Week Forty-Seven - Morning Dreams

Do you ever wake up in meditation? I sometimes do. A while back, I woke up meditating on the universe and how small I am by comparison. God controls the universe, every star, every dust particle, every dark planet, and my puny frame. Every raindrop has a purpose. Every microorganism and cell in our body works according to His purpose and design. He is attentive to every detail. 

Praise welled up in my heart as I felt His love for me and marveled at God's greatness—to think that He looks upon me with love and tender care. Not a word or thought passes without His notice. What precious and humbling thoughts opened my day.

Then, I went to my study, and God directed my thoughts further as I read Spurgeon's devotion. He wrote,

"Some things in nature must remain a mystery to the most intelligent and enterprising investigators. Human knowledge has bounds beyond which it cannot go. Universal knowledge is for God alone. If this is true concerning things which are seen and temporal, I may rest assured that it is even more true for matters spiritual and eternal. Why then, have I been torturing my brain with speculations as to destiny and will, fixed fate and human responsibility? These deep and dark truths I am no more able to comprehend than to find out the depth which lurks below, from which the old ocean draws her watery stores."

He contemplates why the human mind is so curious about the Lord's providence, action, and design and then arrives at my morning's thoughts.

"Shall I ever be able to clasp the sun in my fist, and hold the universe in my palm? Yet these are just a drop in the bucket compared with the Lord my God."

Humility becomes the position of the child who yields to the greatness of such a Father. We cannot fathom the least of God, but we are a part of Him. There is no need to waste our energy on figuring; instead, we can rest our thoughts on His greatness. "Let me not strive to understand the infinite but spend my strength in love. What I can't gain by intellect I can possess by affection, and let that satisfy me," Spurgeon continued.

"Solving deep mysteries do me no single bit of good, for the least love for God and the simplest act of obedience to Him, are better than the profoundest knowlege. My Lord, I leave the infinite to You, and pray that You put far from me such a love for the tree of knowledge as might keep me from the tree of life."

I walked into my day in agreement, covered in God's love and assured of His greatness and omnipotence.

Week Forty-Six - The Lottery

Playing the lottery is an accepted activity these days. In England, the Lottery is a resource for charities and community groups to apply for funds for events, and most people don't think twice about using Lottery money, even for the church.

By definition, a lottery is the collection of funds by selling numbered tickets and then giving prizes through a random draw. It is an activity whose success or outcome is totally governed by chance.

I don't play the lottery, and I'm so thankful the Lord doesn't govern my life by chance. I am not a random draw, and neither are you. I am not a pawn, either. I have a purpose, and so do you.

The Bible does talk about something called a lot. In Proverbs 16:33, it says, "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord." This lot was not the selling of tickets with the promise of a possible prize. It was more like rolling the dice to determine a direction or make a decision. So, if the disposal of the lot is the Lord's, if He guides even the simple rolling of the dice, how much more the events of our entire life?

You see, life isn't a lottery. It is designed by God. Even the hairs on your head are numbered. He knows every thought, every word, and every motive of your heart. Nothing is outside His governance. This should bring a greater calmness to your soul. Your anxious mind should rest in this truth. 

Spurgeon wrote, "An anxious person cannot pray with faith; when troubled about the world, instead of serving your Master, your thoughts are serving you. You are meddling with Christ's business and neglecting your own when you fret about your lot and circumstances."

I find nothing but frustration when I try to figure out life. When I wake in the night, fretting over the whys and hows of the past and even of the future, I know I am way out of my realm. I am not the one whose design is all-knowing and ever-present. I am but a tiny cog in His glorious design, and I must remind myself to get back into my place. 

He will not let me starve while He has such great abundance. He will not forget about me. He has a plan for my life, and it includes His grace, mercy, and blessings. He will not abandon me, for He has promised to be with me forever. So I can obey and claim the promise of Psalm 55:22, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

That is where I would rather cast my lot! His heart of mercy will never prove unkind, and His wisdom will never be at fault. He is my Intercessor, pleading for me before the throne. Sounds like a much better bet!

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Week Forty-Five - The Bigger Slice of Cake

Oh, how I hated giving my sister the bigger slice of cake! But my mother often talked about putting others first as a sign of maturity. 

When my sister and I fought over who got to sit in the front passenger seat, my mother would say, "The more mature will give way." I'd take the back seat because I was the oldest and wanted to be considered the more mature. Even though I felt begrudging, I also felt proud of myself for letting her have the front seat and, sometimes, even the bigger slice of cake. 

Learning self-denial can be untasteful, but it is a life skill necessary for happiness and fulfillment. The greedy, narcissistic, and selfish child never feels complete and rarely finds any deep level of happiness or satisfaction because they are always looking for what they might have missed out on or who got more than themselves.

Sadly, the quality of self-denial seems lost in our society and rarely displayed, even by our public leaders. Our pulpits and classrooms are full of teaching on self-worth, self-promotion, and identity based on the idea that giving to others is only beneficial when we also benefit from it ourselves. That is far from Biblical teaching.

Philippians 2:3 tells us to "esteem others better than ourselves." Isn't that a crazy thought? To view others as more important than ourselves? To think of their needs and value ahead of our own? To lift them up ahead of ourselves? To give them the front seat or the biggest slice of cake? How in the world would that help us get ahead in life?

Let me suggest two benefits. First, we would gain respect. Most people admire and appreciate a thoughtful person. Using manners like opening doors for ladies or giving someone your place in line or your seat causes people to take notice. Kindness breeds kindness, and respect is earned, not demanded. So, maturity means giving place to another.

Another benefit of self-denial is an inner knowledge of goodness. A little verse in Proverbs 14:14 says, "A good man shall be satisfied from himself." Knowing we have done right and not been greedy or grabbing gives us a feeling of goodness. We see ourselves as good people because we show our goodness in action to others.

Let me add another benefit of self-denial: It tends to self-control. For example, we have not learned self-denial until we say no to things like overeating, overspending, or speeding. There is a level of maturity that calls us to submit to the law, especially God's law.

Elizabeth Elliot wrote, "The earlier the parents begin to make the laws of order and beauty and quiet comprehensible to the children, the sooner they will acquire good, strong notions of what is so basic to real godliness - self-denial. A Christian home should be a place of peace; there is no peace where there is no self-denial."

Let's return to Proverbs 13:10. "Only by pride cometh contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom."

A lack of self-denial is pride. It is putting oneself first. And what does the Proverbs say is the result? Contention. Contention is fighting, opposition, and struggle. 

And oh, how my sister and I could fight when we didn't want the other one to have first place when our pride drove our decisions and actions. We've all been there. We've all worn the T-shirt. Haven't we?

But what is the second part of that verse? "With the well advised is wisdom?" How thankful I am for a mother who gave me good advice. 

Being willing to put others first and not demanding that my prideful self be given the biggest slice of cake or the biggest anything has kept me out of many problems. 

Being demanding is taxing on everyone, but thoughtful, generous people are a source of joy.

People who only think of themselves cannot be trusted. They look out for themselves, and you are not in their equation. Self-focus causes short tempers and resentment on both sides, leading to poor relationships.

God's way is different. "Give, and it shall be given unto you." "Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought." Condescend - give way for others. Share what you have. Look to the way of others - not for gain, but to be a blessing, etc. Many more instructions in God's Word teach us the quality of self-denial.

So, take the back seat and give your neighbor, or even your sister, the bigger slice of cake!

Week Forty-Four - Come No Further

A few weeks ago, our Wednesday night lesson was about God's omnipotence, His power being limitless, consistent, and without challenge. The teacher made note of the bounds God sets even upon the seas. Their edges are controlled; otherwise, the world would be flooded. God's power holds back the tide! And He holds everything in His control.

It reminded me of one of Spurgeon's devotions about John 11:4. Lazarus is ill, and the family is calling for Jesus to come. Jesus begins to travel but is interrupted by the needs of those around him. His comment to the family is, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

We know the rest of the story. Jesus comes and raises Lazarus from the tomb, and many believe in Jesus, glorifying God for this miracle.

But Spurgeon, cunningly, pulls a thought from one word in Jesus' statement - unto. There is a restraint, a limit beyond which a thing cannot go, a point, and a purpose in the activity. God's "fixed purpose is not the destruction, but the instruction of His people," Spurgeon says. "Wisdom hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth, and regulates the heat."

So, let's consider three points Spurgeon makes about this limit; this come no further.

1. "The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. God's providence limits time, manner, intensity, repetition, and the effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestined, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of Him who numbers the hairs of our head.

2. This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction is not a haphazard event - the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and measuring out the heavens commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which constitute the medicine of souls. We cannot allow too much nor be delivered too late.

3. The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. God does not willingly afflict or grieve his children. A mother's heart cries, "Spare my child;" but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hard-mouthed we are, it is a wonder that we are not driving with a sharper bit. The thought is full of consolation, that He who has fixed the bounds of our habitation, has also fixed the bounds of our tribulation."

That last phrase stuck in my mind—"the bounds of our tribulation." We may suffer intensely and wonder why, but God knows and sets the limit. No pain, suffering, or evil intent can go any further than what He allows. He is all-powerful and fully in control of everything we experience. 

That's not to say we won't grieve or fear. Not to say we won't experience loss or intense pain. But it is to say that with God, there is a limit. It can come no further than He allows, so entrust yourself to Him. Allow Him to be glorified in whatever you are experiencing. "Wisdom (God Himself) hangs up the thermometer at the furnace mouth, and regulates the heat."

Week Forty-Three - Running Free

God's children are free to run about the house.

Joyful play is one sign of a happy home and a healthy relationship. Security, confidence, and acceptance blossom in children from happy homes, and the redeemed child of God should be the same.

God's children are free from the law, have no condemnation, are sufficient in all things, enriched to all bountifulness, living by the faith of the Son of God, who loves them and gave Himself for them. 

They are children of the free with liberty, walking worthy, edified in love, equipped and supplied by the Spirit, raised to sit in heavenly places, striving together for the faith of the gospel, filled with fruits of righteousness, able to do all things through Christ, always rejoicing, complete in Him, forgiven, able to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, etc... and we could go on and on about who we are in Christ and the privileges of being God's child. Such is our freedom.

Spurgeon said, "When Jesus comes into the heart, He issues a general license to delight in the Lord." And what does the Bible say about delighting in the Lord? "Delight thyself in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4). That's a tremendous promise to claim. Add the promise of Psalm 84:11, "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly," and you should be rejoicing and running free in the promises of God. 

God desires to bless His children. He delights in their joys. He loves seeing them joyful and confident because this reveals their faith and love for Him.

Happy children are a joy, aren't they? Though happiness isn't God's only goal, it is a product of His activity in our lives. And God gives more than happiness—He gives joy! A deep abiding stream of life flowing within from the fountain of life—Christ our Saviour.

God's children are marked by this evidence of joy and the expression of love to each other and those around them. How, or why, should it be any other way?

Why would God's children ever fear when He is always there as the Protector? Why would God's children ever hide when His acceptance and forgiveness are secured in Christ? Why would God's children recoil from His love when He comes without condemnation? Spurgeon said, "No chains are worn in the court of King Jesus." Amen! God's children are free!

Friend, if you know Christ, you can run about the house! I don't mean without restraint or good manners, but without fear, hiding, and shame. You are free - free indeed - in Christ. So run about your Father's house confidently, enjoying your place in the family.

Week Forty-Two - People and Peonies

"These gorgeous peonies arrived at my door Sunday afternoon. I knew who they were from as soon as I saw the box. A friend who has known my joys as well as my sorrow. A friend who has grown and blossomed with me. We have supported each other. Laughed together. Cried together. Have we always seen eye to eye? Of course not, but our goal and desire have always been the same: to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We haven't always gotten it right, but I know we are both thankful for the time God has given us to grow, learn, and change. To bloom where we are planted.

For the past few days, I have watched these gorgeous peonies quickly open, arrive at their fullest bloom, and then quickly begin to fade. Oh the sadness I felt on realizing their peak had already come and gone. Did I enjoy them enough in that moment? Did I appreciate their beauty as they gave me all they had? I can honestly say I did. I've sat in my living room soaking up their vibrant color, observing their open, eager faces basking in the sun. They have brought me joy these past few days. And now, even as they fade, I can see the beauty they hold. There is beauty in every phase of life if we look for it. The color has faded to a softer, gentler hue. The petals droop a little now, maybe tired from the energy they used to shine so brightly for their moment in time. Yet, I still sit here, looking long, appreciating these amazing flowers God created. I sit here, finding myself in their story. Maybe you can find yourself there, too."

These words came from RuthAnn, a precious colleague and friend I recently lost to cancer. Her journey was unexpected and mercifully short, but her influence and friendship will remain as vibrant as the flowers she enjoyed.

Friendships come in many forms. There are childhood friends, college mates, friends made at work, friends that seem only for a season, and even friends that grow estranged. Each plays a part in our lives, and we play a part in theirs. We, like the gorgeous peonies, are temporary. As brightly as we may glow in someone's life, we will droop and eventually fade. 

The precious thing about my friend and I is that we shared a mutual friend, the Lord Jesus. His friendship throughout the years, and especially during these final few months, has been the glow that carried my friend on her journey. As I write and reflect today, I know that His friendship is the only one that can carry the grieving.

Songwriter Arthur Luther wrote:

Earthly friends may prove untrue, Doubts and fears assail;
One still loves and cares for you: Jesus never fails.

Tho' the sky be dark and drear, Fierce and strong the gale,
Just remember He is near, And He will not fail.

In life's dark and bitter hour, Love will still prevail;
Trust His everlasting power; Jesus will not fail.

Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails;
Heav'n and earth may pass away,
But Jesus never fails.

RuthAnn closed her note to me with these two scriptures. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:33-34). 

And Isaiah 40:6-8, "The voice said Cry, and he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

Dear reader friend, it is my prayer that you have loving earthly friendships to encourage you along your journey, but it is my greater prayer that you know the friend above all friends, the Lord Jesus. If you have questions, you can contact me via my website www.gailgritts.com or follow this link for more information - https://www.questionsgod.com/word-pdf/roman-road-to-salvation-kjv.pdf

Week Forty-One - Need a Lift?

Sometimes, we feel low because we are physically, mentally, or emotionally exhausted. Other times, our lowness comes from the things happening around us, such as bad news, frustration, sadness at a friend's illness, or even the inability to keep life peaceful or without unwanted drama. Lots of things bring us down, but our Lord never does.

Psalm 3:3 tells us He is the "lifter up" of our heads. I've had to claim that promise many times when my spirit dropped to empty and my head was bowed in grief. I've always found the Lord met me there and lifted me up, placing me into His loving arms and renewing my outlook.

The Bible is full of encouragement for low times, and His Spirit has a precious way of bringing comfort and assurance when we feel low. 

Psalm 31 gives us several positive promises and truths that lift us up.

Verse 1 - He will deliver.

Verse 3 - He is our rock and fortress.

Verse 5 - He will redeem us.

Verse 7 - He knows our troubles and understands the adversity of our souls.

Verse 8 - He will not leave us in the hand of the enemy.

Verse 15 - Our times are in His hand.

What a precious promise! Our Father cares for us every moment of the day, lifting us up with His precious promises and eternal love.

Psalm 41:12 reads, "And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever." God watches us always—forever!  Even when our heads hang low, and our knees are weak, He is still there beside us, ready to lend a helping hand and lift us up.

So, we can say with the psalmist, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (Psalm 42:5).

Friend, you may be in a low spot right now. Remember, it is just for a moment. Take yourself to Psalm 31 and read for a while. The closing verse is yet another precious promise. "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." It is my prayer that God would do just that for you today - lift you up and renew your strength. So, be of good courage. God knows where you are!