A Little Effort

Oh, that God would listen to me! When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I prayed, with hands lifted toward heaven, but my soul was not comforted. I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help. 

You don’t let me sleep. I am too distressed even to pray!  I think of the good old days, long since ended, when my nights were filled with joyful songs. I search my soul and ponder the difference now.  Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again be kind to me?  Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he slammed the door on his compassion? 

 And I said, “This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me.”  But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

 O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! 

Psalm 77:1b-14a NLT

As we go through life, we can certainly get caught up in what's NOT going well around us just as Asaph did in this psalm. It seems easier to see the bad in things rather than the good. That's our human nature "Oh, woe is me!"  However, with a little effort, we can look beyond our circumstances and see God's hand in all of it. Let's intentionally look for God in our days. 

Prayer:

Father,

          Please forgive us for looking at You through eyes of discontent. Remove the scales from our eyes so we can see Your hand of goodness in all You do. Remove the chains of doubt from our minds. Fill our hearts to overflowing with Your love and peace. Let us look always to You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorites - Make Every Effort

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
2nd Peter 1:5-11 NIV

God is NOT a god of half-measures. Jesus didn't go halfway to the Cross. He wasn't half crucified. He wasn't half-raised from the dead. There are no half-measures of grace or mercy. And we are called to be like Him.

I was a little surprised by the number of Scriptures that encourage us to make every effort. Just to offer a few...

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Luke 13:24 NIV

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Romans 14:19 NIV

Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. 
Hebrews 4:11 NIV

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 
Hebrews 12:14 NIV

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 2nd Peter 3:14 NIV

God doesn't hand out half-measures and He does not want half-measures from us, either. What does Jesus say is the first and greatest commandment? (Matthew 22) Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment...So let's use all of our heart, our soul and our mind and make every effort to do exactly that.

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to focus all our efforts on loving You and becoming like You. Help us, God. We can only do this through You; with Your power. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Worth the Effort - reposted on request

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8 KJV

It's been said that anything worth having is worth fighting for. There are several different connotations to that, but the one I'd like to focus on is the one that relates to making the extra effort to obtain and keep something of value.

Did you ever notice how easy it is to be grumpy? It takes hardly any effort at all. For some, all they have to do is open their eyes in the morning and poof! Without even trying, they're grump rumps. And have you ever noticed how contagious that can be?!? God, have mercy on us!

Recently, I was talking with someone at work and trying to get her to see the positive side of a challenge. Her response was that she was positive that it was bad and nothing good would come of it. The sad thing is - with that attitude - she's right. Nothing good will come of it, because her outlook won't allow it.

I'm not talking about living in "la-la land" or being a pollyanna. I'm talking about focusing on the goodness of God in the midst of the ugly. Life's circumstances change on a daily basis - God is eternal. His faithfulness doesn't change because the world does or people do. His pure, unselfish, never-ending love doesn't end - even in a world that for the most part doesn't want it, let alone understand it.

Whatever we focus on becomes larger, no matter what it is. Look for the good in those around you. If what they're doing is annoying and we focus on it, we're tempted to squeeze and squeeze until their little eyeballs pop right outta their head. If we focus on the wonderful, it almost threatens to overwhelm us with the "wonderfulness" of whatever it is. If you don't believe me, pay attention to yourself the next day or so. Or listen to those around you. 

Let old hurts die. Let the past go. Forgive. Quit piling up offenses by holding on. It's not Scriptural.

And finally, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on THESE things.

It won't be easy, but it'll be worth the effort.

Prayer:

Father,
       Shine Your light on our words and expose any malingering malady of grumbling. Let our focus be on You and Your Words of Light and Life, and help us walk accordingly. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen