The Wind and a Whisper

Many things come upon a man in his life; life is but a wind and a whisper. Like the wind that nestles through a forest of trees, so is a man’s life. It rushes around and makes many turns, some good, and some not so good. We cannot know were the wind comes or were it will go. The same is true about our life on earth, but we can know who created the wind and holds it in the palm of His hand, and who also holds our life. As with the wind He knows were it comes from and where it goes, the same is it true to our life. He knows were it came and were it is going. The rustling of the wind seems to have no purpose or direction at times, it seems lonely as the wind in the forest, but we are still cared for by the hands of the One whom directs the elements of this earth. Just as he directs the rain, so is our life, no matter where we are. The reason may not be know to us at the present but don’t fall into despair due to the circumstances of life. Know this, not even a sparrow falls without His knowledge. Aren’t you even more valuable than a sparrow to Him? He knows the struggles and the pains you face. We are His children, and when a father sees His children hurt, He hurts with them. That does not stop Him from directing our lives. Neither should it stop us from looking to Him for direction and grace to come through the valley of the shadow of life. He conquered the grave and He can and will conquer what you are going through. That is if you seek Him.

Broken Cisterns

When it comes to sinful pleasures they are like broken cisterns that can't hold the water of life. A cistern is a vessel that was used in ancient times to carry and store water. A broken one was useless and did nothing but leak the precious fluid from the vessel. It lost what was needed to nourish us all. If we keep returning to this broken vessel for nourishment we will only go away in need. Just as giving a starving man a snack will only drive him to want more. As we use our sins to satisfy our hunger, we will only desire more of something that can never fill our souls. There is only One who can satisfy our souls and that one is Christ. Like the woman at the well we need to listen to what He is saying to us and apply it to our lives. Not to be as a man who looks in the mirror and walks away forgetting what he looks like. Christ has the water that will fill us and keep continuing filling us. Not leaving us empty inside wanting more. But we will never look for this living water if we still believe that our sins will someday fill us. They will fill us, but not with hope but with pain and loneliness. Filling us up with the things in life we desire not to have. They leave us feeling hopelessly alone, without any future. But the question we need to ask ourselves is why we return to a broken cistern that only gives us pain. Why do we run from what is good for us and desires to give us more? Why run to something that only gives us less. Do we expect that God will let us down, only giving us enough to get us hooked? Do we really trust that God really cares for us and He wants us to be free in Him? Because if we really believe that He does love us, why do we alienate ourselves from Him? Are we afraid that He might ask more from us that we are willing to give? Or is it a lack of trust because others have failed us. We have been let down by those we loved and trusted, and we tend to put God in the same light as we do others. We look at Him as only being there for Himself and looking for Him to abandon us when He gets what He needs. Maybe we need to look past our views of God from a human perspective and see Him as He has shown us through His word. As in Isaiah 26:3 states “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

So do we continue to look towards our sinful passions to fill us, or do we look to God to show us the way? The only way we can ever get past our godless behavior is to trust in the One who can take them from us. But that doesn’t come easy for us when we have trusted in our negative view of God, but how can we get past this attitude of God unless we try, to step out in faith and put our hope in Him. God show us who He really is, but we have to allow him to have control of our lives and thoughts. To give over what is truly His and give Him a chance to show us the lies we have believed. Will you give God a chance today?

Lost Sheep

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15: 1-7

As a Christian I find it more difficult sometimes to accept God's forgiveness now then when I was just coming to Christ. When we have a distorted view of God we tend to have a much distorted view of His forgiveness also. When you think of God's forgiveness do you envision God shaking His head and saying, “again!” Or do you see His looking down on you as though He is greatly disapproving in you? Or do you see His with His arms open wide to welcome you and your confession? As we look at the parable above we see that Jesus is the shepherd who goes looking for the lost sheep. God opened my eyes one night as I read this story. I always looked at it as one who was unsaved and never knew of Christ love. But if you read it carefully you can see that the lost sheep was one of His own. This sheep was part of the fold and knew Jesus as the great shepherd. The sheep had wondered off from the Masters direction and went his own way. It was a gentle reminder even when I wonder off in the wrong direction; God doesn't give up on me and forget about me. He doesn't just sit and wait for me to return, He leaves the fold and goes looking for me. He desires to have the relationship restored, so He looks to finds me and when He does, He doesn’t scorn me or look to punish me. He puts me on His shoulders and carries me back home. He calls His friends and neighbors to rejoice with Him. So with that in mind why do we shy away from God when we need to confess our disobedience to Him? Why do we fear what God is going to do when we repent? Correction only comes to those who are in disobedience not who are willing to repent. God desires to restore the broken relationship. He desires to have fellowship with you, His child. He wants to rejoice with you, not to harm you. Look to see the truth of scripture of how much God loves and desires fellowship with His children, even His children who have wondered off. How can we not approach the throne of grace and ask for His loving forgiveness from Him.

Blessed is the Man...

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. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Psalms 1:1-6 ESV

If we want the blessings of Psalms 1:3, if we want to be planted firmly by a stream of water, and if we want to yield fruit in season, and we don’t want our leaves to wither; moreover, if we want to prosper in all we do. To gain these things we mustn’t sit around wondering why God has not given them to us. Psalms shows us the blessings come after verse one and two are followed. Are we willing not to walk in the counsel of the wicked? Are we willing not to stand in the path of sinners? Are we willing not to sit in the seat of scoffers? There are three things we are not to do, and that is not all the commands in Psalm 1. The man who is blessed is the one who delights in the law of the Lord. It is not something he enjoys, or does out of duty, but it is his delight! Think about something you delight in, can you bring that same desire, to delight in God’s law? Next, the man who I blessed meditates on God’s law day and night. God’s law is not something he follows to gain a blessing or avoid pain. It is something he intentionally meditates on day and night.  The reason he is firmly planted by a stream of water is that he is firmly planted in God’s Word, which is living water. The reason he doesn’t follow the counsel of the wicked is because he looks to the counsel of God through His Word. The reason he does not stand in the path of sinners is that he looks to stand with God. The reason he does not sit at the seat of scoffers is that he knows the One whom they scoff. If we want the blessings of the man in the first section of Psalm 1, we have to be willing to follow what he does in verses 1 and 2. Our motivation is not to gain something from God’s hand, but to love Him from our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

Follower or Complainer?

When I have gone to church I have a tendency to look at what is wrong at times. The singing and presentation is more focused on the performers than God. What I didn’t like about the sermon, how ministry should be done, and how much money the church is spending and where it goes. These are a few things I might think about. I am sure some of you have your own list. Some are bona fide issues, and others are not. While I carry on this dialog in my mind, I must think about what is truly going on inside of me. One night as I read Numbers 16 & 17 about the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, I was convicted of my own. My rebellion of God’s appointed leadership of the church; I lost respect for the leaders. I am not only talking about the preaching ministers who lead us, I am talking about the elders, deacons, and ministry leaders. But my true rebellion is against God Himself, because I have been rebelling against whom He has put over me as a leader. I have not submitted to them, I sit in my comfortable seat and judge them harshly. I look through the eyes of one who thinks he knows better. The big question is who know better? Ultimately, the answer is God. I think the trap of the Christian who is growing in knowledge is to become more judgmental. I think we all have to make sure we don’t fall prey to our own pride when we grow. (1 Corinthians 13:1) Judgmental of what leaders are doing, what others should be doing. The next day I finished reading the rest of the reading plan and it brought me to Hebrews 13, which says, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”  (Hebrews 13:7) “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”  (Hebrews 13:17) So the next time you feel the need to complain, or the need to reform the church, don’t just sit there, if you really think something needs to change, then get up off your seat and be a part of the church. Instead of those who bring division by their lips and lack of action. We need to respect those in leadership, and one way of showing respect is by our willingness to help. Are you a follower, or a divider? Do you seek to bring unity within the body, or to divide by your criticism? Those who tend to be critical usually are the last ones to act. So today let our hands and feet put into action what our words say.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  James 1:22

Shake Yourself from the Dust and Arise...

Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.  Isaiah 52:2

How many of us wish we could shake off the dust of our sin. Not to feel the guilt and shame of in our lives, to feel free once again not to serve another master besides Christ. To sit up without the disgust that we may feel from the guilt we have been carrying around for many of years. To have our shackles of guilt removed which have imprison for so long, to be finally free from for being a captive to our sin.

Before we can do all that we need to remember that it is a choice God is giving us. We cannot do it without God's help and we can't do it without the help of others in our lives. We must develop trust in God and others. If you look at the verse you see God is commanding His people to take action, not to sit in the dust defeated and hopeless. He is calling them out of captivity, but not by their own strength, but by His awesome power.

Do we sit in our own dust and feel helpless and hopeless that things will never change. Do we ever cry out to God to help us, and take the measures that He has asked us to do? Or do we fill ourselves with self-pity believing that He will never call us out of Egypt. For me I have done that plenty of times. Not calling on the Lord for help, but wonder if things will ever get better. Usually they don't until I look for God to change them and to accept the help God has sent me. It may not be an overnight change or even an easy one. But God never said it would be easy or simple. We just need to look to Him and listen. Not to listen to all the negativity in our lives, but ask God to show you a way out. Then do the steps to resolve the problems in our lives, instead of looking for a quick fix.

The negativity is there for a reason. We need to look at it through God's eyes not our own. If we don’t look at those thoughts, and counter them with Scripture, they will plague us again and again. We need to work through them so they will not have power over our lives anymore. Write them down on paper and see them for what they are. Are they lies, or are they truth about us. If they are lies, we need to listen to God instead of our own self-defeating thoughts. But if they are true about us, we need to see what we need to do in changing. What do we need to confess to God, and to others whom we have harmed? If we do not face them they will haunt us. So take heart for He is with you and will not leave you in your pain. Trust that the Lord will see you through this and will remove the shackles from your heart.

Silence…. Why do I fear you so?

Silence…. Why do I fear you so?

Is it because I fear what you will say to me in the depths of your quietness? Will what I run from awaken in the stillness of the penetrating sound of you. What haunts me deep down seems to fear you drawing him out. What deafening sound screams aloud in the silence? What warfare rages in the stillness of that quiet room, with nothing but the four walls, and the thick air of noiseless moments? What in that solitary place does the flesh fear so much as to avoid it? While the restless soul seems to have a hard time slowing down, the noise of the world has kept the soul from seeking this quietness with God. Oh but maybe that is the voice I fear in the busyness, it is the noisy world I live in that keeps His voice at bay. It is a busyness that keeps my mind preoccupied with the so-called pleasures of this world. A joy that is lessened because it is no joy at all that settles for anything besides our God. He in those quiet times speaks to the heart, if I will slow down, and patiently wait on Him, in those rooms filled with solitary silence. It is a place that gives way to sacrifice, a sacrifice of our time, of our pleasures and a sacrifice of our passions. In that time, the peace and rest is in the One who can only truly give it to us. He waits for those who diligently seek Him, in the discipline of silence, solitude, and sacrifice.

Good Grief?

We say the words good grief and we hear people use this express in our common talk with others. But is there such a thing in the world called good grief, and is there even a thing called good shame and good guilt. I want to take a deeper look at these topics to see if there is anything good that comes from them in our lives. Or are those feeling as some people say, “is something to avoid”. Grief, shame, and guilt are three areas of our lives most of us want to have nothing to do with, but like other areas in our day to day existence we will have to face them.

First let’s take a look at how the world defines these terms. Now when we look at the word grief I am not talking about grief that comes from a loss of someone or the death of a person; which comes from suffering by what we bring upon ourselves by a sinful action. With that in mind let’s look at how the dictionary describes grief. The American Heritage Dictionary defines grief as: “Deep mental anguish, as from bereavement. Annoyance, or frustration. Trouble or difficulty.”[i] The world’s view of grief could also be something that a person goes through that has no positive effect in one’s life. Emotions which need to be dealt with, in a way that would absolve us from sin, instead of looking to the cause, in other words, get rid of the word sin, and find a way to avoid guilt, without changing behavior, or repenting.

Guilt is defined as “The fact of being responsible for the commission of an offense.”[ii] When we see others dealing with guilt what do we see most? Maybe guilt is something we need to rid ourselves of. How many people go to a counselor not to fix a problem but to relieve him or herself of guilt; to help justify themselves instead of looking at the reason for the guilt and grow in a better understanding of why they are feeling guilty. This brings us to shame, which is defined as “A painful emotion caused by a strong sense of guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness, or disgrace..”[iii] Shame can come from two sources, from other people and from us. For example, a man can run a race but come in dead last and feel ashamed. Even if he has done his best and has given all he has to compete, he can still feel shame. Or someone can cast the feeling of shame onto us. Take the runner for example, he may feel as though he did his best but the crowd may yell and boo him for his defeat and cast the dark shadow of shame upon his soul. But in both examples has the runner done anything wrong? No, but that doesn’t mean we won’t feel shame if we were him. When we haven’t done anything wrong that is called misplaced shame. But all shame is not misplaced. Shame can be there for a number of reasons. For when we have done something wrong it shows us good boundaries in our life and helps us correct moral behavior. It calls us into account of what we have done wrong. It is part of God’s plan to show us how to live as He has called us to be. If we live with no shame then we would have no moral compass to guide us in the ways of righteousness.

When we look at these three emotions we need to remember that they have been given to us for a reason, just like our other emotions. But sometimes we may feel grief, guilt, or shame without committing an offense. We may feel these feeling due to misplaced emotions. For example, say you make a mistake, an honest one, and you feel guilty or shameful as all of us do from time to time when we make a mistake. Is it a proper emotion to feel ashamed for it? Or is it something that is placed on us by others or from our adversary. Think back in the last month about a situation where you felt one of these emotions. Was it felt because of a world view or from a biblical view? What I mean, did you really have a reason to feel this way or was it placed on you and there was no justification for it.  Before you answer that question let’s take a look at biblical views of these emotions.

What does scripture say about grief, guilt, and shame? The world may say you should be ashamed trying to convince others that Jesus is the only way to heaven. But scripture states “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” The world states that sorrow or guilt from sin needs to be removed and replaced with acceptance. They say that sin is not wrong but the guilt of it is. Scripture calls that worldly sorrow in 2 Corinthians 7:9–10 “Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”  I think if we want to recognize the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow we need to ask one question. Has this action honored God or dishonored Him. When we feel the sting of grief, guilt, or shame, ask yourself, “was what you did honoring or dishonoring to Him. Like the runner, he didn’t dishonor God by coming in last place. He honored Him by doing his best even though he lost. On the other hand, those who refuse to share the gospel because they fear another person opinion are dishonoring God.

Let’s take a closer look at worldly sorrow verses godly sorrow in the lives of two disciples, Judas and Peter. Both of these men were guilty of the same sin, the sin of betrayal. They both turned their backs on Jesus in His last days. While Judas turned Him over to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver, Peter denied that he even knew Him three times. They may have been alike in their denial of Jesus but in their repentance they were very different. Judas had a worldly sorrow that led to death, while Peter had a godly sorrow that led to repentance and restoration. Let’s look at their two stories in Matthew 27:3-4 and Luke 22:60-62.

Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. Matthew 27:3-4 KJV

But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. Luke 22:60-62 ESV

When we look at the verses we see that Judas repented of his sin and Peter wept bitterly. But if we look at the Greek definition of the word used in Matthew 27:3-4 we notice that it isn’t the word repent as we would use it. It is the Greek word “metamellomai,” which means to regret. While godly repentance “metanoeoô,” means to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider. And that is where worldly sorrow and godly sorrow differ. While Peter repented in the sense he turned from his past sin to return to the Lord. Judas on the other hand only regretted his action and committed suicide. They both saw their mistakes but they handled them differently. Regret only brings us to the point where we see how our sin has caused pain and misery to others, but doesn’t produce a willing heart that desires to return to God. Where the other produces a fruit of true repentance, which longs and needs God forgiveness and brings restoration as we see in Mark 16:6-7:

And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."  Mark 16:6-7 ESV

“His (Peter) faith failed some but not totally. When Jesus looked at him, it broke him and he wept bitterly. His faith returned and he remembered the kind of Jesus that he served, and there was reconciliation. And the rest of the story is marvelous because at least three times in the gospel it says go tell my disciples and Peter, I go before them to Galilee. Why does he get special attention? It’s very clear why, he needed it very badly. If Judas had wept and gone to the rooms with the disciples and had been a broken man, and believed in Jesus, in who He really was, he would have received forgiveness

.

But go, tell His disciples—Judas and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. He didn’t believe, he gave up on Jesus.”[iv] When you feel grief, guilt, or shame what do you do with it? Do you remember what kind of Christ you serve or do you allow it to turn you away from God? Will you allow these emotions to bring into your soul worldly sorrow, or will you allow God to work His grace within you. We all need to look to see if we are being manipulated by the world’s view or being transformed by God’s word. The choice is laid at our feet. Will we be like Peter who remembered that Jesus would restore his soul, or will you allow worldly sorrow to turn your life into regret? The choice is yours to make.

Discussion Questions

How has worldly sorrow brought about death in your spiritual life? Be specific.

How has godly sorrow brought about a repentant heart and restored your soul? Be specific.

When you feel grief, guilt, or shame from sin in your life, whom are you most like? Peter, or Judas? Why?

When you sin, do you first go to God and receive His gift of forgiveness? Or do you try harder at being better, and look for ways to earn His favor? Why?

How has worldly sorrow kept you from seeing Jesus as one who offers forgiveness?

How would your life be different if you live a life of repentance instead of regret?

What can you do differently this week to live more like Peter when it comes to accepting Christ forgiveness?

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[i] The American Heritage College Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston MA.,  2002, p. 610

[ii] ibid., p 616

[iii] ibid., p 1274

[iv] John Piper, Sermon on Battling the Unbelief of Regret, Minneapolis MN

Our Identity in Christ

Where Does Our Identity Lie?
When it comes to word identity, what comes to mind? Do you think of your driver’s license? Or maybe your job title? Think to yourself and ponder this question. On what does my identity rest? Or in other words, where do I get my identity? The Webster Dictionary describes it as: To make to be the same; to unite or combine in such a manner as to make one; to treat as being one or having the same purpose or effect; to consider as the same in any relation. As we see from that definition, an identity is more than just how we see ourselves. It becomes a part of us. It consumes us and controls us. When we make decisions, we look to our identity before we make them. For example, how many times have you said to yourself that you couldn’t do certain things because you believed you would fail? Or how could God love me after the life I have lived? When we see it through this perspective we are looking to what we have done, or are doing, instead of looking to what Christ did on the cross to save us.

Let’s rethink the word identity and look at it in another way. Think of your identity as a set of clothes. It is what others see us as; it also shows others what we want them to think of us. Our identity is what we put on or in other words, it is like wearing a pair of sunglasses. We can view our own identity by the world, relationships with others and opinions of important people in our lives. Let’s look at where we get our identity. Does our identity come from our job, relationships, what others think of us or is it from our relationship with God? When we think about whom we are, what comes to mind? Our identity can also come from our fallen nature. Do we line up our identity with our sinful nature? Think about a habitual sin in your life. Is that where you get your definition of whom you are? When we look at a person with an addiction, do we see an addict or a child of God? Now turn that eye on yourself. What do you see when you look at yourself? Do you trust in the opinion of others, or maybe what you believe about yourself?

Ever thought of changing your identity? Had a desire to be something or maybe someone else? We may see an identity that we aren’t very happy with, or we may even want to run from. If we are to live in a new identity generated from God’s Word, we will have to be honest about what we believe about ourselves. We will need to ask God for His help to change our ideas of ourselves, from a worldly view to a life that glorifies Him.

So let’s take a look at why we have a hard time changing our identities. When we decide of change, we may feel pulled back into our old views of thinking. Let’s look below at what Paul says about that subject in the book of Romans.

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. (Romans 6:1 – 7)

If we look at the words in these verses, we see Paul calling our old nature the “old self" or as the King James states it, the “old man”. The Greek definition for the old man it means to be a worn out human being. When the word “old self” is used in this verse, I want you to think of it as your old identity apart from Christ. Now when you look at your old self do you see a worn out identity? Is that identity still working for you? Does it fill you with joy, peace and contentment? Or does it call you away from your true spiritual relationship with God?

Our old identity will always fight against our new self in Christ. When we accept Christ, our old identity was crucified with Him, and we are risen with a new identity. That brings us to a problem when we want to change from the old self, to the new self. As Charles Swindoll states it, “a crucifixion is a slow and painful death”. So our identity is going to be something that will change slowly if we make the desired changes. External forces can also pull us away from God. Bad relationships, addictions or even difficult circumstances are just a few to name.  We can allow the flesh, the world or Satan to influence our beliefs about how God views us and how we view ourselves. We may even allow our feelings to dictate how or if we will accept God’s love into our hearts. As we read God’s word, we need to remember what He says about us is truth. Our relationship is not based on ourselves but on what Christ did on the cross. And if we look to Christ as our example and strive to be obedient to God’s commands, we will no longer look to ourselves or others to define who we are.  Think to yourself, how your life would be different if you were to live fully in the new identity Christ has given you.

Discussion Questions

Answer the questions as honestly as possible, asking God to help you take a deeper look at the person you believe you have become.

List a few names by which you identify yourself. List the ones you call yourself and also what others may call you. Separate them into two columns, List the positive ones to the right and the left negative ones to the left.

 

Look them over and write down how they have shaped your life.

Which column has shaped your life more, the positives or the negative ones? Why?

How do you see yourself through God’s eyes? If He were to define you, what do you believe He would say?

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD  [Psalm 139:1-4]

When you think of God knowing you completely as in the verse above, what thoughts and feelings come to mind?

What are some internal and external forces that keep you stuck in an identity apart from Christ?

What fears come up when you think of accepting God’s view of you and letting go of your old identity?

When you hear the names God uses for you, such as: saint, righteous and holy or the light of the world what comes to your thoughts?

If you were to change your identity from the world’s view to God’s view, how would your life be different?

What could you do to live more readily in your new identity?

Is it easier for you to trust in your feelings or trust in what God says about you in His Word? Why?

Time and Trouble

Lord, do I hope and put my trust in your deliverance from this time and trouble? Or do I fear what could happen? Have I placed my fears, apprehensions and anxieties in your hands? Or have I played out the fantasies over and over in my head? Will I live in faith or in fear? How will I approach each day? With the anticipation of God’s divine Sovereignty firmly in place or in human fear and desire stretched out among my eyes and hearts? How will I live today? A man of God knowing You are in control or one who feels the weight of the world upon my shoulders. 

The answer to the question will determine if peace shall be my path or turmoil. Ask yourself that question. What is your answer? Will the Prince of Peace guide you today through the doubting whispers of the prince of this world who desires to control your thoughts? Like a sprouting flower are our minds each day. Do we drink from the fountain of the Father’s Word of goodness and peace? Or will we fret over the coming heat that “might” scorch us. Are we a tree planted beside a still water or are we left alone in the desert heat to fend on our own? Is our peace one of relaxed walker enjoying the light of God’s presence? Or is it of a fretting bird upon a branch living in fearful expectation? Do we soar high in the clouds with the eagles, or do we shiver, and we won’t take a chance in this evil world. Do we delight in God or dread His will for our day. Living one day at a time or living in the fear of the future?

The Enemy of Ambition

I have been reading the book Rescuing Ambition, by Dave Harvey. The first chapter deals with seeking glory and how God hardwired us to seek glory. How athletes will train their whole lives to participate in the Olympics. They seek glory; we all seek glory in our own ways. He states, “Try to wrap your brain around this: God doesn’t oppose glory-seeking; he commends it. And what’s more astounding, he rewards it with eternal life. But there’s a condition. We must seek a certain type of glory. We’re to hunger, brave, earnestly desire-to be ambitious for – glory that comes from God.” 

When I think of God desiring me to seek glory, or even being ambitious, I might turn around and discount it, as being self-seeking, looking for applause or become discouraged. Ambition can be hard at times, it can drive us to do things were not proud of, or even run after it more than we pursue God. Harvey states, “Ambition is willing to pay more than full price if that’s what it takes… we always pursue what we prize.” “There are always things we might value, things we can make an effort to obtain. But ambition isn’t just being “in the market” for something. Ambition is prizing something so much that we go after it; willing to sacrifice to get it. The value I personally assign to it creates motivation and moves me to take action to obtain it.”

After reading the last few statements, I had to ask, I am really ambitious about anything? To be honest, yes I am. Most would say I am laid back, don’t get worked up over anything, and even- keeled. I would disagree, I do get upset, excited, and even overly ambitious about things, people, and places, but I don’t always show it outwardly. Then the thought came to me about the true enemy of ambition is in my life, discouragement. Think to yourself for a moment, have you ever been ambitious for something or someone, worked at it, pursued it, just to be let down. After a time you just settle for life as it is. You become numb to the thought of pursuing anything, anymore. What is the use putting all the effort into it, just to fail? This brought me to an insight about myself, one I am not proud of. I am ambitious for a lot of things, but I settle for a safe place, a safe ambition, one that doesn’t cause me to step out, but stay comfortably close to an ambition that doesn’t cause much risk in my life. I tend to work on things I am ambitious about that don’t involve others. What I mean is, something I can do on my own, and if I fail, no one knows about it, or something I won’t be rejected by others opinions I think are valuable. It’s one thing to be ambitious about something; it’s another to be ambitious about someone. Things don’t reject us, or ridicule us, or even judge us, but people do, don’t they? So we stay in a safe harbor when it comes to being ambitious. Or we may venture out in the unknown land of ambition that involves people, but only when we know they approve of it ahead of time.

When we look at the things we don’t pursue with our ambition, is it something we think will never happen, and give in before we even try? Has discouragement, past failures, or fear of suffering pain caused you to numb out your ambition? I think the real enemy of ambition isn’t always pride, but discouragement. The weapon of the enemy, a quite, reserved weapon that causes much destruction, not a destruction that can be seen like a town that has been bombed. But a quite destruction that no one sees, but causes death to those involved, a death that destroys the heart and soul of the person. When discouragement settles in the heart of the believer, it secretly, slowly, and intentionally whispers, “Why try.” And we slowly, reserve ourselves for an ambition that is small, and doesn’t risk much in our lives. We settle for mediocrity, instead of faith, we settle for what we can have without much effort, instead of risking, we settle for hidden love, instead of expressing it outwardly. What about you? What are you ambitious for, what have you put in a dusky closet of your heart because you don’t expect God to act? What is God calling you to be ambitious for in your life today? Or will you settle, settle for the lies of the enemy who plants the seeds of discouragement in your heart, which has reaped a vineyard of disappointment? What seeds will you plant today, the fruits of disappointment, or the ambition that glorifies God?

Walking Through the Grief

When we have been struck with a tragedy it seems far easier at first to allow ourselves to feel the emotions of sadness, sorrow, anger and loss. As we go one though we begin to feel as if we are suppose to somehow remove ourselves from those feeling, as if to experience them is a sign of weakness and unfaithfulness to God. Some good intended Christians will say, “Be strong in the Lord and trust that He will get you through this.” In others words, they may be saying to deny those feelings and get on with life. Grief is no way a sign of weakness but in contrary it is a sign of strength. Those who experience grieve and allow themselves to feel those emotions, without stuffing them are the ones who are strong in the Lord. God never intended us to push aside the pain. He is not the Lord of the strong who get through things with a smile on their face. In my opinion those who get through the tough times with a smile on their face don’t walk through the pain and sadness but avoid it at all cost. Pain is a part of life, God is not the God who avoids, He is the God of the weak, meek and hurting. He doesn’t expect us to avoid the hurt of life, He desires us to lean on Him during these times even when other want us to rush though or forget our pain. Maybe their desire isn’t about us getting through this time but more about not being reminded of their own pain. If we don’t feel it, God can’t heal it. And if we don’t feel it, we will just avoid it, medicate it, or run from it. But it is still there, waiting for us to walk through it. It doesn’t just go away, we need to embrace it. And in doing so it loses it power over us.

When I am going through a time of despair, or hurting I am reminded of a saying by Charles Spurgeon, it says, “Jesus does not suffer so as to exclude your suffering. He bears a cross, not that you may escape it but that you may endure it. Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. Remember that, and expect to suffer.” It takes more faith and hope to walk through the hurt and sorrow then it does to believe God is going to take it all away. He is not the Lord of sidestepping our suffering, or the Lord of walking around it. He is the Lord who will walk you through and hold your hand as you cry, hurt and feel overwhelmed by it. As Psalm 23 says, “Thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.” Today God wants to walk with you through and in your pain. Will you walk with Him today? Will you allow Him to have what you know is hard and painful? Giving it over to Him doesn’t mean it goes away, it means joining Him in it; experiencing Him in the sorrow, allowing Him to comfort you as you go through the experience. It is not foreign to Him, He saw His Son nailed to a cross to suffer for our salvation. He is not an emotionless God who is distant but one who has experienced first hand what suffering, pain and loss is all about. 

Two words come to mind when I think of this subject, they are grace and joy. Grace is given not only in regards to forgiveness but also to help us to endure hardships. To help us endure persecutions, tribulations and the pains of life that we all experience. Joy on the other hand is not a smile on the face when you think of all the blessings you have. Or thinking somehow this won’t happen to me. Scripture says “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” As Jesus walked through the streets of Jerusalem carrying His cross to Calvary He didn’t have a smile on His face, thinking that’s what a faithful man does. He openly was hurting, crying and suffering. The joy was that at the end of this time of hurting, He would glorify God in His pain, not by avoiding it. He knew after it was over He would bring His children home with Him. You stand at a crossroads today, will you pick up your cross to follow Him or will you avoid the cross to escape the grief? In one way we place our faith in His providence and care that He will not walk away from us even when we hurt so bad we don’t feel His presence. While the other road is not to only avoid the pain, but to avoid the One who can walk with us through it. Do we identify with Him with a cross or exclude Him? The choice is your today. In no way am I saying it is an easy choice. It is a daily choice we all have to make, but one that has to be made. Is He the Lord of our whole life, emotional pain and all, or is He the Lord of the good emotions only? Do we call Him LORD, or do we call Him lord?

The Ruler of the Heart Wins

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. (Romans 6:11-12) (ESV)

When we think about fighting, struggling, and overcoming temptation and sin, we tend to look at behavior. We know behaviors are only a symptom of a deeper problem. The problem is in the heart, because that is where the root of the sinful conditions resides. John Owen said this about our battle against sin, he said, “A man may beat down the bitter fruit from an evil tree until he is weary; while the root abides in strength and vigor, the beating down of the present fruit will not hinder it from bringing forth more.” We can try our best to beat down the bad fruit from the tree, but it will only grow back in time, we need to attack the root. Romans 6:12 states, “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.” For Christians it is essential to be obedient to God’s Word. At times we look to obedience as a gauge to judge our success in defeating sin; our focus is on the results and the symptoms. Scripture shows us obedience is an outcome, the focus of Romans 6:12 is not obedience, but who reigns in the heart. If we want to be obedient, we must look further than our behavior or obedience. To defeat sin we have to go to the root. The root question is, “who is reigning today?” To paraphrase Romans 6:12, “Who reigns is the one who commands obedience, they are the ones who force the body to obey.” If you don’t believe me, read Romans 6:12 slowly, it says, “to make you obey their passions.” When we are tempted and try to overcome those desires which cry out to be fulfilled, we don’t need to ask or look to see how we can overcome the temptation, but we need to look at who is reigning in the heart. Is it sin? Or is it our Savior?

We may have to dethrone the ruler of our heart. The fight of sin begins with a question, “who is ruling today?” When fear calls, who is ruling? When pride calls, who is ruling? When lust calls, who is ruling? When greed calls, who is ruling? How we answer these questions will determine how or if we fight. In Romans 6:11 we are told to consider ourselves dead to sin and alive in God. We may need to remind the ruler of our heart that they are no longer in charge. An impeachment process needs to be considered. If not, then we will continue in our failing and falling to overcome sin.  We will just continue to wear ourselves out with knocking down the bad fruit from the tree of our lives. Or we can remove the false rulers who reign and command our passions by digging up the root. We tend to fight the wrong battles and look to the wrong problems. We fight a spiritual war in a physical manner. We look to the symptoms and wage war in the physical realm, while the rulers of the heart stay enthroned and in command. Our eyes see the effects of the fight, but the Spirit points to the heart as the battlefield; this is where the true war is fought. We need to dig two holes, one to dig up the root, the other, to dig the deceptive ruler’s a grave. We have only one Ruler, and that is Christ. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” (1 Peter 3:15a NIV) So who is ruling our heart today, is it your sin, or is it your Savior?