God will do it

Romans 4:3 (ESV)

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.”

In today’s verses Paul expands on his thoughts about how we can get right with God. Paul brings the Old Testament patriarch Abraham into the picture. He notes that Abraham became okay with God because he trusted God to take care of the process. Abraham knew he couldn’t do that himself. In the words of The Message: “He trusted God to set him right instead of trying to be right on his own.”

When my truck breaks down, it can’t fix itself. In order to get fixed, it needs someone who knows all about it.

Someone might give me some tools to try to fix it. I can start pulling things apart under the hood and looking carefully at the pieces, but that won’t go far, because I don’t know enough in order to fix it. What my car needs is someone who can figure out what is wrong and do the right thing to fix the problem. That’s why I go to my expert mechanic. I trust him to set it right rather than trying to set it right on my own.

Similarly, I can’t fix myself. Only God can fix me. He wants me to trust him to fix what is broken in my life. Jesus paid the price, once for all, to fix my brokenness, and God credits me with Jesus’ righteousness. Then he calls me to live for him!

Dear Lord, sometimes pride, or maybe guilt, puts us in the position where we need to be fixed.  At those times we think we can fix our self for you. But we can’t. Help us to trust You to set us right. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Trusting God with the timing

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)

The heart of man plans his way,

    but the Lord establishes his steps.

A good story in a movie or book can make us nervous—even anxious. As the characters find themselves in trouble or nerve racking conditions, we fear for them.

But when the story is our story, we really don’t like to see trouble coming. That’s what Saul, the first king of Israel, discovered. God had chosen him as king and was prepared to bless him. But the vast Philistine army was headed straight toward the Israelite forces. Everyone was nervous, especially the young King Saul. The prophet Samuel had given him God’s instructions: wait for seven days and then Samuel would lead in a sacrifice to pray for success in battle. But as tensions rose, the king took matters into his own hands: he offered up the sacrifice himself, despite God’s clear instructions.

Samuel’s voice rang out just as Saul finished making the offering: “What have you done?” Saul tried to explain that he felt compelled to offer the sacrifice because the enemy was near and his men were scattering.

“‘You have done a foolish thing,’ Samuel said.” It turns out that this had been a test, a chance for Saul to decide in whom he would trust for his security. Saul’s nervousness showed that when it came right down to it, he trusted in his own efforts more than in God. That day proved to be the beginning of the end for Saul.

When God is “slow to show up” in your life, do you get nervous? What does that show? Are you willing to wait for him?

Dear Lord, forgive us when we trust in our resources more than we trust in You. Help us to have the faith to trust and an You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

All we need to do is trust Him

Luke 8:22 (ESV)

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out.

Many of the disciples were ex­peri­enced fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. They had often weathered sudden squalls and treacherous waves. They knew that storms could come out of nowhere. So when Jesus suggested rowing to the other side of the lake, they knew they had to be ready for anything.

In the seas of life, we grow to learn that storms can sneak up on us. A bill out of nowhere can take a bite out of your pay­check. A parent suddenly be­comes ill, and you become a caregiver. A child’s bad decision can lead to a day in court and a prison sentence. Such storms cause our anxiety to rise to dangerous levels. We look for help from someone to calm us down, fix the problem, and restore life to the way it was.

The disciples never stopped to think what it meant to have Jesus in the boat with them. And, to them, he wasn’t doing anything! But, of course, he was sleeping—not worrying or getting frantic about the storm. The disciples spent so much energy trying to save themselves from the storm on their own power that they forgot to be still and recognize that Jesus is God, who had their lives in his hands. Jesus was in their boat. All they needed to do was trust in him.

You and I cannot control the sudden storms of life. That’s the way life is. But Jesus is with us. And that’s the best thing.

Dear Lord, thank You for being in our boat. Your resting does not mean inaction; it reminds us to place all our anxieties on you because you care for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Hurricane thought

Daniel 3:15 (ESV)

Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

Unlike most natural disasters, hurricanes you can see coming long in advance.  Days before a hurricane hits land, coastal residents still begin to talk about precautions, just in case it hit’s their community.  “Should we get some extra jugs of water and some extra batteries?”   As the weather forecasters narrow the prediction to a smaller area, there’s more talk.  “Should we board up the windows or move things inside the house?”  Finally the discussion turns to evacuation. “Maybe we should go to your mom’s for a few days.”  But hurricanes are unpredictable.  The hurricane might land somewhere unexpected or it could putters out in the cold waters of the Atlantic.  So here you are at a friends house miles away from home, after spending hundreds of dollars on supplies to board up your house and the hurricane didn’t show up.  Are you beginning to think “Maybe that hurricane wasn’t such a big deal after all?”  How do you know if you didn’t see it?

The Bible tells us of three young men that were waiting for a powerful force to come into their lives.  Three young Jewish men were ordered to die by the Babylonian King because they would not bow down and pray to his gods.  Daniel 3:15 tells us the King ordered the men to be thrown into a fiery furnace saying “What God will be able to rescue you from my hands?”  These were good Jewish boys that knew God rescued the Israelites from Egypt and David from Goliath.  But if it’d been me, I might begin to wonder if God was really able to rescue me.  It’s like wondering if a hurricane that didn’t show up was really that powerful all along.

But these three young men had deep and profound faiths.  The young men say “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it… but even if He does not… we will not serve your gods.”  Their faith in the Lord did not rely on Him rescuing them, even if rescue was the desire of their hearts.   Does your faith depend on God’s rescue?

At times it feels that things like grief, cancer, barrenness, addiction, or past traumas are taunting us like the king taunted the young men “What God will be able to rescue you from my hands?”  I will tell you what God- the Lord God Almighty who is a mighty rescuer.  He sent His Son to rescue you by dying on the cross conquering not only sin but death.   Think of that.  There is nothing, not even death that will keep you from the loving arms of Jesus.

If you are living today in a fiery furnace remember this: God is more than able to rescue you from your suffering but even if He does not, you are still victorious in Jesus.  All believers are victorious through the cross.  Victory is already won!

Dear Lord, we pray for safety in front of the storms of live. Help us to completely trust You in each step along the way. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

If Only

Psalm 81:13-14 (NIV)

If my people would only listen to me,

    if Israel would only follow my ways.

“If only… I had more money.”

“If only… I had a better relationship with my family.”

“If only… I could just find the right job.

It’s not only greed. It’s not only a desire for more. It’s a complete lack of faith in God to provide all that’s good. Adam and Eve fell into that trap.

“If only… we could have our eyes opened and be like God. If only we could know evil, as well as good. If only we could enjoy something more than what God has already given.”

What more could God have given them? What more could God give us? We have from him all that we need and so much more.

Yet we are not content with him. “If only …”

If only there was a way out of this trap we have fallen into. If only God would take pity on us and forgive us for wanting more than him. If only there was a Rescuer to set us free from our foolish sin and greed and mistrust of God. If only there was a way to escape the curse of death that we have brought on ourselves.

It’s more than “if only”–it’s a rock-solid, gospel-truth promise of God: the “offspring of the woman” (Genesis 3:15) has crushed the serpent’s head for us. His name is Jesus. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We don’t need “if onlys”. We have a gracious, forgiving Savior who is our all in all.

Dear Lord, forgive us for wanting more and failing to trust You for everything. Thank You for forgiving us and saving us through Jesus, your Son. In Him, we have all we could ever want.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Why Trust Is So Important

Proverbs 3:5-10 (ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

    and he will make straight your paths.

7 Be not wise in your own eyes;

    fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your flesh

    and refreshment to your bones.

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth

    and with the first fruits of all your produce;

10 then your barns will be filled with plenty,

    and your vats will be bursting with wine.

Trust can be delicate and challenging to find. Most people have pieces of history where someone let them down or took advantage of them. There was existing trust extended to another and that trust was shattered in the aftermath of betrayal. It doesn’t matter who you are; I’ve witnessed a scale where pastors limit their circle in extreme lengths, to people shutting out those that love them most to avoid loss again.

Trust is one of the most important attributes of the Christian walk. Trusting God and His process is key to our faith journey, and yet for most of us, our experiences in our past can leave us scared to death or unsure of how to trust. As we walk through the trust journey; however, you must first understand why it’s important.

Proverbs 3:5-10 is an exploration of that why. The first step in our why is to acknowledge our God and His plans. An understanding of the power, depth, and perfection of His plan must be acknowledged by you and me. When we can embrace that His plan and process, the best possible journey to be on, something happens. God MAKES our path straight.

There is a direct correlation between acknowledging Him and the direction of our lives. It can be hard to trust the invisible and unforeseen, but you must extend your trust to God. When you don’t do that you are taking your future out of the hands of the Almighty and placing it into a dangerous place...the world.

Take a minute to pray about today’s verses and come to terms where your trust must be. Do that and watch God go above and beyond your expectations. We must continually remind our self in the unknown that God has a plan, He is in control, and He has our best interests at heart. So, all we have is trust.

Dear Lord, we pray that we would learn to trust in You completely. Thank You that You are in control of everything even when we don’t understand. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Trust

Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

    and do not lean on your own understanding.

Trust in God and stop trying to make sense of everything.

Trust is something that we do almost every day. We trust that our beds will not allow us to fall on the floor, and that our parents will provide us with food or our kids will do their chores. We trust that our favorite internet sites will allow us to login and chat with old and new friends. The statement that Solomon is making here is that we must trust in God, and trust enough for us not to know what God is doing in our lives. Solomon is also urging us to believe He is working on our behalf even when we feel like it doesn't make sense or the situation is not right. But, we have to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts, with all that is in us and lean not on what we understand because God's ways are higher than our ways. Some things may not have gone the way you wanted them to go, but you still have to trust in God and stop trying to figure it out. If we could figure it out then we would not need God, and we need God, so stop thinking and trust!

Today let us focus of trusting God for the problems we are having at home, at school, at work, in those private areas that no one knows about. Trust God and don't try to figure it out. Give it over to God fully and trust that He is working on your problem, even though it doesn't feel as if anything is happening.

Dear Lord, help us to trust in You today more than we have ever trusted in You. Help us, Lord, to stop trying to make things work out by our self, but to turn the whole situation over to You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

What Does God Say About Worrying?

Matthew 6:25-27 (ESV)

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

The New Testament tells us that after Jesus was baptized, He began traveling around a region called Galilee healing sick people and preaching. He gathered many followers, including the men He called disciples — His friends who followed Him most closely. The book of Matthew tells us that Jesus sat down on a mountainside to teach them wise lessons. One thing He told them was that they shouldn’t worry:

Jesus said that worrying is pointless because God has everything taken care of. But most of us still worry.

What are some things you worry about?

How has God helped you during your times of worry?

Jesus wants you to share your worries with Him so He can help you through them.

Next time you see a bird in the air, remember that God knows what you need and will take care of it — just like He takes care of the bird.

Dear Lord, thank You for being our comfort and strength. Calm our mind and help us to dwell in Your safety. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

If only

Genesis 2:7 (ESV)

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

“If only… I had more money.”

“If only… I had a better relationship with my family.”

“If only… I could just find the right job.

It’s not only greed. It’s not only a desire for more. It’s a complete lack of faith in God to provide all that’s good. Adam and Eve fell into that trap.

“If only… we could have our eyes opened and be like God. If only we could know evil, as well as good. If only we could enjoy something more than what God has already given.”

What more could God have given them? What more could God give us? We have from him all that we need and so much more.

Yet we are not content with him. “If only …”

If only there was a way out of this trap we have fallen into. If only God would take pity on us and forgive us for wanting more than him. If only there was a Rescuer to set us free from our foolish sin and greed and mistrust of God. If only there was a way to escape the curse of death that we have brought on ourselves.

It’s more than “if only”–it’s a rock-solid, gospel-truth promise of God: the “offspring of the woman” (Genesis 3:15) has crushed the serpent’s head for us. His name is Jesus. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We don’t need “if onlys”. We have a gracious, forgiving Savior who is our all in all.

Dear Lord, forgive us for wanting more and failing to trust You for all. Thank You for forgiving us and saving us through Jesus, your Son. In Him, we have all we could ever want.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

suffering

Romans 8:18 (ESV)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

  

As you read this, some of you have joints that are screaming from rheumatoid arthritis. Some of you are miserable from chemotherapy. Some of you have back pain so severe you can only stand, sit, or sleep for short periods of time. Some of you get frequent headaches so massive that any kind of light or sound is a torture. Some of you are reeling from multiple surgeries, barely recovering from one when doctors tell you to get ready for another. And some of you possess one of a thousand other maladies—physical or emotional. What they all have in common is that they all define what it is to suffer.

It’s often when our suffering is at its worst that the devil walks in, ready to attack our faith. Many times his weapon of choice is the comparison. He points out other people similar to us in age and circumstance. He comments that they don’t seem to have anything near the suffering and pain that we have. And with that, he lets our sinful nature do the rest. He lets our sinful nature drag us away into the dungeon of self-pity.

But the Lord of your life has something to say about this. He speaks though the apostle Paul. Paul, as you may know, is someone who knew all about severe suffering. He grappled with a terrible problem that appeared to plague him until he died. Instead of comparing himself to others who did not have to suffer as he did, Paul made the comparison that really matters. He said, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

What is the specific reason why the Lord is allowing us to suffer? That is not for us to say. Perhaps it is to nurture within us our faith. Perhaps it is to give others around us a living, breathing sermon on Christian courage. Perhaps it is to bring us into contact with a lost soul the Lord will save through our witness. Perhaps it’s for an entirely different reason.

Never forget, however, the comparison that matters. Your temporary suffering is a droplet in comparison to the oceans of joy that await you in heaven. That’s why Jesus came. That’s why he suffered and died for your sins. That’s why he rose. That’s why he lives!

Dear Lord, stand beside us in our suffering. Strengthen us by your Spirit. Remind us that the pain is temporary and that the joy of heaven is eternal. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The worry box

Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

There are two days you should never spend a lot of time thinking about – yesterday and tomorrow. Many of us are crucified with two thieves. On the right is yesterday, and on the left is tomorrow. He doesn’t want us worrying about the past, and He certainly doesn’t want us worrying about tomorrow.

There was a man who began to worry that he would get cancer because it had been prevalent in his family. He worried about it for 30 years and then suddenly died of a heart attack. My friend, worrying wastes your time. Not only that, it puts within you negative self-talk that can affect your choices and your actions. Should you be concerned about your health? Yes. Should you make efforts to eat wisely and exercise? Yes. Should you manage your money well? Yes. But to be bound to worry on these things will only prevent you from enjoying your health and blessings.

Jesus told us how to get rid of the worry that He forbids by changing our priorities. He says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” The problem with worry is that we are seeking the wrong things – we need to seek God and His kingdom and everything else will fall into place.

I have always struggles with being a worrier. If you are prone to struggle with the stronghold of worry like me, I suggest that you make yourself a worry box by cutting a slot in the top of an old shoe-box. When Satan drives you to worry, write your worry down on a slip of paper. Talk to the Lord and tell Him what you have written down and that you believe He is able to take care of whatever worries you put in that box. You cannot handle them, but you know that He can. Then fold up your worry, drop it in the box, and leave it to the Lord. He promises to give you a peace that can only come from Him.

Will a worry box make your problems go away? Probably not. But what it will do is shift the weight of those problems off of you and back onto God. He is strong enough to carry that burden for you. Let Him.

Dear Lord, help us to give you all the worries of our heart. Thank You for taking care of them for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Worry

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)

6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

There are struggles in life that can become emotional strongholds – things that hold you hostage and keep you from wholeheartedly serving and trusting God and experiencing the abundant life He has promised. One of the most damaging strongholds is worry. It is available for every age and is an obstacle to moving forward. When it is a stronghold in your life, it is a way of life.

We worry about so many things – what do people think about us, do we look fit, are we healthy, and do we have enough money. If you are prone to worry, there is no limit to the possibilities to worry about.

People cope with worrying in a number of ways – some drink to dismiss it, others shop for a distraction, some take naps or go to bed early to avoid it. None of these remedies work because the panic still sets in.

 In Matthew 6:25, 31-34, Jesus stated three times, “Do not worry!” The Greek word used for “worry” is the concept of being strangled or choked. It leaves you frustrated when you ought to be free and if you are His disciple, then you should stop it.

Worrying is a sin because it is doubt in the power and goodness of God. Some people don’t like to call worrying a sin – they are just “concerned” about something. How do you distinguish concern from worry? Legitimate concern is when you are in control of your thoughts and feelings and illegitimate worry is when the matter controls your thoughts, actions and emotions.

Jesus said, “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26) The reason we worry is that we are focusing on the wrong authority. If our Father feeds birds that have no soul, how much more will He take care of us since we are worth even more to Him?  Remember His promise that He will never leave you nor forsake you as the first antidote to worry.

Dear Lord, we thank You once again that You are in control. Help us to not fall into the trap of worrying about the things about us, help us to instead put our full trust in You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Patience

 Psalm 27:7-8 (ESV)

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

    be gracious to me and answer me!

8 You have said, “Seek my face.”

My heart says to you,

    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

You and I do not like to wait! I read about an irate woman upset because she was asked to wait six minutes for her French fries to cook. The audacity! She determined this injustice was personal and verbally abused the young attendant for her incompetence and bigotry before the entire establishment. Berating the innocent worker did not cause her fries to cook faster. She simply chose to wait poorly.

Unfortunately I have personal examples of making the same choice. I have been annoyed with slow moving lines, irritated in traffic, and accusatory of those who do not seem to understand the importance of my needs being met before theirs. I, too, have behaved badly toward others when asked to wait.

Lately my patience has been tested as I wait to hear test results. I try to trust God and His sovereignty to work in my life according to His perfect timing. Unfortunately my record in this area can also be found wanting. I have questioned God’s faithfulness, sulking, crying and losing hope that He cares for me. Does God really love me as much as He loves those around me who are not waiting on Him to move? Maybe He is not going to do what He promised? How long must I call out to Him and there be no answer? This waiting causes me to wonder if God is still speaking, skeptical of whether He is ever going to act.

When our waiting causes us to question like this, we are in good company. Hannah finds herself waiting on God to act in her life; and there is no guarantee He will respond to her waiting with what she desires. Instead, Hannah waits in uncertainty and even disgrace; ridiculed and tormented by her rival. However, we see her refrain from going ballistic and faltering in her faith. Instead, Hannah chooses to wait well.

In the heart of her distress, Hannah does what you and I should learn to do. Hannah clings to the Father. When we are asked to wait, instead of losing our patience or abandoning our reliance on God, we should cling to Him.

Dear Lord, help us to cling to You through all of life’s challenges. Help our patience be strong so that we can be a testimony for You in everything. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Perspective

Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV)

10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

When you are worried about problems in your life, do you ever stop to think about where you are coming from in facing them vs. where God is coming from? Perspective can be an interesting thing. Consider a $5 bill lying on the ground to be found by 2 different people. 1 person finds it who is homeless and might sustain himself for 3 days on the food that money would buy. They are grateful for that money beyond belief. The other person is wealthy and may choose not to pick it up simply because it is soiled and wouldn't be worth the trouble. Such is true of the difference in the perspectives of God and man. We see many of our issues as insurmountable, He sees them as opportunities for us to show our faith and trust in him, and opportunities for us to learn and grow from the situation. When trouble finds you, lean not on your understanding, but trust the Lord that he will see you through.

Dear Lord, we thank You for opportunities of faith all around us. Give us perspective and help us learn about Your love each day. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Down hill skiing and trust

Psalm 13:5 (ESV)

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;

    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

The 2018 Winter Olympics are winding down. Quick question: What is your favorite winter Olympic sport? A recent Google search showed that nearly every pole asking that question had a different ranking of the sports. Consistently ranking in the top 10, however, is alpine skiing,  which brings us to our subject: trust.

Veteran skiers will tell you that often there is a moment in learning to ski when it all just seems to click. You've had your lessons; you've memorized your analogies (pizza slice, French fries, carrying a tray); you've gotten frustrated because you can't make your body do your analogies; you're thinking of too many things at once. Then. Suddenly. Ahhhh…maybe it's making a nice turn, or recovering (without falling) from going too fast, or simply making a good stop. Something clicked between mind and body. This click can be summed up in a word: trust.

You may not realize it, but in that moment, you trusted your learning, your skis and your legs to do what you were telling them to do. You let go of your instructions and analogies.

It's this same type of letting go that we need to practice with God. As we seek to grow in our relationship with Him, the last thing we give up is control. Maybe we want to hang on to reason or logic or keep our hearts and minds in a realm of what we know, but we are told in Hebrews 11:6 that it is impossible to please God without faith. Impossible. A leap of faith always will be required.

Take a step of trust to allow God to do what He loves to do: heal, redeem, give grace, strengthen. Accept the kindness and generosity of God, and let Him do the work.

Dear Lord, Help us to take the steps we need to to trust You completely. Help us to accept the kindness and generosity of You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

Peace

John 14:27 (ESV)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your mind is worried and you’re trying to figure everything out? It feels like all your peace has left and all you feel is stress.

Jesus gave us a promise and command . “Peace I leave with you. My own peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid- stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.” 

We must realize that peace is very strong- it’s not an absence of conflict, it’s a presence of God’s presence and power in our spirit. It belongs to us through Jesus. It’s the same peace that allowed Jesus to reach out and heal the soldier’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemane when his life was threatened. It’s the same peace that spoke to a storm to be still. It wasn’t the absence of trouble in Jesus’ life- but the presence of the power of peace that enabled Jesus to live free from stress.

Jesus left you that very same peace. Then he gave us a condition for that peace to reign every day of our lives. He said guard it- he said don’t allow yourself to get disturbed or fearful- don’t permit  those feelings to make you forget the peace power you have. The doorway to your peace being robbed is your mind. When thoughts of doubt and fear hit you, hit them with God’s Word of truth by speaking them out loud.

For example, someone speaks badly about you. Your mind can dwell on it or you can close that door and say “if God be for me who can be against me?” and then forgive and rest in His peace.

If worry tries to upset you, find scriptures that combat that worry. “My God shall supply all my need” “greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world”

When you guard your peace, it’s like shutting the door on your house and locking it. No robber can enter. You are secure. But when you allow your mind to worry and fear, then you have unlocked and open the door and enemies of your peace can come to steal it from you.

Dear Lord, thank You for giving us Your peace. Help us to not allow situations and people to disturb us or make us afraid. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

A lesson learned from a GoPro

Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV)

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

My sons both have GoPros and enjoy using them doing different activates including strapping it to Max as he swims.  GoPro cameras are an awesome invention. They let you capture the world around you in new ways. You can ski with them, surf with them, attach them to your dog, your head, or maybe even your little brother. There are tons of crazy things you can do with a GoPro camera.

One of the great feature the GoPro is it’s waterproof case. It can be submerged and still be okay. That’s a lot like us. Life can be really hard at times. You can have days where you feel like you’re getting battered, bruised and held under the water. It could be anything from friends not treating you right to things breaking around the house.

The good news is that no matter how hard life gets or how tough things might seem, you can put your trust in God. See God promises to never leave you.

God will never leave us. He will never fail us. He’s like the GoPro’s waterproof case. As long as the GoPro camera is in the case, the GoPro is safe from the elements. Water can’t hurt it. Snow can’t hurt it. The camera is safe when it’s in the case.

That’s how we are when we put our trust in God. When we lean on Him, rely on Him and make Him our trust than no matter what is going on around us, we are safe.

God will always have our back if we put our faith and trust in Him. So challenge yourself to put your trust in God. Don’t live your life in fear and become discouraged by what’s going on around you. Instead put your trust in God and see God come through for you.

Dear Lord, we thank You that we can put our complete trust in You, And no matter the circumstance You have our back and we can shine forth for You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The worry trap

Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

It is so easy to fall into the trap of worry. I wake up many nights worried about the next day and what I needed to do. Concerned that I would forget something that needed to be done. I have lost a lot of sleep because I was so worried that I’d forget something the next day.

Worry is a bad thing. It keeps you from sometimes sleeping, eating, or even just enjoying life. That’s why the Bible tells us not to worry about tomorrow. Because if we’re using up all our energy worrying about the next day, we’re not enjoying today. God doesn’t want us going through life bogged down with worry and cares. Instead, He wants us to trust Him, that He will take care of things.

So today, if you have a bad habit of worrying about things, decide to make a change for good. Decide to stop worrying about things that may or may not happen and enjoy the things God has provided for you today. As you break the habit of worry, you’ll find that you’ll begin enjoying life more each day!

Dear Lord, help us to not worry about the things in life but to fully trust You in all things. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Trust in Him

Psalm 56:3 (ESV)

When I am afraid,

    I put my trust in you.

Missionaries Dick and Margaret Hillis found themselves caught in China during the Japanese invasion. The couple lived with their two children in the inland town of Shenkiu. The village was tense with fear, for every day brought terrifying reports of the Japanese advance. At the worst possible time, Dick developed appendicitis, and he knew his life depended on making the long journey to the hospital. On January 15, 1941, with deep foreboding, Margaret watched him leave.

Soon the Chinese colonel came with the news. The enemy was near and townspeople must evacuate. Margaret shivered, knowing that one-year-old Johnny and two-month-old Margaret Anne would never survive as refugees. So she stayed put. Early next morning she tore the page from the wall calendar and read the new day's Scripture. It was Psalm 56:3 -- What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

The town emptied during the day, and the next morning Margaret arose, feeling abandoned. The new verse on the calendar was Psalm 9:10 -- Thou, Lord, has not forsaken them that seek thee.

The next morning she arose to distant sounds of gunfire and worried about food and her children. The calendar verse was Genesis 50:21 -- I will nourish you and your little ones. An old woman suddenly popped in with a pail of steaming goat's milk, and another straggler arrived with a basket of eggs.

Through the day, sounds of warfare grew louder, and during the night Margaret prayed for deliverance. The next morning she tore the page from the calendar to read Psalm 56:9 -- When I cry unto Thee, then shall my enemies turn back. The battle was looming closer, and Margaret didn't go to bed that night. Invasion seemed imminent. But the next morning, all was quiet. Suddenly, villagers began returning to their homes, and the colonel knocked on her door. For some reason, he told her, the Japanese had withdrawn their troops. No one could understand it, but the danger had passed. They were safe.

Margaret glanced at her wall calendar and felt she had been reading the handwriting of God.

God's handwriting is all around us but so often in the midst of the wars we face, we neglect to take notice. Let's make an effort to see His merciful hand at work in our lives today. He cares for us more than we can imagine!

Dear Lord, thank You for always caring and being there for us. Help our eyes be open to all that You do for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Keep your focus

Psalm 56:2-4 (ESV) 

2 my enemies trample on me all day long,

    for many attack me proudly.

3 When I am afraid,

    I put my trust in you.

4 In God, whose word I praise,

    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

    What can flesh do to me?

Some experts believe that acute stress can provoke changes in the heart that may lead to death. In one study, fifteen cases were identified in which people died after a physical assault, even though the injuries alone were not enough to kill them. Eleven of the fifteen showed a type of heart-cell death, similar to a reaction in experimental animals that feel helpless to anticipate or avoid danger.

We live in a day that godlessness is on the rise -- a day in which the world (and even some of the church) is motivated by money, power and the desire for worldly pleasures -- a day in which the fruit of this behavior is apparent even to the worst of us. It's a scary time.

Even amidst these frightful times, though, isn't it wonderful to know that we don't have to pretend we're not afraid? God knew we would be afraid from time to time. But He encourages us to redirect our attention to put our trust again in Him. He, who is all powerful and watches over us intently. What a gracious and compassionate Father we have!

Let's ask the Lord to help us keep our focus on trusting Him for all things. When we are focused on this, there's no stopping us from doing the great things He has called us to do!

Dear Lord, we pray that You will help us keep focused on trusting You. Use us to do great things for Your Kingdom. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.