Hit Delete

I hear so many people speak about how their computers need more memory because it is processing too slowly. We buy extra software to speed up a crawling computer, when what we need is to DELETE some of our archives, software, and files. Our minds and lives are the same way. We wonder why we can’t seem to break through. We wonder why we are having difficulties starting fresh. We wonder what we need to do to get to the next level. HIT DELETE.

Delete all past hurts.

Delete all past mistakes.

Delete all embarrassing moments.

Delete all thoughts of hopelessness.

Delete all thoughts of inadequacies.

Delete all negative experiences.

Hit Delete…

How? The blood of Jesus Christ washes us clean. We should cast all of our cares on Him. You will feel better. You will look better. And what’s more, God can use you better because He now has room to give you what you need to bring Him the most glory. He has room to fill you with the Holy Spirit. He has room to give you a fresh anointing. If something went wrong 5 minutes ago, DELETE IT. God wants to bless you! Leave room for Him to do so right now!

Devotional Reading: Isaiah 61:1-3

Let Me Do It!

Have you ever been in a situation when you thought, “If they’d just let me do it, it would work out better?” Welcome to the day in the life of our Almighty Father in Heaven. I can imagine as we walk on this earth making mistakes, doing things our way and suffering disappointment at our own hand, He looks with compassion hoping we would just “LET HIM DO IT!” His purpose and plan for our lives are so wonderful and beyond anything we could dream. As we focus on improving our relationship with the Lord, let’s prepare our hearts to humble ourselves and turn over complete control to our Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. That is a very selfless way to show thanks to Him who keeps us from falling.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. (AMP)

Make a list of the aspects of life you have refused to let go, and then pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the plan you have for my life. I pray that you bless me with the strength I need to totally let go the reigns and let you “do it.” I know, Lord, that with YOU all things are possible and I need Your guidance today and everyday in all areas of my life. In Jesus’ precious, matchless Name I pray, Amen.

Devotional Reading: James 4:7-10

When, Lord?

Sometimes it is hard to determine when we will receive our rewards for following through with what God has entrusted us to do. Will we see His goodness in the land of the living or will we have to wait until that great gettin’ up morning? Of course, we know or should know that we cannot earn our salvation. Salvation is a gift that was given to us on the cross by the absolutely powerful blood of Jesus Christ! Yet, there are promises in the Word of God that are tied to obedience in action in this life.

For example, after the discourse between Jesus and the rich young ruler who didn’t want to sell his possessions, Jesus’ disciples posed questions and Jesus replied in Luke 18:29-30:

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

So, I take that to mean that if we make sacrifices for the sake of God’s kingdom, during our lifetime we will receive many returns AND as The Message puts it, “And then the bonus of eternal life!" In this life, during my lifetime, ANY DAY NOW, I can look forward to God’s loving and positive response to my dedication to Kingdom living and building.

In 1 Peter 5, Peter encourages his persecuted brothers and sisters to be humble to each other and in the presence of God’s mighty power because God will honor them when the time comes. Here is another promise of a time that is coming when God will honor His children! If we didn’t have that time to look forward to, we would most likely quit. Even , David put it eloquently in Psalm 27:

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

So, when we feel like giving up, remember we are contemplating giving up on God, the Creator of the universe, the One who has woven promises in His Holy Word that will come to pass. In those desperate moments when we shout, “When, Lord?!!” take heart and know He hears you and in His sovereignty the answer will most likely be, “When the time comes, in My time.” That means it is GOING TO HAPPEN, and we can rest in that!

Seasons

I find it truly amazing how we get excited about the arrival of spring. We hear the birds chirping and see the flowers blooming. Yet when the rainstorms roll in, we panic and complain. I actually love the spring. I even enjoy the summer heat and all the fun that it brings, but there is something about the freshness of spring. Surprisingly, I delight in the rain showers because I know that the beauty of God’s canvas will be painted with color soon thereafter. What had been drab and bear all winter now becomes bright and lush.

I believe our lives are organized in seasons, too. We have periods of intense heat or bitter cold. We also have times of pruning and regrowth. God has designed our lives to not be all one thing all the time. If it were summer all the time, the land would be a desert. If it were winter all the time, the short periods of sunlight would do damage to our mental and physical lives. What a blessing it is to have a heavenly Father who has planned out every step and planned for every misstep in our lives.

As we approach spring, let us also do a personal inventory to figure out what season we are in. Once that is determined, we can begin to either maintain our lush spring gardens or dig out of the snow and ice left by a winter storm. The severe seasons of summer and winter are juxtaposed by the mild seasons of spring and fall. Let us thank God for His mercy to give us mild times. Let us also thank Him for his grace during the severe times. Believe and accept that seasons change and during the process, so do we.

Devotional Reading: Psalm 143

Song of Solomon 2:12

Daniel 2:21