These Things

Thursday:  James 5:1-6—Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.  You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

Greed is not sustainable.  History has evidenced this truth repeatedly, yet greed perpetuates in western civilization.  Every day, we are confronted with the latest “thing” we need.  We all want something bigger and better.  We want to be comfortable.  We want to not have to worry about money and bills.  For those who have plenty, they tend to want more. There is a saying, “the more you have, the more you want.” When we seek the things of the Earth, we can never be satisfied because earthly treasures are not eternal.  There is no way that wealth and riches can feed a soul.  What feeds a soul is relationship with each other and with God.  When we treat others with respect, when we lend a helping hand, when we cultivate community – that is when we are fulfilled.  When we call on the Holy Spirit, when we pray to God, when we praise and worship Him – that is when we are fulfilled. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, honestly consider the earthly treasures you seek to hoard. Envision those things placed on the altar before the Lord and ask God to take them.  Praise Him for His enduring love, affection, mercy, and grace.  Worship Him as your Provider and Sustainer.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would guide you as you develop a more mature and intimate relationship with Him.

Reap What You Sow...

Galatians 6:7-8—Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Where do you invest your time?  When we stop to think about what it is we do on a daily basis, we are likely to find that the world starts to get in the way of our relationship with God.  Maybe we are hungry for wealth, stability of income, status in the community, or some other worldly god.  But these worldly treasures are not what sustains the human spirit.  Sure, for a time, we might feel satisfied and successful, but there is always a risk of losing these worldly treasures.  What is more, they come at a cost.  True peace and contentment come from seeking the kingdom of God.  Does that mean that we extricate ourselves from this world?  Absolutely not!  We bring the kingdom of heaven to earth when we love and serve others.  Our personal desires, wants, and agendas, must take a backseat to what God has in store for us.  When we start following God’s plan, we begin to see that it is so much greater than anything we could have imagined.  Our happiness is far greater and more sustainable than anything worldly riches could provide.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for His steadfast love.  Thank Him for His desire to care for His Creation.  Rejoice in the heavenly treasures He has waiting on you.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would lead and guide your every thought that you might never become distracted by the things of this Earth.  

Where is God?

Jeremiah 29:11-14—For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord.

When we hear on the news about all the violence and hate that fills our world, it might be easy to wonder “Where is God?”  When we suffer a great loss and feel great personal pain, it might be easy to wonder “Where is God?”  It is not enough to wonder where He is, though – the real question we ought to be asking is “Where am I in this?”  God has created each of us for a unique purpose.  When we see injustice, when we feel pain, when we disagree with what is happening in the world around us, that is a call for us to live into our purpose and initiate change.  God is not standing by with a magic wand ready to instantly convert the world. God moves much more subtly to empower us, as His Human Creation, to change the world and make it more like heaven. 

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, name aloud all the injustices that are resting on your heart.  Cry out to God and ask Him, “Lord, where am I in all of this? What is my purpose in all of this? Reveal to me your plan that I might fulfill your calling in this.” Pray for a willing and loving spirit that would reveal the love God has for all the world. Ask God for wisdom, peace, and patience as you say “yes” to His Call.

Walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16—So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

As Christians, walking in the Spirit means that we are consistently and constantly aware of God’s presence in our lives.  We see God’s hand in all we do.  We see His presence all around us.  We feel Him wherever we are and whatever we do.  We are not in tune with the Spirit if we ever find ourselves asking, “Where is God in this?” or “How could God let this happen?”  In those times when we see injustice and hate, we ought to ask ourselves, “Where are we?” or “How could we let this happen?”  When we begin to focus on the unifying power of the Holy Spirit, suddenly our worldly differences matter less and less and we can stop gratifying those desires of the flesh and seek first the Spirit.  That’s the time when hate and injustice can be overcome.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God as the Spirit of Life.  Rejoice in the renewal of your own Spirit through His Love and Care for you.  Pray that you would seek His Spirit always and embrace God in your life.  Let your life be a testimony of His Love.  In all things, seek the Spirit first.

Breathe God In

John 8:31-32—Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Freedom, at least by one definition, means “exemption from external control, interference, regulation.”  How does belief in Jesus free us from external control, interference, and regulation?  We know that God sent the Holy Spirit to abide with us and in us. We also know that the in the beginning, the Word was with God and the Word was God.  So, when we seek His Word, we ask the Holy Spirit to enter us and become one with us.  God wants to be that intimate with us – He wants to know us inside and out.  He wants to be an essential part of us.  When He is in us, when we abide in His Word and His Word in us, we are free because there is nothing external that can possibly matter anymore.  Everything of import, everything of substance, is within.  And that is true freedom.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, breathe in the Holy Spirit.  Pray for God to infuse you.  Call out to Him.  With every breath, take in more of God and release more of you.  

Just a Call Away

Jeremiah 33:3—Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Have you ever felt at a loss?  Perhaps you didn’t know the answer to a problem, or you were feeling frustrated with a situation, or you had a medical or family circumstance that worried you.  God says that when we call on Him, He will talk to us.  He has promised to reveal Himself to us if we just ask.  In the midst of turmoil and adversity, sometimes we forget to ask, though.  Sometimes we forget how to listen.  It’s amazing how our bodies and minds can run away from us when we are feeling stressed.  Just recently, I realized in yoga that I hold my breath anytime I do a difficult posture.  The more I pay attention to my breath, the more I realize that I tend to hold my breath anytime I’m facing any sort of challenge.  If I’m forgetting to even breathe, chances are that I’m forgetting to call on God, too.  It takes effort sometimes to remember that God is indeed there for us, and that He wants to take care of us.  He will provide a way, and He will reveal the answers we need.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God as the Breath of Life.  Pray that He would infuse you with His Breath so that His Wisdom might permeate every inch of your being.  Call on God to reveal Himself to you.  Whatever your questions, lay them at His Feet and ask Him to give you answers.  

Hopelessly Flawed

Matthew 7:3-5—“Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.”

Why is it so difficult for us to look inside ourselves and be honest about our flaws?  So many people I know walk around as if they are infinitely perfect in a world full of hopelessly flawed people.  To be sure, each of us is hopelessly flawed, and none of us is perfect.  So, why is it easy to ignore our own faults while we dwell on those of others?  When we become preoccupied with other people’s flaws, we breed negative emotions like hate, jealousy, envy, pride, and judgment.  Not only do we hurt ourselves by allowing these negative emotions to live within us, but we also fail to show the compassion we all desire.  Don’t we all want someone who is compassionate and merciful to overlook our own shortcomings?  Maybe that is why it is hard for us to be honest with ourselves – we are so used to being judged by others for our inadequacies that we need some compassion, even if it just comes from within.  If we start treating others with the compassion we wish to receive, soon, that compassion will overshadow any faults we possess.  Soon, that compassion will be the only thing that other people can see because it will speak to their most essential needs.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for His Compassion.  Rejoice in His Love for us.  Pray that He would fill you with compassion for others so that all those around you would feel His Love through you.  Ask Him to remove all judgmental thoughts that push others away so that you can be truly intimate with your fellow man, and in turn grow ever more intimate with Him.