June Jewett’s Thoughts

SEPTEMBER 1 OUR CHOICE

HABAKKUK 3:17-18 “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crops fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

Ever have a really bad day where all the blessings of God are shrouded with a dark cloud of misplaced items, a missed appointment, burned toast, clogged drains, a lost file, or a dented fender? Maybe you are among those who deal daily with poor health, being a single parent or unemployment. Habakkuk was having a bad time of great magnitude. He chose to rejoice. How many of us do the same? After a bad day or week, I am more likely to complain to God about the unfairness of life. I set aside His goodness to me in the past and grumble about the cares of today. Whether our circumstances are trivial or major burdens, the key is how we react. Another Old Testament prophet, Nehemiah, said, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” In the New Testament, Paul echoes the words of these prophets admonishing us to “Rejoice always and again, I say rejoice” and “give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you.” Rejoicing sounds so much better than fretting or venting our anger at God. The choice is ours.

Father, I never like myself when I grumble or complain. Strengthen me in the habit of rejoicing in you at all times. In Jesus Name

AUGUST 25 A RANSOM PAID

Mark 10:45 “For even I, the Son of Man, came not to be served but to serve others and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

When I think of the word ransom, I picture parents paying a sum of money to get their child back from kidnappers. In many ways it is a picture of what God does on the Cross. His people have been kidnapped by the prince of this world, Satan…bound by their sins, unable to free themselves But God loves His children and pays a ransom to bring them back into the family of God. How do we react to that that freedom? At times, we may be saddened as we recall the sins that bound us. But underneath is a joyful exuberance that we are saved and free to become all God planned for us. Praise God, we have the power to follow Jesus and become obedient servants/slaves in the work of God!

Praise you, God, for sending your Son to be the ransom for my sins. Help me to claim the power to follow His example and become a servant of others. In Jess’ Name.

AUGUST 19 EXCUSES

I Samuel 15:22 “But Samuel replied, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifices and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’”

God had given Saul a job to do. He was to destroy all the Amalekites and everything they owned. Instead, Saul brought back the king and the best of the calves and lambs. When Samuel confronted Saul about his failure to do as the Lord commanded, Saul had his excuses ready. He spared only the king and the animals were to be a sacrifice to the Lord. That sounds good. However, Samuel tells Saul God does not delight in sacrifices but in obedience. Saul’s acting in his own wisdom and judgment leads to his being dethroned as king of Israel. God does not ask us to evaluate or adjust His commands….to do what we think is best. He expects us to obey, not edit. He takes obedience very seriously as seen by His deposing Saul. Our excuses are not acceptable. Do you want to delight God? Then, obey his instructions.

Father, the excuses come so easily. Let me labor, instead, to do what you ask of me so that I may delight you. In Jesus Name

AUGUST 11 QUESTIONING GOD

Isaiah 40:10 “Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to be his teacher or counselor?”

The answer to the above question is…no one. It is a good verse to remember when we find ourselves trying to tell God how to do things or how to answer our prayers. What is your area of expertise? Are you a computer whiz, a scientist, a parent, or Olympic medal winner? Maybe you are an auto mechanic or a bank teller. Interestingly enough, everything you need to know for practicing your specialty was know by the One who created the world in which you live. In light of that, I wonder if God smiles when we try to advise Him? Trust is a big word. It means giving up the right to have it my way and living my life with the confidence that God knows what he is doing. Trust can overcome our doubts and impatience, assuring us of God’s wisdom and perseverance on our behalf. Don’t try to advise God, trust Him.

Father, praise you for being wise and creative beyond my understanding. Teach me to trust you in all circumstances. In Jesus Name.

JULY 21 HIGHER WAYS & THOUGHTS

Isaiah 55:9 “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Praise God that His ways and thoughts are higher than mine. I can trust him when I would not dare trust myself. I pray to follow His ways and to begin to think His thoughts. He has given me His Word and the Spirit so I can learn what He requires of me and think thoughts that are in accord with His. He has opened the throne room where Jesus, my High Priest, intercedes for me. God answers according to His wisdom and love. Listen as God teaches and practice what He reveals. Your life will be lived on a higher plane.

Father, thank you for being far more than we can imagine. Teach and led us to that higher plane of life. In Jesus’ Name

JULY 16 WHAT TIME IS IT?

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8 “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven…”

This passage includes many aspects of our lives, often in contrast…a time to be born or a time to die, a time to tear down or a time to rebuild. Are you willing to wait for God’s timing? I find myself being impatient. When I pray, I expect instant answers. Note the stress is on what I want and when I want it. In my heart, I want what God knows is right and best for me but my mind says hurry, God, hurry. There is a verse in Hebrews that says, “You have need of patience…continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” Here, the emphasis is on what God wants…His timing in my life. Not all aspects of life are equal. Some are enjoyable. Some require strength. Some are lonely and sad. Some are full of new insight and growth. Can we agree that God’s time for each of these is the right time? If you can say “yes” then you are in the best possible time of your life…today.

Grant me a willingness to wait on your timing in my everyday life. Open my eyes to the rightness of today and let me love you in return. In Jesus’ Name

JULY 8 PRAYERFUL THOUGHTS

Psalm 42:6 “Through everyday the Lord pours his unfailing love on me and through each night I sing his songs praying to God who gives me life.”

The first part of this verse is a reality in my life. I know God’s faithfulness in pouring out His love on me. However, I do stumble over the second part. Often my thoughts are full of criticism, unfounded judgments, envy, grudges, or just plain negative thoughts. God has given me abundant life in Jesus. I settle for a mediocre walk with Him. My thought life can build barriers between me and God and others. I shove aside a bad thought as not counting…just a fleeting idea. What would happen to my heart if a negative thought became a praise for another person, circumstance, or responsibility? The very idea of singing is positive. It lifts my heart when the words are given to God in recognition of the life He has given me. Accepting God’s unfailing love needs to build a response of praise and adoration. It is not hard but requires discipline and perseverance. Remember the old line of the song…eliminate the negative accentuate the positive? Let all of this verse become alive in your life. Joy will flood your soul.

I praise you, God, for your faithfulness. Teach me to respond with songs of prayer to you. In Jesus’

JUNE 29 A DARK CLOUD

Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”

Have you ever been driving along rejoicing over the beautiful white clouds and bright blue sky and then made a right turn only to be faced with a huge, dark forbidding sky? Life is like that. It is a good time to remember God is with you and that He is a mighty God. We forget that the God who created our world knows about the storms of life. It is easy to fall into the trap of measuring God by our limitations when facing difficulty. How reassuring to know He delights in us and that His love can quiet our fears. When you turn to face a darkening horizon, listen for God’s song. It is a song of rejoicing because He knows the way through the dark moments of our walk. Let His singing be the light on the path before you.

Father, open my ears to your song when the way is dark and fear creeps in to my thoughts. In Jesus’ Name

JUNE 16 BIBLICAL VIRTUES

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of the world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think…”

This month I have been using a list of Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Children. All of our children have been away from home for some time but as I pray through the list it serves as a good reminder of the characteristics God wants in our lives at any age. We are expected to be different from the world. Our behavior has a divine power in it that those without Christ can not know. I am not speaking of perfection but of transformation, becoming a new person. Our thought life changes as we let the Spirit have control. He allows us to trade greed for generosity, envy for contentment, weakness for courage, anger for self-control, or procrastination for responsibility. He nourishes us with the fruit He grows in us. Ask God to change both your thoughts and those of your children so they reflect Jesus’ presence in you.

Father, transform my thoughts to agree with the teachings of your Word and the presence of the Spirit in me. In Jesus Name.

JUNE 8 DOUBTS

Romans 2:20,21 “Yet he did not waver though unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthen in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he promised.”

Abraham had every assurance God would do as He promised. I read an account of a family written by Angela Spitzer. They had no food in the cupboard and no money but they sat down to the table and bowed their heads in thanksgiving. The doorbell rang and there stood a man with bags of groceries in his arms. They prayed believing. Angela said, “It’s not that I thought God couldn’t answer my prayers. It’s just that I wasn’t sure He’d want to.” I’ve been in that place. I have every confidence…I know…God answers prayer. His wisdom and power are limitless, but Satan loves to plant doubts. They weaken our prayers. Angela later explained that she had learned to confess any doubts immediately. God loves us. He wants us to ask for His help and wisdom. He does not hold our sin against us. It was dealt with on the cross. Jesus encourages us to ask believing, “Until now you have not asked anything in my name, Ask and you will receive and your joy will be complete.” God does want to answer our prayers. Do not let doubts drain your confidence in that.

Father, remind me to quickly confess any doubts that appear when I am praying.
Let me ask so that you can answer and my joy may be complete. In Jesus’ Name