Great Need? Great God!

Corrie Ten Boom's book The Hiding Place is one of the most influential books I've ever read. If you haven't read it, I urge you to do so. It is utterly compelling, and will transform your thoughts on forgiveness.

Yet as well as The Hiding Place Corrie wrote several other books, one of which was a collection of short devotionals for each day of the year.

You know a book is saying something of value when it stands the test of time.  Each New Day was originally published thirty-six years ago.  It has been reprinted more than a dozen times since. 

Corrie wrote of it, "A person is either a missionary or a mission field.  Sometimes I wrote for Christians who know that they are called to be a light of the World.  On other days God gave me a message about what it means to come to him...  I know that the Lord gave me these words.  They are from him who loves you and who spoke through me to you."

Here is the entry for 9 October (the date on which I prepared this post):

There are great lessons to learn concerning faith and the nature of character of faith when you read in the Bible about the disciples.  I am grateful for the record of every mistake they ever made and for every blunder they committed.  I see myself in them.  The Bible speaks the truth and shows and pictures every human frailty.

And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?"  Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Matthew 8: 26 RSV

Lord, thank you that you do not ask a great faith, but faith in a great God.

Encouragement for Your Heart. For When You're 'Just Not Feeling It'

Are you struggling with finding the motivation to chase your dreams? I know that I've been there.  When even the things I love to do, and want to do more of - my own 'God-sized dreams', seem to take more energy, perseverance and ability than I have.  But sometimes it's when we least want to do something that we just have to do it anyway. 

Holley Gerth looks at this very issue in her latest book.  I usually mention the title here (and I will, further down), but at the top of this post, I'm going to mention the sub-title instead: 40 Days of Encouragement for Your Heart.  Does your heart need a little encouraging today?  If so, read on for some helpful words from Holley.

When You're Just Not Feeling It

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galations 6:9

She sends me an email.
Or walks up to me at a conference.
Maybe whispers it across the table at lunch.
It starts with something like, "I know I'm called to write or speak or cook or do spreadsheets" - her voice gets lower here - "but what about the days when I'm just not feeling it?"
I nod.  Because I know.  Oh, how I know.

What I don't know is how our culture has convinced us that any other skill is okay to practise, but if it's spiritual or art or both, then you have to feel it every time.

As I'm writing this, the Olympics are still fresh on our minds.  I'm picturing an interviewer asking an athlete, "How often do you practise?" And the reply being, "When I feel like it."
We don't ever hear that from athletes at that level.

As Aristotle said,"We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
What do you do when you don't feel it? You do it anyway.

***

There is no such thing as a God-sized dream that doesn't have seasons that are just plain ol' hard, unglamourous work. 
(Emphasis added by the blog poster!)

When we persevere through those times, we honour God, because that is when we're dying to ourselves.  We're saying, "I will obey even when all my flesh wants to do is sit in the corner and eat a cookie."  When you choose to be disciplined in the pursuit of your dream, even when you don't want to, you do a lot to destroy the work of the enemy.  And even though it doesn't feel like it, your faith is probably even stronger than when you have all the warm, fuzzy emotions that we like a lot better.

So keep going, friend.
You're doing better than you know.
You're growing more than you realise.
You're making a difference even if you can't see it.
And someday soon, you will.

Extracted from Day 16's reading in Opening the Door to Your God-Sized Dream.
ISBN: 9780800722807
Price: £8.99
Available through your local Christian bookshop, or any other bricks and mortar or online bookshop.

For more short and thought provoking reading, Holley's blog is well worth spending a little time browsing, as are her books You're Already Amazing, and You're Made for a God-Sized Dream.

Alive and Active

Today's post is taken from the entry for 2 July from Darlene Zschech's devotional Revealing Jesus.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12, NIV

God is not distant and aloof.  He doesn't give us the cold shoulder but speaks to us - through His Word and Spirit.  We don't have to guess what is on God's mind or beg Him to tell us what His will is for us.  His thoughts are recorded in the Bible, which is alive and active today.  The Bible was written in antiquity, but it is no dusty tome that is irrelevant to what is happening today.

As much as I pray that God's Word will be a huge part of your life, I must also warn you.  Beware when you open your Bible.  Like a mighty warrior's sword, it is razor sharp and cuts from both sides.  Any of us who have read God's Word know firsthand what a source of joy and comfort it is.  But we likewise know it cuts to the core.  It cuts through excuses and attitudes of pride.  God's Word always goes to the heart of the matter.  God loves us enough to correct us and bring us back on course when we have gotten off His path for our lives

Yes, it's true, God's Word can hurt.  Never wield it carelessly.  Read it in awe, knowing that God is penetrating your spirit and soul with wisdom, comfort, healing, correction - and all the truth you need in life.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.  Thank you, heavenly Father, that you speak words of life into my soul and spirit through the pages of my Bible.


Revealing Jesus.
9780764211546
£9.99
You can order the book via your local Christian bookshop, or any other bricks and mortar or online bookshop.
For digital readers, this is also available in ebook format.