How Do You See God?

Isaiah 43:16, 18-19—Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

God is constantly revealing Himself to us in new ways.  As Christians, we must be open to the idea that we can discover God from a new perspective and that He can come alive to us in new ways as we grow and mature in our faith.  We must also be careful not to define God in a box too small to contain Him.  There exists no human who knows and understands everything about God.  In fact, the whole point of God is the journey of constant discovery.  Once we think we understand Him, we must begin a new journey to uncover another facet.  Of course, this means, that none of us can judge another for our own personal understanding of God.  God reveals Himself intimately and personally to everyone.  How we receive Him is our own personal journey, and judgment of others does nothing to further their spiritual connection with God.  As Christians we can provide a loving community of support for others by sharing our faith and welcoming others no matter where they are on their spiritual journey.  We all have so much to learn as God connects with us each in a unique and personal way.

Today as you pray, thank God for His desire to connect with you and reveal Himself to you.  Pray for a spirit willing to receive knowledge of Him.  Pray that you would seek Him with the fervor with which He seeks you.  Rejoice in the personal intimacy that our God reserves for His Creation.

Find Peace

John 16:33—“I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”

Life guarantees no peace.  In fact, most people are challenged and tested through great adversity and problems.  That’s kind of the point of life.  The only way to find peace is through developing a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  But how can a person be at peace with someone who we can’t see or touch? What does it mean to find peace through Jesus? Peace in Jesus comes when we continually seek to understand the world through His perspective instead of our own.  Jesus came to Earth as God to experience life as a human.  He intimately knows our perspective.  But no human knows His perspective in the way that He knows ours.  God sees a picture so much bigger than we could ever fathom. And through His perspective we gain peace because we know that no one problem or trial is the whole picture.  God sees the masterpiece in our struggles – He sees the end result, our growth, our beauty as we are pulled and challenged to grow and mature.  In seeking God, we gain knowledge of ourselves who are created in God’s image, and we grow in our understanding of God’s perspective.  That’s how we find a peace untouchable by any worldly persecution.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God as the peacemaker.  Give thanks for the persecutions and adversity that force you to seek Him and grow in His perspective.  Rejoice in the opportunity to mature and develop in His peace, and ask to be comforted when your humanity needs time to catch up to your spirit.  

Give Thanks

Psalm 118:1—O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever!

The holiday season has a way of pulling together all sorts of emotions, both good and bad.  When we pause to ponder our circumstances, though, most of us can see the many ways we are blessed.  As we prepare to go into the new year, we must strive to see God’s hand in all things, trust that His goodness prevails over evil, and seek to understand His ways as they transcend beyond the ordinary. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, give thanks for His steadfast love.  Rejoice in the gift of His Son, our Savior, who has taught us the true meaning of communion and relationship with God.  Pray that you would see God’s goodness in all things.

High Class Heart

Luke 2:8-11—In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

It’s interesting that the wonder of Christ’s birth was revealed to shepherds.  Shepherds belonged to one of the lowest classes in ancient cultures.  They lived in the wild with their animals and they were not what you would consider clean or proper.  But the angels didn’t go to the property-owners or the wealthy and powerful.  They did not appear to the religious leaders, either.  The angels went to this lowly group of people who were charged with the care of other creatures.  Shepherds are guardians, and their role as keepers of sheep mirrored Jesus’ role as our keeper.  The revelation to shepherds also reveals God’s nature to seek out the individual regardless of class, creed, or couth.  He’s not impressed by what we have to give Him—He is forever seeking us out to love us, and He delights in our humble devotion.

As you pray and meditate on His Word, consider the status of your heart this Christmas season, and ask yourself if the angels would have revealed the good news to you.  Pray for a guardian spirit that seeks to protect those around you.  Pray that you would live in a way that demonstrates Christ’s love to all those around you.  Rejoice in the gift of Jesus and praise God that you have been chosen to intimately know Him.

Live to Leave a Legacy

Proverbs 13:12—Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

At Christmas time, we tend to hope for a lot of things—time off from work, space to relax, laughter and fellowship with friends and family, giving and receiving gifts.  Lately, though, I’ve been thinking about the bigger picture.  What is our greatest hope?  I think our greatest hope is that our lives are meaningful in a way that leaves a legacy far longer than our names will be remembered.  Each day that we live, we have the opportunity to tune into our great calling, our great hope that there is more to life than just existing.  When we defer that hope by getting caught up in the mundane, ordinary world, it does make the heart sick.  Jesus is our greatest desire fulfilled.  He is our tree of life.  His coming to Earth confirmed that there is in fact more to life.  He lives in each of us, and if we only acknowledge Him, our life will have meaning beyond measure.  He is our desire fulfilled, He cures our sick hearts, and He validates our reason for being.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for fulfilling our hearts’ greatest desires through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Rejoice in the Living Spirit who still abides in us, around us, and through us.  Pray that you would be a worthy companion and vessel to carry out God’s mission on this Earth.  Let your heart’s every desire come alive as it becomes one with God’s hope and desire for your life.  Thank God for the opportunity to leave a legacy and for His enduring protection and guidance in this world.

The Great Gift Challenge

Matthew 2:11—On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Christmas is the time of year when we give and receive gifts.  In our consumer-obsessed culture, gifts tend to be tangible, often-times expensive, and frequently numerous.  Even as I’m considering gifts for my own children, I’m struggling to find a balance in the melee of stuff they “want” and “need.”  Giving doesn’t seem to mean as much, though, when we are giving things to people who don’t really need more things.  So, I’m challenging myself this Christmas season to reimagine giving.  I want to give to those who really need it.  And for my loved ones, who fortunately are not in need of things, I want to give them something that touches their soul, that feeds their spirit, and that makes them a better them.  Will you accept the challenge to give in a way that makes a difference this Christmas?

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for the perfect gift of His Son.  Rejoice in God’s divine imagination that He would give us such a beautiful and life-changing gift.  Ask God to inspire you to reimagine Christmas this year so that your giving would advance His Kingdom and change the lives of those around you.

Jesus Chose You

Isaiah 7:14-15—Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

At Christmas, we often look back this passage in Isaiah and focus on the prophesy of the Virgin birth foretold in verse 14.  But when we read the full context in verse 15, we learn that the baby born of this Virgin birth will “eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.”  Have you ever considered that Jesus might have had a choice, the same choice we all have?  God had a choice in coming to Earth at all, but the act of coming as a baby, just like we all do, created a lifetime of choice for His Son, Jesus Christ.  At any time, Jesus could have said, “You know what, these people are simply not worth it.”  But He did not.  He chose a sin-free life so that He could save us and show us the way to intimate connection with God.  He chose to surround Himself with people living on the edge of society, to show love and compassion to people who had felt nothing to but rejection and isolation.  His best friends did not really understand who He was.  He had no earthly companion who could truly understand Him or His Ways.  Despite all that, He still chose to suffer for us.  He still chose to bear the weight of our sin, to pay the debt we incurred – a price He did not have to pay because He chose to live a sin-free life.  We should never, for one moment, think that His choices, His pain, or His suffering were easier for Him because He is God – He came to experience life as a human, and every part of His existence was just as hard for Him as it is for us. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, give thanks to God for sending His Son Jesus to live and experience life as a human being, with all the same questions and temptations that every human experiences.  Rejoice in the brilliance of His divine plan to send His Son as a baby who had a choice and who chose to save us.  Praise God for His undying love and devotion to you, His creation.

Jesus is Love

Matthew 5:17—“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.”

The purpose of all the laws in the Old Testament was to guide people in their relationships with each other and with God for the sole purpose of bringing them closer to God.  God is love, and in keeping the laws we necessarily show love toward others.  But by the time of Jesus’ birth, the laws were starting to get in the way of relationships.  People were using it to exclude others; they were manipulating the law for selfish gain to the detriment of others.  When Jesus came, He was questioned about whether He was abolishing the law because, after all, there were many laws He did not follow (for example, He healed on the Sabbath and He picked grain to eat on the Sabbath).  But Jesus said He came to fulfill the law, not abolish it.  You see, the law has always been about love.  It is man who has contorted and twisted it to fit our limited perspective and understanding.  Jesus came to walk on Earth to show us that love is the true law and by obeying all of God’s laws we continually become closer to others and Him.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for His loving spirit.  Rejoice in His law that is intended to fortify your relationships with your fellow man and with God.  Pray that you would be filled with love toward others.  Ask God for renewed understanding of His simply perfect master plan that we would reunite completely with Him one day.  

The Law of Love

Galations 4:4-5—But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.

In the very beginning, humans lived in a perfect relationship with God in the Garden of Eden.  But all that changed at the Fall when sin separated us from God.  Ever since that time, we have been struggling to find our way back, and God has reached out to us in myriad ways.  Before Jesus came, humans were in a pretty vicious cycle of messing up, making a sacrifice, asking forgiveness, and receiving God’s mercy.  Tons of laws were laid down that were intended to guide our relationships, both with each other and with God, and for the purpose of bringing us closer to God.  This system was flawed, though, because the law actually got in the way of relationship.  That’s why Jesus had to come.  He came to experience life under the law and show how to love through it, despite it, and because of it.  The miracle of the gospel is that God showed up to lead by example.  We shouldn’t be caught up in interpreting laws, now that Jesus has come.  Rather, we should be caught up in loving others, especially those on the edge of society.  When we love others, God is alive in us.  We connect in a tangible way with the life force of the universe.  And Jesus is the One who made it all possible.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, declare your desire to be consumed in Jesus’ love.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would open your eyes to loving others.  Rejoice in the Spirit that takes away judgment and replaces it with grace and mercy.  Pray that you would demonstrate a merciful spirit to those around you.  Resolve to intentionally love everyone around you – especially those who might seem unlovable.

Immanuel

Isaiah 7:14—Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

We know Jesus by many names, but my favorite is Immanuel.  It means, “God with us.”  The prophet Isaiah foretold of Jesus’ coming through a young woman, and He said that this would be God’s sign to us.  This time of year, we tend to become so preoccupied with the festivities and end-of-year responsibilities that we forget that Jesus was a sign to us that God is with us.  He is here, even now, as the Holy Spirit.  He lives in us.  He lives with us.  And because He sent us His Son, we can never forget, we can never un-know, we can never deny that God is with us. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God as Immanuel, God With Us.  Thank Him for coming to Earth to commune with us.  Welcome the Holy Spirit into your life with renewed dedication to live the life God has called you for.

Nesting, in a Stable?

John 2:6-7—While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

I don’t know any woman who would opt to give birth in a stable.  They aren’t the cleanest of places, the smells are unpleasant, and there are no beds.  But a stable is exactly where Mary gave birth to our Savior.  Can you imagine how she and Joseph must have felt?  Even in our modern age, doctors don’t allow women to travel late in pregnancy.  And here she was making a journey on a donkey right before she was due to give birth.  Aside from that, they had no hotel reservations—hotels didn’t even really exist back then.  So there was great uncertainty the entire way to Bethlehem about where they would stay.  Then, upon their arrival, there was no room anywhere.  The only place anyone would offer them was a stable full of animals.  What tremendous faith this couple must have had.  Here came the world, imposing on them this trip so they could register for the census.  The world created a terrible inconvenience, but the entire time Joseph and Mary obeyed.  Their ability to trust God to resolve all and meet every need was steadfast.  And God did just that—He revealed the miracle of life, the miracle of salvation, in the least miraculous of places. The manger, a feeding trough, is emblematic of how God seeks us in our lowest places. He doesn’t tower over us, distantly commanding us.  He joins us where we are.  He came to serve knowing He would experience the lowest of lows, beginning even with His birth.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, rejoice in the miracle of Jesus’ birth.  Thank God for the brilliance of His plan to join us in our lowest places.  Praise Him as the God of relationship who would go to any measure just to know you.  

Congratulations, You're Going to be a Mother!

Luke 1:26-38—In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

I can’t even begin to fathom the fit of emotions Mary must have felt when Gabriel came to her.  To begin with, the mere act of seeing an angel, in person so to speak, and have a conversation with him is enough to throw any of us for a loop.  But when we think about what she is told, I am in awe of Mary’s faith.  Let’s imagine this conversation from her perspective for just a moment.  Here is this young Jewish girl who we know is faithful to God.  She is engaged to be married, but she has not ever engaged in sexual relations.  It is physically impossible for her to be pregnant, yet Gabriel tells her that she is in fact going to conceive a son.  She must have been mystified, and perhaps happy that she had been chosen.  But her son is not just any baby—this baby will be the true Son of God, a holy child.  What in the world must she have been thinking? Feeling?  I’m guessing fear might have been at the top of her list, along with anxiety, trepidation, elation, wonder, and a host of others.  But let’s talk about fear for a moment.  Even when parents plan to have children, learning of the pregnancy triggers fears about preparations and parenthood.  But beyond that, she must have been scared about how in the world she would explain this to her fiancée?  What fiancée would believe that his soon-to-be wife had been faithful, yet she’s pregnant?  Even if he accepted her story, how could he ever be adequate enough to raise a holy child?  And Mary must have felt the same way.  How could she possibly bear the responsibility of not only keeping safe God’s Child, but also of raising this holy child to be the Savior of the world?  But despite her fears, or maybe because of those fears, Mary said “yes.”  Would you have said “yes”?  When faced with fear, we can either submit to it and be paralyzed by it, or we can conquer it through faith in God.  The truth is, each day God presents us with opportunities to give life to His Miracles.  We only have to listen and say “yes” to be part of His perfect plan for this world.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, give thanks for Mary’s willing spirit to face her fears as God’s servant.  Praise God for the opportunity to serve Him and the grace and patience He shows for us as we face our fears.  Rejoice in the daily miracles God works through you.  Pray for a willing spirit, like Mary’s, to courageously say “yes” when God calls.

Steadfast Love

Hosea 6:4-6—What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

This morning I awoke to a blanket of gray clouds nestled down around me, but as I sat in my office looking out the window, I began to see little patches of blue peeking through.  The sun is now shining brilliantly, warming the earth, and all the dew and morning chill is gone.  In this passage of Hosea, God is expressing His disappointment that Israel’s love and devotion is just as fleeting as our morning clouds, chill, and dew.  In verse 6, He tells us in no uncertain terms what He wants of us—steadfast love.  It is not enough for us to go about doing whatever we want to do, ignoring God and living for ourselves with reckless disregard thinking that it will all be rectified with a “sacrifice.”  It’s not enough that we show up on Sunday to check-in with God—we must constantly steadfastly love Him.  We can’t satiate His appetite to be in relationship with us by making our simplistic offerings on Sunday morning.  We must know Him through prayer, meditation, and reading the Bible.  We must strive to live like Jesus lived – accepting of others, loving others, living compassionately, kindly, and for the good of the whole of ourselves.  Living like Jesus did is the only way to steadfastly love God and to truly know Him.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, thank God for the divine simplicity of His Plan – that we know and love Him.  Rejoice in His desire to be in relationship with you so much so that He sent His Son, His Light, as the judgment to compensate for all our shortcomings and to show us how to know and love Him.  Praise Him as Your Savior and declare your steadfast love for Him.  Embrace His Holy Spirit so that you know Him ever more deeply.

Burned Out

Philippians 3:12-14—Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

During this holiday season, be careful not to get caught up in the “to-do’s” so much that you burn on out on the to-do’s of your faith.  Our whole purpose on this Earth is to connect with God, so whatever interferes with that is going to feel exhausting.  It will make you lose energy for your life mission, and you will lose your connection to God.  In the chaotic times of life, the most critical action to take is seek God.  Everything else will always work itself out because God is in control. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, thank God for being in control. Thoughtfully consider your priorities and ask God to help you rearrange them so that He is the focus of your life.  Pray that God would reveal His purpose in your life, and willingly step in to fulfill your calling. 

The Names of Jesus

Isaiah 6:6—For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Long before Jesus’ birth, His coming was prophesied—and what a profound foretelling it was.  Certainly no human could have thought this up.  Only God could plan for the entire authority of the world to rest on the shoulders of a child.  That authority means His Word is above all laws and things that are of man.  He is responsible for all things, including our very salvation.  He came so that He could open a direct pathway between us and God.  And He comes to us with myriad names.  Have you ever wondered why one name was not enough? One name simply cannot capture all that Jesus is for humanity.  As our Wonderful Counselor, He comforts us, He hears us, He feels our pain, and He helps us work through our problems.  As our Mighty God, He is our overcomer and fierce protector.  As our Everlasting Father, He envelops us into His arms and showers us in unconditional love.  I have a friend who once told me she physically felt Jesus’ arms wrap around her in one of her dark moments of depression, and ever since that day she has never questioned the reality of His Presence.  As our Father, He is present in the same for each one of us if we are open to receiving Him.  As the Prince of Peace, He leaves us with the eternal hope of peace worldwide while at the same time infusing our spirits with His own peace.  The more people come to truly know Him in an intimate relationship, the more peaceful their own spirits become, and in that way His peace permeates the Earth.  This is the beauty in God’s Divine plan, that as we live in Christ, others see the peace of Christ in us and come to know Him, and eventually His Peace will fill every crevice, nook, and cranny.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God as the Son, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.  Pray that His Spirit of Peace would come alive in you for all the world to see and that others would desire to know Him because of the testimony of your own life. Ask God to sweep you into His arms in a tangible way so that you might feel His presence all around you.  Rejoice in God’s Divine Plan and give thanks that you have a place in it.

Are You In, or Are You Out?

James 2:1-7—My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

The way we as humans tend to value others is completely at odds with how God values us.  Especially in the United States, where everyone can “live the American Dream,” we gauge success by how much power, money, and status a person achieves.  There is a certain charismatic draw toward the accomplished and wealthy.  After all, who wouldn’t want an expensive car, a large home in the best neighborhood, and the wherewithal to afford anything we desire?  Somehow, we think wealth might rub off on us if we associate with the wealthy, and the converse is also true – we might be afraid of how poverty may rub off on us if we spend too much time with the poor.  Since Biblical times, though, Christians have been admonished not to draw these types of distinctions between people.  The very act of labeling someone initiates a barrier-creation whereby some people will be in and others will be out.  Exclusion in this manner is devastating and truly an act of violence to the spirit.  And just imagine, what if Jesus had labeled you for the purpose of excluding you?  The truth is, He excluded no one because He came to save EVERYONE.  Jesus came to save even those we might think do not deserve salvation at all. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, challenge yourself to see beyond the labels we have placed on those around us.  Pray that God would give you eyes to see the essence of the people around you.  Ask God to open your heart to accept others openly, lovingly, and equitably.  Rejoice in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit who abides in you and with you.

Be in the Light

1 John 2:9-11—Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.

Jesus Christ is the light of Christians, and as Christians we profess that we walk not only with the Light, but in the Light.  Being a Christian calls for us to transcend our human darkness and tendency to judge, hate, and hurt others—we must overcome our vulnerability to emotions like rage and vengeance.  This of course is much easier said than done.  There are times when our human side feels justified in hating someone else – sometimes that hate is aimed at someone who has personally hurt us.  Other times it is aimed at someone committing an injustice against someone else.  The feelings of anger and hate are a natural to humans—but Scripture tells us that hate prevents us from being in the light.  Here are some concrete steps for overcoming hate, anger, and the desire for vengeance when those emotions rear their ugly heads in your life.  1.  Speak love, not hate.  Whether you say it to yourself in a quiet space or to the person directly, it is important to speak uplifting words instead of poisonous and hateful words.  Mantras like “open my eyes to see the good in others” or “my heart is open to love my opponent” will create space in your Spirit to begin to feel love toward others.  It will take time, but sometimes we must speak a new spiritual state into being.  2.  Do love, not hate.  Continue to behave with kindness and generosity toward others, even if you don’t feel like they deserve it.  I’m not saying to let someone take advantage of you.  Rather, consider how your actions can either perpetuate negative emotions and behaviors or transform them into something better.  If you have the choice to be kind, always choose kindness.  3.  Imagine yourself in the other person’s shoes.  It might seem like trite advice, but it really does help to try to understand the other person’s perspective.  So often in my career and personal life, I have found myself jumping to conclusions about why other people are acting a certain way.  Once I’ve taken some time to listen to the other person and observe their circumstances, I’ve come to understand that most of the time their behaviors really have nothing to do with me.  Usually, their attitudes are affected by stressors in their life, and acts of kindness from me can help to change their attitudes, alleviate their stress, and make them feel better about themselves.  4. Pray. Some people might be tempted to think that prayer is over-rated.  I personally know some people that treat prayer like a slot-machine where they put in a prayer for what they want and expect God to pay out dividends of happiness. That’s not the type of prayer that is likely to heal a broken and hurting heart, though.  When we feel emotions like hate, anger, and the desire for vengeance, we can pray to God and ask Him to help us channel these emotions into acts of love and kindness.  We can ask God for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding so that we can act lovingly toward others.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, take an honest inward look at your heart and ask yourself if you are harboring any anger or resentment toward anyone or anything. Place those feelings before God and confess your desire to convert those feelings into love.  Pray that God would continually keep you in the light so that His love might rain down on all those around you. Rejoice in the love God has shown you and recommit to living in His Light every moment of every day.

Jesus Always Was

John 1:1-2—In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

The Trinity has always existed.  Since the beginning of time, Father, Spirit, and Son have simultaneously and singularly existed.  We often see God referred to in the plural in the Old Testament, evidencing that God is not and never has been a solitary being – He is a God of relationship who in three make one.  Jesus was never just some afterthought that God decided to “create” to send down and save humanity from all our sins.  Jesus has always been, and His coming to Earth was always in the plan.  This passage of Scripture tells us that the Word was with God and the Word was God.  We know from other passages in the Bible that the Word became flesh and walked among us – the flesh being Jesus.  It is sort of mind-blowing to think that Jesus readily relinquished His safe and secure place with God the Father and the Spirit to come to Earth so that He might know His Creation.  And in all the years since His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension He has not left us alone.  The Holy Spirit has been present with us humans for millennia, now—a very real, palpable presence who is with us at all times.  They didn’t have to do this—they didn’t have to come to Earth to be with us.  They didn’t have to save us.  What wondrous love God has for each and every one of us that He would meet us in the midst of our struggles, pains, joys, and triumphs just to love and understand us completely.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for breathing you into existence and loving you enough to be present with you at all times.  Worship God for their perfect plan laid out even at the very beginning of time.  Ask God to continue to open your heart to ever more intimate relationship with them.

A Practical Lesson in Loving Our Enemies

Romans 12:14-21—Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

After my post on Wednesday, I received this question: “[B]ut how, when one lives in fear, is it possible to forgive? . . . I believe [in Jesus], but I have a survival instinct as well. What do I do?” I imagine this is a common question for most Christians because loving and forgiving our enemies goes against our human survival instinct.  To be sure, even the early Christians and disciples had this very same question, which is why we see Jesus address it on more than one occasion.  Fortunately, we know that love is not about a feeling, but rather it is about action. In Romans, we are instructed to meet the needs of our enemies—if they are hungry, feed them, if they are thirsty, give them something to drink.  When we show kindness and care for our enemies despite their actions and attitudes against us, we overcome evil with good.  Honestly, it is really easy to be mean to a person who is being mean to you, but it is nearly impossible to be mean to a person who is nice to you.  But evil, hate, and negative attitudes grow in the face of evil, hate, and negative attitudes.  Positive energy, peace, and loving actions counteract evil and can really change the world.  We can’t always understand why our enemies act the way they do, but I do know this—most people act out of self-interest and in a way that promotes their own needs, wants, and desires.  It is when those needs, wants, and desires run contrary to our own that we begin to perceive these people as our enemies.  Just as we would want our enemies to begin to see matters from our perspective, we must also seek to understand matters from our enemies’ perspective.  When we show kindness and act lovingly toward our enemies, it opens a window within our hearts to begin to see the humanity in the other person.  Scripture is clear that we ought to bless, not curse, our enemies. We empathize with others by celebrating and grieving with them.  We must never seek revenge, and we must live peaceably with all.  Basically, this means that we must continually strive to overcome our own feelings so that we empathize with our fellow man.  As Christians we are called to be more than just slaves to our feelings and emotions.  We can acknowledge how we are feeling and still choose to be kind and show love to one another.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for loving you enough to send His Son.  Pray for an ever-growing understanding of the nature of Jesus so that you might daily live more like him.  Ask God to guide you in ways that you might bless your enemies and show love in a way that breaks down barriers and overcomes evil in this world.  Intentionally pray for your enemies and set a goal to show love to others, especially to those who are not kind to you.

O Give Thanks!

Psalm 136-- O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth forever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth forever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth forever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth forever. To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth forever: The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth forever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth forever. To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth forever: And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth forever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth forever. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth forever: And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth forever: But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth forever. To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth forever. To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth forever: And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth forever: Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth forever: And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth forever: And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth forever: Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth forever. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth forever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth forever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth forever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth forever.

It is good to pause and be thankful.  It is good to enjoy time with family.  Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, be in the moment, put aside the tensions and stress of everyday life, and praise God for His unending mercies.  Give thanks for all things.

Is It Really Possible to Love an Enemy?

Matthew 5:43-48—“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.”

One of the hardest things to do is love an enemy.  To even show kindness is challenging, but to truly love an enemy seems at times impossible.  But that is the command we have received from God.  Our challenge during our time on Earth is to learn how to love those who we think are unloveable.  How do we love?  Through our actions.  We give of our time, we serve, and we are careful not to damage others through our words.  Our nation is suffering right now – the divides between races, classes, and socioeconomic groups are ripping our civilization apart.  In the wake of the grand jury verdict in the Michael Brown shooting, it may seem like politicians, law enforcement, and even the court system as a whole is our enemy.  Our responsibility as Christians, though, is to figure out how to love our perceived enemies even when we don’t understand why they do what they do.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, ask God to take from you any ill will or other barrier in your heart that might be preventing you from loving your enemies.  Pray for understanding and wisdom and ask God to give you a heart that is willing to love even the unloveable.  Thank God for loving you unconditionally and for giving us the power to love, for it can truly change the world and bring the kingdom of heaven to Earth.

Watch Out, Don't Fall!

1 Corinthians 10:12-13—So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Have you ever noticed that God really does let us endure bad circumstances, but He never gives us more than we can handle.  To be sure, it might seem at some points that He we cannot handle what He has given, but He never abandons us, and somehow, someway, we handle it.  Recently, I’ve started to notice a pattern in my own life that when most things seem to be going right, I have a harder time remembering that God is in charge.  I start to think that I am the reason things are going well.  But when the going gets tough and hard decisions have to be made, I am reminded that God is the one who is really in control.  Yesterday it dawned on me that perhaps the purpose of some of these difficult circumstances is to remind me that God is in charge.  Perhaps the tense relationships are reminders that I am doing the right thing.  After all, we have never been promised an easy life—a life of purpose is bound to be the subject of much criticism, so those difficult criticisms may just be a reminder that you are doing it right. This Scripture passage reminds me that whenever I feel like I’m standing on my own two feet, I have to look up and remember that God is always propping me up.  He is faithful and there will be times when I am knocked down, but God will always see me through in His Divine and Perfect Way.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, Worship God as your great provider and sustainer.  Thank God for the tests in your life that remind you He is in Control.  Thank God for blessing you with His loving guidance.  Challenge yourself to continually look up to God and be reminded of His Awesome Power.

Finding Time

Monday: Hebrews 12:1-3—Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

This time of year, it is really easy to get caught up in the holiday hustle and bustle.  I know it sounds trite to say, “remember the reason for the season”—but we really ought to remember the reason for the season.  For me personally, this time of year is very hectic.  Between end of semester wrap-ups, planning for next semester, various holiday parties, and getting the kids ready for Christmas, it just seems like there isn’t enough time in the day.  I’ve noticed even in just the last week that my “routines” have been slipping and I’ve been getting more easily distracted by the chaos of the holidays.  When life starts to feel a little out of control, that is when it is most critical for us to fix our eyes upon Jesus.  Whatever way you find that peace and quiet to commune with your savior, it is most important to do it when it seems like there is no time for it.  For me, I find the quiet to hear God in the yoga room.  For you, it might be through quiet meditation or listening to music that centers you.  Perhaps you feel God most intimately when you are helping others.  This holiday season, be careful not to become entangled in the worldliness of the season—focus instead on our Pioneer and Perfecter of faith who endured far more turmoil, adversity, and strife than you and I could ever imagine.  And He did it all so that He might know and understand us, His Creation, even better.  Make time to fellowship with Him daily.

Today, as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for sending His Perfect Son to atone for our sins.  Confess your human weakness to become distracted by the things of this world.  Pray that He would guide your spirit so that you are continually focused on His Call and Will for your life. 

Is There Really a Ticket to Get into Heaven?

Romans 10:9—That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Do you live your life like Heaven is some far off destination for which you’ve already purchased your entry ticket?  Do you look forward to heaven kind of like it’s a vacation to Disney World that you dread the preparation but know you will enjoy once you get there?  The thing is, knowing God is about so much more than just getting to Heaven when we die.  It goes beyond just declaring that we believe Jesus is God’s Son who died to save us from our sins.  Being a Christian means desiring and seeking out intimate relationship with God constantly.  When I was younger, someone I knew once said to me, “I am a Christian because, if it all ends up being true, I want to be on the side that ends up in Heaven.”  Those words saddened me deeply because I knew that deep down inside this person had no real faith.  He could declare a belief in Jesus Christ because he knew enough to hedge his bets, but this person did not have a deep personal relationship with His Savior.  Yes, it is true that God has saved us by grace—we could not have earned it if we tried.  But at the same time, that gift of grace should create in us a desire to constantly know and become more like Christ every moment of every day.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for the gift of grace.  Thank Him for chasing after you and desiring a deep personal relationship with you.  Thoughtfully examine your deepest heart and ask yourself—Am I just waiting to get to heaven? Do I live like my entry ticket is in my pocket?  Ask God to open your spirit and guide you into a deeper more personal relationship, one in which you daily discover deeper and more incredible facets of your Savior.

Like a Child - Part 3

Luke 18:15-17—People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

This week we have focused on 3 key attributes of infants that Jesus referenced in this Scripture: 1. Whole and total dependence on the caretaker; 2. Wondrous curiosity at discovering the surrounding world; and 3. Creation of joy in others. Today, we will spend time on the third feature.  We all know that babies have a way of bringing joy.  It’s almost impossible to hold an infant or watch a child at play without smiling.  It’s hard to hold back hugs and kisses from babies.  Just their presence sparks happy emotions and a flood of love—but why is that?  Is it because they are serene and peaceful?  Or perhaps because they have no stress or worries to pass off onto other people? Perhaps it is because they wholly exist in a given moment—they are never in the past or future because their brains just don’t work that way yet.  As adults, it is hard for us not to think about the past and future.  When we find a rare moment when we can just “be,” we tend to get distracted quickly by thinking about other things.  The preoccupation with thought has a tendency to take away that shining light that babies have, that peaceful glow that comes with wholly being in a moment.  Instead, we tend to share our stress and worries with others, either through our words or through our seemingly unrelated interactions.  It takes effort to choose peace over worry and chaos, but when we live peacefully we have the capacity to share that glow, that peaceful light, with others around us.  It can actually spark joy in others and set off a chain reaction of peace and love all around us when we seek internal peace.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God as the Prince of Peace.  Thoughtfully consider whether you bring joy to others and ask God to make you a messenger of joy in His Kingdom.  Pray that He would flood you with peace and joy that spills over onto all those around you.  Ask Him to work on your spirit so that it becomes like a child bringing joy to others in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Like a Child - Part 2

Luke 18:15-17—People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

Yesterday, we identified 3 key attributes of infants that Jesus was likely referencing in this Scripture: 1. Whole and total dependence on the caretaker; 2. Wondrous curiosity at discovering the surrounding world; and 3. Creation of joy in others. Today, we will focus on the second feature.  Children have a charming way of being brutally honest about the world around them.  They want to know the “why” of everything, but at the same time they have the ability to accept the world as it is.  Their curiosity seems to be driven by a desire to be a part of the world and to engage in whatever it is the adult world is doing.  Have you ever noticed how young children like to play house?  Have you ever noticed how they want to help with common chores like sweeping, washing dishes, or even cleaning toilets?  They are eager to explore what adults are doing because they want to be like us and they want to be a part of the things that seem so important to us.  Just like children curiously explore the adult world, God wants us to explore His world.  He wants us to ask “why” are things the way they are.  He wants us to find beauty, wonder, and mystery in everything that we see.  He wants us to wonder about the ordinary and see it magically through new eyes as we lovingly accept the world as He created it.  When we ask questions about God’s Creation and His Ways, we reveal that we care about knowing our caretaker. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God the Creator of the Universe.  Ask Him to open your eyes as a child so that you might wonder at the glory of all He has made. Pray that you would curiously inquire about His Ways so that you might know Him better even as you lovingly accept this world as it is.  Listen to this song by Jars of Clay and worship God with  Faith Like a Child.

Like a Child - Part 1

Monday:  Luke 18:15-17—People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

What is it about little children that the kingdom of God would belong to people like them?  How is it possible for us to become as a child?  Should we scream, cry, and throw a tantrum like we are in our “terrible 2s”?  Should we yell and shout that everything is “MINE!”? Of course not—these are not the attributes that Jesus is likely referring to in this passage in Luke.  But there are 3 key attributes of infants that I think Jesus is referencing in this Scripture: 1. Whole and total dependence on the caretaker; 2. Wondrous curiosity at discovering the surrounding world; and 3. Creation of joy in others.  Today, we will focus on the first characteristic.  We all know that infants and little children are wholly dependent on others for their very survival.  But even though they can do nothing for themselves, babies do not fill up on worry and anxiety about anything.  When it is time to eat, or when the infant cries out in hunger, the caretaker brings food to take away the hunger.  The caretaker of an infant knows every need the baby has, and those needs are met as they arise.  Likewise, God, our Creator, knows our every need.  He has told us that He knows our prayers before they are even formed in our minds.  He knows everything.  And He provides for our every need.  Like children, we must strive to become wholly dependent on our caretaker and trust that whenever a need arises our caretaker will provide for it. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God as your Caretaker.  Thank Him for providing for you and giving you the very air you breathe.  Lift up all your worries and anxieties.  Ask God to take those from you and to infuse you with the whole innocent faith of a baby who believes the Caretaker will always provide.  Declare your desire to remove all doubts and wholeheartedly trust that your Creator will always provide.

A Mile in My Shoes

1 Peter 3:18—For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

When God came to Earth as Jesus Christ, it was an act of grace.  He did not have to come and experience the human plight—He did it because He wanted to enjoy even greater intimacy with us, His Creation.  He already knew everything about us—the number of hairs on our head, every thought in our mind, every wrinkle, scar, and mole on our body.  But it is one thing to know and another thing to experience.  When Jesus came to Earth, He experienced life as a human being.  He felt what it was like to be in a human body with all the limitations of that body.  Can you imagine the great love God has for us, that He would leave a place of infinite power and wisdom just to come and feel and experience life on Earth alongside of us, His Creation?  All this so He could know us better.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, worship God as the God of mercy.  Praise Him for His unconditional and never-ending love for you.  Thank Him for His sacrifice and rejoice in the intimate relationship He has cultivated with you.  Open your Heart to receive His embrace and pray for the Holy Spirit to wrap you in a whole new understanding of God’s love for you.

Who Am I?

Psalm 8:3-4—When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?

It really is a magnificent revelation when we realize how much our Creator truly loves us.  Just take a look around at the beauty of this earth.  The oceans, the mountains, fields, valleys, forests, streams, and rivers—there is no end to the wondrous landscape.  And the wonder becomes even greater when we look up to the heavens.  The phases of the moon, the brilliance of the sun as it rises and sets each day, and the billions of stars that wink at us through the night.  We can marvel at all the animals of the planet and the perfect ecosystems that sustain life.  It’s obvious the care with which God crafted this creation.  And even so, above all things, He values us, mankind.  With all His splendor and power, His transcendence, He desires intimacy with us.  He seeks us out, chases after us, cares about every little thing we do.  He delights when we wake in the morning and praise His Name.  He is ecstatic when we dedicate our last words of the day in prayer to Him.  And He watches over us as we sleep.  He loves us!

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for His Mercy.  Thank Him for being mindful of you and chasing after you to shower you in His Grace.  Worship Him by listening to and meditating on the words of Who Am I, by Casting Crowns.  

Growing in Wisdom

Proverbs 3:5-8—Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body.

One of the downsides to learning and gaining wisdom is the temptation to think we finally understand it all.  As we learn and grow, we gain a sense of arriving.  But in reality, learning and the gaining of wisdom are a never-ending journey.  There is no destination because once we “arrive” we discover that there is so much more to be learned.  Socrates once said that “the only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”  Gaining wisdom involves the constant re-evaluation of our presumptions, assumptions, and perceptions.  The pursuit of wisdom and knowledge does not mean that we are wishy-washy; rather, it means that we don’t let dogma stand in the way of our understanding and growth in an intimate relationship with the Lord.  To seek God is to seek wisdom—our own understanding will never be enough.  But as we seek God, He will reveal Himself to us and grant us wisdom and knowledge beyond any we could ever imagine.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for the gifts of knowledge and wisdom.  Open your hearts as you ask the Lord to fill you and break any rigid patterns of thinking that you may have ingrained.  Be open to growth in the Lord’s knowledge and wisdom, and pray that He would guide you in knowing Him more intimately each day.

Desire

1 John 2:15-16—Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world.

What exactly are these things of the world that we ought not to love?  Probably money, status, and things like fancy houses, fast cars, and name-brand clothes—among other things, of course.  Particularly in in our Western culture, we can easily get caught up in an intense ethic of consumerism—it’s almost like a virus that plagues us.  We see an advertisement, or walk into a store, and suddenly we “need” something new.  Compared to so many others around the world, Westerners have an overabundance of things, yet so many of us are not satisfied with what we have.  The thing is, all of these worldly riches are fleeting.  If we bank our happiness on the car we drive or the house where we live, those things can easily be destroyed.  Acquiring something new might give an initial rush of pleasure, but in the end the newness wears off and we are left with a bigger emptiness that needs to be filled with a bigger thing.  Relationship with God works in just the opposite way, though.  Once He enters our hearts, He never leaves us feeling empty.  Certainly as we grow in our faith, we discover parts of our hearts and souls that we never knew existed, but Christ fills those newly discovered spaces without ever vacating and leaving empty any place He has already been.  When we begin to know the love of God, it’s like our eyes cannot even see the things of this world anymore.  Our perspective shifts, our vision changes, and we are left seeing the only thing that really matters—God our Father.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, thank God for filling you up with His Love.  Seek those undiscovered spaces in your soul, in your heart, and ask God into those places to fill you even more with His love.  Ask God to take away any distractions of this world so that you might know true peace in the love of Christ.  Pray that your relationships with others would honor God and continually grow His love in you and through you.

This Little Light of Mine

Philippians 2:14-15—Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.

Do you ever wonder if your light is shining brightly enough? Do others really see a difference in you? Do they recognize that difference as the light of Jesus' love in you?  Being a disciple of Christ is about so much more than proselytizing.  It’s about far more than the number of people you “convert” to Christ.  The truth is, the way you live your life is a far stronger witness than anything you could ever say or “convince” anyone to do.  When someone accepts Christ, it is not because of who you are or what you have said—it’s about what Christ has done through you.  More often than not, the way others know you are filled with Christ is by the way you act, the way you treat others, and the way you speak.  When you show unconditional respect and love for others and yourself, you stand apart as something different in this world.  People who do not intimately know Christ can get caught up in the pain and dysfunction of the world.  Being a Christian, for some, is more about judging others who do not yet know Christ.  Others may care more declaring that they are different than others and then treat others like they are worthless.  Still others may not change at all and may even hide their Christian label for fear of being too different from this world.  When we mature in our relationship with Christ, though, we begin to see our interactions with others in a whole different way.  We begin to change the conversations we are in because we simply aren’t processing life at an earthly level anymore.  We begin to take on Christ’s vision and He shows us how to love others unconditionally and how to shine His light in this world without becoming a part of this world. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, thank God for shining Christ’s light in you.  Rejoice in your salvation and pray that others would see in you Christ’s special love.  Pray that others would see something different in you, something they want to know more about. Reaffirm your commitment to Christ by declaring your intention to live beyond the label of Christian so that you would practice humility and unconditional love, free of judgment, every moment of every day.