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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
If you money were no object and you could provide your child with anything physically, spiritually or emotionally what gifts would you give them?
If money were no object and you could provide your child with anything physically, spiritually or emotionally what would you WITHHOLD from them? Would there be anything they needed to live that you would keep from them?
If money were no object and you could provide your child with anything physically, spiritually or emotionally would there be anything that your child could do that would cause you to say, “That’s enough? You are no longer my child. You’ve overstepped the boundaries. You are on your own from now on. I don’t care about you!”
We have been blessed by our Heavenly Father with every spiritual blessing available. Our blessings aren’t based on our ability to deserve them. We are unworthy of even one of those blessings. But because Jesus loves us and because of His death and resurrection we have access to everything we need to travel though life’s journey. We will encounter obstacles and tragedy. We’ll be lied to and lied about. We’ll succumb occasionally to selfishness and anger. But none of those things will keep our Father from wanting to bless us.
Sometimes life gets hard. Sometimes we get distracted. When that happens, take some time to get alone, take a walk or just sit and meditate on the things God has done for you. When we focus on God’s blessings, it’s easier to endure life’s hardships.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. I have to confess to you that I really can’t comprehend all you have done for me. There are so many times when I’m down. So many times when I want things my own way and feel abandoned when I don’t get them. So many times when friends and those who say they love me reject me. I ask that today, I would walk through life’s journey constantly reminded that You love me and have given me every blessing through Jesus. When things go wrong remind me of all you have done to help me through in the past. Amen.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8
God is my refuge. A refuge isn’t a zoo where life is sterile and everything I need is handed to me by some ‘celestial zoo keeper’. I don’t exist to be put on show so that people can scrutinize my movements. I’m not here to be free of all enemies and hardship. I’m not in a cage that keeps me from being the real me.
God is my refuge. He didn’t send His son, Jesus, to die for me and then leave me to fend for myself in a world where I need protection from spiritual forces. He’s not a distant, apathetic or angry old man that is wringing His hands wondering what will happen next and how He can endure the struggle of keeping me alive.
He is my refuge. A refuge is a place set up for animals to thrive in their natural environment. Natural hardships still occur but they are there to help me grow stronger. I am free to roam. Free to be myself. Some refuges have no fences. They are simply areas set aside where unnatural enemies (man) can’t enter to kill, harm or maim. The animals inside are free to leave, but most realize that it is to their benefit to stay.
As Christ-follower our enemy is an unnatural one. Satan wants to harm us, to keep us bound, to lead us to a path of destruction. He tempts us by trying to get us to believe that true freedom rests beyond the boundaries of the refuge we have in Jesus. He lures us outside so that he can attack and destroy.
When we stay safe within the bounds of God’s love and learn to walk with Him in obedience we are protected from Satan. That doesn’t necessarily mean we won’t encounter hardship. In fact, we can almost be guaranteed there WILL be hardship. But that hardship is there to make us stronger and so that we can be free to live life the way we were intended to live it.
PRAYER: Holy Father. Thank you that you are my refuge. Thank you for providing a place in life where I can live life to the fullest. I acknowledge that when I am walking with you, you offer protection that I can’t find anywhere else. Help me to learn to live within the safety of your refuge. Thank you for the forgiveness you offer when I stray. Amen
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:27
The first time he left Egypt, Moses ran in fear and disgrace. He was a success story from the beginning. Hidden in some weeds by his mother to escape the brutal murder that thousands of other baby boys did, he was welcomed into the house of Pharaoh and rose to the top of Egyptian leadership.
But now, having murdered an Egyptian for beating one of his fellow Israelites, he ran for his life into the desert. Afraid, alone and no doubt feeling very defeated.
One day, years later, Moses was tending sheep when he saw a bush erupt into flames. This wasn’t uncommon in the noon day heat of the wilderness. Sometimes a bush would burst into flames and burn up for no apparent reason. This bush, however, didn’t burn up and Moses stopped what he was doing to gain a closer look.
God used the burning bush to call Moses back into service for him. Even though he had murdered a man and left in disgrace, God still had a plan for Moses. God sent Moses back to Egypt with courage to accomplish what God wanted him to do.
Moses courageously returned to Egypt and demanded that the king let his people go. The King refused until, after many miracles and plagues, the King and all the people of Egypt begged the Israelites to leave their land. They even loaded down the people with gifts and livestock for their journey into the wilderness.
Like Moses, each of us has times when we flee into the wilderness. We’ve failed at some point in our lives. We’ve made bad decisions that have hurt others, destroyed our careers or damaged our reputations. We live in fear, guilt or remorse always wondering how life would be different if we’d made a better decision here or there.
With God, failure isn’t the end; it’s the beginning of new and exciting opportunities to live for God. Once in the wilderness God had Moses in a position where God could speak to him, teach him and send him back to Egypt to be victorious. No matter what has happened in your life God wants to do the same for you.
Where ever you are on the journey of life don’t forget to look for the burning bush. Look for things that God is bringing into your life to teach you, guide you and empower you. No matter what you have done in life, no matter how angry or bitter or afraid you are God wants to take you from the wilderness you are in and help you succeed.
Don’t be afraid of the future. Once Moses saw the burning bush he realized that God could accomplish anything. Draw close to God. Moses spoke face to face with God, just as you can through prayer. Moses heard what God had to say to him, just as you can through reading the Bible and meditating on what He has to say to you.
Keep your eyes focused on what you can’t see! As a Christ-follower, remember that God is with you through His Holy Spirit. You are never alone. You are never unseen. In fact scripture tells us that God’s angels are everywhere, protecting us, guiding us and watching over us with the same love and admiration that God Himself has. We won’t know until we get to heaven how many times an angel has intervened to save us.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father. I thank you for the example we have in Moses of how you can use anyone to accomplish your tasks, no matter what terrible and evil things we have done. Right now, I’m living in a wilderness. I’m afraid of the future, ashamed of my past and unable to live the way I want to in the present. I ask that you would help me to see the unseen. To live realizing that You have given me everything I need for today so that I can live in victory. Give me the courage of Moses to be strong in You. Amen.
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Matthew 28:6a
Life can take turns we don’t expect. Sometimes those turns blindside us, catching us off guard and forcing us off the main road onto some narrow and treacherous wilderness path.
Relationships fail. Friends and family we always thought we could count on abandon us or alienate us because they feel betrayed or are apathetic to our pain. Lovers we thought would always be there for us change their minds and look for a ‘better offer’. Careers once thought secure go down in smoke.
Sometimes the biggest disappointments in life come from our own failures. Try as we might, we can’t kick the addictions. We struggle with lust. We want, so we spend money we don’t have to get what we don’t need and find ourselves buried in the canyons of debt.
Like the Apostle Paul, our life battle cry seems to be, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” Romans 7:15 (NLT) We strive so hard to be faithful, but worry and doubt when God doesn’t do what we were hoping He’d do. We try to be Christ-like in thoughts and words and deeds until that person, our nemesis, attacks us again and we retaliate. And with each brick of failure we build a wall that imprisons us and keeps us from experiencing the fullness of life.
And then, on those days when we aren’t beating ourselves into the ground there are those who are more than willing to point out our failures. They attempt to force us into their molds. They question our faith, our sincerity, our ability…and even our sanity! And we add another brick.
That’s why I believe in Easter. Easter reminds me that all of this isn’t about me. It’s not about the church I attend. It’s not about religious dogma and tradition. It’s not about these distinctives or that doctrine. It’s not about the songs we sing, the instruments we play or the name on the sign on the church I attend. It’s not about my marital status, my bank account, my credit rating or the past mistakes I’ve made. It simply is NOT about me.
Easter, like life itself, is about Jesus. He left Heaven to live among us beggars and show us how to love each other as servants. He died to take the punishment we deserved and by so doing, to make forgiveness available to me. He rose so that someday I can go home to be with Him. I can’t wait. I love the beauty of this world but it’s nothing compared to what waits for me on the other side.
The longer I travel on life’s journey the more I realize that no one; NO ONE understands like Jesus. He has seen me through life’s darkest times. He’s been there when I’ve been abandoned and when I’ve ignored Him. He’s welcomed me back when I’ve rebelled and come back beaten and battered. He is, has been and will be a friend that will never, ever leave me. He’s proven himself to be a friend that is closer than a brother.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus. My friend, my comfort and my protection. On this day, more than any other I’m reminded of how unworthy I am to be able to call You Lord. I bow before you in gratitude for all you have done in my life. For the times You’ve opened your arms to me when I’ve failed and comforted me when others have failed me. Thank you for forgiving my stubborn rebellion. Thank you for giving me second and third and forth chances. Thank you that I am your number one. Your masterpiece. That even though I feel like a failure at times You look on me with pride. Amen.
