Author: Jayne Lawson

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

There are a lot  of people who are fearful of waking up November 4^th and hearing the results of the 2020 presidential election. I’ve heard speculations of what would happen to America if a particular candidate is elected. I’ve read several posts on social media where our society as we know it is doomed depending upon who is elected as president of our nation. So many of these anxieties are not founded upon accurate facts, and the fears generated lead to anger, hatred, depression, and despair. No good comes from it.

We tend to grasp on to what feeds our personal beliefs, and often this skews our objectivity. People readily embrace the “facts” that support their viewpoints, and they become increasingly anxious when they hear comments contrary to their hopes. For a while, I, too, was caught up in the fervor sweeping our nation because I forgot something very, very important. I forgot who was going to be in charge on November 4^th.

No matter what happens at the polls, God will still be God. His will will continue to be accomplished despite what any man can do. We don’t always know the big picture, and that’s when we must trust God for the outcome. The Bible tells us that it is God who places those in authority over us, whether it’s a pastor, a governing official, a boss… God is in control of it all. Daniel 2:21 states, “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:” When I remember that, my fears dissipate.

Remembering to keep my eyes on Christ is the only solution to my heart’s worries over society’s ills. When my thoughts focus on God’s Word, the problems of the world fade away. (Hebrews 12:2) I am reminded of who holds tomorrow in His hand, and I am free from fear and worry! Praise the Lord!

I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live for day to day
I don’t borrow from the sunshine, for it’s skies may turn to gray
I don’t worry o’er the future for I know what Jesus said
And today I’ll walk beside Him for He knows what lies ahead
 
Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand

(from “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Ira Stanphill)

“There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” – Proverbs 19:21

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Trust God; His ways are so much higher than ours!

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” – 1 Peter 2:9

I am not an athletic person. Never have been. I remember many times in junior high school when I waited, somewhat embarrassingly, to be chosen to be on a team. Inevitably, I was one of the last to be selected because I was never an asset to a sports team. I knew I was chosen only because everyone in our physical education classes had to be on one team or the other. Even after being chosen, I was usually at the bottom of the line-up if we were playing softball, and I warmed the bench a lot if the game was basketball or tag football. Being “chosen” to be on a team in school didn’t have much meaning for me.

Today, I am on a different team for which I was specifically chosen by its Captain. I was not chosen because I was the last one available. I was chosen because my Captain wanted me on His team! He saw something in me that even I didn’t know was there, and He believed I would be a great team player! I am so happy that He saw beyond my outward appearance and looked upon my heart as it states in 1 Samuel 16:7. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” I am sure by now you realize who my Captain is. He is the Lord Jesus Christ, and His team consists of all those who have trusted Him as their Saviour.

I have no particular attributes that set me above any other member on our team. I am not the greatest teacher or the most talented singer. I am not the most outgoing when it comes to visitations, and I am not the greatest organizer of events. Yet, Jesus still wants me on His team. Why? Because He loves me! Jesus knows my abilities well because He gave them to me, and He has placed me in the exact place where I can serve Him to the best of my ability.

Maybe you aren’t a teacher or singer either. Maybe your talents lie in areas such as technology or food management. Maybe you are an encourager or a good listener. Whatever your gifts are, Jesus has a place for you on the team. All you need to be is willing to do whatever He asks, remembering He will not ask you to do something for which He will not equip you to do.

The first step is trusting Christ as your Saviour. After that, let Him show you what He wants you to do, then do it! It’s that simple. His Spirit will guide you and help you as you serve Him, and you will be filled with the joy of the Lord! There is also a pep squad! Hebrews 12:1 tells us, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” It’s true! All of heaven will be cheering you on!

Jesus, my Lord will love me forever,
From Him no pow’r of evil can sever,
He gave His life to ransom my soul;
Now I belong to Him;

Now I belong to Jesus,
Jesus belongs to me,
Not for the years of time alone,
But for eternity.

(from “Now I Belong to Jesus” by Norman J. Clayton)

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” – John 15:16

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It’s good to be on the winning team!

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10

One of the challenges my health coach presented to me was taking a photo with a bunch of pumpkins whose weight equaled what I had lost. Off I went to the grocery store, which had a huge display of pumpkins outside its doors. As I chose the appropriately weighted pumpkins, I found I couldn’t hold them all. I wasn’t strong enough to lift them. The thought that came to me was, “How in the world did I manage to lug 55 pounds of fat on my body for decades?”

There are a lot of things in life that require strength. Not necessarily physical strength either. It takes strength to move forward in life when things are tough. It takes strength to open yourself up to another person. It takes strength to stand up for what you believe when it seems you’re all alone. Where can a person find this kind of strength?

The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” This means that I can do anything when Jesus is my Lord and Saviour because He empowers me with His wisdom, guidance, and power through His Holy Spirit. How do I tap into His strength? As I read His Word, I learn more and more about Him, rejoicing in who He is, and what He means to me. Nehemiah wrote that the joy of the Lord is my strength.

When I seek God intimately, His presence in my life brings me great joy. Joy in the knowledge that He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), joy that He is preparing a place for me in heaven (John 14:2), joy that He will never leave me (Deuteronomy 31:8)… my list goes on and on! With this great joy in my heart, I can face anything!

Sometimes life seems like words and music
That can’t quite become a song.
So we cry inside, and we try it again
And wonder what could be wrong.
But, when we turn to the Lord at the end of ourselves
Like we’ve done a time or two before
We find His truth is the same
As it has always been
We’ll never need more

It’s not in trying But in trusting
It’s not in running But in resting
Not in wondering But in praying
That we find the strength of the Lord

(from “The Strength of the Lord” by Larnelle Harris)

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” – Ephesians 6:10

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Jesus is my strength! Jesus is my song! Jesus is my Saviour!

“The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.” – Psalm 118:14

This is certainly an usual season in our lives, isn’t it? Not only are we contending with an aggressive virus, but we also have disunity in our country that is propagated by our governing officials! As we slowly begin to emerge from a national quarantine, we are heading into a presidential election in which candidates are clearly on different sides of the fence. There is a crisis in our land, and people are afraid.

Fear is widespread on several fronts.  First, there is still the fear of the coronavirus. Many still practice social distancing and wear masks, while others choose to ignore these recommendations, thereby causing the mask-wearers to be uncomfortable in public places. Secondly, as November 3^rd draws near, there is the rising fear of which political party will be in control of America. One side fears a “socialistic-type” government, and the other side trembles in fear at the possibility of a more conservative government that will continue on for another four years.

There is a continued fear of civil unrest, distrust of law enforcement, and instability of our economy. There is fear that we will not be able to buy the things we want or get the medical care we need.

Fear is everywhere, and there is no real end in sight to these situations that generate fear in our hearts. So what do we do? How do we combat our fears? We eliminate our fears by remembering who God is, and what He can do. 1 John 4:8 and 16 remind us  that God is love. In His great love, He has redeemed us (John 3:16), thus  making us His own, and He promises to take care of us. 1 Peter 5:8 tell us we should be “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” We do this through prayer and Bible reading. Spending time with God helps alleviate fear when we share the with Him, and then allow Him to speak to our hearts through His Word.

When we remember that God loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son, Jesus, to have an eternal relationship with us, we can be assured that He will take care of us. Once we are convinced of His everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), we can release any fears we have because we know that the God who gave His Son for us will most assuredly take care of us in any situation.

1 John 4:8 states, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” God’s love for us is that perfect love.

Regardless of what we awaken to on November 4^th, we do not need to fear because God is the One who still controls all things. Nothing takes Him by surprise, and everything is always under His watchful eye. His will is what will be accomplished regardless of what humanity chooses to do. God cannot be thwarted. Take comfort in knowing that God’s plans will come to fruition no matter what happens, and He will take care of those who belong to Him.

If you find yourself becoming overanxious, take time to draw nearer to God. Read His Word and let it soak into your mind. Allow His Holy Spirit to bring to your remembrance those verses from the Bible that will soothe your spirit and strengthen your faith in Him.  It is Jesus who holds tomorrow in His hand, and He will never fail you.

Earthly friends may prove untrue,
Doubts and fears assail;
One still loves and cares for you
One who will not fail.
 
In life’s dark and bitter hour,
Love will still prevail;
Trust His everlasting pow’r
Jesus will not fail
 
Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails,
Heav’n and earth may pass away,
But Jesus never fails.

(from “Jesus Never Fails” by A.A. Luther)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10

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No one cares for you like Jesus. Give Him your fears, and let Him give you His peace.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.” – Psalm 84:5

So often, especially now on my health and wellness journey, I am reminded of Philippians 4:13 which states, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” When I think about this verse, it reinforces the fact that I am not alone in any struggle I face. God promises to strengthen me through His beloved Son. Today, however, as I read the key verse, I realized that God has chosen to BLESS me through His strength. This realization is so amazing to me. When I think of the enormity of what it means – what it truly means to be blessed of God – I am astounded that He would choose to bless me!

As I shared my thoughts with a friend, she commented that in Matthew 5 (her devotional for today) recorded the words of Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount. In referene to individuals, He used the term “blessed” 9 times! And then, Jesus told them to rejoice!! God’s blessings should cause us all to rejoice!!

What does it mean to be blessed of God? Here are a few examples of individuals in the Bible whose lives were blessed by the Lord.

• Abraham – “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” – Genesis 12:2-3
• Isaac – “And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.” – Genesis 26:24
• Jacob – “And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel.” – Genesis 35:9-10
• Ruth – “And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast shewed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich.” – Ruth 3:10
• Mary – “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” – Luke 1:28

When I read the Biblical accounts of these people (and many more), I realized that to be blessed of God is a big deal! When I read a verse that tells me I am blessed of God, I realize it is so much more than the Lord meeting my daily needs or providing a few luxuries in my life. It means that God Himself, the Creator of the universe, has chosen to bestow His favor upon me. GOD’S FAVOR!! I cannot even comprehend the enormity of what that encompasses! However, coupling my limited understanding of that does mean with the knowledge that I am so undeserving, my heart is filled with an overwhelming gratitude to the One who loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) that spans eternity.

Being blessed of God… it is too amazing to even put into words!

I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like thine can peace afford.
I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

I need thee every hour; teach me thy will,
And thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee!
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

(from “I Need Thee Every Hour” by Annie S. Hawks and Robert Lowry)

“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” – Jeremiah 17:7

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Rejoice in the Lord always!! Again, I say rejoice!

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”- Philippians 4:13

Some of you are following my health journey that began during the coronavirus quarantine. It has been 5.5 months now, and I am thrilled to report that I have lost a total of 51.2 pounds and 33.5 inches overall. That is so amazing to me! I have battling with my weight since I was a teenager, and frankly, I have never had success like I have had on this health journey! It is phenomenal!

My journey began this year on May 1st, and the last few months have been life-changing for me in several ways. First, my physical health has greatly improved. My lab values from my physical in August were all within normal limits for the first time in forever! I have less knee and hip pain, and I have more energy than I thought possible. As I have remodeled my eating habits, my overall well-being has been enriched by the healthy practices I have incorporated into my lifestyle.

In addition to the physical benefits, my spiritual life has grown as well. I have spent more quality time with the Lord. My devotional time has been more focused, and my prayer time has been more intimate. As I take time to really listen to God through His Word, I am gaining so much more from my personal Bible reading time.

When I reflect on my health journey, I often return to my “whys,” that is the reasons for which I chose to embark on this venture. There are multiple reasons, but two very important ones constantly remain in the forefront of my mind. First, I want to be an active part of the lives of my three grandchildren. Perhaps one day, I’ll even be a great-grandmother! 2 Timothy 1:5 states, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.” I want to be to my grandchildren what Lois was to Timothy, which leads to my next “why.”

I want to be the best me I can be spiritually. I want to have a deep, abiding relationship with my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. For me, to know Him means to make time to read His Word, listen to what He has to say to me through it, and communicate with Him on an on-going basis. I want Him to be first in my life in all areas… my writing, my health journey, my entire life! The Bible tells me, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” (Colossians 3:23). Putting Him first is not always easy for me; sometimes my humanity gets in the way. My health journey is helping me remember to put God first.

So, what have I learned? Perhaps the greatest lesson for me has been that I REALLY CAN do all things through Christ. When I choose to make Him the priority in my life, there are no limits to what I can accomplish with God at my side. He is omnipotent (“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26). There is nothing I can inquire of Him that He doesn’t know. He is omniscient (“…God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” – 1 John 3:20). There is nowhere I can go where I am alone and on my own. He is omnipresent (“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” – Proverbs 15:3)

I have also learned that when God answers my prayers, it increases my faith; when He delays His answer, I am learning to be patient and trust Him, and when He doesn’t answer, it is for my protection and redirection. Thus, I am learning to be trust Him more and more, realizing that God only does what is best, right, and good for me. “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” – Psalm 91:2.

I am learning that when I do delight in the Lord, He does give me the desires of my heart… exactly as He said He would (Psalm 37:4), but He is NOT a genie who magically grants all my wishes! His ways are so much higher than my ways (Isaiah 55:9), and that it is my responsibility to trust Him in all things (Proverbs 3:5) regardless of how He chooses to answer my prayers. I am trusting that HOW God answers my prayers is a true demonstration of His great love for me! (Jeremiah 31:3)

Lastly, I am reminded that I am a work in progress. Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Each day takes me one step closer to my completion, and that is exciting, but I still have so much to learn! “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” So happy that I am in the Potter’s hand!

So, what’s next? A healthy BMI. Physically, that’s my Body Mass Index, a height-to-weight ratio that indicates levels of obesity. I am still in the “overweight” range, but on my way to the “healthy” range. Spiritually, it is my Believing More Index. That’s my faith-to-application ratio that indicates levels of applying my faith into my life. I am working on that, too, and looking forward to that day when my faith becomes sight! “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”- Titus 2:13

My health transformation has been so amazing, and I am excited to continue on… growing less physically and growing more spiritually! Please pray for me as I journey forward!

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true
Change my heart, O God, may I be like You

You are the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true
Change my heart, O God, may I be like You

(from “Change My Heart, O God” by Eddie Espinoza)

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” – 2 Timothy 2:21

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May I be a vessel of honor fit for the Master’s use.