“When the turn came for Esther (the girl Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her.” Esther 2:15

One of Esther’s characteristics stands out to me — humility. The above verse reflects the posture of her character. Esther was willing to take and heed her cousin Mordecai’s advice. She assumed that those in authority, and those given charge over her, had wisdom to share. Esther accepted the beauty treatments and the invitation extended to go to the king but she didn’t strive to manipulate the situation so that she would be above the rest and be chosen first.

Esther asked for nothing — nothing special, nothing she felt entitled to, no demands — just a humble acceptance of what the king’s eunuch suggested. Though Esther had obvious outward beauty, there was something beautiful and winsome about the posture of her heart. She won the favor of everyone around her, including the king.

Esther had no idea that what she would be called to do in a crisis would change the trajectory of a nation. Her beauty was stunning but the posture of her own heart and her internal character was possibly why she was chosen by God to save her people.

What can we learn from Esther’s posture? We live in a world of entitlement, demand, striving, and competition to be the best and get ahead — sometimes at the expense of others. As we age, our physical posture needs adjustment. Life happens and the posture of our hearts can also get out of alignment. Ponder Esther’s posture of humility.

Father God, thank you that you are able to adjust the posture of our hearts. We come before you in humility. We open our hearts before you and ask that you would deliver us from any sense of entitlement, striving, or trying to make things happen. We want to humbly trust you. May the posture of our hearts before you and others be pleasing to you. Have your way in our hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

By Donna Mitchell
Used by Permission

RELATED READING

How Christ Modeled Humility

Humility with Faith Equals Breakthrough

Humility Toward Each Other

The post A Humble Posture appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.  Remember the LORD in everything you do, and he will show you the right way.”  Proverbs 3:5-6 ( GNT)

“What made my interview stand out from the other 27 people you interviewed?” I asked.  “You sat on the foot stool,” the interviewer replied.

At the end of my second year of university I applied to be a resident assistant (RA) in my dormitory. Twenty-seven guys applied for the two positions available. The interview team decided to give interviews to all the applicants. I walked into the head resident’s apartment to face a team of 7 interviewers, and when invited to sit down, I had a choice of a chair and a footstool. I sat on the footstool.  I later learned that I was the only one of the 27 guys interviewed who did that. Yes, there were other things that influenced the decision but my choice to sit on a foot stool caught their attention.

I remember feeling overwhelmed before I went into the interview. I prayed and asked God to direct me and give me wisdom in my responses. I think sitting on the footstool was a “God moment” for me. He is indeed the God of the universe, but He is also the God of small things, so trust Him today for challenges both great and small. Humbly sit on the foot stool before him and express your concerns and desires.

By Mike Woodard
used by permission

FURTHER READING

God does Big Things with Small Deeds

Integrity in the Small Stuff

The Small Stuff

The post Foot Stool appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5b

Humble people seem to be blessed with pervasively portioned patience, peace, perseverance and unpretentiousness.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6

Humble people are also alert, affecting, attentive, affectionate, affable and not anxious.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5: 8-9

Humble people are strong, solid, steadfast, sincere, serving and unswerving.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11

My prayer for us

Heavenly Father, please help us to not be anxious about anything. In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, we present our requests to you. We know that your peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. Philippians 4:6-7

By Alec Niemi
Used by Permission

RELATED READING

• He Honors the Humble
• Gentle and Humble  by Phil Ware
• Gentle and Humble  by Darren Hewer

The post To Humble Ourselves appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you.” (1 Corinthians 15:31)

If I told you this was your last day on earth, would your priorities and your attitude towards others change? We believe on most levels that we control some things in our lives. This control is part of our flesh – it is the battle between our fleshly sin and God’s Spirit that is alive in us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Paul told the Corinthians that he died daily, for Paul lived daily in Christ Jesus not in himself. This is true humility. Humility is to die to ourselves, our flesh, our control, all worldly desires so that we may live in Christ Jesus alone and alone in the will of our Father in Heaven.

Jesus taught us to pray that Father’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Is your life lacking a life-altering experience? Could it be due to a lack of humility in your life?

This morning, thank God for the day and die to yourself. Live with the uncertainty of anything you do and give up your control. Let the Spirit of God be your guide, let Him who created all on this earth and the entire universe be the one who steers your life today. Only in true humility can we allow God to lead us. Only in true humility can we really hear His Spirit guiding us in all our circumstances and relationships. To impose ourselves on others is not humility; it is pride, and it is control.

Lord, open our eyes to see how much we inflict our own personal agendas upon our circumstances and all the relationships that you put in our lives. Help us to truly be humble as You were. Let our flesh pass away this morning and let Your Kingdom shine as a light through us into the darkness of this world. Let the words that come from our lips be of Your Spirit and not of our flesh. Lord we ask this in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Questions: What does this kind of humility look like on a practical level? How will it change the way you live?

by Rev. Daniel Forster
used by permission

FURTHER READING

How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Spiritual Oxygen: Are You Getting Enough?

Stepping Into a Personal Revival

The post Death and Humility appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“To this John replied,

“A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.” John 3:27

A three year-old child grabbed the toy and screamed, “Mine!”

Her Sunday school teacher gave her a stern look. “Sarah, did you bring that from home or does it belong to the church?” “It belongs here. But it’s still mine.” Tearfully, she pouted and turned away, the toy tight against her torso.

As I observed this scene, I asked myself if I slip into the same attitude when it comes to what God have given me. Whether it is a small denomination bill from my purse handed to the beggar on the street, or the check I place in the offering plate, the meal I share with friends from my cupboard, or my talent in writing or speaking…it has been gifted to me by my gracious Lord, the creator of all.

I may think I have “earned my pay,” but God gives me each sunrise-day to go to work and the physical and mental ability to do my job. He forgives my sins, having paid for them on the cross. He lovingly blesses me with more than I deserve. Am I willing to freely share my time and treasures, or do I cling to them and claim it is all mine?

Dearest Lord, may we always remember that all is Yours to give or take away. Thank You that You provide so much for us. Keep us from being greedy like a three year old clutching Your blessings to our chests and crying, “Mine.” Help us to peel our fingers away and offer it back to You to use to Your glory, be it our money, our time, or our talents. Amen.

Thought: Is there something you are clinging to, claiming it is rightfully yours? Will you give it to God and trust Him to tell you what to do with it?

By Julie Cosgrove
used be permission

FURTHER READING

•  How to Get a Grip
• God Loves Me the Same on Good Days and Bad Days
• Cling to the Lord

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

The post Mine, Mine appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Of all virtues, Jesus elevated meekness above the rest.

Why humility?

It is the door opener to grace, and no virtue enters our lives except that humility acknowledges our need and requests virtue to come. Without humility, we see no reason to change or appropriate future grace.

Yet, humility not only hosts the other virtues, it is also the life essence that sustains them. It is humility that recognizes when love is growing cold and humility that confesses our need for greater purity. Without humility, our virtues harden into lifeless statues; we are outwardly religious, but inwardly unable to change.

Humility is the taproot of true nobility. For it provides increase to wholeness, and life and maturity to all other virtues. It is the antidote to Pharisee-ism and the cure for a Jezebelian attitude.

A Child

Consider: when Jesus was asked by His disciples,

“Who then is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

He put a child in their midst. He said,

“Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Mathew 18:1,4).

What a sublime wonder! In Heaven, the height of greatness is measured by the depth of one’s humility.

Consider Wuest’s Expanded Translation of Jesus’ statement:

“Therefore, he who is of such a nature as to humble himself like this little child, esteeming himself small inasmuch as he is so, thus thinking truly, and because truly, therefore humbly of himself, this person is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.“

Jesus came to establish Heaven in the lives of His followers. Thus, He introduces the realm of God to His disciples with the words,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Beloved, the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the “poor in spirit.” Who are these poor? They are people who “know their need” (Godspeed Translation). Beloved, there are people in Heaven who were sinners on Earth. The streets of God’s kingdom are filled with people who, at some time or another, failed and fell short. There are adulterers who’ve been washed and cleansed by Christ’s blood, ex-drug dealers and prostitutes whose hearts are filled with praise to God – all who came face to face with their need, repented and found forgiveness of their sins.

But there is not one proud individual in Heaven. There are no self-righteous beings in Heaven.

Here on earth we see the strutting pride – the air of self-importance – manifest in leaders and celebrities. Again, we behold the air of false superiority in our cultural prejudices. We see unrepentant pride in the conflicts that lead to divorce and the offspring of pride – envy and jealousy – in the inordinate desire of men to be glorified before other men.

Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to the poor in spirit! Not the perfect, but the poor. Yes, we are called to standards of perfection, and strive we must toward that upward call. Yet, perfection in Heaven is measured, not in degrees of self-sufficiency, but in degrees of dependency and surrender. We can search for an eternity and we will observe truly: there dwells not one proud soul in all of Heaven.

Today, we cry for revival and pray for breakthroughs, and persevere we must. Yet the Lord’s eyes are upon a certain individual. He says,

“For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite‘” (Isaiah.57:15).

The disciples were arguing about who is greatest in the Kingdom. Jesus placed a child in their midst.

This is greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven: to possess a humble heart.

By Francis Frangipane
used be permission

Francis Frangipane
info@frangipane.org
www.frangipane.org
www.icitc.org
www.arrowbookstore.com

The post The Greatest in God’s Kingdom appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.” Luke 19:5-6

Have you ever considered that Zacchaeus gladly welcomed Jesus to his home? Given his occupation — a tax collector whom many despised — you might think he would have hid among the leaves of that sycamore tree. But he didn’t; he came down, escorted Jesus to his home, and threw a little party, and an unplanned one at that.

I wonder who else joined them. Probably not those who watched this happen; they were muttering, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” I can picture them with arms crossed and faces scowling.

But something tells me Zacchaeus would have welcomed his enemies to his home that day. Consider his new heart when he says, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” His generous heart flowed in love for the poor, and his pocketbook with justice for mistreated clients.

What explains his change of heart? One clue is the reason he climbed the tree — “he wanted to see who Jesus was.” And who did he see? He saw someone worthy of calling “Lord.” Perhaps Jesus’ reputation preceded him. Maybe Zacchaeus knew that with Jesus, wine overflowed, blind saw, lame walked, and dead people revived. Jesus was a rock star and the rich taxman had to catch a look. And now, with Jesus present in the flesh, Zacchaeus humbled himself, acknowledged his wrong-doing, and sought to make things right.

Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus to show us a life worth imitating. May I bow in awe of His glory and from that place open my heart to people. Show me whom I may invite to my home to celebrate the presence of Jesus. Amen.

By Dr. Bill Strom
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

RECEIVE These Devotionals Daily by email:  FOLLOW THIS Link to Subscribe

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  • Pinterest

The post Welcoming Gently appeared first on Thoughts About God.

When we envision the idea of seeking God with our face down, the picture that comes to mind is one of bowing low before our heavenly Father, and thus it should be. We are approaching Him with abject humility. As representatives of the nations, we are confessing our sins and the sins of our cultures to God, beseeching Him to extend mercy and forgiveness, asking Him to move in His compassion and heal our land.

Yet in the humbling of our souls, let us not discard the reality and power of faith. For without faith it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews. 11:1-6). Yes, let us bow low, yet let us also stand in faith, for the mixture of humility and faith is a potent fragrance.

According to examples in Scripture, this humble yet audacious faith truly moves the heart of God. Consider the Canaanite woman who answered what appeared to be an insult from Jesus: “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs feed on the crumbs” (Matthew 15:27). Hers wasn’t an arrogant reply, but the voice of a desperate woman for her daughter. Jesus’ answer tells me she had the perfect attitude of heart: “O woman, your faith is great” (v.28).

Or recall Elijah as he climbed Mt Carmel and, with his “face between his knees,” prayed seven times that an extended drought in Israel might end. The cloudless sky presented the illusion that the Almighty was unmoved by Elijah’s intercession. Yet when Elijah’s servant reported that there was, in fact, one cloud, a tiny wisp of a cloud the size of a man’s hand, Elijah’s faith recognized God’s answer to prayer. Within a few minutes, this tiny cloud, activated by Elijah’s faith in God, was transformed into a massive downpour that ended three-and-a-half years of national drought.
(See 1 Kings 18:42-45.)

The Bible has many examples of the power of faith when coupled to humility. If we will see a spiritual outpouring in our land, we will need to stay low in the act of intercession. Yet we will also need faith in the goodness of God. Humility empowered by visionary faith equals breakthrough.

Lord, like Elijah, I too bow low before You. I humble myself before You. Forgive our sins, Lord God, for they are many. Show Yourself mighty against our enemies. Master, even as we bow low before you, we refuse to give up on our nation. Lord, forgive, heal and then empower us to bring the lost to You. Let Your name be exalted throughout the land and Your mercy lifted to the heavens. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

By Francis Frangipane
Used by Permission

Francis Frangipane
info@frangipane.org
www.frangipane.org
www.icitc.org
www.arrowbookstore.com

The post Humility with Faith Equals Breakthrough appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2

Thoughts on today’s verse

“You mean I have to put up with that!?” There are those folks in life about whom the saying is true: “They are the grit out of which we are to fashion our pearl.” But our great example in this challenge is Jesus. Think of what he had to put up with in his 12 disciples. Remember how transformational his patience and gentleness with them was. Can we dare to less?

Prayer:

Give me strength and patience, O God, that I may be as loving, gentle, and patient with others as you have been with me. Through Jesus my Lord and hero I pray. Amen.

By Phil Ware
Used by Permission
From https://www.heartlight.org

Further Reading

•  12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child
•   Ways to Spend Quality Time with your Kids
•  Salvation Explained

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  •  Pinterest

The post Gentle and Humble appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29, NLT, emphasis mine)

If anyone has the right to NOT be humble, it’s Jesus. He fed thousands with just a loaf of bread and a fish, turned water into wine, walked on water and raised people from the dead. Jesus is God, but nevertheless He “gave up his divine privileges” and “took the humble position of a slave.” (Philippians 2:7)

Jesus also has the right to NOT be gentle as he looks around and sees immorality and lack of faith. Jesus sighed with grief at the lack of faith he saw around him, (Mark 8:12) but He’s described as “gentle and humble in heart.” (Matthew 11:29) We may have many reasons to be proud: success in business, a wonderful family, or perhaps special talent in music or art. But we must remain humble, remembering that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) And we may have many reasons to be ruthless: a really bad day or being treated unjustly. But “this is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (1 John 3:16)The signs to humility and gentleness all point in the same direction: Allow Jesus to teach you to become more like Him. “I have set you an example,” says Jesus, “that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:15) It will not happen overnight, but by focusing on God’s Word, gazing at the life of Christ and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, it certainly will. What step could you take to be more gentle and humble like Jesus?

Lord, when I look at You I see how I’m not like You in many ways. Help me be humble and gentle like you, thinking of the needs of others above my own. Please do heart surgery in me so I can express love even when life gets hard. Amen.

Thought:  Take five minutes to look back on your week. When did you express pride in your thoughts or actions? When did you treat others wrongly out of impatience or frustration? Hand over each situation honestly to Jesus in prayer and ask him to change you.

by Darren Hewer
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Count your Blessings

•   Always be Joyful

•  Salvation Explained

The post Gentle and Humble appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Jesus’ very act of coming to earth meant exchanging heaven for a human life on earth.

I love that the Son of God didn’t seek out only environments and places to visit worthy of his heavenly identity. After all, his very act of coming meant exchanging heaven for a human life on earth. He deliberately chose simple environments, like a stable, to display the power of the Kingdom of God. For me, his visit to the Pool of Bethesda stands out. It was a place where “a great number of disabled people used to lie, the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.” (John 5:1-3) It struck me that this was probably not the most hygienic place around.

Imagine the smell. Most of these people couldn’t make it to the bathroom on their own. I imagine most regular people didn’t frequent this pool and yet Jesus chose to enter into this humble environment and bring healing.

Who and what do I surround myself with? Which places do I frequent? Is this where Jesus would go? Perhaps it’s time to consider the positions we have created for ourselves and our thoughts about where we belong on this earth, and then, just like Jesus did, let’s lay these down.

Thank You, Jesus, for coming to earth and laying down Your divinity. Today, I lay down any concept of self that excludes me from entering the humble, stinky places where you would hang out. I ask for the grace to walk where You go. Amen.

By Idelette McVicker
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•   A Poem of Hope

•   The Healing – A  poem by Katy Kauffman

•  Salvation Explained

Follow Us On:  Facebook  • Twitter  •  Instagram  •  Pinterest

The post Healing at the Pool appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“If words are many, sin is not absent. He who holds his tongue is wise.” Proverbs 10:19

Hurtful words spoken in anger. I caught them, felt the pain of them, and believed them. “I am a failure as a wife, a mother, a Christian.”

And yet in my heart, I knew I had done my best. I knew I had lived well. Then why can’t she remember the good I’ve done? I stewed.

Feeling desperately hurt, I sought counselling.

“They are words of anger spoken into the wind,” my pastor said “Don’t catch them. Don’t let them lodge in your mind to hatch into self-pity. Don’t personalize them. If you do, you’ll become frozen into a stance of hurt. Bitterness will grow in your heart and poison you. Let them go. Don’t even repeat them. They are irrational words spoken in haste.”

“Flying words hurled out of an angry mouth—counter them with a word from God,” says Amy Carmichael.

“But shouldn’t I set the record straight?” I asked.

“Nothing you say at this point will impress her,” the pastor said. “It will only make it worse. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

“Let God vindicate you: ‘do not take revenge, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”
(Romans 12:19, 20).

Is there someone you need to forgive? Some angry, hurtful words you need to let go? Ask God for the grace to let go and to trust Him to make it right.

From experience I know it’s the only way to live free.

Dear Father, I want my words to be words of healing, not of hurt. I want to remember that ‘kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body”   (Proverbs 16: 24 NLT)

By Helen Lescheid
Used by Permission

To read more of Helen’s writings go to https://www.helenlescheid.com

FURTHER READING

• Fast Of Words: A Different Kind of Fast
• Lessons from Odd Places: Words that Saved my Life

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

Follow Us On:

SUBSCRIBE BY EMAIL: FOLLOW THIS LINK

The post Let Your Words Bring Healing Not Hurt appeared first on Thoughts About God.