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I Am Not My Own
Andrea Lende • August 9, 2020
Psalm 100:3
I Am Not My Own
You can also listen to the meditation and prayer at: https://anchor.fm/andrea-lende/episodes/I-Am-Not-My-Own-ehtote
Psalm 100:3
Daily Word:
“Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
As I read the Word today, this verse stood out to me.
Sometimes I get so self-absorbed that I forget that I am the Lord’s to be used as He has planned.
I can become so consumed with the tasks of the day that my mind is full, and my body is tired.
I am constantly thinking about the next thing I need to do or have to do.
The busyness overwhelms me.
Then I move into trying to control all the aspects of my life and even my family’s life.
The more I attempt to control, the more out of control everything seems to get.
Then the Lord brings me to a scripture like the one today that shows me once again that the Lord is God.
Truly know that Lord is God.
The Amplified Bible’s definition of the word know is “perceive, recognize, and understand with approval”.
Usually I think of the word know as just that – knowing something.
But the amplified definition is to “to understand with approval”.
I find that I am convicted of this statement because sometimes I wonder why.
I wonder why things are the way they are.
I wonder why God has things occur as they do.
I certainly do not know or understand all the ways of the Lord.
Only He does.
And it is not my place to question why He does the things as He does.
He always has a plan and His plan is perfect.
Secondly, our verse says, “It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]!”
We are not our own.
As much as I try to be independent, I cannot live independent of the Lord.
He created me for Him.
There is no other reason or plan for me that is above what the Lord has for me.
I cannot succeed unless my plan is His plan.
When I go my own way, I not only fail but also experience huge frustration and disappointment.
Again, the Lord brings me to a verse like the one today and I realize I am going against God’s plan.
A moment of reflection and time spent with God will reveal His plan.
Peace returns.
Finally, the last part of our verse says, “We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
We, collectively, are His.
We exist with one another.
We are all together, His.
He is our Shepherd.
A shepherd takes care of his sheep.
He makes sure they are provided for and are protected.
The Lord watches over us and protects us all.
Today I choose to know that the Lord is God, and that I am His, and that He watches over me, protects me, and provides for me.
May you find that as you truly know that the Lord is God that you will see Him in every aspect of your life and realize that you are His wonderful creation.
Daily Prayer:
O Lord, my God, thank You for showing me that You are the One True God. Thank You for showing me that You created me and care for me in every way. Thank You for watching over me, protecting me, and providing for me. Thank You for choosing me to know You and be a part of Your fold. Help me give all of my burdens to You. Help me give all my problems and concerns to You. May You lift all of it from my soul and mind and replace it with peace. May Your peace flood my soul, Lord. Help me know that I am Yours and that You are tending to my every need. Center my spirit and help me focus on You as I tend to the needs of this day. May Your grace be upon me and the family You have given me, Father. Help me bless someone this day. Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Answer: I AM the Shepherd of My sheep and will care for all as they have need.
Response: Thank You Almighty and gracious God.
We start a New Year! How exciting! Paul had just finished telling the Ephesians to put off their old nature. They had been run around by their feelings and desires. He told them to be renewed in their spirit. The Amplified Bible defines this to be “having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” As we say goodbye to this year, let us put on the new and leave the old behind. We have an opportunity to reflect on what to bring forward into this New Year.
This is a great message for the New Year. We can be in control of our own words. As a mother, I used to tell my children to use their words to explain what was happening in their minds. I tried to help them find the right words. Words that would help the situation and not make it worse. I must do the same thing when talking to them. It’s important to use words that do not damage their spirits. Words that lift up instead of tear down. Even though my children have grown, I still want to be careful how I speak to them because my worlds will impact them for the rest of their lives.
As we approach the New Year, it is a perfect time to take inventory of what part of our lives, our hearts, and our souls are not bearing fruit. What can we give up as this year comes to a close? What do we need to give to the Lord for His cleansing and pruning? The answers to these questions take time. Time with the Lord. We are creatures of routines and habits which serve us well. But we can also change our routines and habits to serve us and the Lord better. So, we can ask God to show us what He wants us to give up so that He can have more of us.
I cannot think of a better verse to meditate on as we approach the New Year. Jesus said, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." For so many years I believed I had to wait to go to heaven to experience the kingdom of God. I have longed to step into heaven and meet the Lord and His Son. However, as we read the Gospels and study Jesus and all that He said, we begin to understand the kingdom of God is all around us. The kingdom of God is within.
Paul wrote to the Colossians and told them he was praying for them. He prayed they would be refreshed, renewed, and invigorated. He also prayed they would be strengthened. May his prayer be heard by the Lord God Almighty on our behalf today just as it was received two thousand years ago. God is the Source of all things beautiful and wonderful. There is no shortage of renewal, refreshment, or inspiration in His kingdom. And as the Creator of this universe, He continues to pour all good things into His people. Paul wrote that refreshment and strength are needed so we may have endurance.
This verse is the perfect verse to reflect on as Christmas comes to a close. The Lord sent His Son to us. He sent Him to this world as a babe. Jesus was given the task of growing up. A difficult one for all of us. He endured the awkward stages we all go through as we grow past them. I look back at old picture and cringe, yes, I cringe. This life provides plenty of opportunities to feel awkward and just plain weird, but our Father loves us as though we are perfect every day of our lives. This is why Jesus came. He came to make us perfect in God’s sight.
God made Himself flesh so He could take away the sins of the world. The story of the very first Christmas was humble, yet the most powerful and loving birth ever recorded in history. All humanity changed in an instant. When Jesus was born, love filled the earth. Love came down and lifted us up. The angels came to tell the shepherds of this beautiful birth. The stars in the heavens also told the story. As we do all tasks that we do to ensure a beautiful Christmas day, may we remember the miracle that God sent long ago. The miracle of all miracles.
The first Christmas was going to be documented, so that it could be read many times over for all Christmas’ to come. It was also documented so the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth would be known to be fulfilled. Prophets of old foretold Jesus would come from the house of David. They also prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem. And all this came to pass. Even though Jesus would be known as a Nazarene, His beginning began in Bethlehem. God’s divine plan was set in motion with the first census while Mary was at the end of her pregnancy.
What a wonderful passage to read during Christmas week. Our passage touched my heart as I read it through the lens of Jesus’ birth. “It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself.” We have so much to be thankful for in these few short words, “restoring the world to favor with Himself.” So undeserved and yet so graciously given. We are offered favor with the Lord. Imagine having favor with the almighty God, the Creator of the universe. Jesus chose to leave heaven’s door where all was perfect. He chose to be born into this dusty messy world.
Jesus had just spoken to a fig tree and deemed it unworthy to live because it had no fruit on it. His disciples were amazed when they saw the fig tree wither and die. Then the Lord talked to them about prayer and belief. He told them that whatever they asked for, if they had the faith and belief, they would receive it. I remember the day I started hearing music and lyrics. I had just bowed my head at the piano and asked if the Lord would bless praise and worship music. As soon as I prayed that prayer, the Lord bestowed the gift of song writing upon me.