I "accidentally" stumbled upon this scripture this morning while having my quiet time... well I really don't think it was an accident simply because I've been guilty of what I am about to address to many times. Truth is, I feel like I'm not alone, in fact you have probably been in this place before and was unsure what to do or where you could turn.
King David was in the midst of a storm. He was facing a difficult situation, and his back was against the wall. Feeling all alone with no one to help can be a very depressing time. 1 Samuel 30:6 says, "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God." The word the New American Standard translates "strengthened," can also be translated "encouraged." If you were to back up a couple of verses you would find that King David's home base had been attacked and destroyed by the Amalekites. They came in while David and the rest of his men were gone and burnt down the city, captured all his warrior's wives and children and even took the kings wives. The scripture tells us that upon the men returning and seeing this devastation they wept till the point of exhaustion. Can you imagine the sorrow these men must have felt? For these mighty men of war to weep to the point of exhaustion? The sorrow turned to bitterness and raging anger that was eventually turned toward David himself adding to his feeling of helplessness.
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt your life was spinning out of control? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you were responsible but didn't know how you were going to handle it? Have you ever been in a situation where you felt all eyes were on you and your back was against the wall, and no one was there to help? Sure you have! I have! David was in a place where he couldn't rely on anyone, or anything. His family was gone, his warriors were angry towards him, and his usual support wasn't there.
My wife and I were given a wall sign a few years back by a member of our church when we were going through a extremely difficult time and our backs were against the wall. We now have it in our bedroom to remind us every night and every morning of the difficulty of life, and it reads, " God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, nor sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way."
There are days when the feeling sorry for myself attitude reigns supreme in my life. There are days when it seems most appropriate...but it has never been productive! I am entrusted by those who love me most to be productive. How do you suppose David's family and the families of his men would have fared if he would have allowed this situation to push him into hiding and caused him to get the feel sorry for himself blues and not react? How do you suppose they would have fared if he had gotten mad at God and turned his sorrow and frustration toward God? Instead, the scripture says David kept his composure and encouraged...or strengthened himself in the Lord. He didn't call around and see how many others felt the same way he did, he didn't seek out those to feel sorry for him, he didn't join a victim of the month club...he trusted in his relationship with God. Sometimes I feel God has to remove all we can find comfort in, in order for us to rely more solely upon Him and strengthen our relationship.
Dear reader, there are going to be times when you have to motivate yourself, God's going to block those comfort zones. There are going to be those times when God wants us to strengthen ourselves in Him. Paul said it this way, " I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me," Phil. 4:13. That's self-motivation...that's trusting and knowing that God is there and He cares, He's just wanting you to trust Him. When no one else is there - He is!! Will you encourage yourself... that is strengthen yourself in Him today?
David immediately inquired of God in verse 8 and in the same verse God told him what needed to be done. I'm not sure what it is you are going through today, or this week, or month, but I'm confident God knows, and He's waiting. My wife says we shouldn't waist these difficult times by letting them devour us, instead we should allow them to empower us. Don't know about you...but I think I will! Thanks for taking the time to read, and God bless...
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Oh Happy Days
What a day! It started off in the woods before daylight. I got to hear Gods orchestra... with the birds singing, the squirrels barking, acorns dropping, and the breeze blowing. Then I capped it off with a campfire in the back yard watching the kids roast hot dogs, and make smores.
I wish more people could have the day I had yesterday, I wish they could experience the joys I did. It made me think about the fact that Atheist and Agnostics must not be hunters, and I cannot see how they can look at the miracles and privileges of watching their children, and still not acknowledge God's existence. Mac Brunson, pastor of 1st Baptist Jacksonville Fl. said, "Prayer is not so much me getting God's attention as it is me giving God my attention." That's exactly what He had yesterday! He had my attention from the time I awoke at 5 am til I went to bed last night. I found that when I approach my day with my attention deliberately upon Him, my day looks altogether different then when i just walk through it "expecting" God to pay attention to me. I know through God's Word that God will never leave me or forsake me, but that can cause me to take advantage of it. God's presence is always in my life but sometimes my presence is elsewhere. I found myself in a time of reflection, reflecting upon the blessings He has givin me in life, nature, and family. When I focus my attention on Him I tend to appreciate those things i usually take for granted.
Resist the temptation to fall into Satan's trap of believing that the situations and circumstances you are going through right now, even if they are difficult, are because God's not paying attention. Satan would have you to believe God doesn't love you, or He isn't interested in you right now....don't you smell the smoke...you ought to, its a lie straight from the pits of Hell. God is concerned, He loves you!! He created you deliberately, and that means He had you in mind when He created the earth and He's not about to give up on you now. My lovely wife used these words to encourage me one time when I found myself in the midst of a difficult time. She reminded me that "God grows His most beautiful plants in the hot house." You may be in there yourself, just know that you are in the center of His attention. He is growing you and when He is done, you will be even more beautiful then you are now. It may just be that he is trying to get you to focus your attention on Him. We need not waste a difficult situation by not giving Him our undivided attention. Nor do we need to wait on a chaotic situation to focus on Him. Focus on Him before you are "forced to," it'll be so much more enjoyable.
I hope you will take some time today and focus your attention on Him. He is waiting on you to acknowledge His existence today and not just when you feel you need Him. Want you just "want" Him today and enjoy the joy's and energy of just enjoying the small things you may take for granted. Take a minute to watch your children play, or watch your spouse do something they love to do, or try going outside and watch the clouds float, the breeze blow, or the bird's fly. Find you a small quit place and seek God's presence in your day...you'll enjoy it far more than usual! Pray prayers of praise and thanksgiving instead of waiting until you have to pray out of desperation and it just may revolutionize your prayer life and add confidence and validity to it.
God grant us a beautiful day and show us more of who You than ever before. God grant us all a day of reflection and show us your love for us. Amen
I wish more people could have the day I had yesterday, I wish they could experience the joys I did. It made me think about the fact that Atheist and Agnostics must not be hunters, and I cannot see how they can look at the miracles and privileges of watching their children, and still not acknowledge God's existence. Mac Brunson, pastor of 1st Baptist Jacksonville Fl. said, "Prayer is not so much me getting God's attention as it is me giving God my attention." That's exactly what He had yesterday! He had my attention from the time I awoke at 5 am til I went to bed last night. I found that when I approach my day with my attention deliberately upon Him, my day looks altogether different then when i just walk through it "expecting" God to pay attention to me. I know through God's Word that God will never leave me or forsake me, but that can cause me to take advantage of it. God's presence is always in my life but sometimes my presence is elsewhere. I found myself in a time of reflection, reflecting upon the blessings He has givin me in life, nature, and family. When I focus my attention on Him I tend to appreciate those things i usually take for granted.
Resist the temptation to fall into Satan's trap of believing that the situations and circumstances you are going through right now, even if they are difficult, are because God's not paying attention. Satan would have you to believe God doesn't love you, or He isn't interested in you right now....don't you smell the smoke...you ought to, its a lie straight from the pits of Hell. God is concerned, He loves you!! He created you deliberately, and that means He had you in mind when He created the earth and He's not about to give up on you now. My lovely wife used these words to encourage me one time when I found myself in the midst of a difficult time. She reminded me that "God grows His most beautiful plants in the hot house." You may be in there yourself, just know that you are in the center of His attention. He is growing you and when He is done, you will be even more beautiful then you are now. It may just be that he is trying to get you to focus your attention on Him. We need not waste a difficult situation by not giving Him our undivided attention. Nor do we need to wait on a chaotic situation to focus on Him. Focus on Him before you are "forced to," it'll be so much more enjoyable.
I hope you will take some time today and focus your attention on Him. He is waiting on you to acknowledge His existence today and not just when you feel you need Him. Want you just "want" Him today and enjoy the joy's and energy of just enjoying the small things you may take for granted. Take a minute to watch your children play, or watch your spouse do something they love to do, or try going outside and watch the clouds float, the breeze blow, or the bird's fly. Find you a small quit place and seek God's presence in your day...you'll enjoy it far more than usual! Pray prayers of praise and thanksgiving instead of waiting until you have to pray out of desperation and it just may revolutionize your prayer life and add confidence and validity to it.
God grant us a beautiful day and show us more of who You than ever before. God grant us all a day of reflection and show us your love for us. Amen
Thursday, October 6, 2011
What Does Grace Mean To You
Understand this: Grace is the power to excel, or license to just get by. Either way, you’re accepted and considered righteous in God’s eyes the moment you trust in Christ. Why would God arrange it that way? Because the love He gives us is unconditional, and only a response of love can satisfy Him. What an amazing truth; God makes Himself vulnerable to the rejection of people like us! Perhaps you’re wondering, “How can I prove that I truly love God?” That’s easy: you’ll love your brother and sister (See 1Jn 4:21). You’ll love God’s Word (See Ps 119:97). You’ll love spending time in prayer (See Jer 29:12). Grace, rightly understood, doesn’t prevent holiness, it produces it. “The grace of God that brings salvation…teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives” (Tit 2:11-12 NIV). I read this the other day in the Word for Today devotional and thought you would enjoy it as well.
It invoked the following thought in me... I of all people was not and am not deserving of God's amazing grace. However, I am encouraged that He loves me and is committed to doing a work in and through me. I am reminded of the words of Paul found in 1 Tim. 1:12-17… I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. [1]
Those of us that have received this grace have a obligation to the One who extended it toward us. God has called each of us to do a specific task and we have the awesome privilege and responsibility to do as Paul instructed the Colossians in, Colossians 4:2-6… Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. [2]
So let us make the most of our opportunities this week and allow God’s grace to inspire us to excel and all put our best foot forward and let God’s grace shine through us as we make known the mystery of the gospel.
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