|
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”
“Quietness” by Doran 1 “Be still and know that I am God,” That I who made and gave thee life Will lead they faltering steps aright; That I who see each sparrow’s fall Will hear and heed thy earnest call. I am God. “Be still and know that I am God,” When aching burdens crush they heart, Then know I form thee for thy part And purpose in the plan I hold. Trust in God. “Be still and know that I am God,” Who made the atom’s tiny span And set it moving to My plan, That I who guide the stars above Will guide and keep thee in My love. Be thou still. It used to be, as a young Christian, meaning young in my faith, I did not know how to be still and let God be God. I also thought that once accepting Jesus, life would be run through rose-colored glasses. So when hardships happened in my life and in the lives of those I knew and loved, I would ask God, “WHY?” For example, just weeks after accepting Jesus as my Savior and just before closing, the well on the home my husband were selling went dry causing the buyers to back out. Instead of having a handsome profit, we ended up with two house payments because we’d already moved to another city! “Why?” Then, after the failed closing, we could not find another buyer or even renters for that first house, and when we did, why did they destroy that home? Vastly more important came one of my most burdening whys, and that was why wouldn’t my brother listen to anything about Jesus? He didn’t early in my faith, and he didn’t in the mature years of my faith; on his deathbed, he was especially unwilling to listen to the truths of our Lord’s love for him and Jesus' offer of salvation. In years past, I would have asked, “Why?” Throughout ensuing years, however, as I studied God’s Word and grew to know God and His heart, I stopped asking “why” and started truly understanding that our God is One who can be and should be trusted at all times. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 He is the One who, in His perfect knowledge, will accomplish all according to His perfect plan and timing, no matter how things appear to us! God tells the prophet Jeremiah, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 This clearly reminds us that God is sovereign, in control, and that He has a plan for our lives. A friend asked me after my sudden, February 12, 2019, triple-bypass heart surgery if I asked God, “Why me?” and I replied, “Why not me?” God didn’t give me any deep revelation, but what I did hear over and over within was, “Trust Me!” I did, and I will say that now in every moment of my life, I continue to do so. “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! . . . Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.” Psalm 46:1-3; 10-11 As time goes on, there are many things I don’t understand, especially the stubborn hearts of my loved ones who don’t turn to Jesus, the One would choose to be their Savior; but, I do my best to turn all my concerns and burdens over to my Lord’s hands, knowing He desires no man to perish. I also believe God's promise that He is with us during every trial and/or time of persecution and that He promises to give us strength in all those times. "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You." Psalm 9:9-10 "And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 No, I don’t understand many things, but then, I’m not meant to; I’m simply meant to be still and trust in our omnipotent, omniscient, ever-present, Almighty God. Let us all rejoice that we have a God we can fully trust in all things at all times, then be still while He performs His mighty deeds in our lives, in the lives of others, and in the world, always remembering Jesus’ words, “Father, if You are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want your will to be done, not Mine.” Luke 22:42 Indeed, let us all be still, knowing that our God is God and the supreme King of our universe! 1. “Quietness,” by Doran. Leaves of Gold, Revised 1948, the Coslett Publishing Company, Williamsport, Pennsylvania. VERSES: Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 9:10 “Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for You.” Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” Matthew 6:25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?” Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” PRAYER: Thank you, Father, that you continue to teach me to be still and let You be God, accomplishing Your purposes in all that happens on the earth and in every life of every person. To me, there are many mysteries and happenings that I don’t understand and can’t possibly comprehend, but I choose to trust you in all situations at all times. Thank you, Father, that I can let my heart be still and turn every worry and/or concern over to You, trusting for your perfect will to be accomplished. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! ”But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8
(The author of the following poem, "Tribute," is not attributed in the book from which I took it: Leaves of Gold, Revised Edition, 1948 by D.G. Releg, Coslett Publishing Company, Williamsport, Pennsylvania.) One of my favorite poems, “Tribute,” describes true friendship. However, when I read it carefully, meditating on the words, I find it perfectly describes Jesus’ relationship with me and who He is growing me to be as I walk with Him through life. As you read this poem (typed in black), dwell on your Perfect Friend, the One who loves you most! “I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out.” Jesus, I love you because you are my God, the One who created me. I love how you chose to leave heaven to come to earth as a babe and voluntarily submit Yourself to Your Father’s will, dying in our place upon the cross. I love how you are growing me more and more into Your image each day…thank You for what you are making of me and for bringing out the best in me because of who I am in You. “I love you for putting your hand into my heaped-up heart, and passing over all the foolish and frivolous and weak things which you cannot help dimly seeing there, and for drawing out into the light all the beautiful, radiant belongings, that no one else had looked quite far enough to find.” I love how You search me and know me, that You forgive my sin when I ask, then go on to build up the good things You've placed inside me. You see all I can be, not what I have been. I love You for this! “I love you for ignoring the possibilities of the fool and weakling in me, and for laying firm hold on the possibilities of good in me. I love you for closing your eyes to the discords in me, and for adding to the music in me by worshipful listening.” I love how You turned my heart from evil to good when I accepted You as Savior and how You respectfully listen to my every prayer, answering each according to Your perfect will. “I love you because you are helping me to make of the lumber of my life not a tavern but a Temple, and of the words of my every day not a reproach but a song.” Since being saved, I’ve seen You turn my bitterness into joy, my hatred into love, and my depression into song. Indeed, You are building a Temple of my life instead of the tavern it would have been without You; You have given me a beautiful new song to sing, turning a dirge into one of triumph and celebration--all because of who You are! I love you because you have done more than any creed could have done to make me good, and more than any fate could have done to make me happy. You have done it just be being yourself. Perhaps that is what being a friend means after all.” I love you because nothing could have changed my life as You have done. You are what makes me good, and You are what makes me happy. You have done this by becoming MY God--perfect, loving, giving, merciful, compassionate, and awesome God--the One who died in my place to open Your eternal home to me. What greater gift could a friend give? Nothing! Indeed, You are the truest friend of all time! VERSES: Psalm 139:1-6 “O Lord, You have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!” Psalm 139:17-18 “How precious are Your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand. And when I wake up, You are still with me!” John 15:13 “ There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” Lamentations 3:22-23 “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” PRAYER: Thank you, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit for loving me so greatly that You gave Your everything for me, and in so doing, You gave me life—not a life that blows in the wind, but one that is firmly rooted in You and one that will last forever in Your eternal Kingdom of love and peace. Thank You that in saving me, you began a good work that You will see to completion. I can never thank You enough for making of my life, “not a tavern, but a temple.” You are the greatest friend one could ever hope or pray for, and I thank you for being mine. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! Matthew 4:16 “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
What is your greatest fear? For Timmy, it is darkness. “Mommy, Daddy, I’m scared!” Timmy bravely peeks out from his covers and calls for help. In the distance thunder crashes and lightning flashes. Shadows appear then disappear from his room. The electricity goes out, and with that, his small nightlight that sheds some light in the darkness. Dad and Mom come running. “Ouch,” groans Dad, stepping on a Lego. “Gracious,” moans Mom, stubbing her big toe on a desk leg. “We’re here, Son! We’re here. No worries,” and with that, Dad shines his flashlight into the room. “See, everything is where it belongs!” “What about under the bed?” asks Timmy. Dad shines his flashlight. “Nothing there!” “What about in the closet. Mom opens the door and Dad flashes his light in there. “Nope, nothing there! How about we just snuggle a bit, and you go back to sleep?” So they do, and Timmy does. Darkness—with its absence of light—allows so much to go wrong, from the simplicity of stepping on hidden children’s toys to evil crimes of great significance—burglaries, murders, and so much more. Unless it’s studying the beauty of God’s universe on a dark, clear night, many of us are uncomfortable in pitch darkness; it’s like being in the Oregon Caves with every source of light turned off. All are cautioned to stand still; moving without light places one at risk of falling off nearby rock shelves causing great bodily harm. Moving, e.g. living, without light in our lives is even more dangerous, for darkness—that absence of light—is life without God. This is the life that leads to feelings of hopelessness, despair, and depression. Yet God is our rescuer: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1-3 He was never about to leave us in darkness: “He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; He brings light to the deepest gloom.” Job 12:22 “I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them. “ Isaiah 42:16 Thus God guided the Israelites, stiff-necked then as we are now, out of darkness through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, on through Obed, Jesse, and David right up to the true light—that of His Son, Jesus Christ. “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. “ John 1:4-5 A light that never can be extinguished…what hope! When we read and study God’s Word, the darkness surrounding us begins to fade and we begin to see God’s truths. “The teaching of Your Word gives light, so even the simple can understand.” Psalm 119:130. As we turn our lives over to Christ in faith, accepting Him as our Savior, our paths are made clear: “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.’ ” John 8:12 What is your greatest fear? Could it be those dreadful two notes, E and F, played over and over and over building extreme tension before the great white shark, Jaws, strikes? Could it be skydiving, scuba diving, spelunking, spiders, heights, claustrophobia, horror movies, or a thousand other such things? No, these are not fears to dwell upon. The greatest fear should be walking in the darkness without Christ in our lives. Let us choose never to let this be! If you’ve never done so before, now is the time to ask Jesus into your heart! Let Him become your shining light…your Savior…the living water which gives you eternal life. VERSES: 1 John 1:5-7 "This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin." John 8:12 "Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 4:14 “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. PRAYER: My dear Jesus, I live in a world that greatly needs Your light—Your truth—Your salvation. Over decades, now, You have been faithfully lighting the path before me upon which you wish me to walk. You have not only shown me the light of what is true, YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME THAT YOU ARE THE LIGHT! Each day, please give me strength, wisdom, words, and actions to demonstrate Your light to others, remembering that because I have asked You to be my Savior, I am one of Your chosen people. “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 Help me always to witness to others, especially those in my family who are dear to my heart and don’t know You, that they may walk out of the darkness into Your loving and perfect light and into an eternity with You. DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! “Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.” Luke 6:30
Looking back on my upbringing, I will have to admit that I was raised in a very selfish family. It is true that in regard to his patients, my father, a doctor, was quite unselfish. He was on call 24/7, made hospital visits each day, and called on his patients at their homes. (So desperate was I to be with him, I would ride with him to those appointments and sit in the car while he made his visits!) Other than this, I did not see generosity or selflessness in action. The handsome income my father earned during the 1950’s-60’s and onward was used, as far as I know, solely upon our family. Without attending church, there wasn't even tithing. My mom, in truth, was a status-conscious social climber who had to have the very best of everything—clothes, furniture, homes, etc. If a neighbor purchased something, my mom had to one –up-them. If a home in a different location seemed more desirable than where they presently lived, my parents moved, with my mother upgrading everything in the new home, needed or not. Please don’t get me wrong—I do love my mom. After some very difficult years during my teens, 20’s, and early 30’s, I finally read a book, Irregular People, that helped me to understand her, and I can readily say today that my love for her is sincere, and my hope is that she is with Jesus in heaven (I believe that after she developed dementia, she accepted the Lord). Contrast this upbringing, however, with the examples I have been given throughout the years after I became a Christian. My Christian brothers and sisters demonstrated to me true selflessness and generosity, and not out of their wealth, but out of whatever little they had. There were financial donations, such as giving to overseas missions, local Gospel Missions, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Samaritan’s Purse, Compassion International, their churches, etc. When they saw a brother or sister in need, they were quick to offer help. This might be manual labor, helping with construction, plumbing, landscaping, etc.; bringing meals to those unable to cook; transporting others to appointments; helping in the moving process, etc.. There also was great emotional and/or prayer support . . . sometimes daily for months and/or years. This is selflessness; this is generosity; this is the loving hands and feet of Jesus in action! Luke says to give to anyone who asks, but how much better is it to give without a request when we see a need. I’ve the best example of someone just like this, a woman who when she feels God calling her to give, though there be no request, does so most generously with great joy. Again—GENEROUS, SELFLESS LOVE—JESUS IN ACTION! Let us all pray to look to the needs and cares of others and give generously with joy! This giving need not be monetary, but rather, possibly even a greater giving is that of ourselves—our time, listening ears, emotional support and/or prayers. Let’s open our ears and hearts to listen to God when He asks us to give and be quick to obey! VERSES: Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’ 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 “ Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.’ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” 2 Corinthians 9:11 “Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.” Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” PRAYER: Dear Father, I ask You to create in me not only a clean heart, but a loving and generous heart and a right spirit—one not focused upon myself and my felt needs, but upon the needs of others. Especially, NEVER let me give thinking that if I give, I will get, because You are not like a gumball machine: put in a coin and get what I want! You have promised You will provide for my every need, and I choose to trust in that promise. Let my focus be, therefore, today and always, unselfishly on others, and help me to be a generous giver, such as my friend! DISCLAIMER: I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since. How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?! These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him. However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word. Therein lies the source of all truth! |
Author Candice Mary Thomas writes about loving God and loving people! Coming to Christ at age 32 and now in her 70's, Candice knows what a difference it makes living with or without Christ as one's personal Savior. Archives
December 2022
Categories |
RSS Feed
