Month: March 2021

Never Stop Praying

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I think of the prayer requests that I’ve received recently. And I’m reminded of how fragile life really is. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds tomorrow.

There’s the one who lost his father from a tragic fall. There’s the child who’s having surgery. I think of the one who’s been unfairly accused and faces an uncertain future. Then there’s the one who has health issues that seem never ending. The one who recently started chemo. And another who’s finishing chemo and preparing for the next steps. 

I think of the one who was in a car accident. And the family whose loved one is in hospice care. I think of the sister whose faith has taken a turn toward recklessness. The son who is fighting depression. And the daughter who is still struggling with health problems months after her accident. I remember the one who received a daunting mental health diagnosis. And the one who hasn’t yet received a diagnosis. And there’s the one who is struggling with health issues and is searching far and wide for relief.

Another one feels they must lie in order to avoid combative conversations. I think of the one who apologized for possibly offending another. I recall the one who has a bad attitude about their work situation. They all need to pray, and they need others to pray for them.

Her loved one is dying. He doesn’t have long to live. His days are numbered. She isn’t sure how to talk to him. She isn’t sure what to do. I said all we can do is pray. It sounded so helpless. But wait. Prayer isn’t helpless. Prayer is the act of turning over our troubles and concerns and struggles and needs to an Almighty, All Powerful God. It isn’t an act of weakness. Prayer is one of the most powerful acts a believer can do.

Never stop praying. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

I wonder why we use prayer as a last resort, instead of as our first line of defense. Or offense. God is always available. He is ready and willing to hear our prayers. Prayer is power.

Have the habit of prayer, turning your thoughts into acts by connecting them with the idea of the redeeming God.

(Coleridge, Notes on the Book of Common Prayer)

Prayer. The act of talking with God. Sharing our concerns and needs and gratitude and praise. It’s a time to bare our souls and just lay out all our fears and desires. But we can’t forget to offer thankfulness. God is so good to us. He has blessed us beyond measure. He knows everything we will do and what we won’t do. He knows everything we need and everything we want. God can do more than we ask or imagine. We must remember to thank God for everything.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6

There’s the sinner’s prayer asking for forgiveness. There’s the prayer of thanksgiving. God hears our every prayer. He answers our prayers in the way he sees fit. For that, we should be thankful. 

We should pray seeking wisdom as we make decisions. And for speaking words of truth. We must pray for discernment. And whether we like it or not, we should pray for our political leaders and for those in authority. We need to pray for those who are against us, not just for those who are for us. We must pray for others, and not just for ourselves.

We must pray. Because when we pray, we draw closer to God. We don’t pray to change God. Prayer actually changes us, even when we are praying for others. Prayer moves God to work in our lives. We can and must pray boldly, and God will hear us. We must not be afraid to pray for anything and all things.

And when those prayers aren’t answered in the way we want or expect, we must still cry out to God. We must still bring our requests to him knowing that he always hears us. God’s will is always accomplished. We must ask ourselves. Are we praying for God’s will or our own? Regardless of the answer or lack of, we must pray. Regardless of how long we wait to see heaven move. We still pray.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12

Clean House

~ mercyfortheday ~ 4 Comments

Our internet service was slow, and we needed help. The appointment was scheduled for the very next day. And I wasn’t going to be home the morning of the appointment.  Of course.  There was no time to do a deep clean of the spaces where the technician would have to work. At least that’s what I told myself.

The technician knocked on the door. He had arrived whether I was ready for him or not. Now mind you. I know I’m not the world’s best housekeeper. I’ve never claimed to be. And I don’t plan to change anytime soon. But there’s a problem with that way of thinking.

As I stood in the room with the man, I looked at the space through his eyes. It wasn’t pleasant. It was cluttered and untidy. There was too much unnecessary stuff lying around. Power tools. Computer equipment. Clothes. The closet door was open. It was embarrassing, to say the least. 

Then I walked into the next room he would need to visit. All I could see was the dust. And the crumbs left on the floor by my dog. I hurriedly grabbed a paper towel and dusted as best I could. I picked up crumbs off the floor. I straightened the magazines. I threw away trash. It looked a little more presentable, but it made me uncomfortable. I realized that my laziness was something that couldn’t be easily dusted away in a couple of minutes. My house needed a deep clean. 

Oh sure. There are areas that I do clean each week. I clean the bathrooms. I keep my kitchen clean. I vacuum. I keep things picked up. For the most part. I just don’t typically allow guests to see the places that a repairman would need to see. After all, he needs to see the spaces that hold wires and outlets and other electrical things. Apparently, that’s the least tidy area in my house. 

I’ve come to realize that I’m perfectly comfortable with having a tidy house. It doesn’t have to be spotless in order for me to feel accomplished.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:13

I know there is One who sees every room of my heart. I’ve opened the door of my heart to him, so he lives here and has free reign in my life. He walks through my heart on a daily basis. He sees the room where I feed my soul. He knows if my spiritual diet is healthy or if I fill my mind with junk food. Because what comes out of my mouth comes from my heart. He is not fooled.

As the One who knows me enters the door to my heart, He sees the cobwebs that cover the unused spiritual gifts that he has bestowed on me. He sees me when I rise and when I sleep. He knows the way I take. He knows when I obey and when I don’t. He knows me for who I truly am. There is no doubt I’m made in his image. He knows I don’t always represent him as I should.

The clutter of bad attitudes, unrepentant sins, words of gossip, ill feelings, unkind thoughts and many other acts of unrighteousness make the passageways of my heart uninhabitable. There’s no wonder that fear and worry and anxiety fill me at times. If I don’t keep those passageways clear, there’s no way I will be able to sense the leading of the Holy Spirit. He may decide that he’s no longer welcome.

I have to ask myself how I thought there could ever be room for God when all my priorities and moments are planned solely for myself. I need to clean out the closets and declutter my heart. I need to reprioritize and make room for daily Bible reading and prayer. I must sweep the cobwebs from the corners of my mind and air out my soul. I need to clean house and clean it now.

God doesn’t just stop by when I schedule an appointment or make himself available only on Sundays. He lives in this heart. I invited him in to stay, so He always sees and knows the contents of this beating vessel. My heart needs to be clean at all times, because it’s always in full view of the One who created it.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes I feel unfulfilled. I think I need something new and exciting in my life.  I feel like something is missing, and I search for that missing piece. So when that happens, I go on a hunt. I try to find something to fill that void. So I take a walk through my house to see what can make me happy. But is happiness what I’m looking for?

As I walk through each room of my house, I check to see what I can change that might make me feel fulfilled. Something that might change my mood. Something that will give me a sense of satisfaction. Something that will refresh my spirit.

I look at the kitchen. Do I need to rearrange the items on the open shelves? Would colorful dishes look better than all white plates? Would a new plant look nice on the island? Are the cupboards filled with enough food? And if I look in the freezer, I’ll find the new stash of chocolate I just bought. Can’t run out of that. And when I bite into a piece of the chocolate, do I stop to ask myself how happy it makes me? Is one piece ever enough?

I look over at the living room. How does it look? I check to see if the decor is starting to look dated. Is the paint color fresh? Do the plants look healthy? Is the rug faded? Maybe I need to redecorate with new pillows. I just bought a beautiful new wall hanging. Maybe that will be enough change for awhile.

I check out the dining room. The runner on the table is several years old. Perhaps a new one is in order. The tray in the center of the table is one of my favorite pieces. But maybe it’s time to freshen up the look.

Then I walk into my closet. And what do I see? A rack of clothes. I wonder how often I wear each item. Then I remember that these are just the clothes for this season. If I walk into another room, I’ll find another closet full of clothes for the next season. And shoes? There are more than I need. That’s for sure. And how many do I wear on a regular basis? That’s a question I don’t even want to answer. Oh. I just bagged up a trashbag full of scarves and sweaters to donate. But I wonder how many more items from the closet I should also donate.

I open the door to the garage, and I examine my car. I know it’s not the latest model. It’s eight years old. It’s not as new as other cars I see. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you would find in the latest models. It isn’t a luxury brand. Never mind that it’s paid for. It hasn’t been high maintenance, except for the expensive tires. I’m not embarrassed to be seen in it. Does it impress others when they see me drive up in it? Does it matter?

I walk outside to look at my flowerbeds. I see a lot of shady areas, but there’s also a little space for sun. I wonder if I can find room for a couple more flowerbeds. I envision lots of blooming flowers, but I realize I must be realistic about what will attract deer and what will repel them. I also must be realistic about how much work it will take to keep the flowerbeds looking nice. Can I get enough flowers in the little space I have? Or will it be too much work?

I log onto my bank account. I check the balance of all my accounts. Is the market up today or is it down? Is my money safe? Am I financially secure? Am I prepared for retirement? Can I pay my bills? What will it take to satisfy me? Am I looking for meaning in all the wrong places?

You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. Psalms 63:5

Feasts are known to be satisfying. But that satisfaction doesn’t last. It leaves a longing for more. The thing about the feast. It’s not meant to be a last meal, but perhaps a celebration. It is not meant to fulfill every last longing that someone has. It is a moment in time that will last in memories for a lifetime. But it doesn’t bring lasting fulfillment.

Then it dawns on me that I’m looking in the wrong place. Food and clothes and cars and flowers and money are all good things. I don’t need luxury. I don’t need fortunes. I don’t need fame. They don’t provide lasting peace and fulfillment. But what I do have is peace. Peace of mind. I have a calm assurance that all is well with my soul. I have deep abiding peace.

I know that my relationship with God is the most important part of my life. But I sometimes get sidetracked by other things. I realize the the peace I have because of God’s forgiveness is the calming I need in my life. I realize that as I faithfully read and study God’s Word, I have a greater knowledge and wisdom for making life decisions. I don’t need to search for a quick fix to boredom and discontentment, because I am content in the knowledge that I am deeply loved by a God who knows my name. He fights for me. He died for my sins. He is my Savior. The joy of the Lord is my strength.

The world may try to satisfy that longing in your soul. You may search the wide world over but you’ll be just as before. You’ll never find true satisfaction until you’ve found the Lord, for only Jesus can satisfy your soul.

Only Jesus can satisfy your soul. Yes, only He can change your heart and make you whole. He’ll give you peace you never knew, sweet joy and love and heaven, too. For only Jesus can satisfy your soul.

If you could have the fame and fortune, all the wealth you could attain. Yet, you have not Christ within, your living here would be in vain. There’ll come a time when death will find you, riches cannot help you then. So, come to Jesus, only He can satisfy.

Only Jesus can satisfy your soul. Yes, only He can change your heart and make you whole. He’ll give you peace you never knew, sweet joy and love and heaven, too. For only Jesus can satisfy your soul. Yes, only Jesus can satisfy your soul.

Lanny Wolfe

Need Help Getting Dressed

~ mercyfortheday ~ 7 Comments

Every day I get dressed.  Of course.   I should get dressed twice, if I really think about it. One outfit I wear every day is the one that is noticeable to anyone who sees me. The other one is invisible. But it’s there.

The problem with the second outfit is that I have to remember to put it on each day. And some days I have trouble remembering it. Other days, I only wear part of the outfit. I seem to have trouble getting the full outfit on. It shouldn’t be that way. Because the full outfit is required if I am to get any real use out of it.

Perhaps the remedy to my problem is that I should put it on first. Before my visible outfit. 

The thing is. I wouldn’t be caught dead without the clothes that are visible. I wouldn’t want anyone to see me in a state of undress. It would be embarrassing and humiliating. It would be unthinkable. 

So why do I feel that it’s ok to be in a state of undress when it comes to the invisible outfit? I should feel embarrassed and humiliated by not wearing it. Oh. That outfit is a little beat up. It’s been in battles. It’s been on the front lines of spiritual warfare. It’s no longer shiny and  new. There are dings and dents. But it’s holding its own. It’s one of a kind. Built just for me. So there’s no trading it in for a newer shinier model. It’s built to last for a lifetime. 

The armor of God is tailor made just for me. How can I ever forget to suit up each day?  Each piece of the suit has a specific use. Without each piece, I’m not fully protected from evil or temptation. I’m putting myself at risk by not taking the time to get dressed properly. Why do I do that?

Oh. I know why I need to wear this armor. I know why I need to get suited up. It’s been made clear to me. There’s no other way to fight the advances of the evil one. I must wear this armor every day. Every piece of it.

Put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6:13

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body of armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:14-17

Each piece of the armor has a specific purpose. It’s made for a custom fit. Perfectly designed with me in mind.

The belt of truth. Stand your ground and put on the belt of truth. If you’ve ever worn a belt, you know it tells the truth. It tells the truth of the size of the waist it surrounds. There’s no fooling it. The belt does not lie. It either goes all the way around the waist. Or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t fit, there’s a different truth to tell.

But the belt that a Roman soldier wore had a sheath for the soldier’s weapon. A sword. The sword was tucked into the sheath attached to the belt. When I put on the spiritual belt, I add truth to my wardrobe. And that’s what matters the most. I must be wrapped in truth at all times.

The breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate is a shield that protects the vital organs of a soldier’s body. If a soldier didn’t use this shield, any injury would most likely be fatal. Just the same, if I don’t use my shield of righteousness, any attack from the enemy of my soul could prove fatal. The shield is strong. It’s made of the best material to combat strikes from the enemy.

Some may ask what righteousness is. Righteousness is doing what is right in God’s eyes. So if I’m doing what’s right in God’s eyes, I am shielded with the strength of God’s protection. If I choose lawlessness, then God’s protection falls away. I am at risk of receiving a fatal blow. Righteousness guards me against the attacks of Satan. His attacks of sin can’t penetrate through the strength of the breastplate if I’m following God’s instructions.

The gospel of peace. For shoes, I am to put on the peace that comes from the Good News. Because I must be fully prepared. If I am walking in God’s peace, I won’t be so easily tripped up on the bumpy and difficult path of life that I’m walking. Because that path takes me through the enemy’s territory, and I have no idea where the traps and potholes will be placed. They are put in place by Satan’s army to divert me from the path of peace and truth. I must avoid the obstacles at all costs. If my feet can be shaken loose from the path of peace, then I will stumble and fall prey to his advances.

When God summons me down the road of obedience, he doesn’t clear the path so I can walk along with ease. He allows those obstacles and bumps, so the shoes of peace I wear will steady my travels and keep me close to him. But I must wear these peace coverings as a means of protection. They allow me to move freely, without fear of what lies ahead on the path.

The shield of faith. A shield is raised up by the soldier to protect him from being hit by the enemy’s arrows. Faith is the shield that I must raise to block the advances of the enemy. My faith must be strong. The strength of my faith determines how long I stay in battle. If I lower or drop the shield of faith, then I might as well surrender. I’ve lost the battle. This fight requires a strong faith. Even faith the size of a mustard seed can win battles.

I must block fear with the shield of faith. I am fighting a spiritual war. With the shield of faith, I can deflect the fiery arrows that the enemy is shooting at me. My faith shield is my first line of defense. Without it, I am lost and defeated. Satan will be free to swoop in and capture my soul. Faith is my weapon of strength.

The helmet of salvation. The helmet is a vital piece of equipment in a battle. It protects the head. Any injury to the head would most certainly prove fatal. This piece of a soldier’s equipment cannot be forgotten. It is a life saver.

When I place the helmet of salvation on my head, I am guarding against the weapons of the mind. Because the mind is its own battlefield. My thoughts and desires. My dreams and goals. My fears and beliefs. They all start in my mind. My mind must be centered on my Heavenly Father. I must think on things that are true and honest, just and pure, lovely and of good report, virtue and praise. These are the thoughts that must fill my mind. Otherwise, the enemy of my soul will wreak havoc on my thoughts. My salvation depends on my mind staying pure and centered on the Host of heaven’s armies. I am fighting for my salvation, and it begins with my mind.

The sword of the spirit. Actually, I must carry only one offensive weapon as I wear this outfit. I am to carry a sword that is tucked into the belt of truth around my waist. The Word of God is the sword stored securely in my belt. It is my only offense against the attacks of the evil one. Sure. I can be all suited up to protect myself. But when I fight, I fight with the Word of God. I can’t leave home without it.

All the other parts of my armor are meant to protect me. To shield me from the attacks. But the sword of the Spirit is my weapon of choice. It’s the only weapon that I can use to fight fairly and truthfully. None other can compare. Oh. Some may say that it’s a poor choice of weapon. But if they’ve never studied this weapon, they don’t know the extent of good it can do. We can be destroyed if we don’t know God. And this sword is so powerful, it can cut through every defense the enemy throws in its path. If a child of God is wielding this weapon, nothing can stand against it. God’s word will prevail.

So, the weapons I am given to fight this spiritual battle are truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation and the Word of God. These are my weapons of choice. I better get dressed.

Buckle up. Here. We. Go.