Tomorrow

So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is it own troubles. Matthew 6:34 AMP

This theme of 'not worrying about what will happen tomorrow' seems to be one God is continually working on in me. Each day something presents itself and I start to think, 'How are we going to fix that? What will happen tomorrow if this situation doesn't change?

And then when I sit and talk to God about it, He always reminds me, 'focus on today and use what is in your hands. I have got tomorrow covered.'

"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things comes up when the time comes." Matthew 6:34 The Message

What an act of self-discipline it is to give your entire attention to what God is doing now. It takes a conscious decision to not go down the 'control' path or the 'worry' path. It is much better to go down the 'take it to God' path. Yes, it is a case of casting our cares and trusting God with every aspect of our lives, big and small. 

Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure everything out on your own. Listen for GOD's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6 The Message

It is a case of daring to believe that He cares so much about us that His grace is sufficient for whatever is going on. And regardless of how ill-equipped we feel.

And then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. 

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 The Message

Question for today, what is concerning you right now? Whatever it is, it is not too big for God. He is the creator of the universe. His grace is sufficient for you, me and everyone else He created. Why not take time now to tell God about your concerns, and then leave them with Him, expectant that He will take care of them. And during the day, when the temptation comes to worry or be concerned again, remind yourself, 'No, I left that one with God today. I am waiting on Him'.

In Him we have ...

In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favour, which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), Ephesians 1:7-8 AMP

I am a bit of a 'list' person, so here is a list of what we have In Him, according to the above scriptures...

1. Redemption - deliverance and salvation

2. Forgiveness of our shortcomings and trespasses

3. His gracious favour

4. Every kind of wisdom and understanding

What a set of gifts to be given - eternal life, mercy, grace and everything we need to live our life here on earth as He intended. Don't you just want to stop and worship Jesus? Somehow saying 'thank you' seems so inadequate.

So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1:6-8 NLT

Let's choose to have praise on our lips today, despite what is going on around us. 

Let's meditate on His Word and do everything in His Name.

Let the Word of Christ - the Message - have the run of your house. Give it plenty of room in  your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives - words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Colossians 3:16-17 The Message

Jesus, we love You. We praise You. We give You our lives today.   Please help us to yield to all You want to do in us and through us today. Thank you Jesus. Amen

Applaud GOD!

On your feet now - applaud GOD!
Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. 
Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD.
He made us; we didn't make him.
We're his people, his well-tended sheep.
Enter with the password: "Thank you!"
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.
For GOD is sheer beauty, all -generous in love, loyal always and ever.
Psalm 100 The Message

Three of our children received their school reports yesterday. As I read them, all I could do was say, 'Thank you God for your restoration in their lives. Thank you for bringing them through some very difficult times. Thank you that they are thriving, each in their own unique way. It is only by your grace. Thank you.'

Yes, it is easy to thank God when things in life is going well. But what about when they are not going well. How do you thank God when a doctor has just told you that 'There is a mass in your daughter's brain'? Well, for me, I couldn't thank God - not right then. 

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP

It took three days for me to come to a place where I could say thank you God - not for the tumour as that wasn't from Him - but thank you for all that He had done before that diagnosis - things that He had put in place to help us through those three days. Some of those things had seemed like just every day things, like just having done a lot of cooking so the freezer was full of food. Some were more a definite God intervention, like my Mother getting her passport back the day before we received the news about Victoria, so she was able to come over immediately from New Zealand. Some of them God had been working on for years, such as placing us in this neighbourhood, developing strategic friendships which would alert us to Victoria being unwell. 

He is a good God. There is always plenty to thank Him for.

I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints (Your kind and pious ones). Psalm 52:9 AMP

Question for today, when was the last time you took time to give God a heartfelt thanks for all He has done for you? If you are looking at your life and finding it difficult for something to thank God for, maybe start with the basics - a warm, dry home, running water, food to eat, the blessing of living in a country that isn't at war and lets not forget the biggie - eternal life - the promise of living forever with God in heaven because of what Jesus did for us. It doesn't take time for that Thank You list to grow. And then, in Godly confidence, thank Him for what He will do. 

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Colossians 3:15 AMP

Such hope

Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favour) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Romans 5:2 AMP

Through Jesus Christ we have access to God's favour. Here is how The Message version says it,

And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. Romans 5:2 The Message

Can you picture yourself doing that this morning - out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting your praise? What does God's grace and glory look like to you? Are there areas in your life that you having difficulty seeing God's grace in? If so, ask Him to show you His grace. It is there.

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. Romans 5:3 AMP

This is where that phrase 'count it all joy'  comes to mind. I remember a few years ago, when we were experiencing pressure, affliction and hardship simultaneously, I would get in the shower and say to myself, 'count it all joy Wendy'. Over and over again I would repeat it to myself. The children would be arguing in the midst of the turmoil, and again I would say to myself, 'count it all joy Wendy'. It would be good to be able to say that I was able to 'count it all joy' but that is not the truth. Even today, as I reflect on some of the those times, the tears still come. But amid the tears there is praise on my lips.

There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. Romans 5:3-4 The Message

Passionate patience - or as the Amplified version calls it - maturity of character.

And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Romans 5:4 AMP

Approved faith and tried integrity - unfortunately (but really fortunately) only comes through those times of having God as the only option. The times when were is no way, other than turning to Him and trusting that He will come through for you. Trusting and hoping that He has a plan and it is good.

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us. Romans 5:5 AMP

Do you really believe this verse? That hope in Jesus will never disappoint? That hope in Jesus will never delude us? That hope in Jesus will never shame us? I could suggest that you, ask God to help you come to a place where you can believe this, but I have a sense that that could involve unwittingly inviting one of those seasons of pressure, affliction and hardship into your life, so I will leave that up to a conversation between you and God. 

But if that season does come, these scriptures, Romans 5:2-5 are definitely good to have on your lips and in your heart.

In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary - we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit! Romans 5:5 The Message

If you are in one of those challenging seasons now, can you close your eyes and see that for your life - you trying to round up enough containers to hold everything that God wants to give you, not even a stadium full of containers is enough - His love and favour for you is endless. He alone is our hope.

Not in your own strength

[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

After a couple of days of fighting off a cold, and thinking this is just slowing me down at a time when there is so much to be done for our business at End of Financial Year, I open my Bible this morning and the above scripture is in the centre of the page. And there is the gentle whisper, "Not in your own strength Wendy, not in your own strength." Okay, I start to breath again, reminding myself, it is not about what I can do, but it is about what He can do through me - if I yield.

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

This day is the Lord's day. It is the day that He has made.

This is the day which the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 NLT

It is His day. We are His children. He has given us all we need for this day. He has given us enough time to do what He wants us to do today. He has given us the gifts and skills to do what He wants us to do today. He has surrounded us with the people that we need to do what He wants us to do today. He gives us the inner strength to do what He wants us to do today. 

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. Philippians 4:13 The Message

Question for today, are you looking at your day thinking, 'How am I going to do this? How am I going to get this all done? What am I going to do about this situation?' 

If yes, then why not take the time to lay down your own plans for the day, and talk to God about His plans for your day. 

Ask Him the How and What questions. Ask Him to give you the priorities for the day, what does He want you to do when? 

And just remember to listen to what He says. I guarantee that if you do this, at the end of the day (which may not turn out as you had planned) you will be able to see that God's plan is always best.

What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've been doing from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure. Philippians 3:12-13 The Message

Jesus

She will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus [the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Saviour], for He will save His people from their sins [that is, prevent them from failing and missing the true end of scope of life, which is God]. Matthew 1:21 AMP

Today, some scriptures to meditate on. Be expectant that God will reveal more of the truth about His Son to you. 

There are also many other signs and miracles which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book. But these are written (recorded) in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Anointed One), the Son of God, and that through believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him you may have life through (in) His name [through Who He is]. John 20:30-31 AMP

Believing and cleaving to and trusting and relying upon Him - what does that mean practically in our lives, in our thoughts, words and actions?

Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. Romans 8:36-37 AMP

Because of Jesus we are more than conquerors, and have a surpassing victory in every area of our lives. Some times we have to declare this in faith while we wait for the manifestation. Let's ask God for the strength and faith to make that declaration today and every day.

But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!

Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:7-11 AMP

Jesus - the name above all names. Let's choose to lift His name high today, above everything, declaring His goodness and faithfulness over every circumstance. There is no other name.

The refining process - are we yielding?

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined and will test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will hear and answer them. I will say, It is My people; and they will say, The Lord is my God. Zechariah 13:9 AMP

Have you been through God's refining process lately? I think we are in that refining process every day. However, in my experience there are definitely times when there is some 'heavy heart refining' going on. 

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tries the hearts. Proverbs 17:3 AMP

Job had a sense of God's bigger plan and His intimate knowledge of each of us.

But He knows the way that I take [He has concern for is, appreciates, and pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I shall come forth as refined gold [pure and luminous]. Job 23:10 AMP

Sometimes when we enter the major refining season, we don't even realise that is what is happening. All we see is negative circumstances. It can take a while to lift our eyes and see above the trial, and see that God has a greater purpose. He is working in our hearts, refining them. Purifying us to be full of uncluttered love for Him. In those times, He wants us to do as Job did.

My foot has held fast to His steps; His ways have I kept and not turned aside. I have not gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed and treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary good. Job 23:11-12 AMP

Job knew he had to stick with God. 

For us, imperfect people, we need to do the same. Each day, regardless of what is going on, we need to make the choice to say Yes to God, and Yes to His refining process. We need to yield if we want to even come slightly close to reaching the goal of living as Christ lived on earth.

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] that is possibly I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Philippians 3:10-11 AMP

Questions for today, has God got you in a 'heavy heart refining' process right now? Are you yielding to Him or pushing away, saying 'it is too hard' ? If you are pushing away, why not ask God this morning to help you yield and give Him permission to do the refining work He has planned for you. He will answer you personally because He loves you more than you can imagine.

I'll deliver the surviving third to the refinery fires. I'll refine them as silver is refined, test them for purity as gold is tested. Then they'll pray to me by name and I'll answer them personally. I'll say, 'That's my people.' They'll say, 'GOD - my God!' Zechariah 13:9 The Message