Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

Psalm 63 was written while David was in the Judean wilderness, either during his flight from Saul (1 Samuel 23) or more likely from Absalom (2 Samuel 15; Psalm 63:11) his son, who had betrayed him and was out to kill David. Absalom led in a conspiracy against his father, with the intent of winning over the throne. He deceived the people in his revolt to be king without God’s authorization.

Psalm 63:3-5: “Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.”

David knew that the same God that protected him as a shepherd boy, from the giant Goliath, was the same God that could protect him from the wicked King Saul, and his son Absalom. Despite David’s circumstances, he sustained deep devotion, faith, trust, allegiance, commitment, and love for God, by his practice of continually worshipping God. That was how David was able to stand firm in the expectation of God’s power in his life. He kept on singing sacrificial praises of God’s blessings in his life.

David’s life was in danger, and yet he declared God’s love was better than life as he sang or said words of adoration up to God. It says David held his hands up to God, which was an Old Testament posture of prayer, and an act of readiness to receive every good gift that would come from God. Question: “Was David in church when he did this or alone?” Just a thought. But the point is David did not lack words of thanksgiving and allegiance to God while undergoing an extreme life threatening situation. His stress level was over the charts. But he still maintained joy in the Lord as his strength and foundation. I don’t think I always do that during life’s ups and downs.

David refers to “fat and rich food,” which was a metaphor comparing emotional and spiritual satisfaction of God’s presence with the gratification of fulfillment and pleasure of a banquet of rich food. Today, our healthy-rich foods are – bacon, avocados, cheese, dark chocolate, whole eggs, salmon, nuts, chia seeds, and extra virgin olive oil. Each one provides numerous health benefits.

Dark Chocolate: Provides 11% fiber and over 50% RDA for iron, magnesium, copper, manganese. Outranks blueberries in antioxidants. Dark chocolate lowers blood pressure. Can improve brain function and protects skin from damage when exposed to the sun. High in fat but loaded with nutrients and antioxidants. Effective in improving cardiovascular health. There you go! I need to eat more dark chocolate!

Think about the setting when David was hiding from the very people that were trying to kill him. He was all alone. He was in the desert of Judah. But David knew God was the only one to be there for him. In the stillness, in the quiet, David knew God was right there with him. So he made good use of his time by praying and lifting his praise up to God, despite his surroundings and loneliness. God’s steadfast love was very personal for David. He believed God alone was sufficient. The Message states Psalm 63:3-5 very uniquely:

“In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains! I bless you every time I take a breath; my arms wave like banners of praise to you. I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!”

David had a constant appreciation, praise, happiness, joy, and affection for God. Why? Because David owed his existence to God and he knew God’s love for him was better than life itself. David had the belief that only real satisfaction comes from our heavenly father (Psalm 63:5). David desired God’s will over his own position of leadership.

In studying the Psalms this summer, I see how David cried out to God many times when he was in deep distress. He had times of depression from circumstances. But he didn’t get stuck there. He expressed his feelings vividly up to God. Psalm 64:1 states: “Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.” David had complaints and prayed specifically for his needs. But David always in the end spoke and sang beautiful words of adoration, thanksgiving, and praises up to God. All through the book of Psalm, David calls God his shield, protector, his hope, rock, salvation, fortress, provider, refuge. David declares God answers with awe-inspiring works (Psalm 65:5 HCSB).

We all have to remember that Satan and his forces are out to threaten us with guilt, shame, frustration, and feelings of failure. That will play havoc in our lives and distract us from praising the God who gave us life. David experienced attacks on his life more than once and from his own son. David was not perfect. But he spoke and sang beautiful songs of praise to God when he needed God’s presence, protection, and provision. Psalm 62:6 David declares: “He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”

Just as eating healthy fats in our diet (avocados contain 40% more potassium than bananas) will give us needed physical benefits, so will meditating on God’s word, and giving Him thanks continually throughout our day. Giving praise and glory up to God, will provide peace, joy, and result in full spiritual benefits from blessings of satisfaction, in being filled with the fullness of God.

“Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is and what He has done; expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.” Louie Giglio.

“Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.”—Charles Spurgeon

What attacks or threats have you experienced lately? How does God want you to respond?

Sometimes it is better to simply do nothing in response to feeling threatened or being misjudged. Think about that for a moment.

May God fill you with His blessings today as you give Him praise for what He has done in your life. May your soul be satisfied in the Lord much more than dark chocolate.

Listen to Casting Crown’s “Already There.”

 

 

 

Sometimes waiting is part of God’s plan. Romans 8:25 HCSB states: “But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.” Sometimes waiting involves courage in not giving into discouragement.

The word “wait” occurs 85 times in the ESV. In the Bible we find many people who had to “wait on the Lord,” just as we as believers have to wait on Christ’s return. We can learn lessons of accepting and tolerating delays in life from some of these Bible “waiters:”

• Abraham and Sarah had to wait for the fulfillment of God’s promise of a child to be born. God waits until it was impossible and then makes the impossible happen. His name was Isaac. Genesis 17:16.
• Moses didn’t lead the Exodus until he was 80. Exodus 7:7.
• Moses had to go up to a mountain and wait for God to give him the ten tablets of stone with the law and commandments, which God had written for Moses to teach and give instruction to the people regarding God’s laws. Exodus 24:12.
• Noah, being warned by God, constructed the ark for the saving of his family. Noah waited 120 years for rain. When the flood came, and they were all in the ark, they all had to wait for the rain to stop for many months, before they could leave the ark and live on dry land. Genesis 7-8; Hebrews 11:7.
• Job learned the lesson of waiting for God’s restoration and blessings from his many trials. He learned to know God more deeply through it all: Job 42:1: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” God restored all that Job lost, as it says in Job 42:12: “And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.”
• David waited on God alone throughout the book of Psalms for safety and deliverance from various enemies. One example is Psalm 62:1: “For God alone, my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.”
• David showed steadfastness in waiting on God as it says in Psalm 130:5: “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”

Listen for the Holy Spirit’s prompting in bringing to memory verses you have read and stored in your heart while you are “in the wait.” It will grip you. Ask God to make His word fresh to you. I will sometimes ask Him to make what I am reading in my Bible zing in my heart, so I get it.

WAIT on the Lord.

LOOK FOR His guidance and provision with expectation and anticipation.

HOPE – Psalm 42:5: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Throughout Psalm 62. David talks about waiting on God alone. He declares God is his fortress, his rock, his salvation, his refuge. He says His hope is from God alone and is reliable.

“. . . when you trust the Lord God to give you the next step, when you wait in humility upon Him, He will open the doors or close them, and you’ll get to relax until He says ‘Go.” Chuck Swindoll.

What are you waiting on God for this week? Write it down and date it on your prayer list.

What verse gives you hope and courage in working through a struggle of an unanswered burden or circumstance? Write the date next to the verse in your Bible. Scripture is the primary means for God to speak. Ask God to help you to be spiritually alert and aware of His presence and movements. Remember, God is with you everywhere and at all times.

Wait for the LORD. Look for His astounding provision. Hebrews 11:23: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

“God’s plans for your life far exceed the circumstances of your day.” Louie Giglio.

Listen to Danny Gokey – “Hope in Front of Me.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KIhYZQ_ovw

 

Are you aware that when we say words of thanksgiving and praise up to God, it reshapes and changes the neuron patterns in our brain? The neural antidepressant is gratitude. Giving thanks and gratitude boosts levels of Serotonin and Dopamine – the brain’s happy chemicals and the same chemicals targeted by antidepressant medications.

Psalm 50:23: “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me, to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”

Grumbling, words of discontentment, having an unthankful heart grows like weeds within our mind and travels straight to our heart and corrupts it. It can become a hard habit to break.

We have mint growing everywhere in the front, side, and back of our house. It is just like a weed except it can be eaten, gives flavor to vegetables, fruits, and drinks. The roots of mint are called runners. These runners are invasive. If you plant a mint plant in a cracked flower pot in the ground, the runners will find a way out through the crack and continue to spread. Mint will take over if planted in the ground and not in a container. Mint roots can be pulled or dug out of the ground, but it will come back and take over any flower bed. Our invasive mint plants remind me of how complaining, griping, whining, all have a negative impact on our attitude. That is why mustering up a happy and thankful attitude is a choice. It sometimes takes work. Lack of joy, whittles away at our hope and faith that God has this. Nothing is too hard for Him!

The NET (New English Translation) puts it this way for Psalm 50:23: “Whoever presents a thank-offering honors Me. To whoever obeys my commands, I will reveal my power to deliver.”

It is said that thanksgiving is good, but thanks-living is better.

As I was meditating this week on keeping a joyful attitude and verbalizing my gratitude up to God, I was challenged in having a thankful attitude no matter what circumstances occur. I received a call late in the work day. It was not good news and I was perturbed. This newly received information I knew would affect adversely one of my largest customers. I then had to be the deliverer of this bad news and had to make a call I hated to make. I knew this would cause a serious inconvenience and be upsetting. In barely five minutes after my phone conversation, I received an email from this customer, that did not make me happy. Their large order was cancelled, we were reprimanded, and I lost this order to a competitor. I knew I could blame others for this negative result, but it was out of our control. One important detail was overlooked (I found out the following day) of the information communicated. Stress took over analyzing all factors and missing the right solution that was there all along. My large sale vanished. Lesson learned: Ask more questions first, next time this happens. Then re-assess.

So there I was for the next hour trying to control my thoughts and digest the end of my work day. I kept reading out loud Psalm 145:1-3 over and over. I have been working on memorizing these very verses, which is a song of praise of David. Then Psalm 50:23 also came to mind. I knew it was not a coincidence that I was being tested on giving praise back up to God instead of dwelling on this work problem. It was over. What was done was done. That night I prayed: “OK God, show me your divine power. I praise You, and this is my sacrificial offering up to You right now.”

It is easy to have thoughts of resentment, and bitterness when things appear to go wrong. Then those roots turn into runners, just like the roots of our mint plants outside, and have to be weeded out of our hearts by focusing instead on thankfulness and joyful praise back up to God for all He has done in our lives. Then peace can dwell securely instead of dissatisfaction and grudges.

Here are seven verses to pray back to God, to reboot our minds in cultivating and choosing to have a thankful heart:

Habakkuk 3:17-18: “Though the fig tree not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Colossians 3:15: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Psalm 69:30: “I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving.”

Psalm 100:4: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name.”

Psalm 113:3: “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!”

Psalm 145:2 “Everyday I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

“Satan so hates the genuine praise of Christ that his fiery darts of discouragement are not effective against us when we respond in praise.” William Thrasher.

How many days do you live out Psalm 113:3: “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!”? David praises God throughout the whole chapter of Psalm 113. He says from sun up to sun down the name of the LORD is to be praised! I need to cultivate praising God more each day.

God is simply saying back to us when we praise Him: “But Wait! I will show you!” What will He show us? God will then show us His power, His strength, His goodness, His working things out for our good, squelching Satan’s attacks, and the list could go on and on. Giving exultation up to God will be the remedy that will boost your second wind of energy that will kick in when you feel exhausted from the frustrations throughout the day. But wait, and let God show you Himself after you offer up your sacrifice of extolling devotion and appreciation of praise up to Him.

How long can you pray without asking God for anything?

Write out your own “Tribute of Bravo” up to God. I have started to write my own in my journal book.

Listen to Casting Crowns, “Praise You in this Storm.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5bLvVjJ4MA

God works through those who believe and are faithful to Him. “Pisteuo” is the Greek word used in the New Testament, for the word “believe.” It means: To think to be true, to be persuaded of, to place confidence in something that is considered to be true.

Jesus said to Thomas, in John 20:29: “. . . “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The purpose of the book of John is found in John 20:31: “But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” The gospel includes everything we need to know to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, through whom we have eternal life.

I was reminded of this word “believe” when I sat recently in the jury box, going through the process of picking jurors for a particular upcoming trial. The prosecuting attorney asked all of us during her opening remarks: “Do you believe that man landed on the moon? Where you there? Did you see it?”

What about us? Do we always believe God will answer our prayers or have faith in something we have requested from Him when we cannot see it first?

A lesson from history is recorded in Psalm 78. It was told over and over to each generation so they would not forget God and make the same mistakes as their ancestors:

• God divided the Red Sea and let the Israelites pass through it and they were able to escape from their enemy. It is considered to be the most spectacular miracle of Israel’s history in the Old Testament.
• God led the Israelites with a cloud in the daytime and a fiery cloud in the night.
• God split rocks on two separate occasions, in the wilderness to give them water to drink.

But God’s people forgot all of these marvelous works God had done for them and turned back in defending themselves in a particular battle. They deliberately turned away from God. They should have learned from all of these miraculous wonders God had done for them, but they did not. Their disbelief, discouragement, forgetfulness, and lack of belief was their downfall which led them to sin still more against God as Psalm 78:22 states: “Because they did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power.”

In spite of their unbelief and disobedience it says God provided:

• Food – manna to eat. The food was given abundantly. Even quail was provided.

Israel’s disobedience had a consequence as Psalm 78:31 HCSB states: “God’s anger flared up against them, and He killed some of their best men. He struck down Israel’s choice young men. Despite all this, they kept sinning and did not believe His wonderful works.”

Don’t we often doubt and forget the blessings God has given to us in the past as well?

Unbelief will have negative consequences. Look at what happened to Eve.

How much we fully trust in God depends on how well we know Him.

How is your level of believing God will or can answer a particular burden right now? Are you able to trust God above and beyond your understanding?

Many years ago I was going through the biggest problem I had ever experienced in my life. I was riddled with fear about all the bad consequences that might happen. I had promised God if He got me through this one I would never doubt Him again. God abundantly answered. God gave me my own Red Sea of deliverance experience in life. He parted the waters and allowed me to walk through to safety. He did work everything out for my good (Romans 8:28) in an amazing way.

However several years later, I was challenged by a series of very hard trials to work through. Once again the “what ifs” kept me awake at night. At that time Genesis 15:1 NIV had new life and truth for me: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Those two promises God gave to Abram, encouraged me that God would do the same for me.

Again I had to face the truth that all of my anxieties have to be cast onto God (1 Peter 5:7) one by one. I learned, by finding needed answers in the Bible, that He is my shield, defender, and protector. He is God. But I have to believe it no matter what new trial comes my way and never doubt. No one else can do that for me.

Fact: God always has a plan. We just have to rely with complete confidence and be obedient. He will provide the light to any dark and dreadful situation in His eternal timing. He has proven this to me time and time again.

We are told in John 20:30-31: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

When hearing evidence in a courtroom, people on the jury must make a choice in what they believe to be true. God has given full evidence throughout the Bible that Jesus is the Son of God and eternal life comes through believing in Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior. Do you believe in Him?

“Do you feel loved by God, because you believe he makes much of you, or because he frees you and empowers you to enjoy making much of him?” John Piper.

“True faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God’s fidelity to His Promises.”  ― Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God

Our eternal hope, life, and salvation, all are found in Jesus Christ alone. There is no uncertainty in any believer’s ultimate destiny. Our basis for this hope is found in the promises of the word of God. By believing on Jesus Christ, by looking to Him in faith, we have security in our relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit working in our life.

The disciple Thomas was changed from unbelief, to trust, belief, faith, and conviction that Jesus Christ had indeed risen from the dead. Thomas believed. Others, in the gospels of the Bible saw Jesus and still did not believe. But every person that is a Christian has a life full of evidence in the power of Jesus working in their life. We each have our own story to tell of the saving grace of Jesus, working daily in our lives. In the end, you can say, “God did this!”

“If only we knew what was happening when we pray we would never cease to pray.” Louie Giglio.

Believe God has His almighty plan without first seeing the outcome. Never doubt. Never stop praying. Place your hope and trust in Him.

Do you have some frustrations today? I do.

Do you feel exasperated? I sometimes do.

Are you looking at something that seems impossible? I have this week.

Believe God has you here for a purpose. Have faith in Him. Trust in the sufficiency of Christ. He’s got this!

Listen to the Newsboys song “We Believe.”

 

 

The phrase “trusting in God” involves having complete confidence in God’s power, plan, and provision, despite our circumstances.

Proverbs 28: 25b-26: “But the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched. Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

While waiting in Urgent Care for almost three hours one day this week, due to a work accident my husband had (which required seven stitches in his one finger), reminded me of a devotional I wrote about in my book, “Developing a Heavenly Mind Control. Devotional Thoughts to Reboot Our Minds With Truth.” Steve’s incident brought back a vivid memory that our daughter went through with their son, having a similar accident in 2014. Here is an excerpt from my book with the chapter title: “Trusting”:

“Our four-year-old grandson, Tate, recently had a serious accident that involved him possibly losing his fingernail on one of his little fingers on his left hand. It was an extremely painful incident. Our daughter Amy was putting on the new gauze and taping it one evening, and she said to him as he started to be afraid: “Tate, you have to trust mom! Hold your finger up straight, and I will fix this. You have to trust me! I am not going to hurt you. I am here to take care of you. You have to trust mom.”

Amy’s purpose of redoing the gauze taped bandage was to help keep the fingernail from getting an infection and to protect and cushion the wound. What a verbal picture this was to me of how much God loves me and doesn’t want to hurt me while I am going through any trial. I have only to trust God, just as Tate had to trust his mother to take good care of his injury. God is there to protect and guard me and help me and will provide His clean and new bandage of keeping my life safe from harm while undergoing any trial. I have to trust Him and have faith that He is working everything out for my good, as it says in Romans 8:28, as I take refuge in my Lord. What a picture this was to me and so simple but so profound!

My grandson had to gather up all of his courage to simply trust in my daughter’s love and care for him and know that she was not going to hurt him. He would follow her instruction in taking in a deep breath slowly and then exhaling slowly to get him to calm down and relax. Our cleansing breath comes from breathing in God’s promises for us to trust Him, and then exhaling with His peace flooding our souls.”

Emotions can hold us captive. Here are six verses on responding with trust in God:

• Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
• Psalm 56:3: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
• Psalm 62:8: “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”
• Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
• Proverbs 28:26: “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
• Isaiah 40:31 HCSB: “But they who trust in the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”

Our LORD is saying “Trust me!” “. . . So put your trust in the LORD (Psalm 4:5b).”

What is going on in your life right now where you need to have more trust that God has this?

Sometimes it takes work to exercise our faith. Sometimes it takes a great deal of effort to simply wait in His presence in anticipation of an outcome when a trial hits.  That is why I write down answers to prayers on a card and put them in my “To: Linda. From: God” gift box that I have sitting on my mantle in our living room. Reviewing past answers to prayers does help reboot my mind to bring back memories of how God has rescued, blessed, answered, provided, and protected, me in the past.

Our Pastor Todd said great words of wisdom to me one time, at a critical time in our life: “Every trial has an ending.”

May you have “passionate patience” as you put your trust in God today. Be on the alert for whatever God will do next (Romans 3:3-5 MSG).

God is saying: “Trust Me.”

Listen to “Already There” by Casting Crowns.

 

 

 

 

 

2 Peter 1:5-8: “For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Peter 1:5-8, is the passage that I have chosen to be preached on at my memorial service when that day comes. I want this passage to be my salutation.

Peter wrote this letter while he was in prison, awaiting his death. These three verses are part of Peter’s farewell speech to the churches in Asia Minor. He knows his life will be coming to an end. In Peter’s final message he is warning the believers that they need to work hard on developing these qualities to be of benefit, effective, and fruitful in the Christian life. They take work. It takes diligence.

Needed building block qualities, supplements required, of a godly life (2 Peter 1:5-8):

1. Faith: Faith is the foundation of the essential qualities that Peter says are needed in order to be effective and useful. It is the belief and acceptance of all God can do. Involves believing without having to see it. We are tested in our trials in life regarding the reality and depth of our experience of our faith in God. The next seven qualities are what are needed to be added to this foundation of our faith.
2. Virtue: That quality of life that makes someone stand out in excellence; having good character. It is our diligent devotion to personal righteousness. Requires integrity.
3. Knowledge: Understanding the truth of God’s Word and applying it correctly. When I have to depend entirely on God and not myself, I grow in the knowledge of God. A personal knowledge of God that grows deeper and more perfect out of an obedient heart. Involves diligently studying God’s Word and not just relying on someone else’s opinion. Has to do with having an intimate relationship with God. Letting God’s truth develop deeply in your heart.
4. Self-control: Is the opposite of self-indulgence. Maintaining a balanced life. Using self-restraint. Nothing should control us such as food, drink, emotions, or even overspending. Moderation is the key.
5. Steadfastness: Requires maintaining a stable, clearheaded mindset, in the midst of distress or disaster. Having a clear focus on the pursuit of hope and maintaining “passionate patience (2 Peter 1:5-6 MSG).” How can we have “passionate patience?” It involves perseverance in not quitting until God reveals what He has in mind. Prayer is the key.
6. Godliness: Godliness is an attitude. Making the right decisions that are good and noble, while showing proper reverence to God. Living above the petty things in life – seeking to do the will of God in everything. Godliness inspires all of these supplements required, to be successful in one’s Christian life.
7. Brotherly affection: Treating others as if they were part of your family. Rejoicing with those who deserve accolades and crying with those shedding tears. John 5:1-2 states the fact that loving our sisters and brothers in Christ is the evidence that we are born of God.
8. Love: This love seeks the highest good in putting others needs above your own. Loving others yet in spite of our differences.

I love how the Message summed this all up in 2 Peter 1:7: “. . . With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what is right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.”

“You get one pass at life. That is all. Only one. And that lasting measure of that life is Jesus Christ.” John Piper.

None of us get an email or text from God, notifying us ahead of time when our time on earth will be done. Our common phrases such as: Good-bye, adios, farewell, have a good day, take care, ta-ta, may be the last words our dear family and friends may hear from us, as we leave the house for work some morning.

Question: What does your life say about your faith?

Question: In which of these essential traits are you stronger? Which ones do you need to work on, strengthen, and develop?

Want to have spiritual success in your life? Develop and increase each of these essential qualities as a building block upon the next one. It takes work. It takes diligence. But the outcome will produce effectiveness and fruitfulness in your Christian walk.

Question: What legacy do you want to leave behind?

Don’t let the grass grow under your feet! Be diligent in faithful obedience and in your growth in adding to your faith, virtue, and to virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. “. . . For if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” 2 Peter 1:10b

Listen to the Newsboys song, “What I Want Them to Say.”

 

 

1 Corinthians 4:3-5 NIV: “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court, indeed. I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”

Last week I wrote about being complete in Jesus Christ and realizing the fullness of God resides within our hearts due to His grace. I want to try to take this one step further.

A good friend made the statement recently that our daughters have a much higher level of pressure regarding feeling approved in society than we did at that age. He sees it in TV commercials promoting just the right clothes, jewelry, body size, cars, vacation destinies, etc. The promotional train of thought is subtle. It gives the notion that if you have this, or go to these places, you will be fulfilled and have full acceptance in society. You will then be good enough. You will then be popular. That is not what the Bible tells us.

Paul didn’t have that problem. He didn’t care how people judged him. How did he do that? Not care about people’s criticisms? He lived life with the fact that God was his only judge. God’s evaluation of Paul, was all that mattered to him. Probably some of the Corinthians spoke disparagingly about Paul’s speaking effectiveness (1 Cor. 1:17 “. . . not with words of eloquent wisdom”). Paul admitted he perhaps was not the best speaker. He wasn’t trained at Toastmasters in being an active, eloquent, and entertaining speaker. Paul just wanted these people to know how Christ had forgiven (1 Tim. 1:15) his past sins, saved him, and transformed his sense of self-worth and identity. He was not controlled by people’s opinions of him. How do I get there too?

Darts of shame, failure, guilt, and frustration are frequently the names of arrows I have to pull out on the target on my back one by one. I often am afraid I am not good enough, smart enough, or just plain “enough” at times. As I have said before, “will I ever grow up?” Can you relate?

1 Corinthians 2:3-5 NIV, gives us insight into Paul’s humanness and humility: “I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” Paul was one of the most well-educated of all of the apostles. He grew up in Tarsus, where he learned to speak Koine Greek, the common language of the Roman Empire. He also learned Hebrew or Aramaic. Paul had studied philosophy and the arts. Gamaliel, a Jewish law teacher, tutored Paul in Jerusalem. As a Pharisee, he excelled in his skills of communication with both Jews and Gentiles.

God used Paul because he relied solely on the Holy Spirit’s power and not his own. In spite of Paul’s self-admitted weaknesses, he became one of the greatest missionaries of all time. God blessed Paul because he was faithful, obedient, and had a humble heart. His ego was not over inflated. That is how Paul maintained a level head. That is how he kept from being discouraged by people’s cutting words. Paul did not live to please people. His conscience was clear. People will judge no matter what. Paul knew there was nothing he could necessarily do to stop that. It was their problem and not his. I don’t think I am there yet. Are you?

Timothy Keller wrote a very short book: “The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness.” There are only 46 pages to this book which is based on 1 Corinthians 3:21-4:7. He talks about our ego: “It is always making us think about how we look and how we are treated. People sometimes say their feelings are hurt. But our feelings can’t be hurt! It is the ego that hurts – my sense of self, my identity. Our feelings are fine! It is my ego that hurts.”

Paul’s ego was not puffed up. It was properly balanced. His faith solely rested in the power of God. Criticism would not keep Paul up late at night. It would not bother him. He did not put too much value in other people’s opinions of himself. OK, you are thinking, but wait, he was a male and not a female. That is easy for a man. The truth of Paul’s words is still true for us women as well.

Words are vital to me. I am a people pleaser. I am like a recovering alcoholic in my journey of not being devastated by my mistakes and failures, and then from my perceptions of others evaluations. I so often take two steps forward, and one step back and have a relapse. I don’t want to let anyone down. I still have this high need of needing full acceptance from people. But as my mother told me growing up, “Linda, get your eyes off of yourself, and onto others.”

Romans 3:23 ESV, states: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Yes, all have sinned. But Romans 5:8 tells us we are preapproved: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus said in John 15:4-5 NKJV: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” That is it. I can do nothing. I must simply abide in Christ each and every day. I must meditate on growing in the knowledge of Christ’s love for me, through His Word, and holding onto the fullness of His power from the grace He freely gives. I must simply be obedient, take a breath and ask myself, “OK, now what would God do and will this matter for eternity?”

When falling into the trap of comparing yourself to someone else and feeling less than, remember these truths:

• “A superiority complex and an inferiority complex are basically the same. They are both results of being overinflated.” Timothy Keller, “The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness.”
• God judges motives and intentions by what is in the heart.
• Do not be inflated with pride. Are you exalting yourself or God?
• You have the fullness of God inside of you.
• The Bible says you are already full! You are already rich! 1 Cor. 4:8, Ephe. 3:14-19.
• If you make a mistake, it is just that. It is not the end.
• Do everything for God’s glory and leave it there. 1 Cor. 10:31.
• Be able to end each day with 2 Timothy. 4:8 on your lips: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
• God rewards those that seek him. Hebrews 11:6b.

We must bring our focus back to glorifying God, not behavior, self, or others perhaps misconceived and possible misunderstood perceptions. At times there is nothing you can do in response. We are not responsible for others actions. Pleasing God should be our top priority and nothing else.

Satan wants to cause disruptions in relationships and taunt our feelings of self-worth. Be on guard. Have the promises of God at your fingertips to fight back insecurities and get back your reassurance and hope in the Lord. People will hurt us. We will be treated wrongly in life. Bottom line – there is nothing you can do to change others reactions. Christ paid for it all on the cross.

Quote: “People are either going into a trial or coming out of one.” Pastor Todd Smith, Crossroads  Community Church. No one is exempt.

Question: Who do you envy? Why?

Question: Who needs your prayers for them today that has greater needs than your own current burden? Let them know you are praying for them.

My prayer for today: “Oh God, I blow it so often. I say stupid stuff and then wish I could grab it back and do a replay. How I cringe when I make mistakes. But You love me anyway. I love that Your forgiveness is everlasting. You do not hold grudges. Help me to remember next time, that there are instances where I need to simply do nothing. I can’t fix it. Help me to have a balanced ego – not too much and not too little. Tell me who I need to encourage today. Amen.”

Listen to Matthew West’s song “Mended.”

Paul states in Ephesians 3:19: “And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

This verse was part of a prayer Paul prayed, while he was in prison, for the people in the church he founded in Ephesus. Paul prays for the Holy Spirit’s power to strengthen the hearts of these believers and for them to comprehend the immense love of Christ. Paul’s burden was for these individuals to use the resources available to them which are grace, mercy, power, and love, laid up in Jesus Christ. The same is true for us today. Through God’s empowering Spirit, we are complete. The Holy Spirit is the immediate worker of grace in the souls of God’s people. We have all the fullness of God obtainable and accessible to us at all times.

Remember the Greek word Epignosis, which means precise and correct knowledge of God? It is having divine wisdom, intimate, personal, and experiential knowledge of God and Christ. Paul so wanted these believers to have this type of awareness of the love of Christ for everyone – Jew or Gentile. It involves realizing if you are a Christian, a Christ follower, then you have an overflowing and abundant ownership of Christ’s love. God wants us to experience His fullness. He gives us gifts and graces which He sees that we need.

The AMP text of Ephesians 3:19 says it best: “And (that you may come) to know (practically, through personal experience) the love of Christ which far surpasses (mere) knowledge (without experience), that you may be filled up (throughout your being) to all the fullness of God (so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself).”

Picture in your mind a glass measuring cup. The Holy Spirit fills us up (looking at a glass measuring cup in your mind) with comfort and knowledge of God due to His immense love for us. That is the source of real joy and peace.

If you are a Christian, you are already full and complete in Christ due to His grace.

Verses on Grace:

• 2 Corinthians 12:9: “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
• Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
• James 4:6: “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but give grace to the humble.”
• 2 Peter 1:2-3: “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”

Colossians 2:9-10 further declares: “And you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Think of yourself as a measuring cup, and that measuring cup is already full. It is complete. Nothing more needs to go into it, because the Holy Spirit is the means of our fullness in God.

James 1:4 also states: “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Christ grants us grace – giving us what we do not deserve. It is a gift. It never depends on our own efforts or works. It is all from God. Do I get it? God has granted to me all things that pertain to life and godliness. God’s grace is given to me to set me on the right path. I just have to be aware that God is divinely orchestrating His plan for my life because He loves me. I simply must be obedient in my faith, hope, and trust, in my Heavenly Father.

Paul prayed, in Ephesians 3, for the believers to know Christ’s love abundantly so they would be filled spiritually with the fullness of Him. He was not talking about some ecstatic or emotional experience. He was talking about God’s holiness and glory. The Holy Spirit is given to us, at the time of our accepting Christ as our Savior. The Holy Spirit is God in us transforming our lives.

God’s power has been demonstrated by:

• Raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Mark 16:5-7.
• Seated Christ at the right hand of God. Ephesians 1:20
• By grace has given salvation to those who accept and believe in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:5-6.
• Our eternal life is with Christ, sitting “in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:3.

We have this same power living within our soul. The Holy Spirit dwells within our hearts.

May we realize the fullness of God’s love in our lives and not let insecurities squelch our potential for living an abundant life in Christ. I am not talking about “name it and claim it” or earthly prosperity false teachings. We are complete in Him through His grace. May we meditate on growing in the knowledge of Christ’s love for us and the fullness of His power from the grace He freely gives to us.

Warren Wiersbe: “We are so rich in Christ that our riches cannot be calculated even with the most sophisticated computer. . . No Christian ever has to worry about having inadequate spiritual resources to meet the demands of life.”

Question: Whose evaluation of you is more important? God or the opinion of others?

Question: What truth has God taught you this week about His faithfulness, grace, or mercy?

Question: What verse reminds you that complete joy is found only in Christ?

My prayer today: “God fill every aspect of my life to the fullest possible way as only You can do by Your Holy Spirit. My faith is small. Give me more faith. Thank you so much for the grace You have given to me. May I be more aware of that grace working in my life abundantly. What do you want to teach me today? Help my life to reflect your infinite grace.”

Listen To Danny Gokey’s song, “More Than You Think I Am.”

 

 

 

Psalm 119:18 declares: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” This verse has gripped me this past week. It became my prayer: “Yes God, “open my eyes.” I want to understand and know everything you expect me to learn, know, and understand from Your word. Teach me.”

There are 30 verses in the ESV, where those two words, “teach me” are found. Here are 11 examples of them:

1. Job 6:24: “Teach me and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.
2. Job 34:32: “Teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
3. Psalm 25:4: “Make me to know your paths O LORD; teach me your paths.”
4. Psalm 25:5: “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”
5. Psalm 27:11: “Teach me your way O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.”
6. Psalm 51:6: “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”
7. Psalm 86:11: “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.”
8. Psalm 119:26: “When I told of my ways, you answered me; teach me your statutes!”
9. Psalm 119:29: “Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law.”
10. Psalm 119:66: “Teach me good judgment and knowledge for I believe in your commandments.”
11. Psalm 143:10: “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”

I just pulled out an old letter; I had received when I was 24 years of age. It was from a dear woman that had been my mentor. God instrumentally used her in having an impact on my life at a critical time. She was God’s person that He chose to teach me to draw close and love the Lord with all my heart, and to learn everything I could from His Word. Margaret passed away years ago from cancer, but Margaret Hanson, and I stayed in touch through letter writing after I became married and started a home of my own. She was a great women’s Bible study teacher and led many women to Christ, to accept Him into their life. In the one letter that I still have, she said: “At times giving out and giving out can be discouraging . . . Isaiah 55:11: “My word that goes out of my mouth shall not return unto me without effect; it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the things whereto I sent it.” All the Lord requires of us is obedience and faithfulness, and after all, He’s the one to get the glory.” How I miss Margaret.

I have so much more that I want to learn and know from God’s word. There is always something new and fresh to ponder when reading the Bible.

Job, and the writers of the Psalms, both asked God to open their minds, to give them insight beyond their abilities of understanding.

Paul, in Ephesians 1:16-17, and in Colossians 1:9, asked God to give the saints wisdom into God’s Word and the saving knowledge of Him.

When we know how to apply full scriptural knowledge, epignosis, then we will know God’s will for our life.

Don’t we all get so caught up with work, family, friends, and just living real life? Life throws us a curve ball and we don’t know what to do. Recently I was not sure what I should do about a particular situation. I thought hard. I asked a close friend for advice. I went to God and asked Him. Then I saw how Job, the authors of Psalms, and Paul, all asked God to “teach them.” Here is the list I came away with that I want God to teach me as I pause, reflect, and have Him teach the following to me. Then the natural outcome will be: Growing in discernment, knowledge, wisdom, and make wise choices:

1. Understand when I have gone astray. I want to arm myself with the mind of Christ, in true righteousness and holiness. May my heart be continually transformed.
2. Teach me what I need to see and know from Your Word. Don’t let me miss anything.
3. Assist and bless all my endeavors. Make them multiply.
4. Help me to “get it -” wisdom from God. May my brain process it all correctly so I may have it hidden in my heart, so I will have total obedience from knowing what is true. Understanding will follow later.
5. May I have good judgment and discernment from the knowledge learned from your Word (epignosis knowledge).
6. May I be sensitive and aware of the Holy Spirit’s nudges and may I not neglect and be fully aware of your leading in the way I should go.

You may be thinking, but wait! I don’t have time in my day right now to sit still and pour over chapters in my Bible to gain more knowledge in God’s Word. It sounds wonderful, but I am exhausted. I would like to, but I can’t seem to fit it in!

It doesn’t require hours of study. Carry verses in your purse to pull out while waiting in line. Or turn on a Bible ap, such as YouVersion, while doing dishes or putting on your make-up, and have it read the Bible to you out loud. Subscribe to a verse for the day. Write out a verse on a post-it note and stick it on the mirror for you to read while you brush your teeth. It doesn’t have to be anything huge. Just one verse at a time will work. Feeding your mind truths of scripture is what counts.

Question: Are you in full realization of opportunities God is giving you to grow in your relationship with Him?

Question: What does God want to teach you this coming week? Be on the lookout as you become His masterpiece.

Question: How has God opened your eyes recently? What verse has He used to do that? Ask Him for one.

When we have an increase of knowledge about the truths found in God’s Word, we then have an increase of our faith in Him.

My prayer for today: God thank you that when Jesus died on the cross for my sins, He did not hold any grudges. He dropped it. I want to be continually sensitive to your guidance and leading in the tasks I am responsible for today. Thank you for your unconditional love and patience. You are my teacher, my rock, fortress, refuge, stronghold, and deliverer. Thank you for your  sustaining grace and mercy in my life. “Open my eyes so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law (Psalm 119:18).” I bless Your name, and lift you high, as my God and King.

Listen to “Masterpiece” by Danney Gokey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJMQdJeqXrs

 

Do you ever wish to just have some stability in your life? Personally, I hate change. I prefer the status quo. I tend to be more methodical in life because then I tend to feel more secure. There are no unexpected surprises that way. I feel insecure when I do not know how to do something that is new to me. But as Francis Chan states, if life were stable, we would never need God’s help.

David in the Old Testament did not have stability in his life, when he had enemies pursuing him and trying to kill him. His opponents hated him. David had his life threatened more than once.

Saul was an anointed King of Israel, but ended up being rejected by God due to his disobedience in God’s instructions. Saul became self-centered, self-willed, and self-justified his actions rather than repenting to God for his disobedience. Saul became proud and infatuated with himself. Then his jealousy, insanity, anger and fear towards David grew in intensity due to David being anointed king by Samuel, replacing Saul as the king as stated in 1 Samuel 15:23: “For rebellion is as the sin of divination and presumption is in iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”

But God rescued David each time Saul and others tried to kill David, and protected his life. Psalm 18:1-15 and Psalm 144:1-8, both state about how God saved David from all of his enemies and Saul. Both of these Psalms are almost a duplicate of 2 Samuel 22, and are a song of praise to God for the safety He always provided David when he was in danger from various adversaries. David cried out to God for help, and God responded.

Psalm 18:1-2: “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, and stronghold.”

Psalm 144:1: “Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”

The word for love, used in Psalm 18:1, signifies tender intimacy. David’s choice of the word love in this instance expressed commitment, unswerving devotion, close fellowship, and supreme love for God.  The Lord was not merely a genie in a bottle to just pull out and demand a wish when times were bad for David and he was no coward. David’s complete trust in God wiped out fear.

Don’t we all dislike the bumps in the road and want everyone to like us? We try so hard to please everyone and be everything to all people. When David was confronted by his enemies he used the descriptive word “calamity” (Psalm 18:18 ESV), which means a catastrophe, tragedy, affliction, and misfortune. The HCSB uses the word “distress.” The MSG uses the word “chaos.” But David says the LORD was his support.

God orchestrated events in order to keep David’s life safe and protected. David knew God would take Saul’s life at His appointed time. David had the opportunity to take his own revenge and take matters into his own hands, but didn’t out of obedience to God.

We find in 2 Samuel 22, Psalm 18, and Psalm 144, David proclaiming praise back to God for being his:

• Shield
• Strong refuge
• Deliverer
• Rock
• Stronghold
• Saving David from violence

David wasn’t always innocent, but in this instance, he was.

In 2 Samuel 22:41, David states: “You made my enemies turn their backs to me, those who hated me, and I destroyed them.”

How did David learn to be such a skilled soldier?

David said in Psalm 18:34: “He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.” Psalm 144:1b stated: “. . . who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”

God did the following for David to enable him to win in combat:

• God heard David’s cry for help – Psalm 18:3; 6-“. . . He heard my voice . . .”
• God caused an earthquake and storm to take place at just the exact and right moment. Psalm 18:7-15
• God rescued David. Psalm 18:3b; 17-19.
• God rewarded David for his righteousness, integrity, and faithfulness. Psalm 18:20-24.
• God trained David for war. Psalm 18:34
• God gave David the shield of salvation. Psalm 18:35

Priscilla Shirer has said: “Sometimes the greatest miracles God does are not in our circumstances, it is in our minds.”

I must own for myself David’s words in Psalm 18:30: “This God – his way is perfect, the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.”

I don’t always view stressful situations as another training ground God is sharpening my skills to learn. God’s school of endurance has come in many forms throughout my years of life. God’s purpose is always to make us draw deeper into His Word and to grow in tender intimacy with the Lord that gives testimony to His grace and mercy working in our life.

Question: Do you fully understand the stability you have in Christ?

Question: What song of praise can you sing back to God today, as David did in 2 Samuel 22, Psalm 18, and Psalm 144, for being your rock, fortress, deliver, shield, and stronghold?

Listen to Benton Brown’s “God My Rock” Lyric’s Video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0b2GFdxuVk