Where to Find Strength

I’m still working my way through reading the Old Testament for this year. Right now I’m in the middle of King David’s life. He’s one person in a long list of warriors, judges, and leaders, men and women, that I’ve read about so far. God fights for his people time and again and reminds them that He’s the Almighty Lord who goes before them and enables them. This quote from Paul David Tripp sums up so much of how we see how God works in people in the Old Testament. When God chooses someone to lead or fight, the person succeeds in God’s strength. Why would we think that we could live any other way? Our strength has limits and flaws. God’s perfect strength is limitless! Rest in Him and seek Him and spend time with Him to find the strength you need for today. 

The quote from Paul David Tripp is from his book Sex in a Broken World.

Video: Trying Wood Burning

 

I picked up a new hobby— wood burning! I’ve had a wood burning kit sitting in a drawer for over a decade (yes, ridiculous, I know

), so I finally opened the box and gave it a try!

This kit is incredibly affordable if you want to give wood burning a try!

If you’re a wood burning pro, let me know in the comments what kit you have/recommend, and give me some tips! I’d also love to see some of your creations!

The Wilderness Is a Gracious Training Ground

 

Remember a couple weeks ago when the Israelites were grumbling about food in the wilderness? God delivered them from slavery in Egypt and performed the grand miracle of parting the Red Sea. He led them into the wilderness for them to journey to the Promised Land. They were led by particular route for specific reasons, but the route wasn’t easy. When it came time to scout out the Promised Land, Moses sent twelves spies to explore Canaan (Numbers 13). The land that God promised to give them was fruitful, but all but two of the spies let fear overtake God’s promises. God forgave the people after Moses pleaded for mercy on their behalf, but they would now wander in the wilderness for 40 years. Anyone 20-years-old or older would not see the Promised Land, apart from Joshua and Caleb, the two spies who trusted God’s plan.

Now, jump with me to the book of Deuteronomy.  Moses is addressing the Israelites and reminding them of what God has done for them and how He will bless them when they’re obedient.  Moses says, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” (8:2).

There was eventually a time when God took Israel out of the wilderness and led them into the Promised Land, but let’s pause and think more on the times we have in the wilderness.

Israel was initially in the wilderness because they were on a journey. God led them on a path that protected them from battles against other nations that they weren’t ready to fight and to teach them lessons they needed to learn before reaching their destination.

Israel stayed in the wilderness longer because of their sin. Their fear of man, mistrust of God, pride, rebellion, and so on, kept them from claiming what God was going to give them much sooner.

God may lead us into a time of wilderness to protect us and to prepare us for what’s next. He may keep us in the wilderness due to our own sin. Either way, God has a purpose for the desert. He grows us in the wilderness. He humbles us and tests us in the wilderness.

Israel wasn’t spiritually ready to move into the Promised Land. Before they could enter into the Promised Land where they would need to fight other nations, they needed to learn to trust God. They needed to learn to worship him alone. They left pagan-worshipping Egypt and were going to enter a land filled with more pagan-worshipping cultures. The wilderness was meant to prepare their hands for physical battle and their hearts for spiritual battle.

When we’re in the wilderness, we need to look for the lessons God is teaching us and prepare ourselves for what He has next. The wilderness is not easy, but it’s a gracious training ground.

Social Media Prayer

 

I had to type this prayer out for myself in early summer 2020. Social media was overrun with people disagreeing and arguing, and doing so with words that spewed hate. It was a divisive year of differing views on politics, social matters, medical opinions, and so much more. There were times I’d type out a response to a post and then hit the backspace button, close the app, and set down my phone. I had to keep a check on my heart, and that meant keeping a check on my mouth (or hands that typed what my mouth wanted to say). I don’t always get it right, online or in person. I actually get it wrong more than I want to admit. I’ve said a lot of wrong things, or things that were said in a wrong tone with a wrong heart. What I speak and type has to be checked every time I get ready to open my mouth or hit reply to a post. I have to ask myself— are the words coming from God that I’m to boldly speak, or are they my own words coming from a prideful heart?

This week I read this psalm from David, and it convicted me and reminded me of the prayer I typed in my notes app almost a year ago.

Psalm 141:3-5

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

There’s a lot to unpack in this psalm, but here’s one small aspect of it: David prays for his mouth not to lead him into sin. What comes from the mouth comes from the heart. He doesn’t want to be drawn to what’s evil and participate with those who are doing wrong. He asks for someone to correct him if he is wrong. Gulp— that’s hard to ask for and to accept. David acknowledges that to be lovingly corrected is an act of kindness. Let’s focus today on praying like David, asking to have our mouths and hearts guarded and to be open to godly correction.