God never sleeps or slumbers (Psalms 121:4) but all through the night He watches over us.
Some are afraid of the dark. The uncertainty of not waking up is a very real fear for some. Others can't sleep but find themselves tossing and turning from troubling thoughts. They yearn for the morning light. While others are afraid of nightmares that suddenly jolt them out of a deep sleep. The monsters of the past keep revisiting night after night.
But all through the night the Lord keeps a vigil over us. His eyes never grow drowsy but keeps them on us.
Shortly after Israel left Egypt they found themselves at the bank of the Red Sea with the Egyptian army in hot pursuit. But the Lord kept a vigil that night to watch over them (Exodus 12:42). It was night never to be forgotten. The Lord parted the waters to lead Israel to safety. The Egyptian army foolishly pursued them to their destruction.
Beloved, we have this promise in Psalms 4:8 "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety" (NIV). God promises His peace to comfort our hearts and calm the storms in our minds so we can rest. We don't have to be afraid of the shadows or when the first ray of light breaks through the early morning hours. God is with us all through the night!
Can you imagine the Lord whispering in your ear through the dark quiet hours?
Psalms 42:8 says, "By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life." (NIV, also see Job 35:10).
Yes, He sings and speaks to our hearts while our subconscious may be not be fully aware but our spirit communes with Him. His lullaby of deliverance and victory lulls us into a deep sleep. He sings a medley of peace and assurance to calm our troubled minds (Zephaniah 3:17). When we wake our bodies and minds feel refreshed and renewed.
It's in the night hours God speaks His precious and loving thoughts to us - thoughts that speak of hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Perhaps that is why David writes, "Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand-- when I awake, I am still with you." (Psalms 139:18, NIV).
Should you hear His voice in the midnight hour do as Samuel was instructed. Simply say, "Speak Lord, I'm listening." (I Samuel 3:10).
You wouldn't believe the secrets God wants to share to His children of light when darkness falls.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Dying To Love Him
Our American culture is driven by self-focused interests and the preserving of its entitlements and rights. But Jesus says in John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." (NASB).
Today the Lord holds out an invitation to abundant life but only if we are willing to die.
The choice is ours.
We can die willingly to a self constructed life and embrace His own. Or we can pursue self-fulfillment only to lose our lives in the end - forever separated from His life (verse 25).
Beloved, when we love our relationships more than God or we hold those things higher than Him then we are still very much alive to a self directed life. God is not saying to hate or destroy relationships in some misguided religious fervor. He wants us to love Him in greater measure. It means dying to a self created life where I define how much I want to love Him over the people and things in my life.
Perhaps the most simple and surest way to die is present your members as a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 says "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship" (NIV).
When we are willing to lay down our desires or fleshly pursuits (no matter noble or good it may seem) we will experience a great infusion of His strength and life. Keep it mind the key words in this verse - a living sacrifice - we bring down the knife as it were on the altar of self mortification - to find in the end more of His life imparted to us. God will provide for us as He did for Abraham who was willing to obey to the point of laying down his promised son.
And that is what makes dying to self so difficult. Can we trust God to make provision rather than take matters in our hands? Can we let Him speak to our troubled emotions instead of returning to those sinful places for relief that only further death? And do we believe He can quicken us in our graves to bring us out like Lazarus - a new man and woman fully alive in Christ?
After the flood, Noah made an altar to the Lord. It says the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and promised never to destroy the entire earth (Genesis 8:21). How much more beloved when we offer Him spiritual sacrifices will He do for us at the scent of a life that ceases to exist except for Him? Paul speaks of such a life that gives off an aroma of death that attracts those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).
Pray then beloved as Elijah to send the fire upon the altars of our lives (1 Kings 18:38). Let the flames consume the fat of self indulgences! Allow the heat to lick up the water and consume the wood and crack the stones of an indifferent heart! All that will remain is the life sanctified by His Spirit.
Dying to love Him is more attractive to the perishing than living without Him.
Today the Lord holds out an invitation to abundant life but only if we are willing to die.
The choice is ours.
We can die willingly to a self constructed life and embrace His own. Or we can pursue self-fulfillment only to lose our lives in the end - forever separated from His life (verse 25).
Beloved, when we love our relationships more than God or we hold those things higher than Him then we are still very much alive to a self directed life. God is not saying to hate or destroy relationships in some misguided religious fervor. He wants us to love Him in greater measure. It means dying to a self created life where I define how much I want to love Him over the people and things in my life.
Perhaps the most simple and surest way to die is present your members as a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 says "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship" (NIV).
When we are willing to lay down our desires or fleshly pursuits (no matter noble or good it may seem) we will experience a great infusion of His strength and life. Keep it mind the key words in this verse - a living sacrifice - we bring down the knife as it were on the altar of self mortification - to find in the end more of His life imparted to us. God will provide for us as He did for Abraham who was willing to obey to the point of laying down his promised son.
And that is what makes dying to self so difficult. Can we trust God to make provision rather than take matters in our hands? Can we let Him speak to our troubled emotions instead of returning to those sinful places for relief that only further death? And do we believe He can quicken us in our graves to bring us out like Lazarus - a new man and woman fully alive in Christ?
After the flood, Noah made an altar to the Lord. It says the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and promised never to destroy the entire earth (Genesis 8:21). How much more beloved when we offer Him spiritual sacrifices will He do for us at the scent of a life that ceases to exist except for Him? Paul speaks of such a life that gives off an aroma of death that attracts those who are perishing (2 Corinthians 2:15-16).
Pray then beloved as Elijah to send the fire upon the altars of our lives (1 Kings 18:38). Let the flames consume the fat of self indulgences! Allow the heat to lick up the water and consume the wood and crack the stones of an indifferent heart! All that will remain is the life sanctified by His Spirit.
Dying to love Him is more attractive to the perishing than living without Him.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Am I Enough For You?
Perhaps the first step toward freedom from addiction starts with this question: Is God enough for you?
One definition of addiction is a state characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences (Wikipedia).
You could say the driver for most addictions is discontentment.
Those who suffer from addiction know first hand that it's never enough. One more sip. One last sexual encounter. A final purchase of clothing or shoes on an already overdrawn checkbook, I promise. One more party and then I'll stop. They risk destroying their lives and others in a pursuit to be satisfied. Just a little relief. One more ounce of comfort to escape from what seems to be a harsh and painful reality.
Then there is a sudden crash into a deepening pit of despair and frustration. Followed by a cold slap of reality that reminds them they are more bound than they liked to think.
A cyclic pattern emerges with failed efforts to stop only to find themselves returning to destructive behaviors. Just as described in 2 Peter 2:22 "...A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud." (NIV). The body shows signs of weariness and sin sickness that addiction often brings. The bills stack up and like the prodigal they have no more resources or means to live. Friends are fewer and family seems far away to bring any relief.
Beloved, lust for more will always consume and burn up everything and everyone in its path - it's a fire that like hell which can't be quenched. Only the grace of Christ can put out the burning of discontentment and restore a charred life.
But God hears the prayer of those who yearn for freedom. "I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God." (Psalms 69:2-3, KJV).
He comes in your most darkest hour and immediately stretches out His hand much like He did for Peter who started sinking into the stormy sea.
When you are willing and content to be saved by Him alone and not from your own efforts to do better...when Christ becomes your all - when nothing else matters - when you can say, "Yes, God you are my sufficiency - my all and all!" then the shackles of addiction will loosen and break off. He becomes your living water that satisfies. Your bread that fills your soul. He is your life. No hellish power of addiction can cut you off from His incredible mercy to be delivered.
It was enough for the hemorrhaging woman to brush her fingertips on the fringe of Christ's robe to be healed (Matthew 9:20).
It was enough for another woman to eat a crumb fallen from her Master's table (Matthew 15:27).
And for the centurion who sought healing for his servant asked Jesus to say only a word (Matthew 8:8).
Jesus is asking you, "Am I enough for you?"
One definition of addiction is a state characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, despite adverse consequences (Wikipedia).
You could say the driver for most addictions is discontentment.
Those who suffer from addiction know first hand that it's never enough. One more sip. One last sexual encounter. A final purchase of clothing or shoes on an already overdrawn checkbook, I promise. One more party and then I'll stop. They risk destroying their lives and others in a pursuit to be satisfied. Just a little relief. One more ounce of comfort to escape from what seems to be a harsh and painful reality.
Then there is a sudden crash into a deepening pit of despair and frustration. Followed by a cold slap of reality that reminds them they are more bound than they liked to think.
A cyclic pattern emerges with failed efforts to stop only to find themselves returning to destructive behaviors. Just as described in 2 Peter 2:22 "...A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud." (NIV). The body shows signs of weariness and sin sickness that addiction often brings. The bills stack up and like the prodigal they have no more resources or means to live. Friends are fewer and family seems far away to bring any relief.
Beloved, lust for more will always consume and burn up everything and everyone in its path - it's a fire that like hell which can't be quenched. Only the grace of Christ can put out the burning of discontentment and restore a charred life.
But God hears the prayer of those who yearn for freedom. "I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God." (Psalms 69:2-3, KJV).
He comes in your most darkest hour and immediately stretches out His hand much like He did for Peter who started sinking into the stormy sea.
When you are willing and content to be saved by Him alone and not from your own efforts to do better...when Christ becomes your all - when nothing else matters - when you can say, "Yes, God you are my sufficiency - my all and all!" then the shackles of addiction will loosen and break off. He becomes your living water that satisfies. Your bread that fills your soul. He is your life. No hellish power of addiction can cut you off from His incredible mercy to be delivered.
It was enough for the hemorrhaging woman to brush her fingertips on the fringe of Christ's robe to be healed (Matthew 9:20).
It was enough for another woman to eat a crumb fallen from her Master's table (Matthew 15:27).
And for the centurion who sought healing for his servant asked Jesus to say only a word (Matthew 8:8).
Jesus is asking you, "Am I enough for you?"
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Blessed Assurance
Hebrews 10:22 says, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (KJV).
Perhaps this Scripture was the inspiration for the beloved hymn Blessed Assurance written by Franny J. Crosby.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
There is a place of divine rest when we learn to wait on the Lord. We surrender our lives into His loving hands reserving no place for self ambition. We invite Him to search, try and test our hearts (Psalms 139:23). In other words, we simply say yes to Him.
True faith must be tested and refined like gold (1 Peter 1:7) otherwise it's not faith but a mere empty wish with little or no expectation of God actually responding. Waiting teaches to rest on His word regardless to what we feel or want to be done in that moment.
Beloved, waiting is not a passive act as if it requires no action on our part. No, we must press into Him with greater love and devotion. This is not done to manipulate Him (as if He could be) but to hear what He's has to say regarding our petition. God will always go to the root cause to why we pray the things we do.
No matter the need and how pressing it might cause us to react we have to recall Psalms 27:14. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (KJV). God gives us the strength and grace to wait rather than take matters into our own hands. When we patiently wait on God our strength is renewed and He is greatly pleased we give Him time to respond to our petitions.
Waiting has a way of giving perspective to what seemed so urgent turns out be less of an emergency than first thought. Perhaps some things can't wait but if we learn to pray before taking any action and committing it into His hands we will find a blessed assurance of rest.
As so many of us have learned impatience makes for a lack of peace. God will help still our hearts and minds long enough so we can hear Him to speak to us. His peace speaks to the anxious storms in our minds so we can stand in awe of Him and be still (Psalms 4:4).
Perhaps this Scripture was the inspiration for the beloved hymn Blessed Assurance written by Franny J. Crosby.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
There is a place of divine rest when we learn to wait on the Lord. We surrender our lives into His loving hands reserving no place for self ambition. We invite Him to search, try and test our hearts (Psalms 139:23). In other words, we simply say yes to Him.
True faith must be tested and refined like gold (1 Peter 1:7) otherwise it's not faith but a mere empty wish with little or no expectation of God actually responding. Waiting teaches to rest on His word regardless to what we feel or want to be done in that moment.
Beloved, waiting is not a passive act as if it requires no action on our part. No, we must press into Him with greater love and devotion. This is not done to manipulate Him (as if He could be) but to hear what He's has to say regarding our petition. God will always go to the root cause to why we pray the things we do.
No matter the need and how pressing it might cause us to react we have to recall Psalms 27:14. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (KJV). God gives us the strength and grace to wait rather than take matters into our own hands. When we patiently wait on God our strength is renewed and He is greatly pleased we give Him time to respond to our petitions.
Waiting has a way of giving perspective to what seemed so urgent turns out be less of an emergency than first thought. Perhaps some things can't wait but if we learn to pray before taking any action and committing it into His hands we will find a blessed assurance of rest.
As so many of us have learned impatience makes for a lack of peace. God will help still our hearts and minds long enough so we can hear Him to speak to us. His peace speaks to the anxious storms in our minds so we can stand in awe of Him and be still (Psalms 4:4).
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