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Category Archives: Obeying God

Saran Wrap for the Soul

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Public toilets are a necessary evil. “Evil,” because many are less than clean. “Necessary,” because I need them frequently.

Thankfully, my mother taught me the fine art of hovering when I was still a young girl. This skill has served me well and I have perfected it. I can get close enough to prevent splashing and still avoid actually touching the toilet seat.

Recently I saw an amazing new feature on a public toilet. If it catches on, my “hovering” muscles may atrophy. I had just gotten off a plane in New Orleans, hustled to the ladies room, and hurried into the stall. Prepared to “take the stance,” something unusual caught my eye.

Clean, clear plastic covered the toilet seat. The writing on the back of the toilet read: “Before use, wave hand in front of green wall mounted sensor or press green button for fresh sanitary seat cover. Stops automatically.”

So, I waved my hand and like magic the plastic scooted away and fresh plastic took its place over the seat. Then I confidently took care of business. No hovering muscles required.

That toilet seat was truly protected. The plastic covering guarded it from all kinds of outside evil. Constant protection produces constant clean. The person who thought this up is a genius.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could cover our souls with plastic wrap? It’s a big, bad world out there. Temptation constantly bombards us. Sometimes we turn away and stand firm in obedience to God. Other times, we hover too close. Instead of running we allow ourselves to be “dragged away and enticed” (James 1:14), yielding to temptation and falling headlong into sin.

In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.

Proverbs 22:5, NIV

Unprotected souls are easy prey for Satan’s schemes and our own sinful desires. But when we keep constant guard over our hearts and minds we protect ourselves from many pitfalls. Know your weaknesses and take measures to guard against them. Be aware of the areas where you are apt to fall and avoid those things. Cover your soul with Saran Wrap.

What are some areas of weakness for you? What measures can you take to protect yourself from temptation?

Monday Minute in the Word – “Sometimes, but not always”

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Note: Join me every Monday morning for a brief, but reflective look into God’s Word. There’s no better way to start your week.

Do you fully trust God – all the time, in every situation? Or do you do pretty good some days and not so good others? Often I trust God’s direction and provision and step out in obedience. But I admit that there are times that I hold back. I take matters into my own hand and do things in a way I think is best.

Life – and Scripture – shows me that I am not alone. Today, we’ll see that even Abraham had those moments when he had trouble fully trusting God.

 The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”

4 So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

Genesis 12:1-5, NIV

What did God ask Abram to do? How did Abram respond?

Abram took a huge step of obedience. He left everything familiar behind and dragged his entire household and all his belongings into the unknown. Not sure I would do that. Abram exhibit great faith. That day.

Let’s see what happens on a day not too far past the great day of faith.

10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. 11 As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. 12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.”

Genesis 12:10-13, NIV

Soon, Abram faced a different trial. This time, he decided to handle it on his own. (If you’d like to see how it turned out, read Genesis 12:14-20.) One day Abram exhibited great faith. On another, his actions reveal he was still growing and learning to trust God. Can you relate?

In an odd way, it’s encouraging for me to know that Abram had bad faith days. It proves I don’t have to be hopelessly faith-challenged. That I can continue to grow and deepen my trust in God.

What about you? Can you relate to Abram? In what ways does his story encourage you?

Real submission – Monday Minute in the Word

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I’ve heard Henry Blackaby say many times that real obedience to God means saying “yes” before we’ve even heard the assignment. That kind of obedience requires complete submission to the authority of God. When the prophet Isaiah had that famous vision of our holy God seated on the throne, he displayed real, complete submission.

Read the passage from Isaiah and then watch the one-minute video below.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3And they were calling to one another:

   “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

   And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Isaiah 6:1-8, NIV

YouTube Preview Image

I admit that my submission to God does not always look like Isaiah’s. Often it is more like my children’s as I described in the video. My biggest trouble is probably fear. Fear over what God may ask me to give up. Fear over how hard the assignment might be. I pray God will continue to teach me that He deserves my complete, unconditional obedience.

What about you? What holds you back from real, complete submission to God?

Fresh starts and second chances

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I have a love/hate relationship with January 1st. I love the New Year because it represents a time of fresh starts, new commitments, and second chances. I hate the New Year because it usually reminds me I need to be more disciplined, give up something in which I’ve overindulged (chocolate and ice cream for instance), and generally get back on track in several areas.

I’m going to make a few of confessions as a way to confirm my “fresh starts.” Please feel free to hold me accountable. Are you ready? Here we go:

  • I have not been eating well the last few months. It started during our move from Midland to Houston in July. I’ve been pretty much eating what I want, when I want it. It’s not healthy and my jeans definitely know what I’ve been doing.
  • I slacked off in memorizing Scripture during the latter half of the year. I started 2011 off pretty well, but I allowed our move and a big deadline to push it to the back burner.
  • I sometimes allow email to distract me from the most important communication of the day. A couple of years ago God showed me that I should make my time with Him first priority. Email, Facebook, and household chores can often become black holes for my time. What I think is a “quick minute” turns into much longer.

Now, that I’ve opened up and made myself a little vulnerable I will also share with you my commitments to fresh starts.

  • I commit to healthy eating in 2012. I will not be legalistic; I will occasionally enjoy treats. But I will regularly feed my body with the good foods God gave us to eat – fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. Oh yeah, and not to excess!
  • I renew my commitment to Scripture memory. This month I will begin memorizing new passages from the book of Ephesians. I will also get back on track with regular review of previously memorized passages. (If you are interested in Scripture memory, check out the resources available on the free resources page.)
  • I also renew my commitment to make time with God my very first priority each day.

I am so thankful that God gives us chances to begin again. When we fall down, He picks us up and sets our feet back on the right path! And He also gives us each other for encouragement and accountability. That’s exactly why I shared all this with you – encouragement and accountability.

Have you made any commitments to fresh starts for 2012? Feel free to share!

 

Monday Minute in the Word – 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

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There’s no better way to start the week than by filling up with God’s Word. So each Monday morning join me here to take a brief, but reflective look into a passage of Scripture.  

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.

3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. 5 They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.  2 Corinthians 8:1-5, NLT

Halfway through the first century, many Christians in Jerusalem lived in extreme poverty. When the Macedonian Christians learned of their need they immediately acted to relieve it.

Read verses 2 and 3 again. Was giving easy for them? If not, why not?

When my three children were still at home, they frequently offered to help me when I had a long list of chores. However, they usually rejected the tasks I needed help with the most because they required too much effort.

Once when this happened God pointed out to me that I often do the same thing with Him. I say I am willing and ready to serve him, but when he gives me direction I sometimes hesitate to obey. His plan may not be what I had in mind. I may prefer an easier task. What happened to my willing obedience?

The Macedonian Christians provide an example of  predetermined obedience. 2 Corinthians 8:5 tells us they said “yes” to God in advance of his specific direction. They were completely committed to obedience whatever the cost might be. Although they were struggling financially, when God revealed the great need of the Christians in Jerusalem they quickly obeyed God and gave more than they could afford.

Have you ever struggled to obey God because it was too difficult? Or because obedience carried a great cost?

 

How could committment to “give yourself to the Lord” help with future obedience?