God is with us

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our High Tower and Stronghold). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 46:11 AMP

The Lord of hosts is with us. He is with you. He is with me. We are not doing our life alone. God is with us.

Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel - which, when translated, means, God with us. Matthew 1:23 AMP

God sacrificed His Son, Jesus, so that if we choose to make Jesus our Lord and Saviour, we can be reconciled with Him.

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and now the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 AMP

Our lives are intimately intertwined with Jesus. If we humble ourselves and yield to Him, He will be our strength, helping us to face any circumstances.

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 AMP

Yes, God is with us. He has freely gifted us the opportunity to be with Him. It is good to remind ourselves of this truth, as we head towards celebrating Christmas and are bombarded with the commercialization of gifts, that we have already received the greatest gift of all - JESUS.

Question for today, what can you do to ensure that Jesus stays 'front and centre' for you this Christmas? Furthermore, what can we do today, to acknowledge that God is with us, and live out of that inner strength that He infuses in us?

His grace - our gift.

But He said to me, My grace (My favour and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP

If My people

If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 AMP

We don't have to look very far to see that our land is in need of healing, physically, emotionally and spiritually. There are cracks everywhere we look, the family - the fundamental building block of our society has been falling apart for years; the church - sexual abuse; the government - disunity and power-broking; business - more and more concentrated power in a few and the list goes on and on. I am not wanting to be negative, but we cannot live in ignorance. The reality is we live in a very broken world. 

How different would our society look if we, God's people, every single one of us, did exactly what 2 Chronicles 7:14 calls us to do 

1. Humbled ourselves (truly surrendered every area of our lives to God, and really made Him Lord of our lives)

2. Prayed continuously (without ceasing as Paul says)

3. Sought God all day in what think, do and say

4. Craved God with all our heart (instead of chocolate or whatever else your flesh yearns for)

5. Required the necessity of His face (above all else that the 'world' tells us we need) 

I don't know about you, but when I look at that list and consider honestly about how I live my life, I fall short in so many ways. Thankfully God knew we wouldn't be able to do this alone, and He provided us with an inbuilt, always available helper - the Holy Spirit.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26 AMP

So let's be teachable. Let's listen to the Holy Spirit. Let's be obedient to His promptings. Let's be obedient to 2 Chronicles 7:14, humble ourselves and pray for this land that we are so blessed to live in. 

The Bible tells us we are the 'light of the world'.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble and good deeds and recognise and honour and praise and glorify you Father Who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 AMP

Today, let's ask the Holy Spirit what we can to do right now, in our 'world', to be a light. Let's ask Him how we can pray for our land, this blessed land. And then let's listen. And remember, we do not need to live in fear, God is on our side.

It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit - depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm]. Deuteronomy 31:8 AMP

He's my God

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God -
soon I'll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He's my God.
Psalm 42:11 The Message

Fix my eyes on God.

The Amplified Bible says, 'Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him'.

Here is a practical example of how God helped me yesterday go from a 'down in the dumps' situation on the back of some family news, to 'having a smile' on my face.

1. I had to acknowledge that this was upsetting news - not deny that it hurt, really hurt on the inside.

[It is not only the prophet but also the people who cry out in their thoughts] My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the walls of my heart! My heart is disquieted and throbs aloud within me; I cannot be silent! For I have heard the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Jeremiah 4:19 AMP

2.  Let the emotion come - I sat on our front steps, looked up to the sky, cried out to God and then cried some more.

My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, Where is your God?
Psalm 42:2-3 AMP

3. Be Still and listen - In amidst the tears, listen to God's voice, gentle reminders of what He has done, and what He will do.

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 AMP

4. Recall - recall His promises, and what I had read earlier in the day from the devotion Jesus Calling - As you sit quietly in My Presence, let Me fill your heart and mind with thankfulness.... this remembrance builds a foundation of gratitude in you, a foundation that circumstances cannot shake.

O my God, my life is cast down upon me [and I find the burden more than I can bear]; therefore will I [earnestly] remember You from the land of Jordan [River] and the [summits of Mount] Hermon, from the little mountain Mizar. Psalm 42:6 AMP

5. Prayer support - I contacted some people, confessing that I was struggling with this news, asking them to please pray for me.

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16 AMP

6. Make declarations in worship - from one of my current favourite worship songs (No longer slaves) - 'I am no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God'. Earlier in the day I had played that one song continuously for an hour - God obviously knew I needed to get a deeper understanding of this truth.

Yet the Lord will command His loving-kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8 AMP

7. Rest - I can now, having acknowledged the emotions, sought God, heard God, asked for prayer support, and reminded my soul that I am child of God, and He has it in hand. 

Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and by disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God.
Psalm 42:11 AMP

I pray that what I have shared today is a help to anyone who is facing a situation that seems hopeless, giving some practical steps on how to fix our eyes on God. He is there in the midst, He is our hope. He has made a way for us - Jesus.

Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a high priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Hebrews 4:14-16 The Message

The dawning of the morning

I anticipated the dawning of the morning and cried [in childlike prayer]; I hoped in Your word.

Psalms 119:147 AMP

Sometimes the night, both literally and seasonally, can be long. Sometimes there is nothing to do, but cry out in childlike prayer and emerse oneself in God's Word. The Message Bible puts it this way, 

I was up before sunrise,

crying for help, hoping for a word from you.

I stayed awake all night,

prayerfully pondering your promise.

Psalms 119:147-148 The Message

When we are in that night season, we need light. 

For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; the Lord my God illumines my darkness.

Psalms 18:28 AMP

We need the Light to show us the way out of the darkness, to show us that there is hope. Jesus is that Light and gives us hope.

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life. John 8:12 AMP

The morning will come, whether it is literally a new day, full of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness.

It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 AMP

Or it may be a 'morning' in terms of a new season. A long anticipated, hoped for new season. 

​TO EVERYTHING there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven: .....

Ecclesiastes 3:1 AMP

Sometimes we don't understand why some seasons 'hang around' for so long. It can be a huge distraction and very detrimental to try to work out 'why'. We just need to come to a place where we can trust that ....

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], yet so that men cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11AMP

We need to keep focussed on God's end goal - us being in eternity with Him, no matter the seasons we pass through on the way. He loves us, He has a plan for us, and that plan is for us to surrender every aspect and season of our lives to Him, and eventually be with Him for eternity.

Question for today, are you waiting for the dawning of the morning in some area of your life? Today let's choose to wait in prayerful anticipation, put our hope in Jesus and His plan for eternity.

I have come as a Light into the world, so that whoever believes in Me [whoever cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] may not continue to live in darkness. John 12:46 AMP

Hope and expectation.

And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? 
Psalm 39:7a AMP

We all have times in our lives when we ask ourselves, what is going on here? How can there be a good outcome to this circumstance? Where do I put my hope and expectation at this time?

David had a great answer to that question. 

My hope and expectation are in You.
Psalm 39:7b AMP

For our family there have been many times when we have asked that question, what is going on here? Often from both a health and a financial perspective. 

From the health side of things we have had wonderful help from medical professionals, but we have had to learn to not put our hope and expectation in them alone. Diagnosis are given, and side effects are explained. We would listen and accept what we heard.

One example relates to Victoria and chemotherapy treatment. We were told she would lose all her hair. So our expectation was that Victoria would lose all her hair. Our expectation immediately aligned with the medical world.

A few week's later, a friend told me, that her friend was praying that Victoria would not lose all her hair. And guess what - Victoria didn't lose all her hair during 15 months of treatment. She lost some, but not all. Lesson - God always has the last say. We had put our expectation and hope in the wrong place, but thankfully God was gracious to have someone else standing in the gap for our daughter.

It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22 AMP

So now, when we are told something from a medical perspective, we are getting into the habit, so not just accepting it, rather, taking it to God, and saying, "We know You have this situation under control. We know You are greater than this circumstance. We know that all things are possible with You." Our hope and expectation shifts to Him.

The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word]. Lamentations 3:24-25 AMP

However, it is hard to stay full-time in that place of hoping and expecting in God. There is always that little voice saying 'what if ....'. Some days it is easy to be full of faith and say to that little voice 'Go, in the name of Jesus'. Other days if it is given a second chance to speak, that little voice gets louder and is more difficult to stop. On those days I have learnt to stop, read God's Word, pray and worship until the faith and hope returns and I can declare, 

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him. He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved. With God rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyeilding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God!

Psalm 62:5-7 AMP

It is a daily choice of positioning oneself with God, sitting with Him, waiting for Him, standing firm, learning to put my hope and expectation in Him alone. Thankfully His gracious is sufficient while we are learning!

Question for today, what or who is your hope and expectation in? Is it man? Is it money? Is it God? 

Back to basics

In the beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 AMP

Lets get back to basics, who is this God?

This God is three in one - God the Father, God the Son Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit. 

So there are three witnesses in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit, and these three are One. 1 John 5:7 AMP

And what's more, He created us in His own image.

God said, Let Us [Father, Son and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our image, after Our likeness, and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all of the earth, and over everything that creeps upon the earth. So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26 - 27 AMP

But then came the disobedience and things had to change. We became separated from our God.

And the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us [the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit], to know [how to distinguish between] good and evil and blessing and calamity; and now, lest he put forth his hand and also take from the tree of life and eat, and live forever - therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. Genesis 3:22-23 AMP

Sin. We all do it. In different ways. We all, everyday, think, do or say something that is not in line with God's will for us. None of us are perfect. Some sin is more overt than others. But we all sin. 

God is Holy. Holiness and sin don't mix. A bridge, a mediator is required to re-join the separated. The bridge is Jesus. 

Therefore Jesus also suffered and died outside the [city's] gate in order that He might purify and consecrate the people through [the shedding of] His own blood and set them apart as holy [for God]. Hebrews 13:12 AMP

The bridge is there for everyone who chooses to believe in Jesus, no matter what our sin. Through true repentance,  and God's forgiveness, grace and mercy - Jesus - we can again be in right-standing with our Heavenly Father. 

And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognise) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true - in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.  1 John 5:20 AMP

Today, in our world, when it is so easy to look and see the 'big overt' sins of others, let's not forget that we too sin, every day in different ways. Let's take heed of our desperate need for Jesus, and ask Him for help to continually make the choice of putting Him first in our lives.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods) - [from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be). 1 John 5:20-21 AMP

Let's make a decision to let His light shine through us today.

For what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves [merely] as your servants (slaves) for Jesus' sake. For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:5-7 AMP

I am a child of God

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. Romans 8:14-16 AMP

Often before I start my morning devotions I sing No Longer Slaves from Bethel Music. I love singing loudly, "I am no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God." What a great declaration to make at the beginning of the day. A declaration of who I really am - a child of God. A declaration that because of who we are in Christ Jesus, we have the victory.

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 AMP

We belong to God. We are His children. He has made a way for us to come back into relationship with Him, to commune with Him, to sit in His presence and know His love. The bridge of the song, No longer slaves, says...

You split the sea so I could walk right through it
All my fears were drowned in perfect love
You rescued me so I could stand and sing
I am a child of God 

He has made a way where there was seemingly no way for every single person on this earth, including you and me. 

He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own] - His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him. But as many as did receive Him and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name - Who owe their birth neither to blood nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]. John 1:11-13 AMP

Question for today, are we living out of this knowledge that we are children of God? Are we living in the freedom that He has won for us? Another part of the song says,

We've been liberated from our bondage
We're the sons and daughters, let us sing our freedom

Today, let's make the declaration, "I am no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God." And let's ask God to show us how to really live out of that truth.

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4 NLT

Protection

The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers. Psalms 34:7 AMP

Have you ever had that experience of seeing God's physical protection in your life? A situation occurs which could have ended badly had it not been for 'someone' protecting you and your possessions?

We had that experience on Tuesday night. About 2.30am my husband woke me and said look out the window. Our front gate was wide open and one of my car doors was open. With slight trepidation we went downstairs and outside, unsure what (or who) we would find. Thankfully no one was there and everything was untouched, including my ipad in the car.

After a few moments, I realised that after coming home late on Tuesday night from a meeting, in our hurry to get the children to bed, we had left the gate open, and left the car door open! An open invitation to any passers by. We were grateful for the protection of those angels encamped here. Needless to say last night we made sure everything was locked up.

Whilst we experienced (and are very grateful) for God's physical protection, and the reminder to be good stewards of what He has given us, this experience has also reminded me of other areas of our lives that need protecting. In particular our hearts. God encourages us to guard our heart.

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 AMP

We need to be alert to what we are exposing our hearts too, and the burdens we chose to carry, rather than surrendering them to God.

But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [this business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; for it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth. Luke 21:34-35 AMP

I don't know why we sometimes feel the need to hang on to burdens rather than surrender them - maybe it is the need to be in control, rather than trust God with them. Learning to trust Him in all things is such a huge journey - our life's journey. To move forward in this journey, I guess we just have to do what He tells us.

Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man. Luke 21:36 AMP

Because of Jesus death and resurrection, we are able to stand in His presence today. We are able to experience His grace that enables us to keep moving forward on this journey of learning how to trust Him more each day. We are able to keep better guard of our hearts.

Question for today, how are you going with protecting your heart? Do you struggle, like me, with holding on to burdens that are not ours to hold on to? Today lets make a decision to give those burdens to Jesus, and ask the Holy Spirit to help us leave them with Jesus. Let's take another step forward in learning how to live God's way.

And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favour]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God's set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul). Acts 20:32 AMP

Where are you looking for help?

The Lord looks from heaven, He beholds all the sons of men; From His dwelling place He looks [intently] upon all the inhabitants of the earth - He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who considers all their doings. Psalm 33:13-15 AMP

Today lets think about 'looking' - who is looking at us? Where are we looking? Where do we need to be looking?

The Lord is looking at us. He is watching to see what we will do, how we will react to circumstances, trials and tribulations. He waits to see if we will flee, or stand.

One thousand of you will flee at the threat of one of them; at the threat of five you will flee till you are left like a beacon or a flagpole on the top of a mountain, and like a signal on a hill.

Isaiah 30:17 AMP

Why is He looking? Because He wants to be gracious to us, have mercy on us and show us His loving-kindness. He created us. He loves us.

And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Isaiah 30:18a AMP

So what about us, where are we looking? 

As for us, our eyes yet failed and wasted away in looking for our worthless help. In our watching [on our watchtower] we have watched and waited expectantly for a nation [Egypt or some other one to come to our rescue] that could not save us. Lamentations 4:17 AMP

Are we looking for worthless help? Or are we learning to look for help where Jesus looked. 

Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and blessed and broke the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. Matthew 14:19 AMP

He looked up. He looked to heaven.

And looking up to heaven, He sighed as He said, Ephphatha, which means, Be opened! And his ears were opened, his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak distinctly and as he should. Mark 7:34 AMP

And grace, mercy and loving-kindness came down from heaven.

Questions for today, where are you looking for your help today? Do you know that you have a Heavenly Father who is expecting, looking and longing to be gracious to you today? He just wants us to stop and look to Him. Let's do it.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favour, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! Isaiah 30:18b AMP

O Lord

Hear, O Lord, have mercy and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper! You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, to the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:10-11 AMP

For me, these three verses describe the process of drawing closer to God and understanding more of His love for us. Let's have a closer look at them.

Firstly, we find ourselves in that place of desperation, with only one option left - God. We cry out to Him - it may be a whisper, it may be a scream.

Hear, O Lord, have mercy and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper. Psalm 30:10 AMP

As I am writing this, my ipod shuffle is playing the Hillsong worship song, I surrender!  Yet another reminder from the Holy Spirit, that He wants us to always let God have His way in our lives. To let Him really be Lord of our lives.

Once we call out and surrender, then can God do the work in our heart. He can make changes in us. 

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded my with gladness. Psalm 30:11 AMP


God helps us to see His perspective. Even (or maybe especially) when our circumstances don't change, He changes the way we view our circumstances and the way we view other people in our lives. The Message Bible puts it this way,

You did it; you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. Psalm 30:11 The Message

And when that change takes place, freedom comes. Freedom to be, freedom to live and freedom to love. Every part of your being does want to praise God as you get this greater revelation of His love and grace towards us.

To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. Psalm 30:12 AMP

So we find ourselves in a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father - exactly where He wants us to be. Our hearts have a little more understanding that we cannot live fully unless we live His way and let Him indeed be Lord of our lives.

And what's more, every time we go through this process of surrendering, letting Him change our hearts, praising and thanking Him, our relationship goes deeper still. Our revelation grows. We are able to receive more of God's love for us. Gratitude is continually on our lips.

I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. GOD, my God, I can't thank you enough.
Psalm 30:12 The Message

Question for today, Are you in the middle of this process right now? I think if our relationship with God is growing, we will always be somewhere in this process - either surrendering, letting Him change us and praising Him. So let's not be afraid to be in this process, let's embrace it, and let God do His good work in us.

I, Simon Peter, am a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. I write this to you whose experience with God is as life-changing as ours, all due to our God's straight dealing and the intervention of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you may times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master.
2 Peter 1:1-2 The Message

Denying oneself

And Jesus called [to Him] the throng with His disciples and said to them, If anyone intends to come after Me, let him deny himself [forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests] and take up his cross, and [joining Me as a disciple and siding with My party] follow with Me [continually, cleaving steadfastly to Me]. Mark 8:34 AMP

How difficult is it for us to deny ourselves? Or as this expanded version of the scripture says, to forget, ignore, disown, lose sight of ourselves and our interests? The Message Bible puts it this way,

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat. Mark 8:34a The Message

I had an interesting conversation with one of my daughters this week. She was determined to attain a certain role. The challenge was that she had very little control over whether she gained the role. In talking about it with her I suggested that she surrender the whole idea and process to God and trust Him for the right outcome. And that if this role didn't work out, there would be other opportunities in the future.

Well, that answer didn't sit well with her, she responded something like, "No Mum, I want this role, I am not going to just pray and let God decide." My heart went out to her, how honest she was.

We then had a little conversation about the desires of our heart, where they come from and what happens to them when we wait for God's timing.

[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Philippians 2:13 AMP

God has put those desires in our heart, and He has given us the gifts and talents to support those desires. We just have to be patient and stay close to Him.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Psalm 37:4 AMP

She wasn't completely convinced, but we prayed and she went to sleep. 

The next morning, she said to me, 'You know Mum, if I don't get that role, I am going to act like I have it anyway.' 

Yes! God had done a work in her heart over night, and now she knew that the 'role' wasn't an end in itself, it was the attitude with which she went about her daily life that mattered. She didn't need to be given the 'role' to use the gifts and talents God had bestowed on her. 

Look what happens when we deny ourselves - God can work in our heart and then more effectively use us for His purposes. What a great reminder this was to me. Thank you Jesus.

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, "If any of your wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. Mark 8:34 NLT

Question for today, how are you going at denying yourself and laying down you own interests to ensure they align with God's purpose and plan for your life? It is hard because we do love to be 'in the driver's seat'. I find it is a daily event, sometimes hourly, to relinquish (often very reluctantly) control. But what a blessing when I do, when that beautiful peace of God comes into my life. 

Today, let's ask God to show us what we need to deny and lay down, so He can do what He wants to do in our life today, and live out of His plan and His peace.

Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament), strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it). Hebrews 13:20-21 AMP

Tranquility

My son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you. Proverbs 3:1-2 AMP

Tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death] - that is one thing I yearn for. Some days it is there, but other days the entire idea of tranquility seems to be a hugely foreign concept. Yesterday was one such day! My mind spent most of the day going through various options to resolve a situation, exhausting myself in the process. I certainly wasn't heeding this scripture .....

Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones. 
Proverbs 3:7-8 AMP

The Message Bible puts it this way

Don't assume you know it all. Run to GOD! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Proverbs 3:7-8 AMP

My nerves were frazzled. I wasn't vibrating with life. I was striving, rather than resting and handing over my concerns to Jesus, and leaving them with Him. I needed time to sit and be still, but my day was so full - even the 10 minutes to sit in my car at school pick up and read a devotion had evaded me. 

Finally, just after 9pm, in the car by myself, with some worship music on, I was at last able let go of the striving, and let God (not Wendy) be Lord of my life. Tranquility - inward and outward. A tranquility that enabled me to hear clearly not only things about my own life, but for another as well. Thank you Jesus.

So my learning from the day - stop, take captive those thoughts (strivings) immediately, submit them to the Lord, and wait for His response. Don't keep trying to work it out myself after praying and "surrendering" it.  I need to improve my 'casting'.

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 AMP

I know God has been trying to teach me this lesson for a while. And I know I will most likely fail at it again in the future, but hopefully less times than in the past. Thankfully He loves me (and you) and doesn't give up on me (or you).

Question for today, are you lacking tranquility in your life? Are you casting your cares completely, or like me doing a partial cast, still wanting to hold onto the line? If yes, let's take time today to have a conversation with God about 'why' we are struggling to cast our cares completely. What is it in us that is holding us back from living out of His tranquility? 

My prayer for us today ....

The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually). Numbers 6:26 AMP