KEEP A TRANQUIL MIND

Billy became ill with a nasty respiratory flu which caused a physical crisis. At the emergency room it was found that his blood sugar level was elevated. Suddenly he found himself on a strict diet and full daily exercise program.

Looking back after the emergency, he realized that for the previous four years he had been under tremendous stress. His father and mother had both died within a year of each other. Then two friends died. Then his wife's step-dad died. He realized that stress may have played a big role in his subsequent crisis.

Realizing the dangers of high blood sugar, he began the diet, an exercise regime and tried to control his current stress levels. Because he was monitoring blood sugar levels by doing a finger poke five times a day, he had a window into his body. He could see what, specifically, would cause his blood sugar to be elevated. Not only did various foods affect the level, but stress and anxiety did, too - in a mighty way.

How wise God is to admonish us again and again in the Scriptures not to be anxious about anything. As anxiety rises, we damage our bodies. Imagine what it does to our souls! If we will only recognize that God is in control of every situation and event and learn to deal prayerfully with life’s stresses and strains, some of the anxiety can begin to dissipate. We can learn how to trust in God’s kind care.

Our heavenly Father had a good reason to admonish us to not have anxiety - for our health not only spiritually but physically.

A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh. Proverbs 14:30

Heavenly Father, help me to obey You in dealing with the anxiety inherent in living in this world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

ANGRY WORDS

Have you ever been the brunt of someone’s anger? Their words were like hot lava, pouring over you, hurting you to the very depths of your being.

You tried to get away but their scorching words kept flowing. Later, shaken, you prayerfully looked back, asking the Lord what you could have done differently to prevent their anger.

Gradually you realize that the problem wasn’t caused by your actions at all. Peace returns to you. The person who attacked you was the one with deep seated anger, so overwhelming that, like dry tinder, it didn’t take much to set it off.

How are you to interact with such an angry person in the future? God’s Word has some helpful directions for interacting with angry people.

Make no friendship with a man (or woman) given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man (or woman) . . . . Proverbs 22:24

Heavenly Father, please give me Your wisdom when I am near angry people. Show me clearly when to draw near in Your Love and when to draw back in Your Love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

UNEXPECTED GUESTS

Have you ever spent hours cooking up a delightful dinner for your family? You have just set it out on the table, steaming hot. Then out of nowhere appears a van full of visitors from out of state? You do a quick calculation of the amount of food to the amount of people. You know for certain that there is enough food for four but there will not be enough for 12!

Suddenly you find the words “OH NO!” coming out of your mouth. You don’t really mean that you don’t want the visitors. You just mean that the timing is off. Even a half hour later, when the dishes were cleared away, would have been better. That isn’t how it worked that day! Here they were and there you were. What to do?

Take a moment to gather your thoughts. Then prayerfully realize that no matter what the situation, Scripture makes clear what our task is - to be hospitable no matter to whom or when.

Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another.
I Peter 4:9

Heavenly Father, help me to see Your hand even in the unexpected. Please mold my initial reactions to those which are pleasing to You. Help me practice hospitality. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

YOUR NEEDS

When a family member is ill, we find ourselves awake night and day, if needed, to serve our loved one. Special meals are fixed, fevers are dealt with, appointments with the doctor are set and kept. Doctors orders are carried out, medications given. We do all we can to help our loved one return to good health.

Then we become ill. We hesitate to even slow down. We keep pushing ourselves until we know we must go to bed. We hate to ask for anything - we don’t want to put anyone to any trouble. We suffer silently, getting up and about before we really should.

Maybe it’s time to take stock of what we are doing. Yes, it is good that we serve others in their need. It is also good to recognize when we are the one in need. To slow down, to stop if needed, to express to those whom we love what it is we need right then. Only as we recognize what we need can we begin to comprehend what others may need from us in the future.

So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. Matthew 7:12

Heavenly Father, help me see what I, too, need - and then show me how to best care for myself. In Jesus' name. Amen.

CLEAN WINDOWS

It had been a busy spring. Window washing had been put off time and again. First, it was too chilly to be out washing windows. Then, as sometimes happens in Michigan, it changed rapidly to extreme heat and humidity.

One day after a cooling rain, I took a good look at my kitchen windows and declared, “Today I’m washing those windows!”

Oh, how green the grass was as I peered through the sparkling glass. The sky seemed an intense blue. Yes, the lack of humidity made everything seem fresh and clean. So did the clean windows.

I wonder if we do the same thing with our hearts? Why do we keep putting off asking God’s forgiveness to cleanse them. Do we allow all the smudges of misunderstanding, jealousy, discontent and anxiety over the cares of the world to cloud our vision of God?

May we keep our hearts sparkling clean moment by moment so we can see God.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

Heavenly Father, thank You for providing forgiveness of sins, a true cleansing of our hearts. Please remind me to take advantage of Your provision day by day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

COOPERATE WITH GOD

Recently Ella had a serious health problem which necessitated a strict diet over an extended period of time if she was to regain her health.

At first she couldn’t believe that she would have to be so careful about every morsel she ate. She found myself wanting to rebel. Eventually, as she sensed the Lord urging her to cooperate, she found myself saying, “Thy will be done!”

Yes, the Lord could have reached down and immediately healed her. She felt, however, that He was calling her to cooperate. If she would follow the guidelines given by the doctor, she would be on the road to better health. Perhaps not a total recovery, but better health.

Where will it end? She doesn’t yet know. She does know, however, that as she continues to cooperate and say “Thy will be done”, she can let the results rest in God’s kind hands.

I wonder in what areas of your life God is urging you to cooperate with Him?

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Heavenly Father, thank You that I can live in cooperation with You. Please open my heart to hear You speak to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

EYES OF FAITH

My family and I had been thinking about moving to a location which was closer to town, less expensive to heat and one which was roomier for our needs. One Sunday we found a place listed in the newspaper. It sounded perfect - the perfect location, size and price. We even drove out to see it. Right away we noticed that the yard had a country feel to it, the house seemed solid and friendly.

If we were to move, it was so much easier to be able to picture our move as real when we knew what our specific destination was to be.

Maybe that is why, in our faith life, we find it difficult to picture our heavenly home. We haven’t yet seen it in person. Yes, God has placed detail after detail in the Scriptures. But perhaps we need to practice more with our eyes of faith so we can actually picture ourselves there.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Heavenly Father, although we can’t see specifically what our home with You will be like, help us see with the eyes of faith, knowing that it is perfectly planned by You. In Jesus’ name. Amen

BE WILLING

Over the years we’ve all heard it - research studies to prove which food is good for us. Then the very next week they discover it is bad for us. Trying to honor God in our bodies, we try to live a healthy lifestyle. With conflicting reports, however, we give up trying to figure it all out. We revert and keep on with our regular habits, doing the best we can.

Then one day our body breaks down. We find ourselves quite ill. Maybe it’s the flu or something more serious. It is then that we decide it is time to get serious about taking care of our bodies.

As we begin to do some research, we put aside all of those reports we’ve seen on television and read about in the newspapers and magazines. We use common sense in food choices - good wholesome food, low in sugars and calories. It is as simple as that. We also begin to walk - a bit more each day until we reach the goal of 30 brisk minutes per day.

As the days and months pass, a new level of good health and energy is noticed. We find that it was as simple as being willing to make some changes. As simple as being obedient to God’s direction daily in the care of our bodies. Literally, we will be “eating the good of the land”.

If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.
Isaiah 1:19

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the gift of my body. Please give me wisdom in how best to care for it to Your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.