As I was praying yesterday morning, I began to ask God to help me change and be more like him. I want so much to be his representative to those around me. I want God to shine through me.
I began to think about verses with promises. Promises for strength and for the power of the Holy Spirit operating in our lives.
Jeremiah 20: 9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.
Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One
mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
This was then fulfilled in Acts 2:1-4 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
There is the use of the word fire. Fire burns and destroys, but it also purifies and gives light and energy. God's holy fire comes to purify us and cleanse us (Acts 15:8-9) and it also comes to embolden and empower us to walk in the Spirit. (Acts 1:8). Fire is an important symbol and need for a powerful walk with God. Once the disciples received the 'fire' of the Holy Ghost, they boldly began their ministries preaching the gospel, performing miracles, healing the sick, proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Messiah even unto death. They became powerful in the Spirit of God. If I am afraid and unable to proclaim the power of the Holy Ghost, maybe I am missing something. God did not send His Spirit to us to leave us in the same place He found us in. He wants a powerful church full of powerful, spirit-filled believers willing to step out, speak up and stand boldly with confidence in His Name. (Hebrews 10:35, 1 John 2:28).
There are also many verses that encourage us with references to being in the shadow of His wings. Wings that protect and cover us and wings that lift us up.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
Psalm 30:1 I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up, And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
Wings are used to fly. Birds in flight are beautiful and agile. They can soar, dive, and even rest at times allowing the air current to carry them. They are free up in the heights of the sky. We have a freedom in God to soar in His Spirit, move with intention to fulfill His Will and yes, even find rest allowing His current to carry us for a time. We can fly when we lean on God for strength, protection and guidance.
There also many verses that call us to fight. We are to put on the armor of God.
Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For
we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Jesus was tempted in Matthew chapter 4 and when he addressed Satan's temptation, he used the word, "It is written...." The Word was his weapon. Ephesians 6:17 says the Word is a sword.
We have a strong weapon when we use His Word.
We have an enemy who is seeking to destroy us. (1 Peter 5:8) We must be strong and ready to face the enemy. We need to be prepared and face the battle head on. My husband has said many times, they armor is all defensive on the front of the body. The back of the body is not meant to be exposed to the enemy because that means you are running away and not fighting. We need to be strong in the Lord to face the adversary and fight. We fight in prayer, on our knees with faith and power in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:20, Philippians 2:10).
So I think I will pray that God help me be a fire, help be fly and help me fight! We need power and strength and that comes through His Word. His word is like fire, it causes us to take flight and makes us strong to fight. That only comes by knowing and applying the Word of God.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Monday, June 13, 2016
he didn't leave them the same as when he came
I have heard many people make statements like, “Jesus hung out with sinners,” or “If Jesus were here today, he would be partying with the sinners not with the religious, self-righteous church people.” I have been quite disturbed as I see many people who call themselves Christians, participate in activities that do not speak of a Christ-like life. They use the above statements to justify their own sinful decisions and to make their sin ‘okay.’ The Word of God shows me that, yes, Jesus did spend time around and with sinful people. He even ate with them and went to their homes. He was criticized and accused of breaking the law by doing so. However, in every instance Jesus sat down with a sinner, but when he left them, they were changed.
Take Zacchaeus for instance. In Luke Chapter 19:1-10
1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him,[a] and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
As I read this, I see the perfect example of Jesus loving a sinner. He did not take on the views of those around him and hate Zacchaeus for being a mean, cheating, stealing tax-collector. He saw a man who needed salvation. He called Zacchaeus by name and went to his house. I would love to know what was spoken in that conversation. In that little bit of time over a meal, Jesus spoke to the heart of the matter as evidenced by Zacchaeus’ response. Zacchaeus changed. He changed in his heart. He became a giving, generous, loving man of God. He became a man that wanted to please God rather than gather riches. He turned from his sin and he became a Christian. The presence of Jesus changed a sinful man into a God-fearing man. When Jesus walked out of that house, he did not leave Zacchaeus in the same sinful condition he found him in when he came. Jesus did not participate in the sin, but left a man changed by His very presence.
This story played out over and over in the four gospels. Every person that came to Jesus was given the opportunity to change. The woman at the well, the twelve disciples, the blind man, the leper and the prostitute woman came into the presence of Jesus full of sin and living sinful lives. They were transformed and changed when Jesus spoke to them and addressed the condition of their heart. They were quickly and almost immediately washed and cleansed with new perspectives, new hearts and new minds. He came and changed lives.
He did not force them to change but gave them the message that sin needed to be forsaken and there needed to be a change in their hearts. There were those who did not accept this message even from Jesus. In Mark chapter 10 we read of the rich young ruler.
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”[c]
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
This rich young ruler had a habit of doing what he thought was good, but when challenged to put God first, to truly trust God, and be a sold-out follower, he was unwilling to give up what he thought was his security and salvation. He went away sorrowful and and sad. He did not find the joy in Jesus. He did not realize that a heart change was what Jesus offered. He loved his life and his things more than God. He was unwilling to let the presence of Jesus completely transform him from the inside out.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
This verse tells me that God is interesting changing our hearts. He does not send his presence just to spend time hanging out, but to transform and change the heart of man.
Romans 12:2 says, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
He wants to transform the world, not the other way around.
Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
In college, I had a discussion a few times with a couple of bible study friends about going to frat parties. They would often cite the scriptures of Jesus going to the sinners. They would talk about reaching sinners by hanging out with them. My question was, if you are participating in their sinful acts, are you really going to win them to Christ? What are you showing them that is any different from what they are already doing? Was this christian influencing them to have a change or was this christian really the one being influenced by sin? More often than not, the christian is justifying participation in a sinful act or activity. There is no influence from the christian on the sinner to be different or seek the salvation Jesus is offering. Rather than a heart filled with the presence of God, the Holy Ghost, the things that ended up proceeding from them defiled the testimony they had hoped to have.
I see people “partying,” living lives full of hatred and destruction, using foul language, gossiping, back-biting, and down-right unloving to others. I see and hear many participating in sin all the while calling it witnessing, fun, and fellowship. I see arguments and attacks between those who say they are loving Christians on one another. I see Christians participating in the same activities and sinful nature rather than being an influence that causes Jesus’ presence to enter and make heart changes. There is self-righteousness on many sides. There is self-justification and excuses made for actions that are downright against the plan of God. What is truly in the heart is what is coming out and defiling the man not revealing Christ.
Luke 16:15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
I may be stepping on some toes and may even be speaking to myself as I write this, but it is time to examine ourselves through the lens of the scripture. Jesus may have sat down with sinners, but he left them changed. Have we entered a home with the presence of Jesus and left those in that home completely changed by the presence of the Almighty?
Jesus did. Peter did. Paul did. Those in the presence of Paul, even the soldiers guarding him, found the life changing presence of Jesus irresistible. Rather than allowing the influence of sin into our hearts, we need to allow the presence of the Holy Ghost to operate through us to draw all men to the life-changing experience of salvation. We should be leaving a trail of changed hearts and lives in our wake.
We cannot justify sin, participate in sin, and make sin okay even in the name of witnessing and being loving to sinners. Jesus may have sat down and ate with sinners, but He did not participate in their sin, nor did he excuse it. He did not tolerate the sin and He spoke against it. He called out those with sin in their hearts and condemned the sin. He did not allow those to continue in sin when he had a life saving message for them. He loved the sinner and made sure they understood the way of escape. He did not leave them in the same condition in which he found them. Because of the love he had for them, he spoke truth in that love and revealed the sinful nature that must be forgiven.
In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
He did not want to leave sinners in the same condition without addressing the serious condition of their life. He gave them the life giving message of salvation and a way to leave sin behind. We, as Christ-like people, need to do the same. We were told to go preach the gospel in Mark 16:15 and by Jesus several times in his ministry. We are not called to participate in sin and just be friends with sin. Jesus would not have sat and hoped that just by being there and being friendly, the sinner might decide to change. He spoke life and spoke to their sinful nature. He addressed the heart issues and called them to repentance. Those of us that claim to be Christians (meaning: Christ-like) need to examine our own examples, our own hearts and lives. Are we living up to this title? It says in Acts 11:26 And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. They were called Christians. They did not call themselves Christians. Others saw Christ in their deeds, actions, words and lives. Others saw them as Christ-like.
Do others see us as Christ-like? Christians need to quit making excuses, quit playing with sin, quit allowing sin to be manifest in lives, quit being afraid to just be like Christ. If we don’t know what Christ was like, read the Bible and find out. Jesus Christ did not tolerate sin nor did he participate in sin. He was sinless and perfect. While loving others, he indeed spoke against sin and spoke truth. We need to speak truth and speak against sin. We need to declare the life-changing gospel to those who are trapped in sin. We need to be the light that shines in the darkness. We need to offer those around us a transformed life with eternal hope in Jesus. When we sit and talk with those who are controlled by sin, we must love them as Christ loved them and speak truth. We want to leave them changed because the presence of Jesus was evident and active in our lives. No longer should we be influenced by those in sin, but we should be the influence that transforms those who come into contact with Jesus Christ in us.
Be an example of the believers.
Titus 2:7-8 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
Pray that Christians become Christ-like and become the gospel message that changes the world. Pray that we love others enough to be truthful and speak life. Pray that we are strong enough to say no to sinful actions. Pray that our hearts are transformed and represent Christ. Pray that we are no longer tolerant of sin and no longer fearful of speaking the truth of the gospel. Pray that we are no longer afraid of offending and are bold in our declaration that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life. No man comes unto the Father but through Jesus alone. (John 14:6)
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Let us walk in newness of life and no longer in sin. Let us do the will of the Father and no longer our own sinful will. Let us crucify the flesh (Romans 6:6-7)and walk in the Spirit. Be separate from sin (2 Corinthians 6:17) and be the influence to those who need Christ. We need to be obedient the Word of God and truly represent Christ.
Take Zacchaeus for instance. In Luke Chapter 19:1-10
1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him,[a] and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
As I read this, I see the perfect example of Jesus loving a sinner. He did not take on the views of those around him and hate Zacchaeus for being a mean, cheating, stealing tax-collector. He saw a man who needed salvation. He called Zacchaeus by name and went to his house. I would love to know what was spoken in that conversation. In that little bit of time over a meal, Jesus spoke to the heart of the matter as evidenced by Zacchaeus’ response. Zacchaeus changed. He changed in his heart. He became a giving, generous, loving man of God. He became a man that wanted to please God rather than gather riches. He turned from his sin and he became a Christian. The presence of Jesus changed a sinful man into a God-fearing man. When Jesus walked out of that house, he did not leave Zacchaeus in the same sinful condition he found him in when he came. Jesus did not participate in the sin, but left a man changed by His very presence.
This story played out over and over in the four gospels. Every person that came to Jesus was given the opportunity to change. The woman at the well, the twelve disciples, the blind man, the leper and the prostitute woman came into the presence of Jesus full of sin and living sinful lives. They were transformed and changed when Jesus spoke to them and addressed the condition of their heart. They were quickly and almost immediately washed and cleansed with new perspectives, new hearts and new minds. He came and changed lives.
He did not force them to change but gave them the message that sin needed to be forsaken and there needed to be a change in their hearts. There were those who did not accept this message even from Jesus. In Mark chapter 10 we read of the rich young ruler.
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”[c]
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
This rich young ruler had a habit of doing what he thought was good, but when challenged to put God first, to truly trust God, and be a sold-out follower, he was unwilling to give up what he thought was his security and salvation. He went away sorrowful and and sad. He did not find the joy in Jesus. He did not realize that a heart change was what Jesus offered. He loved his life and his things more than God. He was unwilling to let the presence of Jesus completely transform him from the inside out.
1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
This verse tells me that God is interesting changing our hearts. He does not send his presence just to spend time hanging out, but to transform and change the heart of man.
Romans 12:2 says, And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
He wants to transform the world, not the other way around.
Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
In college, I had a discussion a few times with a couple of bible study friends about going to frat parties. They would often cite the scriptures of Jesus going to the sinners. They would talk about reaching sinners by hanging out with them. My question was, if you are participating in their sinful acts, are you really going to win them to Christ? What are you showing them that is any different from what they are already doing? Was this christian influencing them to have a change or was this christian really the one being influenced by sin? More often than not, the christian is justifying participation in a sinful act or activity. There is no influence from the christian on the sinner to be different or seek the salvation Jesus is offering. Rather than a heart filled with the presence of God, the Holy Ghost, the things that ended up proceeding from them defiled the testimony they had hoped to have.
I see people “partying,” living lives full of hatred and destruction, using foul language, gossiping, back-biting, and down-right unloving to others. I see and hear many participating in sin all the while calling it witnessing, fun, and fellowship. I see arguments and attacks between those who say they are loving Christians on one another. I see Christians participating in the same activities and sinful nature rather than being an influence that causes Jesus’ presence to enter and make heart changes. There is self-righteousness on many sides. There is self-justification and excuses made for actions that are downright against the plan of God. What is truly in the heart is what is coming out and defiling the man not revealing Christ.
Luke 16:15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
I may be stepping on some toes and may even be speaking to myself as I write this, but it is time to examine ourselves through the lens of the scripture. Jesus may have sat down with sinners, but he left them changed. Have we entered a home with the presence of Jesus and left those in that home completely changed by the presence of the Almighty?
Jesus did. Peter did. Paul did. Those in the presence of Paul, even the soldiers guarding him, found the life changing presence of Jesus irresistible. Rather than allowing the influence of sin into our hearts, we need to allow the presence of the Holy Ghost to operate through us to draw all men to the life-changing experience of salvation. We should be leaving a trail of changed hearts and lives in our wake.
We cannot justify sin, participate in sin, and make sin okay even in the name of witnessing and being loving to sinners. Jesus may have sat down and ate with sinners, but He did not participate in their sin, nor did he excuse it. He did not tolerate the sin and He spoke against it. He called out those with sin in their hearts and condemned the sin. He did not allow those to continue in sin when he had a life saving message for them. He loved the sinner and made sure they understood the way of escape. He did not leave them in the same condition in which he found them. Because of the love he had for them, he spoke truth in that love and revealed the sinful nature that must be forgiven.
In John 10:10 Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
He did not want to leave sinners in the same condition without addressing the serious condition of their life. He gave them the life giving message of salvation and a way to leave sin behind. We, as Christ-like people, need to do the same. We were told to go preach the gospel in Mark 16:15 and by Jesus several times in his ministry. We are not called to participate in sin and just be friends with sin. Jesus would not have sat and hoped that just by being there and being friendly, the sinner might decide to change. He spoke life and spoke to their sinful nature. He addressed the heart issues and called them to repentance. Those of us that claim to be Christians (meaning: Christ-like) need to examine our own examples, our own hearts and lives. Are we living up to this title? It says in Acts 11:26 And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. They were called Christians. They did not call themselves Christians. Others saw Christ in their deeds, actions, words and lives. Others saw them as Christ-like.
Do others see us as Christ-like? Christians need to quit making excuses, quit playing with sin, quit allowing sin to be manifest in lives, quit being afraid to just be like Christ. If we don’t know what Christ was like, read the Bible and find out. Jesus Christ did not tolerate sin nor did he participate in sin. He was sinless and perfect. While loving others, he indeed spoke against sin and spoke truth. We need to speak truth and speak against sin. We need to declare the life-changing gospel to those who are trapped in sin. We need to be the light that shines in the darkness. We need to offer those around us a transformed life with eternal hope in Jesus. When we sit and talk with those who are controlled by sin, we must love them as Christ loved them and speak truth. We want to leave them changed because the presence of Jesus was evident and active in our lives. No longer should we be influenced by those in sin, but we should be the influence that transforms those who come into contact with Jesus Christ in us.
Be an example of the believers.
Titus 2:7-8 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.
Pray that Christians become Christ-like and become the gospel message that changes the world. Pray that we love others enough to be truthful and speak life. Pray that we are strong enough to say no to sinful actions. Pray that our hearts are transformed and represent Christ. Pray that we are no longer tolerant of sin and no longer fearful of speaking the truth of the gospel. Pray that we are no longer afraid of offending and are bold in our declaration that Jesus Christ is the way the truth and the life. No man comes unto the Father but through Jesus alone. (John 14:6)
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Let us walk in newness of life and no longer in sin. Let us do the will of the Father and no longer our own sinful will. Let us crucify the flesh (Romans 6:6-7)and walk in the Spirit. Be separate from sin (2 Corinthians 6:17) and be the influence to those who need Christ. We need to be obedient the Word of God and truly represent Christ.
I shall not want
Today, the assistant pastor taught our Sunday school class using Psalm 23 as his text. My mind was suddenly transported back to when I was around four years old. I distinctly remember sitting beside my mom in a little small town church during the testimony service. I was yanking on her sleeve saying, “Tell them I want to say something!” She stood and testified and then said, “Lori wants to testify.” I quickly stood and blurted out, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!” and sat down just as quickly. I remember that being the first verse I ever memorized and knew it was a scripture I needed to know. I loved standing and saying that verse at church any chance I got.
Here I am nearly forty years later and that verse still holds significance to me. I can say it is a testament of the importance my parents placed on teaching scriptures to their children. They were firm believers in Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. It is also a testament of the Word of God and how it can be life sustaining.
I am able to say that living in this world comes with ups and downs. I can sit here and say that life can sometimes get the best of us and it can sometimes be amazing. I sat last night in a baseball stadium with family and friends enjoying a great evening of baseball and good Christian music. I sat out on the grass and watched the wonderful people in my life laughing and enjoying each other’s company. I watched two little girls tumbling and somersaulting across the field with great delight. Joy and laughter filled our hearts. At the same time, I could also know there are great stresses of life that can bear down on us: health, finances, struggles, etc. I could list many things that when I walk back in the front door of the house, that flood in and remind me that bills are still waiting to be paid, and there are still the stresses of living.
Bad news comes and when it does, God has given us His word to turn to and hold on to His promises. One of those is Psalms 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. As I listened to the lesson this morning, I was reminded that I do not have to worry and fret. I do not have to struggle alone. I do not need to let the daily stresses take away from the joy and peace that God has already given. He is a Good Shepherd and a Good Father. He has already made a way for us. He is our Provider and a present help in time of need. He is our Everything and His is our All. His Word is full of promises. When he gave instructions for parents to teach the commandments, His Word to their children, it wasn’t just to pass along information. It was to instill in the next generation the understanding that God is God. He is strong, powerful and real. He is always there and He reigns supreme. It was about teaching them that God is the provider, the giver of life, the healer and the keeper of our souls. It was about giving them hope for the future and peace in the storm. It was about making sure, they knew who they could turn to and who was their Protector. It was for the Joy of the Lord to be the strength for the next generation.
I am so grateful that my parents took the time to teach me that The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want. I can trust in God for His promises are true and sure. His Word can be my source for joy and peace. He is truly a Good Shepherd watching out for me. He provides and I shall not want. I have assurance that He will always provide and He will always keep me safe and secure.
Here I am nearly forty years later and that verse still holds significance to me. I can say it is a testament of the importance my parents placed on teaching scriptures to their children. They were firm believers in Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. It is also a testament of the Word of God and how it can be life sustaining.
I am able to say that living in this world comes with ups and downs. I can sit here and say that life can sometimes get the best of us and it can sometimes be amazing. I sat last night in a baseball stadium with family and friends enjoying a great evening of baseball and good Christian music. I sat out on the grass and watched the wonderful people in my life laughing and enjoying each other’s company. I watched two little girls tumbling and somersaulting across the field with great delight. Joy and laughter filled our hearts. At the same time, I could also know there are great stresses of life that can bear down on us: health, finances, struggles, etc. I could list many things that when I walk back in the front door of the house, that flood in and remind me that bills are still waiting to be paid, and there are still the stresses of living.
Bad news comes and when it does, God has given us His word to turn to and hold on to His promises. One of those is Psalms 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. As I listened to the lesson this morning, I was reminded that I do not have to worry and fret. I do not have to struggle alone. I do not need to let the daily stresses take away from the joy and peace that God has already given. He is a Good Shepherd and a Good Father. He has already made a way for us. He is our Provider and a present help in time of need. He is our Everything and His is our All. His Word is full of promises. When he gave instructions for parents to teach the commandments, His Word to their children, it wasn’t just to pass along information. It was to instill in the next generation the understanding that God is God. He is strong, powerful and real. He is always there and He reigns supreme. It was about teaching them that God is the provider, the giver of life, the healer and the keeper of our souls. It was about giving them hope for the future and peace in the storm. It was about making sure, they knew who they could turn to and who was their Protector. It was for the Joy of the Lord to be the strength for the next generation.
I am so grateful that my parents took the time to teach me that The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want. I can trust in God for His promises are true and sure. His Word can be my source for joy and peace. He is truly a Good Shepherd watching out for me. He provides and I shall not want. I have assurance that He will always provide and He will always keep me safe and secure.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
His Word
God gave us his Word for us to get to know Him. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
He has a purpose for His Word. Many people today question the value, authenticity, and importance of the Word of God. Many say it is no longer valid, unreliable and unnecessary. The Word of God is held in question be our society at large.
I can tell you without a doubt, that God's Word is absolutely necessary, valid and of the utmost importance. It is valuable, reliable and powerful.
I have been doing much research and reading on the process of how the Bible we now have even came to be. It is held as the most scrutinized and criticized literature, yet proven to be one of the most accurately maintained. It has been painstakingly translated, passed down for generations and held in the highest regard by those who have done so.
The Bible has been carefully preserved. It gives to us the divinely inspired Word of God from the very human eye-witnesses who experienced the supernatural move of God's Spirit. These 40 plus writers across many generations all shared a common inspiration that does not contradict or change. Jeremiah 30:2
“Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.
Writers outside the Bible and archaeological finds construct proofs and support for the writings and stories of the Bible. It would take many pages and volumes to share the proofs of the Word of God.
So I encourage you to search it out for yourself.
One of the greatest proofs for me, is the power of the Word of God as I read it, speak it and apply it to my own life. I see the evidence of the Living Word.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
His Word changes everything when it is given precedence in our lives. I have seen miracles take place at the spoken Word of God. I have felt His presence move and flow as the Words on the pages come to life in my soul. I feel the spark of His Spirit changing me from the deepest parts of my being. His Word is life and His Word is the powerful expression of God's love for His people.
Without His Word, we would be unable to know Him and to know of Him. We would be lost. We would be bound by human frailty and failure: sin. His Word is the most important avenue for understanding our Mighty God, our Savior, Our Father and our Friend. It is the very thing that shows us His plan and purpose, gives us hope for our future and draws us to the very nature of God. It lays out the history and plans of an All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Loving God who seeks to receive back the love He bestows on His children. Find God in His Word. Seek His face in His Word. Fall in love with His Word. Hide it in your heart.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
He has a purpose for His Word. Many people today question the value, authenticity, and importance of the Word of God. Many say it is no longer valid, unreliable and unnecessary. The Word of God is held in question be our society at large.
I can tell you without a doubt, that God's Word is absolutely necessary, valid and of the utmost importance. It is valuable, reliable and powerful.
I have been doing much research and reading on the process of how the Bible we now have even came to be. It is held as the most scrutinized and criticized literature, yet proven to be one of the most accurately maintained. It has been painstakingly translated, passed down for generations and held in the highest regard by those who have done so.
The Bible has been carefully preserved. It gives to us the divinely inspired Word of God from the very human eye-witnesses who experienced the supernatural move of God's Spirit. These 40 plus writers across many generations all shared a common inspiration that does not contradict or change. Jeremiah 30:2
“Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you.
Writers outside the Bible and archaeological finds construct proofs and support for the writings and stories of the Bible. It would take many pages and volumes to share the proofs of the Word of God.
So I encourage you to search it out for yourself.
One of the greatest proofs for me, is the power of the Word of God as I read it, speak it and apply it to my own life. I see the evidence of the Living Word.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
His Word changes everything when it is given precedence in our lives. I have seen miracles take place at the spoken Word of God. I have felt His presence move and flow as the Words on the pages come to life in my soul. I feel the spark of His Spirit changing me from the deepest parts of my being. His Word is life and His Word is the powerful expression of God's love for His people.
Without His Word, we would be unable to know Him and to know of Him. We would be lost. We would be bound by human frailty and failure: sin. His Word is the most important avenue for understanding our Mighty God, our Savior, Our Father and our Friend. It is the very thing that shows us His plan and purpose, gives us hope for our future and draws us to the very nature of God. It lays out the history and plans of an All-Powerful, All-Knowing, All-Loving God who seeks to receive back the love He bestows on His children. Find God in His Word. Seek His face in His Word. Fall in love with His Word. Hide it in your heart.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
hiding under His wings
Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
There are so many times when life may become bigger and harder than expected. Great waves can overwhelm. These times are the best times to run to God. He is a Good Father that wants to protect and provide. He can become that safe place for us to hide and rest for a little while. Yesterday, as I began my day feeling overwhelmed and worried, I started with prayer. I laid out my concerns before my Savior. I reminded Him, how hard this day was going to be and how much I needed him. As I got going through my day, God had prepared many reminders about how much He is our place to hide and find peace. As we drove out of the driveway, there was a large rainbow just in front of the house to remind me of God's promises. As the radio began to play, the DJ's were praying for God to send peace to those facing tough situations. Then the song they played was "In the Eye of The Storm"
In the eye of the storm, You remain in control
In the middle of the war, You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm
I quickly realized, God was with us. And as the day continued, I drew strength to face the negative news and know that God was still in control. I sat amazed, as I heard my little boy declare that He was trusting God for the healing he needs. He is giving it all to God and believing that God is taking care of Him.
Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 143:9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.
I am reminded of the old hymn, Rock of Ages.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee,
This hymn was written by Augustus M. Toplady in England after he was caught in a storm in the 1700's. He found shelter and safety in the cleft of a large rock. He wrote this song. This large rock is still known as The Rock of Ages. You can go to it today and see this place because he wrote this hymn. He was reminded that God provides for us when we are in storms. He was reminded that God gives us peace. This hymn has stood the test of time because it speaks the truth about a loving God. It speaks to the heart of people who need to find that place of safety.
Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
We can run to God and find safety and rest. He will be there and protect us. He will always be there. He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6) He will come to us, hide us, provide safety, guide us and send comfort and peace in the middle of any storm. I may be in the middle of a storm, but God is my safety and my peace. I sit in His arms, hiding in the shelter of His wings.
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
There are so many times when life may become bigger and harder than expected. Great waves can overwhelm. These times are the best times to run to God. He is a Good Father that wants to protect and provide. He can become that safe place for us to hide and rest for a little while. Yesterday, as I began my day feeling overwhelmed and worried, I started with prayer. I laid out my concerns before my Savior. I reminded Him, how hard this day was going to be and how much I needed him. As I got going through my day, God had prepared many reminders about how much He is our place to hide and find peace. As we drove out of the driveway, there was a large rainbow just in front of the house to remind me of God's promises. As the radio began to play, the DJ's were praying for God to send peace to those facing tough situations. Then the song they played was "In the Eye of The Storm"
In the eye of the storm, You remain in control
In the middle of the war, You guard my soul
You alone are the anchor, when my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm
I quickly realized, God was with us. And as the day continued, I drew strength to face the negative news and know that God was still in control. I sat amazed, as I heard my little boy declare that He was trusting God for the healing he needs. He is giving it all to God and believing that God is taking care of Him.
Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 143:9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.
I am reminded of the old hymn, Rock of Ages.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee,
This hymn was written by Augustus M. Toplady in England after he was caught in a storm in the 1700's. He found shelter and safety in the cleft of a large rock. He wrote this song. This large rock is still known as The Rock of Ages. You can go to it today and see this place because he wrote this hymn. He was reminded that God provides for us when we are in storms. He was reminded that God gives us peace. This hymn has stood the test of time because it speaks the truth about a loving God. It speaks to the heart of people who need to find that place of safety.
Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
We can run to God and find safety and rest. He will be there and protect us. He will always be there. He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6) He will come to us, hide us, provide safety, guide us and send comfort and peace in the middle of any storm. I may be in the middle of a storm, but God is my safety and my peace. I sit in His arms, hiding in the shelter of His wings.
Friday, April 29, 2016
song of the vineyard
I will sing for the one I love
a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones
and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
but it yielded only bad fruit.
Isaiah 5:1-2
This is called the Song of the Vineyard. Isaiah is a book I enjoy reading. It is full of poetry, songs and interesting prophecies. I do hope someday, I can sit in heaven with Isaiah and have a great conversation. I would love to hear his stories and what he saw when God spoke to him. He was privileged to visibly see the Lord fill the temple. He cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” The seraphim touched his lips with the hot coal from the alter. He was commissioned directly by God. He heard God speak. Can you even imagine such a scene. I am trying to imagine and I am filled with awe and wonder. I feel so small and definitely unworthy. Isaiah was immediately humbled and awed.
This Song of the Vineyard really struck me. God gave him this beautiful poem or song. about a lovely scene of building and planning. It was full of expectation and hope. Everything was prepared and placed. God was planting a beautiful vineyard and had everything ready for the wonderful, bountiful harvest. Yet, when he looked for the good crop, all he found was bad fruit. It ends with great disappointment and sadness in this chapter.
We can read that this was describing the a nation of Israel. It was the people of Judah. They were given great favor and blessings. They were chosen by God, yet were unable to bear the good fruit that God so desperately wanted to find in them.
Verses 3-7 show is God's response to finding bad fruit.
“Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?
5 Now I will tell you
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall,
and it will be trampled.
6 I will make it a wasteland,
neither pruned nor cultivated,
and briers and thorns will grow there.
I will command the clouds
not to rain on it.”
a song about his vineyard:
My loved one had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.
2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones
and planted it with the choicest vines.
He built a watchtower in it
and cut out a winepress as well.
Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,
but it yielded only bad fruit.
Isaiah 5:1-2
This is called the Song of the Vineyard. Isaiah is a book I enjoy reading. It is full of poetry, songs and interesting prophecies. I do hope someday, I can sit in heaven with Isaiah and have a great conversation. I would love to hear his stories and what he saw when God spoke to him. He was privileged to visibly see the Lord fill the temple. He cried out, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” The seraphim touched his lips with the hot coal from the alter. He was commissioned directly by God. He heard God speak. Can you even imagine such a scene. I am trying to imagine and I am filled with awe and wonder. I feel so small and definitely unworthy. Isaiah was immediately humbled and awed.
This Song of the Vineyard really struck me. God gave him this beautiful poem or song. about a lovely scene of building and planning. It was full of expectation and hope. Everything was prepared and placed. God was planting a beautiful vineyard and had everything ready for the wonderful, bountiful harvest. Yet, when he looked for the good crop, all he found was bad fruit. It ends with great disappointment and sadness in this chapter.
We can read that this was describing the a nation of Israel. It was the people of Judah. They were given great favor and blessings. They were chosen by God, yet were unable to bear the good fruit that God so desperately wanted to find in them.
Verses 3-7 show is God's response to finding bad fruit.
“Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?
5 Now I will tell you
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall,
and it will be trampled.
6 I will make it a wasteland,
neither pruned nor cultivated,
and briers and thorns will grow there.
I will command the clouds
not to rain on it.”
7 The vineyard of the Lord Almighty
is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah
are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
is the nation of Israel,
and the people of Judah
are the vines he delighted in.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
I realize this frustration over finding bad fruit. I have planted gardens in the past and sometimes, weeds are very abundant. It makes it very difficult to find the good fruit. Little critters have eaten my fruit before I can get it out of the garden. It can be frustrating. God was disappointed and frustrated. He had so much hope for His people. Is it the same today for the church?
Does God find good fruit in His people today or is He disappointed by bad fruit?
Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit GOd is expecting from His people. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:19-21 lists the fruit of the flesh God calls bad fruit. "19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
His people should not be bearing this bad fruit. God is looking for good fruit in His people. We are so quick to look at the obvious sins, but forget to realize this list also holds less noticeable sins such as hatred, discord, selfish, jealousy, disssensions etc. How many times have I been guilty of this bad fruit? More than I care to admit.
God is wanting good fruit. We need to examine our fruit, individually and as the body of Christ and really be honest. What fruit are we really bringing forth?
Galatians 5:24-25 also says "24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
and Galatians 5:13-14 says "13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
We have commands that are there to protect us and help us bear the good fruit God is looking for. We need to walk in the Spirit and crucify the flesh. God is calling us to bear the good fruit.
Let us all be found worthy as those few in Sardis were (Revelations 3:4) Maybe then, God can send His words that instead of finding bad fruit, He is pleased to find good fruit in His people.
Monday, April 18, 2016
first response
Have you ever thought about what you do first in an emergency? What is your first response? Do you panic? Do you call for help? Do you freeze and wait to see what will happen?
This first response not only applies to emergencies, but also to most situations. When something goes wrong, what do you do? Do you get mad, frustrated, cry, shrug it off, or try to fix it?
How about when thing are great or exciting? What is your first response? Do you get excited and tell everyone the great news? Do you dance and have a little party?
There are many things throughout a day and in life that go wrong and go right. There are many opportunities for a first response.
My first response to something good is often a smile or an exclamation of "Yay!" When a mishap occurs, I may get frustrated or maybe even cranky. I try to solve my own problems, worry over situations I cannot change, and sometimes make problems worse. I hold on to them and finally realize I forgot to trust God first. I realize I have made my life harder by not going to the very One who can help me.
Psalm 121 says I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
When we need help we need to immediately look to God. He is our help. He is the one who protects us and provides for us. We so often attempt to solve our own problems. We think we can handle this big thing. The whole time, God is just waiting and wanting to take care of the situation. We only have to call on Him. Our first response in trouble should be, calling on God for help. He is always ready and willing to help when we cry out to him. David wrote in Psalm 30:2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. He knew God answers when he would call on Him. He called on God many times and God took care of him. When he forgot to keep his focus on God, is when David made big mistakes. He remembered who could help him and called on God.
The Word of God has some directives about what our first response should be.
Psalms 5:3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.
Psalm 35:28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all day long.
Psalms 16:8 I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalms 61:8 So I will always sing praises to your name, as I pay my vows day after day.
1 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
Our first response needs to change. Our first response should be that of turning to God in prayer and praising Him. That will turn our focus off of ourselves and off of the circumstances and on to the One who can solve the problems and the One who is blessing us. This first response will certainly alleviate a lot of stresses and difficulties. It would also keep the presence of God ever noticeable. How much more would we be talking to Him and communing with Him if we chose to make Him our first response? For me, I know my prayer and praise would be greatly increased. My stress would be greatly decreased and my life would become a lot easier. Sure, the struggles would still arise, but I would be able to rest in knowing I cried out the Lord first and He is taking care of the situation. I would be able to trust Him and know that He is answering my need. I would be able to quit worrying and fretting over everything and just offer up praise to my God.
What will changing your first response do for you?
This first response not only applies to emergencies, but also to most situations. When something goes wrong, what do you do? Do you get mad, frustrated, cry, shrug it off, or try to fix it?
How about when thing are great or exciting? What is your first response? Do you get excited and tell everyone the great news? Do you dance and have a little party?
There are many things throughout a day and in life that go wrong and go right. There are many opportunities for a first response.
My first response to something good is often a smile or an exclamation of "Yay!" When a mishap occurs, I may get frustrated or maybe even cranky. I try to solve my own problems, worry over situations I cannot change, and sometimes make problems worse. I hold on to them and finally realize I forgot to trust God first. I realize I have made my life harder by not going to the very One who can help me.
Psalm 121 says I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore.
When we need help we need to immediately look to God. He is our help. He is the one who protects us and provides for us. We so often attempt to solve our own problems. We think we can handle this big thing. The whole time, God is just waiting and wanting to take care of the situation. We only have to call on Him. Our first response in trouble should be, calling on God for help. He is always ready and willing to help when we cry out to him. David wrote in Psalm 30:2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. He knew God answers when he would call on Him. He called on God many times and God took care of him. When he forgot to keep his focus on God, is when David made big mistakes. He remembered who could help him and called on God.
The Word of God has some directives about what our first response should be.
Psalms 5:3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.
Psalm 35:28 Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all day long.
Psalms 16:8 I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalms 61:8 So I will always sing praises to your name, as I pay my vows day after day.
1 Corinthians 1:4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,
Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
In all these verses and many others I see the word 'always.' Always is all the time, every time. We should respond with praise and prayer. His praise should ever be on our lips. Prayers should be at the ready. Our first response should be to pray rather than grumble. Our first response should be to praise God for His wonderful blessings rather than be amazed at our wonderful selves. We really could not accomplish much without Him. Our first response needs to change. Our first response should be that of turning to God in prayer and praising Him. That will turn our focus off of ourselves and off of the circumstances and on to the One who can solve the problems and the One who is blessing us. This first response will certainly alleviate a lot of stresses and difficulties. It would also keep the presence of God ever noticeable. How much more would we be talking to Him and communing with Him if we chose to make Him our first response? For me, I know my prayer and praise would be greatly increased. My stress would be greatly decreased and my life would become a lot easier. Sure, the struggles would still arise, but I would be able to rest in knowing I cried out the Lord first and He is taking care of the situation. I would be able to trust Him and know that He is answering my need. I would be able to quit worrying and fretting over everything and just offer up praise to my God.
What will changing your first response do for you?
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