God Is In Control

"Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." (Psalm 9:10)

Forsaken! Forgotten! Abandoned! These are the feelings so many of us encounter from time to time, especially during periods of increased pain, bad reports from the doctors, friends who don't understand, and family who seems to suffer from helplessness. These feelings are real, and they seem to overwhelm us like an ocean's waves, rising and receding in some form of unearthly, unmetered tempo.

Dealing with feelings like these is like caging a wild bear. We seem to capture them, get them tamed, and suddenly they rare up and break out of their boundaries to unsuspectingly attack.

There are two keys unlocking the door to security and assurance even during the seasons of attack: Knowing God and Trusting God.

Knowing God is more than merely acknowledging His existence—it's a very personal knowledge and pursuit of an intimate relationship through prayer and time in God's Word. Knowing God is learning His character and understanding who He is and the depth of His love toward us.

Trusting God is more than merely acknowledging that He is in control—nearly everyone will tell you, "God is in control." But, knowing God is in control by laying down our desires and allowing His plan and purpose to be developed and fulfilled in us is the form of trust to which the Psalmist is referring.

When we seek the Lord, we begin to understand the character of God and His unfailing love in a deeper way. When we seek the Lord, we begin to understand that our lives are secure in His most capable hands regardless of how we feel. When we seek the Lord, we learn to rest in the assurance that we will never be forsaken, forgotten, or abandoned.

Most precious Father, help me to remain secure in You even in the midst of times when I feel so insecure. I choose to believe that You will never forsake me…I choose to seek You to know You and trust You at all times. Amen!

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Note:  As a way of acknowledging "National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week," this week's devotions will be of a nature that will encourage anyone who either suffers with or knows someone who suffers with an invisible chronic illness. You are encouraged to forward this week's devotions to anyone you know who might find encouragement as they deal with the pain and emotional burden associated with invisible chronic illness.

Pillar of Fire

"Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." (Exodus 13:22 NIV)

The fall of the year is my favorite season, by far.  I love the cooler temperatures and the smell of fall.  To me, there is nothing quite like it.  It's no wonder a night last fall was so incredible.

Gracie, my cockapoo, had to go outside.  It had been a dreary cloud-covered day with leaves blowing in the wind.  The cornfield across the road was ready for harvest, the beans in the field behind us had been picked and winter wheat sown.  The beauty of this season absolutely astounds me.

I grabbed Gracie's leash and we stepped out onto the front porch.  She began to walk into the yard as I looked up.  I literally gasped!  I mean, I audibly gasped.  The beauty of what I beheld with my own eyes was indescribable.

The sun was low in the western sky and brilliantly peering through small breaks in the cloud cover.  The rays lit the top of the trees bordering the family property like they were on fire—oranges and yellows and reds vibrantly aglow against the darkness of approaching nightfall.

Gracie finished her business and I went back inside and grabbed my camera.  My camera couldn't even hope to capture such an extraordinary scene.  But my heart did as I thought about it throughout the evening.

Darkness was dispelled by the brilliance of the sun's rays reflecting on the treetops.  Just like God does in our lives—He uses the backdrop of darkness to expose the light of His presence.

When our world is darkened by pain and suffering, God never fails to shine His light and reveal His presence.  We simply have to look for it.  His presence never left its place in front of the children of Israel as He led them through the wilderness. In like manner, His presence will never leave its place in front of us as he leads us through the dark and oppressing days of illness.

Father, help me to see Your light shining in my darkness when I am overcome with pain.  Let me see the light of Your presence.  Amen.

© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

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Note:  As a way of acknowledging "National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week," this week's devotions will be of a nature that will encourage anyone who either suffers with or knows someone who suffers with an invisible chronic illness. You are encouraged to forward this week's devotions to anyone you know who might find encouragement as they deal with the pain and emotional burden associated with invisible chronic illness.

God’s Hand Is Upon Us

"...The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him."  (Ezra 8:22b)

Whatever God is, He is abundantly! In other words, God isn't a half-way God. He doesn't ride the fence; He doesn't start something and leave it unfinished. He excels in all He does.

The hand of God is upon us for good. If we stop there, though, we only have a half-truth. The phrase includes "if we seek Him". The Bible tells us that God is good and that it pleases Him to pour His goodness into the lives of His children who depend on Him!

I don't know of anyone who depends on Him more than the chronically ill. My experience has been that those who suffer either fall into one of two categories—trusting God with every bit of strength we have, or denying God and blaming our pain and helplessness on Him.

Nothing can happen to us that the will of God does not allow. The enemy cannot sneak in when God's not looking and strip us of all that belongs to us who are in covenant relationship with God. Remember, we serve an omnipotent God, more powerful than any devil ever thought to be. God can, and does, override the enemy's plans for our destruction time and time again. All He asks is that we seek Him.

Matthew 6:23 says, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." The key is seeking God first, not the things He can give—not even His healing, but God Himself.

Are you seeking Him? Are you depending upon Him? If you can honestly answer "Yes", then know "the hand of God is upon you for good!"

Father, it is comforting to know that nothing can come against me that You are not aware of, that Your hand is upon me as I walk day by day seeking Your face. Help me to keep my eyes on You and not on my circumstances. Help me remember You are for me and not against me. Help me be quick to praise You for all that You have provided for me, even when I hurt, even when pain blocks my view of Your faithfulness. Strengthen me, Lord, to give You the praise You are so deserving of. Amen!

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

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Note:  As a way of acknowledging "National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week," this week's devotions will be of a nature that will encourage anyone who either suffers with or knows someone who suffers with an invisible chronic illness. You are encouraged to forward this week's devotions to anyone you know who might find encouragement as they deal with the pain and emotional burden associated with invisible chronic illness.

September 8: Eternal Glory

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV)

What? "Light and momentary troubles?" The Apostle Paul couldn't have known what it is to live with chronic pain. He couldn't have known what it is to live in today's world. After all, if he really understood he wouldn't have used those words. If it were me, I might have written, "For our unrelenting and debilitating troubles…"

But, let's not focus on those words. Look at the whole verse … these "light and momentary troubles achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." The fact is that whether our troubles are "light and momentary" or "unrelenting and debilitating", they are fulfilling a purpose in our lives—achieving for us an eternal glory.

The Apostle Paul goes on to say, "So we fix our eyes on not what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (v. 18)

That's the key for us on the good days and on the bad, during the "light and momentary troubles" and the "unrelenting and debilitating" troubles. Our eyes MUST be fixed, not on what is seen but what is unseen—not on our troubles but on the "eternal glory" that awaits us.

Admittedly this isn't always easy to do. But let's remember that "what is seen is temporary" and "what is unseen is eternal." Our pains and disabilities are temporary relative to eternity. This life is but a fleeting moment compared to eternity. The "unseen" that awaits us will be worth all the "light and momentary" and "unrelenting and debilitating" troubles we have experienced as well as those yet to come.

Let's fix our eyes, not on our troubles but on the cross of Jesus and His power to redeem us from this life. He purchased our salvation so one day the "unseen" will be our reward.

Father, there are days my troubles seem more than I can bear. Give me the courage to go on with my eyes fixed not on "what is seen, but on what is unseen". In Jesus' name, amen.

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Blogger Award Goes To ....

What a blessing! I'm delighted to accept my very first blog award. Thanks goes to Kathryn at Pure Wells. Kathryn has become such an encourager and blessing to me through her comments on the devotions and other posts on The Plumb Line. The really neat thing is that more than once we will unknowingly be posting the exact same topic as the Spirit leads us both in the same direction. Her insight into scripture and her heart are such a blessing; I know you will be blessed by visiting her site, too! (Be sure you do that!)

The rules say that, as a recipient of this award, I must pass it along to others, so the "I Love Your Blog" aware will now go to:

Mid Stutsman at The Israel Connection

Mid Stutsman at Mid's Point of View

LauraLee Shaw at LauraLee's Lifesong

Joanne Sher at An Open Book

Dee Yoder at My Heart's Dee-Light

Julie Arduini at Surrendered Scribe

Terri Tiffany at Terri's Treasures

For those of you who are recipients of the award, you are encouraged to paste the award on your blog. You'll have to save it to your hard drive (just right click-save) then use it as a picture on your blog. Then, be sure to pass it along to your favorite bloggers! (Better and more official rules can be found at Between Here and Home.)

Thanks again, Kathryn ... you're a blessing!
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© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Before the First Word

How often do we take God for granted? How often do we get frustrated when He doesn't answer our prayers they way we think He should or when we think He should?

We so easily forget what an awesome God we serve. Indeed, where were we when He laid the foundations of the earth? Who can answer life's mysteries? We so easily become self-engrossed that we forget His plans were made before He laid the foundations of the earth or even measured out their span.

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"  (Job 38:4-7)

We were in His mind and a part of His purposes before the first Word of creation was spoken. His ways are higher than ours, His thoughts higher than our thoughts. We only need to trust in His ability to care for us, to lead us, to direct us. He will never, ever let us down if we just TRUST Him in every aspect of our lives. After all, He has known us and the circumstances of our lives throughout eternity.

There are no words to describe Him. The best we can do, the greatest words we can find don't even begin to proclaim His expanse of His excellence. Awesome! Holy! Magnificent! Glorious! Righteous! Mighty! Omnipotent!

Oh Lord, how magnificent is Your name in all the earth! I confess that I lose sight of how magnificent You truly are; I become frustrated, impatient, and selfish, seeking my own will rather than desiring Your will be done not only in my life, but in the earth today. Help me trust You more; teach me to trust in Your ability to care for me, to guide me, and to lead me in Your paths. Help me to wait on You patiently, acknowledging You as my total source, my provider . . . my total care-giver. You truly are AWESOME, MAGNIFICENT, HOLY, GLORIOUS, RIGHTEOUS, MIGHTY, and OMNIPOTENT . . . and so much more! There is none like You! Amen!

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee." (Psalm 139:17-18)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Words Cannot Describe

The mercy of God, His love, His forgiveness … no way to measure it, no way to explain it, no way to comprehend it, but it's there. We don't deserve it, yet He has provided it to us freely.

"For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."  (Psalm 103:11-12)

How far is the east from the west?

How high is the heaven above the earth?

Immeasurable? Yes! Unfathomable? Yes! Unexplainable? Absolutely! Unthinkable? Yes!

There is hardly anything left to say; the scripture says it all. His mercy is unfathomable. It is immeasurable. His mercy is unthinkable, unexplainable, and oh so undeserved. But it is great toward them that fear Him … and it's new every morning.

What a wonderful thought! What a humbling thought! The Psalmist has an unmistakable revelation of God's mercy: our sins are so far removed from us that the distance is unfathomable, immeasurable, unthinkable, unexplainable, and, oh, so undeserved.

What an awesome God we serve!

Lord, I stand in awe of your gift of mercy, so undeserved yet given so freely. Mercy . . . a gift which cost You so much, yet You give it to anyone who asks. I am overwhelmed as I stand and consider Your goodness and Your kindness. All I want to do is say, "Thank You for loving me so. I don't deserve it, but I am so grateful for your gift of Mercy." Oh Lord, Thank You!

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Pure and Simple Faith

God has given us all a measure of faith. In this manner it is impossible for us NOT to please Him if we exercise faith. It is truly not the AMOUNT of faith that God is looking for, it's what we do with the measure He has dealt to us.

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."  (Hebrews 11:6)

We've heard it said many times that it seems a new Christian has the ability to believe God for anything and God answers their prayers almost instantly. Yet those of us who are "seasoned saints" seem to struggle to receive answers to prayer. Could it be that perhaps the new Christian is exercising pure faith . . . that which has not been defiled by "experience" or by feeling we've "earned" His attention and action on our behalf? The new Christian simply believes that He is and God rewards their diligence in seeking Him with zeal and enthusiasm as a result of their new-found love.

Oh, that we would all walk once again in the purity of our "new-found" love by revisiting the basics of our relationship with the Lord. Simply believe and receive . . . no pride, no haughtiness, no questions, no doubts, no fear, nothing other than pure and simple faith . . . undefiled and according to today's verse – pleasing to God.

Dear Lord, again I find myself at a loss for words. Help me to remember that faith in You is what is pleasing to You and it produces results! Help me also remember that faith is not something I need to "pump up" or that Your response is not something I need to "earn". Teach me once again, Lord, the very basics of simple faith, diligence in seeking You, and ultimately, bringing glory to You! It is my desire, Lord, to please You in all I do, every day in every way! Amen!

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." (Mark 11:22)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Our Best Gift

Being in ministry and constantly looking for ways to strengthen our international ministry (www.heartofgodinternational.com), the topic of giving comes up often. I was just thinking about the ways we give and how people (including me) most often associate giving with finances. But, isn't it true that giving means giving of ourselves, our gifts, our talents ... anything and everything we have to offer?

Last Thursday night in our Bible Study we took at brief look at the beginning of Psalm 103. It was incredible what we learned from the very first verse and it has EVERYTHING to do with giving -- giving of ourselves. In fact, all it took was the very first verse and we left there amazed ... let me share briefly:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."

Can you see our best gift in that verse? It's contained in the phrase "all that is within me".

Sir R. Baker put it well, speaking to his own soul:

"To bless the Lord is an eminent work, and requires not only many but very able agents to perform it; and therefore, my soul, when thou goest about it, go not alone; but, take with thee all the forces in my whole being, whether it be my heart, or my spirit; whether my will, or my affections; whether my understanding, or my memory; take them all with thee, and bless the Lord."

In other words, everything we are, everything that makes us 'us' is to be offered to the Lord as a blessing -- a sacrifice, an offering. No matter what we have or who we are, our God deserves our best gift ... our ENTIRE being.

How does this fit with missions or ministry? Easy! Whatever gifts you have, whoever you are, all your talents, all your influence, all your anointing, your thoughts, your prayers, your efforts, your undertakings ... they've all been given to you to offer back to God as a sacrifice--as a means of blessing the Lord for His great gift of salvation.

We are all missionaries and all have the ability to reach out to others with the gifts and abilities He's given us. To withhold a gift is to withhold blessing from the Lord.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME, bless His holy name!

Consider that verse the next time you're in the grocery and feel like someone needs a word of encouragement ... ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME must reach out to embrace that one.

Consider that verse the next time you're standing in line at the bank and someone appears discouraged ... ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME must reach out to bring encouragement.

Consider that verse the next time you're reminded of children in Africa and Asia who are so desperately needy ... ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME can reach out through prayer, through supporting a missionary, through writing an article to bring awareness to others, through sharing your heart with your Sunday School group and praying together. Any number of ways you can use your gifts for the glory of God.

Today, think about how ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME can bless the Lord. I challenge you to think of ways to use all who you are and all who you ever hope to be to bring blessing to the Lord by giving of yourself to Him.

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Our God Can Do Anything!

"Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear"  (Isaiah 59:1)

Our omnipotent Lord is able to do anything . . . there is nothing too difficult for Him. The rankest sinner is able to be saved; the filthiest life is able to be cleansed. The lowest depression is able to be lifted; the highest mountain is able to be climbed. There is NOTHING too difficult for Him.

The next time you feel that you have gone too far, or failed Him one too many times, remember that His arm cannot be shortened. Remember that His mercy endures forever. Remember that His blood is all-powerful and its purifying power is total and complete.

Finally, remember that His ear is never too heavy to hear your prayer . . . He will never turn a deaf ear to you. He has the answer . . . He IS the answer for all our problems. Our omnipresent Lord is in the midst of each situation before we even know there IS a "situation".

As you think about this verse today, take a moment to thank the Lord for His overwhelming love and mercy, and His tender care. Regardless of what things look like to us, nothing is too difficult for Him . . . absolutely nothing.

Father, so many times I find myself ashamed to approach You because of my behavior or my thoughts and I slowly begin to drift away from fellowship with You. Lord, forgive me for "shortening" your hand! Father, thank You for your overwhelming love and mercy . . . thank You for Your tender care . . . thank You that there is nothing too difficult for You. "Thank You Lord for saving my soul. Thank You, Lord, for making me whole. Thank You, Lord, for giving to me . . . Thy great salvation, so full and free." Amen.

"Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee" (Jeremiah 32:17)

© 2008 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved