"S: Luke 12:6-7 (AMP) 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And [yet] not one of them is forgotten or uncared for in the presence of God. 7 But [even] the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows. Luke 12:6-7 (AMP) "
O: 1. A sparrows cost/value is just about nothing. 2. No sparrow is forgotten or uncared for (by God). 3. By contrast, God cares and doesn't forget about me, much more. 4. I don't need to fear.
A. When I start to feel alarmed, or even anxious, it is usually because I feel that I need to resolve something, all by myself. Many times these "things" I am not naturally equipped to solve. Or they may just be situations that make me feel uncomfortable (like going to the fellowship hall at church, and sitting with a bunch of people I don't know (and speaking Czech with them). But the root of this, is that I feel forgotten or uncared for by God. Sometimes I feel like God is my football coach and he is just putting me through another obstacle course. And somehow, I have to figure it out all by myself, with my own wisdom, my own strength. And I'm just tired of it all. But I need to see my fear, as an indicator that I'm believing Satan's lie that God is not good. That God has forgotten me, or doesn't care for my needs, or my good. I need to start collecting verses on God's goodness, and add them to my prayer notebook, so that when I'm tempted in this area, I will have the ammunition I need to quench these fiery darts.
Lord, thank you for loving me, and caring for me, and never forgetting me. I don't doubt any of these things at the moment. I can feel your lavish love, and I'm enjoying basking in your presence. But you know the situations where I'm tempted to doubt your care. Lord, even this week as I use the train to go to Brno, or when I visit Ryan and Julie, my anxiety goes off the charts as I worry about where and when I might end up. As I have anxiety about Sharka coming to Christ, or finding a flat, or higher expenses in Brno, or my Czech ever being good enough to actually minister, or never bearing fruit that will last, etc. . Lord those all make me question your care. Lord, this is unbelief. I confess this as unbelief. I ask that you help me even this week to find ways of escape so that I can walk through similar situations, victorious in you, knowing that you do care for every detail of my life. Thank you so much for loving me, so much, and being there for me every minute of every day.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:4 "We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.7 We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us."
Observe: Paul was contrasting his circumstances with his attitude and discipline (purity). He was beaten, without food and sleep and yet had patience, kindness, purity (self control). He had these things because God was living inside of him. That was the only explanation and so he wouldn't be discredited as a phony. People would be able to see God in Paul.
Apply: Well, let's start with sleepless :) Knowing that I got less than 4 hours sleep last night and my tendency will be toward being impatient, unkind, I need to proactively ask for the Holy Spirit to empower me in my weakness.
Prayer: Jesus, I am tired today. I am not persecuted like Paul but I need your strength today in my life. I do not want to be discredited by my actions, help me I need your fruits of the Spirit in my life. IJN, Amen
My worth
ReplyDelete"S: Luke 12:6-7 (AMP)
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And [yet] not one of them is forgotten or uncared for in the presence of God.
7 But [even] the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be struck with fear or seized with alarm; you are of greater worth than many [flocks] of sparrows. Luke 12:6-7 (AMP) "
O: 1. A sparrows cost/value is just about nothing. 2. No sparrow is forgotten or uncared for (by God). 3. By contrast, God cares and doesn't forget about me, much more. 4. I don't need to fear.
A. When I start to feel alarmed, or even anxious, it is usually because I feel that I need to resolve something, all by myself. Many times these "things" I am not naturally equipped to solve. Or they may just be situations that make me feel uncomfortable (like going to the fellowship hall at church, and sitting with a bunch of people I don't know (and speaking Czech with them). But the root of this, is that I feel forgotten or uncared for by God. Sometimes I feel like God is my football coach and he is just putting me through another obstacle course. And somehow, I have to figure it out all by myself, with my own wisdom, my own strength. And I'm just tired of it all. But I need to see my fear, as an indicator that I'm believing Satan's lie that God is not good. That God has forgotten me, or doesn't care for my needs, or my good. I need to start collecting verses on God's goodness, and add them to my prayer notebook, so that when I'm tempted in this area, I will have the ammunition I need to quench these fiery darts.
Lord, thank you for loving me, and caring for me, and never forgetting me. I don't doubt any of these things at the moment. I can feel your lavish love, and I'm enjoying basking in your presence. But you know the situations where I'm tempted to doubt your care. Lord, even this week as I use the train to go to Brno, or when I visit Ryan and Julie, my anxiety goes off the charts as I worry about where and when I might end up. As I have anxiety about Sharka coming to Christ, or finding a flat, or higher expenses in Brno, or my Czech ever being good enough to actually minister, or never bearing fruit that will last, etc. . Lord those all make me question your care. Lord, this is unbelief. I confess this as unbelief. I ask that you help me even this week to find ways of escape so that I can walk through similar situations, victorious in you, knowing that you do care for every detail of my life. Thank you so much for loving me, so much, and being there for me every minute of every day.
Title:
ReplyDeleteMentor: Paul
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 6:4 "We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.7 We faithfully preach the truth. God's power is working in us."
Observe: Paul was contrasting his circumstances with his attitude and discipline (purity). He was beaten, without food and sleep and yet had patience, kindness, purity (self control). He had these things because God was living inside of him. That was the only explanation and so he wouldn't be discredited as a phony. People would be able to see God in Paul.
Apply: Well, let's start with sleepless :) Knowing that I got less than 4 hours sleep last night and my tendency will be toward being impatient, unkind, I need to proactively ask for the Holy Spirit to empower me in my weakness.
Prayer: Jesus, I am tired today. I am not persecuted like Paul but I need your strength today in my life. I do not want to be discredited by my actions, help me I need your fruits of the Spirit in my life. IJN, Amen
Title "God Protects Me"
ReplyDeleteMentor: David
Scripture: Psalm 64:10 "Good people will be happy in the Lord. They will find protection in Him. Let everyone who is honest praise the Lord."
Observe: Who? Christians. What? To be happy and praise the Lord. Why? Because God protects them. How? By being honest about who God is.
Apply: Because God protects me I can be happy and praise Him.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help me to understand how much you protect me.