Proverbs 31 Devotionals
• Jul. 17, 2009 - Unity
Unity
Unity is something which God truly desires for His church, yet very few churches have a strong sense of unity. I came up with an acrostic to help us in striving to remember what unity is all about.
Use your gift and talents for God’s glory and never for your own.
Never put someone else down to try and elevate yourself.
Invite the help of the Holy Spirit so you will only speak that which is edifying.
Trust in the Lord at all times, even when you do not understand what He is doing.
Yearn for God’s presence to saturate you every day.
Remember that any gift or talent you have is from the Lord. Every good gift comes from the Father. (James 1:17)
We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition, but consider others better than ourselves. By keeping an attitude of humility, we will protect ourselves from a prideful heart that tries to make us look good on the outside, while polluting us on the inside.
The place where I struggle the most is with my words. If I do not diligently seek the help of the Holy Spirit, I will easily be swayed to complain. I am more likely to be critical if I am not mindful of the Lord. If I fail to be faithfully in the Word, I resort to my “B.C” (before Christ) language – a language which should be completely foreign to me now.
Many times we see things in the church which we do not understand. Rather than grumbling or gossiping about it, we need to trust the Lord to work out the situation for His glory, and our good.
When the body of Christ yearns for God’s presence seven days a week, great things will take place. Relationships will be healed. The sense of Christian family will grow stronger within the Body of Christ. Visitors will not only sense God’s presence, but they will see His presence in our love toward one another. Factions, dissensions, and gossip will cease. We will be concerned about the Father’s business, rather than our own agenda.
© 2007, Stacy R. Miller
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• Apr. 27, 2009 - Worship That Moves the Lord
Worship That Moves the Lord
Have you ever been so desperate in prayer that you begin to beg God for His help, yet feel as if He is ignoring you? A Canaanite woman experienced that very thing. In Matthew 15:22, she is crying out to Jesus as He passes by. Yet, the Lord doesn’t even acknowledge her.
Now many of us become discouraged when we feel as if the Lord is ignoring us. We may even fail to pray since we feel as if our fervent prayers are falling on deaf ears. Yet, what this Canaanite woman does next fascinates me. She refuses to give up. She comes and humbly kneels before Jesus and again asks for His help. Her humble posture speaks volumes to the Lord, for not only does He notice her, He speaks to her. Her humble response shows her great faith in Him, even though He previously ignored her. He commends her for her great faith and grants her request.
We can learn much from this story. When we don’t get an immediate response, we must not get mad and become too proud to ask again. We must humble ourselves before Him and keep asking, for the Lord will not reject a humble, contrite heart. (Psalm 51:17) Our humble worship may be what moves Him to act quickly on our behalf.
© 2008, Stacy R Miller
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• Mar. 28, 2009 - Drained and Scarred
Drained and Scarred
Several years ago, I began to donate plasma. I wish I could say that I did it to save lives, for that sounds so noble. In all honesty, I did it for the money.
After donating twice a week for over a year, there was a period of time where they were having trouble with my veins. This resulted in being deferred from donating for thirty days so that my arms could have a chance to heal.
About two weeks later, I realized that I felt so much better! I had much more energy. In fact, I felt like a new person! It dawned on me that donating plasma twice a week had subtly drained my energy level. After discovering that donating had led me to feel like the “walking-dead,” I decided that the money just was not worth the price I was physically paying. After all, you cannot put a price on your life!
This experience got me to wondering how many times we allow ourselves to get involved in things which subtly zap us of energy. We may be involved in activities that drain us instead of refreshing us. These are often things which have become a drudgery instead of a delight. Perhaps we have been involved in an area where God is telling us we need to step down, yet we have failed to yield to that call.
There may be things that take a lot of our time. Time is a precious resource we need to guard wisely. It is a good idea to evaluate how we are spending our time. I recently had to do this in regard to an activity I was coordinating and leading. After weighing the pros and cons, it was clear that I needed to step down. Though this endeavor was a good one, it was requiring a lot of my time with very little results.
It has been a few years since I have donated plasma, yet I still have scars on both arms from where they inserted those large needles. It is the same with us in a spiritual sense. We can end up scarred when we keep giving of ourselves in areas where we have not been called. When we fail to discern the Lord telling us it is time to leave a certain place of ministry, we can end up with huge spiritual scars because we have failed to obey Him.
For instance, maybe you feel called to help in the nursery. After a few years, you have a baby. It could be time to give up that “calling” for a season. Later, when the baby is older, the Lord may draw you back to that place of ministry.
Spiritual scars can also develop through words spoken to us. When we choose to harbor bitterness, rather than taking it to the Lord, we can end up scarred.
We may neglect to spend time with the Lord, discerning His will for our lives. This not only can lead to more scars on us, but it can also cause us to scar others.
Do you need to reevaluate your daily commitments? Are there any activities that drain your energy, your resources, and your time? Are there things in your life that are causing spiritual scars?
© 2007, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Mar. 2, 2009 - Staggering Drunk
Staggering Drunk
It was a busy Friday night on the highway which runs through our city. We were out on family excursion when I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw his red eyes, all glazed over. Drunk….and he was swiftly approaching the rear end of my car. Of all things, my precious daughter was sitting in the back seat.
I wish I could tell you that was the end of our encounter with the drunken man. Unfortunately, it wasn’t. He lives next door to us. There have been numerous occasions when we have observed him staggering to the door. We have even viewed him swaying as he walked down the street to the landlord’s house because, in his drunken stupor, he locked himself out of the house.
Ephesians 5:18-19 admonishes us not to get drunk on wine, but to constantly be filled with the Spirit. John warns us not to love the world because he knew that getting too intimate with worldly things could cause us to develop a spiritual stagger that would lead us from the straight and narrow path. (First John 2:15)
When we are “drunk” on worldly passions, we lock ourselves out from the blessings of God, much like neighbor locked himself out of the house.
When we “drink” too much on earthly things, it is much harder to resist temptation. When my neighbor couldn’t resist the lure of the bottle, he faced the humiliation of having his name appear in the paper after being arrested for drunk driving. We may also end up in an embarrassing position when our sin finds us out. (Numbers 32:23)
Let us be determined to continue walking a godly path so that when Jesus returns, we can stand before Him, confident and unashamed. (First John 2:28)
© 2008, Stacy R Miller |
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• Dec. 2, 2008 - Chosen One
Chosen One
The only good memories I have of school are from the very early years. Once I reached middle school, everything changed. I remember feeling so confused because I was intelligent and very outgoing.
I quickly discovered that in middle school, it wasn't cool to be smart, unless we were doing a spelling bee. I was always the first one chosen for those.
In gym class, however, my mastery of spelling didn't help me. Whenever they would pick teams, I was always one of the last three chosen. It was humiliating. I remember the jeers and taunting I would face every time I had to go to bat. I would purposely strike out just so I would be off home plate quickly, allowing my classmates to pick on their next victim.
It was a very difficult time for me. I wasn't chosen unless my peers could somehow benefit from my presence. I was never chosen to be friends with the popular crowd.
I remember how I would wait for the bus in the mornings, fearing that I was going to have diarrhea, all because of the fear of the awaiting torture by my peers.
Yet, there is One who did choose me -- Jesus. He chose me to go and bear fruit. (John 15:16) He chose me before the foundation of the world, and in His love, He adopted me and takes pleasure in me. He has redeemed me, lavishly pouring Gods grace upon me. The God of the universe has even made known to me the mystery of His will. My Creator has a plan and purpose for my life, and it is to bring glory to Him. (Ephesians 1:4-12)
As much as it hurt to be rejected by my peers, I believe all of the pain helped to lead me to Gods magnificent grace and bountiful love. I realize now that while many are invited, few are chosen. (Matthew 22:14)
Aren't you glad that you are one of the chosen?
© 2008, Stacy R. Miller
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• Oct. 25, 2008 - Boo!
Boo!
On those rare occasions when life seems to be going fairly well, I sometimes let down my guard. Catching me off guard, a trial will jump out and yell, “BOO!” I’m left feeling like someone has pulled the rug out from under my feet.
We shouldn’t be surprised when trials come our way. James tells us that when, not if, trials come, we should face them joyfully.
We are often like the man who looks at his reflection in a mirror, walks away, and forgets what he has seen. We can focus on our good deeds, forgetting the poor attitudes that remain in our heart. God may choose to test our heart through tribulations so that He can uncover those things which we’ve hidden in our heart. (Proverbs 17:3)
In order to be effective and productive in our walk with God, we are told to make every effort to add goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love to our faith. (II Peter 1:5-8) Our Father knows that we will never develop self-control and perseverance unless we are exposed to some trials.
The next time you have a trial jump out and yell, “BOO,” remember that God’s desire is for you to develop perfectly and completely. Don’t run in fright, but embrace those times of hardship. You will be amazed at the new dimension you’ll have in your relationship with the Lord.
© 2005, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 20, 2008 - Witch's Brew
Witch's Brew
There is a scripture which can make me cringe, mostly because when I read it, I am deeply convicted. It says that rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft. (I Samuel 15:23)
I began to remember the times when I have felt convicted to get up early and read my Bible, but I rebelled because I wanted to sleep. My rebellion is like witchcraft in the eyes of the Lord. Instead of feeding my spirit, I am stirring witch's brew.
I think of the many times my husband has asked me to do something and I have rebelled because I failed to see the point of doing what he requested. Again, I have started stirring some witch's brew.
I am reminded of the times when I have started to share something with a friend. For a split second, I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit, telling me not to share it. Yet I chose to say it anyway. My rebellion leads me to that pot of witch's brew again.
How many times have I neglected the nudging of the Lord to call on someone? When I fail to obey that nudging, even when I am still doing some other ‘ministry,’ I am stirring witch's brew. Saul knew this only too well, and it cost him the kingdom. First Samuel 15:22 tells us that to obey is better than sacrifice. God commanded Saul and the army to completely destroy the Amalekites and all that they owned. Yet Saul chose to bring back the cattle and sheep so they could offer them as a sacrifice. God was not interested in the sacrifice. He was interested in obedience.
God has given to us everything we need to live holy and godly lives. (II Peter 1:3) If we feel like we are stuck in a rut, continuously stirring a pot of witch's brew, we can take heart! There is no temptation that we face that Christ has not already faced Himself. God is faithful in our times of temptation, and He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. Not only that, but He provides a way out so that we are able to stand up under the temptation! (I Corinthians 10:13)
James tells us that we have not because we ask not. So, if you find yourself stirring your own pot of witch's brew, ask the Lord to help you find the way out of your temptation so that you can obey Him.
© 2006, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - Rebuilding the House
Rebuilding the House
It takes a lot of work to maintain a house. Periodically, we have to repaint the walls or change the wallpaper. We may even need to replace the flooring in the house because the sub floor goes bad. Toilets need replaced, pipes need cleaning when they get clogged. The outside will need fresh paint after several years. The hedges need clipped, the yard needs mowed. The roof will eventually need repaired or replaced. The tree limbs need to be cut back so they don't end up lying on the house. If we fail to do the upkeep on our house, it will become dirty and dingy. It will begin to stink. It may also be vandalized.
We are God's house. Just as it takes effort to maintain a physical house to live in, it also takes effort to maintain our ‘temple.’ If we aren't keeping ourselves in the Word, letting it ‘wash us’ (Ephesians 5:26), we will become dirtied by the world. If we don't daily seek God's help in becoming the aroma of Christ (II Corinthians 2:15), we will begin to stink because our carnal nature will rise up and try to take over. Next, we will find ourselves giving the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27) Once he gets a foothold on us, it opens our temple up to being vandalized by spiritual forces of evil. (Ephesians 6:12)
In Ezra 5:2, we see where Zerubbabel and Jeshua set out to rebuild the house of God. Sometimes we need to do our own ‘rebuilding.’ When we find ourselves in a place where we've begun to neglect our ‘house,’ we need to repent and ask God to restore to us the passion for our first love. (Revelation 2:4)
Do you need to do some rebuilding?
© 2005, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - Change of Plans
Change of Plans
Have you ever gotten heavily involved in a ministry, only to find that God pulls you away from it? You may feel disillusioned, disappointed, confused, or even angry. You may end up asking, “Why?”
Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God knows the plans He has for us. Notice the word “plans” is plural. God does not have just one plan for us, but several.
One way to look at it is to view our life in chapters. Some chapters are long and some are short. When God pulls us from one ministry, He is simply closing that chapter of our life. He is moving us on to the next another chapter.
When you read a mystery, the author will usually end each chapter on a suspenseful note, working to keep your interest. Excitedly, you move on to the next chapter to see what happens.
When God closes one chapter in your life, don’t grow disillusioned, confused, or angry. Instead, look forward with excitement to see what plans He has for you in this new chapter of your life.
© 2005, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - Not Guilt, But Correction and Training
Not Guilt, But Correction and Training
Do you ever have those times when you sin, and the guilt really bothers you? I think we all have struggled with this at one time or another. Jer. 17:9 tells us that our hearts are deceitful above all else, and desperately wicked. Sometimes I can find myself having a great time in the Lord, only to find just a few minutes later that I have totally lost my temper over something. I have words which gush out of my mouth that are filled with so much anger, frustration, impatience, unholiness, ...well, need I go on? Have you ever been there?
God sees everything, even the hidden things in our heart. Because He desires to conform us into the image of Christ, He has to draw those ugly, hidden things up from deep within so that WE can see it. It's not pleasant, nor is it fun, but the Word can rebuke us, reprove us, and correct us, instructing us in righteousness. (II Tim. 3:16-17) If we don't know that those hidden things are there, how can we deal with them? It is so true that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Mt. 12:34) As I shared above, in my own life when things aren't going MY way, I can get so frustrated. Then I find myself yelling and screaming, and acting anything but holy!
When we slip into those nasty habits of acting carnally in our anger, frustration, and impatience, instead of feeling so guilty about it, begin to look at it as God opening an unread page in your life. He opens it so that you can learn through it, being fruitful in every good work. You can learn that apart from Him, you can do nothing. Be encouraged that He is bringing it to the surface. It means that HE'S STILL WORKING ON YOU!
Praise God that He is full of mercy and compassion. Praise God that He loves us more than our earthly parents ever could, so He keeps bringing those areas up, so that He can change us from glory to glory to be more like HIM! II Cor. 3:18. Praise God that He loves me too much to let me stay the way I am! (And my dear husband, who will be reading this message, says "AMEN!) :-)
So, my dear sisters, the next time you fail, don't let the guilt get the best of you. Instead, ask Father what He is wanting to teach you through it. He may just show Himself very mighty on your behalf, and leave you standing there, utterly amazed at His goodness.
© 2003, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - Those Little Sins
Those "Little" Sins
In Christian circles, it's easy to find ourselves isolated from the world. We surround ourselves with Christian friends, Christian music, Christian television, Christian websites. Because we are around those "Christian" things, it's easy to begin to feel a little pious about ourselves. After all, we don't take part in orgies or carousing. We don't abuse our children. We don't murder or extort money. In fact, we do pretty good! We teach our children about Jesus. We teach them how to pray. We faithfully attend church, take meals to those in need, lead Bible studies, do volunteer work at church and other places. We're doing pretty well in our spiritual walk!
All of a sudden, Father comes to talk to us about those "little" things. He says, "Do you remember when you came to just a rolling stop at the stop sign the other day?"
I say, "Oops, sorry Lord. I was in a bit of a hurry."
Then He says, "What about the words that came out of your mouth when that little, old lady was driving too slow to please you?"
I humbly reply, "Umm, I guess I was in a hurry again. I didn't give it any thought that I was being rude. I'm sorry, Lord."
Then He asks me, "What about the lies?"
I come up for air on this question! "What ARE You talking about?"
He gently reminds me, "Do you remember telling the lady at church that you would pray for her? Have you done so?"
Knowing I was caught again, I reply, "Well, I've just been busy, and I forgot."
He reminds me that it's better not to make a vow, than to make one and not fulfill it. (Ecc. 5:5)
Just as I ask Him to forgive me, He brings up another lie. "What about the words you often tell yourself? You know, the ones about how you don't have time to read My Word?"
I answer, "Well, Lord, I know I should, but it's just so busy around here. You know, the spring cleaning, school work, trying to get the summer wardrobe ready for all of us, and then the garage sale this week."
He replies, "I know that you've been busy. I've been closely watching. Even in the midst of all the things you mentioned, you still found time to do some leisurely reading, not to mention chatting on the computer. The reality is, instead of saying that you didn't have the time to read My Word, you should have said that you would rather be doing other things."
"OUCH!" I think to myself. "Again Lord, I'm sorry. You are right. Will You help me to set the right priorities?"
He gently answers, "Of course, my child. I would LOVE to do that! It's one of my better specialties. You know, my Son became a human being, never losing sight of His priority to do His Father's will."
"Are we done yet, Lord?"
"No, child, we aren't. Do you remember the phone conversation with your best friend? You began talking about someone. You tried to make it sound like you were really concerned about this person, but you forget, I see your heart. You weren't nearly as concerned about her as you tried to pretend. You were just wanting to talk about her."
"Oh, my Lord, please forgive me. I was so wrong in that."
As I began to ponder on those seemingly "little" things, they seemed to pile up very quickly, growing higher and higher. As I continue repenting, I begin to think about how my loving and precious Savior hung on a cross and went through excruciating agony because of sins like these! Oh, God FORGIVE ME!
I begin to read in Is. 6 where Isaiah cried, "I am a man of unclean lips! I am ruined!" Yes, I was feeling the same thing during my talk with Father. --Or maybe I should say "during Father's talk with me."
In verse 6 it tells about how the seraph took a live coal from the altar and touched Isaiah's lips, telling him that his guilt was taken away, and his sin atoned for. In studying this, the word "guilt" stands for the most depraved or perverse thing we could do. The words "taken away" mean "made to disappear, to be turned off." The reason that Isaiah's guilt could be taken away was because the coal which touched his lips was a coal from the altar of sacrifice. There had been an animal sacrificed, and the blood of that animal had touched the coal, which in turn, had been placed on his lips, cleansing him.
Jesus Christ was put on the altar of sacrifice for you. His blood was poured out so that you can be guilt-free and cleansed. That is why Rom. 8:1 says that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus bore all of the sin and guilt so that we wouldn't have to do it!
Thank You, Loving God for your mercy that has been so abundant in my life. It never ceases to amaze me. Help me to think of the incredible sacrifice Jesus made for me each time that my flesh wants to lead me down a path of sin. Give my spirit the strength to do the right thing, and to turn away from sin's dark path. Amen.
© 2003, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - Are You Bruised?
Are You Bruised?
As I was reading through the book of Isaiah early in the year, I came across the prophecy which says that the Messiah won't break a bruised reed. A reed is a tall, slender piece of grass. If it is healthy, it can stand, tall and proud, but if it becomes bruised, it will bow over and bend. It got me to wondering if we are ever like a bruised reed.
Was there a time in your life where you once carried yourself in a way that showed you were a strong, capable person, a person of great ability, or of great.......pride? But then, something came that shattered your sense of self-worth and removed all feelings of self-sufficiency. It could be from words spoken by rashly by a parent many years ago. Or maybe your bruise came from being betrayed by your spouse. Did a spiteful co-worker slander you to the boss? Maybe it was bitter words that were spoken by a jealous friend. It could even be from the rigid rules of religious people. There are always those around who love to try and get us to live under legalism rather than the true freedom that Christ desires for us. Regardless of what caused your bruise, you find that you no longer feel strong. No longer do you feel that you could 'conquer it all.' You've become a bruised reed. God has promised you that He won't break you, but He will use circumstances to mold you. After all, He is the potter. We are the clay in His hands.
We were never meant to be strong in a prideful way, but we were made to be strong in the Lord. Eph. 6:10
Many times we boast of what we accomplish, yet God wants us to boast in how He helped us to accomplish our great feats. Ps. 34:2, 44:8; I Cor. 1:31, Gal. 6:14
We tend to describe our self-worth by worldly standards rather than God's standards. We compare ourselves to others, when we should be comparing ourselves to the Word. Gal. 6:4
We want to conquer in and of ourselves, but God wants us to know Him and do exploits through Him and His power. Dan. 11:32
Sister, if you've become a bruised reed, let the Potter mold you into what HE wants you to be -- a vessel, made holy and useful to the Master, bringing glory to His Name. II Tim. 2:21
© January 2004, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - Old Faithful
Old Faithful
The sun rises every morning, and sets every evening. The waves never cease to crash upon the shore. A full moon faithfully greets us every month. Whenever there is a big change in temperature or weather pattern, there will be rain. Every morning, you can hear the birds singing. The seasons change without fail.
God shows His faithfulness to us in these things we so easily take for granted. Looking at our own bodies, we can see our Creator's faithfulness again. Our heart beats faithfully, with no help from us. We breathe automatically. Every time we eat, our body will digest that food. Our eyes blink without any help from us. If we get a cut, our body will heal itself. Once again, we see that our God is not only a glorious Creator, but He is faithful.
We got Rachel a hamster for her eighth birthday. Watching that little critter and seeing her personality shining through has given us many laughs. It's so fascinating to watch her, trying to figure out what she's thinking. (Usually, it's "How do I get out of this cage?") I've learned more about God's faithfulness even through that hamster. Every night, about the time we get Rachel tucked into bed, and we want to watch something on TV, that little critter will carry some food into her plastic wheel and decide to go for a spin. So much for watching TV! It is SO noisy that you have to turn on the closed-captioning to figure out what is being said on the TV. Yet, God has made this hamster a nocturnal creature, and so every single night, at the same time, she gets up and decides to be active.
The Ancient of Days, who is faithful to do all of these things is faithful to be with you always. (Heb. 13:5) He is faithful to help you to be more than a conqueror in the every day trials of life. (Rom. 8:37)
If you feel like God isn't faithful, look around you. Remind yourself of His faithfulness that displays itself daily to all of us. His mercies are new every morning. (Lam. 3:23) They are new for you.
© 2004, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - The Rest Room
The Rest Room
I have always had a very weak bladder. Anytime I visit a new place, I am always scoping out where the restroom is because I know I will need it at some point while I am there. I’ve made a concentrated effort recently to avoid caffeine because I’m trying to keep my body hydrated. The drawback to staying well-hydrated is that I visit the restroom even more than before.
God has a ‘rest room’ for us. Just as in a physical sense, my bladder fills up and needs a rest several times a day, my spirit can get cluttered with burdens as each day progresses. The result is that I need to visit God’s ‘rest room,’ emptying myself of these worries. Sometimes the visit to His ‘rest room’ is a quick and easy one. Other times, it can be a gut-wrenching experience, similar to those times when we’ve gotten food poisoning or the stomach flu. Just as we are doubled over with stomach cramps, anxious to feel sweet relief, we can be doubled over in our spirit in God’s ‘rest room,’ pouring out our hearts through a load of tears. Finally, that wonderful peace that passes all understanding comes in to guard our heart (Philippians 4:7) and we can leave God’s ‘rest room,’ knowing that all is well, and feeling our strength renewed (Isaiah 40:31).
Do you need to use God’s ‘rest room?’
© 2005, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - The Waiting Room
The Waiting Room
I don’t know too many people who enjoy sitting in the waiting room, yet at some point, we will be required to bide our time there. God has His own waiting room for us. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, we find that there are seasons to our lives. One of those seasons can be God’s waiting room. For those of us who feel useless, or struggle with a lack of self-worth if we aren’t doing something which we feel is productive, it can be torture to endure.
Let’s take a visit to some of God’s waiting rooms.
First, there is a time to be born. Perhaps God has shown you a ministry He wants to give you. Before He births it, He has to conceive it in your heart, and then you must go through the ‘pregnancy’ stage where it grows deeply in your spirit. Finally, you get to experience the birth pangs and ministry is born.
Sometimes God calls us to the waiting room to die. Sometimes dying to our flesh will be a very quick death, similar to one who has had a massive coronary. Other times, dying to our flesh can be a slow, arduous process, similar to one who is slowly dying of cancer.
We also visit the waiting room for a time to heal. Whether we’ve been hurt physically or emotionally, sometimes God calls us to the waiting room so that we can experience complete healing.
Other times we may be sent to the waiting room so that God can help us tear down strongholds that are hindering us spiritually. When we are too busy, we often are unable to see those things which hinder us, so it’s time to visit the waiting room.
There is also a waiting room where we can weep and mourn. Before we can experience the true laughter and dancing, we may go through devastating times that require us to just sit in the waiting room, soaking up God’s comfort like a sponge. Eventually, we will find laughter and dancing replacing the depths of our mourning.
There’s also a time to embrace and a time to refrain. We have seasons in our lives where we will be heavily involved in ministry, but sometimes God calls us to the waiting room and asks us to refrain for a while.
There’s also a time to give up. If God is calling you to give up something, yet you stubbornly hold on to it, He may call you to the waiting room for some counseling. He’ll do whatever it takes to get to the root of why you refuse to give it up.
There’s a time to be silent. Sometimes God calls us to the waiting room just so we will learn to be still. He wants to teach us to be quiet and listen to Him, and sometimes it’s only a visit to the waiting room where He is finally able to get our attention.
There’s another waiting room that can be an intense waiting, for there is a time for war and time for peace. When we go through seasons that involve intense warfare over a situation, God may call us to His waiting room. Once the spiritual battle is won, He may quickly transfer us to the waiting room of peace so that we can take some time to be rejuvenated from the intensity of spiritual battles.
While we may not enjoy the waiting room, God uses it to show us that His power is made perfect in our weakness. (II Corinthians 12:9) Jesus is the one who perfects of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), and sometimes the perfecting process requires a visit to the waiting room.
Are you in the waiting room right now?
© 2005, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - Do You Adore or Stand Afar?
Do You Adore or Stand Afar?
Think back to when your children were at the infant to toddler stage. Can you remember certain times when they would look at you with those innocent little faces, and there was such adoration there - adoration of you?
Or what about the times when they are playing with Daddy, and there is a look of such utter joy and sheer satisfaction on their little faces?
When you think about how your child would look at you, and then how they would look at utter strangers, there is a sharp contrast. There is no adoration there for strangers. They knew that you were special - you were the one who would cuddle them when they were sick or hurt, you were the one who would feed them, change them, play with them, and meet their needs.
Our Father desires for us (His children) to look at Him with that same innocence and adoration. He wants us to know Him so well, that we don't look at Him like He is some stranger, but the One who loves us, cares for us, and desires to meet our every need.
Let's look at some different scriptures, and see how people responded to Jesus. In John 8:49, they said that Jesus was a Samaritan (that was an insult to the people of that day), and they said that He was demon-possessed. They repeated it in v. 52. John 7:5 says that his own brothers didn't believe in Him. In Luke 4:29, people wanted to throw Him off a cliff. In John 7:12, it says that the people believed that Jesus deceived others. Then there was the real slam against Him - a slam by one of His disciples - the famous Judas kiss of betrayal.
Now there were a few examples of people who adored Jesus. There was the sinful woman who anointed Jesus with costly perfume. (Mk. 14:3, and Lu. 7:36-38) There was also John, who reclined next to Jesus, then leaned back against Him. (John 13:23-25) There just aren't very many stories of those who took the time to adore the Master.
What did the children do? They were brought to Jesus so that Jesus could bless them. They even allowed Jesus to take them in His arms. (Mk. 10:13-16) I always pictured them thoroughly enjoying being in the presence of Jesus, just having the time of their lives. In other words, adoring every moment spent with Him.
Then, in Mt. 21:15, the children were crying out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" But just 6 chapters later, what are the adults doing? They are yelling "crucify Him."
The children weren't afraid to be in the Master's arms, yet the adults would stand afar and criticize Him, call Him names, and make accusations against Him. They were skeptical of Him, to say the least.
The Lord wants us to have that heart of praise and adoration for Him. He wants us to grasp what He desires to show us. He doesn't want us to stand afar, being skeptical of everything which He allows in our lives. He wants our faces to light up when we are in His presence, or when we even think about Him.
Picture this:
God says, "Look! See my child! She finally got the revelation I've been trying to show her!"
"Did you see that? She chose to give my grace to that person, even when the other person just made some cutting remarks to her!"
"Oh! She's getting the picture of how gentle words can do so much better than harsh words!"
"I've been waiting on this - she has the evening to herself, and instead of calling her girlfriend to catch up on the latest news, she is choosing to spend it with Me!"
Just as He desires for us to adore Him, be assured that He adores you so much more than you can ever fathom.
Father, help us not to stand afar, trying to figure out things which come into our lives, but help us to desire to take the time to be in Your presence. Help us not to look to You like You are a stranger, but to look at You with the same look of adoration as our children have for us. No wonder You said that we must come to You as little children. Help us to humble ourselves to be the "little children" that You desire us to be. Amen.
© 2003, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 2, 2008 - The Word - It is Your Life!
The Word - It is Your Life!
Have you ever noticed how children go through times where you can read them a book, and suddenly, THAT book is the one which you have to read to them EVERY single time? I have never cared for the book Green Eggs and Ham. Back when my nephew loved it, we would try to skip a few pages, here and there, only to have him tell us that we missed a page. Well, would you like to take a guess which book Rachel seems to love? Yes, you got it -
Green Eggs and Ham. What is it with that book? As I pondered on that question, it dawned on me that the first clincher was that it had a character named Sam, (our cat's name). Then, it was just the humor that children find in such a silly story line. Then it seemed that she liked the repetition because she could remember parts of it and say it along with me. Eventually the thrill of it was that she could read the whole book all by herself. It seemed that there was always something new about this book that thrilled her and gave her such joy, no matter how many times we would read that book.
Oh, that we would have that kind thrill and joy whenever we read the Word!
Oh, that we would forever see new things in the Word, each time we pick it up and read it! So often, we get caught in the trap of reading it just out of "Christian duty." We seem to fall into this rut of reading the Word, just so we will feel like we are being a better Christian, but yet, we aren't really getting into the life-giving spirit of which the Word was written. When is the last time that you saw the words of scripture "leap off the page" at you?
The Word of God is His love letter to us. Do you remember when you were dating your spouse? Do you remember how you would pour over the love letters or romantic cards which he bought for you? You could read them a hundred times, and each time they got better. I would bet that there were times that you read them so much that you actually memorized what he had written! This should be the same way in which we approach the Word. Jesus, precious Lover of my soul, gave His very life for me. What love! Now He's given me a book filled with His love letters to me, and the words in this book aren't just idle words, they are my very life! Deut. 32:47
In Phil. 2:16, Paul calls the scriptures the Word of life. Heb. 4:12 says that the Word of God is living and active. It is sharper than a two-edged sword, even penetrating to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It can judge the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. -- That could very well be why many of us refuse to look at the Word when we know there is something in our heart that isn't quite right. We don't want this living Word pricking our hearts, convicting us of what may need to be removed from our lives, our attitudes, or our thoughts.
One thing which I have been doing for many years is "praying the scriptures." It has caused my devotional times to be richer. When you come to a scripture where you can turn it into a prayer for yourself, do it! I have found that there is nothing as powerful in my prayer life as actually praying the Word over myself or someone else. Here is an example, taken from Proverbs 2:1-5. "Father, help me to accept Your words and to store up Your commands in my heart. Help me to turn my ear to wisdom and to apply my heart to understanding. Help me to search for insight and understanding like I am searching for hidden treasures. Fill me with the fear of the Lord and help me to find the knowledge of God."
As I have been writing devotions, I find myself doing a lot of typing of the scriptures. This has caused those scriptures to really stick with me because when I type them, I am having to concentrate on each little word. If you find yourself struggling in this area, you might try typing some of Psalms or Proverbs and see if it helps to enrich your devotional time.
Through writing devotions and doing an in-depth Bible study, I have recently experienced a passion for the Word like I have NEVER had before. Instead of grabbing the remote in the evenings so that I can "veg" in front of the television, it's becoming an automatic thing to pick up my Bible and some paper because I know God has something incredible to show me. When I have spare time, I am running to the Word. There have been many times in recent weeks where I have actually spent over two hours reading the Word. My heart is just overflowing with what I am learning, and the intimacy that I feel with Father is incredible! I don't share this with you to brag about how "spiritual" I am. God knows how I still fail daily, and sometimes I fail several times. I share this because I want you to sense the passion which His precious Word has stirred up in me, and I want that passion to overflow and spark a flame in YOU!
Ps. 119 has several benefits which we can receive from knowing God's Word.
1. We are blessed. v. 1
2. It keeps our way pure. v. 9
3. It helps us not to sin. v. 11
4. Our life is renewed. v. 25
5. We are strengthened by it. v. 28
6. We are set free. v. 32
7. It takes away our disgrace. v. 39
8. We'll have answers for those who taunt us. v. 42
9. It gives us hope. v. 43
10. We won't be put to shame. v. 46
11. We'll find comfort in the Word. v. 52
12. We'll be taught knowledge and good judgment. v. 66
13. We'll learn to obey. v. 67
14. His Word will become precious to us. v. 72
15. His love will be a comfort. v. 76
16. We'll learn of His faithfulness. v. 90
17. We'll be wiser than our enemies. v. 98
18. We'll have more insight than our teachers. v. 99
19. More understanding than the elders. v. 100
20. Wisdom is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. v. 105
21. God is our refuge and our shield. v. 114
22. We will be delivered. v. 117
23. We won't be left to our oppressors. v. 121
24. The arrogant won't oppress us. v. 122
25. We will have discernment. v. 125
26. Sin won't rule over us. v. 133
27. We will be redeemed. v. 154
28. We will have peace. v. 165 -- This verse is a great one. "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble." (NIV) We definitely live in a time where peace is a wonderful thing to have.
Do you realize that many times we may face trials because we fail to learn of God through His Word? When a sheep strays from the shepherd instead of staying nearby, the shepherd will break the sheep's leg, training it to stay close to him. God will uses trials to "break" us, getting us to a place where we stay close to Him. By staying in the Word, we allow the Word to reprove and correct us. When we neglect the Word, God will use other methods to teach us and get our attention. Trials are one way He will teach us if we fail to get into the Word.
Precious Father, the lover of my soul, help each one of us to truly see that Your Word is more precious than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. (Ps. 119:72) Amen.
© 2003, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 1, 2008 - Joyful Contentment
Joyful Contentment
How many times do we struggle with being content? We are so bombarded by things of this world that we can easily be led down the path of discontentment. We are told that we need to color our hair a certain way so that we can feel young and vibrant. We need to have fine clothing so we can feel pretty. We need to join a weight loss group so that we can have the perfect figure, therefore making us voluptuous. We need a certain car or we just aren't living the good life. The cycle never ends. If we aren't careful to guard our hearts, (Prov. 4:23) we will fall into the snare of believing these deceptive tactics of Hollywood. If we fall prey to these beliefs, we will quickly be spending hard-earned money on things which don't satisfy.
Come, you who are thirsty. Come, you who have no money. Buy food and drink without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread? Why spend your labor on what doesn't satisfy? God says to listen to Him and eat what is good. If we do, our soul will delight in the richest of fare. If we take time to hear the Lord, our soul will live. (Is. 55:1-3)
When we are faithful to come before God and listen to Him, we won't be easily snared into believing the ads that we see everywhere. Hollywood's version of beauty, fulfillment, and happiness will hold no appeal for us because we have found what truly satisfies. We will discover that the Lord causes us to go out with joy and to be led forth with peace. (Is. 55:12) Now that's a frame of mind which no amount of money could ever buy!
© 2003, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 1, 2008 - Lady in Waiting
Lady in Waiting
We spend much of our time waiting. We wait in line at the grocery store, we wait on traffic jams or trains, and we can be forced to wait when a receptionist puts us on hold. Sometimes we find ourselves waiting on test results from the doctor. Sometimes our waiting can be as simple as waiting on our modem to connect us to the Internet. I don't know too many people who enjoy the waiting process.
How do we react when God doesn't respond to our requests in a quick fashion? Do we tend to want to "fix" the problem ourselves? Do we jump in and intervene, thinking that He isn't listening? Do we try to "help" the answer come to pass? Sarah did this. By using the wisdom of this world, she just knew that God needed some help in giving Abraham an heir. In "helping" God, she ended up getting a mistress who despised her. Not only that, I believe that she had some marital trouble as well. In Gen. 16:5, she told Abram that he was the one responsible for the current predicament. While scripture doesn't go into much detail on this conversation, beyond Abram telling Sarah to do with Hagar what she desired, I can't picture Abram being totally gracious in receiving her harsh words. Try to picture your husband if you spoke such harsh words to him!
Rebekah decided to help Jacob in stealing the blessing from Esau. What a lady of integrity! She was very deceptive and sneaky in her tactics. This wasn't some spur of the moment scheme. She had it well planned out, all the way down to the nitty-gritty details of how to carry out her plan. She relied on the wisdom of this world, rather than on God's wisdom which gives knowledge and understanding. (Prov. 2) When Jacob stole the blessing, she might have been quite pleased with herself for about two minutes. Then, reality set in. She saw the intense rage and hatred that rose up within Esau. Later, she heard of Esau's plans to kill Jacob. The son she longed to help was now a living as a fugitive on the run. Rebekah not only had to deal with the guilt and condemnation of her conniving actions, but now she lost her dear son. When Jacob was able to return over two decades later, Rebekah was dead. I wonder what would have happened in this situation if she had only waited on the Lord, instead of trying to help.....
The next time you are faced with waiting on the Lord, remember these words from Ps. 27. "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (NIV)
© 2003, Stacy R. Miller |
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• Oct. 1, 2008 - I Can't Hear You!
I Can't Hear You!
Most parents find that it's hard to let go of our children when they become more independent. To help me feel a little more secure in letting Rachel ride her bike around the block, we use two-way radios. If she crashes, and needs me, it's easy for her to call for help.
One thing I've learned about those two-way radios is that if Rachel is trying to talk to me while I'm trying to talk to her, I can't hear her. I have to be careful to wait until she is finished talking before I start talking. Otherwise, we can't hear each other.
Have you ever known someone who was always thinking about the next thing they were going to say, rather than listening to what you were saying? I wonder how many times we do this to the Lord. While you are trying to listen to the Lord, you probably find yourself thinking about the dishes that need washed, the bill that needs to be paid, something you need from the grocery store, the card that needs to be sent, and the list goes on and on. I wonder what God was trying to say when we were thinking about our to-do list. Just when we think we can listen, we think of some other prayer request, so we begin to talk to the Lord about that one. Again, I wonder what God was trying to say. It's a good idea to keep a pen and paper handy when we get alone with God so that when the to-do list comes to mind, we can jot it down, then take care of it later.
Is. 6:9 talks about people who will be ever hearing, yet not understanding. They will be seeing and not perceiving. Can Father say this is true of us? Are we hearing other things instead of His voice? Are we perceiving our own wants and desires while neglecting His wants and desires?
Father, help me to not be like the people mentioned in this verse. Help me to have ears to hear whatever it is You have to say. Help me to have a heart that will obey what You speak to me, no matter the cost. Amen.
© 2003, Stacy R. Miller |
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