Weary Yet Pursuing


They are three little words, yet they were what was needed to encourage my heart today. The words were from Judges 8:4 which says, "weary yet pursuing". 

  
    The context of those words was written amid battle. Gideon and his army of 300 men had been fighting against the Midianites. God had already delivered 3 leaders into their hands and they were still pursuing more. They needed food to be strengthened, but those around them did not come to their rescue. Instead of giving up, they pursued their enemy, even though they were weary. (There is a lot more to the story, and I encourage you to read it in Judges 8, but God used those three little words to encourage me this day.)

    When I am tired and weary of the battle where do I go? Who do I turn to? How do I cope with the weariness that I feel? What should I pursue instead of giving in to the weariness of my soul? 

    Too often I want to go to people, and while the body of Christ can and should be a good source of refreshment often they fail. They fail because we have gone to them first, we've put our hope in their strength to encourage and lift us up instead of Christ. They fail because they have battles of their own to fight. 
So before going to others, even the body of Christ, we must go to God. We must go to His word. It's here, and here alone that I am refreshed and encouraged.

    I forget this so many times and run to people. But today it was God's words that refreshed this tired and weary heart. Perhaps they too will refresh your weary heart.

 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD , the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not becomewearyor tired. His understanding is inscrutable.  He gives strength to theweary, And to him who lacks might He  increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

"For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes." (Jer 31:25)
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Gal 6:9)
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3)
    Jesus will be our strength, in Him we will find rest. Run to Him, pursue Him through His words to you.

    So what should we do instead of giving in to weariness, discouragement, depression, anxieties, or any other ways we may try to deal with hard times? What does God's word say I should pursue instead of giving in to my weariness?
 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)
So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. (Rom 14:19) 
..pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11) 
...seek peace and pursue it.  (Heb 12:14; 1 Peter 3:11)
  Today may we choose to seek God and the things of God. May we pursue that which will build us up instead of tearing us down. May we fall on our knees before the cross, pray to know God, and pursue Him in a greater, deeper way.

Watering the Soul

I have a few plants in my house that will either look lush and thriving or withered and dying. It seems that in order to keep them looking healthy and alive I need to water them. Seriously though, I understand their desperate need for water. But too often I get distracted and forget or I just don’t see them when their leaves are turning brown, withering up and about to die. It’s sad really. I should probably just give up and not try. I am sure artificial plants could look really nice too. To be honest the only reason I have had these particular plants is because my husband is better at seeing them than I am and he will remind me that they are dying. Sometimes he will just water them without saying a word. I am sure they love my husband more than me.

Today I was reading Psalm 1 and my heart was pricked by verse 3 which says, “He will be like a tree firmly planted by stream of water, which yields its fruit in its season and it leaf does not wither…” In the quietness before the Lord He reminded me of something I had forgotten. Jeremiah 17:8 says, “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by the stream and will not fear when the heat come; But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.

Sometimes we can be like my poor plants. Our leaves begin to wither and die and for various reasons no one sees us. They don’t see that we are dying spiritually. They don’t see that we are struggling. They walk by and we die a little more. Our edges begin to curl up and we no longer produce our fruit. The ground around us begins to dry and discouragement sets in. We wonder will anyone see? Does anyone know we are struggling?

But unlike my plants we can do something about our withering leaves. My plants are dependent on me. Their only hope is that I see that they are dying. Their only hope is that I will remember to water them. We, however, have a greater hope. We have the hope of Jesus and His written word. We only need to open up His word and allow it to refreshing and renew us.

So if you feel like your life is falling apart. If you feel dried out and about to wither up then go to the One who does see you. Go to the One who is never so distracted he forgets about you. In fact He never forgets you and always sees you. Go to Him and spend time in His word and let Him refresh you.

To be honest I have forgotten this lately. Thinking other things, books, and people would be able to refresh that which I felt dying inside me. But it’s when I am meditating on the truth of His word that my soul and heart grows and is refreshed. It’s His word alone that waters my soul. I;m so grateful He sees me and reminds me that He is the answer to my thirsty soul.

What about you? How long has it been since you have sat before the Lord with your Bible? Not a bible study or devotional, but His Word, the Bible? Not that those things are wrong, but if we are only getting what others have already studied and chewed up then we are missing the richness of watering our soul through the words of Jesus. Why not start today and open up your Bible and see how God might speak to you?

Press On Toward Christ

In this world we are told there will be suffering, trials, heartache and tribulations.

It can feel overwhelming. So overwhelming that people are often tempted to stop, give up and they lose hope. 

But God reminds us to press on to maturity. (Heb 6:1) We can choose to allow the trials of this life to mature us and make us more like Christ.

We are reminded to press on to know the LORD" (Hos 6:3)

And...

We are told to press on so that we may lay hold of that for which also  was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. We press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:12,14)

My dear friends no matter what you are facing today, no matter how you feel, I pray that you will choose to press in to Christ so that you are able to grow in maturity and be more like Christ Jesus.

Being Thankful In All Things

 


Recently I was asked "How can we give thanks for everything that happens to us?" My quick answer was, "We can't. And God doesn't expect us to. God said that we are to give thank in everything, not for everything."


So often the enemy changes one small word and our entire thinking goes wrong. God tells us that we are to be thankful in our circumstances not for them. 


How many times have we been in a place where we are faced with suffering, pain, or trials with the wrong view? We think that somehow we are to be thankful for whatever we are facing. In this life we can face some really hard things in life. Like, how can a mother watch her child die of cancer and be thankful? How can a wife be thankful that her husband is having an affair? How can we be thankful as we live and work in an environment that seems hostile to what we believe? How can anyone be thankful for being abused, beaten, abandoned, marginalized, forgotten or... the list could go on and on.


Oh dear one, God does not ask us to be thankful for these things. He wants us to have an attitude of thankfulness as we walk through them. When our circumstances threaten to overwhelm us we can still be thankful. We can be thankful as we look to God. But first we must take our eyes off the circumstance, die to what we thought would happen, and remember who He is and what He has done. We can be thankful for His continued Faithfulness to us.


We can give thanks because we know that God always acts in righteousness. "I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High". Ps 7:17 


We can give thanks because He is our God! "You are my God, and I give thanks to You; You are my God, I extol You". Ps 118:28


We can give thanks as a sacrifice of praise. "...The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21


God wants us to choose an attitude of thankfulness.  It’s choosing to live, walk, and believe in TRUTH regardless of emotions or circumstances. Living a life in thankfulness is beyond the ability of the flesh so we must rely on the Spirit. We must be in His word. "Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving." Col 4:2 


Will you choose to be thankful because of who God is? Will you choose to focus on God and His character instead of whatever current circumstances you find yourself in? Go to God in prayer and ask His Spirit to help you live a life being thankful reguardless of your circumstances.


Reflecting God's Love




 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34 (NIV)



As followers of Christ we are called to reflect God's love in our daily lives. Being a Christian is not merely about attending church services or reciting prayers; it is about embodying the teachings of Jesus and living out His commandments.

In John 13:34, Jesus gives us a new commandment: to love one another as He has loved us. This commandment is the foundation of being a god centered Christian. It challenges us to extend love, grace, and compassion to everyone we encounter, regardless of their background, beliefs, or actions. 

To be a Christian means to be a vessel of God's love in a broken world. It means showing kindness to the stranger, forgiveness to the offender, and empathy to the hurting. It means being patient with those who test our patience and extending a helping hand to those in need. It means loving those who sin differently than we do and remembering the sin and temptations God has saved us from.

Being a godly Christian also involves living a life of integrity and righteousness. It means aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with God's Word. It means seeking His guidance and wisdom in every decision we make, and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from within.

Let us remember that being a godly Christian is not about perfection, but about progress. It is a lifelong journey of growth and transformation. We may stumble and fall along the way, but God's grace is always available to lift us up and empower us to continue walking in His ways.

Today, let us commit ourselves to being a God honoring Christian, reflecting God's love in all that we do. May our lives be a testimony of His goodness, mercy, and grace, drawing others closer to Him.

God’s Peace


In a world filled with chaos, uncertainty, and turmoil, finding true peace can seem like an impossible dream. We often seek peace in external circumstances, relationships, or material possessions, only to find that these sources are temporary and fleeting. However, as believers, we have access to a peace that surpasses all understanding – God's peace.

God's peace is not merely the absence of conflict or trouble; it is a deep sense of tranquility and well-being that comes from knowing and trusting in Him. It is a peace that remains steadfast even in the midst of life's storms. When we experience God's peace, our hearts are calmed, our minds are renewed, and our souls find rest.

The world offers a counterfeit peace that is based on external circumstances. It promises happiness through wealth, success, or the absence of problems. But this peace is fragile and easily shattered. God's peace, on the other hand, is an internal peace that remains unshaken regardless of our circumstances. It is a peace that can sustain us through the darkest of times and carry us through the challenges we face.

To experience God's peace, we must first surrender our worries, fears, and anxieties to Him. We need to cast our burdens upon the Lord, knowing that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). As we release control and place our trust in Him, He fills our hearts with His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Today, let us seek God's peace with all our hearts. May we find solace in His presence, knowing that He is our refuge and strength. As we surrender our worries and fears to Him, may His peace guard our hearts and minds, enabling us to live victoriously and radiate His peace to a world in desperate need.

Stop Fighting For Control


Have you ever had one of those days when it feels like you are carrying around the weight of the world? You look around you and see all the pain, heartbreak, struggling, confusion, uncertainty and you want to do something. You want to try fix it!
 
There is so much hurt. So much pain. You wonder, "How can I help make it better"? As you look around it seems overwhelming. How can you help those that will not listen? How can you warn of the coming storms when people choose not to see? How can you encourage the heartbroken? The abused? Those caught in sin's cycle?

In the midst of a day when I am taking on the sorrow of the world God whispers gently in my ear. “These sorrows are not for you. I will carry them.”

I protest, “But God, shouldn’t I say SOMETHING to help them see truth?” Shouldn’t I DO something?” Again a whisper, “Dear child, you have spoken. You have pointed out truth.  You have loved them where they are. And as I give you opportunity continue but for right now, let it go and pray.”
 
“PRAY? That is it!” “Yes.”

Oh how often I forget that God carries the world and all the troubles on His shoulders I do not need to. I forget I am not in control of the lives of those I love. God changes minds, heart and saves souls. He convicts of sin and He is the one who will work it all out for His glory. 

I need to pray.

What I continue to learn over and over and over is, I AM NOT IN CONTROL. Not even a little. I am learning, continually it seems, that I need to trust more. For if I am fighting to control my family, friends or my circumstances then I am not trusting God. Did you get that?

If I am fighting for control, then I am not trusting God. 
 
Oh Father help me trust you more fully! Help me to realize that I can not carry the sorrows and heartaches of this world. You have called me to pray. Father, teach me to pray and leave it all with you.

#trustgod #blogger #devotions #newblogpost #itsbeenawhile.

No Longer Condemned

If you are anything like me I'm sure there are times that you need to be reminded that shame does not come from Jesus.

If you are trapped in a cycle of shame, run to Jesus. Read His word. Pray to Him.
There is no condemnation in those who follow Christ. He has set us free from both sin and shame.
Guilt on the other hand is conviction from the Holy Spirit that we have sinned against God and will ALWAYS lead us to repentance. Thereby drawing us closer to God.

Shame will always lead you away from God. Our enemy loves to get us focused on shamet that causes us to spiral down hill toward thinking of self. To make us feel like a bad person, unworthy of forgiveness or love.

Shame says "I am bad." Guilt says "I did something bad." Shame leads to a self focused veiw of our sin. Guilt leads to a focus on our behavior and causes us to run to our Father to seek grace, mercy and forgiveness.

Spend some time today reading these verses and mediating on their truth. All are in the NASB (1995) version.

Psalm 25:3
Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.

Psalm 32:5
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Psalm 34:5
They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed.

Romans 8:1-2
THERE is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

Romans 10:11
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.”  

Hebrews 10:22
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.



Hope For Hurt Sheep

 

Last week I listened to the first episode of “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.” It was good, but heartbreaking. I don’t know if I’ll listen to all of the episodes or not because my heart just grieved. On so many levels I grieved. But mostly I grieved for those precious, beloved sheep who have been wounded and broken. They have been hurt by the very ones who were supposed to watch over them, feed them and grow them. 

This morning my read was in Jeremiah chapters 23-25. So timely. Shepherds who abuse God’s sheep break His heart. 

Shepherds, who are they? They are the pastors, elders and leaders. I also don’t believe Its a stretch to apply this to those who “shepherd” over women’s or children’s ministry. 

Anyway, as I was reading Jeremiah I was reminded of Ezekiel 34 where God again has very strong words against those that abuse God’s precious sheep. They will be held accountable, Hebrews 13:17 says of church leaders,  “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give an account.” 

Mars Hill is not the only church, unfortunately, that has had or will deal with abusive pastors or leaders. I pray they will be found out, that they will be humbled and seek restoration. I grieve for their souls too. 

But my biggest heartache are the damaged sheep. I’ve “talked” to so many on social media who are just broken and devastated. Where do they turn? Where do they run? 

Jeremiah 23:5-6 gives us that answer.  

The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“when I will raise up for David a a righteous Branch,

a King who will reign wisely

and do what is just and right in the land.

6In his days Judah will be saved

and Israel will live in safety.

This is the name by which he will be called:

The Lord Our Righteous Savior. 

JESUS! Jesus is the answer. 

May we all remember that we are to follow the One True Shepherd, Jesus. He will not fail us. We need to stop putting  church leaders on pedestals. We need to pray for them and hold them accountable. 

Oh, dear one of God, you are so precious to Him. Please hear me when I say that your Great Shepherd, Jesus, loves you.

It Is Well


Horatio Spafford wrote the hymn “It Is Well With my Soul” during a difficult season of life. He lost his only son to sickness. A successful lawyer he lost all he owned in the The Great Chicago fire. And shortly afterwards he lost his four daughters when the ship his daughters and wife were on went down. He penned this hymn as he was sailing to meet his wife while they passed over the area his daughters had drowned. 

In the midst of horrible devastation Stafford chose to remind himself that nothing mattered but Christ. Whether life was good or difficult he would say, “ it is well with my soul”. 

This is the kind of peace I desire. A peace that springs forth from a knowledge that God is sovereign and He is always good. Stafford could not have penned the words to this hymn without that knowledge. He could not have felt peace without complete trust in His God. 

Oh Father, build this kind of trust in my heart that I can say, no matter what may come, “it is well, it’s is well with my soul.”