Author: MaryEllen

I am a follower of Christ, on mission for God, fueled by His Word and empowered by His Spirit. My life has been blessed but not perfect, crippled with mistakes but forever changed by His grace.
Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Joyfully Giving Thanks

Posted on by MaryEllen

Today’s Road Map: Colossians 1:1-14 (SOAP: 12-14)

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

11  We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,

  12  always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.  13  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,  14  who purchased our freedom  and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:9-14. NET

I marvel at these opening words (1-14) of Paul in his letter to the Colossian believers. He wasn’t just happy to hear about their salvation and their faithfulness. He wasn’t merely offering an obligatory pledge to pray for them; he was blessing them with the utmost encouragement that prayers were continually being lifted up on their behalf. As we looked at in the earlier parts of our journey, Paul even listed out the reasons and focus of their prayers – which centered on the work of the Father, their faith in the good news of the Gospel, God’s grace, and the love the Holy Spirit had given them for others. We noted how the entire Trinity ~ the Father, Son, and Spirit is part of Paul and Timothy’s prayer and the faith of the Colossians. Don’t miss that the focus of their prayers was that the people would “live worthily of the Lord and please Him in all respects…”

From the beginning, Paul’s words bring conviction to my heart, but twelve verses into this opening portion of the letter, my toes are still being stepped on. For Paul now encourages the Colossian believers to be filled with joy and give thanks to God, and proceeds to instruct them or prompt them with all (or many of the things) that they have to be thankful for. His list is appropriate for us today and one that I am persuaded to use in my own prayers of thanksgiving.

Always thanking the Father that …

  • God has made it possible for me to share in the <strongift and promises of salvation</stron
  • He has promised me an inheritance (in the light1) that belongs to His people (Galatians 3:6-14)
    • Christ is the Light of the world… John wrote that He is the Word of God… The Word is often referred to as light – such as in Psalm 119:105
  • He has promised deliverance from the power of darkness to the Kingdom of Christ
  • and finally, here in Colossians, we are reminded that we are promised the redemption, which is the forgiveness of sins through the blood and mediation of Christ Jesus our Lord – the only begotten and beloved Son of God

Friends, we have many reasons to give thanks to God on any given day; however, these that Paul mentions for the “Church/believers in Colossae” should flow from our lips often – for other believers/Churches as Paul and Timothy are doing here and for ourselves – as we realize with a fresh awareness that God chose to deliver us, not only from our sins but from the power of darkness over our lives — as Paul wrote. May we never forget or take lightly the gift of redemption (the forgiveness of sins) that we have received through the blood of Jesus Christ and the grace of our loving God.

Reflection and Application

  • What sins has Jesus saved you from?
  • Who can you begin praying for to be free from the chains of sin by the grace of Jesus Christ?

The More We Know

Key Bible Passages for Sharing in the inheritance of Abraham, through faith in Christ

  • Galatians 3:29: “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” [1]
  • Galatians 3:7: “Realize, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.” [1]
  • Romans 4:13: “It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.” [1]
  • Ephesians 3:6: “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” [1, 2, 3]

In verse 12, Paul also makes mention of light, “which is an important part of Hebrew thinking. According to the Jewish people, all knowledge and goodness was symbolized by ‘light’ while sin and ignorance were characterized by ‘ darkness.’ This is a theme of the apostle John, as well, frequently used in both his letters and the Gospel of John.”

  1. https://www.bibleref.com/Colossians/1/Colossians-1-12.html ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Sharing in the Inheritance

Posted on by MaryEllen

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Colossians 1:11-12

Remember, our journey yesterday revealed that Paul’s reason for praying for the church was so that they might please God – not just in the big things but in “every good deed [or work]. In today’s passage, Paul continues to share his prayer for the church – both to encourage them in their walk of faith and to remind them that God has enabled them to share in the “inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.” This is not simply an inheritance of property or land or money, but the far more valuable gift of God, which is eternal life and that of the Holy Spirit.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the assurance and realization of the saints’ inheritance. Ephesians 1:13-14 states, “In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.” The Holy Spirit is both a seal and a guarantee, affirming the believer’s status as an heir and providing a foretaste of the future inheritance.

Peter describes the inheritance as imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). It is an inheritance not earned or deserved, but acquired by faith and secured through the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. By God’s grace, believers are described as co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17), sharing in His glory and the fullness of God’s promises.

Click here for more on the inheritance that is ours through Christ.1

I really appreciate the following commentary2 from David Guzik concerning the prayer of Paul and Timothy for the Colossian believers:

c. Being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. This is how we can be fully pleasing to God and how we can have a worthy walk.

i. This is an echo of Jesus’ thought in John 15:7-8: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

ii. “‘Fruitful in every good work.’ Here is room and range enough – in ‘every good work.’ Have you the ability to preach the gospel? Preach it! Does a little child need comforting? Comfort it! Can you stand up and vindicate a glorious truth before thousands? Do it! Does a poor saint need a bit of dinner from your table? Send it to her. Let works of obedience, testimony, zeal, charity, piety, and philanthropy all be found in your life. Do not select big things as your special line, but glorify the Lord also in the littles – ‘fruitful in every good work.’” (Spurgeon)

d. Strengthened with all might: As we walk worthy of the Lord, His strength is there to help us meet all of life’s challenges, and to endure and overcome problems with circumstances (patience) and people (longsuffering) with joy.

Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

a. Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us: In the divine administration, the Father is mentioned in connection with the broad sweep of His plan of redemption. He is the Person of the Trinity who initiates the plan of the ages.

b. To be partakers of the inheritance of the saints: It is the Father who qualifies us, not our own works. We gain this as an inheritance, instead of earning it as a wage.

Reflection and Application

Friends, let us not overlook Paul’s words of specific thanks to the Father. Instead, let us be faithful to include such thanksgiving in our own prayers. For it is good to give thanks to God, to praise Him for what He has done and for His good, good gifts – of love, mercy, and grace and of His presence with us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Let us also be quick and faithful to not just tell someone we will pray for them but truly and specifically pray for them and make them aware of our prayers that they might be encouraged and strengthened “with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.”

  1. https://biblehub.com/topical/t/the_saints’_inheritance.htm ↩︎
  2. Guzik, Enduring Word ↩︎
Mountain valley covered in morning mist with sun rising over distant peaks
Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Confident Hope

Posted on by MaryEllen

 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, 5 which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

Colossians 1:3-5 (SOAP verse 5)

Friends, I am borrowing from the LGG Study Journal again today – partly because I am having computer problems and having to use my iPad to post this, but also because I was out later than expected tonight helping Abi with her classroom.

Today’s focal point is verse five, and it is one of the key verses of the entire book. A reminder for us that it’s not just important to have faith – we must be confident in our faith – the belief in the truth that God has promised us a home in heaven with Him … not because our parents believed, or because “we worked for it or earned it, or ever could,” but solely because of God’s amazing grace.

Consider these words from the LGG team:

Do you often think of the hope lad up for you in heaven? The hope that one day, you will be totally healed and perfected, forever filled with indescribable joy? That all your tears will be wiped away, and nobody will ever cause you grief again? That you will finally see the loving face of Jesus?

Note how this hope came to us: Through the gospel. We didn’t work for it, and we don’t deserve it. But God gave us hope simply because we heard the message of truth and believed it. The gospel is the message that Jesus died and rose again three days later to forgive us of all our sins. It is a gift of grace through faith. God has subsequently prepared a place in heaven for those who trust in His Son.

Our hope as Christians is based only on God’s grace. Because it’s not based on our performance, it is firm. It is not a case of “I hope I’ll make it to heaven somehow.” Instead, we can proclaim, “I know I’ll make it to heaven because of what Jesus has done for me.”

Have you ever heard the phrase that some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good? Clearly this is not the teaching of the Bible. Right here, Paul is saying that the hope of heaven actually gives rise to love and encourages us to live faithfully and missionally here on earth. Real heavenly mindedness will make us more loving, less self-centered, less fearful, and less greedy.

Jesus Himself promised that whatever it may cost us now to serve and love others, our reward in heaven makes these sacrifices more than worthwhile.

Lord Jesus, please open the eyes of my heart so that I can see more clearly the glorious future that awaits me. – Amen.

Reflection and Application:

What about you? Is your faith confident or shakable? Is it based on the truth of the Gospel that you have heard or is it in the church…the people…your family…your good works??? Take some time and consider these questions and examine your faith.

Posted in Bible study, Christ is All I Need, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time, Uncategorized

The Thanks Belong to God

Posted on by MaryEllen

Today’s Scripture: Colossians 1:3-8; James 1:17 (SOAP: Colossians 1:3-4)

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, Since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.

Colossians 1:3-4

Today’s post is shared from p 40 of the Love God Greatly Journal, Christ is All I Need

Through the report of others, Paul heard about the faith and love of the Colossian believers. They trusted in Jesus, and they loved other Christians. Interestingly, he doesn’t praise them for it. Instead, he gives thanks to God for these virtues. Why? He knows that they didn’t produce their own faith or love, but these were gifts of grace from God.

Can the same be said of us? Are we marked by love for God and others? Let’s never forget to thank God for anything good we see in us, since He is the One who has produced it, and let’s acknowledge that every “perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).

There is no room for pride or jealousy. How do we feel when we see other Christians displaying Christ-like characteristics? Do we honestly rejoice with them, giving thanks to God for the good He has worked in them, or do we maybe feel a little jealous? The attitude God wants us to have is one of gratitude. Just like Paul, we should thank God for everything positive we see in our fellow Christians.

Let’s remember that everything good, whether material or spiritual, is given to us by God. May we be made into women who overflow with thankfulness for the good we ourselves have received and that has been given to others.

Just imagine what an encouraging place the church would be if we not only saw God’s good work in others, but, like Paul, we were truly thankful for it rather than jealous. Imagine how much joy could be spread if we genuinely rejoiced with others for what God has done in their lives.

Lord, I confess that so often I become proud of what I have, or I am jealous of what others have. Please forgive me and make me into a thankful person. Amen.

Today’s Reflection and Application:

Can you think of spiritual fruit in your own life which you are thankful for? How about any spiritual fruit in one of your Christian friends? How could you encourage them about it?

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time

Saints and Faithful Brethren

Posted on by MaryEllen

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:1-8 and Deuteronomy 7:6-8 (SOAP: Colossians 1:2)

 We are writing to God’s holy people in the city of Colosse, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.

Colossians 1:2

Friends, check out the words that Paul uses to describe the people who belonged to the Colossian Church: “…the saints1 and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.” Or as the author of Deuteronomy describes God’s people in his day, “… a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.” Or as the LGG journal entry encourages us, “We are His holy people, chosen and set apart for Him. We have been called out of the world to live for the world to come.”2 You see, while Paul is speaking specifically about the Colossian believers in his letter, and Deuteronomy’s writer is referring to the people of Israel, the terms saints and holy people apply to us who are believers as well.

The Christian life is lived by trusting in God’s grace, given to us in Jesus. We are God’s beloved children, and it is His grace, not our performance, that will provide us with all we need to live for Him.

LGG Journal, Christ Is All I Need, p36

It is important to understand that Paul’s description isn’t meant to elevate us or reflect how wonderful we are but rather how wonderful God is. After all, it was Paul who wrote that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23) and that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. choosing us and setting us ~ imperfect as we are ~ apart for Him. This calling and gift is ours only through the grace of God when we place our faith in Christ who came to die so that we might live. It is as simple and yet profound as that.

“If we could truly understand grace and receive what Christ has accomplished for us, our hearts and lives would be filled with peace. The Colossians needed to hear this truth, and so do we today.”

LGG Journal, Christ Is All I Need, p36

It is my prayer that as we journey through the book of Colossians together, we will learn not only to know Jesus better but to more fully understand His grace and truth and be filled with His peace.

  1. This is not a reference to ‘ultra holy people’ but refers to believers (those who followed Christ). ↩︎
  2. LGG Journal, Christ Is All I Need, p36 ↩︎

Wooden sign with text 'God our Father Provider' amid vibrant garden flowers and three small birds.
Posted in From the Insideout, Bible study, Devotion, Journey Through The Word, Love

Trusting God’s Provision

Posted on by MaryEllen

If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, o you of little faith?

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:30-33

As we’ve learned/seen on our journey through Matthew 6:25-29 this week, Jesus’s early followers either had real concerns about food and clothing, or He was preparing them for a time when these concerns would become real. Whatever the situation, Jesus uses the well-fed birds of the air and the beautifully clothed flowers to illustrate and assure them that their Father will provide for them in every need. No area of their life is beyond His care.”1 The point – at least in large part – is that Jesus doesn’t want them to be anxious about where their needs will come from. He wants them to trust that God will provide for them even more than he does for the birds and flowers. He impresses on them that God’s love for them is greater than what He feels for the birds and flowers.

Hear the Words of Jesus again:

25That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life — whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,  29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Matthew 6:25-30

Friend, “If you feel anxious, ask yourself what you’re chasing. If you’re chasing temporary things, you’ll always crave more. And your anxiety will increase as you watch life slip through your fingers. Jesus tells His followers to prioritize things of eternal value because God will handle the big deals and the details. He wants to set their hearts at peace by reminding them that God can be trusted.2

I love that Jesus used things we see or hear every day. A strategic picture lesson that, no doubt, will be a daily reminder to trust that God, our Father, is our good and faithful provider. It is also an illustration that we can easily use to share this character of God with others around us.

The More We Know

Finally, Jesus speaks to those with little or no money. He tells them not to live in anxiety over the basic needs of life, even if they don’t know how they will pay for food and clothing. God the Father feeds the birds and clothes the lilies, and His people are far more valuable than that. Worry accomplishes nothing. Believers should make it the point of life to pursue God’s kingdom and His righteousness. We can concern ourselves with that, trusting Him to provide all we truly need. Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow. Trust God for today’s troubles (Matthew 6:25–34).3

Reflection and Application

Friends, how have you seen God’s provision? Have the birds or the flowers ever reminded you of God’s love and provision?

  1. Adapted in part from The God Shot, p 21 ↩︎
  2. The God Shot, p 21 ↩︎
  3. Bibleref.com ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Quiet Time

Overcoming Anxiety About Material Needs

Posted on by MaryEllen

Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6:28-29

As a child, to my remembrance, I didn’t want for anything. We had food and clothing, a comfortable and safe home. My dad worked as an inspector at a local plant, and my mother was home with us before we started school. At some point after that, she began working as a receptionist in the local doctor’s office. She had various other jobs after Doc Sadler retired. Most of my growing-up years, there was only one car; if my dad drove to work, we did without the car during the day, but our small town was equipped with a grocery store, a bank, a pool, our schools, and friends and family all within walking distance. Our clothes were from thrift stores, rummage sales, the local Sears department store, and occasionally from one of the nicer/bigger downtown stores, particularly on dollar day. I didn’t know it at the time, but they scrimped and saved and took advantage of layaway plans, and life was always good. I truly do not recall ever having thought that the grass was greener on either side of the fence. However, I’m sure after growing up and hearing the stories of how they scrimped and saved, life wasn’t as easy or rosy for my mom and dad as it was for me.

Today’s snapshot of God’s character is still zoomed in on Him being a God of peace. Just as my mom and dad provided in ways that never left me wondering if we would have food, a place to live, or clothes on our backs, our God does the same. He’s never left me wondering, even when money’s been tight, or I didn’t know how repairs would get done, or I would manage on my own when my husband left – God always provided, always sent help, always made a way. He is a good and loving provider and a loving Father who has also taught me not to put too much emphasis and/or focus on having to have all the latest and greatest clothes, shoes, and purses. The lessons haven’t always been easy or comfortable, but they have been valuable and even life-altering.

Friend, let me close with this encouraging quote from The God Shot:

God is your provider. He knows all your needs. He is attentive to them. That means you have enough for this moment. And the next. And the next.

God Shots, p 17

Reflection and Application

Are there times/places where you’ve forgotten that He is a trustworthy provider? Thank Him for meeting your needs in the past. Ask Him to meet your needs in the present. Trust Him to meet your needs in the future. Rest in the peace of His provision. He’s where the joy is! (p 17, God Shots)

Ask yourself, do you see God as your provider, as an all-sufficient provider? Or do you feel like He leaves you wanting and needing to strive harder to have more or keep up with others around you? ~ Let’s face it, in this world of excess and pleasure, it is difficult not to get caught up in the desires of the culture and ‘keeping up with the Joneses’; my prayer is that I/we will remember to not focus on what we have or don’t have or what the people beside us have, or being the trendiest. Instead, may our focus be on God, our provider, and what’s important to Him, which is to reflect Jesus to the world around us.

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Prayer Starters, Uncategorized

Worry Doesn’t Help

Posted on by MaryEllen

Full disclosure

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Matthew 6:26-27

Years, probably more like decades ago, I remember a little ditty/chorus that turned into the catch-phrase of the day. I’m guessing you’ll remember it too:

“Don’t worry, be happy ~ put a smile on your face ~ don’t worry be happy”

Then the chorus would just repeat itself … or so I thought. However, when it came to my mind today after I read today’s verse, I looked it up and learned that there were also three or four verses with the chorus. The premise of every verse is that “In every life we have some trouble ~ but when you worry you make it double.” Then the chorus would repeat… “Don’t worry be happy, don’t worry be happy …. put a smile on your face 🙂 Don’t worry be happy”

As Jesus continued His teaching, known as the Sermon on the Mount, He not only continued His instruction on not being anxious, but He posed the question, “Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” He uses an example that most, if not all, of His audience can relate to, pointing out that if God takes care of the birds, “how much more attention/care will He give to His children”?

The book, “God Shots” states that, “We’re given to anxiety when we forget that God is attentive and active in our lives, so Jesus again makes the point that He doesn’t want them to be anxious.” So important is this lesson of “not being anxious”, that my little “God Shots” book points out the warning/instruction is given “366 times in Scripture God tells His children not to be afraid.” He says it over and over but only to His children, which the book suggests is, because He wants them to know that He is will take care of them.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Friend, let me ask you a question the book poses, “Is your heart at peace right now? Or does it need to remember the goodness of your Father’s attentive love? if you’re feeling anxious , be on the lookout today for all the ways your Father has provided and is providing.” Write them down, thank Him for these reminders and keep a running list for all the times ahead when anxious thoughts fill your mind. Use them to speak truth and calm to your mind – that Your Father who cares for the birds also cares for you – and even more.

Now back to that little song that seems so nonsensical, but oddly enough, when I stopped to consider it aligns quite nicely with the teaching of God’s Word. For Jesus told His disciples that in this world they would have troubles. But He follows that up with the encouragement for them not to lose hope because “He has overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

So, don’t worry – be happy, put a smile on your face 😎

Woman with eyes closed touching temples with hands and glowing third eye symbol overlay
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, prayer, Quiet Time

Peace Requires Retraining Our Focus

Posted on by MaryEllen

In today’s blog, we will zoom in on Matthew 6:25 where Jesus says:

Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Those of you who have followed my posts for very long have likely heard my story and know that I used to battle anxiety. It was a noose around my neck and choked the life out of me more times than I can count. BUT GOD, in His goodness, set me free from the grip anxiety had on me. This is not to say that anxiety doesn’t still seek to grab hold of me, but today’s verse and others like it (Philip. 4:6-8, 1 Peter 5:7, Isa. 26:3…) are ready weapons that silence the anxious thoughts and give me victory over the enemy who, as Paul wrote, “…seeks to steal, kill, and destroy”(John 10:10).

You see, what I had to learn years ago is to retrain my focus. If I focused on my circumstances (the things of this life), the enemy, with his fiery darts of anxiety, was sure to win the battle; BUT GOD showed me that when I set my mind on Him and His Word, where we find that His character is one of truth … goodness … faithfulness … ever-present …. abounding in love (and so much more)… then the battle and the victory belonged to Him and the anxious thoughts no longer had any power over me!

As the author points out in today’s ‘snapshot’1, “Jesus says we should aim to focus on our true home, which is in the next life–in God’s kingdom. The things that cause us anxiety are often things that are ‘passing away’ (1 John 2:17), but Jesus wants us to focus on the things that will last.”

Reflection and application

Today’s reflection and application are from “The God Shot”, p 13

  • Are you anxious over temporary things?
  • What is disrupting your peace today?
  • Where do you feel like God has forgotten you?
  1. Talk to Him about it.
  2. Remember He can be trusted, and
  3. His trustworthiness is the only thing that can truly set your heart at peace.

The More We Know

  1. THE GOD SHOT, 100 SHAPSHOTS OF GOD’S CHARACTER IN SCRIPTURE, pages12-13 ↩︎
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, prayer, Quiet Time

Gratitude for God’s Grace: A Daily Practice

Posted on by MaryEllen

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. ~ James 1:17

God is good! His love and blessings surround us, fill us, delight us, intrigue us, and astound us. He loves us with an unfathomable love. A love undeserved but so deep that He gave His only Son to save a world of sinners. Actually, His word describes us as his enemies. Yet still He loved us and gave us the gift of all gifts, the perfect gift that came down from above. He didn’t stop with the gift of Jesus; but to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God, and to all who received Him by faith, He gave the gift of everlasting life. He continued to pour out His blessings on us and continues to this day ~ mercies that are new every morning, all-sufficient grace, the privilege of prayer and the promise that He will hear and answer them. He gifts us with provisions of daily bread and other needs, renewed strength, forgiveness of sins, daily mercies (holding back what we do deserve), and unbelievable grace (giving gifts we don’t deserve). Then there’s also the gift of His active presence in our lives, His promise to never leave or forsake us, forgiveness for unimaginable sins, hope for tomorrow, and as Peter wrote, “everything we need for life and godliness”(2 Peter 1:3-4).

Friends, may we never become oblivious or unresponsive to His good and perfect gifts. May our gratitude flow continually for every gift and every act of love and kindness. May we stay alert to the enemy’s schemes and never allow our emotions and sinful thinking to trick us into turning away from God.

In the previous verse, James urged his readers not to be deceived. Emotions and sinful thinking can trick us into turning away from God. It’s important to cling to the truth, which is that every good thing in our lives is a gift from God. In the midst of our trials, we are tempted to change our opinion of the trustworthiness of our God. We start to make lists of all the things we think we are missing in our lives, of all of the things we have lost. If God were good, wouldn’t we have those things?

This attitude leads to even more temptation. We begin to look elsewhere for the good things we think we’re missing. “If God won’t provide them,” we think, “we’ll have to go and get them for ourselves.” We attempt to take control. We struggle to find our own satisfaction.

Now, however, James urges us to flip the typical human script. He calls us to make a new list: all the good things we do have. Where did all those good things come from? James is encouraging believers in Christ to tell themselves the truth: God gave you every single good thing in your life. He is the source of all the good you have and all the good you crave. Who God is does not change when our circumstances change. He doesn’t go from being a good God to a bad God when our trials begin. He is still the source of all the good in our lives; He never changes.

Bibleref.com/James 1:17

Reflection and Application

  • What does it mean to remain faithful in hard times?
    • Bibleref.com explains: It means continuing to acknowledge that God is the source of what is good in our lives and what will be good in the future.
  • What else do you think it could mean?

A Challenge

End each day by thinking about, listing out, or simply thanking God for the gifts of grace you saw throughout the day. I write mine in my prayer journal almost every evening. I call them Daily Graces. Let me know if and how you do them.