Judge Not...

 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

For in the same way you judge others,

you will be judged,

and with the measure you use,

it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 7:1-2 NIV

 

My qualification for writing this piece is not because I have mastered the art of NOT being judgmental, but because I am a master at judging! I am ashamed to admit that often I have passed off judging others as recognizing the obvious, being opinionated, being discerning, or simply evaluating the evidence.

 

I began to learn the art of judging at a very early age. Being brought up in a legalistic church and home I learned that if you did certain things you were a Christian and if you did other things you were not a Christian. I don’t mind telling you that the grace of God does not support either view. Very simply, we are saved by God’s grace that he alone chose to pour out upon very undeserving people. We either accept this truth or we do not.

 

I hate when I find myself falling down the very slippery slope of judgmental thought patterns! I know that Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1-2 NIV Oh how I want mercy from the Father instead of judgment! Therefore, I must learn not to judge.

 

The truth is we are not blind people. God gave us eyes. We see and we observe. Often we see the obvious. Recognizing a flaw or a sin in another person’s life is not the problem. Determining what we will do with what we see is the problem!

 

I have discovered that I am not much interested in confronting a person about sin or even trying to show them a better way. I am much better at passing silent judgment or verbal judgment to another individual about the person setting in the judgment seat. The Holy Spirit is beginning to endeavor to teach me that I must not evaluate that person but rather evaluate my choices on how I will respond to what I see. My knee jerk reflex is to go into “judgment attack mode”, but the Holy Spirit convicts me of that behavior and points me in the direction of the “grace mode”.

 

I confess that having that knowledge is pretty void of application unless I can have some practical tools to assist me in this process. God is so good. When we ask him for godly wisdom he gives it abundantly. It is always his perspective that I need when I am dealing with the sin of judging others.

 

This morning my time in the garden is not one of condemnation, but a sweet time with Jesus as he begins to teach me some practical ways I can deal with judgmental thoughts. In this setting of gorgeous roses, God reveals to me once again that his way is again higher than my way and his thoughts are far above my thoughts. And so his work in my heart begins as he unfolds the petals of his abundant wisdom like the petals of a beautiful rose.

 

In order to not speak the obvious, offer an opinion, or point a finger here are a few things I need to consider:

 

Step #1 – Place value on the life of the one I am about to judge.

__________, (insert the persons name) is worth far more than I could ever imagine.

 

Step #2 – Consider the very real possibility that God is using this “wart” of sinful behavior in this person’s life as a means of showing them their need of him.

 

Step #3 – Take a moment and pray immediately for this person. Pray that they would be responsive to God. Remember the Holy Spirit does an amazing job of convicting.

 

Step #4 – I must never overlook the fact that I may not know where this person has been, how they grew up, what their insecurities are, what sins and tragedies have been present in their life, what values they have or have not been taught, or if they even realize that what they are saying or doing is wrong.

 

Step #5 – I must always take time to identify at least one area of sin in my own life. A good place for me to start would be with the sin of being judgmental.

 

Step #6 –If I per chance find that I am sinless, (good luck with that one) I am then free to cast a stone if I still feel so inclined,  Jesus said, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7b NIV

 

Step #7 – I must always give thanks to God that he loves me enough to continue to call me to climb higher in my walk with him.

 

God always wants us to identify the sin in our own life and begin the hard work of choosing to repent and change. We often think that our sins are limited to our deeds. But the fact is that our sinful thoughts become sinful words and those words become sinful deeds. All sinful thoughts, words, and deeds need to be confessed to our Savior.

 

Some of us may be able to quit this sinful habit of judging others “cold turkey”, but for most of us it is a process of deliberate obedience one judgmental thought at a time, one day at a time. Today God also reminds me that “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7b NIV Good to know! Excellent example to follow! My thought today is Lord, help me to push aside the behavior I am observing in another and give me the courage to unfold the layers of life that has enveloped their heart. Give me your eyes so that I may gaze deep into the heart of this one who you value and love. Help me not to point shameful fingers but rather open arms of grace. Give me your words and your actions to point them to you.

 

As a Believer, I am especially convicted of my judgmental thoughts and words. Believers should know better. People who do not profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ are behaving on the instinct of their sinful nature. God has not revealed to them godly behavior. But those who follow Christ are called to rise above their sinful nature. We have been given the Holy Spirit to help us in our time of need. His Spirit empowers us to overcome our natural sinful bend. Our salvation is free but God’s Word tells us to work out our own salvation. You might say from the inside out. “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12b-13 Our “free” salvation should shine through us. Our actions should be such that God’s good purposes would be revealed to show others the way. God works in us to change our will to his will so that we can act in a manner that will glorify Him now and forever.

 

Refusing to give in to judgmental thoughts is one of the many ways we can let Jesus shine through us from the inside out. Working out our own salvation is not to be taken lightly. We are accountable to God. God hates all sin; therefore, we stand before him with fear and trembling when we refuse to obey. My God is a God of love. I can hardly type the words that would suggest otherwise. Yet, it is because of his great love he cannot and will not tolerate sin in any form. What a privileged we have to give him both our sin that separates us from him forever and our sin that hinders our sweet relationship with him.

 

Questions:

1. Who are the people in your life that are always under your microscope of judgment?
2. Is God speaking to you today regarding judgmental thoughts?
3. Are you like me and long to be free of these thoughts?
4. Are you willing to walk with me as we endeavor to practice these 7 steps that will lead us away from judging others wrongly?

 

Prayer:

 

Dear Jesus,

 

Today I come to you with a heart that begs for forgiveness for the sin of judging others. How I long to be free of this sinful habit. Father, I want to bless others not judge them. Help me to remember the very sobering truth that I will be judged by you in the same manner and measure that I judge others! Father, I know that you love me and that you will never love me more than you do this very day. I thank you for that love and for the undeserving grace you have shown me. Now Lord, I pray I will show that grace to others by refusing to judge them. I thank you Lord that you see my failures as opportunities to call me to climb higher. Lord, I pray this day I would be obedient as I endeavor to trash the “judgmental mode” that so frequently rears its ugly head, and trade it in for your “mode of grace” day by day.

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen. 

Hearing From Heaven

“And the words of the Lord are flawless,

like silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified seven times.

Psalm 12:6 NIV

When God is about to speak to us he sometimes does something to get our attention. In Moses’ case it was a burning bush. We too may experience our own burning bush. It may be something that has caused us great pain and sadness. Other times it may be the loss of someone or something in our life. It is also possible that God may be bringing us to a new place of blessing or he may be sending someone to us to share his message of love, or perhaps teach us new truth. This blessing, this new knowledge, fills us with joy. No matter what our circumstance may be, the burning bush in our life is real and ablaze. Do we see the bush with eyes of fear or opportunity? Do we see this bush that will not be consumed as the holy fire of our Sovereign God?

 

Just like Moses, we must pay attention to all that surrounds us. At first when we encounter something unusual or different in our life it may peak our curiosity. We may feel compelled to investigate that which we have not seen before. Moses’ first response to his burning bush was curiosity. He had never seen a bush burn without being consumed.

 

Hundreds of years have passed since Moses heard the voice of God calling to him from heaven. God called him by name, “Moses! Moses!” To this Moses replied, “Here I am.” When God calls our name, it is important that we listen. God may use your name or he may simply place you in a spot where you become intensely interested in what is happening around you. He may place a new desire within your heart or give you compassion for someone or some ministry.

 

If we continue to ignore the voice of God he may find his servant elsewhere. God is looking for available believers to do his work. We will miss personal blessings if we fail to answer. We must say “here am I” if we are to get further instructions.

 

After Moses responded to God, God continued to speak to Moses. His instruction to Moses was, do not to come any closer! God establishes his boundaries as part of the assignment we are about to participate in. He tells us when to go and when to stay put. God always wants us to know that he is to lead and we are to follow. God said, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5 NIV We are not to take lightly God’s call because we too are standing on holy ground. It might even be a good idea for us to take off our shoes until God is finished speaking. I wonder, why did God have Moses remove his sandals? Maybe it was because he didn’t want him running off while he was still talking! Maybe it was designed to be an act of humility and respect. Maybe it was symbolic of God’s authority over Moses. I would not be surprised if it was all three of those reasons.

 

When God calls us to do something no matter if he is asking us to go to Africa or to bake muffins for a neighbor, we need to realize that we are hearing that assignment from heaven and the ground we are standing on is holy ground. God always has a reason and a purpose for what he is asking us to do. The voice of God is challenging as he invites us to join him where he is already at work. His voice can be convicting as he endeavors to keep us focused on him and not our self. Just like Moses, we may hear God’s voice, but what we hear may clearly pull us away from our comfort zone. Just like it was with Moses, God will never ask anything of us that he does not enable us to do. Moses argued with God, saying he was slow of speech; BUT God gave Moses someone to speak for him. Moses wondered if the people would believe he was sent from God to lead them out of Egypt, BUT God gave him the staff which proved to be miraculous, showing God’s authority as he endorsed Moses as his man of the hour.

 

Today in the garden I am peering over the back fence. The mountains are calling me come and experience something different. They are majestic! God says, “Come, climb higher, trust me to get you to the summit.” I am afraid. It is challenging, I am out of shape, and this task is certainly not in my comfort zone. I question, “Is this really the voice of God?” In my mind I question if it is God speaking. Surely God would keep me within the safety of my garden. It must be Satan calling me to venture out beyond the safety of the garden. So I step back. Then God reminds me that Satan would not challenge me to climb higher in my faith. No, Satan wants to stifle me and keep me right where I am. Yes, I’m sure it is God who is calling me to climb higher. Do I dare respond to God by answering as Moses did, “Here am I?”

 

Satan’s voice speaks lies, God’s Word is truth. Satan never points out sinful behavior. In fact, he applauds it! He encourages it! Satan also speaks words of condemnation and failure. God speaks words of conviction and forgiveness. Satan instills fear and plants seeds of doubt but God is love and when we obey he fills us with his peace. Satan, the father of all lies, points out that we are inadequate and gives us many reasons why the assignment is impossible to complete. Satan predicts nothing less than our total failure if we are silly enough to attempt to do what God is asking of us. But God says, with me all things are possible and I have chosen you because you are my instrument of choice for such a time as this. Satan says you deserve to stay right where you are – comfortable and confident. God says, follow me, you won’t be sorry. Satan wants us to trust our own instincts but God wants us to trust him. “And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. Psalm 12:6 NIV

 

When it is time to begin, Jesus never says, “Now get up and get going!” Instead he says, “Follow Me.” So today in the garden I am going to choose to follow Jesus. I look up ahead and he is climbing over the back fence. He shoots me a grin over his shoulder as he goes on ahead. I am running to catch up and the next thing I know I am tumbling over the fence. Jesus is a good bit ahead of me and I fear I may never catch up! As he walks across the flat table-land toward the mountain I hear his loud voice shout loud and clear. It echoes off the mountains and continues to bounce back to my ears. “Paula, don’t worry about catching up because I am walking into the future. You my child are walking in the present. Simply keep your eyes on me and you will be just fine!”

 

When God speaks we will know without doubt that we have heard from heaven. Today I have heard the voice of God calling me from heaven. I saw my burning bush in the middle of my circumstance. I took off my shoes because I was indeed on holy ground. The call to follow him into my next assignment was clear, “trust me”. So I grabbed my shoes and took off running barefoot. I’m hoping that at some point Jesus will stop long enough for me to put on my shoes, but until then I must keep my eyes on his backside. I may long to see his face along the way but even when he is too far ahead for me to see his face; I will still choose to trust him. I have heard from heaven and there is joy in my heart as I run from the comfort of the garden into unknown territory.

 

Questions:

1. Have you ever heard from heaven? Reflect upon that time.
2. Has God asked something of you? Are you procrastinating?
3. Are you unclear as to whether or not it is God’s voice or Satan’s voice?
4. What thoughts are bouncing through your mind? Are they God’s words or Satan’s words?
5. Do you believe that simple obedience is the path of blessing?
6. Does it sober you to know that when God speaks from heaven you are standing on holy ground?

Prayer:

 

Dear God,

 

Oh how I long to discern your voice. It is amazing that you are still calling mere humanity to assist you in your heavenly work. I pray that I would hear your calling and be willing to be used by you. I know that I am not called because I am special in any way. I have many reasons why I feel I am not suited for this assignment or up to the task, but you say that being available to serve is all that is necessary. I know that you have either already equipped me with the gifts and talents I will need to accomplish your assignment or you are in the process of sending me whatever or whomever I will need to do your work. So today it is with a tiny mustard seed of faith I choose to step out in simple obedience because I know I will never regret following you. Your Word is clear that by following you there lies the path of eternal heavenly blessing and joy. And if you are willing Lord, I know that I may even experience a foretaste of that blessing and joy in my life right here in this strange and troubled land.

In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Good Morning Lord

“Blessed be the name of the LORD

from this time forth and for evermore

From the rising of the sun

unto the going down of the same

the LORD’s, name is to be praised.”

Psalm 113:2-3 NIV

I have known about the Lord for as long as I can remember. At age twelve I began to want to be counted with those who called themselves Christians. In my twenties and thirties I began to want to know the Lord, and in my forties I wanted to please the Lord. In my fifties I began to want to walk with the Lord. Today I find that I still want to walk with the Lord every single day. I remember when my thoughts about God began to fill more and more of my day. I am now at a point that even before the sun comes up, most of the time I wake up and my first thought is of the Lord. When I end my day he is also my last thought before I fall into deep sleep. Over the past few years, it seems that God is not just satisfied to have a good portion of my daytime thoughts, but now he is milling around through my mind as I sleep. Sometimes he even wakes me up and I feel an immediate urge to pray for the person he brings to my mind. Or if I am having a fitful sleep, God wakes me up so that I can give my fear to him in prayer.

 

“From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same” has taken on new meaning for me! As I open my sleepy eyes first thing in the morning my first thought is, “good morning Lord” and my next thought is thank you Lord for the gift of rest. My next thought is coffee – coffee – coffee! My heart then goes to delight because I am anxious to sit in my cozy chair, or go out on my back porch and spend time with Jesus. “Quite Time” used to be an activity of duty for me, a job that I must do if I was to please God. But now it is the time that I look forward to each day. The garden of my heart is a place where I can connect through the power of the Holy Spirit with the God of the universe. I have no need of a minister, a priest, or any other mediator. In simple conversational prayer I boldly approach the throne of grace. I pray…God listens. I listen…God speaks. I read his Word…he speaks again. I question…he shows me how I can apply the message found in the Word to my life. I am challenged by the Holy Spirit…I respond. Mental imagery also allows me to sit and talk with Jesus, the Master Gardner, who resides in the heavenly garden of my heart. I look forward to this time with God and I feel cheated if life interferes and I have to miss spending time with my Lord. For me I need this time at the top of my morning because if I am anxious…he calms me down. If I am fearful…he suggests that I trust him. If I am angry…he says I must forgive. If I am in need…he promises to provide. If I need love or comfort…he is more than enough. If I am sad…he gives me joy. If I am stressed…he gives me peace.

 

I used to feel guilty that I spent too long reading, praying, writing, or studying God’s Word. I no longer feel that guilt. It is true; I am in another season of my life now. There are no toddlers to feed, children to put on the bus, or a job to rush to. During those days, God met my needs in other ways. I learned to pray quickly in short phrases like, “Help me God!” “Please take care of _____.”  “Forgive me Lord.”  “Please don’t let that person take my parking place.” “Help me to find some inexpensive clothes for my growing children.” “Please take this headache away.” It was always more about my immediate needs and the needs of my family. I also learned to carry a small devotional book in my car so that I could grab a bit of the Divine as I waited, and waited, and waited. There always seemed to be so many things to wait for. I waited for doctors, orthodontists, children to come out of school or their many other activities. Thank goodness for those days when books  filled my time instead of cell phones. I know for a fact I was living the “grab and go” lifestyle for my Christian life. Praise and worship songs on the radio served as my springboard for praise. Sunday wouldn’t be much different. It was full of rushing to and from church. Serving at church, making dinner and then rushing back to church in the evening! I soaked the sermons up like a hard dry sponge that was begging for water. Still, God was good and I seemed to grow in my faith.

 

I am so thankful that God leads his children along. He knows which life cycle we are in and exactly what we need to equip us for our life stage. But life is ever changing. It makes perfect sense to me that the amount of time that I am able to spend walking with the Lord should also be adjusted to fit the next phase of my life. There is always more to learn and new ways to learn what God so anxiously wants to share with us.

 

Our “quiet time” which can often be less than quiet, needs to undergo God’s spiritual scrutinizing from time to time. If we are to step up the pace and raise the bar in our spiritual life it will require us asking God how we should be spending our time with him. Simply ask him if you should remain in the “grab and go” phase, or if it is time to move on to  the “semi-quiet time” phase, or climb higher still by entering the very “private closet of quiet time” phase, or if it is time to accept the challenge of the “dig deeper and study” phase. It might also be good to spend a little time evaluating your prayer time. Is God calling you, as he does me, to spend more of my prayer time in praise and worship and less of my prayer time asking? Has God given you a particular burden to hold up in prayer? Or have you learned the blessing of silent prayer as you wait for God to speak? Without a doubt, God always wants us to bring him all our concerns. I have found that when my prayers are self-centered, God misses out because my praise and worship is non-existent. The truth is when our praises and worship goes up to God, he responds and his blessings fall down upon us and our fellowship is sweet.

 

It is the Holy Spirit that prompts us to raise the bar in our “Quiet Time”. He knows when the time is right and when our heart is ready to receive more. He doesn’t want us to stay in the “grab and go” phase forever. God's prompting is his invitation for us to learn more about him, experience a new life changing spiritual truth, and enjoy a new level of fellowship with him that often blows our socks off! I don’t want to miss this learning experience. Do you? I want to always be sensitive to these promptings. We should be honored and excited when God invites us to climb higher. He invites us to  allow our heart to dance with him as we are caught up in the heavenly presence of His spirit.

 

Today my heart sings. Good Morning Lord! “From the rising of the sun, to the setting of the same.” Thank you Lord! Good night, Lord! “May your name be praised.” The sunrise reminds me of all the hope I have as a believer.  The sunset is a visible reminder of God’s faithfulness to me even when I am in a “grab and go” situation. “The Sovereign LORD has given me his words of wisdom…morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will.” Isaiah 50:4 NIV

 

No guilt, no excuses. Simply know that God loves you and the first chance you get he is waiting eagerly to reveal more of his truth to you. He is anxious to fill you with his love, joy and peace. He desires to walk with you through your day in a sweet spirit of intimacy. God has a plan for your life and he needs you to sit with him a spell so he can reveal it to you event by event. If you are discouraged or overloaded, God wants to love on you and encourage you. God wants to redirect your thinking when you are loosing your focus, and he wants to replace the stress you feel with his peace.

 

Not one of God’s children has ever reached the summit of “quiet time”. There is always more to be learned and experienced. This friendship with Jesus is real and it is yours for the taking. So as soon as you hear his call, draw near to God and know with assurance that God will draw near to you!

 

Questions:

1. Which “quiet time” phase best describes you?
• Obligation
• Learning How
• Grab and Go
• Semi-Quite Time
• Private Closet
• Dig Deeper
• Can’t Get Enough!
• What changes could you make in order to get the most out of your current level of “Quiet Time” 
2. Are you satisfied with your level of “Quiet Time”? Do you want more?
3. Will you find time to ask God if he wants you to remain where you are or if he is ready for you to move to a new level of blessed and exciting fellowship?
4. Will you prayerfully ask God to help you obey the promptings of his Holy Spirit?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

I am both relieved and excited to know that you have a plan for my “quite time”. I am reassured to know that you are always willing to meet with me regardless of my phase of life. You know my schedule. Thank your for being a very present help in trouble and meeting all my needs throughout my busy day. When it is time for me to begin or move on to the next phase of my quiet time, I pray that you will place a desire in my heart to know you more. I pray that I will hunger and thirst after you and that I will not push you aside. Help me not to procrastinate. Lord, I am confused. Sometimes I do not feel qualified to learn on my own. Lord I am afraid I will become frustrated when I don’t understand something in your Word. In addition, there are so many Bible studies, good Christian books to read, sermons to listen to, and praise and worship music to sing to, and of course there is that big thick Bible that I need to read from cover to cover. God, I am overwhelmed! My time is so limited, what should I do? Lord, I will lay out my Bible and all of the other printed devotional books and Bible studies that I have been collecting. Now Lord, I will humbly ask for your guidance. Holy Spirit please impress upon my mind, your top two choices to be used for developing my “Quiet Time”. Father, you know what lies ahead of me in the near future and you know exactly what I will need for the journey. I trust you to choose wisely for me. After I have been led by your Spirit, I will do my best to obey. Lord, you have promised that if I will seek you I will find you. I am going to trust you for understanding. Tomorrow is a brand new day. I can’t wait to say…”Good Morning Lord!”…then see where you will lead me.

 

It is in your name I pray. Amen.

Come To The Garden!

“The mind of sinful man is death,

but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

the sinful mind is hostile to God.

It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”

Romans 8: 6-8 NIV

Today the invitation from the Master Gardner is clear. He beckons, “Come to the garden!” The same invitation was issued yesterday and he will invite me to come tomorrow. In fact, Jesus offers me a standing invitation to come to the garden every single day of my life. Come to the garden! It is not just a suggestion. It is a loving plea from Jesus. Jesus’ invitation to come to the garden is different from a casual invitation that we might get from a friend or family member. We often say, “Call me if you get a minute,” “come over on Sunday day if you don’t have anything better to do,” “stop by sometime,” or “we need to get together soon”. Our Lord’s invitation is not a casual suggestion nor is it an enforced command. It is a loving invitation to spend time alone with him. It is hard to comprehend that the One who made us desires to spend time with us. He desires our praise and worship and loves to know that we love him. Our words of gratitude are music to his ears. He also wants to love on us, comfort us, and teach us new truth. He wants us to leave the garden with a heart full of joy and a mind that is at peace.

 

Sometimes the term “Quiet Time” is misunderstood. In a legalistic mindset “Quite Time” is a place for one to gird up their holy robes and falsely feel holier than another person because the other person is not keeping the “Quiet Time” law. I used to view “Quite Time” as an obligation and feel guilty if I missed the daily legalistic ritual. Part of the problem is that every day has its own special set of circumstances. Most days these circumstances are busy, loud, demanding, timely, and intrusive. The thought of “Quiet Time” may often sound like it is a place off in a far away county situated across the ocean of life with not even a row boat to carry us there. Satan would ask us to believe that “Quite Time” is an impossible journey. Oh, we would like to visit that garden but for now we are convinced that we must be satisfied to simply look at the travel brochure.  That type of thinking, my friend, is a victory for Satan! It is God’s desire that we come to the garden out of love for him, not responsibility or guilt.

 

When life is busy and hard, why does a loving God continue to call us to the garden no matter what we are experiencing? Doesn’t an all knowing God know that we are busy and that we have more on our plate than we can possibly do? Yes, he does. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ stands ready to help you custom make your “Quite Time” to fit your needs no matter what life stage you are in. For me, recognizing my continual need for more of God made me realize that going to the garden was no more of an option than going to the grocery store for food. It was something I needed to do for spiritual survival.

 

I need to go to the garden because the mind of sinful man is death. The mind of Christ is exactly the opposite of the mind of man. God calls men and women out of his love for us. We often react to God and our life experiences from our humanistic, emotional data base. This is extremely dangerous because our sinful mind leads to death. This can be death of a relationship, the death of reputation, the death of our spiritual joy, or premature physical death. I am finding that my “Quiet Time” should not be the place I go to read a verse of scripture and give God my list of needs and desires for the day and then rush out of the garden. No! “Quiet Time” is a time for me to be still in the presence of my Creator and know that he is God. When I become still before God he stands ready to forgive, comfort, sustain, and empower me with his grace and love. God always knows what I am going through, he knows what it is that others expect of me, he is aware of my busy schedule, and he sees my raw emotions. “Quiet Time” is the place where God begins to rein me in because he knows that I’m like a loose cannon capable of going off at any given moment! God wants me to give him a few minutes at the beginning of each day and a few more minutes throughout my day, and a few minutes at the end of the day. “Quite Time” is indeed that private time alone with God without interruption where we seek to know his mind in solitude. It can also be those unsuspected moments when we quickly turn our minds heavenward in the heat of the moment and ask God for his mind. “Quiet Time” is a place for seeking God’s response to all that concerns us and when we lay aside our first response and choose to take on the mind of Christ, he then rescues us from our sinful thoughts that can only lead to death.

 

I need to go to the garden because the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Our Heavenly Father walked this earth for thirty-three years. He understands what it is like to have people crowding in on you, having people misunderstand you, and feeling tired and needing a nap. So if we are to know his mind and follow his example we will make a time and a place to be the recipient of his peace and rest. A mind that is controlled by this world and its expectations is a life of stress and anxiety. Jesus calls us to “Quite Time” so that our life will be controlled by the Spirit. Jesus knows that those who are made of dust are in need of restoration. “Quite Time” is meant to be a time to redirect our thoughts from things below to things above. Jesus knows that we need to learn his way of peace so he says, “Come away from the whirlwind of life, come to a quiet place, and come to the garden!”

 

I need to go to the garden because the sinful mind is hostile to God. When we avoid the garden we give Satan a foothold in our life. We become stressful, anxious, self-centered, and hostile to others and that is offensive to God. We label our negative thoughts, actions, and reactions as “mistakes” that are made in the heat of the moment. But God calls this behavior sin, and that sinful behavior is hostile to God. God’s Word cautions us, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…” I Peter 5:8-9a NIV It is in the garden of “Quiet Time” that the Holy Spirit equips us to exhibit control over sinful behavior. It is in the garden that we sharpen our senses and become more alert so that we can recognize the enemy when he strikes. "Quiet Time" is where we learn how to stand firm in our faith and walk away from sinful responses.

 

I need to go to the garden because it is impossible for this type of sinful thinking to submit to God’s law. God calls us to “Quiet Time” so that we can learn about humility. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:6-7 NIV Humility is not the ability to put our self down. One with a humble heart simply knows they have a huge need for Jesus. Humility is being open and vulnerable before the Lord. Humility is honest. A humble heart recognizes that the focus of their thinking must move beyond oneself. Humility gives credit to our Maker for all that is good in our life, for all he provides us with, and for sustaining us in all of our times of need. A humble heart identifies us as a true follower of Jesus Christ. Humility allows us to fall deeper in love with Jesus and then be obedient because of our love for our Savior. I know no other way to find this level of relationship and fellowship with Jesus outside of intentional “Quiet Time”.

 

I need to go to the garden because if we are controlled by our sinful nature we cannot please God. If I am to please God I need a safety lock applied to my heart daily. Every day I need a fresh anointing of the oil of the Holy Spirit upon my head drenching me from head to foot. I need to study the example of Jesus and begin to learn his way of thinking. I need a special time to worship and praise my Lord. I need to express my gratitude daily. Otherwise I might become a bitter, ungrateful, complaining child. I need the Holy Spirit to apply hot coals to my mouth because an unbridled tongue above all things is sinful.

 

Everyday when I hear the gentle whisper of Jesus calling me to come to the garden, I must go! I would like to suggest that when we disregard and ignore the call to come to the garden it is entirely possible, as time goes by, the whisper will become fainter and fainter until we can no longer hear Jesus calling. Of course, he still stands ready to meet us in the garden but our daily reminders that are for our own good seem to disappear from our ears. Then out of nowhere some fine sunny day the rug gets pulled out from under our feet and we find our self flat on our kiester! Now it seems we can’t get to the garden fast enough. God is good. He will be waiting at the garden gate with open arms, anxious for us to enter. But never underestimate the personal loss of blessings that we miss or the personal cost we encounter from living our life apart from the sweet fellowship with Jesus that is to be found only in the garden. The garden is NOT a place of obligation it IS a place of privilege, divine guidance and blessing. It is a habit that only gets only sweeter as time goes by. The argument of not enough time, seems to go away when you learn how sweet connecting with the Lord really is. It is not a matter of how much time you spend in "Quiet Time", but rather what happened between you and God during this time. When you left the garden was your heart full and your mind at peace? 

 

It is God’s hope that you will always want to return to the garden and spend time alone with him and it is his joy when you do! The garden is a special place of intentional, uninterrupted fellowship with God. However, when I leave the garden, the One who lives inside me goes with me out into the world of responsibilities. He is always available throughout my day for continued fellowship. God loves receiving my brief thoughts of gratitude that I shoot up to his ears in a moment of joy. He welcomes a prayer for myself or another when those needs come to mind. God loves my phrases of trust when fear rears its ugly head. God hears my requests for instant help in my moments of temptation and times of need. Conversational prayer throughout my day is both an amazing privilege and a fantastic blessing!

Questions:

1. Do you have a special time each day when you meet with God to pray, read his Word, and listen for his voice?
2. Do you think it is absurd to suggest that Satan might delight in keeping us away from God’s Word by pushing us in the direction of other good Christian reading opportunities instead of reading God's Word?
3. Will you consider this scripture? “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thought and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NIV 
4. Do you believe this scripture is true?
5. Are you willing to pray and ask God to help you re-evaluate what you are reading?
6. Are you currently enjoying your time alone with God in the garden? If not, why do you think this is?

Prayer:

 

Dear God,

 

I confess that in the past I have been guilty of misunderstanding the purpose of “Quite Time”. Forgive me when I reduce this experience to a specific amount of time, a specific time of day, a place, a routine, or an obligation. I am reminded that Jesus went to pray when he felt a need for fellowship with his Father. He made time to pray before any major event in his life. Jesus blessed bread and called upon the Father for strength before performing miracles. Jesus instructed his disciples to stay awake and pray so that their faith would not fail. God, the idea that “Quite Time” should be the same time every day is valuable to all of us who live shrouded in human frailty. I thank you Lord that you allow me to set the time and place for our standing “Quite Time” appointment. I am confident that when I establish this time with you, I know that you will faithfully call me at that time and to that place every day. God help me to understand that “Quiet Time” is where I praise and worship you. It is where I express my gratitude for all that I am and all that you have provided for me. It is during this time alone with you that you allow me the privilege of casting my cares on you. “Quite Time” is where you will open my eyes and teach me your ways. It is the place where I will hear your voice. God, I am so blessed that you minister to me in ways that help me change my negative attitudes. I am so grateful that you meet me in this special place and administer your balm of healing to my emotions. God, I now understand that “Quiet Time” is the very special place where you fellowship with me and equip me for the challenges of this life, not a place of obligation. I thank you God that you love me enough to call me every day to come to the garden!

 

It is in your Son Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

The Revolving Door of Friendships

“…but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18:24 NIV

In my sixty plus years I have seen friends come and go. Why do some friends remain while other friends exit our life?  I believe we loose friendships for many different reasons. In elementary school we make a wonderful friend and the next year that friend is in another classroom at the other end of the corridor. When we leave home to attend college we leave old friends behind and meet new friends.  We live in a mobile society. We study abroad, we travel all over the world, or we get a new job that demands that we move. We change churches, move to a new neighborhood, join different clubs, and we take up new interest. All of these conditions and many others set us up to make new friends and loose others. Keeping up with old friends can sometime be a full time job. Thanks to the internet and social media it is becoming much easier to stay in touch with our friends both old and new.

 

Often some of our very best friends are found in our own family. More times than not our best friend is our spouse. There is a saying that states, blood is thicker than water! That is why our children, a parent, a sibling, a sister-in-law, or a cousin can be one of the best friends we will ever have. When a family friendship is severed it is one of the greatest losses we will ever experience.

 

Sometimes we simply grow out of a friendship. We find that our childhood playmate, our high school best bud, and often our college roommate are no longer interested in the same things that we once shared. As adults sometimes we find that our friend is no longer “like minded” and the friendship that was once strong is now fragile and stressful. As a result the friendship reaches a weak point where it simply breaks. This too is sad. It would be wrong of me to think that a friendship must be based on two people always agreeing. But it has been my experience that when two people can no longer “agree to disagree” that friendship is over.

 

A wonderful friendship is based on a warm and caring relationship. True friends are trustworthy and hold your secrets in the strictest of confidence. A true friend can be counted on in good times and in bad times. These friends are without a doubt, the beautiful “forget-me-nots” in our heart’s garden. Friendships should be fun! Good friends laugh and cry together. I love to find a friend who loves many of the same things that I do because now we can enjoy sharing those things together. I also enjoy having friends who share my same set of values. I treasure a friend who prays with me and for me. My Christian friendships take friendship to a new level. Those friends are irreplaceable! 

 

Unfortunately, some friendships end because of a misunderstanding, selfishness, betrayal, or any number of other situations that divide and separate. Friends come into and exit our life as though they were stepping in and out of a revolving door. But God’s Word tells us that Jesus Christ is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Maybe it has to do with that “blood” thing.  Relatives share the same bloodline. However, the blood of Jesus is not restricted to our veins. The blood of Jesus covers us from head to toe. Our friend Jesus gave his life for us so that we can live with him and enjoy him forever. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command….I have called you friends…” John 15:13-14,15a NIV Jesus is indeed a friend that sticks closer than any brother or sister ever could. When Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, his Spirit lives within us! What a blessing it is to have Jesus for our best friend.

 

Some people are content having only one friend. Others want as many friends as they can get. But if you must have only one friend, make sure it is Jesus. True lasting friendships are hard to come by. In a whole lifetime you may only have a few that you will always treasure. You will probably be able to count those friends on one hand. But these are the special people that God has placed in your life to love and encourage you through thick and thin. We may rarely see our very best friends, but when we do we are always able to pick up right where we left off. A true friend is a blessing. Treasure that friend and make sure that you are that kind of friend to at least one person.

 

I don’t ever want to forget that I will never have a friend who is a dear to me as Jesus! Because of this I must remember to tell him many times a day how much I love him. I must always set aside time to be alone with him without interruption. I must make sure that he knows that I cherish him. I must make every effort to please him by doing the things that I know make him happy. I do this because that is what good friends do! A good friendship is give and take. He calls me friend, and I don’t want to be a friend that only takes. I take his free gift of salvation, and I take all that he provides. I enjoy his love, his compassion, and his mercy. I enjoy the fact that my friend always keeps his promises. He is a faithful friend in every way. Therefore, I must give back. I give back my love to the One who first loved me. I must show my love to the One who laid down his life for me. I love being in a sweet relationship with the best friend I will every have, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Questions:

1. Who is your closest friend?
2. How many “for life” friends do you have?
3. What quality do you value most in a friendship?
4. Do you consider yourself to be a good friend?
5. Are you rejoicing in the friendship that you share with Jesus? If no, why not?
6. How can you remedy that problem and cement your friendship with Jesus?

Prayer:

Dear Jesus,

 

You are my very best friend indeed! I am blessed that you call me your friend. I am reminded that Abraham was also called a friend of God and that same friendship reaches over the span of thousands of years, to the very place where I am sitting today. Jesus, how can it be that I, a simple woman, can enjoy a friendship with you, the creator of the universe? Jesus, you were rich, yet you became poor so that you and I could become friends. You gave your life for me. I know of no greater love than this. Jesus you go before me to show me the way, you walk behind me to encourage me, you are above me watching over me, you live inside me and you fill me with your peace, you also walk along beside me because you love me. Thank you for being such an amazing friend. Friendship with you Jesus is a blessed sweet communion. You are always faithful and I am blessed. Lord, when other friendships fail, I pray that I will always know that you are more than enough!

 

It is in the name of my dearest friend, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen

Discontentment Steals My Joy and Peace!

“I know what it is to be in need,

and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content

in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry,

whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him

who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:12-13 NIV

 Many years ago I had a wonderful friend who mentored me unknowingly. She walked along beside me during the days when my faith was fragile. She encouraged me to dig deep into God’s Word and to appreciate all that God had blessed me with. It was during this time that my patience was short, my words were blunt, my expectations of others were high, and my discontentment with life was obvious. Vera not only taught me a better way to live but she lived out her words by example. I’m sure she would humbly deny all that I have said, but even so, her wise words brought about positive life change within my home and my spirit. One thing that she told me over and over again was that discontentment was a tool of Satan. My Father also lived his life believing that was true as well. Two amazing people both with the same message. Neither of these people lived what the world would call “a charmed life” but they lived good lives. Both suffered loss and experienced blessings. Both people trusted that God would supply all of their needs, they both practiced gratitude, and they chose to practice contentment. Both individuals lived joyfully!

 

Because of their examples I too made the choice to endeavor to practice contentment. I do not do it perfectly but it is always on my mind. When I choose contentment I am at peace and my cup of joy is overflowing.

 

On those days when I let discontentment weasel its way into my thinking, Satan shows up and snatches my joy. Then he runs for all he is worth and hides what he has stolen from me. Much to his surprise, the moment I look up to Jesus and I remember why I am able to be content my joy miraculously returns.  I have observed that people who live contented lives do so because their heart is not cemented to the things of the world but rather to the riches that are theirs in Christ Jesus.

 

Discontentment is only one step away from coveting what another person has. One of God’s commandments is, “thou shall not covet”. It is easy to try to skirt around that commandment. When I believe that as long as I don’t want to take what my neighbor has and leave him with nothing, it’s okay to want what he has. The problem is that often desire can move from “that would be nice” to “I must have that in order to be happy”. When the later thought begins to dominate and consume all of my thinking, I am in trouble.

 

It is possible for us to experience discontentment on many levels.

 

Discontentment with our possessions:

• Never being satisfied with what I have.
• Being embarrassed by what I have.
• Always wanting to have bigger and better and the latest and greatest. 
• Lusting for things I don’t need.
• Trying to keep up with what others have.
• Wanting to purchase things to impress others.
• Feeding my need for instant gratification.

Discontentment with our situation:

• Wanting our spouse to change
• Wanting a different spouse
• Wanting a different church
• Wanting a different job
• Wanting a more understanding boss
• Wanting freedom from responsibility
• Wanting our children to be older, smarter, more successful

Discontentment with who we are:

• Wanting a thinner body or to be more physically fit
• Despising our insecurity
• Loathing our imperfections
• Wanting to be important
• Scrambling for control
• Wishing for a more exciting and interesting life
• Unhappy with our own measure of success

Any one of those scenarios can blow up in my mind and take control of my thinking. I must be acutely aware that Satan is always standing by, ready to steal my joy. His purpose is not to take my joy but to steal my joy so I become an unhappy, moody, angry, depressed, dissatisfied, and discourage person. These negative attitudes always affect my godly influence and can cause me to become an ineffective Christian. I must not be deceived. Satan could care less if I am happy but he most certainly is seeking to destroy my Christian influence.

 

The only way I can practice contentment is to learn to look for the good in my circumstance, my life stage, and be grateful for what I have. I must read God Word and learn who I am in Christ Jesus. I am a child of the King and nothing on this earth can ever compare with the riches that are mine because I am his precious child. A life of beauty grows from the inside out. When I focus on the little miracles of life and I open up my heart to experience the blessed life God has already given me I become content. A heart of gratitude most definitely results in a life of joy and peace.

 

I am also attempting to learn how to practice the spiritual discipline of simplicity. A simpler lifestyle, fewer possessions, and a calendar that has at least one empty square each week! Even God rested on the seventh day! My husband and I are drowning in the collection of our possessions. The up keep is often overwhelming! We keep things we will never use, we purchase things we don’t need, and we hoard because we may need it someday. I believe that we will experience joy when we finally discover that less really is more.

 

We must not loose heart. This life is temporary and in heaven we will have more than our minds can currently imagine. In heaven we will be like Him, all that he has will be ours, and we will be at peace. The struggles of life will be behind us and the word “discontentment” will not exist.

 

Unchecked discontentment steals our joy, dumps on our spirit, and fosters depression. It can end a marriage and sever a relationship. It can open the door for lust and coveting, and it can cause us to incur great debt. Discontentment can make us sick and shorten our life. It directs negative thinking inward and causes all manner of stress in our life. It is driven by the fear that we will never have what we want and it can make us greedy, angry, and self-centered. Discontentment can ruin our life!

 

When our contentment depends upon what we have, where we live, or our position in life, our self worth can become severely damaged. Comparing ourselves to others is the biggest mistake we can make if we are trying to learn to be content. Someone will always have more! Someone will always be thinner. Someone else will always have a larger stock portfolio and be able to take early retirement. Someone else will always have a bigger house, a better car, and take more vacations. Someone else will always have smarter kids and a more appreciative spouse. Someone will always earn more money than we do. Plain and simple comparing ourselves to others is disastrous. Don’t go there!

 

Living a life of regret is also dangerous because it pushes God away. Gratitude brings God near. I am not suggesting that we do not do things to better ourselves, nor am I suggesting that we should not have nice things. But I have found it benefits me greatly when I examine my heart’s motivation regarding these things. What is my attitude as I pursue my dream? What will happen to me if I do not get what I desire? How devastated will I be? Do I try to fit into God’s plan for my life or am I trying to fit God into my plan? How can I be more content with what I already have? Is my heart still full of joy or is it empty and void of joy? Am I at peace? Is God the object of my peace or do my desires drive me in wild pursuit of what I think will bring me happiness?

 

The good news is that I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” In my own strength I may not be able to choose contentment over discontentment, but if I will give this matter to the Lord in continual prayer he will strengthen me each and every time discontentment rears its ugly head. God’s Word says that I can do all things when I rely on my Lord for his strength.

 

Questions:

 

1. Do you consider yourself to be a contented person?
2. If not, where do you experience the greatest amount of discontentment?
3. Are you willing to give up the one thing that has you by the throat?
4. Can you find anything to be thankful for in your unwanted situation?
5. Do you believe that God can help you become a contented person?
6. Will you take time to pray about your discontentment?
7. Will you strive daily to practice gratitude?

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

 

Forgive me for practicing the sin of discontentment. I am beginning to understand that my discontentment is not pleasing to you. I also see that my discontentment is hurting others and damaging my body and mind. Lord, help me to practice gratitude in all things. Even if I hate my job help me to be thankful for it. When I am upset and dissatisfied with my spouse, help me to see their good qualities and be thankful. Lord, help me to love myself as you love me. Father, I am so grateful for all I have. Sure, there are others who have more, but there are plenty of people who have less. Free me from the lusting after that which I can’t afford. Fill me with your joy and peace that only comes from a contented heart.

 

In your name I pray. Amen.