Dear Christian, you’ve been burdened, overwhelmed, concern growing by the day. There’s a heartache, an impossible trouble. As you try to think your way to a solution, circling self-talk only makes things worse as you imagine how the road you’re on will end. Even if a friend would be willing to listen you can’t share something so complicated, so personal.
You’ve examined your heart, confessed known sin, cried out to God, and read your Bible looking for comfort and direction you so desperately need. It seems you’ve been getting nowhere. But just when your hope will surely give way, in one unbelievable moment, underlined, or soon-to-be, a scripture stands out . . . like a bright gem in a field of gray. It penetrates your heart in a way that’s difficult to describe, and quietly, so quietly, a calm so clear and so deeply personal replaces the turmoil in your spirit. With a grateful heart, fresh courage, renewed strength, and an expectation that God will direct your steps, you’re ready to move forward.
As I ponder such experiences in my own life I’m amazed. Absolutely amazed. So simply, so quietly, Almighty God, in His perfect timing, reminds me that He is my unmovable rock, my refuge in my time of trouble. Nothing I encounter, no matter how complicated or how painful it is, will shake Him. And He’s not wondering what to do. He already knows. Every time I experience a trial so difficult, and each time I experience God’s help, I have gained new strength for the next and a greater resolve to point others to Him in their times of darkness.
In the words of Charles Spurgeon, well known English minister from the 1800’s, the trials we experience, those that suddenly darken the mind and threaten our hope, are for the testing and strengthening of our faith. They are waves that wash you further upon the rock, winds which waft your ship the more swiftly towards the desired haven. By honor and dishonor, by evil report and by good report, by plenty and by poverty, by joy and by distress, by persecution and by peace, by all these things is the life of your soul maintained, and by each of these are you helped on your way.
May I share with you a short story that has really meant a lot to me? Perhaps it will come to your mind at just the time you need it as it has mine. A basalt sea stack famously named Haystack Rock (not pictured) stands over 230 feet high at Canon Beach, Oregon. At low tide a visitor can venture out to the rock and find beautiful sea stars and other fascinating tidepool creatures. Known for its appeal to bird life, Canon Beach’s famous rock is a popular stop for bird lovers as well. One early morning a visitor to the site was walking along the shore and could hear what he soon recognized was a little bird singing high on the rock, seemingly with all its might, waves crashing violently against the rock below. The man was struck by the fact that, certainly, the little bird had every reason to sing! The waves were no match for the power of his rock. It would not be moved!
. . . Lead me to the rock that is higher than I (Psalm 61:2).
The following is a paraphrase of an entry I made in my daily notes some time ago, a sort of diary I have kept over the years:
Last night I walked out into the dark – pondering a decision I had made but now regretted– desiring God’s mercy. I had prayed fervently to know God’s will in a difficult situation. Certain I had received His direction and ready to move forward, at the last minute a friend directed me otherwise and, in haste, I went a different way. Now, my heart ready to break with regret, I pleaded with God to forgive me. I saw a beautiful crescent moon in a huge backdrop of soft empty sky (not pictured). The tiny crescent became more and more a subtle but beautiful hue of orange-gold as I stood in wonder. Touched deeply by the scene, two or three times through my tears I said softly to the Lord, “I like your moon, God.” The crescent’s ‘alone’ beauty sent an emotion to my heart. My sense of emptiness and aloneness identified with the amazing wonder in the sky I was beholding.
Upon rising today, I poured my coffee and sat down at the kitchen table. I had left my Bible opened to Psalms 89 and, in moments, I was taken back by what I saw: Of God’s covenant promise to David, the psalm declares, “It shall be established forever . . . like the moon!” (vs.37). My mind went immediately to my experience the night before. Suddenly I was struck with the realization: This same great God has made a covenant with me, by faith in Jesus, for the forgiveness of my sins! The immeasurable value of that truth had never been made more clear to me than it was at that moment. Overflowing with gratitude, I leaped to the thought: “I too will be quick to forgive! I will LOOK for deeds to forgive! Yes, I will RUSH to forgive. I can’t wait to share His mercy!
Just a few minutes later . . . reading one of my regular devotionals, I quickly noticed that it referenced the SAME chapter in the Bible . . . Psalms 89! The author focused on sanctification – discipline – cooperating with God’s disciplining work in us . . . how, through discipline, God reveals to us what He needs to change in us, etc. . . . his bottom line being, He gets us into the attitude of mind and spirit where, at any cost, we will let Him sanctify us.
I’ve learned to be thankful for God’s loving discipline which keeps me close to Him and teaches me to obey. I’m amazed at His mercy, His creative care, and His forgiveness. As His child, saved by faith in His Son Jesus, and not by any works of my own, they are mine. Forever.
I never tire of telling the following story. It shines a light on God’s unlimited vision, His active interest in, and His power over, the events of our lives. (I’ve changed the actual birth-related dates and physician name, keeping the calendar sequence intact).
I was in my early 20’s when my husband and I decided to leave our little home town, along with everything familiar, and move to a much larger city 100 miles away to make an employment change. Shortly before leaving we learned I was pregnant with our second child. This was a problem. Not because we didn’t want another child, but because the move left us without a doctor. Our home town physician was the only doctor we had ever known. Thankfully, though, he had a reference for us . . . a comrade of his, Dr. Brandon, who practiced at a large medical center in our new city. He recommended him highly and would get me set up as a new patient. This was a comfort for sure. But I was still reluctant about the change at such an important time. With little control in the matter, however, about a week after our move, I made an appointment to meet my new doctor. To my delight he was wonderful. Intelligent. Confident. Skilled. Thorough. Kind. Problem solved. What a relief.
Things were going well for us in our new location. We were settled into a nice place within a block of a beautiful lake, 15 minutes from groceries and other conveniences, and even closer to the medical center. My husband’s new job was working out and we were enjoying many things about the big change.
In a few months, however, we received some surprising news. Dr. Brandon saw, likely to occur, a complication at the birth of our baby. He was in position to be a footling breech. For a baby to be born feet first is risky at least, presenting an increased risk of brain damage. Dr. Brandon attempted to reposition the baby without success. There was a possibility the baby would reposition on his own but he gave no impression he was counting on it. A Cesarean delivery would likely be necessary.
Yes, for sure, the last weeks of this pregnancy would require close scrutiny. But I wasn’t worried. I had Dr. Brandon. And I believed God had given me this good doctor for this particular reason . . . that the move, the new area, the timing, everything, had been determined by God’s perfectly-planned will for us. Our home-town doctor wouldn’t have been prepared for a complicated birth nor would our small local hospital. God had certainly provided. Appointments would now be frequent. Dr. Brandon would watch closely, likely deliver our baby Cesarean, and any emergency equipment and/or specialized assistance required would be within arm’s reach. As expected, at my next appointment, our baby was still just standing in place. He hadn’t budged a bit. BUT something unexpected did happen that day. Dr. Brandon informed me he would be, of all things . . . GONE!, yes, GONE . . . on vacation . . . during the days surrounding my due date, June 3rd. He would introduce me to another doctor!!!
I went home. I went into my bedroom. I closed the door. And I got down on my knees. “O God,” I said, “Please have Dr. Brandon be there when I have my baby. O God, help me.” Then I stood up . . . but with a calmness . . . a sense in my heart that somehow . . . God would do something.
At my next appointment Dr. Brandon’s partner, the physician whom he expected would do the delivery, introduced himself. My first impression was good. But somehow that seemed irrelevant. My introduction to him, for lack of a better way to describe it, just didn’t seem to fit. I couldn’t see the days ahead but I could understand what the Psalm writer meant when he said, “In the morning I will order my prayer to you and (then I will) eagerly watch (Psalms 5:3).”
Late in the afternoon of May 19 I stood at the refrigerator planning dinner and felt a small twinge in my abdomen. Then another. And another. Still small. But the twinges continued. A couple of hours passed. My husband arrived. The twinges continued. They were all about the same. Nothing painful was going on, just these twinges. But of course we had to get it checked out. We drove to the hospital and were assigned a room. Dr. Brandon was called. He came in to check me. Then he left for a couple of hours. Then he returned. He left again . . . and returned. “You’re in labor,” he said. “This isn’t going to stop. And your baby is still in the footling position. We have to do a Cesarean delivery . . . now.”
Assistance was called, the operating room was made ready, and within a short time our tiny baby boy was born . . . about three weeks premature, evidenced by his partially grown fingernails, one of the last things to develop. But every organ was perfect. His lungs, his heart, his brain. All in good health. He was small. But healthy. It was an exciting time.
Dr. Brandon had been up most of the night with me. He checked in on us one more time, confirmed all was well, and said good-bye. Then . . . just at the break of dawn . . . he left to make final preparations for his trip out of town. His vacation started that very day, the morning of May 20 . . . shortly after delivering our baby son! Then, a few weeks later a welcome set of circumstances relocated us again . . . back to our home town!
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me (Psalms 50:15).
Success stories. How encouraging they can be. They can instill hope in us and stir our faith. But for some of us they can be stark reminders that our own story has been quite different, anything but successful, leaving us with nagging dissatisfaction and a sense of futility.
You may have a great failure in your life. It may have cost you a lot. Maybe it cost you everything. It may have been the result of deliberate rebellion and blatant sin. Perhaps it was an unintended consequence of temporary poor judgment. There may be many things you wish you had the chance to do over. You’ve taken everything to the Lord, repented of known sin, and are assured of His forgiveness. How grateful you are for His great mercy. In fact you’re amazed by it. But the slightest cue can awaken your most painful regrets, quench your joy, and put a hold on your productivity.
One of Jesus’ twelve disciples was named Simon, also called Peter. He was the disciple who, after Jesus ascended to heaven, was filled with the Holy Spirit, preached his first sermon on the day of Pentecost, and 3,000 souls were saved. Both fishermen, Peter and his brother Andrew had learned about Jesus through John the Baptist, the man sent by God to pave the way for Christ’s earthly ministry. Christ’s ministry having now begun, Jesus called to them one day as they were fishing on the Sea of Galilee, “Follow me. I’ll make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
For the next three years Peter spent much or most of his time with Jesus and witnessed many things. He saw Him feed thousands with a small basket of food, cast out demons, walk on water, heal the sick, and raise the dead. His faith must have grown in leaps and bounds as he heard His parables first hand and listened to His interactions with scribes and Pharisees, astounding them with His unsurpassed understanding of the scriptures.
At the end of these three years, before Jesus was arrested, He told His disciples what to expect, that He would be betrayed and would be leaving them. They would be hated as He is but He would send the Holy Spirit to comfort them. Just prior to His betrayal Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat but I’ve prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you’ve turned back, strengthen your brethren.” To this Peter replied, “Lord, I’m ready to go with you to prison and to death!” “I tell you, Peter,” Jesus said, “before the rooster crows (twice) today, you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Jesus was betrayed and led away to the high priest. Keeping his distance, Peter followed along into the courtyard. Some officers were warming themselves by a fire and Peter did his best to mingle inconspicuously. But a servant of the priest saw him and called out, “You were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” to which Peter retorted, “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Still mingling with the crowd, Peter was noticed again by the priest’s servant. “This fellow IS one of them,” she insisted. But once again Peter denied it. After awhile, those standing around said to him, “Surely you ARE one of them, for you’re a Galilean.” He began to curse and swear to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” Just then, Peter heard the rooster crow for the second time. He went outside, broke down, and wept. How could he have done this? He had wanted nothing more in the world than to follow Christ, even to death.
After Jesus was crucified, buried, and had risen, on a day prior to His ascension to heaven, Peter and some of the other disciples went fishing. They fished all night without a single catch. Early in the morning Jesus stood on the shore. The disciples saw Him but didn’t know who it was. Jesus called to them, “Have you caught any fish?” “No,” they answered. He called out again, “Throw your net out on the other side of the boat.” Perhaps the disciples wondered, “What does this man know that we don’t know?” But they put their net out on the other side and caught so many fish they were unable to haul it in! Realizing it was Jesus who had called to them, Peter leaped into the water and swam to shore!
Jesus prepared a breakfast for them. When they had finished eating He turned to Peter. “Peter, do you love me? Three times He asked, to which Peter answered each time, “Yes, Lord.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said. After giving him a glimpse into his future, that he would suffer and die for the glory of God, He beckoned Peter once again, “Follow Me.”
Dear Christian, our greatest failures leave great lessons behind us. We face the questions Peter faced. Do we love Jesus? Will we follow Him? We may be called upon to suffer for Him. Are we willing to obey? We now answer yes to these questions. And, like Peter, we’re more prepared than ever to strengthen our brothers and sisters in Christ. They face the same temptations we do and have trials similar to ours. And we now have first-hand understanding that can help them through.
If you sense God is calling you to put your past into His hands, to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and to serve Him with confidence again, then pick up your empty net. Throw it out on the other side of the boat. And let God yield the increase. You’ve learned from your failures. And it’s time to move forward.
Bible References: Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 14: 30, 53-57, 66-72; Luke 22: 31-34, 62; John 15: 18-21; John 21.
I found a note in my Bible that reads, “God has a secret place of courage, strength and joy for the one who trusts in Him.” I don’t know where it came from. But I believe there IS a secret place of courage for us when we are trusting in God. I’ve learned that my confidence throughout each hour, each day, is dependent upon my awareness of God’s greatness and my trust in His power over all circumstances.
If you need encouragement today, may the Holy Spirit speak to your heart as He has mine as you reflect on the following:
Dear Christian, God’s understanding is infinite. And we can walk boldly through this life, knowing He will never leave us or forsake us. Through faith in His Son Jesus Christ we are His. No matter how difficult the road may be, we can trust, trust, and then trust some more. God has a secret place of courage, strength and joy for the one who trusts in Him.
Bible References: Deuteronomy 33:25; Proverbs 28:1; 1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 55:9; Hebrews 13:5,6; Ephesians 2:8; John 3:16; Jeremiah 17: 7, 8; Psalms 147:5.
A good night’s sleep is a welcome reprieve from the troubles around us . . . trouble in the world, in our countries, in our cities, and in our homes. In the morning we schedule our day. There is something we must complete that requires our focus but troubles are swirling around us and prevent our full attention.
We turn to God’s word and find the help we need:
We are in the world at this very time in history by God’s design, to be co-workers with Him, lights to shine the way to Jesus Christ. Our faith in Him will shine through as we depend on Him daily for strength and peace. We don’t know who God is calling to Himself at any given time so we just keep shining. Rejoice with me, Christian. By faith in Jesus we belong to God and one day soon we will be with Him where He is. As the world feels less and less like home it is because it is not our home. Our citizenship is in heaven.
Bible References: John 17:16,24; Philippians 3:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Matthew 24:36; 1 John 4: 3,4; John 16:33; John 14:16,26; John 15:26; Colossians 1: 16,17; Philippians 4:7; Luke 21:28; John 15:20,21; 2 Corinthians 4: 8,9,17,18; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Ephesians 1:3-6; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 5:14-16; John 16:8; John 6:44; John 3:16.
What looked like a disaster turned out to be a blessing I won’t forget. Tensions were high as we packed for the long trip home after camping for three days. The stresses of the campsite tear-down in the desert heat were wearing on both of us. Arguments over the littlest things were the outcome as my husband and I each felt that our own duties were of the utmost importance. Little love was in the air as we struggled to leave the campground clean and remember everything we’d need on hand for the trip home with our two little ones and the dog.
With a sigh of relief we were finally on our way. Miles of desert whizzing by, the steady sameness of the scenery had a quieting effect on all of us. The kids, exhausted from their amazing camping adventure, were sound asleep in the back seat and we were beginning to relax and enjoy the trip. But how suddenly things changed.
For a moment we thought it was smoke as bellowing bursts of steam began soaring out from under the hood of our car. We pulled over, cut the engine, and the steam slowed to a stop. We reached for the water jug. We would refresh the radiator and be on our way. But to our amazement we had failed to fill it before we left camp!! These being the days before cell phones and religiously packed purchased water bottles, we were stranded without the precious resource. Looking at each other, wondering who was to blame, we soon realized that finding that out would not be the slightest bit helpful. We opened the hood and waited.
The road was as empty as its desert surroundings. Finally a car did go by. Some time later another went by without stopping. What could we do? I knew there was nothing God couldn’t do. Recalling His greatness, I stepped out of the car and, seemingly standing in the middle of nowhere, I quietly prayed.
Another car passed. Later another. Believing that God would somehow help, I waited. Another car passed. We watched it get almost out of sight on the long empty road ahead. But then . . . it pulled over, turned around, crossed the road, and stopped a few feet from where we were parked. Still standing outside, I could hear a woman calling eagerly as she stepped out of her car. “Do you need water? We have water,” she called. “Yes,” I said. “Yes, we do!” After receiving a share of their precious water supply, our radiator was refreshed, and with grateful hearts we thanked our dear passers-by for their generous help.
They had something else to share, however, that would refresh our very hearts. Before leaving the woman told us that, while preparing for their trip, she had sensed God directing her to bring extra water, that someone along the way would be needing it. The excitement in her voice couldn’t be missed. What a blessing it was for all of us. Perfect strangers, by perfect design, we were brought together to experience something of the nature of our amazing God. How great He is.
He opened the rock and water flowed out; It ran in the dry places like a river. Psalm 105:41
Through the study of the Bible I have learned many hard things. I’ve also learned of God’s grace. I hesitate to speak of the hard things. I’d rather excuse myself leaving those discussions for the more ‘qualified’, those with fewer faults and failures. However, because it is only by God’s grace I have been forgiven and made righteous and not by any goodness in myself, in this writing I step out of my comfort zone.
In America at least, the gospel passes from generation to generation and is known in some recognizable form to most. Many do not consider it seriously because following Christ can be costly. Others refuse what the Bible teaches because of the sheer nonsense made of it by charlatans parading as followers of Christ. Imposters, some become wealthy at the expense of a vulnerable few and repulse multitudes. How tempting it can be to refuse to even consider what the Bible has to tell us. It’s understandable. But regardless of the evil done in the name of Christ, it is wise to consider what the Bible so plainly states . . . that Jesus is the Savior, the way to God, the only way.
Criticized widely for being an escape for only the weak, salvation through Christ is in reality just that. All of humankind is accountable to the great creator, the God of love, who is also the God who promises judgment. And no one is good enough to be saved from it. No one is righteous, not one, the Bible says. So it is clear, then, that we are weak in that we cannot save ourselves, even the strongest among us. Furthermore, Jesus said it is only the humble child-like heart that will receive the rescue the gospel offers.
Here is the hardest thing: the Bible that says we’ve all sinned, that no one can pay the price for his sins by being good enough, also speaks of hell as a real place in which those whose names are not written in God’s Book of Life face eternal torment along with His great enemy Satan. There are few days that go by that I am not radically touched by this. And may there never be a day that I am not radically thankful for the escape! JESUS PAID THE PRICE.
Realizing we have sinned and need forgiveness, believing that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross paid our debt and that God raised Him from the dead we can call out to Him to save us. He won’t turn us away. He will forgive us and give us EVERLASTING LIFE. What a wonderful God He is. We may question His reasons but we are and always will be, the clay. And He is the potter. He is the great creator of all. Your creator. If He is calling you to Himself, trust in Jesus today. And be saved. What a salvation it is!
Bible references: John 15:20; John 3:16; John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; Romans 14:1; John 4:16; Psalm 96:13; Acts 17:31; Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10; Mark 10:15; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 1: 18-21; Ephesians 2: 8,9; Matthew 10:28; Revelation 20: 10,15; 1 Corinthians 6:20; John 6:44; 1 John 1:9; Romans 10:9; Romans 10:13; Isaiah 45:9; Romans 9:20; 2 Corinthians 6:2
Each new day presents its own challenges and each of us has a different challenge today. How varied and complicated are our lives. I remember very well a time in which I felt I couldn’t move forward until I knew what would be the outcome of something I was facing. One day I was taking a walk on a beautiful road in the country, breathtaking scenery around me, my beloved German shepherd beside me, his excitement obvious as we continued on this, our favorite outing, one we had enjoyed together countless times. But this time was different. My joy was missing. The outcome of my situation was still unknown and every hope for contentment would be blocked until it was discovered. There would be no reprieve until the problem was resolved. But then something wonderful happened.
This thought came to mind seemingly out of nowhere: “One step at a time, with eternity in mind.” The simple phrase turned a light on inside of me. The frustration I had been experiencing turned, seemingly miraculously, to hope. I began to gain strength to move forward. It wasn’t necessary for me to know what was ahead. My direction was now clear . . . to look beyond my earthly future with a focus on what is eternal, to put God’s kingdom first, and then to trust Him for every step, one at a time. It wasn’t up to me to know what would happen two steps, three steps, a hundred steps, down the road.
There was a remedy. By faith, I would be able to walk into the unknown. And God, who knows everything there is to know, would direct me step by step and take me through each outcome. What a great and merciful and loving God He is. What an exciting adventure even the most challenging of our times can be. One step at a time. With eternity in mind.
Matthew 6:33,34; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalm 32:8; Psalm 147:5
I see from the Bible God’s holiness, His power to make alive and His power to take again the life He gives, His ability to create the storm and to calm the storm He creates. I see that He will return to earth. And when He does He will reign. I see that every knee will bow, the proud and the humble, the young and the old, the strong and the weak, the rich and the poor, the intelligent and the simple, the famous and the unknown. There will be no one, not one, who will not acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
I see that, though justice is delayed, it is not denied, that God is going to make all that is wrong right, and that all who have answered God’s call to repent, to humbly accept by faith Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins, by His grace He has saved from His coming wrath. His salvation. How immeasurable is its value. We wear it as a helmet, to guard our thinking, our faith. He has made us members of His own family. While loving those around us, we trust in Him to help us through this life. Satan does what he can to harass and disturb our faith. Our faith continues. We endure under trial. It is Christ who gives us the victory. We belong to God who IS returning to earth and WILL be victorious. What a salvation it is. Put on your helmet today, dear Christian, and walk boldly as you depend on Jesus, your Savior and coming King. He will rule and reign forever.
Bible references: Isaiah 45: 6-12, 22-24; Deuteronomy 32:39; Psalm 148:8; Psalm 107:29; Revelation 1:7; Acts 3:20,21; Ephesians 2: 5-9; John 3:16; Mark 1:15; I Thessalonians 1:10; 5: 9-11; Ephesians 6:16,17; Philippians 4:7; Ephesians 2:19; 1 John 4:10,11; I Peter 5:6-8; 1 Corinthians 15: 57, 58; Revelation 11: 15.
I ask myself this question: Does God have a place of special attentiveness, of priority, of special concern, in His heart, for the cries of those whose hearts are broken, those that are weary with life’s struggles, or those with a sense of hopelessness? What about those who must watch as powerless spectators the agonizing results of sin unfolding in their lives or in the lives of those they love more than themselves? I find several places in the Bible that should encourage the hopeless to cry out to God in their brokenness and expect to be heard.
These scriptures remind us of God’s character, His preference for mercy, His willingness to forgive, His understanding of our weaknesses and His invitation to come to Him freely. Dear Christian, if you are weary of life’s struggles or burdened with sin, don’t avoid Jesus. Run to Him. Pour out your heart. If you are burdened for your dear loved ones, ask Him to take each and every care into His mighty and capable arms. Go to God’s word often to encourage your faith and guide your continued prayers.
If you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and God is calling you to repent of your sins, to believe on Jesus’ sacrifice for forgiveness of your sins, call out to Him to save you. You can be set free and this can be the most wonderful day of your life.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. (Luke 4:18 ESV)
Rejection. It may be part of you. Always there. When you wake up. When you work, eat, and play. Someone you believed in, someone you had trusted, in some way, perhaps suddenly, exposed a sure disregard for your very value as a person, hurting you more deeply than you are able to fully describe. Although clearly not the cause directly, the loving chastisement of God revealed to you the sins of your own that existed at the time. Broken and humble, on your knees before the Lord, seeking cleansing and help, you were amazed at the power of His incomparable touch.
But the shame you feel, not the shame of sin, but the shame of having been rejected, surfaces. How troubling it can be. You often feel that you simply aren’t good enough. Let’s look at it together. We’ll never by personal effort arrive at God’s standard of goodness and most likely not even our own. But because of His love for us He called us to Himself, saved us and made us members of His own family. The Bible says we are His workmanship. He will teach us, guide us and patiently correct us as we yield ourselves to Him. We will one day be made perfect. Until then we are on an adventure, an exciting one, here by God’s design, a battle before us, and Christ’s righteousness our breastplate.
As we desire to live dependent on Jesus and obedient to Him, He will prove over and over again His interest in our every need and we will become more and more confident in this life. As we bear the fruit of obedience to Him, a joy will follow, a joy that supersedes the insecurities we feel, even those brought on by the sinfulness of others which, for reasons known only to our all-knowing Heavenly Father, are, somewhere in His unsearchable eternal plan, working together for His glory and for our good.
Instead of letting the shame of rejection lead us, let’s follow the Holy Spirit into all truth. We are beloved of God Himself. Do we stop to realize the immensity of this? And there is an eternity coming, one that will bring everlasting shame and torment to many of those around us. There is work to be done. Let’s put aside the things that hold us up, that trip us up, that make us hesitant workers for Christ and His Kingdom.
As we follow Him, freely forgiving others and joyfully doing the works He has pre-established for us, we experience Christ’s promised strength. And as we trust in Him, obediently following His word and prayerfully discerning the promptings of His Holy Spirit, we find that, more and more, we have available to us His direction for every step of our way.
Dear Christian, we are children of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ. Putting aside those things that easily distract us from eternity, let us, rather than inward where reside the temporal disappointments and hurts of this life, look forward, continuing, as the Holy Spirit leads, with all of our strength and with all of our heart and with all of our mind, in the good works He has called us to do.
Let us shine as lights to those around us, with the hope that some will be saved. We may not know. We leave the outcome of our obedience to God. It is in good hands. All the while let us seek to bring glory to Him, our great, merciful, and all-powerful Heavenly Father, who is preparing a place for us to reside one day with Him. Where He is. For eternity.
Bible References: Romans 3:10; Romans 8:16,17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 6: 14; John 15: 8-11; Romans 11:33; Romans 8:28; John 9:4; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 4:13; John 16:13; Philippians 2:15
Just hours after submitting my last post I was restless with a trouble in my spirit. It was early in the morning, very early, before 2am. With each writing I bear a deep sense of responsibility to properly handle God’s word, so it’s normal for me to scrutinize my submission for accuracy again even after proofing and posting. After a brief mental summary of the writing’s content I assured myself it was correct. I waited for relief. I could soon tell, though, the uneasiness I had in my spirit would persist. I prayed for direction. Not long thereafter, although it seemed like an eternity (the posting was possibly already being viewed), considering a particular paragraph, the trouble in my spirit seemed to reach its target.
The section was abrupt but I had believed would clearly make my point. Not reminiscent of my usual style, I had questioned it while drafting but concluded that its effectiveness would be a plus. Now, however, if indeed its point was sound, I was confident there was at least something amiss in the delivery. The uncertainty I experienced earlier had only produced a glimmer of hesitancy but now the need for adjustment was as bright as day.
Although thought provoking and forward for effect, it became clear to me that something more important than clever writing was entirely missing. Gentleness. Is there a place for abrupt writing that quickly gets the reader’s attention? Probably. But this was not it. I hurried to the computer and, after prayerful editing, I sensed a relief in my spirit and sleep returned.
I regretted having posted without the correction but was thankful I had a way to fix it. How often have my words in conversations with friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, been spoken in a regrettable manner, though, that could not be fixed or retrieved? Some of them, for sure, have had little or no impact, but what about those that have?
How tempting it is at times to make my point like a well-muscled man driving a spike into a heavily knotted plank of wood with one blow of the hammer. I can refrain from attending to the quiet leading of the Holy Spirit to do so, but, giving thought to God’s infinite superiority over my own intellect and foresight, I have come to realize just how foolish that can be . . . and, unfortunately, has been, at times.
Gentleness. A fruit of the Spirit. Seen as a weakness, I suppose, by many, it requires careful awareness, discipline, wisdom, and often sacrifice. Dear Christian, like any good fruit we bear, that which has value in God’s Kingdom, its source is Jesus. He is the vine, we are the branches. When we are abiding in Him, in His word, and prayerfully yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit, His direction will be available to us as will be His strength to follow it.
Perhaps when not paying careful attention to the Holy Spirit’s leading the first thing to drop out of my communication is gentleness. My words may lack the fragrance of the Holy Spirit that teaches us and draws us into the truth. They instead can spring from a personal desire to make my point with quick and sharp impact, their fruit being imperfect, lacking in eternal value.
You too are most likely very aware of the tendency of stepping out of the Spirit’s leading. Your intention is to be a light to those around you, to be useful in God’s Kingdom. You want to have eternal impact on those you come into contact with. You are willing to obey the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you, like me, are being directed to carefully watch over your words, to check them often for the fruits of the Spirit. Especially for the fruit of gentleness.
. . . wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy (James 3:17 NASB).
With a passion for staying organized, I create a task list each day to stay on track, keeping the bigger picture in mind, that of the coming week, the month, and sometimes beyond. Because I often have a tendency to schedule more in a day than is reasonable, I’ve learned to designate certain entries as possible spill-overs to tomorrow, sheltering myself from the disappointment incompletion can bring.
But today I have one thing on my list. To write this post. I’ve thought. And thought. Having considered quite a variety of experiences I’ve had recently, there is one in particular that holds my attention. There’s a small portion of scripture that had a meaningful impact on me a couple of weeks ago and has been on my mind off and on since. Perhaps it will speak to your heart today.
Referring to the Holy Spirit, Jesus said,
If anyone is thirsty let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water (from John 7:37,38 NASB).
What was it about that scripture that spoke to my heart? I’ll explain. If completed properly, a project I was working on had the potential to bring honor to God so I gave it special attention. But, to my surprise, I would accomplish two steps only to be taken back one step or more. Losing precious time with a deadline looming, I did my best to ignore the temptation to quit.
My times of prayer and Bible study were being sort of merged together with my work on the project. Without really giving it much thought, it seemed the time saved would help me accomplish what I believed God wanted me to do. But finally the temptation to quit began to drain my energy and I realized I would not move forward productively unless something changed. It was during this time that I came across the passage in John and God’s word once again shone a light on my path.
I hadn’t taken the time to see that I was thirsty, in need of a refreshing, the refreshment of the Holy Spirit. And I hadn’t considered the obvious, that time spent with the Lord over this matter would not be wasted. Having experienced this lesson before, I was reminded once again of the truth. By stopping what I was doing to take my burden to the Lord and to wait on Him for His help I really had everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose.
Seeking His guidance for each next step, depending on Him with a heart to obey, and then leaving the outcome in His capable hands, should the project be His will it would move forward. If it was not, I was indeed wasting my time and could let it go.
It was quite amazing actually. As this scripture spoke to my heart my faith was quietly refreshed by the Holy Spirit and I regained the strength I needed to continue the project to its completion. As each need arose I was blessed with a calmness of heart that wasn’t there before. By His merciful grace, I could put aside my fear of failure and was able to trust Him, expectantly watching for and seeing His Hand in even the smallest details.
The Holy Spirit. He is our comforter. He leads us into all truth. He brings things we should remember to our remembrance. He is our guide. For always.
Dear Christian, what a gift we have.
As Christians, we may notice we have a thirst for purity and holiness, that which we have been called to pursue (Titus 2: 11-14; Philippians 2:13). We find the road to holiness and purity in the pure and simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. God calls us to faith in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. When we acknowledge our sin, accepting God’s way of forgiveness through Christ, we are made alive spiritually. As we walk this new life the Holy Spirit leads us into holy living by way of the same simple but powerful Gospel.
But we will not be completely without sin until we are with the Lord. If we believe we are without sin we are being deceived (1 John 1: 8). According to the Apostle Paul our desire for purity and holiness is in direct conflict with our old nature and a continuing struggle between the two natures results (Romans 7: 14-25).
As I’ve grown in the Lord so has my desire to obey Him. Experience in my Christian walk has taught me to be on guard for the devil’s subtle tactics. He truly can present himself as an angel of light when in fact his purpose is to cause me to disobey God and, if possible, to destroy my faith. How subtle his tactics can be. I’m learning more and more to resist. When I fail I’ve learned the value of taking my sin quickly to the Lord. Sometimes the Holy Spirit reveals unknown or ignored sin to me and, again, I’ve learned to quickly repent, not to wait.
Unconfessed sin discolors everything, leaves me joyless and robs me of much of my strength. But If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NKJV). We are cleansed from even the unrighteousness! I love that part. Oh, how welcome that cleansing can be. What a freedom it brings, what a blessing is forgiveness of sin. How deeply thankful I am for God’s mercy. It never ceases to amaze me. What a great and merciful God He is!
In relation to that, I’ve had something on my heart lately:
If we indulge in doctrines that circumvent our call to holy living, we position ourselves to miss that which is only ours when we humbly cooperate with God’s sanctifying work in our lives. Fortunately for many, a troubling sense that something is wrong will quickly bring attention to the error. For some, though, troubling confusion results. The Apostle Paul cautioned the Corinthian believers against being led astray at a time when false doctrines were being spread among them:
But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3 NKJV).
When confusing and conflicting discussions about the Christian life and what it should look like trouble my heart and tempt me to lose sight of my dependence on the sacrifice and Lordship of Jesus Christ, when I am tempted to look away from my dependence on His Spirit for strength, direction, and guidance into holy living, I realize that something is wrong and I must regain my spiritual balance and purposely restore my focus toward what I find in God’s Word.
Dear Christian, if you’re suffering from confusion I will be praying for you. May God give you the help you need. May His Holy Spirit guide you into all truth. To the rest of you, may God bless you so, so much. Until we meet again.
I remember how tender I was as a child. I could find such joy in some of the simplest of happy times and yet just a moderately firm word, a slightly touching story, or even the sound of another child’s cry could bring me to tears. This time of year brings special memories. To this day I’m touched by the care my dear mother took to make our Christmas such a delight to us. How totally surprised and delighted on Christmas morning we were to receive the gifts so carefully chosen and lovingly packaged for us.
A few weeks ago one of my grandchildren told me they had been missing lately those years when they were a child, the simpler times. We may all identify to some degree with a startling realization that, at some point, perhaps without conscious notice, the simpler days of our childhood had become a shadow of the past. I remember experiencing such thoughts, emotions, when I was a young adult.
For days I’ve had the subject of childhood on my mind, believing there was something in it I was to share. A thought. A point. Just the right words would come to mind and then I would continue with the post. But I came up with nothing. I would re-situate paragraphs, rearrange sentences, and delete and add details, only to come up with a scattered mess. Nothing was coming together until this morning.
In prayer, I began to believe that I was looking too hard for something profound. That perhaps the point to be made is simple. Jesus’ disciples asked Him one day who among them would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And He called a child to Himself and set him before them and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
If there is anything profound in the subject of childhood I am to share perhaps it is simply this . . . that it is only the humble childlike heart that will receive by faith Christ’s sacrifice for his or her sins. If you sense that God is calling you to Himself today, in humble childlike faith, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Bible References: Matthew 18:1-4; John 3:16 (NASB)
In the classic story of Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress, an allegory of the Christian life, Christian and his friend Hopeful wander off the path of the Way, realize their error and, on their way back, fall asleep and are captured by the Giant Despair. Locked in the dark and nasty dungeon at Doubting Castle they are taunted, threatened, beaten, and left without food. Overtaken by an impossible flood of doubt and desperation, Christian, once filled with energy, hope, and bright expectation, sees escape as unthinkable. But Hopeful encourages him to pray. The two pilgrims pray through the night. A little before dawn Christian suddenly remembers something. All along, he’s had a key in his pocket called Promise and is persuaded it will open any lock in Doubting Castle. His key opens the door to the dungeon and they escape.
I think of the story of Hezekiah the king of Judah, facing Sennacherib, the proud king of Assyria who had threatened to easily defeat the city of Jerusalem. After all, he bragged, God had given him prior victories over more foreboding foes and, reminding Hezekiah of his dwindling army and the sins of Judah’s past, asked him why in the world God would stop him from conquering Jerusalem? Knowing the truth of Sennacherib’s claims, deeply troubled and desperate, Hezekiah, acknowledging God’s power over all, humbled himself before Him and set his heart to pray. God used Isaiah the prophet to promise Hezekiah the victory and through a series of practical and supernatural events delivered him from the taunts and violence of the powerful king of Assyria. (Isaiah 36 and 37, The Living Bible)
How often I have been in a troubling situation in which I felt there was no solution. With impossibility a seemingly necessary catalyst, a reminder of God’s greatness and infinite power has, time after time, been the key that has opened the door to hope. Perhaps briefly forgotten, an awakening of my God-given understanding of His ability to do absolutely anything rekindles my faith. In an aha moment a light turns on. I am somehow reminded of how great God is and of His promise to never leave me. And once again my focus is clear. . . I’m NOT without help! GOD is my Father. The Creator of the universe, His power is without measure, His knowledge without limit, and His wonders are incomparable.
With whom will you compare Me? Who is My equal? asks the Holy One. Look up into the heavens! Who created all these stars? As a shepherd leads his sheep, calling each one by its pet name, and counts them to see that none are lost or strayed, so God does with stars and planets! O Jacob, O Israel, how can you say that the Lord doesn’t see your troubles and isn’t being fair? Don’t you yet understand? Don’t you know by now that the everlasting God, the Creator of the farthest parts of the earth, never grows faint or weary? No one can fathom the depths of His understanding. He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40: 25-31 The Living Bible)
Dear Christian, we are to encourage one another. Maybe you are in a troubling situation and this writing has been a reminder to you. Maybe the Holy Spirit has quickened your heart and awakened your trust in God’s power over all. When you are in despair doubt becomes your focus. But then, as the Holy Spirit lovingly nurtures you back to a vibrant faith in God’s ability to do anything, absolutely anything, you find yourself compelled once again to humble yourself before Him in faith for the impossible. As you depend on Him and watch for His answers, sometimes appearing in the most unexpected ways, you become stronger and more prepared than ever to proceed on your way.
Onward, Pilgrim, with key in hand . . . your God-given faith in His unlimited greatness.
There are times when God’s aim looks like missing the mark because with our limited vision we can’t see what he is aiming at (Oswald Chambers, paraphrase).
You’ve set your heart to move in a direction you believe God would have you to go. It’s a step of faith, one you would not choose for yourself. Others are surprised at your plans. But you’ve learned to obey. Many important steps must be taken, most of which are new to you but you must proceed.
The journey begins. You’re half way there and something comes up. A question must be answered. You believe in your heart God is leading and will provide. The way ahead reopens and you’re moving once again toward the goal. One after the other, roadblocks are quietly . . . you call it miraculously . . . removed from the path.
You discover a level of God’s care that until now you had barely realized. More and more, you trust, you believe, and, with an arising joy, you continue. The challenges are great. You’re almost there. Then something happens. And it opposes your progress.
You won’t back down. Your effort to continue becomes intense. Having learned where disobedience leads you know you must not quit. You wait for God’s direction. You trust. And then, slowly, but most surely, the quiet persistence in your heart that started you on the journey, fades away just as quietly as it arrived.
You reflect. You believe with all your heart you have been on an intimate walk with your Lord, that He has chosen to have this time with you. You have experienced His presence, His care. You have experienced His love. You have been blessed. Encouraged. And refreshed. Your faith is stronger and your joy is fuller.
God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present; if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious (Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest).
If you check my website regularly you know my postings do not appear on a regular schedule, their timing is not predictable. When I am prompted in my heart to write on a particular subject I proceed. Very often I’ve opened up an old posting and find I’m inspired to post it again. Perhaps my lack of regularity appears inconsistent. However I won’t, really I can’t write, unless I sense in my heart the tugging of the Holy Spirit to proceed. This being true it is not to say I’ve never missed an opportunity. Things expected and unexpected can compete for a controlling place in my mind and heart. And sometimes win.
For the last few days my thoughts have turned to the subject of those obvious things that mercilessly attempt to hinder me in my walk with the Lord . . . those things that challenge the daily relationship with Him I desire. I want to be ripe with wisdom and grace . . . to be counted upon to bring a touch of the Holy Spirit into every encounter. I want to continually bear the fruit of the Spirit, to be productive like a branch properly watered and fed by the vine.
Over the years I’ve returned time and again to the pages of a little book on Jesus’ parable of the vine and branches titled, Abide in Christ, written by Andrew Murray, a renowned and beloved theologian of the 1800s. The following excerpt from his book echoes the prayer of my heart and it may speak for you as well.
Let me listen and believe, until my whole being cries out, “Jesus is indeed to me the True Vine, bearing me, supplying me, using me, and filling me to the full to make me bring forth fruit abundantly.” Then shall I not fear to say, “I am indeed a branch to Jesus, the True Vine, abiding in Him, resting on Him, waiting for Him, serving Him, and living only that through me, too, He may show forth the riches of His grace, and give His fruit to a perishing world.”
Dear Christian, you, like me, may desire to bear fruit for God’s Kingdom in the dark hour in which we live. As we yield ourselves wholly to the Lord, may others see a light in us that leads them to the Savior.
I think about those times in our lives that suddenly leave us helpless. Out of the blue we receive bad news. A financial situation becomes an emergency. A health problem arises. Someone we love is in trouble. Whatever it is, we are taken by surprise. The urgency demands a solution but our anxious thoughts and desperate planning leave us with the dreaded realization . . . there is nothing we can do to assure ourselves the victory.
It is then, dear Christian, that we are driven to our knees. Sons and daughters of the King of all there is, we call out to Him in prayer and find miraculous comfort and courage and the strength to move on. As Spurgeon has said, We think of Him walking on the waters of our trouble and saying, Fear not. It is I. Be not afraid. And we’re reminded of Jesus’ words to Peter: I have prayed for you . . . that your faith does not fail.
Dear fellow Pilgrim, we walk through this life together. Let’s encourage each other through the storms. They grow us. They make us into strong and faithful followers of Christ. It is on the waters that we learn the ways of strength and courage, that we develop the fortitude to persevere, ever developing in grace and becoming more and more like Christ.
How often I have returned to a notation in my daily notes, the words of the late Charles Stanley: The Lord uses adversity in the life of the believer to conform us to the image of Christ, to provide a bridge to a deeper relationship with Him. The dark moments of our lives will last only as long as is necessary for God to accomplish His purpose in us.
May you be blessed and encouraged today, knowing that we can get through every storm with the help of our Great and Faithful God. Though you have been taken by surprise, He has not. By faith, itself a miraculous gift, you can trust Him for help, and to accomplish His purpose for His glory and your good.
Until we meet again.
The following is a paraphrase of a writing I shared many months ago:
I shall remember the deeds of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will meditate on all Your work and muse on Your deeds (Psalm 77: 11,12 NASB).
I love how Oswald Chambers, early 20th century minister, advised his listeners regarding the destructive anxiety brought on by memories of those things they would undo if only they could, of missed opportunities that would never return . . . counseling them with these words: Leave the irreparable past in God’s hands and step out into the irresistible future with Him. What an encouraging impact it has had on my life.
However, if you’ve been to my website more than once or browsed my archives you know I talk about the past. There are stories to be told. Stories of things that ended in ways I believe could only have come from the hand of God. They are parts of the past, yes, but they help light my way and encourage my faith for the future.
You may have stories too. Some, like mine, may be about the daily things, what we consider the small things. But oh, how encouraging those stories can be. We can learn about God, His personality, what He takes pleasure in, by experiencing His interventions in our daily situations. God is big and all-powerful. How amazing it is to witness His Almighty Hand reaching into the smallest details of our lives.
In the Old Testament the Israelites were admonished to set up remembrances for, and to pass on to their children, the great things God had done for them. Stories of God’s deliverances bring glory to Him and encourage us, and others, as we face new challenges. How often I’ve received the courage I needed in a difficult situation as a biblical account or a personal experience of God’s intervention has come to mind, reminding me of His greatness and leading me to a prayer of faith.
One of my favorite examples of this is in the life of David. Before he stood up to Goliath, he declared to the king, The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine (I Samuel 17:37 NASB). Memories of what God had done in the past gave David the courage to believe Him for the victory, move into the battle, defeat Goliath and save his people.
Dear Christian, may our priceless memories of God’s past interventions be reminders to us that He, the Great God of all there is, is our Helper. And that He will never leave us or forsake us. In our most difficult times and also in our times of simplest need, as a result of our remembering, may we experience renewed faith and the wonderful outcome of His Word that so boldly proclaims, how blessed is the man who trusts in You. (Psalm 84:12)
I posted this title a little over a year ago. What an important subject it was then, and is now. With only slight revisions for clarity, I share it with you again today.
As I approach this writing my thoughts are many. The brevity of life. The eternal state of our souls. The fact that God will judge sin. The fact that all have sinned. The fact that by faith in Jesus Christ we can be saved from judgment. And the fact that, while carefully tending to the temporal needs of ourselves and our families, with all good intentions we can, unwittingly, neglect the care of our souls.
I ponder the words of Charles Spurgeon, 19th century evangelist: “If you give your soul up to anything earthly, whether it be the wealth, or the honors, or the pleasures of this world, you might as well hunt after the mirage of the desert or try to collect the mists of the morning, or to store up for yourself the clouds of the sky, for all these things are passing away.”
The Bible says God has put eternity in the hearts of men. For many, thoughts of eternity can be unsettling. For the unbeliever there may continue to be at least a vague knowing, a realization, that something, somewhere, is missing. And his/her soul cannot find peace without it.
There’s a severance between our eternal selves (our souls) and our eternal Creator and we need our relationship restored. According to the Bible we have inherited a fallen nature from Adam that separates us from God. Without a remedy we face judgment and, although I’m crossing the line of what some may consider acceptable norms by saying so, it must be stated that God’s judgment IS to be feared. He is a God of love, and a God of judgment. Today I uncovered the following unsourced notation in one of my daily notes from several months ago. As troubling as it is I present it here: “All else is small. The horror of hell and the way out is everything.”
God is the only one who can protect us from His wrath. We do well for ourselves to accept the lifeline He provides. In agreement with His Father, Jesus the Son of God sacrificed His life in our place and paid in full the price for our sin so that we can be completely forgiven. Whoever puts his faith in Christ will be saved and receive eternal life. Made alive spiritually. Born again. He sets us free from the sentence of sin, and our relationship with God is restored.
Those who experience troubling thoughts of eternity may eventually look back and see that they played a part in their eager acceptance of God’s great salvation and thank God for them. “God can use the fear that grips the hearts of men today to point them to eternal truths . . . the truth of God’s eternal judgment, and the truth of His eternal love (The late Billy Graham).”
Dear Christian, I don’t always welcome thoughts of eternity. I sometimes want to relax in the fact that I’m personally secure in Christ, in the fact that my own destiny is sure. But it never happens. Instead, every day I am led to consider, what are the spiritual conditions of those around me? Eternity overshadows everything I say, do, and plan lately. It’s as though the Holy Spirit is telling me that time is short. The Bible indicates that Jesus could return for us at any time. We’ve been in the “last days” since the New Testament was written and now His return is closer than it was.
There’s an urgency in my heart. You may have the same sense in your heart. May we be lights to those around us and pray for their salvation. I think of the brevity of our own lives, that the troubles we face now are fleeting. That God will help us as we put His Kingdom first. That all our needs will be met. May we take one step at a time. Living lives that honor God. Serving others. Praying without ceasing. Keeping our minds on the incomparable importance of eternity. It is a long time, a very, very long time . . . . . .
Bible References: Mark 8:36; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 10:28-33; Revelation 20:11-15; John 3:16-18; Romans 10:9-13; Colossians 2:13,14; John 3:6,7; 1 Peter 1:23; Matthew 24:32-44; Hebrews 1:1,2; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 6; 31-34.
I want to share my heart regarding the unique situation in which we find ourselves at this time in history. Although our world was reeling from side to side when I published my last December post, lawlessness, the turning upside down of right and wrong, in-your-face deception, and wars and rumors of wars have increased. A loud clamoring for peace and security can be heard for which it seems to many, perhaps most, there is no apparent answer.
As the prophecies of the Bible leading to Christ’s ultimate return to earth fall into place, ironically we may find ourselves more challenged than ever, dear Christian, to keep our eyes on God’s sovereignty. But the Bible promises that indeed God is still in ultimate control. And we can encourage each other as we see the day of His return approaching. We can also rely on the fact that as long as we are still pilgrims on this earth God’s promise to never leave us or forsake us will stand. We can still do all things required of us as we depend on Him for our strength. We can still cast all our anxieties on Him and receive miraculous peace. And we can still be lights to the world. In a dark room a light shines more brightly than ever.
May our prayers for each other and for those who have not yet received the salvation God offers through Christ, be bathed in childlike faith and carried with great expectation to our great Father’s throne. May we serve Him in all confidence . . . with all of our heart, soul, and mind. Until He takes us home to be with Him, where He is, forever.
“. . . I will come again and receive you unto Myself that where I am, there you may be also.” (from John 14:3)
Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day (Psalm 25: 4,5).
Difficult trials. Unexpected delays. Waiting. Not knowing. Today, we say, surely today. We pray. We wait. Another day passes. How long, Lord, how long?
Over the last couple of months I experienced a rather unusual sequence of challenging circumstances. Some would seem small were I to mention them, but others not so much. They occurred, not all at once, but for the most part one after the other, and imposed, to varying degrees, unwelcome to excruciating delays in their resolve. I realized that a step by step trust in God to oversee and direct this was the only answer.
While prayerfully watching for God’s direction and depending upon daily encouragement from His Word, after a continual series of ups and downs, problems and solutions, finally, at the time of this writing, all but one situation has been resolved, the last one being no longer urgent. The process has been trying but there have been undeniable evidences of God’s providence along the way and my faith, once again, has been strengthened.
While we wait on Him, even in very difficult situations, you may notice like I do that there is an underlying stream of faith that can’t be touched . . . a knowing . . . that, indeed, our Lord, the God of all creation, who called us to Himself, saved us through faith in His Son Jesus Christ, and is preparing a place for us to live with Him forever, has not forgotten us. Confused by the darkness, we wonder at His purpose and approach the unknown with a measure of trepidation. But whether we are made to sit still or made to step carefully forward, our sometimes obscured awareness of His promise, I will never leave you or forsake you, is brought to the surface, and once again becomes our strength.
Bible accounts make it clear repeatedly. God chooses the timing of His work. He has knowledge of the whole picture, of every detail of our lives and the lives of those we influence. He also knows the condition of our hearts, hearts that need constant care. In order to correct us, keep us safe spiritually, and ultimately grow us, no measure of impatience on our part will force Him to change His timing. As we humble ourselves and wait on Him, based on His infinite knowledge, at just the right time He will but say the word and it will be done.
How difficult this process of waiting on the Lord can be, dear Christian. But God knows everything there is to know, and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, He can’t do. He welcomes our requests. So we ask. And keep asking. We trust. And keep trusting. We wait. And keep waiting. We will have stories of His amazing providences to tell. We will be thankful for the well thought out, perfectly timed, delays in our lives, as they become part of those all things that work together for our good and God’s glory.
Bible Readings:
Psalm 27:14; Psalm 33:6-9; Isaiah 14:27; Isaiah 40:28-31; Isaiah 46:9,10; John 3:16; John 14:1-3; Romans 8: 14-18; Romans 8:28-31; Ephesians 2: 8-10; Philippians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 5: 9-11; Hebrews 13:5,6; 1 Peter 1:3-7
I heard someone comment recently that they believed there just must be a more accurate translation for scriptures that contain the word fear in reference to our relationship to God. The word fear just doesn’t fit, she explained. Yet the Bible clearly states that the fear of God is where wisdom begins. How can we understand this difficult subject?
Following an uncomfortable and rather sudden realization a few years ago that I lacked the ability to describe what I believed, and that in some things I didn’t even know what I believed, I have since been on a prayerful search for a clear understanding of sound doctrine. Desiring an ever greater grasp of this difficult subject I humbly share the following.
Do I fear God? Yes. I fear God because He holds the keys to heaven and hell and that moves me to intercede in prayer for the unsaved. I fear God because He disciplines those He loves, myself being one of His. His discipline is painful and effective producing a heightened watchfulness against the dangers of my own wanderings. I fear God because He is all powerful and has the last word on everything.
Do I feel secure in His love? Yes. I feel secure in God’s love because through His aforementioned carefully crafted discipline He draws me back to the safety of my close relationship with Him. I feel secure in His love because I experience His faithfulness and His unexplainable mercy when I humble myself before Him and cast my cares on Him . . . receiving in return a peace that passes understanding. I feel secure in His love because when I call out to Him for help I know that He hears me. Though I must wait for His answer it is amazing how often I can eventually see with my own eyes that the wait was worth every minute.
I feel secure in His love because the Bible gives account of His promise to finish the work He has begun in me. God the Father called me to Himself, I believed Jesus paid the price for my sins with His life and that God raised Him from the dead. By faith I accepted His invitation and He made me one of His. He has definitely begun a work in me, and it is by faith, itself a gift from God, that I feel secure in His completion of that work.
Dear Christian, like me you may desire to be able to know and describe with confidence what you believe and in so doing be ready always to give a reason for the hope that is in you. May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth.
Bible References:
Psalms 5:3; Psalms 27:14; Psalms 50:15; Psalms 104:24; Matthew 10:28; John 3:16; John 16:13; Romans 10:9; Ephesians 4:6; Philippians 1:6; Philippians 4: 6,7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 4:3; Hebrews 12:4-11; 1 Peter 3:15; 1 Peter 5: 6,7; 1 John 5: 11-13
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