Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24
You know my heart, Lord.
You created it.
You fashioned me in every way.
My talents.
My hopes.
My dreams – all of them are from You.
I want to know You more.
I want to trust You with all that I am.
The moment I wake, may You be on my mind.
When I close my eyes at night, may my thoughts remain on You.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Ephesians 6:10
Ever tried to stop doing something you know you shouldn’t?
Could be eating too much sugar, drowning your sorrows in alcohol, or spending way too much time scrolling through your phone.
Could even be your attitude or reaction when things don’t go your way.
Or choosing to listen only to yourself instead of others.
All of it points to placing, you guessed it – yourself on the throne instead of God, the One who created you and all things.
Yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery in our human lives.
Food, exercise, exhaustion, perfection, fear, anxiety, or pride.
Anything placed before Jesus can become a form of slavery as we feed that characteristic within ourselves instead of feeding our relationship with Jesus.
Some of those things are super great, like exercise or eating healthy.
But if that desire replaces your desire for God, then that desire has become a god to you, probably rooted in fear if you don’t perform exactly right.
We can only find victory over ourselves through Jesus.
Through Jesus’ peace and strength.
Love this poem from Amy Carmichael, a missionary to India in the early 1900’s:
Before the winds that blow decrease, teach me to dwell within Thy calm; before the pain passed in peace, give me, my God, to sing a psalm. Let me not lose the chance to prove the fullness of enabling love. O love of God, do this for me; maintain a constant victory.
Don’t you just love that phrase: maintain a constant victory.
A plea for God to not only win in our lives, but to keep winning.
Only happens when we yield ourselves over to God, who is infinately more capable than our sinful selves.
Lord, give us a portion of your sweet spirit, spilling out your life and love to others.
As life consumes us, help us to place You on the throne of our heart, wanting only what You want for us.
With You, we will have constant victory, even if we don’t see it.
Because You have already won. You are our constant victory.
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
I was deeply reminded the other day of how God holds everything in His hands.
Yes, He gives us free choice, but He is ultimately in charge.
Of everything.
He allowed Adam and Eve to sin.
And us, too.
Because we sin, we become separated from God, who is holy.
Yet He always provides a way back to Him.
When we choose Him, He’ll even walk alongside us. If we’ll let Him.
Imagine that. Allowing God, who created all things, to walk beside us.
As if it should ever be our choice. But it is.
He desperately wants us, but on His terms – which is for us to freely choose Him.
No bullying or taking against our will.
Even Paul, I mean Saul, when he encountered God.
Paul could have chosen to say no to God.
He would’ve been blind the rest of his life, but he had a choice.
This brings me back to us.
Daily submitting and really giving everything to God.
All things.
Teeny tiny things like parking spots, ugly hair, or stubborn pounds.
Big huge things like wayward relationships, divorce, or death.
Everything else seems to fall in between.
Working on my book and launch party comes to mind.
God literally handed it to me through His faithfulness and mine.
But little anxious worrying thoughts have been popping into my mind.
Honestly, they’ve had the ability to take over, making me question my course.
But then God whispers into my ear, “Why are you even bothered about that? Remember My faithfulness, which will never run out. I’ve cleared My path for you. As you continue to walk with Me, I’ll have your back. Forever.”
That’s for you, too. Stop worrying. Like ever.
Worrying removes your focus from God’s truth, which is this: He will never leave us or forsake us.
He’s got big plans for all of us.
Allow Him to use you and enjoy letting Him take care of the details.
Because He holds everything, including you, in His capable hands.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 4:20-21
Are you ready for God to work in your life?
He is.
He is more than ready.
Are you?
Are you willing to put in the work?
Meaning, set yourself aside so God can use you?
You might say yes, but do you understand the cost?
It could cost relationships that are dear to you.
It could bring you confusion at times when you fail to understand His plans.
And it could cost you your very life.
But God is able to do more than we could ever possibly think or imagine.
Imagine allowing Him to use you as He sees fit.
He has great plans for you.
Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
God’s perfect peace surrounds you when you are within His will.
When you suspend your personal desires for God’s instead.
His plans for you might include simply loving others who utterly dislike your existence.
You can remain peaceful, simply loving, not retorting anger for anger.
Or He might have you react in a kind way when every fiber of your being screams for justice.
God is more than able to provide you the strength only He can to fulfill the plans He has for you.
Big or small, the plans He has for you are so good.
Allow Him full access knowing He is able to do far more than we could possibly imagine.
Apart from God, we are one thing.
But working together with Him is another matter entirely.
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Proverbs 4:25
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
What else in the world is there?
What could possibly compare to Him?
Look full in His wonderful face.
Gaze your eyes.
Stop everything else, and look.
For the things of earth will grow strongly dim.
Everything else will fade in comparison to the One who created You and all things.
As my grandmother used to say, “From the balcony of heaven, what will it even matter?”
For in the light of His glory and grace, these things simply won’t matter one bit.
Why do earthly things grow dim?
Because of Him.
His power, His glory, and His grace above all.
God created everything.
He reigns over it ALL.
So, we must turn our eyes upon Him, Jesus.
Because He is our everything.
When you allow your mind to settle on things out of your control, people who do not care, or circumstances you wish would change, peace will leave as fear is invited to stay.
As Proverbs reminds us, focus yourself on Jesus. Leave no room to divert your eyes from Him.
Means you will purpose your mind to focus on Jesus and His truth.
You will focus on His love, protection, and provision for each and every little thing.
Focusing on Jesus means you trust in Him fully.
For your everything, today and tomorrow.
Focus on Jesus, the Author of your story, whose steadfast love and faithful presence will remain with you now and always.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you. for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Ever thanked God for your temptations or weaknesses?
For how you are tempted to sin?
There are many ways we can be tempted in our flesh.
Eating too much, addictions to sugar, alcohol, drugs, or technology.
Reacting in anger, putting others down, or thinking of ourselves always first.
Even wanting to do the right thing, whatever it may be, but instead listening to our flesh, following it instead.
What are your temptations or your weaknesses?
Have you thanked God for them?
Thanked God for being weak?
I know, sounds foreign. Almost like why would I thank God for where I am weak?
When you thank God, you recognize your need for His power through you.
You recognize your need for His strength covering your weakness with His power.
Your need for not only God’s saving grace, but His every day grace transforming you into your new person God created you to become.
When you thank God, you allow His power to shine through your weakness as resisting your temptation is possible through God alone.
2 Corinthians reminds us to boast in our weakness. To recognize them positively.
Because God shines through our weakness, making us strong.
If you had everything all together, all your ducks in a row, why would you need God?
Why would you need to rely on His strength?
You wouldn’t. You’d be fine on your own. You’d never admit your need for a Savior.
We are human. Flawed. Weak.
But when we submit our weak selves unto Almighty God, we are transformed, slowly, into His likeness.
Thank Him today for your flaws. For where you are weak. When temptation knocks at your door.
Then respond with God’s strength. He’ll shut the door for you.
And you’ll rest peacefully, knowing you don’t have to do it all.
As I’ve prayed during these last dozen years, I’ve purposely begged God to fling WIDE the doors He has chosen for me and to SLAM shut the doors not in His plan.
When you are walking through darkness during a season of complete uncertainty, you need His light to guide you.
You rely on His guidance.
I like the analogy of open and shut doors; although, I added an extra measure of assurance.
I wanted to easily walk through to His plan or get slammed in the face with a resounding NO.
Might as well be crystal clear, am I right?
I’ve had many doors open with ease: graduate degrees, student teaching, first job, and marrying the right man just to name a few.
I’ve also had plenty of slammed doors, mostly in the area of dating the wrong men before I married my husband. Giggle.
Guess what?
Those slammed doors are a whole lot of fun.
It’s a joy to know which man God did NOT have hand picked for me.
Back in the day, one date never showed up after weeks of talking on the phone.
He would have been my first date post divorce.
It was the weirdest thing, but God knew best.
I won’t lie – I was bitterly disappointed for a few hours.
My pride was wounded.
But I turned my focus to God and realized it was simply a closed door.
And each closed door moves you closer to a door flung wide open!
Another story? Well, a different date ended in disaster after he told me he had been ‘quite bored’.
I was sitting at home when I got that text.
I began to laugh.
This man had spent the previous two weeks proclaiming his devotion and wondering ‘where I had been his whole life’.
He was also a Christian, but every time he called, I almost broke out into a sweat, because he was easily offended.
Not a good sign!
This guy was the one missing out on me.
It was his loss, certainly not mine.
When the ground shakes from a slammed door, get on your knees and thank God for having your back.
He knows what is best for you.
Because God flung wide the door with my beloved almost a decade ago, I am even more grateful for the closed doors.
I mean, God saved me from a lifetime of misery with the wrong man.
How can a girl not get on her knees thanking God for that?
When God answers you, it may be in a way you absolutely never expected.
Trust Him.
You pray for open and shut doors and wisdom for a lunch date.
The door slams shut.
Why? Because the date never shows up.
Recognize God’s shouts after you’ve ignored His whispers.
Yes, God will communicate to you, but we must listen.
And after listening, we must trust that yes, God still knows what He’s doing even after we hate His answer.
Pray for those doors.
Ask your friends and family to pray for you in this way.
Out loud with words or crying out within your soul?
David, the man after God’s own heart, did many times.
This Psalm is one example.
He starts by royally complaining.
From the depths of his soul he wonders how long God will forget him.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (verse 1)
He then tries to console himself.
We all do, when we fail to hear from God.
Or we think we don’t.
He forgets he can choose to praise God instead.
He focuses, instead, on his sorrow.
Again, like we all do.
David goes on: How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (verse 2).
David again pleads, sharing with God he will die if his sorrow remains apart from God’s peace.
He desperately wants God to intervene so his enemies don’t take pleasure in David’s weakness.
Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death. Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken. (verse 3 & 4).
David ends the psalm by choosing to praise God.
He remembers how faithful God has been to him.
That, in turn, helps David realize God will again bring him out of the depths.
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. (verse 5 & 6).
Maybe David has found the key.
The key to reconnecting our mind, soul, and body to the One who created us.
Praise.
Choosing to praise even in the midst.
Even when every fiber of our being wants to remain wallowing in the pit of self pity.
Praise the Lord even if.
Praise the Lord even if you don’t feel like it.
You will remember how faithful He has always been in every circumstance.
And you will suddenly lift your eyes, knowing He will once again show Himself.
The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Job 33:4
Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein. Isaiah 42:5
God breathed and life erupted.
His life filled what He breathed upon.
Creation.
The apostle’s baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Can you imagine anything better than the creation of life or the indwelling of God’s spirit within you?
When God breathes on something, life erupts. Multiplies. Becomes alive.
While at worship last week, I had a picture of God breathing on the ugly parts of life.
The sections of our hearts or lives that contain ugly, messy cobwebs.
With one word, God breathes and darkness disappears, clearing away the cobwebs.
Whoosh. God says, “I am breathing on all of your cobwebs. Cleaning them all away. Forever gone.”
What areas of your life do you desperately need God to breathe?
With His breath, you’ll replace death with life. Destruction with living. Selfishness with godliness.
Ask Him to breathe on your heart. Ask Him to clear away your cobwebs.
Cobwebs connecting to family members. Gone.
Cobwebs connecting to destructive habits. Gone.
Cobwebs connecting to ugly past sins, guilt, or shame. Gone.
Cobwebs convincing you God truly deems you unworthy of Him. Gone.
When you allow God to fill you with His breath, He will make all things new.
Breathe Him in and receive His healing. His power. His peace.
Breathe Him out and become His hands and feet. His witness. His proof.
All glory returns to God for creating us in His image, allowing us to experience the freedom, forgiveness, and purpose He has for us. Spread the word. To God be all glory.
Like the prodigal son’s father watched every day for the return of his wayward son, God watches for your arrival.
For your restoration.
If you are completely lost, when you decide to return to God, He’ll scoop you up the second He sees you, forgiving you completely.
If you are wandering away, stepping off into self-focus, not relying on Him, the moment you decide to return life’s burdens to Him, He’ll take them back in an instant.
Because He’s always watching for you.
Watching out for you as you walk with Him, guiding you around the rocks so you don’t stub your toe.
Showing you which path to take, when the path splits in two.
And protecting you with His umbrella when the dark storms arrive.
He’s also watching for you when your choices take you apart from Him.
When you’re determined to make it all on your own.
When you selfishly trudge on alone, thinking the entire world is against you.
It’s not, and God’s available to give you His peace.
He longs to have a relationship with you.
What are you waiting for?
God, who created you and all things, craves a relationship with you.
He can make all things new.
He can cross your every t and dot your every i.
Effortlessly.
Why wait?
Whenever you are ready, God will be there.
Always.
Because He is forever watching for you, His precious child, to return completely unto Him.
Moms are the most underpaid, under acknowledged, under revered bunch.
Not only do we grow humans from within our bodies, we grow them in our hearts.
Children, whether natural or adopted, are extensions of ourselves.
We ache when they cry. We rejoice when they laugh. We cry when they fail.
I can remember my eldest. I had pre-eclampsia, so my feet were puff balls.
Literally swollen and blue if I stood too long, which means like a few seconds.
He was 2 weeks late and I labored all day and night for him.
Having no drugs, I can remember referencing Eve’s sin while in the throes of labor pains.
But when he was born, it was literally all worth it. The pain evaporated.
Motherhood is like that. Sacrifice. Emptying of ourselves for another.
There is no relationship like it.
When these humans become adults, we let them go. Off into the world, exploring for themselves under the protection of their childhood.
It’s no easier, folks. My eldest recently married the love of his life. Wasn’t there as they privately wed before a judge.
I love them so much, but it hurt not attending their wedding.
But it’s their choice. Sigh.
As mothers, we must do our very best. We continually sacrifice for them, whether it’s when they are small or grown.
Mothers are always there for their children. Not letting attitudes pass, but we are their constant.
Yes, we face multiple disappointments. But we are still there. A constant in their life like God is for us.
What an honor. Thank you God, for allowing us to be your hands and feet to others.
Help us to navigate the waters of motherhood as you would want us to act.
Fill in our cuts and bruises, which seem to reopen with a child’s actions.
Only with Your constant presence may we even begin to excel at this, the toughest job in the world.
For Mother’s Day, we mothers choose to honor God, our loving, constant help.
God, who gives us His strength, when ours is never enough.
God, who gives us His love, when ours is all used up.
God, who gives us His peace, when ours last nerve has been clearly trampled.
God, who hears our every complaint and joy, yet never chooses to leave our side.
God is our constant. Our everything. He will always be your faithful companion as you navigate the calm or troubled waters of motherhood. Give Him your family again today. He will make you a happier mother today.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way; though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Psalm 46:1-3
This Psalm depicts absolute dire circumstances.
The earth gives way.
The earth literally moves away.
The mountains are moved into the sea.
Tall giant mountains are now in the water.
The water surrounds, causing the mountain to tremble.
Real calamity.
But yet, the psalm starts with God.
God is a present help in the midst of earth shattering consequences.
He is above the fray.
Has your life given way?
Do you have important people or situations impossibly thrown into the sea of chaos?
God promises to be your strength in the midst.
In the midst of the swirling waters, which make no sense, God is there.
He is present even in the midst.
Even in the unanswered prayers.
Even in the misunderstood situations.
Your life can become like nothing you recognize, but you can still rely in God.
He has, is, and always will be with you.
But it is your choice.
God cannot remain your ever present help if you choose to focus on the storm.
On your mountain which has been thrown unexpectedly into the sea.
When the safety of the ground beneath gives way, what is your response?
Trusting God, who promises to be your refuge in the midst?
God is our present, real, never leaving help in trouble.
Because of this, we will not fear when life throws up around us.
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8
When God goes before us, He knows before we do.
He sees things before we do.
He feels things before we do.
He literally clears the path before us.
Picture a shepherd or a warrior.
Taking their weapon, they sweep the weeds, creating a path for you.
Scouting their eyes, they notice dangers.
They note possible wild animals.
Depressions in the earth.
Approaching weather.
Even good things, they notice.
Then He runs back to you, walking by your side.
He’s your protector.
Your shield.
He’s your dad.
Never leaving.
Always available.
For your safety and wellbeing.
How can I ever be afraid or discouraged with God going before me?
Facing an uncomfortable situation?
Picture God already going before you, literally clearing your path.
Picture Him running back to walk with you every step of the way.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
Jesus knows.
Jesus, who is God, the Creator of ALL things, understands.
Your weakness has sympathy with God.
Instead of shaming us, He understands.
He understands because He was human, walking our world, tempted with this and that.
Yet He did not sin.
Ever.
Having God literally sympathize with us for our weaknesses, is incredible.
Unique.
Precious.
But there’s more.
His understanding comes with a bonus, His strength.
When we are weak, God wants us to ask Him for help, because He actually will.
Do we deserve it?
Nope.
But Hebrews reminds us we must approach the undeserved throne of grace with confidence.
Instead of pointing His finger, condemning us while we are down, He opens His grace filled arms, waiting with armfuls of mercy.
Recognize your need for Him.
Repent for trying life within yourself alone.
Ask Him to fill you instead with Himself – His mercy and grace.
And purpose to try again, choosing to act within His strength alone, absent of yourself.
Yes, we will continue messing up, because we are sinful.
But we have God, who really knows how we feel, always sitting there, right by our side.
He’ll scoop out our crud, replacing it with His perfect self.
He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4
Adonai El Roi is the Hebrew term for “The God who sees me”.
Meaning this: God sees you.
God, who created all things, sees you.
You.
Little ole’ you.
Ever feel invisible?
I know you aren’t, but you might feel unseen.
Not cared for.
Unvalued.
Invisible.
You might be among the living, but feel dead inside.
When we do not feel valued, we feel dead.
Invisible.
But God sees you.
He sees all of you, the good, bad, and the ugly.
He sees your heart.
He sees your dreams.
He sees your ever hopeful anticipation and your extreme disappointments.
Is that enough?
Only if you allow Him to cover you.
Because He sees you.
Psalm 91:4 reminds us that “He will cover us with His feather and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”
He covers you because He sees you and He cares to be your comfort.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
Ever wonder why God takes it?
Our smelly stuff or sin, whatever you want to call it?
I bring it up, because it’s not His.
None of our smelly sin is His.
Never was, never will be.
Why does He choose to take it?
He is holy.
Pure.
Undefiled.
Author of all things.
Literally the Most High.
And yet He wants us.
Not only us, but our stuff.
Our messy lives.
Our problems.
Our very messed up selves.
He wants our unloving attitudes towards children who selfishly taunt us.
He wants our broken hearts, which yearn for uncomplicated stories.
He wants our problems, dripping with unforgiveness.
He wants all of us.
God, who is pure and void of any sin, wants us.
Unbelievable.
If you remember the Old Testament, there was attonment for sin.
God had rules.
But with Jesus, the transaction was paid.
And with that, God continues our relationship with Him.
Because He loves us.
He created us for love.
For relationship with Him.
I find it incredible that God, who is completely pure and undefiled, wants a relationship with us.
We, who bring complicated and messy problems to Him, are wanted by God.
Amy Linnea 
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