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).

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Reading: 2 Chronicles 17-20; 2 Corinthians 6-7

^“[Jahaziel] said: ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you’” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17” NIV).

“You will not have to fight this battle.”

How many battles have I fought that were never mine to fight? How many times have I tried to fix things, when it was none of my business to do so? How many times have I tried to make those around me happy, giving my expert opinion when all I was really called to do was pray?

More times than I can count.

My desire to make those around me happy has gotten in the way of my Savior working.

That’s why it’s been good for me to be at a distance from certain things.

Although I miss my friends and family, living far away has given me a sense of perspective.

It’s caused me to fall to my knees in prayer, instead of getting the middle of a situation.

It’s reminded me of the power of prayer.

For the battle has never really been mine to fight.

The battle has always belonged to the Lord.

It always has.

It always will.

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?

Eagerly Seeking

Reading: 2 Chronicles 15-16; 2 Corinthians 5

^“They entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All who would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, were to be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman. They took an oath to the LORD with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the LORD gave them rest on every side” (2 Chronicles 15:12-15 NIV)

Eagerly seeking after Him. What does this look like? What does this mean? I love God with everything in me, but it isn’t always evident in the way I live my life. At times, He becomes an afterthought, a rushed prayer, someone I turn to on the bad days. But to seek Him eagerly, to desire to spend time in his presence, do I do this? I want to, I do desire it, but I don’t always put in into practice. My life gets busy. Already I’m focused on the holidays, and trying to pack in as much fun as possible. In the midst of it all though, I’d love to think that I’ll find time to spend with my Savior, even when my house is full of friends and family. I’d love to think that Jesus will still be my number one priority, even in the midst of a busy season. Now to put it into practice.

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.

We are the Temple

Readings: 2 Chronicles 1- 6; 1 Corinthians 16; 2 Corinthians 1

I love the description of the Temple of the Lord that we read of in 2 Chronicles. It was truly a spectacular thing. We’re told that, during the dedication of this dwelling place, that the glory of the Lord filled the Temple in the form of a cloud (2 Chronicles 5:14 NIV). How amazing it would have been to experience that! To hear the people celebrating, to smell the incense, and to see the presence of the Lord fill the temple. It would have been such an exhilarating moment. The Israelites were worshiping the one true God with all of their hearts, souls and minds. Just the same, I’m thankful that I don’t have to sacrifice at a temple to find atonement for my sins. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice when he died on the cross for you and for me. Now, instead of going to a temple to experience the presence of the Lord, I feel him inside of me, each and every day. As 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us, our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. How amazing is that! It certainly gives me some perspective as I live my life, day in and day out. If God dwells inside of me, then I certainly want to make sure that that dwelling place is a clean one, worthy of the king of all kings.

What does being the temple of the Holy Spirit mean to you?