Wandering Like Sheep

O Lord, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised. Listen to my prayer; rescue me as you promised. Let praise flow from my lips, for you have taught me your decrees. Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commands are right. Give me a helping hand, for I have chosen to follow your commandments. O Lord, I have longed for your rescue, and your instructions are my delight. Let me live so I can praise you, and may your regulations help me. I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands. (Psalm 119:169-176)

All of us like sheep have wandered away from God at some point in our lives, and whether it was intentional or not, God desires for each one of us to return to Him. In fact, he will seek each one of us out and help us get right back on the path we wandered from to begin with. In this last section of Psalm 119, the Psalmist is still surrounded by his enemies who continually try to bring him down. What is interesting to me is that he mentions that he has wandered away like a lost sheep. Perhaps this is one of the reasons he is surrounded by people who daily harass and attack him. Throughout Psalm 119, he has never lost sight of the importance of God’s Word; he greatly values and treasures it – greater than even gold or silver. He has chosen to follow and listen to God’s Word, and yet he has found himself wandering where he doesn’t want to be. He longs for God to rescue him from wherever he has wandered to. Perhaps, the Psalmist discovered God and his Word while he was wandering like a lost sheep and this has allowed him to also discover great hope and peace and power in the midst of his circumstances. Whether you have wandered from God fully knowing about him and his Word, or whether you have been wandering from God and discovered hope along the way, it is important to recognize that the Word of God has been provided for each and every one of us as truth, as light, as hope, and as directions to find our way to or back to a loving God. I love Psalm 119 because it really reminds me of just how valuable God’s Word really is. God is calling each and every one of us to return to him. For some of us that means a short trip and for others it’s a longer journey. Wherever you are right now in your life and whatever journey lies ahead of you, won’t you take his Word along with you for the journey and allow it to light your path and fill you with life and truth?

Do you Know Him?

Powerful people harass me without cause, but my heart trembles only at your word. I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure. I hate and abhor all falsehood, but I love your instructions. I will praise you seven times a day because all your regulations are just. Those who love your instructions have great peace and do not stumble. I long for your rescue, Lord, so I have obeyed your commands. I have obeyed your laws, for I love them very much. Yes, I obey your commandments and lawsbecause you know everything I do. (Psalm 119:161-168)

Fear is something that grips the heart of each one of us at some point in our lives. Whether it would be because we fear another person, or we fear the outcome of our present circumstances, fear can creep in and take ahold of us quickly. I can imagine that being surrounded by people who are constantly attacking you and threatening you could just be one of those instances when fear would come in like a flood, but not for the Psalmist. Even though people harass him, he is not afraid of them. He does, however, have a reverent fear for not only God, but also His Word. “Powerful people harass me without cause, but my heart trembles only at your word” (161) He treasures the Word of God greatly and because he treasures the Word so much, he also greatly values God. “I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure” (162) The Word of God was given to us so that we would be able to know God more. It is full of stories, and advice on how to live our lives, yes, but it is also full of glimpses of God and who he really is. All facets of God can be read about and reveled in the Word. God wants each one of us to know him more. One of the best ways to do that is to be in his Word and to be seeking Him each and every day; spending quiet-time alone just talking with him about all the things that are going on in your life. Now, this is not to say that God is not aware of everything that is going on in your life, because He is – he knows everything. The Psalmist even alludes to this as well. “Yes, I obey your commandments and laws because you know everything I do” (168) God knows each and every thing about you. What he longs for, is for you to know HIM. This is why we have the Word of God, not only to instruct us, but to help us know a God who loves and provides for each one of his children. When is the last time you picked up your Bible thirsting to know more about God? When is that last time you sat quietly and listened to the still small voice that calls your name and knows everything about you? When was the last time you talked to God about what you are struggling with? He is waiting for you.

Power in Truth

“I pray with all my heart; answer me, Lord! I will obey your decrees. I cry out to you; rescue me, that I may obey your laws. I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words. I stay awake through the night, thinking about your promise. In your faithful love, O Lord, hear my cry; let me be revived by following your regulations. Lawless people are coming to attack me; they live far from your instructions. But you are near, O Lord, and all your commands are true. I have known from my earliest days that your laws will last forever.” (Psalm 119:145-152)

All of God’s promises prove true. He is truth. His Words are truth. To the Psalmist they are the very essence of life, the very reason he is able to stand against his enemies and not fall. He has so devoted himself to the Word that he is fully aware of what is truth and what is not, this enables him to have power against his enemies who try to lie to him. The Psalmist turns to God in the midst of his trouble and relies on Him and His Word to strengthen and protect him from the evil people around him who try to take him down. When we are in the midst of troublesome times, God is near us. He is always near us even when times are not full of trouble. His Word is always true! Absolute truth never changes. It is always true in every circumstance. Looking to God for the truth when we are in the midst of trouble will enable us to stand strong against those who threaten to take us down. Do you have power behind you which enables you to withstand the lies that come your way?

Standing Firm on the Word

Look upon my suffering and rescue me, for I have not forgotten your instructions. Argue my case; take my side! Protect my life as you promised. The wicked are far from rescue, for they do not bother with your decrees. Lord, how great is your mercy; let me be revived by following your regulations. Many persecute and trouble me, yet I have not swerved from your laws. Seeing these traitors makes me sick at heart, because they care nothing for your word. See how I love your commandments, Lord. Give back my life because of your unfailing love. The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever. (Psalm 153-160)

I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be surrounded by people who are constantly trying to trip you up and bring you down. What has amazed me about the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 119, is his unwavering trust and devotion to not only God, but also His Word. I can only imagine what people are saying around the Psalmist as he stands firm on the solid foundation that he has found in the Word of God. Because he has great trust in what the Word says is the absolute truth, the Psalmist can stand against those who mock him and ridicule him with the power, strength and authority that comes from God. He appears to be unshakeable. The Psalmist is also troubled by the lack of appreciation for the Word of God by those who are around him. As I sit here and write this and read the words of the Psalmist, I can’t help but wonder if the attitude I have taken towards the Word of God and the attitudes I see in so many people who completely disregard what the Word even says, would make the Psalmist feel the same way. God has given us his Word, the truth that sets us free, the truth that allows us to live and yet there are so many people, myself included at times who just put the Bible on the shelf and allow it to collect dust. If we would only open the Bible and read every day, just imagine the richness that would flow from within the pages! Just imagine the many ways that God would speak to each one of us as we took time to spend with him! Well, folks, we don’t need to imagine, now do we! Just pick up your Bibles and read, asking God to show you the truth, and He will. I’m excited just thinking about it!

What Will You Choose?

O Lord, you are righteous, and your regulations are fair. Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy. I am overwhelmed with indignation, for my enemies have disregarded your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much. I am insignificant and despised, but I don’t forget your commandments. Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true. As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live.” (Psalm 119:137-144)

As I mentioned many times before, and as I am sure you are fully aware, life can get pretty difficult sometimes. Psalm 119:143 says, “As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands.” I just love this! The psalmist is speaking of the hope and the joy that he finds in the truth of God’s Word. When life gets difficult, and when his circumstances seem bleak, he knows that God’s Word is there to shed light on them and this brings him great joy! He is grateful to have the very Word of God right in front of him to help him combat the very things that threaten to bring him down and take his life. Even when the world is crumbling around him, he still has the hope and truth of the Word of God to shine light on his circumstances and to guide his feet in the direction they should go. We have the very same thing at our disposal! We choose each and every day to listen to what the Word of God says, or to ignore the Word all together. The psalmist made a chose to greatly value the Word of God and it has proven to be a firm foundation on which he can stand up against the things that threaten to take him down. He can walk tall when times are tough because he trusts in God and his Word. He desires to understand God’s Word completely because he knows that it brings life! What have you chosen to do with the Word of God? Have you chosen life?

Ah-Ha!

“Your laws are wonderful. No wonder I obey them! The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand. I pant with expectation, longing for your commands. Come and show me your mercy, as you do for all who love your name. Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by evil. Ransom me from the oppression of evil people; then I can obey your commandments. Look upon me with love; teach me your decrees. Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey your instructions.” (Psalm 119:129-136)

Have you ever had an “Ah-Ha!” moment? A moment where you suddenly found revelation in something that was happening to you? Maybe a moment of clarity or a glimpse of the truth? For me, the Word of God has provided many of those moments. I can remember many times that I have been reading the Word and it was almost as if someone had flicked a switch, the light was on and now I could see what I should be doing and what I had done. God’s Word provides light in the darkness, but it also helps to guide our very steps, if we choose to listen and follow it. The Word is full of instructions on how to live and how to deal with a whole gamut of things that could happen in life. It is up to us to pay attention and to see what it is saying. God has provided his Word that acts very much like a lamp, and a GPS. It shows us a clear path through the dark, windy, twisty, paths that lay out before us. It helps us navigate our way through life and helps to keep us away from danger. It is extremely valuable! How valuable is it to you?

Whose Plans Are You Following?

“Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies, for I have done what is just and right. Please guarantee a blessing for me. Don’t let the arrogant oppress me! My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled. I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love, and teach me your decrees. Give discernment to me, your servant; then I will understand your laws. Lord, it is time for you to act, for these evil people have violated your instructions. Truly, I love your commands more than gold, even the finest gold. Each of your commandments is right. That is why I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119:121-128)

Waiting is difficult in general, but especially when you are struggling to see the promises of God fulfilled. When I was struggling with finding a new job after just losing one, I had such a difficult time when people would quote to me Jeremiah 29:11. It spoke about God having a plan for me, a plan to prosper me and not to harm me – to give me hope and a future… I can honestly say, I was frustrated with waiting to see the plan that God had for me but it was not because God wasn’t showing me a plan, it was because things weren’t happening like I had wanted them to. I was straining to see God’s rescue of me out of the depths of all that I was going through. It was hard to see his promised plan for me. I realized after all of my frustration had come to the surface, that the reason I was not seeing God’s promised plan for me was because I was not seeking him with everything that I had. In some ways, I had given up because I wasn’t seeing what I wanted to happen. God had used my very frustration with not seeing his truth and his plan amidst the chaos that was my life to show me that I was only frustrated because I was not getting my way. My eyes were open to the fact that I was like a little kid who was throwing a fit for not getting my way. I wanted the candy in the store and I was not getting it, so I was going to be frustrated and pout off in the corner, when God was with me the whole time trying to get me to see that it was Him I needed to seek not my own plans, but His. I wasn’t seeing his plans for me because I wasn’t looking for them. I was focusing on my own and the un-fulfillment of my own. I wasn’t listening to the still small voice of God that was as loud as a gong in my life because I was paying more attention to what I wanted for my life, instead of what God wanted for me. I needed to stop and listen to what God was saying to me. I needed to crack open the Word and breathe in the life I was missing. I have to wonder if the psalmist was straining to see God’s rescue of him and the truth of God’s promises because what he was seeing played out in his life was not what he wanted to see. Have you ever been there? Have you ever struggled to see why something was happening in your life? Have you ever wondered what God’s plan was for you? Have you ever thought that maybe you were struggling to see it because it wasn’t what you wanted? God’s plan for each and every one of us is perfect, can you see that? If not, perhaps it’s time to set aside the plans that you have for your life and ask God to show you His.

What is the Value of the Word to You?

“I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions. You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God. Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees. But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees. They are only fooling themselves. You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum; no wonder I love to obey your laws! I tremble in fear of you; I stand in awe of your regulations.” (Psalm 119:113-120)

Life can get pretty difficult sometimes. I’m talking frustratingly difficult, like to the point where you don’t know whether to scream or to cry. To the psalmist who was surrounded by evil-minded people who were so desperately trying to trip him up, the Word of God acted as his foundation, his anchor, his rock and his shield. Not only did it offer a firm place to stand on, but it provided protection and hope. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to stand firm on the truth and the promise of the Word of God when everyone around you was trying to tell you something different. It sounds to me like the psalmist’s life was difficult, frustratingly difficult, perhaps, but he continued to keep his eyes on God and on his Word as he navigated through life passing by people who were so desperate to destroy him. They were closing in on him, but the Word of God is what sustained him and what kept him alive. He greatly valued it and because he greatly valued the very Word of God, he also greatly valued God. In fact, it could definitely be said that he had a reverent fear of God. He knew that God was powerful enough to save him as well as to skim him off the face of the earth right along with the wicked. What is the Word of God to you? Do you value it? Is it your foundation, your anchor, your rock, your shield? Do you turn to it for hope? Or is it just words on a page in a book that doesn’t really hold much meaning to you? God has provided his Word as a way to communicate to us exactly how to live our lives to glorify Him. It provides for us instructions on how to live and deal with different things that may come up in our lives that make it frustratingly difficult. Take some time to evaluate what the Word of God is to you. What have you done with it in your own life?

Light in the Darkness

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations. I have suffered much, O Lord; restore my life again as you promised. Lord, accept my offering of praise, and teach me your regulations. My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions. The wicked have set their traps for me, but I will not turn from your commandments. Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight. I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end.” (Psalm 105-112)

It was a nice summer day and my friend and I had gone for a bike ride. We ended up riding for nearly 30 miles that day and on the way home, we had underestimated exactly how much daylight we had left. For the last 7 or 8 miles, we were riding in the dark, except for the dim light coming from his pedal generated light. Even with that little bit of light, it was still difficult to see the path that we were riding on in the middle of the forest. I remember thinking about just how dark it really was. It was difficult to see even with the moonlight above us. This world is full of darkness, and often it is difficult to see where we are going and to stay on the path that God has designed for us. God’s Word provides the light that we need to know which direction we should go. “Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path”(ps 119:5) The Bible is full of directions on how to consistently follow God and how to stay on the path that he has provided for us. If we don’t open the Bible and follow those directions, then we will be stumbling around aimlessly in the dark, tripping over tree limbs and rocks and landing flat on our faces. It is so easy to wander off the path when you can’t see which direction you are going in. If my friend hadn’t brought his generator light that evening, we could have lost our way and ridden our bikes into a tree. Much like the generator light doesn’t just come on by itself and requires effort on our part, so does the Word of God. If you never open your Bible, you are choosing to walk in darkness and you are likely to stumble and fall. It takes effort to know the Word of God and to keep yourself on the right path. God has provided this means of light in the darkness for us to use and if we don’t use it, we might as well be sitting on a flashlight in the darkness and stumbling in frustration to find our way. In this world of darkness, do you use the light that has been given to you to navigate your way through life, or do you stumble around in the dark hoping to stay on the right path? Crack open your Bible and let the Word of God illuminate your way. Let it open your eyes to the truth that you need to continually and consistently follow God.

“Father God, thank you for the awesome power of your Word in illuminating the path that you have laid out for me. Help me to use what you have provided for me in order to stay on the path. Guide my every step with the light of you Word and keep me from stumbling. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.”

God's Word - Sweeter Than Even Chocolate.

Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life. (Psalm 119:97-104)

I definitely have a sweet tooth, in fact, I have a whole mouth of them. What can I say? I love sweets, especially if it has anything to do with chocolate and I very much so enjoy myself when I am eating something sweet. It is hard to imagine that there is anything else that is sweeter than sitting down to enjoy a nice warm chocolate brownie, right from the oven, with maybe a little bit of ice cream on the side, but wait! There is! Now, the psalmist wasn’t being literal when he referred to God’s Word as being sweeter than honey. What he was essentially saying is that he delighted in, enjoyed, and wanted God’s Word more than anything. This was evident in the very things he did. He thought about and meditated on God’s Word. He obeyed God’s Word with everything he had, so he could stay on the path that God had laid out for him. He was immersed in the truth and had no other option, in his mind, but to follow it. He delighted in this! Think about it, God has provided for us his very Word! The truth that we have all searched for at some point is readily at our disposal, all we need to do is open our Bibles and read it. Now, imagine your favorite dessert. I’m imagining that warm chocolaty brownie with maybe some hot fudge and some ice cream on top. Look to your right, there is a spoon right there. All you have to do is pick up the spoon and you can be enjoying your favorite dessert in no time, but instead of picking up the spoon and enjoying the sweetness that is right in front of you, you get up go to the refrigerator, and grab a dill pickle. Your mouth watering with anticipation for the sweetness on the table you walk over to the table, glance at your dessert and then the spoon and then opening your mouth wide, you take the biggest bite of pickle you ever tasted. Now what on earth was the point of that? Well, bear with me here… God’s Word is sweet. It provides for us the very truth we need to live. It encourages us when our circumstances bring us down. It is light in the darkness around us. It is there right in front of us, many of us long for it, and yet, we go and take a big bite of dill pickle – discouragement, bitterness, hopelessness, habit etc. Why do we do that? Well, it is easier to keep on believing what you have always believed even if it is wrong because often exposing darkness to the light of the truth is very painful. This is what God meant when he referred to Christians as Salt and Light. If you get salt in a wound, it burns. When you leave a dark room and enter into bright light, it takes a little bit for your eyes to adjust to see all that is around you. The truth burns, it stings, and it takes a bit to get used to, but oh how sweet it is to walk in it! That’s what the psalmist was getting at! Once you know the truth, and have tasted it, you will want more! You must decide for yourself if you are going to take a nice healthy spoonful of the sweetness of God’s Word or if you are going to reach for the pickle.

Father God, thank you for the truth that is in your Word. Help me to choose to walk in the light and the sweetness of your truth one day at a time. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen

Wellspring of Hope

“Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created. Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans. If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery. I will never forget your commandments, for by them you give me life. I am yours; rescue me! For I have worked hard at obeying your commandments. Though the wicked hide along the way to kill me, I will quietly keep my mind on your laws. Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit.” (Psalm 119:89-96)

Right when I was in the thick of things, I was struggling with knowing what on earth God was planning on doing in my life, but more importantly to me at the time, I was focusing on when God was going to be doing something, anything in my life to turn my situation around. To my, my situation seemed bleak, and hopeless. It seemed as if I would never get back to where I started from before I made a series of mistakes that caused my life to change drastically. Right when I read the above passage from Psalm 119, I was reminded of the very place I was when I realized the very truth that God is Sovereign. He is in control of every tiny aspect of my life (and yours). Everything works together in perfect harmony to complete the plans that God has designed for me and my life. Everything serves HIS plans. Now, I have made many, many plans for my life and let me tell you, none of them involved being where I am at right now, but you know what? His did. God has me exactly where he wants me and for a reason too! God’s plans and his ways are far beyond anything we could possibly come up with. There is hope in knowing that God has got my back and that he is with me no matter what I am going through – whether I continue on the path that he has provided for me, or whether I take a detour through the thorns and briars, God is ALWAYS with me. His Word and his promises provide for me, not only life, but hope and truth. Where ever I am at in life, if I continually keep my eyes on the one who painstakingly laid out each part of the path he means for me to travel on in this life, I will be victorious. Scripture provides for us a way to keep our focus on God in the midst of whatever circumstances may come our way. When is the last time you opened up the Word and found a wellspring of hope, truth and life? Take some time to read the special gift that God has given to you, take a deep breath in and soak up all the truth you can so that you will be better able to stay on the path that He has for your life.

Father God, Thank you for the great source of life and hope that you have placed before me. Help me to draw from it exactly what you want for me to see each and every time I come to your Word to be refreshed and renewed. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.

Hope in the Word

“I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me? I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees. How long must I wait? When will you punish those who persecute me? These arrogant people who hate your instructions have dug deep pits to trap me. All your commands are trustworthy. Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause. They almost finished me off, but I refused to abandon your commandments. In your unfailing love, spare my life; then I can continue to obey your laws.” (Psalm 119:81-88)

I could barely get out of bed. Everything that I had enjoyed doing had become uninteresting. I was worn out from crying all the time and sleeping is the only thing I ever wanted to do. I was in the pit, placed there by my circumstances; circumstances that I was responsible for. My irresponsibility and selfishness had caught up with me and I was paying consequences for my actions. I remained in this state of mind until I looked to the Word for encouragement and until I could finally see the truth that had been right in front of me all along – God loves me, he forgives me, and he is with me each and every day. The sense of being alone, and having no one that really understood what I was going through was really a lie. I was surrounded by people who had been where I was and who offered me encouragement for my situation at the time. My life was starting to turn around. Then came the waiting. Waiting is so hard! A year went by and I was still waiting to see the promises come true, then two and then three. Each year was a little better, but I was still waiting and in some ways, I still am today, four years later. Waiting is exhausting. I wondered often how much longer I would have to wait for my circumstances to turn around. God has blessed me while I have waited for so many years to see his plan for me to start to unfold. Eight months ago, I could start to see a glimpse of the plan that God had designed for me long before I was born. The last eight months have not been easy. I have made a lot of changes, but God has been faithful to his Word and to me. It began with a call, not by a telephone, mind you, but a call from God – followed by an act of obedience. I knew that God had called me into full-time ministry for a while, but I had chosen to ignore it because I was a woman. God hadn’t forgotten about this, and when he reminded me of the call that he had placed on my life, I cried because I ignored it for too long, and I cried because there was another part of this plan that I wasn’t going to like. I knew that God had asked me to leave my church of 8 years well over a year before I was reminded of the call he had placed on my life. I didn’t want to because I was comfortable. I loved my church family and I didn’t want to leave them. It was all I had ever known. I became a Christian in that church, just about everyone close to me went to that church. Since I had ignored God and had not followed in obedience when he first asked me to, it had started to become uncomfortable at church. I couldn’t worship and it was almost as if there was a wall that kept me from being blessed the way I had grown accustomed to while attending the church for 8 years. I knew that I needed to be obedient to what God was asking me to do, but at what cost? I left the only church and the only family of God I had ever known and went to look for a church. I prayed for guidance and discernment in this because I had no idea where I was going to go and I had no idea where God would lead me, but I knew that I needed to be open to his leading. Leaving that church was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but God never left my side. A couple months later, he had lead me back to a church that I had visited a few times after I had originally left my former church. I wasn’t sure if it was where I was supposed to be, so I asked God to make it clear to me if this was the church I was supposed to be at. One Sunday after the service, the Pastor came over to me and said, “Jessica, 2011 is going to be better for you than 2010. God has you exactly where he wants you to be right now.” Fighting back my tears, I knew without a doubt that this is where I was supposed to be and it’s where I’ve been attending for the past 5 months. In February, I received a call for a job interview and after a week I had the job. I realized that I had been praying for a M-F, dayshift job for six years and finally God had given one to me. This showed me that he most definitely hears my prayers! Now that God had moved me into a different church, and a different job, opportunities to minister had started to come up. I had received calls from two separate churches asking me to pray about leading worship for their women’s retreats. I also received a call asking me to pray about being a Spiritual House Leader for a Christian women’s transitional house. This is a ministry that the church I had started to attend has partnered with. I prayed and after meeting with the leadership of that ministry, I prayed some more. I knew in my heart without a doubt that this is where I am supposed to be. It’s been almost two months now in this full-time ministry position and I have seen God’s hand through it all. It’s almost as if my one act of obedience caused the floodgates to open and the blessings to start to fall. My eyes are no longer straining to see God’s promises come true, but instead my eyes are open wide with anticipation for what God has in store next! The road that took me to where I am now, was in no way, shape, or form easy. It was very difficult, riddled with bumps and roadblocks, but God has always been with me. He has always been faithful to me and he always will be. The very same thing goes for you. Maybe you can’t clearly see the plan that God has laid out for you or maybe you are struggling to feel his presence with you while you are in the midst of some difficult circumstances. Let me encourage you with the truth that God loves you greatly. He sees you, right where you are right now. He knows what you are going through and He is right beside you and will always be right beside you. He has never and he never will leave you or forsake you. There is hope in His Word. There is encouragement in his Word. You are not alone. “What have I in this life, but the love in your eyes. This empty world will one day fade, but only your truth will remain. Jesus, all I have is you. You’re the hope I’m holding to. I may weep but still my faith rests in you. As the Heavens hold the skies, it’s your hand that holds my life and your love will lead me on when all else is gone” (All I Have)

Father God, you know exactly what I am going through and exactly where I have been. Father, help me to see your hand guiding me and holding me each and every day. I will lift my eyes to you in my circumstances. Help me to see your plan and purpose for me one day at a time. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

Putting Your Hope in the Word

“You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight. Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments. Let me be united with all who fear you, with those who know your laws. May I be blameless in keeping your decrees; then I will never be ashamed.” (Psalm 119:73-80)

God has made me just the way I am for a reason and he continues to make me into who he has ultimately designed me to be. There really hasn’t been much of my transformation that has been easy. I’ve fallen, and messed up, and failed, but God in his infinite grace has picked me back up each time. He has disciplined me in love because I needed it to get my focus off myself and my circumstances and back on God who loves me and cherishes me infinitely more than I could ever imagine. God’s love for me has comforted me when I needed to be comforted and it provides for me the very reason for my existence – to love, follow, and worship God at all costs. God’s grace and mercy has been poured out on me so that I can live for Him. Wouldn’t it then make sense that I would then pick up the very instruction manual He has given to me to learn what it is I am supposed to do in order to love, follow, and worship Him at all costs? The very same goes for you as well, If you were to read the paragraph I just wrote, substituting your name and your life, it would definitely apply to you as well. To put your hope in something means to rely and depend on it. Have you put your hope in God? How about His Word? Do you delight in God and His Word? As I sit here and type I am asking myself those very same questions. Take a moment to think about it and to ask God if you truly do hope and delight in Him and his Word.

“Father God, thank you for your mercy and your grace that you have freely bestowed upon me and thank you for your Word, which supplies for me the instructions I need to love, follow, and worship you at all costs. Help me to place all of my hope in you and your Word. I desire to delight in you and your Word for you are valuable to me. I thank you and I praise you Father, In Jesus precious name I pray, Amen.”

The Word of God - A Valuable Gift

“You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as you promised. I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge. I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word. You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees. Arrogant people smear me with lies, but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart. Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in your instructions. My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.” (Psalm 119:65-72)

After I lost my job, it was like one thing after another was happening and I was feeling overwhelmed and helpless. I started to become frustrated and bitter because at the time, It seemed like absolutely nothing was going the way that I would like it to. My circumstances caused me to think that it was never going to get better. Right then and there, I was choosing to believe a lie. God has promised that he has a purpose and a plan for me, that he loves me, he will be with me, and he will provide for me, but at that moment, I was choosing to overlook the truth and instead embrace the lie that the whole world was trying to mess up my life and that God was part of that. How did I get out of that frame of mind? By turning to his Word and by having people in my life who actually did care about me and who loved me and encouraged me on a daily basis. Even if I didn’t have those people to encourage me, I could find encouragement in the Word. God always keeps his promises (see Ps 18:30) and he always provides just what I need. I had to take my circumstances and choose to look at the positive in them. During that time, God provided a place for me to live. He provided food for me to eat and even though it took a while, he did eventually provide for me a job. God is good and he only does good. It is not in his character to not be good. Just because my circumstances may not be ideal, doesn’t mean that God doesn’t care and that he loves me any less than he did when my circumstances were better. God is never out to ruin me or my life, but rather, to make me more like Christ. This means that I need to surrender to God, set aside the foolish ways of the flesh and choose to follow the ways of God. This also means allowing God to transform me into who he has created me to be in Christ. If I am choosing to ignore the truth that is sitting right in front of me, then I am choosing the flesh. If I am hearing, receiving, seeking, and loving the Word, then I will know the truth and I will believe it as the truth, and then I will obey it as the truth and walk in the truth! If I know the truth, then I will be more likely to recognize the lies that come at me from every direction. This is why the Word of God hidden in my heart (and yours) is of great value! God’s Word is far more valuable than anything this world could possibly offer. It provides a firm foundation in which I can stand upon, rest upon and draw strength from. Think about this for a moment. Have you allowed your circumstances to dictate to you the truth? Or have you allowed the Word of God to shed light into your circumstances and show you the truth? God loves you greatly and he has provided his Word as a great blessing to each one of us. Much like salvation is a gift from him, so is his Word. Have you unwrapped that gift or is it sitting on a shelf collecting dust?

“Father God, thank you for the gift that is your Word. Thank you for the life and the truth that I can find in it. Help me to see just how valuable it really is so that I cherish it and examine my life in light of the truth. Thank you for providing me with the truth and with the encouragement I need to continually stay on the path that you have laid out for me. Keep me on that path all of my days so that I may life to glorify and honor you in all that I do. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.”

The Lord is My Portion

“Lord, you are mine! (You are my portion!) I promise to obey your words! With all my heart I want your blessings. (I have sought your face with all my heart…) Be merciful as you promised. I pondered the direction of my life, (I have considered my ways) and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations. I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments. O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.” (Psalm 119:57-65 NLT (NIV))

My favorite verse of Amazing Grace goes like this; “The Lord has promised good to me. His Word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures.” I love this verse for many reasons first because it reminds me of God’s promises to me, it reminds me that I can find hope in his Word and it reminds me that God is my protector. It also reminds me that God is my portion. Did you know that saying something is a portion, means it is enough? When you look at that in the context of saying, “God is my portion” what you are really saying, then, is that God is enough and that you don’t need anything else, if you have God. There is so much truth in that! God is definitely provider. He takes care of our every need. If God is our portion, then we call on him for every need. If God is indeed my portion and all that I need, then I will seek him with all my heart. I will be devoted to him. I will delight in him. I will make time for him and his Word. I will look at the direction in which my life is going in and make sure I am on the path that he has provided for me. If I am not, then I am turning around and running from those very things that keep me from being devoted to God. Then when I am on the right path, I choose to stay on it at all costs, forsaking all others and choosing instead to follow the one I love and the one whose love and devotion to me cost him everything. If God is my portion and all that I need, then I would be willing to allow him to seek out the very things that I have buried deep within me, those lies that I have chosen to hold onto for one reason or another - that keep me from really living for him, and I would allow him to expose them all in the light of his grace, mercy and love. I would then allow him to replace all of those lies with the truth that is found in his Word and I would choose to walk in it! I would let him transform me from the inside out! If I am unwilling to do this, then how can I ever expect transformation to occur? God’s love for me and for you is infinite. It is unfailing, which means it will never disappoint us or let us down. He never ceases to provide for me all that I need. Shouldn’t all of this warrant my total devotion to Him? Shouldn’t all of this warrant your total devotion to Him?

“Father God, you are awesome and mighty. You are my portion. If I have you then I need nothing else. Help me to depend on you. Help me to be devoted to you. I want to seek your face wholeheartedly. Expose anything within me that is keeping me from being totally devoted to you and your ways. Bring it out into the light of your grace, mercy, and love so that I can turn and run towards your ways. Transform me from the inside out and help me be who you created me to be. Help me to walk in the light of your love. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.”