Promise for Today - They All Heard Something

[Jesus speaking] Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.' Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine."
John 12:27-30 NLT

Jesus knew He was going to be crucified. He had time to think about it. He knew what was coming. How? Because He knew the voice of God. He was "deeply troubled" and yet He prayed for God to be glorified by His willing obedience. Why? Again, because He knew the voice of God! He wasn't wondering IF it was God or if it was God's will, He KNEW.

Do we spend enough time with God to know His voice? The thing about this particular passage is that they ALL heard the voice of God, but how many recognized it? Some thought it was thunder...

What if - during whatever our trial - our path crosses with someone who never met Christ? Someone we would never have met otherwise. Would they want to hear about our Lord and Savior because of how we respond to Him in the middle of our affliction, or would they give us a 'No, thanks' because all they're hearing from us is thunder and grumbling?

The question on my mind is 'How often do we pray to be delivered from the very thing that serves God's purpose?' It's human nature to want to avoid pain and suffering. Jesus prayed for it in Matthew 26:30, "He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, 'My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine.' ”   Your will, Father, not mine.  Be glorified...

The writer of Proverbs tells us, "Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord" (Proverbs 20:12 NLT). 

Prayer:

Father,
          Of all Your many blessings that You bestow on us, please, God, give us ears to hear and eyes to see. And a mouth to speak only Your praise and what You would have us to say. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Seek

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
Luke 19:10 NLT

There is a vast difference between see and seek - much more than just one letter. For example, you can be seen in a crowd of one thousand people. But to be sought in that same crowd means you will be found. That's what Jesus did for us. He came to seek us out and to save us.

Another example - do a Google search on the Internet. All kinds of results pop up within seconds, not to mention the ads flickering, glittering on either side of the screen, screaming at you to be seen... and we see. However, if we're seeking rather than just looking to see, we will focus in on the one, choose it, and exclude or delete the rest.

That's how we are to seek God. 

We are to seek Him first (Matthew 6:33)

Seek His face always (1st Chronicles 16:11 and Psalm 105:4)

Seek that we may live (Amos 5:4, 14)

Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV reads, And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Another translation reads, If you look for me wholeheartedly...  

Prayer:

Father,

          Forgive us for the times we look to see if You are there instead of seeking You and Your presence. We will see You while You may be found; and call on You while You are near. According to Your Word, we will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You. Help us to recognize the importance of the difference and correct our actions. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Can You See?

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:8 NKJV

It was a rushed morning after a restless night. Not quite together, I went out the door without my glasses…which I didn’t discover until I arrived at the office. Normally, I have an extra pair of readers every place I park for more than 15 minutes, but for some reason, I didn't have an extra pair there. I couldn't quite see clearly. So…I was straining to see what was in front of me – trying to make it bigger, bolder – lending a whole new meaning to “Let’s MAGNIFY the word...”  

Getting through the day, I was reminded of the email that goes around with all the mixed up letters in the text. The first and last letters are the only ones in their correct place, and all the middle letters are mixed up. At first, it appears to be unreadable, we can’t see what’s in the middle, but when we really look at it - taking in the beginning and the end – it puts the whole thing into perspective and we are able to understand.

Our walk with God is much the same way. Sometimes, we don’t see clearly. But Christ is our Alpha and Omega – our beginning and our end, even if the middle sometimes doesn’t seem to make much sense. However, when we know our beginning and our end, He puts everything into perspective and we are able to understand.

Prayer:

Father,

         Help us to see through Your eyes. Help us to see that we don’t have to get hung up in the middle because You already were. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

Can You See Me?

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.
1st Peter 3:12 NLT

I remember when my children were small, I couldn't decide if my name was "Mom-watch!" or "Mom-c'mere!" Either way, it involved me looking to see what my children were doing. Now, they're adults and when we get together, it's "Mom, look at this!" "Mom, did you see...?"

Our Promise for Today tells us our Heavenly Father is watching over us. Isn't that reassuring? And His ears are open to our prayers... "See, Abba? See? Do You like what I'm doing? Am I doing it the way You want me to?"  It's amazing how some things don't change that much. 

According to Peter, God is watching and listening if we are doing right, but He turns His face against those who do evil. 

So the big question is, "Can You see me?"

Prayer:

Father,
          Create in us a right spirit because we want to be right with You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Taste and See

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Psalm 34:8 NLT

Oh, that we would hunger for God! I have had several people in the last week want to challenge the Truth in today's Promise. They've experienced terrible loss and heartbreak and can't seem to find the faith to believe that the Lord is good in all of it. I've been in that same place, and all I can do is offer you the comfort of the Truth that God taught me in the midst of those times.

Farfalle is one of my favorite pastas, but I don't want to eat it until it's been in the hot water to soften it and salt's been added. I love Italian tomato sauces, but I don't like chunks of cooked tomato, so into the blender it goes to smooth out the lumps. And I do NOT eat raw meat, so I set a fire under it. I don't eat basil or garlic by itself, and bay leaf is actually poisonous if you eat it whole, but adds a delicious flavor to the sauce. All ingredients of one great dish when put together after the proper heat has been applied.

It's a good picture of our lives, too. Sometimes, we're too hard and it takes a lot of hot water and heat to make us soft enough to be palatable to those around us. Sometimes, we're raw and need the heat to cauterize our wounded spirit and to prevent the infection of bitterness in our soul. Sometimes, we don't like what's being added to our lives - it's like salt in a wound! Sometimes, we're sure it will kill us - but the Master knows just the right amount of everything we need and He times it all perfectly. We are His masterpiece and we need to serve Him well.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Prayer:

Father,

          Open our spiritual palate to appreciate the richness of Your mercy and Your grace in our lives. Continue to season us with Your wisdom. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen