Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Walking in Confidence


I'm struck this week by the words of Hebrews 10.

"Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of great endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised."  (Verses 35-36)

I don't know about you, but when wearniess sets in, I quickly lose my confidence, my focus, and often lose sight of the vision that God provides for my calling.  I daydream about quitting and retiring somwhere oceanside where I can succomb to my introverted personality.   I often feel weary when trials set in, or when work piles up, or when I've disappointed someone. And yes, as Hebrews 10:36 says, I have need of great endurance to do the will of God.  When that endurance doesn't come immediately (and it rarely does), I long to crawl under the covers and bury my head in the pillows.  God can do His work without me, after all, so the temptation to simply go back to bed is strong.  

But I read on in Hebrews 10 and see that, "in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.  But My righteous one shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him."  (Verses 37-38). 

While our time of earthly service to the Lord seems long and sometimes exhausting, it is truly no more than the blink of an eye.  Before we know it, Christ will either return or call us home.  Will I be one who presses on toward the goal?  Or will I be one who shrinks back?  Will I be one who counts all there is to lose or one who sees how much there is to gain? 

Lord Jesus, fill me with Your power and strength and ensure that I am not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.  (Hebrews 10:39).  You don't call the equipped, You equip the called  - so may I walk in confidence knowing that I never walk alone.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Feel Like You've Lost Your Joy?

Sometimes we all feel that way!  Circumstances can blind us to the joy that the Lord provides through His Spirit.   Today I share a video which reveals a little of my testimony and the vision behind the Bible study:  Finding Joy in the Journey: Savoring the Fruit of the Spirit.

I pray this blesses you today!



But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23 NASB