Give Once More

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

—2 Corinthians 8:9–11 (NIV)

Have you ever started something and not finished it? Maybe circumstances kept you from reaching your goal. Perhaps you were distracted by other things. Whatever the reason, life happened—and you lost your drive to complete what you started. We have all been at that place where we have lost interest or the heart to finish a project.

What if the work you once started came from a vision that God gave you? It was something that He called you to bring to life. In the beginning, you believed in that vision with all your heart and soul. You poured your life into it. You gave your time and your financial support, but you never saw your efforts make a difference. Perhaps you became weary because of the constant struggle to attain that vision. You just lost heart.

You were the one to whom God imparted the vision. You were the first to get it started. You can only finish to the best of your ability, according to what you have been given. God’s perfect will is for His vision to be completed, but you can’t make a vision happen—even with all you have done to inspire others to catch it. If you have given the work your best, God will do one of two things. He will bring it to completion with the support you have around you, or He will give you another means to achieve it. It is His promise for the work to be completed.

You are rich because of the sacrifice of Jesus! He has made you rich in His purpose. He is your reason for living, and He has called you. Allow God to stir the vision again. Allow yourself to believe in it once more. Give what you can and trust Him to complete what only He can finish. “God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NLT).

© 2017 Lynn Lacher

Form Me, Fire Me, Fill Me

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Build

Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai:  “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? My house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses.”

—Haggai 1:3-4, 9b (NLT)

Do we get so busy with our lives and our own perceived needs that we neglect what God desires?  In this chapter, Haggai stirs the remnant of God’s people to rebuild what has been lost—to place God’s wishes first before everything else. They have re-built their own homes, but ignored rebuilding God’s temple that was destroyed before the exile. They have done as they wished, and reaped the negative benefit of their actions.  “You have planted much but harvest little,” Haggai imparts. “You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes” (Haggai: 1:6, NLT)! Isn’t this so like us? We build our lives without surrendering to God’s will, and allowing Him to guide us. We fulfill our desires without considering His wishes. We place our wishes above His own. And we lose as life sifts us like sand.

At the same time that Haggai was prophesying to the Jews in Judah, Ezra was a priest who led Judean exiles living in Babylon back to their home city of Jerusalem. They returned to re-build their own homes, but neglected the temple to worship the Lord who has rescued them from exile! Many along with Ezra caught the vision of what Haggai had stirred in Zerubbabel. The temple must be rebuilt. And with a call to place God first, an awareness grew in the Judeans that they had not surrendered to the loving God who had brought them home. Repentance burned in their hearts to rebuild what their sin had destroyed. Work began to rebuild God’s house. This is the same call and promise to us. If we place God first, we will understand where we have failed and not allowed His will to change us.

When Tattenai, the governor of the province, wrote to King Darius about what was happening in Jerusalem, he informed him, “The king should know that we went to the construction site of the Temple of the great God in the province of Judah. It is being rebuilt with specially prepared stones, and timber is being laid in its walls. The work is going forward with great energy and success. We asked the leaders, ‘Who gave you permission to rebuild this Temple and restore this structure?’ This was their answer: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the Temple that was built here many years ago by a great king of Israel (Ezra 5:8, 9, 11, NLT).  When we follow God’s will, we will receive His promise. And that promise responds to the vision that God has inspired—to allow God to rebuild our lives as only He can.

Lord, help us to catch the vision you desire. Your will and purpose come before our own. And when we place you first, what you build in our lives will never be in vain, but resound with your glory.

© 2018 Lynn Lacher

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Giving

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

— Proverbs 11:25 (NLT)

Prosperity is not a state of finance. It is a fullness of God that comes when nothing is retained—when you are free to give yourself away. Out of your very being, living water will flow—unstoppable and healing. Joy comes from refreshing others out of the abundance of His grace that you have received.

“Give, and you will receive,” Jesus said. “Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38, NLT). Giving is God’s gift to you. When you have a spirit that holds nothing back, you receive more than you can ever imagine. You give out of a heart that is free from restriction that self inflicts. It is when you give without thought of what He has promised, you receive the joyful freedom of His fullness. When you give freely, you receive freely. You are a river of His love.

“Anyone who believes in me,” Jesus said, “may come and drink! Rivers of living water will flow from his heart” (John 7:38, NLT). In “Utmost for His Highest”, Oswald Chambers had a thought about this verse. A river might begin as a spring and flow to places that spring knows nothing about. If a person takes God into his life, out of his very being, God will flow. A person actually becomes that river, but has nothing to do with the route or power of the stream.

Do you know a river is constant?  It can flow steadily for a while, and then might come to some object in its way. For a little while it is might be held back, but that river soon discovers a way around what has stopped it. Then it flows freely once more again, reaching and touching areas beyond the limits of its source.

Are you free to give your heart? Are you free to share? Does His love flow in your life with no restraint? Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. It is in giving yourself away that you understand the power of His grace.

© 2018 Lynn Lacher

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Perceive His Truth

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.

—Proverbs 3:5 (NIV)

Life is not always easy. It is especially not easy when I allow the enemy to distort what is true. His distortion might certainly appear to be truth, but it never is. I must look beneath his lies to see God’s truth in each matter. The appearances of people and circumstances do not always reveal what is true. Sometimes my mind can run rampant with wrong perceptions. My mind is where the enemy's lies take root. But it is also where God's truth and is realized. God wants me to trust what He tells me and not what my mind tells me. He advises not to hold my own understanding above His own.

The parables Jesus taught reveal life lessons to those who cannot grasp or believe truth without seeing examples and hearing explanations. There is always a greater spiritual meaning than what my mind may initially perceive. The Lord wishes me to understand His truth in a matter without having to hear or see in order to believe. No matter what the enemy might lie about―no matter what he might distort or my own mind might conjure up, there is always God's truth that reigns. There is always more beneath the surface that Jesus means for me to understand. “This is why I speak to them in parables,’” Jesus said. “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them” (Matthew 13:13-15, NIV).

I do not want to have a calloused heart and mind that listens to the enemy’s lies, and never perceives what the Holy Spirit imparts. I don't want to be ever hearing and never understanding or seeing and never perceiving. I want to perceive with an open heart, ears, eyes, and mind all the truth He wishes to reveal through His Word. The Holy Spirit speaks hope to me, and the enemy speaks defeat.  Jesus speaks life, and the enemy speaks death. The Lord wishes me to grow so much spiritually that the lies of the enemy cannot distort the truth He reveals. I long for Him to see in me the qualities He saw in His disciples! “But blessed are your eyes because they see,” Jesus said, “and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it” (Matthew 13:16-17, NIV).

Lord, I yearn to be one of these who hear, see, and understand your truth with my heart, spirit, and mind. When I seek you and allow this intimacy with you, I will be healed in depths of mind, heart, and character that surpass anything I have ever known.

© 2017 Lynn Lacher

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Recognize Your Purpose

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

—Hebrews 12:2 (MSG)

Look to me. I want you to recognize your purpose. Don't look at your circumstance or failure. Allow me to change the things in your life that are tearing you apart. Allow me to change you. You know your imperfections and failures well. The enemy has reminded you of what you have been forgiven for again and again. You are troubled. I am your rest. You are impatient. I am your patience. You have no peace. I am your peace. I know your heart, and I know you love me. I know you yearn to be stronger in faith. Here I am—the author of your faith. I will also be the finisher of it.

Be still and learn of me. Quit struggling. Focus your mind on me. I am your life and your purpose. I am your healer. I began this work in you. I will keep you in peace when your mind rests in me. You will grow stronger, and on your journey, you will grow more like me. If you stay focused on me—if you rest in me—if you grow in me—if you seek me continually—if you serve me obediently, I will give you powerful faith to believe for great things in my name. You need encounters with me every day, and each moment with me will help you recognize your purpose. My great compassion is new every morning, and never fails. I am faithful. You are my purpose, and loving me is yours. When I am Lord of your life and you love me with all your heart, soul, and mind, all things are possible.

Continually abide in me, and never lose sight of me. I cheer you on and wait for you at the end of your race. If you keep your eyes on your goal—on me, you are never limited by your own limitations. If you remain in me, you become more than your limitations. You become all that I have decided you to be. You have found in your weakness that I am your strength. You have discovered in your strength that I am your joy. You have discovered my peace that your mind can't comprehend. When I am your purpose, and your love is completely mine, you are at rest in me. Keep your eyes on me, and allow me to direct the moments of your life, you will be able to handle anything that comes your way. The prize at the end of your journey shall have been worth your obedience. You shall see me face and face, and shall know me as I have always known you.

© 2017 Lynn Lacher

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Thanks

We are moving to a new house, and I will return in a few days to post devotions. Thanks for allowing me to share.

Surrender My Right

“O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NLT).

What do you desire from me, Lord God? What can I offer you that is good? What can I give you that brings you joy? There is really nothing I can bring but myself. The gift of my life—surrendered to you without any right of ownership—is what you desire. You continually call me to do what you instruct in your Word. For me to do what you require, I must give up what I feel are my rights. You own my feelings—my heart—my mind—my spirit. I have no rights. Your love purchased my soul.

In your Word, you instruct me in the way I should go. I long to be as a tree planted along a riverbank which bears good fruit in season. Its leaves never wither; it prospers. It has deep roots. Lord, I want to blossom and never wither on the vine—to prosper in your purpose and stand strong when hardship comes. With an obedient heart I choose to do what you deem right in each circumstance—whether that circumstance is one of hardship or one of joy.

You ask for mercy to reign in my heart. You ask me to love beyond the limits of my human ability. You call me to forgive so that I might be free. For my sin—for my freedom, you gave your life. Your mercy looked beyond my fault. Your grace recognized my need. Your love is forgiveness. How can I not extend mercy and forgiveness to others as you continually extend them to me? My life, offered to you as your life was offered to me, is what you request of me. You ask me to walk humbly in your love having no agenda—to be at rest in your will. When I am at rest, I have your incredible peace that encompasses me. Only I can destroy your peace. When I believe that my control is better than yours, Lord, I destroy your peace with my pride. Pride leads to my disgrace, but with humility I receive your wisdom. And in your wisdom, I live in your freedom.

You chose me, Lord. So now I am free to choose your life of love and grace—I am free to choose what is right. Now I choose to clothe myself with your tender-hearted mercy—with your kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. I trust your heart because you created mine. You bless me with your grace so that my life is filled with your love and purpose. Your love heals my wounds. I have nothing to prove. You prove yourself. I am free to love.

© 2017 Lynn Lacher

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Choose Me

Let me love you. Yes, you’ve been hurt. I know. I have tried to reach you. Why don’t you just let me have the emotional pain of your hurt? Do you find it comforting?  Does it bring peace? There is a reason I said to forgive. You can’t survive without it. I don’t think you realize that you love your hurt more than you love me. It has become your idol—your obsession. It has become your comfort instead of me. You have nursed it—stroked and fed it until you can’t live without it. You are its captive, and you have jailed your heart. I freely and without any restraint give you my love. I stand at the door of your heart each moment just waiting for you to let me in. I long to take this burden from you, but the hurt and pain you have nursed keeps the door tightly closed. Love me more than your pain. Choose to forgive. Keep choosing again and again throughout the long days to lay everything down on my altar. And that door where I wait for you will begin to open—just a little at first, and then wider and wider until I am free to have unhindered entry. I am the Son who died so you might have life and have it more abundantly. “If the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36 NLT).

©2017 Lynn Lacher

Riches of His Mercy

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) —Ephesians 2:4-5 (NLT)

I was poor, but He was rich in mercy. The judgment for my sin was death, but Jesus loved me so much, He gave His life so I might have a new one. God’s grace is why I am saved from the expectations of the old life. I am free, because He chose not to be. He chose my sin and death for my freedom. He paid the price I had no way to pay. Because of His rich mercy and His amazing grace, I am forgiven. I am free.

Many view a relationship with Jesus as one of struggling to be good enough. They see a relationship with Him as very restricting, when, in fact, the opposite is true. It is spiritually liberating and fulfilling. When you die to self, you live in Him—what was once poor in your life becomes rich because of His mercy and grace at Calvary.

Sin is that oppression which keeps you from a relationship with Him. It stands in the way of your freedom and joyful fulfillment in life. He waits for you to come to Him, and let Him have it. His grace has paid for it, and when you give it to Him, it is gone. You are free.

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,^” Jesus said, “for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs” (Matthew 5:3, NLT). Are you poor enough to realize how much you need Him?  The riches of Kingdom of God are just waiting—His love is just calling—His heart is just reaching. What do you have to lose?  Only yourself to know the greatest gift of His love. It is when you lose yourself in Him, you find the riches of His mercy.

© 2018 Lynn Lacher
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A Promise

Out of the stump of David’s family^, will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.—Isaiah 11:1-2 (NLT)

Yes, out of the old law shall grow a promise—a new branch, Jesus, who will fulfill the judgment of the law by paying with His own life. The Spirit of the Lord will fill Him with wisdom and understanding and knowledge. He will possess spiritual insight and counsel, and a great respect for the Lord. “He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,” Isaiah imparts, “or decide by what he hears with his ears;  but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth” (Isaiah 11:3b-4a, NIV).

Who is Jesus to you? Do you know that He paid the price for your sin so that you might walk in the joy and freedom of the Holy Spirit? He died so you might be free from the judgment of the law. That judgment is now broken by His undeserved grace. He doesn’t judge by what He sees in your life. He doesn’t evaluate your life by words you have spoken in judgment. With righteousness—with merciful honesty—with great virtue, He looks at the neediness of your broken life, and recognizes your need for His forgiving grace. He will not force His grace upon you. He waits for you to ask, and then with justice that He purchased for you on Calvary, He imparts healing for your poor and needy soul. 

You aren’t needy? You aren’t poor? You don’t feel you need His forgiving love? I am poor and needy, and only made rich by what He has paid for my sin. He continually imparts grace, and daily I believe by faith. “We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ,” Paul writes, “and this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are” (Romans 3:22, NLT).

Do you want to believe? It is true for you. Jesus is not a religion. He is not a God of doom and retribution. He is a Savior of forgiveness and grace who paid the price for your judgment. He offers a relationship of love, peace, and joy. You need only ask.

©2018 Lynn Lacher

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