Cheerfully Disobedient

This weekend, one of our children spent one on one time with my parents. When I inquired about her behavior they laughingly told me that she was cheerfully disobedient. When they say cheerfully disobedient they really mean it. Our peanut can do the complete opposite of what you have told her and you won't even pick up on it until an hour later. There are no tantrums or noticeable defiance, just quiet indifference with a smile and a hug thrown in for good measure. We know this is something we need to work on with her and we need to hop to it! The longer she goes in this direction the harder it will be turn her heart later.

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I know where my daughter's cheerful disobedience example comes from. Me. When I overbook myself to minister to those outside of my family I am being cheerfully disobedient to God's command to look well to the ways of my house. When I choose to show such mercy that my children never feel the pain of their sin I am being cheerfully disobedient by not training my child. When I do something that I know my husband will probably not be in favor of yet I avoid getting his input, I am being cheerfully disobedient to the command to submit to my husband. When I pass on a prayer need I was asked to keep confidential I am being cheerfully disobedient in regards to gossip.

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Slapping a happy face on my disobedience does not change the fact that sin is ugly. Disobedience is disobedience regardless of the attitude in which it is done. I can try to hide it from others, but the Lord of all knows my heart of hearts. I am so glad! I do not want to be cheerfully disobedient anymore. I want to be cheerfully obedient in all things.

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Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23,24

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Prayer:

Father God, I know that many times I try to hide my sin by putting on a front. I smile and do all the right the things on the outside while on the inside I know that I am doing wrong in my heart of hearts. Please search my heart and point out offensive ways in me. Give me a good jolt and remind me that being obedient inside and out is what pleases You most. Amen.

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Challenge:

This week when you hear that little voice whispering that you have ulterior motives, stop and ask the Lord to test you and show you what you are being cheerfully disobedient in. When He does, change course and cheerfully obey. You might be surprised what He reveals. Many times we do not even realize that something we are doing is really defiance clothed in good intentions.

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Jen Gorton 2009

Freedom, Faith, and Fireworks

This weekend our country celebrated the most patriotic holiday of the year. At least once a year the people turn their attention to the freedoms we have in America that are unequalled anywhere else in the world.

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We, who are believers in the Lord, need not be worried or downcast during these troubled times. I have taken the liberty to paraphrase 2 Chronicles 7:13 and 14. "If I, who am called by Your name, humble myself, pray, and seek Your face and turn from my wicked ways, then You will hear from heaven, forgive my sin and heal my land." We all have the responsibility to stay on the path of God's righteous ways and He will send peace and revival to America. It is evident that God's healing hand is needed in today's culture. Psalm 33:12 says, "Blessed is the nation whose [G]od is the Lord and the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance." Psalm 46:1 states that 'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble," and Psalm 46:10 encourages us to "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the heathen. I will be exalted in the earth." What wonderful promises!

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Many have put their faith in their possessions, themselves, government or wealth, and now see those things toppling away. Psalm 37:34 reminds us to "Wait on the Lord and keep His way and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land." Dependence on yourself and things brings defeat. Dependence on the Lord brings victory! There is a close connection between our freedom and our faith. They are definitely intertwined.

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It is always fun to feast on hot dogs and burgers and top it off with the thrill of watching the night sky light up with fireworks. But this is only an ANNUAL event. Let us take God's word seriously and pray for our own hearts, our country, and its leaders DAILY. Remember that our spiritual freedom as well as our physical freedom come only from the God of the universe.

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"Will Thou not revive us again, that Thy people may rejoice in Thee?"

Psalm 85:6

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"Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land."

Psalm 85:9

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"Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase."

Psalm 85:12

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Prayer:

Father God, thank You for my freedom. I want You to be my focus - not riches, a job, my home - only You. Please guide our country back to You. Bring revival in our capital and let it filter down to all of the states. America can only be great when she is living in Your Light. Amen.

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Challenge:

This week keep in mind that all freedom and peace comes from the Lord, not your husband's job or the amount of money you have in the bank. When things get scary and uncertain praise God that He is the One who holds our lives and eternity in the palm of His hand.

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Granny Witt 2009

In Your Heart

Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these things, which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:4-9

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This is a favorite passage of Christian families. I, too, love this scripture, but am concerned that for some these beautiful words of instruction have become a slogan rather than a true conviction. It is possible that some of us have lost sight of true obedience to Scripture, and only possess an outward appearance holiness. Perhaps the Word has not taken root in the heart because it is read out of fear; fear of what others will think of us if it is revealed that we have not had “our quiet time” lately. Or, do we open the Word and read a quick passage out of a sense of duty instead of love for the gift our Bibles are from our gracious Lord. I cannot stress enough the importance of truly knowing and loving the Scriptures, not just using them to prove how good we are or to argue our point of doctrine. To know God’s Word is to know God. Isn’t that what every believer longs for?
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For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

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According to Hebrews 4:12, the Bible is the only book that is alive with the power of God! This powerful gift reveals the true thoughts and intentions of of our very hearts. Things that we keep hidden for fear of rejection and judgement by others are seen clearly by the Lord. His Word helps us to see them clearly as well. How can we ever truly know the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives if we avoid the very tool He has given us for this purpose?

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It is because of what God reveals in His Word that we can know Him and believe in His Son. Because of His Word we can grow, change and become more like Jesus. What a wonderful promise to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and love to live in the Word! Let the Word of God truly be in your heart.

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Prayer:

Father, please forgive me for not always using the Word the way You intended. Help me to run to it rather than away from it. Holy Spirit, please show me through the Scriptures what I need to change in my life so I can be holy inside and out. Amen

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Challenge:

Have you been avoiding the Bible because you are afraid of what the Lord might reveal to you about your own heart? Maybe you have been using the Bible only to prove your goodness to others. If you are guilty of either, repent and begin to study for the sake of holiness alone. Search your heart and see if you are being a 'standard' bearer instead of an 'image' bearer. Read Norm Wakefield's excellent articles on The Curse of the Standard Bearer at http://www.spiritofelijah.com/.

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Jen Gorton 2009

A Thorny Issue

You know the old adage that if you tell a child, "Johnny don't walk on the grass. Johnny will walk on the grass." Well, this is also true with adults. During pregnancy I become a gestational diabetic with the added joy of having to take insulin. The moment my O.B. says, "Jen, you gotta watch the diet now." I immediately crave cheesecake and every other carbohydrate ever invented. It's sheer torture. While carrying our last child it seemed that eating eggs and salad was the only sure way to control my raging sugar. I would whine and complain – if only on the inside – and was known to cry over my salad. If you don’t believe me, just ask my husband. I chose not to reveal this “normal for me” pregnancy induced disease to most people as it always prompted glances into my grocery shopping cart along with watchful eyes at social functions.
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Pregnancy diabetes was my thorn in the flesh. I pleaded many times for the Lord to remove it from me and became irritated when He didn't. Finally, I decided to look into this segment of the Apostle Paul's life, the part that he longed for the Lord to take from him. Of course, it probably was not diabetes, but I knew I could still learn from his words. In 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 we see Paul coming to understand that the reason the Lord allowed him to wrestle with this thorn was for God’s own glory. Paul had a great following and people respected him and his love for and trust in the Lord. This would give him reason from a human standpoint to think he was “So Big” (as we said in the eighties). But Paul understood that as he dealt with infirmities and persecutions, for Christ’s sake, he was not abandoned by God but instead he was given more grace; even access to the power of Christ. Jesus encouraged him by saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul was able to see that the thorn he wanted to be rid of was actually a great blessing. It allowed for Christ to be exalted in his life, and to receive all the glory in everything that Paul accomplished. This understanding of the thorn in his flesh made it worth the suffering he was called to endure.
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My solution for dealing with my bad attitude regarding this trial comes from Hebrews 4:16. I am commanded to “come boldly before the throne of grace, that I may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” I am in need. My only hope is to boldly go before God and obtain His mercy. I don’t have to beg – but come boldly and I will be given all the grace I need. What are you struggling with? Losing weight? Confusion? Bad health? Bills? Whatever has come into your life has first been filtered through the hand of God. He has permitted it and is graciously giving you the opportunity to put into practice the principles in His word, which will help strengthen your resolve to give Him first place in your life, and the glory only He deserves.

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Prayer:

Father, I give you my thorn and ask that You would be glorified in it. Help me to call out to You for the help I need, not to become resentful and angry. Remind me that in my submitted weakness You are made strong. Amen.

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Challenge:

This week, look at the thorns in your life. If the Lord is not removing them after much prayer, then embrace them as an opportunity to exalt Him. Choose to push through and draw closer to Jesus in the midst of the difficulty.

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Jen Gorton 2007

Consider

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

Psalm 19:1-6

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Psalm 19 tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the works of His hands. Simply looking at the sky allows us to experience the glory of God in all His majesty! The voice of the sky extends to every part of the world; there is no people group that has not heard what the skies proclaim - that God is on His throne and that He is the Creator of all.

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The Lord has allowed His creation to declare who He is, what He is, what He can do. For us to allow one day to go by without acknowledging the greatness of the Lord is unthinkable. Even if we are in the midst of a trial or great difficulty and there seems to be nothing in our lives that has the hand print of God on it, we can always look to the skies. They are a constant, ever present reminder of the God of the universe and His great love for us. He created something that shouts of His amazing love for His creation; it shouts in every corner of the earth, in every climate, in every war, in every famine, in darkness or daylight.
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When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4

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If we stop for just a moment and consider the work of God's fingers, the largeness of His miraculous creation, it should cause us to catch our breath and look at the smallness of ourselves. Think about it: the world goes on when a human dies, but the world can not survive without a sky. Yet Jesus died for us, the only part of His creation that does not continuously declare His mighty works and goodness. We should compete daily with all of creation to be the loudest voice praising God.

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Prayer:

Lord of all creation, I praise You for Your mighty works, Your faithfulness, Your patience and love for me. Please forgive me for not declaring Your greatness each day.

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Challenge:

This week, begin each morning with a look at the sky. Join with this vast creation in declaring the greatness of God. Read the following Psalms that reveal how awesome God is by looking at His creation. Psalm 148, Psalm 139, Psalm 104, Psalm 93

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Jen Gorton 2009