by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 26, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9 (NKJV))
Do you know what’s in your heart? Probably not. As we see from the verse in Jeremiah, our hearts are deceitful. That means you can think your heart is fine even when it isn’t. Yet, the contents of your heart can be revealed by your words.
As Jesus said,
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 (NKJV))
That may seem harsh. But it’s true. Whatever’s in your heart – good or evil – will come out.
The contents of your heart can be revealed at the most inopportune moments – like when you stub your toe on the corner of the coffee table or when someone cuts you off in traffic. The curse words that come out of your mouth may surprise you. But the circumstances didn’t cause them. They were the result of what was already in your heart.
The Bible has many examples of people who were unaware of the contents of their hearts. In one, Jesus revealed what was in the scribes and Pharisees’ hearts.
Remember how Jesus healed the man with the withered hand? When Jesus healed him, “his hand was restored as whole as the other” (Luke 6:10 (NKJV)).
Wouldn’t that have been amazing to see – to watch with your own eyes as a man’s withered hand was regenerated into wholeness? It was a miracle.
But when the scribes and the Pharisees saw it, the Bible says that “they were filled with rage” (Luke 6:11 (NKJV)). A man’s hand had been fully restored, and they were moved to a madness that was expressed in anger. Why? Their hearts were wrong. They were laser-focused on a rule – a man-made interpretation of God’s law.
God had commanded, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work . . . .” (Exodus 20:8–10a (NKJV)). Over time, they twisted God’s law to mean that supernaturally healing someone constituted work.
Their hearts were so focused on their interpretation that they missed the miraculous. In fact, they had watched Jesus closely to see if He would heal the man. They wanted to find something they could use to bring charges against Him (Luke 6:7).
So, how do you know what’s in your heart? Ask God to show you. Pray: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24 (NKJV)).
When God reveals something in your heart that shouldn’t be there, repent. Admit that you’re wrong and that God is right. Ask God for forgiveness. And then walk by faith with God in the freedom that only He can give.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jul 15, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16 (NKJV))
God won’t force you to walk in the Spirit. But if you do, it will help you avoid temptation and live a life that’s pleasing to Him. With that in mind, here are 10 ways to walk in the Spirit.
1. Read your Bible
If you want to find out how God wants you to live, you need to read your Bible. Your ways and thoughts are not like God’s (Isaiah 55:8). God’s ways and thoughts are higher (Isaiah 55:9). And He’s revealed them to us in the Bible. So, if you want to know what they are, read it.
2. Memorize Scripture
Memorizing Bible verses helps you to think about God’s Word – His ways – throughout your day. And when we meditate on God’s ways, we’re less likely to give in to temptation. As the psalmist prayed, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11 (NKJV)).
3. Pray
Jesus gave us a great example to follow. He regularly got away to spend time with God the Father and talk to Him (see, e.g., Mark 1:35). As Jesus told Peter, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38 (NKJV)). Pray every day, all throughout your day.
4. Sing
God likes it when we sing to Him. And He has told us to sing. In Psalm 47:6 (NKJV), it says, “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!” Why? “For God is the King of all the earth . . .” (Psalm 47:7 (NKJV)). Singing is a form of worship. And worship reminds us of our proper position before God. Not only that, there’s joy in worship. So, play your favorite worship song and sing it to the Lord.
5. Gather
The Bible tells us to “consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another” (Hebrews 10:24–25 (NKJV)). Regularly coming together to worship God, learn from your pastor, and pray with each other will nudge you in the direction of doing good works instead of fulfilling the lusts of your flesh.
6. Fellowship
As it says in Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV), “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” When you fellowship – spend time with other believers, talking about the things of God – you naturally encourage and exhort each other in your walk with God.
7. Tithe
This one might seem odd to have on the list. But it’s not. God loves it when you cheerfully give back to Him a portion of what He’s given to you (2 Corinthians 9:7). And the way you treat money reveals what’s in your heart. As Jesus taught us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21 (NKJV)).
8. Avoid temptation
Galatians 5:19–21 lists some of the works of the flesh. If any of them are a temptation for you, set up boundaries, and then don’t cross them. For example, if you have a problem with drinking alcohol and getting drunk, don’t go to a bar with friends, telling yourself that you’ll only drink soda. Don’t set yourself up for failure.
9. Discover your spiritual gift
God has given each of us at least one spiritual gift. Romans 12:4–8 tells us those gifts are prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy. Pray and ask God which one(s) He’s given to you. Pastor Ed Taylor has taught a great series on spiritual gifts. Here’s a link: Teaching on Spiritual Gifts.
10. Serve
Pray and ask God where He wants you to serve with the gift(s) He’s given you. When you hear about a need in your church, step out in faith to find out if that’s where the Lord wants you to serve. Use your spiritual gift(s) to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Even Jesus (God Himself) came to earth not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28).
Of course, there are more than 10 ways to walk in the Spirit. The more you focus on spiritual things, the more you’ll be attentive to God’s Holy Spirit. So, commit to looking to the Holy Spirit for guidance, reading your Bible, and praying every day. Then, you’ll grow spiritually and stay close to God as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jul 1, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. (Habakkuk 2:1 (NKJV))
Are you willing to be corrected? That’s kind of a loaded question. On the one hand, many of us would say yes. Yet, on the other hand, we don’t think we’re wrong. So, maybe you wouldn’t be willing – at least not right away.
But maybe we should be – especially when we come to God. After all, God is the source of truth. He knows all things. If it’s between our word and God’s, God is right 100% of the time.
And that’s the attitude Habakkuk had. Habakkuk came to God and told God how he saw things. But then he waited for God’s correction. Notice that Habakkuk didn’t say if he would be corrected but when.
Habakkuk knew his perspective probably didn’t line up with God’s truth. Why? Because God’s ways and thoughts are higher than ours. As God said:
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8–9 (NKJV))
Simply put, God is God, and we are not.
Unlike Habakkuk, we sometimes come to God to try to impose our will on Him. We tell God all about a situation – what we think and how we feel. Then, instead of waiting for God’s correction, we ask God to follow our plan. After all, we think we know the best way to fix it. We pray something like: Dear Lord, This is what’s wrong with that person and that situation. And here’s what I want You to do about it. Everything would be great if You would just . . . .
But what if we were more like Habakkuk? What if we poured our hearts out to God – how we see things and what we think about a situation – and then waited for God’s correction? Instead of coming up with how you think God should solve your problem, wait on Him by praying and reading His Word. Ask God what He wants to show you. Then wait for His response – and His correction.
As you pray and read the Bible, God will align your thoughts with His. He will correct you and make you more and more like Jesus. And that’s the end goal – to be molded into His image and not the other way around. How beautiful it is when we finally come to the point of being willing to receive God’s correction like Habakkuk.
So, are you willing to be corrected? Let’s remember that God’s correction is making us more like Jesus, submitting our will to His, as we walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 17, 2024 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Ministry
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45 (NKJV))
Jesus is the One we should look to when we want to know how we should serve. He served perfectly and gave us an example to follow. Although there are many others, here are three things you can learn about serving from Jesus.
Jesus Had an Attitude of Service
As we see in Mark 10:45, Jesus didn’t come to the earth for others to serve Him. Although He is God, He didn’t exempt Himself from serving. Instead, He came to serve others and to literally give His life for us.
If God Himself came to serve, we should use our lives to serve others too. Jesus told us that to follow Him we need to deny ourselves (Mark 8:34). When you go somewhere – to work, a friend’s house, church, or even the grocery store – do you go with an expectation of being served? Or do you go looking for ways to serve others, both practically and spiritually?
Jesus Served with Compassion
At one point in His ministry, Jesus and His disciples sailed to a deserted place to rest. They needed rest because “there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat” (Mark 6:31 (NKJV)). The people saw them depart, so they followed them on foot and caught up to them (Mark 6:33).
Instead of being annoyed (I likely would have been annoyed), Jesus was “moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd” (Mark 6:34 (NKJV)). Despite being tired, Jesus was compassionate toward the people who came to Him.
The Greek word translated as compassion means to have an emotional response so strong that you’re moved to action. Jesus was moved with love for them in a deep way.
That kind of care for others can only come from God. Only with His Holy Spirit can we serve others with compassion like Jesus. Pray and ask God to help you to be moved with compassion for the people you serve.
Jesus Made Time for Prayer
Jesus often got up early to pray to the Father. For example, Mark 1:35 (NKJV), tells us, “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He [Jesus] went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Jesus got up before the sun rose to spend some alone time with His Father.
And if you go back a few verses, you’ll see that Jesus didn’t go to bed early the night before. Instead, after the sun had set, He spent the evening healing the sick and casting out demons from the people who were brought to Him (Mark 1:32–34).
You can pray anytime, anywhere as you go throughout your day. But there is something special in that time you set aside to spend with God the Father. When you are completely focused on Him, waiting on Him, praising Him, thanking Him, you’re more apt to hear what He wants to tell you. Make an appointment – like you would any other appointment – to spend time alone with God in prayer.
So, let’s learn these three lessons from Jesus about how to serve.
- Go to places with an expectation of being there to serve others.
- Ask God to see people through His eyes with compassion.
- Set aside alone time with God the Father in prayer.
Follow Jesus’ example in serving this week as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 3, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (John 15:4 (NKJV))
Social Connection
Are you connected? In this world of social media, we’re more connected than ever before. We have Facebook “friends” and followers on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter). We scroll and scroll and scroll through pithy quotes and videos posted by our “connections.”
Despite these connections, we’re more isolated than ever before. Studies have shown that increased social media use results in a higher rate of depression. We feel disconnected and lonely. Why? The connections aren’t as connected as we’d like – or even need – them to be.
So, are you connected? True connection comes from one-on-one time with someone, sharing life, and getting to know them face-to-face. And the same is true for your relationship with Jesus.
Spiritual Connection
Are you connected to your Savior? Reading a quick devotional or the Bible quote of the day won’t necessarily connect you to Jesus. To be connected, you need to spend time with Him.
- Talk to Jesus about what’s on your heart.
- Open your Bible and ask Him to speak to you.
- Slow down as you read His Word and hear what He wants to say.
- Sing a song to Him.
- Thank Him for who He is and all He’s done.
The Results of Connection
As you do, your connection to Jesus will grow stronger. You’ll be a branch that’s in constant contact with your Lord. Then based on your connection with Jesus, you’ll bear fruit. You’ll have more of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in your life.
That fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22 (NKJV)). What great things to have in your life! Do you want more joy? Spend more time with Jesus. Do you need patience and peace? Stay connected to your Savior.
As you go through your week, intentionally think about Jesus and set aside time to just be with Him. As you stay connected, you’ll have the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Then that love, that joy, that kindness – and all the rest of the Spirit’s fruit – will bless you and overflow from you to bless others as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | May 20, 2024 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4 (NKJV))
How do you prepare your heart for worship? In Psalm 100, the psalmist instructs the reader to start with thanksgiving and then transition into praise.
And that makes a lot of sense. Praise is the overflow of thanksgiving. When your heart is full of gratitude for what God has done for you, you naturally start to praise Him.
Gates and Courts
What does the psalmist mean when he refers to entering God’s gates and courts? What are they?
To enter the area of God’s temple in Jerusalem, a person had to pass through one of its gates. For example, Acts 3:2 tells us about a man begging at the temple’s gate called Beautiful.
After you entered through one of the gates, there were different courts where the people would go to worship God and where the priests would perform the sacrifices.
So, if you followed the psalmist’s instructions, you would start thanking God for who He is and all He had done when you went through one of the gates to go to the temple. Then by the time you entered the courts, your heart would be prepared to praise God for those things.
Modern Gates and Courts
How can we follow the psalmist’s instructions? We don’t have gates and courts like they did at the time Psalm 100 was written. But we can treat the parking lot of the church building like a gate and the door to the church like entering the courts of the Lord.
Try it the next time you go to church. As you enter the parking lot, start thanking God for who God is and all He has done for you since the last time you were there. For example, you can thank Him for
- getting you to church safely;
- His continued provision in your life;
- a special time you had with a family member or friend;
- your ability to think, breathe, and talk; and
- the fact that He is more than able to help you with any problem you have.
Then when you go through the doors of God’s house, praise Him for who He is and all He’s done. Share with others about God’s goodness in your life. Sing to Him during worship.
The psalmist goes on to give us reasons for thanking and praising God. He reminds us that God is “good”; God’s “mercy is everlasting”; and God’s “truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5 (NKJV)). Amen to that!
So, how do you prepare your heart to worship? Make it a habit to thank and praise God. As you do, you’ll cultivate a heart of gratitude and praise as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Apr 8, 2024 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 (NKJV))
What is God’s will for you? If you want to find out, the best place to learn about His will for your life is by reading the Bible. The Bible expressly says that certain things are God’s will. To get you started, here are seven things that are God’s will for you.
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“Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NKJV))
God’s will is for you to be cheerful at all times. How can you do that? By meditating on God’s faithfulness – who He is and all He has done for you.
When you’re focused on yourself, it can be hard to be full of joy. But when your focus is on God, you can rejoice every time.
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“pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV))
God wants you to be in constant communication with Him. Make a daily appointment with Jesus to spend time with Him one-on-one. Use that time to praise Him for who He is and all He’s done, thank Him for the blessings in your life, bring your concerns to Him, and intercede for others.
But then also talk to Him throughout your day. Ask Him for guidance in making a decision. Thank Him for an easy commute. Pray for strength to love someone with His love. Praise Him for providing food for you to eat. Pray for healing when your kid falls on the playground. Talk to Him about everything. Nothing is too small or too big. Take it all to Him.
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“in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV))
No matter what’s going on in your life, you can be grateful for all God has done for you. God wants you to give thanks “in” everything.
Despite your circumstances, God has forgiven all your sins. At the very least, you can thank Him for that. You can also thank Him that, one day, you will get to be with Him where there will be no more death, sorrow, pain, or crying (Revelation 21:4).
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“respect all human authority” (1 Peter 2:13 (NLT))
It’s God’s will for us to respect all of the people who are in authority over our lives. That includes the pastors at your church, a boss who doesn’t lead well, and those who don’t align with your political ideology. Why? So, your honorable life will “silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you” (1 Peter 2:15 (NLT)). People will compare any allegations with what they see in your life.
Besides, it’s God who “puts down one, and exalts another” (Psalm 75:7 (NKJV)). Ultimately, it’s God who puts people into positions of authority to accomplish His perfect will. We don’t always understand why. But we can trust that God knows what He’s doing.
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“abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV))
God wants you to be pure: to abstain from sexual immorality. As the New Living Translation phrases it, “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.” As that passage goes on to explain, “God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness” (1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NKJV)).
And be vigilant, not only about what you do, but about what you watch, read, and let yourself think about. Pray for God to help you to be pure and holy. Ask Him to reveal if you’re doing anything that He doesn’t want you to do. If He shows you something, stop doing it.
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“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37 (NKJV))
I’ve included this one and the next because, even though they don’t expressly say, “This is the will of God,” they were spoken by Jesus (who is God). Jesus said, “You shall,” which means it’s mandatory. God wants you to love Him. And how much? Not just a little bit but with all your heart, soul, and mind.
God wants us to give Him everything we are and everything we have. If you hold back an area of your life, you’re not loving Him with all your heart, soul, and mind.
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“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 (NKJV))
God also wants you to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Who is your neighbor? It’s not limited to the person who lives next door to you. Instead, the Greek word for neighbor, plesion, means any other person that you chance to meet. In short, everyone is your neighbor. If someone crosses your path, you are to love them as you love yourself.
So, those are seven things that the Bible says are God’s will for you. Take God at His word. Start applying those truths to your life. As you do, you will draw closer to Jesus. Then, God will reveal more of His will for your life as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Mar 4, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Thoughts
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27 (NKJV))
The Source of Peace
Where can you find peace? The source is God. As Isaiah said, “You [referring to God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)). And like we saw in the verse above, Jesus told His disciples that He would give them peace (John 14:27). So, peace comes from God.
But how exactly do you get it?
Go to the Source
If you want peace, you need to go to God. He is the source of peace. You won’t find that peace in the world because the peace from God is a “perfect peace” (Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)) that “surpasses all understanding “(Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)).
How do you go to God for peace? Philippians 4:6–8 (NKJV) gives us the answer. It tells us,
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
Based on these verses in Philippians, here are three steps you can take to get peace:
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Pray
Talk to God and tell Him what’s on your mind. Ask Him for help with whatever situation you’re going through or for wisdom about a decision you need to make. And ask for his peace to quiet your mind.
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Thank God
Come to God with a heart of gratitude. Thank God for who He is and all He has done for you. Be specific. For example, you could thank Him for
- saving you,
- forgiving all your sins,
- His ability to help you – no matter how big your problem is,
- His promise to always be with you,
- walking with you through your trial,
- the ways He has provided for you in the past, and
- anything else you can think of.
Being thankful to God will prepare your heart for the third step.
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Meditate
Focus your mind on God. Don’t try to stop thinking about what’s making you anxious. Instead, replace those thoughts by thinking about things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. God’s character and nature and the ways He has blessed you fall into these categories.
Meditate on how God has been faithful to you – on all the things you thanked Him for. Learn about God’s nature by reading His Word, the Bible. To name just a few, God is good, holy, powerful, and loving. Training your mind to think about God’s character and faithfulness will build up your trust in God.
As we saw in Isaiah, the person whose mind is “stayed” on God will be in “perfect peace.” Why? Because that person trusts in our awesome, amazing God.
While your mind is fixed on God, that peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind. So, follow these three steps: pray, thank God, and meditate on your beautiful Savior. Then, you’ll have peace as you walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Jan 22, 2024 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19–20 (NKJV))
Everyone Should Be on Mission with Jesus
As a born-again believer, you are part of what’s been called, “The Great Commission.” Jesus wants all of us to tell others about Him and to teach them His commands. He wants us to be His hands and feet.
To do that, you don’t have to be a pastor or transition into full-time ministry. You don’t have to travel to a foreign country. And you don’t need to get a degree in theology. Of course, Jesus may call you to do those things. But not having them doesn’t mean that you’re off the hook.
In any event, the mission starts right where you are – right where Jesus already has you. It’s no coincidence that certain people are in your life. Your coworkers, acquaintances, and family are your mission field.
Yet, although you don’t have to be anything special, you do need Jesus. Jesus will guide you and equip you to do whatever He asks you to do when you go on mission with Him.
A Successful Mission Requires Abiding
We can’t do God’s work on our own. Jesus said that we can’t do anything without Him; we need to abide in Him to bear much fruit (John 15:5).
Abiding in Jesus is not a difficult concept. Like many Bible principles, it’s pretty easy to understand. The Greek word for abide is meno, which means to stay put or remain. So, abiding in Jesus means to stay put in Jesus, to remain in Him.
As a born-again believer, His Spirit lives inside you (1 Corinthians 3:16). Jesus is with you all the time. But you still have free will. Your focus can be on Jesus. Or it can be on other things. Even though Jesus is with you, you can be a million miles away in your mind, thinking about something else.
Abiding in Jesus is a conscious decision on your part to be present with Him: to keep your mind focused on Him and remember that He’s right there with you every step of the way. When you make that decision, it’s an act of abiding. It may be a choice to spend time with Jesus by
- reading or listening to His Word;
- asking Him for advice or direction;
- thanking Him for something good that happened;
- singing to Him;
- obeying when His Spirit prompts you to do something; or
- choosing not to do something because you know He doesn’t want you to do it.
Unfortunately, if we’re honest with ourselves, these abiding acts may only last a few seconds or minutes before we return to our own thoughts – to whatever we want to do.
When another person is with you, it’s easy to remember that he’s there. And everything is different because of his presence. You alter the way you talk, what you say, what you do, and how you do it. You pay attention to him.
For example, when I go downstairs in the morning and my husband is there, I don’t ignore him. I say good morning, hug him, and make conversation. My behavior and actions change because he’s there.
When he’s not there, I don’t talk to him. Instead, I get a glass of water, eat breakfast, and go about my day. But when he’s present, I slow down and spend time with him.
Like I already said, Jesus is with us all the time. Yet, how often do we acknowledge His presence in our lives? We often go about our day like He’s not there – without talking to Him or spending time with Him.
Going on Mission with Jesus
You can’t go on mission with Jesus unless you’re abiding in Him. Without paying attention to Him, you won’t know what He wants you to do or how He wants you to do it. And you won’t have the strength to do it. Abiding in Jesus is mandatory.
So, I decided to do an experiment. I’m going to set aside a day to be super intentional about abiding in Jesus to see how my life is different and to record what happens along the way.
Stay tuned for the next blog post to find out how it goes. In the meantime, I challenge you to abide in Jesus. Find out what happens when you intentionally walk by faith with Him.
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by Catherine McDaugale | Oct 30, 2023 | Bible Study, Christian Living, Spiritual Growth
He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 11:15 (NKJV))
Many of us want to hear God speak to us. We want to receive a personal message from Him. Yet, we are often unwilling to slow down in our day-to-day lives to spend time with Him in His Word, the Bible.
God can speak in unexpected ways
God will sometimes use extraordinary methods to get a person’s attention. He can use unusual circumstances so you will listen to what He wants to tell you.
- God used a burning bush that wasn’t consumed by the fire to get Moses’s attention (Exodus 3:2–4).
- He got Balaam’s attention through a donkey (Numbers 22:26–34).
- And He sent a wind that was so strong it “tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces” to get Elijah’s attention (1 Kings 19:11 (NKJV)).
But He doesn’t usually speak to us in those ways.
God also speaks through people
Other times, God uses others to get your attention. For example:
- Have you ever felt exposed during a sermon, wondering if your pastor had bugged your car so he could hear the conversation you had with your husband on the way to church that morning?
- Or have you had a time when the Holy Spirit prompts you during a Bible study or teaching, telling you, “That was for you!”
We like those times when we know God has spoken to us through another person. It doesn’t feel like work when you hear from Him in those times. It’s a blessing to get a word from the Lord through your pastor on a Sunday morning.
God usually speaks through the Bible
Yet, we don’t have to wait for those special times. We can hear God speak to us every day. God wants to tell you things. And the primary way He does that is when you spend time with Him, praying and reading through His Word.
The Bible is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). It’s not just a bunch of words that men wrote down thousands of years ago. The Bible is literally God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16). God will speak to you through His Word when you take the time to listen.
If you regularly take time to read the Bible, it can be tempting some days to read through it quickly. In those times, you open the Bible to the designated place you want to read. Then you read it. Close it. And you’re done for the day.
You may even feel good about yourself, thinking, I did my devos today. I did what I was supposed to do. Now I don’t have to do anything else until tomorrow. I can move on with my day.
But if someone asks you later that afternoon what you read, you would probably have to think about it to remember. Okay, I’ve been reading through the Book of John. I think I’m in chapter four. What’s in chapter four? In other words, you have no idea what you read.
Slowing down to hear God’s Word
But what if you approached the Bible differently each day? Instead of reading it quickly and proclaiming that you’re done, what if you sloooooooowwwwww dooooowwwnnnn.
- Start your time with God by singing along with a worship song you really like, preparing your mind to hear what God wants to reveal to you.
- Pray and ask God to speak to you as you read His Word. Ask Him to help you focus on what He’s saying. Tell Him about your desire to hear from Him.
- Open your Bible to wherever you’ve been reading. Read a verse or two. Then take time to think about it. Meditate on the words.
- Ask yourself the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions. For example, you could ask things like: Who is speaking? What is happening? Where is the speaker or the one being spoken to at the time? When was it? Why is something happening? How does it apply to your life? Does it say anything about God – His character or nature or something He’s done?
- Take the time to ponder the things you’ve discovered and to listen for God’s voice.
The Holy Spirit may want to teach you something about your amazing God – about what He loves or what He hates; about who He is and the awesome things He has done. He may want to prompt you and give you guidance about a question you have. The Holy Spirit may tell you to stop doing something you’re not supposed to do. Or He may just want you to learn about how someone in the Bible responded to a particular situation.
So, slow down. Take time out of your day to spend quality time with God. Talk to Him and listen so you will hear what He wants to say to you as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Simon Wilkes on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Oct 16, 2023 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:39 (NKJV))
Difficult people can be . . . well . . . difficult. So, what should you do when you encounter them?
It’s tempting to try to get away as soon as you can – or avoid them altogether. Let’s face it, sometimes we wish we were high up on a mountaintop where they can’t find us. But that’s not what God wants us to do. Instead, the simple answer is that you should love them.
We all have difficult people in our lives. I’ve heard it said that if you can’t think of anyone then you’re the difficult one (haha). But seriously, we can all be “difficult” at some point or another. So, dealing with difficult people is just a part of life.
Jesus told us how we should treat others. And He didn’t qualify His commandment based on how the other person treats you. Jesus said,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself’.” (Matthew 22:37–39 (NKJV))
Who is your neighbor? It’s common in the English language to think of your neighbor as being limited to the person who lives next door to you. However, the Greek word for neighbor is plesion, which means any person who comes across your path.
Jesus’ commandments can be simply put: love God and love others. And how are we to love them? The Greek word for love in that verse is agape – the kind of love with which God loves us – a self-sacrificial love. It’s the highest kind of love.
In First Corinthians 13, we learn more about agape love. It tells us,
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NKJV))
Jesus calls you to be patient with the person who irritates you. He wants you to be kind to someone who has been disrespectful to you. He wants you to love others as He loved you.
It’s a high calling. And it’s one you can only fulfill when you’re walking in God’s Holy Spirit. You can’t love with His agape love if you only have your own selfish desires in mind.
So, the next time you need to deal with a difficult person – while talking on the phone, by responding to a text message or email, or while she is standing right there in front of you – ask God to help you love that person with His agape love. Pray for guidance about what you should do and what you should say. Ask Him for His love to flow through you and into that person’s life.
In short, love each person God puts into your path. Be patient. Be kind. Don’t be proud or rude. And don’t demand that you get your own way. Choose to do things God’s way and love others with His agape love as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Denys Nevozhai on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Jul 24, 2023 | Bible Study, Christian Living
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV))
Praying through the Bible is a powerful exercise. Why? Because God’s Word is powerful. And since all of the Bible was inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16), you can know that you are praying in His will as you pray through what He’s said.
So, how do you do that? Here’s an example from Psalm 139:1–2 to get you started:
“O LORD, You have searched me and known me” (Psalm 139:1 (NKJV)).
Prayer: Abba Father, It’s so amazing that You, the Creator of the whole universe and my Creator, would take the time to search me and know me. It makes me think of the verse that says, “What is man that You are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:4 (NKJV)). And even more amazing to me, is that after You have searched me and known me, You still want to have a relationship with me. You know everything about me – the good, the bad, and the ugly – and yet, You still love me. I praise You for loving me that much!
“You know my sitting down and my rising up” (Psalm 139:2 (NKJV)).
Prayer: You not only know me, You know everything I do. You know when I sit down and when I get up again. You know when I’m being lazy or doing something I shouldn’t do. And You also know everything I do to serve You. Please help me to remember that You see all that I do. And please give me the desire to only do what will please You.
“You understand my thought afar off” (Psalm 139:2 (NKJV)).
Prayer: It’s astonishing that You not only know everything I think but understand my thoughts. I don’t even understand my thoughts all of the time. And sometimes I don’t even actively hear all of the thoughts rushing through my head. Instead, I’ll listen to the self-talk and believe everything I hear – thoughts that maybe You don’t really love me or care about me. Please help me to pay attention to those thoughts and take them captive. Help me to consider whether they are true or lies. Then, help me to replace any lies with Your truth – that You do love me. That You love me so much that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins. I praise You for all You have done for me! In Jesus’ name, amen.
You can pray through any part of the Bible. And you can pray through God’s Word in different ways. For example, you can pray
- as you read the Bible;
- by meditating on a verse you have memorized; and
- by listening to a Bible app as you take a prayer walk, playing a verse, and then pausing it to pray through the verse you just heard.
So try it for yourself. Start praying through God’s Word every day and breathe life into your prayers as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 26, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:34 (NLT))
Are you worried about your future? Are you anxious about whether . . .
- your company is going to lay people off;
- gas prices will continue to rise;
- you’ll be single your entire life;
- your kids will turn out well; or
- you’ll even be able to have children?
Do you fret about what next month or next year will bring?
It’s easy to worry about your future. All you have to do is look at a newsfeed and stories about crime, the economy, and the way people treat each other can quickly raise your anxiety levels. And circumstances in your own life can overwhelm your thoughts in an instant.
But God doesn’t want you to be worried about your future. Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). And He taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11 (NKJV)). In other words, focus on what you need day by day.
Even in the Old Testament, God oriented His people’s focus on the day at hand. When the Israelites were wandering in the desert for 40 years, God provided them with their daily food – that heavenly bread called manna – one day at a time (Exodus 16:15-16, 19). If they gathered more and left it for the following day (unless it was the day before the Sabbath day), the manna “bred worms and stank” (Exodus 16:20 (NKJV)).
God doesn’t want you to worry about your future. He wants you to trust Him with tomorrow. He already knows what your future holds, and He will help you through it all if you’ll let Him.
Instead of worrying about your future, Jesus invites you to abide in Him (John 15:4). The word abide means to be present or remain. We need to live one day at a time and be present with Jesus. If you’re worrying about something in your future, you’re no longer present with Jesus today.
You are safe in Jesus’ hands (John 10:28). But you can’t enjoy being in that safety if you’re somewhere else in your mind. So when you catch yourself worrying about your future, stop it! Choose to focus your mind on today.
And yes, it’s a choice. We can meditate on the unknown. Or we can focus our minds on what we know – the things God tells us to think about. The Bible tells us to fix our thoughts on things that are “true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable”; it exhorts us to “[t]hink about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8 (NLT)).
You can purposefully shift your thoughts by choosing to think about
- how God has provided for you in the past;
- the promises God has made to you in the Bible;
- the way God saved you and how He gave you eternal life when you surrendered to Him;
- the blessings God has given you; and
- the things you are thankful for.
Put on some worship music and sing praises to God. Read His Word and seek out the promises He has made to you. Make a list of the ways God has been faithful to you in the past. Take a walk and count the different varieties of flowers you see along the way.
So don’t worry about the future. Don’t be anxious about what may or may not happen tomorrow. Instead, choose to live one day at a time while abiding in Jesus. Be present with Jesus and walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | May 29, 2023 | Christian Living, Life
Jesus said, “‘[Y]ou shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30(NKJV) (quoting Deuteronomy 6:4))
Without a doubt, I’ve had days that don’t start off well. Those days often begin with me waking up late. I jump out of bed and hurry to get ready and out the door. Inevitably, a day like that leaves me frazzled and anxious. And I never seem to make up for the time that was lost at the beginning of the day.
On the other hand, days that start well begin with prayer. On those days, I wake up and focus my mind on God. I take the time (in bed or in the shower) to talk with God and pray through what Jesus told us is the greatest commandment: to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).
Those days always go better. With a good start, I’m able to prioritize what’s important and rely on God throughout my day.
I challenge you to try starting your day well. Instead of going over all the things you need to do the moment your wake up, reorient your mind to God. Then pray through the first and greatest commandment.
Here’s an example of what that might look like.
Abba, Father, You are an awesome God. You made me; You are my Creator. And You made this day. Please help me to love you with all of my mind, heart, soul, and strength.
I give You my mind. Please help me to meditate on You – on who You are and all You have done for me. Please help me to keep You first and foremost in my mind throughout the day. Help me to remember to come to You with everything that arises today – to seek Your wisdom, guidance, and strength. Help me to consider You in every decision I make.
Please protect my mind from spiritual warfare. When an unwelcome thought enters my mind, help me to take it captive to the truth in Your Word.
I give You my heart. All of my dreams and desires are in Your loving, capable hands. I release them to You, knowing that You know what’s best for me. I thank You for being my good, good Father whose will for me is perfect. So, I pray that You will do what seems good to You with each of my desires. Your will, and not mine, be done.
I praise You that my soul belongs to You. I am Yours. Thank You for saving me and forgiving all of my sins. I am so grateful that You did what I couldn’t do on my own. I thank You for keeping my soul secure in Your hands.
All that I am and all that I have is from You: my body, time, possessions, and money are Yours. Please help me to be a good steward of what You have given to me. You have blessed me with so much. Help me to glorify You with all that I do today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Then don’t forget to think about the second commandment: to love others as you love yourself (Mark 12:31). Look for opportunities to show kindness to those you encounter. Be ready to give practical help to those God puts in your path. Let someone get in front of you while you’re driving in traffic, smile at someone you pass by in the hallway, hold the door open for someone, or pray with someone in need.
As you begin each day by praying and focusing your mind on our loving, beautiful God, you’ll have the best start you could have to your day. So, start your day well. And then keep your thoughts focused on God as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Lucas Ludwig on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Mar 6, 2023 | Life, Thoughts
And take the helmet of salvation . . . . (Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV))
Have you ever had one of those days when it feels like you’ve fallen into a deep, dark pit? As you look up, the small point of light is so far away that getting out seems impossible. In those times, the only thing I can pray is “Abba, please help me,” over and over again.
Of course, God always rescues me when I finally turn to Him. He pulls me out of the pit. But how did I get there in the first place?
The day usually starts off just fine. No sign of a storm. Not a cloud in the sky.
But at some point, a barrage of negative thoughts pour into my head when I’m not paying attention. Before I know it, my mind is consumed by a situation, circumstance, or event.
Those thoughts are uninvited. Unwelcome. But that doesn’t stop them. And the descent into the pit begins.
So, what happened? When the thoughts came, I didn’t even consider that it was a tactic of the enemy. Satan’s mission is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Satan can’t possess a born-again believer who is already indwelt by the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). But one way he fulfills his mission is by messing with our minds.
Paul warned us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)). There’s a spiritual battle going on right now that we cannot see.
But God didn’t leave us defenseless. He gave us spiritual armor that we need to put on every day (Ephesians 6:13-18). One piece of that armor is the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17).
You can protect your mind with that helmet. You can keep the enemy from using your thoughts against you.
Surrounding your mind with the helmet of salvation reminds you of the truth. As a born‑again believer, all of God’s promises are yours in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). The truth about your salvation is that
- your soul is secure because you’ve been sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13);
- you are God’s child (1 John 3:1);
- you’re victorious because of what Jesus has done for you (1 John 5:4-5);
- you are safe in Jesus’ hand (John 10:28);
- nothing can separate you from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39); and
- this life is not all there is – one day you will live with Jesus (John 14:3).
All of these promises – and many more – belong to you. God loves you, and He will be faithful to fulfill His promises. As my pastor likes to say, “The best is yet to come.” Amen!
Remind yourself of these truths. They remain true no matter how you feel. Although feelings are real and we all experience them, they lie. They’ll pull you down into the pit if you don’t remember the truth.
So, be proactive. Protect your mind by putting on the helmet of salvation. Pray and ask God to protect your mind at the start of each day. Say something like this in your own words:
Abba Father, please protect my mind from spiritual warfare today. Help me to remember that I belong to You. Please remind me throughout the day that I am safe in Your hand. Prompt me to meditate on the fact that I have an amazing future in store for me with You. I praise You because You are faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Another beautiful promise is that, when you draw near to God, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Draw close to Him today.
And remember – even though you can’t see what your future holds in this life, you can trust that God will fulfill His promises. Remember your status as God’s child and all He has promised as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Aug 1, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. (Psalm 71:14 (NKJV))
Most of us have been disappointed at some point in our lives. And as we get older, we’re likely to have more. It comes in many different forms. A failed or difficult marriage. Singleness despite a desire for a husband. Wayward children. No children. Or maybe your life just didn’t turn out the way you thought it should. If you could go back, you would have made different choices.
So, what should you do with your disappointment? Here are three things to help you with those nagging feelings:
1. Take it To the Cross
I love the expression, “Take it to the cross.” Yet, it can be thrown around too haphazardly. It’s what some would call Christian-eeze – language that only insiders understand.
But it simply means to talk to God about it. Pray. Tell God about your disappointment, and then give it to Him. Let Him handle it.
The Bible instructs us to cast all our care on God because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). The word “cast” means “to throw upon.” When you throw your disappointment to God, it’s out of your hands and in His capable hands. He will handle it for you.
I like Craig Groeschel’s suggestion of using a “God” box in his book, Winning the War in Your Mind.[1] You can use any box – one you buy that looks pretty or even just a shoe box. When you have a care, concern, or disappointment, write it on a piece of paper and put it in the box as you pray, giving whatever it is to God.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that the box is God or even a representation of Him. It’s simply a visual reminder that you’ve given it to God – that you’ve thrown it in His hands and have decided to trust Him with it. If you start worrying about it again, you have to go and take it out of the box. Anytime you do, it’s another visual reminder – this time, that you no longer trust God to handle it.
It’s a powerful thing because that’s exactly what we do when we say we’ve given something to God but then continue to worry about it. Stop doing that. Leave it in God’s hands. He knows what He’s doing. And He’s more than able to handle any problem you have.
So, take your disappointment to the cross and leave. . . it. . . there.
2. Remember that God’s Grace is Sufficient
The Bible describes how the apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh that he “pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from [him]” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8 (NKJV)). We don’t know what the thorn was. But it must have been something that really challenged him if he begged God three times to take it away.
Despite Paul’s pleas, God didn’t take the thorn away. Instead, God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)).
At this news, Paul could have thrown himself a pity party. But he didn’t. He was likely disappointed to some extent. The thorn was something that had impacted him in a very real way, and He wanted it to be gone.
Yet, we discover in the next part of that verse that Paul didn’t allow any disappointment to keep him from doing what God had called him to do. He proclaimed, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)). Paul chose to trust God. He decided to believe that God knew what was best for him.
It can be difficult to do this. It’s not easy to choose to trust God when your feelings have taken your thoughts hostage. But God’s grace is sufficient for you too. Just like Paul, if you turn to God and trust Him – no matter how you feel – His strength will be made perfect in your weakness. God is enough for you.
3. Enjoy Your Relationship with God
When you’re feeling disappointed, it’s easy to get focused on what you don’t have and forget what you do have. It’s so important to realize that, although very real, feelings can lie to you. You may not have everything you wanted. But if you’ve decided to follow Jesus, you have the best thing ever – God Himself.
God loves you. He’s promised never to leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). His Holy Spirit lives inside of you (John 14:16-17). He is with you right now.
Spend time getting to know God better. He has revealed Himself to us in His word, the Bible. Take a moment to contemplate God’s amazing love for you. Put on your favorite worship song and sing to Him, praising Him and thanking Him for all He has done. Talk to God throughout your day. Ask Him for wisdom and guidance. Live your life like He’s right there beside you every moment of every day because He is.
As you give your disappointment to God, remember that He is all you need, and enjoy the relationship you have with Him, God will help you through this time. Continue seeking His plan for your life as you walk by faith with Him.
* Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash
[1] Craig Groeschel, Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2021), 178-179.
by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 20, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth, Thoughts
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKVJ))
War is real. Countries invade other countries. Lives are lost and devastation follows. It’s no surprise. Jesus told us in the last days we would “hear of wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6 (NKJV)).
But did you know that there is a spiritual war going on around you? A battle is being fought at this very moment in the spiritual realm. As the Bible explains, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)).
We’re at war. And many don’t even know it. That war is being fought over people’s souls and Christians’ lives. Although we can’t see it, it doesn’t make it any less real.
We get a peek into this spiritual realm through God’s prophet, Elisha. When Elisha and his servant were surrounded by a great army with horses and chariots, the servant was afraid (2 Kings 6:15). Wouldn’t you be afraid too? I would. But Elisha told his servant, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16 (NKJV)).
I’ll bet at first the servant thought Elisha had lost his mind. Maybe he looked at himself and then at Elisha. Yep, there were only two of them. Two. . . versus a great army. What was Elisha talking about?
Elisha then prayed that God would open the servant’s eyes so he could see (2 Kings 6:17). “Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17 (NKJV)).
That must have been an amazing sight. Elisha’s servant was able to put on spiritual glasses (so to speak) to see what was really going on. He had the privilege of seeing what most are unable to witness.
We get more insight into the spiritual realm from another one of God’s prophets. Daniel had prayed for God to give him understanding about a vision. But his prayer wasn’t answered for three weeks.
When an angel came to answer his prayer, he told Daniel that his words had been heard “from the first day” he had “set [his] heart to understand” (Daniel 10:12 (NKJV)). Yet, the angel had been delayed by “the prince of the kingdom of Persia” – a fallen angel or demon – until Michael the Archangel had come to help him (Daniel 10:13 (NKJV)).
In the spiritual realm, God’s angels are battling against fallen angels. And the stakes are high. People’s souls rest in the balance. As Jesus warned us, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10 (NKJV)).
If you’re a believer in Jesus, you have been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). You belong to God; your soul is secure. Still, the battle rages on around you.
Satan tries to keep you from drawing closer to God and from being effective at doing God’s work. He knows that God uses people to reach other people. So, he tries to render believers ineffective.
His tactics have been the same for generations. In the garden of Eden, Satan tempted Eve to sin by appealing to
- the lust of the flesh (she “saw that the tree was good for food”);
- the lust of the eyes (“it was pleasant to the eyes”); and
- the pride of life (it was “desirable to make one wise”) (Genesis 3:6 (NKJV)).
When Eve got her eyes off God and on herself, “she took of its fruit and ate” even though she knew she wasn’t supposed to eat it (Genesis 3:6 (NKJV)).
And Satan continues to use these three things to tempt us. He tries to get us to satisfy
- our flesh (It’s okay if I flirt a little; my husband never pays attention to me like he does.);
- our eyes (I know I can’t afford it but that outfit would look great on me.); and
- our pride (She deserved what I said to her. Doesn’t she know who she’s talking to?).
Out of these temptations arise distractions, irritations, addictions, and misplaced desire. And those things take our focus off God and places it on ourselves.
So, what do we do? We need to use the spiritual weapons God gave us to fight the war. As we see from our verse above, those weapons are “not carnal,” which means they are not of this world. Instead, they are “mighty in God.”
If we look in Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul tells us about the spiritual armor God gave us to use in this fight. He directs us to “put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm” (Ephesians 6:13 (NLT)).
Paul then tells us more about this armor. Let’s look at one piece – “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)). Did you know that you can use the Bible to protect yourself? You can.
The Bible is a powerful weapon that you can always rely on. That weapon is “alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)).
Jesus used the word of God to counteract Satan’s temptations. Each time Satan tempted Him with something, Jesus quoted from the Bible (Matthew 4:3-10). As He did, Jesus withstood every temptation that came His way.
That’s why it’s so important to memorize Bible verses. When you’re in the middle of a spiritual battle, God will assist you by bringing those verses to mind. You can then speak God’s word out loud to resist temptation.
When we use the spiritual weapons that are mighty in God, we are able to fight the battle. “By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life” (2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)). Let’s arm ourselves with the spiritual weapons God has provided so we can live a life pleasing to Him. When we keep ourselves pure, God will be able to do His work through us to reach the lost as we walk by faith with Him.
* Photo by Joel Muniz on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Jun 6, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.” (Psalm 39:7 (NKJV))
Many of us are waiting for something. Maybe you’re going through a trial that seems like it will never end. Or maybe God has given you a promise that has not yet come to fruition. What should we do while we’re waiting?
In short, we should trust God. And “let patience have its perfect work” (James 1:4 (NKJV)).
Waiting for a promise to be fulfilled may seem like a trial in and of itself. Waiting is hard – especially in our culture. We’re not used to waiting for anything. Instead, we’re used to getting things the way we want them, when we want them.
We have fast food. On-demand movies. Giga-bit internet. People get impatient if they have to wait for more than a few minutes in a drive-through. Some even get irritated and leave (or worse). We stream entertainment at our fingertips whenever we want it. Our internet is now so fast that everything works in an instant, even on our phones.
Gone are the days of patiently cooking your own food. Many don’t remember dial-up internet that binged and bonged for a minute before it even connected. And then it would run so slowly that you could get up and do something else for an hour while you were waiting for something to download. Literally.
So when we’re going through a trial, we want it to end now. Or, better yet, yesterday. We don’t want to wait for a promise; we want it to happen immediately. Right?
Sometimes, God does deliver you out of the trial. It started, you prayed, you trusted, and bam! It seemed like God delivered you out of it instantly.
Other times, God gave you a promise that was fulfilled soon after He gave it to you. You were overjoyed by His blessing. You couldn’t believe how quickly God had worked.
But then there are those times when you’re not sure if God is listening. You wonder if He’s doing anything or if He even remembers the promise He gave you. You cry out, “How long must I wait?”
God’s timing is perfect. We need to wait for Him. In the waiting, God is doing a work in us. He’s using that time to change us.
It’s easy to get our priorities mixed up when we’re in pain. When we’re hurting, our focus can get stuck on the trial or the unfulfilled promise. But that’s not where our attention should be. We need to remember that we’re not waiting for something, but on Someone.
Our eyes need to be on Jesus. Our hope lies in Him and Him alone. Refocus your eyes; change your depth of field. Stop focusing on your struggles and fix your eyes firmly on Jesus. Remember all that He has already done for you. Recall how He brought you up out of the miry clay and set your feet on a rock (Psalm 40:2).
When we wait on God, instead of something else, He will strengthen your heart (Psalm 27:14). And “those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)).
God has a plan. And He has a time for that plan to happen. He is working all things together – not just in your life but in the lives of others as well. God is doing a work while you’re waiting. Even though you can’t see it, God is working. He never sleeps or slumbers (Psalm 121:3-4).
Trust Him. Wait on Him. Be patient while He works.
In the meantime, here are three things you can do while you’re waiting:
1. Read the Bible
Take time each day to nourish your spirit. We tend to focus on our physical needs and forget that our spirit has needs too. When was the last time you forgot to eat food? I have heard of some people who say things like, “I was so busy that I forgot to eat.” But for most, our stomachs readily remind us when we need to eat. (And often too frequently. Sigh.)
But it’s easy to get distracted with whatever we’re doing and forget to spend time reading the Bible. Set aside a regular time to be in God’s Word
- getting to know Him better;
- finding out what He likes and what He hates;
- discovering what He wants you to do and what He doesn’t want you to do; and
- learning about the amazing things He has done.
As you draw near to God, He has promised to draw near to you (James 4:8). And, as your relationship with God deepens, you’ll be able to trust Him and be patient in the waiting.
2. Pray
Pour out your heart to God. Tell Him how you’re feeling. He knows what you’re going through is hard. And He will be there to listen to you and walk with you through it.
In the waiting, you may question the truth that God loves you. But that is the truth. Because He cares for you, He wants you to cast all your care on Him (1 Peter 5:7). The word “cast” means to throw. God wants you to throw your worries to Him. When you do, it’s out of your hands and in His. His hands are able to hold all your cares. Let Him help you.
3. Worship
Praise God for what He’s going to do in your life and for the things He’s already done. When you’re feeling down, put on your favorite worship music and sing to Him. As the psalmist encourages us,
“I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” (Psalm 9:1-2 (NKJV))
As you sing praises to God, something awesome happens. When you started singing, your spirit may have felt heavy. You probably didn’t even feel like worshipping God. And it may have been difficult for you to even get the words out of your mouth.
But as you praise Him, as you continue to sing, your spirits are lifted. You feel lighter, calmer – even joyful. Your disposition actually changes while you’re worshipping our beautiful Savior. He is so good to us!
Have you noticed how the psalms often begin with despair and end in hope? The process of taking your cares to the Lord and then praising Him despite your pain results in lifting your spirit. Your circumstances haven’t changed. Yet, your perspective has. You are able to see the size of your problem in light of our great God. Take time to praise Him every day.
So, in the waiting, wait on God. Take time to read His Word, pray to Him, and praise Him as you anticipate how He will work. As you do, you will grow closer to God as you wait by faith on Him.
*Photo by Guilherme Stecanella on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | May 9, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Spiritual Growth
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 (NKJV))
By examining yourself, you should be able to determine if God is the One who’s on center stage in your life. To do so, ask yourself what you spend most of your time thinking about. Is it your children? Your husband? Or getting a husband? Maybe it’s not family-related but your job, a vacation you’re planning, or a fun night out with friends.
Now compare the amount of time you spend thinking about those things with how much you think about God. Meditating on His goodness – on who He is and all He has done. Thinking about things like how He created the universe by speaking it into existence and how that shows His power and might. About the promises He’s made to us and all He’s done for you.
If God’s not front and center in your thought-life, you may have relegated Him to that dusty supply closet backstage where you only go when you need something.
God wants to be the main thing in your life, for you to seek Him first. He doesn’t want to be an after-thought, the One we only think about when something bad happens. We shouldn’t confine God to our Sunday mornings. Of course, God also wants us to seek Him in those times. But He doesn’t want them to be the only occasions in which we come to Him.
Make sure you haven’t confined God to certain parts of your life. Instead, put Him on center stage. Give Him priority. Seek Him first, not when you get around to it. When you do, God has promised to provide for your needs.
Besides His promise of provision, there are other reasons we should seek God first. For one, God deserves to be on center stage in our lives. He is the One who created the universe – the One who made us (Genesis 1:1, 27). And Jesus is the One who sustains us. He is literally holding us together. The Bible teaches us that “He holds all creation together” (Colossians 1:17 (NLT)).
Moreover, God wants to have a relationship with you. But you can’t have a relationship with someone you’re not spending time with.
Think about the connections you have with your family and friends. They take time, thought, and energy. Without that investment, a relationship can become estranged. Or it may never form to begin with.
It takes time to develop a friendship – to get to know a person’s likes and dislikes, to understand what they think is important, and to learn how they feel about certain things. If you don’t make the time, you won’t get to know that person very well.
It’s the same with God. If you don’t spend time with Him, your relationship with Him won’t deepen. It won’t grow. You won’t know Him very well. And God wants you to know Him. He has revealed Himself to you in the Bible.
Isn’t that amazing? The all-powerful, all-mighty God wants to have a close relationship with you! He already knows everything about you. God knows what you do and what you think about. He even knows what you’re going to say before you even say it (Psalm 139:4). But He wants you to get to know Him.
So let God be on center stage in your life. Seek Him first today. That doesn’t mean you stop caring about other people or things. Seeking God first just means that God takes priority each day of your life.
Here are a few things that will help you to seek God first:
- Read the Bible every day to discover who God is and His will for your life.
- Meditate on what you read. Ask yourself what it means and how God wants you to apply it to your life.
- Pray to God. Tell Him what’s going on in Your life. Ask Him for guidance and help with the decisions you need to make.
- Be obedient to do whatever God asks you to do. If the Bible teaches you that you shouldn’t do something, obey God and stop doing it. Conversely, if there’s something God wants you to do, start doing it.
As you seek God first – putting Him on center stage, you’ll be able to walk by faith with Him.
* Photo by Barry Weatherall on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Dec 2, 2021 | Bible Study, Christian Living
Where is the best place we can be? At the feet of Jesus – our God and Savior, the one who willingly died to pay the penalty for our sins. At Jesus’ feet, we’re in a position of surrender. In that posture, there is humility. Choosing to sit at Jesus’ feet acknowledges His position as Lord over our lives.
In the Bible, we see that Mary understood the value of being at the feet of Jesus. We are told about three times when she was at His feet.
Sitting at Jesus’ Feet
The first time, Mary is sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing His word (Luke 10:39). Mary was listening to Jesus. She was paying attention to Him and to what He was saying.
But her sister, Martha, was “distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40 (NKJV)). The word distracted in this verse means that Martha was “over-occupied” or drawn away.
Could you imagine if Jesus came over to your house for dinner? How much time would you spend planning the meal, shopping for the best ingredients you could find, and making sure your house was spotless? Wouldn’t you want everything to be perfect? Then after Jesus arrived, how much time would you spend making sure that the food was cooked to perfection and beautifully plated? You would want to ensure that Jesus had everything He wanted.
Don’t misunderstand, serving is good. The problem was not Martha’s desire to serve. It was Martha’s failure to focus on what was important in that moment. She was so occupied with what she was doing that she wasn’t paying attention to Jesus.
Jesus was there; Jesus was teaching them. But Martha wasn’t listening. Martha didn’t hear. In fact, Martha was so distracted that she was complaining to Jesus. She approached Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40 (NKJV)).
Instead of telling Mary to help her sister, Jesus acknowledged that Mary was in the best place – at His feet, hearing His word. Jesus told her,
Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV))
There is a time for service. Yet, we must remember that there is also a time to sit at Jesus’ feet, hearing His word. We need to spend time in the Bible, reading God’s word. As we learn about the things He wants us to know, our relationship with Jesus will grow deeper.
Falling at Jesus’ Feet
The second time we see Mary at Jesus’ feet, her brother Lazarus had died. When Jesus came, she fell at Jesus’ feet weeping (John 11:32-33). Mary took all her sorrow and pain to Jesus. She was honest with Him about what she was thinking. She told Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32 NKJV)).
When we’re going through a heartbreaking situation, we too should fall at Jesus’ feet. We should bring all our pain and sorrow to Him. You can be honest with Jesus about what you’re thinking and how you’re feeling.
Jesus invited us to do so. He said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)). It is God who “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 (NKJV)). That includes your broken heart.
When we bring all our pain to Jesus, we are admitting that He is the One who can help us. By bringing our sorrow to Him, He can comfort us and begin the healing process.
Worshipping at Jesus’ Feet
The third time we are told about Mary at Jesus’ feet, it is only a few days before His crucifixion. While Jesus was having dinner, (John 12:2) Mary came to Him with her most valuable possession – an “alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard” (Mark 14:3 (NKJV)).
The perfume was worth about 300 denarii (Mark 14:5; John 12:5). A denarius was a coin used at that time. Commentators suggest that 300 denarii was the equivalent of a year’s wages. The flask of oil was likely Mary’s dowry – what she would have presented to her husband at the time of her marriage.
Mary broke the flask and poured it on Jesus’ head and anointed His feet (Mark 14:3; John 12:3). Then she wiped His feet with her hair (John 12:3).
Mary came to Jesus with her future. She gave it all to Him and worshipped Him. She didn’t hold anything back. “[T]he house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (John 12:3 (NKJV)). The fragrance of Mary’s worship and devotion filled the room.
When the disciples were “indignant” and “criticized her sharply” for wasting the oil because it could have been sold and the money given to the poor, Jesus rebuked them (Mark 14:4-6 (NKJV)). He said,
Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” (Mark 14:6-9 (NKJV))
We too should bring all that we have to Jesus and worship at His feet. As our Lord, everything we are and everything we have belongs to Him. Don’t worry about those who may be indignant or criticize you for your worship of Jesus. As you worship and pray, the aroma of your devotion will fill your house. Our prayers are like “golden bowls full of incense” (Revelation 5:8).
So let’s be like Mary –
- sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing His word;
- falling at Jesus’ feet in our distress; and
- bringing all that we have and giving it to Jesus as we worship at His feet.
