Living Life for Christ Alone

The other day, I envisioned myself on a path I've never walked on before, full of difficulty and unknowns.  "Lord," I'd say, "I've never walked this path before. This is unfamiliar territory." "Yes," He'd say, "And I will be with you every step of the way." That would be enough to put a smile on my face and urge me forward -for He truly would be enough. ... "The Lord is my Shepherd," said the psalmist in Psalm 23:1, "I have all that I need." Whoa. Was he serious? Everything? Yes... God is everything we need. We just don't realize it most of the time because we think we need other things. We see how other people are bolstered and think it must really be working, but if we were to get a glimpse at their soul, we would instantly know it isn't.  If you really think about it, if you have God -who clothes the grass of the field and feeds the birds of the air- you have everything.  You have the One who makes i...

Discouragement often comes on the heels of high emotions and great encouragement.  Ever noticed that?  I recently heard mentioned in a podcast the saying: "What goes up must come down," and  I was struck by the fact that this very much can be referring to spiritual, emotional and physical highs.  A busy and fun weekend is often followed by a dull Monday.  A good day with little ones full of laughs and good behavior is quickly followed by another one with way less of both.  An exciting, energetic trip is often followed by an exhausted crash and sleepy, grumpy days to follow. A spiritual high can quickly be followed by spiritual lows, clarity by fog, joy by sorrow, confidence by faltering.  We so easily get discouraged once that high is replaced with a low simply because we secretly hoped the high would keep going on forever.  I experience this way too often, but I hadn't thought to expect it and even prepare for it.  If we are riding on the hi...

"For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities..." (Heb. 4:15) When I do not understand myself, Jesus  still  understands me.