I Believe... - Rom. 14:23b

From yesterday's reading:

"If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning." Rom. 14:23b

Saying I was mightily convicted when I read this this morning would be an understatement. What this says to me is that there is no rationalizing what God may or may not have said/meant when I read it on a page in the Bible. That the Holy Spirit living inside me makes me a "law" unto myself! The sentences directly before the one quoted above read like this: "But if people have doubts about whether they should eat something, they shouldn't eat it. They would be condemned for not acting in faith before God." So it isn't important whether God said eat or don't eat, it is important to obey what you believe; ...and if you don't, you are sinning! This gives me no way to justify taking an action that I believe is "probably OK to God," if I feel in my heart it is wrong. Wow! I just need to stop and think on this a little more, I'm kinda overwhelmed... I mean, I am simply recognizing how often I do this... OK, stop, pray.

Dear God, help me to know how to live this revelation. It just seems SO big! Why does this feel new? Was I rationalizing THAT much? Please forgive me. Turn this from being overwhelmed by a new challenge, to being excited by how alive and relevant your Holy Spirit living inside me is. Thank you God that you are new every morning!

Today's reading: Rom. 14-16

My Redeemer Lives - Job 19:25

"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will stand upon the earth at last." Job 19:25

After all that has happened to Job, after he concludes that God has abandoned him, he never loses faith that God will raise him after he has died, redeem him, and he will get to see God face to face. This is a man who, even if he does not understand his current circumstances, never loses perspective on who God is. God is God, regardless of what he personally is going through. I like to think that I am this strong... I honestly just don't know. I imagine that this is the very thing that Satan wanted to test. I can preach this, but unless I walk it, there is no way to really know how I would respond. I do know that I do not want to be tested! I think I need to REALLY consider my commitment/faith in God. Is it in any way dependent on circumstances, or will it stand up to a Job-like" test? Hmmm...

God, you know my love for you and my faith in who you are. I pray that you continue to strengthen and build me into the man of faith that you need me to be. Ultimately, you are all that matters--help me to live this fact every day.

Today's reading: Job 19; Mk. 1-2

His Possession - Neh. 13:18b

"...Now you are bringing more even more wrath upon the people of Israel by permitting the Sabbath to be desecrated in this way!" Neh. 13:18b

All the rules that God laid down for the Jews always seemed a bit much for me. It has taken me a long time to understand that it was, at least in part, an effort to separate them from the rest of the world as something special and holy to God. For them to not just become like everyone else. To maintain their alien status while still having to live in the world. They were SUPPOSED to look different! We don't really have those rules to force the issue, but we are still supposed to look different. We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart for God--are we recognized as that? I think that there is no doubt that the Jews were recognized as being VERY different as they attempted to follow God's Law--even imperfectly. I try too hard to not look different. I risk compromising what God has set apart to be holy. If Solomon in all his wisdom could be compromised, what makes me more special? Instead of trying to fit in, my mindset needs to be that it is awesome to be God's possession! Of course I should look different to the rest of the world, because I am!

God, please strengthen me. Eliminate any fear or insecurity, and help me to do EXACTLY what you want me to do, even if it may look weird to the rest of the world. Thank you for setting me apart to be you possession, help me to be proud to act the part.

Today's reading: Neh. 13; Mal. 1, 2; Acts 4

Praise Him! - Ps. 147

"How good it is to praise to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how right!" Ps. 147:1

We talked about prayer at length in our small group this week. Part of the focus was based on perspective: Were we just coming with our list of requests, or were we actually spending time with our Lord and Savior? Obviously the desire is for the latter, but if this were the case, our conclusion was that a disproportionate amount of our time with him would be spent in praise. In fact, if we REALLY considered the enormity of the being we were approaching, many of us agreed that we would basically be speechless! But at the very least we would be praising our God more than we would be asking for stuff. How simple Ps. 147 is. How delightful and right is it to praise our God. We get an indication that the writer of this psalm is living through the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and decided to simply start praising God for his awesomeness. Amongst other things, he concludes that it is "good," "delightful" and "right." I find that when I praise God for an extended period that, increasingly, this is how I feel. It is obviously "right," but importantly, it starts feeling good and delightful -- I actually start smiling! What is that all about? I think it is about piercing the facade of the cares of this world, and tapping into what is REALLY real. I think I need to do it more.

God, how amazing you are that you would choose to love me. Help me to tap into you for power and perspective on a daily basis. Keep me from believing any lie that tells me that there isn't time or to do it on my own. I desire to depend only on you.

Today's reading: Zech. 13-14; Ps. 147; Lk. 15

Remain Vigilant - Lam. 2:3-4

"All the strength of Israel vanishes beneath his fury. The Lord has withdrawn his protection as the enemy attacks. He consumes the whole land of Israel like a raging fire. He bends his bow against his people as though he were their enemy. His strength is used against them to kill their finest youth. His fury is poured out like fire on beautiful Jerusalem." Lam. 2:3-4

I know this is probably an over reaction on my part, but I am sure Jerusalem found ways to justify all their actions right up until God said, "no mas!" I don't want to be one who deludes himself into believing he is on the right path, only to discover I have turned God into my enemy. I know, over reaction, but it is just how I am feeling right now. A LOT has been going wrong lately, and without going into detail in a public space, the last straw was Dave getting into yet another car accident this morning and totaling his car. Praise goes to God for keeping him from being injured, but I can't help but think, "what's up God?" Have I made a wrong turn, or am I just under attack? Neither question can my humanity answer, it will have to come from God. Whatever the answer, I feel the need to turn up the intensity on how I am walking daily with God. It's too easy to be lulled into living what has turned out to be a very good life, and let slide the daily activities he calls me to do. How am I supposed to "take up my cross"? What have I neglected? Am I being lazy, or am I just spoiled? Or is it both? Maybe it is none of the above, but I know that I have room to turn up the knob on the vigilance meter.

Lord, don't allow me to become blinded to your ways; don't let me be seduced by this world. I know that I am but a breath, here for a moment in eternity. Keep my focus on you Lord, show me my weaknesses, protect my family and I from Satan's attacks.

Today's reading: Lam. 1-2; Obad.; Rev. 14

The Royal Family - Rev. 5:10

"And you have caused them to become God's Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth." Rev. 5:10

Hard to remember that this was God's purpose from the beginning, but it is key. I was created to be loved by God, to BE his Kingdom on earth and a priest that represents him. Living day to day in this world tries to strip this identity and purpose from me. It minimizes me, my efforts and my abilities. I was called to great things, both in this earth and later in the new earth when I will reign with him. Satan is a powerful enemy and a master deceiver, but my God is greater. My God has given me his Holy Spirit and the victory over this world and its ruler. Praise God! My God is my king and I am his priest, I should be living every day in THIS reality, not the lie that the enemy weaves.

God, I pray that you show me how to live victoriously every day. There is no defeat when I live for you. Show me how to redefine success, and re-prioritize my life.

Today's reading: Ezek. 12-14, Rev. 5

My Refuge - Ps. 144:1-2

"Bless the Lord who is my rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in him. He subdues the nations under me." Ps. 144:1-2

What a great God I serve that he would be all these things for me. Who am I? Yet this is what he promises me. Do I recognize this day to day? Not nearly enough. He promises to be my refuge, yet I work so hard to be self-sufficient. He will provide if I let him; he will protect if I let him; and he will go before me and conquer if I let him. How can there be fear or insecurity when the God of the Universe, who created ALL things, is your ally and deliverer? Who and what would I fear? I need to recognize this verse at the beginning of every day and operate under it's promises, it's REALITY.

God, thank you for caring for me this much. Please help me to ingrain these promises into my day to day living--I should live in absolute confidence as I take refuge in you.

Today's reading: Jer. 52; Rev. 1; Ps. 143, 144