Focal Verse: "During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the LORD" (2 Samuel 21:1b).
My husband paced across the hotel room in Mansfield, Texas, going back and forth between a big decision we had to make. After having been laid off in January from the company he worked with for the last 3 years, he landed his dream job at a company in Jacksonville, Arkansas. It was over an hour commute, but it was worth it for him. Then the unexpected came. The corporate office decided to close down the Arkansas branch, and as it turned out, Matt could either take the layoff or move to their Texas branch, over 6 hours away.
We decided to drive to Texas and visit the area, trying to seek God and his will concerning this dilemma. It was tough. We didn't want to move away from our entire family, but we wanted to be yielded to God's plan for our lives. Still, the decision wasn't easy. We didn't get that "feeling" that one way or another was right. Ultimately, we decided not to move and trust God with the rest. We believed that if Texas was where we were supposed to be, God would have made it crystal clear to us.
Some decisions are tough. But some are not. As I was studying the book of Ruth for our Mom's class this week, I stumbled upon a very real truth about some decisions in the very first verse: "In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man (Elimilech) from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab" (Ruth 1:1).
My first instinct was to think that God may have used this famine to move Elimilech's family to Moab, so his future daughter-in-law Ruth would eventually come to Israel, marry Boaz, have a child, and ultimately become an ancestor in the line of Jesus Christ. However, after further study, I realized that this wasn't the case. I'm afraid too often we can look at a good result and attribute the entire process to God's divine plan, when in reality, God has used yet another case of our bad decision to create something of beauty. Now, that's something to praise God about...that centuries before Romans 8:28 was penned, God was busy acting it out in the lives of people in the Old Testament.
Back to Elimilech. There was famine in the land. He was afraid for his wife Naomi and two sons, so he decided to move to Moab for "a while." While his instinct to provide for his family can be admired, his decision lacked concern for the will of God. Elimilech made his decision without considering what God had said about such matters. In Deuteronomy 23:3, God had specified that no Moabite may enter into the assembly of the Lord. This was said because of the sin and idolatry of the Moabities; according to Numbers 25:1-3, the Moabite women had turned the Israelite men to idolatry. In Deuteronomy 7:3, the Israelites were commanded not to intermarry with people of the pagan nations. Again, this was because of their idolatry and because God knew that they would lead his people astray.
Elimilech didn't seek the counsel of the Lord before he made his decision to take his wife and his sons go to Moab. If he had, he would have been able to see that God's law forbade the intermarrying with pagan people, and by moving there, he would be exposing his sons to the temptation of the Moabite women.
It's easy to overlook this simple decision Elimilech made. After all, his decision brought about the great story of Ruth, whose actions are an example to us all. Yet we forget that before Ruth made the journey with her mother-in-law Naomi to Israel, to follow her God, Elimilech died, and his sons died at a premature age, childless. Naomi returned to Israel a widow who had lost her two sons and had little hope. It was God in his sovereignty, who used a bad decision to bring out a glorious result. He worked in spite of Elimilech's decision, not because of it.
Contrast our focal verse today, where a 3-year famine occured in Israel. Unlike Elimilech, who simply made a decision without regard to the Lord, David sought the face of the Lord.
When we are faced with a decision, the first thing we should do is follow in David's example and seek the Lord. In doing that, we should test our options agains the word of God. God will never call us to something that blatantly goes against his word. We should also ask God to reveal our motives. Perhaps the decision isn't wrong in and of itself, but perhaps our motivation is contrary to the pure and dedicated life he calls us to.
The bottom line is that some decisions are easy when we test them against the word of God.
And what about the others? I'm still working on that. Stay tuned. :)
A Living Sacrifice
Focal Verses: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2).
I'm learning a lot about faith these days. It seems like life has thrown us nothing but one disappointment after another over the last year, and some days, I just wonder when there will be some relief. Hope. Restoration.
I'd like to say that I've been the one who has been the family cheerleader, the one with the positive outlook, reminding everyone else that God has a greater purpose for our travails. Deep down, even though I have to cheer on myself at times, I believe it. I have clung to the hope that God wouldn't let us go through all of this if there weren't a greater purpose. And deep down, my hope has been that in the end, we'll be able to see God weaving every circumstance together for the good, and alas, we'll have our happily ever after.
As you can imagine, this outlook can be a little tiring. Sometimes I've grown weary and have wondered how long my strength is going to last. Is there a limit to my faith? It has been a little frightening. Yet today as I was thinking about everything that has happened, and the hope I have that surely some glimmer of hope is bound to come soon, God whispered a new perspective into my ear. The thought crossed my mind, What if there is no magical answer, no final solution? What if there is no happily ever after? What if God is calling us to live in this adversity indefinitely?
I let my mind ponder on this, and as I did, God brought to mind the chorus of a song by Jeremy Camp, "What it Means." I'll include the song below, but here are the lyrics to the chorus:
Show me what it means, To live my life a sacrifice, If only I would realize how much It took to pay the price, I know I’d always give, Everything to you.
It is hard for me to put into words what the Holy Spirit gently reminded me. But it basically came down to this: God doesn't owe me a happy ending. If he wants me to live my life - even the rest of my earthly days if necessary - in adversity, so be it. He gave his all to me in giving his Son, and the least I can do is offer him my life. I think I've gotten myself so programmed to believing in this happy ending that he would provide, that my faith has been in his ability to provide it rather than trusting that he is all I need.
Perhaps God hasn't provided the solution to our adversities yet because he wants me to become completely dependent on him. That doesn't make God insensitive or uncaring. It is actually the opposite. He cares enough to allow me to go through these things because he knows that anything I cling to in this world is rubbish anyway. He hates seeing me hurt, but he knows if by going through these trials, I can become less dependent on the things of this world - even GOOD things - then I will find my complete joy in him.
Now, that's not to say that I have given up on my happy ending. But I realized that this happy ending, even though I believed it was going to come from God, should not have been the source of my hope. Job says it all to well in Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
My hope should come in offering myself as a living sacrifice, so I can live in a way as to worship the God who gave his all for me. Any other blessings that he provides is just "gravy."
Who knows, maybe this is the "secret" of contentment Paul was talking about in Philippians 4:12: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
I'm learning a lot about faith these days. It seems like life has thrown us nothing but one disappointment after another over the last year, and some days, I just wonder when there will be some relief. Hope. Restoration.
I'd like to say that I've been the one who has been the family cheerleader, the one with the positive outlook, reminding everyone else that God has a greater purpose for our travails. Deep down, even though I have to cheer on myself at times, I believe it. I have clung to the hope that God wouldn't let us go through all of this if there weren't a greater purpose. And deep down, my hope has been that in the end, we'll be able to see God weaving every circumstance together for the good, and alas, we'll have our happily ever after.
As you can imagine, this outlook can be a little tiring. Sometimes I've grown weary and have wondered how long my strength is going to last. Is there a limit to my faith? It has been a little frightening. Yet today as I was thinking about everything that has happened, and the hope I have that surely some glimmer of hope is bound to come soon, God whispered a new perspective into my ear. The thought crossed my mind, What if there is no magical answer, no final solution? What if there is no happily ever after? What if God is calling us to live in this adversity indefinitely?
I let my mind ponder on this, and as I did, God brought to mind the chorus of a song by Jeremy Camp, "What it Means." I'll include the song below, but here are the lyrics to the chorus:
Show me what it means, To live my life a sacrifice, If only I would realize how much It took to pay the price, I know I’d always give, Everything to you.
It is hard for me to put into words what the Holy Spirit gently reminded me. But it basically came down to this: God doesn't owe me a happy ending. If he wants me to live my life - even the rest of my earthly days if necessary - in adversity, so be it. He gave his all to me in giving his Son, and the least I can do is offer him my life. I think I've gotten myself so programmed to believing in this happy ending that he would provide, that my faith has been in his ability to provide it rather than trusting that he is all I need.
Perhaps God hasn't provided the solution to our adversities yet because he wants me to become completely dependent on him. That doesn't make God insensitive or uncaring. It is actually the opposite. He cares enough to allow me to go through these things because he knows that anything I cling to in this world is rubbish anyway. He hates seeing me hurt, but he knows if by going through these trials, I can become less dependent on the things of this world - even GOOD things - then I will find my complete joy in him.
Now, that's not to say that I have given up on my happy ending. But I realized that this happy ending, even though I believed it was going to come from God, should not have been the source of my hope. Job says it all to well in Job 1:21, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."
My hope should come in offering myself as a living sacrifice, so I can live in a way as to worship the God who gave his all for me. Any other blessings that he provides is just "gravy."
Who knows, maybe this is the "secret" of contentment Paul was talking about in Philippians 4:12: "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
How Did I Get Here?
Focal Verses: "From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD" (Genesis 13:3-4)
How did I get here? No, I'm not talking about how I felt last week when our airline mistakenly sent us to Chicago when we were headed to Orlando. I'm actually talking about how, one day, I can feel like God and I are walking joyfully side by side, and then another day, I realize he isn't as close as I remembered him being.
As disturbing as this can be, I'm afraid it's quite common. It is in my own life, anyway. It can happen for a number of reasons. The most obvious one is sin. If we're walking closely with God, allowing sin - unconfessed - in our lives, most definitely will create a space between us and our fellowship with God.
Another culprit in separating us from the closeness of God is not spending time with him. We can allow the busyness of life get in the way of our precious time with him, and the next thing we know, we aren't enjoying that intimacy with him that we did. Of course, that in itself can lead to our weakness to resist sin.
When we have one of those "How did I get here" moments, we have an excellent example in Scripture how we can get back to that closeness with God. Right after God called Abram (Abraham) and Abram set out to Canaan as God commanded, he built an altar between Bethel and Ai and called on the name of the Lord.
Then the Scripture says that Abram went to Egypt because there was a famine. Abram, because he was afraid, lied to Pharaoh and the Egyptians and said Sarai was his sister so as to protect himself. Of course it is easy to wonder what happened to Abram's great faith that we see only a few verses before. (But like Abram, we can - and do - trip up just as easily.) Shortly after, God intervened and Abram was sent away from Egypt. I'm sure Abram's faith was shaken, so what did he do? Look back at our focal verses for today. He went back to the last place he experienced the Lord, the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier.
Before I get to the point here, I want to point out the same lesson from another patriarch, Abraham's grandson Jacob. After Jacob fled from Esau, God appeared to him in a dream at Bethel, where he restated his promise to build a nation through him. (Genesis 28) In the course of time, Jacob married Leah and Rachel and had his children, and God told Jacob to go back to Canaan. During this trip, his daughter Dinah was raped, and his sons Levi and Simeon avenged her rape by killing every male in the city. After such tragedy and violence, you have to know that Jacob was questioning God's decision to use his family line. Yet God is faithful even when our circumstances seem uncontrollable. Genesis 35:1 says, "Then God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.'"
In both of these cases, you can see that the place we need to go when we feel estranged from God is to the place where we last encountered him.
Maybe it wasn't too long ago for you. Just a matter of days. What changed in that short time? Did sin creep in? Did you let other things crowd out your time with God?
Maybe it has been years. Maybe it was at a church camp in youth group or a small-group Bible study in college. What was different in your life then than now? Were you seeking God wholeheartedly then and now you are keeping a few corners of your heart just to yourself?
Maybe it has been since your surrendered your life to Christ and have yet to launch your exciting relationship with your Savior. I would encourage you, if this is the case, to get involved in a small group or seek out a trusted Christian mentor, where you can be discipled.
Or maybe you have no idea what it's like to be "close" to God. If this is the case, perhaps you have never come to the point in your life where you realize your need for Jesus and ask him to forgive you of your sins. Maybe you have never fully committed your life to him. I'm afraid many in our churches and even in our society believe everything we're supposed to believe, but never make a personal commitment to Christ. Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." If this describes you, please don't hesitate to seek out someone who can help you in your decision to commit to Christ. Feel free to even email me.
The bottom line is that God made us for a relationship with him. A living, walking, active relationship with him. And when we find ourselves out of close fellowship with him, the first thing we need to do is go back to the last time we encountered Him.
How did I get here? No, I'm not talking about how I felt last week when our airline mistakenly sent us to Chicago when we were headed to Orlando. I'm actually talking about how, one day, I can feel like God and I are walking joyfully side by side, and then another day, I realize he isn't as close as I remembered him being.
As disturbing as this can be, I'm afraid it's quite common. It is in my own life, anyway. It can happen for a number of reasons. The most obvious one is sin. If we're walking closely with God, allowing sin - unconfessed - in our lives, most definitely will create a space between us and our fellowship with God.
Another culprit in separating us from the closeness of God is not spending time with him. We can allow the busyness of life get in the way of our precious time with him, and the next thing we know, we aren't enjoying that intimacy with him that we did. Of course, that in itself can lead to our weakness to resist sin.
When we have one of those "How did I get here" moments, we have an excellent example in Scripture how we can get back to that closeness with God. Right after God called Abram (Abraham) and Abram set out to Canaan as God commanded, he built an altar between Bethel and Ai and called on the name of the Lord.
Then the Scripture says that Abram went to Egypt because there was a famine. Abram, because he was afraid, lied to Pharaoh and the Egyptians and said Sarai was his sister so as to protect himself. Of course it is easy to wonder what happened to Abram's great faith that we see only a few verses before. (But like Abram, we can - and do - trip up just as easily.) Shortly after, God intervened and Abram was sent away from Egypt. I'm sure Abram's faith was shaken, so what did he do? Look back at our focal verses for today. He went back to the last place he experienced the Lord, the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier.
Before I get to the point here, I want to point out the same lesson from another patriarch, Abraham's grandson Jacob. After Jacob fled from Esau, God appeared to him in a dream at Bethel, where he restated his promise to build a nation through him. (Genesis 28) In the course of time, Jacob married Leah and Rachel and had his children, and God told Jacob to go back to Canaan. During this trip, his daughter Dinah was raped, and his sons Levi and Simeon avenged her rape by killing every male in the city. After such tragedy and violence, you have to know that Jacob was questioning God's decision to use his family line. Yet God is faithful even when our circumstances seem uncontrollable. Genesis 35:1 says, "Then God said to Jacob, 'Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.'"
In both of these cases, you can see that the place we need to go when we feel estranged from God is to the place where we last encountered him.
Maybe it wasn't too long ago for you. Just a matter of days. What changed in that short time? Did sin creep in? Did you let other things crowd out your time with God?
Maybe it has been years. Maybe it was at a church camp in youth group or a small-group Bible study in college. What was different in your life then than now? Were you seeking God wholeheartedly then and now you are keeping a few corners of your heart just to yourself?
Maybe it has been since your surrendered your life to Christ and have yet to launch your exciting relationship with your Savior. I would encourage you, if this is the case, to get involved in a small group or seek out a trusted Christian mentor, where you can be discipled.
Or maybe you have no idea what it's like to be "close" to God. If this is the case, perhaps you have never come to the point in your life where you realize your need for Jesus and ask him to forgive you of your sins. Maybe you have never fully committed your life to him. I'm afraid many in our churches and even in our society believe everything we're supposed to believe, but never make a personal commitment to Christ. Romans 10:9-10 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." If this describes you, please don't hesitate to seek out someone who can help you in your decision to commit to Christ. Feel free to even email me.
The bottom line is that God made us for a relationship with him. A living, walking, active relationship with him. And when we find ourselves out of close fellowship with him, the first thing we need to do is go back to the last time we encountered Him.
A Different Spirit
As you probably know if you've read my mother-in-law's blog (http://sonshineshaven.blogspot.com/), life has been rather busy in the last week. I'm still recuperating from our trip to Florida for her step-dad's funeral service. I appreciate those who have been checking in and since I haven't had time to write anything in the last week, I wanted to post something I wrote on June 21, 2005. At that time my husband and I were planning our first child. Drew was conceived that December, and this verse has remained my "life verse" for Drew. I pray this verse over him frequently, and I encourage you if you have a child to pick out a verse that is special to you to pray it over your child, young or old, as well.
Focal Verse: "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it." Numbers 14:24
Picture a lecture from a very angry father. His children had collectively shamed the family name. They turned their back on him and grumbled against him. He is fed up with them and is letting them know it.
In this chapter of Numbers, Israel is getting a lecture. God is in the midst of telling Moses that his generation of Israel would not see the Promised Land. God was not happy with his people. He had performed miracles to rescue them from their bondage and slavery in Egypt, and here they were grumbling and complaining. Not only that, they were sinning against God. And only because Moses petitioned God, did He not destroy them completely. If you read this chapter, you're sense the anger in the lecture.
Then comes verse 24. Calmness. Pride.
God didn't forget Caleb. He remembered his faithfulness. God didn't overlook him with the rest of his "brothers." In fact, while the rest of his generation would not see the Promised Land, God made an exception with Caleb.
Oh, that God would look at me that way! That I may be of a "different spirit" and please God the way Caleb pleased God! My desire is that I will please God where he can say, "Because my servant Jill has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring her into [her Promised Land], and her descendants will inherit it."
I believe God has a spiritual Promised Land for New Testament believers. This is a place where we are at peace, serving God, loving God, and walking with God. I believe it's God's desire that we live in that Promised Land, just as he desired for Israel to live in their Promised Land.
Don't overlook the end of the verse. God has not blessed me with children yet, but I want my children to know God above all else. And the promise of this verse is that if God sees my spirit is a spirit of serving him, my descendants will be able to enter into their own Promised Land with God as well!
Oh, that I may have a different spirit!
Focal Verse: "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it." Numbers 14:24
Picture a lecture from a very angry father. His children had collectively shamed the family name. They turned their back on him and grumbled against him. He is fed up with them and is letting them know it.
In this chapter of Numbers, Israel is getting a lecture. God is in the midst of telling Moses that his generation of Israel would not see the Promised Land. God was not happy with his people. He had performed miracles to rescue them from their bondage and slavery in Egypt, and here they were grumbling and complaining. Not only that, they were sinning against God. And only because Moses petitioned God, did He not destroy them completely. If you read this chapter, you're sense the anger in the lecture.
Then comes verse 24. Calmness. Pride.
God didn't forget Caleb. He remembered his faithfulness. God didn't overlook him with the rest of his "brothers." In fact, while the rest of his generation would not see the Promised Land, God made an exception with Caleb.
Oh, that God would look at me that way! That I may be of a "different spirit" and please God the way Caleb pleased God! My desire is that I will please God where he can say, "Because my servant Jill has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring her into [her Promised Land], and her descendants will inherit it."
I believe God has a spiritual Promised Land for New Testament believers. This is a place where we are at peace, serving God, loving God, and walking with God. I believe it's God's desire that we live in that Promised Land, just as he desired for Israel to live in their Promised Land.
Don't overlook the end of the verse. God has not blessed me with children yet, but I want my children to know God above all else. And the promise of this verse is that if God sees my spirit is a spirit of serving him, my descendants will be able to enter into their own Promised Land with God as well!
Oh, that I may have a different spirit!
Pray Without Ceasing (Real Life)
Focal Verse: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)
I remember reading this verse in high school and thinking, "Well, how in the world is that possible?" Pray without ceasing or pray continually as the NIV states it. Reading it over and over I still couldn't figure out why God would put such an impossible command in the Bible. So I put it aside in my mind figuring I'd learn how to do that another day.
I recall such explanations as, "It means to continually have the mindset of God in your everyday life." Okay. That was a little more believable, but still a bit out of touch with my reality. I even recall in my young adult years, having my quiet time in the morning, fully intending to conversate with God at various times during the day, and laying my head on the pillow at night feeling that God was by my side all day long. Yet in reality, I found myself laying my head on my pillow wondering where my good intentions went. I wondered how in the world I had managed to leave God at the same place I met him that morning.
You can probably relate. And, like me, you have the best of intentions but just can't seem to grasp how to put that verse into practice. Now, I'll warn you, I don't have the secret code. I don't have a guaranteed method. But I have made progress and hopefully my experience will help you.
My progress has been born out of adversity, I must admit. If you've read my other posts, you know my family has been in some turbulent times in past months. My seeking to have God a part of my whole day has come out of desperation. I simply couldn't make it through each day without seeking him more than just in the morning. I'll warn you. If all is well in your life, this may be a little difficult. When we're not facing trials, it's easy to depend on ourselves and not see a need for a daily relationship with God. But the need is there all the same.
Having a set-aside time alone with God every day is vital. What kind of relationship could we have with a spouse or any other close friend only speaking to them once a week, if then? It certainly wouldn't be a thriving one. So the first thing to do is set aside a time to spend with the Father. It doesn't have to be a long time. Many people start at just 5-10 minutes. I choose the morning. It's the one time of day that I am free of distraction. I make my coffee and start my time with God. It's just like any close relationship. Back when we were in college and were roommates, my friend Tiffany and I used to cherish our "coffee talks." I would make cappuccino back then (sometimes bake cookies), we'd sit together, and talk. Even today when either of us needs some "girl time," one of us suggests coffee. It's our catalyst to an intimate conversation between friends. In the same way, I look forward to my "coffee talk" with God each morning. My routine is to have some sort of Bible study. Sometimes I do a Beth Moore study. Right now I'm reading Women of the Bible. Sometimes I put the study guides down and just read a book of the Bible chapter by chapter. The key for me is variety. I change things every so often to keep myself fresh. I ask God to speak to me through His Word. Then, I pray about what he might bring to my heart. I pray for my family. I pray for him to be with me during my work day. I confess any known sin. If he has brought a verse to my heart, I pray that verse. There's no scientific formula. The main thing is being sensitive to God's leading in this time. The last thing I want to do is make my quiet time another thing on my "to-do" list to check off. When I start leaving my quiet time the same way I began it - unmoved - I start examining my heart. Is my mind distracted? Do I need a change in my routine? What is keeping me from a lively conversation with God?
I choose the morning because it's best for me. Morning may not be best for you. You might be more focused after the kids go to bed at night. The only time you might have is on your lunch break. Maybe it's on your commute to work and you can listen to a Bible study on CD or MP3. (Isn't technology great?)
Now, these other ideas I'm going to suggest are simply what has helped me to stay in more consistent communion with God. Pray about these ideas as well as others that work for you.
Scripture Memory. It seems like a pastime, but Scripture memory is as important as ever. I've found the easiest way for me to memorize Scripture is to put it on my mirror for me to go over as I'm getting ready in the morning. When we memorize Scripture, we're essentially acquiring weapons in our daily battle. The Holy Spirit is amazing. He'll bring that Scripture to your mind just when you need it.
Inspirational Music. Listening to inspirational music on my commute to work helps me to stay in the mindset in which I need to be. If I'm listening to a Christian radio station, God has a way of "playing" the songs that I need most. In addition to my commute, I am also able to listen to Christian music at my computer at work. This keeps Christian songs in the background while I'm doing my daily tasks.
Be Mindful of Prayer Opportunities. I'll be going about my day, and I'll think of someone. That's normal. But now instead of just thinking of that person, I'll pray for them. For instance, I thought of my friend Tiffany this week and remembered her asking for prayer for her husband as he was taking a difficult course this summer. So I'd pray, God, be with Chris today. Help this classwork come easier for him, and give him the strength to persevere.
Take Every Thought Captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." At times I get overwhelmed, and sometimes I start to let bitterness creep in. One of my weak points is after I get home from working 9 hours, and after I cook dinner, clean dishes, put up laundry, and do anything else needed, I start to get bitter and have a tendency to want to take it out on my husband. So when that bitterness creeps in, I have started to pray, Father, this is how I feel. I want to take captive these thoughts, so help me understand the way I should react and feel in this situation. God always answers that prayer! Even if I may not like the answer, I see my situation in the light of the holiness of Christ and I get a whole new perspective.
Tear Down Strongholds. If there is anything in my life preventing me from that close communication with God, I try to analyze it and take it out of my life if necessary. For example, I got hooked on a certain reality TV series that consumed my thoughts and kept me from the pure thoughtlife God wants for me. It was a hard break, but I stopped watching it mid-season. Now that was a big sacrifice! But by doing that, I was able to not only clear my mind of those thoughts but also make more time for my family and other things I felt I needed to spend my time doing.
These are just a few suggestions based on what I've learned in past months. Don't get me wrong and think I am a success at these 100% of the time. That is most definitely not the case. Today in particular I failed at the "Taking Every Thought Captive" part. But you see, I know the goal isn't perfection because we'll never attain it this side of heaven. The goal is the journey. The blessing is seeing where I am compared to where I was. The blessing is seeing God respond in the quiet whispers of my heart because that day I took the time to listen. The blessing is knowing that although today didn't go as I had planned, there's still tomorow.
When we start making "praying without ceasing" too complicated or give up before we even start because the task seems impossible, we completely miss out. God wants our relationship, not to be a part of our daily to-do list. Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Our daily walk with God is not to be a burden, but a blessing. And God just waits to bless us for our obedience and our yearning to know him more and more.
I remember reading this verse in high school and thinking, "Well, how in the world is that possible?" Pray without ceasing or pray continually as the NIV states it. Reading it over and over I still couldn't figure out why God would put such an impossible command in the Bible. So I put it aside in my mind figuring I'd learn how to do that another day.
I recall such explanations as, "It means to continually have the mindset of God in your everyday life." Okay. That was a little more believable, but still a bit out of touch with my reality. I even recall in my young adult years, having my quiet time in the morning, fully intending to conversate with God at various times during the day, and laying my head on the pillow at night feeling that God was by my side all day long. Yet in reality, I found myself laying my head on my pillow wondering where my good intentions went. I wondered how in the world I had managed to leave God at the same place I met him that morning.
You can probably relate. And, like me, you have the best of intentions but just can't seem to grasp how to put that verse into practice. Now, I'll warn you, I don't have the secret code. I don't have a guaranteed method. But I have made progress and hopefully my experience will help you.
My progress has been born out of adversity, I must admit. If you've read my other posts, you know my family has been in some turbulent times in past months. My seeking to have God a part of my whole day has come out of desperation. I simply couldn't make it through each day without seeking him more than just in the morning. I'll warn you. If all is well in your life, this may be a little difficult. When we're not facing trials, it's easy to depend on ourselves and not see a need for a daily relationship with God. But the need is there all the same.
Having a set-aside time alone with God every day is vital. What kind of relationship could we have with a spouse or any other close friend only speaking to them once a week, if then? It certainly wouldn't be a thriving one. So the first thing to do is set aside a time to spend with the Father. It doesn't have to be a long time. Many people start at just 5-10 minutes. I choose the morning. It's the one time of day that I am free of distraction. I make my coffee and start my time with God. It's just like any close relationship. Back when we were in college and were roommates, my friend Tiffany and I used to cherish our "coffee talks." I would make cappuccino back then (sometimes bake cookies), we'd sit together, and talk. Even today when either of us needs some "girl time," one of us suggests coffee. It's our catalyst to an intimate conversation between friends. In the same way, I look forward to my "coffee talk" with God each morning. My routine is to have some sort of Bible study. Sometimes I do a Beth Moore study. Right now I'm reading Women of the Bible. Sometimes I put the study guides down and just read a book of the Bible chapter by chapter. The key for me is variety. I change things every so often to keep myself fresh. I ask God to speak to me through His Word. Then, I pray about what he might bring to my heart. I pray for my family. I pray for him to be with me during my work day. I confess any known sin. If he has brought a verse to my heart, I pray that verse. There's no scientific formula. The main thing is being sensitive to God's leading in this time. The last thing I want to do is make my quiet time another thing on my "to-do" list to check off. When I start leaving my quiet time the same way I began it - unmoved - I start examining my heart. Is my mind distracted? Do I need a change in my routine? What is keeping me from a lively conversation with God?
I choose the morning because it's best for me. Morning may not be best for you. You might be more focused after the kids go to bed at night. The only time you might have is on your lunch break. Maybe it's on your commute to work and you can listen to a Bible study on CD or MP3. (Isn't technology great?)
Now, these other ideas I'm going to suggest are simply what has helped me to stay in more consistent communion with God. Pray about these ideas as well as others that work for you.
Scripture Memory. It seems like a pastime, but Scripture memory is as important as ever. I've found the easiest way for me to memorize Scripture is to put it on my mirror for me to go over as I'm getting ready in the morning. When we memorize Scripture, we're essentially acquiring weapons in our daily battle. The Holy Spirit is amazing. He'll bring that Scripture to your mind just when you need it.
Inspirational Music. Listening to inspirational music on my commute to work helps me to stay in the mindset in which I need to be. If I'm listening to a Christian radio station, God has a way of "playing" the songs that I need most. In addition to my commute, I am also able to listen to Christian music at my computer at work. This keeps Christian songs in the background while I'm doing my daily tasks.
Be Mindful of Prayer Opportunities. I'll be going about my day, and I'll think of someone. That's normal. But now instead of just thinking of that person, I'll pray for them. For instance, I thought of my friend Tiffany this week and remembered her asking for prayer for her husband as he was taking a difficult course this summer. So I'd pray, God, be with Chris today. Help this classwork come easier for him, and give him the strength to persevere.
Take Every Thought Captive. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." At times I get overwhelmed, and sometimes I start to let bitterness creep in. One of my weak points is after I get home from working 9 hours, and after I cook dinner, clean dishes, put up laundry, and do anything else needed, I start to get bitter and have a tendency to want to take it out on my husband. So when that bitterness creeps in, I have started to pray, Father, this is how I feel. I want to take captive these thoughts, so help me understand the way I should react and feel in this situation. God always answers that prayer! Even if I may not like the answer, I see my situation in the light of the holiness of Christ and I get a whole new perspective.
Tear Down Strongholds. If there is anything in my life preventing me from that close communication with God, I try to analyze it and take it out of my life if necessary. For example, I got hooked on a certain reality TV series that consumed my thoughts and kept me from the pure thoughtlife God wants for me. It was a hard break, but I stopped watching it mid-season. Now that was a big sacrifice! But by doing that, I was able to not only clear my mind of those thoughts but also make more time for my family and other things I felt I needed to spend my time doing.
These are just a few suggestions based on what I've learned in past months. Don't get me wrong and think I am a success at these 100% of the time. That is most definitely not the case. Today in particular I failed at the "Taking Every Thought Captive" part. But you see, I know the goal isn't perfection because we'll never attain it this side of heaven. The goal is the journey. The blessing is seeing where I am compared to where I was. The blessing is seeing God respond in the quiet whispers of my heart because that day I took the time to listen. The blessing is knowing that although today didn't go as I had planned, there's still tomorow.
When we start making "praying without ceasing" too complicated or give up before we even start because the task seems impossible, we completely miss out. God wants our relationship, not to be a part of our daily to-do list. Jesus said in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Our daily walk with God is not to be a burden, but a blessing. And God just waits to bless us for our obedience and our yearning to know him more and more.
Be Careful Where You Visit
Focal verse: "And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah" (Genesis 38:1 NASB).
Through preparing for my Wednesday night Bible study lesson on Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah, I have been surprisingly enthralled with the story of Judah himself. Judah had a long period of rebellion, but overall my heart has been softened reading about the man whose descendants would include King David and Jesus Christ himself.
Looking at the opening verse of Genesis chapter 38, we see that Judah left his father and his brothers. The only clue we see of why he departed from his family is the timing: "at that time." Reflecting on chapter 37, you see the famous Bible story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. Although the eldest Reuben is most known for wanting to spare Joseph's life, Judah is just as determined to prevent Joseph's murder. For some reason Reuben departs from the brothers temporarily, and it is Judah who comes up with a plan to save Joseph's life. Now I'm not excusing Judah's plan to sell his brother to the Ishmaelites. This was most definitely wrong. But you see in his argument to the brothers that his desire was to spare Joseph's life: "Judah said to his brothers, 'What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.' And his brothers listened to him."
After this, Judah along with his brothers had to share the devastating news with their father. The brothers lied to him, telling him Joseph was dead. Then Judah and the brothers saw what their actions did to their father. I can only imagine all of the emotions young Judah felt. Matthew Henry suggests that he was only 15 or 16 at the time. He felt guilt for his role in the ruse to get rid of Joseph. He felt sorrow for his father, who only about a year after losing his beloved wife, he had to lose his favorite son. Yet, he also could have felt bitterness that Joseph was loved so much more than he and the rest of his brothers were. Judah had had enough. All of this was just too much for this young man to handle. So he had to get away.
Circumstances in life sometimes make us want to do the same. Sometimes we just want to go so far away and come back when life is better. Feeling a need to withdraw after intense stress is completely natural. Even Jesus did it. But the difference between Jesus Christ and his ancestor Judah was to whom they went when they felt the need to withdraw.
Jesus went to his Father. On the heels of the murder of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew to pray. John the Baptist was not only Jesus's cousin, he was also his friend. He was the one person who knew Jesus the best at that time. He was his predecessor who had given his life to preparing the way for Jesus. The loss of John the Baptist hit Jesus hard. But what did he do? "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place" (Matthew 14:13). Although this verse doesn't specify he went to the Father, you can look at another time he went to a "solitary place" and be assured that this is most likely exactly what he did: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35).
Whereas Jesus went to his Father when he needed to withdraw, Judah went the opposite direction. He went to Hirah, a Canaanite. This is the first mention of Hirah so we don't know where Judah first met him, but we assume they were friends. Going to our friends when tragedy strikes isn't a bad thing. It becomes a snare when those friends are not dedicated to God and can influence us in the wrong direction. According to the New American Standard Version, Judah "visited" his friend Hirah. This tells me that he didn't intend to settle there. He probably just wanted to take a "road trip" to get his head back on straight.
But something happened on his "visit." He met a woman and married her, and instead of taking her back to his family, he settled there. She birthed him 3 sons. The first one, Er, was so wicked the Lord "put him to death." This is the first account in Scripture of the Lord putting an individual to death for his sins. That tells me not only how evil Er was, but also that Judah didn't instill the fear of God into him. Then his second son, Onan, committed a wicked act, and the Lord put him to death as well. So much for one rebellious child. The fact that two of Judah's sons were so evil the Lord had to put them to death tells me that Judah - whose name meant "praise the Lord" -had strayed incredibly far from his God.
But God didn't forget him. After he refused to give his third son in marriage to Tamar, as was the custom, Tamar trapped him by disguising herself as a prostitute and slept with him. She became pregnant by him, and ultimately he repented for his actions and returned to his father's household, a respected leader among his brothers and blessed by his father on his father's deathbed.
The story of Judah is an amazing one to study. You see a hint of righteousness in the midst of bad decisions in his teen years. You see a long period of rebellion in a land away from his family. But then you see him return to his family and his God and ultimately be the father of the mighty tribe of Judah, from where the Messiah comes. Incidentally, the line of David and Jesus did not come from Judah's third son Shelah. It came from the son he bore through the incestuous tryst with Tamar. It is so amazing how God can and will still bring good out of our mistakes.
Judah's story and his weakness can be our example. Even if we just plan to "visit" somewhere that God isn't, we could easily be snared to "live" there a lot longer than we had ever anticipated. And although God is always there to rescue a repentant heart, we would save ourselves - and our Father - the grief not to go "visit" there in the first place.
Through preparing for my Wednesday night Bible study lesson on Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah, I have been surprisingly enthralled with the story of Judah himself. Judah had a long period of rebellion, but overall my heart has been softened reading about the man whose descendants would include King David and Jesus Christ himself.
Looking at the opening verse of Genesis chapter 38, we see that Judah left his father and his brothers. The only clue we see of why he departed from his family is the timing: "at that time." Reflecting on chapter 37, you see the famous Bible story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers. Although the eldest Reuben is most known for wanting to spare Joseph's life, Judah is just as determined to prevent Joseph's murder. For some reason Reuben departs from the brothers temporarily, and it is Judah who comes up with a plan to save Joseph's life. Now I'm not excusing Judah's plan to sell his brother to the Ishmaelites. This was most definitely wrong. But you see in his argument to the brothers that his desire was to spare Joseph's life: "Judah said to his brothers, 'What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.' And his brothers listened to him."
After this, Judah along with his brothers had to share the devastating news with their father. The brothers lied to him, telling him Joseph was dead. Then Judah and the brothers saw what their actions did to their father. I can only imagine all of the emotions young Judah felt. Matthew Henry suggests that he was only 15 or 16 at the time. He felt guilt for his role in the ruse to get rid of Joseph. He felt sorrow for his father, who only about a year after losing his beloved wife, he had to lose his favorite son. Yet, he also could have felt bitterness that Joseph was loved so much more than he and the rest of his brothers were. Judah had had enough. All of this was just too much for this young man to handle. So he had to get away.
Circumstances in life sometimes make us want to do the same. Sometimes we just want to go so far away and come back when life is better. Feeling a need to withdraw after intense stress is completely natural. Even Jesus did it. But the difference between Jesus Christ and his ancestor Judah was to whom they went when they felt the need to withdraw.
Jesus went to his Father. On the heels of the murder of John the Baptist, Jesus withdrew to pray. John the Baptist was not only Jesus's cousin, he was also his friend. He was the one person who knew Jesus the best at that time. He was his predecessor who had given his life to preparing the way for Jesus. The loss of John the Baptist hit Jesus hard. But what did he do? "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place" (Matthew 14:13). Although this verse doesn't specify he went to the Father, you can look at another time he went to a "solitary place" and be assured that this is most likely exactly what he did: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35).
Whereas Jesus went to his Father when he needed to withdraw, Judah went the opposite direction. He went to Hirah, a Canaanite. This is the first mention of Hirah so we don't know where Judah first met him, but we assume they were friends. Going to our friends when tragedy strikes isn't a bad thing. It becomes a snare when those friends are not dedicated to God and can influence us in the wrong direction. According to the New American Standard Version, Judah "visited" his friend Hirah. This tells me that he didn't intend to settle there. He probably just wanted to take a "road trip" to get his head back on straight.
But something happened on his "visit." He met a woman and married her, and instead of taking her back to his family, he settled there. She birthed him 3 sons. The first one, Er, was so wicked the Lord "put him to death." This is the first account in Scripture of the Lord putting an individual to death for his sins. That tells me not only how evil Er was, but also that Judah didn't instill the fear of God into him. Then his second son, Onan, committed a wicked act, and the Lord put him to death as well. So much for one rebellious child. The fact that two of Judah's sons were so evil the Lord had to put them to death tells me that Judah - whose name meant "praise the Lord" -had strayed incredibly far from his God.
But God didn't forget him. After he refused to give his third son in marriage to Tamar, as was the custom, Tamar trapped him by disguising herself as a prostitute and slept with him. She became pregnant by him, and ultimately he repented for his actions and returned to his father's household, a respected leader among his brothers and blessed by his father on his father's deathbed.
The story of Judah is an amazing one to study. You see a hint of righteousness in the midst of bad decisions in his teen years. You see a long period of rebellion in a land away from his family. But then you see him return to his family and his God and ultimately be the father of the mighty tribe of Judah, from where the Messiah comes. Incidentally, the line of David and Jesus did not come from Judah's third son Shelah. It came from the son he bore through the incestuous tryst with Tamar. It is so amazing how God can and will still bring good out of our mistakes.
Judah's story and his weakness can be our example. Even if we just plan to "visit" somewhere that God isn't, we could easily be snared to "live" there a lot longer than we had ever anticipated. And although God is always there to rescue a repentant heart, we would save ourselves - and our Father - the grief not to go "visit" there in the first place.
But You Have Said
Focal Verses: Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,' I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.' " (Genesis 32:9-12, emphasis mine)
Have you ever received news of a possible impending tragedy that made you panic in fear? This type of thing isn't pleasant to think about, but it's even less pleasant to experience. My family has had its share of these instances in the last year. Last July, my father-in-law was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, and at times the prognosis wasn't good. Then in January, in the midst my father-in-law's fight, my husband was laid off from his job. Six weeks later, he was blessed with a job, but then six weeks after that, he was told his office was shutting down. We had the option to transfer out of state but chose not to, so he is currently on the job-hunt again.
I'll never forget hearing my husband tell me about his dad over the phone. I can't forget the clarity of that day and every event, whether large or small. I'll never forget when my husband came to my work and told me he had been laid off. I'll never forget when he called me to tell me his office was shutting down and that he would be facing unemployment for the second time in 4 months. When those types of events happen, it's natural to panic. It's natural to question God. But in the midst of the panic, we need to be equipped to handle a tragedy when it comes our way.
I find so much comfort in how Jacob handled such news. He had been in Haran with his father-in-law, wives, and children, when God told him to leave Haran and travel back to his home country. Without question, Jacob did it.
At first glance, this journey seems to bear no significance except for Jacob to return to the land God promised him. But if we look a little deeper, we will see that this journey probably caused Jacob much anxiety. You see, going back to his homeland meant an almost certain encounter with his brother, who decades earlier wanted to kill him for deceiving their father and stealing Esau's rightful blessing as firstborn. Looking at the map to see Jacob's journey from Haran to Beersheeba, where he eventually settled, the land where Esau lived wasn't far off the path. And since his father Isaac was still alive in Beersheeba, a reunion with his brother was an almost certainty.
We don't know if worry consumed his thoughts like it does mine, but I have to think it probably did. But then on his way, angels of God met Jacob, and he received comfort from them. According to Matthew Henry's commentary, this comfort was preplanned by God: "The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts."
After this encounter, Jacob decided to be proactive in regard to Esau. According to Genesis 32:3-5, "Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.'"
At first glance this message from Jacob to Esau appears to be one big attempt to "kiss up" to Esau by offering him animals and servants. But as Matthew Henry points out, this message is probably designed for Esau to know that Jacob wasn't coming to demand his birthright. If you recall, Esau gave up his birthright for a pot of stew when they were younger, and since Jacob fled for Haran with nothing, he clearly hadn't "cashed in" on it.
I imagine Jacob probably had trouble concentrating on much else as he awaited his messengers' return. He had no idea how Esau would respond. But then, at last, the messengers returned, but it wasn't with good news. "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him" (verse 6).
Jacob panicked. All his worst fears were coming at him all at once. Esau's army will slaughter my whole family. God's plan for a mighty nation will be thwarted. Nothing good will come of this. The New American Standard Bible says Jacob "was greatly afraid and distressed." And in the same sentence he quickly devised a plan. He divided his family and everyone with him into two groups, so at least one group could possibly get away while the other was being annhilated. There didn't seem to be a favorable outcome here.
But then, after Jacob panicked, he did something that we all need to look to as the ultimate example. He prayed...but he not only prayed, he recalled God's promises. Look back again at the focal verses for today. Note the order of his prayer:
Verse 9: He acknowledged God and who God was. He "reminded" God that he was doing what God had commanded. Then he "reminded" God that He said if Jacob obeyed, he would prosper.
Verse 10: He humbles himself before God, acknowledging that everything he has is because of the grace of God and not of himself.
Verse 11: He presents his request.
Verse 12: He "reminded" God once again of His promise: "But you have said...."
Jacob's prayer is an excellent example of what we can do when terrifying circumstances present themselves. By acknowledging - and worshipping - God, humbling ourselves and recognizing everything we have comes from him anyway, presenting our request, and resting in God's promises, we can have a peace that truly transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
When Jacob did this, I believe he experienced peace. But his circumstances didn't go away immediately. He kept planning. He selected gifts for Esau, sent more messengers, and proactively worked to gain Esau's favor. That brings us to another lesson from this story. Trusting in God doesn't necessarily mean doing nothing. Yes, sometimes God will tell us to just be still and trust him, but other times we are to continue working to resolve circumstances. How do we know the difference? The first thing is to tune in to God, ask him what we are to do, if anything. Then we can look at our options. Does any action present itself as a way to end the circumstance? (With my family it was my father-in-law going for chemotherapy and my husband applying for jobs.) If nothing presents itself, that probably means that we are to be still and wait...and not give in to worry. When worry strikes, we whip out the promises of God. Satan uses worry to keep our focus on our circumstances and off of God. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The last thing our enemy wants us to do is keep our eyes on God, trusting in His provision, and many times planting the seeds of worry and fear is his best weapon.
Two nights passed between his faithful prayer and meeting with Esau. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. Esau met Jacob with love and acceptance. Obviously not every situation is going to have a happy ending, and I don't have the wisdom or knowledge to even try to address the "whys." But what I do know is that God gladly gives peace to those who faithfully recall his promises and pray them.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." How do we attain - and retain - this peace in the midst of terrifying circumstances? According to this verse, we are to trust in God and keep a steadfast mind. How do we keep a steadfast mind? By filling our mind with God's Word. It's not easy, but through all of my experiences in the past year, I can testify that it works. God's Word is amazing.
Here are a few promises to get you started:
Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 37:5-6: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
John 14:1: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
Deuteronomy 31:8: The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
My prayer is that we all will use the love letter of God's Word and his promises to keep our eyes on Him when terrifying circumstances arise.
Have you ever received news of a possible impending tragedy that made you panic in fear? This type of thing isn't pleasant to think about, but it's even less pleasant to experience. My family has had its share of these instances in the last year. Last July, my father-in-law was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer, and at times the prognosis wasn't good. Then in January, in the midst my father-in-law's fight, my husband was laid off from his job. Six weeks later, he was blessed with a job, but then six weeks after that, he was told his office was shutting down. We had the option to transfer out of state but chose not to, so he is currently on the job-hunt again.
I'll never forget hearing my husband tell me about his dad over the phone. I can't forget the clarity of that day and every event, whether large or small. I'll never forget when my husband came to my work and told me he had been laid off. I'll never forget when he called me to tell me his office was shutting down and that he would be facing unemployment for the second time in 4 months. When those types of events happen, it's natural to panic. It's natural to question God. But in the midst of the panic, we need to be equipped to handle a tragedy when it comes our way.
I find so much comfort in how Jacob handled such news. He had been in Haran with his father-in-law, wives, and children, when God told him to leave Haran and travel back to his home country. Without question, Jacob did it.
At first glance, this journey seems to bear no significance except for Jacob to return to the land God promised him. But if we look a little deeper, we will see that this journey probably caused Jacob much anxiety. You see, going back to his homeland meant an almost certain encounter with his brother, who decades earlier wanted to kill him for deceiving their father and stealing Esau's rightful blessing as firstborn. Looking at the map to see Jacob's journey from Haran to Beersheeba, where he eventually settled, the land where Esau lived wasn't far off the path. And since his father Isaac was still alive in Beersheeba, a reunion with his brother was an almost certainty.
We don't know if worry consumed his thoughts like it does mine, but I have to think it probably did. But then on his way, angels of God met Jacob, and he received comfort from them. According to Matthew Henry's commentary, this comfort was preplanned by God: "The angels of God appeared to Jacob, to encourage him with the assurance of the Divine protection. When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts."
After this encounter, Jacob decided to be proactive in regard to Esau. According to Genesis 32:3-5, "Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.'"
At first glance this message from Jacob to Esau appears to be one big attempt to "kiss up" to Esau by offering him animals and servants. But as Matthew Henry points out, this message is probably designed for Esau to know that Jacob wasn't coming to demand his birthright. If you recall, Esau gave up his birthright for a pot of stew when they were younger, and since Jacob fled for Haran with nothing, he clearly hadn't "cashed in" on it.
I imagine Jacob probably had trouble concentrating on much else as he awaited his messengers' return. He had no idea how Esau would respond. But then, at last, the messengers returned, but it wasn't with good news. "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him" (verse 6).
Jacob panicked. All his worst fears were coming at him all at once. Esau's army will slaughter my whole family. God's plan for a mighty nation will be thwarted. Nothing good will come of this. The New American Standard Bible says Jacob "was greatly afraid and distressed." And in the same sentence he quickly devised a plan. He divided his family and everyone with him into two groups, so at least one group could possibly get away while the other was being annhilated. There didn't seem to be a favorable outcome here.
But then, after Jacob panicked, he did something that we all need to look to as the ultimate example. He prayed...but he not only prayed, he recalled God's promises. Look back again at the focal verses for today. Note the order of his prayer:
Verse 9: He acknowledged God and who God was. He "reminded" God that he was doing what God had commanded. Then he "reminded" God that He said if Jacob obeyed, he would prosper.
Verse 10: He humbles himself before God, acknowledging that everything he has is because of the grace of God and not of himself.
Verse 11: He presents his request.
Verse 12: He "reminded" God once again of His promise: "But you have said...."
Jacob's prayer is an excellent example of what we can do when terrifying circumstances present themselves. By acknowledging - and worshipping - God, humbling ourselves and recognizing everything we have comes from him anyway, presenting our request, and resting in God's promises, we can have a peace that truly transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
When Jacob did this, I believe he experienced peace. But his circumstances didn't go away immediately. He kept planning. He selected gifts for Esau, sent more messengers, and proactively worked to gain Esau's favor. That brings us to another lesson from this story. Trusting in God doesn't necessarily mean doing nothing. Yes, sometimes God will tell us to just be still and trust him, but other times we are to continue working to resolve circumstances. How do we know the difference? The first thing is to tune in to God, ask him what we are to do, if anything. Then we can look at our options. Does any action present itself as a way to end the circumstance? (With my family it was my father-in-law going for chemotherapy and my husband applying for jobs.) If nothing presents itself, that probably means that we are to be still and wait...and not give in to worry. When worry strikes, we whip out the promises of God. Satan uses worry to keep our focus on our circumstances and off of God. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." The last thing our enemy wants us to do is keep our eyes on God, trusting in His provision, and many times planting the seeds of worry and fear is his best weapon.
Two nights passed between his faithful prayer and meeting with Esau. Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. Esau met Jacob with love and acceptance. Obviously not every situation is going to have a happy ending, and I don't have the wisdom or knowledge to even try to address the "whys." But what I do know is that God gladly gives peace to those who faithfully recall his promises and pray them.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." How do we attain - and retain - this peace in the midst of terrifying circumstances? According to this verse, we are to trust in God and keep a steadfast mind. How do we keep a steadfast mind? By filling our mind with God's Word. It's not easy, but through all of my experiences in the past year, I can testify that it works. God's Word is amazing.
Here are a few promises to get you started:
Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 37:5-6: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
John 14:1: Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
Deuteronomy 31:8: The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
My prayer is that we all will use the love letter of God's Word and his promises to keep our eyes on Him when terrifying circumstances arise.
Removing a Hindrance
Focal Verse: "Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.'" (Genesis 32:28)
This summer the ladies in our Wednesday night Mom's Bible Study are studying Women of the Bible. While I was preparing for a lesson on Leah and Rachel, I couldn't help but see something peculiar in my reading as I was studying about Jacob, Leah and Rachel's husband. The conclusion I've made about this peculilarity may or may not be correct, but I am certain the lesson is absolutely applicable. Bear with me a little on this one. We'll be going through a lot of necessary background before getting to the point.
In Genesis chapter 32, nestled between Jacob preparing to encounter his estranged brother Esau and his meeting up with Esau in chapter 33, is the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Although the passage isn't the easiest to understand, the point I want to focus on is God renaming Jacob, whose name means "he grasps the heal" or "he deceives." His new name, Israel, is what God chose to call his beloved nation.
Looking back a few chapters, we see that God renamed the patriarch of this nation, Abraham (who was Abram) and the matriarch Sarah (who was Sarai). Immediately after renaming them, they are both referred to by the narrator with their new names.
However, if you look at the events after Jacob wrestling with God and being renamed Israel, he was still referred to as Jacob. He wasn't referred to as Israel until Genesis 35:21. Looking at the placement of this change, it came on the heels of Jacob burying his beloved wife Rachel, who tragically lost her life in childbirth. He wasn't called Israel until after Rachel died.
Go with me on a sidenote for a second for a little more background on Rachel. You see little of Rachel's character in the Scripture, so it's hard to know if she was a godly woman. I have my doubts. What you do see of her is fighting with her sister Leah over having children. Even her motivations for wanting children seem questionable. After all, when her servant Bilhah had Jacob's second son, Rachel named him Naphtali, because she had "struggled with her sister and won." Also, when she finally was able to give birth herself, she named her son Joseph, which means "may he add," because as soon as Joseph came out she was wishing for another. But to cap it all off, Rachel stole her father Laban's gods as they were about to flee from him. And when her father came to look for them, she deceived her father to hide them. This doesn't sound like a woman who is dependent on God Almighty.
So that brings us back to Jacob. Jacob was in love with Rachel and in total worked 14 years just to have her as his wife. Even as Rachel was dying in childbirth and named her second son Ben-Oni, which means "son of my trouble," Jacob named him Benjamin, which means, "son of my right hand." Although Rachel's devotion to God may be a little hard to distinguish according to Scripture, Jacob's devotion to Rachel was crystal clear.
That brings me to a truth that is absolutely Scriptural, whether or not my theology on this particular instance is correct. Sometimes God may need us to sever a relationship with someone close to us for him to do his complete work in us. It's a very real possibility Rachel was a stumbling block to Jacob. She had his heart, but her own heart was divided in any kind of devotion to God.
(Now, before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I am NOT talking about severing a marital relationship. I firmly believe Scripture is clear that divorce is only permissable with infidelity, and even then I believe God desires to restore and heal the marriage in a way only He can. God is clear on His stance on marital vows. Instead, here I am talking about other relationships that may be a hindrance to us.)
Jesus said in Matthew 5:30, "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." Obviously Jesus was using the hand as a metaphor, but his point was clear. Whatever causes us to sin, or separates us from God, or keeps us from doing God's work, needs to be cut off.
That might mean putting distance between a good friend and yourself. It might be ending a relationship entirely. It might mean finding another job if you're tempted to pursue an extramarital relationship in the workplace.
And on the opposite spectrum, it could mean separating from a spiritual colaborer so you can each be more effective in God's work if you worked separately.
After Jacob left Rachel's tomb, he traveled and settled in the Promised Land, the place God had planned for him all along. One reason I question my example of Jacob and Rachel is because even after he is referred to as Israel, the narrator switches back and forth between both names in the events succeeding this one. However, I still believe we can gain a valuable lesson through this presumption. Sometimes we will be required to give up that to which we cling in order to flourish in our spiritual Promised Land, being mightily used by God.
This summer the ladies in our Wednesday night Mom's Bible Study are studying Women of the Bible. While I was preparing for a lesson on Leah and Rachel, I couldn't help but see something peculiar in my reading as I was studying about Jacob, Leah and Rachel's husband. The conclusion I've made about this peculilarity may or may not be correct, but I am certain the lesson is absolutely applicable. Bear with me a little on this one. We'll be going through a lot of necessary background before getting to the point.
In Genesis chapter 32, nestled between Jacob preparing to encounter his estranged brother Esau and his meeting up with Esau in chapter 33, is the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Although the passage isn't the easiest to understand, the point I want to focus on is God renaming Jacob, whose name means "he grasps the heal" or "he deceives." His new name, Israel, is what God chose to call his beloved nation.
Looking back a few chapters, we see that God renamed the patriarch of this nation, Abraham (who was Abram) and the matriarch Sarah (who was Sarai). Immediately after renaming them, they are both referred to by the narrator with their new names.
However, if you look at the events after Jacob wrestling with God and being renamed Israel, he was still referred to as Jacob. He wasn't referred to as Israel until Genesis 35:21. Looking at the placement of this change, it came on the heels of Jacob burying his beloved wife Rachel, who tragically lost her life in childbirth. He wasn't called Israel until after Rachel died.
Go with me on a sidenote for a second for a little more background on Rachel. You see little of Rachel's character in the Scripture, so it's hard to know if she was a godly woman. I have my doubts. What you do see of her is fighting with her sister Leah over having children. Even her motivations for wanting children seem questionable. After all, when her servant Bilhah had Jacob's second son, Rachel named him Naphtali, because she had "struggled with her sister and won." Also, when she finally was able to give birth herself, she named her son Joseph, which means "may he add," because as soon as Joseph came out she was wishing for another. But to cap it all off, Rachel stole her father Laban's gods as they were about to flee from him. And when her father came to look for them, she deceived her father to hide them. This doesn't sound like a woman who is dependent on God Almighty.
So that brings us back to Jacob. Jacob was in love with Rachel and in total worked 14 years just to have her as his wife. Even as Rachel was dying in childbirth and named her second son Ben-Oni, which means "son of my trouble," Jacob named him Benjamin, which means, "son of my right hand." Although Rachel's devotion to God may be a little hard to distinguish according to Scripture, Jacob's devotion to Rachel was crystal clear.
That brings me to a truth that is absolutely Scriptural, whether or not my theology on this particular instance is correct. Sometimes God may need us to sever a relationship with someone close to us for him to do his complete work in us. It's a very real possibility Rachel was a stumbling block to Jacob. She had his heart, but her own heart was divided in any kind of devotion to God.
(Now, before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I am NOT talking about severing a marital relationship. I firmly believe Scripture is clear that divorce is only permissable with infidelity, and even then I believe God desires to restore and heal the marriage in a way only He can. God is clear on His stance on marital vows. Instead, here I am talking about other relationships that may be a hindrance to us.)
Jesus said in Matthew 5:30, "And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." Obviously Jesus was using the hand as a metaphor, but his point was clear. Whatever causes us to sin, or separates us from God, or keeps us from doing God's work, needs to be cut off.
That might mean putting distance between a good friend and yourself. It might be ending a relationship entirely. It might mean finding another job if you're tempted to pursue an extramarital relationship in the workplace.
And on the opposite spectrum, it could mean separating from a spiritual colaborer so you can each be more effective in God's work if you worked separately.
After Jacob left Rachel's tomb, he traveled and settled in the Promised Land, the place God had planned for him all along. One reason I question my example of Jacob and Rachel is because even after he is referred to as Israel, the narrator switches back and forth between both names in the events succeeding this one. However, I still believe we can gain a valuable lesson through this presumption. Sometimes we will be required to give up that to which we cling in order to flourish in our spiritual Promised Land, being mightily used by God.
The Treasure in Our Closet
Focal Verse: "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103
A few weeks ago, my toddler came down with a cough. Not uncommon for him, we attributed it to allergies as usual. We medicated him with prescription cough and allergy medicine and waited for it to go away after a few days.
Two and a half weeks later, we were getting concerned. The medicine, along with other over-the-counter allergy and cough medicines a nurse suggested when we called the week before, wasn't helping. So at my husband's insistence, I called to get Drew in to see his pediatrician. I was transferred to a nurse I haven't talked to before, who told me that the peditrician was booked that day (a Friday). She told me to put a humidifier in his room. No matter how many times I tried to protest - but it has been almost 3 weeks!...but we have given him every medicine suggested!... but he has been coughing for almost 3 weeks! - she became more adamant about the humidifier and told me that if they did have an opening, the doctor would tell us the same thing.
I was not a happy first-time mommy after this conversation. A humidifier? We got one when Drew was a baby and used it a couple of times, but it never seemed to help then. It was just a waste of time and energy. But reluctantly, I dug deep into our linen closet and pulled out the thing. I wasn't even sure how to work it, so my husband had to help me. I'll try this over the weekend, I thought, and when it doesn't work, I'm calling to get him an appointment on Monday.
On Saturday, Drew's coughs miraculously became less and less frequent. By Sunday he was even better. Amazing! I let my baby cough for almost 3 weeks trying everything I knew when the one thing that was needed was right there in my closet.
I think that's sometimes how we view our Bibles. We start having problems in our lives, and we tend to try everything we know. We talk to friends. Immerse ourselves in our hobby. Eat for comfort. Drown out the world in a good TV show. But even after we've tried all of those things, the problems are still there. We don't even think that the solution may be in our closet...or in our car since we only get it out on Sundays anyway.
We don't even think of our Bibles because, well, we've tried it before, and it never worked. Maybe we've tried reading the Bible through but got stuck somewhere between Leviticus and Numbers in all of the laws and learning who begat whom. Maybe we're still using a version that bears no resemblance to how we speak and learn. Whatever the reason, we've given up on really believing that the Bible could ever make a difference in our lives.
If you are like many who can identify, you may wonder how you can get started really allowing God to transform your life through his Word. Like I had to do with the humidifier, you need to dust off your Bible. First, I believe it is important to evaluate the version you're using. If you're using a version with old engligh language, you may want to go to a more understandable translation.
Second, make a plan. Here are some suggestions, but feel free to enlist the advice of a pastor, Sunday School teacher, or an associate at your Bible bookstore:
1. Select a daily devotional. Many churches have these available for free every month.
2. Start reading the Psalms. You can start with Psalm 119, which has lots of verses about the importance of the Word of God in everyday life.
3. Read Proverbs, a chapter per day.
4. Choose one of the letters of Paul. My favorite is Philippians.
5. Read the Gospels. What is a better way to get to know how to be like Christ than to study how he lived?
6. Consider a Chronological Bible. This puts the chapters of the Bible into the order that scholars believe they actually happened. I particularly enjoy reading about David and reading his Psalms in light of the circumstances by which he wrote them.
7. Delve into a Bible Study. Beth Moore's studies are amazing but the lessons take longer than others. Priscilla Shirer's studies equip you to study the Bible on your own, and she suggests verses to study yourself.
Remember, the purpose of reading the Word of God isn't so you can do your duty to God for that day. If you read chapter after chapter but close your Bible gaining nothing, what difference did it make? Even if you only read a few verses but God tells you exactly what he has for you that day, that's an effective Bible study! Before you start reading, ask God to reveal what he wants to say to you. God longs to speak to us! He only wants us to listen!
If we truly take in and breathe the Word of God, we will be changed.
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
A few weeks ago, my toddler came down with a cough. Not uncommon for him, we attributed it to allergies as usual. We medicated him with prescription cough and allergy medicine and waited for it to go away after a few days.
Two and a half weeks later, we were getting concerned. The medicine, along with other over-the-counter allergy and cough medicines a nurse suggested when we called the week before, wasn't helping. So at my husband's insistence, I called to get Drew in to see his pediatrician. I was transferred to a nurse I haven't talked to before, who told me that the peditrician was booked that day (a Friday). She told me to put a humidifier in his room. No matter how many times I tried to protest - but it has been almost 3 weeks!...but we have given him every medicine suggested!... but he has been coughing for almost 3 weeks! - she became more adamant about the humidifier and told me that if they did have an opening, the doctor would tell us the same thing.
I was not a happy first-time mommy after this conversation. A humidifier? We got one when Drew was a baby and used it a couple of times, but it never seemed to help then. It was just a waste of time and energy. But reluctantly, I dug deep into our linen closet and pulled out the thing. I wasn't even sure how to work it, so my husband had to help me. I'll try this over the weekend, I thought, and when it doesn't work, I'm calling to get him an appointment on Monday.
On Saturday, Drew's coughs miraculously became less and less frequent. By Sunday he was even better. Amazing! I let my baby cough for almost 3 weeks trying everything I knew when the one thing that was needed was right there in my closet.
I think that's sometimes how we view our Bibles. We start having problems in our lives, and we tend to try everything we know. We talk to friends. Immerse ourselves in our hobby. Eat for comfort. Drown out the world in a good TV show. But even after we've tried all of those things, the problems are still there. We don't even think that the solution may be in our closet...or in our car since we only get it out on Sundays anyway.
We don't even think of our Bibles because, well, we've tried it before, and it never worked. Maybe we've tried reading the Bible through but got stuck somewhere between Leviticus and Numbers in all of the laws and learning who begat whom. Maybe we're still using a version that bears no resemblance to how we speak and learn. Whatever the reason, we've given up on really believing that the Bible could ever make a difference in our lives.
If you are like many who can identify, you may wonder how you can get started really allowing God to transform your life through his Word. Like I had to do with the humidifier, you need to dust off your Bible. First, I believe it is important to evaluate the version you're using. If you're using a version with old engligh language, you may want to go to a more understandable translation.
Second, make a plan. Here are some suggestions, but feel free to enlist the advice of a pastor, Sunday School teacher, or an associate at your Bible bookstore:
1. Select a daily devotional. Many churches have these available for free every month.
2. Start reading the Psalms. You can start with Psalm 119, which has lots of verses about the importance of the Word of God in everyday life.
3. Read Proverbs, a chapter per day.
4. Choose one of the letters of Paul. My favorite is Philippians.
5. Read the Gospels. What is a better way to get to know how to be like Christ than to study how he lived?
6. Consider a Chronological Bible. This puts the chapters of the Bible into the order that scholars believe they actually happened. I particularly enjoy reading about David and reading his Psalms in light of the circumstances by which he wrote them.
7. Delve into a Bible Study. Beth Moore's studies are amazing but the lessons take longer than others. Priscilla Shirer's studies equip you to study the Bible on your own, and she suggests verses to study yourself.
Remember, the purpose of reading the Word of God isn't so you can do your duty to God for that day. If you read chapter after chapter but close your Bible gaining nothing, what difference did it make? Even if you only read a few verses but God tells you exactly what he has for you that day, that's an effective Bible study! Before you start reading, ask God to reveal what he wants to say to you. God longs to speak to us! He only wants us to listen!
If we truly take in and breathe the Word of God, we will be changed.
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
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