Reminder - After the Valley

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4 NKJV

Christian or cretin - the Twenty-third Psalm is one of the most well-known passages of Scripture in the world today. Children and adults alike can recite it for you. It's similar to a Christmas carol in that respect. We all know the words, but when was the last time we paid close attention to what the words really say?

I've always been partial to God preparing a table before me in the presence of my enemies... (take that, devil!), but next to verse 1 - The Lord is my Shepherd... - I think our text, verse 4, is the second most well-known phrasing. Two important things to note here - it's the shadow of death not Death Valley, and we're walking THROUGH. We're not staying. We're not setting up camp or a souvenir stand. We may have "been there done that" but we don't need to sell tickets for the side show or sell postcards of it. We're walking through. Keep moving...

Yessiree, keep moving because it's AFTER the valley that we find the goodness and mercy following us all the days of our lives. Praise His Holy Name!

Prayer;

Father,
          I never cease to be amazed at Your goodness and mercy toward us. Thank You for comforting us as we walk through the valley. Thank You for bringing us through to the other side. Giving You all praise - In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Picking Fruit

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23, NLT

When I purchase fruit from the grocery store, the produce manager hates to see me coming. I look at the top AND bottom of the strawberry container. I open the blueberry container and touch the blueberries to see if they're mushy. I don't like mushy... I don't just grab the first bag of grapes closest to me, nor am I indiscriminate about the rest of the fruit I choose. I have no problem opening a bag of grapes to check the contents (and then closing them again when I'm finished looking - very important). I check carefully for bruising on apples, for ripened plums, etc. I am a "fruit inspector" when it comes to paying the price for fruit. I want to know it's good before I spend my hard-earned money on it.

Oh, that I would be that diligent with the fruits of the Holy Spirit! Jesus already paid a GREAT price for them to be produced in our lives, why would we refuse to pick them up? They're ALL good.

Prayer:

Father,
          Help us to understand the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives. May the seeds for all be planted in the good soil of our hearts. We want love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to be working and evident in our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Unanswered Questions

Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." " 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Mark 9:21-24 NIV

Our text comes from an interesting story about a child who was deaf and dumb. The father heard about Jesus and His ministry and was desperate to get help for his own son. His words are telling - "If you can do anything..." He believes what he's heard from the others - or at least partly; otherwise, he wouldn't be there. He wants to believe. His words reflect what's in his heart... "If you can..." But he's honest before Jesus. "Help me overcome my unbelief!" I read that verse the first time as a child and I've never forgotten it. I always wondered how he could say he believed and then ask for help because of his unbelief.

As a child, I just believed. As an adult, I understand his quandary. Perhaps that's why Christ said we must come as children...

Can you believe when you don't see? Can you continue to believe when you don't get what you want? What you think you need? Do you question God and/or His ability when you feel your prayers are unanswered? Can you follow - be a disciple - adhere to His Word when there is calamity? Chaos? Crises?

Job 13:15, reads, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him." Can you? Do you? Will you?

Prayer:

Father,
          There are many unanswered questions in our lives. In spite of them, You are trustworthy and You are faithful and You are God and we are not. This we know. We do believe; help us overcome our unbelief according to Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

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

Filling Your Heart - Guest Author Stephanie Mitchell

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV

Stephanie writes:
How Are You Filling Your Heart?

Have you ever made a poor decision and thought— “Why did I do that?” In the Old Testament, the heart was considered the center of inner life, and people believed it dictated thoughts, emotions, and actions. It was essentially a combination of someone’s soul and mind. When Proverbs 4:23 tells us to “guard our hearts” what it’s essentially saying is, “Pay careful attention to how you fill your inner life.”

What goes into your soul and mind determines what comes out of your mouth. And what you say influences your actions and decisions. While you might not notice the effect your choices have on you today—over time, they will impact the direction of your life.

So how do we intentionally take care of our inner lives?

Our bodies were made by God, which means the thing they need most is God. He is the One who sustains us. So some of the best things we can do for ourselves are intentionally seeking God through prayer, studying Scripture, reflecting on His blessings, and inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to us throughout our day.

The best way to guard our hearts is by giving our hearts to God. When we make Him the center of our lives and the source of our strength, what we do will flow out from Him.  Instead of fitting God into our daily routines, let’s create our daily routines around our relationship with God. Let’s create space for God to speak to us and restore us. Let’s allow God to heal the parts of our lives that are broken so that what comes out of us is God-honoring, encouraging, and reflective of the good we’ve allowed [God to put] into our hearts.

*********

Prayer:

Father,

           We pray as King David prayed, "Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me—
now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Appointed, Anointed, Not Elected

Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the great King of all the earth.
He subdues the nations before us, putting our enemies beneath our feet. He chose the Promised Land as our inheritance, the proud possession of Jacob’s descendants, whom he loves. Interlude

God has ascended with a mighty shout.
The Lord has ascended with trumpets blaring.
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King over all the earth.
Praise him with a psalm.
God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne.
The rulers of the world have gathered together with the people of the God of Abraham. For all the kings of the earth belong to God.
He is highly honored everywhere.

Psalm 47 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

          You ARE the Great King of all the Earth! We praise and glorify You. We pray for You to reign over us from Your Holy Throne. We submit to Your will and Your way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

A Different Perspective

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

The Apostle Paul had a different perspective on life than most people. Instead of a bird's eye view, he had a God's eye view. 

Paul was a man who understood suffering and the benefit of it. Yes, the benefit of it! He realized that the results of suffering and hardship wrought a much greater reward of Christ-like character in us when we trust God through it all. Not the least of which are compassion, patience, and understanding. These are things for which we should be grateful. 

James 1:2-4 NLT reads,  "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance [patience] is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

Any opportunity to grow in the Lord is cause for "great joy".  Every time our faith is tested, our "endurance has a chance to grow". So, we can focus on the problems, the issues, the tests, the trials, the suffering... or we can have a different perspective. A God's eye view.

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to not look at the troubles we can see now; but rather, to fix our gaze on the things that cannot be seen. Help us to see things through the Truth and Light of Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen