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Thursday, October 31, 2024

The Hope of His Calling



 

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.

—1 Corinthians 2:14 (NLT)

 

 

The things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned. They are not mentally understood. You can have a mental understanding of God but not understand Him spiritually. The Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit (Romans 8:16)—not your mind. Faith is not a mental exercise born of emotions, feelings, and reasoning. Faith does not come from the logic of your mind. It rises from the Word, which has been quickened in your heart. 

 

“Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears” (Ezekiel 3:10). 

 

Faith comes by hearing the Word spiritually with your heart (Romans 10:17). Faith believes with the heart (Romans 10:10). The words that God speaks to your heart are spiritual life (John 4:24, John 6:63).

 

Paul prayed for believers to hear and receive the revelation of God’s knowledge spiritually. He prayed: 

 

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Ephesians 1:17-19).

 

Receiving the spiritual understanding of God's knowledge is not something that automatically happens in your life. It comes from seeking and pursuing God. We are not meant to be spiritually blind and have no spiritual understanding. God wants to pour knowledge and understanding of Himself into our hearts. He wants us to believe His Truth and be enlightened by it. He wants us to know the hope of His calling in our lives and the power He has given us. Spiritually discerning God’s Truth comes from allowing the Word to renew our minds until we believe it (Romans 12:2). If we fail to renew our minds, we will live without experiencing the abundant life Jesus has given us (John 10:10).

 

Look at Ephesians 1:17-19. 

 

What is the hope of His calling and His power toward us who believe?  

 

It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. But if we don’t have understanding in our hearts about His power within us, we will not believe His power is ours. When we don’t believe in what Christ has given us, we have no spiritual understanding of our God-given ability. But when the eyes of our spiritual understanding are open to receive, we have His eyes to see, His ears to hear, and His understanding to see what the natural mind cannot grasp. And our hearts believe.

 

You take ownership of God’s Truth when you spiritually receive it in your heart. 

 

Look at Ephesians 1:17-19 again.

 

When you believe these verses in your heart, they are valid for you, not just for someone else. You believe God gives you His wisdom and reveals knowledge by the Holy Spirit. You believe that you have God’s power. You have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). You hear and receive God’s Truth—not with your natural mind but with your spiritual understanding.

 

The same power that raised Christ from the dead is alive in you, but if you don’t have spiritual eyes to see, spiritual ears to hear, and a spiritual understanding to believe this Truth in your heart, you will live a defeated and powerless life.

 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20). 

 

The natural mind cannot grasp this Truth, but your heart can believe it. 

 

The Lord desires His Word to come to life in you. Keep seeking His Truth, and you shall find it. His Word will challenge what you reason and think. But believe what the Holy Spirit reveals. Receive God’s spiritual wisdom and knowledge and make it yours. God’s power is at work in you. His Word comes to life in you, taking you beyond what your natural mind asks or thinks. 

 

The Words He speaks are spirit and life. They are the hope of His calling in you.

 

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/the-hope-of-his-calling.html

 

 

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

You Are His Workmanship



 

Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

—2 Timothy 1:9

 

 

Grace is a gift we receive, but it comes with a purpose! Once we understand God loves and accepts us, we are equipped to fulfill His purpose. This idea is found throughout the New Testament.

 

God’s grace reached Paul on the road to Damascus. It was full of His purpose.

 

“But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you” (Acts 26:16)

 

God’s grace works for the good of those called according to His purpose.

 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

 

God has a purpose for you. He wishes to accomplish things in and through you. You have unique gifts and ideas to develop and use. His grace is available for you to live that purpose. 

 

The degree to which we understand our purpose is the degree to which we experience true peace, joy, and faith.

 

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

 

Grace through faith saves us. That same grace leads us into the good works God has prepared and purposed for us. And the same faith that makes us righteous is the same faith that brings His work to life in us. Grace without purpose makes our faith of no value. Just as Jesus told Paul on the road to Damascus that God’s purpose would be revealed to and through him, God desires His purpose to be shown to and through you. When you pursue His purpose, it must be with His grace as your strength.

 

Your unique purpose comprises smaller purposes that give overall life to the special one God has given you. Your purpose includes everyone you know and everyone you influence. It plays out in your relationships and those you come in contact with every day. 

 

Your faith is alive, breathing, and moving as the Spirit moves and breathes in you. Be open to His calling. Don’t say you can’t. Say you can in His strength! You are not called to empower yourself. Your work without Jesus is in vain. It profits you nothing. But the Holy Spirit working in and through you can accomplish more than you ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). 

 

There is grace for you, my friend! You are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works! Never think less of yourself because you know your imperfections and your struggles. We all have imperfections and struggles, but God sees excellent things in all His children. He sees Jesus in you. You are one of a kind and of immeasurable worth in His Kingdom! 

 

Step out in faith. Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth, empowers you. The Spirit is in you to reveal God’s purpose and move in you! Let Him!

 

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/you-are-his-workmanship.html

 

 

Monday, October 28, 2024

How Tired Are You?

 

 

Luke shares a story in Acts of Paul being followed by a slave girl who had a “spirit of divination.” She would shout out, declaring that Paul and his group were “servants of the Most High God” (Acts 16:16-17). What she declared about Paul’s group was true, but it was the enemy causing her to do it. Paul allowed her disturbing behavior for several days but finally had enough of it. 

 

“But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And he came out that very hour” (Acts 16:18).

 

We all have allowed harmful things in our lives for too long. Reticence about speaking out and doing something about a damaging thing or situation can hinder what God wants us to do. We can become so accustomed to the enemy’s attacks that we don’t address them.

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Four years ago, accepting a lie of the enemy came to a screeching halt. I finally had enough. I finally recognized sickness and the pain and fear I allowed as the enemy’s distraction, annoyance, and temptation. Yes, God's peace does provide strength, but acceptance and resignation do not. Sometimes, you need to acknowledge the thief who is out to destroy you and fight the good fight of faith.

 

“Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7.)

 

You resist the enemy’s lies when you submit to God’s truth. “By His stripes, you were healed (1 Peter 2:24). When you’ve had enough of sickness, submit to God’s truth. Believe it. Resist the devil, and he will flee. When you’ve had enough of a defeated life, submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee. Speak against the enemy who comes to destroy you, and say “yes” to God’s healing and “yes” to His abundant life. 

 

We have the same resurrection power as Paul did (Ephesians 1:19-21). Paul finally had enough of this evil spirit tempting him and distracting him from living his purpose. What distraction, annoyance, or temptation is coming against you? If Paul could be annoyed and speak to the enemy, you can, too.

 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

 

Don’t give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). You will become resigned to his lies, accept their untruth, and not fight. You will come to love those lies, and they will become who you are. Give place to God. Give place to His truth. Accept His truth as your own. Speak His promises. You will love them, and they will become who you are. 

 

How tired are you? Are you determined to fight the good fight of faith? Are you ready to confess the good promises of God (1 Timothy 6:12)? Don’t grow weary. In due season, you shall reap if you do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9).

 

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

 

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/how-tired-are-you.html

 

 

Friday, October 25, 2024

The Joy of Abiding in Jesus

 


If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

—John 15:10-11

 

Some people regard abiding in Jesus as something that takes the joy out of life. However, Jesus said that in His presence is fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11). Abiding in Jesus causes us to have fullness of joy. There is fulfillment, pleasure, gratification, and joy in Jesus that is unsurpassed by anything else in this life.

 

Some Christians don’t experience this depth of joy Jesus spoke of because they aren’t abiding in Him. There is no other reason. In the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy. If we genuinely believe this, we will abide, stay, and remain in that place of expectancy. We will rejoice with “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

 

The statements about keeping Jesus’ commandments were spoken so we would abide in His love and our joy would be complete. They weren’t spoken to oppress us but so we might experience joyful pleasure in the Lord. The oldest deception of the enemy tells us that God's commandments are given to keep us from experiencing a joy-filled life. That is the lie he told Eve (Genesis 3:4-5). Preferring her own way over God’s way didn’t bring Eve happiness. It only brought her and all of us the grief of sin.

 

“You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). 

 

God has given us His commandments because He desires us to experience His abundant joy in this life. But we don’t have enough sense to choose the right way (Proverbs 16:25, Jeremiah 10:23). So He chose the right way for us. If we keep His commandments, the Lord assures us that our joy will be full.

 

The Lord desires us to have joy—not just a “little” joy or a “sometimes” joy. He desires us to have abundant, consistent, and satisfying joy. Christians who abide in Jesus are satisfied in Him. They are filled with Jesus and have no room for discouragement or fear. They are the only ones in this world who really have a reason to be joyful. 

 

The joy of the Lord is our strength. It is an offensive weapon against the enemy and one of the most potent weapons we have against depression, discouragement, and fear. Jesus spoke these things to His disciples the night before His crucifixion (John 16:1) so they wouldn’t be offended. He was preparing them for the worst time of their lives. If Jesus’ words could sustain His disciples through such a depressing and discouraging time, then there is no reason for us not to experience God’s joy through our hardships. When our faith is severely tested, praising the Lord will take our attention off our problems, focus it on Jesus, and release the joy that comes through faith (1 Peter 1:8).

 

While we were yet sinners, God loved us (Romans 5:8). Keeping Jesus’ commandments doesn’t affect God loving us. But it does affect us loving God. Hence, keeping Jesus’ commandments keeps us in His love and affects our ability to stay intimate with Him so our joy might be whole and complete.

 

Do you experience joy? Do you abide and remain in Him? Do you live in a state of expectancy regardless of your circumstances, or have you allowed trying times to rob you of your joy?

 

Abide. Remain. Stay continually in Jesus. Don’t return to your own way. The Lord restores the joy of your salvation and upholds you with His generous Spirit (Psalms 51:12).

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/the-joy-of-abiding-in-jesus.html

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Abide in Jesus



 

 

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

—John 15:4

 

 

The word “abide” in John 15:4 was translated from the Greek word “meno” and means “to stay in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy” (Strong’s Concordance). The dictionary defines “abide” as meaning “to remain; to continue; to stay; to dwell.” Each of these words speaks of stability and consistency. We cannot abide in Jesus if we only spend time with Him occasionally. Abiding in Jesus involves constant communion with Him. The just live by faith. They don’t just visit there sporadically. 

 

Seeking God occasionally isn’t a substitute for abiding in Him. This is a major reason why more Christians don’t experience the abundant life Jesus came to bring them (John 10:10). Most only abide in Jesus when life gets difficult. Later, when the pressure eases, they return to their own ways, and the next crisis is just a matter of time.

 

John 15:4 offers an insightful truth, but if you are not abiding in Jesus, it is something that can be easily forgotten. Because the fruit grows on the branch, it is easy for us to give credit to the branch for bearing the fruit, when actually it is the vine that drew life from the soil and routed it through the branch. Similarly, since we are the branch through which the life of God flows, we can fall into the trap of thinking that the responsibility for producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control is ours. We are no longer trusting or abiding in the vine when we think this way. If we persist in this mindset, we will become fruitless.

 

It is a great relief to the believer who understands that he is only the vessel through which the Lord operates. This places the responsibility for bearing fruit on Jesus. Our responsibility is to respond to Jesus’s unmatchable and perfect ability. In the same way that you have never seen a branch struggling to bring forth fruit, your “labor” is to enter into God’s rest (Hebrews 4:11). You labor not to labor. This “labor” is complete trust and dependency on Jesus as our source. If we abide in Him, the fruit will come naturally. The life we live will be Christ living in and through us, bringing us a profound sense of rest and peace.

 

Putting our faith in what Jesus did for us saved us. To maintain our salvation, our faith must continue, remain, and abide in Christ and not in ourselves. Our holiness, righteousness, and justification are gifts that we received the moment we were born again in Christ. We must put our faith in Jesus and not our old man, with his inability to produce the fruit that can only be born in Christ.

 

In the same way that the life of a root is found in the soil or a branch in the vine, the believer's true life is only found in his deep and intimate union with Christ. This union is not just a concept but a living reality that we can continually experience, bringing us closer to our Savior and strengthening our faith.

 

There is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to be drawn from the fertile soil of your faith in Jesus. It is His responsibility to bring life. It is your responsibility to abide in Him. “Stay in a given state of expectancy.” Behold, He makes all things new. Not you.

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/abide-in-jesus.html

 

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

God’s Perfect Work in My Life



 

 

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

—John 15:2

 

 

In John 15:2, John uses the image of pruning branches to make a point. A fruit-producing branch, when pruned, will eventually produce more fruit. In the same way, more fruit is produced in our lives when we are pruned. Some people believe the Lord prunes us with things like disease, sickness, loss, and other tragedies so that we will ultimately bear more fruit. 

 

Such a belief glorifies our tragedies as good things and suggests they are necessary if we want to bear more fruit. This is inconsistent with God’s goodness revealed in Christ and with the rest of the text in John 15, which demonstrates Jesus’s pruning is done through the Word He has spoken to us.

 

“If you abide in Me,” Jesus said, “and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this, My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:7).

 

The will of God is for you to bear much fruit. If you abide in Him, and His Words abide in you, you will receive from Him and produce greater fruit. The Word changing you and not your tragedy glorifies the Father. The promise that you will receive from the Lord is conditional on your abiding in Him. When we are not abiding in the Lord, it is not the Lord who fails to answer our prayers. When we are not abiding in Jesus, Satan is the one who hinders our prayers; our flesh has its own way and renders us powerless against the enemy. When we abide in Jesus, the Spirit has His way. The Word prunes us to bear love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And against His spiritual fruit in us, there is no law.

 

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul wrote that God's Word was given to us “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” God’s Word is how He prunes us. He doesn’t need the enemy’s contribution to produce spiritual fruit. In fact, the enemy's purpose is to defeat the spiritual work the Word can accomplish in us. But God's Word will make us “complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 

 

Just because we can learn lessons from life’s tragedies doesn’t mean God sends them to prune us. God’s Word prunes us. And, yes, His pruning can hurt when the Word challenges our wrongful beliefs and lousy lifestyle choices. We live in a fallen world where the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy us, but also where Jesus has given His life for us to have God’s abundant life. God doesn’t bring tragedy. He gives abundant life—not death. We endure tragedy as the result of Adam’s sin and often as a result of our own. Yes, we will suffer from Satan’s battering when we live for Jesus. But suffering for the Gospel's sake is totally different from the suffering sin produces. The hardships we endure because of the Gospel and our godly lifestyle choices glorify the Father. 

 

If we believe God places tragedy in our lives to make us more fruitful, then we will not resist the devil. James 4:7 says if we submit ourselves to God and resist the enemy, he will flee from us. We all can learn from the tragedies of life, but the believer who welcomes them and does not resist them will suffer greatly. He will be far behind the person who lets God's Word have His perfect work in him.

 

God prunes my life with His Word. His Word is His perfect work in my life. But it is only His perfect work if I abide in Him, and His Word abides in me. I will submit myself to God and stand in the face of adversity. I won’t welcome tragedy in my life as a gift from God. I will refuse to give place to the enemy. I will submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee. 

 

Jesus, you have overcome. Now, overcome in me. Have your perfect work.

 

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

 

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/gods-perfect-work-in-my-life.html

 

 

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Nothing Apart from God



 

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

—Acts 10:38

 

 

God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus healed all who were afflicted and oppressed by the devil. He resisted the enemy’s temptations, calmed storms, fed thousands, and raised the dead. Consider this. If Jesus was God in the flesh, why did He need to pray?

 

Even though Jesus was the Son of God, His relationship with His Father was based on prayer.  He was a man of prayer. He started his ministry in prayer, fasted and prayed in the desert for forty days, and depended upon prayer for every part of his earthly ministry.

 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19). 

 

Jesus could do nothing apart from His relationship with the Father.

 

Jesus spent time alone with His Father. He prayed before, during, and after ministering. He prayed for a whole night before choosing His twelve disciples. He prayed for others and with others. He prayed in the Garden during His greatest temptation. Prayer was His lifeline to the Father. 

 

If Jesus needed to pray to accomplish His purpose, why should it be different for us? We were not created to live apart from our Creator. We, too, can do nothing of eternal value apart from our Father. We need intimate fellowship with the One who gave us life. 

 

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray,” James wrote (James 5:13). 

 

Dealing with affliction causes many people to worry, seek advice, and ask for help from others. But the only true source of our deliverance is found in prayer. Prayer connects you with the source of your life. Prayer is where the answer is. Prayer draws from God’s wisdom. Prayer releases God's provision. Prayer involves God in every part of your life.

 

Don’t avoid prayer because you have been told it is your obligation. Don’t avoid it because you believe you cannot say the right words. You probably talk without hesitation to others about what you are going through. Just go ahead and speak to God, too. Next, seek promises in His Word that speak to your circumstances, and talk to God about His promises. Expect Him to quicken His Word within you. Jesus expected God to hear Him and respond. God cares for you just as much as He cares for His Son. 

 

Jesus had confidence in His Father. You can have confidence, too.

 

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

 

Do you have this confidence?  That God hears you? That if you pray His will, you will have the petitions you have asked of Him? You can have this confidence by knowing your Father intimately as He knows you. He is just waiting for you to come to Him. 

 

Jesus drew strength from the Father. His life had no meaning apart from God.  Life has no meaning for us apart from our Father. Apart from God, there is no help. No deliverance. No direction. No power.

 

But in Him, all things are possible.


You are joined in spirit with your Father.

 

Come, He says, share your heart with me. I am your healer. I am your deliverer. I am your confidence. I am your peace. I am your rest. Do nothing apart from me.

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/nothing-apart-from-god.html


 

 

 

 

Monday, October 21, 2024

The Gospel Affirms and Changes Us



 

The Gospel is a testament to our intimate relationship with God. His affirmation of us is a profound expression of His love (John 3:16), our unity with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17), and our reflection of His image (1 Corinthians 15:49). But the Gospel is not just about affirmation; it's about transformation. It empowers us to live in a way that pleases God. God’s affirmation is a catalyst for change within us. 

 

Our faith becomes truly meaningful when we allow God’s love to transform us. Simply being loved by God is not the end result of the Gospel. If we truly grasp the reality that the all-powerful and ever-present God loves us and dwells within us, should we not draw upon His strength to live according to the life He has given us?  

 

Reflect on these verses:

 

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

 

“That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him” (Colossians 1:10). “…Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians. 1:12).

 

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together” (2 Corinthians 7:1,3).

 

Do you see the pattern in these verses? It is repeated throughout all of Paul’s letters. Being affirmed through faith in God’s grace should change how we live our lives. These verses confirm our acceptance by God and then urge us to walk in a way that pleases Him. They affirm the unsurpassed greatness of our redemption, the limitless depth of God’s love, and the overpowering immensity of His grace, followed by advice about how to live our lives in this sinful world.

 

God’s grace not only accepts and affirms us but also empowers us to live His life. Receiving God’s grace without responding to it renders it powerless to change us. His grace calls for our response, and faith is the proper response to what Jesus has already done. We walk by faith and not by sight. We allow the love we have received to transform us.

 

God looked beyond my fault and saw my need. Do I look beyond my fault and see Jesus loving me, living in me, and changing me? The Gospel of Grace is the power to do what I can’t. It changes me from the inside out.

 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

 

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/the-gospel-affirms-and-changes-us.html

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, October 18, 2024

Be Still and Know Him




 

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

—Psalm 46:10

 

 

God’s power is evident if we have the hearts to perceive it. Psalm 46:10 tells us how to obtain a heart to perceive God’s work. We have to be still and listen to Him. 

 

The magnitude of God's greatness demands that we learn to be still. In these moments of stillness. we can honestly know God and perceive His work. The busyness of life can often distract us from this knowledge. Being still is not just about withdrawing from our hectic lives. It's about meditating and reflecting on God’s goodness. We need to calm ourselves, calm our minds, and calm our fears. Only then can we be still and know that He is God. He will keep us in perfect peace when we keep our thoughts on Him (Isaiah 26:3). A life filled with constant activity can prevent us from really knowing God and experiencing His peace. 

 

Have you ever paused, let go of everything, and truly perceived the breathtaking beauty of God’s creation around you? In those moments, you'll see what you might not normally see. The majestic fir trees swaying in the wind, the soothing sound of water cascading over rocks, the peaceful sight of a deer grazing, the graceful flight of a bird, and the refreshing touch of the cool morning air on your skin. These are all manifestations of God's beauty, calling you to be still and know that He is your God. 

 

God is always working, but we can become so busy that we miss what He is doing. Being still makes us more aware of His truth, revealing His promises in our lives. God is always being exalted throughout the world, providing and revealing Himself, but we can miss Him if we are too busy with the affairs of this life. 

 

Stop. Don’t hurry to work and to do. Don’t rush to reveal to God how much you love Him. God loved you first. Be still and quiet. Allow God to reveal Himself to you. Calm your thoughts, and know He is your God. He loves you. In the quietness, He exalts Himself. In the quietness, you worship and exalt Him.  

 

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/be-still-and-know-him.html

 

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Your Peace of Mind and Heart



 

 

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot provide. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

—John 14:17 (NLT)

 

 

At times, life is hard. Your problems can stress you until you feel shattered. You crave peace above everything else but can’t hide from your life. It is always with you. Some may try to drug their pain or find any diversion that provides an escape. There is no peace of mind and heart in escaping. Those in pain need someone to encourage them and stay the course with them until they receive the peace of mind and heart Jesus promises. 

 

Don’t ever despair. Don’t be troubled or afraid. Jesus has given you a gift—peace of mind and heart. No, your circumstances will never be perfect. This world will never provide you with peace. But you know that already. You have tried to make things right and failed. You have been attempting to make yourself perfect and realized the impossibility of that battle. You have strived and struggled until fear has claimed your heart and mind. Jesus waits for you to come to Him and give Him your circumstances, despair, and fears.

 

You can’t change what has happened—just like you can never change your heart. Only Jesus can. He loves you with an everlasting love. He has drawn you in loving kindness. He has plans for your life that don’t disappoint but give you hope. The hope He provides never leads to disappointment because He dearly loves you. The world loves you only when you please it. He loves you in your pain—in your fear—in your misery—in your imperfection. He makes right what you don’t have the strength to make right. Escape is never your answer. Believing in Christ and what He promises you is your answer.

 

Without hope, faith has no life. Allow yourself to hope. Faith gives substance to what you hope for. It is evidence of what you can’t see. Don’t despair. Don’t be troubled and afraid. Don’t give up. Seek the truth of who Jesus says you are. Believe your right standing in Him. Your Father supplies all your needs. His heart is always giving. He loves you. He blesses you with peace of mind and heart.

 

Open your mind and heart to receive.

 

www.lynnlacher.com/2024/10/your-peace-of-mind-and-heart.html

 

 

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