Year: 2016

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man that thou visitest him?” Psalm 8:3-4

As we enter the Christmas season thinking of all the family and friends that will visit, I paused as I reflected on this verse in my devotion this morning. The thought that God actually visits with us caused me to pause. The creator of the heavens, the master whose fingers put the moon and stars in place, he actually takes the time to visit with us.

“What is man that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? And that thou shouldest visit him every morning and try him every moment?” Job 7:17-18

As I think of all the preparations that we make with the coming expectation of visitors to our home, I find this verse forming the question within my heart, “What preparations have I made for God to visit?” Have I spent time examining my life to see what areas need cleaning up, looking for the areas that need to be addressed in preparation for his visit? When he visits me, what will he find within the corners and stairways of my heart?

What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Job 31:14

When God visits me, what will he discover as he enters the hallways of my heart and explores the rooms of my soul, will he find that I have spent time in preparation for his visit? Or, will he find cobwebs where there should have been active service, dust where there should have been moments experiencing the cleaning power of his word. Will the embers of my prayer life be lit with the fires of burning compassion for the needs of others around me? Will the crevices of my life be filled with unconfessed sin or will he find a heart freshly clean through the power of his forgiveness?

“Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.” Psalm 89:32

I began to examine my heart and seek to come before him mindful of all the areas of my life that needed to be explored in preparation for his visit. I wanted to examine the hallways of my heart and the rooms of my soul; clearing out the cobwebs in the corners, dusting the areas where I had faltered in searching his scriptures, rekindling the fire within my soul for the needs of those around me. I began to prepare for when God visits.

“Behold I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day is come the time that I will visit thee.” Jeremiah 50:31

“The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” Proverbs 19:23

“Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation.” Psalm 106:4

“Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing: I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” Psalm 17:3

“Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” Job 10:12

As I spent time visiting with God, I found my heart and soul renewed, I found myself reflecting less on the hustle and bustle of the season with less thought to all the things I still had left to do. . . . I began to reflect on the meaning of when God visited us through the true picture of Christmas, when God not only visited us, but came to us through the birth of his son.

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23

So amid the hustle and bustle of the season, lets not get caught up in the turmoil of all that we have to do in preparation for family and friends that will come to visit, lets reflect upon the true peace of what it means in the story of Christmas when God visits  . . .  lets reflect upon the gift that was given through the birth of Jesus . . . “God with us”. In that we will discover the true peace of the season, the lights and the ribbons will hold an entirely different perspective for us as we prepare for when God visits.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people. And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” Luke 1:68-69

 

We fret and we stew wondering why God hasn’t moved in our lives. We go through the motion of greeting each new day in the same routine frame of mind with little expectation that today will be any different than the day before. At night we close our eyes with little thought to how it might have all been anything more that it was, each today becomes yesterday and tomorrow becomes today in the same rhythm of mundaneness. In the back of our mind sits the ever present notion that somehow tomorrow will be different, yet the cycle continues day-in and day-out with no evidence of  change in our lives. We restrict our lives to a never ending existence of wandering in a desert wilderness of our own making.  When just beyond the grasp of our limited prayer life is the promised land, a land of joy and fullness of life that God has promised to those who will ask of him.

“. . .  ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full.” John 16:24

We are the only limiting factor in our lives. We have not because we ask not.

“For everyone that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth: and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Luke 11:10

The problem lies in our unbelief, our lack of faith in what God has promised stifles the life that we could have today.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22

No only do we have the promise of what we ask for in prayer, but we have the promise of receiving abundantly more than we ask or think.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us.” Ephesians 3:20

We fail to focus upon the power that worketh within us. Our lack of faith limits our ability to see the impossible become possible in our lives.

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:20-21

But, because we ask not we continue to lack that for which our soul longs . . .  a life of promise, a life that makes a difference, a life that will matter 100 years from today !!!

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16

Ask of Him today . . .  seek Him with your whole heart  . . .  recognize the power of His might . . .  and believe in the possible !!!

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Matthew 7:7-89

 

 

When the way is unclear and the path ahead is unknown, when we do not understand where to turn or how to move forward; we need to remember that it is God that goes before us. He knows the way, he has already walked this way before. He will never leave us alone, he will never forsake us and he will never fail us.

“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

When the way is unclear and the steps we should follow have not been revealed to us, we can rest in the promise that he has a plan for our lives. God has called us for a specific purpose and he has chosen us as his servant for the path that he has set before us. Nothing takes God by surprise. He clearly sees each step ahead of us before the next one becomes visible, he alone is our strength. We should never fear because he has promised to be our God, to help us and to hold us. 

“Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:9-10

When the way is unclear and the trials of life become heavy upon us, we need to remember that he knows the way. As we trust in him to lead us through, as we learn more of him and his promises each day our faith will become stronger shining forth as gold.

“But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:10

 

When the way is unclear and the heaviness upon us becomes almost unbearable, we need only to look to God.  He has promised that it will only last for a season and in that season we can rejoice, knowing that through the refining of our faith he will receive honor and glory.

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 1:6-7

When the way is unclear and uncertainty sets in, he has promised to instruct us and to teach us the way. Our ability does not lie within us, but within him as he guides us in the way that we should go.

“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8

When the way is unclear and we struggle to find our purpose, we need to be reminded that God has saved us and called us for “His purpose“. We need to focus on him and his purpose for our lives rather than one that we might chose for ourselves. Our life purpose was formed in his mind even before the world began, only God knows the way before us that will bring us to the fulfillment of his calling in us.

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which, was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
II Timothy 1:9

When the way is unclear and we seem to lose our place, we need to focus our minds on him and the work that he is doing in our lives. We do not have the ability to perform a good work, that can only be accomplished through allowing him to do his work in and through us. Nothing within us is good, it all comes from him. He is making his plan perfect within us and in him we can have confidence. 

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

When we come to the realization that it is not in our power to achieve his plan in our lives, surrendering to him and allowing him to do his work in us; then and only then will we become what he intended us to be. The fact is that we do not need to clearly see the path ahead, we simply need to clearly see the one who goes before us; “then and only then will the way become clear for he is the way“.

“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear not, neither be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6

“A man’s heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

“For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy names sake lead me, and guide me.” Psalm 31:3

“For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:14

“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:79

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

“And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Psalm 9:10

Each day passes one into the next and I find myself engulfed in the struggles that each one brings my way. The weariness settles in and zaps the joy of my soul. I lose the ability to see God even though all around me his presence is evident in even the smallest of moments; the radiant colors of the falling leaves, the bluest sky against the purest white clouds, the laughter of a child or the smile of a stranger. All of these and so much more He offers me as He reaches out to me “that I might know Him”. That I might come to realize him for who he is, that I might see the magnitude of his power, that I might remember just how mighty he is and that he can take each struggle and turn it into a victory . . . “That I May Know Him”!!

“Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him”. Deuteronomy 4:35

Oh that I might know him and remember him for who he is, the Creator of all life, the Master of the Universe. How is it that I so soon forget and lose sight of all the wonders he has brought to pass in my life.

“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” Galatians 4:9

How soon I forget, how soon I return to that from which he brought me. Oh that I might truly know him !!!

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” Philippians 3:9-10

Sometimes there are moments when there are no words that can be said to make things feel better. Moments when nothing makes sense and our whole world comes to a complete stop as the rest of the world continues to race around us. These are the moments when we feel very small and insecure, these are the moments during which we find ourselves lifting our hearts heavenward seeking the comfort and strength that can only be found in our Heavenly Father.

“When I would comfort myself against sorrow my heart is faint in me.” Jeremiah 8:18

” Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:28-29

” In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” Psalm 18:6

“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” II Corinthians 1:4

He is our strength, He is our comforter, when we do not have the words to utter . . . He hears our heart’s cry . . . He has promised to comfort us through all of our hurt and all of our uncertainties. When words aren’t enough our Heavenly Father is there!!!!

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1:4 

Having the opportunity to see my son in his service to God through leading songs of worship and praise and listening to him as he taught from the Word of God in Sunday School this weekend will always be among my greatest treasured memories 🙂 I miss him daily, but seeing him fulfill the purpose for which God created him in His service enables my heart to return to Virginia with an even greater sense of peace and joy 🙂 I am truly BLESSED for God has heard my prayer and has raised within Elliott the heart of a man of God !!!! 

“For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:” I Samuel 1:27

 “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Psalm 62:8

We have a Father that hears us when we cry out into him. When we come to Him in prayer, pouring out our heart before him, He sees our distress and answers when we call out unto him.

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” Psalm 18:6

The God of the universe, the master of all creation hears us when we pray. His arm is always ready to reach out to us when we come before him with a burdened heart. He sees our tears and hears our hearts cry, he is the rock to which we can always turn for refuge and shelter in the midst of a storm.

” Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.  I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah” Psalm 61: 1-4

“For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.”Psalm 92:4

We all have those moments when things feel disjointed, so many things going on around us in so many directions. In those moments we need to seek God asking him to fill us with his peace and to bring a sense of calmness to all of the chaos around us. Seeking his guidance one step at a time toward that which will bring glory to him; and in that we can find “triumph in the works of his hands” !!!

“For thou,Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.”Psalm 92:4

How often do we stop to ponder what we truly possess as a result of our salvation? If we could for just one moment stand in the complete fullness of what it really means, our lives would be so much more than they are at this moment.

Looking at Galatians 2:20, we can see a clear picture of who we are in Christ. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

It states that “I am crucified with Christ” . . . the “I” that once was is no more !! 

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6

“Nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me” . . . we no longer live in who “we” are but in the person of Christ through us. We have become a new creature in Him.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” I I Corinthians 5:17

“And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God” . . . Now . . . Today . . . Not in Eternity . . . Now . . .  I live in the faith of the Son of God !!!!!!

“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:7

Do we understand the true magnitude of the life that we possess, the power that lies within us through Christ ? 

“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Matthew 17:20

If only we lived in the true essence of the faith of the Son of God we are promised that nothing would be impossible. Living by faith means exactly that . . . Now . . . Every moment of every day, possessing the power of God through our faith in His Son Jesus Christ through whom nothing is impossible. That is the life that we now live, the life that has been given to us by a Savior . . . “Who loved me, and gave himself for me”. 

When the storms of life come, and they will . . . Hold on to the faith you possess through Jesus . . . The one who can calm the sea !!!

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Mark 4:39

While traveling recently I was listening to my GPS as I was attempting to make my way to my destination, unclear of where it was taking me but trusting that it would help me find my way. It came to me that if I were to really trust God, “GPS Style“. . . listening to His voice and direction at every turn along the way, I would reach the destinations He planned for me with far fewer detours. Often I find myself in struggles that occurred simply because I failed to hear His voice speaking to me above the noise of the world. In those moments I find myself facing u-turns that I could have avoided had I paused long enough to hear His still small voice speaking to me. 

“And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” I Kings 19:12

So often I get caught up in the big things expecting to hear God speak but it’s in the quiet that I am able to hear God’s voice. In those times when I take time to get away from the things of this world and recognize Him in the quiet stillness of His word that’s when I find Him. 

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29

When I set my eyes upon Him, seeking His face among the tumult and chaos of this world I will find Him the rock of my existence.

“For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me.” Psalms 31:3

When I seek Him looking for direction of my life He will guide me. When I turn over the wheel and allow Him to direct me, I always end up exactly where I was meant to go. When I truly trust Him “GPS Style, One Turn at a Time” I always reach my destination. 

“In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6