Category: Beneath The Paint

Sometimes it is easy to see my enemy as the one who does wrong to me. But my enemy is the devil and his minions, and those things that he plots against me – sickness, temptations, financial ruin, quarrels, and even death. It is easy to see where he could think that God won’t intervene or hold him accountable since he has been operating here for a very long time. He uses gossip and slander to devastate people – waiting for the right moment to use the upright against each other.  But God has seen and heard everything – He alone holds the keys to revenge and justice.

Read Psalms 10:1-18 and ponder these points:

• Do I trust Him to hear me and answer me when I call Him?
• Do I live like the victory is here right now?
• Do I let the enemy use me to help him in his schemes?
• Do the things I speak when I am wronged attempt to tear others down?
• Do I pass judgment when I am hurt and then plot my revenge?

Oh Lord, let me watch for You and the victory always. Help me be aware of the devil and his schemes in my life and the lives of those around me. Do not let him use me for his purposes. You alone hold justice in Your hand – help me to remember that when I am wronged. You alone are righteous – help me to watch the words I utter that they may not be chosen by the devil. My Lord, my God You hear the cries of the tormented ones. You are victorious over the enemy – whether man or devil. You vindicate the poor, the fatherless and me. Thanks be to You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The reason we do not forgive is we live in a society
that teaches us to see others as disposable – no relationship is worthy of saving.
We replace the washer or refrigerator when it is broken – it can’t last forever.
We are conditioned that nothing lasts.
We extend that thought to people, to children, to our spouse, to our brothers and sisters, to our friends and to other people and entities.
We do not feel anything is so valuable that we need to go after it.
We just let the offense take root,
so that the discord becomes a song we sing out of tune
over those in our life that we choose NOT to forgive.
Forgiveness is a choice first –
one we make with the mind and not with the heart.
Sometimes – the heart is the last part to sing the harmony of forgiveness – sometimes we steel our heart so deep – it becomes a fortress for the enemy.
We spray it with armor to keep out the thoughts that would bring forgiveness.
We seal our heart against forgiveness – nothing can get through.
Our mind no longer is free but a slave to our hardened steel-cased heart.
It is a prisoner of the toughest sort.
We have the key – but we won’t pick it up – we won’t use it.
Forgiveness is a concept we see for others and not for ourself.
We take the concept and shelve it
so that we don’t have to do the work of forgiveness.
It is not something that we just say – “I forgive you”,
although we sometimes say it without any real depth or
meaning to the words we speak.
We say it while thinking – “Yes, but things will never be the same between us.”
We erect a wall that we have no intention of tearing down.
We have no intention of forgiving.
We let the effects of unforgiveness
ride our future with the one we have disagreed and
we let it play its sour notes as it taints the rest of our life.
We do not let go and join God in the harmony of forgiveness.

Lord, you saw the value in me when You died for me. Help me to remember that same value is what You have for others. Help me to make the choice to forgive and to walk in total forgiveness without holding back a portion of bitterness. I thank You that in my weakness, I can rely on Your strength. Father, increase my strength and courage to forgive the way You forgave me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When someone is in the midst of conflict, either with a spouse, a child, a parent, co-worker, employee, employer, company, church, or a friend, the picture they paint of the conflict doesn’t accurately reflect the whole situation. The portion that is painted is tainted by only what that person wants me to know and the inferences they want me to make.  It is the truth, but it is not the whole truth.  So the conclusions I draw from their brush are defective, and therefore, any advice I give is fragmented and potentially damaging not only to them, but to the other person or persons involved in the situation, and perhaps even to myself.

The picture above is a portion of the picture below. If I saw only the picture above, I would be deceived and any assumptions I make as a result of the first picture would not be accurate.

I am so glad that Jesus tells me the whole truth. He doesn’t deceive me with partial truths for there is no lie in Him – no deception – no fraud. I can count on the picture He painted for me in His Word.

Lord, help me to live a life not based on painting pictures of deception for others, but live longing to always get to the truth, even if it is uncomfortable for me. Because I know in that place of vulnerability for me, in that place of weakness – You show Yourself strong in my life and I am changed to more accurately reflect Your characteristics.  Help me not to believe partial truths about other people so that I am colored to draw inaccurate conclusions, but to listen with a compassionate heart and minister only Your truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

When my father was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, I immediately turned to the Lord and sought His cure. In the physical, we mobilized doctors, medicine and technology to prolong his earthly existence. My father did not realize that salvation did not come from the performance of ritual of acts, but came from a heart condition and confession of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. It was my intent to seek The Cure from The Healer for his state of spiritual sickness before the disease took his earthly body and doomed his soul to a state of utter hopelessness. While I continued to pray for his physical healing, I prayed with hope (He said it was His desire that none be lost) for his spiritual restoration. We are all men and women, simply mortal here on earth, and our bodies will eventually succumb to death. Our souls will spend an eternity somewhere – either in the presence of the Lord or in the abyss of darkness where the Lord will not be. It is with great thanks to my husband who led my dad to the Lord; and with all praise and all glory that I honor the Lord who prepared my father’s heart, answered the heartfelt cries of a daughter, used a willing son-in-law, and delivered the victory for my father’s salvation.

Read Psalms 9:1-19

This psalm begins with praise and worship, that results in victory from the everlasting righteous God in whom we find confidence, security, favor, and salvation. It ends with the insight that we are but men with no hope beyond our mortalness without Him.

Meditate on these points:

• Am I thankful to the Lord for the victory even before I know what it looks like?
• Do I repeat the story of the victory he orchestrated on my behalf even if it is not what I anticipated?
• Do I live in fear of mortal death or live in confidence and security in the knowledge that He has saved my soul even though my body will perish?

Oh Lord my God, Who loves praise, worship, thanksgiving and testimonies. You give me victory over my biggest enemy, death. You reign with everlasting goodness and justice. You are my security and confidence bestowing favor on me because I know You. You rescued me from spiritual death. Without You, I am but mortal. If I seek You, You will not abandon me nor forget me, but You will remember me at all times. Thank You for Your mighty favor on me. Father, let me always seek You so that I find You. With You, I am whole, victorious, confident and have hope. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Several years ago I was in an Atlanta hotel room sleeping soundly and peacefully.  While in this deep sleep, I heard loud noises and someone yelling.  I pulled myself out of my cavernous slumber to find that I was the source of the noise – I awoke clapping and screaming “Hallelujah” at the top of my lungs.  In my dream, God was hosting the most spectacular fireworks show I have ever witnessed.  When I say spectacular, I am not doing the exhibition justice.  It was way beyond anything I had ever experienced in the natural.  The truth is I can take them or leave them – fireworks are not something that usually inspire ooh’s and aah’s in me. I came to full consciousness, stopped clapping, quit shouting, and just praised God.  I had been the recipient of a private pyrotechnic display created by the Almighty God!  I was blessed beyond my ability to measure blessings!

Read Psalms 8:1-9

For each of the statements below, find a strength and find an area that needs improvement:

• What are the works of His hands that God has given me dominion over?
• How do I please and honor Him?
• Do I use praise to still my enemies?
• Do I take time to be regularly delighted by God and His creation?
• What are my strengths in the questions above?
• What one area do I need to improve?
• What plan can I make for improving that single area?

Oh Lord, my God, when I look at all that your hand created, I am struck that You chose to commune with me!   You have given me authority over Your earthly creations – May I be pleasing to You in my charge and not disappoint.  May I always see You in everything my eyes see, my ears hear, my nose smells, my mouth tastes, and my hands touch! I need only my senses to see how marvelously glorious You truly are!  You are magnificent and mighty!  The angels sing Your praises night and day, even children and infants praise You. Help me to see You in all of Your creation! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My father was in the U. S. Marine Corps where he attained the rank of Sgt. Major.  He served in both WW II and Vietnam.  He knew the meaning of honor.  He knew what it was like to honor others who exceeded his rank, and he knew how to receive honor from the file below him. After he retired, he honored only those who had served their country and those who had attained a greater rank, and he continued to receive honor not only from other military men but from civilians as well.  Despite years of showing him Jesus, it was towards the very end of his life that he finally accepted Him as his Lord and Savior.  My husband shared with my dad the story of Jesus, the centurion, and authority. Salvation through Jesus finally clicked for him.  He understood honor in terms of authority or rank.

My honor, my integrity, is something that I have control over.  I can strengthen it or I can obliterate it.  Only I can choose to destroy my own honor with my thoughts or with my actions.

Read Psalms 7:1-17

• Do I talk with cause against someone or something?
• Do my thoughts or words pronounce guilt?
• Do I join people in talking about others?
• Are the motives for my words and deeds pure and genuine?
• How can I strengthen my honor?
• What do I need to do to stop destroying my honor?

Lord, I trust in You to save me and deliver me from all enemies, even myself.  Instruct me in my words and deeds. Help me to look at the purity and righteousness of my conduct and my speech.  You examine my heart and mind – You know my very thoughts!  Help me to examine them too.  Help me to speak and do justly.  Thank you for helping me reflect the characteristics of Jesus, especially integrity.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My resume says that I am flexible and dynamic, embracing change with ease.  While that statement is true in my professional life, I must admit I have a more difficult time with transforming me, especially in the middle of a trial. I simply want the trial to end quickly with me standing victorious – going from the beginning to the end with nary a singe.  I want to pray and have an answer immediately – all my problems solved – and me changed for the better.  I don’t want to work out what I need to learn; I don’t want to wait long for an answer: I don’t want to seek out the root of the problem – it might be me.

I fail to remember the fire of the trial burns up the dead wood in my character and provides purified ground for new growth – new traits.  That is, I believe, the Father’s expectation for me during a trial.  That I would not just come out the other side, but that I would emerge better, whole, healed, restored.  In faith, believing He has heard my cries and knowing He will answer (His way with His timing), is just the beginning.  If I truly want to be transformed and conformed to Jesus, I must ask myself some tough questions.

Read Psalms 6:1-10

• When I am sick, in pain, in fear or in distress do I cry out to the One who can make me whole, better than before?
• Do I give Him thanks before seeing Him move?
• What part of me needs to be burned up during this trial?
• What new growth in me needs to be planted and cultivated?
• Do I ask God for a plan for the watering of that new growth?
• Do I stand, in faith, knowing He has heard my cries, with victory?

Only You, Lord, carry the power to heal and make whole – body, soul and spirit.  I will cry out to You standing firm that You hear and receive my prayers, and giving You thanks for victory while still in the fire. Help me to see those things that need to be burned up and also see those things that need to be planted.  Give me the plan for the watering and cultivation of the new me. Thank you, Lord, that You deliver me even when I am the source of my troubles. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

I’m a collector.  I collect things.  Some of my collections enrich and enhance my life and the lives of those around me; and some are as distracting as a hungry alligator in a crowded shopping mall.  I pick things up as I travel including things better left alone.  Like a shopaholic who buys things they don’t need, I “purchase” potentially detrimental things to add to my collections. My currency is my time, my attention, and my energy.  I gather things – worry about tomorrow, worry about today, worry about things that are not in my charge, anger, manipulation, offenses, perceived offenses, others’ offenses, Martha-thoughts, shame, humiliation, self-centeredness – I could go on and on.  All of these things steal my focus, my time and my energy – I am no longer a good steward of what I have been entrusted with in this world.  The collections steal from me, from God, from my relationships, and from the Kingdom of God here on earth.  I rob not just myself, but because I am tied up with my collections, I rob from those who need an ear, a hand, a word.

And to top it all off, when I want to get in His presence, I can barely see or focus outside of all these things I have collected.  So one-by-one, I consciously let go of each collected item. I come bound, but I find freedom.   I resolve to do better, but then tomorrow comes and I find myself collecting useless things yet again.

Lord, help me to not pick up those things are better left to the side of the road I travel.  Help me to recognize the collections for what they are in the scope of Your big picture – time stealers, energy robbers, and attention diverters.  Let me instead give each problem and care as it surfaces to You, leaving myself unencumbered to worship You, serve those I come in contact with, and contribute to the expansion of the Kingdom here on earth – all to Your glory. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Have you ever received a call from someone who asks your opinion about a decision that they need to make, but they really don’t want your advice – they just want you to agree with whatever plan they have already made? I think they really know that their plan is wrong or has holes in it, but they are intent doing it anyway.  They don’t ask God because they know the answer, and it is not an answer they want to hear. I know this because I’ve probably made a few of those phones calls – just searching for someone to come into agreement with my faulty plan so I can justify moving forward with it.  Then when things go awry, the complaining begins!

Read Psalms 5:1-12 and meditate on these points:

• Do I complain to others or to God who can fix my situation or my attitude?
• Do I wait for His answer or seek counsel from the world?
• When faced with hostility from others do I react or let God act?
• Do I rely on His protection or make my own?

Lord, through all of my murmurings and complaints I cry to You because You are my God and King. I direct everything to You and wait in expectation of Your answer. Help me to go to You first and seek Your will instead of my own. You are filled with an abundance of kindness and favor towards me. Guide me in all right things when I face hostility.  As I flee to You for protection, I will be joyful and will shout for joy.  You protect me and defend me.  You bless me and with delight, You surround me. In Jesus name. Amen.

Changing who I am does not come easy for me.  It is intense work at which I fail miserably at times.  My best gains in change come from meditating or thinking about my day as I lay down to sleep.  I look for things that I did “right” and encourage myself to continue that behavior.  I also look for things that I could have done better, and things where I completely lost it.  I acknowledge my failures, repent, and determine what I could have done differently. I resolve to do better the next day as I pray for the Lord to help me.

Read Psalms 4:1-8 and meditate on these points:

• What do I honor or value? Does it honor God?
• Do I deliberately try to change for the better, or do I expect it to just happen because I want to change?
• What is my plan to change one character flaw – an area where I acknowledge I need improvement?
• What are my good character traits?  Do I encourage myself to continue to grow these traits?

Father, any good in me is from you.  You hear my prayers and cries because you favor me.  When You shine Your light upon me, You increase the gladness in my heart.  Because You give me security and refuge, I can sleep in peace.  Help me to see my strengths and my weaknesses.  Help to change from who I am to who you want me to be. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

I am a godly woman who is highly favored by my righteous, equitable and prosperous Lord and God.  He hears my cries.