Have you ever searched the Gospels and read the prayers Jesus prayed to His Father? There is so much to be learned when you stop and think about the things He prayed about. I am just focusing on one part of one of His prayers today because I have felt a heaviness for those who are hurting and broken or trapped. So I looked up one of Jesus' prayers to see what He prayed.
John 17: 15,20
"I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one...I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message."
Jesus knew protection was needed from Satan and his demons. His prayer included you and me, even though we were not alive at the time, when He said "for all who will ever believe". Can you imagine listening to Jesus pray for you--personally? He knew that you would come under the attack of the evil one. He knew that only God can protect you. And He is continuing to intercede for you in front of the Father. He knows you by name and your name has been uttered in front of the God of the universe by His Son Jesus Christ.
I think if I heard Jesus say my name and no other words I would be brought to tears like Mary at the tomb. Her eyes clouded by tears, she didn't recognize the man standing in front of her. She mistook him for a guard and asked, "Where have you taken my Lord" because the tomb was empty. And to her astonishment the voice that spoke to her was Jesus' voice. She knew it immediately even though He never identified himself. All He had to say was, "Mary".
Jesus is saying your name, perhaps even as I write this. He has been asking for your protection and continues to do so. He is your interceder and mediator. What comfort and security!
Who needs you to intercede for them today? Is it someone who knows Jesus well, but is facing a trial or temptation? Is it someone who still has not given Jesus ultimate control of their life? Pray for their protection from the evil one like Jesus did for you and me when he still walked on this earth. If Jesus felt it was important to pray about, then it needs to be important to us.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Needing Direction?
Thinking about Proverbs 3:5-6 today. Here it is in three different translations. I like to compare translations because sometimes there is a word that stands out and helps me understand the meaning of the verse better than another translation. Biblegateway.com is a great way to do comparisons.
--Could my understanding of a situation be wrong? Might there be another viewpoint? Or could God know more than me about the situation? We are called to use discernment, but ultimately we should not be depending on our intelligence. God's ways are higher than ours. James says we can ask for wisdom and God will give it. Wisdom is different than intelligence. It can only come from God and is needed for us to make right decisions.
Seek His will in all you do
In all your ways submit to Him
In all thy ways acknowledge Him
--This was phrased a different way in each translation. All three encompass what God is asking us to do. Am I seeking His will, not my own? Am I willing to submit to that will in every area? Am I acknowledging Him? I like this word acknowledge. Many of us know what it's like to have someone we know walk past us and not recognize us. Some of us even know what it's like to be deliberately ignored. When someone won't even say hi to you or acknowledge your presence in the room it is hurtful, degrading and arrogant on the other person's part. When we do not acknowledge God with every step we take in life, that is what we are doing to Him. He wants to be noticed and given credit for the things that He does in our lives. We cannot expect Him to give direction if we are not willing to constantly acknowledge Him in everything we do in life.
And He will show you which path to take.
And He will make your paths straight.
And He shall direct thy paths.
--Here is the promise when you follow the first part of these verses: God will show you which path to take and it will be a straight path (although sometimes it feels crooked I think this means He will keep you from falling in the potholes). He will give you a direction to go. He might not show you the end of the road or tell you your destination. That is part of trusting Him. But He will show you the next step to take. It sometimes feels like what it must be like to be blind and have to trust a guide. You can't always see where you are placing your foot, but you are trusting the guide that he is pointing you in the right direction.
What is it that you need to acknowledge God in today? Have you verbally asked for His direction? You will be amazed at the path He will take you down. It could change your life forever.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (New Living Translation)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (New International Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (King James Version)
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
I use these two verses probably more than any others when I start out my day or am at a crossroads on a decision. I have committed this one to memory, but we are also told to meditate on Scripture. That means breaking it down and practically applying it.
So this is how I break this one down.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
--Am I fully trusting God? Do I truly believe He is able to help me? Is there a piece of my heart that I am allowing to doubt God's power? If so, I need to confess it to Him. There is a verse in the New Testament where a man says to Jesus, "I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief." That is often my prayer. Doubts often creep in unnoticed until we take quiet time to examine our hearts and question ourselves. When we confess our doubts to Him, He is able to strengthen our trust in Him. So often we forget to ask Him for this.
--Could my understanding of a situation be wrong? Might there be another viewpoint? Or could God know more than me about the situation? We are called to use discernment, but ultimately we should not be depending on our intelligence. God's ways are higher than ours. James says we can ask for wisdom and God will give it. Wisdom is different than intelligence. It can only come from God and is needed for us to make right decisions.
Seek His will in all you do
In all your ways submit to Him
In all thy ways acknowledge Him
--This was phrased a different way in each translation. All three encompass what God is asking us to do. Am I seeking His will, not my own? Am I willing to submit to that will in every area? Am I acknowledging Him? I like this word acknowledge. Many of us know what it's like to have someone we know walk past us and not recognize us. Some of us even know what it's like to be deliberately ignored. When someone won't even say hi to you or acknowledge your presence in the room it is hurtful, degrading and arrogant on the other person's part. When we do not acknowledge God with every step we take in life, that is what we are doing to Him. He wants to be noticed and given credit for the things that He does in our lives. We cannot expect Him to give direction if we are not willing to constantly acknowledge Him in everything we do in life.
And He will show you which path to take.
And He will make your paths straight.
And He shall direct thy paths.
--Here is the promise when you follow the first part of these verses: God will show you which path to take and it will be a straight path (although sometimes it feels crooked I think this means He will keep you from falling in the potholes). He will give you a direction to go. He might not show you the end of the road or tell you your destination. That is part of trusting Him. But He will show you the next step to take. It sometimes feels like what it must be like to be blind and have to trust a guide. You can't always see where you are placing your foot, but you are trusting the guide that he is pointing you in the right direction.
What is it that you need to acknowledge God in today? Have you verbally asked for His direction? You will be amazed at the path He will take you down. It could change your life forever.
Monday, January 24, 2011
the face of Jesus
So I went to bed last night with thoughts of wishing I could see Jesus face to face just for a few minutes. I even prayed that I might encounter him in my dreams. I woke at around 2 in the the morning and the faces and names of numerous people kept flashing through my head continuously. I decided if I couldn't sleep I might as well pray. The names and faces continued all night long. I don't think I ever went back to sleep and got up exhausted wondering what kind of caffeine had I had the night before!
As I came to the end of my day, I had time to reflect on what I had prayed the night before. I had wanted to see Jesus. Instead innumerable faces had played through my mind.
Then I remembered this Scripture.
As I came to the end of my day, I had time to reflect on what I had prayed the night before. I had wanted to see Jesus. Instead innumerable faces had played through my mind.
Then I remembered this Scripture.
Matthew 25:31-46 (New Living Translation)
31 “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
I think God was trying to impress on me that I can see the face of Jesus in all of these people that I hadn't been able to get out of my head the night before. Someday I will see him face to face, but for today I need to act as though every person in need that I encounter is Jesus. I need to do for them what I would do for him if he was here. My deepest desire is for Him to say to me, "I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"
Finding Wisdom
In contemplating a title for my blog I chose some verses in Proverbs as my inspiration.
Proverbs 3:13-18
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
I never declared these verses to be my "life verses" but as I look back over my life I believe they have directed and protected me. They have motivated most of my prayers and decisions in life, and when they haven't been the motivator I have suffered the consequences of foolishness.
Often I have friends ask me what I would do in a situation or what decision they should make. I feel inadequate to answer these questions or offer advice. I am a flawed human being who can easily have errors in her thinking. If I have ever given good advice, it has only been because I sought wisdom from God through His Word, the Bible, and through prayer. It never fails to amaze me that He can use us as flawed human beings to help each other. It is truly humbling.
The purpose of this blog is to try to put in writing what God has taught or is teaching me. I would like this to be a compilation of things that I want my kids to know and understand. They may not read it now, but perhaps someday they will wonder "what would mom do" and read this blog and turn to God for wisdom of their own.
Friends have encouraged me to write in the past and I have hesitated because of my own insecurities. What if I write something that isn't wise and misleads? What if what I write is misunderstood? What if something I write is an area in which I later experience failure myself? All of these excuses add up to pride and I need to crucify that pride and allow God to use me to teach others in my wisdom or my foolishness. Whether in my failure or success He needs to get glory through it all anyway. My prayer is that the things I write will point everything back to Jesus. He is the source of all wisdom and the One who I turn to for everything.
Proverbs 3:13-18
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
I never declared these verses to be my "life verses" but as I look back over my life I believe they have directed and protected me. They have motivated most of my prayers and decisions in life, and when they haven't been the motivator I have suffered the consequences of foolishness.
Often I have friends ask me what I would do in a situation or what decision they should make. I feel inadequate to answer these questions or offer advice. I am a flawed human being who can easily have errors in her thinking. If I have ever given good advice, it has only been because I sought wisdom from God through His Word, the Bible, and through prayer. It never fails to amaze me that He can use us as flawed human beings to help each other. It is truly humbling.
The purpose of this blog is to try to put in writing what God has taught or is teaching me. I would like this to be a compilation of things that I want my kids to know and understand. They may not read it now, but perhaps someday they will wonder "what would mom do" and read this blog and turn to God for wisdom of their own.
Friends have encouraged me to write in the past and I have hesitated because of my own insecurities. What if I write something that isn't wise and misleads? What if what I write is misunderstood? What if something I write is an area in which I later experience failure myself? All of these excuses add up to pride and I need to crucify that pride and allow God to use me to teach others in my wisdom or my foolishness. Whether in my failure or success He needs to get glory through it all anyway. My prayer is that the things I write will point everything back to Jesus. He is the source of all wisdom and the One who I turn to for everything.
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