Day 10: Waiting For Whirlwinds To Stop

I don't know about you, but this season of my life has passed me by like a whirlwind...one thing happens after the other. So many parts of my world have felt like they're in the air, whizzing by my face with no hope of slowing down. I feel as though I haven't been allowed the moment to even catch my breath despite all of the air around me. In some ways, the control I'd like to assert on my life has been taken out of my hands and my trust in God tested to the hilt. I'm like so many of you who wear many hats (and more than one at any given moment); and the weight of the hats seems tremendous as we juggle all of the other parts of life. It can be overwhelming, to say the least. But even while the wind is whipping, the Lord has sent a reminder of what His protection looks like. His Word says:

"When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation."

Proverbs 10:25

Can you imagine that the Lord has us in a supernatural bubble. Though we can feel all the wind, it doesn't have the power to truly take us out. Though it feels like it may destroy us at any moment, God assures us that our foundation will be in tact once all of the winds still. And so all that's left to say at that point is...Praise God for his peace that persists in the mean time. May it guard your heart and mind while you stand with diligence and righteousness through the whirlwinds of your life.

Be encouraged,
MinD

Day 9: Fool for Free

The image of a court jester/fool came into my mind as I was reading Proverbs 9.6:

"Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding."

Back in medieval times, there was a job that a person could have whose whole intention was to be a fool--to make people laugh and be entertained. And the thing you could say about a jester is that at least he was paid to be a fool. As I read verse 6 of this chapter, I thought to myself how many of us serve as fools for free? How many of us engage in the same nonsense over and over again that seems to make others happy but lead to nothing but our frustration and discouragement. How many of us spend the majority of our day swimming in the part of the cup that is half empty and forgetting about the part that is half full? How many of us make a conscious decision daily to put life on hold because of foolishness? We walk through life being tricked and deceived by the enemy and his imps into believing that we are less than what God says we are. We have labeled ourselves "fool" in the Spirit instead of embracing how "fearfully and wonderfully" He made us (according to Psalm 139.14).

The proverb puts foolishness in direct contradiction to life. It says "forsake foolishness and live" almost as if it could be implied that to embrace foolishness equates to death. In Christ, we have the power to LIVE and not die. We have the power to swim in the optimistic, hopeful side of life and not in the depths of despair we create for ourselves through foolishness. Be it through the relationships you keep (because at least you know their mess) or the jobs that you trudge through (because at least it pays the bills even if it tears me down spiritually and emotionally) or the habits you maintain (because at least it makes you happy for a moment though it depresses you in the long run), you may have been holding onto foolishness and death. Today is the time to make the decision for understanding and life. Take inventory of your relationships, jobs, habits and the like and start signing some eviction papers to those things that have taken up residence that only bring you down. Don't be a fool.

Be encouraged to choose life.

Blessings,
MinD

Day 8: Obedience Is Not Enough (fix your face)

I'm one of those people who often wear my emotions on my face. It's not that my expression says what I'm thinking as much as I've been told that my eyes truly do serve as windows to my soul and tell all. As a result, I find myself having to tell myself to "fix my face" and adjust my attitude to reflect good and not otherwise. There are things that I've heard the Lord say to me that I've done or embraced somewhat begrudgingly. My obedience is often tainted by my "I'll do it but I don't have to like it" kind of air to it. Perhaps it's just me, but I've willingly moved forward in what God has said but can say that it hasn't always been with the joy that I would hope things of the Lord would bring to a person's heart.

So conviction poured over me as I read Proverbs 8 over and over again today. With various phrases and verses jumping out, there was one that seemed to resonate the loudest. Verse 33 links blessings to "Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it." As I meditated further on it, I realized that my attitude in in this faith walk has been a lot like the children of Israel who were delivered from bondage but who blocked their own blessings by grumbling. The end result for them was 40 years in the desert until all of the grumblers had died--never seeing the promise made manifest in their lives.

In a day and time when much of what we preach and/or hear preached is about claiming your promises, it's difficult to imagine that maybe, just maybe, you could grumble your way out of it. We think that if we do it, if we follow God, then that's enough. It's almost like we arrogantly think that God should be happy with whatever offering of obedience that we give him. But what I'm further convicted about is that obedience is not enough. At the end of the day, God desires for our hearts to line up with His and not just our actions. This means that we are to consciously decide to approach the wisdom, understanding and instruction that He provides us without disdain (disdain: contempt, scorn, haughtiness, arrogance, superiority). It may be hard to do, but in the end it really boils down to one thing--fix your face. (I know I'll be fixing mine.)

Be encouraged to approach God with the right attitude.

Blessings,
MinD

Day 7: Understand?

Years ago (sometime circa 1980ish), there was an episode of The Cosby Show that had a line that seemed to stick in my mind. Cliff (the husband) was chastising one of his children as he did on so many occasions in a silly way and whatever child was looking at him with that same blank look that they all seemed to do and he slowly and with emphasis said, "Do you understand the wooords that are coming out of my mouth?" You see whatever it was that he was saying was obviously something he had had to repeat. As a parent, he was none too pleased about this need for repetition and was at the point where he wanted to be express about his direction and ensure that he was getting through to whichever child that it was. It was just one of those lines that stuck in my mind and is one that I've repeated with silliness when trying to communicate a thought to friends. "Do you understand the wooords that are coming out of my mouth?"

As I began to read chapter 7, I was struck at how it began: "My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye." (Prov 7:1-2) For a while there, I thought that I was reading the wrong chapter because I could have sworn that this was how what I read yesterday began. And when I looked back again, I noticed that it wasn't just familiar because of yesterday but because of the past 5 days. With each chapter from chapter 2 through 6 beginning with some similar version of "my son pay attention to my commands". But what rang even more true in this particular chapter was how it began to close in verse 24. Solomon says, "Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth..." Who knew that good ole Heathcliff was a preaching man?! For just like that frustrated father on television, God reiterates to us the necessity to keep his commands and pay attention to his law and make them the center of our hearts.

Today, as you examine your heart, where are God's laws/commands? Are you in touch with what he has commanded of you? Are you moving in obedience? Today's word to you and I is simply about obedience. This is not to condemn you but to simply remind you that obedience is so very important to God--important enough for him to repeat himself a minimum of 6 chapters in a row. The Bible tells us that "obedience is better than sacrifice" (I Sam 15:22). Today is your new opportunity to pay attention and move in the right direction. If tomorrow didn't flow quite right, today push reset and remind yourself of what HE said and then "just do it".

Be encouraged and encourage someone else!

Blessings,
MinD

Day 6: Empowered for Greatness

"Lord, PLEASE HELP ME get out of this situation!" Do these words sound familiar? Have you ever found yourself backed into a corner? We often find ourselves waiting on God to bring us out of this or deliver us from that. However, what we fail to realize (or own up to) is that we are backed into corners of our own making. God sees us, loves us and has the power to change things for us. But what I love about God is that He also empowers us. In the words of wisdom from Proverbs 6:5 (unlike so many other places in the Bible where God brings his people "out"), we see God's instructions to us:

"Deliver yourself..."

Though He could wink an eye, snap a finger or merely think a thought to free us, there are times when God has empowered us and is waiting for us while we think we are waiting on Him. Is that where you are? Ask yourself what are you asking God to do where He is turning the tables right back on you and reminding you of the greatness He gave you when He gave His only Son. The Bible tells us in Philippians that 'we can do ALL things'. So today, let's take God at that word and "deliver ourselves" into that space of greatness that is our destiny.

Be encouraged and encourage someone else!

Blessings,
MinD

Day 5: Always On His Mind

"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all of his paths."

Proverbs 5:21

I have to admit that when I think of God being everywhere at all times, it can be a bit daunting. No one is perfect, so the idea that God sees all, knows all and hears all is enough to unnerve the average person at times. He sees my ways when it's smooth sailing and He sees my ways when I'm expressing road rage. He sees when I'm on top of my game and when I've let sin sneak into my heart. And reading Proverbs 5:21 was a reminder of that.

However today was not only about the unnerving nature of being watched by God, but there was hope for me in the second part of this particular verse. Not only is everything I do before God, but He's pondering me. He's pondering my "paths". When I start to worry about a bill being paid or making the right decisions for business and ministry or maintaining the right relationships, He is pondering my paths. He knows the way I will go and He knows the ways I will consider traveling. He knows about the road less traveled in my life and the times that I've gone back up and down the same street. It's awesome to be reminded of God's persistent love for us. If you've ever been in love, in lust, or just plain obssessed with someone, then you'll understand in some minute way that God's got us on His mind constantly--pondering the ones He loves (you and I) without ceasing. 

Today, that was just the encouragement that I needed. I don't know about you, but it's comforting to know that I'm on God's mind. I'm not alone...and neither are you. Whatever it is that you are going through today, please remember that God is thinking of you. He's pondering your paths and you're always on His mind.

Be encouraged by God's love and attention!
Blessings,
MinD

Day 4: Watch Your Mouth

This evening, I had a late dinner with a friend. We spent a lot of time talking and left having worked through several issues. As we were leaving, the server/cashier proceeds to speak to me (totally from God) about there being a time to be silent and being careful about the words that come out of my mouth. He hadn't been hovering over our table or anything like that, but he was right on point and could only have been led of the Lord. And I listened and thanked him for the Word he had given--receiving every word in prayer.

I came home to finish my reading of Proverbs 4 to see that same message reiterated. Verse 24 says, “Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.”

That word "perverse" jumped out at me. As we strive to operate fully in God’s wisdom, it is important to know when to speak and when to be silent. I looked up that word “perverse” and was struck that it means “willfully determined or disposed to go counter to what is expected or desired; contrary.” (www.dictionary.com) Out of a desire to be right, heard or validated, there are times when we don’t always use wisdom in choosing when to speak and when to stop and listen. This is true for me at times and perhaps it’s true for you.

My prayer today is that you and I both learn to listen intently to the Holy Spirit and speak only when He gives us that holy unction and choose silence as He continues a work in us.

Be encouraged in your silence.

Blessings,

MinD