Month: June 2021

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,the author and perfecter of faith…

Hebrews 12:1-2

Many years have passed since I learned this lesson personally, but I’ll never forget it!  My husband had been diagnosed with a blood disorder and had been hospitalized for a total of six weeks for surgery and other treatment.  Our two children were young at the time, and there was no assurance of a favorable outcome from the medical staff. 

I was attending a weekly Bible study at the time.  In the midst of all the concern about my husband’s health, our car broke down three times while he was in the hospital.  Each time, God provided someone to fix what was wrong.  The 3^rd time it broke down, I was on my way to Bible study.  I contacted the leader to let her know I wouldn’t be there.  Instead, she sent someone to come and pick me up.  My plan was to leave the car at the side of the road indefinitely.  I’d had enough!!  The Bible study leader told me that God was stretching my faith.  I told her that if I showed up the following week in two pieces, she would realize I had been stretched too far!  She assured me that God wouldn’t let that happen. 

I identified with Peter at that time.  As long as I was keeping my eyes on Jesus and the promises of His faithfulness, His provision, His constant presence, I could “walk on water” above the circumstances.  But as soon as my focus shifted to all the uncertainties and difficulties, I “started to sink.”

I love reading the story of Peter in Matthew 14:22-33.  It was Jesus who tole the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the lake.  This happened right after His miracle of feeding the 5,000.  Jesus had sent the crowds away and had gone up to the mountain by Himself to pray.  In the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came walking on the water toward the boat. The disciples were terrified and cried out in fear, thinking they were seeing a ghost!  Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 

Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Jesus said, “Come.” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But seeing the wind and the waves, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him.  And when they were in the boat, the wind stopped.  All those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly “God’s Son!”

Don’t you admire Peter’s faith which strong enough to step out of the boat onto the waves?  As long as His eyes were on Jesus, He was walking on water! 

What an encouragement to be assured that Jesus knows exactly where we are and what we are going through.  At all times! And no matter what the circumstances. He is there with us.  There is nothing impossible with Him. 

I encourage you to find the lyrics to the song by Casting Crowns called The Voice of Truth.  It speaks of the desire for the kind of courage it takes to step out of our comfort zone into the crashing waves where Jesus is.  The last line of the song says “I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.”

We have an enemy, Satan, who would want us to look at the difficult circumstances around us and just give in to fear and despair.  It’s important to remember that we have a choice.  We can remain terrified and in despair, or we can listen to the voice of the One who calls us to keep our eyes on Him and trust His deliverance.

As Hebrews 12:1-2 says, He is the author and perfecter of our faith.  He does allow difficult circumstances in our lives, but He will use them to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to Himself. 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are you in a storm of crashing waves in your life right now?  Can you hear Jesus calling out to you to come to Him in trust that He can calm that storm?

Or maybe you know someone who is experiencing extreme difficulties.  Will you be praying for them and encouraging them to hear Jesus’ voice of truth, that He is with them and will faithfully provide what they need.

What are some of the ways you can choose to keep your eyes on Jesus?

Be sure to carry out the ministry God gave you.

Colossians 4:17 (NLT)

A few months ago, I started a notebook especially for my time alone with God.  As I read the Bible or other devotional messages, I write down specific words or phrases that God speaks to my heart.  As I read back over that list, I’m reminded of specific Scriptures and messages that encourage me.

Today as I was looking at the list, the Scripture that stood out to me is Colossians 4:17 “Be sure to carry out the ministry God gave you.”  Recently I’ve been struggling with having to write weekly devotional messages to post on the website I started a year ago.  For the first year, I was able use messages that I had written over many years and had stored them in my file cabinet.  But now I am writing new ones each week, and it was beginning to feel like a burden at times because there is a deadline.  I do know that it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I missed a week.  But I still believe it is God’s plan for now to write regularly.

I know for sure that the writing of devotional messages is God’s commission to me.  After months of separation from my husband and a planned divorce, God made it clear that this was not the path He had chosen for me.  It was a long process of receiving forgiveness from God and from my husband and restoring our marriage.  But God led me to the Scripture in Luke 22:31, Jesus’ words to Peter following Peter’s denial: “Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have returned, strengthen your brothers.”  I knew the Lord was speaking these same words to me, assuring me that even my failure did not disqualify me from God’s plan for my life.  He would restore me to a right relationship with Himself and use me to teach others and encourage them in their walk with God.  Writing these devotional messages and teaching women’s Bible studies is part of what He had planned all along for my life.

Here are some Scriptures that have encouraged me to change my attitude and focus on the words of the Lord as I carry out the ministry He has given me.

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do [whatever your task may be] work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort] as [something done] for the Lord and not for men” (AMP)

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (NIV).

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (NIV).

I’m reminded of the blessing it is to belong to a God who speaks to my heart.  I’m reminded that He knows me personally and that He has a plan for my life.  I’m reminded that He gives me all I need through His Holy Spirit in me to follow His plan daily.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

What is the ministry God has given you?  Maybe it is caring for an aging parent, or parenting young children.  Maybe you have a ministry position that feels overwhelming at times.  Perhaps it is working at a job that is not satisfying but you have no way out.  Or a relationship that is not what you thought it would be. 

I encourage you to ask the Lord to give you His strength, His wisdom and clear direction.  You can ask Him to change your heart as you choose to continue doing what He has given you to do through the resources He provides.

James 1:21

Many of my friends love to be outdoors preparing the soil in their garden for the seeds they will plant in the spring as soon as the temperature is just right.  As summer comes, they begin to see the plants producing the fresh fruits and vegetables they will enjoy and share with others.

I’m thinking now of this Scripture in James 1:21 which tells us to “receive the Word implanted.”  God has given us His Word, the Bible, so that we can get to know Him personally and have our lives changed to reflect what He has planted in us.  We will grow to be more like Jesus as we listen to Him and obey what He says.

From personal experience growing up in church, I realize it is possible to know a lot about God without really knowing Him and living in a personal relationship with Him.  I grew up in a family that never missed a week of church attendance.  Even when we were at the lake on vacation we had to drive into town and go to church on Sunday.  What a waste, I thought! I also attended youth group and even Wednesday night prayer meetings because that was expected.  I enjoyed being with my friends, but I don’t remember any emphasis on a personal relationship with God and loving Him with all my heart, which is what He wants for us.

There were lots of rules:  Don’t go to movies or dances, don’t wear skirts above the knees, don’t color our hair, don’t wear two-piece bathing suits…  One good thing we were encouraged to do was memorize lots of Scripture – but it was a game to me.  I was really good at the Bible quiz contests.  It didn’t truly penetrate my heart.

The condition of my heart was clearly revealed when I spent a summer away from home during my high school years living with another family.  Within a week I had colored my hair (the same color as my natural color, so no one else even knew what I had done).  I also purchased a two-piece bathing suit.  (It covered as much of my body as a one-piece, but I knew it was two pieces and I found rebellious delight in that!). If there had been an opportunity to go to dances and movies, I’m sure I would have done that too! I definitely was rebelling from all the church rules!

A speaker came to a Youth for Christ meeting to share his experience of how God changed his life after being in jail for some time.  I remember wishing that I had done something really bad like that so I could tell people how God had changed me.  I always thought of myself as a “good Christian girl” who would never do anything like that!  I didn’t understand that I was as much of a sinner in need of a Savior as that man who had been in jail. 

I’m so thankful for God’s patience with me as He began transforming my heart as an adult.  My husband and I had moved to a different state, and after several years of not attending church, I started going with a friend who had moved in next door.  God used that pastor who taught me how to study the Bible, to understand that God wants a personal relationship with me, not just “following all the man-made church rules.”  It was at that time that I invited Jesus to be my Lord and Savior and committed to follow Him. That began a process of getting to know the God of the Bible that will continue as long as I live here on earth.  The more I get to know Him through His Word, the more I love Him.  There have been times of turning away from God’s ways and choosing my own, but He has graciously forgiven me and drawn me back. 

God has given every believer the gift of the Holy Spirit to live in us and to do that transforming work in our lives. Fortunately, all the Scripture memorization of my youth was not wasted.  The Holy Spirit now brings those words of Scripture back to my mind and brings life and understanding, and the desire to listen and obey God’s Word through a love relationship with Him.  He gives me opportunities to share His Word with others.  I’m profoundly grateful for His love, patience, faithfulness, mercy and grace.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

What is the condition of your heart?  Have you made that personal commitment to receive Him as your Lord and Savior? Do you have a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus?

As you read God’s Word, ask Him to plant it into your heart by the Spirit.  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Do you see the evidence of that fruit in your life?

It is possible to be doing the right things for the wrong reasons.  Even church attendance and daily Bible reading can become something that must be “checked off the list of things to do” for the day. You can ask God to penetrate your heart with His Word and His Spirit to transform your life.

Maybe you don’t even have the desire to know God.  You can ask Him to give you that desire and to lead you into a relationship with Him.