Month: January 2009

Saturday, I went to my first writers group and was so blessed. The meeting opened with a teaching by the leader Louise DuMont titled: “Are you a flirt?” referring to people who are flirting with writing, who start and don’t finish, who talk about it but don’t pursue publication, etc. Here’s what she said:

“People who flirt don’t mean any real harm. But the truth is that flirters often lead others to believe they want a serious relationship when, in truth, all a flirt wants is a little fun. Flirting is fun for the one doing the flirting. It’s like eating all the cake you want with none of the calories. No work, no commitment, all fun. Unfortunately, it eventually leaves the flirter feeling less than fulfilled and causes others to look on the flirter with less respect.”

This got me thinking about our relationship with God. Are we flirting with Him? Do we want all the benefits without any of the responsibilities that an honest relationship requires? So often, we go to church, enjoy the music and fellowship, but miss the depth of intimacy that God desires to have with us. There’s a saying that goes, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.” So what does make us a Christian? It’s the relationship that we have with our Savior. He wants to abide with us – to dwell with us – to set up house and live with us permanently, 24/7. This is not a casual relationship. This is a lifetime commitment.

When a couple gets married, they stop flirting with each other and have serious conversations, make important decisions together, view their lives as a partnership. The married couple will need to make sacrifices and compromises and surrender selfish desires because that is what will be better for the relationship. It’s no longer about doing it “my way” or obtaining what “I want”. It’s “WE” now, hopefully forever.

When we become a Christian, we say “I do” to God. We must make the commitment that involves sacrifice, compromise and surrender. But whatever we relinquish for our relationship with God is for our own good. When we don’t get “our way”, it’s because our way is not the best way. Our commitment with God is a two-way agreement, a covenant between the two of us. It is a lifetime vow of dedication, devotion, and loyalty.

Does this mean the fun is gone from the relationship? Not at all. Life with Jesus is more joyful than any relationship we can imagine. He provides peace, laughter, confidence, and more. The deeper the relationship the more rewarding it is. No matter how wonderful your husband may be, he is still just a person with all the faults that accompany being human. On the other hand, Jesus will never let you down, will never leave you, will always supply all your needs (maybe not your wants, but definitely all your needs).

With a mate like that, why settle for anything less?

Susan

I received this email, and compared to all the other predictions that are made, these will really come true!

A land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year. (Deut. 11:12 )

As we begin the year 2009, with all the problems the World is facing, it can be unsettling to the mind. Today, I will share with you ten predications that are sure to come true this year!

Top 10 Predictions for 2009
1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still honor the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10.Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn’t It Great To Remember Who Is Really In Control,
and that; “the Word of the Lord endures forever.”
( 1 Peter 1:25 )

Susan

I wanted to write a perfect New Years prayer for you all, and when I sat down at the computer found one that perfectly expressed what I wanted to say! This is from Proverbs 31 Ministries daily devotion:

“Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord.” Lamentations 2:19a (NKJV)

It’s a new year. What is on your heart? What would you like to accomplish? What would you like to change? Have you made any New Year’s Resolutions?

A few years ago, I gave up making New Year’s Resolutions. I could never keep them. One year, instead of a resolution, I wrote a prayer. Throughout the year, I watched in amazement as God worked in my life and in the lives of others through my simple prayer.

Today, I would like to pray for you. Below is the prayer that the Lord put on my heart. As you read it, I invite you to use it as a model. Sit with the Lord and ask Him to help you personalize this prayer for you.

Father in heaven, thank You that You are Sovereign. Thank You that You know each precious woman reading this devotion. You planned for her to meet You here today. You created her heart. You know her every need, her deepest desires, and her open wounds. Lord, I ask that in this new year, You would fall afresh on her.

Father, You are Holy and call us to be Holy. Yet, we confess that so often our hearts wander from You, our speech does not glorify You, and our actions do not honor You. Soften our hearts to receive the words Your sweet Spirit has to speak to us. Clothe us with humility. Take away our desire to always be right and have our own way. Help us to seek Your Word in all that we say and do. Help us to submit to Your Word; allow it to penetrate those deep places in our hearts that resist change. If necessary, put us through the refiner’s fire to burn off those things that keep us from walking in step with Your character.

Give us hearts that love and seek after Truth above all else. Give us wisdom and discernment to reject the lies of this world and the evil one. Guide us into all Truth. Guard our hearts and keep our eyes fixed on You. Grow in us those things that will make us more like You. As we study Your Word, fill us and saturate us with You!

Today, Father, we surrender our thoughts, our speech, and our hearts. Thank You that You are Faithful and True. We trust You will do a mighty work in us and through us this year and carry it on to completion until the day we step into eternity with You. Help us to trust in You with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Help us to acknowledge You in all our ways so that we can hear Your voice as You say, “This is the way, walk in it.”

Lord, we love You and thank You that You love us. May our lives be a living testimony of You. We ask this in the powerful and mighty name of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord who will do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or imagine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Hidden Joy in a Dark Corner: The Transforming Power of God’s Story (available February 2009) by Wendy Blight
Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
31 Days of Praise and 31 Days of Prayer by Ruth Myers

Application Steps:
As you write your prayer, is there an area of your life in which you consistently struggle? Would you be willing to give it over to God this year?

If you answered yes to this question, I invite you to surrender that area today. Boldly ask God to speak Truth into this area, no matter the cost. Ask Him to teach You His way, give you a mind to understand, and a heart to obey. Hold fast to what you hear so that your walk in that area will be established and ordered according to His will, not your own.

Reflections:
Spend time praying the prayer above or your own prayer aloud. Believe God that He IS able to answer your prayer. Watch expectantly for His answers. Thank Him every time You see His Hand at work. He will be faithful!

Power Verses:
Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Ephesians 6:17-18, “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for the saints.” (NKJV)

Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (NKJV)© 2008 by Wendy Blight. All rights reserved.

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Happy New Year, my friends! May God be in all and through all and with you all! May you seek Him each day and 365 days from now be even closer to Him than you are today!
Susan