Hindsight

There is a Country song that goes "I thank God I ain't what I almost was". I haven't been able to get the lyrics out of my head all day. They keep playing over & over again in my mind. (Naturally, his next song on the CD was about regret)

It got me thinking, though... I wonder how many times in life we convince (read here- deceive) ourselves into believing that our plans are really God's Plans for us? How often do we want something so badly that we deceive ourselves into thinking that it is the Best thing for us? Even sin? Suppressing our consciences? That we ignore other people's advice & proceed full-steam ahead, to fulfill all our dreams & plans? Out of stubbornness, pride etc, despite everyone's cautions & warnings? Only to wake up five years down the road & say, "What was I thinking??? If only I had listened to their advice..."

I am reminded tonight of the utter importance of accountability- of staying in close relationship with strong fellow believers, who aren't afraid to tell you the "hard Truth" in life, of confronting you when you are walking in sin... Of having a close walk with the Lord- totally in tune to His Voice, Plans, Will & Purposes (for more on this topic, read here & here). Walking in obedience to Him. Of fully surrendering our Dreams to Him (read more here & here), even if it means that He changes them & conforms them into His Will for our lives... Of walking in contentment with where He has us in life right now- of unconditionally trusting in His Plan (read more here).

 I feel like we are at a cross roads in life. We have the Choice to obey God & follow Him & listen to His Voice (& wise counsel). Or not. To live a Life of Blessing or curses. To Choose His Way, Path, Will, Purposes, Promises etc or to choose our own desires over His- rushing ahead of God's Plan for our lives. Trusting in His Plan and His Timing. There is a way to do things & a way to not do them. Sometimes a good thing can be gained in the wrong way, making it a wrong thing after all & not worth the effort invested... A lot is at stake here...

I don't think there is anything wrong with daydreaming, BUT you must make sure to incorporate the "God factor" into your so-called "plans." Because, you never know, He might have a different Plan for your life. Are you okay with that??? I'd strongly encourage you to submit to His Plan for your life, because it's most likely a bigger, better Plan than you could ever come up with on your own!!! :)

"And we know that ALL things work out for the Good

of those who love God, who have been Called

according to His Purposes..."

- Romans 8:28

"For I know the Plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“Plans to prosper you & not to harm you,
Plans to give you Hope & a Future..."

- Jeremiah 29:11

" A man plans his course,
    but the Lord establishes his steps..."

- Proverbs 16:9

Guard Your Heart



 

When it comes to the matters of the heart, the popular advice is to "follow your heart." I would like to contradict that trend & say "guard your heart with all diligence..."

 

At a graduation ceremony that I attended this year, the speaker gave a Charge to the Graduates that included the words "follow your heart." In my eyes, this is a direct contradiction to Scripture, where it says-

"Guard your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life..."

- Proverbs 4:23

 

I believe that

 

"The heart is deceitful above all things & beyond cure. Who can understand it?" - Jeremiah 17:9

 

I would like to encourage my readers to trust God & wait for His Timing in bringing you a spouse. It will be worth the wait.

"Be still, and know that I am God." - Psalm 46:10

But I also encourage you- do not fritter away your time idly. Use this season of singleness to serve the Lord, your family, friends, Church etc. Learn all that you can, in preparation for marriage.

"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossias 3:17

And again, from the same chapter...

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
You are serving the Lord Christ." - Colossias 3:23-24

 

Along with King Solomon, I would encourage my readers to "not awaken love before its proper time"- 

 



  "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love before its proper time"
- Song of Solomon 8:4 (& also in SoS 2:7)

Another reminder-

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God & His righteousness,
& all these things will be added unto you as well..."
- Matthew 6:33

"Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart."

- Psalm 37:4

This verse does not mean that if we pretend to find our delight in the Lord, that He will grant us every wish, whim or passing fancy that we have. This verse means that as we truly learn to delight ourselves in the Lord & find all of our joy, contentment, identity etc in Him, then He will shape, mold & fashion our small desires into His big-picture Plan for our lives...

So... Some questions for you-

* Would you say that you are guiding your heart? Or following it?
* Are you trying to glorify God in all of your speech, thoughts, deeds & dress?
* Are you seeking God's Will, His Kingdom & His righteousness first?
* Are you content with where God has you in life?
* Are you "working while you wait," in preparation for your future?
* Are you "fully surrendering your precious dreams" to God?
* Are you trusting God with the outcome?
* Does your soul truly delight in the Lord?
* Are you happy to rest & wait for His Timing?

I encourage you to let there be "not even a hint of... immorality" in your life (Ephesians 5:3). In His own good, perfect Timing, "all things will work out for our Good & His Glory" (Romans 8:28). God's thoughts are not our thoughts nor are His ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). Trust in His good, perfect Will. Remember- no Promise of the Lord returns void (Isaiah 55:10-11)! God has a perfect Plan in mind for your life, far better than our wildest dreams, if we wait patiently for His Timing & do things His way! It IS worth the wait...

" Let us not become weary in doing good,  for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do not give up." - Galatians 6:9

 

"Blessed Be Your Name"





Last night, I finished a book entitled Blessed Be Your Name by Matt & Beth Redman. It was very encouraging & a blessing to me. I bought this book on a tangent about two years ago, but never read it until yesterday. It was a very timely reminder. The vast majority of this book is underlined & highlighted, because I learned so much from it.

I would highly encourage you to read this book. It talks about praising God, no matter what He brings into your life. About choosing to praise Him in the middle of the storm and when the sea is calm... It talks about the importance of remembering what God has done for you in the past, what he is doing for you in the present & what He will do for you in the future. It talks about thanking God, no matter what happens.

Its title comes from one of my favorite songs (that Matt Redman wrote). You can hear the song here & read the lyrics here. This song has a special meaning to my family, because it's one of the songs that we held onto when my youngest brother was born with spina bifida in 2005. It was a special encouragement to us & still holds a special placei n our hearts...

Some excerpts-

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you...

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned."

- Isaiah 43:2

 

"We worship a triumphant Savior, a victorious King... The God of unbroken promises. When He acts, no one can reverse it. When He speaks, His commands never reutrn empty... The doors He chooses to open, no one can close; & the doors He purposes to close, no one can open. No plan of His has ever been thwarted. No one has ever outmaneuvered Him, outlived Him or outloved Him..." - Matt Redman

 

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving & His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him & praise His Name..."
- Psalm 100:4-5

 

"Father, let me dedicate all this [life] to Thee, in whatever worldly state thou would have me be. Not from sorrow, pain or care freedom dare I claim,this alone shall be my prayer, glorify Thy Name." - Laurence Tuttiett

 

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on His Name;
make known among the nations what He has done.
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts.
Glory in His holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
Look to the LORD & His strength; seek His face always..."
- Psalm 105:1-4

 

"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains- it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." - C.S. Lewis

 

"Why are you s downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,

my Savior & my God..."

- Psalm 42:5-6, 11

 

"I believe in the sun even when it's not shining. I believe in loveevenwhen I feel it not. I believe in God even when he is silent." - written on the wall of a Nazi concentration camp prisoner 

 

"Nevertheless, I still belong to You;
You hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
& afterward You will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?   
& there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You.My flesh & my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart & my portion forever."

-Psalm 73:23-26

 

"So often the soil of our suffering will become the fertile ground for our seasons of fruitfulness." - Matt Redman

 

" Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you..."

- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 

Matt & Beth Redman use a lot of Biblical examples (Joseph, David, Job etc) of people who trusted in God, even when the circumstances seemed to contradict their faith. They also told the story of William Cowper, who wrote one of my favorite hymns- "God Moves in a Mysterious Way" (listen to it here & read the lyrics here) & his life-long battle with manic depression. God is Faithful through it all!

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant,
but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who have been trained by it."

-Hebrews 12:11

 

 "For devotion to stand the test of time & endure through every season of the soul, it cannot be based on the ever-changing circumstances of our lives- it must have its foundation on the never-changing worth of God." - Matt Redman
 

 "Bless the Lord, O my soul,
& all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    &  forget not all his benefits,who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love & mercy,who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's..."

- Psalm 105:1-5

 

"The question for us is this: What do we do when our world falls in? What shape does our worship take when things that we depend on give way beneath us? Can we... be found with an unswerving song of worship on our lips? Oh that God would bring us to that place- that even when the familiar & the comfortable fall away beneath us, still we are found with an undying song of trust flowing from our lips & from our lives." - Matt Redman

 

"And [Job] said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb,
& naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord.'”

- Job 1:21

 

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away,
our inner self is being renewed day by day.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us
an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,as we look not to the things that are seen
but to the things that are unseen.
For the things that are seen are temporary,
but the things that are unseen are eternal."

- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

 

 ^"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;
perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed..."

- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

 

Some questions to consider-

 

* In what ways can we choose to worship God in our daily lives in the good times and in the bad?

* Why do we constantly need to focus on God when life gets hard?
* When life is hard or painful, Can you still find your way to the place of praise?

* Why do you think faith in God is so important in this age of doubt, uncertainty & confusion?

* What do you think it means to be thankful in the midst of the pain?

* Do you ever think about honoring God throughout your day?
* Thanking Him for the small and the large things that He does for you?

* How has God been there for you yesterday & today?

* Can you thank Him for the blessings of life that are yet to come?

 

"For we know that God works all things

for the good of those who love Him,

who have been Called according

to His Purpose..."

- Romans 8:28

 

Be encouraged today!

BETTER Hearing the Voice of God



Are you overwhelmed by the mounting pressure? Have you picked up too many responsibilities that God didn't call you to undertake (Luke 10:38-42)? Is too much of your identity bound up in doing great things for God rather than simply enjoying being with Him?

Why do we not hear God sometimes? Sometimes unrepentant, unconfessed sin stands in our way. Sometimes our lives are too loud. Sometimes we are proud & stubborn, unwilling to bow our heads & bend our knees. Sometimes our prayers are too one-sided, focusing more on our "needs" & "wants," rote & routine, without stopping to hear His answer. Sometimes we don't want to hear what He's telling us.

How do we better hear the Voice of God? Repent of all unconfessed sin (both intentional & unintentional). Ask God where you need to change. Be willing to obey, to follow where He leads. Be humble to receive instruction. When in prayer, be in an attitude of waiting on the Lord (Psalm 46:10). Rest in Him. Trust in His grace. Continually be filled with the Holy Spirit. Be ready & willing to be used of God, for His Glory & your Good (Romans 8:28). Take the time to sit at His feet, enjoying His Presence. Remove yourself from the distractions. Quiet the noise. Learn from other people (their decisions, lifestyles, experiences etc). Seek a quiet place to be alone with God. Weigh everything against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). Seek confirmation. Grow your prayer life. Read His written Word. Be in relationship with other Christians. Actively look for godly input & influence. Quiet your soul. Actively seek Him. Cut down on the commotion, slow down & really listen to God. He will answer, but not always in the way we were expecting! Return to your first love. Draw near to God & He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Focus on Him; because NOTHING else matters!