Captive Thoughts

Reading: 2 Chronicles 23; Joel 2-3; 2 Corinthians 10

“ We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:2b NIV).

This week has been tough. As soon as I decided to find joy in this Christmas season, I was bombarded with stress. My little girl has been extremely fussy, and my list of to-dos just keeps getting longer and longer. It seems as if there are never enough hours in the day (or night for that matter). My mind has been filled with negative thoughts. Satan has known exactly where to attack me as of late. He makes me doubt my mothering skills, my writing skills and my wife skills. He makes me look around at my life and see everything that is broken and incomplete. He directs my eyes away from Christ, where they belong. The verse above is meant for me, today and everyday. It’s a great reminder to take each thought and deed captive. In fact, it’s a verse meant for everyone of us. There’s a destroyer out there that preys on our thoughts. Some days we have to go moment-by-moment, giving each thought back to our Lord and Savior. That’s life for you. Satan wants nothing more than to make us feel insecure and insignificant during this Christmas season. He wants us to get caught up in the craziness of gift buying, and forget to find joy in Jesus Christ.

But I’m not about to let him. I’m taking each thought, and giving it back to Christ. I’m living each moment of this Christmas season for Him. I know it sounds cliché but He truly is the reason for the season.

Use Me

Reading: 2 Chronicles 21-22; Obadiah; Joel 1; 2 Corinthians 8-9

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 NIV).

As the weather gets colder and I bundle my little baby up tightly for trips outside, I start to think about those who are less fortunate then me. I wonder if someone’s baby is cold today, less protected from the wind then my own.

My arms are already so full. I feel as if I’m constantly running from one thing to the next. My hours largely revolve around the little girl in my life. So what can I do? Where can I be used?
It’s probably a mistake to say that I can’t be used. God knows my limitations. He knows my gifts. And I’m sure He has things in mind, even now.

My prayer today is that He will show some of those things to me. That He’ll show me how to best love and serve this Christmas season, even if it is with a baby in tow.

How does God want to use you this Christmas?

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8 NIV).

Christ’s Love Compels

^“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NIV).

What does it mean to be compelled by the love of Christ? How does this influence the way we live our lives?

The Greek word for compelled, synechō, means to hold together with restraint. Christ’s love holds us together. He makes us complete. He is our reason for living on this earth. And so why wouldn’t we live our every breath for him? Why wouldn’t we make Him the center of our world, our number one focus and priority?

But do we? So often I find myself coming up short. With a new baby in the house my priorities in life have shifted. She has become the center of my world. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. She definitely needs my love and care. Just the same, as I care for her, I can’t forget where my heart ultimately belongs: to my Savior. He’s the one that has given this precious little life. He’s the one in charge of everything. He compels me each and every day. He holds all of my pieces together, even on the days when they feel like they’re coming unglued. He is there, by my side, helping me through this crazy days called motherhood. He restrains me, consoles me, and reminds me to find joy as I live my daily life for Him. He is my everything, I would be nothing without Him. What about you?

Do Not Lose Heart

2 Chronicles 7- 14; 2 Corinthians 2-4

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV).

Do you ever get to the end of the day, thankful that its over and a new one is about to begin? I know I do. This world can be draining at times. Some days are just tough. Nothing seems to go right. I love the verse above, because it reminds me that the things of this world truly are just temporary. What truly matters is on the inside. While things around us may be falling apart, we are being renewed and strengthened day in and day out. Our Lord and Savior walks through each trial with us, and reminds us of what really matters, eternity with him. In order to truly bring this point home, I looked up the meaning of a few words in this verse. The first two words “lose heart” were translated from the Greek, ἐγκακέω, which means to become discouraged. It’s so easy to become discouraged when we look at everything that is wrong in our lives, isn’t it? But this verse reminds us to not lose heart, but to instead focus on what’s important.
The last word I looked up was renewed. Renewed was translated from the Greek word ἀνακαινόω, which means to make new, to grow up, to give new strength and vigor, or to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state. God gives us new strength and vigor each and every day as he transforms us into the person he created us to be. This process isn’t always easy, at times it’s downright hard in fact, but just the same, it’s wonderful. Personally, I’m thankful that God didn’t leave me the way I once was, that person wasn’t exactly pretty. Instead, He is daily transforming me into a work of art. A masterpiece He created just for His glory.

Lord, Strengthen My Heart

Today’s Reading: Psalm 113, 114, 115; 1Thessalonians 3

Verses to Ponder: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 NIV).

Prayer: Lord, today, as in every day, I need my heart strengthened so that I can truly love those around me. My heart feels so weak and human on it's own. Time and again I come to the end of what is humanly possible, and have to depend on you like never before. Time and again I must claim the words you spoke to the Apostle Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). What wondrous words those are. And how often must I come before you and ask you to fill in the gaps.
Please help me as I minister to the needs of my little girl, care for my husband, and be the best friend I can be to those around me today and everyday. Amen.

God Uses Our Weaknesses

In today’s reading the Israelites were once again caught up in their human nature. They coveted and doubted, once again failing to trust in God. The disciples in Luke 9 weren’t much different. They doubted their ability to cast a demon out of a boy, and argued about who would be the greatest among them in the kingdom of heaven. In both Joshua 7-9 and Luke 9:37-62, we once again see human nature at it’s worst, and most real. Because haven’t we, too, had moments of doubts? Haven’t we, too, had moments in which we failed to trust God, and instead turned and high-tailed-it out of a scary situation? What I love is that God uses us, even in our moments of weakness.
In Joshua 8 we read about the taking of the city of Ai. Here’s the verse in particular that stuck out to me:
“The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising against the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction, for the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the desert had turned back against their pursuers” (Joshua 8:20 NIV).
While their fellow soldiers were burning the city, some of the Israelites had run for the desert. Their fear had overtaken any faith that God would provide. But then, God used them. As they turned around and realized that the battle had turned, they were able to capture the fleeing men of Ai. Their fear ended up being a strategic battle move. God used them, even in their moment of doubt, to be all the more victorious in the end.
Isn’t it amazing how God uses us, weaknesses and all? There have certainly been times when God has used my timidity and shyness to reach out to others with similar fears. He’s used me disappointments in writing and teaching to empathize with friends who were going through something similar. He’s used my very weaknesses to point most assuredly back to Him.
“For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV).

Has God ever used you at your weakest? What did it feel like? What did you learn from the experience?
Lord, please use my weaknesses today to make your name shine all the brighter.

Day 24: Job 38-40; Matthew 15:21-39

In today’s reading we come across a woman who doesn’t fit into the current ministry of Jesus. At the time, he was ministering primarily to the Jews. When she first speaks to Jesus he doesn’t even answer her. He stays quiet, presumably ignoring her cries. It is only after she continually begs him that he heals her daughter. What a beautiful story of persistence. What a beautiful story of faith.

There have been things in my life that didn’t get cured all at once. I still struggle with certain physical ailments to this day, namely chronic migraines. These migraines follow me on a daily basis. I have to admit that I’ve become half-hearted in my prayers concerning them. A part of me has given up on being healed, which isn’t right.

Of course I should learn to accept this “thorn” God has given me (2 Corinthians 12:7), but at the same time, I should never forget that he is a God of miracles.

I want a faith like this Gentile woman, who kept on asking until God answered her. I want to “pray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV) believing that Jesus will ultimately heal me, if not in this world, than in the next.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this reminder that you are a God of miracles. Please help me to never cease in praying for healing.