If you enjoy Love Inspired romances, check out the newly-updated website.
You can see what books are out (contemporary, suspense and historical), see what’s coming next, and read blog posts from various authors.
This week is their grand reopening celebration, complete with contest.
It’s my turn to post at InScribe Writers Online, too. My new post is Christ in Me.
Here is the man whose name is the Branch…. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne.
Zechariah 6:12-13, NIV*
The prophet is told to have a crown made for Joshua the priest, and to say these words. And the crown is to be kept in the temple “as a memorial” (v.14)
I’m caught by this declaration and “memorial”. The people are to act in the present, but as a sign of expectation of a future event. They expect to see God act, and this is their sign of hope, their demonstration of faith. They have confidence in God’s plan.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy, the Branch who is building a temple of living stones, His followers.
We can be confident that God will act. The hard part is, there’s usually no guarantee how. Will He heal, or instead sustain grieving loved ones? Will He topple a corrupt regime, or strengthen the suffering? Provide a job, or give humility to visit the food bank?
I praise You, God, that You will display Your glory–Your character–for all to see. Don’t let us miss it because we’re looking for an answer You chose not to give. We may not understand You, but we can trust You.
Our song this week is Matt Redman‘s “You Never Let Go.”
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
‘And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’
Zechariah 2:5, NIV*
God tells the prophet He will restore the city of Jerusalem. It won’t need protective walls, because God will be its surrounding wall and its glory within. What a picture of the loving relationship He wants to develop with each believer: His protection around us, His Spirit within.
Self-defence is prudent: don’t play in traffic, lock the doors at night, don’t pick up hitch-hikers. But defensiveness isn’t a healthy way to live.
A difficult person phones, or I meet conflict in a store or at church. I feel the walls go up. I’m in resistance mode. Defensive.
But God is the one guarding my way. Instead of scrambling and scrapping for control of my circumstances, I can pray, “You are my wall, my barrier. You are my glory within. Help me see what You’re doing and trust You. Help me cooperate with You.”
Sometimes in fighting the circumstances, I’ve been fighting God. Not smart. When I’m secure in trusting Him, instead of wasting energy in panic or speculation I can rely on His leading. And I can be quiet enough to hear Him.
LORD, thank You for Your promise to be my wall of fire and my glory within. Quiet me with Your presence, and help me take You at Your word.
This week’s song is Chris Tomlin’s “Everlasting God.”
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25, NIV*
Not just “keep step” as in “walk beside” but “keep in step”, which to me speaks of pattern, maybe even choreography, as well as pacing.
I’ve always thought of these verses about God directing our steps in terms of His leading. With dance in mind now, I see it means more than leading us to our destination, it includes any side-steps along the way.
He is LORD of the Dance, after all. And when couples dance, one leads and the other follows. At least when they dance well. My trouble is, I’ve never learned how to follow my partner’s lead.
I like the image of the spiritual life as a dance with God. All week, I’ve been reminding myself, “Keep in step with Him.”
LORD, please help me remember to listen to the music, feel the rhythm… and let You lead.
Here’s a Casting Crowns song that’s new to me, from their first CD: “Praise You With the Dance.”
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1, NIV*
Funny how the LORD can take a verse that clearly means one thing and use it to speak something personal as well.
Paul is pleading with the believers not to go back to trying to earn justification through the Law, but to “live by the Spirit” (v. 16) and “serve one another in love,” (v. 13) which will bring righteousness without legalism.
The past week and a half has been hectic, and low-level aches have kept me from getting good rest at night. My thoughts are fragmented, and I’m not doing well at being still in God’s presence. I just get there, and I skitter away.
Since Friday, I open my Bible for morning quiet time and my eyes catch on Paul’s words: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…do not let yourselves be burdened again…”
I know what I have to do: Be still. Know He is God. Rest in Him. Abide.
The verse calls me with no sense of rebuke. It’s a gentle pull to return to closeness. But the more my thoughts scatter, the more tense I get trying to centre on God.
When I can’t focus to pray, I can still pray through worship music. Monday I took my MP3 player to Curves, and one of the songs wrapped me in a reminder of God’s love.
He loves me. Even when I’m going in a million different directions, His love is unchanging and strong.
He loves me.
And He loves you too.
The song that blessed me was “Only One Thing,” by Todd Agnew.
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20, NIV*
“The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God….” And Paul mentions two specific things: Jesus loved me, and He gave Himself for me. I’m to live by faith in Jesus… live confident in Him:
Confident in His love. “We know and rely on the love God has for us.” (1 John 4:16, NIV)
Confident in the power of His sacrifice. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NIV)
I’m not alone, trying to live a good life in my weakness. Jesus has paid my debt, cleaned and forgiven me, restored me to relationship with God the Father.
I can live confident in Him today because He loves me. I can choose to live His way, with His help. And when I blow it, I can trust in His justice and not despair. He has already paid the price. He will clean and forgive me, and set me back on track with Him.
What a wonderful God!
Our song today is a duet by Todd Agnew and Rebecca St. James: “Our Great God“
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
John 15:5, NIV*
“I can’t do this without You, LORD.”
Many of us pray this way regularly, about hard tasks or scary appointments, or just about hauling our exhausted selves out of bed to face another day.
It’s a fine prayer, and it’s scriptural. Jesus warned us, “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV)
The key is where we put the emphasis. If we focus on the difficulty “I can’t do this” it weighs us down. If we focus on Jesus, our hope and strength “I can’t do this without You” it reminds us where our confidence lies.
Acknowledging our weakness keeps us from getting into messes. Focusing there could keep us from doing anything at all. Let our weaknesses remind us that Jesus offers His strength. Our confidence is in Him, and He is enough.
Our song for the week is Casting Crowns’ “In Me.”
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalm 46:10-11, NIV*
The Psalm opens with “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1, NIV) From there, the writer expands on both the greatness of God and the magnitude of the trouble.
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Or as the New American Standard Bible translates it, “Cease striving.” The context makes me think this “Be still” is addressed to the clamouring nations, but it also applies to the frantic Israelites.
Personally, I paraphrase it as “Stop fighting the universe.”
Be still… cease striving… stop fighting. Sounds good, but once we’re wound up we can’t stop. We’re like a toddler on overload who needs a loving parent to draw her into a big hug and whisper “shhh” against her hair.
Know that I am God…. When we’re still, we can see… experience… understand… learn that He is God.
How? By what He whispers to our hearts? By experiencing His presence? By seeing Him work in our circumstances? All this, and more.
Father, please calm our spirits. Still our souls until we can rest in You.
*New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Let Don Francisco’s song, “Still Your Soul in Silence,” bless you today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QUd6XN1xbs
There’s a related post, “Be Still”, at the Moses Free Spirit Missionary Baptist Church Blog. Honest, I wrote mine on my own, and didn’t see this one until May 13/08! I guess the Spirit was whispering “be still” to a lot of us.
Another related post: Rest in God.
Another related post: Being Still.
“But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.” Micah 7:7 (AMP)*
Micah writes this at a time when people are so corrupt that he says you can’t even trust your own friend or lover. Yet he looks ahead to the day God will forgive his people’s sin and restore them.
Wait for God. Not impatiently, arms folded, toes tapping. Not passively, resigned or wondering if He’ll really show up.
Hope in God. Not wish-hoping, like I hope it’s warm on the weekend. Expectantly anticipating, securely confident in Him. Actively putting our trust in Him, knowing He cannot fail.
Talk to God. Not complaining or blaming, although He understands if that’s how we start. But finish with praise. He doesn’t need to hear how wonderful He is, but we need to remind ourselves. When we’re looking at how big God is, our problems come into a better perspective and we can trust Him to look after us. We can worship.
Worship.
In the waiting.
If you can, take five minutes to listen to “In the Waiting,” by the group FFH.
*Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.