Obedience in the Little Things
A quiet morning to sit with You Father is definitely the best way to start my day!
Revelation 3:8-11 (<<click here to read the passage)
Lord, in the big picture of Your kingdom so often we feel small and weak. There are some big players out there and here we are in our little corner, doing our little thing. Do we make a difference? Yes, we do!
Too often we think of spiritual things in a worldly framework. We are tempted to compare size and numbers and money and results. But as You spoke to the Philadelphians You realized that they had “little strength” but You commended them for their obedience and not denying You
We cannot measure our success in Your kingdom with earthly measurements. We cannot always see what You see. What we may deem as small and insignificant, You may see as having a great eternal impact. An old song comes to mind and it is still as applicable today. The third verse and refrain of Little Is Much When God Is in It by Kittie L. Suffield go like this,
Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.
Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame;
There’s a crown, and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.
We are not called to bring about great results according to our definitions; we are called to obey. “Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.” v11 Oh, Lord, may it be so.
July 25th, 2017, Tues, 6:41 am
Harmony
Father, it has been a full day but a good day. As I am winding down, may this time with You be sweet and linger in my mind as I lay down to sleep. Amen.
Matthew 18:19-20 (<<click here to read the passage)
“Again I say to you, that if two believers on earth agree [that is, are of one mind, in harmony] about anything that they ask [within the will of God], it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.“ AMP
Harmony… What couldn’t we accomplish with harmony? Think of music. One of the many groups I enjoy is Home Free. Of all things, they are an acapella country group. If you want to hear some beautiful vocal harmony, listen to their rendition of How Great Thou Art (click to listen).
A few years back I was a part of a mixed trio and when we sang it was not a matter of seeing who could sing the loudest. In the middle of a song, we didn’t just belt out another song we liked. We joined our efforts. We blended our voices so that the melody would be clearly heard. We worked hard at singing in such a way that the full sound of harmony-filled every nook and cranny!
Harmony is a beautiful thing, isn’t it? And not just in music. Jesus goes on to say in this passage, “For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.”
If we could just learn to work together, oh what we could do! As we come together with fellow believers our goal should be to work in harmony, blending our strengths and weaknesses to fill in all the nooks and crannies with the harmony of love. And at the head of every body of believers is Christ – blending, shaping, guiding, directing –so that every one of us reaches our full potential and impacts the world for His Kingdom – not ours. Lord Jesus, unite us!
July 30th, 2018, Mon, 8:45 pm
Maintenance Required
Father, yesterday was a little unusual but thank You for the opportunities given. The day did not pan out as I had planned but Your will was done and that is all the better!
One home project I was able to see to completion was to clear out some brush that had been encroaching onto our driveway. I had done it some time ago but it had grown a good four feet into where we park (see picture above – darker limestone is where the brush had grown over!). The maintenance was a long time coming.
Lord, as we examine our spiritual lives we realize that kind of laxity can have a lot more impact than a loss of parking space. It is easy to let things begin to encroach upon our time with You – things that are not bad in and of themselves but take up space and time that are more effectively used otherwise.
Prayer is an essential part of our relationship with You but so often we crave that 30 more minutes of shut-eye or we get caught up in the latest Facebook posts from friends and families. What is more important?
Reading and thinking on Your Word gives us a depth and understanding to carry us through the many ups and downs of life but to carve out one more slot of time in the morning seems to be an insurmountable challenge. And forget about trying to do it before bed, we’re worn out and ready to drop. But again…what is more important?
Lord, we require maintenance. To accomplish what You need of us, we must keep communication lines open. The clutter of the non-essentials of life can not only slow it down but it can sometimes bring it to a grinding halt.
May we take our cues from You. I am reminded of the many times when You took time out to spend in prayer with Your Father.
After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Matthew 14:23 NLT
Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35 NLT
After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Mark 6:46 NLT
But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. Luke 5:16 NLT
One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. Luke 6:12 NLT
Help me, Lord, to clear out the obstructions. Help me to create the most needed time in my schedule for time with You – not just quantity but quality time. Give me a burning desire for what is truly important. Amen.
July 30th, 2017, Sun, 6:32 am
Sacrifice of Praise
It’s one of those hard to focus mornings, Father. My mind is going every whichaway – thunder is booming, the rain is pouring. I can’t seem to get comfortable. Help me to reel it all in. Help me to give You the attention You deserve.
Hebrews 13:15-16 (<<click here to read the passage)
“… through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God…” v15 NLT
Lord, trying to wrap my brain around this passage is a bit of a challenge this morning. One thing I need to be reminded of is that the term sacrifice in the Old Testament didn’t always have connections to sin and forgiveness. Burnt offerings, grain offerings, and peace offerings were all voluntary acts of worship. They could express devotion and surrender to God. They could be intended to recognize Your goodness and provision.
Throughout every day, Lord, I should become more and more aware of the importance of giving You praise. Time and time again You are there for me. Your Holy Spirit within me helps me to pause before I speak, to quickly turn the other way the moment temptations present themselves, to be slow to judge and quick to love, to be diligent in my labors and not frivolous with my time. These things and many, many others should bring praise to You from my lips.
Even when the going gets tough and trials come upon me I am still compelled to praise. You are with me all the way, even though the storms may howl about me. When I do so those around me can see who I am in You and I can testify all that You do for me.
Lord, help me this day to keep my focus on You. Help me to offer “a continual sacrifice of praise to” You throughout each and every day. Amen!
July 18th, 2016, Mon, 6:26 am
In a Pickle
Father, even before I found my seat this morning, my journaling from yesterday has been weighing on my mind. We definitely must be ready to stand for You regardless of what the future may bring but it’s not just a tomorrow thing. It is a today thing, as well.
Hebrews 13:13-14 (<<click here to read the passage)
So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. NLT
Lord, in regards to this passage, my study Bible* stated, “The time [has] come for [us] to declare [our] loyalty to Christ above any loyalty, to choose to follow the Messiah whatever suffering that might entail. [We need] to move outside the safe confinement of [our] part, [our] traditions, and [our] ceremonies to live for Christ.”
I am perfectly content to stay where I am comfortable Lord, in my home, and for that matter in the church. I have no problem saying, “Sure I’ll tell you about Jesus…just come in here where I am comfortable and safe. Uh…you can’t get here? You’re scared to come in? You’ve heard so many negative things about the “church” that you’d rather just not even bother?…oh…well, we are in a pickle aren’t we?”
I realize that not everyone is going to come where I am most comfortable. But am I willing to “go out to him”? Am I willing to “bear the disgrace” that You bore, Jesus? Of course, being willing and actually going are two totally separate things. But as I’ve been made aware – “The time has come” to take action. Lord, enable me to do what needs to be done, for You want me to not come alone to that “home yet to come.”
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
July 15th, 2016, Fri, 6:20 am