Can you identify with the following incident I shared on the blog a few years ago?

Recently I was lying in bed envisioning an upcoming situation with one of our children and letting myself imagine how badly it might turn out. “What if this happens?” or “What if a person responds to her this way?” or “How will we handle this particular outcome?”

I tossed and turned as the possibilities went from bad to worse. Pretty soon I was practically panicked, allowing fear of what might happen to make me a nervous wreck.

Here’s what’s interesting about that story.  I could have written those same words last Friday night.  Yes, I was basically in much the same boat, just regarding a different situation (one still related to my children, of course!).

A number of times in the Bible, people are told to “fear not.”  Maybe that’s because fear is an emotion that’s easy to give in to.  It doesn’t take much for most of us to let our imaginations run wild with all the possibilities of bad things that can happen.

I like these words related to battling fear from Melanie Shankle’s book, The Antelope in the Living Room.

“Isn’t that what fear does? It grows and magnifies everything to the point where all rational thought is lost and we can only see the city limits of Worst Case Scenario, which borders Crazy Town.”

In both cases of mine above (plus many more times I won’t mention), that’s exactly what happened to me. Fear crept into my mind.  It may have started as a small concern, but I allowed it to totally blow things out of proportion. Not only that, but I was fearful of events and reactions that might not even occur.

Fear can take us lots of places in our minds that we don’t need to go.

One of my favorite Bible verses on fear is II Timothy 1:7.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Any feelings of fear we have are not from God.  His plan for us is that we trust in Him.  His Holy Spirit gives us the power to have peace ruling in our hearts.  We can rest in His goodness and faithfulness.

So what do we do when those middle-of-the-night fears start to come?  How about meditating on Psalm 34:4?

“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” 

Pray.  God will hear.  And He has the ability to deliver us from ALL our fears.  There’s not a one that’s too big for Him to handle.

And Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds me that He’s not going to leave me in my fears.

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.“

I love that God wants to deliver us from our fears.  Isaiah 41:13 says,

“For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” 

If I picture God holding my hand as I face my fear, and hear His voice saying He will help me, I can have the courage I need to send that fear packing.

Our fear will not accomplish anything positive.  It will only make us citizens of Crazy Town!  Let’s don’t let fear take us there!!

Have you struggled with fear? What helps you get through those times?

Related posts:
Using Bible Verses to Fight My Fears
5 Ways to Get God’s Perfect Peace
A Prayer for When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

How often do you want your own way?  Whether it’s where to go on vacation, how to load the dishwasher, or what time to put the kids to bed, we each like to do things the way we think is best.

That makes us just like the Israelites in the Old Testament.

Each morning I read a Psalm as part of my quiet time.  I just go through them in order, then start over when I get to the end of the book.  I’m also working through Priscilla Shirer’s devotional Discerning the Voice of God.

One day last week, when the same Psalm I happened to read in my Bible showed up in the devotional section I was on, I figured maybe I’d better pay attention!

It was Psalm 81, and here’s the portion that grabbed my attention.  It’s verses 8-16.

Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.

I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.  So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!  I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.

The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.  He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

This passage describes the time when God brought the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt.  When Israel refused to obey Him, God let them have their own way.  Needless to say, it didn’t go well for them.  They missed so many of the blessings that God had in store for them!

Since we can identify with wanting our own way, I looked for some warnings listed in this passage that we can apply in our own lives.

Keep strange gods out of our lives.

Usually “strange” gods would be those that other nations worshiped, or foreign gods.  The Israelites were to be known as a people who worshiped only Jehovah God.

As Christians, I wonder if we often worship the same things our culture does.  Are we worshiping the world’s philosophies, their entertainment, their materialism, or their politics?

God wants us to worship Him alone, and to give Him glory for what happens in our lives.

Don’t walk in our own counsel.

If you’re like me, we can get in our own heads and come up with some pretty valid-sounding reasons to do what we want to do.  Anytime we have a decision to make, we need to pray and seek Godly counsel, both from God’s Word and from another respected Christian, if needed.

Listen for God’s instruction.

Verse 11 says “But my people would not hearken to my voice…”  How are we going to hear God’s voice?  Through His Word, the Bible.  It’s a simple truth, but we need to read and study our Bible so that we will know what it says and can obey it.

Trust God to give us what’s best for us.

Too often I think I know what’s best for me, but, in reality, I don’t.  I don’t see the whole picture like God does, nor do I understand what I need to draw me into a closer relationship with Him.  He wants to subdue our enemies and feed us with the finest things, if we will only follow Him.

Realize that true satisfaction only comes as we walk with God.

Our husband, children, friends, ministry or career can’t provide us with what God can.  If we’re looking for fulfillment from any of those things, we’re going to be disappointed.  God is able to satisfy not only our physical needs, but our spiritual and emotional ones as well.

Here’s my prayer after considering what these verses say.

Dear God, show me any strange gods that are in my life, and help me remove them so that I worship only You.  Keep me from walking in my own counsel.  Don’t let me have my own way, but help me willingly yield to your guidance.

Let me hear You through Your Word, and then walk in your ways.  Feed me in every sense with your best food, and satisfy me daily with your sweetness.

Related posts:
10 Key Lessons the Israelites Can Teach Us About the Christian Life
You Can’t Do Both at the Same Time
A Story of Unexplained Lingering, Abundant Mercy, and Persistent Prayer

“…What greater rebellion…or insult to God can there be, than not to believe His promises?” ~Martin Luther

Are you ever guilty of this, of not believing God’s promises?  I know I am.

Or maybe it’s more that I just don’t make God’s promises a priority in my spiritual walk.  I realize that the Bible is full of them.  Yet how often do I look for those promises, and claim them in my life?

I like how E.M. Bounds talks about mixing prayer with the promises of God.

“Promises, like the rain, are general.  Prayer embodies, precipitates, and locates them for personal use.  Prayer goes by faith into the great fruit orchard of God’s exceeding great and precious promises, and with hand and heart picks the ripest and richest fruit.”

As I find a promise of God in His Word, I can take that promise and pray it back to Him.  I can ask Him for faith to believe that He will fulfill that promise, because He is faithful and never changes.  (Hebrews 10:23; Numbers 23:19)

Here’s five promises of God that we can pray over our lives today.

1. “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” ~Psalm 84:11

If I am following God – with no known sin in my life and living according to the truth I know from the Bible – God will not keep from me anything that is for my good.  He’s not holding out on me.  Rather, He is blessing me in ways I see and in ways I can’t see with my human eyes.

Prayer:  God, as I walk before you today, I’m trusting Your Word that You will not withhold anything from me that is good for me.  I look forward to seeing all the good You have in store for my life.

2. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering…” ~James 1:5-6a

I find comfort in this verse as we parent two teenagers!  I’ve seen God directly answer this prayer.  But the promise also applies to our marriages, our careers, handling our money…every area of our lives needs wisdom, and God promises it to us if we’ll just ask Him for it, and have faith that He’ll give it.

Prayer:  God, I ask you for wisdom for this particular situation.  Because You’ve promised to give wisdom when I ask for it, I believe that you will give me the words to say and show me the actions I need to take when the time comes.

3. “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” ~Jeremiah 29:12-13 

If I pray, God will hear me.  If I seek God, He will reveal Himself to me.

Prayer:  I want to know you better, God.  I’m going to the Bible to read and learn more about You.  I believe that You will reveal Yourself to me because You have promised that I will find You when I search for You with my whole heart.

4. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:19

We often think of this as a financial need, which fits the context of the passage.  But God supplies all of our needs – physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.  His riches are not just monetary.  He has riches of love, stores of grace, and an abundance of mercy.

Prayer:  God, I have a specific need today.  You have the ability to meet the need, and have promised to do that.  Please let me see how You meet the need so that I can give you thanksgiving and praise.

5. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28

Some days we just need rest.  Maybe it’s a physical tiredness or an emotional exhaustion, but either way, God promises to give us rest.

Prayer:  I’m weary today, God.  I’m burdened with many cares.  You’ve promised me rest.  Let me feel that rest down in my soul.

I’m challenged by these thoughts to begin noticing and marking God’s promises as I come across them in my daily Bible reading.  I’d like to start a journal page where I can keep an ongoing list of promises to refer back to on a regular basis.

What promise of God could you pray over your life today?

Related posts:
7 Promises of God to Carry Me Through the Week  
How I Want God to Answer My Prayers
6 Ways to Encourage Yourself in the Lord

Did you ever ask this question of your kids when you picked them up from the church nursery, preschool, or a babysitter’s house?

“Have you been good?”

Now when we ask that question, what is it that we’re wanting to know?  Basically we mean, have you behaved yourself properly, obeyed the rules, and acted in a way that you know is right.  Sometimes the answer is yes…and if your kids are like mine, sometimes it’s no (ha!)

(Now I have to admit that I didn’t usually ask this question of my daughters.  I figured if the adult didn’t mention some misbehavior to me, I’d take that as a good sign.  I usually had enough to deal with just managing what went on when I was present!)

The fruit of the Spirit we’re looking at this month is goodness.  Like I mentioned with gentleness last month, it doesn’t strike me as one of the most outstanding fruit of the Spirit.  Yet I appreciate it because it’s one of my favorite qualities about God.

Like all the other fruit, God displays it perfectly.  He is always good.  God’s goodness is part of His nature, and it’s revealed in how He deals with us, His children

But what if we were to ask ourselves the question above.  Have I been good?  Much of the time, we’d have to answer no.

So what is goodness as it relates to the fruit of the Spirit?  I found it defined at dictionary.com as excellence of character or behavior that shows high moral standards.  It’s choosing to do what is right according to the Bible, and acting on the commands and truths found there.

Now in case I thought I could work up some goodness on my own, Paul put that idea to rest.  We can all identify with his statements in Romans 7:18-19.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”

Only through the saving blood of Jesus and the power that I have through His Holy Spirit can I do anything that would be called good.  Paul says there’s not one good thing that I naturally possess.

But as I grow in my Christian life, I have that “want-to” to do good.  It’s then that the fruit of goodness can begin to be produced.  I make a right choice, I answer someone honestly, I speak kindly to my family, I turn off that movie I don’t need to watch.

So while I realize that it’s the Holy Spirit who produces goodness, what can I do to cultivate that fruit in my life today?  Here are 5 ideas.

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any sin in my life.  I can’t be good if I’m allowing sin to have control in some area.

2. View any lifestyle decision I make today through the lens of what the Bible says about it.  If I don’t know a specific verse that relates to it, look for a Scriptural principle that applies.

3. Choose kindness when I don’t feel like being kind.

4. Do what’s best for the other person in a situation, not necessarily what most benefits me.

5. Meditate on Psalm 34:8.  “O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.”  Think of specific instances in the past when you’ve seen God’s goodness displayed in your own life.

Let’s go be good – with the Holy Spirit’s help – today!

Related posts:
3 Ways to Find Joy
Will You Need This Fruit of the Spirit Today?
A Story of Goodness and Grace

Are you watching the winter Olympics?  Our daughters check the television each night to see which events are on, so we usually get caught up in the competition for a little while.

I happened across this funny tweet from @HarlanCoben (whom I know nothing about beyond this tweet) a few nights ago.

Me:  I’ve never watched luge. I know nothing about it.

Me 20 minutes later:  Turns 9 through 12 are really the key to victory. He’s taking them too high. Why doesn’t he listen to me??

Sporting events often bring out the “armchair quarterback” in all of us!  We’ll talk to the television, and “helpfully” instruct these highly trained athletes who’ve worked for years to get to this level.  I mean, it’s like we know how they should go into that jump so that their triple salchow isn’t underrotated!

These Olympians have put incredible amounts of practice time and effort into preparing for the Olympic games.  It’s been their “work” for many years.  And while most of us won’t ever perform on that stage, there is something more important that we are called to do.

It won’t put us on a gold medal platform, or land us any lucrative endorsements.  But God has a work for each one of us.  And it will take a lifetime for that work in and through us to be refined.

Let’s look at Hebrews 13:20-21.

“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus…Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

The best part about the work God has for us to do is that He will do it in us.  According to the Geneva Study Bible, the word “perfect” in this verse actually means fit or suitable.  In other words, God is the one who makes us suitable for His work.  He equips us with what we need for the job ahead of us.

I like what Barnes said in his commentary about the above verse.  “Paul prayed that God would fully endow them with whatever grace was necessary to do his will and to keep his commandments…”  Whether it’s my marriage, my parenting, my career, or my ministry, I can’t make myself fit for it.  Only through Jesus and His Holy Spirit continually working in us can we live “wellpleasing in His sight.”

The work of the Holy Spirit is gradual and progressive.  Maybe you think, “God’s not doing much with me now.  I do the same thing every day (whether that’s go to work or do laundry or drive carpool).”  Yet even when we don’t feel like His Spirit is working, when we’re not seeing how He’s growing us, we can know He’s faithful to be dong it.  He’s equipping us for what’s to come.

It reminds me of Philippians 1:6.  “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Because God does the work, I can’t take credit for it.  All glory goes to Him.  When I’m a more patient wife or mom…when I’m bold enough to talk to my neighbor about my faith…when I find that last little bit of endurance I need in a difficult situation… it’s God who deserves the glory and praise.

God is the ultimate orchestrator of all that has to do with us.  He will give us everything we need to live for Him, and will energize us to do the work to which He calls us.

Related posts:
God Will Prepare the Way
God Has a Purpose for You Today
4 Ways You Can Live as Philippians 2 Christian Woman Today

Back in the day, I was a first grade teacher.  I enjoyed introducing six-year-olds to basic concepts in the classroom.  Teaching them to read was my favorite job.  Even if students had already started reading in kindergarten, they usually blossomed that next year.

These days I still get to interact with that age group on Wednesday nights at church.  A couple of weeks ago, I was helping two little boys memorize the following verse.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” ~Philippians 2:14

“Murmurings” and “disputings” are some big words when you’re six, so I tried to explain the verse.  I told them it basically meant they should do everything without complaining and arguing.  Then we talked about some examples of what that would look like for them.

Did they always obey dad and mom without arguing?  Did they ever complain about what they were given to eat for supper?  We had fun talking through some possible situations they might be in that would present opportunities for them to choose whether or not to argue or complain!

Talk about a basic concept – and a simple, direct command!  It’s not only to first graders, it’s also for me!!

This is one of those verses that doesn’t leave any wiggle room for our current mood or situation.  “All things” means all things.  It doesn’t mean we get a pass for complaining if we’re tired or our child just made a big mess or the driver in front of us won’t go any faster.

Complaining doesn’t seem like a serious sin.  Yet this quote from Joan Chittister helps us realize what an effect it can have in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

“Complaining is the acid that shrivels our souls and the soul of the community around us as well.”

What a word picture!  I don’t think any of us want acid pouring over our souls, causing them to wrinkle and shrink.  And most of the time, complaining doesn’t just affect us individually, but also whoever’s around us.  After all, we’re usually complaining to another person, not just talking to ourselves!

When it comes to arguing, I’m usually one to avoid personal confrontation.  But do I ever argue with God?  If I feel Him convicting me of sin, do I immediately confess, or do I debate with Him (or within myself) over whether or not it’s really that bad?  If I’m going to follow the command in the verse above, I need to do whatever’s in front of me without arguing or complaining.

One of the best antidotes for complaining is revealed in this quote from E. M. Bounds.

“Gratitude and murmuring never abide in the same heart at the same time.”

We can’t be simultaneously thankful and complaining.  It reminds me of another one of those direct command verses.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:18

There it is again.  Just like we’re to do “all things” without complaining and arguing, so we’re to give thanks “in every thing.”

We get to make the choice every. single. day.  Will we complain or will we give thanks? 

I know that way too often, I choose the complaining, often without even thinking about it.  Wouldn’t it be neat if our default setting could be gratitude?  I think it can be, with the Holy Spirit’s help.  And I’m thinking I need to post 1 Thessalonians 5:18 in a prominent place to remind me daily that God’s will is for me to choose giving thanks.

Related posts:
Living Grateful:  Making a Daily Choice to Give Thanks
10 Key Lessons the Israelites Can Teach Us About the Christian Life
When You Don’t Feel Like Giving Thanks

As I realized which fruit of the spirit we’re going to look at in February, I was a little underwhelmed.  I mean gentleness just doesn’t sound very exciting.

I can get behind love, joy, and peace!  Those sound like big fruits that I can experience in my life in a lot of helpful ways.  Even longsuffering seems so far beyond my reach at times that I can get excited about seeing how the Holy Spirit is going to produce it in my life.

But gentleness?  That would be an easy one to overlook.  It also seems like something I should be able to muster up on my own without the Holy Spirit’s help.

So what exactly is gentleness?  The dictionary defines it as “the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered.”

I love the use of the word “tender” there.  When I think about God’s gentleness with us, His children, I recognize how blessed we are that He is tender toward us.  His concern, sympathy, and compassion are always present.

And as I think about that definition a little more, I have to ask myself if gentleness is actually part of my life.  Do my words and actions reflect kindness?  Am I mild-mannered?  In other words, not given to extreme emotions.  I’ll just say that I live with two teenage girls, so I know what extreme emotions looks like!

Yet 2 Timothy 2:24 commands us to be gentle.

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient…”

As always, whether or not we’re producing a certain fruit of the spirit is often displayed first at home.  Odd as it is, it often seems that we’re more considerate of strangers than our own family members.  And because I usually have ample examples of how I failed to demonstrate a fruit of the Spirit, here’s one for gentleness.

A couple of weeks ago, I needed to address a situation with one of our daughters.  It was only a minor issue, but I was a bit worked up.  (Can you say extreme emotions???)  I walked into her room ready for a confrontation.  My tone and my words were harsher than they should have been.  And after it was over (sadly, instead of before), I realized that I could have accomplished the same thing – actually probably a better outcome – if I’d had a kind tone and gentle words.

In fact, don’t we all respond better when we’re spoken to with gentle words?  Even when confrontation needs to happen, we can still approach it in a gentle manner.

Note Jesus’ gentleness found in one of my favorite New Testament stories shared in John 8:1-11.  The Pharisees bring before Him a woman caught in the act of adultery.  After her accusers leave the scene, convicted about their own sin, Jesus says to her, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”  He addresses her sin problem, yet offers compassion and forgiveness.

I want the gentleness of Christ to shine through when I interact with others.  I found this quote at Focus on the Family.  “It [gentleness] is a tender, compassionate approach toward others’ weaknesses and limitations.”  So this fruit of the spirit will allow our hearts to be tender to the hurts and burdens of others.  We will speak the truth kindly and with love.

So, upon further examination, I think we’d agree that gentleness is a powerful fruit.  May we allow God’s Holy Spirit to let it show forth in our lives as we deal with our husbands, children, and all of those around us today.  Let’s pray that our lives will be marked by the same tenderness and compassion that Jesus showed.

Related posts:
4 Ways We Can Love Like Jesus
What Makes a Woman Beautiful?
Duty and Delight