Post by mommadee48 on Mar 24, 2022 2:33:51 GMT -5
OUR DAILY BREAD/ TACKLING INDECISION/ READ: (Proverbs 3:5-8)
We live in a world that offers a wide range of choices---from paper towels to life insurance. In 2004, psychologist Barry Schwartz wrote a book titled The Paradox of Choice in which he argued that while freedom of choice is important to our well-being, too many choices can lead to overload and indecision. While the stakes are certainly lower when deciding on which paper towel to buy, indecision can become debilitating when making major decisions that impact the course of our lives. So how can we overcome indecision and move forward confidently in living for JESUS?
As believers in Christ, seeking God's wisdom helps us as we face difficult decisions. When we're deciding on anything in life, large or small, the Scriptures instruct us to "trust in the LORD with all [our] heart and lean not on [our] own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). When we rely on our own judgement, we can become confused and worry about missing an important detail or making the wrong choice. When look to God for the answers, however, He'll make [our] paths straight" (v.6). He'll give us clarity and peace as we make decisions in our day-t0-day lives.
God doesn't want us to be paralyzed or overwhelmed by the weight of our decisions. We can find peace in the wisdom and direction HE provides when we bring our concerns to Him in prayer.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do Not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
OUR DAILY BREAD/ JUSTICE AND JESUS/READ: (MICAH 6:1-8).
Caesar Augustus (63bc-ad 14), the first emperor of Rome, wanted to be known as a law-and-order ruler. Even though he built his empire on the back of slave labor, military conquest, and financial bribery, he restored a measure a legal due process and gave his citizens Justitia, a goddess our justice system today refers to as "Lady Justice". He also called for a census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for the birth of a long-awaited ruler whose greatness would reach to the ends of the earth (MICAH5:2-4).
What neither Augustus nor the rest of the world could have anticipated is how a far greater King would live and die to show what real justice looks like. Centuries earlier, in the prophet Micah's day the people of God had once again lapsed into a culture of lies, violence, and "ill-gotten treasures" (Micah 6:10-12). God's dearly loved nation had lost sight of HIM. He longed for them to show their world what it meant to do right by each other and walk humbly with HIM (v.8).
It took a Servant King to personify the kind of justice that hurting, forgotten, and helpless people long for. It took the fulfillment of Micah's prophecy in Jesus to see right relationships established between God and people, and person-to-person. This would come not in the outward enforcement of Caesar-like law-and-order, but in the freedom of the mercy, goodness, and spirit of our servant King Jesus.
Listen to what the Lord says:
"Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say.
"Hear, you mountains, the Lord's accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.
"My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer Me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Boer answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord".
With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with YOUR GOD.
We live in a world that offers a wide range of choices---from paper towels to life insurance. In 2004, psychologist Barry Schwartz wrote a book titled The Paradox of Choice in which he argued that while freedom of choice is important to our well-being, too many choices can lead to overload and indecision. While the stakes are certainly lower when deciding on which paper towel to buy, indecision can become debilitating when making major decisions that impact the course of our lives. So how can we overcome indecision and move forward confidently in living for JESUS?
As believers in Christ, seeking God's wisdom helps us as we face difficult decisions. When we're deciding on anything in life, large or small, the Scriptures instruct us to "trust in the LORD with all [our] heart and lean not on [our] own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). When we rely on our own judgement, we can become confused and worry about missing an important detail or making the wrong choice. When look to God for the answers, however, He'll make [our] paths straight" (v.6). He'll give us clarity and peace as we make decisions in our day-t0-day lives.
God doesn't want us to be paralyzed or overwhelmed by the weight of our decisions. We can find peace in the wisdom and direction HE provides when we bring our concerns to Him in prayer.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Do Not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
OUR DAILY BREAD/ JUSTICE AND JESUS/READ: (MICAH 6:1-8).
Caesar Augustus (63bc-ad 14), the first emperor of Rome, wanted to be known as a law-and-order ruler. Even though he built his empire on the back of slave labor, military conquest, and financial bribery, he restored a measure a legal due process and gave his citizens Justitia, a goddess our justice system today refers to as "Lady Justice". He also called for a census that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for the birth of a long-awaited ruler whose greatness would reach to the ends of the earth (MICAH5:2-4).
What neither Augustus nor the rest of the world could have anticipated is how a far greater King would live and die to show what real justice looks like. Centuries earlier, in the prophet Micah's day the people of God had once again lapsed into a culture of lies, violence, and "ill-gotten treasures" (Micah 6:10-12). God's dearly loved nation had lost sight of HIM. He longed for them to show their world what it meant to do right by each other and walk humbly with HIM (v.8).
It took a Servant King to personify the kind of justice that hurting, forgotten, and helpless people long for. It took the fulfillment of Micah's prophecy in Jesus to see right relationships established between God and people, and person-to-person. This would come not in the outward enforcement of Caesar-like law-and-order, but in the freedom of the mercy, goodness, and spirit of our servant King Jesus.
Listen to what the Lord says:
"Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say.
"Hear, you mountains, the Lord's accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.
"My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer Me. I brought you up out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. I sent Moses to lead you, also Aaron and Miriam. My people, remember what Balak king of Moab plotted and what Balaam son of Boer answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord".
With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with YOUR GOD.