Gen 25:19 This is the account of the family line of Abraham’s son Isaac….
Genesis 25 has a lot going on—Abraham’s remarriage, additional children, death, and burial; Ishmael’s descendants; Isaac and Rebekah’s infertility, pregnancy, and birth of twins, and Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. It’s a lot, but I want to focus for a moment on Isaac and Rebekah.
Gen 25:20 …Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah….
Isaac, 40 years old when he married Rebekah, was 60 (according to commentary) when he finally became a father. Verse 21 is all that we have of those 20 intervening years. “Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife became pregnant.” Twenty years of prayer. Twenty years of feeling the ache of a promise unfulfilled. Twenty years of faithfully drawing closer to God while waiting for His will and His way. May we all be as faithful.
Gen 25:21a Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife because she was childless….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this example of faithful waiting. No matter what trials I am facing in life, no matter how much waiting and prayer are required, help me to draw closer to You through the journey, help me to realize that drawing closer to You IS the journey. Help me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Rom 12:12) Amen.
Gen 25:21b …The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant.
Have a blessed day.
Suffering produces perseverance…. (devo reflection)
Rom 5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance….
I doubt that anyone likes to suffer. I know I certainly don’t. But I will be quite honest and tell you that my faith is stronger because of the suffering that I’ve encountered. It doesn’t make me want to throw a party to celebrate those trials, but I certainly appreciate how my faith has grown and matured, how my trust in my Savior has deepened, through those trials.
Rom 5:4 …perseverance, character; and character, hope.
It seems that from the moment of birth, we are on this crash course to prove that we can handle life by ourselves, that we are self-sufficient and self-reliant. But that attitude produces hubris and pride, which are useless in God’s kingdom. Through trials, He takes me to the end of myself, to the limits of my self-reliance, and reminds me that I cannot, in fact, do this on my own, but that I don’t need to because He’s with me, He’s got me, He is in control.
Rom 5:5a And hope does not put us to shame….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You are my strength and my refuge. This world wants me to feel weak if I can’t do it on my own. You use the suffering in my life to remind me that as Your deeply loved child, I can rest in You, knowing that You hold me securely, no matter the trial, that You are working all things for my good and Your glory, even when the world seems upside down. I love You, Lord. I need You. I trust You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Rom 5:5b …because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Have a blessed day.
Holding firmly to the faith…. (devo reflection)
Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith that we profess.
One method of prayer and study that I have become familiar with in recent years is reading a verse of scripture, meditating on it, and making note of the words from the verse that really speak to me or stand out to me. This form of prayer and meditation came to mind as I looked back over today’s verses.
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ….
Faith, peace, grace, access, and hope stand out to me in these verses. Jesus is the key. Our faith in Him allows us to tap into His peace, which surpasses all understanding. The grace which we receive from our relationship with Christ, allows us access to the Father. Because of our relationship and the access it allows us through faith to our Father, we can boldly approach God’s throne, seeking His love, grace, and mercy, no matter our need. Thank You, Jesus.
Rom 5:2 …through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your Son, through whom my relationship with You has been restored. Thank You for faith, peace, grace, hope, and for access to You through Your Son. Thank You for the confidence that can only come through Jesus, for the ability to call You Father, and for the joy that can only come from being Your beloved child. Draw me closer. Amen.
Heb 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Have a blessed day.
Even my misdirected efforts…. (devo reflection)
Rom 7:15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do.
I try so hard to do the right thing. I want to love, encourage, and uplift others, point them to our precious Savior, remind them that He is with them, that He is making a way in their wilderness, that He loves them fiercely, completely, unconditionally. But I am human and fallible. Sometimes my best intentions just make things worse, more traumatic, for the ones I’m trying to encourage. Jesus, Help me.
Phil 2:13 …for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.
My default, when I get in that mental space of defeat, is to mentally berate myself, which my inner critic just loves. But I am not who I once was, and I can recognize my intention and my heart and give all of it—my efforts, my intentions, my mistakes and missteps—to my Savior, knowing that He can use ALL things, even my feeble, fallible, earthly efforts, for His glory and for the good of His people. Jesus, Help me.
2 Chron 31:21 In everything that He undertook…he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that You know my heart and my intentions and that You can use even my misdirected efforts for Your good. I want to bring You glory, Lord. I want to comfort Your people and shine Your light. Help me, Jesus. Draw me closer. Amen.
Jer 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Have a blessed day.
With perfect clarity…. (devo reflection)
1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the LORD comes. He will bring to light what is hidden….
Last month I wrote about the title of this blog and the fact that I am, we all are, a work in progress—each day striving to be a little better, a little more godly, than the day before. While I can usually apply that philosophy to my own life, I sometimes have difficulty remembering that all those I come into contact with are works in progress, too. God loves them as He loves me. Just as deeply. Just as fiercely.
1 Cor 13:12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.
Sometimes, especially on those days when I think I’m getting life right, it is easy for me to forget that I’m looking at the underside of God’s masterpiece. My knowledge is both imperfect and incomplete. I can’t judge others because 1. I am not the judge, and 2. I don’t have all the facts. And yet, so often I run ahead in judgement anyway, forgetting that we are all still in progress. God’s not done with us yet.
Rom 14:13 Therefore let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the fact that You are not finished with us yet. Help me concentrate on becoming the person You designed me to be. Help me to stop trying to judge others and to instead help them along their path. Draw us all closer to You. Amen.
Jer 16:17 For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face….
Have a blessed day.
Delayed gratification…. (devo reflection)
Matt 6:2 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will receive no reward from your Father in heaven.”
Delayed gratification is a difficult concept to embrace. According to britannica.com, it is “the act of resisting an impulse to take an immediately available reward in the hope of obtaining a more-valued reward in the future.” Unfortunately, like Veruca Salt, we often stand, hands-on-hips, demanding gratification NOW! And this world is happy to oblige.
1 Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the LORD comes…. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
But God doesn’t call us to work for the accolades of this world. He knows our hearts, He sees our efforts, our setbacks, our triumphs. He’s not here to stroke our egos. He’s here to build His kingdom, a task which transcends this world, a task more important than anything the world will ever ask of us or celebrate us for achieving. Building God’s kingdom is incompatible with instant gratification. I have every hope that He will one day say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” but that will not happen while I walk this earth.
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though working for the LORD, not for human masters…
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for the reminder that You see us, You know us, You are paying attention. The human side of me longs for recognition of my efforts, but I know that meaningful recognition can only come from You. Give me peace and hope as I continue working for You. Help me transcend the need for earthly accolades. Draw me closer. Amen.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….
Have a blessed day
A beautiful world…. (devo reflection)
1 Peter 3:8a Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic….
I used to have a poster by my door which said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” While the poster has been swapped out for another, the sentiment is one I still fully believe in. What if we were all like-minded in our desire to lift people up and encourage them? What if we went through every day trying to outdo each other in honor (Romans 12:10)? What a beautiful world it could be.
1 Peter 3:8b …love one another, be compassionate and humble.
Another sign, which has had a place of honor in my room for years, reads, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Such wise words, that are sometimes incredibly hard to follow, especially if you are the one in mid-battle. Someone said to me the other day, “Hurt people hurt people,” and I find that so very true, but what if our mission in life was to try to bring comfort and kindness, to show God’s love to a weary world? What a beautiful world it could be.
1 Peter 3:9a Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for these things that I ponder in my heart. Thank You that lifting up and encouraging others lifts me up as well. Thank You that we have a choice to reach outside our circumstances, our frustrations and pains, in order to shine Your light. Help me, always, to choose joy, kindness, compassion. Draw me closer. Amen.
1 Peter 3:9b …On the contrary, repay evil with blessings, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
Have a blessed day.
The present moment…. (devo reflection)
Matt 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.
I am an admitted worrier. I tend to stress and fret about all manner of things that 1. tend to work out fine anyway, 2. don’t amount to much, and 3. rob me of joy in the present moment. This morning my precious Savior is showing me another tendency that needs adjusting. It is my tendency to get stuck in “if only,” as in “If only I had another week of vacation instead of going back to work tomorrow.” or “If only this thing had happened (could happen) instead of this one.” Jesus, help me.
Phil 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Just like with worrying, the trap of “If only” robs me of the joy of what is. And just like with worrying, the solution is to trust my Savior for His daily provision and to trust the truth of Romans 8:28, “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Thank You, Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder to trust You daily, that You will provide what I need, give me strength for what I need to handle, that where You have me is exactly where I need to be right this moment. Thank You for showing me how living in the mindset of “If only” is robbing me of the joy and beauty You have for me today. Help me to place my burdens at Your feet, to live fully in this moment, and to love what is. Draw me closer. Amen.
Matt 6:25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life….”
Have a blessed day.
When the going gets tough…. (devo reflection)
Romans 12:2a Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind….
Sometimes God calls us to do difficult things. When the hubs and I felt His prompting for this incredible AT adventure, I don’t think we really had any concept of what He was calling us to do. It has been an amazing journey thus far, but it has had its challenges—both on the trail and on the home front. But God is good, He is with us, and He can use all things for our good and His glory. Thank You, Jesus.
Romans 12:2b …Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
There is so very much that I don’t know, don’t understand about my amazing Savior, but I know He has promised to be with me always (Matt 28:20); I know He has a plan for me (Jer 29:11), and I know I will find Him when I seek Him with my whole heart (Jer 29:13). Even when I’m struggling, I know these truths and I can trust them because the one who promised is faithful (Heb 10:23). Thank You, Jesus.
1 Thess 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for the promises of Your word, for Your fierce love and Your plan for each of us. Help us, even when the going gets tough, even when we are struggling in the present moment, to keep our eyes, minds, and hearts focused solely on You. Help us to be thankful in ALL circumstances, Lord, knowing that You are sovereign and can use all things, even the difficult things, for our good and Your glory (Rom 8:28). Draw us closer. Help us to shine Your light. Amen.
Col 3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.
Have a blessed day.
Christ died for all…. (devo reflection)
Romans 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
The magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice for me is astounding. The fact that, as He was being crucified, He was praying for the soldiers casting lots for His clothing, is beyond humbling. Christ died for us, not because WE are worthy but because HE is worthy. And He died for ALL of us, so that all of us have an opportunity to know Him, know His love for us, for ALL of us.
Romans 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly die.
Christ died for all—even those still in the midst of sin, those casting lots for His cloths. He died for all—even Peter, who denied Him three times, whom He KNEW would deny Him. He died for all. So why are we so quick to say who is worthy of His love and forgiveness? Jesus, Help us.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Lord, Thank You for this day and for Your love, Your grace, and Your mercy, which surpass all human understanding. You tell us repeatedly in scripture to love one another as You love us, yet we insist on judging, qualifying, categorizing. Help us to truly love each other as You love us. Help us to serve each other as an extension of Your hands and feet, Your heart. Draw us all closer—to each other and to You. Amen.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Have a blessed day.