Friday, February 6, 2015
Day 38
All things
Rom. 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good to those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
As Christians we have often heard Romans 8:28 and can pretty much quote it, but do we really believe it? How can all things work together for good? What could be good about a sickness, the journey with a drug and alcohol addict, the death of a young child in a freak accident, or the call comes that your prodigal has lost his life to drugs. Now just how can that be good?
But as we read and believe that what the Bible says is truth. We know God does not lie. Is God sovereign? Is God really in control if these things are going wrong in my life today? Does He really care about my loss, my struggle, my burden? Yet our passage tells us ALL things work together for our good.
Will you choose to believe that today? Will you rebuke the lie of the enemy who whispers in your ear; God doesn’t love you, God has deserted you; God is punishing you; God is lying when He claims ALL things work together for those who love Him. It might not look good, but we must believe His word and hold close to his promise.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Day 37
Don’t Give Up
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
While at a seminar at the Cove in Asheville, I prayed I would be able to have the speaker, Henry Blackaby pray with me. God opened that door on the last day of the conference. As I shared the fact that my son was on the streets using drugs and I needed prayer, Henry put his hand on my shoulder and prayed. One sentence that rang in my head for years after… “Lord, help this mother to never give up.”
That sustained me many days and I NEVER did give up. Every time I felt like it, the Lord would remind me of that prayer. Maybe you feel like giving up on your prodigal. Let me encourage you not to give up hope. Our family faced many dark days but we chose to believe God would bring our son home one day. It didn’t happen overnight, but it has happened.
I urge you to pray and find a prayer partner or partners to join you in your efforts. Prayer works. We believe that God hears the desperate cry of a parent and it makes all the difference. Never give up. It might not be the answer you would have liked but His answer is always perfectly orchestrated. His plans are not ours but knowing the whole picture, His plan is perfect. Rest in that fact.
Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
While at a seminar at the Cove in Asheville, I prayed I would be able to have the speaker, Henry Blackaby pray with me. God opened that door on the last day of the conference. As I shared the fact that my son was on the streets using drugs and I needed prayer, Henry put his hand on my shoulder and prayed. One sentence that rang in my head for years after… “Lord, help this mother to never give up.”
That sustained me many days and I NEVER did give up. Every time I felt like it, the Lord would remind me of that prayer. Maybe you feel like giving up on your prodigal. Let me encourage you not to give up hope. Our family faced many dark days but we chose to believe God would bring our son home one day. It didn’t happen overnight, but it has happened.
I urge you to pray and find a prayer partner or partners to join you in your efforts. Prayer works. We believe that God hears the desperate cry of a parent and it makes all the difference. Never give up. It might not be the answer you would have liked but His answer is always perfectly orchestrated. His plans are not ours but knowing the whole picture, His plan is perfect. Rest in that fact.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Day 36
Balance
Proverbs 11:1 “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.”
My health plan at work suggested I visit a nutritionist. I was having a difficult time keeping a steady exercise routine and maintaining a healthy diet. As I talked to the nutritionist he noted my protein intake was not consistent. I tended not to eat protein at breakfast or lunch, with a healthy dose at dinner. He made some suggestions saying, “It’s all about balance.” I needed to eat protein all during the day to keep my levels on a more balanced scale. No wonder I did not have enough energy, I wasn’t balanced. I was like a yo-yo up and down.
Spiritually that also applies; we need the meat of the Word all day so we can stay energized in Christ. I’ve learned to not only read His Word in the mornings but to feed on it all along my day. I’ve learned to listen to a message on the radio, sing along with songs, and read uplifting spiritual books all day to feed my spirit and keep balanced. How do you feed your spirit and make a plan to stay balanced as you follow Christ? Our goal must be to stay spiritually balanced.
Proverbs 11:1 “A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.”
My health plan at work suggested I visit a nutritionist. I was having a difficult time keeping a steady exercise routine and maintaining a healthy diet. As I talked to the nutritionist he noted my protein intake was not consistent. I tended not to eat protein at breakfast or lunch, with a healthy dose at dinner. He made some suggestions saying, “It’s all about balance.” I needed to eat protein all during the day to keep my levels on a more balanced scale. No wonder I did not have enough energy, I wasn’t balanced. I was like a yo-yo up and down.
Spiritually that also applies; we need the meat of the Word all day so we can stay energized in Christ. I’ve learned to not only read His Word in the mornings but to feed on it all along my day. I’ve learned to listen to a message on the radio, sing along with songs, and read uplifting spiritual books all day to feed my spirit and keep balanced. How do you feed your spirit and make a plan to stay balanced as you follow Christ? Our goal must be to stay spiritually balanced.
Day 35
Laying your Isaac Down
Genesis 22:12 (MSG)
12 “Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.”
Most of us are familiar with the story of Abraham and Isaac. God told Abraham to go up on the mountain and sacrifice Isaac on the altar. He took Isaac to a place of physical death in order to free Abraham of son-worship. God calls us to lay our Isaacs down, to let them go, not to walk their journey alone but to find rest and safety in Christ. As we release them into His care, it frees us to trust Him to care for both of our needs.
As Abraham lifted his hand to bring the knife down to Isaac, God called from heaven… “Abraham! Abraham! Do not lay a hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him for now I know you fear ME!”
The thing that struck me as I read the passage was that you can’t hold on to God’s hand if you are holding on to anything or anyone else. Examine your heart today. Are you holding on to a loved one, a thing? Is God testing your heart today? Have you truly let go? God said to Abraham, now I know I am your priority. You were willing to give me your one and only son. Now I can work.
If you haven’t laid down your Isaac it might be time. When you release your grip then God can work. There may be difficult days ahead but as God works His plan our Isaacs will begin to take form. On top of that we might just find His plan for ourselves.
Monday, February 2, 2015
Day 34
House of Sacrifice
“I have heard your prayer and chosen this place as a house of sacrifice. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer made in this place. For now, I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.” II Chronicles 7:12; 15-16
In God’s Word, He took me to this key passage when we moved into our new office space. Don’t you just love it when He speaks so clearly through His Word? The words were written so long ago but are so applicable to our situations today.
We are grateful God has promised to hear our prayers. We meet in the prayer room before we begin our work day to pray for the needs of our families and all the prodigals. If you have concerns for your prodigal know that we are lifting them and you up.
We feel a great burden and privilege as we lift up specific prayers and prayers we don’t even know about to Him. He promises to answer them all and we believe Him. Make your home a house of sacrifice today and let’s join in agreement for all prodigals everywhere. God wants them home more than we do.
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Day 33
Redemption
Romans 3:24(KJV)
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
When invited, On Wings Like a Dove are privileged to provide devotions and visitation at our local youth detention center. Each time we go I am blown away by what these young people have been exposed to in their short life, and therefore the choices they have made. As they share their stories of drug use, abuse, and crime, it saddens me to the core. It is like going back in time with our son. At our last visit we played the song “Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave. He sings about not being who he was because Christ has redeemed him. Redemption is the purchasing back of something that has been lost by the payment of a ransom. Christ paid the ransom on the cross as He sacrificed Himself by his own shed blood. The debt we owed as sinners is not only cancelled but stamped: PAID in Full!
If you have not accepted His redemption, won’t you stop and do that today? If you have drifted away won’t you confess that to Jesus today and experience that freedom?
Pray for your prodigal to see their need for redemption today. Thank God for HIS redemption that makes us a new creature.
Romans 3:24(KJV)
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
When invited, On Wings Like a Dove are privileged to provide devotions and visitation at our local youth detention center. Each time we go I am blown away by what these young people have been exposed to in their short life, and therefore the choices they have made. As they share their stories of drug use, abuse, and crime, it saddens me to the core. It is like going back in time with our son. At our last visit we played the song “Redeemed” by Big Daddy Weave. He sings about not being who he was because Christ has redeemed him. Redemption is the purchasing back of something that has been lost by the payment of a ransom. Christ paid the ransom on the cross as He sacrificed Himself by his own shed blood. The debt we owed as sinners is not only cancelled but stamped: PAID in Full!
If you have not accepted His redemption, won’t you stop and do that today? If you have drifted away won’t you confess that to Jesus today and experience that freedom?
Pray for your prodigal to see their need for redemption today. Thank God for HIS redemption that makes us a new creature.
Day 32
Worthy Vessels
Isaiah 64:8 (KJV)
8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Worthy Vessels by Nell Kennedy is the story about the beginning process of firing pottery. Ladies of old would make their baskets from the reeds in the field and then go pick berries. The trouble came when they would lose the berries through the holes in the basket. Eventually, they decided they would line the baskets with the clay of the ground and let it dry. This provided a container without holes. One day the women were collecting berries in the fields when a fierce fire started in the field. The ladies gathered their babies and ran, leaving the baskets there. Upon return they discovered that the basket had burned away leaving a beautiful vessel. The berries inside the basket had left a beautiful color. Pottery was born. The potter knows just how much fire each individual pot can stand. He places the piece right where it needs to be in the kiln and he is always there watching the temperature so that the pot can be of use when it comes out.
That, my friend, is what The Lord does with us. We may have to walk through the fire, but He is right there with us each step of the process. He knows just how hot to turn up the fire but He is always right there controlling the temperature. Thank Him for our fires. It is through them that he transforms us into strong, useful vessels He can use.
Isaiah 64:8 (KJV)
8 But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Worthy Vessels by Nell Kennedy is the story about the beginning process of firing pottery. Ladies of old would make their baskets from the reeds in the field and then go pick berries. The trouble came when they would lose the berries through the holes in the basket. Eventually, they decided they would line the baskets with the clay of the ground and let it dry. This provided a container without holes. One day the women were collecting berries in the fields when a fierce fire started in the field. The ladies gathered their babies and ran, leaving the baskets there. Upon return they discovered that the basket had burned away leaving a beautiful vessel. The berries inside the basket had left a beautiful color. Pottery was born. The potter knows just how much fire each individual pot can stand. He places the piece right where it needs to be in the kiln and he is always there watching the temperature so that the pot can be of use when it comes out.
That, my friend, is what The Lord does with us. We may have to walk through the fire, but He is right there with us each step of the process. He knows just how hot to turn up the fire but He is always right there controlling the temperature. Thank Him for our fires. It is through them that he transforms us into strong, useful vessels He can use.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)