Are You a River or a Pond?

By Andrea Merrell

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, 

out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

John 7:38 NKJV

“We’re not here for ourselves,” the pastor said, “but to point others to Jesus.”

Then he talked about the “living waters” that are supposed to flow from us. “If you’re not a river, you become nothing more than a spiritual pond,” he said.

Wow, time for a reality check, I thought. Which category do I fit into?

A river flows freely and is teeming with life. It gives to those who need refreshment. A pond, on the other hand, with no inlet or outlet, can become stagnant and full of junk. Not good for much of anything. No life.

Jesus said of His followers, “Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says” (MSG). He was speaking in regard to the Spirit.

Our river—the Holy Spirit inside us—should flow freely and be teeming with life, giving to all who need refreshment. The very life of God that we carry inside should “spill out” on those around us.

Are you a river or a pond? Maybe it’s time for a reality check. 

Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash

Use Your Words Wisely

 

By Andrea Merrell

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV

The woman was funny. Quick-witted. Charismatic. People were drawn to her—until her words turned toxic, which could happen with no warning.

Words are powerful. They carry the power of life and death. They can bless or tear down. Heal or wound. And God expects us to use them wisely. The Bible has much to say on the subject. Here are a few examples:

• We are to be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath. (James 1:19)
• We are to bridle our tongue. (James 1:26)
• We’re not to speak both blessing and cursing. (James 3:10)
• We should use our tongue to promote health. (Proverbs 12:18)
• We are to guard our mouth to preserve our life. (Proverbs 13:3)
• We should use soft answers instead of harsh words. (Proverbs 15:1)
• We should have joy by what comes out of our mouth. (Proverbs 15:23)
• Our words should be wise and kind. (Proverbs 31:26)
• Our words should be edifying and not corrupt. (Ephesians 4:29)

Our prayer should be: Holy Spirit, put a guard over my mind, my heart, and my mouth. Let my words be full of grace, edifying others and bringing glory to you. Let me always think before I speak and use my words wisely.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Brett Jordan.

 

 

 

 

             

God Repays with Interest

 

By Andrea Merrell

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food 

will also supply and increase your store of seed and will

 enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

2 Corinthians 9:10 NIV

Finances were extremely tight, but the pull to give was strong. Not sure whether we would be able to pay all our bills and buy groceries, I gave in a simple act of obedience.

The Bible has much to say about money:

• Be generous. Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns. (Ecclesiastes 11:1 MSG)
• Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38 NKJV)
• If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you! (Proverbs 19:17 NLT)
• Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10 NKJV)

The world’s philosophy is to hold tightly to what we have, but God says to give. To be generous. To help others. And to do it all with a cheerful attitude.

Some say you can’t out-give God. I’ve certainly found that true in my life. By my simple act of obedience, He not only repaid what I gave, He returned it with more than I could have imagined or hoped for. He always gives back more than we sow.

One writer says it’s the level of our giving that determines the level of our receiving. When God says give, don’t be afraid. And don’t hold back, waiting until you have more to give. He will bless what you offer and repay you with heavenly interest.

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and posterize.

 

A Quiet Mind

 

By Andrea Merrell

He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.

Psalm 23:2-3 NKJV

 

“Sit down and be quiet,” the teacher said to little Tommy. “Otherwise, you’ll never learn. I need you to hear what I have to say.”

Sometimes I feel like little Tommy, waiting for the Lord to say, “Sit down and be quiet, Andrea. I need you to hear what I have to say.”

Our mind is like a door. It’s the place where thoughts come in, searching for entrance into our heart. Some call it a battlefield. It’s where we entertain thoughts, feelings, fears, words, memories, and attacks from the Enemy. It can easily become a cacophony of chaos until we learn to turn down the noise so we can hear God’s voice.

In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes: “Make your mind like a still pool of water, ready to receive whatever thoughts I drop into it.” ~Jesus

The psalmist wrote, “He leads me beside still water? Why? So He can restore our soul.”

In Isaiah 30:15, God said, “In returning and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”

God has much to say to His children. Be sure to quiet your mind and listen for that still, small voice. His words are the most important ones you will ever hear.

Photo by Toni Reed on Unsplash

Can You Take Correction?

 

By Andrea Merrell

“Your son is not doing well in my classroom,” the teacher said to Stevie’s parents. “It seems he doesn’t do well taking correction.”

“Oh, we try not to correct our son,” Stevie’s dad responded, emphasizing his distaste for the word correct. “We don’t make rules. We believe in allowing him to think for himself and make his own decisions. We don’t ever want to stifle his freedom and creativity.”

How sad for little Stevie, his parents, friends, and society in general. This boy—like so many others—is growing up with no structure. No discipline. No guidelines or boundaries. Not only will this affect him in the workplace and in relationships, it can cause him to ignore God’s leading and instruction as well.

The Book of Proverbs talks a lot about this subject:

• A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel. (Proverbs 1:5 NKJV)
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7 NKJV)
• Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:7 NLT)
• Take hold of my instructions; don’t let them go. Guard them, for they are the key to life. (Proverbs 4:13 NLT)
• Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. (Proverbs 8:33 NLT)
• If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. (Proverbs 15:32 NLT)
• To discipline a child produces wisdom, but a mother is disgraced by an undisciplined child. (Proverbs 29:15 NLT)
• Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad. (Proverbs 29:17 NLT)

Just as wise parents are to correct their children, our loving heavenly father corrects those who belong to Him.

For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child. As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as His own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as He does all of His children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really His children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. (Hebrews 12:6-11 MSG)

This life journey we’re on is full of learning and correction, so ask yourself: Am I teachable?

Photo by Keren Fedida on Unsplash