Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, March 10

Dark Nights

You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Psalm 17:3

Recommended Reading
Psalm 6:6-10


La noche oscura del alma--"The Dark Night of the Soul." That's the name of the poem written by St. John of the Cross, a 16th century Spanish poet. Written while St. John was in prison for trying to reform his monastic order, "the dark night" represents the difficulties and trials we experience on the road to heaven.

"Dark night" also pictures the isolation we feel during times of spiritual tests. We sometimes lie in bed at night, surrounded by darkness, longing for sleep, but consumed with our thoughts and questions. The psalmists, especially David, were candidly honest about their literal and spiritual dark nights. David made good use of his sleepless nights, crying out to God for relief and answers (Psalm 22:2; 42:. And he relied on the natural order of things to remind him that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b).

If you are in the midst of your own dark night, use the time wisely. If there are tears, let them water the words you pour out to God, remembering that joy comes in the morning.

Faith is a plant that can grow in the shade, a grace that can find the way to heaven in a dark night.
William Gurnall

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 15:1-17:18

 

[Judy Harder]

Friday, March 11

Spiritual Solstice

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
Psalm 63:6

Recommended Reading
Psalm 139:11-12


Depending on how one views the calendar, the winter solstice happens at a moment in time between December 21 and 22 each year. It happens at the moment in the earth's annual orbit around the sun when the earth's axis is tilted farthest away from the sun. Practically speaking, it marks the end of long nights, short days, and the beginning of short nights, long days.

Spiritually speaking, we long for a winter solstice-type moment in our lives when we are going through times of trouble. We want to reach a point when we see more light than darkness in each day, when the darkness of discouragement gives way to the light of joy and hope as the Son rises anew in our life. Until that light appears, we can use the darkness as a time to meditate and reflect on the unchanging character and nature of God. While darkness may affect how we see Him, darkness does not change Him. The psalmist David said he would think about God as he lay on his bed at night. He meditated on Him through the "watches"--the stages, the progression--of the night.

Ask God to walk with you through the stages of your dark night. Remember who He is and what He has done for you.

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 18:1-19:51

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, March 12 & 13

Experiential Living: Experience Patience

By your patience possess your souls.
Luke 21:19

Recommended Reading
Hebrews 6:10-12


Missionary J. O. Fraser who worked among the Lisu peoples of China once commented about the necessity of waiting on the Lord to do His work without the frantic, panicked rushing about that characterizes much of our labor.

He said: "In the biography of our Lord nothing is more noticeable than the quiet, even poise of His life. Never flustered whatever happened, never taken off His guard, however assailed by men or demons in the midst of fickle people, hostile rulers, faithless disciples--always calm, always collected. Christ the hard worker indeed--but doing no more, and no less, than God had appointed Him, and with no restlessness, no hurry, no worry. Was ever such a peaceful life lived, under conditions so perturbing?"1

The Bible teaches that the fruit of the Spirit is patience. We should do things as efficiently as we can, but in the end so much of life requires waiting on our Lord's timing. What situation demands your patience today? Remember--He is called the "God of Patience" (Romans 15:5).

1Geraldine Taylor, Behind the Rangers: The Life-Changing Story of J. O. Fraser (Singapore: OMF International, 1998), 191.

Patience is passion tamed.
Lyman Abbott

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 20:1-Judges 1:36

[Judy Harder]

Monday, March 14

Three Places to Look

Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
Psalm 119:67

Recommended Reading
Jeremiah 31:18-19


A medical research study analyzed post-traumatic responses of cancer patients, one of which was found to be "stronger faith in God." One participant in the study said, "I am a Christian, believing that everything that God has allowed to happen in my life has a purpose. Since I was diagnosed with cancer, I was at first very confused and sad as to why it should happen to me. But I can only do what I can control and surrender the rest to God. Since then I really experience the real meaning of knowing how much He loves me and makes me worthy in His eyes (Ephesians 3:17-19)."*

There are only three places to look in life: inward, outward, and upward. And trials can help us (cause us) to look in all three directions. Looking inward, we can check our response to the trial. Looking outward, we can see how our response is impacting others. And looking upward, we can renew our faith in the One who causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

If you are going through a trial or test, look in all three directions. What you discover may become a blessing, or possibly a correction, you hadn't anticipated.

Temptation provokes me to look upward to God.
John Bunyan


Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 2:1-4:24

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, March 15

Friend Power

Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12

Recommended Reading
Luke 24:13-35


People with pets exercise more, sleep better, and take fewer sick days than adults without pets. Pet owners also demonstrate higher levels of social interaction with other adults and often have lower cardiovascular risks as well. The most often cited reason for these benefits is "unconditional love."*

Yes, humans and some animals enjoy a beneficial bond. But how much more would a human companion(s) be who displayed the same unconditional love--and so much more? God's statement in the Garden of Eden--that it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18)--has implications that go beyond marriage. Human beings were created by God as social beings, hardwired to relate to others as friends, spouses, extended family members, members of the Body of Christ, and partners in community life. Not only do we need what others can contribute to us, they need the strengths and gifts God has given us.

Are you walking through life with fellow pilgrims whose unconditional love manifests God's love to you? And are you being such a companion to others?

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 5:1-7:25

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, March 16

Model of Patience

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:4

Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:22-23


One of the best-known idioms in the English language shows up consistently in the day's news: "the patience of Job." People are said to exhibit the patience of Job when undergoing various circumstances or in their daily vocations. But truth be told, Job was not a very patient man. Until the end of the book, Job was on an impatient mission to prove he wasn't the cause of his own suffering.

So if Job is not a good example of patience, who is? Working backward from Galatians 5:22--"But the fruit of the Spirit is ...longsuffering [that is, patience]"--we arrive at Christ. The fruit of the Spirit represents the Spirit's manifestations of the life of Christ in us--so Christ must have been the personification of the fruit of the Spirit, including patience. But what about when Christ drove the merchants out of the temple with a whip, turning over their tables of money and cages of animals? Was that patience?

For a Christian, patience is willful and cheerful submission to the will and timing of God in one's life. Patience is not always meek and quiet--but it is God-centered, which makes it a measure by which to evaluate whether we are patient or not.

Cheerful patience is a holy art and skill, which a man learns from God.
Thomas Manton

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 8:1-9:57

 

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, March 17

How Long?

How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
Psalm 13:1

Recommended Reading
Daniel 10:1-11:1


On November 15, 2010, the CEO of Facebook announced that his service's 500 million users will get a new way to communicate even more quickly: a Facebook email account. Traditional email suffers from a time delay, but incorporating email into Facebook's messaging system is yet another way to remove delays from communication.

The digital age--specifically the Internet and various messaging methods--has already helped shrink the world and eliminate time delays. But when it comes to communicating with God, the digital age hasn't changed anything except perhaps made us more impatient with God. We are used to getting answers and replies to questions NOW and we forget that God works on His timetable, not ours. But when an answer or response from God takes time, we are forced to stop, think, consider, evaluate, meditate, contemplate, revise, repent--and most of all, let God be God. God is not impulsive, nor should we be. Not getting immediate answers, if that's how God responds, forces us to be more considerate.

If you are waiting on God, know there is a reason for His (seeming) delay. What seems like a delay on earth is a sign of a purpose or reason in heaven.

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 10:1-13:25

[Judy Harder]

Friday, March 18

Therapeutic Praise

Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?"
Joshua 5:14

Recommended Reading
Joshua 5:13-15


A recent report on CNBC claimed that 1 in 5 Americans suffers from stress disorders and other conditions which can cause illness. That amounts to 45 million Americans. Even more alarming, the highest levels of mental illness show up among young adults. The complaints include depression, substance abuse, thoughts of suicide, and family discord.

These are difficult times, and people around the world are facing extraordinary levels of stress. Many need professional help, and multitudes need a reason to be hopeful.

Try praise. One of the greatest antidotes to mental stress is worship with thanksgiving. When we come before the Lord, recognize His blessings, bathe our souls in His glory, claim His promises, and sing His praises--well, it's highly therapeutic to our souls. We don't worship Him just for what we get out of it, of course. That would be counterproductive. Worship is all about Him, not us. But how good of God to bless us, as we bless Him.

Joshua was worried before leading Israel into battle. But he fell on his face, worshipped, listened to God's instructions, and rose to conquer. We can do the same.

Worship: The spontaneous expression of the heart to the glory of God.
Anonymous

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 14:1-17:13

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, March 19 & 20

Experiential Living: Experience Faith

The man took Jesus at His word and departed.
John 4:50 (NIV)

Recommended Reading
John 4:46-54


Now there's a simple definition of faith. It's taking Jesus at His word. The man had found Christ in the city of Cana and told him of his son, who was deathly sick back at Capernaum. Jesus simply said, "Go your way; your son lives." The man didn't stand there wringing his hands and wondering what to do next. He didn't beg Jesus to travel to Capernaum. He didn't ask for proof. He simply took Jesus at His word and departed. When he arrived home, he found that his son had recovered instantly the day before--at the very moment when Jesus had spoken the word.

Faith is trusting God with your burdens, knowing that your prayers are already answered (Isaiah 65:24). It's being persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised (Romans 4:21). It is knowing that all things work together for good to those who love Him (Romans 8:28). It's being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

Take Him at His word today.

Oh, for more of that faith which will believe without seeing, which will take Christ at His word in spite of appearances the most adverse!
Bishop J. C. Ryle

Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 18:1-Ruth 4:22

[Judy Harder]

Monday, March 21

Divine Delays

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt."
Exodus 13:17

Recommended Reading
Acts 16:6-10


Not a day goes by when our plans aren't changed by circumstances beyond our control. Natural disasters, house or car repair problems, unexpected illness, traffic jams on the freeway, a friend or neighbor with an emergency need, unforeseen time demands at work--the list goes on. The question is, "Can we trust that God is in those unforeseen delays, diversions, and distractions?"

A rarely-read, single verse in Exodus (13:17) tells how God led the newly-freed Hebrew nation into the Sinai Desert instead of around the southeast "corner" of the Mediterranean Sea into the Promised Land. Why? So the Hebrews wouldn't encounter the Philistines who inhabited that region, be attacked, and flee back to Egypt for safety. The Hebrews grumbled loud and long about the Sinai sand and sun, but at least they were alive. If they had met the Philistines, they might have been slaughtered.

Next time your path is changed unexpectedly, trust by faith that God is in it and that the change was for a good reason (Romans 8:28).

Read-Thru-the-Bible
1 Samuel 1:1-3:21