Living God’s Grace

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

 Corinthians 5:17

A figurine of a little girl dressed up in her mother’s long coat, large hat, high heels, and a large purse by her feet.  It was a Christmas gift from my husband many years ago, and I love it!  She stands about twelve inches tall, and it has always been a special treasure to me.  I displayed her in a prominent place where I could see her often.  She did get knocked over once, and there was a little chip broken off.  I was sad, but I glued the chip back into place and I was the only one aware that she had been damaged just a little.

            Not long after that, I found the figurine on the floor.  I didn’t see it happen, but it had to be our cat that was responsible this time, and the damage was much more severe.  One high-heeled foot had broken off, a piece of the purse was broken off, and several other areas were chipped.  I was especially sad this time, but I did my best to glue the pieces I could match up.  I didn’t tell anyone about the damage.  I couldn’t leave her on the original prominent shelf because, in the light, it was obvious that she had been broken in many places.  So, I moved her to a shelf in a darker corner where the cracks were not quite as obvious.

Before too long, my husband discovered the damage.  He asked what had happened, and he concluded that I should throw it away.  But I told him she was still precious to me, and I wanted to keep her, even with all the cracks.  The following Christmas, I opened a gift from my husband, and it was a new figurine, exactly the same as the original.  I was amazed!  These were quite expensive for our budget at the time, and I was satisfied to keep the one with all the cracks.  But he assured me he wanted to give me the new one! This time, I put her on a shelf where I knew she would be protected.  And she is still perfect!

I didn’t realize it at the time, but these figurines now represent what I experienced years later in my marriage and in my relationship with God.  Even though I was a Christian, I made a series of choices that led to an adulterous relationship and eventual separation from my husband.  I knew this was not what God wanted for my life, but it seemed impossible to give up that relationship.  After several months of separation and daily undeniable conviction from God about my choice, I made the decision to return home to my husband if he still wanted me.  By God’s grace, he was willing for me to come home and we agreed to go away for ten days of intensive counseling to work on our marriage. 

That was only the beginning of a long period of continuing to try to “fix myself.” My marriage was broken, I was broken, and I felt helpless and hopeless. 

Finally, several months after returning home, I surrendered myself and my marriage completely to God.  God led me that very morning to make an appointment with a counselor who had been able to help a friend of mine.  For the first time, I felt a small degree of hope.  It was a long and painful journey through counseling, but over time God was able to accomplish what was impossible when I was trying to “fix” myself. 

            Looking back, I see that I was like that broken figurine when I turned away from God.  I tried very hard to patch myself and make life work the way it was supposed to.  But when I completely surrendered to God, He didn’t just patch up the broken pieces and put me on a shelf in a dark corner.  He forgave me, and although it took some time, He created in me a new heart of love for Him and for my husband. Our marriage became stronger than it ever was before!  A miracle that only God could accomplish!  He has made me a new creation, not just patched up with all the cracks still showing!  I have a deeper personal understanding of God’s love, His grace and mercy, and His power to change hearts and lives and marriages.  And, in His time, God has given me the blessing of ministering to women again through writing and teaching Bible studies, offering hope and encouragement to those in difficult life circumstances.

            At this Christmas season, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that God sent His Son Jesus to be born as a baby on the earth He created.  Jesus lived among people to reveal God to us.  And then He willingly went to the cross to pay the death penalty for the sins of the whole world. 

Our God loves us so much He was willing to pay that price so that we could live with Him now and throughout all eternity!  And He doesn’t just patch us up and try to cover up all the cracks.  He causes us to be born again spiritually and gives us new life.  He wraps us in His robe of righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).  When we receive God’s gift of salvation through faith in what Jesus has done for us, we become “a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  There can be no greater gift! 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Have you received God’s gift of salvation?  Thank Him for that amazing gift and what it cost Him to give it.  If not, you can pray and ask Him to forgive your sins. You can invite Him to be your Savior and your Lord.  Ask God for a friend who is a follower of Jesus who can help you get to know Him.

During this Christmas season, I’m asking God to give me fresh awe and wonder at the birth of Jesus.  I don’t want to let the Scripture become so familiar that it loses its amazing truth.

Is there a circumstance in your life that seems hopeless, that you feel helpless to change?

Be encouraged that if you cry out to God for help, He does hear, and He can do what seems impossible.  It begins with complete surrender to God.  He will even help you to have a willing heart to surrender if you ask Him!

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers… what is man, that you think of him…?

Psalm 8:3-4

In my Bible study this week, we watched the DVD by Louie Giglio called How Great Is Our God! I wish everyone could see it! I just looked on the internet and discovered that you can watch the entire message on YouTube by typing in Louie’s name and the title. (The word laminin also comes up in the title, and that’s the one I’m recommending.) It is a 41-minute video presentation, exactly like the DVD.

Louie Giglio is a pastor in Atlanta. In this video, he focuses on the immeasurable vastness of the universe by comparing the size of the earth to our sun and to 4 other stars. Throughout the video, he uses a golf ball to represent the size of the earth and then tells how many earths would fit into each of these stars. In the largest star he focuses on, Canus Majoris, the number of golf balls would fill the state of Texas 22 inches deep! And the distances measured in light-years are mind-blowing!

Near the end of the video, he changes the focus to the human body, and how we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). He shows pictures of a developing baby at 4 days — only 16 cells, and shares some of the astonishing facts during later development.

But near the close of his talk, there is a punchline, a left hook as he calls it, that should leave us speechless. He tells his personal experience of learning from a molecular biologist about a cell adhesion molecule called laminin. It is a protein molecule that is the “glue” that holds our bodies together. He shows an actual picture of laminin taken by an electron microscope. At the center of each laminin molecule is the shape of a cross! You can Google laminin and see the picture for yourself!

He ends the talk with the message that the cross of Christ is proof that He literally holds us together! When we just can’t go on. When we think we can’t take another step. Jesus is right there with us, giving strength for one more step, and then another step… He promises to never leave us!

I hope you will take the time to watch this video. It will certainly change your perspective about how massive is the universe that God created. It will also strengthen your faith in the God who gave His Son Jesus to save us. He knows every intimate detail of our lives. Read Psalm 139, the whole chapter. Our finite minds can never fully comprehend the infinite love, wisdom, and power of God.  But we can ask Him to open our eyes and our hearts, to reveal all that we can possibly understand. 

During this Christmas season, may we set aside time to remember and be renewed in our awe of God’s plan of salvation for those who choose to believe in His Son. Think about the fact that the Lord, who created this infinite universe, was willing to leave heaven and become a helpless infant born in a stable! Let’s celebrate His birth and Remember the Reason for the Season!

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Again, I encourage you to watch the How Great Is Our God message, on DVD which can be purchased on Amazon.com, or watch it free on YouTube. The message is life-changing. Our response should be one of awe and worship of our infinite, intimate God.

Search me, O God, and know my heart.  Point out anything that offends You…

Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

A recent trip to the dermatologist revealed something I wasn’t even aware of.  I made the appointment because I was concerned about a spot on my hand that’s been there for quite a while.  It didn’t bother me, but it was a small rough spot that didn’t go away, and it seemed wise to have it checked out.

            During the exam, the dermatologist did a thorough check of my face, arms, and upper body.  She noticed a tiny dark spot that I hadn’t even been aware of.  She said it looked suspicious and recommended cutting it out and sending it to the lab for testing. I don’t have the results yet, but I’m so thankful she found that spot and knew what to do about it.

            That same week, my Bible study lesson was from Psalm 139.  David prayed this prayer in verses 23-24: Search me, O God, and know my heart.  Put me to the test and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there is any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

Why do we need to ask God to search us?  Don’t we know our own heart?  The answer is “No.” Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand (know) it?”  If we examine our own heart, we may become aware of certain things that are not quite right, but it may not seem like a big deal.  Psalm 139 tells us that God knows our thoughts; He knows what we are going to say even before we speak.  He also knows our attitudes and motivations that no one else can see.

            When God searches our heart, He brings to light sins that we may not even be aware of.  But it is not for the purpose of condemning or punishing us.  Romans 8:1 (AMP) assures us “There is now no condemnation (no guilty verdict, no punishment) for those who are in Christ Jesus (who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior).”  When God reveals sin, it is so that we can confess, repent, and be forgiven and cleansed from all unrighteousness. We can live in freedom from guilt and shame.  We can live with hearts full of gratitude for what Jesus did on the cross to save us from our sins.  We can ask God for opportunities to share with others the Good News with those who don’t yet know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

David Guzik’s Enduring Word commentary about Psalm 139:23-24 warns us: “It is a serious thing to pray because it invites painful exposures and surgery if we truly mean it.  Still, it is what every wise believer should desire.”

Asking God to search our heart will take time alone with Him.  Find a time and place where you can be undisturbed.  We can ask Him to quiet our minds and give us ears to hear what He wants to say and hearts to respond to whatever He shows us. I’m reminded that it is something I need to do often! 

…so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…

Colossians 1:10

A memory comes to mind of my daughter when she was first learning to walk.  We would help her stand up and then encourage her to take a few steps toward our outstretched hands, ready to catch her if she started to fall.  I remember sitting out on the grass in our front yard excitedly watching as she would attempt to stand up by herself. After just a few unsteady steps, she would fall.  But with a little coaxing, she would stand up and try again.  Each step was a celebration!

            Today, I’m thinking about how our Father must take delight in our small steps of obedience that draw us closer to Him.  I’m thinking about the many small steps I have taken in the last two years which have resulted in writing weekly messages on my website. More recently I compiled a book of the earliest messages.  If I had known what it would take to get this far, I may have been tempted not to take even the first step!

            Many of the first devotional messages were written about 25 years ago.  A friend and I were both writing at the time and getting together to share what we had written.  There was no plan to do anything with what we wrote, and they remained in my file cabinet until two years ago when I was prompted to get them out of the file cabinet and re-read them.  As I prayed and asked God if there was something I should do with them, no clear answer came right away.  But more ideas for new messages came to mind, and I started writing again. 

I rediscovered notes I had written from a talk our pastor’s wife had shared with the women’s group at church.  I picked them up and read them again, and the first line I had written was this: “Just take the next step.  Even if you don’t feel qualified; even if you don’t know the final outcome.”

That has been my guiding principle ever since.  And I can look back and clearly see how God led each next step of the journey He has planned for me.  My first idea was to just make copies of the devotionals I’d written, staple them together and hand them to a few friends.  But God had something completely different in mind.  Through a friend who had started posting devotionals on a website, I was encouraged to create a website and begin posting weekly messages.  Way easier said than done to create a website!!  But with lots of prayer and dependence on God, help from a friend and my son-in-law it happened! 

After a few months, a friend asked if I had ever considered compiling the devotional messages into a book.  She had several co-workers she would like to give them to.  I immediately said “No.” But within a couple of weeks, two other friends asked me the very same question. Again, I said “No.” I was still recovering from the trauma of creating a website!  But I realized it was the Lord who was prompting this next step. God brought a dear friend into my life who had already self-published quite a few books.  And she was willing to walk me through each next step. The book was published on Amazon on March 27^th this year (2021)!  No one could be more amazed than I am! It was definitely not something that I had planned for myself.

So, what does it mean to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord?”  I have personally experienced that it means taking each step that He calls me to take.  Even when I don’t see any farther than one step ahead. Even when I feel absolutely unqualified.  Even when I have no idea of the final outcome.  It means taking each step in faith, trusting that He will lead and provide everything necessary to accomplish His plan and His purpose. 

Having taken so many “next steps” in the last couple of years has strengthened my faith immeasurably.  And I can wholeheartedly encourage anyone else to be willing to listen to what God is calling you to do, and follow the steps He leads you to take! I’m certain that He delights in our small steps of obedience that result in His purpose being accomplished for His glory.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

What “next steps” is God calling you to take? 

Maybe there is a broken relationship He wants to mend.  Maybe there is a ministry He is calling you to.  Maybe there is a deeper level of intimacy with Himself He is calling you to. 

Please consider praying and asking God to show you what steps He wants you to take.  Trust that He has a perfect plan for your life and will clearly guide and provide as you willingly follow in obedience.

p.s. In case you’re interested in purchasing a copy of my devotional book, it is available on Amazon.com. The title is “Living in God’s Extravagant Grace; Encouragement from God’s Word.”

Psalm 139:1

Do you have someone in your life who knows you better than anyone else knows you?  Someone who knows what delights you, one who knows how to comfort you when you are sad or lonely? That person is a treasured gift from God!

I encourage you to take some time to read Psalm 139.  You will discover that God knows us even better than we know ourselves!  There is way too much in this chapter for a single devotional message, so today I just want to focus on verses 1-6.

Verse 1 says “You have searched me and known me.” The following verses tell us what He knows about us!

He knows when we sit down, and rise up (verse 2)

He knows what we think (verse 2)

He knows where we are at all times (verse 3)

He knows what we will say even before we speak a word (verse 4)

God knows everything about us!  Not a moment of our lives escapes His attention!  He is omniscient. 

In verse 5 we learn that He “enclosed us behind and in front” (NASB). I looked up the meaning of “enclosed” in the original Hebrew.  It means “to lay siege to.”  Think of a conquering army completely surrounding a city in order to capture it.  God surrounds us with Himself!  He is our protector.

This reminds me of Job 1:8-12.  Satan is talking to God about Job.  He says “Does Job fear God for nothing?  Have you not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has on every side?”  How would Satan know about that hedge that God had placed around Job?  He obviously had tried to attack Job in some way and had been unable because of God’s protective shield around Job.  If we continue reading, we discover that God is sovereign over Satan’s power to attack Job.  God puts a limit on how much He allows Satan to harm Job. He is omnipotent.

Job’s story encourages me to believe that God is the shield all around me.  Nothing touches me without His permission.  And whatever He allows, it is for His good purpose and our ultimate good.  After all the suffering Job goes through, he has a greater understanding of God than he ever had before. 

In verses 7-12 we learn that there is no place we can go to hide from God.  Not the heavens or the deepest sea, not darkness or light will hide us.  Genesis 3:8 tells us about Adam and Eve attempting to hide from God.  Jonah 1:1-3 is the story of Jonah running the opposite direction from where God had told him to go.  We are not able to hide from God.  Nothing is hidden from Him.   He is omnipresent.

 Psalm 139 ends with the words, “Search me, O God, and see if there be any wicked (hurtful, offensive) way in me.”  We might think that we are doing pretty good.  Others might even think we are doing pretty good.  But Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that we don’t even know our own hearts.  God knows every thought, every word, every attitude, every motivation.  If we truly want a pure heart that is pleasing to God, we can ask Him to search us.  As He shows us what needs to be changed, we can confess and be forgiven.  What an amazing gift!

PERSONAL REFLECTION

How do you respond to the truth that God knows everything about you?

If you are serious about asking God to search your heart, it takes time alone with Him.  It takes time to listen in a place free of distractions, something it would be good to do often!

Is there anything you need to confess? 

Write a prayer of thanks for what He has shown you.  Know for sure that He has forgiven you for whatever you have confessed.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Another friend’s husband went to be with Jesus a few days ago.  So many are suffering from Covid-related illness and loss.  Our hearts hurt for those who face loneliness without their loved ones.  But in the midst of the grief, for those who have put their faith and trust in Jesus, there is hope.  The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. 

I’m reminded to ask the Lord how to personally reach out to friends who are grieving.  I have learned that it often helps to just be available to sit with them and listen.  Offering to bring a meal or do errands for someone is a practical way to reach out. 

Many years ago, I learned a very important lesson during a really difficult time.  My husband was in the hospital for several weeks and I had two young children at home. I had several friends call and offer help with anything I needed.  One even offered to provide a meal any time I needed one.  I realize now that it was my own pride that kept me from asking for help.  But one friend called and said, “I have a meal prepared for you.  When is a good time for me to deliver it?”  That was easier to receive.  I didn’t have to call and ask for it.

I recently read a prayer that helps me focus on how to pray for someone who is grieving:

Gracious and loving Father,

I pray for my friend who is grieving the loss of their loved one.  You know the intimate details of how deeply they are hurting, how painful the sorrow is, and what they need each day.  I ask that you bring them comfort and strength, fulfilling the promise that you are near to the brokenhearted.  Surround them, Lord, with a community of people who will show them love, compassion, and care.  I ask that you would help them in their darkest moments to cling to you.  Help them to draw near to you as they are grieving.  I ask that they will find hope and healing in the coming months and years.  Lord, keep watch over them and their family who are grieving.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 13:15 (NIV)

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Ask God if there is someone today who could use encouragement in their time of grief or suffering.  Trust Him for wisdom to know what they need and what you can offer that will comfort them and show His love.

Maybe you are the one who is suffering.  Trust God to send someone to help you during this difficult time.  Be willing to receive help as a gift from Him when it is offered.

Psalm 46:10

Psalm 46 begins “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will not fear though the earth should change and the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.  Though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake at its swelling pride.”

That reminds me of Jesus with His disciples in Mark 4:35-39.  Even though it may be a familiar Scripture, I love to revisit it occasionally to be reminded of the awesome power of our Lord.  Jesus had been teaching the crowds by the sea all day.  When evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side.”  On the way across the sea in a boat, a fierce wind came up.  The waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was filling up.  Jesus was asleep!  The disciples were terrified! They woke Him. “Teacher, don’t you care that we are perishing?”  Jesus got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, “Peace; be still.” The wind died down and it became perfectly calm.

In Psalm 46:10, we get the same message: “Be still.”  That means that when we are in one of our “storms” of life, we are to relax, or cease striving to figure out everything on our own. Those who know the Lord and belong to Him have the assurance that we are never alone.  He is always with us.  And He is sovereign over absolutely everything in our life.

It’s interesting to notice that the boat trip across the sea was Jesus’ idea!  The disciples were in the boat with Jesus at His invitation.  That assures me that just because we are experiencing a storm that threatens to sink us, it doesn’t mean that we have stepped outside of God’s will.  Isaiah 43:2 promises, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.”

Here is a song that is so encouraging! You can listen to it on YouTube:

Sometimes He Calms the Storm

By Scott Krippayne

All who sail the sea of faith
Find out before too long
How quickly blue skies can grow dark
And gentle winds grow strong
Suddenly fear is like white water
Pounding on the soul
Still we sail on knowing
That our Lord is in control

Chorus:

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn’t mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child

He has a reason for each trial
That we pass through in life
And though we’re shaken
We cannot be pulled apart from Christ
No matter how the driving rain beats down
On those who hold to faith
A heart of trust will always
Be a quiet peaceful place

Repeat chorus

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are you experiencing a threatening “storm” in your life now?  Remember that Jesus is “in the boat” with you.  Write a prayer acknowledging your need for Him to calm the storm. 

Remember past “storms” and the ways that the Lord provided.  Thank Him for His presence which brings peace.

Maybe someone you know needs to hear this message.  Pray for God’s timing to share this message of encouragement with them.

I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 14:6

Before even getting out of bed one morning, my mind started filling with memories of trips I had taken – one to England and one to Germany.  I remembered how much I appreciated traveling with people who had been there before. They knew all the sights to see and where to stay.  Even more important, they knew how to get to those places. Subways, trains, buses, ferries – all that would have been really difficult to figure out on my own!  Those travels were delightful and amazing!

As delightful and amazing it is to travel and experience the beauty of God’s creation on earth, our lives here are only temporary. We have the Lord’s promise of far greater pleasure for all eternity.  Read what His Word says:

What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, And what no human mind has conceived – the things God has prepared for those who love Him.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV):

My thoughts then turned to prayer for a dear friend whose beloved granddaughter is losing a long and painful battle with cancer.  Apart from a miracle, she will soon be in heaven! I’m so thankful to know that she and her family have journeyed with the Lord through their time on earth.  Soon Jesus will bring her to the place in heaven He has prepared for her.  And she, and all who belong to Jesus, will be there with her someday for all eternity.

Jesus came from heaven to earth to prepare the way for all who belong to Him to spend eternity with Him.  Even before the creation of the world, this was God’s plan.  Jesus would come to earth to die for the sins of the world.  He would be resurrected and live again for a short time on earth before going back to heaven.  Jesus spent time with His disciples after His resurrection preparing them for His departure.  In John 14:1-6, Jesus comforted them with these words:

In My Father’s house are many dwelling places.  If it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.  If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also….

All who have received God’s gift of salvation through faith in Jesus’ death on the cross for forgiveness of sin have this assurance.  There is no other way to heaven than the one He has prepared for us. 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Only God knows the number of our days on earth.  Are you ready for heaven?  If you can answer “Yes,” take some time to thank God for that assurance.

If your answer is “No,” you can pray even now and ask God to make you ready.  Here are some Scriptures with God’s truth about salvation:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If you are ready to receive Jesus as your personal Savior, you could pray this prayer (copied from The New Believer’s Bible):

            God, I’m sorry for my sin.  I turn from it right now. 

I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sin.

Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart and life right now. 

Be my Lord, Savior, and friend. 

Help me to follow you all the days of my life as your disciple.

Thank you for forgiving and receiving me right now. 

Thank you that my sin is forgiven and that I am going to heaven.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

If you believe these Scriptures and have prayed that prayer, you can be assured that God has heard you, and you belong to Him.  All believers are called to continue our life journey with the Lord, getting to know Him more through reading His Word, depending on His Spirit living in us to follow and obey what He tells us to do.  Remember that this life is not all there is – we have an eternal home in heaven prepared for us!

Give us this day our daily bread

Matthew 6:11

For much of my life, I was satisfied with the idea that these words from The Lord’s Prayer mean that we were to trust God for our daily food.  And I’m sure that’s part of it.  But now I realize it means so much more than that.  Jesus is telling us that we need to come to Him in complete dependence not only for our personal needs but for all we need to meet the needs of others He brings into our lives.  And I need to depend on Him daily for whatever He has planned for me to do.

In Exodus we read about the people of Israel in the desert after being saved from slavery in Egypt.  God provided manna every morning. They were instructed to gather it daily, and only enough for one day.  God was teaching them that He would provide again the next day and every day after that. 

I love the message about Jesus feeding the multitudes with the only food the disciples were able to obtain from the crowd – five loaves of bread and two fish.  He miraculously multiplied that small offering into not just barely enough to feed everyone, but there were 12 baskets of food left over!  What stands out to me in this scripture is that the disciples had to keep coming back to Jesus for refills.  He didn’t give them the complete amount all at one time they would need to distribute.

Jesus said, I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35).   He revealed Himself as the only way to receive eternal life.  He invites us to come to Him for salvation.  When we receive His gift of salvation by faith, we also receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who comes to live in us.  We need to depend on Him daily to align our hearts and minds and will with God’s.

Again, for much of my life I had no idea of this truth.  I believed in God, I was attending church regularly, but there was no understanding that God had a plan for my life.  No understanding that God had given me His Spirit to equip me for the life He had planned.  No understanding of spiritual gifts God has given every believer to accomplish His work.

Like the Israelites, I need to come to Jesus daily, and throughout the day, in complete surrender to His will and trust in His provision.  A love relationship with Him brings peace, joy, and a sense of purpose as I live my life for Him.  He provides everything I need to follow Him and to encourage others in their walk with Him. 

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Do you make time with the Lord a priority in your life?  Do you recognize your need for Him daily?

What keeps you from spending time with Him daily?  He calls us to come to Him all who are weary and burdened and He will give us rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28). 

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 14:27

A friend recently shared a link to an online message she had listened to. The message is from Pastor Joe at Valley 4^th Church. I’ll copy the link at the end of this devotional message in case you’d like to listen to it in person.  It’s only about 10 minutes, but so encouraging in these days of troubled times all around the world! 

            The part of the message that meant so much to me personally was the speaker’s own testimony.  As an unbeliever, he would observe his Christian friends going through difficult and tragic times and still have peace.  That is what finally made him realize that God is real, and he turned his life over to God.  He is now a pastor. That is a strong reminder to me that the way we live our lives really matters because others are watching.    

            As Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure from this earth to ascend back to heaven, they were troubled.  They had been with Him constantly for three years, and now He is leaving them! You can read more of Jesus’ words of comfort to them in John 14.  Jesus said, “My peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives…” The pastor focused on the difference between the peace the world offers and the peace that Jesus promises to those who follow Him.  I’ll summarize the message for you here:

What is the peace the world gives?

In order to experience peace, there must be an absence of anxiety.  Anxiety has to be resolved.  That peace never lasts.  It’s tied to situations.  He calls the world’s peace “emotional, situational, and transitional.”

What is the peace Jesus gives?

The peace Jesus gives us is the peace of mind even in the midst of troubling situations.  It’s a state of mind entered by faith.  He calls us to take authority over our emotions by faith in God.  He gives us peace as we personally trust Him.  It is a constant privilege as we get to know Him more and more and choose to live this way. He calls Jesus’ peace “volitional, personal, and constant.”

The pastor gave a concluding principle:

“God has given every believer the right to live in mental peace — in every situation, constant, all by faith.  Don’t look for the peace of the world. Choose to live in the peace of God that He gives, no matter the situation.  Stand in faith as you face your fears.”

Here is the link to find the message:  https://youtu.be/fUSCbeMdjj8

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Is there an area in your life right now that is causing anxiety and stress and uncertainty?  Will you consider asking God to help you choose to trust Him completely and let go of the anxiety?

Remember that whether or not we are aware of it, people are watching how we respond to difficult circumstances.  They may be drawn to the God who gives us His peace even in the midst of troubling times.

…watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

Deuteronomy 6:12 (NLT)

This week I’ve spent time in Psalms 95 which begins with a call to sing praises as we worship God.  The first few verses focus on how great God is and what He has done.  But verse 8 is the one that captured my thoughts as I read it again this week:

“Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah.”

I needed a reminder of the situation at Meribah and the events leading up to it. The footnotes in my study bible pointed to Exodus 17:1-7.  Here’s a summary:

The people of Israel had been led by Moses out of slavery in Egypt and were crossing the wilderness toward the land God had promised Abraham and his descendants several centuries earlier. They had camped at a location where there was no water.  A desperate situation, of course!  The people demanded that Moses give them water.  They grumbled against him asking, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

I looked at the previous chapters in Exodus to be reminded of what had taken place leading up to this situation. In chapters 13 and 14 the Egyptian Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave.  But soon he changed his mind and he followed after them with his entire army.  The people saw the army coming and said to Moses, “It would have been better for us to stay and serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”  Moses told them, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord… The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent” (Exodus 14:13-14). God miraculously opened up the Red Sea so the people could cross on dry land! As the Egyptian army followed them, they were all drowned.

Soon after that (chapter 15) the people again grumbled at Moses because they had found no water in the wilderness.  God miraculously provided water for them. 

In chapter 16, the Israelites again grumbled at Moses because they were hungry. Once again, God miraculously provided by sending manna every morning and meat in the evening.  “And you shall know that I am the Lord your God” (verses 1-12). 

Do you see the pattern? The people grumbling, complaining to Moses, and then God miraculously providing everything they needed. He had proven Himself many times!

Now, back to Exodus chapter 17.  After all the Israelites had experienced – their release from slavery in Egypt, the Red Sea parting so they could cross on dry land, miraculous provision of water and food in the wilderness – we might be tempted to think, “What is wrong with these people who grumbled and complained every time there was a desperate need instead of just trusting God to provide! Wouldn’t you think they would begin to realize that God was with them and would faithfully provide everything they needed?”

I realize this is a lesson for our lives today. How will we respond when we face seemingly impossible issues?  Instead of grumbling and worrying and trying to figure everything out on our own, we need to look back at how God has provided in our own lives.  If you have received Jesus as Lord and Savior by faith in His death for the forgiveness of your sin, you have the promise of eternal life. He gives the Holy Spirit to live in you. As followers of Jesus, we can set our minds on the promises in His Word that assure us of His knowledge of absolutely everything we are going through, His constant presence, His faithful love, His unlimited power to provide, His perfect strength in our weakness.  We can remember who God is, what He has done, and choose to believe and be thankful that He will provide – no matter what we are going through!

PERSONAL REFLECTION

What are you going through right now that could tempt you to grumble and complain?

Are you willing to turn instead to trusting God for His provision?

Here are some scriptures to help focus our attention on God’s promises:

Philippians 4:19 My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 40:31 Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you.  He will not desert you or abandon you.  Do not fear and do not be dismayed.

Joshua 1:9  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it for me.

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

Are you familiar with the story Jesus told about the good Samaritan?  You can read it Luke 10:25-37.  Jesus tells of a man, almost certainly a Jewish man, who was on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho.  This was a very dangerous road, and a band of robbers stripped him, beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.  A Jewish priest was going down that road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  A Levite, an assistant to the priests in the Jewish temple, also saw the man and passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, hated by the Jews,  was going down that road, saw the man and felt compassion for him.  He came to the man, bandaged his wounds, put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day the Samaritan gave the innkeeper two denarii (two day’s wages) and gave them to the innkeeper, telling him to take care of the man and offered to repay the cost of any more care when he returned.

Jesus told this story to a religious Jewish leader, an expert in the law of God, who was putting Jesus to the test by asking “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Here is the conversation recorded in Luke 10:25-37:

Jesus: “What is written in the Law?”

Religious expert: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus: “You have answered correctly.  Do this and you will live.”

Religious expert (wanting to justify himself): “But who is my neighbor?”

Jesus was making a statement that is the foundation of salvation.  It isn’t enough to just know God’s Word.  He wants us to do His Word.  James 1:22 tells us “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”  And He wants us to do it from a heart of love for God and love for others.  

We can ask the same question the religious expert asked: “Who is my neighbor?” I wrote the last devotional message about inviting the five neighbor ladies on my street to my home to get to know each other.  We have lived on the same street for several years, but most of us didn’t even know each other! So these women are literally my neighbors.  How could I love them if I don’t even know them?

But Jesus wants us to go beyond just the people in our families and our own neighbors.  The needs all around us and around the world are so great!  It is overwhelming to think of all the people who are suffering! 

What excuses do we have for ignoring the needs of others and “walking by on the other side?”  The need is too great, and I wouldn’t know where to begin.  I’m too busy writing Bible studies and devotional messages to get involved.  It’s so easy to say, “I’ll pray for you.”  But do I honestly commit to praying? It is easy to do like the religious leaders did and just “walk by on the other side” ignoring the needs that are right in front of me. I realize that God wants me to be asking Him each day, “Who is the ‘neighbor’ you want me to love today?” 

I’ve been asking God for a heart of deeper love for Him, and a willingness to follow wherever He leads me.  I believe this conviction about loving my “neighbors” is an answer to that prayer.  As He shows me a particular need that He wants me to respond to, and as I reach out to meet that need, I am loving God! And I can trust Him to provide all I need to meet that need – the compassion, time, energy, resources, His wisdom and love. I want to be open to whoever the Lord shows me as I’m going along my day.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Has the Lord put a specific person or a specific need on your heart that you know He wants you to meet?

Are you willing to ask Him each day for eyes and ears that are open to discover the needs of someone He shows you?

What excuses do you have that might keep you from reaching out to meet a need that He brings to your attention?

I’m reminded of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  He promises to provide whatever we need to accomplish what He asks us to do.