Grace that is greater than all my sin

Romans 5:20
The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. I am so thankful that God’s grace far exceeds all the sin in our lives. May I live worthy of His grace in my life today, and not allow sin to ruin my testimony for Him today.

Distress reveals distrust

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10).

It’s when stress becomes distress that we have transitioned to distrust in the Lord. Distress feels like you have lost control and then you react out of false fears. Tension is good, because it keeps us trusting Jesus, but distress throws us into a frantic frame of mind. We lose our bearings of belief and make unwise, even irrational decisions. We are miserable and we make those around us miserable. However, distress is deflated when faith is inflated.

-Wisdom Hunters

The tour guide

There always seems to be that one person, while on a tour at a museum or exhibit, that decides that what the tour guide is saying is not relevant.  He wanders away or simply lacks attention to the knowledge that the docent has to provide.  Maybe he gets distracted by an exhibit up ahead or is stuck on the last picture or painting as the tour guide moves everyone ahead.

Sometimes I feel like that as I walk on the path that God has opened for me.  I join the tour willingly, but once there, I wander.  God directs me to move ahead and I want to stay stuck in the past; or He instructs me to stay at a certain place, desiring that listen to the wisdom He has for me during a certain period of time, yet I get anxious and want to move on ahead of Him.

I Chronicles 14 :8-17 displays how David searched for God’s answer when he desired to go to battle against the Philistines.  There are a number of instances in Scripture that demonstrate this principle.  Move ahead at God’s direction, and once there, listen for His wisdom and knowledge.

I need a guide who knows me, who understands me and has my best interest in mind.  The best guide to understand my personality, my temperament, my gifts and abilities, my likes and dislikes.  I am so fortunate to have a guide..a friend like that in Christ.

Lord, help me today to move as you would have me to.  Give me the patience to wait when you say, “Wait,” and to move ahead when instructed.  Fill me with your Spirit so that I may more easily see the difference.

Hello, joy

“Those who believe are happy” The title of the devotion I was reading today. Passages from Acts13 “But the followers were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.” Psalms 20 “crying may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning…you changed my sorrow into dancing” I read and ponder the thought. I am a believer, yet I am living most of my days anxious, sad, mad…but happy is the last thing I have felt lately. Why have I not allowed God to feed me with satisfaction, joy, contentment, and…happiness? I have really allowed God to use this group and my daily devotions to be reminded of His perfect plan, His protections, His strong and mighty hand, but I have not given up my sorrow for dancing. Perhaps I am clinging to it and need to replace it with the joy of the Lord. Like the children’s song says and Scripture affirms, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.

Lord, help me today to put off the sadness and replace it with your joy, that I may share that with others today…transparently…use me. Remind me of your salvation and bring me to a complete enjoyment of it today.