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.

MAKE IT COUNT

Have you noticed that there are many types of soldiers in any war? One type of soldier makes a good show of it. His uniform is creased just so, his gear in perfect order. Yet when he goes out to do battle against the enemy, he takes no ground. Puffs of ineffective smoke and dust are all that result.

Another soldier, however, may not look so perfect outwardly, yet when he marches against the enemy, he advances and the enemy retreats. He takes ground once held by the enemy, making it his own.

What type of soldier are you? When you see ground that God wants you to take, do you march ahead with shouts of victory or do you just huff and puff and make a good show of it?

If we sense that the Lord is dealing with our impatience, do we just march around blowing smoke or do we get down to business and take the ground - asking Him to live His life through us? If we know that the Lord is speaking to us about neglecting our families . . . do we ignore the order or do we start marching, already knowing what is to be done - then doing it!

May we be soldiers who please the Master . . . and who will hear, “Well done. . . .”

. . . that you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience.
I Timothy 1:18

Heavenly Father, please teach me how to be effective in the battles in this life. Then please give me the courage to take the ground. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A PAINFUL TURNING

We have all heard of or seen those dog collars which, when in place, warn a dog when he is going outside the boundaries established by the owner. There is no need of a fence, the collar emits a shock if the boundary is penetrated.

Did you know that some dogs ignore the warning shocks and continue on their merry way? The owner must then take that dog and drag him back home through the shock field in order to teach him never to trespass again. Although not pleasant, the dog must bear the consequences of his “sin”.

That is exactly what happens when we sin. As we step out on our merry way, heedless of God’s direction, we think we are free. God in His lovingkindness, however, engineers circumstances which only He can create to draw us back to Himself.

Is returning to God after we sin pain-free? Probably not. Repentance and godly sorrow are never easy. Yet that is exactly what is needed so we can be truly free.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret . . . .
II Corinthians 7:10a

Heavenly Father, thank You that there is a way back to You when we sin. Please help me be willing to experience Your sorrow at my waywardness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

OPEN WINDOWS

During the hot days of summer, the hum of the air conditioner could be heard at our house day and night. Then on a lovely July morning, the temperatures cooled. The air conditioner was turned off and the windows were thrown wide open.

Once again the sounds of summer came pouring into the house. We could hear the robin’s song, a blue jay’s piercing squawk, a cardinal’s melody, a crow’s far away caw. There was even a new note to be heard - a bird we had never heard before. It was refreshing to just sit and listen.

Our busy lives are often full of a humming sound, too - that of our own busyness. Our overflowing calendars seem to drown out the words God may have for us day to day. Perhaps if we would turn off our busyness and open wide the windows of our souls, we would be able to clearly hear a new note from the Shepherd of our souls - just for us.

The sheep hear His voice and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3

Heavenly Father, please show me how to slow my busyness to hear Your words to me today. In Jesus’ name. Amen

LIFE IS MORE THAN WORK

A friend was recently hospitalized for two weeks. A serious infection from a spider bite (brown recluse!) raged throughout his body. Finally, he was able to go home from the hospital but was still in an extremely weakened condition. The doctor ordered a month’s recovery time before returning to work.

After two days, our friend was pacing the floor at home. He couldn’t find anything of interest to do. He wanted to return to work immediately.

How many of us, if we couldn’t enter into our work-a-day world (out in the work place or doing home duties) would find life unbearable? Have we made “work” so much a part of our lives that it has become our entire life?

God calls us to lived balanced lives of work and rest. Yes, we must work, but we also must rest. Since work (8 hours) and rest (8 hours) only take up approximately 16 hours per day, that leaves 8 hours remaining. What will we do with it - to the glory of God?

It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil - for He gives His beloved sleep. Psalm 127:2

Heavenly Father, I thank You that living a well balanced life is what You expect. Please show me what You want in each of my days. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

DOING GOOD . . . PRAYERFULLY

Have you ever felt the Lord admonishing you to take better care of your health? You knew He was nudging you to get more sleep, to eat properly and to decrease the hurry and stress in your life. In obedience to Him, you made a good beginning. You disciplined yourself to get to bed on time in order to get a full eight hours of sleep each night. You changed some of your eating habits and even began to walk every day.

Then something began to happen. A friend needed your listening ear . . . a neighbor needed your help
. . . .a child needed extra attention . . . your elderly parents . . . your spouse . . . your child’s school . . . your place of fellowship. Before you knew it, you no longer were exercising, eating properly or getting the rest you needed. You became exhausted and run down. Instead of obeying the Lord’s directives to you about your health, you began to disobey Him by
sacrificing your time and energy above and beyond His directions to you.

No, it is never wrong to serve those whom the Lord places in our lives. It is sin, however, to disobey Him. In this case, as in all instances . . .

To obey is better than sacrifice.... I Samuel 15:22

Heavenly Father, please help me not to get so caught up in “doing good” so that I disobey You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

CALL FOR HELP

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by the problems in your life? Of course you have. We all have at one time or another.

Sometimes there seem to be so many problems, it feels like we are drowning in them. At home there are problems. At work there are problems. In those you love, problems. In yourself, problems. Being in the middle of the swirling , rising muddy waters of problems is a dangerous place to be. How ever do you get free from it all?

It may be time to call for help. Maybe help should have been called upon before this . . . long before this. But now you know that it is time and it is as easy as yelling (out loud or quietly in your heart is good) with all your might, “Help, Heavenly Father, I need Your help.”

If you lack words of your own to call for help, try these:

“Save me, O God, For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.” Psalm 69:1-3

I love this part - now listen to what happens:

“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.
From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.

THEN the earth reeled and rocked;
the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked….
Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from Him.
He bowed the heavens, and came down;
thick darkness was under His feet.
He rode on a cherub, and flew;
He came swiftly upon the wings of the wind….
He reached from on high, He took me,
He drew me out of many waters." Portions of Psalm 18

THAT is what happens when we call upon God for help. All of the power of heaven is sent.

God’s joy is to hear our voices requesting His help. Our part is to cling to Him with all of our might and cooperate with Him one step at a time until we are free!

Heavenly Father, HELP! If I don’t seem to need help right now, I know that I will in the future so I am asking for it right now, ahead of time. Please HELP me all of my days and nights until I am safely Home with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.