Put Away the Measuring Stick

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

Until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Ephesians 4:13 NLT

 

I smiled when my daughter-in-law showed me a piece of door frame she had taken from her old house. It was used as a measuring stick to mark the growth of her three girls over several years.

A measuring stick can be useful for a number of things except when it comes to our growth in the Lord. The danger comes when we continually compare our knowledge and accomplishments with  others and even ourselves. In fact, the Bible says:

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. (2 Corinthians 10:12 NIV)

The truth is Jesus is our example, our standard. And our only gauge should be the Word of God.

One writer says that when we continually measure our worth to God by what we do (performance-based living), we will live in a constant state of regret, devoid of the Lord’s gifts of joy and peace.

So what is the answer? Put away your measuring stick and your checklist. Jesus didn’t ask Peter, “What did you do for me today?” Instead, He asked Peter, “Do you love me?”

He’s asking you the same question today. If the answer is a resounding yes, that’s all that matters.

Photo by Michael Myers on Unsplash

How To Pray

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

I hear it all the time: “I just don’t know how to pray.”

For some reason, we tend to complicate something God has made so simple. Something that should come as natural as breathing.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us:

Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

(Matthew 6:6-13 MSG)

 

God doesn’t require lofty, rehearsed words copied from those we deem as more spiritual. No pretense, only sincerity. Prayer is a personal, intimate conversation with the One who loves us with an unconditional, everlasting love.

 

Talk to Him. He’s waiting to hear from you.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash and Fa Barboza.

The Myth of More

 

By Andrea Merrell

The Lord will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Isaiah 58:11 NKJV

 

“Look what I just bought,” the woman said. “It’s the greatest little gadget I never knew I wanted or needed.”

As excited as she was about her newest purchase, a week later she threw it on top of the pile of all the other items she once thought she couldn’t live without.

This woman was searching for fulfillment and satisfaction, but nothing was ever enough. Some call it “the myth of more”—the illusion that more will be enough. It keeps people looking for the next best thing. The more they get, the happier they think they will be. Unfortunately, when the newness wears off—and it always does—they go searching for something else. It becomes a vicious cycle.

Every person alive yearns for happiness, for that something that will make them feel complete. The problem is too many folks look in all the wrong places.

Years ago, Larnelle Harris and Sandi Patty sang a song asking the age-old question, what can truly satisfy our souls? The answer? Only Jesus.

One writer says that only Jesus can satisfy; everything else is sure to disappoint.

Let’s not waste our time chasing illusions and that which will never fill the God-shaped void inside us. The only thing we need more of is Jesus.

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

 

Perfect or Excellent?

 

By Andrea Merrell

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence,

and moral excellence with knowledge.

2 Peter 1:5 NLT

 

For so many years of my life I struggled with perfectionism, thinking anything “less than” was unacceptable. I felt judged by others for a less-than-perfect appearance … behavior … house … children. The pressure I lived under to please others and measure up to their unrealistic standards and expectations—as well as my own—created a constant feeling of failure and self-condemnation, even shame. No peace. No joy.

I was looking for my self-worth and affirmation in all the wrong places.

One writer says that after she was born again, she lived in fear that her “salvation contract” would become null and void the moment she made a mistake or didn’t do things perfectly. She attributes these feelings to pride and the fear of man.

We need to remember that the Enemy will constantly bombard us with accusations: You royally messed up. You said the wrong thing. What you did was unacceptable—and unforgiveable. You’ll never be good enough, so you might as well quit trying.

But Jesus says, “I love you even though … in spite of … because of … There’s nothing we can say or do that His grace and forgiveness won’t cover. He doesn’t expect or require perfection; that’s a quality only He possesses.

Our responsibility is to strive to do things in excellence—doing the best we can with what we have and doing it all as unto Him. As one writer says, “His perfection covers our imperfections.”

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and David Castillo Dominici

What Are You Full Of?

 

By Andrea Merrell

A good person produces good things from the treasury

of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things

from the treasury of an evil heart.

What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Luke 6:45 NLT

 

Normally, when someone says, “You’re full of it,” their meaning is anything but positive.

But it still begs the question, What are we full of? Faith? Joy? God’s Word? Or is it more a matter of fear? Anxiety? Bitterness?

The Word for You Today says, “You can learn a lot about yourself by listening to what you say.” Why? Because Jesus plainly tells us the mouth speaks whatever the heart is full of.

It’s a matter of input/output. What goes in is what comes out, so it’s important for us to realize what we think about, read, watch, dwell on, do habitually, and allow to become part of us.

The psalmist declared, “Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NKJV). The Passion translation put it like this: “I consider your Word to be my greatest treasure, and I treasure it in my heart to keep me from committing sin’s treason against you.”

When we fill our heart and mind with God’s Word, we allow our thoughts, words, and actions to line up with His.

Take a moment and listen to yourself, then ask yourself, “What am I full of?” If you don’t like the answer, you can change it starting today.

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and winnond.