Scripture: 2 Chronicles 2:1-12
When I’m struggling in my life, I definitely depend on God. From that statement, you may think that I have it all together. On the contrary!
While it is true that I turn to God during tough times, it is also true that I tend to forget about God during the good times. I know that’s a horrible thing to write and an even worse thing to do.
I guess that’s why I related so well to 2 Chronicles 12:1, “But when (King) Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the Law of the LORD, and all Israel followed him in this sin.”
Well Mr. “R,” I can relate! I can empathize with the false sense of self-sufficiency that comes from thinking that the good things in your life come from you and not God. Been there!
When life is difficult, the most obvious place for me to turn is straight to God and His word. I cling to it for hope and sustenance.
But when life is going well, I don’t turn to God as dependently as I do when I’m struggling. During the good times, I can forget to do my devotions and I usually don’t pray without ceasing. Basically and in all brutal honesty, I let my relationship with God slip.
King Rehoboam and I have more in common than I’d like to admit, but there is a good ending to the king’s life. Scripture tells us that the king and the leaders of Israel humbled themselves and the LORD saw their change of heart. 2 Chronicles 12:12 says “Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD’s anger was turned away and he did not destroy him completely.”
The verse ends with an incredibly hopefully statement, “There were still some good things in the land of Judah.” Thank the Lord! I’m going to claim that for my life, too! Even though I mess up sometimes when life seems to hit a plateau, I need to keep a strong relationship with the Lord. “There will still be good things in the land of Minnesota!”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me even though I fail you sometimes. I am sorry for not clinging to you all of the time! I want to thank you for everything in my life. When things are going well, I want to give You all the praise and glory! When things are tough, I want to trust You all the more. Thank you for being a God who forgives.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Facts or Feelings?
Scripture: Ruth 1
Last night I spoke to a group of fourth and fifth grade girls about the book of Ruth. I shared that one of the reasons that I love this book is that it is full of emotions. Maybe I connect with Ruth because I am also full of emotions!
Last night I mentioned that as females, we experience many types of emotions. I was surprised to see most of the girls nodding their heads in agreement. Even girls as young as nine and ten years old are smart enough to realize the power that feelings and emotions play in their lives.
There are many positive aspects of emotions, like allowing us to experience joy and happiness. However, there are also negative aspects of emotions such as unrealistic feelings. These types of feeling are not based on facts! I know because I’ve experienced them first-hand. So did Naomi in the book of Ruth.
In Ruth chapter 1, Naomi experiences many situations in her life that would leave anyone discouraged. Because of a famine in her homeland, she is forced to move to a new land with her husband and two sons. While she is in this new land, her husband and sons die.
After many years have passed, the famine in her homeland is over and she decides to return. The bright spot in her life is her daughter-in-law Ruth has decided to uproot her own life and move with Naomi. However, in the midst of this blessing, Naomi seems focused on her negative feelings. Let’s take a look at how Naomi felt by reading her words in Ruth 1:20-21.
• “Don’t call me Naomi (Naomi means “pleasant”), call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.”
• “I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.”
• “Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
Sometimes when things don’t go as planned, we have a tendency to exaggerate. Have you ever done this? I have! It seems that this is what’s happening with Naomi. I’m not saying she doesn’t have every right to be frustrated with how her life has played out, but is she looking at the facts of her life or basing her feelings solely on her emotions?
Let’s do our own investigation to uncover the facts about Naomi’s situation.
• Naomi was feeling that her life was bitter. The fact was that she was back in her hometown with friends and family.
• Naomi was feeling that the LORD brought her back empty. The fact was that her loyal daughter-in-law Ruth was with her!
• Naomi was feeling that the LORD had afflicted her. The fact was that The LORD did not cause her husband and sons to die.
Let’s be honest. Naomi isn’t the only one to struggle with negative thoughts and feelings. We all struggle in this area from time to time. The important thing to do when you’re going through a tough time is to think realistically about your situation. Figure out if your struggle is based on facts or feelings.
Prayer: Lord, I don’t want to overreact and let my feelings and emotions get the better of me. You have given us a verse to help us set our mind on facts. Right now I want to pray Philippians 4:8. … “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I want to live in truth!
Last night I spoke to a group of fourth and fifth grade girls about the book of Ruth. I shared that one of the reasons that I love this book is that it is full of emotions. Maybe I connect with Ruth because I am also full of emotions!
Last night I mentioned that as females, we experience many types of emotions. I was surprised to see most of the girls nodding their heads in agreement. Even girls as young as nine and ten years old are smart enough to realize the power that feelings and emotions play in their lives.
There are many positive aspects of emotions, like allowing us to experience joy and happiness. However, there are also negative aspects of emotions such as unrealistic feelings. These types of feeling are not based on facts! I know because I’ve experienced them first-hand. So did Naomi in the book of Ruth.
In Ruth chapter 1, Naomi experiences many situations in her life that would leave anyone discouraged. Because of a famine in her homeland, she is forced to move to a new land with her husband and two sons. While she is in this new land, her husband and sons die.
After many years have passed, the famine in her homeland is over and she decides to return. The bright spot in her life is her daughter-in-law Ruth has decided to uproot her own life and move with Naomi. However, in the midst of this blessing, Naomi seems focused on her negative feelings. Let’s take a look at how Naomi felt by reading her words in Ruth 1:20-21.
• “Don’t call me Naomi (Naomi means “pleasant”), call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.”
• “I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.”
• “Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
Sometimes when things don’t go as planned, we have a tendency to exaggerate. Have you ever done this? I have! It seems that this is what’s happening with Naomi. I’m not saying she doesn’t have every right to be frustrated with how her life has played out, but is she looking at the facts of her life or basing her feelings solely on her emotions?
Let’s do our own investigation to uncover the facts about Naomi’s situation.
• Naomi was feeling that her life was bitter. The fact was that she was back in her hometown with friends and family.
• Naomi was feeling that the LORD brought her back empty. The fact was that her loyal daughter-in-law Ruth was with her!
• Naomi was feeling that the LORD had afflicted her. The fact was that The LORD did not cause her husband and sons to die.
Let’s be honest. Naomi isn’t the only one to struggle with negative thoughts and feelings. We all struggle in this area from time to time. The important thing to do when you’re going through a tough time is to think realistically about your situation. Figure out if your struggle is based on facts or feelings.
Prayer: Lord, I don’t want to overreact and let my feelings and emotions get the better of me. You have given us a verse to help us set our mind on facts. Right now I want to pray Philippians 4:8. … “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I want to live in truth!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
How Smart is That?
Scripture: 1 Kings 10:23-25; 11:1-6
I recently read a magazine article about a young man who swindled people out of a lot of money. He went to jail for running a Ponzi scheme in the late ‘80s at the age of 20. He was convicted of 57 federal felonies, sentenced to 25 years and ordered to pay $26 million in restitution.
He later became a Christian and after he got out of prison, he became a pastor at a church in San Diego. He seemed to turn his life around, even helping the government catch criminals involved in the same activities that once led him to jail.
However, the article revealed that this man has recently gotten himself back into trouble. The title of his life story could read, “From Criminal to Man Reformed to Criminal Again.” How smart is that? As I read the article, it made me sad to think that this man had come so far toward rehabilitating his life just to let poor choices once again become his downfall.
A similar story takes place in the Old Testament. First Kings chapter 10 reveals that King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth. People from every nation came to consult him and hear the wisdom God had given him. It sure seemed like King Solomon had it all together – wisdom and wealth besides.
Just like the story I read in the magazine, though, King Solomon’s life took a fateful turn. He chose to marry women whom the Lord had forbidden. In his old age, they succeeded in turning his heart away from God. The Bible says that Solomon refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done.
How smart is that? Oh, that we would not make the same mistake. May we seek God in all aspects of our lives so that we will be wise in the knowledge of the Truth. May the title of our life stories read, “From Sinner to Saved - by God’s Grace.” Wisdom and eternal wealth besides!
Prayer: Lord, when we are tempted to go against Your will and Your Word, please help us to be strong. We want to depend on You and You alone. We want to look to You to be the source of our strength to get through each day. Thank you for loving us and forgiving us when we sin. We want to follow You completely!
This post is dedicated to Wayne and Joy Wensmann who have been such an encouragement in my writing. They are true examples of what it means to follow God completely!
I recently read a magazine article about a young man who swindled people out of a lot of money. He went to jail for running a Ponzi scheme in the late ‘80s at the age of 20. He was convicted of 57 federal felonies, sentenced to 25 years and ordered to pay $26 million in restitution.
He later became a Christian and after he got out of prison, he became a pastor at a church in San Diego. He seemed to turn his life around, even helping the government catch criminals involved in the same activities that once led him to jail.
However, the article revealed that this man has recently gotten himself back into trouble. The title of his life story could read, “From Criminal to Man Reformed to Criminal Again.” How smart is that? As I read the article, it made me sad to think that this man had come so far toward rehabilitating his life just to let poor choices once again become his downfall.
A similar story takes place in the Old Testament. First Kings chapter 10 reveals that King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth. People from every nation came to consult him and hear the wisdom God had given him. It sure seemed like King Solomon had it all together – wisdom and wealth besides.
Just like the story I read in the magazine, though, King Solomon’s life took a fateful turn. He chose to marry women whom the Lord had forbidden. In his old age, they succeeded in turning his heart away from God. The Bible says that Solomon refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done.
How smart is that? Oh, that we would not make the same mistake. May we seek God in all aspects of our lives so that we will be wise in the knowledge of the Truth. May the title of our life stories read, “From Sinner to Saved - by God’s Grace.” Wisdom and eternal wealth besides!
Prayer: Lord, when we are tempted to go against Your will and Your Word, please help us to be strong. We want to depend on You and You alone. We want to look to You to be the source of our strength to get through each day. Thank you for loving us and forgiving us when we sin. We want to follow You completely!
This post is dedicated to Wayne and Joy Wensmann who have been such an encouragement in my writing. They are true examples of what it means to follow God completely!
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