Somebody's Watching

  “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” 

Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

    I heard a story about a stressed-out woman who was tailgating a man on a busy street. The light turned yellow to red just in front of him, causing him to do the only thing he could, which was to brake suddenly at the crosswalk. The tailgating woman became livid and began screaming and cursing at the man while she pounded her car horn repeatedly, having missed her chance to get through the intersection.

   As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a police officer. He took her to the police station where she was placed in a holding cell.

    After a couple of hours, the policeman opened the cell door and said, "I apologize for keeping you here. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn and screaming at the driver in front of you.  I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do?' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' sign in your back window, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car!"

    Someone is always watching. Jesus knew that. But He also knew that we were human and there would be times when we would mess up and be a poor example for those around us. That’s why we are urged in Ephesians 5:1 to “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly beloved children.”

    It’s great to have someone strong in the faith to look up to and want to emulate but there will be a time when they, too, will mess up. We need to look to Christ as the Ultimate Example. Paul continues to encourage the reader in Colossians 3:17 to remember that no matter what we do or say, we are to “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

    Hhhhmmmm . . . Be imitators of God, no matter what we do or say, huh? Can you picture Jesus pounding on the car horn or screaming at the driver in front of Him? Me either.  What kind of example are you to people around you? Think about that for a minute. Are you Christ-centered or self-centered? Are the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart pleasing to God? Remember . . . somebody’s watching.

    Father, I mess up every single day! Thank you for your forgiveness and for reminding me that I need to be more like you.  In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever found yourself in a situation like the tailgating woman who was in a hurry?

• What was your response when things did not work out the way you wanted? Patience and peace? Or anger and irritation?

Apply

• Write Psalm 19:14 in your journal and memorize it. 

• When a situation comes up that leaves you frustrated (and it will), repeat that Scripture slowly, over and over, and praise God for His Words of encouragement.

Power 

• Psalm 19:14 (NIV) “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

• Colossians 3:17 (NIV) “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

• Luke 6:45 (NIV) “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” 

The One Who Hears It All

  “ . . . but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” Psalm 66:19-20 (NIV)

 

    My birthday was a blast – literally – a few years ago. Only twenty-four hours before the actual day, I was canning green beans in my kitchen and had just walked into the living room when my canner blew up, shooting slivers of glass and green beans throughout my kitchen and destroying the entire room. 

   Everything – ceiling, walls, floor, cabinets, appliances – had to be replaced. The destruction caused by the explosion was unbelievable but I had no idea how much interest it would also create until two weeks later.

    I was sitting in a crowded restaurant, waiting on my daughter, when an elderly lady and her husband – who was hard of hearing – saw me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her hit his arm and point at me as she said “See that blonde lady over there?” He replied “Huh?” and she repeated, more loudly, “I said, do you see that blonde lady over there?” By this time, everyone in the restaurant saw “that blonde lady over there.” 

    He said “Yes, I see her. Why?” His wife replied, “She is  the woman we heard about who blew up her kitchen!” He cupped his hand around his ear and  replied “Huh?” His wife leaned over to him and yelled: “She . . . is . . . the . . . one . . . who . . . blew . . . up . . . her . . . kitchen!”  “What did she blow it up with?” “A canner,” the woman answered. His instant look of shock was followed by this response: “A cannon? Where did she get a cannon?” I decided it would be best at that point to leave quietly.

   I am amazed today as I think of the Lord and His ability to hear us when we call out to Him. He never asks us to repeat a prayer request. Not once has God answered with a “Huh?” when we have gone before Him. If we are unsure of exactly what we want to say, He doesn’t get confused by our words. He even says in Romans 8:26 that He allows the Spirit to go before Him on our behalf when words fail us.

   Have you ever felt like nobody truly listens to you when your heart is aching? Jesus listens. Do you ever wonder if your prayers are eloquent enough or perfect enough for our Father? He does not care about that at all.

   We can have confidence in knowing that when we go before our Father, He hears our every word and every cry and even loves us enough to allow the Spirit to speak on our behalf when words fail us. He truly is the One who hears it all.

   Father, thank you that I can come before you in all my weakness and imperfection and yet you hear my prayers and understand. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• Have you ever felt like you needed to have a “perfect prayer” for God to hear you?

• If so, why do you think you have felt that way?

Apply

• Journal the different Scriptures in which God states that He hears your prayers.

• When you pray, thank the Lord for his open ears to your requests before you share them with Him.

Power 

• Psalm 66:19-20 (NIV) “ . . . God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!”   

• Romans 8:26 (NIV) “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

• I John 5:14 (NIV) “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”

 

The Ultimate Do-Over

 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

II Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

   I love a “do-over.” Just that phrase itself promises the opportunity of a fresh start. For example, if I hit a bad note while singing in a music contest, I would love a “do-over” to try to sway the judges to give me a good score.

   And, heaven forbid, if I accidentally ran over the neighbor’s cat, wouldn’t a “do-over” be wonderful, especially for the cat?

   Consider if my hairdresser gave me a new haircut that I thought would look great but didn’t. A “do-over” on my new “do” could restore everything as it was before my poor decision.

   And, my goodness, what about my golf game? Through the years I have given myself countless near-hernias because I have swung (with proper form) and missed the ball at least a thousand times. A “do-over” would give me one more chance to hit the ball and avoid a hernia in the process. Who wouldn’t love the idea of a “do-over”?

   Astonishingly, our Father has given us a one-of-a-kind “do-over” in the precious gift of Jesus. As Paul writes in II Corinthians 5:17, when we accept Christ, we become a new creation. Forget the old person that we were with all our mistakes and near hits and misses. Bury the old self that just could not quite hit the note or the ball or, Lord have mercy, miss the cat!

   The difference between our “do-over” and our Father’s is that even though we try and try to get it right, we are never going to do everything perfectly. All the “do-overs” in the world will not make us without sin. Jesus, once and for all, became the “do-over” in our place.

   No matter what your heart looks like, we all have the opportunity to start over because of  Christ and to allow the forgiveness and mercy only He can give to replace the old with the new forever.

   Do I wish that I could have one more try at hitting that note more clearly or knocking the golf ball yards away or turning left instead of right when I saw the cat? Sure I do. I would love one more “do-over.” But may I never forget that the Ultimate Do Over is Jesus.

   Father,  thank you for Jesus, for allowing Him to die for me, for allowing Him to take my place. How excited I am to be a new creation in you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Is there anything in your life that you want to “do-over” and make more presentable before you turn it over to the Lord?

• Why are you hesitating to allow Him to replace all the old with His forgiveness and mercy?

Apply

• Memorize the power verses for today’s devotion.

• Any time that you feel the need to “do-over” before coming before the Lord, speak each power verse to your heart.

Power

• II Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”

• Galatians 2:20 (NIV) “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

• I John 1:9 (NIV) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purity us from all unrighteousness.”

Praying Your Prodigal Home

 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

    “I’m leavin’ and I’m neber comin’ back!” my three-year-old grandson told his mother. She glanced up while doing the dishes. “Why would you leave, Honey?” His little hand reached up to grab the doorknob as he gave her his best angry look. “You make me have jobs. I don’t like jobs. And you’s always tellin’ me what to do!”

    She turned to look at him. “Jude, everyone has jobs, including Noah and Ella. We all have chores to do. And, Jude, all of our lives, there will always be someone who has the right to tell us what to do.”

   That did not make a bit of difference to Jude. He opened the door and, with one last look at his mother, said “Well, I don’t care. I’m gonna leave and do whatever I want and . . . and . . .  (searching for the worst thing he could think of)…and I’m NOT gonna eat healthy!”

     With that declaration of independence, he turned to leave as his mother gave him one parting bit of wisdom: “Well, okay, if you think you need to go. I love you, Jude. Just be careful and watch out for the big black dog.” His dramatic departure was frozen in mid-air. “What big black dog?” “Oh, didn’t I tell you? There’s a big black mean dog running around the neighborhood. I wouldn’t want you to get bitten.”

     Huge brown eyes peeked outside and a quiet voice replied “Well, maybe I won’t go today.” as Jude closed the door and jumped on the sofa to watch “Tom and Jerry” with his brother and sister.

    I can’t think of a single friend of mine who has not had at least one prodigal in her family declare “I’m gonna leave and do whatever I want.” If only it were that easy to persuade them to come back home and avoid the “big black mean dog.” I want to encourage those of you who are parents of a prodigal to not become discouraged and lose hope as you pray for your child for months and perhaps years.

     Look at the first chapter of Joshua. He was a fighter, a warrior and a man’s man and yet God reminded Joshua – not once but four times – to be strong and courageous and not give up. He wanted Joshua to know that he was not alone as he faced the battles in his life because He, the God of the Universe, the God of Hope, was with him.

    That promise is for each of us today! We are in a spiritual battle for the very souls of our children and grandchildren. And the same God who encouraged Joshua to not become discouraged or give up is with us – and our prodigal – every step of the way.

   Even though the temptation is in front of us to give up on our prodigal, the promises of God are so much stronger! God is beside us as we lift up our prodigals, fighting for us and encouraging us to keep praying that one day - soon - they will be coming home. 

 

   Father, Sometimes I get so discouraged as I pray for my prodigal child. Thank you for giving me hope and peace as I trust you to bring my prodigal home. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

 

Reflect

• Do you have a prodigal in your family that you have bathed in prayer for months or years?

• Have you gotten discouraged because they still have not returned to the Lord?

 

Apply

• Contact a friend who also has a prodigal child and meet together to pray for your children.

• Journal your daily prayers for your prodigal. Sunday, pray that someone would invite them to church; Monday, pray for their safety; Tuesday, pray for an open heart; Wednesday, ask the Lord to place a Christian in their path; Thursday, pray that they will long for Jesus; Friday, pray they will begin to question their prodigal life; Saturday, ask the Lord to give you strength, courage, and hope as another week begins and praise Him for His faithfulness.

 Power

• Joshua 1:9 (NIV) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

• Jeremiah 31:16-17 (NIV) “This is what the Lord says: ‘Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,’ declares the Lord. ‘They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future,’ declares the Lord. ‘Your children will return to their own land.”

• Romans 15:13 (NIV) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Can I Come Home?

 “. . . and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 (NIV)

    My daughter always got invited to slumber parties while growing up. It almost seemed like she got an invitation every week. And she truly wanted to go and to stay overnight. There was so much fun at each one! There were endless bowls of popcorn and cans of soda and movies and giggling and serious conversations with her friends.

    Sleep didn’t come until the early morning hours. And therein was the problem: she loved it all and couldn’t wait to go . . . until it came time to sleep. She always had to come home. Not our choice, but hers.   We knew there would be a phone call at about 1 or 2 a.m. and a sweet little voice would say “Mom, I’m not feeling well.  Can I come home?” and we would quickly drive to her friend’s house and pick her up.

    It wasn’t that she didn’t like her friends or that she didn’t enjoy herself at the parties. It was simply that, when it came time to rest for the night, she needed to be in her home, her bed, and with her family.  We talked with her to see if there was a fear of leaving us or another reason for her always needing to come home. She simply said, “When it’s nighttime, I want to be with my family; I just want to be home.”

    Home means “the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.” But it meant so much more than that to our daughter. It was a place to rest, relax, and know that, no matter what, her father would be there to watch over her and the rest of the family. She felt secure in knowing that when she went to sleep, she was safe in her home.

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    There is another home that offers security and peace and a Father to watch over us:  God’s Home. But this world tries to pull us away from the Lord and begs us to stay and enjoy what it has to offer: endless “slumber parties” with food and drink and laughter and conversations with friends.

    And while those things themselves are not bad, there is a danger in thinking that this world is truly our home and that what we have here will last forever. It . . . will . . . not. This world offers temporary residence while our Father offers permanent residence within His will and in His home.

    Please join me as I examine my heart to see if I act as if this world is my permanent residence.  If the answer is “yes,” I will do what my daughter did: call home! Never forget that no matter where I am or what I have done, our Father is waiting for the call and longing to pull us back into the safety and security of His presence.

    Can I come home? Absolutely. 

    Father, how thankful I am that you have a permanent home for me, with you. I praise you that I can call and you will pull me back into your safety. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up. . .

Reflect

• Have you ever written down one week’s events or appointments in your life?

• Were any of those events or appointments focused solely on the Lord?

Apply

• Journal all of your activities for one week.

• Do they reflect a person who views this world as a temporary or a permanent home?

Power

• Psalm 23:6 (NIV) “…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

• Matthew 11:28 (NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

• Psalm 90:1 (NIV) “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.”