anitasanecdotes

2 Chronicles 6:14-15   ¹⁴ He (Solomon) said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant in steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart– ¹⁵ you who have kept for your servant, my father David, what you promised to him. Indeed, you promised with your mouth and this day have fulfilled with your hand.

Many of us have grown up in the faith. We are a part of a legacy of faithful believers who have known God’s steadfast love and fulfilled promises. We understand his leadings and know the care he has provided. Sometimes, because God has been so faithful to us over the generations, we might be tempted to take God’s love for granted. We need only to remember what God has done to realize how great God’s love is for us. We need to surround ourselves with others who witness to God’s moving in their lives to see that God is still faithful. We need to keep immersing ourselves in God’s word to be overwhelmed by God’s care for his people, for us.

If we are the first in our family to believe we can create that faith legacy for our children and our children’s children. Bringing them to church, reading the scriptures, and sharing what God is doing in your life will lead them on the path to faithful living in the Lord.

Lord, there is no God like you in all the earth. Thank you for keeping your promises to us throughout the generations. Amen.

Matthew 9:9  ⁹ As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

Following Jesus means walking in his ways. It means turning away from doing things that do not please God: being concerned with ourselves to the detriment of others, selfishly working for #1. It means turning toward the way of Christ: reaching out to the poor, the oppressed, the broken, and the outcast.

When we follow Jesus and trust in his Lordship, he is able to make those changes in our lives. He transforms us and our thinking. He reveals those things that need to be discarded because they are harmful to us and to others. He gives us a distaste for our old decisions and a desire for the way of righteousness. Jesus gives us joy in helping others and a longing to do more for his kingdom.

Following Jesus will completely change our lives. We will never be the same.

Lord, you have said to us, “Follow me.” Help us to get up and follow. Amen.

Proverbs 2:20   ²⁰ Therefore walk in the way of the good, and keep to the paths of the just.

When children are asked if they ever do bad things or make sad choices, they usually say no. It is hard to own up to the fact that we are tempted to do things we know to be destructive to ourselves or others. If we do these things, we often try to justify our behavior, making it seem, at least to ourselves, that we were right to do what we did. But making sad choices will not serve us in the end. Our relationships are broken, trust is lost, and people are hurt.

Walking the way of the good leads us to have happy, trusting relationships. We no longer have to make excuses for our choices. We can live in peace with ourselves and others. We treat ourselves and others with respect and love. The only way we can be assured that we will walk on this path is to commit our ways to the Lord. As we walk the path that Jesus walked, we find ourselves reaching out to others in compassion, wanting only good for them, and loving them regardless of how they treat us. We will experience peace in our heart, mind, and soul.

Lord, help us to walk in your ways, the way of the good. Lead us on the path of the just that we might experience your peace. Amen.

Daniel 3:24-25  ²⁴ Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up quickly. He said to his counselors, “Was it not three men that we threw bound into the fire?” They answered the king, “True, O king.”  ²⁵ He replied, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the middle of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the fourth has the appearance of a god.”

There are times in our lives when we walk through fire. These are times when our faith is tested. We feel like we are out of control. We have trouble standing. We have trouble moving. We have trouble breathing. We can only scream out in pain and distress.

These are the times when we feel most alone, but we need to remember that if Jesus is in our hearts we are never alone. He walks through the fire with us. He takes control of those times of distress. He lifts us up when we fall. He keeps us going when we can’t take another step. He breathes life into our souls. He hears every cry and brings us comfort.

Lord, thank you for being with us in the fire times of our lives. Help us remember that you are always there. Amen.

Psalm 119:128-134   ¹²⁸ Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts; I hate every false way.  ¹²⁹ Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.  ¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.  ¹³¹ With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.  ¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name.  ¹³³ Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me.  ¹³⁴ Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts.

Are we passionate about the word of God? Do we long to hear God’s word for us or do we walk away? Do we feel like we are in the dark if we miss a day in the word or do we muddle through without giving it a thought? Do we care if we are walking in the ways of the Lord or do we walk around listening to our own counsel and not caring if God is guiding our steps?

In order to live a full, vibrant, faith-filled life we must depend on God’s word the way we depend on the air we breathe. We need to realize that without God’s guidance we will be lost and in the dark. We will not survive.

Lord, give us the desire for your word that will bring us life. Keep us steady on your paths and help us walk in your ways. Amen.

Psalm 27:11   ¹¹ Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.

“I had to walk to school…uphill…both ways.” This is an old joke parents tell their children. It indicates how difficult life was when they were young. While the joke is impossible to believe we all understand its meaning. The reality is that walking uphill is much harder than walking on a level path. The going is slower and more tiring.

When we try to go it alone we often feel like we are walking uphill. We spend our energy, we spend our time, we spend our emotions and have little to show for it. We become discouraged by the slow pace. We cover little ground.

When we put our trust in God and learn how to walk in his ways, our path levels out. We can move forward in freedom. We have the strength to continue on and reach God’s goal for our lives.

Lord, level our paths. Teach us the way we should go to move forward. Amen.

Matthew 15:30-31   ³⁰ Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, ³¹ so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

Jesus was amazing! His compassion and love were so great that he was there for everyone who came to him in faith. Whenever someone who was ill was brought into his presence Jesus healed them. The healing brought people to praise God.

When we come in faith to the foot of the cross we experience healing. We are made whole. Our needs are met and our desires are fulfilled. Jesus is always there for us to make us right and give us his peace. Praise God!

Lord, bring us into your presence so that we might experience your healing touch. Grant us wholeness and peace. Amen.

Micah 6:8   ⁸ He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Mac Davis wrote a song, “Oh Lord, it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way.” While there is nothing wrong with being proud of our accomplishments, pride can keep us from realizing that those accomplishments are a gift from God. It can make us feel that we are the center of our universe and are the most important consideration when we make decisions.

The teachings of our faith would tell us something very different. As we walk in faith we need to remember that God is God and no other, including us. We always come under the loving power of God.

Because everything we have comes from God, it is a gift, not an entitlement. God gives us gifts to share with others. The walk of faith includes thinking of others’ welfare as well as our own: speaking out when others are treated unfairly, being kind to others even when they treat us badly, and realizing that we are no better than anyone else. God loves us and everyone else equally. We are to walk together in love.

Lord, help us to remember that you are in charge. May we do your bidding on earth as we walk in your ways. Amen.

Proverbs 13:20   ²⁰ Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.

It is important to surround ourselves with the people who support us: people who lift us up, not tear us down; people who speak the truth to us and call us to account; people who love us when us fall. It is important to find people who give wise counsel and don’t tempt us to do things that will hurt us.

Sometimes because these friends are there for us through it all we begin to take them for granted. These are rare and precious friends. They should be appreciated even when their speaking of the truth is difficult to hear. Their friendship should never be assumed, rather it should be cherished.

Our greatest and truest friend is Jesus Christ. He walks with us through good times and bad. He gives us wise counsel and will never lead us into temptation. And when we fall along the road he lifts us up and sets us on the right path. Jesus walks alongside us and is our constant companion. Let us be grateful for this friend and listen to him.

Lord, thank you for being our friend. Help us appreciate your love and listen to your counsel. Amen.

Deuteronomy 28:9   ⁹ The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in his ways.

Comedian Flip Wilson made famous the line, “The Devil made me do it!” It is hard to be holy. We are being tempted from all sides to do things we know aren’t right. It is even more tempting to agree with those who don’t do what the Bible says is the right thing to do. It is easy to remain silent when we see injustices done to others. It is easy to sit still when we see others in need. We tell ourselves that they should help themselves when deep down in our hearts we know they can’t.

It is hard to be holy. That’s why God makes us holy through Jesus Christ. Jesus’ Spirit transforms our thinking. We become his followers and want to be like him. He pricks our hearts when we see things that hurt others and hurt him. He helps us understand when we are doing or saying things that are not of him. He moves us to be more compassionate, generous, pure, and faithful. He helps us walk in his ways.

Lord, we want to be holy as you are holy. Move our hearts and minds to become the holy people you want us to be. Amen.