Beyond Ourselves
When You Can’t Seem to Please Anyone
Do you ever feel like you can’t please anyone? Or, at least you can’t please someone you want to please? Maybe it’s a co-worker, spouse, parent, child, or friend. You do your best, but it seems they’re never satisfied. Trying to please people who are never pleased can cause us to feel defeated and drained. Unless we keep in mind that we can’t please everybody, and we focus on pleasing the most important person – our Heavenly Father. Jesus models doing that, even when others were disappointed in Him. For instance, the disciples were no doubt shockingly disappointed when Jesus didn’t resist being crucified. Martha and Mary were disappointed when Jesus delayed coming to their sick brother’s side. John 8:29 explains Jesus’s position. ”He (the Father) who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” No, we can’t always please others. But we can follow Christ’s example of pleasing our Heavenly Father.
Following are some of the ways Jesus pleased the Father. Which are you already doing? Which do you want to begin doing?
- Jesus used Scripture to stand against Satan’s temptations. We can do that.
- Jesus shared His Father’s kingdom principles, how to be forgiven, and how to be saved. We can do that.
- Jesus was sensitive to others and reached out to them. We can do that.
- Jesus looked up in prayer and thanked His Father for hearing Him. We can do that.
- Jesus prayed before He made decisions. We can do that.
- Jesus followed His Father’s leading rather than doing things on His own initiative. We can do that.
Heavenly Father, as Jesus was well-pleasing to You, help us please You.
If Jesus Is the Great Physician, Why Didn’t He Heal …
Life is filled with joy, but also pain. Sometimes the most painful questions we ask are why didn’t God heal a loved one or friend? If you’ve had those questions, you’re not alone. We don’t know the answer to many questions. In times of pain, when we don’t understand and we don’t have answers, we look in faith to Jesus, who allowed Himself to die, so we’d have visible evidence of divine ultimate healing. Jesus knew that there would be challenging questions on this side of heaven. He said to those listening to His teachings in Luke 4:23, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!'” But, He didn’t heal Himself. He died a painful death with no pain killers and with no one sitting by His side holding His holy hand. He died to pay for our sins, and by His resurrection, gave proof to our ultimate eternal healing. For that we can be grateful.
Jesus, eternal Physician, thank You for rising from the dead so we can see the ultimate healing You give to all who place their faith in You.
How to Become Perfect
Do you ever hang your head in shame because of sin? Do you sometimes feel badly about something you’ve done or said? If so, I’m with you. It’s easy to get discouraged when we know the right thing to do and don’t do it. In those times it helps to remember God’s words to us in 1 Peter 5:10.. “…the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself PERFECT, confirm, strengthen and establish YOU.” Those are refreshing words! God is the One who will PERFECT us. We can’t become perfect in our own strength. Are we in any way responsible for cooperating with God? Yes. We’re to renew our minds according to the Bible. We’re to prayerfully walk by Christ’s Spirit. The next time we mess up, rather than walk around with our head hung low, let’s take hold of the Bible and put our minds to it. Let’s ask God to perfect our walk with Him and others.
Lord, thank You for not only calling us to Your eternal glory, but for also taking it upon Yourself to PERFECT us. We love You and give You praise!
“…the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself PERFECT, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
Nobody’s Perfect!
Have you ever defended your bad behavior by saying, “Nobody’s perfect.” Or, has someone ever said to you, “Nobody’s perfect!” in defense of something they’ve done wrong? It’s a common response because it’s true. Nobody is perfect except Jesus. However, and this is a big however, our imperfections aren’t excuses to stay as we are. Rather, they’re signals for where we need to look to Jesus for His example and empowerment to change. For instance, in Matthew 5:48, Jesus doesn’t say, “Heh guys, give yourself a break. Nobody’s perfect.” Instead, He says, “Your Heavenly Father is perfect. You’re to be perfect.”
Heavenly Father, You are PERFECT. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit who transforms us when we walk according to His power in us.
“’Therefore, you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is PERFECT.’”
When You’re Tired of People Telling You “Chin Up”
Do you ever get perturbed when someone tells you “chin up,” that everything will get better? I get it. People may be well intentioned, but the fact is, things may not get better. We may not be able to keep our marriage together. Our child may have special needs the rest of their life. Our job may be tough. A person may refuse to forgive us. That’s why 2 Thessalonians 3:16 tells us to find our peace in Jesus, the Lord of peace. Is it easy? No. But, it’s real. I experienced it when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I experienced it when my parents were dying. In John 14:27, Jesus describes His peace as “out of this world.” In other words, it comes from heaven into our hearts so we can go through our day with inner peace. Moving the direction of our chin doesn’t change anything. Opening our heart and asking the Prince of Peace to fill it changes everything.
Thank You, Prince of PEACE, that You supercede circumstances. Fill us with Your peace.
“Now may the LORD of PEACE Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.”
When You’re Out of Patience with Your Unsaved Friend or Loved One
Are you concerned for a family member or friend who refuses to trust Jesus for salvation? Are you worried they’ll die apart from Christ? If we’re concerned for the unsaved, it’s for good reason. This world isn’t all there is. There’s life beyond the heavens just as there’s life below the ocean that we can’t see until we enter into it. Yes, all people are alive after they pass through this life – either in Christ’s presence or apart from Him. Jesus implores us to take the road to heaven through Him. So, what do we do if an unsaved friend or family member refuses to turn to Christ? We align ourselves with the Lord, who we’re told in 2 Peter 3:9 is “not slow about His promise, but is PATIENT…, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” God is PATIENT. Keep praying. Keep looking for opportunities to speak the truth in love.
Heavenly Father, thank you for being PATIENT. Help us be like you – patient and prayerful.
Important Upside Down Thinking
Are you a unique upside down thinker or a common thinker? I ask, because Christians are called to some pretty upside down thinking. For instance, Isaiah prophesied what seems an upside down thought; that God the Father would allow His Son to become a servant. Yet, it’s right here in Isaiah 53:11, “MY SERVANT, will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities.” What an upside down thought – that the Son would be a SERVANT who would take the punishment for our sins. We don’t think that way. We more commonly think that more success, more wealth, more 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 to get our minds around.
Lord Jesus Christ, faithful SERVANT, we bow in humble 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.
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.” This is an incredible reminder. Rather than crater 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. We can be assured that with God, NOTHING IS TOO DIFFICULT. Call on Him. Prayerfully record in Prayers of My Heart the things weighing you down that you feel you can’t do. Ask God how to handle them, then record how He guides you in the “Meditations, Notes, and Prayer” section. 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 and Your power.
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’s defines miracle first and foremost 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 my child can get off drugs.” 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 bet for experiencing one is to bring Jesus into the equation. Galatians 3:5 describes Him 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 the 1970’s show “I Dream of Jeannie” depicted. If 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 demanding, “God, do it now,” we should thank Him for how He has already worked in our lives and faithfully take the steps He shows us.
COMING SOON: PRAYER WALL
Call on Him
When I was young and watched “Mighty Mouse,” I believed he would “save the day.” Growing older doesn’t mean we no longer need someone to “save the day.” We do. We need someone to save us from our sins. We need someone to call on when we’re fearful. We need someone to call on when life overwhelms us. We need someone to call on when physical, financial, or spiritual darkness consumes us. But unlike an imaginary cartoon character, the One on whom we call is real. Joshua 22:22 states, “The MIGHTY ONE, God, the Lord, the MIGHTY ONE, God, the Lord!” In other words, our God has, can, and will save our today, our tomorrow, and our eternity. He is thee MIGHTY ONE! Call on Him. Commit Psalm 119:147 to heart. Find comfort in it. “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words.”
Heavenly Father, help us be ever mindful that YOU ARE THE MIGHTY ONE WHO saves our day. May we confidently say, “We’re not worrying at all; we’re just listening for Your call.”