_JPG.jpg)
Far too often our thoughts lead us down rabbit trails where we get lost in dark and lonely places and find ourselves at dead ends. The Psalms remind us to delight ourselves in the Word of God and meditate on it day and night. And in doing so we will not wither, but instead yield beautiful fruit and prosper in everything. I found this to be true in my own life—the more time I spend in my Bible the more encouraged, strengthened, and hope-filled I am. On the other hand, if I go too long without reading the Scriptures, I begin to feel dry and weary, and easily distracted.
How about you? Do you notice this difference in your own life?
Psalm 48:9, "Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love."
Scripture encourages us to meditate on God’s unfailing love and on His mighty deeds. The more time we invest into reading our Bibles, the more acquainted we are with God’s love and power. This is a source of immense peace and hope for me.
Setting our hearts and minds on things above is all about our relationship with Christ. Making Bible study a priority gives us an opportunity to learn more about Jesus, gain instruction for our lives, gather encouragement for our hearts, and clarity for our minds. It is an invaluable chance to hear from the Lord. And prayer is just as essential to our mental and spiritual well-being. God invites us to communicate with Him on an intimate level. He asks us to draw near and lay our burdens down. Prayer is where our heart and God's unite; it’s when we step into His holy presence and encounter His great delight. It’s quite sad and unfortunate that we often neglect this invitation. The Lord is available to talk with us morning and evening, and even during the blackest hours of the night, when we lay tossing and turning. Even then He is awake and ready to listen.
Putting words to our worries brings them out into the open where the Lord can help us deal with them. We don’t have to navigate this world on our own, the Lord offers to share His knowledge and wisdom. As we bring our concerns to Jesus, let’s do so knowing that He has all the answers. We can ask Him to show us the best way forward and for help to trust Him more whole-heartedly. Worry doesn't bring glory to God; it shows a lapse of faith and places the focus on us and our circumstances. Trusting God and seeking His ways helps us to “live a life worthy of the Lord and help us to please Him in every way.” (Colossians 1:10) He is our hope in all situations.
Let’s take advantage of the Lord’s precious invitation by stepping out of our busyness to sit and converse with Him more often. We will be blessed every time.
Besides Bible study and prayer, giving joyful thanks to the Lord is the most transformative practice we can add to our daily routine. I encourage you to begin your day with joyful praise and close your night with joyful thanks. Incorporate moments of spontaneous thanks throughout your day—before a meal, on a walk around the block, while cleaning the house, or driving along in your car with your worship music playing. Being a child of God means we always have something to give joyful thanks for.
We have been adopted, redeemed, and forgiven in Christ. We have been called to a hope and a glorious inheritance in Heaven; God’s incomparable great power is at work for us who believe. Recounting these benefits can’t help but lift our spirits and encourage our hearts. God is faithful to His Word, and this is where our hope lies!
Let’s set about demolishing lies with the truths we find in our Bible! According to Psalm 103, God forgives all our sins, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from the pit, crowns us with love and compassion, and satisfies us with good things!
Remember that your hope is in Christ! And that hope cannot be taken away. Fix your mind on that truth until it becomes solidly rooted in your heart!
Colossians 1:5, "the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you."
For more on this message of hope check out my book, "Colossians: Set Your Heart on Things Above."
Comments