Be Brave!

2 Samuel 23:16 "He would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord."

Recently at work I saw a bumper sticker that read, "Don't believe everything you think!" I don't know about you, but I can think of something that I am anxious about and then I end up dwelling on it trying to figure out the best way to handle it. Then I feel even more anxious. Usually what I am anxious about doesn't turn out like I expected anyway!

We all have something to 'pour out' before the Lord. It may be anxiety, rage/anger, pornography, alcohol, loneliness, depression or some other thorn in our side. Choosing not to do something, or dwell on something we have been giving ourselves over to is difficult. First, pour it out to the Lord, telling Him everything about the issue. Why does this issue/struggle seem to draw us in? What is it about this that captures us? Why haven't we stopped prior to this? Why are we trying to deal with this issue now? What do we want the outcome to be? What do we believe the Lord wants the outcome to be? Answering these questions as truthfully as we can while praying can ease our burden (Matt. 11:28).

Begin deciding not to give in to it, or start making the decision to stop doing whatever it is that has become an issue. Sometimes we may feel like we can't stop or we may feel like whatever it is, has the power to control us. Is it possible it could be an addiction? Whatever it is that needs to be 'poured out before the Lord' will be a journey to overcome. Memorizing God's Word to combat it is a great comfort and encouragement. When those bothersome thoughts surface again instead of dwelling on them and giving them power give God the glory by dwelling on His Word, the Truth, and choose to fill your cup with praise. As Hebrews 13:15 states, 'offer a sacrifice of praise'. Believe by faith God is saying, "Be brave, things aren't as they appear. Trust Me, not your feelings or even your own thoughts."

Read More:
Isaiah 43:1-4, Isaiah 43:7, & Isaiah 43:18-19

Prayer:
Father help me choose to obey you by dwelling on Your Word and not on my feelings about the issue. Thank You that You are with me every step of the way.

Plan of Action (James 1:22 & James 1:25):
Memorize one or more of the verses from Isaiah 43:1-4, 7, 18-19.

Dodge Ball

Verse: 1Peter 2:9-10
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

I have never been a good athlete therefore, I never liked P.E. in school. I hated when team captains were chosen and then they chose people for their team because I was always one of the last ones picked. Maybe you were one of the athletically gifted and this was not an issue, but for me it was a cause for dread.

In contrast, God has chosen us for His 'team'. God has looked down from His heavenly throne at all of His creation and chosen Us! He views us so differently from how the world views us and it is more positive than we realize. He knows what is in our heart, and that we are sinful, and yet He still wants to use us for His glory.

The word Elect, according to Vine's Concise Dictionary of the Bible p. 112 means, "picked out, a vessel of God." Elect conjures up images of an election, ballots, and debates for me. It is as if God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit got together and unanimously decided that they wanted us on their side. Look how much they wanted us, read the following verses:
John 15:16
John 17:6
Eph. 2:10
2 Thess. 2:13

God has thought about us from the beginning and wants us for Himself. Futhermore, our belief in His Word and His Son is credited back to us as righteousness Gen. 15:6. We believe and our lives are blessed, and then He calls us righteous on top of that!

'the Lord Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people.' Is.28:5

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for choosing me and help me to choose You even when it's difficult.

Read More:
Ephesians 1:4-6

Plan of Action (James 1:22 & James 1:25):
Choose Him by having a prayer time every morning.

Distant

Verse: Luke 15:13
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.”

“The younger son…set off for a distant country…’ (Luke 15:13). When we choose not to follow or obey God we will end up far fro Him like the verse; ‘a distant country.” As a result our fellowship/relationship with Him will suffer. Our disobedient living will separate us from Him every time. When we distance ourselves from God, by not attending church or Sunday School, or by not studying or reading His word, or by not praying regularly, it will be hard to hear from Him. Just as being distant, far away, or physically separated from someone will cause us not to be able to hear them. Yet, when we realize the error of our ways and truly repent like the prodigal son did in verse 18, God will have compassion on us (vs.20). He will meet us where we are, even if we are still far off, but desperately wanting to return. Then He will walk with us back to our rightful place without condemnation. In fact, instead of condemnation He is filled with compassion and love for us (vs. 20). Just as the father in this parable met his son and threw his arms around him and kissed him, so our Heavenly Father greets us with love and compassion when we repent. He does not meet us with anger and condemnation asking us where we have been and what we were thinking? He does not react in that manner because He is love, 1 John 4:8. And, there’s more. He is willing to take us further on ahead, into a deeper more intimate relationship with Him. He is always waiting for us to return to Him.

May your blessing be on your people. Psalms 3:8

Prayer:

Father thank you for your compassion and love towards me even while I am working on returning to You. Help me return to You with my whole heart.

Read More:
Luke 15:11-31

Action Plan (James 1:22 & James 1:25):
Decide to start each day with prayer, even if it is just for 5 minutes.