In John 8:37 (MEV), Jesus says to those who claimed to be Abraham’s seed, “I know that you are Abraham’s seed. But you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.”
Word hear is the Greek word logos, Strong’s #3056, and it means giving expression of a thought. Those who claimed to be Abraham’s seed gave no thought of Jesus and their deeds reflected this. Jesus goes on to say that the thoughts that controlled their lives were that of “their father” the devil.
Where are our thoughts? Sometimes they can seem to get off track, run to and fro, cause us worry, stress and confusion and even frustration and anger. We sin and go astray as a result of our thoughts. Without self- control, our thoughts can result in behavior that damages others. Our thoughts ultimately determine our actions.
We were designed this way. Our thoughts can also bring us to new heights. Our thoughts control our attitudes which control our behaviors. The right attitude is critical. Our attitude determines our altitude. How far we go depends upon how much we are willing to put into it.
Jesus said to those who believed in Him in John 8:31 (MEV), “If you remain in My word, then you are truly My disciples. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
Remaining in His word here is the Greek word rhema. It is a living word of promise that one holds to by faith. As we believe in Him and are trained to be His disciples, instead of letting stress, anger, worry and fear cloud our minds, we will remain in His Word of truth that sets us free from this. We will hold steadfast to His promises by faith which give us hope.
When things are going our way often we do not question our thoughts. We are quickly grateful and rejoice easily. However, when trials and difficulty arise, our thoughts are challenged. If we are not careful, we can begin to meditate on worry and stress.
For myself, I have a tendency to catastrophize a situation that is difficult. I imagine it will get worse and something horrible will happen rather than look at my situations by faith and in expectation of God’s goodness to me. The result is that I become stressed, frustrated and much more quickly sin. My actions move in the direction of what I am “remaining in.” Instead of holding onto God, I hold on to control and worry.
Recently I have struggled greatly with this. Having a natural tendency towards performance, I can measure myself by standard’s other than God’s goodness. Thought after thought this past week was how I was not good enough, have not done enough and don’t measure up. Then as I remain in this, I also look to others to measure up. Finishing up a new book, giving myself a tight deadline and being close to publishing it, there has been a temptation to think negatively about myself. But my biggest emotional struggle is related to some decisions that I made recently.
My struggle has been mainly because I recently put my littlest in a new school. It is a Christian school because he was struggling with outside influence that seemed to be taking him down a road that concerned me. Also, I recently took him off his ADHD medication as he was able to be more restful when he is in the presence of God and the Christian school gives him opportunities to be in God’s presence daily in chapel.
When I took him off his medication a few months ago, he was doing so well and I was in awe of the goodness of the Lord in helping him get this freedom. His medication seemed to be causing some side effects of agitated depression that deeply concerned me.
But at the time, we were out of town and had opportunity to spend hours in a prayer room daily where he rested in the presence of the Lord. Having him home in his regular routine, it has been an up and down experience and I have I wondered if this was the right decision and if I really heard from God on this.
As I prayed about it, I felt led to put him in a Christian School. Talking with my husband, he was open to trying this so it felt like a confirmation. But then he later had some doubts. At the same time, there seemed to be nothing available. Most schools had a long wait list and no bussing or academic assessments that disqualified him. School is harder for my littlest for many reasons but he has navigated it okay and seemed ultimately to succeed.
Out of the blue, one school had a single opening, bus service, was affordable, had small class sizes, and did not do an academic assessment. Besides this, they have chapel daily, recess twice a day for boys to stretch their legs and gym almost daily. It seemed like the perfect fit and I felt God affirm it so I leapt into it.
He made friends right away and loves the school. He has begun to engage and come alive in school in new ways. But he is struggling greatly to stay afloat. I have been called down to the principal’s office about it after his first week. His academics are not going well at all. I feel stressed and beside myself with worry. I find myself doubting God, doubting His goodness and if I heard from Him at all.
The side of me that likes to catastrophize can think of all the terrible things that can go wrong and the negative impacts it can have on my son’s life. These thoughts make me discouraged, frustrated and drained. Then as other things go wrong, I just don’t have the same capacity for them.
I am thinking of jumping back into his old school and putting him back on his medication. At the same time, this feels like a disappointment and shrinking back from trusting Him with this. Also, my son does not want to leave this new school and loves it. He has a student retreat coming up that he is looking forward to with great joy. I feel at a loss on where to turn.
So how do we “remain in His word” when difficulty arises? In Psalm 50:14-15 (MEV) it tells us that when difficulty arises to “Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and pay your vows to the Most High, and call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.”
The Lord goes on to say in Psalm 50:23, “Whoever sacrifices a thank offering glorifies Me and makes a way; I will show him the salvation of God.”
The thoughts that lead to confessions of our mouth in worship make the way for us. This way can be down the path of trouble and difficulty or down the path of further glorifying God. The way we best serve him is first not in our actions but from our mouth. The Lord says in Psalm 50:16 that we are to declare His statutes and take his covenant in our mouth.
As out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, what comes out will tell us where our heart is meditating and what we are worshipping. We were made for continual worship of Him in gratitude and thanksgiving, even before we see the promises fulfilled in our lives.
When we go to heaven, there will be no more worries, concerns or fears. We will worship the Lord continually day and night with our praise and thanksgiving. However, as we see Him in the full light of who He is the His love for us, we will no longer be able to offer Him a “sacrifice of praise.” We can only do this on earth where we have an opportunity to step out in faith and sacrifice.
Exalting Him is to be our way of life. Psalm 46:10 (NASB) says, “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Striving to get more done is not what He is looking for from us. Rather, He would love if we were still and praised Him.
David, took the Lord’s covenant in His mouth frequently as He proclaimed them and stood on His word–rhema promises. In Psalm 103 David reminds us not to forget the Lord’s covenant blessings. He proclaims,
Yahweh, You are my soul’s celebration.
My heart delights in Your exhalation
How could I ever forget
the miracles You’ve done?
Kissing me with forgiveness,
as my heart You’ve won.
You’ve healed me inside and out
from every disease.
You’ve rescued me from hell
and set me free.
You’ve circled me with love
like a wedding ring.
You satisfy my every desire
with so many good things.
You’ve supercharged my life so that I fly
like a soaring eagle in the sky!
(Based upon the TPT translation)
How could I doubt Your goodness to me?
How could I now fail to believe?
You’ve turned my darkest skies to shades of glory
You’ve taken my hand and re-written my story
If not another day, I had to remain
I would still rejoice because they are not the same
Better is one day sharing Your heart
Than a million of them standing afar
Every day with You has been blessed with a kiss
Standing in Your love, not one would I want to miss.
I don’t know how this situation will end
But with mercy I know You’ll meet me around the bend.
