Rest For Our Souls, February 3
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11: 28 – 29
Can you remember a time when you were a child and you fell or got upset over something, and your parent or another loving adult, called to you and said, “Come to me!” and you ran into their arms and your hurt went away?
Don’t we as adults sometimes wish we could do the same – to just run to someone who would lovingly enfold us, comfort us, and take away all our pain and sorrow? We all have our burdens. They may be physical, emotional, or spiritual ones, and they bring deep and personal pain. And often these burdens can get so heavy, that we honestly think they are more than we can bear and that we can’t go on. Then where should we turn and what should we do?
Jesus’ words in the above verse are some of the most comforting in all of Scripture. For He tells us exactly what He longs for us to do. When we get the most anxious, saddened, or deeply grieved, we should imagine that we are sitting by His feet, with His hand resting on ours, and then with all humility and sincerity, we should tell him what is on our hearts and express our pain and despair. Can you even imagine how He would lovingly listen to us, gently assure us of His love, help us with the burdens we carry, and then gently give our weary soul rest. What a gift He longs to give us, and that is for us to rest in Him – to let it all go, to turn it all over to Him, and to find quiet peace in His loving presence.
The truth is we were never meant to do it alone. When God created us, He knew we would need more than ourselves to handle the cares of this world. So He sent His Son, who gave us this loving message of hope: “Come to me. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me. I will give you rest.” Jesus wants to help us with the heaviness of life. He asks us to take His yoke upon ourselves and let Him help us carry the load. God knew we would need a connection to Him, and He provides that guidance by saying, ”Come to me. Let me take your burdens and give you rest.” He loves us, cares for us, and He will meet our needs. In order for Him to give us rest, we must come to Him humbly, surrendering our will to His and trusting in His grace. When we can do so, we will experience a freedom we never knew possible and rest in His loving presence.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we are so thankful that we can come to you when our minds and hearts are weary from worry. If we could only learn to turn our burdens over to you in the beginning instead of trying to carry them alone, we would find the peace that our souls long for. Thank you for your sovereign love and care. Amen
Can you remember a time when you were a child and you fell or got upset over something, and your parent or another loving adult, called to you and said, “Come to me!” and you ran into their arms and your hurt went away?
Don’t we as adults sometimes wish we could do the same – to just run to someone who would lovingly enfold us, comfort us, and take away all our pain and sorrow? We all have our burdens. They may be physical, emotional, or spiritual ones, and they bring deep and personal pain. And often these burdens can get so heavy, that we honestly think they are more than we can bear and that we can’t go on. Then where should we turn and what should we do?
Jesus’ words in the above verse are some of the most comforting in all of Scripture. For He tells us exactly what He longs for us to do. When we get the most anxious, saddened, or deeply grieved, we should imagine that we are sitting by His feet, with His hand resting on ours, and then with all humility and sincerity, we should tell him what is on our hearts and express our pain and despair. Can you even imagine how He would lovingly listen to us, gently assure us of His love, help us with the burdens we carry, and then gently give our weary soul rest. What a gift He longs to give us, and that is for us to rest in Him – to let it all go, to turn it all over to Him, and to find quiet peace in His loving presence.
The truth is we were never meant to do it alone. When God created us, He knew we would need more than ourselves to handle the cares of this world. So He sent His Son, who gave us this loving message of hope: “Come to me. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me. I will give you rest.” Jesus wants to help us with the heaviness of life. He asks us to take His yoke upon ourselves and let Him help us carry the load. God knew we would need a connection to Him, and He provides that guidance by saying, ”Come to me. Let me take your burdens and give you rest.” He loves us, cares for us, and He will meet our needs. In order for Him to give us rest, we must come to Him humbly, surrendering our will to His and trusting in His grace. When we can do so, we will experience a freedom we never knew possible and rest in His loving presence.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we are so thankful that we can come to you when our minds and hearts are weary from worry. If we could only learn to turn our burdens over to you in the beginning instead of trying to carry them alone, we would find the peace that our souls long for. Thank you for your sovereign love and care. Amen
Search Me, O God, February 6
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23 – 24
Years ago, my husband and I saw a movie in which a young man died in a tragic accident and went to heaven. Once he arrived, as he stood with Christ, he saw images and flashes of his life played out before him on a big screen. As he watched with sadness, he saw what effect his words and actions had had on others during his lifetime. He felt such heartache for the pain and despair he had unknowingly caused.
Scripture tells us clearly that sometimes we can’t trust our own hearts and they can be deceitful and lead us astray. David knew this. In the above prayer from his Psalm, he is humbly asking God to search his heart and his thoughts, make him aware of any wrongdoing and test Him to see if he was found trustworthy. He didn’t want there to be anything to keep him from being what God would have him be. He understood full well God’s omnipresence and His omniscience. He knew God had already seen into his heart and knew what was there. Yet, he recognized that he needed God’s insight and guidance to transform his heart into what God would have it be. He knew all too well that his thoughts, just like our own, could be too anxious, fearful, untrusting, and unbelieving at times. Yet, even His willingness to say this prayer and ask God to reveal what He found is evidence of God’s indwelling spirit in David, and of His desire to place His life in His hands. He had a loving heart for our God and longed to please Him.
We too need to pray for God to search our hearts and thoughts. We need Him to help us see through all the disguises and facades we may try to present to others. And even more, we need His love and grace to reveal what is found and to help us to correct it. Would He find us to be insecure, arrogant, weak, greedy, revengeful, man-spirited, angry, jealous, self-absorbed, prideful, fearful, full of hopelessness or despair? What truly lies beneath the surface that we have to keep pushing down to keep it from flowing outward? We need Him to help us keep our hearts pure and filled with strong faith and goodness, so we can be those individuals He created us to be. What a gift to be able to say, ”God, my life is completely yours and I trust in you to lead me in the way everlasting.”
Prayer
Our most gracious and loving God, you know our hearts and what lies within. Search us and help us to abandon our own will to yours and trust in you completely. Help us to transform our hearts and be the individuals you fully intended for us to be when you created us. Thank you for your love, grace, and peace. Amen
Years ago, my husband and I saw a movie in which a young man died in a tragic accident and went to heaven. Once he arrived, as he stood with Christ, he saw images and flashes of his life played out before him on a big screen. As he watched with sadness, he saw what effect his words and actions had had on others during his lifetime. He felt such heartache for the pain and despair he had unknowingly caused.
Scripture tells us clearly that sometimes we can’t trust our own hearts and they can be deceitful and lead us astray. David knew this. In the above prayer from his Psalm, he is humbly asking God to search his heart and his thoughts, make him aware of any wrongdoing and test Him to see if he was found trustworthy. He didn’t want there to be anything to keep him from being what God would have him be. He understood full well God’s omnipresence and His omniscience. He knew God had already seen into his heart and knew what was there. Yet, he recognized that he needed God’s insight and guidance to transform his heart into what God would have it be. He knew all too well that his thoughts, just like our own, could be too anxious, fearful, untrusting, and unbelieving at times. Yet, even His willingness to say this prayer and ask God to reveal what He found is evidence of God’s indwelling spirit in David, and of His desire to place His life in His hands. He had a loving heart for our God and longed to please Him.
We too need to pray for God to search our hearts and thoughts. We need Him to help us see through all the disguises and facades we may try to present to others. And even more, we need His love and grace to reveal what is found and to help us to correct it. Would He find us to be insecure, arrogant, weak, greedy, revengeful, man-spirited, angry, jealous, self-absorbed, prideful, fearful, full of hopelessness or despair? What truly lies beneath the surface that we have to keep pushing down to keep it from flowing outward? We need Him to help us keep our hearts pure and filled with strong faith and goodness, so we can be those individuals He created us to be. What a gift to be able to say, ”God, my life is completely yours and I trust in you to lead me in the way everlasting.”
Prayer
Our most gracious and loving God, you know our hearts and what lies within. Search us and help us to abandon our own will to yours and trust in you completely. Help us to transform our hearts and be the individuals you fully intended for us to be when you created us. Thank you for your love, grace, and peace. Amen
Build Each Other Up, February 10
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." I Thessalonians 5: 11
Who else is more deserving of our encouragement and love than those who are most dear to us? Often we are so busy or complacent with our families that we don’t even take their need of encouragement into consideration - our spouses, children, parents, siblings, and any other relatives closest to us. We need to “build them up” each and every day by letting them know that we value and appreciate them and will always be there to encourage and cheer them on.
A kind word or a compliment can be the biggest blessing. As Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” When we are discouraged, doubting ourselves or feeling worthless, when we’re struggling or confused, or when we are in pain or facing a difficult situation, words can be so healing, strengthening, and renewing. God knows this is a harsh world we live in, and we need all the encouragement we can get – not from just our loved ones and friends, but from anyone. We all can use more kindness – in whatever form it comes.
Sometimes even our silence can speak volumes and can be so hurtful. It can make a person feel so insignificant or unworthy of our time or attention. God wants us to consider one another’s feelings or need for encouragement, affirmation, appreciation, and love. And yet, in our selfish natures, we often find ourselves more focused on “me” than on others. We don’t take the time or make the effort, or we purposely withhold words that we know someone needs or would long to hear. We need to make more of an effort to focus on others and be the affirming voice they need.
We recognize the power of our words to inflict pain, but they can also be equally as powerful in conveying love and concern. God desires for us to edify and “build” each other up – not just those who are our friends or loved ones, but everyone around us - strangers and even those we find difficult to love, and in doing so, we are honoring Him. He sees into our hearts and our true motivations. This statement sums it up well: “Words can be a window into our souls and our speech can reveal our hearts.” May we become better instruments of His love and grace and encourage each other.
Prayer
Our most kind and loving Father, thank you for the gift of friends and loved ones you have placed in our lives. Help us to be mindful of their needs, as well as those of all others in our path, and may we encourage them with our words. May we take advantage of the opportunities we have been given to share your love and grace to those who need it most. Amen
Who else is more deserving of our encouragement and love than those who are most dear to us? Often we are so busy or complacent with our families that we don’t even take their need of encouragement into consideration - our spouses, children, parents, siblings, and any other relatives closest to us. We need to “build them up” each and every day by letting them know that we value and appreciate them and will always be there to encourage and cheer them on.
A kind word or a compliment can be the biggest blessing. As Mark Twain once said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” When we are discouraged, doubting ourselves or feeling worthless, when we’re struggling or confused, or when we are in pain or facing a difficult situation, words can be so healing, strengthening, and renewing. God knows this is a harsh world we live in, and we need all the encouragement we can get – not from just our loved ones and friends, but from anyone. We all can use more kindness – in whatever form it comes.
Sometimes even our silence can speak volumes and can be so hurtful. It can make a person feel so insignificant or unworthy of our time or attention. God wants us to consider one another’s feelings or need for encouragement, affirmation, appreciation, and love. And yet, in our selfish natures, we often find ourselves more focused on “me” than on others. We don’t take the time or make the effort, or we purposely withhold words that we know someone needs or would long to hear. We need to make more of an effort to focus on others and be the affirming voice they need.
We recognize the power of our words to inflict pain, but they can also be equally as powerful in conveying love and concern. God desires for us to edify and “build” each other up – not just those who are our friends or loved ones, but everyone around us - strangers and even those we find difficult to love, and in doing so, we are honoring Him. He sees into our hearts and our true motivations. This statement sums it up well: “Words can be a window into our souls and our speech can reveal our hearts.” May we become better instruments of His love and grace and encourage each other.
Prayer
Our most kind and loving Father, thank you for the gift of friends and loved ones you have placed in our lives. Help us to be mindful of their needs, as well as those of all others in our path, and may we encourage them with our words. May we take advantage of the opportunities we have been given to share your love and grace to those who need it most. Amen
Faith, February 13
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see . . . And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:1,6
Faith is a difficult thing to express and define. Are there degrees of faith? Can you have a little? Or is it something you have to believe in with all your heart? We speak of having faith in others and then they let us down. I speak of having faith in God, and then at times, it is as if I don’t have the deep faith I thought I had – at least not with 100 percent certainty.
If you were asked to express the meaning of your faith in God, what would your response be? I looked in several dictionary sources to see how Webster’s and others might define faith, and all of them seemed so inadequate and devoid of emotion. Nothing seemed to describe in a heartfelt way one of the most foundational truths we as Christians have. The common theme among all of them was: “a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.” This definition of faith seems to imply that our minds can accept and believe in something that is totally unfounded, and just made by a conscious decision. For some things, that might be true.
Our faith grows because of our own personal experiences with God, and we can and should help others to trust Him more with our own testimonies about His love and grace. We can never base our faith just on what God has done in our lives, without basing it on who He is. We must see Him as our loving Creator and Sustainer of life. When we can finally wrap our minds around the incomprehensible idea that He loves us, wants the best for us, and will always be with us, then we can trust Him with all our hearts.
This beautiful definition of faith found in His Word sums it up much better than any dictionary ever could: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Don’t we all long to know that someone truly cares for us and is watching out for us? Wouldn’t it be so reassuring to know that we can depend on that “someone” totally, 100 percent of the time, with all assurance and certainty, and with no doubt whatsoever, even when we can’t see evidence of it?
What freedom to be able to rest in God, to know and trust completely and undeniably in a God who loves us and has our best interests at heart! We have that, right before us. But to receive that gift of His grace, we must believe in God and trust in His promises. To do so is a journey, a process, a “walk of faith," and as we continue to travel it, His presence and truths will become even more real and precious to us, and our faith will grow if we “earnestly seek Him."
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for your promises and truths found in your Word. Help us to increase our trust in You, and to remember all the times you have been faithful to us with your presence, your strength, your comfort, and your love. What greater gift could there possibly be in this life than to know that you are with us and desire what is best for us. We are so grateful for your grace and the promise of eternal life with you. Amen
Faith is a difficult thing to express and define. Are there degrees of faith? Can you have a little? Or is it something you have to believe in with all your heart? We speak of having faith in others and then they let us down. I speak of having faith in God, and then at times, it is as if I don’t have the deep faith I thought I had – at least not with 100 percent certainty.
If you were asked to express the meaning of your faith in God, what would your response be? I looked in several dictionary sources to see how Webster’s and others might define faith, and all of them seemed so inadequate and devoid of emotion. Nothing seemed to describe in a heartfelt way one of the most foundational truths we as Christians have. The common theme among all of them was: “a belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.” This definition of faith seems to imply that our minds can accept and believe in something that is totally unfounded, and just made by a conscious decision. For some things, that might be true.
Our faith grows because of our own personal experiences with God, and we can and should help others to trust Him more with our own testimonies about His love and grace. We can never base our faith just on what God has done in our lives, without basing it on who He is. We must see Him as our loving Creator and Sustainer of life. When we can finally wrap our minds around the incomprehensible idea that He loves us, wants the best for us, and will always be with us, then we can trust Him with all our hearts.
This beautiful definition of faith found in His Word sums it up much better than any dictionary ever could: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Don’t we all long to know that someone truly cares for us and is watching out for us? Wouldn’t it be so reassuring to know that we can depend on that “someone” totally, 100 percent of the time, with all assurance and certainty, and with no doubt whatsoever, even when we can’t see evidence of it?
What freedom to be able to rest in God, to know and trust completely and undeniably in a God who loves us and has our best interests at heart! We have that, right before us. But to receive that gift of His grace, we must believe in God and trust in His promises. To do so is a journey, a process, a “walk of faith," and as we continue to travel it, His presence and truths will become even more real and precious to us, and our faith will grow if we “earnestly seek Him."
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for your promises and truths found in your Word. Help us to increase our trust in You, and to remember all the times you have been faithful to us with your presence, your strength, your comfort, and your love. What greater gift could there possibly be in this life than to know that you are with us and desire what is best for us. We are so grateful for your grace and the promise of eternal life with you. Amen
To Know Him More, February 17
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1: 9 – 11
I think one of the greatest gifts we can give another person is to pray for them. It’s comforting to know that others are going to God on our behalf, and I am sure all of us have felt the strength and peace that prayer can bring. Yet, in all the things we pray for – good health, His protection over us, strength in times of difficulty, comfort in our despair, guidance in our decision making, His presence with us during challenging times, the joy of His blessings, and that His everlasting hope and love will be upon us - there is one more request that should be the most important of all.
We should pray that we will seek God more, that we will come to know Him and His saving grace with a deeper understanding, that our love for Him will grow, and that all our blessings will flow out to others. May we pray not only to feel the love of Christ, but to know Him with all our hearts.
In this passage, Paul had written a letter to the young church at Philippi to encourage them, and he included this prayer for them. He prays their love for Christ will grow and “abound” until it spills over into the lives of others. He prays this love will increase their desire to gain more knowledge and insight into the teachings, life, and Gospel of Christ. As they learn more about Him through His Word and through prayer, Paul trusts they will begin to make better judgments and decisions through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and that they will someday be found “pure and blameless” in the sight of Christ.
This is what God desires for us – to sincerely and genuinely seek Him and to know Him. He wants our love and obedience, but not out of a sense of duty or overriding guilt, but out of our overwhelming love for Him. Our goal and purpose should be to love Him more each day, and to increase our knowledge and discernment of His Word. We should read Scripture, study it, reflect on it, memorize it, and let it live in our hearts. For only then, can we truly know who God is and what He desires for our lives. May we give Him the honor and glory He deserves. May we truly know what it is to live in His loving presence.
Prayer
Dear God, may this be our prayer for all those we love and care about. Thank you for loving us so much that you would send your Son with His saving grace. Open our hearts to learn more about you through your Word. May we help others to seek you and to know you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
I think one of the greatest gifts we can give another person is to pray for them. It’s comforting to know that others are going to God on our behalf, and I am sure all of us have felt the strength and peace that prayer can bring. Yet, in all the things we pray for – good health, His protection over us, strength in times of difficulty, comfort in our despair, guidance in our decision making, His presence with us during challenging times, the joy of His blessings, and that His everlasting hope and love will be upon us - there is one more request that should be the most important of all.
We should pray that we will seek God more, that we will come to know Him and His saving grace with a deeper understanding, that our love for Him will grow, and that all our blessings will flow out to others. May we pray not only to feel the love of Christ, but to know Him with all our hearts.
In this passage, Paul had written a letter to the young church at Philippi to encourage them, and he included this prayer for them. He prays their love for Christ will grow and “abound” until it spills over into the lives of others. He prays this love will increase their desire to gain more knowledge and insight into the teachings, life, and Gospel of Christ. As they learn more about Him through His Word and through prayer, Paul trusts they will begin to make better judgments and decisions through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and that they will someday be found “pure and blameless” in the sight of Christ.
This is what God desires for us – to sincerely and genuinely seek Him and to know Him. He wants our love and obedience, but not out of a sense of duty or overriding guilt, but out of our overwhelming love for Him. Our goal and purpose should be to love Him more each day, and to increase our knowledge and discernment of His Word. We should read Scripture, study it, reflect on it, memorize it, and let it live in our hearts. For only then, can we truly know who God is and what He desires for our lives. May we give Him the honor and glory He deserves. May we truly know what it is to live in His loving presence.
Prayer
Dear God, may this be our prayer for all those we love and care about. Thank you for loving us so much that you would send your Son with His saving grace. Open our hearts to learn more about you through your Word. May we help others to seek you and to know you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
God's Sovereign Hand, February 21
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 14:4
Do you ever have moments when you feel small and insignificant? Can you understand why some individuals might feel as if no one even cares about them at all or even notices they are in the world? How sad for them not to know how much God does.
They could use a study on the book of Esther. It is one of the most amazing stories in the Bible. In fact, it is unique in that God’s name is never once mentioned, yet His sovereignty and faithfulness to His people is seen throughout the story. It is more intriguing than any book you could read, or any movie you would ever see. It is a story of drama, romance, courage, faith, and obedience. And it illustrates, without a doubt, that you are significant to God and that He has a purpose for your life.
You may feel powerless and expendable, or even unworthy of His love and grace, but in God’s eyes, you are important and necessary. The person you are, even with your conceived or real limitations, might make you perfect for the role God needs or wants you to fulfill. To paraphrase the verse above: “Who knows but that you may have been born just for some particular moment in time to carry out God’s divine providence?” What a humbling thought.
Esther was placed in a position to be queen in the Persian Empire for her moment in God’s plan. According to Scripture, during King Xerxes' rule around 475 BC, he held a huge banquet for everyone in his kingdom. When he became drunk with the men, he ordered his beautiful wife, Queen Vashti, to appear before them wearing her beautiful crown. But she refused, so as punishment, he banished her from the palace. To choose a new queen, he held a beauty contest. Before a candidate could come before the king, she had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. (Can you imagine, ladies?) Then she would wait until the decision was made. The king chose Esther.
On the advice of her uncle Mordecai, her guardian, she kept secret her Jewish heritage, even after their marriage. The king’s prime minister, Haman, ordered everyone to bow down to him. But when Mordecai, who came to the palace gate every morning to try to hear some news about Esther, refused to do so because of his Jewish faith, Haman decreed that all Jews would be killed on a certain date. Mordecai, through messengers, urged Esther to go before the king and plead for the lives of their people.
Esther hesitated, because it was a rule of law that anyone who went before the king without being summoned would be killed. Mordecai reminded her that she and her people would perish under the Jewish death decree if she remained silent. And as he said above, “and who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” She told him to ask their people to fast and pray, and she would go before the king. She answered, “If I perish, I perish.” The king received her our of his love for her, granted her wish that her people be saved and ordered Haman to be killed. So on the day intended for their destruction, the Jewish people were saved. This day known as Purim is still celebrated on the Jewish calendar. What courage and faith Esther displayed.
Is that not the most fascinating story? And it certainly makes one think about the choices we sometimes have to make. Do we see God’s hand in our circumstances, or are these things merely coincidental? We may have been given a great responsibility with whatever position or honor we might have, whether it is in our family, job, church, school, neighborhood, or with our talents or abilities. We may need to ask ourselves, ”Would God have me act, and is this my moment in time to make a difference?” We are told to pray, obey, and act by faith. This could be our time.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the stories from your Word to teach us and help us to understand that your hand is often in our lives to carry out your purpose. Help us to seek your divine providence for our lives and take advantage of the opportunities before us. Amen
Do you ever have moments when you feel small and insignificant? Can you understand why some individuals might feel as if no one even cares about them at all or even notices they are in the world? How sad for them not to know how much God does.
They could use a study on the book of Esther. It is one of the most amazing stories in the Bible. In fact, it is unique in that God’s name is never once mentioned, yet His sovereignty and faithfulness to His people is seen throughout the story. It is more intriguing than any book you could read, or any movie you would ever see. It is a story of drama, romance, courage, faith, and obedience. And it illustrates, without a doubt, that you are significant to God and that He has a purpose for your life.
You may feel powerless and expendable, or even unworthy of His love and grace, but in God’s eyes, you are important and necessary. The person you are, even with your conceived or real limitations, might make you perfect for the role God needs or wants you to fulfill. To paraphrase the verse above: “Who knows but that you may have been born just for some particular moment in time to carry out God’s divine providence?” What a humbling thought.
Esther was placed in a position to be queen in the Persian Empire for her moment in God’s plan. According to Scripture, during King Xerxes' rule around 475 BC, he held a huge banquet for everyone in his kingdom. When he became drunk with the men, he ordered his beautiful wife, Queen Vashti, to appear before them wearing her beautiful crown. But she refused, so as punishment, he banished her from the palace. To choose a new queen, he held a beauty contest. Before a candidate could come before the king, she had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. (Can you imagine, ladies?) Then she would wait until the decision was made. The king chose Esther.
On the advice of her uncle Mordecai, her guardian, she kept secret her Jewish heritage, even after their marriage. The king’s prime minister, Haman, ordered everyone to bow down to him. But when Mordecai, who came to the palace gate every morning to try to hear some news about Esther, refused to do so because of his Jewish faith, Haman decreed that all Jews would be killed on a certain date. Mordecai, through messengers, urged Esther to go before the king and plead for the lives of their people.
Esther hesitated, because it was a rule of law that anyone who went before the king without being summoned would be killed. Mordecai reminded her that she and her people would perish under the Jewish death decree if she remained silent. And as he said above, “and who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” She told him to ask their people to fast and pray, and she would go before the king. She answered, “If I perish, I perish.” The king received her our of his love for her, granted her wish that her people be saved and ordered Haman to be killed. So on the day intended for their destruction, the Jewish people were saved. This day known as Purim is still celebrated on the Jewish calendar. What courage and faith Esther displayed.
Is that not the most fascinating story? And it certainly makes one think about the choices we sometimes have to make. Do we see God’s hand in our circumstances, or are these things merely coincidental? We may have been given a great responsibility with whatever position or honor we might have, whether it is in our family, job, church, school, neighborhood, or with our talents or abilities. We may need to ask ourselves, ”Would God have me act, and is this my moment in time to make a difference?” We are told to pray, obey, and act by faith. This could be our time.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for the stories from your Word to teach us and help us to understand that your hand is often in our lives to carry out your purpose. Help us to seek your divine providence for our lives and take advantage of the opportunities before us. Amen
Chasing After the Wind, February 24, 2014
"Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:11
Imagine being able to ask for the one thing in life you want most above all others at this very moment! What would it be?
Amazingly, Scripture tells us in 1 Kings 3: 5 that Solomon, who was known for his great wisdom, was given such a choice as he began his reign over the people of Israel after the death of his father, King David. In fact, this gift was offered to him in a dream by God Himself with these words: ”Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” God wanted to bless him for continuing to follow the faithful decrees of his father.
Solomon immediately responded by asking for wisdom to govern the people and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. God was so pleased by His request that He promised to give him precisely what he had asked for, and all the things he had not asked for, such as wealth, fame, and success – all the attributes that no one had ever had before in such abundance and never would again. Because of these gifts, Solomon was able to observe and experience life beyond anything we could ever imagine. With his power and wealth, he was able to have anything and everything he wanted whenever he wanted it, and he denied himself nothing. But incredibly he discovered that none of these things mattered - that they brought no real happiness and led him away from God to a life filled with emptiness and momentary pleasures - “a chasing after the wind."
He describes all the worldly things “under the sun” that he tried to find fulfillment in. He built magnificent palaces and beautiful homes for himself, designed breath-taking parks, gardens, and vineyards. He took over 700 women to be his wives, had 300 concubines, and he searched to find satisfaction in scientific study, wisdom, philosophy, adventure, pleasure and laughter, wine, prosperity and luxury. He found that even with all these, life was disappointing and useless, with temporary diversions that just led to the desire and search for something else to make him happy. He kept thinking there had to be something more, something else that would satisfy his longing.
Nothing ever did, and he finally came to the conclusion that without God, life had no purpose or meaning. The “Teacher” in the book of Ecclesiastes examines the meaning of life and how empty it can become without His presence.
What a lesson for all of us as we realize that those who do not have a saving belief in Christ are faced with a life that will ultimately become meaningless - irrelevant, useless, and “a chasing after the wind." To think that we might come to the end of our lives and realize that nothing we have ever done has meant anything, that life has been wasted in pursuit of pleasure, or that the one thing that we thought would bring us so much happiness, never did. What joy and contentment we would miss out on without a life filled with God’s presence, love, and grace. Only He can give lasting happiness, fulfillment, and peace.
Prayer
Dear God, help us to understand what brings us true meaning and purpose in life, and that is a relationship with you. May we realize that so many things of this world are fleeting and meaningless. Thank you for your loving presence with us, your hope, peace, contentment, and joy. Amen
Imagine being able to ask for the one thing in life you want most above all others at this very moment! What would it be?
Amazingly, Scripture tells us in 1 Kings 3: 5 that Solomon, who was known for his great wisdom, was given such a choice as he began his reign over the people of Israel after the death of his father, King David. In fact, this gift was offered to him in a dream by God Himself with these words: ”Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” God wanted to bless him for continuing to follow the faithful decrees of his father.
Solomon immediately responded by asking for wisdom to govern the people and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. God was so pleased by His request that He promised to give him precisely what he had asked for, and all the things he had not asked for, such as wealth, fame, and success – all the attributes that no one had ever had before in such abundance and never would again. Because of these gifts, Solomon was able to observe and experience life beyond anything we could ever imagine. With his power and wealth, he was able to have anything and everything he wanted whenever he wanted it, and he denied himself nothing. But incredibly he discovered that none of these things mattered - that they brought no real happiness and led him away from God to a life filled with emptiness and momentary pleasures - “a chasing after the wind."
He describes all the worldly things “under the sun” that he tried to find fulfillment in. He built magnificent palaces and beautiful homes for himself, designed breath-taking parks, gardens, and vineyards. He took over 700 women to be his wives, had 300 concubines, and he searched to find satisfaction in scientific study, wisdom, philosophy, adventure, pleasure and laughter, wine, prosperity and luxury. He found that even with all these, life was disappointing and useless, with temporary diversions that just led to the desire and search for something else to make him happy. He kept thinking there had to be something more, something else that would satisfy his longing.
Nothing ever did, and he finally came to the conclusion that without God, life had no purpose or meaning. The “Teacher” in the book of Ecclesiastes examines the meaning of life and how empty it can become without His presence.
What a lesson for all of us as we realize that those who do not have a saving belief in Christ are faced with a life that will ultimately become meaningless - irrelevant, useless, and “a chasing after the wind." To think that we might come to the end of our lives and realize that nothing we have ever done has meant anything, that life has been wasted in pursuit of pleasure, or that the one thing that we thought would bring us so much happiness, never did. What joy and contentment we would miss out on without a life filled with God’s presence, love, and grace. Only He can give lasting happiness, fulfillment, and peace.
Prayer
Dear God, help us to understand what brings us true meaning and purpose in life, and that is a relationship with you. May we realize that so many things of this world are fleeting and meaningless. Thank you for your loving presence with us, your hope, peace, contentment, and joy. Amen
Don't Worry About Tomorrow, February 27, 2014
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
I love meaningful quotes and sayings that can so appropriately convey what we are feeling. These little expressions are often simplistic and easy to remember, but what wisdom they can hold. They offer “food for thought”, inspiration by letting our imaginations dream and hope, and they give us understanding of our deepest emotions. They may echo what we already know in our hearts, but can’t find the words to express. Or more importantly, they may help us recognize a truth about life that we have experienced, but haven’t been able to acknowledge and fully understand.
The following quotes seem to do the latter so well: “I am an old man and have known my troubles, but most of them never happened!” (Mark Twain) Or how about these by Corrie Ten Boom: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but it does empty today of its strength.” And this is one of my favorites: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” She is the author of the book, The Hiding Place, in which she writes about how she, her father, and other family members helped save hundreds of Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
These quotes are so meaningful, but no one can express the futility of worry more beautifully than the One who understands life above all others, the One who knew the pain and sacrifice of what the future would hold, but who “held” on to His loving Father with complete trust in Him. What words of truth He gives us with these words: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Jesus knew that it is our human nature to worry, and He often spoke about the anxiety of worrying needlessly. He instructs His followers and all believers not to be concerned about what we will eat or drink, or about our bodies, or what we will wear. He reminds us of the care our Father gives to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, and gives us these comforting words, “Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
How much time we waste worrying about things that never come about! How much fear and anxiety we put ourselves through that is unnecessary!
It can deplete our energy, drain our emotions, and steal our joy. We can truly become so worried about tomorrow that we can’t even live for today. If only we could remember to place our trust in God and turn it all over to Him, then we could live with so much more contentment and peace. For when we worry, it’s as if we have a lack of trust in God. We can get so consumed with our thoughts and our lives that we miss out on the small joys that God longs to give us. He desires for us to love each other through the difficult times and always be mindful of His strength and presence. One day at a time – sometimes one hour at a time. May we place our concerns in His hands and trust in Him.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank you for your strength, mercy, and presence to carry us through the difficult and challenging times of life. Help us to turn our fears and anxieties over to you and focus on today, and not worry about tomorrow. May we always lift up others by reminding them of your love and grace. Amen
I love meaningful quotes and sayings that can so appropriately convey what we are feeling. These little expressions are often simplistic and easy to remember, but what wisdom they can hold. They offer “food for thought”, inspiration by letting our imaginations dream and hope, and they give us understanding of our deepest emotions. They may echo what we already know in our hearts, but can’t find the words to express. Or more importantly, they may help us recognize a truth about life that we have experienced, but haven’t been able to acknowledge and fully understand.
The following quotes seem to do the latter so well: “I am an old man and have known my troubles, but most of them never happened!” (Mark Twain) Or how about these by Corrie Ten Boom: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but it does empty today of its strength.” And this is one of my favorites: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” She is the author of the book, The Hiding Place, in which she writes about how she, her father, and other family members helped save hundreds of Jewish lives during the Holocaust.
These quotes are so meaningful, but no one can express the futility of worry more beautifully than the One who understands life above all others, the One who knew the pain and sacrifice of what the future would hold, but who “held” on to His loving Father with complete trust in Him. What words of truth He gives us with these words: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Jesus knew that it is our human nature to worry, and He often spoke about the anxiety of worrying needlessly. He instructs His followers and all believers not to be concerned about what we will eat or drink, or about our bodies, or what we will wear. He reminds us of the care our Father gives to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field, and gives us these comforting words, “Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
How much time we waste worrying about things that never come about! How much fear and anxiety we put ourselves through that is unnecessary!
It can deplete our energy, drain our emotions, and steal our joy. We can truly become so worried about tomorrow that we can’t even live for today. If only we could remember to place our trust in God and turn it all over to Him, then we could live with so much more contentment and peace. For when we worry, it’s as if we have a lack of trust in God. We can get so consumed with our thoughts and our lives that we miss out on the small joys that God longs to give us. He desires for us to love each other through the difficult times and always be mindful of His strength and presence. One day at a time – sometimes one hour at a time. May we place our concerns in His hands and trust in Him.
Prayer
Dear Lord, we thank you for your strength, mercy, and presence to carry us through the difficult and challenging times of life. Help us to turn our fears and anxieties over to you and focus on today, and not worry about tomorrow. May we always lift up others by reminding them of your love and grace. Amen