Cling Tightly

What season of life are you in? Are you in a season of joy, happiness, and things going well? Are you in a season of sadness, pain, and hurt? Are you going through dry time, a time when your faith is running low, a time of feeling lost and alone? Are you asking God to intervene?

We go through different seasons in life. Those seasons can last for a few days or a few months. We can quickly find ourselves stepping out of one season and into a different one. Our personal seasons can change as quickly as the weather. But that doesn’t mean God abandons us.

The prophet Ezekiel learned this lesson. God had been and always would be with his people. He had not forgotten them. To make his point, he led the prophet to a valley full of dry bones. The prophet could see there was no life in the valley. Yet it was not beyond God’s ability to bring life to it. Though the people of Israel may have thought God had abandoned him, he had not.

When we go through dry seasons, we may think God has abandoned us. God never abandons us, even if he does not always put us in situations full of unicorns and rainbows. There are lessons we can learn as we find our way through difficult situations, not the least of which is learning to trust God. It is often in a dry season that we learn to cling tighter to God than we have before. It is also when we see God act on our behalf and pull us through them.

I pray we all know that God does not abandon us. I pray we trust that God is always with us. I pray each one of us cling tighter to God during dry season and see his act on our behalf. Know that God will not abandon you. Trust God is always with you. Cling to God. See God pull you through.

Ezekiel 37:1-2 The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.

Seeing and Sinful

How much value do you place on your sight? Do you consider it to be one of the top abilities you have? How well do you use your sight? Do you notice things or have you become blind to the common? How is your spiritual sight? Do you see inside yourself?

We all likely believe sight is very important. Seeing allows us to read, recognize, navigate, and appreciate. Yet, seeing alone is not comprehensive. We must also be attentive to our surroundings. Otherwise, we can drive right past our destination.

The same is true of our spiritual sight. We may say we are looking to Jesus, but in doing so, we may miss our own shortcomings. We must take notice of where we are in our journey, what we are doing to progress. We also must recognize our sinful nature and seek to eliminate the sins we know we commit.

Jesus tells the Pharisees that because they claim to see, their sin remains. The same can be said of us. If we claim to see, yet we do not notice our own sin, it remains. On the other hand, if we recognize we have blind spots, confess them, and ask God to reveal them to us, we can also ask for those sins to be forgiven. Lest we become haughty, we must all admit we have blind spots.

Having blind spots does not mean we are not saved. It does mean we still have progress to make to get where God wants us to go. We may quickly admit we are not perfect, but we often don’t want to admit we have blind spots. Let’s take the first step and admit they are there. Then ask God to forgive you and reveal them.

I pray we all know we are not perfect. I pray we admit we have blind spots. I pray each one of us will ask for God’s forgiveness and seek to eliminate our blind spots. Know you are not perfect. Admit your blind spots. Ask God for forgiveness. Eliminate your blind spots.

John 9:41: Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”

Know the Savior

Do you know the Savior? Do you know who He is? Or do you just know about Him? Have you only heard of Him? Or have you gotten to know Him? Do you wonder what the difference is? Are you willing to pursue Him? Will you decide to truly know who He is? Will you allow Him to  change you?

Many people have an answer when asked who God is. Unfortunately, their answers can vary greatly. Their answers may vary even more when asked who Jesus is. Why? Far too many have not gotten to know Him. They may have heard some of the stories but don’t really know Him.

Jesus had given a man sight who had been born blind. The man had been questioned thoroughly about who gave him sight. He didn’t know who Jesus was, though he knew Jesus’ name. When Jesus encountered him later, He asked him if he believed in the Son of Man. The man asked who He was. When Jesus revealed that He was the Son of Man, the man worshiped Him.

When we get to know who Jesus really is, we will also worship Him. We must go beyond just hearing stories by asking what the story tells us. We must read and understand Jesus’ teachings. We must wrap our brains around Jesus’ claim, and our claim, that He is the Son of Man, the Son of God. For just as the Jewish leaders equated that as being the same as being God, we must also make that equation. Jesus revealed God to us in human form. At what point will we truly believe Him and truly get to know Him? When we do, we will fall down and worship Him.

I pray we all seek to get to know Jesus. I pray we understand that He is the Son of God. I pray each one of us will truly believe Jesus and get to know Him, then fall to our knees to worship Him. Get to know Jesus. Know that Jesus is the Son of God. Believe Jesus. Worship Jesus.

John 9:35-36 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.”

Expose the Darkness

How much of what you do has no purpose? How much of it is for good? How much of it is nefarious? Have you spent time to think about what you are doing and how it impacts those around you? Or do you muddle through your day one task at a time without thinking?

Most of us want to think we are working for a reason. Some of us purposely work at jobs to help others. However, even in jobs in which we can help others, we can go through the day without being purposeful. We may simply follow a routine.

We can fall into a routine, a trap of merely existing without realizing it. We can lose focus. We can be lured down a path we had not intended to go down. The slippery slope may start with not turning in a friend for doing something wrong and continue as we slide into deeper and darker works. Our will to resist weakens the further we slide. Not only are these works unfruitful but many of them are very hurtful and dangerous.

Rather than taking part in those works, we are to expose them. We are to see them as God sees them, which can be challenging, for we typically see things as we want to see them. Seeing as God sees requires us to set aside our perspective. It requires us to remove ourselves from the equation. It requires us to spend significant time in prayer. It requires us to spent significant time studying and understanding God’s Word. All of these will ultimately feed into seeing as God sees. Only when we see as God sees can we truly expose the darkness in this world.

I pray we all avoid the trap of routine. I pray we stop our downward slide of participating in unfruitful works. I pray each one of us seeks to open our eyes and see as God sees so we can expose the darkness. Stop your downward slide. See as God sees. Expose the darkness.

Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them.

Walk In the Light

Do you prefer light or dark? Do you prefer the day or the night? Have you considered you may have been darkness? Are you still walking in darkness? Do you want to walk in the light? Do you want to do what is good? Do you want to do what is right?

Most of us will say we want to walk in the light. We don’t want to be in the dark. But we don’t consider we are darkness. We don’t like to think about the darkness within us, our sinful nature. We say we want to do good, but then we only truly want to do good if it is easy.

Walking in darkness can be dangerous. Depending on the terrain, there is a distinct possibility of tripping and falling. My wife and I had gone to a mountain lookout to watch the sunset, which was beautiful. However, the lookout had quite a few people there. A young couple came to us to ask an odd favor. They asked if we could drive them down the mountain. They had used an Uber to get them to the lookout, which left. They called another one, which could not get in the park due to the inbound gate closing at 7pm. They were stranded. Walking down 5 miles of road in the dark would not have been good. We agreed to give them a ride.

The Apostle Paul tells us we were once darkness and walking in darkness. A very dangerous thing. However, since we are now walking in the Lord, we are walking in the light. Walking in the light means we are walking confidently with God. As we walk in the light, we bear fruit, which is doing what is good and right. We do not determine what is good and right, but God does.

I pray we all know we were once darkness. I pray we choose to step out of the darkness and walk in the light. I pray each one of us do what is right and good according to God’s purposes. Step out of the darkness. Walk in the light. Do what is right. Do good. Be in accord with God.

Ephesians 5:8-9 for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.

Do Not Want

How much do you want? Are you continually seeking more? Are you working for the sole purpose of buying more? When is enough, enough? When will you be satisfied? When will you trust God is providing what you need? When will you be happy with his provision?

Our culture bombards us with messaging that tells us we need more. It tells us we deserve more. It tells us we should strive for more. And far too often, it doesn’t tell us we should work for it but it should be given to us. Unfortunately, many listen to and believe the lies.

The opening line of Psalm 23 should be our guide. It should be a promise we hold on to. Not to further the lies of our culture but a promise that what God provides is enough and we should be satisfied with it. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what we need. He also knows that if we are given too much, we will become lazy or expect even more.

Personally, I do not want to win the lottery. Of course, I don’t play it, so I have no chance in winning it. I can’t imagine having millions of dollars. I think I could handle it now that I’m older, but I would rather not deal with the hassle. Don’t misunderstand. Like many of you, I do wonder if I have enough set aside for retirement. But being wealthy comes with its own headaches, some of them far worse than only having what you need.

Therefore, I choose to trust that God will provide. I encourage each of you to trust God will provide. At the same time, you have been given an ability to work, save, and care for yourself. That is all part of God’s provision. When we view our gifts as God providing for us and use them wisely, we can deduct that we do not need to want.

I pray we all recognize God’s provision in our lives. I pray we see our gifts as God providing. I pray each one of us will use our gifts wisely and decide we will not want more than God has given us. Recognize God’s provision. Recognize your gifts. Use your gifts wisely. Do not want.

Psalm 23:1

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

See the Heart First

What do you see when you look at someone else? What goes into your decision about who they are? Are you impressed with physical attributes? Does someone’s size make a difference? Do their mannerisms and their speech? How do you decide whether you like them or not?

All manner of attributes go into our decision to like someone or not. We see their physical attributes such as height, weight, proportional distribution, and facial form. We may consider their mannerisms, the way they talk, an accent, or even their handshake.

God does not use any of those things when he considers someone. His only consideration is their heart. God can work with all the physical attributes. He can use anyone who has a heart for him. The person whose heart is set on God will see God work in their lives in mighty ways.

Samuel was told to go to Jerusalem to anoint the next king of Israel. Jesse’s first son, Eliab, must have been a tall and handsome man for God told him not to make judgment based on his appearance or height. God was looking inside Eliab’s heart and did not see what he wanted to see. Eliab may have worshiped God, but he didn’t have a heart after God’s own heart like David. So, God rejected Eliab, and every other son of Jesse’s, until the youngest was brought forward.

We can fall into the same trap as Samuel. We can be impressed by someone’s physical attributes. We may prefer a pretty face. But we would be better served to get to know someone’s heart through interaction with them to determine their heart. Someone whose heart is like the heart of God will be a far better friend and mate.

I pray we all forgo making a decision about someone based on physical attributes. I pray we seek to get to know the person’s heart. I pray each one of us seek friendship with someone whose heart is in sync with God’s. Discard physical attributes. Interact with people. Get to know their heart.

1 Samuel 16:6-7 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely his anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him, for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Turn Over Your Fear

How many times have you argued against doing what you have been told to do? How many times have you argued against doing what you know is right to do? Have you argued because it was hard? Have you argued because you were embarrassed? Why did you argue?

There are situations in which we do not want to do what we are told or know to be right. We can give a variety of excuses, but they all are lame. They hold no water. Others can see right through our excuse. Yet we often hold onto them. All because we fear.

Samuel was no different. God told him to go to Jerusalem. He said that he would show Samuel who to anoint as the next king. Samuel did not want to go. Why? Fear. He was afraid King Saul would kill him. He did have a legitimate concern. King Saul was known to be jealous. He might have reacted in a very harsh way. His anger may have caused him to kill Samuel. Yet Samuel was a prophet of God. He should have known God would take care of him.

We, also, sometimes do not want to do what God has commanded us to do. Why? Most of the time the reason is fear. Fear of being embarrassed. Fear of shame. Fear of being ostracized. Fear of being persecuted. We can state any number of fears. We can deny it…but only to others. We know deep down inside why. God also knows why. But just as Samuel eventually did what God commanded, we need to do what God commands of us.

I pray we listen for God to guide us. I pray we choose to obey God’s commands. I pray each one of us acknowledge the fear we have, turn it over to God, and choose to do the right thing. Listen for God. Obey God’s commands. Acknowledge your fear. Give your fear to God. Do the right thing.

1 Samuel 16:1-2a The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.”

Hope In God

How often does peace escape you? How often do you feel anything but peace? Why do you think that is? Is it due to a trial or struggle? Is it due to being frustrated or feeling angry? How quickly does peace return to you? Are you leaning on God?

Our peace can be fleeting. Especially so when our peace does not come from God. Going through struggles and trials can zap us. Frustration and anger drain our peace faster than a rock falling down a cliff. Finding that peace again can be a long time coming.

Yet we can have peace all the time when we lean on God. When we remember we are justified by our faith, peace comes with it. Why? Our faith in Jesus and Him providing our peace. We will experience struggles and trials. But they don’t have to take away our peace. And they won’t when our peace comes from Jesus and knowing that we are justified by Him.

Not only do we have peace, but our justification gives us hope. Not just any hope or wishful thinking, but a hope of sharing in God’s glory. A hope that is based on a promise. All of this is provided in God’s grace. It is his grace that allows us to have faith. It is because of his grace that he promised us justification and glory.

And if we want to boast about anything, we can boast in our hope and God’s grace. Anything we do, anything we accomplish is because of God’s grace. It is because he has granted us the ability and skill to do so.

I pray we all know we are justified by faith. I pray we accept the peace of Christ. I pray each one of us know it is by the grace of God that we have peace and hope. You are justified by faith. Accept the peace of Christ. You are covered by God’s grace. Put your hope in God.


Romans 5:1-2: Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

Love God and Yourself

How do you view yourself? Do you think of yourself as a good person? Do you think of yourself as a bad person? Do you think of yourself as a sinful person? Are you proud? Are you shamed? Are you somewhere in between? Does it depend on the moment?

We all have a general perception of ourselves. We have specific perceptions of ourselves that are dependent on the situation. If we react badly, we think worse of ourselves. If we do good for someone, we think better of ourselves. Each specific perception feeds our general perception.

Sociologists will tell us there are three versions of who we are — who we think we are, who others think we are, and the real us. To understand who the real us is, we must set aside who we think we are and who others think we are. We must look deep inside ourselves objectively. This is a very difficult thing to do. In fact, it is so difficult that even if we want to, it will take us numerous attempts to finally get to our core being.

God knows who we are. He knows our core being better than we know ourselves. He knows we are weak, even if we think we are strong. He knows every fault, even if we do not recognize them. He every strength, even if we do not use them. Because God knows us so well and loves us so much, he sent his Son to die for us. Because Jesus loves us as much as the Father, He willingly came to die for us.

We may never peel away our outer perceptions of ourselves to see the true, inner self, but we can be confident that Jesus died for us. We can trust that God knows us better than we know ourselves and loves us. We are to trust God, know he loves us, and love ourselves as God’s creation, the image of God.

I pray we all trust that God knows us better than we know ourselves. I pray we know that God loves us. I pray each one of us love God in return and love ourselves as God’s creation. Trust God. God knows you. God loves you. Love God. Love yourself.

Romans 5:6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.