texts come through the cars technical screen. BUT mine would not. I tried everything and wound up not able to read my devotions or enter them in my word processor, never mind get on the Internet to post them. The same held true as we drove home, I could play Solitaire but not read or write in the care — just like the day before.

However, it was an incredible day with my cousin. She is my age and the two of us have been lifelong friends. We put together the plans for our July family reunion. All the agenda, funding, and venue details, plus the caterer came so the food is figured out too. What fun we had doing it. Then we stayed in her home, watched sports on TV, looked at scrapbooks, and reminisced our childhood. It was a total blessing.

Tonight, at home, my tech stuff works just fine, just at it did at my cousins’s home. Today’s devotional is about the carefree life of a young child, which was already on my mind from the joyful visiting yesterday and talking about the things we did when we were little. The devotional compares that to the Christian life.

The chief characteristics of a young child is living by faith and in freedom from care. Back then, when we were little, our lives were one long trust from year’s end to year’s end. We trusted our parents, teachers, and sometimes even people utterly unworthy of trust.

Our parents took care of us, providing everything. We took no thought for anything, made few plans (just to go swimming at the mud hole) and yet life was incredibly good and much simpler than it is today. It is wonderful to remember the carefree life we had.

The life of faith is to be like that — a child in our Father’s house, our weary, burdened life transformed into one of blessedness and rest, leaving ourselves in His hands…

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

PRAY: Lord God, the reminiscing was both a great delight and a sort of sadness and we wished it was not so far from what we know now. Our days are often filled with busyness and responsibility, yet these verse become a wonderful reality when I slow down and remember that You want my childlike faith and trust. When it is in place, I can be that carefree youngster all over again. Belonging to You need not be frustrating at all, but a joyful satisfaction. Thank You for caring for us, Your children.

The Power of Thinking Truth . . .

 

READ Philippians 1–4

Sometimes I meet Christians who are old but not very mature. Often I think of myself that way. Will I ever grow up? However, instead of giving myself a “grow up” lecture, wouldn’t it be wiser to talk to myself the way Paul communicated with the Philippians . . . ?

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

He did not focus on the negatives like I tend to do. Instead he kept pointing these believers to the power of God, what He has done, and what He will do:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (1:9–11)

He related his own experience of being in jail and how God used that to “advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ” and others became “much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (1:12–14) He wanted them to not be ashamed but courageous and to realize that dying and being with Christ is the best thing that could happen even though he remained to help them in their spiritual growth. (1:20–24)

I should preach to myself truth, and stand firm without being afraid of what opposing people can do because their opposition “is a clear sign to them of their destruction” and that I am saved. (1:27–28)

I need to take care of my spiritual life, but not in “selfish ambition or conceit.” Just as Jesus considered others more important than Himself, I need to humble myself and serve them, even if it means death. Consider Jesus, not be concerned about me, me, me. (2:3–8)

I’m also to remember that even as I “work out my own salvation with fear and trembling, it is God who works in me, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” So I must quit grumbling and shine as a “light in this world” that has become so “crooked and twisted.” (2:12–15)

This means being “found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” remembering I’m not there yet but not bemoaning that. Instead, be positive and press on — for my prize is the “upward call of God in Christ Jesus” and my “citizenship is in heaven” where someday He will transform my body and my life to be like Him. It is those thoughts that keep me moving forward, not admonitions to ‘grow up’ or be anxious about it — or anything else for that matter.

Paul advises “not to be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let my requests be made known to God and His peace, which surpasses all understanding, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus.” (4:6–7)

How I think is vital to how I live, which is why this passage says, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:6–8)

Knowing the sovereignty of God is important too. This teaches me to be content, no matter what. As my mother used to say about the negatives in life, “I must need it, or I would not be getting it” and as Paul affirms, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” because “my God will supply every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:11-13; 19)

When Self-talk mirrors the world, the flesh, and the devil’s lies, I’m focused on me and am miserable. When self-talk reflects the truth of God’s power and love, that love and His peace and joy give me power over any junk that tries to rob me of faith in Christ and the abundant life that He gives me.