Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
15 This is why, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you the Spirit[a] of wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ fully. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, just how rich his glorious inheritance among the saints is, 19 and just how surpassingly great his power is for us who believe. 20 It is as great as the working of his mighty strength, which God worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion, and above every name that is given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 God also placed all things under his feet and made him head over everything for the church. 23 The church is his body, the fullness of him[b] who fills everything in every way.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
True knowledge is a gift from God.
When we know God for who he truly is, that is the most important and basic truth that anyone can accept.
The apostle Paul prays that God will give his readers the spiritual powers of wisdom and revelation.
Paul knows that God is eager to give Christians these gifts. When we have godly wisdom, we understand how God’s world works, and we understand what to do.
When we receive the spiritual power of revelation (vision), we can see what lies ahead and be confident that the future is in God’s hands.
Wisdom and revelation from God lead us to know God better.
Our increasingly wise thoughts inform us that the power and love and goodness of God are without end.
Through revelation the Spirit shows that no matter how much we meditate on God and his Word, we will never see to the end of his goodness, power, and love.
Increasing knowledge of God sets us on the path toward holiness.
This is not just a matter of accepting facts about God.
We learn and experience that God is good and loving and just.
When we grow in the knowledge of God, we begin to offer him our reverence and obedience, which he truly deserves.
Paul began his prayer for the Ephesian church by asking God to give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
Paul was not asking God to provide them with the Holy Spirit – they already had him (Eph. 1:13-14).
It would be best to understand this as a spirit of wisdom and revelation. That God would to grant them wisdom. And that he would reveal himself to them.
The goal of this prayer request was for them to know God better. You might understand knowing God better in two different but related ways. First, that they would come to experience more about God. An intellectual knowledge.
And as they learn more about him, they would also grow in their relationship with him.
This is true in most relationships.
The more I learn about a person, the deeper our relationship can grow.
It is important, though, not to be content with just an intellectual knowledge.
That, in itself, has little value for us.
Paul’s prayer here is still appropriate.
That you pray this for yourself.
And that you pray this for other believers.
None of us will ever outgrow the need to know God better.
Let’s step forth, storm the gates of heaven and pray daily, fervently, for wisdom and revelation so our knowledge of, connection to God continuously increases.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying …
Psalm 90:12-17 Evangelical Heritage Version
Mortal Man Needs God’s Grace
12 Teach us to number our days in such a way that we bring a heart of wisdom. 13 Turn, O Lord! How long! Change your mind toward your servants. 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your mercy, so that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. 16 Let your deeds be seen by your servants and your majesty by their children. 17 May the kindness of the Lord our God rest upon us. Establish the work of our hands for us. Yes, establish the work of our hands.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.[a]3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.[b]6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’[c]
8 “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.[d]9 And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your Father. 10 And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be a servant. 12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Religion can be a beautiful thing.
It can unite people, offer comfort in difficult times, and inspire individuals to lead more meaningful lives.
But when religion becomes toxic, it can do just the opposite.
It tears people apart, causes deep trauma, allows individuals to do unspeakable things in the name of their faith.
So, exactly what is toxic religion, how can you spot it, and why should you steer clear of it?
Let’s find out!
First things first, it’s exactly what it sounds like – a poisonous, harmful, and damaging version of spirituality that’s more about control than connection.
It’s the kind of religion which relies on, uses fear shame, and guilt to control, manipulate and coerce people into following its dogma.
It’s the kind of religion that tells you what to think, feel, and do without leaving room for questioning or doubt. It’s the kind of religion that thrives on power imbalances and hierarchies, with a select few at the top calling all the shots.
Now, you might be thinking, “Okay, but isn’t all religion kind of toxic?”
And sure, there are certainly elements of this in many religious traditions.
But harmful religion takes it to a whole new level.
It’s when religion becomes less and less about fostering love, compassion, and understanding and far more about enforcing rules and beliefs that benefit the people in power.
It’s when those in power use that religion as a tool of oppression rather than liberation.
Toxic religion can take many forms, but at its core, it is any belief system or religious practice that causes significant harm to individuals or communities.
This harm can be physical, emotional, or psychological, and it can come from a variety of sources, including congregants, leaders, doctrines, and traditions.
So, why is it such a problem?
For starters, harmful and toxic theology can have severe mental and emotional consequences for those caught in its grip.
It can leave people second guessing themselves, their choices, and those around you.
When there is a strict line of black-and-white, it can create an us-versus-them thinking pattern dehumanizing people outside of the ‘in group.’
Perhaps you have experienced this while sitting in church if you are gay, and the pastor is condemning LGBTQIA+ from the pulpit, the desire to be safe and leave conflicts with the desire to belong, causing religious trauma over time.
People in toxic religious communities may feel intense shame, guilt, anger, fear and open hostility if they don’t adhere to the group’s rules and beliefs.
When a religious leader or community or church or denomination insists on absolute certainty in their beliefs, questioning or dissent is not allowed.
Deep control can lead to groupthink, dogmatism, and even cult-like behavior.
People who disagree may be ostracized or seen as a threat for questioning authority or expressing doubts.
And in extreme cases, they may even be subject to crippling abuse or violence.
When any religion, denomination claims to be the only correct, legitimate path to salvation, it creates a dark toxic unfriendly environment where those who do not believe as they do are immediately considered inferior, misguided, and evil.
This invites discrimination, division, hostility, intolerance, and violence to flourish while reinforcing biased harmful stereotypes and prejudices, which promote bigotry and discrimination, hostility. It suffocates critical thinking and curiosity, growth preventing people from exploring new ideas and perspectives.
Another red flag is when a religious leader or community or church is not held accountable for their actions.
It allows dangerous abuses of power, corruption, and even criminal behavior to go unchecked. Reckless leadership which traumatizes followers and can lead to a loss of faith and spiritual disillusionment.
So, what can we do to avoid toxic religion?
Well, for starters, we can educate ourselves about the warning signs.
A church or religious community is often never completely out of the blue toxic that no one saw coming.
There are usually multiple signs although some are more subtle than others, like who is in charge, if there are women or diverse people of color, ethnicity in the community or on the board.
Other signs could include what they expect from volunteers, how they treat volunteers, to even the way they speak about people when they aren’t around.
Listen to your gut, and see if the church lights you up with joy, or lights up your flight or flight response, they can feel similar, but they are very different.
If a religious community seems to be excessively controlling or demands absolute obedience, that’s a red flag.
If a religious leader or group is using fear, shame, or guilt to manipulate its followers, that’s a sign of toxicity.
And if a spiritual tradition promotes harmful beliefs or practices that cause harm to others, that’s a problem.
Cults can look shiny and clean from the outside but can feel like a pit of vipers or quicksand once you are in. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
A church that only shares it’s doctrine after you get baptized may be an obvious red flag.
A church subtly guilting you repeatedly for not attending a weeknight service or for not being a part of a small group ministry may seem like an slight innocent kind nudge at first, but those yellow flags are waving.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or challenge authority, especially if you feel something is wrong.
So what is toxic religion?
Toxic religion isn’t just a church we don’t like; it’s a genuine threat that harms individuals inside and outside of the church’s walls.
But we don’t have to accept it, and we can choose to reject harmful and dangerous theology and seek a spirituality that promotes love, tolerance, compassion, and understanding.
Doing so not only holds space for our own healing, it prevents us from throwing our weight and resources into a toxic system.
Is the Church Itself a Barrier?
Luke 11:46 The Message
46 He said, “Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help.
Jesus spoke pointedly and critically against the leaders of God’s people in that day. Instead of helping people draw near to God and enjoy his blessings, those leaders put up barriers through their legalistic, self-serving practices.
Sadly, throughout history, some churches and church leaders have blocked access to spiritual life for people and have even abused people.
We often hear of such cases in the news today.
Corrupt leaders put barriers instead of bridges in front of people.
As God’s people who make up the church today, we must repent of these sins, be sure we have measures in place to prevent them from happening again, and be agents of healing to people who have been hurt.
Have you been hurt by the church or its leaders?
If so, you may be hesitant to participate in the life of a church.
That’s understandable.
What can you do?
Here are some suggestions:
(1) Keep your focus on Jesus himself, especially through prayer and Bible reading.
(2) Ask God to provide a few caring Christians with whom you can fellowship and grow spiritually; they can be a helpful bridge.
(3) Through a Christian counselor, seek healing and strength to forgive.
(4) Remain open to a time when you can fully participate in a healthy church again.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ….
Praying …
Psalm 96 New American Standard Bible
A Call to Worship the Lord the Righteous Judge.
96 Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are [a]idols, But the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
7 [b]Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, [c]Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 [d]Ascribe to the Lord the glory of His name; Bring an [e]offering and come into His courtyards. 9 Worship the Lord in [f]holy attire; Tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples fairly.”
11 May the heavens be joyful, and may the earth rejoice; May the sea [g]roar, and [h]all it contains; 12 May the field be jubilant, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy 13 Before the Lord, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, And the peoples in His faithfulness.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one,[a] and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s coworkers.[b] You are God’s field, God’s building.
10 According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder,[c] and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience[d] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
I have often found that seeds are easier to grow in gardens than transplanted flowers.
One would think that the already growing plant would be simpler to add––dig a hole and pop the seed into the desired spot.
Yet when I tried to plant trays of marigolds, the small flowers quickly began to struggle.
The changes in soil, sun, and surrounding plants were too overwhelming for the young flowers.
Eventually, the leaves withered along with the petals.
How much different when I sowed seeds!
Though preparing the soil bed required more work and planting the seeds took extra time, the result was worth the effort.
Not only did the flowers grow and survive, but they thrived.
Large, colorful blooms.
Greater height.
Fuller leaf growth made the patch of garden resemble a meadow.
Of course, there is a time to use transplanted flowers, and they can do well in the right circumstances, but some plants do poorly when transplanted.
Just because a route is easier does not always mean it is best.
The same is true in our spiritual lives.
We can easily assume the best way to grow spiritually is through a premade, transplanted faith––one imported from the life of someone we admire.
We draw on their experiences, practices, and insights rather than prioritizing personal time with the Lord.
In Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth, he noted that many of the believers had formed separate sects based on who they wanted to follow, whether Paul, Cephas (Peter), or Apollos (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4).
Christians today can do the same thing, aligning themselves with a particular teacher, pastor, author, or social media influencer.
Yet, Paul warned them, of placing too much emphasis on human workers.
Paul, Apollos, and Cephas had merely been faithful in the task God had given them in spreading the gospel and discipling believers.
The Lord was the One who was ultimately responsible for any growth.
And none of the workers, us included, could replace the most important part: the foundation of faith, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection (1 Corinthians 3:11).
We may admire certain preachers, teachers and media influencers online and maybe even find that many of their insights and suggested practices helpful.
However, if we should rely only on the second-hand nourishment of the faith of others, our growth will look more like withered marigolds than healthy blooms.
We need a deep rootedness in Christ to properly grow.
For it is He who died to give us life, and it is only in Him that we can truly boast (1 Corinthians 1:28-31).
Nothing can, nor will, replace a strong, personal relationship with Him.
God loves us enough to meet us where we are, and loves us too much to leave us there. Growing in God’s grace is a lifelong journey.
Several important foundational points to ponder and pray over:
Following Jesus isn’t merely a one time decision but a way of life intended to change us from the inside out.
God heals and empowers us to increasingly love others the way that God has loved us in Jesus, and in the process we are transformed into the image of Christ and made a new creation.
Following Jesus daily, we grow into deeper levels of love for God and neighbor, which changes the orientation of our hearts and how our soul sees the world.
How have you defined your identity in Christ?
What steps can you take to deepen your spiritual roots this week?
In what ways can you reflect Christ’s teachings in your daily actions?
Pray for guidance to understand and embrace your identity in Christ fully.
Ask God to help you remain rooted in His word and teachings. Examine your daily routine: Are there moments where you can connect more deeply with God?
How can you make abiding in Christ a non-negotiable priority each day?
Reflect on a time when staying connected to God changed the outcome of a situation for you.
Pray for the ability to remain steadfast in Him, especially when facing challenges.
Ask for opportunities to encounter God’s presence in new and transformative ways this week. How do you view the concept of grace in your personal faith journey?
What are some areas where you can let go of the need for perfection and rely on God’s grace?
Reflect on how salvation has transformed your outlook on life and your relationship with God.
Thank God for the gift of grace and salvation, asking for continued understanding of its impact.
Pray for wisdom to let go of self-reliance and embracing God’s grace more fully. Parts of “old self” need to be jettisoned to embrace the new creation?
Reflect on how you can manifest this transformation in your daily life and interactions with others.
How can you nurture the new creation you’ve become in Christ?
Pray for strength to let go of old habits and embrace your new identity in Christ.
Ask for God’s guidance in manifesting the change within you in a way that glorifies Him.
How can you incorporate a regular practice of gratitude into your daily routine?
What are some specific blessings you can give thanks for this week?
Reflect on how gratitude has influenced your outlook on life and your growing relationship with others.
Pray for a grateful heart and ask God to reveal new blessings to you each day.
Offer prayers of thanksgiving for the specific ways God has impacted your life and the lives of those around you.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.….
Praying ….
Psalm 20
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2 send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; 3 remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah. 4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. 5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. 9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
2 This is why it’s necessary for us to pay more attention to what we have heard, or else we may drift away from it. 2 If the message that was spoken by angels was reliable, and every offense and act of disobedience received an appropriate consequence, 3 how will we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? It was first announced through the Lord, and then it was confirmed by those who heard him. 4 God also vouched for their message with signs, amazing things, various miracles, and gifts from the Holy Spirit, which were handed out the way he wanted.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Do We Have Any Strength for Today- “Are We Drifting?”
To drift means to be easily carried slowly away by a current of air or water.
The danger of drifting is not limited to the physical realm, because:
· Emotionally and
· Spiritually,
There’s always a danger of being carried away by the undercurrent, when evil becomes your pattern.
Hebrews 2:1 says, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”
Sadly, today, it’s not uncommon for Christians to drift toward destruction, simply because they aren’t spiritually anchored.
That’s why we are told, “We ought to give the more earnest heed…” – He 2:1.
Drifting is an unconscious process.
In the boat oflife, the undercurrents of evil often goes unnoticeable in the physical realm, because the gravitational force that’s driving you away from the shore of righteousnessis demonically intended.
And for that cause:
· Many Christians have slowly drifted away, and
· Many churches have gradually drifted into false doctrine,
Finding themselves far removed from the scriptures.
However, faithfulness to God is like roaring upstream.
But to roar upstream:
· You must constantly be “adding to your faith…” – 2 Peter 1:5, and
· You must continue to grow in grace – 2 Peter 3:18.
Because the moment you stop growing, you start going downwards, and the dangers increase with the speed and weight of the drift.
When you’re drifting, and you can hear the noise of the waterfall, it’s already too late.
In other words, it’s difficult to discern that you’re drifting, when you’ve moved far from God.
And for those who drift spiritually through their own neglect, there shall be no escape from a just punishment – Hebrews 2:1-3. The common signs of drifting are:
· Prayerlessness,
· Not wanting to be with God’s people,
· A diminishing desire to study. God’s Word, and
· Not attending praise and worship, and
· No desire to edify one another – Romans 14:19.
When Christians prefers the companionship of people of the world, rather than fellow Christians, they’re drifting toward the rocks of spiritual destruction!
Crisis Faith
Psalm 62:1-8 The Message
62 1-2 God, the one and only— I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I need comes from him, so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I’m set for life.
3-4 How long will you gang up on me? How long will you run with the bullies? There’s nothing to you, any of you— rotten floorboards, worm-eaten rafters, Anthills plotting to bring down mountains, far gone in make-believe. You talk a good line, but every “blessing” breathes a curse.
5-6 God, the one and only— I’ll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He’s solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I’m set for life.
7-8 My help and glory are in God —granite-strength and safe-harbor-God— So trust him absolutely, people; lay your lives on the line for him. God is a safe place to be.
Faith can seem vague and theoretical—until a crisis hits.
Then, like the spare tire in your trunk when you have a flat, your faith suddenly becomes very important – up to the point of choosing between life and death.
2 Corinthians 3:12-18 English Standard Version
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one[a] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord[b] is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,[c] are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.[d] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
In fact, it may be the only way out of the mess you’re in.
In the middle of a crisis of faith, all we usually hope for is some way to get the situation straightened out so that we can move on. No one likes to need faith.
As with the little spare tire that comes with most cars today (you know, the little “donut” spare that’s designed to go just a few miles), most of us are willing to rely on our faith for a little while, only as long as we have need of it.
But just as you’ll want to get a real tire back on your car as soon as you can, so most of us want to move past our personal faith reliance and find a real reason for confidence.
At least that’s how it can seem.
No one likes crises, but it’s not hard to see how God can use our crises to reach into our emergency reserves in ways that he might not reach us otherwise.
Most of us pray differently—more earnestly—in times of crisis.
Our fear can prod us to squint for God through the fog of our uncertainty.
And the more we squint, the more we begin to see the features of God’s face.
How has God used crises in your life to deepen your awareness of His presence?
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit …
Praying ….
How Awesome Are Your Deeds
To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.
66 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah
5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. 6 He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him, 7 who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations— let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah
8 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, 9 who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. 10 For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. 11 You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; 12 you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.
13 I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, 14 that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. 15 I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah
16 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. 17 I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on[a] my tongue.[b] 18 If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, [a]Who has inflicted horrific events on the earth. 9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire. 10 “[b]Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the [c]nations, I will be exalted on the earth.” 11 The Lord of armies is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
The world moves and spins furiously fast.
I certainly sense it.
Work piles higher and higher, requests come quicker and quicker, and the weight of my own expectations weighs heavier and heavier.
As I process more, take on more, and churn out more.
All while striving to keep my head above the deep water.
I know I need to slow down.
I need to stop.
And I definitely need stillness—desperately.
A stilling of my spirit.
A quieting of the swift swirls in my head and heart.
And a slow, inflated inhale followed by a steady, expanding exhale.
Releasing every last spec of stress and tension within.
You feel the intense speed of your surroundings at times, too, don’t you?
The list never ends.
It’s staring at you today, and it will be there tomorrow.
You yearn for stillness to sweep sweet breaths of life into all of the overstuffed, overburdened overtaxed spaces, of your soul.
And to stay.
You want to be still and know that God is God.
You want your confidence to grow so that you can handle this, because God has this under His full control.
Because you do know with maximum assurance and confidence God indeed has it all. All that you’re doing, all that you’re planning, and all that he has in store.
Our God is God, and that means all the things we are losing stillness over—all the busyness, hustle and bustle wearing us down to nothing but weariness—are unnecessary.
Because God will keep the wheels moving when we take our foot off the gas, if the vehicle is headed where he wants it to go.
Nothing will prevent his ultimate destination from being reached and his purposes from prevailing.
Because he is the one driving our lives, he will get us where he wants us to be.
If your soul is starved for stillness today, the Lord would love nothing more than your nestling up with him.
Sitting still beside him in the safety and security of his refuge.
Hearing his whispers of love, receiving his outstretched arms of comfort and care, and then lingering in his peaceful presence.
He wants you to be still.
He wants you to know that he is God and that he will be exalted regardless.
He is honored by your obedience and all your good work, but he also knows you need Shabbat rest.
God loves you, absolutely adores you, and wants you to do just that. To be still, know, and trust that his greater plans and purposes will still prevail.
My soul waits insilence for God alone; From Him comes my salvation. For my only hope is from Him. [Psalm 62:1 &2]
We live in noisy times.
Streets echo with the roar of traffic.
Construction projects boom and bang in downtowns, neighborhoods, suburbs.
We fill our ears and elevators with playlists from iPods, our homes and cars with surround sound. Sports events blast out marches, cheers, and taunts.
Many farm and factory workers in earlier generations lost much hearing from the din of clanking machinery.
People damage their ears at rock concerts and with earphones as they shop.
Even at worship services some sound-control people seem to lock the volume on freight train level.
The damage caused by noise is not a new discovery.
It reaches far deeper than our ears.
Centuries ago English poet John Milton portrayed hell as a place of unending noise, of unending howling and roaring and screeching and yelling.
If we bathe ourselves in noise, we might never soak in the silence of God.
We may never exalt or lift up the name of God even above ourselves, to say nothing of exalting God among the nations.
Take a survey of your daily activities.
How many are filled with consistent, continuous, [obnoxious] sound?
Are you letting noise drown out or make you forget things you should hear?
Do you forget about your physical, mental, spiritual well-being?
Do you forget your family?
Your job?
God?
How can you turn down the volume in your life and find some silence for God?
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying ….
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
20 Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honor while others are for dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce [a]quarrels. 24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive [b]by him to do his will.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Paul’s opening words – “Now in a great house…” – reminds me of the image he used to describe the church in 1 Timothy 3:15 where he says that he wants the members of the church to “know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth”.
Paul’s point with the image he is painting is the church is the great household of God and God intends to fill his home with people who live to serve him above all else.
The problem, of course, is that when we become part of God’s household, the moment we surrender to Jesus as our Savior, we do not usually understand that we are also being called to surrender to Jesus as our King; we like the benefits of salvation, but we cringe at the expectations for a servant of the King – even if those expectations are for our own good.
Another way to think about this is to think about our natural tendency to come into God’s household as a consumer who enjoys being served by other servants of God but then balk at the expectations of being transformed into contributors expected to serve God by serving others from a pure heart of loving sacrifice.
Having someone sacrificially serve you is much more attractive than being called to become a sacrificial servant for others.
Why is this?
I think it’s because being served does not require moral fortitude or commitment.
But sacrificially serving others – to the point that it really hurts and costs us – this is something that does require moral fortitude, does require unwavering commitment.
This is Paul’s vision for members and leaders within the household of God: That they would be servants of God who are growing in godly character.
What you are is far more important than what you do because what you do will always flow out of, prove what you really are.
So how do we become servants of God who are growing in godly character?
Look at the text with me…
2 Timothy 2:20-26 New Living Translation
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
#1: SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRASH CANS AND SERVING DISHES (VV. 20 – 21)
Evaluating and differentiating between trash cans and serving dishes helps us to see current unwanted realities clearly and strive towards a more desirable future. We have to see the difference between trash cans and serving dishes if we are going to become servants of God who are growing in godly character.
This is why Paul reminds Timothy inverses 20 – 21 that,
“20…in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
The reality is that we cannot serve nourishing meals in filthy trash cans.
In Timothy’s day, just like today, every home had trash cans for taking the garbage out and serving dishes for delivering nourishing food.
In God’s house the expectation is that there will be no garbage to take out because God’s house is intended to be perfectly clean.
Therefore, every person who claims the name of the Lord is expected to cleanse themselves from filthy garbage of sin by trusting and obeying the gospel – the message of Jesus, crucified for our sin, risen in victory over death, returning in triumph over Satan.
As you and I trust in the message of the gospel and strive for obedience to the gospel – meaning that we strive after holiness – God transforms us from the trash cans we were into the priceless serving dishes he intended us to be –set apart as holy and useful to God for every good work.
We must see the difference between being a trash can or a serving dish!
#2: RUN FROM GARBAGE AND CHASE GODLINESS (V. 22)
The foundation of this principle is that we must run away from some things while running after other things.
We cannot live our lives perpetually running towards garbage because we will inevitably be running away from the purity that only godliness can produce.
We also cannot spend our lives merely running away from the destination of garbage without a new destination of godliness in the windshield.
This is why Paul instructs Timothy in verse 22, to
22So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
It is foolishness to run from one bad destination without a better destination in our sights.
Early on in my journey with Jesus, a friend and mentor of mine taught me the acronym “G.I.G.O.” – Garbage In Garbage Out –which simply teaches us that if you put garbage into your system then garbage is what inevitably comes out.
Paul is basically reminding Timothy of this principle in verses 21 – 22 when he tells Timothy to run from the bad destination of youthful passions and chase the good destinations of godliness characterized as righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
This is the destination that all who genuinely follow Jesus are chasing after.
The questions for us is:
Which destination am I chasing?
Am I chasing the destination of youthful passions – a destination that looks and smells like the garbage of filth, impurity, rebellion, hate, and conflict?
Or am I chasing the destination of godliness that looks and smells like the godly character traits of righteousness, holiness, purity, faith, love, and peace?
If we are truly going to become and be servants of God who are growing in godly character, then we must run from garbage and chase godliness.
#3: LIVE TO SERVE GOD ALONE (VV. 23 – 26)
I think this final principle is Paul’s bullseye, it is what he has been aiming at all along.
He knows that there are some highly influential leaders in the city of Ephesus who have abandoned their faith (1:15, 2:16 – 18) –
they have become trash cans instead of priceless serving dishes and they have been chasing the garbage of self-exaltation instead of pure godliness – as they spread their cancerous false teaching, seek to draw believers into their prison cell of foolishness.
This is why Paul says,
23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
A self-serving mentality is a snare of the devil that has wrecked many ships on the shorelines of consumerism.
Serving God alone is the only key to getting and remaining free from the prison cell of our sinful selves.
When it comes to our self-exaltation (serving selfish desires) it is never more clearly seen than the petty and ignorant arguments that often break out among God’s people.
I have been guilty, more times than I can count, of taking the bait of being right and being able to win an argument. Arguing passionately is not always a sin but arguing for the sake of being right or for the sake of winning the fight is a sin.
This is why Paul reminds Timothy that someone who truly wants to serve
God alone, above all else, must not argue to merely argue or to win the fight but instead must practice kindness and patient teaching while enduring all of the evil that gets thrown around when confronting error and falsehood.
The intended goal in someone who wants to serve God alone and grow in godly character is the goal of seeing others repent from sin and trust in the truth of the gospel so they may walk in freedom from the effects of Satan, Sin, Death.
If you and I would live our lives to serve God alone, then we will resist and continue to repent when we get caught up in arguing to win the fight and we will press on in serving God by patiently enduring evil and speaking truth so that others may repent and be set free.
We must remember that a self-serving mentality is a snare of the devil that has wrecked many ships on the shorelines of consumerism.
Serving God alone is the only key to getting and remaining free from the prison cell of our sinful desires.
CONCLUSION…
In conclusion, a servant of God who is growing in godly character must see the difference between being a trash can and being a serving dish. We must run from garbage and chase godliness, and we must live our lives to serve God and God alone instead of our own selfish desires.
I pray about everything I have just said, and it all rings true, it all sounds good.
But it all feels impossible sometimes; doesn’t it?
I am way too prone to being more like a trash can with my thoughts, words, and actions than I wish I was.
I am way too prone to run towards garbage instead of chasing godliness. Sadly, I find myself chasing self-exaltation instead of living my life to serve God alone.
Someone picks a fight with me based on some kind of foolishness and I go off halfcocked, ready to decimate their argument and destroy them in the process;
I act like a trashcan.
I feel the guilt and shame of my sin and I let my thoughts and my eyes linger on impure things that bring a momentary sense of pleasure to escape the pain;
I chase garbage.
I want to prove I am better than I really am, so I jump back into the argument with a renewed sense of winning and rightness; I wind up exalting myself.
What a wretched sinner I really am.
Who will deliver me from these sinful habits (Rom. 7:24)?
How can I be set free from these shackles so that I can freely serve God and grow in godliness?
The only answer I have is in verse 21of our text where Paul says,
“if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
The only hope I have is to be cleansed from my sin.
The only way to be cleansed from my sin is to trust in the finished work of Christ at the bloody cross of calvary; to rest assured in Christ’s powerful victory in the empty tomb; and to stand in hope-filled expectation of Christ’s faithful promise to rescue me once and for all from this sin-infected life in eternity.
The gospel and the gospel alone, is what frees me to serve God and to grow in godliness so that I may be a serving dish; so that I may chase godliness; so that I may live my life to serve God and to serve him alone above all else. – Amen!
1 Timothy 6:11-16 New American Standard Bible
11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness , faith, love, [a]perseverance, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I direct you in the presence of God, who [b]gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep the commandment without [c]fault or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which He will [d]bring about at the proper time—He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of [e]kings and Lord of [f]lords, 16 who alone possesses immortality, dwells in unapproachable light, whom [g]no one has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and for which you made the good confession in the full presence of many witnesses.
Psalm 18:1-19 Names of God Bible
1 I love you, O Yahweh, my strength. 2 Yahweh is my rock and my Metsuda and my Savior, my El, my rock in whom I take refuge, my Magen, and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 Yahweh should be praised. I called on him, and I was saved from my enemies.
4 The ropes of death had become tangled around me. The torrents of destruction had overwhelmed me. 5 The ropes of the grave had surrounded me. The clutches of death had confronted me.
6 I called on Yahweh in my distress. I cried to my Elohim for help. He heard my voice from his temple, and my cry for help reached his ears.
7 Then the earth shook and quaked. Even the foundations of the mountains trembled. They shook violently because he was angry. 8 Smoke went up from his nostrils, and a raging fire came out of his mouth. Glowing coals flared up from it. 9 He spread apart the heavens and came down with a dark cloud under his feet. 10 He rode on one of the angels[b] as he flew, and he soared on the wings of the wind. 11 He made the darkness his hiding place, the dark rain clouds his covering. 12 Out of the brightness in front of him, those rain clouds passed by with hailstones and lightning. 13 Yahweh thundered in the heavens. Elyon made his voice heard with hailstones and lightning. 14 He shot his arrows and scattered them. He flashed streaks of lightning and threw them into confusion. 15 Then the ocean floor could be seen. The foundations of the earth were laid bare at your stern warning, O Yahweh, at the blast of the breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water. 17 He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, because they were too strong for me. 18 On the day when I faced disaster, they confronted me, but Yahweh came to my defense. 19 He brought me out to a wide-open place. He rescued me because he was pleased with me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in[a] God who created all things; 10 that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to[b] lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
In our success driven society which prizes self-confidence and a positive self-image, we might be tempted to think our relationship with God should make a priority of focusing on ourselves, our own needs, and our sense of self-worth.
But consider what happens when self-assured people pray to God.
People who believe their relationship with God is based in their own merit and their own interests will find prayer an empty ritual.
They tend to see little need for prayer, and don’t see the results they expect.
Prayers offered in our own strength rise no higher than the roof over our heads.
But as believers in Christ, we must always remember what God through Christ has accomplished for us.
The key to effective prayer?
To turn fully and completely away from an exclusive trust in our own selves to a total reliance on our Savior. [Proverbs 3:5-8]
“In [Jesus Christ] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
Jesus is the only mediator of our salvation and of all other dimensions of our relationship to God.
Our confidence is based on what Christ has accomplished!
Even when we struggle with doubt and sin, through Christ we have access to God the Father.
Paul eloquently describes that assurance in Romans 8:37-39:
Romans 8:37-39 Modern English Version
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities nor powers, neither things present nor things to come, 39 neither height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Confidence Rooted in Christ or principalities and powers in the heavenly places?
Stirring ourselves up to be confident in ourselves is like riding a roller coaster, where one day we are on a high and feel good because someone affirmed us, and next we are on a deep-dive downward because someone said or did something that utterly shook our self- confidence to the core and swept us off our feet.
Unfortunately, our culture pushes us to act confident, even if we don’t feel it or believe it, to “fake it till we make it,” with the thinking behind this popular and trendy saying being that faking it is motivational, acting like we are confident when we are not, will automatically or by osmosis, help to build our confidence until we fool ourselves to believe it ourselves and able to achieve and reach it.
Sadly, we are pushed and prodded to hide our weaknesses and frailties, to prove ourselves confident in all that we do, to everyone around us; to show ourselves as smarter, stronger, and more productive than everyone else, in an effort to demonstrate our worth and value.
But with God, we do not have to prove ourselves to be “worthy” through performance.
Firstly, because we have no way to prove that we are worthy in ourselves.
Secondly, because we already belong to Him, so there’s nothing to prove.
It’s a waste of time, effort and energy to even try to do so, and completely unnecessary also.
God deems us worthy not because of anything we do on our own, but because of Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.
As Ephesians 2:8 explains, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
Because it’s not because of anything we’ve done or are doing, as Hebrews 4:16 urges,
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
As well, we can come to God confident in the work of Christ on the cross, and not ourselves, rather than pretending we are holier than we are,
as Hebrews 10:19-22 encourages,
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
Where are you finding your confidence, in yourself or in God? Take some time to consider where you’re drawing it from.
Look for ways to cultivate confidence in Christ through studying His word, spending time in prayer, and letting the truth of scripture strengthen your faith.
Practice being rooted in confidence in Christ this coming week, by stepping out and approaching God, free from fear, knowing He loves you and is calling you to come before Him.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying …..
Psalm 92 New King James Version
Praise to the Lord for His Love and Faithfulness
A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath day.
92 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night, 3 On an instrument of ten strings, On the lute, And on the harp, With harmonious sound. 4 For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
5 O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. 6 A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this. 7 When the wicked [a]spring up like grass, And when all the workers of iniquity flourish, It is that they may be destroyed forever.
8 But You, Lord, are on high forevermore. 9 For behold, Your enemies, O Lord, For behold, Your enemies shall perish; All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
10 But my [b]horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil. 11 My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies; My ears hear my desire on the wicked Who rise up against me.
12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be [c]fresh and [d]flourishing, 15 To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
“In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” But you would not, 16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”— Therefore you shall flee! And, “We will ride on swift horses”— Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, At the threat of five you shall flee, Till you are left as a [a]pole on top of a mountain And as a banner on a hill.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
I believe that we need to return and rest.
I used to read this verse as, “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”
We do need to repent.
Repentance is turning our backs away from sin, but the idea here, from the words chosen, is that repenting is, is our returning; coming home to God.
We repent from sin and return to God.
Repentance is returning.
The idea that Isaiah is speaking against, or the ailment for which he speaks the cure; is doing our own thing and not resting.
And this is a word for believers.
The believers were in trouble.
They needed deliverance.
God gave them a way.
And just as quickly they shouted, “no thanks.”
How can this be and how might we be like this?
They and we are believers who won’t repent.
Self-righteous.
Unbelieving believers.
We belong to God, but refuse to be transformed.
We are sheep without a shepherd, gone astray, to our own ways.
They and we could not and would not, under any circumstance rest.
We are too busy being obsessed with building our houses, our lives, our selves.
We are burned out and need renewal.
We are stale and need refreshing.
We are spiritually dead and need reviving.
We don’t, won’t hear God, because we won’t stop and listen long enough.
We are frustrated God won’t help us build, when He want’s us to let Him build.
They and we were constant talkers.
We have an opinion on everything and we are always right and righteous.
We have lost that listening is loving.
Our depths of quietness is our iron clad sign of faith.
I want to repent and return to God.
I want to rest.
And I want to be quiet.
But that is not our personality profile-it never has had any influence on my life.
What if we confess that His presence is always available to us, lifting our spirits, restoring our souls and behind the curtains is helping us with power and grace.?
Learning the infinite reaches, very finest art, of “stillness” so we can hear His voice and view ourselves, others and our surroundings through His eyes.
trusting the rhythms of rest
In quietness and trust we find strength: smiling at the comparision to the recent uncertainty in my life, I glanced back. The unpredictability of which way the logs might shift kept me tentative as I crossed over the small stream.
Sometimes the Lord’s object lessons provide the perfect illustration; my experience with the instability of the logs exactly depicted the current state of uncertainty plaguing my life.
quietness and confidence of mind
What does it mean in quietness and confidence is our strength?
It really pays to be quiet and trust God.
It slowly gets you deeper with God, even through more difficult situations.
Thanks be to God for His ministry of quietness and trust and with Christ.
There is this growing, maturing, deep down sensation of confidence, a palpable sensation of inner strength, of Holy Spirit sourced spiritual wellbeing .
Being able to spend more time with Christ without our thoughts wandering from planet to planet and from star to star, galaxy to galaxy and back again.
Perhaps our biggest challenge in uncertain times is starting that education, gaining strength of discipline and achieving a consistent quietness of mind.
Memory testifies to this truth, for an evening, though quite still in our favorite chair, our disquieted mind starts trying to unravel the chaos abiding there.
Culture in general places little value on quietness, rest and trust, especially as it relates to a spiritual posture.
Preferring instead fast paced internet connections, strength and confidence; lauding those who strive, acquire and conquer, obtain those immediate results.
In God’s Kingdom, however, the more we pursue quietness of mind, leaning far into God, the more certainty and confidence we find.
For the effect of His righteousness will be His peace, His Shalom and the result of righteousness, quiet and trust forever. (Isaiah 32:17-20)
Isaiah 32:17-20 The Message
15-20 Yes, weep and grieve until the Spirit is poured down on us from above And the badlands desert grows crops and the fertile fields become forests. Justice will move into the badlands desert. Right will build a home in the fertile field. And where there’s Right, there’ll be Peace and the progeny of Right: quiet lives and endless trust. My people will live in a peaceful neighborhood— in safe houses, in quiet gardens. The forest of your pride will be clear-cut, the city showing off your power leveled. But you will enjoy a fortunate life, planting well-watered fields and gardens, with your farm animals grazing freely.
true sources of strength
In times of uncertainty we long for strength and confidence; yet we will seldom work to connect them with periods of quietness, rest and trust. True strength and confidence come when we hammer pause, step back and get clarity buttons.
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. Isaiah 30:15
Sledge Hammering that Emergency Stop Button
At times when faced with mounting chaos in the form of rapid fire uncertainty, I shift into “slam it shut.” Uncertainty resembles psychological clutter, making us uncomfortable; prompting rushed attempts at removing that same clutter.
In that mounting chaos of uncertainty, hammering away at that Emergency Stop button until it breaks tells you enough is enough of “out of control.”
An intentional pause positions us for hearing instruction from God, strengthening our trust in Him for the unpredictable road ahead.
Embracing rhythms of rest in times of unpredictability, introduces the power of God into the chaos.
Psalm 29
The Voice of the Lord
A psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,[a] ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.[b]
3 The voice of the Lord is above the waters. The God of glory thunders— the Lord, above the vast water, 4 the voice of the Lord in power, the voice of the Lord in splendor. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord shatters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion, like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord flashes flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth[c] and strips the woodlands bare. In his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned, King forever. 11 The Lord gives his people strength; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
Isaiah 30:15 reminds us in confidence, quietness, trust, we find strength in the power of God through all the promises found in throughout the Word of God.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying ….
Psalm 61
Security in God
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Of David.
1 God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer. 2 I call to you from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me, 3 for you have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy. 4 I will dwell in your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of your wings. Selah
5 God, you have heard my vows; you have given a heritage to those who fear your name. 6 Add days to the king’s life; may his years span many generations. 7 May he sit enthroned before God forever. Appoint faithful love and truth to guard him. 8 Then I will continually sing of your name, fulfilling my vows day by day.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
17 ‘Ah Lord God! It is thou who hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thy outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for thee, 18 who showiest steadfast love to thousands, but dost requite the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the Lord of hosts, 19 great in counsel and mighty in deed; whose eyes are open to all the ways of men, rewarding every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings; 20 who hast shown signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, and hast made thee a name, as at this day. 21 Thou didst bring thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and outstretched arm, and with great terror; 22 and thou gavest them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey; 23 and they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey thy voice or walk in thy law; they did nothing of all thou didst command them to do. Therefore thou hast made all this evil come upon them. 24 Behold, the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and because of sword and famine and pestilence the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What thou didst speak has come to pass, and behold, thou seest it. 25 Yet thou, O Lord God, hast said to me, “Buy the field for money and get witnesses”— though the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’”
God’s Assurance of the People’s Return
26 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too hard for me?
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Jeremiah 32:14 Revised Standard Version
14 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time.
Our Scripture for today describes a real-estate transaction.
Money is transferred from buyer to seller; witnesses and officials sign the transfer papers; there are multiple copies of documents and arrangements for preserving the documents.
This is not unlike what would still happen today in a land sale, except for a few things:
Jeremiah, the buyer, cannot take possession of the land because it’s behind enemy lines.
This real-estate closing is taking place in a Jerusalem prison, and Jeremiah is the prisoner.
Jeremiah knows (because God has revealed it to him) that his nation will not win against the enemy.
Will Jeremiah or his assigned heirs return in 70 years and prove ownership?
Will any of these legal document’s survive Jerusalem’s coming destruction?
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon will destroy Jerusalem and exile the Israelites to a place a thousand miles away.
Indeed, Jeremiah the prophet is in prison because he has preached against the King and his advisors and has preached only what God has revealed to him.
There are moments when a situation grows so large that words begin to fail.
You have a compass in your hand and have thought it through, tried what you can, prayed what you know, still, it stands as reinforced concrete; unyielding, unmoved, perpetually mocking all of your strongest efforts.
You may not say it or scream it out loud, but something inside starts shrinking God to the size of the problem.
You still believe God can do many things, but you quietly struggle and wonder if perhaps this one has crossed the line into the chasm rightly called impossible.
Then Jeremiah opens his mouth, and what comes out gives a holy eruption of perspective: “Ah Lord GOD!” That “Ah” is the sound of a soul remembering.
It is the gasp of worship returning to the heart.
It is Jeremiah stepping out of the tight cage of human calculation and lifting his eyes to the One who cannot be measured.
“Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.”
He is facing a real crisis, yet he chooses to anchor himself in the truest reality that God is Creator- that absolutely nothing is impossible for God to complete.
But God has also revealed through Jeremiah that after 70 years the people will return to build homes and farms in the land. Truly a long-term investment!
The theme of God’s unlimited power and sovereignty is a central motif in the book of Jeremiah.
Throughout the book, Jeremiah conveys the message that God is in control of all things, and nothing is beyond his ability to accomplish.
This theme is particularly significant in the context of the historical events surrounding the book of Jeremiah, where the people of Judah were facing the impending total sacking, destruction of Jerusalem and the exile to Babylon.
In the midst of this crisis, Jeremiah’s message serves as a reminder that God’s power is not limited by human circumstances, that he continuously remains in control even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is commanded by God to purchase a field in his hometown of Anatoth, even though the city was under murderous siege by the Babylonians and facing imminent destruction.
In the face of this seemingly illogical command, Jeremiah questions God, expressing his astonishment at the situation.
However, his doubt is quickly dispelled as he acknowledges the limitless power of God as was demonstrated in the creation of the heavens and the earth.
This acknowledgment leads Jeremiah to recognize that nothing is too difficult for God.
This verse encapsulates the central message of the book of Jeremiah, which is a covenant call to trust in the sovereignty and power of God, even in the midst of overwhelming circumstances.
If God can create, He can recreate.
If God can command light, He can command clarity.
If God can open wombs that nature said were closed, He can open doors that life says are shut.
If God can turn a wilderness into a meeting place, He can turn your dry season into a testimony.
The point is not that you will never face impossible things, but that impossible things are not meant to swallow you.
They are meant to push you into a deeper revelation of who God is.
Today, don’t reduce your prayers to what feels realistic.
Let your heart borrow Jeremiah’s “Ah” again, let worship rise where fear is resident.
Say it slowly and mean it: Lord, nothing is too difficult for You, my situation is not difficult for you.
Then place the situation back in His hands without keeping a corner of it for anxiety. Wait on Him with expectation, not because you understand His process, but because you know His nature; the God of all flesh is not limited.
Still today, God calls us to live our lives and to devote ourselves and the gifts he has given us to long-term things—things that will last.
Isaiah 6:6-10 Revised Standard Version
6 Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven.” 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:
‘Hear and hear, but do not understand; see and see, but do not perceive.’ 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
And the number-one example of a definitive long-term investment that fits God’s plan is to make sure we, like Isaiah the Prophet, voluntarily give of our resources and our time and energy to help bring others into God’s kingdom.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying …
46 (0) For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. On ‘alamot [high-pitched musical instruments?]. A song:
2 (1) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 3 (2) Therefore we are unafraid, even if the earth gives way, even if the mountains tumble into the depths of the sea, 4 (3) even if its waters rage and foam, and mountains shake at its turbulence. (Selah)
5 (4) There is a river whose streams gladden the city of God, the holy habitation of ‘Elyon — 6 (5) God is in the city. It will not be moved — when daybreak comes, God will help it. 7 (6) Nations were in turmoil, kingdoms were moved; his voice thundered forth, and the earth melted away.
8 (7) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us, our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah) 9 (8) Come and see the works of Adonai, the astounding deeds he has done on the earth. 10 (9) To the ends of the earth he makes wars cease — he breaks the bow, snaps the spear, burns the shields in the fire. 11 (10) “Desist, and learn that I am God, supreme over the nations, supreme over the earth.”
12 (11) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us, our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
2 Who is this darkening counsel with words lacking knowledge? 3 Prepare yourself like a man; I will interrogate you, and you will respond to me.
The establishing of order
4 Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations? Tell me if you know. 5 Who set its measurements? Surely you know. Who stretched a measuring tape on it? 6 On what were its footings sunk; who laid its cornerstone, 7 while the morning stars sang in unison and all the divine beings shouted?
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
The opening chapters of Genesis teaches us just how the universe was created.
The Voice of God booming forth from the Whirlwind in the end of The Book of Job tells us that and much more.
God set the foundation of the universe, stretched out the measuring lines in the dawn of creation (when the morning stars sang together with all the heavenly host), but God is also very much still in the act of creation.
He knows where the storehouses of snow and hail are, where all the bolts of lightening gather before their use.
He carries the light of day to its place every morning, and then ushers it out again every night.
He helps the eagle soar, the lion roar, He watches over and tames Leviathan when it roils the deep waters.
God announces he is present in the terrific and the mundane.
God is everywhere.
Active.
Thoughtful.
Crafting the ebb and flow of creation, and each day’s journey.
But, why is this here?
Why in Job?
Literarily it serves as the answer to all of Job’s questions:
Sit down you silly boy, you have no idea what’s going on in the universe around you. You have no idea Who it is that you’re talking to.
But, in a book about dealing with 1000/1000 magnitude of tragedy, and dealing with it in a truly faithful manner, it serves as a reminder of the Bigger Picture.
Yes, our problems matter.
And when we’re grieving and mourning, those who we mourn for matter.
Our tears are real.
Our pain is real.
Our confusion, denial, and anger are real.
But, we begin the process of healing when we re-engage the world around us.
When we pick up our heads and we look around at the vastness of earth, and the intricacies of life.
In the midst of grief we feel rudderless and beyond help.
Adrift.
Lost.
But, we aren’t.
The world still turns on its God assigned axis.
The sun still rises and sets.
God is still on his throne in heaven, and the mighty eagle still soars above.
The Whirlwind comes across as a reproach—in the context of Job’s narrative, that’s indeed what it is.
But, it’s more than that.
It’s the first dawn when we are lifted out of the fog, and remember that we’re in the Presence of God Almighty.
The God who created the heavens and the earth, and the God who still creates.
“Life is but a Weaving” (The Tapestry Poem) by Corrie ten Boom
In this poem, the Dutch writer Corrie Ten Boom compares her life to a tapestry woven by God.
She says that God weaves both joy and sorrow into her life, and it is as though she sees only the back of the tapestry.
She says she cannot understand how the strands could ever make something beautiful.
But God understands and has a plan for how everything in her life will come together for his beautiful purpose.
Job, to whom God is speaking in our reading today, is a bit like that—seeing only the back of the tapestry of his life.
Job has had to deal with terrible suffering and tragedy, he does not understand why it all happened.
God responds with a poetic speech about the creation of the world.
God is the one who created everything, including things that are so mysterious that we don’t even know how to speak about them.
God reminds Job of this in order to both challenge and assure him.
God challenges Job to be humble about his own knowledge.
And God assures Job he has a plan, even though it may be hard to understand.
We are like Job in this way too.
There are many things about God’s purposes that we do not understand.
But God promises to provide for us and for the world he has beautifully made.
Psalm 23 Expanded Bible
The Lord the Shepherd
A psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I ·have everything I need [L will lack nothing]. 2 He ·lets me rest [makes me lie down] in green pastures. He leads me to ·calm [quiet] water. 3 He ·gives me new strength [T renews my soul]. He leads me on paths that are ·right [righteous; or straight] for the ·good [sake] of his ·name [reputation]. 4 Even if I walk through ·a very dark valley [or the shadow of death], I will ·not be afraid [T fear no evil], because you are with me. Your rod and your shepherd’s staff comfort me.
5 You prepare a ·meal [L table] for me in ·front [the presence] of my enemies. You ·pour oil of blessing on my head [anoint my head with oil; C oil was a means of refreshment in a hot, dry environment]; you ·fill my cup to overflowing [L make my cup overflow; C a cup of blessing]. 6 Surely your goodness and ·love [loyalty; T mercy] will ·be with [pursue; T follow] me all my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord ·forever [L for length of days].
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying ….
Psalm 56:8-13 Expanded Bible
God,
8 You have ·recorded [recounted] my ·troubles [wanderings]. You have ·kept a list of my tears [L put my tears in your bottle]. Aren’t they in your records?
9 On the day I call for help, my enemies will ·be defeated [L turn back]. I know that God is on my side. 10 I praise God for his word to me; I praise the Lord for his word. 11 I ·trust [have confidence] in God. I will not be afraid. What can people do to me?
12 God, I must keep my ·promises [vows] to you. I will give you my ·offerings to thank you [thank offerings], 13 because you have ·saved [protected] me from death. You have kept ·me from being defeated [L my feet from falling]. So I will walk ·with [L in the presence of] God in light ·among [of] the living.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 