Choose Praise

Acts 16:25

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Paul and Silas were in prison-not just in prison, but in the inner prison with their feet in stocks (and this was after being beaten). They could have spent their time depressed about where they were. They could have spent their time worried about what would happen to them in the morning. They could have worried about if they were going to die.

But they didn't.

They "sang praises unto God." They chose to think on the good. They chose to remember who was in control.

And do you know what? Those around them were paying attention! Whether we like it or not, others are watching us. Our life is our testimony. Others are paying attention to how we deal with stress and the unknown. They may not say anything, but our actions and our words are affecting many of those around us.

What are people seeing? Are they seeing you filled with fear, or are they seeing your complete faith in God? Are they seeing anxiety and unrest, or are they seeing peace?

Paul and Silas showed others about God and they came to know Him. None of the prisoners left when the doors opened. That would have only happened if their hearts were changed. Then, the guard and his family came to know God as well.

Our responses can have lasting affects on the kingdom of God and the eternal lives of others.

Think on Whatever is Good

Philippians 4:4-9 KJV

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway." (emphasis mine)

We are to always be praising God and looking for the positive in all situations. This reminds me of James 1:2.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

"moderation" = suitable, equitable, fair, mild, gentle

As Christians we are to be different from the world. Our actions should be fair and gentle so much so that we are known for it.

"careful" = anxious

We should not let anxiety rule in our hearts. Whenever we feel anxiety rising, we need to go to the Lord in prayer. We need to ask Him for his peace and thank Him that he is in control. When we go to Him and request peace, His peace will fill our hearts.

In verse 8, Paul admonishes us to think on the good. Studies have shown that what we focus on is more likely to happen. So, if we focus on fear and anxiety, then we will get more fear and anxiety. However, when we focus on truth and those things that are lovely and true, we will get more peace. This is why having a heart of gratitude is so important!

It is important for us to put into practice what we learn in God's Word. When we live life as God calls us to live, then "the God of peace shall be with you."

Sealed

Ephesians 1:13

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

To be sealed means we have a mark on us which shows others that we are different. That mark is the Holy Spirit in us. Once the Holy Spirit resides in our hearts, then our lives should be marked by many differences from those of this world.

To be sealed also conjures a type of protection. We are sealed and protected from Satan. Just as Satan had to get permission from God to attack Job, so he needs permission from God to attack those of us sealed by Him. God does not give us more than we can handle because we can do all things through Him (Philippians 4:13).

We shouldn't stress about the trials we endure because we know that we are sealed by the Spirit. I 'm not saying that is easy, but if we remember that we have the power of the Spirit in us, then we are more able to fight and endure the trials.

Redemption

Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Redemption.

What a wonderful word. I never thought about it much until after watching Beyond the Mask. It is a great movie that demonstrates redemption. But let's look closer.

redemption = a releasing effected by payment of ransom.

Christ redeemed us by paying our debt for us. His shed blood paid for what we should have paid. He paid the ransom for us!

When I think of that word, ransom, I feel even further loved. Most experts will tell you not to pay a ransom because not only may you not actually get back what you desire, but they may come gain and demand more money.

Christ loves us enough that He paid the ransom even though there is the risk that we don't want to be with Him. He paid even thought He knew that Satan wasn't going to give up and would continue to attack.

Let's look at another word, forgiveness.

forgiveness = release from bondage or imprisonment; forgiveness or pardon of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty.

When we commit sin, we are placing our selves in bondage to that sin. We will remain in that sin until we are freed through forgiveness. The bonus is that when Christ forgives, He forgets about the offense! It is like it never happened because we are an new. That is the richness of His grace!

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Proverbs 17:6

Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

I don't think I have met a grandparent who didn't love being a grandparent. I am always being told how wonderful it is. Grandparents gush over their grandchildren and usually spoil them. Most children see their fathers as a type of super hero. They look up to their fathers as if they can conquer the world. I love the image of family this portrays as God's will.

Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This seems like a paradox, but let's dig deeper.

poor = lacking in anything , helpless, powerless, reduced to begging

When we are at the end of ourselves, that is exactly how we are. We can't "pull ourselves up by our bootstraps" because we don't have bootstraps to pull. We have nothing to offer. That is when God moves in and gives us His kingdom.

We can receive His gift because we are no longer trying to get there on our own. There is the saying that sometimes people need to hit rock bottom before they will look up. Well, that is being poor in spirit.

I can't do this life on my own. My sin is too great. I don't have enough strength to endure the trials. I need Him!

Accepted

Ephesians 1:6

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Accepted.

I always thought that just meant that He wanted us, that He chose us. However, when I look up the original Greek, it means, "to make graceful, charming, lovely, agreeable."

The word, "make", threw me so I looked back at the verse and it says, "made." Hmm. This is important.

In our sin, we are not lovely or even agreeable to God. We oppose Him and His ways. Our sin makes us filthy and even when we think we are doing good, "our righteousness are as filthy rags."

The important thing to realize is that He chose to make us clean and acceptable! He did all the world. It is nothing we can do!

Adopted

Romans 8:14-16 KJV

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

If we are adopted, we are certainly wanted/chosen. God desired us to have a closer relationship with Him than to just be His creation.

When we are led by the Spirit of God, we then have His power! We no longer need to be slaves to sin and fear. That is why we can cry out to Abba Father, and He will answer. He has sent His Spirit to speak to our hearts to comfort, encourage, and reprimand just like we parents do for our earthly children.

A.W. Tozer explains it well in His book, God's Pursuit of Man.

How can one personality enter another? The candid reply would be simply that we do not know, but a near approach to an understanding may be made by a simple analogy borrowed from the old devotional writers of several hundred years ago. We place a piece of iron in a fire and blow up the coals. At first we have two distinct substances, iron and fire. When we insert the iron in the fire we achieve the penetration of the iron and we have not only the iron in the fire but the fire in the iron as well. They are two distinct substances, but they have co-mingled and interpenetrated to a point where the two have become one.

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Proverbs 16:32

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

This verse is pretty straightforward that it is important to control yourself and your anger. Anger can cause division and strife. Anger is also a fleshly response to our selfishness. God desires us to overcome our flesh and strive to be like Christ. It is much harder to overcome our own flesh than to overcome other people. We should admire those who desire self-control over their anger.

Elect

1 Peter 1:2

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

The children and I are studying 1 Peter in our Bible class for school. we have read through the whole book and again through chapter one a few times (and we have been studying 1 Peter on Wednesday nights at church, too!), but it wasn't until recently that the word "elect" stood out to me.

elect = picked out, chosen, chosen by God

Maybe it is because I am really trying to learn who I am in Christ, but this hit me. Not only was I chosen, but He chose me before the world began. The foreknowledge of God the Father means He created a way of sanctification (Christ) because He had already chosen me!

Doesn't it feel good knowing you have been chosen? As children, we desire to be chosen to play on teams and as long as we aren't "chosen" last, we feel good. But do you remember how it felt on the rare occasion you were chosen first? It made my day!

Well, this is even better! God chose us before we even knew we were available to be chosen! We don't have to wonder if we were just the best option available. He wanted us!

In fact, He desired us so much that He sent His Son to earth do die for us-our sins, our wrongdoings. As a mother, I can't imagine that level of sacrifice, but God did it freely!

Chosen

Ephesians 1:4

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

chosen-to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one's self.

Being chosen means we are wanted, desired, and loved.

Before God created this world, He knew man would sin. He knew He would have to send His only Son to shed His blood for us. Yet He still created this world knowing the sacrifice that was needed. He did so because He loves us and wanted us. He desires us to be with Him.

He doesn't just want us to love Him because He created us to do that, He desires us to choose Him back. This cannot be a one way relationship! I have chosen to follow Him, but I can't forget that He chose me first.

Even despite knowing that I would forsake Him, that I would follow fleshly lusts, that I would break His heart-He still chose me!

I am special because He chose me, but that doesn't mean others are special! He chose all of us. Christ can so that all may be saved!

2 Peter 3:9 KJV 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Our identities should rest in the knowledge that the creator of this world desires us-chose us. If you would be excited to be chosen to meet the president of the US or the Queen of England, how much more special are you that God chose you?!

Walk With a Heart of Love

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Remember when I wrote about how we are to walk in love? I discussed things that Christ did that are examples of walking in love; however, I now see that we could do those things, but if our heart isn't right, they would mean nothing. We can do all the "right" things, but if our heart isn't doing them out of love, then they mean nothing.

I don't want to be like an empty vessel. I don't want to be all talk and not walk.

Lord, Help me have a heart of love. May I live with love towards You and others. May my actions be backed by love for others and not love for myself. Help me go against the way the world says and live how You call me to live. It will take true love to withstand the opposition of the world and I pray that Your love would be in me.

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

It is easy to yell at someone whey they are yelling at you. It is easy to "fight back" with words when someone is speaking harshly to you. However, what does that accomplish? Usually more of the same.

It takes great control to speak quietly and calmly and to be careful of word choice, but it does help. It can bring a sense of calm to the situation when one does this.

I have been trying to do this and it does work (surprise, surprise!). I have found if I say a prayer and ask God to help me, it is easier to give a soft answer.

Walk Together

Amos 3:3

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

At first read, my mind goes to a marriage relationship. A couple will not be successful unless they are in agreement with one another; they must be one.

However, A.W. Tozer puts it in the context of our relationship with Christ. "[W]e cannot walk with Him unless we are agreed; and if we are not agreed, we will not walk with Him in harmony and fruitfulness and blessing."

How can we be in agreement with Christ? We must cultivate the relationship! We must spend time with Him. We must seek His discernment. We cannot experience His power and revelation without being in agreement with Him.

Walking with God Will Include Suffering

1 Peter 3:17

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

1 Peter 4:19

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I wrote in the past about how we need to walk the path God has for us and that our path isn't going to be the same as someone else (Walk Your Path). We see here in these verses that sometimes the path He has for us may include suffering.

We may wonder why God would will us to suffer. Isn't life supposed to be better with God?

Well, do we think we are better than Christ? Christ was perfect yet endured much suffering. If we expect to not suffer, then we think we are better than Christ.

Also, if Christ suffered for us (taking on our sin and the punishment of death), then is it really too much for Him to ask us to suffer for Him? No! We should be willing and ready to suffer for well doing.

Besides, God will use our suffering for good (Romans 8:28, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.).

We see how God will do this in:

1 Peter 2:12

Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 1:6-7

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 Peter 4:16 

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Our sufferings may lead others to Christ. They may strengthen our faith or the faith of others. And above all, our sufferings give glory to God.

The next time I am enduring suffering for doing good, I need to remind myself that it might be God's will. I shouldn't ask why, but instead give Him glory for what He will do through it.

Walk Before Him

Genesis 17:1b

walk before me, and be thou perfect.

God was not telling Abram that he needed to be perfect as we understand the word. "Perfect" means upright or sincere. He was telling Abram to walk the best he could. He was to live as God has called him to live.

God desires to walk with us on our journey in life; however, He can't be among a willingly sinful lifestyle. We are to put aside and depart from evil and strive to honor God in all things.

Stand Fast

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 14 Let all your things be done with charity.

I've been studying how to walk, but God led me to these verses in my study time. At first glance, it would seem to not be dealing with how to walk because of the word "stand". However, let's look a little closer.

Watch

This is an action. We must be vigilant of what is going on around us. We are to be paying attention for the signs that God tells us about.

Stand

This means to persevere. We are to keep walking with God. We should not grow weary, but continue to walk in faith.

Quit you like men

This means to be brave. We will encounter much opposition on our walk with the Lord from teh world. We must be brave as we persevere.

Be strong

This is walking with the Lord is not for the faint of heart. It is a battle for souls. We fight a spiritual battle and we need Christ's strength to succeed.

In all these things-watching, standing, being brave, being strong-we must do all with love. Sometimes I think this is the hardest command. Oftentimes what I see as love, others do not. When I warn of dangers, others see it as meddling, complaining, accusing, or condemning.

Lord, help me walk this road with You in love to others. Show me how to reveal Your love to them. Amen.

Fear Not!

13 Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD. . . 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

Exodus 14:13b-14 (KJV)

There has been much hype lately about the coronavirus. People are in hysterics about something they can actually do something to prevent. Building immunity systems, proper hygiene, and careful interaction with others are all easy ways to protect yourself.

However, do you realize that even when there is nothing you can do to protect yourself or your family that you still have no need to fear?

The Israelites were in a position where there was absolutely nothing they could do. They had rock mountains on two sides of them, the Red Sea on a third, and the Egyptian army closing in on the fourth-they had no way of escape. Or, that is how they felt anyway.

Moses tells them to relax and to not fear. God was fighting for them. God made a way where they didn't see a way-He opened the Red Sea for them to walk across! Not only could they now escape their enemy, but God destroyed the enemy when He closed the sea back up after the Israelites were safely across!

We can do the same. We don't have to live in fear. We just need to be still and trust God is in control (which He is!)_ and see His deliverance from the craziness around us. This doesn't mean that we don't take care to follow the precautions we can do to the best of our abilities, but we don't stress about how to do that or the outcome.

So, wash hands, strengthen your immunity with vitamins, and be careful, but do all that without fear!

Words of Wisdom Wednesday

Proverbs 14:1

Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

I received a new Bible that has cross references and this verse cross referenced to Ruth 4:11 which caused me to wonder about the meaning of the Hebrew word for "buildeth".

The Hebrew word is banah. It means "to build (literally and figuratively), obtain children, make repair, set.

This got me thinking about family size. It is wise for a woman to "obtain children" while a foolish woman destroys her house by not having children. I think one could easily see that abortion is plucking down a woman's house, but what about choosing not to have children or even not having more children?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Walk Honestly

1 Thessalonians 4:12

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

Romans 13:13

Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

Here we see we are to walk honestly. What exactly does that mean? At first thought I believe it means to walk in who we are; we must be honest about who we truly are. However, it also means, "decently."

This means we are to treat others well. We are to treat them as we would like to be treated. The Romans passage tells us what it is not. It is not causing problems. It is not walking after fleshly lusts. It is not causing issues being envious.

Do you struggle to walk in who you are? I know this is one area that I struggle to walk.