Sorting through

Breakables waiting for the yard sale.

There’s something very healthy about cleaning out and paring down.

It reminds me of thinning a fruit tree.

It’s dangerous for a tree to have too much weight on a limb.

Proper thinning helps the tree bear fruit without damaging it.

As I’ve been thinning out our belongings, it has struck me, it is healthy, both physically and spiritually.

Because with each thing I go through I pray and ask the Lord what His will for that is.

Yesterday, I came across a tote of old decorations.

There were leftover table scarves, glass candle sticks, and pennant banners.

Some from our daughters’ graduation parties, some from their bridal showers, and some from our daughter’s baby shower.

Many memories, but most of the stuff is no longer needed.

Who knows, maybe another family is in need of party decorations.

So, I put those things in the yard sale box with a smile.

At one point in my life letting go of that kind of thing would have been a struggle, but my trust in God has grown.

He’s taught me so much about clinging only to Him.

I’m so thankful.

There’s a beautiful freedom, a lifted burden, when we cling to God and let Him carry everything else.

His Word is truth:

Matthew 11:30 KJV — For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your Word. Lord, thank You for helping me learn to trust You. Lord, how grateful I am for Your patience with me. I’m a very slow learner, Lord, but I am willing to learn. Thank You for Your faithfulness in all things. Lord Jesus, I so want others to find the truth in Your Word as well. I want others to understand the beautiful blessings of a relationship with You, how real treasure is never stuff. The enduring treasure of salvation and a heart at peace in You is the most valuable thing of all. Lord, please reach those who have yet to know You. Please continue to teach me and other believers what You want us to learn: trust, faith, mercy, grace, and love. Lord, please help us to walk in these things and to grow in understanding of the season we live in. Lord, please guide us in Your truth daily. I love You, Jesus. Amen

November 12

Today’s prayer:

Joshua 24:16 KJV — And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for these words. Please let it be so for those who are called by Your name. Please help Your people to follow You steadfastly, that they not turn out of the way to the right or to the left, but are true to You in all things. Lord Jesus, You alone are worthy of all praise. You are good. You are holy. Salvation comes from You. Please save the lost. Please protect the innocent. Lord Jesus, please return the prodigal. Lord, strengthen Your church and purify Your people. Please let Your people cling to You in all their ways. Thank You. Amen.

Hate evil

Amos 5:15 NKJV — Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Proverbs 8:13 NKJV — The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

Zechariah 8:17 NKJV — Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.”

The point is clear.

Evil is among us, even found in us, and we are to hate it.

Because evil harms.

It hurts us, it hurts others, it breaks our fellowship with God.

It’s something we should want to purge out of our minds, hearts, and lives.

The Bible tells us how to do this.

Romans 12:9 NKJV — Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

God is good.

There is nothing evil or false about Him at all.

When we cling to God, we find what is good.

Deut. 12:31,16:22, 18:12, 24:4, 7:25, 17:1; Prov. 3:32, 6:16, 11:1,12:22; Mal. 2:16 are a few of the verses explaining what God hates, those things which are an abomination to Him.

Proverbs 15:9 NKJV — The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness.

Proverbs 15:26 NKJV — The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, But the words of the pure are pleasant.

Let us be followers of righteousness, people whose words are pure.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your truth. Thank You for giving us Your Word to guide and direct our lives. Lord, help us to fear You, to walk in Your ways, to speak words that are pure, to cling to what is good. Lord Jesus, help us to cling to You in all things. Thank You. Amen.