Love His Word

"I reach out for your commands,

which I love,

that I may meditate on your decrees."

Psalm 119:48

In order to live by God's Word, to allow Him to use His holy scriptures to change me, I'll need to see the Bible as more than just a collection of wise teachings.  I'll even have to go beyond the idea that His Word is a way for me to obtain head knowledge about Him, or even that it is a beautiful love letter written to me.  

In order to live by God's Word I'll need to see it as my life line, my daily bread, my sustenance; only God can bring about such a hunger within me (Psalm 119:18).  When He does, I will truly love His Word.

Trust.  "You think you're better than everyone else!  No one is impressed, Goody Two Shoes!"  The words hurt, although I knew my mocker could not understand my reasons for following Jesus.  Neither could he comprehend why I would live such a radically different life.  While my flesh cried out for revenge, to hurt as I'd been hurt, my heart knew there was a better response.

When in difficult situations when my faith is being attacked, it is important to trust God to give the best answer from the depth of His own Word.  Since I study His Word often, steeping my soul in it's goodness, the words are there, hidden in my heart and waiting for their Master to bring them to my mind.  And when He does, I can speak the Truth in love to a weary and broken soul, bringing healing to his bones (Proverbs 16:24).

When God cultivates in my heart a love for His Word, I will be able to trust Him to bring it forth in times of taunting.

Hope.  In the face of such a dark and discouraging world, it's easy for me to lose heart.  I may feel like giving up, especially when the going gets rough and rocky.  I may wonder, what's the point of living for Jesus?  I'd rather just drift along instead of struggling against the current of this world.  

Then I remember the Truth of God's promises found throughout His Word and I find courage to continue my press toward Jesus.  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)  "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)  "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19)

When God cultivates in my heart a love for His Word, I will find hope upon which I can depend.

Seek.  "Obedience brings much blessing."  The young man proclaimed these words as truth as I shared the difficulty of doing God's bidding.  His way is so much different than the way I naturally am inclined to follow so living with Jesus as my King is not a natural thing to do.  But when I let Him have His way, seeking out His guidance, His best for me, His desires for my life, I find a certain freedom there.  Surprisingly, instead of being weighed down with a burden to obey, I find that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

Maybe this is part of the blessing my friend was talking about, this free and straight-forward way of living where I simply follow my Shepherd.  He knows the right way to go, He has all the resources to provide for my needs, He carries the burdens of my soul.  My only concern is to keep in step with His Spirit.  As I do, the responsibility for choosing correctly is off of me and placed squarely on my Lord's shoulders.  This is the blessing of obedience; the liberty to live as a well-loved sheep of the Good Shepherd's pasture!

When God cultivates in my heart a love for His Word, I will walk in freedom as I seek His best for me.

The Bible is more than just an instruction manual or words to live by.  It is the living, breathing Word of God that is able to transform my life.  When I ask God to give me a love for His scriptures, I will find a growing trust in His ability to give me the right response to my attackers, hope when it seems there's none, and a desire to seek His way above all others.  This is what will come from a love of His Word!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that God will give me a love for His Word.

When do I depend on man's wisdom instead of God's?

How do I neglect the very Word of God, or see reading it as simply a good habit?

Right Path

"Turn my heart toward your statutes

and not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

preserve my life according to your word.

Fulfill your promise to your servant,

so that you may be feared.

Take away the disgrace I dread,

for your laws are good."

Psalm 119:36-39

I tend to think and act selfishly.  Even my walk with Jesus can be all about me and what I get out of it.  Is there a better way than going after such worthless things?  

Yes, His path is the right one, and it is in stark contrast to the way toward which I gravitate.

Testimonies.  I have a tendency to think like the world, to look for how I can satisfy my own longings for comfort and fulfillment, to obtain all that I want out of life, to find security in the position I've achieved or by the stuff I've attained (1 John 2:16).  While I'm inundated with messages telling me this is the path to success, God has a better way.  His path truly leads to life, and to find the narrow gate through which I enter onto His road, I'll need Him to give me an affinity for His ways (Matthew 7:13-14).

As He changes me, I'll discover I will look for evidence of His love working in me and through me.  While the old me would use these testimonies and His power at work within me as a way to elevate myself so I feel better about who I am and what my position is in life, the new and improved version of me wants more of God because I finally realize that knowing Him and abiding in Him is what brings my heart it's greatest fulfillment.  There is nothing more I need than Him.  Only God can bring me to such a comprehension.

The right path for me to follow is marked out by the evidence of the outworking of His great love. 

Life Source.  My older sister is developmentally disabled.  The more time I spend with her, the more I see myself in her behavior.  The only difference between her and I is that I've learned how to hide my selfish or socially unacceptable behavior while she has not reached that level of development.  In other words, she does what comes naturally without much understanding as to how her actions affect those around her.    

One thing I see is that she is easily distracted.  When she's working on a task, like putting on her jacket, she may get distracted by a piece of paper that is out of place on the table.  She stops what she's doing and focuses on putting that stray paper back where it should be.  Then she may continue in this tidying-up mode until she is reminded that she was putting on her jacket, at which time she finishes the task at hand.

I'm just as easily distracted.  While I may have figured out a way to get around my natural tendency to lose my focus, I'm still quickly drawn away from what is important.  This is no more obvious than in my walk with Christ.  My eyes are attracted to worthless things; to pursuits, possessions and paths that either will not last or will destroy my faith.  I need God to turn my vision away from such foolishness and draw me toward His better way which is my source of life.

The right path for me to follow is His way that turns out to be my source of life.

Good.  I live with a sense of dread, in the shadow of foreboding.  What if I pick the wrong choice, or say the wrong thing, or live in a way that dishonors God?  He'll be mad and may kick me to the curb.  I don't want to lose His favor or my place in His kingdom.  That's a lot of pressure for a mere human to bear.

Thankfully, in Christ Jesus there is no longer such condemnation (Romans 8:1)!  I need not live with the fear of wronging a Holy God, or disappointing my heavenly Father, or failing to live up to His perfect expectation for me.  Through faith in Jesus I am free from the judgment my sins deserve and liberated to walk with His Spirit down the path that pleases Him.  As I keep in step with this indwelling Guide, I'll produce good fruit that lines up with His law (Galatians 5:16-23).  Instead of trying hard to be good and failing miserable, I can live freely in His Spirit as He leads me where He wants me to go.

The right path for me to follow is the good one He leads me down.

It is impossible for me to find the right path on my own since I'm naturally drawn to the way that leads to destruction.  If I want to journey on the road that leads to life, I'll need to look for the evidence of His love as the markers that lead to the right way, to allow Him to direct my attention toward His better way, and to gain a sensitivity to the leading of His Spirit.  In these ways, I'll find the right path for me to follow.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God to lead me where He wants me to go.

How do I tend to go the way that seems best to me?

When do I ignore the gentle promptings of God's guiding Spirit?

Enlightenment

"Make me understand the way of your precepts,

and I will meditate on your wondrous works."

Psalm 119:27 ESV

The 18th century was a time of philosophical exploration, of great scientific finds, and the replacing of tradition by reason.  It was dubbed "The Enlightenment" and many great writings, inventions and discoveries, radical laws and revolutions were generated during this time period.  It seemed to be a time of great awakening.

In order for my mind to be awakened to God's Word and to come to a deeper understanding of His ways, I need Him to intervene.  I am dependent upon His grace to make Himself known to me; it's not something I can attain through my own effort and in my limited capacity.  What will happen when He does?  I will undergo a revolution of my own!

Strength.  I'm ready to give up.  I feel like I can't go on.  Life has become too difficult and I've lost the will to live for Jesus.  It seems easier just to let things happen as they may.  Great sorrow fills my soul as I realize how desperate is my situation.

I take a chance and cry out to my Father, sinking into His Word.  There I find strength as I submerge myself in the life-giving Truth.  As my mind is realigned with His perfect ways, right-thinking is restored and I see my situation from a different viewpoint.  Instead of only focusing on the difficulties surrounding me, my field of vision is taken over by the magnificence of God.  He gave me strength by putting things back into proper perspective with Him at the center of my attention.

"My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!" (Psalm 119:28)

Guidance.  I'm easily distracted from the Truth.  Alluring ways entice me away from wholehearted devotion to Jesus.  I hear a repackaging of an old lie and I think I've found the answer; it appeals so to my flesh that I'm quickly drawn away.  I need help to stay on track.

Through faith in Jesus Christ I have a Spirit who shows me the better way.  While I may not be removed from temptation, He is faithful to provide a way out so that I can stand firm against that which lures me away from my First Love (1 Corinthians 10:13, Revelation 2:4). 

Sometimes these temptations are merely attitudes.  On the outside it may seem I'm committed to God and His ways, but my motivation may be off; I could be more devoted to pleasing people than God or driven my ambition instead of a passion for Christ or inspired by fear or guilt instead of love.  I need God to show me the fallacy of my ways and show me His in a way I can understand.

"Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!" (Psalm 119:29)

Heart.  It's hard to commit to something if I don't see the value of it.  When I was young, I didn't understand the importance of checking the oil in my car, even though I'd been told numerous time to do so.  Since I didn't see the value in making sure my vehicle's engine had enough oil circulating through it, I hardly ever bothered to pull the dip stick out to gauge it's levels.  Then one day the car wouldn't start.  The engine had been damaged beyond repair by driving without enough oil.  After spending hundreds of dollars to repair it, I suddenly understood the importance of checking my oil.

I tend to learn things the hard way, but when it comes to God, I can trust Him to open my heart so I will understand the value of living His way.  As I place myself in His hands like a pliable lump of clay, He forms me into the shape He created me to be.  Undergoing this transformation, I find myself drawn to the rightness of godly living.  This internal makeover gives me a greater appreciation for His way, and a deep desire to stick to the rocky path that leads to life.  Even when the going gets tough, I'll want to stand firm in Him because He has given me an affinity for Him and His Word.  

"I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!" (Psalm 119:32)

There is no way my puny mind can comprehend God's Word apart from His clarifying and instructive Spirit.  Therefore, I am dependent upon His grace to give me understanding.  As I lean on Him, I'll find the strength that comes from His Word, the guidance He provides through it, and the open heart I need in order to stick to it.  This is the kind of insight that comes from God; this is true enlightenment!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him enlighten me.

When do I lean on my own understanding instead of God's?

How do I sink into sorrow instead of letting God's Word give me strength?  

The Pure Way

"How can a young person stay on the path of purity?

By living according to your word."

Psalm 119:9

I rush through my morning rituals, standing before the mirror as a thousand thoughts cross my mind. I've got to remember to pick up the light bulbs for Dad.  I wonder if my sister is feeling okay today.  Lord, help my friend in her time of greatest need.  I apply moisturizer as more thoughts flow.  How will Dad take the news of this disease that ravages his mind?  Will he comprehend?  I wonder if I should follow up with the furnace repairmen?  It seems a week is ample time to order and receive the needed part.  As if on auto-pilot, the brush comes out, makeup applied, scarf tied around neck.  I walk out of the bathroom without the slightest clue as to how I looked.  I could have toothpaste smeared on my chin and food stuck in my teeth.  I stood before the mirror but didn't even see myself, so distracted was I.

This is often the same as it is for me when I read God's Word.  I go through the motions, skimming the words on the page but not letting them sink in, resisting the nudge of the Holy Spirit as He points out a passage here, a word there.  What does it mean?  What message is God speaking to me?  How does He want me to respond?   I don't take the time to discover because I'm ready to move on to the next thing.  I'm not paying attention, so distracted am I (James 1:22-25, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).  

Yet this Book that I hold in my hands is the key to pure living.  I may think it is impossible in such an age as this, to live purely in a corrupt world, but in Christ, there is a way.

Intentional.  One of my favorite memories of growing up is inner-tubing down the river during the summer time.  It felt like such an adventure as my friends and I floated downstream, letting the current take us.  But if we only floated along, not paying attention to the eddies drawing us into a maddening whirlpool, or the fast-moving flow that seemed the safe way yet battered our heads under unyielding branches every time, we often got into trouble.

It's the same with my faith-life.  If I just float along, letting the current of public opinion, or common beliefs, or popular thinking carry me along, I'll soon find myself in a vortex of meaninglessness or swept away on a dangerous-yet-common route.  If I am to live in a way that honors the sacrifice Christ made for me, I must deliberately live purposefully to do as He says.  As I study God's Word, then, I must listen to the still, small voice of His Spirit and heed His warnings, yield to His guidance, and let Him have His way instead of me stubbornly insisting on mine.  As I sensitively walk with Him, I will not break His law as I find my desires have been supernaturally brought into alliance with His (Galatians 5:16-18).

In order to resist the drift into worldly mindsets that corrupt God's best for me, I will need to live intentionally.

Wholehearted.  It's easy to hold out on Jesus.  I love Him and want to follow Him, but there are areas of my heart that I make off-limits to Him.  I think I'm dedicated wholly to Him, until He points out the fact that I crave the affirmation of man, or that I still cling to my desire for comfort above commitment, or that there is still that issue of fear of exposure that I expertly hide in my heart.

I can trust Jesus with my entire heart.  He will not hurt me, use me or exploit my pain.  Instead, He has my best interest at heart and will lead me along as a good shepherd does, with God's glory coupled with my welfare in mind.  It boils down to me dedicating myself to the person of Jesus Christ.  Nothing more.  Is He my greatest desire?  Do I realize He is all that I need?  Am I content with Him alone?  If I were to be stranded on a desert island, do I really get it that making Him my one possession would guarantee me complete happiness?

In order to live purely in a dark and sinful world, I will need to completely give myself over to Jesus.

Guarded. "Truth is for our protection."  The words pierced like a beacon through the darkness.  My friend's wisdom resonated deeply.  In order to stand firm in His best for me instead of giving in to what seems better, I must be rooted in the truth of God's Word.  To keep from being swept away by the words that sound good to my itching ears, I must be able to discern the deceptive teaching are not from my Father (2 Timothy 4:3).  If I want to stay on the rocky path that leads to life, I will need to know the fallacies of the tempting wide, smooth, well-traveled road (Matthew 7:13-14). 

God's Word can serve as my weapon against the deceitful attacks of the Enemy (Ephesians 6:13-18) .  As he pelts my armor with lies and temptations, I can fight back with the truth that does damage to his wily schemes.  If I don't know the truth found in scripture, however, I'll be taken over by the relentless assaults of Satan.

In order to stand firm in such a topsy-turvy world against an enemy that constantly tries to trip me up, I will need to use my sword to guard my faith.

It may seem impossible to live virtuously in such a dark world, but it is possible.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, it is vital that I live intentionally  in order to resist the drift, to avoid the temptation to hold out on Jesus, and to use God's Word to protect me from attack.  In these ways I'll be able to walk the pure way!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live on purpose instead of just letting life happen.

When do I hold part of me back from Jesus, attempting to restrict His access to my heart?

How am I afraid of letting Him fully in?  How is this fear a kind of stronghold that guards me from the loving approach of my Father?           

Great Hope

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.  Whenever I pray, I make my request for all of you with joy,

for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heart it until now.  

And I am certain that God, 

who began the good work within you, 

will continue his work 

until it is finally finished 

on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

Philippians 1:3-6 NLT

I praise God every time I think of you, dear reader, because I know God is at work within you, changing you, growing your faith, transforming you in ways you could never have imagined.  You look at yourself and cannot even recognize who you have become.  

The things that used to make you angry, bringing your blood to the boiling point, have now become opportunities to extend the grace of God.  You can't explain this new you.

Your favorite pastime used to be engrossing yourself in intriguing dramas, but now you are inexplicably drawn to God's Word and can't seem to get enough.  You would never have imagined that you'd ever want to spend time studying the Bible like this.

In the past, the unknown brought about much fear and anxiety, bringing with it sleepless nights and restless days, but now you live in a state of perpetual rest, knowing that God is at work on your behalf.  You can hardly believe such a worrier as you can sleep this well at night.

And so I praise God for you and the difference the Gospel of Jesus Christ has made in your life.  And I praise Him for what He is continuing to do, and all that is to come in the days ahead.

We are a people of great hope! 

Progression of Dependence

"The LORD is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation."

Psalm 118:14

As I came up out of the water, I had a feeling that something was different, that I was brand new.  In my young mind there was a hope for the future, a realization that I was made for more than simply living for myself.  I was excited about this great adventure that stood before me.  

I didn't start this journey of faith knowing completely of my great need for Jesus.  Instead, I had a vague inkling that something was missing, that I wasn't complete, that I needed more than what was in me.  I was drawn to Jesus as my salvation, but I didn't fully know the depth of my depravity, how much I needed His rescue.  Little by little, He shows me how desperately I need Him, how lost I am on my own.  There is a progression of my dependence on Him.

Discipline.  I have much to learn.  My wrong thinking, harmful habits, and destructive ways are exposed through hardships in my life.  God uses the tough times to root out what doesn't belong in me as His child.  The crises, suffering and painful experiences are like a chisel in His loving hand as He expertly carves away all that is impure and which distracts from Jesus (Hebrews 12:10-11).  As hard as it is to go through such discipline, God does not take me to the point of death (v 18).  Instead, He always leaves something to work with, a remnant upon which to build.

Nebuchadnezzar was a man who thought quite highly of himself.  In fact, he was so arrogant as the king of Babylon that he worshiped himself as if he were God.  As a result, God used a radical experience to humble him.  But as the prophetic dream foretold, he would not be completely destroyed, but a "stump" would be left upon which his new, humble life would be built (Daniel 4).  In Christ, there is always hope for such restoration.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I experience His loving discipline that works to make less of me and more of Him.

Open Gate.  At first I think it's something I've done right, a good choice I've made to get on the right path, a smart decision to follow Jesus.  As I'm humbled, I begin to see more clearly as the fog of my self-centered flesh is cleared away.  While I think I found the narrow path that leads to life, I come to realize that it was Jesus who made such a journey possible (Matthew 7:14).  Even though it was I who walked through the gate, He Himself is the Gate through which I enter onto such a sacred path of suffering, and it was His Light that illuminated the way (John 8:12, 10:7-10) .

Only the righteous walk there, yet I am welcomed, ushered through as if I belong.  How could this be? I wonder as I look at my own tarnished clothing.  But no, I am suddenly without blemish, white as snow, clean as fresh linen, cleansed by the blood of Jesus who is my salvation.  Through faith in Him I now belong.  I am saved from the old life, the destructive path.  The Gate that is Jesus was opened up to me so that I could enter through and walk on the Highway of Holiness (Isaiah 35:8).

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I enter through the open Gate that leads me to a place I thought I'd never belong, where my sins are washed away.

His Hand.  Anteaters have a keen sense of smell.  While they have wonderful olfactory organs, there is only one thing they care to sniff out with their unique snouts and that is their delicious diet: ants and termites.  These funny-looking creatures can eat up to 35,000 of the tiny insects each day.  I guess you could say they only have noses for bugs.

In the same way that the Anteater can quickly hone in on their tasty meals, I can become just as adept at recognizing God's hand at work in my life.  As I grow closer to Him, I begin to see how prevalent is His work.  It comes to my attention that it has really been Him all along who has beautifully orchestrated my life, guiding me toward the Truth and overflowing my life with the good things I didn't always recognize as beneficial.  It was Him all along.  I thought I played a role, but I am completely at His mercy, quite a good place to be!

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, I begin to develop my ability to see the scope of God's handiwork throughout my life, leading me to rejoice in Him!

I began the journey with Christ as an ignorant babe who foolishly thought I was pretty good on my own, just needing a bit of help now and then.  As I am taken through periods of discipline where my sinful ways are purged, I find the rocky path difficult to negotiate but grow more and more sensitive to God's good work all around me.  As I follow this progression of dependence, I rejoice in my position as His helpless child who is dearly loved by her Father.  He has become my salvation.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to walk through the rocky path He will use for His glory.

When do I fail to see His handiwork, only seeing the harshness of life?

How am I ignorant of His lifelong romance as He gently and lovingly led me toward life?

Progression of Faith

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"What shall I return to the LORD

for all his goodness to me?"

Psalm 116:12

There is nothing more hurtful and aggravating than to be ignored or misunderstood, especially in a time of crisis. On the flip side, it is especially endearing when someone takes the time and effort to understand my dilemma, to feel my pain, to care enough to listen.  It makes me feel valuable and like I'm worth the time it takes to comprehend my situation.

God is always faithful to show this kind of loving kindness to me.  Even though there are billions of people crying out to Him, He is big enough to listen to each of us.  Therefore, my pleas for help never fall on deaf ears.  His sensitive hearing encourages my dependence on Him, and as I see with my own eyes how He is faithful and dependable, I learn to trust Him more and more.  When I put my faith in Jesus Christ and enter into a personal relationship with Him, I will find there is a progression of faith that takes place.

Rescue.  The crisis hits, the attacks come, the worst nightmare plays out.  I feel like the whole world is against me, like I can't catch a break, as if there is some kind of curse on my life.  In the midst of my despair, I take a chance and reach out to God, trusting Him even a tiny bit to help, to offer some kind of assistance, to spare me complete destruction.  

A miracle-of-the-heart is born.  Deep inside I sense a glimmer of hope, a white light flickering in the darkness of my soul, a feeling that everything will be okay despite the enormity of the problem I face.  Comfort comes as my confidence in the future returns (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).  Even though I felt ready to end it all, like there was no other choice but to succumb to the forces of evil, my Father of compassion lifts me out of the muck and sets my feet on solid ground (Psalm 40:2).  I remember my worth and the strength to carry on returns.  It was worth taking a risk and calling out to God in the midst of my suffering.

When I trust in God enough to believe He can help me, I will find salvation come in many different ways.

Restoration.  I never thought I'd walk in peace again, that my soul would be restored, that the tears of my eyes would ever dry up.  But here I am, back in the land of the living, so to speak.  

Even though I spent some time wallowing in self-pity, focused only on what was wrong, overwhelmed by the tragedies of life, my faith in the God who is above all things has returned.  Despite the fact that I was on the edge of sanity, close to losing my battle, soundness of mind and wholeness of health has returned.  While my heart wavered as doubt became my mantra, a firmness of heart came back.  Now a steadiness of step has resumed as God has restored my faith in Him.

As I receive salvation from the God in whom I trust I will discover restoration, and my faith in Him builds.

Response.  How do I respond in the face of such rescue and restoration?  What can I give to a God who has everything?  How do I react when I experience the hand of God at work in my life?  It seems the more I see of Him, the more I want to place myself in His hands.

At the beginning of this walk with Jesus, I didn't really know much about Him.  I was feeling my way through, learning what it meant to live in companionship with Him.  Since I wasn't quite sure, I didn't place a whole lot of faith in Him.  Over time, as I saw His faithfulness, I placed more and more of my trust in Him.  I also found more for which to thank and praise Him.  Before I knew it, I was more and more dependent upon Him.  I expect by the end of my life I will more fully realize just how fragile is my life and how much I need Him.

When I see God save me in so many different ways, receiving restoration, I can't help but respond with even more faith in Him.

Faith is not stagnant, staying at one level for all of my life.  Instead, I discover that the more I witness His rescue, experiencing restoration, I respond with even more faith in Him.  This is the progression of my faith as I walk with Jesus through thick and thin.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to let Him work out the latest crisis in a way that will bring glory to Him.

How do I back away from God when things get hard, letting today's crisis overcome my faith?

When have I experienced a return of wholeness and health, and what was my response?  

Who is like Him?

"Let the name of the LORD be praised,

both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised."

Psalm 113:2-3

I love illustrations that help to teach a lesson or reveal a truth.  I can always understand something more when I can tangibly touch or visually see something that is similar to it.  Maybe that's why math is so hard; it's not concrete but more conceptual.

This is where my faith comes in when trusting in God. I cannot fully understand Him, His motivations, His ways, His character (Psalm 145:3, Psalm 139:6).  I know He is great, I know His character is holy, I know He is sovereign, I know there is nothing but good that comes from Him, but I am unable to fully know Him. 

While His Spirit does reveal Him to me on a very intimate level (1 Corinthians 2:10-12), It's hard to fathom the full nature of God because there's nothing by which to compare Him.

There is none like Him.

High.  He is so high He must figuratively stoop down to take a look at the heavens and earth (Psalm 113:6).  He is on the throne, reigning over all things in glory and majesty with all authority (Psalm 47:8).  He rules His creation with all power and control; nothing happens apart from His direction or permission and is all directed according to His good plan (Ephesians 1:11).  Furthermore, His glory, the indescribable beauty of His spirit, is unsurpassed, so much so that it fills the earth (Isaiah 6:3).

Such a God whose ways are higher than mine and thoughts are in the stratosphere, cannot be fully understood.  If my complete comprehension of Him were possible, He would not be much of a god, would He?  A 100% knowable-to-my-limited-mind god would be a wimpy god indeed.

I praise such a God who reigns on High yet comes down low to dwell within me.

Equal.  He has a squad of men who are ready to give their lives in his protection.  Because of his position as leader of the most powerful nation on earth, his live is deemed as so important that in times of crisis or disaster, there are special provisions in place to preserve his life.  Since the President of the United States plays such a significant role, it seems his life is more important than mine.  

In man's way of thinking, there is a ranking system.  Some are more important than others, essential to the working of things, key players in the game of life.  But to God, each of us are as valuable as the other.  It doesn't matter, whether poor or rich, unemployed or entrusted with vital work, young or old; God sees each of us as His treasured image-bearer (Psalm 113:7-8).

I praise such a God who looks beyond my position in this world and views me as royalty.

Fertility.  God is a God of fertility, and I don't just mean opening the womb to bless with children.  He is a lavish, generous God who gives so much more than we deserve.  

He has a way of reversing a hopeless situation, granting me a positive expectation for the future where there should be none.  He also is able to give abundance out of complete nothingness, turning a dead-end situation into a beautiful entrance into the promised land.  This rich God of fruitfulness can fulfill the desires of His children's heart in ways I will never be able to comprehend (Psalm 37:4).

I praise such a God who extends fertility to me in so many ways.

There is none like this God who blows my mind with His impressive ways, beautiful character trait of equally valuing each of His children and is lavish in so many respects.  This is a God who is not like anything I've ever seen and to Him I will give my praises, for who is like Him?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can open up my mind to the unfathomable character of God.

How do I limit God in His magnificence?

When do I doubt He will help me, thinking I'm not important enough for the God of all things to pay attention to?        

In honor of Wednesday's 800th post on 

Writings on the Doorframe, 

I am offering free signed copies of my book: 

If you would like to be entered in the drawing, 

please email me at boosehome@aol.com 
or message me at the end of this post 

by the end of the day on Sunday, March 22nd.  

Winners will be announced on 

Monday, March 23, 2015!

Steady Heart

In honor of yesterday's 800th post on 

Writings on the Doorframe, 

I am offering free signed copies of my book: 

If you would like to be entered in the drawing, 

please email me at boosehome@aol.com
or leave me a comment below 

by the end of the day on Sunday, March 22nd.  

Winners will be announced on 

Monday, March 23, 2015!


"Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast,
trusting in the LORD.
Their hearts are secure,
they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes."
Psalm 112:6-8

What's the secret of a steadfast, firmly-grounded-in-the-Lord heart?  One that doesn't fear the unknown, what could be, or the threatening?  One that resists doubting no matter how impossible the situation, how weak the flesh, or how great the odds are against me?  What's the secret of a steady heart?  It's no secret, really.

Righteous.  There's a difference between being self-righteous and declared righteous.  The first is where I use my own standard, measuring myself using my own yardstick and ending up smelling like a rose.  The second is where I am deemed as right with God through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Even though I fall short of God's perfect standard, I am measured according to the perfection of Christ and therefore my faith in Him as Lord and Savior places me in right standing with God despite my sin.

Since my identity in Christ is not based on my own merit, I know I am a well-loved daughter who is fully accepted and I can be assured of my eternal place in God's family.  Knowing that there is nothing I will go through in life, nothing that can be done to me or nothing that I can do that will shake my position or make God stop loving me makes a huge difference in the way I live my life (Romans 8:1-2, 8:38-39).  If God is for me in such an astounding way, then what does it matter what man does to me (Psalm 118:6)?  Or how much heartache I face?  Or how my enemy lures me into doubt and fear?  There is no match for my Father who has my heart so I, as His child, know that I am always loved and accepted.

The secret to a steady heart is to know I am declared righteous by faith and my right standing with God can never be shaken.

Trusting.  Trusting God means believing He has a plan in the midst of the chaos.  Believing God is sovereign is not about me trying to understand the mechanism by which He will save me but to only know that it is His mission to bring about my salvation.  My faith in the Lord is less about the odds of success and more about the enormous size of my God (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Therefore, when I place my full weight on God's faithful nature, my heart is firmly entrenched in His trustworthiness.  It's not so much that I believe I'm able to walk the path I'm called to walk, but that I know that my own weakness is not too big of an obstacle for God to overcome.  In other words, my trust in God is more about God's strength than in my weaknesses.  It's more about God's trustworthy nature than my unreliable one.  It's more about who God is than who I am.  And so, my trusting heart gives me confidence to step out in faith, to bet my life on God, which is really no gamble at all. 

The secret to a steady heart is to take a chance on the God who will never let me down.  

Triumphant.  I have an enemy who constantly tempts me to falter in my faith, who consistently tries to remind me of who I was before I met Christ and get me to believe I'm still that same wretched being, who is always at work attempting to lure me back into past sin, future strongholds and tempting distractions.  Even though the attacks of Satan and his minions are relentless, in Christ I am triumphant over them.  How so?  Because in Christ, I'm on the winning side!

And so I can say to my tempter, as Pastor John Piper suggested, "You're out of your mind.  Who wants to join forces with a loser?"  There truly is no weapon formed against me that can prevail because God is the glorious Victor (Isaiah 54:17).  And when I take up His sword and I place my allegiances in His camp, I join in the victory.  

This means my helplessness is only an illusion.  The reality is that in Christ I have the unlimited power of God on my side!  It means my hopelessness is only a misconception on my part.  In reality I have all the hope in the world through Christ!  It means my powerlessness against enormous odds is a deception of the enemy.  In reality I have the favor of a God with unlimited resources.

The secret to a steady heart is to remember I am on the winning side.

When do I despair, giving in to fear?  It's usually because I forget my firm standing in Christ, the unfathomable character of my God, and the triumph of God's mission here on earth.  When I remember these truths, I will have discovered the secret of a steady heart.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep focused on God's character instead of getting distracted by the problems that overwhelm.

When do I feel unworthy of His love?

How am I forgetting I am on the winning side and that my enemy is a loser?  He knows it, but he is testing me to see if I know it.