Have you ever pondered the vastness of God's sovereignty over your life, my life, your child's life, our state, our country, our world, the universe? It is absolutely mind boggling!
It is a daily discipline to keep my mind stayed on that reality as life changes and times shift in ways I cannot predict. How often lately I have had to keep reminding myself of Who God is and how able He is to handle anything that comes my way. Not only is He able to handle it, He is never surprised by anything... He is not controlled by time or space constraints, He is completely aware of everything, all the time, everywhere AND He controls it all.
God's word tells us:
"The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, the world and those therein. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." Ps. 24:1-2
"The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, and the Lord sits as King forever." Ps. 29:10
"The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations... The Lord looks from heaven; He sees the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works."
Ps. 33:10-11,13-15
My dear sisters, lets walk in the light of truth, God is sovereign and our God reigns. He is more than able - Hallelujah!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Put off, Put on - Sanctification in Action
In seeking to replace sinful habits and patterns, we must look to the word of God to find the biblical antidote. God's word is living and powerful or active (Hebrews 4:12); it is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16).
Studying scripture's admonition to put off and put on is a great exercise. With that in mind, I would like to share what I gleaned from my own study. Below each passage is listed along with what we are to actively put off and what we are to actively put on instead.
1) Ephesians 4:25: Put off lying; put on speaking the truth
2) Eph. 4:26-27: Put off holding a grudge; put on forgiveness- be angry and do not sin
3) Eph. 4:28: Put off stealing; put on hard work with your own hands, share with the needy
4) Eph. 4:29: Put off corrupt words; put on edifying words that impart grace
5) Eph. 4:31-32: Put off bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking; put on kindness, be tenderhearted and forgiving
6) Eph. 5:4: Put off filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting; put on giving thanks
7) Eph. 5:11: Put off fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; put on exposing the unfruitful works of darkness
8) Eph. 5:18: Put off being drunk with wine; put on being filled with the Holy Spirit
9) Phil. 4:6: Put off anxiety; put on an attitude of prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
10) Col. 3: 8,12-14: Put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language; put on tender mercies, kindness humility, longsuffering, meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, love
11) Romans 13:12-14:Put off the works of darkness, revelry, drunkenness, lewdness, lust, envy, strife, provisions for the flesh; put on the Lord Jesus, walk properly
As I look over this list I see that every area of my life is revealed... my speech, my thoughts, my actions, my attitudes, my habits. I also see that sin in so pervasive that I must be on guard at all times, actively putting off and putting on while fully relying on God through prayer. But the key to every put on is the last one... put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us strive to have the mind of Christ in everything we do and say and think; He will enable us to put off and put on.
Studying scripture's admonition to put off and put on is a great exercise. With that in mind, I would like to share what I gleaned from my own study. Below each passage is listed along with what we are to actively put off and what we are to actively put on instead.
1) Ephesians 4:25: Put off lying; put on speaking the truth
2) Eph. 4:26-27: Put off holding a grudge; put on forgiveness- be angry and do not sin
3) Eph. 4:28: Put off stealing; put on hard work with your own hands, share with the needy
4) Eph. 4:29: Put off corrupt words; put on edifying words that impart grace
5) Eph. 4:31-32: Put off bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking; put on kindness, be tenderhearted and forgiving
6) Eph. 5:4: Put off filthiness, foolish talking, coarse jesting; put on giving thanks
7) Eph. 5:11: Put off fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; put on exposing the unfruitful works of darkness
8) Eph. 5:18: Put off being drunk with wine; put on being filled with the Holy Spirit
9) Phil. 4:6: Put off anxiety; put on an attitude of prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
10) Col. 3: 8,12-14: Put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language; put on tender mercies, kindness humility, longsuffering, meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, love
11) Romans 13:12-14:Put off the works of darkness, revelry, drunkenness, lewdness, lust, envy, strife, provisions for the flesh; put on the Lord Jesus, walk properly
As I look over this list I see that every area of my life is revealed... my speech, my thoughts, my actions, my attitudes, my habits. I also see that sin in so pervasive that I must be on guard at all times, actively putting off and putting on while fully relying on God through prayer. But the key to every put on is the last one... put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us strive to have the mind of Christ in everything we do and say and think; He will enable us to put off and put on.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Be Still
"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10
Have you ever heard the saying that your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness? I answer a hearty AMEN to that! I am a doer, I love to be involved in things, busy, active, I am energized by life in general... until I hit the wall. That's when I start to get quiet enough to hear that still small voice, "Be still."
Two very brief and very powerful words.... be still.
Be still - cease: cease worrying, striving in my own weak efforts, trying to fix it, maneuvering, fretting, complaining, overanalyzing, criticising, hurrying...... just stop.
Stop??? How do I do that??? Well, if I am quiet long enough (and that is a big IF), I can hear the rest of that message... "Be still and know that I am God."
I can be still if I look to God, know He is sovereign, trustworthy, unchanging. Knowing that is to recognize and understand He is God. My life circumstances and the people in it are firmly resting in the mighty hand of Almighty God. I can rest because He's got it all handled.
So my dear sisters, it is my prayer for each of us to be still and know that He is God, that we would all walk in that reality every day.
Have you ever heard the saying that your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness? I answer a hearty AMEN to that! I am a doer, I love to be involved in things, busy, active, I am energized by life in general... until I hit the wall. That's when I start to get quiet enough to hear that still small voice, "Be still."
Two very brief and very powerful words.... be still.
Be still - cease: cease worrying, striving in my own weak efforts, trying to fix it, maneuvering, fretting, complaining, overanalyzing, criticising, hurrying...... just stop.
Stop??? How do I do that??? Well, if I am quiet long enough (and that is a big IF), I can hear the rest of that message... "Be still and know that I am God."
I can be still if I look to God, know He is sovereign, trustworthy, unchanging. Knowing that is to recognize and understand He is God. My life circumstances and the people in it are firmly resting in the mighty hand of Almighty God. I can rest because He's got it all handled.
So my dear sisters, it is my prayer for each of us to be still and know that He is God, that we would all walk in that reality every day.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Joy Is a Delight of the Mind
"Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good." Webster's 1828 Dictionary
Joy according to this definition is from the mind, not external sources. The mind is focused on the present possession of good (salvation) and assured approaching possession (our blessed hope of Christ's return). I love the simplicity of it.
Joy is not equal to happiness.... it is not based on what we get in this world but what we have in Christ. We have been predestined, adopted as sons, set apart, redeemed, forgiven. We are joint heirs with Jesus, children of the King. (Ephesians 1)
When I consider these things, I begin to understand true joy; joy that cannot be shaken, taken, or erased. Praise God for His indescribable gifts!
Joy according to this definition is from the mind, not external sources. The mind is focused on the present possession of good (salvation) and assured approaching possession (our blessed hope of Christ's return). I love the simplicity of it.
Joy is not equal to happiness.... it is not based on what we get in this world but what we have in Christ. We have been predestined, adopted as sons, set apart, redeemed, forgiven. We are joint heirs with Jesus, children of the King. (Ephesians 1)
When I consider these things, I begin to understand true joy; joy that cannot be shaken, taken, or erased. Praise God for His indescribable gifts!
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Glorious Things
"See the streams of living waters, springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want remove:
Who can faint, while such a river ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver, never fails from age to age."
Recently in church we sang "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken", which was new to me. As I focused on the hymn, I was struck by the second verse. There were four elements that caught my attention and reached my heart.
1) Streams of living waters which spring from eternal love.
Imagine that! Streams (not trickles) of living (not dead) water - active, vibrant, and life giving water. It's source? Eternal love - that is an endless supply - it springs from the love of God which does what is best for the receiver.
2) Well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want removed.
The living water supply is abundant - it well supplies all of God's sons and daughters. It is so abundant that it banishes fear of not having enough. It leaves no room for want or worry.
3) Who can faint, while such a river ever will their thirst assuage?
How can it be that we grow faint and weary when we have access to an eternal river that fully satisfies all our thirst - emotionally and spiritually? That river EVER abundantly meets our thirst to the full, it never falls short of being completely able to quench our thirst.
4) Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver, never fails from age to age.
Grace never fails because it's Author, our Lord, never fails. One of God's qualities noted here is the Giver. We don't get it, He gives it. Grace is from Him to us - unmerited favor - and it will NEVER fail. God's grace is limitless, powerful, and overarches all our sins. Thank you Jesus.
God in His ever persistent, yet gentle way, used this hymn to refocus my thirsty soul back to it's source. I pray it "rehydrates" your thirsty soul too. To God be the glory!
Well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want remove:
Who can faint, while such a river ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver, never fails from age to age."
Recently in church we sang "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken", which was new to me. As I focused on the hymn, I was struck by the second verse. There were four elements that caught my attention and reached my heart.
1) Streams of living waters which spring from eternal love.
Imagine that! Streams (not trickles) of living (not dead) water - active, vibrant, and life giving water. It's source? Eternal love - that is an endless supply - it springs from the love of God which does what is best for the receiver.
2) Well supply thy sons and daughters, and all fear of want removed.
The living water supply is abundant - it well supplies all of God's sons and daughters. It is so abundant that it banishes fear of not having enough. It leaves no room for want or worry.
3) Who can faint, while such a river ever will their thirst assuage?
How can it be that we grow faint and weary when we have access to an eternal river that fully satisfies all our thirst - emotionally and spiritually? That river EVER abundantly meets our thirst to the full, it never falls short of being completely able to quench our thirst.
4) Grace which, like the Lord, the Giver, never fails from age to age.
Grace never fails because it's Author, our Lord, never fails. One of God's qualities noted here is the Giver. We don't get it, He gives it. Grace is from Him to us - unmerited favor - and it will NEVER fail. God's grace is limitless, powerful, and overarches all our sins. Thank you Jesus.
God in His ever persistent, yet gentle way, used this hymn to refocus my thirsty soul back to it's source. I pray it "rehydrates" your thirsty soul too. To God be the glory!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Affliction
Growing up I was very close to my grandparents. My grandma had Multiple Sclerosis and was eventually confined to a wheelchair. As I grew up in strength and years, my grandma grew weaker and less able to care for herself. Eventually she lost the ability to use her arms and hands which meant she was totally dependent on those around her for simple every day tasks and needs. One very distinct memory of mine is of her sharing a verse from scripture over and over, "I know, O LORD, that Your judgements are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Ps. 119:75
For years I have thought about that verse and my grandma's attachment to it. Lately it has been in the forefront of my mind too. The afflictions in life can be the means that demonstrate God's faithfulness... God in His faithfulness allows afflictions in order to refine us, purify us, and glorify Himself. God, in His wisdom, knows what we need in order to become more like Him, to become more equipped to serve Him. Affliction, when entrusted to the mighty hand of God, yields results that far outweigh the struggle of the challenge itself. It is then that I begin to know God's faithfulness.
In Ps. 119:71 the Psalmist states, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." Pondering this verse, I realized that during times of trials and affliction I am more prone to run to the Word of God for comfort and guidance. The dominating theme (context) of Psalm 119 is the Word, a deep longing for it. The psalmist uses eight different terms to refer to scripture: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgements, word, and ordinances. He obviously understood the value of God's word and it's vital purpose in life.
Romans 8:18 tells us, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. "
For years I have thought about that verse and my grandma's attachment to it. Lately it has been in the forefront of my mind too. The afflictions in life can be the means that demonstrate God's faithfulness... God in His faithfulness allows afflictions in order to refine us, purify us, and glorify Himself. God, in His wisdom, knows what we need in order to become more like Him, to become more equipped to serve Him. Affliction, when entrusted to the mighty hand of God, yields results that far outweigh the struggle of the challenge itself. It is then that I begin to know God's faithfulness.
In Ps. 119:71 the Psalmist states, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." Pondering this verse, I realized that during times of trials and affliction I am more prone to run to the Word of God for comfort and guidance. The dominating theme (context) of Psalm 119 is the Word, a deep longing for it. The psalmist uses eight different terms to refer to scripture: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgements, word, and ordinances. He obviously understood the value of God's word and it's vital purpose in life.
Romans 8:18 tells us, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. "
Lord, may I consider my earthly trials and afflictions as nothing compared to Your glory and the glory that is to be revealed in me through them. Amen.
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