Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 28, 2025

When Growth Stalls

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (ESV)

While I love fresh fruit and veggies, I’m so lacking in the farming department.  So when I have a question or dilemma, I usually resort to my co-worker (Farmer Fred). He has the best gardens ever and me, will I can’t seem to get even a simple something to make it from farm to table.

My latest quest was a hanging strawberry plant which my mom gave us for our anniversary.  After a few groundhog attacks, we opted to move it inside at night. Protecting, watering and hovering, I anxiously waited for just a glimpse of a strawberry.  And then it happened, tiny green little berries were bursting forth as the white flower petals dropped.  I could already taste their sweetness…..but green was taking forever to turn red.

Into Farmer Fred’s office I marched totally upset. What was I doing wrong?  His answer was simply, “Janet you have to be patient.  It’s an immature plant so the berries will take longer  – you can’t rush the growth process.”

Not exactly what I wanted to hear…but truth just the same.

Wonder how many times I have forgotten this principle when glimpsing the spiritual growth of new believers?  Wonder if I have even contemplated how this process relates to those who have fallen away from their faith and are bravely attempting a come back? Patience is crucial.

Unfortunately, we (self included) have high expectations of those who are “babes” in their faith.  It’s like we anticipate them growing at a rapid pace to catch right up with where we “longtermers” have been.  We often forget it took years of learning, failing, and getting back up to experience depth in our faith. Simply put it’s a journey…one day at a time putting our trust in God and walking in obedience.  How quickly we forget and allow our impatience to discourage others.

We who are spiritually mature should be their biggest cheerleaders.  Rather than judging, we should be there to answer questions, encourage and strengthen new and returning believers as they attempt to grow.  Patience is critical and if we find it lacking then we need to evaluate if we are walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) or depending on self. A quick glance in the mirror and we are reminded of God’s longsuffering patience in maturing us. None of us arrived in full bloom filled with the sweet taste of God’s knowledge, discernment and love – it was a process and continues to be a daily dependence on Him.

We all need cheering on….even those of us who have been on this faith journey for years.  So sweet friends let’s embrace patience, release expectations and trust God to complete His work in us and those who have just met Him for the first time.  Let’s choose to be active investors in the lives of those who desire to grow and mature in their faith.

“Father, You are patient, loving and kind.  Transform us to be more like You with every passing day.  Help us to encourage others on their faith journey and resist the urge to judge or grow impatient.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 27, 2025

Hope Has A Name

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,”      (Ephesians 1:18, NIV)

“He’s a loving Father.  Just as an earthly father cares for his children, how much more will your Heavenly Father do for you.”

It’s a common analogy that preachers use when explaining the attributes of God, comparing Him to a loving Father.

But what about the children whose father passed away when they were little?  Or the ones whose father walked out on them?  Consider the ones who had a father in their life, but he was emotionally distant or abusive.  It’s hard to imagine something you’ve never had.

When I was little, my Grandma Edith was a special person in my life. She was always talking about this man named Jesus.  Telling me how I could be anything in Him.

When she died a lot of things in my life changed.  I remember walking by myself to church after her death.  I heard the preacher say – –

“Do you need a friend, let Jesus be the friend who will never leave you?”

 “Do you need hope that life can be different?”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing – Jesus as a friend?  Jesus offers Hope?

I’d heard him talked about before as a loving father, but I had a hard time relating to that. Growing up my Dad was an angry person.  It was best to stay out of his way when he was home.  I never knew what to expect when he walked through the door.

After Grandma died, I desperately needed a friend and hope that life could be different from what I knew.

After hearing that hope had a name – it was the name of Jesus; I went forward that day at the altar call.  I accepted Jesus as my Savior and my friend. Jesus was the Hope I had been looking for.

When a father dies, there’s usually an inheritance left behind.  When Jesus died on the cross for us, He left us the best inheritance of all.  We’re quick to think about the glorious future of resurrection, and eternal life with him.  Yet, we often overlook the fact that He gives us hope for this life.

Sometimes it seems that life is stacked against us. Focusing on what you don’t have can leave you feeling very hopeless.

Be assured that what you have in Jesus, our Hope is greater than the things you don’t have. He’s able to do exceedingly abundantly more than you could ever ask for.  (Ephesians 3:20)

That little girl could have never imagined the life I have now.

“Dear Jesus, we thank you today that we have an inheritance through you.  We are your daughters’. Because of you, we have victory in this life.  You are our Waymaker!”

For His Glory

Laura Holmes (www.ephraimministries.org)
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

 

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 26, 2025

When Our Hearts Need Spring Cleaning

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” 1 Peter 1: 14&15 (ESV)

It’s here. No, not yet. Maybe next week. Spring. Is it just me or is spring seeming to do a peek-a-boo dance this year? My snow denial, SD for short, has kicked in a few times. Fortunately, the snow melts quickly in Virginia and I was able to get out and get food for my family. I am so ready to see temperatures that are higher than my age!

Another annual event is kicking in for me: spring cleaning. It’s that time of year when I actually look forward to cleaning, plan for what I’ll clean and stick to my plan! I have a couple of rooms where I’ll reconfigure the furniture. An outside job will require a contractor to help. I may even paint the kitchen cupboards. We’ll have to see how long spring lasts this year.

Lately, along with my spring cleaning list, I’ve been sensing a buildup of spiritual filth. Kind of like the laundry is getting a bit out of control. Oh, I excuse away this chore left unattended. Of course, Kay Arthur’s Titus study is bound to do that to a girl no doubt. The issues I’m having with others are their shortcomings, not mine. This can’t be that bad. But in truth, coming face to face with my Creator in these regards is a bit formidable.

God calls us to holiness, as He is holy. He brings areas of our lives to our attention to set us free, to become more like His son and to serve Him more fully. Out of love, He allows events to occur. He allows our hearts to break so that He might display the richness of walking in His ways. He will hold our hearts, teach us His truth and glorify Himself. If we choose.

So, may I boldly go before the Father. Allow Him to search my heart and identify those areas of my heart and life that need cleaning. Repent. Embark on a course of change. Admit that I can do this only through the Lord’s grace and surrendering to the Holy Spirit.

“Father, sometimes I look for, seek after and expect easy. But hard places come so that You can show Yourself to be a Faithful Father. May I allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in me.”

For His Glory

Kathryn Hayman
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Freedom, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 25, 2025

A Very Small Thing

“But to me, it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court…but the one who examines me is the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-4

If you’ve been a follower of Christ for a while, and you’re regularly spending time in the Bible (hope you are!), then you’ve likely experienced the truth of Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. It’s weird to think of a book being “living and active”—but this isn’t just any book. It’s God’s breathed-out Word. (Take a look at Psalm 119 for all kinds of goodness about how we should view and handle what God has to say.)

With this “living” document, have you ever been reading verses you’ve studied in the past (maybe even numerous times—for years) only to see a phrase or word you’ve not seen before? It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to additional Scriptural truths as our sanctification walk progresses. This happened to me the other night during a teaching from a visiting pastor at our church.

I’ve read Corinthians (both letters) numerous times over the past 25 years—like all 13 books from Paul, these are instructive, inspiring, and convicting. But the first 5 verses of 1 Corinthians, chapter 4 “suddenly” had new stuff in there. My Bible underlining and circling revealed my initial focus on being a trustworthy servant of Christ and steward of God’s truth. But the other night, the Holy Spirit opened up verses 3 and 4 in a powerful way.

Based on the power of the gospel, we are completely transformed. Paul and the other New Testament writers make it clear that the Great Exchange gives us a new identity in Christ. We become children of God, royal, holy, righteous (1 Peter 2:9; John 1:12; 2 Corinthians 5:21). And, with this understanding, Paul springboards into verse 3: “But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you.” Paul is basically saying, “I am free of your opinion of me!” How amazing is this revelation? How much time do we spend worrying about what everyone else thinks about us? Our culture, in fact, is all about the likes and comments. We perform to accumulate the accolades of people we don’t even know. But, as followers of Jesus, we don’t have to care about that. At all.

“The one who examines me is the Lord,” Paul emphasizes. The only One whose opinion matters is God! And we have already been defined by Him, remember? So, as believers, we go from men-pleasers to God-pleasers (Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4). We are free to focus on walking according to God’s Word, doing life for His glory as ambassadors of the Kingdom. Free from the accusations—and acclaims—of others, as we follow Jesus on the Narrow Path against the cultural tide.

Free. Following, trusting, and pleasing God—in confidence (Psalm 56:11; Psalm 118:6; Hebrews 13:6). The mocking of the world? The not-so-subtle eye-rolls we get? The outright persecution because we follow the Lord’s commands? Friend, join me in standing stand firm on this beautiful fact: it’s a very small thing.

“Lord, I love You and trust You—what can man do to me? Help me live for You, the Audience of One (Colossians 3:23-24), knowing that the judgments, taunts, even accolades of this world are nothing.”

 

For His Glory,

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 24, 2025

Why The Ripple Effect Of Sowing Matters

“And in the morning, behold, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” Genesis 29:25 (ESV)

I simply couldn’t resist when my fave tennis shoes were on sale. The Facebook post was for a limited half-price offer and my old ones were in desperate need of replacing, so I bought two pairs.  Browsing through some emails the next day, I noticed a receipt of payment from a utility company. Further investigation revealed the payment on the utilities was the same amount as my new shoes. No brainer here – the offer was a scam, and I had been deceived into thinking I got the best deal ever.

We see the reaping of deception scattered and taking root within Jacob’s family. His mother, Rebekah, told Jacob to disguise himself and deceive his father  (Genesis 27), and in today’s passage, Rebekah’s brother Laban deceives Jacob.

Laban knew Jacob loved his daughter Rachel. Yet on the day of their wedding, he presented his older daughter Leah instead. According to the customs of their day, Leah would have been veiled until she was finally alone with her husband in the honeymoon suite. With all the wedding festivities going late into the night it was easy to see how the truth was unknown until the morning dawned. Jacob, the deceiver, had been deceived and was reaping what he had sown.

Pastor Charles Stanley states, “You reap what you sow, more than you sow and later than you sow.” This principle of sowing (speiro)  and reaping (therizo) was an agricultural term understood by those in ancient times.   Speiro in the Greek indicates a scattering for future growth while therizo culminates in the harvest. Paul, however, uses this powerful imagery as a spiritual principle about our choices and actions – whatever we sow, we will also reap (Galatians 6:7).

We see this play out in the lives of Laban and Jacob. After the wedding deception, Laban agreed to also give Rachel to Jacob if he worked an additional seven years. Deceit began to cultivate a crop neither of them could have envisioned. Rachel was the love of Jacob’s life yet barren for years;  Leah was the fertile one bearing many sons yet unloved. Manipulation, envy and comparison would pit these two sisters in fierce competition against each other reaping a harvest of drama within their families.

Despite all the conflict, God graciously continued to bless Jacob’s life. He became exceedingly prosperous with large flocks, servants, camels and donkeys. The children born from Leah and Rachel would one day become the great nation of Israel – God’s chosen people.

God has given each of us the freedom to choose what we sow with our thoughts, words and actions. We never know the ripple effect our choices will have on the lives of others. If we sow to please ourselves and manipulate circumstances to fit our agenda, we’ll reap devastating, complicated consequences. However, if we sow to please God and obey His word then we will reap the abundance of His blessings. It’s the best deal ever to glorify God by sowing obedience and loving others.

I would be the first to admit, I don’t often think about the impact of my daily sowing. My mind tends to default to what serves me well at the moment versus considering others. God has been teaching me to pause,  pray and praise before I act. Pause to seek His wisdom and settle my emotions. Pray so my  motives are pure and then Praise the One who will give me the strength to sow well. What we sow on a daily basis can impact others in a negative or positive way. Let’s ensure our choices serve us and others well.

“Father, we are so thankful for Your grace in those moments when we fail to align our thoughts, words and actions with Yours. Teach us the importance of sowing well so the ripple effects we create will honor You.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Hope, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 21, 2025

The Greater Joy

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”  Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

The book of Philippians has often been known for its repetitive use of the term joy.  There are numerous references (at least 10) to rejoicing or joy, so we would naturally assume Paul is in his happy place.  However, while writing Philippians, Paul is in prison for preaching the gospel. Definitely not my idea of a happy place – physically constrained. Yet Paul isn’t zeroed in on his circumstances or suffering.

As he opens up in Chapter 3, Paul unpacks the source of His joy – “Finally my brothers rejoice in the Lord.”  If we look up the word rejoice it references a feeling, happiness or great delight.  But when we put the word rejoice connected to the word “in” it takes on a deeper meaning. Rejoice in means to possess joy.  What’s that look like?  Simply put it’s moving from a feeling to a life controlled by the fruit of the Spirit which encompasses joy.  And the source of that joy is the Lord not our feelings or circumstances.

In a given day (or year) lots of things and/or people attempt to steal our happy.  We can start a day off great and within 5 seconds or 5 minutes, happy can quickly evaporate.  But real joy is eternal…joy is fruit….joy is evidence of God’s Spirit ruling over our emotions, circumstances and life.  The secret difference is “in”, we must take possession of the joy which is fully available to us as believers.  Even in the midst of life’s worst scenarios, we can experience and exhibit the joy found in the Lord – fully aware of His sovereignty and divine intervention in the story of our lives.

“Don’t let your happiness depend on something you might lose,” is how C.S. Lewis unpacks joy. We are securely His and nothing can take us away from God – not even our most strategic enemy. Money, careers, relationships, etc. may dissolve but God is forever by our side. Despite suffering and heartache, we can choose to rest joyfully in Him knowing He’s working through all things touching our lives.

In a given day there are many reasons to miss happy. Frustration, fear, stress, uncertainty; the list is endless. Yet, we can have true joy if we choose to actively possess what is already ours.  By yielding to the fruit of the Spirit, we like Paul can rise above happy stealers and encourage others along the way.

“Father, our eyes can easily get locked into temporary pleasures and when they fade discouragement can settle in. Help us to rejoice in You regardless of what is happening around us.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

 

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Posted in Attitude, Encouragement, Faith, Hope

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 20, 2025

God’s Power In Us

“Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think….”   Ephesians 3:20  NET   

Funny how we can read something over and over, maybe even memorize it, but the only meaning that comes through is the meaning we expect. Perhaps you’re like me — for years reading Ephesians 3:20.  All I saw was that God could do far beyond all we ask or think. Thank God for that, but it goes further.

What about that other part, “by the power that is working within us”?

Think about instances in Scripture where God’s power came through people. Remember when Jesus spoke to five thousand hungry men and their families? All they had were five donated loaves of bread and two fish.  He said to the disciples, “You feed them.”  God used the weak and uncertain disciples as instruments of His power.

Or what about when the angel of the Lord approached Gideon, who was threshing wheat while hiding from the enemy? The angel greeted him by saying, “Hail, mighty warrior.”  Gideon felt anything but mighty, yet as a willing instrument of God, he went out and conquered the enemy.

Or when the children of Israel were battling the Amalekites in the desert? The Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, prevailed as long as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms. It was not the power of Moses, his staff, or Joshua’s military expertise that made the battle successful. It was the power of God working through all of them.

Or Daniel, when King Nebuchadnezzar had his frightening dreams? Daniel could never have told the king his dreams or interpreted them accurately. But by the power of God working within Daniel, he knew exactly what the king had dreamed and what it meant.

So as you go through your day, and your week, and your year . . . bear in mind that those things you think you can’t do—you’re probably right if you try them on your own. But by “the power that is working within us,” we can be God’s instruments. Knowing that should give us courage when God says, “Go and do,” and we don’t see any way to do it.

“Father, we are weak and powerless on our own. Help us to be willing instruments so that when you say, “Go and do,” your purposes can be accomplished through us.”

For His Glory

Cherie Harbridge Williams
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 19, 2025

The Woman Caught In Adultery

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. John 8:3-4(NIV)

This story from John 8 has always intrigued me and scared me. The shame and humiliation of being caught in sin, right in front of Jesus and everyone, scared me. Yet, if I’m being real, when I sin, it is right in front of Jesus. This woman is not so far from where you and I stand. The sin may be different and have different consequences, but our sin is never hidden from Him.

One of the things that has always intrigued me about this story is that Jesus did not acknowledge or call out her sin until everyone else was gone. She knew what she had done, and she waited. She could have run while Jesus was writing on the ground. She did not. She faced her Lord, as she called Him, and waited for His direction, “Go and sin no more,” He told her. That was it!

I cannot wait to get to Heaven and hear what the rest of the story was. Did she talk with Jesus and ask forgiveness? Did she fall at His feet and cling to Him? Where did she go after what we can only imagine was the very worst moment in her life? Did she have a friend or a mom or a sister to cry with and celebrate with?  Did the man ever contact her or was he just someone the religious leaders used to set her up? Oh, the questions and the wonders. Oh, the pain and the shame. But, oh, the love and the forgiveness.

There are so many ways to look at this story and to feel it in our gut.  My heart breaks for this woman who was drug out “in the very act.”  When you sit on that for just a moment, the raw humiliation is gut wrenching. As the story continues, we find out she was yanked out with the worst of intentions, in a frenzied act, and without understanding as to what was going on. As soon as Jesus got involved, the intentions of others did not matter anymore, there was calm in the air, and the woman understood exactly what was going on. We do not know her emotional state at the moment, but we do know she waited for Jesus after the others had drifted away.

It may seem so unfair that she was treated this way, and the man was not brought out in the public square. And it is. So wrong every way you look at it. Yet, as only Jesus can do, He can make something beautiful out of the wreckage of our life. He gave this woman freedom, a glimpse of His unconditional love, and the opportunity to have a new life.

That is Who He is and what He does.

“Lord, thank You for loving us enough not to let us live in our sin, but overwhelming us with Your grace and making all things new.  You are AMAZING!”

For His Glory

Terrie Tollerson
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Faith, Hope, Mercy

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 18, 2025

Making Calves

“Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled around Aaron and said to him, “Come, make us a god who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt—we do not know what happened to him.” Exodus 32:1

The events of the Israeli Exodus are amazing. The Lord rescues them out of slavery in Egypt through inflicting plague after plague on their captors. Then, after completely pillaging their neighbors’ gold, clothes, etc., these millions of men, women, and children get to waltz right out of the country toward the Promised Land. Then, there’s the whole walking-through-the-sea-on-dry-land thing. And the miraculous daily bread and water from a rock. Did I mention the very presence of God leading them? But then…Moses goes up the mountain to meet with God. The Israelites even saw the glory of the Lord on the mountaintop as Moses went up.

Oh, those silly Israelites. It didn’t take them very long at all to forget and freak out. Despite everything they’d seen and experienced, they decided to turn to a worldly “god” to take over their trek. In fact, Moses’ brother, Aaron, (who he’d left in charge) took the lead in the idol-making, idol worship, and plain old debauchery. He had all the people bring their gold, he melted it, then he made a calf for them to sacrifice to and worship. Like little kids whose parents leave the room for a few minutes, they figured they knew best…they’d do things their way. It’s a fascinating read, chapter 24, with all the features of a Netflix drama. My favorite part is when Aaron claims innocence by saying that after the people gave him their gold, he simply threw it in the fire—“The calf just kinda popped out, Moses, I swear!” (Insert eye roll here.)

And honestly, much of the desert journey is like this. God’s people—again, despite being led by a pillar of smoke by day and fire by night, as well as having never-ending food from heaven and clothes that don’t wear out—gripe and complain. They look back with longing for the “delicious food” in Egypt…while putting on blinders to, I don’t know, that whole slavery thing. They literally are walking miracles, yet they pine for the used-to-be. The golden calf is a vivid example of their panic-turned-doubt. Instead of standing firm on God’s faithfulness, they turned to what the world had to offer.

Feeling the ouch yet? If you are a Christian, the scenario above can seem all too familiar. Upon surrendering to Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are freed from the slavery to sin. We are given the Bread of Life (and the daily bread of God’s Word), as well as Living Water. We have the very presence of God in us. We are literally walking miracles: we once were dead, and now we’re alive in Christ. Oh, but we get so silly…

We’ve experienced the miracle of new life in ourselves and others, we witness the glory of the Lord through answered prayers, healed bodies, changed lives. But then, like Moses’ absence from the people, we suddenly feel abandoned and alone. We ask ourselves, “Where’s God?” The doubts and questions flood and we panic. So, we build a proverbial golden calf…we “go back” to our old way of living, our familiar sin that feels so good (at least, we tell ourselves that when viewing them through rose-colored shades). We don’t recall that those things (our idols, lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life—1 John 2:15-17) only lead to destruction and death.

Friend, your very life and mine are a miracle. We must stand firm on God’s faithfulness—He is ever-faithful. Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:31-37). Even if we “feel” otherwise, know that the Lord is always with us and will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Let’s take a lesson from the Israelites and not follow their lead. Let’s trust in God…and stop making calves.

“Father God, you are faithful—even when I’m faithless. Help me stand firm on the Truth of who You are…and who I am in You.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life

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Posted in Encouragement, Faith, Spiritual Growth

Posted by: trbccoffeebreak | February 17, 2025

Why Confirmation Is Tricky

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to you.”  James 1:5 (ESV)

“How have you been doing?”  Those are the words I hear each year as I go in for my annual physical. My nurse practitioner wants the scoop on what’s happening with my health. And if I’m smart, I won’t dismiss this important opportunity to unload my questions and concerns while I have her undivided attention. But if I paint for my nurse a false reality, then her ability to guide and help me will definitely be hindered. We can’t leave out details and expect a correct diagnosis.

Sound familiar? Sweet friends, we often follow suit when it comes to not only issues with our health but issues in our lives. How many times have we invited a friend to coffee with the intent to gain insight into a challenge we are facing? We purposely select our wisdom givers. We collect our thoughts and know exactly what we are sharing. And, we actually know how to sway their response in our favor.  After said conversation ends, we walk away with total confirmation of how we thought we should handle the situation.

One big problem here ladies – if we selectively picked our audience and if we selectively shared details in order to confirm our pre-determined decision – we have totally missed the benefits of wisdom. Wisdom gleaned from godly friends should always be aligned with the word of God. By setting the stage, we have robbed ourselves of godly insights from those who can speak His truth and love into our lives.

If we genuinely desire wisdom, then God’s word is very clear. He is the source of all wisdom and with God, we can’t camouflage details or omit critical facts. There is nothing hidden from God’s view. He knows it all including our past, present and future. God sees every angle. He knows any self-serving agendas to achieve our desired results. And He knows our tendency to seek confirmation from those in our circle who can be deceived by  our “so called partial factual evidence.”

Sweet friends, the pursuit of wisdom started in the garden (Genesis 3:6) and it continues today. Eve desired the wisdom of God, yet she entertained conversations with the enemy. Rather than look to God as her source, she allowed the serpent to zero her focus on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The forbidden fruit once consumed resulted in disobedience and the birth of sin entered our world. When we choose to disregard God’s wisdom, we too land in a spiral of consequences we never imagined.

God alone knows what will serve us best, yet the seeking of His wisdom is totally up to us. If we humble ourselves, if we are honest with the godly people He brings into our lives, if we seek Him in prayer and in His word then God’s best will rise up to the surface. God’s wisdom may not look or feel the way we want, but ultimately it will lead us in the right direction – the one that glorifies and honor’s God.

“Father, You graciously give us the choice of choosing Your wisdom. Help us to resist the temptation to seek confirmations that align with what we desire. Teach us to know Your word, trust Your heart and welcome godly counsel.”

 

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life

 

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Posted in Hope, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Living, Wisdom

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