Romans 2:28-29 "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God."
1st Samuel 16: 7 For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
To My Precious Daughters,
As I read through Romans 2 so many applications came to mind. Romans 2 is about judging. Paul is dealing here with the self-righteous hypocrite. Heart motivations. This one is the application I decided that counts. This is the one that encompasses the others. Do we really believe what we say we believe?. Are they just words that we say or does our heart follow our belief? Do we truly have a heart like David who was described as a man after God's own heart. Do we really want His desires to be our desires?
This one could hurt...in fact when we allow the Word of God to really examine our motives for what we do and say it always hurts. We always see our sin. "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" Ouch!
Make no mistake we all have our agendas...our reasons for doing what we do and I am including our good works here as well as our sin. Jesus' "agenda" was pure...His was clearly spelled out in the New Testament...not only spelled out but lived out. He came to do His Father's will. (John 5:30) . He Himself in John 5:19 said that of Himself He could do nothing. If Jesus said that about Himself why is it that I think I can do it without Him. Why is it that at times I think my motives are pure. You know what? It really doesn't matter what I think...it matters what my God thinks. The Bible says that our hearts are desperately wicked who can know them. We can be deceived. Some of our motives/works may spring from a true heart of worship...but others might be from the pit of hell. Jesus deals with both the inward and outward expressions of the heart in Matthew 5 and 6 respectively.
As we draw near to Jesus and depend on Him more and more He will show us our hearts. He will show us where they are steadfast and stayed on Him and where they are looking to man for praise and applause. Girls...when we look to man for our praise it will absolutely always rob us of our peace and our joy and will lead us to pride and self-righteousness, but when we look to Him...our Creator...the One who fashioned our days for us...He will lead us into His peace and His joy and whatever we do will be for His glory and our good. Psalm 34:5 "They looked to Him and were radiant and their faces were not ashamed." This outward vs inward is perfectly illustrated in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Here is the story from Luke's gospel.
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
So what is our job in this? It is to by faith let Him do the work in us...to surrender...to open up our hearts so His Spirit can work. Philippians 3:3 says "For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (emphasis mine) There truly is peace in that one girls...it is not of us...it is all Him. What a burden off our shoulders! Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
My beloved daughters...God wants our hearts..He wants them right now...in whatever condition they might be in. Why does He want our hearts first and foremost? Matthew 22:37 says "...You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind..." Heart is always first. I think the reason is because our minds are easily changed. Even when heartbreak and grief strike our hearts may break but they do not change easily. I think of how greatly Absalom, David's son betrayed him and yet David never stopped loving him. The Bible tells us that with the heart one believes unto righteousness and then the mouth confesses unto salvation. Matthew tells us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. God's word also tells us to keep our hearts with all diligence because out of it springs the issues of life. Listen to your words girls and you will know the state of your heart.
1 John 3:21 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.
If our heart condemns us...no worries...God knows our frame. He knows we are but dust. (Psalm 103:13) There is no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) He is greater than our heart. God knows who belongs to Him. (2nd Tim 2:19) He knows our vulnerabilities and our failing...(Psalm 139) He will gather us up in times of trouble and hide us in the shadow of His wing . He will not fail, leave or forsake us. (Psalm 27)
If our heart does not condemn us and we have confidence toward Him...Praise God that there is not a lot of stuff in the way of your relationship with Him and remember Who it was who put those desires on your heart in the first place. (Psalm 37)
Here is what I want for myself and for each one of you...
1 Peter 3: 3-4 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
Much Love
Mom
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Isaiah 26:3 Perfect Peace
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
This verse became my life verse very early on in my walk with the Lord. I did not know much, but I knew that this one was core. It is so practical! It is so simple! BUT its depths really cannot be fathomed. The longer I walk with Him the more I see that it truly is all about Him in every way. That is exactly as it should be. The longer I know Him, the greater my love for Him...the more I love Him, the more I think about Him and the more I love, think and know about Him the more I trust Him. Colossians tells us in Chapter 3:17 that "... whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Acts tells us that "In Him we live and move and have our being." Girls, your lives should be manifestations of your love for Him. He wants your single-minded devotion and love.
Every moment is Jesus....every situation is Jesus....every circumstance is Jesus and He should be the basis for every relationship we have. He is called Jehovah Shalom (God of Peace) and the Prince of Peace. He is the Great I AM. Chuck Smith has said that the name "Jehovah" can be interpreted as "The Becoming One." The One who becomes to people just what they need. I love that...the Becoming One...Wow! He becomes our peace when we focus our minds on Him.
The first peace we obtain is the peace we find at the moment of our salvation when we look to Him in faith and in His grace justifies us. We are now at peace with God...prior to salvation we were at war. (Col 1:21) Make no mistake, each one of us craves this peace with God. We live in a world filled with grief, problems and an absence of peace and each one of us searches for it. I distinctly remember the peace that flooded my soul when Jesus filled it with Himself. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced and changed me from the inside out through no effort on my part. I now had a Rock on which I could stand. Jesus is the Prince of Peace...The chastisement for yours and my peace was upon Him. Someday He, the Prince of Peace, will return and reign in Jerusalem and there will be true and lasting peace on the earth.
We can have this peace now, inside of us, when we surrender to His Spirit and allow Him to rule our hearts. As we look to Him our desires are changed and our priorities re-ordered. James 4 tells us that wars and fights come from the battle that rages inside us...we get angry when we do not get what we want. We are at war with God. Because we are at war with God we are also at war with ourselves and others. The Spirit inside of us yearns jealously. I love that...He wants ALL of me..He wants my heart to be completely controlled by His Spirit. James tells us how to do this a little further on .
James 4:7-8: Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Girls...this kind of relationship with Jesus Christ is built over time. It is built as you abide in Him. It takes courage to take that first step and ask Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior. As you walk with Him day by day it takes courage to yield your desires to Him. But His grace is always there. You never have to worry about disappointing Him...your success is assured...He performs all things in accordance with His plan not yours. And His plan is from a heart of love. (Psalm 33:11) Again, as I have said before in other posts, stay close to Jesus, abide in Him by staying in His Word. Gaze into it...allow it to show you His good and perfect will, to convict your heart of sin, to renew your mind and to transform you into His image. As you do this you will love Him more and more with each passing day and consequently trust and obey Him more and more. Stay the course...immerse yourself in His Word...and His peace which is an outflow of the fruit of His Spirit...love...will flood your heart.
From a practical standpoint,we live our Christian life moment by moment. Paul in Philippians 4 says something very helpful
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
A Christian is not suppose to worry, is to pray about everything and is to be thankful in and for everything! As we do this the peace of God will fill us and guard our hearts and minds. Worry is the opposite of peace....It pulls us apart. Our MINDS need to be stayed on Him. Why? Because our mind is where thinking takes place...If we are thinking wrong thoughts our feelings are not going to be right either. As a man thinks in his heart so is he. God's peace secures our mind. It takes our thoughts captive and brings them into obedience to Him. Again, none of us is capable of this on our own. You can't do this outside a relationship with Jesus Christ. You can only achieve this kind of peace by keeping your mind stayed on Him. Stayed on Him...although I didn't look it up I am pretty sure it means keeping your eyes steadily focused on Him and who He is, on what His desires are for you and allowing His example to guide you. Proverbs 3:5-6 comes to mind here as does Philippians 4:9 above. Warren Wiersbe calls these verses (Phil 4:7-9) the prescription for a secure mind....a mind free from worrying. 1. right praying, (Phil 4:7) 2. right thinking (Phil 4:8) and 3. right living. (Phil 4:9)
My prayer for each of you today and every day:
Ephesians 3:16-21
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Love
Mom
You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
This verse became my life verse very early on in my walk with the Lord. I did not know much, but I knew that this one was core. It is so practical! It is so simple! BUT its depths really cannot be fathomed. The longer I walk with Him the more I see that it truly is all about Him in every way. That is exactly as it should be. The longer I know Him, the greater my love for Him...the more I love Him, the more I think about Him and the more I love, think and know about Him the more I trust Him. Colossians tells us in Chapter 3:17 that "... whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Acts tells us that "In Him we live and move and have our being." Girls, your lives should be manifestations of your love for Him. He wants your single-minded devotion and love.
Every moment is Jesus....every situation is Jesus....every circumstance is Jesus and He should be the basis for every relationship we have. He is called Jehovah Shalom (God of Peace) and the Prince of Peace. He is the Great I AM. Chuck Smith has said that the name "Jehovah" can be interpreted as "The Becoming One." The One who becomes to people just what they need. I love that...the Becoming One...Wow! He becomes our peace when we focus our minds on Him.
The first peace we obtain is the peace we find at the moment of our salvation when we look to Him in faith and in His grace justifies us. We are now at peace with God...prior to salvation we were at war. (Col 1:21) Make no mistake, each one of us craves this peace with God. We live in a world filled with grief, problems and an absence of peace and each one of us searches for it. I distinctly remember the peace that flooded my soul when Jesus filled it with Himself. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced and changed me from the inside out through no effort on my part. I now had a Rock on which I could stand. Jesus is the Prince of Peace...The chastisement for yours and my peace was upon Him. Someday He, the Prince of Peace, will return and reign in Jerusalem and there will be true and lasting peace on the earth.
We can have this peace now, inside of us, when we surrender to His Spirit and allow Him to rule our hearts. As we look to Him our desires are changed and our priorities re-ordered. James 4 tells us that wars and fights come from the battle that rages inside us...we get angry when we do not get what we want. We are at war with God. Because we are at war with God we are also at war with ourselves and others. The Spirit inside of us yearns jealously. I love that...He wants ALL of me..He wants my heart to be completely controlled by His Spirit. James tells us how to do this a little further on .
James 4:7-8: Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Girls...this kind of relationship with Jesus Christ is built over time. It is built as you abide in Him. It takes courage to take that first step and ask Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior. As you walk with Him day by day it takes courage to yield your desires to Him. But His grace is always there. You never have to worry about disappointing Him...your success is assured...He performs all things in accordance with His plan not yours. And His plan is from a heart of love. (Psalm 33:11) Again, as I have said before in other posts, stay close to Jesus, abide in Him by staying in His Word. Gaze into it...allow it to show you His good and perfect will, to convict your heart of sin, to renew your mind and to transform you into His image. As you do this you will love Him more and more with each passing day and consequently trust and obey Him more and more. Stay the course...immerse yourself in His Word...and His peace which is an outflow of the fruit of His Spirit...love...will flood your heart.
From a practical standpoint,we live our Christian life moment by moment. Paul in Philippians 4 says something very helpful
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
A Christian is not suppose to worry, is to pray about everything and is to be thankful in and for everything! As we do this the peace of God will fill us and guard our hearts and minds. Worry is the opposite of peace....It pulls us apart. Our MINDS need to be stayed on Him. Why? Because our mind is where thinking takes place...If we are thinking wrong thoughts our feelings are not going to be right either. As a man thinks in his heart so is he. God's peace secures our mind. It takes our thoughts captive and brings them into obedience to Him. Again, none of us is capable of this on our own. You can't do this outside a relationship with Jesus Christ. You can only achieve this kind of peace by keeping your mind stayed on Him. Stayed on Him...although I didn't look it up I am pretty sure it means keeping your eyes steadily focused on Him and who He is, on what His desires are for you and allowing His example to guide you. Proverbs 3:5-6 comes to mind here as does Philippians 4:9 above. Warren Wiersbe calls these verses (Phil 4:7-9) the prescription for a secure mind....a mind free from worrying. 1. right praying, (Phil 4:7) 2. right thinking (Phil 4:8) and 3. right living. (Phil 4:9)
My prayer for each of you today and every day:
Ephesians 3:16-21
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Love
Mom
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
And Their Foolish Hearts Were Darkened...Romans 1
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
I read the rest of Romans 1 today and continued on to finish Romans 2. This verse stood out to me in Romans 1...21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (emphasis mine)
Paul is saying here that we as fallen, unsaved human beings are without excuse and even though we know that there is a God from our own conscience as well as the evidence of creation, some of us (well okay..many of us) will suppress that truth and refuse to honor God as God. Why? Because we like darkness more than light. We love our sin more than we love God. Eventually God gives us over to our own desires and we become futile in our thoughts and our hearts are darkened. He lets us have our own way! Our own way! Isn't that what we want sometimes even as believers? SIGH! What we should want is for our lives to glorify Him...for His desires to be our desires. Sanctification takes time and is not completed until we meet Him face to face.
God's wrath comes in different forms....the one we see here in this verse is the wrath of abandonment...being left to have your own way. Not a good thing...its way leads to death. God is a gentlemen and will never force His will on anyone. As believers God does not abandon us...in fact He never leaves or forsakes us, He is faithful even when we are not, He chastens every son whom He receives and the Bible is clear if we are without chastening then we are not sons...We are His and no one...not even ourselves...can snatch us from His hand. There are times when He might remove His hand for a time if we are not walking with Him and have turned to our own way...these are consequences of not drawing near to Him...but always His cords will be there gently tugging at our hearts to come back...sometimes His ways of drawing us back will not be so gentle but always it is His goodness and His desire for us to have His best.
With that said the application for me here that came to mind was how often my mind during the day especially when I am involved in a trial becomes darkened by lies from the enemy. Wanting my own way is when my own foolish heart become darkened...I still at times think this way even after walking with the Lord for more than 15 years...and I think this way more than once or twice during the course of a day. Lord, I deserve this...why are you doing this...why are you taking things away that are so very precious to me?
When this happens I need to make a conscious effort to speak the truth to my heart...God's truth...the only truth. If I don't my thoughts spiral downward and I feed on the wrong things. You know what I mean..when you say things like..."I can't do this any more or this is just too hard" or "I can't believe so and so did that to me" or you become anxious and old sinful methods of dealing with the anxiety start to show themselves. Proverbs 23:7 says "As a man thinks in His heart so he is." I like to refer to these as "shadows" that darken my thinking and my mind and block His light from shining through...The Bible tells us also that out of the heart spring the issues of life and that because of this we are to keep our heart with all diligence.
What should I do when these shadows fall...when Satan attempts to get a foothold into my thinking...STOP speaking or thinking whatever it is you are thinking...Pride will make you want to continue but resist the devil and he will flee from you, draw near to God and He will draw near to you...humble yourself and instead either out loud (this is best) or in your heart speak words of faith...words of truth...replace those wrong thoughts, motives or desires with the right ones that will glorify God. Ask Him to place His desires on your heart and make them your own. As we make this a practice in our day to day lives we begin to walk by faith and not by sight and as we do that God pours out His grace. Trials bring the darkness of our heart...the secret things...the things God does not want there anymore to the surface. They (trials) show us what we truly value and/or what we are placing our trust in. It is helpful to remember that He only removes those things that will hinder our walk with Him or cause us harm and yet still they are so very difficult at times to surrender. Why? Because they are comfortable and familiar..they are things we like, habits we enjoy but have now become idols in our hearts. As He removes the darkness from my heart there is then more room for His light to shine. And as believers that IS REALLY WHAT WE WANT! That is really what brings peace...living for Him and setting our mind on the things above. Wanting what He wants is not just obedient or self-sacrificingly noble, but it is what's best for us. He is not some cosmic ogre imposing His will to satisfy His whim, but because His will is ultimately what is best for us. God uses His word most often to bring these things to our awareness to show us the condition of our heart. Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. " . Psalm 139 also comes to mind...really the whole thing but particularly the last few verses:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Girls...making a regular practice of humbling yourself and seeing your sin as God sees it. This will reap blessing upon blessing in your lives. It will prevent your hearts from becoming hardened and your conscience's seared. It is also one of the most difficult things for us humans to do...Push past the difficulty and His grace will be there. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up!
Love you all very much,
Mom who definitely lived this one today...
I read the rest of Romans 1 today and continued on to finish Romans 2. This verse stood out to me in Romans 1...21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (emphasis mine)
Paul is saying here that we as fallen, unsaved human beings are without excuse and even though we know that there is a God from our own conscience as well as the evidence of creation, some of us (well okay..many of us) will suppress that truth and refuse to honor God as God. Why? Because we like darkness more than light. We love our sin more than we love God. Eventually God gives us over to our own desires and we become futile in our thoughts and our hearts are darkened. He lets us have our own way! Our own way! Isn't that what we want sometimes even as believers? SIGH! What we should want is for our lives to glorify Him...for His desires to be our desires. Sanctification takes time and is not completed until we meet Him face to face.
God's wrath comes in different forms....the one we see here in this verse is the wrath of abandonment...being left to have your own way. Not a good thing...its way leads to death. God is a gentlemen and will never force His will on anyone. As believers God does not abandon us...in fact He never leaves or forsakes us, He is faithful even when we are not, He chastens every son whom He receives and the Bible is clear if we are without chastening then we are not sons...We are His and no one...not even ourselves...can snatch us from His hand. There are times when He might remove His hand for a time if we are not walking with Him and have turned to our own way...these are consequences of not drawing near to Him...but always His cords will be there gently tugging at our hearts to come back...sometimes His ways of drawing us back will not be so gentle but always it is His goodness and His desire for us to have His best.
With that said the application for me here that came to mind was how often my mind during the day especially when I am involved in a trial becomes darkened by lies from the enemy. Wanting my own way is when my own foolish heart become darkened...I still at times think this way even after walking with the Lord for more than 15 years...and I think this way more than once or twice during the course of a day. Lord, I deserve this...why are you doing this...why are you taking things away that are so very precious to me?
When this happens I need to make a conscious effort to speak the truth to my heart...God's truth...the only truth. If I don't my thoughts spiral downward and I feed on the wrong things. You know what I mean..when you say things like..."I can't do this any more or this is just too hard" or "I can't believe so and so did that to me" or you become anxious and old sinful methods of dealing with the anxiety start to show themselves. Proverbs 23:7 says "As a man thinks in His heart so he is." I like to refer to these as "shadows" that darken my thinking and my mind and block His light from shining through...The Bible tells us also that out of the heart spring the issues of life and that because of this we are to keep our heart with all diligence.
What should I do when these shadows fall...when Satan attempts to get a foothold into my thinking...STOP speaking or thinking whatever it is you are thinking...Pride will make you want to continue but resist the devil and he will flee from you, draw near to God and He will draw near to you...humble yourself and instead either out loud (this is best) or in your heart speak words of faith...words of truth...replace those wrong thoughts, motives or desires with the right ones that will glorify God. Ask Him to place His desires on your heart and make them your own. As we make this a practice in our day to day lives we begin to walk by faith and not by sight and as we do that God pours out His grace. Trials bring the darkness of our heart...the secret things...the things God does not want there anymore to the surface. They (trials) show us what we truly value and/or what we are placing our trust in. It is helpful to remember that He only removes those things that will hinder our walk with Him or cause us harm and yet still they are so very difficult at times to surrender. Why? Because they are comfortable and familiar..they are things we like, habits we enjoy but have now become idols in our hearts. As He removes the darkness from my heart there is then more room for His light to shine. And as believers that IS REALLY WHAT WE WANT! That is really what brings peace...living for Him and setting our mind on the things above. Wanting what He wants is not just obedient or self-sacrificingly noble, but it is what's best for us. He is not some cosmic ogre imposing His will to satisfy His whim, but because His will is ultimately what is best for us. God uses His word most often to bring these things to our awareness to show us the condition of our heart. Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. " . Psalm 139 also comes to mind...really the whole thing but particularly the last few verses:
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
24 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Girls...making a regular practice of humbling yourself and seeing your sin as God sees it. This will reap blessing upon blessing in your lives. It will prevent your hearts from becoming hardened and your conscience's seared. It is also one of the most difficult things for us humans to do...Push past the difficulty and His grace will be there. Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up!
Love you all very much,
Mom who definitely lived this one today...
Monday, September 6, 2010
Living for Him...Romans 1
To each one of my precious daughters..Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla...
I am reading through Romans and spending time in Isaiah in my morning Bible time...I read up to verse 17 this morning in Romans and stopped and decided to write to you.
Paul tells us that he is a bondservant of Jesus Christ, separated unto the Gospel of God. He says he is a debtor to all and that as much as is in him he is ready and willing to preach the gospel. What a statement...what an example for us. It brings to mind what he says in Philippians, "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul had the right attitude, he lived for the right things and therefore he had peace no matter what situations he found himself in. Living our lives unto God does that.When we live for ourselves and the things of the world our focus is always pulled in many directions...living for Christ and keeping our eyes on Him brings peace. (Isa 26:3) Romans 8:6 says to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. The more we are immersed in the things of God--the more we live for His glory and not our own--the more peace we will have...Any lack of peace we have can be directly traced to something or someone we have not surrendered to God. James says in chapter 3 of his epistle that where envy and self-seeking exist confusion and every evil thing are there.
Girls....immerse yourself in the word of God. You will have to deal with people, your own emotions and adverse circumstances all of your lives. You have no better weapon in this world filled with evil to maintain your peace, keep your focus on the right things, and live for His glory than the word of God. Meditate on it, memorize it....it has the answer for any and every situation you face...in its pages you will find Jesus Christ, THE WORD, WHO WILL MAKE THE CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT...WHO WILL PERFECT WHAT CONCERNS YOU...WHO WILL BRING YOU JOY IN THE MIDST OF SORROW...WHO WILL BE YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR SONG...Hebrews 4:12 says: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. As you immerse yourself in it and allow it to penetrate your heart it will tell you why you do not have peace--it will be a mirror that you can gaze in and see your own heart and as you do that you will be changed/transformed into His image and that is a good deal! As you abide in Him day by day it will bear much fruit in your life...not overnight...that is not how fruit is grown..but first it will be a little then a bit more than much!
Separate yourselves unto God, surrender your will to His Spirit, live for the right things...seek the wisdom that is from above that is peacable, pure, gentle, full of mercy, willing to yield and full of good fruits and you will have peace and have it abundantly. I will end with some of my favorite verses...
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Love
Mom
I am reading through Romans and spending time in Isaiah in my morning Bible time...I read up to verse 17 this morning in Romans and stopped and decided to write to you.
Paul tells us that he is a bondservant of Jesus Christ, separated unto the Gospel of God. He says he is a debtor to all and that as much as is in him he is ready and willing to preach the gospel. What a statement...what an example for us. It brings to mind what he says in Philippians, "for me to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul had the right attitude, he lived for the right things and therefore he had peace no matter what situations he found himself in. Living our lives unto God does that.When we live for ourselves and the things of the world our focus is always pulled in many directions...living for Christ and keeping our eyes on Him brings peace. (Isa 26:3) Romans 8:6 says to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. The more we are immersed in the things of God--the more we live for His glory and not our own--the more peace we will have...Any lack of peace we have can be directly traced to something or someone we have not surrendered to God. James says in chapter 3 of his epistle that where envy and self-seeking exist confusion and every evil thing are there.
Girls....immerse yourself in the word of God. You will have to deal with people, your own emotions and adverse circumstances all of your lives. You have no better weapon in this world filled with evil to maintain your peace, keep your focus on the right things, and live for His glory than the word of God. Meditate on it, memorize it....it has the answer for any and every situation you face...in its pages you will find Jesus Christ, THE WORD, WHO WILL MAKE THE CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT...WHO WILL PERFECT WHAT CONCERNS YOU...WHO WILL BRING YOU JOY IN THE MIDST OF SORROW...WHO WILL BE YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR SONG...Hebrews 4:12 says: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. As you immerse yourself in it and allow it to penetrate your heart it will tell you why you do not have peace--it will be a mirror that you can gaze in and see your own heart and as you do that you will be changed/transformed into His image and that is a good deal! As you abide in Him day by day it will bear much fruit in your life...not overnight...that is not how fruit is grown..but first it will be a little then a bit more than much!
Separate yourselves unto God, surrender your will to His Spirit, live for the right things...seek the wisdom that is from above that is peacable, pure, gentle, full of mercy, willing to yield and full of good fruits and you will have peace and have it abundantly. I will end with some of my favorite verses...
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Love
Mom
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Behold My Servant...
To My Girls...
“Behold! My Servant"
Behold! My Servant. Here it is...three words of advice found several times in Isaiah that would change hearts all over the world if heeded. How was my heart changed the first time...by looking up by faith and beholding Jesus, God's Son, the One who was willing to go to the cross and die for me while I was still dead in trespasses and sins. The One who lives to make intercession for me. How is my heart changed now...how is it that I become more like Him...THE SAME WAY...by looking up by faith, surrendering to Him and allowing His grace to pour down like rain and perform beautiful miracles in my heart just as He did at my first cry! 2 Corinthians 3:18: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit
of the Lord.
Just like those who looked at the serpent on the pole in the wilderness were healed so am I when I look to Jesus by faith. So why at times even after salvation do I refuse to look and consciously or unconsciously decide to wallow in whatever slough into which I may have fallen? The answer: PRIDE. Sigh...I cry out with Paul.."oh, wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death!" What is the antidote to pride--humility. If God can become a Man and put aside His deity, humble Himself to the point of death and die for me..so that I could live forever with Him...you would think that I might be able to put aside my self-reliance and pride and look up and acknowledge His Lordship in my life...You would think....but oh how hard it is at times!
The word "behold" means to gaze, to look steadily at. When I look steadily into the face of Jesus and keep my eyes off people who disappoint and circumstances that distract I am at peace (Isa 26:3) I am changed and become more like Him. When will I truly realize in my heart that my weakness is a good thing?? It causes me to cry out, it gives me an opportunity to trust Him, it changes me from the inside out and it conforms me into the image of His Son. He increases and I decrease...I then can reflect Him, the Light of the world, more to the people around me...isn't that my goal??? Isn't that what I want?? So why don't I take advantage of the opportunities He gives me like Paul did. Why was Paul able to sing in prison and rejoice in tribulation. He knew that the things that were happening to Him would turn out for the furtherance of the Gospel...He knew that Christ was being magnified...He knew that God was able to work perfectly in his weakness...He trusted God to do it. BECAUSE as it says in 2nd Corinthians 12:9 His grace is sufficient...His strength is made perfect in weakness. Christ's power could rest upon Him in His weakness...I don't know about you, but that is what I want. I am not quite ready to say "bring it on Lord" but maybe I might have the courage to say Father...let me see those opportunities you give me and put aside me and surrender to your Spirit.
Behold! My Servant...so simple...and as you look you fall deeper and deeper in love and become more like Him!
Love
Mom
“Behold! My Servant"
Behold! My Servant. Here it is...three words of advice found several times in Isaiah that would change hearts all over the world if heeded. How was my heart changed the first time...by looking up by faith and beholding Jesus, God's Son, the One who was willing to go to the cross and die for me while I was still dead in trespasses and sins. The One who lives to make intercession for me. How is my heart changed now...how is it that I become more like Him...THE SAME WAY...by looking up by faith, surrendering to Him and allowing His grace to pour down like rain and perform beautiful miracles in my heart just as He did at my first cry! 2 Corinthians 3:18: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit
of the Lord.
Just like those who looked at the serpent on the pole in the wilderness were healed so am I when I look to Jesus by faith. So why at times even after salvation do I refuse to look and consciously or unconsciously decide to wallow in whatever slough into which I may have fallen? The answer: PRIDE. Sigh...I cry out with Paul.."oh, wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death!" What is the antidote to pride--humility. If God can become a Man and put aside His deity, humble Himself to the point of death and die for me..so that I could live forever with Him...you would think that I might be able to put aside my self-reliance and pride and look up and acknowledge His Lordship in my life...You would think....but oh how hard it is at times!
The word "behold" means to gaze, to look steadily at. When I look steadily into the face of Jesus and keep my eyes off people who disappoint and circumstances that distract I am at peace (Isa 26:3) I am changed and become more like Him. When will I truly realize in my heart that my weakness is a good thing?? It causes me to cry out, it gives me an opportunity to trust Him, it changes me from the inside out and it conforms me into the image of His Son. He increases and I decrease...I then can reflect Him, the Light of the world, more to the people around me...isn't that my goal??? Isn't that what I want?? So why don't I take advantage of the opportunities He gives me like Paul did. Why was Paul able to sing in prison and rejoice in tribulation. He knew that the things that were happening to Him would turn out for the furtherance of the Gospel...He knew that Christ was being magnified...He knew that God was able to work perfectly in his weakness...He trusted God to do it. BECAUSE as it says in 2nd Corinthians 12:9 His grace is sufficient...His strength is made perfect in weakness. Christ's power could rest upon Him in His weakness...I don't know about you, but that is what I want. I am not quite ready to say "bring it on Lord" but maybe I might have the courage to say Father...let me see those opportunities you give me and put aside me and surrender to your Spirit.
Behold! My Servant...so simple...and as you look you fall deeper and deeper in love and become more like Him!
Love
Mom
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Looking to the Servant's Example--Isaiah 50:4-11
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
I have been studying and memorizing the Servant Songs in the book of Isaiah. (Isaiah 42:1-7; Isaiah 49:1-6; Isaiah 50:1-11; and Isaiah 52:13-53:12) The past few days I have been meditating and reading up on the third one...Isaiah 50:4-11. Here it is in its entirety:
“ The Lord GOD has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.
5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not rebellious,
Nor did I turn away.
6 I gave My back to those who struck Me,
And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
7 “ For the Lord GOD will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 He is near who justifies Me;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
Who is My adversary?
Let him come near Me.
9 Surely the Lord GOD will help Me;
Who is he who will condemn Me?
Indeed they will all grow old like a garment;
The moth will eat them up.
10 “ Who among you fears the LORD?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness
And has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD
And rely upon his God.
11 Look, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with sparks:
Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled—
This you shall have from My hand:
You shall lie down in torment.
The Lord Jesus is such an example to us! This is something that He seems to be pressing into my heart in a new and deeper way lately. I think when life gets hard we cling to Him more and search His word with greater fervor. The Bible tells us that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I have been truly blessed in studying and memorizing the Servant songs and I believe it has deepened my understanding of Scripture in every area maybe more than my studying of anything else in Scripture.
Jesus, the Servant, is speaking in these verses. The title Lord GOD is used four times in this section. This title emphasizes the Servant's complete submission to the Father in all aspects of His life. On earth Jesus did not do or say anything outside His Father's will...His whole being...every aspect of His life.. was submitted to the Father. (John 5:19 John 8:28) He spent time with Him morning by morning in prayer and meditation of the Scriptures. He sometimes spent all night in prayer (before He chose His 12 disciples) What an example this is for us. Jesus, the Son of God made a practice of time spent in prayer and fellowship with His Father in Heaven. If Jesus needed to do this to discern the Father's will for the day that was before Him how much more do we need this precious time with our Father! I have regretted time spent in many areas of life but I have never once felt that I spent too much time in the Scriptures.
Jesus not only spent time with His Father--He shared and encouraged those who were weary with the things He had learned from Him. He helped those in need. He did the work His Father had given Him to do. I think of Ephesians 2:10 here. Jesus had a successful ministry but He never pointed to Himself. His life glorified His Father in Heaven. He did whatever He did here on earth by faith just as we do. He did not use His divine powers. He did all He did as a MAN. We cannot take refuge in Him being God as the reason why He was able to do it. This fact is amazing to me...each time Jesus healed or spoke it was not Him it was the Spirit working through Him. Philippians 2:5-11 says: 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Jesus was totally set apart to do His Father's will just as we should be.
The next verse says that the Lord God had opened His ear and He was not rebellious nor did He turn away. When a servant in Hebrew culture did not want to leave the service of His master but wanted to become a permanent willing slave of that household, an an awl was driven through his earlobe and a gold earring placed in the hole. This told all He was bondservant...Jesus is telling us here that He came willingly to do His work here on earth. Jesus was a slave by choice. Wow! Wow! Wow! I can never wrap my mind around that. He took the form of one of His creatures, a Man, and came to earth for the purpose of suffering and dying for them. Verse 6 tells us a little more of what He suffered. It also shows us His mindset. He was determined to do His Father's will no matter the cost...He yielded His body to men who whipped Him, spat upon Him, plucked His beard, crowned Him with thorns and ultimately crucified Him. What an example for us...Make no mistake...each one of us are slaves to something. Romans 6 tells us that we either present ourselves to be slaves of sin leading to death or slaves of obedience leading to righteousness. Again, Jesus, the Son of God, a slave by choice CHOOSING moment by moment to do His Father's will. He made the same choices that we have to make...the daily moment by moment dying to self and living for God. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.(Col 3:3) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (1Pe 2:24)
The next few verses tell us that He completely entrusted Himself into His Father's hands. WHAT AN EXAMPLE FOR US! ( I know I am repeating that a lot...but hey..it is true and needs to be pointed out) And remember, because I find this so easy to forget, that He did it all by faith. He walked in those works that His Father had prepared beforehand for Him as a human being never using His divine powers. What fellowship He had with His Father. As we keep reading we begin to see that all this that Jesus did and thought were done to show us the way. It all can be applied to our lives and walk with Him...Scriptures can be found throughout the New Testament to show us that His word and deed matched. Jesus is truly the way the truth and the life. As I read and reread this passage I cannot help but see and be overwhelmed by the fact that Jesus right here in these verses is telling us how to handle a trial.. And He is not speaking here as God...even though...you know He is...He is speaking here to us as a human...telling us all this from His own personal experience. No matter what you are facing today you can go to one of these Servant songs and be reassured that Jesus understands. He can relate. Not only can He relate He wants us to know what to do and how to react to whatever we might be facing....Hebrews 4:14-16 says: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Really what more could we ask for! In fact, He probably learned and meditated on many of the very same Scriptures that we do as He went through His day. Look at what He tells us in these verses on how to go through the trials of life...spend time with the Father, encourage others in their weariness with the Word of God, comfort them in their distress, do not be rebellious...receive with meekness the implanted word, set your face like flint to endure knowing that your God WILL help...rely upon your God...you will not be disgraced or ashamed. Then He reminds us that our enemies will be grow old...the moths will eat them up.. He has gone before and shown us the way. JESUS LIVED OUT HIS OWN WORD...HE WAS THE WORD AND HIS WORD AND HIS DEED MATCHED...THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF TRUTH. AMAZING!
Sometimes in a trial we feel as if no one really understands our suffering. There is ONE...and He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. He endured all this for us...Hebrews 12:2 says it was for the joy that was set before Him...we are that joy...He is our joy, our strength and our salvation. He is our way, our truth, our life! Go to Him, trust in Him. Commit yourself to Him. He will not disappoint! Consider these verses now in a new light...Philippians 2:5-13 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
The last two verses of this third Servant song express the choice that we have. Do we choose to trust in our Lord God as Jesus did and allow God to work in us and through us as we surrender our wills to Him moment by moment? And remember even in obedience Jesus walked at times in darkness...just as we will...but HE trusted that God would bring Him to the light at the right time. Or do we kindle our own fires in the dark times of our lives...relying on our own understanding and arrogantly say we know better than God. The end of one is life everlasting with Him...the end of the other is everlasting torment.
BEHOLD MY SERVANT...
Love
Mom
I have been studying and memorizing the Servant Songs in the book of Isaiah. (Isaiah 42:1-7; Isaiah 49:1-6; Isaiah 50:1-11; and Isaiah 52:13-53:12) The past few days I have been meditating and reading up on the third one...Isaiah 50:4-11. Here it is in its entirety:
“ The Lord GOD has given Me
The tongue of the learned,
That I should know how to speak
A word in season to him who is weary.
He awakens Me morning by morning,
He awakens My ear
To hear as the learned.
5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear;
And I was not rebellious,
Nor did I turn away.
6 I gave My back to those who struck Me,
And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;
I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.
7 “ For the Lord GOD will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
8 He is near who justifies Me;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
Who is My adversary?
Let him come near Me.
9 Surely the Lord GOD will help Me;
Who is he who will condemn Me?
Indeed they will all grow old like a garment;
The moth will eat them up.
10 “ Who among you fears the LORD?
Who obeys the voice of His Servant?
Who walks in darkness
And has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the LORD
And rely upon his God.
11 Look, all you who kindle a fire,
Who encircle yourselves with sparks:
Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled—
This you shall have from My hand:
You shall lie down in torment.
The Lord Jesus is such an example to us! This is something that He seems to be pressing into my heart in a new and deeper way lately. I think when life gets hard we cling to Him more and search His word with greater fervor. The Bible tells us that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I have been truly blessed in studying and memorizing the Servant songs and I believe it has deepened my understanding of Scripture in every area maybe more than my studying of anything else in Scripture.
Jesus, the Servant, is speaking in these verses. The title Lord GOD is used four times in this section. This title emphasizes the Servant's complete submission to the Father in all aspects of His life. On earth Jesus did not do or say anything outside His Father's will...His whole being...every aspect of His life.. was submitted to the Father. (John 5:19 John 8:28) He spent time with Him morning by morning in prayer and meditation of the Scriptures. He sometimes spent all night in prayer (before He chose His 12 disciples) What an example this is for us. Jesus, the Son of God made a practice of time spent in prayer and fellowship with His Father in Heaven. If Jesus needed to do this to discern the Father's will for the day that was before Him how much more do we need this precious time with our Father! I have regretted time spent in many areas of life but I have never once felt that I spent too much time in the Scriptures.
Jesus not only spent time with His Father--He shared and encouraged those who were weary with the things He had learned from Him. He helped those in need. He did the work His Father had given Him to do. I think of Ephesians 2:10 here. Jesus had a successful ministry but He never pointed to Himself. His life glorified His Father in Heaven. He did whatever He did here on earth by faith just as we do. He did not use His divine powers. He did all He did as a MAN. We cannot take refuge in Him being God as the reason why He was able to do it. This fact is amazing to me...each time Jesus healed or spoke it was not Him it was the Spirit working through Him. Philippians 2:5-11 says: 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Jesus was totally set apart to do His Father's will just as we should be.
The next verse says that the Lord God had opened His ear and He was not rebellious nor did He turn away. When a servant in Hebrew culture did not want to leave the service of His master but wanted to become a permanent willing slave of that household, an an awl was driven through his earlobe and a gold earring placed in the hole. This told all He was bondservant...Jesus is telling us here that He came willingly to do His work here on earth. Jesus was a slave by choice. Wow! Wow! Wow! I can never wrap my mind around that. He took the form of one of His creatures, a Man, and came to earth for the purpose of suffering and dying for them. Verse 6 tells us a little more of what He suffered. It also shows us His mindset. He was determined to do His Father's will no matter the cost...He yielded His body to men who whipped Him, spat upon Him, plucked His beard, crowned Him with thorns and ultimately crucified Him. What an example for us...Make no mistake...each one of us are slaves to something. Romans 6 tells us that we either present ourselves to be slaves of sin leading to death or slaves of obedience leading to righteousness. Again, Jesus, the Son of God, a slave by choice CHOOSING moment by moment to do His Father's will. He made the same choices that we have to make...the daily moment by moment dying to self and living for God. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.(Col 3:3) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (1Pe 2:24)
The next few verses tell us that He completely entrusted Himself into His Father's hands. WHAT AN EXAMPLE FOR US! ( I know I am repeating that a lot...but hey..it is true and needs to be pointed out) And remember, because I find this so easy to forget, that He did it all by faith. He walked in those works that His Father had prepared beforehand for Him as a human being never using His divine powers. What fellowship He had with His Father. As we keep reading we begin to see that all this that Jesus did and thought were done to show us the way. It all can be applied to our lives and walk with Him...Scriptures can be found throughout the New Testament to show us that His word and deed matched. Jesus is truly the way the truth and the life. As I read and reread this passage I cannot help but see and be overwhelmed by the fact that Jesus right here in these verses is telling us how to handle a trial.. And He is not speaking here as God...even though...you know He is...He is speaking here to us as a human...telling us all this from His own personal experience. No matter what you are facing today you can go to one of these Servant songs and be reassured that Jesus understands. He can relate. Not only can He relate He wants us to know what to do and how to react to whatever we might be facing....Hebrews 4:14-16 says: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Really what more could we ask for! In fact, He probably learned and meditated on many of the very same Scriptures that we do as He went through His day. Look at what He tells us in these verses on how to go through the trials of life...spend time with the Father, encourage others in their weariness with the Word of God, comfort them in their distress, do not be rebellious...receive with meekness the implanted word, set your face like flint to endure knowing that your God WILL help...rely upon your God...you will not be disgraced or ashamed. Then He reminds us that our enemies will be grow old...the moths will eat them up.. He has gone before and shown us the way. JESUS LIVED OUT HIS OWN WORD...HE WAS THE WORD AND HIS WORD AND HIS DEED MATCHED...THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF TRUTH. AMAZING!
Sometimes in a trial we feel as if no one really understands our suffering. There is ONE...and He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows the chastisement for our peace was upon Him. He endured all this for us...Hebrews 12:2 says it was for the joy that was set before Him...we are that joy...He is our joy, our strength and our salvation. He is our way, our truth, our life! Go to Him, trust in Him. Commit yourself to Him. He will not disappoint! Consider these verses now in a new light...Philippians 2:5-13 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
The last two verses of this third Servant song express the choice that we have. Do we choose to trust in our Lord God as Jesus did and allow God to work in us and through us as we surrender our wills to Him moment by moment? And remember even in obedience Jesus walked at times in darkness...just as we will...but HE trusted that God would bring Him to the light at the right time. Or do we kindle our own fires in the dark times of our lives...relying on our own understanding and arrogantly say we know better than God. The end of one is life everlasting with Him...the end of the other is everlasting torment.
BEHOLD MY SERVANT...
Love
Mom
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Romans 12:1-2
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
This is probably the most convicting passage in the entire Bible for me. Because of all that God has done...because of His manifold mercies, our logical (reasonable) response is to offer up our bodies and very lives to Him for His glory, to lead separated lives from the world and to have our minds transformed by the word of God. Total dedication, commitment and devotion to "doing" His will is our reasonable service. We are His slaves...our only purpose being to serve Him. We are to magnify Him in our bodies and our lives. I have heard it put this way: Christ died for me the least I can do is live for Him.
Let's look at the passage more closely now.
The first 11 chapters of Romans are filled with rich theological truths....Chapters 12-16 describe to us how to live in light of these truths....here again is where the rubber meets the road...are you going to be informed or reformed by these truths.
Paul starts off with I beseech (exhort, implore, entreat) you...that means us. I find it interesting that he does not command here but beseeches or entreats for love's sake.
Paul continues: therefore, by the mercies of God, I believe after much reading that the therefore refers specifically the the doxology in in Chapter 11:33-36 specifically verse 36.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 “ For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?”i]">[i]
35 “ Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”j]">[j]
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Because God is the source, sustainer, and the rightful end of all things that exist the only acceptable worship is to offer yourself completely to Him. (1 Cor 8:6, 1 Cor 15:28, Ephes 1:23, Ephes 4:6, Hebrews 2:10)
Mercies is defined as the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it. His "mercies" are the ground upon which believers are to present their bodies a living sacrifice. And boy do I need His mercy!
His mercies are the ground on which we are to do this...Thank God it is His mercies...John MacArthur describes his mercies as the gracious, extravagant, divine graces Paul described in Chapters 1-11...His love - He has set it upon us...we are the beloved of God, His grace - the unmerited favor God shows guilty sinners righteousness - His righteousness from God...not our own but Jesus' through His death on the cross and His gift of faith - salvation is a gift from God..it has nothing to do with anything we can do or have to achieve. This really should just melt us...Our God is so full of mercy and compassion! Could we trust anyone else with our bodies and our very lives! He is sure to use them kindly and with compassion...He is sure not to give us more than we can bear...He knows our frames.
Paul continues that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Under the old covenant God accepted animal sacrifices. Because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice the Old Testament sacrifices are no longer accepted.
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come,a]">[a] with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
So because of all He has done for us, because all things were created through Him and for Him we are to give him ourselves as living sacrifices. The body is to be used as a servant of the soul in service to God. God again is a gentleman. Paul writes these verses as an exhortation...he tells us that giving our bodies and souls in service to God as living sacrifices for His glory is our reasonable service...it is holy and acceptable to God. The thing about a living sacrifice is that our will needs to be completely set apart to God to do what He wants. If they are not, we will keep jumping off the altar.
How do we keep from jumping off the altar? Here is what I know. I have made it a practice to spend much time in His word. As I did this I get/got to know Him better and in knowing Him better, I love Him more and in loving Him more I trust Him more and in trusting Him more I surrender more of my will to Him. (I decrease...He increases; or His desires become my desires) It is a process...God uses the trials we face to wean us from those things we depend on...He pulls the rug out--so to speak-- and when we look up by faith His grace is there. Now He doesn't hit us right away with the hard stuff...He weans us slowly and wisely and if we are in the Word and diligently seeking Him, He prepares us perfectly for what is ahead. This has been so true in my own life. As we look into the mirror of His Word deeply we are changed and we become more like Him. 2nd Corinthians 3:18 says 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. So when our minds are saturated and controlled by word of God we will know what is that good acceptable and perfect will....His will isn't hard ...it is good, acceptable and perfect. I don't know about you but I want that...I want my life to be His and not mine...my life was a mess before I came to Him. He made the crooked places straight as I yielded my will to Him by the power of His Spirit working in my life. He promises to complete that work. It is all Him...not us...
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Love Mom
This is probably the most convicting passage in the entire Bible for me. Because of all that God has done...because of His manifold mercies, our logical (reasonable) response is to offer up our bodies and very lives to Him for His glory, to lead separated lives from the world and to have our minds transformed by the word of God. Total dedication, commitment and devotion to "doing" His will is our reasonable service. We are His slaves...our only purpose being to serve Him. We are to magnify Him in our bodies and our lives. I have heard it put this way: Christ died for me the least I can do is live for Him.
Let's look at the passage more closely now.
The first 11 chapters of Romans are filled with rich theological truths....Chapters 12-16 describe to us how to live in light of these truths....here again is where the rubber meets the road...are you going to be informed or reformed by these truths.
Paul starts off with I beseech (exhort, implore, entreat) you...that means us. I find it interesting that he does not command here but beseeches or entreats for love's sake.
Paul continues: therefore, by the mercies of God, I believe after much reading that the therefore refers specifically the the doxology in in Chapter 11:33-36 specifically verse 36.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 “ For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?”i]">[i]
35 “ Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”j]">[j]
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Because God is the source, sustainer, and the rightful end of all things that exist the only acceptable worship is to offer yourself completely to Him. (1 Cor 8:6, 1 Cor 15:28, Ephes 1:23, Ephes 4:6, Hebrews 2:10)
Mercies is defined as the outward manifestation of pity; it assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it. His "mercies" are the ground upon which believers are to present their bodies a living sacrifice. And boy do I need His mercy!
His mercies are the ground on which we are to do this...Thank God it is His mercies...John MacArthur describes his mercies as the gracious, extravagant, divine graces Paul described in Chapters 1-11...His love - He has set it upon us...we are the beloved of God, His grace - the unmerited favor God shows guilty sinners righteousness - His righteousness from God...not our own but Jesus' through His death on the cross and His gift of faith - salvation is a gift from God..it has nothing to do with anything we can do or have to achieve. This really should just melt us...Our God is so full of mercy and compassion! Could we trust anyone else with our bodies and our very lives! He is sure to use them kindly and with compassion...He is sure not to give us more than we can bear...He knows our frames.
Paul continues that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Under the old covenant God accepted animal sacrifices. Because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice the Old Testament sacrifices are no longer accepted.
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come,a]">[a] with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
So because of all He has done for us, because all things were created through Him and for Him we are to give him ourselves as living sacrifices. The body is to be used as a servant of the soul in service to God. God again is a gentleman. Paul writes these verses as an exhortation...he tells us that giving our bodies and souls in service to God as living sacrifices for His glory is our reasonable service...it is holy and acceptable to God. The thing about a living sacrifice is that our will needs to be completely set apart to God to do what He wants. If they are not, we will keep jumping off the altar.
How do we keep from jumping off the altar? Here is what I know. I have made it a practice to spend much time in His word. As I did this I get/got to know Him better and in knowing Him better, I love Him more and in loving Him more I trust Him more and in trusting Him more I surrender more of my will to Him. (I decrease...He increases; or His desires become my desires) It is a process...God uses the trials we face to wean us from those things we depend on...He pulls the rug out--so to speak-- and when we look up by faith His grace is there. Now He doesn't hit us right away with the hard stuff...He weans us slowly and wisely and if we are in the Word and diligently seeking Him, He prepares us perfectly for what is ahead. This has been so true in my own life. As we look into the mirror of His Word deeply we are changed and we become more like Him. 2nd Corinthians 3:18 says 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. So when our minds are saturated and controlled by word of God we will know what is that good acceptable and perfect will....His will isn't hard ...it is good, acceptable and perfect. I don't know about you but I want that...I want my life to be His and not mine...my life was a mess before I came to Him. He made the crooked places straight as I yielded my will to Him by the power of His Spirit working in my life. He promises to complete that work. It is all Him...not us...
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Love Mom
James 1:19-25
So then,a]">[a] my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:19-25
21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:19-25
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla
Some good advice from James as we begin...(You will notice the date on this entry is November 2, 2009...just before Nana arrived...just before our precious little Jordan was born. I am not sure why I didn't publish this but I am now...I am sure the Sovereign Lord has His reasons!)
James is such a practical book! It is where the rubber meets the road. Are we a hearer of the Word only? Do we really live what we profess to believe? What our hearts believe, will be reflected in our lives...our actions will follow the beliefs of our hearts. Our faith is something to be believed and acted upon. If it doesn't result in works and a changed life then our faith is dead. If we love God, we will obey His commandments.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
As we begin this study let us bow our hearts and ask God that by the power of His Holy Spirit we would become doers of His word and not hearers only. That His hearts desire for us would be our heart's desire. That we would get up each day, strengthen ourselves in His word and commit our way to Him. That are hearts would be completely His dedicated to doing His will.
James in the above verses speaks of the "implanted" word. Our heart is the soil or planting ground. The word of God can't work in our hearts unless it is received in the right way. James tells us that we need to receive it with meekness. That word meekness means that you accept it without argument. You don't make it say what you want it to say and you remember what it says in Psalm 138:2. For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. It is through His word that God reveals to us who He is and brings us into a relationship with Him. (Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God).
Jesus tells in Luke 8:18 to take heed how we hear. Some people hear but they do not hear or understand...they have become as it says in Hebrews "dull of hearing". How does this happen? I think their spiritual life deteriorates because they read or listen to the word and lightly esteem it. 1st Thessalonians 2:13 says 13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
So in order to receive the word and have it take root lets listen to the guidance that James gives us.
"Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" Sigh! For most of us the opposite is true, isn't it? We are slow to hear, quick to speak and quick to wrath. Which kind of person would you rather be around. Or better yet...which kind of person would you rather teach? I remember instructing each one of you on how to do certain things when you were young. Many times your reactions made you unteachable. You started asking to do what I was showing you before I was through showing you. You were not patient and when I made you wait you got angry. The Lord goes through the same things with each of us. Just like it is impossible to show a child something when his attitude is wrong, it is also not possible for God to put His word in your heart and teach you His ways when you think you know best or don't need His help. God will never force Himself on you...He is a gentleman and waits for you to ask. And just like a child reaches that point when they give up realizing they do in fact need your help; He also waits for you to reach that point where you know you need Him and call out for help.
I know I was quick to hear your cries or hear something that was important to me, but am I quick to hear God speak to my heart through His word. God wants us to be swift to hear what He has to say and slow to speak. He wants us to let it sink deep down into our hearts and meditate on it letting the Holy Spirit guide knowing that it is from Him who desires only our good.
Proverbs 10:19 tells us that in the multitude of words sin is not lacking. Many times we give excuses either out loud or in our hearts when we hear God's word...we may not even be aware sometimes that this is our pattern. We think that Jesus doesn't know our "special" situation and circumstances. If he did, He would look the other way. God cannot look the other way. He is a holy and just God. We must say the same thing about our sin that He says about it. We must not make excuses or argue with Him but repent and turn from it.
The bible tells us anger rests in the bosom of fools and that He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Many times we get angry at God's word because it reveals our sin to us. We rebel against it or avoid it because it tells us the truth about who we are and we do not want to come into the light and see because we love our sin more than we love God. We do not want to give it up. John 3:19-21 says it all: 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
There is a godly righteous anger on behalf of others or against sin and this type of anger is commanded. (Ephesians 4:26) but even that type of anger we are warned not to let the sun go down on. Most of the anger that we experience, however, is not righteous anger but is unrighteous and selfish...we are angry because we are offended...it is on our own behalf. James tells that man's anger does not produce God's righteousness. So many biblical reasons not to respond in anger but the one given here is simply that it is not productive. It doesn't work. In fact it makes you go backward in your relationships. Okay...so sometimes it does work for the moment to get people moving and doing what you want them to do, but at what cost?
So how do we do this you ask? Read on...James 1:21 compares the human heart to a garden...okay... I don't have very much experience with gardening but this past spring Mikayla wanted a small garden to grow some vegetables. As you all know our yard gets very little sun...the one place that does receive the sun had previously been a place where years ago garbage had been buried. (1880 homes are not all they are cracked up to be) Before we could plant or sow anything the soil had to be prepared. The glass, rock, pottery and other debris had to be removed and the soil turned over and softened. We need to do this before we receive the word of God. Confess our sin, ask God for forgiveness, meditate on His goodness, and ask him to soften the hard spots in our hearts. Then and only then can we receive it with meekness..or without argument being quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath.
The last section of this passage talks of practicing the word. This is truly where the rubber meets the road. It is not enough for us to hear the word; we must do it. James tells us in verse 22 that if we are hearers only we are deceiving ourselves. Sometimes we think reading the bible or going to a bible study is enough...but if we don't take it a step further our lack of action reveals the deadness of our faith. What our heart believes our lives will reflect.
How do you look into the mirror of the word. Do you take a quick look and just glance at it or maybe you read a chapter a day because your conscience would bother you if you didn't. Warren Wiersbe makes an excellent point here. Your conscience should bother you because you are looking into the word carelessly. We need to gaze deeply into the mirror and really let the Lord reveal what He wants us to see. We are less likely to forget what we see if we really let the word of God reveal our hearts to us. Psalm 139:23-24 tells us to: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
As we read, study and meditate on God's word we are transformed into His image. We become more like Him! Romans 12:2.
2nd Corinthians 3:18 says this: 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
So as we look into the mirror of the word we undergo a metamorphosis...a change on the outside that comes from the inside. Christ on the inside is revealed on the outside. Spending more time in the word makes you become more and more beautiful...not a bad deal!
In verse 25 James refers to the word as the perfect law of liberty. Why because it frees us as we obey it. John 8:34: Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. Psalm 119:45 says that we walk at liberty as we obey his precepts. So if we continue in obedience to the word we will blessed in what we do. The blessing comes in the doing...the practice of the word...not the reading. So after looking into the mirror...and hopefully really seeing what you look like....we will do what God says...DO the word. C.S. Lewis had this to say about "acting" in Screwtape Letters.
"Let him do anything but act. No amount of piety in his
imagination and affections will harm us if we can keep it out of his will. As
one of the humans has said, active habits are strengthened by repetition but
passive ones are weakened. The more often he feels without acting, the less he
will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be able to
feel."
Love Mom
James is such a practical book! It is where the rubber meets the road. Are we a hearer of the Word only? Do we really live what we profess to believe? What our hearts believe, will be reflected in our lives...our actions will follow the beliefs of our hearts. Our faith is something to be believed and acted upon. If it doesn't result in works and a changed life then our faith is dead. If we love God, we will obey His commandments.
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
As we begin this study let us bow our hearts and ask God that by the power of His Holy Spirit we would become doers of His word and not hearers only. That His hearts desire for us would be our heart's desire. That we would get up each day, strengthen ourselves in His word and commit our way to Him. That are hearts would be completely His dedicated to doing His will.
James in the above verses speaks of the "implanted" word. Our heart is the soil or planting ground. The word of God can't work in our hearts unless it is received in the right way. James tells us that we need to receive it with meekness. That word meekness means that you accept it without argument. You don't make it say what you want it to say and you remember what it says in Psalm 138:2. For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. It is through His word that God reveals to us who He is and brings us into a relationship with Him. (Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God).
Jesus tells in Luke 8:18 to take heed how we hear. Some people hear but they do not hear or understand...they have become as it says in Hebrews "dull of hearing". How does this happen? I think their spiritual life deteriorates because they read or listen to the word and lightly esteem it. 1st Thessalonians 2:13 says 13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
So in order to receive the word and have it take root lets listen to the guidance that James gives us.
"Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" Sigh! For most of us the opposite is true, isn't it? We are slow to hear, quick to speak and quick to wrath. Which kind of person would you rather be around. Or better yet...which kind of person would you rather teach? I remember instructing each one of you on how to do certain things when you were young. Many times your reactions made you unteachable. You started asking to do what I was showing you before I was through showing you. You were not patient and when I made you wait you got angry. The Lord goes through the same things with each of us. Just like it is impossible to show a child something when his attitude is wrong, it is also not possible for God to put His word in your heart and teach you His ways when you think you know best or don't need His help. God will never force Himself on you...He is a gentleman and waits for you to ask. And just like a child reaches that point when they give up realizing they do in fact need your help; He also waits for you to reach that point where you know you need Him and call out for help.
I know I was quick to hear your cries or hear something that was important to me, but am I quick to hear God speak to my heart through His word. God wants us to be swift to hear what He has to say and slow to speak. He wants us to let it sink deep down into our hearts and meditate on it letting the Holy Spirit guide knowing that it is from Him who desires only our good.
Proverbs 10:19 tells us that in the multitude of words sin is not lacking. Many times we give excuses either out loud or in our hearts when we hear God's word...we may not even be aware sometimes that this is our pattern. We think that Jesus doesn't know our "special" situation and circumstances. If he did, He would look the other way. God cannot look the other way. He is a holy and just God. We must say the same thing about our sin that He says about it. We must not make excuses or argue with Him but repent and turn from it.
The bible tells us anger rests in the bosom of fools and that He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. Many times we get angry at God's word because it reveals our sin to us. We rebel against it or avoid it because it tells us the truth about who we are and we do not want to come into the light and see because we love our sin more than we love God. We do not want to give it up. John 3:19-21 says it all: 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
There is a godly righteous anger on behalf of others or against sin and this type of anger is commanded. (Ephesians 4:26) but even that type of anger we are warned not to let the sun go down on. Most of the anger that we experience, however, is not righteous anger but is unrighteous and selfish...we are angry because we are offended...it is on our own behalf. James tells that man's anger does not produce God's righteousness. So many biblical reasons not to respond in anger but the one given here is simply that it is not productive. It doesn't work. In fact it makes you go backward in your relationships. Okay...so sometimes it does work for the moment to get people moving and doing what you want them to do, but at what cost?
So how do we do this you ask? Read on...James 1:21 compares the human heart to a garden...okay... I don't have very much experience with gardening but this past spring Mikayla wanted a small garden to grow some vegetables. As you all know our yard gets very little sun...the one place that does receive the sun had previously been a place where years ago garbage had been buried. (1880 homes are not all they are cracked up to be) Before we could plant or sow anything the soil had to be prepared. The glass, rock, pottery and other debris had to be removed and the soil turned over and softened. We need to do this before we receive the word of God. Confess our sin, ask God for forgiveness, meditate on His goodness, and ask him to soften the hard spots in our hearts. Then and only then can we receive it with meekness..or without argument being quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath.
The last section of this passage talks of practicing the word. This is truly where the rubber meets the road. It is not enough for us to hear the word; we must do it. James tells us in verse 22 that if we are hearers only we are deceiving ourselves. Sometimes we think reading the bible or going to a bible study is enough...but if we don't take it a step further our lack of action reveals the deadness of our faith. What our heart believes our lives will reflect.
How do you look into the mirror of the word. Do you take a quick look and just glance at it or maybe you read a chapter a day because your conscience would bother you if you didn't. Warren Wiersbe makes an excellent point here. Your conscience should bother you because you are looking into the word carelessly. We need to gaze deeply into the mirror and really let the Lord reveal what He wants us to see. We are less likely to forget what we see if we really let the word of God reveal our hearts to us. Psalm 139:23-24 tells us to: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
As we read, study and meditate on God's word we are transformed into His image. We become more like Him! Romans 12:2.
2nd Corinthians 3:18 says this: 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
So as we look into the mirror of the word we undergo a metamorphosis...a change on the outside that comes from the inside. Christ on the inside is revealed on the outside. Spending more time in the word makes you become more and more beautiful...not a bad deal!
In verse 25 James refers to the word as the perfect law of liberty. Why because it frees us as we obey it. John 8:34: Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. 35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. Psalm 119:45 says that we walk at liberty as we obey his precepts. So if we continue in obedience to the word we will blessed in what we do. The blessing comes in the doing...the practice of the word...not the reading. So after looking into the mirror...and hopefully really seeing what you look like....we will do what God says...DO the word. C.S. Lewis had this to say about "acting" in Screwtape Letters.
"Let him do anything but act. No amount of piety in his
imagination and affections will harm us if we can keep it out of his will. As
one of the humans has said, active habits are strengthened by repetition but
passive ones are weakened. The more often he feels without acting, the less he
will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be able to
feel."
Love Mom
Monday, August 30, 2010
Isaiah 41: For Toni...as you begin your journey tomorrow...love jean
I have been thinking on Isaiah 41 since this morning when we prayed and you shared your thoughts with me. What beautiful promises for God's servants. The Jewish people are no different from us. They probably thought of many reasons to fear as they begin their long journey home. The reason not to fear, however, is a very big one...The Lord was with them and would go before them and work on their behalf. The Lord is with you...Toni...He tells us three times in this chapter to fear not.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:13 13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
Isaiah 41:14 Fear not, you worm Jacob,You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
He calls them my servant...which is honorable...but then he calls them a worm. We are His servants by God's grace. Worms are who we are in ourselves. They went ahead in faith and made ...this is my favorite part...mountains into molehills...This is my prayer for you...a servant of God by His grace that you will walk by faith and by His grace make this mountain you are facing a molehill. Then there is also the picture Isaiah gives of a desert becoming a garden. That so reminds me of Psalm 84:
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
Toni...He will perfect those things that concern you...He will be your rear guard...your Light in the darkness...Your strength and your song...He will make the crooked places straight. Our God will do it...He is faithful...His grace will be there in the nick of time...Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Next, the Israelites looked ahead as we always do and become anxious...(21-29) Our God knows the future...He has everything under control...no need to worry...His love and His plans for us are perfect.I think of what Warren Wiersbe says here about Psalm 33:11..His plans come from His heart and His heart is one of love for us...so we need not fear.
I read the following on Randy Alcorn's blog. It was part of an email sent to him by Sono Harris (Gregg Harris' wife and Joshua Harris' mom) to encourage him during a bout he was having with depression. The entire email is encouraging but here is how she ended it:
"Oh, Randy, it seems that His servants who are used in special ways often experience commensurate trials. These trials are simultaneously burdens God gives to keep them utterly dependent; and thorns which pin back the veil that hides His face. In a fallen world, they are gifts."
How beautiful is that....thinking and praying for you tomorrow.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Isaiah 41:13 13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
Isaiah 41:14 Fear not, you worm Jacob,You men of Israel! I will help you,” says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
He calls them my servant...which is honorable...but then he calls them a worm. We are His servants by God's grace. Worms are who we are in ourselves. They went ahead in faith and made ...this is my favorite part...mountains into molehills...This is my prayer for you...a servant of God by His grace that you will walk by faith and by His grace make this mountain you are facing a molehill. Then there is also the picture Isaiah gives of a desert becoming a garden. That so reminds me of Psalm 84:
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
Toni...He will perfect those things that concern you...He will be your rear guard...your Light in the darkness...Your strength and your song...He will make the crooked places straight. Our God will do it...He is faithful...His grace will be there in the nick of time...Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Next, the Israelites looked ahead as we always do and become anxious...(21-29) Our God knows the future...He has everything under control...no need to worry...His love and His plans for us are perfect.I think of what Warren Wiersbe says here about Psalm 33:11..His plans come from His heart and His heart is one of love for us...so we need not fear.
I read the following on Randy Alcorn's blog. It was part of an email sent to him by Sono Harris (Gregg Harris' wife and Joshua Harris' mom) to encourage him during a bout he was having with depression. The entire email is encouraging but here is how she ended it:
"Oh, Randy, it seems that His servants who are used in special ways often experience commensurate trials. These trials are simultaneously burdens God gives to keep them utterly dependent; and thorns which pin back the veil that hides His face. In a fallen world, they are gifts."
How beautiful is that....thinking and praying for you tomorrow.
Thoughts on fruit...Galatians 5:22-23
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
What is the purpose of our life here on earth? The Bible tells us it is to glorify our Father in heaven by bearing fruit. John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit;
Again, as with my last post, all I need do is look to Jesus to confirm this. What did He do...He spoke and did only those things that His Father told Him. He emptied Himself and became obedient to the Father even to the point of death...the death of the cross. In fact, WE WHO BELIEVE, the Bible tells us are His fruit. We are the joy that was set before Him! We are the reason He willingly laid down His life! Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
A word on what fruit is and what it is not...
Fruit is born of the Spirit...it is not produced by human effort..it comes from a life submitted God as Jesus was submitted to the Father. It comes from a life spent in study, prayer and meditation of the Scripture. Fruit can be distinguished from works because fruit has life in it...it bears more fruit...works do not. Fruit glorifies God not man. It nourishes those around you and points them to Jesus. (not to you) Works are of the flesh and the Bible tells us that in the flesh nothing good dwells. (see the verses immediately preceding Galatians 5:22 for the works of the flesh) Even the word "work" implies sweat but the word "fruit" implies something that obviously grows and develops over time and is beautiful. The fruit discussed in Galatians is the fruit of character...becoming like Jesus. And fruit is singular...the first fruit is love...divine love...sacrificial love and the others (joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) all flow from that love. And as in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 all can be used to describe Jesus. Fruit is produced in the life of a believer as he beholds His Savior. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.-- 2nd Corinthians 3:18 It is a product of moment by moment decisions in a believer's life to surrender his will to God and walk in His Spirit.
What does the Bible say about bearing fruit:
John 15:4-5 says this: Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
So in order to produce fruit we need to abide...to abide means to dwell with...all you really need to do to abide is to spend time with Jesus! Stay close...This was such a relief to me...I do not have to get up in the morning and say...what can I do today to produce fruit...I don't have to grit my teeth or do lots of works...I just have to stay close to Him. How do I stay close...by spending time in His word. As I do that the fruit is produced...it takes time...but it comes...then more fruit, then much fruit. I like to think of the tree in Psalm 1. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. What a beautiful picture of how a believer should look as he makes a practice of spending time with Jesus.
What does the Bible say about abiding in Him as it relates to obeying Him: John 15:10 says: 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. So those moment by moment decisions we make to do what the Lord is telling us to do at any given point in time.
What does it say about obeying Him as it relates to loving Him: John 14:23 says,“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. So if we love Him, we WILL keep (obey) His word. If there are areas of our lives then where we are not in obedience to the Word than we are putting those things before Jesus. In essence we are saying that we love them more than we love Him!
What does the Bible say about loving Him as it relates to knowing Him? John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. God reveals Himself to us in His Word as we diligently seek Him.
How do I bear fruit...by abiding...how do I abide...by obeying...how do I obey...by loving Him...how do I love Him...by knowing Him through His word...Stay the course...Stay close to Jesus...immerse yourself in His Word...the fruit will come and it will be precious.
James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
What is the purpose of our life here on earth? The Bible tells us it is to glorify our Father in heaven by bearing fruit. John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit;
Again, as with my last post, all I need do is look to Jesus to confirm this. What did He do...He spoke and did only those things that His Father told Him. He emptied Himself and became obedient to the Father even to the point of death...the death of the cross. In fact, WE WHO BELIEVE, the Bible tells us are His fruit. We are the joy that was set before Him! We are the reason He willingly laid down His life! Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
A word on what fruit is and what it is not...
Fruit is born of the Spirit...it is not produced by human effort..it comes from a life submitted God as Jesus was submitted to the Father. It comes from a life spent in study, prayer and meditation of the Scripture. Fruit can be distinguished from works because fruit has life in it...it bears more fruit...works do not. Fruit glorifies God not man. It nourishes those around you and points them to Jesus. (not to you) Works are of the flesh and the Bible tells us that in the flesh nothing good dwells. (see the verses immediately preceding Galatians 5:22 for the works of the flesh) Even the word "work" implies sweat but the word "fruit" implies something that obviously grows and develops over time and is beautiful. The fruit discussed in Galatians is the fruit of character...becoming like Jesus. And fruit is singular...the first fruit is love...divine love...sacrificial love and the others (joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) all flow from that love. And as in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 all can be used to describe Jesus. Fruit is produced in the life of a believer as he beholds His Savior. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.-- 2nd Corinthians 3:18 It is a product of moment by moment decisions in a believer's life to surrender his will to God and walk in His Spirit.
What does the Bible say about bearing fruit:
John 15:4-5 says this: Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
So in order to produce fruit we need to abide...to abide means to dwell with...all you really need to do to abide is to spend time with Jesus! Stay close...This was such a relief to me...I do not have to get up in the morning and say...what can I do today to produce fruit...I don't have to grit my teeth or do lots of works...I just have to stay close to Him. How do I stay close...by spending time in His word. As I do that the fruit is produced...it takes time...but it comes...then more fruit, then much fruit. I like to think of the tree in Psalm 1. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. What a beautiful picture of how a believer should look as he makes a practice of spending time with Jesus.
What does the Bible say about abiding in Him as it relates to obeying Him: John 15:10 says: 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. So those moment by moment decisions we make to do what the Lord is telling us to do at any given point in time.
What does it say about obeying Him as it relates to loving Him: John 14:23 says,“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. So if we love Him, we WILL keep (obey) His word. If there are areas of our lives then where we are not in obedience to the Word than we are putting those things before Jesus. In essence we are saying that we love them more than we love Him!
What does the Bible say about loving Him as it relates to knowing Him? John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. God reveals Himself to us in His Word as we diligently seek Him.
How do I bear fruit...by abiding...how do I abide...by obeying...how do I obey...by loving Him...how do I love Him...by knowing Him through His word...Stay the course...Stay close to Jesus...immerse yourself in His Word...the fruit will come and it will be precious.
James 5:7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Galatians 1: 11-15
I just began reading in Galatians and have decided that I am going to camp out there for a while. I am also spending time in Isaiah and am being blessed especially through the memorization of the Servant songs. In reading Galatians 1 there were many verses that captured my attention and spoke to my heart. Galatians 1: 11-15 is one of them. It reads:
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
I loved reading this! Even though Paul lived so long ago and lived such a different life than the one that I live, we have had a very similar experience when we came to know Him! I understand exactly what he means when he says "for you have heard of my former conduct..." Paul is incredulous about the change that has occurred in His heart He understands that this change had nothing to do with anything he did or even tried to do...he understands that it was all God. Paul says it best in Romans 1:16 when he says it is the "power of God to salvation to everyone who believes." It is a miracle of miracles when God changes your heart.
My own testimony is so similar to Paul's. When I cried out to God in desperation...not even believing that there really was a God...but just crying out in the thin hope that if there was He would hear me and HE DID! Psalm 40 says:
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.
Truly this is what happened to me as I sat on my couch with a bible I had just purchased in desperation. I began to read in Genesis 1 and then in a blink of an eye...God was there and changed my heart. There was no human explanation. I had tried every self-help book imaginable...God just reached down and pulled me up out of my own misery and selfish desires...So many things were changed at that moment. It was like a veil was lifted that had been over my understanding and now i understood...now the world made sense...everything that had been important before fell away and was replaced by the awesomeness of what was happening in my heart. The God of the universe had come to dwell and I would never be the same. The emptiness that I had felt just minutes ago was filled to overflowing...Jesus was there...My life was in the proper order now and my joy was full. Jesus was at the center.
Now when all this occurred to me in that moment I did not understand it. The only thing I knew was that many of my lifelong beliefs had changed dramatically, the sadness and grief I had been feeling were comforted and in perspective and all this through no effort of my own. I also had an overwhelming, irresistible desire to read His word. I took it everywhere...it was on my lap while I worked, at the table when I ate, under my pillow when I slept...I could not get enough of it...it was my necessary food...and remember I was in Genesis..a book I had tried to read many times in my life to see what all the fuss was about...you know...why the bible was a best selling book. It never made sense until I cried out to God in helplessness and need...until I saw my sin and was devastated. What was even more beautiful was the change that I then saw in my husband's heart and then in my daughter Suzanne's. You see this change in me was not seen only by me, it was seen by my husband who was bit afraid and definitely intrigued. There was something SO different about me that this avowed God hater picked up the bible and read it cover to cover in ONE month! I love what it says in Ephesians 2:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The rest is history...my life now and my life before. The first one living for myself and my own selfish desires which is the worst kind of bondage and in the end the Bible says leads to death versus my life now after God reached down and took charge ...the one I now live for Him by His grace. He has brought beauty from ashes. I am a bondservant which is a voluntary slave, to Him...leading not only to life everlasting but to all that He has for me in this life because as it says in Philippians 1: 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
What did I need to do for this miracle to occur in my heart. I needed to cry out to God, to admit my need, to admit to him that I am a sinner in need of His salvation. I needed to ask Him to come in to my heart and be my Lord. Now I really did none of this sitting on the couch that evening, but God who knows my heart saw it all and graciously reached down and saved me. Anything good you might see in me is Him!
11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
I loved reading this! Even though Paul lived so long ago and lived such a different life than the one that I live, we have had a very similar experience when we came to know Him! I understand exactly what he means when he says "for you have heard of my former conduct..." Paul is incredulous about the change that has occurred in His heart He understands that this change had nothing to do with anything he did or even tried to do...he understands that it was all God. Paul says it best in Romans 1:16 when he says it is the "power of God to salvation to everyone who believes." It is a miracle of miracles when God changes your heart.
My own testimony is so similar to Paul's. When I cried out to God in desperation...not even believing that there really was a God...but just crying out in the thin hope that if there was He would hear me and HE DID! Psalm 40 says:
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.
Truly this is what happened to me as I sat on my couch with a bible I had just purchased in desperation. I began to read in Genesis 1 and then in a blink of an eye...God was there and changed my heart. There was no human explanation. I had tried every self-help book imaginable...God just reached down and pulled me up out of my own misery and selfish desires...So many things were changed at that moment. It was like a veil was lifted that had been over my understanding and now i understood...now the world made sense...everything that had been important before fell away and was replaced by the awesomeness of what was happening in my heart. The God of the universe had come to dwell and I would never be the same. The emptiness that I had felt just minutes ago was filled to overflowing...Jesus was there...My life was in the proper order now and my joy was full. Jesus was at the center.
Now when all this occurred to me in that moment I did not understand it. The only thing I knew was that many of my lifelong beliefs had changed dramatically, the sadness and grief I had been feeling were comforted and in perspective and all this through no effort of my own. I also had an overwhelming, irresistible desire to read His word. I took it everywhere...it was on my lap while I worked, at the table when I ate, under my pillow when I slept...I could not get enough of it...it was my necessary food...and remember I was in Genesis..a book I had tried to read many times in my life to see what all the fuss was about...you know...why the bible was a best selling book. It never made sense until I cried out to God in helplessness and need...until I saw my sin and was devastated. What was even more beautiful was the change that I then saw in my husband's heart and then in my daughter Suzanne's. You see this change in me was not seen only by me, it was seen by my husband who was bit afraid and definitely intrigued. There was something SO different about me that this avowed God hater picked up the bible and read it cover to cover in ONE month! I love what it says in Ephesians 2:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The rest is history...my life now and my life before. The first one living for myself and my own selfish desires which is the worst kind of bondage and in the end the Bible says leads to death versus my life now after God reached down and took charge ...the one I now live for Him by His grace. He has brought beauty from ashes. I am a bondservant which is a voluntary slave, to Him...leading not only to life everlasting but to all that He has for me in this life because as it says in Philippians 1: 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
What did I need to do for this miracle to occur in my heart. I needed to cry out to God, to admit my need, to admit to him that I am a sinner in need of His salvation. I needed to ask Him to come in to my heart and be my Lord. Now I really did none of this sitting on the couch that evening, but God who knows my heart saw it all and graciously reached down and saved me. Anything good you might see in me is Him!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Letters to my Daughters...
To All My Daughters
Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2nd Timothy 3:14-17
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1st Timothy 6:12
so that you can say...
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7
Much Love
Mom
Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla
14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2nd Timothy 3:14-17
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1st Timothy 6:12
so that you can say...
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7
Much Love
Mom
Monday, February 9, 2009
Chapter 20 and 21: The Wife's Loneliness and Sorrow
I am combining these two...I can't write about one and not the other....This one is not from the book but from my heart...
Loneliness and Sorrow have been two of the greatest gifts to me from the Lord.They are what drew me closer to Him and made me realize that He is my all in all.. That He is my strong tower, my fortress, my strength and most of all my companion at all times. The One who will never leave me nor forsake me..there is nothing that man can do to me...My God is with me. Solomon writes in the Song of Solomon..."Come away with me, my love....I have learned to seek the Lord and go to Him...my bible is my friend...it is my most precious possession. I have received such comfort from the Lord through His word. I can remember reaching the top of my emotional pain scale and right at the time of my greatest suffering I realized without a shadow of a doubt that I would not trade this trial for my life to be back the way it was...No...what would cause more pain then and now would be the removal of my desire to seek Jesus...I finally wanted Jesus more than I wanted anything else! (not that there aren't battles)...but my heart truly learned that day (I can remember the moment and I can remember where I was) that fellowship with Him was to be desired above all else. I understood that my greatest joy was Him..that despite my circumstances I could rejoice in Him and live for Him.
Some of my wrong reactions to loneliness and grief were: self-pity...woe is me, a lack of thankfulness, trying to push away the feelings instead of bringing them to God, focusing on what I didn't have, discontentedness...Self-pity sends a lonely and grieving person into the pit of despair and depression...Looking outward and upward rather than inward is the only remedy. Spending time in God's word helped me renew my mind and see the loneliness and grief as an opportunity to obey God even though my feelings wanted me to do something else...It was a huge step of faith and I took very tiny steps but with each one my Lord was there to light up my darkness and show me the results of my tiny steps of faith. Loneliness and grief became my companions (Hinds feet on High Places) and that was okay because I was learning and seeing so much truth as God's word came to life for me...it also gave me opportunities to do things I wouldn't normally have tried...my focus always being on people and the gratification of being in relationships) There is much more to me today than there was 10 years ago...I have had the opportunity to spend lots and lots of time with my children, my husband and with the Lord and His word. I have developed many hobbies...drawing, writing, sewing, crocheting...Much much fruit has come from that time. I no longer see my husband as someone to fix my feelings and be my sole and only companion but as a fellow sojourner whom the Lord has graciously given me to be a helpmeet to.
In summary what did I learn through my own loneliness and sorrow...seek Jesus without ceasing...cry out and admit your need to Him. Read, study and memorize His word. Look to it as your necessary food. Look at the moment...at what God has for you to do right now...pray and by faith do it.
Just a few verses that I meditated on during that time: Owe no one anything but love...love suffers long and is kind...love does not seek its own...hopes all things, endures all things, bears all things...love never fails...let my gentleness...my bigheartedness, my willingness to overlook offenses be known to all men...commit myself to Him who judges righteously, let the Lord fight for you and you shall hold your peace..before honor is humility...humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you in due time casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble...but may the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you..Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path...If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; psalm 130, the Lord will perfect that which concerns me, in the multitude of my anxieties within your comforts delight my soul...psalm 139....the joy of the Lord is my strength...but you O Lord are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth...
The following verse from psalm 84 is the background music behind everything: Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (tears or weeping) They make it a spring. The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength, Each one appears before God in Zion..remembering that as Christians our suffering has meaning and purpose...that the Lord works all things together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to His purpose should help us to use it as an opportunity to glorify Him and fulfill His purposes in us and through us.
Loneliness and Sorrow have been two of the greatest gifts to me from the Lord.They are what drew me closer to Him and made me realize that He is my all in all.. That He is my strong tower, my fortress, my strength and most of all my companion at all times. The One who will never leave me nor forsake me..there is nothing that man can do to me...My God is with me. Solomon writes in the Song of Solomon..."Come away with me, my love....I have learned to seek the Lord and go to Him...my bible is my friend...it is my most precious possession. I have received such comfort from the Lord through His word. I can remember reaching the top of my emotional pain scale and right at the time of my greatest suffering I realized without a shadow of a doubt that I would not trade this trial for my life to be back the way it was...No...what would cause more pain then and now would be the removal of my desire to seek Jesus...I finally wanted Jesus more than I wanted anything else! (not that there aren't battles)...but my heart truly learned that day (I can remember the moment and I can remember where I was) that fellowship with Him was to be desired above all else. I understood that my greatest joy was Him..that despite my circumstances I could rejoice in Him and live for Him.
Some of my wrong reactions to loneliness and grief were: self-pity...woe is me, a lack of thankfulness, trying to push away the feelings instead of bringing them to God, focusing on what I didn't have, discontentedness...Self-pity sends a lonely and grieving person into the pit of despair and depression...Looking outward and upward rather than inward is the only remedy. Spending time in God's word helped me renew my mind and see the loneliness and grief as an opportunity to obey God even though my feelings wanted me to do something else...It was a huge step of faith and I took very tiny steps but with each one my Lord was there to light up my darkness and show me the results of my tiny steps of faith. Loneliness and grief became my companions (Hinds feet on High Places) and that was okay because I was learning and seeing so much truth as God's word came to life for me...it also gave me opportunities to do things I wouldn't normally have tried...my focus always being on people and the gratification of being in relationships) There is much more to me today than there was 10 years ago...I have had the opportunity to spend lots and lots of time with my children, my husband and with the Lord and His word. I have developed many hobbies...drawing, writing, sewing, crocheting...Much much fruit has come from that time. I no longer see my husband as someone to fix my feelings and be my sole and only companion but as a fellow sojourner whom the Lord has graciously given me to be a helpmeet to.
In summary what did I learn through my own loneliness and sorrow...seek Jesus without ceasing...cry out and admit your need to Him. Read, study and memorize His word. Look to it as your necessary food. Look at the moment...at what God has for you to do right now...pray and by faith do it.
Just a few verses that I meditated on during that time: Owe no one anything but love...love suffers long and is kind...love does not seek its own...hopes all things, endures all things, bears all things...love never fails...let my gentleness...my bigheartedness, my willingness to overlook offenses be known to all men...commit myself to Him who judges righteously, let the Lord fight for you and you shall hold your peace..before honor is humility...humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you in due time casting all your cares upon Him for He cares for you, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble...but may the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you..Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path...If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; psalm 130, the Lord will perfect that which concerns me, in the multitude of my anxieties within your comforts delight my soul...psalm 139....the joy of the Lord is my strength...but you O Lord are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth...
The following verse from psalm 84 is the background music behind everything: Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, Whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca (tears or weeping) They make it a spring. The rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength, Each one appears before God in Zion..remembering that as Christians our suffering has meaning and purpose...that the Lord works all things together for good to those who love God to those who are the called according to His purpose should help us to use it as an opportunity to glorify Him and fulfill His purposes in us and through us.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Chapter 19: The Wife's Fear - Overcoming Anxiety
Psalm 94:19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
Psalm 118:8 [It is] better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. (this is the very center verse of the bible)
Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect [that which] concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, [endures] forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
As I put the time in to write these posts and study what God's word says about being a Christian wife I have been so blessed. Each chapter has shown me areas where I need to be more faithful and encouraged me in other areas to not grow weary... This particular chapter has come at a time when I needed to increase my faith...to take off anxiety and fear and put on love.
In preparing for this post I have also looked at Stuart Scott's book The Exemplary Husband to see what it said about anxiety and fear.
I am going to try to keep this short and practical...
Definitions first:
Godly concern - Is focusing on today's responsibilities, others and eternal concerns. Our eyes are on the Lord. It is caring about the important things but ultimately trusting in God's faithfulness and sovereignty. It does not lead to a lack of peace and trust. (Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is set on You because he trusts in You)
Ungodly concern - (anxiety) Is focusing on the future...what might happen. It is concerned with self...not others. Our eyes are not on the Lord they are on our circumstances. We are not focused on what is true and helpful and are blown about by every wind of emotion. Ungodly concern is sin.
Godly fear - fear of God and also a right and reasonable fear of danger or difficulty. The fear of God is a reverential awe of who God is. The person who has a proper fear of God will obey Him and love Him. He will face dangerous or difficult situations with the appropriate response. He lives in reality and assesses situations and how they might affect him reasonably. God is always in the picture and acknowledged. Our fear or our feelings do not keep us from doing what is right. (Psalm 56:3 - When I am afraid, I will trust in You)
Ungodly fear - Is self-focused. God is not in our thoughts. We are not thinking of others. We are lacking trust in Him and therefore sinning. When we fail to do what we know is right we are experiencing ungodly fear. When we give in to ungodly fear we are calling God a liar. Numbers 23:19 says: God [is] not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
What we should know about ungodly fear:
1. Ungodly fears are directly related to what we are thinking. Martha Peace has talked about how what we are thinking affects how we behave. Remember...sin begins in the mind...it is a process. You can either feed the thought or starve it. Take it captive or let it loose. So choose to tell yourself scripturally calming thoughts. Focus on what is good and pure and noble and right. Check out Proverbs 4:23 and Philippians 4:8.
2. Ungodly fear comes from focusing on our circumstances rather than God. We need to understand just who God is. Do a study on how God is described in the Old Testament. Study Jesus who is the Father revealed. Read about Jacob in Genesis 32:7-12...or Joshua in Numbers 13:25 - 14:5. Psalm 55:22 tells us to: Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Another really good one is Psalm 77:4-14.
3. Ungodly fear is focused inward and therefore selfish...opposite of love. Philippians 2:4 is a good one here: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
4. Ungodly fear is kind of like an idol in that you put IT before your fear of God. We become unfaithful...forgetting about His word and His promises. Some things you may fear more than God are man, circumstances, loss, and bodily harm. So you want man's approval, a life of ease, money, health, a person, etc., safety more than you want God.
5. Ungodly fear leads to more sin...i.e lying, following the wrong person or people...or maybe like Peter...deny your Lord.
6. Ungodly fear does not do you any good...but can cause harm. Psalm 37 tells us not to fret it only causes harm.
The more you act on your fears rather than trust in God and His word the more fearful you will become. Instead we must endure through them and obey God.
So examine yourself...stop calling your sin by another name: "being stressed out" concerned, an anxiety disorder, or my favorite "just the way I am." Figure out what makes you fearful. Confess and repent of your sins of ungodly fear to God and others whom your fear may have affected. Then renew your mind with Scripture. Find the verses that speak to your heart about your fear. Meditate on them...memorize them and bring them to mind when you see yourself falling into the trap (sin) of anxious thinking. Decide what right thoughts and actions you are going to use to fight the ones you usually have. Thoughts and scriptures here should be thankful, hopeful, trusting and loving. Ask God to really help you work in this area.
Stuart Scott, the author of the Exemplary Husband, recommends doing the following bible studies before fear hits again.
1. A study of God's sovereignty (Isaiah 46:9-11, Genesis 50:20, Jeremiah 32:27, Romans 8:28
2. A study of God's presence and care: (Joshua 1:9, Psalm 27:1-14, Psalm 23:4)
3. A study of God's sufficient grace (help) in times of trouble (Isaiah 41: 10, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Hebrews 4:16)
When you are fearful...
1. Seek the Lord and His help. Go boldly to His throne of grace for help in your time of need. (psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.)
2. Check your thought processes...are they focused on God or headed in the wrong direction? What are you fearing more than God?
3. Put on trust, responsibility and above all love...which the bible says is not only the bond of perfection but that perfect love casts out fear. Focus on God, His Word, His promises, things eternal, others, etc.
4. Stop and ask yourself what is the right thing to do...i.e. loving, trusting, helpful, constructive, responsible.
5. Endure the temptation to fear...show your love for God and others by your obedience.
6.. If you fail...confess, repent, figure out what you can do differently in the future and be on guard again. Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law [is] within my heart."
Do not let your fear control you or ensnare you. You can through practice change the anxiety pattern.
You will keep [him] in perfect peace, [Whose] mind [is] stayed [on You], Because he trusts in You. You will keep [him] in perfect peace, [Whose] mind [is] stayed [on You], Because he trusts in You.
Psalm 118:8 [It is] better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. (this is the very center verse of the bible)
Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect [that which] concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, [endures] forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
As I put the time in to write these posts and study what God's word says about being a Christian wife I have been so blessed. Each chapter has shown me areas where I need to be more faithful and encouraged me in other areas to not grow weary... This particular chapter has come at a time when I needed to increase my faith...to take off anxiety and fear and put on love.
In preparing for this post I have also looked at Stuart Scott's book The Exemplary Husband to see what it said about anxiety and fear.
I am going to try to keep this short and practical...
Definitions first:
Godly concern - Is focusing on today's responsibilities, others and eternal concerns. Our eyes are on the Lord. It is caring about the important things but ultimately trusting in God's faithfulness and sovereignty. It does not lead to a lack of peace and trust. (Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is set on You because he trusts in You)
Ungodly concern - (anxiety) Is focusing on the future...what might happen. It is concerned with self...not others. Our eyes are not on the Lord they are on our circumstances. We are not focused on what is true and helpful and are blown about by every wind of emotion. Ungodly concern is sin.
Godly fear - fear of God and also a right and reasonable fear of danger or difficulty. The fear of God is a reverential awe of who God is. The person who has a proper fear of God will obey Him and love Him. He will face dangerous or difficult situations with the appropriate response. He lives in reality and assesses situations and how they might affect him reasonably. God is always in the picture and acknowledged. Our fear or our feelings do not keep us from doing what is right. (Psalm 56:3 - When I am afraid, I will trust in You)
Ungodly fear - Is self-focused. God is not in our thoughts. We are not thinking of others. We are lacking trust in Him and therefore sinning. When we fail to do what we know is right we are experiencing ungodly fear. When we give in to ungodly fear we are calling God a liar. Numbers 23:19 says: God [is] not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
What we should know about ungodly fear:
1. Ungodly fears are directly related to what we are thinking. Martha Peace has talked about how what we are thinking affects how we behave. Remember...sin begins in the mind...it is a process. You can either feed the thought or starve it. Take it captive or let it loose. So choose to tell yourself scripturally calming thoughts. Focus on what is good and pure and noble and right. Check out Proverbs 4:23 and Philippians 4:8.
2. Ungodly fear comes from focusing on our circumstances rather than God. We need to understand just who God is. Do a study on how God is described in the Old Testament. Study Jesus who is the Father revealed. Read about Jacob in Genesis 32:7-12...or Joshua in Numbers 13:25 - 14:5. Psalm 55:22 tells us to: Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Another really good one is Psalm 77:4-14.
3. Ungodly fear is focused inward and therefore selfish...opposite of love. Philippians 2:4 is a good one here: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
4. Ungodly fear is kind of like an idol in that you put IT before your fear of God. We become unfaithful...forgetting about His word and His promises. Some things you may fear more than God are man, circumstances, loss, and bodily harm. So you want man's approval, a life of ease, money, health, a person, etc., safety more than you want God.
5. Ungodly fear leads to more sin...i.e lying, following the wrong person or people...or maybe like Peter...deny your Lord.
6. Ungodly fear does not do you any good...but can cause harm. Psalm 37 tells us not to fret it only causes harm.
The more you act on your fears rather than trust in God and His word the more fearful you will become. Instead we must endure through them and obey God.
So examine yourself...stop calling your sin by another name: "being stressed out" concerned, an anxiety disorder, or my favorite "just the way I am." Figure out what makes you fearful. Confess and repent of your sins of ungodly fear to God and others whom your fear may have affected. Then renew your mind with Scripture. Find the verses that speak to your heart about your fear. Meditate on them...memorize them and bring them to mind when you see yourself falling into the trap (sin) of anxious thinking. Decide what right thoughts and actions you are going to use to fight the ones you usually have. Thoughts and scriptures here should be thankful, hopeful, trusting and loving. Ask God to really help you work in this area.
Stuart Scott, the author of the Exemplary Husband, recommends doing the following bible studies before fear hits again.
1. A study of God's sovereignty (Isaiah 46:9-11, Genesis 50:20, Jeremiah 32:27, Romans 8:28
2. A study of God's presence and care: (Joshua 1:9, Psalm 27:1-14, Psalm 23:4)
3. A study of God's sufficient grace (help) in times of trouble (Isaiah 41: 10, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Hebrews 4:16)
When you are fearful...
1. Seek the Lord and His help. Go boldly to His throne of grace for help in your time of need. (psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.)
2. Check your thought processes...are they focused on God or headed in the wrong direction? What are you fearing more than God?
3. Put on trust, responsibility and above all love...which the bible says is not only the bond of perfection but that perfect love casts out fear. Focus on God, His Word, His promises, things eternal, others, etc.
4. Stop and ask yourself what is the right thing to do...i.e. loving, trusting, helpful, constructive, responsible.
5. Endure the temptation to fear...show your love for God and others by your obedience.
6.. If you fail...confess, repent, figure out what you can do differently in the future and be on guard again. Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law [is] within my heart."
Do not let your fear control you or ensnare you. You can through practice change the anxiety pattern.
You will keep [him] in perfect peace, [Whose] mind [is] stayed [on You], Because he trusts in You. You will keep [him] in perfect peace, [Whose] mind [is] stayed [on You], Because he trusts in You.
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