Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

"But you, O LORD, are a shield around me;

you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

I cried out to the LORD,

and he answered me from his holy mountain.

I lay down and slept,

yet I woke up in safety,

for the LORD was watching over me.

I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies

who surround me on every side."

Psalm 3:3-6 NLT

The storm battered the tiny boat, tossing it around like a toy ship in a bathtub filled with rowdy toddlers.  All around them the waves were threatening to overturn the vessel, leaving them to die in the tumultuous squall.   They were panicked. . . could this be the end?

Then they peered through the driving rain and noticed their Teacher, sleeping as if He were at home, tucked into His own bed.  Without a care in the world, he slumbered while Hell broke loose all around Him.

"Lord, don't you care?  We're all gonna drown!"  

With a single phrase, Jesus calmed the storm.  "Peace, be still."  (Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41)

I am in the midst of a storm in my life.  I am being flung about like a bit of straw in a hurricane.    Jesus can calm my storm with a single phrase, if only I will rouse Him.

Shield

I have heard it said that a bully or anyone who is gruff and rough on the outside is tender and sensitive on the inside.  I, too, will go to great lengths to protect my heart, erecting all kinds of barriers and walls that not only keep the hurt out, but also hold loved ones at bay.  

The thing is, this kind of man-made barricade never serves to shield my heart.  The damage is still done, the words continue to wound, the disappointments persist in harming.  I am incapable of protecting myself.

The Lord, on the other hand, is my strong and faithful protector.  He is always on guard, never asleep at His post or busy with something else.  When I call on Him, He is there.

Moses learned this truth in a most spectacular way.  He wanted to see God's glory but the Lord explained that no one can survive seeing Him; He is too holy, perfect and glorious for our sinful eyes to look upon.  As a result, God hid Moses in the cleft of a rock and covered him with His own hand, protecting the man from His lethal glory.  (Exodus 33:20-23)

What a wonderful picture of God's character!  When I am wallowing around in times of trouble, I can declare Him to be, ". . .my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him." (Psalm 91:2 NLT)  I can hide in Him, much like Moses was placed in the crevice of the rock.  God is the safe place in which I can hide, the peaceful sanctuary where I can retreat, the calm harbor where I can sail to escape the storm.  

Calling out to God in times of trouble or inner turmoil gives Him the opportunity to shield my heart from hurt.

Glory

The cream puff tempted me with it's flaky shell and delectable scent.  I can't wait to bite into it and taste it's creamy filling.  My teeth penetrated the tender outside layer, anticipating the velvety smoothness of the inside.  Much to my disappointment, the pastry lacked any kind of filling: It was empty.

This is kind of like me.  I may look good on the outside, but inside there is nothing good in and of myself.  Everything that is honorable or with merit is from God.  

After explaining the process that begins with temptation, feeds from my desires and leads to sin, James said, ". . .don't be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.  Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.  He never changes or casts a shifting shadow."  (James 1:16-17 NLT)

I am incapable of doing good on my own.  For this, I need God my Father with whom I enjoy a relationship through faith in Jesus Christ.  In surrendering my selfish desires to God, His goodness will fill the void and I will experience His glory in my life.

Turning over my wants and wishes to God will give His Spirit the opportunity to fill my being with His goodness.

Anti-Depressant

"My thoughts come down and I cry.  I cry so hard that I struggle to breathe.  But no matter how hard I cry, the pain will never escape me."

"I'm baffled.  I don't see why people would care about me at all.  What do I have to offer them?  Nothing."

"I just don't feel like trying anymore.  There's no point.  Why should I hold on just to get hurt even more?"

Depression is like a heavy blanket, weighing me down so I can't get up. . . keeping me in the pit. . . dragging me to the darkness.  When I see no hope within myself or in the world around me, I despair.  If I want to gain a positive expectation for my future, then I need look no further than God.  

This is not to say I won't go through dark times. Difficulties and times of sadness are bound to come.   But it is during the night when I most need the Light, and when I turn to Him, He will hold my head up high, giving me a reason to live.

I am made in God's image for a specific purpose.  I am not a mistake.  I am not the result of a random act of chance.  My existence is not accidental. When I soak this reality into my being, allowing it to penetrate every corner of my existence, I will understand the greatness of God. 

It is then that I will be able to receive the doxology found at the end of Jude, "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen."

For this reason I can know without a doubt that I am here for a reason, I was created to serve a function, I am the result of the act of a loving God.  Even in the midst of a seemingly hopeless situation, I have reason to sing:  God is in control.  God loves me.  God has a purpose for my life.  God is able to take me as I am.   In the scheme of things, nothing else really matters.

When I'm feeling low, turning to God will give Him the opportunity to raise my head up high.  

The storms of life will come and go, but through them all, God can be my shield, my glory and my anti-depressant. . . if only I will let Him.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will let God do His job instead of trying to do it myself.

How do I try to protect myself in ways that keep God and people at bay?

When do I let myself sink into the depths of despair instead of taking my Anti-Depressant?

Faithfulness of God

"For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ

with a resounding 'Yes!'  

And through Christ,

our 'Amen' (which means 'Yes')

ascends to God for his glory.

It is God who enables us,

along with you,

to stand firm for Christ.

He has commissioned us,

and he was identified us as his own

by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts

as the first installment that guarantees

everything he has promised us."

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NLT

Track Record.  I usually know whether or not I can depend on someone based upon their past behavior.  Some are dependable, others are flaky and forgetful.  Behavior betrays one's faithfulness.

I can always count on God as recorded in His Word.  "I will proclaim the name of the LORD.  Oh, praise the greatness of our God!  He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.  A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he."  (Deuteronomy 32:3-4)

When all around me seems unstable and unsure, I can stand on the Solid Rock.  Even when I don't know the answers, God holds the blueprint for my life in the palm of his hand.  In the times when I feel I can't trust myself, let alone those around me, I can trust God.  

Why can I put all my eggs in God's basket?  It is because He possesses a flawless track record.

Abraham

The years past by and hope turned to dust; dry and lifeless like the rocky land in which he lived. I want to believe God, but how long must a wait for a child?  I'm an old man. . . maybe I was hallucinating.  Maybe God wants me to do something to make His promise happen.  Maybe I imagined the whole thing.  

Abraham and Sarah had to wait over 25 years before the promise God made in Genesis 12 was fulfilled; the promise that, ". . all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. . " and, "To your offspring I will give this land." (v3, 7)

Finally, when Abraham reached 100 years of age, Isaac was born; the promise had been fulfilled.  God has His own timetable and it has nothing to do with me.  If I'm going to trust Him I must not bind Him with the parameters of time.  

I often grow weary of waiting; for things to get better, for relationships to be healed, for hardened hearts to soften.  As one who follows a faithful God, I know that I can trust Him to do as He has said He will do.  He will finish what He has started, bind the brokenhearted and work a miracle in a heart.  He is able. . . if I am willing to wait on Him.

God is faithful to keep His promises. . . on His timetable.

Joseph

It all started with a dream.  He foolishly and arrogantly shared the dream with his brothers of all their sheaves of wheat bowing down to his.  Soon, he found himself the victim of his brother's cruel jealousy, sold into slavery and on his way to Egypt to become the slave of Pharaoh's captain of the guard.  

As if this wasn't bad enough, despite the position of trust he had risen to in the house of Potiphar, he soon found himself imprisoned due to a false charge by his master's wife.  Years later, God enabled him to interpret the Pharaoh's dream, landing him a position as second in command in all of Egypt.  After 13 years of unfair circumstances and undeserved treatment, Joseph had risen to an unimaginable level.  As he later said to his brothers when they were reunited, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  (Genesis 50:20)

You see, Joseph's life seemed like one big tragedy, but because of the foresight revealed by Pharaoh's dream, the prophecy from a boy's long ago dream came true.  And through Joseph's position of power, God was able to use him to prepare a country for a famine that no one else knew was coming.  Soon, all would come to Egypt looking for grain.  Even his brothers would bow before him out of desperation.

I often feel like life has not been fair to me or those around me.  I work hard and try to do the best I can, but I can't seem to catch a break.  I lose my job.  I am falsely accused.  I am taken to court.  The car breaks down, the roof springs a leak and my knee goes out all in the same week.  When will things get better?

Even though life is harsh and circumstances seem unfair, God has a way of taking something bad and using it for the good.  He has a knack for utilizing weak and broken people for powerful and restorative acts.  The Lord can turn the tables in a heartbeat, leaving observers with a serious case of whiplash.

The Apostle Paul reassured us with the thought that, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Joseph's purpose was ultimately to provide a way for the Israelites to enter into slavery in Egypt, thus opening a need for delivery in a way that would showcase God's great power and proclaim His name throughout all the earth. 

Who knows what plan God has for my life. . . or for your life?  Future generations could be affected by circumstances that I am going through right now.  My ancestors might benefit from the fruit that is produced from my heartache.  A seed that is planted right now in the midst of my trouble could sprout and grow for many to see in years yet to come.

Putting my trust in a faithful God means leaving the outcome up to Him, no matter how unfair circumstances now may seem.

Messiah

"He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."  (Isaiah 53:5)

"You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay."  (Psalm 16:10)

"The LORD ways to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' (Psalm 110:1)

Generations of Jews studied these, along with many other prophecies, as they awaited the coming of their Messiah; their promised deliverer.  When would He come?  How will He vanquish our enemies?  How long must we wait?  They must have quivered with excitement of the prospect of their liberation.  

God did fulfill these prophecies in the Person of Jesus Christ.  He died on the cross, taking the punishment for my sins and giving me a peace with God through faith in Him.  He rose again on the third day, illustrating His victory over death.  He is now seated at the right hand of God as the conqueror of the power and consequences of sin in my life.  All mankind is liberated from the death sentence our sin deserves.  

From the moment when Adam first sinned and the state of mankind fell from it's original design, we have been estranged from God.  In that one instant on the cross, the relationship was restored and the impossible once again became possible.  The imperfect is reunited with the Perfect One.  The unholy can abide with the Holy One.  The estranged is brought back together with the Beloved.

If God can accomplish the impossible task of redeeming my hopeless, sinful soul, then I can certainly trust God with everything in my life.

It is not easy to trust those who let us down, but because of God's faithfulness to keep His promises, I can stand firm on His strong foundation.  The constricts of time, harsh circumstances or impossible tasks do not get in His way.  His will prevails. . . of this I can be certain.   

This is the God on Whom I will stake my life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember all that God has done to help me believe in all that He will do.

How do I get bogged down in the difficulties and forget that His plan can use those troubles?

When would it benefit me to remember the impossible task of redemption that Jesus accomplished on the cross?

Eternal Perspective

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,

set your hearts on things above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above,

not on earthly things."

Colossians 3:1-2

At the age of 17 a diving accident left Joni Eareckson Tada a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, unable to use her arms.  An active teenager, this new reality was difficult to understand.  Over the years, however, Joni was able to accept God's plan for her life. . . a plan she did not necessarily like, but a purpose in which God gave her the grace to receive as His will.

Life doesn't always go the way I want it to go.  Surprises are around every corner, making it difficult to continue the struggle.  Joni said, "The world has a philosophy that says, 'What can't be cured must be endured.' Christians have a philosophy that says, 'What can't be cured can be enjoyed.'"

If I want to be able to experience joy in the midst of difficulty, I must keep an eternal perspective.  Seeing things from God's point-of-view changes everything.  While I can't literally put myself in God's place, I can change my position, giving me another angle from which to see my current situation.

Heart

For many years of my life I treasured bodybuilding.  I spent hours poring over muscle magazines, learning the latest workout, diet and posing techniques.  The gym became my second home as I toiled away, sculpting muscle and sweating fat away.  Food grew to be a tool used to manipulate my body into the condition I desired it to attain.  My heart was fully devoted to my own physical appearance.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that I should focus on storing up treasures in heaven, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Whatever I value leads my heart to follow.  The center of my life is my heart.  For this reason, a wise man once said, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23)

As the center, my heart is the barometer of my spiritual well being.  If anyone wants to know the condition of my spiritual life, he need look no further than my heart.  Since only God can see my heart, humans must look at the produce, so to speak.  Jesus said, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks."  (Luke 6:45)

When stress increases, the words that I so easily blurt out reflect what's on the inside.  When things seem to be going all wrong, the way I react reveals who I believe is in control.  When everything is going the way I want it to go, my attitude exposes my pride.

Keeping an eternal perspective means my heart will be focused on what is important to God instead of in pleasing my own selfish desires.  To set my heart on things above is to desire His will above all other things.  This takes some house cleaning, asking God to remove whatever passions do not glorify Him.  

If I want to change my perspective, I can devote my heart to pleasing God.

Mind

A few years ago our family was working to get out of debt.  Whenever I was doing any menial task like folding laundry, cleaning or exercising, my mind would analyze our progress, calculating how many months it would take to pay of this credit card or that loan.  I took great pleasure in meditating on the improvement we were making in our financial health.  My thoughts often drifted toward the good thing we were doing.

Everyone agrees living debt-free is wise and beneficial.   Even though we were in the process of doing something good, my thought life was not pleasing to God.  He is jealous for my attention.  As His Creator, He deserves the highest place of honor and esteem in my life.   Focusing my deliberation, analysis and meditation on Him and His Word demonstrates the place He holds in my scheme of things.  

Anything can easily take God's place in my thought life.  Another area of temptation is for my mind to focus on problems, analyzing them and brainstorming solutions until I come up with just the right one. Then I'll think it through from every angle, determining all the possible outcomes when finally I drop into an exhausted heap and plead with God to take the problem and solve it His way.  As soon as I stop worrying and release the responsibility for unraveling the tangle of issues, my mind enjoys some peace and rest.  I have placed God back in the driver's seat of the car that is my life.

Jesus gives us the antidote for worry in Matthew 6:33.  After describing how the rest of His creation trusts Him to provide for their needs and to solve their problems (have you ever seen a worried bird?), He showed me where my mind should be focused.  ". . .seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."  

When I keep my attention on God and living to Him, He takes care of the things I used to worry about.  He solves the problems.  He gives me the answers.  He supplies my needs.  

My constant attention to our debt-pay-off plan did not serve to pull us out of debt sooner.  It only served to entice my mind away from God and onto distracting things.  Instead, I can train my mind to take the advice of the Apostle Paul when he taught that, ". . . whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

Focusing on God and His Word will transform my mind into a more godly viewpoint. 

Heaven

I remember going on long runs as a teenager.  To help me keep focused, I would envision my house and what I would do when I reached the end of the run.  Keeping that mental picture of the finish line in my mind encouraged me to keep going even when I felt tired and ready to quit.

In the same way, life is like a long marathon.  When I feel like giving up and dropping all my convictions, having a good vision of heaven in mind will inspire me to keep going.  Believers have something to look forward to. Before Jesus returned to His heavenly home he reassured His followers. He said, "Do not let your hearts be trouble.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-2) 

I have a special spot just for me in my eternal home!  Jesus Himself is getting it ready for me.  It's like when I go home to visit my mom, she always fixes up a room just for me.  She doesn't wait until I arrive to change the sheets and freshen the pillows.  Instead, she works in advance, making sure everything is ready when I set foot in her home.  I know I am expected and I am welcomed because of her attention to the preparations.  

It is the same with heaven.  Jesus wants me there and is getting everything ready for my arrival.  Keeping this picture in my mind as I go through the trials and tribulations of life helps me to carry on with joy in my heart.  

As I run this race of life, "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:14 NLT)

Keeping a mental picture of my heavenly reward will give me a new lease on life, inspiring me to do my best for my Father.

Life is hard.  Thanks to sin, this world is a difficult place in which to live.  Those of us who follow Jesus, however, have reason to rejoice.  In the midst of the mess, I can experience joy by devoting my heart to God's purpose, by keeping my mind focused in Him and His Word, and by  maintaining a visualization of my heavenly home.  Then I will gain an eternal perspective.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can be heavenly minded as I am worldly bound.

In what ways do I betray my thoughts in the way I respond to stressors?

When am I too short-range in my vision instead of keeping heaven in my sight?

Kindness of God

"David asked,

'Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul

to whom I can show kindness for Jonathon's sake?' 

. . .And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, 

because he always 

ate at the king's table,

and he was crippled in both feet."

2 Samuel 9:1 & 13

Her heart raced as she heard the news of the king's death.  

I must find safety for the boy!  she thought.  Surely they will come after him, too.  

The sound of her heartbeat drowned out all other noises, even the thudding of her footsteps as she hurried along the hall, bearing the burden of the 5-year-old successor to the throne.  

I must get him to safety. 

Suddenly, her grip loosened on the heir and she dropped her precious load.  He tumbled to the floor in a shriek of pain, landing in a heap on the ground.

"Get up!" she hissed.  "They're coming!"

But he couldn't get up.  His feet would never be the same.  He was crippled for life.

Mephibosheth is not unlike me.  I carry the burden of a history filled with hurts, sins and failures.  Transgressions from my past haunt my present.  I am broken. . . damaged. . . . crippled. 

But I am not without hope.  Like Mephibosheth, I once was the daughter of a King.  I once lived in glory.  I was meant for greatness.  Then the devastation of sin hampered my existence in paradise, sending me into hiding, leaving me to rot in an unpleasant place until the King summons me.

David had made a promise to his buddy, Jonathon, the son of his enemy and King of Israel, Saul.  David vowed to always show kindness to the family of his friend.  This promise compelled him to look for someone to whom he could show mercy, even though this meant inviting the family of his enemy to live in his home and eat at his table.

It is not so different with me.  I am the enemy of God because of my sin.  Because of a promise made thousands of years ago, however, Jesus sought me out, looking for those to whom He was called to show mercy.  


The kindness of God has been made known to me. 

Recovered

A desolate place.  A position of suffering.  A lonely spot.  An empty hole.  An arid area.

Wherever I am right now, whatever place I have retreated to in shame, or out of a sense of self-preservation, or in fear. . . God will recover me. 

Mephibosheth was hiding out in a place called Lo Debar, which literally means "without pasture".   He was finding refuge in a lowly place, void of resources or fruits.  Lo Debar was not the kind of place you lived by choice.  Since Mephibosheth rightly assumed that the king was his enemy due to his grandfather's jealous anger toward David, he spent his days hidden away from the life the son of a king was expected to live.  He was in a kind of exile.

Many times I hide from the King, afraid that He won't accept me as His own.  I sense my own unworthiness and fear His rightful wrath.  But because of the great sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, He took away my shame, my guilt, my punishment.  I am no longer held responsible for my sin, but am retrieved from that place of exile.  

Like a prisoner of war recovered through an undercover mission by a Special Forces team, Jesus has plucked me from the bondage of sin. 

The kindness of God is shown to me through my rescue from the slavery of sin.

Repaired

I suffered from the sensitivity and ache of a cracked tooth for several months until the pain became unbearable.  At that point I couldn't even drink room temperature water without a shot of searing pain shooting through my mouth.  I needed to spend the money to get it repaired.

The costly cap solved the problem and now I can eat virtually problem free.  My tooth has been repaired.  In the same way, my relationship with God is severed.  Without God, I cannot function as He created me to live.  I am made for God.

Living my life apart from God means life is just a series of meaningless and unrelated events.  It is filled with pain that exists for the mere reason of inflicting suffering upon me.  There is no plan and it's entirely up to me to make something of my life.  If I don't succeed, I'm a failure.  Life apart from God is pretty bleak and hopeless.

Sin made it impossible for me to enter into a relationship with a Holy God.  He is unable to abide with the disobedience of my nature.  Since He loves me despite my sin, He sent Jesus to rectify our relationship.  Jesus took the punishment for my sin, making a way for me to become a part of God's family through faith.  My relationship with God is repaired.

In the same way that King David repaired the relationship between him and Saul's kin by forgiving the past and accepting Mephibosheth as a part of the family, the King of kings mended my relationship with God.  

The kindness of God is revealed to me by faith in Jesus through the healing of a broken relationship between me and my Creator.

Restored

When I married my husband, I inherited an entire houseful of furniture.  Among the pieces was a  heavy oak dining room table with a veneer surface.  It looked nice until years of sticky hands and messy meals worked to flake away the finish.  I grew to loathe that table, choosing to cover it with a cloth to hide the peeling veneer.

When we made our last move, I decided to see if I could refinish the table.  If it didn't work, I planned to get rid of it once and for all.  After days of sanding, scouring and staining, I ended up with a beautiful, durable finish that we enjoy to this day.  It's original luster had been resorted and it was like a new addition to our dining room.  

Likewise, God is all about restoration.  The Lord does not look at my sinfulness and simply throw me into the burn pile as so much rubbish.   He is a God who takes scuffed-up, broken, messy people and makes them new.   As He said to His people who were exiled to a foreign land, "I will restore you to health and heal your wounds." Jeremiah 30:17 

When David invited Mephibosheth to eat at the kings table from that point on, he was doing more than being a gracious host.  This declaration was an act of restoring the exiled son to his place at the king's table.  As a crippled young man, he was invited to eat in the special place of honor despite his frailty.

In the same way,  I am invited to dine at the King's table as a member of the royal family despite my infirmities and weaknesses.  I am there at the request of the King, not due to my own worthiness or fitness. In Christ, I am like new.  I can see things from a godly perspective instead of a worldly perspective.  I am able to love others instead of fearing their lack of acceptance.  I cease merely existing and instead live an abundant life.  

The kindness of God is made known to me in the way He restores my brokenness and makes me new.

David was concerned about fulfilling a promise he had made to Jonathon and looked for a way to show kindness to his family.  In the same way, God made a promise thousands of years ago to bless all peoples through Abraham.  In sending Jesus to die on the cross in order to recover me, repair my broken relationship with God, and restore my place in the Kingdom of God, that promise is fulfilled.  

The kindness of God that leads to my repentance was shown at Calvary, 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will remember the kindness of God.

How do I fail to recognize the way God has restored me but instead continue to live in my old ways?

Do I take advantage of my repaired relationship with God by meeting with Him regularly?

Path of Life

"You have made known

to me the path of life."

Psalm 16:11

Newton's Third Law of Motion states that, "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."  If I am paddling a canoe toward the shore, letting it drift as it glides into shallow water, I will eventually run aground.  As I step off that canoe onto the shore, my forward motion will push the canoe backward, dislodging it and setting it afloat again, causing it to drift away from me.  My action caused an equal and opposite reaction.

I am not exempt from this law.  God is constantly reminding me that if I do "this", then "that" will happen.  Just because I am under grace does not mean that I am excused from this basic principle.  

When Jesus died on the cross and I confessed Him as my Savior, His blood covered all my sins, past present and future.  I am no longer under judgement of those sins.  But I will be held accountable for the way I live my life.  

In 2 Corinthians 5, the Apostle Paul is teaching about our heavenly dwelling to a group of believers who have been saved by faith in Jesus.  He said, ". . . we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  For we must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (v 9-10)

A sign that a child is maturing is when he obeys his parents out of love and respect as opposed to simply the avoidance of punishment.  In the same way, as I grow in my relationship with Christ, I will begin to desire to please Him out of love and respect.

For this reason, the law God instructed the Israelites to carefully observe in Deuteronomy 11 still applies to me today as I stand under the umbrella of God's grace. Following these statutes will not save me and earn me a place in eternal glory.  God's Word is clear that I can't work my way into His mercy.   

In order to please Him, however, I must pay attention to what is important to Him.  Living a life to please God will bring blessing.

Love

Jesus said it was the most important commandment.  He said it is to be our identifying characteristic.  Out of all of the eternal qualities, it is the greatest.  It is God's identity.  


Love.

Love is important to God.  He commands me to love Him with everything I have, and to love others with the same kind of attentiveness I give to my own needs.  If I want to please God, love must rule my heart, drive my life, and color my actions.  

It's fun to talk about love, but doing it is another thing entirely.  It's easy to say I love everyone, until my rights are violated and I am ready to defend myself at the cost of hurting others.  I readily jump on the bandwagon of love until my needs are not being met and I feel no love in my heart for those who are letting me down.  Love is a nice concept until I think about reaching out in love to the one who slanders my name.


Writer Calvin Miller says, "Christians state glibly that they love the whole world, while they permit themselves animosities within their immediate world. . . But loving the world at large can only be done by loving face-to-face the world that is not so distant."  Love starts at home.


If I want to experience the blessings of God, the love of Christ must rule my life.  

God's Ways

My family enjoyed watching "The Rundown" starring The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, some years back.  One of the funniest parts is where his character, a bounty hunter, is sent to retrieve a ring from a professional football player.  He tells the athlete that he has two options.  "Option 'A,' you give me the ring, Option 'B' I make you give me the ring." 

I always laugh at this technique because it's the same with me and God.  Although He's not a bully and won't make me do anything, I do have two choices.  I can do things the easy way, and compliantly obey, or I can do it the hard way and dig my heals in, insisting that I get my way.  Either way, God's way will prevail.  

Doing things God's way is always better.  Using my own logic and knowledge to make decisions may make sense at the time, but will ultimately lead to disaster.  The wisdom of Solomon says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."  (Proverbs 14:12)

In contrast, Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life.  If I want to do things God's way, it will be through faith in Jesus.  But I shouldn't expect a lot of company.  Jesus said, ". . .small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  (Matthew 7:14)

If I want to experience the blessing of God, I must go against the crowd and begin a journey toward life God's way through faith in Jesus.  

Hold Fast

I remember hiking in the alpine region of Mt Rainier National Park and marveling at the tiny plants clinging to life between the rocks found on the high mountain cliffs.  Even with a minimal amount of soil and nutrients, this vegetation was thriving by holding fast to what little it had.

Similarly, I can hold fast to God, looking to Him to provide all that I need despite my bleak surroundings.  

When all seems lost and it looks like there is no hope, God will show me His might and give me a new sense of hope.  When it seems like everything is going wrong, God will remind me that His way is better and by trusting in Him I can't go wrong.  When it seems like my life is a meaningless series of events, God will show me the purpose He has for my life.

If I want to experience the blessing of God, I must rely on Him alone to provide all the nutrients I need to thrive.

Newton's Third Law of Motion applies to my walk with God.   He blesses those who fear Him and who take His commands seriously.  But it is not for my sake.  It is not to reward me and give me a treat because I did a good job.  It is not so that I can be comfortable and happy.

God blesses those who follow Him so that everyone will know that He is the Lord and that all good things come from Him.  This day, I desire to love as God loves me, walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him.  As I walk His path of life, I will experience the blessings of God and a truly abundant life. 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will strive to live life God's way.

How do I insist on doing things my way, betraying the condition of my heart?

When is loving my own rights or reputation more important than loving God by loving others?

My Own Eyes

"But you have seen the LORD

perform all these mighty deeds

with your own eyes!"

Deuteronomy 11:7

The man holding the gun was calm and steady, never taking his eyes off his target.  The one who was the focus of his attention, however, was acting erratically, foolishly taunting the gunman.  "Go ahead, shoot me.  What are you waiting for?"

Meanwhile, customers at the gas station where my husband and I were filling up the tank of our truck were driving frantically away, trying to escape the strange showdown over a gas pump.  The gunman did finally fire the gun into the ground, earning the agitator an injury to his shin.

As a witness to this bizarre crime, I gave my account to the law enforcement personnel.  I had seen with my own eyes what had happened.

It is the same with me and God.  I have seen His works with my own eyes, both disciplinary and delivery.  These personal experiences with a real and living God have shaped my faith in ways adherence to a set of religious standards and practices can not.  

Since I have seen God's mighty hand at work in the softening of a once hardened heart, in the transformation of a life, or in the rescue from a near death encounter, I personally know of His power.  Therefore, I take Him seriously, knowing that He holds my very life in His hands.  When He says to be careful to obey His commands, I know He means it and that there will be repercussions.

Strength

When I was 19-years-old, I set a national record at the American Drug-Free Powerlifting Association National Championships held in Chicago, Illinois.  I always thought of myself as naturally strong, so this sport seemed an obvious choice for me.  

That physical strength, however, does not help me to forgive those who are mean and cruel to me.  That kind of power does nothing to give me what I need to be kind in the face of evil.  Strong muscles cannot help me to endure a difficult circumstance with joy in my heart.

Physical strength does not translate into spiritual strength.  The kind of might I need to accomplish the mission God has set before me comes from Him as I live my life His way.

God warned the Israelites to pay special attention to every Word that came from His mouth, following His commands to the last detail, "so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess."  (Deuteronomy 11:8b)  Obedience leads to strength.  Doing things God's way empowers me to succeed.  Forsaking my self-interest and embracing the fulfillment of God's desires results in the ability to do His will.

Strength has nothing to do with my abilities, gifts or talents.  It has everything to do with God's might.  In order to get through the trials that come with each day, I must surrender my will to His and allow His power to flow through me.  

As 19-Century pastor and author Phillips Brooks said, "Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people!  Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks.  Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle but you shall be a miracle.  Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God."

In order to showcase God's grace, it is necessary for me to live by God's strength.

Longevity 

Whenever I buy a new appliance, whether it be a hairdryer or a dishwasher, it usually comes with a lengthy booklet of instructions the manufacturer put together to inform me how to get the optimal performance and longest life from their product.  The one who made the device understands how it should be treated in order to get the best results.

It is not so different with me.  One of the best ways to experience superior performance and durability is to live my life according to the operating instructions given to me by my Manufacturer.  God's way is always better than my way.

God's wisdom dispensed through King Solomon tells us that, "The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short."  (Proverbs 10:27)  Solomon did not always possess this kind of wisdom, but as the son of David, he was taught under someone who loved and revered God.  When it came time for the young man to take the throne, he did so with a serious attitude of respect and honor for God.  

One night, God appeared to the new king in a dream and told Solomon to ask for anything and it would be granted.  Solomon asked for discernment in leading his people.  This request pleased the Lord, prompting an even greater blessing of wealth and honor.  Additionally, God went on to say,  "if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life." (1 Kings 3:14)

God has a plan for each of our lives and our days are written in His book before we are even born.  There is no secret formula or "fountain of youth," but those who tend to live longer are those who don't fight against God, but submit to His authority in their lives.

Following the Manufacturers instructions offers the best results and longest life.

Provision

Each of us is motivated to act by something or someone.  It could be the drive to succeed, to make a name for oneself, to provide for a family or to live in comfort.  Whatever it is, we do what we do for a reason.

The world is filled with messages that tempt my self-centered nature: 

Go for the gusto 

"Tonight's the night.  Let's live it up.  I got my money.  Let's spend it up."   -Black eyed Peas

Live for today, don't worry about tomorrow.

"Get it while you can" -Janis Joplin

Living for my own pleasure, comfort and success may feel good for awhile, but it will ultimately lead to emptiness.  Trusting in God to supply my needs and instead living for His pleasure will lead to contentment and true happiness.  

God gives me this promise in Deuteronomy 11:13-15.  He says, "if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today-to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul-then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil.  I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied."

If the drive in my life is to please myself, I will never be satisfied.  If the motivating factor is to put God first in all things, He will provide all that I need and I will experience true satisfaction in my present circumstances.  Things I used to think I needed, I will realize are unnecessary.  I will wont for nothing.  My heart will be content.

Making God my ultimate goal in life will lead to His faithful provision and a pleasing sense of fulfillment.

I have seen God do many things in my life and in the lives of others.  There is no doubt He is LORD of all things.  In order to live my life under His Lordship, I must pay careful attention to His ways and be cautious not to get off-track.  Then I will receive the strength I need to endure, a long life to live for Him, and the faithful provision of my needs. 

If I use what I have seen God do as an impetus to enter into a personal relationship with my Lord, I will experience more than I ever dreamed possible. "To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen."  (Ephesians 3:21)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will keep God in the highest position of importance.

How do I try to do things out of my own strength instead of letting God work?

When do I spend most of my time trying to supply my needs instead of relying on God?