Category: Christian Living

Overwhelmed? | Bring Your Trust in God Back in Balance

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As soon as I woke up this morning, I felt completely overwhelmed with the day. Not only the day, but the week, as well. All I saw was the number of tasks, jobs, and chores that needed to be done. All the while, the feeling of it all being impossible set heavily upon me.

And I will not go into detail about those tasks because they only foster an environment of comparison. One can look at your list and say, “That’s it! Well, I have this, that, and that to do.” Or another may feel they don’t measure up to some invisible standard.

In addition, I have had some frustrations that have contributed to that feeling of overwhelm, making everything feel that much heavier.

As I sat with my Bible this morning and began my devotional reading, this thought dropped in my spirit: You are overwhelmed because you are out of balance. And the more I thought about being out of balance and overwhelmed, the more I realized it came down to trusting God with what I was facing.

Hear me out, these were not monumental things that were overwhelming and frustrating me. It was a bunch of little things. And not just little things, but many little things that gave the feeling of being just too much.

And, it was too much.

Here’s what I have had to learn: it is not all going to get done in one day, or maybe even in this one week. I have to not only be okay with that, but also trust in God that even when it is not all working on a timetable that I desire, it is still going to be alright. I don’t have to get myself worked up over it.

The more that pressed in my spirit, the more relief I started to feel. Tears of gratitude just flowed in prayer, and my heart felt significantly lighter.

Our normal, daily, humdrum lives can be absolutely overwhelming at times without something monumental going on. But God has always given us the invitation to bring our troubles, frustrations, burdens, and our feelings of overwhelm to Him and lay them at His feet. Even the humdrum daily stuff:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Jesus, Himself, said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

What kind of rest? Rest of the heart and mind – a place where peace can reign even in the midst of frustration and overwhelm.

You may have heard all of this before, so consider this your gentle reminder: You do not have to carry it all alone. 

Fretting over it and wringing your hands in anxiety is not helping. But when you invite the Lord in the process of carrying what you’re struggling to carry, the imagery of His hands coming behind us and helping us to balance the load that seems to be tipping over comforts my heart.

When we look at our load and realize, you know what, it’s not all going to get done. And that’s okay because I want to live in balance, which means trusting God with the outcome, regardless of what it looks like right now.

When we learn to bring trusting God into balance, everything that is overwhelming will fall into its proper place.

“I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2, CSB

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Psalm 61:2

Father God, thank You for giving us permission and the space to bring it all to You today. Every frustration, everything we are dealing with on the inside, and every circumstance surrounding us. Lord, we lay them all at Your feet. You are our very present help in the time of trouble (Psalm 46:1) and our refuge from life’s storms. In You, we hide and shelter ourselves, trusting in Your hand at work in us and for us. Thank You, that in everything we face, and in everything we meet, we can come and meet with You concerning it and lay the weight of it down. In the big things, the little things, the overwhelming things, and the frustrating things, God, we trust You. Help us to live out that trust, in the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, AMEN!

Friends, giving it to God is step one. Step two is recognizing hindrances to getting tasks done. Is your time being spent wisely? Are you scrolling through social media too much, etc.? Or, are you just being busy without really being productive in your goals?

Next, to help with the feeling of overwhelm, pick out 1-3 top tasks that absolutely must be done or will give you a great sense of accomplishment. To have those main things checked off will lighten the load you are carrying.

Then you can work on other little things as long as they are not adding to the overwhelm. Remember, you are a human with limited time and energy, not a machine. You must make space to care for yourself.

And finally, go back to God and ask Him to help you identify the next set of priorities and not just desires. God will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4), but not to overwhelm. We must recognize the difference and importance of each thing that “needs” to be done. Then, little by little, small step by small step, things will get done without your feeling crushed by overwhelm.

We trust God for some things: our faith, deliverance, and all those big things that easily turn us to Him, seeking help. But friends, we can trust Him to help us with our time, schedules, and tasks that are before us this day and this week as well.

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Who Has the Real Power?

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“…I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through the countries. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh’s arms… I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; and they shall know that I am the Lord…”
Ezekiel 30:23-25; read Vv. 21-26

Do we really understand the sovereignty of God? Do we not understand that all powers are subject to God’s control? Do we not know that at any given moment, God can cause one nation to rise, and another to fall?

Ezekiel has been assigned many tasks by God. And one of those tasks was to make certain judgments against varying nations (Ezekiel 25-32), including, but not limited to, Egypt.

God has spoken to him about a great power switch. The one who thought they were strong, impenetrable, and would stand as a “superpower” forever, will be broken and fall.

This is a story that has recurred throughout history. Think of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2). In it, we see powerful nation after powerful nation eventually succumb to the prophecy spoken over it: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (Daniel 2:44-45).

Did you catch that last line? “The dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Everything that God has pronounced for or against a nation or people has come to pass already through the course of history, or is waiting for a future, final fulfillment.

Nations may boast of power, but God is the Supreme Ruler. Psalm 75:6-7 assures us, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

Friends, sometimes life and circumstances can make us feel powerless. But when we truly understand the sovereignty and power of our God, we can understand better why Paul was able to say, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).

God is our strong defense. He is like a mighty wall that stands between all opposition and us.

Yes, there are things that will come against us, but as Job’s story reminds us (Job 1), it must go through Him first. And even in that, we are assured that God remains in control and completely sovereign over all.

That is why the psalmist declared, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: What can man do unto me?” (Psalm 118:6). Mankind can have plans, but God has the final say.

It is His power that created the world we see and live in. He is the one who lifts nations and makes another fall. There is nothing in your life that is too hard or impossible for God.

He is the real power. God is sovereign King over all. Keep the faith!

“The Lord reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.” Psalm 99:1

“For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.” Psalm 47:2

“All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.” Isaiah 40:17

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Enjoy the Moments of Today

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As hard as it is at times, we must strive to be attentive to the moments of today. What is currently before you? Who is around you? What do they need from you?

Moments say, you are important to me, and I choose to share my life and my time with you right now.

Carefully watching moments will tell you what or who is a priority in your life. Through its quiet invitation, they speak, “I love you,” without ever saying a word. In those moments, the heart reveals that the people before you truly matter. They are really something special.

Sometimes, the chaos of schedules and the demands of daily life cause us to miss out on some of the sweetest moments the Lord affords us. Perhaps it is not only the stormy waves that need to be spoken against, “Peace, be still“ (Mark 4:39). Rather, anything that crashes on the space of our days, eating away at this priceless time that will pass in the blink of an eye when compared to the timeline of eternity.

Perhaps even more importantly, we must choose for ourselves to be still and take in the precious moments before us. We can dash about as Marth did, allowing the cares of this life to consume her (Luke 10:38-42). Or, we can be still and experience the power of quieting our hearts at His feet in restfulness of spirit, and just enjoy the moment of this occasion.

Many moments will come. The ones we choose to rest in and allow ourselves to experience fully will show who or what really matters.

With the Lord, we will have moments. Enjoy them. Rest in them. Cherish them.

In meaningful relationships with others, we will have moments. Enjoy them. Rest in them. Cherish them.

Through many days and seasons, we will have moments. Enjoy them. Rest in them. Cherish them.

One day, these moments will cease. Be still, and enjoy the moments of today: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

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Be Kingdom-Minded

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“From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of  Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17

Who better to teach us this lesson than our Lord Jesus Christ?  We celebrate and remember the major aspects of His life:  His birth, death, resurrection, ascension, miracles, healings, and such, but we forget the ministry of His mission.  We take for granted all the times He walked up and down the shores of Galilee, or from town to town, drawing to man’s attention the main reason for His visit to planet earth: the kingdom of Heaven and His great desire to see each of us there one day.

All of those major events are rightly to be celebrated because every one of them is tied to the same purpose – to give us a chance to be a member of that great kingdom one day.  Our Christian life seems so one-sided, but Jesus often encouraged us to be more mindful of life on the other side of eternity.  Sometimes, we flush that out of the process and lose focus on the destination we want to reach when that day comes.

My previous pastor always used to tell us that nobody preached more hell-fire than Jesus.  He continually put in contrast the rewards of one who was on the right path to gain entrance to that kingdom and one who was not: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven,” (Matthew 5:19).

Sometimes, I can imagine Jesus sitting upon that Mount, teaching the crowds. Or, the daily walks He would take through the cities, while once in a while, turning to His disciples to pass on a tidbit of information for that glorious kingdom.  We would do well to remember throughout our days that everything we do or don’t do will either gain us entrance or prohibit us from entering that kingdom.

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should come short of it,” (Hebrews 4:1).  This is why I believe it is important for us to remain kingdom-minded.  When we take our eyes off the prize, so to speak, we lose focus of our ultimate goal.  And nowhere does that ring more true than in the dealings with our eternal destination.

I want to see God.  I want to see Him on His throne.  I want to witness the glories of heaven.  I want to see the multitudes gathered together without a care.  The only purpose left will be enjoying His presence and praising His holy name!  Can you really imagine what it may be like over there?  Boy, if we could only peel back the curtain of what our natural eyes currently see to view the glorious – Awesome!

Thankfully, we have been left with visions of that splendor by people like John, saying, “I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband,” (Revelation 21:2).  Ezekiel also said, “. . . that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God,” (Ezekiel 1:1).  And Daniel left us with this description: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.  And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion in an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed,” (Daniel 7:13-14).

Wow!

The call to be kingdom-minded has gone out.  One should not take lightly all that the Lord has prepared for us.  I don’t want to miss the “promise of entering into his rest” (Hebrews 4:1).  May the manner of our lives today be a deposit for the eternal glory that is to come.

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sun above the clouds, encouraging God is forever faithful, Hebrews 13:5

Above the Clouds

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This morning, when I drew back my curtains, the day wasn’t as sunny as before. Although there is no rain in the forecast, the clouds sit heavy in the sky. At a time of day when the sun is usually shining its brightest,  the heaviness of the clouds makes the atmosphere feel dull and dreary.

But then a beautiful reminder dropped in my heart: above the clouds, the sun is still shining. Though we cannot see one ray breaking through, it does not change that truth. Even when there is no evidence to speak against what you see, the sun is still there doing its thing. It has not changed or stopped being the sun.

And neither has God changed or stopped being who He is. Life’s circumstances can sometimes speak contrary to that beautiful truth, making us believe something different. Regardless of the heaviness of clouds we may face in life, our Heavenly Father is still faithfully on His throne, being the great and wonderful God that He is.

Even if we cannot see one ray of evidence, hold on, dear friend, to the faithfulness of our God who said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

It’s not what it looks like. The clouds may be there, but they will never overcome or overshadow who God is in our lives. He is faithfully our Heavenly Father who can never be dulled or dismayed. The times may speak contrary, but He still is there, above the clouds of life, forever shining for you and me.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.” Psalm 27:1-6

Blessings~

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The Truth About Comparison

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Recently, I attended a large shredding event in our area. This particular event is held every year. It allows us to declutter and safely get rid of old documents and sensitive papers.

This shredding event is quite large. To put it into perspective, I was in line for an hour and forty-two minutes before I was relieved of my boxes of clutter.

Coming in, there were approximately 8-12 lanes (or more, I couldn’t count) of vehicles lined up side-by-side. These lanes funneled into a single lane that would shortly open again into two alternating lanes. Those lanes would then take us to the trucks on either side that would shred our personal belongings for us.

The car in front of me turned to the right, and I went to the left.

I was happy with how my lane was moving, and after about another twenty to thirty minutes, I tried to assess my progress. I did this by looking for the car that was previously in front of me. I remembered passing it some time ago and wondered how far back it was now.

Looking in my side mirrors and the rearview mirror, I could no longer see it. I thought to myself that there was no way I could be that far ahead of them.

And I wasn’t. I finally spotted the car I was searching for. While I was paying attention to other things, that car had actually advanced several spaces in front of me.

Interesting, is what I thought. I wasn’t upset or put out over this, but took it as the lesson that it was.

But I cannot say that I have been untouched by the act of comparison. More times than I care to count, I have paid attention to what others were doing or their lives instead of focusing on my own.

And you know what that does? It steals your joy. You and I can be completely happy where we are in life until we look in the next lane to see where another person may be.

When that happens, we start comparing our lives against theirs, as if we are all on some giant scale to be measured by one another and weighed in the balances.

But that is a divine seat none of us are qualified to sit in. Perhaps that is why the Bible speaks against those who “measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves,” calling them “not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

Mentors and godly examples to pattern our lives after are good (1 Corinthians 11:1). But when we use other people as our yardstick to be measured by, we sell ourselves short.

Why?

Because the truth is, each of us is a unique person with our own unique plans for our lives designed by the Father. But when we fixate on others in life, or on shows, books, videos, and social media, who try to convince us that this is what our lives should look like, that comparison can sometimes cause discontent because of the feeling of not measuring up to their standards.

Individuals, families, lives, marriages, careers, cares, wants, and needs are as different as our DNA. The complexities of our human nature are as diverse as the complexity of molecules that make us, us. It is as diverse as the many cultures, peoples, and nations that inhabit this land we call Earth.

With such a wide range of beautiful diversity, why try to squeeze yourself into another’s box?

God knows the plans He has for your life (Jeremiah 29:11). His design is perfectly beautiful for you. He knows where you are best needed, and He knows what you are truly called to be and do, and it is not to mimic them.

1 Corinthians 4:5 challenges us to look at things differently, saying, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”

We are not God, but we can trust God as the Potter who is molding us into this beautiful creation He needs us to be.

We cannot rely on what we see on the outside of any given situation. To properly assess another’s circumstance, we must know their whole behind-the-scenes story, their heart, reasons, motives, and hopes they have for their outcome.

Only an everlasting God can know all of that. Since we are unqualified to make assumptions about others, our focus should remain in our lane and where God has us driving.

We have our own course. Our Heavenly Father has a plan that fits us perfectly. If we continue to focus on others, we will miss our assignment.

But when we live as He wants us to, and fulfill our God-given destinies, we please our Father, and it’s His praises we can look forward to in the end.

Today, in what area can we learn to stop comparing and enjoy the beautiful life God has designed for each of us? 

Father God, help us keep our eyes and our hearts focused on You and the plans that You have for our lives. This world can be distracting at times, causing us to shift our gaze toward what is not profitable for us. We are praying for steadfast hearts and minds to go forward in faith in the lanes You have lovingly designed for us. We want to live for Your glory and for Your praise. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, AMEN!

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Undaunted! | Your Monday Motivation to Keep Moving Forward

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“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Everyone has an end goal in mind when it comes to life. That goal can include anything from a higher education sought and achieved, career positions and successes, working toward optimal health for one’s individual plans and needs, familial relationships being the best that they can be, adventures to be had worldwide, and more.

But there is a robber of these goals and achievements. They come in the form of doubt and discouragement when things don’t go as planned, or some unforeseen thing comes and sidetracks us or knocks us totally off course.

When that happens repeatedly, it gets hard to believe that we can do this. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We can be and achieve.

Sadder still is when someone feels that way about their walk of faith.

But we do not have to succumb to discouragement, fear, and intimidation.

We can push forward successfully, even when it is hard. And with God’s Word filling our tanks of hope, we can be undaunted in the face of what we see and feel and believe that we can!

We can direct our hearts with the same tenacity the Apostle Paul had when he said, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” Acts 20:24.

You have a course!

You have a ministry!

You have gifts!

You have something the world needs!

Now is not the time to quit!

Keep going and be undaunted as you continue to move forward.

My prayer is that the verses below will fill the places where encouragement may need to be strengthened and to stand in the gap between your heart and what you are believing for because God’s Word declares it to be so!

Blessings!

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.” Hebrews 10:23

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Psalm 16:8

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” Psalm 22:29

“The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.”
Psalm 29:11

“He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.” Psalm 18:33

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” Colossians 3:23

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12

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David Trusted God and Why You Can, Too!

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Years ago, I bought one of those at-home exercise kits that included resistance bands. Those bands acted in place of weights and provided tension for the exercises I was doing so that I could get the most out of each movement.

Outside of exercising, those words “weight” and “tension” don’t seem very beneficial to us. In fact, they are words that are synonymous with unpleasant things such as stress, worry, and anxiety. And when they show up, they make life even more difficult instead of being helpful.

Troubles, unfortunately, are a part of our human existence. But the stress they bring do not impact or erase who God is in our lives.

While the Bible is chock-full of encouragement in dealing with difficulties, telling us to “cast our cares” (1 Peter 5:7), and not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34), it also tells us the reason we can have confidence in the midst of life’s storms, and that reason, my friend, is God.

Stress, and what the Bible calls the “cares of this world” (Mark 4:19), try to choke out the word of truth of who God is in our lives. But David, opening in Psalm 16:1, pointed to God as the source of his trust, saying, “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.”

Whatever and whomever have gained our hearts to become our “source” in life, they will be the foundation we stand upon and turn to every single time. But here’s the kicker that some get wrong: any foundation outside of God is fallible and it will fail and fall eventually. This is especially true when it is exposed to undue stress and tension.

Think of a rubber band that has been stretched too far, a bridge that snapped because of tension, or any number of things that could not endure the weight or the stretch that was being demanded from it, and it gave way under pressure.

Then, we have God. Infinitely wonderful, from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2), who cannot be stretched beyond comfort, who is not looking for a backup plan for your life and mine, who knows all things perfectly and does all things well. He is the one Proverbs tells us to, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). And that is because He is the only one who is in the position to uphold us and every one of His promises, to see us completely through, never forsaking us, without fail.

So, David says He is the one I put my trust in.

David knew enough about God to know that no matter what stresses or troubles he was facing, they could never overwhelm Him, conquer Him, discourage Him, or trip Him up.

Friends, we can have that same confidence today when we realize beyond a shadow of doubt who our God is, and we take what David knew about God and apply it to our lives.

Firstly, He is our Heavenly Father (Matthew 6:9). Although Jesse was David’s biological father, in his relationship with God, David saw Him as his heavenly Father. God made a covenant with David, one that included this beautiful title for him and his descendants that came after him (2 Samuel 7:14), where they would proclaim, “He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation” (Psalm 89:26). That relationship is available to us today through our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 4:4-7).

“The Bible tells us, ‘You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world,’ (1 John 4:4).   As we are going about life we are to know in whom we belong.  ‘You are of God!’ the Word tells us.  Therefore, because of our holy lineage, because of how we are wired through the blood of Jesus Christ, you and I are to instinctively operate like the ‘greater’ is in you.” (Instinctively His!)

Aside from that, David, during his life span, notes that, as opposed to the ways and sources of the wicked, God is faithful, saying, “Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds” (Psalm 36:5).

Previously, I shared these words with you: “Circumstances, unsettling things, and unknown situations will periodically appear in our lives. And while that is true, we must remember that our God is not a ‘periodical’ God. He doesn’t just show up in times of happenstance. He doesn’t make His rounds to see who or what He wants to attend to and deal with at that moment.

No. But He is forever faithful. Never let what you’re dealing with shatter that wonderful truth: GOD IS FOREVER FAITHFUL!” (No Matter What It Looks Like, God is Faithful). David knew it to be true, and so can you!

In his battle against Goliath, Daivd knew God to be the power and strength he leaned upon which would never fail, saying, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied” (1 Samuel 17:45).

What David knew was that God would not and could not shrink in power before any force. He would always win: “God’s track record doesn’t have marks on it to say that He wasn’t able to accomplish this task or that.  As a matter of fact, the Bible states that He is, ‘able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,’ (Ephesians 3:20).”

My friend, when you go with God you will never lose, regardless of what the circumstances look like right now.

Lastly, what David also knew was the personal love of God. He, as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), knew what it felt like to be loved by God from His heart. To the point of proclaiming His “lovingkindness is better than life” (Psalm 63:3). “While human love can and will be fickle, God said, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you,’ (Jeremiah 31:3, NKJV).”

What David knew, was God’s greatness cannot be condensed to a small list of adjectives that try to describe everything He is and wants to be in our lives. He is just so much more.

And as that, He more than qualifies to be our trust even during the most difficult of days.

Nobody promised us this road would be without bumps and turns that we don’t like. But as long as we are traveling through this life with God as our source, we will never be without everything that He is.

While weights are good for physical exercise and endurance; other types of weights can hinder our growth and our Christian journey, and we are encouraged to lay them aside (Hebrews 12:1). The best way to do that is to trust in God as David did. And when we do, we will find in Him everything we need, and so much more, getting the most out of our Christian journey.

Blessings~

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details.

Why Is the Bible So Boring – NOT!

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1 Chronicles 1:24-28; 2:9-17

The Bible has consistently, throughout the years, been the best-selling book of all time. Those words printed on those pages have been read and have drawn people into the world of those who live within them more than any other literary works.

And yet, even with its popularity, many still struggle with reading, understanding, believing, and applying its contents to their lives.

While there are many fantastic stories in the Bible, lives unfolding, good and bad “characters,” and stories of wonders, miracles, and amazement, there are also places within that written word where there are only lists, such as in 1 Chronicles 1 and 2.

This particular list is just names of who begat who. It is just a list of genealogies.

One would think that for a book to be the best-selling of all time, such mundane, boring lists would not be included. Could not the space in those pages be filled with even more exciting escapades and adventures? After all, if the goal is to get even more people to read it, why not make sure their attention is always so riveted to the pages that they cannot turn away?

While it is great that the Bible is the best-selling book of all time, widely read throughout the world and history, and yes, we want even more people to read it, the goal of the Bible is not just to be read, but to be believed.

The Bible is not the fascination of someone’s mind as some stories are. It is not a construct of story lines and plot twists that someone artistically wrote and put together.

The Bible is a history book. It is the history of us, of humankind. In its pages is the real writing and recording of real lives that were lived through certain periods. Their stories, no matter how amazing and miraculous, were real occurrences that unfolded for those who experienced them.

The details that some may view as boring are also a blessing. They allow us to trace those fantastic stories, those adventures, those history-making moves back to actual bloodlines, families, people, and places. This, in turn, not only proves the validity of their story but that of the entire Bible itself.

The reason that it is so important is that when we see the reality of people, places, and experiences, we can believe. Believe not only what it says about their lives, but about ours.

The Bible is the most universal book there ever was or ever will be. It is written for every human. It outlines our beginnings and history on this planet, our expectations in life, and our future.

It tells us where we have been as a people and where we are going. The stories of their lives and experiences in between show us what to do and what not to do so that we can arrive at a favored conclusion to our story.

When I come across those “boring” aspects, such as genealogy lists, I read the names. And in reading, some names will start to sound familiar, and the greatest game of connect-the-dots, the biggest picture of the most fantastic story in the world, begins to not only unfold before my eyes but come to life.

Names like Adam, the first man, are traced through history to Noah (Genesis 5), and are reestablished again in 1 Chronicles 1. From there, we see the three sons of Noah named Shem, Ham, and Japheth, with their children listed under each of their fathers.

Following the list further down under Shem’s name in Genesis 11:10-26 and 1 Chronicles 1:17-27, we see the familiar name of Abraham, through whom God promised that all the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

It is from him, Isaac appears in this great record of human history, and from him Israel (1 Chronicles 1:34). And from Israel, twelve sons were named (1 Chronicles 2:1, 2).

From these sons, Judah was highlighted (1 Chronicles 2:3; Psalm 78:68), becoming prominent over all his brothers (1 Chronicles 5:2), and announcing a great ruler who comes from him. Following the names that come from Judah, we come to Boaz, to Obed, and to Jesse (1 Chronicles 2:11, 12).

Following Jesse’s name, his sons are highlighted with David (Psalm 78:70-72), bringing up the rear (1 Chronicles 2:13-15). From here, we can continue to follow David’s lineage through 1 Chronicles 3.

Coming into the first chapter of the New Testament, Matthew 1, we see the reiteration of this great family line that has walked through history to bring forth our Savior, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-18).

He is the One reaffirmed by the Apostle Paul, saying, “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3:8, 9).

My friend, do not let the lists and such distract you. Take them for the treasure they are. They are the historical references of our faith. They detail why we should believe and have faith.

Boring? Far from it! Throughout its pages we see a story beautifully written, with intricate details woven in between, by the Master Author of all time, our Father God: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).

All of history is, in fact, His Story. Today, each of us is called to find our place in that story.

Start with the genealogy of Matthew, and read through the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There you will meet Jesus, the last name on that genealogy list. He is/was the one born to fulfill all the prophecies written in those historical pages about our Messiah, our Savior. He is “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

Follow the story of the Son of God on earth, believe His story, and you will find where you belong in it: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16, 17).

Knowing that, I don’t find it boring at all. It is pretty fantastic when you think about it.

Reignite your passion for God’s Word and let His timeless treasure be your guide: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Blessings~

Text-Free Image by Marcus Adam from Pixabay

Copyright © Word For Life Says.com (Sharing any posts or lessons can only be done through the share buttons provided on this site from the original posts, lessons, and articles only. You can reblog from the original posts only using the reblog button provided, or share using the share buttons provided from these social media platforms: Facebook, X, or Pinterest, etc., and they must be shared from the original posts only. All other repostings are prohibited. Posts and other items of interest found on this site MAY NOT BE COPIED AND PASTED, downloaded, uploaded, etc to another website or entity not listed (physical or electronic).  See COPYRIGHT PAGE for more details. 

I feel so out of control, and that’s a good thing!

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My life lately has been like a roller coaster. There have been many changes going on. Some, quite dramatic. Some, quite honestly, I didn’t feel ready for, and yet, here I am.

Some days, I feel strong and confident. Other days, not so much.

Each day is taken on a literal day-by-day basis. It is, whatever it is going to be.

With that, the day may have tears. Or, it may come with much rejoicing in the heart. But no matter what is on the menu of the day, I have had to make a conscious effort to take a step back and trust God in this (and not just talk about it).

I am reminded of the words I wrote in Learning to Let Go!:

“A lot of times we face difficulties and challenges in life, things that stretch us way out of where we are used to being.  Then, we are asked to trust God; to just step out and depend on Him as our unfailing equipment…”

Because changes bring with them many unknowns, and it’s those unknowns that become unnerving for us. But what I, and we, need to remember is just because something is unknown to us, it doesn’t mean it’s unknown to God. In fact, the whole world, history, and all the people in it are an open book before Him.

The journey that we are afraid to take. The move we are hesitant to make, God already knows the ending of each. He is never caught off guard or surprised by the outcome, even if we are.

So, it’s okay if we don’t have all the answers. It’s alright if we feel as if our hand is slipping off the steering wheel of life, because our confidence is not in us. We know all too well the frailty and failure of the flesh.

But our confidence is in our unfailing God.

He is the same God who was there with us as we went through all the other stories of our lives, and He is the same God who knows the chapter we are currently in.

Even better, He is the same God who knows the conclusion as well.

So yes, there may be challenges that make us feel uncomfortable. Things that make us feel like life is spinning out of control. But the things that unnerve us, things we feel we can’t handle, God can.

He is our strength, peace, and hope. God is where we can rest our hearts and minds, even when everything else feels like it’s coming undone. And it’s a good thing to be reminded of that!

Blessings~

Remember this: the great King David became so distressed and discouraged at one point in his life, and the Bible says, “David encouraged himself in the LORD his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).

How can you find encouragement in God during the challenging times?

For me, reading the Word and being reminded of His promises helps to ground me. Also, writing this devotional helps to lift some of what I am feeling off my heart and put it on paper (and yes, my preferred writing method is still pen to paper before it hits the screen).

Find what helps you to shift your focus from your problems to God.

Prayer:

Father God, as this day opens before us, You see what each heart is dealing with. You know better than anyone the places these challenges hit us hardest. As we navigate our circumstances, help us remember that whatever feels out of control for us is never out of control for You. Help us to rest and trust in Your sovereign hand at work in our lives. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, AMEN!