Delight in God and He gives good desires…

These days are full. We just bought a house. We like the one we’ve lived in but at our age, we decided to move while we can, not when we have to. The house is one of 66 bungalows, all different, surrounding a 3-4 level retirement facility so when we cannot manage our lives, we just move across the street.

The new home needs a few changes, mostly flooring from carpet to no carpet, and better lighting. Yesterday we spent the day searching our options for other things and came home tired. Then we got a call from someone who challenged our way of doing things. He thought we were not doing enough research, but was not aware that our ‘research’ was done on our knees.

Earlier we put a deposit on another place and God made it clear: “Do not buy that house!” However, this one was given His direction from start to finish. Flooring, and other choices came easy after prayer and understanding His will on all matters. For that reason, the challenge to our ‘research’ was somewhat of a test. Will we trust God, or do we need to spend hundreds of hours on the Internet?

Today’s devotional led me to these verses and blesses my heart. If we are trusting God, does it matter what the surveys, reports, consumer comments, etc. say?

Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! (Psalm 112:1)
I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)
Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors. (Psalm 119:24)
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, (Romans 7:22)
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1–2)

While our ‘advisor’ might scoff or think we are being lazy, the Word of God is clear; He wants us to seek His will, not out of desperation, or any other reason than we trust Him and delight in discovering that His will is never the wrong thing. No matter where He leads us, His love is behind all that He does on our behalf.

Not only that, we can see His leading. The first sales person told us enough that we knew what not to buy. The second one revealed that a big sale was coming up and we could get better prices in a couple weeks. It was that way with the next ones we talked to until we found the best prices and choices for our needs. We could sense God’s leading in each case and know quite well that God’s name is not spelled Google.

I’ve not told our ‘advice giver’ how we do research, but hope for the opportunity. While stress in making decisions does happen, once the will of God is known, that stress is replaced with great delight and a sense of His love and safe-keeping.

PRAY: Jesus, my prayer today is the same as the psalmist who wrote: “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4–5) I’m so thankful for You and truly do delight in Your will.

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.

Trusting God’s Will?

At least once, the mere mention of hoping that God’s will is done has brought a negative response from the Christians I was talking with. This was a surprise, yet I’ve also been afraid of what might happen. Today’s reading says this:

I feel more deeply than I can express the grievous wrong that is done to our heavenly Father by the dread His own children have of His blessed will. If those who profess to know and trust Him dread His will, we cannot wonder that the world looks on the will of God as something to be feared and resisted more than anything else, and we need not question why they are driven away from Him. If God’s own children regard Him as a tyrant, what can His enemies be expected to think?

The difficulty lies in not really trusting that He wants our good. Satan told that lie to Eve in the garden and it worked. Falling for it brought sin into the world and it still is causing sin. Even God’s children, that lie motivates us to take matters into our own hands and not trust the Lord. Doing our own thing is the essence of sin:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)

Again, it began with a lie. God told Eve she could eat anything but not from the tree in the middle of the garden. Here is the subtle suggestion that enticed her to think it would be a good idea:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1–5)

He puts ideas like this into my head: “If you do what you determine is right or good or okay, even if God says otherwise, then you will benefit from it. The will of God is not going to do you any good.”

For most of us, failures from making decisions by trusting our own judgment ought to teach us that we don’t know what is best, but after years of being my own boss most of the time, it seems a hard way to learn. Here is a better one:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 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 12:1–2)

Obedience and mind-renewal. Reading the Word of God feeds the new nature, building it up so I can and want to do the will of God, and obedience to what He shows me also reveals that His will is good, totally acceptable and perfect. Instead of being afraid of God and suspicious of His motives, trust is increased and my way becomes not only less important, but I start seeing it as a “grievous wrong” to God. How dare I think I know better than He does! Instead, this becomes a reality:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5–8)

PRAY: Jesus, even in ordinary life, You keep surprising me with incredible goodness, especially whenever I stop leaning on my ‘good’ ideas. Daily and unexpected answers to prayer. Unusual energy when I wait on You. Words to say when my mind goes blank. The list is long. Your will is not only good, but that goodness cannot be exhausted, yet it is always unpredictable. For all of this and all that You are, I praise You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Bloom where I am planted . . .

 

READ 2 Chronicles 1–4

Solomon teaches a spiritual principle about having a godly ambition that results in success, no matter what a person is doing. When he became king, God asked him:

“Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. O Lord God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?”

This was a godly answer. The Lord was pleased and said, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” (2 Chronicles 1:7–12)

Imagine hearing that offer. Most would go for personal greatness of some sort, but Solomon was not thinking about selfish gain. His mind was on the task that fell to him, the task of leading a nation. He wanted to govern well for their sake. By this request, God gave him far more than he asked.

My tasks are not so grand; I make quilts, mostly to give to others. The latest project was a challenge and I prayed about every step. I wanted it to be well done and express God’s love to the person who would receive it. God heard my requests. When I look at the finished quilt, I can hardly believe that I made it and must glorify God for the result; any skill was His doing.

Principle: no matter the task that God places in my life, asking Him to bless me with whatever is needed to do that task for His honor and glory makes a difference. His hand in my to-do list not only draws me closer to Him as I pray, the work itself will be a surprise, even to the point of feeling detached from it, as if I didn’t do it.

I don’t know how Solomon felt as he watched the house of God go up, but he did say at the beginning:

The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? (2:5–6)

This is an attitude of detachment. It is not about Solomon but about God. This man willingly asked God for a helper, a man “skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me . . . .” and asked for “cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon” for he knew whatever God gave would be amazing. He did not mind sharing the task either, for it was not for himself but for God’s glory.

The helper God sent said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding . . . .” (2:12–13) He recognized the source of Solomon’s wisdom.

God then blessed him with whatever timber he needed and its delivery. The house was lined with gold and had carved cherubim on the walls. The altar was bronze. Every detail was beautiful as well as functional and most of it was overlaid with gold. His helper also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. All the vessels were gold — the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, the sockets of the temple, the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and the doors of the nave of the temple. The result of asking for wisdom was amazing!

Whatever I do does not compare to the temple in glory, yet God wants me to follow Solomon’s example, whether I am making a quilt, baking a cake, visiting a shut-in, writing a text or this blog, or answering the phone. He says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

All of life is an opportunity to glorify the Author of Life. Doing everything with this attitude is blessed, and the results are far more surprising and wonderful than merely doing something for personal gain, or even just doing it because it needs to be done, like eating and drinking.

And all of this makes me realize how slow I am to learn and remember the truths of God, and to simply bloom where He plants me.

 

Normal is more than a setting on the dryer . . .

An author I cannot recall wrote something like this: Most Christians live sub-normal lives so when one comes along who is living in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, they are given super-star status.

Tozer agrees. He puts it this way: “The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity. It is part and parcel of the total plan of God for His people. You must be satisfied that it is not abnormal. I admit that it is unusual, because there are so few people who walk in the light of it or enjoy it, but it is not abnormal.… This is unusual only because our spiritual lives are so wretchedly sick and so far down from where they should be.”

I’m particularly blessed in belonging to a congregation that has a good percentage of ‘normal’ Christians. This passage describes what ‘normal’ means for the children of God . . . 

“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. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:1–8)

Normal means that I don’t go around feeling condemned or beating myself up every time I make a mistake. Sin happens. When it does, the normal Christian confesses it for what it is and enjoys forgiveness and cleansing, no condemnation, no fear of punishment, a total trust that Jesus has taken care of that on the Cross.

Normal also means condemning sin, not making excuses for it. A normal Christian does not say “That is the way I am” to excuse a bad temper, as if they are stuck with it forever. Jesus came to change our lives. I cannot be a normal Christian if I refuse to condemn my own sin.

Normal means thinking about things of the Spirit. I’m not plotting, planning or devising things apart from checking if my ideas are from God. He gives His people the mind of Christ and being ‘normal’ means using it to think and live.

Normal recognizes flesh. That is, when a ‘normal’ Christian becomes snarly, or gossips, or complains, they know this is not from God. Normal draws a line and when that line is crossed, they know they are not pleasing God.

Tozer says the Holy Spirit is pure, wise and true, which is correct. So are His people when He fills them. This is not strange or super-star stuff. It is normal, the way I am supposed to live and the way that I can live because of Jesus Christ.

^^^^^^^^^^

Oh Lord, how awesome. What can I do but say thank You, praise You, live for You. Your grace and power take subnormal sinfulness and transforms our lives so we can live as we were created to live — in harmony with You. When You are filling our hearts and lives, not only do we gain the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit, but also the sense of fitting into our skin, being what You want us to be. Oh my, this is a blessedness that is hard to describe, normal yet often rare. May my life today fill that role, but also point others to the wonder of being normal!