What Should I Wear Today?

 “Clothe your-selves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature”

(Romans 13:14).

Spring and summer are coming here, and one of the things I like about four seasons is wearing a variety of clothing.  However, one inconvenience of my fibro is being overly sensitive to cold and heat.  Some days, deciding what to wear is very challenging.  

The heat of summer doesn’t always mean I can wear less.  Depending on air conditioning settings, I may have to wear long underwear in the summertime.  In winter, I wear at least three or four layers so I can take something off if I get too hot.  When we travel, I may end up in the back seat shedding clothes while my husband guards the car doors!

Given my enjoyment of (and problems with) clothes, this verse in Romans interests me. How do I “wear” Jesus?

Various commentaries identify at least two explanations.  One is to remember that we are clothed with Jesus’ righteousness, including His grace and forgiveness.  The other is to imitate His example, following His commandments and responding the way He would.

As I get dressed in the morning, I can thank God that no matter how many times I fail in my Christian walk, in God’s eyes my spiritual wardrobe of the day will not be stained with spills of anger, guilt, or faithlessness.  I’m wearing the righteousness of Jesus.

Each time I put on or take off a sweater or coat (or long underwear J), I can examine my current attitude and see what needs to be changed.  Perhaps I need to take off complaining and put on praise, or take off worry and put on peace.

It may require some energy and attitude adjustment to change my spiritual clothes throughout the day, but “wearing Jesus” is a beautiful wardrobe that fits any season or temperature year-round.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, as I experience the physical discomforts of my days, give me the awareness and desire to clothe myself with Your attributes rather than my attitudes.  And thank you that even when I “wear” the wrong thing, You see me as righteous and perfect in Your sight.  Amen.

Living Significantly as the Salt of the Earth

“You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13).

Recently I was battling a virus for several weeks.  A neighbor was kind enough to bring me some soup, but when I tasted it, it was missing something – salt.

Salt has at least three purposes.  It brings out the flavor in foods, like my soup.  It preserves, keeping food from spoilage and decay. It purifies and heals. And as Christians, we are called to be salt in the world. 

My life seems very insignificant and limited.  How can I possibly be salt?  But Jesus says I already am.

I can flavor the lives of people around me with encouraging words and God’s love. I can share the hope I have of an eternal body free from decay. I can share the healing God brings to my soul, even through my suffering.

I can sprinkle salt through email, regular mail, Facebook, medical offices, support groups, or individually in person. I can do it through prayer and praise.

In one of Charles Stanley’s devotional booklets, Winn Collier wrote the following:

“I am amazed by the simple lives I encounter – people living in quiet ways, often unhurried and unnoticed, as they seek to devote themselves to the way of Jesus and be loyal to the kingdom of God.  With our zealous addiction to gusto and our fascination with brilliance, we often forget . . . it is ordinary faithfulness – ordinary presence – that makes the deepest impact.”

Yes, I live an ordinary and sometimes very contained life.  But God has given me a sphere of influence, and He created me to be salt in it.  Even in my pain and problems I have purpose – to sprinkle the world with the gift of Jesus – and that’s pretty significant.

Prayer: O Lord, thank you for giving me significance in Your kingdom, and let me not miss the opportunities You give me to flavor my world with the knowledge of You.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

The "Work" of Living with Chronic Illness and Pain

“See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord”
(Colossians 4:17).

Typically one of the first questions people ask someone new is what kind of work they do. In our society we are identified by what we do, and it’s easy for much of our self-worth to come from our work. Pain or illness may prevent us from having a full or even part-time job, but have you ever thought of them as the work God has given us? 

The job of handling chronic pain and illness is a challenging one.  We work 24/7, 365 days a year.  We have no vacation time.  Our co-workers may or may not understand our issues, so human relations can be difficult. We may be more sleep-deprived from pain than those who commute long hours to their jobs. And a promotion to something better in this life may not come. There is no doubt about it – managing pain and illness is hard work. 

But this work is something we have received from God, and we are to complete it. Our boss is the most faithful, forgiving, loving, and compassionate Being in the universe, and this job is conforming us more into His likeness. Our work provides unique opportunities to share our faith that we would not have in other situations.  Our current paycheck may not be the greatest, but the retirement plan is phenomenal.

We don’t have to feel inferior to those who have “regular” jobs. Living with pain and illness is a full-time job.  We work hard trying to manage our health issues and maintain our faith and testimony through them. This God-given work matters.  We are valuable employees of the kingdom of heaven.  So let’s complete the work well.  Our promotion will be worth it.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, I must confess that oftentimes I don’t want this job of a living a pain-filled life.  Yet I know You are using it for my good and Your glory.  Give me the willingness and diligence to complete this work, and to remember that the long-term benefits will more than compensate for the temporary discomforts.  Amen.

A Lenten Sacrifice of Praise

“Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth (Psalm 119:108).

 We are entering the season of Lent, reflecting on the sacrifices that Jesus made for us through His life, death, and resurrection. 

 

Some people associate Lent with the negative aspect of giving things up.  Others choose to add something into their lives.  The sacrifice of praise encompasses both.

To sacrifice includes giving up, destroying, permitting injury to, or foregoing something valued for the sake of a more pressing claim.  Living with ongoing pain or illness we may sacrifice things such as jobs, relationships, and other activities.  Hopefully we maintain an attitude of praise year-round, but during Lent we can be even more willing to sacrificially yield our hearts and bodies to God’s divine plan for us each day. The limitations of pain and illness provide many opportunities to praise God through our losses.

As we choose to praise God through the negatives, we are also adding something positive.  Praise is one of the most powerful weapons of warfare against Satan’s attacks.  Battles were won through praise (Joshua 6, II Chronicles 20), and praise is not only for God’s glory but for our benefit. 

Here are a few suggestions for ways to praise to God during Lent:

Use a book of prayers by famous Christians and make them your own.

Pick some of your favorite Scripture verses and turn them into prayers of praise to the Lord.

Choose one attribute of God to praise Him for each day, thanking Him for how that attribute strengthens you during your most painful times.

Read Ephesians 1:3-14.  Praise Jesus for the gifts we receive because of His sacrifice for us.

The sacrifice of praise – however we choose to offer it – may well make the joy and victory of Easter even more powerful.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, as I think of the sacrifices You made for my eternal salvation, let me respond with a voice of praise, even during my greatest times of loss and pain. Use my praise to bless You and strengthen me, and use this Lenten season to deepen my faith and love for You. Amen.

Keeping a Young Attitude Despite Our Pain

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. . . who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:1,5).

Does pain seem to age you?  I feel it does.  I once took a test in a magazine to determine whether I seemed older than my chronological age, and I scored ten years ahead of my current age.  That was somewhat depressing! 

In Charles Stanley’s January devotional booklet, he gave three suggestions for maintaining a youthful attitude – laughing, longing, and leaning.

My husband is very good at laughing about his essential tremor.  He jokes about some of the problems it causes and doesn’t let it rob him of his sense of humor.  Scripture even says that a cheerful heart is a good medicine (Proverbs 17:22).

We should keep longing – having goals and dreams that we continue to work toward as much as possible, rather than just watching the world go by.  Right now I am pursuing starting a pain support group in our new town.  Part of me is afraid to try because of my health issues, but if this is God’s will, He will give me the strength and ability to do it.

Finally, we are to keep leaning on God.  We can do nothing on our own, even if we are healthy.  All that we are and do is a gift from God.  When we continually maintain our trust in Him, we can live our lives as fully as we were meant to live them, despite our weaknesses and limitations.

I know my body is ageing, and in one sense I don’t mind that, because it means I’m getting closer to my heavenly home.  But as long as I’m here, laughing, longing, and leaning are great suggestions for feeling younger and brighter and cost nothing but a willing attitude.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, You know how my pain can rob me of a bright and youthful outlook on life.  It is so easy for me to feel old in heart and spirit as well as body.  Teach me to laugh more, to long and look for ways to serve You in my current condition, and to lean on You at all times.  And as I do, please use me to brighten the lives of others.  Amen.

What Paul Taught Me About Pain and Perseverance

“They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.  But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.  The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe” (Acts 14:19, 20).

I am currently going through a particularly difficult time physically.  Continual migraines, pain, nervousness, and sleeplessness sometimes bring me to the point of feeling I can’t handle things anymore. 

I am very familiar with Paul - his struggle with a thorn in the flesh and his admonitions to give thanks in all circumstances, to not be anxious for anything, and many other encouragements that apply to any kind of suffering or hardship.  But as I read Acts 14, I noticed something.

Paul was beaten to the point of being considered dead.  What happened then?  His friends surrounded him and probably gave him needed physical attention, but he then proceeded to get up and continue on his journey ministering to others.

In a figurative sense, I sometimes feel beaten almost to the point of death. I don’t want to get up and keep going.  Paul was beaten many times, along with countless other physical sufferings (II Corinthians 11).  But each time he got up and kept going.  He must have felt pain – after all, he was human.  At one point he even despaired of life (II Corinthians 1:8).  But he still got up and kept going.  He trusted God and God sustained Him.

I am not the spiritual giant Paul was, but I have the same power of God within me that Paul did.  The Lord will keep me going.  I can get up.  I will get up.  And I will keep getting up until I have finished what God has put me on this earth to do.  He who is called me is faithful, and he will do it (I Thessalonians 5:24).  And whatever you are struggling with right now, He will do the same for you.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for the example of Paul and others who show that it is in my weakest and most desperate moments that You do the greatest work of empowering and strengthening me. Thank you for equipping and enabling me to endure when I feel I can’t go on, and help me to continue persevering through my pain and not lose heart. Amen.

Recharging Our Life Batteries for New Challenges

“I know that through your prayers and the help given me by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my good”

 (Philippians 1:19).

Two thousand fifteen is a new year, but our health problems may not be, and we may face some new ones as well.  Have you ever lost power in your home and discovered that your flashlight batteries were dead?  As this year begins, we may feel our “life batteries” have died.  We have no strength for the challenges that lie ahead.  We need to be recharged.

The King James Version of Philippians 1:19 says our help will come through “the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”.  In Rick Renner’s book, Sparkling Gems from the Greek, he explains that “supply” refers to the abundant and excessive contribution of the Spirit’s grace and power through Jesus, which is readily available to all believers all the time.

My new year began with shoulder pain, sleeplessness, fibro pain, depression, and nausea.  I struggled with how I would survive the day, let alone another year.  My life battery seemed dead.  But I kept going and will continue to do so because of Christ’s power source in me.  

This verse also mentions that the prayers of others help sustain us, so let us not forget to lift up others who are struggling.  God’s power supply flows through us to not only strengthen us but to help us strengthen others.  

Someone posted this quote from GodFruits on Facebook:  “Instead of saying, ‘Lord I don’t know how I am going to do this,’ say, ‘Lord, I can’t wait to see how you do this.’ ” Whatever the new year brings, thank God His ever-ready battery of power supply in our lives keeps on going and will never die.

Prayer:  All-Powerful God,Your Word says my strength will equal my days (Deuteronomy 33:15).  As I begin this new year, I know I will have the mental, physical, and emotional energy to keep going, because your grace and power will sustain me through whatever each day brings.