3 Shifts to Enhance Your Bible Reading

A Good News Bible and tiny notepad graced my nightstand through my teen years and college. After climbing into bed at night, I’d read a passage and jot the questions my reading inevitably raised. Questions I thought could only be answered in heaven. I was wrong.

During my senior year in college, a Christian retreat peaked my hunger for God. I joined a Bible study led by a friend. The Bible came alive and began to make sense. Instead of coming away with only questions, I began to receive answers and hope.

Three changes transformed my Bible reading.

A Shift in Trust

The years I’d read the Bible and not understood it I’d approached the Bible as if I were the authority. The Bible had to pass through the filter of my understanding. What I agreed with, I kept. What didn’t make sense, I dismissed as antiquated and irrelevant.

I basically treated the Bible as if I knew better than it. No wonder it didn’t make sense! Since God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, this is never a good way to approach the Bible or anything else.

The gals in this study approached the Bible as if it was what it claimed to be—God’s timeless word. They filtered their opinions through the filter of God’s revealed wisdom. When I approached the Bible with childlike wonder, the Bible made sense. It became exciting and relevant.

A Shift in Power 

Another important change to my Bible reading: I learned to trust the Holy Spirit instead of my intellect to understand scripture.

“And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. … But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means” (1 Cor. 2:12, 14 NLT).

Just as Jesus had to open the minds of His disciples on the road to Emmaus for them to understand the scriptures, I need Him to open my mind. I ask Him for understanding and then read the Bible trusting Him to enlighten me.

“At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, ‘O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way’” (Luke 10:21 NLT).

A Shift in Structure 

Out of college I joined the staff of Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ). My director taught our team a simple way to study the scripture. He said to dedicate a notebook for Bible study. He then explained the method he used to process the Bible.

3 Questions to Transform Your Bible Reading

1. “What does it say?” (Factual)

Notice the context of a passage. Who’s the author, the audience, the circumstances? If we aren’t clear on this, we can draw wrong interpretations and applications.

For example, are believers or unbelievers being addressed? Israel or the church? When Paul addressed slaves and masters, some applications can apply to the employer/employee relationship. But those relationships are not equal.

• “What does it mean?” (Spiritual)

Look for timeless lessons that apply to any culture and era. For example, in 2 Timothy 4:13, Paul wrote Timothy, “When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments” (NIV).

The imprisoned apostle literally needs his cloak and parchments. A spiritual lesson might be spiritual leaders have practical needs. Another lesson might be it’s appropriate to ask for help from those who can aid us with our practical needs. A third lesson might be, we should be available to assist a saint in need.

• “How does this apply to me, my situation, or culture?” (Practical)

Get practical. What changes does this passage prompt you to make in your outlook, attitude, or actions?

From the above example you might write, what Christian leader or fellow believer has a practical need I can meet? Or who can I ask to help me with my need? Or I want to bring Aunt Judy a meal.

An optional step is to illustrate what you received from you study. Doing so helps me remember my study better.

After I made these shifts in my Bible reading, I stumbled across my little notepad of questions, the ones too deep to be answered. I chuckled. They weren’t deep at all. And I rejoiced. No longer was the Bible a confusing book of riddles. It was my lifeline. I hope this is true for you. If not, review the changes I made to see which ones might help you.

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An incest victim sat before me, extolling the wonderful man her father was. She paused, and I asked, “If I brought before you a ten-year-old girl and told you that every night her daddy did the same thing to her that your father did to you, would you describe her daddy as a wonderful man?”

Tears filled her eyes. “How else can I love him?”

How do we love the unlovely and forgive the unpardonable? It is not by creating a fantasy or by deceiving ourselves into believing a lie, even a pretty lie.  

Jesus didn’t look down on humankind and say, “Oh, they really mean well, I’ll die for them.”  

No, He said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you?” (Luke 9:41 NASB). Then He healed them. Then He gave His life for them.

Jesus said, when we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, we show ourselves to be children of God, because He gives sunshine and rain to both the evil and the good (Matthew 5:43-46). Jesus didn’t candy-coat evil to make it easier to forgive. 

Biblical love isn’t about feeling warm and close. It’s treating a person with their eternal good in mind.  

Some people fear forgiveness means tolerating sinful behavior. Beginning with Genesis and God’s removal of Adam and Eve from Eden to the end of the Bible, God demonstrates forgiveness and boundary setting. We must forgive sin, but we are not to enable people to continue in sin by rescuing them from the consequences of their choices or candy-coating sin. 

Paul wrote, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9 NASB). 

Evil here means that which has a detrimental effect, not necessarily evil in essence. The video game, credit card, or habit that harms one may not affect someone else. 

The Greek word translated abhor is “apostugeo.” “Apo” usually denotes “separation, departure, cessation.” “Stuqnetos” means “to hate.”

Real love separates from or ceases involvement with that which causes harm.

Forgiving is often painful. If something hurt when it happened, it hurts when we let it go. Remember how much Jesus suffered to forgive us (Matthew 26:37- 27:50). But forgiving is also the most healing thing we can do.

But They Don’t Deserve to Be Forgiven

We don’t forgive because the person deserves it. No one deserves salvation. We forgive because God forgave us more than another human will ever owe us.  Unforgiveness torments the one who holds it in her heart, and it poisons those around us (Hebrews 12:15).  

Maybe a name has come to mind as you’ve read this of someone you need to forgive. Because God has forgiven you and you want to be recognized as His child, turn those who’ve wronged you over to God, the official bill collector. He knows how to deal with them. Give up having to collect the love, respect, admission of guilt, restitution or whatever you feel you need from that person. 

Open your heart to receive your heavenly Father’s perfect love. Let Him wash away the pain and stain. Trust Him to take the evil that was done and use it for your eternal good (Romans 8:28, Genesis 50:20). 

When my client told the truth about her father, she was finally able to really forgive him and deal with him wisely. Truth is our friend. Because God is bigger than our worst wounds. 

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Do you want to be forgiven when you fail? How readily do you forgive those who injure you? These questions represent two sides of forgiveness brought out in the Lord’s prayer, “Forgive us as we forgive others.” 

Being completely forgiven is wonderful! Completely forgiving someone else—well—that can be hard to do.

When Peter voiced his struggle with this, Jesus told a story about a king and his subjects (Matthew 18:23-35). The king, in settling his accounts, came to a servant who owed him a debt too large to ever repay in his lifetime. The servant pleaded for more time. The king knew more time wouldn’t free this servant from his debt. But, moved with compassion, the king forgave the whole debt.

The king said, “You’re free. No prison. You can keep your family and your possessions.” Imagine asking a bank for more time to pay off an exorbitant loan and having them forgive your whole debt! How would you respond to such grace?

A Shocking Response to Grace

How did the servant respond to grace? The forgiven servant found a fellow slave that owed him 100 day’s salary and threw him into jail for not being able to immediately pay him. No one wants to lose 100 days of salary, but after having a lifetime of debt canceled, what could possibly cause such a shocking response?

This servant had received grace beyond measure from a powerful superior. Had he not grasped what had happened? He’d asked for time. Maybe he thought he could repay the debt. To accept this incredible gift grated against his pride. 

Christians should be the most gracious of people. But when we forget what we’ve received from God or minimize our need for salvation, we become bill collectors. We go through life trying to collect the love, respect, appreciation, apology, or attention we feel others owe us.

When we forget what we’ve received from God, we become bill collectors. We go through life trying to collect the love, respect, appreciation, apology, or attention we feel others owe us. #Grace, #Forgive
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Collecting keeps us tied to people who are unable or unwilling to pay. The servant didn’t realize his needs had been completely met. Nothing he collected could come close to what he’d already received. But he continued to collect and strive.

Applying the Grace to Forgive

• When we can’t forgive, we need to remember the great debt Jesus paid for us. 
  
• If we find ourselves striving to gain acceptance from, or prove ourselves to, men or God, we need to understand the cleansing and worth poured out on us at the cross (2 Cor. 5:21).
  
• When we care more about our reputation, who people think we are, than our character, who God knows we are, we’re dismissing God’s grace to us.
  
• If we can’t admit when we are wrong, we have not understood that Christ took our shame. We no longer must blame others or make excuses, we can confess and let go (1 Jn. 1:9).

The king had the ungrateful slave turned over to the torturers. If you’ve ever harbored bitterness in your heart, you’ve met the torturers. Every time you see or think of the one you resent, you are tortured.

The solution? Return to the cross. When we savor the forgiveness and grace poured out on us through Christ, we can stop criticizing and collecting from others. We find the grace to forgive in the grace we received at Calvary.

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Being the older sister, I used my driver’s license so my sister and I could drop by the hospital and surprise our mother. The surprise was on us. Daddy had scheduled our previous visits. Now I understood why.

I heard Mama moaning on the other side of the closed door to her room. She was asleep and unaware others could hear her pain. My sister and I drove home in silence. The reality our mother would never come home smothered us.

As painful as it was to see her suffer, knowing the ugly reality of Mama’s situation helped me release her. Until then I couldn’t let her go. That day I realized it was selfish to hold on. It was time to say good-bye.

Years later, my cousin called to say my aunt was in hospice care. Jane was Mama’s younger sister and a surrogate mother to me after Mama died. Eight earlier, dementia began erasing her memories and left a happy child in place of the capable woman I’d known.

Larry and I drove to DC to say good-bye. She peacefully rested. My cousin brought an old record player and played my aunt’s favorite 45s. Her foot tapped under the sheets. She still had rhythm! Encircled by her seven grandchildren, she savored their attention. 

Her middle school grandson said, “Give me the evil eye.” She scrunched her face and furrowed her brows.

A granddaughter said, “Smile, Mema.” She opened her eyes wide and smiled big.

She giggled at secrets and puckered her lips to exchange kisses. When I placed my hand on her cheek, she leaned into it as if to hug me. We reviewed funny jingles she’d sung to us as children. We laughed and cried with this woman that had loved, entertained, and kept us in line.

James says life is a vapor. The older I get the more that description resonates.

Mama died at forty-eight. My aunt was eighty-four. Reversing their numbers didn’t erase the pain of saying good-bye. But knowing my temporary pain here brought permanent gain for them soothes my loss with hope. In the blink of an eye, we’ll join them.

Better Than We Can Imagine

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (Jn. 14:1-3, NLT).

My aunt loved to explore new places. She delighted in beauty and God’s creation. When she entered heaven and experienced the reunions, colors, and surprises Jesus had prepared for her, I imagine her telling my mother, “Virginia, would you look at that? I declare!”

Heaven will be more wonderful than we can imagine (1 Cor. 2:9) because Jesus has gone before us to create a place perfectly suited for each of us. One thing we know for sure, it will be better than we can imagine. 

What helps you say good-bye to your loved ones in the Lord?

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Do you have a Christian worldview?

Many years ago in a faraway land, Joseph lived with his father, his father’s wife and concubines, and many half-siblings. Joseph’s own mother had died when he was very young. His half-brothers hated him because Joseph was good and reminded his father of Joseph’s beloved mother. Joseph’s father trusted him and showered him with attention. And his heavenly Father placed a remarkable dream in his heart to be a great leader.

One day his jealous half-brothers captured him. After some disagreement they sold him to slave traders. Joseph had never been apart from his family. He felt humiliated being auctioned like livestock. His father hadn’t raised him to be a slave. He didn’t know the customs of this foreign land. How was he supposed to act? What would become of his dream?

Instead of becoming bitter, Joseph worked to become the best slave. His master put him over all he had. Despite the humiliation of his position, he prospered. 

The owner’s wife noted his good looks and charisma. She repeatedly tried to seduce Joseph. He refused her. She spitefully accused Joseph of attacking her. Potiphar, his owner, no doubt knew the character of his wife and of Joseph, but he bowed to social customs and sent Joseph to prison.

Joseph hadn’t been taught how to be a prisoner. Other prisoners moped, showed no interest in life, and complained. Should he wallow in self-pity and bitterness too? He didn’t deserve to be in Egypt, let alone prison. Joseph chose to act in the manner he always had. His circumstances didn’t change his character or his beliefs. He served the chief jailer who in turn gave him more and more responsibilities. 

Fast forward many years. One day the ruler of the land summoned Joseph from prison. Joseph gave the king wise counsel, and Pharaoh placed Joseph second in command over all of Egypt. His years of self-control and productivity in slavery and prison paid off in noble character and leadership skills. 

This is no fairytale. You can read the true account in Genesis. At times like Joseph, we may feel like we’ve awakened in a foreign land. Values have shifted, but right and wrong never change. 

Joseph demonstrated the importance of what we call a Christian worldview. His soul prospered even while suffering injustice because his core beliefs about God, himself, and life guided and guarded him through prosperity and adversity. Potiphar’s soul, on the other hand, suffered when he betrayed Joseph. I wonder how he felt when Joseph ruled under Pharaoh.

What Is a Christian Worldview?

What is a worldview? Dr. George Barna renowned pollster and author, says everyone has a worldview though most don’t realize it. “A worldview is…the decision-making filter that we use. It’s the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual filter that helps us to understand and interpret and respond to every reality that we experience.” 

In an interview with the NC Family Policy Council, Dr. Barna said fifty-two percent of American Christians believe they hold a Christian worldview, yet only nineteen percent demonstrated a Christian worldview.

Dr. Barna said Americans commonly draw from a dozen or so different worldviews including postmodernism, secular humanism, Marxism, and Eastern mysticism. It’s important to know if our beliefs are biblical, because as we think so we act.

Could the division we see in the church today trace back to our worldview? The Apostle Paul wrote, “for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized” (1 Cor. 11:19 ESV).

Joseph demonstrated a biblical worldview when he trusted the invisible God despite how things looked. Hebrews 11 commended the ancients for a faith that shaped their view of the world and how they lived. 

Popular worldviews elevate personal experience over facts, truth, and biblical revelation. The expression “my truth” epitomizes this worldview. In contrast, in a biblical worldview human reasoning bows to God’s truth (Pro. 3:5-6). 

Joseph found that the Bible’s timeless wisdom works in all situations (Is. 40:8). Jesus said, “the truth will set you free”—free from being manipulated by every new teaching, free from confusion, free from being led into error, and free from regret (Jn. 8:32; Ephes. 4:14-15). 

Through poems, proverbs, instructions, and stories, the Bible presents a clear message of right and wrong, how to treat people, how to deal with injustice, and God’s justice. For example:

“Do not twist justice in legal matters by favoring the poor or being partial to the rich and powerful. Always judge people fairly” (Lev. 19:15 NLT).

“And do not slant your testimony in favor of a person just because that person is poor” (Ex. 23:3 NLT).

Through what lens are we to look at people? See 1 Timothy 3 and Galatians 3:28 and 2 Corinthians 5:16.

When we’re confused over how to act, we need to review Scripture. Do we trust its wisdom? Or do we look to our culture? 

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I hate to wait. I know others who hate it too. I’ve seen people waiting for: 

• a delayed flight,
• an injury to heal, 
• a traffic light to change,
• an appliance to be repaired,  
• the right person to fill a job, 
• acceptance to Bible College, 
• money to build a church building, 
• the right time to announce an engagement, 
• a child to become available for adoption, 
• a wayward family member to return, 
• a heart to soften.

It’s easy to think that life is on hold until what we’re waiting for happens. Time spent waiting feels wasted and less than God’s best.

From sighs to foot tapping to anger and panic, few people show patience while waiting. Impatience causes us to do and say things we later regret (i.e., Sarah offering Abraham Hagar, Genesis 16), or we focus so much on what hasn’t happened that we miss the good around us. We fail to see the waiting room as a deliberate part of God’s plan for us.

Being one who naturally falls on the impatient side of the scale, a story about King Saul’s impatience in I Samuel jarred me. 

Being one who naturally falls on the impatient side of the scale, a story about King Saul’s impatience in I Samuel jarred me. #patience, #RechargeWednesday
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Saul’s Heart Problem

A Philistine army with soldiers as numerous as the sand, gathered against Israel. Israel’s soldiers quaked in fear at the sight. Samuel the prophet had promised to come in seven days to make offerings to the Lord before the battle. Day seven dawns. Israel’s soldiers are scattering while the enemy is gathering. Where is Samuel? What would you do if you were in King Saul’s place?

Saul felt “compelled” to make the offerings himself. He needed to get this battle going before he lost his army. Samuel arrived as Saul finishes the sacrifices. Listen to Samuel’s rebuke.

“You acted foolishly, you have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, He would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart and appointed him leader of His people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command” (I Samuel 13:13-14 NASB).

Whoa. You mean time-pressure was not Saul’s problem? 

No. Saul had a heart problem. 

Saul focused on his goal. His desire to win the battle wasn’t bad, but it eclipsed the higher goal of trusting God—both His will and His ways. It’s not enough to have good goals. We must seek to accomplish them God’s way and in His timing.

Isaiah 28:16 reminds us that those who trust in God won’t be in a hurry. 

Lord Jesus, help us trust You when obstacles slow us down. Grant us hearts that seek You more than our idea of when and how things should go.

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“But the righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4 NASB).

Soft may be desirable in pillows and toilet paper, but not in body tone or faith. As I evaluated where I want to go in the new year, I realized my faith needs toning.

Both my body and soul require good nutrition and exercise. My Bible feeds my faith, but I must read it and apply it to be strong. Knowing the perils of fragile faith and the benefits of firm faith motivates me to build my faith muscles.

Let’s take inventory of the condition of our faith so we’ll know where to begin.

Fragile Faith:

• Frets because it forgets our heavenly Father knows our needs. (Matthew 6:30, Psalms 23:1)
• Is timid and fearful (Matthew 8:26)
• Is easily sabotaged by distractions (Matthew 14:30-31)
• Quickly forgets God’s history of faithfulness (Matthew 16:8-10)
• Lacks spiritual power (Matthew 17:18-21)
• Limited freedom to enjoy life (Romans 14:1-2)

Firm Faith:

• Believes what God says (Matthew 8:5-10)
• Provides healing of body and soul (Matthew 9:2, 22, 29, 15:28; Mark 2:5)
• Restores our sight — Literal sight in this passage, but also spiritual sight (Luke 18:32)
• Grows stronger in impossible circumstances (Romans 4:19-20)
• Expands our personal freedoms (Romans 14:23)
• Is demonstrated through obedience (Romans 16:26, Hebrews 11)
• Is based on God’s power not man’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:5)
• Has Christ as its object (Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 12:2)
• Is bold (2 Timothy 1:7)

How did you do? If you checked too many in the fragile faith category, don’t fret (see #1 in fragile list). Create a plan to renew your mind and strengthen those faith muscles. 

• When will you read your Bible? If it helps, write it on your daily calendar.
• What will you read?
• Ask God to strengthen you in the areas you’re weak.

Like any living thing, faith needs constant care to stay healthy. No one brushes her teeth and says, “Good, I never have to do that again.” So it is with faith. Moment by moment, opportunity by opportunity, we must choose to walk by faith, or, by default, we won’t.

My goal for this year is to choose faith! May we exercise our faith and face each day with the attitude that says, “Wow, what a Savior!”

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My romantic view of a stable vanished when I watched a camel project bodily filth in the direction of onlookers. My childhood notion that the first Christmas was all joy for the main characters evaporated too. Mary and Joseph experienced a bevy of challenges. 

In other words, the first Christmas included real people with real problems—people like us. Joseph’s faith inspires me.

Joseph Chose Kindness

Today, people justify destructive behavior because someone or something offended them. Joseph demonstrated kindness during major disappointment.

“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly” (Matt. 1:18-19 NLT).

Joseph’s fiancé returned from out-of-town three months pregnant. Her story about an angel’s visit and being a pregnant virgin must have stunned him. How could he have been so wrong about Mary? 

Under Moses’ law, anyone guilty of adultery would be stoned (Lev. 20:10). Joseph doubted Mary’s explanation, yet he showed kindness when he believed she’d betrayed him. He chose a quiet divorce to protect Mary from public shame.

Kindness allows the wrongdoer to return to God and His people. In Joseph’s case, when Mary’s reputation was cleared, he had to deal only with having doubted her story. He had no regrets about how he’d handled the matter.

Joseph Showed Courage

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit’” (Matt. 1:20 NIV).

The angel addressed Joseph’s fears. Mary carried God’s Son. But to take pregnant Mary as his wife made him look immoral. Would their synagogue, families, and friends shun them and his carpentry business? 

Once Joseph knew God’s plan, he put aside his fears. Trusting God provides courage to follow Him despite our fears.

Joseph Trusted God’s Guidance

The Bible says God shares insights with those who walk with Him (Pro. 16:9; John 16:13). God directed Joseph step by step.

“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him’” (Matt. 2:13 NIV).

God’s ways—and timing—are not mine—they’re better (Is. 55:9). God directed Joseph when he needed it—not before. 

Joseph Obeyed God 

Joseph demonstrated the obedience of faith. 

“When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matt. 1:24).

“So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt” (Matt. 2:24 NIV).

He left, perhaps on foot, leaving behind what they couldn’t carry. He lost customers and started over. Joseph trusted God’s provision for the unknown.

Joseph Lived Within His Means

 At Christmas, we may feel pressured to overspend. The Christmas story shows Joseph’s humility.

“But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering” (Leviticus 12:8 NIV).

At Jesus’s circumcision Mary and Joseph couldn’t afford to offer a lamb. They offered “a pair of mourning doves or two young pigeons” (Luke 2:24).

May Joseph’s example inspire us to trust God as we sojourn in this broken world.

LINKUP PARTY opens on November 30 at 6 am!

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LINKUP is open. Join my friend @debbieWwilson as we draw inspiration from Joseph’s actions that first Christmas. Share your blog!
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The post Let Joseph Inspire Your Faith this Christmas {Recharge Wednesday Linkup} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

God blessed me with a godly and kind mother-in-law. When her independence began to wane, Larry and I invited her to live with us. Having lived thousands of miles apart, we sincerely welcomed the opportunity to have her in our home. However, she wouldn’t consider leaving Arizona.

Larry sent monthly checks to help her fill the gap in her living expenses, but we didn’t know what we’d do when she required full-time care. Our income wouldn’t stretch to cover that expense.

Larry and I felt a level of responsibility to ensure Grandma was well taken care of in her latter years. Perhaps because our visits were spread out, we recognized her decline better than she did. When she refused our offer, we didn’t know how to fulfill our duty and desire to help her. God used this incident to help us learn the difference between being faithful and being responsible.

Being Faithful Versus Being Responsible

Being “reliable or dependable” is good and godly (Psalm 15:4). For our purpose, let’s call that faithfulness.

• Faithfulness is doing our best in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.
• An inflated sense of responsibility is carrying the burden for outcomes beyond our resources or control.

Losing my mother as a teenager, accompanied by my father’s paralyzing grief, amped my firstborn sense of responsibility. I equated being responsible with being dependable. But when being responsible means depending on myself and my resources instead of relying on God, it’s unhealthy and ungodly.

This kind of responsibility steals our peace and joy. It depends on our efforts instead of on God’s faithfulness. This sense of duty doesn’t allow mistakes or rest. It leaves no time to notice God’s everyday provisions, let alone savor them. The responsible person jumps from one challenge to the next, always on duty, not trusting others to share the load.

The faithful work hard, but they also know when to recharge, when to put human needs before the goal, and when to celebrate small wins. They know God is big enough to take care of them and their future.

The faithful work hard, but they also know when to recharge, when to put human needs before the goal, and when to celebrate small wins. They know God is big enough to take care of them and their future. @debbiewwilson
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Being faithful and being responsible may look similar, but the difference is vast and eternal. For example, consider how these different viewpoints affect even our interpretation of scripture.

“Go to the ant, O sluggard,
Observe her ways and be wise,
Which, having no chief,
Officer or ruler,
Prepares her food in the summer
And gathers her provision in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-8, NASB).

The Responsible Responds: “It’s up to me to…”

• Predict possible troubles.
• Prepare for the unknown.
• Take care of myself and loved ones.

The Faithful Responds: “He is able to…”

• Direct my steps (Psalm 37:23).
• Supply my needs (Psalm 34:4-10; Philippians 4:19).
• Secure my future (Matthew 6:33-34, 1 Peter 5:7).

Faith Produces Faithfulness

The Bible says the righteous live by faith. Faith produces faithfulness. God calls us to be faithful stewards whose security rests in our faithful Provider, not in our storehouses. 

The Bible says the righteous live by faith. Faith produces faithfulness. God calls us to be faithful stewards whose security rests in our faithful Provider, not in our storehouses.  @debbiewwilson
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What’s the difference between being responsible and being faithful? 

• The responsible person works for tomorrow but misses today’s joy.
• The faithful person prepares for tomorrow while enjoying today.

Remember Larry’s mom? When dementia set in, God provided a wonderful place in her beloved Arizona that didn’t require a penny more than the sale of her house.

With rising inflation and rumors of greater shortages, it’s tempting to worry about tomorrow and miss the joys of today. Consider your concerns. Will you look to your efforts or God’s faithfulness to carry you through?

LINKUP PARTY opens on November 2 at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

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Which Is Better, Being Responsible or Being Faithful? Join my friend @debbieWwilson as we compare the two. Share your blog! #RechargeWednesday, #Faithful
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The post Which Is Better, Being Responsible or Being Faithful? {Recharge Wednesday} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Have the growing number of candles on your birthday cake given you pause? While we may have passed the stage where adding years to our age causes us to beam with pride, every year is a gift. Whatever your age, may these Bible verses on aging encourage you.

The Hope of the Elderly

“He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age” (Ruth 4:15 NIV).

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (Isaiah 46:4 NIV).

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV).

“Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever” (Deuteronomy 34:7 NLT).

“Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you’” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT).

“With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation” (Psalm 91:16 NIV).

“That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16 GW).

The Honor of the Elderly 

“Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:32 NLT).

“Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father… Treat older women as you would your mother” (1 Timothy 5:1-2 NLT).

“In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble’” (1 Peter 5:5 NIV).

“Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old” (Job 12:12 NLT).

The Work of the Elderly 

“Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age” (Job 32:7 NLT).

When we moved into our house twenty-five years ago, my husband helped an elderly man lay our brick sidewalk. One weekend as we shoveled snow, Larry’s friend’s wise words came back to him. “Larry, take a break. You must take breaks.”

“Tell older men to be sober. …to be men of good character, to use good judgment, and to be well-grounded in faith, love, and endurance. Tell older women to live their lives in a way that shows they are dedicated to God. …not to be gossips or addicted to alcohol, but to be examples of virtue. In this way they will teach young women to show love to their husbands and children, to use good judgment, and to be morally pure. Also, tell them to teach young women to be homemakers, to be kind, and to place themselves under their husbands’ authority. Then no one can speak evil of God’s word” (Titus 2:2-5 GW).

Wisdom for Every Age

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12 NIV).

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).

Do you have a favorite verse on aging? I’d love to see it. Comment below.

First published at debbiewwilson.com

LINKUP PARTY opens on October 5 at 6 am!

Christian Bloggers, come share your Blog with our audience below:

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2. Visit the blogger before or after and encourage them with a comment.

3. Share on social media. Click below to share on Twitter that you are joining us! We would love to have you follow the ministry on Twitter and Facebook as well: Soaring with Him FB Page

LINKUP is open. Join my friend @debbieWwilson as we look at 15 Bible Verses on aging. Share your blog!
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The post 15 Bible Verses on Aging {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.