PEACE AMID CHAOS

I Was Just Thinking About - PEACE AMID CHAOS.

We ordinarily do not attach the word “peace” with the word “chaos”! We like to think that life in Christ will always know His presence with us and love, joy and peace always being part of who and what we are in Him. However, in John 16:33, as Jesus prepared His disciples for life in a hostile world, He shared: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Here Jesus associates “peace” and “tribulation” as part of the life experience that is our expectation and reality. One of the ways by which the child of God copes with this is the embrace of John 14:1-2, 27 and rejoicing in the word of Jesus: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” 

In 1914, I think Oswald J. Smith captured this truth when he wrote the words to the Hymn, Deeper and Deeper. Each stanza emphasizes where one should be in his/her relationship with Jesus Christ: “Into the heat of Jesus…Into the will of Jesus…Into the cross of Jesus…” When he penned Stanza 4, he wrote: “Into the joy of Jesus, Deeper and deeper I go…Joy in the place of sorrow, peace in the midst of pain, Jesus will give…He will uphold and sustain.” In 1893, Horatio G. Spafford wrote a Hymn after two major chaotic experiences in his life: (1) The vast Chicago Fire in 1871 that ruined most business men financially, and (2) The death of his four daughters who died in collision with other ship as they crossed the Atlantic. After receiving a telegram from his survivor wife that stated, “Saved Alone” he went on to write: “When peace like a river, attended my way; when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say: It is well, It is well with my soul.”

Most of us would love for Philippians 4:6-7 to be the ongoing reality for and of our lives: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heats and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When the unexpected events occur in one’s life, we sometimes forget this great truth and reality that belongs to the child of God - “Joy in the place of sorrow, peace in the midst of pain”! Jesus has given this peace as a gift and also as a vital part of the fruit of the Spirit. It is so easy to think to oneself that this is where one is and how one responds to the experiences and travails of life. We need to be guarded and focused lest the enemy of pour souls diverts our attention off of Jesus and these truths that are centered in Him alone. Let us center our focus on Jesus only and always and not upon the unexpected and chaotic. This Peace, Jesus will give.

Prayerfully - consider these things with me.

MYOPIA

I Was Just Thinking About – MYOPIA.

For those afflicted with myopia, the meaning is that they have become short-sighted; or are lacking in foresight or intellectual insight.” This can apply to the cultural erosion and deterioration that is occurring within our nation as a whole and the church in particular. A problem with being myopic is that the horizon of one has become very abbreviated. It is more individualized rather than seeing life and function in the broader perspective of which one is a part.

For the Church, it can be too easy to fall into the snare of the Church at Laodicea, Revelation 3:15-19. As Jesus walks in the midst of the Church, He observes: “I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other. So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of My mouth! You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore, be earnest and repent.” The condition Jesus observes and that stands out is: “…you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”  

How does a group of people get themselves to a point where there is a neglect of reality and it is no longer part of their consciousness? Is it due to their personal self-contentment? Have they fallen into the trap of comparing themselves with other organizations and rationalizing they are not as bad as the other group is? Have they taken the Word of God for granted – they have it but are no longer governing themselves by it? Have they allowed themselves to become an organization that has neglected or forgotten its calling, purpose, vision and mission?

As and when a group gets back on track with the Lord’s call, purpose, vision and mission, Revelation 3:20-21 indicates a renewed relationship with Jesus Christ: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me. To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” What awaits one who responds to the words of Jesus? It involves relationship, fellowship and victory. 

The Hymn, Faith is the Victory, contains these words: “On every hand the foe we find; Drawn up in dread array. Let tents of ease be left behind, And onward to the fray.” This is our calling and opportunity. How will you respond to it? Will you maintain the status quo or cross over into Christ’s victory for you, His people and His Church?

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

MEDITATING DAY AND NIGHT

I Was Just Thinking About – MEDITATING DAY AND NIGHT.

Two of my favorite passages of Scripture address the subject of meditating. The first is Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the one…whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his Law day and night.” The second is very similar, Joshua 1:8-9, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Closely akin to these verses are the one’s pertaining to Prayer. I Thessalonians 5:17, (NIV) “pray continually “and (ESV) “pray without ceasing.”

Having to spend too many days in the Hospital/Medical facility of late has allowed me to reflect on these and other verses and their particular application. I have found it very challenging to “meditate” and to "pray without ceasing.” There are many interruptions as caregivers perform their duties and administer one’s needed medications. Questions are asked and protocols are explained. The way I have resolved these Biblical instructions is to view them in terms of the attitude of the heart and mind amid the necessary activities by which one is surrounded. I can always Pray – “Lord! Right now, I need Your presence and aide.” The Lord is aware of the need so doesn’t require my going into great detail except to express the concern of my heart and mind at that point. The same holds true to meditating on God’s Word. I may not be able to turn to a particular passage but I do have the Spirit bearing witness with my spirit that all of God’s promises are valid for me and are “Yes!” in Jesus Christ. It becomes a matter of claiming the promises of God in Jesus’ name and then implementing Psalm 37:7 to, (ESV) “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” and (NLT) “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.” I came across the idea some years ago that the idea conveys to one the need to “relax in the Lord while waiting for His timing in your behalf.”

John MacArthur wrote about I Thessalonians 5:17, “Prayer is to be a way of life--you're to be continually in an attitude of prayer. It is living in continual God-consciousness, where everything you see and experience becomes a kind of prayer, lived in deep awareness of and surrender to Him.” The same principle applies to meditating. It is a familiarity with God’s Word that in a given situation the Word of God comes to one’s mind and confirms that God is faithful, caring and aware of one’s need or situation. His Word always serves as a lamp to one’s feet and a light for one’s path (Psalm 119:105). These things are to constantly fill one’s heart and spirit. May you find them to be true in and for your life.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

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THE JOURNEY

I Was Just Thinking About – THE JOURNEY.

Over the years, I have consulted the Hymnal as part of my devotional reading, especially the great Hymns from the past. One of them by Horatius Bonar was written in 1857:

Thy way, not mine, O Lord, however dark it be;

Lead me by Thine own hand,

Choose out the path for me.

Smooth let it be or rough, it will be still the best;

Winding or straight, it leads Right onward to Thy rest.

The Journey chosen for the child of God is described by Jesus Christ as “A Narrow Way.” A scholar from the past indicated: “The restrictions of the narrow way are not infringements upon one’s liberty, but serve as protections against evil.” What does that narrow way indicate and include?

There is the need to have one’s life centered in the will of God. The dynamic prayer in Colossians 4:12 states: “Epaphras…is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.” Maturity and being fully assured are the goal and purpose.

How does one arrive at this point? Romans 12:1-2 instructs: “I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” It necessitates non-conformity to the world and cultural influences of a given day. It is conformity rather than complicity.

The prayer and desire of the Psalmist serves us well today: “Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” An emphasis is on an undivided heart so one can avoid the confusion that would otherwise ensue. Elsewhere the Psalmist prayed – Psalm 27:11, “Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path…” The earnest desire of his heart is expressed in Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.”

Horatius Bonar closes his Hymn with these words:

The kingdom that I seek Is Thine: so let the way; That leads to it be Thine, Else I must surely stray. Not mine, not mine the choice in things or great or small; Be Thou my Guide, my Strength My Wisdom, and my All.

Our Journey Along The Narrow Way is the safest path we can and should walk. It pleases the Lord and draws us closer into His presence.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

SWERVES AND CURVES

I Was Just Thinking About – SWERVES AND CURVES.

Last week, Thursday and Friday were both interesting days at UAB Hospital for a number of reasons. Thursday, the port was inserted and the feeding tube removed (regrettably the Tracheostomy remains). Friday involved several hours as the Chemo protocols took place. All Hospitals are different, but the Chemo Infusion Room at Kirklin Center is comprised of a large room with several cubicles divided only by curtains/drapes. The cubicle is large enough for a Recliner and an IV stand. No visitor seating is provided. One sits there for six hours or so while the protocols are injected.

Part way through the procedure, I noticed a woman making her way from cubicle to cubicle. As much as I attempted to avoid eye contact with her, she stopped and introduced herself as a representative with the Pastoral Care Staff at the Clinic. She was pleasant but made a shocking statement at the outset of the conversation. She asked me why I was there and being treated. I indicated that it was due to the diagnosis of Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. She then said: “Oh, you don’t need to believe that – it is just a number they use but it doesn’t mean that much.” I responded, for most people hearing “Stage 4” it represents one may have only six months (more or less) left to live.”

The conversation, moved along and she told me about her Episcopalian Credentials until she asked what I did. I identified myself and the conversation made a dramatic change. She indicated the plight of the Episcopacy and the inability of garnering young men for their priesthood, etc. I mentioned to her a book I had written on: “The Twenty-First Century Church: Is It Waxing of Waning?” She blurted out that it was waxing. As we discussed some of the issues that demonstrate it is actually waning – clergy more complicit than challenging the cultural shifts occurring within the Church; the message being adjusted to be non-offending regarding the trends rather than confronting them Biblically. she was a bit uncomfortable. Many places in Scripture could be consulted but the one that stood out in my mind was, Jeremiah 5:30-31, “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?”

Not being able to get out into the public the past few weeks, I have scanned the TV for a worship service that was true to the Word of God (should one expect or settle for anything less?). While there are a very few possibilities, overall, there is a dearth from which one can select. I did come across a program this week that emphasized a Charles Wesley Lyric in the Hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. The words are compelling about the love of God and what he expects as one’s response: “Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

WAITING AND PATIENCE

I was just thinking about – WAITING AND PATIENCE.

When Peggy and I began our relationship together, we were in agreement that a passage of Scripture that was important to us was Psalm 37:4,5,7. This reference was engraved in our wedding rings to remind us of these important principles for life and their importance in our life together:

• Take delight in the Lord – at all times and in all things.
• Ask him to give you the desires of your heart.
• Commit your way to the Lord - unconditionally.
• Trust in him – implicitly.
• Be still before the Lord – listen for his voice and direction.
• Wait patiently for him – in all one’s ways and decisions.

Over the years, when sharing thoughts and counsel from this passage, it was not unusual for me to share that a word appearing in the Psalm is “rest” and would emphasize for us that one needs to “relax in the Lord while waiting patiently for His will and direction to be revealed.” The NLT renders Psalm 37:7, “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.” I wonder if these words were in the mind of the Hymn Writer when the words were penned:

Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;

In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend

Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

While obedience requires we adhere to the words of the Psalmist, some things are easier said than done. We all have moments when we act impulsively. These are times when we act before thinking through a situation or requirement and then have a measure of remorse because of our haste in acting and behaving in such a manner.

Years ago, Children’s Ministry utilized visuals that were a vital part of communicating Biblical Truths to the children. One of the Choruses used an octagon shaped sign that was held up and conveyed – “STOP and let me tell you what the Lord has done for me…” In a brief summary way, the words that followed were: “He forgave my sin. And He saved my soul, He cleansed my heart. And He made me whole.” The second stanza to that chorus stated: “Go and tell the story of the Christ of Calvary.” It was a compelling chorus that the children sang with enthusiasm.

It struck me that the idea of “Stop” and “Go” has tremendous value for each of us in our growing relationship with the Lord. It is a work in progress to “wait patiently” on the one who has a perfect plan for each of our lives. More and more, I am being reminded of this principle to “wait patiently” for His timing and will to be made known and done.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

RELATIONSHIP

I Was Just Thinking About – RELATIONSHIP.

I often think of the persons who try to navigate through life alone. Some do it as a personal choice whereas others have lost oved ones along the way and continue their life journey alone. Ecclesiastics 4:9-12 defines the beauty of the personal and intimate relationship. The text states: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” I have always thought of this threefold cord that is not quickly broken as a couple being joined together in marriage in the Lord.

People handle their aloneness in various ways. Some live and enjoy reflecting on their past memories and the good times associated with them. Others look at their closeness to death and their departure that will bring them into the presence of the Lord, as well as their loved ones who have preceded them in death. What is an option for one in a lonely place? What fruitful and productive impact can there be when one is alone or isolated? A possible answer may be Luke 5:16 that indicates: "Jesus withdrew into lonely places and he prayed." Jesus would often seek out the alone places for solitude and non-interruption. Rather than a place of despair, it was a place of hope for Him. These moments produced and promoted positive changes in His life and ministry.

In 1920, Robert Harkness penned the words to No Longer Lonely. The lyric is:

On life’s pathway I am never lonely,
My Lord is with me, my Lord divine;
Ever present guide, I trust Him only,
No longer lonely, for He is mine.

                          Refrain

No longer lonely, no longer lonely,
For Jesus is the friend of friends to me;
No longer lonely, no longer lonely,
For Jesus is the friend of friends to me.

I shall not be lonely in the valley
Tho’ shadows gather, I will not fear;
He has promised ever to uphold me,
No longer lonely! He will be near.

May you find hope and take refuge in the fact that the Lord is always with you and will never leave or forsake you.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

WEEPING

I Was Just Thinking About – WEEPING.

In too many instances, when it becomes known that a man has cried, he is viewed as being weak or unstable. This generalization has had a subtle impact in terms of human emotions. Matters of great importance, gravity or significance are such that weeping and tears are appropriate rather than the stoic posture some choose to embrace. I think of the concern expressed in Nehemiah 1. Nehemiah makes an inquiry about the welfare of the Jewish people (Verses 2-3), “I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me: The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” How does Nehemiah respond to this distressing news? Verse 4 informs us of his response: “As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.”

There is an interesting moment in the life of David after he had been captured by the Philistines. In Psalm 56:8 he wrote: “You have kept count of my tossing, put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” A commentator suggests: David was going through a difficult time. He begins this sad Psalm with the words “Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me” (Psalm 56:1). David was, at the time he wrote this psalm, a prisoner of war, and he had reason to cry and be sorrowful. David says that his struggles are recorded in God’s book (verse 8), and he asks God to put his tears in His bottle. What does this poetic language mean? Does God really have a bottle where all our tears go? Are the events of our lives really written in a book? The idea behind the keeping of “tears in a bottle” is remembrance. David is expressing a deep trust in God—God will remember his sorrow and tears and will not forget about him. David is confident that God is on his side. He says, in the midst of this troubling time: This I know, God is for me (Psalm 56:9) and In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (verse 11).

Weeping is appropriate not just in times of difficulty or situations deemed impossible. Tears are an indication of deep concern and that which touches the heart. If it touches my heart, my tears are noted by the Lord and it touches His heart as well. On a very sad day following the death of Lazarus, it is said in John 11:35 that “Jesus wept.” He was weeping over the unbelief of the present group but long range he was looking at the lack of faith and ultimate rejection of “the resurrection and the life” in the future.

I do appreciate the words recorded in Psalm 30:5, “Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Trust in the Lord in and for all things. He wants His joy to be in you so that your joy will be full and complete.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

DUE DILIGENCE

I Was Just Thinking About – DUE DILIGENCE.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is largely a Medical Training Facility. The doctors are also Professors and their students accompany them as they make rounds or visit with their patients. I was really caught off guard when during three different screening interviews I was asked: “Have you thought about suicide?” Most recently the phrase – “the past two weeks” – was added to the question. It impressed me that some people may easily become overwhelmed when they hear they have cancer – especially if they also hear that it is untreatable. A dear friend of ours just heard that and is in a Swing Bed Rehab due to at least two brain tumors. When my wife went to see her, she was exuberant that she will soon be in heaven and joined together with some of her loved ones who have preceded her. The word that would be most suitable for her is nor suicide but anticipation.

These type situations caused me to think about the reality of due diligence in one’s life. What is the ongoing focus and commitment on the part of the child of God? First and foremost, there has to be the presence of an unshakable faith. Hebrews 11:6 states: “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly (diligently) seek Him.” There is this reminder in Proverbs 8:17, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” To exercise diligence requires a great measure of commitment and discipline. The word means: “that which done or pursued with persevering attention.”

If persevering attention is a basic requirement, Jeremiah 29:13 indicates the result: “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with ALL YOUR HEART.” There is the prominence of “ALL” once again as we come to the Lord and seek Him. When one approaches the Lord with ALL of one’s heart, there will be the joy in the presence of the Good Shepherd who knows us and calls us by name. Our reality is to respond affirmatively to Him and to follow Him unconditionally. When we obediently do so, we will hear His whisper to us: “Peace Be Still.” It has caused one to recall the words of a Hymn: “O soul, are you weary and troubled?” If so, what should one do? The refrain states: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.”

Even though one can become burdened and/or overwhelmed by the unexpected, the reality of God’s Word is unshakable. If one diligently seeks Him with ALL of one’s heart, He will be found and be present with you during your times of uncertainty and distress. I trust that is your relationship with The Good Shepherd.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING

I Was Just Thinking About – “YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING”

With our family and in ministry, a simple and basic passage of God’s Word was always a central part. It is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” The NLT words it: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

In my mind, while there are several emphasis points in these two verses, the word “ALL” is inescapable. We are to trust in the Lord with ALL our heart. In ALL our ways, we are to acknowledge Him. I associate the words of a consecration Hymn with these words: “ALL to Jesus, I surrender; ALL to Him I freely give.” While these are very moving and compelling words, they are not always easy to apply. The clutter of our own mind and understanding interfere with our full embrace of “ALL” in reference to the Lord and our commitment to His will and that which is on His heart and mind that is best for us.

In the devotional: Get More Strength For The Journey, Joseph Stowell wrote about Proverbs 3:5-6: “We can choose to live lives that are driven by random impulses and feelings or by a trusted point of reference. And here is a major warning: Without a trusted point of reference, we are all in big trouble. At the core, we are fallen people. With great regret, I have come to realize that my first instincts in a given situation are usually wrong. They may feel right at the moment, but in the long run they prove to be destructive.”

When resorting to “your own understanding,” there is all kinds of inner turmoil that occurs. One of the contributing factors is the tendency to think one knows more than he actually knows. I had a Seminary professor who would occasionally indicate: “One of the best things you can know is what you don’t know!” Over the years, I have found that I sometimes come to conclusions without having sufficient data to reach my conclusion. I don’t want to inordinately dwell on my recent physical situation but when I was told that I had Stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma, my understanding was that Stage 4 meant the cancer had entered an organ and that I had 6 months (more or less) to live. While I wasn’t filled with panic, my mind raced in terms of what I needed to get done to make things as smooth and easy for my precious Peggy. Meeting with the Doctor who will prescribe the Chemotherapy to combat this cancer, altered my understanding dramatically. He was positive encouraging, spoke of “cure” rather than loss of life.

I wonder how often one misses God’s best and perfect plan/will for one’s life by drawing conclusions that are not based upon adequate knowledge of God and His plan, will and way for one’s life. The key is to deal with the word “ALL” and to surrender ALL to Him.

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

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BINDING AND BONDING

I Was Just Thinking About – BINDING & BONDING.

My life changed abruptly on December first. It necessitated time in both Clinic appointments and as in patient in UAB Hospital. I have always found it interesting to observe people’s facial expressions. As I sat in the Waiting Room, some people sat there alone and were relatively expressionless. It caused me to wonder what was going on in their mind and inner being. Most people were there for various Cancer treatment and care. Some expressions indicated a helplessness as well as a loneliness. If I had been able to minister to them, what would I say? What would I do?

Two passages of Scripture that came to mind touched my own heart. The first was Psalm 147:3,5 – “(The Lord) heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” The second passage is Isaiah 61:1-3 (Selected). “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…to give them…the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.” The broken-hearted and heavy-hearted are near to the heart of the Lord. Those who have been informed of and begun treatment for cancer may possess a faint heart and spirit. When informed they are a Stage 4 patient, it conveys they may have only six months to one year to live.

What would be helpful for most of these people? What would bring them encouragement and/or a glimmer of hope? I think of the bonding factor as being a hug from God, a reassurance of His love, plan and purpose for one’s life, and the fact that all things will work together for the good – those who are called according to His purpose. Words that mean the most for me are: Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory.” The NLT expresses it: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

The other passage is II Corinthians 12:9, “But he (The Lord) said to me: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” It is always beneficial to wrap one’s mind around the all-sufficiency of God’s Grace for all of one’s life. Equally beneficial is to remember “His mighty power that is at work in us.” We should feel free to personalize the text that His Power is at work IN ME.

These two passages are like a large hug from the Lord that remind one that He still cares and He remains in control of all details that pertain to one’s individual life. Do you sense God hugging you today? Do you sense His presence and closeness to you today?

Prayerfully – consider these things with me.

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