Author: Jayne Lawson

“For we walk by faith, not by sight:” – 2 Corinthians 5:7

Today begins the 3^rd week of my health journey. It has been amazing for me both physically and spiritually. Part of my success comes from the support of a wonderful online community where people post their favorite recipes, share tips for success, or respond to questions from those seeking help on their own journeys.

I have read several posts where individuals are in despair when the numbers on the scale do not drop as much as they had hoped. Many say they have eaten right, drank lots of water, and didn’t cheat, but the scale did not reflect a change. They wondered what they had been doing wrong, and some have been close to quitting the program. Then the floodgates open! Responses pour in offering encouragement and help. The posts usually advise not focusing on what they’ve seen on the scale, but instead to continue as they’ve been doing knowing because often the results will come in the form of inches lost, more energy, looser-fitting clothes, etc! The pounds will come off eventually, but it takes time. Basically, their advice is “Don’t depend on what you see, depend on what you know to be true.”

It is the same way in my spiritual life. When I don’t see outward changes in my spiritual life, I get discouraged. I wonder how did I get behind in my Bible reading? Why don’t I remember to pray before I go to bed? Why can’t I remember verses anymore? I am focused on what I see before me, not what I know to be true. If I honestly examine my life, I see a woman who is becoming closer to God through quiet times of morning devotion in her prayer garden, through intermittent conversations with the Lord throughout the day, and through times of thoughtful meditation upon God’s Word as she researches for her writing. I cannot rely on what I “see,” I must depend upon my faith – what I know to be true, and I know that the Bible says if I “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:7) There is no sacred recipe for becoming closer to God. The only real commonality is that we must begin with faith in Jesus Christ, and then God works in each of according to our own unique circumstances.

As I strive to be a “doer” of the Word of God and not a “hearer” only (James 1:22), I am taking steps to become more spiritually healthy. Maybe I am behind in my Bible reading, but I am reading it more than I did before. Maybe I forget to pray before I go to sleep, but I do pray more than I did before. Maybe I can’t memorize as well as I did before, but I do remember those verses I did commit to memory long ago. These are the true facts that cannot always be seen, but are the stepping stones to a strong and healthy spiritual walk with the Lord.

I may not see the spiritual results I desire today, but that doesn’t mean they’re not quietly developing within me. I must keep on doing what I know is right in the sight of the Lord, and I know I will become closer to Him. The Scriptures tell us, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) As I seek God, I know He will reward me spiritually. I must set my sight on things above, not on things below! (Colossians 3:2)

When troubles rise and catch you unaware
The day to day of living seems unfair
So you try again all your dreams and plans
But they end up in defeat
The fancy frills that once brought thrills
Now leave you incomplete

And you wonder where you’re life’s gone wrong,
And why you can’t find peace
Your hope’s not gone, it’s just been too long
Since you’ve had to believe

Keep believing in what you know is true
Keep believing, you know the Lord will see you through
When troubles rise in your life
And you don’t know what to do,
You’ll be fine if you just keep believing 

(from “Keep Believing” by Tim Pedigo)

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

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“Faith is not knowing God can; it’s knowing God will!” – Ben Stein

“Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.” – Psalm 143:10

I have been a teacher for many years, and when people find out that I taught middle school for over 30 years, they usually say something like, “Wow! Middle school? You must be a special person!” My response is always the same. “To teach children in the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades, you either hate it, or love it like crazy.” I was the latter. I loved teaching these kids, and I gave it my heart and soul. But as much as I loved it, I still made mistakes. Sometimes it was in something I said, and my students would eagerly point it out. We’d usually have quite a chuckle over it! Sometimes there were mistakes in the textbooks, and I would be the one to explain the errors to the children. I am sure there were mistakes made that slipped by the students and me on several occasions! Mistakes just come with the territory!

However, there is a teacher who never makes mistakes, and His textbook is error-free!  That teacher is God, and His textbook is the Bible. There are so many lessons in life to be learned, and some of them take a very long time to master, but He is a very patient teacher. As His child, He teaches me continually,  and sometimes He has to teach me the same lesson over and over before I get it! But He never gives up on me! The Lord states in Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

God is also very thorough in His educating. He doesn’t just teach me a few things; He wants to teach me all things! John 14:26 states, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” When God teaches us, He goes beyond the traditional reading, writing, and ‘rithmentic. “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” 1 John 2:27.

What are the benefits of being taught by God?

• We gain knowledge and judgment. “Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.” Psalm 119:66
• We have peace. “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isaiah 54:13
• We learn to love. “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9
• We learn how to raise our children. “Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.” Judges 13:8
• We learn to identify sin. “That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.” Job 34:32
• We have salvation. “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.” Psalm 25:8
• We learn His truth. “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalm 86:11

I am so glad to know that God is my teacher. His lessons are exactly what I need in my life. He leads me through situations where I learn to depend upon Him, and He shows me the rich blessings I can have when I heed His teachings.

Teach me Thy way, O Lord, teach me Thy way;
Thy gracious aid afford, teach me Thy way.
Help me to walk aright; more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heav’nly light, teach me Thy way.

Long as my life shall last, teach me Thy way;
Where’er my lot be cast, teach me Thy way.
Until the race is run, until the journey’s done,
Until the crown is won, teach me Thy way.

(from “Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord” by Benjamin Ramsey)

“Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” – Psalm 25:5

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3 R’s of Spiritual Learning

• R – Recognition: Realize you’re a sinner
• R – Repentance: Turn from your sins and ask Jesus for His forgiveness of those sins
• R – Redemption: Accept Jesus as your Saviour and make Him Lord of your life

From here, you’ll have a new life in Christ, and the best teacher ever!

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” – Ephesians 3:20

The other day, I was trying to open a jar of pickles. I did everything I could think of to open that jar, but nothing worked. Finally, I took the jar to my husband. His fingers covered the lid, gave it a slight twist, and it popped off. After I thanked him, I jokingly said that I must have loosened it in order for him to get it off so easily, but the truth is, he has more strength in his hands than I do in mine. There are a lot of things that I rely on John to do for me simply because he is stronger than me. One of the wonderful things about him is that he often does things that are difficult for me before I even have a chance to ask!

God is like that. He is omnipotent… all powerful; there is nothing that God cannot do! His power is available to us 24/7 in the person of His Holy Spirit. When I reflect on the past, I can see numerous occasions when God’s power has evidenced itself in my life. Sometimes it was in situations where physical strength was needed. Other times it was emotional strength, but many times it was spiritual strength I needed. No matter the reason, God’s power is always accessible to His children.

Here are some examples of God’s great power.

• His creative power – “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
• His power over nature – “But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!” – Matthew 8:27
• His power to heal – “And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.” Luke 6:19
• His power over death – “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth…” John 11:43-44
• His redemptive power – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
• His power to forgive sins – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”- 1 John 1:9
• The power of His cross – “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
• The power of His gospel – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” – Romans 1:16
• His power to change lives – “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Only God has an eternal supply of power to impact an individual physically, mentally, and spiritually. And He has given us that power through the ministry of His Spirit. Feeling the need for some of that power today? All you need to do is go to the Father. He is waiting, willing, and able to give you all the strength you need to make it through any situation.

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 Phil McHugh)

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

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Need a little “Power-Aid?” Take a drink of God’s living water!

“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” – Hebrews 11:16

My mother passed away 27 years ago at the age of 65. The last 15 years of her life were difficult for her. She suffered multiple hospitalizations from an autoimmune disease that destroyed her kidneys, most likely a result of her exposure to radiation from the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima, Japan.

Although she endured so many hardships in her life, I remember her as a devoted mother. When I was to start kindergarten, she handmade 30 dresses for me in which to start school. (She was quite a seamstress!) She wanted me to have a dress for each day of the month. She taught me many things as I grew, including how to iron my father’s shirts, how to make rice (every Japanese girl had to know this!), and how to sew an invisible hem by hand.

Growing up in Japan, my mom was raised a Shintoist, but she never stopped me from attending church. After I was saved at the age of 12, I spent years sharing the gospel with my mom and praying for her salvation. Finally, in 1992, I had the privilege of leading my mother to Christ at the side of her hospital bed. Her excitement over being saved has never left me. I can remember her exclaiming to the first nurse that came into the room, “This is my first day as a Christian!” Along with my mother, the nurse and I cried tears of joy!

Her last year of life was a very difficult one, and when she entered the hospital for the last time, she was placed on a ventilator due to her inability to breathe well on her own. She remained alert and communicated to me by writing. When the realization came that she would never be able to be weaned off the breathing machine, and would be transferred to a chronic respiratory facility nearly 50 miles away, she made the decision to come off the ventilator. The doctor explained to her and me that her own lungs were not strong enough to sustain life, and without the aid of the machine, carbon dioxide levels would rise in her body, and she would eventually go to sleep and pass away.

My mother and I discussed this throughout the night, and while she fully understand the ramifications of coming of the ventilator, she did not want a future miles away from me, John, and her beloved grandchildren. Once she had made the decision, she slept peacefully. Early the next morning, as I sat beside her, she startled me by repeatedly hitting my hand and pointing to a corner of the ceiling. I looked, but saw nothing. She hastily scribbled a note.

“Don’t you see them?”

“Who?” I asked. No one was in the room, nor had been for quite a while. I thought she must be hallucinating.

She wrote furiously and handed me another paper. I read it as she kept pointing to the same spot.

“The angels. They’re in white!”

Stunned, I looked back to the ceiling again. I never saw them, but I never doubted they were there, ready to escort my mother to heaven. Their presence gave her an incredible assurance about the decision she had made. I still have those notes as a reminder than there are definitely angels among us. “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14)

Later, when the doctor arrived, my mother calmly wrote on a piece of paper the words “I want to go home.” He looked at her through very compassionate eyes, and said, “Sawako, you cannot go home. You need this machine to breathe.” Her eyes had the old familiar sparkle in them that I remembered so well. “No,” she wrote. “I want to go home to Jesus.” The doctor was speechless. He looked at me, and through my tears, I nodded and said, “She is ready to meet her Saviour.”

In less than 24 hours, my mother got her heart’s desire. She went home… to Jesus.

Before the Lord created me, He planned my life with you.
And He prepared you specially for all that you would do.
Then Jesus chose the best for me and sent me to your side
So I could see His life in you and you could be my guide.

You were there to teach me of Jesus before I understood,
You were there to tenderly love me when I thought nobody could.
You were there to comfort and hold me close when my days were filled with pain
I have seen God above through a mother’s love, all because you were there.
All because you were there…

(from “You Were There” by Ron and Shelly Hamilton)

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.” – Proverbs 31:10

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Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! I love you so much, and I still miss you more than words can say. I can’t wait to see you again one day in heaven!

“And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.” – Luke 10:39

I am an only child. I grew up with no siblings, but I do have sisters. I have sisters in the Lord.  These are women that I love dearly, and we have formed a bond through our love for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. One of my “sisters” is a woman who has taken me by the hand and embarked on a challenging journey with me. It is my journey toward a better life, and that sister is my health coach, Anna Marie Lawrence.

I met Anna Marie when I worked at Dacula Middle School. Her classroom was opposite mine, so we’ve known each other for several years. I also had the pleasure of teaching her eldest daughter in my 8th grade class, so I got to know Anna Marie as a parent as well as a teacher. (She’s a great mom, by the way!) Our friendship developed further when we decided to earn our Specialist degrees at the same time. We carpooled to Ducktown, TN for the classes, and on the long Saturday rides to and from Georgia, we had ample time to share stories, laugh at jokes, and just have a great time together.

After I retired, we kept in touch mainly through social media. Then the coronavirus came, and we were all “sheltered-in-place.” Anna Marie had posted something on FB about “Quarantine Kickstart,” and I was intrigued, so I thought… why not give it a try? After all, it was just a 2-week thing, and I wanted something to do over the time of quarantine. As the end of Kickstart approached, I realized I wanted it to go on; I was enjoying it. I talked with Anna Marie about the whole program, and she shared her own journey with me. She had just started in January, lost 48 pounds at this point, and she sounded so happy. All of her postings showed her with the biggest smile on her face. I knew Anna Marie was not one to do anything on a whim; she is very intelligent and analytical, and we are like-minded spiritually, so I knew I could trust her judgment. I asked questions, and she answered every one with sincerity and honesty. (I took notes on everything she said!) She never pressured me; never coerced me; never guilted me into anything. She simply reached out in love, and I chose to accept it! Now, 10 days into the program, I am so grateful for her reaching out with that first post. Her success and encouragement was exactly what I needed to make one of the best decisions of my life.

Why do I need a health coach? For me, this journey is more than a plan to improve my physical health. It is also a time when I am striving to grow spiritually. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” When the going gets tough, having someone on whom I can turn to for help, who understand exactly what I am going through, is so important. Even the Bible references those who needed help from others in their journeys. When Moses grew tired, he had his own “coaches” to help hold his arms up (Exodus 17:12). Timothy, a young pastor, had the apostle Paul as his “coach” (1 Timothy 1:2). Having a coach who prays for me is far more valuable than anything else she could do for me. We are told to pray for one another throughout the Scriptures. Ephesians 6:18 reminds us, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” That’s what Anna Marie does for me!

However, the greatest advantage to having a sister in the Lord as my coach is the “bonus coach” that I get! Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20). Jesus is my bonus coach! Like Anna Marie, He is also with me every step of the way! Because my journey is also a spiritual one, I am seeking the Lord in every part of this effort, and I know Anna Marie totally understands me when I share my thoughts about the Lord, His part in my journey, and my dependence upon Him for success. I know that there are three of us working together on my health journey. What a team we make!

I am only on day #10 in my health journey, and my physical results so far have been very encouraging. As of today, I am down 8.5 pounds, and I have had no food cravings! My energy level is up, and I am feeling great.

Anna Marie, you are a blessing to me, and I am so glad God chose you to be my health coach!!

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together,
Bind us together with love.

Made for the glory of God,
Purchased by His precious Son;
Born with the right to be clean,
For Jesus the victory has won.

(from “Bind Us Together” by Bob Gillman)

“Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.” Proverbs 27:9

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“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘You too? I thought I was the only one.’” – C. S. Lewis

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2

Dieting. The word rarely elicits warm fuzzy thoughts. Instead, dieting conjures up those cold pricklies of deprivation, starvation, and suffering. That is probably one reason that many weight loss programs make statements such as, “It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle” or “Don’t call it a diet, call it a change of habits.” However, any way you look at it, it’s a diet. The word “diet” simply refers to the foods that an individual eats, and there are many kinds of diets. There is the vegetarian diet, the lactose-intolerant diet, the low-carbohydrate diet, etc. There’s even a spiritual diet! In fact, there are two kinds of spiritual diets.

The first spiritual diet consists of the “sincere milk of the Word.” When we first become Christians, we are like babies who must be fed mother’s milk. You wouldn’t feed steak and potatoes to a newborn child, nor would you bombard a newly saved person with the more complex doctrines of the Bible. Just as the baby could not digest the meatier foods, the new Christian would have a very difficult time understanding the deeper things of God.

However, as the baby grows, hardier foods are introduced into his or her diet, and the child thrives. Similarly, as Christians mature, they can delve more in the Scriptures and grow in their faith as the Holy Spirit works in their lives, illuminating them to the Word of God. This is the second type of spiritual diet – the “meat of the Word” (1 Corinthians 3:2). It is the diet that helps Christians grow stronger and more confident in their walk with the Lord. It is the diet that enables the followers of Christ to do great things for Him. It is the diet that satisfies souls and fills hearts with the joy of the Lord. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)

Sometimes in physical diets, a person stops following the prescribed regimen, and their forward progress stops. Sometimes it even regresses. That can happen with one’s spiritual diet as well. If I don’t continue to feed myself from the Word of God, my spiritual growth will be stunted. Unlike cheating on a physical diet, if I deprive myself of the nourishment from the Scriptures, I will become spiritually emaciated. I have to keep a healthy intake of the Word of God to progress in my spiritual life, moving from the milk to the meat.

Another issue is cravings. When I’ve been on a particular diet for a while, I begin to crave the foods that have been omitted from my food plan. Sometimes the craving is so strong that I will search and search through cupboards, hoping to find any morsel that remotely resembles the food I want to eat. If I experience a physical craving, it is telling my body that it desires something from which it has been deprived. Spiritual cravings also indicate the need for spiritual nourishment!  Our souls are desperate for the Word of God! “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

I long for the moments when I crave the Word of God and search through the Scriptures for those satisfying morsels. In those times when I cry out, “Fill my cup, Lord,” I know He will!

Like the woman at the well, I was seeking
For things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking—
“Draw from My well that never shall run dry.”

Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

(from “Fill My Cup, Lord” by Richard Blanchard)

“Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.” Proverbs 7:15

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Only a diet of God’s Word and His saving grace can satisfy the longing of a hungry soul!

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

I worry about things. Not obsessively, but I do worry. Most people do. Worries are referred to as “cares” in the Bible. Some cares are rather mundane, like paying the bills or dealing with the aches and pains of growing older, but others are more serious. Regardless of the severity of the “cares,” God tells us to give them to Him because He wants to handle them for us. He loves us and cares about our well-being. But giving our worries to God requires something that I hadn’t ever realized. It requires a humble spirit to “cast one’s cares” upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:6).

To be humble means to have a low esteem of one’s importance. It is the humble spirit that seeks God because in Him is their only hope. The humble man realizes he is powerless to deal with so many things, and he needs help from an all-powerful and loving God. A prideful person doesn’t want God to handle their cares because they believe they can handle things themselves. When individuals have an excessively high opinion of themselves, they no longer see any need for God in their lives.

However, with a spirit of humility, one realizes their need God every moment of every day. He is the one who supplies all of our needs (Philippians 4:19). He is the one who gives us life (Job 33:4), and He is the one who protects and helps us in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Today, there are a myriad of problems that confront each of us, and God is the only one in whom there can be permanent and lasting solutions, but we must bow before Him in all humility when we seek His help. When we do, God will respond.

The Bible tell us…

• God hears the prayer of the humble: “Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.” – 2 Kings 22:19
• God gives grace to the humble: “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – James 4:6
• God delivers the humble: “And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.” 2 Chronicles 12:7
• God lifts up the humble: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” – James 4:10
• God exalts the humble: “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” – Luke 14:11
• God heals the dwelling place of the humble: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

When we approach the Lord as humbly as we know how, seeking His forgiveness on bended knee and with a penitent heart, He will hear from heaven and take care of us as only a loving Father can!

If thou wouldst have the dear Savior from heaven
Walk by thy side from the morn till the even,
There is a rule that each day you must follow:
Humble thyself to walk with God.

Just as the Lord, in the world’s early ages,
Walked and communed with the prophets and sages,
He will come now if you meet the conditions:
Humble thyself to walk with God.

Just as the stream finds a bed that is lowly,
So Jesus walks with the pure and the holy;
Cast out thy pride, and in heartfelt contrition
Humble thyself to walk with God.

Humble thyself and the Lord will draw near thee,
Humble thyself and His presence shall cheer thee;
He will not walk with the proud or the scornful,
Humble thyself to walk with God.

(from “Humble Thyself to Walk with God” by Johnson Oatman)

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” 1 Peter 5:6

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“He that is down needs fear no fall. He that is low, no pride; He that is humble, ever shall have God to be his Guide.” – John Bunyan

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” – John 6:27

I admit I am driven my numbers when it comes to physical health. Today, when I got on the scale, I was pleasantly surprised at what I saw! As I thought about the validation I received for my physical work, I began to think about how I could measure success spiritually. In my physical health journey, I can get on the scale each week or take my body’s measurements to know how successful I have been with that aspect of my heath, but I have no scale to measure my spiritual health progress. Do I measure my spiritual success by how often I read my Bible or how often I pray? Do I measure it by the times or ways that I serve God? No, I don’t believe these are the best ways to measure my spiritual health. I need a standard of measure that is consistent and sure.

The only way to measure my spiritual health is by measuring it against the standard set by the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 6:40 states, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” The more I am like Jesus, the healthier my spiritual life. But exactly how do I achieve that?

As always, the answers are in the Scriptures themselves! Here are some guidelines I found by which I can measure by spiritual health.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – “Rejoice evermore.”
  • Do I live a life of rejoicing? Do I rejoice in my salvation? When a situation is difficult or heartbreaking, do I rejoice that God remains in control, knows about it, and will deliver me from it?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”
  • Are my prayers as natural to me as breathing? Are my prayers given in the spirit of worship and thanksgiving, or only asked out of need? Which kinds of prayer do I offer to God? How often do I pray? How much thought goes into them?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
  • Do I give thanks to God in the bad times as well as the good? Do I remember that God is in all things in my life? Though I may not see how or understand the whys, do I rejoice and give thanks that He is in my life, and His reasons for allowing things in my life demonstrate His love and care for me, and have a divine purpose?
• I Thessalonians 5:19 – “Quench not the Spirit.”
  • Do I often ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit? When He reminds me to read the Word, do I listen and obey? Do I fail to heed Him?
• I Thessalonians 5:20 – “Despise not prophesyings.”
  • Do I respect the preaching of the Word of God? Do I value it? Do I apply it to my life?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:21 – “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
  • Do I search the Scriptures for understanding, comparing what I hear and think to what God’s Word says about it? Do I use the Bible as my ultimate source of wisdom and guidance? Do I adhere to its precepts in my life?
• 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
  • Do I look like the world? Speak like the world? Act like the world? Do I take an active stand against ungodliness, or do I compromise?

This is not an all-inclusive list, but it is a very good place to start. In each of these verses, I can clearly see these attributes in Jesus’ life, therefore they are excellent standards for me to strive to attain in my own life.

The Bible says we should “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)  How close am I to Christ? Not as close as I would like. I have a long way to go, but with His help, I will get there!

More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do.

More like the Master I would live and grow;
More of His love to others I would show;
More self-denial, like His in Galilee,
More like the Master I long to ever be.

Take Thou my heart, I would be Thine alone;
Take Thou my heart, and make it all Thine own;
Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore,
Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore.

(from “More Like the Master” by Charles H. Gabriel)

“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:” – Philippians 1:6

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Can others see Jesus in you?

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” – Romans 5:5

My track record is pretty dismal when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I know I’m not alone in that, but that’s not very comforting. Is there a way to change this? I think so… I hope so!

I chose to start with some personal reflection, which yielded some uncomfortable results.  I realize my previous health journeys have been laced with pride, selfishness, and laziness (ouch!), but this time I am implementing a different mindset. I am choosing to step outside my comfort zone by blogging about my health journey. This makes me very vulnerable to others, and this is extremely difficult for me. I have past issues (don’t we all?) that compound this, but holding on to my pride is not something I want to do. As Pastor Jackson said in one of his recent Sunday school lessons, pride is the root of all sin, and it should not be a part of my life. My health journey has to begin with a humble spirit. Clearly, this journey will be two-fold for me: physical and spiritual.

In order to move forward, I first must ask the Lord to forgive me for my pride, selfishness, and laziness, which have all contributed to a very unhealthy lifestyle. It is never easy for a prideful person to admit they have a problem with humility, but it is vital to do so in order to have the right relationship with God. I really am clinging to 1 John 1:9, which states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

My next step is to be more pro-active in my health journey. I have started a program to help with the physical part, and I am working to improve my spiritual being. No longer will I be on my own or put the entire responsibility elsewhere. I am trying to do my part, while depending on God to do His part. As I improve physically (my part), I will trust Him to help me “get in shape” spiritually (His part).

Isaiah 12:2-5 states, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.”

The Scriptures promise that the Lord will never leave nor forsake His children (Deuteronomy 31:6).  He is our strength and our salvation.  He is MY strength and MY salvation. God knows my deepest fears, even those I don’t want to put into print. I have failed so many times, and it scares me to think that I might fail again, but looking back, I see that I either left Him out of the picture completely and tried to be successful without Him (prideful, selfish), or I put the entire burden on Him with me doing nothing (lazy). These choices led to failure. I now realize that if I continue to do the same things, there is no way the results will be different. Something has to change!

This time, I realize that I must work with God. I need to do my part, and trust Him to do His part, but I must be involved. My prayer is that God will help me be strong in Him and trust Him; help me depend on Him, and not lean on my own understandings. I must allow God to direct my paths to success in this health journey, as well as all the other areas of my life and do what He directs me to do (Proverbs 3:5-6). If I am faithful to trust and obey, He will be faithful to His part. He always has been; He always will be. I pray He will keep me on the right track, trusting and believing in the outcome – a body that is healthy and better fit to be a temple for His Holy Spirit. I know the saying is “failure is not an option,” but it has always been an option for me. Today, I am changing my mindset because frankly, “failure is not an option with God.” It is time for me to soar on the wings of eagles with the Lord (Isaiah 40:31).

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 Arthur Luther)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

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If the Lord brings me to mind, please pray for me, that I will be humble in spirit and faithful to His leading in this journey. Thank you!

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” – Jeremiah 33:3

If you had Aladdin’s magic lamp, what would be your three wishes? Would you ask for money? Love? Health? Fame? Maybe you would be a bit more noble and ask for world peace or the end of global warming. Some might even ask for extra wishes, but of course, that’s not allowed in the world of wishing!

In some ways, wishing is akin to praying. Wishing means to have a strong desire for something that is not easily accessible. Similarly, praying is defined as strongly hoping for something or a particular outcome. Yet, while they may have some similarities, there are definite differences between the two.

When I wish for something, it is an arbitrary thought for which I really have no basis to expect it to come to fruition. A wish is like a whisper on the wind. It is a thought that is there one moment, then gone the next. There is no tangible destination for a wish. When I blow out my birthday candles and make a wish, it simply vanishes into thin air. Likewise, when I see a falling star and make a wish, I have no real expectation of that wish coming true.

On the other hand, prayer is a specifically directed thought aimed toward the heart of God, and the expectation is for Him to answer. When people pray, God listens, and when He listens, He acts. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)

Prayer is also limitless. The Bible reminds us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Unlike wishes, we are not restricted to only three prayers. God wants us to share everything on our hearts with Him. Why? Because He loves us, and He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

God promises that if we pray, He will show us great and mighty things. Through answered prayer, God’s power and glory is displayed. “I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:” (Job 5:8-9)

When Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn in half, giving us access to the throne of God, so we can pray in confidence. Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them,” and again in Matthew 21:22, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” The only caveat is that we ask in faith, according to God’s will (1 John 5:14), and then we can know that He will answer, and it will be in the manner that is best for those concerned.

We don’t need an Aladdin’s lamp; we have God. All we need is a humble spirit, a trusting heart, and a prayer of faith to see the great and mighty things of the Lord!

I must tell Jesus all of my trials,
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me,
He ever loves and cares for His own.

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

(from “I Must Tell Jesus) by Elisha A. Hoffman)

“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.” – Jeremiah 29:12

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“Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God hath promised, or according to the Word, for the good of the church, with submission, in faith, to the will of God.” – John Bunyan