His Whisperings – Page 49 – Inspired by His Word

Hebrews 12:12-13 Moving ahead in victory

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Janice D. GreenJune 20, 2008

Hebrews 12:12-13 Click on link to read passage. You may select your own version of the Bible after the link opens.

This chapter in Hebrews is definitely a model for growth in our Christian walk. If you are going to stay with this writer, you have to move on and up.

These verses challenge us to get our act together, to strengthen our arms and knees, straighten our paths, so that we can be of service to others in Jesus’ name. We can’t serve God if we are determined to sit around in self pity. Wow! This has been a week of preaching to myself!

Father God, clear my foggy mind and lift me up. I know you are there for me, waiting for me to look up into your eyes so I can draw strength from them. But let me not draw strength for myself only, let me draw strength to serve you in whatever way you lead.

Hebrews 12:8-11 God disciplines those he loves

Posted on June 20, 2008 by Janice D. GreenJune 20, 2008

Hebrews 12:8-11 Click on link to read passage. You may select your own version of the Bible after the link opens.

Are you hurting? Pour your heart out to God. He may be molding you into the person he wants you to be. Consider these verses before you shake your fist at God and blame him for your pain and suffering.

Perhaps you can remember a time when you were given a spanking or other punishment for something you had done. There was pain at the time, but there was healing and you learned something from the discipline that had been applied. Perhaps you will enjoy reading this little incident I wrote about once on another blog of mine. Click here.

The important thing to remember is that God disciplines those he loves. If you are hurting, thank him that he trusts you with the pain. Let this pain help you to grow. Fight to keep from letting your pain cause you to turn inward and putting all your focus on yourself. As I write this I realize I am writing to myself as I continue to wrestle with some struggles of my own.

Father God, thank you for loving me. Help me to give thanks in everything, and help me to grow and bloom in a way that brings glory to only you.

Hebrews 12:4-7 When we are disciplined as sons

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Janice D. GreenJune 19, 2008

Hebrews 12:4-7 Click on link to read passage. You may select your own version of the Bible after the link opens.

I am struggling with a major disappointment in my life at the time I am writing this. It is in a situation where I feel very betrayed by an agency that was supposed to bring an improvement into my life with a whopping price tag. But the improvement is not an improvement at all, it has become a hindrance.

I have the faith to believe that God disciplines those he loves. If this is his discipline then I am willing to adjust my paths accordingly. But I can’t help but question that this is one of those situations. I hope my readers will pray with me on this as it really has me depressed.

I feel the need to return to the prayer I mentioned in a very recent post: Lord, don’t let this hardship go to waste. Let me learn what you would have me learn through it.

Many of the comments I made in that earlier post are appropriate for today’s scripture as well, so I encourage my readers to read it by clicking here. The last section of that post especially focuses on how God disciplines us as his children because he loves us.

A part of me feels guilty about not writing a more upbeat post today. But my heart says, not. It is time for Christians to admit when it is hard. Being a Christian doesn’t turn us into sugar coated cookies. It is for real with daily situations that are sometimes very hard to deal with. But God loves us and knows what we can endure. He knows how much pain he can trust us with. So as I sniffle like a child, yet I will trust him with all my tomorrows, and I will wait to see what tomorrow will bring and how he will bless it in the end.

AMEN

Hebrews 12:1-3 Make Jesus your life focus

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Janice D. GreenJune 18, 2008

Hebrews 12:1-3 Click on link to read passage. You may select your own version of the Bible after the link opens.

This passage is such a wonderful challenge. How many of us truly recognize the baggage we carry around with us? What are the things that pull us away from a relationship with Christ? What is it that keeps us from extending Christ’s love to the sick, lonely and/or hurting people around us? Busy-ness? Business profits? Poorly utilized idle time? Self-centeredness? Pride? Worry?

Hebrews 12:1 commands us to cast off those things that hinder us. I have a lot of cluter in my life – both physical and personal demands I allow to be made on my time. How freeing it would be to cast it all off and to run the race with total abandon. May God help me through this process.

It is easy to get overwhelmed by our circumstances and to allow them to pull us down. Verse two tells us how to rise above them – to fix our eyes on Jesus keeping in mind how he endured even death on the cross to obtain his goal. Whatever our burdens are, they can’t begin to compare with what Christ endured, yet he not only endured it, he did it for the “joy set before him.” He set the example for us by looking above and beyond the current circumstances to the joy of heaven that awaited him. We can have that same joy. Let us not lose heart.

Father God, help us to recognize and cast off those idols and distractions that keep us from fellowshiping with you and from serving you. Help us to run the race with joy and abandon.

Proverbs 3:5-12 Godly wisdom

Posted on June 18, 2008 by Janice D. GreenJune 18, 2008

Proverbs 3:5-12 Click on link to read passage. You may select your own version of the Bible after the link opens.

Proverbs 3:5-6
This proverb is one of the best. It challenges us to put God’s directions above our own judgement. Yet how many times have we responded to a scripture with a “yes, but…” and failed to do what was clearly set forth in the passage. Sometimes we can legitimately affirm that a particular passage was intended for a specific time and place in history, but we must be careful not to dismiss eternal principles such as love your enemies and do good to those who persecute you. If we want God to make our paths straight, we must be pliable in our spirits, and apply the teachings from his Word to our lives.

Proverbs 3:7-8
This passage is similar to the previous two verses in that we are to consider God’s wisdom above our own and shun evil. God offers us health and nourishment through following him.

Proverbs 3:9-10
Is this the passage that causes us to begin to fade away or drop out? Do we give to God from our firstfruits, or do we wait to see what is left over before we decide how much to give to him through our tithes and offerings? Is this one of your “yes, but…” verses? What priorities are you placing ahead of God in your giving.

Proverbs 3:11-12
   When the going gets tough do you find yourself warming up to God, or do you begin to nurture feelings of resentment toward him as if he weren’t giving you a fair shake for all you have done for him? I try to remember to pray that God will not allow a particular time of troubles and hardships go to waste, but that he will help me to learn the lessons he is trying to teach me through them.
     With a poor father the kid is actually in charge; the father simply reacts. His discipline comes only when the kid irritates him. A good father is intentional; he has a plan for what he wants his child to become. God is a good father. God is in charge.
     We need to develop an appreciation for our troubles as even these are a form of God’s blessing. God has a plan for growing us up to make us the best we can be. Embrace his plan knowing that he is putting his trust in us with the amount of troubles we are called upon to endure.

Father God, how blessed we are to have your Word to guide us. Open our eyes and our hearts to see your guidance and enable us to follow your directives. Satisfy our hearts as we seek and follow your will.