Off With The Old ~ On With The New

A new year always brings thoughts of things we'd like to change or accomplish in our lives, but for those who belong to Christ, our task is a daily one as we put off the old and put on the new.

As I meditated on the following passage, I realized how much I need the work of Christ in my life to be a conqueror in these areas every day. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all made these our New Year's Resolutions?


You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ~Ephesians 4:22-32, NIV 

PUT OFF THE OLD

• Self: Our hearts are naturally deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9).
  
• Falsehood/Lies: Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44).
  
• Anger: Like a deeply embedded splinter, the longer we hold onto anger, the more painful and deadly it becomes. It also gives the enemy a crack to squeeze into.
• Stealing: Stealing defrauds others, ourselves and God.
• Unwholesome Talk: Nasty jokes, curse words, gossip and slander--the trash talk needs to go back to the trash and stay there.
  
• Grieving God's Spirit: Holy God lives within us. He is grieved when we act in malice toward others.

PUT ON THE NEW

• Self: We're created to be like God in righteousness and holiness. While we can't acquire these qualities for ourselves, God has graciously given them to us through Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).
• Truthfulness: Believers must speak truth because we're part of the body of Christ, who is Truth (John 14:6).
• Usefulness: God has placed us in our place of work/service. Our work provides us with the means to meet our daily needs, but it's also for the purpose of sharing "with those in need."
• Building Others Up: Our words hold life and death (Proverbs 18:21). May we be quick to speak words of life.
• Kindness, Compassion, Forgiveness: God, in His goodness, has bestowed these gifts on us. How can we do any less? 

Lord God, thank You for providing a new way of life for us through Christ. Give us strength throughout this new year to put off the old and put on the new. In Jesus' powerful name, Amen.

The Heart of a Servant

Can you picture it? A poor, young teenager, recently engaged. The most unlikely person for God to use. Why would the God of all creation choose someone like her to bear His Son? Why was she "highly favored" by God over all the other women on the earth?

Well, for one thing, God's grace (favor) is His to bestow. He needs no reason to give it. Indeed, any human attempt to gain it nullifies His precious gift of grace. So what did the Lord see in Mary that would cause Him to choose her for such a task?

I think the answer is best found in these verses:

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” ~Luke 1:38, NIV

Obedience and Humility
We live in a society of entitlement, where we demand our rights and our way. But Mary recognized her place in relation to God. She was His servant, not the other way around. So many times we treat God like He's the one serving us. May we become more like Mary, asking for God's will to be done in our lives.

And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is His name." ~Luke 1:46-49, NIV

Praise and Thanksgiving
Mary was quick to publicly express her gratitude and direct her praise to God. How easy it would have been for her to become proud and say, "God chose me, so I must be better than all the other girls out there."

Instead she poured out her heartfelt praise at the joy she felt in being chosen of God--the Mighty One, the One whose name is holy.

Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” ~Luke 2:34-35, NIV

But His mother treasured all these things in her heart. ~Luke 2:51b, NIV

Accepting
Every opportunity brings with it the potential for great blessing and great sorrow. Mary's task was no exception. There was no way she could have foreseen the heartache she would have to endure when Gabriel appeared with his announcement, but it probably didn't take long for her to realize her God-appointment wouldn't always be an easy job. Yet she "treasured ALL these things in her heart."

Lord God, the Mighty One whose name is holy, how we praise You for the story of redemption, for God coming to earth in the form of a helpless baby. We thank You for the example of Mary. May we be quick to recognize our place--humble servants, ready to do Your bidding. Give us servant hearts. May we respond to the tasks You give us with praise and thanksgiving, grateful for the small part You've given us to play in Your story. Then Father, may we also be accepting of the difficulties, the times when our hearts will be pierced, knowing that You can bring great good out of even these. We love and praise You, and thank You again for demonstrating Your love to us by sending Your only Son to save us from our sins. Amen.

The Lord's Model Prayer

The disciples' request was simple: "Teach us to pray."

Jesus responded with a simple prayer.

This, then, is how you should pray:
   "Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
  Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
   on earth as it is in heaven.
 Give us today our daily bread.
 And forgive us our debts,
   as we also have forgiven our debtors.
 And lead us not into temptation,
   but deliver us from the evil one." ~Matthew 6:9-13(NIV)

Sometimes I think we make prayer more complicated than it has to be. Jesus even cautioned about over-doing it and having wrong motivations (Matthew 6:5-8).

God is with us. He dwells within. Our bodies are His temple. It stands to reason that He's as close as the mention of His name.

Recently I noticed something about Jesus' prayer that I previously overlooked. After addressing our heavenly Father and declaring Him holy, Jesus mentions first that God's kingdom come and His will be done.

How many time have I been guilty of praying down my list of requests instead of simply asking the Lord to increase His kingdom? How many times have I prayed for my will to be done rather than His?

I'm so quick to treat God like a magic genie rather than Lord of all Creation. "Bless me and my family. Bless my friends." While I think it's okay to pray these words, it falls so short of Jesus' example. God's picture and plan is so much bigger than my little corner of the world, and my prayers need to reflect that fact.

Abba Father, Your name IS holy. You alone are worthy of our praise. I pray for Your will, not my own. I pray for the increase of Your Kingdom around the world. Forgive me for sometimes going through my day without taking time to realize Your Presence constantly with me. Forgive me for praying selfishly rather than globally, for praying for my will rather than aligning my will with Yours. Make me content with what You have to give me today. You always meet and even surpass my needs. Help me to forgive others the way You have forgiven me. Keep me from the evil without and within, Lord, and make me cognizant of the enemy's desire to trip me up. In Your holy and precious name I pray, Amen.

Book Three Still In The Works

I normally try to only post devotional thoughts on my website, but because of delayed plans in publishing the third book in the Miller's Creek series, I felt like I owed readers a word of explanation.

It was my original intent to have the third book out in 2011. It's pretty obvious to me that it's not gonna happen this year, no badly how much I long for it to be true.

To give a brief backstory, I wrote half the book in November 2010. Then life got crazy. We decided to put our house on the market, which meant a few months of getting it market-ready.

When I came back to the story, I was thoroughly dissatisfied with it, so I started over. The house sold. We moved into a rent house. We felt God leading us to a new location. We moved in with our son and daughter-in-love in a new state. We found a new job (and all the hurry and scurry that comes it) and moved again.

So, three moves and a year later, I'm back at work on the book--version three, that is--and I'm finally happy with the way the story is going.

I believe with all my heart God used this past year to refocus my attention on Him, so He could write this story--the story He meant for me to write all along--through me.

So, thank you all for your patience and your prayers as I once more set out to tell the story of The Way of Grace. Lord willing, it will be finished in 2012.

Blessings to you all, and I wish you a Christmas filled with awe and wonder at God's work of grace through the baby born in the manger.

On Eagles' Wings

I watched breathlessly as a majestic eagle carved lazy circles in the sky. He soared effortlessly as he allowed the wind to suspend him in mid-air.

The words of Isaiah took on fresh meaning.

Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
   the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
   and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
   and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
   and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
   will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
   they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint. ~Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)

So often we churn through life in our own strength, forgetting that a far greater and stronger power is ours for the taking. There's no need to flap our wings against the wind to no avail. All we have to do is wait and hope in the Lord. Then our great God will exchange our puny human strength for His inexhaustible power, and we will soar.

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ~ Exodus 19:4 (NIV)

Thank You, dear LORD, for doing for us those things we cannot do for ourselves. You delivered us from slavery and bore us up on eagles' wings to bring us to You. We're so grateful for Your promise to give us Your strength. Help us to live that promise out daily as a witness to the world of Your inexhaustible power. In Jesus' perfect name we pray, Amen.