God’s Leading June 7, 2016

Joshua 3:11 New International Version (NIV)

11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.

The Israelites had to cross over the Jordan at flood tide. The river was swollen by the spring rains and melting snow from the Lebanon Mountains.

During most of the year, the Jordan River was about 100 feet wide. However, during the spring flood season, the usually narrow river overflowed its banks and swelled to be a mile wide. The Israelites had no physical way to cross the Jordan. They needed the power of God to do what they were helpless to do.

In the same way, God works in our lives today. God promises to go before us in times of transition, preparing the way for us and remaining with us each step of the way. I imagine that the Israelites looked at the swollen Jordan River and back at the shore again and were afraid. The Promised Land was just ahead on the other side of the Jordan, but was it worth the risk? God promised them that if they would trust Him, He would send His Presence (represented by the ark) ahead of them. His Presence would part the river and lead the way.

It is often when things seem impossible, when the rivers of life are at a breaking point, that fear immobilizes us. Consider those things that seem impossible to you today. Perhaps your child is rebelling or your marriage is failing. Look up and see the ark of God’s Presence beckoning you to follow.

He will lead the way and part the turbulent waters. Your part is to step out in faith; His part is to carry you across.

Thought for today: Do I trust God’s leadership?

Abstaining June 6, 2016

1 Peter 2:11-12 New International Version (NIV)

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

The passage in I Peter 2:11 urges readers to live as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. We also must live in submission to the Holy Spirit, seeking to live in such a way that those who do not believe in Christ will see our good deeds and glorify God. (v.12) In order to live as strangers in the world, we must be familiar with God’s ways, and our standard must be God’s Word. Last summer I kayaked in a river off the ocean. When I got to a certain place in the river, the tide of the ocean began to pull me and I had to use all of my strength to steer the kayak back into calm waters. Eventually, I pulled over to the shore because I was too tired to fight it any longer. The tide pulling me to danger is like the world trying to lure us into being disobedient to God’s Word. God’s Word is like the river, gently leading us, teaching us God’s ways and keeping us out of harm’s way. We may fight the tide, but sometimes the tide pulls at us so hard we are forced to go to shore and leave the peace of the river. Jesus told the woman at the well that He was living water. He is still living water today that gives us peace in the tides of the world in which we live.

Do you have a sin that is pulling you further and further away from the security of God’s loving river? I Peter 2 challenges us to live as strangers in this world, conforming to God’s ways and His will. It is not always easy to go against the tide, but the benefits far outweigh the struggle.

Thought for Today: Do I negotiate with sin?

Places of Vulnerability June 5, 2016

John 10:10  New International Version (NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Jesus said that He came to give us abundant life. When we live our lives in brokenness, we are only able to live partially. Jesus came to set us free from the power of sin and death and to destroy the works of the devil. He set us free through His shed blood on the cross and has called us to live in that freedom. Our hurts and our brokenness keep us in bondage and prevent us from living the abundant life. We have areas of vulnerability in our lives.

It is the desire of Christ to set us free and to close the door where the enemy has access. One particular area of vulnerability is our thought life. The battle begins there because it is often the most vulnerable part of our being. If the enemy can get us to agree with him, and not with the Word of God, then he brings us death. If we agree with God’s Word, then the Lord imparts life to us. That is why it is so important for us to study and meditate on God’s Word, so that when our thought life tries to deceive us, we can stand firm on God’s truth. We must keep in mind that Jesus Christ paid a high price to bring us freedom: Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. (II Corinthians 3:17)

Ask the Lord to heal areas of vulnerability in your life. Often that must begin with forgiveness. We are most vulnerable in areas where we need to forgive. Examine your thought life to see if your thinking is being influenced by unforgiveness. The Holy Spirit longs to direct your thoughts, and where He is, there is complete freedom!

Thought for today: Can I recognize my weaknesses?

Ordinary People with Extraordinary Power June 4, 2016

Acts 4:13  New International Version (NIV)

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13 describes the reaction of the people when they realized that Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men. They were astonished that these ordinary men had been with Jesus. This passage gives both hope and courage to live boldly and to follow Christ where He leads. When I spend time with the Lord, I gain confidence and feel as though I could climb Mount Everest. That may be a bit of an exaggeration; however, when I cling to the Lord, spending time in His Word and talking with Him in prayer, my perspective changes from saying “I can’t do it,” to I can do all things through God who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

When I sensed the Lord calling me to teach His Word, I felt so inadequate. I was like the disciples in many ways – unschooled (had not been to seminary) and very ordinary! I have been so dependent on the Lord to teach me His Word and to give me the ability to teach others. The more I depend on Him, the more He shows up! My hope is that people will be astonished at how the Lord can use an ordinary, untrained woman to teach His Word! I also hope that others will know that I have been with Jesus.

What hope we have in knowing that the Lord uses ordinary men and women to accomplish His purposes on earth!

What about you? Do you sense that the Lord is calling you to do something but you feel inadequate? Hang out with Jesus and He will equip you and anoint you to do whatever He calls you to do. People will be astonished at how He uses ordinary people like you and me.

Thought for today: What am I being called to do?

Willingness To Assume Responsibility June 3, 2016

1 Samuel 20:8  New International Version (NIV)

8 As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”

David questioned Saul’s son, Jonathan, regarding the wrongs he committed against his father. He knew that he was innocent but was willing to ask the hard questions. Courageous leaders ask the hard questions. They are willing to right a wrong and to assume responsibility for their actions.

In other words, a leader must realize that the buck stops with him or her.

In Courageous Leadership, Bill Hybels explains that one of the principles of becoming an effective leader is self-leadership. He describes how leaders must have “checks and balances” in their development by asking, “Am I developing my gifts?” “Is my character submitted to Christ?” “Is my vision clear?” The one question that stood out to me as I read the list was, “Is my pride subdued?” David’s questions to Jonathan reflected an attitude of humility and self-examination. Courageous leaders must be willing to continually ask themselves and others under their leadership if they are on course, then assume the responsibility to adjust when they have veered.

Are you guilty of doing something that would not be pleasing to the Lord? Be willing to have Him examine your heart like David: Search me, O

God, and know my heart; test me and see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Thought for Today: Do I place my all under the authority of God?

The Work Of The Holy Spirit June 2, 2016

John 14:25-26  New International Version (NIV)

25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Before Jesus left this earth, He told his disciples that He would send His Holy Spirit to instruct them and to remind them of all that He had taught them. He told them that they would be at peace knowing the Holy Spirit would be their constant companion and guide into truth. The Holy Spirit also searches our hearts to see if there is any damage that is hindering our spiritual growth. Nehemiah, like the Holy Spirit, searched out the damaged walls in Jerusalem in order to repair them. Repairing the walls would protect the city from their enemies. The walls had been nearly destroyed by the conquering Babylonians, and now his task was to assess the damage and plan a strategy to rebuild. As he set out at night to view the damage, he went through the Valley Gate. Likewise, the Holy Spirit “inspects” our walls. The Lord says that our walls are ever before Him: See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. (Isaiah 49:16) The Holy Spirit often works in the times that we are in the “valley,” those times of despair, frustration, and hopelessness. He examines the dark places, assessing the damage, and sets out to repair and restore the broken-down places. Paul understood that the difficult times are opportunities for the Lord to work

“good” in us, growing in us the character of Christ. (Romans 5:1-5) Nehemiah understood that when examining the damage to the walls, it was necessary to first examine the gates. The gates are the entry points for the enemy. If the gates are broken down, the enemy has access to the city. If our gates are broken, the enemy has access to our thought life, and this will be reflected in our actions. Nehemiah represents the Holy Spirit, systematically seeking to build and repair any place where the enemy could potentially enter our lives.

Ask the Holy Spirit to inspect your heart and identify areas that may be broken – in need of forgiveness or in need of giving forgiveness – any area where you harbor bitterness, anger, lack of self-control, or hurt. Invite Him into those areas to repair the brokenness, and He will deliver you out of the hands of the enemy and into the loving arms of God.

Thought for Today:  How is the security at the gate?

Repentance and Salvation June 1, 2016

Isaiah 30:15 New International Version (NIV)

15 This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
    in quietness and trust is your strength,
    but you would have none of it.

In the Scripture reading today, Isaiah describes repentance and rest as the fruit of our salvation and quietness and trust as our strength. The Israelites did not repent, and their lives reflected the loss of peace and rest.

They continued to disobey God and ultimately ended up in captivity where they lost their confidence and peace and were weakened in spirit. Salvation, meaning “wholeness,” is available to us through Jesus Christ. When we turn to Him in faith, He not only offers us eternal life, but He also offers freedom from the bondage of our sins which brings us peace and quiets our soul.

After Peter healed the beggar, he spoke boldly about Christ whom they, the Jews, had killed. He called on them to repent so that their sins could be forgiven. I don’t know about you, but if I had been standing there,

I would have been spellbound until he came to the part about my killing the Son of God! It took supernatural courage for Peter to speak so boldly. Are we willing to love people enough to tell them the good news that Jesus died for their sins and offers them forgiveness? It doesn’t matter what we have done; there is nothing so terrible that He will not forgive if we repent from our sins and turn to Him.

Have you lost your peace or your confidence? Ask the Lord to show you if there is an area in your life where you are in disobedience and repent

(turn back to God). You will find that in repentance and rest is your salvation, and in quietness and trust you will find your strength.

Thought For Today: How do I stay strong in my convictions?