"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5 (NIV)
Have you been enjoying the bounty of summer fruits? Have you indulged in the delights of watermelon, cantaloupes, honeydew, and peaches? Have you found yourself so overcome by their sweetness that you couldn't even wait to put them in a bowl and sit down at the table...and you just stood right over the sink...letting their juices run down your arms as you savored their succulence?
What kind of fruit are you bearing this summer? Is it "the fruit of the Spirit...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control"? (Galatians 5:22-23) You can't do that in your own power. You must "Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until He comes and showers righteousness on you." (Hosea 10:12) Apart from Him...the One who shows us unfailing love...we are incapable. We must abide in Him...and allow Him to abide in us. Then "The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." (Isaiah 32:17)
Father, help us to allow Your Spirit to abide in us...to fill us with Your love and righteousness...so that we can "bear fruit [the fruit of Your Spirit]and become a splendid vine" (Ezekiel 17:8) that brings honor and glory to You!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
What Needs "Fixing"?
"But my eyes are fixed on You, O sovereign LORD; in You I take refuge...." Psalm 141:8 (NIV)
Are there circumstances in your life...or of those around you...that need to be "fixed"? Broken relationships? Financial struggles? Job situations? A prodigal child...or one that just makes decisions with which you don't agree? Are you overwhelmed with the desire to do something? Do you just want to "fix it"?
Many times there are ways that we can help...by giving Godly counsel...through encouragement...lending a hand in one way or another.
Other times, we just need to do another kind of "fixing". We need to "Fix these words...in [our] hearts and minds." (Deut.11:18) Moses was speaking of God's instructions to the Israelites. Early on in the chapter, he reminded the people of the amazing works God had done on their behalf...the wonders of His love, His might, and His provision as they made their way to the Promised Land. In later verses, he told them what they need to do. A part of that was "to hold fast to Him."
We need to remember the love of our Father...remember His faithfulness in our past...and trust Him for the future. Often that requires "holding fast"...clinging to Him ever so tightly! We must seek Him, lay our burdens at His feet, pursue encouragement through His Word...and trust Him. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...." (Hebrews 12:2)
Jesus, help us to fix our eyes on You, to fix Your Word in our hearts, and to take refuge in You. Help us to trust...and to allow You to do Your work. We love you!
Are there circumstances in your life...or of those around you...that need to be "fixed"? Broken relationships? Financial struggles? Job situations? A prodigal child...or one that just makes decisions with which you don't agree? Are you overwhelmed with the desire to do something? Do you just want to "fix it"?
Many times there are ways that we can help...by giving Godly counsel...through encouragement...lending a hand in one way or another.
Other times, we just need to do another kind of "fixing". We need to "Fix these words...in [our] hearts and minds." (Deut.11:18) Moses was speaking of God's instructions to the Israelites. Early on in the chapter, he reminded the people of the amazing works God had done on their behalf...the wonders of His love, His might, and His provision as they made their way to the Promised Land. In later verses, he told them what they need to do. A part of that was "to hold fast to Him."
We need to remember the love of our Father...remember His faithfulness in our past...and trust Him for the future. Often that requires "holding fast"...clinging to Him ever so tightly! We must seek Him, lay our burdens at His feet, pursue encouragement through His Word...and trust Him. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...." (Hebrews 12:2)
Jesus, help us to fix our eyes on You, to fix Your Word in our hearts, and to take refuge in You. Help us to trust...and to allow You to do Your work. We love you!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Feeling Weak or Afraid?
"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night...." Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
Has God called you to a task? Is there something He wants you to do? Are you feeling weak? Not up for the job? Unworthy? Are you afraid?
Are there circumstances in your life that are causing you anxiety? A feeling of helplessness?
In Joshua 1:6-9...just four verses...the LORD told Joshua...not 1, not 2, but 3 times...to "Be strong and courageous." Joshua had reason to fear. Moses had died. Joshua was in charge now. It was his job to finish the final leg of the journey to the Promised Land. As the He was about to lead those fickle, often cranky Israelites across the Jordan River...at flood stage, God knew that He needed a large dose of reassurance!
God wants to encourage us too. We may not be called to such a daunting task, but whatever we are facing, God reminds us, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (v.9) He promised that [He] will be with [us]; [He] will never leave [us] or forsake [us]. (v.5)
Lord, lead us to meditate on Your Word and find the assurance, guidance, and help that we need. Give us strength and courage to obey Your commands...to walk the paths You want us to walk...and to face the raging rivers in our lives. We trust You, LORD.
Has God called you to a task? Is there something He wants you to do? Are you feeling weak? Not up for the job? Unworthy? Are you afraid?
Are there circumstances in your life that are causing you anxiety? A feeling of helplessness?
In Joshua 1:6-9...just four verses...the LORD told Joshua...not 1, not 2, but 3 times...to "Be strong and courageous." Joshua had reason to fear. Moses had died. Joshua was in charge now. It was his job to finish the final leg of the journey to the Promised Land. As the He was about to lead those fickle, often cranky Israelites across the Jordan River...at flood stage, God knew that He needed a large dose of reassurance!
God wants to encourage us too. We may not be called to such a daunting task, but whatever we are facing, God reminds us, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (v.9) He promised that [He] will be with [us]; [He] will never leave [us] or forsake [us]. (v.5)
Lord, lead us to meditate on Your Word and find the assurance, guidance, and help that we need. Give us strength and courage to obey Your commands...to walk the paths You want us to walk...and to face the raging rivers in our lives. We trust You, LORD.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Rough Roads...Reality and Refinement
Please visit my other blog, A Matter of Grace at http://www.kristibutler.blogspot.com/ for Grace for Today. Check back here tomorrow!
I love you and am praying for you!
I love you and am praying for you!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
When Things Don't Go According to Plan
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)
Have you ever felt like you were walking in obedience to God and somehow your feet just got knocked out from under you? It seemed that He had led you in a certain direction and then things just went kerplooey?Even when we are seeking Him at every turn...feeling like we're sure of His leading...sometimes the road just doesn't lead to the place we thought we were headed.
What do we do then??? We have to trust. We must believe that He is sovereign. We must cling to the fact that He sees the "big picture"...and that He is the God of the "big picture"!!
We might need to crawl up in His lap...that of our Abba...our Father and allow Him to comfort and reassure us. He surely allows us to have a good cry if we need it. And then we need to hand it over to Him...and to "Trust in the LORD with all [our] heart and lean not on [our] own understanding; in all [our] ways acknowledge Him, and He will make [our] paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord, we trust You...even when we don't understand the paths we must walk sometimes. "[We] do believe; help [us] overcome [our]unbelief!" (Mark 9:24) We acknowledge You...as our Father...our Shepherd...our guide...the One who loves us unfailingly. Show us Your way. Help us to follow willingly. We love you.
Have you ever felt like you were walking in obedience to God and somehow your feet just got knocked out from under you? It seemed that He had led you in a certain direction and then things just went kerplooey?Even when we are seeking Him at every turn...feeling like we're sure of His leading...sometimes the road just doesn't lead to the place we thought we were headed.
What do we do then??? We have to trust. We must believe that He is sovereign. We must cling to the fact that He sees the "big picture"...and that He is the God of the "big picture"!!
We might need to crawl up in His lap...that of our Abba...our Father and allow Him to comfort and reassure us. He surely allows us to have a good cry if we need it. And then we need to hand it over to Him...and to "Trust in the LORD with all [our] heart and lean not on [our] own understanding; in all [our] ways acknowledge Him, and He will make [our] paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Lord, we trust You...even when we don't understand the paths we must walk sometimes. "[We] do believe; help [us] overcome [our]unbelief!" (Mark 9:24) We acknowledge You...as our Father...our Shepherd...our guide...the One who loves us unfailingly. Show us Your way. Help us to follow willingly. We love you.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
"Be still, and know that I am God...." Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
When you lay your head down to rest, does your mind refuse to be still? Does it run wild...in every direction? Do you go over things that you said or did during the day, questioning how they were perceived? Do you second-guess decisions you made? Do you worry about what tomorrow holds? Do you feel overwhelmed by future plans...even the minor ones?
God has the remedy. We must make the conscious effort to still our minds...to focus on Him...and to trust in Him. Turn your thoughts to prayer...and release them. God is able. He is all-powerful. He is a God of detail. We can count on Him. Rest.
Lord, You know our thoughts. You know our concerns, our doubts, our plans. Help us to trust them to You. Please still our minds. Help us to rest in You. We love you.
When you lay your head down to rest, does your mind refuse to be still? Does it run wild...in every direction? Do you go over things that you said or did during the day, questioning how they were perceived? Do you second-guess decisions you made? Do you worry about what tomorrow holds? Do you feel overwhelmed by future plans...even the minor ones?
God has the remedy. We must make the conscious effort to still our minds...to focus on Him...and to trust in Him. Turn your thoughts to prayer...and release them. God is able. He is all-powerful. He is a God of detail. We can count on Him. Rest.
Lord, You know our thoughts. You know our concerns, our doubts, our plans. Help us to trust them to You. Please still our minds. Help us to rest in You. We love you.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Wholeheartedly
"...serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind...." 1 Chronicles 28:9 (NIV)
What do you commit yourself to wholeheartedly ??? Your family? Your job? Your church? Your favorite source of leisure or recreation? Your devotion to God? We are such a generation of multitaskers. Can we even fathom the concept of wholehearted devotion? Are we able to visualize what wholehearted devotion might look like? Do we dare attempt verbalizing that we are wholeheartedly devoted to God...and to serving Him? Is our mind "willing"??
We need to ask Him to help us. We can't do it on our own. We need to stay in His Word. It will prod us on our way! Deuteronomy 4:29 says, "...if you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 11:13 says, "...if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today - to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul" you will be blessed and satisfied...in Him. We find in Hebrews 11:6 that "...He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Let's seek Him with our whole hearts...all our soul...faithfully obeying...loving Him...serving Him!
Lord, we need You to help us! Give us undivided hearts. Guide us. Give us willing minds. We desire to seek you earnestly! Draw us to Yourself. We love You!
What do you commit yourself to wholeheartedly ??? Your family? Your job? Your church? Your favorite source of leisure or recreation? Your devotion to God? We are such a generation of multitaskers. Can we even fathom the concept of wholehearted devotion? Are we able to visualize what wholehearted devotion might look like? Do we dare attempt verbalizing that we are wholeheartedly devoted to God...and to serving Him? Is our mind "willing"??
We need to ask Him to help us. We can't do it on our own. We need to stay in His Word. It will prod us on our way! Deuteronomy 4:29 says, "...if you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 11:13 says, "...if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today - to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul" you will be blessed and satisfied...in Him. We find in Hebrews 11:6 that "...He rewards those who earnestly seek Him." Let's seek Him with our whole hearts...all our soul...faithfully obeying...loving Him...serving Him!
Lord, we need You to help us! Give us undivided hearts. Guide us. Give us willing minds. We desire to seek you earnestly! Draw us to Yourself. We love You!
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