AT THE MOUNTAIN TOP

After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. Matthew 14:23 (NASB)

Matthew informs the reader where Jesus went to be alone with His Father —to pray and be refreshed. If Jesus sought time and a place where He would commune with His Father, how much more should we. Jesus is fully God and fully man, yet He sought out His Father. 

Are we seeking time to be alone with God, where we can pray, listen for His voice, and take in His Word? Can we grow in our faith and love for our Father without spending time with Him?

What happens when all the noises of our world take over and bring chaos? We do not know which direction to turn. Life becomes disorienting. We lose our sense of balance and all of the plates we had been juggling come crashing to the floor. We stop in our tracks, look up and exclaim, “Oh dear Lord!”

Our Father is a good Father. He is there to pick us up. He listens to our cry of desperation and soothes our soul. The Lord is our strength and our shield; our hearts trust in Him, and He helps us (Psalm 28:7). Daily, He bears our burdens (Psalm 68:19). We just have to ask.

Find a time and place daily to meet with your Heavenly Father. Allow Him to refresh your soul. He is waiting to meet you there every day. He loves you and desires to care for you.

Thank you Father for revealing how You want to spend time with us each day and quiet our soul. In Jesus name Amen. 

 © 2019 Marianne Lucot

WILD THINGS

He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Mark 1:13 (NAS)

 
Recently, while studying the gospel of Mark, part of verse thirteen lit up as never before—and He was with the wild beasts.

Why had I never noticed that? The gospel of Mark is succinct, and yet He used six words to tell us there were wild animals alongside Jesus in the wilderness. A fact omitted by the other gospels. Why?

My curiosity piqued. Upon researching, I found many people posed the same question. However, none of their ideas satisfied me.

Praying, I asked God what He wanted me to see. Since the Bible is the living word of God, it began to speak to my spirit.

In the Garden of Eden animal and man lived in harmony. After the fall, peace was shattered—animals became wild. Jesus was in the desert as man and yet, the animals did Him no harm.

All creation recognized His authority—everything except man, who He came to save.

Jesus changes everything for all time. This was the prelude to a new beginning. When Jesus returns, the lion and the lamb will lie down together. Perhaps the wild beasts recognized that Jesus was The Lamb, to be offered for our sins.

I pondered how Jesus changed my wild heart into a tame heart that seeks Him. He changed my selfish desire into caring desire for others to know Him as well.

Indeed, Jesus changed everything and He continues today.

I encourage you to invite Jesus to change the “untamed” part of you. You will never be the same. You will be better!

 Thank You Jesus, for your changing power. Amen.

 © 2019 Bonnie Mae Evans

FEARLESS

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given to me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)

It is customary at the start of a New Year for people to make one or two New Year’s resolutions, such as improving their health or an attitude. In my Christian walk, I have been challenged to choose a word for the year, which will deepen my walk with God. Fearless is my word for this year.

I love God with all my heart and my desire is to share God’s love through conversation and prayer in small groups or one-on-one. As an introvert, speaking or praying out loud does not come easily, particularly in group settings. Talking one-on-one is not too difficult, but I much prefer responding to an email with time to compose my thoughts. I have served in a ministry for two years which has allowed me to do just that. Throughout this time, my love for God has deepened, and He has been growing me.

 He is now calling me to trust in Him alone—not my strength or nature but His strength. He is calling me to be physically available to minister to those within my home church and community in a pastoral care role. I will step out and follow His lead fearlessly.

Where is God calling you to a deeper walk?

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit. With Your gift, we step out fearlessly and do all You have called us to do. We give You praise in Jesus’ name. Amen.

© 2019 Marianne Lucot

GOD CAN STILL DO IT

Then God remembered Rachel; He listened to her and enabled her to conceive. Genesis 30:22 (NIV)

At the beginning of 2019, I decided I would journey through the Bible in its entirety this calendar year. I made a commitment to read God’s word more deliberately so my mind and my way of thinking may be renewed and transformed. To my surprise, it seems my eyes have encountered the Bible in a new and refreshing way.

While reading through Genesis, I was reminded of the repeated tension between God’s promise and the defeated mindset of God’s people. I was particularly captivated by the narrative of Rachel, Leah, and Jacob. The pain and suffering Rachel felt while watching Leah give birth to child after child reminded me of my own disappointments.

I recently celebrated my birthday and again faced my reality of being unmarried and childless. This truth used to cause me a great deal of pain and left me feeling like Rachel. I didn’t cry out to a person, rather I cried out directly to God, “Why do You refuse to give me the desires of my heart? Why is everyone around me getting married and having children? They aren’t as faithful to You as I am. Why, God, are you failing me?”

Then while reading Genesis 30, one verse caught my eye, “. . . God remembered Rachel; He listened to her and enabled her to conceive.” This verse reminded me of God’s ability to deliver on His promises for our lives. The promises may not unfold according to our timelines, but as God did with Rachel, God can remember us too. Despite how things may look, God can still do it.

God, help us remain patient until You deliver on Your promises for our lives. Amen.

© 2019 Dawn M. Wayman