Knowing God - He Notices You!

Luke 8:47

                         

 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet.

NIV

This woman had been suffering for twelve years with female problems.  She had gone to doctor after doctor to the point that she spent all of her money.  She might have felt that no one understood or knew all that she had gone through and was going through.  Her ailment was unknown to the person standing next to her, but she was well aware of her affliction.  When she reached out to Jesus, He responded.  This woman did not and could not go unnoticed by Jesus.  Sister, do you feel like your infirmity is something you carry alone?  Have people grown weary or have they become numb to your pain and your lot?  Jesus hasn’t.  He notices you…you are a woman that cannot go unnoticed as you reach out for Jesus in your long term affliction.  Come.  Tremble.  Fall at His feet.  He wants to honor your faith in Him.  He loves you.  You are not unnoticed.

Proverbs - His Counsel Stands

Proverbs 19:21

There are many devices in a man's heart;

 nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

We can ponder over a situation until we are consumed by it.  Solutions, coping mechanisms, quick fixes and conclusions can flood our hearts as we approach a difficult situation.  We can make plans about our future, conclude the cause and effect of a situation and think we actually have the ultimate authority in our lives.  This is not true.  It is the counsel of the Lord that shall stand so we ought to seek His advice concerning all matters.  He is our Maker and He has wisdom and ideas that are sure to match the weight of a situation.  As we come before Him in prayer, seeking His counsel, we can pour out our own devices and ideas.  The key is to be sure to know that His counsel is what we need and seek through it all.  This will allow us to hear Him and have our lives built and led by the One who really does know what is best.  No matter how we may think we may have the best idea, a woman with humility of mind will quietly consider she may not have the ultimate solution to a problem.  A humble woman will implement her strategies in a cautious way seeking to be open to any redirect from the Lord.   Let us remember that whether it is something we think of or someone around us makes plans that affect us, we must remember that the counsel of the Lord shall stand. 

Knowing God - He is Able

2 Cor 9:8

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things,

 may abound to every good work:

“And God is able….”  If we just stopped at this point reading this truth, we would find ourselves in a great place of courage and revelation.  God is able.  God is mighty and desire’s to show Himself powerful.  His abilities are what we, as mere men, need to focus on, worship and draw from.  Whatever things we face, internally or externally, should have to face the ability of God.  Whatever obstacles position themselves around us, must be confronted with the ability of God.  What are some things the Word of God reveals about God’s ability?

Luke 3:8 – God is able to make sons of Abraham from stones

Acts 20:32 – God’s grace is able to build us up

Romans 4:21 – What He promises He is able to perform

Romans 14:4 – God is able to make us stand

Ephesians 3:20 – God is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we can ask or think

Hebrews 2:18 – God is able to help those who are tempted

God is able.  Take some time today to enjoy all that God is able to do.  Remember that He is much more powerful and clever than you and I have yet to perceive.  Whatever may be intimidating you today is no match for the God who is able!

Proverbs - Hear Counsel!

Proverbs 19:20

Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

Sometimes we can be women who just think we know things based on years of experience.  It is true that we have learned some things but God’s ways are much higher than ours and we will never exhaust His wisdom and instruction.  This is why consistent bible study, personal and going to church is so important.  This is why asking godly friends for advice is so needed.  We want to be wise women so we must be women who hear counsel and then receive instruction.  We can’t just hear it and if we don’t hear it we won’t be able to receive it. 

Another truth is here for mothers.  Proverbs is directed to help the young man as we saw in chapter one.  This truth here tells this young person to hear counsel and receive instruction so that they will eventually get it and be wise as they grow up.  Moms, we must be giving counsel and instruction to our children. Counsel is advice concerning a specific situation with standards and values attached to it.  Instruction involves steps of obedience that can be taken to go towards that counsel.  Sisters, when our children do something wrong or find themselves in a dilemma, we would do well to give counsel AND instruction.  This type of combination has the potential to cause our children to be wise when they grow up.  Is there one or the other that you find yourself weak in?   Ask the Lord to help you give both.  He is our Helper and He is the best Counselor and Instructor we can have!

Knowing God - God Speaks Our Name

Ex 3:4

 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said,

Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

God Speaks Our Name

The Lord saw Moses turn aside to see this bush that burned with fire.  When the Lord saw this, the Lord spoke Moses’ name twice.  The experience changed from a curious investigation of a physical phenomenon to a relational dialogue with God Himself.  The Lord is calling our names today.  When we ‘turn aside to see’, the Lord knows He has our attention and moves us away from what originally caught our attention and towards a place of hearing His voice.  In our busy society we often ‘drive thru’ the presence of God, hoping to chow down our spiritual fast food to hold us over.  This may happen at times, but should not be our regular way of eating.  We must be a people who ‘turn aside’.  Turn aside from the television.  Turn aside from the computer.  Turn aside from our works and quiet ourselves to hear Him say our name too.  “Dolores, Dolores”, He may say.  “Karen, Karen”, He beckons.  “Audree, Audree!” He addresses.  When we hear this, let us be like Moses and say, “Here I am!”

Proverbs - Anger

Proverbs 19:19

A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment:

for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

If we are women who are going to punish people with our anger we will suffer punishment.  Anger is usually rooted in pride and considering our plans and feelings as if they are the most important.  We must humble ourselves in order to not react with wrath.  Wrath does not produce what God wants done in a situation.  If we sense that boiling blood coming on, we should put a hand over our mouth, go somewhere fast, and humble ourselves before the Lord praising Him and thanking Him that no matter what just happened, He can work it together for good.  When we are angry we are basically declaring that we don’t trust God with the situation and our judgment is upon the situation. 

Another part of this proverb tells us that if we deliver people from the consequences of their wrath we will have to do it again and again.  If our husbands or children do something out of anger we must let them reap the consequences so that they may see the error of their way.  Sure, we can come alongside and help them but never deliver them.  If we apologize on their behalf or try to make amends apart from them, we will only contribute to the problem.  Wrath – anger with punishment – is God’s alone and the sooner they see the destruction from such a position, the sooner they might cry out to God for forgiveness and deliverance.

Knowing God - The Lord Sees You Spotless

Song 4:7

 Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.

The Lord Sees You Spotless

                                                                                

Here we learn about the Lord’s love for His bride.  He tells His bride that we are all fair and there is no spot in us.  What matters most is the Lord’s view of us and not ours or anyone else’s view of us.  When we are in Christ, all things are new.  Old things are passed away and we are new creations in Christ.  We have been clothed in His righteousness and when we come into the presence of our God He affirms that we are fair, beautiful and there is not spot in us.  He calls us His love.  Do you know that you are the Lord’s love?  Are you looking for the favor, acceptance or approval of someone other than the Lord?  You will be frustrated, confused and desperate if this is your state.  You can stand on God’s judgment of you if, indeed, you are in Christ.  He says there is NO spot in you.  Walk in His righteousness today.  Enjoy His favor.  Consider His great love and acceptance towards you.  You are fair.  You are His love.  There is NO spot in you.