Spirit & Mind

It was an ordinary day for Mary as she busily performed her daily tasks. But she stopped in her tracks when a heavenly visitor, the angel Gabriel, greeted her and said she was highly favored.

Gabriel's words troubled Mary, and she wondered why he was there. Mary was poor and lowly, just an ordinary teen with nothing special about her. Gabriel saw her troubled expression and replied, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son and call him Jesus."

Now, Mary was even more confused because she was a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph. She wanted to know how this could happen. Gabriel told her that her conception would take place by the Spirit's power. It was all a part of God's plan. Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May your word to me be fulfilled."

Mary surrendered herself to God and allowed God to use her. What an honor to be visited by an angel and receive a message from God. Today, we receive instructions from God by the Holy Spirit. People often say things like, "God told me." We feel conviction from the Holy Spirit. Or maybe God sends a message through another person just for us. These are all ways God speaks to us.

God's messages are essential, as are our responses to them. We are each just as unique as Mary. We are each born with a purpose, a particular assignment. We must do our part, saying, "I am the Lord's servant; may your word be fulfilled."

Seek God to find out what plan He wants to unfold in your life. We each have a specific part in the furthering of the gospel. Be like Mary and surrender, allowing God to work through you. God has a mission and plan for you today. 

While listening to gospel music on a Sunday afternoon, I wanted to raise my eyes to the Lord. I cannot thank God enough for my current status. So, I read this verse.

The verse seemed apt, even in my wrinkly years.  I have much to be grateful for—to raise my eyes to the Lord for. I am fortunate at my age to enjoy good health, live in affordable housing, and enjoy both good companions and my own company.

I can listen to the media, which can contain a lot of negative spam. But at any age, we can still raise our expectations as believers. We cannot thank God enough for the gift of Jesus, a tale for us that shall never grow old.

As I sit here, I realize that we will all wake up in the same sacred space sooner or later. It is best to thank our Lord for happy memories. Some days will put a twinkle in our wrinkles. Any Christian—in fact, anyone from any faith—can raise their eyes, seek comfort and hope, have compassion, and pray for the greater good.

We all have crosses to bear, so find what makes your heart glad. Raise our eyes to the Lord. Your faith is free and can set you free.

Joe was dissatisfied. His prosperous farm provided a good living, but something seemed to be missing in his life.

At first, he enjoyed the challenges of building up the place, but now it had become routine. He decided to make a change and get a new place. He contacted Fred, his real estate agent friend, and arranged to have him sell the old place and find him something new.  

A few days later, Joe browsed through Fred’s local ads to see if he could find anything promising. One local property sounded impressive—fertile land, a roomy house, and lots of appeal. He quickly called Fred and asked to see the listed property, thinking it might be what he wanted.  

Fred seemed surprised. “But that’s your place!” he said. “If it sounds great, that’s because it is. I wondered why you wanted to sell.”  

After a pause, Joe said, “You know, you’re right. Cancel the ads and let’s forget it. I’ll enjoy what I have. And thanks for the new perspective.” 

Esther also got a new perspective from Mordechai’s observations about her being part of God’s plan to save her people, the Jews. Occasionally, I experience the same in my spiritual life.

New perspectives usually occur when I emerge from a time of overwhelming struggle, laden with fears and worries, and then think back about it. When I do that, I suddenly realize God’s ongoing presence and provision—something I’d never considered until then. When I emerge, I’m intact and with a stronger faith.

When you are in a tight spot, let God change your perspective. He can give you a shift of view.  

Giving thanks at Thanksgiving might be easy, but thanking God in every circumstance challenges the best of us. Some claim it’s impossible.

I’m a nostalgic kind of guy. In my mind’s eye, I can imagine myself sitting at a table with the early Pilgrims and their Indian neighbors—who had shown them where to hunt and fish and how to plant. They made it through a long winter, planted their crops the following spring, and reaped a bountiful harvest. They thanked God, but also their Indian neighbors.

Fast forward four hundred years, and I wish I could thank God similarly with my parents, children, and grandchildren all gathered around a table. But our family has been torn by deaths, divorces, and remarriages—which has increased and decreased the number of parents and grandparents, along with the houses they all need to get to during the holiday season. Add health complications and distance to the above, and the challenges multiply. Although my wife and my mom try their best to have them all in one place on Thanksgiving Day, they rarely succeed.

Even though the Thanksgiving celebration doesn’t look as I want, I can still be thankful—in all circumstances. And for quite an impressive list of things.

I’m thankful for my family. Although they don’t always act as I wish, I’m proud of my family and grateful God has blessed me with children, grandchildren, and Christian parents.

I’m thankful for friends. The person with several people in a lifetime who will stick with them through thick and thin is fortunate. Moving around so much has made this challenging for me, but I can still find several people whom I could call on if I needed them.

Worshipping a forgiving God makes me thankful. Through Christ, all my sins are forgiven—past, present, and future. He has removed my condemnation and given me Christ’s righteousness.

Believing God has a purpose for my life makes me thankful. He says He has plans for me, that they are good, and that He wants me to prosper. I don’t have to drudge through life; I can enjoy every moment.

Knowing God has the power to redeem any and every situation also makes me thankful. God redeems the frustrating situations I encounter and the suffering I endure through His sovereign power. He brings good from bad and orchestrates events in amazing ways.

This Thanksgiving season, find reasons to give thanks to God. 

It was a season of delays and longsuffering. I had prayed, labored, and waited expectantly for what I had longed for from the Lord, but things constantly went wrong. Nothing manifested for me.

During these times, I was tempted to become discouraged. Other temptations magnified, and it seemed as if this would never end. But I was encouraged as I read about God's commendation of the church of Philadelphia. One of the major praises given by Christ concerned how they had kept His words despite how little they were and how little strength they had. Because of that, the Lord would keep them from the hour of trial that was coming to test the earth's inhabitants.

When I realized that such light and momentary afflictions prepare me for eternal glory, it became much easier to stand firm and trust Christ despite the delays, which were not God's denials.

We are tempted to quit when our strength feels small, yet the Lord God is testing and refining our character and reminding us to be patient. One of the most encouraging truths we can cling to is that if the Lord God is providing the results, it isn't up to us to try and control the outcomes only He can produce. We must simply be still and at peace, rest confidently on His Word, and believe we will reap a harvest in due season if we faint not.

When experiencing a difficult trial that tests and challenges us, the temptation to falter and give up often intensifies right before the Lord is about to do something amazing. We should trust the Lord God to make a way through temptation and bring us into His presence in due season.

Many of us will be tested throughout the course of our lives, but how seriously do we take these tests? Think of what you need to pass God's tests. Then seek out the word of the Lord and delight in Him.