Things Above

     As we fill ourselves with the living water and the bread of life, our hearts will become filled with thanksgiving to God. Though we face trials and tribulations in this life, God gives us the strength to believe in His love, to find hope, to use His grace to get through each day.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7

     I want my heart to overflow with thankfulness for the faith that strengthens me. How about you? I love these next verses. Keep eternity, our real home, tucked in your heart each day. We are already seated there and one day soon, we will be with Christ forever!

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

     One day, glory. For now, we remain filled with thanksgiving for Christ who is our life. Let’s focus on things above as we live out our lives for Him.

Father,

As we fill ourselves with Your Spirit, You give us grateful hearts. Thank You for keeping our faith strong in these difficult times and keep hope alive as we wait.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Renewed Minds

     Jesus transforms from the inside out. His world moves us out of the physical world around us and into heaven, where we come boldly to the throne of God.

Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4;16

     Not conforming to the world around us is difficult isn’t it? Our culture talks to us 24/7 on our devices, in the media, in advertising, in our places of work, in our neighborhoods.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal 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

     How do we not conform to the patterns of the world? The Scripture above answers the question for us. We need to renew our minds, to know His Word, to discern what is good and pleasing to Him, rather than what appears to be good in the world around us. Remember, Satan is deceitful, can masquerade as an angel of light and is the father of lies. (John 8:44)

     The truth is ours and it will set us free from the chains that bind us.

Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

     Move to the throne of grace and focus on things above. The Word will renew our minds to be filled with God’s Word rather becoming filled with the world around us.

Lord,

Renew our hearts and minds to be focused on You above all we see, hear and touch. Our spirits are hungry for what is good and pleasing to You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Heart Conditions

      The heart is most important to our Lord. He wants us to focus on our hearts more than what is outwardly visible. Years ago, our church sponsored a small, poverty-stricken church in Mexico. The pastor from that church came to visit and one of our pastors took him to the Mall of America during his time here.

     The culture shock shook him to the core. He insisted on leaving almost immediately. His thoughts? He felt pity and sorrow for Americans, who needed all of the lights, all of the products, all of the moving to and fro to be content. He said the poor people of his congregation understood that only God can give us what we need. He saw a joy and contentment in his people that he believed was missing in those he saw here.

     His observations were enlightening and heartbreaking and true. When Jesus gives us what we need most in life, the heart will sing. We will overflow with what He has given us, His love, His hope, His soul-transforming life.

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

     What we fill our hearts with will show. When our hearts are all about Jesus, He shines through rather than our unruly emotions or fear. His spiritual food is more important than our physical nutrition.

What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouths that is what defiles them. Matthew 15:11

Lord,

Fill us with the spiritual food that brings joy and contentment and goodness and let it show. What fills our hearts will overflow to the world.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Spiritual Food

     Feeling the need for deep nourishment and rejuvenation? Jesus has the answers and the ability to fill our deepest needs. Our soul and spirit need to be fed and filled just as our physical bodies need nutrients and hydration to survive. In fact, Jesus calls Himself the “bread and water” we need.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never go hungry and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

     Filling up with the Word of God and allowing Jesus to feed our souls means we will never be thirsty or hungry for our deepest desires again. A saying came to me last night. I’m not sure if God gave it to me or if I heard it somewhere, but here it is:

     “With Jesus, even when everything else is gone, we are left with everything we need.”

     Jesus knows us deeply. He understands our quirks, our weaknesses, our mistakes. He loves us in a more intimate way than anyone else. Allow Him to nourish you today. Ask Him to feed you good spiritual food and the living water that leads to eternal life.

“Whoever believes in Me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow within them.” John 7:38

Jesus,

Fill the empty places in our souls. Give us the living water that will flow within us. We long to be filled with the bread and water of life.

Amen

Read, Pray, Listen

     These three disciplines will guide us into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

1.     Studying and reading the Bible. What a precious gift this is. The word of God is alive and necessary for us to follow. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth. I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I delight in Your decrees. I will not neglect Your word. Psalm 119:13-16

2.    Pray. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17. This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14

3.    Listen. The Holy Spirit of God resides within us as believers. The Spirit will open up the word of God to our hearts, will intercede with us when we don’t know how or what to pray and will relay God’s desires for us as we move through our days, nudging, warning, guiding, teaching, and opening our eyes to opportunities. Listen to the voice within. The very Spirit of the living God. My sheep listen to My voice. I know them and they know Me. John 10:27 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes with us with wordless groans. Romans 8:26

     Read, pray, listen. He is our Lord and Savior and He always leads us in the best, richest, most satisfying ways. He is life, life to the full, the abundant, blessed life. And He is ours! Sit with Him. Hear Him. Be filled with peace and joy and rest.

Lord Jesus,

Keep us steadfast and trusting. Keep us less busy in order to keep You in first place where You belong. Please let Your Spirit guide us today and every day until we reach our heavenly home.

Amen

    

Love God, Love Others

     I feet better already. Thanks for reading this week. I needed these verses and reminders. We all do. Think about the lives of our grandparents and great-grandparents. Can you imagine them witnessing our world today? It is no wonder we become stressed or anxious. We move too fast, use screen-time too much, get stuck in traffic, and it is easy to see why we often lose our way.

     Jesus asks us to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts, our souls and our strength. Jesus summed up the greatest commandments for us.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

     Loving God first. It encompasses everything important in life and eternity. That love encourages us to love ourselves and others. Losing your way? Put priorities in order. And others will recognize Jesus through our love.

By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35

     Let Jesus change your heart into one of love, peace and joy.

Jesus,

Let others recognize us as Yours. Only placing You truly first in our lives will fill us to the brim until we overflow with Your Spirit. Help us find time to be with You.

Amen

Perfect Peace

     When I am distracted by too much going on, choosing to spend too much time on Facebook, or fretting over even special and happy events in the future, I lose my peace and joy. Can you relate? Our lives move too quickly, ending up being too restrictive and full. We become spiritually undernourished and it shows.

     Patience can be lost. Kindness goes by the wayside. Anxious thoughts fill our minds and we can’t find the joy in our days. If you find negative emotions replacing what Jesus has to offer, maybe you need a little nudge in our Lord’s direction.

     Prayer is a necessary part of our faith life and Jesus loves hearing from us. Give all of your anxious thoughts, your over-booked mind and schedule to Him. Let Him lead You into His good graces once again. He is available 24/7 and I find myself talking to Him over and over in the middle of the night, which is great, but He also promises us good rest.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Isaiah 26:3

     The definition for “steadfast,” includes reliable, dutiful, unwavering. Are you trusting Jesus with your life, with your plans, with your days and nights? I fall short in that steadfast trust that leads to perfect peace. Let’s move it onto His shoulders and get some perfect peace and rest.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

     He, alone, offers complete safety. He, alone, offers perfect peace. He will give us rest and sleep as we give ourselves to Him.

Father,

Your Son has everything we need. Thank You for His grace that is sufficient for us each day. We rely on Him. Keep us steadfast and trusting.

In His name,

Amen