Beyond Ourselves
God Appoints People, Places, Years, Months, & Hours
Have you ever considered that God appoints people, times, places, and more? Contemplate the following with holy reverence.
“So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the APPOINTED time of which God had spoken to him,” Genesis 21:2.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have APPOINTED you a prophet to the nations,” Jeremiah 1:5.
And the LORD APPOINTED a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights,” Jonah 1:17.
“So the LORD God APPOINTED a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant,” Jonah 4:6.
Jonah 4:7 GOD APPOINTED a worm when dawn came the nextday and it attacked the plant and it withered.
“He (Jesus) APPOINTED twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, Mark 3:14.
“Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the APPOINTED time will come,” Mark 13:33.
“And inasmuch as it is APPOINTED for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” Hebrews 9:27.
I’m currently studying Revelation and it is beyond exciting to see all that God has appointed for the future…down to the year, month, day, and hour as in Revelation 9:15:
And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.
Yes, God appoints people, places, events, years, months, days, and even hours. If ever there was a time for to be ready to meet God it is now. Are you ready?
LORD GOD, You APPOINT people, places, and times. Humble our hearts realizing that our world, months, days, and hours are in Your hands. Increase our passion to reach the unsaved.
Does God Know Everything I Do, Say, and Even Think
Have you ever wondered if God really knows everything you’re doing, saying, and even thinking? The answer is yep, He does. Crazy, isn’t it? Scary, isn’t it – if your thoughts, words, and actions aren’t lining up with Christ’s teachings? How do we know God knows? The Bible is full of examples. Take for instance, the account in John 1:44-51. Jesus and a man by the name of Nathanael had never met. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
Nathanael was stunned because they had never met and said to Jesus, “How do You know me?
Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’” John 1:48
In awe, Nathaniel responded, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
Jesus knows everything. He knew Nathanael before Nathanael came to Him. He saw his outward appearance- sitting under a fig tree. Jesus knew his innermost being – that he was not deceitful.
Yes. Jesus knows you, my friend. He knows what we’re wearing, where we’re standing, what we’re saying, and what we’re thinking. Does that make you comfortable or uncomfortable? If it makes you uncomfortable, then there’s probably some sin lurking in your heart. What can you do? Get rid of the sin. Open up to Christ. Admit it. If it’s a one time sin you did or said, apologize to God and if it involves another person, to them, also. If your sin is an ongoing habit or thought, talk to the Lord about it. Ask Him for help. Confess the sin. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your heart and mind. Be honest. Tell God you don’t want to be enslaved to your physical, mental, or emotional sin and to please help you walk in freedom. Then, consume the Word of God like you would your favorite meal. Focus your mind on how wonderful Jesus is. Replace the sinful thoughts with thoughts of truth and the Lord. Rather than attempt to hide, embrace the all-knowing Christ who loves you more than you can imagine and is ready to forgive you and pour His joy into you.
Lord, You are the all-knowing, OMNISCIENT Son of God! Thank You for loving us and extending grace to us. We worship You, Lord.
Why You Can Stop Fretting
“I don’t know where this is going.” Have you ever said or thought those words in regard to the unrest in our world, nation, or perhaps your family or a personal situation? The past may be a blur and the future uncertain. It’s no wonder we may feel uneasy at times. Yet in the midst of our ever-changing world, believers have this hope and promise: Jesus isn’t going anywhere. He’s right here with us, just like He was with us yesterday and just like He will be with us tomorrow. Revelation 1:8 records Jesus’s words of assurance to us,
I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’
Our Lord was with us in the past. He’s with us this moment. He’ll be with us tomorrow. We have an ever-present Lord to see us through our days. Breathe a sigh of relief, thank Him, and confidently move forward in your day celebrating His glorious presence.
Christ Jesus, ALPHA and OMEGA, we praise YOU, the One who is and who was and who is to come. Cone quickly, Lord Jesus.
Make the Switch from Me, Me, Me
Me. Me. Me. We probably wouldn’t want to admit it, but in our innermost being we may be more self-centered than Christ centered. Our day may not begin with, “Heavenly Father, how can I serve You?” Rather, our first thought may be on what we want to get out of the day. Have you ever considered doing a 180: a turnaround based on Ephesians 5:2?
Walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an OFFERING and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
In other words, followers of Christ are told to follow His example. We’re to walk in love and offer our lives to God to serve His purposes. What happens when we do? We have the opportunity to be a fragrance of Christ to God and others.
Christ Jesus, You are the ultimate example of being an OFFERING and sacrifice to God. Help us follow Your example so our lives are a fragrance of You.
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When You Face Something Beyond DIFFICULT
Do you ever find something to be beyond difficult? If so, I can relate. I’ve often found myself in “over my head.” I wanted to quit. Many of the things we find difficult are not those we can or should give up on. Our marriage, parenting, families, job, health, church, and friendships all require commitment. When we find them to be difficult, we can remember what Jeremiah 32:17 says, that with God NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT.
Ah LORD GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU.
Isn’t that a great verse? I hope it makes you smile. It does me. God wants us to know “He’s got this.” It’s an incredible reminder that instead of cratering when we’re under pressure, we can call on God who “made the heavens and earth by His great power and outstretched arm.” He can help us with whatever we’re facing. He wants to help us! Call on Him now. Then, prayerfully record in Prayers of My Heart the things weighing you down. Ask God for wisdom for how to handle them. Then, be sure and record how He guides you in the “Meditations, Notes, and Prayer” section of your journal. Date and record your thanks to Him as He walks you through each day.
LORD, NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU! Thank You for Your presence, Your power, and You’re provision. We love you!
While He’s Away
Jesus told a parable in Luke 19:11-22 portraying Himself as a nobleman who went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for Himself and then returns. Before He departed, he gave talents to His servants so they could carry on His business while He was away. Two of the servants took seriously what He entrusted them to do. When the nobleman returned, he honored them and entrusted more to them. But he called the servant who didn’t do anything with the talent He had given him, “worthless.” (Luke 19:11-22) Let’s break this down. Jesus is the nobleman. At salvation, He entrusts a spiritual gift to every believer so we can do His work on earth while He is in heaven. We are either faithfully doing the good works He’s prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10) or we’re being unfaithful to His calling. What has He called you to do? How faithfully are you carrying on His work while He is away?
Jesus Christ, heaven’s nobleman, stir our hearts to serve You well.
Near or Far? Here’s the Answer
Jesus told His disciples He was going to die and ascend to His Father in heaven but that He would not leave them as orphans. (John 14:16-18) Jesus explained that He would send a Helper to them and that the Helper would not only be with them, but also IN them. You can’t get more NEAR to someone than to be IN them. That is God’s gift to believers. Christ’s Holy Spirit is IN you. NEAR. Not far away. NEAR. Not inaccessible. Still not convinced? Listen to what Psalm 145:18 says,
The LORD is NEAR to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
Call on God in sincerity and truth. He’s NEAR.
LORD, You are NEAR, not far removed. Thank You that we can call on You in sincerity and truth.
Important Upside Down Thinking
Are you a heavenly upside-down thinker or an earth bound thinker? I ask because Christians are called to some remarkable heavenly thinking. For instance, Isaiah prophesied what seems to be some upside-down thoughts; that God the Father would allow His Son to become a servant who would suffer for our sake.
MY SERVANT will justify the many as He will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:11
What an upside-down thought – that Jesus would be a SERVANT who would take the punishment for our sins. We don’t think that way. We more commonly think that success, wealth, and prestige are indicators of God’s favor and will. But that’s not what Jesus modeled or said. Jesus became God’s SERVANT and died on the cross for our sins. What should be our response? What IS our response? Do we take our Heavenly Father and Jesus for granted? Or, do we daily purpose to SERVE them…wherever however they call us? It’s some pretty upside thinking.
Lord Jesus Christ, God’s SERVANT, we bow in reverence and worship YOU! Thank You! Praise You! May we never forget how You gave Your life to redeem us. May we show our gratitude by serving You in whatever way You call us.
Do You Need a Miracle
Do you need a miracle? Something extraordinary in your life? What do we mean when we use the word miracle? Webster defines miracle as “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency; just as rising from the grave.” Another definition is “a highly improbable or extraordinary event, development, or accomplishment that brings very welcome consequences;” such as “it was a miracle that more people hadn’t been killed or injured.” Perhaps it’s that last definition we use most often. “It’ll be a miracle if I can manage everything going on in my life.” Or, “It’ll be a miracle if our marriage makes it.” Let me ask again, “Are you in need of a miracle?” If so, our best hope for experiencing one is to bring Jesus into the equation. Galatians 3:5 describes Jesus as the MIRACLE WORKER.
So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and WORKS MIRACLES among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
As we consider Jesus, the Miracle Worker, it’s important to consider the combination of the two words: miracle and work; along with the word “faith.” Our miracle isn’t going to happen with the twitch of our nose as in the 1970’s show “I Dream of Jeannie.” When we study Jesus’s miracles we see they involved energy and power (Luke 8:46), most often required a person taking part in faith (John 5:8-9), and often took place as the person acted in obedience (John 9:6-7). Maybe Jesus is showing us that rather than having a demanding, “God, do it now,” attitude, we should thank Him for how He has already worked in our lives, thank Him that He hears us, and then take the next steps He shows us.
Better Than Mighty Mouse
The MIGHTY ONE, God, the Lord, the MIGHTY ONE, God, the Lord!
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words.
Heavenly Father, help us be mindful that YOU ARE THE MIGHTY ONE who saves us no matter the dire situation. Help us confidently wait for Your words to guide us through each situation.