Striving or Sliding

I thought love would be easier. I was mistaken. I thought love flowed naturally, smoothly, uncomplicatedly. Instead, I’m discovering it takes time, effort, and constant commitment. Whether it is loving God, your spouse, your child, your friends, or the difficult people in your life--it all takes attention and dedication.

It seems counterintuitive to strive in the name of love. Yet, we do whatever it takes to stay connected with the ones we love. We accept pain and become vulnerable. We climb and we descend. We defend and we surrender. We strive and we slide.

As long as we are controlled by the Spirit, our movements, whether up or down, are purposeful. Conversely, when we are operating under our own strength, driven by our own agenda--all our striving amounts to nothing. Loving God--staying connected, faithful, surrendered--takes a great deal of dedication, time, and effort. Remaining committed to Christ is no easy task.

Lord, grant us the grace to always abide in you and be faithful and fruitful.

Heavier End

“God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears.” (Psalm 34:4 MSG)

When we move large pieces of furniture around, my husband always takes the heavier end. He is much stronger than I am, so I don’t argue. I just pick up the lighter end and listen to his directions. He tells me how to turn around tight corners and when and where to set things down. We have to be in constant communication.

When we have to carry large burdens, God meets us more than halfway. He takes up the heavier end. Our role is to pick up the lighter end and listen for directions. If we need to rest midway, or set the load down to get a better grip on it, we just have to let Him know.  Allowing God to bear the bulk of our burden, frees us from anxiety and fear.

“He pulled me out of my despair

He taught me how to walk

From fear into security

From quicksand to the Rock.”

( Lyrics from the song: “I waited for the Lord on High,” by Petra)

Positive Change

“The Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.” (1 Sam 10:6 NIV)

A huge storm hit our neighborhood the other day--high winds, thunder, lightning, rain, hail--it was quite scary. It lasted about an hour. Luckily, we didn’t have any major damage. Once the storm passed, the sky cleared quickly, the birds were out chirping, and everything looked green and thriving. The sudden change made me wish that all of life’s storms passed so quickly and harmlessly.

We all desire positive changes in our lives, and we want it immediately. We would rather not have any storms, just gentle showers, at opportune times, that lead to growth. Unfortunately, this rarely happens. Instead we experience storms that last years and years, storms that cause severe, long-term damage, storms that suck up all our hope, strength, and resources.

The Spirit of God is holy and powerful, but its timing is unpredictable. It reveals truth. Once our mind is cleared of false thoughts, we are open to enlightenment. Prophesying is the expression of truth; truth brings positive change and fresh, new growth in our innermost being.

Everything Matters

“You are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:7 NLT)

Most cultures do not value sparrows. They are common, noisy, and not particularly attractive. Adult sparrows feed on grain, while baby sparrows eat insects. In the 1950’s the Chinese government tried to exterminate sparrows, because they saw them as agricultural pests. Crop production increased initially, but after a few years, insects and others crop pests caused dramatic crop failures that resulted in mass human starvation. Everything matters, even sparrows.

I used to equate value with usefulness. Your life mattered if you contributed more to this world than you consumed.  In the last few years, my perspective has changed. I have met people who are intrinsically valuable. Their lives inspire, encourage, and transform those around them--not necessarily by what they do, but by who they are. Now, I suspect that everyone and everything matters, even if I am not able to recognize their worth.

This has been a humbling discovery. Once I admitted that value exists outside my limited understanding and system of measurement, I look at people and experiences more fluidly, less judgmentally. Now, I recognize that all is worthy in God’s eyes, and thus everything matters.

Prodigals

“Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? (Isaiah 44:8 NLT)

I believe that God created each of us with a purpose in mind. However, most of us have our own agendas. Like young adults who want their independence, we move out from our Father’s house--away from His protection and provision. We no longer want to be under His control. We want to make our own decisions and choices. We rely on our limited self-sufficiency to execute our individual aspirations. When we reach the end of our supplies and talents, we are filled with fear and agitation.

Trust is difficult for those of us who have a history of instability and broken trust. We can’t imagine that anyone is dependable or that love can be unconditional. We suspect that surrendering control to anyone, will eventually lead to manipulation and misery. We would rather take our chances and go out on our own.

Like the prodigal son, we eventually realize that we have been operating under an illusion. Once we can admit our inadequacy, we feel compelled to return to our Father’s house. We discover that His purposes and plans are better than anything we come up with on our own.

Lord, fill us with courage and fortitude, so that You may fulfill Your intended purposes through us.

Saturated by Grace

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27 NLT)

Worldly peace is circumstantial, short-term, transient. Thus, it tends to be accompanied by fear--fear of instability, distress, abandonment, suffering, and loss. Wouldn’t it be great to have a higher level of peace? A peace that is satisfying, long-term, unshakable, eternal?

“The term Holy Spirit is actually another name for the experience of eternal life working in human beings here and now.” (My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers)

How can we experience this Holy Spirit, this eternal peace here and now?

When the Spirit is inside us, not merely walking beside us--when our hearts and minds are saturated by Grace, when the Holy Spirit has taken over all control--then, we experience God’s peace that surpasses human logic and worldly circumstances.

Valley of Fear

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT)

God does not intend for us to operate from a place of fear. Yet, we often camp out in the valley of fear, surrounded by irrational beliefs and distorted truth. We pitch our tent, gather worries, hunt and pursue anxieties, dig up insecurities, and stew everything over the campfire. We are immobilized in dread, panic, and indecisiveness. Why would we choose such an unpleasant campsite? Why would we stay and dig ourselves deeper and deeper pits, as if we were on an archaeological study?

It is time to move from this dysfunctional campsite to a better place--a higher plateau of faith and trust in God--where there is an abundant supply of boldness, power, love, mental stability, and self-discipline. This requires some effort. We have to dismantle current cognitive structures and change our thought patterns. We have to climb to a higher elevation and get used to a different perspective.  Once we are able to breathe in the Spirit of Grace and bask in the Light of Love, we are able to operate boldly, sensibly, and purposefully.

True Grace

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16 NIV)

I wonder if Grace is God’s Spirit working within us and around us.

What if we can’t recognize Grace? Does it make it less real? What if we mislabel it?  What if we mistakenly identify it as our own sufficiency or wisdom?

After his resurrection, Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene.  “At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.” (John 20:14 NIV)

I think recognizing God's Spirit in us and around us is a process that cannot be hurried. We look for tangible, palpable fruits as evidence of the Holy Spirit within us. Fruits don't show up on a tree until late in the maturation process. But the spirit of life is in the plant even as it lies dormant as a seed, even as it germinates and expands underground, even as it puts out its first embryonic root.  

God’s Holy Spirit is within us and around us, whether we recognize the signs or not. I pray that the Lord will reveal himself to each of us in ways we can recognize and understand.

Walking Communion

“So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.” (Psalm 56:13 NLT)

Walking is one of my favorite activities to do with friends. I can’t think of a better way to spend a beautiful day than to walk outside with a good friend and talk about whatever comes up. We share, we listen, we ponder, we laugh, we empathize, we learn from each other’s experiences, and we feel stronger afterwards. These ‘walk-and-talks’ can be incredibly therapeutic.

Prayer is similar. We walk in God’s presence. We share whatever is on our minds with God. We listen, we ponder--we gain strength. We commune with God. Communion is intimate communication. Prayer allows us to have intimate conversations with God, as we walk in His presence and bask in His life-giving light and wisdom.

Your God

“Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NLT)

Who or what is your god--the person, object, or value that is the reason for your existence? This deity influences your every action and emotion. It is the focal point of your motivation, your purpose, your devotion, and your commitment. What/who controls you?

Most of us drift from god to god--frequently displacing one idol with another: ego/pride, career, relationships, health, reputation, fear, greed, lust, addiction, pleasure, possessions, religion, entertainment, comfort, security, power, etc. As long as we continue in the gravitational pull of anything other than the Supreme God, we are in trouble.

When we fail to recognize God’s presence and submit to His power, we unwittingly float into dangerous, pirate-filled waters. Our idols become pirates that divert us from our intended purpose. They steal the peace, contentment, courage, strength, and joy that God has placed within us.  

However, when we acknowledge that the LORD is our God, we have nothing to fear. As long as we cling to Him, revere Him, commit to Him, follow Him, and trust Him--all shall be well.

Worldly Validation

If I am home by myself during lunchtime, I usually make myself a salad. I chop up the ingredients into bite-size pieces, mix everything with oil and vinegar, and let it marinate for a few minutes before eating it. I can find satisfaction in a salad during the day. But, when I’m worn out at the end of the day, I just want a bag of chips.

Worldly validation is a lot like a bag of chips. It gives you a quick high, and it's fast and easy. Divine validation is like a salad that you have to chop and put together. It's a lot of work, and sometimes after you've made it, you don't really feel like eating it. But, in the long run, it is more nourishing and satisfying. Even though I understand this concept, given the choice between salad and chips, I would pick the chips. I want quick satisfaction, especially when I’m feeling worn out or insecure.

Even though we are all tempted to measure our worthiness and value by the feedback we get from the world--it really is a junky way of going about it. Uncovering our real worth requires a lot of inner work--the kind that comes from introspection and deep conversations. I think, for now, we all need more salad--but an occasional bag of chips wouldn’t hurt either.

Just Chill

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 NLT)

Being still is not in my nature. I prefer to be active and in control. In my attempts to be efficient, I  often end up being counter-productive. I do yoga at warp speed while hyperventilating. I commit myself to too many projects and then beat myself up over my inattention to details. I sometimes tell my son what to do, even though I know that it is better for him to figure things out for himself. I act as if everything will spiral out of control if I don’t stay on top things.

I often sense God whispering: Hush...just chill, relax, don’t obsess over things. I, the Lord, am in charge of everything. Trust me.

First of all, I have to acknowledge that God is in control and I am not.  As I accept this, God hushes the worried thoughts and calms the agitation of my heart. Trust in God is the best antidote for obsessive, compulsive behavior. As I rest in grace, I am able to listen and understand more and more--to Be Still, and Know.

The Rest of the Story

(continued from yesterday)

“So Elijah did as the LORD told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.” (1 Kings 17:5 NLT)

Yesterday, I wrote about my friend Elnora’s faith. In one of her emails to me, she mentioned something about God sending ravens in her time of need. I was intrigued, so I asked her to tell me more, and here is the rest of the story:

About a year ago, Elnora and her sisters felt prompted to move to yet another new city, where they knew no one. They obediently packed up their stuff and moved into a hotel in the new city. They lived in the hotel for six weeks before they bought a house together. During this time, they could not find any work, and their funds were running low. One day, they went to a grocery store which was having a grand opening celebration. The store was giving away lots of food and other items. This met their needs for a whole week. Other times, someone would invite them to a celebration of some sort, and this would provide them with unexpected meals. People in their community provided them with some furniture and tires for their car. Thus far, they have always had the money to pay their monthly utilities. Their needs have been met, but barely. They have asked God why they are in this meager position when God’s supply was unlimited. The answer they got was: ‘He creates a deficit in the life of the man (woman) of God, so that the needs of the people can be met’.  Elnora explained that if they had more, they might not be in that exact community, in the exact  same church, connecting with those to whom they are ministering.  So they continue to soldier on in faith and obedience--trusting and depending on God’s daily manifestation.

Have you ever been fed by ravens--unlikely, unexpected emissaries of God? Have you ever been called to be a raven?

Micro Ministry

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.” (Psalm 46:1-2 NLT)

I first met Elnora at work. She was an African-American, single mom from the deep South. She had a quiet spirit, bright eyes, and an engaging smile. But what set her apart from the rest of my coworkers was her irrational trust in God.  She possessed the ‘peace of God, which surpasses all understanding’ that is mentioned in Philippians 4:7. I wanted what she had. So I glommed onto her whenever I could. She gently passed on her faith, mostly by example.

Over the last 20 years, I have kept in touch with Elnora. Every time I contact her, she is in a new place, following the voice within her spirit to minister to the underserved. Recently, she and her sisters moved once again--following God’s prompting. Their ministry is low-profile. They work with individuals, small groups, new churches--praying, helping with clerical work, organizing children’s ministries--doing whatever they feel led to do. Elnora and her sisters will probably never be heads of mega churches, but through their micro ministries, they have influenced countless people, including me.

Even after all these years, I haven’t reached Elnora’s level of trust in God. Elnora goes out into the unknown, following God’s nudges. She doesn’t feel the need to work out every detail in advance. She acknowledges that God is in control. She prioritizes God’s will above her own. She accepts every circumstance as training--preparing her for future assignments. She patiently awaits God’s timing. She reminds me of a first responder who runs into a collapsing building while others are rushing out. While most of us run away from uncertainty, Elnora confidently follows God right into the thick of it.

(cont.)

Resentment

“They spend their entire lives in darkness, in constant frustration, sickness, and resentment.” (Ecc. 5:17 GWT)

My first laptop was a gift from my husband. I was extremely grateful. I personalized it--changed the settings and  background, saved my favorite pages to load easily, etc. After a few months, I grew attached to it. If anyone wanted to use MY laptop, or even worse, change the settings--I became resentful. What was once seen as a gift, freely given--had now become my possession. Once I got accustomed to having it, I felt it was rightfully mine. And what had started off as gratefulness had mutated into resentment.

Everything is a gift from God--life, health, relationships, children, abilities, privacy, peace, homes, freedom, security, faith. Our tendency to add the word “MY” to these gifts shows our possessiveness: MY Life, MY health, MY relationships...

When we feel entitled to something, we feel indignant when it is taken away. One way to minimize resentment is to see every gift as temporary-- something borrowed, something to enjoy while we have it, but not ours to possess forever.  

“The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!" (Job 1:21 NLT)

Prescription for Discouragement

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--My Savior and my God! (Psalm 42:5 NLT)

Praise and gratitude are the best medicines for discouragement. Praising God reminds us of His greatness. Thanking God allows us to recall His goodness.

Next time you feel discouraged try this: Set a timer for 1 minute. Praise God for his character--for who He is. Reset the timer for another minute. Thank God for all He has done for you. I have found that this  2-minute, spiritual practice can prevent me from spiraling into despondency. This exercise does more for me than for God. Praise and gratitude encourage my faith.

Lord, I praise You--for You are wonderful, glorious, trustworthy, dependable, creative, caring, loving, merciful, comforting, strengthening, protective, always-there.

Lord, I thank You--for all that You have done for me and my loved ones--for all the answered prayers, for providing for us, for healing us, for taking care of us, for never abandoning us, for directing and guiding us, for protecting us from evil, and for every blessing.

Delight in the Lord

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Psalm 37:4 NLT)

When was the last time you found delight in something? Did you want to share your enjoyment with others? Or, do you prefer to be free of distractions during these experiences?  

When we take delight in the Lord, we enjoy His presence--find great satisfaction and pleasure in His company. We want to spend time with Him, to get to know Him, to understand Him better. When we are constantly aware of God’s unconditional, overwhelming love for us, we want nothing more.

When we find delight in the Lord, we are eager to express our love in every way possible. Our heart’s desires are aligned with His desires. Everything we do is because of our commitment to Him. Thus, we are confident that He will do His part to help us.

Focus on Christ

“So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do.” (Hebrews 3:1 MSG)

One of the techniques that photographers use when taking portraits is called ‘bokeh’--a Japanese term for when the primary subject is in sharp focus, while the background is blurry. In order to achieve this effect, photographers use large apertures that allow lots of light. This creates a narrow depth of field. The photographer gets really close to the subject and maintains a certain distance from everything else in the background.

I think the same technique can be used to focus on Christ. Open up your heart and mind so light can shine through abundantly. Create a narrow depth of field--where you have very few other distractions. Get close to Christ. Keep everything else at a distance. Keep your attention focused on Christ while allowing everything in the background to become blurry.

The Anchor of Hope

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Heb 6:19 NIV)

Anchors can prevent ships from drifting into turbulent waters or crashing against rocks. Once a protected spot with firm ground is found, the anchor can be dropped. An anchor that is always kept in the boat is useless.

Hope is like an anchor for our soul. Constantly placing our hopes in our own abilities and wisdom is similar to always keeping the anchor in the boat. Our thoughts easily drift into anxiety, and even well-laid plans can run aground. Once we sense that we are near the secure ground of God, we can confidently drop our anchor of hope. This way, we can be certain that our hope is placed on something sure and steadfast.

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil.

("My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" by Edward Mote, 1797-1874)

Sacrificing Jesus for Religion

“Crucify Him.” (Luke 23:21 NLT)

The religious fundamentalists wanted to crucify Jesus, because they saw him as a threat to their way of doing things. Things haven’t changed much in two thousand years. We are still sacrificing Jesus in order to propagate and maintain the corporate religious establishments of our time.

“If we are going to be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious. In other words, we must stop using religion as if it were some kind of a lofty lifestyle—we must be spiritually real.” (My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers)

A religious lifestyle gives us an air of respectability and morality. It may even provide social and business opportunities. Spirituality is more intimate--thus, it is not conducive to public displays, corporate ceremonies, social hierarchies, or fundraising.  While religiosity connects us to other like-minded people, real spirituality allows us to commune with God. Even though we have sacrificed Jesus on the altars of religious establishments, He will continue to rise up in the dark recesses of our heart.

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!” (Mark 16:6 NIV)

God as Parent

“O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8 NLT)

I felt neglected as a child and browbeaten as a young adult. Even now, as a middle-aged woman, I am still dealing with the ramifications. I have tried to take care of my Inner Child, but my Inner Parent is critical and demanding. I scold myself for unproductivity and self-indulgence. I cover myself in guilt and shame. I have difficulty being gentle, nurturing, and accepting of myself.  Yes, I am a malformed, dysfunctional vessel.

God is the Real Parent, while earthly parents are merely foster parents. The Lord has always watched over me, even when I wasn’t aware of His presence. He was always close by, making up for the deficiencies of earthly parents. So, I ask God to repair me by re-parenting me. God is the potter and I am the clay. Even though I am deformed, He can reform me.

I too am an inadequate parent. So I ask God to take over and re-parent my child as well. I pray that my child will be reshaped and restored according to God’s intended purposes.

Yielding to Jesus

“Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God.” (Romans 6:13 NIV)

What controls and dominates me? I have a rigid sense of righteousness. I am defensive of my way of life and my philosophies. I crave stability, and thus, I’m protective of my environment. I am highly sensitive to anybody being manipulated. I allow my fears and anxieties to take over.  

I have yielded myself to these compulsions instead of yielding to God. I build my own defensive fortress in an attempt to protect myself and my loved ones. I try to take care of everything instead of allowing God to take over.

Lord, I realize that I am imprisoned, and I can’t free myself. I want to relinquish these enslaving habits to You. Please release me from these shackles. Jesus, help me to yield to You, and only You.