Laced With Grace

Today’s guest devotion was submitted by one of readers and the winner of our Laced with Grace “Women of Faith Conference” contest last fall. If you have never read BP’s blog ‘Raindrops & Rainbows’, I encourage you to stop by her blog after you read her devotion today…

Draining the bath water I could hear my son playing in the living room. As I entered the room, my happy boy was dancing around the room in his pajamas. He paused to tell me he was doing an interpretative dance. This took me by surprise. Where did my 4 year old come up with such a term? It was vaguely familiar to me, but I didn’t know why. When I asked him later where he heard such, he reminded me it was in one of his books. (The farm animals are in a talent show type contest and the pigs are going to do an interpretative dance.)

Little moments like these puzzle me and make me think. These moments make me realize something. After reading a book a few times, this phrase lodged somewhere in his memory. We are gathering information from various influences whether we realize it or not.

I wonder how many random bits of information are stored away in our brains that we don’t even consciously know are there. When we hear these phrases repeated to us, how often do they sink into our hearts? This has been a reminder to me to be careful of the things I hear and see.

What music do you have playing? Are they lyrics uplifting or do they depress you without even realizing it? Is the television always turned on? Maybe it’s only for “background noise,” but we hear little bits and pieces of whatever is on. Are the shows portraying high morals and values you want to portray in your own life? What about the books you read? Do you rationalize that they’re “only fiction” as you read to make it seem okay for the foul language, violence, or sexual content? Do you tell yourself I’d never do that or say that or go there? But then you catch yourself thinking a thought or phrase you heard or read? Once we let these things in to our hearts, they will come out at some point.

We must guard our hearts. Remember this verse:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” ~ Proverbs 4:23

The phrase “above all else” speaks strongly to me. Are you guarding your heart by monitoring what is coming in? Just as I was surprised to hear my son remember the phrase “interpretative dance” from his book, you probably have things in your heart that would surprise you. Take inventory of what’s going in to make sure you are really guarding your heart.

Blessings,
BP from “Raindrops & Rainbows”

And he said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.’” ~ Luke 11:2 (ESV)

I think in today’s fast-passed world we forget how to communicate well with each other. Even when it comes to prayer. We become discouraged when God doesn’t answer our prayers immediately. Sometimes we don’t give it time to wait on God’s answer. You see, sometimes He answers our prayers right away — with a yes or no. Other times He tells us to wait for His perfect time.

Since my husband and I work both full-time outside the home, we communicate during the work-week via email. Most of the time I will ask my husband about dinner or other things that come to mind. The other day I mentioned that our son wanted a particular dish for dinner. I knew that it was not my husband’s favorite dish, so I was waiting on his answer with a little pit in my stomach. Would he say yes or no? Would he be okay with it? When his answer arrived in my inbox, I knew that he wasn’t thrilled about dinner plans. Not that he said flat out no, just how he said it: “I guess it is okay…”.

Do we sometimes hear God say “I guess it is okay…” but in all reality He is telling us to wait on Him? Luther said once about prayer: ‘ For one dare not forget that prayer has two component parts: talking and listening. How can we expect God to listen to us if we do not listen to Him? As a rule, we think of prayer only when we are in trouble up to our ear.’ I have to admit that most of the time I send up a prayer because of stressful situations but forget to thank Him. And sometimes I even stop praying over a certain situation, because I believe that God is not hearing my prayer and I don’t want to ‘bother’ Him over and over with the same prayer.

Are you praying over a situation right now and do not seem to receive an answer from Him? Don’t give up! He hears your prayer, but maybe His answer is: “Wait”.

Lord of Heaven and Earth. Help us to listen to Your answer. We know You hear our prayers. You answer always comes at the right time. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” ~ Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)

Yesterday I read the above passage…I was convicted that I sometimes harbor things in my heart that are not very Christ-like. Let me explain:

I had sent an email to a dear friend of mine telling her that I was hurt by some actions she really didn’t had any control over. I made a hasty decision without checking the facts first.

The next day, I read the above passages. All I could think was “ouch”. We are God’s chosen ones; we are ought to clothe ourselves with kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Talk about God uncovering my heart!

Immediately I have sent an email to my friend apologizing for my hasty decision and I pray that she can forgive me.

How often have you made a hasty decision when you felt hurt or wronged? Maybe I am the only one how reacts first and thinks later? Next time I feel hurt or wronged, I will pray before I react.

Lord of Heaven and Earth. We are Your chosen ones, holy and beloved. Help us to clothes ourselves with compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience at all times. Stop us in our tracks before we make hasty decisions. In the precious name of Jesus ~ Amen.

Thank you for stopping by today. There is still time to sign-up for our contest. See all the details here…