Daily Quiet Time

The Word of God is alive and powerful. It sharpens our spiritual wisdom and power (Hebrews 4:12). It teaches us about God and His principles; and gives us the history of Jesus' life before, during and after He lived on the earth. God's Word increases our faith as it helps us to walk in righteousness and gives us comfort, joy and peace.

As we read God's Word, His eternal rest envelops our life from the inside out. Our thoughts, words and deeds line up with His precepts. We walk in the Spirit and obey His directives. Our soul conforms to the image of Christ from one stage of purity to the next (2 Corinthians 3:18). We find favor with God (Luke 1:30, 2:52) and friendship with Jesus as He fills our soul with His presence (John 15:15).

We learn from God's Word that Jesus took the condemnation for our sins and suffered the penalty for them on the cross (Romans 8:1, 34). In turn, He endowed us with His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our soul no longer longs to wallow in the mire of sin; but it joyfully bathes in God's Word and His presence, which make us clean and new (Ephesians 5:26; 1 John 1:9).

God's Word convicts us when we stray from His straight and narrow path of righteousness (Matthew 7:13-14). It teaches us that we no longer live with the weight of shame (Isaiah 54:4), but we are free in Christ to live a holy life (Galatians 5:1). As the Bible renews our mind, we are able to discern God's will and to walk worthy of His calling on our life (Romans 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 2:12).

Prayer:

Father God, Your Word answers the question of the origin of mankind, and had scientific knowledge, which precluded anything science discovered until more modern times (Genesis 1; Isaiah 40:22). Many archeological discoveries confirm Your Word, and not one of them contradicts or denies its Truth. Help us to hold up the standard of You Word in our daily life, so that others will see our faithfulness to You and be drawn to Your loving heart (Matthew 5:16).

Thought for the Day:

When we consider the marvels of God's heavens and the work of His creation, which He ordained; why would He even bother with mankind at all and deign to care for our every need?

-  Psalm 8:3-4; 1 Peter 5:7

Eternally Minded

Read: Luke 18:29-30

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

 - Hebrews 11:1

 

As I sat on my lanai, drinking a cup of hot cocoa and reveling in the cool breeze blending with the warm sunshine in southern most Florida, I reflected on the fact that I live so far away from my grandchildren who live in Missouri. I despise the fact that I rarely get to see them. Even when I plan a visit, their schedule and mine do not always coincide. I miss them, and they tell me all the time that they miss me.

I know I cannot live in more than one place at one time; so I petitioned God for some way to change my perspective. I did not want to feel this intense anguish over the great gulf of time and space that separates me from my cherished children. I could not do anything to change the situation; so I put it in God’s capable hands.

True to form, God clearly answered me, “Your grandchildren have Godly parents and you will have your grandchildren and their parents with you throughout eternity. I moved you to the southern tip of Florida, because there are people here who will not be in Heaven, if they do not have your and your husband's influence in their lives.”

My initial response was overwhelming joy at this insightful concept. I felt awed and privileged that my Lord and King would use me in such a way. Yet, in spite of the profound nature of God’s reply, I still struggled with submission to His will. This was yet another area of “self” that I needed to lay down on the brazen altar. I did not want to give up quantity time on this earth with my little munchkins. I longed to be involved in their lives on a daily basis. I did not want to be satisfied with an eternal perspective on this issue. I wanted to be with them now, as well as in eternity.

As I observed my response to God’s words, I realize that yet another level of attachment to this world remained entrenched in my soul. This caused the Holy Spirit to drench me with a double dose of conviction. Here lay in me an added area of carnal-mindedness. After over 40 years of walking with God on an intimate basis, I found one more area of my life still way too attached to this earthly realm. Sure, I have no affection for material possessions, worldly success, or recognition of any kind. Now, however, I realized that part of me is still very much bound to this world ~ the grandma part of me.

God is not as interested in our natural family as He is in our spiritual family. Mark 10:29-30, Luke 18: 29-30, and Matthew 19:29 all share this same concept. Luke 21:16,17 even states that some of our natural friends and family may actually deliver us up for persecution and death. Jesus makes it very clear that we will not always get along with, or be physically close to people in our own friend and family circle, due to our relationship and calling in the Lord. Jesus felt this same distance from His own friends and family; and the servant is not greater than her Lord (John 15:20).

The more I thought about it, therefore; the more spiritual excitement filled my soul. In eternity God will free us from all of these natural barriers and conditions that strap us to this earthly sphere. The moment we are absent from this body, we will be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8) and we will know and be known (1 Corinthians 13:12) for eternity.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I am not happy with this situation. I am struggling with laying down my need to enjoy my own dear grandchildren’s company more often. I rely on You to give me both the desire and the power to live out Your will for me in this earthly realm, regardless of the circumstances in my life (Philippians 2:13).

Thought for the Day:

God’s reality looks nothing like our earthly existence.

God Bends Down to Listen

Read: 2 Chronicles 6:39-42

“I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” - Psalm 116:1-2, (NLT)

What an awesome God we serve! He actually bends down to hear our requests clearly, so He can answer them in a timely manner. Of course, sometime His answer is “No” or “Wait,” but these responses are also for our good. At times, He even uses wisdom and discipline to keep us on a safe path because of some potential, unforeseen harm that threatens us (Psalm 27:11).

I want to walk worthy of God’s calling and to bring Him joy by bearing His spiritual fruit in my service to others. I am determined to increase in my knowledge of who He is and what He wants from me (Colossians 1:10-14) by daily Bible reading and prayer. I draw my strength from Him as I endeavor to joyfully do His will each day.

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for delivering me from Satan’s hold and allowing me to partake in the inheritance of Your Kingdom with Jesus Christ. Please help me to naturally reflect the gratitude I feel toward You in my words and deeds.

Thought for the Day:

God sees the big picture and sometimes graciously refuses to grant all of our requests.

Beyond Our Abilities

Read: Ephesians 3:14-19

“Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” - James 2:22 (NKJV)

My talents are in the area of crafts. I love to do anything that involves string and a needle or paper and glue. Therefore, when I turned my life over to Christ, I feared that I had no talents to offer, which He could use for His Kingdom. I had little more than genuine trust in Him. Then, I learned that with salvation comes the gift of faith to accomplish all that God calls us to do in our lifetime (Matthew 17:20).

We never walk alone, because God fills us with all of His fullness. Works become an indication of our salvation, rather than a prerequisite for it. We can obey the Spirit’s promptings in our life regardless of our talents or knowledge. No task, which God asks us to perform, remains beyond His anointing on us to carry it through.

On the other hand, sometimes we see a need and our compulsion prompts us to fill it. That is not always wise. Jesus helped everyone He felt God leading Him to assist, but He did not help everyone. Likewise, if we give aid to someone outside of God’s will for that person or for us, then we are actually enabling and rescuing, rather than assisting them in a healthy way. Our goal in life is to follow the Spirit’s leading in everything we say and do.

Prayer:
Precious Lord, lead us by Your Spirit moment-by-moment throughout the day, so that we may accomplish the greater works that You commissioned us to perform.

Thought for the Day:

God's Spirit in us is infinitely greater than the boundaries of all of our abilities.