by Water On Thirsty Land | Dec 3, 2019 | Bible Studies, Deep Bible Studies, Oh Thanks Series
It is so powerful to have people in our lives who help us to be the best versions of ourselves. It may seem like having people we care about and who also care about us is something everyone has and is often taken for granted. We expect there to be people to cheer us on, to join in our experiences, to live life with. What we don’t often consider is that God places people in our lives for His purpose. God designed us for relationships and friendship.
God blesses us with the people in our lives (yes, even the people who don’t necessarily feel like a blessing). Everyone in our lives is exactly where they are for a reason; to learn from, to teach, to be an example, to love, to be loved, to humble. No one is in your life by accident. God has a way of aligning people’s paths in exactly the right way we need at exactly the right time we need it.
In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul expresses a beautiful prayer that reminds us to be thankful for the friendship God blesses us with.
'I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. '
Ephesians 1:16-18
Have you thanked God for all of the people God has placed in your path, and for placing you in their path as well? Do you pray over them, that they may know God better, and do you strive to shine the light of Christ in their lives? When was the last time you orayed over friendship?
We are called to a divine purpose to be the light in the lives of others. Praying for our friends and for our role in their lives is so important and is part of the incredible responsibility and honor God has blessed us with. Even the people in our lives that we struggle to love, struggle to make peace with, struggle to understand why they are in our path, we should never miss an opportunity to thank God for them and pray over them as well.
A grateful heart has the power to change, soften, and warm a heart. When we allow our hearts to be softened we open ourselves up to His blessings and miracles even more. When we pray for God to work in someone else’s heart, never forget that we may be the tool God uses. Allow God to use you for His divine purpose, no matter what that may mean. Allow God to shine through you in the lives of your friends and family. Above all else, never cease to thank God for choosing you for His divine purpose, and for the people He has put in your life.
by Water On Thirsty Land | Nov 13, 2019 | Bible Studies, Deep Bible Studies, Oh Thanks Series
Ever been faced with making a choice to serve God or man? To be put into a lion’s den if you choose God? Having to make a choice of a job or a pay raise or a friend or even family? To thank God would mean losing or not obtaining these things?
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Daniel 6:10 ESV
Daniel shows us to give thanks to God even when we know our life or livelihood is at stake. Envious of Daniel, his fellow high officials and satraps convinced King Darius to forbid for 30 days petitions to any god or man otherwise they would be mealtime for some very hungry lions. It’s the familiar story of Daniel and the lion’s den.
Daniel knew of the edict and still opened his windows toward Jerusalem. He hid nothing of what he intended to do. He got down on his knees three times that day and prayed and gave thanks before God. Of course, his enemies came by agreement to watch Daniel violate the edict.
God is in control, always. Humans want life to be perfect. No problems or pain or trials. A life that is easy and without effort. Even robotic. Daniel had a good life. He was on the top of the power structure. King Darius was considering making him his number 2.
Daniel had it all. And yet, he knew that all that he had came from God, not Darius. While Darius may have thought he was in control, ultimately God is in control. Daniel knew who was his King and gave thanks to God, his King.
Darius was greatly upset when he found out about Daniel’s failure to follow the edict. Not because he prayed to God but that meant Daniel had to be tossed into the lion’s den. Darius labored till the sun went down but could not get out of the law that an injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed. Not even by the king.
We are fortunate to live free and not have to be punished for our faith. We do have church family every day being asked to choose between serving God or man. Every day martyrs are killed around the world for their obedience in God and their refusal to disown God facing the same choice that Daniel had to make.
Daniel went into the lion’s den after having Darius declare “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!”.
Daniel 6:16 ESV
Doesn’t this look like King Darius praying for Daniel? I know it was more of a statement than a prayer, but why not consider it as a prayer too?
Then, at the break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”
Daniel 6:19-20 ESV
Booyah! Darius fasted and could not sleep all night and as soon as it was the break of day he ran in haste to the lion’s den and called out in a tone of anguish. Imagine the wave or relief that washed over him as he heard Daniels voice.
Daniel was thankful even knowing it would cost him. He did not know that God would protect him or that God would reward him. There is no guarantee that if we do as Daniel, we will see earthly rewards. We will see heavenly rewards.
Let us always give thanks, no matter what.
by Water On Thirsty Land | Nov 7, 2019 | Bible Studies, Deep Bible Studies, Oh Thanks Series
Last week I got a call from a friend I had not spoken to in two years. This person saw me come back to God on a very personal level. She saw me struggle to sacrifice my fears, to sacrifice the control I thought I had on my life, and to sacrifice my job, my family, and the life I once knew. She watched me transform through massive sacrifice of everything I had. What I never knew was that later this friend would remind me that I have much more to sacrifice - such a powerful and necessary sacrifice that I can only be grateful for the blessing.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12
When we become part of God’s family, share His truth, live out His divine mission for our lives; when we allow God to take control of our lives and lead us on His path, we become an even bigger target for evil. When you choose to diligently spread God’s truth and love you may as well carry a huge flashing red arrow above your head at all times saying “come test me!” You will absolutely be tested, tempted, broken, and refined. God will sometimes have to break our hearts in order to soften them.
In order for God to polish us and see His reflection in us He will allow us to go through the fires so that our impurities can be smelted away. Through this refining, we give ourselves up to a God who is so much bigger than ourselves and who loves us so much He chooses to be our God. He chooses to create, help, heal, refine, and use us. Being a child of God means that I truly must sacrifice myself for His glory, mission, and purpose so that His will may be done through me, whatever that may mean.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.
Philippians 3:7-8
When I was 22 years old I heard God tell me that I needed to give myself up completely to His mercy. For years I thought I could gain control of my crazy world. I thought I was making it okay. I had done life “my way”, was “figuring it out”, was barely scraping by. I had spent years living the way I wanted to and following my own ambitions and desires. At 22 years old I surrendered control to God, and with that I began to understand that in order to really live out His will I MUST sacrifice all of my own human desires, ambitions, pride, recognition, and control to Him. As soon as I gave myself completely into His hands my whole world began to change. I sacrificed my old life and old self so that God could make me new. I was filled with incredible peace, wisdom, and a desire purely for Him and His plan.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23
"Grateful" and "sacrifice" are two words that certainly do not seem to go in the same sentence. Sacrificing ourselves for His sake is extremely difficult, and it is extremely constant. It is not a daily choice - it is a moment-by-moment choice. It is a constant sacrifice but it is a sacrifice that I am so grateful God gave me the option to make. Sacrificing myself has been a blessing beyond belief. It is a sacrifice I regret not taking when I slip up and think I can do it better. When I fail to release control to God I mess up every time. When I think I know better or my ideas will have better results I am disappointed every single time. But when I, again, humbly sacrifice myself to my Almighty God, I know that I can trust whatever comes. Yes, it still hurts sometimes but there is also a peace knowing that God will carry me through it.
'Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. '
1 Peter 5:5-10
