Not a discouraging word

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. (Ephesians 1:3-6)

There are times when we 'judge' someone over and over again, all because they have a whole bunch of 'do-overs' in their lives. We point out how many times they slip and fall, but God sees only the returns! He is celebrating each and every 'do-over' because he knows that individual is not content to backslide, nor are they content to just 'abide' where they are - they want to change. It is hard to change, and he knows that. He relishes every one of those times we call out to him with a new commitment to 'do-over' life's decisions. He also gives us much grace to move beyond those moments!

Discouraging things happen and they are always trying to pull us down, hold us back, or keep us focused on something that wasn't the right choice. That is Satan's tactic, not God's. God isn't going to guilt us - he is going to encourage us, even when discouragement abounds. We have a new 'position' - we are in Christ. As followers of Christ, that means God's love is always there in our lives - he isn't going to quit on us. Satan's greatest hope is that we will cave under the weight of discouragement. Don't give him the satisfaction!

There are two responses to discouragement - we can either cave under its weight, or we can be driven closer to God. God gives us great blessings, but we might feel unworthy of them right now. He gives us great privilege, but we don't want to 'impose' upon those privileges because we feel too dirty, haggard, and sin-riddled right now. God sees the heart - he knows the actions we have engaged in are not what our heart truly desires. He knows that 'in Christ Jesus' we were made new and that we desire that newness of life to reign supreme in our lives. 

So, press into his grace and goodness, not your guilt. He is waiting to restore, you just need to ask. Trust him more than you are trusting those discouraging words your enemy is hurling at you right now. They are truth! Just sayin!

An EXTREME act of love

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. (Romans 3:23-24)

All really doesn't mean there are any exclusions - it means ALL have sinned, no one is exempt. That may be hard for some to palette, but it is an inescapable fact. God set a standard - we fall short of it each and every time we attempt to even approach it, so we needed his Son to do it for us. Grace has been and is still being extended to all who would trust him for this great gift of redemption. Redemption is a big word that really means we are made right with a holy God by trusting in the finished work of Jesus. He bridged the gap between our imperfection and God's perfect holiness. We are able to come boldly into his presence now because we have received his grace. The standard was met in Christ - we just need to meet Christ in order to receive grace! It might be hard to believe but this unmerited favor we receive from God is a manifestation of his love toward the unworthiness in each of us. He doesn't 'discount' us because of our unworthiness but rather makes a way for us to be part of his glorious family.

Too many times, we 'discount' our need for a Savior. We justify ourselves by saying we 'aren't all that bad', that we 'do good things', and we aren't 'all that unkind' to others. The truth is that ALL have fallen short - the target may be hit some of the time, but we aren't hitting the bullseye! We need grace in order to do that. The enemy of our soul is Satan, and he has done all he can from the very beginning of time to convince us that 'not all that bad' is really okay. The fact of the matter is that it is ALL or nothing with God. We are ALL the way a sinner, or we are ALL the way a redeemed (made holy through Christ) child in his family. The Greek word for 'redeemed' is 'apoluo' - meaning to experience a release effected by the payment of a ransom. It means to be set free - because sin has held us bound for way too long! The payment was Christ's life, death, burial and resurrection. The EXTREME act of love that would go to that extent in order to bring us freedom from our sinfulness shouldn't ever be taken for granted.

Here is the crux of it - we ALL have a sin nature. We ALL have absolutely no way of approaching the holiness of God on our own. Sin cannot abide with holiness. We ALL need a Savior. We ALL need to experience the EXTREME love of God and the only way to do that is through Christ Jesus. Just sayin!

I have run too much

Do you remember the story of Jonah? He tried desperately to run from God's plan for his life. I wonder how many of us have tried that same action. If you are anything like me, you have probably done it once or twice. We don't always want to be 'disobedient', but when we delay in any form of 'obedience', we are actually running from God's expectations. So, if you are 'runner' too, let me assure you of this - you cannot escape God any more than I can!

I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! (Psalm 138:7)

Jonah tried to run from God's plan for his life. He rejected God's plan more than once. He complained a whole lot when God asked him to do certain things that were 'contrary' to the way he thought things should be. He did what most of us have done - he put his own desires above those of God. Oh, don't be so pious - you have done it, too! To compound it, we pout because we aren't getting our own way! Aye! How patient God must be with all of us.

We cannot obey 'partially' - obedience requires our whole dedication. It is indeed good news to me that God can use someone who is willing to be 'partially' obedient and bring that individual to a place of total obedience. If that weren't the case, he'd never have used me at all! The flaws of my character didn't keep him from using me - how about you? Your flaws are probably there, but he uses you anyway. Why? He is merciful, gracious, and unwilling to allow us to continue in our 'partial' obedience. He will bring into the place where he can begin to transform our heart and move us toward total obedience.

If you ever wondered, God uses our weakness maybe even a little more than he uses our strength. Why? It is in our weakness that he comes through strong - the testimony that is manifest in our weakness, with his strength backing us all the way, is what touches lives around us. We might want to use our weakness as an excuse for why we cannot serve him entirely as he desires, but he sees those same weaknesses as his means to show himself strong! Just sayin!

Reawakening awaits

Now restore us again, O God of our salvation. Put aside your anger against us once more. Will you be angry with us always? Will you prolong your wrath to all generations? Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 85:4-7)

Is revival more than an awakening? It begins with an awakening of our spirit and then it continues with a new sense of purpose and an 'inner fervor' that we have somehow lost along the way. Most of us need a bit of 'revival' at times, all because we allow that 'inner fervor' we once had to become 'dulled' by the details of life as they creep in. We soon lose sight of our purpose, finding ourselves a bit too inactive in our faith - what some may call being a little 'too stagnant' in our faith. In truth, what has happened is that we have lost our 'clear direction', leading us to a slower and slower 'faith progress', until one day, we find we aren't moving at all.

Truth be told, God isn't calling someone else - he is calling you, right now, requiring immediate action to 'return' and be made 'whole'. Faith is a growing thing, but if it is neglected too long, it will wither and be extremely 'non-productive'. There is a level of commitment required for revival - for the reawakening to occur, we have to desire it. That desire may come at the end of a rope, at the bottom of a bottle, or with the last pill popped. Regardless of the thing that took us into our slumber, when we begin to reawaken, we will want to shake that thing off and be free of its 'dulling' influence.

Remember what Jesus taught when he told us about baptism - it is the outward evidence of an inward change. That inward change begins when we begin to respond to his movement within our lives. What will that movement look like? It varies by the individual who experiences it, but you will recognize it as a desire for something different or more than what you have been experiencing. At first, it may just be an 'uneasiness' with where you are at right now in either your actions or your 'feelings'. Little by little, he will make it clear that we need to choose a different course of action. 

Notice - it is a course of 'action' - not one of inaction. Revival always begins with ACTION. There is no room for inaction when we want to experience the resurrection power of Jesus in our lives. Just sayin!

Preach vs. Teach

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Make disciples of all men - not just converts who warm the pews, but actual disciples. Teach the gospel and see what it will accomplish - preaching it alone might win souls, but when it is taught, it is caught! Live the message - the gospel was always meant to be something that is backed with action, not just words spoken from a pulpit. If they are willing to follow, bring them along.

When we submit to the leadership of Jesus, we are acknowledging that we are willing to take up the mission he has given each of us. Yes, we are to tell others about Christ - but the billboard you hold on the side of the roadway won't cut it. Yes, we are to quote scripture - but we cannot beat people up with it. Yes, we are to pray constantly for our community, leaders, and even those we don't know and may never know, but prayer alone is still not enough.

We follow Christ through daily relationship with him. We learn to stand upon his Word and put it into practice on a daily basis. We commit to serve and then we do it. Too many 'serve' Jesus when and where it is 'convenient' for them, but too few really serve him as he asked us to serve. One thing I was always taught is that 'delayed obedience' is nothing more than disobedience in a 'pretty package'. Jesus wasn't asking the disciples to go and make disciples that would follow them. He asked them to go and make disciples of all men that would follow HIM. Our obedience to the calling on our lives may actually be the ONLY way someone comes to experience the reality of relationship with him. Perhaps we could preach a little less and teach a little more. Just sayin!

Enter into your purpose

Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

Who are you living for? It is a valid question, is it not? We wake up each new day, actively choosing to live for someone or something. The one given over to substance abuse might not realize it, but they are living for a 'thing', not for someone. The one so concerned about what others think isn't living for themselves as much as they are those others who consume their thoughts, actions, and heart. If we choose to live for Christ, we are making a different choice - to lay down our lives, allowing his life to flow through us. We receive a new life in Christ Jesus. We choose to live differently when we say 'yes' to Jesus. Someone may not realize the life change that is about to transpire when they say 'yes', but there is no denying it - change is happening, will continue to happen, and isn't done until Jesus says it is done! 

We no longer live for ourselves - we live for Christ Jesus. Does that mean we no longer think for ourselves, blindly following some religious rigmarole? Rigmarole is really just a long set of actions or words without any real purpose. Christ gives our lives purpose. Before saying 'yes' to him, our purpose may have been to find whatever brought us immediate pleasure, a budding relationship that made us feel good, or some other endless pursuit that really didn't pan out as we hoped. When we said 'yes' to him, our 'purpose' changed. Purpose is nothing more than the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. We were created to enjoy relationship with God - sin interfered with that purpose. In Christ Jesus, our sin is erased, we enter into our purpose, and our reason for 'existing' becomes clear.

We 'act' differently because our purpose changes. We 'choose' differently because we find our purpose, sometimes for the very first time. This new life isn't one of indentured servitude - it is one of freedom. It could come as a surprise to some, but following Jesus is not onerous, but rather freeing. We don't know what will truly fulfill us until Christ enters into the spaces of our lives that were created to be filled with his Spirit. Just sayin...

Glorious Grace, Unmerited Kindness, and Open Access

So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. (Ephesians 1:6-8)

Glorious grace - unmerited, unearned, and very frequently unexpected privilege and forgiveness. We do nothing to deserve it and can do absolutely nothing to earn it. Yet, we can revel in the goodness of a God that provides a means for us to enter into close, intimate relationship with him. His kindness supersedes any earthly kindness. Earthly kindness is much more superficial, although it has great meaning, it still falls short of the kindness God extends to us through his Son, Jesus.

Along with his kindness comes wisdom and understanding. Wisdom that helps us make new, better choices. Understanding that enlightens us to the pull of sin and the weakness of our own flesh to resist it. We might not realize all the goodness God has bestowed on all who say 'yes' to his invitation to enter into his family, enjoy his presence, and feel the strength of his protection. Whenever we stop long enough to consider what DIDN'T happen in our day, we might just get a different perspective than focusing on what DID happen! His kindness and goodness probably kept us from experiencing way more stuff than we might realize!

Pray for his wisdom. Listen to gain his understanding. Celebrate his goodness in praise and worship. Enter in fully to the blessings he has prepared in advance for us to experience. This is what God intends. All manner of distractions on this earth may keep us from truly celebrating his goodness toward us, but when we make a concerted effort to 'enter in' with open hearts, he meets us there. At one time, the High Priest was the only one to experience this privilege, but now, through Christ Jesus, we ALL may enter in, humbly bow before him, and enjoy the intimacy of knowing God fully. Just sayin!

Around, but not within

And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (Romans 8:2)

Because - due to the fact that - don't miss that - it is a FACT that you belong to him, having the power of his life-giving Spirit indwelling you. NOW, live free from the power of sin that you once were controlled by! Fact determines reality - start living in the FACT. A fact is that which actually exists or is the case; reality or truth - there is no argument that stands against the FACTS. We are freed, so we need to stop living like 'bondmen' - bound to serve sin's every whim, impractical advice, or evil intent. 

Both righteousness and unrighteousness have a power 'backing' them. Righteousness has God's life-giving Spirit backing its every encounter. Unrighteousness has the power of our sin nature offering all manner of confusing thought, 'options' from which to choose, and ill-intentioned suggestions. It is good to remember that God is not a God of confusion - he is a God of peace, order, and reliability. The choices he offers will produce greater peace within, giving order to our lives, and stand the test of time.

Therefore, we live a different life after God's Spirit takes up residence in our hearts. It may take a bit for our mind and will to 'catch up' with what God's transformative Spirit is doing within, but the more we declare 'because we belong to him', the more we will begin to shut-down those contrary desires and confusing thoughts. The power that once controlled you is broken - it is a fact. The power that now operates within you is making you whole again - it is a fact.

Sometimes we just need the FACTs in order to contradict the untruth we are being asked to believe and submit to. FACT - you are a new creation in Christ Jesus. FACT - you don't belong to you old 'sin master' any longer. FACT - you have all the resources to live free right at your disposal. FACT - as a new creation in Christ Jesus, you are more than a conqueror. FACT - the power of sin still exists AROUND you, but no longer WITHIN you! Just sayin!

So, I decided...

So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. (Ecclesiastes 2:24-26)

So, I decided...these three words can get us into so much trouble at times, can't they? When we lean into our own wisdom or selfish inner drive, we often 'decide' upon things that aren't all that great for us. We pursue things or 'objectives' that are bound to cause us difficulties, but we just don't know it yet. When we lean into God's wisdom, we find our 'deciding' takes us down a different path. We don't always know what it is we are 'deciding' to pursue when we set out on this course of obedience with God, but we can rest assured that the path isn't going to lead us into stuff that will bring us harm or destruction.

The pleasures we enjoy all come from the hand of God - even those we think we have 'produced' by our pursuits in life. He gives us all we are blessed to enjoy and takes us through all that seems hard to find joy within. We aren't going to always understand his ways, with his plans seemingly a little too 'vague' for our liking at times. We don't have to understand to follow - it is in following that we come into understanding. The moment we 'decide' to be obedient is the moment everything within us will cringe just a bit. Why is that? Our own 'objectives' are not always going to be pursued, and we rankle a bit when we have to go another way. 

God knows the struggle is real. He knows we want things to be 'easy', 'smooth sailing' all the way. We want instant gratification. We pursue things we hope will bring us that gratification but have very little awareness of just how much that 'instant gratification' will cost us down the road. I have suffered 'buyer's remorse' on more than one occasion. I can remember the excitement of getting that thing I wanted so badly, only to realize it would not fill my 'enjoyment tank' for very long. If we are to 'decide' to follow Jesus, we might just realize that our 'enjoyment tank' might be filled with a different kind of 'fuel' than we'd think it needed. God knows the very 'fuel' our tank requires, and he provides it even before we 'decide' to allow him to fill it. Just sayin!

Naked and Exposed, but not Afraid

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. (Hebrews 4:13)

How does God see us? The image of being 'naked and exposed' before God kind of says it all, doesn't it? We cannot 'hide' our true identity, motives, attitudes, or thoughts from him. If that is the case, then it is high time we start to look at ourselves as God sees us - knowing everything we are and do, good or bad. When we start to see ourselves through God's eyes, we see areas within ourselves that need to change, and we also see those areas where he has been at work, changing us from the inside out. Pride might keep us from seeing ourselves as we really are, but when we get past that prideful attitude about ourselves, we find ourselves standing before God, naked and exposed, but no longer ashamed of who we are because we know he is at work.

God is the creator of all things - you and I would not exist without his action of creation. I have often come across individuals who just don't like themselves, complaining all the time that God 'created' them with something that is 'too big', 'too small', 'too ugly', or 'too something'. They refuse to see the unique beauty of what God has created. When we are down on ourselves, it is easy to get critical of what God is doing within our lives. We don't think he is moving fast enough. We are critical of the 'material' he is using to create something afresh within us. We complain about the 'method' he is using to show us what we are in him and what he desires to do with and for us. 

Remembering that our 'starting spot' is always that of a sinner, given to following one's own will, living apart from God's grace, we might do well to see just how far we have come from that 'starting spot' since God's grace entered into our lives. We may not be perfect yet, nor are we always consistent in our walk with Jesus, but we are not the same as we were! If we keep that in mind as we come into each new day, we might just see what some label as 'progress' in our walk with Jesus. God might just see us quite differently than we see ourselves - because he is able to be honest in areas where we are not quite able to be very honest with ourselves yet. We need to trust him to expose what needs exposure, touching those areas we have neatly hidden away from public view. 

As he touches our lives each day, we come away just a bit different than we were when we entered that day. It may not seem like we are, but it is impossible for the creator to leave us mired in sin's guilt and debris. He will help us rid ourselves of all that hinders our walk with him and embrace all that helps us live as transformed creatures. Just sayin!

Appeasing a guilty conscience?

Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. (Romans 10:1-4)

Could we substitute "Israel" for anyone we know, including ourselves? It is likely we know someone, (or are someone), who has a great deal of enthusiasm for the 'things of God' but lack a personal relationship with him. They are 'rule-followers' at best, kind of hoping all the 'good deeds' they manage to accomplish on this earth will somehow find them favor with God. They 'refuse to accept God's way' - always trying to 'get right' with God through what they 'do'. We get this all wrong - doing follows faith. Doing doesn't equate to faith. It is the outflow of faith.

All who believe in are made right with him. Have you heard the adage, "No good deed goes unpunished"? Well-intentioned actions don't always lead to good outcomes, do they? In this world, we cannot just rely upon our good deeds to get others to appreciate or like us, can we? In our workplace, we cannot just go about doing good things and expect our boss will take notice, promote us, and give us a raise, can we? If we are brutally honest here, good deeds or positive actions don't always return good things our way. 

Faith in Jesus and right standing with God is not 'acquired' - it is 'given'. God gives us the faith to believe that he is the one true God, and that his Son gave his life for our sins, making a way for each of us to enter into his family by faith and not works. All good actions flow from us being 'made right' with God. Faith is the beginning of a heart change, and that heart change produces good works. Until the heart change is made, all the 'good works' we can muster on this earth are merely a way of appeasing a guilty conscience. Just sayin!

Not our heart to change

Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. (Proverbs 9:7-9)

We might disapprove of many things we see or hear these days, making it almost hard to stay quiet, but does our 'disapproval' or 'condemnation' of those things fall upon deaf ears and wayward hearts intent on not changing their course? If so, we are probably rebuking one given over to making very foolish decisions based upon the wickedness they have embraced in their own hearts. It is almost impossible to correct the wicked - we can stand against wickedness, but it is impossible for us to change their hearts. That is a job for God alone!

A mocker is really a scoffer or scorner as used in this passage. One that makes light of things that are of a higher moral standing than what they pursue. They treat someone with high morals with contempt and scoff at their choices to live as they do. They don't see the value in the moral stand someone might take because it differs from what they believe or have chosen to make their lifestyle. They criticize what they don't really understand, all the while refusing to see any other view than their own.

With that understanding of a mocker, you might see how it can be a bigger than life challenge to actually change the way they see things. They just won't be convinced that their ways are wrong - at least not when we are the ones trying to do the convincing. They will need to have a 'face-to-face' with God himself in order to realize the error of their choices. Our response should be to pray for them, not to argue with them, or attempt to convince them of the error of their ways. We can 'unleash' the full force of heaven through prayer - a much more formidable force for the mocker to encounter, wouldn't you say? 

The wise will receive correction willingly. Although it may hurt to hear it, they will know it is true. They will step back, reconsider their choices, and will listen to what God has to say to them. The more we embrace the wisdom God gives, the better we will listen when he brings us that wisdom. Just sayin!

Let your will and emotions catch up

God warns us to guard our heart above all else, simply because it determines the entire course of our lives. As we think of the heart, we must remember it encompasses our mind, will and emotions. One must guard the mind, have a determined will that is unwilling to compromise even one iota, and to have an evenness of emotions that don't carry us away.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. (Proverbs 4:23)

Above all else. We get so distracted by what we think may not be 'all that bad', but in truth, whenever we look toward anything or anyone other than God himself, our hearts are already putting something else 'above' God. Needless to say, we have raised a whole generation of individuals whose mind is easily amused by whatever catches its attention. Perhaps the greatest challenge to individuals today is to have their mind focused with so many distractions working hard to distract one from their focus.

The will of a man is kind of fickle, isn't it? We can say we have 'willpower', but when push comes to shove, does it get us through? Not usually. The 'willpower' of a man with a mind that isn't focused is as fickle as can be. Whatever our mind entertains will eventually play upon the 'will' of a man. God reminds us to take control of our thought life, allowing him to help determine our steps - but we must be willing to take those steps!

Emotions are probably the most problematic of the three. They go up and down like a fast rollercoaster. They can plummet to new lows quicker than our thoughts can catch up. They can soar high for a while, as long as circumstances allow, but then when those circumstances change, watch out. This is why God tells us not to rely upon emotions to make decisions. I always cringe when I hear a believer say they don't 'feel' like they will ever change. If we relied upon our feelings in order to evaluate change within our lives, we would be all over the map!

The three - mind, will and emotions - operate simultaneously. We must remember that when the mind is fixed upon the right 'model' for our behavior, the will and emotions will eventually follow where the mind leads. The 'will' of a man may resist for a while, but when your mind is made up in a certain direction, with focused attention on God's best for your life, you cannot fail. Eventually your will and emotions will catch up. Just sayin!

Is obedience an irritant?

When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power. (Ezra Taft Benson)

We cannot expect to ignore God's instruction forever and not see some form of chaos in our world. God gives grace, time to turn to him, but he won't be mocked. We cannot live like we want, then expect all of God's blessings to be in our lives. Theodore Roosevelt reminded us, "Obedience of the law is demanded; not asked as a favor." 

Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. (Proverbs 4:13)

We lack so much power in our lives all because we seek to do things our own way. We find our greatest strength and power when we apply God's instructions to our lives. If we ignore those instructions for way too long, the path we have committed ourselves to will be filled with chaos, angst, and quite unfulfilling endeavors. 

Take hold of his instructions - this doesn't imply that someone else is to tell you what God says. It indicates we are to find the time and give the energies of our life toward finding those truths for ourselves. We have become a culture that believes what we see or hear without really testing it to see if it is true, therefore giving ourselves over to all manner of deception. Deception really isn't all that hard to combat when we know the truth!

If someone were to give you the keys to their house, telling you that you could use it at any time, enjoy all that is within those walls, and never have to leave that sanctuary, would you just pocket the keys and forget about all that had been provided? So many do just that when they turn away from the truth God has revealed within scripture. He has given us the keys to overcome all manner of temptation and deception, but unless we actually take the keys out of our pocket and use them, what benefit will those instructions provide? Just askin....

Overwhelming Fear or Overwhelming Trust?

You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. (Proverbs 3:25-26)

As report after report shines light on some fraud, abuse, or disastrous plan that had been hatched, we might just find ourselves feeling a little overwhelmed by the fear that these reports have a way of creating within the hearts of millions these days. We might feel more than a little angst as to whether we will receive our regular income from our job or retirement funds. We could be wondering how we will be able to afford necessary healthcare if this plan or that one folds. We might even be feeling a little dread over what comes next on the agenda of whoever holds the power of the day. We must never lose sight of one thing - God is still in control, even when we don't see his hand, it is still directing the course of our lives.

God's 'advice' to us is to stop being afraid. He will not allow our 'security' to be disturbed. Our 'security' isn't in a financial system, healthcare system, or employment system. It is in God alone. We need not fear the results of ill-formed, disastrous schemes of people around us. Even in the midst of the greatest chaos, he reigns supreme. Hear that and begin to believe it like your life depends on it - because it does! Our footing is secure - even when all things around us seem to be falling apart. The temptation to be fearful is easily given into when we aren't sure about where our anchor is placed. Place than anchor in 'solid ground' and you need not fear that worst that will come.

God helps us 'keep our footing' in the midst of disastrous circumstances. We don't have to hold ourselves in that secure anchorage - he even does that work. All we do is keep our eyes on him. I cannot emphasize this enough. Whoever it is we focus on the most will be the one we 'trust'. If we keep our eyes on the naysayers, negative nellies, and bad news commentators, we will experience unsettling fear that actually perpetuates more fear. If we keep our eyes squarely on Jesus, refusing to focus on the negative reports of the day, we will experience a peace that supersedes any negative report. We can either be overwhelmed by fear or live within an overwhelming trust. The choice is ours. Just sayin!

Two tools to have at the ready

 My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. (Proverbs 3:21-22)

So many times, we count on something other than common sense to get us out of a sticky place. We got ourselves there because we didn't use common sense in the first place! Discernment is just a fancy word that describes the ability to see good from bad and then make the best choice. When we don't use either of these helpers God gave to us, we find ourselves in a muddle. God's purpose in giving us these "tools" was that we'd actually use them.

We aren't acting "independent" of God when we use discernment. We are using the good sense he gave us to "interpret" the moment. Yes, we might shoot up a quick prayer asking God to give us wisdom, but we can begin by listening to our conscience. It tends to niggle us a bit when common sense tells us something is not right for us. Perhaps our conscience has become a little confused by the many times we have violated it. God can restore it when we ask for his help to discern correctly what the moment challenges us with.

The tools God gives in the form of good sense and discernment are in our "immediate" toolbox of 'godly helps' to assist us in making wiser choices. Ignoring them while waiting on God to reveal something else that we label as "godly wisdom" is just silly. The more we use the discernment he gave us, the stronger it will become. Notice that they are gone kept close. That is because they are our"go to" tools when temptation or uncertainty arise. They are like our first line of defense. 

The wisdom God develops as we lean into these tools will become apparent to us as we look back at how we handled the temptation or trial. Just use what you were given and see how God multiplies his good sense and discernment in your life. Sometimes the simplest "tools" are the best ones to use. Just saying...

Meeting the opposition

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. (Proverbs 3:3-4)

Loyalty and kindness are certainly not the things we see 'delivered' today in so many interactions with others, are they? We find a lot of backstabbing in politics, many rumors flying about the lives and choices of various celebs, and just plain bad manners on our highways and byways at times. Is it possible our culture has forgotten these two 'hallmarks' of "ONE NATION UNDER GOD"?

Write them deep within your heart. Perhaps this is where our departure from simple kindness and unyielding loyalty began - we neglected to hide God's word deep within our hearts. Favor with God took backseat to favor with others. Favor with others seems to only be important if they can 'do' something for us. We forgot that our neighbor is our friend, and our enemy needs our prayers.

Norman Thomas reminded us, "The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values." When we align ourselves with those who don't share the same values as we do, they can actually change the 'scale of values' we embrace. It is best to align with those who will elevate our scale of values, helping us to grow deeper in love with Jesus.

It may seem hard to be loyal to the truths of God at times. In fact, there is so much opposition to this type of loyalty, it can even make us frightened to stand up for our beliefs in the face of untruth and hurtful actions. God's desire is for a faithful few who will embrace this life of loyalty to him - a remnant of sorts - then take the outflow of that loyalty into the world. When our loyalty to Jesus meets the opposition of the world, that is where kindness is best exhibited. Just sayin!

Obedience begins with one step

Ronald Reagan reminded us, "We are never defeated unless we give up on God." So many times, we announce that we are 'defeated' in one sense or another, not realizing that our real problem is that we 'gave up' on something God told us to hold onto. We actually give up on him because the road got a bit too bumpy, or the issues got a little tougher to handle than we wanted to deal with. The real issue is that we aren't the ones dealing with those issues - he is - we just couldn't wait to see how he'd handle them!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Whenever we seek to understand things through what our own mind interprets, we are missing what only our spirit can understand. The ways of God are very often beyond what our mind can comprehend - we need the Spirit of God, working on our spirit, to help us understand fully what God is doing. All God asks of us is that we 'seek his will in all we do' - then we let him show us the path we are to take. The next steps are up to us - either we step out in obedient faith down the path he has laid out, or we stubbornly choose our own way.

God's ways are not always transparent, but he isn't about to lead us in a direction that is contrary to his goodness, grace, or protection. We might experience bumps along the way, but they are nothing compared to the privilege of seeing that course all the way through. There is much to be learned in the journey - be open to what he will teach along the way. We might not think we have much to learn, having already seemingly walked that path before, but even a path walked several times over is still able to bring new insights each time it is walked in obedient faith.

The path begins with intense trust. Not in our own abilities or capacity, but in the truth that God will never leave us or forsake us. His faithfulness isn't fickle. The direction he gives isn't 'ill-planned' or 'poorly executed'. If we can't trust when we do not see, we will never walk where we have never trod! Just sayin!

He will

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times. (Martin Luther)

Luther also told us to 'pray and let God worry'. Maybe one of the hardest things for us to come to appreciate is how much we like to worry and really don't take that worry to God until we are all 'worried out'. Jesus reminds us, "So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:31-34)

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace - not in our own ability or intelligence. It isn't about what we CAN do as much as it is about what God WILL do. We focus on the "I Can't", but God tells us to focus on the "He will". What gives you the greatest angst? Is it a wayward son or daughter? Could it be the state of your loved one's health? Might it be the instability in our economy right now? Whatever it is, you will gain absolutely nothing trying to 'fix' it through all your worrying. If you were to take it to God in prayer, truly leaving it in his hands, maybe the issue that gives you the greatest angst would have a different 'label' in your life. Instead of "I can't", it would bear the title "God can".

Tomorrow has its own worries, but we are constantly 'borrowing from those worries' by bringing them into our today. We keep a 'positive' balance on worries because we want to control what we cannot control. Leave those worries in tomorrow's account, allowing God to deal with today's present issues. He already has a solution you don't see yet. You just need to let him have free access to those things. Pray, and let God worry. Luther was spot on with that one. Pray - lay it all out before him, including the truth that you want to 'control' the scenario. Then trust him to reveal himself strong on your behalf - with a bigger, bolder 'finish' to the scene than you could ever imagine or work out on your own. Remember, when we 'can't', God 'will'. Just sayin!

Small Steps

Success is the sum of small efforts - repeated day in and day out. (Robert Collier)

Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil. (Proverbs 4:25-27)

I don't know about you, but my greatest 'downfalls' in life come whenever I get my eyes off of the path Jesus has laid out for me to follow. A 'fixed focus' is not as easy as some may seem, is it? There are lots and lots of distractions that can take our eyes off of that path and get us all twitterpated in the process. Whenever we get 'sidetracked', our attention has been purposefully directed away from the subject we are supposed to focus upon and toward another. It isn't accidental, as some may imagine, because there is a 'force' behind that distraction that is designed to attract our attention!

Purposeful 'redirection' of our path is one of Satan's very successful schemes. We need to be aware that God sets out a path, asks us to keep our eyes on him as we follow that path, but our enemy puts up all kinds of 'distractions' in order to draw our attentiveness away from God. In the past, we could see billboard after billboard along our highways. What was the purpose of the billboard? It was to draw us into the next township to get a cool drink, enjoy a luscious ice cream sundae, or rest our weary bones at a local hotel. The billboards were 'enticements' to turn away from the path we were on toward a 'slight detour' that would promise 'great delight'.

In much the same way, Satan's distractions seem quite 'innocent' at first. Keep in mind that he is not content with a momentary distraction of our attention. He wants us to get so 'off-track' that we don't even realize he has distracted us down a totally different path. As Collier reminds us, success is the sum of small efforts. If success is measured by the sum of small efforts, is failure measured in the sum of small steps off the path? Just askin...

His 'rightful place'

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Trust in the Lord - the basis of all blessings. Make the Lord your hope and confidence - the source of all protection. Plant yourself like a tree - firmly rooted in Christ Jesus and immovable. Trials will come - your trust isn't in the circumstance, but in the Lord God Almighty. Stay green - stay growing. Never stop producing fruit - it is evidence you are well-rooted and well-connected.

If we are trusting in our own plan, or our own strength to pull us through tough circumstances, we might as well give into them right now. The truly wise individuals will realize both of those options are flawed and will immediately surrender control to the one who is beyond able and perfectly capable of getting them through. Not only 'through', but 'blessed' in the process. That might seem a little improbable to those going through tough times right now, but it is a tested and proven fact that God will protect and guide those whom he loves and calls his own.

We make God our hope when we turn to him instead of ourselves or others when the circumstances seem too big to handle alone. We make him our confidence when we trust him with not only the tough or touchy situations, but the regular, common everyday stuff of life. God isn't just the God of the 'tough stuff' - he is the God of the ordinary stuff, too. We might forget that from time to time, taking life for granted until there is some bump in the road. He never forgets his 'rightful place' is in the center of your life, even when you do. Just sayin!

Wonder at his goodness

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. (Psalm 19:1-4)

As a kid, I used to lay back under the shade of the big mulberry tree in our front yard, gazing endlessly at the clouds that would pass over us in our Arizona sky. Clouds weren't all that frequent, so when they came, it was a thing to be fully enjoyed. I'd imagine all kinds of animals, people, vehicles, and the like from the various shapes of those big fluffy ones. It was kind of a game with me and my buddies, trying to see something that the other one didn't see until you described it. We'd be there for hours at a time, just giggling and talking. Enjoying each other's company. I wonder if more of us were to take the time to see the beauty in God's creation, allowing his craftsmanship to speak deep into our spirit, what it might be that God reveals to us in those moments.

The skies speak without a sound or a word. There is much to be said about just 'considering' the greatness and goodness of God. It is what some may call 'meditation', or others call it 'pondering', and some even call it 'musing over'. Either way, if we take the time to really quiet ourselves before God, he can reveal himself to us in the smallest of things and the greatest of ways. We don't have to 'dictate' how God reveals himself to us, we just need to be available to 'consider' him in all the 'ways' he uses in order to do just that. We get so carried away by thinking God could only speak to us in one way or another, all the while missing out on his stillness and peaceful revelation of himself that he brings with the simplest of means. 

I live in a big city, so the night skies are a little 'muted' due to all the ambient light around me. When I am out fishing, enjoying the peacefulness of a lake in the early morning hours just before the sun is fully 'awake', I can see the glow of all those stars and imagine the vastness of God's kingdom. When I look at the thousands of tiny buds on the trees in early spring, no leaf in sight, I can imagine the beauty of those fresh green leaves as they burst forth under the warming sky's light. I see the beauty of God's creation and 'consider' his power, marvel over his majesty, and celebrate his faithfulness. How about you? Have you taken time out to truly 'consider' God today? If not, it isn't too late. Day or night, he beckons for you to just settle in, allow him to show you something beyond your 'power' or 'ability', and wonder at his goodness. Just sayin!

Did you change the prayer, God?

“Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:5-10)

If you keep knocking long enough. Those are telling words - words that might just reveal how much faith we have and how tenacious we can be with our faith. God's plan of prayer isn't just to 'get to know each other', but that is where it starts. As we come to know him better, we might just find ourselves knocking rather 'tenaciously' on his door about some things that need to be different in our lives or the lives of others. Does he get offended when we keep on 'knocking'? Absolutely not. We may not understand the delay, but we keep on knocking. If God shows us that there is something he wants to work on within us FIRST, then we don't give up on the knocking - we just allow him to work on that area within us while we still knock!

He isn't too busy. He isn't unconcerned. The 'delay' as we see it isn't resistance to our request - it may have a totally different purpose. Don't be ashamed to ask and keep on asking. But...don't be closed off to hearing what he may be telling you while you await the door to open. It could be that we are knocking on the door while harboring some form of resentment in our heart, and he asks us to let the other person off the hook, so to speak. He asks us to forgive them, let go of the offense, and maybe even pray for THEM as much as we have been praying for ourselves! When God doesn't answer immediately, we might do well to ask God if there is a reason for the delay. If the timing isn't right, he will show us. If the heart isn't right, he will reveal that. 

One more thing - don't be 'weak' in your requests. Don't just 'dink around' in prayer. Be direct. Be honest. Be truthful about what you need. Be determined. In other words, don't give up when you don't hear from God immediately, or see the door opened exactly in the timing we want it opened, the need being met almost instantaneously. Get in there, lay it all out, and keep on laying it all out until God shows you otherwise. If he changes your heart in the process, he may well change the prayer you have been praying, as well! Just sayin!

Pray and keep on praying

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! (Matthew 6:7-8)

As a believer in Christ, we pray. Did you stop to consider that others who do not believe in Christ actually 'pray'? They recite phrases, repeating them over and over, to whatever it is they believe will help them. Prayer is not unique to Christ followers, but it does stem from a heart changed by his grace. It is conversation with God, out of a heart that has been renewed by his touch, and with the intention of getting to share what is in your mind, emotions, and spirit. 

What some fail to recognize is that sin actually puts a barrier between them and God. Once sin is confessed, the barrier is removed. When sin is confessed, the blood of Jesus wipes away the guilt and we stand 'right' with God. Does that mean we can go on sinning and just constantly confess our sins in order to 'stand right' with God? No, it means we have been redeemed by grace, set right, made new and now follow a different course than the one we were on before we asked God to rule and reign over our lives. Yes, we might do the opposite of what he asks on occasion, but we return to him for grace and forgiveness, seeking different choices.

Prayer requires a humble heart, an eagerness to listen to his instruction, and a willingness to yield our will to do as he asks us. In fact, prayer might actually be where we get a little humbler than when we first came to Jesus with our concerns, hopes, or thoughts. The more we talk with him about the issue at hand, the more he may show us where we need to change. That is pretty humbling, but we took the first step of humbling ourselves enough to actually truthfully lay our hearts bare before him. There is no one else in our lives that we can be as open and honest with as Jesus. He doesn't judge our shortcomings, nor does he interpret them as something that will never change. He knows exactly what to say, where to focus his attention, and give his direction.

We pray because we desire our relationship to grow. It is genuine, open, and thoughtful sharing of one's hurts, hangups, and hopes. If we can't trust the one who gave his all for us at Calvary with those things, who can we trust? Just askin...

Yoke yourself to Jesus

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Over the course of time, we see less and less emphasis on being equally yoked in relationships. In the most literal sense, God is reminding us that the direction, purpose, and even the vision we have within our lives are different - some might say that the two 'belief systems' are even at odds. A believer is governed or directed by the righteousness of God that indwells them, while the unbeliever is still enslaved to a life of sin, making choices based on that sin nature. When we enter into relationship with one another, we end up giving advice to each other, helping the other one 'sort out' some of life's challenges, and even take the first steps in some decisions. When we are unequally yoked, we could find ourselves making choices that God never wanted us to make!

I guess the hardest thing for us to understand today is that no man can serve two masters. One of those masters will ultimately 'win out'. Christ may be pulling us one direction, but it is possible that the thoughts and desires of the unbeliever we yoke ourselves with is attempting to pull us in the opposite direction. Does that mean we should not associate with unbelievers? Absolutely not! It does mean that we are to consider very carefully every aspect of the relationship we have with them and then make wise choices as to 'entering into' a deeper relationship with them. While we may think of being 'yoked together' as referencing marriage, it goes much deeper. In ANY relationship where a believer is being asked to compromise what they know to be true or wise is one that we need to be very cautious about.

While we dwell in a sinful world, we are constantly bombarded with choices that are contrary to the ones God would have us make. We have to be aware of who is influencing our lives. The influence isn't always 'out there' as much as it might be subtle, gradually occurring over time. We need God's Spirit to help us differentiate between the influence of this world's passions and desires, and those that God plants within our hearts when we grow in relationship with him. When the relationship we have with him is first and foremost, we find ourselves better able to detect when an influence we are being asked to follow is incorrect for our lives. Grow strong in Jesus - yoke yourself to him. Then you will be better able to differentiate between the choice that will lead us into godliness or the one that will take us into compromise. Just sayin!

Why is prayer so hard??

A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being. (James E. Faust)

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2)

I once read that one cannot truly develop a relationship with another without communication. There must be some form of communication - even in the wildlife we can observe there is a form of communication that occurs that welcomes, warns, or wins the attention and affection of others. To be a Christian and NOT pray is kind of like saying you want a relationship, but you aren't willing to see it develop. You want the 'association' without the 'communication'.

Paul's instruction to us is to 'devote' ourselves to prayer. When we devote ourselves to something or someone, we are concentrating on it, appropriating time and attention to that pursuit. When we 'devote' ourselves to prayer, we are making a conscious choice to share a little bit of our heart with Christ, allowing him to share a bit of his with us. Each time we communicate in prayer we are opening the door just a bit wider for that sharing to occur. 

Prayer involves an alert mind. That might just put an end to some of the 'rote' prayers we have gravitated toward in so many religious circles. To recite the same prayer over and over again doesn't really require us to engage the mind, much less the heart. When the words come from our heart, even though they aren't many, nor are they 'fancy' or 'polished', they mean so much more to Jesus. His heart responds to ours and we begin to form a 'relationship' as a result of that truthful and heartfelt sharing.

If we want to grow by leaps and bounds in this Christian walk, it begins in prayer from an alert mind and a thankful heart. It may seem a little hard at first, almost like you have to 'make conversation' with him for a bit, but the more you share, the deeper the connection will become. It will get easier. You just need to make that first connection. Just sayin!

Absolutely no excuses

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. (Romans 3:19-22)

No one can be made right with God - except by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. No other road to redemption exists. No amount of self-help will truly 'help' us behave with a truly righteous heart. The 'law' may point out where we need help, but we are powerless to 'help' ourselves - we have to trust in Jesus to truly make our hearts new. God has shown us the way, but we seem to want our own way, don't we? We want it both ways - a little bit of the good stuff that comes from welcoming Christ into our lives, and a bit of the naughty stuff that comes from welcoming sin into it! 

All of us will fall short of what God has prepared for us until we truthfully acknowledge that we have been wanting to retain control over our lives, just allowing God to 'dabble' in a few areas that aren't all that 'threatening' to our desires. We need to do more than allow God to 'dabble' in our lives - we need to surrender full control. If you have ever asked God for forgiveness because of something you did, then gone out and 'recommitted' the same faux pas again, you are probably still assuming 'first seat' in your own life.

Do you know what a faux pas really is? It is a 'false step' - one that truly cannot be trusted, without sure footing at all, and which will likely end in harm of some sort. It is really a financial term first having to do with defaulting on a loan, but it certainly describes our actions on occasion, doesn't it? We 'default' on our intentions to keep Christ first in our lives. We take that 'false step' in our own willful disobedience, thinking we can 'manage' the temptation or situation ourselves. If all goes well, we breathe a sigh of relief. If not, we take a load of guilt right back to God's throne, ask for forgiveness, and commit to never doing it again. 

Truth be told, we cannot 'manage' our lives all that well. We aren't equipped to live without taking 'false steps' in our own power. We need to turn to the leadership of our lives over to Christ - not taking it back whenever we feel confident in our own 'self-ability'. No matter how determined we are to do well, we need his help to actually 'do well' each and every time we take a step. Just sayin!

An excellent choice

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8)

Moral turpitude is a big way of saying a person exhibits behavior that is CONTRARY to the standards set forth by law, a community, or God. When someone has a problem with their behavior that is contrary to these standards, they're exhibiting behavior that may be vile, shameful or even corrupt. God's plan is for us to grow in his grace - to develop a moral standard that matches his standards. He took great pains to lay out those standards for us in scripture. Are we taking as great of pains to live according to those standards?

Moral excellence is possible, but one must submit to the inner working of the Spirit of God. So many times, often without even thinking, someone will say they have been 'trying' to live differently - to make better choices. What they are really saying is that they haven't really given the full control of their life over to Jesus and as a result, they continue to struggle with choices that are CONTRARY to God's commands. The command is to 'respond to' God's provision - because he provides all we need in order to live according to those standards.

The command is not to 'try' and 'try again' - it is to respond to his grace, lean into it, and trust him to finish the work he began in us when we said 'yes' to Jesus. God's grace requires a response - one lays down their agenda or plan for how things might 'work out' and listens, responds to, and delights in God's plan for how things WILL work out. Grace is embraced, not 'worked out' by a constant trial and error method. The moment we ask God for grace to face a temptation, what do you think he gives us? The strength to resist it, walk away from it, and embrace a different set of actions that align with his plan for our lives.

Moral excellence isn't a set of rules we must keep. It is a heart response to grace, embraced over and over again until our behavior no longer is motivated by what once drug us down into the pit of sin. It is a continual choice to allow grace to embrace those weaker areas of our lives until one day, sometimes without us even realizing it has happened, we are no longer struggling to resist those temptations. Just sayin!

No more doom and gloom

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

If there is one message that rings true in Psalm 23 it is that God is always with us. No matter what trouble comes, fear that emerges, anxious thoughts that grip us, or the deepest, darkest places that attempt to consume our peace, God is with us. The shepherd uses both the rod and the staff to direct us, keep us, and protect us. The staff to guide us. The rod to protect us. Sheep need both - the shepherd knows this very well.

Fix your eyes on the shepherd, not the 'wolf' that comes to steal and destroy. We won't be overtaken by the 'wolf' because the shepherd knows he is there, already has a plan to deal with him, and is ever vigilant to protect us. When our eyes are on him, the 'wolf' is no longer our focus. God is bigger than our 'biggest' issue. Too many times, we embrace the 'issue' instead of our shepherd. The sheep have learned to 'herd close' to the shepherd when they are afraid. Why? They know he cares so greatly for them that he will fend off any attack on their behalf.

Goodness and mercy follow his sheep. That means there is no room for fear or dread. What do the sheep do when threatened by the wolf? They cry out! They alert the shepherd that they feel threatened, that their peace has been disturbed. His immediate response is to acknowledge that he already has things well under control and is alert to the danger. When our eyes are fixed on the wolf, doom and dread, anxiety and restlessness become our constant state of mind and body. When they are fixed on Jesus, goodness and mercy envelop us, giving us deep peace even in the midst of threatening circumstances. Just sayin!

Deal with it now

And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a foothold to the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Anger is an outward expression of internal conflict - conflict caused when we allow an offense to be internalized. Something someone does, an event that happens, prompts that internal response of heart, mind, and emotions. The offense happens - a tiny seed of resentment, bitterness, and anger is planted. That seed doesn't have to take root, though. If it is allowed to 'germinate' and take root, anger is an outflow of that internalization of the offense. Hebrews 12:15 reminds us that we are not to allow any root of bitterness to take root as it will defile not only us, but others, as well.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is take the offense to God and talk it out with him. We often need to just speak about it with someone, so who better than God himself? Bring that offense and all those ugly feelings to him, ridding yourself of the very seed that could take root if allowed to fester. We often do just the opposite - we take the offense to another, 'gossiping' about it with them, and what does that do? It almost always allows the offense to grow bigger in your eyes and your heart. When we are honest in our disclosure of the offense to God first, we find we don't need to take it to others. It gets settled right there.

We all have times when it is natural to be angry because of the things that happened. We never have a right to take that offense to the point of us sinning by returning it with vengeance, though. Remember, it is no longer you that lives, but Christ in you (Galatians 2:20). We live a different life, demanding different responses that we might have had at one time to the offense. If the seed never gets to take root, we won't feel like we have to justify ourselves or strike out to return tit-for-tat. If we want to live above or free of anger, we put the offense at the foot of the cross and we work it out with Jesus, not others.

God will do a work in our heart FIRST - often long before he does the work in the heart of the one that offended us. That may not seem "FAIR" to some, but it could just be God's plan to deal with the root of sin in another's life through the testimony they see within our lives. Just sayin!