Let Your Gentleness Shine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDNA2O7eNhM

Waves ~ Worship Central

 

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ~ Philippians 4:5 NIV

 

“Let your gentleness be evident to all” seems an odd statement. But it makes sense in reference to Paul’s earlier letter to the Philippians. Paul said if they’d received anything from their relationship with Christ or His Spirit—encouragement, comfort, fellowship with Holy Spirit, tenderness, or compassion—they needed to share it. Shine it. They were to be an example of what they had experienced or seen, (Philippians 2:1-4). Paul called on them—as we are also called—to have the same mindset, love, nature, and purpose as Christ.

 

Paul was bold in his speaking because “The Lord is near.” “Nearness” is not about distance, but about time. The return of Christ is soon. However, knowing that God doesn’t view time like we do, Jesus said, But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father… Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come,” (Matthew 24:36,42 NIV). Because the time of Christ is near, Paul implores believers to let our gentleness shine. In a world that’s harsh, full of so much anger and hate, Paul knew it would be our gentleness that would draw people to us, allowing us to point them to Jesus.

 

Some days and seasons will be easier, while others will be a struggle. Regardless of the events or emotions of the day or season, remember:

1.       Rejoice always – it produces joy

2.       Let your gentleness shine – it points others to Jesus

©Heather Potts 2023

Cling to Your Life Preserver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KRRCQ9bcAc

Made to Fly ~ Colton Dixon

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.” ~ John 14:1 AMP

Have you ever been in one of those seasons where wave after wave attacking you caused you to turn your gaze from Jesus, and inevitably, your grip, as well? And when that happened, the next wave made you believe you were going to drown. I’ll confess that happened to me.

Our summer break hasn’t started as relaxing as I would have liked. Within the first two weeks we needed a major fix on both vehicles, and then my back locked up while we were camping. Then, just after God brought us through that (including healing my back--Praise God!), the girls got burned. At first we assumed it was a sunburn, but 48 hours later, it appeared more like a chemical burn, causing me to feel completely helpless and overwhelmed. Thankfully, after getting some outside help, it’s calmed down a lot and is almost gone. Honestly, though, the attack on the girls scared me. I felt helpless when I didn’t know how to “make it better”. By the end of the day, yesterday, I realized just how drained I was and how cranky I was acting towards others.

Fortunately, God wasn’t bothered by my crankiness, and led me to John 14:1. After just glancing at the words, I realized that I’d let trouble into my heart, but it was time for it to go!

When going boating, you put on a life preserver, because if the unexpected ever happened, you’d be prepared. Ephesians 6:13-15 tells us to put on our spiritual armor, because we’re in a spiritual battle. Though the breastplate of righteousness and shield of faith sound like they’d drag you to the bottom, they become the straps, binding you to Jesus, your Life Preserver. The next time you’re being beaten by a churning sea, don’t let go of your Life Preserver to try to swim to shore faster. Instead, lean into it, letting the Lord use the waves to push you to shore, as you keep clinging to your Life Preserver, never shifting your gaze or releasing your grip.

©Heather Potts 2021

Hoisted

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TzB4FaPODc

Anchor ~ Skillet

Swirling, pulling, dragging me down, the waves are churning all around. Fear and anxiety bind my arms and legs, sucking me down and down in a whirlpool of worry. I have taken my eyes off of my Lord—off of my Jesus. I’m so sorry. Sorry I made the fear and circumstances higher than You. Forgive me. Like a flash of light, His anchor of hope is thrust into the water, breaking up the ties that bind me. I am freed and grab hold of Him, my Anchor of Hope. Holding tightly, the Anchor is hoisted from the churning seas. As I cling tightly to my Anchor, I see the storm rage on all around—the clouds black as night, the seas churning and swirling, the waves slapping, the rains driving—but I am kept safe. I cling to my Anchor, my Love, my Hope, my Father, who is strong, firm, and steadfast.

When we take our eyes off of Jesus—even but a moment—we can get caught up in the waves of worry and the riptides of fear and anxiety which eventually suck us into a whirlpool, dragging us down, down until we are lost. But turning our hearts back to Jesus, we can hold to His hope and peace. If you’ve been caught by the whirlpool of worry with fear and anxiety binding you, turn your heart and your eyes back toward your Anchor of Hope, cling to Him, and He will lift you from the sea.

We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us ~ Hebrews 6:18-20 MSG

©Heather Potts 2020