A BIRTHDAY MESSAGE FOR ME

Today is my birthday, and the message in my devotional (Jesus Calling) was  full of reminders that felt very timely and personal.

Reminders that God is always with me (and you who may be reading this), taking care of us. We do not have to fear the future because it is in His hands, and He is already there. 

God does not want us to worry about tomorrow, but rather, to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see and doing all there is to do, without being distracted by future concerns.

Each day is a gift. To enjoy it to its fullest and receive the joys that flow from His throne of grace, we need to keep our focus on His presence in the present, rather than waste our energy dwelling on tomorrow's worries or past regrets.

TUESDAY THOUGHTS

"Let not your heart be troubled;

you believe in God, believe also 

in me. (John 14:1, NKJV)

Thoughts I am pondering on a rainy Tuesday morning.

Why have I had so many unexpected frustrations day after day that keep eating up my time and preventing me from accomplishing the things on my schedule that need to get done? Is it the enemy trying to mess with my head and steal my peace (1 Peter 5:8); or the Lord overruling my plans (Proverbs 16:9) for His good purpose (which is ultimately for mine as well); or a bit of both?

One of my devotionals this morning was about the phrase "Let not your heart be troubled" at the beginning of John 14:1 (see above). According to British preacher, J. H. Jowett, the emphasis should be on the word heart-- not the word troubled. In his words:The heart is to be clothed in serene regality even when hell is knocking and rioting at its very gates. 

Inner peace is not the result of untroubled circumstances, but rather, of an untroubled heart.

I know this to be true, and yet I'd be lying if I said I never struggle to keep my trust and focus on God instead of my problems and frustrations. Some days the temptation to cave and give up is really strong. 

The other devotional I read contained a timely reminder that faith is like a seed. It does not grow strong overnight. Seeds grow a little at a time, a consistent 24/7 growth, until they push their way through the soil and develop into what they were created to be.

Similarly, strong unwavering faith comes from constant meditation on the Word of God and consistently filling your heart with it, 24/7--not just turning to it when you feel like it, or it's convenient, or you have a need.

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Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8, NLT).

We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps (Proverbs 16:9, NLT).

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart.  And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid (John 14:27, NLT).

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world" (John 16:33, NLT)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (Isaiah 26:3, NLT).

Then Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches" (Luke 13:18-19, NLT).

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up (Galatians 6:9, NLT).

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LEANING ON JESUS

When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.

When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.

When you're between a rock and a hard place, it

won't be a dead end.  (Isaiah 43:2, MSG

Ever since the mind boggling miracle that took place this summer, I have been buffeted by all kinds of stressful situations. 

I needed the above reminder that no matter how things may be looking in the natural, no matter how scary or overwhelming, God is right there with me. I don't need to understand the whys and the wherefores. I just need to trust that He is in control, and no challenge can destroy or defeat me if I stand strong in the truth of His Word. 

This truth was again restated by a message in my Jesus Calling devotional. A message exhorting me to accept each day exactly as it comes--not just the circumstances, but the condition of  my body as well. (Very timely and personal, as the many challenges that felt as though they would topple me included both.)

Trust Jesus, it went on to say. Trust Him completely, and rest in His sovereignty and faithfulness--even on the days that your circumstances and physical condition feel out of balance and the demands on you seem greater than your strength (which is how it has felt almost daily for the last several weeks). 

On those days, it went on to say, you have a choice--give up or rely on Jesus to infuse you with His strength, moment by moment, as needed, throughout the day, 

I choose to rely on Jesus. He has never failed me yet.