I have been thinking about the things that are shifting the course of history during our present day.
As I was driving to work this morning, I passed a large open field and saw a burst of wind roll across it. The tall grass revealed the evidence of which direction the wind was moving. The invisible wind became visible. Whenever I see the wind moving through the trees, I usually refer back to the scripture that talks about how those who are born again are like the wind.
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 | NIV84
When COVID-19 first hit the shores of the US, I didn’t pay much attention. The news media began hyping it up and I just waved my hand at it and dismissed their seemingly overrated reaction. I had grown desensitized to the news media overreacting to just about everything. However, when my email & text messages started exploding, I took a second look. Perhaps, there was more to this world-wide pandemic and perhaps, it wasn’t just another over exaggerated story. First, I received emails from the local government talking about the schools, then I started listening to the state government create mandates and then I turned to the National government’s response. I then started getting emails from CEO’s and how they were talking about their closing stores and such. Then, what felt like overnight, everything shut down. I was shocked at how fast this pandemic moved, and how quickly it affected pretty much everyone in the whole world.
Here was this virus wreaking havoc all across the entire globe. This wasn’t an American thing, this was a global thing and I’ve been thinking about it for months on end.
Now emerging out of the financial ruins of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a movement popping up calling for a stronger presence of equality and the removal of law enforcement. This too has not only swept across the nation, but is sweeping across the world. The local governments first responded, the state governments are responding and now the national government is responding. My email is beginning to explode again from CEOs talking about injustice and how they are going to balance things out. Here I am again, watching yet another thing sweep across the world much like how the wind swept smoothly and seamlessly across the open field of grass. Each individual piece of grass bent at the wind’s beckoning as if it were operating in complete unison, like an orchestra. Every orchestra has a conductor.
This year has been a little crazy. In fact, I have never experienced any such things in my entire lifetime, and I believe that it is God who is stirring the wind, and those who are willing to do evil are quickly rising to the occasion. I believe God is speaking, but not in the way that one would expect. I believe these events that are happening are a direct result of God’s stirring of the wind. It is kind of like when you make homemade chicken noodle soup. You need to stir the pot of broth to bring it to a boil. Chicken noodle soup must be boiled to bring the excess fat to the surface. Stirring the liquid helps to move it around to make it more evenly hot. God is trying to awaken His people from slumber, to turn them from being lukewarm to boiling hot. He desires to bring the impurities out from within to the surface so that He may skim off the excess fat. He is calling His people all across the world to repentance and to a life of holiness. He is allowing things to become uncomfortable, uncontrollable and unlike anything we have seen. He’s calling to the souls of men & women and I wonder if anyone is listening to His still quiet voice or if they are too distracted by the loud meaningless noises screaming for attention.
The Bible is there to provide wisdom for daily living. Within the Holy Scriptures, we learn about Israel’s wandering around in the desert for 40 years, or when Israel finally entered into the Promised Land that only after a short while, she fell away from God once again. We can read through the book of Judges and we can follow all the way through to the time of the Babylonian Captivity and see what happened every single time Israel walked away from God. We have those examples to learn from. Israel only had the books Moses wrote during those times, but not us. We have access to the whole story, the entire Bible, or better yet, we are so blessed to know how the story ends. God has never changed from the time Genesis was written all the way through the last letter of Revelation. These are things that we must pay close attention to. We have the lives of those within Scripture to reflect upon, but more importantly, to learn from.
We are in the midst of these turbulent times for a reason, but do not become distracted by them. Reflect on God and tune your ear to the Voice of the LORD God. It’s been said that when a person is intently listening to something, that they will tilt their ear in the direction of the sound. Tilt your ear heavenward and listen intently for the still quiet Voice Who is always speaking, but He is not speaking as one from the world would speak. His words are holy and righteous. They are sweet and melodious, life-giving and loving. In order to hear God’s Voice, one must humble himself, bow down and allow the Holy Spirit to remove the veil from their heart. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, repentance is quick to follow and then joy floods the soul. God draws near to those who will humble themselves and pulls away from those who loudly make demands.
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, if My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 | NIV84
I want you to notice the “I”, “command” & “send” in the Scriptures above. Who is speaking in these verses? Who is the “I”? It is God. (God is speaking to Israel during the time of the dedication of Solomon’s Temple). It is God who is allowing no rain to fall, insects to destroy the land and a plague to attack their bodies. It’s God, not satan. Why? For the sake of Salvation of the people so that He may not lose anyone to eternal death. He desires that no one be lost, but He cannot tolerate evil nor those who abuse His children. God is love. God is holy. God is wonderful. God is just. God is perfect in every single way. God is not like a man, He is more than the mind or heart can conceive. There are no words in any known language that can fully describe the majesty of Him whose existence has no end nor any beginning. He is.
I write this letter in hope that you, my friend, will read and think about these things. I want to bring understanding to the bigger picture since it is so easy these days to lose focus of what is really going on. As I have for many years, I ask that you seek God and God alone. Seek Him while He still may be found. Turn a listening ear to what He is saying and close yourself off to everything else. He is quiet and gentle when He speaks to His people, and if you are not careful, you may mistake His voice for another’s. Know the voice of the Lover of your soul and run to His bosom.
PRAY. REPENT. BE HOLY.
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:13-16 | NIV84
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, Ecclesiastes 3:4 | NIV84
For years, most of you have received these emails as words of encouragement, or simply thoughts to redirect your reflection back to the Lord Jesus. I do not think of myself as a teacher and neither do I look upon myself as a Bible scholar. The things I share with you are things I see or things I feel within my heart. As my youngest son once said to me, “Mom, when I read your words, I can see right into your heart.” I feel at times that both you and I need little reminders to help us to keep up the good work the Lord has called each one of us to do. Some of you have known me for many years, others are just now getting to know me and a few don’t know me personally at all. Regardless, I am thankful God has brought each and every one of you into my life so that we may walk the journey of faith together and enjoy one another as we look to the Lord.
Normally, whenever I send out something funny or light-hearted, I get a so-called “good” response. Meaning, people say kind words and I believe this is true for life in general. Laughter is good for the soul and I strongly believe Jesus did a lot of laughing with His disciples. There is, however, a time required for deep reflection. Usually, whenever I write something that is a little heavier, people are quiet and I believe that this too, is good. I want you to know that the motive of my heart is driven to help both you and myself to grow up spiritually. Just like each one of us desires for our children to be the very best they can possibly be, God has the same desire for us. Sometimes that ‘best’ requires the stripping away of some layers to get to the real issue because many of us have become very good with wearing masks to cover our real selves.
The beauty in following Christ is when you come before Him, He already knows you. I mean, He knows you. You may not know yourself as well as He does and that’s why sometimes He sends other people into your life. They are there, at times, to help you see, or to help you admit the truth of who you really are. Sometimes it’s painful to admit your flaws and shortcomings, but I believe it is at that darkest moment, where the deepest growth begins, if we are truly honest with ourselves.
I have noticed within the last 10-15 years that our society, in general, has changed quite dramatically. In my observations, I’ve seen things that were once forbidden now being openly displayed as if those things have become so normal that they are now accepted as being a part of everyday life. What, perhaps, is the most striking realization I have noticed is that this so-called new normal has produced within the hearts of many an egotistical pride. And that, my friend, is very dangerous. Dangerous to the well-being of the soul.
No one wants to hear that they are imperfect or that no matter how hard they try, they could never in a million years, ever, be good enough by their deeds alone. Western, or American society, speaks just the opposite. It says that if you work hard enough, you can become good enough. Even the mainstream church denominations have stopped talking about the sinful nature. I’m not even sure the term ‘sin’ is even spoken of any longer. The point of the matter is that we have inherently sinful desires because of our flesh and we must learn while we are here through faith in Jesus Christ, to resist it. We must understand that sin is there to teach us what happens when one becomes separated from God. Sin is not there to condemn, but rather to teach.
I know firsthand there are things that happen to people that are completely out of their control. Meaning, whatever it was that happened wasn’t their fault directly. However, there are things that do happen that are either directly or indirectly related to the decisions a person makes. In either case, whether something accidentally happens to you (although I am of the belief that nothing really ‘accidentally’ happens to anyone) or something is a result of a choice you made, what really matters is what you do with what has transpired.
There are three types of reactions, I believe, that happen:
1. Victim Claiming
2. Name Blaming
3. Taking Responsibility
Victim Claiming
Victim claiming tends to lend a hand for an individual to wallow in their sorrow and talk about how awful it was for such a thing to happen. I know and understand, personally, that there are many horrible things that can happen to a person at any given time. I am not removed from such things and don’t speak from a point of view of not knowing. So it is clear, I speak from experience. Calling oneself a victim is normal at first. It is to feel violated, scared and vulnerable. To question why and to even become angry is part of being human and God understands this.
20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you? Job 7:20 | NIV84
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning 2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Psalms 22:1-2 | NIV84
The inward groaning or calling out to God is part of our physiological make-up. However, after the dust has settled, in order to gain something good from what has transpired, one must look upward and inward. Most people, at this point, look upward and some throw their fist at God, after all, why didn’t God protect me or kill that evil person or not allow that accident to happen? Why? And it is good to question such things, but keep in mind, that you must not only look upward, you must also look inward. I know there will be those who will not like what I am about to say next, and for that I am sorry, but I believe this very strongly in my heart and I cannot find anything in Scripture to contradict it.
Everything happens for a reason. Everything. In order to gain the most from whatever it is you have experienced, you must seek God with an open heart and allow Him to fully heal you. Most people will seek God externally and speak of Him as if they know Him, but inside they are playing tug-o-war with Him. He pulls at their heart and they pull away not trusting Him completely. This is a dangerous game to play with God. It’s not that He will give up on you and walk away, it’s that you will not be able to ever get past whatever it is you are struggling with. You will remain spiritually immature.
Sometimes people actually begin to find their identity in being a victim. They have found that others will shower them with pity and compassion. They may even get special treatment for extended amounts of time and they begin to like the attention. Suddenly, everything becomes about them. I know this is hard to hear, and I’m sorry. The spirit in which I write is one of deep love, but it is driven out of love for what is best for you in the long run. I speak these words because I have been there. I have played the victim and have wallowed in my sorrow and over time saw absolutely no real spiritual growth in my life for years. Playing the victim not only hurts you, but those whom you love. If you have children, it demonstrates to them that this way of life is normal when it is not. It is living a defeated life.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 | NIV84
Sometimes that ‘thief’ is yourself. You allow yourself to become so comfortable with receiving compassion, pity and encouragement from others that you never really learn how to walk without the support of another person walking beside you. God did not make us to lean on others for our total support. Yes, we are to encourage one another towards a relationship with Jesus and we are there to demonstrate to those who are weaker in their faith, but ultimately, our reliance is supposed to be solely upon the LORD God. We are supposed to both demonstrate and offer hope for those of weaker faith.
1 Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1 | NIV84
1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. Romans 15:1-2 | NIV84
Name Blaming
Name blaming is another place where many people get stuck. If my boss … If only my spouse… If my parents… If I weren’t born poor… If I were a man… Essentially, this list is endless. What was the very first thing Adam did when God inquired him of his disobedience? He blamed Eve. And Eve was no better, she blamed the serpent.
11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me–she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:11-13 | NIV84
The fact of the matter is, people like to point to someone else as the reason for their suffering, or more honestly, the reason for their current behavior. I understand that there are evil people who do things that deserve death, but that doesn’t excuse you from being accountable for the responsibility of your own actions and how you currently behave. Often victim claiming turns into name blaming and it all goes downhill from there. The biggest disruption in all of it is, is that a person becomes so self-consumed, that they no longer know how to function without becoming primarily self-focused. Everything becomes about them and when others do not measure up to their standard, they pull away and blame them. Soon, their relationships become scattered and broken, leaving the pieces to be picked up by others. Self-centeredness is like tire fragments on the highway left in the road for someone else to come along and pick the pieces so no one else will get hurt traveling down the same road.
Everything that Jesus did while walking on Earth was directed towards complete obedience and love towards God. His love and obedience flowed out of Him so naturally, that everything He ended up doing was for the good of others. Jesus knew and understood the reason for His life and never once lost focus on what He had been called to do. Jesus was not the only one who served others… all of the disciples ended up doing so as well through the strength and power of the Holy Spirit.
When you blame others for the struggles you face, it hinders you from spiritual maturity because even though the focus is on another person, the motive is to indirectly elevate oneself. If you blame someone else for your struggles, then surely that other person must be worst off then you. Which, if you think about it, makes the one making the claim a better person. It’s not a good place to linger, never mind walk, but people dwell here for decades and some even die here. God calls you personally to Him and when you draw near to God, you are drawing near as an individual, not as a group. That’s what it means when you’ve heard the phrase, “A personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Finger pointing is fruitless.
Taking Responsibility
When you come before Jesus, you are called to lay down your burdens, so that He may carry them for you. Part of those burdens are letting go of the hurtful and harmful things done to you… and leaving such things at His feet. You’re not to pick them back up and use them as excuses or weapons against others. When you fully submit your life to Christ, He becomes your defender and your provider. You no longer have to strive and fight for whatever it is you need… including emotional healing. Jesus is there to bring healing to your heart so that you can learn more about Him. It’s all about dying to yourself and the removal of the independent individual thinking.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23-24 | NIV84
When you ask God to search your heart, you are asking Him to shine His light into the secret place that dwells within you. It is a place where only He can enter. You are, in essence, waiting for the truth to be revealed. This is never an easy place to remain. It is often painful and overwhelming. Sometimes, it is hard to hear someone tell you the truth, but in order for you to grow, sometimes it is absolutely necessary.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:6 | NIV84
When God reveals the secrets hidden within your heart that even you may not be aware of, it is a sacred moment because He is presenting to you an opportunity to make a deep connection with Him. It is an intimate interchange that is irreplaceable. It hurts, but it is the kind of pain that will set you free beyond anything you can imagine. God desires so very much for you to know Him because He is the perfect fit for your soul. He’s the key to the locked doors that have kept you bound. The only thing that He asks for in return, is your complete devotion. He doesn’t want a part of you, He wants all of you, and so you will need to learn how to die to yourself, but the good news is, He is here to help you do exactly that.
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25 | NIV84
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3 | NIV84
Do you know what ‘dying to yourself’ means? In the simplest of terms, it means to become selfless. Not a selfless martyr who wallows in mistreatments or in the lack of praises you receive. Selfless as in taking the center of focus off of yourself and placing it upon God. It is taking responsibility for your own spiritual growth by surrendering your will and desires completely over to the LORD God.
If you truly desire such a thing, I offer you a warning. It will not be easy, in fact, it will be the most difficult thing you will ever face… more difficult than anything else you have ever done. It can be hard to undo years of habits that have embedded themselves so deeply within you. It is a difficult task to continue on a path that has not been previously carved, but you will not do these things alone.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 | NIV84
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 | NIV84
This road, should you choose to take it, will alter your life forever. You will learn what Scripture really means when it talks about being set free and running in the path of righteousness and all the joys such things will bring. The world and all of its heavy burdens will dissolve away and your heart will flood with an overwhelming sense of joy.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 | NIV84
Jesus stands and quietly waits for you to turn to Him and truly follow Him. It takes courage, strength and determination, but the rewards are eternal. My friend, there simply is no other way to complete peace, other than letting go and letting God lead you. So, take responsibility and humbly bow before the LORD, the God of all Creation and ask Him to help you let go.
Jesus is more than just a nice man. He is Life. It is because of Him there is life as we know it here on Earth. Of Himself, He said:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6-7 (NIV)
By saying He and the Father (God) are one, Jesus is saying He is equal to God.
” I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” John 17:11 (NIV)
By saying He is God, then therefore He is I AM:
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14 (NIV)
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58 (NIV)
Jesus is the only reason why we, believers and non-believers, have the very breath of life to live in this world. We are because He is.
Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 (NIV)
Without Him there is no Life, only Death. He is Life.
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)
And even though many do not acknowledge Him, that does not mean He is not God.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7 (NIV)
And Jesus is coming back…
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:3 (NIV)
Without Him is death. And God does not want anyone to be without Him.
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live! Ezekiel 18:32 (NIV)
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
He is waiting for you to seek Him so He may reveal Himself to you. He will not force Himself into your life. He is gentle & humble.
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 (NIV)
Take time to really think about who Jesus is. Not who you think He is or what others may have told you about Him but, who He really is. Seek Him while He may still be found. Knock. Keep knocking. He will reveal Himself to all who sincerely seek Him.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
3Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop–a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:3-9 | NIV84
The photo shown was taken in early April, right at the beginning of the growing season. If you look closely at the tree, notice how the longer branches have not budded nor developed any new leaves for Spring. The only new growth is the green leaves in the center. It is unusual for a tree to only produce green leaves from the inside out. Evidently, over the winter or late the previous Fall, the full-grown branches had died. When Spring came, there was enough life left within the trunk of the tree to develop a new set of fresh leaves and branches.
In order for this tree’s new green leaves to flourish, it would be imperative to cut away all those dead branches. The cutting away process would be a huge change for the tree and how it looks, but would be necessary for its survival. You see, even though there are branches that appear to be dead, they still drain the tree of nutrients. The dead branches become a burden to the newly developing green leaves because the nutrients are being divided between the half dead and living branches.
The only way to help the new growth become stronger, is to cut away the dead branches, otherwise, the new leaves may not get enough food to properly grow. Not only do the old branches need to be cut away, but the soil will need fresh dirt with some fertilizer mixed in.
The tree and its branches somewhat symbolize the spiritual growth of a believer. Jesus comes along and reveals a wonderful Truth (like the sower above) and that Truth begins to grow inside the believer, like the green leaves inside the tree. However, the existing, dead branches can redirect the new Truth’s life away from the green leaves. Sometimes those old dead branches can symbolize man-made doctrines or meaningless religious ceremonies. Often people trade Truth for tradition and in that process, they risk what little spiritual growth they have within them for dead doctrines. People do this because traditional doctrines sometimes feel better, or they are more comfortable. It’s easier, after all, to have someone teach you the Word, rather than studying on your own. It’s easier to regurgitate what the church’s statement of faith is, rather than fully understanding what you truly believe.
The new growth, that new Truth, can eventually get squashed by the old non-spiritual traditions and even though the tree will still be standing there, it will be covered in dead branches.
Refresh your hearts with the Word of God and heart-felt prayer. Get alone with God, sit and listen. Let the Holy Spirit become your Teacher and let Him reveal His many wonderful life-giving Truths. Allow God to cut away those dead branches so that what He has shown you, may grow stronger with each and every day. My friends, Jesus is returning. Scripture says that we must be ready for the Bridegroom to return. Seek Him while He still may be found.
44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Matthew 13:44 | NIV84
I was thinking the other day about wildflowers in the field. When you drive by and glance at an overgrown field littered with wildflowers, it is pleasing to the eye. It’s pretty in its natural state. The flowers make the plain field look beautiful. Now if you were to stop, get out and walk in the field, you’d find that each flower within itself is intricate and a city of its own. Some flowers are more complicated than the others and some are just prettier to look at, but each is beautiful in its own way.
Jesus was indeed the most beautiful man who walked the earth, but He was so ordinary that when looked upon in a crowd, He blended right in. He was kind of like a flower in the field, the most magnificent flower in existence, but one couldn’t tell by His external features that He was different. It was only when one stopped and closely examined Him that they discovered He was the most valuable treasure anyone could have ever found – a treasure worth giving one’s life for.
Then I thought about the gardens that people plant with all the beautiful trees, flowers and bushes and how they are so perfectly manicured and perfectly decorated to be exceptionally pleasing to one’s eye and emotions. If you were to drive by an open field with wildflowers growing, you’d think it was pretty, but when your eyes saw the manufactured man-made gardens, you’d be more drawn to its external beauty.
If Jesus were a flower, He wouldn’t be found in the man-made gardens where everyone visits, He’d be in the open field waiting for you to seek Him. He hides Himself, but yet He is out in the open for all to see… it’s just that the manufactured gardens seem so much better, but in reality they are not what’s truly real.
You gave me life and showed me kindness,and in your providence watched over my spirit. Job 10:12 | NIV84
Oxford Living Dictionaries provided two definitions for the word Providence.
“The protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power.”
“Timely preparation for future eventualities.”
Today I want to focus more on the second bullet point, “Timely preparation for future eventualities.” This tiny explanation says a whole lot. We, as humans, have very little insight into the happenings of tomorrow. We can, at best, guess this or that may happen based on what we interpret by what is going on today, but we cannot know indefinitely what tomorrow may bring. Unless the Lord reveals exactly what’s coming tomorrow or the next day, or even within the next few years, we simply do not know. We can go about our lives planning on marriage, planning for children, planning to buy a house, planning a vacation or even plan for retirement. We can sort of project what finances are required to do such things and sometimes they work out, but most often it never goes quite as we had planned or even hoped. Sometimes it’s better and other times it’s not. People experience failed marriages, lost children and job layoffs.
For Job to acknowledge God’s providence over his soul demonstrates his deeper understanding that what was currently transpiring was very much something God knew would somehow benefit Job in the long run. And keep in mind, Job was experiencing a huge amount of suffering. Job recognized that God had allowed these things to happen to him and he knew it was somehow for the good.
I think sometimes we lose our focus and go right into problem-solving mode instead of stepping back, and taking a moment to really ponder what’s happening. With the giant things we are faced with, we may very well be more prone to lean on God more diligently; to have our ears more in tune with hearing God’s voice and sensing His direction. Such things are good and should be so, but I am more or less speaking of the things that are not so catastrophic. Things that are troublesome, but things that we can handle without overwhelming struggles. I am of the perspective that everything happens for a reason, even the bad things we come face-to-face with. I believe that God is continually speaking, and if we are willing, continually teaching us.
Sometimes, we have a hard time hearing God’s voice or quite honestly, we are not paying attention because we have become accustom to being self-reliant. We can laugh and joke about God trying to grab our attention by allowing certain things to happen to disrupt our busy lives, but I assure you when God is speaking, it is no laughing matter. It is inevitable that He is looking to prepare you for something that’s coming down the road that you are unaware of. It is “Timely preparation for future eventualities.”
Sometimes, God speaks by closing doors to things in our lives we have worked so hard to obtain and it can be very frustrating. So frustrating that we will attempt to open a locked door thinking that the door closed accidentally or maybe even Satan closed the door. Ever try to open a locked door without the key? Depending on the type of door, you could try to knock it down or climb over it, but no matter which you choose, you will have to exert a large amount of effort and energy with the possibility of ending up getting nowhere. It could cost you time, money and even bodily damage. If we are not paying attention to the Holy Spirit, we may very well keep on trying to break into a locked door. Sometimes, if we are persistent enough, God will allow us to break the door down and this is never good. God may very well have made the door so tough that when you finally break it down, another one stands in its way. If we just keep on trying to push our way through places we are not meant to trod, or at least, not right now, it almost always ends up in disaster.
Every door in our lives that is meant to be opened has a key and God is the owner of that key. How will you know which door to unlock if you cannot hear His voice?
If you have never ice-skated before and you try out for the High School hockey team, it’s almost certain you will not get much, if any, playing time during the games. It is often said that practice makes perfect. If you take ice skating lessons, learn how to maneuver on the ice and how to handle the stick, and learn how to hit a puck into the goal, the odds of you being able to play in a game rises. At first, the coach may allow you to play for a few seconds during the last quarter towards the very end of the game, but he most likely will not let you play if the game is critical, if there’s a tie or if the other team’s aggressiveness is beyond your abilities. It’s because you are not ready to be placed into such a competitive situation and he could be preventing a serious injury. The more you set your mind to learning how to skate and play hockey, the better you become. If you were to rush out onto the ice trying to force your way into the game, barely knowing how to skate, you will fall down on your butt or get knocked over by another player. You will put yourself in harm’s way and you could even put others in harm’s way as well. To try to rush things that you are not ready for isn’t good. This is not only true with sports, but with anything in life, including hearing God’s voice. It takes practice and a lot of patience.
God is our Heavenly Father. For those of you who didn’t have a good earthly father, I want to assure you that God is nothing like your earthly father. When I use the term ‘father’, I am referring to the idea of what all of us desire deep inside our heart, that is, for someone to love and protect us unconditionally. We desire for Someone who we can lean upon for guidance and acceptance. When God created mankind, he allowed a hole to develop within our heart that only He can fill because He is the answer to all of life’s questions. God, like a parent, desires the best for us, but we must first learn how to listen and how to have faith that whatever it is He says, that it’s the right thing regardless of what you may feel or think. I know this isn’t easy to hear, but it is necessary for the building up of your soul, the real you. If God keeps closing the door, stop trying to force it open. Have faith that God knows what is best for you in the present as well as in the future, and concerning the door that you cannot open right now, walk away from it for the time being. Instead, learn how to listen and how to follow God’s quiet and gentle leading. Trust in Him that He will lead you to what will edify your soul and build up your faith because once you have learned to securely lean upon Him, He will hand you the keys to the right doors.
Blessings to you on your journey of spiritual wisdom.
Trust in the Lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 | NIV84
I find it rather interesting that most often believers today feel pretty confident in their relationship with God. They feel so confident that they may not even feel the need to press into knowing God at a deeper level. It is as if whatever little they know is enough, and honestly, I have found myself there at times too. It seems to be somewhat of a mystery to me why complacently seems to be woven into the threads of modern-day Christianity. Have we found ourselves so comfortable that we don’t see the need or feel the urge to really surrender all of who we are to God? Has life been so good to us that God is only an afterthought of a fun-filled day full of feasting and fellowship?
Moses, outside of Jesus, was one of the greatest men to have walked upon the earth. One could surmise that Moses knew God, after all, he spent countless hours on Mt. Sinai basking in the very presence of the Almighty. Moses heard the physical voice of God and saw many visions, perhaps, too many to comprehend. God revealed things to Moses that we could only dream of not only knowing, but understanding. Moses loved God and trusted Him wholeheartedly. When I look into the life of Moses, I yearn for the kind of relationship he had with God. Moses shared an intimacy with God that I have barely come to understand, but what is even more amazing is that what closeness Moses felt with God, wasn’t enough.
”If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” Exodus 33:13 | NIV84
When I read these words, they seem like a desperate cry, a deep longing coming right from the heart of Moses and yet, I wonder, didn’t he already know God intimately? A more humbling realization is where is my cry? You see, God is infinite, meaning, there is no end to Him. It’s hard to comprehend such a thought because even the Universe has an end, but God does not. I can’t grasp the thought no matter how intelligent I may try to present myself as being. Moses knew God, but yet there was so much more to know and understand that it produced an unquenchable deep longing within his soul to cry out to God in desperation… ‘…teach me your ways so I may know you…’
Paul, the preacher to the Gentiles and the author of most of the New Testament, had an intimate relationship with God. Paul experienced many wonderful miracles and preached to thousands of people the message of Christ. Thousands flocked to hear Paul preach and to be healed. He walked in the power of Christ… and yet, even that was not enough for Paul.
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Philippians 3:10 | NIV84
Wouldn’t one think that Paul knew Christ? It seems to me that there are a great number of people today that proclaim to know Christ, but yet I wonder when I look to Moses and to Paul. Here are just two examples from Scripture where you can clearly see that these men walked with God, but, for them, walking with God was not enough. The more they cleaved unto the bosom of God, the more they desired to know Him and the more they despised themselves. In their relationship with God, they didn’t become boastful at all, but rather, they became more humble in knowing how finite they really were before the Infinite Loving God. Their call out to God in desperation can be compared to the longing of a lover who hasn’t seen their beloved and how they cannot wait for their return. They pant after the moments they shared and how they can’t wait to share those sweet, precious moments once again only to get to know their lover even more intimately. That they may become more increasingly as one.
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth– for your love is more delightful than wine.Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;your name is like perfume poured out.No wonder the maidens love you! Take me away with you–let us hurry!Let the king bring me into his chambers. Song of Solomon 1:2-4a | NIV84
So should our love and desire be for God. Moses felt it, Paul felt it and even David experienced it as well. Like a hound dog on the scent trail of rabbit, so should the longing of being in the presence of the LORD God be.
As the deer pants for streams of water,so my soul pants for you, O God.My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalms 42:1-2 | NIV84
Throw away the fading lifeless treasures that hold you back from running freely and gladly unto the Lord. Open your arms and cleave unto Him as a woman so loves her man. We are made in the very image of God, that meaning, we possess a part of God, the eternal part, the soul and the soul longs for its beloved to be reunited in the fullness of love and intimacy. A relationship with God is more than just understanding who He is. We can understand how a tree forms and grows in all of it’s amazing beauty, but you cannot know a tree intimately. A relationship with God is about surrendering your whole being, learning to fully trust Him and allowing Him into the secret parts of your soul that only He can go. There within lies the satisfaction of the deep longing of the soul. It is when the created becomes one with its Creator. God is the perfect Lover for your soul. So, drop everything, run and go meet with God.
24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25 (NIV84)
It’s easy to give out of one’s wealth, that is, when you have a lot to give, you give things away. It’s even easy to give away things either you no longer need or just don’t want any longer. I don’t believe it takes much character to give in those cases. Where the test of true character happens is when you give all that you have left, or you give away something you cherish. When Scripture talks of the person who gives freely, yet gains even more, I want you to think about what that actually means. When you come to a place where you realize all of the things you possess are just things to be used to navigate life and nothing more, it frees you from being so closely bound to Earth. Things no longer define who you are, but rather they become things you use to demonstrate the freedom Christ has given you.
What I mean is, what you gain in the process of giving freely is spiritual freedom. You gain Wisdom in knowing and fully trusting that the LORD will take care of you in ALL things. You will no longer feel tied to anything on Earth and instead of the world placing reins on you and pulling you this way and that way like reins on a horse, Jesus puts the yoke upon Himself and pulls the load for you. This is the gain you receive, Jesus taking care of you.
Be generous with your things and with words of encouragement. Build others up generously and offer kind words. Refresh others, spread the hope the around, and smile at all who come in contact with you.
You have living within you the Greatest Treasure that has ever been discovered… share that Treasure so that it may multiply not only in your own life, but into the lives of others.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV84)
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26 | NIV84
To seek the Lord is to deny oneself, to lay down your own personal desires, and to follow after the One and Only true Way, that is, Jesus Christ. No matter where the Lord has placed you or what responsibilities He has bestowed upon you, remember to keep a humble, servant-oriented heart before Him. Remember, after all, you are serving the King of Kings and such things should not be taken lightly. When one serves the Lord God, they become almost completely invisible because God ends up shining through them and people are drawn to the Lord and not the person who is serving the Lord. Granted, there will be those who will seek after the servant instead of the King, and it is there within where temptation lies for both the seeker and the servant.
A good leader will always place the attention onto the Lord God and point people to Scripture for wisdom. Be wary of those leaders who like to stir up emotional feelings and who like to entertain you because if the attention is not placed upon the Lord, what’s the purpose of whatever it is they are doing? Ponder that question for a moment or two, seriously.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 | NIV84
Please also consider that you must be diligent in your own private spiritual walk. Such things like reading and studying Scripture on your own is vital to gaining revelation. Praying, fasting, and listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit in the privacy of your own home. It’s important to build yourself up in the Faith with the Word of God so that you may test and approve those who teach Scripture, and also, so that you may test and approve what you believe. Do you know why you believe what you believe? Can you confirm those beliefs with Scripture? Does that particular belief align itself up with the whole of Scripture? If not, such beliefs must be re-examined. Spiritual growth can happen quickly, but it also happens very slowly and often it is when time has passed before God begins to reveal the errors of your own heart or any misunderstandings you may have gained within Scripture. However, the only way to ever get past being spiritually immature, that is, only knowing the simple truths, is to spend time seeking God and putting aside those things that do not build oneself up spiritually. Sometimes it is good to stop being so busy serving here and there and return to your First Love. It is always better to sit at the feet of the Teacher than to be so distracted trying to please Him by performing empty tasks for all to see.
Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. Joel 2:13 | NIV84
Fill your mind with Scripture not to build a foundation of Doctrine, but rather to build a foundation of humility and love. When one draws nearer to God, it is hardly ever a time of boasting, but rather a time of reflection. It is often a time where you discover who you really are and how wonderful God really is. Words are not suitable for the proper description of what transpires when you humble yourself before the LORD and come willingly to learn. It is both marvelous and breath-taking all in one.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 | NIV84
Consider that Moses, outside of Jesus, was the closest a man ever got to God. Moses spent the majority of his life in the presence of the LORD and do you know what Scripture says of him?
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) Numbers 12:3 | NIV84
Now I find it rather interesting that this Scripture is noted in parentheses. Parentheses are often used for clarification inside of another explanation. In another words, it’s not the main attraction. In this particular chapter, Aaron and Miriam (Moses’ siblings) were questioning Moses’ authority and laying claim that they themselves had equal authority. In short, they were indirectly questioning God’s wisdom and in a round-about sort of way elevating themselves above the authority of God. A big no-no, but that’s for another discussion. The point here is to show that the more one-on-one time Moses spent with God, the more humble he became.
If you find someone boasting about their relationship with God, consider Moses. The closer you draw to Him, the greater your understanding of who God really is becomes. To glorify yourself is to take glory from God, or to elevate yourself and such behavior is the opposite of God’s character. Remember that Jesus, who is God, humbled Himself even to the point of death on a cross, which you know was the most disgraceful way to die at that time. Jesus never took glory, and likewise, neither should we. God’s perfect love practically prohibits such behavior if one is truly seeking Him. God is absolute perfect Love, and although such Love is nearly impossible to resist, it also shines its light upon every impurity within your soul. His love invites you in, draws you near and you can’t help, but come in complete humility. His Grace and Mercy covers you so you can commune with Him and His Spirit opens the eyes of your heart so that you may gain a greater, spiritual understanding of everything around you.
Lay aside those things that do not draw you nearer to the Holy precious presence of the LORD. Throw them away, and come to Him. Just you, alone, come. Then sit, wait and be ready with an open heart. His Spirit will transform you entirely.
2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2 | NIV84
The art of worship starts within the heart and when the heart begins the journey of seeking the Lord, the heart yearns for the Lord, to know Him more intimately. Worship then becomes engraved into the very being of the believer insomuch as whatever he is doing, becomes an act of worship. The mind and the senses want to pull you in one direction or another, but your heart was specifically designed to become one with the Lord. The Holy Spirit sings sweet love songs to your heart longing for you to draw near unto God. Listen carefully for the quiet voice of the Spirit, as He speaks continually with the desire to lead you onto the narrow path to the Truth. Distractions in life want to pull your eyes off of the Lord and lead you into confusion, but keep your eyes fixed on Him and He will lead you to everlasting life.
2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 | NIV84
The act of worship starts within the heart by continuing to seek the Lord, longing for a more clearer view of who He is and for all those who seek Him, He gladly reveals Himself to. Long after and thirst for God, and He will open the floodgates of Heaven revealing the many wonderful mysteries of who He is. Pray David’s prayer constantly, seek the Lord, and He will give you a treasure you’ll sell everything to keep.
Selfless Surrender 