The Mind

                                                                                 Photo by Jenny Williamson

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6 (NLT)

When I have difficulty in sleeping, I have sometimes wondered how many lights I would see shining at 1 or 2 in the morning if I took a walk round my neighbourhood.  I know I am not alone in my wakefulness. Fortunately this only happens now and then and I haven't yet succumbed to taking a walk!  The thing I find frustrating, though, is that even lying awake, I find it difficult to focus my thoughts for very long either on scripture or to pray effectively for long. My mind just jumbles and rambles so in order to focus I need to get up, which I usually do.

I read something the other day which suggested that the mind is even harder to control than the tongue, I hadn't really considered that but of course it is true because our mind is the source of our words, good or bad (Matthew 12:34).

If our sinful nature, (that's the one that pleases itself, does its own thing, looks out for number one first and often enjoys focussing on the negative) is allowed to be in control of our thoughts, it leads to death (Romans 8:6).  For death you could read 'misery'.  We probably all know someone who is full of misery and woe.  That is because their mind is focussed on their troubles and themselves.  That is not what God wants for his people.  We have to allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of our mind and to do that we need to feed our mind the right 'food' and that is found in the Bible and good devotional books that will focus on hope which brings joy and peace in believing.

Today's world is full of negative news which breeds fear.  If we have a steady 'diet' of negative information and we don't counter it with regular input of God's word which contains instruction and hope, we will be on a slippery slide to despair.  As I look at Jenny's beautiful photo above, I see pure water which obviously comes from a pure source, but its also easy to find putrid, stagnant streams which have no life, no sparkle.  That illustrates perfectly the difference between the life controlled by the sinful nature and a life controlled by the Spirit of God. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13. We are the ones who choose what will fill and control our mind.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father please help me to draw water from your pure spring of life, which is Your Word, so that my mind will be more and more controlled by You.  Amen

Comfort

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save...... Zephaniah 3:17

There is a saying that you probably know well; 'When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.'  In other words, make the best of what you can out of what comes your way. This satisfies our need to make sense of our situation, but sometimes life just does not make sense at all.

You will probably remember poor Job.  His dire situation made no sense at all to him, or to his wife.  Their responses were very different towards the situation.  Job sat in contrite repentance and faith for a better day when God would come through as Restorer.  And He did!  Job's wife was extremely angry about the situation in all her grief, and understandably so.  Her advice to her husband was "just curse God and die." (Job 2:9). In other words,  "Put an end to your misery, get it over with."  She couldn't bear to see her husband suffer.  Those who have watched a loved one suffer pain and anguish will fully understand her response.

Job's friends, on the other hand had all the advice in the world.  They spoke with authority but without understanding, empathy or compassion. In fact their view of God was totally different from Job's. God dealt with them later.  We must remember that it is not necessary for us to provide a reason  for someone in their suffering.  Most people would rather have loving, silent empathy than pious talk.

I tend to think that Job believed what the prophet Zephaniah wrote in the above verse, even though the words had not yet been written in Job's day.  He knew that no matter what his situation God was still mighty to save and more importantly, that God was still with him. He humbled himself before God in his pain and  suffering and continued to believe that God could deliver him and vindicate him. And He did.

In your pain today will you choose to believe that the Lord your God is with you in the midst of your trial?  Will you allow him to work it out in His time and way?  If you find that too difficult you could ask Him to help you; for strength, patience, and peace.  He is always ready to come to our aid in time of need. He sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter (John 14:16), one who will strengthen and help us and walk alongside us.  Let your trial bring you closer to God as you trust Him  with your future. Bring God into the midst of your trial, He alone is mighty to save.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, you see my pain, you alone understand as no one else can.  Will you send your Holy Spirit to comfort and strengthen me according to your word.  Amen

Confidence

As you stood on the threshold of the new year, which is already 7 weeks old, did you wonder what it will hold: dreams fulfilled or dashed on the rocks, unexpected crises, loss of loved ones, success, failure, joy sadness.  Not one of us can know what each day, let alone a year, will bring with it.  But it is possible to step into it with a confidence that the God we love, loves us with an everlasting love and his ways are good.  Not only that, he is the one who will cause ALL THINGS to work together for good to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28). Not some things, but all things.  That is what his word says.  Our challenge then is to trust that word and expect that he will do just that.  We may not see it just as we don't see the legacy we leave, but remember the heroes of faith.  They looked for a Messiah who they never got to see, still they held onto the promise of God and their names appear in our Bible because they believed God's word would come to pass.

I had a little plaque that someone gave me years ago.  I kept it on my kitchen windowsill for many years until it was ingrained into my mind.  It read, "The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you."   How true that is, I have proved it over many, many years and in many different situations.

A similar reminder is found in 1 Corinthians 10:13.."The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure."  There is nothing that this year can bring that you and God, together, cannot conquer.  He is faithful and true, he is merciful and just and his plans, as always are to give you a hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Step out confidently into this day with a strong affirmation in your mind and your mouth, The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. Psalm 118:6

Loving heavenly Father, thank you for this new day. Thank you that you constantly watch over me and your steadfast love for me endures forever.  This year please help me to grow in confidence in your love and be a light for those who do not know you.  Amen

Trust

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Early in this new year as we neared the end of our three and a half months holiday in Australia, (two and a half of which we had been making a final holiday in our caravan), we were praying for buyers for both the car and caravan.  We had been told previously by an acquaintance who has been in the caravan business that January was not a good time to sell vans as most people already had theirs and were on their long summer holiday.  This, of course, challenged our trust as we continued to pray for buyers of both or each of our advertised the vehicles.

As it turned out we showed the van to 2 people on the way back from our holiday and the second one purchased it.  The car was sold 2 days later and this is the story I want to tell you about because it demonstrates God's goodness to his people.

The man who called us on the Friday night turned out to be a Nepalese Christian man who had served with the British Forces in Hong Kong and was there at the same time we were.  He was very keen to buy our model of car because it had 8 seats and he had already followed up 2 similar vehicles which were not suitable.  The first one was in Melbourne and because he lived in Sydney and didn't want to waste a flight if the vehicle was not to his liking, after speaking to the owner and being satisfied that the vehicle seemed to meet his requirements and had the logbooks to prove the service history, he had a friend in Melbourne check the vehicle out. The vehicle sounded good and he was told it was worth the trip.  So he flew to Melbourne but when he asked for the logbooks he found he had been misled and they were not available, so he did not buy the vehicle.  To inspect the next vehicle he travelled a number of hours into the country but found that the interior was not good.  Again disappointment.

I imagine that he had made this purchase process a matter of prayer as we always do and was probably by then wondering to himself and perhaps to God, "Why is this happening?"  Then he found our vehicle and got the prize.  A vehicle which had logbooks and had been faithfully serviced, lovingly polished and kept in great condition by my diligent husband.

This was a reminder to me that we are sometimes too impatient and too easily discouraged when we don't have our prayers answered immediately.  We can also be too quick to think that maybe we are trying to move outside of what God wants for us.  If we can patiently press in and keep trusting our loving Father we will find that delays often only mean that we haven't found what's right for us yet. I am convinced that God always wants the best for his children.

Prayer:  Loving Father, thank you for your faithful love which is willing to allow me temporary disappointment in order to bring me to the place of your best for me.  Help me to patiently trust you.  Amen

Sinkholes

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

In what turned out to be a short half hour window in an afternoon of thunderstorms, we visited the Umpherston Sinkhole.  This is just one of the natural attractions in Mt Gambier, South Australia.  It is an old volcanic area and its limestone foundation makes for some fascinating caves, sinkholes and the beautiful Blue Lake.This sinkhole has been made into an amazing garden with curtains of ivy flowing down from the edges.  There are seats to sit and enjoy its beauty and even a barbecue area behind the ivy.

The garden filled me with gratitude for the man who had originally thought to do something beautiful with what was just an old cave on his farm before the roof caved in, and thanks too for the people who have kept it looking good to share with the public.

I couldn't help thinking about it in the context of our lives which sometimes have sinkholes when stuff happens and life caves in bringing failure, disaster or disappointments.  We have a choice in those times to become bitter or better.  Even to pretend they didn't happen if you are ashamed of your failure.  But our sinkholes of life can become great experiences from which we can draw wisdom, understanding and growth in grace which can become a blessing to others.

If you are in a slump (or a deep hole) right now, have a think about how you can, with Jesus' help, make your sinkhole into a beautiful garden which can, at some future time, bring rest, strength and encouragement to others.  Or perhaps you can think about sharing your own failure at an appropriate time to encourage someone and help them up when they have fallen.  You could let them see behind your wall of ivy for not one of us is perfect and we shouldn't let people think we are.  We all need God's grace for our weaknesses, and bringing them to His light removes our shame.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, you know the sinkholes in my life and the challenges that I face when I consider the things that brought them about.  Please help me to get your perspective and see that they can become a place of beauty and rest for the benefit of others in the future. Amen

Shelter

                                                                                                                               

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.  Psalm 119:114

It is a good feeling to be sitting safe and dry in our caravan this morning, with thunderstorms growling all around us and with, (so far), gentle rain falling on the roof.  We feel snug and protected, but we do hope that it will dry in the next hour so we can hook the van to the car for our 10 am departure.

When storms of life roll into our comfort zone we need a place where we can feel safe and snug; a place to retreat to in the fiercest gale.  Sometimes the lightning of life's storm comes with a mighty crack and makes us cringe as it did just now, bringing with it stinging hail.  We surely need protection and we need to know where to go for shelter.

That place is Jesus.  He wants to be our hiding place, a refuge in our personal storms, our comfort and shelter no matter what life throws at us.  We can come confidently to him because he has invited us.  He has said 'Come to me ALL who labour and are heavy with burdens', (Matthew 11:28), and he has promised, 'Call to me and I WILL answer you' (Jeremiah 33:3) and, 'I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you' (Hebrews 13:5), and again, 'As your days, so SHALL your strength be' (Deauteronomy 33:25).

Your protection is there for every storm of life if you will just come to him.  But you must come and you must call.  He will not fail you.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus I believe that you came and died in my place that I might have an open door to God.  I come now for shelter in my storm and I thank you that you are with me. Amen

Photo by Sandy Simmons

Thankful?

Giving thanks always for all things..... Ephesians 5:20

It has recently come to my attention (twice) in the past couple of weeks that I have somehow missed this verse in my theology. Oh dear how inconvenient!  When people have spoken about giving thanks for all things I have confidently pointed out that that is not what 1 Thessalonians 5:18 teaches, but rather that we are to give thanks IN everything.  There is a bit of a difference there.  It's so much easier to give thanks in everything than for everything.

I have often thought of Paul and Silas singing praises to God while they were in prison chains, giving thanks in everything.  However when I revisit that I can see that they were giving thanks for their circumstances because they counted it a privilege to suffer for their faith.

But what of difficulties that befall us; things like health issues, financial difficulties, family crises?  If I give thanks FOR those things, isn't it as though I am attributing these difficulties as coming from God?  That doesn't seem right does it?  Though God is not the author of such things he does allow them to come to us through his filter of love and in a desire to see growth in us.  In Romans 5:3-4 Paul writes, "but we glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance character; and character hope.... "

What is your challenge today that you need to give God thanks for?  As you do it, remember also the truth that God is able to make "all things work for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28.  He's doing a good work in us during those hard times when we yield to a spirit of thankfulness because we are only able to do that if we are trusting and relying on him and his strength.

Prayer:  Father, help me to thank you in the difficulties as well as when things are going well. I choose to trust that you are working these circumstances for my growth.  Amen