Feeling in a Funk Continued

I posted not too long ago a devotion about "Feeling in a Funk"  This study was a blessing to me as I felt I was given a direct To-Do list from the Lord. During this quarantine time I want to be productive.  I want to come out of this time stablished, strengthened and settled which is exactly what it says in 1 Peter 5:10.  But in order to do this I must do the will of God. We discussed 3 things from 1 Peter that are on that list.  I thought today I would share the other 7.

Use Hospitality 1 Peter 4:9

 The basic definition of hospitality is being generous to guests.  This is talking about people that live outside of your house. We are going to have to be creative on this one since we really can’t have people into our homes. How can you be hospitable when you are quarantined?  1^st step is figuring out who should be a “guest."  Who has God put into your life that you need to be a blessing to?  Home means an enjoyable, happy place where you can live, laugh and learn. It's somewhere where you are loved, respected, and cared for.  During this time we all need to be loved, respected and cared for. How can we do this without being with that person?

                   1^st  Make a list (prayerfully) of those that live outside of your home that you need to show love and care to.  Ask God to show you who this is!

                2^nd  Choose to be a blessing to them this week! (And not through the normal texting, messaging or email.  Be creative!

                                Call (sometimes we all need to hear someone’s voice!)

                                Send a care package

                                Write a letter.  Use a pretty color pen and stationery. 

The point is for the person to know that you took time to show them love, to respect them and care for them.  Time = Love

God Glorified in my Speech 1 Peter 4:11  

A few years ago I did a word study on speech.  I wrote down every time the Bible talks about speech, words and tongue.  Wow!  It is so convicting!! 

                Do you know that you can teach your tongue to speak right or wrong?  Jeremiah 9:5, “They have taught their tongue to speak lies.”  How powerful our tongues are!  They can cancel out a million actions of love with just one harsh word.  It is important that we train our tongues to speak right. 

  As you read your Bible this week,  notice when speech, words and tongue are mentioned.

Col. 4:6,  Psalm 39:1

Rejoice in Trials.  1 Peter 4:13

This one can be difficult. How has your response been through this trial that we are going through?  Has it been to spread worry?  Are you ready to report anything negative that you hear?  It’s easy for us to want to look horizontally and see all the difficulties around us.  It’s easy to focus on the numbers of how many are infected and how the virus is growing in our area.  It’s easy to just look at the trial.  But, God says we are to rejoice in them   Phil. 4:8, 1 Thess. 5:16 God is going to do something wonderful through all this!  Like an eagle, he is above and seeing the big picture in all of this. How do we do this? By choosing to look at the good and remember it. We too easily forget from day to day the things God is doing in our life!  Create a place that is visible to the whole family that you can write down specific blessings that have happened through this time.  We have watched our "Blessings Catcher" fill up with lots of things God is doing for us.  Things such as encouraging texts from friends, game nights on zoom and picnic table dates.  If you look for blessings, you will find them!

Clothed with Humility     1 Peter 5:5  

             That word "clothed" jumped out at me.  Do you realize that you get to choose what you are covered with?  Not just your physical clothes (like a comfy t-shirt and jean skirt), but the inward clothing of your heart. What am I choosing to cover me?  When others look at me do they see me clothed with humility?

Humility is having a humble opinion of one’s self

Paul, most likely the greatest Christian to ever walk the face of  earth said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.”  We are the same.  If we have anything we think we should be able to brag about, it’s because of God and how good He has been to us! God will give grace to the humble.  It’s the exact opposite of what our flesh wants to do—It wants to make sure it gets the recognition it deserves, that its efforts are recognized.  BUT when we are humble, and let someone else get the praise, or we go unnoticed, God will give us grace!  And He does a much better job of rewarding us than man’s words will ever do.  So how do we apply this one?  Do something anonymous for someone this week without wanting to get any glory for yourself.  Write an encouraging note or leave flowers on someone's doorstep.  Let God get the glory.

Cares Cast Upon God      1 Peter 5:7

                             Are you casting your cares upon God or upon others and yourself?  Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve worried about it?

During Covid-19, there has been many cares that have arisen

                -started with toilet paper and making sure we are stocked up on supplies  (going to the store for flour)

                -school arrangements, online learning

                -Church services yes or no?, online, facebook live, zoom, live streaming, uploading…

                -Keeping healthy- masks, gloves, Lysol, hand sanitizer, social distancing

A lot of cares!!  Are they weighing you down? Are you panicked and worried over things you don’t have any control over?  We should be casting our care on the Lord!

             When Patrick and I were first married we would go to skip rocks into beautiful Lake Champlain.  My handsome hubby would look for the perfect, smooth, flat rock that would be perfect for skipping. Then, he would expertly throw it in the water getting many skips.  No matter how hard I tried I never could skip rocks like that!  Do you know that he never went in after the rock he had skipped?  Not once.  It reminds me of Psalm55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee;  he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

  Our cares should be just like that rock.  Throw them with never wanting them back.   Recognize all those cares you’ve been holding onto and cast them to the Lord!

Be Vigilant   1 Peter 5:8

Keep a watch.   We are so prone to do wrong.  Or even to not do what is best.  Don’t settle for just the good.  Watch and resist the desire to settle for good.             

Why be vigilant?  We have a real enemy that wants to devour us, make us disappear.  Be careful of the entrances you allow to come into your heart and home.  What would bring Satan satisfaction?  Mothers/wives/Christians to disappear from the scene.  You may say, “I would never leave my home, my family, my church”…whatever it may be.  Maybe you are physically there, but have you “checked out” emotionally and spiritually?  Have you put up walls so you can’t be hurt anymore?  Your positive, spiritual influence has disappeared.

  When we are vigilant we are on the lookout for ways that our enemy may try to sneak in.

  Do an inventory of your home.  Are you being vigilant of the things you allow in to influence you?  Since we’ve been quarantined in our home it has been easy to let lots of news, binge watching tv shows, or just wasted time on social media.  These things are influencing you!  Be vigilant!!

Resist Satan 1 Peter 5:9

How do you resist him?  Submit to God….which is the whole point of this study, to do His Will!

Lord let us be faithful during this time to do your will.  I want the benefits of being stablished, strengthened and settled!  Hopefully this time will be over soon, but until it is, let's be committed to do the will of God!