humility

I’ve been studying the book of Philippians for the past few months.

As I linger and tarry in God’s word, He reveals treasures to me that would be overlooked with a fast read. Because of this slower pace, I have fallen in love with Bible study all over again.

Please pray for wisdom and reflect on the following passage from Philippians:

³Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. ⁴Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

⁵Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, ⁶who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God
as something to be used for His own advantage. ⁷Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, ⁸He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-8

Rivalry, humbleness, or conceit.

These three words from verse 3 caught my attention.

Rivalry: in the Greek, eritheia. which means electioneering or intriguing for office, a desire to put one’s self forward, a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts. Imagine that. This word also means a spinner, a weaver, and one who contends with God. Wow! So much for a little friendly rivalry. If you have an attitude of rivalry, your eyes are on others, and how you can one-up them, not help them. God tells us to do nothing out of rivalry.

Conceit: in the Greek, kenodoxia, which means empty glory, groundless self-esteem. This glory is empty because it is based on works of the flesh. There is no chasing after glory for God, it’s all about self. If you have an attitude of conceit, you are focused on yourself, and how you can make yourself look better. God says to do nothing out of conceit.

Humbleness: in the Greek, tapeinophrosyn, which means having a humble opinion of oneself, humbleness of mind, a deep sense of one’s moral littleness. A humble person has an accurate view of self, therefore they also have an accurate view of God. If you have an attitude of humbleness, your eyes on God, and how you can bring Him glory. God asks us do everything with an attitude of humbleness.

How can we take on an attitude of humbleness?

Verse 8 contains the key. Obedience. In the Greek, obedience means to attentively listen, to hear, to obey. Humbleness is not thinking poorly of yourself, or thinking of yourself at all. Humbleness is thinking about God, listening to what He says, and obeying His Word.

So we have a choice: rivalry, conceit, or humility. Only one will work for our good and God’s glory. Let’s follow Jesus example, humble ourselves in obedience to the Lord today.

Is there something you are struggling with today? Are you insisting on your own way instead of God’s way? Remember he is the Way. How can you humble yourself in this struggle and obey God?
Is there a rival in your life, someone you’d enjoy taking down a few pegs so you can grab some glory for yourself? Confess it and get out of the fight. Pray and ask for God’s will to be done. Work with all your heart to see God glorified in this situation.

If you have any thoughts or comments, please share them below. I’d love to hear from you!

stay. watch. pray.

I never noticed this before.

I’ve read this portion of scripture dozens of times and never really took in what Jesus asks His disciples to do. You know the scene–the Garden of Gethsemane, where blood and sweat run freely together with prayer and grace. And Jesus asks his disciples to pray.

32 Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. 34 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

35 He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. 36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” 37 Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Go back and read verse 38 again.

And I thought Jesus was asking His disciples to stay, watch, and pray for Him.

Not even close.

Jesus was asking His disciples to pray for themselves. Jesus knew what was coming. He knew His disciples would be tempted.

What is the antidote to temptation?

stay. watch. pray.

Stay: Stay in the presence of Jesus no matter what. Always. Don’t run, stay.

Watch: Watch for your enemies. Not Romans and Pharisees, but Satan and your own flesh. They will tempt you to run from your Savior. Watch what you’re watching. Watch what you’re hearing. Watch what you’re doing. Watch out. Watch it. Watch.

Pray: Pray for strength to see truth, resist temptation, and stay with Jesus. Not my will be done, but Thy will be done. Pray for God to help you love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Pray about everything. Big things. Little things. Hard things. Easy things. Everything.

In times of hardship and trouble, during your darkest hour in your own Garden of Gethsemane remember what Jesus said to do:

Stay. Watch. Pray.

Have a blessed Easter.

Leave me a comment below. I’d love to hear from you.

spit mud sweat blood

“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind.”

A play on words. Saw and blind. Sight and dark. When we are blind, the God of Light sees us. He looks into our darkness and sees our blindness.

2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Day and night. Dark and Light. The Light of the World speaks into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome Him.

6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

Sent. Went. Washed. Sight.

Do you notice what Jesus uses to heal the blind man? Dirt and spit.

Two of the dirtiest elements on earth.

In the hands of our Savior, dirt and spit bring healing and curing and hope and life. Who does that? Who takes dirt and spit and works miracles? The same God who brings water from a rock, bread from the wilderness, and life from death. The God who makes the limpers into leapers, the stutterers into speakers, the famished into reapers, He does that.

That is how good how pure and clean and holy and powerful our God is. In His hands, dirt and spit are purified and powerfied by His holiness.

And we are healed.

God does the same for us. Vessels of clay made from the dust of Eden. The dirt of our sin mixes with the Living Water and we are mud in His hands. After He heals us, He sends us. From the pool of Sent to the lost of the world.

8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”

9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”

He said, “I am he.”

10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”

11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”

Spit and mud.

Sweat and blood.

Go, wash, and receive your healing from your Savior.

How has Jesus healed you? Please leave me a comment. I’d love to hear from you.

By Mary Kay Kane

I’m Sick of It

There is an epidemic in our land.

You’ve heard the news. But it’s not a virus or cancer. It’s not the flu or pneumonia epidemic. It’s a sickness of the soul that comes from listening to the enemy. God has been talking to my heart. He’s been showing me my mind has been infected with lies from the enemy, faulty beliefs, and wrong mindsets. I’m ready to be healed and walk by faith, because I’m sick of it.

Sick of it.

I’m sick of worrying about what others think.

I’m sick of trying to hide.

I’m sick of trying to be dark when God calls me to be light.

I’m sick of being sugar when God calls me to be salt.

Sick of small living when God calls me to live large.

I’m sick of safe-ing myself, entertaining myself, and amusing myself to death.

Because giants must fall, walls must crumble, and oceans must part.

Get unsick of it.

Father, you are Jehovah Raphe, the One who heals us. Help us to be sick enough that we will do what ever it takes, (get up early, turn off the TV, get off social media, put down our phones) and come into your Presence and ask to be healed. Sickness is not our legacy, but life and life abundant. Amen.

The woman gets unsick.

²⁵Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, ²⁶and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. ²⁷When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. ²⁸For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

²⁹Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. ³⁰And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

³¹But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

³²And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. ³³But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. ³⁴And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

You’ve got to be close enough to touch Him. Admit you’re sick, reach out your hand, and take His healing to heart. Your faith in Him will heal your soul.

If you’re are sick of it too, leave me a comment. I’d love to chat with you.

by Mary Kane

Today! Part 5

Spend time with Jesus Today!

Today is a new kinda quirky Bible journal for busy people who want to jump-start their day with Scripture. Begin the day with a look verse and short assignment. Then, revisit your work in the evening to add notes, make changes and apply what you’ve learned. Only By Prayer recommends you focus on one journal entry a day.

Today is a good time to be with Jesus!

Click to open the Today Bible Journal pdf !

Today Bible Journal Part 5

Today Bible Journal Part 4

Today Bible Journal Part 3

Today Bible Journal Part 1

Today Bible Journal Part 2

By Mary Kane

The Parable of the Soap Dish

My knuckles turned white, while my fingers cramped.

I hope she didn’t notice this grubby soap dish while she was washing her hands, I thought to myself. I continued to scrub at the soap residue embedded on the sides of my plastic soap dish. My soap dish, formerly unnoticeable to me, until a friend stopped by, had needed a good scrubbing for several weeks. After several minutes I stepped back to survey the fruit of my labor.

A sparkling clean dish!

It gave me satisfaction to see that dish every time I washed my hands. I even made special trips into the bathroom to gaze and reflect on how wonderful it looked in comparison to how it used to look. As a matter of fact I enjoyed the transformation so much, I glanced around to see what else I could clean. THE SOCK DRAWER.

I tackled it with gusto!

I emptied the drawer and ruthlessly began to sort socks. Holey socks went to the rag bag, orphan socks shared the same fate. Any socks not worn in the past two years went to Goodwill. I must confess at the bottom of the drawer I found a baby sock from my first born son … he’s now 28.

I was on a roll.

From the SOCK DRAWER (now just a sock drawer) I turned to my closet, then to my dresser and finally to my storage area above my closet. By the time I finished my cleaning my room, a revival was underway. Every room in the house has been affected. I began to notice something changing in my heart. Anxiety and chaos where being replaced by peace, satisfaction, clarity.

My whole life was more under control.

I established new routines. The Ohio Rule (Only Handle It Once) has became my mantra and the 10 Minute Clean-up. My house is now “company ready” even on a Thursday night. I used to think I didn’t have time to clean on a daily basis; I’d save everything for a major Saturday overhaul. Now, I actually have more free time. Time to serve others. Time to make meals for those in need. Time to teach a Bible study. Time to sing in a special event.

One small change has led to big changes.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…” Luke 16:10. One small thing has led me to improve several bigger things. Doing what is right and good and best for something insignificant has caused me to do what is right and good and best for some things significant.

PS …

My husband has been affected by the cleaning bug. He recently remarked how messy his side of the kitchen table looked compared to the rest of the table. He decided to clean it up.

As you go through your day today, look for the little things God has placed within your reach. Who needs a word of encouragement, a helping hand, a home cooked meal. Little things can lead to big things.

Leave me a comment below about your experiences with little things. I’d love to hear from you!