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.
Photo by Ugne Vasyliute on Unsplash
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.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
by Catherine McDaugale | Nov 13, 2023 | Christian Living, Thoughts
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 106:1 (NKJV))
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching – a time for family gatherings and expressions of gratitude. (And a time to wonder, Where did 2023 go?) It can be hard to give thanks if you’re going through a difficult season. Yet, God wants us to give thanks “in everything” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)).
It’s challenging to have a thankful heart when we’re focused on the bad stuff or the hard things. Although our feelings are very real, they can keep us from seeing the bigger picture. Instead of showing us the truth, those feelings give us tunnel vision.
But as a born-again believer, you have a lot to be thankful for. You are God’s child, and your heavenly Father is amazing!
If you’re having trouble finding reasons to be grateful this Thanksgiving, here are 20 reasons you can give thanks no matter what you’re going through. Take a moment to look up the verse for each one. Then meditate on how awesome that truth is!
- God is good (Psalm 100:5).
- God loves you (John 3:16; 1 John 3:16).
- God is always with you (Psalm 139:7; Matthew 28:20).
- God will never leave you or drop you (Hebrews 13:5).
- God will strengthen you (Isaiah 41:10).
- God will help you (Isaiah 41:10).
- God will uphold you (Isaiah 41:10).
- God is strong and mighty (Psalm 24:8).
- You are safe in Jesus’ hand (John 10:28–29).
- God thinks about you more than the number of grains of sand (Psalm 139:17–18).
- God’s thoughts toward you are thoughts of peace (Jeremiah 29:11).
- God hears your prayers (1 John 5:14–15).
- Jesus is praying for you (Romans 8:34), and so is the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26).
- God understands your thoughts (Psalm 139:2).
- God is working all things together for good (Romans 8:28).
- God is conforming you into the image of His Son, Jesus (Romans 8:29).
- God will complete the work He has started in you (Philippians 1:6).
- Jesus is preparing a place for you so you can be with Him (John 14:2–3).
- Jesus will come again (John 14:3).
- One day, God will make everything new (Revelation 21:5).
So, “[e]nter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4 (NKJV)). Focus on who God is and all He has done and continues to do for you. Choose to be filled with gratitude as you walk by faith with Him.
Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash
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 | Sep 12, 2022 | Christian Living, Life, Ministry
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 (NKJV))
Each year my church hosts a Refresh Conference for people who serve in the ministry. It’s a time set aside to encourage and rejuvenate those who come. During the conference, we study God’s word, pray together, sing praises to our amazing God, and fellowship with each other.
Such a conference can sound exhausting. Attending the conference necessarily takes time out of your schedule. Instead of your usual Friday night relaxation or entertainment, you’re up late worshipping the Lord at the church. And your time of sleeping in on Saturday morning? Well, it’s not going to happen that week.
Yet, when the conference ends on Saturday, people will leave energized. They’ll be reinvigorated to continue doing God’s work. It seems counter-intuitive. How can less sleep and less relaxation result in more energy?
In Isaiah 28, we get the answer. In that chapter, God gives a remedy to those who are weary. He tells us what will give us rest and refresh us.
God said,
“This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest.” And, “This is the refreshing.”
. . .
“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” (Isaiah 28:12-13 (NKJV))
The remedy for weariness is going through God’s word. That’s why hearing expository teaching will refresh you. We feel better as we go through the whole counsel of God – precept upon precept, line upon line – learning about everything God has revealed to us.
As Psalm 19 teaches us, “The statutes of the Lord are right; rejoicing the heart” (Psalm 19:8 (NKJV)). Learning about God’s ways causes us to rejoice and be glad.
When you take time to learn about God and apply His truths to your life, you are letting your good Shepherd Jesus lead you. Jesus will lead you “beside the still waters” and restore your soul (Psalm 23:2-3 (NKJV)).
The Hebrew word translated as “still” in Psalm 23:2 is the same Hebrew word translated as “rest” in Isaiah 28:12. The word means resting place. When you spend time with Jesus and let Him guide you, He will take you to a place of rest.
And Jesus wants us to come to Him with all our worries and anxiety. Jesus invited those “who labor and are heavy laden” to come to Him and promised He would give them rest (Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)).
Jesus is the One who will truly give our souls rest. Zoning out in front of the television while watching a movie may be enjoyable. But you won’t be refreshed afterward. If you’re physically tired, a good night’s sleep will help your body to function properly. Yet, when you wake up, you may still feel as burdened as you did the night before.
So, do you need to be refreshed? If you need that rest, here are some things you can do:
- Read God’s word every day.
- Take time to worship God and talk to Him.
- Spend time in fellowship with other believers.
- Be intentional about learning what God has revealed to us in the Bible, precept upon precept and line upon line.
- Go to a church that teaches through the Bible chapter by chapter and verse by verse.
- Attend conferences where you can sit under solid Biblical teaching.
If you do these things, your soul will be refreshed. And that refreshment will help you to walk by faith with God.
*Photo by Herbert Goetsch 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 | 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.
