What’s Up with Wisdom?

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

We pray for wisdom, hoping God will drop it straight down from heaven–from His hand into our heads. But we already hold it in our hands, in the words of Scripture:

 

James 3:17 (ESV)
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable.

James’ words take us back to Jesus’ words:

Matthew 5:8-9
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

What passes for wisdom down here is often short on purity and peace. Keep looking up!

 

 

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Wise Whys

Posted on October 13, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

Following the news is like being on a see-saw. One side of a story rises to the top, then the other side. It’s hard to sort out the opinions, even harder to sift out the truth.

We ask,

 

  • Why this?
  • Why now?

Why this person? Why this place? Why this problem?
Why now? Why not last month or last year? Why not next week?
Why is this big news at this moment?
Why?

James 1:5 (ERV)
Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it.

We need God’s wisdom to work out the whys of our world.

 

 

 

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Safe Shelter for Hong Kong

Posted on October 12, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

As the world watches, protestors take to the streets in Hong Kong. Over recent months, hundreds of thousands have demonstrated resistance to the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance; there is concern it would put the people of Hong Kong under Chinese jurisdiction and undermine civil liberties.

How should we pray? This snippet from Jerry Newcombe provides a hint:

“A widow from our church and her late husband have known a Christian leader from Hong Kong for decades. She told me that over the weekend she had sent him a text, saying that she was praying for him and for Hong Kong.

“He wrote her back, ‘Thank you. We are in deep water. Deep pain, but hopeful.'”

Lord God Almighty, You are the Rock in the flood, the Shelter in the storm, the Hope of the oppressed. You are present in the Hong Kong demonstrations, and You are present in the prisons in China. Your kingdom come, Your will be done . . . in Hong Kong and in China, in Jesus’ name.

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Perp-Walk False Precepts

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

Imagine taking your own ungodly thoughts, along with those of our culture, and perp-walking them straight into the light of God’s glorious truth.

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Weapons at Work

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“Anticipate your battles;
fight them on your knees
before temptation comes,
and you will always have victory.”
R. A. Torrey (1856-1928)

Cut the enemy off . . . at your knees.

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Weaponizing Words

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

2 Corinthians 10:4 (NLT)
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

My best weapons? Prayer and the Bible.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword.

Almighty God, work Your words into my prayers. Let me fight every false argument with Your truth, all human reasoning with Your wisdom. For my sake, for the sake of those I know and love, and for the sake of those I’ve yet to meet, bring on Your weapons of truth.

 

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Simply Divine

Posted on October 8, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV)
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world . . . they have divine power.

Divine power–God’s weapons win the battle.

If we fight simply in our own strength, we fall short. 

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Destructive Thoughts

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

2 Corinthians 10:4 (ESV)
For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

 

What are the strongholds of our era?

  • We don’t need God
  • We know it all
  • We can be anything we want
  • It’s up to us to save the planet

Our enemy devises strongholds to bring us down and demolish our faith. With divine power, we can destroy them before they destroy us.

 

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Fake Safe Space

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

There is a movement, especially in schools and colleges, to create a place where someone can be protected from emotional discomfort. This “safe space” is free from criticism, contradictory points of view and offensive comments.

 

Some folks embrace these man-made sanctuaries; others see them as unrealistic and overprotective.

The Bible tells us God is our Safe Space:

Psalm 61:3 (NASB)
You have been a refuge for me,
A tower of strength against the enemy.

Forgive us, Lord, for thinking we can create safe spaces in our fallen world. Forgive us for failing to teach our children that You are the safest of places, their strong tower, their eternal protection. And forgive us for seeking personal safety within our own wisdom instead of the truth of Your Word.

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Short and Simple: Fear Not

Posted on October 4, 2019 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Fear not.
Don’t be afraid.

It’s in the Bible, over and over.

 

God is so powerful, He could zap us away in a blink. Why doesn’t He?

Because He loves us.

John 3:16 (NIRV)
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.
Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.

Thank God for love.

 

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