Psalm 73:25-26 / New International Version - "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever"
When considering a home remodeling project, it is important to determine where the support beams are. If we just knock a wall down here and there to create more space, it could have a detrimental effect on the rest of the structure. In fact, it could even lead to irreplaceable damage.
Whether a building topples because of faulty construction, a bad foundation or extraordinary loads, you can bet the support beams were compromised.
Support beams can be like those people in our lives that we look up to. People we love. People we respect. People we depend on. Sometimes they fall - and we might not realize we were leaning on them until they do. When they go down, it can be hard to recover. They might leave a wake of destruction in their collapse.
The only support beam you can lean on and guarantee it will never shake, bend or crumble under pressure is God. When the world around you seems to have collapsed, and you find yourself floundering around looking for something firm to take hold of, grab God's hand. He is steady and sure and his love is safe.
What support beams have you experienced tumbling down around you? Do you know how much the Lord desires to hold you up while everything else crumbles? Ask him to be your support beam today. He is more than enough for your every need.
Saturday, May 21, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
He Gives Me Wisdom
Proverbs 2:2-3 / New Century Version - "Listen carefully to wisdom; set your mind on understanding. Cry out for wisdom, and beg for understanding"
Grief has a funny way of messing with our heads. It can cause a fog to roll in and settle over our minds. Small decisions feel like monstrous ones, or maybe it's the opposite: big decisions are made hastily because, quite frankly, we don't have the energy to think everything through. So how do we get the wisdom we need for the task set before us? We ask God for it.
King Solomon was put in charge of a nation. He knew it was an impossible task to complete without wisdom. He wasn't born the wisest man who ever lived; he acquired his wisdom by asking God to give it to him. James 1:5 says that if we lack wisdom, we should also ask God for it. We can be confident that if God tells us to ask for something, he wants to grant that request. If God can give Solomon wisdom to run a kingdom, he can certainly give us wisdom to make decisions about big and small things in our lives.
Sometimes God provides us with sound advice through family members, friends or counselors. This can be especially important to seek out w hen we don't feel like we can see through the fog. Other advisors help us gain the perspective we might be lacking. They can assist us in making an informed decision instead of a hasty one.
What do you need wisdom for right now? Don't hesitate to ask God for understanding. He wants to give it to you if you are willing to listen.
Grief has a funny way of messing with our heads. It can cause a fog to roll in and settle over our minds. Small decisions feel like monstrous ones, or maybe it's the opposite: big decisions are made hastily because, quite frankly, we don't have the energy to think everything through. So how do we get the wisdom we need for the task set before us? We ask God for it.
King Solomon was put in charge of a nation. He knew it was an impossible task to complete without wisdom. He wasn't born the wisest man who ever lived; he acquired his wisdom by asking God to give it to him. James 1:5 says that if we lack wisdom, we should also ask God for it. We can be confident that if God tells us to ask for something, he wants to grant that request. If God can give Solomon wisdom to run a kingdom, he can certainly give us wisdom to make decisions about big and small things in our lives.
Sometimes God provides us with sound advice through family members, friends or counselors. This can be especially important to seek out w hen we don't feel like we can see through the fog. Other advisors help us gain the perspective we might be lacking. They can assist us in making an informed decision instead of a hasty one.
What do you need wisdom for right now? Don't hesitate to ask God for understanding. He wants to give it to you if you are willing to listen.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
He Is Always There For Me
Psalm 18:30-31 / New Living Translation - "God's way is perfect. All the LORD's promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?"
From famous lyrics to close friends, there is a promise that is often made and rarely kept. I'm here for you; you can always count on me. Most of us have promised or been promised this sometime in our life, and most, if not all, have felt that sting of rejection or disappointment when things didn't quite turn out that way.
We say "nobody's perfect," but somehow we expect that everyone should be. In the midst of our trying circumstances, we call out to the people who promised to always be there, but they don't answer. They don't even call us back. Loved ones will hurt us because they are human. Even the best friend, the closest sister, the doting parent will fail in their ability to be there for you. There is no escaping it.
But there is someone who you can always count on. You can tell him everything. He listens. He hears you. He'll wrap his arms around you and tell you everything will be all right. God is perfect - the perfect Father, the perfect friend. He is completely trustworthy.
Have you been disappointed or hurt by someone you love? How can you extend grace to them today? Trust in the one who is dependable. God is willing and able to be your solid rock. He is the one you can always turn to.
From famous lyrics to close friends, there is a promise that is often made and rarely kept. I'm here for you; you can always count on me. Most of us have promised or been promised this sometime in our life, and most, if not all, have felt that sting of rejection or disappointment when things didn't quite turn out that way.
We say "nobody's perfect," but somehow we expect that everyone should be. In the midst of our trying circumstances, we call out to the people who promised to always be there, but they don't answer. They don't even call us back. Loved ones will hurt us because they are human. Even the best friend, the closest sister, the doting parent will fail in their ability to be there for you. There is no escaping it.
But there is someone who you can always count on. You can tell him everything. He listens. He hears you. He'll wrap his arms around you and tell you everything will be all right. God is perfect - the perfect Father, the perfect friend. He is completely trustworthy.
Have you been disappointed or hurt by someone you love? How can you extend grace to them today? Trust in the one who is dependable. God is willing and able to be your solid rock. He is the one you can always turn to.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
He Is My All In All
Ephesians 3:14-19 / New Living Translation - "I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God"
Gloomy days happen. In the midst of the dreariness it helps to hear the voice of a friend, especially one who points us so perfectly to the sustenance we need. The prayer of Paul, addressed to those in desperate need of hearing the promises of life in Jesus Christ, is a prayer for you.
Pray this for yourself, your friend, your neighbor, your coworker. Pray until you feel the roots deepening and strengthening in love. Pray it again and again until the power to understand overwhelms you - he is all you need! Pray it until the fullness of God's love for you overcomes your gloom. Pray until the life and power of God break through the clouds and shine brightly upon your face. He is all you need. You can trust him for everything!
Gloomy days happen. In the midst of the dreariness it helps to hear the voice of a friend, especially one who points us so perfectly to the sustenance we need. The prayer of Paul, addressed to those in desperate need of hearing the promises of life in Jesus Christ, is a prayer for you.
Pray this for yourself, your friend, your neighbor, your coworker. Pray until you feel the roots deepening and strengthening in love. Pray it again and again until the power to understand overwhelms you - he is all you need! Pray it until the fullness of God's love for you overcomes your gloom. Pray until the life and power of God break through the clouds and shine brightly upon your face. He is all you need. You can trust him for everything!
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
He Restores My Soul
Luke 8:52-55 / New International Version - "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep." They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.
Do you know whose you are? Your father and mother rightly claim you as their child, but do you recognize Jesus as the one who restores you as his son or daughter? He knows your coming and going, your every inner working: You are his.
How difficult it is to put our needs into the hands of the Father! Do we dare hope? Imagine watching your child die and feeling the despair of her absence, only to have Jesus claim that she is asleep. Both the girl's father and Jesus loved the child; both claimed her as their daughter. But only Jesus commanded her spirit and her life. His child hears his voice and obeys his command; she gets up and is restored!
God is faithful to the deepest needs of your heart; he knows you full well! Where is he directing you today? Are you a son or daughter in need of healing? Of hope? Hear his voice and let your spirit be renewed!
Do you know whose you are? Your father and mother rightly claim you as their child, but do you recognize Jesus as the one who restores you as his son or daughter? He knows your coming and going, your every inner working: You are his.
How difficult it is to put our needs into the hands of the Father! Do we dare hope? Imagine watching your child die and feeling the despair of her absence, only to have Jesus claim that she is asleep. Both the girl's father and Jesus loved the child; both claimed her as their daughter. But only Jesus commanded her spirit and her life. His child hears his voice and obeys his command; she gets up and is restored!
God is faithful to the deepest needs of your heart; he knows you full well! Where is he directing you today? Are you a son or daughter in need of healing? Of hope? Hear his voice and let your spirit be renewed!
Saturday, May 14, 2016
He Makes All Things New
Psalm 103:2-5 / English Standard Version - "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy; who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's"
We know that humans have limits. We need to eat and drink regularly to stay healthy. We get tired and cranky if we don't have enough sleep. We learn patience and self-control as we get older, and our emotions can be overwhelmed by life's great upheavals. The shepherd king, David, knew this and understood God's gracious and loving path of renewal.
Whether you are at peak performance or running on empty, needing renewal now or in the future, God alone can give you what you need for renewal of your mind, body, spirit and strength because he knows your limits and capabilities. He knows that you need time to refuel and space to recover your strength.
Be renewed today. Don't believe that you are weak because you need to rest; you aren't meant to be strong forever. You are designed to lean on the one whose strength can renew you. Tell him how much you need him today!
We know that humans have limits. We need to eat and drink regularly to stay healthy. We get tired and cranky if we don't have enough sleep. We learn patience and self-control as we get older, and our emotions can be overwhelmed by life's great upheavals. The shepherd king, David, knew this and understood God's gracious and loving path of renewal.
Whether you are at peak performance or running on empty, needing renewal now or in the future, God alone can give you what you need for renewal of your mind, body, spirit and strength because he knows your limits and capabilities. He knows that you need time to refuel and space to recover your strength.
Be renewed today. Don't believe that you are weak because you need to rest; you aren't meant to be strong forever. You are designed to lean on the one whose strength can renew you. Tell him how much you need him today!
Friday, May 13, 2016
He Heals My Broken Relationships
James 4:8,11 / New Living Translation - "Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Don't speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God's law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you"
We were created for relationship. Since Adam expressed the need for a companion, people have sought fellowship together. But no matter how strong our desire to have healthy, loving relationships, it can be hard to move past the pain of a broken one. It may be a divorce, a breakup with a boyfriend/girlfriend, or a longtime friend who has somehow become a bitter rival. In order for reconciliation to take place, we must look to God for direction.
First, pray. Submit yourself to God and refuse to allow the enemy any further destruction. Next, ask him what sin, if any, you have committed to contribute to the dissent. Confess it, repent, and let it go. Now comes the hard part: don't speak out against them. Don't slander or gossip or share your grievance; it won't make things better. In fact, it only makes things worse.
Can you extend forgiveness instead of judgment? Let the love of God flow through you and onto those you are at odds with. Begin to pray daily that you can forgive them for any pain or hurt they may have caused you. God is your great and mighty healer, depend on him for help.
We were created for relationship. Since Adam expressed the need for a companion, people have sought fellowship together. But no matter how strong our desire to have healthy, loving relationships, it can be hard to move past the pain of a broken one. It may be a divorce, a breakup with a boyfriend/girlfriend, or a longtime friend who has somehow become a bitter rival. In order for reconciliation to take place, we must look to God for direction.
First, pray. Submit yourself to God and refuse to allow the enemy any further destruction. Next, ask him what sin, if any, you have committed to contribute to the dissent. Confess it, repent, and let it go. Now comes the hard part: don't speak out against them. Don't slander or gossip or share your grievance; it won't make things better. In fact, it only makes things worse.
Can you extend forgiveness instead of judgment? Let the love of God flow through you and onto those you are at odds with. Begin to pray daily that you can forgive them for any pain or hurt they may have caused you. God is your great and mighty healer, depend on him for help.
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