Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Devotional 99- God is Deep


"There is no pit so deep that God is not deeper still."  Quoted by Corrie Ten Boom after being released from a German Nazi prison camp during World War II.

Romans 11:33 "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"

I have been given permission to print the following from one who will remain anonymous.

"It’s difficult to describe the pit to anyone who hasn’t been thrown in themselves.  I say thrown in because that is what it is.  It is something that happens to you. The pit has no mercy.

The pit is what it feels like to be in depression.  Depression is different than being unhappy, which is very uncomfortable.  Depression touches your soul and squeezes the life out.  Like a life eater.  You don’t really hurt, you just don’t want to live.  Hurting would take too much energy.  Crying takes too much energy and you have none. 

The pit is so deep sometimes, there is no light at the top.  I know the light is there,  I just can’t see it.  There are no life lines or toe and hand holes .  It is dark and dry.  I cannot lie down in the pit.  I can only stand and look up with the black, dirt walls just fingertips away."

Have you ever felt like that, ladies? When life seems dark and confusing, remember God! 

God says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty you will not drown....For I am the LORD, your God...your Savior...You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you."  Isaiah 43: 1-5 New Living Translation

Remember your God! For no pit is so deep that God is not deeper still!

By the way, here is how my friend finishes her testimony.

"I am grateful for the pit.  I am happy for the pit.  Without the pit, I could never feel the joy, relief, contentment of not being in the pit.   I thank God for the pit.  My mountains are higher because of the pit."

Oh the depth of the riches of both the wisdom and knowledge of God!  He knows what He is doing in your life. This day was planned for you!

OUR GOD IS DEEP.
               

Devotional 98 -His Accent


"The most important single aid to my ability to use my tongue for the glory of Jesus is allowing the word of God to dwell in me so richly that I cannot speak with any other accent."
The Power of Words and the Wonder of God  by Sinclair B. Ferguson

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
 Colossians 3:16

I have seen it--- this Christlike accent. I have seen it over and over in those around me. Those who spend time with Jesus speak with His accent. The more Christ's word dwells in you richly the more it will naturally come out of you.

I was in the kitchen with my mother-in-law (called Momo) and sister-in-law. We were helping Momo prepare one of her marvelous dinners. Neither my sister-in-law nor I were chopping or mixing the way Momo wanted, so she had to constantly correct us. My pride raised its ugly head and I walked out of the kitchen quietly, but thinking "fine, she can just do it herself!" But as I was leaving I heard my sister-in-law turn to her Mom and say, "Mom, you are such a good cook. I am here to serve you. Just tell me what to do, I want to do it your way."

I was so convicted. My sister-in-law had let the word of Christ dwell in her richly and I saw her speak with the accent of Christ. I want to be like that, don't you? To respond with thankfulness in our hearts toward God is to lose our touchiness and to live with humility.

I also see the Christlike accent in women who speak the truth even when it is unpopular. The scripture says we love when we speak the truth. We need truth telling men and women who will speak up for righteousness and call sin "sin". We have made love to mean being nice and making everyone feel good about themselves...but that is not love. That is deception and keeps some happily feeling good while on their way to hell.

So let the word of Christ dwell in you richly and you will teach and admonish with wisdom. Sometimes the accent of Christ is kindness and forgiveness, and sometimes it is warning and rebuking. May God give us the grace to know when each is needed.

Proverbs 12: 18-19 "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment."