Thankful Thursday ~ God's Power

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Has God called you to a task that has completely overwhelmed you?

Are you struggling with a hurt that has cut you like a knife?

Are you burdened with a decision that seems impossible to make?

Are you facing the uncertainty of finances due to a job loss?

Has grief washed over you burying you in your tears?

God is with you! His Power is stronger than any difficulty you face and He is ready to fight your battle for you. He wants to carry you through the dark days.

“Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s…You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand & see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah & Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”

2 Chronicles 20:15,17

In Jonah Week 5 we learn that God wants us to win. He goes before us preparing the way. In 2 Chronicles 20 we see Jehoshaphat, King of Israel as he was being attacked by the Moabites, Ammonites & Meunites. Jehoshaphat saw the impossible situation he was in and called out to God. As he faced this threat he turned to God who gave him instructions on what he should do. God had paved the road to victory they just needed to obey His instructions in order to experience His Power of Victory.

“I am amazed to consider the work God does to prepare the way for our obedience. We cannot see the tapestry of divine activity behind the scenes. “ Priscilla Shirer

When we face circumstances more than we can handle we must remember:

·      God doesn’t always call us to tasks that we can easily handle. Sometimes He calls us to tasks too big for us in order to stretch us.

·      God doesn’t always call people equipped for a task but He will equip those He calls.

·      God calls us to a situation He has been working in so that in our obedience we can join Him in His mighty plan.

·      When we call on God in our weakness He will help us face each day through His Power.

Continuing to Count the Joy Dare #1112 - #1119:

·      Rain to wash away the pollen

·      Seeking God’s heart

·      Praying for dear Sisters in Christ

·      Trusting in God’s Strength & Healing

·      Dating my husband

·      Kids spending the night with Grandma

·      God going before us before we knew we needed help

·      Listening to the falling rain.

In His Calm,

Mary

Thankful Thursday ~ Praying God's Word

“Have we taken time to inscribe God’s Word on our hearts so we have a framework of verses to construct our prayer in the time of need?” Priscilla Shirer

Day 5 in Week 3 of Jonah Navigating a Life Interrupted is all about prayer. When we are refocusing our hearts & minds on God prayer is one of the most basic & one of the most important areas we need to focus. Prayer is the foundation of our communication with God.

In Jonah Chapter 2 we learn 3 lessons on prayer: the pattern of prayer, the passion of prayer, and the posture of prayer.

·      A lesson in repeating:

Woven throughout Jonah’s prayer in verses 2-9 are references to passages from the Book of Psalms.

      Jonah 2:2 – Psalm 30:3

      Jonah 2:3 – Psalm 42:7

      Jonah 2:4 – Psalm 31:22

      Jonah 2:5 – Psalm 69: 1-2

      Jonah 2:7 – Psalm 18:6, Psalm 77:11-12

      Jonah 2:9 – Psalm 66:13-14

Do you pray the Word of God? When we pray the Word of God we actively participate with Him; we breathe in His Word, we absorb His Word, we live His Word. But to pray the word of God we must know His Word.

Do you take time to read & memorize His Word?

This question convicts me as I write it. Over the past month I have committed to memorizing a chapter of the Book of Psalms. In fact just a few weeks ago during my quiet time I prayed through the chapter as I prayed over a very difficult issue my family is facing. But, in the busyness of life I have slacked off and fallen very behind in memorizing. Today I will commit to beginning again.

·      A lesson in crying:

Jonah passionately cried out to God.

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” Jonah 2:2

He was in the depths of despair in the belly of the fish and had nowhere to turn but to God. As he cried out, God heard his plea and answered him.

Have you ever passionately cried out to God? I’ve shared with you before that there have been many times I have cried out to God. God knows our pain. He knows our sorrows. He knows our concerns. We just need to be honest & lay them out before Him.

He wants to help us all we need to do is ask.

·      A lesson in gratitude:

“But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good Salvation comes from the Lord.” Jonah 2:9

Jonah was still sitting in the belly of the fish. He had spent 3 long days & nights stranded and there was no end in sight. But, he chose to trust that the Lord would rescue him and thanked him for the deliverance that he knew would come.

Whether you are in the beginning of a storm or the middle of a storm trust that God will deliver you and thank Him for that deliverance. You might not know how to thank Him but find one thing you are grateful for. Even if its just one thing today then hold tight to that one thanks. And tomorrow, find one more thanks and then another and another until you are through the storm.

When we trust and thank God through a storm He brings us through on the other end stronger than when we entered the storm.

What do you have to be thankful for today?

Continuing the Joy Dare of Thanking God each day #1091 - #1099

·      Worshipping through tears & joy

·      Having my son lean over in church & say, “This preacher is awesome!”

·      God’s healing touch

·      Thanking & trusting God that He will get us through a difficult time

·      Bright sunny mornings

·      Making changes even when we don’t want to

·      Baby snuggles

·      Great hit by my little girl in her first softball practice

·      Watching birds build nests outside my window

In His Calm,

Mary

God's Discipline

Week 3 of Jonah Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer spoke to my heart in a number of areas.

The overarching theme was that God will do whatever is necessary to reconcile with us. Somehow, someway He will get our attention.

God loves us too much to leave us where we are when it’s not best for us. God isn’t lazy. He will take the action necessary to discipline us so that we will cry out to Him.

Four principles for reconciling with God were shared.

1.   Acknowledge our sin

Being honest with God about our disobedience isn’t easy. But the first step is acknowledging the sin in our lives.

   “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me & know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23,24

Have you honestly sat down and asked God to search your heart and reveal your disobedience?

2.  Accept God’s discipline

Accepting God’s discipline is hard. Like a child who becomes angry and upset when her parent disciplines her we can become angry, upset or blame others when God disciplines us.

God’s discipline of Jonah was painful but he gave himself completely over to God by allowing himself to be thrown overboard into the raging sea. He was now completely willing to obey God.  

“It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn your statutes…I know, Lord, that Your judgements are just and that You have afflicted me fairly. “ Psalm 119:71,75

Do we accept God’s discipline of us, or do we become angry, upset & blame others for God’s discipline?

3.  Ask for forgiveness

When we repent we confess to God and agree with Him that we have sinned & disobeyed Him. We ask Him to change our mind, attitude and our actions.

True repentance requires a full mind, body and spirit renewal.

Often times our feelings don’t want us to change but when we truly repent we are willing, despite those feelings to stop running from God. We must choose to follow God by faith and allow our feelings to change over time as our hearts become more in tuned with God.

Have you given your mind, attitude and actions completely over to God?

4.  Act on God’s direction

“But as for me, I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the Lord.” Jonah 2:9

Priscilla shared that “Jonah used a Hebrew word translated vow in our English Bibles”. “In most cases, the context (of this word) shows that the vow implies a promised gift for sacrifice, not merely a course of action as is implied in the English word vow.”

I especially loved the quote she shared…

”Whatever you are holding onto in this life, hold it loosely so it won’t hurt when the Lord has to pry your fingers open to take it away.”

Ouch!! Am I willing to sacrifice & give up the things I love so dearly in order to act on God’s direction?

This week was filled with so many areas of reflection. Join me tomorrow for Thankful Thursday as I look at how our prayer lives can be enhanced.

In His Calm,

Mary

Following through the fog...

It was early on a cold fall morning as I drove through the gate. I left the clear view of trees & blue skies and entered the smoky, dense blanket of fog. I saw it as I drove closer but once I was in it I was overwhelmed by how heavy & confining the fog was.

I found myself thinking maybe I should turn around; this isn’t safe. I was nervous & unsure but I knew the road I was on & knew the turns I needed to make. After a few minutes I crested a hill and caught a glimpse of the blue sky above the fog. I could see that not too far ahead of me the fog would clear.

Do you ever wish you could see your life laid out before you?

I do! There are so many times I look up and ask God “why can’t you just show me what lies ahead”.

But that’s not the way God works.

He interrupts our lives to ask us to trust & follow Him.

“ A life interrupted by a Holy God is a privilege.”

Priscilla Shirer

I am currently doing a study called Jonah Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer. In this study she shares how Jonah was faced with the decision to follow God or go his own way.

Following God is not always easy.

When He places a call on our lives we are faced with a decision – do I follow God or do I run the other direction.

“Most biblical people who made a lasting mark had a point in their lives where they stood at a crossroad. They had to decide to yield to divine intervention at the cost of their own plans or continue on their own path instead.”

When we make the decision to follow God we may not always see the path clearly marked out before us. We may be overwhelmed, scared & uncomfortable.

But the life of living in the center of God’s Will is not about us.

Living in the center of God’s will is not about my comfort & my desire but about God’s desire for what is best for His Kingdom!

It is up to me to decide if I will say yes to His call. When I say yes I am blessed by experiencing His power, comfort & safety. More importantly God’s Glory and Honor are made known.

The “Holy heroes of Scripture” couldn’t see the outcome of their lives. Like the blanket of fog I drove through that made it difficult for me to see, there is a blanket of fog over my life causing me not to see the outcome of the journey God has called me to. But when I focus on God’s Light & His Truth He will clearly mark out the next step & then the next until the fog lifts & shows the clear view around me.

You are standing at a gate – you have a choice to go through the gate that leads to following God into the unknown or turning around and going your own way? Which will you choose?

In His Calm,

Mary