"7" Minutes Alone with God

Clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth  (Psalm 47:1) It is difficult, in our humanness, to feel victorious in the middle of defeating circumstances.  Yet God’s Word instructs us to do so.  Not because it is within our power to right every wrong or turn every negative into a positive, but because of what He has done for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. By giving Himself to die on the cross for our sins, returning to life after death, and ascending into the very presence of God the Father where He serves as our Advocate, the power of evil over the lives of believers has been defeated forever.  Nothing and no one can separate us from His loving care: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress,  or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... In all these things we are more than ...

For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able  to keep what I have committed to Him until that day (2 Timothy 1:12) Confidence and assurance are difficult emotions to sustain in our unstable society.  People and things in which we trust may prove unworthy of our confidence, perhaps through no fault of their own.  However, there is one thing of which we can be certain.  No matter what happens, God loves us and is capable of carrying out every promise recorded in His Word.  Because He is all-knowing, nothing ever slips up on Him.  Because He is all-powerful, nothing is ever beyond His control.  Because He is unchanging, we can place 100% confidence in Him today, tomorrow, and for eternity.  Remembering and relying on these truths is important to our peace of mind, and vital to our ability to face the crises that occur in life. In May 1993, my family faced such a time. After a brief stay in the hospital, with a h...

You do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life? It is just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away   (James 4:14) Good health is a fragile gift which we generally take for granted until it is taken away.  And how quickly that can happen.  A lump, a growth, a bad lab report, a stroke, heart attack or dementia.  An accident, surgery, broken bone or other debilitating conditions can occur at any moment, robbing us of the quality of life we have known.   Few families have been spared the heartache associated with diminished health.  When this occurs, plans, hopes, and desires becomes secondary.  Matters previously considered important become immaterial.  Time, money and energy must be diligently guarded.  Strength, in its limited supply, must be conserved and used wisely lest there not be enough for vital functions. Success is measured in smaller calibrations so that completion of one ste...

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift On my dresser sets a small package, gift-wrapped in Christmas paper, and with it, a red envelope with my name on it.  They don’t look out of place now with Christmas just around the corner, but they hadn’t seemed to belong there during the past 6 months. They were given to me by a friend at a retreat we were both attending in the spring.  Embarrassed, she handed them to me with the explanation that it was a thank you gift for my being the guest speaker at a ladies’ event at her church last Christmas. She had forgotten to give it to me that day. Back home after the event, she set it on her kitchen counter with the intention of mailing it to me. She kept forgetting it as the days went by, until her granddaughters questioned her about it, it and she decided to put it away until after the holidays. The longer it went, the more embarrassed she became until she finally decided to give it to me in person, along with an apology. ...

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…(He) prepares a table before me   (Psalm 23:1 Amp) Watching my daughter prepare bottles for my infant grandson reminded me of our Heavenly Father’s provision for us.  Having boiled and cooled water, she carefully measured exactly 4 ozs. into several sterile bottles, inserted a sterile nipple into each one, sealed them and set them aside in readiness. Her eye was on the clock as feeding time approached but she waited for the baby to give the signal that he was hungry.  And signal he did.  In the blink of an eye, he went from cooing to howling.  During the brief moments it took to uncap a bottle, scoop in powdered formula, and shake to mix it, he continued to wail out his demands. From his actions, one might assume he was starving.  Or in the habit of being ignored or neglected.  He was unaware that final preparations were being made to meet his need.  Wisely, his mother had waited until her son fe...

For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance  so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God  (Hebrews 10:36 Amp) Modern technology has virtually eliminated the need for us to wait.  Instant telecommunication, instant-prepared food, and instant reproduction of printed materials are part of our everyday world.  Millions flock to products that promise quick pain relief, loss of unwanted pounds, and clearer, more radiant skin. It is no surprise then that we become impatient when faced with circumstances that require us to wait.  We know Scripture instructs us to be patient and wait, trusting the Lord, but try as we might to obey, we often find ourselves worried and fretful. At such times, it is helpful to think of patience and faith as spiritual muscles.  Just as physical muscles develop over a period of time during which they are stressed and pressure is regularly exerted, so circumstances that are beyond our control to alte...

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength   (Nehemiah 8:10) There is much in our world to make us anxious.  Inflation is up as is the crime rate.  Though some may earn bigger salaries, money doesn’t go as far as it once did.  We own more, but feel less satisfied and struggle to find time to enjoy what we do have.  We are stressed out and stretched thin, overfed yet undernourished and out of shape. We desire to live according to God’s instructions, but find ourselves hindered by what our culture terms political correctness.  Expectations of family, friends, co-workers, fellow church members and countless others may prevent us from being all He is calling us to be. Under these circumstances, it is easy to fall into an attitude of defeat.  Is it any wonder then that non-believers are uninterested in becoming Christians?  Why would they be drawn to a religion that offers no more hope, joy or satisfaction than they are experienc...

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me   (John 14:1) I hadn’t slept all night which wasn’t unusual for an insomniac like me.  I intended to go to bed but as the evening worn on and my energy increased, I decided to work until I got sleepy.  The next day was Easter, and following morning worship we were having guests for dinner; there were still preparations I could make that night.  Hours passed but sleep didn’t come so I kept going.  It was satisfying to see my to do list shrink as the hours ticked by. About 5:00 the next morning, as I checked off the last item, it came to me that, all across the land people were getting ready for sunrise services.  Our church wasn’t having one so I decided to have my own in our sun room, praying, meditating, and watching for the sun to rise. Easter that year fell on the first day of daylight savings time so there was very little light in the sky as I entered the darkened room. I a...

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us  (Romans 8:37) Our friend George loved the old hymn, “Victory in Jesus”, and through the years before his death, he requested it every time we had ‘chose your favorite hymn’ night at church.  It’s also a favorite of mine. The message in the lyrics and the upbeat tempo thrill my heart and get my toes tapping every time.  I look forward to joining George and millions of other believers when we can sing it around Jesus’ throne. It isn’t easy to feel victorious here on Earth where difficulties arise and unwanted circumstances occur.  Yet, God has instructed us to do just that.  His Word repeatedly tells us to trust Him.  He knows that in our ability alone we are incapable of dealing with many of the challenges we face.  He can provide what we lack: My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus   (Philippians 4:19 . When Jesus g...

Now I know that you fear God, since you have not  withheld your son, your only son from Me   (Genesis 22:12) Abraham’s phenomenal spirit of obedience is one to which we can look in awe.  It seems inconceivable that a parent could trust God to such a degree that he would offer his only son as a burnt offering.  It makes any sacrifice God requires of us pale in comparison.  However, though the stakes involved are extremely different, elements required in any sacrifice can be found is the account of Abraham and Isaac. This was not the first time God called Abram (later renamed Abraham) to step out in faith: Now the Lord had said to Abram, get out of your country, from your family  and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you   (Genesis 12:1) Notice that God didn’t tell Abraham where to go, how far away it was, or how long the journey would take.  He just said “Go” and Abram obeyed. When God calls us to trust His...

Are they [ministering] servants of Christ [the Messiah]    (2 Corinthians 11:23 Amp) Are you a ministering servant of Christ?  If you are allowing Him to meet the needs of others through your love, your words, your deeds, you are one of His ministering servants.  As such, you will sometimes encounter difficulties and setbacks.  Scripture teaches that part of God’s plan for His children is to allow such times to come into their lives. Why would He do so?  Is it to discourage us or render us ineffectual in our spiritual walk?  No, not at all.  As our loving Father, He does not enjoy seeing us hurt or hurting.  Rather, He allows difficulties to come into our lives in order to make us stronger. In the same way weights and devices of resistance are used to develop physical muscles, so our spiritual muscles – faith, courage, confidence, contentment, hope, joy – are built up and made stronger each time we use them. This is what Paul was ...

I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work  which You have given Me to do  (John 17:4) Hours before Jesus’ arrest, trial, and death, He spoke these words to His Heavenly Father.  Reading them now I wonder if, when I am facing my last days on Earth, I will be able in all honesty, to say them to Him.  It is a sobering thought. God has plans for what He wants each of His children to accomplish during their lifetime.  Generally speaking, He does not reveal them all at once.  It is as we are living day-to-day, He presents opportunities for service.  Whether or not we recognize such occasions depends on how closely we are in communication with Him through prayer and study of His Word. Often, caught up in the whirlwind of daily life, we fail to recognize His urging.  It may be as simple as sending a card of encouragement to someone going through a difficult time; stopping to converse with someone when we are shopping; h...

She, out of her poverty, gave all that she had  (Mark 12:44) The couple with their two young children had recently arrived on the mission field in Papua New Guinea when this verse came to life for them in a very unique experience.  Not yet having learned the native language, they were able to converse only with those natives who knew Pidgin English, the trade language.  Later, the wife related their experience this way: “It was a beautiful, sunny morning as we headed down the road to the native market to buy fruits and vegetables.  As we rounded the last corner, we saw the women sitting beside the road, their wares stacked in piles before them.  We made our way all the way down the row, looking at the variety, shaking hands and saying ‘Morning’ to the crowds of children and adults who followed us as we went.  Native talk was all around us. By the time we had made our purchases of corn, bananas, peanuts, and kaukau (sweet potatoes), the plastic bags ...

Thus says the Lord, in an acceptable and favorable time  I have heard and answered you,  and in a day of salvation  I have helped you; and I will preserve you  (Isaiah 49:8 Amp) In an acceptable time and in due season are phrases found throughout the Bible.  They indicate that after much time, when circumstances were just right, long-awaited events finally came to pass. Abraham and Sarah, beyond childbearing years, gave birth to their son, Isaac, through whose lineage the Messiah would be born.  (Genesis 18:1-19; 21:1-2; Matthew 1:2, 16).  Zechariah and Elizabeth experienced the same miracle with the birth of John, later known as John the Baptizer, the forerunner of the Messiah. (Luke 1:5-25, 57). God’s often repeated promise to send a Redeemer came to pass when Jesus, the Holy Son of God, was born in a human body to the Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:26-38; 2:6-7) . Even before God created our universe, He promised to provide a method by whi...

Do not fret…it only causes harm     (Psalm 37:8) God’s Word instructs us not to fret, but we may find ourselves doing so anyway.  Often we are unaware that we are fretting because it comes to us as naturally as breathing.  Once we become aware of the problem and try to stop, we discover how difficult a habit it is to break.  Recognizing the nature of fretting and the damage it can cause, may help us keep on trying. First, we need to acknowledge that fretting is a sin, for anytime we do something that God’s Word says we are not to do, it is sin. The (result) wages of sin is death   (Romans 6:23)  While fretting is detrimental to our health and well-being, it generally does not bring about physical death. However, death comes in many forms.  The word death conveys a sense of loss or separation.  Fretting can cause the loss of peace of mind, a positive attitude, restful nights, productive days, healthy relationships with family, ...

Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you;  not as the world gives do I give to you.   Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid  (John 14:27) Peace.  We all want it.  We crave it and search endlessly for it.  But peace is illusive. At those rare times when we do achieve it, it is usually short-lived.  There is always one more thing to fret about and new things to fear if we allow ourselves to do so. Fear is the greatest enemy of peace.  Especially fear of the unknown.  But there is no room for fear in the heart that is filled with faith.  God’s Word instructs us to: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus  (Philippians 4:6-7)   Three basic elements that lead to peace are found in t...

Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you;  not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid   (John 14:27) Peace.  We all want it.  We crave it and search endlessly for it.  But peace is illusive. At those rare times when we do achieve it, it is usually short-lived.  There is always one more thing to fret about and new things to fear if we allow ourselves to do so.   Fear is the greatest enemy of peace.  Especially fear of the unknown.  But there is no room for fear in the heart that is filled with faith.  God’s Word instructs us to: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,  with thanksgiving,  let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,  will guard your hearts  and minds through Christ Jesus   (Philippians 4:6-7)  Three basic ele...

Do not be afraid.  Stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord.   The Lord will fight for you, and you shall be quiet   (Exodus 14:13-14) We live in troubling times.  News agencies from around the world bombard us daily with reports of global unrest, broken peace treaties, and war; widespread hunger, floods, fires, and earthquakes; unstable economies; a continual rise in crime, and unlawful acts by those in places of power. On a more immediate and personal level, we may find ourselves trapped in an unhealthy relationship, unsatisfactory working conditions, or a financial crisis.  Or maybe we are among the millions who are simply exhausted from a whirlwind of activities and responsibilities from which there seems to be no escape.  Dragging through the day, and tossing on our pillows at night. Do you sometimes find yourself craving the peace God has promised those who are called by His name?  The assurance that, in spite of the circu...