Waiting for the Next Shoe to Drop

Living in this world apart from Christ is wearisome at best. There is always something negative happening to us in some way or another: financial, physical, relational, mental, emotional, etc. We struggle from day to day and almost never awaken without some trepidation over what will happen to us next. Trouble even seems to happen in "threes." We are always waiting for the next shoe to drop.

We try to climb the corporate ladder in order to provide our family with as much security as we can. We compromise our quality family time in order to work overtime to bring home more money. We often work two or three jobs in order to give our children more than we had when we were growing up. We fall into the trap of buying them the latest toy on the market at inflated prices.

This schedule produces even more health, mental, emotional and relational problems. Some of us even work our self into an early grave. We resemble the hamster on the little metal wheel, going round and round, but never really getting anywhere. We amass material possessions, but they keep breaking down or coming out with an updated model, so that we feel the need to get a new one.

When we come to Christ and entirely surrender to Him, we begin living in His perfect plan for our life. We no longer fear the next shoe dropping, because it usually ends up being a glass slipper with King Jesus using the entire event to provide us with a special place in His Kingdom along with miraculous blessings through every negative event (Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 2:19).

Prayer:

Father God, the life You give to us in Christ supplies us with joy and peace, which transcends all human reason (Philippians 4:7). We are blessed when we trust in You, so we place our confidence in You. You plant us like a tree by Your streams of living water, and our spirit has constant nourishment. We do not fear whatever life throws at us, and we flourish no matter what happens to us (Jeremiah 17:7-8). You put Your plans in our heart and bring them to fruition, as we walk in Your Spirit (Psalm 20:4; Galatians 5:15-26). You sustain us, bless us and shine Your favor on us. You are always gracious to us and You keep Your eye on us, so that we walk in Your peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

Thought for the Day:

In Christ, we no longer fear trials or difficulties because we know they hold the seed for a miracle, which will surely happen.

Lost Love Restored

As children, we had a natural affection for our parents; but as we age, we learn to withhold love and to look out for our self, instead of for other people. We lose this predilection to love sacrificially, as we experience disappointment, difficulties and distress. Only God’s Spirit can restore our lost love, void of our own agenda. His unconditional love draws us to live in the center of His divine will and to unite with Him in the fullest expression of His character (Galatians 5:22-23).

We agree with Jesus that our sustenance is found only in doing the will of God (John 4:34, 6:38). God does not eradicate our human will. He brings our will into agreement with His, as He graces us with more and more of His nature (2 Peter 1:4; 2 Corinthians 3:18). We perfectly complement God’s love for humanity, because our affections are no longer centered on our self, but on those He sends us to serve. We even grow to love our enemies without any fear of them.


As we abide in God’s purpose and will, His light replaces our darkness and His joy delivers us from the deepest sorrows in our soul. We are unified with His nature, directed by His Spirit and radiating His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). We listen to God’s Spirit throughout our day and use His discernment in making every decision. Our purpose and actions are now motivated only by the will of God and the works, which He created for us to do before the earth began (John 2:17; Ephesians 2:10).


Faith in God’s faithfulness replaces negative emotions and human desires. Gratitude for His provision eliminates the need to petition Him for more. We live with a grateful heart, wanting nothing and requiring very little. Our grandest wish is not for material possessions, but for more of God to share with more people, who are held hostage in this lost and dying world. Our lost love is restored and focused on all of humanity with the sacrificial love of Christ.


Prayer:

Father God, You desire for our will to submit to Yours, so that we die to our self, and You can bear much fruit in and through our mortal spirit, soul and body (John 12:24). Therefore, we have no need to force our behavior to line up with Your Word. We simply surrender to You and You perfect us little by little through our union with Your Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 3:1-3). Help us never to live from the place of our depraved human desires and will, but to live instead for Your glory and honor in the center of Your will for our life (Romans 8:2).

Thought for the Day:
We are not united with God's will from a sense of obligation, but through love for Him and faith in Him.

True Happiness

 

 

There is not a person on earth that does not crave happiness. We explore many different venues to provide us with happiness, only to find that they are ultimately empty shells of promise. We change our circumstances often, trying to find happiness. We blame our unhappiness on the people, places and things in our life. Then, we eventually turn to addictions in an attempt to fill our needs, or to anesthetize the pain of not finding it.

In this materialistic world, we believe the commercials, soap operas and sitcoms. We endeavor to recreate what we see there. We desire instant gratification and we do not want to work for success. We lack self-control and we want everything handed to us. Eventually, we end up crushed, disillusioned, hopeless and depressed. Our body and soul are sick and we wallow in self-pity and misery.

What is true happiness and where does it come from? True happiness cannot be bought, traded, measured or obtained in this world. True happiness is found only in Jesus Christ. He teaches us contentment and He provides for all of our needs. He gives us victory in the spiritual warfare that pervades our life on this earth (Ephesians 6:10-20). He gives us His glorious joy, which defies human logic (1 Peter 1:7-9; Acts 2:28).

Our happiness has its foundation in our salvation (Luke 10:20). Even in times of mourning, He turns our sorrow to joy (John 16:20; Psalm 51:12). The more we put our trust in God, the happier our life becomes (Psalm 32:21). As our heart trusts only in Him, we are secure in Christ as our strength, protection and provision. He helps us to succeed, and this fills our heart with songs of joyous praise (Psalm 28:7). The more we seek Him, the more our heart rejoices (Psalm 105:3).

God’s Words in the Bible also give us peace in this world of unrest. Jesus already overcame the world, and He lives in us; therefore we can live with cheerful optimism (Colossians 1:27; John 16:33). We are happy when we follow God’s will for our life and obey His precepts (Psalm 94:12). As we trust Him to work out all things, even the negative aspects of life, for our good, we find true and abundant happiness (Proverbs 16:20; Romans 8:28).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to earth as a man to save me from my sinful lifestyle. Teach me to know You (John 17:3). Bring me into a right relationship with You (Psalm 51:10). Forgive me for all of my faults and failures (James 5:16). Birth Your nature in me (2 Peter 1:4). I believe in You and I want to live my life for You (Acts 16:31). When I am afraid to give control of my life over to you, teach me to trust in Your faithfulness (Jeremiah 29:11). I want to believe in You, but please assure me and rid me of my doubts (Mark 9:24). Lead me into a deeper union with You throughout the rest of my life (1 Corinthians 6:17).

Thought for the Day:

Happiness does not depend on material possessions, circumstances or relationships, because it only comes from our deep union with Jesus Christ. – John 17:22