Today.

The phrase “one day at a time” has been my mantra for the past few weeks. There have been so many things going on, and it’s easy to be overwhelmed. Instead, I’ve been focusing on a very freeing truth – that God will give grace when the time is right. Jesus told us not to be anxious about tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of its own. Today, He is faithful and gracious. Tomorrow, He will be faithful and gracious. I don’t need to try to bring tomorrow’s trouble into today. I need to rest in His goodness today.

So I keep trying to live one day at a time, to enjoy the people around me, to serve and be productive instead of being lazy, and most of all, to focus on the Lord and His glory and the joy that is found in knowing Him. I always fall short, but Jesus never fell short. Even in times like right now, when I feel frustrated and tired and overwhelmed, I am forgiven because of His sacrifice for me. And I want to imitate His obedience, through His strength. Let me tell you, if there is any good in me, it’s all Him.

Strength in weakness

Have you ever reminded someone of a truth from Scripture, only to have it come back around to you soon afterwards? The other day I mentioned God’s strength in weakness to someone. Today I was struggling with my insufficiency and insecurity in a few areas. When I turned to 2 Corinthians, which I’ve been reading for awhile, to read the next passage, it was chapter 12:1-10. I was so touched by God’s faithfulness.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

His grace is sufficient. Enough to fulfill my needs. And his strength is made perfect in my weakness. Complete and capable.

I had the privilege of hearing John Stott speak once, and an elder in the church where he was speaking prayed a prayer I haven’t forgotten: “For every emptiness in us, there is a corresponding fullness in You.” And for every weakness in me, there is a corresponding strength in Him. Alleluia!

Wisdom in Decision-Making

It seems like it would be nice if I could make this a simple how-to post. Here are steps one, two, and three for how to make wise decisions about things that are more important than what color paint to use. There you go! But I read about a much more powerful way:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5).

I love that little phrase “without reproach.” My Father isn’t going to shake His finger at me for not knowing how to make these decisions on my own. Instead, He’s willing to bestow His limitless knowledge and discernment on me.

As I keep moving ahead and making decisions, I know that I do not serve a God who is stingy and distant. Instead, He is near. The pretentious-sounding doctrine of immanence becomes a precious reality. He delights in our prayers for wisdom. He lavishes grace on us. And He reminds us that all we have to do is ask.

Speaking to Your Soul

One of my favorite messages from New Attitude was C.J. Mahaney’s message “The Word of God and Our Feelings” (listen here). It hit home for me so much, especially because I have often struggled with a tendency toward depression. Regardless of your temperament, this message is something you need to hear, because at one time or another, we all experience sadness and a troubled soul. Here are my notes from the message - a little disjointed again. You really should listen to it yourself - and at the end, a few extra thoughts.

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My inner voice should be saying, “God is near. Run to God.” It should be faith-driven and Christ-centered.

No one is more influential in my life than I am. My internal conversation with myself makes all the difference in the world.

In Psalm 42, we get to “listen in” to the psalmist’s internal conversation.

1. The troubled soul

The troubled soul is downcast and in turmoil.

Three of the psalmist’s soul’s troubles were:

1. The apparent absence of God

• A thirsty soul
• An intense passion for God
• Even though he longs for God, he feels distant from God.
• He desires God’s presence but feels his absence.
• The “ebbs and winters” of the soul (Spurgeon?)
• Three who experienced this: Spurgeon, Edwards, and Luther

     2.   The presence of trials

• Continuous, relentless, overwhelming, and deafening

     3.   The opposition of men

• From culture
• From the enemy

2. The hopeful soul

Talk to yourself and talk to God.

To yourself:

• Interrupt, question, challenge, rebuke, exhort
• Listening to myself instead of talking to myself is the main problem.
• Talking to myself is a learned skill that requires practice and effort. One conversation won’t be sufficient. It is continuous truth-telling.
• Use rhythm, repetition, and perseverance.

What do I say?

• Look outward and upward.
• Hope in God! He will fulfill His promises.
• Troubled souls cannot be trusted, and circumstances lie to us.
• God is sovereign, faithful and kind! Remember Him!
• “We cannot trace His hand, but we can trust His heart.” (Spurgeon)
• My God, who has pledged Himself to me, will be faithful.
• Search the Scriptures for promises that address my soul’s troubles.

To God:

• Pray and sing His Word to Him.
• Humbly but boldly remind Him of His promises.
• Hasten to the throne of grace.
• He loves to hear the loud outcries of needy souls.

3. Jesus’ troubled soul

He was forsaken and crushed by God’s wrath.

He was abandoned.

All this was so the souls of sinners would know freedom and forgiveness!

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I want to offer you two songs that you can use to talk to yourself and talk to God. The first one is “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” I thought about this song after the message, because it begins “Oh soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see? There’s life for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free.” I especially like it because it was inspired by Lilias Trotter, a lifelong missionary to Algeria whom I really look up to (lyrics here).

Second, to talk to God, the hymn “Jesus, Lover of My Soul” has been a longtime favorite of mine (lyrics here). This is one stanza:

Other refuge have I none, hangs my helpless soul on Thee
Leave, ah! leave me not alone, still support and comfort me
All my trust on Thee is stayed, all my help from Thee I bring
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of Thy wing

Beauty for Ashes

I love this verse: ”to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3).

That’s such a picture of grace. I don’t deserve to have the beautiful headdress, the oil of gladness, or the garment of praise. But He gives it to me for His Son’s sake. Why? So that He can be glorified.

I can think about the ashes, the mourning, and the faint spirit of my past. And even though traces linger, God has changed me so much and is continuing to change me. Instead of having a faint spirit, I am planted by the Lord in righteousness! He has forgiven me. “This I know, that God is for me” (Psalm 56:9).