A remarkable series of events…

After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and. . . . he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar. . . .  therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” 
And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.” 
When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: “ ‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. (Acts 28:17–31)

Paul made choices as the Spirit directed and wound up sharing the gospel with many more people than he would otherwise. He risked the trip to Caesar and God blessed his obedience with many opportunities with people who otherwise would not hear about Jesus.

As I watch world and local news, much of it about tragic events and suffering, I know that what God is doing will not be aired, mostly because the average person does not see it that way. However, since these verses are true, I know that God is using hard events for good reasons.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 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. (Romans 8:28–29)
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)

So whatever hits me and seems bad, hurts, brings sadness or great discomfort, God can use for good, but not just my good — if I imitate Paul. He experienced many hardship yet in it all, he told others about Jesus.

Oh Lord, enable me to be not only alert to opportunities, but to Your voice and follow up with loving obedience. The world is filled with sorrow and fear of death because so many have no idea what or when they will face trials or even death. Your news is good news — all because You died to set us free from guilt of sin and rose again to free us from fear of death. Oh the wonder of how You do it — using what we call terrible events.

 
 

God’s ways are not our ways. . . .

And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.” And the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. He was of the royal house in Edom. (1 Kings 11:9–14)

Trials are part of life. Some of them are allowed to test my faith and build it, making me more mature:

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)

In contrast, some trials are God's way of chastening me for errors in my thinking that are rooted in selfishness. Both are important activities of God as He uses everything for my good, that I might be more like Jesus.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 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. (Romans 8:28–29)

Those trials to correct are almost always a surprise. I didn’t realize that I was wrong (stubborn and stupid?) but this was not the case for Solomon. He was warned about idolatry and did it anyway. This meant severe chastening from an enemy that had previously escaped death when David and his army of men destroyed the people of Edom.

In some ways, this Edom/Israel is a centuries-old conflict. Edom is where Esau lived, the twin of Isaac who had little interest in God or godliness. For generations, the descendants of these two men have been in conflict. If they are seen as types, they would point to the Christian battle between flesh and Spirit, a war often at the root of struggles in my life and a war often involving idols — or to put it bluntly, a war between me, myself and I and the Spirit of God. The only way to win it is by yielding my I wants to the will of God. 

Solomon started out by yielding to God, but was turned aside by idols. Ironically, Hadad was also the name of an idol, and of several kings of Edom. God was using this enemy to chasten this ‘wise’ king. Could it be that a trial to rebuke me is somehow connected to the reason I need the rebuke?

Jesus, Your wisdom and understanding always seem to use the events of life to match up and speak to my needs, even to use as shaping and correcting me. I am amazed at You, and even rejoice that You can use enemies to glorify Yourself in the lives of Your children. I’m glad that nothing is impossible for You.

God says keep going…

 

When looking at my quilts or talking to a non-quilter at a show, I often hear, “I don’t have the patience to quilt.” I sometimes think, “How then will you get patience?” But I don’t say it. God tells me how to grow in patience, but most of us don’t like His method.

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)

What does it mean to be patient? The Bible uses patience, perseverance, endurance, and steadfastness to describe God. He patiently withholds judgment for a time and allows for repentance and salvation He uses this to define people who are reliable, faithful, and true to the end. Jesus was steadfast. 

Trials produce this quality using these English words to describe the ability to trust God no matter the situation. In other words, patience is not about a quality needed to produce a desired result. It is about the quality needed to wait on God for the desired result — and God does not stitch up my quilts.

I’ve given much thought to this idea of needing patience even to create something. Would the word “motivation” be more suitable? And to go deeper, would “love” be better? In the context of raising children, a parent needs patience to keep teaching them. Love desires that they become responsible, well-behaved adults. As for quilt-making, motivation can vary. For me, it is the desire to show the recipient that they are loved. I’m also created in the image of God so creating something useful and hopefully beautiful is part of who I am. Yes, it is often hard work and perseverance must replace procrastination, yet patience isn’t the biggest issue.

Actually, the alternative to patience is: “I want it now” and that statement tells me that I’m not mature — since maturity is often defined as the ability to wait for delayed gratification. Applied to quilting or anything else, it is the attitude of wanting something without having to do anything or without needing to wait for it. Interesting that the NT adds this as an addition to faith and part of my spiritual growth. I noticed that it follows another important word:

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5–8)

Self-control means selfish desires under control or selfishness yielded to the Lord, and a careful read shows this is part of becoming more like Jesus and better able to persevere or keep on. A person of faith shows lack of trust in God’s timing by always ‘wanting it now’ instead of being patient with God.

That said, making quilts for me can be a patient-developer only if I’ve lost my original motivation to show God’s love to people. Then it is just another chore on my to-do list. Instead of that happening, perseverance and all that is required in the process helps me realize that if my list is just  ‘more chores’ motivated by duty instead of love.. Even housework or grocery shopping can be done out of love for others. Changing the motivation for why I do them makes a huge difference in my attitude while I do them. 

Impatiently wanting anything ‘done and over with’ is a faith matter too. I am not trusting God when I get upset with not seeing the results of what I have asked Him to do:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Quilt making has helped me keep my eyes on the promise (the finished project) even when it is unseen. I don’t need to have the end result in my hands to keep going, just as I am learning that I don’t need to see the resolution or answer to all my prayers instead of keeping my focus on God’s promises. If anyone tells me they do not have the patience to quilt, maybe this could be an opportunity to ask about motivations for why we do anything?

PRAY: Jesus, patience is a big topic. You are a big God, otherwise I’d never keep going without the desires You grant me to do things, to meet needs and show Your love to others. May You persevere in granting me perseverance and the faith to keep on when the work is a challenge or those around me do not understand the reasons why I do anything You put on my heart to do. 

Patience

Last night’s Bible study raised an interesting question: why do we belittle “doubting Thomas” just because he said:

“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25)

How many times have we asked God to prove something by giving us what our eyes can see? After all, faith is defined this way: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)?

After some discussion, we determined that doubt is asking for proof in an attempt to build or reassure our faith or erase our doubts. However, God often answers prayer or does things we did not expect, giving us a faith-builder that was initiated by Him. There is a difference between asking for proof and Him giving us proof because He sees we need a boost.

As for doubt, it is related to impatience, like the child that wants supper now when supper has not finished cooking. Sometimes this is described to a human inability to deal with delayed gratification. This happens to adults too. We want something NOW.

Devotional reading this morning asks: Do I have the patience to wait on God’s timing? The Word of God describes the journey to patience this way:

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)

“Steadfast” means to endure patiently. It is a trait developed by having it tested by difficulties or challenges. Those tests usually start small.

For instance, when others learn that I quilt, they often say, “I don’t have the patience for that” meaning they want the quilt finished. When I started quilting, I enjoyed the process so much that finishing was often delayed. Now I’m very glad to have another one finished but have learned through making many quilts that the process is necessary. It also built my patience so I can persist on a project until it is done without being antsy about it.

The truth is, God patiently goes through a process to answer many of my prayers. He may give me a requested parking place in a few minutes, but when I pray for someone’s healing, or salvation, rarely do such things happen at the snap of a finger. He could do it that way, but takes time to soften hearts (or build immune systems) in respect to human situations. Not everyone is like Saul, who was persecuting Christians when God confronted him and changed his life. It seemed like an instant zap, and so did my salvation — at least to observers. No one could see the preparation going on in my heart for many years.

God’s process begins by convincing a person that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. But then they hear that they are sinners who need Him. That is a common parking place, but some admit it is true and find out that He loves them enough to die for their sin. If someone resists any of those things, He comes to them in different ways, always looking for a change in their hearts at whatever stage they are in so they can move toward Him.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Thomas doubted that Jesus was alive. When I pray for someone and nothing seems to be happening, I could doubt that God is at work, but the entire Bible declares otherwise. I just cannot see it, like Thomas doubted until he saw Jesus. Basically, this man was saying to the other disciples, “I hear you tell me but I need to see Jesus for myself.” That sounds less like doubt and more like what Jesus wants for everyone — not to believe on hearsay but believe in Him because of a personal and very real encounter with Him.

PRAY: You are telling me again to be patient. I want what You want and I know that You could speak and make things happen instantly, but like most instant stuff in our world, it never turns out with the same power and potential as those things that take time to accomplish. I’ve been told not to pray for patience as it invites trials, but it also produces maturity. May Your will be done.

Delight in the Lord. . . .

 

Some years I’ve begun with a devotional guide that seemed promising but didn’t work for me. I have certain traits that are either addressed or encouraged by the author’s perspective. The one I picked for this year tends to encourage my tendency to be harsh about the sins of others instead of drawing me closer to Jesus. It required a lot of thought and rewriting to avoid that finger-pointing at others — instead of being convicted by the Holy Spirit and loving Jesus more and more. I don’t want to encourage any sinful attitudes.

So I switched today to “A Godward Life: Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life” by John Piper. This book is not a calendar devotional but written in 120 chapters. This means reading parts of a chapter for 2-3 days and hopefully the Lord will use it to speak to my heart and deepen my relationship with Him.

Piper begins with saying, “God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him.” This is a wonderful spark of light, so true and such a great way to begin a day. I can read a good book, eat a sumptuous meal, make a prize-winning quilt, entertain a group of guests, enjoy a concert, and be satisfied in a great many other activities, but glorify God as much as being satisfied with Him.

For one thing, He always does His part. He listens, guides, answers prayer. My part is to talk to Him, listen and do what He says, and glorify Him in all things — for He is the one who makes it happen. I cannot boast when I pray and He surprises me with His responses. He does it all: prompts the prayer and then does the work — and gives the joy.

It is so easy to boast, but pride in my part does nothing to give Him glory nor satisfies me the same as the glory of who He is and what He is doing. He wants me to do my part, and even in the most ordinary things, I can glorify Him. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31) all for His glory, not mine.

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)

 The bread of life satisfies. No hunger. The water of life quenches thirst. No parched anything. He gives abundant life, even in trials that He uses for my good and His glory:

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)

Only the Lord can bring good out of what seems not good. Knowing that and remaining joyful in trials gives Him glory. Think of it: the most evil deed of putting the sinless Christ to death produced the greatest good offered to humanity! What could be a greater satisfaction than knowing the One who died that I might escape the penalty and power of sin? There is no greater glory for Jesus than being totally delighted in Him in a deep, love-filled relationship.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, I rejoice in You this day. Yes, there are black places, sorrows, and great challenges, but You are here with me, holding me close, and making me smile. You are my greatest joy!

Even the demons believe. . . .

On my way home yesterday, I listened to part of a radio sermon. The pastor asked his listeners to imagine Satan being interviewed by a Christian church board. He was asked if he believed in God. As the Bible says: “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” (James 2:19) so Satan said, “Of course.”

He also gave the right answers to other questions, even that he would attend and serve in the church, but one question he refused to say yes to: “Will you yield to the lordship of Jesus Christ?” His ‘faith’ was not genuine. It was based on true concepts but without a change of heart toward who would be the boss in his life.

Today’s devotional lists the elements of true faith. I’m not certain how Satan would answer the questions suggested here, but my answers are vital for they determine the reality of what I believe.

True faith produces a heart truly before God that hates sin. When the Spirit of God changed my heart, my attitude toward sin changed. Yes, sometimes a temptation appeals to my old nature, but since faith came in, I often cry out ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!’ In at attitude of  repentance. Christ in my heart changes my heart concerning sin.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. (Psalm 51:1–4)

True faith causes the heart to bow willingly to Christ’s Lordship in all things. While doing things that God says does not make anyone a Christian, Jesus did say, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34) The entire book of James makes it clear that faith changes us to be obedient to the voice of the Lord.

Truth faith looks to Christ alone for all things. Faith not only strips away my attempts to a ‘do it yourself’ religion, but also teaches me to trust Christ for all things. I trust Him to save me but also to help me get through all challenges in life, to supply needs, to give me wisdom and discernment. When I neglect to do this, I’ve fallen into a walk in the flesh and things do not go well at that point. Lack of trust is incompatible with the abundant life of faith.

True faith will persevere and continue to believe regardless of circumstances. Faith even goes beyond perseverance to the rare condition of rejoicing in trials. In fact, trials help me become more steadfast:

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)

True faith produces a heart of sincere love for the people of God. False faith strives to produce love and pretends to love. But love is natural to true faith. Love for the brethren flows as naturally from the believing heart as water flows from a spring. If I struggle to care for others, then I know that I’m not trusting God in some way and need to repent. Real faith wants to be like Jesus, and Jesus died for sinners — totally the opposite of any lack of care.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. (1 John 5:1)

PRAY: Any time I falter in the qualities of true faith, it suggests I’ve been listening to the liar — and that is repulsive. Jesus, keep my heart alert to Your voice and grant me discernment to always recognized when I’ve strayed away from true faith to some facsimile that not only leads me into sin but dishonors You. I’m so thankful for Your saving grace and power!

God is in the chaos

The human idea of peace is that it must be outward before it can be inward, that all conflict and problems must be solved before we can feel okay. But the Lord’s idea is an inner peace that can exist in the midst of turmoil and can be triumphant over it.

Jesus is peace. He is in control of what happens in my life and His intentions for me are good. He tells me that I can have joy in trials:

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)

Right now, most of my ‘trials’ are heavy burdens that others carry or thing happening to other people that make me feel pain for them. Personally, my trials are nothing compared to most of them, yet when my stomach churns over these and personal issues, I need to remember where my peace and joy come from. When life is not going well (or even when it is) Jesus tells me to abide in Him.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:1–11)

Abiding is sticking with Jesus, remaining in a mindset of trust. As always, trust is hand in hand with obedience. I’m to do what He says, even when circumstances are screaming at me and life is very challenging. He gives me something to do also:

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 4:6–7)

PRAY: Jesus, getting older brings challenges, questions of how much time do I have, what are the most important things on that never-ending to-do list, who and what to pray for, and how can I deal with a myriad of distractions? Lots of ideas, days not long enough, many responsibilities, a sense of nothing being important and everything being important. Today, this over-burdened mind needs rest, but You know best what I need, so I will lay it all at Your feet and take You up on that offer of peace that passes all understanding. Please guard my heart and mind today. Grant clear direction and that amazing sense of You being with me in the chaos of life this day.

The Danger of being comfortable

Years ago someone told me that God helps in two basic ways. If I’m struggling in a rocky stream, He might remove the rocks, or He might deepen the water. I’ve noticed over the years that most prayer in troubled times asks that He removes the rocks.

Today’s reading defines comfort mostly as being comfortable without saying how God does it. Most of the examples describe ways He brings in something good that removes or replaces the distress. I looked up comfort and found that the Bible generally does the same, but with one exception. It is in these verses:

I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. (2 Corinthians 7:4)
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. (Psalm 94:19)

Both speak of comfort in affliction rather than the affliction being taken away. Paul knew joy, even in his turmoils, as did the psalmist during the many burdens on his heart. God’s joy is a comfort, even when the circumstances do not change.

Another verse brings out the danger of wanting to be comfortable all the time. I could miss what God wants to do in my life with trials.

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 not easy but possible. I have a friend who fell, broke both legs and her sternum, spent months in rehabilitation, yet was continually joyful. She was comforted by the Holy Spirit and comforted me with her attitude every time I visited her.

Another danger of wanting continual comfort is that it tends to make us indifferent to the sorrows of others. Someone once said, “I complained about my shoes until I met a man with no feet.”

C. S. Lewis wrote a book about Satan’s activities. He told one of his demons to keep his  prospect comfortable at all costs. If he should become concerned about anything of importance, then demon was to encourage him to think about his luncheon plans; not to worry, it could induce indigestion… “I, the devil, will always see to it that there are bad people. Your job… is to provide me with people who do not care.”

PRAY: Jesus, I’ve noticed in myself that when life is easy, I don’t pray or care for others the same way as I do when life is a challenge. Of the two meanings of comfort, being alleviated of sorrow or distress is desired, yet to be given emotional strength in that sorrow and distress means I will be more apt to honor You and rely on Your deeper water. From this, I am learning to trust Your judgement to do Your will rather than beg You to make my life easy.

Joy in Trials?

One wonder of salvation is that God loves us. John 3:16 says it concisely and states the proof of it besides. However, as today’s reading says, many of God’s children miss the extent of that love and fall prey to the testimony of their own doubting hearts. How could God care for me? Or how could God forgive me? Or why am I not sure of being loved?

A doubting heart is the result of listening to circumstances as well as defining love in human terms. For many, love is about feeling good. It is also based on the performance of others. When they do what is pleasing, love is easy, but if their actions are not comfortable, love does not come as easily — and the reverse is assumed.

Relationships enter the mix too. I might more easily love my children, warts and all, than I would love a neighbor who is nice one day and nasty the next. When God seems like He isn’t interested in my comfort, then I wonder if He loves me — that is, it I base my interpretations on human thinking. Note, this kind of thinking is subjective and based on my ‘I wants’ — meaning it is essentially selfish and sinful.

The love of God is not about making me comfortable, but it took awhile to learn that. My parent’s love was about meeting my needs, but also doing what made me happy. God wants me to be joyful, but His version is from the Holy Spirit and does not depend on comfortable circumstances.

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)

How is this even possible? Learning this takes years and some never learn it. Grumpy Christians? Yes, because growing in love is about faith, and faith is about hearing the Word of God, and if I stop hearing (not the same as merely listening), then I stop growing in faith and growing in love, the kind of love that Jesus has.

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. (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

So, what happens to change from being uncertain that God loves me to being so sure of it that I can be joyful in trials and love even my enemies? The answer is a bit of a surprise. A seminary professor told the class that if we could get Christians to speak what they know, that truth would become a greater part of their way of life. The NT puts it this way:

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 4:15-16)

Verbal testimony of known truth, including an attitude of love in speaking it, is God’s way of locking that truth and that attitude into hearts and lives. Being silent does not build faith, nor does acting in unloving ways build love — including the awareness that God loves me. Faith is solidified by saying what I believe.

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:10–11)

To put this in broader terms, sin will spoil faith and increase doubt, even doubt that God loves me. Not that He has stopped, but I have stopped thinking that He loves me. This begins a downward spiral into sorrow.

PRAY: Jesus, this is so helpful. The verses from James speak to me also about my attitude in this ‘trial of a various kind’ — the trial of moving and a million boxes. My brother moved when younger than I am now and said never to move when you are eighty. We laughed and are doing it anyway. But realizing that Your joy is possible no matter what, even if this is a lot harder to experience in total exhaustion. Remembering that You love us and are with us means a great deal. We see the evidence in many ways, including how You give us joy in this or any circumstance.

Surrender…

I once read of two alcoholics who were given faith in Christ and eternal life. They met twenty years later and one said to the other that he had been saved all that time and never once was tempted to drink again. The other man smiled and told him he had been saved all that time also, and never drank again, even though he was tempted every day. The question is: who had the greater victory?

This week, I spoke of a man who walks with a cane and has been pulled back from death several times. He is diabetic, has knee and hip problems, and moves slowly. However, when asked how he is doing, he is joyful and always says, “I’m fine.” We chatted about this and he agreed that there is a secret to joy — God gives it even if the pain is not taken away.

As I spoke of his attitude to others, one person said, “If he would just admit his pain then others would pray that he would be healed.” That statement shocked me. Again, who has the greater victory? The one whose life has no problems and is always comfortable, or the one whose life is filled with trials and they are filled with joy in spite of them?

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)

These verses and the Apostle Paul’s stories of his trials convince me that the greater victory is not total comfort or any other human or worldly source of well-being, but the grace of God that gives strength in weakness, and in fact, uses those who are weak as a testimony to His power and love. There are many ‘healthy and happy’ sinners, but a scarcity of Christians who can be joyful in trials.

I’m preaching to myself too. We are moving and that involves de-cluttering, filling boxes, shoving furniture around, and all sorts of work. I cannot pray that God will send a band of angels to do all that for us. However, He is guiding us through the process and giving us surprises each day. We offered several items for sale and those we thought no one would want were the first to go. Changes to the new place have been scheduled for the most convenient days, and business people who could not help us directed us to their competitors who could. Stuff like that. And strength for each day. When I purged some books, the Holy Spirit kept nudging me what to keep and what to pass along to others.

Being and feeling helpless is not my enemy. My enemy is the notion that I have to have everything working the way I want it to along with confidence that ‘I can do this’ but God works far more when I admit that I cannot and rely on Him.

PRAY: Lord, help the person who missed the point of joy in trials to see that yielding to Your will in trials is far more of a miracle than making trials go away. You faced the greatest trial, one that we will never experience, and sweat drops of blood at the prospect. Nevertheless, You said, “Not my will but Thine be done.” May You grant me the same willingness to press on, no matter what You ask me to do.

Patient in trials — for God’s glory!

 
A quote from yesterday sticks with me today. When Jesus told His disciples to pray “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” He revealed a most remarkable thing: His will done here gives us heaven on earth. It gave me a deeper longing to experience the will of God!

I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

When Jesus told His disciples that He had food to eat that they did not know about, they were thinking physical food, but Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work." (John 4:34)

Physical food is not only necessary for life but also enjoyable to eat and makes me feel satisfied. Oh, I can overdo it, eat too much, or eat the wrong things, or consume something that makes me feel ill, but generally food is a delightful part of life. (I’m thinking the chicken wings at the Mossleigh restaurant and the Lobster Bisque we had last Thursday, and countless recipes discovered and created in my own kitchen.)

And Jesus said that His food was to do God’s will! How incredible a description for something that a lot of people think of as sacrifice and a duty, even a giving up of enjoyment. This is the difference between “I must” and “I’d love to” — a delight in doing whatever my beloved Lord asks of me, not because of the perks of it, but because it is the heart of God expressed through me, the Hand in this glove, the reason I’m here.

Yesterday was stressful and lovely both. Stressed because my devotions were interrupted at least six times. The phone rang often. Someone dropped in. I needed a file from a government website and it locked me out several times. After three hours of trying, making calls, and waiting, the person online could not help, transferred me to another person, and I went through the process of proving my identity at least three times after their site kept shutting me out — three times in the same three ways for the same person on the other line! It was no fun at all.

But in the middle of the day, there was a lovely prayer time with two friends. Also, God gave me answers to moving issues that seemed to have no answers. An appointment that would add more stress was postponed, and my hubby did the supper dishes. This made the frustrations feel less stressful, but I still wondered what is the will of God in them? One thing comes to mind:

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)

I didn’t meet the stressful stuff with joy and steadfastness. I could excuse this with “I didn’t get enough sleep” or some other reasoning, but that isn’t the honest answer. My failure was more about wanting the day to be easy and my will to be done. God essentially let me know that His will includes interruptions (Jesus had lots of them) and other negatives — such as being misunderstood, no one listening,  the frustration of betrayal, and the weight of bearing the sins of the world, including mine. Yet it was His “food” to do the will of God, and He did it so the “world may know that He loves the Father.” (John 14:31)

PRAY: Jesus, You show me that putting up with the trials of life is not just about me learning steadfast patience. Doing Your will could have a far-reaching effect on those around me, so they can see Your love in action, even have a taste of heaven. Forgive me for my impatience of yesterday and grant me the ability to at least be patient with the stresses of life, or better yet, downright joyful — knowing that You can use this for Your glory.

God reveals His will — pay attention!

A friend soon faces surgery to fix a detached retina in his right eye. He had the same problem years ago in the left one. Why? I haven’t a clue. Another friend takes care of her husband as his mind changes daily due to dementia. What is God’s purpose in this? I haven’t a clue. Many families struggle as one or more children (or grandchildren) are prodigals running away from them and from God. Why? I’ve no idea why this is happening either, but I do know one thing:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 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. (Romans 8:28–29)

God uses all things, even trials, to transform my life. The Bible even says this about my trials:

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)

A difficulty or trial happens for at least two reasons. God may reveal great faith. When my husband fell in March, he sat dazed on a nearby bench and prayed that he didn’t know the why of this fall, but he accepted it as part of God’s plan for his life. One significant “good” thing is that he does not complain about his pain. He has a stress fracture and the pain goes away only when he is flat on his back, but he continues to take care of his responsibilities without moaning. This trial has resulted in steadfast trust in the Lord.

Trials can also expose sinfulness. Every time I have computer problems, my patience disappears. I am not only annoyed and frustrated, but lack peace and joy indicating the flesh is running things rather than the Holy Spirit. I also realize that this trial is exposing my sinful desire to be in control of things rather than trusting God and patiently dealing with that minor issue of life.

Today’s reading says that the story of Job is enacted in the lives of Christians. It says, “Mysterious providences darken and attempt to ruin the lives of those who have seemed too good to need such discipline. Even to ourselves come afflictions that we cannot understand, and Satan seems so busy in the matter that it is hard to trace the hand of the Lord in it at all. But His hand is in it nevertheless, and He overrules everything. No trial comes except by His permission and for some wise and loving purpose which perhaps only eternity will disclose.”

While most of us can identify with the puzzle of a trial and how easily we complain, I must not forget the rest of Job's story. Eventually God spoke to Job and this man realized that all his complaining and moaning about not knowing the reason for the trial was not an expression of his faith. In his troubles, he was to firmly hang on to the faith that he did have, expressed now and then, but not consistent. He did say:

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. (Job 23:10)

But he also complained that he didn’t know the why of it and God was not telling him. Then, at the end of the story, this man realized that he was not being true to his faith, and he confessed it saying:

I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted….  Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2–6)

God did not bring that trial on Job to punish him for sins committed. Instead, He used it to show him that faith wins. In this trial and his encounter with God, Job needed to realize this and stick to it. He also needed to confess his failure to do that. In other words, Job was not kept in the dark about why he went through such a severe trial. At the end of his story, God showed Job his attitude so he could confess his doubts, repent, and be restored.

PRAY: Jesus, I know that Your treatment of me is only a mystery for a time, a test to reveal my reactions. Will I trust You? Or will my sin nature fly into action? Do I honor You in the trial? Or do I stop trusting and take a nosedive? If You are revealing sin, You always reveal it to me so I can repent and become more like You. I may not know the reasons for the trials of others, but by grace, You show me  the ‘why’ of my experiences — even if it is just the need to pay closer attention to Your revealed will.

Jesus is Enough …

Yesterday brought a contrast that still makes me smile. On one hand, I was upset at being charged a great deal of money for something I did not want or order. On the other, God had me give away a great deal of money to help someone else. The first issue is still not settled, but because of the joy the Lord gave me about the second event, I just shrug my shoulders at the first one.

Today’s reading is about encouragement vs. discouragement. As the author says, it is easy to say the world is a mess, or even that my life is a mess or point to other Christians and be critical of their shortcomings and failures. While the mess is there and watching the news can be a huge downer, Jesus says:

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (James 1:2–4)

Some measure personal focus by a glass; is it half-full or half-empty? Others are either on or off, up or down, hopeful or downcast. We tend to be creatures of extremes. Yet I find that it is possible, in Christ, to be both at the same time. As a follower of Jesus, I can experience emotions opposite of what is normal for the events of life. For instance:

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)

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials. (1 Peter 1:6)

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. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7–8)

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. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

The negatives (or what I would normally think of as negative) are trials, grief, weakness, and losses, each having many variations. But in Christ there is an ability and a privilege to experience peace, hope, joy, a sense of God’s goodness and purpose, a deeper knowledge of Christ, even a different kind of grief at the death of loved ones. Jesus makes a difference.

In considering the whys and how’s of that difference, it seems mostly to be an eternal perspective, the opposite of “I want it fixed — now!” Trials produce patient steadfastness. I notice it when I am making a quilt. I used to grumble when a mistake had to be ripped out, but now think of it as part of the job and patiently pick out the erring stitches.

Weakness was also a pain, a kick to my pride, my desire to do all things well, not being unable in any way. The idea of being unable, or lacking power, or having some sort of impediment was not appealing, never mind a reason to boast, but God is teaching me that I am merely a limp and useless glove without His hand to move me… and to be glad about it, even boast that I’m only a hand.

I’ve lost much, everything from interests, opportunities, abilities, and most of all, family and friends. We have family that never return our calls, and family whose life was snuffed out way too soon. Grief happens, but in the grief, faith in the will and power of God sustains in ways that are unexplainable. He changes grief with His comfort becoming a fortress.

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)

PRAY: Yes, these things surpass understanding, yet Jesus, You are there in all of it and with me to make life an adventure and a joy, even with the struggles and mysteries of living it. Bless You always!

Discerning the enemy’s lies…

A few years ago I was being plagued by attacks from Satan, yet often was oblivious to the source of those lies or even that they were lies. God gave me a unique idea to help me be more discerning. When I read a passage of Scripture, I considered that the opposite of what it said would be this enemy’s way of challenging my faith. Doing this helped me recognize what was going on.

This seems an odd way to battle lies, but the NT says I need to be alert to any sort of false teaching and false teachers, and includes the ability of Satan to make himself look good:

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:13–15)

Here are some examples of God’s Word and how the enemy might twist 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)

Satan would say when I sin that I cannot really be saved and need to  keep every rule and law, and if I don’t, I will be condemned.

Even though God does not condemn forgiven sinners, He wants me to be like Him:

Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. (2 Corinthians 2:10–11)

Satan does not want forgiveness. He promotes resentment, retaliation, unnecessary confrontation, and battles between people. I’m not to be oblivious to the source of conflict and be ready to forgive rather than give in to his schemes.

Some of his schemes are blatant and easy to spot. Others are more subtle, such as his lies concerning this truth:

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)

Satan wants me to think that trials mean God does not love me, and that he has the upper hand. He hides any good purpose or benefit from being tested and tells me I am a failure and that my trials are punishment for my sins. He also suggests that I do something to get me out of all discomforting situations and avoid any submission to God’s purposes. His lies are designed to get my focus off the One who works all things for my good and to think only of myself and how to escape whatever is bothering me, or to blame myself for getting into this mess. Anything to keep me from trusting God to use it to build character and from focusing on the good that is coming.

Hindsight is usually clearer than what these situations suggest. The enemy wants me in a mess. Part of that mess is being so upset with things or diverted from truth that I quit trusting God, stop praying, and stop reading the Bible, even stop wanting to be with other Christians. Of course he does not want me to praise God or tell others about His goodness and His salvation plan. He will keep me busy with other things, not necessarily sinful in themselves but whatever will sidetrack obedience.

Two nights in a row I’ve had distressing dreams. They are vivid and related to life’s fears. Since God is not the author of fear, I know who is stirring my emotions. I also know this is a spiritual attack because the discomfort those dreams cause goes away as soon as I begin to praise the Lord. I cannot praise Him and doubt Him at the same time!

PRAY: Lord, the things I’ve been praying about are obviously not something this enemy wants done. He is aiming at my weaknesses and trying to stop me from trusting You. He is not very wise because weakness is when I trust You the most! I know that the weapons of spiritual war are the truths that You declare. Keep me thinking truth. I don’t want this enemy to interfere with hearing Your voice or with You hearing my heart. Lead me not into any temptation to quit, and deliver me from the evil one. May You be glorified.

 

His pruning knife usually hurts...

We once lived in California in a rented house with fruit trees in the yard. Born and raised in a colder climate, we knew nothing about caring for fruit trees. Thankfully, the rental came with a gardener. He cut the grass, removed the weeds, and pruned the trees.

Actually, I did have a chokecherry tree in my farm yard, but after a couple of years without seeing any berries, I took out library books and discovered the reason: it needed severe pruning. One book said to trim it so a good-sized bird could fly through the branches. I did. It seemed mean, but the next year this tree was loaded with fruit.

Jesus tells how my life is like that tree. Without pruning, fruit will be absent — and He is not talking about berries.

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)

Each item on this list is further defined in the NT showing how they go beyond normal human capacity. When I read 1 Corinthians 13, I know that I cannot love like that without the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the same with joy. Human happiness depends on circumstances but the joy of the Lord is present even during severe trials.

Besides this list, qualities such as humility, modesty, truthfulness, and purity or any other trait that appears in my life that would not normally be characteristic of me may also be a fruit produced by the Spirit in my attitudes and actions. I am aware of the difference between His work and what my old nature is like. Without Jesus, I am not patient, have little self-control, and pride is a constant problem. Without Him, I cannot be like Him. He says:

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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 15:1–5)

The pruning part I don’t like. It often catches me by surprise and takes no account of my desire or prayers to make it stop. God knows what hinders me and keeps at me with the knife of His Word and the circumstances of life until that branch is finally history.

His mercy is such that sometimes I don’t notice the knife. When I was a new Christian, I yelled at my kids way too much. I asked God to help me, and for a few months life went on, and then I noticed I wasn’t doing it anymore. That was painless pruning. Other barren branches take longer and have been removed through difficulties and painful methods. Yet in them, I’m learning. Thankfully.

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)

PRAY: Last night was a trial. I ate something earlier in the week that turned my digestive tract into a mine field. I don’t recall asking You to help me lose weight, but You know I wanted that. So You did it, not like I would have wanted. Greater measure of self-control would have been nicer than this shortcut. I know most people would write this off as food-poisoning and dismiss it, but You have been showing me that You are totally involved in my life and have reasons I may not see. As my mom always said, I’m learning that “I must need it or I would not be getting it.” For that, I thank You and am glad that all things work together for my good, to shape and prune me so I am more like You.

Trials have an amazing purpose

 
After eight hours of sound sleep, I woke up tired. A small thing compared to the many troubles in this world. We all face sorrow in life, wonder if God has forgotten us and why the world is in such a mess, even just our own portion of it. Reading today offers the fact that we live in a fallen world that is ruined by sin. Sometimes it is our own sin, but the reading says “more often than not it is one of those things” and many are affected by it.

Yet we have a sovereign God who promises to use all things for good in the lives of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). That does not say all good things, but all things. He even says:

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)

My mother said it too. Her version: “We must need it or we would not be getting it.” She set me up to accept trouble rather than fight them or pray to make them go away. This has not been automatic though. It takes time to realize that even though trials come, God still reigns. He is able to use even the greatest trials as He transforms the lives of His people:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1–5)

And sometimes He does deliver us. When I am thankful and obedient in trials (another difficult lesson) He keeps this promise:

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” (Psalm 50:14–15)

As I think of troubles in the world, how would I learn the love and power of God if everything was perfect? I call myself God’s spoiled brat as it is! He wants me to be like Jesus, so He allows me to experience whatever will help me “know how to be brought low, and know how to abound.” In any and every circumstance, I must learn the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need so that I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:12–13) Otherwise, I’d be a wimpy brat as well as one spoiled.

PRAY: God, You always offer comfort in the midst of trouble. You do not always rescue me but You do provide grace and strength in it. You also assure me that at the end, all will be made right. In the meantime, You use trials as discipline, or to give me a deeper revelation of Yourself, and to transform me into the image of Your Son. I know that You always do what is right, even if I cannot see it. Whatever comes my way, I can be sure of this: “The eternal God is my dwelling place, and underneath are Your everlasting arms…” (Deuteronomy 33:27) for I have learned that in whatever situation I am to be content because I can do all things through Jesus who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11–13). Thank You!

What happens when I abandon doing it my way

 

Today’s devotional offers more on the difference between law and grace. Most of them contrast what law asks for and what God gives. For example, the law demands holiness while the gospel gives holiness. The law says do; the gospel says done. The law places the day of rest at the end of the week’s work; the gospel places it at the beginning. Under the law, salvation has wages; under the gospel, salvation is a gift.

Our big problem is waiting. Some of what we hope for is not instant. I pray, sometimes for years, yet see no answer. Will I take matters into my own hands? Not a good idea. Abraham and Sarah did that, producing a son from her handmaid whose descendants are still trying to destroy the descendants of the son that God gave later.

Waiting on God is difficult. Not only that, He produces patience by trials.

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)

And those trials are a huge temptation to take matters into our own hands, even asking God to remove them rather than yielding to their purpose. Yet in yielding, we have power with God because our prayers eventually bear fruit, and almost always in surprising ways. If the flesh insists on personal comfort and God relents, I will miss the surprise and the joy of experiencing God’s sufficiency.

So what else is in it for me if I yield to God? Faith is about knowing what cannot be seen. In yielding, I will not have a clue — but I will have the promises of God. Is that not a great something? This verse seems to refer to physical battles, it also points to the abundant life that Jesus gives:

And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go. (Jeremiah 45:5)

Oswald Chambers says, “This is the unshakable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him” for what more does anyone want than their life? He adds, “’Thy life for a prey’ means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life, nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in the show of things, not in the way of property and possessions, but of blessings. All these have to go; but there is something grander that never can go—the life that is ‘hid with Christ in God.’ ”

Chambers says the test is in how we question God with suppositions, asking ‘what about this’ which reveals that I’m not trusting Him with all things. The opposite is thinking no more about what God is going to do after I ask Him to do something.
This week, two large issues involving people with mental health issues had me praying until I reached a place of trusting the Lord to take care of them. When that happened, I was surprised to be no longer thinking about them and their problems. Not that I ceased to care, but that I ceased to worry. I can hear Him saying, “I got this” and am now waiting to see what happens.

So abandoning anything to God means no more questions or ‘what if’ thoughts. Chambers says that people get tired because their life is not seen as given to them by Jesus. He adds, “When you do get through to abandonment to God, you will be the most surprised and delighted creature on earth; God has got you absolutely and has given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience or a refusal to be simple enough.”

PRAY: Jesus, forgive me for actually being worried that I have no concerns and thinking that means I don’t care — instead of recognizing the peace that comes with giving all my worries to You. Certainly Your yoke is easy and Your burdens are light. You are taking care of the things that I abandon to You so I don’t need to be anxious. The gospel says Your peace will guard my heart and mind, and this peace is greater than my understanding! How incredibly easy to worship You!

Faith overcomes trials and temptations

A friend usually has good theology, but sometimes struggles with living it out. This person easily memorizes Scripture and can quote entire passages, but has a gap between that knowledge and its application, often without realizing it.

I know this problem. The spiritual gift of teaching is about gathering information and sharing it with others. The flesh tosses in the problem of thinking just because I know it, then I have it. Sometimes the gap is explained as head knowledge rather than heart knowledge, as if the mind grasped a truth but the inner person missed the point of it, or didn’t connect it to life. A reason? The old nature of a teacher is proud of knowing things, and that pride stands between knowing and doing? Whatever the reason, this is addressed by the NT:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22–25)

Hearers with a desire to share easily forget to act, likely to go on in search of new information. This is opposite to doers, even though those who are quick to act also have problems. They sometimes see needs and jump into doing something without first seeking God’s will.

That said, Jesus is my Savior and uses all things to change my fleshy reactions and spiritual motivations to doing what pleases Him. He wants me to be like Him rather than wanting glory for myself, or to simply ignoring what He is trying to tell me.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 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. (Romans 8:28–29)

One of the ‘all things’ is temptation. While God is not the author of it, He does use it…

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:12–15)

God has the uncanny ability to used temptation against itself, first as a revelation to show me any attitudes and desires that need confession and certainly any actions that give in to those attitudes and desires. That means when I have a problem that could be a temptation to sin, God uses it to motivate faith and make the trial become an asset:

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)

Whether I call them trials, temptations, or tests, the negative stuff of life is about God revealing to me how much I need Him and need to trust Him. This makes faith the victory that overcomes temptation, turns trials into good things, and therefore grant me a passing mark on another test. As today’s devotional writer says: “We are nothing: Christ is all” and that means I am standing and walking by faith.

PRAY: Jesus, You are teaching me about my helplessness and that I cannot do anything for myself. I must hand all temptation over to You and trust You to conquer it for me. Sometimes it is hard to put a problem into Your hands and leave it there, yet You want me to patiently endure without yielding to a fleshy response or believing any lies. Faith cannot see the answer, but faith trusts You, even when all seems dark. I leave myself and my concerns in Your hands.

Worship in prayer

Over the last few weeks, the desire to pray has often eluded me. Not that the needs have vanished but that there are so many that I hardly know where to start. Christians have prayer helpers, such as CAST and ACTS that basically stand for confession, adoration, thanksgiving, and supplication. Using them can become mechanical. So can prayer lists. No one brings a list of topics to another expecting a good conversation so I find lists can easily make prayer a ritual rather than what it ought to be.

Oswald Chambers’ devotional for this day says something in the middle that gives me pause:

“Beware of outstripping God by your very longing to do His will. We run ahead of Him in a thousand and one activities, consequently we get so burdened with persons and with difficulties that we do not worship God, we do not intercede. If once the burden and the pressure come upon us and we are not in the worshiping attitude, it will produce not only hardness toward God but despair in our own souls.”

I’ve noticed this in groups that meet to pray. Burdens and requests are shared, then people jump right into intercession without any of the other components that are vital parts of prayer. No confession can mean that God sees something in me that needs forgiveness and cleansing. How can I expect Him to ‘fix’ the needs I present to Him if I neglect to deal with my own sins?

No thanksgiving? From Roman 1 and experience, I realize that without this, my heart is not fully satisfied with life — or that His will is being done, for which I should be thankful. I could even be blaming God for some lack in my life. My attitude is basically saying that God does not know what is best for me. With that attitude, how can I expect Him to answer prayer?

Chambers’ focus is on worship. Without it, my focus is on me, my needs, the mess in the world and the needs all around me, on the difficulties of life and not on the power of God to not just ‘fix’ them but that He has reasons for allowing them to happen. When I first worship, I remember things about God that affect the way I intercede. For instance:

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)

Those experiencing trials just might be in those trials because God is at work to mature them and is not interested in any pleas for comfort. Like Job said, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (Job 23:10)

This tells me to worship the One who uses trouble for good — just like He took the greatest evil, the crucifixion of His Son, and used it for the greatest good. Worship changes the ways I intercede for the sick and suffering.

Worship also remembers that God has made promises. When interceding for others who suffer, I know He can use their suffering to bring them to faith in Christ. While the main news does not report it, thousands of people in the Middle East are turning to Jesus even as their lives are bombarded with bombs — and unfortunately that is all we see or hear rather than knowing God’s grace is at work in the wars. Worship helps me focus on His power, rather than become overburdened by the chaos.

PRAY: Lord, singing worship songs before reading the Bible helps me hear what You say to me. Worship in prayer does the same. Too often I let the clock rush me into asking without focusing on You, the One I am talking to. Forgive my haste. I know You hear and answer prayer despite my failings, but that is only because You are merciful and gracious. I need to begin praying far more often with words that honor and glorify You.

Holding God’s hand

 

Sometimes Christians tell me to be careful what I pray for. I understand why — because the answer is never what I expected and I often do not connect my prayer with what happens after praying it.

Not too long ago I prayed that God would remind me to always be relying on Him, always be thinking how much I need Him and that He is here for me. The past few days, I’ve had a pain in the lower inside of my knee. It is totally unpredictable. Not there Monday, nearly unbearable Tuesday, gone this morning. It occurs to me that this pain is His reminder. How can I do even the smallest chores? I could go to the clinic and get pain killers, or x-rays, or something, but the medical system right now is in a state that could easily have a long wait. Besides, if this is the answer to my prayer, it’s purpose, as with all trials, is to make me more like Jesus.

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)

Trials are not a test of pain tolerance, nor even wisdom, or the ability to endure discomfort. They are a test of faith. Will I trust God in this? Or will I panic? Give up? Whine? Hurry to get it fixed? Since Jesus was sinless and didn’t need reminders to rely on His heavenly Father, I cannot ask what would Jesus do, but I can see how He want me to trust Him in this. If I am to seek medical help, fine, yet I hear Him saying to seek Him every moment and He will direct me. He is using this to “cast out the chips, stones, and sand that mar the perfect purity of my clay.”

My devotional reading says I need to see my trials in this light to easily be able to say “Thy will be done.” God wants me to recognize that trouble means a blessing for me! The psalmist figured this out as he wrote of his people and how God worked in their lives:

Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! … (Psalm 107:17–23)

The entire psalm tells of chastening that brought them back to praise God for His goodness and the way He worked in their lives, even as they repeatedly didn’t “get it” and had to learn over and over. Such is the power of self — even though this verse is true, that old nature fights and forgets it:

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)

PRAY: Lord, I asked for a reminder and got it — not at all what I expected. I don’t know what will happen next. If the reminder works, will the knee pain go away? Or will You leave it there as a constant weakness that demands Your strength? Faith says I need to trust You, no matter what Your will is and rely on You. Because You are my Savior and I cannot save myself, I know what to do next — hold tight to Your hand.