faith

CONSISTENCY

| Ramblings and Scribblings for Jesus

Jonah 2:2
“In my distress, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”

Jonah found himself in a bad place; the belly of a great fish. As far as he knew his life was over. He had run from God, refusing to do what God had asked of him. We pick up the story where Jonah is crying out to the Lord; he says, “When my life was ebbing away I remembered you.” All too often we act the same way as Jonah. When life is going along fine and we have a false sense of peace, safety, and good things, we tend to take God for granted. We don’t give him much of a thought, because nothing has rocked our world just yet. However, when a bump in the road comes, a crisis hits us hard, or life gets too overwhelming, suddenly we want him, NOW!

When we have this kind of relationship with the Lord, it is an up-and-down kind of spiritual relationship. We have no consistency, we can become distant from God by not having daily communion with him in prayer and reading his word. It is only in a daily, consistent relationship that we can gain that solid spiritual ground we so desperately need to navigate this world, especially as it continues to decline in morality and idolatry, fornication, adultery, anger, offendedness, etc. It can begin to feel like we are in the belly of the great fish like Jonah, with our life feeling like it is ebbing away, almost like being buried alive.

When life rolls over us, and it will eventually, or the tide of good fortune changes and life gets hard, and at times can even feel desperate, we need that solid ground that we find in our Bibles and prayer. God’s word is active and living, it has the power to change our lives, and even though it will not stop the hurts and hards of life, it will anchor our souls, and give us hope; knowing God is faithful, He is on our side, He does hear our prayers, He is our Rock in the storms of life. Prayer keeps that constant communication going and keeps the relationship close so that there is no hesitation when we cry out for help. All too often when you feel distance in your relationship with God you try to hide, to run away from shame or some other emotion. Trust me, only you move, God is still right there, waiting patiently for you to turn to him, to trust him, to call out to him.

Just like Jonah, we can cry to the Lord and know that He not only hears us; he will answer. God can hear your voice no matter the clatter of the world around you, as the waves of adversity rise, our Savior’s ears are always attentive listening for his children’s voices, and his help is on the way. Jonah said: “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into your holy temple.” (Jonah 2:7)

I cannot say that I have never been a Jonah. I have waited until I thought it was over, whatever the hard of life seemed to be winning, but I can also say that I have found that the sweet communion in God’s word and daily prayer has made my faith stronger, the ground under me more firm, and my cries quick on my lips, because I know this to be true, God hears, and God answers.

I want to live in a place of Spiritual soundness. I want my eyes fixed on Jesus, so that the clatter of this dying world, the chaos of those who seem to have lost their minds, and the wickedness around me does not shake my faith.

Make the decision today to get in God’s word, make prayer a daily communion between you and the Lord, Be consistent in your walk with Jesus, surrendered to His Lordship knowing that he directs your paths, and he can keep you from the belly of the great fish of disobedience.

Blessings!

THE SPACE BETWEEN YOUR EARS

| Ramblings and Scribblings for Jesus

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

What thoughts are robbing you of peace? What are those worries and concerns that you entertain in the space between your ears, ( in your mind.) What are those things that cause you to lose sleep, worry, be anxious, or unsettled? Everyone carries concerns around with them. These are not outward things that people can see, these are things that race around inside our heads at different times or all the time.
Sometimes these thoughts rob us of sleep, joy, or happiness. They are the unseen burdens that no one else sees.

Many are the thoughts we have in a day; they may be about work, family, finances, or relationships; the list could go on and on. However, the problem comes in when we remember that God’s word encourages us to lay our burdens down at the feet of Jesus; “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22) God is glad to carry your burdens and give you daily strength. He doesn’t come and grab them from you. Jesus asks us to trust him with them and give them to him. (Matthew 11:28-30)”Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We do not have to carry the weight of our thoughts alone. We have the invitation to take them to the Lord and lay them down, and in return, we are given His peace, His rest. The enemy of our souls (Satan) wants to keep us bogged down with the heaviness of our burdens or the things we see as burdens. He wants us to question God’s goodness and God’s ability to help us. Satan wants us to doubt that God has heard our cries for help, Does God see me? Does he hear me? Will God answer my cries for help? To find the answers to these questions we go to God’s word, God’s promises.

Psalm 6:9 “The Lord hath heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer.”

Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to power that worketh in us.”

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

We do not have to carry these thoughts, concerns, worries, or feelings around with us. We have a Most Powerful advocate in heaven who is at this very moment praying for us. (Romans 8:34) “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

Jesus is praying for you, and this most wonderful knowledge should cause you to run the throne room of prayer and cast all our cares, worries, and concerns on him, and rest in his work and the knowledge that Jesus has heard, he has seen, he understands, he has got this, whatever it is, and he is talking to the Father about it right now. When we do this, His peace comes in and calms the troubled waters of our minds. We receive a peace that passes understanding, our burdens no longer feel overwhelming and our hearts can rest. The space between your ears does not have to dwell on the negative, the hard and weighty, instead we can think of things above, (Philippians 4:8) “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” There are better things to let occupy the space between your ears, just remember: “HE’S GOT THIS!”

Give that “SPACE BETWEEN YOUR EARS” a much-needed rest. Cast your cares on Jesus…I promise you will feel better and have a clearer mind and heart.

Blessings to you my friends!