After I wrote my blog this morning, a friend sent me a picture from her trip to Egypt. I thought you would like to see it as well.

This morning the Lord reminded me of a verse that I want to share with you. Psalm 92:12-13 Amplified says, “The (uncompromisingly) righteous shall flourish like a palm tree (be long-lived), stately, upright, useful, and fruitful); they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon (majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible). Planted in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God.”

Are you planted in a church body? It is the Lord’s design for our spiritual growth. I love the words: flourish, thriving, verdant. They are the opposite of dry, stagnant, declining. 1 Corinthians 12:18 says, “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”

Every member is essential for the whole. Verse 22 says, “No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.” Verse 27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

Colossians 2:19 says, “Not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.” We need each other. As a predator likes to single out a weak animal and pull them out of the herd, so the enemy of our soul seeks to isolate believers to prey upon their lives. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

You knew I’d go to this verse. It’s a great reminder for all of us. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” United. Strengthened. Fortified. Growing. Fruitful. Flourishing. Verdant. Thriving.

When I was a young girl I had a Tennessee Ernie Ford record that I played over and over. One of the songs became my theme song–still is. I was an only child. I was lonely. Through this song I learned to reach out to others to lessen my loneliness. Listen to the words:

1-Lord, help me live from day to day, in such a self-forgetful way, that even when I kneel to pray, my prayer shall be for—others. 2-Help me in all the work I do, to ever be sincere and true, and know that all I’d do for You, must needs be done for—others. 3-Let “Self” be crucified and slain, and buried deep: and all in vain. May efforts be to rise again, unless to live for—others. 4-And when my work on earth is done, and my new work in Heav’n’s begun, May I forget the crown I’ve won, while thinking still of—others. Chorus: Others, Lord, yes others, let this my motto be. Help me to live for others, ,hat I may live like Thee.

Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

The Amplified uses the true spirit of humility for lowliness of mind. The TPT says, “Possess a greater concern for what matters to others…” I was thinking about this in my quiet time this morning. Here are some questions I wrote down. They helped me define what I read.

What are their interests, priorities, values, unfulfilled desires? Do I know? Have I asked? To truly reach out to others requires a heart investment. I’m sure you have asked someone at church “how are you?” and they answered, “fine” when they were hurting inside.  Why do we stay in the surface of our relationships? Fear based roots often keep our heart closed.

I want to encourage you to stretch out. Ask questions that require your heart to give. It will open way for their heart to respond. Here are some suggestions: How can I pray for you? Do you have anything going on in your upcoming week that I could pray with you about? If you know something that they did, you could ask how it went. Invite someone over or out in order to have quality time together. Send a card to a shut-in or someone in a deep trial. To recap: invest your heart, and engage with what interests others. May the Lord give you wisdom to reach out to others in a meaningful way.

It is all about our thoughts. What we think about is what we focus on. A. W. Tozer wrote a great book called “Pursuit of God” which I highly recommend. I was so taken by his prayers at the end of each chapter that I made them my own. Words like: I long to long for You; I thirst to thirst for You more; I desire to desire You. They are words of passionate pursuit.

I read Zephaniah yesterday. These words captured me. Zephaniah 1:12 says that they were settled in their complacency. There is a note in my Bible that says: complacency is the enemy of spiritual growth.

It reminded me of Moab. Jeremiah 48:11 says, “Moab has been at ease from his youth; he has settled on his dregs, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent has not changed.” The Lord was using the words from wine that is not emptied from vessel to vessel. Settled wine becomes thick.

Are you settled on your dregs? The Lord uses trials to empty us from vessel to vessel. Each trial creates a new dependency. We are brought to the end of our own strength, and left with no ability to “fix” it. We either turn to a substance, a mindless activity, or we cling tenaciously to the Lord.

Abraham clung to the Lord. He continued to believe the Lord was able to fulfill His promise, even though circumstances dictated the impossibility. I love Romans 4:20 in the Amplified. They are words of clinging. “No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith AS he gave praise and glory to God.”

Unbelief, distrust, and wavering are thoughts. Here is the opposite. Rooted, built up in Him, established, steadfast, immoveable, grounded, focused, clinging, and perseverance. You can look up the verses I gathered these words from~Colossians 2:7, 1:23, 1 Corinthians 15:58. We strengthen our faith by rehearsing God’s truths though our thoughts. Faith is believing God’s word, and not allowing circumstances to dictate our thoughts and focus.

Hebrews 12:2: looking unto Jesus. Philippians 3:13: forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward. It is the forgetting that empowers us to reach! It is all though our thoughts.

We enter into a deeper faith and intimate communion with the Lord as we cling to Him through His word. Our circumstances are ever changing. It is essential to maintain our focus on Him. He is Eternal Truth that never changes.

Here is an interesting verse in Malachi 3:3. It says, “He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord, an offering in righteousness.”

1 Peter 2:5 says, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Our Refiner works through our fiery trials to bring up the hidden dross. Also to bring out the hidden benefit–our endurance. We are called to endure so that He will be glorified through our lives. James 1:3 Amplified says, “Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.”

Here is a definition of a crucible: a situation of severe trial, or in which different elements interact, leading to the creation of something new. In the crucible of our trials, our Refiner melts the metal of our faith to prove it genuine. He strengthens it by using the crucible-fire to reveal the hidden dross so it can be removed.

I’m excited to tell you that the ebook for He Drew Me Our Of Deep Waters: encouragement for hard trials is in its final stages before publishing. Cover is being drawn and I’m working on the back cover. This ebook (paperback coming as well) is written from the inside of my crucible-trial. Stay tuned…

Do you ever make lists of things you need to do? I used to when I was younger. I loved to make lists. I would always do the quick and easy things first, just to get the satisfaction of marking them off. However, there was one activity that I never put on my list.

Our relationship with the Lord is not a to do list item to be marked off each day. In Him we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28). The Lord is our very breath and sustenance. Colossians 3:3 says, “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Jeremiah 10:23 says, “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.” We may think we are in charge of our lives, but anything we do independent of God is in our own strength. We know from John 15:5 that apart from Him we can do nothing.

David wrote Psalm 5. Here are two verses I would like to bring to your attention. Verse 3 says, “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” Verse 8 says, “Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before my face.” Both verses address our acknowledgement of the Lord as our priority.

Psalm 62:5 Amplified says, “My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.” Since the Lord directs every step we take when we are submitted to Him, we do well to wait for His direction.

Here is one of my favorite ways to pray. It comes from Habakkuk 2:1. I see myself acting out this verse as I approach my quiet time. It says, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected.” Psalm 16:8 says, “I have set the Lord always before me, because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.”

We acknowledge Him by placing Him first in our thoughts. We breathe in His Presence continually because He is Ever Present. We verbally or mentally recognize His constant involvement and orchestration throughout our day. Thanking Him, asking Him for wisdom before we make a decision, and leaning on Him for inner strength are just a few ways. Remember, nothing in our lives is without His notice.

Here is another of my favorite ways to pray. Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.” May the Lord be your constant priority.

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 35:8 says, “A highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness…” Verse 9 says that the redeemed shall walk there. Verse 10 says that His everlasting joy shall be upon their heads.

A highway is a thoroughfare or a main road. Consider the Highway of Holiness to be as intimacy with the Lord. It is an essential path of strength for the redeemed. I love the verse in Isaiah 30:21. It says, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”

This morning the Holy Spirit showed me another aspect of this verse that I never thought about before. Read Joshua 1:7 with me. It says, “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.”

We are not to turn away from God’s word. It is our compass. Our intimate communion with Him is through His word. Psalm 1:3-4 says that when we meditate on His word, our way will be fruitful and prosperous.

Here is another verse to consider. 1 Samuel 12:21 says, “And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.”

Proverbs 4:26-27 says, “Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or to the left; remove your foot from evil.”

As we walk on His highway of intimate communion, He will speak to our hearts to give us clear direction. He will also check us in our walk when we start to turn off in pursuit of empty things. May your life be filled with the wonder of intimacy with the One who created you for relationship with Him. Please take a moment right now and tell Him again that you love Him.

1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Emotional integrity is ruling our emotions through truth. Colossians 3:15 Amplified says, “And let the peace (soul harmony) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts (deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state), to which as (members of Christ’s) one body you were also called (to live). And be thankful (appreciative), (giving praise to God always).”

An umpire officiates over the game. They make judgment calls between out and safe. They make sure the rules of the game are adhered to. Peace is an irrevocable gift. It’s the umpire in our hearts that rules if a thought is safe or a foul.

We maintain peace in our heart through our thoughts and trust. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trust in You.” Anything that disturbs that peace is a fiery dart thought targeting our faith.

Doubt, fear, unbelief are fiery darts. We must oppose them by standing in faith and truth. Have you ever doubted your salvation? Truth: you are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). You will never be taken from the Father’s hand (John 10:28). You have eternal life and will never perish (John 3:16).

Are you feeling fear in your circumstances and not peace? Fear is a spirit that is attacking your faith through first person thoughts. Anytime you think independent of God there will be fear. Leaning on your own understanding, and being wise in your own eyes indicates your focus is on yourself (Proverbs 3:5, 7).

We are absolutely dependent on the Lord. We are united and one with our Prince of Peace. He dwells within us to direct our steps and to empower us to endure. His thoughts toward you are peace (Jeremiah 29:11). Are your thoughts towards yourself ones of peace or self-condemnation? Does peace or unforgiveness towards yourself or others rule in your thoughts and actions?

Our heart is our belief center. What we believe about ourselves during our trials must be based on the truth of His word. That hidden truth is our unshakable foundation, and the structural strength of our faith and trust.

This morning I visited one of my favorite verses in the Amplified. Zechariah 4:7 says, “For who are you, O great mountain of (human obstacles)? …you shall become a plain (a mere molehill)! And he shall bring forth the finishing gable stone (of the new temple) with loud shoutings of the people, crying, Grace, grace to it!”

The verse above it is a word from the Lord to Zerubbabel. “…Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.” We cannot force down spiritual obstacles through our own might or power. We have none. However, the Holy Spirit enables us to do mighty works through His power.

How did the children of Israel cross the Red Sea? How did they get through the Jordan when it was overflowing its banks? How did the walls of Jericho fall flat? It was all His might! It was all His work. Remember, nothing is impossible for God.

A mental obstacle is something we believe that is contrary to God’s word. Therefore the question comes up: what are your mental obstacles? What is the lie of the enemy that you are believing that is blocking your way forward?

Isaiah 45:2 is a great verse. It says, “I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron.” Isaiah 40:4 says, “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth.”

We need to make sure that our thoughts are in alignment with His. That is what it means to walk in righteousness. Our thoughts, purpose, and actions are conformed to His will. Isaiah 54:17 says, “No weapon formed against you will prosper, and every tongue which rises again you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me, says the Lord.”

Our inner strongholds are present obstacles. They were erected by satan through the lies we believed. They can only be taken down through renouncing the lie, renewing our mind through truth, and walking in it daily.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your mental obstacles. Then turn them into an opportunities for Him to free you through His might and power. Using His word as a two edged sword, split between the lie of your mental obstacle, and the eternal truth of who you are in Him. The old will fall away allowing the new to spring forth. That is active resurrection power!