Author: astherainandsnow

“For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Philippians 3:3-10

Paul had been so drastically changed by the power of the gospel imploding his former life that he took every opportunity to describe it to God’s praise. His had been a life of religious fervor, genuine zeal, distinct pedigree, incomparable behavior, and strict legalism. But Jesus intervened in such a complete way that his former confidence was upended and extricated and reattached to his Savior.

Such a change of direction, passion, and confidence is a supernatural work of the Almighty. His Spirit does the deep and hidden business of unplying our grip from innate talent, ancestral identity, worldly achievements and significance, and transforming the heart. Our cooperation is required in the daily setting aside and pressing on and mutual encouragement and progress among the saints. We grow and are sanctified together. (Philippians 3:12-17,20-21)

Where do we need a change of confidence? However committed we think we are to Christ and His causes, where do flesh attachments linger? What insecurities lurk and tease us into claiming past achievements or personal abilities for present challenges? Do we give lip service to trusting God but wrangle with angst over finances and future, children and health? Has our mindset warped into thinking we deserve some let up of difficulties, we’ve earned some preferred relief or self-shaped favors? Might the Lord have us in specific circumstances to wean us from flesh confidences, to acknowledge and confess their folly, and replace them with full unadulterated confidence in Him?

With whom are we plodding this Christian life? What friends spur us on, or can we encourage, to shake off the ropes of the our former life tethers and cling to Jesus? What examples of surrender do we follow, and set? What have we learned through a readjustment of confidences that can translate to constructive, loving exhortation? (Galatians 2:20)

Worthy Lord, please break every wrong alliance and dependence so that my life confidence is fixed in You alone.

“Why then has this people turned away
    in perpetual backsliding?
They hold fast to deceit;
    they refuse to return.
I have paid attention and listened,
    but they have not spoken rightly;
no man relents of his evil,
    saying, ‘What have I done?’
Everyone turns to his own course,
    like a horse plunging headlong into battle.
Even the stork in the heavens
    knows her times,
and the turtledove, swallow, and crane
    keep the time of their coming,
but my people know not
    the rules of the Lord.

“How can you say, ‘We are wise,
and the law of the Lord is with us’?
But behold, the lying pen of the scribes
has made it into a lie.
The wise men shall be put to shame;
they shall be dismayed and taken;
behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord,
so what wisdom is in them?
Therefore I will give their wives to others
and their fields to conquerors,
because from the least to the greatest
everyone is greedy for unjust gain;
from prophet to priest,
everyone deals falsely.
They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
when there is no peace.
Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
No, they were not at all ashamed;
they did not know how to blush.” Jeremiah 8:5-12a

The prophet has strong words for those who speak words without wisdom. Apart from truth, what they think and say tangles with deception and evil without relenting, without shame, far from the wise and perfect ways of God. Their words untethered to the word are empty, yet potent enough to seep and stain character with greed, false hope, and lies. There is no wisdom apart from God’s word. They will surely meet harsh consequence.

When man plunges headlong in life on his own smarts, he will come to trouble. Relying on human wisdom is no match for God’s, our reasoning no comparison with the true and powerful word of God. Flesh distorts the perfection of the divine by inserting preference, opinion, selfish wants, personal agendas, and corrupted attitudes. It tangles the horizontal with the vertical into knots not trustworthy. Talk gets cheap and callous and crude and actions lack focus and high purpose apart from being tethered to pure truth. (Psalm 1)

We have a daily choice how to begin. If we would be wise, we must take in the word of God, written and living. Meditating on His counsels and deliberately filling up with His Spirit direct and energize our days for His work and glory. Refusing His word hardens the heart and sets us up for perpetual backsliding farther and farther from His blessed way. What will it be for us? (Ephesians 5:18)

What compels us each morning? How can we take in God’s wisdom for the decisions and assignments and opportunities that we’ll face? How can we release dependence on our own understanding to acknowledge His ways? What promises, warnings, instruction can be our filter and constant companion in dealing with the barrage of words coming our way? And how can we exemplify and impart wisdom to those we are among so they desire it too? (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Living Word, make me wise like You, for the honor of Your name. (John 1:1-4; Hebrews 4:12; James 1:5)

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all the day long...

Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

For your name’s sake, O Lord,
    pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Who is the man who fears the Lord?
    Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose…
My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.” Psalm 25:4-5,8-12,15

The rocky trail wound and zagged, rose and dipped, ubiquitous roots crisscrossed underneath as scratchy limbs drew swords above. Staccato gait, steady stumbles, steady breath, steady climb. The summit beckons beyond.

And so our days and seasons. Sometimes the way is stony and sometimes the slope is steep. Effort and will are called for to set one foot in front of the other. Unsteady difficulties are stepped on, impossible to diminish or avoid, and sometimes they trip us up. Hard conversations, hurtful interactions, the despair of chaos and not knowing the way forward. We need the truth, we need forgiveness, we must keep on in God’s good rhythms. Steadfast love and faithfulness make clear the way we must progress. Trust Him, fear Him, search His way, He is enough for each new day.

For what do we keep on? It is not so much the summit reached as the One who’s made the path. It is skills learned, the journey traveled, the views enjoyed. It is the new knowing that along the Lord’s perfect way His portion is enough and His presence has become our familiar companion. For Him we wait, with Him we tread. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

What challenges threaten to choke us that require new muscles of faith or fortitude? Greater trust in the next turn or signpost? Where are we being stretched with unfamiliar contortions? What decisions, or individuals, or heartbreaks are we encountering that require God’s truth and direction? We can know the way for us is perfectly designed by an omniscient, loving Father to teach us His sufficiency. We can believe He hears our prayers and delights to answer. How does that ‘summit’ inspire?

“Long is the way

And very steep the slope;

Strengthen me once again,

O God of hope.

Far, very far

The summit doth appear;

But Thou art near, my God,

But Thou art near.

And Thou wilt give me

With my daily food

Powers of endurance,

Courage, fortitude.

Thy way is perfect,

Only let that way

Be clear before my feet

From day to day.

Thou art my portion,

Saith my soul to me

O what a portion

is my God to me!” ~ Amy Carmichael (1867-1951)

Lord, humble me, lead me by Your truth, and continually show me and help me on Your perfect way, for Your name’s sake and glory.

“In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. The house that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the house. And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary. And he made side chambers all around. The lowest story was five cubits broad, the middle one was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad. For around the outside of the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house.

“When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built.” 1 Kings 6:1-7

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Many are the details recorded for Solomon’s construction of the temple: date, reference to history, exact measurements, design, and materials. He’d been called by God for this purpose and went about that charge carefully and anointed. If the temple were to be the place of meeting, sacrifice, and worship, it would be worthy of the One who inhabited it in all its detailed beauty and function. (1 Kings 1:29-30; 5:2-6)

Developing and maintaining our personal temples is a high and important call, the primary priority for all of life. It’s natural to get caught up in working and fixing other aspects of our physical entities and neglect the hidden sanctuary. Knowing us well, the Lord gives instruction and illustration to remind us of the one thing needful. When He is honored first, other details and efforts fall into place. To take care and intention in keeping up and on with our Christ-bought, God-owned sanctuary is to fulfill His purpose and bring Him glory. (Matthew 6:33; Luke 10:42)

The challenge for us is obedience and consistency. We must build His way. And to do that we must go about our constructions and worship according to His plan over our own, His prescriptions over personal preferences. (Judges 17:6; Romans 1:21-25)

This day, this date and moment, how deliberate are we in worship? How have we structured our schedules to hold our Lord, and then how carefully do we guard and use our time to keep His temple a priority? What props and distractions need we set aside so He fills all in all? (Ephesians 1:22-23)

Father, help me design and determine my days to honor Your temple and worship You as my highest joy.

“Lord, you were favorable to your land;
    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
    you covered all their sin. 
You withdrew all your wrath;
    you turned from your hot anger.

Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
    and put away your indignation toward us!
Will you be angry with us forever?
    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
    that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your steadfast love, O Lord,
    and grant us your salvation.

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
    but let them not turn back to folly.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
    that glory may dwell in our land.

Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
    righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
    and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Yes, the Lord will give what is good,
    and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him
    and make his footsteps a way.” Psalm 85

“And he said, ‘Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?'” 1 Kings 19:11-13

“Morning by morning he awakens;
    he awakens my ear
    to hear as those who are taught.” Isaiah 50:4

Myriads of voices pepper with staccato urgency and drone in repetition, taking up the quiet space into which the Lord longs to speak. Easily we get whipped into the frenzy of group think and mantras and fretting. The deeper into the whorl, the more challenging to hear the still small voice. I speak peace to you my saints. You listen only to the wind, the earthquake, the crackling fire, yet I whisper. Focus on who I am and what I have done. Can you hear? Tune in. (1 Kings 19:4-15)

The world attacks with frenzied pellets of what-ifs, vitriol, and dissension. Plausible threats and danger loom. Where do we go? Who actually reigns? Ah, the Lord on high rules over all! His presence offers the harbor of love and faithfulness, the intimacy of all that is right, and peace. He is the home of revival and restoration. He speaks, and He answers when we cry. (Psalm 86:3-8)

In the midst of life’s toil and tumble and roiling turmoil, do we remember His favor and the wonder of His forgiveness? Can we stop our ears to doom and set our hope in His salvation and revival? Would we look with hope to His glory in it all? When we listen for His voice, we can expect to behold His goodness and anticipate His righteous, bountiful way.

Lord, attune me to Your voice above all others, staying my mind on You who are worthy to be trusted. (Isaiah 26:3)

“’The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,
    and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation,
the God who gave me vengeance
    and brought down peoples under me,
who brought me out from my enemies;
    you exalted me above those who rose against me;
    you delivered me from men of violence.

‘For this I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations,
    and sing praises to your name.
Great salvation he brings to his king,
    and shows steadfast love to his anointed,
    to David and his offspring forever.’

“Now these are the last words of David:

“The oracle of David, the son of Jesse,
    the oracle of the man who was raised on high,
the anointed of the God of Jacob,
    the sweet psalmist of Israel:

‘The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me;
    his word is on my tongue.
The God of Israel has spoken;
    the Rock of Israel has said to me:
When one rules justly over men,
    ruling in the fear of God,
he dawns on them like the morning light,
    like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning,
    like rain^[c] that makes grass to sprout from the earth.

‘For does not my house stand so with God?
    For he has made with me an everlasting covenant,
    ordered in all things and secure.
For will he not cause to prosper
    all my help and my desire?” 2 Samuel 22:47-23:5

Shepherd David, servant David, King David was caught up in the bundle of life entrusted and anointed by his Lord. Heart and pen sang constant themes of gladness and exaltation to this Rock of Israel Who was his delight and praise. Any deliverance, every part of salvation, all success could be attributed to Him. This sweet psalmist of Israel spoke by Him and unto Him for the ages. (Acts 13:36)

We serve many roles over the moments and years of life, and have manifold opportunities to speak up and out. What captivates our souls becomes fodder for our words. Awareness of and immersion in the Lord’s great love, faithfulness, and intervention inspires all that issues forth. Continual praise in perspective and attitude translates to blessedness from our tongues.

How rich is our daily experience with God from first awaking? How intent are we on His benevolent involvement in our work and circumstances, how keenly aware of His ways? When do we take time to study His word, and how diligently do we endeavor to keep them? Soaking in His truth by knowledge and practice influences how and what we communicate. Are we a clear and ready conduit for His Spirit to speak? (2 Samuel 22:2-4,17-20,29-32,44)

If we were to compose last words before our purpose on earth is complete, who would be their focus? We must see all we have and are and have done as wholly from and to our Christ. When we do, our spoken words will be bright as the sun and refreshing as rain, and He will be lifted high. How can we adjust our daily outlook to keep Him at the fore? (Acts 17:24-26; Galatians 6:14; Colossians 1:15-17)

Lord, so empty me of self and fill me with Your Spirit that all I speak exalts You with the honor and praise You deserve.

“Save me, O God!
For the waters have come up to my neck.
sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
am weary with my crying out;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.

More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?..

For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me^…

But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.
Deliver me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
Let not the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the pit close its mouth over me.

Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
Hide not your face from your servant,
for I am in distress; make haste to answer me.
Draw near to my soul, redeem me;
ransom me because of my enemies!..

But I am afflicted and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

I will praise the name of God with a song;
I will magnify him with thanksgiving…
You who seek God, let your hearts revive.
For the Lord hears the needy
and does not despise his own people who are prisoners.

Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.”

“May all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you!
May those who love your salvation
say evermore, ‘God is great!’”

“Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress…
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.” Psalm 69:1-4,9,13-18,29-30,32b-34; 70:4; 71:3,5

Flood waters rise, suffering, reproach, injury, loss, and injustice threaten life and hope. In the choking deluge, David cries for salvation, waits with weeping for the heavenly answer. He knows where to turn and Who can revive heart and hope, and to Him he is tethered.

Praying redirects focus. Singing dispels angst. Praising God turns the heart away from troubles and fills it with rejoicing. How to revive the weary, parched, hopeless soul? Enjoin it with the Lord of Life and Light in constant prayer.

Are we sinking in the mire of disaster, grief, worry? What unease or threat in circumstances is causing us to slip into depression, exhaustion, or exasperation? Where are we parched in zeal or energy, inspiration or confidence? The Lord knows each pang, hears each cry. In Him we have sure solace and promise.

Will we trust the true rock for steadiness? Will we rejoice in His unchanging love? What will be our new song of thanks?

Good Father, no matter the storm, revive my heart, hope, and praise in You and for Your name alone. (Psalm 71:14-16)