July 31, 2013

A Latin mass from the 15th century offers this prayer,
"Between us and Thyself remove
Whatever hindrances may be,
That so our inmost heart may prove
A holy temple, meet for thee."*

How many of us would REALLY, HONESTLY, TRULY pray that prayer?  Do we want to know, with no reservations, what is hindering us from being a "holy temple"?

As I pondered this question, "why not" popped into my head.

Perhaps it is because we are afraid of what God will tell us.  Too much golf.  Love that person at work you cannot stand.  Give that extra money to a ministry.  Change your attitude about homosexuals.  Find a local body of believers and attend worship on a REGULAR basis.

Or perhaps it is because we doubt God's power.  We are afraid that if God sheds light on an area in which we need improvement we will be unable to make those changes.  Well, WE can't.  On our own power, any substantial change is fleeting at best.  But with God's power change is not only a possibility, but a guarantee.

If we go to our Heavenly Father and earnestly pray for Him to reveal "hindrances" in our lives, He will show those areas to us.  In addition, He will give us the wisdom, strength and tools to make those changes.  More often than not those changes won't be overnight and we will fall back into old behavior patterns again and again, but there will be consistent, noticeable improvement if we rely on God's power.

A God whose very essence is love would not reveal our weaknesses then turn away.  "Hey, you gotta' fix this but expect no help from me.  Good luck.  Come back when you have it worked out."

Scripture is replete with reassurances that He will give us strength for whatever He requires.

13Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.  John 14:13-14

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6


¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Trust God.  Ask God.  Obey God.  He will never leave or forsake you.

*http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1471279&pageno=11 

July 30, 2013

http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1471279&pageno=10

The king's officials answered him, "Your servants are ready to do whatever our lord the king chooses."  2 Samuel 15:15

Never having lived in a monarchy, the concept of a king is something I can only grasp through dictionary definitions and stories of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.  But to the earliest readers and writers of the Old and New testament, a king was a very real and relevant term and, in fact, person.  Obedience was immediate and mandatory.  The king's word was law.  "Let it be said.  Let it be done."

God is the King of Kings.  The Lord of Lord.  Obedience should be immediate and mandatory.

Frances Havergal (1836-1879) addressed this question of obedience in a piece she wrote in Opened Treasures.

"If we are really, and always, and equally ready to do whatsoever the King appoints, all the trials and vexations arising from any change in His appointments, great or small, simply do not exist. If He appoints me to work there, shall I lament that I am not to work here? If He appoints me to wait in-doors to-day, am I to be annoyed because I am not to work out-of-doors? If I meant to write His messages this morning, shall I grumble because He sends interrupting visitors, rich or poor, to whom I am to speak them, or "show kindness" for His sake, or at least obey His command, "Be courteous?" If all my members are really at His disposal, why should I be put out if to-day's appointment is some simple work for my hands or errands for my feet, instead of some seemingly more important doing of head or tongue?"

As Christians, if we truly believe that each second of each day is directed and overseen by God AND if we are to be 100% obedient to His direction, then each daily interruption, each flat tire, each annoying person, each lost computer file are all part of the work he has for us.  Nothing should be met with a begrudging spirit, an impatient huff or lost temper.  

Planned on yard work and it rained--What does God want you do to inside?  Hoping to finish that report but the boss changed the parameters--How can He be glorified through that trial?  Looking for that gold watch and received a pink slip instead--Where is God leading you?

A perfect King deserves perfect obedience.  While our obedience may never be perfected this side of Heaven, it should still be the goal of each Believer.

July 29, 2013

I found an online version of Daily Strength for Daily Needs.
 http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/world/readfile?fk_files=1471279&pageno=1

Today's entry is from the January 12 reading of DS for DN.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

Jean N Grou (1731-1803) wrote, "There is another kind of silence to be cultivated, besides that of the tongue as regards to others.  I mean the silence of one's self,--restraining the imagination, not permitting it to dwell overmuch on that we have heard or said, not indulging in the phantasmagoria of picture-thoughts, whether of the past of future.  be sure that you have made no small progress in the spiritual life, when you can control your imagination, so as to fix it on the duty and occupation actually existing, to the exclusion of the crowd of thoughts which are perpetually sweeping across the mind.  No doubt, you cannot prevent those thoughts from arising, but you can prevent yourself from dwelling on them; you can put them aside, you can check the self-complacency, or irritation, or earthly longings which feed them, and by the practice of such control of your thoughts you will attain that spirit of inward silence which draws the soul into a close intercourse with God."

One of the major hurdles in my quiet time is what is described by Jean Grou in the passage above.  Thoughts of work, errands, lists, projects, etc. all compete for my mind when I sit down to spend time alone with God.

Perhaps Psalm 19:14 should be my "kick-off" prayer for each quiet time.  Asking God to monitor my thoughts.  Putting God in charge of what captures my mind.  Allowing God to control my imagination so that I may "fix it on the duty and occupation actually existing."

I like the NIV translation of Psalm 19:14.  I would have quoted the verse, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart. . ."

But with the change of "the" to "these/this" places the verse in a different light for me.  Rather than a generic "the", David chose "these/this" to refer to a specific, real-time event.  "These" words, "this" meditation.  Right now.  Today.  July 29, 2013 at 7:12 a.m.

July 27, 2013

In everything that he undertook in the service of God's temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly.  And so he prospered.  2 Chronicles 31:21

There abound countless formulas for success.  Dress for success.  See what you want to be.  Seven habits. I am sure Malcom Forbes, Bill Gates and Carlos Slim would all have insight on how to be successful.

However, the formula outlined in 2 Chronicles would seem to be foundational to all the other success formulas and plans.  Seek God and work wholeheartedly.  Simple.  Straightforward.  

Keep in mind that God's idea of success may not include $72 billion dollars (Bill Gate's current worth) or a 590 foot superyacht, but success in God's eyes is what should be the hoped for outcome for all Christians.

Seek God- meditation, prayer, Bible reading, Christian authors. . .

Work wholeheartedly-  Once God has made His will clear, don't give 80 or 90 or even 95% effort.  Give back to God what he gave to you-  100%.  Jettison all things in  your life that are keeping you from giving God 100%.  That doesn't mean live the life of a hermit, but be careful not to allow the things of this world to detract you from God's plan for your life.

Seek and work.  A pretty good formula for success.

   

July 26, 2013

The French proverb reminds us, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."  I am finding this to be true with the current devotional guide I am reading.  Daily Strength for Daily Needs was written in 1884, so obviously all the writers quoted lived prior to or during that time period, but the relevance continues to this day.

Elizabeth Charles, who lived from 1828-1896, wrote "Let us take care, that, by the glance being turned inward, or strained onward, or lost in vacant reverie, we do not miss our turn of service, and pass by those to whom we might have been sent on an errand straight from God."

When I first read this my mind immediately went to the homeless lunch ministry.  But as I thought deeper, this could, and should, also apply to those at work and in our homes.  It is not just the down-trodden to which God calls us to minister.

A spouse, a child or a colleague might all be in need of that little extra act of service.  A cup of coffee delivered to the couch.  Mowing the side yard even though it is the teenager's job.  Perhaps some extra help with that report that is really not your responsibility.

Our "errands from God" need not be big, fantastic overtures.  Often the small, thoughtful acts are just what a friend, family member or perhaps a stranger needs to see God's love.

Be receptive.  Be responsive.

July 22, 2013

I came across the following written many years ago by E.B. Pusey.  (see link at end of article for info about ol' E.B.)

E.B. war writing about rooting out sin in one's life.  In particular "one sin, which seems to stand out before thee".  He encourages the reader to "spare it not, until thou leave of it none remaining, neither root nor branch."  But is was what he wrote in regards to what to do after rooting out a particular sin.

"Fix, by God's help, not only to root out this sin, but to set thyself to gain, by that same help, the opposite grace.  If thou art tempted to be angry, try hard by God's grace to be very meek; if to be proud, seek to be very humble."1

What a powerful idea.  Allowing God to not only remove a particular sin or weakness in our life, but replace it with an extra dose of that sin's antithesis.

I liken this concept to trying to paint a red room a lighter color.  One coat. Not gonna do it.  Surely two coats.  Better, but still not complete.  Third coat.  Finally, but some small brush work still needed.  If we have allowed a particular sin to become so engrained, just exorcising that sin from our lives will leave a vacuum.  That vacuum can, through God's grace, be filled with a double dose of that sin's Kryptonite.

Even though E.B. died in 1882, his words are still relevalt.  Mankind really hasn't advanced much at all.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bouverie_Pusey
1. Tilson, Mary.  Daily Strength for Daily Needs. Harvard, University Press, 1884.