Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites you will not bring this community into the land I give them. Numbers 20:12
Oh boy, Moses had had enough of the children of Israel.
Our trust in God is hardest when He asks us to give a kindness to those who obviously don’t deserve it. The Israelites had moaned and groaned ever since leaving Egypt. And like Jonah refusing to go to the Ninevites, Moses (with Aaron by his side) angrily struck the rock instead of speaking to it like the Lord had said. Perhaps it wasn’t the power of God he mistrusted but His choice to provide for these rebellious people.
Yet, what would have happened had Moses and Aaron simply done what they were told? Might the Israelites have fallen on their faces and given glory to the God of second, third and fourth chances? Would they have been convicted of their sinful lives? Who knows?
Moses and Aaron, of all people should have been the utmost example to the children of Israel. Instead, in violent frustrated impatience, Moses marred (dishonored) God’s name in his lack of humility, his lack of faith in the Most Holy One and in his unrestrained temper. Not only did he sin, he sinned publicly to the very people God was trying to raise up for Himself! Instead of mourning their sins, Moses (apparently with Aaron’s approval or silence), lowered himself to their level and gave into his own feelings of rage.
All Moses had to do was quietly speak to the rock to pour forth the provision of God. His simple obedience would have been enough. It would have said exactly what God had wanted to say to His people. Moses thought he needed to question them or react to their unholy attitudes. In reality, what he needed was to surrender whatever stuff was going on inside of him in trust to the Lord.
Moses’ defeat is our defeat. When we leave God’s guidance, the enabling for our own right living dwindles. Circumstances seem to surround us that always seem available to poke at us and stir us to disappointment or anger. Many of us even embrace these things (sin can be deliciously luring), and we lose our ability to rise above the situation. We forget to have patience and selflessness. Yet, following God moves us in His Holy Spirit to do good and to honor the holiness of the Lord.
As leaders (we all lead in some way or another), we must focus on sharpening our spiritual skills (with our big God!) not diminishing them. We let everything become an opportunity to grow us. People in our lives whom we tend to judge become avenues to show the sweet grace, God has shown us. They are opportunities to saturate our hearts with compassion, for we remember the times we, too, stumbled.
I think about my parenting days and how many times I disciplined (right thing to do) in pure anger (wrong thing to do). What were my words and actions to my children showing them about God? How was I honoring Him?
A long time ago, an old dead tree (huge in size) was leaning towards our house. It looked like one big storm could tip it over onto our humble abode. I worried about it, and then I decided to pray. For one whole year, I prayed that God would lay that tree in my yard like a feather. I prayed for no destruction to our property.
One day, I was staring out my window at a thunder storm and heavy rains. And there before my eyes the tree fell like a feather on the backyard lawn. We all felt and heard the thud. But nothing was harmed except a few twigs from a nearby tree. It didn’t even block our driveway. I was absolutely stunned, and I got to see it!
Later, I asked the guy who came out with his chain saw (to remove the tree trunk in pieces), “Why did the tree fall away from our house and not towards it, even though it was very much leaning in our direction?” He told us that bugs had eaten away at the other side and so it fell in the other direction because of the rot within. Thank you, God for bugs that answered my prayers!
As leaders, we don’t want any rot in our souls to topple our faith and trust in God. We ask Him to clean us out and free us from our sinful selves. In our lives, however imperfect, our faith remains intact in a big God as we witness to others and honor Him with our lives.
Holy Lord, I am thankful that you love us so much that you would direct us, for our own sake, to honor you above all else. You are protecting us by having us to learn to revere you. Oh, how sorry we are and in tears for causing you pain in our distractions of self-serving emotions. Keep us ever watchful for our failures and hunger for power that would truly try to overtake us (like the rotting wood) and topple our walk with you. Yet, as we fail (and we know we will), we accept your grace. We know your forgiveness. We understand that consequences will come (as they did with Moses and Aaron), but we’re so grateful for your ever-present love. With our arms open and our eyes on you, we praise your name. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13
The Israelites had happily left Egypt, thinking they would be forever free at last. As they stood on the beach facing the Red Sea and heard the chariots of Pharoah’s army coming after them, now they weren’t so convinced. In fact, they were terrified for their lives.
It’s interesting to watch our reactions when our lives change in one dreadful instance. Moses told them not to be afraid. But the Israelites had something to be afraid of! However, they also had God who was bigger than all their worst nightmares coming true!
When I read his words “Do not be afraid, it made me think of my own real and imagined fears. I wrote down all the fears I could think of, and in no time, I had a pretty big list. Fear spreads like wild fire to others. It also spreads throughout our bodies and makes us sick. Worry and anxiety are not exactly the most healthy choices of my life.
So what happened next?
Moses told them to stand firm. Stand on the foundation of God, on His promises, in faith (belief, trust). Don’t run. Face the fear.
“I am here,” says the voice of the Lord in my ear.
“See the deliverance the Lord will bring you this day.” He is the Deliverer, the Rescuer from: my impossible circumstances, my offenses and even my-self. He saves us for Himself.
“The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.” I’ve quoted this verse several times this week, not in regards to Egypt, but in regards to my own not-so-good, imaginary or real ‘pursuers.’ Maybe I will see these fearful matters with my physical eyes again, but my spiritual eyes will focus on only seeing GOD my Deliverer!
Moses goes on to say, “The Lord will fight for you.”
I have a lifetime guard. His name is Jesus. He guards my heart. He stands waiting for me to ask for His help, to let Him manage and save me, to let Him into my heart of hearts and give Him free reign.
If I turn Him down, I lose sight of His protection, like when I look or cling to my idols to save me instead or when I listen to other voices or seek the easier way out (the broad road). I refuse Him when I choose my own path, give into my emotions (or into oppression or attacks from the enemy) and don’t process these things with Him. I shut off His voice by pushing Him away in anger. When bad things happen I blame Him or I’m too busy to pray or to cry out to Him. I let the enemy into my home or into my mind. I don’t take time to be with Him. I’m in a hurry and not in the moment. I’m living in worry. I withhold forgiveness. I don’t place all in His hands or at His feet. I don’t pay attention to His current provision or protection. I dwell on the negative. In these choices, I lose sight of the most important One of my life: God.
Then Moses said, “YOU NEED only to be still.”
I remind myself to stop the worrying and the avalanche of thoughts. Stop trying to figure it all out, always having to be in motion (busy), fixing the world and holding it all up as if it were all left on my incapable shoulders.
But the Israelites approached Moses in anger and fear. They didn’t realize the freedom they thought they had before was very much still in their possession.
What have you done?
Verse 15-18 says, “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”
In this passage, the words that caught my eyes the most were these:
Why are you crying? Tell them to move on!
There’s a time to cry, mourn and weep, and then there’s a time to move on.
God wanted to show off His glory to the world. He wants to do the same in our lives, if only we would stop being so afraid to take that step forward, if only we would stop turning our gaze behind us and focusing on the “armies of enemies,” if only we would see beyond the barrier of dreaded ocean waves that stand between us and (our definition of) safety and SEE instead through eyes of faith…the True and Living God…ready to come in and save the day.
Father, YOU are right in front of us, though we don’t always feel that way. You are always there. But we miss so much when our spiritual eyes are gazing elsewhere, looking for things to be afraid of, looking for something to dread. Help us to move on. Take our feet, one at a time, and steer us in the direction of the safe path (your definition) that you have laid out for us. Give us faith instead of fear. Show us in our paralyzing state of mind YOUR glory and your touch upon our souls. Give us a work to take the attention off of ourselves and our fears and dreads. We set our hearts on your might and your saving strength. In Jesus name, Amen.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8
Jesus is the perfect one to emulate who gave profound love the way each individual needed.
For some, His love totally overlooked the sin and spoke kindly to the sinner,
“Go and sin no more (to the woman caught in adultery),” “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water (to the woman at the well),” or “’Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.’ And his servant was healed at that moment (to the unworthy centurion).”
To others He spoke in confrontational, plain speech to expose their terrible Pharisaical choices or He turned over tables at the temple. Jesus told the Pharisees, “Woe to you” many times! He said to the money changers, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Love is given both ways from us as well. A parent will lovingly correct his child. A friend will call out another friend when he is in the wrong. A preacher will preach truth to his listeners. Married couples, who know about their spouse more than anyone else, will sometimes communicate hard things so their relationship can better thrive.
However, today, let’s assume this verse is trying very hard to remind us that it is not always our job to set everyone straight every moment of our lives. In fact, we would do well to set straight how we respond to others in love. We would have enough on our plates if our endeavors were spent on such a task! We would choose not to be so outspoken every little misbehavior. We would learn to simply let go.
Such a monumental deed would be unfathomable in it’s far-reaching influence to those around us! What an accomplishment would be achieved, maybe not for all situations, but for more than we offer at present. Moving towards forming such love into a habit would be life-changing for all involved.
Love is an action verb, and sometimes, that means to cover over a multitude of sins.
The action of loving with our whole heart begins in our thought-life. Our minds drive everything we do! If we don’t love in our thoughts, we probably aren’t going to carry through with overlooking that person’s fault.
My thoughts must be taken captive and made obedient to Christ (II Cor. 10:5). They lead me in every way regarding relationships around me.
When I am at my best and in the midst of conflict, I wonder, “How would I like to be treated if I was in their shoes?”
If people gave me the benefit of the doubt, what a blessing that would be. Maybe their thoughts would be generous and kind, “I know her. This is not how she would typically respond. Perhaps something deeper is going on. I’ll pray for her,” or, “Man, I’d like to tell her a thing or two, but my heart is telling me to respond in kindness despite how she just made me feel.”
The cold shoulder or angry accusations make me feel misunderstood and hurt for a very long time. When someone starts a fight with me or tries to make themselves look good at my expense, it only aggravates and makes the relationship worse for the wear. But love that ignores the ill-will, I just spoke or did, or tries to understand what’s going on with me, changes me. I am more willing to make amends and work on the relationship.
Certainly, loving deeply and covering over a multitude of sins is a pretty tall order. After all, that other person did wrong. They don’t ‘deserve’ my kindness. They deserve to be brought down in my vicious gossip and subdued, bitter distance.
In the long run, however, though the other person feels my wrath, I’m the one who suffers most in my self-made prison of unforgiveness. My hateful tones simply beget more hate. My anger begets more anger. Unkindness begets unkindness.
If I’m going to pass anything on at all, I want it to be grace – covering over the sins of others. I want to intensely and freely give my love. I want forgiveness to become easier as time goes by because it’s who I am.
Loving in this way means that I persevere through the hard times of hurt. I surrender myself to the Lord with all my heart and leave my life and the other person’s life in his hands. Such pursuits bring me closer to Jesus and to a minute understanding of all that He did for me. It means I unify myself with those around me, and resist holding grudges.
I visualize a hand coming down over the unkindness spoken to or about me and covering it where no one else can see, and the hand is my hand of love (done only through the power of a Mighty God). I make it hard for others to know about these flaws or mistakes of others (including myself). I practice dismissing offensive circumstances and immediately give the burden over to the Lord. I even make it nothing in both of our eyes, praying for them and asking God to forgive their guilt, just as I ask for help in forgiving. I train myself to speak highly to and about my offender to others around me.
These things take time to learn. But the more I apply today’s verse to my life, the more awe inspired is my heart. In fact, I had a situation during the writing of this blog. My mind kept playing over and over again, “love deeply” and “cover over a multitude of sins.” It was the right thing to do. It was an intentional, loving choice in which I found a piece of God’s compassion and mercy living inside me.
This kindness is not about letting others go scot-free in their ‘crimes’ against us, but about drawing them and ourselves back to the very best God has for us in following His ways.
Lord, this blog was hard to take into my soul. I do not pretend to be anywhere near the thoughts I’ve written in this post, but I want to be. Help my loveto keep no record of wrongsfrom the past and to refusethe trap of easily becoming anger. Instead, show me how to be patient and to protect, trust, hope and persevere, all in the name of the love of the Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22
Spending time on this verse all week has been one of my favorites out of all the five years I’ve been writing. My heart has much to learn.
The early Christians went through things, perhaps, we’ll never fully comprehend. They had a need to encourage one another in their understanding of their current day persecutions and trials.
In II Cor. 11:23-27, Paul names unimaginable trials of his own; hard work, prison, severe flogging, exposure to death, forty lashes minus one, beaten with rods, pelted with stones, shipwrecked, night and a day in the open sea, constantly on the move, in danger from rivers, bandits, fellow Jews, Gentiles; in danger in the city, country and at sea; and in danger from false believers; laboring, toiling; without sleep; knowing hunger and thirst; without food; cold and naked.
Paul went through impossible hardships. He proved over and over again that God could purify, refine and use him in all and any circumstance for His purposes. His greatest longing was Christ Jesus His Lord. He was willing to die or live for Him. He was willing to be perfected in his trials for the salvation of others. His trials brought many souls to Jesus. He kept his faith through it all and remained courageous throughout his lifetime.
When Paul suffered, he could have given into self-pity and anger, and the force of God bountifully used in his hardships would have been made null and void. Instead, he gave into patient endurance, trusting God in even the smallest inconveniences. Paul prepared himself in struggles that were both emotional and physical. The narrow road he chose taught him how to face distress, pain and grief.
At the time of today’s verse, Paul and Barnabas were traveling from city to city, preaching the good news of Christ. Paul healed a man who was lame, but angry Jews who wanted nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus came and stoned him, leaving him for dead.
He was able to get up and head for another city the next day. The book of Acts says, “They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples.” And, they returned to other cities, “strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.
That’s when Paul and Barnabas said to the witnesses,
“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
Hardships and persecutions were abundantly seen and experienced in the early days of Christianity. They were telling the new Christians not to expect anything different. Such teaching would have schooled them. Such words would have impacted them deeper than just an intellectual practice of the mind, helping their hearts not to wander from the faith and to see this world as something not to put any of their confidence and trust. Everything was about bringing others into eternity with them, even their trials. They were willing to give their own lives for the sake of others.
What Paul and Barnabas were going through, they were trying to say, was making them stronger to stand in these days of trouble. What fruit of the Spirit, what faith, hope and love and what deep truths they were learning through it all. They were becoming conformed to the likeness of Christ who also suffered many things.
Perhaps the reasoning mind had a hard time interpreting the adverse situations in which they found themselves. But their spirits understood that this was a part of being in God’s Kingdom. They bowed to a Higher Lord of their souls than the world, their King Jesus.
Though there still remains in our lifetime, persecutions and hardships because of the name of Christ, the trials we are familiar with relate more to stress, grief and pain. The world we live in offers plenty of opportunities for us to let our struggles refine us into becoming greater followers of Christ and experiencing the suffering of being in His Kingdom.
For example, the difficult lesson of covering over an offense is profoundly needed in our world today to be conformed to the Lord Jesus.
Here I list a few encouragements from scripture for this valuable area of our lives:
Prov. 10:12 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Prov. 17:9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. I Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. I Cor. 13:7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. I John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For this one example of covering over an offense, what benefits would come?
To not be so oversensitive and take everything so personally. To become more aware of the other person and how they feel. To realize there are differences of opinion (we can still love each other in our differences). To understand the value of letting others have a “place at the table.” To value another’s need to have a respected and valid voice. To become deeply aware that other’s words may be words of truth. To experience humility and give gentle responses.
Can you imagine the impact these benefits would have on our world if we all were to incorporate them into our everyday relationships?
Now multiply this by more examples of facing other hardships with the mind of Christ!
Lord, as we are confronted by our trials and struggles, we come to you for wisdom and strength. Teach us in our hardships. Show us the path of confoming to your likeness in this your Kingdom. Move in our lives that we may bring many souls with us to Heaven. In Jesus name, Amen.
Patience is better than pride. Do no be quickly provoked in your spirit. For anger resides in the lap of fools. Eccl. 7:8-9.
I relate so much with today’s verse. Pride is a breeding ground for fury.
We clutch to our laps the things that are precious to us (and rightly so): a grandchild, a cherished gift from a member of our family or a friend, a hug, an embrace. These are all things to which we hold tight.
However, sometimes ANGER is the valuable to which we hold tight.
Yet, Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, the wise man of his time, encourages us that letting patience win is a better choice.
I’ve attempted to teach my five-year-old grandson what patience is. He assures me that he already knows. “It’s WAITING, Mimi!”
From the mouth of babes, his words ring true.
When we’re face to face with a person who always tends to do the opposite of what we say or want or someone whose annoying interruptions make it hard to get things done or someone who micromanages our lives, that is our opportunity to exhibit patience.
When an outside force attempts to ruin the day with nitpicking or contentious comments, the dynamics of the inner workings of our hearts can over-tax an already burdened mind.
Psalm 37:8 says, “Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.” The context of this verse surrounds good instructions for those who fret over evil-doers who seem to be succeeding in their plans or getting away with evil.
Yet, the words are so powerful in our every day lives. Notice the verbs: refrain, turn, do not. We have a choice in self-control to refrain from or restrain our words we long to spew out just because they pop into our minds or just because the other person speaks out of turn and stirs our anger or just because we didn’t get enough sleep last night. We can even turn from wrath (theirs and ours) and set ourselves to not fret about it. Refusing to fret requires self-control of our thoughts. It’s called taking responsibility for what we say and do and, even, think!
The meaning behind the word ‘fret’ is: to burn or be kindled with anger like hot wax. It reminds me of people who tell on themselves, “I just had a melt down!” …a way of saying they were completely out of control. They said and did things they highly regretted.
I’ve been there and done that. ‘Embarrassed’ and ‘ashamed’ don’t even come close to describing how I felt afterwards. Oh, how I wish I could take those times all back when I’ve messed up.
Do we need God to help us at times when life doesn’t go as planned? However, we must remain in communion with the Holy Spirit in order to benefit from His fruit (Galatians 5:22). We must grow in the Lord and become steadfastly intentional with our words and actions (especially on crazy days that tempt us to rage).
Nurturing a habit of quick temper begins inside us, in our spirits. So does nurturing peace and love. What’s inside typically spills over to those around us. SEE what is good in the situation or the people you mingle with. God is ALWAYS working, no matter what is going on. Think about what is good, and good will come out of your mouth. A quiet spirit can reign even when others lose it and tempt your temper to explode.
If I lose it when someone else loses it, it is a warning sign of what is in my spirit.
Lord, help me to be stirred by what stirs you, and let that be the extent of my anger. Teach me the unselfish act of laying down my life for others in the name of Jesus. Combat my pride (that agitates me to anger and resentment) with a quiet spirit and humility that speaks louder than wrath (and has a more positive effect and plentifully attracts others). Draw others to you through my ways of interacting. In Jesus name, Amen.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Envision the surrounding scenes and hear the sweet words from the lips of Jesus. Let relief and peace pour over your soul. His words are comfortingly inclusive, calling the weary to come. His words invite us to wholeheartedly offer our dependence solely on Him.
We joyfully consent to the calming capture of the Lord’s open arms as He bids us all to come. The call to come is not towards the world and all its charm, but towards HIS beautiful presence.
“Come to ME!’ He says to those worn out with fatigue and stress. However, back in His day, so many were exhausted from extreme burdens placed on their backs by the Pharisees, who encouraged followers to rise up to self-reliant perfection and endless self-promises to get up and keep trying, keep following the ‘rules,’ their rules, which only made the people more tired, weary and overcome with guilt.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Verse 29-30 Jesus continues, “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
What Jesus had to offer was not a list of impossible rules, but the gift of Himself. He was extending His hand of help, that whatever our load, he would come along side to carry it with us.
Jesus knew what it was like to have to carry loads too heavy for Him. He was forced to carry His own cross and the weight of it made Him fall to the ground. A man named Simon picked up the cross and helped Jesus the rest of the way.
Would any of us have jumped to aid in relieving His burden? How much more would the Lord of our lives run to help each of us!
Suppose my load was anger or grave disappointment. And I came to Jesus with my burden, crying out to Him for solace and counsel. Suppose I placed the weight of my confusion and hurt on Him and received His peace instead.
Jesus said that His load is lighter. He helps me to bear my heavy burdens and frees me from having to carry it by myself.
Father, I gladly give you my burdens. You, alone, are my Rescuer who saves me from things too heavy for me to bear. Thank you for walking this life with me. Thank you for the relief and sense of freedom I have when I am with you. Help me never to forget that you are just a cry away. In Jesus name, Amen.
The people…will go in tears to seek the Lord their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. Jer. 50:4
The Israelites had lost their way and ended up in a foreign country to rule over them. But, in time, they were sorry for their waywardness.
I am often convicted of wrongdoing, so much so, that my eyes fill with tears and my heart breaks. My mind can visualize, not only the hurt I’ve caused with wounding words or actions, but the hurt I’ve caused my Savior.
A comforting thought happens during these times I bring my repentant sorrows to Him. Yet, all I see in His eyes is love and compassion. Yes, ‘go and sin no more.’ I never sense the Lord’s condemning anger.
Today’s verse reaches our hearts with such blessings filled with His deep mercy.
First, we must be willing to seek the One and Only God. We turn our face toward His face by leaving our sins behind us and leaving our troubles at His feet.
On this earth, we will never quite reach perfection or freedom from our trials (or come anywhere near it), but our hearts forever focus on His will instead of our way. Choosing our own ‘way’ tends to only bring more heartache.
Second, we ask God and those who are following Him the right questions to get back on the straight path.
Third, we expend our greatest effort on binding ourselves to our Creator who knows us and knows all things inside and out.
I feel a depth to this part of the verse that needs more time and energy to treasure hunt its meaning.
When I bind myself to the Lord, I have one goal and that is to join with Him wholeheartedly and depend on Him profoundly. My desire is for this beautiful bonding to last forever into eternity. I will, at times, fail, but part of joining to the Savior is fully acknowledging His grace and comfort and His desire to help me be one with Him.
Alternately, when I bind myself to sin, I am actually imprisoned and chained, joined to that sin as time goes by.
The habit of staying close to the Father adheres me to Him, my God from whom I never wish to be parted. In such a significant choice, there is freedom, not chains or bondage. I am His servant, but I am not enslaved. In fact, I am freer when I serve my Lord (as opposed to when I serve self). I give freely of myself, acknowledging God as the Lord and Master of my life.
When I don’t bind myself to Christ, I am binding myself to whatever is outside of Christ and all the heartache that goes with it.
Father, teach me more how to weep for my sins. Lead me in the path I should go and help me to turn my face toward that good way. Instruct my heart in binding my whole self to you, Lord God. May I never forget our oneness. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress. Isaiah 33:2
Hearing the cries from His children, deeply touches the heart of our Father. The brilliant start of a new day is the perfect time to pray. We raise our voices and lift our eyes to the Almighty and ask Him to help us in our time of need.
Be our strength!
Our gaze is fixed. When troubles arise, we know to whom we must turn. When the awareness of blessings comes, we know to whom we must praise.
Today’s verse is so simple. It leads us to pray during times we don’t feel like we can make it through another day.
Be our strength!
When we don’t know what to say or how to handle a situation, we can pray for God’s power to outweigh our weakness, for His wisdom to overcome our foolishness, for His compassion to chase out our apathetic hearts, and that we, too, may find a way to love and serve.
Help us, Lord, not only to simply make it through this day, but to make a difference in your Kingdom.
Strength emerges from Him in many different ways when we pray for it. Sometimes, we receive outward strength like when we feel God’s presence in the quiet or experience the sweet kindness of family and friends. We also receive inner strength in the midst of doubt or temptation, especially when the going gets tough. And through time, these trials may increase our faith or cause us to come to a new level of trust and power.
Be our strength!
When we pray for God to give us strength, we must be willing to step up to the plate. Are we making responsible decisions and plans that line up with the strength we request? Or, are we idle and sluggish, expecting God to do everything? Do we choose wisely instead of from impulse or emotion?
God gives strength by helping us to get up and get busy with our lives and to make good choices.
It’s all well and good to cry out to the Father to help us, but in the end, if we are holding on to a grudge, to anger, fear or anxiety, the very prayer we pray can be blocked by our own doing. We may define our prayers for strength as one thing, but God may answer our deeper needs. He may give us strength to forgive, to release the anger or work through our differences or the strength to trust Him in our fear and anxiety.
When we remove the barriers of sin, our hearts will have a spacious place to receive from God the greatest strength we need for the day.
There is so much power in following the Lord in everything we do. He helps us to be the best of who we are.
Father, we present our day to you in the early morning hours and grab hold of your hand for strength. Remind us throughout the day who you are and what you have provided for us. Help us to let go of wayward ways. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear you even in the hardships we face. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Arise, my darling my beautiful one, come with me. Song of Solomon 2:10
The opportunities we have to care for our loved ones is remarkable at times. One relational observation I enjoy is when a parent or spouse stops their activities to listen to their little one or to their mate. I’ve even seen a parent get down on the same level as the child to look into his eyes and truly hear his heart.
How special we each feel when someone passionately turns their time and heart to attend to us.
In my house, sometimes, I hear my husband say, “Hey, whatcha doing?” That’s code for, “I have something to talk about or something to show you; will you come over here?”
It’s a habit of mine (if possible) to drop what I’m doing and come.
When I read today’s verse, my mind expanded to an even more significant relationship in which to ‘come.’ Song of Solomon is interpreted by many to be read as a poem of romance about a couple in love. Others say the poem reflects the relationship between Christ and the church (His bride). This latter interpretation is one I’ve been exploring as I read through this Bible book.
To me every good thing on earth points to the Father, even the marriage bed. In essence, we come to know the deep intimacy (far beyond sex) between God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit through our loving gestures with each other. Such a profound concept cannot be found in sexual activity outside of marriage. As a married couple, our intimate love is the best way to help us better understand the Trinity and their relationship of giving kindness to each other, submitting one to another and promoting the good of the other that some find so hard to grasp (instead of selfishly grabbing for our own needs). It is indeed possible that intimacy (oneness in marriage) found in the poem of Song of Solomon can be read as a tiny but profound glimpse into the beautiful relationship of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit).
As I thought about today’s verse and Jesus being the one who calls me to come, I realized that I have already been in the process of learning how to drop what I’m doing and ‘come’ to my loved ones, especially my husband. How much more would I do so for THE love of my life, My Lord!
Arise, my darling my beautiful one, come with me. Song of Solomon 2:10
Like a parent to a child, Jesus got down on our level when He (with more love than we can imagine) came to earth to compassionately save us from our sins. His passionate call for us to come is His deep desire to show us the way to true life.
In Luke 18:22, Jesus addressed a wealthy ruler who asked a few questions of Jesus about eternal life. He seemed to have a lot of head-knowledge about scripture. But Jesus said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Sadly, this man walked away, not willing to give up his possessions (and drop what was holding him back from fully committing to Jesus). His wealth was a barrier to obeying the call to come.
The disciples of Jesus were willing to come to their first love, the Lord of Hosts! They dropped their fishing nets (their livelihood, their lives) and gave up everything to ‘come, follow’ Him.
I have to ask myself, what am I willing or unwilling to let go of in order to choose Jesus instead of allowing the barriers of life get in the way.
What about the obstacles of anger, fear, anxiety, pride and so on? These things will always stand in the way of coming to the Lord of Lords.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Something intimate and good awaits me in the obedience of coming to Jesus. Initially, it may not seem beneficial. In fact, the way He calls me to follow may actually seem to take me away from my comforts, stability or normalcy. I may ask and pray for things to go back to the way they were before. But Jesus never lets me stay stuck in my ways. His love always invites me to stretch and grow. His call to come is always good.
Lord, just as I am, I come to you, my greatest love. Even though I fail so often and, much of the time, miss the way you have chosen, thank you for still calling me to follow you. Thank you for never leaving me. Open my eyes to see your grace and know that your ways are pleasant and good. In Jesus name, Amen.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Proverbs 4:13
Sometimes good memories arise from within of the lessons taught us by our parents, the warnings and advice from the lips of those one or two special teachers who took an interest in us or the encouraging admonitions we picked up along the way from friends, books or sermons. The most important thing to remember is not to turn away from each deep truth. As the proverb says, hold on to it and never let it go.
When we take the time to guard and protect the wisdom we’ve learned, our very lives are positively supported and upheld.
How do you know that the pearls of understanding given from your mom at the age of 15 won’t live on past her entrance into the gates of heaven? I still have bits of insightful memories for cleaning my house or facing my problems that my mother offered me in small conversations while cooking together in the kitchen. I also remember how wisdom flowed from my dad, still remembered to this day.
How does one hold on to instruction? It must be practiced again and again, and passed on to the next generation. When we teach others, we retrain ourselves and establish it deep in our hearts.
The verse also says not to let it (instruction) go. I guess letting go would happen when we allow ourselves to get into bad habits and forget the good paths of the old days. The habit of anger, pride and fear are some of the worst stumbling blocks to the cries of wisdom of our hearts.
Next, we are told to guard these good paths well. In my mind, I imagine several soldiers standing erect around my heart with weapons in hand and eyes watching out for the enemy. Nothing slips by. They are observant of the smallest, clever maneuver of Satan. In his section, one guard searches the horizon for what would encroach upon the good life. At the first appearance of evil, a warning sound alerts the others and they all, together, attack the originator of the sinister plot and scatter it to the winds and far away from their host.
As we start a brand-new year, how might we stand guard at the door of our hearts? We fill our minds with good, replace the bad with more acceptable options, and lean on the Lord for His strength and might to get us through each moment.
The result of pursuing these good things defines the good life for us all. When we choose low standards, our lives will reflect that rank. When we choose standards that follow God’s higher ways, our lives respond in like manner.
Father, following instruction is good for our souls, health (bodies) and minds. When we fail to heed such advice, the road we travel becomes so much more difficult to traverse. It’s not to say that living by your principles means the way will be easy. In fact, the climb on our paths can get very steep in the most profound moments of obedience. We know that the enemy lurks around every corner ready to pounce on what plans we’ve made for the good. However, when we follow your ways (even though hard), you are there to empower our steps and move us forward. Help us to hold on to instruction, for it is our very lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Ps 116:7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. Psalm 116:7
Soothing verse!
However, rest goes much deeper than sleep or recreation. This rest affects the soul. Our souls get tired. From what?
How about sleepless nights, dreary days, overwhelming responsibilities, problems at home, problems at work, illnesses, relationships, change or a loved one’s death.
Yet, let’s go a little further. What exhausts our souls even more than those things? How about bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, jealousy, over-anger, control, pickiness, self-pity,….and the list goes on.
The Psalmist, who wrote the chapter, was indeed, dealing with the former: an illness or a dangerous situation that brought him near death. He cried out to God and God delivered him.
That’s when he said, “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.”
Eventually, this man succumbed to death, whether through illness, injury or old age. Yet, somehow, it is good to know that today, we can return to rest for our souls no matter what is going on in our lives.
I’ve thought about this all week. My soul hasn’t felt restful lately. And I wondered what was wrong. Why couldn’t I just pray and then everything change for the good?
I realize that several options present themselves. My unchangeable circumstances are not limiting me. If this was a permanent situation, I would eventually, somehow, have to find my peace with God. But my current season will not last long.
I simply have felt like I was drowning with too many things on my plate. Anger has been chipping away at my armor, behind the scenes, in quiet jabs from the enemy and uneasy feelings, filling my thoughts with a lack of peace. I haven’t been ill or dying (like the man in the Psalm), but inside I felt like I was. I had to make a change or my soul would not find rest.
At one point, I asked God to help me. I cried out to Him as the Psalmist did.
Ideas began to flow in my mind. It dawned on me to take a good look at my days and prioritize the things that reflected my life’s goals (as directed by God). Maybe this sounds simplistic. Being able to reassess my life typically comes easy for me. Why hadn’t I thought of that before?
Because life sometimes slips in and takes over.
“No more!” I said to myself.
It helped to sit with God and reevaluate His plan for me. Perfection wasn’t the goal, as much as knowing the direction to take…with Him as my guide, and also, knowing that this would be a process, not an overnight change! In other words, there would be no quick fix to my life. (I wasn’t immediately delivered.) The process of going through something hard seems to be a work that God wants to do in my soul to grow me.
Sometimes, He gives quick answers of yes or no. Sometimes, He says, wait. And sometimes, He gives the answer by saying, “This is going to take a long time for you to learn (comprehend and understand). Nevertheless, I am here, and I am doing a mighty work, trust me!”
God is good, so good. And He shows me His goodness in some pretty funny ways.
Our new puppy loves to ‘hug’ me. We’re adjusting to each other and she is messy. So I have decided to put on old jeans and a T-shirt and then get down on the floor with her. I stroke her soft fur and let her give me wiggly, wild kisses on my chin. After that, she seems to settle down…for the moment.
I can be pretty messy (sinful) as well in my human state!
At one time in history, God put on flesh and got down on the floor with us. Jesus came to earth and dwelled among us. His death on a cruel cross was His way of patting our heads, holding us close, comforting us and curing our lostness. Though He is in Heaven now, with His Father, His Spirit is in my heart. He is with me always. He will never leave me. He soothes my anxious mind and settles my fears. He gives me rest. It is mine to take into my soul.
Lord, thank you for holding me tight and loving me so dearly. I am overwhelmed with gratitude at the rest you give my soul. You help me to see my own responsibility for the choices I make for my life. Keep me full of your wisdom. Help me to daily offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to you. Then I can know your will for me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph. 4:30-32
Today we will look into another aspect of steering away from our wrong choices (even when we are antagonized). We will learn more about how discernment is really a strong desire to hear God’s Holy Spirit.
This past week my family lost a dear loved one, 89 years old, and of all people who exemplified this strong desire for the Spirit of God, it was her. Her whole life she followed Him. In this, I too, want to take in all I can to grasp how to follow the same path.
The first point I’ll make according to today’s verse is that sadly, we all have it within us to grieve or even quench (I Thess. 5:19) God’s Spirit and thus make terrible decisions. Today’s verse explains some of the ways we do that through our bitterness and anger.
When I use my emotions to hurt or discourage God’s people, the Spirit may be even more grieved than when I fail to perfectly carry out His guidance in discernment (which we’ve studied all this time). In fact, how we spend our time discerning the way we treat His people is probably more important than any other decision.
Before going further in this post, take a moment to read through the entire fourth chapter of Ephesians. List ways the Holy Spirit guides us in discernment in our relationships with others. Write down what discernment is and is not and list qualities you discover that would better define the word itself.
Here is ‘my’ list:
Discernment is urgent, humble, gentle, patient, loving, unified, peace-filled, grace-filled, works- of-service-oriented, joined, building each other up; not dark, not hardened; puts on the new self; not false but true, not speaking unwholesome things; doesn’t grieve the Holy Spirit; not bitter, raging, angry or gossiping, but kind, compassionate and forgiving.
The chapter you just read is all about relationship. In our connections with each other, wisdom tells us that the Spirit may prompt us like He did in the past. But, He may also lead us to take an alternative path, way out of our comfort zones. In other words, yesterday’s discernment in a situation may be different from today’s discernment and then a whole new way of handling it tomorrow. Knowing this helps us to be flexible with how the Spirit leads us in relating to each other and in emptying ourselves of expectations of what we think God wants us to do.
We ask ourselves questions like, how much is too much to speak? What is the right amount of confrontation or revealing of my feelings? Sometimes, the less words the better. We learn to want, more than anything else, what the Spirit wants because of our faith in His goodness. Once we make a decision through the Spirit of God, we don’t look back. In faith, we keep our eyes on Him and go forward.
The second point is simply a few links to help us better understand the Spirit of God. The following links will take you to a few of the devotions in the words of Oswald Chambers – My Utmost For His Highest. They both speak of our desire to follow God’s Spirit.
Of course, there are wrong reasons to desire God’s Spirit. This is my third point. In Acts 8:9-25, Simon wanted the gift of the Holy Spirit so he could learn more magic. He wanted power. He was pursuing miracles more than he was pursuing God. Acts 8:18 speaks of how Simon wanted to buy the Holy Spirit for the excitement of the miracle.
Is it possible to confuse my desire for discernment with my desire for a magical experience so that I can gain attention? It is very right to share testimonies, but for only one reason, to glorify God.
We must ask ourselves what our motive is when we share our stories.
Fourth, in the times we feel ‘called’ by God’s Spirit, it is not a moment to enjoy (though we will have pleasure in following the Him), but to work. It is not an opportunity to be comfortable.
When you receive a birthday gift from your best friend, what does that look like? The kindness brings a smile to your lips and makes you feel special and loved. However, the Holy Spirit is not a birthday gift to make you smile. His gift is calling you to a higher plane.
This leads us to the fifth point. After writing in I Corinthians 12 about gifts of tongues and other such things, Paul ends in verse 31 by saying, “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.” What follows is the famous chapter on love. I Corinthians 13 says that the gift of tongues and prophecy are great, but greater still is the gift of loving one another.
As we become aware of our God-given talents, we must remember that the greatest way to expend our energies is to love what is unlovable. We are choosing to be on a higher plane when we love what is hard to love.
We are most alive when we are loving and actively giving. It is the way God made us. When we choose such lives, the Spirit of God moves and acts in and through us in ways that, on our own, we are not capable. Love is our purpose for living. Love promotes godly discernment.
As we continue to fervently feed our desire to become more like Christ and bend with His Spirit for the sake of God’s kingdom and not for our own benefit, Gal. 5:22,23 reveals to us, through the Spirit’s fruit, a way to know that we are truly listening, which is the sixth point. The fruit that speaks of our oneness with Him is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (many of the things we just listed from Eph. 4). Every moment we live, when we lean on the Holy Spirit for truth, His fruit will be brought about in our lives.
The seventh point in the Christian walk and of the Holy Spirit’s presence and fruit within us is to come clean about how much we really want, deep in our souls, to have His rule over our lives. When we are at our wit’s end for guidance, the Holy Spirit can show us the way. But how can He lead us when we are still well-supplied with all sorts of answers of our own.
Our hearts are full of self. They must be emptied.
Discernment is the willingness to start over, start from scratch, to be flexible to hear something different or new and be empty so we can be filled with His wisdom.
When I have no more answers and have come to the end of my rope, it is time to stop thinking, to sit before my Father and simply cry out His name and worship.
Here are the new additions to the Discernment Wheel from last week:
Discernment is:
Luke 18:31 Following this verse as an example of Jesus calling His disciples to a new place Using love to cast out a spirit of fear Knowing that some confrontations or truth may better be heard from others, not me Overseeing a heart of faithfulness vs gossip Not a promise of great results (or calm), yet I know that I have done his will Not free from battles (Jesus quoted scripture) *Doesn’t mean passive; it is important during a conflict to pause (for a time to regroup) in order to have a chance to come to truth and then relay it; then, I speak it with passion *Not my ability to figure it out *Not followed through by my power *Not necessarily about having good feelings
[*These additions aren’t in previous lessons, but added through comments.]
Father, in all my dealings with people, whether loved ones or strangers, lead me through your Spirit. Show me the way to love. Give me the fruit I need in order to show everyone who you are. In my decisions, help me to pause and consider your Holy Spirits guidance in all things. In Jesus name, Amen.
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Phil. 1:9-10
LOVE that abounds in knowledge and depth of insight can lead us within to a discerning heart!
What a beautiful way of saying exactly what we’ve been searching for: discernment.
What would love do?
The verse says that love helps us to choose what is best, so we can become pure and blameless for Jesus our Lord of Lords.
Keep love in mind as we continue to study how to know God’s will. Let’s go straight into the next part of Romans 12:1-2 that we started last week:
After being urged to view God’s mercy, love moves us to offer our bodies as a daily sacrifice, not conforming to the pattern of this world, but being transformed by the renewing of our minds. The verse says, “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Just as love helps us to discern, Romans 12 says, “Then you will be able to test it:”
To practice, live His will, prove it. God says to test Him in your giving (Mal. 3:10) and see what He will do! Jump in and just do it.
We are so unsure of ourselves and insecure. Consider how a parent teaches his child to swim. “Trust me!” he says. We must trust that God is leading us as we seek Him.
The next part says, you will be able to test….“and approve:”
See it for yourself. Find out what is true. Confirm, accept, verify, prove, validate that it is truly God who is leading you.
Then you will be able to test and approve God’s will.
When ‘I’ seek to understand God’s will, it will typically stand in opposition to my will.
Jesus painfully struggled before He went to the cross in the garden of Gethsemane. He wept and cried out to God to take this cup from Him. In the end, He spoke these words, “Yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22:42
Jesus gave up His dread and His fear of what God was calling Him to do for the sake of the world, …for love. God’s will is always abounding in love.
Other ways to phrase ‘God’s will’ is: His desire, His way, His plan or path, the straight road, His intentions, right accomplishments…done with fortitude, done with His power. In the Old Testament God’s will is called statutes, decrees, laws, precepts, commands, His Word, His ways.
The last part of Romans 12:2 says, ‘His good, pleasing and perfect will:’
Good – God is the only One who is ‘good.’ Mark 10:18
I want to be good, too! The good I do is really GOD working through me. So to do good, I follow my Father’s path.
Good can be defined as God’s work, doing right, obedience. It is the opposite of bad. It is positive. It is going His way in love.
Yet, what is God’s definition of good? At times, what He considers to be good may seem ‘bad’ to us (like a terrible health diagnosis that leads to someone’s salvation).
Commercials, peers and movies sell us on a worldly definition of good. We often feed our brains with what earth or our flesh defines as ‘good.’ Learn to see good from God’s perspective. When something bad happens, see it through different eyes. Trust in God and His love. Have faith in Him.
Pleasing
Take a look at God’s will or pattern versus the world’s pattern. Some may say that His will is boring or old-fashioned or that a person who has faith is a ‘stuck in the mud.’
But such things are far from truth. We find pleasure in pleasing God.
Some may say, “I’ll do what you want, God.” But they are not pleasing Him when they have an angry obedience. However, Jonah was nervous and afraid to follow God’s call. But he finally chose to obey. (Jonah 1 and 2)
Try to obey from your heart, but, if nothing else, at least start going in the direction of obedience!
In the parable of Matt. 21:28-32, there were two sons. One son said he would not do what his father asked, the other said he would. In the end, the rebellious son obeyed and the other didn’t.
Come to God willing to do what He wants you to do.
Pleasing self or pleasing people doesn’t last, but pleasing God lasts forever. To please God is to honor Him.
Perfect
No human can take on this description.
Perfect means following the only way (God’s way) that there is. I will never be perfect in obeying His perfect will. Many times, “I” simply need to get out God’s way! Anything short of His will isn’t perfect.
The word perfect in the Bible means complete or fully grown (perhaps, mature in Christ).
So looking back on Romans 12:1-2, when the time comes and I have spoken out in anger or self-pity, when I have become prideful and demeaning or I allow judgmental and superior thoughts into my mind, it is because I have not viewed God’s mercy, offered my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him. I have not worshiped Him. I have instead conformed to the pattern of this world. I have not been transformed by the renewing of my mind and therefore, I have not tested and approved God’s good, pleasing and perfect will. I have not loved.
I am basing my poor decisions on the flesh and not the Spirit of God. I am not following His ways.
This week, try to memorize Romans 12:1-2. It changes your life! Store it in your mind forever. Pull it up when you are tempted to waywardness. Be still and quote this beautiful verse when a decision needs to be made. Let Love Himself guide you.
Today, I have added to the Discernment Wheel from last week’s blog:
Discernment is: Not conforming to this world Being transformed by renewing our minds Not made in moments of jealousy Intentional Having courage Becoming someone different than your personality. Shine Jesus (not yourself) We discern from the soul and not from the mind or body.
Father, your love is amazing, far-reaching and a shining star that leads us to your will. Help us to abound in love. Show us the way to what you have in mind for us. Teach us how to test and approve what our thoughts direct us to do in order to be sure they are coming from your guiding hand. Lead us to what is good, pleasing and perfect. Give us discernment so we can be pure and blameless for the day of your son’s return. In Jesus name, Amen.
Do not conform 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. Rom. 12:2
Last week we covered Romans 12:1 and found in making our decisions that it is necessary to follow Paul’s urgent call to view God’s mercy, to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God and to know that in these things we are worshiping Him.
Let’s continue our study of discernment.
Romans 12:2 begins with: Do not conform to the pattern of this world.
Conform – to be like, imitate, adapt, match, fit in
Pattern – When I was a teenager, my mom taught me how to sew. First, we would go to the fabric store and choose a pattern, then we would pick out the material. The pattern was an exact outline of each piece I needed to have the end result of a new dress or skirt. But what would have happened had I come home from the fabric store with the wrong pattern? The outcome (the dress) would NOT have been the one I had chosen.
The world has a pattern: a design, blueprint, mold, guide, model, plan or precedent. In order for me NOT to imitate their example, I must intentionally make wise choices and be aware of what I come home with in my bag of goodies. I must check the bag before I leave the store! Spiritually, I must check my heart to see what pattern I am following! Lord, help me not to chase after choices that are based on what the world would do. My life and the lives around me depend on it!
How do I wholly give of myself daily to the Lord in conformity to His will and His way?
First, the pattern of Christ can be found in a community of believers. The people of God can walk with us in being courageous, content, patient and loving when we would rather follow after fear, despair, anger and self-centeredness.
Second, we must stay in His word to know better what Christ’s pattern looks like.
Third, realize that we are all made from God’s pattern (solid); each in our unique ways. It is wise to leave no room for jealousy of how other people are made differently from us. That is silly.
Fourth, in our community of believers, we know that when 2-3 come together to pray (Matt. 18:20), God is with us and He helps us to conform to His will.
The next part of the verse in Romans 12:2 says, “….but be transformed by renewing your mind.”
Transform – convert, renovate, change, receive a makeover. Another way to put it is: to become like Christ.
Renew is another word for restore (to what it originally was made to be). Think about restoring a piece of furniture. The first step in this process is to strip everything away that is old and tattered in order to prepare the wood for a new finish to give it a brand new look.
In our renewal, we become stripped of lies and evil thoughts, motives and attitudes. We lose the things that have burdened and brought us down: choices made from our feeble intellects instead of our spirits, and all that is ugly and bad. We may be brilliant of mind but dull of spirit. Seeking after the spirit is intentional hard work. It is a raw place for us. Also, if the ‘furniture,’ at this point, is left unprotected, mold, dirt or rot can stealthily infiltrate its layers. In the spiritual renewal process, we must put on the armor of God to protect our hearts from worldly rot.
In order to make wise decisions, discernment must come, not from the flesh or feelings or from our decaying bodies that let us down, but from our souls (filled with God). Just because we don’t feel up to doing something: having anger issues or holding grudges, our heads hurt or we have a stomach ache, it doesn’t mean we are absolved from a calling or cannot do God’s will.
Love God with ALL your heart, soul, mind and strength. Mark 12:30
All these parts of us have their being inside our soul (which is the part of us that lives forever). Resolve things in yourself by going deep into the place where God dwells, deeper than the aching body or hurt feelings, deeper, even than your own personality or preferences.
“Oh, but that’s not me!” you may say.
This is a wrong response. Instead, become who the Lord enables you to become in this moment, even if it is out of your comfort zone, even if you must become a ‘someone you’re not!’ God provides the rest.
Discern your decisions from Jesus Christ who lives in the depths of your soul.
The Bible says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt. 10:28
Do not be afraid of physical but of spiritual death!
When I desire the transformation that comes by renewing my mind, everything changes. My thoughts are on things above. Col. 3:2
My choices are thought through with a renewed mindset, one that is daily changing me to be more like Jesus.
Today, I have added to the discernment wheel (in purple) thoughts from last week’sblog post:
Discernment is urgent! Discernment is viewing God’s mercy (which is the foundation of discernment). It is an offering (of my body as a daily living sacrifice), holy and pleasing to God, which is worship of Him.
Lord, when I don’t know what to do about a situation, it helps me to concentrate on how Christ would handle it versus what the world would do. Deep in my soul there are times I just want to fit in and not be the weirdo that sticks out and is different. But you made me so beautiful and unique to shine to a lost world. Help me to stay true to how you created me from my mother’s womb. Help me to stay true to your pattern and what you intend for my life. Keep my mind in a state of constant renewal and give me the heart of Jesus. Lead me to the right choices and make me wise. In Jesus name, Amen.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the hornof my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior. II Sam. 22:3.
When I think of a fortress, I imagine thick, high walls and solid towers. In history, the massive construction was built to withstand enemy attacks. Whole towns could live and survive within a fortress. A fortress was a stronghold, a place of protection.
When I look at pictures, however, the fortress, in a way, actually looks like a prison. Yes, it protectively keeps the enemies out, but it also keeps the residents somewhat walled in.
Today’s verse speaks of God being a fortress. When I turn to Him in all my troubles and trials in which I feel enemy attacks, He guides me to His word. He points me to odd commands such as pray for my enemy, go the second mile, don’t expect anything in return (when I give of myself), don’t allow myself to be ruled by my anger, answer with gentle responses, be the least, be last and be joyful in my trials.
His warnings and directives are challenging to my flesh. Sometimes, God’s will feels like a prison of sorts. Yet, the older I get, the more I realize that the hardest things God calls me to are really surrounding me like a fortress. They are there for my protection and good.
When ‘I’ am living in my Father’s abundance, others in my life will want the same thing. So now, my fortress spreads to protect and uphold them.
God is so good.
His mercies never end. His compassion never fails. His love binds me to His heart. I cannot help but look up and see love and warmth shining from His face as He beholds me. God wants to be my rock, my deliverer, my refuge and shield.
I strive to keep His thoughts in mind; His thoughts and ways are better than mine, and they are completely and absolutely freeing to my soul (not enslaving or harming me).
There are also times when I feel stuck in a different kind of prison….because of the circumstances of life. Yet, truly I am only imprisoned when my mind believes it. When I give everything over to my loving Father and submit myself to Him in all things, I find meaning and opportunities to serve, even if only through my prayers for others. I can sing aloud and live in joy. I can be a light to the world around me. I can go forward in kindness and compassion and watch God do mighty works through me and others who follow His ways.
No circumstances are so dark that I cannot find the radiance of God. No situation can block my Mighty Fortress and Shield. No person can take away my joy or choice to love and assist others. It is not possible for anything to disturb my peace unless I allow it.
I am free in Christ, no matter the conditions that attempt to confine me.
Lord, help me always to search for you in all situations and to find you near me, waiting with open arms of protection and refuge. Thank you for being my Mighty Fortress in times when a rock of protection is what I need to stand on. Help me to stay strong and shine my light. In Jesus name, Amen.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Rom. 3:23
Man has an ongoing search for greater meaning. We seek this through avenues of self-fulfillment and satisfaction. We attempt speedier ways to find convenience and promotion. Our computers and phones change almost by the moment. The way we do business and draw customers to our products is enhanced daily. Transitions to something ‘new’ happen in our world faster than sometimes our brains can take in.
Yet, as innovative and intelligent as we have become, we still haven’t learned to place sin on our priority list as the greatest hindrance to our well-being. Sin remains a problem in the heart of every man and woman. Even on the days we are at our best and following the Lord with all our hearts, even then, the enemy finds a way to lure us away through wandering thoughts, prideful reflections and self-absorption. Mankind would do well to probe the deeper heart stuff that matters far more than having new conveniences and comfort. The valid solution to our greatest struggle isn’t the need for the latest device, strongest abs or silky smooth shampoo; it’s the need to welcome our Savior who renews our hearts from the inside out, and who gives us abundant grace when we don’t quite get it right.
Each of us is something special in God’s eyes, made for His purposes. Yet, we keep losing sight of this because everything outside of Him is noisily attractive.
The constant urge for something ‘better’ but not deeper is the very thing that moves us away from the Lord and into sin. It’s what takes our minds off His will and onto other things.
New devices aren’t, within themselves, sinful. However, the desire for something better calls us from where we are in Christ to believe lies like: boiling over in anger is my only option, eating this one more dessert will calm me down, stealing will give me what I need or committing murder or adultery will make me feel good. We think there is always something out there better than what we have already in plenty and in abundance in the Lord.
It is one thing to talk about other people (the sins of the world) and another to talk about personal sin. There is an arrogance in each of us that even in our most humble moments, our brains still run away from admitting fault. Yet, the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15) paves the way for us to understand the beautiful picture of a Father who waits for His children to come home, a home that is full of blessings and life.
Conviction, confession, repentance and transformation through Christ are essential for us to know Him more and live our lives for Him.
Such a life truly is blessed, but let’s go even further. We will never, on this earth, get our lives perfectly right like the Lord Jesus did. We, in our muddy clothes are cleansed and made clean by Jesus’ blood. His perfect life and death on a cross brought us salvation. He covers us with HIS righteousness, if only we would accept this priceless gift in faith.
Yes, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (in the works of our flesh). We must admit our position as we stand before our great Lord and Father. Then we accept His gift of mercy as we fall on our faces at His feet. He is a good Father and loves us deeply.
Lord, we have missed the truth of who you have made us to be by going after other things, and so often failing. Please cover us with Christ’s blood. Make us clean and whole, and with your strength, help us to follow you and your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know. For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled up wine, like new wine skins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply. Job 32:17-20
Job was sick with severe sores. His livelihood, children and health were devastatingly taken away. He was stripped of everything he held dear. His three friends now tell Job that his sins brought these things on.
Toward the end of the book, Job’s fourth ‘friend’ entered the picture to speak his mind after the others had exhausted their words. Job refuted everything before now.
Oddly enough, in just a few chapters and after God addressed Job, God told Eliphaz (one of the earlier speakers) that he and his two friends had misspoken the truth about Him. Elihu, the fourth friend is not mentioned. Why? I don’t know. The commentaries vary on their interpretation of this. However, today, I simply wanted to focus on the fact that Elihu felt powerfully sure that he must speak.
We all have the need to voice the deep truths of our hearts. It is one of the reasons I write this blog. Writing is like breathing to me. Sometimes, I simply must say what I feel God is laying on my heart.
However, have you ever been in a conversation and while the other person is speaking, you vehemently prepare what you want to say? And when the other person takes a breath to pause, you dive in headfirst with all your might. Yes, you feel you must say these things, but you probably shouldn’t. I am most guilty of this.
My mind gets stirred up, “This person is mistaken. It would be wrong for me not to speak up. I feel ‘led’ to speak.”
And so here come a flood of words all bottled up inside. The conversation turns into a war of words, a wall of defense and a desire to win. Neither is learning from the other.
If it’s close family or friends, sometimes the words can be pent up emotions or spewing of feelings.
There seems to be a dilemma between the need to speak and the need to show wisdom in silence and in hearing the other person’s heart.
The listener I draw out of my heart wins so much more than the eloquent fighter in me (who’s always ready and willing to come out)!
One thing I respect about Elihu is that he waited until the others were completely finished with their speeches. And when he began to speak, he was respectful and courteous. (I can learn from him.)
When we speak our hearts, a lot of times the words are full of drama. We want to be heard, so we are loud and, sometimes disrespectful, as if our anger will cause the other person to stop and change their viewpoint! Most of the time, our approach simply drives them away. And our ‘calling’ to speak doesn’t feel so much like a calling as it did before. We feel more ashamed than elated at our ‘obedience.’
When a calling truly comes, with God leading the way to our words, the outcome may still be unpleasant, but we are blessed with a sense of peace that right has been accomplished. Sometimes, as God speaks through us, the outcome can be pretty awesome, to His praise.
Can you imagine the humble and honest pleadings of a concerned spouse or friend who speak truths that may not necessarily be easy to hear, yet needful? What about the preachers and ministers (among us or even inside us) that God raises up to share His words with the world? And sometimes, these words aren’t what our listeners want to hear.
Truth, when spoken or revealed, is for the glory of God and inspiration of the hearers, not for the glory of the speaker.
Some good examples in the Bible are Peter (on the day of Pentecost), Jeremiah and, of course, Jesus, the son of God, who always spoke clear and truthful words.
Jeremiah 4:19 says, “Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent.”
And Jeremiah 20:9 said, “His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”
There are times we should refrain from expressing our hearts when we are being passionately provoked to speak (by Satan), but then there are absolute times we should obey the voice of God who prompts us to open our mouths with His truth.
Urgently, this obedient act includes the precious, loving words we forget to say or are too busy to say or we ‘never got the chance.’ These would be the heartfelt things we feel about each other.
Positive emotional blessings upon those around us are words that beg to come out of our mouths and be heard. “I miss you” “I love you so much!” “You are so dear to me.” “I know the Lord; I want you to know Him, too. He is good!”
Father, remind me always to speak my heart to you. For you are my God. You are my first love. I want always to be spilling over with my grateful and loving feelings in your presence. I want others to know you well. Help my life and my words to speak of you. Give me insight and discernment when I open my mouth to say what you put on my heart. Give me listening ears to hear your prompting of others to speak to me. Make us prosper in drawing others to you. In Jesus name, Amen.
To show partiality isn’t good, yet for a piece of bread the valiant will transgress. Prov. 28:21
Several places in Psalms there is the use of the phrase, “Lord, teach me your decrees or laws or statutes.”
Lord, teach me!
A person is taught these things through his upbringing, school lessons, Bible classes and all of life. Parents and teachers instruct him, as do any situation he experiences. When one wants to gain a better understanding, he sits in a class or in front of a book to take notes. He listens and becomes alert to things around him. He studies and learns as for an examine. He meditates and takes it all in. He practices entering into the lessons and actually living out what he is learning. He does what he is taught.
So it is with today’s Bible verse. What can I learn from it? How might the Lord teach me more about Himself through this verse? Writing my blog helps me to process and better comprehend its value in my life.
First of all, an esteemed judge typically stands in that place of deciding a person’s fate. He may either speak up or keep silent in order to save or condemn him. However, at times, he may be tempted to use his authority to show favor to one and bias against another, even for as low a bribe as “a piece of bread.”
Judicial decisions may be based on partiality towards a friend or to those who are smart or powerful, to benefactors, or to those who are politically or religiously like-minded to his beliefs. On the other hand, the judge may unfairly rule against the poor, against his enemy or someone who holds a different view from himself. This partiality does not please God…who shows no favoritism (Acts 10).
After accepting a bribe the first time, the judge finds it easier to use his office to accept even a small piece of bread for an unfair judgment. The action no longer pricks his conscience. He is motivated by even a petty offer.
Second, go back to my earlier question: what can I learn from today’s verse? How might I allow it to teach me more about God…and about me?
In a way, we become ‘authorities’ or ‘judges’ when we sell our souls at a price for the things we value most.
In the Bible, Judas betrayed Jesus for only 30 pieces of silver. King Saul promised David the marriage of his daughter if he would go out and fight the Philistines (secretly thinking the Philistines would kill him). Joseph’s brother sold him for 20 shekels of silver to get rid of him.
To bring it home, let’s say that one day, my husband and I are irritating each other. Each of us is frustrated, and we have a choice to let it move us further into anger and division. Our tendency is to defend our own stance and allow pride to build up our side.
I put myself in the place of a judge by saying, “He is irritating me. Therefore, I ‘rule’ that he is guilty and should be punished.”
I become the watchman of wrongs, and when I spot sin, I give myself the right to shake my head at the sinner in disgust, or walk away in cold silence.
When our Lord Jesus had fasted for 40 days, the enemy whispered (Matt. 4), “I know you’re hungry. Just take this stone and turn it into a piece of bread. Bow down to me and I will show you real life!”
Yet, Jesus knew that love and trust in His Father and the sustenance of His Father’s word was more valuable to Him than His need for bread (even though he hadn’t eaten in 40 days).
I am NOT the ruler of another person, whether in marriage or any other relationship or circumstance. Humility says to understand the bigger picture of both sides of an issue. I can try to grasp the wrong of my own heart. What am I doing to exacerbate the turmoil? How can I be honest about things, yet still keep the peace?
I step down from my judge’s seat. I take off my judge’s robe and choose to ask how might I become like Jesus and put my love and trust in the Father rather than bargaining with Satan for only a piece of bread (which, in the above example, would equate to the goal of simply winning the argument).
Bread, in this blog, represents anything one uses as a bargaining chip to get what one wants. It sustains the body for a moment. Yet, obedience to the Father moves one into the spiritual realm of eternity.
Father, you are the Great Judge and you never judge unfairly. Move me to be obedient to your will. Help me to put my trust in you and to love you with all my heart, soul and mind. Fill me with Jesus, the bread of life and sustainer of my soul.Teach me better ways to clothe myself in humility and peace. In Jesus name, Amen.
A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished. Prov. 28:20
How does one become a faithful person? A few comparable adjectives or phrases may help us better understand and then broaden the significance of today’s verse.
Here is a list I compiled of the word faithful:
devoted resolute sincere reliable dependable honorable steadfast trustworthy upright constant enduring honest holy unchanging unwavering overflowing with good deeds full of integrity patient!
Faithfulness is the true way to joy and blessings. For example, a faithful friend, one who is devoted and constant, will typically himself be blessed in times of need.
Of course, the blessings of faithfulness include receiving the compassion one has compassionately offered others, but they also include a good name that comes from an upright heart, peace instead of anxiety about worldly matters and inner feelings of usefulness, not only toward God, but toward one’s fellowman.
A faithful person has hardships and sensitivities just like the rest of us. However, when he is lonely, he looks for other lonely people to whom he can give his companionship. When he feels neglected, he gives attention to those in need. When life gives him hurtful experiences, he can give compassion to others who are hurting. When anger takes him over, he seeks out those who need his peace.
Overtime, patience is developed in him as each trial reveals the choice to move forward in faith or revert back to immobilizing habits of self-pity, pride and instant gratification.
One who impatiently and eagerly hastens to get rich fills his life with pleasures, seeks his own way and has his mind resolute and devoted on wrong things. His focus in life is different than the steadfast Christian. His lustful desire for the quick accumulation of wealth may tempt him to commit fraud or deceit. His ways are contrary to those who are reliable and true.
Certainly, the possession of wealth is not the problem. Man is overjoyed when he is blessed with good fortune. His faithfulness brings about the patience needed for God’s daily provisions. He is happy in the waiting just as much as he is in the overflow of food, shelter and clothing. But if he loses faith and turns an unscrupulous amount of attention to amass more money, no matter the consequences to others, this can be his downfall. Money, then, becomes an idol that controls his life. God is forgotten. His pursuit of wealth is all-encompassing, overshadowing his desire to please his Maker. He runs after riches with all his energy and might. Of what use is his life to God?
Father, make my heart faithful towards the things of the Lord. Narrow my focus to be about your kingdom and your heart. Show me how to increase my faith. Teach me the treasures of patient waiting for your answers in my trials and needs. Help me to see your blessings as they come and not miss them. In Jesus name, Amen.
Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold him back. Prov. 28:17
In the Old Testament, the law required “an eye for eye and tooth for tooth (perhaps not necessarily an actual eye, but receiving a fair compensation for one’s losses).” It was right to let the full consequence happen to the offender so that remorse could set in and grace could take its place in his life. Witnesses of the crime would learn from his mistakes, as well, to see first hand that no good comes from doing wrong. No one was to talk another person out of a guilty conscience.
Specifically, concerning the crime of murder, the criminal’s own life was required of him. The Israelites were not to interrupt this due process. No one was to rescue him from his punishment, or the rescuer would be guilty of murder as well.
Sadly, taking someone else’s life had its own set of problems. Terrible memories of the magnitude and guilt of robbing the victim of his years on earth would haunt the murderer all of his days. One who killed another person brought ‘death’ to himself until finally his wrecked and tired body and his mind were laid to rest in the grave. Perhaps, even if one tried to save such a criminal from his punishment, the awful pile of disturbing thoughts would still plague his mind.
Today’s proverb feels like there is no hope for these offenders of society. Yet, what about Saul in the New Testament, who not only sought to kill, but his victims were Christians! Jesus, himself, came to him, changed his name and called him to a higher place. He found amazing grace in the Lord.
In Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus spoke about the old law concerning an eye for an eye, but He emphasized the need for forgiveness and mercy for those who brought others harm or hurt.
Certainly, murder is not something that is simply physical. Jesus tells us that murder can happen in the heart through our anger and harsh words. We can cause death to others and ourselves through our hurtful ways.
After considering all we know about scripture, we realize we must have balance in our Biblical approach concerning crimes. We do receive punishment that is due if any among us is a murderer (and all of us apparently hold that title in one way or another). There are natural consequences for our tirades and raging words, and rightfully so. Sometimes, relationships are severed or changed forever. Let us remember that sin must seriously be addressed in our lives.
In the end, how blessed we are to have access to Jesus’ blood and righteousness. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). Yet, we who put our trust and faith in Him have received His wondrous grace.
Spiritually, there is a type of death in which we WANT to participate once we understand its dynamic. The death is the murder of self. I’m not talking about suicide. I’m talking about putting to death our evil ways.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
Romans 6:6-7…knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin.
When a person dies to self, he matures in the Lord. Every day, he wants, more than anything else, to be like Jesus. He walks away from agitation and irritableness. Worry and fear are changed to trust and faith. The stripping of all he clings to is released into the hands of God and traded for peace and joy. The numbness and fog life brings from illness and loss is turned into pure clarity from meditating on God’s word and praising His Holy name (which lead the person to a good and successful life). Prayer is always seen as answered because of his trust in God’s ways that are higher than his own ways.
Physical possessions bring him happiness but not compared to the joy that comes from conquering his flesh and becoming wiser in the duration of his trials. The one who denies himself, no longer lives for ‘happy.’ He sees that Christ was ‘crushed’ for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5), and he sees his own needs and wants that feel crushed by his trials as being part of the fellowshipping in Christ’s sufferings (Phil 3:10).
He knows his body is not his own (I Cor. 6:19-20) but God’s. He knows that as a Christian everything feels upside down from the way the world views things. He knows that being last, smallest, humiliated or rejected is normal as a disciple of Jesus. His reputation (wanting others to think he is perfect) is often on the line. His sins are constantly exposed to his face as he comes to know more about a perfect God. His life feels backwards. “I thought Christianity was supposed to be a fairy-tale-life, smiling all the time like the image we have of the early Christians who shared everything, every day.”
Yet, that image is false. THEY lived difficult lives and were hunted down and tortured. Nothing belonged to them, except the intangible gift of joy, unity with the Father and a sure salvation. Their joy was actually a little weird. It was unnatural to find joy in the intense trials they experienced, yet to do so was also supernatural!
Whereas the taking of one’s life leads to forever destroying one’s family, God’s idea of death-to-self brings blessings and life. Backwards blessings (the consequences that come from this death-to-self) are the strangest phenomena about such a life lived for Christ. The enemy brings in pain to torment and threaten to undo us through our hardships. But God, breathes LIFE into what Satan meant for evil. The hell we live in because of Satan becomes the catalyst to save our souls.
When good happens to us, we clap our hands, jump up and down and accept it as being from the Lord. We also accept evil in humility of heart, knowing that the good of it will be even better than the physical blessings. ‘Evil’ circumstances teach and train us that there’s more out there than this earth can provide. We are ‘happy’ because the ROCK and FORTRESS of our lives never lets us down like people and things.
Sometimes we will witness God’s physical gifts as huge miracles! But even more are the miracles that come after we experience the crushing weight through which pain can bring us. Pain leads us to the valley where dead (dry) bones are scattered all around. Our not-so-happy, stripped-of-flesh dead-bones cry out, but God breathes into them (Ezekiel 37). Our new LIFE becomes no longer about things of this earth, but about Him. We’re on this earth, fully engaged, but our hearts are stayed upon Him.
The hand of the Lord is on all who choose to climb up on the altar of pain and death, to offer our tied-up hands and feet and allow our trials to make us into living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him (Rom. 12:1).
He helps us to BE STILL in the terror of the most awful circumstances from which we would rather flee (or die), for He makes and molds us there. We give up, not on life, but OF our life, to be and do what Christ wants us to be and do. And daily, we ask, WHAT DO YOU WANT, DEAR GOD. WHAT IS YOUR WILL?
Assuredly, He may lead us to more pain! WE beg Him to kill the cancer and losses that keep coming and never stop. We also beg Him to kill the part of us that tries to rule Him (inside our losses).
We beg Him to kill that part of us that depends on ourselves, that depends on our personal views of what gives life.
Our prayers are honest, but often having them answered our way is not what will place us where we need to be. God’s opposite answers to those prayers, and even His silence, are always marvelous to behold and create a humbling attitude within us.
Lord, thank you for our blessed trials! Thank you, but we still cry. We still hurt. We embrace our hardships as we cry out for them to be removed. We kiss your feet and know without a doubt that you are answering our prayers IN the stripping of all fleshly things we cling to. We give attention to your word in the insanity of the pit. Your word and your presence are the oxygen we need in the drowning torrents of the darkest waters. You work in mighty ways in the silence, breathing true life back into our bones. You are our only hope. Come quickly, Lord. Save us. We die to ourselves and all we try to possess and that possesses us. When we sin, we accept the consequences. Yet we welcome and thrive inside of your amazing grace. In Jesus name, Amen.
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. Prov. 28:15
Solomon was a king when he wrote this proverb and was also the son of a king. In the early part of his reign, he asked God for wisdom in order to rule his people well.
Other kings were cruel tyrants to their helpless subjects, subjects who may have been destitute, yet dependent on the king for their very lives. Instead of benefiting his people, the wicked ruler was bent on using his powerful crown to fiercely take from them in his unending desire for more.
This hardened ruler never looked back on how he treated those he should have protected. He would simply charge forward and devour, roaring loudly, driven by ravenous hunger to control everyone around him (never seeming to be satisfied).
How did kings of the past get so messed up? And how might a wicked ruler have changed his ways if he honestly wanted to become a more responsible, generous king, instead of choosing the destructive path of a roaring lion or a charging bear?
He would have had to have an all-out war against his entire makeup, his whole way of thinking.
On a more personal note, what would I do if that person was me?
Where would I start? …at the foot of the cross, the place where sin (past, present and future) meet the Savior. The cross is a place of transformation and life!
There is always hope for evil men to repent and change their ways. Therefore, there is always hope for me to tame the lion and bear within.
We, who want very much to please the Father, may never go to the extreme of growling at others like a lion would do as he protectively tears at his food. We may not come across as fierce in our relationships with others, but within us is a lack of self-control that sometimes, with all honesty resembles these creatures: temper tantrums, irritability, gluttony, laziness, self-indulgence, especially during such times as a pandemic. We’re all just trying to hang on and survive. We don’t have the energy to transform the lion and bear within.
However, God does, and His call to renovate our lives is worth the effort we pursue even in circumstances that beg us to give up. We must release the need to be right, defend, speak, control and be in charge.
There is so much power in prayer for every situation. We can choose to fall on our knees with patience and faith that God will help us do what is best for everyone concerned.
Somehow, past and current issues haunt our days and burden us with low self-esteem and unhealthy responses to those around us (who have no clue why). We think that blaming the past gives us license to lack self-control for the rest of our lives. We think we deserve the luxury of a breakdown, and others (who have nothing to do with our past wounds) deserve our projective anger.
Take a moment and imagine if we stopped making excuses for our harmful behavior. As one person put it, “after decades of allowing my past to eat me (and others around me) alive, I walked away and never let it run my life again.” Today, she is one of the loveliest people I know.
Imagine waking up every day to a new page in the ‘book’ of your life. Your brain is like an Etch A Sketch that still holds to the wisdom (compassion, determination, patience, love) that the past taught you, but erasing the devastating results of the wounds. Each daily new trial is written on your new page with a sense of energy, creativity, courage, forgiveness, peace and with an utter dependence on God.
Each wound has been completely forgiven. No stain is left of the piles of sin others have committed against you. You are free to see the next moment with clarity. Right now is not clouded with unfair offenses and unresolved anger. You wake up pure and unmolested by sin from head to toe, useful in God’s Kingdom.
What if my reactions to the stuff around me had more to do with my faith in God than my impatience, restlessness, greed or hunger for power, attention and beauty? What if I were more concerned about the spiritual healing and success of others even than my own. What if my focus in life was more about their reputation and good life? What if selflessness and the fruit of the spirit ruled my days and my nights?
I do not have to be a tyrant, devouring others with my neediness, self-pity and resentment. I am daily fed by Jesus Himself, who is the bread of life. My energy goes toward knowing the fellowship of his sufferings (Phil. 3:10), for he was punished, stricken, afflicted, despised, rejected, abused, pierced, crushed, oppressed and wounded (Isaiah 53). Yet still, he forgave everyone of everything, and He would have left ALL He wanted, to bow the knee to His Father, God.
I want to learn humility (not pride) in assuming or expecting to be included in every person’s thoughts or every familiar gathering. I want to have the ability to see past the slight, the exclusion and hurt feelings.
Could my ‘feelings’ be a form of lack of self-control? He didn’t speak to me; he didn’t respond the way I wanted; he criticized me; he didn’t agree with me; he didn’t do the task the way I would have.
These words allow feelings of low self-worth and despair into my heart. I devour that person with my judgmental attitude, my shaming, silence and hateful looks. I’m out-of-control with resentment and misinterpretation of the event because my mind is filled with unforgiveness. But what would Jesus do?
I want to take the high road and humble myself before the Lord. I didn’t get what I wanted from someone. But I always have Christ (who understands my pain). This teaches me to continue loving others just as if their forgetfulness or unintentional infractions never happened.
I am not a half person (because of my past) but a whole person in Christ. I don’t have to control others in order to be filled.
I wake up refusing fear, worry, anxiety and anger. Instead I trust.
Lord, the king in today’s verse was on the level of Satan! Satan is described as a roaring lion in I Peter 5:8. “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” I am so thankful that you are not a mean, unwilling tyrant like the king in today’s proverb, but a trusted, dependable Father. Give me courage to step out of that lion-skin and be transformed into your likeness. Make my inner fierce, roaring hunger be for you, not for things my flesh seeks after. In times when my flesh is like a roaring lion, I need the touch of the Savior’s hand. Help me to meditate on your word day and night. Teach me what meditating truly means. Take me deep in thought to dwell on what is good and right in order to promote your Kingdom. I surrender my life to your loving hands. In Jesus name, Amen.
Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble. (Prov. 28:14)
Searching for the word tremble in the Bible, I found that most of these verses refer to a fear of earthly things. They say things like, “Do NOT tremble” or “Do NOT fear,” though it is what mankind is prone to do. Many times, that kind of fear can drive us into terrible decisions. Choices made from fear are typically counterintuitive in the long run. Some of the verses, however, point the reader TOWARD an emotion of fear in which the trembling is about being in the presence of God. The fear is not fright, it is awe, along with a healthy respect for His will and keeping ourselves free from sin.
Last year, my husband and I dealt with a leaky roof in a house recently purchased and were waiting on roofers to fix it. This brought my husband to a place of vigilance about the possibility of other problems. In a heavy rain, he would go down to the basement or up into the attic with a flashlight and point its bright rays at the walls and rafters to reveal any weakness in the foundation or any sign of moisture.
Likewise, in today’s verse, the “blessed one” keeps a constant watch for sin in his life. He is ever vigilant, shining God’s flashlight (The Word) on his heart to reveal what could be hidden. He knows sin is nothing to ignore or pretend is not there. He trembles (a healthy fear) in the face of sin and seeks God to rescue him from any sign of decay and rot in his bones.
The blessed one trembles with fear at the perils of taking the wrong roads of life because it is destructive to his soul. Perhaps trials, pain or discomfort naturally frighten him, but not as much as his dread of the stronghold of sin. He has a working conscience and is sorry for any waywardness that comes about. He has experienced sin’s consequences and knows the more peaceful joy of the straight path. He is in the habit of alerting himself to temptation, and when that comes he is armed. He falls on his face before a Holy God and begs for His help, knowing he cannot resist evil alone. The blessed one is someone who not only has a heathy respect for the cleansing place God plays in all areas of his life, but also balances that with a humble love and wholehearted, fervent desire to please Him.
Right now, if I trembled before God what would that mean? How might that change me each moment of my day? What would I do next because of this trembling?
To tremble (a Holy, wondrous humility and bowing down before God and His ways) means there has to be some sense of caring, wonder and regard for the One before whom I tremble, not a forced submission, but an exalting of His Holy Name, a supreme surrender and a reverent quietness in His presence. The trembling would not necessarily be a literal body-shaking experience, though sometimes, that is possible along with chills down my spine or some other extraordinary phenomena. The trembling would be more of a shaking from within, an earthquake of the soul, one that instead of causing disaster would bring order and peace. It would be a movement towards a Loving God.
This fear or shaking up is absolutely THE key to thriving in a good life. Healthy fear keeps one close to the Father. There can be no apathy or disconnect when an attitude of worship pervades the one who is coming before The Mighty One Enthroned On High.
Alwaystrembling means that my awe would be a normal part of life. I would train myself to be in a constant reverent state of mind, cognizant of God’s presence in every situation, realizing that such an attitude would shelter me from harm and strengthen my increasingly accurate perspective of a Holy Father. My desire would be for the Lord of Hosts above all else. It wouldn’t shock me when unexpectant troubles showed up. My focus would stay on the Father. In the act or state of mind of trembling before God, I could not be hardened of heart. There would be no lack of passion for God and His ways. There would be a belief that my own God-led choices would, in fact, be best for all concerned.
To make today’s verse practical, here are a few ideas:
*I tremble before God by accepting what food is before me, repeating to myself that it is enough, and it is what God is providing for me now (instead of complaining and allowing myself to bow [and tremble] before food). *Fear of what people think of me is a common giant to face. A good reputation (She’s pretty cool!) matters. What if my friend or spouse leaves or walks away? The fear of abandonment is real and can motivate bad decisions. But, God is the greatest reality more than any of these fears. Bowing down before Him and not people moves me to better priorities. *Trembling at my trials (earthly situations) is common as well. Yet, how much more must I learn from what frightens me and turn that energy of fear towards my Creator. I state my anxious case to the One who knows me (and the situation) better than I do. Trembling before Him brings comfort and peace IN the situation that causes me stress. *In the face of necessary confrontations that are too big for me, I tremble before GOD because He can handle my circumstance in a mighty way, whereas, ‘I’ can only see the impossible. *Death (the worst fear on earth) has been conquered by Jesus Christ. Therefore, I tremble before God. Victory has already been won. I claim this more when I set my fears before HIM. *Trembling in the presence of God includes trembling before His truth. What does HE want for and from me today? My decisions aren’t based on what ‘I’ wish for or on my fear of what could happen if I follow His call. They are based on a willingness to allow the trembling to spur me on to what is right. *Sometimes, I put my fear and awe towards fame, power, money, political parties, diet, intellect or credentials rather than in the supreme reality of God’s wisdom and knowledge. Our own expertise and understanding is valuable and needed in today’s world (as God-given talents), but not ALL answers sit on the shoulders of our most learned men and women, who hopefully always tremble before a Holy God as they give counsel. Therefore, though I gain advice from those I trust and those who are more knowledgeable than I (because having many counselors is wise), my ultimate source to the answers I seek is addressed as I tremble before God (who leads me to the right counselors). *When we process each other’s views, a certain superior air calls us to the circle of our own kind or of those we seek support for our stance (as we converse about those who don’t think like us). Yet, we give our awe, respect and trembling to God first, even more than like-minded family or friends (tribes or clans or parties)? When my chattering criticism of the other side gains my greatest energy and attention, I am distracted inside the multitude of tribal words from trembling before a God who leads me to humility and love.
Truly, the opposite of trembling before God seems to be a hardness of heart which can be prompted by a desire for the pleasures of sin or a self-reliance (having so much that one forgets his need of God). His quiet time with the Father and meeting with His church begins to fade away. He isn’t as alert to the luring aspects of temptation and can be caught in sin before he realizes what’s happening. Sometimes the hardness is a result of not getting what he wants out of life. In his mind, he has prayed but ‘to no avail.’ A low-grade anger takes him over and he slowly slips away into a numbing apathy and refusal to acknowledge God’s glorious presence.
The hardened man doesn’t heed his conscience anymore. He no longer listens to wise counsel or learns from sin’s consequences of the past. He doesn’t admit the wrongs he’s done and doesn’t feel remorse. Though God lovingly pursues him, he is adamantly oblivious. When sin’s consequences come, his tactic is to blame others. Scapegoats are his hobbies. All he’s out for is himself. He is his own god and others around him are coerced into agreeing with his views of life. Little does he know that he is missing out on a good life by submitting his all and trembling before The Almighty God and not himself.
An example of trembling in the Bible is Job. After the worst possible calamities, it would have been understandable for Job to harden his heart! Why instead did he worship (Job 1:20-22)? He was an upright and blameless man, but even more than that, he was a man with a big God (even though his entire world caved in). Job grieved and cried out and got angry, but his greatest habit (that overrode all else) was to tremble before God. His Maker was the One he turned to in his distress, as did King David (The Psalms) and many other Biblical examples. We can learn from these precious stories of how trembling before God brings a blessing.
Lord, we tremble before you in the midst of much turmoil and unrest. As we bow in awe of YOU, help our fears not to get in the way of what you want to accomplish with your power and might. Help the fears we have towards our circumstances not to be the overriding emotion, but our respect and adoration of you. Teach us in our new habit of trembling before you to trust and have faith. Show us your power, Oh God. We believe; help our unbelief. We tremble; help our lack of such trembling in your presence. You have said in your word so many times not to be afraid. Help us instead to tremble before you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13
When I was in elementary school, I once charged out of the classroom for recess. As far back as I can remember, my steps had always been super girl quick and wildly competitive. The first one out the door, I ran like crazy to the place my friends and I had designated as our space. I completely missed the signs that had strategically been placed for future construction work. Set in the corners of a large rectangular shape on ‘my’ field, tight strings about 2 feet off the ground marked off the area from one tall stake to another. I was oblivious of this and ran right into one of those taunt strings. Falling, I picked myself up, only to see two bloody lines about 2 inches above each knee. Needless to say, I learned a lesson and was more careful next time around.
My pride had pushed me to be THE best, but pride led to everyone witnessing my downfall.
It is the way of sin. It stretches out in front of us, secretly waiting for our pride, envy or selfishness to lead us straight into its net. God’s word tries to forewarn us with loud signs to alert us to danger ahead. If only we would pay attention and not heed our fleshly cries to beat everyone else.
Yet, we all run into that string from time to time. When the realization of our predicament hits us, and we rise from our fall, what next? Do we continue on the road of pride and hide the sin?
Hiding a sin is foolish. Many times our closest family and friends already sense that something is up. Maybe they have guessed the ‘crime’ within our souls. And all the while the sinner thinks himself unseen with the hope of getting away with it. If only he knew how much more he would prosper if only he would come clean. However, pride and competitive spirits in our hearts sometimes still want to beat the others through an appearance of perfection. How much peace do we miss when our eyes want other’s approval instead of leading them to the real perfect One through our confessed sin? What kind of burdens do we carry when we hold onto sin and hide away?
Our excuses go something like this: I was young, and it was so long ago, so I never confessed that sin. Or, here are the reasons why I HAD to commit that sin. I had no choice. Still the sin remains hidden in my heart. I try to cover it by pretending it didn’t happen. Like Adam and Eve, I hide from God, thinking He’ll never find out.
But when I truly look at my sin with brave strength, admitting to my fall, I can receive the covering of God, the blood of Jesus and His grace upon me. Admitting my sinful nature is a humbling event. Declaring God (and not myself) as Savior is so freeing. Bringing the sin into the light dispels the darkness.
There is no sin too great for the Lord to withhold His forgiveness.
Many times, I have approached someone with a sin and their response was, “I’m so glad that you know now. Hiding this sin was awful.”
Sins are wearying to carry, but the mask the sinner must wear to hide (from others and from himself) is a burden as well. If he thinks he needs to portray himself as good or better than those around him, the truth is, those around him sin, too. There is no human being who lives a sinless life. So, learning the practice of giving the sins openly to the Father, not only takes the yokes away, it helps us see each other and ourselves as we really are.
In God’s grace, we still experience the consequence of our sin, maybe for the rest of our lives. Yet, in the payment of the crime, there can grow spiritual maturity that now recognizes why God’s commands are good. We have a story, a testimony that may save others from that same sin.
Some sins need to be confessed only privately, some publicly, some only to God. The silence itself over our wrongdoings (even from our Father) doubles the impact of the sin. God already knows, but the confession is something we must do for the sake of our souls. Bringing something into the light gives us accountability and help instead of floundering on our own. Our repentance requires a turning from sin, an acknowledgement of the horror of what we’ve done and a great reliance on God to help us change (perhaps this includes gaining counsel from someone wise and knowledgeable).
As a parent, I made so many mistakes when my children misbehaved. I resorted to anger and shame. I regret so much that my response (not always but typically) was not one of instruction and direction. There were so many times I could have led them to the compassion and grace of the Father while expressing the depth of their waywardness and how it would lead to ruin and destruction. That is the role of a parent: to help each child one day stand on their own before God, relying on Him for the right choices. God, forgive me for this and help my children to know better how to teach their own young ones.
When was the last time you said the words, “Yes, I did that and I’m sorry,” and truly felt the weight of what you did? You stopped making excuses that if the other person hadn’t have said what he said or did what he did, you wouldn’t have sinned? Blame never cures pride.
What could you have done differently? How could you have responded? These questions are a great exercise in examining our souls.
When we confess, we are tying ourselves to a brother or sister who knows our weakness and can pray for us and help us process why we did what we did. We are freeing ourselves from the enslavement guilt puts on our souls, similar to a sick person who voices his illness to his physician and now can be led to a cure. We are renouncing the sin, humbling ourselves before God and thus receiving His grace. We are now able to find peace.
There is of course the sin that is so deeply buried within, the person doesn’t even realize it is destroying his life. For these hidden sins I have another set of questions the reader can shift and change according to his own circumstances. Many of these have to do with the topic of purity in marriage, but let the questions spur you to ask about other topics in whatever applies to your situation.
*Are you faithful to your mate, in thought, in deed and in words (spoken to the opposite sex who is not your mate)? Let this question go deep. If your spouse could hear your thoughts would he or she label you as faithful? What about ten years ago? What about tomorrow? What if the truth of your life was revealed to everyone around you, would they label you as faithful? *Is the distance in your marriage being fed by anything you think, speak or do? *If you knew the negative or positive impact your thoughts, words and actions could have on other marriages, would you seek more passion for the wisdom you need in these areas? *If two doors were before you, one was TRUTH (about the part you play in healing your marriage), the other, LIES, which would you choose? Don’t be so quick to answer. Answer truthfully. *If 100 couples followed your example of how you treat your marriage, how would witnessing their choices in marriage affect a heart change within you? *Which of your marriage choices are helping or hurting the Kingdom of God? *Do you have other loves: work, best friends, hobbies, innocent companions of the opposite sex in which you find yourself ending conversations with your mate to be involved with them? Are your choices sneaky and hidden from eyes you know would lead you to the right road? *Do you often defend yourself or other loves more than your marriage? *Does the amount of time you spend in your thoughts and activities on other loves hurt or help the attitude you have about your marriage? Does it hurt or help your mates attitude toward you? *Do you find it impossible to say no to other loves? (Not ONE activity on earth exists from which you cannot walk away.) *Concerning the possessive loves you cling to, do you love them enough to allow them to be fully healthy, singularly focused on God (not you) and available to HIS call? *Have you honestly forgiven every offense of your mate towards you? Unforgiveness is an offense against God that you must confess, just like other sins. *Typically our children marry someone like their mom or dad. What would you hope your children would do differently from you to keep their marriages strong? How might this knowledge affect you now? *I heard a while back that lack of sex is a Biblical cause to leave a mate (I’m sure it was hoped that the accused would straighten up and save their marriages, something I strongly believe in). Yet, I couldn’t help thinking that if a person could divorce because of this lack, how many marriages would be left on earth? Also, what would be the antithesis for the person who doesn’t need sex but needs other things their mate doesn’t provide? Do they have just cause to divorce, too? If met needs are the goal of marriage, how can God ever help us reach the true goal (focus) of bringing others to Christ together, regardless of ‘met needs’ (Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you, Matthew 6:33)!
I used to be that wife who withheld my husband’s needs. I can’t imagine what would have happened if he had left me during the first 27 years of our marriage. God did a work on both of us much later on. We have been married 41 years now and are striving (not always perfectly) to fully set our eyes on Christ. Together, we listen to His call on how to serve each other and our world with our hearts turned toward Him, not each other.
King David is an example of a well-known Bible story of adultery and murder because of his pursuit of another love, Bathsheba. His sins became buried and hidden. He hoped no one would find out and went to great lengths for that to happen. David didn’t know it, but he needed a prophet (Nathan) to open his eyes and break his heart. Sometimes, the best medicine is to be broken over what we have done.
Later, David penned the famous, beautiful and heartfelt Psalm 51. He confessed his sins and begged for mercy and grace. David still received the consequences of his actions, but now he was free and at peace with God.
Sometimes questions like the above bring up offenses we have committed that need to be confessed to God or a friend. Let this song guide you:
Lord, hear our prayers we offer. Give us grace. Change our hearts. Help us to follow your ways. In Jesus name, Amen.
Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance. Prov. 28:10
When I read these proverbs, my mind automatically thinks of extreme examples: a wicked man schemes against an innocent godly man. He intentionally designs and sets a trap, hoping to lure the innocent man to come over to the dark side (by suggesting doubts in God or His Holy word). But God looks out for His people and eventually the evil man falls into his own trap or deep pit. The godly man is rewarded with good, which I’m sure enrages the wicked man as he watches his prey become better off than before he attempted to take him down.
However, this scenario isn’t so cut and dry in my world. I don’t know of anyone who would purposefully draw me into evil. Yet, I am familiar with temptation.
I am tempted to get jealous of other people’s way of life. I am tempted when a peer’s foolishness rubs off on me (likewise my bad can rub off on others and tempt them into sin as well).
We all are led into temptation (into evil or peril) by the examples of those around us: temper tantrums, silent treatment, bragging on how busy we are, listening to how poorly we respond to a spouse when they make a mistake.
The sinner (in all of us) falls into his own trap (experiencing the results of his wayward heart) without even knowing he has set that same trap for others. There is no true LIFE inside the choice to sin. In fact, if left unchecked, the sinner falls even deeper into his folly.
The desire not to fall into a pit is a good reason to refuse friendship with those who rage or excessively drink or complain. It is also a good reason to refrain from developing these things within ourselves. It is enticing to others. It is also a path to self-ruin.
When the godly man takes the rightpath, versus the wrong one, he clings to Christ throughout life’s temptations and becomes strengthened in the process. His faith becomes broader. His mind is fixed on the Lord. His conscience is clean. God covers him with peace and grace and guards his life from evil.
We are led into temptation by others, but we can also be led into temptation within ourselves. A good side and a bad side exists in our hearts: our spirit versus our flesh, our whiney cries versus a more mature, longsuffering attitude.
Who will we listen to when the day of trouble comes?
For example, in hurtful situations, we could rightly express our honest hurt and forgive OR we could wrongfully blame others for our own part in it, overreact in angry tirades, hide the pain and so on.
To give full disclosure, this week I heeded my fleshly side more than my spiritual side. I fell into traps set by God’s enemy. He is the one who lures me the most. My good side told me to wisely express my hurt (my feelings of offense), but the enemy whispered in my ear to be harsh and whiney about it.
Certainly, there is a wrong and right way to stand your ground when you are offended. The wrong way is something I’ve addressed for a very long time, but sin is still so engrained in my habits. When I am weary, I don’t recognize it until after the fact. Such habits (that creep up in my worst moments), no doubt, are hard to break.
Wrong responses are usually arrogant, angry, unkind, belittling and loud as if you need to prove yourself to the offender and the listeners who happen to be standing there. you may even experience foolish guilt for your own honest spoken words, so much so that your annoyance begins to compensate for unhealthy self-doubt. Yet, remember, no one has to see you loudly ‘win,’ or really it becomes a loss.
A right response is to maturely face the offender, kind and soft, yet firm. I’ve even had success in the past through honest responses that made the other person laugh instead of cringe.
There is typically no need for long explanations in the attempt to express oneself. I am finding that simple statements hit the mark and each party can move on with better knowledge. Communication is necessary and good.
“That hurt my feelings.” “No, you can’t have that. I need it.” “I’m having a hard day. Let’s talk about that tomorrow.”
These thoughts were so good for me to journal and remind myself as the week came to a close. I want to follow the good path of God and not the evil road that leads to the dark pit.
Father, thank you for your grace that covers me and makes me clean. Thank you for your son who makes me righteous because of His pure life, because of His death on a cross and marvelous resurrection. Keep me from wicked ways and purify my attitude deep within. Give me right responses to the hard times in this life. Help my temptations make me stronger. I love you, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them. Prov 28:4
A different way to say this proverb would be: “When you refuse to listen to what is right, you are supporting what is wrong. When you hear and do good things, you are joining the right side.”
After spilling the failures of your heart out to a friend, have you ever heard someone say, “I’m so glad to hear you say this, now I feel better about what ‘I’ did.” It’s a compassionate answer. But somewhere inside these words there is more truth to discover.
We feel better if someone else sins as badly as we do. Forsaking instruction when we are weary, cross, misunderstood or feeling limited (which are excuses) still leaves us in a state of sin. We may not know it, or if we do, we may not admit it. In truth, we love our sin. Having others join us soothes our conscience. In a way, we are praising the wicked and agreeing with their choices. We are of the same mind and spirit, binding ourselves to them.
Instead, may we have friends who encourage us (and we them) to do good and not evil by continuing the conversation, “Here’s what I did to overcome that sin. Let’s work on this together. We can learn to guard our hearts from the dark and stop making excuses for our bad choices (which are rooted in lack of trust and dependence on God).”
Sin is a severely dangerous place in which to remain. We must learn to call it what it is. We cannot keep silent knowing what sin can do. We must get out of it as quickly as possible.
Surely, our hearts tell us not to remain with so called ‘friends’ who spur us on to evil when they are so comfortable in it. Such individuals would say things like, “Oh don’t worry about that. You’re only human. All of us would have done the same thing.”
They would call a person thrifty who is greedy, or a person spirited instead of telling the truth that they are acting irresponsibly in anger.
However, when we heed instruction, we are willing to contend with others over their sins and show ourselves what is wrong in the eyes of God.
Instruction can come in different ways: through parents or teachers, through our trials and pain (if we listen hard enough and learn from our mistakes.)
Our Bibles, setbacks and all of life can instruct us. But as the verse says, if we’re not listening it’s the same as joining the side of wrong. A wicked man takes the easiest road, does the least amount of work or boldly steps into sin with no remorse…until he gets caught. Lying and cheating his way through life is his norm. Compare that to a person who simply refuses to hear instruction. It’s scary!
On the contrary a man who heeds instruction, by the very act of heeding, is resisting the wicked way of life.
Within our instructional setbacks (painful trials that teach us), we are either trusting God or we are not. Trusting Him is the first step to hearing instruction. People are more willing to comply to directives that come from someone they trust.
Following instruction means that we open our ears instead of setting boundaries or walls to leave out our Maker, our Father God, saying selfish things like: “I’ll believe in you, Lord, or follow you only if I get what I want from you.”
Certainly, following instructions came easy for me as a child. I was born a pleaser. Pleasing God was my joy, as was pleasing my parents and teachers. I followed the rules carefully, and when I accidentally strayed from the right way, I was mortified.
However, during this past week, I contemplated the immaturity I had as a child. I don’t think my motives for such ease in compliance were always right. As I grew older, I began to learn the truth of my hidden, straying heart (even though my outward actions were praised). Anger and selfishness bubbled up from me and revealed who I really was: someone in need of a Savior, someone in need of Christ’s transforming power, someone who couldn’t please others enough to earn my way to Him. So He took care of that on the cross and made me righteous by His blood. Oh, praise His most Holy name!
As an adult, every day is a new day to learn more about the waywardness of my heart and the goodness of my Father in Heaven. Everyday, I discover how far and how much I wander and what that does to my soul.
Lord, the more I listen to instruction, the happier I am with my life (even when difficult circumstances surround me). You are everything to me. Teach me to follow your ways. Show me my true heart. Help me to stay on your path and leave wickedness behind. I love you, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. Prov. 28:3
In the previous blog, I presented a kind of ruler who would keep order in his kingdom. He would rule with wisdom and compassion. Ultimately, Christ is our perfect ruler, and hopefully, we are rulers (however imperfect) over our souls, under His generous care.
In today’s verse, a greedy, heartless leader, who is only hungry for more power, is said to be like a downpour that washes away the livelihood of his subjects. The rain, in this scenario, isn’t a blessing to the good earth but a devastation to the crops (the sustenance of the poor). The leader has no sympathy or mercy for the people of his kingdom.
Floods can sometimes wipe out the necessities of our lives just like an unjust ruler can wipe out and neglect the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of the poorest in the land. A good leader would never abandon his people, just as normal rains would never wipe out a crop. Rainwater is meant to grow things not tear them down.
Again, look at Christ, who is the ‘Living’ Water that gives eternal life to all who accept it; not a devastating flood, but an invitation to an abundant life in Him. His rule includes the care for the poor.
Once again, we must also address the ruler with and over ourselves. When we oppress our own souls through foolish habits of addictions, out-of-control anger and selfishness, we are allowing a flood to wipe out what is nourishing and good for us.
Certainly, a driving rain is especially destructive (not nourishing or good) to crops (our livelihood). It also damages houses and erodes the soil. Sometimes spiritually, that driving rain is me. I seek my way or I pressure those around me to comply. I drive them hard until I win. ‘I’ can be the destructive driving rain with myself as the oppressive ruler. Yet, it is more wise to leave that life of oppressing others (in which ‘I’ am really the one who is held captive).
True followers of God have wisdom to free themselves in charity for those around them, not in tightfisted ways. Sin is what we fight against, not the people we encounter.
Yet, what about those who oppress us? Any oppressor strips people of who they are. When we allow others to oppress our souls by giving into a life of crippling anger and resentment, our souls (that are always upheld and nourished by God) and our capability to live and give of ourselves well are reduced. In a way, we are soul-damaged. Never give into another person’s oppressive ways. Lean on the Lord to uphold your cause.
People and trials can feel oppressive and destructive, but it is not always the trials that hurt us, it is how we react to them. Trust is our greatest friend in the hard times. Peace is its cousin. Love covers over all evil with such powerful results that the trials don’t seem as bad as when we dwell on rage and self-pity. All the fruit of the Spirit can apply to the right responses we give to our hardships.
Constant thoughts bombard our minds about the pain we encounter. Fighting our perceptions can be tough. Life can hurt. When oppressed in the poverty of our minds, bodies or spirits, we can yield to the Father who is our Keeper.
When the oppression comes from all different directions, see it as a distraction, a reason to pray for others, to get down on our knees and to serve.
We are all, in a sense, poor and needy, but wonderfully, we have a God who never leaves us and always provides. We thrive, knowing that He provides all that is good for us. He is a good King. Our greatest need is to follow His will.
Father, I yield to your provision. I’m never promised a life without oppression. But I am promised your presence and provision. You are my everything. I trust you. In Jesus name, Amen.
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but people are tested by their praise. Prov. 27:21
Earlier in this chapter, verse 2 says, “Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” We studied this verse several weeks ago and were led to the conclusion that our greatest praise belongs to our Father. All of us, however, for various reasons, will receive praise, and our responses will reveal a lot about us.
Today’s Proverb compares precious metals to precious people and how each is tested. In the refining process, silver and gold are heated to high temperatures until what is not gold or silver rises to the top to be removed. What is left is pure.
When praise comes our way, how might such a seemingly harmless and even wonderful act be like a fire of refining? Some say that it’s not as hard to stand under criticism as it is to stand before praise. There are those who come through their difficult trials with flying colors. Yet, bring honor to them and the result may not be so pure.
Praise can corrupt and ruin a person. So how does one allow the surety of praise to bring the dross to the top of our hearts and let the refining process make us better fit and uncontaminated for God’s kingdom?
We all should go through a self-cleansing process when praise comes to us and let the applause purify our hearts. Part of the self-cleansing is when praise comes to someone else, besides us, let us be glad for them and harbor no envy.
Who will come through the fire? A man of virtue and good morals, a man who transfers the glory to God and a man who desires to become even more godly? Would he become a thankful man for the honor God is bestowing on him? Might he learn to turn the admiration back onto his admirer? This takes humility and a desire to earn the praise he receives. People are always watching. Praise betrays or reveals the deepest parts of who we are, whether we are acceptable or not.
The degree of a person’s good or bad reputation (what people think about him and for what they praise in him) generally gives an idea of his good or bad character. Also, what a bragger himself praises tells a lot about him. Of what does he approve and admire? Good or evil?
Conceited people chase after praise and popularity. Foolish and undisciplined people become pompous. But a wise person, though he appreciates the praise, learns to possess an inner indifference. He knows that having praise speaks of God more than of himself.
How are we praised? I tried to think outside the box for this question:
Besides outright honor, we are praised when someone asks us to pray over them or give them advice. We are praised when we’re asked to speak or mentor others. Believe it or not, we are also praised when we’re given constructive criticism. These words come from a person who loves us. They know we will take what they have to say to heart. That is high praise. Try to think of some ways you are praised and how the praise can go to your head if you’re not careful.
Just a listening friend can be a form of praise. Yet, if we take advantage of that friend-given praise by interrupting or dismissing their feedback, the gift they are giving us is harmed.
There is much refining that needs to be done through all praise. One purifying process happens when we get angry at another person for receiving the praise we think we deserve.
Samuel 18:6-8 says, “When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.’ …Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly.”
In fact, Saul came up with a plan to falsely praise David by handing over his daughter to him in marriage. His intent was to make him a part of his army and send him out to battle, letting the enemy kill him.
I Samuel 18:18 says, “But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
David, who did not know Saul’s intent, is an example of humility in the face of honor.
Father, refine me through the pleasant gift of praise. Let my heart be found to be like gold or silver. Let me pass the test. Remind me so I can escape the ruin praise can bring. In my heart, let it remain pure so your name will shine above all. Please continue to purify my heart. In Jesus name, Amen.
The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever protects their master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18
If I was a gardener of fig trees who worked for a wealthy estate-owner, I would probably possess great knowledge in the art of botany. I would know about proper soil, nourishment, watering and sunlight. I would be observant of any disease or fungus that might overtake the trees and alert to thieves who might steal the fruit. Also, I would be entrusted to protect the owner’s name. Speaking well of him and his household, I would give my all to stand up for him and care for his valuable, historic trees, whose bounty depends on my watchful attention.
Since I’m not a gardener (I wouldn’t know the first thing about fig trees and in no way do I have anything near a green thumb), how should I approach this verse? How do fig trees and masters apply to my life in September 2020?
As I thought about this question all week, the word priority came to my mind. Whatever and wherever I am led to be, to do and to go, I must do so with all my heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since I know that I will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ I am serving. Col. 3:23-24
The verse includes any responsibilities I have concerning my mate, neighbors, friends, church and even the poor. I am to protect their names by letting nothing distract me, but keeping at it, not allowing my work to wither and die. I guard them by not gossiping or being lazy in the help I offer, but giving my all (as if I was serving the Lord).
Prov. 24:30-31 says, “I went past the field of a sluggard, past the vineyard of someone who has no sense; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.”
My own property or possessions (fig trees) must be kept up and looked after.
Since God the Father is my great and only Master, I passionately seek to preserve and guard His name above all else. My life choices speak of my faithfulness and loyalty to the Lord.
This week, I was given several opportunities to face some back-to-back disappointments (now forgotten), some that went deep, straight into my heart, and threatened to move me off the solid Rock of Christ. Yet, I thought about what mattered most: my disappointment or my love for others? Should I feed and protect my disappointments or should I feed and guard my ability to love (in my relationships)? What emotions was I allowing to rule over me? What actions of Jesus claimed my highest priority?
Like the guardian of the fig tree, it is important for me to daily process what I value most. Is my work ethic strong? How about self-discipline over bad habits (that could distract me from what is good and right) and wisdom regarding any danger that could corrupt or spoil the work I do? In what way should I nourish and protect the precious, holy and sacred gifts (talents) that God has called me to share with others?
When I have difficult, time-consuming or lowly tasks ahead of me, and perhaps even disgruntled people to work for, it helps to be creative in how I get these tasks accomplished. I develop a plan and carry out that plan in daily small bites so I don’t get burned out.
I also set a guard around my own heart to protect it from bitterness, anger and self-pity which are heavier loads to carry than the difficult tasks themselves.
In the end, I will be rewarded for my cheerful and wholehearted labor, perhaps only with the fruit of respect, honor and goodwill, or maybe with the fruit of needed monetary compensation. However, my greatest reward is found in God.
My Lord, teach me how to guard the fig trees of my life and then partake of the sweet fruit. Show me how to honor those I serve, especially you, dear Jesus. Help me to set my priorities straight and focus on what matters most in your kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen.
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
Imagine the gruff, sweaty man at work. He pulls the heavy iron tool back and with a loud repeated ‘ping’ hammers hard against the fire-softened metal to sharpen the dull blade. The metal will harden with great accuracy, grandly formed for its precise use.
This image is similar to two companions who have locked arms in life together and are in deep conversation, constructive criticism, loving advice, counsel and differing viewpoints that rub against each other to sharpen their hearts.
However, the sound can also be similar to the harsh ping of the loud morning neighbor in vs. 14, the drip of the quarrelsome wife in vs. 15 and the scratching fingernail against the chalkboard of wounds, anger and jealousy from earlier verses that all hit the target of our hearts with fierce blows upon us.
In either circumstance, I may think I am being squelchedfrom who I really am. Yet, in reality, God is rebuilding me into something better than I was before, THROUGH my circumstances. I stop my inward cries and listen to sweet hammer blows I know are from God. He is forming me even now. My trials happen with His full knowledge and in His timing. They can be used for His purposes. My response to such disappointments is trust in Him. I have been appointed by God to rise above what feels unfair and uncomfortable. In these moments, I realize my adequacy is not found within myself (look at me, I’ve been sharpened) but in a powerful and adequate God, the One behind all that sharpens me. Under every blow, I can be still and know that He is God.
Interactions with people, no matter their good or bad intentions can be managed by our Sovereign God to enhance our usefulness for His sake. Marriage is the closest a person can get to another person, and we are sharpened in our loving experiences, but also in our seasons of despair.
In single-hood, we are sharpened as well. It is our response to the sharpening that is most vital.
I am sharpened by the Bible, nature, circumstances, promptings of the Holy Spirit, books or inspirational movies and by witnessing godliness in the face of painful trials. But this particular verse speaks of how my heart is sharpened or stirred to action by others who have been stirred to action and vice versa.
Generally, we are not sharpened simply by the thoughts that come into our minds. Someone who walks in different shoes and has different experiences than our own can bring to us more insights for better ways to live or they can influence us for wrong.
As I grow older, I am increasingly discovering that surprisingly I am not the center of the universe. Being sharpened is not as much about ME as it is about me being refined for something or someone else. The process of sharpening makes me a blessing (or a curse) to others and greatly moves God’s kingdom forward (or hinders it).
If the iron sharpener could speak, I imagine his voice reflecting back to me my flaws or my apathy or laziness, to name a few. I am seen for the bluntness or dull qualities I possess.
Am I true or am I false, genuine or pretending? Am I only reading about good and godly deeds or am I doing what I know to be right? Upon examining my life, I can now discover the depth of my need to be sharpened.
Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” This verse is perfect in explaining the iron sharpeners we must be for each other.
Sadly, however, there are those who spur me on to self-expression or self-centeredness. I might be strong enough to reject their examples and continue to be refined by God. Yet, eventually, their sharpening may evolve into the opposite of what God desires and I desire for myself. It is wise not to be in the company with them for long periods of time, for they will influence my heart to become more agitated, lazy or angry.
When I spend my time walking with good companions, I can be taught the joy of the Lord instead of depression and complaining. I can be led to paths of honest hard work instead of idleness.
Father, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Show me the path to your wiser ways. Use the friends in my life to sharpen me for the good. Likewise, help me to sharpen them. Help us to be better people because of the friends we choose to walk with. In Jesus name, Amen.
A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping of a leaky roof in a rainstorm; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand. Proverbs 27:15-16
The woman in today’s verse couldn’t let go of whatever issue was on her mind. She expressed herself, and her husband seems to have had some hesitancy about her complaints. Instead of listening to him, she quarreled, and as a leaky roof would do, she kept on and on and on. Her nagging caused her husband to want to run away and hide. It caused him grief.
Leaks are one of my worst hated trials. I cannot stand it if my house is leaking. We’ve been dealing with two leaks for four months now. We even put buckets up in the attic while waiting on roofers to have time for us. How annoying it’s been to know that the leaks could cause even more damage to the inside of our sweet home. Every time it rained hard, I wondered about it and cringed.
This is how difficult it is on a husband when his wife continually harps on an issue. He can’t even get away because she is like a leaky storm. He is forced to stay in the shelter of his home and endure.
Anyone who observes the couple would feel uncomfortable and exhausted. The wife affects the mood of her husband, kids and the poor onlookers.
In contrast, how would the woman behave if she were to make better choices? She would choose self-restraint and not be so easily offended. She would be flexible and willing to try her husband’s ideas instead of always thinking hers are the best. She would not be a proud person, but humble enough to bend with the wind. She might vocally disagree with her husband and express herself (once is enough), but self-discipline and trust would help her to truly give the situation to God. At this point, she would be well-thought-of by him, and over the years he would eventually come to her seeking for wisdom.
Remember Eve? She was the first wife after God created the whole world. Eve was swayed by the serpent and then badgered her husband into following her into the most regrettable decision of all time (Later, when God approached him, Adam blamed Eve for this terrible sin).
Eve’s mistake keeps me on my toes. Just because I think an idea is a good one or even the best choice, that doesn’t make it right. In fact, I must be very careful when I attempt to talk my husband into anything. I must pray about it and listen to his cautions when he warns me about the flaws of my argument instead of speaking constant disapproval of him and his opinions.
There are more ways than just words that can make a husband feel like his wife is incessantly quarreling: her body language, sighs, sadness, depression from unanswered prayers, spurts of over-irritation or anger. The fight in her still comes out even when she isn’t vocalizing it.
Restraining her is like restraining the wind.
One of the last visits I had at my mother’s home was when we headed to the beach on a cold February’s day. I love the ocean and wanted to soak in every moment I could of white sea gulls, salty air and sand between my toes. But, no matter which way we turned our faces were slapped by the harsh wind. We were miserable even in our feeble attempts to ward off the wind with warm coats and heavy scarves.
That cold wind can be likened to be the person who just keeps on coming back with arguments and scolding. Try to grasp something by hand that has oil on it; that is what it is like to try to restrain this woman. The endeavor is utterly hopeless.
Within a few years after I got married, my husband and I were living in a little, old home, and I had such grand ideas for the kitchen. I approached my husband who was weary from his hard working job and honestly didn’t want to have these conversations. But I kept at him. Within a few weeks something eerie began to happen. My phone (we had a landline with no caller ID at the time) would ring almost daily, and the voice on the other end was a disturbed strange man who spoke in a way that terrified me. I finally learned to take the phone off the hook for hours. For a few weeks, my husband was working extra jobs at night, and I was very alone and vulnerable (with two small children) during this time, and trembling with fear.
One of those nights, it dawned on me to pray to God about these disturbing calls. I prayed for safety and wisdom to know what to do. During those tearful moments my heart grew soft, and I began to have room in my head to think about the way I was treating my husband about my silly kitchen plans. A new thought came to me. Let the old plans go and work on sprucing up my kitchen on my own without bothering my sweet man.
Then another eerie thing happened; the phone calls stopped. That horrible man never called back again. And I went about my life more happy than before. I can’t explain what happened and why. All I know is that, today, after 41 years of marriage, I have never forgotten that lesson.
Father, help me to be a kindhearted, loving wife. Give me a sense of proper timing to bring up sensitive topics, and then give me sense to leave the conversation if it becomes dishonorable and disruptive in any way. Teach me what is most important in my marriage. Help me never to be known as a quarrelsome wife who drips like a leaky roof, but to show genuine self-restraint. Show me how to run to you in prayer when things are difficult, to allow my heart to be softened and to lean on you for my every need. In Jesus name, Amen.
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 27:12
A familiar story came to mind this week concerning God’s ‘testing’ of Abraham in which he was to offer Isaac (his own son) on an altar (Gen. 22). Many friends and family tell me they could never have obeyed such a command.
Actually, I don’t think the story was about Abraham binding Isaac’s hands and feet as an offering as much as it was about Abraham metaphorically holding out his own hands and feet to God, to ready himself for his own ‘death’ to self. That’s what it would have taken for Abraham to willingly comply, even to God. God never intended for Isaac to die. He only wanted to know that there was nothing between them, not even the beloved son Abraham had waited for, for so long. In the end, God provided a ram for Abraham to offer instead of his son.
When there is ANYTHING between God and me, THAT is a danger to my soul. A wise man stands still as his prized possessions are carefully weeded out by the Lord’s careful hand, possessions that could close his ears to God’s voice and his heart to obedience.
The ‘weeds’ (things to which one attaches one’s self too strongly) could be anyone in one’s family or church or anything that captures one’s attention away from the Father.
All summer, I’ve been pulling weeds on my one acre lot. The work has kept me busy. I’ve pruned and cut and trimmed. It’s been hard work, but satisfying to see the beauty of my accomplishments.
As I pull up whole root systems that take hours to conquer, my mind is drawn to how God must feel when the process of change in me is complicated and dreadfully deep. My soul doesn’t want to let go. My soul clings to what it thinks will provide happiness or safety. In reality, the Lord knows what will endanger and harm me more than I do.
Other weeds in my yard, I’ve noticed, are extremely easy to uproot. That reminds me of the hard work the Father has given to my heart’s negatives for several long years. These traits will always try to return, but at this point, God gives a little tug and they yield freely to His gentle hand.
Such a dynamic is astonishing and miraculous and stirs in me a desire to be a prudent woman.
How is the prudent wise and the ‘simple’ so foolish that they keep holding onto their possessions and walking into the same snares and traps of the enemy of God again and again?
Let’s review what we’ve learned so far in Prov. 27:
The fool or simple person boasts about tomorrow, praises himself, overreacts, gets insanely jealous, insincerely compliments but never openly confronts or lovingly ‘wounds’ his friends. The fool is too full of self to be hungry for honey (righteousness), he strays from home, doesn’t care to give or take sweet advice, forsakes his friends in times of need and dishonors his father.
There is danger in continuing a life of laziness, anger, neglect and, also, pride.
Why do the foolish keep going in this direction?
Maybe doing so is thrilling or maybe they are bored. They may need to numb the pain felt on the inside. They may think that anything else is better than the bad they know, even if the consequences are terrible.
But the prudent fight for the good life they can have in Christ. They surrender their desires that would cause them to crave danger.
One beautiful day, I was running in my old neighborhood with my face glancing at the houses I passed by. At one point, the next thing I knew, I had tripped over a jagged piece of sidewalk and fell flat on my face. Bleeding and sore, I picked myself back up and kept running. The next time around, my eyes were fixed on the sidewalk (at that spot), not wanting to go through that again. I learned from my mistake.
The prudent learn to see past their impulsive choices and consider the outcome. They don’t simply live for a moment of pleasure or temporary relief from pain.
The prudent wisely and honorably learn from their blunders and escape much trouble. The simple continue doing the same thing they’ve been doing (foolish or lazy) and continue to be conquered by painful experiences.
Certainly, the situation someone is in isn’t the “problem,” though he may think so. What he does in wisdom or foolishness with the situation or temptation is the focus of today.
What does he see ahead? What will happen if he goes this way or that? He must think it through. Everything he chooses must be carefully and prayerfully weighed for its spiritual benefits or disadvantages.
Some follow the crowd into a pit even though they know the consequences. The benefit of being included is worth more than the wages of sin. Therefore, it is the mature (prudent) man who deeply considers his value in the eyes of God, knowing his acceptance in God’s family and not giving into a need to stray for want of companionship.
The wise soul doesn’t put off needed repairs or projects. He knows that procrastination will eventually worsen the cost and pain of the important jobs. His priorities are rearranged to take care of today’s need. The prudent worker takes time to rest and play and not lose his health. The wise mother cleans up a messy spill immediately and doesn’t wait until it dries and cakes onto the container, only to further complicate and extend her work.
If today the prudent is energetic and strong, he finds productive things to do with his energy instead of lazily watching the time pass him by.
Father God, your Bible is perfect and so good for me to hear every day of my life. Please weed my heart of things that cause me harm. Help me to be free of ruinous habits and negative traits. Help me to thrive in my life like a well-watered garden. Keep me from danger. Help me to be prudent and wise about my choices. In Jesus name, Amen.
One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. Proverbs 27:7
Proverbs seems to flow from one verse to the other. I used to view this Bible book in the Old Testament as a list of disconnected wise sayings. But, so far, everything is actually making sense.
To summarize the last few blogs:
If I live in today’s moments with a full heart, my work will tend to be focused, productive and godly. Such a life could make me proud and self-centered. But, instead of boasting in my personal accomplishments, it is wise to give others that opportunity and glorify my Father who gives me the skills in the first place. On the contrary, a terrible way to spend my precious God-given days would be in fierce anger, jealousy and self-righteousness.
These wise words naturally move us to the next verse about hunger. Last week, we looked at the foolishness of closing our ears to the loving reproofs of people who know us well. We become content within our own closed world of self-advice. Today’s verse adds to that, however hard it is to understand at first.
Have you ever thought of hunger as ever being a good thing, as being something that helps you to thrive?
Image that I have just finished a Thanksgiving dinner: food piled high, including several meats, salads, vegetables and buttery rolls. To top that off, the row of pies and cakes will surely be the end of me. I am stuffed. Maybe even a little sick to my stomach, and a late-comer walks in with an elegant dish of grilled Peaches with mascarpone cheese, drizzled in honey. My eyes roll back in my head and I pass out!
There is no way I can fit in another bite. I’m too full.
Image a different scenario: I am poor and homeless. Food hasn’t crossed my lips in days. This time, I faint, but it’s from exhaustion. A kind soul rescues me, taking me to her own home to rest. When I awaken, she brings me food from her garden: kale, broccoli and brussel sprouts, lightly salted and drizzled in soy sauce. She has some left over dried bread. I eat slowly and regain my strength. The taste is better than anything I’ve ever had in my whole life. I am utterly grateful.
Jesus told a story about the prodigal son in Luke 15. The son didn’t want to eat at his father’s table any longer and took off with his inheritance. Yet, years passed and he lost everything. He was starving, so he came home. His father’s table became, oh so sweet.
Food tastes better when we are hungry, not so much when we’re full.
“Full” comes in all shapes in sizes. I can be full of self, full of opinions, dreams and ideas. Anyone who surrounds me with something different than what I know may not only be unwelcomed (as seen in last week’s verse), their thoughts may be “loathed,” a word that means filled with disgust or contempt, trampled underfoot.
A poor, hungry man relishes what tidbits he gathers from caring souls. The unemployed would be satisfied with any job.
But the rich (or full) man complains. He has plenty of left-over food, not even noticing the waste or blessings of what he has received from God’s hand. He’s lost his taste for gifts that fill. He is self-satisfied, content within his own world of plenty. Little does he realize his poverty in the things of God. Little does he see his real need to hunger and thirst after the Lord…of all that is good.
Like the poor man, the hungry, humble listener, the man who receives, even the bitterest of words from a friend or loving discipline from God through his circumstance, to him it is sweet and full of comfort. To the self-sufficient soul, there is no room in his heart for the richest, well-spoken counsel in all the world. That man indulges himself with all that brings pleasure and good feelings, missing out on the sweetest, most holy truths, whereas the man who is ‘poor in spirit’ has self-control that increases the joy of what he receives.
Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Jesus Himself is the word, much sweeter even than the honeycomb.
Yet, if my soul is full of the world, I will whine and complain or ignore His precious words. As for me, I long to abandon my spiritual appetite to the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to hunger so much for His presence and involvement in life that all else fades away. Truly, to value Jesus, I must feel the craving for Him in the deepest part of me.
What of the world am I too full of that pushes God (and all He stands for) away? Life can become defined in my terms, in my unbending view of things and in my refusal of outside input.
When I am full of food, I just want to lay around and do nothing. A laziness comes over me that makes me dull (unaware of important things).
Likewise, when I am full of self (worry, anxiety, disbelief, fear, hatred, anger), I don’t have time to be kind or open to wise instruction. I only have room for what comforts me.
I must turn my heart towards hunger and move myself to be starved for Jesus. A surrendered, open and wise spirit takes me over when I allow myself to make room for only the fullness of HIM. I desire Him and am done with the world and it’s cravings and tricks.
Father, I take a deep breath and breathe you in. I let you fill me. I am aware of your filling presence. I take in your beauty and breathe it out to others. I release the fullness of self and my own ideas that refuse to listen to you and others, that make me forget you and make me forget to pray to you. Such refusal causes me to brag that I’ve done all these things with my own hands. Such pride makes me have no room to grow up in the Lord. Hear my heart, Father. I no longer desire to participate in loathing the honey that is right in front of me, always overflowing. Help me to taste the sweetness of your presence in my life. In Jesus name, Amen.
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:5-6
Thrive means to flourish, blossom and prosper as opposed to withering, failing and dying away. It is amazing to discover better ways to flourish, and that God wants such ways for all of us.
The verse above says that the better option (the most prosperous for our souls) out of the two scenarios isn’t the friend who hides behind smiles and never tells you the truth, but the friend who points out your serious mistakes, sharpens you and challenges you to be exceptional in your choices as you take the higher roads of life.
A most definite “higher road” is to listen to correction. Out of all the definitions for the word rebuke (found in today’s verse), my favorite is admonish. Why? Because it carries with it a decent level of respect. The rebuke is not motivated by neediness, inconsideration, jealousy or simple fault-finding, but by true affection and concern for the other person’s welfare. In fact, the act of solid criticism is real proof that the love is deep. Someone loves enough to tell a person his faults and better his character. Others keep silent because they don’t want to hurt feelings, or they fear losing friendships.
Be wary of the flatterer (who refuses to reveal your sins that damage your soul). This friend may talk about your sins behind your back. Such gossip is destructive and not always apparent to such an offender. Much intentional work is needed to uproot gossip. This “friend” slings mud secretly, but to your face gives smiles and kisses, like Judas, the betrayer.
The brave friend is one who says it like it is. Yet, protectively conceals your mistakes from others. He may put you through painful uneasiness. But in the end, the truth does you good like bad-tasting medicine. Fully receiving stern correction takes courage. Wouldn’t you rather be told upfront about a flaw than for your flaw to cause you to lose your job or your marriage?
This friend always looks for the best in you and seeks to bless you with his companionship and sounding-board opportunities and vice versa. However, when signs of spiritual decay and decline arise in you, he is the first to present his case. He is sincere in seeking your highest interest.
How does one reprove well? He must first see his own sin. He must look at the plank in his own eye so that he can see clearly to address the speck in another’s eye. He must use the right timing and words, which may require fasting, but for sure, requires time on his knees in prayer.
Anger in the rebuke typically doesn’t settle well as an appropriate plea for right living. Beautifully lay out your honest truth in love. Some think that open rebuke means to air out your grievances in public for all to see. Why not rather keep the transgression private between the two of you, but humbly reveal all things in sincere pleading as you present to the person his wayward sin. Once done, the rest is left up to the Holy Spirit to touch his heart and bring about what is necessary and wise.
How must I receive sincere open rebuke? There will always be room for good, sharp admonishments to my soul. Yet, generally, I am impulsive in my reaction (over-sensitive, self-sufficient) before I’ve had a chance to think. However, I want to learn to be a bright light in how to respond to criticism. This means refusing cowardice in the face of loving correction. Today’s verse actually says that friendly wounds are more to be desired than a friend’s frequent words of syrupy sweetness. Wounds slash into my flesh but they are faithful, healing and good. The friend who provides a few wounds is a friend I must intensely pursue and devotedly keep.
Certainly, not every reproof is accurate and may even feel unfair or occasionally unwarranted. Sometimes friends are misinformed or truly misunderstand. But one is wise to receive the loving words in the spirit in which they were intended. Seek wisdom from God, the giver of all good things, and counter the admonition (when they indeed are wrong) with respectful but honest responses. When they give a rebuke and later discover error in it, he is a good friend who is humble to openly admit his mistakes.
Father, we all have blind spots that need help from others as they reveal truth. Thank you for these precious people you’ve put in our lives that show the courage it takes to tell us the hidden facts about ourselves. Give us humble hearts and teach us to willingly listen to the kind but difficult words of deep love. Walk with us Father and show us through your Bible the many ways we need to change and how we might thrive in such ways. In Jesus name, Amen.
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? Prov. 27:4
Today, we add to our knowledge of thriving by learning to abstain from enslavement to one of the worst of our out-of-control emotions. Today we study jealousy.
Anger (covered in last week’s blog) is one of the emotions that generally parades around for all to see. Yet, jealousy is a quiet, stubborn parasite that exploits its host, benefiting itself (or the devil) in the process. It stirs up and spreads hidden toxic damage and is very hard to uproot. When these toxins finally present themselves, others find it difficult to stand before such powerful feelings. Jealousy never gives anything in return.
Jealousy isn’t generated by something from without but from within. It is a dreaded green-eyed creature that entirely takes over when a person entertains even a single grievance. Sad frustrations feed the monster as it grows considerably by the moment.
Perhaps such envy doesn’t become outwardly violent, but it can turn to passive-aggressive irritations and unkindness’s toward those begrudged.
We want something because someone else has it, therefore we nag or complain until we get our wishes. We put aside the purchases we need and use our resources to impulsively buy what we want. We throw away our own God-given talents in pursuit of qualities we see others possess.
What is it that we envy? We envy a person’s house, life, career, spouse, talents, popularity, gentleness, calmness or organization. However, if we were to list our topics of jealousy and then make a list of the qualities or possessions we already have, the list would reveal how well off we really are. Maybe it would open our eyes!
Envy is defined as a discontented or resentful longings, desires or grudges for someone else’s stuff, character, or luck and a deafness to our own current blessings and gifts.
The opposite of jealousy is contentment, generosity or a genuine happiness for other people’s achievements. We have a quiet peace that invades our souls instead of always grabbing for more.
Jealousy happens when a person improperly puts his attention (wants, desires, lust) more on an earthly thing than it should be. It is selfishly motivated, not others-centered. Jealousy takes up the entire mind in obsessive reverence for something that is not God. Instead of worship and praise, the person is worshiping himself or the things he is jealous for.
When I am feeding my jealousy, I cannot be in a state of worship to God. Likewise, when I am feeding my desire to worship, I cannot be in a state of jealousy.
In a state of reverential worship, my mind is submitted to what God wants me to do with what I have. There is no sense of lack. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23.
I asked my husband how he would define jealousy or envy. He felt that it was something born from insecurity. “I’m not good enough. I have to prove myself. The more I achieve or earn, the higher my value. Therefore, I exhaust myself, yearning for what others have or for what I perceive they have. I seek approval and end up giving up my power to others.“
My husband remarked how this dilemma is quite unsatisfying. Even if a person gets what he wants, the attainment is never enough.
The never enough dynamic is so true. A child fights for the toy the other child has, but when he finally gets a turn to play with the toy, he loses interest. It’s not the toy he wanted in the first place!
Envy happens when we want something so badly, we become blinded to how we treat people who get in our way. Sometimes, envy is easy to spot in ourselves. Just follow our irritations and they typically lead us to our jealousies.
Certainly, we may feel justified because of our circumstances. In the Bible, even God was righteously jealous for His people. Anger may be ‘righteous’ at times. However, jealousy must be released eventually, or it will ruin and destroy.
I have discovered a good test to see if what I’m feeling is acceptable or not. I ask myself, “Is this emotion taking me away or moving me closer to God?” Some emotions are led by God and are paving the way for His will. Other times, I must walk away from destructive emotions, such as jealousy.
Lord, rid me of envy. Renew my mind and help me to follow the qualities obtained in the fruit of your Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). Help me to adopt a right perspective of the things of this world. May I submit to your will and put on true humility and love. Instead of jealousy, teach me to wait on YOU. You provide for me and are all I need. When I receive a desired or hopeful gift, help me not to look at it as something I cling to in order to be happy. May I see it as something granted from your hand, your provision at just the right time. Give me contentment and a waiting, trustful hope, not a demanding spirit, but a letting go. When your gifts are given, may I learn how to soak them in without guilt at the pleasures you give and without discontent in future expectations. Help me to be in-the-moment inside my grateful praise to the Father, the Giver of all good things. Whether I feel needful or not, I am always filled with you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. Proverbs 27:3
For the previous weeks, we’ve looked at being IN the moment of each day, and living for the Lord God. In so doing, we bring praise to His name and not to ourselves.
Today’s verse takes us into dishonorable and undisciplined emotions, which weighs heavily upon us and those who experience our tirades.
In Numbers 20:12, the children of Israel grumbled for water. God instructed Moses to speak to the rock and abundant water would flow out. But Moses was hot with anger at the Israelites, and instead, he lost control and struck the rock. His anger cost him his chance to go into the land flowing with milk and honey. God said, “Because you did not trust me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
In Numbers 22, Balaam was on a journey with those who wanted him to curse the Israelites. Of course, God said, no. But Balaam began to travel with them. An angel blocked the path and the donkey could not pass. Thinking the donkey was being belligerent, Balaam beat the animal and tried to move him forward. Yet, he did not move. Finally, the donkey spoke to his master; “Why are you beating me?“
Oddly enough, Balaam didn’t seem puzzled by the fact that his donkey was speaking. It is even more odd that Balaam responded to the animal!
The Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and all became clear: an angel was blocking the way.
I wonder how many times we lose it over something in which God is working behind the scenes. We spend our passions on some ‘great’ ideas and plans, but the Father keeps attempting to move us to better things or to save us from our stupidity.
As I mulled over today’s proverb, it occurred to me that ANY out-of-control negative emotion is detrimental. When I realize that the harmful thoughts are not going away and I’m not doing anything to stop them, I have crossed a line from good to bad.
Proverbs 27:3 warns that the victim of another person’s anger receives a heavier burden than an impossible heavy weight.
In my early marriage and with a houseful of kids, sadly, I was angry most of my waking days. To this day, I remember my husband’s face when I would explode. My emotions and how I dealt with them were a massive burden to him, not a bright blessing that I learned to become as the years went by.
Beware of uncontrollable passions that have more affect on others than you think. Children are watching. They actually learn from watching us (good things and bad). Everyone around us is watching and everyone feels the burden when we are unrestrained.
Last week, I carried a pile of heavy carpet up the stairs and almost lost my grip. I was huffing and puffing (and I’m in pretty good shape). It was unbearably hard! The rugs were too big for me to carry.
When we do not govern our emotions, a weighted item feels like a feather compared to our cruel, unreasonable and excessive responses. Nothing compares to the tongue-lashing of our foolish words. It is a sign that we don’t care about what we do or say.
We can tell a lot about ourselves by how we express our emotions during moments of tension. Sometimes, it shows a lack of trust in the Almighty God. Typically, once the venting has begun, it spreads its tentacles all over the place.
What we do and how we do it can be an oppressive burden to others. The time has come to slow down, take a good look at our hearts and ask what can be done to refuse the avalanche of volatile reactions.
Lord, help us to learn contentment, compassion, grace, patience, charity, gentleness and forgiveness. I pray for our hearts, actions and words to be as light as a feather, a blessed gift, not a troublesome burden. Show us the hurt we cause others and help us to make amends. None of us wants to dishonor your name, but we want to trust in your provision, even in our emotional state of mind. Teach us how to relay our feelings in brighter, healthier ways. That is such a gift to those around us. Lead us daily in this noble quest. In Jesus name, Amen.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1
I am beginning a new series of study. My goal is to discover what it means to “thrive.” I’ll be looking at each verse from the 27th and 28th chapters of Proverbs, which ends by saying “the righteous thrive.”
All of Proverbs is a set of wise and foolish choices, giving the true consequences of whichever way a person chooses. In order to thrive, we can add to our wisdom by heeding the beneficial ideas set forth by King Solomon and stay away from the harmful ones.
As I read Proverbs 27:1, right off the bat, I was perplexed at the application this verse had for me. It seemed simple enough. Yet, it took all week with much prayer and thought to truly unravel the treasures gained by following its wisdom.
I learned that each new day is a favor bountifully bestowed for the thriving of my soul that I might live my all for the Lord. The world doesn’t dramatically revolve around me or my entitlement of tomorrow. Tomorrow cannot be earned or bought. Tomorrow isn’t owed to me. There is no one who must pay it back to me as a debt. I cannot borrow it and put a piece of it into today. As tomorrow approaches, I have no power to make it go away.
What a blessing to be in the present and not always staying fixed in the past or future. Each morning only comes one day at a time. I am provided with this marvelous breath of life only moment by moment.
As I get older, I realize how ridiculously short is my earthly pilgrimage. Gratefulness for each day I’m given reminds me of the preciousness of today. This very moment could be my last. Tomorrow is hidden and concealed. Until the morning comes, I am living for today.
Certainly, I make detailed plans for the days ahead and set great goals for the next month or two. Looking forward to my future is something I do with hope and anticipation. But I must never presume upon or boast that I have tomorrow, nor should I become complacent (casual) about it.
If tomorrow’s plans fall apart or become altered, it doesn’t have to disturb my peace of mind. I absolutely plan, but I don’t assume by staking my life upon those plans. Flexibility is an attractive trait I pursue with great fervor to help me thrive in God’s kingdom instead of demanding that my plans be fulfilled.
Certainly, it is wise to aim at a strategy for tomorrow and remove the mistake of being without an agenda, but not at the expense of today. Today matters. How much of ME am I investing in the hours I have left, knowing that tomorrow will be affected by today’s obedience.
What habits can I develop to make today count? How might I truly give my moments the reverence they deserve?
First of all, I don’t put off until another day what is required of me now, thinking that I still have plenty of time. That is boasting about tomorrow. The next morning may never come.
God knows everything. So if I am persistently prompted by Him to follow a course of action today, I must trust that He has knowledge I don’t. That’s why I partner with my Father. There is no doubt that tomorrow will be taken care of if it does come. There’s nothing I can do to change, shift or control it (by worrying about it today). But I can decide to be peaceful, and I can live today with joy. Making such a choice is the best possible preparation I can have for tomorrow’s agenda.
Second, in the midst of a terrible virus and a troubled, hurting nation where anger abounds, how might I choose to be fearless about my tomorrows and not worry? What can I do today, in my small corner of the world, to make it a better place?
In Leviticus 5, the Israelites were told by God (through Moses) that some must go outside the camp and be isolated, humiliated, away from their friends and families for a week, for years, or forever; some for sins they had committed, some for illnesses they had contracted, some for being in the presence of a dead person (family member who died), some for nothing they did wrong and nothing they could control. Yet, they were people just like you and me who could not be around the others in the presence of the Almighty God (and they wanted to be near His people).
These loved ones must have come to some sort of acceptance about their lives. What could they do in their small corner of the world to make it a better place?
They were outsiders. But they were still human beings who were thirsty, hungry and tired. They longed for touch and companionship.
There are times when I feel “outside the camp” for various reasons (especially in these days of isolation). Sometimes, perhaps it is because of sin and other times there is no particular explanation. But it doesn’t give me an excuse to give up, to forget about my fellowman or to stop worshiping my Father.
In fact, more so in today’s circumstances than at any other, I fall to my knees before Him. It is in such precious, dire moments I find that my hunger for Him is my greatest longing and not my desire to be inside the camp (where all problems are supposedly solved). He leads me in compassion to serve His people who are in need of my love and touch.
Jesus made me clean by His blood from His death on a cross. Yet, in my feelings of ‘uncleanness’ or wayward thoughts, angry words, lack of action or simply isolation, I turn to Him in my outside-the-camp status. I realize that, in truth, my very Christianity defines my position as an insider. Yet, I am human. Sometimes, I feel like an outsider. I’m sure I’m not the only one who experiences this. What do we do with these feelings in the precious moments of our todays?
We trust our Father. We acknowledge that today is all we have. We are not promised tomorrow. Therefore, whether we are oppressed and isolated by the threats of a spreading illness, the voices of angry citizens all around us or by human neglect, we still choose to shine bright in these moments and be followers of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We choose to rise, get our minds off ourselves and seek other outsiders who feel forgotten, lost and angry. We show them God’s love through phone calls, cards. Once, recently, I invited a stranger over and we sat far apart outside on my front porch and talked for hours. What a blessing this was for both of us!
Father, today is the day we choose to serve you, no matter what you have chosen for our lives. Send us your wounded and sad. Help us to be a light that guides others back to you. Help us to use this most holy day for your purposes and for your glory. Give us eyes to see and understand how important today is and how tomorrow will wait. Show us the way to your presence. Show us the way to be a healing force in our land, even in the last hours of today. In Jesus name, Amen.
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7-8
To tell you the truth, I didn’t like this verse when it first came to me as the topic I would study for the week.
It is one of those ‘in your face’ verses that make people feel bad about themselves. We immediately feel shame for all the troubled sins of our flesh, and honestly, it tends to make us feel hopeless.
“I’ll never be the person I was meant to be. Why even try!“
“Give me something comforting, something that will soothe my emotions and make me feel better.”
Yet, the more I opened my heart to God’s word, the more I realized the deeper calling wasn’t simply about condemnation.
My choices affect the quality of my life. God has given me the gift of free will. He will never force me to follow His ways. I am the one who has control over what I do.
My flesh is most definitely a problem that comforting verses rarely reach.
God’s voice speaks to me (sometimes boldly and right to the point) in order that I may understand the consequences of staying in the same patterns I’ve developed in my life out of fear and self-protection.
When I sow irritability, discord, anger, laziness, apathy or addiction in all its forms, there is a difference in my life than when I sow love, peace, patience and a shining of God from within to those without.
Galatians 6:7 is not a happy, positive verse. But when I heed, listen and obey, the joy follows. In fact, there is never a doubt that God’s word, if I allow it to seep into my soul and change me, reaps long-lasting happy benefits greater than the sins to which I cling.
Perhaps part of the problem of a first glance at this verse is the picture of a mean God looking over my shoulder ready to strike lightning at any mistakes I make.
However, when I allow myself to remake the image in my head, I see the truth. I see a God who longs for my time and full presence to long for His loving, forgiving, compassionate presence and to trust Him enough to follow His ways.
God wants to bless, not harm me.
Inside the consequences that come from my wayward choices, God waits, not with furrowed brow and condemning hand, but with wide open arms, ready to commune with me, as has always been His desire and hope.
Father, help my image of you to be clear and right. Lead me to convicting words of your Bible that mold me more into the likeness of your son. Aid my journey to daily walk close to you. I want to do the work of sowing what is good and reaping the results. But even more, I simply want to please you and be near my Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
“I am carrying on a great project…Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
Nehemiah and the people who lived in Jerusalem were rebuilding the wall that had been destroyed during the Babylonian captivity. Everyone was working with all their might to finish this great project.
However, enemies in the city were wickedly conniving to thwart his plans. One day several of them, with sinister intent, enticed Nehemiah, saying, “Come meet with us in one of the villages.“
The Bible says their scheme was to harm him.
He responded, “I am carrying on a great project…Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?“
In other words, “Why should I get distracted with your plans for evil while I am engaged in important tasks for the Lord God.”
A wall around the city of Jerusalem was the people’s protection against the enemies on the outside. Nehemiah knew that if he stopped finishing this project and allowed himself to be distracted with the petty squabbles of petty men (inside the wall), the work would never get done.
I’d like to imagine, sometimes, that I am talking to anger or fear, the petty voices (enemies) that try to take over my head. I like to envision them calling to me and asking me to come‘down’ and meet with them.
My answer to those who hide, waiting for me to step into their trap is: “Why should I stoop to your level and listen to your lies! I have important work to do, the work of a mighty God who leads my steps and guides my ways.”
Why should I stop…(I say to my enemies)? What, in my life, must I stop to disregard the spiritual forces I oppose?
Stop entertaining negative influences (complaints, fear, hatred, anger, agitation irritation, frustration, sadness or other paralyzing thoughts). Stop being afraid of my future.
Instead, I choose to keep straining forward in worship to bow my head and entrust my life in prayer to my Heavenly Father (whom I need far more than anything else), to stay active in making my home an inviting place to live, to anoint it’s doors and members with God’s anointing oil, to cheer those around me, to creatively throw out excess of stuff, to be frugal, using and needing less, to need God more and hoard time with Him, to be alert to worthless time-stealers of TV and cards and to be a servant to those in need around me.
Stop being afraid of illness, fear of illness, fear of what illness might do to me or my loved ones. Stop giving into injury, physical discomfort or other distractions of the enemy. Feel the normal human feelings and process through it all. Then move forward.
Stop giving so much time and attention to ‘work’ that really isn’t work at all. The tasks we do for God is the only work that matters (cleaning toilets, dropping off supplies for a friend, providing for our family, counseling the downhearted or just listening to a sad heart is godly work. (Striving for success, perfection, beauty or power in the eyes of this world is not.)
There are other bothersome, opposing forces in our lives:
Lack of sleep is a killer (an enemy) for me. I can face my foe by not staying up late when I can help it or simply use the wakeful moments to pray. My wise choices are part of fulfilling the great projects God has for me.
There is also self-pity, anger and depression that call to me constantly in my circumstances. What voices call to you to come down?
Psalm 1: 1-2 say, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”
This sounds like a man who is focused on God’s important work.
Lord, I want to choose to go UP wherever you lead me and not to descend to the place where evil dwells. I want to follow your ways, in my mind, actions, attitudes and motives. Help my trials to strengthen my faith instead of pulling me down to where the enemy alluringly calls my name. I listen for YOUR voice and your calling through all my labor. Let the spreading of peace and joy be a part of my greatest work here on earth. Father, help me to finish the work you have for me here. In Jesus name, Amen.
In the Bible there was a man named Jacob who had many sons. One of them was named Joseph. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite. As this child grew older, his father gave him a colorful coat to show his favor. The brothers were jealous of Joseph and all the attention he received. They threw him in a pit and sold him to Midianite merchants when they got the chance. They showed the torn coat (done by their own hands) to their father and told him he had been attacked by ferocious animals.
Joseph became a slave in Egypt, was wrongfully accused of impurity toward his master’s wife and thrown in prison. Years later, he interpreted the Pharoah’s dreams (that had to do with years of plenty and years of famine) and became second in command next to Pharaoh himself. Now, it was his job to store and manage the food for the coming famine.
Sure enough the famine came, and Joseph stored much grain to share with anyone in need. His brothers showed up at his doorstep, hungry, not recognizing Joseph and asked for grain.
Now Joseph tested them to see if they were the same brothers that he had known from the past or had they changed for the good, grown and matured. He asked for his little brother Benjamin to be brought back with them next time, and he imprisoned one of the older brothers as collateral.
Back home, Father stood firm and said no. He would not lose another son. But the famine took its toll and finally, he relented.
That is when he says, “Everything is against me.”
It is one of my favorite verses, because I know the ending to the story. I know that Jacob is clueless to the fact that he is very close to seeing his son, a son he thought was dead.
Sometimes, I’m not aware of it, but I have the same thoughts. “Everything is against me,” I’ll say, in so many words.
It comes in the form of grumbles and complaints, negative thoughts in my mind, moods, anger and self-pity. Woe is me.
Sometimes, in those moments, I blame those around me when really there’s more going on than meets the eye. This is more than just a mood or a pile of negative thoughts. The enemy is at work to distract me from the something BIG that God is about to do.
For Jacob, in reality everything was FOR him. God was with him, and his favorite son had gone ahead of him to save the whole family from starvation.
Joseph said to his brothers, “Do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you; to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” Genesis 45:5, 7
I marvel at Joseph, who years after the trauma of being separated from his family was able to say these words. Could I do the same?
“Everything is against me” is a phrase that is very human, yet not from God. They are normal thoughts, but I have to fight to change these thoughts to trust and belief in God’s loving kindness.
What if everything really was against me and it was not just my own perspective? I mean, Joseph had it tough for many years after he was sold to the merchants. How many lessons he must have learned. How many opportunities he must have had to build a trust in his Father God.
GOD IS FOR ME, no matter what circumstances are going on around me.
The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? Psalm 118:6
Joseph told his brothers that it wasn’t them who sent him to Egypt, but God. What a remarkable statement!
Father, life is hard and unfair at times. But I want to learn to get past the attitude of “everything is against me” and see something bigger than what is seen with my own eyes. Help me to trust you. Joseph had to have had faith in you. He had to have leaned on you. Help me to have this same faith. Help me to see the greater picture than just what’s in front of me. In Jesus name, Amen.
Please listen to the (short) song link (email subscribers tap the title): The Punishment of Our Peace (Isaiah 53:5). The words are directly below it.
The punishment of our peace was upon Him In His anguish, betrayed Him, did mock Him, bruise Him and reviled Him. Yet by His wounds we are healed; we are healed
This week I felt an urgency to regroup. I felt muddled. Several dire situations needed prayers, and I couldn’t seem to get past the first few words of interceding for others. So I chose to pull myself away from everything. It was a day of fasting in which the Father led me to work on myself. Little did I know the effect these moments in time would have on me and how it would forever change my life.
The above song came to mind as I awoke from sleep that morning. So the fast began, and the song drew me in. It was playing in the background all day during this time of withdrawing from everything else.
The first question came to my thoughts:
Have I mocked Jesus? Yes, by inwardly mocking those around me (family, work, church).
Mock means to ridicule, but what else does it mean? I knew there had to be more. I tried to put it into words by crawling into the minds of the mockers of Jesus.
Abusively, they used their mouths to degrade, stomp, disgrace, publicly shame, annihilate, embarrass, guilt, dishonor and discredit Him. They kicked the downtrodden, they didn’t have all the facts but joined in with the crowd, they allowed themselves to be stirred up, making impulsive choices in the heat of anger, they gave little thought to truth, they were misled and roused to think erroneous thoughts (inwardly mocking) and then outwardly they envied, teased and taunted.
The mocking might have even been truth: “You, a King? Yeah right!” But Jesus didn’t look like a king. If only they knew. What kind of king submits to His Father in suffering sorrow?
Fast forward to today, the dynamic within us can be so subtle, we don’t even know that we, too, are abusively mocking others. It can occur with only a look, a word, a reaction, silence, manipulation and tone of voice (even though what we are speak is truth). Mocking comes through prideful instruction, body language or ignoring a familiar face.
Mockers mock from misunderstanding, lack of patience, expectations, neglected needs, tiredness, bitterness, self-centeredness, unfulfillment, low self-worth, insecurity or baggage.
In what ways have we mocked others? What are the deeper reasons behind what we have done?
As I felt the burden of this lesson, I sadly became aware of some things in myself that needed to be revealed. I couldn’t fix the past mocking attitudes in myself. Yet today, my thoughts and actions need to be taken captive. Sadly, I have spiritual ‘attention deficit disorder’ inside my long list of sins. Some of my situations are so overwhelming that I tend to dwell on everything else except my trust in Jesus.
However, here’s God’s real and solid truth: I am being transformed. I’ll never be completely free here on this earth, but I don’t lack hope. I will always fall into temptation and find myself mocking and flogging Jesus all over again, but His desire is for me to be set free. He calls me higher daily.
I knew that the purpose of this lesson was to reveal the depths of my heart. The words of this blog were shared 5 different times in small classes I taught (and with individuals) before I finished this blog, and each time, I added the comments of those who participated.
We all want to understand the depth of our need for a Savior in order to help us become more transformed into His likeness. We desire to know facts concerning the secret places of our souls, which lie open before God.
This lesson is where God took me and a few close friends as well. (Hang in there through the hard parts of what you are about to read. The overwhelming good news follows! We must find our way through the dark before truly understanding the light!)
…………………………………………………………………………
Jesus was mocked by Jews and Gentiles. And all the human race joined in, including us, today.
In addition to mocking (or included in the mocking):
They spat on Jesus. How do we mock Him in this way by how we mock others? (Have you ever been so angry that spit shot from your lips or at least you wanted it to?) See deeper than what is outward. Go for the waywardness of the heart: viciousness, yelling, throwing things, hurt, revenge, lack of self-control, violent intent, anger or humiliation. The mocker flaunts his rank by one-upping the other person. He’s in charge of punishing their ‘crimes.’ He has no regard for the God-made, wondrous human being standing in front of him. He puts it upon himself to make sure the other gets what he ‘deserves.’
Jesus was blindfolded/beaten – “Who hit you?” The mocker blind-sides a person, verbally attacking him because of built up, unexpressed anger. When stuffed, an offense can become exaggerated (turning it into more than it is). The mocker is under attack so he attacks as well, instead of joining forces with the person against the enemy. Inside the silent treatment, the other person has no idea why he’s being accused or mocked. The mocker expects to have his mind read, never speaking his concerns out loud. He stuffs them inside himself. The other person lives in the dark, not knowing why there is so much anger. Beaten – The mocker repeats himself over and over again (beating with his words), dragging the conversation on and on. He speaks truth in loud angry, bullying, demeaning ways. He controls, nags and holds scripture over the other person’s head (inwardly or outwardly) in a spiteful way. He expects from the other what he’s not willing to do himself.
Jesus was flogged. Sarcasm (a defense mechanism – I’ve been hurt so many times in my life, I want to hurt you before you hurt me); side-digs, put-downs, sassing, repeated negligence, withdrawal, silent treatment.
Jesus was clothed in purple to mock His ‘royalty.’ The mocker denigrates the other person’s role to his face or in his own thoughts. “You decide (said in anger, distrust and impatience)!” “You’re the one who made that decision. If this fails, it’s your fault,” “I will not support, encourage or choose your way (in situations you should),” “What a dumb idea; my idea is better (maybe not said in words, but in actions: rolling the eyes, constant interrupting a person’s view because his own view is better.)”
A crown of thorns was placed on Jesus’ head. The mocker places a crown of ‘thorns’ deeper and deeper into the other person’s ‘head,’ sometimes, but not always, without realizing the hurt and pain he is causing. Thorns are placed when he is degrading the other person in front of people, especially their children, or gossiping and holding a grudge (that other person gossiped about doesn’t know why). The thorns are felt when he out-talks, out-fights and takes over. Yet, how would ‘he’ feel if those same thorns were in his head? The mocker says, “I see that person’s sin.Why doesn’t he just quit this or that habit? (Yet, the mocker has unresolved bad habits, too)” He proudly goes on to say, “He ‘should’ be wearing these thorns! He deserves it.”
Jesus was handed a staff so that the mockers could pretend He was king. They gave it to Him and then used it to beat Him repeatedly. The person’s personality (the way God made him), their words and actions are mocked, questioned, psychoanalyzed or made light of. In-law struggles or baggage can be a staff in the hand of a mocker. Yet these may not be the other person’s fault. There is such beauty in loving someone through their baggage instead of expecting and pressuring for immediate change. Sadly, when the mocker must speak necessary truth, he does so publicly, thus further humiliating him.
They knelt before Jesus, “Hail King Jesus (in mock reverence)!” “What a joke,” the mocker thinks to himself, “That person will never be good enough no matter what they do.” There is much outward show of participating in the relationship but inwardly, there is resentment and resistance. The other person knows. The mocker isn’t fooling anyone.
Jesus was stripped of His robe. The mocker belittles the other person’s gifts and demeans his ideas. He strips him of who he is supposed to be, promoting himself instead.
The passerby’s hurled insults, “Come down from the cross if you can!” For the mocker these can be rushed comments made in passing that are mock-filled, “You’re an idiot. I doubt you’ll ever do well. We’ll never get along.”
They mocked Jesus among themselves, “He saved others, but He can’t save himself.” Picture the social groups we attend where we gossip, bash and dishonor others, mocking others together behind their backs.
“Let Him come down that we may believe.” They had ‘no’ intention of believing. The mocker prays, “Lord, help that person to straighten up (said in proud, self-righteous, unrepentant ways).” The mocker is a know-it-all. “My life is perfect; fix him.”
Even a fellow-sufferer mocked Jesus, “Aren’t you the Messiah; save yourself and us!” In reality, we are all fellow-sufferers traveling together in this world to set it ablaze with the love of Christ. When we mock another person or vice versa, we are diluting what good we can do for mankind. We are forgetting the positive force we can have with each other. We are forgetting how our good can affect a lost world.
The other thief at Jesus’ side, at the last moment of his life ‘got it’ and was told that he would join Jesus in paradise that very day.
I want to ‘get it’ in my relationships like the thief on the cross, both now and forever.
The story isn’t over. God doesn’t want us to stay focused on our sins, but on our healing.
Yet, by His wounds (stripes) we are healed!
As these thoughts all washed over me, I come to the Father in shock, …appalled at my sins. I have no words. “I’m sorry,” was hardly enough.
“Lord, please take this load, this pile of filth, this impossible sinful flesh of mine that will forever flog the One I love the most. I feel incapable of changing.”
I look straight at Jesus, not lowering my head. I love Him so much, and I see in His eyes how much He loves me. But I can’t move. I am so so sorry for what He experienced at my hand. I want to cradle His motionless head as His mother Mary must have done. I want to cleanse the blood from His hands, His feet, His side.
I simply want to be near Him. I don’t want to let Him go.
But they take Him far from me (to the tomb). In the night I cradle myself in a fetal position. I cleanse the blood smeared on my face and hands that came from holding Him.
…WHAT HAVE I DONE?…
But in 3 days, Jesus is raised to sit at the Father’s side! I read in His word and know the truth:
…that on the day my Lord was crucified, I was healed by His stripes, His wounds.
The whip I used to beat Him dissolves. He turns and spirals His strong arms about me in love, speaking His soft words of forgiveness over me. “Be clean,” I hear His words in power from His cross.
I am completely released of everything I’ve ever done and will ever do tomorrow. So is released all who have wronged me. I no longer have to look at the sinful heap of mine or of anyone else. In fact, I choose to wipe the blood (guilt) from their faces and hands and go towards them in Jesus’ undying love. I come near to my Lord in an intentional choice to capture my thoughts for them to travel far from anxiety, fear and anger at those around me. Every time an evil thought reenters my mind, I give it into the hands of Jesus in pure, obedient trust. My faith tells me: He can take care of these issues better than I can.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Jesus doesn’t even remember my sins or the sins of those around me.
Some indescribable weight is lifted and light enters my eyes. Everything is clear. A shining brilliance in rays shoots out from my heart.
At that moment, I want to forgive those who have flogged and spit on me. I am enabled with a love larger than anything my thoughts could have birthed on their own. I want to run to serve and include and accept. In so doing, I serve, include and accept my Lord wide into my heart. I forgive the offenses of others (though it feels impossible) because I am thoroughly and unbelievably forgiven of my own.
The next time I am tempted to spit or place the crown of thorns or entertain anxious, bitter thoughts (for I will be tempted now more than ever), I beg Jesus to remind me of today, and I fight to stay near my King of Kings. I fall on my face before His cross. I take the whip of my offenders and hand it to Jesus to dissolve and to heal them with His strong loving arms while I watch. I witness it. I see it! They are forgiven, too.
……………………………………………………….
Change takes time:
II Cor. 3:18 – And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Ever-increasing glory is not an over-night process for me in my Christian walk, nor is it for others. Lord, help me in your Spirit’s fruit to move the way ‘you’ would move in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.
It occurs to me that I had begun my fast and the writing of this blog in a fog. Now, I feel free to come to the Father with my requests in prayer for others. My motives, attitude, purposes, heart, mind and soul are cleansed.
II Cor 6:3-10 NLT – We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
Lord, I come before you broken and healed in your presence. I notice the contrast between light and dark like the sunset of an ocean sky. There is such beauty to rediscover your breathtaking brilliance that draws me ever closer to you. I pray with shining, unveiled face, ready to hear what you would have me do. My eyes look towards your bright glory, for it transforms what is dark every time I am with you. Change me in this struggle. Cleanse me, once again. Now I lift up others to your throne that in your will they would likewise be healed. In Jesus name, Amen.
Proverbs 18:9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
Sometimes the right scripture comes along at just the right time to rock my world and revolutionize my thinking. This was one of those weeks.
I had already been mulling over in my mind some thoughts about changes I needed to make in my habits, but good choices take a lot of work. I had to convince myself that work is a good thing. Then I stumbled onto this verse and everything around me stopped. I was profoundly moved.
Why?
Because, when I don’t concentrate on fulfilling the work in front of me, I am partnering with those who tear things down instead of building things up. I am becoming the problem not the solution. I am the distraction and not the guide to something better. I am becoming one who destroys.
Gulp!
Okay, now what?
Well, sometimes I have good reasons not to work, right? Vacations, down-time, illnesses, trials. Play-time is essential to balance out my work. I’m a better person when I have a chance to be restored.
Yet, our choices for down-time can quickly turn into bad habits. TV and phones are great examples, but there’s so much more that grabs our attention away from the important stuff of life, away from our need to ‘work.’
A few days into today’s verse, the colossal mistakes of King David and Bathsheba came to mind.
Look at what started King David’s downfall: II Sam. 11:1 “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.” (The story continues in David’s restless state in lusting after a woman, sleeping with her and she gets pregnant. David has her husband killed at war. David and the woman marry, and the baby tragically dies.) Yikes!
Go back to the beginning of this story in the verse above:
“In the spring…” This was a time when it would have been right for David to be with his men (working) and not at home slacking off. This was not vacation time. He should have been in the heat of battle.
The story goes on to say that King David sent his staff away. Was he hiding something? Had he already seen the woman and now he would go after her without the distraction of people around him? What work do we neglect that causes us to hide in the dark with our sins? Sin and trouble happen in the darkness and isolation.
But David… The others left to go do their job, but David remained in Jerusalem. He stayed home, yet it became more than just ‘home.’
Jerusalem became his temptation. I have to ask myself, what is my Jerusalem? I may not choose to commit adultery or murder, but what temptations lure me? Where is the place I pull away from responsibilities and work and restlessly wander about looking for excitement and adventure?
The two passages, Proverbs 18:9 and II Samuel 11:1 go perfect together.
Question: What defines work for me?
It is my work to eat right, exercise, drink water and care for this body of mine. I manage our home, finances, meals, repairs and balance the activities we do as a family. My work is to serve people around me by giving to their felt needs, but also their deeper needs. My work is to pray for others and mentor those in need. In trials, I work to stay close to the Father. In grief, my work is to put one foot in front of the other and remember that life will eventually go on. Sometimes, grief is my work. Other times it is my teacher and the work is to learn from it, be comforted in it and eventually comfort others.
At night, my work is to sleep. When I veer from this work (through things I call ‘down-time’ into the late hours of night or letting thoughts move into hyper speed), I don’t have much to offer the next day. I can easily destroy so much in relationships and responsibilities.
In fact, the benefits of attending to sleep and not the iPhone are many: I have more calm and peace when the morning comes, more time to do my real work and have less anger. I accomplish more with increased productivity. I have more time for husband and family, am more able to meet my spiritual foe with the armor of God and am more flexible. I have energy to better train my kids, cover over wrongs and offenses of others, heed the spirit’s fruit, hear God’s call instead of being distracted and am better prepared for the nights I have to be awake in emergency situations (because I am well rested).
The consequences of good choices have endless possibilities and help me to reach the most important goals of life! I have far greater adventures and excitement when God’s way is sought rather than seeking these adventures in secret or over-committing to earthly callings. These benefits are motivators for me to step onto the right path.
Sleep is my work at night. My greatest work during the day is to serve my husband and family.
The list goes on and on.
Sometimes, I tell people, “Marriage is hard. It takes a lot of work!” To this, I receive all kinds of looks. No one likes to work THAT hard! And a lot of marriages fail from slacking in this vital responsibility.
Yet, work is not a bad word. Some may see it as drudgery, hardship and pain. To me, work is a blessing to dive into and reap the benefits. It is a discipline that trains us in all other areas of life. We are capable, strong people that God equips for the work He calls us to do, for His glory, His name and in His honor. We work as if we were working for the Lord! (Col. 3:23)
I work hard in my marriage (so does my husband) and my marriage reflects that accomplishment. We don’t always want to do the work, but when we move past the feelings and let God shine through us, we are building good things in marriage and in our communities, not destroying good things in our slacking of hard work.
When I look back on the days I worked hard (in whatever defines work for each moment), I can be proud of my achievements, feel good within myself and lay my head on the pillow at night knowing I did everything I could to obey my Father in heaven.
That obedience isn’t a need to earn or prove something to Him. I don’t obey in order to be loved more. Obedience is the knowledge of something beautiful I am capable of finishing because He made me so. He wants to bless and show His power through my life! He invites me to make good choices that result in successful, bright, beautiful ‘buildings’ and not destructive rubble on the ground.
Father, go before me in the work you give me this day. The enemy is near. He wants to steal, kill and destroy my life. Sometimes he whispers in my ear to resent my work or complain. In reality, HIS work is about lies, deception and darkness. He wants me to concentrate on my groans and complaints and not on the higher beauty you are birthing in my life. Help me to see work as a gift from your hands that will form me more into your son’s likeness. I have learned through trials and struggles this week that some things just don’t matter. Focus me on the greater priorities of life. Keep me on the straight path. Clothe me in the armor of God to stand in the day of trouble. I love you forever, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
Proverbs 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
With only occasional setbacks, quarreling can become a thing of the past when we learn to follow verses like this and others like it: What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? (James 4:1)
Following these passages makes it possible to be set free from the need to argue.
Learning new habits of dropping the matter cleans out our ugly hearts and helps us to forgive people who offend and circumstances that disappoint.
What is a breach? It is an eruption, a crack or gap in a wall or dam that gets bigger and bigger over time, spewing out in great force it’s damage and destruction.
Spiritually the dam is a pile of unexpressed displeasing thoughts that have been held back a long time only to need one tiny rupture (irritating comment or action from another person) to be uncontrollably and unfairly let loose.
In this dilemma, is the answer to the problem to express all my thoughts as they happen so they won’t all back up inside me? Or is the answer to let some things go, like really go?
How do I sometimes unknowingly activate or launch a breach in the ‘dam?’
The foothold of the enemy starts in my mind when I allow myself to think whatever I want and use no self-control to take captive my thoughts (II Cor. 10:5). When the ‘last straw’ happens, all the thoughts come tumbling out, ready at the first sign of a breach. It even feels like the thoughts are looking for any excuse to come out of hiding!
How do I keep this dam of the mind intact, strong and peaceful (as shown in the photo above)? How do I keep the wall whole?
How do I “drop the matter?”
There has to be some sort of true letting go when the need to quarrel arrives in my brain. However, it’s not enough to remain quiet.I cannot expect some things to go away on their own. Some ‘matters’ will not and should not simply be ignored.
In my thoughts, before I bring up a topic of concern out loud, I pray about it. Then I carefully place it into more capable hands of the Almighty God. Before I even share my thoughts, I label it, once and for all, ‘resolved,’
After waiting on God’s timing, I speak with gentleness not anger to my counterpart. Expressing my thoughts in patient, kind ways, I listen to the spirit as He moves me to experience His fruit (love, joy, peace).
After that, since I’ve already left it resolved with God, I drop the matter and allow freedom to come into my heart. I am released from tension and strife.
Therefore, in order to keep my heart from negatively bursting at the seams, first of all, I daily go through a cleansing process. Have I repented of wrongs? Have I forgiven those who have offended me? Am I aware of the good around me to give thanks? Am I in the habit of praising God even in the hard times? Is there anything left over that hasn’t been addressed? Do these things need to be spoken or tossed? Am I praying to God for discernment?
Second, there are times when I get tired or moody and mindlessly speak my hurt. I am clearly in the wrong. When confronted, my tendency is to get defensive and angry and unleash all the ugliness of my soul (because I’m tired and cranky).
The happier way is to correct myself (explain my state of mind, apologize and reap the benefits of cleaning up my act and restoring my soul). Over time, I can better learn which fights are worth my time and energy and which ones are foolish, disruptive and nonessential to my life and well-being as well as to other’s.
Interestingly enough, there is another dynamic that could be the backdrop of everything I just shared.
I am under spiritual attack (or ‘we’ are).
The Bible says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph 6:12).
Sometimes the enemy bombards me, and I am led to believe his lies. As this happens, I know by now that in that struggle, I must quickly grab hold of God’s hand, who is more powerful than my enemy. I must keep going forward in love to those around me, not letting the dam be breached even by Satan himself.
If I were to verbally speak those enemy-thoughts led into my mind, much damage and destruction could happen.
Instead, I set myself to keep up the good deeds, doing the opposite of what the enemy speaks into my head.
For example: Over the years, God has helped me conquer some insecurities and fears. When I’m ‘under attack, ‘ the enemy hits those hot buttons with a vengeance, and I am made to believe that I am insecure again. I’m NOT. But I feel the struggle so deeply, I think things like: “This will always be a part of me. I will never get better. I want to quit because I’m not worthy to continue. I want to run away because that person did or said something hurtful (in reality, he or she is the same person they’ve always been, sometimes aggravating or frustrating, but the enemy exaggerates their actions or words in my mind, blowing it out of proportion). My mind convinces me to become distant and fed up, “I’m done!“
But, God is not done.
Perhaps, you would counsel me to speak my feelings. But, I’ve been there and done that so often (during a spiritual attack) that the recipients of my words look at me like I have two heads. They’re just being themselves. I’m the one who is out of line and making a big deal out of nothing (or better said, the enemy is running the show in my head).
These episodes last a few days in which I feel the battle or struggle, a battle that is most definitely about the principalities of darkness.
The issue isn’t a person or a hurt, but a power struggle between God and Satan and I’m in the middle!
I am being distracted to dwell on a lie, BECAUSE someone out there needs my prayers. Someone else needs me to be in the light of God’s will. That someone needs my prayers and encouragement, perhaps even the very person the enemy is lying about in my head.
My heaven-tactic against the spiritual attacks is to move toward people in love, to serve, give and ignore the enemy’s cries. It is vital, during these episodes, in ALL my relationships to go out of my way to be kind. I move forward as if the struggle isn’t going on. Extremely hard to accomplish, it feels impossible. But, with God, nothing is impossible!
The only way I can do this is by crying out to my Father who ALWAYS pulls me through. A few days pass and the thoughts are forgotten and gone. They leave as quickly as they came. My mind is sane again and at peace. When those same frustrations (used by the enemy to trip me up) happen again, my mind is not agitated or perplexed. I have made it through the storm without allowing the dam to be breached.
It is imperative for us all to come to recognize when the enemy is attacking us spiritually. He comes in the form of anger, hurt and pride, but he also shows up in illness and misfortune. He can even use the good in life to distract me from praying for a friend in need. I am still in the process of trying to understand spiritual attacks. I want to learn from the Jesus himself.
Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.“If you are the Son of God throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels, and they will lift you up in their hands, so you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil showed him the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Father, forgive me for my wayward thoughts that overflow from my mouth. Show me the path to freedom by helping me to drop the matter. Help me to soar above the waves of this deeper ocean. When the enemy is near, put scripture in my mind to repeat back to the principalities of darkness. Keep my eyes on you, my Savior and friend, and help me to sustain the loving acts you place on my heart. I am thankful that I have a God who is over all these things. I open my lips and my arms to praise you. I kiss your feet, Lord Jesus and glorify your name. I love you so much, Lord and give my life to you. In Jesus name, Amen.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
I love the word gentle. It’s such a peaceful word. Whereas ‘harsh’ is simply, well…harsh!
Harsh typically comes out of my mouth before I have a chance to think. It’s a spur of the moment action that gives into anger.
Then, there are gentle answers which take extra self-discipline. I don’t always want to spend that much energy. I want the easy road to simply give into my feelings and the perceived injustice of the moment.
Last week, I gave a kindness to a person, and she said, “I know you don’t just do this because we’re family, you do this because you love me.” She was right.
However, it’s also true that I don’t heed scripture just because it’s in the Bible. I follow these because I love my Father, and I trust Him. I trust that giving a gentle answer is better than a harsh one, but I’ve also experienced it!
Gentleness is a way to preserve my joy. It is my job to refuse to let joy be robbed from me, even in angry situations.
Sometimes, I’m not honest with myself about my anger. I’m like, “I’m not angry, I’m just irritated or frustrated.” Yet, my reaction is defensive instead of truly including and listening to the other person. My reply gives away what is in my heart.
In fact, my reply generally has NOTHING to do with the topic of conversation that bothered me in the first place and EVERYTHING to do with my heart.
When receiving instruction or advice (unasked for) should I not respond with gentleness? Could our different views be respected instead of smashed by my ugliness? Might the ill-timed comment be covered with love instead of defensiveness?
Sometimes anger isn’t because someone did or said something, it’s because I am having a bad day.
Gentleness versus unkindness helps to stop my annoyance.
There is something humble about speaking gently. There is even a hint that gentleness originates in my mind. If I am gentle to the other person in my head, than I can speak gently to that person when things aren’t pleasant between us. If I allow unkindness to run rampant, most likely, at the first sign of conflict, my words will not be gentle.
It all starts with my mind.
Sometimes, I need to learn to speak gently to myself. I make mistakes, too. God’s grace is so broad, broad enough, even for me. Speaking harshly to myself when I’ve messed up doesn’t do one bit of good and typically does further harm.
Father, I love you and I’m so thankful for your words of wisdom. You are kind to me, even when I mess up. Your compassion overwhelms me. Your gentleness inspires me. Help me to be like you. May my words float upwards to the heavens to glorify your blessed name. In Jesus name, Amen.
…the speech of the upright rescues them. Proverbs 12:6
I love this part of today’s verse, but in order to get the whole picture, here’s the first part: “The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.”
All week I’ve been exploring the words my mouth speaks and how those very words can affect the world around me and even my own life. As I began to go back and look at the first part of Proverbs 12:6, it felt like the main character was in a danger of some sort and the words he spoke might get him out of trouble.
Was he crying out to God, saying something clever, speaking some encouragements or truth? One thing I do know is that he wasn’t stirring his foe to anger. He wasn’t badmouthing his foe or arguing. That would have simply quickened his death.
What is it about words that are so powerful they can save my life, whether it is truly a dangerous situation or just a tense moment with another fellow human being? The words I speak must be carefully thought through.
Words matter!
This week I learned in my circumstances that we all have moments of feeling blue. In these desperate moments in which I need to find safety and am ‘depressed,’ what comes out of my mouth to encourage others can turn around to comfort and rescue me.
What may have begun as hurt or embarrassment can change into joy and experiencing God on a level not known before, because I focus my ‘self‘ and my words on Him and not on my frustrating circumstances. I act and speak as if I was His ambassador.
God is the giver of all things, yet ‘I’ am responsible for what comes out of my mouth. There are many things about me that I cannot change, but I can affect more outcomes of my life than I realize.
Sometimes I force myself into self-control that helps me NOT to say what I wish I could say, and other times the situation calls for me to muster up the courage to speak what needs to be said (in careful, thought-out words).
Either way, my soul is changed dramatically when I go against what my flesh wants to do and follow the Lord instead.
Perhaps we all, at times, can become too self-absorbed in always thinking about the inner things of our hearts. Yet, I’m the one who lives in this body and in this mind. If I don’t attend to my ‘self,’ I will not have anything left to promote an outward perspective that gives to others.
I am learning how to speak good things that bless people, notso that it will bless me too. That is just a side effect of righteous speech. Today’s verse is about the great natural consequences of speaking good things.
Father, put on my tongue: kindness and truth in love. Help me to take seriously the fact that my words make a difference, whether they are positive or negative, gracious or selfish or generous or stingy. In heated moments of irritation, help me to value the people you put in my life and promote what is good for them through what I say. In Jesus name, Amen.
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23
Guard my heart…above ALL else?
Why is attending to the center of my heart of such importance?
There are so many things going on inside my heart and mind. At times, I’m not even always aware. Going to that place of pursuing what’s in there is a great learning skill. Sitting through a few moments every day to know my heart helps me ascertain what changes I need to make in my life with aid from the Lord.
It is helpful to use the senses God gave me: seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting and letting them tell me what is going on deep in my soul.
Am I tense or fearful? Am I stressed, hungry or moody? Am I anticipating good things today or dreading my work? WHAT is driving me?
The verse says to guard my heart above everything else. When this one thing isn’t prioritized, the other choices of my life tend to end poorly.
How am I to guard my heart? I must watch carefully what I allow into my spirit. I must carefully follow the instructions of my Father in heaven by reading His word daily. I meditate on its meaning and its application for my life. The Bible makes such a difference in everything I do. I let it envelop and saturate my mind so that when trials come, when the day of evil comes into my life, I can stand my ground and my heart can have good and wise responses.
I guard my heart by speaking the truth in love plainly to those around me the words I am called to speak instead of letting bitterness or resentment take me over. It is my responsibility to do that.
What am I guarding my heart from? How about greed, pride (being pompous and arrogant), anger and attacks of the enemies of God?
Lord, apparently what I DO is birthed from what I think. Help my thoughts to dwell constantly on you and your work in me. Help me to be like your Son, Jesus. I want my actions and love to come from a heart overflowing with your grace, mercy and peace. Today and forever, move my heart to belong completely to you. I give my life to you. In Jesus name, Amen.
Pr 3:7-8 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
This week, I experienced a morning in which I felt I was walking on Holy Ground. God delivered me from some trials in such a way that I was left standing amazed. A common statement came to my mind about bad things that occur in our lives. “How can I believe in a God who would allow me to suffer?”
I’m not here to minimize such feelings, but to express how I feel when God does something mind-blowingly good. My thoughts spoke in awe and wonder, “How in the world does God do such good for someone like ME?” “How am I NOT worthy of suffering, instead?”
All week, I’ve meditated on Prov. 3:7-8.
When the unbelievable miracles happen to me (and God is ALWAYS doing something good in all our lives), I desire for my reaction to be one of humility, not arrogance that this is owed to me somehow or that I deserve it.
How I see myself from my own prideful eyes is something I want to learn to refuse.
I must continue to be humble, even when things don’t go my way or I don’t get what I asked for, for I am not God. I don’t know what He knows. I don’t know my future. I must trust him more than I do myself.
Pride goes before so many more sins. Pride is just the beginning of my fall.
Lord, help me not to think of myself as so wise that I’m not willing to listen to others. Help me to be in constant rapport with you to hear your wisdom and the wise advice from others you have put in my life. As I mentor, I’m in a constant state of “I don’t know what to do about this situation or problem.” But you, Father, always pull through and give me what I need to help others. That is not ME. It is all you! May my prayers not be so presumptuous that I act as if I know what is best. Help me to understand the consequences that come when I am wise in my own eyes: ill-health, regret, worry and anger. I love that you have a plan for me to be healthy and strong in my spirit. Keep me from arrogant ways. In Jesus name, Amen.
Luke 23:23-25 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.
This verse made me pause for thought all week long:
What if Jesus had been handed over to ME? How might I imagine things would have ended?
In my mind I would never in a million years have taken Jesus to be crucified on a cross. But my actions tell me a different story at times when I lose my way. During the trials of my week, I remembered this verse. I kept asking myself, what if Jesus was handed over to me right at this moment? This moved me to tears.
Jesus, what would I do with you?
Would I crucify you all over again by giving into weariness, letting it rule me? Or place a crown of thorns on your head by allowing feelings of confusion or doubt to dictate how I treat the rest of the world? Or beat you with a whip by refusing to love your people? Or mock you by forgetting those in need? Or spit on you through my angry words or pouting spirit?
When those most holy moments or turning points came, I knew I stood at a crossroads.
I wanted to take Jesus’ hand and fall on my knees before Him. I wanted to surrender to HIM and free Him to have full access over me.
Lord, you committed yourself into the hands of the Father. It’s what I do now with you. So many times, I simply forget that every decision I make affects so much more than just me. Being too tired to surrender or being too overwhelmed to listen to your voice or thinking thoughts like you’re asking too much of me, ultimately causes more trouble and pain than if I had simply stopped and let your presence fill my heart. Jesus, I want my life not to grieve you, but to give you pleasure. Thank you for your grace that covers my sinful ways and thank you for teaching me everyday more about following your sweet will. In Jesus name, Amen.
“…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8
Today’s blog continues the story (from the last two blogs) in which Jesus had been speaking of a persistent widow and her pleas to an unjust judge for justice. She eventually received what she asked for because of her determination (she kept bothering him). If the unjust judge was able to finally give in, would not the God of the universe even more bring about justice for His chosen ones?
Jesus ends His story by asking a profound question: “However, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Do I take the time to cry out to God?
Do I consider prayer a useful or useless thing to do? How do I define useful and useless?
Am I willing to step out in faith and keep asking, even though prayer is time-consuming, energy encompassing and completely painful to put my deepest longings out there when I know very well they could be crushed? Am I willing to “be crushed” in order to know God more and to find His good?
There are two things this passage teaches me to do: have faith and keep asking.
It is my faith in God that settles me on my knees to go back to Him again and again. I believe that He hears my cries. I believe that God is who He says He is.
The widow received justice. Her prayers were answered. But it took much work, tears and fighting for what she believed. Notice, she didn’t fight or try to convince her offenders. Perhaps she had tried and she knew now that the attempts would be a waste of time.
She went to the only one who could help her cause.
God is the only One who can really help me in my trials. I may try to gain justice on my own, but when it comes down to it, the lack of resolution (after I’ve tried) can only be answered by God himself.
That’s where my faith comes in.
My flesh wants to give up, to give in to despair or to stay in confusion and anger at my offender.
God wants my eyes to stay focused on Him. All the other choices are stormy waves that distract me from my godly walking adventure on the waters of life.
When I am at my wits end, when I have no other paths to take or options to try, but when I still put one foot in front of the other and live a holy life for God, that is faith.
Faith is the prayer and the release of the prayer into His hands. Faith is finding joy, even in the tears. Faith is addressing my Lord and Savior with my greatest requests, especially when I don’t have time and especially when I don’t feel like it. Faith is jumping from the ledge of comfort into the realm of the unknown because I give my trust to Christ. It is realizing that the energy to love and serve despite what feels like unanswered prayer IS an answer to my unspoken prayers.
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.” (I Peter 1:15,16)
Learning to soar above my trials is ultimately better than the resolution of my trials. It is a part of becoming holy as He is holy. It is realizing how this earth has little to offer me in the long run. But what God has to offer is eternal.
The justice with which God may provide me is His ability in me to focus on Him more than on my trial.
Father, I thank you for my trials, for I see you in every aspect of them. I feel your comfort and hear your encouragements through song and verses that come to mind. I see you in the bright sunshine and hear you in the sound of birds throughout the day. Make me holy. I surrender my life to you. Strengthen my faith. Your will be done. In Jesus name, Amen.
“Why did you despise the word of the LORD by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own” (II Samuel 12:9)
King David was on his rooftop when he saw Bathsheba and wanted her for himself. Eventually one sin led to another, and He was willing to go as far as committing murder in order to get his way.
This is the passage I opened last Sunday and then I asked myself two questions:
What do ‘I’ crave so much that I stay fixed on it until it’s mine? …I would do anything to have it.
Although murder isn’t something I would do, what about all-consuming anger (which Jesus says is like murder – Matt. 5:21-22)? What things upset and irritate me so much, I talk myself into doing something I normally would never do, or I fall apart or become out of control?
Typically when I think of the word ‘crave,’ I think of food. But, this word can apply to anything I become obsessed with. The craving takes over my mind and heart. It seems to go beyond my ability to think in a level headed way.
If I really concentrate, the first question could cover so much: relationships I try to fix, a reputation I want to uphold and will go to great lengths to pursue, people I seek to impress, arguments I attempt to win, children I try to control, food I try to make into something it was never meant to be.
Certainly, there’s a difference between my responsibility in a relationship compared to desiring that relationship to be a certain thing for me and driving that person to fit my definition of their role in my life. There is a difference between doing good because it’s the right thing compared to doing good because I want people to like me. There is a difference between standing for truth compared to losing control of my emotions and compelling others to go my way. There is a difference between godly discipline of my children done in love compared to making them be something so I look good. There is a difference between making wise, healthy choices for my diet compared to believing my diet will help me reach some sort of self-made utopia, bringing me eternal happiness.
The second question helped me to think about the same type of things as the first one only from a different angle. What life circumstances upset me so much that I would fall apart? My answers lead me to the cravings for which I would do anything to satisfy, even in a fit of rage.
Think about it. When someone asks you to do something for them, does that bring about an internal negative response? What about when someone tries to teach or instruct you, and it makes you feel stupid and judged. Maybe you don’t reveal it on the outside, but how do you respond inside?
The Bible says: *Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. (Proverbs 1:5) *Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning. (Proverbs 9:9) *Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. (Proverbs 12:1)
What other things bother you, so much that you can’t sleep? When do you become so angry that kindness slips from your mind?
Our emotions are real and we must address them, but they can sometimes be very revealing, if only we would take a moment to listen to what they’re saying to us.
Father, help me to crave you alone. Everything else fades into the background. You provide my food, sleep and friends. You make straight paths to your will for me. Help me extend my hand to give and bless and not to grab. Lead me to those who will show me how to be content and wise. When they speak or instruct, help me to listen as if I were listening to you. Help me to be humble. I choose a peaceful and thankful heart. Let your light abide in me forever. Father, may I never despise the word of the Lord by my misdeeds and sinful choices. In Jesus name, Amen.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3:20).
I wrote this several years ago and the visual of the door comes back to me over and over in my life. I am finding that the invitation to walk through this door happens every day and sometimes, many times a day.
In the morning and at night and everywhere in between, there stretches wide open before me:
…a door…
It is surrounded on the edges with blossoms and ivy trailing down the sides. On THIS side of the door is fear, worry, anger, self-protection, pride, and every other act I may not at first label or see as sin. On this side of the door I FEEL safe, because it’s all I know. It feels good because it’s the place I stand up for my rights and make demands for my needs to be met. It is the bed I choose to lie in that pouts and blames and gives the silent treatment and angry threats. It all makes me feel powerful and in control.
I can do it myself.
I don’t need God in the depths of my own secret garden. Those other people deserve my tongue lashing. They deserve my silence.
But there is another side to this door.
And it takes all the faith I can muster to walk through. It takes keeping my eyes on Jesus; it takes my full trust. And when I commit to walk over the threshold, I am committed to leave the rest behind and take what feels like a step off of a cliff to free-fall into the void of the unknown. Why do I call this a void? Because following Christ is risky.
HIS door led him to a cross.
What will God ask of me? What will become of me if I’m kind to that mean person? Who will be there for me if I’m looking out for their needs?
For a while I don’t know. But I am grabbing hold of a greater power, the power of love. It means I wash the person’s feet who has offended me; I speak lovingly to the one who has bellowed out a curse.
Jesus did.
And he has given me the ability to follow him. It means I pray and pray and pray for God to bring answers to my tough situations. And I never give up. I keep trusting even when all seems lost. Even when I don’t know what’s up or down in this void. I keep trusting even when I don’t think I can last another second. I keep serving and praying and serving and praying, even when I can barely lift my eyes to the sky.
And one day, in that void, I feel the arms of God and the joy of God reach down to my very soul and wrap itself around every part of who I am.
I feel completely loved.
And I feel completely full.
And I realize that this feeling didn’t happen because of anything this earth provides or because of anywhere else I might put my trust. I realize that on the other side of the door is the greatest pleasures I can experience on earth. But I can’t experience them unless I walk through and stake my life on obeying the sweet will of God.
Years of stepping through that door I realize that everything I will ever need is met. I find myself overflowing with some inborn service, now a habit, now making sense, now bringing fruit. It is a long journey and it is full of tears and fear of what will happen, but that door stands open for me to choose. And I have a big God who stands and waits as he knocks for me to answer. The question is will I walk through and experience all God has for me? Will I let him into the deepest places of my heart so he can help me walk through that door? Will I put my confidence in God and not in myself and my own fleshly way of dealing with things?
There are vast treasures on the other side of that door, treasures in obeying God‘s will. Yet all of us tend to hold on to things, burdens we carry that keep us from crossing over.
What are your burdens today? How might you lay down those burdens and save room in your arms for the bounty God has for you?
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13).
I look out over the fields of green. My needs are MET (not in small portions,but in abundance).
At the beginning of each day, I make a mental or physical list of things to do and how I think the day should go. On my list are my most important projects and tasks. This is a reasonable and great practice. However, my heart remains alert and aware of what God wants altered that day for His will.
Sometimes, in the chaos of the hours I spend, I watch as some of my fields seem to dry up as the day or month or year progresses. This world takes from me. It is sometimes harsh, cruel, and unfair. I feel like I am somehow being robbed of (health, identity, dreams, longings, love). It is humiliating to find myself in the outsider’sbox when there was a time I had a place at the table. The fields before, behind and beside me seem wilted and barren.
What the world takes from me, I realize, in God’s eyes, apparently isn’t something I need. What green pastures wither, He has something greener, in the restoration of what was lost or in other provisions, but mostly within His presence.
The undersized green patch on which I stand appears to be my only source of blessing: time and space have cut everything else away (or so it seems).
Yet, on my one square of plenty (where my toes hang off the edge), I find contentment. God knows how to multiply His blessings from miniscule beginnings. He knows how to make something from nothing. The square is, in fact, overflowing, though I may not see it. His provision is enough for now. And now is all that matters.
This field is not my home. It is only the temporary place where I dwell. Yet, I hear the Father call my name. Not only does He ask me to be content, He asks me to share my little piece of green field, wholeheartedly with others.
Not only does He ask me to share, He asks me to contribute my square to the very world that takes all the pieces of green from me. He asks me to give of myself as He did on the cross.
How? Here’s what I’ve come up with:
My expectations of the green fields to yield its fruits to me are not where my expectations should be. (The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1).)
I am to go with the flow of having a lot or a little (money, food, support, attention), and I know that God has purposes in either situation. The secret of being content is to place my expectations on Him alone.
I must seek to be flexible with the ups and downs of my life, people’s flaws and my own limitations.
I am not their judge. I am a lover sent by a Loving God (a God who shows by His actions that He means business; after all, He sent His only Son to die for me). God made me to love.
There is good that comes from training myself not to become agitated over much of anything. When something disturbs my composure, it is an opportunity for me to grow. It is a chance for me to represent God in patience, kindness and forgiveness. The disturbance is my ticket to ride on the breath of God while He shows off his greatness.
Somehow, there seems to be the need for a sort of holy detachment from this world (and what it has to offer) that keeps me focused on the Lord.
Jesus had this quality when He walked the earth. He had to in order to prioritize His Father’s will and not get sucked in by the pulls or temptations of the world.
This holy detachment is not emotionless and robotic. It is a choice to be all in, but also to let the heart be replenished by an utmost care for God’s kingdom. It is a chance to extravagantly love Him more than all else that is held dear (usingactions).
Feelings are real and they matter. Yet, when I worship Him, the feelings don’t seem as big and scary.
The pains of life never completely go away. I will always struggle within my trials or hurts. However, I wonder what my life would be like without Him? I can’t imagine. Not having my Lord would be worse than not having everything else.
Most of the time, the tiny square is how I live my life (though, in reality, I truly possess acres of fields of green from God’s hands). On earth I just don’t always feel it. I’m learning to feel it in a deeper place of my heart. In the meantime, I’m learning to have faith to enjoy things I do not physically see.
Last week, as I was severing myself from the wants of this earth, finding contentment and joy in my life and pouring out my love to those around me, I received an astonishing gift.
The package came in the form of words that deep down, I longed to hear, words that I thought had been set in stone on the opposite side. I had relinquished this gift long ago and my eyes filled with tears the moment the words were spoken.
I didn’t weep because the gift was solid, sure, nourishing, or filling. My tears happened because the gift showed me that hearts of our people can soften and that God’s love is deep and broad and high. It showed me that miracles still occur today! It reminded me not to depend on the gift but to adore the giver, who ultimately is God.
At the same moment another package came. Two days later yet another arrived, and then another.
My pasture wasn’t any greener because of these gifts. In fact, my fields are always bright and thriving. Yet, God allowed the gifts to help me feel His undying love. The seeming desert of earth I had learned to cherish and enjoy came alive, and now I could see the fountains flowing. I could taste the clear cool water on my tongue.
I was overwhelmingly amazed to my core. That’s the way gifts should be: unexpected and breathtaking.
The reason why earthly gifts are not solid and sure is because they can be hindered or withheld the next time around. They can change colors in an instant, be broken or lost.
The only sure gifts we have are from God, and they can never be taken from us. As I think about what I received this week, my mind isn’t on those gifts at all, not anymore. My mind is on what heavenly offerings I have in the green fields around me. Here are some of God’s gifts as shown in his word:
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (His gifts are perfect.) I Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. (The gifts Peter is referring to are special talents God has given to each of us.These gifts aren’t to be hoarded but shared.) Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (His greatest gift is eternal life with Him.) Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. (God gives us grace when we have sinned. Thank you, God!) John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (God gave His own Son.) Matthew 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (God’s gifts are far better [on a different level] than our attempts at giving.) James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (Wisdom is a gift from God.) Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (The Holy Spirit is a gift.) Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. (Children are a gift from God.) Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. (God doesn’t withhold good things from us.) Psalm 37:1-5 Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (God knows what we need, and He provides.)
Father, I know you will provide everything I need when you ask me to give. My patch of green is a holy place where you support me with your strong hand. You are my God, and I am your child. I do my work of the day as if I am doing it for you alone. Forgive my attitude when my thoughts take me elsewhere. Help me to be grateful for all the blessings you bestow. Make me aware of your presence and your gifts of love. Thank you for salvation and grace and for giving me your Holy Spirit forever. Thank you for never leaving me alone and for your perfect gifts. I love you, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
The following song tells of our need to GIVE ourselves wholly to the Father of us all and keep our days completely open to what he wants us to do.
“I’M ANGRY!” It’s a phrase I hear a lot these days.
Yet, I also hear and see many people who are sensing a bigger picture than the tension and stress they experience. They realize what is urgent in God’s eyes more than what is causing them anger. They don’t allow themselves to be distracted by feelings! School shootings brought one friend to her knees and moved her to form prayer groups instead of giving into defeat in her personal trials. Another friend sends out daily prayers for the President and our country. Several are constantly in their war rooms praying for their marriages instead of fighting their mates. Hearts are convicted to have compassion instead of self-pity. One hero of the faith is starting an online group for daily devotionals.
About 7 years ago, a new endeavor of mine was immediately followed by a heavy spiritual attack. I stood firm. Speaking in gentle compliance to what the situation called for, I marveled at the attempts of the enemy. Within 3 weeks, the situation righted itself without any help from me, other than my continued gentle responses. God took care of it and the new endeavor went forward in power, something that could have easily failed had I responded in my flesh.
Loving others can be painful. People let us down; they can’t always possibly be there when we need them. They may say the wrong things at times. They might move away or find new friends they like more than us. One day, they will leave us in death. Right now, without a doubt, they will at times make us angry.
Yet, I am witnessing Christian men and women refuse to hold back parts of themselves just because the pain of love is too big, too risky, or too invasive. They are refusing to allow themselves only to be the receiver of gifts of love, or to constantly be the one who sabotages other’s loving efforts towards them through nit-picking and arguments over every little thing. They no longer push people away, by saying, “You’re gonna leave me anyway; just get it over with!”
They dive into unconditional love (no matter that they are let down [I’m not talking about abusive situations] or that wrong things are said. They freely show thoughtfulness and connectiveness with no thought of having to be repaid. They grab hold of God’s hand and let Him lead them in how to love well. They spend their time refining their love more than any other skill. They concentrate on their part of loving by doing the hard work it takes. They stay in their marriages and fight the enemy (certainly, not all marriages survive; on the other hand many marriages revive on such a focus).
At times they wait in hopeful silence for loved ones to find their way back. Relationships, obviously, cannot be forced. They wait in prayer and anticipate the reunions and the warmth that once was there. They are committed for life, yet are surrendered to lean on God no matter what happens.
HATE is a horrible emotion that perhaps may be about deep hurt more than anything else. Apathy is the real enemy. Yet, it is being discovered by many that even apathy, along with hurt, are all able to be mended if even one pursues the hand of God more than over-needing or over-seeking the hand of the one who caused them hurt. It can all be mended (in God’s power) if pursuing the good of the other is there greatest joy.
These are examples that typically stir up anger in the deepest places of who we are. Yet, many heroes surround us who are taking the higher ground! They inspire us.
My husband shared the following. I thought it was pretty profound! “I am good at expressing my Hallelujahs; but Psalms helps me express my hurts and my hates. Am I in a safe place? Maybe. I don’t know. But God IS the safe place to express my hates and anger and resentments… and my hurts until I can again say, ‘Hallelujah. Christ saves.’“ By Eugene Peterson
A friend shared this song with me that matches the sentiment of the quote and then I have a few more thoughts to follow:
God is the one to whom we may turn in times of anger and pain. If we ask Him, He will guide us in how to respond.
This has been a nine-week journey studying the topic of anger verses peace! Many tears were shed at the start of this study and even now as it draws to a close. The lessons both stunned and convicted me. God’s arrows went straight into my heart. But I didn’t want this to end with simply tears and conviction; I wanted my life to change forever. I wanted my actions to bubble up from the deepest God-places within me.
For now, let’s turn to the lesson for today. Father, go before this lesson and help it to teach me and help it to bless my readers.
In Genesis 4:2-7, we’ve covered a great deal about Cain’s countenance and what all that means, but what about God’s face? Don’t you think that God must have been amazed at Cain’s angry response? “Why are you angry? …If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; …you must rule over it.” Can you picture the Father’s penetrating eyes and perplexed facial expressions as He spoke to Cain? Do you think God looks at us with the same bewildered look?
In Matthew 15:16, Jesus asked, “Are you still so dull?” (This was after Jesus had spoken a parable and His disciple Peter wanted an explanation.) Sometimes, I bow and shake my head and respond to Jesus, “I don’t want to be, but yes, sometimes, I am still so dull!‘
Yet, if God told me to “rule over my sin,” I would seek to please Him with my whole heart. Perhaps, however, I’m not so willing to take the higher ground in moments of hurt and anger. Those moments convict me; I’m really not as spiritual as I think I am. Am I willing to obey Him even in the hard times? (In the background, as I ask this question, the clock softly ticks, the dog barks in the distance; everything is so quiet. I let the silence convict me. I hear the voice of God deep in my heart of hearts.)
Again, I will share some quotes from the old commentaries:
Cambridge Commentary “The passage illustrates the progress of sin in Cain’s heart. Firstly, disappointment and wounded pride, aggravated by envy of his brother, lead to anger; secondly, anger unrestrained, and brooding sullenly over an imaginary wrong, rouses the spirit of revenge;thirdly, revenge seeks an outlet in passion, and vents itself in violence and murder.” [Imaginary wrongs have the worst affects on me than wrongs I actually see, feel and know. The enemy can have a field-day in my head, if I let him have control.]
Expositor’s Bible Commentary “When Cain went in the joy of harvest and offered his first fruits no thought could be further from his mind than murder…Great sins are not so sudden as they seem. Familiarity with evil thought ripens us for evil action; and a moment of passion, an hour’s loss of self-control, a tempting occasion, may hurry us into irremediable evil. And even though this does not happen, envious, uncharitable, and malicious thoughts make our offerings as distasteful as Cain’s.”
“…to continue in sin you must put aside His [God’s] hand.” (end of quotes)
Voices surround me; they say anger is unavoidable and people who control their tempers are dreary and unexciting. Life is more thrilling if I can tell the person off. Temper is deliciously luring! My flesh begs me to let my counterpart have it! Everything in me screams to let loose or to withhold myself in silent rage.
Before this study began, people shared with me how they dealt with anger. I was struggling with my own issues, and I remember looking up to the Heavens and crying out, “God, are you trying to speak to me through my friends? Is this truly what you want?“
But something in my gut simply didn’t feel right about their advice. No one needs to teach me how to be angry. Getting angry is something I do well without any help. Anger is easy! In fact, I did anger quite well for 27 years. I said and did anything I felt like saying or doing. Those moments never produced fruit; it only corrupted me and my relationships.
At the point of coming to this new study, I honestly didn’t want the poison back in my body. I’m not afraid of standing in godly anger when the few situations call for it. When that happens, I step forward without hesitation.
I have taken nine weeks to passionately have my heart cleansed. Cleaning out anger can be brutally tough and even sometimes impossible after years of letting loose of my emotions. I’m still seeking to give God free reign in the deepest, secret places of who I am.
The soft, inner voice of God says, “Yield to me.” If I continue in sin anyway, I am “putting aside His hand.”Seeking an adrenalin rush in my need for a temper tantrum is absolutely turning my face away from the face of God.
I cannot simply say to the Bible writers, “Ruling over sin may work for you, but not for me,” or “The need to rule over sin is just your opinion.”
The Bible guides and blesses me when I follow God’s ways. Oh, how I want to understand how much I miss when I make my own rules or want to wish something into being right just because it’s my preference. God’s word isn’t simply a suggestion or an opinion. His word gives abundant, enthusiastic, inspirational life beyond all expectations my tiny brain can fathom.
I don’t want to waste energy on frivolous fights! Without that misuse of my time, I have infinite options and opportunities to open my heart to the real thrills and joys of life.
As I sit here in my current, challenging situations and pray, I openly attempt to hear what God has to say. I feel His desire for me to take the higher ground and to love people well (most times but not always producing obvious crops of fruit) and to trust God with the rest. I’ve lived through a life time of temper; anger doesn’t work. I want desperately to discover God’s love more than to incorporate better zingers, perfected hot buttons, and fine-tuned arrows in the hearts of people close to me.
I want to speak the truth but in God’s perfected and fine-tuned love. When God calls for rare anger, I’ll do it. No questions asked.
Getting out of that kiddy pool and into God’s deeper oceans takes time, determination, and moments of intense prayer. The study has led me to explore courageous, profound truths that seem infinite in count. Thank you, Jesus for walking with us all.
Oh Lord, I bow to you and seek your truth as I turn to you and your word to combat the lies the enemy speaks to my mind. I give my imaginary wrongs to you. They are placed on the altar. Help me to face the irritations and resentments in life before they get out of hand and rule over me. May I never put aside your hand, but grab hold of it and not let it go. I can’t do this life without you. Help me to see the bigger picture when angry situations arise and to get busy in your kingdom with the work you have in mind for me. In Jesus name, Amen.
The study of anger in the passage of Cain and Abel’s story (Gen 4:2-7) continues to pick and prod at my heart strings. Ever since I started writing this blog, God has allowed turmoil to show up in the most unforeseen places, and in it all, He guides me by His hand and heart.
Last week, I covered the topic of difficult circumstances in our lives and how sometimes we have no choice but to respond in righteous anger. Yet we still must practice self-control. Here are some examples:
Some relationships such as a boss, a family member, a neighbor, have natures that are over-controlling. Sometimes, you don’t have the luxury to just walk away from the situation, and spending energy, time, and words debating the issues only further agitates the situation. (I used to be the controller; that part of me returns from time to time!’ Perhaps, this is why I can spot these people so easily.)
My husband and I share similar views about controllers in our lives and how to interact with them. We know that we have One to whom we want to give control, and that is the Lord Jesus. We choose His rule over us. He will never force us to make good and wise decisions, but we can hand our lives over to Him of our own accord, even concerning those who try to control us.
When I feel wrongfully controlled and nothing seems to change even after I’ve done all I know to do, I close my eyes and feel the anger or pressure in my gut (my own desire for control), and I intentionally transfer that feeling to God’s hands.
God, what are you trying to say to me in this situation? Are you using this person to get through to me? Have I been ignoring your voice? Is this person showing me something about myself? Melt my stubborn heart and any control I try to have over things of this earth or over people. Give me listening ears. Use this circumstance to refine and mold me, and to help me envision yielding my life to you in abandonment. Give me wisdom with this person. I surrender my will and choose to love in kindness and respect, despite how they make me feel. How am I being distracted by this situation from your Kingdom, and what can I do about it? Help me to give this ‘controller’ over to your control. Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayer. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
2. Another example of those who can anger us is the fighter. Some people don’t feel comfortable unless they are in some sort of chaos or angry argument. Fighters tend to attract complainers; the complaining feeds the anger and turmoil inside.
What feeds the fighter? …more fighting!
So, stop fighting. Walk away from the fight until you both have had a chance to cool down and reasonably talk. If that is never the case for the other person then solidly speak your mind and let go. Refuse the fight.
My marriage is one of the sweetest in the world; a haven, a place of rest. My husband is kind to me. He looks after and treats me with love. He seeks my opinion and wants to know how I feel about things. But it hasn’t always been that way. We’ve been married 39 years and until about 12 years ago we fought all the time. The fighting started even before we were married. Arguing became a habit. And it almost ruined us.
I used to be the fighter!
What changed? It only takes one person to stop feeding the fight. I wanted my marriage to be holy and good. So, as hard as it was, and as many times as it took to bite my tongue (which I’m sure he did the same), I began taking the road of refusing the fight. It took a pretty long time, but, in general, the fighting eventually stopped (not the necessary confrontations, just the fighting). I gave my husband gentle responses. When things needed to be said, I spoke firmly, but in kindness. He did the same for me. We didn’t always perfectly follow through with this goal, and even now there are times when we fail. But they are very few and far in between.
This life is so much better than the life we used to lead. It takes courageous work and focused energy. But the work is well worth it. I feel cherished by my husband, and he feels cherished by me. …and it all translates into every relationship we have with others.
Sometimes the beast or the dragon gets stirred up in people around us and sometimes the beast is stirred up within ourselves. Many times we don’t even know it.
I must check my thought-life. I must check my relationship with God. I look for signs that the beast is crouching at my door ready to spring into action the moment I have an unguarded weak spot. I remember that my struggle is not with flesh and blood, but with the spiritual forces in the heavenlies and in this dark world that are trying to trip me up.
In Genesis 4:6, the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
God spoke with kind truth to Cain. It didn’t work. Kind truth doesn’t always work. But when I speak in kindness, it sure does something wonderful in my own heart. I feel the control of God over me.
3. Another example of an angry moment happens when I wholeheartedly follow God the best I know how, and a situation calls for righteous anger, but I wrongfully dismiss the anger thinking it’s wrong. Yet, God still leads me in what to do next. Angry words and actions sometimes bubble up and then out of my mouth, shocking me and the person with whom I interact. I may even wonder later if I made a mistake. But the convicted and sorrowful response of my counterpart reveals to me that the spirit of God was there. I don’t know how else to explain this phenomena, except to say that it is a very personal God-thing.
Sadly, there have been times in my past that my heart was self-seeking, and I may have spouted off unkind words and even thrown things, knowing it wasn’t a God-thing. I’m laughing as I type this, because out of the blue this morning, my husband remembered how I used to throw things at him; vitamins, forks. (whatever was closest to me!) We tease each other about those days, and he said, “Yah, you used to breathe fire!” My eyes got real big and I smiled and said, “That’s what my blog is about today!”
So, yes, in my past and to this day, I am known for my angry episodes.
In contrast, however, when a person is in God-mode, firm words may be spoken, voices raised, and even objects thrown, but there is a difference in one than the other. Jesus overturned tables in the temple courts and yelled at the money-changers for what they were doing. But He was completely under God’s direction and control (Matthew 21:12-13).
Why is confrontation necessary? Because we all have blind spots, hidden faults someone needs to point out for us.
In essence someone says to us or vice verse, “This is something you need to address in your life.“
The words may not be easy to hear or to confront in others, but if you were to speak such things to me, you would be doing me a huge favor!
Having said that, I must stay close to the Father, as Jesus did. I must stay in His word and in prayer, so that I recognize His voice. I must listen to Him to be discerning of whether the occasion calls for self-control and silence, or whether I am called to stand in anger.
This personal God-anger experience hasn’t happened to me in a very long time, but it has happened to those I know and love.
MOST situations require me to have more patience and understanding. MOST difficult interactions require gentle, but firm responses after a time in prayer. MOST circumstances require of me a deeper and greater love for others.
Let us now return to our study of Cain and Abel.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him (Gen. 4:6-8).
Consider the following: If you and I were to be introduced and then over the years we developed a deep friendship, you would discover my flaws, my human nature, and even things that are ugly about me (the dragon that stirs). You might even be tempted to walk away when the going gets tough. Yet, if you hung in there with me, you would also find a soul that passionately seeks after God, and you would find beauty.
It’s the same everywhere we go. When we love an ‘ugly’ person with the love of God, we eventually see the beauty in them and that beauty truly benefits us. That woman or man may not know they are seeking God, but it’s true. The pursuit of God is our truest longing, put there by God, himself.
God pushes pass the ugly to bring out the beauty in us. He sees what is good and valuable. His Son died on a cruel cross for us, taking that ugly away.
Oh, how God must have loved Cain. If only Cain had accepted God’s love and changed his ways! But Cain allowed his ugly anger to fester.
Biblical Illustrator Quotes: “Let us inquire, Are none among us discovering the temper of Cain? Are there none who, like him, are persecutors of God’s people?” [Go deep with this question.]
“How often do men thus barter a future of blessing for some mean gratification of temper or lust or pride; how often by a reckless, almost listless and indifferent continuance in sin do they let themselves be carried on to a future as woeful as Cain’s; how often when God expostulates with them do they make no answer and take no action, as if there were nothing to be gained by listening to God—as if it were a matter of no importance what future I go to—as if in the whole eternity that lies in reserve there were nothing worth making a choice about—nothing about which it is worth my while to rouse the whole energy of which I am capable, and to make, by God’s grace, the determination which shall alter my whole future—to choose for myself and assert myself.”
“…his [Cain’s] self-will led him, even in his worship, to insult Him whom he professed to worship.” [Why didn’t Cain spend his time praising God; it’s hard to be angry and praise God at the same time!]
“When anger was in Cain’s breast, murder was not far off. If you want to find out Cain’s condition of heart you will find it after the service which he pretended to render; If you want to know what a man’s religious worship is worth, see him out of church. Cain killed his brother when church was over, and that is the exact measure of Cain’s piety.”
“The croucher cannot be tamed. It must be caged, starved, slain. But how is this wily foe to be caught? How are the strength and fierceness of this cruel foe to be subdued? He who warned Cain that the croucher was at his door, would have helped Cain to repel him. And He who warns us that sin is our subtle and implacable antagonist, will help us to detect its wiles and to withstand its assaults.”
“It does not appear that Cain was startled or overwhelmed with terror at the voice of God. There were no thunderings, but all was gentle and kind on the part of Deity. And it is in this way He continues still to appeal to the hearts and consciences of His people. The voice of God itself heard within us is yet calm and inviting.” (end of quotes)
Sweet Jesus, what I do today will have rippling affects not only on those around me but on my future. I rouse all my energy to determine, by God’s grace, to bend under the Potter’s hands as he molds and makes and changes my heart to be a more peaceful woman of Christ. Change me to be a true disciple whose life reflects Jesus’ face and heart even after the church services are long over. May I learn how to starve the croucher, the dragon, the beast at my heart’s door. I cry to you from the depths to plead with you to lead me out and away from a life of sinful anger. I hear your gentle voice calling me to come to you. I kneel at your throne and give you my all. In Jesus name, Amen.
The other day, I was talking with a friend about the challenging things that can happen to us. As hard as they are, they end up becoming exactly what we need in order to minister to others in teaching and sharing our faith. We must go through the hard stuff to understand how people in similar circumstances feel.
Sometimes my life becomes so difficult, I don’t think I can make it through! When these moments become absolutely ridiculous (the 3rd or 4th shoe drops), that’s when I know I am in the midst of enemy attacks. Yet, God is with me! I am safe and cognizant of the fact that He will use the situation for His glory.
I love this verse: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12 NIV).
The rest of chapter 6 continues by instructing us how to stand in the day of trouble with the full armor of God!
Oddly enough, the challenges my friend and I talked about actually began to happen to me as I wrote today’s blog. It wasn’t funny to me, but painful. Anger is real. I have a long list of reasons why I felt justified to feel the way I did. I’ve already responded with the words I needed to speak. I’ve said all there is to say. I haven’t wimped out and skulked in some corner. But the bottom line is: God HAS even this seemingly impossible situation in the palm of His hands. He cares about me and about the people with whom I interact.
I texted my friend, ” Sometimes in the midst of the negative stuff, I get a thought that what I’m experiencing is about something so much bigger than this isolated event. But it feels humanly impossible to keep from cycling downward. I accept the negative as being part of whatever God is doing in the bigger places of his Kingdom. In other words, I allow myself to hurt, feel anger, cry (to be human), yet still godly in my responses, knowing that this will pass and much will be accomplished through it all.”
Then I pray, “Lord, I know I have to walk through this uncomfortable situation. It’s not going to magically go away. So in this moment, I thank you for the circumstance. I know that you are doing a great work in me for your Kingdom and your glory. I accept my pain, and fight, not flesh and blood, but the need to stay close to you and trust that you have this. I love that you are with me. I give my offering of acceptance, service and forgiveness to you. Even now, as I pray, you are revealing my pride in this situation. Please forgive me. Create in me a clean heart. Set my face to have joy. In Jesus name, Amen.”
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed”(I Peter 4:12-13).
Anger can be stirred in me by anyone, anything, at anytime. In reality, the struggle has to do with spiritual forces at work behind what I think I see with my eyes or even feel with my emotions. It has to do with learning joy and revealing God’s glory.
The noisy world hollers at me to do things in the way of my flesh. But as we read last week, God’s ways are higher, and my job is to pray and arm myself with the full armor of God.
We have a big God who knows better than anyone else how to care for us. We don’t have to spend our time in anger at people for having brains and for using them in a different way than ours. Sometimes we misunderstand each other and when we try to clarify, the feelings can be difficult. It’s never easy, but it is reality.
In my situation, I have had a chance to retrace my steps with the help of a friend. And I can see with better clarity some things I would do over again if I could.
My mission now, as I choose to go forward is to release my life as an offering into God’s hands. Again, it is not easy, but it is right.
Let’s turn once again to our passage: Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Gen. 4:2-7 NIV).
Cain brought “some” of the fruits to offer to the Lord. What else might have been in his heart as he went to his garden and gathered this offering together? How spiritual he must have felt with his fruit. How hidden were his sins.
It’s when I work with people, encounter tough times, or when something doesn’t go my way that my trueself is exposed, and I discover hidden things to address; anger, hurt, pride, fear. That’s when I am called to turn to God the most. I tend to turn sour when I don’t acknowledge His presence in my life.
It is wonderful when anger doesn’t take center stage of my heart. It’s also wonderful to have been through the ringer with anger and still rise above it before it gets to the deeper places of my soul. I waste so much of my life letting old stuff go round and round my head.
“Very angry” doesn’t simply happen in a moment as we’ve said before; it builds. Cain’s attitude had to have been old anger, stirred up once again in the moment.
Barnes Commentary Notes: “A feeling of resentment and a sense of disgrace and condemnation take possession of Cain’s breast.” [God never disgraced or condemned him, but that’s how he feels.]
“The Lord…puts [forth] a question which implies that there is no just cause for his [Cain’s] present feelings.” [Repentance is the only right response.]
“To do well is to retrace his steps, to consider his ways, and find out wherein he has been wrong, and to amend his offering and his intention accordingly.”
“Let him who is in the wrong retract at once, and return to God with humble acknowledgment of his own guilt, and unreserved submission to the mercy of his Maker; for to him who perseveres in sin there can be no hope or help.” (end of quotes)
Yes, we are reminded to retrace our steps and purify our hearts. We want to learn to handle everything that comes our way with God’s power and strength.
Jehovah God, I want to come to the altar with a pure heart. Teach me what it means to let go of having to rule over other people or circumstances, to manage them, and to have to always be right. Reveal truth about the state of my heart. I am broken before you; I want to listen to your word and your voice at the foot of the cross. Please remove all the distractions around me. Quiet my soul. And when the time comes for me to be confronted with life, arm me and make me a good soldier ready for battle. Bring healing to my ever-sensitive heart. Teach me how to be bold in speaking YOUR truth. Give me grace to be like you in mild, forthright and compassionate words for the purpose of drawing others to you. Help me not to make everything about me and my hurt feelings but about unity and love. May I then be willing to let it go into your hands. Guide me out of my negative thoughts. Teach me what true praise is. Lord, show me how to retrace my steps. Father. I am utterly depending on You this day for the cleansing of my soul and for the uprooting of sin. In Jesus name, Amen.
As I study anger versus peace, the passage about Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:2-7) continues to provide great treasures for me to ponder. Consider how “Abel kept flocks,” and “Cain worked the soil.” I noticed that each brother had his own unique giftedness. Yet, God seems to have given them clear instructions regarding worship and sacrifices. That’s why a few verses later God could have favor on one and not the other.
Similarly, you may have talents that I don’t have and vice versa, but we all must follow God’s way no matter how hard it stretches our personalities.
We equip ourselves, no matter who we are or think we are, to hear God more than enemy whispers. Last week in my blog, we imagined together what words might have been whispered in Cain’s ear by the enemy. What words would Satan have seductively and softly spoken to him regarding God’s ‘impossible’ requests and his own individuality?
The thought-life is an area that holds incredible secrets to curing anger. Might God have been whispering in Cain’s ear as well? Cain would have had to listen very closely in order to drown out the noise of the enemy.
Likewise, so do I. My mind must distinguish between what is true and false. When I choose Satan’s voice over the Father’s, my life doesn’t go very well.
Cain listened to the enemy and then was filled with rage when he discovered God’s disfavor. He acted like a spoiled child not getting the attention he wanted and not being chosen (as was Abel). Jealousy and selfishness reigned over his heart.
Stop for a minute and consider: I am human. I have days in which I fail to suitably handle much of anything. Not only am I not at my best, I’m at my worst. That doesn’t mean I’m acting like Cain by throwing a temper tantrum and disappointing God. It simply means I’m having a bad day. Everyone has bad days.
If you came to me and wanted to express the anger in your life, I would have great compassion for you. I would listen to your story and I cry with you. I would get angry along with you. And I hope you would do the same for me. Our stories need to be heard. I’m not writing this blog to judge and make robots of us all with no emotions. I am simply opening up the sky a little wider than it was before and helping to set us free. We’re all in this together. Sometimes talking through our anger with God and with safe people helps us to see things in a clearer light.
So, when I’m having a bad day, I warn my loved ones by telling them that I am out-of-sorts, and ask them to save the deeper discussions and decisions for another day. My loved ones do the same with me. It’s a kindness we give each other out of love. I can still be humble and learn from these days how to better handle them next time. But I try not to spend much time dwelling on anything except God’s grace and comfort. I don’t beat myself up and call myself a failure.
I have found that God brings comfort in so many ways if I make myself aware of his presence. These moments of reassurance don’t always come from the sources I would choose for myself, but God always provides for me.
Now, if these rare bad days turn into months and years, something isn’t right. That’s when I know I need to address the deeper issues. The bad day isn’t just about needing a nap or a break, but about my heart.
When I subconsciously choose the same path as Cain, what is my anger about? My anger always has a goal. I am looking to somebody or something on this earth to supply my needs. What am I looking for when I am angry?
Other people’s fear and compliance of my demands were mentioned last week, but let’s go a little further. Sometimes, I get angry because I seek attention, I desire sympathy, I want to stir up pity, or I long for some practical help in chores that should be shared. Yet, when has my anger given back to me any of these benefits, ever?
In reality, anger tends to cause my counterpart to dig in his or her heels more than ever. Anger typically stirs up the opposite of kindness. Terrible words are spoken, because everyone tries to win the battle of loudest and smartest. When it all comes down to it, I wonder what good anger promotes.
I may tell others that I am ‘hurt,’ ‘frustrated’ or ‘irritated’ at that person. However, truth be told, I am angry, pure and simple.
If I could investigate the thoughts Jesus might have held onto, what whispers of God would He have continuously fed his mind and obediently heeded in order to keep himself from sinning in anger? “I am God’s Son and He loves me.“ “My Father is good.“ “I cannot really trust anything or anyone on this earth, but I can trust God at all times.“ “God is enough.“
That’s why when Jesus did feel frustrated or angry, it was right and good. His motives were never self-seeking. His eyes were always on the Father’s will.
Anger isn’t a bad word. What can be labeled as bad are things that take up residence and come out of our heart of hearts.
During this study, I oftentimes remember letting loose of my anger, like a toddler happily splashing in a puddle. Yet, God wants to give me a glimpse of His vast blue ocean. In other words, being angry all the time is like being in a kiddy pool. I think I’m having fun stomping and playing in these trickling drips of water (anger can be invigoratingly empowering). Yet, God has more energizing waves, wise depths, beautiful sights, and abundant living than I can imagine as I find myself leaving the small puddle and heading in the direction of the deep blue sea.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
All my life, I have learned nuggets of wisdom either directly or indirectly from a variety of people who have led me to the broader, wider seas of God and this wisdom frees my soul.
It’s the same with this study. Satan wants me to be angry. He wants me to think that perpetual, angry responses are normal. He wants to come inside my head and make me argue how right I am and how wrong the other person is. But God tells me that anger doesn’t have to be a part of everyday life. I realize that I don’t have to be addicted to anger and its poison. I can learn from Jesus when anger is appropriate and pure and right.
As I continue to absorb all I can to uproot selfish anger, I think to myself, “Wouldn’t it be nice if a beeper went off to warn me of upcoming anger. It would give me a chance to gather myself and pray about my response. I would become well-trained in ruling over my anger and in refusing sin from crouching at my door. I would keep anger from becoming my master. I would turn off the TV, put down my book, or get off the phone, so I could search my heart for sin.”
But it doesn’t work that way. God wants me to arm myself and stand in His word in the day of trouble. He wants me to spend time with Him and become like Him. He wants me to be so filled with His peace, that when anger catches me by surprise, I am able to respond well.
When do I feel most at peace?
I find myself calming down when I sit before God in the quiet and when I stop all the thoughts of the day. That’s when I have room to hear His loving whispers more than at any other time. Finding that place of stillness can become a habit even in the midst of great stress or trials.
Sometimes, however, I cannot seem to stop the onslaught of negative thinking. These moments are when I feel most angry. What do I do with my anger?
Do I stuff it, scream it or speak confrontation about it?
The answer is no to the first two. Whether or not I should speak up is between my God and me. What does He want me to do?
When my thoughts continue to cycle into negative stuff, I confess it to God. I know He hears me. I know He is for me. I purposefully head for the opposite of what my feelings dictate, and then I serve, laugh or bless. Soon, from past experience, I know that the overwhelming thoughts will stop. Satan’s attacks are never fun. But they do eventually come to an end.
I want God’s peace. So, I look for signs that anger is approaching.
For instance: Loving touches become bothersome. Complaints about stupid (nitpicky) stuff intensify. Snapping at people over nothing increases. There is more talk behind another person’s back (in other words, I’m not saying it to their face, therefore the feelings build up).
Currently, I am attempting to train myself to speak my anger out loud if the occasion calls for it, and then go on with my life without dwelling on the issue. This requires faith. This is my “Abel offering,” without which my offering is unacceptable.
Here are some examples of being direct and speaking up: “That hurt my feelings.“ “I sure could use some help in here.“ “Could you say that in a kinder voice?“ “I wasn’t aware of your needs; next time, just tell me.“ “I don’t feel up to that today; maybe tomorrow.“
When my counterpart responds with an apology, or offers help, or the rain stops and I am able to go to my favorite event, or the food tastes better this time (in other words, when things go my way), and I still find myself agitated and irritable, that’s when I know it’s time to pull away and sit in the quiet with my Father.
Sometimes, there are some deeper anger issues that take time to heal; that’s okay. I give myself time and always work towards freeing myself of the bare, cold of bitterness.
The following paragraph includes Albert Barnes’ Commentary Notes but in my own words:
Abel had a warm faith that included confession of sin, gratitude for God’s mercy, and obedience to his will. Cain’s stance toward God was not one of faith but was bare and cold. There was no penitent returning to God, no humble acceptance of his mercy, and no submission to his will.
Albert Barnes goes on to say, “…there is a difference in the things offered. The one is a vegetable offering, the other an animal; the one a presentation of things without life, the other a sacrifice of life. Hence, the latter is called πλείων θυσία pleiōnthusia; there is “more in it” than in the former. The two offerings are therefore expressive of the different kinds of faith in the offerers…The fruit of the soil offered to God is an acknowledgment that the means of this earthly life are due to him. This expresses the barren faith of Cain, but not the living faith of Abel. The latter has entered deeply into the thought that life itself is forfeited to God by transgression, and that only by an act of mercy can the Author of life restore it to the penitent, submissive, loving heart; He slays the animal of which he is the lawful owner, as a victim, thereby acknowledging that his life is due for sin; he offers the life of the animal, not as though it were of equal value with his own, but in token that another life, equivalent to his own, is due to justice if he is to go free by the as yet inscrutable mercy of God.”
Father, I listen in the quiet for your voice. I don’t want to be so shallow that the only way for me to have peace is for everything to go well. I want to learn to have peace (not anger) when everything isn’t going well! Help my offering today to have more in it than simply trying to give a half-hearted bare minimum. Help me to completely follow Jesus who gave His life for my sin. May my offering never require something in return from your hand. Give me a heart that acknowledges the nothing that is due to me, but I have everything I want in you Lord. I give to you wholeheartedly, my life and breath. In Jesus name, Amen.
Psalm 4:4-5 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent…Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
Stumbling upon this verse during the week, I was astonished at how close the ideas compared to the Cain and Abel story in Genesis 4:4-8. Obviously, Cain had failed to stopand think before he flew into an angry rage.
Perhaps he was too busy listening to the dark, pitiful whispers of the enemy, something similar to what whispers we hear today: “You’re just being a doormat!” “You don’t have any backbone.” “Why should you let them treat you like that?” “You’re better than your brother!” “God isn’t being fair!”
Enemy whispers can be extremely powerful. Cain sincerely thought he had been wronged in some way. To search his heart in the silence and to mentally acknowledge the enemy’s lies might have been the greatest endeavors that would have set him back on track. Then, the real backbone, the greater courage, and the truest grit (contrary to what the enemy might have suggested) would have been to rise above his self-centered anger.
Anyone can lose their temper. Not everyone can be silent! It takes an inner spunk to walk away from a fight and not insist on being the center of attention.
How remarkable might it have been if Cain had made a different choice within the depths of his heart? Being silent to mull over the situation before speaking in foolishness is the stuff of true heroes! How might a more self-examined Cain have changed the course of history?
If only…
How might my own story change if only I take a moment to think?
On television, impulsive anger always seems to win. The spouse or the office manager or the friend is set straight, and the story ends with them apologizing and making it right!
In real life, anger typically doesn’t have that much influence; anger simply promotes more anger on both sides, provides much hurt that can never be taken back, and produces little fruit.
Godly anger may have similar results. Yet, one does the right he must do and then moves forward in confidence because of the truth of God.
Searching my heart in the night aids my desire to decipher between godly and ungodly anger and not to simply fly off the handle because it feels good. Searching my heart prepares me to bring right offerings of a pure attitude to the Lord, to put my trust in Him and not in other people’s fear of me or compliance to my angry demands.
My goal for this study is to speak the truth in respectful tones, choose good timing, to let go and trust God.
I want to give my very best to God even in times of negative emotions. How does the gift I give reveal the true attitude behind my gift?
Genesis 4 passage explains that Abel gave the firstborn of his flock as an offering to God. Inside what I consider to be my best gift, pursuing knowledge for what my “firstborn” is may point to the motives I have for giving my offering.
The lifelong answers to this question vary from day to day and sometimes, even from moment to moment. The firstborn of Abel’s flock cost him a portion of his livelihood. Giving, not only a lamb or two, but a specified quality of lambs, was a way to show faith that God would provide what the firstborn sheep had cost him. “I will wholeheartedly give up these lambs, though I have nothing to eat for my next meal, because you asked it of me. The rest is up to you, Father.“
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary quotes: “In all ages there have been two sorts of worshippers, such as Cain and Abel; namely, proud, hardened despisers…who attempt to please God in ways of their own devising; and humble believers, who draw near to him in the way he has revealed. There is not an angry, envious, or fretful look that escapes His [God’s] observing eye.”
The Pulpit Commentary quotes: “There was apparently no sorrow for sin, ‘no spirit of self-examination, prayer to God for light or pardon, clearly showing that Cain was far from a right state of mind’ (Murphy). Yet the Lord does not abandon the…transgressor, but patiently…instructs him as to how he too might obtain the same blessing of acceptance which his younger brother enjoyed.” (end of quotes)
These thoughts came to my mind as I read through the commentaries:
Cain’s ‘sacrifice’ reveals that he didn’t trust God’s provision and therefore didn’t give up his most prized possession, the first, the best of his stuff! God even provided Himself to Cain, as he does to all people, but Cain wanted more, though he gave only ‘some.’ Did he really want the favor of God or was he jealous of the favor God gave Abel because he simply wanted to be win?
Might all my ungodly anger have at its source an unacceptance from God after I have refused to wholeheartedly place a situation on the altar?Think about it! I need to learn to rule over what is at the root of my ungodly anger (disobedience or distrust). God cannot do this for me. I must do it!
An example: Since anger typically hits me by surprise, let’s pretend that in the next minutes ahead, I will have anger at a driver for cutting me off in traffic. My heart is irritated because I am late for an appointment and in a hurry to reach my destination. I didn’t sleep last night and everything seems to be going wrong. Here are my choices in general. I can listen to the lies of Satan: “You poor thing;” “Doesn’t anyone care?” “You are always doing all the work!” and on and on.These thoughts set the stage for the negativity to endlessly cycle into self-pity and frustration. My thoughts are not acceptable to God and can set me off in an angry rage, doing and saying things I later regret. Or, I can refuse the lies, acknowledge the truth of my circumstances and give them over in abandonment to God. I can praise Him in the storm. I can put my trust in a mighty God to provide for all my needs. This is an opportunity for God to show His power in me, and my reactions can become loving and patient, a sweet aroma to the Father. The latter is my life-long quest. Most anger can be curtailed simply by making my thoughts acceptable to God.
In what attitude might Cain have brought his offering? (Matt 5:23,24 – “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”) (Mark 11:25 – And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.)
These words follow the passage of how anger at a brother or sister is the same as murder, in God’s eyes.
Do you think this was the first time Cain had ever been angry with Abel? Perhaps today’s story was the last straw in a series of angry events that tipped him over the edge into complete madness. He had never faced the truth about his relationship with his brother.
If I don’t learn self-control over my negative emotions or how to redirect my thoughts, I will most likely murder my so-called offender in my heart.
Murderous anger, when found inside me, is able to disappear when I’m willing to repent, when I ask for God’s mercy and grace and when I do and act in right ways.
Lord God Jehovah, I bow to you. I let go. I bring my discouragements to your altar. I reverence your name. I repent and lay down my burdens. I give you my firstborn, …all the props I lean on for what I think will give me life. I strip myself of all else I adore in order to give my full adoration to you. I humble myself before you. I reject anger in my spirit and trustingly forgive. A new spunk is developing in me, and I praise you for the joy of such a strong, solid stance that stands with you. Please cleanse my heart to make me ready to give my offering in purity and light. Help me to be in right standing with my fellowman and with you. Instruct me this day in what you would have me do and say. Give me an unselfish heart that is jealous for you to be the center at all times. In Jesus name, Amen.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want (Psalm 23:1 KJV).
I’m taking a break from my usual study this week. My brain is too foggy to think. I’ve spent the last week, off-and-on, trying to sleep this flu away. Needless to say, my mind has been filled with sappy movies almost round the clock and not much else.
Last night was the first night I couldn’t find comfort enough to fall asleep. I tried everything I could think of… until I remembered something I did a few months ago; I plugged in my phone and went online to listen to audio books of the Bible. It didn’t cure me. I still headed to the store, the next day, and came back armed with more herbs and immune system builders. But my body relaxed and I was able to sleep again.
Here’s the point I’m contemplating this week: the word of God is powerful! It is something that goes beyond calming and meditation techniques and self-help solutions. It fed a part of me that went deeper than physical cures or remedies.
My spirit was addressed and when that happens, I can face anything life throws at me….with God’s strength!
Here’s something else; during this time, though I did not intellectually study more about anger, I refused to become lax in negative emotions.
Just because I’m sick and not myself, I still have a choice.
After all, who am I leaning on?
This morning, I overheard my husband listening to a sermon and hung onto the following words: “The Lord is my Shepherd, not, my health or my job is my Shepherd, and so on.”
The ‘so on’ could be all sorts of things: everything having to go well, finding a quick cure to my illness, getting a good night’s sleep, snapping grouchily at my loved ones who try so hard to care for me. Any of those things could become my self-appointed Shepherd; to lead, to satisfy, or to comfort me.
Lord, YOU are my Shepherd. You are all I want. I keep my gaze on you and look to you and your sweet, precious, sacred word to fill my heart. Thank you for healing my spirit and reminding me of what is most important. In Jesus name, Amen.
For today’s blog, I am continuing the study passage in Genesis 4:2-7 (NIV).
As I read the verses, I try to imagine the moment after Cain finished bringing “some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.” I envision Cain’s thoughts as he dusted off his hands and walked away:
“Well, I’m done with that…time to move on…got lots to do!“
On his to-do list, he placed an impersonal check mark next to ‘give a sacrifice to God.’ Little did he know of the approaching disfavor he was about to receive which would give way to eruptions of Cain’s fierce anger.
“How humiliating,” Cain may have bitterly grumbled, animosity written all over his face.
“Why are you angry?” God seemed seriously baffled. “If…you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
Cain was unaware that, in actuality, he was bowing to a different god which was now becoming ruler and master over him. That place belonged only to the Father. Cain was out-of-control with his emotions, murderously out-of-control.
As I thought about these things, the following beautiful, commentary quotes of old stretched my mind and inspired me to a greater understanding of the study passage:
Keil & Delitzsh Commentary on the Old Testament: (Regarding Abel:) “…a free, open look, is the mark of a good conscience (Job_11:15).” “Cain is to rule over the sin which is greedily desiring him, by giving up his wrath…” “God talks to Cain as to a willful child, and draws out of him what is sleeping in his heart, and lurking like a wild beast before his door. But Cain paid no heed to the divine warning.”
Expositions of Holy Scripture (Alexander MacLaren) “The first recorded act of worship occasions the first murder…What a lesson against the bitter hatred which has too often sprung up on so-called religious grounds!” “…as is the man, so is his sacrifice; …our acts of worship must have our hearts in them…” “…it is vain to pray and to love evil.” “It is unfashionable…to draw that broad line between the righteous and the wicked, believers and unbelievers.” “…Draw the line broad and plain, on one side of which is peace and safety, and on the other trouble and death, if only we make it plain that no man need stop one minute on the dark side.” “Like a wild beast, it [sin] crouches in ambush at his door, ready to spring and devour. (end of commentary quotes)
I became absorbed as I read the truth of these quotes. Letting them wash over me, I realized what treasures of wisdom they held.
How might I rid myself of the kind of anger that displeases God? What are the opposites of anger? I drew up a list and added to it daily: peace, acceptance, patience, yieldedness (submission), gratefulness, forgiveness, humility, as well as, speaking truth (then letting go), trusting in God, loosening my stomach muscles and clinched teeth and relaxing in joy, replacing unhappy thoughts with good, truly praising God in the situation…from the heart, calling on God for help, wholehearted service, and laying down anger upon the altar by sacrificing it to the Lord
These opposites of anger are my offerings to God. Sometimes, I picture myself standing before an altar. I bring my sacrifice and find a slain animal already laying there, a Lamb, whose name is Jesus, who took away the sins of the world, who rose again and set me free. So why must I still have a heartfelt offering in my hand? The sacrifice of death-to-self is my way to exhibit trust in my Lord and Master, and to show that I am willing to follow Him anywhere, as I let go of other sources (idols) that would rule over and master me.
Before I share my prayer, I would like to give you a background story: When my son was a small child, he wanted very much to stay up late at night. We would gather our children to head them to bed, and he would say, “But Mommy, watch my face.” Then he would sweetly take his fingers to stretch each side of his lips in a grin. He thought a smile would earn him more awake time.
His smiles were full of innocence and creativity. Our grown up faces, however, sometimes prove a different story. Now, here is my prayer:
Father, “watch my face.” Reveal what checklists, idols, and creatures of jealousy sleep in my heart and hover behind my smile. What I angrily nitpick in others, expose in me. I repent of contention and divisiveness over my ‘pious’ views. Place before me what truly is black and white concerning sin versus obedience. I don’t want to stop one minute on the dark side. When peace comes from your hand through the comfort of listening ears, selfless kindness, and heart-felt apologies of others, such gifts are a blessing. Thank you. They ease the anger, because my flesh wants my circumstances to bring relief. Yet, regardless of other’s responses, I continue to seek the treasures of you and not think that treasures have been found or are dependent on right circumstances or right acts of the people around me. I come to my altar. May my sacrifice be a sweet aroma of faith and surrender. Help me to adore you more than I adore myself and my own comforts. May my actions show forth what truth I speak and what tears I cry from a humbled heart. In Jesus name, Amen.
…but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast…Genesis 4:2-7 (NIV).
Abel’s acceptable offering stirred a jealous rage within Cain. God’s disfavor pointed a finger at his apathy in worship and called him to a higher plane, to worship in holiness. His anger seems to be tied to some inward lure of evil. Headed down a path of deeply ingrained habits, there is evidence, to my way of thinking, that Cain must have incessantly indulged himself in sour, unhappy thoughts. His anger was unreasonable. A more fitting response to God’s disfavor would have been humility.
Cain wasn’t simply frustrated or irritated; he was in the midst of a terrible, personal storm and intolerant of counsel, even from God himself. Locked behind prison bars of inner turmoil, his anger drove him to murder.
If I am trying to learn from Cain’s story, I gather that it would be wise for me to name the source of anger for what it really is. Ungodly anger springs up from evil thoughts, and more importantly, from evil himself (Satan), whose plans are to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10).
Luke 6:45 says, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Have you ever wondered: if today’s explosive situation had happened yesterday, would it have been better handled? Why? The difference tells me that there is more going on than what the other person said or did or how a circumstance played out.
To glean a better understanding of the study passage, I listed some of my favorite quotes from Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible (Brackets and underlining are added by me):
“He [Cain] carried ill-nature in his face” “He should have been angry with himself for his own infidelity and hypocrisy.” [Have you ever been angry at someone and were too stubborn to admit that YOU were the one at fault? If it is hard to say, ‘I’m sorry,’ you are missing out on one of life’s greatest lessons. Take a deep breath and jump off the diving board into repentance. God will bless you!]
From The Sermon Bible Commentary: “Cain held a religion, but his religion did not hold him.” “Sacrifice has its ground in something deeper than legal enactments [legalistic acts, outwardly show]; it infers more than the giving up of a thing; it has something to do with sin, something to do with thanksgiving.” [When I bring my offering, it’s not about what I bring with my hands, but what is in my heart…And what is in my heart will affect how I give with my hands.]
“Sacrifice becomes evil…when the offerer attaches any value to his own act and does not attribute the whole worth of it to God. The worship of one is accepted…[the] other disregarded, because one has faith and another has no faith.” [I bring my offering (something that costs me a great deal). I can make a show or complain about it. I can compare it to someone else; OR, I can give in abandon. When I say my prayers, sing praises, clean toilets, or serve meals, and am more tuned in to me than to God, my offerings are no different from Cain’s offerings.] (end of quotes)
Honestly, ‘Cain’ shows up in me and in the attitudes of those around me as well. Yet, it is my responsibility inside this anger, to use God’s ways to break free from stooping to Cain’s level. Pitiful, constant tears, stabbing, demeaning comments, and fierce, noisy anger harm relationships. Yet, God’s way is to lovingly speak the truth (Eph. 4:15).
I wrote in my journal: “I lost control today in arrogant pride. The enemy encouraged me to make poor choices, and I earned disrespect for myself. Claiming my own rights, I gained not higher ground; in fact, I lost ground. Valuable lessons came to me as I sat in the quiet with my Father.” Here they are: “I am not the one who has all the answers. Learn from the very people who make you angry; stay humble; praise God in the storm; laugh a lot; serve well.” “Speaking out ahead of God, no matter how right the cause, always ends in a form of loss.” “Speaking out in God’s timing has power not of my own making in which the Spirit upholds my cause. And, even though I may not be guaranteed a listening ear or compliance, I have followed God’s will and that is enough.“
Examining my heart daily, I search within me for signs of anger, for possible causes and for what might remedy each cause. Whether it is anger at having to wait forty-five minutes, or even five minutes for customer service, at dreaded tasks of the day, disrespect from a peer or at God’s silence to my prayers, the storm gathers its forces. Hot buttons are pushed. I may steer clear of some storms or they may quickly blow over. Sometimes, however, the storm’s fury grows fast and furious and lingers long.
In the quiet, I ask myself, “What will anger accomplish? What will it do to ME (physically) and to the relationship (emotionally)? Wisdom instructs me to: rearrange my perspective, take captive my thoughts (II Cor. 10:5) and lay down my will for God’s will. If needed, I ask when, how, and where to speak any righteous anger and then let it go. In this study, I’ve had moments of euphoric peace and joy, in which anger is completely absent and my heart is unusually full. That is something to look forward to more of as time goes by!
Lord, I am unable to cleanse myself of anger-storms. I give you my tears and sorrow for my pride and arrogance. As I examine my heart for anger, reveal what I cannot see; guide me. Help me to let go. Forgive any murder in my heart (Matt.5:21, 22). Purify my thoughts. Help me to breathe life into all those you place before me. Keep ill-nature from my countenance. With an abandoned face, I set my will on your altar, placing all value and worth on you. I give up all claims to gifts my flesh attempts to manipulate from you, Lord. I depend not on worldly power, beauty, or approval for my joy, but I fully dwell in your happy presence. In Jesus name, Amen.
Heavily pressing in on the deeper places of my heart, peace versus anger is a topic of personal interest. In my current Bible study, God’s word and different commentaries of old are being absorbed in the quiet before the Father. My mind has taken me places never before experienced. Every morning, I look forward with anticipation to see what happens next.
Still practicing at my thoughts, what I’m discovering is that peace (the opposite of anger) seems to arise from a yielded heart. The next several blog posts will be a recording of my experiences of walking through this process in full abandon.
The passage on which I have chosen to focus is Genesis 4:2-7 (NIV). Listen to this life-giving story like you’ve never heard it before. Let it breathe life into you.
“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.'”
All my life I’ve seen myself as Abel, the ‘good guy.’ After all, obedience is my thing, right?Anger, for me, was ‘dealt with a LONG time ago.’ Anger isn’t a problem anymore. I’m happy and fun-loving. Life is good!
Yet, every now and then stuff comes out of my mouth from I-don’t-know-where; stuff that looks very much like anger!
How intriguing!
To better understand the deeper issues of my heart, I asked God to “bring it on!” (I wanted to work on things that made me angry) And, guess what…He did! Sadly, the way I handled each situation wasn’t something of which to be proud. Inspecting Genesis 4 further, a realization came over me: I’ve not ever truly searched my heart to find Cain hidden in the deep, secret places no one knows about.
The passage blew me away, right off the bat!
Comparing each version of the Bible, descriptions were gathered concerning Cain’s anger and pulled all together in one list:
His “countenance” (ASV) or “face” fell (ESV), He was: “sad” (BBE), “depressed” (ISV), “furious” (GNB), “disappointed” (GW), “very upset” (ISV), “very displeased” (YLT), “so angry, he couldn’t hide his feelings” (CEV) He: “scowled in anger” (GNB), “glowed greatly” (LITV) [my favorite!], “went into a sulk” (MSG), “lost his temper” (MSG)
The Pulpit Commentary from KJV explains: “And Cain was very wroth (literally, itburned with Cain exceedingly), and his countenance fell. In fierce resentment against his brother, possibly in disappointed rage against himself, almost certainly in anger against God.” (end of quotes)
Our anger towards God isn’t wrong; God can certainly take it. Perhaps He wants us to be engaged with Him first, before we spill our sick hearts out onto others in anger.
I am learning to include God in my real conversations and feelings, and He leads me to understand that He didn’t bring the evil on me of which I am complaining. But, He can, for sure, make good things arise from horrible trials. How might forward strides ever be taken in those anger-producing trials if I attempt to move on without Him!
It is true; anger is simply an emotion, so what we do with anger is of great importance. As Christians, we know we’re not supposed to sin in our anger, and we’re not to let the sun go down on our wrath (Eph 4:26).
My focus for this blog is to explore my bad responses to anger that are truly sinful, to examine self-centered anger and to better understand why the rotting in my bones results in such a lack of peace within.
In getting to the root of ungodly anger and driving it out, in refusing to give myself excuses or to be lax with self-control, I want to learn to stop blaming everyone else for something that clearly isn’t about them, but about me. Could this possibly be a lifetime pursuit? Perhaps. But it is a worthy pursuit.
Truly, if the first emotion experienced in most difficult situations is anger (however outward or inward it may be), something isn’t right. Discovering this very dynamic in myself two weeks into this new study, I have to confess, I had no idea! Quietly hidden, nobody on the outside would have seen it. Clearly, no area of life can possibly change if not first seen as a problem. Having a goal, a target to hit, is tremendously vital in finding a solution for even the most veiled or buried troubles of the heart.
Therefore, seeking help from Cain’s story in what not to do with my anger has been a great start.
Anger for some may not be so hidden and quiet. Many parade their temper tantrums out there for all to see. Either way, I imagine that these lessons, enthusiastically and with hope, bravely begun, can do us all some good!
Genesis 4 will be the main passage, for there is much to learn. And there is no doubt, no argument, and no possibility that Cain’s anger was anything but wrong (as opposed to righteous anger). His anger needed to be addressed.
Wrongful anger, whether it is from over-sensitivity or weariness, or from long-held bitterness is one of those emotions with a profound rippling effect on everyone around us. Wonderfully, however, peace has the same effect. The choice between the two is ours to encourage within ourselves; and that’s what these blog posts will explore in depth.
Fixing my mind heavily on these matters, it is time to let God refine and purify the deepest parts of who I am. Staying centered, I wish to be ready to listen to whatever He puts on my heart.
Father, reveal to me any ungodly anger in my heart. When I am not being or doing what is appropriate in your sight, show me how sin crouches at my door, ready to pounce. Teach me how to rule over it. Lord, I repent of the anger I’ve already discovered. Give my heart’s face (not just my outward appearance), a make-over. I humble myself before you to be ready and willing to hear what you have for me this day. I rule over my anger by putting my trust in you. I relax my countenance and enjoy the safety and comfort of your presence and of your will for me. May it be to me as you have said. Speak Lord in my circumstances today, for your servant listens and hears your voice. In Jesus name, Amen.
Here is a poem I wrote for this study:
Rise Above
I come to you, Lord, on my knees I ask you to hear my pleas In my search for godly ways I’ve discovered my heart’s face.
My inward countenance is hidden Secret places dark, forbidden Yet God’s amazing light breaks through And shows me what I need to do.
Humility dispels the dark Repentance, change, will light a spark Within my willful, defiant choice I lean-in close to hear God’s voice.
Holiness is about the light Not about my stance, my fight It’s about giving, not standing And loving, not demanding.
Hatred, malice, anger, rage Self-worship becomes my cage When division is my priority Pure love a minority…
Then I’ve lost what is good and pure And neglected God’s greater cure Spirit and truth be my guide In heavenly love abide
So stop, I say, choose higher ground Let God’s mercy and grace abound In your heart for all around Lose yourself and then be found.
Search me, Oh God, and know my heart Psalm 139:23 (ASV) 