Delight in God and He gives good desires…

These days are full. We just bought a house. We like the one we’ve lived in but at our age, we decided to move while we can, not when we have to. The house is one of 66 bungalows, all different, surrounding a 3-4 level retirement facility so when we cannot manage our lives, we just move across the street.

The new home needs a few changes, mostly flooring from carpet to no carpet, and better lighting. Yesterday we spent the day searching our options for other things and came home tired. Then we got a call from someone who challenged our way of doing things. He thought we were not doing enough research, but was not aware that our ‘research’ was done on our knees.

Earlier we put a deposit on another place and God made it clear: “Do not buy that house!” However, this one was given His direction from start to finish. Flooring, and other choices came easy after prayer and understanding His will on all matters. For that reason, the challenge to our ‘research’ was somewhat of a test. Will we trust God, or do we need to spend hundreds of hours on the Internet?

Today’s devotional led me to these verses and blesses my heart. If we are trusting God, does it matter what the surveys, reports, consumer comments, etc. say?

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! (Psalm 112:1)
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)
Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 119:24)
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, (Romans 7:22)
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)

While our ‘advisor’ might scoff or think we are being lazy, the Word of God is clear; He wants us to seek His will, not out of desperation, or any other reason than we trust Him and delight in discovering that His will is never the wrong thing. No matter where He leads us, His love is behind all that He does on our behalf.

Not only that, we can see His leading. The first sales person told us enough that we knew what not to buy. The second one revealed that a big sale was coming up and we could get better prices in a couple weeks. It was that way with the next ones we talked to until we found the best prices and choices for our needs. We could sense God’s leading in each case and know quite well that God’s name is not spelled Google.

I’ve not told our ‘advice giver’ how we do research, but hope for the opportunity. While stress in making decisions does happen, once the will of God is known, that stress is replaced with great delight and a sense of His love and safe-keeping.

PRAY: Jesus, my prayer today is the same as the psalmist who wrote: “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4–5) I’m so thankful for You and truly do delight in Your will.

Making decisions . . .

For several days I’ve wondered if a desire in my heart was a temptation — or an opportunity. That verse answers my question. The thing I want to do is not sinful nor are any of the reasons I want to do it. I just don’t know if God is in it or will use it. This morning I remembered that is the same question that comes up over many actions that God commands — and I am supposed to go ahead, trusting Him for the outcome.

 
Years ago, we lived in California and were members of Grace Community church. I still remember several sermons preached by John MacArthur. One of them was about knowing the will of God. He went through several passages that state “the will of God is . . .” and ended the sermon with Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” explaining that if the Lord is the delight of your heart, then whatever you desire will be from Him, so you can do whatever you want.

Today’s devotional reading takes me to where James says we are not saved by our actions, but our actions show that we are trusting God.

Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:20–24)

Some Christians have trouble with James. They think he is contradicting the rest of the New Testament that clearly say we are not saved by what we do but by faith. However, James agrees. He is just saying that if I claim to trust God, then my life will show it by what I do.

That is, the works of my life will give evidence that my faith is in Him and not in myself. This relates to the puzzle of the past few days. I want to do something but am not sure if it is the will of God. The doing is not wrong. I’ve just wondered where my desire to do is coming from. Is it so strong because I have a deep selfish reason? Or is God giving it to me?

With lots of prayer, I cannot discern any selfish reason and have concluded that taking this action would be a step of faith. I cannot think of any other reason except that I delight in the Lord and this strong desire is in my heart because He put it there. Nothing else fits.

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Lord Jesus, I’ll move ahead. It doesn’t make sense, but that fits with Abraham offering Isaac — that didn’t make sense either. You tell me that if my delight is in You (and it is) then the desires I have are from You. I’m going to trust You with this based on that promise. Amen.

Today’s thankful list . . .

• One of the most powerful sermons I’ve ever heard.

• The story from a man who was on dialysis for kidney failure and God healed him — his kidneys started working again and he is no longer on dialysis, almost unheard of in medical circles.

• A time a brunch for folks to share their stories of God’s healing power.

• A sound sleep after a long walk in the woods in perfect fall weather.

• Supper with my hubby.

• A wonderful day of praise and rest.

Godly Choices?

This week I’ve been trying to decide a purchase. It to my creative bent but the big question is will I have time to use it. I am already creative with art quilts and other things. To use this purchase would require additional time and energy which is scarce these days. If I bought it, would it be a waste of money?

I asked my hubby. He said that if I purchased this product and never used it, I would be out a small amount of money. If I didn’t buy it, I might wonder for a long time if I should have. (It is on sale for only a few days). His logic didn’t answer my real question: Why do I want it? Is this an opportunity or a temptation?

Yesterday’s devotions were about temptation. It does not come from God and usually reveals a weakness in me. This morning in my ‘read through the Bible’ passage, Jesus was tempted by Satan who offered Him the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship him. Is this where my desire is coming from? As soon as I read it, I was willing to drop the idea, but then my devotional reading put me back in James where I read this:

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:16–18)

Is this desire to be more creative a good gift from above that God can use for His glory? Or is it the enemy trying to deceive me into something that will distract me from doing the will of God and put extra pressures in my life?

I know that whatever my decisions involve, I’m to be yielded to God, willing to do what He asks or tells me rather than insisting on one way or the other. The problem is being uncertain what God wants me to do.  When I thought this might be the devil dangling part of his kingdom in front of me, I was abhorred yet a little disappointed. James says to ask for wisdom but not be double minded about it.

I prayed several times asking God to clear the confusion. The Bible says He is not the source of confusion and He will answer my prayers. Later in the day, the Lord reminded me of the word I’d asked for 2019. He gave me PEACE and an acrostic to help me make decisions. It looks like this:

PRIORITIES – Put the important stuff first

EGO ISSUES – Will it stroke my ego or glorify God?

ADVICE – Check it out with godly friends who I trust.

COMPETENCE – Is it something God has gifted me to do?

ETERNAL – Will it produce something of eternal value?

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Lord, this purchase is not a priority. I’m not sure its use will glorify You. It doesn’t seem to involve an ego-trip but only one person said to go for it. I am skilled in this area, but only You know if it will produce something of eternal value. My time is nearly filled with activities that You have assured I should do. I’m still on the fence so will keep praying.

Today’s thankful list . . .

A lovely ‘sew day’ with quilt guild members as we designed and assembled charity quilts.

Sunshine that mocked the wind.

Color. Life would be dull without it.

Friendships.

Email and texting messages.

Making Decisions in the will of God . . .

A school class voted to adopt a mascot. They purchased a hamster. The children were excited to have this animal in their room and often gathered to watch it. One day, someone asked, “Is this a girl or a boy hamster?” The teacher said she didn’t know. After some speculation, one child said, “I know what to do. Let’s vote on it.”

This is an amusing story — but not when the same principle is used to discover the will of God, particularly His will on moral and behavioral issues. What if someone wondered if they should divorce their spouse and rolled dice to decide? Or if someone wanted to rob a bank, or cheat on their income tax and made the decision based on picking a number from a bag? What if a company or a country determined whether to cheat their shareholders or members by taking a vote at the leadership level?

When God’s will is the issue, Christians should affirm that it is found in God’s Word. Those who would rather not bring God into the decision sometimes use other methods for making decisions, like rolling dice or taking a vote, or asking themselves if they want to do it or not.

I’m glad that I can determine the will of God by reading His Book. But what if the puzzle I’m trying to solve is not specifically there? The stories in Acts are helpful. These early Christians didn’t have the New Testament, only the older Scriptures. Some of their problems were not easily settled. For instance, they wanted to replace Judas who had hung himself after betraying Jesus. How would they know God’s mind on this important decision?

To discover His will they first gathered together, making sure of their unity and devoting themselves to seeking the mind of God . . . 

And when they had entered (Jerusalem), they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. (Acts 1:13–14)

This was not quickly decided. The next verses say it took them a while . . .

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”

Peter gave the gory story of Judas’ death and read a prophecy from the Word of God that they did have:

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it” and “Let another take his office.”

Peter told the group they needed to replace Judas with someone who had been with them “a witness to his resurrection.” The believers put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15–26)

The first time I read this, I was shocked. They picked the man by rolling dice! But then it becomes plain that this was not the same as letting chance decide. They already had prayed many days. They asked God to show them which man He wanted, and they trusted their God. He could speak worlds into existence, turn water into wine, tell storms to cease, raise the dead. Revealing His will to them (likely by stones in a bag not the dice used today) was a simple thing for God.

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:33)

More importantly, this is the last time in the Bible lots were said to be used to determine God’s will. Also, this was not a moral question but a matter of making a choice between two men who were probably equally qualified. From that time on, God did not motivate His people to use lots to make decisions. They had the Holy Spirit and could rely on Him working in their hearts to agree on important matters.

We have attended many different local churches. One stands out in my memory for making godly decisions. It is elder-ruled as described in the NT but they do not use a “majority rules” principle. They pray and seek 100% agreement. If that does not happen, they table the decision. They will listen to those who disagree and at times overturned a 99% vote because the majority realized the one who said NO correctly understood God’s will.

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Lord Jesus, I know the Holy Spirit can produce unity. I also know that You can show us Your will through Your Word and by Your Spirit. I’m glad we are not confined to casting lots or voting because our wills and biases can mess with good decisions. Your life is the measure for many choices and Your Word gives me more than I need to know what You want. Thank You.

A Prerequisite for Making Decisions

Our church is making a very important vote today. Instead of a regular service, we will pray, have communion and worship. As I sat down with my Bible this morning, I asked the Lord for guidance. He gave me a verse that I consider the most important verse in the New Testament. If I do what it says, I stay close to God, can grow in my spiritual life, and can better understand His will. If not, I fail and fall.

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)

The operative word is that little one: if. If I do what this verse says, I experience the faithfulness of God. He promises to forgive confessed sin and He keeps that promise. He also cleanses that sin, meaning that He does wash it out of His books, but also out of my heart. 

A little voice in my head says, “Yes, but what about the times you confess then do the thing again?” Ah, I’ve learned that there are different kinds of confession. Sometimes, particularly for the many first years of being a believer, I confessed the actions of sin without realizing that buried under those actions was a sinful attitude, an “I want” that went unrecognized or ignored. If that stayed as it was, then the actions would pop up again.

For example, I’ve had a proud and competitive spirit. It might show up playing games with my children — I must win the game. Or it might show up in entering a competition, or on the highway with other drivers. Whatever the action, confessing it did not rid me of pride with its desire to boost my own ego by defeating someone else. It has only abated as I recognized the root of it and began confessing that root. And these roots of sin go deep into the core of human identity. God repeatedly speaks of it in words like this:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way. . . (Isaiah 53:6)

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:23)

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. (Mark 7:21–23)

The Word of God also speaks about the nature of God. It says He is faithful. He does forgive sin, not because I deserve it, but because Jesus died on the cross for it. This is why 1 John 1:9 says God is just. My sin has been punished — only He did not punish me. His justice has been satisfied at Calvary. Because of Jesus, He can pardon sinners.

In my prayers this morning, I will ask the Lord to reveal to me any attitudes or actions that have violated His will. Before I make any decisions, small or large, I want my relationship with Him clear and uncluttered. I want all selfishness purged and any foolish or prideful thoughts forgiven and cleansed. How can I decide any matter if I merely want my own way? How can I know the will of God if my own will has my fist clenched or my lips pursed? How can I vote for God if I am wanting and going my own way? 

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Lord, some may think that it is possible to simply change, to move from “me” to “God” without dealing with sin. This is like saying a leopard can change his spots to stripes. Sin is a barrier. It separates me from You and from others. Only You can deal with my sinful heart. To insist otherwise is to say that I don’t need Jesus — and that would be a lie, and darkness, and a foolish decision.