Peace he gives to you
“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
There is so much excitement in the air during Christmas time. The hustle and bustle of finding the perfect gift, the beautiful Christmas glow in our homes, our oven working overtime filling the air with the smell of delicious baked goods, and all the colorful twinkling lights in the stores and throughout the neighborhoods. It truly is a very special time of year!
Yet, even in this beautiful time of year, many are still lacking peace in their hearts, causing many to feel bogged down, defeated, and even disillusioned by all the festivities.
The glorious and amazing news is that Jesus came to earth reigning as the ‘Prince of Peace’! He came to bring a peace that surpasses all our understandings; A peace that transcends our present problems or circumstances!
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
It is important to understand that this peace that Jesus offers is a peace that can only belong to those who put their trust in Him as Lord and Savior. You see, we all have the opportunity to receive the peace that God offers through Christ, but also we all have the opportunity to forfeit the peace that God desires to give us.
This is the Best Good News: The peace of Christ is available to you right now and we don’t want you to miss it! We do not have to journey through life scared, afraid, or discouraged - God desires us to walk courageously in faith, knowing that His peace will carry us through every trial and tribulation we may encounter.
Our heart is to remind you this Christmas season that God loves you and desires to give you a peace that is different than what this world offers you. God’s peace is not based on our circumstances but is based on His unconditional love and His sovereignty over every detail of our life!
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
Hope is here
I have always loved seeing people slow down as they journey through the season of Advent with such a beautiful reverence for God. We all know how the holiday season can easily slip through our fingers without giving Jesus a single thought — our great loss, truly.
So what is Advent?
Well the literal meaning of Advent derives from the Latin word adventus — meaning “coming”. Advent is a time for us to be intentional in remembering the arrival of Christ on earth but also, to look forward to His return. It is an invitation to experience true, gritty hope in the face of our present realities.
Like a tree sinking its roots deeper into the soil, we’re invited to sink our roots into God’s endless Well of Living Water. It is there, where hope, peace, love, and joy abound in our everyday ebbs and flow of life.
This week we are focusing on the hope Jesus brought to the world at His birth but also the hope we cling to in His redemptive return! Romans 8:22 speaks about how all creation is a groaning for Christ’s complete deliverance!
“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (Romans 8:22).
“The imagery of "groaning" conveys a deep, visceral response to suffering and anticipation. The Greek word "συστενάζει" (systenazei) suggests a collective, ongoing lamentation. This groaning is not just a passive complaint but an active yearning for deliverance” (Berean Study Bible).
Everyone and everything in all creation is yearning for deliverance — the hope that only Christ brings. This yearning for deliverance is clear in the age we live in, isn’t it? We all yearn for someone to save us, to free us, to know us, and to love us. As a follower of Christ, we receive this blessing and so much more when we anchor ourselves in the hope of Christ.
The hope that Christ offers, allows us to face our present realities, sufferings, disappointments, and hurts with a confident footing to walk through our realities in full knowledge that God works together all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). This kind of hope cannot be replicated or produced — it’s the gift God offers us.
“The nature of hope in the Old Testament is often described as more anticipatory and focused on the coming Messiah, while the New Testament presents a more realized hope of Jesus Christ, who has already fulfilled the promises of the Old Testament; essentially, the Old Testament offers a "hope for" while the New Testament offers a "hope in" due to Jesus' fulfillment of prophecy” (The Gospel Coalition).
The Good News is this: Hope is here and His name is Jesus Christ. He provides a reliable and secure Hope to those who accept Him as Lord and Savior!
“May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Do you know?!
Have you ever experienced the feeling of apprehension? The definition of apprehension is experiencing fear or anxiety of what may happen. Many times our fear is based on the unknown. In other words, "What if this happens or what if that happens?" When these questions assault our mind, it can weaken and even cripple us from being our best.
We may not know our future, but do we know the God who holds our future in His hands? When we are experiencing apprehension, do we transfer our fears of our “unknown” future to our KNOWN God?
I could not help but think of a scripture that talks about a city that erected an altar to a god entitled: THE UNKNOWN GOD. In Acts 17:23, the Bible shares about a time when Apostle Paul was in Athens and was provoked within him when he saw that the city was filled with numerous pagan temples and many altars to many gods.
“Athens, with its magnificent buildings and many gods, was a center for Greek culture, philosophy and education. Philosophers and educated men were always ready to hear something new, so they invited Paul to speak to them at the meeting of the Areopagus” (Bible Commentary).
Below is a portion of what Paul said to the people of Athens:
“Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heavens and earth and does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything. Rather, He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth and He marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.‘For in Him we live and move and have our being’” (Acts 17:24-28).
Do you know the God who made the world and everything in it?
Do you know the LORD of heaven and earth?
Do you know the God who allows you to take your next breath?
Do you know that He is not far from you?
The next time we become fearful about anything, let's not let our mind assault us with what is UNKNOWN – but instead – let's mediate on the God who has made Himself KNOWN to us through His Son Jesus Christ!
Let's remember:
His faithfulness!
His promises!
His character!
And let’s remember that in Him we live and move and have our being!
As I mentioned above, apprehension is defined as fear or anxiety of what may happen. However, confidence is defined as trust or faith in a person or thing.
Let’s trust and have faith in our living God and by His grace, His perfect love will cast out all fear (1 John 4:18a)!
The Good News is this: We can resolve our fears first by focusing on His immeasurable love for us and by allowing Him to love others through us. Only His love will quiet our fears and give us everlasting peace!
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing”(Zephaniah 3:17).
The sweet taste of forgiveness
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”
(1 John 1:9).
Recently, I made a decision by going ahead of God and not waiting for His timing. I was hasty in making my decision. Although I prayed for God’s will for more than several days, I made the decision even before the peace of God was in my heart. As soon as I made my decision, I felt guilt-ridden.
It wasn’t a sin in what I decided to do – it seemed harmless – but I was taking the action into my own hands and decided to move forward instead of waiting for God's confirmation.
Have you ever felt guilty? Usually we feel that the emotion of guilt is a bad thing – but see below at what this Bible commentary says about it:
“No one likes to feel guilty. Like an unwelcomed guest, guilt shows up at the worst possible time and does not go away no matter how much you wish it would.
Yet the truth is that we need guilt. It is the only proper response to any offense, whether a selfish thought, or premeditated murder. Even a nonbeliever wants a burglar to feel remorse for his theft. Why? Because he should. Guilt exposes the truth that we wish to avoid: We have all sinned. John, who is the author of the book of 1 John, puts it this way: ‘If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us’ (1 John 1:8).
But John does not leave us with this dismal picture of ourselves. Instead he goes on to paint a glorious portrait of a forgiving God. This is our only hope: ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9).
Guilt does more than just deliver the distressing news. It unlocks the door to forgiveness. Progress, change, reform, and (most important of all) God’s forgiveness all start with confession.
Confession works against the worst part of human nature, the part that imagines itself to be better than it really is. This mindset always stops short of confessing; it would rather ignore or ease feelings of guilt than admit them. But only open confession of our sins will completely cleanse us. Only when we admit that we are sinners, unworthy of God’s grace, can we make a fresh start” (Bible Commentary).
I ran to my heavenly Father, confessed my sin to Him and He reminded me of this glorious truth in 1 John: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteous.” My confession to Him, freed me to enjoy my fellowship with Christ!
I always want God to have His way in my life. Whenever I believed I got my way, I lost. But whenever I submitted to God's will and His timing, I always won and you will always win too!
The Good News is this: No matter what your sin may be - large or small - never forget this truth: Not only does God forgive us when we confess our sins to Him, but because of Jesus being the perfect sacrifice, He LOVES to forgive us and give us a fresh new start! Our God is a forgiving God!
“…God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance…” (Romans 2:4).
“Self-evaluation is difficult, and it is even more difficult to expose our conduct to God and let Him tell us where we need to change. But as Christians we must pray constantly that God will point out our sins, so that HE can heal them. Unfortunately, we are more likely to be amazed at God’s patience with others than humbled at his patience with us” (Bible Commentary).
A Prayer:
Father, thank You that You give us plenty of time to repent. Thank You for Your patience! Thank You that it is Your kindness that brings us to a place of confession. Thank You that You never want us to feel condemnation but conviction of our sins so that we can receive and taste the sweetness of forgiveness! Thank You that because of the perfect and righteous sacrifice of Jesus, You can be completely just and yet forgive us!
Building a reputation
“Then Naomi said, ‘Wait my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today’” (Ruth 3:18).
The man that Naomi was talking about in the above scripture is Boaz. Boaz is a major figure in the Book of Ruth. Boaz was a wealthy farmer in Bethlehem and kinsman of Elimelech, Naomi’s late husband. When Naomi decided to go back to her hometown in Israel after her husband and both of her son’s died, one of her young daughter-in-law’s, named Ruth, followed her back to her hometown. Ruth not only left behind her hometown to follow Naomi but she also held fast to Naomi’s God. Naomi knew the God of Israel and openly allowed Ruth to feel all the joys and anguish of her relationship to God.
In the scripture above, Naomi is arranging for Ruth’s marriage to Boaz. Boaz knew that in order to marry Ruth, he needed to find the nearest relative who had the first right as kinsman redeemer and he needed to first offer it to him before he could marry Ruth as the Law provided. Boaz was a man that wanted to do the right thing in the eyes of God and in the eyes of others. Boaz wanted to do the right thing sooner rather than later - he was a man who was not a procrastinator!
Boaz is known among all the people in his community as a man of his word – he followed through with his commitments. I love how Naomi described Boaz when she said, “For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.” What confidence Naomi had in Boaz' character!
“Naomi implied that Boaz would follow through with his promise at once. He obviously had a reputation for keeping his word and would not rest until his task was completed. Such reliable people stand out in any age and culture. Do others regard you as one who will do what you say? Keeping your word and following through on assignments should be high on anyone’s priority list. Building a reputation for integrity, however, must be done one brick, one act, at a time” (Bible Commentary).
Do the people in our life have confidence that we are a man or woman of our word?
The Good News is this: When we desire our integrity to line up with God’s standards, though never perfectly, we will stand out no matter what our age and no matter what culture we are living in!
“LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors whose who fears the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken” (Psalm 15).
False positive
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
I believe one of the most dangerous sins is pride. The reason why I believe it is so dangerous is because it sneaks up on us. Let me correct myself, it “appears” to sneak up upon us but the reality is pride is an attitude of the heart and it can blind us from the dangers that can seriously impact our life.
We don’t just wake up in the morning and realize that we are prideful. Instead it is the condition of the heart because of our fallen nature is embedded into each human walking on planet earth.
On the other hand, one of the most beautiful attitudes of the heart is humility. Everyone is attracted to humility – even God is attracted to true humility! The Bible says in James 4:6, “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
I believe one of the reasons God is opposed to the proud is because it gives the person a false positive. It appears to the person that everything is going great, when God knows and most likely others know, that just the opposite is occurring.
Pride never results in a positive. In fact, the Bible says that pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18)!
The Good News is this: God’s favor reaches out to us in love. In spite of our human shortcomings, He gives us worth and dignity when we turn to Him.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up”(James 4:10).
The power of god
“Is anything too hard for the Lord?” — Genesis 18:14
When I was a young tween, I remember going on a drive with my mom and for some reason as we were driving along, I was struck with the omnipotence (unlimited power) of God. I casually expressed this to my mom, “God can do anything— He can pick up our car like it’s a Polly Pocket car and move it anywhere He wants to!” It was one of those moments where the “fog” was cleared from my mind and I could grasp God’s unlimited power and His control of all creation. Although I was just a tween, I was able to understand God’s absolute sovereignty and because I was still young, I compared His unlimited power to a child’s toy - a Polly Pocket! :)
Just two minutes later after sharing this revelation about God to my mom, and while at stoplight, the car trembled with a loud noise and then eventually turned off; we had run out of gas! We both laughed out of nervousness and wondered how we were going to get to the gas station. Soon cars were going around us as we sat there in the car feeling helpless. To our surprise, a stranger appeared and knocked on our window and offered to help. This man was a humble man who walked with a heavy limp and never looked directly in our eyes. Without hesitation, the stranger pushed the car to the side of the road where my mom and I could wait for AAA safely. Full of gratitude, we turned to thank the kind stranger, but soon realized he was nowhere to be seen.
Quickly our gratitude moved towards God and it dawned on us that God had just revealed His power to us in a very personal way that was faith-building. God, who knows exactly how to meet us where we are at, and who loves to fan our flame of faith, had used my seemingly-juvenile explanation for His great power to exemplify His authority.
I will forever cherish my “Polly Pocket” story, as I saw first-hand: 1) God is intimately involved with our day-to-day living; 2) God loves when we have childlike faith; 3) God loves to reveal Himself to us; and 4) There is nothing too hard for the LORD!
How about you friend? Is there something in your life that you need to be reminded of God’s unlimited power available for you?
Please be encouraged as I share below from the faith building and inspiring story of Abraham and Sarah:
In Genesis 18:10, God shared with Abraham that his wife Sarah would have a son next year. Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tent, and she laughed to herself and thought, “After I am worn out and my husband is old, will I now have this pleasure?” The Bible says in Genesis 18:14, “Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
“Is anything too hard for the LORD?” The obvious answer is “Of course not!” This question reveals much about God. Make it a habit to insert your specific needs into this question. “Is this day in my life too hard for the Lord?” “Is this habit I’m trying to break too hard for Him?” Is this communication problem I am having too hard for Him?” Asking the question this way reminds you that God is personally involved in your life and nudges you to ask for His power to help you” (NIV Bible Commentary).
If we really believed this, how would our lives look differently?
The Good News is this: Our life’s challenges may not change but as we focus on who God is and His unlimited power, our anxieties are stripped of their power to control us and we are left with a courageous and unstoppable faith!
We encourage you to bring the following questions before God in prayer:
God, will you help me better grasp You as all-powerful?
God, what areas of my life do You desire to bring freedom and confidence by helping me trust in Your omnipotence?
What is a practical way I can live in light of Your omnipotence?
God, will you help me to see Your power in my life?
May we walk in faith enjoying the tender yet powerful care of the Almighty who is Omnipresent: present everywhere at the same time; Omniscient: all-knowing; and Omnipotent: the all powerful!
The high way
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
Once when flying, I heard the captain mention that we were going to climb to a height that would take advantage of the Jet Stream. When planes fly in the Jet Stream, it minimizes the use of fuel and maximizes the speed of the aircraft. Jet Streams are fast flowing narrow air currents found in the atmosphere of some planets including earth.
In order to take advantage of this Jet Stream highway, the pilots usually climb up to 29,000-39,000 feet above sea level. Although the pilots can get to their destinations at different heights, the airlines have discovered that utilizing the Jet Stream when using it as a tail wind - is the better way!
Do you know that God also has a “HIGH way” – a better way? The LORD says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways and MY thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).
As we are journeying on this earth, we don't always understand God's HIGH ways and as a result can become confused, frustrated, perplexed, overwhelmed and impatient. But when we connect with God through His Word and wait on His timing, He will lift us up to His Jet Stream and He will carry us effortlessly with His strength to His destination for us.
Fortunately for us, God's HIGH ways are not conditioned on the direction of the Jet Stream and we don’t have to climb to 29,000 -39,000 feet to enjoy the blessings of God's HIGHER ways :)!
The Good News is this: As a child of God, we have a loving, All-Knowing heavenly Father who is at the helm of our life and He is not only in control of the air currents, the atmosphere, the economy and the nations - but He is in control of EVERY detail of our life!
"If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the utmost part of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me and Your right hand shall hold me" (Psalms 139:10-11).
When i rise
“The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger quieter life come flowing in”
(C. S. Lewis).
Is this true for you as you rise each morning? I know at times it is true for me - all my wishes and hopes for the day rush at me like wild animals. And this is especially true for me during the Holiday seasons when my list for the day is even longer!
Do you know what I have found and I am sure you have found this too - nothing gives our day more completeness, fulfillment and joy than when we talk to our heavenly Father in prayer and listen to Him when we open up His Holy Word.
“I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure” (Psalm 11:162).
However, I admit to you that there are mornings that everything in me wants to grab my purse and run out the door to accomplish a wish or hope I have for the day. But when I shove all those desires back and take the time to listen to that other voice, taking that other point of view, “letting that other, larger, stronger quieter life come flowing in,” I never regret it as I am embraced by the arms of the Almighty!
I believe God’s heart of love says to His children, “Spend time with Me, My love, I desire to give you peace and strength and hope and encouragement and guidance for your day.”
With great anticipation, let’s press towards the goal of letting God quiet our soul and let's sit down, open up the Word of God and enjoy the fellowship with our King!
The Good News is this: God knows the pressures we carry each day and as a loving and caring Father, He encourages us to come to Him and receive the rest that He longs to give to each one of us.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29).
King of all kings
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Can you imagine the eyes of the LORD scanning the earth – looking for a heart that is completely His so that He can fully support and strengthen the person? What a beautiful picture of the intimacy of God!
I have had the pleasure of studying and reading about the kings of Judah for the last several days. There are two kings that I have enjoyed learning about - one is king Josiah. At the very young and tender age of eight, Josiah became king of Judah! As he reigned in this position, he already was aware of the spiritual sickness in his land. This was his reaction when the Book of God’s Law was read to him:
“As the Book of God’s Law was read to Josiah for the first time, he was shocked, frightened, and humbled. He realized what a great gap existed between his efforts to lead his people to God and God’s expectations for His chosen nation. He was overwhelmed by God’s holiness and immediately tried to expose his people to that holiness” (NIV Bible Commentary).
Although Josiah’s father and grandfather were exceptionally wicked, when Josiah became king and came face to face with the Word of God, he sought after God with all his might! He made drastic changes and the Bible says that there was no king like him!
Here is why he was honored by God as the most obedient king:
“His obedience followed this pattern: (1) he recognized sin; (2) he eliminated sinful practices; (3) he attacked the cause of sin. Not only must we remove sinful actions, we must also eliminate causes of sin — those situations, relationships, routines, and patterns of life that lead us to the door of temptation” (NIV Bible Commentary).
God made sure that king Josiah will forever be known as the most obedient king – God loves to give honor where honor is due! This is what the Word of God says about king Josiah:
“Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him” (2 Kings 23:25).
There is another king that God honored – it was king Hezekiah. King Hezekiah was also a king of Judah and was the great-grandfather of king Josiah.
King Hezekiah was a king with a powerful prayer life and he had a personal close relationship with God. Hezekiah was aware of the people’s lack of trust in God and made efforts to boldly clean house.
One particular time in king Hezekiah’s reign that shows his great trust in God, was when the king of Assyria came as an enemy against the people of Judah. Hezekiah knew that there is a greater King than the king of Assyria. He prayed to the Lord with complete trust and childlike faith in God’s ability to deliver and God answered his prayer favorably.
This is what the Word of God says about king Hezekiah:
“He trusted in the LORD God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, or who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him…” (2 Kings 18:5-6).
“Both Josiah and Hezekiah are praised for their reverence towards God. Hezekiah was said to be the greatest in trusting God (faith), while Josiah is said to be greatest in following the law of God (obedience)” (NIV Bible Commentary).
How do we want to be remembered?
Are we like king Josiah and deeply humbled to lead people to the true God as we see this world living contrary to His Holy Word? Do we trust God with all of our heart like King Hezekiah in spite of our current circumstances? Do we trust that there is a greater King named Jesus Christ?!
The Good News is this: We do not have to be a king of a nation to change the world around us. We can start making a difference for God right where we are! Let's start with our own families - or at our work place - or even at the market places we visit!
Oh LORD, may our lives bring You, the King of all kings honor! May we be known as people who love You, trust You and obey You with ALL of our hearts!
In the shade
For over all the glory there will be a canopy, a shelter to give shade from the heat by day and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain” (Isaiah 4:6).
When we first started thinking about a name for this ministry four years ago, we were captivated by the idea of walking so close to God that we find ourselves in His shade or shadow. Just like the reprieve we find in the shade of a tree, we find rest in the shade God offers us! This was the heart that gave this ministry the name, enlasombra; we desire to dwell in the shelter of the Almighty!
It is in God’s shade where we find peace, protection, purpose, freedom, rest, and see a clearer picture of who we are in the light of His loving Truth and Grace. It is in this “secret” place where we have personally experienced many answers to our seeking but also peace when our prayers have not been answered according to our time table or even according to our desires. In the doubting and waiting seasons we all experience, we can be fully assured that in His shadow we find rest that every outcome is under the umbrella of His sovereignty.
“All whom God uses greatly are first hidden in the secret of His presence, away from the pride of man. It is there our vision clears. It is there the silt drops from the current of our life and our faith begins to grasp His arm.
Abraham waited for the birth of Isaac. Moses didn’t lead the Exodus until he was eighty. Elijah waited beside the brook. Noah waited 120 years for rain. Paul was hidden away for three years in Arabia.
God is working while His people are waiting, waiting, waiting.
That’s what’s happening. For the present time, nothing. For the future, everything” (Charles Swindoll).
Don’t you love this encouragement from Charles Swindoll? What a beautiful thought that as we wait and wait and wait in the secret place of His presence, our faith begins to grasp the arm of God!
The Good News is this: Even as we wait under the canopy of His glory, the waiting speaks forth purpose.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).
Facing reality
Life can sometimes leave you scratching your head - would you agree? At times, it feels like I have a good grasp on where my life is and where it’s heading. But in other times, I have encountered circumstances that have left me with foggy glasses, blurring my vision. Sometimes I’m at a loss for words when trying to sort through and process where I’m at mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. I confess that I don’t always know what’s going on, what I need, or what the next best step forward should be.
In these moments, God delights in inviting us to process before Him, and to even wrestle with Him. You see, in order to have the abundant life God desires for us, we must confront life, despite our fears, with courage instead of masking, denying, or escaping from our overwhelming realities.
When was the last time you asked God to reveal to you His perspective?
In Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, he describes “people who have spent their lives chained in a cave facing a blank wall. They watch shadows projected onto the wall by objects passing in front of a fire behind them…The shadows are the prisoners’ reality but not accurate representations of the real world” (Wikipedia).
The prisoners didn’t get to see the truth behind the shadows. Though the shadows are their reality, true reality was found outside the cave and in the light of the sun.
Without the light of Christ in our lives, we only get shadows of what our true realities are - and many people are ok with that. But don’t we all ache to know truth?
Perhaps you have a specific situation in your life that God is calling you to face with courage!
I love that God has a strengthening love - a love that, by His power, helps us to press on and conquer our fears and to not shrink back in the face of our reality.
"When you fully experience God's love, you have nothing to fear. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear" (1 John 4:18).
Contrary to our every human instinct, God desires to take us by the hand and walk us right through our circumstances, helping us better understand His heart, the identity He has given us, and to process our experiences before Him.
Thankfully, what God offers us is a completely different approach than the escapism the world and its many religions offer to “live enlightened.” God designed us to face reality with Him by our side. The world’s diverse answers for healing are really just coping mechanisms that attempt to treat the symptoms of living in a broken world. Jesus knows our natural inclination to avoid and deny hard truth, yet He knows that facing the hard truth begins our healing, sets us free from being stuck in old and harmful patterns, and allows us to seek God to truly experience the abundant life.
Recently, I went to a women’s evening retreat at our church where the speaker said this: “Human wellbeing requires harmony with reality” (Jen Oshman).
Numbing ourselves into denial for fear of facing hard realities will only cause us further pain, leave us stuck, and keep us in the dark. God is our Light. Instead of numbing out, we can boldly approach God’s throne in our state of blindness. We can seek God’s help confidently knowing that God is faithful to meet us and shed light on our lives. He desires to help us process in the light of Who He is and His heart for the world. No one else promises the hope God does - what better, safer space to process life’s most painful and jolting experiences!
The God of the Universe humbles Himself to hear our cry, allows us to contend with Him, and is merciful to provide everything we need. He doesn’t rush us, He doesn’t demean us or our experience, He doesn’t demand that we dishonor the limitations we have as humans beings. He doesn’t want us to believe the lie that we can only bring a question, emotion, or circumstance before Him once we’ve gone and made sense of it ourselves.
When we pursue truth, and ask God to give us a better understanding of our reality, it cost us our pride. When we’re sincere in pursuing truth, we must humble ourselves and be willing to accept truth for what it is — not trying to change or manipulate it in any sense. But sometimes truth is hard to digest. Sometimes our realities are too painful to look in the face. In these moments, we can rest knowing that He Who empowers us to face our realities will also help and empower us to walk through what we are processing through. God shows His love to us by shining His light on our realities so that we can truly live.
The Good New is this: God has a strengthening love. It is a love that, by His power, helps us to press on and conquer our fears and not to shrink back in the face of our reality.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
Heaven is yours part two
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:9-12)
Welcome to part two of our study on The Beatitudes. The heart of God for His people is to experience His unmatched and unparalleled blessings that can only be found in His statutes.
“Being blessed by God means experiencing hope and joy, independent of the outward circumstances. To open the door to such hope and joy, which leads to the deepest form of happiness, we must walk across the threshold of suffering, sacrifice, and transformation” (NIV Bible Commentary).
The pure in heart
As I have read through the Bible, I have noticed an important consistent characteristic in the Bible legends we have come to know, they all sought a purity of heart towards God and towards others. This is a key component of living a life pleasing to God because the heart is a window into the soul. God, who can see right through habits and external behaviors, examines our hearts rather than the latter. A purity of heart is worth more than all the treasures this world has to offer because here, Jesus tells us that those who are pure in heart will see God.
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their savior. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek your face, God of Jacob” (Psalm 24:3-6).
The peacemakers
A signifier of children of God should be that we are peacemakers. I wonder, however, how many people would describe Christians in their life as one who brings peace to their relationships and environments. Sadly, I think this is an area many believers need more intentional practice in. So much damage relationally and spiritually could have been avoided by keeping peacemaking at the forefront of our minds and interactions. Peacemaking feels like common sense however it requires an intentionality in our posture towards humility and maturity.
“Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:12-16).
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous” (Matthew 5:44-45).
At times, many of us are fighting against the very heart of God when we act quarrelsome among each other. Peacemaking is the faithful act of obedience to a faithful God. It is something that needs to be fought for.
The persecuted, the insulted, and falsely accused for righteousness
The last two blessings seem to echo each other don’t they? When we choose to follow Christ we are bound to receive hate, some more vial than others. Following Christ will come with a spectrum of suffering, judgement, hate, persecution, insults, and false claims against us; however, the hope we have in Christ outweighs the temporary discomfort we receive from others. What we receive from a relationship with God is more than enough. I love what 1 Peter 3: 14,17 says:
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed…For it is better, if it is God’s will, to for doing good than for doing evil.”
Doing good will always be better than doing evil. Relationship with God will always be better than no relationship with Him. We serve a God who is full of mercy, full of compassion, full of love, full of justice. Living a life that is pleasing to God may not always feel like sunshine and roses but being in relationship with Him is unmatched with joy, wisdom, and transformation — nothing the world can offer in the slightest. Here, Jesus is promising a reward in heaven for those who suffer for Him and reminds us of the many great people of God before us were also persecuted, yet still proved faithful to Him!
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me” (John 15:18-21).
The Good News is this: The heart of God for His people is one of blessing. He has provided a roadmap to living a faithful, obedient, and righteous life for Him. And although there will be times of hardship and persecution, we can remain hope-filled and steadfast knowing the One who leads us is faithful, trustworthy, and true.
Heaven is yourS part one
“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them. He said:
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’”
Matthew 5:1-12
“The first portion of the Sermon on the Mount is known as the Beatitudes, which means ‘The Blessings’ but can also be understood as giving the believer His ‘be – attitudes’ — the attitudes he should ‘be.’ In the Beatitudes, Jesus sets forth both the nature and the aspirations of citizens of His kingdom. They have and are learning these character traits.
All of these character traits are marks and goals of all Christians. It is not as if we can major in one to the exclusion of others, as is the case with spiritual gifts. There is no escape from our responsibility to desire every one of these spiritual attributes” (David Guzik).
God’s ways are counterintuitive to us. The Bible commentary says it best: “The Beatitudes don’t promise pleasure and earthly prosperity. Being blessed by God means experiencing hope and joy, independent of the outward circumstances.”
As I think about the Beatitudes and how they are goals of all Christian’s, I giggle thinking how innocently, yet purely wrong in my thinking I can be on some days. But what I love about God is the genuine kindness and compassion He continues to bestow on us as we try to navigate our lives like Christ. I think about my 2-year old daughter, Norah, who as she is learning the ins and outs of life, will mimic everything I say or do. And every time she does this, I smile with absolute delight. She wants to be like me, and her attempts to do things the correct way, is pure and wholesome. I believe God looks at us in a similar way. He knows we are going to stumble and fall in our attempt to please Him but as a loving Father, He sees our heart in these times and I believe that means the most to Him.
In Jesus’ teaching of the Beatitudes, we see a pattern. The first blessings in verses 3 and 10 both offer a present tense promise…”theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” But in verses 4-9, Jesus speaks in future-tense that will one day be fulfilled heaven side.
“Another way to put it is that Jesus has brought the kingdom of heaven to earth in his own kingly power and fellowship, and we can enjoy foretastes of it here and now; but the full experience of the life of the kingdom will have to wait for the age to come” (John Piper).
Today, we are going to be sharing from the first five beatitudes. Next week, we will be diving into the remaining four beatitudes.
By sharing from the Beatitudes for the next two weeks, our heart is that we can together remind ourselves and begin to understand what being blessed means to God and to us!
Jesus was getting ready to speak to an eager and curious crowd that had already gathered to hear Him. Seeing the crowd, He walks up to the top of the Hill and His disciples follow Him up. This is when Jesus begins with the famous Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…”
I can imagine the crowd going quiet, many of them confused — Blessed are the poor in spirit? Is that not the antithesis of what we all naturally pursue in life? He continues…
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
I’m sure much of the crowd knew God as a comforter to those who mourn. But why consider it blessed to mourn?
“‘Blessed are those who mourn,’ clarifies the subjective side of being poor in spirit. Blessed are the poor in spirit who mourn. Blessed are the people who feel keenly their inadequacies and their guilt and their failures and their helplessness and their unworthiness and their emptiness — who don’t try to hide these things under a cloak of self-sufficiency, but who are honest about them and grieved and driven to the grace of God” (John Piper).
In other words, blessed are those who humbly view themselves and their circumstances in light of who God is in all His Mighty Power as they will be the ones who experience and receive the grace of God!
Jesus continued “Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth.”
In Psalm 37: 5-11, David shares how the meek can inherit the land. We are reminded that the meek are those who wait patiently for God to move on His timing based on His infinite knowledge. Those who will inherit the land, are those who commit to trusting in God despite what our circumstances may be.
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, and your vindication like the noonday sun” (Psalm 37:5-6).
“Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness for they will be filled.”
In Isaiah 55:2–3, it describes beautifully a hunger and thirst for righteousness as the key to our soul’s living abundantly!
“Incline your ear, and come to me; hear that your soul may live…” (Isaiah 55:3)
When I picture someone who had a hunger and thirst for righteousness, I think of Jesus’s disciple, Peter. He so desperately wanted to please Jesus and to live like Christ. Although Peter fell short many times and even denied Christ three times that we know of, there is no doubt that Peter desired passionately to please Jesus.
“Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy…”
There is no greater biblical understanding of mercy than when Jesus Christ willingly laid down His life on the cross for us. We did nothing to deserve this merciful and loving act. Yet, God freely gave His son and because of God’s mercy, we are called children of God for all those who accept Him and ask for His forgiveness!
Likewise, we should desire to follow Jesus’ example and choose to be merciful to others because of the great mercy given to us.
The Good News is this: We serve a God who desires to bless His children. But His blessings don’t lead us to a gluttonous mindset but rather to one of holiness that will result in pure joy regardless of our circumstances!
Let’s choose together to be doers of His Word and in turn receive His richest blessings!
“But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God’s precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]” (James 1:22, Amplified).
Heroic confidence
I found the following quote from a Charles Spurgeon sermon that has changed my brain chemistry when understanding the fear of God and what it can unlock in us. The following quote is long but powerful…
“If you have got a great fear of God that is what you will do, but if you have not the reverence you will not have the confidence. For lack thereof you will timorously shrink back into the sin which galls you. May God give you the heroic confidence which springs of a deep fear of him.
If we have much fear of God we shall have strong confidence, but if we have not the fear of God then the fear of man will make us waver.
If you fear God much you will be like Peter and John, of whom when the council saw them it is said, ‘they wondered at their boldness.’ The fear of God will make you bold in speaking God's word. Or should you fall down in sheer exhaustion, instead of standing up in sound enthusiasm, the fear of God will prove a potent restorative.
Even if you are overthrown for a time you shall overcome at the last. In the Book of Micah we read, "Rejoice not over me, O mine enemy, for though I fall, yet shall I rise again." He that really fears God expects to conquer, even though for a time he seems to be defeated.”
A Heroic Confidence
When we think of the word “fear” we commonly think about an overwhelming feeling of dread and terror which prompts us to flee as far away from whatever is causing us to be fearful. Fear also causes us to feel weak and fatigued. However, the Bible uses the phrase “fear of God” over and over again as a positive attribute.
When we are called to fear God, we are called to draw near to Him not away from Him. God’s heart has never been to distance Himself from us. The revenant response of fearing God is a way we approach God, not flee from Him.
What I have been discovering is that fearing God is two-fold. It is a reverent respect and requires an active response! When we have reverent respect it is more than us looking at something beautiful and admiring its glory. Fearing God will unleash a heroic confidence as we pursue our God-given purpose. This heroic confidence is a unique characteristic given to us through the Holy Spirit that springs us into action.
A heroic confidence shocks people, leaving them wondering, “Where did that courage and confidence came from?!”
The beautiful mystery of it all is that a heroic confidence is nothing that can be learned or earned because it is given and activated by the Holy Spirit. Just like the Holy Spirit gave the Apostles a heroic confidence for their time, we too can be empowered to step into our calling in obedient faith.
“Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing” (Psalm 34:9-10).
It is also important to mention the times where our days feel full of defeat and dismantling. I can recount troubling times upon troubling times where I truly felt at a loss for what God was doing. Much like what I assume the Israelites may have felt as they left Egypt and stepped deeper and deeper into the unknown of the wilderness; approaching what they thought was a dead end at the Red Sea with an enemy quickly approaching. We too can often feel defeated and discouraged at our present circumstances and trials.
Where is our heroic confidence in those places? I think that is why Micah 7:8 resonates with me so much… “do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”
We all fall, and we all can sit in darkness and experience the feelings of defeat and confusion, yet God is ever present and even in our darkest moments, He is still declaring victory over us. This confident assurance in God is what makes it so heroic!
Recently, my husband and I have been recalling and admiring the life of Daniel. Daniel had so distinguished himself that King Darius had plans to set him over the whole kingdom. This favor caused jealous officials to try and find ways to criticize Daniel’s life but they couldn’t find anything so they attacked his faith instead. Knowing that Daniel prayed three times a day and never hid his daily prayer routine from the government, the jealous officials came up with a plan to get rid of Daniel through tricking the king to sign a decree.
Because of this decree, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den. What would send most people into absolute terror, Daniel instead had a sturdy assurance of the goodness of God - understanding that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. This is heroic confidence!
Heroic confidence is approaching God fearfully knowing He is absolutely sovereign while having an intimate knowledge of knowing that God is absolutely good!
“Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: ‘May you prosper greatly! I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He preforms signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He rescued Daniel from the power of the lions’” (Daniel 6:25-27).
The Good News is this: Heroic confidence is not determined by our circumstances. Heroic confidence is given to us by the Holy Spirit. God helps us grasp how long, wide, high and deep is the love of Christ for us (Ephesians 3:18-19). This love from God, gives us a confidence that comes from the power of the Holy Spirit.
Like Daniel, when we fear God and not people, God develops in us a fight for faithfulness, a fearlessness, and a spirit of fortitude that will carry us through life’s beautiful and tumultuous journey.
An honorable aim
“For we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man.” — 2 Corinthians 8:21
Throughout the Bible and throughout history, we are given powerful examples of men and women who lived lives that left an honorable legacy. There are, however, plenty of examples of the opposite.
An example of an honorable man, who is a beloved President of the United States, was Abraham Lincoln. Below is a snapshot of why he was so beloved and honorable:
Abraham Lincoln “was consistently recognized for being an ethical man who was frequently asked to act as a judge or mediator because of his impartiality. According to stories, when Abraham was working as a store clerk he mistakenly shortchanged a customer. Once the store closed that evening, Abe walked three miles to give the man mere pennies in order to make it right…Mr. Lincoln was known to be straightforward, and above all, honest.” (Spencer County).
When we make it our aim to be honorable not only in man’s sight but also in God’s sight, God rejoices! But what happens when our actions are not honorable?
Psalm 51:6 says, “You desire truth in the innermost being, and in secret You will make wisdom known to me.”
The author of Psalm 51 was written by King David. Although King David was an honorable man, there was a time in his life when his actions were far from honorable. David had sinned by committing adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah’s wife. Uriah was an elite solider in David’s army and David tried to cover up his sin by having Uriah killed. David wrote this Psalm after feeling the weight of his sin, and the pain that he caused to so many. The distance that he felt from God was almost unbearable. With true repentance, David turns to God and confesses.
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; You are right in your verdict and justified when You judge.” — Psalm 51:1-4
God desires intimacy with us but it is important to note that unconfessed sin makes intimacy with God impossible. You see, as much as we desire to be honorable, there are times where we fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The Bible makes it clear that God is willing to forgive any sin, although we may suffer the consequences of our sins on this earth as David did, when we confess our sins with a contrite heart, God will forgive us and return to us the joy of our salvation.
“Psalm 51 expresses one of the clearest examples of repentance in all of Scripture. Countless broken sinners have found in these words an exquisite expression of their deeply felt need for God’s mercy and forgiveness. David’s confession has helped people examine excuses, halfhearted repentance, and lack of sorrow over sin that can keep them from experiencing pardon. David’s words also demonstrate the place of hope within confession” (Bible Commentary).
The life story of Abraham Lincoln is admirable and is note worthy to emulate. However, even more note worthy is God’s heart towards us when we lose our aim and sin against God and man. The love our Heavenly Father has for us is far greater and incomparable to any earthly father relationship. Not only does God long to embrace, forgive and restore us when we confess our sins, God longs for a close intimate relationship with His daughters and His sons.
The Good News Is This: Through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for our sins on the cross, we can draw near to our Heavenly Father and receive forgiveness and intimacy from a merciful and gracious God!
God is waiting for us with arms opened wide. Let’s not turn away from God when we sin, but let’s turn towards God with a humble heart to receive His loving and warm embrace that is always waiting just for us!
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” —Psalm 51:10-11
Now what
Have you ever asked yourself this question, “Now what?” It’s a question we ask ourselves when we feel the rug has been pulled from beneath us. When we are in a season where we lose jobs, relationships, income, and even lose the comfort we have in familiar surroundings, we can find ourselves asking this same question,“Now what?” But it is not only when we feel we have lost something that we ask ourselves “Now what?”
When we have bought the dream house, when we succeeded at obtaining the dream career, when we are married to our dream person, when our passport is riddled with stamps from various countries, and when we have reservations at world-renown restaurants, it may appear to others as if we are at the top of the world. However, like Solomon, even when according to the world’s standards we have “made it,” our life can feel empty and futile and we can ask ourselves the same question, “Now What?!”
It is good to enjoy life and the good gifts and pleasurable experiences that are given to us from God. However, have you ever felt the subtle sting of an achievement or experience that is not quite as satisfying as you thought it would be?
When Solomon became king, he asked God for wisdom (2 Chronicles 1:17-12) and God made him the wisest man in the world (1 Kings 4:29-34). King Solomon had all the riches of the world - and Kings and leaders from other nations came to Jerusalem to learn from him. But with all his practical insight on life, Solomon failed to heed his own advice, and he began a downward spiral. But when Solomon took stock of his life, it was with an attitude of humility and repentance. Solomon hoped to spare his readers of the emptiness of life, reminding us that everything apart from God is empty, hollow and meaningless. (Bible Commentary)
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was my reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” — Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
I know, I know, Ecclesiastes isn’t exactly the most positive, happy-go-lucky kind of reading, but it certainly provides a wise approach to life. God speaks to us through the book of Ecclesiastes to encourage us to keep Him at the center of our life— remain in awe of Him, and to keep His commandments, no matter what our life circumstances.
The Good News is this: God desires to satisfy the deep longings of the human heart. Through Jesus Christ, our lives can have meaning and purpose and His love can fill the emptiness of every human heart!
You see, we are hardwired for purpose. I believe this is at the heart of every “Now What” question.
So, what should we do when we find ourselves disillusioned by our loses and unsatisfied and empty even after we achieved our dreams and are left asking ourselves, “Now What?!”:
Entrust ourselves to God. In Psalm 37:5 it says, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.” God loves when we come to our senses and display confidence in who He is rather than trying to find fulfillment all on our own; willing every desire of ours “into existence.” He has a better way and that way is to look and depend on God for our purpose and trust His plan for our lives.
Ask God: “What is the next right step?” All throughout Scripture, we see God providing guidance for His people— He even provides war direction for His people’s success! God loves when we come reverently and boldly to Him. And God promises us that He will reveal Himself to those who earnestly seek Him. It is in God’s heart to guide us in order for us to live a purpose-filled life! When we don’t “hear” from God, we should continue daily meditating on the Word of God to better understand the heart of God and to discover the words He has already spoken to us across time.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” — Psalm 32:8
Then Take Action. Our actions are an outpouring of what we believe. For most of us, just doing the next right thing - like submitting a job application, joining a life group, reaching out to that friend, or cutting something out of our lives, takes immense courage and trust in God. We can obey God now by doing what’s right in front of us today!
It is a wonderful gift that God does not allow the pleasures of the earth to fulfill us. He uses the disappointments in our life, though painful, to lift our eyes to Him. It’s wildly uncomfortable and discombobulating - maybe even angering at times. But, the cure to dissatisfaction is to focus on God and dedicate ourselves for His purpose for our life.
May our hearts’ yearning for something this world cannot offer only launch us into a more fervent pursuit of Christ in our day-to-day. May we see the blessing God offers us in our disenchantment as an opportunity to ponder our true meaning and purpose in this life and beyond!
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of ALL mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” — Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
The secret place
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” — Psalm 91:1
Years ago, I attended a conference for young Christian authors and leaders led by Beth Moore where she discussed the Theology of Secrecy. In Beth Moore’s Bible study, Sacred Secrets, she explains that “the Theology of Secrecy is that secrets manifest”. In other words, secrets, whether good or bad, will come to light.
“For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” — Mark 4:22
Living in a performative culture, we have been conditioned to curate our lives and ourselves to others in search of approval and belonging. The danger of this performative society is that what is being presented about ourselves is one-dimensional and we are multi-dimensional beings. We are deeply complicated and unique — every person is more than what is presented or performed.
On the other side of a performative life is a secret life. We all can relate to various degrees of image-management. However, living a performative life can cause us to become more concerned with what others think about us, and become desensitized to what is most important: an honest and intimate relationship with Jesus.
God sees us in our secret places. God sees the good, the bad and the ugly, yet He loves us entirely. When our joy is to spend time with Him in our secret places, enjoying intimacy with God alone, we will find great meaning, peace and transformation in our lives.
The “secret place” represents a Holy Communion between us and God; it is intimate and all-knowing. In the “secret place” with God there are no secrets. It’s a freeing and safe place to be understood and heard by a loving God.
God delights not in that which is curated but what is true and real.
“God longs to transform us and make us more like Him, but it happens in the secret place. Change happens when we fix our eyes on Him and let Him shed light into the dark places in our lives.” (LifeWay Women)
The Good News is this: God is El Roi (The God Who Sees) and will shine light into the dark places of our lives. But God also sees our faithfulness to Him, our hope in Him, our kindness to others, our desire to glorify Him, and our love for Him! God will use our faithfulness to Him in the secret places to use us powerfully in the public places!
“She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, ‘You’re the God who sees me! Yes! He saw me; and then I saw Him.’” — Genesis 16:13 (MSG)
What we present to the world doesn’t have to be merely our curated self. When we prioritize our secret place with God and we receive His transforming, forgiving and unconditional love, God will use our unique and true self to shine God’s light to a desperate world!
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16
God’s timing
“The stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord as well his steps.” — George Mueller
George Mueller was a Christian evangelist and the director of Ashley Down orphanage in England. The work of Mueller and his wife with orphans began in 1836. In his lifetime, He cared for 10,024 orphans while providing educational opportunities for them. He established 117 Christian schools which educated more than 120,000 students.
Mueller never made requests for financial support to care for the orphanage (nor did he go into debt). Many times, he received unsolicited food donations only hours before they were needed to feed the children. These miraculous acts further strengthened his faith and trust in God.
Mueller was in constant prayer with God asking Him to provide for the needs of the orphans in his care. Because of these faithful prayers, God touched the hearts of donors to make provisions for the orphans.
For example, this well documented occasion showed Mueller’s strong faith in His Lord:
“The children are dressed and ready for school. But there is no food for them to eat,” the housemother of the orphanage informed George Mueller. George asked her to take the 300 children into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. He thanked God for the food and waited. George knew God would provide food for the children as he always did. Within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. “Mr. Mueller,” he said, “last night I could not sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in.” Soon, there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. The milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed. He asked George if he could use some free milk. George smiled as the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk. It was just enough for the 300 thirsty children." (GeorgeMueller.org)
We may feel that God’s timing doesn’t always align with our time table. In fact, sometimes we feel God has forgotten us all together. But nothing can be further from the truth. Throughout scripture we are encouraged and reminded that God hears our prayers. In Psalms 34:4 David says, “I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” God hears our prayers and sees our needs. And as we see in this story of George praying for the immediate need of feeding the children, God answered just in time.
When we consider our days, we are consumed with the here and the now. We see our time in hours, minutes, and seconds. God, however, sees our lives holistically. Every intimate detail of our days matter to Him because He knows our destiny. God sees us in our waiting. He uses the periods of waiting in our life for refinement worth more than gold. When we surrender our ideal timing to God, we put ourselves at the mercy of a merciful and loving God, which is a beautiful place to be.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31
The Good News is this: Even though God’s timing does not fit into our time table, one thing we can be assured of— God’s timing will always be perfect for us!
“The Bible says that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. And in his Bible, George Mueller had written in the margin “And the stops also.” Yes, dear friend, just like our walks are ordered by the Lord, our holdups are also ordered by the Lord. Just like our ways have a greater purpose, our stops also have a higher purpose. If our calling builds our faith, our holdups strengthen our faith and make our patience perfect.
If the Lord has built a hedge around us, let us not try to break through them. Let us focus our eyes on Jesus, and the Pillar of the Cloud will move at the right moment, and then let us follow Him to our destiny. Amen.” (Patric Benziher)
“The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” — Psalms 37:23
Stand firm in the armor of god
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13-14)
My husband and I enjoy a good war movie. We love watching soldiers courageously standing their ground in the face of a dangerous and armed enemy. We are inspired by the endurance these heroes have in suffering to the point of torture or even death because of their deep convictions and commitment for a worthy cause.
In Ephesians 6:10-16 it says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
In scripture we are warned of a spiritual war at play and are instructed to arm ourselves against the devil and his tactics. My love for war movies allows me to visualize (to a degree) what it’s like to stand firm in the face of adversity and reminds me how we need to prepare for the unseen battle we face each and every day in the spiritual realm.
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that come from the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:14-15)
To “stand firm” does not mean complacent waiting. Actually, standing firm is an effective battle strategy that requires our active participation.
“In the Greek text, the word for “stand firm” is steko. As you would expect from the context, it is a military term that defines the heart of the warrior ethos. It defines the warrior spirit. Steko describes three attributes — three disciplines — of a true warrior.” (Tim knight)
The three attributes of a warrior are: (1) To be prepared, (2) To hold your position, and (3) To be relentless.
TO BE PREPARED
When we are told to put on the full Armor of God, we are called to prepare for any and all possibilities. One important way to prepare for battle is to put on the proper gear. God equips us with spiritual gear for a spiritual battle.
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:14-17)
God has provided us His protection by giving us the Holy Spirit within us and His mighty armor surrounding us.
“Steko describes a warrior who has been trained to stand firm in battle; it is a warrior who has prepared himself to fight and win. The true warrior is skilled in the use of his weapons. He stands firm because that is what he has been trained to do. Standing firm in today’s world requires training (musar). It requires building discipline and skill into your life so that you are prepared to fight and win the battles you will face.” (Tim Knight)
TO HOLD YOUR POSITION
Each of us is given a position to take - an assignment that God has tasked us with. Sometimes our assignment is to wait. For example, we believe God has my husband in a wait and watch position. Everything within my husband is desiring to push forward, and to pursue. Yet God’s instructions to him in this specific situation is to “hold.” My husband is tempted to ignore this instruction, but because God says “Hold” - we must wait with eyes pinned on Christ for instruction, despite the urge to move!
“Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20.17)
“Standing Firm” (steko) is a strong and intentional stance of holding your ground and watching for the next order.
TO BE RELENTLESS
Lastly, a warrior who has steko must be relentless. To be relentless means to be persistent in your cause, persistent in your position, persistent in your duty. This is the attribute I admire greatly from the soldiers who fight for their cause and their country. Warriors do not give up or give in to the enemy unto death! This type of commitment causes me to ponder these questions:
Are we relentless for the Gospel?
Are we relentless in our day-to-day spiritual battles? Or are we unarmed and unaware?
“In order to stand firm against the enemy, especially in those situations when we are being targeted, we must be strong in the Lord. That means be humble, mentally tough, alert, trained, and equipped with God’s armor. This is the pathway to victory” (Tim Knight).
The Good News is this: We do not need to fear the enemy and his schemes when we remember that God equips us, prepares us, and leads us to victory through Christ Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit!
“Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." (Philippians 1:27)