“Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land” (Proverbs 31:23).

Sitting is a common posture. We read examples in the Bible of people sitting at home, sitting on a donkey, sitting at a gate, sitting in judgment. We sit all the time—at work (well, some of us), at home, at church, in restaurants, etc.

I want to focus on three types of sitting. Think of this posture as an element of the setting and intention of the activity.

In class – The assumption here is that we are sitting in class or in church to learn from a teacher, pastor, or supervisor. Our posture should be to sit attentively, to eliminate distractions, and to engage appropriately with the leader of the session. Even though we are not the one speaking, we should participate with our attention and nonverbal reactions.

As a student or disciple, we figuratively sit at the feet of our teacher, hungry to absorb all that he has to teach us. In the story of Mary and Martha, we learn that when Jesus visited the home of Martha, that “She (Martha) had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.” When Martha complained about Mary to Jesus, Jesus replied: Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).

I had a pastor tell our congregation one time that he noticed when we were sleeping or inattentive, and when we were engaged. He said our engagement really made a difference; it energized him. I have tried to remember that when I am sitting in any audience, I am a participant, not just a seat-filler.

In community – Another time we find ourselves sitting is at the table with our friends, either one-on-one or in a larger group, perhaps enjoying a meal or good discussion of some sort. In this posture or setting of community, let us be mindful that we are sitting with two kinds of people—believers and nonbelievers. That is the only distinction that matters. When we are sitting with our fellow believers, we should be mindful that every opportunity to gather with others is an opportunity to strengthen relationships, provide encouragement and edification, to console. And when we are sitting with nonbelievers (or if we are not sure), then our intention should be to point them to Jesus.

“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:15-17).

In a public setting – Most of us have experienced sitting in a doctor or hospital waiting room, sitting on the bus or plane, or some other office. This is my biggest missed opportunity. I tend to focus on the waiting, either fretting about the waste of time or selfishly retreating into a book or headphones. I so admire those who see this for what it is—an opportunity to speak life into a stranger God puts into your life who, like you, is also waiting. Being effective in a setting like this, more than any other, requires prayer and discernment, because we have no foreknowledge of the other person’s history or personality.

I have a friend who drives for Lyft, and she sees it as a ministry. She has had amazing and varied opportunities to interact with her passengers, including some that her life has not particularly equipped her for. However, if we, like her, pray for opportunities, they will come our way; and if we pray for guidance, the Holy Spirit will never fail us.

Whether active or passive, the point is this: we should be mindful of our setting and our purpose in it. Sometimes the temptation is to lose ourselves in a crowd, or the opposite—to stir up undue attention in a crowd. Remember, you always have something to offer, so be prayerful and mindful of how to apply the fruits of the Spirit and your gift of the Spirit, no matter the setting. Think about your day and the opportunities you will have and pray to God for his direction in each situation.

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47).

In Christ,

Judy

“When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, ‘He is good; his love endures forever’” (2 Chronicles 7:3). 

The Bible uses lots of verbs for our posture: standing, sitting, kneeling, lying down or prostrate, and verbs for our movement such as walking, running, and climbing. Sometimes we stand during a worship service, sometimes we sit, and sometimes we kneel. Sometimes during prayer we stand, sometimes we kneel, sit, or lie prostrate. Sometimes we raise our hands, sometimes we fold them. Does it matter? 

Let us take some time to explore what the Bible says. Today we will start with kneeling, sometimes with our face to the floor which is also called prostration. We are more familiar with kneeling, but it might be helpful to know that the definition of prostrate is to “lie face-downward in submission or despair.” A biblical example of this is included in one of my favorite stories about one of the most famous prophets in the Bible, Elijah. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah calls down fire from heaven in a showdown with the prophets of Baal.  

“At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: ‘Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, ‘The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!’” (1 Kings 18:36-39). 

I would submit that falling prostrate at this demonstration of God’s power was most appropriate. There are many examples of both kneeling and prostration in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments: 

Moses prostrated himself before God in intercessory prayer: “I lay prostrate before the Lord those forty days and forty nights because the Lord had said he would destroy you” (Deuteronomy 9:25). 

David prostrated himself before Saul, his King: “When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground” (1 Samuel 24:8). 

When Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream: “Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell  prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him” (Daniel 2:46). 

And when the angel Gabriel came to Daniel in a dream: “As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. ‘Son of man,’ he said to me, ‘understand that the vision concerns the time of the end’” (Daniel 8:17). 

When approaching Jesus for healing: “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:2). 

When approaching God in prayer: “When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed” (Acts 20:36). 

Kneeling and lying prostrate is a sign of submission and repentance, of being all in, total focus. Interesting side note: I had the wonderful opportunity of participating in the live studio audience when Beth Moore recorded her study on James. At the beginning of each session, she took prayer requests, and then fell to her knees, and then on her face (with all that hair and make-up) and prayed so earnestly to the Lord. I decided to take up that practice during my morning prayer. I was a little nervous about it because I tend to fall asleep when I just close my eyes. However, I have never fallen asleep when on my face in prayer. There is such a total focus that I feel more awake and in tune with the Holy Spirit than any other time. 

The ultimate point I will make is that our posture before God is more than a physical movement: It is a state of mind. Regardless of whether we are on our feet, on our knees, or on our face, our hearts should be in total submission and complete obedience and awe and reverence toward our Lord and Savior, the one true King, the ultimate power source and authority for our lives. Let us follow the example of Christ: 

“…Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8). 

In Christ, 

Judy 

P.S.: If you would like to talk more about any of these devotions or matters that concern you, please stop by my office, or call or text me at 615-804-3453 to arrange a time, and I will be happy to speak with you. 

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom “(Ecclesiastes 9:10).

I had a close call last Friday. Alone at home, I had a pretty bad fall on the ice; and before I knew it, I had hit my head and suffered a concussion, as was evident from the symptoms I later experienced. Before you ask, I am fine now. But I have been thanking and praising God ever since because it could have been so much worse.

As you will recall, it was a very cold day, so I am so thankful that I did not pass out and lie in the frozen snow for any length of time. I did not break any bones. I did not lose any mental function (that I can tell, anyway). And I am so thankful for the reminder that life is so fragile. I am so thankful for the reminder that the things we take for granted are so fleeting.

Reminders are useful if we let them be so. While “what-if’s” can be anxiety-provoking, they can be positive thought-provokers as well, and they make me more intentional about my priorities. For example:

1. If I had not survived the accident, what of significance have I left undone?
2. If I had lost any mental capacity, what do I wish I had made decisions about?
3. If I had lost the ability to speak, what do I wish I had said?

The list goes on.

I remember my pastor from my teen years admonishing us to live every day as thought it were our last. At the time, I took that to mean not procrastinating on the things I wanted to accomplish or experiences I wanted to have in my lifetime. And while those are significant, now I apply it more to relationships. I know now that accomplishments and experiences for the sake of accomplishments and experiences are not bad, but they are not lasting and mostly have no eternal value. However, relationships and our ability to positively impact the lives of others can last beyond our lifetimes.

Most importantly of the “what-if’s” scenarios is: What if I had not been in a right relationship with Jesus, my Lord and Savior?

Peter tells us: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Paul says it another way: “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

Both of these New Testament Apostles are quoting from Old Testament passages in Exodus, Numbers, 2 Chronicles, Nehemiah, Psalms, Joel, Jonah, and Nahum. Check them out. Anything repeated this many times must be essential doctrine.

How many times must He tell us before we believe? How many times must He remind us to remain diligent in our relationship with Him? “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” But His patience extends until we breathe our last breath. As it is written in Hebrews: “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

And Jesus is quick to remind us: “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13).

In Christ,

Judy

“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment….” (John 16:7-8). 

The first two devotions for 2024 speak to resolve and resoluteness. Those are admirable qualities, but only if they are pointing us in the right direction. We could resolve to and resolutely become bank robbers. Or we could resolve to and resolutely play more video games. The first is morally and ethically wrong, the second is just a waste of time, which in a way is also morally and ethically wrong, just not illegal. Or we could just continue in the same direction we have been headed—no worse, no better.  

Most of us intend to do better, to be better. But for intention to move us to action, we need conviction, and conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment….” (John 16:8). 

We discussed setting and achieving goals in the first two devotions. What kinds of goals are we setting? Let the Holy spirit be our guide; the following are two categories that he will point us to: 

Pray for conviction of sin. Sin is missing the mark. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sometimes we sin intentionally, but more often we sin unintentionally. In speaking of intention as in an intention to do good, sinning unintentionally is really a state of not being mindful about our actions. It follows then that if we were mindful, we would not do anything unintentionally. So pray for mindfulness, intentionality, and continual conviction or insight from the Holy Spirit. 

Pray for conviction for areas to grow in your walk with Jesus. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). 

I challenge you to pray fervently to God to convict you of where and how you are missing the mark, and to show you how to grow in your relationship with others and with God.  

“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:4-6). 

In Christ, 

Judy 

“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

Last week we looked at how Daniel resolved (a verb) to adhere to a healthy Jewish diet even while living in Babylon as a slave. We expounded on the concept of setting goals.

Now let us look at accomplishing those goals. As mentioned in earlier devotionals, I am especially good at setting good intentions, and I will allow that I am a great goal setter. I know how to set goals! Yay me!! However, I have about a fifty percent lifetime achievement rate—maybe–if I am optimistic.

As is obvious in the opening passage, Jesus is heading toward his crucifixion, which is a critical step in his plan to serve as the atonement for the sins of humankind. He knows this is going to be the hardest thing he has ever done. He has known it from the beginning, but now that his three-year ministry has begun in earnest, it is imminent. We want to think: It is Jesus! He is divine. He knows it will all work out and He will end up back on His throne in heaven (and He will). However, He is also fully human, and in His humanity He knows He will experience not only humiliation and extreme physical pain, but also the agony of separation from His heavenly Father. I imagine that Jesus is filled with an immense dread and sorrow which would manifest itself physically, mentally, and emotionally. You may recall that he was actually sweating drops of blood during the last evening before his arrest.

Nonetheless, Jesus is resolute. He is moving forward step by step. He is committing each thought to His divine purpose and prayerfully placing each second in God’s hands. He speaks words of truth and encouragement, bringing others along in His ministry, always keeping his ultimate objective in His sights. He serves as a beautiful role model for how to live a life of obedience, resolutely.

Let us resolve to do God’s will, and then resolutely follow through.

“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4).

In Christ,

Judy

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way” (Daniel 1:8).

Most of us know the story of Daniel, a Jewish boy taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar when the Babylonians defeated Judah (for a summary of the backstory, read 2 Chronicles 36:15-21). Daniel received the permission requested, and proved himself to be worthy of trust, even as a slave in a foreign country.

I am reminded of this story when making my own New Year’s Resolutions. I have frequently admitted that one of my superpowers is my ability to set intentions. I intend to do so many good things. Doesn’t that count for something? A good intention is a start, but it only goes so far. One of my favorite secular books is A Gentleman in Moscow, in which the main character asks, “What is an intention when compared to a plan?”

Great question! What is an intention when compared to a plan? The most logical answer is that it is a first step. Set an intention. But do not stop at intentions. Create a plan to follow through. As some of us might recall the process, make it SMART! Specific, Measurable, Achievableor Action-Oriented, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Intention: I want to read my Bible more.

Plan: I will obtain a One-Year Chronological Bible and spend at least 15 minutes every day reading the daily portion. If I do miss a day, I will catch up as soon as possible to stay on track to read the entire Bible in one year. (Can you see how specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time- bound this plan is?)

When Daniel made his resolution in the opening passage, he sought God’s favor, respectfully asked permission from the guard (remember he was a slave in captivity) and suggested a short trial period to demonstrate the effectiveness of his plan.) This is also a particularly good model for how we can more effectively follow through on our intentions.

Not every resolution should be a one-year plan. Some resolutions might be short-term, and others may be lifetime or tied to a season of life. Whatever they are, seek God’s will, engage others in support, and be willing to evaluate and refine. Do not stop with intentions. If it is a worthy goal, make a plan, and carry it out.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).

In Christ,

Judy

P.S.: If you would like to talk more about any of these devotions or matters that concern you, please stop by my office, or call or text me at 615-804-3453 to arrange a time, and I will be happy to speak with you.