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Other days I remember my feelings simply reveal what my heart loves.
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Every day I’m to renew my mind with God’s truth and my feelings will appropriately follow.
Geoffrey is off work this week so we are enjoying an early summer vacation with lots of family time. It has been wonderful having time to slow down, reflect, talk, and laugh together.
Earlier today I told Geoffrey I don’t want to return back to normal life next week. As he graciously took the time to draw me out, I realized how self-focused my reasons were. I have been focusing on my feelings and desires instead of having my thoughts informed by God’s Word.
So, this post is primarily an exercise for myself to renew my mind with God’s truths. My hope is that at least one of these twelve truths encourages you. Thanks for reading!
REMINDERS I NEED WHEN I AM...
WEARY
Am I bringing my struggles to my all-powerful God? Or am I trying to do everything in my own strength?
“Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31, emphasis added
Am I still seeking to grow in knowing God and being dependent upon him? Or am I living as if God doesn’t exist because life is currently easy?
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Am I reminding myself of God’s faithfulness or wallowing in self-pity?
“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
Am I singing and meditating on truths about God’s faithfulness, both in the past and today? Or am I missing opportunities to love those around me because I'm focused on what I don't have?
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
ENJOYING AN EASY LIFE
Am I living with an acute awareness that all the good things I have are from God? Or am I forgetting God exists and crediting myself for having such a great life?
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:16-17
Is my life characterized by thankfulness that the Lord is near and trust that he has lovingly ordained my days? Or am I only coming to God in prayer when I need something and am anxious because I don’t think he is doing what is best?
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:4-7, emphasis added
Am I obeying God's commands because I love him and am filled with joy that Christ has died, risen, and will come again? Or am I making a mockery of Christ’s work by believing that since I’m forgiven I can do whatever I want?
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Am I asking God to help me be wise, consistent, and loving in my parenting, while trusting him with the outcome? Or am I only parenting my children when it's convenient and not caring about the state of their souls?
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:7-10
Do I delight in my children as gifts from the Lord? Or do I view them as less important than myself and treat them as such?
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward.” Psalm 127:3
Am I asking God to help me love and serve others? Or am I seeking to control my circumstances to ensure my life is comfortable and filled with ease?
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Philippians 2:3-8
Am I seeking to be a blessing to Geoffrey? Or am I only focused on whether he is making me happy?
“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12
Am looking to Christ for help and remembering that eternity with God is getting closer every day? Or am I seeking to avoid discomfort and trials because they are wearying and difficult?
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:1-3, emphasis added
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