A prayer for you today…

1. That you may be strong with the ability and the capability that comes from the power of God by His Spirit, to face whatever happens today. There is nothing too difficult for God, and by logic of association, there is nothing too difficult for you, because you have God’s power. Through God’s Spirit, your heart, your faith will be the dwelling place for Christ.

2. That you may be grounded and founded in the love of God, with fellow believers, to see how God lives, moves, and breathes within you. To find and understand the intensity of the love of Christ – how it’s limitless, unrestrained, generous, boundless, full, and without measure.

3. That you may experience the truth of the love of Christ, that cannot be explained or reasoned. When enough is enough in the natural, the love of Christ keeps going. To reach out to others and let them experience the fullness of Christ in you.

Matthew 6 – …Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

There are three things mentioned by Jesus with this disclaimer at the end – giving to those in need, prayer, and fasting. Three spiritual acts that we should all be involved in on a continual basis. Three things we should most assuredly do, and most assuredly keep our mouths shut and our hearts in check about it.

We live in a modern church culture that part of our giving to the needy (it should not be all) is our giving to the church. This is the time of year that we also receive a giving report that we can use for tax deductions. So, there it is, our reports on the table in the foyer, or coming through the mail, letting everyone know that we are good people, we gave to the church. Although our total amount of giving is hidden from others, we can pretend that we gave a whole bunch and that we are studious and generous givers to the cause of the kingdom through the local church. Some give more, some give less. But I gave, and my sheet of paper is my proof.

We live in a modern church culture that we pray for others in need. It’s biblical. It’s right. Let’s call for the elders of the church to pray for those that have a request. We pray out loud. We make sure people around us can hear the words we say. We place our hands on people as we pray, letting them feel our spiritual grip on their shoulders – we are serious. And we all finish the prayer out with a rowdy,”Amen!” 15 minutes later, much like the effect of Chinese food, we can’t remember who or what we prayed for. But it makes no difference, people heard our cries to heaven.

We live in a modern church culture that we fast or sacrifice and we let others know our travail through our update timeline. We’re fasting Facebook, so we send out a Facebook post to let our Facebook friends know that we are fasting Facebook and here’s our number for texting if you need. Or we send out a status update requesting a good Daniel Fast plan, because we are going to do a Daniel Fast. It’ll be hard, but our friends can help us through it.

Nothing against these things we do in church – we need giving reports, we need prayers that are bold and loud for people to hear, we need to get information on fasts and sacrifices – but we need to make sure the reason we do these things are for God and not for others to take notice.

Sometimes we just need to examine what and why we do Christian things – is it for Christ or for people to see how Christian we are? Is it for the glory of God or just for glory.

Jesus continued teaching in Matthew 6 about these 3 things – giving, prayer, fasting – they are necessary to the health of the believer. But in order for us to have success, we need to make sure our heart and motives are toward God and not man.

Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Years ago I made a real effort to memorize some verses. I did it for myself, that I would know the power and relevance of the bible. I did it for others, that I could be able to share truth and not conjecture or just what I thought. Yesterday, I needed it for me.

I had outpatient surgery yesterday. I have to be honest and say it was little nerve racking. I haven’t needed a lot of medical attention over the years, but as you get older, I guess it comes up more and more. It wasn’t anything too major.

I had to be put to sleep for the procedure. I didn’t know what to expect and nervous. This scripture kept going through my mind. So thankful for the power of God’s very own word’s in needed moments.

It’s not just a catalyst to help through difficult times, but the center of a life formed by God.

Matthew 4:4 – Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. ’

The contrast between physical and spiritual, wants and needs, temporary and eternal.

When the girls were younger, they would ask for everything they saw while out shopping, no matter if it was grocery shopping or at the hardware store. I would hear this, “Daddy, I want this… Can I have one of these? Ooohhh, look at that, I want one…”

They are a little older now, and they still ask for stuff like that. Heck, I still ask for stuff like that.

But back then, and even now a little, I’ll start singing a line from a Rolling Stones song, “You can’t always get what you want.” Sometimes it makes for a good distraction. But there’s truth in that lyric.

Jesus, into his 40 day fast, was first tempted with hunger. The devil tempts him to turn stone into bread to eat, as He is the Son of God. Jesus responds with the supernatural wisdom that brings perspective.

Life is not about satiating impulses. It’s not about feeding our natural desires, but about submitting those desires and impulses to God. Jesus’ statement declared that his satisfaction came from God – His promises, His Word, His provision. A couple of chapters later, Jesus taught that God knows what we need. Look at how He takes care of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, does God not love you more than these? No need to worry about things like that.

You can’t always get what you want = Man does not live by bread alone.
But you get what you need = But by every Word that comes from God.

Lord, I know my needs and desires take too much of a lead sometimes. Help me to turn that focus to You. My provision, Your promises. My sustenance, Your words.

Psalms 1:1,2 – Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Natural logic with supernatural results: Who or what we allow to influence our lives will also be our success or undoing. This logic, or law, works with money, food, work, relationships and almost everything else – sowing and reaping, what you give you get, what you let in comes out.

The promise of Psalms 1 is about stability, strength, fulfillment and the reaping influence found through a daily intake of God’s Word.

There’s a show on tv now about a detective with a photographic memory. She has the ability to remember everything she sees, even down to the smallest detail, to find clues and evidence that may lead to a solution to the crime. For example, she can revisit a living room crime scene she’s only looked at once, whenever she wants in her mind – sort of a like a movie shot from any angle and viewpoint.

Most of our brains don’t work that way. We hardly can look at something once and gather all the information we will ever need. We need to continually and repeatedly go over information for it to stick in our long term memory. That’s why it’s never good to cram the night before a test. You may pass the test with short term memory, but a couple of hours later it will be gone.

We need to be careful and mindful of the influences we have constantly and repeatedly in front of us. Why do we allow negativity and wrong to be such a huge portion of our daily intake? Why do we fill our minds we things that tear us down instead of lifting us up?

The promise of Psalms 1, is in verse 3 – He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

The promise of stability, strength, and fulfillment when God and His Word is the daily focus.

Lord, show me the things I have in may life that are not good. Show me what I allow to be a major influence, but it’s tearing me down. I want to be like a tree planted by water – strongly, stable – no matter the season. I want more of you.

Jeremiah 12:5 – “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?

The word God gave Jeremiah to preach and prophesy was difficult. It was filled with judgment because of the sinful acts and disobedience of people. It was not an immediate judgment, but one that was coming in the form of a national kingdom takedown. It was promised to be like bitterness to eat and poison to drink. It was also a few years out, giving people time to repent and change their ways. But they did not.

Jeremiah was mocked and ridiculed. He was “burned in effigy” as it were, in the poll of popular opinion. There were plots planned to take his life. Jeremiah was down and sorrowful, not only for the lack of repentance of the people he preached to, but because people were just downright against him.

He comes to God with a complaint and God answers with this verse in chapter 12.

It’s not as comforting and consoling as it is – get up, stop complaining and do the work I’ve called you to do. God tells Jeremiah that things will get worse. God asks him, if he’s tired and at his wit’s end now, how will he do when things really get tough. That’s God’s way of saying, “Come on now, you can do it!”

God knows your limits, but He also wants to stretch them. He knows your quitting threshold, but He also wants to move it further than you can see now.

Lord, help me to move beyond my selfishness and complaining. Help me to toughen. Stretch me. Help me to endure the hard times, so that I may run farther and faster. I don’t want to be satisfied keeping pace with men, I want to race with horses.

Galatians 6:9 – Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Jeremiah 1:4-6 – The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
“Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.”

God’s plan for our life is always bigger than where we are when He first calls. When God calls us to a task, a job, a profession, a ministry, it’s not something that we simply step laterally to accomplish – but it’s something we have to leap forward to reach, Grand Canyon style.

Our first reaction, however, is a lot like Jeremiah’s – I can’t… But wait… I’m not able… I’m afraid… I’ve never done that before… It’s too big… I’ll be made fun of… I don’t have the tools… I’m not educated… And etc…

Part of the beauty of God’s call is that it doesn’t matter where we are when He calls or what we have or what we can do – He will always take care of that part. He wants you to have faith enough to leap. He will take care of getting you across to the other side.

Lord, I want to leap. I don’t want to make excuses for what You call me to do, I want to leap. My faith is in You, not in me. My faith is in You, not in what I can do. Through You all things are possible. Do what You will.

Romans 12:16 – Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Part of this verse – “willing to associate with people of low position”, can also be translated, “willing to do menial tasks”. Honestly, this does not sound pleasant – the menial task part, not people of low position part.

This chapter is about becoming more like God in order for God to use us, and allowing Him to use us despite trouble and in every situation. And one of those situations, is doing things that we feel may be beneath us, or doing things that are uncomfortable or dirty.

Nobody enjoys doing things like cleaning toilets, but someone has to do it – because it has to be done. It’s necessary for health and hygiene. And also, it just makes the bathroom more appealing. But cleaning the toilet – (fill in the task you’re thinking about) – is not only necessary, but it also shows love and humility.

Jesus proved that there was nothing beneath Him when it came to doing menial tasks or associating with people who were of low position. He ate with sinners and law breakers. He fed the poor and indigent. He reached out to lepers and outcasts. He set free the demon possessed, who were shunned by society and feared. He washed the feet of those He taught and had authority over. Nothing was too menial and no one was too low.

He showed us that if we love, we must serve. If we serve, then sometimes we must get dirty. And getting dirty means doing things like cleaning the toilet or reaching out to the unwanted or doing tasks that may seem beneath us – all for the sake of His glory – to show love and humility.

Lord, help me not be afraid or prideful when it comes to cleaning the toilet to show love and humility. Help me not push away those that are in need of help because the world’s standard teaches that they are unworthy. I live to love and serve You. Help me to love and serve others for You.

Romans 12:1-2 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is –his good, pleasing and perfect will.

So many times I’ve read this verse. I’ve heard it preached more than I can remember. I’ve memorized it. And yet it’s still so powerful and true and needed.

What hits me this time is the mention of the word “bodies”. With words like “spiritual act of worship” and “conform” and “transformed” we automatically think about our emotions and heart. We think about how we think and what we think. But we can’t totally dismiss the word “bodies”.

Verse 1 means to offer or yield or make way or submit – this is the technical term for offering a sacrifice. The word “body” is in contrast to the mention of mind in verse 2. So much of who we are in God comes from the inside out. Jesus even said its not what goes into a man, but what comes out that makes him impure.

I love the line from a John Mayer song that says, “I’m bigger than my body gives me credit for”. That’s how I feel most of the time. Who I am and what I am inside is handicapped by my body. I’m not the physical model of a man I think I am. It’s not until I try to do something physical, like sports or walking, that I realize again – I’m bigger than my body gives me credit for.

But even my body must be yielded and offered as a testament to what I believe – who I am inside – which is also being offered. I not only must offer to God the impulses and inclination of my heart, but how I follow through with them in my body. I cannot separate what I do physically from who I am spiritually.

Lord, help me today to be mindful of areas of my life that I continually need to sacrifice for You – body and mind. Help me to be dead to this world, but alive to You.