Am I An Intruder?

Have you ever felt like you were intruding on someone's time?  The real question is, is your feeling from God or something Satan is trying to do in your life? How do you know the difference between God's will and Satan's?

I love the book of Proverbs because it provides so much about the practicalities of life. As I read through Chapter 14, the following thoughts came to me as I considered whether or not I was intruding into someone's life:

• Do I build them up or tear them down?  A critical spirit destroys fellowship with others.
• Am I straightforward or am I devious towards selfish ends?
• Does what I say open the door to spiritual viruses or am I protected against destructive intrusive emotions?
• Do I tell the truth or do I lie to gain some kind of selfish personal advantage?
• Do my friendships give wisdom and understanding or do they cloud my view of life principles?
• Do I recognize sinful actions and do I encourage an environment for good behavior?
• Am I willing to put up with some disturbance in order to gain an uplifting reward?

Living by God's standards is always beneficial to you and those God leads across your path.

Broken Rainbows

The following thoughts were prompted by a reading from Warren Wiersbe's devotional book Prayer, Praise & Promises.

A little girl and her mother were walking down a sidewalk after a rainstorm.  Someone had spilled some automobile oil on the pavement. Seeing the oil after the rain, the little girl said, “Mommy, look at all of the broken rainbows!”

Have the rainbows of your heart been broken?   Maybe you don't feel as close to God as you once did.  Life isn't as pretty as it once was.  What can one do to once again be near to Him?

First, keep in mind that nearness is likeness. The Lord is near to those who have a broken and a contrite heart (Ps. 34:17, 18).  The more we are like God, the nearer we are to Him.  How close can you get to God?  You can get as close to him as you want.  Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.  Remember that God knows the meaning of a broken heart.  Jesus Christ literally experienced one.  He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53: 3).  Let your experiences make you more like Jesus, and you will sense His nearness.

Second, remember that God gives grace to the humble.  “God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).  David also said, “A broken and contrite heart, these, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).  Our Lord came to “heal the brokenhearted” (Luke 4:18).  Do you have a broken heart that needs to be healed?  Like a jigsaw puzzle that has fallen on the floor, it can be restored.  Here's a simple secret: Give the Lord all the pieces and he will heal you.

Everyone has experienced a life of broken rainbows, of dashed hopes and smashed plans. Take comfort knowing that Jesus heals the broken heart.  Are you getting over a crushing experience? The Lord understands what you are going through.  Draw near to Him with a humble spirit and give Him the broken pieces.  He will heal your broken heart. 

God's Will Is a Safe Place

Come to me with all your weaknesses: physical, emotional, and spiritual.  Rest in the comfort of My Presence, remembering that nothing is impossible with me.

Pry your mind away from your problems so you can focus your attention on Me.  Recall that I am able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine.  Instead of trying to direct Me to do this and that, seek to attune yourself to what I am already doing.

When anxiety attempts to wedge its way into your thoughts, remind yourself that I am your Shepherd.  The bottom line is that I am taking care of you; therefore, you need not be afraid of anything.  Rather than trying to maintain control of your life, abandon yourself to My will.  Though this may feel frightening -- even dangerous, the safest place to be is in My will.

Luke 1:37; Eph. 3:20-21; Psalm 23:1-4  

Inspiring Others

2 Timothy 1:1-7

Do I surround myself with people who  motivate (inspire) me, or do they drag me down?  The Apostle Paul was truly an inspiration to the younger Timothy.  In 2 Timothy 1:1-7 we discover how Paul inspired Timothy in his calling as Christ's servant.  

We all need inspiration and encouragement as we seek to please our Lord in ministering for Him to others.  When Paul speaks of his apostleship, there are unmistakable themes in his messages as there should be in our message to others.

• His apostleship was an honor

He was chosen by the will of God.  To be an inspiration to others, every Christian must regard himself/herself as a chosen vessel of God to fulfill a purpose of God.  What an honor it is to be chosen by God to fulfill a mission He has for me.

• His apostleship was a responsibility.

Paul's responsibility was to be an instrument through whom the blessings of a new life in Christ would be shared with others.  No Christian is ever chosen entirely for his own sake, but rather what he can dofor the benefit of others.

• His apostleship was a privilege.  
  
  Paul’s message of new life in Christ was a message of privilege.  To Paul, Christianity was not a threat of damnation, but rather of the good news of salvation in Christ.  Paul’s message was not to terrify men by dangling them over the fires of hell, but rather to move them to astonished submission at the sight of God’s love.
  Paul’s gospel message was of privileged love, not fear...love seeking the best for others.  For Paul, there was no greater joy than bringing someone to Christ.  Our true inspiration is in a person, not a thing.
  
  

How Can I Inspire Others?

Inspiration is a wonderful motivator to greatness.  What inspires you?

• Being appreciated
• Having a purpose in life
• Receiving words of encouragement
• Having a sense of being needed or wanted
• Receiving hope when there seems to be no hope
• Having someone be willing to listen to my story  

Paul’s object in writing this letter is to inspire and strengthen Timothy for his task in Ephesus.  Timothy’s battles were against heresies and infections that were a threat to the body of Christ.  So then, in order to inspire and strengthen him to keep his courage high and his efforts bold, Paul reminds him of certain things.

• He reminds him of his own confidence in him. 

There is no greater inspiration than to know that someone believes in us.  Showing respect to someone is always more effective than the threat of punishment.  The fear of letting down those who love and respect us is a great motivator.  It is truly life-changing.

• He reminds him of his family tradition.

Timothy was walking in a wonderful heritage.  His grandmother and mother provided Timothy with a wonderful spiritual heritage.  If he failed, he would not only stain his own name, but he would lesson the honor of his family name as well.

• He reminds him of his setting apart to office and of the gift bestowed upon him.

Any office held has not only a tradition associated with it, but the strength that the tradition supplies.  We are never alone.  We have not only the strength that God supplies through the Holy Spirit, but the strength supplied through the communion of fellow Christians.
Paul reminds Timothy of four qualities that characterize the Christian teacher.

1. Courage - Fear is not of the Lord because He is ever present with us as the "Comforter."
2. Love - As a child of God, I am loved and perfect love casts out fear. 
   1 Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  No one should ever enter the ministry of the church unless there is love for God’s people within his heart and a burning desire to see the lost come to Christ.
3. Power - Power to cope, power to shoulder the task, power to stand erect in the face of a shattering situation.  Power to face a soul-searing sorrow or a wounding disappointment.
4. Self-discipline - Self-discipline has been defined as the control of oneself in the face of panic or of passion.No man can ever rule others unless he has first mastered himself.  The word Paul uses for self-discipline is divinely given as self-control.  Unless one contols his own passions he is unable to be a great minister over others.  
   “You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.”  Brian Tracy

Conclusion

There are times when we all need a special dose of inspiration to help us keep on keeping on.  One of Satan's weapons is to get us to feel discouraged.  He discourages us by getting us to feel that we are unimportant, by depriving us of daily necessities, and moving those who are directly involved in our daily activities to belittle, criticize and put down our intended God-given purpose in life -- to share the Good News of Salvation in Christ.

However, in Christ, 

• We have great courage to go on. 
• We have God's love that motivates us and removes all doubt and fear.
• We have power to cope with life's great disappointments and
• We have the ability to overcome the struggles in life that rob us of being over-comers.

Irritants Produce Character

I was thinking that sometimes I wish I didn't have to go through the rough times of life, but I remembered that it is the rough times that produce the greatest value of one's character.

1. If it wasn't for the irritant grain of sand in the midst of the oyster, the pearl would not be born.
2. If it wasn't for the dryness of the land, the trees would not be deeply rooted and strong.
3. If it wasn't for the cries of a needy child in the middle of the night, a mother's love would not be shown.
4. If it wasn't for blows of the sharp blade, the facets of a diamond would not increase its value.

In the same way, God allows the pains of life to show His love and care to us His beloved children.

Psalm 12:5 NAS

"Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, Now I will arise," says the LORD ; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs."

Am I An Intruder?

Have you ever felt like you were intruding on someone's time?  The real question is, is your feeling from God or something Satan is trying to do in your life? How do you know the difference between God's will and Satan's?

I love the book of Proverbs because it provides so much about the practicalities of life. As I read through Chapter 14, the following thoughts came to me as I considered whether or not I was intruding into someone's life:

• Do I build them up or tear them down?  A critical spirit destroys fellowship with others.
• Am I straightforward or am I devious towards selfish ends?
• Does what I say open the door to spiritual viruses or am I protected against destructive intrusive emotions?
• Do I tell the truth or do I lie to gain some kind of selfish personal advantage?
• Do my friendships give wisdom and understanding or do they cloud my view of life principles?
• Do I recognize sinful actions and do I encourage an environment for good behavior?
• Am I willing to put up with some disturbance in order to gain an uplifting reward?

Living by God's standards is always beneficial to you and those God leads across your path.

God Fights Our Battles

It is inevitable that there will be those who Satan uses to fight against us when we take up the banner of Christ.  David knew this well and in Psalm 35 we read of his approach against such people.

I am comforted to read that he didn't just lay down and let it happen.  He actively prayed to his heavenly Father calling upon Him to actively deal with his enemies.  God does a much better job than we could ever dream of.

David asks the LORD (God) to contend and fight against those who contend and fight against him.  He asks God to give them a "dose of their own medicine."

He asks God for "complete" protection.  The shield is large and protects the whole body and the buckler is a smaller shield held in the hand to ward off specifically directed "fiery darts."  God doesn't do things just half way; we are completely protected by His loving hands.

God is not just a God of defense, but He is a God of "offense."  David asks God to "Brandish spear and javelin" against David's enemies.  He is our salvation.

David asks that those who attack us would experience disgrace and shame and that they would be "turned back in dismay" and that they would be like chaff before the wind.  Chaff before the wind gives us the picture of nothingness..no meaning and no effect on anyone or anything.  May those who attack us come to nothingness.  They ultimately come to ruin who fight against God's anointed.

23-28  O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent.  Do not be far from me, O Lord.  Awake, and rise to my defense!  Contend for me, my God and Lord.  Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God; do not let them gloat over me.  Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up."  May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.  May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, "The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant."  My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.