Change

Help me to resist not your changes O Lord, even though the purpose is not always clear. I know that if you are taking the time to bring me through this change I need not worry about the purpose you have in mind but mine is to find the lesson in it and how it applies to my life. Help me to see myself through your eyes knowing that even though I am flawed you love me, even though my frame is weak you see great potential, and even though my best laid plans crumble in the fire you have called me by name. In spite of the pain that is caused by the removing of this hard outer crust I call humanity I ask for your help to stand and not run for I know not what will be left when you are finished but I know that it will be what you intended before I took control.

God's Goodness in the Morning

God thank you for reminding me of your goodness each morning, even when the night before my mind was filled with concerns. Lord only you know my heart and of the many things I seem to long for you are the only one I could not live without! So in the earliest part of my day remind me to exalt you in praises and worship and for a little while let my heart lead me into your presence before my day is filled with concerns of life once again. With each sound of praise that comes across my lips my heart is lightened and my spirit lifted and in those moments I am able to catch glimpses of your glory! Don't let me forget that you are with me throughout the day - as I work help me do it with one mind and an undistracted heart and teach me that you are with me when I come home and find people, who like me, get caught up in things of the day. Help me to lead my family by example, knowing what is right isn't nearly as important as doing what is right. For you give to each the opportunity to choose right or evil, what we do with it is up to us. Additionally, you give each of us great responsibility and you have placed within each one's reach the ability to do what has been asked of us but only with your help. If we live life without being stretched then somewhere along the way we've lost the sense of your leading and are no longer able to go where you would have us go unless you wake us. Knowing that I thank you for stretching me, making me aware, and not comparing me to others for the only standard that I have to meet is the one you set before me. Though others mean well, like me, they have enough trouble keeping their own feet on the path you place before them. Help them to be aware of their own spiritual condition before being so concerned about others. Those who think they know you challenge them and grow them so that instead of being a stumbling block they may become an instrument of your holiness.

Trusting God

(1Peter 1:8-9) "You love Him even though you have never seen Him. Though you do not see Him now, you trust Him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. (9) The reward for trusting Him will be the salvation of your souls."

Somehow we get it wrong saying, "God you first prove your self to me by doing ______ then I will trust you." Sometimes it turns out but what if it doesn't who then suffers loss? Is it not better to trust God knowing that He is good and true? Jesus told doubting Thomas the he believed because he seen Jesus' wounds but blessed are those who believe and have not seen (John 20:29)

Lord, help me to trust you more even when things look dim and without hope. I know because of your Word you are good and you are working things together to make me more like Jesus. Many times this molding comes in the way of storms and heart ache but even so I will trust you because you are my source of hope an peace. Thank you for not leaving me when I make bad decisions but instead you lift me up and help me stand once again - making me trust you more. In this way you build up in me your faith so that I might be shown faithful. In your Son's name Jesus I pray, amen.

Is God for me?

While walking through a valley so deep the sun only shows for a few hours each day one is faced with a question. To know that all things are possible for God is not hard to believe, likewise knowing that God has a purpose and that purpose will be accomplished is no stretch. I know that through circumstances He is shaping me and molding me like a potter molds the clay vessel on the pottery wheel but is it His purpose that my hopes be destroyed in the process? This question I come across in many different forms as I walk this path but at it’s base the question is this – is God for me? Will God not only rescue my soul but my emotional and psychological well being too or will I be brought low to the point I can do nothing but surrender? When He is finished with me will I still be me or someone else? Does God really care about the little things that I care about? Like Jacob I could wrestle with God but I haven’t the will and though I conform I am left pondering these things.

If God knows me intimately, like I know He does because He is the Creator of all life, then He must know what is best for me and though there are times the molding and reshaping is painful it is necessary. There comes a time in each person’s life where complete surrender is required and there each one comes face to face with this question – do I completely trust God with my life? Do I believe what He is making me to be is better than what I am? He gives me His Word so that I may know Him, how did He change those who followed before me? Is that someone I want to be? Paul, who was Saul was aware of how God changed him and he had such a great love for God he said this, “For to me, living means for Christ, and dying is even better.” (Philippians 1:21). He had one mind undivided by the things of this earth. As he faced death he knew crossing that threshold would only serve to take him home to see his Redeemer and if he was allowed to live it meant allowing God to live through him so that others may know the Lover of our souls also.

Ultimately I know God is for me and though I would choose a different path I also know my very sight is given to me by Him and without Him my eyes go dim and I am left standing in the dark. We cannot let anything hold us back from following our Lord and Savior though the enemy will lie continuously. Lord let us know your passion for us, let us understand if only a little what we mean to you. We have been alone for so long and You have been crying out for us, for you long to be with us, we are yours and You have given your Son so that like Paul we have a home to come home to. Thank you Father God for reassuring us as we take these steps in this deep valley.

Dying to self

How small is the world of one who has turned inward. Selfishness is never content, always wanting more, always falling short of God’s glory but when the eyes are upon God’s good faithfulness the boundaries that confine are loosed and the heart dances before the Lord like a young deer in the meadow. May the fire of the Lord consume the faithful and lead them into mercies and compassion that was before unknown so that their eyes may be opened. For the Lord reigns and mighty is His throne. Who can stand in His presence? What does selfishness profit the one who carries its weight? Can the treasures stored up by their hands compare with the peace and rest the Lord gives to the one who places Him first? The world teaches us to work for the things we want. Is success desired? Then work hard and maybe you will find it. The biggest problem with that ideal is that it works too often on a certain level. So we work to get more, if a little is good then more is better right? It is in the condition of the heart and the gaze of the eyes, for the more we set our eyes on lesser things the more the path leads away from the Lord until one day we find ourselves surrounded by the quicksand of want, in a world that does not reach beyond our own sight but God is faithful to clean the mud from our eyes and lift us out of the muck of our own desires. Dying to self is a daily cleansing, not a monthly or even weekly event. So Lord, bring us into your courts each day so that we may keep watch and run our race as you intended. For you have broken all that binds us, Lord we shout unto you for you have placed our feet on a solid rock!

A prayer

Lord, it is difficult for me to understand your great mercy. You restore those who walk upright before thee; the same who desire to please their God. You have given us the law so that we might know of our need for a Savior and you were faithful to give us your Son Jesus for that very purpose. So help us not to waist our time but to use it wisely, for the days of man are short and we have but one chance to live the life you intended. Lord, don’t let me blame you when I go through difficulties but help me to be thankful for walking with me and not leaving me alone. You know me inside and out and you see the fragility of my heart and you comfort me and reassure me so that I may follow in your footsteps. Thank you for loving me and for not letting go of my hand.

Advise of the wicked

(Psalms 1:1-3 NLT) “Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.”

Our motives are at least as important as our actions. Two men can do the same thing, one with a righteous motive and one with a wicked motive and only one be justified by God. When we feel compelled to take action it is good to examine the reasons why. Have you ever been corrected by someone placed over you who does it in such a way as to make himself look better? Take the same situation; have ever been corrected by someone who is sincere about seeing you do better? Which one was right? How did you feel after each situation? Which one made you want to work harder and which one hindered your work? Which one do you want to follow? This passage in Psalms is talking about taking a stand for righteousness, even if you’re the only one. This person’s strength is renewed by the Lord, bearing fruit and prospering in all they do not just because of his actions but his motives as well. The word “delight” gives insight to this person’s heart, he loves nothing more than to please God and God is faithful to bless His servant.