Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Be Right Back...
I'll be away from my computer for a few days, but trust that the Lord will continue to richly bless your time with Him. ~Carol ^_^
Prepare My Heart
Tuesday, July 21; 2Chr.12; Prov. 16:8; Acts 8:1-8
Rehoboam's troubles began with a heart that was not prepared to seek the Lord. He was not inclined to fear the Lord, and didn't turn his feet to follow the Lord's paths. When the winds of change and trouble came, he had no strong roots to hold him fast in godliness.
How do I 'prepare' my heart to seek the Lord? There are many possiblilties, including asking Him to do so. First, and foremost, must be a reverential fear; acknowledging His sovereignty in my life, and embracing my position in Him. An important first step in my own life has been to learn to actively give Him thanks in all things. Not just trying to work up an attitude of gratefulness, or adopting a perspective of resignation... but verbally giving Him thanks in every situation. In so doing, I remind myself that He knows the end from the beginning and will keep His promises to provide for all my need.
This first step will build my trust in Him, and choosing to obey the direction of His Spirit will complete my part of the process. Praying, speaking, studying, being still, rejoicing, giving thanks, helping others... all theses are part of the obedience. Prov.16:3 teaches us to take care of our part--obedient works--and He will take care of changing and establishing our thoughts.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Mama's Boys
Sat-Sun, 18-19 July 2009; 2Chr. 9-10; Prov. 16:4-6; Acts 7:35-50
Moses and Rehoboam were both called of God to rule the Israelites, and their mothers' influence was strongly reflected their individual leadership.
Moses, whose humble beginnings and past failures posed no obstacles to God when it was time to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. During the forty years of wilderness wanderings, Moses carried with him the humble and reverent spirit his mother, Jochabed, had worked so hard to instill.
Rehoboam, on the other hand, was the son of Naamah, an Ammonitess; born to privilege and named the successor to King Solomon. How is it that Solomon had justified his forbidden marriage to one of the pagan children of Lot? How much did he invest in the spiritual life of his son? Rehoboam seemed to have no fear of God, nor any respect for his father's godly counselors.
Ironically, had he followed the recorded wisdom of his father, the kingdom might have been spared the schism resulting from his proud foolishness. Apparently anxious to impress his peers, Rehoboam rejected the mercy and truth admonished in Prov.6:5-6. Makes me wonder if that might have even been part of the counsel given him by the aged ones.
As with the Pharisees who questioned Stephen, in Acts 7, Rehoboam was more concerned about his own power than he was about righteous judgment. Lord, let me always be careful to teach my children the fear of the Lord. And let my own heart bow in humility before You; never forgetting that any authority I have comes from You alone, and solely for Your purpose and glory.
Moses and Rehoboam were both called of God to rule the Israelites, and their mothers' influence was strongly reflected their individual leadership.
Moses, whose humble beginnings and past failures posed no obstacles to God when it was time to lead the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. During the forty years of wilderness wanderings, Moses carried with him the humble and reverent spirit his mother, Jochabed, had worked so hard to instill.
Rehoboam, on the other hand, was the son of Naamah, an Ammonitess; born to privilege and named the successor to King Solomon. How is it that Solomon had justified his forbidden marriage to one of the pagan children of Lot? How much did he invest in the spiritual life of his son? Rehoboam seemed to have no fear of God, nor any respect for his father's godly counselors.
Ironically, had he followed the recorded wisdom of his father, the kingdom might have been spared the schism resulting from his proud foolishness. Apparently anxious to impress his peers, Rehoboam rejected the mercy and truth admonished in Prov.6:5-6. Makes me wonder if that might have even been part of the counsel given him by the aged ones.
As with the Pharisees who questioned Stephen, in Acts 7, Rehoboam was more concerned about his own power than he was about righteous judgment. Lord, let me always be careful to teach my children the fear of the Lord. And let my own heart bow in humility before You; never forgetting that any authority I have comes from You alone, and solely for Your purpose and glory.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Deeds To Thoughts
Friday, 17 July, 2009: 2 Chronicles 1:1-18; Proverbs 16:1-3; Acts 7:30-34
"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits." I can usually find a good reason for my deeds, but the Lord shines His holy light on the thoughts that preceded them. What were the motivations behind the actions? Whatever I tell myself--or others--the Lord knows if I do things to glorify His name, or my own.
If any good comes out of my mouth, it is only because the Lord prepared my heart. (Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh... Matt. 12:34) Only He can subdue a sinful spirit, and fill the void with His goodness.
Pro. 16:3 gives us the summary formula: "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established." Disciplining myself to do what the Lord asks will give Him space and authority to alter the attitudes that shape my motivations.
If my enemy is hungry, I am to give him food. If someone reviles me because of my faith, I am to pray for them. If I am abused or despised, I am commanded to give blessing in return. The actions are done out of a trusting obedience, leaving the final resolutions to the Lord. Submission to His sovereignty and Lordship will create in me a humble heart, ready to speak as His Spirit leads.
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