Wait Expectantly

A lot of hearing from God is really just waiting. We wait for direction, and for clarity. We wait for Him to move in our lives. 

The key to this waiting is being expectant. We don't just wait, hoping God will someday answer our prayers. Instead, we wait expectantly, knowing that, no matter what, God will provide. He may not provide what we want or what we think we need, but He will provide.

God comes through for us when we trust him. We can count on Him. 

Are you waiting expectantly for God?

Today's Verse

Matthew 10: 31

Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows. 

Consider it Pure Joy

Adversity takes many forms, and sometimes it can seem like we are surrounded by it. It can feel like there is no escape for our problems and struggles. They can become like clouds, blocking out the light of the sun and making our lives dreary and dim.

Luckily, we are blessed with Paul as an example of how to deal with and think about adversity. Paul had prestige. His lineage and education were, according to the standards of the day, above reproach. Then the Lord appeared to him, blinding Paul until the Lord sent Ananais to restore his sight and ensure that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul was blind for three days before Ananias came to him. It was three days of not knowing if he would ever see again, three days of having to relearn how to do daily activities, three days of reevaluating his life.

Paul's adversity also didn't cease when he decided to follow the Lord's direction. He was no longer blind, but he was later beaten, imprisoned, and rejected by his own people for preaching the Gospel. In the midst of his adversity, he writes that everything he'd lost as a result of God's calling on his life he had lost for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. He encourages others to have joy, even in the midst of trials. He tells us to persevere, to be mature in our faith in the Lord's provision.

Do you consider your losses lost for the sake of Christ? Are you joyous, even as you struggle?

Today's Verses
James 1: 1-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

On His Terms

I'm learning another new lesson about surrender. I thought I had the whole surrender thing figured out, I thought it had all finally clicked. However, God is, once again, asking if I will lean in further.He is once again challenging me to trust Him more completely.

Today I am learning that, not only does surrender mean doing God's will, true surrender means doing it His way. One of the most insidious ways to avoid full compliance with the will of God is to recognize what He is asking of you and ignore how He is asking you to do it. By doing it our way, we maintain a semblance of control. We get to tell ourselves that we are surrendering even while we indulge the egotistical part of us that tells us we know better than the Lord. We get to be in the driver's seat and live our lives on our own terms.

However, listening to what God has to say while continuing to live life on our own terms does not follow the example Christ set for us. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the night he was betrayed, Jesus cried out to the Lord. He vocalized His prayer that God's plan for his death would be different, but He submitted to the will of the Father. In that moment, Jesus prayed that God would change His plan for Him. He wanted to do it a different way, He dreaded doing it on God's terms. However, Christ submitted to the Father's will anyway saying, "Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

That is my mantra today: "Nevertheless, not as I will but as You will, Lord."

Are you attempting to accomplish God's work on your terms? Are you willing to live your life on His terms instead?

Today's Verses
Mathew 26: 39
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

No Greater Love

On Memorial Day we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for our freedoms. We thank them and their families for their service, and we recognize the gift they've given us. They stood in the line of fire so that we didn't have to. They put themselves in danger so that we could stay home and stay safe. They gave up their lives so we could keep living ours.

The gift of Christ's sacrifice is similar. He went to the cross so that we didn't have to. He took our sin upon His shoulders, accepting the punishment that was rightfully ours, so that we could stand blameless before the Father. He vanquished death so that we might have eternal life.

Take a moment today to be thankful for the sacrifices of others and of Christ.

Today's Verse
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends

Cultivating Peace

When life is chaotic, peace is often all we want, but it is also sometimes the most difficult thing to find. It's unsettling to find ourselves in the midst of circumstances that are out of our control. Stress and worry gnaw away at our confidence and our hope. We find ourselves doubting our own abilities and the providence of God. We find ourselves feeling alone.

Luckily, we are not alone in this journey because God is always with us. A wise friend told me recently that, when we have the Holy Spirit within us, we are the most powerful we will ever be. When we have the Spirit working for us, we need not be concerned, we need not worry. Even if change comes, even if the chaos continues or intensifies, God is in control. The Spirit of the Lord goes before us, preparing the way. We can put on the armor of God and know we are protected. We can cultivate peace by knowing that God is with us and will not forsake us.

Today's Verse
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Come to Serve

Leadership, according to most people, means going first, preparing the way and setting the bar high. However, the Bible paints a different picture of leadership in Christ. Christ did not come to lead armies or to build an empire. Instead, he came to serve.

When two of the disciples asked him if they could be at his right and left in the Kingdom, Jesus said that those positions were not His to grant. He said that the kings of the world lorded their power over their people, but that God's kingdom required something different of its leaders. He said that those who wished to become great must first be servants.

Being a good leader means figuring out how to best serve those around you. Sometimes this can be uncomfortable, and sometimes we find ourselves doing things that are contrary to our initial desires. However, service brings glory to God and not to ourselves. Even when we are uncomfortable, God is at work. When we put others first, God is at work. God is glorified in our servanthood.

How might you better serve those around you?

Today's Verse
Mark 10: 42-45
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over the,, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

One Thing Remains

When your to do list is overwhelming, when you're sick and you reject the idea of doing anything other than laying on the couch, when all you seem to do is fail, one thing remains.

The love of God.

God says that, no matter what your life looks like, you are loved. He says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. He says that your life can bring Him glory, regardless of your failings.

So when life overwhelms or disappoints, be assured that there is more. Your value does not rest on your accomplishments, your health, your success. God says you have value. Believe Him.

Are you confident in your God-given value?

Today's Verse
Matthew 10: 31
So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows