He Lifts Us Up

 

I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in Him.  Psalm 40:1-3

     Wherever you are, whatever the cry of your heart, God will turn to you. He hears you. The three short verses above are a beautiful picture of salvation in Christ. We get to a point. We can’t do it on our own. Those fears, whether of life or death encroach and surround us. They seep in and they take over. We seek God, and He inclines His ear to us.

     There is His gift, His love, His sacrifice, our salvation for eternity waiting for us to accept. We allow grace to overcome guilt. And we are His forever. He begins to lift us out of the muck. Lives change. Climbing out of the pit isn’t easy. As our heads peek out of the darkness, it’s difficult to see in the bright light. We squint, shield our gaze, but the warmth of the light feels good.

     Old habits die. New ones come to life. Bitterness fades. Forgiveness rises up. Jesus just won’t give up. He continues to lead us out of the pit, out of the muck. And as our fingers reach the top of the pit and He lifts us out completely, we realize our tastes are different. Oh, the pit looks enticing now and again. We knew the dark. Everything was not so clear in the pit. Everything was not so, well…exposed.

     Jesus is doing a work in us. Over time, we are out. A little mud may remain around the edges, a tinge of muck is still stuck to our shoes, but we move on. In His light, there is always more light available. As faith grows, as the image of Christ becomes like a mirror, our foundation is more secure. We look around and sunshine has replaced the dark clouds. As our feet move out of the swamp and our fingers grab onto the rim of the pit, Jesus pulls us up to stand on the rock. He is the rock. We have a secure place to stand. We have protection from the storms around us. We see beauty in place of ashes.

     And others begin to recognize the new life, the new bounce in your step. The new shoes, the clean shiny ones without the muck attached to the soles, the praise on our lips, the coarse language gone. The sunglasses are gone. You have adjusted to the light. The temptation to slide back into the pit is there, but the choice is as clear as your soul. You choose faith. You choose the solid rock. You choose the new life, and others will be blessed. Others will ask. Others begin the climb. The view at the top is breathtaking.

Dear Lord,

The words penned long before Your Son’s birth make the path to salvation so vivid, so true. You hear us, You guide us into new life, and we are secure. Help us to sing this new song loud and clear. Lead others to those hymns of praise.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Steadfast in Suffering

 

     Are you waiting for an answer to prayer? As you know, our family has been through many months of uncertainty and fear as our grandson travels through the journey of a rare type of epilepsy. Each time we are raised in hope, more seizures return. The list of medications and the doses increase and we wait again.

     This stressful time continues to take a toll on all of us, especially on our daughter, Lauren and her husband, Garrett. Lauren has taken a leave from teaching and has been with her boys every single day. All of us are surrounding their family with love and support, and we return time and again to Jesus, His promises, and to prayer and hope.

     We ask “why?”  Why this sweet boy? How can he continue to go through this? What is the next step? Sleepless nights, emotional roller-coasters, fear-filled thoughts are tough to work through right now. But what would we do without Jesus? We go to the throne room of grace minute-by-minute. He gives us words and hope through our friends and families. Songs and prayers appear at just the right time.

    Even last week with the worst of the seizure activity, our son-in-law “just happened” to be off work due to a delay in getting the job site ready. There have been small blessings continually along the way and we savor the good days and we continue to hope for a a miracle. We want the glory of God to shine through this so that others may see, hear and learn about our God.

     Is life perfect as a Christian? Don’t believe the hype from the prosperity preachers. The Biblical followers of God suffered greatly along the way. But God stepped in at just the right moment. He fought as they stood waiting. God saved Israel through Esther. The family line leading to Christ continued after Naomi lost her husband and sons and her daughter-in-law embraced her faith, Mary gave birth to Jesus only to lose Him as a young man (to save us all). His ways are mysterious and miraculous and they are so much higher than ours.

     And yet, we trust, always and forever. For those of us in a time of uncertainty, let David help us turn back to God in our time of distress.

By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me-a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy? My bones suffer mortal agony and my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your trust in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:8-11

Jesus,

Through the suffering and uncertain times, we will praise You. Through the nights of anguish, we will cry out to You. We wait. You are working. Keep us steadfast.

Amen

God's Everlasting Love

 

     If you have children, you understand the deep bond. God built us to be in relationship. Love cannot be explained or easily put into words, but we feel it and believe it to our very core.

     As we let go through the stages of our children’s lives and see them grow into adulthood, we look back and see God’s hand of protection and love. God knows each of us before we were born. He forms us in the womb and continually watches over us. I count on that.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14

     I come boldly and confidently to Jesus recognizing He loves our children and grandchildren even more than we do. Seems impossible, but He has loved us with an everlasting love. And the good news is, we can love Him right back.

I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will go well for them and for their children after them. Jeremiah 32;39

All your children will be taught by the Lord and great will be their peace. Isaiah 54:13

     We love you Angela and Lauren. What a gift! What a blessing! What a joy! We celebrate you and your families, under the care of Christ.

Father,

We thank you for the gift of Your Son. As parents we can’t imagine the pain of His suffering and His loneliness at being separated from You. Thank you for the gift of marriage and children. Your works are wonderful.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Confidence in Christ

 

     It doesn’t take much to experience defeat. Just one wrong word from a co-worker, a failed test, a wrong turn, a faulty alarm, or a missed appointment can ruin our day. We are shaken and we lose our self-confidence. What would life be like, how would it change, if we placed our complete confidence in Jesus? What if it was no longer about us, but about Him?

     When our confidence and faith depend on Him, we lose our self -focus, our guilt-ridden, fear-filled, worrisome thoughts and our shaky foundation. Let Him take the reins this morning. Leave Him with the unrest in your mind and heart and soul. Be bold in Jesus, not in yourself. He can handle all of the indecision and all of the questions. Even in the midst of deep struggle and chaos, let Him be your strength.

And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5:15

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God. Who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31b

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Jesus,

You gave everything for us. Keep us focused on You today. You are for us and our confidence is in You. Hold us in Your protective arms and work through and in us.

Amen

Share the Hope

 

     The early apostles spoke boldly of Jesus. All but John and Judas died for their witness. Paul suffered beatings and imprisonment as he continued to speak the word of God. When you surrender to Jesus, everything changes. The old you becomes the new you, born again, washed in the blood of Christ. No longer does God see our sin. He sees Christ. And like the early disciples we, too, can say:

“As for us, we cannot help speaking of what we have seen and heard”. Acts 4:20

     Be ready with an answer to those around you. When someone asks about the hope that is in you, speak of all you have seen and heard. Has Jesus changed your life? Is He working through you and in you? Miraculous changes occur when Jesus steps into a life.  I love this verse:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

     For people to ask, they must see a hope in us. Are you ready to give the answer? Preaching and forcefully telling someone what they must believe never works. Let them see a difference in you. It is because of Christ we have the eternal hope. And answer with gentleness and respect. Let the Jesus in you do the talking and share the hope!

Father,

Let Your Holy Spirit shine through us so that others may see Your Son. His hope is available to everyone. Please let us be a bold example of Your faith in action as we speak of all we have seen and heard with gentleness and respect.

In Jesus name,

Amen

 

The Throne Room of Grace

 

     My prayer list is lengthy. I love to pray for each person and their families each day. When I don’t have the time, I ask God to bless and keep each person on that list. He knows each one and He knows their needs. He knows the right people to surround them. He knows when they are going to look up for the first time and say, “God, I need You.”

     Life transitions hit us, whether it is adjusting to life without a loved one or dealing with a chronic condition that changes everything. Even joyous celebrations including marriage and children take some adjustments, or the newness of retirement or the empty nest. Each season brings about times of joy and mourning. Maybe you have been on a roller coaster of emotions lately, as we have in our famly. Maybe you have a huge decision to make. Maybe you are watching a loved one suffer or maybe you are lonely.

     Bow your head and ask for help from Jesus. He will be your constant companion. His words to you will bring you comfort and hope. He is there and He loves nothing better than to sit with you a while and listen to your needs. And as you get to know Him and to count on Him, He will use you to share His love. He will make you an ambassador of love to a hurting world.

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20

     And He will ask you to pray for others. What a privilege. What an honor. If someone asks you to pray, take it seriously. The throne room of God is available through Jesus, He will take your prayers and He will move the heavens with His power and might. Come boldly to the throne room.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus,

You have opened the very throne room of heaven to us through Your death and resurrection. Such amazing grace! We come boldly to the throne of grace with our needs today. Be with us. Fill us with Your comfort, Your understanding and Your power to accept all of life’s transitions.

Amen

Spiritual Armor

 

     Finally, in this rich chapter of Ephesians 6, Paul gives us one more spiritual weapon. We talked about it some yesterday. Searching in and meditating on God’s word, and reminding ourselves of who we are in Christ are powerful ways to resist the devil’s schemes. Speaking and listening for God’s voice and His direction, both in His word and in prayer keep us on the offense.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  Ephesians 6:18

    Prayer sets our hearts and minds on Jesus. Satan would love to keep us as far away from God as possible, and he is creative in his tactics. His lies usually have some truth to them, as he entices us with his counterfeit ways. Praying in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of requests and praying for each other adds one more protective layer.

     Put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the shoes of peace, and take up the shield of faith. Continue to study God’s word and pray incessantly. We have the power to stand firm against the spiritual realm of evil.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:37

Dear Jesus,

You love us and give us all of the spiritual tools we need to stand firm in our faith, in our salvation, in our right-standing with You. We walk in Your peace. Help us to invade  and take down Satan’s territory with powerful prayer and the sword of the Spirit, which is Your word and the name of Jesus Christ.

Amen