Refresh Your Faith (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2)

Today’s scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2

We Christians often use the phrase, “Walking with the Lord.” Paul used it as well. He also described our lives as Christ-followers as a race, more like a marathon (1 Corinthians 9:24, 26). I like to call it a journey—running just isn’t my thing.

No matter what you call your particular faith journey, how should you behave? What should all of us do to move forward rather than backward—or not move at all?

One of my favorite talks I give is “Refresh Your Faith.” I talk a lot about what we can do to keep our faith fresh and vibrant. I emphasize how important it is to keep God—Father, Son, and Spirit—first and foremost in our minds and hearts. And to do that, we can and should do several things:

Take time for personal Bible study and prayer. I believe this is the most important of all. When we spend quiet time alone with God’s word, we learn more about Him and His will for our lives. And when we pray, we draw closer to His throne.

Spend time in solitude listening to His voice. It’s one thing to talk to God. It’s another to listen to Him. When you quietly sit in His presence, focusing completely on Him, He’ll often speak to your heart.

Take times of retreat. Whether this is a weekend with the women or men from your church, or a few hours of personal retreat, it’s important to regularly get away from the “stuff” of the world to fully focus on God.

Spend time with others of faith. As often as possible, get involved with a group Bible study. The Holy Spirit reveals truth to each of us differently, and it’s inspiring to hear what has touched others’ hearts.

Memorize scriptures. Knowing God’s word by heart helps in so many ways. It offers encouragement when you face difficulties. It helps to combat the lies of the enemy. Jesus Himself used scripture to counter the enemy (Luke 4:1-13). Should we do any less?

These are just a few of the things we can do to keep our focus on God … and that’s what we need to do to win the race or arrive at our destination: eternity with Him.

Cease Striving (Psalm 46:10-11)

Today's scripture: Psalm 46:10-11

The psalmist nicely wraps up with today’s verses. He starts with a very important command: “Cease striving and know that I am God.” Other translations say, “Be still …” Or as the Contemporary English Version says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God!”

I often speak on God’s plans for our lives, and I always spend some time on how we hear God’s voice. I use this verse as an important guideline. We must be still. We must cease striving to do things on our own. That’s how we begin to hear the voice of our Lord.

Being still is hard for some of us, myself included. But I can tell you from experience, when I sit silently before God’s throne and pray for all distractions to leave my heart and mind, it’s then when I feel God’s presence intimately. It’s then when I hear His voice speaking softly to my heart.

It’s hard to cease striving or be still or calm down in our crazy, hectic world. But may I encourage you? Take a moment today to just be still in the presence of your Father. It’ll change your life. I guarantee it!

Our God Reigns! (Psalm 99:1)

Today's scripture: Psalm 99:1

The Lord God reigns! He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. He is just and holy and righteous. He is good and full of compassion.

We should tremble in His presence—perhaps not literally, but certainly figuratively. We should be so in awe of Him that our hearts shake with humility. Yet how often do we—do I—take Him for granted.

I’m especially convicted as I write these words this morning. So often, I treat my daily time with the Lord as just another task to complete. Instead of anticipating this time with joy, humility, and gratitude, I rush through it, just to get it done. I’m certainly not trembling in awe.

The fact that I can come to the sovereign, reigning Lord and spend time with Him is amazing. I should come to Him on my knees in wonder and awe. The God of the universe wants to listen to my voice and speak to my heart. And He wants to do the same with you.

Oh, Lord, forgive me for taking You for granted, for not trembling in Your presence. Help me, Holy Spirit, to come to the foot of the throne without distractions—every day.

Call Upon the Lord (Ps. 99:6-8)

Moses and Aaron were among His priests,
And Samuel was among those who called on His name;
They called upon the LORD and He answered them.
He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
They kept His testimonies
And the statute that He gave them.
O LORD our God, You answered them;
You were a forgiving God to them,
And yet an avenger of their evil deeds.
(Psalm 99:6-8, NASB)

Jehovah God never changes. He is the same as He was in the days of Moses, Aaron and Samuel. When they called upon Him, He answered them. He does the same today.

That’s what prayer is all about: Calling on God and listening to His answer.

Sometimes, though, we can get caught up in the calling and forget about the listening. Or am I the only one who does this?

I love to intercede for my friends and family. I love praying for their needs, for provision, for peace and comfort.

And doing this is a very good thing.

But all too often, I’m so busy doing that very good thing that I neglect to just sit quietly and listen to God’s voice. I wrote this in my book The Best Laid Plans:

The most important thing about listening for God’s voice is that, in order for Him to be heard, you must be silent. God doesn’t want to compete with the world’s noise, nor should He. We know God, we hear His voice, in the stillness, in the quiet. God tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) King David said with confidence that “the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord will hear when I call to Him . . . Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still” (Psalm 4:3,4). (© 2005 Sauni Rinehart)

God promises to answer when we call out to Him, when we listen quietly for His voice.

Just as He did with Moses, Aaron, and Samuel

Cease Striving (Ps. 46:10-11)

"Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
(Psalm 46:10-11, NASB)

The psalmist nicely wraps up with today’s verses. He starts with a very important command: “Cease striving and know that I am God.” Other translations say, “Be still …” Or as the Contemporary English Version says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God!”

I often speak about God’s plans for our lives, and I talk about how we can hear God’s voice. I use this verse as an important guideline. We must be still. We must cease striving to do things on our own. That’s how we begin to hear the voice of our Lord.

Being still is hard for some of us, myself included. But I can tell you from experience, when I sit silently before God’s throne and pray for all distractions to leave my heart and mind, it’s then when I feel God’s presence intimately. It’s then when I hear His voice speaking softly to my heart.

It’s hard to cease striving or be still or calm down in our crazy, hectic world. But may I encourage you? Take a moment today to just be still in the presence of your Father. It’ll change your life. I guarantee it!

Grow Your Relationship ... with God (2 Tim. 2:7)

Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
(2 Timothy 2:7, NASB)

If we seek God, if we focus on Him, if we meditate on His word, if we spend time in prayer and solitude, He will reveal Himself and His will to us.

We will understand His word more. We will see His plan more clearly. We will know how to serve Him so He’ll be glorified.

That’s what being in a relationship is all about. Learning more and more about the other. Being more in tune to his desires. Wanting to bring him joy. The most healthy relationships I know are like this. And that’s how our relationship with God should be.

Do you truly desire a growing relationship with your Lord God? Do you want to know Him more, have “understanding in everything”? Then focus on what you can do. Do your part.

God has already done His.