You Can’t Tell Me What to Do

“He who obeys instructions guards his life, but he who

is contemptuous of his ways will die.”

Proverbs 19:16 (NIV)

Flying through the air on amusement park rides has been one of my favorite things to do for as long as I can remember. There is a healthy fear mixed with excitement as you experience the feeling in the pit of your stomach of being suddenly twisted or turned straight up and down in the air.

Each ride is a bit different but one rule applies to all of them: pay attention to the instructions so you will not get hurt.

Last weekend my family and I were at a large amusement park and decided to ride a huge ship that swung forward and then backward between two giant metal beams. As it picked up speed, the ship got higher and higher in the air.

Heavy bars held us in place in our seats but the instructions were very clear: do not stand up under any circumstances. Stay seated at all times. This was important because, even though we were “pushed” into our seats as we swung upward, the same was not true as we came downward. Standing up could have thrown us over the bar across our laps and caused major injury or even death.

Everyone was excited to ride and obeyed the rules – except one girl. She repeatedly stood up as the ride came down.

The man operating the ride could not have been clearer with his instructions. He repeated them as we stood in line, when we were getting on the ride, as we were seated and during the entire ride. He used a microphone to make sure that everyone heard him. His message was simple and consistent: “Do not stand up under any circumstances. Stay seated.”

But the young lady refused to listen or obey. She looked at him as he repeated his message but still chose to stand up with each swing.

Finally, after repeated warnings, the frustrated operator shrugged his shoulders as if to say “I’ve told her and told her. I have no other recourse than to stop the ride early” and that is exactly what he did.

Proverbs 19:16 could have been written with this young lady in mind. But the truth is, at one time or another we all fit into that “You can’t tell me what to do” category don’t we. We are warned by the Spirit when gossip creeps into our conversation or when we think one tiny lie isn’t a big deal.

We can feel Him nudging us to speak to someone who is hurting or to send a note to encourage. It’s our choice whether or not to listen and obey. It’s not that we don’t recognize His voice; it’s simply a matter of choosing to obey or disobey His instructions.

The ride operator gave us instructions that were designed for a reason: to keep us physically safe. The same is true for the Spirit placed in each of us. His instructions, if we follow them, will help us to grow in our walk with the Lord and keep us spiritually safe.

Father, I choose today to follow your instructions in my life. Please help me to listen as you speak to my heart and to obey. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever been given specific instructions but chose not to obey them?

• Was the outcome positive or negative?

Apply

• Journal a list of 10 specific instructions found in Scripture that pertain to you spiritually.

• Beside each one, write down why God is specific in what He says and list ways you can obey His instructions.

Power

• Proverbs 19:16 (NIV) “He who obeys instructions guards his life, but he who is contemptuous of his ways will die.”

• John 10:4 (NIV) “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

• Proverbs 19:27 (NIV) “Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.”

Out of the Mouth of . . . a Donkey?

“The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey,

which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I

been in the habit of doing this to you?”

Numbers 22:30 (NIV)

A talking horse . . . who would have thought it! But “Mister Ed,” a popular television show when I was a little girl, used that concept to capture the hearts of thousands of children. The horse – Mister Ed – spoke only to his owner, Wilbur Post.

 Throughout the series, there was no explanation offered for Mister Ed being able to speak to Wilbur. In fact, in the very first episode, when Wilbur stated aloud that he was unable to understand how his horse could talk, Mister Ed offered this bit of wisdom: “Don’t try. It’s bigger than both of us.”

The Scripture in Numbers 22:30 also involves a conversation with an animal: a donkey. Let me explain. It seems that Balaam, at one time a man of God, was contacted by King Balak of Moab who asked him to curse Israel. The king was afraid of the Israelites because of their large numbers and because he saw what they had done to the Amorites when they came up against them.

The king’s plan was this: find a prophet who would get God to curse the Israelites so that he and his kingdom would be safe from harm. Enter Balaam. King Balak sent princes to Balaam to persuade him to curse the Israelites. Balaam asked them to wait overnight while he got an answer from God.

The next day he gave them God’s answer: “You must not put a curse on these people, because they are blessed.” (verse 12) They left, only to be replaced with other, more distinguished princes who returned with an offer of a substantial reward if he would carry out their request. And what did Balaam do? He went to God again, trying to persuade Him to change His mind.

One would suspect the offer of a reward was surely a big factor in Balaam’s decision. This time the Lord, though angry with Balaam, gave permission for him to go with the men back to King Balak but told him to only  do what He, God, told   him to do.

That’s where the talking donkey comes in.

As Balaam is riding along the road on his donkey, God placed an angel in his path. Balaam could not see it but the donkey could. Three times the donkey tried to turn from the path and each time Balaam beat her with his staff.

Finally the donkey turned to look at Balaam and spoke. “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” The Lord then allowed Balaam to see the angel in front of him, sword in hand. Had he gone on, Balaam would have been killed.  

We have been given the Holy Spirit in our lives to direct our paths. But sometimes we want something so badly that we do not listen as He tells us to take a different path. We need to remember that there are times that God places roadblocks in the path that we are choosing. Perhaps, like Balaam, He is trying to protect us. Or it could be that the timing is not yet right for us to go in that direction.

  

My encouragement today is to listen to the gift of the Holy Spirit that we have been given as we face decisions in our lives. He will direct our pathways every single day.  

Father, thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit to guide my decisions each day. Help me to open the ears of my heart to your will for my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever wanted something so badly that you ignored the “warning signs” of the Holy Spirit that perhaps your choice was not a wise one?

• If you ignored the warnings and went ahead with your plans, what was the outcome? Everything you thought it would be or disappointment?

Apply

• Journal decisions that need to be made in your life and the possible answers to those decisions.

• During prayer time, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart and guide you toward the answers that He has for you. Listen for His guidance through the Word.

Power

• Numbers 22:30 (NIV) “The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”

• John 8:47 (NIV) “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

• Ezekiel 3:10 (NIV) “And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you.”

My Own Little World

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve

what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

We had a dark damp cellar beside our home when I was growing up. I was scared of it but loved it at the same time. There was a mystery about it that I can’t quite explain. I only had a 60 watt light bulb to chase shadows to the corners and an ancient propane stove to keep me warm in the winter but I didn’t care.

I had a vivid imagination and when I was in the cellar putting eggs in shipping cartons, I would imagine myself in the belly of Jonah’s whale or in a dungeon, a princess tossed there by the wicked queen. I could ignore the scary feeling of being down there to do my work because I was focused on my own little world. My dad would remind me to always keep an eye on the heater but most of the time I was so caught up in what I was doing that I didn’t pay attention to his warning.

One winter evening as I was moving eggs from baskets to cartons and stacking them up, my mind was far away in a place where the eggs were actually solid gold and I was preparing to hide them from an evil witch. As I worked, it occurred to me that I was getting a headache and felt a bit dizzy but I ignored it. Even when I became somewhat short of breath, I continued on with my game. I was just too absorbed with my imagination to realize what was happening.

Suddenly the door to the cellar was thrown open and I heard my father calling my name as he ran down the stairs, grabbed my arm and pulled me to the outside. He had opened the door to the cellar and the smell of propane had hit him so hard that it had knocked him backward. The pilot light had gone out on the stove but I had not noticed. My focus was somewhere else.

Would you agree that focusing on the world instead of the Lord can happen to any of us? As Paul warns in Romans 12:2, we must be careful not to slip into conforming to the “pattern of this world.” How can you tell if that is happening?

We might find ourselves focusing more on a career and less on the church. Our conversations may begin to resemble gossip sessions rather than prayer concerns. We find it easier and easier to justify why Sunday should be a day set aside for the lake instead of the Lord.

Can you relate like I can? If you are nodding your head “yes,” I would encourage you today to make Christ the center of your attention by heeding the warnings around you and turning the spotlight off on your “own little world.”

Father, please show me those things in my life that I focus on more than Jesus. Help me to eliminate anything that does not glorify you first. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• What are some things in your life that pull you from your relationship with Jesus?

• Are any of those things more important than a relationship with Him?

Apply

• Journal a list of everything you accomplish in a week.

• During prayer time, ask the Lord to show you if any of those things are vying for your focus over your relationship with Christ and make changes as necessary.

Power

• Romans 12:2 (NIV) “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

• James 4:4 (NIV) “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

• I John 2:15 (NIV) “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

The Check

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,

when it is in your power to act.”

Proverbs 3:27 (NIV)

The check in the mail was made out to me in the amount of $700.00. All the extra work on a project had paid off and I was excited to reward myself. My mind raced through all the spending possibilities. The thought of putting it in my savings account only lasted two seconds. New clothes kept popping up in my mind along with several other purchases.

It was at that moment I noticed I had also received another letter in the mail, this one from a missionary I supported.

Her note, always full of hope and encouragement, had one sentence that jumped out at me: “We are in need of Bibles for the families and have been praying that if God puts it on your heart, you would give whatever gift you can. Our goal is to raise $700.00” the letter went on, but I didn’t see what else was written. My eyes could only see the amount: $700.00.

I would like to tell you I knew exactly what to do AND did it immediately. I would like to, but I can’t. Oh, I knew alright that God had blessed me with the $700.00 check and had allowed the request for $700.00 for Bibles to come in the mail at the same time for a reason. But, sadly, arguments I shared with Him as to why I needed to keep the money for myself began to surface:

“You know my bank account, Lord, and you know it’s very very low.”

“Someone else will give the $700.00. In fact, I am sure that several will give money so that the goal will be met. I don’t want to deprive them of being blessed.”

“I will send a little bit, to do my part, Lord. That should be good enough.”

All excuses, all hollow reasoning for what I knew in my heart the Lord was showing me. The missionary was not asking for money to buy herself new clothes. She wasn’t even asking for rent or food donations. No, she was asking that we, her supporters, consider sending money for Bibles. God’s Word. Truth. Hope. Forgiveness. Jesus.

I turned to Proverbs and read verse 27 of chapter 3. “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.” Deserve it? Of course. We all need to know Jesus. In my power to act? Absolutely.

   

I deposited the check and wrote one for the same amount to the missionary along with a simple note: “For the Bibles.” All the extra work DID pay off . . . for eternity.

Father, I want you to be master over my life instead of money. Show me where I can worship you by giving, as you have given so generously to me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever felt that you needed to give generously to the Lord’s work but didn’t follow through?

• What reasons did you give for not giving as you felt led to do?

Apply

• Journal all the reasons that you feel keep you from giving above and beyond to those in need.

• Beside each reason, write a Scripture that encourages you to share and memorize it.  

Power

• Proverbs 3:27 (NIV) “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.”

• Luke 3:11 (NIV) “John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”

• Deuteronomy 16:17 (NIV) “Each of you must bring a gift in the proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.”

Don't Forget To Dance

“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual
fervor, serving the Lord.”
Romans 12:11 (NIV)

One of the most precious videos I ever saw showed a two year old boy who finally was able to hear for the first time. Having been deaf from birth, he had never heard his mother’s voice or music playing or birds chirping – in other words, all of the sounds that we enjoy and take for granted.

As the little boy sat on his mother’s lap, she spoke gently to him, calling his name while hearing aids were placed in his ears. “Brian. Brian, its Mommy.” He jerked his head toward her face and instantly began to smile and bounce up and down on her lap. His father laughed and then cried as his son laughed back at him and reached for his arms.

Suddenly, in his excitement, the little boy jumped to the floor and danced in a circle, clapping his hands and giggling. What a beautiful reaction to hearing voices for the first time.

That pure joy reminded me of the moment I decided to give my heart to Jesus. I couldn’t quit smiling and sharing Him with everyone I met. Maybe I didn’t dance as I told my friends and family about the Lord, but inside I couldn’t contain the jig my heart was dancing at my newfound faith.

Sadly, as I got older, I forgot that excitement for what He did for me and almost (dare I say it) became complacent about my gift of eternity. I guess I could explain my fading enthusiasm by saying that as I got older, I was more dignified in my walk with the Lord.

But to be honest, I think that I began to take it for granted and I allowed my extraordinary relationship with Jesus to become ordinary (ouch). Can you identify?

Let us never forget what He did for us. Our hope is not in the temporary but in the eternal. Remember the excitement of asking the God of the Universe to live in your heart?

He is still the same Father now as He was when you first met Him face to face.  His truth has not changed. Jesus willingly died for every single one of us. He longs for a relationship with us, His children.

Share the exciting news of Jesus and His mercy and grace, forgiveness and love. And while you are at it, don’t forget to dance. 


Father, I never want to take for granted the gift of eternal life that you have given to me. May I share it with enthusiasm with everyone I meet. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. 


R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect
• Do you remember how you felt the moment you asked Jesus into your heart?

• How does that excitement compare with how you feel today?



Apply
• For one week, make it your goal to share the joy you have as a child of God with one person every day. 

• At the end of that week, write down all the responses you received. Could they see your excitement in your heart for the Lord? 

Power 
• Romans 12:11 (NIV) “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” 

• I Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

• Colossians 3:23 (NIV) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

When You Can’t Find the Words

“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.” Romans 8:26 (NIV)

When my daughter Leigh was 2 years old, she talked nonstop. At least, I guess it was talking. She would point and jabber and put her hands on her hips and swing her arms around, trying in vain to tell her dad and me what she wanted.

We could not understand a thing she was trying to say . . . but big brother Tyler, who was 4, was an amazing interpreter for Leigh.

She would throw syllables together, look at him and he would translate “Your baby is hungry” or “Your baby wants to go outside” or “Your baby can’t find Kasheen Heidi Riegel” (her doll) and she would turn to us with a “Yes!” smile on her face.

Although Leigh was unable to put into words exactly what she wanted to say, she had a big brother who was able to speak on her behalf to share with Dad and Mom what the need was at that moment.

Just as my daughter struggled with communicating her needs, we often do not know how to express our needs as we go before the Lord in prayer. Our Father knew there would be those times when that would happen so in His love He gave us a helper – the Holy Spirit – to speak on our behalf “with groans that words cannot express.”

The Holy Spirit, who lives in each of us, knows us intimately. He knows our weaknesses and our failings and He longs to come along side us and take our requests to the Father. And because they are always in complete harmony and agreement, the groaning of the Spirit makes perfect sense to the Father.

            So tell me, what are you struggling with in prayer? Are you facing grief that is taking your breath away or heartache that is pulling you under? Are you facing a crisis situation and you just don’t know what to do?

May I suggest asking the Holy Spirit to go before the Father on your behalf? He knows your needs, He knows YOU, and He longs to speak to Abba – your Daddy – what you want to share but cannot form into words.

My son was a fantastic interpreter for his sister but that pales in comparison to the interceding that the Holy Spirit does for us . . . when we can’t find the words.

Father, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to come along side me when my heartache is huge and my words are few and speaking to you for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you experienced a prayer time when you absolutely had no idea what to pray?

• Did you ask the Spirit to intercede on your behalf? Why or why not?

Apply

• Write Romans 8:26 at the top of your list of prayer requests.

• As you lift up each request, ask the Spirit to intercede for you and journal those thoughts that come into your heart.

Power

• 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.”

• Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

• John 14:16-17 (NIV) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth . . .”

When God Has a Detour

“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord,

endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands.”

Psalm 138:8 (NIV)

It took me a few minutes to calm my shaking fingers and get my courage up to open the email. It was from a children’s editor with a very well-known publishing company and I knew she was responding to my proposal on my latest children’s book, a rhyming story about creation.

I had retired from a job I loved because I felt the Lord nudging me to speak and write full time. This book being published would be a huge confirmation of that nudging.

I opened the email to find that yes, the editor loved the book. And yes, it had made it through the submissions and editorial meetings! Now it was on to the sales team.

“Thank You, Lord! Thank you so much!” I shouted the praise in my office. This was definitely a door opening for my passion for writing. I dared to dream big: traveling, television interviews, promoting this book plus my other writings, praising the Lord for what He was doing through each word.

I hate to fly but I imagined myself jetting to New York or L.A. to do interviews about “small town girl writes for a big God.” I was so sure of the outcome that I even shared my news with a couple of my closest friends.

A week went by followed by another and another. No emails with a contract attached. And yet I was not really discouraged because I knew this journey was being directed by the Lord. The book would be published, I was sure.

And then an email. From the editor. She loved the book and how the story was presented, she said. But the sales team had decided not to publish it. Thanks but no thanks.

I read and re-read the email. Maybe I missed something when I read it so hurriedly. But no. It was a polite but firm “no thank you.”

Wait a minute, God! I’ve known for years that this is the path you have wanted for me – writing and speaking. I am sure of it – 100% sure. And yet the answer is no?

Have you been there? You knew that you were doing exactly what the Lord had directed you to do. No doubts. No second guessing. And then the path is blocked, the gate is locked, the door is slammed shut. And you start to wonder if you heard Him correctly when you prayed. What in the world?

I love the encouragement David shares in Psalm 138:8. I have no idea what was going on in his life as he wrote those words, but I love his confidence in knowing that (1) God had a purpose for him; (2) God would fulfill that purpose; and (3) God’s love for David was eternal.

I have no WOW answers, my friends. Only a belief and trust in a Father whose timing is not mine, but who fully intends to fulfill His purpose for me when – and only when – He is ready.

Can you relate? You prayed about the new job that suddenly falls through, the relationship that falls apart, and the bottom falls out of your world. Answers do not come as you were confident they would. As you felt the Lord was directing. And you are wondering why.

I understand that questioning. And yet, just because that part of our plans didn’t work out does not mean that God is not in control or that we are wrong about His plans for us.

Perhaps there are other people the Lord is working on with your plan. There may be a lesson we need to learn about trusting Him through the detours in our lives.

There will temporary or permanent detours in our journey with the Lord. But His purpose stands firm. He will fulfill His work in our lives – even when we don’t understand. Trust the One whose love for us endures forever – even in detours.

Father, I’m not sure why your direction for my life has taken a turn totally opposite from how I felt you were directing. But I trust you to complete your plan in my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever felt the Lord directing you specifically and yet, when you followed His direction, things turned out completely different than you thought?

Apply

• Journal the plans in your life that you were sure came from the Lord but did not work out as you had thought. Next journal how they actually turned out.
• Write down the blessings and lessons you learned in the detours. Thank the Lord for His faithfulness.

Power

• Psalm 138:8 (NIV) “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands.”

• Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

• Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

• Philippians 1:6 (NIV) “. . . being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

• Psalm 27:14 (NIV) “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”