Beyond Ourselves Podcast

Are you disappointed? If so, in what or whom? A person? Yourself? A job? God understands disappointment. Many things can cause us to feel let down. Sometimes our disappointment is because we have unrealistic expectations of others, which I address in my book, The Plan A Woman in a Plan B World. Other times, our disappointments are valid. First Peter 2:6 is encouraging because God wants us to know that there’s something He has provided that will never disappoint us: our faith in Jesus.

Peter records, “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Not be disappointed. Read those words again. There is a person – Jesus Christ – who does not disappoint. He has a place He is preparing for us that will not disappoint. He has a day He is preparing that will not disappoint. He has eternity with Him that will not disappoint.

If you are dealing with disappointment today, do a quick check-up. On what have you set your expectations? If your answer is the amount of money you want to make, a certain house, the perfect spouse, children, friendships, or job, then you may find yourself dealing with disappointment at some point. If, on the other hand, your expectations are set on Jesus, the cornerstone of our faith, you will not be disappointed.

Lord Jesus, You are the precious CORNERSTONE upon whom we can build our lives and not be disappointed. Thank you.

Did you play the game, Hide and Seek, when you were a child? The familiar, “Ready or not, here I come” warns the person who is hiding to be ready.

Did you know that the Lord gives us a, “Ready or not, here I come” that is not child’s play? It is a serious warning that Jesus is coming and we need to be ready.

Revelation 1:5-7 records the warning. “Behold, He is COMING with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”

Jesus is coming…again. The word, “amen” in verse 7 means there’s no discussing it. It’s happening. We will either be ready for Christ’s appearing because we’ve repented of our sins or Jesus will come and find us in our sin.

If you’re not ready for Christ’s coming, respond to His gift of salvation today. (John 3:16, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, and Romans 10:8-11) Repent of your sins. Confess Jesus as Lord. Receive His gift of forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. Today is your opportunity. Prepare to meet Jesus. Ready or not, He’s coming.

Lord Jesus, COMING KING, as You came to earth once, You are coming again. Thank You for cleansing us of our sin so we are ready to meet You. Stir the hearts of the unsaved to realize that ready or not, You are coming.

One blanket. Two blankets. Three blankets. Four. Keith and I sat in front of the fire trying to get warm. The winter storm had brought a temperature of 3 degrees that felt like minus 11. If only we had power and water. We had neither.

The winter storm continued, and our driveway was too icy to get down. If you’ve lived in an area affected by winter storms, you know how devastating the cold can be, especially if you run out of wood, which happened to us. We couldn’t complain, though. We had a comforter. A comforter that we had once taken for granted, we now deeply appreciated.

So, too, our spiritual Comforter, who 2 Corinthians 1:3 describes as the God of All Comfort, is a blessing when we are experiencing life’s storms. Yes, when a person’s crisp tongue chills us to the core or the howling wind of despair blows through our heart, the God of all Comfort comforts us like none other. Why?

The Greek word for comfort means “to call to one’s side, speak to in the way of exhortation, console, teach.” God gives believers the gift of His presence through the Holy Spirit. Our Comforter is an abiding presence who will never wear out, never become threadbare, and never leave us. The more we blanket our lives with His teachings, the more we’ll know the warmth of His abiding presence. ¹

Heavenly Father, You are the GOD of ALL COMFORT. Please comfort those who are suffering. Give them Your wisdom. Strengthen them as only You can.

¹ Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, page 67. Copyright Howard Publishing 2006, Debbie Taylor Williams, Monroe, LA

Have you ever thought about God in relation to your clothing? It’s an odd question, I know. But the Bible says that in addition to God’s many character traits He is a clothier.

A clothier is a person who makes, sells, or deals in clothes or cloth, and God fits that description from Genesis when He clothed Adam and Eve with animal skins to Revelation where God clothes us in “fine linen, white and clean.”

There’s an additional way our Heavenly Father clothes us. He clothes our innermost being. Galatians 3:27 describes believers as being “clothed with Christ.” Think about that. God could provide no finer clothing than for us to sport Christ’s righteousness. So, the next time you think, “I don’t have anything to wear,” remember…you do.

Lord God, we praise You for being our CLOTHIER, for covering us with Christ’s righteousness.

Today is Valentine’s Day, a day marked by exchanges of tokens of love. But what if you wake up alone? What if your loved one is deceased? What if your loved one cheated on you? What if you’ve never had someone love you? What if you’re not only alone but you’re crushed in spirit?

Our Heavenly Father knows there are times in our life like that, which is precisely why He wants us to know that even if we’re alone, He’s close as Psalm 34:18 tells us. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Yes, even when there is no one in our life who is close or who can comfort us when we are broken hearted or crushed in spirit, our Lord is close and can save us.

Our Heavenly Father has sent a loud and clear message that far outweighs any Valentine expression. “I love you,” our Heavenly Father repeatedly says to us, with Jesus echoing His love and expressing it by sacrificing His life for us. Receive the Lord’s love and comfort today.

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus, thank You for loving us and being CLOSE to the BROKENHEARTED.

Have you ever had the opportunity to be a part of something grand? The fact is, if you are a Christian, you are a part of something grand. What? Being part of a holy priesthood who offers spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus, who 1 Peter 2:4 says is “choice and precious in the sight of God.”

Yes, of all the commitments we might make or of all the goals on which we might set our eyes, there is nothing more grand than to recognize and act on our holy calling to serve the Lord. Why? In the Greek language, the description of Christ as “choice and precious” means that God appointed Jesus to the most exalted office conceivable. ¹ Jesus is held in honor and prized by His Father. ²

We, as believers, are described as a “spiritual house” for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 2:5

Jesus is choice and precious, the most highly exalted One. When you sacrifice your time, money, energy, and worldly pursuits in order to pray, worship, and serve Christ’s purposes, you are choosing well and are a part of something grand.

CHOICE AND PRECIOUS Savior, we love You and praise You. Thank You for including us in Your priesthood and for the privilege of serving You.

² Blue Letter Bible, accessed February 13, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org.