Thursday, August 12, 2010

His word burns like fire

Jeremiah 18-22


Jeremiah 20:7 O Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived; 


you overpowered me and prevailed. 
I am ridiculed all day long; 
everyone mocks me. 
8 Whenever I speak, I cry out 
proclaiming violence and destruction. 
So the word of the Lord has brought me 
insult and reproach all day long. 
9 But if I say, “I will not mention him 
or speak any more in his name,” 
his word is in my heart like a fire, 
a fire shut up in my bones. 
I am weary of holding it in; 
indeed, I cannot. 
For quite a few chapters now, Jeremiah has been relaying God's destructive message to the people of Israel and Judah. He has been the bearer of bad news and the people pretty much want to "shoot the messenger". Jeremiah, may be a prophet, but he still is human. He still cries out to God, because the insults and mockery is quite unbearable. It says that Jeremiah once said he will not mention God's name or His words, but that is even more unbearable. God's words burn inside of him and there is no way he can just keep it to himself. 
Sometimes we hear from God, whether directly, through His word, our peers, or leaders. However, we choose to ignore it, and not do anything about it. We learn after enough times, that it is better to do something about what God has said, then to not do anything at all. I know that there are times God has spoken to me, and I have felt fear, of being ridiculed. This is a reminder that God's word is to be spoken out, regardless of the mockery that may come with it. His word is stronger then the insults that may come because of it.
Lord God,
Thank You for speaking to me. Thank You for using me as a vessel to carry Your word. I pray that You continue to use me as Your vessel. I also pray that Your word becomes so powerful in my life that it becomes unbearable for me to keep it to myself. Lord, give me the strength to withstand the ridicule that may come because of it. Teach me, oh Lord, how to take a step of boldness when relaying Your message. Make it uncomfortable for me to sit on my laurels when You have spoken.
Amen.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

planted by water

Jeremiah 17:
5 This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.

7 “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.

8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.” 


The Lord is telling Jeremiah that those who rely on man or on flesh for strength will not see prosperity, even when it comes. However, the person who relies on God will never have to worry and will always be prosperous.


I have failed! Although most of the time I place my confidence in God, there are times when I rely on man, or my own strength.Whenever, I rely on myself, that is when I begin to feel dry...I begin to stress, to worry and I find myself trying to quench the dryness in tears. I need to place my trust in the Lord 100% of the time. There is no doubt, that when I do place my trust in God, I never run dry. Imagine if I place my full trust in Him ALL the time, in all aspects of my life!


Lord!
Thank You for being that spring of water, that is forever quenching our thirst. Thank You for taking our fears and our worries and promising us prosperity. Please forgive me for not trusting in You fully. Lord, I pray that You help me at times I am weak, and I fail to trust in You. Lord, remind me to place my confidence, in the one person that can NEVER let me down. Lord Jesus, I place every aspect of my life: friends, work, relationship, family, spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical into Your hands. I pray that I never have to worry and that these areas of my life will be fruitful! Thank You.


In Your merciful name,
Amen.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

my life is not my own

Jeremiah 10-13

Jeremiah 10: 23 I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. 24 Correct me, Lord, but only with justice— not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing

Our lives do not belong to us. God created us, gave us breath and when we allow Him to, directs our paths. However, there are many times we try to plan out our lives. Making decisions for ourselves, forgetting to turn to God first. When God corrects us, it is because He is just and He loves us. If He was to correct us out of anger, we would be nothing. His power is too strong and at times when He has been angry at His people, His punishment brought them to nonexistence.


There are so many times when I try to take my life into my own hands. Of course when I do that, my life begins to go off track and I fail. I need to remember that it is for God to direct my steps and not me. My life is in His hands, and I've asked Him to lead me, so I need to stop being stubborn and let Him.

Lord,
You are just and fair. You loved me even when I turned my back from You. You love me even when I forget to cry out to You. You are love. God I pray that You forgive me. Forgive me for trying to take my life and my relationship into my own hands once again. I see where my relationship has gone, since I've forgotten to surrender it to you daily. So God, I surrender my relationship once again into Your hands. I surrender my tears, my emotions, my happiness, my heart, my next step into Your hands and I pray for guidance. Lord, correct me in the ways that I have been wrong, out of justice Oh God, and not out of Your anger. I pray for reconciliation. I pray for peace, peace over my heart, peace over his, peace over our relationship. I love You God, and I know You hear the deepest cries of my heart. 


In Your peaceful name,
Amen.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

Seek God Eagerly

1 Kings 15, 2 Chronicles 13-16

2 Chronicles 15:11 At that time they sacrificed to the LORD seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back. 12 They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul. 13 All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. 14 They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. 15 All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side."

Before Asa, the kings of Judah worshiped idols and not the one and true God. Asa made sacrifices to the Lord and led his people into an covenant to seek the Lord with ALL their heart and soul. They verbally and internally made the covenant and to show that he was serious, Asa killed all who would not seek God. After seeking God eagerly, they found God and God gave them peace with the nations surrounding them.

When God tells us to seek Him in Matthew 7, He is not asking us to just look. He is asking us..no telling us to seek wholeheartedly, EAGERLY. That is the only way we will find Him. I must seek Him in prayer EAGERLY, seeking verbally and internally.

Lord!
You are amazing. You said that if we are to seek, we will find. So Lord, I am seeking You. I want to find You and will look with my heart and my soul. You are my One and Only, and will continue to seek You with everything I have!! This is my verbal covenant and I am proclaiming that You are the one I wish to find, every day, every moment. I yearn to be in Your presence.

Amen.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Eyes Open, Ears Attentative

2 Chronicles 6, 2 Chronicles 7, and Psalms 163


2 Chronicles 7:14-15 "...if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place."


After years of building and perfecting the Lord's temple, King Solomon dedicated it to the Lord. The Lord then came down and spoke to Solomon. The Lord promises to hear their prayers from Heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. He promises to open His eyes and ears to their prayers. However, He says only if they not only pray and seek, but also humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways.


Many times we come to God expecting Him to answer our prayers, but we fail to humble ourselves. We also forget that it has to be a intentional decision to turn from our wicked ways. We must remember that although God has promised to hear our prayers, it is still our responsibility to make sure our prayers are coming from a humble and sanctified heart.


Lord God,
I know I am guilty of coming at You with just requests. I pray that You forgive me for treating You like You are my personal wishing well. I am once again reminded of what the state of my heart must be. I love You and everything that You continue to do in my life.
Amen

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

He is my Lover, and I am His Beloved

Song of Solomon 1-Song of Solomon 8


I have to start off, by saying this was such a poetic and beautiful love letter conversation, however sometimes I got a little lost, so I had to use The Message Translation to help me understand.




Song of Solomon 2:7 "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." [NIV]


Song of Solomon 3:5 "Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you’re ready." [The Message]


Song of Solomon 8:4 "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." [NIV]


Wow. Just wow. Reading these beautiful, romantic, sensual songs would make any woman want to fall in love. However, three times in eight chapters we are warned that us women should not force love. We should not MAKE it happen, but wait until the time is right, wait until we are ready.


I'm at a point in my life where I want to be romanced. I know I SHOULD be romanced and sometimes expect it to happen. [whoa there's the evidence of my honesty]. This love letter conversation is a tangible representation of what I want. I want to courted and for it to be natural and beautiful and sensual and REAL. So I know I am guilty, as many woman are. Guilty of trying to MAKE something that's supposed to be natural happen. **sigh...**


Lord Jesus, My Lover, My Friend
I lay it down..I've already chosen you to be my Lover..and in many ways You continue to romance me. Lord, I know I didn't MAKE that happen. So I pray Lord that You take away my control. The control that I hold on to when it comes to Love. I pray that You teach me to "not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." Lord God, reveal to me when the time is right who it is You've set apart for me and in the meantime I pray that my relationship with You as my Lover grows deeper. 
By Your love always,
Amen 

Monday, May 31, 2010

A Discerning Heart

1 Kings 3; 1 Kings 4

1 King 3: 9 "So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 

King Solomon was made king at a very young age. When speaking with God, he asked for a discerning heart, instead of asking for anything else. Solomon knew that he did not have the years of wisdom needed to govern the people of Israel, and asked for a discerning heart. Now a discerning heart is a heart that listens to God.

I know there are times that I neglect to ask God for the wisdom and insight to discern. Not only to discern right from wrong, good from evil, but what is from God and what is not from God. I feel right now that my heart is at a place where I need to make a decision. So far I've been weighing the decisions with my feelings, my knowledge, my history, and my preferences. I've failed to ask God to give me a discerning heart. I've failed to stop and pray, listening to see  if God wants me to say this, or text that, or email this. Listening to see if it's the right timing to let go and trust, or to move on. I've failed to ask for the wisdom to know the difference if it's Satan destroying a relationship or God's will.  I've failed to ask God for a discerning heart when it came to matters of my own heart.

Father God,
Thank You! Thank you for the sensitivity to Your Spirit that You've already given me. Thank You for delivering me from the broken heart and loneliness almost a year ago. Thank You for blessing me with Godly brothers and sisters, mentors and mentorees. You have been so good to me. I've failed. I'm sorry that I haven't stopped to listen. Lord, I ask for a discerning heart. A discerning heart with wisdom that surpasses my years. A discerning heart to know the difference between what Satan is trying to do and Your will. A discerning heart that knows if it's the right time or not. I ask for a discerning heart when it comes to matters of my heart. I pray that You continue to help guard my heart and teach me to trust in You. Mend broken relationships and guide me to making better decisions. I love You.

In Your mighty name,
Amen