Preparation for the Soul

By Rachel | February 29, 2012 - 7:59 pm | Thoughts for the Day

I was digging to plant my first Azalea a few days ago, and I got to thinking about how our spiritual lives are in many ways similar to the work that I do when preparing to plant a shrub.

To make sure that the plant is healthy and does well in the location where you have planted it, you need to give it the right kind of soil to grow. Each plant is unique- so you have to pay attention to the particular conditions that really help that plant to be healthy.

We need healthy soil to be planted in- I like to look at this as our home life- what we do with our time during the day- what we are putting into our brains, what we are thinking about? How much time do you spend focused on God and eternal things and how much time either escaping or focusing on things of this world?

You have to dig a big hole, usually two to three times the size of the plant ball that you are planting, and it is good to dig a hole twice as deep.

How deep is your foundation? Do you have basic knowledge and understanding of God’s Word? When you feel tempted or discouraged, or stressed- do you have passages of Scripture that you look to for comfort? Do you spend time in prayer- or do you head to the fridge, television, video games, or alcohol to escape? (This was very convicting for me- we talked about this at BSF last week)

Sometimes you have to remove rocks or take out a lot of the native soil because the plant needs a different mix to provide better drainage or to help encourage the roots to reach down deeper for water.

What do you need to take out of your life? What is lingering in the soil of your soul, keeping you from continuing to grow closer to Christ? What secret sin are you unwilling to let go of???

When you water the plant, you water for long periods, letting the water soak down deep, encouraging the roots to extend downward rather than staying close to the surface of the ground.

Do you have a solid root system? Does your faith run deep, not easily shaken by life circumstances? How do you respond when bad things happen to people? How do you handle the doubts in your life- are you confident in the promises of Scripture?

Do you know the promises that we can claim as children of God? Can you list some of the attributes of God’s character and point to places in Scripture that support your list?

A thick layer of mulch is necessary to keep the plant cool and to help hold moisture in the soil and keep weeds at bay.

What weeds have taken over in your soil? Are there things that choke you daily and discourage you- do you feel like you are fighting a losing battle?

Do you use Scripture to combat those areas of weakness in your life? Do you pray when hard times come or you lose your temper and say something that you regret? Do you seek forgiveness from those you have wronged and from God?

Have you spent time preparing your soul today? Are you so busy that you don’t have time to stop and even ponder the state of your soul? What can you change- no matter how small- to make a conscious effort to make time for God today?

Matthew 11:28-30

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

A Little TOO Comfortable

By Rachel | February 24, 2012 - 4:24 pm | Thoughts for the Day

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My daughter and I have this book that we read together- for a while it was her favorite- but now we read it only occasionally. It came to my mind today as I was thinking about the passage in 2 Corinthians that we studied at BSF(Bible Study Fellowship) this past Wednesday.

The book is called The Best Mouse Cookie and it’s by Laura Numeroff. The story goes that mouse is making cookies- and at one point he gets a little tired (happens to be when the cookies are in the oven) and the cookies get burned.

The line that the author uses jumped to my mind- mouse gets comfortable… “A little TOO comfortable.” I think that is how I get into trouble sometimes.

2 Corinthians 5:7-11

⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others.

Those of us who have committed ourselves to Christ and have received the Holy Spirit and are now reborn in Him, we are called to bear fruit. For we will be called to account for all that we have done.

When I read this Scripture from 2 Corinthians- I feel afraid. Because I have read about the wrath and judgment of God. I know that He despises sin and all evil. When I let evil take root in my life- when I leave it there unchecked- I believe that there are consequences- an accounting will be made.

When we lead others astray- when we fail to be obedient to God’s call on our lives and people suffer because of it- I believe we will be held accountable.

Do I believe that we lose our salvation? No. That is between each person and God- He is the judge- not I.

But I think it is good for us to gravely consider our actions- and whether or not we are being faithful to God’s call upon our lives.

Psalm 111:7-10

⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just;
   all his precepts are trustworthy.
⁸ They are established for ever and ever,
   enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
⁹ He provided redemption for his people;
   he ordained his covenant forever—
   holy and awesome is his name.

¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

If you are unsure whether or not you are being obedient to where God has called you- pray, talk to someone you respect- an Elder in your church, your pastor, a family friend. Seek wise counsel. Read God’s Word and pray seeking God’s Will. He will be faithful to point you in the right direction.

2 Chronicles 7:14 -Although God is speaking directly to Solomon about the dedication of the temple here- I think we can also claim this promise.

¹⁴ If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

I pray that today we will take the time to stop during our day and seek God’s face. So that we will not miss out on opportunities to be used by Him- to bring glory to His Name in our acts of sacrifice and service.

And that we also might try to persuade others (see verse 11). For if God has truly changed our lives and set us free from sin and given us the gift of eternal life- isn’t this something we should want to share?

I pray that we will find opportunities today to share and that we will boldly do so- we are not responsible for how the message is received by others, but we need to be sharing it!

2 Peter 3:9-10

⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

May the coming accounting for our deeds before God inspire us to strive towards those things that please Him- and to share about salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord with everyone that we can.

To endeavor to live so that we may someday hear the words- “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Stopping to Ask for Direction

By Rachel | February 22, 2012 - 5:29 pm | Thoughts for the Day

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Making a plan, keeping the schedule, crossing things off the list, sometimes it can seem like days are filled with so much of going from one thing to the next we don’t really have time to think about it.

But do you ever have days when you can feel a whisper or nudging- go open your Bible, or pray about that…but you are so preoccupied with what you are trying to do that you don’t even really notice? God is trying to break in- but you can’t hear Him or see what He’s trying to do because you are too busy getting in your own way?

Well, that’s what happened to me yesterday. I was so preoccupied by certain tasks I was trying to get done, that I didn’t stop to spend time with God- to really put it all down and just sit with Him.

I took some “quiet time” but it was really about 15 minutes of reading a devotional and it was encouraging- but afterwards I still felt unsettled in my spirit- I still needed more- but I pushed those thoughts and feelings away and just continued to work.

Today, this morning, I finally took the time (in part at home, in part at BSF). I stopped and really listened- and He comforted me. He encouraged me- He met me right where I am.

Here are some of the meditations from 2 Corinthians that blessed me so richly today- and I pray that they will encourage and strengthen you as well.

How do we respond to trouble in our lives? Do we run from it, avoid it, ignore it, eat or drink alcohol to numb ourselves from the pain of our circumstances? Or do we embrace it, seek to not just endure our trials but do I enlist?

Enlist means to join the cause- fight the good fight- participate in the battle- go on the offensive- not just slump our shoulders under the burden but take courage- have faith in God and stand firm.

Our troubles, the cracks in our jar- reveal Christ’s glory. See 2 Corinthians 4:1-15.

¹ Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. ² Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. ⁴ The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. ¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Trials are opportunities for the light of Christ to shine through our brokenness.

So let us shine, may the light of Jesus light us up- may we have on us the fragrance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 2:14-17).

Waiting on God, Day 20

By Rachel | February 21, 2012 - 9:03 pm | Thoughts for the Day

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Today has been a challenging day- I knew I needed to spend some time in prayer and meditation on God’s Word to bring peace to my troubled heart, and to encourage me.

Waiting…yes, I have been learning about waiting for over a year now. And still I wait- for answers- and some answers are coming- but slowly- and I am not good at being patient.

This devotional from Andrew Murray was so encouraging to me today. This quote especially:

“And if you ask: How is it, if He(God) waits to be gracious, that even after I come and wait upon Him, He does not give the help I seek, but waits on longer and longer? There is a double answer. The one is this, God is a wise husbandman, who “waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it” (James 5:7). He cannot gather the fruit until it is ripe. He knows when we are spiritually ready to receive the blessing to our profit and His glory.”

He goes on to talk about the great blessing of waiting through trails and storms, our sense of time is different than God’s. We must trust Him with the pace of events, and anticipate His faithfulness, even when it seems a long time coming.

This has calmed me today- for sometimes I become discouraged or weary in my waiting- longing for an answer or a sign- and yet even as I write this God continues to encourage me. Even in the midst of waiting, I feel His Presence.

Sometimes I must believe as an act of will and trust that my emotions will follow.

I pray that you may find courage and strength in the Lord- as you wait, or as you endure trials. He is faithful.

Honor My Feeble Attempts

By Rachel | February 20, 2012 - 3:20 pm | Thoughts for the Day

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When I first started blogging, pressing the publish button was so hard. It still is the hardest part of posting now, but pushing it has slowly become easier.

Why is it hard- you might wonder? Well, as a recovering perfectionist- I struggle with the reality of how feeble my own thoughts are. I am not an expert- not an authority. I am just a young Mom with a passion to love and serve God- but I sin every day- I have vices- I struggle and make mistakes.

And it is hard to put my thoughts out there for anyone to read. To share from my soul- because part of me is afraid how it will be received. What if people mock me, or dismiss me as foolish or irrelevant?

I am also a people pleaser by nature, so I have a hard time when I do all that I can to try to please someone or be what they want but I can’t do it. Though I have made some progress in curtailing this desire in my life- sometimes it still rears its ugly head- and I feel hurt by harsh criticisms of my thoughts or beliefs- esp. by people who I consider friends.

So, today, I was thinking about how increasingly insignificant and feeble I am when compared with God. His thoughts are so far beyond our understanding- we see such a small piece of the full picture.

I can remember times when I made hasty judgments about God based on limited information, especially when I was hurting.

This Scripture passage came to mind as these thoughts were ambling through my brain.

Isaiah 55:8-12 (the Lord is speaking here)

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
   come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
   without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
   so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
   It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
   and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
   and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
   will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
   will clap their hands.

I feel my own smallness after reading this passage- my insignificance next to God- but also a deep and abiding thankfulness that my life is in His Hands. I can’t imagine a better place. By God’s grace alone- it is a place of refuge for me.

So, despite my fears of inadequacy and vulnerability…here I go.

We need to put ourselves out there- because many times that is what God asks of us- to pursue things that are beyond what we are comfortable with- maybe not our area of expertise or where our strengths lie- because God knows that we will depend on Him more when we reach the end of ourselves.

As long as we can throw something relatively good together on our own- we fail to seek God. We go through our days managing on our own strength and missing out on the blessing that are just beyond our reach because we choose to play it safe- to go it alone.

This blog is a form of surrender for me. Submitting to God- and praying each day that He would help me to convey my passions- and to have the courage to share my vulnerabilities- so that He may be glorified.

I know that mistakes and failures sometimes shape us (through fire) in ways that success might never achieve.

So I pray for courage for all of us to step up to the call- to honor God with our feeble attempts to serve- to give Him what we have- no matter how small it may be- and trust Him in faith with the rest.

Tossed by the Wind

By Rachel | February 20, 2012 - 2:38 pm | Random

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I have always been a passionate person. Those things that I feel strongly about- I have a hard time discussing them without becoming animated in my whole person- gesticulating and voice rising in a torrent of zealous words.

One of the disadvantages to this tendency, however, is that my emotions sometimes have far too much say in my life.

They ruin days when I cannot shake them, or drag me down by whispering repeated helplessness in my ear.

Feeling emotions deeply means that you get those high highs, but sometimes- and to the detriment of all those around me- I get some very low lows.

James 1:2-8 comes to mind often when I am feeling inconsistent in my emotional state- when I am allowing them to dictate too much in my life- and not persevering in faith and trust in God- letting His Words bring peace to the storm in my brain.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

I don’t want to be double-minded and unstable. I am thankful for the passion God has given me for life and the calling He has placed on my life. But sometimes, I need to choose another course to follow than the one my emotions are dictating to me.

I give them too much power and control- and they end up taking me places where I do and say things that I regret.

So, if you struggle with out-of-control emotions at times, know you are not alone- and I pray that today we will call out to God for help and use His Word to fight when those emotions try to push us around.

Stand firm- these verses came to me as I wrapped up this post- I pray that they encourage you.

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

⁵⁷But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Intentional Living

By Rachel | February 19, 2012 - 6:24 pm | Thoughts for the Day

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Being a parent has made me even more aware of how important it is for being to make conscious effort in thinking about my priorities. What do I spend my day doing? What is most important to me? And how do my actions either confirm or raise suspicion concerning what my priorities really are?

I am a planner, so usually first thing as the day begins, I have started a mental list of all the things that I want to get accomplished.

I like productivity- to be able to see something tangible that shows how productive my day has been-an immaculately clean house, a new crochet project completed, 3 chapters written in my book, a delicious meal prepared.

Life changed for me forever with the entrance of our two little miracles (our children). They have thrown a wonderfully inconvenient wrench in all my plans and guided me towards what is really important.

Sometimes I forget to look for the eternal significance of things. How am I spending my time furthering God’s kingdom here on earth? Am I making a conscious effort to reach out to those around me with God’s love? Am I in tune with the Holy Spirit?

Am I even listening to where God is guiding me today?

Through my children, and the love I have for them, God has been calling to me, to hear His voice- to be obedient to His call- and that has taken me places- and into situations that I never imagined. It is not always easy, but it is so good-so good.

And I find myself trying for the first time in my life- to order my days according to someone else’s will and not my own. Letting my own selfish wishes and wants be pushed aside as I listen to God’s call- my children have guided me out of a selfish existence. I don’t think I even realized how consumed I was with self at times.

I think our society places so much emphasis on self and pleasure for the self, instant gratification, treat yourself- that sometimes we don’t wonder- or even ask, what God wants from us- what He is trying to teach us- how He is trying to use us.

Colossians 3:1-17

¹ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³ For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is yourlife, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

⁵ Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. ⁷ You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. ⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

I pray that we will have the mind of Christ- that we seek opportunities to serve- to open ourselves up to God’s leading- to listen.

Pondering Courageous Parenting

By Rachel | February 17, 2012 - 11:14 pm | Random

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I never really considered parenting as a courageous job. Hard work- yes, challenging- yes, and parenting has definitely brought new fears to light.

But I never really recall ever discussing with someone that I am becoming more courageous by being a parent. More likely- I would be discussing being cautious. Watching out for them. Trying to keep them safe.

When reading Sacred Parenting today (by Gary L. Thomas) he talked about the fears we have as a parent. And then he said some things that really stretched my reality.

He quotes several do not fear passages from the Bible and then says that the Bible doesn’t offer a how-to or the five principles of overcoming fear- instead it calls us to “Do what is right regardless of how scared you feel.”

He goes on to talk about how fear of the unknown or potential failure can keep us from trying anything new in life- and missing out on what God may be calling us to do. Then he says the following:

“I’m not saying we should act recklessly or toss discernment to the winds. But I am saying that the fear of what-ifs has stopped cold more good work than has moral failure. Fear doesn’t create scandalous headlines, as moral failure does, but it does just as seriously injure God’s work on this earth.”

I have been chewing no that for a while. That is a point I had not really stopped to consider in that context, but I think it is an interesting point to ponder.

Then Gary Thomas talks about how this becomes more challenging because courage doesn’t always equal success. And when it comes to our children, if someone asks us what we are willing to risk, we want to say- nothing- that’s it. Safety first, remove the odds of anything bad happening. But realistically, we can’t remove all the risk.

And this is the final thought I want to share from the book, “Through sacred parenting we learn to act courageously, regardless of how afraid we may feel. And when we step out in faith, we allow God to shape our souls in ways that will develop us far beyond the parenting part of our lives.”

I hope this encourages and challenges you as well. I am still chewing on it- that’s what I have loved about this book, I read a chapter and find myself thinking about it throughout the day as I interact with the kids- about how I am influencing them- and what am I teaching them through my actions, my priorities, and what I say.

I highly recommend Sacred Parenting: How Raising Children Shapes Our Souls. My Dad recommended it- I borrowed it from the library but I already know I am going to buy a copy. It is the kind of book where I am going to want to write in the margins and underline things.

If you have any favorite parenting books, please share- or have you read anything or had some breakthrough moment as a parent that you would like to share about?

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Expectant Hope

By Rachel | February 17, 2012 - 1:54 pm | Thoughts for the Day

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I get so excited over new plants blooming. When I wake up in the morning, one of the first things I look for- Is it blooming yet? I love watching the tiny buds get bigger and bigger and lift up above the leaves, and then watch them start to open- a little color peeks at you, and then a little more each day.

It struck me this morning- it is so hard for me to hope for heaven like that. To anticipate with joy being with God forever. I spent some time this morning looking at verses that talk about hope or mention hope. This verse really struck me.

Romans 15:4-6: Paul is talking in chapter 14 about being sensitive to the convictions of others and not causing a brother or sister in Christ to stumble. We should please others first before ourselves- and then this verse appears.

⁴For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That really speaks to me today. In my determination to spend time in God’s Word each day- knowing I need it- and the time I am investing to help my children memorize Scripture- I memorize with them- knowing that we need to hide God’s Word in our hearts-hope in the Lord.

It is also teaching us endurance- as we see those who have suffered before us and have claimed the hope of Christ- who have been persecuted and tortured, even killed for their faith in Christ-hope in the Lord.

I found myself praying today, Lord give me that hope- I want to learn from your Word through the Holy Spirit- I want to run with endurance- and be encouraged today- that I might press on to hope.

I came across this verse today as well- an old favorite. Some verses feel like the blanket I used to snuggle as a baby and young child. We are inseparable- and these words, like that blanket (although definitely surpassing it in years)- have been a source of comfort.

Isaiah 40:31
³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint.

I want to hope expectantly- and keep the promise of heaven close. How? I don’t know, I am still learning- but I think a great place to start is to think about it.

Each day, just take some time to think about heaven. To remember that this life is not the end.

Maybe read some books about heaven. I love using Bible Gateway to look up a word or passage to meditate on. Look up hope and read some of the verses or passages.

I pray that the hope of heaven would touch you today, and give you strength in your current struggles.

Let Joy In

By Rachel | February 17, 2012 - 1:15 am | Thoughts for the Day

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Years ago I read Joyce Meyer’s book Battlefield of the Mind. It changed my life- because something came through to me with such marvelous clarity- I have never forgotten it. We have power over our thoughts, not the other way around. We give our thoughts power when we entertain them.

Thoughts are how so many bad things can start. Thoughts about body image and weight, thoughts about someone else and how much they have or how good things are, and whether or not that is fair. Or maybe it’s judgmental thoughts like “I can’t believe they would do that”- or parent their kids that way- or well, fill in the blank.

Then we give voice to them- and that gives them even more power. I realized that I had been doing this in my own life- and recalled moments when I had these feelings and thoughts about friends and acquaintances. I heard a sermon shortly afterward and the following statement is a good summary of the message.

We are not fully able to enter into joy with others in their blessings, to celebrate promotions or accomplishments, to fellowship fully in our hearts, when we harbor bitterness and envy.

It can start out so small- just a little thought “I don’t see how they deserved that promotion, I work just as hard as they do” or “she probably is just naturally skinny and doesn’t have to work at it, it’s not fair.” Or how can they be a __________ (enter in a political party or group you don’t agree with).

I believe that if we fail to address and be aware of our thoughts and the power they have over our lives, we can spend our days being controlled by our thoughts- to such extent that our witness is compromised and we are unable to faithfully serve Christ.

We are so distracted by unfairness or circumstances benefiting others more than us. Or maybe it is just that we think someone doesn’t manage their money well and we feel that they should give more to the church. Or we see them playing games on FB, and assume that they are neglecting their responsibilities or shouldn’t be spending their time doing that.

But we are each accountable for our own choices- not the choices of others.

We can urge our friends to be faithful to what Scripture calls us to- but the choices are up to each of us individually- and we are accountable to God for the choices we make during our time here on earth.

And it is hard for us to know what is truly in the heart of another person. Sometimes it takes years of friendship and fellowship, to discern intentions behind actions.

Why are we so quick to assume the worst of each other?

What I hope and pray- we will love each other despite our differences and focus on the values that we share- and rejoice with each other. Celebrate together, and laugh together. Don’t let the things that divide us prevent us from fellowship.

See the passages below- let us live in peace with one another.

2 Corinthians 13:11-12

¹¹Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-18

¹² Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:12-15

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ¹³ “Make level paths for your feet,”so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

God’s Word always says it better than I could ever say myself.

God bless you, and may you share joy with someone today.

Tag Archives: devotional

Preparation for the Soul

Stopping to Ask for Direction

Waiting on God, Day 20

Honor My Feeble Attempts

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