Week Six: Strengthen Those Arms

No one enjoys the discipline of a parent.  We all have been there..."I do this because I love you".  "Yeah right!" we think in our minds after we have either been physically disciplined by an adult in authority or been placed on some type of "restriction".  We just did not like it...I don't care what type of household we grew up in...discipline just "ain't" fun!  Well, today I challenge us to say "Thank God for the discipline!"

WEEK SIX:  Strengthen Those Arms 

Scripture:  Hebrews 12:11-13

Objective:  To prepare us for the correction of the Lord, remembering that His discipline only makes us stronger

The closer we get to Resurrection Sunday we will find ourselves a bit closer to God.  Well, we should!  During these last five weeks, I believe that each of us have the testimony that God has been showing us who we really are and what is not so pleasing to Him.  Perhaps we have made the right decisions, but do you have the testimony that it feels like you have been tested all the more during this Lenten season?  If you answered yes, then I believe this week's devotion is for you.

Hebrews 12:11-13 urges us:

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.  Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.  "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

This week's scripture affirms the reality of our childhood revelation--discipline does not feel good.  In fact, it is downright painful.  However, the scripture confirms what our parents told us all along--it is for our GOOD!  This week, we must be encouraged when God allows us to be tested and tried in our walk with Him.  He is training us, and the blessing of the training is a harvest of righteousness and peace.  We don't really appreciate this harvest unless we have been without it.  Think about the times when you have had chaos in your life, but God gave you peace in your soul.  This was a result of your accepting God's discipline.

THIS WEEK'S LENTEN CHALLENGE:

Strengthen your arms & knees for the journey!!!  That's right, I said it...don't get mad.  It is what God urges us to do through the Hebrews writer.  When our arms and knees are weak and feeble, we quit before God can get the glory.  We think we have to fight the battles ourselves, so we give up before the fight has really begun.  All we have to do is keep showing up!  As we do so (walking in the will of God), levels the path for our feet and those around us.  I want to know that the journey I have taken has helped to heal, not disable.  Come on...this week, let's strengthen our arms and our knees.  Keep showing up...keep standing...God's GOT YOU!!!!

PRAYER:

Dear Dad, You have been with us on every journey...every win...every loss...and even the challenges that we forfeited.  Today, we ask that You strengthen our arms and knees for the journey You have placed before us.  During these last two weeks of this Lenten season, let us be encouraged in knowing that You are with us and there are others waiting to walk our path.  Help us to keep it level that others may be healed on our journey.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Week Five: Planted, Growing, & Flourishing

I apologize for the delay in this week's devotion, and I pray that week five has been met with joy and encouragement for you!  As we continue in this week of our Lenten observance, stay faithful to God and God's righteousness.  I am a witness that the enemy will come upon you when you are seeking to live for God; however, do not sway.  Remain planted in God's word and God's will...the benefit far outweighs the attack of the enemy.

WEEK FIVE:  Planted, Growing, & Flourishing

Scripture:  Psalm 92:12-15

Objective:  To be encouraged to remain in God's will in order to reap the promise-flourishing!

Oftentimes we are faced with moments in life that will tempt us to step outside of the will of God.  This temptation does not always come as a blatant luring by the enemy.  However, I believe that the devil has learned new tricks.  Sometimes the devil will take the "good" of your life and attempt to use it to tear you down, discourage you, and down right destroy who you are destined to be in God.  Although the enemy may attempt to do this, his attack is not designed to prosper.  God has equipped us to flourish if only we choose to remain righteous.

Psalm 92:12-15 says:

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.  They will bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him."

This week's scripture is one of my favorites.  It reminds us that God has our future in His hands.  Too often we will fear the attack of the enemy because we believe that our future lies in his hands; however, this week remember that God really is in control.  This week remember that God is the one who will cause you to flourish when others speak a "drought" into your life.  This week remember that God will cause growth when others speak "uprooting" into your life.  This week builds on last week...GET PERSUADED to live righteously!  As we live as righteous people of God, the attack will come; however, it won't work!  We will be planted in God's house...we will grow in God's presence...we will flourish in God's vineyard!

THIS WEEK'S LENTEN CHALLENGE:

The Psalmist gives us two images for encouragement:  the palm tree and cedar of Lebanon.  This week's challenge is to accept God's word over our lives.  Palm trees are known for their record growth, and cedars of Lebanon were known to be used in all aspects of ancient civilization.  This week allow God to produce record growth in your spiritual life.  Instead of allowing ill words, hurtful circumstances, and trying moments to discourage you on the journey, I encourage each of to use these moments as water for our growth.  Then remember each day, of this Lenten season and always, that God can and will use you in all aspects of life.  No matter how tough the circumstance may truly be, God will get the glory in your life.  Stay planted, keep growing, and you will flourish!  Sway on palm tree...stand tall cedar!

PRAYER:

Lord, help us to move beyond what we see long enough to see Your hand.  We thank You for protecting and providing in the midst of trial, tribulation, and trauma.  We believe that You are able to get the glory in all situations.  So, please be with us during the challenges of life that tempt us to quit assuring us that You are very present in the reality of our lives.  We thank You for the planting, the growth, and the flourishing!  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Week Four: Persuaded to Keep Moving

After completing three weeks, I believe that each of us have a testimony during this Lenten season.  As I have checked in with some of you individually, I have heard of challenges and triumphs.  In the midst of this season, I encourage us to never give up.  No matter how difficult it gets or fierce the attack seems to be...we must keep believing the promise of God!

Week Four:  Persuaded to Keep Moving

Scripture:  Romans 8:35-39

Objective:  To remind the body of Christ to never give up on what God has promised.

Too often circumstances, people, and life tempt us to think that it is finally time to give up.  Circumstances, people, and life can bring about such tribulation that the best of us will be ready to give up.  Come on...no one is looking but God.  Each of us have encountered a moment or may even be in a season where we are tempted to just "abandon ship".  The mountain seems insurmountable...the valley seems unending...the river seems impossible...All of these factors may be true, but on week four I dare you to make up in your mind that you are not going to give up on God....you are not going to quit...you are going to keep moving!  I AM PERSUADED!!!

Romans 8:35-39 reads:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our key scripture passage reminds us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ.  So, during this Lenten season you may experience tribulation of every kind...distress in every form...persecution on many levels...mental, physical, and even spiritual famine and nakedness...BUT DON'T QUIT!!!  We are more than conquerors through Jesus.  The very thing that appears to be able to take us out is often an opportunity for God to favor us.  

THIS WEEK'S LENTEN CHALLENGE:

This week I challenge each of us to declare right now...wherever you are as you read this...I AM PERSUADED TO KEEP MOVING!  If you were in this alone or only able to depend on another human, then I could definitely understand the challenge of making this declaration.  However, God has challenged me to stare myself in the mirror today and remind my soul that God's love is with me when it seems as though persecution or tribulation has the best of me.  I believe with my whole heart that we experience these moments not to defeat us, but to strengthen our faith.  Can you meet the challenge with me on this week?  Everyday tell yourself "I can't quit now"...nothing that I've seen and nothing that I will see will be able to separate me from the love of God, so I AM PERSUADED TO KEEP MOVING!  Join me.

PRAYER:

All knowing, yet all loving God, we thank You for reminding us this week that You are with us!  Since you are with us, help us to receive this Word that you promised us.  God we know that You cannot fail us, so please help us to be fully persuaded of our victory in spite of the current circumstance.  We thank You for being an ever-present help in the times of trouble.  As we struggle to defeat discouragement, conquer challenges, and beat bitterness, strengthen us with Your Holy Ghost power to make it.  We thank You in advance for the victory.  In Jesus' name, Amen.