Monthly Archives: August 2016

Seeking God

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The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Ps34:10)

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. 1

When you seek God, you are trusting in the God who created this world, and who has blessed you with the intelligence and abilities to earn and enjoy all the blessings you have. When you don’t seek God, you are saying that you, with your intelligence and your hard work have enabled the blessed life that you are now enjoying. When you seek God, you are acknowledging that God has laid out every moment of your life before you were born, and that his workmanship is marvelous.When you don’t seek God, you say that the God who created you is not able to deliver you. When you seek God you allow God to do things beyond what you can imagine. When you don’t seek God, you say that you know more than God knows.When you seek God, you will find God. When you don’t seek God, God will abandon you.

As you go about your day today, pause to reflect on the promises of God that are precious to you. Stop and give thanks to God for his faithfulness to you in the past,and his faithfulness to you today. Take time right now, to count your blessings, to name them one by one, and to celebrate all that God has done for you. God continues to be faithful to you in ways that you cannot imagine.

Wait in hope for the Lord. God is your help and shield. In your heart rejoice, as you trust in God’s holy name. For the eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. May the Lord’s unfailing love be with you as you put your hope in God.2

Prayer 

Lord, we praise you for walking with us through the challenges and joys of life. Forgive us today for relying on our own strength, relying on our credit cards, relying on our own wisdom and abilities, and not trusting you. As we turn our eyes on you, Lord, we ask you to continue to be a light to our paths, and a lamp to our feet. Help us to keep your word within our heart. Guard our hearts. Help us to shine brightly like the morning sun in this dark world. Amen

God is watching over you

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For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

This morning, as you got out of bed, the eyes of the Lord were watching over you. As you are going about your work today, the eyes of the Lord are watching over you.

The one who watches over you is your creator. The one who watches over you is the one who has blessed you with the intelligence and abilities to earn and enjoy all the blessings you have. The one who watches over you is the one who laid out every moment of your life before you were born. God watches over you with a heart of tender compassion, filled with love for you, just as a mother watches over her children. God watches over you longing for you to know and experience his great love today.

If your faith starts to fail today, remember that God is watching over you so that he can strengthen you. God knows your weaknesses, God knows where you may stumble and fall. God knows that you live in a fallen world. When you are tempted today to rely on your own resources and abilities, remember that God is watching over you, ready to do exceedingly more than you can imagine or ask or do on your own strength.

God knows when Satan is or will be tempting you. Satan only has the power that God permits him to have. When Satan asked to tempt the disciples, Jesus prayed that their faith would not fail. In the same way God’s eyes are upon you, not to see your faith fail, but to strengthen you so that your faith will not fail.

Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken. (Psalm 34:14-20)

Prayer

Lord, thank you for watching over us. Thank you for your love for us. Lord you know our weaknesses. Strengthen us today so that we can stand firm. Lead us not into temptation. For yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever Amen

Pressing the Pause Button

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The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 1:16)

Can we face any situation in the “name of the Lord?” When life is good, and you feel like you are in the groove, can you get up in the morning and head off to work in the “name of the Lord?” What about when work is full of challenges and difficult situations, or when your career takes a twist or turn that you didn’t foresee? Can you still face what lies ahead “in the name of the Lord?”

I believe we can face any situation in the name of the Lord – if we press the pause button and acknowledge that God is the Lord of heaven and earth; if we acknowledge that God is in control; if we ask God for his wisdom and help. It is countercultural to pause and pray. It is countercultural to acknowledge our powerlessness in the middle of a stressful, problematic, or thorny situation at work. When we acknowledge our powerlessness – we are declaring that God is sovereign at our workplace. When we trust in God’s ability to help – we are declaring that God made the world and everything in it. When we press the pause button – we are taking time to remember that the Lord of heaven and earth is the very source of our life.

The people of Judah were threatened by an enemy army that was twice the size of their army. As they went to battle they hit the pause button and in faith prayed: “O Lord, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!”1 The Lord heard their prayers and defeated their enemy.

Each situation is unique. God answers our prayers with his divine wisdom. God answers our prayers in mysterious ways which are beyond our explanation. God knows everything that is going on in your workplace. God knows the people you’re dealing with. God is able to deal with your situation in ways you cannot imagine. Place your trust in the infinite power and sovereignty of the Lord of heaven and earth who created you and who loves you. Allow God to work in your situation, so that his holy name may be glorified in your workplace.

Prayer

Lord, you have proven yourself faithful to past generations, and you have proven yourself faithful to us in the past. There is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you. In your name, Lord, we confidently walk into this situation, knowing you will never leave us or forsake us. Lord, you are our God. Amen

1. (2 Chronicles 14:11, NLT).

Preparing for the future

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My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor 12:9a)

God has brought you to this point in your life. God is fully aware of what was happening in the world, and in your life, as you grew up. God knows the joys and heartaches you’ve experienced. God has been with you every step of your journey. God has blessed you with the wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to get to this stage in your life.

God says to you today, “My child, I love you. I am with you! I know what is going on. I am in control. My grace is sufficient for you today. Enjoy the blessings of this moment!” As you prepare for tomorrow, there is no need to be afraid, for God has brought you to this place, and he promises never to leave you or forsake you. Continue to seek God and his kingdom and his righteousness. Embrace God’s commands. Trust in God’s goodness. When tomorrow comes, God will provide you with the strength to face the new day.

Whatever happens next in your life is totally under God’s control, and is not a surprise to Him. He has blessed you with the talents and skills to handle each new situation. He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able as new situations that arise. God is preparing you right now for what is next in your life.

What do you need to be doing to prepare for tomorrow? Are there things you need to stop doing, are there things you need to get rid of, are there new skills you need to learn, or are there people you need to talk to?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you that you have been with us every day of our lives. Forgive us for those things that have crept into our lives that keep us from worshiping you. Thank you for the wonderful, diverse group of people you have surrounded us with, and the unique gifts you have given each one of them. Lord, we place our future in your hands. Give us the wisdom to use our time today wisely as we prepare for tomorrow. Amen

Communing With Christ

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“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road
and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:35)

What glorious joy that the transcendent God is intimately aware of everything that is happening in his creation, and specifically in your life at each moment. What a privilege we have that we can know the one who knows all things, and are loved by the one who knows everything. What amazing grace God shows to us, that in every season of life God quietly continues to walk beside us, ready to teach us from his Word if we are prepared to listen. We have received blessing up on blessing. God has blessed us with his word. God has blessed us with the Holy Spirit to comfort us and teach us in all things. God knowing our need for something tangible, has blessed us with communion – a tangible reminder of his gracious act of salvation and a promise of his coming return.

God invites you to share with him everything that is going on in your life right now. What strength and peace you will find when you commune with the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. How much safer it is to choose to walk with the one whose word is a lamp unto your feet. How much more satisfying it is choose to rest safely in the presence of the one who knows all things.

Allow God’s deep, deep love to envelope you. As you listen carefully to his Word, you will see beyond your situation and catch a glimpse of the mysterious workings of our God. Learn anew what it means to trust your Creator, the creator of this universe who makes no mistakes. Let the finished work of Christ on the cross, celebrated through communion, sustain you and strengthen you. Use the talents God has blessed you with to obediently take the next faithful step. Then the peace and joy of Christ will flood your soul. Then the world will know that our God lives. Then the world will know that our God reigns.

Prayer

Father, we thank you that you are intimately aware of every aspect of our life, and have promised to never leave you or forsake you. Forgive us when we carry our burdens on our own shoulders. May our hearts burn within us as you speak to us through your word. Grant us the strength to say “Thy will be done” in all things. Amen