The Secret of Strength

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

There are so many things that I like to do...I'm a go-getter. I like to get things done...and I do get things done...until I don't. All of a sudden I've been hit with this heavy weight and I can't seem to pull it anymore. Something is holding me back. What is it?

The truth of it is that it's not that I'm being held back now, but that I've been running on something extra, something beyond myself, when I'm running full steam. This heavy weighted feeling is the reality of a life without the extra power of the Holy Spirit. I'm not anything special when I'm being a good mommy, good church lady, good wife. That can only happen when I let the Lord use me. Me, the real me is this girl that is just treading water.

Praise the Lord that He cares for us and gives us what we need to handle what comes our way.

Philippians 4:4-7 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

I know this verse by heart, but I don't always do this verse. I need to let God take my worries and exchange that for His peace.

Paul goes on to say in verses 11-12, "...I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need." But, I had to turn the page to see what that "secret" was. In verse 13 he says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." That is the secret...all those things I do when times are good, I do through Christ who strengthens me. Right now I can rest in a time when I'm just trying to keep up with life...by Him who strengthens me.

Thank you Jesus!

Humbled by Obedience

Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to attend a womens event. I am always so thankful that I've been able to make it because the message always hits home.

The leader spoke on obedience and the same verse that I had read in my quiet time earlier that week.

"Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to
the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:8

She really made us think about whether we could be obedient, even unto death. Could you, if it really came down to it, stand up for Christ even if someone threatened to kill you if you denied Christ?

Boy that is a hard question to ask, but with times as they are, maybe it is time to start asking ourselves the hard questions. Could we trust in God if our husband lost his job?...if we lost a child...if we were actually persecuted? There are so many people that are truly persecuted for their belief in Christ around the world. Do we take for granted that freedom?

We are to be like Christ even in this: by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

When I was reading this verse, something stuck out at me. "He humbled Himself by becoming obedient." What is my problem right now? I am constantly out for my own gain. Whether subconsciously or not, I find that most of my "issues" right now are wrapped up in my own pride. I want what I want. Does obedience require humility or does obedience create humility? I think that humility is a purposeful choice...not just an accidental personality trait. I humble myself by choosing to be obedient to Christ, to die to myself.

I just think I need to remind myself of this as I get caught up in doing my thing. I need to continueally ask the Lord of all creation what He'd have me do. He is faithful to guide me if I'm willing to ask and listen and obey. I can easily stifle His guidance by being full of myself. The more I empty me of myself, the more room there is for Him. When there is more of Him in me, then everyone wins...my family, my friends, my church.

"So then, my beloved...work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it
is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do
all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to
be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a
crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the
world..." Philippians 2:12-15

I love to think of Christmas lights when I read "you appear as lights in the world"...maybe we all be a strand of Christmas lights illuminating the joy of being a child of Christ.

Occupied

Image: dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I've been feeling lately like I just want more of Christ in my life. I want more, but I don't know how to get more...and where do I fit more? It is just an awkward feeling, a little battle for my time and energy.

I met with my sister-in-law and mother-in-law to discuss  the "Satisfy My Thirsty Soul" Bible study we were doing. I'm not sure what question we were talking about, but I think I shared that I just don't know how to worship God all the time. My mother-in-law said something like, "We are to be occupied with Him." Something about the way she said it or how she emphasized the word "occupied" really hit me, though not until way later in the day.

I try my hardest to be "occupied" with the Lord, focusing on Him and giving Him the glory, but man I don't do it well. Here's the catch: that kind of being occupied puts the responsibility on me. Instead, I realized that God the Spirit is already occupying me. I asked Him there a long time ago. When I allow Him to fill my life, satisfy me, then the overflow is the praise and worship that comes out.

The thing is, I have to allow Him to fill me up. I so easily and often stifle His Presence. But, instead of working harder to worship, pray, or do His will, I just need to let go of myself and let the worship flow. We need to get to the point when we say, 'Lord, I'm so done with me."

I doubt if this can make sense to others in these words. It was just such a revelation to me. It is freedom.

Here's the other thing. I came across a quote in the Thirsty Soul book that had made me question myself in my worship. It said something to the effect that thanksgiving was focusing on our blessings, but worship was focusing on God. From that I took that when I was thankful, I was being selfish. I started second-guessing my motives in thanksgiving. Dang, I can't even get thankfulness right! Luckily my loved ones set me straight that, of course you are thankful when you worship. But, it dawned on me that other things have made me question my methods. My pastor once gave a sermon on the kinds of prayers God can answer...He can't force anyone to be or do anything. So now when I pray I'm so careful not to say the wrong thing. When I embraced this "I'm so done with me" though, I recognized that God is bigger than my wrong kind of worship or my wrong kind of prayer or my wrong kind of Bible study. It would be like me as a Mommy saying, "No, you can't give me that Mother's Day card because you didn't do it the right way." Ridiculous!

Lord, I just pray that you would OCCUPY me. I want to be OCCUPIED by You. Please FILL me with Your love and peace and strength and joy until it overflows on everyone else and they recognize it as You! I worship you for being so amazing and good. You are beautiful.