January 26: Tuesday Refocus

‘Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.  You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies.  Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors…’ Hosea 10:12-13

Subtly,

subconsciously,

consistently, 

we have been swept along more than we have sown (Eph 4:14). 

Our churches,

our hearts,

our lives 

are full sorrow from the other gods we have pursued (Ps 16:4).

Faithful,

Steadfast,

Loving,

the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you (Is 30:18).

Sow righteousness,

Reap steadfast love,

Break up the fallow ground,

Seek the LORD, and He will rain righteousness (Hosea 10:12).

Jesus, thank You for Your pursuing steadfast love.  Would our hearts and lives be eager to seek You, to sow righteousness, and quick to reject iniquity, injustice, and lies.  May we trust in You alone.  Amen.

Sowing,

AB

October 20: Tuesday Refocus

Fear is a powerful motivator. Live in fear of the world, and you will try to control, lash out, or become paralyzed when people and circumstances do not respond the way you want. But ‘the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…’ (Prov 9:10). To fear the Lord is to live in holy awe and reverence of who He is, and what He has done. Is it any wonder our world is running scared when even those who claim Christ are given more to fear of man than fear of the Lord? When the posture of our life is oriented around anything other than God, our life is overtaken by worldly fear. But when our lives are seen in a proper perspective, wisdom is the fruit (Ps 90:12).

As A.W. Tozer reminds us: ‘Wisdom comes to the heart that is hungry for God.’ Our fears are exposed in our appetites - fear of the world or fear the Lord. Jesus invites us to exchange our fear of the world for fear of Him, and when we fear the Lord, we are invited not to fear (Is 41:10).

Lord, let us live in fear of You. Freed from fear that paralyzes, seeks to control, or becomes angry, into fear which leads us in worship and surrender to find life in You. Thank you, that we have nothing to fear. In Christ’s name, amen.

In fear,

AB

March 10: Tuesday Refocus

‘Give us courage and largeness of heart that we may follow unafraid.’ – E. Stanley Jones

When I am afraid, it is often because I forget that I am following a Good Shepherd.  He leads me, He is with me, and His goodness and mercy follow me (Ps 23:2,4,6).  I do not have to clear my own path He leads me by the hand (Ps 139:10). 

I can follow His lead to the ends of the earth for He is with me to the end of the age (Matt 28:19-20).

Lord, will You overwhelm our hearts with the reality of Your kind shepherding.  Remind our hearts that You are near.  In Your name, amen.   

To remember,

AB