From Restless To Resting

Matthew, Mark and Luke all record parables of Jesus as He spoke to the crowds and then gave His disciples a private understanding of what He had told the crowds. While most were confused, His disciples were given the ability to know what He was teaching. Along with the parables and the teaching, the disciples were also witness to Jesus healing people and casting out demons. These things had been a regular part of their days with Jesus. Then one day Jesus, as the crowd had surrounded them, said to His disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the sea.” He and his disciples got in a boat and left. Jesus took this opportunity to get some needed sleep, and so He found a cushion and took a nap. Mark records for us what followed (as do Matthew and Luke):

Mark 4:38-41 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Jesus, who had shown them so much in the days, weeks, and months previous showed them again that He had power over all things, including even the winds and seas.  After calming things down He spoke to them about the turmoil in their own hearts, asking them why they were so afraid. Hadn’t they seen enough yet to believe? In Proverbs 12:25 we read, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.” Jesus spoke and things got quiet. At this time His disciples really didn’t understand just who it was who was speaking those powerful words, and their focus switched from a fear of the storm to being very much afraid of the One who calmed the storm. But as we know from Scripture they did not remain that way. In fact, it was through them that Jesus was going to start His church. And it was one of the leaders among them, Peter, that penned the following:

1 Peter 5:6-11 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

For today Sarah writes about stopping worrying long enough to hear God’s voice. As it was with the disciples, there are times for all of us when situations can seem so big that our hearts and minds become scrambled in the turmoil. And like the disciples we might even wrestle with our emotions concerning God really caring or being aware of what is going on. Yet in our minds as we embrace the truths of His Word, we can be certain that He does know and He is powerful to deal with everything that He allows our way. The problem is not Him taking a nap while leaving us on watch. The issue is us keeping our eyes on Him and trusting Him even when we nap. As a man Jesus knew how to rest, and as God He knows how to give us rest.

Paul gives us an answer for these times in Philippians 4:6-7. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” And Psalm 46:10-11 tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. [ESV]

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/9)

Stop worrying long enough to hear My voice. I speak softly to you, in the depths of your being. Your mind shuttles back and forth, hither and yon, weaving webs of anxious confusion. As My thoughts rise up within you, they become entangled in those sticky webs of worry. Thus, My voice is muffled, and you hear only “white noise.”

Ask My Spirit to quiet your mind so you can think My thoughts. This ability is an awesome benefit of being My child, patterned after My own image. Do not be deafened by the noise of the world or that of your own thinking. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Sit quietly in My Presence, letting My thoughts reprogram your thinking.

… And that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:20

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

What’s In A Name?

Last night at 10:53 p.m. our fourth grandchild was born—a son to our son, Ben, and his wife, Abby. They named this precious little boy Caleb Benjamin, and this is what I thought of when I reflected on little Caleb and his parents.

Caleb: what a wonderful name. I don't know yet what led Ben and Abby to select this name for our first grandson, but I have my own ideas. Caleb was one of the twelve spies selected to go into the land that God had promised His people, Israel, and report back what they had seen. All of the spies, except two (Joshua and Caleb), came back and gave a fearful report. But Caleb spoke up in defense of God and His promise in an effort to quiet the people and encourage them to go and take what God had promised. And God and Moses, honoring their report, declared that of those who had seen the land only Caleb and Joshua would finally be permitted to enter it. But this was not to happen right away, because the people did not listen to the quieting voice of Caleb. But in their fearful rejection God relented from their destruction through the pleading of Moses, leaving them to wander for forty years until that generation died. But God, near the end of Moses’ life handed the leadership of His people to Joshua, and Joshua and Caleb led the people into their long awaited promised land, a land which they would now have to forcibly capture. And again, in the face of a great challenge Caleb speaks up in trust of God. Scripture records that at the age of eighty-five Caleb showed that he was still willing to go and take that which God had granted them.

Numbers 14:24 “But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it.”

Joshua 14:7-14 “I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought word back to him as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear; but I followed the LORD my God fully. So Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden will be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God fully.’ Now behold, the LORD has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today. I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in. Now then, give me this hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day that Anakim were there, with great fortified cities; perhaps the LORD will be with me, and I will drive them out as the LORD has spoken.” So Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. Therefore, Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite until this day, because he followed the LORD God of Israel fully.

And as for Benjamin: We had a special reason for selecting this name for our Ben, the full brother of Joseph - another man of great character. And we cannot be more pleased with the character of our Benjamin Joseph and his beautiful wife Abigail Rose.

Today Sarah writes about putting aside everything else when we seek the face of our Lord. We are able to do this not because of a strong ability to tune things out, but because of a strong trust in our Lord and His faithfulness to His promises. Over the past couple of weeks we have continued to see this in our own lives and in the lives of a number of people around us. It is in Christ, the Son of God, that we find our strength, and in spending time with Him that we find our refuge.

Isaiah 9:6-7 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Acts 4:11-12 “He [Jesus] is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/8)

When you seek My face, put aside thoughts of everything else. I am above all, as well as in all; your communion with Me transcends both time and circumstances. Be prepared to be blessed bountifully by My Presence, for I am a God of unlimited abundance. Open wide your heart and mind to receive more and more of Me. When your Joy in Me meets My Joy in you, there are fireworks of heavenly ecstasy. This is eternal life here and now: a tiny foretaste of what awaits you in the life to come. Now you see only a poor reflection as in a mirror, but then you will see face to Face.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:11

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

Above The Clamor

Today in the “Jesus Calling” devotional by Sarah she writes, “Listen to Me above the clamor of voices trying to distract you.” Getting up a bit late and being thrust into the activity of the day today the voices started right away, and finding quietness has been a difficult thing to do. Granted there is nothing wrong with the voices, which is probably why it is so hard to tune them out. But at last I found the quiet for at least a few minutes.

The concept of multitasking to me is not one of doing multiple things at once, but one of being able to press a pause button momentarily in order to do some reshuffling, and then dealing with the pieces one at a time, maybe bouncing back and forth, but at least doing so with some semblance of organization and an end in mind. This may not mean dealing with them till completion but of shifting around my focus until each is dealt with to some satisfactory conclusion, even leaving some things purposely for a later time.

I can’t imagine how our God can hear all of us at once. We as humans are so limited in our ability to hear, comprehend, analyze, reshape, and respond. But God, He has no such limitations. He is infinitely capable in all of these ways. He does not have to divide His attention as we are called upon to do. And He is perfectly capable of guiding us through the most intense or confusing of times, giving us peace and direction in the greatest of turmoil. The secret for us, which it really isn't a secret, is turning our hearts and minds toward Him and away from the situations if only momentarily, but also doing so regularly so that He becomes our constant refuge.

Having said that, nothing beats those quiet moments where everything else is blocked out and it is just me and God and His Word, and on a warmer day a glass of iced tea. After thinking on a passage or an event I can close my eyes and just listen. This does not necessarily mean that I will hear God speak, but I can enjoy the calmness, the peace, and the reflection on Him and what He has done and is doing. And for me, when other voices in my mind or outside my space creep back in, then I can open my eyes again and return to His Word. This is a time when I can quietly work through the list of those people and situations for which I am praying, and a time when His Spirit helps me sort out the otherwise un-sortable.

In the last year this is probably the one area I have grown the most to appreciate. Unfortunately, like today, I can almost desire to push people away in order to get to it. For those who have children in the home I imagine this last comment as one that you can relate with, especially during the summer. And as I pushed in that direction today I was reminded, after Robin left to take the kids to buy a birthday present, that my Heavenly Father does not push me away in order to spend time with others, pointing to another benefit of these times—God redirecting our attitudes, showing me that I need to keep growing in this area with my own children—paying closer attention to them and enjoy their presence with me. They are an incredible gift from God and a reminder of our need to have a Heavenly Father who hears our every prayer and is intimately aware of our every step, even knowing the words on our tongue before they are ever formed.

The gospels record for us the importance of prayer to Jesus as He spent time with His Father. They record specifics of some of His prayers—both long and short, and they record settings—both alone and in the midst of others, quietly and out loud. He set such an example of prayer that His disciples responded by asking Him to teach them how to pray.

In Mark 1:35 we read that He prayed in seclusion and without distraction, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.”

In Luke 9:18 we read that He was praying alone in the presence of His disciples which would seem to imply that He prayed quietly. “And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”

And later in Luke 11:1-4, we have the disciples observing Jesus in prayer and then asking Him to show them how to pray themselves: It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. ‘Give us each day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.'"

And as Jesus nears the cross we go from the intimacy of His prayer in the upper room as we read in John 17 to the intensity of His prayer that we have recorded in Luke 22:39-46.

Luke 22:39-46 And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed Him. When He arrived at the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

So, lesson learned today—why was I sleeping? Get up and pray. That could and probably should have been a lesson for today, but more than that to realize even in the midst of commotion that God has gone nowhere and even then I can close my eyes and spend a few moments communing with Him in full realization that there also are those times like this afternoon when the quiet set in and I did find my quiet time with God.

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/6)

I am your Father-God. Listen to Me! Learn what it means to be a child of the everlasting King. Your richest duty is devotion to Me. This duty is such a joyous privilege that it feels like a luxury. You tend to feel guilty about pushing back the boundaries of your life to make space for time alone with Me. The world is waiting to squeeze you into its mold and to crowd out time devoted to Me. The ways of the world have also warped your conscience, which punishes you for doing the very thing that pleases Me most: seeking My Face. Listen to Me above the clamor of voices trying to distract you. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, for He and I work in perfect harmony. Be still and attentive in My Presence. You are on holy ground.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9 (NKJV)

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5

Hope That Will Not Fail

1 Corinthians 13:12-13 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Today in “Jesus Calling” I read about worshiping God in spirit and truth, and I was so thankful for the encouragement found not only in the devotional writing, but even more so because of who my God is. This was especially important to me today, and as I reflected on those words I became more and more impressed with those who might be struggling today with praise and thanksgiving.

Praise is sometimes difficult to mouth as our hearts are broken from the news that someone close to us is going to die, whether it be as a result of a cancer or some other means. Several years ago I walked through the passing of my parents. It was a difficult season as I watched my mom struggle for years with my dad right by her side, and then my dad struggle himself as he was found to have a spread cancer. Their hearts’ desire was to be together, and one of my sisters turned her living room into a room for them so that this could happen. And our gracious God brought them into His presence just a few months apart. I know that when they died from our side of things, that they actually stepped into the presence of God. While I know that the pain they had suffered was ended and they were experiencing eternal health in its fullest, there still was a hole left in my heart as with the rest of my family, because we were no longer able to share with them in the personal way we had so treasured.

Even now I am aware of several people, who like my parents, know that they have a disease or a cancer that will soon lead to their own death.  And in the case of all of the individuals I am thinking of they are approaching that day with the confidence that at the moment they placed their trust in Christ for salvation that the day they died that their salvation would be fully realized in glorification as they enter into presence of their heavenly Father. For them there will be a time soon when there will be no more reason to hold onto their faith, because they will have seen the fulfillment of their belief.  For them there is will be no more reason to hope, because they will see it fully realized. And for them the love which they have known in a limited way, they will know it its fullness.

At the same time, there is the very real reality that they will no longer enjoy the daily presence and love of those close to them here, and for those who love these individuals, while they might rejoice in the certainty of faith and hope for their loved one, they also struggle with the impending separation in their own love relationship.

Man was created as a relational being and a key part of that is to have a relationship with God and not know death. But death became a part of all of our lives because of sin.  Our sin separated us from God, and it was God who made it possible for us to again have victory over death and receive eternal life. But His process for this necessitated more death. It necessitated the death of His own Son—Jesus Christ—who went to a cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  And it necessitates our physical death as we pass from our life in these bodies and our relationships here into His presence and even to a new body not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens. There is no other way. Well, almost no other way. One day Christ will return and take with Him all those who are saved and remain—who are alive on that day.

Romans 8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope  that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

As relational beings this is hard process and it hurts to go through it, but we can get through it because of the hope that we that will not fail.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/4)

When you worship Me in spirit and truth, you join with choirs of angels who are continually before My throne. Though you cannot hear their voices, your praise and thanksgiving are distinctly audible in heaven. Your petitions are also heard, but it is your gratitude that clears the way to My Heart. With the way between us wide open, My blessings fall upon you in rich abundance. The greatest blessing is nearness to Me – abundant Joy and Peace in My Presence. Practice praising and thanking Me continually throughout this day.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4

Ambassadors Of Grace

In our culture when we disagree with someone it is often taken as a lack of approval or even a dislike for the individual. And to be quite honest, it is very easy to enter into this and combine our own reactions with a history of harsh reactions adding to a possible justification for those feelings. When it comes to the world it should be expected that there will indeed be disagreement on any number of issues, and the news of the past few weeks has provided ample opportunity. When we see people rejoicing in something that God declares to be wrong, there should be a check in our hearts.

The question then arises about how we deal with that heart check, remembering that the greatest need is for the non-believer to come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Practically speaking when individuals are confronted in a harsh or judgmental way, they rarely find anything attractive about the one serving as their judge. This does not mean that we must remain silent about everything lest someone become offended, but that when we speak and act it should be done so thoughtfully and in full consideration of our savior and Lord for whom we are ambassadors, pleading that the individual becomes reconciled to Him. We are not begging them to change before they become acceptable to God for salvation. Rather we know that once they place their trust in Christ and receive His gift of salvation that God then begins a work in them, beginning the process of conforming them to the image of His beloved Son. This changes everything.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The situation is a bit different for those who profess to be Christians. Here we have the Word of God and its standard for our lives. While we are, again not to be harsh or judgmental even in our dealings with other believers, we can rightly call them to living to a different standard than before they trusted Christ for their salvation. We do this knowing that while all of our sins are forgiven, God does not instantaneously shave away all of our struggle areas but rather patiently and graciously works in us. Scripture does call us to live differently and to encourage others to do likewise.

There is a tendency among some to quote the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge so that you will not be judged,” applying across the board universally to Christians and non-Christians. In doing this they might raise their hands and back away from any discussion of how we deal with one another. In doing so, they use the word “judge” in a blanket manner to include any form of confrontation. Both in Matthew chapter seven and in Luke chapter six this issue is dealt with beyond this singular statement, and in both of them the issue is not dealing with one another, but HOW we deal with one another and the condition of our hearts when we do so. Jesus calls us to love and be merciful to even those who are our enemies, and He also calls us to consider our own sinfulness and the mercy and grace shown to us. In recognizing who we are before God and what He has done and continues to do for us, then we prayerfully and carefully reach out to others in a biblically positive way.

Remember, Jesus also said in Matthew 18:15, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.”

Judging the world is not our business. Scripture declares that this has already been done and every single person has been found guilty. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God….” Rather we are, as we read in 2 Corinthians 5, “ambassadors for Christ.”

And as it pertains to our brothers and sisters in Christ, sin sniffing is also not our business, but building up and encouraging one another is. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14 “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. … We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/3)

My children make a pastime of judging one another – and themselves. But I am the only capable Judge, and I have acquitted you through My own blood. Your acquittal came at the price of My unparalleled sacrifice. That is why I am highly offended when I hear My children judge one another or indulge in self-hatred.

If you live close to Me and absorb My Word, the Holy Spirit will guide and correct you as needed. There is no condemnation for those who belong to Me.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:8

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:5

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Disciplining Our Thoughts

Today in “Jesus Calling” Sarah says, “Discipline your thoughts to trust Me as I work My ways in your life.” I don’t know about you, but there are times when I find this a struggle, especially when situations press in over a period of time for which I have no answer. In my mind I know without any doubt that God knows exactly what is going on, that He doesn't go on vacation or take a break, and that He is immensely faithful. I know that He loves me and my family deeply and He is concerned over those things which I am concerned about. I know that He sees far more clearly and He knows the outcomes exactly. And I also know that He makes it so that I can endure whatever test or trial that He allows through His filter into my life, making me even able to combat the temptations of my heart.

Yet in these times my heart yearns for a solution or resolution to whatever is pressing in, and I want to say “But God?” My heart desires answers, and then in my mind I start to work out solutions. And when I try to work out those solutions in my own mind I find that I can get frustrated by my apparent lack of answers or dissatisfaction over my lack of a solution. This does not mean that I can’t figure things out apart from sitting down and praying, but it does mean in those times when stuff gets heavy and I tell myself that I have to carry the load that I often sense at some point my inadequacy to do so. In many ways I can be thankful for this, for it is most often here that my mind comes back to God, and I admit that my life is intended to live in dependence on God and in submission to His direction. It is here that I find my heart begins to come around and peace settles back in.

Paul talks about an aspect of this struggle in relation to the desires of the flesh in Romans chapter 7:14-25, and then continues with some powerful truths pertaining to the ability to live victoriously in Christ in chapter 8 of which I will only include a few verses. But I would encourage you to open your Bible and read the whole thing.

Romans 8:1-2 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 8:6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Romans 8:14-18 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:26-28 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:37-39 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

These verses are an incredible reminder of the truth that God is involved in our lives to make it so that we can live victoriously for Him despite the battles that might wage in our hearts and minds. He is powerful over them, and He makes us able.

In Philippians 4:6-7 we read, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

As we approach God in prayer, knowing that we have confident access to Him through the power of His Son—Jesus Christ, and that the Spirit of God—the Holy Spirit—is active in those prayers, we know that the God who created heaven and earth and who holds the entirety of it under His control is our God and that He hears our prayers and will answer them. And in that I can bring my heart and mind together and keep trusting for the next step.

Today He reminded Robin and I of this in a couple of very tangible ways, and in this we give Him praise.

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/2)

Let Me show you My way for you this day. I guide you continually, so you can relax and enjoy My Presence in the present. Living well is both a discipline and an art. Concentrate on staying close to Me, the divine Artist. Discipline your thoughts to trust Me as I work My ways in your life. Pray about everything; then, leave outcomes up to Me. Do not fear My will, for through it I accomplish what is best for you. Take a deep breath and dive into the depths of absolute trust in Me. Underneath are the everlasting arms!

Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:2-3

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, “Destroy him!” Deuteronomy 33:27

Basking In The Son

The commercials on TV seem to equate basking under the sun in a lounge chair shaded by an umbrella on the beach while holding something cold to drink as the epitome of getting away. They try to draw us into a sense of getting us to buy into the entire picture by just buying into whatever they are selling related to one aspect of the picture—usually the cold drink. It is almost as if you can instantly step away from the hustle into harmony and bliss if you just drink what they are selling. But this is just an enticement. I think it safe to say for most that life just doesn't work that way.

Do you know anyone who it takes a couple of days of vacation or down time before he/she can begin to relax, or maybe someone who as this downtime or vacation draws near a close begins to start thinking about all that lies ahead and is making plans on how to tackle each detail? If this isn’t you, you most likely know someone like this. This is especially true of people who manage a lot of details in their work and/or businesses. There is something difficult about being able to separate the rush of our lives from our times of rest. But I think it safe to say that most of us know that we need to do this—we need to fight this fight in order to achieve times of R&R (rest and relaxation).

Similarly, this can be very true of our daily lives as we seek to set aside and protect those quiet moments where we can find rest, enjoy our spouses and our families, and most importantly spend time with our God. And as we do this with God, realizing that it doesn't happen instantly or automatically, we build discipline into our lives so that as we run to Him each day we do so with a sense of familiarity and safety in communing with our loving God, shifting our burdens to Him and trusting Him to strengthen us for what lies ahead. It is here that we can be calmed to lay all that is on our hearts and minds out before Him, as we bathe in His truth, His faithfulness, and His compassionate warmth. It is also here that we can openly admit all of our shortcomings and failings, our weaknesses and our sins, and we can know His true forgiveness and acceptance. And it is here that we can seek and hear from Him and receive guidance and wisdom for our day and the decisions and/or circumstances.

James lays out a contrast between the individual who seeks after God and the one who plays at it.

James 1:5-18 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

Then James adds verse 19, which reads “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger….”

I know this last verse has a lot to say about our relationships with others, and in particular it is one of my favorite relational verses—especially for marriages. But it also speaks about our relationship with God, and in so doing, it points us to our need to take a step back and bring everything to Him and seek His wisdom, His peace, and even His right choice of a response. Doing so not only improves our relationships with others, but it also enables us to guard our own hearts. When we realize that taking this time, even if brief, with God before we charge off has such huge impacts, then we can also grow in our understanding of the value of spending even greater times with Him. And as we spend these greater times with Him, we find that when these momentary things pop up during our days that we are increasingly mindful of our need to seek Him even then.

Toady Sarah writes about “soaking” in God’s Presence. As we enjoy the sunshine let it be a reminder of how the Son of God—Jesus Christ—has brought His Light to our lives. And when we are pressured by the heat of situations, let us also remember that we can find shelter under the shadow of His wings and rest in the safety of God’s hands.

Today in “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young (7/1)

I am Life and Light in abundance. As you spend time “soaking” in My Presence, you are energized and lightened. Through communing with Me, you transfer your heavy burdens to My strong shoulders. By gazing at Me, you gain My perspective on your life. This time alone with Me is essential for unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out the day before you.

Be willing to fight for this precious time with Me. Opposition comes in many forms: your own desire to linger in bed; the evil ones determination to distract you from Me; the pressure of family, friends, and your own inner critic to spend your time more productively. As you grow in your desire to please Me above all else, you gain strength to resist these opponents. Delight yourself in Me, for I am the deepest Desire of your heart.

Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. Psalm 48:9

About Benjamin he said: “Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4