Good morning!
I hope you don't mind I combine the last few days' readings into one post! Pete and I were gone from Thursday until last night in Wisconsin - I already explained a bit of what went on there. haha Thankfully our ugly car-towing situation is resolved and God brought us home safely! It was a weekend unexpectedly stressful and fun, like a roller coaster. I was given multiple opportunities to be fretful and worrisome and angry. I was also given many a chance to be grateful for the good bestowed on us by family and cheerful encounters with strangers. It was a bittersweet weekend; but after a 6 hour long drive home yesterday and recapping the previous three days with hubby, we came to the conclusion that all is still well and we are still so blessed. We realized the sad loss of many inward fights this weekend against anger and discontentment, but were brought up by the comfort of God's forgiving grace and love. Today we're tired but joyful at seeing what the Lord has in store for us in the coming weeks, and our trust is renewed that he will provide what we need in the way we need it.
Reading today's and yesterday's verses definitely reminded me of God's providence! James says that the Holy Spirit envies intensely any god we give more attention and love to than our Maker God. The commentary I keep close at hand said it well: "The Lord watches over the behavior of Christians with jealous envy..." He is not pleased when he sees us giving our devotion and love to worldly things and behaviors. He desires our humility and contentment with what he's given us, and doesn't leave us hanging there! He promises MORE grace to the humble, he assures us he'll equip us to live a godly life, even as we battle our selfish, proud desires for more and more for ourself, more to sinfully satisfy ourselves.
That's really where it all begins, in the proud, dissatisfied caverns of our Old Man's heart. That is where envy blooms, and hatred for those with more and better begins. It stinks up our heart and wells up and over into our lifestyles, our character. It shows itself in preoccupation with image, popularity, excessive shopping; it shows in how important entertainment, toys, social busy-ness is to us. It shows in how we try and try to keep up with the Joneses...after all, our treasure is where our heart is. There's no hiding that proof.
Last week, we finished up with the characteristic of wisdom. Those 7 character gems lead to a peaceful life, which, when I think of true peace, I think of contentment, joy, and humbly loving behavior. When I think peace, I think beautiful...calm...repose. A woman at peace is a remarkable thing! So am I wrong to assume that asking God for more of those 7 characteristics in my life that then I will begin to become more of that remarkable woman of peace?
I think it's a quite fair assumption. :) And consequently, God will use us women of peace for his glory - which is our desire and purpose in the first place! It's all so amazing how God sets out a list of standards that we ought to pray and strive for, and he'll in turn bless us with a quite beautiful and fantastic life of peace. His standards are set on the narrow, less-taken way, so naturally we should not expect to fit the mold of most of the women in the world around us...nor should that ever be our goal either! Just like we cannot serve both God and money - two masters - we cannot serve both God and the world. It might be easy for us to conclude that of course we don't serve money or the world! But I realize that is Satan whispering in my ear. I pray that God would help me dig into the very corners of my life and choices and help me to see where and how and when I am not completely serving only Him. Sin is seriously good at creeping in and hiding in little crevices, in subtle spots in our lives.
We need a magnifying glass on our lives. God thankfully will supply the strength and will help us do this!!
These were some loaded verses in the last few days! I am praying for God's kind of wisdom (those 7 qualities) this week, because I need that peace, I greatly desire that calm content that only flows out of a life fully connected to the Vine.
Praying the same for you girls this week! Please let us know what you're learning from James and any insight or encouragement you can give regarding wisdom and contentment. :) That's what we're here for, to help each other along the way of godly womanhood!
Love you all,
and hoping you steal a moment or two of this rainy Tuesday to spend with our Lord who loves you even more!
~Cait
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