I recall a time when I was visiting someone in the hospital. I sat in the waiting room until the appointed time I could go in to see the person I came to visit. There were a few others also waiting. A man got up and walked over to a vending machine on the far wall. In it were displayed various candy bars. The man made his selection, dropped the coins in, but nothing came out. He pressed the buttons again. Nothing. He gave the machine a little shake. Still nothing. Finally with a look of resignation and disappointment he sat back down without his selection or the return of his money. I thought to myself, I’m glad God’s vending machine is not at all like the one in the waiting room.
The waiting room vending machine gave instructions. Put in the required amount of money, press the button for your selection, then presto! you would receive what was promised. The vending machine doesn’t always keep its promises. Not so with God. He also gives instructions with promises of what one will receive if those instructions are carried out. For example, are you weighed down with burdens? Give them to God and He will give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Do you need direction? Call to God and He will answer, showing you great and mighty things you didn’t know (Jeremiah 33:3). Are you terribly sick? Call for the elders of the church to come and pray (James 5:14). Are you afraid of something? Give those fears to God and He will strengthen you and uphold you with His right hand (Isaiah 41:10). Are you walking forward into the unknown feeling dismayed and discouraged? Tell God all about it and He will remind you that He will never leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:8). Do you have particular needs? Give those needs to God while thanking Him for all He has already done for you. You will experience His peace which will guard your heart and mind (Philippians 4:6-7).
In every situation of life, whether easy or hard, whether joyful or tearful, keep your heart open to Him. Trust builds when we remind ourselves that His promises are always true. Unlike the fickle vending machine, when we put our needs in the hands of our Father, we are assured by His Word, “I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11),
Of course, the very best promise of all is to know we are forgiven of everything wrong we have ever done because Jesus died on the cross taking our punishment upon Himself. Eternal life with Jesus is promised to: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). There is no greater joy found anywhere on earth. There is no greater promise given.
Our dog, Jack, and I were taking a walk the other day when I noticed a father and his little girl just ahead of us. She looked to be about 3 or 4 years old. Her Dad would lift her up and throw her into the air amidst squeals of delight. Then he would swing her from side to side. More happy squeals followed. Once as they were walking along, her hand securely in her Dad’s, they came to a large muddy patch of ground. The little girl stopped, looking at the huge gooey puddle of sticky mud. Suddenly her Dad’s strong and unfailing hands went beneath her arms and swung her over the ominous mud pool, setting her down on solid ground. Watching the father’s care of his little girl was a delight. The image it brought to my mind was also a joy.
Our Heavenly Father does the same thing for us. We read in Deuteronomy 33:27, The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you (NLT). Everlasting, eternal, never ending, always there. When we feel afraid to cross muddy pools of the unknown, Father is there to lift us over, filling us with His peace. When we slip down succumbing to temptations that we should avoid, Father’s arms are there to hug us in forgiveness, setting us down again on the solid ground of His grace to walk forward. When grief seeks to suck away all joy, Father’s arms are there to lift us from sorrow, holding us close as He breathes comfort into our hurting hearts.
It is impossible for us to fall so low in sin, fear, grief or weakness, that His arms are not there to lift us up closer to Himself, offering protection from everything of this world that seeks to destroy our trust in our Father. He is omnipresent. His arms are always with us, lifting, hugging, soothing, being our strength, our comfort, our constant support. He never leaves us. Nothing will make Him ever forsake us. He is stronger than anything else of this world.
What joy! Whatever you are facing today, your Father’s arms are supporting you, today and tomorrow, just as He has always done in every yesterday. I’m now humming that lovely hymn,” Leaning On the Everlasting Arms.”
Everywhere we go there are signs of Christmas coming. Department stores have trees and decorations for sale. The other day I noticed advent calendars are on the ready. There are all sorts of themes on advent calendars, and something we know for certain, behind every door there is something good to find. It’s the same in our spiritual worlds.
Jesus told His followers in Matthew 7:7-8, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened (NLT). How easily we forget and ignore the door, not opening it straight away, but almost as a last resort, we call out to our Heavenly Father, asking for something good behind the door. He never fails to answer the door; but we often fail to knock.
When we are afraid, worried, saddened, troubled by anything at all, we may knock on God’s door through prayer. He will open the door and reveal to us His precious promises. Behind one door He may assure us He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). When we grieve we may open a door of hope, finding the promise that death for the child of God is precious and is only a step into perfect peace and joy where death exists no more (Revelation 21:4 & Psalm 116:15). When we feel alone or forsaken, we may knock on a door and find opened to us the promise, Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).
For every promise of God that seems too good to be true, remember also, I am the Lord, and I do not change (Malachi 3:6 NLT). If He has been good yesterday, and He has, then He will be good today, and most certainly will be the same tomorrow. He is always the same. His help is always on the ready. His promises are always true. His comfort is always ours for the taking. His guidance is ready to show us the way. His wisdom is open to us to give us insight. Do you have a need today? Knock on God’s door. He will open and He will comfort and guide and encourage and show you the way. God’s advent calendar is for every day of the year.
After Jack’s mid-morning walk he gets three apple crunchy treats. The treat is no bigger than my thumb nail but each one is important to Jack. I took note of that when, after our walk two days ago, there were only two treats left in the bag. “Here you are Jack,” I happily said, “Sit.” He crunched one, then two, then stared blankly. I explained we’re out of treats and I’ll get some for tomorrow. I went to the bathroom. Jack came, too. I went to make a cup of coffee. Jack was there. I sat down and opened my laptop. Jack’s eyes appeared peeking above the edge of the table. Jack knew he should have three treats and he wasn’t going to give up. Finally, I went to the kitchen, sliced off a small chunk of cheese and gave it to Jack. Satisfied, he went to curl up for a comfy morning nap, his stomach content.
Remember the story Jesus told in Luke 11 of the man who had no bread to serve a visitor to his home? He went to his neighbor to borrow bread but the neighbor was already in bed. The man in need pleaded until the neighbor finally got up to give him what he needed. Jesus wasn’t teaching us that God likes for us to beg as we squirm in need; rather, He was giving an illustration of persistence in our prayers. When we are in need, Jesus wants us to trust that our every need will be met by our Heavenly Father, and all in perfect timing. We have an instant mentality. When we want something, we want it now. However, when we are waiting in His presence, telling Him of our needs, we are basking in His love, learning to trust more in His ways, believing Him to perfectly meet our needs in His time because He makes no mistakes. Continued asking, presenting our needs, waiting before Him, is a precious time between Father and one of His children.
Our Father is overjoyed to meet our needs, and He is our everything to get us through anything. Jesus said in that same chapter of Luke 11 in verse 13, If you sinful children know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (NLT). Jesus is using physical needs to emphasize spiritual needs. When we are weary and come before our Father, pleading for strength and help, the Holy Spirit within us will comfort and strengthen us. He will guide us and deliver us from fear of the unknown. He will wrap us in love. Whatever be your need today, remember what Jesus said above, How much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
When we are afraid we may ask Father’s help, waiting before Him until we are clothed in courage, strength, and direction. What we need will be met, just keep talking to the Lord, waiting before Him, allowing trust to grow in sweetness, basking in the beauty of His presence. Then, like Jack, curl up contently for a nap. Sleep well in knowing, — your Father will meet your needs.
There are many who have taken comfort from God’s promise in Hebrews 13:5, I will never leave you.” We love knowing that His Words are true all the time. Therefore, it is wonderful to read the above promise, but what about our own promise to God? In John 6 we read that Jesus was teaching His followers. Some didn’t understand what He was saying, so they left. Others didn’t agree with what He was saying, so they left. Jesus turns to the original twelve disciples that He called, and He asks the question , Are you also going to leave (John 6:67 NLT)? Does Jesus ask us the same question today?
When we beg Him for a particular something to take place, but the opposite happens, will we turn away? When we are in the minority, the world mocking the ways of Jesus, will we turn away? When we don’t understand all of His ways, will we turn away? Demonic forces are relentlessly at work to draw us away from following close to Jesus. Demons even whisper, “You go to church; that’s enough, no need to be fanatical.” Do we listen? Do we turn away?
When we find ourselves dwindling in our steadfastness, less us stop and remember, Jesus saved us when we could not save ourselves (Acts 4:12). Jesus is right now interceding for us to His Father (Hebrews 7:25). When we feel we are on a path with no direction, look to Father, He has your future mapped out (Jeremiah 29:11). When we are afraid, remember our God strengthens and holds us up (Isaiah 41:10). When we feel we have hit a dead end, remember nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).
Our emotions may falter. We may not “feel” like intently following Jesus, or seeking for His direction. I encourage us all, when emotions are tipsy-turvy, choose to remain focused on the One who is trustworthy, faithful to His own Word, loving without end. When life is giving you pain and grief, and Jesus whispers, Are you also going to leave, look to the pain He suffered on the cross, and with the greatest of love call out, “Jesus, I will never leave you!” Blessings of peace and joy will follow; it’s a peace and joy the world cannot give.
Most of you will know the story recorded in John 21 where the disciples had fished all night long but they caught nothing. Then someone calls to them from the shore to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. That instruction made no sense. They were professional fisherman who had worked hard all night. Of course they would have thrown their nets on both sides of the boat. Even so, they threw their nets out again but this time the nets were full. The man on the shore then called out, “Come and dine.” This man already had fish cooking on a fire. Instantly they knew this man was Jesus.
Why do you suppose Jesus performed this miracle? Why was He cooking breakfast? Was He merely concerned for their hunger? Yes, but it was their spiritual hunger that concerned Him. Jesus was using a physical picture to point to spiritual truth. Jesus had already said of Himself, I am the bread of life (John 6:35). He had also said, Those who drink the water I give them will never be thirsty again (John 4:14). Jesus also said in regard to the bread served in what we call the Lord’s Supper, This is my body which is given for you (Luke 22:19). He said the same regarding the cup which represents His blood.
What was Jesus wanting us to understand? What was He illustrating to His disciples the morning of fish for breakfast? He was informing us that bread and drink will sustain us physically for a time, but feasting on the Word, on Jesus, will satisfy us for eternity. You see, when we feast upon Jesus, we are feeding upon His forgiveness, His love, His wisdom, His strength, His peace, His guidance. When we feed upon Jesus, at last we find all that is truly satisfying; we find all that will sustain us through all the trials of life. When we discover the feast Jesus provides, we need no longer seek for anything else, because when we taste of Jesus, we know there is nothing greater to be found. In John 1:1 and 14 we read, In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Feeding upon Jesus nourishes us and maintains us today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.
O taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).
When we read the first chapter of Genesis we see how God felt about everything He made. He created the light and said it was good. Then He created the sky and said it was good. It was the same each of the six days that He created; always He said it was good. However, when God made man and woman He did not specifically say it was good. Why it that? Because humanity, made in His own image (Genesis 1:27) is better than good in His eyes.
There is a beautiful verse in Zephaniah 3:17 that tells us how God feels about us: He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. This passage is actually speaking about the Millennial reign of Christ. Nonetheless, it reveals His love for us today. Just think — God Almighty cherishes you. He knows your weakness, your fears, your failures but He adores you. God sees the possibility within us when we have all but given up. He has to put us back on the potter’s wheel again and again as He molds us into the likeness of His character. Even so, He never tires of continual molding because doing so is a great pleasure to Him. With every step we take in becoming strong in our faith, He is singing in joy over us.
We can so easily get discouraged when we look into spiritual mirrors and see reflections of our weaknesses staring back at us, but do not despair because your Heavenly Father is not giving up on any of us. He is in the creating business. Jesus died to make all things possible for you and me. The Holy Spirit resides within us, always whispering encouraging words, giving guidance, making God’s Word alive in our hearts that we may better hear when He says, this is the way, now walk in it (Isaiah 30:21).
When God creates, it is always good; when He looks at each of HIs children, He is always singing. Let us sing, too, giving Him all praise that is due Him. After all, He is our everything to get us through anything. That’s something to sing about.
There is a story of great battle in the Old Testament book of Judges. When we read chapter seven we see that Commander Gideon gave an order to his troops. He told them to light a torch, but to keep it in a clay jar. We read in verse 19, It was just after midnight, after the changing of the guard, when Gideon and the 100 men with him reached the edge of the Midianite camp. Suddenly they blew their rams’ horns and broke their clay jars. They began to shout, “The Sword of the Lord!” The enemies of God heard the horns blowing, the men shouting, and they saw the light shining. In confusion they ran in panic. Do such things happen today?
The answer is a resounding yes! The Apostle Paul tells us in II Corinthians 4:6-7, For God Who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts…but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. You and I face temptations and struggles everyday. Some days are harder than others as great trials and sorrow may fall upon us. We ourselves are so fragile, just like clay jars. However, when we allow the Holy Spirit within us to break our fear, to break our pride, to break our stubbornness, to break our self reliance, then that Light within us, which is the very power of God, takes over. We can then shout in confidence, “Get thee behind me Satan!”
Our enemies must flee at the shout of the name of Jesus. Demonic forces must leave when the Light of His power shines forth from within us. Demons of jealousy, self-loathing, pride, terror, they must all turn away when the Light of Jesus is shining brightly, even from these feeble clay jars that are us. You and I are weak, but never forget, God is strong. Nothing is impossible with Him, and nothing can stand victorious before the Light of God that is within us. Jesus told us Himself in Matthew 5:16, Let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven.
May we all allow the Holy Spirit to break our jars of self reliance, revealing the Light of God within. Joy and peace will be ours.
I’m sure we’ve all experienced those memories of long ago that suddenly, for no apparent reason, pops into our mind. It happened to me this week. I was about six when one day my Dad tells me he’s going to show me how to tie my own shoes. I remember watching his huge hands and big fingers deftly tie the bow on my shoes. He did it again slowly, explaining each detail to me. I tried but couldn’t remember all the steps. I got the first loop and the second loop but forgot where to put them. Patiently and smiling my Dad showed me again. When I succeeded he gave me great praise for my accomplishment.
The next time I put my shoes on my mind went blank. I made the first loop and couldn’t remember what to do next. I remember going to my Dad and saying, “Dad, will you show me again?” He did and once more I tied my own shoes. He was so kind in repeating the instructions and just as full of praise on my second time achievement. This recollection has served to remind me, my memory of my earthly father is but a reflection of the love and patience of my Heavenly Father.
Many times in my walk with God I have believed I mastered a particular something in my life, but at times, there I am again saying to my Heavenly Father, “will you show me again?” We all need showing again throughout our lives. We think we have mastered controlling our anger, but over something insignificant, we have let the temper flare again. We know we have our ego under wraps, but to our own surprise, there we are hinting at our own accomplishments in order for others to praise us. We feel certain that jealousy could never be in our cupboard, but in astonishment, we feel the bitterness of wondering why someone else has something we want but don’t have. We have no doubt that we trust our Heavenly Father in all His ways, only to have to admit we are fearful and questioning at what He has allowed in our lives.
When we look in the mirror, facing our own weakness, we know we must come before our Heavenly Father with that humble attitude that says, “I’m sorry Lord, will you show me again?” What does He do in response to that attitude? He speaks comfort and direction. He utters the beautiful truth of Isaiah 41:10, Don’t be afraid for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with My victorious right hand.
How blessed we are to have a Heavenly Father who never grows weary when we ask Him to show us again.
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