Wisdom Tree (21 page)

DAY One

Dumping the Garbage

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

the old has gone, the new has come!

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

This morning I took my trash to the dump…a whole truck-bed full of pizza boxes and soiled paper towels and the remainder of meals prepared and shared. While I was tossing each heavy bag into the dumpster, I thought of how God takes the trash from our lives. He cleans out the stinky stuff and makes room for the good stuff. God is the Master of new creations. He wants His people to let go of the old and soiled, and to become new and clean in Him.

Yes, this is God’s desire…and His plan for you.

REFLECT: Take a moment to gather your trash. Bind it and carry it to the feet of God. Leave it there, and God will make you new in Him.

PRAY: Lord, today I offer you all my worries and shortcomings that keep me from You and from attaining the peace and grace You have in store for me.

DAY Two

God’s Closet

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

(Ephesians 4:22-24)

Going shopping for new clothes is usually fun. The fabric is fresh and crisp, the styles are up-to-date, and you dream of the wonderful adventures you’ll have while wearing a new outfit. But, eventually, the fabric fades, shrinks, and goes out of style.

The clothes in God’s closet never go out of style. The fabric of His truth never fades, and His love never shrinks. Living with God is like putting on a new outfit each day. We are clothed in His righteousness.

REFLECT: Take a moment to search His closet to find the outfit meant for you. Thank Him for new beginnings each and every morning, and go into the world for the adventure He desires you to seek—to share His message with others.

PRAY: Lord, today I open myself to Your will. Clothe me in Your righteousness and grant me the strength and wisdom to be Your ambassador.

DAY Three

Window Shopping

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

(1 Samuel 16:7)

We’ve all done it—walked down the street and glanced into a store window, only to be captivated by the allure of the products on display. Perhaps there’s a fire-engine red toolbox with all the latest gadgets, dinnerware with a delicate pattern, or a sequined blouse that’s sure to make you the hit of the party. You get the idea. So you go into the store, hand over your money, and take your treasures home. But, upon closer inspection, you find the toolbox lacks the one gizmo you need, the dishes crack, and the sequins come loose from their fabric. Disappointment replaces excitement.

God looks beyond the display window and into your heart. He knows your value, and the beauty hidden inside you. God understands that things of the world lose their luster and often fail to live up to expectation. But His word never fades away, and it never fails those who seek Him.

REFLECT: Take a moment to talk to Him, then be still and listen as He examines your heart.

PRAY: Lord, allow me to rest in the assurance that my true worth lies in the price Christ paid to ransom my soul. Grant me the grace not to desire things of this world, but only to hope for a deep and lasting relationship with You. Your will be done.

DAY Four

Waiting at the Check-out

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. (Psalm 37: 7-8)

You’ve been there…on your way to the grocery check-out line. Of course, your cart houses only the essentials, and you’re in a hurry to get home to prepare dinner. Suddenly, a fellow shopper rounds the corner, her cart overflowing, and swoops into the line ahead of you. A two-minute shopping trip just multiplied five-fold, and you feel your temper simmer. You want to stomp your foot and shout, “Who do you think you are? Can’t you see I’m in a hurry?”

Life does that to us sometimes. We have a plan, and things detour at the last minute. Kids get sick, dinner burns, the dog eats the homework, or we take the wrong exit from the highway. But God is always there, and He asks us to be patient and to trust Him. His ways are rock-solid, and He has already won the race for us. In His time, there are no sick kids, no burned meals or dog-slobbered papers. He knows the right exit, and He’s already there, waiting for you.

REFLECT: Take time today to slow down and breathe. Remember God’s timing is perfect, so perhaps there’s grace within the delay.

PRAY: Lord, grant me increased patience while I find my way to You. Help me to always remember that You are with me and that Your plan and Your timing are perfect.

DAY Five

Jumping From the High Dive

The Lord Himself goes before you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

(Deuteronomy 31:8)

It’s the last day of summer, the last day of sun-dappled water and carefree fun. Your stomach is in knots, because you’re standing at the edge of the high dive, staring down into the water. Your friends wait on the pool deck, cheering for you, and you know it’s now or never. Jump today, or live with the disappointment of your lack of bravery until a whole year passes and next summer arrives. Stay or go? Wait or jump?

Sometimes, life brings changes and challenges that seem insurmountable. Rest assured; God is waiting to catch you. He’s there beneath the high dive with His arms open wide and a smile on His face. He whispers gentle words of encouragement. “Jump to me. I will catch you no matter how far the distance. You are safe in my embrace.”

REFLECT: Take a moment to reflect on God’s steadfastness. What are the challenges in your life, the fears that bind you? How can you grow to trust your Lord and Savior?

PRAY: Lord, today I surrender all my fears to You. I know you are always there, even in the midst of trial, and You will never let me go.

DAY Six

Finding the Path

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

(Psalm 143:8)

While hiking several years ago, I trusted my friend when he claimed he knew the way through the mountainous back country. “Put your map away and follow me,” he said. “I know a shortcut.”

So, I put away the map and followed him. We hiked for several hours, and my skin was scratched and bleeding from fighting rhododendron bushes and stumbling over gnarled tree roots. Soon, I realized he was walking in circles…and I was following. I finally got up the nerve to ask the question I already knew the answer to, “We’re lost, aren’t we?”

God gives us a map—His word, the Bible. But sometimes the world entices us to follow alternate routes…and we decide to take the shortcut—to riches, relationships, or perhaps fame. We stumble and fall until we listen for His voice.

REFLECT: Consider all the times you’ve chosen to take a shortcut in life—all the times you’ve turned from His truth and directive in favor of ease or material gain. Seek him, and study His map—the Bible. It will take you to the places you’re meant to go…safely and in
His
time.

PRAY: Lord, help me to put aside what the world beckons. Help me to turn from the songs of speed and greed, so that I may take to heart the path You have laid out for me.

DAY Seven

Just for the Record…

O Lord, hear my voice.

Let Your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits.

And in His word I put my hope.

(Psalm 130:2-5)

Keeping a record of sins is like writing the weekly grocery list: milk—check, bread—check, revenge on my co-worker for that insensitive comment—check and double check. We like lists; they give us a sense of accomplishment. But checking off a list of sins does not satisfy us like completing chores or filling our bellies with food. No, a record of sins just serves to keep those transgressions alive in our hearts and minds, weighing us down in our daily walk.

God does not keep a list of our sins. When we seek forgiveness, He takes our harsh words, our impatience, our gossip and dark thoughts and casts them into the wind. If He does this for us, is it so difficult for us to follow His example and do the same for our family members, our neighbors and co-workers…even our enemies and ourselves?

REFLECT: Consider your transgressions and then ask God to blot them out. Instead, of holding in your heart that list of sins already forgiven, seek to fill your heart with His word and His wisdom.

PRAY: Lord, I am truly sorry for failing to live according to Your word and for choosing, instead, to wrong. I ask You to forgive my sins and to grant me the grace I need to let go of the guilt, to leave the past in the past, and not to sin again.

DAY Eight

Roll Call

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy one of Israel, your Savior.

(Isaiah 43:1-3)

The beginning of the school year always presents a challenge for me—to learn the name of each new student as quickly as possible. The task seems to get more and more difficult as I age. There are thousands of students on the attendance roll tucked within my heart. Over the decades, each child has been entrusted to me, his or her life and learning placed into my hands. I don’t want to fail them; each is special and unique.

God calls our name—each and every one of us. Yet the task is never difficult for Him; He doesn’t age or grow weary, and He never fails His children. We are safe in His arms, for the Bible tells us that God knows every detail of our lives, down to the exact number of hairs on our head. It’s easy to forget how unique and special we are to Him. When the storms of life rage, we may believe He has forgotten our name. But God has us safely in His embrace, and He knows what troubles us. Seek Him and listen, and you will hear Him call your name.

REFLECT: Think of those times in your life when you have felt completely overwhelmed. In hindsight, were those situations as debilitating as you had first thought?

PRAY: Lord, help me to hear You calling my name, calling me into Your presence so that I may be at peace in all situations.

DAY Nine

A Light in the Storm

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

(Psalm 119:105)

A thunderstorm raged one spring night. It knocked out our electricity and woke my daughter from a sound sleep. She cried out, scared in the darkness. I went to her, carrying a flashlight. The beam calmed her, and in the wash of light, she was able to once again succumb to the peace of sleep.

God is our beam of light in the storm. His word is the flashlight that guides us when thunder rages and the wind howls. He takes us to high ground when the floods threaten to sweep us away. God’s light never dims; His batteries never need recharging.

REFLECT: Pause for a moment to rejoice in His light, and to thank Him for ushering us into the halo.

PRAY: Lord, I want to share in Your light. Help me to listen and to be cognizant of the opportunities You present so that I may go into the world and become a beacon for You.

DAY Ten

Why Me, Lord?

We also rejoice in our sufferings; because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.

(Romans 5:3-5)

Traffic jams, coffee spills, the receiving end of an irate customer’s tirade. Or worse yet: job loss, debilitating illness, the death of a loved one. We’ve all been there, and we’ve all asked, “Why me?”

God doesn’t want you to suffer. But He does want you to learn to lean on Him and to trust Him at all times and in all situations—not just when it’s easy. He knows the plan He has for you…to bring you joy and peace.