Isaiah 13:15-16
But there will be rewards for
those who live right and tell the truth, for those who refuse to take
money by force or accept bribes, for all who hate murder and violent
crimes. They will live in a fortress high on a rocky cliff, where they will have food and plenty of water.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today,
our great niece Kelsey Lynn goes for “assessments” to start her
kindergarten year (which technically begins in another week). Next
Monday, Timothy will begin the school year as a first grader. I’d be
lying if I
said I didn’t have high aspirations for these two…and (collectively)
their three siblings, and my other little cousins and young friends. I
pray every day that God will bless and prosper these children…that they
will be surrounded by a hedge of protection against things like drug
abuse, alcohol, bullying and abuse of all kinds, and more. I want them
to be all that God plans for them…and above everything else, I want them
to know and love Jesus.
We joke (and dream) about this child
becoming the next big model or entertainer…or that one becoming a
doctor/scientist who cures cancer…or another becoming a pro athlete.
But at the end of the day, we truly want our children to live “in a
fortress high on a rocky cliff” and have “food and plenty of water.”
What do I mean by this? Our ultimate goal is that our children live and
grow in such a way that God blesses them with plenty. Where some of us get into trouble is with our interpretation of this word.
So the challenge for each of us is to recognize that what God has planned for us – and our children – may not be what we
anticipate and dream. But if we live according to His will and trust
His plans…we will always operate in the “Land of Plenty.” Do not
misunderstand me…our goal should not be to acquire God’s blessings and
abundance. We should not live in "What's in it for me?" mode. Just
because we do our dead-level best to live according to God’s will and
Word does not guarantee that we will be rich and/or famous…and most
certainly it doesn’t mean that our lives will be free of troubles and
worries.
Still, our ultimate desire should be to live according
to God’s commands and to please Him in all things out of a sense of deep
love and respect for Him. We should strive to live right and tell the
truth, to operate honestly in business and trade, and to take the high
road and avoid desires for revenge or ill will of any kind toward
others. When we live in a way that pleases God, we will always have plenty.
It may seem like “just enough” at times…but we will always have the
confidence that our obedience has delighted our Heavenly Father – and He
has met our needs.
This is my prayer for our little ones…that
they would grow and learn…and have countless new adventures at school.
More importantly, I pray that they would also grow in the wisdom of the
LORD and become all that He wants them to be…and that each of them lives
“high on a cliff” with “plenty.” This should be our personal goal, as
well… regardless of whether we are five…or 95! Where do you live these days?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label giving our desires to God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giving our desires to God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for June 23, 2015
Luke 9:23
Then he said to all, “Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A few days ago, I vacuumed the floors. Allow me to explain why this is worth noting. Vacuuming floors had been on my “to-do” list for several days. Things kept coming up that were more important – or more enjoyable – than vacuuming floors. I should wait until after I did laundry and finished a sewing project, because there would be lint and dust and all of those tiny little threads all over the floors! Then I needed to attend a funeral, so there was no time – the floors could wait another day! And then I decided that I should wait again and do the floors closer to time for our young niece and nephews to visit, so that they would have a nice clean playing surface (and yes, I do know that once the children visit, the floors need another vacuuming!)
It gets to be a vicious cycle sometimes…and at some point I have to say, “Okay…this is it! Today, I vacuum!” Maybe you can relate to this silly analogy…but even if you cannot, consider this…we make up all sorts of excuses about following Jesus that are just as silly in the scheme of things.
It’s not convenient…or what He is asking us to do is “outside our comfort zone.” We tell Him, “I’ll do this…tomorrow!” And tomorrow never comes. We straddle the fence in the presence of our peers…makes no sense to express a different opinion and risk alienating them! We go along with the crowd six ways to Sunday. We fall down, mess up, and promise to do better next time…but then we turn right around and repeat our mistakes.
If you go back in Luke 9, some earlier verses talk about our desire to control things vs. God’s. In The Message translation, it even says “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am.” But we don’t want to hear this…we want to “drive” and be in full control. As my cousin Natalie says…we want to tell God how to do things, because we think our way is so much better. Luke reminds us in this passage that this is clearly not the case!
So while it really doesn’t make that much difference which day I vacuum…or if I choose not to for a few days longer than I ought…it does matter when we ignore God. We cannot claim to be Christ’s disciple and then insist on “driving the car.” It simply does not work that way...and if we are arrogant enough to insist that it does, we’ve as much as said, “Lie down in the seat, LORD, so no one will see that You are with me!” (Remember when you tried to pull that with your mom? You SURELY didn’t want her to sit right next to you in case you needed any sudden assistance!)
When we act embarrassed by Jesus…or insist on having control, we blow it – big time…and Jesus makes note. It’s not so much that we will be “punished” in some way for this as much as it’s the fact that this is disrespectful…hurtful…and downright unbecoming of Christian disciples. We should want Jesus by our side. We should crave His wisdom and guidance. We should seek His answers and attention at every turn, simply because of Who He is and what He has done – and does – for us.
The question of the day is…”How are you treating Jesus – and your relationship with Him?” Whose desires and conveniences are top priority – His, or your own? Your answer matters greatly. Isn’t it time you figured out Who should drive…and let Him? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Then he said to all, “Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me!
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A few days ago, I vacuumed the floors. Allow me to explain why this is worth noting. Vacuuming floors had been on my “to-do” list for several days. Things kept coming up that were more important – or more enjoyable – than vacuuming floors. I should wait until after I did laundry and finished a sewing project, because there would be lint and dust and all of those tiny little threads all over the floors! Then I needed to attend a funeral, so there was no time – the floors could wait another day! And then I decided that I should wait again and do the floors closer to time for our young niece and nephews to visit, so that they would have a nice clean playing surface (and yes, I do know that once the children visit, the floors need another vacuuming!)
It gets to be a vicious cycle sometimes…and at some point I have to say, “Okay…this is it! Today, I vacuum!” Maybe you can relate to this silly analogy…but even if you cannot, consider this…we make up all sorts of excuses about following Jesus that are just as silly in the scheme of things.
It’s not convenient…or what He is asking us to do is “outside our comfort zone.” We tell Him, “I’ll do this…tomorrow!” And tomorrow never comes. We straddle the fence in the presence of our peers…makes no sense to express a different opinion and risk alienating them! We go along with the crowd six ways to Sunday. We fall down, mess up, and promise to do better next time…but then we turn right around and repeat our mistakes.
If you go back in Luke 9, some earlier verses talk about our desire to control things vs. God’s. In The Message translation, it even says “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am.” But we don’t want to hear this…we want to “drive” and be in full control. As my cousin Natalie says…we want to tell God how to do things, because we think our way is so much better. Luke reminds us in this passage that this is clearly not the case!
So while it really doesn’t make that much difference which day I vacuum…or if I choose not to for a few days longer than I ought…it does matter when we ignore God. We cannot claim to be Christ’s disciple and then insist on “driving the car.” It simply does not work that way...and if we are arrogant enough to insist that it does, we’ve as much as said, “Lie down in the seat, LORD, so no one will see that You are with me!” (Remember when you tried to pull that with your mom? You SURELY didn’t want her to sit right next to you in case you needed any sudden assistance!)
When we act embarrassed by Jesus…or insist on having control, we blow it – big time…and Jesus makes note. It’s not so much that we will be “punished” in some way for this as much as it’s the fact that this is disrespectful…hurtful…and downright unbecoming of Christian disciples. We should want Jesus by our side. We should crave His wisdom and guidance. We should seek His answers and attention at every turn, simply because of Who He is and what He has done – and does – for us.
The question of the day is…”How are you treating Jesus – and your relationship with Him?” Whose desires and conveniences are top priority – His, or your own? Your answer matters greatly. Isn’t it time you figured out Who should drive…and let Him? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 22, 2013
September 22 ~ John 16:23-24
“This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!"
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Our 2-year-old niece, Zola, has been “campaigning” to come to our house for a visit for more than a week now. Every time we visit, she gets her little pink backpack… or stands by the door… or latches onto one of us and won’t let go…and she repeats over and over, “Go! Go!” One night last week we kept Nathan, Zola’s baby brother. When I went to get him, Timothy told Zola, “It’s Nathan’s turn to go… then it’s my turn. It’s not your turn.” Zola kept saying, “NO! It’s MY turn!”
So when we picked the children up for church this morning, Zola was very happy… until we stopped in the church parking lot. She “froze” in her car seat and refused to get out. “No! No!” she cried. I carried her into the building… crying. We know that she thought we were picking her up for a visit to our house. That would have been her preference. The hour spent with friends in the church nursery was worthwhile… but it was our will for Zola – not hers! Once she saw her friends and toys in the nursery, she was fine, and she was happy when we returned for her and took her back to her home. But her choice was a visit to Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg’s house!
I have to tell you that I am one of the world’s worst for “campaigning” to God for the things that I want. I pray continually… oh, man, do I pray! But I can’t say that I always pray for God’s will. In fact, I would have to admit that I interject far too much of my own desires into my communication with our Heavenly Father… as if I know better than He does how things should go!
Now I know better… and I do try to ask for God’s will. But I’m pretty sure that He can see right through me. He hears me say, “If it be your will”… but he also hears that little undertone in my voice that says…”but I really want it this way!” If ever there was a scripture passage that clearly tells us that God will answer our prayers, it is this one. If ever there was a passage that tells us He will do so according to His will… it is this one!
We can “campaign” all we want. God will still do what is best for us. We can kick and scream and go rigid and “refuse to get out of the car,” and He will still do what fulfills His perfect plans. Does this mean we waste our breath when we pray? Absolutely not! God wants to hear from us. But He wants to hear the surrender in our voice… He wants to fully recognize our humility and our desire for His will – not our own.
If we can ever truly relax and let God have control, I honestly believe we will see that His ways are better than ours… that His choices trump ours every time. I, for one, am a work in progress… and I suspect you are, too. But we need to do this… we must do this! We have to call on God to meet our needs… in Jesus’ name…according to His will. When we get to the point where we can genuinely make this shift in attitude… when we can completely surrender control to God… we invite Him to fully and freely work in our lives – and the floodgates of joy and blessings are blown wide open. I know I want this in my life and the lives of those for whom I’m praying… don’t you? Isn’t it time we chose to “let go and let God”? When you ask God to hear your prayers… will you be invoking His will – or yours?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I’ve revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he’ll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!"
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Our 2-year-old niece, Zola, has been “campaigning” to come to our house for a visit for more than a week now. Every time we visit, she gets her little pink backpack… or stands by the door… or latches onto one of us and won’t let go…and she repeats over and over, “Go! Go!” One night last week we kept Nathan, Zola’s baby brother. When I went to get him, Timothy told Zola, “It’s Nathan’s turn to go… then it’s my turn. It’s not your turn.” Zola kept saying, “NO! It’s MY turn!”
So when we picked the children up for church this morning, Zola was very happy… until we stopped in the church parking lot. She “froze” in her car seat and refused to get out. “No! No!” she cried. I carried her into the building… crying. We know that she thought we were picking her up for a visit to our house. That would have been her preference. The hour spent with friends in the church nursery was worthwhile… but it was our will for Zola – not hers! Once she saw her friends and toys in the nursery, she was fine, and she was happy when we returned for her and took her back to her home. But her choice was a visit to Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg’s house!
I have to tell you that I am one of the world’s worst for “campaigning” to God for the things that I want. I pray continually… oh, man, do I pray! But I can’t say that I always pray for God’s will. In fact, I would have to admit that I interject far too much of my own desires into my communication with our Heavenly Father… as if I know better than He does how things should go!
Now I know better… and I do try to ask for God’s will. But I’m pretty sure that He can see right through me. He hears me say, “If it be your will”… but he also hears that little undertone in my voice that says…”but I really want it this way!” If ever there was a scripture passage that clearly tells us that God will answer our prayers, it is this one. If ever there was a passage that tells us He will do so according to His will… it is this one!
We can “campaign” all we want. God will still do what is best for us. We can kick and scream and go rigid and “refuse to get out of the car,” and He will still do what fulfills His perfect plans. Does this mean we waste our breath when we pray? Absolutely not! God wants to hear from us. But He wants to hear the surrender in our voice… He wants to fully recognize our humility and our desire for His will – not our own.
If we can ever truly relax and let God have control, I honestly believe we will see that His ways are better than ours… that His choices trump ours every time. I, for one, am a work in progress… and I suspect you are, too. But we need to do this… we must do this! We have to call on God to meet our needs… in Jesus’ name…according to His will. When we get to the point where we can genuinely make this shift in attitude… when we can completely surrender control to God… we invite Him to fully and freely work in our lives – and the floodgates of joy and blessings are blown wide open. I know I want this in my life and the lives of those for whom I’m praying… don’t you? Isn’t it time we chose to “let go and let God”? When you ask God to hear your prayers… will you be invoking His will – or yours?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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