I will never

Peter declared to Him, Though they all are offended and stumble and fall away because of You [and distrust and desert You], I will never do so. Matthew 26:33 AMP

Sometimes in our lives we can be so absolutely certain in our own strength that we will not do something, that our judgement can become clouded. We are so full of our own way of thinking or doing, that we ignore the guidance of God, or the Holy Spirit. Later in Matthew we read this about Peter,

And Peter remembered Jesus' words, when He had said, Before a single rooster crows, you will deny and disown Me three times, And he went outside and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:75  AMP

It can be a humbling experience when you have declared something (public or private) and then do the opposite, particularly in public. There are many areas in life where we set expectations of ourselves. For example, marriage, I never be disrespectful to my spouse; parenting, I will never yell at my child;  work, I will never be self-serving in the workplace. We set these expectations, completely forgetting we are human. We are not perfect.  

Often when the realisation comes that we did the 'I will never', we too like Peter weep (or at least are disappointed in ourselves) as we are confronted with our imperfectness. And that is where Jesus wants us. Jesus wants us to recognise our short-comings and acknowledge that He is the answer to our becoming complete.

His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), [That is might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature and of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. Ephesians 4:12-13 AMP

Question for today, is there an area in your life (or more than one) in which you have declared, 'I will never ...' , but you have not been able keep that declaration? Take time today to talk to God about that, confess, repent, ask for forgiveness, receive and accept His forgiveness. Let the Holy Spirit minister to you, graciously showing you the next step for moving toward maturity in that area. Be encouraged, He is on your side.

Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 AMP

Your vital need

You have said, Seek My face [inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. My heart says to You, Your face (Your presence), Lord, will I seek, inquire for, and required [of necessity and on the authority of Your Word]. Psalm 27:8 AMP

What is your vital need? Here are some of the definitions of 'vital' from the Oxford Concise Australian Dictionary:

• Essential to the existence or functioning of a thing 
• Indispensable
• Paramount
• Vital power - the power to sustain life

There can be so many things in our life that we deem 'vital', especially in the Western World. What happens if these things are taken away from us? What if we don't have a home? our family? our health? What becomes our vital need? What or who do we turn to?

God wants us to turn to Him. To Seek His face, His presence and draw life and strength from Him. 

Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and His strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation); seek and require His face and His presence [continually] evermore. Psalm 105:4 AMP

Often it is not until one, some or all of these things we deem vital, are taken away from us, that we realise how vital our relationship with Jesus is. We are put in a position, through circumstances, that afford us the opportunity to return Jesus to the correct place in our lives, the Lord and Saviour of our life. 

Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9 AMP

Sometimes this acknowledgement of Jesus can move from 'front of mind' as 'life' bombards us. Today, let's make a conscious effort to put Jesus front and centre, acknowledge that His presence is our vital need. Let's take time to seek His presence today, our Lord who we are called to love with our whole heart.

And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. Mark 12:30 AMP

Who is Jesus?

As we go about our lives here on earth, busy with family, busy with work, busy with school, busy with friends and the list goes on, sometimes it is easy to get side-tracked and lose sight of who Jesus is. This week as I continued reading The Pilgrim's progress by John Bunyan, this passage paused me to stop and more fully consider who Jesus is and what He has done for us sinners. Here is that passage along with the scriptures it references.

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)

The saying is sure and true and worthy of full and universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15 AMP

He is the end of the law of righteousness to everyone that believes.  (Romans 10:4)

For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him. Romans 10:4

He died for our sins, and rose again for our justification (Romans 4:25).

Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from guilt before God]. Romans 4:25 AMP

He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood (Revelation 1:5).

And from Jesus Christ the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead [first to be brought back to life] and the Prince (Ruler) of the kings of the earth. To Him Who ever loves us and has once [for all] loosed and freed us from our sins by His own blood. Revelations 1:5 AMP

He is Mediator between God and us (1 Timothy 2:5).

For there [is only] on God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5 AMP

He ever liveth to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them. Hebrews 7:25

What tremendous hope rose in my heart as I read this passage and the referenced scriptures. My understanding of Jesus, His sacrifice for us, and His love for us, grew yet again. My inexpressible gratitude for all He has done and continues to do, interceding on our behalf with our Heavenly Father, grew yet again too. All I can say is, Jesus, thank you, I love you.

Question for today, what stirs in your heart as you read this passage and the scriptures? What would you say to Jesus if you saw Him face to face today?

 

Worrying and being anxious

And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the 'span of his life? Matthew 6:27 AMP

As I tried to go to sleep last night, a battle raged in my mind for about half an hour. One part of my mind was clearly in fear, travelling through various negative 'what if' scenarios. The other part was trying to recall God's truth over the situation. I hadn't experienced a night like this for a long long time.

The voice of fear continued, getting more and more vocal, listing all the negative aspects of our situation. The voice of truth, trying to be heard, started as a whisper, 'Remember how God has taken care of things before. He has been faithful to you. He has come through in the difficult situations before, even when it looked like He wasn't going to.'

[Earnestly] remember the marvelous deeds that He has done, His miracles and wonders, the judgements and sentences which He pronounced [upon His enemies, as in Egypt]. Psalm 105:5 AMP

After all this debate, a question came into my mind, a simple question that a friend had taught me to ask myself, 'Wendy, are you operating in fear or faith?'  'Faith' was the answer that I gave. 'Faith' was my stance.

With this question settled, my soul cried out, please give me your peace Jesus so I can sleep. 

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled]. John 14:27 AMP

I cannot remember anything after that, so I must have gone to sleep as soon as uttering that prayer. Asleep with faith.

Question for today, is there something in your life that is keeping you awake at night? Does a battle rage in your mind between the negative 'what if' scenarios, and God's truth for your life? If yes, study God's word for the truth, get it into your heart. Keep seeking God. Make a list of all the times God has bought you through tough times, a testimony list of God's faithfulness to you. Equip yourself, so when the doubt comes, you can clout it with God's word and what He has already done in your life. And finally, ask Jesus for His perfect peace.

My grace is sufficient

But He said to me, My grace (My favour and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger that enables you to bear the 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

God's favour, loving-kindness and mercy enables us to bear trouble manfully. At this very moment, can you see His favour on your life? Keep looking until find it. Give God the praise for the undeserved favour He gives us so freely.

For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favour and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied). 2 Corinthians 8:9 AMP

At this moment, can you see His loving-kindness in your life? What is happening in your life right now, that tells you without a doubt that God is loving and kind?

He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord. Psalm 33:5 AMP

At this moment, can you see His mercy in your life? Are you aware of just how amazing the gift of salvation is that God offers to us, despite our sinful nature?

But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O God, be favourable (be gracious, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am! I tell you, this man went down to his home justified (forgiven and made upright and in right standing with God), rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 18:13-14 AMP

Yes, God's favour, loving-kindness and mercy is sufficient to enable us to face trouble, live through trouble, and emerge from trouble. Emerge with a testimony of God's power and strength, when we were weak and had to rely completely on Him. Emerge with a greater understanding of God's love for us and His purpose for our life.  

Question for today, are you able to see God's favour, loving-kindness and mercy in your life? If not, spend some time in the presence of God and ask Him to show you what He has done and is doing. His grace is sufficient for you today.

I will cause you to rest

Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Matthew 11:28 AMP

What an invitation! Come to Me, and I will cause you to rest. When did you last receive an invitation like that? The Message Bible puts it this way,

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Matthew 11:28 The Message Bible 

What an amazing promise - Get away with Jesus and you'll recover your life. What does get away with Jesus mean? How do we practically, in our busy lives, get away with Jesus? The following verses tell us to

Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.  Matthew 11:29-30 The Message Bible

So firstly, we need to be walking with Jesus, not alone. We need to be making that daily decision to seek Jesus on His plan for our day and surrender our own plans. As we go through the day, remember that Jesus is with us, at home, in the car, at work, at school, at church, at the shopping centre. Whatever happens, whoever we meet, He is walking with us.

Secondly, we need to work with Jesus. We need to let Him be the teacher. We need to listen and learn from Him. We need to do exactly what He tells us to do. If we are working with Him, being obedient to His word, we won't be pushed past our limit. 

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message

Through walking and working with Jesus, we will come to better understand 'the unforced rhythms of grace.'  The benefits of coming to Jesus, and living His way are infinite.

But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same what that fruit appears in an orchard - things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, a conviction that basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Galatians 5:22-23 The Message

A quick summary, when we accept Jesus' invitation, He will

• cause us to rest - ease, relieve, refresh our souls
• never let you down
• will never let you be pushed past your limit
• will always be there to help you come through it
• bring gifts, like exhuberance about life and serenity into our lives

And in response, we will

• recover our life
• learn the unforced rhythms of grace
• live freely and lightly
• be able to marshal and direct our energies wisely

From my experience I know all of this to be true.  For me, having a seriously ill child, often feeling heavy-laden and overburdened, daily choosing to live Jesus' way has certainly helped me to find rest.

So today, let's take time to accept Jesus invitation to Come to Him. Let's surrender our ways, our day, our hearts, our worries, and let Him 'cause us to rest'.

Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good - not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. Matthew 11:29-30 AMP

Our Potter

Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8 AMP

We are the clay that God, the potter, is continually molding and re-shaping. It is a never ending process, which I have found is much better to yield too, rather than resist. 

Since becoming a Christian almost 20 years ago, I have been on this amazing journey of God continually increasing my strength and courage. I thought I was doing pretty well on this journey (opps, pride!) so in December when I felt God give me two specific scriptures for 2015, one of which was 1 Chronicles 28:20,

Also David told Solomon his son, Be strong and courageous, and do it. Fear not, be not dismayed, for the Lord God, my God is with you. He will not fail or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord. AMP

I wondered what God had planned for me this year. 

It hasn't taken long for me to find out. Already in this first month or so of 2015 I have found myself confronted with challenging situations I didn't expect. In these situations I had a choice to either walk away, saying this is too hard and too painful, or I take the path of being brave and courageous. 

As I consider which path to take, this scripture, in particular, the words, 'Fear not' and 'He will not fail or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord' come flooding back to my mind. It is the truth of this scripture, that eventually gives me the courage to step out into the unknown place and trust that God will be there when I get there. 

And He always is there, ready and waiting to guide me through the situation. He is shaping me more and more into the person He has destined me to be. He is the potter, and I am the clay, who by choosing to be obedient (most times) allows myself be molded and shaped, for what specific purpose I do not know. However I continue to trust that it is for His purposes and to bring glory to His Name. What a peace that trust brings to my soul.

Question for today, are you letting yourself be the 'clay' that the potter, Our Lord, can work with? Has God spoken something specific to you and are you letting Him outwork that in your life? Today, let's ask God to help us be clay that is willing to be shaped for His purposes.

For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things] - these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. 1 John 2:16-17 AMP