Tag: Proverbs

Prayer for Our Thoughts

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

Oh, Lord God,

How I have been wrestling with this study of Freedom from our Thoughts throughout this week. Where does one go with one’s thoughts. This is my question. Why are we prone to assume that our thoughts are evil and sin-filled and self-condemning? This also is my question.

Personally these two questions scream within me. Daily I ponder my thoughts. Daily I sit on guard of myself, working diligently in controlling my thoughts. Fighting, as with a Sword, the cruelty that resides within my inner self-condemnation, within my thoughts.

Yet, tonight I sit here at your feet surrounded by your words as if they are a belt wrapped tightly around me. Words that straighten my posture. Words that keep me centered. Words that cause my head to relax, to breathe.

These are the words I find myself sitting with. These are the words my heart is pondering louder than that of my internal thoughts. These are the words penned years ago for your daughter today. These are the words of my Father.

The thoughts of the righteous are just. (Pr. 12:5)

Father, this is your thought process. I sit in that truth. I sit in Your thoughts of Your presence in me, making me righteous and my thoughts just. Yes, Father God, I have been sitting in this truth for quite some time. Selah

The simple believes everything; but the prudent gives thoughts to his steps. (Pr. 14:15)

I am not a simple believer. I do not easily believe what is laid before me. That is not my character. That is not my person. Quite opposite, really. Yet, when I speak within myself, simple statements of unjustified depth, I believe me. Lord Jesus, this is causing my heart to want to fight for me the way I fight for my Scripture, for my country, for my family, for my Sisters far and wide. Lord, that I will be prudent in the steps of my thoughts. That they will not stumble me as a simpleton. That’s shameful. That’s gross. But mighty amazing to contemplate at your feet. Selah

Search me, Oh God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! (Ps. 139:23)

Sweet Father, this plea of praise and admiration poured out before you from your friend, David, has been swirling within my core these last few weeks. May I, in full adoration of your love for me, join him in pouring out this proclamation of praise and trust and love?

Father God, You know my heart. Oh! You know it greater than even I. And You call me Yours. You love me unconditionally. You dislike the cruelty that seeps within my soul toward myself, don’t you? My thoughts of me do not walk in step with your thoughts of me.

  • God, will you quench my thoughts that compromise your thoughts?
  • Will you know my thoughts and make them known to me?
  • Will You make them louder than the ones on repetition?
  • May I hear and know the thoughts that declare Your truths over me?

I am righteous because I am a follower of Jesus, washed in His blood, raised in His resurrection, and renewed daily by Your Spirit. Therefore, my thoughts are seen as just in Your eyes. Father, that I will comply and see and think in that beautiful truth.

I am prudent -not simple- because I have Your wisdom and understanding deep within my heart and soul. Therefore, my thoughts go before my every step, including my every thought. Oh, that I will remember that I am not simple in believing the foolishness that I muster! Ugh. This is shaking me and driving me toward a victory. I hear your song of victory over me. Selah

Lastly, Sweet Lord, help me to rest in Your arms as You know my heart and my thoughts. That I will trust You to fill my heart and my thoughts with what You know is found in me, thoughts worthy of Your praise. That my thoughts will produce praise upon Your creation and upon Your presence and Your work within me.

In the silence of awe at your feet,

Jaclyn

Two Words: Home Work :)

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

With all the brilliance out there encouraging us to Stay Safe and Stay Connected I want to offer a different thought. Something a tad outside the bubble we are all living in.

Two words: Home Work

Now, don’t roll your eyes at me because we have plenty to study.

1. That Man

Things are real right now for some of us. 24 hours together tends to prove there may be a load of knowledge welled up in the proclamation of love growing in absence thing. So, what happens when social distancing disallows for your heart to abound in separation? Lol. We study.

Take today as a brand new opportunity to study this man. Who is he today? Yes, we know what he was like when we were dating. We know what he is like after a hard day at work. And we know the simple ways that make him smile. But some things may have turned upside down. Let’s not lose this opportunity to grow in knowledge. Let’s abound in understanding. And let’s be strong enough to enjoy right now with him.

According to Scripture, that’s wisdom. According to me, that’s fun wisdom! 😉 I say, let’s have fun!

Here’s your passage:

~ Proverbs 24:3-4

Here’s your challenge:

– Fresh sheets in a clean, candlelit room.

– Lingerie

– You know, shave.

– Be nice. 🙂

– Listen and hear what he is saying (FYI – I failed this one this week)

– Share your emotions. Maybe less demonstrating and more sharing. Unless your demonstrating resorts back to the fresh sheets, then by all means … demonstrate. 😉

– Send those “under agers” to their rooms, put on some music or a full concert of your favorite singer/band on YouTube, grab something delicious and get lost in conversation.

– Fall in love.

Let me tell you, a girlfriend of mine is a stay at home mom of one year old twins. 🙂 Did you feel her reality?? She ordered dinner from a favorite restaurant, slipped on a dress and stilettos, put on makeup and shaved, and surprised her husband with a date night.

That takes a lot of work and planning and preparation and energy. I say, we learn from her and seize today for what it is, a time for Home work.

2. That Child

…. yes, but, number one is too much fun to group into anything else. Kids will come later. Let’s stick with number one. Like, let’s jump online and order some things…

Ready?

Go!

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Wisdom is an Attainable Thing. Get Wisdom.

- JaclynPalmer Leave a comment

Wisdom is an attainable thing. Often a thing we all desire. Most definitely a thing learned. As a human, we attain some level of wisdom simply by living. Wisdom is the discerning or judging of a matter to see if it is right or true or a lasting idea. Life teaches us wisdom. Paul wants to place a sharp contrast between the wisdom that we attain in our humanity from the wisdom we receive from the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ.

He also wants to place a sharp contrast between wisdom that we learn from men and/or religious teachings from that of the wisdom from God. Separating one wisdom from the other is difficult. Especially for those of us who can relate to being raised to live under the wisdom of man via religious teachings. For wisdom of man seeps into our very being, so that, when we hear of a contrasting concept we battle guilt and uncertainty. For some, fear and insecurity overwhelm.

Paul models a brilliant suggestion in siding this contrast. Use a two-edged sword. Look again at what he said in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Paul studied Jesus Christ.

He knew God growing up. He met Jesus along the way. He was filled with the Spirit. He was following Jesus. Yet, he studied Jesus Christ and Jesus’ heart of love. This is the mighty power of the wisdom of God. His wisdom cuts to the heart of all wisdom. It discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart of the wisdom offered before you. And Paul chose to neglect all of his Biblical teaching as he studied Jesus Christ. This is brilliant. And slightly nerve-wracking. For knowledge brings confidence and drive. Paul had both. But he chose rather to start over. All confidence in his knowledge and wisdom were set aside. All drive to accomplish what mattered above all else were diminished to a mere nothing.

Everything was new and frightfully uncomfortable. Paul was scared, shaking in his boots, and stumbling over his words. Certainly not the Paul we compare ourselves to or desire to hold a match next to. You know who he was? He was a follower of Jesus who was learning how to follow Jesus by studying Jesus through the gift of wisdom that was in him since the moment he chose to follow Jesus.

This is you and me. This is our truth. We have knowledge and wisdom that have naturally settled its place in our heads. Then we met Jesus. We too have the wisdom of God in us. We too have the choice to make as to which form of wisdom we cling to, utilize, and grow.

Oh, that we follow Paul in his example and become students of Jesus Christ.

If you are engaged in an internal religious battle, I pray you will set your battle aside. Perhaps write each of those war-zone statements on a piece of paper, then read the story of Jesus and his heart of love. You will find His words written within the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew-John). You will read of his heart, his actions, his manners, his responses, and his purpose. As you read through these books, I truly believe you will find truths to write over the statements on your paper. Over time, and through his truth, you will silence the war within. You will grow in wisdom of God. You will experience a whole new feeling of freedom to be the child of God you were destined to be. Not in man’s wisdom but in God’s.

EXCERPT from Judged Not: Living your life in the Freedom of Judgment

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

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