Monday Eye-Opener: Those Insecurities

“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” Psalm 143:8 (NLT)

Mornings can be so hard, can’t they? Within seconds after opening our eyes, our vulnerabilities seep in. Sometimes they hit us broadside.

Before you start your week, remember who created you. Remember that His grace created you anew when you believed in Him, so that you could glorify Him and encourage others.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Remember that you are therefore beautiful. Yes, you. His grace fills His new creation with beauty that shines from within. Abeauty that can’t be surpassed and that will never fade.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)

Finally, remember to share the news of His goodness with others!

“I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart and tell about the wonders you have worked.” Psalm 9:1 (CEV)

Monday Eye-Opener: Chosen by Him

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” Ephesians 1:3-5 (NASB)

Admittedly, this is a loaded Scripture passage for a Monday Eye-Opener. I’ve listened to wonderful sermons that focus on just one of these verses. But I wanted to share several phrases that stand out for me this morning — especially on the day of the week that usually seems the most daunting.

“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (v. 4) Now that’s enough right there. Even before He created the world, He wanted to bless us. The word “chose” has a wonderful, telling Greek meaning: “to pick out for myself. Even before He created the world, He wanted to create us (you!) for Himself. He already knew He loved us and wanted us.

“In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” (v. 4-5) In Christ, we are adopted as children of God. It was love that drove Him to call us His own. It was an act of His will or — according to the Greek origin — His desire.

So let that sink in as you pour that second cup of coffee.

You are wanted and loved. God knew this before there was a planet Earth, let alone before He met you. You are His precious child.

Keep that thought front and center as you start the week.

Walking In the “Not Yet”

To me, mid-March is a perfect times for Lent. Just as we walk through the wilderness with Jesus, we walk through the drab, brown and gray remains of winter. We know that the resurrection is coming, and we know that soon it will be time to break ground and plant seeds. We rejoice that it will be here soon, but we ache because we can’t see it today.

So what do we do as we walk through the “not yet?” I have wondered that very thing in recent mornings, as I walk our dog. I search for those first splashes of color among last November’s dried leaves and brown grass.

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.” James 5:7 (NASB)

Waiting — derived from the Greek word meaning “expectation” — is a common theme in the Bible as it is in life. I’ve seen spring every year before this year, yet something in me will not rest until I see that flower bud poking through the ground. Like the Psalmist says:

“I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope.” Psalm 139:5 (NASB)

Oh, how he waits. The repetition of the word “wait” in this verse highlights the intensity of this longing and expectation. Look at another translation of the same verse:

“I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalm 139:5 (NIV)

With his whole being, he waits. We do the same. Will my health recover? Will my loved one recover from addiction? Will I get that job? Will someone love me? Our whole being waits.

And hopes!

“You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16 (NIV)

“And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:23 (ESV).

We know we can rely on Him. We anticipate that morning of resurrection. We go deeper into our faith as our “soul does wait.” And just as those first crocuses surprise us every spring, we will jump for joy at the news that “He is risen!” (Matthew 28:6, KJV)

Getting Out of God’s Way

“Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty?” Job 11:7 NLT

One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn as a believer is to remember that God is in control. I am embarrassed when I realize how often I forget that I am not God. I know that I should leave my worries and overwhelm at the cross.

As a caregiver, I am especially likely to worry and hover. What will the lab results show? Is he sleeping enough? How many grams of sugar are in the meal? Is that a heart failure cough or a hay fever cough?

So many times I have prayed, “Father, I know You’ve got this” and a few seconds later, “but I’d better take it back in case You’re too busy!”

How about you? Do you find yourself taking up what you left at His feet, “just in case?” Let’s look at God’s word for help.

“Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me Isaiah” 46:9 ESV

“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:3 ESV

As the only Uncreated One, God is unique in His eternal wisdom, perspective and power. We already completely depend on Him. When we acknowledge our dependence, we step aside and let Him work in our lives without our interference.

“yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.” 1 Cor 8:6 NASB

We are created by God and exist for God, for His purpose. When we surrender to His power and purpose, we acknowledge that He alone is God. We cannot know the things He knows. It is probably best that we cannot know these things. But we know that His purpose has our best interests in mind.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

There’s a peace that comes when we humble ourselves and remember that God existed before the world and before its people. We don’t have to know all these because we can’t. Only God can do that. Jesus reminds us of His eternal nature:

“Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’” John 8:58 NASB.

The good news is, we have a God of hope. A God who not only is in control, but who sent His Son as our Savior.

“Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13 ESV

In this verse from Titus, the Greek word for hope also means “trust” and “expectation.” And let’s face it — trust is a tricky word here on earth. But we’re talking about a different kind of trust and hope. This is not a hope that says, “gee, wouldn’t it be nice if…” This is a hope that we can rely on, that only God provides.

And when I remember this hope, I remember why God is God alone. I remember why it’s a good idea to leave my worries and sleepless nights in His hands.

I pray that as you end your week, you will find rest as God takes your burdens as only He can.

5 Verses that Remind Us of God’s Unconditional Love

Last evening, my online small group discussed how difficult it can be to accept God’s unconditional love. It’s too easy to feel like we have to earn God’s love. We beat ourselves up, wondering, “How in the world can God love me unconditionally? I’m so messed up!” 

When we’re battling negative self-talk, it takes more than a resolve to think positive thoughts. We need something irrefutable to replace those negative thoughts, and God’s word is the best place to look! Here are some of my favorite verses that set me back on my feet when I’m in a downward spiral:

“as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12 (NIV). I think of this verse as God’s way of saying, “Do I have to draw a picture? This reminds me that God means what He says and says what he means about forgiveness.  It’s forgotten. Period. 

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (NIV). Jesus did not wait for an apology or to see whether we’d learned our lesson before He gave His life for us. God still knows that we fall short, and He loves us just as He did then.

“But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!).” Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT). God is merciful and loves us because that’s who He is. Our salvation is a gift of grace, which we cannot earn. Even when we mess up, His grace, mercy and love are still there.

“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:7 (NLT) God’s love is unfailing, so we know it endures and will never change. We can depend on His unconditional love because, once again, it’s who He is.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV). Well, this is pretty definitive. His love transcends everything. Nothing — that means nothing — can make God stop loving us! 

And that’s just a small sample. There are so many treasures from God’s word that are much better for us than those lies that we too often believe. My project is to collect and memorize verses to replace the negative self-talk. 

How about you? Do you have a favorite verse about God’s unconditional love? If so, feel free to share in the comments!