Unbound and Unharmed

Today we pick up where Friday’s DEVO left off.  How do we go from wondering if God can do something to knowing God can do whatever it takes?  How do we stop being fearful and start being confident like those three men who were threatened with being thrown into the furnace unless they worshipped a false god? 

Daniel 3:17 says, “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from your hand.”

However, Daniel 3:18 is an even bolder statement: “But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." 

It’s one thing to have faith when you know it’s going to work out the way you want it to.  It’s another thing entirely when you have no guarantees but you believe regardless.

Daniel 3:19-22 “Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.  So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.  The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.”

The furnace was so hot that even the soldiers who threw them in were burned up.  Life is kind of like this sometimes.  We are minding our own business when out of the blue our faith is challenged.  We are so sure of our faith, and sure that we are pleasing God, but we get thrown into the fire anyway.

Nevertheless, to answer the question – how do we become confident in our faith? – we read the next couple of verses 24-25: “Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the Son of God.’”  

This is such a beautiful and reassuring passage from scripture.  Three were thrown in, but four were walking around.  Jesus was with them, and Jesus is with us.  We can become confident in our faith because no matter where we go, Jesus will go too.  There are no chains He can’t break.  There is no fire that is too hot.  This brings tears to my eyes!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You are literally always with us.  Thank you for the assurance that even in the midst of trials we walk around unbound and unharmed. Since nothing is holding us back, we raise our hands and praise You! In Your name, AMEN~   

Growing Faith is Better~

Someone once said, “A trembling hand may hold a cup into which Jesus will not refuse to pour out the miracles of heaven, but the trembling hand will spill much of the blessing.”

The father of the little boy Jesus healed still received the greatest blessing of all when he child was healed.  But were there other blessings that were forfeited because of his doubts?

None of us wants to judge this poor dad; it’s hard enough that his child was suffering.  But I think it’s okay to point out that while weak faith is still faith, growing faith is better.  Weak faith takes unsure steps.   The dad approached Jesus with uncertainty, “If you can do anything, do it,” Mark 9:24.

Mature faith, on the other hand is bold.  Daniel chapter three details the story of three, faithful, Jewish men who refused to worship a gold statue made by King Nebuchadnezzar.  When this king found out he was beyond angry.  “Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? If you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?’ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.’” 

One father feebly stated “If.” These other three confidently proclaimed, “Is able.”  Both of the situations these folks found themselves in were tough and rough. But if and when push comes to shove, I want to be bold, confident, and sure of the God I believe in.  It starts with prayer.

Dear Lord, We have all had times where we feel the heat of life and have felt our faith falter.  Strengthen our faith in You today so we have peace and joy.  We do not want to spill not even one precious blessing.  Help us be confident in You.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~   

Weak Faith is Still Faith~

Mark 9:24 “I believe, help me with my doubts!”

Last Friday we looked at this verse about a dad who desperately wanted Jesus to heal his demon possessed son.  This dad put into words what we have all experienced, and there are four points to consider:

1. No one is a perfect believer with perfect faith.
2. There may come a time when we face a crisis and discover that our faith is not 100%.  This should never make us doubt the fact that we at least have some faith and the faith we do have is real, legitimate, and genuine.
3. Life is a journey of faith. It progresses and gets stronger the further we travel along.  I bet you the desperate father who cried out the words in the verse above had stronger faith after Jesus healed his boy.  Amen!
4. Some biblical scholars have suggested that in the verse above the father asks Christ for a miracle with a 50/50 split of faith and doubt.

All four of these points can be summarized in one life-changing truth: Weak faith is still faith, and Jesus responds to it.

Jesus did not sit there and preach to this suffering dad about his less than stellar belief system in order to increase his faith.  Rather, Christ met him in his suffering, accepted the faith that was offered, accepted the honesty that there was doubt in the mix, and did two amazing things: He helped the man overcome his doubts and answered the prayer anyway.  Win/win!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Sometimes when we are struggling, the last thing we need is someone to tell us that we don’t have enough faith.  That makes things worse and makes us feel as though we will never receive the answer.  Thank You that the only One Who can make that call anyway is Christ, and He always accepts us and our faith, no matter how weak or strong it might be.  Our faith united to Christ through prayer has unlimited possibilities.  May we never give up on You or prayer.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~      

Back to Business~

Tuesday greetings ~

Isaiah 41:13 “I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.’”

What can we expect when God takes us by the hand?  The book of Mark in the Bible provides one glorious answer with three different miracles.

Mark 1:31 “He went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.”

Mark 5:41 “He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (Which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.”

And our verse from Friday’s DEVO, Mark 9:27 “Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.”

When God takes hold of our hand, we get up! We get back to business!  We don’t stay down; we rise by His power and live! 

In all three of these verses there was no hope left.  But when Jesus comes to us and helps us, we can expect a reversal.  What is that “thing” that has you down?  Is it your child? Two of these miracles were performed at the request of a parent.  Is it a relative? The other miracle was for Peter’s mother-in-law.  Is it you? God takes a hold of YOUR right hand today.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Take our hand, please, and lift us up.  You are speaking into our hearts today and promising to help us.  Do Your thing! In Jesus’ name, we receive it! Amen~

Anything Can Happen~

TGIF greetings ~

A quick overview of the last five DEVOs shows that we need to tame our tongue to receive blessings, the keys to breaking free from any jail we find ourselves in is prayer, God is always nearby listening for us, He has plans to give us peace and hope, and we can make an exchange whereby God takes our sorrows and gives us joy.

And the one unifying element for these DEVOs and all the rest ever written is that we need faith.  Faith that with God everything is possible, faith that prayer is powerful, faith that God answers prayer, faith that God’s plan for our life is good, and faith that God gladly accepts our junk and sends blessings in return.

Faith faith faith…

What are we to do when we are lacking in faith?  Maybe we feel as though all the amazing things are like that carrot on the fishing rod that is dangled just out of reach for that poor harnessed donkey who walks and walks and walks and pulls that cart trying to reach that carrot, but it’s no use.

The answer is found in Mark 9:21-24.  A father comes up to Jesus because his boy has been tormented by a demon since the boy was little.  He says to Jesus, “If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”  I love Jesus’ response, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

The father then replied with what is, at least for me, an accurate 100% on point description of where I am at some days in my faith walk.  “No sooner were the words [There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen] out of His mouth than the father cried, ‘Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!’”

Other versions of the Bible say:

“I believe my Lord; help the lack of my faith.”

"I do believe: strengthen my weak faith."

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

How is it possible to believe and not believe, how can we have faith and a lack of faith all at the same time? 

We will tackle that question next week.  For now, let Jesus’ actions bless your hearts; He healed that little boy.  Mark 9:27 “Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.”

Jesus gets us back on our feet, even when our faith is not perfect.  Amen amen amen!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We do believe, but strengthen our faith where it is weak. Help us overcome any doubt we have about You.  This concern ________________ needs Your power.  Help ______________ get back on (his/her/my) feet. You are so amazing.  In Your name we pray, Amen!

A Tamed Tongue~

Thursday greetings~

I wore braces for four long years, partly because I refused to wear a head gear.  That would have knocked off 18 months of treatment, but when you’re 14 years old, the last thing you need are wires protruding out of your mouth that wrap around your head.  That’s the way it was back in the day.  Today’s braces wearers have no clue.  But there was something even worse I had to put up with.

A few months into treatment the orthodontist asked me to show him how I swallow.  Turns out that my tongue would always hit the back of my front teeth while I was swallowing, and this was causing my slight overbite.  The orthodontic world labeled me a “tongue thruster.” 

The solution was a little metallic device – don’t know what’s it’s called – that was glued onto the back of upper teeth.  Every time I swallowed, my overbite-causing tongue would go up there, where it was harshly pricked by the needle-like pincers that were attached to that device.  The orthodontist called it a “deterrent.”  I called it for what it truly was: “Child abuse!”  Some times it would make my tongue bleed.  Poor little Yenisita.

But guess what, it didn’t take long for my tongue to go to the roof of my mouth when swallowing, leaving the front teeth alone.  Before I even realized it, it became a habit.  I didn’t even have to think about it before I swallowed.  My tongue had been tamed to do the right thing.  There was a payoff too; I still have most of my teeth:

   

From a spiritual perspective it is a good idea to have a tamed tongue too.

1 Peter 3:8-12 “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you’re worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he’s asked.”

We need use our tongue the way God intended, which is to bless others.  He says it’s our job.  And there's a payoff here as well.  If we work at it, if we take a moment to contemplate our responses, if we tame our tongue, our days will fill up with good.  But before we get to the part where God approves and shows it by responding to our prayers, we have to “say nothing evil or hurtful.”  Ouch and help me, Jesus.  If only there were a device that could be attached to our mouth that would redirect our tongue when it attempts to be mean or critical.  Well, there is, sort of.

Psalm 141:3 “O Lord, set a guard at my mouth.  Keep watch over the door of my lips.”   

Over and over again I have talked about how living the Christian life is a win-win.  This is why.  God wants to fill our days up with good, but we need to keep our tongues under control for Him to do so.  I personally have never been one to say evil things, but hurtful things?  Mean things? That is too easy for me sometimes.  But God does not leave me on my own.  He wants to bless me so much that He will help me do the things He asks by keeping watch over me and my mouth.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, You are right.  Life is better when we speak beautiful things.  Our days are good when there’s nothing evil or hurtful in our language.  We are blessed when we run after peace.  And it’s all because You respond to us.  Thank You for all the help You give us.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~  

The Keys are Right There~

Matthew 16:19 “You have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”

One of my favorite TV shows is the 1960's sitcom The Andy Griffith Show.  It’s such a funny show, and it seems like almost every episode someone winds up in jail.  One time a character named Otis was locked up for the night and was waiting to be let out when all along the keys were right in the middle of the two cells hanging on a peg.  That’s one of the running jokes of the show.  The keys are always hanging on that peg within easy reach of anyone who is inside.

So many of us are like Otis: The keys are right there, but we don’t realize it or just plain don’t use them.  We stayed locked up in fear, loneliness, stress, hopelessness, sickness, and need because we don’t use the keys. 

Which keys?  The keys to the kingdom.  And how do we receive them?  By prayer.  We always come back to prayer.

Prayer is the means by which heavens doors open up and bless us here on earth.  Prayers eliminate barriers. Prayers give us complete and free access to everything God has to offer.  Please refer to Psalm 103 for a tiny glimpse of everything that is ours. 

Prayer is never about a free pass to ask for whatever we want and to do whatever we want to do; God will never do anything contrary to His Word.

But prayer is the means by which God decided to make a bridge between heaven and earth.  Christ gave us His life to build that bridge and like Otis, all we have to do is reach through the bars and grab those keys.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for so freely giving us the keys to the kingdom.  Some days, we forget to use the keys, or we forget they are right there.  But thank You that they are the easiest things to access; all it takes is a little talk with Jesus.  We say “YES!” to Jesus and the health, protection, peace, love, and hope that He offers right here where we are on earth.  And we say “No!” to anxiety, disease, worry, fear, loneliness, and hatred.  Heaven agrees with us, and we receive it! In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

God is There, Listening for All~

What’s worse than getting stuck in an elevator?  How about getting stuck in an elevator with a roach?

Yes, dear ones, it happened to me.  There are four things that really freak me out: Roaches, rats, snakes, and sharks.  Roaches are number one because I see more of them than the other three.  

So there I was stuck in the elevator with a huge two-inch roach, and it may as well have been an escaped convict.  I was terrified, and of course the space was limited, so it scurried around trying to avoid me too and came close – too close – so I screamed bloody murder.

Not my finest moment, but amen and glory, someone hit a switch somewhere and the door soon opened.  I ran out and never did find out if the roach made it.  Don’t honestly care.

I have zero doubt that God heard my, “JESUS, HELP ME!”

But I will admit there may have been a time when I would have had to scream saying: “DEAR GOD, I KNOW I HAVEN’T TALKED TO YOU IN A WHILE BUT I NEED YOU.  ARE YOU THERE? I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF A CRISIS AND COULD USE YOUR HELP!”

Look at how long it took to read all that.  By the time I would have finished praying, the roach could have started munching on my nails.  Yes, people, roaches eat nails and hair.

God always hears us when we cry out.  But we are the ones who feel the barrier because we don’t make prayer a habit, and that’s when we start our prayers with excuses and/or apologies. 

It is kind of awkward to run into someone for the first time in six months and ask for a favor without at least finding out how they are doing.  But our Lord is not just any someone.  The Bible says in Psalm 145:18, “God’s there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it.”

I highlighted the word “all” because God is there, right there, waiting for you and me and anyone else who prays and means it.  It is never a question of how we feel, or what we think, but rather an acceptance of this truth – that God is always right there, wherever we are, listening for us.

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, Thank You for always listening out for us.  It is reassuring to know that You are always so close to us.  We need you, and we mean it!  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

Then you will call...

Jeremiah 29:11 ““I know the plans that I have for you.  They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.”

What should be our reaction to knowing that God’s plan for our life is good?  I think it’s fine to jump for joy and share this news with others, but our immediate reaction should be what follows in verse 12: “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”

When we come to the realization that everything He says is true, we will turn to Him in prayer because He listens.  We will call on Him because He answers.  We will go to Him because He and only He – not our car, or a statue, or a rock star – fulfills His plans for us. 

When we pray we are letting God know that we believe in Him, we believe He is the only One Who has the power to help – the only One Who has power period – we believe He has our best interests at heart, and that He’s the only One Who knows how to make everything work out for our good.

We pray so that God can share with us what He already knows: There is nothing He can’t do, and He wants to bless us and help us each and every day.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for having plans for us that are meant to encourage us to pray.  Some days we don’t feel hopeful or at peace, and it is at these moments that we need to redirect our focus on You.  We ask You to fulfill Your goodness in our lives.  We thank You for listening to us.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~  

Open Our Eyes~

Tuesday greetings~

I love taking road trips.  Jorge is a pleasant companion, the scenery is pretty, and when I sing-a-long to the radio, I sound fabulous.  My favorite place is anywhere where the leaves have turned colors in all their fall glory.  There is one stretch of highway between Tennessee and Georgia, however, that is so perilous I always close my eyes and move toward the center of the car.  I realize my body is fully protected inside the car, but that two-way road is so narrow that I feel as though we are going to hit either the oncoming traffic or the railing on the other side.  One part of this road goes through a winding tunnel, and there is no way to see what’s around the corner.  The first time we went through it, I pretty much screamed the entire way.  The next time and since then, Jorge always reminds me to close my eyes. 

I don’t like it when I can’t see what’s up ahead; it’s a scary feeling.  Life is kind of like that too.  None of us really knows what’s next, and sometimes that can leave us feeling anxious.

Even though we don’t know what’s next, we know Someone Who does.  And He says, “I know the plans that I have for you.  They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God’s plan is to give us peace and hope.  No need to close our eyes!  We can’t see everything that’s coming, but He can, and He desires to bless us with peace and hope.  To receive His plan we have to receive Him.  We get on board by letting Him know every day that we want His guidance, His protection, and His provision in our lives.  And even when everything in our life seems to be anything but peaceful or hopeful, we stretch our faith muscles and tell Him that His way is best because ultimately everything we have ever hoped for will come true.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, We love Your plans for our life!  We want peace, we need hope, and none of us ever wants disaster.  Help us to trust You – especially when we go through hard times.  Rather than going through life with our eyes closed, open our eyes to see Your power and goodness all around us. Thank You for always having good things in store for us.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~    

An Easy Exchange~

TGIF Greetings~

Psalm 30:11 “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”

I dread making the exchange/return line at the store.  It seems like I always wind up with a trainee who isn’t quite sure how to handle the transaction.  One time I returned some clothing only to realize that I was charged for the merchandise again.  I basically paid twice for something I returned, but of course, I didn’t bother to check until I was in the car.  Back to the line I went.  I remember telling my husband that I know Jesus is in my heart and in my hands because He kept me from smacking her when she treated me rudely.  She was not happy to see me, or happy to have to call her supervisor for help. Ditto for me!      

There is, however, an exchange God wants to make for us that requires no line and no hassle.  There is no rudeness involved, and the One Who attends to us is perfect at His job.  And when you leave, you do so feeling way better than you did before you got there.  

Today’s verse happens when we activate the verse right before it: “Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD." 

Prayer is simple.  You just open your mouth, your trap, your beak, your chops, or your jaws and speak with Him.

Whatever is on your mind or on your heart – just say it.  When we are honest with Him, He takes our garments of sorrow and exchanges them for garments of joy. 

I love the idea of God Himself outfitting me with garments of joy.  I know they will look perfect on me, and everyone around me will comment on how good I look with joy all over me.   

PRAYER: Hear us, Lord, and have mercy on us, Help us, o Lord.  We thank You for hearing our prayer, and gladly exchange our garments of sadness, frustration, fear, loneliness, and hopelessness for garments of joy joy joy! In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

What Makes You Happy?

Romans 12:12 “Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.”

Thursday greetings~

What makes you happy?  I have always said that I am happiest when all the chickies are in the nest.  My definition has broadened, however, because my two chickies flew the coop.  What makes me happy now is when they visit, and stay for dinner and conversation – when they actually turn off their electronic devices, make eye contact, and say stuff.

I am also happy when it’s me and Jorge and reruns of 1960s sitcoms to keep us company.  Plus, I am happy when I chat with a friend, have a cold glass of milk in front of me, am cuddling with a baby, or am holding the latest and greatest spy novel in my hands.

But what about when troubles come?  Can we be happy then?  Can we have joy when we do not feel well, or one of our kids is in trouble? When we are surrounded by problem after problem after problem?

The answer is yes.  It is possible to smile and laugh in the middle of all the madness.  This happens when we base our happiness on our hope in Christ.

What exactly are we hoping for?  Peace, health, a 100% problem-free existence, perfect love, and a time where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain…(Revelation 21:4”

And these are precisely the things that Christ has done for us.  Yes, we still have to live this life to get to the eternal one.  But God reminds us in this verse that when things get tough, even unbearable, we can proactively be happy that because of Jesus, one day, every thing we have hoped for will become a reality.

There’s a reason God encourages us to base our happiness on the hope Christ offers: EVERYTHING ELSE IS TEMPORARY.

If my happiness were based on my money, where would I be if I lost it all?

If my happiness were based on being young, I would have been in trouble a while back.

Babies grow up, relationships come and go, and perfect health does not last forever. 

But Jesus, well, He is a constant we can rely on!

  

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You for giving us so much hope.  No matter what is going on, help us to always keep our eyes on You and all the amazing blessings that are headed our way.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~

A Good Habit~

Romans 12:12 “Base your happiness on your hope in Christ. When trials come endure them patiently, steadfastly maintain the habit of prayer.”

When the kids were in elementary school they had a bunch of different teachers who had various approaches to the students’ behaviors.  One in particular had a big, colorful dog house on the bulletin board with all the kids’ names written on individual construction paper bones.  If you misbehaved your bone was placed in the dog house.

It seems like every single day there were more bones in the dog house than not.  I know because I made it a habit to check for my own children’s names. 

I suppose mine was a responsible habit.  But any and every kind of bad habit could get you sent to the dog house.

“Don’t bite your nails!”

“Don’t pick your nose!”

“Don’t pick at that scab!”

Then came Rayray’s second grade teacher, the lovely Mrs. Albury.  She had a completely different approach.  Rather than point out all the stuff the kids were always doing wrong, she made it a point to catch them doing something good and then announcing it to the world by putting a little bee in the beehive on her bulletin board.  If your bee made it to the hive, then everyone knew you were up to something good.

Trust me when I tell you that all those second graders worked hard to make it to the beehive.  Mrs. Albury’s personal philosophy was that little children could unlearn bad habits and relearn good ones with some gentle encouragement.  She was right.

The verse above encourages us to remain devoted to the good habit of prayer.  Why is that so important? 

Mrs. Albury noticed that practicing good behavior led to more good behavior.  It became almost automatic for doors to be held open and for children to share happily with each other.  Likewise, God encourages us to make prayer a habit because it will become the go-to response when things get rough.  Rather than freaking out and losing control, someone who is in the habit of prayer will first go to God rather than go crazy. 

Notice how the right way – the only way, really – to go through a trial is to pray your way through it.   Each of us, regardless, is going to have to endure some stuff.  How we endure is key.  Living in fear is an unbearable way to live.  Complaining won’t change a thing.  But maintaining the habit of prayer will.  Even if everything all around you is out of control, staying on a steady course of prayer will work wonders.  It will invite joy, peace, hope, and the promise of better days ahead into your situation.  I’ve heard that it takes 21 days to form a new habit, which is great news for all of us.  We have all been praying longer than that!

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Prayer is one habit we want to keep.  Help us, strengthen us, and bless us as we pray.  We welcome You into our lives and thank You that You cover us with Your love.  In Jesus’ name, AMEN~