I Know Who Holds the Day

I Know Who Holds the Day

by | Apr 8, 2023 | God, Hope, Redeemed

After a stressful and disappointing week, I continued packing up the house we built and lived in for the past 12 years. I had so many questions for God. In my head, I had created a hundred solutions to how he could work things out for me that would give me the answer I wanted. Instead, I got a closed door.

Yesterday, while going through pieces of paper art created by my boys – loosely stacked on top of boxes in the attic because they were too big for a box – I ran across this framed scripture.

Cast all your cares on him for he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7

Randomly stuck in between all those papers, I have no idea how that frame got there. (Confession: I keep everything, which is going to make this packing process even harder.)

Anyway, God used it to speak directly to my heart. It appeared at exactly the time I needed it. 🙂

The greatest message ever told

What has God done for you lately? Have you stumbled across a message from Him that spoke to your heart? This Easter, be reminded of the greatest story ever told. It’s not the words spoken so much as its message through action.

I can imagine how Jesus’ followers felt when he hung on the cross for them. They likely didn’t understand it all at the time, but His sacrifice came at exactly the time humanity needed it. The exact time appointed by God.

He died a cruel and brutal death, and that seemed to be the end.

But He arose! Because of Jesus’ resurrection three days later, we celebrate Easter – a new beginning. Jesus took our sin upon Himself and gave us hope. His triumph that day was for our gain.

Death to Life

He came to the earth, did what he said he would do, and then paved the way for us to live with him in eternity. He absorbed our punishment – the punishment we deserve — on the cross that day. He gave us what we could never earn on our own.

His death was a gift of new life for anyone who will accept it.

I cannot get the lyrics to the song Miracle Power by We The Kingdom out of my head.

I may not know what a day may bring but I know who brings the day.

That is the hope we have in Jesus. We can give him our burdens. We may not know what’s coming, but when we know Him as our personal Lord and Savior, we can have hope. After all, He owns the day.

Because of His ultimate sacrifice, we can trust that He is big enough, strong enough, and cares enough to handle our burdens.

This morning, I asked the Lord to let me hear from him today. As I was finishing my quiet time, I happened to look at the scripture reference at the bottom of my devotional. The words stunned and amazed me.

Give your burdens to the LORD, and He will take care of you. Psalm 55.22 (NLT)

 

 

Jesus Take the Wheel

Jesus Take the Wheel

by | Apr 3, 2023 | Obedience, Trust, Worry

While leaving my parents’ house a couple of years ago, I swerved slightly into the other lane as I rounded a curve. It wasn’t a big deal. However, you would have thought so by my oldest son’s exaggerated expression when he said, “Jesus take the wheel!”

Talk about an overreaction.

Oh, but that statement has so much meaning.

These last two weeks have been filled with seesaw emotions as I have struggled to make a major decision for our family. One minute, I’m giving it to God. The next, I’m taking back control as if I know what’s best.

Why is it so hard to let go? And once you do, the waiting is the hardest part. Yet my human nature wants to forge ahead and make my own way.

Waiting on God’s provision

Over the last two weeks, I’ve decided to trust God and wait on his provision, only to reverse that thought hours later so I can do it my way. Waiting is not my strong suit.

I’m guessing I’ve done this 20 plus times now. Yesterday was no exception.

In the quietness of an afternoon walk, in my spirit, these words pricked my heart. “Let me do this for you.” To the best of my ability, that’s what I’m going to do.

As I navigate these next few days, I’m asking Jesus to take the wheel. I’m letting go and trusting Him to meet my need.

What about you? Does He have the wheel of your life? Or do you have a white-knuckled grip on it?

Giving God the driver’s seat

I’ve been reading in the book of Numbers about the Israelites entry into their promised land — Canaan — which was described as a land flowing with milk and honey. They struggled with trust and waiting too, deciding many times to take matters into their own hands. Because of their lack of faith, an 11-day journey took them 40 long years.

The same God that led them leads us too. Dare we let go of the wheel and allow him to take the driver’s seat of our lives?

I pray for strength for us today to do just that. Release our doubts, our fears, and even our decisions to Almighty God.

Let Jesus meet your need for you. Let Him take the wheel.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Photo: Pexels

Recognizing the Protection of God

Recognizing the Protection of God

by | Mar 18, 2023 | Blessing, God, Moments

Have you ever felt God’s protection? I did just last week.

Upon taking my car to a repair shop to get an estimate for recent accident damage, the alternator belt came off as I arrived. Not only that, but the brakes went out as a result.

Thinking about my predicament, a key question came to mind. What if my brakes had gone out while I was driving? What would I have done? How would I have navigated that? 

My next thought was one of awe and gratitude. God protected me from harm that day and used that situation to encourage and remind me of His presence and protection.

Daniel’s story also tells of God’s presence and protection. The Jewish prophet served King Darius of Babylon and his successors while also remaining true to the God of Israel.

After being maliciously accused of breaking the king’s law, Daniel was sentenced to spend the night in a den of lions.

The result of faithfulness

At daybreak, the king “went in haste” to the den and cried out in anguish.

“O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Daniel said to the king, “O King, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king. I have done no harm.” Daniel 6: 20-22 (NIV)

Here are a few results of Daniel’s faithfulness to the Lord.

  • King Darius wanted to see God save Daniel. Verse 16 tells us that he declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” He had watched Daniel and wanted to see what Daniel’s God would do.
  • Daniel had been a captured young man at the first siege of Jerusalem. Yet he shows us how we can remain true to our faith and honor God in all of our circumstances.
  • Daniel sets the example of how to live a holy life. He prayed and gave thanks to his God regardless of the environment around him. The king even recognized him as a man who served his God continually.
  • The event changed King Darius. Verse 25 tells us that he wrote to all the peoples, nations and languages telling them to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.

God or coincidence?

Often, we think of situations like mine as coincidences. What if they’re not?

Think about a time when you were spared from harm. Maybe you didn’t recognize it at the time.  But what if it was God’s deliverance?

Let’s try to live in a way that we are always on the lookout for the protection and presence and power of God.

God is in the Details

God is in the Details

by | Mar 10, 2023 | Blessing, God, Worry

The GPS left out some important details.

Driving to Memphis last weekend reminded me of the time the boys and I were driving home from North Mississippi. My GPS took me through a “shortcut,” putting us right in the middle of farm fields.

We ended up on a maze of dirt roads in the Mississippi delta. By the time we got out, we were at least 15 minutes behind our schedule. 

Aren’t you glad our God is a God of details?

In the book of Exodus, He gives very specific information on how to build the tabernacle, among other instructions.

God knows you by name

In Exodus 33:17, God tells Moses, “I know you by name.” That might not surprise you since God called him to deliver Israel out of slavery in Egypt. However, Exodus also tells us that God not only knew Bezalel by name, but He also filled him with the Spirit of God.

and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. (Exodus 35:31-33)

The chapter goes on to say God inspired him to teach others.

God provided the detail for the build, plus He also gave the craftsmen the skills and intelligence to do the work.

God provides the roadmap

My friend, when God calls us to do something, He also gives the roadmap AND the abilities necessary to complete the assignment, the task or project. Let’s consider what He did for the Israelite craftsmen.

  • God stirred the hearts of every craftsman He wanted to do the work.
  • He put skill and intelligence into the craftsmen to know how to build the sanctuary exactly like He wanted it.
  • And he provided the resources – over-provided — for them through the contributions of the people of Israel. The material was sufficient to do all the work and more.

Every detail is laid out. Every pillar, molding and curtain. Every ring, pole and vessel.

We need not worry about how we will accomplish the work God has called us to.

I so needed to be reminded of that today. I tend to rely on myself too much, get overwhelmed and end up in a maze of uncertainty.

When what I really need to remember, He will give me exactly what it takes to get to the end of the path He has laid before me. And he’ll do the same for you.

He is in the details.

Careful what you wish for

Careful what you wish for

by | Mar 3, 2023 | Determination, Faith, God

Have you ever wished for something to have it backfire on you when you got it?

When our boys were younger, we visited a local park for a family outing. We took our dogs – both large – with us. The two younger boys begged to hold their leashes and walk them. We finally gave in and gave each son a dog to walk. A few moments in, the dogs saw a squirrel and bolted, dragging both boys through the woods.

I can still see it in my mind playing out in slow motion. In hindsight, it was quite comical. . . something you’d see in an old western movie with a spooked horse on the run dragging some poor soul.

We caught up to them and rescued the boys with, thankfully, no serious injuries!

The simple desire on their part took them much quicker than they wanted to go and down a path they never intended.

Game day guidance

On another occasion, while playing football in elementary school, my oldest son’s coaches encouraged him on several occasions to step it up and be more aggressive.

He was a big boy, so coaches naturally thought he’d be aggressive. He was not.

They had that same talk while warming up before a game one Saturday morning. As they ran plays, my son Connor did what they asked. The downside? He nailed our own quarterback!

That blow during warmup kept the quarterback out the entire game. The coach got more than he bargained for that day.

From honor to disgrace

In the book of Esther, Mordecai, Esther’s cousin and also a court official sat faithfully at the king’s gate.

One day, King Xerxes realized Mordecai had never been thanked for uncovering a conspiracy to assassinate the king. He asked his second-in-command, Haman, to tell him what to do for the man the king delights to honor. (Esther 6:6)

Haman assumed the king was referring to himself. His answer included all the things he wished for.

The tables turned

Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.” (Esther 6:10)

Let’s review the events that led to this. Haman devised the plan to annihilate the Jews—all because Mordecai wouldn’t bow to him. This filled Haman with rage, so one day he went home and built gallows to hang Mordecai. That next morning, he showed up at the same time the king sought advice.

Haman got more than he bargained for that day. Instead of hanging Mordecai, he was the person responsible for parading Mordecai throughout the city in a position of honor. Verse 11 tells us that Haman recited “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”

Haman wished for a hanging on the gallows he built, confident his enemy’s life would end there. He just didn’t know it would be his own life that would eventually hang.

A God-Guided Life

Haman’s passion and hatred for Mordecai set in motion the event to destroy the Jews. His self-guided life and pride cost him his own life.

Esther’s passion and sense of purpose exposed Haman’s evil plan. She didn’t let anything hinder her from helping her people. She allowed God to guide her life.

Mordecai also followed God’s lead. Because of his strong faith, his leadership, his submission to the Lord and his unwavering convictions, the Jews were rescued from Haman’s evil plan. He didn’t allow circumstances or self-preservation to dictate his value system.

Mordecai went from camping outside the king’s gate in sackcloth and ashes, wailing loudly and bitterly, to being second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews. He worked for the good of his people, speaking up for the welfare of all the Jews.

What about us?

While we may not take pride and selfishness to Haman’s level, we also run the risk of letting pride inch into our lives and take us on a downward spiral.

Are there some things in your life that you haven’t released to God?

When we embark on our own without God’s guidance, we may travel down an out-of-control path leading to destruction. Or our pride could hinder the very goal we are trying to accomplish.

Think of a time when you followed God’s guidance. How was that experience different from when you let your pride control the outcome?

Let’s commit today to live with God as our guide. Let our passion and purpose shed light in the darkness, let our convictions be unwavering, and our submission to God lead others to His rescue plan.

 

There is so much more we can learn from Esther and Mordecai. For the full story, read the book of Esther in the Holy Bible.

 

 

;