Righteousness

Arizona Blooms

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,

 who has become for us wisdom from God--

that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 

 Therefore, as it is written: 

"Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

1 Cor 1:30-31 (NIV)

It has taken me some time to realize that what I perceive of as my own righteousness and goodness is not enough.  After so many years of struggling with guilt and trying so hard to be good and always putting myself down, I have realized that my own righteousness will never be good enough.

The only thing that counts is the righteousness of Christ.  His righteousness has been imparted to me so I do not have to strive in my own strength to be good or to be anything at all.  I rely only upon his perfection.  Therefore, I can rest.  Why is this so hard for me.  Somewhere the striving, the perfectionism, the myth that performance equals acceptance has been impressed upon me.

This lie needs to be replaced with the truth that I am loved and accepted just as I am.  As I rest in him, all he desires for me will be accomplished.  My work is not the work of striving, but the rest of faith.

God, grant me rest today as I trust in the righteousness of Christ. Yours is the only righteousness and goodness that I have. I trust that that righteousness has been placed upon me and is working in me. 

My only hope is that I shall be clothed with the righteousness of Christ.  Martyn Lloyd Jones

Sinking

Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water

 and began walking toward Jesus. 

But when he remembered how strong the wind was, 

he lost his courage and began to sink.

 Mt. 14:29, 30

Our faith can fluctuate quickly in stops and starts.  Peter, in a moment of great faith, stepped out of the boat on to the fierce sea because he saw Jesus up ahead.  But, when he saw how strong the wind was and how high the waves he began to sink. 

Sometimes, like Peter, we step out in faith, out of our flimsy comfort zone, and move towards Jesus, believing he can get us through whatever we are facing. Then, when we look around and focus again on our problem rather than God, we are overcome by strong winds of emotion and waves of doubt. The power and strength of our problem looks bigger than God.

As soon as Peter began to sink he shouted, "Lord, save me!"   Jesus quickly reached out his hand and caught him and tenderly rebuked him saying, “Little Faith, why did you waver?” Then, Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat together and the wind was stilled. 

Sometimes we feel like our problem is too big for God.  That's the time to call out, “Lord, save me.”  He will not let us fall.  Even in our weakest moments, when our faith is small, Jesus does not condemn, but reaches out to catch and hold us and gently encourage us to believe again. Together, with God, we will get back to that boat and move through the sea of our problem until the wind dies down and the sea is calm.

Lord, I do believe.  Help my unbelief. (Mark 9:24)

http://raynoah.com/2011/04/14/water-walking-faith/

Help

 As we work together, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s great kindness and then ignore it.  For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, God is ready to help you right now! Today is the day of salvation.

2 Cor 6:1-2 (NLT)

No matter how we feel, God always stands ready to help us.

Sometimes we get wrapped up in ourselves and our problems. Our negative thought patterns can dominate our minds to the point that we actually ignore God's great kindness.  As soon as we wake up and call to him for help he responds.  He is always there ready to help.  Today, is the day of salvation.

Lord, thank you for your word that reminds us that you are always standing next to us ready to help.  Let us turn our hearts and minds to you so that we can receive the help we need right when we need it.  

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Heb 4:16 (NLT)

 

Yoked With Christ

 

  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Matt 11:28-30 (NLT)

I've fallen again into a pit of fear and despair making all seem dark and hopeless.  How is it I keep falling into this pit, Lord?  It is the pull of the old self that draws us down with it's deceitful desires, wounds and weakness, selfishness and pride. It's not the cares of life, but ourselves that are our heavy burden. It was Henry Van Dyke who said, "Self is the only prison that can bind the soul."*

Yet, I am yoked with Christ.  He being the stronger of the two should always take the lead, but sometimes if I try to step ahead, he lets me lead until I fall again into the pit.  He doesn't leave me there. He doesn't condemn me.  There he waits for me to acknowledge my condition and look to him.  Then he will pull me out of that pit in his time and his way.  It's easy for him.  Yoked with him I may still stumble, but he will always be there to pull me up and steady me again.

Lord, thank you for loving me, for being my Savior.  Thank you, that because I am forever yoked with you, I cannot fail. Come quickly and pull me up from the pit of despair. Lift me up onto solid ground again so that I may praise you with joy.  Do not let my weaknesses overwhelm me. Hold me up, Lord.  Keep me from falling.  Thank you that you will never let me go.


*Quoted from Let Go, by Fenelon. Introduction.

Jewels

O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate! 

 I will rebuild you on a foundation of sapphires

 and make the walls of your houses from precious jewels. 

 I will make your towers of sparkling rubies 

and your gates and walls of shining gems.

Isaiah 54:11-12 (NLT)

God builds his houses of precious and beautiful jewels.  It takes fire, heat, darkness and pressure to create gemstones. And then they have to be cut and tumbled and polished and fired again to make the beautiful jewel ready to be set.  All the fire and darkness and pressure and tumbling that we go through in this life is producing for us an eternal house made of precious and beautiful stones.  He is working in us through every trial and struggle to create in us beautiful, clear and bright jewels that will shine forever.

God, I thank you for the hard times and the struggles because I know they are accomplishing your work and creating in me a beautiful house made of costly and precious jewels.  You see the end from the beginning, so I entrust myself into your care.

 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. 

Yet they produce for us a glory

 that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

2 Cor 4:17 (NLT)

And you are living stones that God

 is building into his spiritual temple.

1 Peter 2:5 (NLT)

Worry

Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

Matt 6:27 (NLT)

So often we wear ourselves out by worrying.  We put so much energy into trying to fix ourselves or others, strategizing about the future, or dwelling on the regrets of the past that we have no time to enjoy the present. These thought patterns rob us of peace and serenity. What a relief when we finally realize that we have no power over these things. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow does not yet exist.  We can only take one day at a time. 

The original word for "to worry" or "to be anxious" is "to take thought."  Basically worry is over-thinking our lives.  Thinking has its limitations.  We usually don't have enough information or our thinking is defective because we have assimilated so many misconceptions.  We don't have the power or insight to figure things out, so over-thinking accomplishes nothing.  As Jesus said, "Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to his life?"

Things begin to change when we turn our lives and our will over to the care of God.  We are powerless, but God has perfect knowledge, perfect wisdom and all power. When we turn our lives over to his care, let go of our worries and rest in him, he begins to do his work.  

 You will keep in perfect peaceall who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.Isaiah 26:3 

Born to Love

Dear friends, let us love one another,

 for love comes from God. 

Everyone who loves has been born of God

 and knows God because

 God is love.

1 John 4:7 (NIV)

Love is a gift from God.  We cannot create it, will it, or manufacture it but only receive it with grateful hearts.  Whenever we experience love and affection for others we are experiencing God because God is love.  The greatest gift God has given is the ability as his children, born of his spirit, to experience and express his love. 

Things may try to come in to destroy love, but as we allow God to clear our hearts of resentments, love will spring up again. Nothing can destroy love because nothing can destroy God. 

Thank you Father for the gift of love that is born in us by your spirit.  Help us to uncover all the things that hinder your love from springing up in us. Help us to experience and express your love to everyone this holiday season.

No one has ever seen God; 

but if we love one another, 

God lives in us

 and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:12 (NIV)