Tag Archives: Devotional

Joy and Strength

This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!
Nehemiah 8:10b, NLT*

The joy of the Lord is your strength.

This is another verse I’ve relied on over the years. But if you look at the context for this verse, it doesn’t match how we often use it.

After some of the exiled Israelites returned to rebuild the Temple, Nehemiah was sent by God to oversee rebuilding the protective wall around Jerusalem. By this chapter, the Temple and wall are both standing, and the people have done some cleaning up of their lives, too.

All the way through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah I see cues of God’s work in the people’s hearts: motivating them to return to their homeland, to give financially to the Temple’s reconstruction, to work on the wall. For those who’d stepped away, to give up their foreign (idol-worshipping) wives and stop charging interest on loans to their struggling countrymen.

Now in chapter 8, the people assemble and ask Ezra the scribe to read to them from the Law. God is drawing them – they want to know how to live in good relationship with Him.

I think that’s why Nehemiah encourages them to stop weeping and start celebrating.

Repentance means seeing what’s wrong in our lives, agreeing with God – and changing our direction and behaviour to line up with what He says. It’s one of those words that can make us cringe at the thought of fiery preachers or John the Baptist shouting at people and condemning their actions.

But here, the people have already repented. They’ve listened to God’s life-rules and they see where they’ve gone a different way. They’ve seen perfection and their own imperfection. They’re sorry for what they’ve done wrong. Maybe scared, too. God hauled the entire nation off to Babylon for 70 years because of repeated sin, and here they are, newly back in the land and already messing up. Will He send them away again? Or worse?

I wonder if they were also discouraged. How could they ever live up to God’s expectations in the Law? Maybe that’s why Nehemiah told them “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

His words have always struck me as encouraging, a promise of where our help comes from. Nehemiah says it here to a people weeping for their moral and spiritual weakness, and I think it’s to show that God’s strength is for more than rebuilding Temples and walls – it’s for rebuilding human lives. (Tweet this.)

Creator God, You are holy and just. We can’t stand in Your presence except through Jesus’ blood. We can’t please You on our own, but how grateful we are that the joy of You can be our strength, and Christ in us is our hope of glory. Draw us to live ever closer to You, in the light of Your love.

∞

Brian Doerksen’s song “Welcome to the Place of Level Ground” celebrates God’s ultimate plan for salvation. Let it encourage you today.

*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Relying on God’s Promises

2 Replies

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13, NLT*

This is one of those verses I remember learning in my teens, and I used to quote it to myself when I needed reassurance. How much was actual reliance on Jesus, and how much was positive thinking, I’m not sure.

It came back to mind recently when I was wrestling a small stump out of my flower garden. I still don’t fully grasp how we can rely on the power of God working in us instead of working in our own strength, but I see it a bit more clearly than I used to.

I can do all things [that God asks me to do] through Christ, who gives me strength.

Positive self-talk may be more important than we realize, even if just to replace the negative “voices,” but the promises of God are a key part of a Christian’s mental health. [Tweet this.]

They’re more than things we tell ourselves to keep up our courage. They’re not inventions of our minds, not human attempts to frame life in a positive or hopeful perspective. They come from the authority of God and we can rely on them.

God whose promises never fail and whose grace and power are limitless, grant us clarity to not try to pull your words out of context and deceive ourselves. Help us learn to rely on Your promises and on Your strength that works so powerfully within us.

∞

Matt Redman’s “Never Once” declares the truth that God is faithful. Let it encourage us today.

When Faith Affects Our Lives

1 Reply

Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
James 2:18, NLT*

James talks about loyalty to God—faith—and about how that looks in the Christian’s life. He gives practical examples (don’t practice favouritism, actually help your friend instead of just wishing him well) and I think that’s so we’ll realize our faith isn’t something we compartmentalize. It’s meant to affect everything we do, say and think.

The good deeds he’s asking for are to grow naturally out of applying faith in Jesus to our daily lives. There’s no eternal value in good work without a heart for God. People judge by appearances and actions, but God looks at the heart.

If our faith is growing, it will cause visible changes in our lives. We’ll learn to rely more on God in our daily thoughts, responsibilities and experiences. That’s one reason a daily quiet time with God is so vital.

Remember James’ words on accepting the word of God planted in our hearts? Prayer, listening, reading the Bible are key ingredients in a growing faith.

In our culture of busyness, over-calendaring and of being always “on call” to texts, emails etc, the danger is that there’s no time for God. We’re busy, distracted, and it’s easy to take God for granted. But if we don’t read His word, don’t spend time getting to know Him, how will we know what’s true? How will we know how to live or have the confidence that He can—and wants to—help us? We’ll be the unstable people James warns us about in his first chapter.

God who created us, who knows our hearts, help us be intentional in taking time with You. Give us hearts that long to know You better and to please You. Give us wisdom in how to use our time so we can do what You’ve given us to do and yet grow in relationship with You and with those You’ve given us. Give us faith, and work that faith out in our lives in good works—not for You but because of You.

∞

Casting Crowns‘ song, “Lifesong,” makes a good prayer.

Enemies of God?

Wisdom: More than Choices

2 Replies

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
James 3:17, NLT*

When we ask God for wisdom, it’s usually because we need to know what to do or what decision to make. Think of the stories and jokes about the guy who climbs the mountain to ask the wise man a question. It’s always about knowledge and choices.

Today’s verse, and I think the whole of James’ letter, says wisdom is about living wisely.

Living wisely as James defines it will result in wise choices because the wise Christian is living in obedience to the Master’s ways. This wisdom is the opposite of self-focused ambition and selfishness. It’s loyalty to God, following His path.

It’s bringing the human spirit in line under the Holy Spirit, submitting our wills to His and following Him instead of pushing ahead.

I think if we can live like this, we’ll find ourselves making the wise decisions we wanted in the first place, because we’ll be in tune with God.

God who is fully wise, Shepherd who is fully good, lead us in Your ways and train us in Your precepts. In You we find our wisdom, our health and our strength. We’re no good on our own. Help us stay in Your presence, where we can thrive.

∞

Think about Matt Redman‘s song, “We Could Change the World.”

Accept the Gift

2 Replies

All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].
Proverbs 15:15, AMP*

I’m reading Brenda Wood’s evocative book, The Pregnant Pause of Grief: the First Trimester of Widowhood, and most of her scripture quotes come from the Amplified Bible. This one hit me in a new way that I hadn’t seen in the versions I usually read.

It echoed what my husband had said only hours earlier: “You have the choice to enjoy each step of what you’re doing, or to let it make you miserable.” (Okay, I didn’t take notes… this is my paraphrase. But he’s a wise man.)

That, in turn, followed something God helped me see a few days earlier. I’m stepping into a writing opportunity that has me a bit scared. It’s also really exciting for me, but that day anxiety was following me around like the proverbial rain cloud. In the middle of the grocery store, I realized I had more choices than just the vegetables.

I could choose my attitude.

I was the only one choosing the anxiety-cloud heaviness. I could just as easily choose anticipation and a bit of glee. So I did. I let myself accept the good thing He wanted to give me, instead of letting fear turn it into a burden.

I guess for some of us, troubles aren’t the only things that test our faith and build endurance—gifts are, too.

This learning to take every thought captive and to let God renew our minds is one hard lesson. We’ll be still working on it when He calls us Home, but let’s encourage one another on the journey.

God our Creator and our loving Parent, every good gift comes from You, and You are not the author of fear. Help us learn to bring our thoughts under Your rule and to cultivate joy and contentment whatever our circumstances. And when You give us a good gift, help us not be afraid to open it.

∞

What more appropriate song than “Seize the Day,” by Carolyn Arends?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lmqtYR5tJo

Loyalty to God

Abundant Life

2 Replies

Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
John 10:9-10, NLT* (emphasis mine)

This is part of Jesus’ “I am the Good Shepherd” message, and it warms my spirit. The King James Version translates the last line as “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, KJV)

Abundant life. Don’t we all want it?

I used to think “abundant life” meant energy, enthusiasm, cheer and a lot of other things. And I used to wonder where mine was, as a Christian.

But those are personality traits—great if they come naturally, but not the fruit of the Spirit.

These past few weeks, I’m beginning to see more clearly that it’s all about our loyal trust in God, and about living, moving, acting and speaking in His strength and not our own.

This is not new material to anyone who’s been a Christian for very long. It’s one of those layered truths, though, where we get it but we don’t really get it all, at least not all at once. The more we apply it, the more we understand and experience it.

In those moments when I live in God’s strength instead of taking all the responsibility on myself, there’s a peace and a freedom from striving and stress. There’s a hint of a rich and satisfying life.

It’s about relying on Jesus, coming and going freely and finding good pastures: pastures He leads us to. Something about knowing this—knowing I really am receiving a rich, satisfying, abundant life—gives me quiet joy.

And hope. Maybe even a bit of what passes for exuberance etc. in my particular personality.

Our God, You are good, and in Your care we are well-Shepherded. Help us to grow in our faith-life, to intentionally rely on Your strength instead of our own. Open our eyes to see Your care and to recognize Your abundant, rich, full-to-overflowing life springing up in our spirits. Make it visible to others, so they’ll want it too.

∞

This week’s song, “Don’t You Think,” by one of my favourite artists, Todd Agnew, is not new to me but I heard something new in it this time. Note the examples of God-followers trying life in their own strength and then trying it God’s way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UapWyE0UBCI

For the Little Troubles Too

7 Replies

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1:2-3, NLT*

Yes, these are the same verses two weeks in a row. What makes them such treasures to me is they’re not just for the huge troubles that life occasionally sends our way. They’re for the little trials and stresses too, even the things we might think are too minor to bother God about.

One night last week, I was late making supper and my husband had to leave promptly afterward. My family can tell you this is not a new state of affairs. It always stresses me, which tightens my muscles, inhibits my thought processes, and generally slows me down. And it makes me cranky.

But I’d been reading the first part of James 1 for almost two weeks by that point, and it was sinking in a bit. In the middle of “where did the time go, why am I always behind and I wish I could learn to do better,” I caught myself wishing I didn’t have to deal with this so often.

Wishing the trouble would go away.

Forgetting to see it as an opportunity to grow.

That stopped me and shifted my focus. Instead of fretting, I chose to say “God, thank You for this chance to learn to rely on Your strength and not my own. Thank You that this is an opportunity to practice living by faith.”

I kept praying. And working.

Calm replaced the frenzy, supper preparations went better, and my sweet husband even had time to eat his meal without rushing. And I think the whole family appreciated not eating with a frazzled cook.

God who saves us, who loves us too much to leave us in the sorry states you found us, thank You for how You patiently grow us. As much as we sometimes wish You’d just zap us and make us perfect, strong and whole, we know Your way of training and building us up is better. It grounds us in You, and it will last. Thank You for loving us.

∞

A song I love that helps keep me focused: Geoff Moore‘s “I Believe“.

Trouble or Opportunity?

2 Replies

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1:2-3, NLT*

If we were to read this aloud, most of us would probably emphasize the word “troubles” as the strong word. I think James begins his letter this way to restore perspective:

Away from troubles and onto opportunity, joy, faith, chance, grow.

He’s not telling his readers anything new. He says they already know it. We do too. But we get focussing on our troubles and we forget.

We want to solve our problems, avoid the pain, steer out of the storm into safe harbour. James reminds us that the trouble, whatever its source, can be an opportunity for God to grow us.

Trouble as a test of faith isn’t about do we pass or fail, do we have faith or not. James is writing to people who believe in Jesus. The test is to determine and reveal the quality and strength of our faith, not to disqualify us but to grow us.

I think of it in terms of spiritual exercise. The more we use our “faith muscles” the stronger they become, and the more coordination and balance we develop.

Father God, here is where we find the joy James talks about: growth and maturity in our faith. When we rely on You more than on ourselves, it draws us nearer to You and lets us experience more of Your strength in our lives. Thank You for Your grace and mercy to us and for Your loving presence that never leaves us.

∞

Our song this week is MercyMe‘s “Bring the Rain“.

Janet Sketchley

Writing Christian Mysteries & Suspense

Tag Archives: Devotional

Joy and Strength

Relying on God’s Promises

When Faith Affects Our Lives

Enemies of God?

Wisdom: More than Choices

Accept the Gift

Loyalty to God

Abundant Life

For the Little Troubles Too

Trouble or Opportunity?