Becky Austin

Wednesday- Strength For The Weary

4:00 PM





The world tries to promote self love and self reliance. The Bible paints a much different picture ( just read the rest of Isaiah 40). The world tries to tell us that we can be enough all on our own merit and effort. The Bible tells us we can never be enough and we don’t have to be. All we have to recognize is that Jesus is enough. And because He is enough, we have all the resources we need: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭28‬ ‭


We are not meant to be the source of our strength. God is meant to be the source. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭29‬. What is our part? TO HOPE. 

This is not the kind of hope that is a feeling or mere wishful thinking. This is a hope that is anchored to something or someone. Isaiah 40:31 tells us the Source of our hope is the Lord. It also tells us that we are going to need something from that source. We will need renewal. Just like our electronic devices have to be plugged in to a source of electricity to recharge and be effective, we have to plug into our source. We are meant to have a relationship with God where we draw from His strength, His love, And His overflowing wisdom and grace. 


Recognizing that we will never be enough no matter how hard we try or how many self help books we read, is an important first step to understanding how desperately we need God. From that awareness of a deep seated need comes the natural flowing gratitude that we should approach Him with. It is a gratitude that is thankful that every time we fail and every time we falter, and every time we think we are at rock bottom, we can come to the Source of life itself and be renewed. Then, and only then can we soar. 


Prayer: Father, how grateful we are that we have a source of comfort and love to run to when we are tired and weary and worn down. We are grateful that we don’t have to be enough because You are enough. May we learn to rest and be restored as we anchor our hope in You! 


How has God given you strength when you felt weak?

Becky Austin

Give Thanks In Everything

7:06 PM




“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭


The Christian life is meant to be lived in accordance with God’s will. The Holy Spirit works within us to help us transform into being more and more like Christ but we have to cooperate with that process through obedience. It is being in God’s will that we yield the most fruit. This verse gives us a clear and practical directive of His will: to give thanks. This is something anyone can apply to their life. Notice it doesn’t say we are to give thanks “for” all circumstances but to give thanks “in” all circumstances. I keep a gratitude journal. It’s a discipline I have found helpful in practicing gratitude. Even in my darkest and hardest days, I can find things to be grateful for. If earthly circumstances are hard, I focus on eternal circumstances and promises. I also look to those who were able to endure suffering and remain faithful and they were always able to give thanks in their circumstances. Examples include Joseph and the apostle Paul, Corey Ten Boom and Anne Frank. 

I love this quote from Anne: 

“I lie in bed at night, after ending my prayers with the words 'Ich danke dir für all das Gute und Liebe und Schöne.' (Thank you, God, for all that is good and dear and beautiful.)” - Anne Frank


Prayer: May gratitude shift your focus from the pain and suffering of a broken world to the love of your Heavenly Father. May the Holy Spirit reveal to you what is good and dear and beautiful.

 

Please write a couple of lines of Thanksgiving in the comments.




doers of the word

Thursday Sept. 14th-Doers of the Word

1:00 PM

 Thursday Sept. 14th


Doers of the Word
     Read-James 1 

I love the book of James.  I often go here when I am struggling and need to get back on track with the Lord.
  
Are we hearers and doers of His Word?  One who is not a doer is compared to looking at themselves in a mirror and then walking away forgetting what they look like.
  
There are two ways of looking at ourselves in a mirror.
1-looks and immediately forgets what he looks like, what kind of person he is-it does not penetrate the heart.
2- looks and hears with a genuine faith- alert and eager to learn from God's message and obeys.
  
When we spend time in His word with Him I believe that we are having a conversation together with Him.  Sometimes I am listening more than asking and sometimes I have lots of questions and need His insight in what this means for my life.  I take what I have read and throughout the day I meditate on that and what I need to do about it. I would like to say that I am always successful but I am not.  Last week I talked about Jesus being our cornerstone in whom we should measure everything that we do.  When we get into His word we should be looking to being in alignment with Him.
James chapter 1 is full of what we should and should not be doing.

⦁ Do we consider it all joy when we are going through trials and temptations?  We should because it tests our faith and leads us to endurance making us complete and perfect lacking nothing.  One who perseveres has been approved and will receive the crown of life, a promise from the Lord.

⦁ Do we run to Him for wisdom?  He gives it to us generously.  But are we asking doubting that He hears and answers.  Did we forget the last trial or temptation and what He did for us and how it grew our faith in Him?

⦁ Do we have a tendency to always be questioning ourselves if it is the right thing to do and cannot make a decision?  A double-minded person is unstable in all his way.

⦁ Don't think your temptation came from the Lord, because He cannot be tempted and He tempts no one.  We are tempted by our own lusts and desires and if we let it get the best of us it leads to death.

⦁ Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.  Anger does not achieve the righteousness of God.
⦁ Put aside filthiness and wickedness

⦁ In humility receive the word implanted which saves your soul.  In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

⦁ Prove yourself doers of the word not merely hearers deceiving yourselves.  “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Luke 6:46  Read-Matt 7:24-27
 
⦁ Bridle (restrain) your tongue-I said, “I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue;  I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle while the wicked are in my presence.” Psalms 39:1

⦁ Keep oneself unstained by the world.  God's word changes the heart and it manifests a change of behavior. 
 
What is your time like?  How do you spend your days?  Are you spending time in His word each day and meditating on His word that you read for that day?  Or do we forget what we read and just go about our day in our own strength?
  
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. Psalms 1:2
  
But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” Luke 11:28

Father,  help us to be doers of Your word.  I ask You for an open heart that is listening and eager to obey You.  May the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight O Lord our Rock and our Redeemer.  Help us to take all of our thoughts to the obedience of Jesus Christ.  Amen
How can we pray for you?

Lyn