PrayerPoint ~ Vulnerabilities ~ April 6

Do you have an Achilles’ Heel? (Side note: I broke down and used Wikipedia for this definition because it was as accurate as I knew it to be.)

“An Achilles’ heel is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, that can actually or potentially lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, metaphorical references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common.”

I have been thinking about times when I have been down a sinful path. Was I being rebellious? Was I scoffing in God’s face? Or was I hurting and going to the wrong place for comfort and restoration? Sometimes being vulnerable leads to rebellion. Being rebellious opens one up to being vulnerable. They are very closely related though not the same.

Do you find yourself in circumstances that trigger an ungodly reaction from you? Have you noticed vulnerable people in your life?

The single mom who is exhausted and starts dating a guy who isn’t healthy for her–
A fatherless daughter who dresses immodestly and throws herself into the arms of older, dangerous men–
A stressed out teen who tries to escape the ugliness of this world through drugs and alcohol?

Do others come to mind for you? Do you cross your own mind?

Those people who come to mind as being vulnerable–Ask God to hedge them in and protect them. Intercede for them. Connect with them if that is possible. Think of the times in your life when you were vulnerable and thank God for His love and provision–it was there, even if you didn’t see it or take advantage of it. If you are feeling vulnerable, ask God to protect your heart and stop your feet from going where you should not go or doing what you should not do. Pray that God will grant you a willing heart to do His will. Is there someone who can be your accountability partner? Step out and ask for assistance.

Even if you traveled a difficult path, He can use that experience of yours to minister to others. Maybe God would like you to offer assistance to someone struggling in an area of sin you can relate to.

Check out Proverbs 4.

PrayerPoint ~ Grudges ~ March 26

I have noticed that it is infinitely easier to express grace and mercy to people I really like. Conversely, it is easy to be stingy and withhold grace, mercy, or forgiveness when I don’t particularly care for the person who needs it. There are people in our lives who daily need grace and forgiveness. If we are regularly put in the situation to demonstrate it, I am willing to bet there is something that God is wanting to teach us about our own need to extend it.

In terms of spritual growth, if I am the very one who is begrudging someone frequently, I think it ceases to be about the person I am annoyed with…it is now about me and my attitude of unforgiveness. Nursing a grudge is a destructive thing but it is much easier to not allow yourself to fall into that trap than get out of it once you are there.

Here is the anatomy of a grudge: It starts with being annoyed or downright angry with someone who has caused you some level of grief followed by “expecting” that annoying behavior to continue. Next you pay attention for and look for that annoying behavior and you are satisfied in your inner ugly place when you see it. And soon you notice that many of your thoughts revolve around that person or situation. Like an ominous cloud, the negativity continues to grow. And so does your sin.

Have you ever been there?

It is good to interrupt that cycle before it gets too far down the path. And we need to recognize that only God can help us accomplish any of this.

If you think about the nursing profession, you know that nurses work very closely with people and nursing a baby is a very close contact experience. If you apply these ideas about nursing to nursing a grudge you will rightly connect that nursing a grudge draws you even closer to the person that has “wronged” you. Do you really want that?

I don’t think so.

A first step towards freedom from this trap is to admit to God you have an issue with this person. Next ask God to bless this person. Every day. It is pretty tricky to hold a grudge against someone you are praying for.

May you walk in freedom of God’s forgiveness!

Liz

PrayerPoint ~ Forgiven ~ March 23

So often Satan whispers lies like:

“God couldn’t possibly forgive you for doing that!” or

“God couldn’t possibly have use for you now that you have done [insert your sin here]!” or

“How many times do you think He is willing to forgive [insert repeated offense here]?”

Maybe you have heard those same lies or maybe you’ve heard others. There are days when I get in a rut and I forget that I’m forgiven. That might sound crazy but it can happen after a tough day or a restless night.

How do you recall the promises of God’s forgiveness and restoration?

Scripture
Attending church where forgiveness is proclaimed following the confession of sins
Witnessing a Baptism
Rainstorms
Washing dishes
Washing clothes
Showers/Baths
Washing hands

Within the daily routine of our lives, we are always washing something. Take a moment to connect the wordly cleanliness you have set out to achieve and remember your Baptism! Let Him refresh and restore you with a reminder of His Grace! God wants you to remember His forgiveness and Satan would love for you to forget it. Don’t give Satan the edge!

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions. ² Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin. Psalm 51:1-2 (read the whole Psalm!)

Thankful for His cleaning (though I don’t always like the scrubbing!!)

Liz

PrayerPoint ~ Secrets ~ March 17

Shhh. I’ve got a secret.

Here’s one definition: Something kept hidden from others or known only to oneself or to a few.

Do you have some secrets? I think we probably all have one or two. Sometimes we hide what we have done or what was done to us. Sometimes we try to forget something we heard or something we saw or something we said. I have a number of these gems tucked away in my memory. I hold them in but not because I am holding out. Sometimes I hold them in because of fear. Sometimes I hold them in because it doesn’t really matter at this point or it is truly something that doesn’t need to be shared. Sometimes the timing of the sharing is extremely important.

Have you read the book of Esther?

She had a secret. And God works in incredible ways through her life and in this book of the Bible. Read through Esther slowly. Participate in a Bible Study on it if you can. I highly recommend the Beth Moore study on Esther.

I think there might be a difference between private and secret but I haven’t teased them both apart enough to know. In my mind, secret might imply something naughty is going on whereas private means I am choosing to keep this close to my heart.

I pray that whatever secrets are on your heart are ones you have shared with God in a heart-to-heart where He can cleanse, renew, forgive, restore, and transform your history. Sometimes it helps to visit with a Biblical counselor or a healthy friend. Privacy is a good thing but when it is motivated by the fear of being found out, then it seems like it might be time to re-evaluate the situation. Let God breathe His Truth into your history because your history is really His-story.

May His light shine in all corners of your life!

Liz

PrayerPoint ~ February 25

PrayerPoint ~ The Feet

Have you ever read the comic strip Family Circus by Bil Keane? When I think of feet I chuckle when I think of some of the panels of Billy and his dotted line footprints as they travel through the neighborhood when he was only supposed to take something from Point A to Point B.

Or I think about the Israelites on their feet wandering through the desert for 40 years. How can one never quite get anywhere in 40 years?

Or Jonah getting swept of his feet and into the belly of a big fish.

And then I think about me…and some of the places I went. The places my feet took me that I had no business going to. Phew! I am thankful God provided me a way to get out of some of it. But I certainly remember being there and I think it is important to remember. It helps me to have more compassion when I see other people going places that are dangerous. And I can pray for their protection and for them to come to the important realization that getting away from bad things is not nearly as easy as getting into them–

Where is God leading you and are your feet following or resisting?

Be careful little feet where you walk.

Sometimes the path you trod will take you into a completely different direction than you intended ~ for good or for bad ~ and, thankfully, no experience is wasted with God. He can use it all for His purposes.

Heavenly Father,

I am so thankful for your promises! As a parent, I know it troubles me when my children feel like they need to make choices (small or large) contrary to what I would prefer. And as Your child, it must break Your heart when I chose to go places where You know harm might come to me. Help me to hear the Holy Spirit and take heed when I am heading in a dangerous direction. I know You have forgiven me, help me to forgive myself for those detours I took. Help me to have compassion for those who may be wandering. Help my feet to bring the Good News of the Gospel to the places I walk. And help me be willing to go to the places You send me. In Your Son’s Name….Amen

Blessings on your day!

Liz

PrayerPoint ~ February 24

PrayerPoints ~ The Hands

Heavenly Father,

You have created my hands to do good works that will glorify Your name. Help me to discern those things You have prepared in advance for me to do. You have seen my hands participate in tasks that are hurtful. Forgive me for those times I have used my hands to harm others or myself. You were there when I dirtied my hands with sin. Thank you for the cleansing and forgiveness that is found in You alone. Help my hands to do many things for You. Let my hands show love in the daily tasks of cleaning, cooking, driving, digging, sorting, serving, touching, typing, washing, and writing. You know where my hands need Your intervention. Please continue to nudge me with Your Holy Spirit to consider what my hands should be doing each day and soften my heart to heed Your conviction. Thank You for the gift of my hands! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

PrayerPoints are “in season” during Lent and are written every day leading up to Easter. I have found that if I just pause long enough to listen, usually in the quiet of the early morning hours, God has things He would like me to consider. PrayerPoints are the outcome of my willingness to listen. It is always important and beneficial to be in God’s Word. My prayer is that PrayerPoints are simply a springboard to your deeper walk with God. Liz Vos

Roadside Cleanup

Have you ever participated in a roadside clean up only to drive by a week later and see it as trashy as it was before you labored to pick up the trash? It is so frustrating!

Sometimes, that’s just like my life. I make an honest and determined effort to ‘clean up’ an area in my life but those old habits creep right back in and soon things are messy again. A funny thing…when it’s my mess, I have a hard time asking for or receiving help in order to get the mess clean. Somehow I think I should be old enough and experienced enough or “godly” enough to not ever have to ask for assistance. Ever find that true for you?

Thankfully, God has placed wonderful people in my life who “lovingly assist” when needed. Sometimes it is simply a word of encouragement or a listening ear. Other times they roll up their sleeves and take on a task on my behalf. I am so thankful that God has patience for me. As I recall the many instances of His grace and mercy for me it is actually becomes a joy to extend it to others. May you be blessed as you work together with other believers to share God’s grace, forgiveness, and peace!

Heavenly Father, Help me to graciously accept assistance in areas of my need and a have a willingness to extend myself in Your name for others. Give me Your eyes to see the needs of others and Your guidance as to the level of my involvement. In Your Son’s Name, Amen.

Life Garden

Ever been in a situation where you have been betrayed, abused, violated, deceived, taken advantage of or hung out to dry? Has life thrown you some curves or tossed manure your way? Your response to those situations is incredibly important. If you allow seeds of unforgiveness, bitterness, or anger to germinate and be cultivated, pretty soon you will have quite a harvest of life-killing weeds.

The most inspiring stories you read are the ones of people who have overcome extremely difficult circumstances and gone on to forgive, share, love, sacrifice, etc. I would guess the most incredible stories somehow have God involved as He truly is the only One capable of transforming an ugly situation into something that could be a blessing to others and communicate the freedom that is found with life in Him.

What is it that you want to be growing in your life garden? If you are looking for a harvest of love, joy, or peace you need to be nurturing, watering, feeding and practicing those concepts. This isn’t as easy as it sounds and takes daily effort and weeding. Ask God for His perspective on your circumstances then ask Him to help you see things as He sees them. Allow God to shed His light on your situation.

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Luke 18:27 NIV

Manure stinks but it sure helps things grow!!!

Setbacks

“Sin will take you farther than you ever intended to stray, It will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay and cost you more than you ever intended to pay.” Author unknown

Have you ever found yourself in a frustrating place of sin and thought back to when that particular stronghold may have started? Definitely a sobering thought. Recently we had a local school principal arrested for shoplifting at Kohl’s. She was in her early 50’s. There was a lot of newspaper television coverage and she no longer works as a principal. Wow. Who knows when that all started for her. This sin took her on an ugly journey.

Sin is just like that. We justify and rationalize our behavior and get defensive when it is brought to our attention. But later we find ourselves repeating that same stinkin’ scenario over and over again and trying to get free from the grip of sin. What can we do? Here are some actions that can help:

Confess
Seek Forgiveness
Have an accountability partner
Surround yourself with Scripture
Pray
Change your scenery or routine
Forgive yourself

Be open to insight from more seasoned Christians who may have the ability to see you are headed down a dangerous path. Sometimes those rebukes come from someone who has walked a similar road and desires to save you from the pain and consequences they experienced. Sometimes we are so blind to current or future consequences of our sin that we are shocked when a concerned friend brings forth a warning. Be approachable.

As long as we are human we will have setbacks. Will you allow a setback to give you an excuse to go further down a dangerous path or will you allow it to help you see your vulnerabilities and give you the chutzpah to forge through temptation the next time?

Pondering takes Time

Ponder: 1: to weigh in the mind 2: to deliberate about 3: to muse over, to think or consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply. Webster, 1965.

With all of the communication and noise and business of the day, we actually have to be intentional about pondering anything. It seems like we don’t have any time. But it is important to set aside time to ponder, particularly the things of God. I have included several Bible verses to get you started though you may already have some you are in the midst of pondering. Write them on an index card and keep them close by so if you have a moment to think, they might be available to you. I chose the New International Version but feel free to look at several translations to get a larger sense of the meaning of the passage. This is all a part of the pondering process.

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Ephesians 4:1-5 NIV

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” Luke 10:19 NIV

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11 NIV

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.’ Romans 12:2 NIV

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:5-9 NIV

Ponder. Savor. Mull it over. Let God imprint it on your heart. How might God be speaking to you today through His Word?

One of my favorite things about God is when I am reading a Bible passage I have read a bunch of times and a word or phrase strikes me… it’s as if God bolded it to get my attention. That doesn’t always happen, but there are times it does. And if I am in a hurry or I am tackling Scripture like a job, I can easily breeze by those words or phrases He just might want me to ponder.

Is there a particular verse you have pondered and would recommend to others? Please consider adding it as a comment to this post. There is so much wisdom in Scripture it is often hard to find a starting point. Sharing Scripture is a way to cement it in your mind as well as encourage a fellow traveler on the journey!