07 Jun 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Devotions
Tags: desert, discernment, faith, God'sLove, living, Prayer, strength
Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in every situation because this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Here in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 it lays it all out pretty simply. Rejoice always. It doesn’t say, only when you feel joyful, it says rejoice ALWAYS. Pray continually, not just sometimes but in everything I should be in prayer. Give thanks in every situation… hmm. That one is harder.
Last Sunday morning I got in the car to head to church. The car didn’t start. I am to be thankful in this Lord? Well, I could have been an hour from home like I had been a few days before. I could have been at the grocery store with frozen food melting in the trunk while I waited for help. So, I was thankful. I was thankful that this didn’t happen while I was visiting my parents in West TN, 6 hours away when I had a tight schedule for getting back, not just for the day I was traveling back but also for the next two days after I got back. The few days I was without a car I only had to rearrange a handful of things and for this I was thankful too. No, I wasn’t happy about having to spend money on my car for repairs but I was thankful that I had money to pay the repairman. I was also thankful that I have a repairman that I trust. After I thought about it, I realized that I had a lot to be thankful for in spite of my car troubles.
Because I took the time to look for the things that I was thankful for despite the car troubles and the impositions it caused, I was able to handle this “crisis” I little better this time.
Heavenly Father, help me to remember to rejoice always, to pray continually and to always remember to give thanks in every situation. Amen.
06 Jun 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Devotions
Tags: courage, direction, faith, God'sLove, hope, living, strength
Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up. ~Galatians 6:9 (CEB)
No matter what is going on in our lives we must never give up. In the scripture on God’s Armor (Eph 6:10-18) it ends the section with “no matter what, persevere.” This is easy to throw around but how do you even begin to persevere in a world that is full of all kinds of problems, frustrations and difficulties? I persevere by my diligence in prayer, resolving to stay the course, unwavering faith, and determination to stand firmly on God’s Words and His promises for me.
It gets frustrating how slowly things seem to be moving sometimes. It is easy to think that God isn’t dealing with the situation but I have to remember that God is doing some of his greatest work even if I can’t see what He is doing. Also I need to keep in mind if the problem didn’t occur over night it also will take time to correctly resolve it.
No matter what is going on in our lives the victory is in not giving up. I think that is a good definition for perseverance. Not giving up. When the road ahead is full of bumps and I feel like I am acting out one of my son’s ninja shows trying to dodge trouble, I need to keep assured that the good that I am trying to do is noticed by God and time will bring fruition to my diligence.
Sometimes God, I get tired of doing the right thing. Give me courage to stay the course give me strength to do your will. Amen.
05 Jun 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Devotions
Tags: direction, God'sLove, growth, identity, space, strength
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; don’t rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your ways straight. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 (CEB)
Oh, here we go, taking self out of the picture again. Trust in God, not me. Rely on His intelligence, not mine. But that isn’t all. The only self that should still be in the picture is in the form of self-control and self-discipline. These help establish boundaries and boundaries help us live a purposeful life that can side step most carelessness.
Knowing God’s word intimately helps me to understand and know what boundaries are important to keep my path through life straight and help keep getting lost down to a minimum. I also need to learn to give myself space on this path, margins that allow for a little weaving between the ditches of life. When I work in needed space in my life, it is like padding for the bumps (stress) in the road that are bound to show up from time to time. If I do not work in extra space (time) into my schedule and have to swerve because of a bump, before I know what happens I end up in a ditch!
For me sometimes “padding” means not being so hard on myself when life happens. Those things that are out of my control are going to happen and I just need to roll with those bumps, shake myself off and stick to the path God has laid out for me. “Padding” also means for me trust in God to see me through all situations. From my children’s welfare, to the roof on my house, I need to be assured that God has my back. Finally, “padding” comes in the form of reading God’s word so that I can know and understand what God’s path is for me.
Father in Heaven, I thank You for Your word where I can learn what boundaries are good for my life. Help me put Your word deep in my heart so that it will be well padded for all the bumps that life brings. Amen.
02 Jun 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Devotions
Tags: Beloved, courage, direction, faith, God'sLove, identity, Prayer, strength
“He said to me, My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness. So I’ll gladly spend my time bragging about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power can rest on me”~ 2Cor 12:9
So often I get frustrated with all that “I am not”. The key in that is frustration. If I am feeling frustrated then somehow God is not in the situation. Jesus did not come to earth, die on the cross, and rise again on the third day for us to feel frustrated, weak and defeated. He went through all that to give us an inheritance, authority in this life and His strength to rule over our circumstances.
In any area where we stumble, God is ready and willing to provide us with His strength. It seems crazy but in 2 Cor 9:12 it says that we should BRAG about our weaknesses! Why? Not for a false humility but because when we brag about our weaknesses, Christ’s power can rest on us! When we are weak we have God’s perfect strength.
Lord, help me this day to remember that your grace is enough for me. Help me when I get frustrated over my weaknesses and my inabilities to remember that these are God moments made special for me. In my weaknesses I find your powerful strength to get me through the day. Amen.
25 May 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Devotions
Tags: courage, discernment, faith, God'sLove, hope, strength, worry
Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 (CEB)
Sometimes I think I hold the market on worry. I get so pulled into all the possibilities all the” what ifs” that I sometimes just wear myself out. As a child I would almost make it a game. If I could think of all the “what ifs” then maybe I could keep them from happening. Even though I know the odds of really being able to control things in that way I still find myself in my old habit of worry. Maybe that is part of the key to the problem. I have let worry become a habit. I do it without even thinking. It has become part of a thought process that I need to unlearn.
Just before verse 34 in Chapter 6 of Matthew we are told that God knows what we need. He dresses the earth in splendor, He feeds the sparrows, He knows the number of hairs on my head. Can’t I trust Him to know what I need as well? How I can learn to set aside my worry is to just deal with things as they come. God has equipped me to do this which is why He tells us to focus only on today. Worry only brings frustration and frustration is the first clue that God isn’t in my situation.
Lord help me to practice this day the art of taking life as it comes. You know what I need and I am assured by your Word that you will meet my every need for this day. Amen.
20 May 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Devotions
Tags: God'sLove, Prayer, strength
In that day, you won’t ask me anything. I assure you that the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Up to now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive so that your joy will be complete. ~John 16:23-24 (CEB)
Here we find in John 16:23-24 another one of those Biblical truths that we learn but might not think about the truth behind the words. I was taught as a child to end my prayers “in Jesus’ name” I was taught to ask for what I needed in Jesus’s name but I haven’t really thought about what I am doing when I mimic my upbringing. This scripture tells me that when I pray to God using His name He answers me. What this means is that I have been given authority in His name.
The exciting part about this is that when we pray using God’s authority, it is as if He was saying the prayer. That is some powerful stuff! It is almost too awesome to think that when I am saying my payers it is as if God is saying them Himself! That should give me confidence in my prayers. Not only does God know what is in my heart, not only does He hear me when I pray, but when I pray it’s as if He has said the prayer Himself! This gives me a new perspective on the power of prayer.
This perspective on prayer gives me new meaning to prayer. Prayer is powerful. No longer will I think when the situation is bigger than me, “well, all I can do is pray”. Now I can see how it is the most powerful thing I can do. It isn’t a last resort; it should be my first step of action.
Heavenly Father, may my prayers be more confident knowing that you not only know my heart, hear me speak, but that you are right there praying with me. In times of great need may I remember the simplicity of calling out in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.
18 May 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Devotions
Tags: Beloved, compassion, courage, direction, identity, loving one another, strength
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. ~Luke 10:27 (CEB)
Lord, may neither time nor circumstance alter your call to me. Lead me through storm and trial, times of ease and times of diffiuclty, and grant grace that I may always be faithful to you and to your call. May I go gladly where you send me, even to that task so difficult and unappealing that no one else will go. All I ask is that you do with me and remind ethat I am where you have asked me to be. And one more thing, if it is possible, may some good some of my call, not to me, but to your people, your kingdom, and the world you love. Amen. ~Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for all Who Walk with God.
16 May 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Devotions
Tags: God'sLove, hope, identity, living, strength
“The LORD, “David added, “who rescued me from the power of both lions and bears, will rescue me from the power of this Philistine.” “Go!” Saul replied to David. “And may the LORD be with you!” ~1 Samuel 17:37(CEB)
I like the story of David and Goliath. A boy verses the giant and the boy wins. It isn’t the underdog theme that I love. It is the confidence that David shows us in the story. He had such an intimate relationship with God that he KNEW that God would take care of him. How did he know? David knew God would take care of him because they had a history together. David tells us some of this history. “The Lord, who rescued me from the power of both lions and bears, will rescue me from the power of this Philistine.” David had confidence to fight the giant because he had a history with God where God had delivered him from the lions and bears. To him it was a natural assumption that God would take care of him in this situation as well.
It is important for us to be aware of the times that God has worked in our lives. Even the small things He has done for us. Recalling the small things He has done bolsters our confidence for the big things in life. If God only came waltzing through our lives at the big events we might not have the faith we need to believe that he will show up in great times of need. I think he blesses us even in small things so that we can learn to trust him and as our trust grows and our relationship blossoms we gain the confidence that we need for the big battles in life.
The challenge for us is to look for those small blessings that God bestows on us. Sometimes they might be easy to overlook or to say that it is just coincidence. When we learn to look for God in the small moments of our lives we will gain the knowledge we need to see him in the crucial times as well. God is always with us. We have to train our eyes to see him at work in our lives.
Heavenly Father, I know the Bible tells me that you are always with me. Open my eyes to see you in the small ordinary moments so that I will be confident to find you in the trials of life. Amen.
14 May 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Devotions
Tags: Beloved, discernment, hope, identity, strength
Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. ~ James 4:7 (CEB)
One area that Satan can get at me is through my disappointments. Satan is right there waiting to attack me when I am at my lowest. When things don’t go the way I thought they should, I wonder “why did I get my hopes up so high”, “I know better”, “I am worthless”, “I should have known nothing good is meant to come my way”. These are lies that Satan feeds me. This is not life as God means for us to live. He wants us to have joy, even among the pieces of our shattered hopes and dreams.
Jesus came to minister to the broken hearted, the oppressed, the hopeless. He came so that I might have life. Satan doesn’t want me to live, so he feeds me lies to keep me in death. Jesus wants me to live so He came into the world to breath new life and hope into my heart. If I believe the lies that Satan feeds me then I will stay defeated and my heart dies slowly bit by bit every day. If I hear God’s truth that I am worthy and that He wants to bless my life beyond what I can ever imagine than I can LIVE. My disappointments don’t define who I am. God’s love for me is the only definition that I need to know.
Jesus is waiting on the sidelines offering me hope amidst the disappointments of life. Satan wants me to stay defeated. Christ came so that I can have hope. Christ came so that I can live. I need to hide these truths deep within my heart so that I can resist the lies that Satan wants to feed my soul.
Sometimes Lord, the lies seem louder in my ears than your promises. Help me hide your truths deep in my heart so that when the noise of Satan threatens to overwhelm me Your truth will bubble up and overflow until I can no longer hear anything but Your love for me. Amen.
11 May 2014
by jennifermcintyreblog
in Quotes
Tags: God'sLove, Second chances, strength, temptations
Godly sadness produces a changed heart and life that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets, but sorrow under the influence of the world produces death. ~ 2Co 7:10 (CEB)
It is hard to live without regrets. There are things that follow me around. Things I wished I hadn’t done. Things I wished I had. Things I should not have said. Things I should have had the courage to say. One thing I have to keep reminding myself is that regrets are not from God. Regrets are from Satan whose aim for us is death. He doesn’t want us to live in victory so he reminds us of our mistakes. He likes to play that old familiar tune called guilt and shame. Guilt and shame are traps which produce death.
In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians there is a verse that could easily be overlooked. But this one verse says so much! Godly sadness produces a change of heart and life that leads to salvation leaving no regrets. What is Godly sadness? Godly sadness is when we realize that we are not living in the way that God wants us to live. Our eyes have not been on Him and His will for us. When we repent of our sins it means that our eyes have been opened and we are choosing to line our lives up with God’s will.
The good news is that Satan only knows one tune. Once we realize this truth we can beat him at his game. Christ came into the world so that we can know God’s truths. Christ came so that we could know how to live a life without regrets.
I thank you Heavenly Father for sending your son into the world so that I might have life. Help me to remember that you want me to live a life of joy and that when I have lined my life up with Your will for me that I can live that life free of regrets. Amen.
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