Thought #17

“Prayer doesn’t change God’s purpose; it just releases it.”

Thought #16

“God often comforts us, not by changing the circumstances of our lives, but by changing our attitude toward them.”

I WONDER AS I WANDER - PART 2 ~ The Magnificence of God’s Mercy

Dear friend, do you ever identify with Paul as you read Romans 7: 15-25? A godly woman who is yearning to grow in the will and ways of the Master does identify with Paul from time to time.

The more we walk in the Word, the more we acknowledge that there are still cesspools of sin in our soul. We talk to God about our frustration over such repetitions. But we repeat the same offenses again, and again, and again. What is wrong????

Perhaps you are plagued with such a question. The godly apostle Paul  describes his struggle. “Oh, wretched man that I am” (v. 24). Certainly there is an inner conflict between the two natures that war within.

Harry Foster explains Paul’s frustration this way: “Here was a man, struggling to achieve holiness by personal effort, struggling with all his might to fulfill ‘God’s holy and righteous and good commandments only to discover that the more he struggled, the worse his condition became. It was a losing battle, and no wonder, for it is not in the power of fallen nature to conquer sin and live in holiness” (Toward the Mark, p. 110).

The personal pronouns are extremely prominent  in these eleven verses; -- at least forty times!  Someone has said that, “People who go through this Romans 7 experience have taken an overdose of ‘Vitamin I.’” I, me, my, myself.

Most Christian psychological counseling focuses on the counselee’s inner self. Christians need to know and remember that we died with Christ and now live in newness of life with Him who is our Overcomer. So we focus on Him and His power to deliver. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psa. 46:10). “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength ” (Isa. 30:15).

“I am the Lord, I change not” (Heb. 13:8).  Jesus assures us that He has the same wonder-working, delivering power for us that He had when He raised Jesus from the dead, and He yearns to use it to meet our need. He assures us with, “I am immutable!” Even the word itself sounds reassuring. Our Lord’s attributes never change.

Jesus is forever and always the same in all the glories of His power. Instead of introspecting, let us  turn our eyes upon Him and adore Him as our all-divine, wonder-working Lord Jesus. Let us cling to His immutable truths that we may find comfort in Him when our “earthly gourds wither  and our cisterns are broken.” He is the same as when our hearts were first exuberant with His love. “I am the Lord, I change not” (Mal. 3:6).

“For the love of God is broader
    Than the measure of man’s mind;
        And the heart of the Eternal
            Is most wonderfully kind.”
From hymn -- There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy,  F. W. Faber

                                                                                                          (to be continued)

Thought #15

“Walking by faith means being prepared to trust where we cannot see.”  John Blanchard

Thought #14

“God’s Word is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind” (M. Unger).  It is more precious than the finest gold.  Oh how we would scramble to pick up a gold nugget, but neglect our Bible lying on the shelf and collecting dust.

Thought #13

My sacroiliac has been giving me excruciating back pain.  I recalled my father lying out in the sun for a similar infirmity.  I tried it and had relief.  I have been using Unger’s O.T.  commentary along with my study in Psalm 19:5 in which he referenced me back to Gen. 1:16.  How beautifully applicable is the reference to the sun.  Its enormous power rules over the day with healing power and prefigures our blessed Savior Who will come forth with healing in His wings “to usher in the Kingdom age.”   Don’t you get restless with that blessed hope?!

I WONDER AS I WANDER -- PART 1 ~ The Magnificence of God’s Mercy

How can God put up with my inconsistent prayer life, laxity in Bible study, lack of concern for the lost? How can He listen to my big promises to  do better when time and again He has seen me fail? How can He? How can He? Why doesn’t He write me off as a bad debt? A failure?

Have you ever been there? Is that the way you are thinking right now?

It is at such times I run to the Word and He reminds me that as His child He still cares for me. He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me. I am the apple of His eye. My Father reminds me that He adorns each lily of the field. He notes a tiny sparrow’s falls. God is so concerned for me that He has the hairs of my head numbered. He will keep on caring for me until He calls me home when His whole scheme of things will be revealed. Hallelujah!

I’m reminded of God’s continued love for unfaithful Israel (Exodus 32:9-14). Because of His people’s unfaithfulness, God was going to destroy them. But He must be true to His promises with the patriarchs; therefore He relented of the punishment that He would have inflicted on His people.

We born-again-believers have a magnificently greater basis for forgiveness than the Old Testament saints. Yes, we are undeserving. We are inconsistent. We are undependable. God and His Word are low on our priority list. We grieve our Father God. It is then that Jesus is at the Father’s right hand pleading for us. God is grieved, disappointed, perhaps even angry with us to the point of casting us out, but  Jesus is at the Father’s side interceding for  us.   He opens His garments and says, “Look Father, at this deep scar in my side. Blood and water flowed out of this wound for Norma (put your name here). Forgive her again.”

It is because of the incomparable price that was paid, that God reaches down, folds me in His arms of love, binds me to Himself, and forgives. Instead of casting me away, He begins another renewal program. He puts another building block on my pyramid of life. What form does that block take? Perhaps the form an experience -- just the kind He knows I need. If I take careful steps to get the most out of that correction, I learn and I grow.

Here is an example of what I am talking about. On January 8, 1991, while living in our motor home in Florida a severe thunderstorm hit. I remarked to my husband, “We are undoubtedly in the safest place one can be since we have six rubber tire to ground us.” Later that evening we noted that our electrical outlets were not working. I remarked to friends that I could see no reason for such inconvenience. A few days earlier I had spoken at a ladies’ meeting with two points. #1 - God is in control even in the minutest details. #2 - God has a learning purpose for every detail He brings to us. When we pass lightly over them or we ignore them we miss the purpose of God’s planned lesson. Think of it! I had put my confidence in the security of six rubber tires instead of God’s protection! Hard to imagine! God could have burned down the motor home and its valuable contents. Instead He extended merciful protection as well as mercifully and one more time giving me an experience that would set my mind on Christ. God is ever faithful!
                                                                                                             (to be continued)