Category: Whispers (Page 5 of 170)

But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy what we have been given, for it is all a gift from the Lord. Near the end of his life, Solomon goes on to say that what is most important is to know and to fear and to obey God. God will one day judge everything. In Eccl. 12:13 (Amplified) he says, “All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God (revere and worship Him, knowing that He is) and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man (the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness; the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun) and the whole (duty) for every man.” These words came from a man who tried everything in life, and yet it boils down not to money and wealth, but to fear, obey and enjoy God.

I received a wonderful gift in the mail from a friend who is in a Bible Study group where the members receive my daily devotions. I was pleasantly surprised to get Susie Larson’s book called Prepare Him Room, which is also a daily devotional to help me prepare for the Lord’s coming. At the end of each devotional is an invitation to do a fast, only it isn’t about food. It is more about fasting from hindrances in our lives, like a recent one to fast from impatience and discontentment so we can be content and pursue the Lord. This is only one way to prepare my heart for this special time, but there are many other ways you may find so as not to be robbed of the closeness of His presence.

I want to share the first of the readings as it will help us enter the Advent Season with anticipation and expectancy. David prays in Psalm 5:3, “In the morning, O Eternal One, listen for my voice; in the day’s first light, I will offer my prayer to You and watch expectantly for Your answer.” Like David, we can ask the Lord to hear our voice and pay attention as we believe in faith He will birth something new in us. Sometimes He shows us something in His Word and other times we must wait for the answer to a burden on our hearts. But as we wait, we are to remember He hears us and He will answer us in His timing, just like Elizabeth who waited so many years to have a baby who would become the forerunner of Jesus and turn hearts to the Lord.

Let us not lose heart, but hang on in expectant faith for whatever concern is on our heart. Like the song goes, “Come Thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.”

God is the healer and we are to be participants in letting the Holy Spirit flow through us to touch others. In Steven Seamands’ book, Follow the Healer, he writes of how we need to be available and open to listen, counsel and pray with people for their healing. That means we join Him in whatever He would do and not get in the way. We are not the healers that make it happen and their healing is not dependent on us, for it is the Lord’s work. We might ask the Lord if He has a word that He wants us to relay to them, and what we are to say and do. When we are abiding in Him (John 15:4), we can simply respond to the Holy Spirit and follow His lead.

It is important we are humble and open to however God wants to work. I love what Seamands had to say about Mother Teresa and it spoke to me. Her words, “I’m just a little pencil in God’s hands. He does the thinking. He does the writing. He does everything and sometimes it is hard because it is a broken pencil, and He has to sharpen it a little more.”  Of course, we don’t always do it perfectly and may get in the way at times, but humbly we remember it is the Lord who is doing the healing while we watch and let it happen. I found It easier to pray for people while in Mexico, as the receivers had faith and such a positive expectation that the Lord would heal them. My heart was encouraged as I knew it was not dependent on me saying all the right words, for my Spanish was so limited, but it was all the Lord. Let our focus be on the Lord, sensitive to how He would have us pray for others, and let the Holy Spirit flow through us.

I have spent a lot of time in the book of Philippians, as we were encouraged to read the whole book each day. I continue to be amazed at how thankful Paul was while in prison, before he was released, not after! He was thankful for those he is writing to in Philippi and for those he was able to share the gospel with in the imperial guard, for experiencing the fellowship of His sufferings, for provision of his needs and contentment in all circumstances, etc. We also are to also express gratitude for God’s blessings to us, but the bottom line is we are to love God even more than His blessings.

Every day when we awaken, it is good to express our love to the Lord and also to give Him thanks. Like it says in Psalm 100, “Enter with the password: ‘Thank you!’ Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank Him. Worship Him. For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.” We are to thank Him in every circumstance of our life as Paul did. I can’t tell you how many times I have thanked the Lord for our apartment that is not lavish by any means, but it is perfect for Al and I to each have our own space to be with the Lord, study and write. It is like our little monastery!

We are to also thank Him in even the challenging circumstances in our lives, for He may be using them to help us grow strong in faith and dependence on Him. May thankfulness become a part of each day we live, and joy will overflow from our hearts to others.

Challenge for today: Spend a few minutes writing a list of things you are grateful for and give Him thanks.                                Blessings on this Thanksgiving Day and prayers and love, Judy

Thanksgiving Day is close at hand. What will make it a great day, not like any ordinary day? I was reading Pastor Mark Roberts from Fuller Seminary who shared how he had an especially wonderful Thanksgiving that began one year when he did a simple prayerful exercise. It is one I hope to try this year and maybe you will desire to do as well. He woke Thanksgiving morning, had a cup of coffee and spent an hour sitting down and just writing all the things he was thankful for…God’s gifts to him: the people in his life, events, etc. He used this journaling as a form of prayer, leaving him feeling so joyful and grateful.

I myself have been reading the book of Philippians each day where I see that same grateful spirit in Paul, even though he was jailed and not in the best circumstances. He thanks the Lord for people in Philippi and for God’s work in them, for the advance of the gospel, and for their prayers and concern for him. He doesn’t focus on the negative but on what lies ahead, and that is his citizenship is in heaven. He tells them to rejoice always and “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let the Lord know their requests. (Philippians 4) He assures them of God’s peace as they think of all that is worthy of praise. He overflows with joy as he prays for the church there and gives thanks to the Lord.

However you celebrate Thanksgiving, may you be open to write down and name the many ways God has blessed you. Whatever comes to mind make it into a prayer of gratitude and praise.