All is calm…

Christmas has traditions for most families. We do the usual stockings stuffed with small surprises, gifts under a decorated tree, turkey and all that goes with it, and much joy that Jesus came. But one traditions is odd. Our daughter lives more than 3000 km from here but we and her brother get on the phone and play Boggle, amid a lot of laughter and threats of cheating. This year, our granddaughter got a day pass and spent twelve hours with us on boxing day. Part of that was helping her granddad begin a 3600 piece Lego castle. In all this, the joy of Jesus kept my heart lifted in the energy of His grace. 

Today I read and identified with these words: “I rejoiced greatly to find some of our children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father” (2 John 4) and “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 4)

I tend to focus more on bad news than good news, so this passage also popped out:

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (Jude 17–23)

The last few lines give me a sense of what God wants from me, but the Lord would not let me linger there. He gave me this to keep the joy flowing:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24–25)

And then this as if Jude needed an exclamation mark:

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)

PRAY: Jesus, you have become wisdom from God for me. This is why I must boast only in you and not in myself or my so-called wisdom. Please reveal more and more of your glory and grace to my heart. I want to bow before You quicker, lower, and with more joy than ever before. You are my majestic and merciful King. Open the eyes of my heart a bit wider to behold the great hope to which you’ve called me in the gospel. Deepen my adoration of you, Jesus, and loosen my grip on my so-called treasures. What do I have that you have not given me? 

I praise You for coming into a world where everything is broken, but You came to make all things new, even me. I look forward to the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord, to the glory of God the Father. It’s going to be a loud and large day. This Christmas I’m thankful I could say, “Be still, my soul” . . . and experience Your calm glory and quiet mercy, and worship You with quiet certainty that Your will is being done. This I pray in Your wise and worthy name. Amen.

His Peace

Prayer is hard work at times. Part of that work is physical because the only way I can keep my easily distracted mind from wandering away from conversing with God is by walking while I pray. The older I get, the more challenging is the walking part.
However, in some ways, prayer is lighter because God is teaching me to say yes to His will in all things, not just those prayed for, but He is working to bring all my desires into conformity with His own  perfect will, even when I have no idea what He has in mind.

Today’s reading reminds me that God works miracles in wills that are surrendered to Him, not that He does what I ask, but that He changes the hard thing into an easy one, and makes me love to do the thing I formerly avoided. Like an ox, if I rebel against the yoke and try to avoid it, I find it hard and galling, but when I take His yoke on by consenting to it, that hard thing becomes easy, even comfortable. As the devotional says, in this life I need not carry my burdens alone because Jesus is my burden-bearer and I can lay on Him every concern.

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)

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)

Jesus promised peace, not like the peace we often pray for. We pray for the problem to be fixed or removed, but His peace is an untroubled heart.

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)

He also gives me my part in finding this peace.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:15–17)

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

Peace rules when I am thankful, when His Word fills my heart and mind, when I am in rich fellowship with other believers, when my heart is filled with worship, and when I am doing all that He wants me to do:

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

Peace isn’t about walking less or slower, just as it isn’t about expecting God to do everything the way I want it done. It is about focus and trust, and about total surrender.

PRAY: Jesus, I’m also noticing that peace sets me free from that nagging sense that I’m not doing enough, or saying enough, or being what I should be. Your peace is about focusing on You to the point that I can hear Your voice when You want me to speak or act, and be content and resting in You, letting You decide how best to answer my prayers. It is easy and light — and if I am not content with that, perhaps I am thinking too much of myself (pride) instead of letting You be my Savior.

Joy in Trials?

 

Last night we had a long visit with a couple who work at al local mission for homeless people. They were discouraged as they told us the attitude of most who come to the shelter for food and a bed. Very few are thankful, not even those who get a regular cash gift from the government. They only want more of everything and order their caregivers around as if they were slaves rather than people who are concerned for their well-being.

Today’s devotional is how the author went to a friend hoping she could get help and advice. However, the friend had only one answer, no matter how difficult the problem was and how graphic the author’s explanation. The friend kept saying, “Yes, I know; but there is God.”

This came to mind last night even before reading it today. The conversation was all about the problems of working with unreasonable and unthoughtful people until we began talking about the power of God. Yes, we agreed that our world is in a mess and many have rejected God’s mercy and grace, just curse Him and everyone else. However, God is God.

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side— let Israel now say— if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:1–8)

Without Him, all would be like those unthankful people, always wanting more, never content or thankful, wasting what they do have, and treat others without any kindness at all. Apart from the grace of God, we are sinners who fall short and are in bad need of His Spirit to change our attitudes.

As we talked of God’s mercy and the grace of Jesus toward sinful people, we could see hope coming to the faces of our friends, It reminded me of these words:

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. (Isaiah 26:3–4)

When I look online for images about God being enough, many of them add the words, “…when God is all that you have” and I think how tragic to be humbled to the point of having nothing before realizing that God is sufficient. It is even more tragic when people without much wallow in their misery rather than seeking Him and realizing that He is indeed enough.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, our friends at the mission say that none of the staff could survive the day without the time given by their employer to pray and rest during their shift. Their task is difficult and the work they do is ridiculed rather than appreciated. In many ways, they are suffering like You suffered. Grant them joy in it, that impossible to understand joy and peace that only You can give to those who struggle to obey You when in great stress as they serve very needy people. No one is sufficient for these things, but God, You are ENOUGH!.

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.