Month: November 2020

Are You Tired of 2020?

Isaiah 40: 31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

Are you tired of 2020? Have you lost faith that things will get better? The people of Israel sure felt that way after they were forcibly removed from their homes and taken to a foreign country for almost 50 years. Their homes and churches were destroyed, they were enslaved, and they were forced to live a different way than what they were used to. They were tired and losing faith.

But then a prophet named Isaiah reminded them that their God was in charge. He reminded them that from the very beginning God had been with them and He had never left them. God is more powerful than anything and anyone on this earth. He is greater than kings, presidents, and any kind of ruler. He is greater than famines, disasters, and plagues. God has always had a plan and His knowledge and strength is greater than anything we can imagine or hope to understand.

Isaiah 40:28-29 says, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak.”

That is MY God. That is where I place my trust, my faith, my worries. Isaiah goes on to say in verse 31, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” God’s power and strength never decreases. His strength is our source of strength. So, when you feel life crushing you and you cannot go another step, remember that you can call upon God to renew your strength.  Put your hope in God.

Thank you, Lord for being a source of strength for me during this past year. Thank you for your love and constant presence in my life. Amen.

That Voice

Psalm 139:14 “I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Do you know that little voice you hear inside your head? What is it saying? Is it saying you are smart, brave, strong, beautiful, kind, loving, and funny? Or is it saying you are weak, dumb, worthless, ugly, and alone? Which one of these words are coming from God and which are coming from the enemy? Looking at the lists, I think it is clear. But is it?

So often when you are feeling down in the dumps, you allow the words from the enemy to take over. Those ugly words are so much easier to believe than the kind words. In Psalm 139:4, David says “Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” Do you think your Lord would approve of the ugly words you are allowing in your head? He knows what you are saying, and He wants you to STOP.

In that same chapter, David goes on to say, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” God does not make weak, dumb, worthless, and ugly people. You were fearfully and wonderfully made. You were created by God and knit together in your mother’s womb.  God’s works are wonderful, and you know that. Therefore, you are wonderful and special to God.

So, when that little voice starts to speak, YOU control it. You decide which words to repeat to yourself. The words of God (that would be my choice) or the words of the enemy.

Dear Lord, thank you for loving me through the tough times. Help me to seek your words when I am feeling down and remind me to pour kind words into others too.  Amen.

What Is He Up To?

John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

What is he up to? Have you ever thought about that when you hear that little negative voice in your head telling you that you are no good; telling you that you are not worthy of love or happiness or peace? You know what I am talking about, when you are all alone scrolling through social media and you see how “happy and successful” everyone else is? Or when you are watching tv and your favorite 30-minute sitcom ends with a perfect happily-ever-after solution. Do you think, “That never would never happen for me?”

Guess what? That is the enemy whispering in your ear trying to keep you down. He wants to keep you off balance and out of the game so that he can move on to his next victim. Satan is very active in the world today. His goal is to “steal and kill and destroy” and nobody is completely immune to his lies unless you “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

Do you know what schemes are? The definition of schemes is to “make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong.” THAT is what the enemy is up to. The enemy is making plans to set you on the wrong path of sadness, misery, depression, unfaithfulness, anxiety, or addiction. And it all starts with that little negative voice in your head.

So, STOP! Stop listening to the lies. Stop allowing the enemy to steal your happiness, kill your joy and destroy your peace. Do not give him that kind of authority over you. The Bible says to “put on the whole armor of God” starting with the belt of truth. Every other piece of the whole armor of God is attached to the belt of truth. If you do not begin with truth, you will never defeat the enemy. Jesus says in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Jesus is the way! If you follow Jesus, read HIS word, and pray about everything, it will drown out the lies and foil the schemes of the enemy.

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to show us the way to you. Please help me to drown out the lies of the enemy by diving into your truth every day. Amen.