Month: February 2023

2 Timothy 1:7

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

I love this verse in 2 Timothy. It is quite often a go-to verse when I am feeling fearful. That is because I like to never get past the timid, powerful, and love part. Hey no judging here if you are in the same boat. Who really wants to deal with that self-discipline one? I am sure we would all love to magically have self-discipline. Of course that would put the diet industry out of business . . . LOL!

I want to take a look at why I turn to this verse. I recite it when I am afraid. I say it to remind myself that God has given me what I need to face the situation. Notice I said when I am afraid. This verse is a tool. God is saying I have what you need when you find yourself lacking. Yes, that even means that bad habit you seem to fall into time and time again. When you find yourself falling, God is there with self-discipline. It is just like when I find myself afraid, I can turn to this verse to remind myself I don’t have to be.

So when I am trying to improve my health and just feel weak, I can turn to this verse to remind myself God has got me there too! Isn’t it great God never expects us to be perfect? He has us covered!

Lord, thank You for giving me power, love, and self-discipline when I am weak. ~amen

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1 John 3:18

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

I recently had a go-a-round with someone. When it was over, he came to apologize. I looked him straight in the eyes and said don’t bother telling me, show me. Words are important, but how you say them is much more important. Even more important than that are the actions you take.

I am sure we have all heard horror stories about slippery salesmen. You may have even fallen victim to one of their schemes. Their words sound wonderful, maybe even a little too good to be true. In the end, their actions showed you just how ‘too good to be true’ it was.

Unfortunately, we see this in politics all too many times. The politician will make promises he has no intention to keep. Well, to be fair he may have intended to, but something happened along the line to change his mind.

The point to all of this is love is an action verb. You can say I love you all day long but in the end, it is just words. You want to really show your love for your neighbor? Put some action behind it. After all, Jesus didn’t just say it. He climbed up on a cross and died for you!

Lord, give me opportunities to share my love today through actions and not just words. ~amen

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Proverbs 14:22

Do not those who plot evil go astray?
But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

Who is more important in your life? Do you turn to your friends and loved ones or that person who is a thorn in your side? Who is always there for you? Who sticks by your side through thick and thin? Who will be with you years from now and still be a prominent part of your life? Who will fade away, even if they don’t go away the pain and issues lessen over time?

Now, let’s talk about our responsibility specifically. How can you make these feelings go away? When you are in the middle of pain and even anger, how do you survive? You may not like the answer. Instead of praying that the other person goes away, changes, or heaven forbid stricken down with a bolt of lightning, pray that God will change you. Yes, you read that correctly. I know the other person is causing all the issues, but you are the one in control. You have two choices. You can stay enslaved to the evil plotting against that person or you can let it go and find the love and faithfulness God has to help you get through it.

You will be amazed what letting go does for you. It really is freeing. You can look at that person and say to yourself I really don’t care. When you do that, you stop playing the victim in the story and become the victor! So, let those evil plots go away. Let God crown you with His love and faithfulness. Hear Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant!”

Lord, I am letting go! I am done being the victim. I want to be the victor! ~amen

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1 John 4:11

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

It is time to take the blinders off today. This may be a little painful. Hang in there. Take a moment and take an honest look at yourself. Think about all those shameful things of your past. Now, don’t let them overwhelm you. Remember those are in the past. You are not who you were yesterday. You have been saved by grace. WAIT! There it is! You have been saved by grace. No matter how bad that past you was or even how bad those slip-ups are today or tomorrow, GOD LOVES YOU! Even though each of those things brought pain to God, just like a parent feels pain when their children make a mistake, He still loves you.

OK, time to get out of your past mistakes. Time to offer some of that love that you did not deserve but got from God anyway. Look around you. Who is causing you pain? Please don’t try to give, “Yeah but I am not as bad as they are” excuse. God didn’t use it with you! Don’t try the, “You have no idea what they did to me” one either. People beat and killed Jesus and He still loved them. No one is saying you have to be besties and hang together. No, you have to love them enough to forgive and move on from them. Let go. God loves you enough, don’t you think you should pass that on?

Lord, help me let it go and pass on Your love to others today. ~amen

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Philippians 4:13

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Can I really do ALL things through Christ? Did you ever notice that is not what the New International Version says about this verse? It says, “I can do all this.” Now I am not here to argue which version is better. You read the translation you like and speaks God’s word to you. I pointed the NIV out because it makes sure you don’t take this verse out of context. You see by reading the NIV in this case you have to go back and read the verses before it.

In verses 11-12, Paul is talking about how he has learned to be content in whatever his circumstances might be. “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (verse 12). I think what Paul was saying in verse 13 was God is going to get me through whatever circumstance I am in and I will be OK.

The best example I can come up with is the sports players that wear this verse. I don’t believe because they are wearing it they will win. No, they wear it because win or lose they will get through it and glorify God at the end of the game. You see with God no matter what at the end of the day it is a WIN!

Lord, no matter how my day turns out, I know it is a win with You! ~amen

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Romans 8:37

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:37 begins with the word ‘No’. It is written this way because the verses before it are asking if there is anything that can separate us from Christ. Are there any hardships, persecutions, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword that can come between us? Paul gives a resounding “NO!” However, I like to read this verse with the word ‘know’. I think it is important to know this deep down in your heart that nothing will ever come between us.

You must know you are more than just a conqueror. You will not only get through or survive what is going on in your life. You will conquer it. The word conquer means to successfully overcome AND take control. This is not we just won another game. No, this is we won the championship 500 to 0!!!! You come out as the best of the best in this competition. Let me put it one more way for you. You are not only going to defeat Satan, you are going to chew him up and spit him out!

Please KNOW this today! God loves you! Through Him all things are possible. No matter what weapon Satan is throwing at you right now, You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you!

Lord, because of You and through You we are much more than conquerors. We are CHAMPIONS! ~amen

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Jeremiah 31:25

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.

I am sure we have all been weary and felt faint. One of my Mom’s favorite verses that I heard repeated from her all of the time was Isaiah 40:31, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” As a matter of fact, we used to sing it at church followed by the words, “Teach me Lord, Teach me Lord to wait.” It is always that last piece that makes life difficult doesn’t it? That four-letter word ‘wait’! Why does such a small word cause so much pain?

I have a plan to help you get to Isaiah 40:31. It is simple, use Jeremiah 31:25. You may not be ready to soar on wings like eagles are run and not grow weary. Right now you just might need a refreshing to keep going until you can do that again. Jeremiah is giving you the what to do while you wait. While we wait we can depend on the Lord all the more. God will see you through even while you are waiting on Him to come through. I know that sounds funny, but think about it for a minute. If you are on a journey, there is a destination. Along the way, you have pitstops, exits, and sightseeing. Those are God’s ways of refreshing you along the journey as you wait to reach your destination. So go ahead, get refreshed while you wait!

Lord, I am so grateful for Your spots of refreshment along the journey. ~amen

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Proverbs 16:3

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

So, here is how I am pretty sure most of us have had a conversation in our heads or intentionally with God.

Me, “OK, Lord here is my plan. I think I will . . .”
God, “How do you think that will turn out for you?”
Me, “Oh it will be fine I have researched it. I talked about it with several friends and thought a lot about it while tossing and turning and not sleeping. It will all be great!”
God sighs and even may giggle a little.

A few days later . . .

Me, “God, where were You? Why didn’t my plan work?”
God, “Exactly when did you think it was really going to work? I mean when exactly did you take the time to ask me what to do instead of telling me what you were going to do?”
Me, “Sorry, Lord. Will you help me get out of this now and send me on the right path?
God, “Of course I will my child. I love you. We will get you back on track.”

Yep! I have been in this conversation several times and probably will be again if I am honest . . . LOL!

Sorry, Lord! I know Your plans are better and I need to bring my problems to You and then wait for Your answer instead of running out on my own. ~amen

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1 Corinthians 13:1

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

OK, so today is an honesty moment with me that I am not so proud of. Yesterday was NOT a great day. My husband came home in a mood and I was not in the mood to play the victim. I was not in the mood to play the peacekeeper. I was not in the mood to walk around on eggshells until he got himself back together. Nope, I was in attack mode. I was ready to chew him up and spit him out. OK, so maybe I was in a little bit of a mood too. . . LOL!

To keep from killing each other we chose our corners of the house and stayed there. He slept it off. Me? I brewed. I mean seriously, dark roast all the way! Every time I thought I was doing better and wanted to go check on him, the Holy Spirit checked me. Even if the words I was going to use were kind and concerned, the disdain in my voice conveyed the lack of love in my heart right then.

Thank goodness several hours later, we were able to curl up on the couch and watch TV together giggling and smiling. Yes, once again our voices reflected the love we had for each other. There were no more resounding gongs or clanging cymbals.

Lord, thank You for prompting me to stay put until my heart matched my words. ~amen

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Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Does unwholesome talk mean we can’t say anything because it may offend someone? I don’t think so because of the second part of that verse that seems to get overlooked. We are to use words that are “helpful for building others up according to their needs, that may benefit those who listen.” We must choose our words wisely but it doesn’t mean we are only to spout rainbows and unicorns. We are not to only tell people what they want to hear. We are not to tickle their egos. No, we must help build them up which means encourage them to grow and become better.

What makes you grow? What makes a plant grow? It has to fight and struggle to break through the ground. What about a butterfly fighting its way out of a cocoon?

Let’s talk sports for a minute. Do you think all those famous players spend their days at parties, driving those fancy cars, and lying around those beautiful homes? NO! To be their best they must practice hard. They battle other teams. So, why do you think you or anyone else can be given everything just because you are breathing?

News flash we are not ENTITLED to anything. Sometimes, we even deserve to have our toes stepped on in order to learn how to grow and become better. Yes, we need encouragement to keep going, but we also need the building up by showing us where we need to work. So, don’t get offended, get encouraged!

Lord, I know I can’t always hear how well I am doing. I also need to hear where I need to work in order to grow. ~amen

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