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Your Maker is Your Husband: The Joys of Saying “I Do” to God

By
Andrea Matthews
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your maker is your husband

“For your Maker is your husband – the Lord Almighty is His name…” – Isaiah 54:5

What a strange thing for God to say, especially from the perspective of a new bride in her early twenties like myself. Nonetheless, this is the revelation He gave me just days after saying “I do” to another person claiming that role.

To be honest, I didn’t want to hear that. It was obviously some old-time metaphor, the one verse in the Bible that had nothing to do with me. It’s surrounding scriptures even targeted a woman who couldn’t have kids, a struggle with which I couldn’t identify.

Yet, God began to show me the other roles He claimed in my life: friend, teacher, provider, defender. That list went on as deeply as I would allow. Its only limit was me; God could only fill a position I permitted. But, He kept pressing.

So, fine. Be my husband, God, if that’s what You want. (Did I mention I was a young bride?)

Despite my lack of enthusiasm, He jumped at the open door and did just that.

God filled me.

He took over every aspect of the new union I had just stepped into and exceeded my wildest expectations. Our relationship (me and God) was taken to a greater level of trust, a greater level of intimacy much like the earthly relationship.

The best part was what this new mindset did in my earthly marriage. I didn’t have to drain my husband for love or affection or security because I found it in my Maker. My husband wasn’t burdened with the pressure of perfection; he didn’t have to fill my cup. I was already whole – more than that, I was overflowing (2 Corinthians 9:8, Psalm 23:5).

Instead of craving for my needs to be met, I couldn’t help but shower the man I loved with the love I constantly received from the One who created me.

I see now that my initial hesitation was nestled in fear. If God took over every role in my life, I’d lose the people who previously filled them. They meant more to me than I thought He could.

I’ve realized that, regardless of the relationship, God has to take priority. If He’s not first, I’ll find myself demanding my fulfillment from friends, family, coworkers, or even my kids – leaving those connections unhealthy and less than their intended purpose.

I’m just four years into this marriage thing, so I’m obviously not an expert, but I’m grateful for this truth and the growth it’s brought to my relationships.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Know that there is none like our God (Isaiah 46:9). He is more than enough and still blesses us with more.

God is continuously claiming more roles in my life, and I hope my journey encourages you to open your heart and allow Him to do the same.

The Hidden Ways Being Busy Destroys Your Faith

By
Lamica A. Burnett
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faith

In today’s world, everybody is busy.

Our schedules are jam-packed with staff meetings, conference calls, and working lunches. At home, there is a pile of laundry you forgot to fold, and a list of bills to pay.  If you’re pursuing higher education, reading assignments and papers demand your time and attention.

Let’s not even talk about your to-do list!  It seems that every time you cross off one task, three more to-dos magically appear in its place.  And just when our mind thinks it can rest, politics and daily news headlines flood our thoughts.

With all of this going on, I really feel the need to let you in on a little secret…

{Come closer, hear me whisper}

The enemy is after your faith.

This is serious.

THE ENEMY IS AFTER OUR FAITH!

Our Faith is Allergic to Busy-ness 

For the purpose of this discussion, faith is the belief in the powers and the abilities of God. The Word of the Lord in Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Our faith is built up when we read the Word of God out loud and it is heard by our own ears. If the enemy can steal my time with God, then I cannot hear God clearly.  If we spend enough time away from God, eventually we won’t hear him at all.

But wait a minute. With all that’s going on in the world, and all that you have going on in your life, when exactly are you going to have time to pay attention to the Word of God?

Here is where the problem is: The enemy would have us believe that we don’t have time to spend in God’s Word!

Intellectually, we know that we should do it, and we genuinely have good intentions. As our day slips away, we rationalize and make excuses.  We actually think that we’ll get around to reading our Bibles and spending time with God later – after our day settles down, after the kids are asleep, and after we’ve had time to unwind.

How often do we achieve our good intentions?

It’s a Matter of Time Management 

timeHere’s the thing – we don’t own time. Time belongs to God!

Day in and day out, God graciously and faithfully dispenses time to us in increments of 86,400 seconds; that translates into twenty-four hours.

God hands over His commodity called Time for us to manage.  As the Owner of Time, He trusts us to use it wisely. We are held responsible for what we do (or don’t do) with time we’ve been given.

Now, allow me to reveal one of the enemy’s tactics for embezzling time.

It happens very early in the morning when we first wake up.  Instead of spending time in the Word, we log into our work or personal email.  We tell ourselves that it will be a quick check-in so that we will know how to plan our day. We rationalize that it will only be a few minutes.

Then, we check our Instagram or Facebook accounts. We tell ourselves that we are only going to scan our news feed. Don’t forget about Periscope and Twitter! We must stay abreast of the latest videos and trending topics.

The enemy does not have the right to steal from us. When we allow ourselves to get distracted, we willingly surrender time to him!

We slowly lose the time God has given us.  As we lose time, we are, in essence, allowing our very lives to slip away.

Don’t Fall for the Oldest Tricks in the Book

John 10:10 says that the thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. This scripture clearly reveals the enemy’s intent –

Steal: to move secretly, to take from another without right or authority.
Kill: to deprive of life
Destroy: to ruin completely, to make ineffective 

The enemy wants to move in and secretly take time from you. He’d like you to think that neglecting to spend time in the Word of God is no big deal.

It is a very big deal! How big?

Again, if faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), and hearing by the word of God:

If we are not spending time in God’s word, our belief in his ability to hear our prayer and work on our behalf slowly dies.

When we’re not confident that God can hear us, how often will we pray?

If we’re unsure of His power and ability, then we are doubters, and the enemy’s tricks have caused us to become “unbelieving-believers”.

The Bible says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God.

So, not only has the enemy stolen your time and weakened your faith, he has also put you in a position where you cannot please God.

But wait a minute, all hope is not lost!  Here’s what you can do to get back on track.

So, what’s the play call? 

  • Come clean to God and admit that you have been distracted. Own up to the fact that you have fallen for the enemy’s tactic and have wasted time.  You are not alone in this! If we are transparent, we all have done it!
  • Pray and ask God for His forgiveness.  The Word of the Lord says in 1 John 1:9 that God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
  • Make a commitment to putting God first on your schedule. The Word of the Lord in Matthew 6:33 encourages us to seek God’s kingdom first.
  • Read the promises of God out loud over yourself, and watch your confidence in God grow! Don’t know where to start? Here’s a free e-book with 365 promises of God you can read aloud every day.
  • Start NOW. Go!

What are some of your time management tips?
How do you spend time with God?

 

Yes! I would like prayer. Please pray for me.

Save

Save

Save

Waiting on God: The Keys to Go From 60 to 0 MPH

By
Monique C. Baisden
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waiting on god

Hurry Up, Stop, and Wait

Everywhere you look in our fast-paced society, people seem to be in a rush so that they can get to where they need or want to be, for example:

While you’re waiting at a red light – the second it turns green and you don’t move, someone honks the horn and yells, “Go!”

When you’re driving on the interstate and not going as fast as the person behind you – someone honks their horn telling you to move over. Or, if you don’t, the person will speed right past you and get in front of you.

When you’re moving through the airport trying to catch a flight – if you are not moving fast enough, people will literally run right by you and almost knock you over to attempt to catch their own flight.

…and the list goes on and on.

Contrarily, when it comes to being Kingdom-minded and living a Kingdom-lifestyle, God doesn’t emphasize speed or being in a rush the way society does.

There are several scriptures throughout the Bible that emphasize waiting on God. I can attest that when it comes to living God’s way and staying in His will, He often encourages me to pump the brakes, slow down, and wait.  Wait on what, you say? Wait on Him. Wait on His direction. Wait on the God-ordained spouse He is sending. Wait for the God-sized, God-ordained door to open. Wait for His greenlight that says “do this”, “go here”, “move there”, “start that business”, etc.

I realize that some of you reading this may be like me: You simply don’t like to wait. With everything moving so fast around us, why should we wait? We are not accustomed to having to wait, especially waiting as patiently as God would intend.

So, I want to share with you a few things that I have learned that have helped me to slow down and wait on God.

Be still.

promises of godHave you ever been busy, but not productive? Have you ever been doing so many things at once that it leads to you being physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually exhausted – and you STILL can’t see any results or fruit of your labor?

Maybe it’s time to be still: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.” (Psalm 37:7). We are also reminded to “be still and know and that He is God” (Psalm 46:10) and that He doesn’t need our help in solving our problems or fixing our situations.

Don’t allow your feelings or emotions to accelerate pass God.

angerWhen I am tired of waiting, I start to feel antsy, anxious, worried or frustrated. There have been some occasions where I felt as if I had to do something, as ANYTHING was better than waiting. This would sometimes lead me to do things, often haphazardly, that God did not lead me to do.

As a result, I began to suffer the consequences of my premature actions that were not pre-approved by God. When we are tired of waiting, it is important to be led by the Holy Spirit. Being led by our feelings or emotions will only gratify the desires of our flesh (Galatians 5:16), and not the desires and will of God for our lives. As our feelings and emotions are constantly changing, we cannot allow anxiety, worry, frustration or any other emotion to lead us to do something which gets ahead of God or goes around God.

During times of waiting and feeling an influx of worry or anxiety, try this prayer: “You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path” (Psalm 143:10).

Pray.

prayFinally, and most importantly, I have learned that when I’m tired of waiting and beginning to feel anxious, frustrated, overwhelmed, or worried – it’s time to pray. Our Playbook encourages us to “be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

So, What’s the Play Call?

If you’re tired of waiting, I encourage you to stop, slow down, and wait on God. Remember: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

 

How to Color Life Outside the Lines with God

By
Alecia M. White
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outside the lines

Lines Created to be Crossed

I work with children, young girls, as a Girl Scout troop leader. In the summer, I have girls that I wouldn’t normally work with during the school year, so we do introduction activities.

Well, one day, we made name tags, you know, as a fun way for me to learn their names. The activity was pretty simple; the girls wrote their name and colored a piece of cardstock to their liking, and we put it in a name tag holder.

As one of my girls finished hers, she giggled as she shouted, “I just love coloring in the lines!” I laughed a little (you would’ve too). Then I began thinking, as a child, I considered it terrible if I accidentally went outside the lines on one of my favorite coloring book pages. I even neglected to complete some pictures because of it.

I even recall, while working at an elementary school, teachers having talks with children about why they needed to color inside the lines.

But, when did it become a crime to color outside the lines? And, who caused us to believe that it wasn’t allowed? I then realized that, as an adult, I considered it terrible to “color outside the lines” of life.

Do We Need Lines or the Line Maker?

Many of my most amazing life moments happened “outside the lines”. Initially, though, I didn’t recognize that these moments were even acceptable.

See, God does not operate within the confines of any lines. He is an “outside the box” kinda God, if you will. But there was a time when I failed to see that the things outside the lines were of God, and not necessarily the things within the “lines.” God had to train me to understand that many of the things that were to bless me, were outside of the realm of what I deemed worthy to be “colored.” I have even let the way others made me feel about going outside the “lines”, cause me to walk away from some of what God called me to.

Our Playbook says in Jeremiah 1:8, “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.” I had allowed their disapproval to draw lines around what God had already removed the boundaries from.

So many times, instead of “stepping out on faith”, I folded in fear, forgetting that “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). What difference does that make? Well, have you ever tried coloring with your eyes closed? That’s what faith is!

So, What’s The Play Call?

It can be difficult to “color outside the lines” and walk in the call that God has placed on your life. What you must understand, though, is that if God was not going to be with you and equip you, then He would not direct you to it. Here are a few things to help you “scribble” your way out of your comfort zone:

  1. Trust God. A simple instruction that often seems so difficult to do. We put so much confidence in the ‘experts’ who have nothing to offer us that we should have no problem having faith in the One who offers us everything. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Psalms 118:8
  2. Stop choosing the obvious. Sometimes, what looks like it must be the correct way is far from God’s idea of how things should go. Look for His approval in the matter, not for the cookie cutter ways of the world. “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things with are mighty;” 1 Corinthians 1:27
  3. Don’t be afraid. I know that going against what others consider to be normal or the “rule of thumb” can be nerve-wracking. But know that all the back up in the world cannot compare to God being by your side. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
  4. Ignore their voices. Often, our fear comes from the fact that others are so afraid of the consequences of coloring outside the lines, that they choose to project their fear upon us. Ignore them – return to sender.

I pray that you let go of that stigma that causes you to throw away what is outside the lines. Step outside of where everyone else has told you that you should be and go where God is.

Team Jesus Magazine Publisher, Kim Bright, Shares Her Testimony on Atlanta Live

By
Editorial Staff
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Team,

Catch the replay of our publisher/EIC, Kim Brightness, and her testimony of healing and restoration on WATC’s Atlanta LIVE!

Takeaway: As the #MeToo movement continues to grow, it’s important to remember that your story does not have to end at “me too”. Healing is available for #youtoo! Get the help and support you need to overcome trauma, pain, and mental health challenges without shame or stigma.

Through the blood of Jesus, God our loving Father who will never leave nor forsake you, and purposed mental health professionals, you too can find freedom and overcome any situation or experience – past, present, and future!

Need to Speak with a Counselor?

my christian counselorsConsider our service partners MyChristianCounselors.com and receive your 7-day FREE trial with a licensed, professional Christian counselor (powered by Faithful Counseling)! Connect with your counselor either by phone, online, video conference, or chat/mobile app. Find the mental health support you need – where and how you need it.

 

Think You Can’t Afford Counseling?

its time for you to healIf costs are prohibitive and keeping you from seeing a counselor or therapist, you may qualify for financial assistance through our partner agency, It’s Time for You to Heal. Sign-up for more information on how to become a recipient. Or, if you are a firm believer in the benefits of counseling/therapy, consider a tax-deductible donation to support others on their healing journey.

A Yearning for the Presence of God

By
Ryan Churchill
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presence of God

Today’s Scripture Lesson: Psalm 84

Please open your Bible or Bible app and read this Psalm in its entirety, allowing the Holy Spirit to minister to you through His Word.

The beauty found in the Psalms makes it difficult to rank one over another, but if I were so inclined, this 84th Psalm would likely rank toward the top of my list of all time favorites.

It is the inspiration behind the wonderful contemporary tune, “Better is One Day.” The 84th Psalm is a psalm of honest, simple longing for the ultimate fulfillment. It is a familiar cry from the heart, relatable to every walk of life and every soul.

Let’s take a close look at some of these verses and spend time reveling in and trumpeting the truths revealed.

Verse 1

“How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts!”

It sticks out to my mind that the God’s dwelling place is presented in its plural form. I point this out because not every translation has chosen to present it in the plural, and even the familiar song, “Better is One Day” uses the singular form. The original language allows for either translation, but you may do well to consider this verse through the lens of the New Testament.

In 1 Corinthians 3:16, we read, “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Several verses from the New Testament reveal the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of believers. With this understanding in mind, it must be understood that the heart filled with God’s Spirit is a lovely dwelling place. And it is made more lovely through every act of surrender to His ultimate will. It is lovely not because of its own merit, but because God Himself is lovely, and because God created us in His image. Nothing could be more lovely than the heart reflecting the heart of the Father.

To the point of God’s dwelling being the singular heavenly tabernacle, there is certainly merit to this beautiful interpretation and John presents a beautiful image of it in the book of Revelation.

Verse 2

“My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

kramer and georgeI’m reminded of the scene in Seinfeld when the quirky character, Kramer, awkwardly leans in exceedingly close to the ever self-conscious George and asks, “Do you yearn?” Telling the uncomfortable George moments later, “Sometimes I sit… and yearn.” It’s a wonderfully comic scene with Kramer revealing his plans to travel to California and pursue the one thing he’s ever done that truly made him feel “SO ALIVE.”  When asked if he was serious, Kramer responds, “In my mind, I’m already there.”

Yearning isn’t simply something we hope to do or think would be neat should the opportunity present itself. Yearning is intense. It is felt deeply in the soul, so much so that the flesh is uncomfortable with its current state and greatly longs for the ultimate fulfillment found in the object of our yearning.

The psalmist reveals his greatest longing is for the courts of the Lord, where he will find and be in the presence of the living God. The psalmist knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he will only be made complete when he is in the presence of his Creator. This isn’t simply a knowledge of the mind, it is heart knowledge. Notice, he didn’t sing for joy from his mind, rather his flesh and his heart sang for joy to the living God.

Verse 3

“The bird also has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.”

presence of GodIt is interesting to consider the tabernacle of the Old Testament and then imagine God allowing birds to safely enter the tabernacle, even nesting on or near the altar. It almost doesn’t seem conceivable. It just doesn’t seem as though God would allow birds to enter His holy presence and be so . . . well . . . birdlike.

Didn’t God’s presence consume Aaron’s sons who offered up the wrong kind of smoke? Yes. It did. So what are we to make of birds safely nesting in such a holy place?

Birds are innocent. Birds are in creation, just as they were intended to be in creation. Nothing more, nothing less. It is humanity who chose a sinful identity and must now be prepared and made clean, covered by the blood of the lamb, to be safely in the presence of God.

The psalmist refers to God in two ways at the end of the verse. He says, “my King” and “my God.”

We often recognize God’s omniscient power to do whatever He wants to do, and therefore, we’re happy to speak of Him as “God.” To speak of God as “King” requires that we not only recognize His power, but we recognize and submit to His authority. It is our willfulness which causes us to struggle with His kingship. Birds are totally comfortable with His power and His authority, and they live quite naturally in the truth that His power and His authority together are accompanied by His protection.

Verse 10

“For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

Yes, a thousand times, yes! Better is one day than thousands elsewhere. I find it interesting that the psalmist uses the word, “courts” rather than “house” or “tabernacle.” Admittedly a few translations use “temple.” But by and large, the word is translated “courts” in most English language versions. What is so great about the “courts?”

In yearning for the “courts” of the Lord, not only do we seek God’s presence, we seek God’s justice. In God’s justice, there is true satisfaction. Yet, in yearning for the “courts” of the Lord, we must recognize that this is the only place where we may receive the ultimate mercy. It is a mercy for which all in His presence will be grateful throughout all eternity. It is His mercy and His kindness which causes us to fall to our knees in worship. But here’s the point I want to get across.

Do you understand that you have that now?

Because of His kindness, we’ve been led to repentance. Because of His mercy, we are forgiven and free. We are free to love. We are free to be merciful. We are free to show grace. We are free to show kindness, reflecting the lovely heart of God the Father. We are free to worship. You may do all this because in the truth of God’s Word, as you yearn for His courts, you are, as Kramer would say, “already there.”

So, What’s the Play Call?

Go. Share the kindness of your heavenly Father. Go. Reveal the mercy of God to those who need mercy by being merciful.

I leave you with these words from “My God, My Reconciled God” by John Mason:

“Where God doth dwell, sure heaven is there,

And singing there must be;

Since, Lord, Thy presence makes my heaven,

Whom should I sing but Thee?”

How the Early Church in Acts Overcame Selfishness

By
Jeannette Tyson
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selfishness

“All the believers were one in heart and in mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all, that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales.” Acts 4:32-34

Does anyone else feel convicted when they read about the Acts church? To have grown from 120 to 3,000 in one day, casting out evil spirits, healing the sick, and taking care of each other in complete devotion?! These are high standards; these people were committed even under persecution.

I wonder why we don’t see this kind of faith and miracles today?

There are several things that contribute to our current state, but I believe one of them is selfishness.

Selfishness is not only evil – it’s debilitating. You won’t get too far being selfish – not at work, in relationships, or otherwise. The Bible says that “For God so loved the world He gave…” (John 3:16). God created us in His image (Genesis 1:27) so giving is in our DNA. When you are selfish, you’re taking on another nature apart from God’s.

In Acts Chapter 5, a husband and wife were killed because they lied and withheld a portion of their money from the church, acting like it was the full amount (Acts 5:1-10). The Acts church was so holy that the husband and wife’s deceit could not survive its weight of glory.

The Root of Selfishness

selfishnessIn my experience, selfishness is most commonly rooted in insecurity and a need for love. True love from God is the remedy. When people are broken and empty, they will do anything in their power to fix themselves and fill the void. When you’re trying to cope and self-medicate, it’s impossible to fully love and relate to others because you can’t see past your own “needs”. All of your encounters will be self-serving, everything you do or don’t do is fueled by desperation. People who are selfish are not always evil people, they just haven’t received the full love of God in their hearts.

When you can only take care of something or someone who can reciprocate the kindness, that’s selfish. I didn’t know until after I had my daughter that I was selfish. Having to put her needs above my own was never a question, but subconsciously, there was a lingering resentment. When God revealed this to me, I was so hurt and I felt like a bad parent. Here I am with a gift from God and my ignorance and the need to heal was preventing me from being able to fully enjoy motherhood.

The Lord let me know I wasn’t a bad parent, but I needed a revelation of His love to become whole and overcome selfishness.

Motive Speaks to Selfishness

There are people who only give to receive – and that’s still selfish. Some people only do things for thanks and a “pat on the back”. This is the insecurity aspect.

There was a time when I was so giving, I would bend over backward for anyone simply because I fed off their compliments and praise. It was exhausting, but I needed it to feel good about myself. I didn’t even know this about myself until God revealed it! I thought I was just a ‘good person’. That is why knowing God and building your relationship with Him is vital for deliverance. You can’t have genuine relationships with people when you have a manipulative personality or are a people pleaser.

God’s Love Cures Selfishness

love letterWhen we get a glimpse of God’s perfect love for us, we take on a whole new perspective. His love makes giving a joy and insecurity non-existent. His love opens your eyes to the fact that no matter where you are in life, you have all you’ll ever need. It makes the temporary things of this life seem so minute, and all of your strivings are no longer for you – but for His glory.

This makes dealing with people a lot easier. You will begin to see people through God’s eyes and when they hurt you, you’re able to keep loving them.

In fact, it’s a lot more difficult to be hurt when you’re in the love of God. You realize that attacks on you reveal pain and misery in the offender; your heart is grieved for them. You begin to intercede at a higher level because you want them to be free and whole. It gives you godly compassion that makes you love the person even more.

You may be confronted by an angry teammate, and the Spirit will give you discernment and show you what that person is dealing with. It hurts you and you take it into your prayer closet and travail for their situation. Not to say you should hang around for someone to mistreat you or take your kindness for granted – please use wisdom. I’m saying, “hurt people hurt people.” Let’s bear with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

So, What’s The Play Call?

Do a heart check and be honest with yourself. We are called to serve, and selfishness hinders servitude. We are supposed to present ourselves as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) to God, who calls us to serve others.

God created good works for us to do before we were born (Ephesians 2:10). As great as this life is, it’s not about us! What a challenging reality! We should commit ourselves to find out what God’s will is for us and what role we play in His plan.

It’s okay if you struggle! Don’t beat yourself up. We press toward the mark and in our consistent pressing God will change us and equip us to do His will. Remember, His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in our weakness (1 Corinthians 12:9).

Be blessed.

The Key to Acceptable Words and Meditations of Our Hearts

By
Ryan Churchill
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meditations of our hearts

Today’s Scripture Lesson: Psalms 19

My studies still have me in the Psalms and at my current rate, they’ll have me there for a while. As the last Bible Study To Go article revealed, I entered the Psalms for a deeper understanding of worship. While the Holy Spirit is teaching, guiding, and instructing me in that regard, He has revealed something else about the nature of the Psalms.

What I have found is what I can only describe as a filter. As I read the Psalms, I find God drawing my attention toward more and more junk and baggage that I continue to carry with me. While the Psalms reveal glorious truths about our Creator, they shine a light on the meditations of my heart. That light isn’t always pleasant and has repeatedly revealed empty falsehoods I have claimed and spoken as truth – falsehoods focused on rewards outside of God’s very presence.

As I understand more deeply how easily my heart is deceived by the pleasures of this world, I pray for deliverance and that He will soften my heart into a deeper state of surrender.

What’s in Your Heart?

Primarily, I want to spend some time with Psalm 19, today. I encourage you to open your Bible and read this Psalm in its entirety.

This Psalm reveals the meditation of David’s heart. He begins with a wondrous word of praise, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; their expanse is declaring the works of His hands.” The first thing David does in this Psalm is to bring recognition to the fact that we only look upward to witness the proclamation of the glory of God. Verse 3 reveals that the heavens do so without speech, without words, and even without voice.

Before we dive into the middle section, let’s look at how David closes this Psalm. He closes seeking forgiveness and in a state of surrender. Verses 12 – 14 state:

Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

I find an interesting connection between four phrases from this little section.

  • Who can discern his errors? (a question of self-awareness)
  • Presumptuous sins (things to which we give ourselves a free pass)
  • Words of my mouth (we could do a whole study on that…oh we already did)
  • Meditation of my heart

What’s on Your Mind?

I have a friend who pointed out how we’re all excellent at meditation. If you believe that to be a false statement, chances are good that you’re only thinking about meditating on the Bible. Truth be told, when all is quiet (and not necessarily in the silence), there is self-talk going on. “I’ve got this.” “This is easy.” “No problem.” “They’ll be glad I was the one to take care of this.”

Of course, those are the positive phrases we say, aren’t they? We also say things like: “They don’t deserve me.” “No one appreciates me.” “I’m a loser.” “I’m a failure.” “God doesn’t care.”

Our mouth speaks directly out of the meditations of the heart (Matthew 15:18). Those are the things which defile us. When you consider the idea that your heart has been meditating on lies, do you see how that leads to an inability to discern your own errors? Do you see how this inability can lead to presumptuous sins?

It’s pretty easy to fall into what David calls presumptuous sin. Let’s clarify what this sin is, though. Doing a little word study, you might come to the conclusion that it is sin rooted in pride and arrogance – both of which are manifestations of unbelief. It turns my attention to Jeremiah 6:15 and Jeremiah 8:12 where God is speaking to the prophet. In both verses He says to Jeremiah, “They were not even ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush.” Pride and arrogance have a central focus of self, but it is often masked by focusing on the sins of others. At the same time, this sin can easily be about knowing right from wrong and choosing sin with an attitude of unbelief.

So, What’s the Play Call?

What does David use as the meditation of his heart? We ding the answer to this question in the middle of this Psalm. He meditates on God’s revealed truths, and he does so in faith.

Meditate on the following verses (truths) from Psalm 19:

The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. (7-9)

As you meditate on these truths, remember how David viewed these truths:

They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. (10)

 

You Are Not Alone, Jesus Christ is There

By
Andrea Matthews
-
good health

I received a text from a friend:

“I feel completely alone in this world.”

I recognized that emotion, it had become all too familiar to me last Fall. My immediate response was “you’re not alone”. My heart continued…

I was there, trust me, I know exactly how you feel. But there’s joy in the morning, there’s peace on the other side…

But, I knew her situation, and I couldn’t relate. I had rejected those same words from a friend months ago. I began deleting them even faster than I had typed them.

What could I actually say? I asked the Lord and He reminded me of where the passion for my own deliverance came from. So, I simply sent His Word:

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3

Jesus Is So Close… He’s Touched by Your Pain (Hebrews 4:15).

I couldn’t relate one bit to her struggle, but I found the One who could. He’s the same One who felt every ounce of my hurt and brought assurance for an abundant life.

How incredible is our Savior? He carried all of our shame and the guilt of our sin, so we would never have to feel alone. He’s been there, in each situation, and He’s still there now waiting for us to walk in His resurrection power.

So, What’s the Play Call?

If you feel alone because you don’t know anyone who has walked the same path or endured the same heartaches as you, throw that lie back where it belongs. The truth is, Jesus voluntarily walked through it for you. He understands, and He’s there (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Good Soil: Why Following Jesus Christ is a Dirty Business

By
Alecia M. White
-
good soil

Good Soil is Dirty

Home for the weekend and my mom wanted her yard cleaned and if y’all know me, well most of you don’t. Ehem… Mmmkay, so, my name is Alecia M. White, and I hate dirt.

Like, I don’t do yard work, plant flowers, or keep plants in my house. Bugs, insects, and worms are enemies of mine. I have seasonal allergies and my insides itch at the thought of being outside for extended periods of time.

But well, you know, my momma wanted me to help her, so I sucked it up, took my allergy pill (brief praise break to celebrate the creator of such a pill), and got my tail out there in that yard.

I was brave, y’all – I didn’t complain, and I was out there for three hours.

So, as we were moving stuff around, I began to step into more and more dirt and it had rained, so there was rainwater in a couple of empty flower pots that had been sitting in the yard. As I poured the water out, I noticed how dark the mud was and I looked at my mom and said, “You have good dirt out here.”

Now, I took notice because the soil outside my parent’s home is pretty dark, and it isn’t dry like some in yards I’ve seen, and not just as you dig, but on the surface as well. It reminded me of the bagged soil that you’d go purchase in order to plant a garden, like, we could’ve probably planted flowers right then and there.

Good Soil is Necessary

faithful over littleAs I continued to help clean the yard, I began to think more about this “good soil” and how we all need some.

What I mean is, we always talk about the rain that is needed for flowers to grow, both literally and figuratively. In life, we discuss how we can’t get where we are meant to be without a little “rain” and a storm or two – and then comes the rainbow.

Well, we hardly ever talk about the dirt that is necessary in order to plant these “flowers”.

Yes, water is good, but dirt is also necessary. We often shun the “dirty” things that happen to us and write them off, but sometimes we fail to realize that if we hadn’t experienced those things, we couldn’t reach the heights that we have gotten to.

Our PlayBook says in 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” That “fiery trial” is that dirt that you need to grow. Verse 13 goes on to say “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

You see, the water is the topper, but you must first be planted, covered… in dirt.

SO, WHAT’S THE PLAY CALL?

Yes, it’s hard being dirty – especially for long periods of time. I think of myself in the summer heat after a long day – a shower is all I want! And maybe that’s why we try to overlook the “dirt” – because we just want that rainwater to wash us clean. I know you want to hurry and break free of the dirt you’re buried in, but here are a few things to help as you are “planted”:

  1. Ask God to clean you up. Yep, we all have things that we must be cleansed from. We all have our own reasons that we need a little extra rainwater, and it’s okay to admit that to Christ. He is waiting for you to accept what He has to offer. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalms 51:10.
  2. Remember that if God allows it, it’s “good dirt”. No, I’m not talking about that mess that you happened upon because you were hanging around the wrong crowd. I mean those rough patches in life that you cannot seem to explain. They teach you things you would’ve never learned on your own – that’s good dirt. Recall our scripture in 1 Peter, “think it not strange.”
  3. It’s okay to let God’s joy overtake you, even when you seem to be “buried” and you cannot yet feel the water breaking through. “But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.” Psalms 68:3.

Know that when you are doing all that you can, God sees you and He hears your cries. He just needs for you to be covered in “good dirt” so that He can “reign” over your life.

 

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