Month of Prayer, Day 24

Your testimonies are wonderful, Lord; therefore my soul keeps them.  The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.  I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.

Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.  Direct my steps by Your Word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.  Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.  Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.

I do not desire to be with evil men, but desire that my heart and my home be built by Your wisdom.  I desire that they be filled with the pleasant and precious riches of our knowledge of You.  I desire to be strong, in You, Lord.  Counsel me according to Your will.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Month of Prayer, Day 10

Lord, how I do love Your Word.  Not only is it the weapon You have given us against the enemy, but it is life, and truth, and love.  Your Word is living and powerful.  It transforms and reforms.  It cleanses and guides.  It breathes life into our thirsty souls.

I love Pr. 10:3, that says You will not allow the righteous soul to famish.  Lord, Your Word is living water and food for our hungry souls.  Only You can fill the void within us.  That is why we can delight in Your Word and in Your commandments; because Your Word protects us, shapes us, and breathes truth into our inmost beings.

Lord, we can walk securely and at liberty when we follow Your precepts.  Your precepts and commands are what keep us safe.  In Proverbs 10, Solomon wrote of the peril, destruction, danger, and consequences of living a life outside of Your will.  But, oh my God, You made us Your righteousness through the blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and You, Lord, will keep us safe when we follow You.

Lord, keep my feet from stumbling onto any path that is not laid out by You.  When I face a fork in the road, let Your law I have kept be my compass.  Let Your statutes I have meditated upon make my decisions easy and my choices clear.  Lord, Your Word gives me very clear guidance.  Help me to heed it.

Thank You that Your way is strength for the upright.  Thank You that the righteous will never be removed, and that our labor leads to life.  Thank You for the security, the love, and the salvation that You have given us.

Oh God, let me be wise enough to make You glad.  Let my life please You and be a sweet-smelling offering for You, as I walk in love and in Your wisdom.  You are the amazing God!

I love you,

jamie

Month of prayer, Day 1

Lord, in Pr. 1, we read the words a father has lovingly written to his son.  He beseeches his son to hear his father’s instruction and his mother’s law.  He writes words to impart instruction and prudence upon his son.  He implores his son to shun evil counsel and listen to wisdom’s call.  He warns his son what will happen if he forsakes wisdom.

In Ps. 119:1-8, I read about another Father who has written to His children for those same reasons.  I read that those who walk in Your law and keep Your testimonies will be blessed.  I am reminded that You have instructed us in Your rules, Your precepts, and beseeched us to keep them diligently.  If we would but do that, Lord, we would not be ashamed.  If we would do that, we would make wise decisions and forfeit the consequences of forsaking wisdom.  If we would shun evil and do no iniquity, we would be blessed.

Lord, help me to heed my Father’s word.  Help me to walk in Your ways, and to praise You with uprightness of heart.  Help me to listen to wisdom’s call, so that I will not have to suffer the consequences of shame.  Bless me when I seek you with my whole heart.  Bless me when I choose to walk in accordance with Your instructions.  Help me increase in prudence as I learn from Your word.

Lord, I thank you for what I read in Your word today, and I ask that You would allow these instructions to help me hear wisdom’s call more readily.  Help me to become so tuned in to Your mighty voice, that all other ‘instructions’ around me simply fade away.  Thank you for the privilege to have access to Your mind, through Your Word.

I love you,

jamie

He will save you

Pr. 20: 22:  “Do not say, ‘I will recompense evil’; wait for the Lord, and He will save you.”

This is a tough one for most of us.  Some versions put it this way, “Do not say, ‘I will pay you back!”  It is in our nature to react in a defensive way and think of pay back.  How can we leave it in God’s hands?  We must know and remind ourselves who He truly is.

This morning I was reading Psalm 111, which in my Bible is labeled “Praise to God for His faithfulness and justice.”  Here is what it says about the One on which we are told to wait:

“Praise the Lord!  I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.  The works of the Lord are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.  His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. 

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.  He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.  He has declared to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.  The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure.  They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. 

He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever:  Holy and awesome is His name!  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and good understanding have all those who do His commandments.  His praise endures forever.”

When we remember who God is, we can find peace in the fact that He surely will protect, defend, avenge, and save us.  He has proven Himself over and over again.

Getting to know Him more and more,

jamie

Well, aren’t you well spoken?

Pr. 15:23:  “A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!”

I am sitting on a bench right now waiting while my son is with his speech therapist.  He has had a stutter for a while and meets with her once a week to try to learn ways to improve his fluency in speech.

His disfluencies mostly occur when he’s excited, wants to explain something, or wants to tell a story.  How I long for him to be able to express himself clearly as an adult.  I know he will have much joy in being able to speak clearly when trying to express himself and being able to speak a good word in due season when the time arises.

One thing I know; however, is that even if his speech never improves, if he has the Word of God in his heart, and he speaks that Word from his mouth it will not return void.  There are no discrepancies or disfluencies in God’s word.  The Word of God is pure, proven, and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

No matter the vessel that holds and pours out the Word of God, God’s word goes forth the accomplish the purpose for which it was sent.  If you’re like me, I’m sure you’ve noticed that God’s word is always on time, as well.  A word spoken in due season, indeed.  Any time I need a good word spoken over me, God is faithful to use His word, His Pastors and teachers, His prayer warriors, His ministers of music, and His children to speak the exact word I need.

What I know for certain is that no matter our speech disfluencies, our weaknesses, our disabilities, or our faults, God’s word, if spoken from our mouths, will always go forth in power to complete the purpose for which it was spoken.  Continue filling yourself with His word.  In due season, someone will need to hear something you hold in your heart.  If you know their need then it stands to reason that no matter who you are…or are not…you are the person God wants to use to speak those words.

Don’t allow your weaknesses to hold you back from speaking God’s promises, precepts, power, and truth into someone’s life.  Remember that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.  Just be willing to be used and let God be the One who is perfect.  Someone needs to hear a good word from the Lord and the Lord is counting on you.

Speak life,
jamie

Food for the heavy heart

Pr. 9:5:  “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed,”  says wisdom.

I am tired this morning.  There has been a sad disconnect in one part of my extended family for the last 3 or 4 years, and the last few nights I have had wonderful dreams where that no longer existed.  In the mornings; however, I awake to the weight of reality upon realizing that things are not actually so wonderful.

Over the years, this issue is one that I have allowed to cause me to cry, agonize, and even have panic attacks.  I have been able to grow in the understanding that the only thing that can truly help is prayer.  I have known that I had to turn my family over to God and ask that He be the One to comfort and protect them, and if possible, change their minds.  I have also had to turn my own emotions over to Him and learn to truly draw my strength from Him.

Decisions that are out of our control can sometimes be overwhelming and we can feel a range of emotions, from disappointment to anger to devastation.  The beauty of having the Lord in our lives; however, is that we have the understanding that the Lord is the One who truly supplies our joy, peace, and strength.  After awaking this morning, I was so thankful that God’s Word was waiting for me, to give me what I needed in my moment of heaviness.  I am so thankful that I am able to come eat and drink of the goodness of God, His precepts, His love, His guidance, and His wisdom.

What would I do if I didn’t have a Savior upon which I can call?  How would I get through this without a High Priest who understands all that I am going through, and is willing and able to give aid when I call upon Him?  This situation is beyond me, and without a loving Comforter to come along and walk with me, I would not have any hope of peace within myself, or reconciliation with those that I love so much.

Eating of God’s Word fuels me with the reminder that with God all things are possible.  Drinking in His hope, I am refreshed in the fact that He does not lie.  I am devouring the promise that the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.  The fact that The Lord is my sun and shield satisfies me like nothing else ever will.

I am thankful for a forgiving God, who made me fearfully and wonderfully.  In Him alone am I complete.  My Creator made me exactly the way He need me to be and He loves me so much that He sent His Son to die in my place.  What an amazing gift!  What an awesome God we serve!  His faithfulness proves that He will not leave me nor forsake me.  In that, I can rest and find true peace.

Feeling much more awake,

jamie

Understanding the language of wisdom

Pr. 8:9:  “They (all the words of wisdom’s mouth) are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.”

Think back to a time when you were around someone who was speaking a language unfamiliar to you.  Clues can be gathered from body language, gestures, and voice inflections, but without knowledge of the language, we don’t get the full message.  In order to truly understand, you must study the language or immerse yourself in the culture that uses the language.

Having taken Spanish for 3 years in high school, I can understand certain words and phrases in Spanish; however, I have always lacked confidence when it comes to speaking the language.  The first time we went to Panama, I was resistant to speak the little bit of Spanish I knew for fear of sounding foolish.  We had a translator, but she could not be with each of us every moment of every day.  If I wanted to communicate with those around me I had to figure something out on my own.

I had to begin speaking Spanish.  Those who heard me speak the language became excited and eagerly taught me even more.  I learned even more words while there, and by the end of the week I was speaking many words to communicate.  On the plane to go home I even caught myself saying, “Si” to the English-speaking airline attendant instead of “Yes.”

Being surrounded by others who spoke the language gave me the desire, the familiarity, and the confidence to speak their language.  The same is true with wisdom.  If you want to truly understand and get the full message of God’s wisdom you must study His word, surround yourself with others who speak the language, and allow its familiarity to give you confidence to continue understanding.  Soon the words of wisdom will become plain to you.  You will understand the will of God more plainly.  You will understand His precepts, His guidance, and His rebukes in a way you never did before you began immersing yourself in them.

If you truly want the wisdom of God to guide your life, it must become plain to you.  Study it, surround yourself with others who speak it, and allow them to teach you even more.  God is willing to generously give wisdom to all who ask.  James 1:5.  Pray and ask God to fill you with His wisdom, open His word, and begin to study. You will find so much more than you ever dreamed.  I learn something new every day.

Dios te bendiga,

jamie