God led the Israelites out of Egypt. After 400 years, they had begun to take on a lot of things that were not part of who God had set them apart to be. They spent 40 years in the wilderness while God worked at getting the ‘Egypt’ out of them. Throughout the Old Testament, we can still see that often when things began to go bad for them, they ‘returned’ to Egypt. They made agreements with Egypt to protect them. They got horses and chariots from Egypt. God tried over and over to convince them that He was enough – they could trust Him. But each generation had to rediscover that for themselves.
Jesus said, “If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.” Matthew 18:8 He was telling us to get rid of anything in our lives that leads us away from God. And Paul said, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:14
I wonder how many things I have in my life that continue to lead me away from God instead of toward God. It is easy to see the bolder things like books, movies, and activities that are anything but godly. But what about the many activities that are ‘good’ things. I can take an inventory of my day for seven days in a row and begin to see that I am very busy doing a lot of good things. When I get so busy doing good things that I don’t have time to meet with God, to pray and meditate on His Word, to meet with and encourage other believers – activities that grow my faith and trust in God – do those ‘good things’ become some of the things I need to get rid of?
And I wonder where I turn when I need help… In who or what do I put my trust? When I need to be comforted, where do I go? Some of us eat more, shop more, exercise more, work more, when we are looking for comfort. What is the ‘Egypt’ in my life that I run to whenever I am scared or uncomfortable? Whatever that is, I need to get rid of it or flee from it. That is what keeps me from experiencing God’s caring for me, His mercy and grace for me.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 Peter said, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:7
“Were can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7 There is nowhere in this world or universe that God is absent from. No matter where I am, God is there for me. He is the one in whom I can put my trust. He is ready and able to help me. I just need to get rid of all other places I turn for help and go straight to Him. He can be trusted. I need only look back a short distance in my life to see what He has done for me. As I remember those things, I see that He really can be trusted. When I center my trust in Him, I can experience His peace and His strength in my life. My weakness becomes a vessel to demonstrate His strength and glory.
Holy Father, I am so grateful that You are always here for me – that I can trust You. I choose to keep my eyes on You today and pray that Your strength will sustain me, Your wisdom will guide me, and Your love will comfort me. Amen.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Power of NOT Prayer
From the memorized prayers of a toddler to the sung prayers of a singing family, prayer has always been a part of my life. Yet even though I cannot remember ever not praying throughout a day, there have been times when I was not so sure the prayers were going anywhere in particular.
Today as I was praying through my prayer journal, I began to wonder if my praying was important to anyone. Does it really make a difference in someone else’s life if I pray or if I don’t pray? And it suddenly hit me – If I believe in the power of prayer, how much do I pray and intercede for others and my family and myself? If I am NOT praying, what is God NOT doing because I lack faith? Do I take prayer seriously? Or is it just a few mumbled words here and there, before a meal, before I go to bed?
What could God be doing if I spent more time praying? Would it unleash power in my life and in the lives of those for whom I pray? What would that power look like?
The Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Moses told Joshua to take some men and go fight them. He said he would take the staff of God and stand on top of the hill. Aaron and Hur went with Moses. “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalkite army with the sword.” Exodus 17:11-12
The battle and the lives of the Israelites were at stake. But Moses grew weary. Because he wasn’t alone, he had help. Aaron and Hur could have said, “Go, Moses, Go! Keep those arms up. Joshua is depending on you.” But instead, they came along side of Moses, one on each side. They gave him a rock to sit on and then held up his arms.
To me, this is a wonderful picture of prayer. Prayer is not a ‘wasted’ activity nor an exercise void of power. Sometimes we cannot see as clearly as Moses did, but we hear people’s stories. It is a blessing to hear something like, “I almost gave up, but then I felt this surge of power in my life and I got back on track,” when I know I was praying for them to get ‘back on track’.
Prayer is not just a Christmas list (desires) or grocery list (daily needs). It is a time of aligning my thoughts and my life with what God is doing – a time of seeking His wisdom and instruction – a time of interceding for others who are struggling in this life. Sometimes I do it on my own. Sometimes I need an ‘Aaron’ or ‘Hur’ in my life to hold up my arms while I intercede for others. Sometimes, I need to be an ‘Aaron’ or ‘Hur’ and hold up someone else’s arms while they intercede for another.
While I am interceding, I am also watching for answers. They don’t always come when we expect them or the way we expect them. But they do come. If I am so sure of that, am I also sure that if I don’t take the time to pray, someone is losing a battle. If prayer makes a difference, then NOT prayer also makes a difference. So if you’ll excuse me now, I have some praying and interceding to do.
Today as I was praying through my prayer journal, I began to wonder if my praying was important to anyone. Does it really make a difference in someone else’s life if I pray or if I don’t pray? And it suddenly hit me – If I believe in the power of prayer, how much do I pray and intercede for others and my family and myself? If I am NOT praying, what is God NOT doing because I lack faith? Do I take prayer seriously? Or is it just a few mumbled words here and there, before a meal, before I go to bed?
What could God be doing if I spent more time praying? Would it unleash power in my life and in the lives of those for whom I pray? What would that power look like?
The Amalekites attacked the Israelites. Moses told Joshua to take some men and go fight them. He said he would take the staff of God and stand on top of the hill. Aaron and Hur went with Moses. “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalkite army with the sword.” Exodus 17:11-12
The battle and the lives of the Israelites were at stake. But Moses grew weary. Because he wasn’t alone, he had help. Aaron and Hur could have said, “Go, Moses, Go! Keep those arms up. Joshua is depending on you.” But instead, they came along side of Moses, one on each side. They gave him a rock to sit on and then held up his arms.
To me, this is a wonderful picture of prayer. Prayer is not a ‘wasted’ activity nor an exercise void of power. Sometimes we cannot see as clearly as Moses did, but we hear people’s stories. It is a blessing to hear something like, “I almost gave up, but then I felt this surge of power in my life and I got back on track,” when I know I was praying for them to get ‘back on track’.
Prayer is not just a Christmas list (desires) or grocery list (daily needs). It is a time of aligning my thoughts and my life with what God is doing – a time of seeking His wisdom and instruction – a time of interceding for others who are struggling in this life. Sometimes I do it on my own. Sometimes I need an ‘Aaron’ or ‘Hur’ in my life to hold up my arms while I intercede for others. Sometimes, I need to be an ‘Aaron’ or ‘Hur’ and hold up someone else’s arms while they intercede for another.
While I am interceding, I am also watching for answers. They don’t always come when we expect them or the way we expect them. But they do come. If I am so sure of that, am I also sure that if I don’t take the time to pray, someone is losing a battle. If prayer makes a difference, then NOT prayer also makes a difference. So if you’ll excuse me now, I have some praying and interceding to do.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Stopped in my Tracks!
I set a goal of how far I was going to read in Exodus today. But I didn’t get too far before I was stopped in my tracks! I missed it in Exodus 13:9, but in a previous read, I had circled the words in Exodus 13:16. The words were ‘hands’ and ‘forehead’. Because they were circled, I read what I had written before and decided to ponder them a bit before moving on. I wondered if they might be related to the hands and forehead in the book of Revelation…
“This observance [Passover] will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with His mighty hand.” Exodus 13:9 “And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.” Exodus 13:16
I wonder what a ‘sign on your hand’ and a ‘symbol on your forehead’ meant in the culture of the day. There are two things that are common to all people – we think and we do – not necessarily in that order. Some think and then do, some think as they do, and some do and then think. But those two activities pretty much make up who we are. We think with our heads and do with our hands. Somehow, I believe that is tied up in these verses.
The Israelites were freed from their slavery – led out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God. Now they were commanded to keep His laws and to remember what He had done for them. They were to pass this on to their children by example. As they celebrated Passover, they were to tell their children about what God had done for them. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9
God does not want to be put on the shelf and pulled down once a week or twice a year. He wants to be part of every aspect of my life – every thought I have and everything I do – my forehead and my hands. I remember who God is and what He has done for me when He is part of my thoughts throughout the day and when He is influencing everything I do with my hands. I am to be consumed by Him! The more time I spend with Him, the more He influences me and becomes part of who I am.
To those who do not belong to God, Jesus said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 With that description of the devil in my mind, I looked at Revelation 13 where John describes for us the beast. “He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon… he performed great and miraculous signs… he deceived the inhabitants of the earth… He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:11-17 “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.” Revelation 14:9-10
Satan tries to appear like a lamb. Jesus is called the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” John 1:29 The father of lies is trying to be a counterfeit Jesus. He wants his mark to be on us – on our hands and our foreheads. He wants us to be consumed with him rather than being consumed with Jesus, the true Lamb of God.
I choose every day. I choose in everything I do and every thought I have. Will I have the mark of Jesus Christ the true Lamb on my forehead and on my hands, or will I have the mark of the counterfeit, the beast on my forehead and on my hands? What will I teach my children and my friends and anyone with whom I have contact? The mark of the beast isn’t just something for the end times. How I live my life reflects every day the One to whom I belong.
“This observance [Passover] will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with His mighty hand.” Exodus 13:9 “And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.” Exodus 13:16
I wonder what a ‘sign on your hand’ and a ‘symbol on your forehead’ meant in the culture of the day. There are two things that are common to all people – we think and we do – not necessarily in that order. Some think and then do, some think as they do, and some do and then think. But those two activities pretty much make up who we are. We think with our heads and do with our hands. Somehow, I believe that is tied up in these verses.
The Israelites were freed from their slavery – led out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God. Now they were commanded to keep His laws and to remember what He had done for them. They were to pass this on to their children by example. As they celebrated Passover, they were to tell their children about what God had done for them. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9
God does not want to be put on the shelf and pulled down once a week or twice a year. He wants to be part of every aspect of my life – every thought I have and everything I do – my forehead and my hands. I remember who God is and what He has done for me when He is part of my thoughts throughout the day and when He is influencing everything I do with my hands. I am to be consumed by Him! The more time I spend with Him, the more He influences me and becomes part of who I am.
To those who do not belong to God, Jesus said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 With that description of the devil in my mind, I looked at Revelation 13 where John describes for us the beast. “He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon… he performed great and miraculous signs… he deceived the inhabitants of the earth… He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.” Revelation 13:11-17 “If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.” Revelation 14:9-10
Satan tries to appear like a lamb. Jesus is called the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” John 1:29 The father of lies is trying to be a counterfeit Jesus. He wants his mark to be on us – on our hands and our foreheads. He wants us to be consumed with him rather than being consumed with Jesus, the true Lamb of God.
I choose every day. I choose in everything I do and every thought I have. Will I have the mark of Jesus Christ the true Lamb on my forehead and on my hands, or will I have the mark of the counterfeit, the beast on my forehead and on my hands? What will I teach my children and my friends and anyone with whom I have contact? The mark of the beast isn’t just something for the end times. How I live my life reflects every day the One to whom I belong.
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