Wellspring. Karen Moore
vacation with the family. Now that you're a little older, days and nights may seem to melt into each other and make you wonder how anything can get done when there is so little time.
Peter reminds us essentially that with God, time is not really an issue. In fact, he invented the whole concept of time and it appears that he had no limitations for himself. But for us, time is a mystery.
The thing we have to notice is what happens to our patience or our ability to wait when time drags on. When everything about life is suddenly grounded and nothing moves, when everything stops, then you might feel somewhat dismayed.
Today, pay closer attention to your time and how you spend it. How much of it did you dedicate to God?
In the Flow
Lord, I admit that I get frustrated by time. I either don't have enough of it, or I have a little too much on my hands and then I get impatient. Remind me that you are the arbiter of my time, the one who knows how I best need to live my life. Amen.
January 24
Faith—What's Enough?
Jesus said to him, " 'If you can do anything'? All things are possible for the one who has faith." At that the boy's father cried out, "I have faith; help my lack of faith!"
—Mark 9:23-24
Most of us can empathize with the poor father who struggled with his faith in the story Mark has noted here. We want to believe. In our best moments, we do believe. In our worst moments, we question what we believe. We're not always certain we have enough of this thing called faith.
Alas, we can't buy more faith on the open market, but we may be able to buy into the concept, the idea, the fact of faith in such a way that we do indeed receive more of it. Perhaps faith is something like love. The more of it you give away, the more of it you use, the more you have. If so, why don't we look for every opportunity to share our faith, to ground our faith, to substantiate our faith in such a way that lack is never a problem? When someone we love is ill, we call on our faith knowing that with God all things are possible.
Take a moment and measure your faith quotient today. Is it enough to get you through every twist and turn the day may take? If not, start the day with one request. "Lord, help my lack of faith."
In the Flow
Lord, help me depend on faith and on you in such a way that nothing can really shake it, nothing can take it away from me. Help me know that with faith in you all things are possible. Amen.
January 25
You Look Like Your Father
Instead renew the thinking in your mind by the Spirit and clothe yourself with the new person created according to God's image in justice and true holiness.
—Ephesians 4:23-24
Most of us take it as a compliment when someone tells us we look like a parent or a favorite relative. We want to reflect the people we love in a positive way. How wonderful when we reflect the likeness of our Father, the God who made us in his own image.
How do we do that? What can we do so that others will see his mannerisms in our walk and talk, see his glow in our faces? One of the keys to changing our image is right here in this verse. It says that we must renew our thinking; we must renew our minds by God's Spirit.
When you're excited about life and the way you look, you also have a tendency to dress differently. In fact, you may be motivated to buy a new outfit to reflect the new you. You're more apt to want to look appealing to people in every way because you're happy about the way you look.
It's a great day to clothe yourself in God's image, to wear his smile for all those who see you, and share his heart with each one you meet. Change your thoughts, change your clothes, and create a style all your own . . . one that reflects your love for your Father.
In the Flow
Lord, I do want to look and act and be more like you. Help me think about you in such a way that I naturally reflect you in the things I do. Help others see your face any time they look at me. Amen.
January 26
Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
Some people have ruined their faith because they refused to listen to their conscience.
—1 Timothy 1:19
We live in an era where people often act without any trace of conscience. Moral guidelines are given only a perfunctory look, and virtue is no longer espoused as a thing worthy of our attention.
Whatever happened to having a conscience? Jiminy Cricket taught some of us that it was good to let your conscience be your guide. Add to that the idea that the Holy Spirit taps into our conscious selves and tries to offer clear and clean direction. We're not alone here but we act as though we are. We act as though the things we do have no consequence and whether we please God or not is simply not on the radar.
First Timothy warns us that we can actually ruin our faith, perhaps even lose our faith, when we aren't willing to listen to God. The still small voice speaks to us, and it serves us well to listen. Today is a new day and no matter how closely you were listening yesterday, make it your intention to do so now. See what the spirit of God wants you to know and feel the direction being offered for your soul. Listen carefully because it will do your heart a lot of good.
In the Flow
Lord, help me tune into my conscience, trusting and believing that you are working to help me live according to your will and purpose. Amen.
January 27
The Race of God's Grace
I also observed under the sun that the race doesn't always go to the swift, nor the battle to the mighty, nor food to the wise, nor wealth to the intelligent, nor favor to the knowledgeable.
—Ecclesiastes 9:11
The writer of Ecclesiastes reminds us that the sun shines on everybody and it doesn't necessarily just shine on the people who deserve it. When we prepare for a race, a new job, or an opportunity that puts us out in front of others, we may forget one thing. We may forget how much our ego is also invested in the outcome. We may even start to become people who believe life owes us and that we're entitled to the good stuff.
What we're entitled to is God's grace, given freely, no matter who we are. Others may get ahead of us, but it could be by accident as the passage suggests, or it could be by design. After all, the Creator of the universe has every tool at his disposal for good or ill. He can bring out the rain and the sun whenever he chooses.
Today, as you examine your effort at the things you do, don't worry about who else might win at the game you are playing. Just trust and believe that it's important for you to be the best you can possibly be. Your Heavenly Father knows why.
In the Flow
Lord, help me stop comparing myself to others, and be willing to bring only my best to you no matter what. Amen.
January 28
You Look Marvelous!
Don't try to make yourselves beautiful on the outside, with stylish hair or by wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes. Instead, make yourselves beautiful on the inside, in your hearts, with the enduring quality of a gentle, peaceful spirit. This