Quick to Listen

Tuesday:  James 1:19-20—My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Have you ever noticed that most conflicts arise because of miscommunication?  Miscommunication occurs when we misunderstand or fail to hear what another person is saying.  Often, we misunderstand or fail to hear because we are not listening.  Our emotions have a tendency of taking over, so in difficult conversations we usually spend more time thinking about what we want to say than listening to what the other person is saying.  If we can get our emotions under control enough to listen, though, we might find that the other person has a legitimate point.  And the reality is, everyone’s perspective and feelings are legitimate.  We may not feel the same way ourselves, but our reality is not everyone else’s reality.  God desires for us to see the basic human dignity in all those around us so that we hear them, listen to them, and find a way to be at peace, free from anger and judgment.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, consider any feelings of anger you have in your heart.  Pray that God would soften your heart and give you ears to hear.  Resolve to be a listener, not a talker. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and strengthen your resolve to listen and release all anger.

True Wisdom...

James 1:5—If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Have you ever been wrong about something?  Of course!  We all have been wrong about something at some time.  As humans, we are often so sure of what we “know,” but frequently we learn that we are wrong or mistaken.  The older we get, sometimes we learn that something we have believed our entire lives is “wrong.” The truth is, we all lack wisdom, and we all lack knowledge.  Socrates said that “true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”  And that’s where God comes in.  It’s not for us to know all the details.  It doesn’t matter if we have it all figured out.  That’s the whole point of faith.  But God can give us wisdom to know how to treat others, to be compassionate, to show respect.  Wisdom is knowing what the right thing is, even if you can’t really articulate why.  And God is desperate to fill us with His Wisdom – we need only ask.

Today as you pray and meditate on His Word, praise God for His Wisdom.  Ask Him to flood your spirit with wisdom that you might further His Kingdom on Earth. Pray that He guide you in all your decisions and forgive all lack of wisdom inherent in your humanity.  Rejoice in the solace that His Wisdom is trustworthy beyond all human knowledge and comprehension.

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.