Truth

October 25, 2010
What is truth? Isn't the truth how it really is? No qualifications, no greyness, nothing left out?

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. John 4:23.

God is always completely honest. He always speaks the truth. If you want a completely unbiased and honest answer, ask God. He sees and knows everything.

There are lots of reasons why we don't speak the whole truth. Often it's out of fear - fear of retribution, fear of causing offense, fear of exposure. We often lie to protect ourselves or other people. What would the world be like if we always told the truth? How about if we were always honest with God? Do you feel you can talk honestly with Him? Why or why not? Perhaps that's something you can talk to Him about.

I realised a little while ago that I was not being honest with God. I had got caught up with trying to get along with Him. I misunderstood how He felt about me and who He is. God is truth. Therefore He is always completely honest. As His daughter He wants me to be honest too, especially with Him. And He loves me. I had completely missed the point. I have accepted His forgiveness and His love. Therefore I am His. I don't need to try and get along with Him as if He was a difficult boss or a tyrannical teacher. He's perfect and so is His love for me. Therefore it is safe for me to be honest at all times with Him. In fact He invites me to be. I just have to accept the invitation.

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 

Peace

October 11, 2010
Only this weekend, my husband and I realised that we had lost our peace. Somehow, in the busyness of life, we had just walked away from it.

"Shalom is a Hebrew word, so much richer in its range of meanings than the English word "peace", which usually refers to the absence of outward conflict or to a state of inner calm. The concept of Shalom includes these ideas but goes beyond them, meaning "wholeness", "completeness", "finished word", "perfection", "safety", or "wellness". Shalom comes from ...
Continue reading...

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 

Circumstances

August 9, 2010
The Lord says "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name." Psalm 91:14.

For most of my Christian walk I have taken Psalm 91 with a pinch of salt. I imagined that the psalmist must have written it from a burst of grateful emotion. He was expressing what he felt he should express. To me, it seemed an exaggeration or an ideal.

Lately, God has challenged me to read Psalm 91 out loud, declaring it as if it were true. I have been doing this every day for three weeks, ...
Continue reading...

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 

Purpose

July 19, 2010
What is the purpose of your life? What are you here for? It's hard to condense it down into one thing. I could say that I am here to raise my children, to love my husband, and do as much good as I can. Perhaps I could say I am here to write? Good things, but as a purpose they do not satisfy. They seem incidental. Why exactly am I here?

"I was made to adore you, made just for you." Toby Mac.

I love this song. This condenses my purpose down into one thing. I was put on this earth so that I could ...
Continue reading...

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 

Certainty

June 28, 2010
I have been told that there are only two certainties - death and taxes. I disagree. There is only one.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Rom 8:38.

The only certainty in life is God and His love. He created and is in control of everything, so He is the only certainty.

And really, this should be enough. If everything is made by Him, and for Him, and is under His command, and He is perfectly good, and He loves us, what more do we need?

We live in a world that bomb...
Continue reading...

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 

Sympathy

June 21, 2010
How often I have felt when bad things happen, that the event itself is not the worst thing, but other people's reaction to it. To be told in the midst of suffering to "just get over it" or "smile and it will turn out alright" has caused me great discouragement. When I am suffering, what I want is someone who will sit with me and try to understand. I want sympathy.

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us com...
Continue reading...

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 

Doubt

June 15, 2010
There are some things that we naturally do not doubt, and some that we always do. Our doubts and our fears can be peculiar to us. They are an amalgamation of things we have been taught, and experienced. They often arise out of our desire to protect ourselves.

But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything fr...
Continue reading...

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 

Suffering

June 7, 2010
I have no desire to suffer, and I have no romantic notions about it. I do try and avoid it whenever possible, or shorten it or comfort myself in the midst.

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 1 Peter 4:12.

Suffering and trials are a part of life. Everyone is afflicted. We cope in different ways - sharing, closing up, denial, full immersion, blaming someone else, punishing yourself. Some sufferings are obv...
Continue reading...

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 

Need

May 31, 2010
I think that I have often been told to distinguish between a 'need' and a 'want' when asking for things from God. I have come to the conclusion that there is no difference between being in 'need' and being in 'want'. We are not called to sort our prayer requests into 'acceptable' and 'unacceptable' before placing them. You are acceptable to God and He wants to provide for you. That is enough.

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:...
Continue reading...

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 

Obedience

May 24, 2010
Obedience means doing what you're told. That doesn't sound very fun, or exciting, or original. But obedience has its place. Being obedient means you don't get into trouble. It gives you a measure of protection. That's why we obey right? To avoid punishment.

Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice." Luke 11:28.

God blesses those who obey Him. They don't just avoid trouble, God actively blesses them. Why? Because God loves obedience; true he...
Continue reading...

Posted by Esther Stewart.

 
« Newer posts
Older posts »