1 Kings 21; 1 Thessalonians 4; Daniel 3; Psalm 107

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18, NIV)

Financial hardship, illness and disease, conflicts in marriage. To all of life’s “blazing furnaces”, faith says, “The God we serve is able to save us from it!”

And how thrilling to watch Him to come to the rescue! When God provides or heals or restores broken relationships, we cheer Him on for being faithful and powerful and good.

But. True faith believes even in the absence of evidence. It hangs on, even when no miracles can be seen. The deepest faith believes God when the bills aren’t paid, and illnesses aren’t healed, and marriages aren’t saved. “Even if he does not.”

Lord, build my faith. Let me trust You in the furnace, believing that You can save me from it. But let me also believe while the fire rages…in the absence of rescue. Find me faithful “even if you do not.” Amen.

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1 Kings 7; Ephesians 4; Ezekiel 37; Psalm 87-88

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:32, NIV)

Today, I decided to live by Ephesians 4:32. I dedicated myself to only speaking words that build up, rather than tear down–words that benefit instead of harm.

I made it my goal to follow Ephesians 4:32 closely.

And it was the longest half hour of my life.

The truth is, it’s hard for me to control my mouth. I’m like Anne of Green Gables: “If only you knew how many things I want to say and don’t…you’d give me some credit.” Willpower is not enough; it only lasts me half an hour. I need the Holy Spirit’s empowerment to “not let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth”.

Not any complaining.

Not any gossip.

No nagging.

No discouraging.

No unkindness under the guise of sarcasm.

No unwholesome talk. At all. Period.

Lord, please control my mouth. Grow self control in me so I won’t say everything that crosses my mind. Grant me the discernment to know when to speak and when to stay silent. Most of all, give me Your words–Your life-giving words to “benefit those who listen”, and to show them what You are like. I love You, Lord. Amen.

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1 Samuel 31; 1 Corinthians 11; Ezekiel 9; Psalm 48

“As we have heard, so we have seen….” (Psalm 48:8, NIV)

I’ve heard about the Grand Canyon–how breathtaking it is, how enormous and beautiful. I’ve heard the same reports about Niagra Falls–how powerful and vast.

But the truth is, I haven’t seen either. My knowledge is based on the reports of others, not on personal experience.

Psalm 48:8 says something similar about the Lord. “We’d heard stories about the greatness and power of God,” writes the psalmist, “and now we’ve seen it for ourselves. Everything we heard is true!”

Job agreed. In Job 42:5, in his final reply to God, Job said, “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.”

In other words, “Now I know God firsthand.”

How much better to experience Him personally, than to merely hear of Him! Lord, I’ve heard about Your greatness. I’ve been told about Your love and Your grace. But I want to see it for myself! To experience You firsthand. Let me come to know You, not just know about You. And I will come to find, as the psalmist did, that You are just as I have heard. Amen.

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1 Samuel 15; Romans 13; Jeremiah 52; Psalm 31

I live in southern California now, but I grew up in western Oklahoma. Of all the things I miss from home, a large yard is near the top of the list. Here in the LA suburbs, homes are so close together that they are separated by only a few feet. How I miss the big, grassy backyard–with an empty field beyond it–where I played as a child! Today, when my kids refer to the tiny patio behind our townhouse as the “backyard”, I think, “They have no idea what a backyard really is.”

In Psalm 31, David talks about the freedom that is his in the Lord. “You have not handed me over to my enemy,” he says, “but have set my feet in a spacious place.” (Psalm 31:8)

In another version, “spacious place” is translated “large room”. It literally means “a broad or roomy place, wide expanses”. David points out that there is freedom in obeying God. Vast, expansive space within His kingdom. God’s plan for me isn’t confining or restraining. While He gives boundaries, He also gives freedom.

Lord, thank You! When I doubt Your goodness to me, or when I complain about the “fences” You established for my own benefit, I miss out on the wide expanse You offer. Indeed, “it is for freedom that Christ has set us free,” (Galatians 5:1) and You “have set my feet in a spacious place.” I have no idea what a backyard really is! Amen.

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1 Samuel 11; Romans 9; Jeremiah 48; Psalm 25

I hope my children love Jesus. I hope they make wise choices, and I hope that living with me for 18 years won’t necessitate too much therapy for them when they’re grown.

I hope my husband and I live to be 150. Well, 152 for him, since he’s older. I hope we die in our bed, sleeping peacefully and holding hands with each other. Not that we hold hands while we sleep now, but isn’t it a nice picture?

I hope I come to know God better and better, and love Him more and more, until I wholly dwell in His abundance and joy—not just visit them occasionally like I do now. I hope that my heart and my life make Jesus smile and say, “Child, you are beginning to look like Me.”

I hope I’ll finally learn someday that hope is more about where than what. What I hope isn’t nearly as important as where I place my hope. In fact, where I hope often determines what I hope. David knew this. In Psalm 25, he recognized just where to hope.

No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame. – Psalm 25:3

My hope is in you all day long. – Psalm 25:5

My hope is in you. – Psalm 25:21

God, let me always hope in You. Amen.

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