Resting even when working…

Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ” (Hebrews 3:6–11)

The opposite of rest is striving, working, trying harder, anxious in heart, anything that has no tranquility or a relaxed and joyful attitude. It can mean doing nothing, but when I am busy yet enjoying what I’m doing, I’m at rest.

That said, the rest spoken of here is the way I feel when I am trusting God and obedient to what He is telling me. It might be a nap or ceasing from work, but it is more than that on the inside. It is trusting that He is in control of every concern and all I need to do is whatever He says. It might be a simple chore as emptying the dishwasher or doing the laundry, but without resentment or wishing I could be doing something else. It might be pulling weeds and sweating but with joy in my heart.

Knowing God's ways is about realizing He wants the best for me, not stressed because I’ve rejected or am annoyed by my circumstances. It is like my mother’s words: “We must need it or we wouldn’t be getting it.” She also stated, “I’ve been through a lot; I can handle this too” yet we knew it was the Lord’s doing that she was so content, so at rest.

Those who stew over life like the Israelites in the wilderness are said to be hard-hearted, which could be translated “made stubborn.” This carries the idea that they knew what God wanted but stubbornly insisted on their own way. Many still live and even pray that way, telling God what they want without any sign of “not my will but thine be done.” However, entering into rest requires that kind of humble submission. 

A huge example is on my other computer screen. It says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (1 Corinthians 12:9) My ego does not want to be weak, yet the power of God eludes me, as does His rest, if I insist on feeling and acting in my own strength. To complicate this, I may feel the weakness but other people see the Lord’s strength. It takes faith to be at rest, not walking by sight.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16)

Christ shines in humility and If I am stubborn, I hide the light of Christ. If I welcome weakness, He shines and people give Him the glory. Oh how different His ways are from our ways!

Jesus, this is rest; not stressing about my weaknesses, not boasting or trying to live by any strength I might think I have, but yielding to Your will in all of life, no matter what I want, but resting in Your magnificent will, trusting You with everything, and being at peace.

What about the rest of life…

“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:12–18)

For about a week, I’ve been obsessed with thoughts of dying and leaving work here undone. I’ve been an information gatherer (trait of the spiritual gift of teaching) and that gathering has included ideas for projects such as “I’d like to paint this scene” or “make this quilt” or “use this recipe.” More than enough for one person, never mind the time left on this earth to do all that.
Satan has used this trait to push me to a fear of death, not that I don’t want to go and be  with Jesus, but that I don’t want to leave things undone, or leave a lot of unused stuff for my kids to deal with. 

This week I discovered how many souls are saved each day by the One who died to give us eternal life. I also found a box of thank you cards that told me how others have viewed my contributions as a Christian serving the Lord. I was not seeing myself that way and deeply moved by reading those cards.

Today thoughts of Jesus approaching death come to mind. Yes, He said “not my will” and sweat blood at the process, but He also said:

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (John 17:4–5)

With the power of God as a man, Jesus could have done millions more than He did, but He did only what the Father gave Him to do. With that, He was ready to die and go home. He is my example. 

Elisabeth Elliot comes to mind. Many years ago, God put me at a table with her for lunch. Someone asked her how she managed her many responsibilities and accomplishments. She said, “I just do the next thing, and I always know what it is.” I put her name in my search engine and watched the first half of a podcast where she speaks on the fear and old age. Not exactly my topic, but it was such a blessing. (LINK to EE ) So are the words of her advice about having too much to do. Even my hubby says the same thing to me when I fret.

Whatever God wants from me is enough. While I do not see myself as those who wrote in those cards saw me, I know that trusting God with the past, today, and the future is the way to peace and to be able to say, “It is finished” or as one of my much older cousins says, “Being ready to go to the end of the line.”

Jesus, forgive me for letting my thoughts drift away from You and into the unknown territory of the rest of this life. You are so good at directing me to the “next thing” and I’ve no ability to see very far beyond it. You know both the beginning and the end and have taken me through the years so well. I can trust You with the rest of it.

 

Avoiding that subtle slow drift…

You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end. . . . Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 1:10–2:4)

The devil’s first lie was a suggestion that God does not want the best for His people. This is an effective tool because eating from the tree of knowledge changed that relationship with God from one of total trust to one where we get the notion that we know better than God does. Therefore, we drift into trusting our own ideas of right and wrong, of how to deal with problems, of what is best for us.

While this is a spiritual error, it also defies logic. How could I possibly think that I know more or better than God? Yet this is the nature of sin — and being oblivious to the drift. This is why He tells me to pay attention, even closer attention. 

I could use my dose of ADHD as an excuse (I am very easily distracted) but God does not honor my excuse. Instead, He understands it and knows that I need to heed the ‘pay closer attention’ wording. 

I also need the signs, wonders, miracles and spiritual gifts. This past week, my faith was boosted by reading a testimony, and of finding out how many sinners enter the family of God each day, and by an amazing sermon on Romans 1:18-32, and by conversations with Christian friends. 

While good advice is offered, keeping intentional with daily devotions is most important for me, even though regularly reading and writing what God says might be forgotten by lunch. It takes more than good intentions to stop the drift.

Being active with other believers is important too. Yesterday I spoke to a man whose brother just died. I intended to encourage him, yet he encouraged me also. It was a huge block to drifting. 

I’m told to focus on the gospel and on Jesus. For me, focus is easier said than done. I have Scripture on my computer screens, bulletin board, a photo display device, and other places, very visible yet often easy to ignore.

One suggestion is to recognize triggers. For me, it is being too busy, or anxiety about something, or being over-tired. Do I need to slow down, pray more, or have a nap? Those three triggers push me towards drifting.

Besides needing reminders, my mom’s mantra often pulls me back from a drift. She often said, “We must need it or we wouldn’t be getting it.” This are words that recognize how God tests and strengthens faith. Do I trust Him in the tough stuff? Or will I believe that illogical lie? 

The word translated “drift” is about a gradual happening, not a sudden decision that God is wrong and I am right. Drift is also subtle and often happens to those who are trying to build their ego, or sense of belonging, or struggling with admitting weakness. God wants me to rely on Him, not myself, but that old nature crawls off the altar yelling “trust me, trust me” instead of rejoicing that I cannot do anything. But Jesus can, and I get no glory because the glory belongs to Him!

Jesus, fatigue hits me early some days. I’m tempted to sleep or to press on without You on this day, but realize that You use fatigue (often caused by medications) to test my trust, my belief that waiting on You for direction is always the best answer. Keep me from letting this or anything else draw me into that slow drift away from what I know to be true.

Incredible JOY!

Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.” But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands…  (Hebrews 1:7–10)

Last night I read of the salvation of a famous person. He had been a wild man whose life had been very sinful, but at retirement he was walking on the beach and God spoke to him. He said it was not an audible voice but inside him and he knew it was God. He was told to give his life to Jesus. At that point he didn’t know who Jesus was, only a swear word, but he soon found out and did what he was told.

Then his life dramatically changed. Many of his friends and associates were amazed. When he was baptized, the pastor abandoned his sermon and invited others to Jesus and do the same. Several hundred people went forward in response!

When I read this, my heart was filled with joy. Then, this morning I read the above description of Jesus that says He was anointed with the oil of gladness beyond His companions. Beyond anything I could experience at the salvation of one person, or several hundred people, Jesus experiences daily the joy of gladness to see the wonder of a changed life. 

Curious, I asked AI how many people give their lives to Jesus Christ each day. From a quick research, I was told, “Estimates of people coming to Christ or joining the global Christian faith each day range from 80,000 to 174,000, depending on the source and how conversion or growth is measured.” Even if those numbers are half right, this tells me that the Jesus I love is a joyful person! 

Not only that, He is busy in this dark world. Numbers like that are seldom if ever on the daily news, but a huge population is named in God’s book of life. Eternity will not be a few but billions of souls in the family of God.

Jesus, this is a great way to begin a new day, a new month, and a sunny Sunday morning. I had a rough week, emotionally draining and often crying out to You so I could get through it. You turn my heart on the positive, on the work You are doing in the hearts of thousands — and in just one day. Thank You for allowing me to think of that power and glory instead of the messes the media seems to prefer. You are truly an amazing Savior!

 

What about the rebels in the church?

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 
For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. (Titus 1:7–16)

Yesterday’s description of church leaders put an emphasis on knowing the Word of God and being kind and gentle, not argumentative. This passage recognizes that not all people respond to kindness. They take advantage of it, even attend services for no other reason than to cause trouble. 

Many relocations gave us experience in all sorts of churches, some glorified the Lord and were filled with godly people who served Him and one another. However, that was not always the case. Pastors and leaders must deal with disobedient believers as well as those who say they know God but their way of life is a mockery.

Rather than give examples of such rebels, I’m thinking how important to pray for leaders. The rebels will be critical and even tell lies about them. Rather than listen to such things, far better to support those who need to rebuke those who contradict godly living by their totally selfish and even evil actions. Obeying this discipline often gets more flack than the people being rebuked because some think leaders are supposed to be kind and loving, not negative in any way, or that they are sinners too and have no right to judge.

Jesus tossed the tables of money-changers and charged them with turning the house of God into a den of thieves. He rebuked the Pharisees for their twisted teaching. How much more to speak against hypocrisy, evil, disobedient, liars and lazy people who do nothing but cause trouble in the church?

Being kind and nice to those who dishonor God and ignore His Word gives them a green light. However, like Jesus who died for sinners, godly people must give up what seems more comfortable and “nice” if God asks us to turn that light bright red. It may not stop them but even if they “run through it” the Lawgiver on His throne will ultimately deal with such rebellion.

Lord, today I feel sad. There is so much lawlessness in the world and so much disapproval of those who expose it or stand against it. Sometimes those who do are accused of being the bad guys. I am not without hope. Your Word says, “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1–4) I might not be in a position to rebuke, but You urge me to pray. Only You know who might turn from sin because of those who refuse to rubber-stamp evil.

 

What God approves…

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:15–26)

Most people want to feel useful. If age or illness or other reasons rob a person of a good reason for being here, discouragement, even death thoughts come in. Yet being useful to God has a greater caviet than abilities. I like this passage for it is a clear job description for me. I’m not a pastor nor do I hold a position in our church, yet this makes it clear that is not the criteria for leading others out of darkness and into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The first one is rightly handling the Word of truth. This week we had lunch with a cult member. He has most of the qualities listed here but this one. His belief system is founded on salvation by works, giving Jesus no role except a role model, yet not even that. This means he must ignore plain statements like this one:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Another example is that he believes there is no heaven after death. While he rightly thinks that God’s people will dwell in a renewed earth, he says after someone dies, they are in the grave until that happens. This ignores what Jesus said to the thief on the cross and this: “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8) plus other passages.

For those who put their faith in Christ, being useful to Him means avoiding sin, and pursuing righteousness, faith, love and peace, not arguing over anything but being kind to all. This means correcting errors with gentleness and hope that God 
will bring them to their senses and out of the devil’s snare, and his lies that keep them in the dark.

During that lunch, this cult member asked about my education. When I told him I had a degree in theology, the expression on his face changed drastically. We could not interpret it only that he “needed to go now” so there was no more conversation about his beliefs.

Lord Jesus, You know the heart of this man. Is his understanding lost to many lies, or is he seeking You? Whatever is going on, may Your Spirit convict him that being a nice person is not the criteria for a relationship with You. He needs to recognize who You are and what You have done as well, and put his faith totally in You. His own ideas and works will not grant him the righteousness and eternal life that You alone can give. 

 

God’s Word is never helpless…

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:8–13)

Paul was in prison when he wrote this so there were many things he could not do. He was not free to speak in the local market place or the usual places of worship. But he knew that when he spoke the Word of God, even prison walls could not stop God from using it in the lives of those who heard him.

Corrie Ten Boom comes to mind. She was in prison too, but not only that, the prison was full of fleas. Yet God used that to isolate her and others giving her freedom to share the Word of God to needy hearts.

Joni Erikson Tada was paralyzed from the shoulders down. She needed others to bathe her, comb her hair, and brush her teeth. Yet when she spoke the Word of God, others listened and were saved. She was restricted but the Word of God was not.

While my life is no comparison to those women, I am encouraged that speaking what God says can change lives. My handicap is a damaged heart that needs a pacemaker to keep it beating, yet not enough to restore normal strength. I need far more sleep than the average person and can sleep anywhere, even with much noise. While some envy this, they do not know the weakness that it comes with nor how much I rely on God to do even the simple chores of life.

Prisons are not walls. They are those things that keep a person from fulfilling their dreams, even from living a normal life. Paul had another one:

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7–10)

Being in a prison of weakness often produces self-pity. No one likes to feel helpless, yet I understand this man’s ability to be content with it. Such a prison forces me to rely on the Lord. He helps me seem normal to others rather than making them feel sorry for me or over-burdened. He gives me a sense of humor when I don’t feel like laughing. Some days He just helps me put one foot in front of the other. In all this I know the truth of:

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29–31)

In the prisons of life, learning their purpose makes them a greater freedom than being able to do anything all by myself. 

Jesus, some days I give in to the helplessness and thank You for a hubby who is able and willing to help me. There may come a day he will not be here to do that, or I will not be here to burden him, but the important thing is realizing that Your Word is not weak or unable to do what You want it to do. You never sleep and You always accomplish Your will. Thank You so much for faith that knows this is true and grace that show me the power of what You say!

 

Trusting God with what He entrusts to me

As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you. (2 Timothy 1:4–14)

We just finished a weekend of celebrating my hubby’s birthday with our three adult children at an incredible location. They sacrificed time and money to make it a wonderful time with a large amount of laughter. 

This passage made me wonder if I taught them enough or did all that I should have done as a Christian mother, yet it does have an encouraging word for that concern. Paul points to Jesus: “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. . . . for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” 

God gave me motherhood, and He gives me additional tasks, not “because of my works but because of His own purpose and grace” and I know that “He is able to guard…that which has been entrusted to me.”

In other words, their faith life, maturity included, is in His hands. It always has been, from and even before they were born. While other parents look for church attendance or other Christian actions, I see in them the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, even self-control. They do not practice some spiritual disciplines like others, yet I see an attitude toward life and lack of fear that many do not have, and a loving care for people that is even rarer.

This displays what I want to see but it is not up to me. God is taking care of what I was entrusted with. This is an example of His sovereignty that assures His people that no matter what is going on, He is still in charge, still God, and still working out His plan. It may not look like it at times, but His ways are not my ways. 

Paul knew that and told Timothy that he could share in suffering, whatever kind of suffering he might experience, because of the power of God. His mom shared her faith with him and that meant he was now under the plan and care of God, no matter what happened in his life. 

Lord Jesus, I’d like to see ‘heaven on earth’ at times, but that is not Your plan for most of us. I need the trials to not only test my faith, but develop it and guard all that You have entrusted to me. Some need to see my example. Some need to know that You use all things for good. Whatever You allow in my life has value — not just to keep my heart in the right place, but so I can say to others that I am convinced You are guarding all that has been entrusted to me and that I am able to entrust back to You.

 

Godly and mature leaders required…

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1–7)

This topic is out of my territory except to say how important to have exemplary leaders. How can I be a sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable person without models? My mentor, a lovely woman, was such a blessing. She modeled all that she taught.

However, I recall reading Christian books as a new believer and felt like the people in those books were fictional characters. Thankfully, my husband’s work took us to many places and we attended many churches where it was easy to drop the “fictional” tag because there were leaders who fit the above description.

Yes, there are failures too. Consider how most of the biblical leaders failed too. The only plus side of that is that confession and forgiveness along with cleansing reveals the  merciful grace of God.

Even with that understanding, how important to rely on the Holy Spirit and live as He directs. This is not legalism or any sort of rule keeping. Godliness excludes all hypocrisy. I am thankful for godly leaders in our current church who rely on the Word of God to put priority on the important things. 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

This is an incredible goal that draws me and that I long to reach.

Jesus, thank You that Your life in us makes possible the attitudes and qualities necessary to live in such a way that others are motivated to do the same, but not only that, to glorify You.    

 

When Jesus comes…

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:1–12)

This person is often called the ”Antichrist” yet that term is more about an attitude according to several verses in 1 John For example:

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:22)
… and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:3)
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John 7)
It is as if the attitude of being against Christ makes a person antichrist. So does that practice of lawlessness that goes with that attitude: “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4)

While Jesus described signs of the times as events, this deception could be a greater indication when He will return. For one thing, lawlessness in the world is a greater threat to His people. Law has protected many, at least in some countries, so that Christians can worship freely. However, “law” is now making illegal the proclamation of some Bible truths. When will lawlessness be preferred over faith in the Lord?

The Christians of Thessalonica thought Jesus had already come. That is a deception of a kind, but worse is the delusion of not being able to believe in Him  because sin is the preferred choice. God can open blind eyes, yet there is no hope for those who love sin. 

Jesus, there are a few people on my prayer list who have mocked You or openly set in a sinful pattern. Yet past history shows that You can show mercy. You died for us while we were still sinners. I pray that those who are locked in to a strong delusion would be miraculously released… for their good and Your glory.

Praising the One who earns it…

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. . . .  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:3–12)

A few weeks ago a friend praised another Christian and I responded that God is amazing for doing that work in her life. My words were ignored, maybe unexpected, but at the time I was frustrated with people getting credit for what God has done.

When I read the first part of this passage, it surprised me that Paul was boasting about the Christians in Thessalonica, yet as it goes on, he made certain that his readers knew their godly lives gave glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. They would not be steadfast in their faith apart from Him.

Praising people was bothering me because of being aware how I  like having my ego stroked. This not what being a strong Christian is about. Those who received this letter were praised because of the power of God. So was the woman I heard being praised. She has endured much, things that would make the average person likely flee or fall apart. However, she herself knows that her survival is due to Jesus Christ, not her own resources, and she would be the first to say so. 

Actually, I’ve no idea what goes on in the hearts of others when they are given the praise that Jesus deserves. I just know that my focus is diverted from adoring Him and being thankful to the strong sense of pride seeping in, and soon I will have sinful ideas about my own goodness. 
Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14)

It is easier to be a Pharisee than to be humble. Could it be that people would rather associate with those who impress them with their lives than those who admit their sinfulness? Perhaps. Other passages come to mind. 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. (Romans 12:3)

My spiritual is life is not helped by being told that I am amazing. Praising Jesus builds my faith. Besides…

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (2 Corinthians 12:7)

Not only that, hanging around people that impress me misses out on helping those who need encouragement, or even learning that exalting Jesus is the way to do it. Jesus even said, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)

Jesus, I know what praise for me does to my fleshy heart. Others argue that making people feel good about themselves and about their walk with You is edifying. Perhaps there are times when I need that sort of encouragement, yet when it points to me instead of You, it can feed the flesh and do nothing to build my faith. Help me convey Your greatness to built others up and not shoot them in the foot.

Encouragement about dying…

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)

With floods, earthquakes, tornados and other natural disasters, plus air and auto accidents, cancer and other life-threatening diseases, and the media repeating bad news continually, little wonder some people are thinking that Jesus will come soon. 

Interesting that this passage says this will happen when people will be saying there is peace and security. Is that the Pollyanna people who never listen to bad news? Or those in spiritual darkness or drunk as this passage suggests? Or those who have no idea that Jesus will return to judge the world, or even do not know who He is?

For those not in such categories, we know that we don’t know when He will come, either in judgement or to take His people home. Those who know Jesus and yet die in accidents or disasters, etc. go to live with Him. We are not destined for wrath and even though such deaths can be a terrible thing, both on the news and for grieving survivors, we will be with Him. 

This week, a group of us prayed for a woman who is 100 years old and not well. Her son asked that she die peacefully in her sleep. Many Christians do. My parents did. This eases those who are left, yet if He takes me home in a fire or flood or crash or whatever, the encouragement should be that I am home, however I get there.

Jesus, most sudden deaths seem more tragic to us than leaving this world in our sleep, but You are in charge of that. I just want those I leave behind to know that I am with You and to know You so they have total confidence that they will see You and even me one day as well.

 

Grief?

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

More than fifty years ago the Lord taught me something about grief. My dear mentor  experienced the death of her husband. She missed him, but she said that most of her grief was feeling sorry for herself, not him. He was in heaven with Jesus and how could she grieve over that?

It is not the same with the death of a person who rejects Him, yet how can grief change anything? It is too late. Regrets will not bring them back. Nor will inventing a waiting place where that person can be redeemed if the survivors give enough money to their ‘church’ that will pay for it.

Regret is not much of a biblical word. In the OT it is said that God regretted or grieved in His heart that He made man after sin took over the world, and that He regretting making Saul kin over Israel. But the OT also says: “And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” (1 Samuel 15:29)

The sense of this word can mean “feeling sorry” or wishing something had been done differently. I suppose that God can feel sad about sin, yet is exempt from grief because He can use the foolishness of it to reveal the greatness of His mercy and grace. 

In other words, as my mentor said, genuine grief is not about feeling sorry for yourself. How could Almighty God have that going on when He can use all things for our good? Even the mistakes and sinful stuff he uses to convict me of my need for Him!

All the junk going on in the world and the sad news every day should have the same result — to put me on my knees. And if someone I love goes to be with Jesus, should I not rejoice that they are with Him and no longer suffering nor needing to cope with sin — in the world or in their own life?

We say, “I am sorry for your loss” and can cry with them, yet it seems God wants me to add these words: “yet I am so glad for your loved one’s gain.” Not only that, for us who believe in Jesus, we will join them and forever be with the Lord.

Jesus, it is easy, even normal, to be so earthbound that death seems like an enemy. I thank You that it is not the end of life but the beginning of eternity without sorrow or pain or even regrets. You have made that move a relocation into perfection! Thank You.

 

God's instructions never change…

But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:10)

In the days when all devotions were written by hand, I kept them in file folders sorted by the books of the Bible. For some unknown reason, I want to those files today and this is the first one I read. It was written in August 20, 1983, over forty years ago… on this same passage!
_____

“When I stand before Jesus Christ, what will be my joy, my hope,The thing that I glory in? Will it be the stack of notebooks filled with Bible study? Or the paintings on the wall? Or the garments made, or the sweaters knitted?
No, it will be the Wallaces, and the Dons, and the Ginas. It will be people. It will be (names of my children) maybe my husband (dare I say I influenced him?) and will be perhaps others that for my pride God could not even show me.
So to hang on to the hobbies, to anything too tightly may be to miss the opportunity to grab hold of someone that could stand with me in the presence of the dear Lord Jesus Christ when He comes.
Lord, help me to put people first, and to be ever sensitive to their feelings and their needs. Help me to not miss any opportunities but to always be listening and watching — to You and for them. Just get with it with people.”
_____

Since 1983, we have moved many times and often found people unwilling to get too close since they knew we would be moving, sometimes in a year, sometimes in a few weeks or months. However, the list of people we have met and spent time with is long. Some names on those older prayer lists are now unknown. Today, I must define faith as God knows who they are and where they are in their spiritual journey. My hubby is solid and spends time with other men, both saved and not there yet, who appreciate his faith and care for them. I’m not as involved as he is but still caring for people, giving time when I can, and praying for those in need when hands-on is not the answer. 

Lord Jesus. I’m still learning how to put people first, especially those who resist all Your goodness and seem upset or angry all the time. I still need wisdom and still need to keep my focus on You so I know what to do, when and how to do it, and how to deal with so many who reject Your grace and wisdom. Sometimes the darkness in this world is overwhelming. Please enable me to keep in Your will and not give up.

 

Pressing On

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:13–23)

In learning what it means to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh, I’ve found this is not about outward actions as much as inward motivations. Am I listening to God and doing what He commands, or am I doing what I do for personal reasons?

At my age, I’m aware that if I don’t eat right and exercise, my body will suffer. So do I eat right and exercise to avoid suffering? Or to avoid problems that will keep me from serving the Lord?

I make quilts to give to needy people. Does the desire to show off the design skills God gave me motivate my sewing sessions, or am a motivated by a love for those who suffer from various things, including a lack of love?

Am I polite to telemarketers just to be nice, or to show compassion to a caller who may be in a slave situation and making the same calls over and over because they cannot escape?
Closer to home, do I help my hubby with his computer woes because I love him, or to stop his complaining so I can get on with my own work?

The Bible often uses extremes and outward behaviors to identify the flesh:

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:5–10)

Yet I know that all of these begin inside my head if I walk in the flesh. Most of them might never show up in actions, but God wants a pure heart. How much easier to walk in the Spirit who gives these attitudes than to fake it with “right” actions: 

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:12–15)

The rest of this reading says I’m to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” for such thinking and the results are from His thoughts, not the selfishness of my flesh.

Lord, sometimes I put on the right behavior, but having it flow from Your Spirit which motivates all parts of me is what You really want. Not that I have arrived, but I’m so thankful that You have shown me the difference as You persist in changing my heart. I will keep pressing on and looking forward to being like You when I see You face to face.

 

Walking in Christ

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 1:24–2:7)

How did I receive Christ? I was searching for answers to what happens when I die, even reading a book on reincarnation. Then Jesus came into the room and into my heart. It was a surprise, and without any thoughts on my part to say NO. Walking in Him has become just like that. He appears in words, thoughts, actions, and I respond without protest. Well, most of the time.

Part of that response is having a mother whose mantra was, “We must need it or we would not be getting it” so accepting what is happening is reasonably easy for me. But the greater influence is that Jesus wants the best for me. He showed it to the Colossian church in the love and care for them by the Apostle Paul. 

To learn this love can be a battle. Many Christians think that the best life for them is comfortable, secure, and without stress. When trials come, prayer is for their removal, and sometimes God does that because the trial may be from the enemy who says God does not want the best for me, so stop trusting Him, Otherwise, like mom said, if God has a purpose for it, I need to seek that and track with Him to accomplish it.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

This is why Paul could rejoice in his sufferings. He had it figured out. Not only were those trials for his spiritual growth, but he was sharing in what Christ suffered — and His suffering had an even greater purpose. Without it, there would be no salvation or eternal life for anyone. Paul knew that his own obedience also could be used by the Lord to reach many people with His good news!

Jesus, I cannot duplicate my salvation experience except to wait on You to tell me what to do and then do it, in faith that You will use it as only You can. May You be glorified in whatever any trial happens to be.

 

Impossible situations…

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (Philippians 3:12–4:1)

When a person is hurting because of the actions of others, trusting the Lord seems the best counsel. However, if that person keeps tossing out self-help ideas what do they need to hear? What if they insist on being right and the others are wrong, yet most of their ideas to “fix” it are also far from godly? 

I remember asking a pastor why God kept giving me such tough cases to disciple. He said it was because I was such a tough case myself. That was decades ago, yet it taught me to also ask the Lord what He trying to teach me as I work with this person who continues to ask me what she should do. I’ve learned that what I think is not always from the mind of God. 

Paul writes that he is not perfect but pressing on because he belongs to Jesus. Good advice. Yesterdays sermon suggested that when people ask me what I do, I should first tell them who I belong to and therefore, this is what I do. This person knows who she belongs to, yet cannot seem to focus on that truth and is doing many foolish things.

Paul says: Forget the past and press on. And if not able to do that, He will reveal why not. The lady who keeps rehashing her problem needs to do that too — focus on  what she knows is true. Her faith is there, but continually challenged by anger, revenge, and self-pity, all prodded by the enemy’s lies and reminders. She cannot stay with “I trust Jesus” for more than a few seconds. She needs to confess all that and see it for what it is — lack of faith in Him to take care of these problems she cannot fix.

This applies to me too. I cannot change her life or the lives of those who set themselves against her. I can only trust Jesus, only being a silly word in this case. What else is there? No one and nothing.

Pressing on in the face of problems bigger than myself requires faith. The Bible says that if we do our own thing rather than trusting God that “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) I told this woman, and tell myself, that if she tries to fix this in her way and without His direction, she needs to confess that as sin.

Jesus, this situation seems impossible to me. I ask You to also make it seem so impossible for her that she has to fall on her knees before You and stop all personal effort. For me, that is also my need, but not an excuse to stop encouraging her to recognize her own sin, to keep short accounts, and to trust You with all her heart. She knows Proverbs 3:5. (Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding) Play it over and over in her mind seems a good idea, yet I don’t know what is best for her and will bring You glory. May Your will be done — in me too.

 

Yielded = obedience plus more…

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life. . . .  (Philippians 2:12–16)

Thinking about Jesus being fully human and fully God raises a question: in which nature did He do His work here on earth? Without including many Scripture references, I have to say it was in His human nature He obeyed His Father (“not my will, but thine be done”) yet He was totally yielded not only to the will of God, but relied on Holy Spirit power to speak, heal, pray, and die for us.

In other words, Jesus perfectly demonstrated what the above passage tells me to do. He didn’t need to “work out His own salvation” for He is sinless, yet the nature of God worked in Him. He did all things without complaining or debating, shining as the Light of the world and totally fulfilling the Word of God without any sin or resistance to it. I’m to live the same way.

For me, the fear and trembling comes in because my human nature tends to want its own will. Not only that, until I know the will of God through His Word, the enemy lies to me in subtle ways. His devices are not always easy to spot when I cling to my ideas or the values of the world. My spiritual battles are only won the same way as Jesus won them — by holding fast to what His Word says and by letting Him rule my thoughts, words, and actions.

Human nature, called the flesh or old nature in the NT, tends to want to be in charge:

Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. (2 Chronicles 30:8)

However, Jesus did not give into “my will” as to do anything His Father wanted, even to the point that He “cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.” (Matthew 27:50) He had to do this because with the indwelling Spirit of God, no one can die. (See 1 John 5:11-12)

He also said, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:18)

Jesus, because You live in me, I can yield all to You, even my very life. Last week I told my pastor I wanted to live to 100 and “so far God hasn’t argued with me” yet I know that one day You will ask for Your Spirit to return to Yourself, but rather than leaving me, I will go with it and spend eternity with You.

 

The way up is down…

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5–11)

God is one unique being in three persons. Human beings are many persons, but one being — human. We cannot change our being but in redemption God changes the nature of those persons who put their faith in Him. He unites Himself to them and in doing that, we are partakers of His divine nature and can behave like Him.

Put that the other way. Jesus is God who took on human likeness. He took on the personhood of man making it possible for humans to see what God is like. Not only that, He was obedient to the necessity that human sin must be punished by a human being taking sin’s death penalty. But that person could not do it if he had his own sin. 

The sacrifice must be spotless. Only the sinless Son of God who took on human form could bear that shame and set humanity free from out guilt. Our part in all this is to realize what He has done — and the Holy Spirit makes that happen, and enables us to believe it by the gift of faith that God grants to those who hear Him.

This Jesus, fully man and fully God, is highly exalted. My puny mind can scarcely grasp the truth of who He is and what He has done. Yet He has made it plain to me. He even says that someday every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that this is true. God became a man without losing His being as God yet taking on the being of human so He could save us from sin. And He did it by humble obedience.

The wonder of this causes my knees to bow and my tongue to confess that He is Lord to the glory of the Father. I know it is true, not because I am special. Human beings and God's Beings are not in the same category and only the triune God has the power, ability, or even the right to communicate with humans. Sin put us in a state of not listening, not even wanting to listen, only to want to run our own lives. 

Some fear God as in being terrified of what He would do to them. Some say He does not exist. Some think He is an old man in the sky that loves us too much to punish us. Whatever the human view of God might be, the God-view of humans is:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

And that God-man came to empty Himself and die to give us life. This is the example: to have that life, each human needs also to humble ourselves and admit our need and our inability to make that life happen without Him.

Jesus, You are Lord to the glory of God and You did that by becoming a servant, my example of how to live with this new life of Yours. Humility is not a normal choice for most humans, including me, but with You, all things are possible. Thank You.

 

The Major Task…

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10–20)

This passage seems to have been written directly to me. Even though prayer is hard work, difficult to maintain, and easy to put off until later, I’m very aware of the wrestling match. Last night I dreamt that evil people were trying to take my children. It was a physical battle with prayer warriors from our church helping me. I woke up feeling exhausted.

The instructions above list commands related to correct theology. No one prays if they think they can handle all issues by themselves rather than being strong in the Lord and wearing His armor. No one prays well unless they realize who the true enemies are — not other people or the distractions and allurements of life, but spiritual forces of the devil and his minions. 

Not only that, if I believe a lie of any sort, or think I am good in myself, or worry all the time, or have trouble trusting God with everything, prayer will not be easy or even happen. I need to be filled with His Spirit and praying with His Word and truths, and directing most of my prayers for the effectiveness of God's people and myself in sharing the gospel with great boldness.

Paul did it while in prison. Even there, he considered himself an ambassador, a citizen of heaven living in a foreign land and speaking for his King. He battled the darts of the evil one that bombarded him with all sorts of lies in an attempt to get him to stop. I relate to this and to the idea that I won’t always know what to say. Yet God promises to protect me, not allow me to be tempted without a way of escape, and always gives me words to say as well as the boldness needed to say them.

Jesus, trusting You is far easier when I don’t foolishly trust myself. Any ambitions that I can handle any issues without prayer make the devil clap his hands. He knows that persisting in my will messes with Your will being done, and he knows when Your will is done, he is a loser. Keep me alert to the identity of my real enemy and not put that tag on other people. Keep my heart certain of all that You have done to give me warrior status that I can stand and speak for truth and support others who do the same. We cannot do it without You or the armor that You have so wondrously supplied. Help me overcome any tendency to shirk this incredible responsibility.

 

Want to bless the world?

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:22–33)

Many women protest this passage from the NT because in their mind, submission means a ‘yes’ person, no choices, and no say about anything. A doormat. While the dialog is missing, it seems obvious that if Eve had done what the NT says, that forbidden fruit would not have been eaten and sin would not have affected their relationship with God.

After over fifty-five years of marriage, I am totally convinced that God knows what He is talking about. If I interact with my hubby the way the church is supposed to relate to Jesus Christ, nothing could be more rewarding and secure. Sure, I get upset when he doesn’t listen or behaves in a way that does not honor the Lord, yet my challenge is the same as the people of God. He shocks us now and then. I must wait and trust Him, let the Holy Spirit deal with it. By listening to the Lord and doing what He says in every situation, I am closer to Him and closer to him. Respect for him cannot mean reproving, correcting, insisting on my own way — none of that works with Jesus nor does it reflect a humble relationship toward Him.

One friend said, “I’ll submit to my husband when he starts acting like Jesus.” Does Jesus always do what I tell Him? He answers my prayers but every answer is a surprise and always for my good. However, the quickest way to silence Him is to stop doing what He tells me to do. Applying that, is it not easier for a man to love his wife if she determines to be lovable? Rather than hard to please, a manipulator, always complaining and wanting her way ‘or else’? Blessed are the peacemakers.

Sin began a conflict. God said to Eve that she would suffer pain in childbirth, and also that her “desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16) The conflict about who is the boss has ruined many marriages because the essence of sin is, “I will have my own way” and that applies to both husbands and wives. Created to be his helper takes on great significance after realizing God calls Himself our Helper. Only by looking to Him can I understand what that means and how to do it.

Jesus, when You said, “Not my will but thine be done” in Your prayer, I wondered why. What is wrong with Your will? You are sinless. But that statement was not about Your ability but about Your willingness to yield and to trust the Father’s plan. Trusting You with my hubby has brought him to a walk with You that is a blessing to both of us and to the people around us. How can I not say AMEN to being a submissive helper when You show me how Jesus did it and it became Your the way to bless the world!

Imitating God is not play-acting

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:1–21)

Since Jesus put me in God's family, I’m to behave as a child of God, not living like an unsaved person or going along with them in what they think and do. My godly behavior is intended to contrast the things of darkness so people can see the difference. I’m not to be foolish, but understand God's will. My source of joy is in Him, in being thankful, and in being submissive to the needs of others because of my reference of Christ. 

While all this sounds lofty, it can be very down to earth. The old nature has this idea that having my own way is better than meeting needs, or even doing the will of God. That means making supper for my hubby or family when I don’t feel like it. It means being generous rather than a fat bank account. It means making a call when I dislike talking on the phone. It also means saying NO when I want to say YES, or saying YES when I would rather not. This is related to what Jesus says: 

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25–33)

Being a Christian is not going through the motions. It is about being not just doing. I cannot fake it or act like it. I must be it. 

Jesus, the longer I walk with You the more I am aware of the cost. It is mostly time, sometimes finances, but always giving up my own wants and desires in daily activities. Yesterday I wanted to create a new project, but You had other plans that took all the time available. Also, I had asked for a surprise, no expectations or wants, and You surprised me with an opportunity that scares me silly, but I knew I had to say yes. I just shake my head at the wonder of You. 

Christian life is not a DIY project…

Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 4:22–5:2)

Therefore basically means ‘because of this, do this” and refers to the consequences based on an event or truth. In the NT, this word usually relates to a prior statement, and because of that truth, I should respond a certain way. 

If I apply that to the way I should respond without considering or being motivated by the “why” of it, my effort is sinful. I would be trying to act like a Christian without relying on the Holy Spirit but only my own desire to be a good person or impress others. God does not honor that because He is left out of it. The term for such behavior is hypocrisy.

Since only God knows the human heart, it is seldom easy to evaluate motivations, however the person doing life this way can make themselves obvious by what they say and do. Considering the above list, anyone lacking the motivation of God can fudge the truth, hurt people when they are angry, cheat on their finances (like take home stuff from the office), not apt to share, will put people down instead of building them up, grieve the Holy Spirit instead of being filled with His joy, express bitterness, even slander others, and show an unforgiving attitude.

This is quite a list, yet if read with honesty, it is easy to realize the importance of  putting off the old self. This is not about sins like robbing banks, adultery, lying or other actions that are obvious sins. It is about being nice on Sunday or at Bible study group and not so nice when Christian friends are not around, or when others I am with are doing the same things. 

The new self is like Jesus. It cannot sin. It does not steal, hold on to anger, be lazy, unselfish, or gossip. It does not give the devil an opportunity. Instead, it reflects the One who lives in me. I have no excuse. From this passage it is easy to see the importance of modeling His love as an example and reminder to those who find it far too easy to walk in the flesh and just work hard to be ‘nice’ people. 

Jesus, You are patient with our fumbling and false idea that this Christian life is like a DIY project. Colossians 2:6 says: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.” I received You by saying YES to Your invitation. I must walk with You the same way by saying YES to all that You tell me and not try to save myself or be godly without You doing it by Your power rather than this useless glove trying to be good without Your hand in it. 

 

God heals the hopeless and uses the useless…

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. . . . And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 3:20–4:16)

Two stories. The first was about a woman with advanced MS. She could no longer walk, see, or do much of anything. A call to prayer went out. Those who joined in prayer replied to record their participation. More than 400 Christians responded. In a short time, the woman was in a prayer meeting in her wheelchair. She tells of hearing God speak to her from the corner of the room. He said, “Get up and walk.” As she stood, her family and friends tried to stop her but she said God told her. She walked. And could see. She was totally healed.

The other story was about a woman who had polio. Her pastor told her she was not welcome at church as people were afraid of getting it. He also said her life was useless. She protested that God uses useless people but he didn’t change his tune. Later, a new pastor came. He said the church had a Sunday School but no children. Would she like to be in charge of that? She said yes, starting it with her own two children. More came, and then she had a plan. She asked a local bus company for a bus and was given the use of two buses with drivers for one Sunday. The NT “far more abundantly” happened and in a couple years, it was 35 buses and 35 drivers, and no less than 5000 children each Sunday with this useless woman in leadership.  

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think… what do I do with these stories? Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love and be equipped by the gifted people who pray for me and trust me with whatever jobs the Lord gives me, not for my sake but to build up the body of Christ until we are united in faith and the fullness of our Lord and Savior. Trust Him for the little things but also for those wonderful surprises that bring Him great glory. 

Not everyone is healed nor does every idea for ministry become fruitful, yet the stress is not on bigger, better, and more, but on an attitude of humility, gentleness, patience, love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Jesus, I’m to focus on being godly and You take care of both that and doing far more abundantly with a life of obedience. I could not imagine the healing of diseases that have no cure, or supplying buses to a woman who was told she is useless. I am amazed at You, the One who can do more than I ask or can even imagine.

Amazingly Blessed

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, . . . . by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:1–22)

Read it again and again. The marvel of the gospel means that the OT Israelites chosen by God to reveal Him to the world, and those who believe in Jesus as their messiah are now one group — God's people. Back then, the people of God were identified by circumcision and law-keeping. Now we are identified by faith, a grace-gift from the God who loves us and sent His Son to take our punishment for sin and give us life.

I picture in my mind the people of God who trust Jesus and at that moment of faith, He comes to live in us. No matter what we look like or the color of our skin, or our age, or our culture, or our background, or what our sins looked like, His very presence in our hearts and lives puts us in His family. We are one.

I see it visually during communion when hundreds go forward to remember His death for us. I experience it in my prayer group when the four of us are filled with the Spirit and incredible harmony in our understanding. It happens when I meet a stranger and we talk about our relationship with God with mutual agreement of how He is working in our lives. And I am overwhelmed by it when I read these verses just after hearing the daily news filled with reports of the conflict and troubles in this world. No matter what, the family of God is united in Jesus Christ. The news can fill me with negative emotions, but thinking about who God’s family is and our togetherness in Him gives me great joy and peace. He takes care of us and our confidence is in Him, not in our own abilities. Such a wonder.

Again, how I love You, Jesus. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, yet no special day is needed to be thankful for You, the only One who blesses and keeps us in Your care because of Your great love. May each family member that You have blessed be truly thankful, for we have such an amazing Father who loves us and sent You to die and rise again so we can be with You forever. 

 

Complete salvation…

Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (Galatians 4:28–5:6)

Paul’s illustration comes from OT history, a story that is current today. The offspring of the slave woman are still persecuting the offspring of Abraham, the man who is called the father of faith. They are not members of the same family as those who have the faith of Abraham.

Faith removes the yoke of “I must do it myself” that carries the load of keeping all the laws in order to be right with God. Jesus Christ removes that yoke and sets me free by doing it for me. Being “in Christ” means this is how God sees me — sinless because I am hidden in His Son by faith because He loves me.

In the NT, many verses speak of what faith working through love looks like, but no one can take credit for that; it is the work of Christ who works in us like a hand in a glove. This is why Paul could say God's strength is perfected in weakness (gloves are useless without the hand) and that he was the chief of sinners, yet his life was one of amazing obedience.

These verses build me up. I know that without Him, I cannot do anything that warrants approval. Obviously not circumcision, but even the love He speaks of and demonstrates is beyond me. Everything I do apart from faith is not only useless, it is also sin. (Romans 14:23) The NT also says:

But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22)

Yes, I still sin, yet the wonder of faith in Christ, He also promises:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Therefore, God's salvation is utterly amazing and total. He takes care of every possible issue or argument that anyone might give or use as an excuse to say NO to the invitation of Jesus Christ to put their faith in Him.

Lord, doubts come. It is easier to walk by sight and give up hope when prayers go unanswered or even are not prayed. We humans want what we want right now. But You love us and take care of us and use even trials to transform our lives that we are more like You. Jesus, You are so easy to love with all my heart! Thank You for such a total salvation!

The Source of True Power

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7–10)

It has taken fifty years of being a conceited Christian to being able to recognize and be glad of my weaknesses, to even be accused of being “too humble” which makes me laugh. It seems almost all of my life others have expected me to excel and if I did, praised me. Of course my ego demanded the praise so the pressure to excel interfered with my ability to trust God. If I could do it, why ask for His help?

But then comes that “messenger of Satan” who often uses flattery to distract me from trusting God. The other option is “my way” or just don’t do anything. After many lessons, and re-reading this passage or having it come to mind while I attempted and failed, the purpose and benefit of weaknesses finally sunk in.

This is not just about Christian ministry. It is about everything. I’m making quilts and pray for wisdom, noting when things need another technique, or to not make an error (that seam ripper is not a favorite tool), and for the ability to use color and design wisely. Then the fun of having my bobbin thread not run out when expected, or two pieces to sew together turn out to be the exact right size without trimming them at all, or I have a scrap that fits without cutting off the excess. This might seem silly to a non-sewer, but admitting my needs to God changes efficiency and more. 

This confession of not being able has to be real and honest. God does not answer prayer designed to make me look good. He wants a genuine sense of being unable, weak, ignorant. But who likes feeling that way? Who can be content with always saying “duh” instead of patting their own back?

This is one of the “His ways are not our ways” truths even though many Christians fall for the DIY lie rather than see the benefits of being weak so the Lord can shine through. And He does. The lack of skill and confidence become the doorway to the power of Jesus Christ. 

So whether the cause of weakness is age-related, forgetfulness, distractions, being overcome by too much to do, bombardment of new responsibilities, or Paul’s list of insults, hardships, persecutions, or calamities, being unable is a friend, not an enemy.

Lord, the best part is that You never let me down to drown in my inability to deal with the challenges of life. You are faithful to grant what I need, always surprising me and often bringing tears of gratitude and certainly words of praise. Truly, You are my hiding place. You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You, I will trust in You. Let the weak say I am strong, in the strength of the Lord…