Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come. Exodus 12:42
In the story, the last plague was forthcoming: death to all firstborn in Egypt. The Lord was watching over the Israelites to protect them from this plague of destruction. They were to emerge from Egypt in safety.
God powerfully kept vigil that night to free His people, and because of that they were “for generations to come” to keep vigil to honor Him.
Passover night was to be observed and remembered thereafter. God’s name, His glory and His faithfulness to His people were never to be forgotten.
When a person keeps vigil, he is choosing to stay awake during regular sleeping hours for the sake of something important. The event may be about an urgent injury of a loved one in which he prays through the night, or a group of people crying out to God for a future gathering they wish Him to bless.
Vigils can be planned or they can wake up a person in the middle of the night with a heaviness to pray. Vigils are selfless moments, hours, days or even months of supporting others through prayer, daily met needs and help in order to walk them through their storms.
As that very special night was observed during Passover, the Israelites must have seen and heard terrible cries from their former slave-drivers, cries of pain and loss. They also observed the deliverance of the Lord and gathered their things together to flee from Egypt for good.
I wonder about the observations they must have had on their minds as they turned and took a last look at the place of their life’s sweat and toil, toil that had beaten them down and as they took a deep breath, turned their backs to it and faced their new future with God.
And in this memorable night of vigil keeping, the Israelites were freed.
Lord, today, as we take time to observe many of our own circumstances, we hold vigil during tough days of family situations. We sit in our painful seasons and observe the hand of the Lord and your provision for us. When we stop running away and just sit in the trial, we know you, we trust you and we see the beauty you bring from the ashes. We feel you watching over us and keeping vigil for our protection and safety as well. Thank you, Father for loving us so very much. In Jesus name, Amen.
The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. Galatians 5:17
In the verse before, Paul had encouraged the Christians in the Galatian territory to walk by the Spirit so they would not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Last night I was kept up by worrisome thoughts of my flesh. My heart truly desired to listen to God and refuse the fretting of my soul. Finally, this morning, after a long battle, I envisioned myself in front of the Lord’s face and stated, “I am your child. May it be to me as you see fit. I place myself in your care. Whatever my future holds, I trust you.”
It doesn’t mean that I stopped being responsible for my choices and simply let God choose for me. I continue to set my life in order. However, I have given the results to my Father.
The struggle didn’t totally go away after I faced God, but, now, I can answer it. I am God’s child! That’s what I say to my flesh when it tries to take me down in persistent troubled thoughts.
We learn in today’s passage that all of us, as followers of Christ, are intensely drawn to two conflicting sides that war within us. The flesh influences us away from God and the other invites us to be in step with Him. The flesh fully contradicts the Spirit and the Spirit, likewise, is completely contrary to the flesh.
These opposing sides work against each other in purpose and strength and in constant contention and strife. Whether we surrender to our heavenly calling or submit to our evil appetites, one has enslaved us to its power.
In other words, when we choose to submit to the Spirit, we will be led not to follow after what our flesh wants us to do. We reject it’s hold over us. When we choose, instead, to surrender to our own reasoning (influenced by the world), we will be swayed not to follow the desires of the Spirit.
Enslaved may seem like a strong word for either side, but just think about it. We are always giving ourselves over to the control of one side or the other.
Every moment of our days, which side will win? Both will attempt to direct and train us. Both will give us habits that will be hard to break once they’re set in our hearts.
Which will awaken and arouse the thoughts in our minds towards the Spirit or the flesh and gain the victory?
When our hearts seek God’s Spirit alone, our desires for Him are renewed. He changes us for the good. It doesn’t mean we gain perfection. It means that our truest aim brings us back to His presence in constant covering of grace and love and mutual fellowship.
When our hearts seek only God’s Spirit, our choices will not be made from emotional or mental desires or thoughts, but from a higher calling of what the He is calling us to do.
Yet, in all our lives, there will be a battle to steal our hearts away from the other side. The Spirit yearns for His people and will forever be drawing us to Himself. It is the same with the lustful desires of the father of evil (Satan) who wants to have us for himself.
Each will invest their all in our lives. Each will call and lure us to come.
In yielding ourselves to the inclinations of the Spirit and away from the control of the flesh, there is a freedom beyond what we can imagine until we experience it. Yes, even in our enslavement to Christ, we are more free than ever before.
In contrast, in yielding ourselves to the inclinations of the flesh and away from the influence of the Spirit, we are met with only less freedom than before. In our enslavement, we are dangerously asleep, so to speak, allowing ourselves to be lulled into bondage to Satan and his hold on us.
The sweet process of daily struggling through the blessed refusal of evil bondage and into the beautimous wonder of the Spirit’s sovereignty, holds for us a peace and joy which with none can argue.
As last week’s blog speaks to us again, we know that one day these struggles will cease. Today, however, we pray and fight to move as the Spirit moves.
Listen to the sweet song of pleading to the Father as His children:
Father, we cannot have victory over our desperate plights without you. Please guide and lead us to your perfect will. Help us defeat the flesh that calls to us. May we learn well your voice. Fight with us, these daily battles we face. Show us where worry, fear, pride and lust have taken us over. Move us daily to a place where we cannot do the things our flesh calls us to do. We offer our bodies and our lives to you to rule over. In Jesus name, Amen.
Those who live according to the spirit have their minds set on what the spirit desires. Romans 8:5
Our minds are always set on something. We may be fascinated by a dreams we had last night, enthralled by an inspiring speech or our to do list for the day or carried away in our emotions of the moment. Our thoughts tend to capture and enslave us when we’re confronted with sorrow or unhappy events. It is hard to freely release such strong feelings of bitterness, envy, worry or anxieties.
Yet, God has given Christ’s followers a part of Himself to lead us to sweet freedom in the midst of these things. His name is the Holy Spirit.
We may not choose His ways, and many times we don’t, even though He is always readily available. Yet, He is the best solution, the best comfort and the best healing of all.
The Spirit calls us to good things because His way is light. Certainly, we may set our minds and affections on what He desires of us or we could become preoccupied with what our flesh dictates. Whichever of these we allow to influence us, greatly affects our life’s journey.
We must accustom ourselves to pass everything through the Holy Spirit; our understanding, our feelings, our thoughts and opinions. We must dwell (set our thoughts) intentionally on His desires for us.
We allow Him to rule and guide us through scriptures, circumstances and promptings. Scriptures such as, “Love one another (John 13:35)” or circumstances that lead us into a spiritual conversation with the person next to us on an airplane or promptings that nudge us to call someone in need at just the right moment, all move us toward His desires for our lives. Our attention has been redirected. Our minds are purified and made obedient to His will.
Father, help us to set our affections on things above and beyond ourselves. Stop us in our tracts to take the time to be still and know that you are God. Sing over us and help the music to go deep within. Save us from our own flesh and make us one with your Spirit. 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.
You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Isaiah 17:10
At times, the Bible can be so negative!
“Give me some good news. Help me feel better about myself. But, please, oh, please, don’t bring me down with your discouraging talk.” At least that’s what we might say in our minds when the preacher gets up in the pulpit and steps on our toes about our wayward lives.
However, sometimes, like a child who needs to be guided in eating good nourishing food more than the sweets they crave, we need to hear good nourishing truth and rise up to its significance in our lives. In the end, we will be stronger and healthier for it and more fit to expand God’s Kingdom on earth.
Okay, so now I’m ready to listen. How would I apply the message of today’s verse? How would I keep myself from forgetting and instead, remember? What would I be remembering?
“You have forgotten God your Savior…”
Apparently, if I were to take these words to heart, I would become aware of the thoughts that fill my mind. To what have I given my time and energy? What occupies the most real estate (space) in my head? Where do my thoughts go to cause me to forget God my Savior?
* Complaints about every little thing I don’t have? * Judging or placing blame on those around me? * Giving allowance for my bad moods but not for the other cranky person? * Fearfulness that takes me over about tomorrow? * Anxiety or dread that grips my inner being? * Pride causing quick, poor responses or refusing to hear the other side? * Fixating only on ME and my own little world?
These are just a few of the many ways God can tragically be overlooked and sadly forgotten.
Yet, when I take “my” precious time to meditate on God’s ways, remembering that He alone is the Solid Rock, that He alone is the Protective Fortress that surrounds me like a shield and that He alone deserves ‘my’ turning from self to complete surrender to His will, I will find MORE freedom (not restraint), MORE peace (not fear) and MORE life in my mind and body than even before.
Why do I ever hesitate to fight, not to casually forget, but to purposefully remember God? There are so many blessings to take into my soul when He remains at the center of my being.
All the ‘idols,’ addictions and self-centered thoughts and actions get left in the dust where they belong.
The Rock never leaves me, never falls out from under me or misunderstands or belittles me.
The Mighty Fortress, though He doesn’t always save me from every terrible circumstance, does remain with me IN the circumstance and He always makes beautiful things come from the frightful storms.
Lord God, my Redeemer, my Deliverer, help me to always remember you. Especially when everything gets quiet in the night, draw me to you as I mull over my days. And as the new day approaches, help me to keep you in mind as you walk beside me throughout my joys and sorrows. Lead me to the Solid Rock of ages. Be my Mighty Fortress. In Jesus Name, Amen.
If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Matt. 5:41
The call to go beyond the demands others put on us can be unsettling in our lives. It can sound so ludicrous!
On the other hand, when we make this world revolve around our own met needs, soothed feelings and happy endings we miss out on some of the greatest acts of God, done through our willingness to ‘suffer’ …if I can call it that.
The underlying attitude to which Jesus called His disciples in today’s verse is a hard task, but it is not impossible. Certainly, no one can know how their story will end unless they are willing to open the next blank page of the book of their lives and start living out the second mile.
Yet, even after a task this daunting has been completed, we may wonder if even the slightest difference has been made in the lives of people around us (a boss, a spouse, a grouchy neighbor, a son or daughter).
Know that God works behind the scenes in amazing ways when we allow Him to be the author of our continued second mile stories. In the meantime, the striking changes in our lives that come from a newly devoted love are inevitable.
We begin to feel the exhilaration of conquering self-pity that arose on the first mile, because now we’ve intentionally given more than what is required. We’ve abandoned ourselves to love, to God Himself (who is love).
We begin to notice the difference between things we begrudgingly give that feel so heavy on our backs versus opportunities we train our minds to offer out of love. I say “train,“ because the second mile will tend to draw out from our hearts bad attitudes we didn’t know existed.
In the middle of our attempts at second miles, we may find ourselves having oversensitive feelings or thoughts that run aimlessly in negative directions and subtle lies that take over our minds, all because Jesus calls us to go further in our labor of love.
In relational conflict, our nature may call us to cling to the winning card, to fight to the end to prove a point and force our hearers to agree with our side. But, what have we really won?
The true winner is the one who decides to give extravagant love. The greatest of all is the one who admits his own mistakes instead of blaming the other before they can blame us. God’s superhero isn’t the one who brings up sad stories in the middle of an argument to gain sympathy, attention and control which manipulates the other to concede to what he wants.
Underneath our brave, argumentative exteriors, many times the lies sit and whisper to our ears, “This conversation isn’t over yet because I still feel hurt and uncomforted. Therefore, I have a right to my gloomy thoughts. I can’t help but stay stuck in this bad place until I fix things my way (which never quite happens).”
However, God’s truth is more wise, “God is working in the mysteries of what I cannot fix on my own. I trust His timing in patient waiting. I fight (not people) but the enemies of God in the heavenlies with His armor on (Eph. 6). I worship in joy. I release everything to Him and LOVE passionately!
Now it’s time to hand the flaws of our hearts (that have surfaced) over to God to uproot and get on with the work we’ve devoted to the Lord in trust and faith that His provisions will sustain us. This process develops positive character habits that eventually and genuinely submit to the second mile.
Ultimately, the first and second mile merge together as one, and we become more and more willing to help out just for the sake of God’s kingdom. We see the person we serve in a different light, through the Father’s eyes. We see the load they have been carrying on their backs and why they act the way they do.
Many times, those we serve will come to a place where they will want what we have and will join us on the second mile adventure. The second mile gives us freedom never before experienced. We will find ourselves in joy unspeakable and a life well-lived.
Father, take us to a place of humility where we offer ourselves as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to you. Move us to give of ourselves on the second mile, doing things that are difficult and even, at times, impossible, for the sake of love. Show us the way. Lead us every day. In Jesus name, Amen.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt. Proverbs 27:11
As I continue in Proverbs 27-28, I am learning with each passing day what it means and doesn’t mean to thrive. Thriving isn’t necessarily prosperity or personal satisfaction. I can be poor and I can be dissatisfied with this world and still thrive in the Lord. Also, prosperity doesn’t necessarily liberate me in Christ. I might become so consumed with worldly success that it causes me to forget about God (Deut. 31:20). Paul learned to thrive (to be content) whether he was in plenty or in want (Phil 4:12).
I may become too full to have room for God, but forgetting Him may be about more than that. Selfishness sometimes invades my soul, and God, during my moments of sin, can be forgotten. Thriving on my own self-protection makes me forget God. I must learn that remembering God in everything I do will cause me to flourish in bountiful ways.
In the past few blogs, we’ve been studying things that can help us to thrive. According to today’s verse it is good to be wise and to bring joy to a father’s heart (father is understood to mean anyone who invests time and energy into helping us grow up in the Lord). We bring our father joy by how we choose to live our life, which in turn moves us to further thrive.
How might I have wisdom and bring joy to my ‘father?’
By fearing the Lord (Prov. 9:10) By staying close to God and following His ways. By becoming who I was created to be and not giving into the cries of my flesh. By responding in prayer when bad situations come my way.
My prayer as I stand at the altar is, “Please Lord, bind my hands and feet so I will remain still under your mighty hand and give my life freely for you to use as you please.” I often find myself praying this prayer daily. But today, knowing that sacrificial animals were bound to the horns of the altar in Old Testament days, it dawned on me, how would He answer that prayer and bind my hands and feet? The answer came quickly: through my trials. When I am overcome by hardship, God can use my situation to “bind” me to the altar of suffering as I allow the hardship to form in me whatever He wants in me. My trials are my conductors, leading me to a closer walk with God. They (the trials) are my friends, though they seem far from it while they last. In giving my life in such a way, I bring joy to my father.
How does my choice to be wise bring comfort to my father when he is faced with contempt? In unjust circumstances, he is stirred to do what is right and still hold up his head because his young or adult child is wise. My wisdom matters so much that it invades my father’s soul with joy. All else fades away. It’s not a joy that he must seek or find but a joy that is freely bestowed on him.
The godly behavior of this child encourages his father’s confidence to be able to speak up in hard situations in his world.
Can you imagine that your good choices could have this much effect on another person to such a magnitude that he cares little about another’s contempt?
When the dynamics at home go wrong, nothing feels right. We do our work, trying to run uphill, only it feels like weights around our ankles.
A principled child, no matter his age, brings respect to his father or teacher just as a defiant or rebellious child can be his greatest hindrance. Wisdom coming from the mouth of babes overflows and blesses a parent’s heart.
My father and mother are no longer living. Yet, I have no problem following this verse with full steam ahead. I feel their eyes upon me, always. It is my hope that I bring them joy, even now. But I have others who watch over me. May my life be a light to them and a comfort.
Jesus, you walked this earth and kept yourself obedient to your parents as a child. When you grew up, your life became a sacrifice to the world and brought great joy to so many, especially to your Heavenly Father. Please show us the way to rejoice the hearts of those who have prayed for us and invested many hours in training to follow you. In Jesus name, Amen.
“It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.” Exodus 14:12
The Israelites had just undergone a momentous, supernatural experience in their exodus from Egypt. Now the Red Sea stretched out far in front of them, and Pharoah, regretting his decision to let them go, sent his army to march after them and bring them back.
All of humanity has the same spiritual problem. We forget that God is the ‘I AM.’ We fear the wrong things. And we never quite seem to get that He has our backs. Or maybe we define for ourselves the outcome of our hopes and miss His miracles right in front of our eyes.
If only we would turn in trust and faith to Him and not to our fears.
Don’t get me wrong, if an army was coming after me, I’d be scared, too. The Israelites were terrified of the fast-paced army, and their first thought was to complain that they’d rather be back in Egypt in slavery!
We come up with the most ludicrous ideas when we’re afraid.
The Israelites couldn’t comprehend the power God had to rescue them, even after witnessing the ten plagues and the favor of the Egyptian people when they left…free to go.
Then Exodus 14:13-14 records Moses reply, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today; for the Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Actually, at this point, for the first time, I was impressed with Moses. He’s been whining this whole time. We’re finally seeing him take a stand of faith, and I’m blown away by what he told the Israelites. He is in the process of becoming a great example as a leader (not to say that he wouldn’t make more stupid mistakes in the future. But for a moment, I wanted to stop and admire his growth. Let’s keep going.
Moses was getting the hang of things. Here, in essence, is sort of a summary of what he said to the people:
Stand firm. Stop being afraid in the Lord’s presence. Allow yourself to grow… like me. Step out in faith. Be still. Get out of the way and let God do what He needs to do. Do something different than you’ve ever done before…trust
The Israelites were babies at this God-thing. So, pretty quickly, after allowing them their freedom from Egypt, God gave them another glimpse of Himself by parting the Red Sea. Class 101 of “Knowing God” commenced, and He gave them a visual they would hopefully never forget: the Israelites walked across on dry ground. Then they watched the Egyptian army toppled by the waves. Whoa!
Exodus 14:31 says, “When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.”
Now, we’re talking! God outdid Himself with this event, and they believed!
Moses and the Israelites sang a beautiful song in celebration of the destruction of their enemies. What they had just witnessed was a big deal! (Let me add that there are big deals going on around us all the time, but we need to have eyes to see and ears to hear. We must stop complaining, look up and sing!)
“….The Lord is my strength and my defense. He has become my salvation,” sang Moses.
Everyone loved God now. Now, they would gladly give Him their whole hearts. Right?
Then they traveled in the desert for three days without finding water. And now we’re back to the drawing board, they grumbled and complained about their thirst.
Maybe, if they whined enough, God would answer them. And He did. He provided for their needs and said (Exodus 15:26), “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
God is Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, the God who makes bitter things sweet.
Again, the Israelites traveled forward. Soon they found something else to complain about.
Exodus 16:2-3 says, “And there in the desert they all grumbled against Moses and Aaron, “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said, “There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
Humanity’s memories of God’s wonders are certainly fleeting, but we also have another problem: we think we know more than God, what is good for us. We think we have the solutions. The Israelites had tunnel vision. They wanted comfort, NOW! So, all they could think about was the ‘comfort’ previously held in Egypt.
They don’t seem to remember the whips on their backs and the suffering of their parents and children around them. They don’t seem to remember anything about how much they cried to get out! Their recollection of the exodus adventure or of the Red Sea seems to have vanished into thin air.
It’s like somebody erased their memories and like a newborn baby, all they could think about was, somebody, please meet my needs!
As I read through this story all week, I was reminded of my own lack of faith and complaints. I’m not much of a loud grumbler, but I can inwardly complain with the best of them.
Somewhere along the line, my heart tells me that it’s time to grow up and think about someone other than myself and my needs. The enemy hits the hardest when my emotional tank is empty. Yet, again my heart reminds me to believe in my powerful God, who one fine, terrifying day, long ago, parted the waters for the people to walk across on dry land. He can fill my greatest needs, in His timing and in His way. He is capable of anything, even moving me to a greater trust in Him.
Lord, I surrender my worries and complaints and lay these at your feet. I look you in the eyes and do something hard. I let go. I know my heart will try to take these back again. But, for today, I release my fears and complaints and call upon the name of the Lord to be my salvation and my deliverer. In Jesus name, Amen.
Proverbs 29:25 “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.”
I didn’t think it was possible to learn anything new about today’s verse at the beginning of my week, but I am mesmerized by “trust” verses, however they are worded. So, into the adventure I went, doing what I always do: as trials came, I thought about the passage and went deeper into it’s meaning.
Boy, was I in for a surprise!
Fear is very prevalent among the masses of mankind.
We fear “man” in so many ways: our need for approval desire to be included dread of abandonment unmet dreams, wishes or desires pressure of success interaction with those in power having power dealing with other people’s choices wanting intimacy losing loved ones
How can I survive if that person never changes and my life doesn’t move forward? Will I be able to handle that? What will happen if she or he fails? What will it do to them? How will it affect me?
Fear of man: depresses paralyzes lures us to earthly pleasures for relief takes our minds off of God’s holiness takes us off our goals (priorities)
When I fear man, I am not who I’m supposed to be for the Lord Jesus Christ. Man becomes my Lord and Master. Man rules over me. I am a slave to him, not a servant to the Most High God.
People become like chains around my feet.
What is a snare?
A trap: something that trips me up and makes me fall, something that decreases my faith and trust. A snare hinders and blocks my way to God’s good life.
When I put my energies into worry or panic, my soul is disquieted and worn out with fear.
However, there is a better way: trust in the Lord. This happens when I set my eyes on Him and not the fear. I place my awe and reverence on my Father God. I move forward in trust and God takes care of the rest.
Trust is essential for a successful life. Trust is the only path worth taking. Trust is not simply a nice Bible word to throw out at people in trouble or a verse to memorize without making it profoundly practical to see it through. It is a lifeline. Trust is THE foundation for everything else we face.
Without trust, trials can feel dark and lonely. Without trust, confusion seems always near. Without trust, nothing makes sense. Without trust, the path beneath us falters and fails. Without trust, life appears impossible. Without trust, we don’t have the energy to do right.
Trust in WHAT?
Trust in the Lord, your God with all your heart, soul and strength.
Lord Jesus, I am learning everyday more and more about trusting you, and I’m witnessing the chains from my ankles fall away. You alone have brought me up out of the deep waters and have set me free inside this one simple word: trust. Father, I trust you. I will go where you say and do what you ask of me. What you allow in my life, I know you will make good. Your ways are higher than my ways. I seek you with my whole heart. In Jesus name, Amen.
Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Proverbs 19:20
Grief has many faces: in the death of a loved one, witnessing or experiencing the possible end of a marriage, an unwanted change in one’s career or a move to a far off place away from everything one knows and loves.
Inside the grief, there are feelings of fear, “Can I survive this?” “Will life be like this forever?” One’s health begins to falter and life somehow stops presenting itself as appealing, inviting or even welcoming.
Grief is so all-encompassing that it seems to overtake one’s sleep, mealtimes and every waking moment. Play and laughter feel foreign. It’s all one can do to put one foot in front of the other and rise to each new day.
I’ve been through grief in the past, and tomorrow won’t be any different. Grief is part of life. But one thing I’ve learned is that it has a tendency to become quieter as time goes by, sometimes with the help of a professional, a church or the touch and comfort our good friends. Though the pain itself never really goes away, the noise of it diminishes and doesn’t take over our lives as much.
However, this time, the layer upon layer of grief thrown at me all at once seems to be threatening my core and stealing my nights away in worry and fear. At the beginning of this season, I fell apart and the circumstances became harder than I thought I could bear.
Two things have given me back my breath, even as I still walk this road:
The experiences I wrote about in the last blog changed my life inside the grief, maybe even because of the grief, but certainly a gift from the Father.
Though grief is not a sin, it is a place of vulnerability and raw emotion. Last week’s experience moved me to be more open in declaring my weak and sinful self to the world and then fully accepting the mercy and grace with which the Lord overwhelms me. Sitting in that grace as I grieve, I feel His never-abandoning presence carrying me through this season.
The second experience came to me a little more slowly. I chose to visit some old friends of mine, books that touched my heart long ago. Taking these authors into my heart, I listened to the workings of God in their trials and struggles (difficulties and griefs I’ll never even come close to experiencing).
The verse I’ve leaned on all week speaks of listening to advice and accepting instruction. In so doing, I receive wisdom. For me at this time, the wisdom I am gaining from these men and women of faith is helping me not only to simply cope, but to thrive in the ups and downs of the challenges or handicaps of life and death.
God has used the reading of His word, first and foremost. He has also used the reading about the lives of men like Hudson Taylor and George Mueller to strengthen my faith.
I have discovered that who I allow to give me advice, matters. At this time in my life, I could join the negativity, the fearful and the complainers. Or I could be moved to step out of my pit and into the light.
Reading and watching documentaries of wise people and meditating on God’s word brings me light. In the end, the wisdom I have found has brought me comfort, peace, freedom, and a better life. I have much sorrow, but I feel alive in the pain.
Don’t get me wrong, I have fallen to the floor in my grief. The nights are the hardest, though they are better now than before. Nothing can take away those feelings. Yet, alongside this terrible grief, now sits a new choice, an awakening heart, a heart that I long to share with you.
First of all, what I’m learning is not denial, nor is it pretending, nor is it faking or wishing away the circumstances. Instead, it is being real about my grief, yet partnering with God in His work that He alone has the ability for which to equip me. When I participate in His work, I find more blessings, more filling of empty places and serenity for my soul. There is truth and reality of my losses, and then there is this other God-thing that has somehow grown bigger than my grief.
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. I Thess. 4:13.
The following is a collection truths from those wiser than myself (or words said about these people), who knew pain and whose guidance and direction I have received through these terrible storms:
“They found it true that meditation on God‘s word gave them the help and strength to pass peacefully through their trials, that through grace their minds could be fully assured of the faithfulness of the Lord, that in the midst of their greatest needs, they were enabled to go about their other work in peace, that if the Lord did not give them this trust in Him they would scarcely be able to work at all.”
I wrote in my journal, “I am learning that prayer is not only a laying of my requests at the Savior’s feet, it is a work I must do that turns around and gives me great comfort, greater than anything I’ve known.”
The word ‘incline’ has become a favorite new prayer word. “Lord, incline that person to seek the kingdom of God first.” “Father, incline their hearts to pray, to find their peace in you and to fall on their face before you in deep trust.“
“Godly men of the past delighted in the greatness of their difficulties, because in the impossible situations, God could bring about His greatest answers. Sometimes, He answers quickly. Other times, the answer is intensely prolonged, and we are led to our knees more than ever. God wants us to come to Him alone. No other source can we truly turn to with the results God provides. In the waiting, continuing in prayer and trust tries our faith and refines our soul for Him.“
“These phrases came to me in the last few weeks, and I have wholly given into them:“
“Rest in Jesus.” “Roll the burden on the Lord. [It is too big for me to carry.] Trust, though it is not new to me is a word I am holding on to for dear life. So in a way, it feels new.“ “Pray for daily needs. I am always in want and only God can truly provide for my deepest needs.“ “Pray for each step in dealings with others, for His will concerning His calling for us and for the details of our work and play.” “Pray for my needs instead of depending on any human to provide for me. Go directly to God in prayer. Ask Him. Plead with Him. And receive His response, whether it be a shift of my needs to something different or whether He provides through a different source than I envision or whether the timing, in my opinion, is ‘late.’ All of His gifts are good and on time.“
This next phrase has grabbed my heart the most. It has been the turning of the tides for me: ‘Pray for the conversion of sinners.’
This one occupation has laid the foundation for so many directions my mind can go. The potential is limitless. No one can restrict when I pray, how long I pray or what I pray about. When the enemy threatens to undo me in grief, I stand in prayer for those all around the world who need God to deliver them. When I do this, my soul soars. When I do this, I am honoring the life of my loved one who passed away a few days ago. I am making ‘his’ life count for something. Even though he has no more breath in his body, God’s breath lives on in the lives of his children and all who loved him. I am taking my trials and producing good instead of spending my nights fretting in worry, anxiety and fear that I won’t survive this. I am glorifying God in what He can do with this weak body of mine. He comes alive in me and this brings me staggering comfort.
This is a prayer I want to emulate: “I pray for a strategy that will make our global missionaries most useful in their foreign fields. I pray for the lost abroad and at home.“
The results of my new endeavor have been astounding:
I am compiling a list of names from people around me, people whose hearts are heavy from the knowledge of unsaved family members, friends or co-workers. I have committed to pray for those who are lost at 3:00 pm every Sunday and ask others to join me if they want. Feel free to add your own names in the messages below and pray! I will, too.
I pray for missionaries who struggle to win souls to Jesus. They may be discouraged, sick, persecuted or in danger. Doors may be closed to their ministries. Refugees are starving. Children are left without parents. There are people all over the world who have no home or food. There are marriages that are needlessly giving up. There are mental and emotional issues that need the care and love of Christ through us. There is abuse, abortion, alcohol and pornography.
I have taken steps to ‘follow’ missionary organizations on Facebook or other websites to better know how to pray and for what to pray.
Every time I hear a siren or a firetruck pass me by, I pray for the people involved.
When the news comes on, my time can be spent in prayer for those I see in dire need and pain.
Such a pursuit will never lessen in strength of needs. My mind will always have the glorious opportunity to become a part of something bigger than my own trials.
This prayer adventure doesn’t take away my grief, not one bit, not even in the slightest way. I am in grief. There is no denying that.
What prayer for others does puts me right next to my Father and His people and His desires and longings for the world; God, whose love expands the universe and whose enormous presence fills my soul to overflowing. Through my tears I attach myself to the Lord of all things. One minute, I may be in prayer for a cause and the next, I may be hurting so badly I cannot speak or even think clearly, and all I can utter is His name, Jesus.
Eventually, He enables me to pray a little longer, to ask for comfort and to include the hurts of others in my pleas, to step forward and comfort them.
In all my 61 years, I have never grieved with these God-things in mind. It is new to me and my heart is blessed. He can be trusted. I wish I had learned this long ago.
Father, I bring to you my sorrow and sadness and lay my burdens on you to carry. I’m thankful for the lives of those who walked this sorrow-filled path before and who’ve found wonderful ways to rest in you, even in their darkest moments. So I say today, Jesus, I rest in you, and I pray for others to find that rest, too. 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.
Search me, Oh God, and know my heart Psalm 139:23 (ASV) 