Bible League: Living His Word "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need."— Matthew 6:33 NLT I find myself typing this from a hotel room after a move to another state. A friend and I were recently discussing how the acronym BUSY means "Bearing Under Satan's Yoke." In seasons of stressful transition, it's easy to get up in the morning, frantically checking the text messages on the phone before meeting with the Lord— "Did they reply yet about the job!?" The reality is that even activities that aren't satanic or demonic, per se, can keep us BUSY, distracted from God. Our inheritance in Christ, or the certainty of God's promises—amid uncertainty— allows us to develop patience before those much-needed phone calls about landing the job, reconciling with a friend, or receiving a cleared doctor's report. I like to remember the certainty of God's Word in three specific ways when going through a season of transition. First, Ephesians relays that God has given us wisdom and understanding (1:8). The fact that, as believers, we are blessed with the gift of wisdom and understanding cultivates patience because we are being promised this knowledge by an all-knowing God. Often stress is caused by "not knowing" what the next right step is. Yet the Lord showers wisdom and understanding on all who seek those specific details about their lives (Psalm 32:8; James 1:5). Second, God promises to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Half the battle of staying calm and patient during the transitory phases can be conquered if we remember that we have a living deity within us, Christ, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). And if that isn't enough, this God chooses to remain loyal and steadfast, even when the people around us have not. Lastly, God will not allow the believer to stumble (Psalm 55:22). How many times have you been hindered by "analysis paralysis" when going through change? We want to please the Lord so much that we can get stuck over-analyzing, worried that we may not be "in God's perfect will." We do this in the name of "patient waiting." Still, it's okay to let yourself breathe! True patience means you recognize that your inheritance includes "a light for your path" in the decision-making process (Psalm 119:105). Don't BUSY yourself. Seek the kingdom first, remembering that you have wisdom and understanding, you have God within you, and therefore, you can't stumble. In doing so, you'll naturally develop the patience necessary to wait for God's answers to prayer during your next transitional season. By Jenny Laux, Bible League International contributor, Tennessee U.S. Bible in a Year Old Testament Reading2 Kings 4, 5 2 Kings 4 -- The Widow's Oil; The Shunammite Woman's son rasied; Stew and Bread Feed Many NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB 2 Kings 5 -- Naaman Cured of Leprosy; Gehazi Smitten NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading John 4:1-30 John 4 -- Jesus Testifies to the Samaritan Woman and Townspeople, Heals an Official's Son NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Blessed are all thosewho are careful to do this. Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest and keep themselves from doing wrong. Insight God commanded his people to rest and honor him on the Sabbath. He wants us to serve him every day, but he wants us to make one day special when we rest and focus our thoughts on him. For the Israelites, this special day was the Sabbath (Saturday). Challenge Some Christians set Saturday aside as this special day, but many accept Sunday (the day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead) as the “Lord's Day,” a day of rest and honor to God. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 14:21 And will manifest myself to him.The Lord Jesus gives special revelations of himself to his people. Even if Scripture did not declare this, there are many of the children of God who could testify the truth of it from their own experience. They have had manifestations of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a peculiar manner, such as no mere reading or hearing could afford. In the biographies of eminent saints, you will find many instances recorded in which Jesus has been pleased, in a very special manner to speak to their souls, and to unfold the wonders of his person; yea, so have their souls been steeped in happiness that they have thought themselves to be in heaven, whereas they were not there, though they were well nigh on the threshold of it--for when Jesus manifests himself to his people, it is heaven on earth; it is paradise in embryo; it is bliss begun. Especial manifestations of Christ exercise a holy influence on the believer's heart. One effect will be humility. If a man says, "I have had such-and-such spiritual communications, I am a great man," he has never had any communion with Jesus at all; for "God hath respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off." He does not need to come near them to know them, and will never give them any visits of love. Another effect will be happiness; for in God's presence there are pleasures for evermore. Holiness will be sure to follow. A man who has no holiness has never had this manifestation. Some men profess a great deal; but we must not believe any one unless we see that his deeds answer to what he says. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked." He will not bestow his favors upon the wicked: for while he will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he respect an evil doer. Thus there will be three effects of nearness to Jesus--humility, happiness, and holiness. May God give them to thee, Christian! Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.Romans 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 8:15,16 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" • The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 1 John 5:10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. 1 John 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace Ephesians 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
    |