Then, looking through my tears, I plead,
“Dear Lord, forgive, I did not not know,
Twill not be hard since Thou dost tread
Each path before me here below.
And for my good this things must be,
His grace sufficient for each test.
So still I’ll sing, ‘Whatever be
God’s way for me is always best.’”

Day 29: Jesus, Your Way Is Best

If Peter, James, and John could have had their way on the mountain with Jesus when He was transfigured before their very eyes, they would have built three tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah (Matthew 17:4). The “good” in Peter’s eyes was living on the mountaintop and seeing the glory. And isn’t that what we would all love to experience? Wouldn’t we prefer comfortable sight living as opposed to the “risky”, and sometimes, uncomfortable faith walking? Living by faith isn’t easy and requires paying careful attention to God’s Word. Paul told his disciple, Timothy, to “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Oswald Chambers says faith is a fight always, not sometimes. Jesus didn’t stay on the mountaintop. Instead, He led them down from the mountain of transfiguration to the valley of trial. The other nine disciples were unable to heal a demon-possessed man. Jesus told them privately that their inability stemmed from unbelief and the need for prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:20-21). Sometimes the faith-choice will be prayer and yes, even fasting. Then, Jesus told them of the road immediately ahead: “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up” (Matthew 17:22-23). The disciples were, according to Matthew, “exceedingly sorrowful”.

Jesus is teaching me something important about the way I look at events in my life. I am learning that sometimes the way I think is good may not be the best. And the way He leads me may bring sorrow, but is leading to something amazing that I do not yet see. In Peter’s mind, the mount of transfiguration was the place to stay. He just wanted to build tabernacles and live there. But in fact, leaving the mountain that day two thousand years ago, meant I can now experience forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Jesus had no intention of staying on that mountaintop for a long period of time. He took them there, but He did not keep them there for very long. Jesus’ way is best. As I follow His lead, I need to remember to “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). He leads me in ways and takes me on travels that require a firm, steadfast faith in His Word. Why? Because His ways are not always the roads I would choose. I need to constantly fix my eyes firmly on Him “by faith” in what He says in His Word. So when I don’t think things are going “my way”, then by faith I choose to follow His lead, and trust that they are going His way.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me this mountaintop experience and teaching me the profound truth of the goodness of Your ways. I choose to say Yes to You and follow You today, even in the times when I don’t understand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 28: Jesus, You Continually Strengthen Me

Just a little promise with big meaning – that’s Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (ESV). I like how Wuest has translated these words: “I am strong for all things in the One who constantly infuses strength in me.” Now we understand the power in the promise. We have everything we need no matter what difficulty or insurmountable obstacle we face today. I am strong for all things because Jesus is constantly pouring His strength into me. He is strong for all things and He makes me strong for all things. I wonder how many of us are facing something right now that is bringing out our weaknesses. We can take heart in the promise of God in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My power is made perfect in weakness.” Rejoice today that God is not like man. He gives and gives and gives some more. He doesn’t hurt a man when he’s down – no, instead He picks him up and gives him new strength. You can count on His strength to make it through today – “As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25). So here are your marching orders: “March on, my soul, with might!” (Judges 5:21).

My Response: Lord Jesus, I need Your strength today and thank You for promising me more than enough power to meet every task. Help me launch out with boldness and confidence to live for You and dare to do great and mighty things as You infuse Your strength into me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When You Need Encouragement, Remember The Teacup

When I was in grade school, I saw an advertisement in a magazine for some china and, to me, it was the most beautiful china I’d ever seen. I loved it so much that I wrote to the company and they sent me a little packet of pictures that I saved until I was engaged to be married. And for my wedding present, my mother bought me a whole set of my very favorite china in the whole world: Old Country Roses by Royal Albert Of England.

I especially love the teacup. Have you ever looked at the beauty of a teacup?

When I worked in the fine china department of Broadway Dept Stores which has now become Macy’s, I learned that you could always tell the quality of a piece of china by holding it up to the light and holding your hand behind it. If you could see the outline of your hand, then you knew that it was of the highest quality – fine china!

So how does a teacup become the beautiful thing that it is?

The story is told about a couple who used to go England to shop in a beautiful antique store. This trip was to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. They both liked antiques and pottery, and especially teacups.

Spotting an exceptional cup, they asked, “May we see that? We’ve never seen a cup quite so beautiful.”

As the lady handed it to them, the tea cup spoke. “You don’t understand,” it said, “I have not always been a tea cup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My master took me and rolled me pounded and patted me over and over and I yelled out, ‘Don’t do that. I don’t like it! Let me alone,’ but he only smiled, and gently said, ‘Not yet!’

“Then, WHAM! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. ‘Stop it! I’m getting so dizzy! I’m going to be sick!’, I screamed. But the master only nodded and said, quietly, ‘Not yet.’

“He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape to suit himself and then….then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. ‘Help! Get me out of here!’ I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head from side to side, ‘Not yet.’

“When I thought I couldn’t bear it another minute, the door opened. He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. ‘Oh, that felt so good! Ah, this is much better,’ I thought. But, after I cooled he picked me up and he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. ‘Oh, please; stop it, stop it!!’ I cried. He only shook his head and said. ‘Not yet!’

“Then suddenly he put me back in to the oven. Only it was not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I just knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. I was convinced I would never make it. I was ready to give up.

“Just then the door opened and he took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and waited and waited, wondering, What’s he going to do to me next? An hour later he handed me a mirror and said ‘Look at yourself.’ And I did. “I said, ‘That’s not me; that couldn’t be me. It’s beautiful. I’m beautiful!’

“Quietly he spoke: ‘I want you to remember, then,’ he said, ‘I know it hurt to be rolled and pounded and patted, but had I just left you alone, you’d have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt and it was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn’t done that, you never would have hardened. You would not have had any color in your life. If I hadn’t put you back in that second oven, you wouldn’t have survived for long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. Now you are what I had in mind when I first began with you.’”

I wonder if you have, at certain times in your life, felt like that teacup?

You are going through the fire of trials, and you have no idea what God is doing.
It is as though you are on the potter’s wheel and you cannot move and you are in need and don’t know what to do.

Grab hold of a promise from God’s Word for it will anchor your soul and give you hope and the ability to TRUST.

TRUST is Total Reliance Under Stress and Trial

One of the best promises you’ll ever find is Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

If you have ever watched trapeze artists flying through the air, you realize in a new way what it means to trust. In the trapeze there is a flyer and a catcher. At some point, the flyer lets go and is flying through the air. He can’t go back and he can’t go forward. It’s as though he’s suspended in midair. If he flails around he could die. And so he must wait for the catcher to catch him.

That’s what trust looks like. We totally rely on God catching us. We trust in His promises, knowing He is working things together for good even when we don’t understand what He’s doing.

A daughter told her Mother how everything was going wrong in her life - she was failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend was moving away.

Meanwhile, her Mother was baking a cake and asked her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, “Absolutely, Mom, I love your cake.”

“Here, have some cooking oil,” her Mother offered.

“Yuck” said her daughter.
“How about a couple raw eggs?”
“No way, Mom!”
“Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?”
“Mom, those are all terrible!”
To which the mother replied: “Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!

Corrie ten Boom used to put it this way:
My life is but a weaving between my God and me,
I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily.
 Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride, forget He sees the upper, and I the underside. Not till the loom is silent, and shuttles cease to fly, will God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful in the skillful Weaver’s hand as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.

So the next time you find yourself in hot water, why not grab your most beautiful teacup, brew some hot tea, sit down with an open Bible, find some promises, and have a talk with your Lord.

NOTE: This message is taken in part from Message 6 of the Passionate Prayer Quiet Time Experience Series and was also given as a Mom2Mom Devotional on January 27, 2010.

Day 27: Jesus, You Are Sovereign and Good

Do you ever struggle with wanting what you don’t have or having what you don’t want? I think we all wrestle with these wishings and wantings at times. I have spoken with a couple of friends recently who are experiencing extreme and completely unexpected difficulties in their lives. A thought occurred to me some time ago that I already knew was true, but there was a new realization of it in one of those Holy Spirit moments of devotion. If we are exactly where the Lord wants us, then do we really want to be anywhere else? God has a plan for us – good works He has prepared beforehand (Ephesians 2:10). We may find ourselves in a place that looks like madness and we may think, “Why would He lead us here?” But in fact, if we are where God wants us, then we are right on schedule and exactly where we need to be. We wrestle and moan about the turn of events, but if we are following Jesus, then we discover that He resolutely walks forward on this strange path. And if we are following Him, then we must continue to go with Him wherever He leads even if we don’t understand. We need to remember that on either side of the valley are beautiful mountains with incredible views. But sometimes you have to go through the valley to get to that new mountain with the path leading to higher ground.

You see this journey in Joseph, whose life took a series of twists and turns, but ultimately led to a position of leadership he could have never imagined in younger years. I love Joseph’s explanation to his brothers on the other side of his deep trials: “God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance So now it was not you who sent me here, but God…Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 45:7-8, 50:19-20). As Joseph counted on the sovereignty and goodness of God, so we can count on Jesus’ sovereign leading and goodness in His plans and purposes for us. Even on the strange paths when we don’t understand, He whispers the constant calling, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). We must carry with us the conviction of Jesus who told others, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and accomplish His work” (John 4:34). And while Jesus delighted in carrying out the will of the Father, He endured the cross, paid the penalty for our sins, accomplished redemption and sanctification, was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the right hand of God the Father (Colossians 3:1). He is highly exalted and at His name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).

We may not understand God’s plan, but we can know that His will is “good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). If any of us find ourselves wrestling with the wishings and wantings, then settle yourself once and for all with the goodness and sovereignty of your Lord. Rest in the amazing promises of Psalm 138:8 “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me” and Psalm 31:15 “My times are in Your hand” and experience a new contentment. Then, delight in the company of Jesus. Walk with Him and talk with Him throughout the day. Know and love Him more. You will discover His magnificent beauty and joyful presence are more than enough to match the deepest needs of your heart.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You for walking resolutely on the path laid out for us and for taking us into the good works prepared beforehand. Give us a new trust to confidently follow Your lead every moment of the day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 26: Jesus, You Are The Exceptional In The Ordinary

There they were in the boat fighting contrary winds and turbulent waves. The disciples had experienced the challenges of the sea before. But tonight was different. Now they knew Jesus. But He was not in the boat with them for He had stayed behind to pray alone on the mountain. He instructed His disciples to cross to the other side of the lake. And now, danger of shipwreck most likely entered their minds. By 3 am, they had battled the stormy sea for nine hours. And so often, our weakest time of faith comes when the battle rages longer than we had ever imagined. But those adversities test the quality of our faith. For mustard seed faith can move mountains when objectively placed in our infinite God who can accomplish the impossible.

Just when perhaps the disciples thought they could go on no longer, they saw Jesus coming toward them, walking on the water. Jesus was the exceptional vision in the ordinary for those disciples. He walked on the water in the fury of a storm. At first, the disciples thought they were seeing a ghost, because they had never seen someone walk on water. Jesus immediately spoke to them. “Don’t be afraid,” He said. “Take courage. I am here.” (Matthew 14:27). Peter called to Him, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come to You, walking on water.” Where in the world did Peter get such a stupendous, out of the box idea? I’m guessing that Peter did not spend long hours thinking about walking on water. I believe we are witnessing exactly the way the Lord gives a big, risk-taking idea and plants it in the minds of simple, faith-walking, believing men and women. I believe Jesus loved Peter’s faith, small as it was at that time. He said, “Yes, come.” You might have thought He was inviting Peter to a nice walk in the garden, not on top of the waves of a turbulent, wind-blown sea. Peter did not think twice. He went over to the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. Peter, by faith, was walking on water! He was accomplishing the very idea that had come into his mind—an exceptional, impossible thing he’s never done before—a walk on water. But then, his small faith moved away from Jesus. Instead of firmly focusing on Jesus, Peter saw the strong wind and waves, became terrified, and began to sink.

How can we possibly criticize Peter here, for we too, have quickly taken our eyes off of our Lord many times, and doubted His good plans and purposes in our own lives? Peter immediately shouted, “Save me, Lord!” Good prayer. Great prayer. I need to memorize that prayer and practice it again and again. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed Peter. And now, Peter’s test of faith was finished. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt Me?” Oh, I hope these words sink deep into my own heart. The storm rages. The wind blows. And I quickly become afraid and think I’m not going to make it. Remember Jesus’ words to the disciples at the very beginning of the journey? He told them that they were going to the other side of the lake. Faith in those words would have kept them steady in the storm. Jesus has said we’re going to the other side of the lake, so no matter how high those waves are, He has promised we will step on to dry land. And then, what about Jesus’ words to Peter? “Yes, come.” He was promising Peter that he could step out on those waves and walk on water. And Peter, in fact, was walking on the water for a few brief moments. When Peter and Jesus got back in the boat, the wind stopped. This exceptional experience with Jesus in their ordinary lives was enough for the disciples. They worshipped Jesus and exclaimed, “You really are the Son of God!”

That little boat safely arrived on the other side of the lake, taking the disciples and Jesus to a new place and a new day of ministry. Another ordinary day was about to become extraordinary because of the person and presence of Jesus. Life is never ordinary when you walk with your Lord. He changes the landscape of every day, making the most minute task a labor of love. Oswald Chambers says it well: “It does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of the day as a saint, to go through drudgery as a saint, to go through poverty as a saint, to go through an ordinary, unobtrusive, ignored existence as a saint, unnoted and unnoticeable. The ‘show business,’ which is so incorporated into our view of Christian work today, has caused us to drift far from our Lord’s conception of discipleship. It is instilled in us to think that we have to do exceptional things for God; we have not. We have to be exceptional in ordinary things…”

I love those words today. The Lord is exceptional to me in every ordinary moments of life. I love walking with Him, serving Him, and living with Him through the highs and lows of the day. May we continue to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. And who knows, He just may ask us to step out of our comfort zone today, and walk on the water of a new, out of the box, risk-taking idea. May we, like Peter, go for it, get out of the boat, and start walking.

My Response: Lord Jesus, You are exceptional and turn every ordinary day into extraordinary moments. You are the light that shines in the darkness and the beauty in my life today. Give me the strength and faith to step out on the water and walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 25: Jesus, You Surprise Me!

Do you ever feel as though you can’t handle your current situation? Are you discouraged by a trial that has gone on for what seems like forever? Then be encouraged, because the surprise of Jesus is just around the corner. You may not know what He is going to do, but you can be certain He will break through in your life in unusual and sometimes quite surprising ways. Today I read a number of devotionals and then from the OC Daily Devotional Bible. The Lord Jesus first surprised me with His Word. One verse in particular just jumped off the page and grabbed my heart. Psalm 112:7 in the KJV was quoted in Streams In The Desert (one of my very favorite devotionals). “He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.” I love that whole idea of a “fixed heart.” Other translations speak of a steady, steadfast heart. I really liked the rendering of the NIV: “He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.” The “he” in Psalm 112 is the “gracious, compassionate, and righteous man, who fears the LORD, and finds great delight in His commands” (see Psalm 112:1, 4, 6).

Just when I least expect it, Jesus will surprise me with His Word and teach, encourage, challenge, and comfort me with words that pierce like an arrow straight into my heart. We have the Holy Spirit to thank for such constant teaching and ministering using the words of the Bible, God’s Word. But the surprise of Jesus doesn’t stop with His Word. Jesus is always at work and active in the very fabric of our heart and our lives. Today, Oswald Chambers in My Utmost For His Highest titled the devotion, “Leave Room For God.” Here are some of his best quotes from today’s reading: “We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Hi to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life (Galatians 1:15). Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and one the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.”

I think about Joseph who was in that prison for so long, and yet he was always faithful. God poured out His grace and favor on Joseph even in prison. And one day, the surprise of God came and Joseph became a powerful leader in Egypt. Just like a magnificent sunrise changing the darkness of night, circumstances and situations in your life can turn in an instant because of God’s surprises. That’s why we must always calculate God in every situation. I disagree with certain applications of this statement that many quote: “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” People quote this in support of changing your ways, doing something different, and going in a new direction. Well, in some cases, a new direction, a new way, and doing something different IS necessary. But as always, that “something new” needs to be the result of God’s leading. Sometimes we need to persevere in what we are doing. Sometimes, faithfulness and endurance are the need of the hour. Jesus is faithful to lead and guide us as we follow Him. With the Lord at work, He can surprise us with something amazing, incredible, and wonderful – He is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work with Him” (Ephesians 3:20). Just think about the day when Jesus took the bread and fish and multiplied those few morsels to feed five thousand people. What a surprise. I guarantee you, the disciples were amazed and so were the five thousand. There was more than enough food and the remaining fragments filled twelve baskets. So too, He is able to take the seeming smallness and weakness of our lives and multiply who we are to make us more than enough to match the need of the hour. McClaren says, “Each of us may be sure that if God sends us on stony paths, He will provide us with strong shoes, and He will not send us out on any journey for which He does not equip us well” (Streams In The Desert).” So today, may we all eagerly and expectantly watch for Jesus to surprise us with His Presence, His Word, and His Works.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your surprises when I least expect them. Will You steady my heart and give me a firm trust in You today? I think of David’s example in Psalm 5:3, and leave all my cares and needs with You, and then eagerly watch to see what You will do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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