In Spite of Myself

I posted on Facebook this morning about my devotion, but since then, it has turned into a story of its own, and since I don’t want to forget it, it’s time for a long overdue blog post.

This week has been challenging to say the least.  My emotions and stress levels have been pushed to the max and I’ve really been struggling.  I’ve been sitting in the middle of a pretty good sized pity party and “failure” seemed to be my word of the day.  Then I heard from God and got a reminder of how He uses these very situations to grow and mature me.  They were words I needed to hear at just the right time.  However, it’s how I finally got the words that simply amuse and amaze me.

It was time to change the sheets in the master bedroom and I was about halfway done when I just decided in my lovely mood that I needed to take a break, and sat down in the chair in our bedroom.  So, to justify my sitting down, I grabbed the devotional book next to the chair.  Reading a devotion is a great excuse to sit down, right?  This one has 31 entries, one for each day of the month.  So, I figured out the date and opened to that day’s text.  One of the first things I read from 31 Days of Praise by Ruth Myers –

“So I thank You for each disturbing or humbling situation in my life, for each breaking or cleansing process You are allowing”

My attention was suddenly riveted onto the page.  This was about me, right now, just how I was feeling, very broken.  As I posted on Facebook, the following jumped out at me.

“Thank You that each difficulty is an opportunity to see You work…and that my momentary troubles are producing for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, as I keep my eyes focused on You.”

I so needed to be reminded of where to place my focus, not on my poor pitiful self, but on the One who has it in His control.  I felt better than I had in days.

Now for the punch line, a couple of hours later I was at my computer and noticed the date.  It was not the date I had decided was today when I selected the devotion to read.  I was off by a day.  Oops! So not in spite of my bad mood and inability to determine a date, but because of them, God delivered words to me I needed to hear.  I got a much needed chuckle at my own shortcomings and God’s graciousness to use them.  Shortly afterwards, the outside rainy skies cleared, and the sun came out.  It was like I could actually feel God’s warm presence around me.  I think it’s going to be a good day after all.

Choose Joy!  

Testing and Temptation

This past week during our Sunday School time at church we had an interesting discussion about testing and temptation, and someone raised the question about the difference between the two.  I decided it was worth remembering so, a blog post is in order.

So are testing and temptation the same thing? Does God test us and tempt us?  The Bible has something to say on the subject in James 1:12-14. I’m quoting from the NIV.

⁽¹²⁾ Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

⁽¹³⁾ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

⁽¹⁴⁾ but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

We are definitely subjected to trials and testing, and according to verse 12 receive rewards for passing the tests.  However, verse 13 clearly states that God does not tempt anyone.  So what is going on?

Testing and temptation are not the same thing.  God indeed will test us, and it is consistent with His character.  A test is a choice given to us, obedience or defiance, belief or unbelief.  God gives us choices not only as tests, but as an expression of His love of us by not forcing compulsory obedience.  As James states, passing the test is beneficial to us, not only in reward, but as a means of spiritual growth, in reinforcing our love, faith, obedience and knowledge of and to God.  A test is not evil, but is for our benefit.

Temptation on the other hand, is the enticing and dragging away from God’s choice for us, by trying to convince us that the wrong choice is somehow acceptable for us. Temptation is founded in lies and distortion and thus cannot be from God, because it is inconsistent with His nature.  However, God does allow us to be exposed to temptation, from either Satan or our own evil desire as stated in verse 13.  Learning to stand up to temptation and discern the truth from temptation’s lies are ways that we grow spiritually. Lessons are often learned through the difficult.  We also have God’s promise that He will always equip us with the ability to resist temptation.  Look at 1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. 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 stand up under it.

My husband had to leave early to usher that morning, so he missed our discussion.  As I related it back to him, he, in his usual brilliant way, summed it up with this observation.  So, in the garden, we had the apple and the serpent.  The apple was the test, and the serpent provided the temptation. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Choose Joy!

Finding My Foundation

Right now our lives seem to be moving a super sonic speeds with too much going on.  Add to that the emotions of our son reaching some major milestones and achievements, and I find myself feeling like I’m in the eye of a storm with everything swirling around me completely out of control.  At times like these, I need to find my anchor and look to the one firm foundation and footing that will not fail me and will help me regain my balance.  So, I’m in search of my heavenly Father’s voice to remind me of His Greatness.  Here’s a bit of what I found.  Today scripture speaks for itself, nothing more needed.

There is no one holy like the LORD?

there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:2

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation.
He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior 2 Samuel 22:2-3

For who is God besides the LORD?

And who is the Rock except our God? 2 Samuel 22:32

I have set the LORD always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken. Psalm 15:8

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. Psalm 62:6

Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,

which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Psalm 125:1

He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
and for his children it will be a refuge. Proverbs 14:26

He will be the sure foundation for your times,

a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure. Isaiah 33:6

The LORD is good,

a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him Nahum 1:7

I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.
He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. Luke 6:47-48

He is my foundation, my rock, my refuge, for me and my children.  Hear His Words, put them into practice, and claim His promises.  Sometimes I need to be reminded of that.  If that’s you too, I hope this helps.

Choose Joy!

Regained Authority

I’m just finishing up the first week of homework from Jennifer Rothschild’s Fingerprints of God, and the last day was just so good that I need to blog about it so I can find it and reference it again when I need it.

We’ve been exploring that God’s fingerprints are all over us through His creation of us. In the garden, He gave us authority and dominion over the earth. With sin we gave away the glory and authority God had given to us as His beloved creation. In return we received death and allowed Satan to use our defaulted authority to attempt to counterfeit God’s authority over the earth.

We were helpless to regain our lost position, glory and authority. The only price to be paid was death. From this, our insecurities and loss of sense of value and worth spring forth. Only the original giver of the authority, the Father Himself, could reclaim that authority. Because He is just, the price must still be paid, if not with our deaths, then someone of even more worth.

So, at the cross the price was paid. When Jesus said “It is finished” and the angel declared “He is not here, He is risen!” the price was paid and the authority and glory reclaimed. We were bought, redeemed and purchased with His very own blood. We must now simply choose to receive our place of authority again.

A couple of things come to mind when I ponder the significance of this. When I feel unimportant, insignificant or unloved, I have lost sight of the cross. God could have easily said “Let her die”, but He placed too high of a value on me to let that happen. The life of His Own Son was not too high a price to pay for me, just simple little me. When I throw myself a pity party in the future, I want to remember to come here and read this again. I must have great value to be worth such a great cost.

Second, we often take comfort in that “someday” Satan will finally be vanquished and banished to the fiery lake forever. But we let ourselves be confused that until then Satan is still in charge. Oh no, not so. At the cross it was paid, it was finished, including Satan’s rule. Any rule he currently enjoys is only that which we have ceded to him. At the cross all authority is returned to us, through the authority given to Jesus and the power in the fulfilling price of His shed blood. When we reclaim that power, Satan is subject to us. He only wins when we let him. That doesn’t mean it is always easy. Yes, he is sly and crafty and deceptive. Lies are his native language. So, we simply sharpen our swords (know the Word of God), use them to discern truth, claim our position, and cut down in his tracks. We don’t have to wait until “someday” for the victory, it is already ours right now.

I can’t help but praise such a loving God, who has such a perfect plan for our benefit. To borrow a line from my son, Wow God, just wow!

Choose Joy!

In Pursuit

Today is short and sweet, to the point, a lesson to myself, maybe you’d like to hear it too.

If you are looking for God, it is because God is trying to get your attention. With the most amazing love, He is pursuing you. He has seen you and wants to catch your eye. It doesn’t matter where you are or what your opinion is, He has chosen to pursue you. He wants you, but He’s waiting on you to accept His offer. Maybe you have questions, but if you are thinking about God, He wants your attention, and He has answers.