Well, Daniel is over.
This second half was completely overwhelming and downright convicting. The intensity that Daniel's prayer life displays is one that I wish I could claim. Daniel was so consistent and urgent with his prayers that he received such preferrential treatment as Michael (the angel) leaving a battle to come and answer his questions. I was convicted about my own prayer life through this study. Reading a bit each morning is great. I want to stay in His Word. But how often do I really pray? Meals, bedtime, frustrating moments, yes. But throughout the day? Urgently? For others? For wisdom? What kind of prayer life can I claim? When I get to heaven, will I be surprised at God's nature or will I already have a hint of it because of my close relationship with Him here on earth?
And this morning, I started a new study. It's a 90-day study into the life and Person of Jesus Christ. I'm so excited. I was in tears this morning at the prospect of falling in love all over again with my Savior. My head knows that He loves me. But I want my heart to start feeling it again. I want to feel intentionally loved with every ounce of my being.
And most of all, I want my kids to look at my relationship with Jesus and covet it for themselves.
I'm anxious for Jesus to open my eyes in this study and I'd encourage anyone reading this to find a great study for the summer time. What great opportunities now to sit outside and commune with Jesus while your kids are playing at the park. Or bring His Word down to the lake and talk with Him. Use the spring weather to your advantage as a jumpstart to a new relationship with Him!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Friday, April 11, 2008
Ever have one of those weeks?
It's been one of "those" weeks. You know...the ones where everything seems to happen and everything has to get done and you wonder how you'll get it all done on Monday, but by Friday you realize it's almost over and....................... And the weather certainly hasn't helped. Cold, raining, sleet, overcast, snowing.--just general yuk. And April is long this year---no Easter break, no long weekends. And a five-week month to top it off.
Overwhelmed? Yup. We've all been there. "Those" weeks are the ones that can really challenge our faith. Do we get caught up in the busy and forget about our time with Him? Do we place all responsibility of our tasks at our own feet and forget to ask Him for strength and patience? I know it's difficult. On Monday, I was so exhausted already that I wondered if Friday would ever get here. Now that I'm here, I wonder why I worried in the first place.
This morning found me in Psalm 142. My Bible labels it as a Psalm that David had written while he was hiding in a cave. Armies surrounded him and he was sitting alone in a cave. Talk about overwhelmed!
1I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD;
I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.
2I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him.
3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
You knew my path
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.
4Look to the right and see;
For there is no one who regards me;
There is no escape for me;
No one cares for my soul.
(www.biblegateway.com) NAS
First, David cries to God for help with his voice. Literally. Not just in his head or his heart. But aloud. I believe there's something to be said for saying things out loud. For me, something isn't real until it's spoken. You can feel like you love someone, but until you say "I love you," it doesn't seem real. Maybe David feels this way, too. I need help from God, I'll ask Him outloud!
Secondly, it's comforting to know that when we feel overwhelmed, when we have "those" weeks, God already knows our path. He knows how we'll get things done around the house. He knows what we'll deem as unimportant and cross off our lists. He knows the kind of refreshing sleep we'll get at night.
Lastly, for those of us who might feel we're doing this stuff on our own, take comfort that God is holding a shield next to us to protect us. I love what my Bible notes say about verse 4:
"With enemies on every path, David screams aloud to God that he is defenseless. The armed soldier in ancient Israel probably would have had his spear or sword in his right hand and his shield in his left. The shield of one man would protect the right side of his neighbor. David cries that there is no one on his right side; He expects to find God there."
Do you ever look to your right and find no one there? I know I do. But this passage was a reminder that He is protecting me (even if only from myself!). And when things get overwhelming---and they will---that I can tell Him I need His help. It's already there---He doesn't always sit and wait for me to ask before providing. He is a constant Shield and Refuge and is incapable of failing us!
Overwhelmed? Yup. We've all been there. "Those" weeks are the ones that can really challenge our faith. Do we get caught up in the busy and forget about our time with Him? Do we place all responsibility of our tasks at our own feet and forget to ask Him for strength and patience? I know it's difficult. On Monday, I was so exhausted already that I wondered if Friday would ever get here. Now that I'm here, I wonder why I worried in the first place.
This morning found me in Psalm 142. My Bible labels it as a Psalm that David had written while he was hiding in a cave. Armies surrounded him and he was sitting alone in a cave. Talk about overwhelmed!
1I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD;
I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.
2I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him.
3When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
You knew my path
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.
4Look to the right and see;
For there is no one who regards me;
There is no escape for me;
No one cares for my soul.
(www.biblegateway.com) NAS
First, David cries to God for help with his voice. Literally. Not just in his head or his heart. But aloud. I believe there's something to be said for saying things out loud. For me, something isn't real until it's spoken. You can feel like you love someone, but until you say "I love you," it doesn't seem real. Maybe David feels this way, too. I need help from God, I'll ask Him outloud!
Secondly, it's comforting to know that when we feel overwhelmed, when we have "those" weeks, God already knows our path. He knows how we'll get things done around the house. He knows what we'll deem as unimportant and cross off our lists. He knows the kind of refreshing sleep we'll get at night.
Lastly, for those of us who might feel we're doing this stuff on our own, take comfort that God is holding a shield next to us to protect us. I love what my Bible notes say about verse 4:
"With enemies on every path, David screams aloud to God that he is defenseless. The armed soldier in ancient Israel probably would have had his spear or sword in his right hand and his shield in his left. The shield of one man would protect the right side of his neighbor. David cries that there is no one on his right side; He expects to find God there."
Do you ever look to your right and find no one there? I know I do. But this passage was a reminder that He is protecting me (even if only from myself!). And when things get overwhelming---and they will---that I can tell Him I need His help. It's already there---He doesn't always sit and wait for me to ask before providing. He is a constant Shield and Refuge and is incapable of failing us!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Safekeeping from Wickedness
Man, I sure am glad I'm not David. I glazed over Psalm 140 this morning, and expected to do the same with 141. Poor guy. Throughout the Psalms, he is generally hiding in a cave, running from armies with his "Wanted" poster in their fists. He prays for strength to fight, courage to stand and safety in hiding. These were real enemies he was up against.
Yup...glad I'm not him. I don't have any armies chasing me down. No angry kings out for revenge. No plunder, no wreakage. Lucky me.
except............
Then I read verse 3.
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Satan knows I don't have to fight armies. But I do have to fight against my natural instinct. We all do!
In our homes with our kids.
In our place of work.
In our place of worship.
In the restaurant with friends.
At our kids' school.
At our husband's office.
Though David's circumstances may be foreign to us, his words certainly are not. He prays for God to protect him from himself. No matter what.
Maybe we have a right to be angry. Maybe our frustration is justified. But like I tell my daughter, "Everything you do reflects your Savior...good or bad."
It can be all too easy to get caught up in our anger or frustraton. That becomes our focus and everything else tunes into that. Everything reflects those feelings. But look at verse 8:
For my eyes are toward You, O GOD, the Lord;
In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
Our eyes have to be not on our situation, but on our Savior. I love how the notes in my Bible work this verse.
"In light of the wicked's strength, it is easy for us to fix our eyes on, or worry about, the wicked. It is also natural to focus on ourselves; we either become self-absorbed in our difficulties or exalt ourselves in our victories. But David fixes his eyes only on the Lord."
The "wicked" here needs to be our own natural tendencies. Our human nature. The "old man" that Christ's death and resurrection have done away with. We need to look at that as the enemy that we battle each and every day.
And in that battle, when we take our eyes off the Commander-in-Chief, we will surely fall.
Father, we want our prayer to be set before You as incense. (vs.2) Let our words be from You and our hands be lifted up as the evening sacrifice. To live for You means we give it all to You and let you guide our paths. Help us to trust that You are capable. You remember we are dust and you know our weaknesses. But You love us anyway and want us to succeed in You.
Yup...glad I'm not him. I don't have any armies chasing me down. No angry kings out for revenge. No plunder, no wreakage. Lucky me.
except............
Then I read verse 3.
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
Satan knows I don't have to fight armies. But I do have to fight against my natural instinct. We all do!
In our homes with our kids.
In our place of work.
In our place of worship.
In the restaurant with friends.
At our kids' school.
At our husband's office.
Though David's circumstances may be foreign to us, his words certainly are not. He prays for God to protect him from himself. No matter what.
Maybe we have a right to be angry. Maybe our frustration is justified. But like I tell my daughter, "Everything you do reflects your Savior...good or bad."
It can be all too easy to get caught up in our anger or frustraton. That becomes our focus and everything else tunes into that. Everything reflects those feelings. But look at verse 8:
For my eyes are toward You, O GOD, the Lord;
In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
Our eyes have to be not on our situation, but on our Savior. I love how the notes in my Bible work this verse.
"In light of the wicked's strength, it is easy for us to fix our eyes on, or worry about, the wicked. It is also natural to focus on ourselves; we either become self-absorbed in our difficulties or exalt ourselves in our victories. But David fixes his eyes only on the Lord."
The "wicked" here needs to be our own natural tendencies. Our human nature. The "old man" that Christ's death and resurrection have done away with. We need to look at that as the enemy that we battle each and every day.
And in that battle, when we take our eyes off the Commander-in-Chief, we will surely fall.
Father, we want our prayer to be set before You as incense. (vs.2) Let our words be from You and our hands be lifted up as the evening sacrifice. To live for You means we give it all to You and let you guide our paths. Help us to trust that You are capable. You remember we are dust and you know our weaknesses. But You love us anyway and want us to succeed in You.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Booster Chair
This morning's reading led me to one of my favorite Psalms. When I was young and struggled with self-esteem issues, my mother had me read it. When my brother-in-law was sick, he clung to the comfort of its words. When he passed away, his dear friend put the lyrics to beautiful music. So, a simple thought this morning as the time is going by, kids are up, breakfast needs to be made, but I, for one, need a little pick-me-up:
Psalm 139 (NAS)
1O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,"
12Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day
Darkness and light are alike to You.
13For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
14I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand
When I awake, I am still with You.
19O that You would slay the wicked, O God;
Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.
20For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way
David says it all so beautifully here. So, take it to heart...
...if you need a little boost this morning.
...if you're feeling defeated by your surroundings.
...if you need to feel God's presence.
...if you look in the mirror and don't recognize yourself anymore.
...if you need to be reminded that He is close and that He loves you.
And have a wonderful day in Him!
Psalm 139 (NAS)
1O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thought from afar.
3You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,"
12Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day
Darkness and light are alike to You.
13For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
14I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well.
15My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
17How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand
When I awake, I am still with You.
19O that You would slay the wicked, O God;
Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.
20For they speak against You wickedly,
And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22I hate them with the utmost hatred;
They have become my enemies.
23Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way
David says it all so beautifully here. So, take it to heart...
...if you need a little boost this morning.
...if you're feeling defeated by your surroundings.
...if you need to feel God's presence.
...if you look in the mirror and don't recognize yourself anymore.
...if you need to be reminded that He is close and that He loves you.
And have a wonderful day in Him!
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