God so often has to lead us to a place of rest.
Otherwise, we may hesitate given the laundry list of activities and deadlines we face. From the moment our feet touches the floor to the end of the day we are booked to capacity. Think of the energy our minds uses to perform our jobs. And think of how tiresome when we experience so many random and misdirected thoughts! Then there is a long list of obligations to perform and responsibilities to balance.
At the end of the day there is little or no strength remaining except to sit down and sigh. Or for some of us, to crawl under the covers and curl up in a tight ball.
Psalms 23:2 says, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." (KJV). The original word for lie down means to stretch out.
God is the one who leads us to a place of inner rest. The rest causes us to stretch out fully rather than retreat or retract our bodies, minds and spirit. His supernatural rest restores our confidence (Isaiah 30:15) because God is watching over us.
So we are protected and cared when we are in an unguarded moment like rest. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalms 4:8 NIV).
Let's lean into our Beloved and close our eyes just for a moment and learn to rest.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Saturday, April 21, 2018
The Brass Door
So often as believers we pray that God would make an open door for us.
A door leading to a better job, a better place or an opportunity to do something we've long to do. And we pray for the strength to obey and walk through any door He opens for us. Even doors that lead us to difficult seasons and hardships simply because we follow the Good Shepherd.
But what about the door of our hearts that He's longing to open?
Could it be that He's asking us to open the most difficult door? A door that leads to a very intimate and protected place in our hearts. Then my darling's hand reached to open the latch, and my heart stood still. (Song of Solomon 5:4, Contemporary English Version).
Likewise, Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20 NIV).
We can be bold like Peter to say we'd go anywhere and do anything for Christ. But there's something in our heart that bolts the door to His entrance. At times we can feel His strong but gentle hand on the latch. He desires to turn it but waits for our agreement. Only we retreat behind our self-imposed walls and remain imprisoned.
Perhaps, we are afraid of Him touching something that has caused a lot of pain. Or the Lord repeats the truth we've heard before but dismissed it because it's too hard to hear.
Salvation is about surrender - daily dying- to fully live for Him.
And where there's a place in our hearts that refuses to surrender (and may actually be deadened) we only have ourselves to blame when other doors remain locked. The Lord will never kick down our door or rip it off the hinges unless we are in danger.
Beloved, there is a freedom He offers us. If only we can say in faith, "Yes, walk through the walls of this heart to the place where it hurts so bad," then soon you'll find other doors opening. We'll walk through with confidence not confusion or dismay because our hearts are completely at rest in His presence (Leviticus 26:13).
I will go before thee, and make the rough places smooth; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron (Isaiah 45:2, ASV).
A door leading to a better job, a better place or an opportunity to do something we've long to do. And we pray for the strength to obey and walk through any door He opens for us. Even doors that lead us to difficult seasons and hardships simply because we follow the Good Shepherd.
But what about the door of our hearts that He's longing to open?
Could it be that He's asking us to open the most difficult door? A door that leads to a very intimate and protected place in our hearts. Then my darling's hand reached to open the latch, and my heart stood still. (Song of Solomon 5:4, Contemporary English Version).
Likewise, Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20 NIV).
We can be bold like Peter to say we'd go anywhere and do anything for Christ. But there's something in our heart that bolts the door to His entrance. At times we can feel His strong but gentle hand on the latch. He desires to turn it but waits for our agreement. Only we retreat behind our self-imposed walls and remain imprisoned.
Perhaps, we are afraid of Him touching something that has caused a lot of pain. Or the Lord repeats the truth we've heard before but dismissed it because it's too hard to hear.
Salvation is about surrender - daily dying- to fully live for Him.
And where there's a place in our hearts that refuses to surrender (and may actually be deadened) we only have ourselves to blame when other doors remain locked. The Lord will never kick down our door or rip it off the hinges unless we are in danger.
Beloved, there is a freedom He offers us. If only we can say in faith, "Yes, walk through the walls of this heart to the place where it hurts so bad," then soon you'll find other doors opening. We'll walk through with confidence not confusion or dismay because our hearts are completely at rest in His presence (Leviticus 26:13).
I will go before thee, and make the rough places smooth; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron (Isaiah 45:2, ASV).
Saturday, April 14, 2018
When God Whispers
Believers have a unique experience because once God lives in us we can hear His voice.
Those outside of Christ only hear natural voices not the quiet, gentle whisper of God.
Yes, there are days we can't hear the voice of God, but it does not mean He is silent.
God's voice is constructive. He's always working on our behalf to conform us to His image. The evidence of a changed heart speaks of His transformative power in our lives.
We became a book that others read and they "hear" the voice of God through the pages of life God has miraculously changed.
Still there's an inner longing to hear His voice - clear and loud - especially when so many of us battle with confusion and lack of confidence. Sometimes we don't know what direction to take even after much prayer and seeking His face.
The prophet Elijah was in such a condition. "After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (i Kings 19:12-13).
The gentle whisper of God was more terrifying than an earthquake or fire!
Friends, we have filters over our ears and mindsets full of expectations to what God should or should not say to us (and how He should speak).
And that's why listening is the key to hearing God's voice. Active listening tempers our anxious hearts. At times we must will ourselves by His grace to be quiet and still. When God silences the roaring noise of heart and pulls back all the distractions; we can hear that soft but powerful voice.
You will discover the joy of listening and hearing the whispers of God is comforting.
"In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul." (Psalms 94:19)
Those outside of Christ only hear natural voices not the quiet, gentle whisper of God.
Yes, there are days we can't hear the voice of God, but it does not mean He is silent.
God's voice is constructive. He's always working on our behalf to conform us to His image. The evidence of a changed heart speaks of His transformative power in our lives.
We became a book that others read and they "hear" the voice of God through the pages of life God has miraculously changed.
Still there's an inner longing to hear His voice - clear and loud - especially when so many of us battle with confusion and lack of confidence. Sometimes we don't know what direction to take even after much prayer and seeking His face.
The prophet Elijah was in such a condition. "After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (i Kings 19:12-13).
The gentle whisper of God was more terrifying than an earthquake or fire!
Friends, we have filters over our ears and mindsets full of expectations to what God should or should not say to us (and how He should speak).
And that's why listening is the key to hearing God's voice. Active listening tempers our anxious hearts. At times we must will ourselves by His grace to be quiet and still. When God silences the roaring noise of heart and pulls back all the distractions; we can hear that soft but powerful voice.
You will discover the joy of listening and hearing the whispers of God is comforting.
"In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul." (Psalms 94:19)
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Right Ingredients
My mother taught me and my siblings the basics of cooking. Her first lesson was cooking a hard boil egg. 3 minutes for soft and 5 for hard boiled. I watched her several times baking from scratch, sometimes without a recipe.
Once I watched her make an entire cake measuring flour and sugar using her cupped hands to estimate how much to add. She had an intuitive sense how to take a few ingredients and make it into something both tasteful and nutritious.
By no means do I consider myself a professional chef. But I've learned that some ingredients just don't mix and can spell disaster. And to create a balance in flavor and harmony (e.g. tempering sweetness with an acidic ingredient).
Cooking is an extension of my creativity but when I'm under a lot of pressure and distress, frozen or ready meals soon take the place of a home cooked dinner.
So what are the right ingredients to heal a distressful soul?
We understand our circumstances may not change but even get worse. But our spirit can be changed through the grace of God to ride through any storm or what may seem like a kitchen nightmare.
Perhaps, God is turning up the heat to extract out the worst in us so He can bring out the best things hidden from our understanding.
He takes the ingredients of hard circumstances (which may taste like red hot pepper flakes) and adds them to stew of sorts in our lives. The final outcome is a wonderful and wholesome meal for others who are starving - they come to us to be feed the food or bread of heaven - because God has taken the distressful ingredients and tempered it with His grace!
I'm reminded of the prophet who was told the soup was poisonous because of a wild vine added to the soup. Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put it into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people to eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot. (2 Kings 4:41 NIV).
God knows how to heal us. Transform what is ugly and distressful into something beautiful. He can also add flour (His word) to our lives to neutralize the poisonous effects of distress.
So if you find God in the kitchen...what He's making or baking will always make you hungry for more of Him!
Once I watched her make an entire cake measuring flour and sugar using her cupped hands to estimate how much to add. She had an intuitive sense how to take a few ingredients and make it into something both tasteful and nutritious.
By no means do I consider myself a professional chef. But I've learned that some ingredients just don't mix and can spell disaster. And to create a balance in flavor and harmony (e.g. tempering sweetness with an acidic ingredient).
Cooking is an extension of my creativity but when I'm under a lot of pressure and distress, frozen or ready meals soon take the place of a home cooked dinner.
So what are the right ingredients to heal a distressful soul?
We understand our circumstances may not change but even get worse. But our spirit can be changed through the grace of God to ride through any storm or what may seem like a kitchen nightmare.
Perhaps, God is turning up the heat to extract out the worst in us so He can bring out the best things hidden from our understanding.
He takes the ingredients of hard circumstances (which may taste like red hot pepper flakes) and adds them to stew of sorts in our lives. The final outcome is a wonderful and wholesome meal for others who are starving - they come to us to be feed the food or bread of heaven - because God has taken the distressful ingredients and tempered it with His grace!
I'm reminded of the prophet who was told the soup was poisonous because of a wild vine added to the soup. Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put it into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people to eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot. (2 Kings 4:41 NIV).
God knows how to heal us. Transform what is ugly and distressful into something beautiful. He can also add flour (His word) to our lives to neutralize the poisonous effects of distress.
So if you find God in the kitchen...what He's making or baking will always make you hungry for more of Him!
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