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.

Pray for Our Leaders

1 Timothy 2:1-2—First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.

We have just turned the page on the 2014 elections, but the negative press does not seem to be waning.  It always saddens me to see people who appear so incredibly consumed with winning or being right, regardless of their political ideologies.  The Bible instructs us to pray for our leaders, yet the worldly response is to criticize and blame.  Our challenge as Christians is to follow God’s instructions and pray for all of our leaders, especially those we might not have chosen ourselves.  Our leaders have very difficult jobs, and their choices are never easy.  On top of that, they are faced with all sorts of temptations—temptations that you and I, hopefully, will never have to face.  They are vulnerable.  Yes, for the most part they have each chosen to be involved in the political game.  But that doesn’t mean we stop praying for them.  Now, more than ever, our country needs to feel the unifying power of the Holy Spirit binding it together. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, write out a list of all our political leaders, including those at the federal, state, and local level.  If you don’t know their names, please look them up so you can be specific in your prayers.  Thank God for our democratic process and for providing us with leaders for our country.  Pray for each of these leaders by name that they would be filled with wisdom, humility, dignity, and restraint so that they may each make the best decisions possible for this country, our state, and our city.  Rejoice in God our Father who is the One that is always in control.

God's Will

Ephesians 1:9-10—he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

On its grandest scale, the mystery of God’s Will might not seem so incomprehensible—that He desires a personal relationship with us so much that He sent His Son to live amongst us so that we might experience God in a human form, and so that God might experience the human plight first-hand.  But on a micro scale, God’s Will can seem quite elusive.  We know that He has a plan, and each of us is a part of that plan.  We each play a role and He places us exactly where we need to be at any given moment in time for the unfolding of the entire plan.  Sometimes, though, it is hard to trust that we are in fact where He has meant for us to be.  Sometimes we feel like we are spinning our wheels in the dirt.  Other times we might feel like God could not possibly have His Hand in a situation because it all seems to be going awry.  The Bible tells us that His Plan is set forth in Christ.  So, if we study Christ’s life and love others the way He did, we are well on our way to discovering the peace it is to follow God’s Will.  Following God is the continual act of putting aside our personal wants and desires so that we take on God’s wants and desires for our lives.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for the gift of His Son. Pray that He would fill you with a desire to relinquish your personal wants and desires.  Listen for His Call and ask God to reveal your purpose in His Grand Plan. Recommit yourself to following His Will even as you set aside your personal desires so that you may be filled with His.

Let God Lift You Out of Your Fear

Isaiah 41:10—So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Fear is a powerful force.  Even when we do not recognize that we are fearful, fear can manifest in our bodies and affect our decisions, moods, and overall health.  To be sure, not all fear is bad—fear is part of an internal alert system that God has gifted us so that we can navigate dangers in this world.  But often, fear can become debilitating.  In Isaiah, God tells us not to fear anything, but frankly, this is easier said than done.  The first step to overcoming debilitating fear is recognizing it.  Learning the patterns of fear in our lives requires us to listen to our bodies.  So often muscular pain, headaches, digestive troubles, and even diseases are manifestations of fear stuck in our bodies. The second step is repeating this verse out loud over and over again.  Words are powerful—the more you recite this verse, the sooner your soul will truly believe it.  Third, breathe deeply and try to find peace and quiet so you can hear God speaking to you.  Finally, don’t be angry or frustrated with yourself for feeling fear because these negative emotions only feed fear.  Rather, love yourself and exercise grace.  Be kind to yourself and allow yourself to acknowledge the fear and release it.  Pray for God to convert your fear into positive energy that will lift you up.

Today as you pray and meditate on his Word, praise God for giving us an internal alert system of fear.  Identify your fears and isolate the ways your body is telling you that you are experiencing fear.  Pray for His guidance in developing a healthy relationship with your fears.  Ask God to soothe your soul and lift any fears that are trapped within you and harming your spirit.  Thank Him for His abiding presence, strength, and support.

Killer Law, Living Spirit

2 Corinthians 3:4-6—Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Only through Christ Jesus are we empowered to overcome this world.  We ought to be careful not to boast or become prideful in thinking that we are in control of anything that is happening. Rather, our spirits should seek peace and contentment in the knowledge that the Almighty uses all things for good.  Through the death of His Son, He has called us to a new covenant with His Spirit.  Not only is the black letter of the law no longer sufficient, but this Scripture declares it a killer.  How is this so?  The law seems neutral and objective, so adherence to the law is tempting.  Those who follow the law feel like they are “getting it right.”  This type of objectivity through adherence to the law, however, is deceptive.  So often, following the letter of the law leads to an absurd result.  Even when it seems like the law is being applied neutrally, it tends to have a disparate impact.  It can interfere with relationships and hurt others.  It can prevent others from knowing Christ Jesus.  Mindless compliance and obedience to rules can lead to a spirit of judgment against others.  There is no room for forgiveness, mercy, or grace in the letter of the law.  But the Spirit of God gives life.  It is loving, kind, and accepting.  It lifts others up.  It has no need to judge because God is the only true Judge.  Love gives life.  In this passage, God is telling us not to let the letter of the law get in the way of His Spirit.  We have a higher calling, a new covenant—to love others as Christ has loved us and to be vessels for the movement of the Holy Spirit. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, open your heart to His Holy Spirit.  Ask God to fill you with His Spirit so that you might overcome the letter of the law in all things and allow His Loving Spirit to live through you.  Praise God for the loving you, forgiving you, and showing you grace and mercy.  Pray that you would be a worthy minister for Him in every aspect of your life.

To Be Rich

Ephesians 1:17-19—I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.

The way the Bible refers to the riches in this passage (as well as others) can be misleading to some.  In the secular world, the word “riches” usually refers to money or goods of high monetary value.  If we say someone is rich, we usually mean the person is extremely wealthy.  The Bible uses this word in a different context though.  We know that God does not value worldly wealth in the same way that we do.  He doesn’t need money or jewels or gold.  So as Christians, we cannot expect to get rich in the worldly sense when the Bible tells us we will inherit glorious riches.  What God is trying to tell us is that the riches He provides are far greater than any idea of riches we currently have.  True wealth is developed in relationship with Him.  When we grow in our understanding of His ways, when we begin to hear His voice, when we are able to be in constant prayer and communication with Him throughout our daily lives, that’s when we start to be in the midst of His riches.  That is when we can see and feel His power and love at ever increasing levels.  That is when we will know that none of the earthly riches matter all.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for blessing you with the gift of enlightenment.  Ask Him to continue opening your heart and mind to His Presence so that you can grow in your understanding of His Ways.  Pray that your eyes would be directed toward the true riches and rejoice in His great power.