Psalm 106:14-15 ~ "but craved intensely in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 15 So He gave them their request, but sent a wasting disease among them."
When we are wandering in a wilderness, a place different than what we expected, a place of testing, danger, and growth; it is our sin nature that craves intensely for what we used to have, thinking it is better than what it really was. When we give in to that, and only think how wonderful our bondage was, not seeing our current freedom, we cross a line with God. At that point we test Him, after He has already proven Himself to us. We challenge Him to give us what we want, not content or satisfied with His provision. Not trusting his purpose or training while we are in the wilderness. This stirs up strife and rebellion in us. For me, verse 15 is one of the scariest verses in the Bible. If we push hard enough God will give us what we ask for- even if it kills us. In giving them what they wanted God sent a wasting disease among them, a leanness of soul.
That leanness of soul, or wasting disease still didn't open their eyes and heart to their need for God. Their focus was on themselves and how they could meet their immediate temporal need. While God will meet these needs for His children; He is most interested in the heart, that there would be a God focus in each one of us, trusting Him to care for us His way and in His time. In the wilderness, He always waits to see how we will handle something- will we run to Him or will we try to force our own way and desires? It cost the Israelites dearly, and years later King Saul failed this one, it cost him dearly as well. (1 Sam.15) For the rest of his life he had leanness of soul.
Father protect us from ourselves, our own desires that are more self focused than God focused. Keep us hungry for you, putting a desire in us to wait for You, to desire a fatness of soul more than that which is temporal. Give us a fresh anointing of Your Holy Spirit that we would desire what You desire for us. And while we are walking in the wilderness, may we see Your hand leading and guiding us in the tests so we would be strong. May You be our focus, our center, may we willingly and expectantly wait for You that You would be glorified.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Distractions
Psalm 106:13~ "They quickly forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel."
When I quickly forget God's works it is because I am preoccupied or distracted. The Israelites, who did not have all the distractions of our technology still forgot God's works. I think- oh, if that distraction just wasn't around following God would be easier. God, give me a simpler life, without modern distractions! And it is the simple things in life that distract me, fixing a meal, doing laundry, visiting with others. All these things are necessary, so when does it become a distraction? When I forget what God has done.
In the midst of my busy life, how do I remember, how do I choose to see, what God has done? I start with thanking Him for life, for the miracle of being able to get up and breathe and move and not have to figure it out first. He keeps me alive! Then the gift of a spiritual life, without Him, I am just a cardboard shell. Then the gift of family and friends, food, shelter. I guess I need to count my blessings, seeing Him as the source of each one. Has God done big works in your life? A time when you know God intervened for you? The Israelites were to remember their freedom from bondage, the crossing of the Red Sea, the keeping power of God in the wilderness and the victory of the Promised land. These were big things, yet they forgot.
Lord, may we not forget Your works, the big or the little, what You have mightily done for us, for Your Name. Bring them to our mind, that we would regularly be reminded of Your works in us, around us and for us. As we remind ourselves may we remind others as well. Guard us against being distracted from You.
The Israelites also did not wait for His counsel. This ties so closely to forgetting His works! If we do not remember what He has done, how can we be sure His counsel is necessary? We become self reliant, trusting that our way will work and we can do things our own way. We wind up trusting in our own knowledge and ability more than trusting God to work things out. We no longer wait on God, we don't review the great and mighty things He has already done, being assured that they will continue. Teach us how to remember Your works so we would trust in You, and Your ways, so we would seek Your counsel. Lord, it is so tempting to trust myself more than You, to try and figure out my own way, especially when I am going through a hard time, to think that I have to come up with an answer. Yet, You just want me to trust You, to remember how mighty You are. If You can care for the Israelites as they go through the wilderness, surely You can take care of me and my needs, be they big or small. Thank you for Your living presence in my life. May each of us trust God more today, and remember His works.
When I quickly forget God's works it is because I am preoccupied or distracted. The Israelites, who did not have all the distractions of our technology still forgot God's works. I think- oh, if that distraction just wasn't around following God would be easier. God, give me a simpler life, without modern distractions! And it is the simple things in life that distract me, fixing a meal, doing laundry, visiting with others. All these things are necessary, so when does it become a distraction? When I forget what God has done.
In the midst of my busy life, how do I remember, how do I choose to see, what God has done? I start with thanking Him for life, for the miracle of being able to get up and breathe and move and not have to figure it out first. He keeps me alive! Then the gift of a spiritual life, without Him, I am just a cardboard shell. Then the gift of family and friends, food, shelter. I guess I need to count my blessings, seeing Him as the source of each one. Has God done big works in your life? A time when you know God intervened for you? The Israelites were to remember their freedom from bondage, the crossing of the Red Sea, the keeping power of God in the wilderness and the victory of the Promised land. These were big things, yet they forgot.
Lord, may we not forget Your works, the big or the little, what You have mightily done for us, for Your Name. Bring them to our mind, that we would regularly be reminded of Your works in us, around us and for us. As we remind ourselves may we remind others as well. Guard us against being distracted from You.
The Israelites also did not wait for His counsel. This ties so closely to forgetting His works! If we do not remember what He has done, how can we be sure His counsel is necessary? We become self reliant, trusting that our way will work and we can do things our own way. We wind up trusting in our own knowledge and ability more than trusting God to work things out. We no longer wait on God, we don't review the great and mighty things He has already done, being assured that they will continue. Teach us how to remember Your works so we would trust in You, and Your ways, so we would seek Your counsel. Lord, it is so tempting to trust myself more than You, to try and figure out my own way, especially when I am going through a hard time, to think that I have to come up with an answer. Yet, You just want me to trust You, to remember how mighty You are. If You can care for the Israelites as they go through the wilderness, surely You can take care of me and my needs, be they big or small. Thank you for Your living presence in my life. May each of us trust God more today, and remember His works.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Psalm 106, part 3
Psm. 106:10-12 ~"So He saved them from the hand of the one who hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. 11 And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left. 12 Then they believed His words; they sang His praise."
The Israelites believed God's words only after they saw His absolute victory over their enemies. Today my enemies are different, but do I still doubt God until I see absolute victory? My enemies are the world, the flesh and the devil; but often they show themselves as greed, or selfishness, fear, anger,or lack of compassion, gossip, financial challenges, unforgiveness. I could go on, but you get the idea. How, in the church today, is God's power shown over these enemies? What does His victory look like? Do we even see it? How do we share it so the body sees his victory? His power? So others are able to praise God with us when we have victory? Even more, how do I share Christ's victory in my life so that others believe God, His words, and sing His praise? So the victory of one gives hope to others who struggle?
Redeem us, Lord, from the hand of our enemy, the enemy of the world, the flesh and the devil, even when we don't deserve it. Lord, may we know You, and act as if we do, rightly representing You to others. Deliver us from that which keeps us from being an effective representative. Give us eyes to see Your victory, show us how to share that with others, to give hope to the struggling. Give us faith, that we would not doubt You. Show us how to live and walk so others see You, and the hope and victory that You alone give.
The Israelites believed God's words only after they saw His absolute victory over their enemies. Today my enemies are different, but do I still doubt God until I see absolute victory? My enemies are the world, the flesh and the devil; but often they show themselves as greed, or selfishness, fear, anger,or lack of compassion, gossip, financial challenges, unforgiveness. I could go on, but you get the idea. How, in the church today, is God's power shown over these enemies? What does His victory look like? Do we even see it? How do we share it so the body sees his victory? His power? So others are able to praise God with us when we have victory? Even more, how do I share Christ's victory in my life so that others believe God, His words, and sing His praise? So the victory of one gives hope to others who struggle?
Redeem us, Lord, from the hand of our enemy, the enemy of the world, the flesh and the devil, even when we don't deserve it. Lord, may we know You, and act as if we do, rightly representing You to others. Deliver us from that which keeps us from being an effective representative. Give us eyes to see Your victory, show us how to share that with others, to give hope to the struggling. Give us faith, that we would not doubt You. Show us how to live and walk so others see You, and the hope and victory that You alone give.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Psalm 106; part 2
Psalm 106:6- "We have sinned like our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have behaved wickedly." Verses 6-46 are a confession of sin and a declaration of God's mercy. I love the 'we' in v.6. An intercessor so identifies with the sin of those being prayed for that they take that sin as their own to God. It is also a recognition that none of us are righteous; we have all sinned; it is our nature, as all who have gone before us. No matter how much right we do, we still blow it.Then this intercessor lists the sins of Israel; not content to just have a generic identification of sin, he identifies with each one. As Christ is our intercessor, this identification with sin had to happen so there could be repentance. Then, this intercessor repented- for the whole, he did not wait for the people to repent, he did it for them! So the whole country could see God's mercy. Not a finger pointer- but a fellowman in need of God's mercy.
v.7~ "Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Thy wonders; they did not remember Thine abundant kindnesses, but they rebelled by the seas, at the Red Sea."
When we do not understand God's wonders or remember His abundant kindnesses we will rebel. Just as Israel did. One must understand God's wonders and see them to have a living relationship with Jesus. Rebellion is a part of our fallen nature; but also comes from not understanding God's wonders and not consciously remembering the good He has done for us. What inspires awe in us? Have we become so accustomed to explaining everything that we no longer stand in wonder over anything? Do we look back at God's wonders in our own lives? His unique working on our behalf, just because of his incredible love and mercy for us. When we are going through a trying time do we thank Him, remembering his goodness to us, or do we moan about having to go through it? We all think the trial we are going through is the hardest, or most difficult, but the Israelites thought that as well. And we can see the great deliverance God was working on their behalf!
Which brings us to v. 8, "Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known." What a God! He has ungrateful, complaining people, sinning against Him, rebelling, refusing to acknowledge his past wonders and He saves them. What mercy! We are no different. In the midst of our rebellion God saves and shows His power, not just to His people or for His people, but so their enemies would see as well. He saves us for the sake of His name and to show His power!
Thank You that this was fully accomplished the day Jesus died on the cross; He saved us; a rebellious people, for His Name's sake. He made known His power, through the resurrection, to give us new hearts and new lives, to make us His.
Lord, give us intercessor hearts, identifying with the sin of those we pray for, or even the sin of our nation, that we would look at others with Your mercy. May we see Your mighty hand of deliverance in our dark times or trials. When we forget Your goodness, bring to our remembrance the good You have done for us. Give us thankful hearts in the midst of our hard times. Remind us that this trying time is not just for us, but for others (our enemies?) to see Your mighty power. Thank You for Your incredible mercy, that saves us in the midst of our rebellion. May Your Name and power be known in and through Your people today.
v.7~ "Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Thy wonders; they did not remember Thine abundant kindnesses, but they rebelled by the seas, at the Red Sea."
When we do not understand God's wonders or remember His abundant kindnesses we will rebel. Just as Israel did. One must understand God's wonders and see them to have a living relationship with Jesus. Rebellion is a part of our fallen nature; but also comes from not understanding God's wonders and not consciously remembering the good He has done for us. What inspires awe in us? Have we become so accustomed to explaining everything that we no longer stand in wonder over anything? Do we look back at God's wonders in our own lives? His unique working on our behalf, just because of his incredible love and mercy for us. When we are going through a trying time do we thank Him, remembering his goodness to us, or do we moan about having to go through it? We all think the trial we are going through is the hardest, or most difficult, but the Israelites thought that as well. And we can see the great deliverance God was working on their behalf!
Which brings us to v. 8, "Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known." What a God! He has ungrateful, complaining people, sinning against Him, rebelling, refusing to acknowledge his past wonders and He saves them. What mercy! We are no different. In the midst of our rebellion God saves and shows His power, not just to His people or for His people, but so their enemies would see as well. He saves us for the sake of His name and to show His power!
Thank You that this was fully accomplished the day Jesus died on the cross; He saved us; a rebellious people, for His Name's sake. He made known His power, through the resurrection, to give us new hearts and new lives, to make us His.
Lord, give us intercessor hearts, identifying with the sin of those we pray for, or even the sin of our nation, that we would look at others with Your mercy. May we see Your mighty hand of deliverance in our dark times or trials. When we forget Your goodness, bring to our remembrance the good You have done for us. Give us thankful hearts in the midst of our hard times. Remind us that this trying time is not just for us, but for others (our enemies?) to see Your mighty power. Thank You for Your incredible mercy, that saves us in the midst of our rebellion. May Your Name and power be known in and through Your people today.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Psalm 106 part 1; an intercessor's psalm
A Psalm of an intercessor, so full of Israel's wrongdoing, but also showing God's incredible lovingkindness and mercy. This psalm starts with praise to God and an acknowledgment that there aren't enough words to adequately praise Him. That is so very true! Once started there is no end to God's praise. And if I pay attention, I see His works all day long and can praise Him all day for His goodness. But I get caught up in the day's activities, in my life, and I miss seeing His hand, or His handiwork and I miss praising Him. My attitude changes from one of thanksgiving and privilege to one of dullness and duty.
So with this psalmist, may I sing Your praise today Lord, open my eyes that I may see Your handiwork, and have a heart of thanksgiving.
Psm. 106:4-5 ~ "Remember me, O Lord, in Thy favor toward Thy people; visit me with Thy salvation, (5) that I may see the prosperity of Thy chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance."
A cry to the Lord, not just for favor but also to see God's hand move in the nation so the psalmist could glory in God's inheritance. My heart cry is not always that big. I want God to move in my nation, and I want to see that move, but to be honest, I am usually more wrapped up in my life than in interceding for the nation. I pick small prayers. Is it because I lack the faith for the big? Because I am unsure if God can really do it? Or is it because I don't want to invest myself, my time, pain in my heart, for a nation? I don't want to pay the price to intercede for this nation. This convicts me. Am I praying the prayers God has asked me to pray?
But I, with the psalmist, want God's favor shown in His people, that it would be seen, and I would have eyes to see it; so there would be rejoicing among God's people, the body of Christ, and we, as the body may glory with God's inheritance. And I pray for that diligently. So is the focus of intercession a matter of calling? I do not struggle praying for people, sometimes I may resist dying to self to pray, but that is different. Maybe it is a matter of growth, and I am not yet able to battle the principalities and powers of the nation.
Lord, may Your people have prosperity of soul, solid knowledge of You, a firm walk with You daily, a desire to grow in You by the power of Your Holy Spirit and may we see Your hand move, in the lives of our people and in this nation. Grow us, me especially, to pray the big prayers. May we be obedient to pray the prayers You give us to pray, may You work through each of us for Your glory.
So with this psalmist, may I sing Your praise today Lord, open my eyes that I may see Your handiwork, and have a heart of thanksgiving.
Psm. 106:4-5 ~ "Remember me, O Lord, in Thy favor toward Thy people; visit me with Thy salvation, (5) that I may see the prosperity of Thy chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Thy nation, that I may glory with Thine inheritance."
A cry to the Lord, not just for favor but also to see God's hand move in the nation so the psalmist could glory in God's inheritance. My heart cry is not always that big. I want God to move in my nation, and I want to see that move, but to be honest, I am usually more wrapped up in my life than in interceding for the nation. I pick small prayers. Is it because I lack the faith for the big? Because I am unsure if God can really do it? Or is it because I don't want to invest myself, my time, pain in my heart, for a nation? I don't want to pay the price to intercede for this nation. This convicts me. Am I praying the prayers God has asked me to pray?
But I, with the psalmist, want God's favor shown in His people, that it would be seen, and I would have eyes to see it; so there would be rejoicing among God's people, the body of Christ, and we, as the body may glory with God's inheritance. And I pray for that diligently. So is the focus of intercession a matter of calling? I do not struggle praying for people, sometimes I may resist dying to self to pray, but that is different. Maybe it is a matter of growth, and I am not yet able to battle the principalities and powers of the nation.
Lord, may Your people have prosperity of soul, solid knowledge of You, a firm walk with You daily, a desire to grow in You by the power of Your Holy Spirit and may we see Your hand move, in the lives of our people and in this nation. Grow us, me especially, to pray the big prayers. May we be obedient to pray the prayers You give us to pray, may You work through each of us for Your glory.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Rottenness
Matthew 15:18 ~ But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.
What happens when a home gets a hidden water leak? A lot of damage can be done before the leak is found and fixed. The first clue it is there is the house might smell funny, maybe a little moldy. Does my life or heart smell moldy or a little 'off' to others? to God? to me? Are my words hurtful or edifying?
The wall or floor may have more give. Am I giving in or yielding to pressure from sin? or from the world? or the flesh? Am I staying firm when sin in any form pushes against me? Or is there a softness? Am I finding it harder to guard my tongue?
Stains will show up on the wall or floor or ceiling where the leak is. What am I stained with? The blood of Jesus or my own sin; disobedience to God? Have I said things I wish hadn't come out of my mouth? Have I caused another pain by thoughtless speech?
Usually to fix a leak some of the structure must be torn apart and sometimes it takes some tearing, (looking and searching) to find exactly where the leak is. There may be a period of what appears to be chaos and disuse, but repair is happening. Without this time of repair and apparent chaos and no water, the wall or floor would rot, eventually becoming so bad that area of the house would collapse. Rottenness spreads. It would not be safe for anyone to walk on the floor. If it were a ceiling it could drop down on anyone or anything under it. The home would be unsafe; rotten.
When there is a leak, a stain of sin, in my life, I struggle to let Jesus tear something apart to fix it. I want Him to fix it without the tearing apart. But the pulling up and tearing apart shows me why the leak started as well as how much damage sin does to myself and that it affects others. Jesus wants freedom for each of us and to have that we must give Him the freedom to work in us. To cleanse us of all the sin leaks we have, to clear out all the rotten wood in the walls, that we would be cleansed of all unrighteousness and be made new. So we would not harm others and would be the finished, usuable building He desires each of us to be.
So Lord, when we see only chaos and disuse in our life, show us Your hand, that we would have Your assurance that it is indeed You working in us for Your glory and pleasure. With that, may we surrender to Your hand, allowing You to work freely with Your cleansing power as you rebuild what has been damaged.
What happens when a home gets a hidden water leak? A lot of damage can be done before the leak is found and fixed. The first clue it is there is the house might smell funny, maybe a little moldy. Does my life or heart smell moldy or a little 'off' to others? to God? to me? Are my words hurtful or edifying?
The wall or floor may have more give. Am I giving in or yielding to pressure from sin? or from the world? or the flesh? Am I staying firm when sin in any form pushes against me? Or is there a softness? Am I finding it harder to guard my tongue?
Stains will show up on the wall or floor or ceiling where the leak is. What am I stained with? The blood of Jesus or my own sin; disobedience to God? Have I said things I wish hadn't come out of my mouth? Have I caused another pain by thoughtless speech?
Usually to fix a leak some of the structure must be torn apart and sometimes it takes some tearing, (looking and searching) to find exactly where the leak is. There may be a period of what appears to be chaos and disuse, but repair is happening. Without this time of repair and apparent chaos and no water, the wall or floor would rot, eventually becoming so bad that area of the house would collapse. Rottenness spreads. It would not be safe for anyone to walk on the floor. If it were a ceiling it could drop down on anyone or anything under it. The home would be unsafe; rotten.
When there is a leak, a stain of sin, in my life, I struggle to let Jesus tear something apart to fix it. I want Him to fix it without the tearing apart. But the pulling up and tearing apart shows me why the leak started as well as how much damage sin does to myself and that it affects others. Jesus wants freedom for each of us and to have that we must give Him the freedom to work in us. To cleanse us of all the sin leaks we have, to clear out all the rotten wood in the walls, that we would be cleansed of all unrighteousness and be made new. So we would not harm others and would be the finished, usuable building He desires each of us to be.
So Lord, when we see only chaos and disuse in our life, show us Your hand, that we would have Your assurance that it is indeed You working in us for Your glory and pleasure. With that, may we surrender to Your hand, allowing You to work freely with Your cleansing power as you rebuild what has been damaged.
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Need for One Another
This last week my husband and I went camping. We spent one morning walking along a mountain stream, the sun was shining and we were just enjoying looking at the beauty of the place and wildlife. Suddenly my husband called to me to stop. I stopped, wondering what he saw that I could not, straining my eyes to see something close by. He asked me if I felt something on my leg, I said I did. Was a snake right at my foot? I looked down. I was totally entangled in fishing line. Not just a little- a lot. I had not felt it, it had not hindered my walking- yet. But my husband walking behind me had seen light reflecting in a line and moving behind me. He knew that was not normal. When he asked if I had felt something, he had simply tugged on the line. I did manage to untangle myself, but if I had needed to have it cut free, my husband had a knife handy.
What if I had been walking alone, or had not listened to the stop from my husband? The fishing line would have done a great job of tripping me. In our spiritual lives we also get entangled with invisible lines; something others can see and we cannot. Without their help we trip, fall down, and have a mess to deal with. We are in the body of Christ so we can help one another; that includes alerting one another to danger, or maybe just to an entanglement. It takes humility to recognize the need for help, and it is indeed humbling to see ones self entangled and not be aware!
What if I had not trusted my husband when he told me to stop? Thinking, I know better, I don't need to stop for anything! I would have eventually been forced to stop, doubly humbled because I didn't listen.
His tugging on the line is not what had entangled me, it just showed both of us I was entangled. How often do we get upset with the one who shows us our entanglements instead of being thankful and doing what is necessary to be freed from them?
It was a beautiful sunny day, nothing to worry about, things were going great. In our walk with Jesus, even when things are going great it is possible to just be walking along and get tangled up in the distractions of the world, or the desires of the flesh. Nothing bad or evil in themselves, just enough to keep us from running if the need were to arise.
Lord, we need those in our lives that give us cautions, corrections and help us when we are entangled to get un-entangled, yet so often we push them away, we keep our distance, not wanting to admit our need for help. Especially from others. You have given us Your body Lord, so we could work together for each other's good. Help us to receive from our brothers and sisters the help we need. As we are also called to give loving thoughtful correction and caution, may we do it with Your Spirit of humility, love and grace. May we be truly thankful for one another.
Psm. 141:5a ~ Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil upon the head; do not let my head refuse it.
What if I had been walking alone, or had not listened to the stop from my husband? The fishing line would have done a great job of tripping me. In our spiritual lives we also get entangled with invisible lines; something others can see and we cannot. Without their help we trip, fall down, and have a mess to deal with. We are in the body of Christ so we can help one another; that includes alerting one another to danger, or maybe just to an entanglement. It takes humility to recognize the need for help, and it is indeed humbling to see ones self entangled and not be aware!
What if I had not trusted my husband when he told me to stop? Thinking, I know better, I don't need to stop for anything! I would have eventually been forced to stop, doubly humbled because I didn't listen.
His tugging on the line is not what had entangled me, it just showed both of us I was entangled. How often do we get upset with the one who shows us our entanglements instead of being thankful and doing what is necessary to be freed from them?
It was a beautiful sunny day, nothing to worry about, things were going great. In our walk with Jesus, even when things are going great it is possible to just be walking along and get tangled up in the distractions of the world, or the desires of the flesh. Nothing bad or evil in themselves, just enough to keep us from running if the need were to arise.
Lord, we need those in our lives that give us cautions, corrections and help us when we are entangled to get un-entangled, yet so often we push them away, we keep our distance, not wanting to admit our need for help. Especially from others. You have given us Your body Lord, so we could work together for each other's good. Help us to receive from our brothers and sisters the help we need. As we are also called to give loving thoughtful correction and caution, may we do it with Your Spirit of humility, love and grace. May we be truly thankful for one another.
Psm. 141:5a ~ Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil upon the head; do not let my head refuse it.
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