Philippians 4:6-7 NIV “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that we can bring all of our requests to you, with thankful hearts. We are thankful that you are good and that you will always be faithful in any situation we face. You are concerned about every worry, every concern, and every circumstance, good or bad. The details of our lives matter to you.
Teach us to be quick to pray whenever we feel anxious. We can be completely honest with you because you love us and know us better than we know ourselves. And you desire to be intimately involved in our lives.
As we give you our anxious thoughts, you promised to give us your peace in return. You have promised us that your peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and go beyond our understanding. And we are thankful that the love and peace you give far outweigh any hurt we feel or any issues we face.
Lord, I pray for each person reading this prayer right now, that they would make their specific requests known to you, with thanksgiving.
I pray that they would joyfully receive the peace that you promised as they continue to wait on you with expectation and trust, knowing that you are at work in their hearts and lives.
Mark 6:30-31 NLT: 30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
Jesus was encouraging the apostles to rest. He saw how busy they had all been and that they needed to rest and eat. He feels the same about us when we are overworked without sufficient rest. I remember a time about five years ago, while I was in graduate school that God started speaking to me about the importance of rest. I always say that being in school is like a part time job, because for me, it required at least an extra 20 hours a week of work, outside of the full time job I already had. So I would diligently work 7 days a week trying to stay on top of my many projects and assignments.
When I felt God leading me to take time to rest, I thought it was odd that he would call me to work less at a time I felt pressured to work more. And interestingly enough, the semester I was in had one of the most difficult classes, with the most difficult professor in my whole program. I was spending long hours trying to complete his long homework assignments and he never wanted to answer your questions. One time, he told me I should be able to answer my own question. Another time, after asking for clarification on one of the questions on a quiz he had already graded, he told me he discovered something else I did wrong and deducted another five points! He was so difficult and unkind that one of my fellow classmates decided to go to the dean to complain. She said the classes cost way too much for us not to get the quality instruction we deserved, and I, along with many other students, agreed.
But in spite of all of this, God was calling me to lay down my extra study hours and rest. So I begin taking Sundays off from school work. At first I felt nervous because I was concerned about not getting my work done on time. However, I knew it was God speaking to my heart and I knew I needed to obey Him and rest. After a couple of weeks, I started really looking forward to my Sundays off from school work. I felt relief knowing I could rest mentally and physically from sitting at the computer trying to get more school work done. Plus, it gave me extra time to spend with my mom, who was still living at the time.
Take time to rest
Miraculously, even after taking my day of rest, I still always completed my assignments and projects on time and I felt much more energized when it was time to start the new work week. Praise God, I was able to pass that difficult class with an A. I felt shocked because I had struggled through most of the class. Even though it was an accounting class, which is the field I have worked in for over twenty years now, it was extremely hard. But God is faithful. He is faithful to be who He is and faithful to bless us when we decide to be who He has called us to be. Our acts of obedience never go unrewarded by God, the rewards just sometimes look different from what we expected.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Remember to rest. We all need it. In Jesus Christ, we have spiritual rest through His death and resurrection, but we also have physical rest when we choose to trust Him and honor Him with our bodies. My greatest times of rest come when I spend time in God’s presence, allowing Him to refresh me, speak to me, and give me the strength I need to live another day. I can’t do without Him because He is my Daily Bread.
Rest is essential
Our God is willing and ready to help us organize our lives. The world will keep us busy, but God will keep us busy with what matters most, while helping us to get the rest we need. I’ve heard it said that, “Everything that is good, is not good for us.” In other words, an overcrowded schedule filled with an abundance of good things may not be good for you when it steals your rest and peace of mind.
Proper rest is essential for us to fulfill our God given callings and live out our purposes here on earth. Proper rest is essential for us to be able to display the fruit of the Spirit as we interact with others. Proper rest is essential for us to be able to hear God’s voice and obey. May we open our hearts to receive God’s rest.
Father,
Thank you for the rest we have in you through Jesus Christ. Help us to honor you with our bodies, as we invite you into our daily lives. Teach us to pray about everything and trust you to give us the direction and balance we need as we plan our days. May we surrender every detail big and small to you. May you be glorified through us as we seek to honor you with proper rest. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Psalm 116:7 NIV, “Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.”
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of joining a church in a time of fasting and prayer, something many churches do at the start of a new year. Although a fast is challenging, it is also exciting to spend extra time with God in prayer and let His presence replace some of the daily foods I consume and activities that take up my time.
It’s also a time of anticipation, as I anticipate growing closer to the Lord, hearing His voice more clearly, and learning whatever He wants to teach me through His Word.
During my time of fasting and praying, God strongly impressed upon my heart how much He loves His church, the community of believers, who confess Jesus Christ, His Son, as Savior and Lord. He showed me how His heart breaks when our hearts drift away from Him.
He revealed that one of His greatest desires for those in the body of Christ, who have drifted away from Him, is for them to repent and return their hearts to Him. I could sense God’s urgency, so this caused me to examine my own heart and repent of the ways I have knowingly or unknowingly allowed my heart to drift away from Him.
Acts 3:19-20 NIV
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.
Through this time of fasting and praying, God also impressed upon me that He desires to be our main Source for provision, protection, value and acceptance. Many have turned from Him and now search for these things in the world, but He is the supplier of our needs.
He is our Provider, our Protector, and the One who accepts us and loves us unconditionally. Our value does not come from worldly accomplishments. Our value does not come from the opinions of others. We are valuable because we are created in His image (Genesis 1:27).
The world offers us many options apart from God, but He is beckoning us to choose what is best, to choose Him, above all else. He loves us more than we even know and cares for us in ways we do not always understand.
God illuminated to me how far above this world His Kingdom is. His kingdom exceeds anything this world could ever offer us. Yet many times as His children, we get caught up in the temporary satisfaction this world has to offer.
Psalm 145:16-17 NIV
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
We can return our hearts to God daily, through the time we spend with Him in prayer and His Word, and through the choices we make that show our love for Him and our allegiance to His kingdom.
One thing we can always be sure of, is that God always wants our hearts to be fully surrendered to Him. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that, “…People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
We can be confident that the God we serve sees our heart, which encourages us to come to Him about anything. We don’t have to hide, because God sees all, but still chooses to love us unconditionally.
How blessed we are to belong to Him and be part of His kingdom. May God continue to bless and keep you as you abide in Him daily.
John 15:4 NKJV
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Your Word declares that we are blessed when we choose to not follow the ways of those who reject you. It is you who makes our paths straight and keeps our way pure. Help us to stay clear of sin and choose to walk in the righteousness that we have received through the blood and body of Jesus Christ. When we struggle with sin, help us to turn to you, repent, and receive the strength and courage we need to change.
May we walk in the Spirit of self discipline that you have given us and choose to meditate on Your Word day and night so that we can know and understand your truth, hide it in our hearts, and be doers of your Word. For your Word is flawless and it will always stand.
Well, we’re a little more than half way through March already! And for about a week and a half, March ushered in some unusually warm weather here in Virginia, with temperatures ranging from 75-88. Although this premature spring weather did not last, it was a lovely reprieve, an unexpected but welcome blessing. But of course, I realize everyone does not feel the same because after returning from a sunny warm lunchtime walk, I expressed my excitement about the warm weather to a colleague in the hallway. My enthusiasm was quickly met with her disappointment. She said it was way too early for the cooler weather to be gone. Then, I remembered she spent many years in the midwest and favored cold weather. Even though I too spent many years in the midwest (Michigan), I still prefer warmer weather.
However, I knew she was right about it being too early to be so warm. But that didn’t stop me from taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather, to visit a nearby park, sit on a bench, drink a smoothie, watch the water, and enjoy the delightful sounds of children on the playground. It was refreshing. At some point during my visit to the park, my colleague crossed my mind. As I remembered our conversation, I chuckled.
It’s true, God made us all different and our preferences with the weather is just one small example of that. But another difference, one that has a much greater impact, is faith. Faith can vary from person to person. Even within the same faith, Christianity for example, we can find an array of different beliefs and perspectives. I think most of us could agree, that while some differences related to faith can be a good thing, because it encourages us to learn, grow, and love each other through the differences, there are times it causes much disunity and stress.
Walking by faith does not always produce quick answers, which is contrary to the society we live in that usually promotes an I want it now, rather than later culture. Developing faith takes time. Getting to know God takes time, a lifetime. But God does not change, we do. So that is why God’s Word is a priceless treasure. For in it, we can see His steadfast love and unchanging character. It teaches us how to navigate our ever changing world. Through its real life stories, we learn about God’s character, His faithfulness to love, heal, deliver, vindicate, discipline, and provide. And of course, through the Bible, we learn how to be like Jesus and walk in His way.
So why are we prone to wander from the truth, hope, and beauty of God’s word? I am sure that answer, like most things, can vary from person to person too, but perhaps in many cases, it is the allure of something better. A perceived better path or a quicker way to have our desires and needs met. Matthew 7:14 NLT, warns us that following Christ will not be easy, it says, “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” So, not only is the road difficult, but it is only traveled by a few. And for those of us who have chosen the narrow difficult road, we know very well, it requires us to abide in Jesus continuously. Day by day, He is our daily bread. He is the One who directs our path and fills our hearts with joy as we travel the narrow road.
As I reflect on my journey, one thing I have found to be unwavering is the love of God. It has taken me many years to become more confident in His love for me and I am still learning what confidence in God is. But, when I allow myself to rest safely in His perfect love, I have all I need. There is no lack, whatsoever. The peace and contentment found in His love is not even dependent on circumstances or people. It just comes from having faith that God will be exactly who He promised to be in any and every situation.
As Christians, we have to choose Jesus and embrace His joy, which means we choose to let life’s difficulties (which includes circumstances and people) point us back to Him. After all, our lives should be about His glory and helping to expand His kingdom. And when He becomes the focus, the very center, life somehow seems more manageable, simpler and sweeter, even in the midst of the complexities and chaos. It is hard to explain, but in my experience, that is just the way it is.
His love is a place of refuge, like nothing I have ever experienced before. I pray that you too would be kept safely in His love and care and run to Him for refuge.
Psalm 46:1 NLT
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Psalm 62:8 NKJV
Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
Hebrews 10:38 NLT
And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
James 1:17 NIV, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Father,
I honor You today and thank you for being who You are. You are my Source, the Giver of every good and perfect gift. You do not change, You remain the same through every season of life I encounter.
I am thankful to you for working out the details of my life, even when there are detours, interruptions, or some type of mistreatment by others, You are still in control. You protect me, care for me, and comfort me.
Father, I praise You. You are the God who never forgets me. You always see me, hear me and love me.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Have a blessed week! And remember life and people change, but God is always with you. His love remains the same.
In my Bible reading, the Lord has been impressing upon me the importance of taking my time and choosing quality over quantity. I have found this to be very beneficial as it allows me the golden opportunity to take in the small details that I would otherwise overlook.
If I feel pressure to race through my daily reading, in an effort to complete a chapter or two, I will miss many of the simple truths that God wanted to speak to me that day through His Word. God’s Word is so full of the refreshment and nourishment that we so desperately need and I have found that consuming it in small bites has really helped me not to miss what matters most.
I am sure you have experienced those moments in your Bible reading where you have been reading and all of a sudden the words you read, jumped right off the page and captured your heart. And the crazy thing is that it is often something that we have read many times before. I have been finding that to happen more often, as I have been taking my time to hear what the Lord is saying to me by taking small bites of His Word, journaling, repenting and praying about what I have read.
I have been going through the book of Genesis, and about a week ago, my reading for the day was Genesis 4:13-16. Chapter 4 in Genesis shares the story of Cain and Abel. In the previous verses of that chapter, we learn that Cain killed His brother Abel and the Lord told Cain that when he worked the ground, it would no longer produce crops and that he would be a wanderer. Cain’s response/plea is below in verses 13-14. But God’s astounding response is in verse 15.
Genesis 4:13-16 NIV
13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
When I got to verse 15, GOD’S MERCY struck me, it jumped off the page and captured my heart! It was massive and hard to comprehend, but real. There was no way I could miss it and it caused me to examine my own heart, repent of my pride and realize how I, like Cain, have received God’s mercy, not once, not twice but time and time again. Here was a man who committed murder, yet the loving God we serve was willing to spare his life. God marked Cain so that no one would kill him, even though he had killed his brother, Abel.
Through Christ, we too have been marked by God’s mercy. He often withholds the punishment we deserve and the punishment we think others deserve. Realizing this, gives us the ability to trust Him with justice, after all, He has said that vengeance belongs to Him.
Romans 12:19 NIV
12“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”
When we see others do wrong and it seems that they are getting away with it, justice belongs to the Lord. He has promised to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
Vengeance can take on many forms. And in the times we live in, that vengeance often can come through the things that are being posted on social media. Many people often use their social media platforms to speak harsh words, post divisive things, hurt others, or insist upon their own way.
So, it’s even more important to make sure that what we post is coming from a place of love and God’s truth instead of vengeance, since we have a responsibility as Christians to bring glory to God and help expand His kingdom, not divide it. We know that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33).
I am thankful God used these verses in Genesis to remind me of the greatness of His mercy. I love how the Word of God brings humility, conviction, and instruction to all who are willing to receive it.
James 2:13 NIV
13 “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
Drawing Closer to Christ 