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The Battle is Not Yours–2 Chronicles 20:15-17

June 14, 2013 in 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, 2013 Journey, Depression, Divorce, Fear, Finances, Tough Times, Trials, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 22:10-28; 2 Chronicles 18:9-27; 1 Kings 22:29-35; 2 Chronicle 18:28-34; 1 Kings 22:36-40, 51-53; 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:30

He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! 

This is what the Lord says: 

Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  Tomorrow, march out against them. 

You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel.  But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”  --2 Chronicles 20:15-17

What battle are you facing today?

This is what Your God says:

  • Do not be afraid
  • Do not be discouraged
  • The battle is not yours
  • It’s Mine!

Rest in that knowledge as you go about your day!

Heavenly Father, help us to remember You are in charge.  Lord, I have a battle that is impossible for me to win on my own.  I trust You to fight it for me!

Trusting You.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!

 

© 2013 Dianne Guthmuller

 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 1:1-18; 2 Kings 3:1-27; 1 Kings 22:41-49; 2 Chronicles 20:31-37; 1 Kings 22:50; 2 Chronicles 21:1-4; 2 Kings 8:16-22; 2 Chronicles 21:5-7

4 Things to Do in The Tough Times—2 Chronicles 16:7-9

June 10, 2013 in 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Choices, Depression, Failure, Finances, Tough Times with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:   1 Kings 15: 16-22; 2 Chronicles 16: 1-10; 1 Kings 16: 1-34; 1 Kings 15: 23-24; 2 Chronicles 16:11 through 17: 19; 1 Kings 17: 1-7

What do you do when times get tough?

  • Do you deny there’s a problem?
  • Does your problem paralyze you?
  • Do you look to other people to solve your problem?
  • Do you look for a substance, outlet, or person to make you forget you have a problem?
  • Do you try to fix the problem yourself?

King Asa provided a great lesson in right and wrong choices in tough times.  He tried two different approaches.

Which one will you choose?

 At that time Hanani the seer came to King Asa and told him, “Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.  Don’t you remember what happened to the Ethiopians and Libyans and their vast army, with all of their chariots and charioteers?  At that time you relied on the Lord, and he handed them over to you.  The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.” –2 Chronicles 16:7-9

In yesterday’s post we talked about laying down our idols so that we can find God.  One sure-fire way to discover the idols in our life is to look at what we do when times get tough.

The funny thing about Asa…

…early in his reign as king of Judea, when he fought the Ethiopians and the Libyans he relied on the Lord and his enemies were handed over to him.  He knew what to do.

What changed?

Why did he buy King Aram’s services instead of trusting God to fight his battles?

Looks like a serious case of pride to me.  After God specifically called Asa out on not seeking His help, Asa never changed.  How sad.  It is so easy for a successful person to think they are so powerful that they can buy, talk, or pressure others to get their way.

It seems to me that if God was offended by Asa replacing His power for manpower, then He’s probably offended when we go to people, substances, outlets, or to our own power to handle life’s tough times.

So what should we do?

1. Build a relationship with God when things are going well through prayer, Bible study, and corporate worship.

Friends, we’re either in a crisis, getting over a crisis, or headed into a crisis—we can’t wait until we’re in trouble to get to know the Lord

2. Get involved in some type of small group where you develop deep friendships—Godly counsel and encouragement are a lifeline in tough times.

3. Begin to look for ways to serve others—there’s no better way to survive tough times than get your mind off yourself by helping someone else.

4. Once the storm passes and God helps you through it, testify to His goodness—your testimony could be the encouragement that helps someone else get through their tough time.

 

Bottom Line:  When tough times come, run to your Heavenly Father first and ask Him what to do next.

Praying for you!

 

 

© 2013 Dianne Guthmuller

 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  1 Kings 17:8 through 1 Kings 20:22

One Reason Not To Worry About the Future–1 Kings 11: 27-40

June 8, 2013 in 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, 2013 Journey, Depression, Ecclesiastes, Fear, leadership, The Hurting World, Tough Times with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Ecclesiastes 11:7 through Ecclesiastes 12:14; 1 Kings 12: 1-20; 2 Chronicles 10:1-19; 1 Kings 12: 21-24; 2 Chronicles 11: 1-4; 1 Kings 12: 25-33;  2 Chronicles 11: 5-17

Rehoboam… Jeroboam–Who’s Who?

Was it hard for you to keep them separated?  I had to go back several times to get it straight.

  • Rehoboam was Solomon’s son who became the King of Israel after Solomon died
  • Jeroboam, was one of Solomon’s officials who had fled to Egypt from King Solomon

When I first read today’s scriptures I thought, “Rehoboam, you should have listened to your elders and kept all of Israel as your kingdom.”

But then I read …

1 Kings 12:15:   So the king paid no attention to the people.  This turn of events was the will of the Lord, for it fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.

1 Kings 12: 19:   And to this day the northern tribes of Israel have refused to be ruled by a descendant of David.

If you go back to June 5th’s reading you will see where this was prophesied: 1 Kings 11:27-40

Folks let’s not miss the significance of this—we read the Bible as history but when the word was given to Jeroboam by the prophet Ahijah it was a prediction of the future.  It happened just as He said!

One of the benefits of reading the whole Bible is realizing how many times God said it and then it happened!

We live in troubling times but if we read scriptures like Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation we can know that these events were prophesied two thousand years ago and are the will of the Lord, and will come to pass.

Let’s determine to spend less time fretting over the things we cannot control and more time seeking the Lord for his will for our lives during these historic times.  Jesus is coming soon!  We need to be busy about His business!

 Blessings!

 

© 2013 Dianne Guthmuller

 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  1 Kings 13:1 through 1 Kings 14:24; 2 Chronicles 12:13-14; 2 Chronicles 11: 18-23; 2 Chronicles 12: 1-12; 1 Kings 14: 25-28; 2 Chronicles 12: 15-16; 1 Kings 14: 29 through 1 Kings 15:5; 2 Chronicles 13:1-22; 1 Kings 15: 6-8; 2 Chronicles 14: 1-8;1 Kings 15: 9-15; 1 Kings 14:19-20; 1 Kings 15: 25-34, 2 Chronicles 14:9 through 15:19

So Why Try?–Proverbs 20:24

June 2, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Christian Living, Depression, Failure, Faith, Fear, leadership, Prayer, Proverbs, Trust with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 20:1 through Proverbs 22: 16

The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way.    –Proverbs 20: 24

Does this proverb speaking as loudly to you as it does to me?

  • I wonder how much more I could accomplish for the Lord if I wasn’t so worried about the “whys.”
  • I wonder how different my life would be if I spent time everyday seeking God’s directions for the day instead of fretting and analyzing.
  • I wonder whom I could show the love of God,  if I  looked for the next step in God’s plan and not my own.

Father, I trust you to direct my steps.  Teach me how to follow instead of lead.  I know I don’t understand, but I’m trusting you more every day. Direct my steps, slide into the driver’s seat, and take the controls– Jesus take the wheel…

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Blessings

 

 ©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 22: 17 through Proverbs 24:34

Are You Depressed? Take these 6 Medicines — Proverbs 17:22, Proverbs 18:14

June 1, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Choices, Depression, Divorce, Failure, Forgiveness, Prayer, Proverbs, Tough Times, Trials with 2 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 17:1 through 19:29

A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

                                                                                                                         Proverbs 17:22

The human spirit can endure a sick body,

but who can bear a crushed spirit?

                                                                                                                         Proverbs 18:14

Have you ever had a broken or crushed spirit?

These two scriptures tell us a lot about what our Heavenly Father thinks about the hard times of our lives.

God knows…

  • It’s hard
  • It sucks the life out of you
  • It’s worse than being physically ill
  • You can’t bear it on your own

It’s interesting, the Lord didn’t tell us to pray, read our Bibles, or go to church during these tough times, even though they’re a crucial part of getting through the hard places in life; what He did was give us a prescription, a medicine He said was good.

How amazing is this, the only medicine mentioned in all the Old Testament is a cheerful heart!

How can we have a cheerful heart when our spirit is broken and crushed?

Why am I discouraged?

Why is my heart so sad?

I will put my hope in God!

I will praise him again—

my Savior and  my God!

Psalm 42: 5-6 

 I think a cheerful heart is a hopeful heart.

The times in my life when I have been the most depressed were times when I had lost hope for the future.

How can we have hope for the future in today’s crazy world?

What do we do when we can’t see past tomorrow, much less next week, or next year?

  1. Put our hope in Jesus Christ–settle this once and for all
  2. Evaluate our level of brokeness–are  you having a bad day or is this something serious?
  3. Seek spiritual counseling and/or psychological counseling–don’t try to handle this alone
  4. Find something or someone to make you laugh–don’t run away from people
  5. Seek the joy in the day (nature and music are a couple of my favorites-God meets me in these places )
  6. Believe tomorrow will be a better day

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for my friends on this journey.  I feel  there is someone reading this post who has a broken heart.  Holy Spirit, meet them today.  Relieve the pressure.  Give them the tools to bring hope into their lives.  Thank you for hearing my prayer!  In Jesus Name.  Amen and amen!

Have you taken your medicine today?

 

 ©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 20:1 through 22:16

Are You Plotting Evil or Planning Peace? –Proverbs 12:20

May 30, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Choices, Depression, Family, Finances, Health, Issues Women Face, Proverbs, Tough Times, Trials with 0 Comments


Today’s Scripture Reading: Proverbs 11:1-13:25

 

Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace! –Proverbs 12:20

Do you have  joy in your life?

When I hear the word joy, I immediately think of two songs:

I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart

and

Joy to the World–Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog

*Clink on these links with caution. These songs will get stuck in your head, believe me!

 

When I got serious and tried to define joy I had difficulty, so I looked it up:

The Tyndale Bible Dictionary defines joy as a positive human

condition that can be either feeling or action. The Bible uses “joy”

in both senses.

When the Bible speaks of joy as a feeling, it’s is a feeling called

forth by well-being, success, or good fortune. A person automatically

experiences it because of certain favorable circumstances. It cannot

be commanded.

When the Bible speaks of joy as an action, it’s something that

Scripture commands. That joy is action that can be engaged in

regardless of how the person feels.  –Tyndale Bible Dictionary

 

“Planning peace” is joy in action and the sense of well-being we have when we “plan peace” give us joy as a feeling.

I’ve always had it backwards. I prayed for joy so that I could be joyful when I should have been thinking and planning ways to sow peace into my life and the lives of those I come in contact and then I would have joy!

Like so many things, joy is a choice:

Sow evil, reap deceit.

or

Sow peace, reap joy.

Heavenly Father, help to plan peace for this day! Help us to remember what we send into the lives of others comes back into our own. Use us as a peacemaker today. We want Your joy!

 

In Jesus’ Name. Amen and Amen!

 ©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Proverbs 14:1-16:33

5 Things to Do When Life Doesn’t Make Sense—Proverbs 3: 5-6

May 27, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Depression, Divorce, Ezra, Family, Finances, Proverbs, Tough Times, Trials, Trust, Word of God with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 1:1 through Proverbs 4:27

Have you ever had a time in your life when you just didn’t understand how God could allow something to happen?

I’ve been there many times in my life.

There have been things I’ve experienced that left me wondering…

“God, why would you allow this to happen to me?”

Or…

“God, why did you give me this beautiful gift and then take away?”

There are just some things we would rather not have at all than to have them for just a minute and then in an instant, they’re gone.

What do I do when I feel this way?

Remember

  • All of the tough times God has brought me through
  • How He has used those tough times to help me to minister to others
  • How God has worked my tough times out for my good and His Glory
  • That I see life through a pin-hole and my Heavenly Father, the God of the Universe sees and knows the big and eternal picture
  • The party is in heaven not on this sinful earth

Pray

Tell God all the details of my pain– every question, and concern

  • For God’s love and comfort to be greater than my grief
  • For my faith to be strengthened
  • For scripture to be brought to my remembrance
  • For God to be glorified during this difficult time

Read His Word

  • Expect Him to speak to me
  • Record it when He does
  • Hold my Bible, sleep with it when I need a physical reminder of God’s Presence

Be Alone With Him

  • I call it “Porch Time”
  • Not praying , not reading just being with Him

Wait

  • For time to pass
  • The unknown to be known
  • Heaven to make all things clear

Today’s scriptures in the Proverbs had so many  truths but Proverbs 3: 5-6 (This is one you should memorize) jumped off the page as the blueprint for tough times.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding

Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

 

Father, I trust you and I’m going to do my best not to depend on my own understanding!

 

Amen and Amen!

 

 

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Proverbs 5:1 through Proverbs 7:27

How to Get Your Prayers Answered—Psalm 79:9

May 19, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Biblical Principles, Depression, Divorce, Failure, Family, Finances, Health, leadership, Marriage, Parenting, Prayer, Spiritual Disciplines, Tough Times, Trials, Workplace with 1 Comment

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Psalms 79 through 82

Do you struggle in knowing how to pray?

Do you question the discipline of prayer when your prayers aren’t answered?

Then I would encourage you to read Psalm 79 out loud.

As you read this imagine Asaph as a mediator between the Israelites and God. His way of talking to God in this psalm reminds me of Moses.

Asaph gives God the gory details of everything that is going on in “His” (God’s) land.  It’s the same old story:  complaint, prayer, and promise to be good next time (Does this sound familiar?)

But in verse nine it takes an interesting turn.  Here’s the prayer we can learn from Asaph—

Help us, O God of our salvation!

Help us for the glory of your name.

Save us and forgive our sins

For the honor of Your Name.

Psalm 78:9

What could happen–

–if–

the only thing we cared about was making sure our life glorified and honored the name of Jesus?

I know Asaph wanted God to go in and kill their enemies, so his motive may not have been entirely pure, but there’s still a lesson for us to learn.

This life is not about our glory.

It’s not about our leaders’ glory.

It’s not about our country’s glory.

It’s about pointing EVERYTHING and EVERYONE to Jesus so that He receives the glory and the honor.

What if our prayers sounded something like this…

  • when we prayed for finances– we prayed for God to intervene so that He would receive glory and honor
  • when we prayed for a spouse– we prayed for God to divinely place us with the person in whom He could get the most glory
  • when we prayed for a career change– we believed God for His Glory and Honor to be noticed is His career choice for us
  • when we prayed for our healing –we first asked God what we needed to do to facilitate the healing process and then we asked him to intervene in our health in a way that would bring His Kingdom the most glory

Friends, make no mistake, I am not here yet!

But I want to be; I’m moving toward this goal by “Knowing Him More.”

The bottom line: 

If every prayer we prayed asked God to work the circumstances so that He received the glory and the honor, ALL of our prayers would be answered!

 

To God Be The Glory!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:  Psalm 83; 1 Chronicles 29:23-25; 2 Chronicles 1:1; 1 Kings 2: 13 through 3:4; 2 Chronicles 1: 2-6; 1 Kings 3: 5-15; 2 Chronicles 1:7-13

9 Things to Do When You Feel Hopeless–Psalm 143

May 15, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Choices, Depression, Failure, Fear, Health, Prayer, Tough Times, Trials, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 131, 133; Psalms 138-141, 143

Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. –Psalms 143:7

Have you ever been in this place?

King David, “The man after God’s own heart,” who wrote these words knew about depression.  He probably didn’t call it depression. Depression is a term that has become a household word only in the last 40-50 years, but he certainly mentioned one of the common characteristics of depression–hopelessness:

What do you do when you’ve lost all hope?

God allowed David to go through times of depression and hopelessness. He also  had David journal these times in the Psalms so that you and I can make it through our times of hopelessness.

If you are severely depressed by all means seek medical help, but for many of us following David’s example could be the missing piece in our pursuit of hope.

Here’s what David did:

1. Go to God–Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea (Psalm 143:1).

2. Tell Him exactly how you feel-My enemy has chased me.  He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to lie in darkness like those in the grave.  I’m losing all hope; I’m paralyzed with fear (Psalms 143:3-4).

3. Remember–I remember the days of old, I ponder all Your great works and think about what You have done (Psalms 143:5).

4. Spend time worshiping God–I lift my hands to You in prayer.  I thirst for You as parched land thirsts for rain (Psalms 143:9).

5. Update God on your Progress–Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depressions deepens.  Don’t turn away from me, or I will die (Psalms 143:7).

6. Trust God for the outcome–Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You (Psalms 143:8).

7. Ask for direction–Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you (Psalms 143:8b).  May Your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing (Psalm 143:10b).

8. Be teachable–Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God (Psalm 143:10).

9. Have the right motive–For the glory of Your name, O Lord, preserve my life.  Because of Your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress (Psalms 143:11).

Heavenly Father, I pray for my friends who feel hopeless tonight. Pursue them. Come close.  Lord, help them to know that Your Word is their lifeline. Holy Spirit, speak to them. Give them hope.  Heal their sadness.  Replace it with Your joy.  Lord, do it for the Glory of Your Name.

In Jesus’ Name.  Amen and Amen!



©2013, Dianne Guthmuller
 
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 144-145; Psalm 88-89

What If–Psalm 124

May 14, 2013 in 2013 Journey, Believing God in the Hard Times, Choices, Depression, Fear, Psalms, The Hurting World, Tough Times, Trust with 0 Comments

Today’s Scripture Reading:  Psalm 103; Psalms 108 through 110; Psalms 122, 124

Do you ever play the “what-if” game?

What if I would have…

  • been born at a different time
  • lived in a different country
  • had a different set of parents
  • married a different person
  • been smarter, thinner, darker, lighter, etc…

King David played the what-if game too:

1 What if the Lord had not been on our side?
Let all Israel repeat:
2 What if the Lord had not been on our side
when people attacked us?
3 They would have swallowed us alive
in their burning anger.
4 The waters would have engulfed us;
a torrent would have overwhelmed us.
5 Yes, the raging waters of their fury
would have overwhelmed our very lives.

6 Praise the Lord,
who did not let their teeth tear us apart!
7 We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap.
The trap is broken, and we are free!
8 Our help is from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

          Psalm 124

I can just see King David looking out over Jerusalem at sunset, rubbing his chin and saying these words and then pausing for a long time to think about what it would be like and then saying the words again.

What if the Lord had not been on your side?

Where would you be?

I’m serious when I say this, if the Lord had not been on my side I believe I would be in a psych hospital or dead.  I’m not trying to be a drama queen, but I cannot put into words the peace that Jesus Christ has brought into my life…peace in the midst of life’s storms.

I often wonder how people who don’t believe in Jesus cope with the day-to-day challenges of life.  Who do they turn to in the middle of the night when they’re scared to death?  Where do they go when life just doesn’t make sense?

These are tough times that we live in.  It’s really easy to ask questions like:

What if…

  • I lose my job
  • I lose my house
  • I get cancer
  • I lose my religious freedom

The list could go on and on—

As Christians we will always have a choice…

We can live in constant fear

Or we can say with David…

Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

Amen and Amen!

©2013, Dianne Guthmuller
 

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 131, 133; Psalms 138 through 141; Psalm 143

 

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