Devotional Fuel to Reboot Your Mind

“Our minds are mental greenhouses where unlawful thoughts, once planted, are nurtured and watered before being transplanted into the real world of unlawful actions… These actions are savored in the mind long before they are enjoyed in reality. The thought of life, then, is our first line of defense in the battle of self-control.” Jerry Bridges.

There are 52 verses in the Bible about self-control.

Pizza, red velvet cake, chips, and salsa, – these delicious foods often challenge my willpower. My husband lacks self-restraint when he has a little pie with his ice cream. There is nothing wrong with food or having fun. But if they become hindrances in our life, then that is a problem.

Ever put too much salt on your food? That is a vivid example of something out of balance. Too much salt is not tasty. It overpowers the other flavors and is not pleasing to eat.

I think of our grandson Tate. He never eats after he is full. He stops. He just isn’t tempted to keep on eating. I admire that about him.

I often wish I would have kept my thoughts to myself after speaking abruptly, and not using more self discipline in this area. Do you?

I will never have a “poker face.” That is why I will never play poker. The expression on my face will give it all away every time! I can’t help it.

We need to have balance and moderation in our life in every area.

Here are several verses to remember regarding self-control and self-discipline:

I Corinthians 9:25a; 27: “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath . . . But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Psalm 141:3: “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!”

Proverbs 21:23: “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”

Proverbs 29:11: “A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.”

Luke 14:11: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

2 Peter 1:6-7: “And knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”

Titus 1:7-8: “For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach, He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.”

Titus 2:11-12: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”

2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Yes, pizza, chips and salsa, red velvet cake, pie and ice cream are all enjoyable when not eaten in excess.

Words fitly spoken are like “honey and apples of gold (see the post on “Gracious Words Fitly Spoken”). How I often regret, after the fact, when bluntness has come out of my mouth before I am able to filter it with God’s love and grace and mercy.

“He who angers you conquers you.” Elizabeth Kenney.

“Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these, I commit my day.” Max Lucado.

“We must have a spirit of power towards the enemy, a spirit of love towards men, and a spirit of self-control towards ourselves.” Watchmen Nee.

My prayer for today: God, thank you for your peace and joy that fills my heart. I want to have Your Word control my thoughts, actions, relationships,  problems, what I put into my mouth, and what comes out of my mouth in conversations. May I also use self-control in how I spend money. This world is not my home. Thank you for the abundance of excellent flavors to share with family and friends!

Ah yes, pizza, red velvet cake, chips, and salsa, and a little pie with some ice cream! Yum!

But the inner soul needs and can only find peace in Jesus Christ as it says in Psalm 107: 9: “For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”

Review verses on having self-control. Isn’t it always easier to see what others are lacking and falling short in, instead of your own?  Administer the quality of self-control as Peter declares in 2 Peter 1:10b: “. . . if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

 

The definition of the word “radiant” means: Sending out the light or shining and glowing brightly. Having intense joy. Luminous, glowing, dazzling, and bright, are all synonyms for the word radiant. I think the modern day word “bling” could also apply.

Is your face radiantly reflecting Christ? Has time in the word made an impact on your thoughts? If not, ask the LORD to speak to you vividly through a verse that will zing (that is what I call it, “zing”). Yes, your troubles are still there, but take it as your occupation to let God’s light shine on your face as you reflect Jesus, to others you come in contact with each day. You have spent time with God Almighty who protects, shepherds, always listens, shields, rewards, blesses, and answers your prayers. You are equipped to handle whatever may come with your arsenal of verses. It is time to let your light shine!

Priscilla Shirer has said in her Bible study book, “The Armor of God,” that we are “a publisher of peace, a messenger of the good news. Through God’s Word, you can pronounce freedom and peace over your own circumstances and even the lives of those you love.” That is a new concept to me. I am a publisher of peace from having my “. . . feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace.” Ephesians 6:15, HCSB.

I can think of two women that have been examples to me of being peace-filled Christian women. The one has had a serious life change of events in her life. But God’s Word is her steadying force. How she loves to dig and help other women know how to study the Bible in spite of her situation. My other friend, who lives in Colorado, uses humor to turn any pessimistic attitude into a positive attitude. When I think of this woman, her smile, sarcasm, and laughter automatically come to mind. Her glass is always half full and never half empty. Her strong faith in God exudes the peace in her heart.

Luke 8:16, ESV, declares: “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.”

My question for myself is: Will my face radiate from my time with God this morning and will my light so shine before others even when we are in conflict? That challenges me.

I must confess my face was not radiating the joy of the Lord, in CVS recently. I was not able to take a package of the Oral-B replacement toothbrush heads off the hook, so I went to the front register and told the employee my problem. He spoke over the intercom for a service employee to go to Isle 25 and meet a customer. I went back there and after waiting for five to ten minutes walked all the way back to the front of the store, and complained to the young man behind the register that no one came. He apologized and repeated the command again for a service employee to meet a customer in Isle 25. I waited longer. No one came. I tried every conceivable way to tear that package off the hook, but it would not come down. I wished I had a scissors. I would have cut it off the hook. At last a friendly smiling woman came and retrieved my toothbrush package off of the locked rack. I did not have a patient expression when I again went back to the register where the clerk was who rang up my purchase. My patience was tested, and I didn’t pass the test as I walked out of the store shaking my head.

David proclaimed in Psalm 34:1: “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Am I continually giving thanks to the LORD throughout the day? No, I have to admit I too quickly complain about situations, get impatient, and instead of radiating God’s goodness and mercy, I grumble.

The HCSB puts Psalm 34:5 this way: “Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces will never be ashamed.” That is the key. As we look to the Lord for guidance, for answers, for His will, His companionship, we should then be radiant with joy, and then our words will not come back to embarrass us after the fact.

Psalm 34:5: “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces will not be ashamed.”

God is our rock, our strength, our encourager, our deliverer. His mercies are new every morning.

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” Chuck Swindoll.

Dear LORD, as I look to you for help, I want to reflect the radiant, happy joy that only You can give. May Your peace be evident in my conversations. You take away my shame, my guilt, my frustrations and failures due to Your unconditional  and never ending love. I want my face to reflect radiance from my relationship with You. I want to apply your peace in my life better, so my face is glowing and not ashamed from stupid stuff getting the best of me.

“This too will pass.” Nella Helmers.

Let the peace of God radiate on your face today.

Psalm 16:8: “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.”

Psalm 18:2: “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, my stronghold.”

Have you been feeling overwhelmed with what you have to juggle throughout your day? Is there some situation that has  you in exhaustive turmoil? Do you feel like you need a personal anti-fatigue cushion mat?

I have been there recently. I have had a work related problem that has taken up my time and efforts for a whole week. I do not know when or how our perception of the correct answer will be accepted by the other party. Or if it will be accepted at all. So I wait. The turbulence has caught me by surprise. It has caused me difficulty in moving forward. My sense of wellbeing and stability has been interrupted. I hate to admit that my self confidence has been attacked. However, I must refocus my mind on God’s word, rather than my problem.

Memorizing scripture and getting it deeply rooted and planted in my soul, will give me the added endurance and physical strength and intellectual sharpness for this current battle. My thoughts will then be redirected on what Paul exhorted the believers in Philippi to do in Philippians 4:8:“. . . whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things,” instead of focusing on an exasperating problem. That is what I am having to do today right now. Have you had the same experience this week? Do I have any “Me too!” out there?

When I am memorizing God’s Word, I am sharpening my mental brain cells with truth and focusing on Him, rather than me. Starting out my day with keeping the perimeter secured (see previous post “Securing the Perimeter”) from my God and I time, will strengthen me for the battles of life. A wise friend recently challenged me last week to start memorizing scripture and expounded on all of the benefits that memorizing does for the brain. I did some research and he is absolutely right. There are significant mental benefits in hiding God’s word in your heart, by memorizing God’s truth. His light will shine forth in our heart and mind by our brain spitting back to us specific verses in the Bible when we need them the most, if we have memorized scripture. That is our needed ammunition along with prayer, and then a time of praising and giving thanks to God for all He has already done, will bring our minds back in proper focus and concentration.

10 Proven Benefits For the Brain From Practicing Memorization:

• Trains the brain to remember.
• Challenges the brain.
• Recall of information takes place in the brain quicker.
• Helps the brain respond quicker and be more agile.
• Has been known to save brain power.
• Learn to have focus naturally.
• Essential in learning new concepts.
• Improves short term memory.
• Frees up the mind to have better creativity.
• Higher cognitive skills and sharper minds for years to come.

Another benefit from memorizing scripture is peace will replace mental chaos. Try committing this verse to memory: Romans 12:1-2: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Paul was declaring to the believers in Rome, that they should be continually changed by the renewing of their minds from reading God’s Word. We should be doing this frequently and on an ongoing schedule of routine. Our conscience will then be sharpened and in tune with God’s ways constantly. We will be better able to discern His will for our lives by being saturated in committing God’s truths in our hearts. This change will then be made radical from the inside out. I want God to radically change and renew and transform my thinking by His Holy Spirit, as it states in Deuteronomy 11:18: “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”

Another verse that I recommend memorizing is Psalm 19:7, I call it my CPR verse: “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” Yes! God refresh, and restore my soul and make me smarter in life! Help me not to do and say stupid stuff! I love that word reviving!

God’s love for us never diminishes. Memorize Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” That verse reminds me of the old hymn: “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” Then the song went on to say: “Morning by morning new mercies I see. Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not. As thou hast been thou forever will be. Great is thy faithfulness.”

Since God is upholding the universe, He is upholding you and I and supporting, defending, confirming, and sustaining us every day and moment by moment. His love for us never stops. His compassion, His grace, His forgiveness, His generosity and kindness, never comes to an end. Each morning starts with a fresh slate with God. Great is God’s continuing commitment and promises to us as Romans 8:28 declares: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” I needed to be reminded of that very verse right now.

Need to push the pause button of your life for a few minutes? Inhale deeply. Exhale deeply. Then pick up your Bible, which is “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17) and make a deliberate effort at memorizing some verse, a whole section, or an entire chapter of Scripture. It will cause the brain to be sharper. It will increase your intelligence. Focusing back on God’s power and security will naturally take place. It will help you stay young. It will have significant mental health benefits.

I challenge you to commit to a plan of memorizing scripture. Hide God’s promises in your heart. Let them steep in your soul so they travel from your heart up to your brain. Then when you are tempted to become discouraged, overwhelmed, and have anxious thoughts, specific verses you have memorized will pop up and you will be able to stand firm and combat Satan tempting you with his weapons of guilt, shame, frustration, or failure. I have struggled with feelings of failure, guilt, and frustration this week. Then I felt ashamed for not rising above this crazy problem at work and allowing it to disrupt my week.

I recently discovered a free app called “Scripture Typer.” It has three simple techniques to help one memorize scripture. Type it. Memorize it. Master it. It is now my tool that I am putting into practice in sharpening my brain power by memorizing God’s Word. It even reminds you when you need to review a verse you have memorized and mastered!

My prayer today: God, I thank and praise You for your faithfulness in listening to my needs that I continue to give to You. Yes, even my disappointments that I share with You, alone. You never tell me: “You’ve already said that!” Thank You! I need to trust You moment by moment, and I ask that You help me in the details where I am feeling overwhelmed and replace those emotions with the facts from your precious promises that I have committed to memory. I had forgotten that my battle is not mine but Yours’ dear God. You fight for me as it says in Deuteronomy 3:22 and 2 Chronicles 20:15b (“. . . for the battle is not yours but God’s.”). Give me your wisdom and transform me by renewing my mind radically from Your Word. I realize what problems I face today will not necessarily matter two weeks from now. Give me strength for today and may I replace throwing my hands up in the air with my hands together, and fingers pointing up to You. Now, I am ready for another day as I recite verses that are my sword of the Spirit!

If you have felt overwhelmed this week, please know that I am praying for you and so relate. What verses are you then going to start to memorize? Now it is your turn to talk. Leave a comment about a verse you plan to commit to memory. I would love to hear what they are!

Enjoy listening and watching this special You Tube by Joseph Cheetham-Wilkenson: “One of Those Days Lord. I’m lonely, I want to spend time with Jesus.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtwO1gJ-wk4

 

Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”

Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”

A few weeks ago my husband and I stopped at a local honey store and bought a container of clover honey and a jar of sage honey. Bennett’s Honey Farm is our favorite place to buy and sample good quality honey. I picked up a book on one of the display racks and started to read about all of the amazing healthful advantages from honey. Here are a few of the reported health benefits:

• B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and amino acids, are all found in honey.
• Minerals include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, and zinc.
• Honey is a natural sweetener, has antioxidants, and is free of fat and cholesterol.
• Need more energy? Honey can combat depleted stress hormones.
• In need of better sleep at night? Honey can produce better sleep and immunity repair.
• Sluggish metabolism? Honey fixes that too!
• Healing properties. Have a wound? Put honey on a gauze, and tape it over the wound. It has natural healing and fighting infection properties.

I don’t know if all of these touted health benefits from honey are true or not, but Solomon, in Proverbs 16:24 references the importance of gracious words being like the sweetness of honey – connecting with our heart, our soul, and giving health to our whole body.

Are you in need of some encouraging words spoken just to you today? Do you have a particular need that words of encouragement from some friend will be like the sweetness of honey to your soul? Have you asked God to fill this need? Or have you asked God to point out who needs encouragement from you today? Maybe someone needs you to bless them.

I had the good pleasure of being blessed at church recently from words fitly spoken to me at just the right time! I went up to a friend to be an encouragement and check up on how she was doing, and much to my surprise, her words spoken to me came at just the right providential, from God, moment! I was feeling insecure regarding something, and God blessed me right through my friend’s words that were better than any health benefits from honey and were indeed right out of Proverbs 16:24 and Proverbs 25:11!

Hurtful words sting and cut to our core. A harsh tone in our words can be abrasive. Damaging a child’s self-esteem can last for the rest of his or her life by an impatient or lack of understanding grade school teacher’s words. I remember a particular teacher our son had, in third grade, criticized him for drawing the sun on his picture. She said he was too old to do that. In her estimation only younger children draw suns on their papers and that it was not acceptable for his age. He told me about it when he was in his twenty’s or thirty’s. It hurt him back then as a third grader, and he remembered it into his adult years. Words can build one up or tear them down for life.

Seek out who you can encourage today. Maybe you need to give words of praise and thanks for someone that has been a special “buddy strap” friend to you when you needed it most. Or there may be a friend that needs some one-on-one girl time together with just you. We need to be aware of who the Holy Spirit lays on our heart and mind and not ignore it.

Paul admonished the Ephesians in Ephesians 4:29, to speak words that benefit others, when he said: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”

Pray and seek out who you can be a blessing to today or this week, which will be encouraged by your words and your actions. Are you sensing any internal nudges suggesting someone that pops up in your mind? Who do you need to extend grace to instead of criticism? Who can you catch doing something right and complement them in their success? Who around you is going through a trial and tribulation that you have experienced as well? You will have just the right words to give support and to love on them as no one else can. Send a text, an email, a card, or make a phone call, and speak those words that will be sweeter than honey and apples of gold!

My prayer for today: “God, put on my mind who needs an encouraging word from me today. I want to speak words that will benefit someone. Who needs to receive a blessing from my mouth? Proverbs 11:25 states: “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” I want to be aware and used for your glory in uplifting my husband, my children, a friend, or stranger, in need of encouragement. I don’t have all of the answers. I so often see the glass half empty instead of half full. My lack of patience with others has caused me to be discouraged. You are so forgiving of me when I blow it, and I need to show more mercy and grace in return. Thank You for never giving up on me! I want You to give me gracious words sweeter than honey, and words that are fitly spoken like apples of gold in pictures of silver, as fits the occasion.”

Listen to Hawk Nelson’s song, “Words” www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8aPFiYNIN4

 

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

My husband and I love to watch detective, suspense shows, and movies. Our favorite detective TV shows are or have been: NCIS, Blue Bloods, and 24. Whenever there is a situation of danger and protection is needed involving a police chase, or task force chase of a criminal in pursuit, the head officer commands: “Secure the perimeter” to the team squad. Then once all team responders are in position, the head officer reports back to his commander: “Perimeter secured!”

I need to prepare for each new day God has given me. I need to be armed for the battle ahead. As I was eating breakfast at a hotel this week, outside, looking at their hedge of flowers that served as a  fence around the property, this brought to mind another visual picture of how I need to “secure the perimeter” by putting on the armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6:12-18. Memorizing and being in God’s Word daily is the ammunition requirement to help me stand firm and be strong in the Lord no matter what hits me. I have to put on my spiritual armor. Then being in prayer causes the armor of God to function. Prayer is what activates the armor.

Last week my husband and I were suddenly woken up at about 3:00 AM. There was an awful high pitched and shrill screeching sound outside in our back yard. It was frightening. We both got up and turned on our back yard light. There were two raccoons, fighting, and rolling on the ground in-between two of our rose bushes. What a site! Steve thought they probably had a possum or rat caught between the two of them and were battling who would be the winner. At last one of the raccoons got up and jumped up our back wall and into the neighbor’s tree. The other raccoon climbed into one of our rose bushes. We then went back to bed. But the picture of this scene stuck out in my mind. It was another visual picture of Ephesians 6: 12-18. I must daily activate my spiritual armor with prayer in being ready to wrestle any relationship struggles, health challenges, chaos in my work day, irritations of life, and my to do list for the day. I need to “secure the perimeter” of my day by spending one on one time with God from reading and meditating on His Word of truth, and spending time in prayer.

Have you asked God what He wants you to know, from what you have read from His word today? Have you asked Him to speak to you and give you direction?

God already has divine appointments designed just for you, and just for me today. God is our: shield, defender, overseer, refuge, almighty Father, light, strength, the great I AM, all knowing, ever present, unchangeable, our all sufficiency, a rewarder of those that seek Him, and so much more!

Tomorrow morning (mornings just work best for me) when I have my devotions, my God, and I time, I will be “securing the perimeter” for my day ahead of me. I will wear the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. I always end my morning devotions time with God, by praying for what I am writing down in my prayer request journal for that day. Then, I can say: “God, the perimeter is secured!”

Have you secured your perimeter for today?

Listen to Steve Curtis Chapman’s “Warrior” song:

 

 

 

 

 

I started a survey project this week in preparation for my next book project and my Blog. The questions I asked several women were:

1. What is your deepest need right now?
2. What immediately came to mind?
3. Did your answer change after you thought it over? If so, what was the need that replaced your first response to this question?

Philippians 4:11 ESV: “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

Matthew 6:8b ESV: “. . . for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

My greatest needs have changed over the years. When I was younger and my children were toddlers, my biggest prayer requests dealt with potty training and being able to pay bills. My mother gave me some sage wise advice back then: “When your children are young, they have small needs but when they get older, your prayer requests become bigger in depth and size. She was right. My prayer requests have matured from merely human needs to immaterial and eternal needs for my children.

I am just beginning to get answers in from my survey. I am finding that we women share a lot of the same burdens. Here are some of the responses to my survey regarding: “What is your deepest need right now?”

• Health and feeling insignificant.
• Need to feel loved and appreciated.
• Physical strength.
• The Salvation of my children.
• Want my kids to appreciate me and what I do.
• Fighting discouragement resulting from prayers not answered quickly.
• No return of my son’s cancer and for continued peace and trust.
• Need to remember God is my refuge and what that means.
• To let go of fear and be thankful.

I was amazed at how many responded that their greatest need right now was a lack of physical strength due to their health issues or for a member of their family having health issues. It kept coming up with more and more women. Then I read in Priscilla Shirer’s, “The Armor of God” Bible study book, a statement that explains this. She is referring to right before she was in the movie War Room. One of the directors sent her the following email:

“Now that you are joining the team, don’t be surprised if the enemy drops unusual family, relational, or health problems in your life. Don’t worry. Just prepare. God is greater than anything the enemy attempts.”

“Bottom line: Anticipate the enemy to hit you in the area of your greatest influence.” Priscilla Shirer.

What is my deepest need right now? My immediate response is fighting discouragement when I don’t see answers to prayers quickly. My reaction is from lack patience. I use my Keurig coffee maker every morning because it makes my own single cup of coffee quickly. I prefer quick answers and results much the same way in my prayer life. However, my gift box, on my mantel that says: To: Linda and Family. From: God, is filled with dated answers to prayers written on 3 X 5 cards. Each one is a living reminder of past answers to prayers that I have turned over to our Heavenly Father. I get to have my own thanksgiving and praise service every time I open the lid and read every card!

God tells us not to fear the “but what if . . .” because He is with us. I just had to endure another test about this last night. My heart was pounding over a situation. I turned on my You Version Holy Bible ap and turned to the book of Psalms. I started playing it from Psalm 5 and had it read to me out loud through Psalm 40. I wrote down on a piece of paper precious promises of God that helped calm my nerves through these chapters of truth. This problem was out of my control. There was nothing I could do to fix or change it. God says don’t be dismayed. Don’t be disheartened. Don’t be upset. Don’t lose courage for the task ahead because He is our God. He vows to strengthen us. He just might do that through a trial, however He also promises to help us, sustain us, and uphold us no matter what. I went to sleep finally, being upheld by the last verse in Psalm 40 being girded with truth: “You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!”

What is your deepest need right now? Remember, God is greater than anything the enemy attempts to torpedo you in your path. Read the Psalms for comfort and reassurance. Listen to the song, “Shoulders” by King and Country, or Josh Wilson’s song, “I Refuse,” or his song, “Fall Apart.” These songs have spoken richly to me in various needs of mine in the past. Ask God to talk to you through His Word. Stop. Listen. Wait.

My prayer today: “God I praise You for your power. You are my refuge. You are my shield. I need more courage in trusting You completely and not giving into discouragement. I am holding on to Your promise to me found in Psalm 9:10: “For You LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You.” I am looking forward to Your promise to me also in Hebrews 11:6: “He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Amen.”

 

 

 

 

I have had a few Goliath’s in my life. How about you? I think it is safe to say we all have. They show up in various forms. There is the Aggressor who is hostile, intimidating and loves to threaten. The Underminer takes pride in criticism and then there is the Unresponsive person. That one is hard to talk to and answers by one word: yes or no. They make no effort at real conversation or revealing anything more about his or her ideas. The fourth difficult person is an Egotist. This person knows everything and acts superior. These sandpaper people intimidate us and rub us the wrong way.

A dear close friend of mine has been extremely challenged and tested by an obnoxious, unrealistic, extremely critical Goliath, as a client these past few weeks. In my sales job, I have them occasionally. When I get that email that says: “Second request” only on their side inside of mine, it seems unfair.

What are you experiencing as your Goliath recently? Is it a child that has appeared to reject Christ? Or maybe there is a lack of employment. Do you have a friend that you thought was your friend and they have rejected you, and you don’t understand why? Several different types of Goliaths may be playing havoc in your life right now: relationship problems, mental exhaustion, emotions running rampant, or physical issues. Just this past week I was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted. But before my day was finished, I had to attend to something I was responsible for doing. However, some little thing went wrong, and that was the fingernail on the chalkboard. A huge distraction torpedoed me, and I failed miserably in losing my patience. I was mentally spent. I was talked out. Frustration overtook my outlook and disposition. I was ashamed of my reaction and my lack of patience. Have you ever been there?

It says in 1 Samuel 17:4-5, that Goliath was 9’9″ tall. He wore a bronze helmet and bronze scale armor that weighed 125 lbs. The iron point of his spear was said to weigh 15 pounds. Besides that, he had a shield-bearer that walked in front of him. Goliath was loud and boisterous! He was an actual sandpaper person! He taunted the Israelites for 40 days, shouting out his threat and dared them to send one from their ranks to fight him. 1 Samuel 17:11 HCSB states: “When Saul and all Israel heard these words from the Philistine, they lost their courage and were terrified.” The Israelites were afraid because they were looking at the size of Goliath compared to their physical and intellectual abilities and stature. They compared themselves to Goliath and were petrified because they felt inadequate and that they could not in any way strike down and kill the large giant. They could not see beyond their current circumstances. Sound familiar? How often I look at my own Goliath in my life and want to give up. Goliaths are not always people in my life. It might be my schedule with work, my personal “to do” list. It can be my lower lumbar area in my back flaring up. Or it might be another woman that makes me feel lacking in some area and not good enough. I then feel rejected, left out, and lonely. It may not be her intention at all. Or I might feel I am weak in comparison, not smart enough, witty enough, and lack the skills to knock the Goliath down! Have you been there too?

David wins. He did it! David stood up to Goliath. David declared he had God on his side so how could he ever fail? Why don’t I do that more often? David killed Goliath, this 9’9″ giant, with only one stone slung in his slingshot (he didn’t have a machine gun or pistol). Then David used Goliath’s sword to decapitate him. Why don’t I think I am gifted or talented enough when challenged by that person that is domineering and demanding and throwing their weight around? Why do I feel threatened or rejected and think they are better than I am? Those words hurt and cut me. Instead, I need to get my eyes off of myself, stand up straight, and have the God-confidence that I have written and talked about having. We women fall into this far more often than men.

Satan wants us to forget Ephesians 3:20: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think; according to the power at work within us.” We have the power of God at work right within us, available in fighting our battles. That power is activated when we pray!

God is my shield. God is my overseer. God is my great shepherd. Psalm 118:6 ESV reminds me: “The LORD is on my side, I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Don’t let anyone discourage you. God will help you conquer any Goliath!

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther

Psalm 61:3: “For You have been my refuge. A strong tower against the enemy.”

Thought: David killed Goliath with only one stone. He took six stones, but God aimed that one stone directly to the precise spot on Goliath’s forehead that took him down! That was the power of God in action!

God thank you for being my refuge and my strong tower. Thank you for your patience and forgiveness when I stumble and fall. You lift me up. You go before me and know what is ahead of me. You will help me defeat any Goliath that challenges me. Amen.

Isaiah40:31: “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Are you finding yourself in what I call “being in the wait?” Nothing appears to be happening to solve your current trial in life right now. Or are you in a holding pattern in waiting for a specific answer? Do you feel as though you are in a blind state of existence? You know God is there, and He will answer your need, but you have no idea how He is going to do it and the clock is ticking. You are in a predicament that is perhaps causing your breathing to be a bit shallow. Your stress level has risen to a ten and you wish for it to be just a two or three on the scale from one to ten (ten being the worst). I have had that recently. I often do laundry when I am feeling anxious and waiting for the outcome of a problem I am enduring. For some reason, it is my stress reliever, temporarily. My other choice is doing one of the workout sessions we record every morning from the PBS station on TV. It is Miranda Esmonde-White’s, Classical Stretch program that is on at 6:00 AM. She promotes flexibility, releasing tension in your muscles, and improving posture and range of motion. What is your go-to for stress relief?

Here are some statistics regarding that word “wait” in the Bible: The word wait occurs 109 times in the KJV. The word “wait” comes from the same Hebrew word “trust.” The phrase “waiting upon God” is used 40+ times throughout the Bible. The Psalm’s uses it 25 times while Isaiah uses it 11 times. Waiting and then trusting in God go together. It requires having blind faith and believing that God will provide. When I took Old Testament Survey, at Northwestern College in Roseville, Minnesota, in my 20’s, Dr. Hartel, our professor, would often tell us if we had a burden about our tuition bill and needed money to pray “Jehovah Jireh,” which means “God will provide.”

What is ahead? I can’t see the future.

Are you facing a trial where you don’t know how God will ever fix or solve a situation? I recently had to wait for answers to two separate health issues. I could do absolutely nothing but wait until my appointments to see the doctors. I didn’t know what the outcome would be. It was out of my control. I was fortunate this time. Then there is another situation I will be facing that I don’t know again what the outcome will be. I can’t see what the future will hold. All I can do is pray and trust in God that He has this.

There is always a deeper meaning, even though irritating, when God has us “in the wait.” When it seems that God is doing nothing, He is behind the curtain. It usually involves perfection of an outcome that is beyond our control. God’s timing is supreme. God’s timing is perfect. Pray that God will astound you with His exact ideal solution (see my first post) while you are “in the wait.”

Chuck Swindoll had said in one of his devotional writings about trusting God during the waiting period, and not going into panic mode when people break their promises to us and even forget us. That hurts! I have been there. Done that! He said it is God’s job to deal with them. My husband and I experienced a broken promise from someone. We are “in the wait.” Yes, it hurt. Again we had to pray: “God provide in all of this!”

If you are “being in the wait” be strengthened and established in His word. Have God-confidence. Have reassurance that God has this and will provide the outcome at His chosen time. Write down in a prayer journal verses that encourage you. Hebrews 10:36 admonishes us to keep on going and doing the will of God: “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Lastly, know that events are happening behind the scenes that God is orchestrating. He is behind the curtain. When it seems like nothing is happening or going on, it is. Our inward self-fortitude is being changed while we are “in the wait.” It is being stretched like a rubber band. I can be bitter or be made better in gaining more perseverance in tolerance and patience, and in choosing joy instead of depression. When it seems that nothing is going on, take heart. It is another exercise of growing in endurance and growing in being established in having more faith, perfected, and refined as in pure gold for God’s glory. Trust in the Lord while being “in the wait!”

Are you holding an SOS flag in your hand right now? Do you feel caught in waiting for an answer to yet another problem in life?

2 Peter 2:9a states: “. . . the LORD knows how to rescue the godly from trials.”

Are you experiencing yet another trial in life? Have you been able to move away from asking God “why?” Have you examined where your shield of faith might have a hole in it, and you are then open to being vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy? What do you worry about most? Is it your children, finances, health, work, friends, or the future?

I have, to be honest. What do I tend to worry about most? It has been my husband’s health. I have also had anxiety in the past about the lack of finances, work, my children, and our financial possibilities in the future. I have realized however, all of these are really out of my control, including my husband’s health.

I wrote down this past summer every major trial in our life that we had experienced in my husband’s and my forty-two years of marriage together. I made a list of each one of them on paper. It appeared to me that I had to merely trust in the Lord to bring us through every time. I couldn’t fix any of them myself. There was nothing I could do to change things but to wait on the Lord for His rescue in each trial. He did answer, restore, and taught us things we couldn’t seem to learn in any other way at the time. God’s timing is never late and always just on time. I do know that, but when you are in the wait it is never easy. But God’s word brought peace in my heart and mind by seeing a special verse or promise that I read during each hard trial. In one particular trial God gave me Psalm 27:13: “I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” That verse was instrumental in God revealing to me that we were to move to California. That it was God’s will for Steve to accept the job offer that he had been approached about for two years. We have now lived here for almost twenty-five years. California was and is “the land of the living,” for us.

Then there was a major financial trial we lived through. God gave me Psalm 119:92: “If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” Then my prayer became: “Teach me Your word during this season of my life like I have never known it before, and make this verse my testimony when I emerge from this place!” This particular verse has become what I call my “signature verse,” that I identified with when going through a very specific financial trial. We wished we had done things differently or not at all. We spent a lot of time in regretting a decision and action that cost us financial consequences that could not be reversed. But God walked with us through this experience, and it developed more perseverance and steadfastness within our physical and spiritual core. His almighty rescue came as quite a surprise and in a way that we had not fathomed was possible. But we did lose a significant amount of money. That did not change.

Do you feel you might need to use a life boat right now? Are you able to move past the “why?” Are you feeling anxious? Review past answers to prayers God has given you. I keep a gift box in my living room that is placed on our mantel. The gift card on top says: “To: Steve and Linda and family. From: God.” I write down on cards answers to prayers and keep them in this special box to remind myself of precious answers to burdens that God has answered. I date them. This also helps remind me of Romans 8:28 regarding God working everything out for my, or our good because He loves us. He loves me. That doesn’t mean that I understand it all at the time, and I may never fully understand the why part. But it causes me to have a thankful heart and give praise and glory to God for His shield of protection and blessings as my shepherd and overseer.

As my Grandma Helmers always told me: “This too shall pass.” My Pastor, Todd Smith, also said to me one time: “There will be an end to this. Believe on that fact.” He was right.

Yes, the Lord does know how to rescue the godly from trials as He promised in 2 Peter 2:9. There is an end in sight dear one. Rest in the Lord. Relax in His care. Rejoice that God has this!

Let your prayer be Psalm 62:1-2(NLT): “I wait patiently before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.”