Tag Archives: Strength

It’s our time to SHINE

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“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”” John 13:35 ESV

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As I read this scripture this morning God brought me to a new place. I love how personal He is. God has called us to a place of love and unity. That unity, or lack thereof, has a major influence on how unbelievers see Christians.  There are many evils that seek to separate us and drive us apart because the enemy knows a divided house cannot stand.

Crisis tends to bring people together. 9/11 was a perfect example. With COVID-19 however, we are being told to physically isolate ourselves, at a time when being with our tribe is even more comforting.

My challenge to you today is this: How can God use you during this time of isolation? I’ve seen some very creative ways people are reaching out to others without putting themselves or others in danger. Driveby birthday parties, singing outside nursing home windows and apartment balconies are just a few examples.  One of our small groups from church wrote thank you cards to doctors and had one of the doctors who attends our church deliver them to his co-workers.

There are endless opportunities for us to SHINE right now. Will you take advantage of this time? Call or text someone each day, to encourage them and let them know they are in your thoughts and prayers. Start a Facebook group among friends to gather socially online. Connect with family over Zoom. Send cards, write letters. Drop off a meal to a senior or single, etc.

I’d love to hear your ideas of ways we can SHINE during this time. Please share in the comments so your ideas can spur and inspire others.

Blessings!

~ Deb ~

 

God’s Best is in the Waiting

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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. – Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

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I don’t know about you, but if I am honest, I don’t like waiting. We live in a world of instant gratification. We want what we want, and we want it now.

I remember my Father teaching me the benefit of ‘delayed gratification’ as a young child. When the Beatles became popular in America he took me to a store to purchase one of their albums. Unfortunately, they were sold out. They did have singles available (aka 45’s). My dad gave me an option, you can have the single now, or wait until the album comes in and get that. As a preteen it was almost unbearable to think of leaving that store empty handed. In the end, I took his advice and chose well. With much anticipation I then waited for the album to be restocked. It’s a lesson I never forgot. The things we value are worth waiting for. 

There are several things I’m still waiting for in life. I’m sure you can relate. I confess, I don’t understand God’s timing, but I trust it. I trust it because I have seen the brokenness that results when I try to make things happen on my own. 

As difficult as it may seem, God has a purpose in the waiting. His timing is always perfect. I’ve often wondered how many times I missed out on God’s best because I settled for the “single” instead of waiting on the “album”. 

One way I can apply today’s verse is this … if I am weary or faint, I can examine my heart and ask myself, what is it I am trying to do in my own strength or timing instead of waiting on the Lord? Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying we should sit around and do nothing. God calls us to GO, to be doers of the Word.

The difference is, when we flow in His timing:

  • our strength is renewed
  • we can soar like eagles above the difficulty of trying to figure everything out ourselves
  •  we can run and not grow weary
  •  we can walk and not faint

PRAYER: Father, thank You for Your perfect timing. Thank You for the promise of renewed strength when we learn to wait expectantly on You. Help me to be so sensitive to Your voice that I know when to run and when to wait. Help me to never run ahead of You. 

Lord, I may not always understand the delay in Your promise, but I trust You. I know Your Word will not return void. You are not a man that You should lie.

Forgive me for the many times I have missed Your best for my life because I tried to take matters into my own hands instead of waiting on You. Thank You for protecting me even while allowing me to reap the consequences of my actions. You are a good, good Father.

Amen

 

Loyalty … Obedience … Perseverance

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“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”  ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:5 NKJV‬‬

IMG_1516According to Jesus, this is THE greatest commandment. As such it makes sense that we need to truly grasp what it means.

As I read this verse, I asked myself … why did Moses say to love God with:
(a) all my heart
(b) all my soul
(c) all my strength.

How does loving God with my heart differ from loving Him with my soul and my strength? It must be important or Moses wouldn’t have expounded on it.

In Deuteronomy 6 Moses is preparing the children of Israel to finally enter the promised land. Knowing their inclination to idolatry and rebellion he reminds them of three key mandates which in turn answer the question of ‘how do we love God with all our heart, soul and strength?’

Loving God with all my HEART is about loyalty: There is ONE God and He is a jealous God. God will not share His glory with false gods. Anything, or anyone, that is more important to us is an idol.

Loving God with all my SOUL is about obedience: Moses instructed the people to keep the commandments of God AND to pass them on from generation to generation. To love God is to obey God. This theme is seen repeatedly in the Word in both the Old and New Testaments. Our soul is comprised of our mind, will and emotions. To love God with all our soul we must “know him’, through experience/relationship, knowledge of His Word and revelation of the Holy Spirit.

Loving God with all my STRENGTH is about perseverance: Possession of the Land required defeat of Israel’s enemies. To this day Israel has to fight for their land. While God is capable of wiping out our enemies with a single word, He knows we value what we struggle to obtain. Our dreams and visions are worth the fight! Never give up on God’s promise(s) to you.

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for opening my eyes to understand Your command to love You will all my heart, soul and strength. Help me to always love you with loyalty, obedience and perseverance.

The Secret To Contentment

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I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV)
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I take comfort in knowing I can do anything the Lord empowers me to do. I believe in miracles. I believe in the power of prayer and of faith. 

Philippians 4:13 popped up as the ‘Verse of the Day’ recently on YouVersion. Because I am an advocate on reading scripture in context I have started reading the chapters as well as the verses. As I read Philippians 4 it occured to me, Paul wrote this verse in the context of contentment. He wasn’t quoting a formula for victory, he was declaring that he was able to endure both hardship and victory because he knew the secret to contentment was knowing God would sustain him in every circumstance.

I must admit, there are times I question God when I see things that don’t make sense. Certain things rob my contentment, if I allow them to. When I see children suffer or people die prematurely; when prayers don’t get answered the way I would like, it’s hard to be content.

And yet, I know that God is good! I may not understand the why, but I believe God’s promise that, “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV) Ultimately it comes down to this, do I trust Him? 

The secret to contentment is knowing that God will sustain you through the trials and the triumphs of life. It is knowing he will give you the strength you need, when you need it. He will not leave us to face our battles alone. He is always with us.  Contentment is birthed in trust. It is resting in the knowledge that God is for you, not against you. 

PRAY: Lord, help me to follow Paul’s example in learning to be content in spite of my circumstances. Forgive me for the times I have complained and allowed circumstances to rob my faith allowing doubts of Your goodness to prevail. Help me Lord to be content in all things, knowing you will sustain me and give me strength. 

Shielded Through Suffering

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“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans‬ ‭8:31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 
IMG_1452This is one of those verses that can be very confusing when you read it “out of context.” At first glance it sounds as if this is a guarantee against defeat. 

Jesus said the world would hate us, because it hated Him. I have seen more animosity toward Christianity in the last ten years than my entire lifetime. While this may be a new concern in America, Christians around the world have suffered persecution for centuries. 

When we read this verse in context we find that this chapter speaks to the glory in suffering. We aren’t promised to be shielded from suffering, but rather through suffering. In comparison to the reward of eternity with the Lord our suffering seems trivial. In fact, suffering strengthens and purifies us. Psalms describes it as being refined by fire. 

We see in Roman 8 that NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ, and even in death we are more than conquerors.

My take on this verse is this: If God be for me who cares who is against me! My life is His. I live for an audience of ONE. God alone is my judge, and Jesus is interceding FOR me.

PRAYER:
Lord, I am so thankful that nothing can separate me from Your love. I am thankful for the promise of Your continual presence. Knowing You will never leave me or forsake me gives me the courage to face this life. Thank You Lord for suffering in my place. You left the comfort of Heaven to purchase my redemption.

When life gets tough, remind me it’s temporary. Help me to be spiritually minded, which brings life and peace. Help me to have an attitude like Paul who considered suffering as unworthy to be compared to the glory that awaits us.

Jesus, thank You that You are interceding on my behalf before God. I know You will work all things together for my good. Thank You for making me a conqueror!

A Firm Foundation

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image“Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 AMP

Paul wrote this passage as he was requesting prayer from the Thessalonian church. He knew there would be opposition as he spread the GOOD NEWS. He also knew as he moved on from the churches he had planted, they too would face spiritual assault.

There are many conflicting messages today. When we are confused and unsure who to believe, the Lord is still faithful. Ask Him to strengthen you and give you the stability of a firm foundation, based on HIS word rather than the doctrines of man.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness. Strengthen me and set me on the firm foundation of Your Word. Help me to disearn truth and guard my heart from the deception of the evil one. Amen.