A Clogged Artery in the Body of Christ
Father, this has been a crazy week and I have missed coming together. I am grateful for Your presence and for the times we have had to converse. Help me, this week, to be able to spend more time with You, for when I do so my life is more solidly anchored in You.
2 Timothy 3:5 (<<click here)
“…act religious…reject the power…”
As I have read and worked through the first part of this chapter, Lord, this particular verse has brought to my mind images of someone who was maliciously religious – someone who was manipulative and deceitful. And that may be the case many times. But there are other applications. Looking back over my own life, I see myself as guilty, too. I sit here and I am trying to rationalize my actions – trying to set myself apart. But in many ways it is only a matter of degrees by which I can separate myself. I realize that there are those whose goal is to use religion as a means to power, wealth and control, including using You, Lord, only to achieve their agenda. But sin is sin, right?
I must admit that I struggle – we all struggle. I truly strive each and every day to seek Your face and to abide in Your will, Lord. But how many times have I attempted to accomplish that in my own strength…in essence rejecting Your power. Living that way is failure – it is defeat. In and of myself I will fall. Only when I trust in You, only when I live in Your strength and power can I be victorious.
It comes to mind, too, that in my own “power” I block myself off from what You can do through me- I block other people’s views of You by standing in their line of sight. I guess I’m sort of like a clogged artery in the body of Christ. Your love can get through some but I would let You clean me out, how much more of Your life giving blood could get through to those who so desperately need it.
Lord, I am sorry that I try to live in my own power too often. I acknowledge that You are at work in my life and that in later years of my life I am submitting myself more and more to Your power. I see Your hand at work. Draw me closer to Your side so that I can be used by You to accomplish Your will, to touch people for You. Amen.
Dec 6th, Sun, 6:13 am
There To Lift Me Up
Father, I am grateful that my life is in Your hands. Some days go smoothly, some can be a real challenge but it is a great comfort having you by my side all along the way. Help me to use this day in ways that will bring glory to Your name – may my time be used wisely, may my interactions be full of Your love, may my preparations for Sunday be focused and productive. May my eyes be continually on You.
2 Timothy 3:4 (<<click here)
“…pride… pleasure rather than God.”
Lord, the thing that pulls me most away from You is me. In Romans 8:38-39 states “that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.” And the list he provides is surely true. Absolutely nothing… outside of me… can separate me from God’s love. (Though in all truth even if I pull away, God will not stop loving me.) But, Lord, even though I knew better – even though it makes absolutely zero sense – insignificant things of this world lure me from Your side.
The “pleasures” of this world are short-lived, they are in no way sustaining…and many times they are detrimental to me. But when they call to me, I am still drawn to them.
Lord, I am grateful that I am still very much drawn to Your voice. I may stumble. I may even fall but You are there to lift me up. I am grateful, too, that Your presence in my life is so much more prominent that though I may stumble that my falls are much more infrequent and I don’t fall as far or hard. Thank You, for Your patience. Thank You for Your never-ending love. Enable me to persevere. May I remain strong in You – for there is no other way.
Dec 1st, Tues, 6:53 am
None Beyond Hope
Already my mind is cluttered this morning, Father. Help me to focus on You. Brush away the clutter so that only you are there. Bless this time together, pray. May I become more and more what you have made me to be.
2 Timothy 3:3d (<<click here)
“…cruel and hate what is good.”
Maybe I am oblivious, Lord, but I cannot recall being on the receiving end of cruelty or hatred. I know that people may have disliked me or have been apathetic to me, but that is about it. Regardless, cruelty and hatred are all too real traits that are fleshed out every day. Many in the world loathe all that is good and wholesome and their only desire is to control and maim – to bring as much pain and suffering consumes their every waking moment.
Lord, I cannot avoid the reality of the perpetrators or their victims, I may not come into contact with them but I can pray for both. Victims obviously can be prayed for – that their suffering would cease, that they would find love and sanity – that they would find You and Your love. When I think of those who have been abused by war or persecuted because of what they believe, when I think of children who have the misfortune of being born into families where love is absent and violence is the norm, I feel like my prayers are far too inadequate to alleviate their pain. But, Lord, You feel their pain as well and You want them to be set free. May Your will be done.
Now on the other hand, perpetrators need prayed for as well. The circumstances of their lives have contributed to who they are and what they do. No one is ever too far from You to be reconciled. I would pray that by whatsoever means necessary that You would reach them, that they would come face to face with the reality of who You are, and turn from their wicked ways – none are beyond hope for none are beyond Hope!
Nov 29th, Sun, 6:25 am
Self-control
Father, I look forward to our time together. Sometimes it is daunting to think about getting up so early but You are always an encouragement. Help me to invest the time in our relationship that I need to draw me even closer to You.
2 Timothy 3:3c (<<click here)
“… no self-control…”
Self-control is something almost all of us struggle with in some area, Lord. Sometimes those areas are not that big of a deal but many times our lack of self-control is downright debilitating.
There are times when our issue is too readily saying, “Yes” to things that are detrimental to us in excessive quantities – food, candy, videogames, entertaining ourselves so as to avoid responsibilities. And other times our lack of self-control is saying ‘No’ to things that would be beneficial to our health and well-being – a healthy diet, an exercise regimen, daily spending time in reading Your Word and interacting with You.
Self-control has been at the heart of our problems from the very beginning – from when Eve first reached for that forbidden fruit until today.
We’re not good at controlling ourselves on our own and we bristle at the idea of anyone else doing so. But Lord, if I’ve learned anything in our years together is that if I am to be content and full of joy I must hand control of my life over to You. You steer me in the right direction and enable me to say ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ to what is most beneficial to me as Your child.
Nov 28th, Sat, 5:00 am
Slander
I am thankful today, Father, for the many blessings in my life, family and friends, a good job (Kohl’s) and a fulfilling vocation (ministry), many, many material things and a loving God who wants to spend time with me!
2 Timothy 3:3b (<<click here)
“…slander…”
When I think of slander Lord, it seems to go hand in hand with gossip. The older I get, the more these traits bother me. Soiling someone else’s reputation or sharing tidbits of truth with little embellishments of our own accomplish no good. It is very tempting to want to hear (and spread) such maliciousness. Yes, we may be displeased with someone’s life choices or responses to things we hold dear which they disdain but how does it help us or others to disdain them in response. No one is lifted up (except maybe our egos), no one is encouraged – nothing changes except the downward slide of our attitudes. Lord, especially amongst co-workers and family may I not participate in such unfruitful behavior. It can be very difficult but please help me to love others even if what they do hurts myself or those I love and care about. Enable me to be the “salt and light” that You have called me to be (Matthew 5:13-16).
Nov 27th, Fri, 2:43 am (Black Friday)