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We have a large glass pitcher with a pineapple etched on the front that we were given as a wedding gift.  It’s in great shape after all these years, and our girls often use it to stir up lemonade or another beverage.

Just as we use that pitcher to serve our purposes, so God wants to use us, His children and His vessels, to serve His purposes.

Yet before God can use me, there are a few things I need to do.

1.  I need to be clean.  None of us is or ever will be perfect in this life, but we can ask God to keep our hearts tender to His conviction of sin in our lives.  I can also ask myself if there’s anything I’m unwilling to give up if the Holy Spirit speaks to me about it.

2.  I need to be empty.  In other words, I need to be willing to set aside my own agenda (including my to-do list) so that I can be filled with His plan for my day.

3.  I need to be filled for His glory.  When my girls drink their lemonade, the focus isn’t on what a great pitcher they’re pouring from, but about how good the drink tastes!  So when God chooses to use me, it’s not so that I can brag about what I did, but so that He can be honored.

Once I’m ready to be used, God can step in and help me minister to others.

Will He use me as a prayer vessel, to labor in prayer for a family member, a friend, or someone at church?

Will He use me to build up my husband through my words and attitude towards him?

Will He use me to share the gospel with someone who’s unsaved?

Will He use me to comfort my child who’s having a hard day?

Will He use me to serve my neighbor?

Will He use me to set an example before our children of how to have self control?

Will He use me to encourage someone through a phone call or a card or a text?

It would be impossible for me to list all of the ways God might choose to use us!  And while I don’t know how God might want to use me today, I want to be a vessel that’s clean, empty of my own will, and ready to serve for His glory.

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This very familiar Psalm reminded me again this week of God’s love and care for me, not just in a general sense, but in a very personal way.

He knows me like no one else does.  He alone knows my every thought, my every action, and my every word.  And in spite of all my failings, He loves me.

As I read further in the Psalm, I’m reminded that there’s nowhere I can go that He’s not with me.

He made me, just the way I am, to accomplish His purposes.  He knew just what I would be, even before I was born, and He has great plans for me.

Let’s be comforted today, that whatever we are facing, whether it’s a day of hope and promise or a day of doubt and uncertainty, God knows, He cares, He’s here.

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We held VBS at our church last week, and I taught a group of precious 3rd and 4th graders about Noah each night.  Our theme verse was Genesis 8:6, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

While there was judgment coming and a world full of wickedness around him, Noah didn’t find condemnation.

He found grace.

I’m reminded, then, that Noah wasn’t perfect.  If he had been, he wouldn’t have needed grace.  But God saw him where he was.  He saw that Noah’s heart was bent toward pleasing Him, for it’s said that Noah walked with God.

Not only that, but Noah was willing to stand alone, when the Bible says about his fellow man that “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

What all did it mean, this finding of grace?  It involved love, forgiveness, a plan for his physical salvation from destruction that included a procedure to follow and hard work.

Finding that grace led to the next step – obedience.  Verse 22 of chapter 6 says, “…according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”  Again in chapter 7, verse 5, “And Noah did according unto all that God commanded him.”

God gave detailed instructions for building the ark and Noah built it just as he was instructed.  Did he understand why everything had to be done exactly the way it was?  I wouldn’t think so, at least not at the beginning.  But this wasn’t Noah’s rescue plan, it was God’s, so he did it God’s way.

I found grace the day I got saved.  Yet I still need his grace daily to follow the plan He has for me, to obey the commands He has given me to follow.  Just as in Noah’s case, I won’t always understand the direction my life is taking, but His grace will lead me on.  God has a plan for me to fulfill that will ultimately benefit not only myself, but my family, if I will just follow what He lays out for me to do.

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“When my cup runneth over with joy,
When my cup runneth over with joy.
I find it easy to pray, and to sing all the day
When my cup runneth over with joy.

When my cup is all empty and dry.
When my cup is all empty and dry.
I find it so hard to pray, and to sing all the day,
When my cup is all empty and dry.”

(Author Unknown)

Joy.

When we left the two-story white house at the foot of a Tennessee hill last Friday, all 17 of us with cars packed and ready to hit the road, my mom encouraged us to take joy with us.  “Take the joy,” she said, “even in the midst of sadness, take joy home with you.”

It’s an oxymoron that I suppose those who don’t know the Savior may not understand – having joy in your heart when life circumstances give you every reason to be sad and hopeless.

But because we have the Holy Spirit living within us, we can have unexplainable peace, an eternal hope, and joy springing up in our soul.

How do I lose my joy?  When I don’t focus on God.  Psalm 16:11 says, “…in thy presence is fullness of joy…”   I’m going to find joy when I’m spending time in God’s presence and resting in His promises.  Reading and meditating on His Word will keep me from drying up spiritually.

And when I need courage to face my difficulty, I can recall Nehemiah 8:10 and the words, “…for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  The joy He provides gives me inner fulfillment in spite of outward chaos.

Today let’s allow the joy of the Lord to fill our souls and overflow to others!

 
I saw this quote from Bob Goff on letteredcottage’s Instagram feed yesterday.

I don’t think any of us would sign up for an uncertain future. 

It could go something like this.  “Sure, I’ll take not knowing whether or not my husband will get laid off from his job.”  How about, “My sickness may or may not pass in the next few days, and I’m okay with that.”  Or, “There’s something wrong with your child, but we’re not sure what it is.”

I think we all like to know what’s ahead, what we should expect next, and how our present circumstances will all work out in the end.  But that’s not always God’s plan.

This brings me full circle for the week, right back to the trust that I wrote about on Monday.  At some point, I will be put to the test.  I will get to make the choice – am I going to trust God to lead me through this situation, or I am going to try to find my own way?

We all know in our hearts that His way is best, but the actual practice of packing away our worry and leaving our uncertainties at His feet takes Holy Spirit help.  He uses God’s own words to give us comfort and peace, no matter our current struggle.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  He Who knows the beginning and ending of all things will surely lead us into His best for us.

 
“Why did this happen to me?” 

“Why has this particular struggle come to my family, to someone I love?”

I would think we’ve all asked this question about a specific situation at some point in our lives…or, if not, perhaps we will face it in the future.

In our humanity, maybe we feel like if we could know the why, that in understanding we could accept our circumstances, that our minds would be able to make sense of it. 

I don’t think having the why cross our minds is wrong….but perhaps dwelling in the why can be.

When those thoughts come to my own mind, I have to remind myself to move from the why to the Who.  I can’t often get to the why; God may not choose to reveal to me the reason He’s allowed what’s crossed my path or afflicted someone I love. 

But I can always know the Who.  I can choose to believe that God is in control and that He is at work for His glory and for the good of His beloved children. 

The key in moving from why to Who?

Trust.

If I had to claim a life’s verse – especially in recent years – it’s Proverbs 3:5,6.  “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

When I can bring my focus around to Who, how can I doubt that the God Who loved me enough to send His Son to die for me can only be working in my life and in the lives of my loved ones for good?  Not always good in my eyes, but always good for His eternal purposes.  The very thing I struggle against could be that which turns my life around, that which draws me closer to Him, that which is a testimony for Him that affects the lives of others.

Psalm 9:10 says, “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”  I trust, I seek His will, He promises not to forsake me.

When we wander into “why,” let’s lean upon trust, and look to the One “Who” holds it all in His hands.

“It’s imperative to distinguish between your will and God’s will.  Every prayer, including your prayers for your children, must pass a twofold litmus test:  Your prayers must be in the will of God and for the glory of God.” ~Mark Batterson in Praying Circles Around Your Children

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I’ve written a lot on this blog about praying for our children.  I’ve shared how I like to make monthly prayer lists for current needs in my girls’ lives and I’ve shared prayers that I’ve written in different seasons. And just last week I talked about prayer being the most important thing we can do for them.

The quote above reminds me that, as I pray, it’s good to filter my requests through these two tests.

1.  Is my prayer in God’s will?  Here’s where knowing the Bible ties in to our prayer life.  For example, I know from His Word that it’s God’s will for my children to be saved.  I know that He wants them to show the fruit of the spirit in their lives, to be kind to others (including their siblings ;), to share their faith, to obey their parents and other authorities.  The list could go on and on!

Maybe, however, I’m burdened to pray for a need, but I’m not sure exactly how to pray.  I can be thankful that, first of all, the Holy Spirit intercedes for me when I don’t know what to pray!  (Romans 8:26-27)

Then I can ask myself, am I praying for what I want for my children, or am I truly asking for His will to be done?  Whether it’s praying for the right teacher, the right friend, the right classmates, the right spouse, the right career, I want what God wants for my child as I know that He loves her more than I do and will always do what’s best for her.

2.  Is my prayer for God’s glory?  Sometimes I might want a request answered so that I can bring attention to myself – or even to my daughters.  I do seem to fight that battle with pride in every area of my life!  Hoping that I’ll get some personal advantage or just an easier life for myself or my children is not a good reason to pray a certain way.

I think at times this can be hard to determine in our flesh, so we can begin a prayer by asking the Holy Spirit to reveal to us our true motives.  Then, as we see answers to prayers, we can bring glory to God by sharing how He has worked in those situations.  When He’s protected our child, or given her a great friend, or helped her overcome a particular temptation, or healed her in some way, we can give Him the glory and also encourage others in their faith and in their prayer life!

I’m so thankful that we have a God who wants to hear our prayers for our children – and not only hear, but answer!

Why is it so hard to be still?

Even when I can make my body sit still, my mind is racing with thoughts of what needs to be done next, appointments I need to schedule, or a problem I need to solve.  Being still involves a calmness of the mind as much as it does a motionless body.

We are told in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

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I heard the hymn “Be Still, My Soul” again recently, and let myself really read the words – they are so rich in meaning!  I’ve highlighted those that especially spoke to me in this season.

“Be Still, My Soul” by Catharina von Schlegel

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

 
I’m planning to take the words of this hymn and think on them again today.  Let’s try to find at least a few minutes in which we can be still before our God.

Do you ever start your day full of joy and ready to take on the world, only to find that, as the day goes on, your joy has slowly slipped away?

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Several years ago, I read the book Be Joyful by Warren Wiersbe. In the first chapter, he details four things that steal our joy.

1. Circumstances. Last weekend, I had several activities planned. When my older daughter got sick on Friday night, those plans went out the window. This happens often in our daily lives; we face an unpleasant situation and allow our joy to be snuffed out by the undesirable circumstances that surround us. If we can remember to trust God and submit to His ultimate control of every situation, we can hold on to our joy.

2. People. Hopefully, few – if any- people would intentionally steal our joy, but perhaps a thoughtless comment or even a bad attitude from a family member, friend, or neighbor drains the joy from our hearts. There are times when we are forced to deal with someone who’s unpleasant or who reacts negatively to us.  Often our response in the moment determines whether or not they can take away our joy.  In these situations, we need the fruit of the Spirit to help us respond sweetly and patiently.

3. Things. Plain-old covetousness can be a reason for our lack of joy. Whether it’s other people’s possessions, families, position, (or even their blog!), desiring what someone else has makes us unhappy and joyless. Learning to be content, no matter our state, can cause our joy to remain.

4. Worry. This one came into play over the weekend as well. Monitoring my daughter’s high temperature throughout Friday night caused me to worry. When she didn’t bounce back from her illness as quickly as I thought she should, more worry began to push away my joy. Even though I attempt to “cast all my care upon Him,” I still seem to think worry is part of my duty. Often, if I will live in today instead of in the future, I can focus on maintaining joy.

It would be lovely to say that since I recognize these joy-stealers, I am able to stand against them and continually live in joy. I’m afraid that’s not the case. Yet as I continue to grow in Christ, I trust that through His strength and by meditating on His Word, I can recognize and battle these joy-stealers when they attempt to enter my life.

Do you sometimes struggle with one of these joy-stealers?

The original version of this post was published on 2/24/10.

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If the day is long and my temper is short….He is enough.

For those nights when I put my head on the pillow and can only think about the failures of the day….He is enough.

When I’m sure my kids will be less than they could be due to my failures as a mom….He is enough.

After the words slipped out of my mouth and I wish I could snatch them back….He is enough.

While I’m carrying a burden and life’s lost some of its joy….He is enough.

During those seasons when I’m feeling all alone….He is enough.

As my prayers seem unanswered and my struggles seem to grow….He is enough.

The problem is, I want to be enough.  In my own strength and self-sufficiency, I want to be enough to meet the challenges of the day.  That is where the conflict lies.

Am I willing to let God be enough, to fill in the gaps where I fall short, to be my all-in-all, to rest in His working in me?

May He give me the grace to do so.

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” ~Psalm 90:2