Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
And from those who persecute me.
Psalm 31:15b (NKJV)
Thought for Today: Jack awoke on a bright fall morning to unfamiliar voices. As the fog cleared from his brain, he opened his eyes only to see a room with white walls and a white ceiling. On a typical morning, he would arise from bed upon waking and start his morning routine. Today, he had obstacles preventing this, the shackles on his arms and legs. The prior night Jack had experienced yet another bout with his schizophrenia. The police were called as he was destroying his own home, threatening the very ones who loved him so dearly.
What enemies do you face today? We often think of enemies as external, whether it be enemy troops or the neighbors with whom we constantly fight. Yet, maybe our worst enemies are the ones living inside of our very beings. I'm not talking about those that come with mental illness like the voices that Jack hears. Rather, it is the small, quiet voices like self-doubt, fear of failure, regret. Do you face these today? Are you not quite sure how to quell the inner voices that threaten your peace?
The only way for Jack to stay well is to keep taking his anti-psychotic medication. Fortunately, most of us do not need that. Mixed in with all of the quiet voices in our hearts and minds is the still small voice of our gentle Shepherd. Do you want to be delivered from all of your internal enemies? Turn up the volume of the one voice that offers deliverance. How do you do that? Spend time daily in His Word and in communion with our Lord through prayer. As you enable His voice to speak more to your heart, the other voices of fear, self-doubt, regret, and hurt will slowly diminish. This day, will you commit to focusing on the still, small voice of the One who loves you more than anyone else?
Precious Lord, help us this day to spend time in Your Word and in prayer. May you, oh Lord our deliverer, free us from the voices inside of us that threaten our very peace. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Friday, October 11, 2019
Thursday, September 5, 2019
Are you in control?
My times are in Your hand;
Psalm 31:15a (NKJV)
Thought for Today: Ned lived a fairly routine life. He and Cheryl had married, bought a house, had two children. He worked every day as an accountant while Cheryl stayed home to take care of the kids. Being in his early forties, he figured that his work routine would be the same for the next several decades until one day he and Cheryl could retire and really enjoy life. Being savvy with money, Ned had saved what he could and invested well, awaiting the day when all of his hard work would pay off and he could live off the fruit of his labor. That was until he began to feel tired all of the time. A visit to his physician resulted in a battery of tests and waiting for the phone call with the results.
How often life seems to be going along smoothly, sometimes rather mundanely. We falsely think that we are in control, that we control our destiny. What we don't realize is that we control nothing. Many have amassed fortunes for security in retirement only to die before even having a chance to spend some of the fortune. Others see a relationship, perhaps with a spouse, as the one thing that defines them and meets all of their needs. Suddenly, things change, the spouse leaves or, worse yet, dies. What do you rely upon today for your security? What planning have you done to ensure a secure future or who do you rely upon to meet your needs and make you happy?
Ned's physician did call and confirmed his fears: Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Fortunately, there were treatment options and, after a season of illness, Ned was able to resume life again. He was changed though, realizing that we can plan for nothing and only the One who planned us from the creation is in control. Ned continued to pursue his retirement goals since these are not a bad thing. Yet, he put less stock in the security of his finances and focused on his security in the Lord Jesus.
Perhaps today you are not looking to the Lord for your security and you have not given over your life to His control. Friend, you can control nothing. It is best not to try, for the Lord knows what is best and has a wonderful plan for each and every one of us if we let Him take control.
Father, we are stubborn people who think that we can control our destiny by planning and plodding. Help us to see that only You have ultimate control. May we surrender to You and welcome Your wonderful plan for our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Psalm 31:15a (NKJV)
Thought for Today: Ned lived a fairly routine life. He and Cheryl had married, bought a house, had two children. He worked every day as an accountant while Cheryl stayed home to take care of the kids. Being in his early forties, he figured that his work routine would be the same for the next several decades until one day he and Cheryl could retire and really enjoy life. Being savvy with money, Ned had saved what he could and invested well, awaiting the day when all of his hard work would pay off and he could live off the fruit of his labor. That was until he began to feel tired all of the time. A visit to his physician resulted in a battery of tests and waiting for the phone call with the results.
How often life seems to be going along smoothly, sometimes rather mundanely. We falsely think that we are in control, that we control our destiny. What we don't realize is that we control nothing. Many have amassed fortunes for security in retirement only to die before even having a chance to spend some of the fortune. Others see a relationship, perhaps with a spouse, as the one thing that defines them and meets all of their needs. Suddenly, things change, the spouse leaves or, worse yet, dies. What do you rely upon today for your security? What planning have you done to ensure a secure future or who do you rely upon to meet your needs and make you happy?
Ned's physician did call and confirmed his fears: Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Fortunately, there were treatment options and, after a season of illness, Ned was able to resume life again. He was changed though, realizing that we can plan for nothing and only the One who planned us from the creation is in control. Ned continued to pursue his retirement goals since these are not a bad thing. Yet, he put less stock in the security of his finances and focused on his security in the Lord Jesus.
Perhaps today you are not looking to the Lord for your security and you have not given over your life to His control. Friend, you can control nothing. It is best not to try, for the Lord knows what is best and has a wonderful plan for each and every one of us if we let Him take control.
Father, we are stubborn people who think that we can control our destiny by planning and plodding. Help us to see that only You have ultimate control. May we surrender to You and welcome Your wonderful plan for our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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