Some time back, I got a pretty good nudge from the Holy Spirit. I ran across something that got me to thinking. We all like the idea of some "R and R". As a matter of fact, we probably think we need more than we get! Well, this "R and R" isn't "Rest and Relaxation." This "R and R" is "Remembering and Rejoicing".
2009 was a difficult year for many of us, and we may still be feeling the effects of that. The word "recession" was a big word for the year. Yet, I want to present to you the need for some real "R and R". "Remembering and Rejoicing."
Do you remember how HE took care of the children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness for 40 years? Deuteronomy 2:7 in the Good News Bible says, "Remember how the LORD your God has blessed you in everything that you have done. He has taken care of you as you wandered through this vast desert. He has been with you these forty years, and you have had everything you needed." God provided for them every single day. Day after day!
Do you remember how HE took care of the prophet Elijah during a drought and a famine? In 1 Kings 17, God sent ravens with food to him, then later sent him to a widow woman's house to provide for him. God took care of the widow the whole time she was taking care of the prophet also!
Do you remember how HE took care of the four lepers in Samaria during a famine in 2 Kings 7? They decided they didn't want to sit there and die, so they got up and headed to the camp of the enemy. When they got there, the enemy had ran off and left everything they had! Food, clothes, silver, gold, horses, everything!
Do you remember how HE took care of the 5000 men, plus women and children, and fed them all with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish in Matthew 14?
Now I want you to remember how HE promised to take care of you and I. HE said HE would never leave us or forsake us! That He would supply our every need.
This brings us to the second part of this, the Rejoicing! See, when you and I are rejoicing in God, we are saying that our confidence and faith are in Him. That HE is bigger than our problems and fears. It doesn't do us any good to complain and worry. That just gets us in trouble. A minister friend of mine used to say, "When the gain is more important than the pain, you will refrain from the complain!" Let me encourage you to read Matthew 6:25-34. It talks about how important we are to God. We must rejoice in our God. Purposeful rejoicing increases and raises our faith! That is true and real faith! It shows that our heart is trusting God and His faithfulness! In Psalms 118:15, the Good News Bible says, " Listen to the glad shouts of victory in the tents of God's people: "The LORD's mighty power has done it!"
"Remembering and Rejoicing"! That's the real "R and R"!!!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Real Prayers or "Token" Prayers
Hebrews 13:3, in the New American Standard Bible, says, "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves are also in the Body."
Many years ago, the Lord used this verse to show me that I needed to change the way I pray. Now don't misunderstand. I prayed in every way I had been taught to pray. In the name of Jesus, pleading the blood of Jesus, taking the God given right of authority He has given me, in the Spirit, rebuking the devil, etc. I'm sure that by now, you get the idea. But when the Lord showed this verse to me, it changed me and my prayer life. Don't get me wrong, I still pray in all those ways I just mentioned, but the Lord added an aspect that I was caught by surprise with.
You see, this scripture is telling me that I am to remember the prisoners as though I am with them. Here is what the Lord showed me. Many times, but not always, when we pray for others, we pray something that I call "token" prayers. One definition of the word "token" means "face value appearing more real than actual value." A "token prayer" is one of those prayers that we pray where our heart really isn't in the prayer. A half-hearted prayer. We have all done it, whether we want to admit it or not. We might see someone at the store or someplace, they begin to tell us what is happening in their life, they ask us to pray, we agree, then many times go on our way, only later to remember we never prayed as we agreed. So we throw a little prayer together so we won't be guilty of lying to our friend. You see what I mean?
Let me ask you. How would you pray if it was you going through what had been shared with you? Most likely, a little differently. See, many times our thoughts are that our needs are much more pressing and in much more need of prayer than some of our brothers and sisters needs. But the scripture tells us that we are to be there for one another and help carry each others load.
A few years back, this point came home to me in a very real way. Some very good friends of mine got some bad news from the doctor, they had found breast cancer in the wife. Our church began to pray for her and her husband. The Lord brought to my mind this scripture. I caught myself praying for her like I would if it were my own wife. There were many people praying over her, with many tears. I don't ever recall crying during this time. Don't misunderstand, I loved them, still do, but I felt like I was in a battle. I prayed with everything in me for them. God was wonderful and brought healing to her. There were surgeries and things, but she is still alive and serving the Lord. I was by no means the only one praying. We all played a part in lifting her up to the Lord. My point is the difference in my prayer life through that situation.
I try not to ever offer "token" prayers anymore. I try to pray for each situation just like it was me, or my wife, or my kids, or my grandkids, or my mom, my sisters, my family, those who mean the most to me, going through whatever the situation may be.
Also, please don't misunderstand and think that how long you pray has anything to do with this. No way! Length of time in prayer has NOTHING to do with it. What really matters is the intensity and integrity of our prayers. We need to pray till we feel a release from the Spirit of the Lord. Loud or quiet, doesn't make God any difference. He's not hard of hearing and He isn't easily startled. From your heart, that is what matters.
Let me challenge you, by the grace of God, make up your mind to not offer anymore "token" prayers for anyone. Most likely, you would not want someone offering them up for you when you are in need, so it would be a good thing to not offer them up for someone else's need. I am so thankful for the grace and mercy of God that He shows us!
Many years ago, the Lord used this verse to show me that I needed to change the way I pray. Now don't misunderstand. I prayed in every way I had been taught to pray. In the name of Jesus, pleading the blood of Jesus, taking the God given right of authority He has given me, in the Spirit, rebuking the devil, etc. I'm sure that by now, you get the idea. But when the Lord showed this verse to me, it changed me and my prayer life. Don't get me wrong, I still pray in all those ways I just mentioned, but the Lord added an aspect that I was caught by surprise with.
You see, this scripture is telling me that I am to remember the prisoners as though I am with them. Here is what the Lord showed me. Many times, but not always, when we pray for others, we pray something that I call "token" prayers. One definition of the word "token" means "face value appearing more real than actual value." A "token prayer" is one of those prayers that we pray where our heart really isn't in the prayer. A half-hearted prayer. We have all done it, whether we want to admit it or not. We might see someone at the store or someplace, they begin to tell us what is happening in their life, they ask us to pray, we agree, then many times go on our way, only later to remember we never prayed as we agreed. So we throw a little prayer together so we won't be guilty of lying to our friend. You see what I mean?
Let me ask you. How would you pray if it was you going through what had been shared with you? Most likely, a little differently. See, many times our thoughts are that our needs are much more pressing and in much more need of prayer than some of our brothers and sisters needs. But the scripture tells us that we are to be there for one another and help carry each others load.
A few years back, this point came home to me in a very real way. Some very good friends of mine got some bad news from the doctor, they had found breast cancer in the wife. Our church began to pray for her and her husband. The Lord brought to my mind this scripture. I caught myself praying for her like I would if it were my own wife. There were many people praying over her, with many tears. I don't ever recall crying during this time. Don't misunderstand, I loved them, still do, but I felt like I was in a battle. I prayed with everything in me for them. God was wonderful and brought healing to her. There were surgeries and things, but she is still alive and serving the Lord. I was by no means the only one praying. We all played a part in lifting her up to the Lord. My point is the difference in my prayer life through that situation.
I try not to ever offer "token" prayers anymore. I try to pray for each situation just like it was me, or my wife, or my kids, or my grandkids, or my mom, my sisters, my family, those who mean the most to me, going through whatever the situation may be.
Also, please don't misunderstand and think that how long you pray has anything to do with this. No way! Length of time in prayer has NOTHING to do with it. What really matters is the intensity and integrity of our prayers. We need to pray till we feel a release from the Spirit of the Lord. Loud or quiet, doesn't make God any difference. He's not hard of hearing and He isn't easily startled. From your heart, that is what matters.
Let me challenge you, by the grace of God, make up your mind to not offer anymore "token" prayers for anyone. Most likely, you would not want someone offering them up for you when you are in need, so it would be a good thing to not offer them up for someone else's need. I am so thankful for the grace and mercy of God that He shows us!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Do You Have A Sorry Attitude?
Phillipians 2:5 in the Good News Bible says, "The attitude you should have is the one that Jesus Christ had."
Attitude is highly important. Those stricken with cancer have been told their attitude has a lot to do with how they progress in recovery. Salesmen must keep a good attitude about their product or their sales will begin to lag behind. Empoyees must maintain a good attitude about their employer, or their work will suffer. Some even say attitude is everything. I think I am inclined to agree with that.
Many years ago I heard a preacher say, "Your attitude will change your lattitude." I have seen that statement prove true countless times, not only in my personal life, but in the lives of others around me. If you don't like where your are(your lattitude), begin to change your attitude. As our attitude begins to change, we begin to see things differently.
My situation might not change immediately, my circumstances might not change immediately, but you and I must come to understand, we don't have much control over those things. But the one thing I do have control over is my attitude! I don't have to allow the things, or people, control my attitude. My confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ can and will carry me through the difficulties of life. I can have peace in the middle of the storms I face. My attitude does not have to be subject to circumstances and situations. My attitude is my confidence and faith in Jesus. He is faithful!!!
If you take the letters of the alphabet and assign a numerical value to each one of them, A=1, B=2, C=3...Z=26, you can see an interesting outcome ---
A = 01
T = 20
T = 20
I = 09
T = 20
U = 21
D = 04
E = 05
-------
100
So, you see, the only thing we have 100% control over is our attitude!
We must keep our attitude in line with what God says in His Word, to us, about us, and for us. See, our attitude is a reflection of our thoughts. When we begin to give up, our attitude reflects that. When we begin to get angry, our attitude reflects that. When we get sad, our attitude reflects that. On and on. We must learn to control our "stinkin' thinkin", or our attitude will reflect it in every area of our lives.
Change that attitude. Have a grateful, thankful attitude instead of a sorry one!
Attitude is highly important. Those stricken with cancer have been told their attitude has a lot to do with how they progress in recovery. Salesmen must keep a good attitude about their product or their sales will begin to lag behind. Empoyees must maintain a good attitude about their employer, or their work will suffer. Some even say attitude is everything. I think I am inclined to agree with that.
Many years ago I heard a preacher say, "Your attitude will change your lattitude." I have seen that statement prove true countless times, not only in my personal life, but in the lives of others around me. If you don't like where your are(your lattitude), begin to change your attitude. As our attitude begins to change, we begin to see things differently.
My situation might not change immediately, my circumstances might not change immediately, but you and I must come to understand, we don't have much control over those things. But the one thing I do have control over is my attitude! I don't have to allow the things, or people, control my attitude. My confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ can and will carry me through the difficulties of life. I can have peace in the middle of the storms I face. My attitude does not have to be subject to circumstances and situations. My attitude is my confidence and faith in Jesus. He is faithful!!!
If you take the letters of the alphabet and assign a numerical value to each one of them, A=1, B=2, C=3...Z=26, you can see an interesting outcome ---
A = 01
T = 20
T = 20
I = 09
T = 20
U = 21
D = 04
E = 05
-------
100
So, you see, the only thing we have 100% control over is our attitude!
We must keep our attitude in line with what God says in His Word, to us, about us, and for us. See, our attitude is a reflection of our thoughts. When we begin to give up, our attitude reflects that. When we begin to get angry, our attitude reflects that. When we get sad, our attitude reflects that. On and on. We must learn to control our "stinkin' thinkin", or our attitude will reflect it in every area of our lives.
Change that attitude. Have a grateful, thankful attitude instead of a sorry one!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
How Do Your Own Words Taste?
Colossians 4:6, The Scriptures say,"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person."
Many years ago, I had a dream about a couple that my wife, Sheila, and I knew. In this dream, they were sitting on a sofa, more like a love seat, but there was some space between them. I could tell they were angry at each other, both blaming the other for something that had happened. I walked up behind the love seat, stuck my head between them and said, "season your words with grace. So that when you have to eat them, they are a little easier to swallow." They spun their heads around and looked at me like they had just been slapped! Then the dream ended.
It isn't as much a matter of "have you ever said something you regretted?", as it is more like, "how often do you open mouth, and insert foot." To often we speak without thinking, letting our speech be seasoned more with judgement than with grace. We lash out at others, but we want them to be gracious to us. We want others to be held to a fine line, but want a wide avenue when it comes to ourselves.
You see, we can use our words, and the Words of God, as either an assassins sword or a surgeons scalpel. We can speak words of encouragement or words of discouragement. Words that heal a wounded heart, or words that cut deeper still. Proverbs 18:21, from the Good News Bible, says, "What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words." Also Proverbs 12:18, again from the Good News Bible, says, "Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal."
We have all spoke rashly and without regard to those who hear, maybe about them, or about others. "Well, if it was me, I would do this, or I would do that." We don't always know the circumstances involved in why some people do the things they do. We presume to think we have it all down just right when we lash out as if we know it all. Quite often I am amazed at how genius we are when it comes to other people's life and decisions, but how stupid we can be in regard to our own life and decisions! We need to learn that we all are living this life by faith, through grace!
I hope that through this, we all learn to be more careful, and selective, with our words. I, for one, don't always like the taste of my own words. But, I have found out, from experience, they are much easier to eat and swallow, IF they have been seasoned with grace when I spoke them.
Many years ago, I had a dream about a couple that my wife, Sheila, and I knew. In this dream, they were sitting on a sofa, more like a love seat, but there was some space between them. I could tell they were angry at each other, both blaming the other for something that had happened. I walked up behind the love seat, stuck my head between them and said, "season your words with grace. So that when you have to eat them, they are a little easier to swallow." They spun their heads around and looked at me like they had just been slapped! Then the dream ended.
It isn't as much a matter of "have you ever said something you regretted?", as it is more like, "how often do you open mouth, and insert foot." To often we speak without thinking, letting our speech be seasoned more with judgement than with grace. We lash out at others, but we want them to be gracious to us. We want others to be held to a fine line, but want a wide avenue when it comes to ourselves.
You see, we can use our words, and the Words of God, as either an assassins sword or a surgeons scalpel. We can speak words of encouragement or words of discouragement. Words that heal a wounded heart, or words that cut deeper still. Proverbs 18:21, from the Good News Bible, says, "What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words." Also Proverbs 12:18, again from the Good News Bible, says, "Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal."
We have all spoke rashly and without regard to those who hear, maybe about them, or about others. "Well, if it was me, I would do this, or I would do that." We don't always know the circumstances involved in why some people do the things they do. We presume to think we have it all down just right when we lash out as if we know it all. Quite often I am amazed at how genius we are when it comes to other people's life and decisions, but how stupid we can be in regard to our own life and decisions! We need to learn that we all are living this life by faith, through grace!
I hope that through this, we all learn to be more careful, and selective, with our words. I, for one, don't always like the taste of my own words. But, I have found out, from experience, they are much easier to eat and swallow, IF they have been seasoned with grace when I spoke them.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Face To Face With Adversity
Several years ago, I picked up a Readers Digest and was flipping through the pages, just passing time. I flipped over a page and the headlines of the next article began to ring out inside of me, "Our true character is revealed when we come face to face with adversity." I began to go over many scriptures and stories from the scriptures that went along with, and even verified that statement. You see, what is inside of you and I comes out when we face adversity.
There are many examples in the scriptures of the true character of people in times of adversity. Take, for example, Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They had just been a part of something wonderful the Lord had done. Now they find themselves in prison. And not only prison, but the inner prison. The place where, history tells us, the raw sewage ran through the inner prison. It was the deepest and darkest part of the prison. They had been beaten and now in the stocks. Have you ever felt you were there? What kind of character do you see come from them? The scriptures tell us they began to sing and praise God right there. That is almost unbelievable!
It is easy to thank and praise God when things are going good in our lives. But what about when we are face to face with adversity? Do we still sing? Do we still rejoice in the Lord? Do we still thank God for His faithfulness and goodness? You see, adversity brings out a side in you and I that we really don't want to see. That is why we don't like adversity. It reveals something in us!
In truth, many times we don't always know what some of us will do in adversity, till we face it. Have you ever heard someone, maybe even yourself, say something and then say, "I don't know where that came from!" It came from inside in that area of our life that is still being worked on by the Holy Spirit. Don't forget, you and I are still a work in progress! God is still for us and not against us! We might not yet be everything we think we are supposed to be, but we certainly are not what we used to be!
Jehoshaphat came under attack in 2 Chronicles 20. The scriptures say he was afraid at first. Then he turned and began to seek the Lord. Things are going to come against us. We will have adveristy. Jesus said in John 16:33 "...in the world you will have tribulation (adversity), but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." He has told us we will have it, but He also said He has already been victorious over the world! We continue to grow and mature in the grace and strength of the Lord, so if you have seen a side to you that you don't like, be of good cheer! You won't always be like that. But we must continue to give ourselves to the Lord and allow Him to continue His wonderful work in our lives.
Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord, and the Lord heard his cry and sent directions to him as to how to handle the attack. God is still the same with you and I today. He is a very present help in the time of trouble, or adversity (Ps. 46:1).
God wants us to learn to respond, not react! He wants us full of His Spirit and walking in that fullness. Don't ever think God doesn't know what is inside you and I. He does. He knows everything! Nothing catches God by surprise! He allows us to see inside of ourselve, not to give up, but to give us an idea of what the Lord needs to continue to work on, as we allow Him full access in our lives.
We have been created in His image and likeness, but Now He wants to change us to His character!
We must learn to let His character come from us when we face adversity.
There are many examples in the scriptures of the true character of people in times of adversity. Take, for example, Paul and Silas in Acts 16. They had just been a part of something wonderful the Lord had done. Now they find themselves in prison. And not only prison, but the inner prison. The place where, history tells us, the raw sewage ran through the inner prison. It was the deepest and darkest part of the prison. They had been beaten and now in the stocks. Have you ever felt you were there? What kind of character do you see come from them? The scriptures tell us they began to sing and praise God right there. That is almost unbelievable!
It is easy to thank and praise God when things are going good in our lives. But what about when we are face to face with adversity? Do we still sing? Do we still rejoice in the Lord? Do we still thank God for His faithfulness and goodness? You see, adversity brings out a side in you and I that we really don't want to see. That is why we don't like adversity. It reveals something in us!
In truth, many times we don't always know what some of us will do in adversity, till we face it. Have you ever heard someone, maybe even yourself, say something and then say, "I don't know where that came from!" It came from inside in that area of our life that is still being worked on by the Holy Spirit. Don't forget, you and I are still a work in progress! God is still for us and not against us! We might not yet be everything we think we are supposed to be, but we certainly are not what we used to be!
Jehoshaphat came under attack in 2 Chronicles 20. The scriptures say he was afraid at first. Then he turned and began to seek the Lord. Things are going to come against us. We will have adveristy. Jesus said in John 16:33 "...in the world you will have tribulation (adversity), but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." He has told us we will have it, but He also said He has already been victorious over the world! We continue to grow and mature in the grace and strength of the Lord, so if you have seen a side to you that you don't like, be of good cheer! You won't always be like that. But we must continue to give ourselves to the Lord and allow Him to continue His wonderful work in our lives.
Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord, and the Lord heard his cry and sent directions to him as to how to handle the attack. God is still the same with you and I today. He is a very present help in the time of trouble, or adversity (Ps. 46:1).
God wants us to learn to respond, not react! He wants us full of His Spirit and walking in that fullness. Don't ever think God doesn't know what is inside you and I. He does. He knows everything! Nothing catches God by surprise! He allows us to see inside of ourselve, not to give up, but to give us an idea of what the Lord needs to continue to work on, as we allow Him full access in our lives.
We have been created in His image and likeness, but Now He wants to change us to His character!
We must learn to let His character come from us when we face adversity.
Monday, December 7, 2009
God Actually Has 2 Hands!!!
The Scriptures speak often of the right hand of God. Ps. 98:1, "O sing unto the Lord a new song, for he has done wonderful things, His right hand and His Holy arm have gained the victory for Him." Also in Ps. 16:11, "You will make known to me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy, in Your right hand there are pleasures forever. These a just a few Scriptures thar speak of the mighty right hand of God. But did you know God is not handicapped or physically-challenged? Are you aware He also has a left hand?
In the Song of Solomon 2:6, the bible says, "His left hand is under my head and with His right hand he does embrace me." The right of God is mentioned again in this verse, and even tells us what He does with it. "He does embrace me." Everyone of us have felt that embrace of God in and on our lives. It comes in the form of His love for us, the mercies of God. the favor of the Lord, His attention upon our lives, etc. The list could continue on and on. But this scripture also makes mention of God's left hand. "His left hand is under my head..." Have you ever given much thought to the left hand of God? Most likely not. His right hand seems to get all the attention.
His left hand is "beneath" or under, or behind my head. What the scripture is saying is, that we can see the right hand of God at work in our lives all the time through the many things He does for us. But the significance of His left hand is in no way less than the right hand. With the left hand being beneath, or under, or behind, it simply means we don't always see the hand of God at work in our lives but He is extremely active "working all things together for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)." God is constantly working behind the scenes (behind our head) to bring about His plan in our lives. The fact that God has spoke over your life in any capacity, assures us that He is still working toward that Word coming to pass in your life.
For example, look at the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. God gave him some wonderful promises, through some dreams he had, about his purpose and destiny as a man of authority (Genesis 37). But in order for those promises to come to pass, God had to move him to the place where the authority was. Toward the palace! Much later in the story, after he had been sold into slavery by his brothers, was lied about by his bosses wife, thrown into prison where he was at for about 13 years, Joseph said that it was God who had sent him to that place (Genesis 45:4-9). God had moved him to the place where the promises could come to pass! I am sure Joseph struggled at times with feeling like God had abandoned him, forgot where he was, forgot about the promises. It was probably difficult to believe the promise of God about being in authority when he was in slavery and prison! But the left hand of God was at work in Joseph's life! The pharoah had a dream and someone remembered Joseph giving interpretations of dreams in the prison, they called him forth, he told the pharoah what the dreams meant, and pharoah exalted Joseph to the highest place of authority in the land, next to his own. The promise came to pass. The left hand of God!
What about Jonah? God told him to do one thing but he tried very hard to do another. God sent a huge storm (Jonah 1:4) He ended up in the belly of a whale, or large fish, whatever your preference, that God had prepared (Jonah 1:17). I believe that the whale was being led by the left hand of God after it swallowed up Jonah, because when he spits Jonah out on shore, he was headed in the direction of where he was supposed to go in the first place! The left hand of God!
Jehoshaphat went to battle in 2 Chronicles 20. In verse 24, it says that when they showed up at the battlefield, the enemy was already beaten and defeated, laying everywhere! The left hand of God!
You and I may think like Joseph, God has forgotten us and His promises. Let me encourage you, God does not forget! He can't forget! The left hand of God is always at work in, and for, you and I. We might not see everything coming together, but when it happens, we know He was at work all the time! Sometimes it may take a while for some things to happen. Not because it was hard for God to do, because "nothing is impossible for God: (Luke 1:37). It usually has to do with God needing to finish something in us. God is moving in our lives, better yet, we are moving in Him! We might not see much, but He is doing much. Trust Him to keep His Word and promise to you.
His left hand is under, or beneath, our head. We can't see behind our heads. We don't have eyes in the back of our heads! That is why we must trust Him.
Be encouraged.
God has both hands at work in your life!!!
In the Song of Solomon 2:6, the bible says, "His left hand is under my head and with His right hand he does embrace me." The right of God is mentioned again in this verse, and even tells us what He does with it. "He does embrace me." Everyone of us have felt that embrace of God in and on our lives. It comes in the form of His love for us, the mercies of God. the favor of the Lord, His attention upon our lives, etc. The list could continue on and on. But this scripture also makes mention of God's left hand. "His left hand is under my head..." Have you ever given much thought to the left hand of God? Most likely not. His right hand seems to get all the attention.
His left hand is "beneath" or under, or behind my head. What the scripture is saying is, that we can see the right hand of God at work in our lives all the time through the many things He does for us. But the significance of His left hand is in no way less than the right hand. With the left hand being beneath, or under, or behind, it simply means we don't always see the hand of God at work in our lives but He is extremely active "working all things together for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28)." God is constantly working behind the scenes (behind our head) to bring about His plan in our lives. The fact that God has spoke over your life in any capacity, assures us that He is still working toward that Word coming to pass in your life.
For example, look at the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. God gave him some wonderful promises, through some dreams he had, about his purpose and destiny as a man of authority (Genesis 37). But in order for those promises to come to pass, God had to move him to the place where the authority was. Toward the palace! Much later in the story, after he had been sold into slavery by his brothers, was lied about by his bosses wife, thrown into prison where he was at for about 13 years, Joseph said that it was God who had sent him to that place (Genesis 45:4-9). God had moved him to the place where the promises could come to pass! I am sure Joseph struggled at times with feeling like God had abandoned him, forgot where he was, forgot about the promises. It was probably difficult to believe the promise of God about being in authority when he was in slavery and prison! But the left hand of God was at work in Joseph's life! The pharoah had a dream and someone remembered Joseph giving interpretations of dreams in the prison, they called him forth, he told the pharoah what the dreams meant, and pharoah exalted Joseph to the highest place of authority in the land, next to his own. The promise came to pass. The left hand of God!
What about Jonah? God told him to do one thing but he tried very hard to do another. God sent a huge storm (Jonah 1:4) He ended up in the belly of a whale, or large fish, whatever your preference, that God had prepared (Jonah 1:17). I believe that the whale was being led by the left hand of God after it swallowed up Jonah, because when he spits Jonah out on shore, he was headed in the direction of where he was supposed to go in the first place! The left hand of God!
Jehoshaphat went to battle in 2 Chronicles 20. In verse 24, it says that when they showed up at the battlefield, the enemy was already beaten and defeated, laying everywhere! The left hand of God!
You and I may think like Joseph, God has forgotten us and His promises. Let me encourage you, God does not forget! He can't forget! The left hand of God is always at work in, and for, you and I. We might not see everything coming together, but when it happens, we know He was at work all the time! Sometimes it may take a while for some things to happen. Not because it was hard for God to do, because "nothing is impossible for God: (Luke 1:37). It usually has to do with God needing to finish something in us. God is moving in our lives, better yet, we are moving in Him! We might not see much, but He is doing much. Trust Him to keep His Word and promise to you.
His left hand is under, or beneath, our head. We can't see behind our heads. We don't have eyes in the back of our heads! That is why we must trust Him.
Be encouraged.
God has both hands at work in your life!!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Bird's Nests
Several years ago, on New Years Day, my wife, Sheila, pointed out to me how that after the leaves had all fallen from the trees you could now easily see where the birds had built their nests. The Lord began to speak to my heart immediately about that.
The Lord let me know that our lives are the same way. The birds of the air are like our thoughts and the leaves on the tree signify the life that is in the tree. No one can see what our thoughts have been on, or where they have nested, till the leaves have begun to fall, then it becomes obvious.
When things are going well in our lives, we feel the presence of the Lord, we feel the life of God moving in us. That is our spring and summer. We are full of leaves. But when things begin to not go as well, our faith begins to be tested, we don't feel God's presence like we used to, we struggle with His love for us, etc., that is when the life seems to be leaving us and we begin to experience the fall season. No more leaves! No more life, we think! Then the bird's nests are revealed!
In 2 Corinthians 10: 5, the Scriptures say we are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Many times we don't take our thoughts captive, we just let them go. But, if we don't take them captive, they will captivate us. We then become enslaved to our thoughts, which eventually become our beliefs, which then, begin to dictate our lives. You see, we live what we believe! Good or bad. That is why we need to take our thoughts captive. We live our lives according to what we think! Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he".
You see, the purpose of the nest is to make a place for the baby birds to live till they can fly off and be on their own. Once again reproducing themselves.
Just like the birds, our thoughts reproduce themselves. They can encourage us or discourage us. Take them captive. Make them line up with the Word of the Lord. Make your thoughts be obedient to Christ.
Watch out for those bird's nests!
The Lord let me know that our lives are the same way. The birds of the air are like our thoughts and the leaves on the tree signify the life that is in the tree. No one can see what our thoughts have been on, or where they have nested, till the leaves have begun to fall, then it becomes obvious.
When things are going well in our lives, we feel the presence of the Lord, we feel the life of God moving in us. That is our spring and summer. We are full of leaves. But when things begin to not go as well, our faith begins to be tested, we don't feel God's presence like we used to, we struggle with His love for us, etc., that is when the life seems to be leaving us and we begin to experience the fall season. No more leaves! No more life, we think! Then the bird's nests are revealed!
In 2 Corinthians 10: 5, the Scriptures say we are to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Many times we don't take our thoughts captive, we just let them go. But, if we don't take them captive, they will captivate us. We then become enslaved to our thoughts, which eventually become our beliefs, which then, begin to dictate our lives. You see, we live what we believe! Good or bad. That is why we need to take our thoughts captive. We live our lives according to what we think! Proverbs 23:7, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he".
You see, the purpose of the nest is to make a place for the baby birds to live till they can fly off and be on their own. Once again reproducing themselves.
Just like the birds, our thoughts reproduce themselves. They can encourage us or discourage us. Take them captive. Make them line up with the Word of the Lord. Make your thoughts be obedient to Christ.
Watch out for those bird's nests!
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