God is Dependable

“Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word.” (Hebrews 10:23 MSG)

I was at the UPS store trying to mail an application for a visa. I had been working on these forms for weeks. The package included several irreplaceable, original documents. I had already paid for shipping and return. When I walked into the store, I was the only customer. This should go smoothly, I thought to myself. Well...it didn’t. The young clerk seemed inexperienced. She called the manager up from the back several times. He was grumpy and impatient. I felt nervous leaving such valuable documents in their hands, but I had no other choice. They slapped a few labels on the envelope and handed me a tracking receipt. It was out of my hands now.

Unlike the UPS clerks, God is dependable and capable. Yet, I am hesitant to hand things over to Him completely. As long as I have a choice to hang on and manage things on my own, I attempt to do so. I have trouble  relinquishing control.

I must learn to trust God with my burdens. He knows what He’s doing.  When I take my concerns to Him, I can be sure that it will be handled properly. His promises are my tracking receipt. I can hang on to them for reassurance. Every prayer will be sealed and delivered at the appropriate time.

Lord, you are trustworthy. I shall commit every concern to You in complete faith. I will keep a firm grip on Your promises while I wait patiently for Your perfect timing. Thank You in advance.

Morning Prayers

“Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3 NLT)

Lord, every morning I come to You. Yes, I am still groggy, and I get easily distracted, but my heart desires to spend time with You. I pour out my concerns and wait to hear from You.

Spread your protective covering over my loved ones. Wake us up to Your light. Guide us today and every day. Help us to patiently wait for your directions. Reveal Yourself in ways we may recognize. Speak to our hearts in a language we can understand. When we are distracted, hold on to us.  Do not let us stray from Your side. Teach us to trust You. Flood us with Your love, so that we may experience You fully and be satisfied.

God with Us

"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9 NLT)

What are your fears?

What causes you to feel discouraged?

I am plagued by several recurrent negative messages:

--You are not good enough.

--It’s just a matter of time before things fall apart completely.

--People will abuse you if you let them.

--Love hurts.

Fear is often a tangled mess of half-truths and legitimate concerns. It’s tough to differentiate between delusions and reality. Like viruses on your computer, certain lies can be hard to remove even after you have recognized them as harmful. Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones is not easy.

When I get into a funk, my mind can go into an endless loop of self-sabotaging messages. In order to pull myself out of this yucky place, I remind myself of a few truths:

--God is with me, no matter what.

--God is in control.

--His grace is enough.

--God’s power works best in my weakness.

Disrobe

“Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.” (James 5:16 MSG)

Like many women, I am uncomfortable in swimsuits. So when swimsuit cover-ups became popular, I happily embraced the trend. I have several that look like beautiful dresses. If I am at a beach or pool, I rarely take off this outer garment. I applaud those women who are brave enough to bare their imperfect bodies. I watch admiringly as they swim and bask in the sun.

Even though I am reluctant to bare my outer body, I am learning to strip off the layers of my inner self. I have a circle of friends who are willing to be transparent. We freely share our experiences and wisdom. We are willing to be vulnerable, admit our flaws, and learn from each other. It’s like going to a beach where everyone is ready to disrobe and reveal their imperfect bodies. There is no shame, no pressure to present a flawless image. This makes it easier for everyone to bare themselves and bask in the Son. We confess our faults, fears, and insecurities to each other and pray that we shall be whole and healed.

I Am Nothing

“Do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?” (2 Corinthians 13:5 ESV)

A few weeks ago, I attended a conference with several local speakers. When I walked in, the room was full and the lights were dimmed for a video presentation. I noticed an empty chair near one of the tables in the back. I asked permission to the person next to me before I sat down. During the intermission, several people came up to that table to chat with others near me. I realized that I had sat down near some of the official presenters at the conference. As I was scanning the room for another seat, one of the audience members came up to me and asked:

“Are you one of the speakers?”

“NO! I am nothing,” I blurted out.

He said, “Don’t say that! Everyone is something.”

I wasn’t trying to be humble--it was a gut-level response. This habit of invalidating myself started when I was a child. I can be encouraging and affirming to others, but not to myself. It’s not that I lack self-esteem; I’ve just internalized certain worldly standards about what it means to be significant. It’s hard to hear the whispers of the Spirit above the cacophony of these lies.

The truth is that our worth comes from only one thing: Christ is in us. Thus, everyone has value. Like land that holds underground gold, we all have the potential to reveal Christ. Whether we recognize it or not, the Spirit of God is working on us, in us, and through us. As we yield to Him, our lives become an expression of God, who alone is the source of significance.

I keep praying that this faith we hold in common keeps showing up in the good things we do, and that people recognize Christ in all of it. (Philemon 1:6 MSG)

Everlasting God

“Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out.” (Isaiah 40:28 MSG)

When I was a young mother, my child was my primary concern. My days and nights were consumed by all that I had to do; I had very little time or energy for anything or anyone else. Then a mature friend gave me the following advice: “Someday your children will grow up and move on with their lives; invest in your relationship with your husband--soon, it will be just you and him.” I am at that stage of life now. My only child is grown, and my husband and I are spending a lot more time together. I am glad that we didn’t neglect our marriage while we were immersed in the parenting phase of life.

Someday, everything will disappear--husband, friends, health, wealth, strength...

Then it will be just me and my Everlasting God. He never grows weak or weary. His power and love never run out. He will never leave or abandon me. He knows me inside and out. I will draw near to My Lord, and He will draw near to me. I shall make Him my primary concern. I will cling to the Lord, who is my infinite companion and perpetual  support.

Teaching and Learning

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” (Proverbs 1:5 NIV)

Parenting young children calls for patience and discipline. Every day is full of teachable moments. At home, we try to mold them according to our beliefs and values. During school, we depend on teachers to educate and guide them.

In contrast, guiding grown children requires wisdom and a great deal of faith. Young adults may have a lot left to learn, but they are not very teachable. Their inexperience often leads to complacency and carelessness. It can be quite frustrating to be a powerless parent--to accept that our role has changed.

What are we to do as parents when our children are young adults? We too have a lot left to learn. Just as we handed them over to caregivers and school teachers when they were young, now, we must release them to the Lord. He is the best adviser, friend, mentor, guardian, and Father. We have to trust that God will continue working on them until they reach their full potential.

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (Philippians 1:6 NLT)