What Are You Going To Do Nice For Yourself Today?

Hey Friend,

 

I have been married just over six months to my husband and yes, we are still in the newlywed stage of our marriage, but I do have to say that his heart reflects the heart of Christ to me every day.  Each morning my husband asks me the question, "So, what are you going to do that is nice for yourself today?"  I admit, for the longest time this question stumped me.  It was so engrained in me to look at the tail end of my day and ask, "So what did I do (get accomplished) today?"

 

The answer to the second question was often a litany of how many loads of laundry I did, how many phone calls I made, bills that I paid, dog puke I cleaned up off the rug, hockey practices run to...it was the "post-game analysis" and always came across as a way of proving my worth and value.  It focused on "doing" rather than "being".

 

The first question offers a preemptive strike on the beginning of the day and it carries a whole different slant. It assumes the notion that you are special and that you deserve to do something nice for yourself in this day that God has given you.

 

Many of us know the second half of John 10:10: I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly (to the full).

 

We know this verse, but we don't claim it for ourselves.  We deem that it is somehow selfish to carve out some time just for ourselves in a day.  In actuality we are very good at tuning into the first part of that verse: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy... 

 

How often do we let the enemy steal our joy from our day by stealing our time?

 

Ann Voskamp (a favorite writer of mine) says, "All men will live out the length of their days...but very few will live out the width of their life."  We view life as linear - the shortest distance from Point A to Point B, when in reality God would have us live the width of our life - the vast, expansive, full part of our lives.

 

So how then do we live wide as well as long?  The book of Ecclesiastes talks about enjoying our earthly life and using the gifts God has given us to His glory. 

 

There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven.  (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15)

 

There is a time to laugh, dance, embrace as well as a time to work and plant and gather. 

 

What would you like to carve out a time for in YOUR day?  What are You going to do nice for yourself today?  Do you know that God smiles when He sees you doing things you enjoy?  Do you know that He treasures you because you are His precious child?  If we want our children to have joy in life, how much more so does God want us to experience that same joy?  We are HIS children no matter how old we get.

 

I admit that I secretly didn't like the Proverbs 31 Woman.  I don't know if I was jealous or resentful, but she just got on my nerves.  She is a virtuous woman, a wonderful wife; she works with her hands; she provides food for her family; she rises early, plants a vineyard, lays her hands on the spindle to weave fine clothes.  She helps the poor; she is wise, kind; her children arise and call her blessed...Okay really?  I get that she works hard and seemingly is able to do it all.

 

But catch Proverbs 31:25: She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

 

Yes, folks, she can laugh.  LAUGH!!  Rejoice, because she knows who she is in Christ.  She knows what the future brings and therefore can enjoy life today!

 

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." (Proverbs 15:3)

 

What makes your face cheerful?  Have you planned that into your day today?

 

I remember when my children were little and they took such joy in the simple things.  Even a rainy day could bring joy.  Bathing suits would come flying out of drawers and umbrellas popped open and little bare toes would do rain puddle dances that rivaled that of Gene Kelly in "Singing In The Rain". 

 

My piano has sat with keys collecting dust.  I was always convinced I was too busy to "waste" my time playing the piano.  But, the keys that make music to my ears also make music to my Maker's ears and I do believe that He delights in what delights us.

 

How will you let the Lord delight in you today?

 

In case you need a little extra convincing, here are a few more verses to encourage you to grab your camera, hop on your bike, lace up your running shoes, crack open a book, get out your gardening tools or your knitting needles...for the men who read my blog - nothing delights more than the revving of power tools lol.

 

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  (James 1:17)

 

If you, then though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  (Matthew 7:11)

 

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.  (Proverbs 17:22)

 

There are times to weep and be sad, but God in His grace and mercy has given us times to be happy and joyful and to do something nice for ourselves each day. 

 

So, again, I ask you, "What are you going to do nice for yourself today?" Will you be kind enough to share how your day goes when you do choose to do something nice for yourself?  Be blessed...

 

In His love,

 

Bev

 

ps. Please know that if you read this post today you are being prayed for every morning and every evening :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Surrender

Hey Friend,

 

I feel like I need to write a disclaimer on this week's post.  After spending a wonderful, yet busy week with my mom visiting, I now have a miserable summer cold.  So, I'm not sure if my writing is Spirit inspired or cold medicine inspired, but here goes anyway...

 

I mentioned my mom.  We have a great relationship even though we are very different people.  As a little girl, I sometimes wondered whose child I was?  Both of my parents were very stoic - rarely showing emotion.  I, on the other hand, wore my heart and my emotions on my sleeve.  It didn't take a genius to figure out what I was feeling. 

 

I was also raised on the premise of self-sufficiency.  One did not admit they needed help and rarely, if ever, asked for it. And as for quitting or giving up...well let's just say my dad, a vet himself, often quoted Winston Churchill's famous, "Never, never, never give up!"   Surrendering was not an option.

 

And so, I, armed with this knowledge, embarked upon this journey we call life. 

I did fairly well through high school and college.  It wasn't until marriage and my first child being born that I encountered trials that rocked my battle cry of self-sufficiency and never giving up.  I won't go into all the details here, but suffice it to say that I quickly began to realize that life was not exactly a bowl of cherries.

 

I was said to be suffering with post-partum depression (later to be diagnosed as severe OCD).  I was depressed and anxious.  I quickly got to the end of my rope - my self sufficiency.  Still fighting the urge to ask for help, I fell deeper into despair and perpetual anxiousness.  I remember exactly the day that I had to get real with God!  

 

I had been holding back turning things over to Him because not giving up or quitting had been so ingrained in me.  

 

God taught me, however, that there is a difference between quitting and surrendering.

 

I was not "giving up" I was giving over...giving over to God and letting go of self.

 

Perhaps you've heard the saying that if God is your co-pilot, then you need to get up and change seats.  God wants to be the pilot of our lives, but He will not force His way in...we need to willingly turn over the steering wheel.

 

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."  (Matthew 16: 24-25)

 

In order to survive, I quickly realized that I would have to deny self and then, of my own free will, I needed to surrender to God.

 

In life we have a choice:  surrender to self, surrender to the enemy or surrender to the Lord.

 

I had tried self; I certainly didn't want to surrender to the enemy (who by the way can whisper some awful lies); so the Lord was my last resort.

 

I'm not proud that it took me to the end of my rope to finally surrender to the Lord, but that's often the point we need to get to until we will finally take hold of his strong and mighty hand.

 

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed."  (Proverbs 16:3)

 

I had taken the path of Self sufficiency------> Surrender

 

Once we pry our fingers off our pride, our merciful and loving God does not just stop there.  He takes it a step further...

 

Self sufficiency---->Surrender---->Surrounded

 

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. (Psalm 32:10)

 

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.  (Psalm 125:2)

 

Once we surrender, the Lord surrounds us with His unfailing love.  Like the little helpless lamb, the Lord lifted me into His strong and loving arms and surrounded me with His love.  He didn't leave me alone and unguarded.

 

Again, the Lord does not stop there:

 

Self sufficiency---->Surrender---->Surrounded---->Security

 

His heart (the man who loves the Lord) is secure, he will have no fear...(Psalm 112:8)

 

[Now] We have this hope (oath/promise) as and anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  (Hebrews 6:19)

 

I love this imagery...the Lord as an anchor for our soul; holding us firm and secure when the rough and turbulent seas swirl around us.  My friend, if you are dealing with something you can no longer handle yourself...you are not a failure!  It is okay to say I surrender!  In fact the Lord is waiting patiently for you to do so.  It is only in our weakness that He can then be strong.  I am, as always, praying for you!

 

What do you need to surrender to the Lord today?  If you have a prayer request, leave it in the comments or contact me directly.  I am a vigilant prayer warrior - I've witnessed first hand the power of prayer.  I pray that you will let Him take you from self sufficiency all the way to security!  Be blessed...

 

In His love,

 

Bev

 

ps. If you suffer from depression or anxiety...I am a strong supporter of seeking medical help as well as Christian counseling.  Depression and anxiety are treatable illnesses.

 

 

  

An Unending, Open Invitation

Hey Friend,

 

My husband and I just got back from a business conference that he attended (I went along for the ride).  Before we went, my husband forwarded to me an invitation that he had received.  The invitation read: So and So's Estate & Wealth Planning Group invites you and a guest to join us for a Lowcountry Oyster Roast and Barbeque.  Date, Time, Location (Kiawah Island, SC).

 

Immediately I started having thoughts and questions...Who would be there?  Like my husband, would it be a lot of lawyers, bankers, estate and wealth planning professionals?  Would I feel out of my league?  After all it's been a long time since I worked in the business world.  Oh they're going to ask me the dreaded, "So what do you do?"  Would my resume be impressive enough? 

 

Then it morphed into what do I wear?  The invitation said "business casual".  Do yoga pants and a tank top count?  Suddenly I wished I had shed that extra ten pounds.  I recently had foot surgery and had graduated to wearing sneakers.  Sneakers and a skirt...now that will impress 'em!  And don't even get me started on accessories!

 

About the time I got myself all worked into a tizzy, a favorite old hymn of mine mercifully popped into my head.  I knew immediately that this was a "God thing".  Let me share just two of the verses here:

 

Just as I Am, Without One Plea

 

Just as I am, without one plea,

but that thy blood was shed for me,

and that thou bidst me come to thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

Just as I am, though tossed about

with many a conflict, many a doubt,

fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

Right away I was drawn to and focused on the word, "Come".  And how do I come? "Just as I am." 

 

Unlike earthly invitations, God's invitation is unending, open and bids us to come just as we are. 

 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8)

 

How thankful I am that we don't have to get our act together first, in order to be invited.  God invites us while we are still sinners.

 

On Bible Gateway, I looked up the phrase, "Come to me".  I found 339 results.

 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  (Matthew 11:28)

 

This is probably one of my favorite "come to me" verses.  Christ issues an awesome promise when we come to him...He promises us rest!

 

Let me share some other invitations found in the Bible:

 

In Exodus, the Lord said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and the commandments I have written for their instruction." 

 

God says, "Come" and gives a gift of guidance

 

"Come follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."  (Matthew 4:19)

 

Jesus says, "Come" and gives purpose

 

"For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."  (Matthew 9:13)

 

Jesus comes to call sinners to himself

 

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  (Matthew 19:14)

 

Jesus' invitation is universal

 

"Then come follow me."  (Matthew 19:21)

 

When Jesus invites us to come, He is prepared to lead

 

Unlike a one time invitation, the Lord issues an unending, open invitation.  The invitation doesn't discriminate between gender, color, age, sinner or righteous.  We are truly welcome to come just as we are with doubts, worries, a past, in spite of what we've done or not done.

 

We do not make ourselves righteous in order to come to God, but instead, Christ's blood cleanses us when we come as is!

 

If you wonder if you are invited?  Friend, you are!!  The cross bids you and me to come...come just as we are.  Come and be released of whatever it is that holds you down.  Come and be given freedom to dance.  Come and be loved, truly loved, just as you are. 

 

What a glorious invitation.  His loving heart has broken every barrier down.  Will you R.S.V.P. Yes, I will come?  I pray so... 

 

In His love,

 

Bev

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Dealing With Doubt

Hey Friend,

 

As I have mentioned in other posts, I have OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).  OCD, one of the anxiety spectrum disorders, is nicknamed "the doubters disease".  What the ordinary person is able to dismiss as irrational, throws the person with OCD into a vortex of doubt and anxiety.  It really is an insidious illness.  I guess that's why I get a little touchy when people casually throw the term OCD around.  Living it can be pure hell at times.

 

I guess it would come as no surprise, that when asked which disciple I can most relate to, I would have to say Thomas (nicknamed the doubter).  When confronted with Jesus, recently risen from the dead, Thomas wants so desperately to believe it truly is Christ.  His doubts, however, get in the way and he needs just a little more proof and reassurance. 

 

I love what Jesus does here...He doesn't chide or rebuke Thomas.  Far from it.  Jesus lovingly says to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see my hands; and reach out your hand and put it into my side."  (John 20:27)

 

Jesus knows full well that we are programmed for doubt.

 

Yet, He responds to our doubt with a loving offering of proof.  We may not be able to actually put our finger in Jesus' wounds, but we are given His word - His proof of promises that we can depend on.

 

You may not have OCD, but you do have the enemy to deal with.  Even though the enemy is not omniscient, he knows our weak places...our Achilles heel and he goes after it with a vengeance.  He whispers words of doubt:

 

*  Are you really saved? 

*  Does God really, truly love you?

*  Is God really good?

*  Are you sure you can trust God?

*  God doesn't care about little you...

*  Are you sure you are sealed with the Holy Spirit?

*  Are you certain you're going to Heaven?

*  You're not worthy...and on and on it goes.

 

The enemy is the accuser of the brethren.  Have you ever had thoughts that go something like this:

 

You are NOT a good (Fill in the blank)...person, believer, spouse, parent, friend, etc.

 

Lean in and hear this...It is ALL LIES!!  Like Thomas touching Jesus' wounds, we can trace our finger over Romans 8:1: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 

"The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by one who knows what you can be and fears it."  (John Eldredge, "Waking the Dead".

 

Doubt will always be an integral part of our lives.  Why?  Because the enemy hates us and wants us to doubt all the good gifts we've been given in Christ such as :  grace, forgiveness, mercy, acceptance, strength, wisdom, redemption, an inheritance, a new heart...

 

In the book of Mark, chapter 9, a man begs Jesus to heal his mute and seizure ridden son.

 

Verse 23:  Jesus tells the father, "All things are possible for him who believes."

 

Verse 24:  The father cries out, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

 

I DO BELIEVE; HELP MY UNBELIEF

 

I DO BELIEVE; HELP MY DOUBT

 

Doubting, actually, is not all bad.  Doubting drives me to seek answers. When regular doubt crops up and even when the awful OCD doubt flares, it sends me running into the arms of my Heavenly Father.  He does not chide or rebuke me but instead, lovingly reminds me that I am His.

 

God can take what Satan hands me and uses it to draw me closer to Himself.

 

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..."  (Hebrews 12: 1b-2)

 

Jesus is the author and perfecter of my faith (not me).  He can even use my doubts to grow me in my faith. 

 

Do you have doubts?  Do you ever cry out, "I do believe; help my unbelief."?

Know you are not alone.  We all doubt.  Just like Jesus lovingly reassured Thomas, He reassures us.  You are His child.  He will not chide or rebuke you.  He applauds each step forward you take in your faith.  And, when you fall (which you will), He picks you back up again and urges you onward. 

 

Offer your doubts up to the Lord and see what He can do with them.  As always, I would love to hear from you and am always willing to pray for you.  If you are reading this...know you are being lifted up as you read.

 

From one doubter to another...

 

In His love,

 

Bev

 

ps.  Next week I will be going "off the grid" to enjoy a little time with my family.  I hope you'll use this time to enjoy your family or perhaps check out the archives.  Be blessed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Practice Of Pondering

Hey Friend,

 

Last week I challenged you to choose people over pixels, Creation over cyber-space and now this week I would like to take a look at scripture over surfing and scrolling.  Remember, it's all in finding a balance.

 

Even as a child, I was a voracious reader.  Perhaps being an only child contributed to my being able to get so caught up in a book that I would barely take time to eat.  I devoured books and loved to let my imagination run wild.  Another offshoot of reading a lot, I believe, is that I learned to read very quickly while still retaining comprehension of what I had just read.

 

I remember in school...the teacher would give us a section to read out of our books silently in class.  She would tell us to close our books to signal that we were done.  As you might imagine, I would read the section lickity split and be sitting there twiddling my thumbs wondering what in the world was taking everyone so long?

 

The down side of my speedy reading is that I tend to skim just about everything...the newspaper, books, magazines, devotionals and yes...even scripture.  If I have read/heard a scripture many times, I am guilty of really skimming past it.  Jean Fleming in her book "Pursue The Intentional Life", challenges readers to practice the art of pondering.

 

I would like to take the pondering one step further and challenge you to make the scripture personal...claim it as your own!!

 

One way to make it personal is to insert your name into the scripture or use the words "I" and "me".

 

Example:  "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."  (John 8:36)

 

Ponder:  "So if the Son sets me free, I will be free indeed."

 

Remember when your mom told you to really chew your food?  I encourage you to really chew on scripture.  Break it down word by word and let it roll around in your mind for awhile.  Claim its truth for yourself.  Personalize it. 

 

Mary, mother of Jesus, was good at pondering God's words to her through the angel Gabriel.  The Bible says: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

 

Scripture itself compels us to ponder:  "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."  (Colossians 3:16)

 

Let = allow in (allow the word of Christ in)

 

Dwell = meditate upon (no skimming or speed reading)

 

Sing = recite what you've learned

 

Oh, if only we let the word of Christ dwell richly in us.  If only we gave His Word plenty of room in our lives?!

 

So when do we ponder the Word?

 

David says, "The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes."  (Psalm 119:95)

 

But his [man's] delight is in the word of the Lord, and on his word he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

 

So why do we ponder the Word?

 

Revelation 1:3 says there is a special blessing for those who read God's word.

 

"The secret of joy is the practice of meditation - that is the way to have this joy of the Lord.  We must meditate upon Him, upon what He is, what He has done, His love to us and upon God's care for us who are His people."  (Martyn LLoyd-Jones)

 

"The secret to joy is meditating on God's care - not on earth's snares."  (Ann Voskamp)

 

So how do we ponder the Word?

 

One summer when I was not teaching I put together what I call a First-Aid or Emergency Kit of scriptures.  I actually wrote down scriptures that spoke to me during certain trials and tribulations in my life.  I included scriptures that spoke to my "hot buttons" or Achilles heel.  I wrote each verse individually on brightly colored index cards and laminated them (teachers laminate everything). 

 

If I was really organized I would group them according to topic ie: grace, guilt, worry, hope, anxiety, etc.  I hole punched them and put them on a round ring so that I can remove a certain scripture and tape it on my bathroom mirror if I feel like I need that extra reminder. 

 

Hide God's word in your heart.  Memorize it.  Study it.

 

The day is going to come when you will need the sword of scripture.

 

Don't be like me...don't skim scripture.  Ponder it.  Chew on it.  Take it line by line and word by word if you have to.  Read it in context.  Who was talking to whom?  What was the context or situation?  Then personalize it and claim it!

 

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand.

(Psalm 139:17-18)

 

How I pray that God's words and thoughts would be precious to me like the way they were to David.  Notice his use of exclamation marks (which are not widely used in the Bible).  How I pray that I would slow down and drink in God's word and really and truly ponder it in my heart the way Mary did. 

 

Will you join me in practicing the art of pondering God's Holy word?  Would you share ways you've been able to personalize and claim scripture as your own?  I would love to hear from you!

 

In His love,

 

Bev

 

ps.  As we look forward to celebrating Independence Day, may we all personally thank someone who has served or who is serving in our armed forces so that we may enjoy the freedoms that we have.  Extend that thanks to the spouses of service men and women too - who hold down the fort at home.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

 

Dear Service men and women (and their families),

 

May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.  (Numbers 6: 24-26)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding A Balance

Hey Friend,

 

There are some things that I like about the internet and social media.  For example it has allowed me to write a blog about the God I love and it travels to places, quite frankly, I have had to look up to see where they are on the globe.

I have been so very blessed by getting to know and pray for readers in cities and countries I may never get a chance to visit.  I've also been prayed for by so many kind people.  I started this blog to bless others, and as it often works in God's economy, I have been the one who has truly been blessed. 

 

My husband, of five months, and I are both very thankful for Facebook.  Yes, it sounds kind of hokey when people ask how did you meet, but the truth of the matter is that we were friends in high school back in Pittsburgh.  Considering that we had a graduating class of close to 800, we didn't know each other really well.  Said husband will admit to a bit of a crush, but intense fear of rejection kept him from asking me out.  Enter Facebook...30+ years after the fact and we caught up with each other and, well, the rest is history. 

 

Now that we're all warm and fuzzy, let me share another story...My husband and I decided to celebrate our marriage with a wonderful honeymoon in the tropical island paradise known as Antigua.  We purposely decided to go "sans technology" (no technology).  Even the smart phones were left behind.  We did things the old-fashioned way; we gave everyone with a need to know the resort's phone number and our room number and said call only in case of emergency!  It was a SPLENDID week!!  We were totally "unplugged" and it was fabulous!

 

Other honeymooners, however, did not share in our bliss.  Ironically I passed quite a few couples seated beside each other at the beach or around the pool and they were all individually engrossed in their separate smart phones.  I seriously wanted to go up to several of them, pluck the phone out of their hands, throw it in the water and say, "Talk to each other, communicate, interact, go enjoy this wondrous paradise and work of God's hands!!" 

 

Okay, I'll get off my soap box, but sometimes I miss the good old days of no technology.  Obviously there is a need to find a balance.  What do we balance this cyber drive with?   How do we quench our thirst for community?

 

I loved an article by Tsh Oxenreider over at www.incourage.me. It was entitled, "Faces Over Facebook, People Over Pixels".  The gist of the article as you might guess was that we need to balance our Facebook friends with real flesh and blood.  This morning, two of my good friends and I gathered at Starbucks and to feel the warm touch of my friends' hands as we prayed over our breakfast was a balm to my soul.  I needed that touch. 

 

Similarly, there are amazing photos of God's world on the internet, but nothing does it justice like getting out there and exploring it with your own five senses.  Many of you have prayed for me as I have healed from foot surgery.  It's been five weeks since I have walked past the end of my driveway.  This morning, my heart was light as I leashed up Zoe and joined my husband and Topper on a short morning walk. 

 

The sun shone brighter. I took in the colors of the flowers and the smell of the wild honeysuckle like it was the first time.  Nothing beats getting out in God's creation and experiencing it first hand.  It was an ordinary Thursday, yet it was extraordinary.

 

Gloria Gaither says it more eloquently:  "Jesus intended for us to be overwhelmed by the blessings of regular days.  He said it was the reason he had come: 'I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.'"

 

Abundance is marked by a life of balance.

 

Normally my posts are infused with much more scripture.  Scripture keeps me balanced and well....that's a whole separate post. This week I am just infusing myself with His world now that I can walk without my boot. 

 

I encourage you to part with the pixels and pick up God's word or get out in His world...

 

It's truly a balance.  Finding that balance is the hard part, but it is possible. It takes determination, but I know that you can do it. Thank you for just letting me ramble on this week.  My recuperation has had me shut off more from the world and I just needed to chat a while.  I had an excess of words that I just had to use up. 

 

Now before I hit "Publish" I will pray what I always pray:

 

May the words of my mouth

And the meditations of my heart

Be acceptable in Thy sight

O Lord.

 



 

 

In His love,

 

Bev

 

ps.  If you want to be sure to catch my blog each week, you can subscribe.  I DO NOT send you anything but just a once a week post and I never sell, share or distribute email addresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Will Fight For Me?

Hey Friend,

Someone asked me if I believe in miracles and visions.  My answer...if God is the Alpha and the Omega and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow; and if he performed miracles and sent visions in the past, is He not capable of doing that today?

I would like to share a vision that a very good friend of mine had when she was at her rope's end.  In her words, she says, "I saw a vision of a bulging strong arm holding a spear and standing at attention...and just a profile of a jawline that was ready to fight.  Jesus let me know He was fighting for me."

When I think of Jesus, I often think of the "Sunday School Jesus"...the one with smiling, kind Jesus welcoming the little children to come unto Him.  I think of the Jesus cradling the lost sheep in His arms.  These are true and accurate portrayals of the Jesus the Bible describes.  But, there is a Jesus that we too often forget...the one who is strong and mighty, ready to fight and stand guard over our lives.

I may be short in stature, but I am a fighter and I have persevered through many trials.  I say "I", but more accurately, I usually fight until I reach the end of myself and then I remember that I have a Savior who is not only able, but is willing to go to battle for me.

The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you...(Deuteronomy 1:29)

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.  (Exodus 14:14)

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.  My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.  (Psalm 28:7)

Notice in these verses who it is who goes before and does the fighting?  The Lord.  What does he ask of us?  To be still and trust in Him and then praise Him. 

We are NOT the ones meant to fight, the Lord is. 

So what is there to fight?  In this world, lots of things both large and small.  Ie: fear, worry, doubt, anxiety, depression, lack of self esteem, problems of every sort - physical, emotional and spiritual.  Don't underestimate the enemy.  He is sneaky and crafty and prowls about looking to devour, kill and destroy.  He is not omniscient (able to read your mind), but he does know your hot buttons - your Achilles heel.  He wants to see you down, defeated and rendered useless for the Lord's good plans for your life. He speaks lies....ALL lies!

For me, he hurls flaming arrows that say that I am not a good enough wife and mother.  He gets me caught up in one of his favorite games - the comparison game.  This is a "no win" game by the way.  He taunts me that because I doubt, that my faith is not strong enough and that somehow God is disappointed in me.  Lately he has cheered that my spirits have fallen due to lingering physical infirmities. 

On my own, I am no match for the enemy.  The good news is that I have  strong warriors (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) ready to go to battle for me!

"He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."  (Psalm 91:2)

"His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." (Psalm 91:4)

"He commands His angels to guard you in all your ways."  (Psalm 91:11)

Fortunately we know that "greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world".  God trumps the enemy every time...our job is to call on Him!

What else does God ask us to do while He fights?  He protects us by giving us a full armor to put on to keep us safe and He asks us to guard our hearts and minds and to have faith.

In addition to all (full armor of God), take up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16)

"Guard your heart and mind by filling them with God's word.  Hold fast to the true meaning of following God and don't let go." (M. Southerland)

In essence God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit along with their army of angels are on the front lines going into battle for us.  We are the ones being defended and meanwhile are asked to put on our armor, have faith and be still.

To me, this is blessed assurance to know just who will fight for me and that I am a far cry from being in these battles alone.

I love the words to Chris Tomlin's song "Whom Shall I Fear" [God of Angel Armies]

I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

The God of Angel armies

Is always by my side.

 

 

What blessed assurance to know that we have a Heavenly army poised and ready to fight for us no matter what we come up against.  God loves you so much and he is furious with the enemy for coming up against you.  Behind His tender and merciful love for you is a powerful and mighty right arm ready to do battle on your behalf.  Oh what love can be greater than this?

 

Is there a battle being waged against you?  How can you take comfort and find peace in the One who will fight for you?

 

 

In His love,

 

Bev