Wrong Way

“He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 12:14 NIV)

It was a foggy evening, and I was on an unfamiliar country road. I had been driving around for a while trying to find a friend’s house. She had  told me to look for a tan colored house on a certain street. It was too dark and foggy to see anything. I followed the GPS directions. I knocked on a stranger’s door, only to be informed that I had the wrong place. I kept calling my friend, but she wasn’t answering her phone. I kept driving and searching...

Temptation is often described as merely looking for love in all the wrong places. Most of us spend our entire lives searching for acceptance. We drive down dark roads and knock on strange doors. Giving in to temptation never leads to genuine love, validation, respect, or satisfaction. At most it may provide a temporary distraction from feelings of emptiness.  Sometimes temptations are camouflaged as opportunities.  It’s like the one house with its porch light on a dark, rural road.  When you can’t find what you are looking for, you settle for what is available--hoping that everything will turn out okay. However, you may end up knocking on the door of a man with a shotgun pointed at you.

Lord, keep us from looking for love, acceptance, and satisfaction in places other than You.  Answer when we call. Come find us when we are lost.

Spiritual Attacks

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12 NLT)

Good and evil are present within us and all around us. We don’t think much about these forces and their influence on us. We imagine that we are in complete control over our environment with our choices and actions; good choices lead to good outcomes, while bad choices lead to bad consequences.  This is true most of the time, but every so often, someone experiences evil on multiple fronts. These spiritual attacks are from an unseen enemy, and most of us have no idea how to defend ourselves.

Over the last few weeks, I have been studying this subject, and here are my notes.

1. Pray on the Armour of God. Ask God to protect you from head to toe. Pray especially for your mind, your attitude, and your core beliefs. God will give you the appropriate weapons and teach you how to use them. (Check Ephesians 6 for further details.)

2. Praise is a weapon. It strengthens you and scares off the enemy at the same time.

3. Use Scripture verses to pray. Change the words around if you need to and make them into prayers against evil.

4. Take this battle seriously, stay alert, pray constantly. Call out to God. Stay under His protection. Don't let your guard down.

5. Once evil has been sent packing, don't stay vacant. (Matthew 12:43-45) Immediately occupy yourself with Jesus. Root out evil and plant the Spirit of God.

6. I used to think I could just stay out of the battle and stay under the radar. You can't stay neutral. "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse. (Matt 12: 30 MSG)

7. Call for backup. Call on other prayer warriors to join you in the battle. Be open about your struggles and ask them to hold you up in prayer.

Lord, the enemy is no match for You. We place ourselves and our loved ones under Your protection. Show us what to do.

Living on the Street

“Come, let us return to the LORD.” (Hosea 6:1 NIV)

Her son left home when he was fifteen. He has been living on the streets for the last nine years. He calls her occasionally from different places, but she doesn’t know exactly where he is. He struggles with addictions. He suffers daily--scraping to find food, sleeping on park benches, exposed to the cold winter nights, victimized by violence, rejected and abused by strangers.  His mom can’t do much to help until he chooses to return home. She has been praying for him to turn his life around, to stay clean, to be healed and whole. She doesn’t have any other expectations at this point. She just wants him to come home.

Our Father in Heaven is also waiting. We choose to live apart from Him, on our own terms, hooked on the empty promises that this world offers. We call on Him occasionally when we are desperate, when we need a short-term fix. We don’t want to give up our habits; we just need an infusion of blessing to keep our agenda afloat. We are not ready to live according to His standards; instead, we ask Him to help us live according to our own minimal standards. Our Father sees the suffering that comes with our choices. He wants us to repent, to turn around, and go back to living with Him.

Lord, we are truly sorry for living apart from You. Help us to detach from our physical desires and worldly aspirations. Rescue us from our obsessions.  We want to return to You, be influenced by you, live according to your intentions. Help us.

Hover Father

“The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.” (Isaiah 11:2 MSG)

The modern lexicon has a term for parents who hover over their children--paying extremely close attention to their problems and involving themselves in every decision that their child makes; they are called helicopter parents.

God is a Hover Father!  His life-giving Spirit lingers near us. He watches our every move. He wants to be involved in our decisions. If we are under attack, He will fight for us. He knows we will make mistakes. Yet, He reassures us that He will never abandon us no matter how much we mess up. His Spirit brings wisdom and understanding. His presence influences our thoughts, words, and actions. He instills knowledge that is beyond our intellect.  All this is too much; we are overwhelmed; we cannot help but be filled with awe and reverence for God.

Lord, I pray that your life-giving Spirit will hover over us--bringing wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and reverence for God.

Wrestling Coach

“Since God is in her midst, she will not be shaken. God will help her at the break of dawn.” (Psalm 46:5 ISV)

God is our wrestling coach. He teaches us how to fight the Enemy. Our opponents are not our circumstances or other humans, but unseen powers who twist and manipulate our thoughts. We may not win every wrestling match, but each trial helps us learn and become more agile. Every day there is a new challenge. Each time we beat our opponent, we are matched up against a tougher adversary.

“We cannot do what we should just by trying, but by training.” (Dallas Willard)

The Lord trains us through each trial. He stays with us, giving us pointers, encouraging us. We learn how to fight properly. We gain strength and confidence as we progress. The battle belongs to the Lord. We are trained so that we can fight alongside Him. We shall overcome evil, not just by trying to be good, but by training to do good.

Lord, teach us how to fight the enemy. Train us to recognize his wicked moves and show us how to block them. Equip us with the appropriate weapons and instruct us on how to use them properly. Help us not to be afraid, but to approach every fight knowing that you are right alongside us.

Kindness vs. Self-rigteousness

“I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual.” (Matthew 12:7 MSG)

Would you rather be kind or would you rather be right?

For example, let’s say a family member, friend, or coworker did something that you think is wrong. You could tell them how you disapprove of their behavior and prove how you were right all along. OR, you could show compassion and kindness.

I would rather not choose, but when I have to...the satisfaction of proving my point takes over. I see every mistake as an opportunity to learn a lesson--and I often appoint myself as the teacher. I rarely question what I think is right. I pride myself on my superior moral choices. My self-righteousness overpowers kindness. I justify my judgmentalism in various ways--I am being honest, transparent, and helpful.

Jesus prefers a flexible heart over moralistic legalism. Over and over again, He shows compassion to sinners. He doesn’t lecture them or remind them of their mistakes. He loves unconditionally. Jesus asks us to follow his example--to love, forgive, and be kind. Self-righteousness rarely improves any situation, whereas love and acceptance lead to transformation.

Lord, help us to choose kindness over self-righteousness. Show us how to listen empathetically, accept graciously, and love unconditionally.

Dark Tunnels

"Even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me." (Psalm 139:10 NLT)

There have been times in my life that I felt scared, hopeless, and alone. When I get stuck in a dark tunnel for a while, I sink into despair. I stop looking for good things. My imagination conjures up trouble after trouble in every step I take.

The above verse from Psalm 139 reminds us that even in the most impossible situations, God is with us. However, if you are not expecting (looking for) God, you may fail to notice Him. As you feel around in the dark with outstretched hands, you will encounter God's hand. Grasp it firmly; don’t let go.  God will guide, strengthen, and support you the rest of the way.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4 NIV)

Internal Bullies

"Don't be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There's nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life - body and soul - in his hands.” (Matthew 10:28 MSG)

What intimidates you from expressing God openly?

Here are a few of my personal hang-ups:

Embarrassment--I want people to think I’m cool and worldly. I don’t want to be lumped in with those people who are standing on the street corners and yelling at passersby.

Scrutiny--When you claim to be a person of faith, it invites a certain level of scrutiny from others. It is difficult to live in a way that always reflects the faith you profess. Every slipup feels like a failure.

Fear--Expressing God, whether it is through words or actions, makes me feel more exposed to spiritual attacks from the Enemy. It’s almost like I’m walking around with a target on my back. As soon as I step out in faith, something will happen that makes me fearful.

We all have different reasons for keeping our faith compartmentalized and private. Maybe you share some of my hang-ups, or perhaps you have different excuses. Either way, we are bluffed into silence by bullies. The truth is that our inhibitions are misguided. God is able to take care of whatever comes. He cares about every detail. He holds everything and everyone in His hands. 

"Stand up for me against world opinion and I'll stand up for you before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32 MSG)

Interactive God

"When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family.” (Matthew 10:21 MSG)

What is the difference between an idol and the living God?

It’s like the difference between being a spectator at a sporting event and being a participant. The latter requires so much more commitment and involvement. Most of us would rather have a comfortable faith that enables us to sit back, eat popcorn, and watch from the bleachers. We don’t want to exert ourselves, get sweaty, or get hurt.  

An idol is an image molded from human ideas. It is visible, tangible, controllable, portable, and manageable. Our relationship with an idol is one-sided--we can talk at it, but it doesn’t talk back. It doesn’t have any expectations from us.

The living God is interactive. He wants us to participate. He cannot be molded to fit our ideas. He is unmanageable. He expects us to engage with Him, have a relationship with Him, yield to Him. 

Lord, we are thankful that You desire to commune with us. Teach us how to stay engaged and connected with You at all times.

Sharpened by Suffering

“We know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.” (Romans 5:3-4 MSG)

The scars are still there. They should remind me that I have overcome adversity. They should be badges of honor. Yet, I hide them. Am I ashamed of suffering? 

Traumatic events sharpen us.  A sharp knife can be useful when it is used to prepare a meal for family and friends. It can also be harmful if used for self-mutilation or to stab others. Suffering can make us stronger and more empathetic. It can also make us insecure, resentful, and cranky. 

I am rarely graceful in the midst of affliction. Instead, I’m filled with frustration, self-pity, and indignation. Later...much later...God takes the broken pieces and shapes my pain into something useful. Physical and emotional scars remind me that God has brought me through adversity, and I am stronger because of it. So now when the pain comes, I wait expectantly...to see how God will sharpen me for His purposes.

Lord, may no suffering be wasted. Mold us, sharpen us, and make us useful.

Messengers

“If they don't welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.” (Matthew 10:14 MSG)

Whenever I order something online, either UPS or FedEx will deliver it to my door.  They drop the package off on the front porch and ring the bell. Most of the time, the delivery guys don’t even wait for me to open the door and sign for the package. They never expect a  tip. They don’t care if I like the product or use it. Their job is just to deliver the package in the most efficient manner possible.

Have you ever felt led by God to do something? As servants of God, we are mostly sent out to deliver packages and messages. We don’t have to worry about how they are received. Our job is to speak and live in ways that relay God’s message. Do not worry if the message is rejected or ignored. In fact, expect resistance and negativity, but do not let it get you down. Merely move on to the next assignment that God has for you. 

Lord, may we complete our assignments without getting discouraged or distracted. Help us to listen and obey and leave the outcome up to You.

Night School

“I will bless the LORD who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.” (Psalm 16:7 NLT)

I don’t sleep well. I wake up several times during the night and can’t get back to sleep. I rarely remember the thoughts that come to me as I doze in and out of consciousness. I’ve always assumed that my brain was merely rearranging the information that it gathered during the day.  But now, I wonder if God is the one who is bringing order to my cluttered mind. I can imagine the Lord--cleaning up the mess every night--reorganizing random thoughts, connecting dots, clarifying concepts, confirming directions, and clearing away useless junk.

God guides us whether it is light or dark, whether we are conscious or unconscious. After our day’s work is done, we attend God’s night school. We have a wonderful instructor. He clears up confusion. He restores order. He reorients us in the right direction.  

The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8 NLT)

Harvest Hands

“When he looked over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!” (Matthew 9:36-38 MSG)

Last time we were in Hawaii, we visited a coffee plantation. The tour guide explained how coffee is a labor intensive crop. The coffee berries have to be handpicked, and there are few laborers on the island. Many of the residents of the island are retirees or wealthy celebrities from the mainland. The rest are either tourists or islanders involved in businesses catering to tourists. When the coffee crop is ready to be harvested, the farmers are desperate for harvest hands to help out. They need short people to pick from the lower branches and tall people who can reach the higher branches. They will take anyone who is willing and available.  

Our Father looks out at the world and sees the abundant potential of His children. He is heartbroken over the waste, confusion, and aimlessness all around. He needs harvest hands to reach out, gather, and process the bounty. He needs laborers of all sizes and skill sets. Not everyone can be reached by the same kind of harvest hand. Those who cannot be reached by one worker may be accessible to another. Thus, God is ready to accept any servant who is willing and available.

Lord, train us to be laborers according to Your purposes. We pray for different harvest hands to reach those we are unable to access. Guide every human heart into Your sphere of influence.

Fasting vs. Feasting

“Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. (Matthew 9:14-15 NIV)

Fasting--detaching ourselves from worldly distractions--can allow us to focus our energy on God. Pleasure seeking can dull our senses. We go through our days on autopilot--pursuing our desires, obsessed by productivity and consumption. Disengaging from our everyday concerns and routines can sharpen and hone our senses and allow us to become conscious of God’s presence.

Yet, according to Jesus, there is a time for fasting as well as a time for feasting. Jesus withdrew from his normal activities and went into the wilderness before his public ministry started. Here he fasted alone. Later, when he is surrounded by his disciples and others, Jesus celebrated. He was constantly engaged with the people around him.

Lord, teach us when to disengage and when to engage. Show us how to detach from distractions so that we may become attached to You. Allow us to consume less, so that we can be all consumed by You.

Optics

“Which do you think is simpler: to say, 'I forgive your sins,' or, 'Get up and walk'?" (Matthew 9:5-6 MSG)

When given the choice between internal healing or external manifestation of blessing, most of us choose the latter. It is human nature to be more concerned about optics (outward appearance) than substance. When a child seems developmentally delayed, we pray for progress. We want our offspring to talk, walk, drive, finish college, be independent, get married, and have children of their own at the same age as other people’s children. Whether they are emotionally ready or not, we push them to keep up with societal standards. We imagine that they will be happier if they keep up with their peers. We fail to appreciate internal growth, wholeness, and healing. We are much more concerned about the optics than the truth.

Unlike us, Jesus is more concerned about truth than about public perception. Many of us feel paralyzed--unable to move forward from our current situations. We are disabled by our sins--disconnected from God’s power and influence. We become impatient when our prayers don’t yield tangible results. We imagine that God is negligent and uncaring. We want immediate, visible, external progress rather than internal healing and growth. However, Jesus transforms us from the inside out, taking His own sweet time, molding us according to His intentions. He restores us to wholeness from within, changing our attitudes and perspectives. Outward manifestations of these changes may happen over time. We may eventually ‘get up and walk’ in ways that are visible to the world. Yet, this is secondary, merely a side effect of what is being worked out in our hearts. God is much more concerned about spiritual growth than worldly progress.

Lord, grant us Your perspective. Help us to care less about the optics and more about the Truth.

Hemorrhaging Woman

“Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.” (Matthew 9:20-22 NLT)

This woman has been hurting privately for a long time. She feels yucky, unwholesome, and unworthy. Because of her shame, she approaches Jesus unobtrusively. From the fringe of society, she reaches out to touch the fringe of Christ’s robe.

Many of us are bleeding internally. We have been hemorrhaging for a long time. Yet we have learned how to keep our lesions under wraps.  These unhealed, private wounds make us feel unacceptable, messed up, and unworthy. We rarely even acknowledge our brokenness to ourselves, much less present them to God, until one day, our desperation supersedes our embarrassment, and we reach out to Christ for healing.

Lord Jesus, I have been hemorrhaging for a long time. The constant loss and suffering have left me broken and desperate. I am ashamed to even admit these issues that I have kept hidden.  I feel unworthy to approach you. Yet I know that if I get close enough to you, I can be healed. I beseech You to stop all this bleeding and make me whole.

Clearing the Stage

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)

I’ve always bemoaned the fact that I am not fluent in more than one language. I can speak my ancestral language of Malayalam, but at a very basic level. Most of my relatives speak English better than I speak Malayalam. We have learned to use a hodgepodge of both languages to have superficial conversations. Recently I was trying to communicate at a deeper level with one of my relatives. We were having a spiritual discussion, and I just didn’t have the vocabulary to express my ideas.  I was so frustrated at my lack of language skills.

The next morning, as I was praying that God would guide my relative, the following thought came to me. If I knew more Malayalam, I would have shared MY ideas, possibly interfering with God’s ideas. But because my language skills were poor, I had to surrender the situation to God.

The first step is to admit our weaknesses. Then we must get out of the way and allow God to reveal His power.  Our limitations merely set the stage for Christ to take over.

Lord, I acknowledge and surrender my weaknesses to You. May my insufficiency become a platform for You to display Your strength and sufficiency.

Praise and Thanksgiving

Misconceptions about faith and prayer are common. Faith is not based on our ability to sense God’s presence. Prayer is not repeated requests and reminders directed at God. So then how are faith and prayer connected?

Prayer can bolster faith when it consists primarily of praise and thanksgiving. Praise acknowledges that God is good. Thanksgiving expresses gratitude for His care. Supplication merely allows us to surrender our concerns. Thus, prayer is mostly about reminding ourselves of God’s dependability, power, and love.  As we affirm and solidify our faith, our relationship with God is strengthened. The purpose of prayer is not to influence God. Instead, prayer allows God to shape our perspective.

Lord, I acknowledge your goodness and power. I am thankful for all that you have done and are about to do. You already know what I need better than I do. I shall trust you to take care of everything as you see fit.

Comfy Pants

“You were taught to change the way you were living. The person you used to be will ruin you through desires that deceive you.” (Ephesians 4:22 GWT)

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to get rid of some of my old clothes. I have a bunch of comfy pants that are ideal for lounging around the house. They have elastic waists and are made of soft, stretchy fabric. These clothes may have been flattering when I bought them about ten years ago, but now they are worn and raggedy. It’s time to get them out of my house.

Similarly, I have some old, comfy habits that stretch to fit my desires and conform to long-held ideas. Some of these practices are preventing me from drawing closer to God. It takes a certain amount of work to change attitudes, to replace antiquated ideas, and  to relinquish worn-out viewpoints.

"Cast away thy sloth, thy lethargy, thy coldness, or whatever interferes with thy chaste and pure love to Christ. Make Him the source, the center, and the circumference of all thy soul's range of delight." (Streams in the Desert)

Lord, purify us. Help us to get rid of anything that prevents us from getting close to You. You are the source and center of true joy and contentment. May Your all-encompassing love envelope us. May we seek satisfaction in You alone.

Back Roads and Red Seas

“God led them  in a roundabout way through the wilderness to the Red Sea.” ( Exodus 13:18 NLT)

The book of Exodus describes how God led the Israelites out of bondage and into the Promised Land. God did not lead them along the shortest route, because He knew that they were not ready to face resistance from the Philistines. Instead, he took them in a roundabout way through the wilderness and to the Red Sea. The Red Sea was an impossible obstacle, even bigger than the Philistines. But by that time, they were ready to witness God’s glory. The Lord parted the sea and showed them a path beyond their imagination.

Most of us want to take the quickest, most direct route to our destination.  But God often leads us off the main road, through unknown wilderness. This seems inefficient and unfair to us. Yet, He knows us better than we know ourselves. God makes us take detours through back roads to guard us from the Enemy. Then, when He deems us ready, He makes us face impossible, red-sea obstacles.  God reveals His power and glory as he makes a way where there was no way.

Lord, help us to be patient and trusting when you guide us through unexpected detours and make us face seemingly impossible situations. Teach us to continually rely on your goodness and care.

Prince of Wholeness

“He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.” (Isaiah 9:6-7 MSG)

When fear takes over my heart, I become incapacitated. I am unable to move forward and follow Christ. The longer I remain in this state, the less I am able to discern between truth and falsity. I become an ineffective, cowardly  wimp who is easily manipulated by the prince of darkness.

I release my brokenness to the Prince of Wholeness. I am counting on His power and influence to grow in me and those around me until we are completely enveloped in wholeness.

Amazing Counselor,  guide me out of this murkiness and into light and truth. Strong God, overpower the darkness. Infuse me with courage and fortitude. Eternal Father, remind me that You are always available and dependable. Prince of Wholeness take over.