Relief from the Accuser

Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine: Thus says your Lord, the Lord, your God who pleads the cause of his people: “Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more; and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, ‘Bow down, that we may pass over’; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over.” (Isaiah 51:21–23)

By the thinking of many Christians, these days are the last days according to the many descriptions in both OT and NT. I’m cautious about date-setting yet the daily news seems to be building up to something.

One thing I’ve noticed is the activity of the Liar in my own life. Every time God blesses me with answered prayer or an opportunity to share Jesus with someone else, I get an extreme attack of accusations from Satan about who God is (or isn’t) and my failures as a member of His family. His lies have enough truth in them that I often feel lost and crippled and need to remember passages like this one:

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:10–12)

Eve’s downfall came because she listened to what the devil in the garden told her. He appealed to her sense of self and suggested God didn’t really love her. He does the same to me, and when circumstances seem to back him up and my thoughts go there instead of to the promises and character of God, I fall into a pit of discouragement — but not for long as God reminds me again who I am and that I belong. Today He reminds me that the wrath I deserve has been put on my tormentor who wants to walk all over me. The Liar is defeated — by the blood of Christ, by my declaration of faith, and by no fear of death. And get this, he is coming at me, and at the people of God in great fury “because he knows that his time is short.” 

In the mind of God, ‘short’ could mean soon or a thousand years. No matter. The Liar knows that Jesus wins and just those two words erase his accusations and replace them with a hallelujah!

Jesus, just forgetting truth for a moment is awful and the perfectionist in me thinks it is a terrible sin. As I confess my frailties, You are right here to encourage with just the right words for a rebuttal to his lies and nastiness. He can appeal to my human selfishness, hit me where I am weak, twist my emotions with many unexpected events, and side-track me with nonsense, but he cannot defeat You or the blood that You shed for me, or the faith that You planted in my heart. He is also powerless against all fear. For You did not give me a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7). May Your Spirit continually remind me that “Jesus wins.”

 
 

Faith Tested again…

All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:1–7)

Life is filled with tests of faith. Will I trust God in this situation or myself? The above passage is about fear of dying that led to a quarrel because the people were not trusting God to care for them. My fear today was not about water or dying, just about what people might think of my lack of social skills. It is part of an ADHD/Autism thing.

Today a group of quilters arranged a trip to Ronald McDonald House. I didn’t want to go, not due to a lack of interest but I’m not sure I know how to do a tour. I’m in my eighties and do not remember ever being in one. I feared doing and saying things that were not appropriate. And I kept arguing with myself about going and finally said, “Lord, show me what to do.” 

The bus would leave at 10:00, not giving me a lot of time. When I sat at my desk at 9:00, the top page on a stack of old calendar pages I use for scrap was out of place. Before putting it right, I turned it over and it said, “Do the things you fear. . . .” offering reasons why. It was not the Bible, but it echoed it:

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:13–17)

Therefore I went, determined not to trust myself or listen to me, instead. And like a child with her hand in daddy’s hand, trusting God and speaking only when He prompted and I knew it was Him. Turned out the tour was a great experience in an incredibly well-run place. 

Jesus, I so often feel like a helpless child, but do not need to be fearful. You hold my hand and whisper in my ears and draw me close, giving me words to say, or not. After weeks of being ill and confined, entering normal life isn’t to be feared, even if it comes with an exam. Thank You for enabling faith.

 

Defeating Fear

In talking with someone about her fears, I’m prompted to think about my own. I’m not afraid of mice, spiders, or someone breaking into my house. Sometimes I think about losing my husband or others dear to me. I would not welcome the destruction of fire. Most of my fears are incidental and short-lived, like the fear of saying the wrong thing and messing up a relationship, or losing my memory which would make life more challenging. 

Today’s reading comes from a book on everyday prayers. The author quotes a verse that deals with bigger fears:

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Revelation 12:10–11)

Because Jesus died for me, and because I believe it and say so, and because I am not fearful of dying (maybe just the unknown process), I can affirm that while the shenanigans of Satan often take me by surprise, lack of fear conquers his accusations and efforts to turn me from faith. Most of the time. For if they do, my Jesus is determined to rescue me.

Yesterday, a strange thing happened. I don’t always blame the devil for all problems for not all of them are directly related to his lies, but if they divert me from trusting Jesus, he’s usually in there with some sort of accusation to provoke fear. This time it was unexplained pain.

We walked a lot on Sunday. Monday began okay but by lunch time my right heel tendons were swollen and so painful that I couldn’t think of anything else. Walking was difficult. Nothing eased it except putting my foot in a bucket of ice cold water, but even that didn’t help much.
How is this related to the devil’s schemes? Pain turns my thoughts to self, usually self-pity. This time it made me wonder if it would heal and go away. I know people who are in pain all their lives. How much would this stifle all my plans for even the next few days? Thinking of these things was not obsessive as the pain was so bad I couldn’t think of much else, but this morning, reading this verse and the prayer, reminded me of my real enemy and his tactics. The prayer author wrote:

Dear Lord Jesus, even as these words first thundered from heaven by a loud voice, so shout this good news into my heart today. What a focusing and freeing perspective on spiritual warfare. We live in the “now” of your salvation, power, kingdom, and authority, Lord Jesus—not the “not-so-long-from-now” but the now. You’re calling us to warfare, not war-fear.

He then quoted Martin Luther and the last line of the quote tells me how, in this situation, I can fight with a word of testimony — even alone in my house, I can sing the praises of Jesus, the Prince of Peace who has gloriously triumphed over the Prince of Darkness!

I might not have the ability to remove pain, but I can remember the One who defeated the Liar and did not shrink from death that I could be set free from its fear. I overcome because of Jesus, and fears get replaced with deep joy. Jesus empowers His people from all darkness in our hearts and all the fears that Satan tries to put there. Not only that, even though he prowls around looking for those he can devour, You have him on a short leash. 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, as the author of this book of prayers says, I can overcome, not by my muscle or even positive thinking, but by your mercy. Your Word says that the Holy Spirit can and will declare the gospel so loudly in my heart that it drowns out Satan’s constant efforts to keep me from trusting You. You are stronger and Your way of victory is greater than all his schemes. For that, I am humbly grateful. Amen!

Fear is not from God

Some who consider themselves Christian are in constant turmoil about matters of faith. For example, the author of “God is Enough: Inspiring Words of Christian Affirmation for Every Day of the Year” assumes that all Christians struggle to believe God and are not “comfortable” in their religious life. After some research and a great deal of Bible study, I’ve come to the conclusion that if that is true, then the most important ingredient missing is relationship. Jesus said:

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Whether Jesus is speaking or not, they are not listening to Him and therefore not experiencing the life that comes from His lips to their hearts.

I cannot know what others are hearing. I only know that God reveals to me, through His Word, the thoughts and intents of my heart. Sometimes this revelation is instant, before any choice is made. Sometimes I make the wrong choice and hear Him speak after that to show me my error and need to confess the sin of paying attention to the world, the flesh, and/or the devil. Either way, the revealing comes from Him. It might be through reading the Word, hearing it preached, or the Holy Spirit bringing it to my memory. Again, either way brings forgiveness and cleansing… and the freedom of knowing what He told me is true. It may have been “don’t do that” or “you did that - agree with Me and repent” but He does His saving work through His Word.

This week I was told of someone who believes in Jesus but is in constant anxiety and fear. This flies in the face of how many times “do not fear” is repeated in Scripture. It might as well say “do not sin” because the NT says: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

Since fear is not from God, it is not for me or any of His people to accept. Instead, His power, love and spiritual self-control are ours when we confess we have that sin of fear and He cleanses us. (1 John 1:9)

I’ve no idea what makes others anxious but I get that way when I think I have to do something that is too difficult (fear of failure), or when I look at things I can see — which may or may not reflect what God is doing (lack of faith). The Bible lists a few more sources of fear and some hints for a solution as well as the need to confess it as sin.

Fear of Exposure: And (Adam) said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10)
Lacking Love: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)
Death: 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. (Hebrews 2:14–15)
Trusting Self over God: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
Failure: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Lacking Faith: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:7)
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

God promises to take care of me. Not believing He will and letting fear dominate flies in the face of this promise and is an insult to His Word, the very Word that gives me life. It is better to say: “I am fearful and need help” than to think that my fear is so great that even God cannot remove it.

PRAY: Healthy fear? Maybe an approaching lion or another danger to avoid, but it grieves me to see fear govern lives instead of the promises You make and the power of Your presence. Fill me with Your peace and set free anyone who is in bondage to fear, regardless of the cause — for You are the cure!

Lack of Faith?

A friend told me that she was raised in a religion of rules and although she knows and believes the gospel, she struggles with “being good enough” and with believing that God hears and answers her prayers. Even though there is spiritual fruit in her life and she does trust Jesus for salvation, she is in constant need of affirmation regarding almost everything else that God promises.

 Today’s reading is written with the same attitude. The author says, “We have failed to believe that God is the God of all comfort — It has seemed too good to be true” and uses terms like “our poor suspicious natures” and being frightened about the promise of His comfort“ — all ideas that are foreign to faith. This author even suggests this attitude comes from a tendency to consider God as a “stern, unbending judge, holding us at a distance and demanding our respectful homage as He criticizes our slightest faults.”

At the end, the reading says, ‘But I rejoice to say that that stern judge does not exist.” Which is also not true. He exists. However, He poured out His wrath on His Son that we might be recipients of His amazing comfort.

Of course we are not good enough. Ever, never. Jesus is our righteousness. The gospel is our primary comfort because Jesus died for my sin, all of it…

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1–2)

While the Bible is filled with commands to “fear God” these are about awe and worship for those who trust Him, not the terror of being rejected. For Christians, that fear is not from God: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Later, it says one reason for such a fear:

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)

Fear comes when I forget the power and extent of God’s love, when I stop relying on the cross and put confidence in my own works — which are insufficient and never will do the job. That being true, why then fall into such a trap? The Bible speaks to that problem:

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

Human pride is at the root of thinking I can save myself or be good enough, and pride is most difficult to detect and even more difficult to confess. Pride does not want to say “I am not able” nor admit it — even to me, never mind God. Yet think of it; if I am not trusting God, why not? Like a petulant child, I’m thinking I can do it all by myself. And for that, the God of all grace is more concerned to deal with my lack of humility than to give me comfort over my fears and foibles.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, pride in me is a number one faith-destroyer, and a total insult to Almighty God. It breaks my heart to see it in others, but even seeing it in someone else can contribute to the same problem in myself. Guard my heart. I know I’m to humble myself before You and even rejoice in my weaknesses, for it is only then do I see the wonder of Your strength.

No fear of death

A close friend called Thursday evening to tell us that his wife went to bed the previous night, happy and healthy, and woke up with Jesus. A numbing shock, I struggle thinking what that loss is doing to him and their family. We know them well and share their pain.

How quickly life can change. No one knows when the end comes, or what will be involved, or even who is next. My emotions include a socked-in the-gut feeling. I try to think of the joy she is experiencing with seeing Jesus face to face, with life’s trials, sorrows and problems forever gone. Mixed in with that has been a tinge of fear. I’m 10-15 years older than she was. Will I be next? Am I ready for that? I know the verses:

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

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. (Hebrews 2:14–15)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)

Fear is not God’s will. It’s a symptom of a lack of faith, a failure to trust Him and believe that all He says is good and all He does is His very best for me. I don’t deserve His mercy and grace, but that is the good news of the gospel — “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) and what can I do to stop Him from loving me?

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39)

From this passage and others, the words “fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” do not refer to me being perfectly able to love others. They mean that I am perfected by knowing that God perfectly and eternally loves me. Nothing can change that, not even my mistakes and moments of resisting Him. He loved me when I didn’t believe. He loves me now. Whatever He has planned for me, it is for my good, not to harm me.

Our dear friend is with Jesus. Could there be a better place? Yes, we are grieving. Her family are in shock. Her little grandchildren will be confused and full of questions. But God loves us and He is with us, always, no matter what.

PRAY: Jesus, I know that dealing with death is part of living. Everyone is terminal, yet like every other human experience, walking with You makes a difference. You held our friend’s hand and gently took her home. The timing hurts but the method speaks of love and even shouts to never fear for You always do what is best. We cry out for comfort, yet also rejoice that You looked death in the face and conquered it — so we do not have to fear it, and we will see her again.

Out of my mind…

 
Two people told me they will not drive two particular highways because they are afraid of the speed and traffic on those roads. We drove both of them that same day without fear and it made me think about the way fear can keep me from doing some things, like para-sailing and mountain skiing.

However, the Bible says: “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) While I could excuse some fears about dangerous behavior, today’s devotional points to the power of thoughts. Fear might keep me from doing something foolish, but it can also keep me from enjoying the blessings of God. This passage comes to mind:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4–7)

Rejoicing in the Lord, living right before others, and praying about everything with thanksgiving is a formula for peaceful hearts. The very next verse show that having a peaceful heart is also related to how I think and how I let those thoughts govern what I do:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8–9)

Jesus said this about having a pure heart: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) yet He also said:

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34)

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. (Mark 7:21–23)

Clearly He connects what I think about with how I live. He even exposed hypocrisy by saying, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” (Matthew 15:8) He knew that our sinfulness can think evil but we can hide it by godly talk and even the appearance of goodness.

Many times, Jesus and the NT writers pointed to how we think. For example, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.” (Romans 12:17) In other words, think about doing good. It does affect my words and actions.

However, I realize the challenge of having good thoughts. I’ve often prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24) Besides asking God to show me stinking thinking, He gives this instruction about the battle for good thoughts:

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:3–6)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

PRAY: Thank You Jesus for giving me Your mind and your Word so I can dwell on good thoughts. Recognizing contrary thoughts can be subtle, like James 2 illustrates regarding prejudice, but with the power of the Holy Spirit, You can help me give thought to my ways (Proverbs 21:29) but also give thought to my thoughts. Enable them to be true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and about what is worthy of praise, that You are glorified in my mind as well as in words and actions. Amen.

The Role of Emotions

The focus of today’s devotions is again on disregarding emotions and “the will being the real king’” that governs faith. This is too much negativity about devotions for the NT identifies two emotions being positive: joy and peace.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

These two emotions are from the Holy Spirit and are like green traffic lights. If they are not in my life or suddenly go missing, I know that I have business to do with God. His Spirit is no longer filling my heart and mind and I have sin to confess.

The joy of the Lord is a powerful emotion. If I am filled with the Spirit, that joy is present and deep, bubbling up inside of me even when circumstances and burdens are also present and deep. Peace is the same. It is from God and often makes no sense as its presence does not depend on circumstances either.

Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:5–7)

A Spirit-filled friend recently said to an anxious Christian, “Why pray when you can worry?” And this hit me as an apt reminder that God is about joy and peace. He is glad to give it to His children from deep inside, from His Spirit to our inner spirit where it flows out of us  — into our thinking and affecting our decisions. It is easier to obey Him when my heart is connected to His heart and feeling the wonder of His joy and peace.

I’ve noticed that some Christian denominations focus on one of the three parts of the human soul: intellect, emotions and will. For some, having accurate knowledge is most important. Others love to express their feelings, particularly in worship.

Others stress the value of the will. However, the Scriptures tell me that all three are God's and need to be yielded to His Spirit. He uses the human mind, forming ideas for service and to do good in this world. He uses our emotions to signal us to danger, action, and the state of our walk with Him. He uses the will to say YES to His commands. These three motivate my body to get off my duff and do what He tells me to do, thus involving my body. In walking with Jesus, all of me is engaged. If I ignore my emotions, then joy means nothing and peace is only a state of mind, not a guard for my heart and mind or an indicator of what is going on in my spiritual life.

While the NT says, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7) it also says, “Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.” (Colossians 3:22). Both verses use the same root word for fear. Fear of people will result in being unable to love others and tell them about Jesus. A denial of fear can result in not fearing God. Dismissing that emotion is not wise. Being aware of what comes from God and what comes from the flesh is important when it comes to fear, even though it seems negative.

PRAY: Jesus, You tossed the money changers out of the temple, wept at the death of Lazarus, and sweat blood in Gethsemane — all involved emotions. You also knew the hearts of others, remembered OT words, and obeyed all that the Father asked of You saying “Not my will but Thine be done.” You were fully engaged and the Spirit ruled in Your every thought, word, and deed. I want to be like You, always and in every part of me. Thank You that this is Your goal for me also.


 

Trusting Him and ignoring my feelings…

Note to readers: Every now and then my posts have typos or worse — like convoluted sentences that make no sense. They usually happen when I make a late evening post and am half asleep. My hubby notices them the next morning but too late for those who read them early in the day. So sorry! If that happens, please go back and read again as they do get corrected and I want to be clear rather than confusing!

I wish that I had read today’s devotional at least a day ago — I might not have been so anxious about the meeting yesterday! The devotional writer reminded her readers that God’s people learn that God is enough. Funny how your head can tell you that but fears and other emotions and experiences scream otherwise. The Bible says, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7) I should not let fear happen, but it did.

A good example for me is Job. He was in great trials and overwhelmed by lack of understanding. Why was God allowing all this loss and sorrow? Why did He not give comfort and assurance up front? Like Job, I was trusting God, yet not feeling the delight that goes with that trust. Job complained a great deal, however he did say this remarkable truth:

Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. (Job 13:15)

Other versions say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.” That was my thinking. This meeting could be a total disaster. I had a key role in it but feared no one would listen to me. But I was trusting God anyway, no matter what happened. The hard part was no joy in that trust — at least not until the day was over and He surprised me with the others who gave support for my thoughts and showed rejection of ideas contrary to sound practices. I did not expect such unity.

The devotional writer also points to David who said:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:4–6)

Did David write this before, during, or after his trials and the experience of God’s comfort? I don’t know Hebrew so cannot determine the verb tenses. However, in English this reads that David’s trust was based on both faith and experience. He knew he could trust God in the present and the future because of God’s past faithfulness. I should be more like David. He also said:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah (Psalm 46:1–3)

The NT says such faith comes by hearing — hearing the Word of God. I need to also be in the Scriptures more than I am, reading Psalms more often would be helpful.

Yet meditation is vital too. I’d recently read this NT passage and failed to apply it to my fears about yesterday’s meeting:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39)

PRAY: Lord God, my spiritual maturity has a long way to go to match my physical age. Yet age is not the issue. I need to think all the time that You are enough. No matter the trials and challenges, You do not fail. I can trust You to take care of all issues, no matter how huge or impossible they might seem to me. You will honor Your Word take care of me, just as You have promised.

Choose courage

 

This week I’m again reminded of the person who said to me, “As you get older, it must be easier to be a Christian.” Little did he know that as the challenges become more subtle, the reality of human weakness becomes more apparent. All that God requires of me so easily results in fear that I will not be able to do as He asks. While fear is not from God, it is strong enough to drop me on my nose and ruin my joy.

This week was like that. Too much on my plate, a long to-do list combined with an overwhelming sense of ‘I can’t’ made me want to sleep all day rather than tackle anything. Getting started on the most simple tasks became a huge act of the will. I realize much of this is a spiritual battle. I’m praying more, have had specific answers to very specific requests, and our spiritual enemy is striking back to stop prayer and faith in God.

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

In this verse, fear is about being timid, not having courage. The opposite is Holy Spirit power, God’s self-sacrificing love, and the ability to be wise with sound thinking and discernment. It says what today’s devotional says: victorious Christian living requires great courage. Most definitions describe courage as the ability to act regardless of emotions, even when feeling great fear. We easily apply this to a soldier in combat, yet it also applies to a Christian in spiritual warfare.

Add to that the emotions of getting older, of forgetting names of friends, of dropping things, of hanging on to railings in the fear of falling, of fearing inabilities that haven’t happened yet but could be next week. Some of these can make me fearful, yet God wants me to remember:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

I am no more weak spiritually now than I was when Christ saved me. Being weaker physically, even mentally does not change the way grace works. Jesus still says 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 12:9–10)

As I think about it, the weakness of aging is a good thing for it drives me to deeper dependence. The challenging part is feeling the fear but doing it anyway — a common definition of courage. However, the Bible says God links courage to obedience and to the peace that God gives when He is trusted and obeyed!

Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6–9)

You will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. (1 Chronicles 22:13)

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! (Psalm 31:24)

PRAY: Lord Jesus, Paul said, “It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” (Philippians 1:20) He knew he would go the way all of us go. As my hubby often says, we are all terminal. Fear of death is replaced by the anticipation of seeing You. Also, the fear of failure is replaced by the knowledge that You never fail. Trusting You is the issue, not relying on anything else when I’m being attacked as I grow older. There is nothing in Your Word that says I can ‘retire’ from obedience or excuse it because I don’t feel up to it. Forgive me for feeling as if I would like to quit when You are telling me to go ahead. Thank You for the courage You have given me in the past. Help me face spiritual battles and even mere daily responsibilities without retreat or compromise.

Read Daniel 3:1–30. Why were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego punished by King Nebuchadnezzar? How did God honor their courage? Besides ease and comfort, what else tempts me to worship and obey it instead of Jesus Christ?