Ahh, friends, God is working on something in me. I'm going to bend my own rules and tie in two verses today. The first one should may immediately sound familiar: 2 Chronicles 20:15b (AMP) says, "The Lord says this to you: Be not afraid or dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s." Does this remind anyone else of the same thing I've been writing about in the last few days?
I was just telling some friends last night that I feel that the Lord is really prompting me to take my little choke-hold OFF of some of the issues in my life that have long been on my list of things to keep track of. And that's my segue into the verse that first caught my attention this morning:
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." Zechariah 4:6b (KJV)
As I prepare to go into my day, I wish I could claim a multitude of reasons why this is a nice sentiment, but doesn't really convict. Not so, though. It is by His spirit that things are accomplished, that all things are accomplished. My own healing, my own transformations inside and out are in His hands. I have worked (and worked and worked and worked) for decades, literally, on certain areas of my life. I have monitored with an eagle eye my progress or lack thereof in certain areas. There are certain areas of myself and my life through which I look at almost every angle of life. I have worked tirelessly to bring my heart and self into alignment with the will of God, and to follow His lead in these areas. That, however, is what the Lord is telling me is now the thing that needs changing.
This phrase right here is the problem: "I have worked tirelessly." It is not my [my] might, nor by [my] power, but by HIS Spirit that I am changed. I work so hard. I work too hard. Gosh, as I type this I think that part of the problem is rooted simply in the fact that I work. I need to yield. As the verse I used for my first entry on this blog reminds me, I need only to be still. And as the first verse today again reminds: the battle is not mine. I am working to wage a war I cannot ever be equipped to fight.
Lord, I ask for your grace and your guidance. I am fairly certain I do not know how to be still and let your hand uphold me. Thank You for fighting on my behalf. Teach me how to receive Your gifts. And, God, thank You. Thank You. Thank You! Amen.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
*My* Position
Today's verse is actually just the first 1/2 of a verse: You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf (2 Chronicles 20:17a, ESV). The phrase that most stood out to me was "hold your position."
I recently felt led to make what felt like a bold offer to a friend, offering a possible help for a troubling personal situation in which she finds herself. My earthly mind told me I was butting in, and perhaps not being supportive by having any thoughts other than those that might be perceived as neutral. However, the Lord was clear in His direction. I made the decision to be quick to obey (I strive to always do just that, although quick often becomes a relative term!). The subject of her situation came up naturally in conversation, and I dove in - offering up my heartfelt beliefs, and rounding out our conversation with my God-inspired offer to help in a specific way.
My friend wanted some time to think about my offer, and she did. After her thought & consideration, she declined to accept it. At first, I had a quick pang of disappointment. I had stepped out on a limb, offering up my heart's deepest truths and then offering action to back them up! However, I quickly was corrected in my thoughts. My job was to listen, and to be quick to obey... to take up my position as indicated to me by the Lord of all. And then simply to hold it, and to leave the battle-fighting up to Him. After all, it is against principalities and powers of darkness which we fight, nothing less.
My earnest prayer is that as I stand firm and hold my position, that the salvation of the Lord may be made visible on the behalf of my friend. And that by me doing my part, as best I know how, that His fight will be aided. I'm just trying to come along side.
I know this verse & what I saw in it, take the verse completely out of context. I don't believe that lessons the reminders of truth though, as long as I'm remaining true to the Spirit of the Word, and to His truth. I pray to be kept in line with Him as I continue in this journey. Thanks for coming along with me!
I recently felt led to make what felt like a bold offer to a friend, offering a possible help for a troubling personal situation in which she finds herself. My earthly mind told me I was butting in, and perhaps not being supportive by having any thoughts other than those that might be perceived as neutral. However, the Lord was clear in His direction. I made the decision to be quick to obey (I strive to always do just that, although quick often becomes a relative term!). The subject of her situation came up naturally in conversation, and I dove in - offering up my heartfelt beliefs, and rounding out our conversation with my God-inspired offer to help in a specific way.
My friend wanted some time to think about my offer, and she did. After her thought & consideration, she declined to accept it. At first, I had a quick pang of disappointment. I had stepped out on a limb, offering up my heart's deepest truths and then offering action to back them up! However, I quickly was corrected in my thoughts. My job was to listen, and to be quick to obey... to take up my position as indicated to me by the Lord of all. And then simply to hold it, and to leave the battle-fighting up to Him. After all, it is against principalities and powers of darkness which we fight, nothing less.
My earnest prayer is that as I stand firm and hold my position, that the salvation of the Lord may be made visible on the behalf of my friend. And that by me doing my part, as best I know how, that His fight will be aided. I'm just trying to come along side.
I know this verse & what I saw in it, take the verse completely out of context. I don't believe that lessons the reminders of truth though, as long as I'm remaining true to the Spirit of the Word, and to His truth. I pray to be kept in line with Him as I continue in this journey. Thanks for coming along with me!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Safe to Trust
This morning, the verse that really grabbed my attention was 1 Peter 2:6 which reads, "For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.'" (1 Peter 2:6, NIV). It refers back to Isaiah 28:16, where it says that the one who trusts in this cornerstone will never be dismayed.
There are a lot of ways in which I see God's hand working in my life right now, and many of them are BIG! Questions about my future, about my purposes and about what His will is for me are often on my mind, and what's more amazing is that I feel like He is providing answers to some of my biggest questions!
This belief in His answers, however, also provides a perfect "in" for the enemy. Satan can whisper lies into my head and I would be lying if I said that those lies didn't sometimes take up residence in my heart as well. This verse, however, struck me today as a response to those lies. Jesus is that precious cornerstone in whom I can put my trust. And the Word says that I can do so, and never be put to shame. It's important for me to take note (and take hold!) of that word (never). Not that I may never feel shame or fear or anything else in regards to those precious topics; I may. But my feelings are simple by products of the lies of the enemy. What I can remember and truly let take root is that I will never really be put to shame, or be dismayed (to use the Isaiah wording) if I put my faith in Christ.
So, today, I am going to let this verse be an inspiration for me to step forward in boldness. I am protected by the Most High God, and building a spiritual house in which I shall be...no, in which I AM protected. Praise God!
There are a lot of ways in which I see God's hand working in my life right now, and many of them are BIG! Questions about my future, about my purposes and about what His will is for me are often on my mind, and what's more amazing is that I feel like He is providing answers to some of my biggest questions!
This belief in His answers, however, also provides a perfect "in" for the enemy. Satan can whisper lies into my head and I would be lying if I said that those lies didn't sometimes take up residence in my heart as well. This verse, however, struck me today as a response to those lies. Jesus is that precious cornerstone in whom I can put my trust. And the Word says that I can do so, and never be put to shame. It's important for me to take note (and take hold!) of that word (never). Not that I may never feel shame or fear or anything else in regards to those precious topics; I may. But my feelings are simple by products of the lies of the enemy. What I can remember and truly let take root is that I will never really be put to shame, or be dismayed (to use the Isaiah wording) if I put my faith in Christ.
So, today, I am going to let this verse be an inspiration for me to step forward in boldness. I am protected by the Most High God, and building a spiritual house in which I shall be...no, in which I AM protected. Praise God!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Standing Still
Since it's day 1 of the blog, I can't really say that I am posting this just after reflection on my quiet time in the Word and with the Lord. So, instead, I'll just kick this blog off with a few quick thoughts about a verse that has become one of my favorites:
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14, NIV
The nature of my personality is go, do, make, conquer. I can be very independent, and have learned only in more recent years that my (sometimes extreme) self-sufficiency can be as much a liability as an asset. So, when it comes to matters I feel like I'm learning about inside or ways in which I'm growing, I often take the approach of, "Okay, what do I do?"
To be clear, what that really means is, "How do I make this faster/easier/clearer/more understandable to me?" And I continue to learn that there are SO many ways in which there's not really anything for me to do other than be open and yielding to the Lord. He does the rest. When I first saw this verse, I thought, "Where has this been my whole life?!?" It's spoken by Moses to the Israelites as they wander in the desert. What a wonderful reminder, as I wander in my own deserts that the Lord will fight for ME. I need only to be still.
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14, NIV
The nature of my personality is go, do, make, conquer. I can be very independent, and have learned only in more recent years that my (sometimes extreme) self-sufficiency can be as much a liability as an asset. So, when it comes to matters I feel like I'm learning about inside or ways in which I'm growing, I often take the approach of, "Okay, what do I do?"
To be clear, what that really means is, "How do I make this faster/easier/clearer/more understandable to me?" And I continue to learn that there are SO many ways in which there's not really anything for me to do other than be open and yielding to the Lord. He does the rest. When I first saw this verse, I thought, "Where has this been my whole life?!?" It's spoken by Moses to the Israelites as they wander in the desert. What a wonderful reminder, as I wander in my own deserts that the Lord will fight for ME. I need only to be still.
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