My heart is waiting…waiting to know what His will is for our lives. I want to be surrendered, fully dependent upon him…but my heart cries out to know the reason for the struggle…the reason for the unknown. We are going through a lot of changes right now…and I can’t share all the details at this point, but I wanted to share this thought.
What a special gift prayer is to Christ’s disciples! It is the communication line between a Mighty Savior and a needy sinner. It is a gift of grace that supplies the strength in time of need.
This last year, Aaron & I were burdened to become more faithful in the gift of prayer. Being more purposeful in this practice and strengthening our relationship with the Lord as a result. I am so thankful that God answered our prayers, and I just wanted to share a few means that have been highly beneficial for us. We are not there yet, but it is a blessing that God does hear our cry to be more faithful prayer warriors, and supplies us with the means of grace to accomplish that.
“We live in an age where too many who profess to be Christians rarely consider their spiritual maturity–an age when many consider spiritual immaturity a mark of authenticity, and when people associate doubt with humility and assurance with pride…Scripture makes it plain: if you are not a person who exhibits and exercises discernment you are not mature Christian.”
Quoted from Tim Challies new book titled, Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, an in depth and biblical look on the value of cultivating this discipline in our lives.
In a world where the angel of light is actively aiming to deceive and destroy, we must be actively on our guard in deciphering between truth and error, right and wrong. We need discernment in every aspect of life: what we believe about God, how we act out His will in our lives, how we spend our money, and how we manage our time.
Madeleine wrote:
And you wrote about memorizing scripture. I have heard so often how
important it is to memorize verses. But although I usually learn quickly
memorizing scripture is very difficult for me. Can you recommend some
technique?
The fruit of memorizing Scripture is that you are always prepared to make a defense for the hope that is in you. You are ready with the Sword of the Spirit to fight back at each of the devil’s darts of temptation, doubt, worry, and every evil foe. It will conform you into Christ’s image, grant you triumph over sin, and strengthen your communion with God. You heart is in tuned to the very words of God, preparing you to walk according to His will and in His footsteps. What better place for you to be?
I have also found this list of questions by Donald Whitney to be of excellent use for evaluating your spiritual life, friendships, etc. especially at the start of a new year. These are also great questions for leading in profitable conversation as well. I find it very helpful to write my answers in the front of my journal, that way I can look back and re-evaluate throughout the year.
Donald Whitney says:
Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. “Consider your ways!” (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.
Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It’s so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we’re going and where we should be going.
The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.
He continues:
So let’s evaluate our lives, make plans and goals, and live this new year with biblical dilgence, remembering that, ‘the plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage’ (Proverbs 21:5). But in all things let’s also remember our dependence on our King who said, ‘Apart from Me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5).
For the full article click here.
Revelation 3:1-6
“‘Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.’”
Once again I share some of my musings and thoughts from the book of Revelation. While pondering this address to the sleeping church in Sardis, one thing stood out to me. This church had not completed the tasks God had appointed them to do. They were slacking off, assuming that Christ was coming, and they didn’t need to think any further as to the present.
God has appointed each of us with different deeds and works of righteousness that we are to complete before His return or He takes us home. The command is to wake up and remain attentive to the deeds God has predestined for us to complete! For me, He has called me to serve my husband, my baby, and our church at large. He has specific deeds of ministry for me to accomplish in my spear of influence.
Eph. 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
The key to remember is that He does not call us to perfectionism but to faithfulness (not laziness either, or we might miss out on receiving the blessing)! I am a perfectionist so this hits home for me! I struggle with having peace and rest when something is left undone on my list from the day. He does not command that you have a perfect house, or perfectly behaved children, or that everyone must think highly of you in order for you to complete your work. He calls us to reflect Him, to stay alert and attentive to His promptings, meet the needs of those in our spear…and remain confident that He will only take us home when our work is complete on this earth!
So keep up the good work wherever He has called you!
Revelations 2:8-9
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich)…’”
While reading through the book of Revelation, I was struck by this simple phrase that John records the angel saying in parenthesis: “But you are rich!” Profound. The Smyrna church is suffering tribulation and poverty and yet John brings to their attention the fact that they are rich. Rich in what? They are suffering and withstanding much persecution and John adds a simple reminder in the midst of it all for the church to reflect on how they are rich. Rich in the eyes of the world would mean possessing many worldly goods, but this rich means that we are rich because of our faith.
In whatever state we are in…whether we think we are in poverty by our lack of resources, or actually suffering the loss of all things, or simply anxious about the lack of things, or suffering under trials and struggles…the truth that stands forth is this command to reflect upon how truly indeed you are rich. We must counteract the negative thinking in regards to our circumstances with this reflection upon the truly positive events and blessings that have been poured out upon us.
How am I truly rich today?
To name a few.
It may not appear rich in the eyes of the world, but before God, the precious blood of Christ makes us perfectly clean and righteous before Him, eternity is being prepared for us, making us rich indeed!
“Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” – Matt. 6:25
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” – Matt. 6:34
In light of my series on Homemaking on a Budget, I thought I would add a little to my stance on frugality. If you haven’t read my previous post, feel free to read it here. Aaron & I have been reading through What Jesus Demands from the World by John Piper in our morning devotion time, and there are a few points that he shares that are so powerful to our understanding of money and possessions and the struggle of anxiety that is so common an area of weakness for us as women especially. These truths impacted me greatly, I had to share them with you. I hope you are encouraged by these thoughts.
“Anxiety shows that we are too close to the world and too far from God.” (Piper)
Finally, in conclusion, don’t worry oh woman for your God knows all your needs from now and forever. He will supply all that you need to accomplish His will and purpose for your life. Anything else that he does not supply is not necessary. All else will not help you walk in his will!
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33)
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.Give thanks to the God of gods, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.Give thanks to the Lord of Lords for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
~Ps. 136:1-3
Give thanks…To Him who is the Lord and Sovereign over my life, for His lovingkindness nevers ceases.
Give thanks…To Him who is a strong tower of protection and refuge for the righteous, for His lovingkindness never faids.
Give thanks…Even when dark clouds encompass me, for His lovingkindness never ends.
Give thanks…Even when my body is weak and tired, under ailment or stress, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks…even when my child is cranky and needing attention, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks…even when my house is a mess and needing attention, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks…when moodiness and depression traps my soul, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks…to Him who has grants forgiveness again after my many stumblings, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks…to Him who never leaves me nor forsakes me, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Give thanks…To Him who gave Himself for an undeserving wretch, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.
“Who redeemed us from our low estate, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. And has rescued us from our adversaries, for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Who gives food to all flesh, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Ps. 136:23-26
Simplify Your Spiritual Life by Donald Whitney- I think I would say this has been my top favorite read for the year 2007, for it contains such valuable encouragement and advice on simplifying your spiritual life, of strengthening your walk with the Lord through simple and practical ways. He does not mean simplify in the sense of “doing less” as most people would take it. It is not as much about doing fewer things as it is about doing the right things. The theme verse is encouraging his readers to return to the “simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3).
Each chapter is roughly two pages in length and is the perfect amount for anyone, no matter your time limitations. It is a quick and refreshing read when you catch a moment between responsibilities. It covers all different topics of spiritual disciples including: devotions, prayer, journaling, Sabbath rests, simplifying your heart, mind and time, etc. How can we incorporate time to do the right things and dwell in the simplicity of devotion to Christ? This book answers that question.
One encouraging point from the chapter titled, “Do What You Can”, he tells the story of a woman named Jean Fleming. She was a dedicated servant of the Lord throughout her single years in missions, etc, devoted in seeking the Lord, and growing in the disciplines. Then she was married and had three children in diapers.
He tells the story:
“Caring for their most basic needs eliminated almost every moment of the time she used to devote to caring for her soul. Her longings for the things of God reached as high as ever, but her time and energy had new and severe limits. On at least three occasions I’ve eavesdropped as Jean addressed young moms in similar situation. In effect, she’s told them, ‘At this time in your life, you can’t do what you’re used to doing. You don’t have time for all your heart desires to experience in your spiritual life. Nevertheless, do what you can do, even though it’s precious little. Just don’t deceive yourself by thinking that you can put off a devotional life until you have more time. Because when the years roll around and you finally do have more time, your spiritual habits will be so ingrained that you won’t give more attention to your devotional life at all.”
Jean kept Bibles open in several rooms –in the kitchen, nursery, bathroom –and look at them when she could. She may have only read one verse, but the discipline kept the Word in her heart and the presence of God in her awareness.
“Like Jean with three in diapers, you may be in a situation that curtails many of your spiritual activities. You may be looking at months or years of limitations. Do what you can. God does not love us more when we do more, or less when we do less. He accepts us, not because of what we do for Him, but because of what He’s done for us in Christ…Love God, and within the limitations He has sovereignly placed in your life at this time, do what you can.”
Visit Donald Whitney’s site to read free sample chapters from this book.
More quotes and encouragement from this book to come…