A Simple Gift from God

 My father often said that the size of our trials changes after a good night’s sleep. Last night, nearly nine hours of rest changed my outlook on life. But not just that. Jesus reminded me with songs that He never leaves me alone, that He loves me just as I am, that His blood was shed for my sins, and a host of other edifying truths. While fatigue affects my memory, the Holy Spirit knows how to restore right thinking.

Blessed by the Lord… with the choicest gifts of heaven above… (Deuteronomy 33:13)

Thankfully, being overtired does not rob my mind of all God’s choice gifts. The Spirit always bears witness with my spirit that I am a child of God, but I sometimes fail to think the fullness of what this means — such as that I am a “fellow heir with Christ, provided that I suffer with him in order that I may also be glorified with him.”

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to me. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For I know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but me too and I have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groaning inwardly as I wait eagerly for adoption as His child, the redemption of my body. (Romans 8:16–23, personalized)

His Spirit reminds me of this truth all the time — and I chuckle that He often uses aging to be that constant reminder. However, He often uses verses like this one as well:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3)

This is a firm reality. I sometimes struggle here in this life, but the promise of eternal life is secure even if I forget the promise in this verse: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

But I do not forget that I have a precious Savior who shed His blood to satisfy divine justice and secure my forgiveness, pardon, justification and eternal glory. I may forget some of His promises when the Liar whispers “Did God say that?” Yet even then, the Holy Spirit reminds me, sometimes with alliteration, that I have from God a full pardon, peace, protection, provision, preservation, providence, and perfection — all because of Christ.

Faith is also a gift, but the ease with which doubt can slip in reminds me that faith is not just for eternal things but for right-now living. Can I rise to the challenges of today? Faith says that in Christ I can do all things and honor Him. This includes a victory when trials come:

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6–7)

Trials can challenge my memory of what God says, especially trials that come when I’ve not had enough sleep. Genesis 2:21 and other verses say that God can cause deep sleep even though circumstances and a troubled heart can make sleep flee. Because there is no rest for the wicked, I seldom forget to confess sin before going to bed. The one thing I do forget is this: “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.” (Psalm 127:2)

PRAY: Lord, in these busy days, my to-do list can keep me up past bedtime, only to regret the lack of sleep in the morning. This vanity is denial of what You want for me, and even sinful. Forgive me and don’t let me forget to do my part in accepting and enjoying any gift from You.
 

In all my need, Jesus

Yesterday was moving day. We are weary and face a mountain-sized to-do list to sort and settle. This morning, the Lord gave me a simple yet profound Word to start the day with great joy. It began with praise for all that Jesus has done:

“As we look at the life of Christ and listen to His words, we can hear God saying, “I am rest for the weary…” With that, the Spirit led me to verses that verify that truth, then the remaining italicized truths from the reading:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30)

I am peace for the storm-tossed;

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

I am strength for the powerless;

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. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

I am wisdom for the foolish… righteousness for the sinful;

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (1 Corinthians 1:30)

I am all that the neediest soul on earth can want;

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

I am exceeding abundantly beyond all you can ask or think,

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9)

of blessing and help and care.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6–7)

PRAY: Jesus, what is left for me to say except praise to You and great gratitude. Your timing also, for this is what I need to remember this busy day!.

A glimpse of heaven?

 

Years ago, God did something so remarkable that I often think of it. One morning I woke with a very sore back. No reason, but I stayed in bed not able to rise. I prayed, concerned that I could not care for my children. The answer was unexpected. The Lord filled me with incredible joy. The pain stayed, but the joy was so intense that it faded from my priorities. Today’s reading reminds me of that day. It points to this verse:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places... (Ephesians 1:3)

Before reading this, I read more in Charnock’s book, “The Existence and Attributes of God” in a section about God’s knowledge and how it relates to eternity and that He knows all things even before they happen. These two realities meld. God has blessed me in heavenly places (future for me, eternal for God) and that incident gave me a taste of what He can do even in this life when trials come. As the reading says, I could be crushed or they could carry me to heights of victory. He compares this to an event in the life of Elisha, the prophet.

Elisha was translated into heaven above and that may not happen to me, but He can translate His people into the heaven within us, which “is almost a grander translation” than what happened to him. God is able to carry us up and away from the earthly plane of life where there is hurt and sadness into the “heavenly places in Christ” where we will experience triumph over all below.

Even though these “heavenly places” are interior not exterior, the road that leads to them is interior also. They come with some outward loss, trial, or disappointment, or even chastening that is not joyous, yet even chastening leads to joy...

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

I have a poster on my fridge that says: “God may not change my circumstances because He wants to change my heart.” For that reason, no matter what happens, as my mom always said, “I must need it or I would not be getting it.”

I’m to look on trials and chastening as God’s chariots sent to carry my soul into the “high places” of spiritual peace and uplifting, no matter how grievous they may be for the present. Even in pain, God can give great joy. He did that for me.

And it is my prayer that my love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that I 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. (Philippians 1:9–11, personalized)

PRAY: Lord, the days have been strenuous with de-cluttering, packing, and many responsibilities, yet You give great joy. Fill me with the fruit of righteousness in every hour. Enable me to be a blessing to all who help us with this move and to You also, to Your glory. Fill my heart with praise and that amazing joy and peace that often do not make sense, but certainly do enable me to do Your will without fear, worry or grumbling.

Complaining?

Attitudes are often evaluated by whether a person considers a glass half-full or half-empty. Yesterday I heard a radio sermon that judged current Christians by all our failures. It was a call for a revival and likely needed, yet I would rather the speaker had focused on successes.

For instance, Samaritan’s Purse is in place at world disasters to bring help and hope long before any other aid arrives. A local mission is feeding lunch to nearly a thousand students in over a dozen schools every day of the school year. Hundreds are being reached with the Gospel in the Middle East by Christians risking their lives to faithfully share Christ. A woman in a US state has a prayer room in her store where customers can pray, leave requests, and take the requests of others home to pray for them. Our church has brunch every Sunday and some of the several hundred who are fed do not attend the service. They come in at the end so they can eat and no one tells them to leave.

The song says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what the Lord has done.” Christians are blessed with new hearts, new life, a desire to live for Christ. As we follow His teaching and love His Word, He blesses and guides us into new and challenging territory. Consider how cooperation with Him brings blessing:

Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. (Psalm 41:1–3)

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. (Psalm 112:1–3)

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. (Psalm 128:1–4)

These blessings are linked to obedience. Take care of the poor, delight in His commands with an awe that produces obedience, and He takes care of us in illness and blesses our families! No wonder the psalmist wrote, “O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!” (Psalm 84:12)

These OT material blessings are for this life yet God does not stop there. He says much more in the NT with these words: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:3)

The link between obedience and blessing is stronger in the NT also. When someone blessed another person, Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28)

Other NT verses repeat this verse, a favorite from the Psalms: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1–2) Here are a few more:

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:25)

Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:14)

PRAY: Lord, You know that I woke today with a negative attitude. You gave me songs that lifted my spirits, and now these reminders of how much I am blessed. Who can remain crabby and praise God at the same time! In You is fullness of joy. That joy alone is a great blessing as it swallows up my petty complaints. You so often save me from myself. I am grateful.

PONDER: Count my many blessings, name them one by one . . . !

 

 

Peace in the storms of life

 

Yesterday was Canada Day. Needing rest, we did not do anything special, but the weather did. A huge tornado ripped through a farming community south of us, no human injuries but destroying several homes and some livestock. Later, our city was hit by a thunderstorm and hail. One lightning strike was close, close enough to make our house shake and my computer blink off and back on. It was incredibly loud and took out the gate controls for our complex, just a short distance from our home. Temperatures dropped rapidly and city-wide festivities were delayed or halted.

The little prayer book beside my bed began this day with assurance of God’s care. It used weather as a metaphor for life’s unexpected storms but the focus was on the care of God. That theme was echoed in today’s devotional that begins with coming to Christ and then remaining in the blessings He gives. 1 Peter 2:4 says, “As you come to him, a living stone . . . .” with the Greek word translated “coming” implying the initially turning to Christ for salvation then remaining with Him and enjoying the wonder of who He is and what He does.

Jesus gave the invitation: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) and “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35) and “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.” (John 7:37)

The NT declares that in Him I have all that I need:

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. (2 Peter 1:3)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 1:3)

PRAY: Jesus, when You came into my life, You established a permanent, intimate, personal relationship with me. Before that, I was unaware that I had been rebellious toward God, without hope, and alienated from Your promises. Now that I have been born again to a living hope, I can abide in You and in Your Word. I have all the spiritual privileges You promised to Your people, the greatest being this amazing relationship of peace and rest in You. Yesterday showed me how amazing in that when the lightning struck and seemed to be right in the room with me, I did not panic or become fearful. You are with me in the storms. My prayers for the people of Didsbury who experienced an even greater threat and I’m thankful that You are with them also.

PONDER: Read Ephesians 2:1-22, thankful for my own salvation and praying for others who hear Your call to come to You.