Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Paul is encouraging the Philippians to not be anxious or worry about things. He goes on to say later that he has learned to be content in every situation.
I often struggle with worry and anxiety. I work a lot and care a lot about my work, finances, family and home. Sometimes, my thoughts turn to fear and worry. I guess I really like my comfort and security. As I get older this problem seems to get worse. I need to remember that God is in control and he knows my needs. I can find my comfort and security in Christ no matter what circumstances I find myself. I need to better learn how to chill.
Dear Jesus, help me to remember you are my rock and help me chill.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Oh So Good
Psalm 119:68 "You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees."
The psalmist is praising God; specifically God's laws and statutes. He declares that God is good and what He does is good.
God is so good! A worship leader recently said that in order to worship God, we must believe He is good. It is impossible to truly worship and adore a God we do not believe is good. There are times I think God may not be so good. There are times I doubt. There are times I see the pain, suffering and injustice in the world and doubt the goodness of God. But when I return to scripture and think about the love and beauty of Christ's sacrifice for us, I can only conclude God is indeed good.
Dear Jesus, help me to have faith and trust in your goodness. You are indeed good. Amen.
The psalmist is praising God; specifically God's laws and statutes. He declares that God is good and what He does is good.
God is so good! A worship leader recently said that in order to worship God, we must believe He is good. It is impossible to truly worship and adore a God we do not believe is good. There are times I think God may not be so good. There are times I doubt. There are times I see the pain, suffering and injustice in the world and doubt the goodness of God. But when I return to scripture and think about the love and beauty of Christ's sacrifice for us, I can only conclude God is indeed good.
Dear Jesus, help me to have faith and trust in your goodness. You are indeed good. Amen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Hide and Seek
Psalm 119: 11 "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
The psalmist is talking about the power and beauty of God's word. He says he has hidden God's word in his heart-he has taken it in and secured it inside his very being. This will help him to not sin against the Lord.
I heard a song recently that described a world without cathedrals, churches and Bibles. The song essentially asks, "what would we do without these things?" Do I have enough faith to last without my Bible? Do I know God's word well enough to live without my Bible? Have I hidden enough of God's word in my heart so that if my Bible was taken from me I could still stand strong? The answer is sadly no. I need to do a better job of hiding.
Dear Jesus, help me to hide your word in my heart each day so that I will not sin against you. Amen.
The psalmist is talking about the power and beauty of God's word. He says he has hidden God's word in his heart-he has taken it in and secured it inside his very being. This will help him to not sin against the Lord.
I heard a song recently that described a world without cathedrals, churches and Bibles. The song essentially asks, "what would we do without these things?" Do I have enough faith to last without my Bible? Do I know God's word well enough to live without my Bible? Have I hidden enough of God's word in my heart so that if my Bible was taken from me I could still stand strong? The answer is sadly no. I need to do a better job of hiding.
Dear Jesus, help me to hide your word in my heart each day so that I will not sin against you. Amen.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Less Lip Exercise
Mark 7:6 "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."
Jesus was upset about how the Pharisees were judging him and his disciples. He quotes Isaiah here and scolds the Pharisees for talking a great talk, but not having their hearts in the right place. They cared too much about religious tradition and cared not for God's heart.
I often wonder if I do a good job with my lips while my heart is far from God. Do I talk a good game because I have to? To impress people? Jesus goes on to say that we need to care more for what is on the inside and not so much about the outside. I have to spend more time on my heart and less time on my lips.
Dear Jesus, help me to spend more time exercising my heart and less time exercising my lips. Amen.
Jesus was upset about how the Pharisees were judging him and his disciples. He quotes Isaiah here and scolds the Pharisees for talking a great talk, but not having their hearts in the right place. They cared too much about religious tradition and cared not for God's heart.
I often wonder if I do a good job with my lips while my heart is far from God. Do I talk a good game because I have to? To impress people? Jesus goes on to say that we need to care more for what is on the inside and not so much about the outside. I have to spend more time on my heart and less time on my lips.
Dear Jesus, help me to spend more time exercising my heart and less time exercising my lips. Amen.
Monday, March 09, 2009
Not a Nazarene!
Mark 6: 5 "And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any mighty miracles among them..."
Jesus is in his hometown of Nazareth and they are unwilling to believe he is anyone special-certainly not the Son of God. To them, he is still the carpenter's son and is now just pretending to be someone important. They put no faith in him and because of that he is unable to perform any real miracles.
It appears the reason for Jesus' inability to perform miracles rests in the poor faith of the townspeople. Could it be our faith, or lack thereof that thwarts God's power in our communities? I think I have faith, but do I really? I see very few miracles. Or am I not looking hard enough? Maybe I should expect them more and increase my faith. Then maybe I will see the lame walk.
Dear Jesus, help me to not be like the Nazarene who did not have faith in you. Give me faith and help me to see you move. Amen.
Jesus is in his hometown of Nazareth and they are unwilling to believe he is anyone special-certainly not the Son of God. To them, he is still the carpenter's son and is now just pretending to be someone important. They put no faith in him and because of that he is unable to perform any real miracles.
It appears the reason for Jesus' inability to perform miracles rests in the poor faith of the townspeople. Could it be our faith, or lack thereof that thwarts God's power in our communities? I think I have faith, but do I really? I see very few miracles. Or am I not looking hard enough? Maybe I should expect them more and increase my faith. Then maybe I will see the lame walk.
Dear Jesus, help me to not be like the Nazarene who did not have faith in you. Give me faith and help me to see you move. Amen.
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