Sometimes it is difficult to have freedom, because freedom requires discipline.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “‘I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.” NIV In order to handle the freedom that we have, we need to have boundaries of what is “beneficial” and “constructive” as Paul describes, then we need to stay within those boundaries. Having boundaries and staying within them is “discipline.”

When we are children, we need our parents to do this for us, but as we mature, we build self-discipline, so that we keep ourselves within the boundaries and do not need to be “disciplined”. The bible tells us that God also disciplines us on occasion. Sometimes the difficulties we face in life are actually God’s challenges to help us build our own discipline.

Proverbs 3:11,12 writes, “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” And in Hebrews 12:7, Paul writes, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.”

Dear Lord, It is difficult for us to accept challenges in our lives as learning experiences that you are using to help us set boundaries, or stay within boundaries we know we should. Help us endure these challenges to come out with better Christians. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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One of the many ways the devil works to separate us from God is by using good things that God has provided, against us. An example of this is ambition and determination. When we place too much emphasis on achieving what are good desires like, academic or athletic achievement, business success, and even success at our churches, they can become more important to us than they should, displacing God as our priority.

James writes in James 4:13-15, “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

As James writes if we start our plans with, “If the Lord wills, I plan to…” it will help us keep our priorities in order.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the desires and ambitions that you place in our hearts. Help us keep our priorities straight to avoid these desires from becoming our idols. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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“Praise the Lord, Let all that I am praise the Lord.” Psalm 146

Many places in the Bible we are told to “Praise the Lord,” but what does that really mean? It means acknowledging that God is, well, God. He is all powerful, all knowing, the creator of everything.

Being written two or three thousand years ago, the examples used in the bible describing the amazing things for which to praise God seem a bit simple to us now.

A psalm written about praising God today might be more like this:

Praise God for making the laws of physics that allow us to travel around the world in hours.
Praise Him for the elegant design of the atom that allows us to transmit information around the world in seconds.
Praise God for the amazing balance in molecules, and elements, that maintain stability of the chemistry in our environment.
Praise Him for the balance of earth’s cycle of life that maintains stability in the earth’s biology.
Praise God for the astonishing sophistication of the human body that can do wonderful and beautiful things, a body that can be changed and strengthened, and heals itself.
Praise Him for the amazing creation of the human brain that allows us to learn about these amazing creations and use them to improve the quality of life for all people.
For these and marvels of Your power yet to be learned, we Praise you Lord. Amen.

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The more we study the Bible and God’s plan, the more we realize the gaps in our understanding. Jesus tells us however in Mark 4:22, “For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.”

In order to learn and understand, we need to take the time and effort to study. Jesus continues in Mark 4:25, “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

Dear Lord, Thank you for the understanding of your plan that you have given us. Help us continue to listen to your teaching by reading and meditating on your word. In Your name we pray. Amen.

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It is easy to think that events in our life are mostly random. Simple things like, whether the traffic light stays green or turns red right before you get there, or more significant things like running into an old friend you haven’t seen in many years, narrowly avoiding an accident, and unfortunately, difficult and tragic events as well.

However, I believe that events are not random, there is an order and meaning for the events in our lives. In some cases, God is influencing events for us, in some cases, we are doing things that create positive or negative consequences for ourselves, and other cases we don’t know and will never know the reason. However, I believe there is a reason, and no matter what is occurring, God can and does influence each of our lives.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 13:29-31, “What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

When difficult and tragic events occur in our lives and those we love, it is hard to accept that God knows and allows these things, but we can take comfort in what Jesus says, “don’t be afraid” God cares about each of us and those we love.

Dear Lord, we thank you that our lives are not random, You have power over all things, and care about each of us. Give us peace in this knowledge, and help us put our cares and concerns in your hands. In Jesus name. Amen.

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