Inspired by Jesus

Devotion that put me in my place

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:14:29 GMT

A Beautiful Balance

“I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” Galatians 2:20a (NIV)

Devotion:

One morning I was looking in the mirror in order to “put on my face” before leaving for work and I heard the Lord whisper to my heart, “Baby girl, why do you spend more time ‘putting on your face’ than you spend on your face before me each morning?” Oh my goodness; what a powerful question! My heart sank as I put the cosmetics away. The Lord was right; I was spending more time gazing in the mirror instead of gazing into His word and at His face. Once again I was living like the old person I was before receiving Christ and not the new person I had been transformed into. Once again, I had allowed myself to consider outer beauty more important that inner beauty.

Now don’t misunderstand me, I’m not suggesting that it become necessary to put away my cosmetics forever and go through life looking less than presentable. Honey, that is not going to happen! I haven’t left the house without a little lip gloss and mascara since I was fourteen. What I am suggesting is returning to the delicate balance of spending time “on my face” before the Lord each morning before spending time “putting on my face.” It’s remembering that as a believer, Christ has moved in and taken up residence within my heart and within my life.

As I allow this relationship to grow, my life will demonstrate His presence and others will see past my carefully applied make-up to the make up of my heart. Proverbs 31:30 is the perfect reminder of this fact, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting: but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (NIV)

I want to encourage you who share my struggle with balancing inner and outer beauty. While the temptation to consider outer beauty more important than inner beauty is present; that temptation has no more power over those who believe in Christ. Because Christ lives in every believer there is hope and power available to live life in proper balance. When our desire for outer beauty is balanced with our desire for inner beauty, our lives demonstrate Paul’s wordsin Galatians 2:20a, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (NIV)

If we will spend more time “on our face” instead of “putting on our face,” God will change us from the inside out and we will experience beautiful balance!

Dear Lord, forgive me for putting more importance on my outer beauty. Thank you for calling me into your presence and reminding me that while outer beauty fades, Your presence never fades. Empower my life to demonstrate Galatians 2:20. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Dear Jesus by Sarah Young

Because, Worship CD by Gwen Smith

God’s Purpose for Every Woman: A P31 Devotional Gen Eds. Lysa TerKeurst & Rachel Olsen

Visit Zoe Elmore’s blog

Application Steps:

Begin each day “on your face” before the Lord. Allow Him to guide your thoughts and actions and you will experience a life of balance.

When you fail, quickly confess it and surrender again. Soon others will see past your make-up to the make up of your heart.

Reflections:

What can you do to ensure a beautiful balance in your life?

Are there other areas of your life that need balance?

<SPANSTYLE="FONT-SIZE: Arial? FONT-FAMILY: 12pt;>Power Verses:

I Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the acceptable and perfect will of God.” (NKJ)

Proverbs 31 Ministries

Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.proverbs31.org

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:57:07 GMT

“Bust My Bubble, Lord”

Devotions: January 10, 2008

For most of my life I have lived in my own little bubble (can’t think of any other way to describe it) The majority of the time I hid inside, not letting anyone in, sharing only the surface stuff that I felt comfortable talking about, doing what I wanted to do, staying comfortable. I have always had a heart for people, wanting to help them in any way, but ignoring my own insecurities and issues. I felt if I helped others I didn’t have to deal with my mess, I would just keep it inside and press it down as far as possible. I felt that my sins and crazy ways were just too bad to share (fear of rejection). Over the years this has caused me to hide behind lots of excuses and many times blaming others for my failures. I feared failure of any kind and so I unknowingly (at the time) thought that if I had a reason for it that would make it alright and I wouldn’t be a failure. This warped thinking caused me to avoid stepping out there in the unknown to try new things and so I stayed in the same little bubble where nobody could hurt me. I would peek my head out for awhile and minister to others and try to keep a positive outlook most of the time (depends on the time frame).

There are many dangers in being in your own bubble. When in that bubble you cannot see things clearly, no discernment for what is going on around you, will not notice things that need to be taken care of and cannot be proactive about issues. Your whole perception of life and the world is distorted and you have your own way of seeing things and are mostly based on the lies that put you in that bubble. You hurt family and friends while in that bubble because you don’t always see their needs and when hiding you are neglecting others. At times when my kids asked me to do things for them (mostly little things-get them some water, food, etc.) if it was too many requests at a time I would just say, no you can get it yourself because I thought they were taking advantage. That was such a lie and I was so protective about everything, jump at people with that defensiveness. When there was tension of any kind, I would “lock-up” so to speak and just say no to it all and not deal with anything. I was running away from my responsibilities and wondered what is wrong with me. I didn’t admit my part in it, it was always something else that caused it. I would go into the same spiral and back around again and again, ending up in failure, pity, and wondering how I could have done these things. I would shut everyone out and stay in my own little world which neglected everyone around me. This selfishness caused misery to me and everyone else, not growing, just staying the same, hiding behind excuses-turmoil, confusion.

Then one day God answered my prayers, He busted that bubble and shined the light which answered all my questions. I could see clearly and knew that I had hurt my family among others, something had to change, but what do I do, it hurt so bad. The truth came out and one thing that I could have been doing when I made a mistake was to be totally honest and call it what it was, don’t make excuses, sometimes there are reasons but just say, I’m sorry, I forgot or I did it or didn’t want to do it, etc. whatever it may be-truth (sometimes we don’t even know what truth is, that was me). Excuses are walls that we hide behind and they hurt us and others deeply. At the time I had no clue how much damage was done. BUT, my redeemer says He loves me no matter what I have done, come to me and lay your burdens at my feet and I will give you living water, soften your heart and equip you to help others. Oh, how we need this, we would have nothing to live for if we had to wallow around in our sin and misdeeds…He is so amazing! Oh what a wonderful savior, redeemer and friend we have in Jesus!

When we focus our eyes on Jesus daily, asking the Holy Spirit to fill us and work through us everything will fall into place. We will still have bumps and problems but Jesus is walking with us throught it all. No Weapon Formed Against Us Will Prosper, we are totally protected and it must go through Jesus first!!! The reason I went around that mountain too many times is because I tried to change myself, in my own strength for so long, thinking I had to do something about it. I think it is wired in us (Eve’s fault..hee hee) and we have to break out of that mentality daily and pray, pray, pray and trust, believe, receive the promises and claim His word over all circumstances! He is restoring all that was broken. That bubble tries to consume me at times, but thank God He reminds me and helps me to see clearly again so that I won’t go to that familiar place again. None of us have arrived, and we will only be complete when He rides on that white horse to meet us.

I hope this encourages you to never give up or lose heart because God is with you always. It is ok to make mistakes because we will, just learn from them by first admitting the truth and moving on in His forgiveness, that should and can be an easy thing. Keep my bubble busted Lord, I am all yours! Bless you on this journey with Jesus, your Abba Daddy!

Love,

Tiffany

Scripture truths

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 18:16:55 GMT

God's word is so delighting.....I love this version....His word captivates me.....enjoy the Holy Word from God straight to your heart!

Psalm 30: The Message Bible

A David Psalm

   1 I give you all the credit, God— you got me out of that mess,
   you didn't let my foes gloat.

   2 -3 God, my God, I yelled for help
   and you put me together.
   God, you pulled me out of the grave,
   gave me another chance at life
   when I was down-and-out.

   4 -5 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God!
   Thank him to his face!
   He gets angry once in a while, but across
   a lifetime there is only love.
   The nights of crying your eyes out
   give way to days of laughter.

   6 -7 When things were going great
   I crowed, "I've got it made.
   I'm God's favorite.
   He made me king of the mountain."
   Then you looked the other way
   and I fell to pieces.

   8 -10 I called out to you, God;
   I laid my case before you:
   "Can you sell me for a profit when I'm dead?
   auction me off at a cemetery yard sale?
   When I'm 'dust to dust' my songs
   and stories of you won't sell.
   So listen! and be kind!
   Help me out of this!"

   11 -12 You did it: you changed wild lament
   into whirling dance;
   You ripped off my black mourning band
   and decked me with wildflowers.
   I'm about to burst with song;
   I can't keep quiet about you.
   God, my God,
   I can't thank you enough.

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 20:10:57 GMT

“Under the Circumstances”

Devotions by Tiffany

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
2 Corinthians 4:8, NLT

When circumstances come are you driven in a direction that you said you wouldn’t go again? Do you feel confident and on top of the world and then when something unexpected happens, you panic? I am sure we all do this at times. The flesh is our natural bent and we have to realize that we cannot make it without the Holy Spirit’s leading each day.

I have been in situations where I had a wonderful day at work/etc. and before I get home I say to myself, no matter what, I am going to have a great attitude, stay in the Spirit and watch what I say. Then, I walk in the door and someone complains or says something that leads me into that fleshly direction again. I look back and say, how did I get here again? In my experiences, there is usually a familiar trigger that the enemy uses to push my buttons and sometimes I fall for it again because there may have been a root (rejection, bitterness, etc.) somewhere or I simply wasn’t prepared. If you happen to be a people-pleaser and someone isn’t happy it can cause different emotions also. I know for myself, when my husband or someone close to me is frustrated and upset about something, I feel like I am suppose to make them happy and get them out of their mood. Then I start to feel like a failure because I am trying to control the situation and it is not working. Then the guilt starts, do you know where I am going here? Guilt is toxic, debilitating and not from God. With a performance driven background I have to constantly remind myself that my little shoulders cannot hold all these burdens. I cannot control people’s reactions or change their attitude.

We weren’t created to handle all of life’s obstacles and their outcomes. God wants to carry these burdens and make your load light. His word says, “Cast your cares on Him for He cares for you.” So why are you trying to hold on to them? Is it out of habit, do you feel like you are suppose to be holding onto something or you feel useless. Feelings will lie to us, they cannot always be trusted. To be honest, my flesh has even felt uncomfortable when my burdens were light, almost as if I was doing something wrong. This was only because I didn’t get into the habit of releasing the burdens to Him. We need the peace that passes all understanding on a continual daily basis. If you have experienced God’s wonderful peace, there is nothing like it in this world. His peace keeps me from focusing on the circumstances and enables me to enjoy His presence. Peace will not come looking for you, it has to be pursued. However, it is easy to have peace if you are tuned into the peace keeper and His promises. When we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and choose to walk in His glorious light, peace always follows.

So where are you today, in turmoil or perfect peace? No matter what the circumstances, God is with you and He wants you to surrender the cares of this world to Him. For He cares for you more than you can ever imagine. I will always know that things are moving in the right direction when my compass is pointing in the direction of peace and joy! My heart is content in the presence of my wonderful counselor and savior. Aren’t you so grateful that the creator of the universe wants to spend time with you, wow! It is unfathomable!

Scripture References:

Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:7

The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you." - 2 Chronicles 15:2

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.
2 Corinthians 4:7

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. - Proverbs 18:21

Living for a Cause Greater than Yourself

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 15:11:38 GMT

Today's Prayer

Dear God, Please do not let me be like the children of Israel who went down and formed bad alliances, totally against Your will, and paid the consequences for making such a bad choice. I know that You were still there to welcome them back, but they still suffered. I don't want to go down that path. I ask for strength, wisdom, and unction from the Holy Spirit to do what is right; to make decisions based on Your Word and on biblical ethics. Please shake my conscience and tug at my heart whenever I am about to make a bad choice or form an alliance with the wrong company (whether with individuals, businesses, or other organizations). Please forgive my past failures and poor choices. I thank You in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Living for a Cause Greater Than Yourself
TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

In the thirteenth century a man named William Wallace became the instrument of freedom from England's tyranny over Scotland. A very wicked king ruled England. A tragedy in the life of William Wallace launched him into living for this cause. Initially his cause was revenge, but soon his cause turned to something bigger than himself - freedom for a nation. When he challenged the commoners to fight for this freedom, they responded that the enemy was too great and that they might die on the battlefield. They also refused to fight for the nobles, the knights and leaders who had a vested interest in gaining more land for themselves versus a pure cause of freedom. Wallace's response: "Yes, we might die. We will all die sooner or later. But we will die for a cause worth dying for. So that our children and their children might live in freedom." This story was popularized in the movie Brave Heart (Sherman Oaks, California: Paramount Pictures, 1995).

Today we find many Christian workplace believers living a status quo relationship with God that is more characterized as "business as usual" than a life demonstrating God's power. Our focus is often more concerned with improving our standard of living than improving the Kingdom of God through our circle of influence. While this takes place, millions upon millions die without the saving grace of Christ. Many other Christians die never experiencing the freedom in Christ that His blood paid for. God has called each of us to live for a cause greater than ourselves - a life that is dependent on His grace and power to achieve things we never thought possible through our lives. This is His plan for your life. The apostle Paul prayed that He might experience the power of the resurrection in his life. This power is available to you and me to live for a cause greater than ourselves. Ask God what He wants to achieve through your life today. And consider yourself dead already to the consequences of what that might mean for you.

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 16:39:25 GMT

Rejection and Forgiveness Part II

By Tracie Miles

1 Kings 8:50, “And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy.” (NIV)

Devotion:

Yesterday’s devotion focused on how much rejection hurts, offered three truths for handling rejection, and provided some practical steps for being able to forgive those who have hurt us. It reminded us of our position in Christ and that we should not strive for the approval of man, but only the approval of God. The only problem is that is a lot easier said than done!

I want to give you a few more motivating factors to forgive those who have hurt you. The New Zealand Medical Journal published a letter from a clinician who did an analysis of 200 case histories showing that 60% of chronic pain patients exhibit a strong element of a failure to forgive. We tend to think of unforgiveness as an emotional issue, and not a health or medical issue. But it is critically important to realize that unforgiveness is a toxic emotion; it is like taking a deadly poison and expecting your enemy to die instead of you.

On the bright side, the benefits of forgiveness are endless. From an emotional perspective, forgiving others decreases anger, depression, and anxiety; it increases self esteem, self-control and our emotional stability; it strengthens relationships; and promotes peace. From a health perspective, the benefits of forgiveness include lowered blood pressure, improved immune systems, improved sleep, reduced stress, increased energy, improved sense of empowerment, reduced dysfunctional patterns of behavior, and an increased peace of mind.

Those people who have hurt us, rejected us, or made us feel unworthy may not deserve our forgiveness, but a key to possessing the ability to forgive is understanding that forgiveness is for us. When we truly forgive our debtors, our heart is filled with a peace that we never thought possible and our relationship with Christ can flourish and grow as we love and shower Him with our gratitude.

Living in a state of unforgiveness not only damages our emotional and physical health, but it also damages our spiritual-health—our relationship with Christ. Our spirits can either be filled with love, forgiveness, and peace; or with hatred and desires for vengeance against thosewho have hurt us. Although God will neverforsake us and nothing we do can separate us from the love of God, our hearts can be overtaken with weeds of the enemy. We need to tend our “heart garden” with the love of Christ. Whichever spirit we fertilize the most is the spirit that will grow, controlling our minds and our actions.

We need to live for today, walking with God, finding joy in the little things, learning to laugh at our mistakes, being appreciative of the gifts God has given us, burying resentments, and most of all TRUSTING GOD. Trust that God has the power to help you forgive those who have hurt you. Trust that God will reward you for your faithfulness. Trust that God may want to use you to teach other people how to forgive, and that your forgiveness may be the key that unlocks the door for a non-believer’s eyes to see the Lord.

Dear Lord, help me know that with Your infused strength in me, I can forgive those who have hurt me. Please cleanse me of any desire for revenge, or any feelings of anger that I hold in my heart. Please fill my heart with Your peace and love and help me remember how precious I am in Your eyes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Traveling Together: Thoughts on Women, Friendship and the Journey of Faith by Karla Worley

Six Habits of Highly Effective Christians by Glynnis Whitwer and Brian T. Anderson

Do You Know Him?

Application Steps:

In your journal, write down the names of people you may need to forgive. Pray for God to help you forgive the people who have hurt you.

Ask your family or friends if there is anything that you have unknowingly done that hurt them, and ask them for their forgiveness.

Reflections:

Is there anyone in my past or present that I need to forgive?

Do I harbor thoughts of revenge against someone who hurt me; should I pray for God to free my mind of unloving thoughts?

Do I need to ask God to help me with my feelings of rejection and pain, so that I can be free of the power that unforgiveness has on my heart?

Power Verses:

Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (NIV)

1 Peter 3:8-9, “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (NIV)

Proverbs 31 Ministries

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 19:30:01 GMT

Rejection and Forgiveness - Part I

By Tracie Miles

Galatians 1:10, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (NIV)

Devotion:

Rejection is something we all face in life. Rejection comes in many forms – affairs or divorce, supervisors who can’t be pleased, teenage rebellion, being turned down for a job, shut out from a club or sorority, or the betrayal of a friend. Although this list is not exhaustive, you get the idea. These things have one thing in common - they are painful, and very damaging to our self-esteem.

In the midst of rejection, we are so focused on ourselves that it is difficult to pull away from the hurt and think clearly or rationally. Our thoughts are often, How could that person have done/said that to me? Do they know how much I have done for them? Have they taken a hard look at themselves? We all share these thoughts when we are consumed with despair caused by hurtful words or actions from others.

There are three basic truths in handling rejection:

Truth #1: Understand that you are made in the image of God. We are told in Genesis 1:27 that God created man in His image. Men and women are God’s most unique works of art, His masterpieces! There is no one more valuable and precious than the children of God. Remember who you are in Christ and choose to see yourself through God’s eyes.

Truth #2: Rejection is only destructive when we internalize it, allowing it to creep into our personal belief system. Since we cannot control what other people think, we have no control over whether or not people approve of us. We are only in control of our own attitudes and beliefs. If we allow the opinions of others to affect the opinions we have of ourselves, then we are allowing those who hurt us to control our thoughts. If we keep our thoughts focused on how much God loves us, we won’t dwell on the opinions of others.

Truth #3: We can combat the destructive forces of rejection by understanding our position in Christ. We are God’s most prizedpossessions! Spend time focusing on who we matter to instead of who we don’t. We are told through out the first book of Peter that we are chosen, royal, holy, accepted, and instruments for God’s work. Our position is one of royalty, and we are each a significant instrument in God’s spiritual orchestra.

During painful times in our life, we can triumph if we remember that God is our strength. God is a forgiving God, and He desires for His children to be forgiving as well. He is sufficient to get us through our problems. He is our Almighty Redeemer. We do not need the world’s approval, and we will never be able to please everyone. We only need the approval of God. God is waiting to wash our souls with His grace and mercy to help us through any situation, but first we must have our spiritual eyes and ears open to hear His loving, comforting voice.

Dear Lord, I pray for Your wisdom on how to deal with situations in which I feel hurt, rejected, and worthless. Fill me with Your love so that I can forgive others. Help me remember that Your approval and acceptance is all I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

The Confident Woman by Anabel Gillham

Do You Know Him?

Application Steps:

Ask God to intervene in your situation, and help you forgive this person and mend your relationship. It may seem hopeless, but nothing is too big for God to handle.

Create two lists. List 1: write down all the wonderful traits, talents and skills that God has gifted you with. List 2: write down all the people in your life who love you. Seeing all these things on paper will help relieve the pain of the person(s) who made you feel unworthy and rejected.

Reflections:

Unforgiveness is poison to our soul – do you need to forgive someone who hashurt you?

Are there people in your life that you would do anything to gain their approval? Would your behavior change if you were only concerned with God’s approval, not that of man?

Do you thank God daily for the privilege of being made in His image, and remember that you are beautifully and wonderfully made?

Power Verses:

Psalm 36:5, “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” (NIV)

1 Kings 8:50, “And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy.” (NIV)

Proverbs 31 Ministries

Have You Truly Experienced God and His Miracles?

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:46:09 GMT

The bible says: Romans 3:22-25 says, This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

How I know I am truly saved is that I have asked God to forgive my sins and that I choose to repent of my bad habits that lead me to sin. When I pray to repent I am depending on God's strength to keep me from doing those same things over again. I know that He has always loved us and He is not mad at us. He knew we would sin and that we need a savior. Heaven has a party when we come to Jesus. In that prayer I also asked Him to be Lord of my life and to lead me in His will for my life because I don't know how to live apart from Him. There is no set prayer, as long as we have asked Him to forgive us of our sins and acknowledge that He died for our sins on the cross and we thank HIm for His forgiveness and I beleive in Him and all that the bible says, because it is the only truth we have in this world. He will hear our prayers. Also, one way to know for sure is, your heart will change and God will start to change you from the inside out. You will not want to do some of the things you use to or hang around people that lead you away from God. You will also remember the time you gave your heart to Him, maybe not the exact day, but close. He has been changing me little by little and leading me and speaking to me through people, scripture and creative ways only God can do. God has totally changed my life and I am forever grateful, He also gives us eternal life in Heaven! Love you and take care, God loves you right where you are. He is listening and waiting for our prayers....

God is so real, He is alive and doing awesome things today, He speaks through so many avenues and changes lives, I am a walking miracle. God has totally transformed my life and has given me a reason to live. The reason this world is in such bad shape is because people have told God they don't need Him and so he has to back off because he gave us a free will. However, the ones that have asked God to heal their land and seek a relationship through Jesus know differently. He is at work here on earth and whomever calls on His name shall be saved and he will answer their prayers. He is not the God that we can call on as a last resort when things get bad, you either want all of Him all the time, or you don't want Him at all. The bible is truth, if you beleive in the creator, you will beleive what the bible says. We cannot pick out what we want to read and discount the rest. It is all or nothing. If you ever truly experience God through a relationship with Jesus, you will never be the same...it is indescribable how awesome God really is. I am forever grateful for His love and the miracles he has given. You are loved truly and deeply by your creator in Heaven. Why not join in with His plan for your life...He is ready to begin the work He has specifically planned for you personally!

Journaling

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 13:47:51 GMT

With Love, From Your Younger Self

By Amy Carroll

2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…’” (NIV)

Devotion:

I’ve been joking around about it for more than a year, but now I’m thinking that I really might do it. I have been saying that I’m going to start a journal for myself to read when I’m 70--you know, thoughts from my younger self to my older self. Some of my current thoughts I’m sure will be laughable to my 70-year-old self. My inexperience will show, and my spiritual walk will seem immature.

My friend Ruth presented me with my best journal entry yet. Ruth’s closest friend,her husband Sam, diedover a year ago in October. When our families gathered for our annual Christmas get-together last year, I asked Ruth how she was really doing without Sam. She told me that she missed Sam terribly, of course. Then she followed with a quote from her sister that had been widowed early in life. “Amy, I have stood in front of my Sunday school class and taught the sufficiency of God for 30 years. If I can’t live that out now, what does it really mean?”

God has been teaching me a lot about His complete sufficiency, and I think it will be a key to growing in godliness until the end of my life. Here are some areas in which He’s teaching me.

1. The Sufficiency of His Word—For many years, I approached the Bible with some fear. Surely this was a book that took an expert to understand. I felt I needed an author or a scholar to tell me what God’s Word said and meant. He has been teaching me that with the help of the Holy Spirit, I have everything I need in His Word. I’m now a slow but determined student!

2. The Sufficiency of His Counsel—The prophecies of Jesus includes this one from Isaiah 9:6, “…And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (NIV) Jesus then taught us in the gospel of John about the Holy Spirit: John 14:26, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (NIV). I have Jesus and His indwelling Spirit to counsel me about everything I need concerning life and godliness. He is sufficient to give my life purpose and direction.

3. The Sufficiency of His Comfort—We live in a fallen world, and sometimes I want to groan along with it. God’s grace and power is sufficient in our weak places, though. He even promises to use our weakness, our suffering and our pain for our good. Many times He may be calling us to join Him as instruments of comfort. Consider II Corinthians 1:3-4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (NIV).

These are just a few areas that God is showing me His sufficiency. I’m sure you could add some of your own. I’m just praying that as I grow into an older woman that I am continually growing into God’s sufficiency and out of my own. Someday I want to look at a younger friend and answer her question with a quote from my friend Ruth, “I have stood in front of my Sunday school class and taught the sufficiency of God for 30 years….”

Dear Lord, so often I live in my own sufficiency. I want to learn about Your sufficiency and how to live in it. Help Your name to be so associated with my name that I would bring glory to You in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:

Living Life on Purpose by Lisa TerKeurst

Shaped With Purpose by Renee Swope

Do You Know Him?

Application Steps:

Start a journal for your older self. Record the sayings and actions of older and wiser people.

Begin living now the way you want to be when you are older. Curbing our tongues is one way to show that we believe in God’s sufficiency!

Reflections:

Who can I observe as role models for growing older and more like Jesus every day?

What are some of the flaws that I want to eliminate and/or avoid as I grow older? (Ask God for His sufficient power in this area.)

Power Verses:

Psalm 119: 111-112, “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.” (NIV)

Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counselof the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (NIV)

I Thessalonians 5: 23- 24, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.” (NIV)

Proverbs 31 Ministries

616-G, Matthews-Mint Hill Road

Matthews, NC 28105

www.Proverbs31.org

A Prayer for Today

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 14:56:04 GMT

Dear Heavenly Father,

I come to you today thanking you for the grace to keep going today. Today is the one-year anniversary of my Nana's graduation to Heaven. I thank you Lord for preparing me for her death and for sparing her from suffering. She was a very giving and spunky lady and I thank you for giving me a grandmother to help me through my childhood years. She would give the clothes off her back to anyone in need, and we knew not to make her mad because she would let you have it. She loved Rod Stewart and use to sing and dance to his music. Lord, give me the humility to dance without caring who is watching. I beleive dancing can give us freedom and fill our souls with peace. Teach us to let go of the grip of this world and freely worship you with our whole self. I am free to worship and experience your wonderful Holy Spirit, which is alive and better than anything in this world. I ask you to forgive me for the times that I wished I had a better grandmother, because she did the best she could in taking care of us all. We all make mistakes and nobody can be perfect like your son Jesus who knew no sin. I cannot judge anyone's sins, because no matter how big they look to us, all sins are the same in your eyes...rebellion against our creator. So today I will hold fast because you will give us enough grace and mercy each day to get through anything. No matter what we are facing today, you are bigger and we will overcome for we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! Thank you for the plans you have to prosper us and give us a future and a hope to carry on!