The Choice is Yours

Life is full of choices. For example, while driving, we choose one direction at a four-way stop. At the market, we choose a favorite brand over others. We also make choices about the time we spend on TV and social media.   

Being able to make choices is a blessing. This awareness struck home while I was fighting cancer. I realized I could not think positively and negatively at the same time.

You’ve probably heard this old saying: “You can’t keep the birds from flying over your head, but you can keep them from building a nest there.” In other words, thoughts can come unbidden, but we can choose the ones we want to keep.

A few years ago, I wrote a poem about this:

A CHOICE IN TIME

Darlis Sailors

Memories float through our minds

Like clouds in the sky

Some are dark and we hurry them on

Others are bright and we ask them to linger

 

Memories contain both darkness and light

We live in sunshine and shadow

Forgiveness may wipe some dark clouds away

While love brightens others like sunshine

 

Memories can also be bitter or better

Life becomes better by choice

We lift up our head to look for more light

And choose to move out of the shadows

 

Memories are colors inside our mind

We pick which ones we will keep

Joy comes with light, sadness with darkness

We choose the color that’s right

Philippians 4:8 is a well-known scripture about choosing our thoughts. We are to aim for positive things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.

Verse six, however, recognizes the negatives in life. We are told to be anxious for nothing, but to present our prayers and petitions to God, with thanksgiving. That would probably produce some of the positive memories suggested in verse eight.

The choice is yours, and mine. I'm glad, because to me that's a blessing.

Pixabay: Choice; geralt.      

Guidelines for Spiritual Health: Part Two and Three

There are three things common to both physical and spiritual health: (1) Good Nutrition, (2) Sleep, and (3) Exercise. Let’s complete Parts Two and Three.

Sleep is Necessary

We’re not talking about the lazy man’s sleep, but the satisfying sleep of someone who has put effort into something (Proverbs 6:9-11; Ecclesiastes 5:12).

Don’t discount the energy required to focus on God’s Word. The Psalmist said, “The double-minded I despise,” and James said, “The double-minded man is unstable in all his ways” (Psalm 119:113, James 1:8).

You can’t count on unstable people. They promise, but don’t deliver. They’re up one day and down the next, sucking the life out of you as you try to encourage them.

On the other hand, God is so stable that He put His desires in writing (Psalm 119:89). We can count on His word for instruction, correction, and training, equipping us to do things pleasing to Him, and bringing Him glory (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We can also pray God’s word. He said He would never let it return to Him empty, but it would accomplish His will and prosper wherever it is sent (Isaiah 55:11). Faith in God’s word will bring you peace, joy, and sleep (Isaiah 55:12; Psalm 4:8).

Don’t Avoid Spiritual Exercise

Walking is basic. But remember, blessings come if we do not walk in the counsel of the wicked, but walk in the light of God’s word (Psalm 1:1, Psalm 119:105).

We can also run. We are to: (1) Fix our eyes on Jesus, and (2) Run with endurance our race of life, (3) On our way to eternal life (Hebrews 12:1-3; Isaiah 40:29-31). Paul said he disciplined his body to run with purpose (1 Corinthians 9:26-27).   

We Have a Certified Personal Trainer

When Jesus instructed His disciples to go into the world to preach the gospel and make disciples, He included heavenly help (Matthew 18:19-20).

He promised to send the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and understanding of God’s word (John 16:1-15). This happened on the Day of Pentecost, and now, as believers, we are temples of the living God; His Spirit dwells in us (Acts 2, 1 Corinthians 3:16).

Be blessed and be healthy . . . physically and spiritually!

Pixabay: Family walk, Parents with Children; tanrica.  

 

Guidelines for Spiritual Health: Part One

Physical health is important to all of us. How many times have we heard guidelines regarding: (1) Good Nutrition, (2) Sleep, and (3) Exercise?

These three things also apply to our spiritual health. Though we’re not bombarded with information, we can take a brief look for ourselves.

Good Nutrition

From Moses to Jesus to us, daily bread is required for life (Deuteronomy 8, Matthew 4). We can go to the market and see wonderful food items on display, but they don’t do us any good until we make some commitments.

First, we invest money in them and take them home. Then we invest time preparing them, and after we eat, we enjoy the energy and growth they provide.

How many people have Bibles around, but never read them? All that spiritual nutrition is of no value unused.

The Psalmist said, “Your testimonies are my heritage forever. . . I have inclined my heart to perform your statutes even to the very end” (Psalm 119:111-112).

God’s word is life, let me tell you.

In 2007, I had nine months of treatment for Stage 3 Breast Cancer and IBS (Inflammatory Breast Cancer). I’ve always read and studied God’s word, but it took on new meaning in my struggle for life.

I discovered study booklets from *NAVPress (Navigators) and *IVP (InterVarsityPress). They were great tools to keep me focused, one spiritual topic at a time.

I asked the Lord for a scripture I could personally claim on my cancer journey, and I still quote it to myself:  I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the Lord has done (Psalm 118:17). That’s what I’m doing today.

Babies sit and wait to be spoon-fed. 

When we first become a Christian, it is important to hear the word of God taught. Gathering ourselves together to worship the Lord will always be important; however, we are to grow up and learn to feed on God’s word for ourselves each day (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18).

It’s interesting to me that the Bereans were commended for their knowledge of God’s word. They listened to the Apostle Paul and then searched the scriptures to see if what they heard was true! (Acts 17:11)

Do you search the scriptures to see if what your spiritual leaders say is true? Even non-readers can learn from **audio Bible sources, if they are careful listeners.

Next week, we’ll share Part Two (Sleep) and Part Three (Exercise) for good spiritual health.  

*I got my NAVPress and IVP study booklets from christianbooks.com online; however, there may be other sources.

**Listen to God’s Word on-line, CDs, or audio books. Google the Bible in audio form.  

Pixabay: Family Picnic, Outdoor Activities, Family Bonding; tanrica.                                                            

Make Up Your Mind

Would you believe we are as happy as we make up our minds to be? When I was fighting breast cancer in 2007, I learned an important lesson: You can’t be both positive and negative at the same time.

Jesus said in the world we would have tribulation, but that in Him we could have peace, take courage, and overcome the world (John 16:33).

We can overcome in several ways. But one way is by carefully choosing what we let into our minds. To “let” means to allow something to happen. Thoughts, whether positive or negative, are what we choose to allow, tolerate, consent to, or even put up with at any given moment.

Here are three important overcomer guidelines:

1.    Don’t be anxious, pray to God about your concerns (Philippians 4:6)

2.    Let the peace of God rule in your hearts (Colossians 3:15)

3.    Let the word of Christ richly dwell in you (Colossians 3:16)

Question: How can the word of Christ dwell in you richly unless you know Scripture well? We can’t get by with only Sunday sermons and small group studies. Have you ever thanked God for a Bible in your language? Have you shown your appreciation by reading it daily?

We can get frustrated when non-godly thoughts, emotions, and attitudes seem to grip us.

But, we can also: 1) acknowledge our thoughts, 2) know God’s word, 3) ask the Holy Spirit to guide us to truth, and 4) speak appropriate scriptures out loud to rebuke Satan.

That’s what Jesus did in Matthew 4:1-11.

Joshua advised the people to: First, choose whom they would serve, then choose to serve Him in sincerity and truth (Joshua 24:14-15).

It’s not a one-and-done decision . . . it’s moment-by-moment…day-by-day.

Pixabay: Choice, Select, Decide; geralt. 

Three Types of Temptation

“The devil made me do it.” That was a line made famous by Comedian Flip Wilson, but there’s nothing new about the blame game.

Way back in the Garden of Eden, when God confronted Adam and Eve about their disobedience, Adam blamed it on Eve, and Eve blamed it on the serpent. God knew the truth and punished all three of them (Genesis 3:8-24).

The blame game still doesn’t work. The truth is that personal desires tempt, lure, and entice us to evil (James 1:14).

There are endless variations, but three big temptations are: 1) the desires of the flesh, 2) the desires of the eyes, and 3) the pride of life (1 John 2:16).

What the Berean Standard Bible calls “desires,” the New King James Version calls “lust,” and the New Living Translation calls “craving.” No matter which version you choose, the idea is the same.

In our flesh, we crave things for physical pleasure. With our eyes, we see things and sometimes won’t rest until we get them. And it’s easy to take pride in our achievements and possessions.

Satan likes these three types of temptations. He tried them on Eve and Jesus with very different results.

Eve listened to what he said and responded to a craving for good fruit. She considered it very pleasant to look at, and thought it would be great to be wise! (Genesis 3:1-7)

Jesus, on the other hand, refused to be enticed by craving any food, even after fasting. Satan showed Him the kingdoms of this world and Jesus was unmoved. He also refused to take any pride in the fact that if He threw Himself off a pinnacle, angels would rescue Him. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Jesus refuted each of Satan’s temptations by saying, “It is written,” and quoting an appropriate scripture.

Have you been aware of any temptation in these areas?

Have any of them caused you to stray from your intent to live by God’s word?

If so, what have you done about it?

Remember I John 2:16-17:

. . . the desires of the flesh,

the desires of the eyes,

and the pride of life—

is not from the Father

 but from the world.

 

The world is passing away

 along with its desires,

but whoever does the will of God

 remains forever.

Pixabay: Logo, Penrose Triangle; ptra.

Your Roots Are Showing

Many people color their hair, and most are careful to touch up their roots. On a recent TV fashion show, a lovely blonde looked great until there was an overhead shot. Oh, those black roots! It was rather shocking.

I remember mom used to color her hair. One day my brother was giving us a tour of the town when he said, “Mom, when is your hair going to turn gray?” She laughed and said, “When I let it!”

We know roots are important. Without them, we would have no growing things, but we do need to nurture them. In a garden, they need good soil, water, and sunshine. But in our hair, touch-up color is needed at the roots to maintain a pleasant effect.

Now, let’s consider the roots of our personality. Some people can seem quite pious until they get careless and let their roots show. For example, Hebrews 12:15 cautions us to let no root of bitterness spring up to cause trouble and defile people.

There’s nothing pleasant about bitterness. It’s sour, harsh, acidic, and tart, and I don’t just mean on our taste buds. Our words can produce those effects, too.

But, if we become aware of a bitter root, there is a solution. Ephesians 4:31-32 says to get rid of bitterness and the harsh things it produces, and replace it with some positive things: First, choose to be kind, second be tenderhearted, and third, be forgiving toward each other.

Christ is our example, and in The Lord’s Prayer, He taught us to say, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Paul clarified that in Romans 13:8. We are to be indebted to no none, except to love them.

People who care about their spiritual life will pay attention to their roots. There’s an interesting line in Zechariah 4:10 about not despising the day of small things. The small thing there is a plumb line. It’s an unimpressive item, but mighty important to the foundation of a structure.

So, let’s not get careless. Let’s keep our spiritual roots pleasantly colored and healthy through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word, and prayer.  

Pixabay: Scissors, Cutting, Hair; Clker-Free-Vector-Im...

 

Life on Two Levels

On one level, from birth your heart pumps blood throughout your body. It does this without any input from you; however, that doesn’t mean you can’t take care of it. Smart pro-active people try to eat right, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.  

I agree with David who wrote I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). How could such wonderful life-giving systems as the heart and lungs, digestive organs, bones, joints, and muscles just have evolved?

I believe we were designed and created by God, along with the rest of the marvelous things in our Universe (Genesis One).

There’s another level of life called soul. This is often described as our mind, will, and emotions. Who can deny experiencing emotions of various kinds? Or the fact that we can think things through, and make decisions if we want to.

Smart pro-active people on this level live life as victors, not victims.

Jesus recognized two levels of life. He said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul… (Matthew 10:28).

When one of the thieves crucified with Jesus chose to believe in Him, Jesus said, “Today you will be with Me in paradise (Luke 23:39-43). He was speaking of the man’s spirit, since when their bodies died, they still had to be buried.

Caring for your soul is personal. No other human can know your inner thoughts and struggles. But scriptures remind us that God looks on the heart. (Consider 1 Samuel 16:7, 10-13, and Acts 1:12-26).

Here’s a scripture to pray if you would like to be right with God and are not sure what to say:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence; take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12

Read the Bible for yourself each day. If you can’t read, listen to it on a Bible app. Also pray, which is just talking to God.

For care on the spiritual level, consider this: Order my steps by Your word; let no sin rule over me (Psalm 119:133).

Pixabay:

  

Why Knowledge is Not Enough

There was a day in my world when a high school diploma carried a lot of weight. These days, at the minimum, it’s more likely to be a Bachelor’s Degree (BA). Some people have earned several degrees, and that’s worthy of respect.

As the world turns, however, every culture and generation has classes of well-educated people. In Jesus’ time, it might have been the Pharisees and Herodians. I mention it because of Mark 12:13-17.

These two groups were asked to go together to test Jesus. Instead of saying, “We have a question for you,” they went on and on about what they knew about Him.

They said: 1) We know that You are honest, 2) You seek favor from no one, 3) You are impartial, and 4) You teach the way of God truthfully. Then, after their wordy introduction, they asked their pre-planned question: “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? (Mark 12:14)

As citizens under Roman rule, they knew not paying taxes was never an option! But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and knew they were testing Him. He asked for a denarius, then, holding the coin, He asked, “Whose image is this?” (Mark 12:15-16) “Caesar’s,” they said.

Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” That was an unexpected answer, and they marveled at Him (Mark 12:17).

Knowledge about Jesus is not enough. Why not?

    l. It must be mixed with faith in Him (Hebrews 4:2, 12:2) 

    2. Faith in Jesus gives us salvation and eternal life (John 3:16-18; Romans 10:13,)

    3. After that, knowledge becomes important to our spiritual growth (2 Peter 1:3-10) 

Faith, Salvation, and Spiritual Growth . . . where do you stand on this spiritual spectrum?

Just remember, your answer has eternal consequences (Hebrews 9:27-28).  

 Pixabay: Diploma, Academy; MarCuesBo.

 

Down But Not Out

Is there anyone who can say, “I’ve never felt hopeless, depressed, or extremely down? That’s when it’s important to be honest with God.

As a shepherd, David enjoyed the great outdoors. But once King Saul knew David was anointed to be king, he and his army pursued David with the intent to kill.

While fleeing for his life, David often ended up hiding in caves. In Psalm 143, he said dwelling in darkness made him feel God was hiding from him (v. 3). Yet by faith, he declared his trust in God and prayed for God to deliver him from his enemies (v. 8-9).

I remember a time of despair in college. I had always felt the presence of God in my daily Bible reading, but now the joy was gone. The words no longer came alive to me, but I kept on reading.

I would point to the scriptures and say, “Lord, I believe this though I don’t feel a thing.”

I can’t tell you when it happened, but I know at some point my despair was gone. I not only had the joy of the Lord but the issue causing my despair was resolved.

James said we show our faith by our actions (James 2:18). David did this by lifting his hands and asking God to hear and answer his prayers (v. 1, 6, 7). I did it by pointing to the scriptures and declaring, “I believe it, though I don’t feel it.”

Whether you want to call our acts perseverance or endurance, the point is both David and I fit the down but not out category.

Have do you act when spiritually or emotionally down? Do you tell yourself to hope in God?

Once again, David sets a fine example with some honest self-talk.

In Psalm 42:5 he says, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.”

The next time you’re “down,” tell yourself “I’m not out!” Then follow up with a personal declaration of faith in God.  

Pixabay: Stone, Red Sandstone; makamuki0.

 

The Orange Illustration

Orange is a color, but also a fruit. Growing up in the Midwest, oranges were not plentiful. But when I lived in California, my in-laws had some of the best orange trees ever!

I’m no longer there, so I have to go to my favorite produce store. Before my Goddaughter came to visit, I had gotten some delightfully sweet ones.

On the second day of her visit, I said, “Let’s have one of these oranges. They’re the best ones ever.” I handed her one, only to have her turn it over and hand it back to me. The underside was black.

It was not only surprising but disappointing. We knew the heart of this orange would be no better, so I threw it in the trash.

Once again, a godly principle made an impact. When God sent the prophet Samuel to anoint a king, he saw seven possible candidates. But God said, “The LORD has not chosen any of these.” (I Samuel 16:1-12)

Perplexed, Samuel asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” Jesse said, “The youngest one is out tending sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him. We’ll wait.” When David arrived, “God said, “Anoint him, he’s the one.”

The most famous verse in this story is 1 Samuel 16:7 . . . the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.

This is a principle from which God never varies. Jesus taught about people as fruit trees. He said, “By their fruit you will recognize them” (Matthew 7:20).

Read further and you see that Jesus refers to fruit as actions (Matthew 7:21-23). If you have asked Jesus to be your Savior, that’s good. But how are you living out your faith?

On judgment day, we’ll be called into accountability for both our actions and our words (Matthew 7:21-23, 12:33-37).

We are to be fruit inspectors. First, we must inspect our own lives. Who knows us best? We do!

Next, we need to inspect the lives of those we choose as best friends. Are they bearing good fruit and encouraging us to do the same?

Today's challenge: Aim to be the good fruit-bearing tree, in both actions and words.

Pixabay: Oranges, Fruits, Grove; Hans. 

 

The Torn Veil

A veil can sometimes also be called a curtain. Of course, that puts it in a heavier weight category than a wispy bridal veil.

In celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus, we rarely hear about the miraculous tearing of a temple veil. I recently heard Rick Renner, Bible teacher/author, explain that the torn veil was a hand-breadth thick, taller than any human could simply reach, and 300 priests were needed to install and pull it into place.

I was trying to take notes, but I missed the dimensions. I want the details, so I’ve ordered a copy of his latest book: *Easter: The Rest of the Story. The point is that at the time Jesus gave up His life, a temple veil was torn from top to bottom (Luke 23:45-46). This powerful act of God indicated the transition from the Old to the New Covenant.

Here’s why. The temple had two veils. In the temple Courtyard, the first veil separated it from the Holy Place where the priests could enter to do their assigned duties.

Beyond that, the second veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest could enter there, and only once a year. On the Day of Atonement, He would enter with the blood of animals as a sacrifice for his sins and those of the people.

That helps us understand these scriptures: Hebrews 9:11-15; 10:24-25; 1 Timothy 2:5-6. There we learn that Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant. With His blood, He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin to God.  

Something else amazes me. We, as believers, are chosen to be a royal priesthood, a people of God with heavenly assignments (1 Peter 2:9).

We are to minister to one another. For example, have you shared the wonderful virtues of God with anyone lately? Have you spurred someone on to love and do good deeds? Are you faithful in meeting together? (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Why not thank God for the torn veil? I say, “Thank you, God, for Jesus, our new and better way. Amen.”

*Easter: The Rest of the Story, Rick Renner, Harvest House Publishers, 2025, available through christianbooks.com, or anywhere books are sold. CB says it will be shipped in May.

Pixabay: Jesus, Crucifixion; GDJ.

  

Be-Attitudes and Blessings

I love reading the Bible, God’s living word. Anyone reading the Bible over a length of time has probably read the same scriptures more than once. You may also have learned something new each time.

That’s what happened to me this week. I’m working my way through the Book of Matthew, re-reading it this time in the *Amplified Version.

One day this week, I read Matthew Five. Even though I’ve read it many times, I read it again the next day. I made some notes while I looked at it as a whole, instead of single verses.

Let’s look at the rewards first. Those who practice the “Be-Attitudes” will find:
1.    The kingdom of heaven is theirs; they shall be comforted, and inherit the earth.
2.    They will be filled with righteousness, obtain mercy, and see God.
3.    They shall be called the sons of God, and in the kingdom of heaven, they will have great reward.

Do you see anything undesirable there? I don’t. From the Amplified Version let’s consider how to obtain these blessings:

1.        First, we need to be poor in spirit (humble ourselves before God).
2.          If we mourn, we will be comforted by God’s matchless grace.
3.          The meek (the patient and long-suffering) will enjoy God’s favor regardless of outward conditions.
4.          Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, as born-again children of God, will enjoy His favor and salvation.
5.          The merciful will find satisfaction in God’s favor, regardless of outward circumstances.
6.          The pure in heart will enjoy happiness produced by God’s favor and the revelation of His grace.
7.          The makers and maintainers of peace will be spiritually prosperous with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor.
8.          Those persecuted for righteousness’ sake (being and doing right) will prosper in spirit as born-again children of God.
9.          When people persecute you (saying false things against you because you serve Jesus) be glad and remain joyful, for your reward is in heaven.

These “be-attitudes” and blessings are Jesus' teachings. But if you read John 12:44-50, you will find they are also the words of His Father in heaven. 

I hope today’s post inspires you to take your Bible and review Matthew 5:3-12.  Ask yourself: How do I measure up?

*The Everyday Life Bible by Joyce Meyer: Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures in The Everyday Life Bible is taken from The Amplified Bible (AMP) and is used by permission of the Lockman Foundation and the Zondervan Corporation. Additional text copyright 2006 by Joyce Meyer. Amplified Bible copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by the Lockman Foundation.

*Pixabay: Winner, Champion; Conmongt.

  

If Jesus Came To Your House

Do you ever have drop-ins? You know, friends or family who just happen to be in the neighborhood . . . on their way somewhere when you came to mind.

Jesus was a drop-in many times because there was no way to call or text ahead. Today we’re looking at just such a visit by Jesus to the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus (John 11:5, Luke 10:38-42).

Are you always ready for company? I know I’m not. But if I get a drop-in, I also know that’s not the time to clean house.

Perhaps Martha knew Mary always tried to learn from Jesus. So, she just kept on with her housekeeping. But then she decided it was time for Jesus to tell Mary to get to work.

I wonder if Martha was surprised when Jesus said her name twice. He understood she was worried and upset about many things. Not that they didn’t need to get done, but it was a matter of priorities.

Jesus commended Mary’s choice. Why? Because she took time to learn spiritual truths. Perhaps she was familiar with Psalm 119:162 NKJV: I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure. 

Scriptural teaching in the home has great value. God’s truth is for everyday life, not just Sunday. Did you know parents are to be the “first responders” in their children’s spiritual education? (Deuteronomy 11:18-21)

I always loved hearing missionaries and evangelists share their stories and personal testimonies around our table. As ministers, Dad and Mom hosted many.

What I learned in my home impacted what I learned in church, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School (VBS), and youth camps.

Jesus comes to your house every day. He said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 BSB). Paul said, “Nothing can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38-39).

Are Jesus’ teachings and words important to you? Revelation 3:20 says He’s knocking at your spiritual heart’s door. Invite Him in . . . make Him a priority.

Rest assured all those other things you are concerned about will get done (Ecclesiastes 3:1 BSB.

Pixabay: Old door, Arc, beauty; makamuki0

 

A Very Personal Choice

Have you ever felt that life makes about as much sense as a Fiddler on the Roof? Having recently watched a DVD of MGM’s 1971 major movie production, it’s still on my mind.

I googled the actor known as “Topol,” who plays Tevye the dairy farmer, father of three girls, and a man sincere about his faith. Topol played Tevye on stage and screen for several decades and figured he played him 3,500 times!

Why is Tevye in my thoughts today? It has to do with the way he pondered how to act in answer to hard questions. He’d stare off into space and say, “On the one hand (this),” but then, “On the other hand (that).”

While reading Lamentations 3, I thought of Tevye as Jeremiah pondered the pros and cons of his hard times vs. hope in God. I was reading the *AMP Bible, but I also read it in the *NLT, and *BSB.

Choose your favorite translation, and read it for yourself. Here’s what I drew from it:

Jeremiah lists the hard things first (v 1-20):

• He has health problems (v. 4)
• God seems far away (v. 2, 8)
• He’s unsure of what to do (v. 9)
• People consider him a joke (v. 14)
• He has no peace or happiness (v 17)

BUT (YET) he begins to hope in God . . . in the character of God! (v. 21-36).

• God is merciful and faithful (v. 22-23)
• He responds to those who seek Him (v. 25)        
• It's good to wait on God (v. 26, 31)
• In our grief, God has compassion (v. 32-33)
• God answers prayer (v. 53-56)

·    Now the choice is ours. In Lamentations 3:40-41, Jeremiah says we need to carefully examine (consider) our ways and turn to God, lifting not only our hands but our hearts to Him.

Yes, it requires time, but what doesn't? Serving the Lord is a very personal choice and deserves our careful consideration.

 *AMP, The Amplified Version of the Bible, NLT, The New Living Translation, BSB, Berean Standard Bible.

 Pixabay: Violinist, Band, Bandsman; OpenClipart-Vectors.