John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid." (Jesus)
Colossians 3:12-17 "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And Let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." NLT (Emphasis is mine)
Sweet Lord,
Over the past few days You have been impressing on me something I should have seen years ago, but evidently was still too much of a babe in the Word for you to show me. I have read the commands You give me in this passage of Colossians, and have even taught the "Put off- Put On" lesson to children. I have seen those commands and have tried to live up to them. However; I have missed the other commands that follow.
In John, You tell me that You are giving me the peace that passes all understanding. In this world of turmoil, that is precious gift that cannot be taken away. However; it is obvious in my life and in the passage in Colossians, that I am commanded the LET that peace that comes from You rule in my heart and to LET the message about You in all its richness, fill my life. This tells me that moment by moment I have a choice to make: get anxious about what is going on in my life and in the world around me, or let Your peace rule.
So, just how am I supposed to let peace rule? You tell me three times here...THANKFULNESS! Lord, it can be so very easy to get to the edge of the "Pit of Self-pity" that the enemy can just blow a tiny breath at me and I fall in. It is very hard to get out of that slippery pit once I fall in and it is very deep. The ladder of safety comes from a heart of gratitude!
I remember a time when there was a lot of illness and huge medical issues going on in our family. I really had not been anxious or anything about it because I had chosen not to get bogged down. I went to church one Sunday and a very well meaning person came up to me and asked how I was. I told them I was doing fine...and that was not a lie. They said, "You don't look fine. You look tired...tired of having to take care of everyone else."
WOW! That one sentence sent me into that pit with a slam dunk! Only when I realized that it was the enemy talking to me through that person was I able to see my way out...GRATITUDE! I started listing in my heart all the positive things You were doing in my life and in the lives of the very loved ones I to which I was mi ministering!
Lord, in ministering the way I do at my job, I see a lot of Christians that are oppressed by anxiety to the point of having to take medications to help them. If they would only see that if they are truly a Christ Follower, they have that perfect peace within their spirit already...a gift from You. They simply need to LET it rule their hearts and be grateful.
You say we are "called to peace". We talk a lot about God's "calling" on our lives as to our vocation. However; here You tell us we are already called to live in peace and to always be thankful.
Precious Lord,
Today I humbly ask forgiveness for my anxious thoughts that creep into my head. Help me to banish them with thankfulness so I might let the message about You, in all its richness, fill my life so I might be able to teach and counsel others with all the wisdom You give, sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with a thankful heart. And whatever I do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through You to God the Father!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Friday, February 13, 2015
Conformed or Transformed? That is the Question!
Rom 12:2 KJV “And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will
of God.”
Rom 12:2 NLT “Don't copy
the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new
person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will
for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Oh, Lord,
Just when I think I have a handle on this Christian walk, I
find I am still too much like the world.
Lord, forgive me!
You have been bringing everything into my life from all
areas this week about how what I think if in direct correlation with the
condition of my heart. So, I am writing
down my weaknesses and replacing them with what You would have me think
instead. So I need to see my actions and
thoughts against how I should be thinking and acting to be able to change.
What I think What
You would have me think
|
That guy just cut me off!
I can’t believe they just said that to me!
They are so hard to get along with.
I wish they would just stop talking!
They are just so argumentative!
This person is so mean and rude!
What do you expect of me, perfection?
Why can’t they just GROW UP?
|
He must be in a hurry, pray for him!
Check your pride and pray!
Lord, what are they struggling with that I can help them?
Help me, Lord to be a better listener, patient and compassionate.
Am I not getting what they are trying to convey? Help me to be a better listener.
Lord, this person is a grace/ mercy test. Help me to give them the grace You have
given me. How have they been hurt to
make them so angry?
Lord, I am not perfect.
Help me to be OK with that and know I am a work in progress.
Lord, help me to be the mentor and teach them better
lifeskills.
|
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Running but Refreshed
Heb 12:1-2 NLT "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne."
I am tired when:
1. I need to run unencumbered and forgiven
Jesus
Only
Y'all
I am tired when:
- I feel a constant sense of being rushed
- When I have difficulty making decisions
- When I have a surplus of information
- When I live in a stale relationship with God
- Hebrews 12:1 My Purpose
- Hebrews 12:2 My Strength
1. I need to run unencumbered and forgiven
- Not with a grudge Ephesians 4:31-32 "Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
- Not with regrets 2Corinthians 7:10 "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
- Not with guilt Romans 8:1 "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."
- Not with unconfessed sin 1 John 1:9-10 "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts."
- verse 1 No condemnation
- verse 6 Peace
- verse 8 All things work together for good
- verse 31 Confidence for living
- verse 39 Security of life in Christ
- Hebrews 12:1; Matthew 24:14
- Hebrews 12:1-2
- Psalm 23:1-3
Jesus
Only
Y'all
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