A Word Fitly Spoken

No one would deny that words are powerful agents of change. Our words can lift a broken heart, display God’s love, and empower others in the Lord. No where else in Scripture does the idea of encouragement paint such a beautiful picture, as in Proverbs 25:11, which says “A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in settings of silver.” Can you point to a word that was fitly spoken into your life? How were you encouraged? While many words swirl around us in a day, it’s the words of encouragement that truly make a difference.

In Scripture, Barnabas was one of Paul’s biggest encouragers. In fact, because his life was dedicated to encouraging others, the apostles gave him a fitting nickname. He went from being called Joseph, to Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement.

One of the key characteristics of an encourager is that they reach out to the unlovely and unpopular. This might be someone who has a distant personality, a poor attitude or an anxious heart. After spending his life murdering and persecuting Christians, Paul remained a threat to the disciples even after he was converted. Because of his past, the disciples were afraid of him. Barnabas, however, “took hold of him (Paul) and brought him to the apostles and described his conversion,” (Acts 9:27). Barnabas saw the potential in people where others focused on the negatives. When no one wanted to step out toward Paul, Barnabas stood up and believed in him. He went after the underdog.

When the early church was forming, Barnabas was called upon to use his gift to encourage those who were new in their faith. When the word was preached in Antioch, many believed and were saved. When the disciples heard of the conversions there, they sent Barnabas to the people. “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord,” (Acts 11:23). His message was one of perseverance in faith.

Being a person of encouragement takes a heart of genuine concern, love and focus. We must be willing to look beyond ourselves to provide a fitly spoken word to someone in need. Who in your sphere of influence could use an encouraging word this week? Maybe it’s the person that quietly comes and goes each Sunday, or the teenager who is struggling to fit in.
How can we reach out to the unlovely person or the new believer that needs to be encouraged in their faith? Let’s stay alert, active and engaged so that, like Barnabas, we too can be used as an encouragement to others.

The Balancing Act: Preserving Your Intimacy with God

Being a new wife, I have found that my newlywed days are filled with new situations and many learning opportunities. This life change has also prompted a very real and somewhat perplexing question about my personal devotional time with God. How do I balance my own study time with joint time spent in the Word with my husband? When I was single, I read my Bible, had my quiet time and enjoyed a lot of solitude with God. But what should happen when life changes?

While I wasn’t sure how or if my quiet times needed to be altered, I prayerfully considered some of the truths I already knew. I had previously experienced the vast blessings that come from studying the Word and praying alongside other believers. I knew that God built us for community and that we were never meant to live the Christian life in total solitude. Studying God’s Word with a spouse or friend is a valuable tool God has given us. I just love how Proverbs 27:17 explains this truth, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” What an amazing blessing to be in relationship with other believers who are willing to share their own God stories and lessons learned.

I have also found that that the reality of ‘iron sharpening iron’ is one of God’s greatest gifts in marriage. When I cannot see my heart as it is, my husband can gently sharpen me with the Word and with his understanding of God’s heart. I love the image presented in Proverbs 27:17 because I know that alone, iron does not sharpen itself, but when put with another piece, it can become a sharp, useful tool for God. God’s goal for our lives is that we would be useful tools in His kingdom. Surely one of the ways He prepares us is through this one-on-one fellowship with others.

Much like I had experienced the blessing of studying God’s Word with others, I also knew a thing or two about alone time with God. When we spend uninterrupted time with God alone, we are free to express ourselves in unique ways. I love how God tells Jeremiah in Jeremiah 33:3 to ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you.” The word call literally means to cry out with a loud voice. God’s desire is that we approach Him with vigorous lips, not mere whispers. When we are alone we are more apt to let our reservations fall away leading us to cry out, fall down, and bury our heads before our God, showing a deeper respect to Him as the Sovereign One.

In Matthew 6:6 we read, “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” The Pharisees at this time were being rebuked for their desire to be “seen” as holy. While that may not be something you struggle with, this verse still lays out a valuable way to spend time with God: alone. It is in the quiet of my room, far from the voices of others that God has spoken the loudest to me. If you do not have a place of quiet retreat, I urge you to make a place available. It can become your meeting place with the Creator of the Universe.

In the big picture, each one of us is responsible for our walk with God. 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly handling the word of truth." Scripture is calling us to study the Word to show ourselves approved unto God. The Greek word for approved is dokimos. This word is used to describe how metals have gone through the test of fire in order to become pure. This word is also used to describe someone whose faith is being tried. The process of dokimos is something each person much experience for him/herself. Our spouse or friends cannot maintain our relationship with God for us.

The beauty of God’s Word is that it is complete. While searching out answers to my questions about time in the Word, it became clear that balance is the key. Both aspects of Bible study are vastly important to God. However, I realized that while studying and praying with a spouse or friend reaps a multitude of blessings and pleases God immensely, nothing is more important than making our own time with God the number one goal of our day.

One of the most exciting realities in all of Scripture is that we have a God that longs to be intimate with us. He asks us to come to Him when we are weary saying in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” His heart for our relationship with Him is intimacy. When we spend quality one-on-one time with a close friend or spouse, our relationship deepens. It is the same way with God. As we spend quiet time completely alone with him, our relationship with God and with others will grow deeper and deeper.

Spiritual Strength

This morning I was filled with anxiety. It might sound silly but I have taken a long break from running and have found myself doing more interval and weight training instead. While I used to run almost daily, the length of time away from running has grown long. Today I decided I needed to at least try to run again. Immediately my anxiety sounded a little something like this, “Will I be able to run consecutively for more than five minutes? Have I lost all ability to run?” As I drove to the gym, I prayed, “Lord, give me the energy and stamina I need to run today. Help me to be thankful for a healthy body rather than grumble about doing something that may be difficult for me.”

Driving home an hour later I was filled with thanksgiving because God did give me the energy and ability I needed to run. But this afternoon I got to thinking. Have I prayed lately for spiritual energy? Have I asked God to revive the parts of my heart I haven’t used in awhile? It hit me that I haven’t. Why is it so easy to ask God for all sorts of requests that fulfill temporary problems, but when it comes to our spiritual lives we lose sight of His provision?

Today I read Luke 18:27 which says, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” It got me thinking about my spiritual purpose and it brought back to mind hat any ounce of strength or stamina I have is from Him! What task does God have for me that without Him I would never be able to accomplish? What impossible thing might He have for me in the next day or week?

My response will be prayer. I am going to begin praying , “Lord, open up my eyes to the possibilities around me. Give me daily strength that only comes from you to be obedient and to hear your voice. Lord, I want to feel spiritually strong today, help me remember where my strength comes from. Amen.”

A Reminder

I overheard a woman today, telling of her recent visit to South Africa. She shared that one of the biggest differences between here and there is that the people of South Africa live in the present. They rarely talk about tomorrow or next month or how next year they need to do this or that. She went on to say they commented on the flowers, they recognized the world around them. They appreciate today for all that it offers them, instead of anxiously stressing over tomorrow. This got me thinking about my own life. Where am I living? Is my mind already onto next summer, week or fall or am I enjoying what God has given me today? While making plans and preparing for the future is one of favorite things to do, I do not want my today to go by unnoticed. I want to allow myself to hear the sounds around me, notice the weather outside, and feel the joy of my newlywed days. In the blink of an eye, this season I am in now will vanish; what if I never stop to capture it? I want to take a lesson from the South Africans and be available for the present. The verse in Matthew 6:34 perfectly reminds me of this truth as well. “"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” I urge you to slow down, calm down and wind down. Today is the place that God has us, so let’s embrace what He has for us right here, right now and experience His gifts.

Good Friday Indeed

Reading through the Gospel of Mark this morning, reflecting on the crucifixion of Christ brought me to tears. The part that hit me the most was Mark 15:16-20. “And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.”

The striking thing about this passage is that I see myself in that battalion. I just sat reflecting on how lost I was before the Cross of Christ meant life and breath to me. Had the Holy Spirit not gripped my heart with truth, convicting me of my sin, and drawing me towards the Savior—I would still be lost in my sin. The reality of my need for a Savior is splashed all throughout these verses. These men of Jesus’ day needed a Savior, but instead of belief in Christ they chose to mock, spew hatred and spit of the Savior of the World.

Not everyone chose to hate. I love the picture of Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome, who once Jesus was dead, desired to anoint His body with spices (Mark 16). They saw Jesus, for who He truly is— the Great I Am, The Son of Man and the Son of the Blessed One.

Today, as we head into Good Friday, a day set aside to remember His sacrifice, which group are you a part of; the unbelieving battalion or the ones wishing to rightly respect the Savior? Which one am I? This question seems so black and white. Truthfully, it is. Either we love God with all of our lives or we don’t. He’s either our everything or He’s not important to us. By the grace of God, and with gratitude in my heart on this Good Friday, I want to shout it out that He truly is my All in All!

Truth Revealed

I have a confession to make---I’m a total inspiration junkie! That may sound odd except that the only true inspiration in my life comes straight from the Word of God.

After recently going through a bout of lessons (the kind God desires to use to really change you-for good!), I came across a verse during my daily reading that radically inspired new right thinking in my life. I’m sure I had read it before, but on this day it was different. It was as if the words were penned just for me. I love when you claim a verse as if you’re the only one it's written for. Ha ha!

The verse that bounded off the page and into my heart was Romans 8:15 which says, “For you have not received the spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you have received the spirit of Sonship, and by Him we cry, Abba, Father.” The ramifications of this verse are huge! Let’s dig in.

The first truth brings me to my knees in gratitude. Before I claimed my need for Jesus’ blood, I was a slave. I was wayward, prideful, and spent my days selfishfully pursuing my own ways. When Jesus Christ peeled the scales from my eyes, called my name and I accepted His forgiveness, I began walking the road of truth. Being freed from slavery the moment I fully surrendered and trusted in His Name did not stop the enemy's tauntings. Recently, I went through a season of fearful and anxious thinking. I could hear the many lies of the enemy regarding my situation. Sadly, I forgot to utilize the powerful shield (2 Samuel 22:36), that is the Holy Spirit in my life. When fear comes into my mind, I have the ability to resist the enemy, choose faith over fear and walk in freedom. The reason I can do so is because I’m not a slave to Satan, but instead, I have been declared a Daughter of the King!

What does it mean to receive the spirit of sonship? In so many words it signifies that I’ve been chosen, forgiven, called out, set apart, declared righteous, given the Holy Spirit and loved more than ever before. It’s a picture of adoption. I was in need of a Savior and an eternal home. I was given righteousness in exchange for my sin. I was given a new heart (Ezekial 36:26) and adopted into the family of God. With adoption comes many family benefits. You are accepted, loved, and given privilege that comes from association. The beauty of adoption is that it has nothing to do with the one being adopted and everything to do with the one adopting. I did nothing, He did everything. I’ve gained everything, He sacrificed. It’s an exchange of total love. It’s a picture of grace, mercy and God’s heart for His chosen ones.

The blessings could stop there and that would be MORE than enough, but on top of freedom and adoption, He says, “You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart," Jeremiah 29:13. His fellowship is intimate, His love so tender. The name Abba Father is literally, Daddy, protector, nourisher, and upholder. The God of the Universe says I can have the kind of close relationship of a dad and daughter? The glorious truth is yes, that’s exactly what this verse is saying. On top of everything He offers intimacy, fellowship and availability unlike any other human being can offer or extend.

I’m free, I’m adopted, and I have a Father that says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,” (Matthew 11:28). I pray these truths from Romans 8:15 will seep into your very being and stir your heart towards a greater faith. Whatever fear lies in your heart, remember that if you are in Christ, you are no longer a slave to fear. Whatever questions you have about your identity, remember He has purchased you through His blood and brought you straight into His family. And lastly, whenever you feel heavy-hearted, remember that He has granted you VIP access to His heart where we can cry out, “Abba, Father.” In His presence we can lay our burdens at his feet and trust them to His care. Let’s revel in these truths, let’s rejoice in our inheritance and glory in what’s to come.

Looking Up & Pressing On

The gifts have been opened, the last of the Christmas cookies eaten and the Christmas music fading in the background. Yet one more gift remains if we’re willing to accept its invitation; the New Year full of endless promise, possibilities and outcomes! Of course with each New Year we’re reminded of those weighty New Year’s resolutions, both of the unmet goals from the previous year and the goals we have for the upcoming year.

If you’re anything like me, it is as if year after year, the same routine ensues: I feel a surge of new excitement and energy, almost dewy-eyed at what my life might look like in the coming year. I long to be disciplined, organized, motivated…and the list goes on and on. And of course, let’s not forget the yearly goal to lose 10 pounds while we’re at it! Sadly, it doesn’t take long before my goals seem far-fetched and my vision blurred. With discouragement crouching at our hearts’ door, let’s be reminded that it was God’s plan to provide newness and fresh beginnings for our lives.

Thankfully, we have a Creator God that knew exactly what our feeble hearts would need when He formed us. He knew we would need daily rest and a brand-new start to each day. Lamentations 3:22-23 offers us hope for the coming year. “Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” What a comfort to know that God designed our world with built in newness. It is by no accident that He created night and day, for He knew how discouraged we would become and remedied our hearts with promised faithfulness and a renewed heart each morning and every New Year.

With promised faithfulness and a fresh start, God also promises victory. Proverbs 2:7-8 says, “He stores up sound wisdom (victory) for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints.” What a promise! God is our Shield and Defender against another year of defeat. His grace and mercy is enough for all of our needs, throughout this year and everyday.

On the brink of a New Year, we have a choice. We can allow our past failures, missed opportunities and unmet goals to pour defeat over our coming year, or we can choose to press on into the New Year holding on to the truth that past failures do not equate future failures. We have the opportunity to yet again set goals, look forward with anticipation, trusting in God’s Word as our guide and compass. Proverbs 4:25-26 says, “Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.” God is calling us to ponder our steps, set goals for the future, all the while fixing our eyes on Him who is able to bring about success. The truth is this year doesn’t have to look like last year or the year before that just because that has been our life’s pattern.

This year can be different with a heart set on God’s agenda for a fresh beginning. Writing down a goal doesn’t have to equal defeat, not this time, and not this year. Defeat in the past does not equal defeat in the future. Defeat in the past expecting defeat in the future is true defeat. We can allow our unmet goals from the previous year to spur us on to victory as we rely on the Lord to direct us and give us the energy we need to do His will. This year as I thumb through my journal pages overflowing with the lofty ideals of last year’s unmet goals, I choose to forgo the usual solemn heart and defeated spirit and look forward and up with anticipation at all that God can do through a life fully surrendered to HIM! With Proverbs 2: 7-8 as our promise, let’s remember that although our track record might be failure, with God’s help, victory awaits us in 2010!