Wholehearted Commitment

“Wholehearted Commitment”

By Zach Wood

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NLT

And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.  And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today.  Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

It seems we live in a culture where commitment is very hard to come by.  People so often become as fickle as the weather.  It seems everywhere we turn, people are giving us promises or guarantees, only to turn around and break our hearts moments later.  It saddens me how little commitment people have these days toward things.  People don’t want to commit to many things because of the hard effort involved when things get tough.  People seem to want the convenience of walking away from any commitments when times get tough.

Now, before we start nodding our head in complete agreement about all of those people, here is the harsh reality.  Christians are often the worst at keeping commitments.  We talk a good talk, but so often we fail at matching that talk with a life of commitment.  This is a tough pill to swallow, but it is a reality.  And, I will admit that I have been terrible at keeping commitments in my life.  Not all of them, but many. There are so many times I fail at keeping my commitments to friends and family.  I say that I will do something and then I turn around and break that commitment because life gets tough and I use excuses. 

We not only break commitments to others, but we also break our commitments to God as well.  Why are we so flippant when it comes to committing to things in life?  What we often do is plead with God to do more in our lives, but then we don’t even give ourselves wholeheartedly to Him.  It is like we expect Him to move mountains in our lives, but then we don’t want to hold up our commitments to Him because life gets tough.

I want to live my life better.  I want to live with wholehearted commitment to Him.  I don’t want my devotion to Him to be fickle.  I desire to serve Him and give my best.  I really want to live for and serve God, but I get so distracted by my selfish desires and I fail miserably. 

Instead of looking at others around me in this world and shaking my head in disappointment because of the lack of commitment, I need to look at my own life and see where I am failing and how much I need to improve my commitment.

Do we have wholehearted commitment to God?

Make The Time To Be Still

“Make The Time To Be Still”

By Zach Wood

Psalm 46:10 NIV

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

This past weekend, my wife and I had a weekend date while the girls were away.  My wife worked for a couple hours Saturday night and I was home alone for 2 hours.  When she left, I sat on the couch and read, with no TV or music on.  It was completely quiet.  And, I have to be honest, it was really weird.  I sat there reading in complete silence and it just bothered me.  Why?  Because I am not used to having much quiet time to myself. 

I am so used to being on the go and doing things all day long, whether at work or at home with my family.  I am not good with being still.  I just don’t sit down long.  And, if I do, I’m usually wiggling my feet or bouncing my knee (which drives my wife nuts!)  I don’t know why, but I just have the hardest time sitting still and being quiet.  I guess I don’t feel productive when I’m not moving or doing anything. 

This passage is probably one of the hardest passages in all of Scripture.  It is hard for many people.  We have become accustomed to always being on the go and not slowing down.  It is hard for so many of us to make time to just be still.  Well, God has a problem with that.  We need time to slow down and just be still before Him.  We need that quiet, that stillness.  As uncomfortable as it might be, we desperately need it.  We truly need that stillness in our lives, often.  And, we actually need it daily.  I know, many of you are probably thinking, “Yeah, right!  I don’t have time to slow down!”

Plain and simple, we need to quiet our day somehow and take time to just be still and be in the presence of God.  During that two hours I was home by myself reading a book, I kept thinking about how quiet it was and how uncomfortable that felt.  I just am not used to it and I know that I need more of that.  I just needed the time and quiet to clear my mind and focus on what God wanted to communicate to me while reading. 

I realize that we are all very busy people.  We seem to pride ourselves with being busy because busy equals productivity, right?  Well…..to some degree, but not always.  I want to encourage all of us to really consider how much stillness we are putting into our day to spend with God.  We absolutely must make the time to be still.  Wherever you have to go and just have some moments along and in quiet, do it!  Make it a habit everyday if you can. 

Make the time to be still!

Let It Shine, Let It Shine, Let It Shine

“Let It Shine, Let It Shine, Let It Shine”

By Zach wood

Matthew 5:14-16 NIV

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

We all know that song we learned back in Sunday School, “This Little Light Of Mine”.  I remember learning that song and singing it time and time again as I grew up.  It was fun to sing about letting that light shine for others to see.  As fun as that is to sing and still is, it is often difficult to actually let that light shine around people who don’t believe in God. 

As this year winds down to a close and the new year approaches, I consider how I might be better about letting God’s Light shine through me no matter where I go.  How can I better shine His Light and be a witness for Him?  How can you and I make it a point to share the Light of the World with those who are lost?

One of the verses of this song says, “Won’t let Satan blow it out”.  The enemy is pretty good at trying to blow our flame out.  He wants nothing more than to kill the joyous Spirit within us and discourage us from sharing any further.  We must be prepared for what he tries to do in getting our flame to blow out.  We need to keep the faith and stay strong against opposition.

As the year ends and the new year comes upon us, think of ways where you can better shine God’s Light.  Think of little ways and big ways where you can better His Light.  We definitely want to be a witness and shine His Light for others to see.  If we work on shining throughout our day, people will take notice and it will provide opportunities where people will ask why we are different.  What a great opportunity we have to share just a little of God’s Light and what He has done for us! 

What is important to remember is to keep that peppy, upbeat attitude that we have when singing this song.  We need that attitude when life gets us down.  When life gets us down, it is easy for Satan to dampen that feeling of excitement and to lose some of the flame. 

Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world for God.  Jesus counts on us to spread the message of the Father by continuing to shine the Light. 

The little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Missed Moments

“Missed Moments”

By Zach Wood

Luke 10:38-42 NLT

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.  But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”  But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I was reading this story to my wife and kids recently and we were discussing how Martha missed the incredible moment that Mary took advantage of.  After reading this, it has been on my mind about how we often miss so many moments in life because we are so wrapped up into what we think is important.

Please note that in this story, Martha is not wrong in choosing to do something for Jesus.  She is not wrong in preparing a meal for Him.  She is not wrong in wanting to put as much time and effort into this preparation.  We all put lots of time into preparing things for other people.  We prepare to do a lot of things, whatever it may be.  The whole point here is that Mary chose what was more important.  Mary chose to take advantage of a moment that would not last long.  Jesus would soon be on His way somewhere else, but Mary took Him all in. 

Sometimes in life we do this exact thing.  God gives us moments in life where He wants us to just stop what we are doing and take it all in.  Kind of the “sunrise” moment I wrote about recently.  God gives us moments to take notice of things apart from our busyness of life.  We often get upset in life and ask God to do things with us and through us and then wonder why He isn’t showing us certain things.  I believe we often miss these moments because we are so wrapped up in our own things.  We are not wrong in trying to be productive and do great things for others.  However, God sometimes wants us to just “stop” and take in a moment with Him. 

I tend to miss a lot of moments for one reason or another.  Whether it is a moment with my wife, my kids, a friend who needs to talk or family member that needs something.  I always seem to have an excuse to keep me from something that is a little more important.  I often have to ask myself, “Is this really more important right now?” 

So, the next time you are busy with something that is important and needs to get done, make sure you are not passing up another moment nearby that God wants you to take in from your current busyness.  

If Only We Had The Faith

“If Only We Had The Faith”

By Zach Wood

Acts 20:22-24 NLT

And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.  But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.

The Apostle Paul was one of the most bold and courageous men we could ever read about in the New Testament.  He went from persecuting Christians to becoming one and then went on to do things for the Kingdom that makes most of our jaws drop in awe.  Paul was a bold man and he was on fire for the Lord!

Read through this passage a few times and let the words sink in.  Think about what Paul is saying here.  He did not know what awaited him, except that troubles and jail were in his future and he accepted that. The passion he had was so strong that it didn’t matter what was going to happen to him along the way.

Paul also said that his life meant nothing unless he could use it to spread the Kingdom message.  Nothing else meant more to him than this mission.

What about us?  Do we have this faith?  Come on, be honest!  I will tell you that I often do not have this faith, but I wish I did.  I think about it and am ashamed so often that I back down at the smallest obstacles that come to me.  I get timid to share my faith with non-believers.  I have no problem sharing my experiences with those who are in the faith, but I am not good at it with non-believers.  So many fears stop me and I become timid. 

I fear that so many of us have fallen prey to the convenience of life that we live each day.  We have so many things at our fingertips and the conveniences just go on and on.  We don’t have to wait for much these days and so much is catered to us.  We like convenience!  Let’s admit it!  The moment something arises that brings us out of that convenience and comfort, we tend to back down. 

I’m wondering what it will take to bring us to a point where we are as bold as Paul?  We all have different personalities and respond to situations in different ways.  However, God does not excuse us from fulfilling His mission because certain things become uncomfortable and inconvenient. 

I cannot help but read words of Paul and ask myself, “If only I had the faith!” 

Do we?

We All Need A Sunrise Moment

“We All Need A Sunrise Moment”

By Zach Wood

John 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Last Monday morning, as I was driving my oldest daughter to school, there was a beautiful sunrise that took my breath away.  As I drive her to school each morning, I always wonder if we will see a great sunrise or not.  Some mornings are really neat, but this one was really spectacular.  What was especially cool about this sunrise was that both my daughter and I needed it to brighten up our morning.. 

Did the sunrise take all of our worries and concerns away?  No.  Did the sunrise make everything perfect that day for her or for me?  No.  What it did do was create a moment of peace in the midst of a somewhat chaotic morning.  For a few moments I felt an overwhelming sense of awe coming over me.  It was like all frustrations and concerns left me for a few moments so that I could just enjoy seeing part of God’s wonderful design.  I was just in awe of God and His beauty! 

Sometimes, we just need a sunrise moment.  With all the chaotic moments in our lives so often, we need something to take our focus away from the chaos so that we can focus on God’s beauty to be reminded that He is always with us.  The world easily throws us into chaos, but God wants to remind us each day of His beauty and that He is in control. 

Do you need a sunrise today?  Do you need a sunrise moment in your marriage?  Do you need a sunrise moment in the relationship you have with your teenager?  Do you need a sunrise as you face your difficult job?  Do you need a sunrise as you face losing your job unexpectedly?  Do you need a sunrise moment as you deal with a friend or family member who has a life-threatening disease? 

We all need sunrise moments to feel a sigh wash over us and just feel at peace from God’s promises that He is with us.  How is He trying to remind you that He is in control?  He gives each of us sunrise moments to soak in and enjoy seeing His beauty.  The last thing God wants is for our hearts to be troubled.  It is so easy to get overwhelmed quickly with life.  He so much wants to give us sunrise moments so that we can be overwhelmed by Him and not the world. 

Look for these sunrise moments through your day.  Take them in and enjoy them.  Let God’s peace surge through you and refresh you. 

Lay Them Down

“Lay Them Down”

By Zach Wood

1 Peter 5:7 NIV- Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

NLT- Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

I read this passage this morning on my YouVersion Bible app and it really hit home with me.  When I looked up both translations that I often like reading, both of them really spoke to me.  God wants me to cast all of my anxiety on Him.  Another way to look at it is giving all of my worries and cares to Him.  Laying them all down before Him and letting them go.  Why?  So that I can fully focus on Him and not let them consume me.

I have a hunch that many of you reading this are experiencing the same issues in your life.  Are you feeling anxious a lot lately?  Are you overcome with worry?  Are you overwhelmed with concerns that are going on in your life? 

God definitely does not want us to live a life consumed with anxiety, worries and concerns.  When we are consumed with these, we cannot focus on Him.  So often we let our lives become dominated with these burdens.  I have always had a bad habit of letting worry consume me.  I don’t try to, but it just happens so often.  I am trying more and more each day to give these things to God and let Him fill me with peace.

I need to remember every single day to lay them down before Him and ask Him to fill me with His presence and let Him consume me instead.  I think we all need to be intentional about leaving these things at His feet each day so that we can live lives full of Him. 

I do not want my daily life full of anxiety and worries and concerns and I must be intentional about giving these to God each day.  We must all be intentional.  Perhaps you need to write these down so that they are all on paper and then pray about them.  Be intentional to mention to God each day the specific things that are making you worry and be anxious, asking Him to give you peace and to take away the consuming feeling of focusing on them.

However you feel like you need to give them up to Him, do it.  Fill your mind with Scripture and positive Christian music through the day.  Read a book that inspires you and encourages you to put positive thoughts in your mind. 

Check out the song “Cast My Cares” by the group Finding Favour on YouTube.  Listen to the words and let the message of this song fill you with hope. 

Lay all your anxiety, worries and concerns down.  Lay them all down before Him.