Feelings are not reliable…

On my first solo visit to Vancouver, I took a train from the airport to downtown. It was an underground arrival and when I reached street level, I met a woman who was going to the same place I wanted to go so we walked together. After about three blocks, we realized we were going west when we needed to go east.

This is usual for me. My sense of direction often depends on the compass in the dash of my car, even when the sun is shining or I should have some idea what is north and south. I may strongly feel I’m going the right direction and if corrected, even feel as if the right direction is the wrong direction.

Spiritual blindness can be like this — a strong sense of right that is based on feeling rather than fact. Today’s devotional puts it in plain language: “The foundation for the assurance of faith is not what we feel but what the record is, not what our experiences are but what has been written.” My sins have been forgiven because God says so, and relying on what He says is vital. I can misstep badly and feel guilty. The only way to deal with that feeling is remembering and even repeating what God says and not let my feelings negate the truth of His Word.

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)

I can feel all alone, without anyone who cares for me. Yet the Lord said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5)

I can feel unloved and worthless, yet Jesus said,

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)
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
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. (Romans 8:35–37)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

I can look at myself and think I will never be like Jesus, but the Word of God says:

I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

No matter the depth of such negative feelings, God has an answer that counters them and pushes them where they belong. As it is said, if truth and lies are pitted in battle, truth always wins. Jesus did say, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31–32)

How important is Bible reading and Bible study? It sets God’s children free from false guilt, doubt, false teaching, and negative feelings based on lies. That is good reason to read and know what God says!

PRAY: Jesus, You are the living Word and Your words are written to give me eternal life and the assurance of Your love and blessing in this life. Yesterday was only one example. I woke with great fatigue and trusted Your promise to renew my strength as I wait on You. And You did. Your truth wins over, even when the strongest wrong ideas and feelings are trying to throw me down. I’m so thankful!

The greatest satisfaction

A friend asked for prayer. She is being mistreated at work and yet other jobs do not seem open to her. At the same time, she wants a better job and to be happy at her work. This happened once before. She abandoned her job for something she liked better, but again is not satisfied.

I’ve been praying about this even though I told her that the Lord usually does not tell me His will for others. This is for her to seek. She says she is, but her desire for change and to get out of the situations at her current work are strong. I’ve not had the same experience but realize how strong “I-wants” can render me somewhat deaf to the Lord’s voice and instructions.

Thoughts came to mind. One was from these verses:

But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27–36)

Of course this is impossible without being filled with the Spirit and relying on Christ. But would these commands go over her head? Perhaps. Then today’s reading made one statement and my heart said a hearty ‘amen’ to this:

Nothing can really satisfy the hunger of the soul but Christ.

How true — and it hits the heart. When I’m dissatisfied or complaining about my lot in life, what is it that I really want? Is it change? We go look at the lovely lottery homes each year and sometimes I’m so taken with one that I want to win it. But is that what I really want? I finally figured out that what appeals to me is the lack of clutter, the simplicity of decor. I need to purge the place I am in rather than move to another house that has no clutter — I would just clutter it up and want another house. Besides, being content is a vital part of faith.

My friend wants to be happy in her work, joyful with her lot in life, yet I know as the writer of today’s devotional reading knows, that the deepest joy in life is not about a job, or anything else. It is about feasting on Jesus, receiving our joy and the ability to be content from Him, regardless of our situation. He says…

“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)

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (Philippians 4:11)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

PRAY: Jesus, You are the source of joy and contentment given to us from Your Holy Spirit as we rely on You and are filled with Your Spirit. If I turn to what I think I want or need, satisfaction and contentment elude me and all Your children. My prayer for my friend is that she seeks You rather than running to whatever appeals to her. Any delight will not last until she turns again to You as the only One who can satisfy her soul.

Burdens from God — or me worrying?

 

Over the past few weeks I’m realizing the difference between spiritually-motivated Christian living and that which is from the old nature trying to be godly. Oswald Chambers says, “Every element of self-reliance must be slain by the power of God. Complete weakness and dependence will always be the occasion for the Spirit of God to manifest His power.”

What comes in to counter that power from God? The world says I’m to have self-confidence. I’m to be sure of myself and trust my abilities and judgment, moving forward in everything with an assurance that I can do it without any problem. God says:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

If I don’t conform to the ideas of the world about confidence and instead discern the will of God, what can be expected? Here are some things:

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)

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. (1 Corinthians 12:4–6)

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)

So much for the wisdom of the world. And the above verses also apply to my so-called confidence in my old nature with its sinful ways of thinking. Jesus adds this just to make sure I’m not putting my confidence in me:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4–5)

What about the lies of Satan? I once did a Bible study through much of the NT where I read the truth God says, then pondered the lies that counter it. For instance, God says this… but the enemy says this…

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (John 15:9–10)

God does not love you the way you want to be loved. He sent his son to be scorned and die; is that love? You don’t need to accept that because if you do, you are going to wind up like Jesus and suffer.

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

God wants you healthy, wealthy and wise. Work hard to make money. Let your lack of contentment drive you. That lack is just more evidence that God does not love you or want the best for you. He is busy with other things and not  even with you because he does not care about you.  

There are many ways to illustrate the lies, but only one way of exposing them; read the Word of God and believe it, keeping sin and doubt confessed and trusting the truth of God. Be spiritual disciplined but not trusting me — only Him. He is the Savior; I am not.

PRAY: Jesus, this day I am bombarded with things I could worry about. Family members who are suffering, Christians who are tangled up in worldly and fleshy thinking, unsaved neighbors without interest in you, and more responsibilities that I can handle. Abiding in You seems difficult. Fruit-bearing? Where is it? Yet the weakness I feel indicates there is power lurking. Enable me to keep trusting You, no matter what the world or my flesh nags me about, and enable me to sort lies from truth so I can live in Your power and not worry about anything.

Contentment begins with thankfulness

Life’s experiences can become life’s habits. My adult children speak of an inner desire that wants to move to another place — something they grew up doing. I’ve moved more than thirty times and this same urge hits me now and then. Usually I solve it by moving furniture or purging unused stuff so that my space seems like a new space.

However, what to do when that inner desire persists? When moving is not practical and yet the yen for it remains, almost creating a sorrow of discontent? To that question, God gives a simple answer. It started with a small story of a man who stood on a high peak in the mountains watching a storm below him. Then an eagle soared up through the clouds towards the sun. The rain’s  water glistened on its wings in the sunlight. The man realized that if the storm had not raged, that eagle would have remained in the valley and he would miss seeing the beauty of its escape into the heights. He also thought how the sorrows of life cause us to rise towards God.

After years of not moving, I must have thought that I had given up the yen to move, yet it hit this past few weeks, but been thwarted over and over. My space needs no changes except to declutter, but that is not helping remove the habit of a life of constant change. Even though the song says, “He will break every fetter,” I feel a slave to this restlessness. Yet God’s Word warns me that yielding to Jesus will break every form of slavery.

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)

It also tells me again that I have died to sin and must live for Jesus, not my desires, but His:

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

The only use of the cross in Scripture is about being put to death, not to keep alive. When Jesus told His disciples that they could not be His disciples unless they took up the cross, He could not have meant that they were to find it hard to do His will. He was expressing that they must be made partakers of His death and resurrection as the old nature was crucified with Him. They must now live  in the resurrection life of the Holy Spirit.

I do not crucify self by accepting my lot in life and being miserable with it. A painful self-sacrifice is not “taking up the cross” but is instead counting the stuff of the flesh and my old nature as utterly worthless and fit only for death.

We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. (Romans 6:6)

Then the Bible gives me this:

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. (Philippians 4:11)

But godliness with contentment is great gain, (1 Timothy 6:6)

But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (1 Timothy 6:8)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Being content is what God wants from me. He may offer a move, but not because of my desire. It has to be His will. If that never happens, I must be content with whatever He does.

PRAY: Lord, my time with You this morning was interrupted with a phone call. After a stressful day,  I am so thankful that my hubby was not seriously hurt when hitting some ice and taking a hard fall. Prayer time with others also was a blessing because we recognized Your presence and care for us. I slept a long time this afternoon, another thank You. All of this makes full yielding to Your will much easier. The cross is not always heavy — because You are with me and help me deny my I-wants and instead be content and thankful.

Guard Thoughts

That computer saying ‘garbage in, garbage out’ is sometimes applied to the human mind. If I watch X-rated movies, read garbage novels, listen to sorrowful music, and so on, my moods and behavior will be affected. God knows this and tells me:

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. (Philippians 4:8)

Satan knows it too. One of his tactics is to get my mind off what Christ has done and is doing for me, and think about negatives, like bad things that happen, injustice, impurities and  ugly stuff that is not worth the effort, and any of his lies about everything. He wants me complaining and looking at my failures with huge doubts that I am a Christian. This is why one piece of spiritual armor is a helmet: “Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God . . . .” (Ephesians 6:17) Protect what goes on in my head!

The Roman soldier’s helmet was designed to deflect blows aimed at his head — especially the potentially lethal blow of a broadsword that could crush his skull. To protect us from Satan’s crushing blows, this piece of armor is vital lest we start thinking his way instead of relying on the Word of God.

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. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

The helmet of salvation is described as “the hope of salvation” implying that Satan’s most powerful blows are directed at the believer’s assurance and security. As a new Christian, I struggled a bit with the idea that I was not a Christian because Satan tricked me into measuring myself by my failures. Later, he pushed into my head any concept that took me away from God’s promises.

However, God persisted to show me that I am secure in Christ. He used His Word to help me keep my head on straight with verses like these:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27–28)

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:29–30)

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

He also used this logic: eternal life is eternal, meaning it has no ending and cannot be taken away. Also, my salvation was not based on my performance, thus my performance cannot change the fact of it. Repeatedly, the love of God assured me that I belong to Him. This security did not produce a silly ‘I can do whatever I want’ but a desire to be more like Christ, more like He called me to be. This is why I can say the enemy cannot rob me of the joy and assurance of knowing I belong to Christ. I might slide sideways now and then, but the Lord will never let me go. All discouragement and doubt are deflected by knowing I am secure in Christ. This is the point of wearing armor!

PRAY: Jesus, You are the eternal God who makes me eternally secure. You hold me in Your hand and declare I am part of Your Body. You also said that You keep all that the Father gave You. You live forever to intercede for me. Your salvation is complete, based on Your love and sacrifice. You died for me even when I was still a sinner, and You will finish what You started. One day I will stand before You face to face and be like You because that is Your promise to me. I praise You for this amazing eternal security!

PONDER: again John 6:37–40 and rejoice that my God has done this for me and for all His children.