I went to the doctor yesterday for my diabetic check up. It seems I'm in pretty good shape for the shape I'm in. I can remember not to long ago being very anxious about the changes occurring in my body as I aged. I have arthritis now in my knees and ankles and I was having a lot of fatigue issues. I began questioning how much longer I would be able to work and how I would take care of myself when I could no longer work. Turns out a few blood tests and some changes in medication helped get me back on track. Not that I still don't have some bad days, but knowing what the problem is and that something can be done to help relieves a lot of stress.
In Luke 12:22-26, Jesus tells us not to worry about what we will eat, what we will wear or about our very lives. He reminds us that not a one of us can add a single hour to our lives by worrying. In fact, medicine has proven that worrying actually takes hours away from our lives.
Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us that there is no need to worry or become afraid because God goes with us on this journey through life. He has not left us to walk through this world on our own. He goes with us in the person of the Holy Spirit and he will not forsake us.
Father, you tell us in your word that you do not change. Your word is as true today as it was when you inspired men of old to write it. The enemy tempts me at times to forget your promises and to question my own ability. Thank you, Father, that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Help me each day to take each thought contrary to your truth captive and remain obedient to your word.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Through It All
It can be a daily struggle not to give in to worry and fear, especially as we get older. Our bodies are aging and changing. We wonder how long we'll be able to work and how we will be able to care for ourselves when we can no longer work. As parents, we worry about being able to provide for our families and how we will manage to raise our children to adulthood. There are pressures from work, school, community and government. At times there is even pressure but on us by the church.
In Isaiah 41:10, God tells us that we don't have to fear or get discouraged because he will help us and strengthen us. In fact, he promises to hold us up with his "righteous right hand", I find such comfort in those words. There is comfort because I know that, even though I might let go of his hand at times, he will never let go of mine.
One of my favorite songs has always been "Through It All" by Andrea Crouch. My favorite verse says,"I thank God for the mountains and I thank him for the valleys. I thank him for the storms he's brought me through. For if I never had a problem I wouldn't know that God could solve them. I wouldn't know what faith in God could do."
Father, those words are so true. It is because of the things we have already walked through together that I know that I can get through whatever comes my way. Father, I appreciate your presence every day but even more on the difficult days. I praise you for your faithfulness in the good and the bad. Thank you that I can live each day in your presence, functioning daily in your will and finding my purpose in you.
In Isaiah 41:10, God tells us that we don't have to fear or get discouraged because he will help us and strengthen us. In fact, he promises to hold us up with his "righteous right hand", I find such comfort in those words. There is comfort because I know that, even though I might let go of his hand at times, he will never let go of mine.
One of my favorite songs has always been "Through It All" by Andrea Crouch. My favorite verse says,"I thank God for the mountains and I thank him for the valleys. I thank him for the storms he's brought me through. For if I never had a problem I wouldn't know that God could solve them. I wouldn't know what faith in God could do."
Father, those words are so true. It is because of the things we have already walked through together that I know that I can get through whatever comes my way. Father, I appreciate your presence every day but even more on the difficult days. I praise you for your faithfulness in the good and the bad. Thank you that I can live each day in your presence, functioning daily in your will and finding my purpose in you.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Waiting, Now What?
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.....Psalm 37:7
Okay so you have quieted your mind and your spirit and you are waiting for God to move. You are waiting for some type of direction. What now? Do you just sit around and wait for God to make the next move and put everything else on hold until he does? No.
Isaiah 26:8 says, "Walking in the ways of your laws, we wait for you." We have to continue doing what God has shown us needs to be done while we are waiting for him to move. We trusted him to bring us this far and we continue to trust him for the next leg of the journey.
Praise him, trust him, seek his face. Whatever task God has set before you do it with all your strength. He will bless the works of your hands and reward your faithfulness.
Father, other people have called me a patient person but they don't see the inner turmoil going on inside of me when I am asked to wait. A turmoil that rages so loudly at times that I can't even concentrate on the task you have set before me. Help me to quiet my spirit before you and continue with the task at hand until you have shown me what I am to do next.
Okay so you have quieted your mind and your spirit and you are waiting for God to move. You are waiting for some type of direction. What now? Do you just sit around and wait for God to make the next move and put everything else on hold until he does? No.
Isaiah 26:8 says, "Walking in the ways of your laws, we wait for you." We have to continue doing what God has shown us needs to be done while we are waiting for him to move. We trusted him to bring us this far and we continue to trust him for the next leg of the journey.
Praise him, trust him, seek his face. Whatever task God has set before you do it with all your strength. He will bless the works of your hands and reward your faithfulness.
Father, other people have called me a patient person but they don't see the inner turmoil going on inside of me when I am asked to wait. A turmoil that rages so loudly at times that I can't even concentrate on the task you have set before me. Help me to quiet my spirit before you and continue with the task at hand until you have shown me what I am to do next.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Be Still And Wait
Waiting can be hard enough but waiting patiently can seem almost impossible at times, especially for me. Yet in Psalm 37:7 God tells us to not only wait; he tells us to wait patiently. So in learning to wait on the Lord I am to do it with patience. Worse yet, the verse begins by saying, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently...."
Being still before the Lord has always been a challenge for me. I have attended many classes, seminars and retreats where we have been instructed to clear our minds and be still before the Lord listening for his voice. I had never been able to clear my mind; the thoughts and concerns of things going on around me just seemed to get louder. Then just over a year ago I attended a ladies' retreat hosted by our church. The speaker lead us in a meditation on the verse "Be still and know that I am God". As I was meditating I suddenly realized that my thoughts were clear. Everything was quiet in my head-no concerns, agendas or problems that I felt I had to fix. Then a still quiet voice spoke to me.
I mentioned in a previous post that God and I have been working on the issue of trust for the past several years. My spirit was overwhelmed with God's presence as the voice said, "This is what trust looks like. There were no concerns, agendas or problems that I had to fix because for the first time in my life I had truly surrendered them all to the Lord.
Father, thank you for giving me a glimpse of what it looks and feels like to trust you completely. On the days that I forget and try to conquer life's problems on my own, remind me of the perfect peace that was mine when I totally surrendered everything to you. Only when I am still before you can I hope to hear your voice as you lead me.
Being still before the Lord has always been a challenge for me. I have attended many classes, seminars and retreats where we have been instructed to clear our minds and be still before the Lord listening for his voice. I had never been able to clear my mind; the thoughts and concerns of things going on around me just seemed to get louder. Then just over a year ago I attended a ladies' retreat hosted by our church. The speaker lead us in a meditation on the verse "Be still and know that I am God". As I was meditating I suddenly realized that my thoughts were clear. Everything was quiet in my head-no concerns, agendas or problems that I felt I had to fix. Then a still quiet voice spoke to me.
I mentioned in a previous post that God and I have been working on the issue of trust for the past several years. My spirit was overwhelmed with God's presence as the voice said, "This is what trust looks like. There were no concerns, agendas or problems that I had to fix because for the first time in my life I had truly surrendered them all to the Lord.
Father, thank you for giving me a glimpse of what it looks and feels like to trust you completely. On the days that I forget and try to conquer life's problems on my own, remind me of the perfect peace that was mine when I totally surrendered everything to you. Only when I am still before you can I hope to hear your voice as you lead me.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Waiting With Anticipation
Since ancient times, no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. ( Isaiah 64:4)
I don't know how many times I have read this verse but yesterday, when Pastor Jeff used it in his sermon, it was like I was reading it for the very first time. God acts on behalf of those who wait on him.
This seems to be the new road that God is leading me down. God wants me to wait on him to show me direction. He wants me to wait for him to move and not go charging ahead. This isn't something new that he is telling me but now I am ready to learn how to wait.
Before you can wait in confidence and anticipation you have to be able to trust that the one you are waiting on or for is faithful and will keep his end of the deal. It has taken God and I several years to work out the trust issue. Some days I am still better at trusting than others.
God promises so many things to those who will wait on him. He promises that if we will wait on him we will have strength. He promises we won't grow weary in doing good. He promises that if we will wait on him he will hear us. And Isaiah tells us that he will not just hear us, he will act on our behalf.
Father, today I come to you waiting. Help me to wait not just to see where you are leading me but,, like Isaiah, help me to wait with anticipation knowing that when you do act things will change dramatically. Today I choose to wait knowing that the one I am waiting for is faithful to complete the good work he has started in me.
I don't know how many times I have read this verse but yesterday, when Pastor Jeff used it in his sermon, it was like I was reading it for the very first time. God acts on behalf of those who wait on him.
This seems to be the new road that God is leading me down. God wants me to wait on him to show me direction. He wants me to wait for him to move and not go charging ahead. This isn't something new that he is telling me but now I am ready to learn how to wait.
Before you can wait in confidence and anticipation you have to be able to trust that the one you are waiting on or for is faithful and will keep his end of the deal. It has taken God and I several years to work out the trust issue. Some days I am still better at trusting than others.
God promises so many things to those who will wait on him. He promises that if we will wait on him we will have strength. He promises we won't grow weary in doing good. He promises that if we will wait on him he will hear us. And Isaiah tells us that he will not just hear us, he will act on our behalf.
Father, today I come to you waiting. Help me to wait not just to see where you are leading me but,, like Isaiah, help me to wait with anticipation knowing that when you do act things will change dramatically. Today I choose to wait knowing that the one I am waiting for is faithful to complete the good work he has started in me.
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