Jesus Calling - March 13th

"LEARN TO LIVE above your circumstances. This requires focused time with Me, the One who overcomes the world. Trouble and distress are woven into the very fabric of this perishing world. Only My Life in you can empower you to face this endless flow of problems . . . "

I'm pretty sure this is the greatest challenge of this life--living "above" our circumstances. This world is oppressive. That's the nature of sin and imperfection. I know Jesus is perfect now, and also was as a man. However it's easy to forget that He was fully IN this world. He felt oppression, temptation, and sin's effects. Who better to go to, to learn from to "sit with" than Jesus? "Focused time" is necessary because of all the distractions around us and IN us. My mind almost never shuts down. Focused time means clearing your mind--purposefully-- and THEN sitting in His presence--dwelling, abiding, listening.

"As you sit quietly in My Presence, I shine Peace into your troubled mind and heart. Little by little, you are freed from earthly shackles and lifted up above your circumstances. You gain My perspective on your life, enabling you to distinguish between what is important and what is not. Rest in My Presence . . . "

The effect of this time with Him is PEACE. Doesn't that sound amazing? What a gift in this burdensome life. His perspective really changes everything.

Whenever I hear the word "shackles" I think of one of my favorite songs which contains these lyrics:

 

"Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance. I just wanna praise Him.

He broke the chains so I can lift my hands. I just wanna praise Him."

Jesus Calling - March 7th

"LET ME HELP YOU through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are keenly aware of your helplessness . . . This awareness opens up a choice: doggedly go it alone or walk with Me in humble steps of dependence . . . difficulties highlight the decision-making process . . . Consider it all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials. These are gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone."

It is so difficult for me to rely on anyone--even God Almighty. I even try to cover up the fact of my helplessness-- to myself. I AM "keenly aware" of it, but I deny it, push it down.

I remember several years ago when I broke my right arm badly. I had to admit my helplessness. My husband and my Mom had to do my hair, help me dress and bathe. I am not good at admitting helplessness. And it is UGLY. It's pure flesh, sin nature-- PRIDE and REBELLIOUSNESS. The pride comes from thinking I know best--the dictionary uses the word "superiority"; and from not wanting to show or admit weakness. The rebelliousness is a struggle for me. If someone makes a "suggestion" I automatically want to do the opposite. (Well, not always. ;) If it is my parents or my husband I do.) Again, I think part of that is an insecurity and thinking that they think of me as incapable or dumb. Completely irrational thinking most of the time.

"Doggedly" is a word I don't use much. OK--ever! It just means tenaciously, stubbornly, not giving it up--like a dog with a bone. Hmmm. Sounds a little like rebelliousness.

Walking with an awareness of God's presence in my life requires HUMILITY and dependence. That's tough for me. Seems easier when there are no challenges or decisions to make. But like Sarah Young states, "difficulties highlight the decision-making process." And we suddenly feel overwhelming pressure and forget all about who has already gone ahead of us, and at the same time walks beside us--our Helper, our Guide, our Protector.

It truly is a "gift" to feel consumed by a difficult trial. At that point there is no denying our helplessness and His strength. We must rely on Him and it feels amazing. Rest, peace and security are what He gives us.

 Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely. (Psalm 63:7-8)

Jesus Calling - February 28th

It's ridiculous how well these words fit me:

"STOP JUDGING AND EVALUATING YOURSELF, for this is not your role."
So why do I (and others) think it is? The problem is that our perspective is completely skewed. First of all, we were intended to live as perfect people in a perfect world. Sin changed all that. There are consequences due to the "original sin". Secondly, I can't possibly conceive of the perfection of Jesus. And God now sees me through the "lens" of Jesus because of His sacrifice for me. So--I have no business 'judging and evaluating' myself, do I?

"Stop comparing yourself with oher people. This produces feelings of pride or inferiority; sometimes a mixture of both."
Yikes! Um "a mixture of both" = ME. It's been a hard thing for me to understand until the last year or so--pride and insecurity exist together. I always felt that people tended to struggle with one or the other. But the problem is that first statement which refers to self. We evaluate and rate ourselves according to what? What is our measuring stick? Well, naturally it falls to others since we don't have the perspective of God.

The sad thing is how much time I (and others) waste devoting our time and energy to this. I mean, sometimes it seems like this is all I do. It's consuming. Not only is it wrong, but it robs God, our families, all of our relationships of attention and devotion. It's just another form of self-centeredness. Sarah Young says it well, "Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless."

I think that my goal needs to be awe, respect and reverence for me as God's new creation. Not just who He made me to be originally, but who I am now--in Christ:

I . . . clothe you in My garments of salvation. . . radiant in My robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10)