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My God is…directing my heart 2 Thessalonians 3:5

05 Aug

construction stop2 Thessalonians 3:5 – May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Who directs you?

Is it the man with a bright orange vest and reflective bands? He might direct you to keep you out of a dangerous situation and to keep you on the right path. A director of a choir or band is there to help keep the group working together as they go through the music, so that if he notices anyone going off the musical path he can help them to remain on key. Maybe you are directed by a pastor or teacher who tries to give you information that will allow you to make informed decisions and get to where you’re going in life. Then there is the GPS. The GPS is supposed to help you find the most direct route to your destination, but I think a few of us have experienced being misled by the GPS.

Being Misled

As many things and people who are trying to direct us and keep us on a good path, there are seemingly just as many or more that are trying to mislead us. There are ads on TV that will say almost anything to get us to try their product. We are often misled by others who have their own agenda or just want a partner in crime (so to speak). Sometimes misleading someone can be unintentional, like if that person has also been misled. So often the misleading is subtle and easily overlooked. Maybe a better word is gradual. You start by having a drink before you’re of age. You didn’t get drunk, so you’re sure you don’t have a problem, but you find yourself drinking more each weekend. You start to feel like you need a drink to have fun or fit in. Things that mislead us can start subtly, so we need to be on guard.

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ

Where should out hearts be directed? Our hearts should be directed by the grace of God, to the love of God and steadfastness of Christ. How do we know that the Lord is directing us that way? Because we are spending time in His word, church and family. We keep our focus on Him. We rely on Him, and He remains faithful to keep us close. We aren’t perfect though, and without the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will always fall short. We are human and get easily distracted, so I like Paul would like to pray this for you and your family as well, “May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ”.

 
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Posted by on August 5, 2013 in My God is directing my heart

 

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My God is…a warrior Exodus 15:3

22 Jul

Exodus 15:3 – The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.

Salvation

 

Moses was grateful

 

“The Lord is a warrior” these words were written by Moses after God had sent the Egyptian soldiers into the Red Sea. God had just secured the freedom of the Israelites, and you can practically hear Moses being overwhelmed with joy, awe and respect for the Lord.

Definition of WARRIOR

: a man engaged or experienced in warfare; broadly : a person engaged in some struggle or conflict
Is God a pacifist? 
I was just reading something today a friend posted about God being a pacifist. The post pointed
to the Sermon on the mount as evidence of this claim. I don’t know how I feel about that claim, but either way, God is still a warrior. It’s kind of like the phrase “Once a Marine, always a Marine”. God has won the war against the devil by His sacrificing of His Son Jesus. Jesus paid the ultimate price that all warriors know is a possibility. God sent Jesus so that the battle would be won. We would no longer have to be subject to the devil, and we could begin to live our lives full of forgiveness and grace.
God is a warrior
God took on flesh, became a man so that He could overcome the devil’s plots and plans to ruin our chances of spending eternity with God, something the devil had lost already. God showed the Devil that no matter what it took (even the death of His own Son), He was willing to do what was necessary. He fought for us. He fought the devil while being tempted in the desert, He fought the devil on the cross, and because of His bravery and sacrifice we have the hope of overcoming the devil daily in our lives as well as for eternity. We can spend our lives in service to the Lord because the Warrior has won the fight.

 

 

 
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Posted by on July 22, 2013 in My God is a warrior

 

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My God is…proving His love for us Romans 5:7

17 Jul

Romans 5:7 – But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.magnifying-glass

Prove it!

Have you ever said those words to someone? It’s often said after someone has said something unbelievable. We don’t think something is true, and we are willing to bet the person telling us can’t prove what they are saying. Sometimes we say “Prove it” to those who claim to love us. Maybe their actions aren’t lining up with their words. In our house, we prove a lot of things by looking them up on the internet (everything’s true on the internet, right?).

Definition of PROVE

transitive verb
1archaic : to learn or find out by experience
2a : to test the truth, validity, or genuineness of <the exception proves the rule> <prove a will at probate>
 b : to test the worth or quality of; specifically : to compare against a standard —sometimes used with up or out
 c : to check the correctness of (as an arithmetic result)
3a : to establish the existence, truth, or validity of (as by evidence or logic) <prove a theorem> <the charges were never proved in court>
 b : to demonstrate as having a particular quality or worth<the vaccine has been proven effective after years of tests><proved herself a great actress>
4: to show (oneself) to be worthy or capable <eager to prove myself in the new job>
The definition above that really hits the mark for the verse we’re looking at is 3a, “to establish the existence, truth, or validity of”. How do we know that God loves us? This verse tells us straight up why.
But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
The whole of scripture is testimony and proof of God’s love, but here, St. Paul is urging us to look at the proof of Gods love that is Jesus Christ. Sending His own Son, God was willing to sacrifice the most important things that we might have eternal life. That we might be able to live with Him in eternity.
While we still were sinners
Not only is the proof in the fact that God the Father would give up His Son Jesus or that Jesus gave up His own life for us, but the real kicker, the part that really speaks to me is that God did that while we were still sinners. We hadn’t gotten our act together. We weren’t some big shot. We weren’t some important religious leader. We weren’t overly devout. We weren’t faithful to God, our spouses or families. That’s when He loved us. While we were still sinners. Before we recognized Him as our savior God loved us. He didn’t require anything of us when He loves us. He loves us no matter the condition of our heart. He knows our hearts better than we know it ourselves. He knows we’re still sinners, but He wanted to provide a way that all sinners would be able to have a future of holiness in heaven with Him. That we would forever be able to be glorifying Him in all we do. This side of heaven we are truly blessed if we are able to glorify God in any way. In heaven, it will be like breathing.
Are you looking for proof?
 
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Posted by on July 17, 2013 in My God is proving His love for us

 

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My God is…giving me rest Matthew 11:27-29

15 Jul

Matthew 11:27-29 – All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except silent, pause or break time hand gesturethe Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 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.

Come to me

Jesus says, “Come to me”. We are to come to Him with all things. He doesn’t tell us to go talk to your best friend, sister, brother or mother. He tells us to come to Him. Why? Because He’s the only one who can actually do anything for us that will have eternal consequences. God is not only concerned with the struggles you’re going through now, but He is also concerned with the condition of your heart and soul. He wants you to come to Him, because coming to Him is a confession of faith. If you come to the Lord, you are showing that you put trust in Him to handle your situation. Coming to the Lord in prayer takes faith. It’s not necessarily a measure of how much faith you have, but when you come to Him, you acknowledge that He exists, and that you think He can change things for you.

All you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens

If you’ve never been weary or carried a heavy burden, this verse is not for you. Read no further. Wait, you’re still reading, I bet you are. No one I know has not gone through a time of weariness. Most have had some very heavy burdens to bear. Some are because of their own actions and some are of other peoples making, but we’ve all had struggles. We’ve all been in pain and hurting. God wants us to come to Him. We don’t need to be hopeless, because we know that God is there for us. He is going to strengthen us and preserve us in all things. He doesn’t get weary or tired, so you know He’ll always be able to help.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted; Isaiah 40:28-30

I will give you rest

I don’t know if any of you have suffered with insomnia. I have only battles with short bouts of it in my life, but even those short lived struggles show you how much you need your rest. In fact, here are 10 Surprising Effects of lack of sleep. (click on the link for more information)

1. Sleepiness Causes Accidents

2. Sleep Loss Dumbs You Down

3. Sleep Deprivation Can Lead to Serious Health Problems

4. Lack of Sleep Kills Sex Drive

5. Sleepiness Is Depressing

6. Lack of Sleep Ages Your Skin

7. Sleepiness Makes You Forgetful

8. Losing Sleep Can Make You Gain Weight

9. Lack of Sleep May Increase Risk of Death

10. Sleep Loss Impairs Judgment, Especially About Sleep

Now in our verse above, God doesn’t promise us sleep. He’s not talking about sleep deprivation alone, but also our souls being deprived of rest.

Definition of REST

1: repose, sleep; specifically : a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
2a : freedom from activity or labor
 b : a state of motionlessness or inactivity
 c : the repose of death
3: a place for resting or lodging
4: peace of mind or spirit
5a (1) : a rhythmic silence in music (2) : a character representing such a silence
 b : a brief pause in reading
6: something used for support
God knows that sleep an rest are necessary for us to function properly, and He wants you to get that kind of rest. Again as we look at the definition of rest, we see so much more to the word than just sleeping or winding down at the end of the day. “The repose of death” is an interesting one. Only in Christ can we truly “rest in peace”, because it is through Jesus that we receive eternal life and know what our future holds. He has provided us with peace of mind about death by saving us through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection. I also like “a place for resting”. What a beautiful image that brings to my mind! I picture myself leaning on God, sleeping with my head upon His shoulder (does God get coyote arm?). Of course the “peace of mind or spirit” definition fits here as well. It is the last one that really rounds out the definition for me. “Something used for support” is a reminder that God is going to prop us up and help us face the difficult time in our lives. We’re never alone, we’ve always God Him behind us, propping us up with His Spirit.
What are you using for support?
 
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Posted by on July 15, 2013 in Matthew, My God is giving me rest

 

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My God is…coming to us Hosea 6:3

12 Jul

Hosea 6:3 – Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord;
his appearing is as sure as the dawn;
he will come to us like the showers,
like the spring rains that water the earth.

 

Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord

It’s so interesting to me that I found this verse today. I always try to pray before I begin writing my blog, and today I prayed about it, did some other work, cruised around on Facebook and saw this verse featured on the KLOVE page. The reason I find it interesting is that I was having a discussion this morning with a friend of mine. She said she felt like our friendship had drifted from its focus of having God at the center of our friendship. For months now we’ve been praying or doing Bible study most of the time we got together. Lately, I think we’ve veered from that modus operandi. Our women’s Bible study on Tuesdays took a break for the month of July. I think we’re feeling the impact of that, and sadly we’ve not been as vigilant on our prayers together. Sadly, this has allowed Satan to start working his evil in our lives. Today, by the grace of God we were able to refocus ourselves and pray together again. When we are not vigilant, not pressing on to know the Lord, it’s not just that we stop seeking God (though that is bad enough), but that Satan is given the opportunity to encourage us to pull even further away. We may start to back slide on the things the Lord has been changing in our lives. We need to continually press on to know the Lord.

His appearing is as sure as the dawn

We can be sure that every time we come to the Lord to know Him more, He is there. Like in this verse in Hosea, His appearing is as sure as the dawn. Are you worried the sun won’t rise tomorrow? Most of us can emphatically say no. So as sure as we are that the sun will rise tomorrow, we can be sure our Lord Jesus Christ will be there for us each and every time we seek Him. He’s not playing hide and seek with us. He’s playing seek. We are to seek Him, and He will be found.

He will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.

I love this imagery. I love the idea that when He comes to us, He is watering us. He’s giving us what we need so that we may grow. He’s soaking us with His presence. We are so fortunate to have a God who doesn’t just give us what we need, but He gives to us in abundance. We need nothing more than we need to be in His presence. And as we can be sure He will be there, we also know He is there in abundance. We are soaked with Him. We are showered upon by Him, and we are watered with His word. We are able to grow in Him and become all He has planned for us to be.

What are you sure of?

 

 
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Posted by on July 12, 2013 in My God is coming to us

 

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My God is…abounding in steadfast love Numbers 14:18

10 Jul

JesushuggingcryinggirlNumbers 14:18 – ‘The Lord is slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love,
forgiving iniquity and transgression,
but by no means clearing the guilty,
visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
to the third and the fourth generation.’

Definition of ABOUND

1: to be present in large numbers or in great quantity : be prevalent
2: to be copiously supplied —used with in or with <life abounded in mysteries — Norman Mailer> <institutions abound with evidence of his success — Johns Hopkins Magazine>
What do you abound in? 
Time for a little reflection. What do you abound in? Can you make a list? They can be good or bad – we’re not looking to bash ourselves, just take an honest look.
Jill abounds in:
  • empathy
  • sarcastic remarks
  • bad language
  • encouragement
  • laziness
  • forgiveness
  • flexibility

God is abounding in steadfast love. God has steadfast love, and he has a lot of it. He is abounding in it. He has large amounts of it. He has more than He could need. Some might say He’s dripping or oozing steadfast love. He abounds so much that whoever He touches with His steadfast love are able to share that steadfast love with others. We love, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).  Most of the verses in the Bible that use the word abounding are in reference to God’s steadfast love. I think that speaks to the immensity of it. He has tons of it to give, and will never run out. His love endures forever. 

Definition of STEADFAST

1 a : firmly fixed in place : immovable

   b : not subject to change <the steadfast doctrine of original sin — Ellen Glasgow>
2: firm in belief, determination, or adherence : loyal <her followers have remained steadfast>
Not subject to change
God isn’t going to stop loving you. Even if you stop loving Him. He will go right on loving you. He is abounding, oozing, dripping with steadfast love. Unchanging love. His love never ends. How comforting is it to know that God will always love you. You can’t do anything to earn that love or to lose that love. His steadfast love has more to do with Him than with you. He can’t help himself. He’s got so much love. He loves you know matter the condition of your heart, the guilt that you feel, the job that you have, the friends that you make (or don’t) and the bathroom that you clean (or don’t). God’s love is never going to change. It is firmly fixed. Just like the word abounding in the Bible seems to be significantly connected to steadfast love, when you’re talking about steadfast in the Bible it almost always has to do with God’s love. God’s love for you is so immense, so vast that it will never change. It is steadfast.
What are you abounding in?
 
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Posted by on July 10, 2013 in God is Love, My God is abounding in steadfast love

 

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My God is…not partial Deuteronomy 10:17-18

08 Jul

Deuteronomy 10:17-18 – For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing.money in hand

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome

No matter how important someone or something is to you, they should not be more important than our God. God is the God of gods. He is more important than anything else in your life, even if you don’t think so. He is the Lord of lords. He has power over even the most powerful. He can change things in an instant. He can heal the sick or heal your heart. He can feed the hungry and protect the widows and orphans. He is mighty. He is awesome. He is the top dog. He is the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and the end. Our God can do whatever He wants. He knows what is best.

Who is not partial and takes no bribe

Definition of PARTIAL

1: of or relating to a part rather than the whole : not general or total <a partial solution>
2: inclined to favor one party more than the other : biased
3: markedly fond of someone or something —used with to<partial to pizza>
It is hard for us to understand God and His absolute power, because when humans get power, it can ruin us. Most people believe, before they gain the power, that they will be different. They will not be corrupted. They will stick to their beliefs no matter what the circumstance. I think that this cynical girl agrees with Lord Acton – Great men are almost always bad men. Often to gain such power they have had to sell themselves out. They have had to bend their beliefs to get what they wanted. I don’t know if it’s always true, but it’s true enough in our day, and in Bible times as well. If it weren’t that way, this verse wouldn’t have to point out that God is different from humans who have power. It wouldn’t have to mention that God is not partial and doesn’t take bribes. Because that is the way government and power has always been, it had to be said the our God of gods, Lord of lords is not corruptible. He is perfect in His power and might, and will not be swayed from what is true. He is not choosing one group over another. He wants all to believe in Him and be saved. But He’s not taking bribes. There isn’t anyway we can earn our way to heaven. We can’t say, Lord if I bring 3 people to know you, how about you let me into heaven. That’s not how it works. God has already done everything for us. We’re not going to get a more important place in heaven because of anything we’ve done down here on earth. Our relationship that we have built with God will continue in eternity. He loves us all and will treat us honestly and fairly in all things, no matter what kind of bargains we try to strike with Him. He is not partial and does not take bribes.
Who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing
Our God is a great God who takes care of us, loves us and has more power than we could ever comprehend. He is perfect. He has absolute power, but will absolutely not be corrupted. He is truth. He is justice. He is compassion.
 
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Posted by on July 8, 2013 in My God is not partial

 

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My God is…the God of all consolation 2 Corinthians 1:2-4

01 Jul

2 Corinthians 1:2-4 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the

distraught-woman
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God.

Definition of CONSOLE

: to alleviate the grief, sense of loss, or trouble of : comfort

The Father of mercies and the God of all consolation
In August of 2012, we were watching the landing on Mars, and my sons said a phrase I had never heard before…”Like a Boss”. Perhaps you’re like me and didn’t know this phrase, but as you can imagine, it means that you’re the best at something. It’s like you are in charge of all things that have to do with that subject. You’re a pro. You owned it. Basically that you know what you’re doing and it shows. God isn’t “like a boss of mercy and consolation, He is the Father of all mercies. He created mercy. He is the God of all consolation. You can’t get any more “Boss” than God.

Who consoles us in all our affliction
“If God brings you to it, He’ll see you through it.” I don’t know if God brings all things on us. I think somethings He would rather we didn’t get ourselves into, but no matter what He can bring us through it. I also believe that going through affliction, persevering and clinging to God draws us closer to God and others. Romans 5:3-5 says, “And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” We definitely go through some rough stuff in life. But with Christ we can get through it. When we rely on God, and see His faithfulness after we’ve come through something horrible, our faith is increased. We know that God has given us strength to endure the pains of today, but that we are promised a future that is without pain and suffering with Him in heaven.

So that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God
I’ve seen it time and time again, in my life as well as the life of my friends. Our sufferings of today are our connections of tomorrow. Whether it is a life altering diagnosis, a miscarriage, a rough marriage, bankruptcy, childlessness, being single, or whatever it is you’re going through, someone else has gone through it too. Being able to talk with others who have faced similar (though each situation is unique) problems, gives us consolation. God has brought us through things that were horrible. At the time we didn’t think we would make it through. They seemed too painful, to hopeless or unbearable. But, by the Grace of God, we did make it through. I’ll bet most of us have gone through something really tough. I would also bet that most of us have been able to console someone else because of what we went through. Hearing that others survived helps us to persevere through our plight, then be able to help others. I know that’s how it felt whenever I met a mother of twins. They would see me with my little twin babies and look at me reassuringly saying, “It gets easier”. That gave me hope. They had seen and experienced the frustrations that come in the early years of raising twins, and knew it would get easier. They were right, but their consolation was comforting and encouraging.

Our Pain becomes a blessing
Sometimes our pains can even turn out to be a blessing. An opportunity for growth in our families, churches and communities. We’re able to connect with people on a deeper level than we were before. We’re able to see God at work in our lives and the lives of others. We see purpose in our suffering. We grow and are strengthened in relationships and faith. Next time (or maybe right now) as you go through a time of suffering, look for how God might use this in the future. Think about who might be blessed by knowing what you’ve gone through. How you might help someone who feels like there is no one else out there going through these same things. Maybe they need to know that not all families are kind. Maybe they need to know that they can survive the pains of this world. Maybe they need to know that you came through bankruptcy, that the Lord provided even when it seemed impossible. Maybe they need to know that your marriage wasn’t always easy. Maybe they need to know that one day their baby will sleep through the night. But they certainly need to know that in the end, the Lord their God wants them to spend eternity with Him in heaven. He has big plans for them, and not all of them are just here on earth. He wants to continue to bless them into all eternity. There is hope in the consolation from our Lord.

Who is consoling you?
 
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Posted by on July 1, 2013 in 2 Corinthians, My God is the God of all consolation

 

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My God is…fighting for me Psalm 35:1-3

24 Jun

Psalm 35:1-3 – Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;My God is fighting for me
fight against those who fight against me!
Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up to help me!
Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers;
say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me

Definition of CONTEND

intransitive verb
1: to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties :struggle
2: to strive in debate : argue
transitive verb
1: maintain, assert <contended that he was right>
2: to struggle for : contest

What are you contending with? What are you fighting against? Is it something worth fighting for? In our lives we fight over a lot of things. We have a lot of things to contend with on a daily basis. Sometimes we feel like we’re contending with traffic, spouses, children, work and so much more. Sometimes we create the drama and contention ourselves. We see others as against us and everything becomes a battle. That’s not what God wants for us. He fought the battle against sin and won.

fight against those who fight against me

What if you didn’t fight? What if you took a step back and didn’t feel the need to prove that you were right or to fight for your way? What would happen? What if you trusted the Lord to fight your battles for you? I wonder if you’re thinking right now, but what if He doesn’t help me? When we give things over to God, we get a bit impatient. We want to see results quickly. We want the other person to admit that we were right and they were wrong. We want them to suffer for the unkind way they treated us. God’s way may not look like that. He may work in different ways. He may make them learn a lesson, but it might not be that you’re smarter, right or cuter than them. He may want them to learn humility, kindness or patience. Maybe He’s teaching that to you as well.

This weekend, my son was in a baseball tournament. They won their first game, but as they were about to start the second game, the coaches realized there were kids from a higher league on the other team. They asked the coaches from the other team about it and they denied that they were upper league players, but one of the kids admitted it. My son’s team began the game under protest. My son (a right fighter of sorts) was very upset that they were cheating. I told him to let his coaches fight this battle. Well, toward the end of the game, the manager of the tournament came over and had the other team forfeit because they had played using inappropriate players for this tournament. The coaches had fought the fight for their players. God does the same thing for us. At first it didn’t look like their “protest” was going to get the team anywhere. You couldn’t tell that it was being sorted out. But it was. The game was played as normal, but the outcome was anything but normal. Our team lost, but they won. Our lives are not always as clear-cut as we would like them to be. People try to cheat and steal to get ahead. They’re willing to tear you down to build themselves up.

say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”

But our salvation, our saving grace is not from us, it is from our Lord. He can sort out all of our problems, and when we allow Him to take the lead in our battles, they often get over more quickly and turn out better than we could have expected. So back to that question, what would it look like if you didn’t fight battles, but instead handed them over to God? Would you get walked all over, or would the Lord take up the battle for you and allow you to have victory over the evil in your life? I believe that if you give your troubles to Him, He will be your salvation. He will be trustworthy. The beauty is that when God fights your battles, He’s not worried about your pride. When I get into a fight or an argument, usually it is because I am beating a dead horse trying to prove that I am right. My pride gets in the way of progress. I am willing to bleed to death if I could just get the other person to say, “You’re right Jill”. But to be honest, usually when I’m in a fight, I’m not right. I’m fighting because I’m embarrassed I made a mistake. Or I might be fighting because I felt slighted (another pride and entitlement issue). But it is not because I’m trying to protect others, provide for others or correct some other injustice. I am more selfish than that. So if I stopped fighting and hand my frustration over to God, I can promise you it would come out better than me taking care of it on my own.

What do you have to contend with?

 
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Posted by on June 24, 2013 in My God is fighting for me, Psalm

 

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My God is…not despising a broken and contrite heart Psalm 51:16-18

24 May

Psalm 51:16-18 – For you have no delight in sacrifice;horse-rearing
if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit

A broken spirit? Why would the Lord appreciate and deem acceptable a broken spirit. Does He want us to be miserable? I don’t believe so, or He would not give us the hope of eternal life with Him. But maybe there are some advantages for us as Christians to have a broken spirit. Lets look a little bit at the concept of a broken spirit. First let’s look at the definition of broken.

Definition of BROKEN

1: violently separated into parts : shattered
2: damaged or altered by breaking: as
   a : having undergone or been subjected to fracture <a broken leg>
   b of land surfaces : being irregular, interrupted, or full of obstacles
   c : violated by transgression <a broken promise>
   e : disrupted by change
   f of a tulip flower : having an irregular, streaked, or blotched pattern especially from virus infection
3 a : made weak or infirm

  b : subdued completely : crushed, sorrowful <a brokenheart> <a broken spirit>

  c : bankrupt
  d : reduced in rank
4 a : cut off : disconnected
   b : imperfectly spoken or written <broken English>
5: not complete or full <a broken bale of hay>
6: disunited by divorce, separation, or desertion of one parent<children from broken homes> <a broken family>
There are so many definitions of broken. In the different Bible studies I have been a part of over the years, I have met people who have gone through or experienced almost each type of brokenness listed here. Sometimes we feel we’re shattered by life and everything feels disconnected and we don’t know how we’ll ever put the pieces back together again. Or maybe you’ve been injured, and you can no longer perform on your dance team. Maybe everywhere you turn there is a new obstacle, something else making your life harder than you expected it to be. Maybe someone lied to you, cheated on your or stole from you. Maybe your life was interrupted by a storm, damage or illness. Maybe you’ve just gotten married and it’s hard to deal with all the changes happening at once. Maybe you’re feeling week, like you just can’t go on. Maybe you’ve gone bankrupt, and there’s nothing left for anything. Maybe you misspoke and now someone isn’t speaking to you. Maybe there is an emptiness that you can’t understand, but you’re trying to fill with food, alcohol or drugs. Maybe you’ve gone through a divorce. Maybe you’ve been separated from your children.
A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise
When you’re broken, you may feel like God despises you, but that’s not the case (as we see in our scripture today). Our brokenness is like that off a horse being broken. Before a horse is broken, it can be wild and out of control. It can’t be useful, because it’s not able to submit to its masters control. The horse must be broken to become useful for work and for riding. We too must be broken so that we can learn to submit to God’s plans. As humans it is unnatural to think that we shouldn’t be in control, but God’s ways are not of this world. He needs to be in control of our lives so that we might get all the blessings and benefits He has planned for us. He loves us and knows that when we have a broken and contrite heart, our ability to turn over control to Him increases. Not only does that mean we will allow Him to work in our lives, but when we stop fighting Him, our true strong relationship with Him can begin to develop. We can end up with a life that is way more fulfilling than we ever dreamed possible.
Have you been broken?
 
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Posted by on May 24, 2013 in My God is not despising a broken heart, Psalm

 

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