Where Is Your Faith?

(taken from an illustration from a sermon my Pastor taught)

Where Is Your Faith? 

When I saw this illustration that our Pastor shared, I knew I wanted to share it here.

It immediately made me stop and think about where my faith is placed.

The illustration says that our faith should be in three main areas:

The blood of Jesus.
The name of Jesus.
The Word of God.

The more I thought about those three things, the more I realized how beautifully they work together.

Faith in the blood of Jesus reminds me of what Jesus did for me.

Romans 3:23-25 tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but that we are justified through Christ Jesus and His sacrifice.

There is nothing I could ever do to earn salvation. I cannot be good enough, work hard enough, or make myself worthy enough. My hope is in what Jesus did for me on the cross.

His blood paid a price I could never pay.

Faith in the name of Jesus reminds me of who I am trusting.

Acts 3:16 tells us that it is faith in the name of Jesus that brings healing and restoration. There is power in His name—not because the name itself is simply a word, but because of who Jesus is.

When I pray, I want my faith to be in Jesus.

When I am afraid, I want my faith to be in Jesus.

When I don't understand what God is doing, I want my faith to remain in Jesus.

And then there is faith in the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 tells us, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

God's Word gives us something solid to stand on when everything around us feels uncertain.

Our feelings change.

Circumstances change.

People change.

Life changes.

But God's Word does not change.

There have been many seasons in my life when I didn't understand what God was doing. I couldn't see what was ahead, and sometimes I didn't even know what I was supposed to do next.

But those are the moments when I have learned that faith isn't about having all the answers.

Faith is trusting the One who does.

When I look at these three areas, I see a beautiful picture:

The blood of Jesus reminds me of what He has done.
The name of Jesus reminds me of who He is.
The Word of God reminds me of what He has said.

And those are three things I never want to forget.

My faith isn't in my circumstances.
My faith isn't in my own strength.
My faith isn't in what I can see.

My faith is in Jesus—His blood, His name, and His Word.

And when I find myself struggling to trust, perhaps the question I need to ask isn't, “Do I have enough faith?”

Maybe the better question is:

“Where have I placed my faith?”

Because when our faith is placed in the right One, we can face whatever comes knowing that God is faithful.  Always. ❤️

---

Taking Every Thought Captive

Taking Every Thought Captive

Paul wrote these words as he was defending his ministry and his authority as an apostle.

In this verse, Paul tells us two ways he wages war on behalf of the gospel. First, he demolishes arguments and pretensions that set themselves up against “the knowledge of God.” Second, he takes every thought captive and makes it obedient to Christ.

Demolishing arguments and pretensions seems easy enough, doesn’t it? After all, who doesn’t like to battle over what they believe to be true? Almost no one backs down when they wholeheartedly believe in something strongly enough.

The last part is more tricky, though, isn’t it?

That’s the part that is much harder to do.

Taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Doing that means we have to think and live the way Christ would have us think and live. I don’t know about you, but I mess up on this a lot.

My thoughts are all over the place on any given day. Reeling them in and bringing them into obedience to Christ is not a natural thing for me to do—and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

I’m always thinking about what has been, what I’m dealing with currently, and what’s to come in the future.

None of us can see the future. We can look back at the past and know what we do and don’t want in our lives. We can look at what is happening right now and think about ways to make things better, hoping and praying for a better outcome when all is said and done.

But what if we thought about all of it through the lens of taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ?

That is something I sometimes struggle with—especially when I want to control the outcome myself.

I'm sure you understand that because you may struggle with the same thing.

I can pray about something and then, not long afterward, find myself trying to figure out how I can fix it. I can give something to God and then start taking it back with my thoughts, my worries, my plans, and my attempts to control the outcome.

Maybe that's exactly where taking our thoughts captive becomes so important.

We have to recognize the thought, hold it up against what we know about God, and then decide whether we are going to let that thought control us—or surrender it to Him.

No one ever said living our lives in obedience to Christ would be easy. It most certainly isn't.

My flesh is always fighting with my spirit in a tug-of-war, with one wanting to win out over the other. I'm thankful that, more often than not, I give way to my spirit. But sometimes it takes me realizing that I've allowed my flesh to get in the way before I finally surrender that thought, that worry, that fear, or that desire for control back to God.

And I'm just glad that Christ wins out in the end.

Maybe that's what I need to remind myself of more often:

I don't have to win every battle in my mind. I just have to surrender every thought to the One who has already won the greatest battle.

Walking with Him is what truly matters.

Giving my thoughts to Him makes all the difference—not only for me, but for my family and the way I live my life.

Will things always go the way I think they should? No. We are living in a fallen world, and difficult things will happen. Disappointments will come. Plans will change. Some things will hurt.

But I know Who is with me.

I know Who holds my past, my present, and my future.

I know Who sees what I cannot see.

And I know that when I surrender my thoughts to Him, I don't have to carry the weight of figuring everything out on my own.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

That's more than just a verse to read.

It's a way to live.

And for me, it's a daily reminder that when my mind starts running ahead, behind, or in a hundred different directions, I can stop, take that thought captive, and bring it back to Christ.

Because my thoughts may not always be under control—but they can always be surrendered to the One who is.

Esteeming Others

(image is from Dollywood's social media page)

Esteeming Others

God has brought this verse to my attention several times this year and it has been making me stop and think about my own heart.

I think most of us would say we don't want to be selfish or prideful. I certainly don't. But if I'm being honest, I can still find myself making life about me without even realizing it.

How am I being treated?
Do they appreciate me?
Do they understand me?
What about what I need?
What about what I want?

And sometimes those questions aren't wrong. We all have needs, boundaries, and things that matter. But this verse reminds me that following Christ means I can't make myself the center of everything.

Paul tells us, “Let each esteem others better than himself.”

That doesn't mean I have to believe that I'm less valuable than everyone else. It doesn't mean I have to ignore my own needs or allow people to mistreat me. I don't believe God calls us to live that way.

To me, it means choosing to look beyond myself.

Choosing to notice someone else's needs.

Choosing to listen instead of always needing to be heard.

Choosing to celebrate someone else's accomplishments without feeling like they take anything away from my own.

Choosing to serve when I could be served.

Choosing to love when it would be easier to walk away.

And maybe most importantly, choosing to remember that my worth doesn't depend on being better than someone else.

I don't have to compete for my value.

I don't have to prove that I'm important.

I don't have to be the smartest person in the room, have the last word, or receive recognition for everything I do.

Because my identity is found in Christ.

And when I truly understand that, it becomes easier to lift someone else up.

Looking to Jesus

What makes this verse even more powerful to me is what Paul says next.

He doesn't simply tell us to be humble. He points us to Jesus.

Philippians 2:5 says:

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus had every reason to be exalted, yet He willingly humbled Himself and became a servant.

The King became a servant.

The One who deserved glory chose sacrifice.

And He did it for us.

That puts my own little moments of pride into perspective.

If Jesus could humble Himself for the sake of others, how can I refuse to humble myself when God gives me the opportunity to love, serve, encourage, or put someone else first?

I know I won't get this right every time. I am still learning. God is still working on my heart, and I am grateful that He doesn't expect me to arrive at perfection before He can use me.

Sometimes humility looks like saying, “I was wrong.”

Sometimes it looks like letting something go.

Sometimes it means celebrating someone else's victory.

Sometimes it means listening instead of defending myself.

Sometimes it means putting someone else's needs ahead of my own.

And sometimes it simply means asking God to help me see people the way He sees them.

A Different Way to Live

The world often teaches us to look out for number one.

Build yourself up.

Make sure you're recognized.

Get ahead.

Protect your position.

Make sure everyone knows what you've accomplished.

But Jesus shows us another way.

Serve.
Love.
Give.
Encourage.
Forgive.
Lift others up.
Put others first.

That doesn't make us weak.

It makes us more like Him.

And I think that's what Philippians 2:3 is really asking of me—not to think less of myself, but to stop making myself the center of the story.

Because when my eyes are fixed on Jesus, I have less need to prove myself.

I can celebrate someone else's blessings.

I can cheer someone else on.

I can extend grace.

I can serve without needing recognition.

I can love without keeping score.

And I can remember that there is plenty of room in God's kingdom for someone else to shine without making my own light any dimmer.

Lord, give me the heart of Jesus.

Help me lay down selfish ambition and pride. Help me see others through Your eyes. Help me to listen more, serve more, encourage more, and love more.

And when I'm tempted to make everything about me, remind me that it was never about me in the first place.

It has always been about You.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

That is the heart I want.

Not a heart that asks, “What can I get?”

But a heart that asks,

“How can I love?”

“How can I serve?”

“How can I bless someone today?”

Because that is the kind of heart that looks a little more like Jesus.

Let There Be Light

Let There Be Light

Before God spoke, the earth was described as formless and empty, with darkness covering the deep. There was no order, no beauty, and no life as we know it.

And then God spoke:

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

This is the first recorded command of God in Scripture. God didn't need materials to create it. He didn't need to struggle against another power. He simply spoke, and creation responded.

There is something especially significant about the fact that God created light before the sun, moon, and stars. Those heavenly bodies aren't introduced until the fourth day (Genesis 1:14–19). The light in these first verses, therefore, isn't simply a description of sunlight. It demonstrates God's authority over creation.

Light existed because God commanded it to exist.

Then Genesis 1:4 says:

“God saw that the light was good.”

God distinguished the light from the darkness, establishing the pattern of light and darkness, day and night. Throughout Genesis 1, we repeatedly see God bringing order out of what was previously without form and filling what was empty.

And there is a beautiful theme here.

The Bible begins with darkness.

And God's first recorded creative word is:

“Let there be light.”

That theme of light continues throughout Scripture.

Light becomes associated with God's presence, truth, righteousness, revelation, and salvation. Later, Jesus declares:

“I am the light of the world.” — John 8:12

John's Gospel intentionally echoes Genesis when it begins:

“In the beginning was the Word...” — John 1:1

John goes on to tell us that life was in Him, and that life was the light of all mankind, and that the light shines in the darkness (John 1:4–5).

So Genesis begins with God bringing physical light into a dark creation, while the larger story of Scripture ultimately points us toward Christ bringing spiritual light into a dark world.

And this is where these verses become personal for me.

I've had seasons in my own life when things didn't look anything like I thought they would. Times when I didn't understand what God was doing. Times when I couldn't see what was ahead or how He could possibly bring something good out of circumstances that felt anything but good.

But looking back, I can see something I couldn't always see in the moment:

God was there.

He was working even when I couldn't see Him working.

He was bringing order where I couldn't see any order.

He was making something beautiful out of things I might have considered broken, empty, or even the result of my own poor choices.

I've learned that God doesn't need everything to already be in order before He begins His work.

Look at Genesis.

It was formless.

It was empty.

It was dark.

And God spoke.

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

That doesn't mean every dark season in our lives disappears immediately when we pray. Scripture certainly doesn't promise that. There will be seasons when we don't understand, when we have to wait, when we hurt, and when we simply have to trust God in the middle of the darkness.

I've had to learn that too.

But these verses remind me of who God is in the darkness.

He is the God who creates where there seems to be nothing.

He brings order where there is chaos.

He brings beauty where there is emptiness.

And He brings light where there is darkness.

Sometimes we want God to show us the whole picture before we can trust Him. We want to know what He's doing, where He's leading, and how everything is going to work out.

But Genesis 1 reminds me that God doesn't need me to understand what He's doing.

He simply needs me to trust who He is.

Because He is still the God who speaks into darkness.

And when God speaks, darkness doesn't get to argue with Him.

“Let there be light.”

And there was light.

That is the God I know.

And that is the God I trust.

Darkness may be present, but darkness does not have the final word when God is present.

Genesis 1:3–4 isn't merely telling us that God created light. It introduces us to a God who speaks into darkness and brings forth something good.

And if He can do that with creation, I believe He can do it in us, too.

Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes

(I had AI make this for me. It's amazing at how well it can follow instructions.)

Do Not Be Wise in Your Own Eyes

I love reading Proverbs. It's one of my favorite books of the Bible to read.

I heard it said many times when I was younger that if you can't read the entire Bible in a year, then be sure to read the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. I've done my best to do that over the years, although I haven't always succeeded.

But there is something about Proverbs that keeps drawing me back. There is so much wisdom packed into those chapters, and so many of the verses are practical reminders of how we're supposed to live.

This verse is a great reminder:

"Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and Shun Evil."
Proverbs 3:7

When I read, "Do not be wise in your own eyes," I basically take it to mean don't think your wisdom is better than the Lord's.

And boy, can we get ourselves into trouble when we do that!

It's easy to think we know what is best. We look at a situation, make our plans, follow our feelings or desires, and convince ourselves that we've got it all figured out. But the Lord sees what we can't see. He knows what we don't know. His understanding is far greater than ours.

Being wise in our own eyes is really a matter of pride. It's saying, in one way or another, "I know better."

And I've certainly had my moments of doing that.

Then the verse goes on to say, "Fear the Lord and Shun Evil."

I don't take "fear the Lord" to mean that I need to be shaking in my boots because of what the Lord will do to me.

Fear can take on so many meanings, but when I see "Fear the Lord," my mind goes to reverence, honor and awe.

I need to hold the Lord in the highest regard. I need to recognize who He is and who I am in comparison to Him. I need to give Him my utmost attention because of all that He has done for me. And I need to give Him the praise, honor and respect that He deserves.

In other words, I need to trust His wisdom more than my own.

And then there is that last part: "Shun Evil."

I take that to mean that anything that isn't honoring to the Lord shouldn't have a place in my life. I shouldn't flirt with it, entertain it or make room for it.

I should shun it.

It needs to stay behind me. It needs to have no place in my heart, my mind or my life.

Man, have I had ample opportunity for evil to really take up residence in my life by trying to be wise in my own eyes.

I remember a time when I lived like a hellion even though I knew better. I wanted my way, and there was nothing anyone—not even the Lord—could say or do that was gonna stop me.

I thought I knew what I was doing.

I thought I knew what I wanted.

I thought doing things my way was going to make me happy.

But ya know what?

That only works for a short while.

Eventually, living that way begins to eat you up inside because deep down you know better. You know when you're going against what the Lord has shown you. And no matter how much we try to convince ourselves otherwise, doing things our own way doesn't bring the true peace and fulfillment we're looking for.

I've learned that God's way really is better than my way.

That doesn't mean following Him makes life perfect or that I'll never struggle. It means that I've learned I don't have to figure everything out on my own. I can trust the One who sees the whole picture when I can only see a tiny piece of it.

And maybe that's part of what this verse is reminding me of.

Don't be so wise in your own eyes that you forget who God is.

Don't let pride convince you that your way is better.

Don't let the things of this world take up residence in your heart.

Instead, humble yourself before the Lord. Reverence Him. Trust His wisdom. Follow His ways. And when something isn't pleasing to Him, shun it.

So what this verse teaches me is this:

Don't live for yourself.

Give the Lord the respect, honor and reverence that He deserves.

Trust His wisdom over your own.

And don't allow evil to have any place in your heart or life.

Because I've learned the hard way that being wise in my own eyes can lead me down a path I never intended to go.

But when I humble myself, trust the Lord and follow His ways, I know I'm walking in the direction He wants me to go.

And that's a much better place to be.

May the Words of My Mouth

There are some Bible verses that seem to find us at just the right time.

Psalm 19:14 is one of those verses for me.

I love how this verse is both simple and deep. It is a prayer—but it's also a reminder of the kind of woman I want to be.

A Little Background

Psalm 19 was written by David, and I love the way this psalm unfolds.

In the beginning, David looks at God's creation and recognizes that the heavens declare God's glory. Then he turns his attention to God's Word, describing it as perfect, trustworthy, right, pure and more valuable than gold.

And then, toward the end of the psalm, David turns the focus toward himself.

After looking at who God is and reflecting on God's Word, David essentially says, Now, Lord, look at me.

That's where we find Psalm 19:14.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

I think there is something very intentional about David mentioning both his mouth and his heart.

The Words of My Mouth

Lord, let my words please You.

That's a pretty big prayer when you really stop and think about it.

It's easy to think about our words when we're sitting in church or talking about the Lord. But what about our words when we're frustrated? When we're tired? When someone has hurt us? When we're irritated or disappointed?

Those moments can reveal what's really going on inside us.

I've certainly had moments in my life when I've said something and later wished I could take it back. And as I've gotten older, I've become more aware of just how powerful our words can be.

Words can encourage someone.

They can make someone laugh.

They can bring comfort when someone is hurting.

But words can also wound.

Sometimes we don't even realize how deeply something we've said has affected someone else.

That's why I love that David doesn't simply say, "May the words of my mouth be good."

He says, "May they be pleasing in your sight."

It's not ultimately about whether everyone else approves of what I say.

It's about whether God is pleased with what comes out of my mouth.

And Then There Is My Heart...

This is the part that really makes me stop.

“...and the meditation of my heart...”

What we meditate on is what we think about, dwell on, ponder and allow to occupy our minds.

And God sees those things too.

Other people hear my words, but God sees my heart.

He knows the thoughts I don't say out loud.

He knows the things I worry about.

He knows the things that hurt me.

He knows the things I struggle to let go of.

He knows the thoughts that can creep into my mind when I'm frustrated, disappointed or discouraged.

And that makes this verse much more personal to me.

Because I can sometimes control what comes out of my mouth while still having thoughts in my heart that aren't pleasing to God.

I can say the right thing while thinking something completely different.

God wants more than just the right words. He wants our hearts.

As I've Gotten Older...

I think about this verse differently now than I might have years ago.

Life has a way of teaching us things.

I've experienced joy and disappointment, answered prayers and prayers that seemed to go unanswered. I've experienced loss, changes, relationships, family situations and all the things that come with simply living life.

And through it all, I've learned that I don't want to just look like a Christian.

I want my life to actually reflect Christ.

That means I want my words to reflect Him.

But I also want my thoughts, attitudes, motives and the things nobody else sees to reflect Him too.

That's harder.

Because it's easy to clean up the outside.

It's harder to let God work on the inside.

And honestly, that's where I still need Him every single day.

"My Rock and My Redeemer"

I also love how David ends this verse.

He calls God “my Rock and my Redeemer.”

My Rock.

The One who is steady when life isn't.

The One I can lean on when I don't have all the answers.

The One who doesn't change when everything around me does.

And my Redeemer.

The One who doesn't expect me to have everything figured out or to be perfect.

The One who can take my mistakes, my failures, my weaknesses and my messes and redeem them.

That gives me hope.

Because Psalm 19:14 isn't a prayer that says, "Lord, look at how well I'm doing."

It's really more like:

"Lord, I need You to help me."

Help me with my words.

Help me with my thoughts.

Help me with my attitudes.

Help me with the things in my heart that nobody else sees.

Help me become more like You.

A Prayer I Want to Pray Every Day

The older I get, the more I realize that I want to be intentional about what I allow into my heart and what I allow to come out of my mouth.

I don't always get it right.

But I want to keep growing.

I want to be the kind of person whose words encourage more than they hurt.

Whose thoughts are focused more on God's goodness than on life's disappointments.

Whose heart is quick to forgive.

Whose attitude reflects gratitude.

Whose life points people toward Jesus.

So this verse has become more than just a beautiful Scripture to me.

It's a prayer.

Lord, may the words of my mouth be pleasing to You.

May the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You.

When I'm happy, may my words honor You.

When I'm frustrated, may my words honor You.

When I'm hurt, may my words honor You.

When I'm alone with my thoughts, may my heart honor You.

And when I fail—and I will—may I turn back to You, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Because at the end of the day, that's really what I want.

Not just to say the right things, but to have a heart that is right with Him.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
— Psalm 19:14 NIV

That's my prayer today. And honestly, I think it's a pretty good prayer for every day. 

Great Is Your Faithfulness

Great Is Your Faithfulness

This was written during one of the bleakest times in Judah’s history.

The Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem and exiled the Jews.

God’s temple was torn down, and the temple articles were stolen.

The writer of Lamentations records this tragedy and its aftermath with gut-wrenching detail—you’ll have to read it for yourself.

But in the middle of this book come these verses of remarkable assurance:

God’s love and mercy never fail.
God’s faithfulness is great.

So that tells me this: God’s love and mercy won’t fail. God will remain faithful even through—and beyond—disaster.

When life seems chaotic and unpredictable, we need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness.

Storms can come and tragedy can strike, but God will always be faithful. His faithfulness doesn’t mean He will remove us, His children, from the storms. But it does mean that whatever storm we find ourselves in, He will be there with us.

We have been promised that Christ will always be with those who follow Him (Matthew 28:20). That includes even the darkest seasons of our lives.

I know this to be true because Christ was with me, helping me through the darkest season of my life in my mid-twenties.

He opened so many doors for me so that I could get the healing I needed in order to really live—and live my life for Him.

I had some of the greatest friends during that time in my life. Friends who helped me walk through open doors that led me to the ultimate place where I would receive deep healing for all the hurts and pains I had experienced in my young life.

God made a way in my life where, at the time, there seemed to be no way.

The right help at the right time can make all the difference in a life.

I had been living such a lie up to that point in my life.

I had been raised in church because of a wonderful old lady in my neighborhood who took us kids to church.

What I experienced at home was the very opposite of all I had learned in church.

My life was torn apart and confused.

But God!

Because of His great love for me, I didn’t have to be consumed by all that I was struggling with in my life at that time.

His compassion and faithfulness toward me was everything.

I received the healing I needed in such unexpected ways because of the people God brought into my life during that season. And through those people and those circumstances, I experienced God in such a real, tangible way for the first time in my life.

I had a lot of knowledge about God. I had even said the salvation prayer during VBS when I was 12 years old, and I meant it.

But it didn’t become real for me until those years in my mid-twenties.

Looking back now, I can see that God was always there.

He was always working in my life.

I had no clue at the time, but looking back, I can see it.

I can see it in ways that really aren’t explainable with words. I can feel it in the depths of my soul with a sweetness that can’t fully be described.

And that’s what I love about these verses in Lamentations.

They were written in the middle of devastation. Not after everything had been fixed. Not after the storm had passed. In the middle of it.

Yet even there, the writer could declare:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” ~Lamentations 3:22–23 (NIV)

What a reminder for us today.

Our circumstances may change. People may change. Life can change in ways we never saw coming. We may walk through seasons that leave us wondering how we will ever find our way through.

But God doesn’t change.

His love doesn’t fail.

His compassion doesn’t run out.

His faithfulness doesn’t depend on our circumstances.

And every morning, His mercies are new.

I can look back over my own life and see His fingerprints everywhere—especially in the places where, at the time, I couldn’t see Him at all.

What looked like closed doors were sometimes protection. What looked like impossible circumstances became the very places where God made a way. And the people He placed in my life at just the right time became part of the healing He was bringing into my life.

I didn’t understand it then.

But I see it now.

God was faithful then.

God is faithful now.

And I know He will be faithful tomorrow.

Great is Your faithfulness, Lord.

The Mind Governed by the Spirit

(taken from the Bible App)

The Mind Governed by the Spirit

This verse has no hidden meaning.

The lifestyle of the flesh flows from a mind that is focused on the flesh, and the lifestyle of the Spirit flows from a mind that is focused on the Spirit.

It's really that simple.

The “flesh” and “Spirit” language isn't talking about our physical bodies. It's describing what is directing our thoughts, our desires, our decisions and ultimately our lives.

What is governing your mind?

Are you allowing your flesh to call the shots, or are you allowing the Spirit of God to lead you?

God gives us free will to choose. We get to decide which direction we are going to go.

The way of the flesh or the way of the Spirit.

Those are two totally opposite directions.

Let's be honest. The way of the flesh can be very appealing.

Our flesh wants what it wants.

It wants comfort. It wants pleasure. It wants recognition. It wants revenge when we've been hurt. It wants to be right. It wants to do what feels good instead of what is right. It wants things on our timetable.

And sometimes we convince ourselves that if we can just get what we want, we'll finally be happy.

But here's the problem:

Getting what we want doesn't always give us what we need.

Something can make us happy for a moment and still leave us empty afterward.

We can buy something we've wanted for a long time and be excited about it—until the excitement wears off.

We can get the job we wanted, the recognition we wanted, the relationship we wanted, the success we wanted, and still discover that something is missing.

We can spend our lives chasing one thing after another, always thinking the next thing will finally make us content.

That's because happiness and peace aren't necessarily the same thing.

Happiness can be based on circumstances.

Peace can exist in the middle of circumstances.

And that's what catches my attention about Romans 8:6.

Paul doesn't say the mind governed by the Spirit is temporary happiness.

He says it is life and peace.

I've learned that there is a huge difference between being happy because I got what I wanted and having peace because I know I'm where God wants me to be.

Choosing a life led by the Spirit is the best decision I've ever made.

That doesn't mean I don't make mistakes.

I do.

It doesn't mean I don't take detours.

I do that, too.

It doesn't mean I always get it right.

Far from it.

I'm human.

There are times when my flesh wants to grab the steering wheel and take control. There are times when I want to do things my way because, in that moment, I think my way makes more sense.

And sometimes I have to remind myself:

Lisa, you don't have to understand everything to trust God.

That's where being Spirit-led comes in.

Following the Spirit doesn't mean that life will always be easy. It doesn't mean we won't experience disappointment, loss, heartache, uncertainty or things we don't understand.

It means we don't have to walk through those things alone.

It means we have a God who is with us.

A God who guides us.

A God who corrects us when we get off course.

A God who can take our mistakes and our detours and still lead us toward the destination He has for us.

A detour doesn't mean the journey is over.

Sometimes we simply have to turn around and get back on the right road.

And I'm thankful that God doesn't abandon us every time we make a wrong turn.

Think about a GPS.

You can completely miss your exit, make a wrong turn and get yourself headed in the wrong direction.

What does the GPS do?

It recalculates.

It doesn't say, “Well, you messed up, so I guess you're on your own now.”

It finds another way to get you where you're going.

I think sometimes we look at our mistakes that way.

We think we've messed up too badly. We've gone too far. We've made too many wrong choices.

But God is still there.

He can redirect us.

He can restore us.

He can lead us back.

That's one of the reasons I want my mind governed by His Spirit.

I don't trust myself enough to believe that every desire I have is a good one or that every direction I want to take is the right one.

I need God.

I need His wisdom.

I need His guidance.

I need His correction.

I need His peace.

And I would much rather have God directing my life than spend my life being directed by whatever my flesh happens to want at the moment.

Now, I know there are people who don't believe in God.

You might read this and think I'm wasting my life.

You might think believing in God, following Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct my life is foolish.

That's okay.

I'm not writing this to force anyone to believe what I believe.

I'm simply telling you why I've made the choice I've made.

If I live my life for God, experience His peace, have purpose, love people, serve others, and find fulfillment in Him—and when this life is over there is no God—what have I really lost?

But if I live my entire life without God, following only what my flesh wants, and there is a God, then I've risked everything.

I'd rather risk it for the biscuit, as the saying goes.

I'd rather live my life for God.

I'd rather follow the leading of His Spirit.

I'd rather put my faith in Jesus.

I'd rather spend my life pursuing the things that have eternal value than spend my life chasing temporary pleasures that will eventually disappear.

And yes, some people might call that fire-and-brimstone preaching.

Maybe it is.

But what I know is what the Bible tells me.

According to Scripture, eternity is real. There is life with God, and there is separation from God. And that's not something I'm willing to gamble with.

I don't want to live my life asking, “How much can I get away with?”

I want to live asking, “God, what do You want me to do?”

Those are two completely different ways of approaching life.

One puts me at the center.

The other puts God at the center.

One says, “My will be done.”

The other says, “Your will be done.”

And honestly, I know which one gives me more peace.

There are still days when I struggle.

There are still days when I worry.

There are still days when I question.

There are still days when I get impatient and want answers right now.

But even in those moments, I know where I want to turn.

I want to turn toward God, not away from Him.

Because Romans 8:6 gives us a choice that really isn't complicated.

The mind governed by the flesh is death.

The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

There are two roads.

One is governed by what I want.

The other is governed by the Spirit of God.

I won't always walk the right road perfectly. I may stumble. I may take a detour. I may even find myself trying to grab the steering wheel and take control again.

But I know where I want my life headed.

I want the Holy Spirit leading me.

I want God directing my steps.

I want the peace that comes from knowing I'm walking with Him.

And when I have to choose between getting what my flesh wants and following where God is leading...

I'll choose life and peace.

Every time.

Just saying.

Don't Let Yesterday's Empty Nets Determine Tomorrow's Decisions

(from Rick Renner on Facebook)

Don't Let Yesterday's Empty Nets Determine Tomorrow's Decisions

This is the quote that Rick Renner put with this picture on Facebook:

“In Luke 5, after Jesus finished teaching, He looked at Simon and gave what must have seemed like a very unusual instruction: ‘Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught’ (Luke 5:4).

Peter was a professional fisherman. He knew these waters. He had spent the entire night fishing and had caught absolutely nothing. The nets had already been washed. The work was finished. Everything had been cleaned and put away.

Yet Jesus asked Peter to undo all of it.

I can almost hear Peter explaining why it wouldn't work. ‘Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing’ (Luke 5:5).

But then Peter said something that changed his life forever: ‘Nevertheless at Thy word...’ (Luke 5:5).

Peter chose to trust the Word of Jesus more than his own experience.

How often are we tempted to do just the opposite? We allow yesterday's disappointments to determine today's decisions.

My friend, never let a season of empty nets keep you from obeying the voice of Jesus. One word from Him can accomplish what an entire night of human effort never could.”

— Rick Renner

I love following Rick Renner's ministry. He's an amazing author, and I love how on point his teachings from the Bible are. Some might disagree with me on that, and that's okay. I've been studying God's Word since I was in my twenties, and the more I study and learn, the more I appreciate what Rick shares when he teaches from Scripture.

But it's the way he ended this particular thought that really grabbed me.

“Never let a season of empty nets keep you from obeying the voice of Jesus.”

Wow.

Just how often are we tempted to do the opposite?

How often do we allow yesterday's disappointments to determine today's decisions?

How many times do we think, “Well, that didn't work before, so why would I try again?”

We've all been there.

Peter certainly had reason to be discouraged. He wasn't some inexperienced fisherman who didn't know what he was doing. He was a professional. He had worked all night. He had done what he knew to do, and at the end of it all, his nets were empty.

And then Jesus told him to go back out.

I wonder how many times Peter's experience was telling him one thing while Jesus was telling him another.

His experience said, “We've already tried this.”

Jesus said, “Go back out.”

His experience said, “There's nothing out there.”

Jesus said, “Let down your nets.”

His experience said, “We've worked all night and caught nothing.”

Peter's response was, “Nevertheless at Thy word...”

That's the part that gets me.

Nevertheless.

Nevertheless means even though.

Even though I don't understand.

Even though I've tried before.

Even though I've been disappointed.

Even though the circumstances don't look promising.

Even though my experience tells me otherwise.

Nevertheless... at His word.

That's faith.

And I'll be honest—this is something we've had to remind ourselves of more than once.

For us and for our son, we've definitely been tempted to allow yesterday's disappointments to determine today's decisions.

But God.

Those two words can change everything.

We've had moments where circumstances have made us question what comes next. We've had disappointments. We've had things not go the way we hoped they would. We've watched doors close that we thought were going to stay open.

And sometimes the easiest thing to do is to let those experiences become the lens through which we look at the future.

“We tried that.”

“That didn't work.”

“We've been down that road before.”

“Maybe we shouldn't expect anything different this time.”

But God keeps reminding us that our past experiences are not His limitations.

What happened yesterday does not mean I know what God is going to do tomorrow.

And an empty net doesn't mean Jesus is finished.

Sometimes God asks us to go back out into the deep when everything inside of us is saying, “Why?”

Sometimes He asks us to try again.

Sometimes He asks us to wait.

Sometimes He changes the direction completely.

And sometimes He simply asks us to trust Him when we can't see what He's doing.

That's where we are learning to say:

“Nevertheless, at Your word.”

We know God has got Tim, Scot and me. Ultimately, He is in control.

Not us.

Not our circumstances.

Not our disappointments.

Not our plans.

Not even the things we think we understand.

God.

And if He tells us to launch out into the deep, then that's where we're going.

Even if we've been there before.

Even if we've come back with empty nets before.

Even if we're tired.

Even if we're afraid of being disappointed again.

Because the truth is, we don't need to understand the instruction to obey the One who gave it.

Peter didn't know what was waiting beneath the surface when Jesus told him to let down his nets.

He simply had to trust the One who knew.

And that's something I'm learning more and more as I get older:

Faith isn't trusting God only when the outcome makes sense to me. Faith is trusting Him when it doesn't.

I don't know what tomorrow holds for our family.

I don't know what God is going to do with every situation we're facing.

But I do know this:

He is faithful.

So I'm not going to let yesterday's empty nets convince me that there won't be a catch tomorrow.

I'm not going to let disappointment make my decisions for me.

I'm not going to let fear of what happened before keep me from what God may be asking me to do now.

Instead, I'm going to keep listening.

Keep trusting.

Keep believing.

Keep going into the deep when He says to go.

And when I don't understand?

Nevertheless, at His word.

Because one word from God can change everything❤️.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. — Isaiah 55:8