God-Given Resources

‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; (Matthew 25:21 NIV)

A few weeks ago, my husband and I ran a half-marathon together. There were many other couples running together, but one in particular caught our attention. A man with an amputated leg ran with crutches, while his wife ran alongside him. He inspired over 30,000 runners that day.  After the run, I looked him up. His name is Larry Chloupek, a 56-year-old from Arizona. He lost his leg when he was seven years old to bone cancer. He holds the world record for running the fastest marathon on crutches.

Unlike Larry Chloupek, most of us have two functioning legs; we have not had to battle cancer or other severe health issues. Yet, we take these and other resources for granted. We focus on our limitations or discomfort. We squander God-given opportunities. We are blessed with talents and abilities for a reason: not for our own profit, but for God’s glory. Everything we have is from Him. Now it is up to us to give back maximum returns on His investment.

All glory to You God, for you are able, through Your mighty power that works within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

Holy Days

“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.” (1 John 2:16 NLT)

The season of Advent is a time of expectant waiting for the coming of Jesus. Advent used to be known as a time of fasting in preparation for Christmas. Christmas has long been overtaken by commercialism, but Advent was still relatively unsullied...or so I thought. This morning, I read a news story that ticked me off: Advent calendars dispensing bottles of whiskey for each day leading up to Christmas is now a popular selling item.

Some politicians get riled up over the use of the phrase ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas.’ I would be much more impressed if they got upset about the commercialization of holy days. I guess that wouldn’t be a popular stance with businesses or the average voter. We argue about the terminology on coffee cups and cards, while we unthinkingly participate in the desecration of what is divine. These trivial details distract us from what is really happening.  We have gotten sucked into a world where materialism, achievement, possessions, and physical pleasure are revered while the truly sacred is ignored.

Lifter of My Head

“But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” (Psalm 3:3 KJV)

Do you have days when your spirit is so low that you can’t even lift your head? I do. When I’m burdened by hopelessness, frustration, or shame, I tend to fixate on my dejection. I feel powerless to change my circumstances. My confidence is drained. I cling to the lowest version of myself as I sink into despair.

When I stumble, when I fail, when I am afraid, Jesus is there. When I am sinking, His strong arms reach out to save me. When I am exhausted, He carries me. When evil surrounds me, He fights for me. When my soul is downcast, He raises my chin up so I can see His face. As I look up to Him, my fear dissipates. I notice signs of hope. My confidence in Him emboldens me to stand up straight, shoulders back, head held high. Why should I be fazed by earthly circumstances? The Lord is my protector, my glory, the lifter of my head.  

Praying Isaiah 43

Lord, You have created me, formed me, and got me started.

You have given me my identity. I belong to You.

When I feel overwhelmed, You are right there with me.

When I am submerged in adversity, I shall not drown.

Even when I am oppressed from all sides, I’ll be okay.

For You are my God, and I know You are in control.

You gave up so much for me, because I am precious to You.

I am honored by Your love.

I shall not be afraid, because You are with me always.

You make pathways where none exist.

You lead me to refreshment during dry times.

You erase my sins.

You have always been God, the One in charge of everything.

I shall honor you and praise you.

Self-Worth

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” (Psalm 139:14 NLT)

On what do you base your sense of self-worth? Most of us rely on our physical attributes (intelligence, talents, accomplishments, education, wealth, power, etc.) as a measure of our worthiness. We use whatever we have as currency to gain validation from those around us. We stroke each other’s egos, trading approval to gain a sense of significance.

This interplay of affirmation only works as long as we all agree on what is valuable. For example, if someone no longer buys into worldly standards, then his worthiness is difficult to measure. He is like a football player who switches to playing cricket. He can no longer depend on his old techniques, teammates, or fans to measure success.

Those who choose to follow Jesus can no longer expect worldly validation. We are playing a different game, with different rules, on a different field. Our sense of worth comes from our intimacy with Christ. We know we were marvelously made. We know we are wonderfully complex. We know to whom we belong.

Abba Father

“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15 NLT)

Father figures come in different forms: biological dads, stepdads, adoptive dads, other relatives, or sometimes strangers who temporary fill in. They may have an amalgam of different characteristics--strict, authoritarian, distant, needy, protective, providing, guiding, loving, caring, aloof, absent, unreliable, abusive, dependable, trustworthy, available, etc. The father figures in our lives deeply affect how we see the world and ourselves; but more importantly, our ideas about God are shaped by our relationships with our earthly fathers.

“Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.” ― Brennan Manning,  Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging

Our heavenly Father is perfect in every way--available, protective, possessive, wise, dependable, caring, trustworthy. He provides for us, listens to us, and loves us sacrificially. We are chosen by God as His children. This was no accident or surprise. The timing was perfectly planned. He gave us His name and His Spirit. We belong to Him. We are precious in His eyes. This is our identity. We were never meant to be enslaved by fear or insecurity. Instead, we were created to live boldly, expectantly, knowing we have a Daddy who is everything we need Him to be.

Emotional Honesty

“He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed.” (Mark 14:33 NLT)

A friend of mine has diabetic neuropathy. She has lost the ability to feel pain in her extremities. She unknowingly hurts herself since she has lost the instinct to pull back from harmful situations. This has led to several injuries, bruises, and burns.

Denying our feelings can lead to unintentional damage. Many Christians repress emotions that they deem inappropriate: anger, depression, fear, frustration, disappointment. They imagine that desensitization is part of holiness. It isn’t.  Jesus was not ashamed of his feelings. He expressed anguish, anger, and disappointment.

Acknowledging, accepting, and articulating our feelings takes practice and energy, especially if those feelings are unpleasant. Yet, the alternative is inauthenticity, which is soul crushing. We do not have to divulge every unfiltered thought to others; we can choose to feel our feelings, write them out, and process them on our own. This allows careful consideration of our next response instead of overreaction.  Once we decide to share our thoughts, it may lead to some push back. We need to accept the resulting discomfort as part of the process. Vulnerability is integral to emotional honesty. Let us not settle for superficial relationships but dive deep, revealing our true selves.

Redeemer

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.” (Job 19:25 NLT)

Once upon a time, a farmer inherited a piece of land. At first he didn’t know much about cultivation, so his field wasn’t very productive. When he couldn’t make ends meet, he pawned off small portions to pay off his bills. After several years, most of his land belonged to others. Then a close relative took compassion on him. He paid off the loans and returned the land to the farmer. He showed him how to cultivate the land productively and sustainably.

In biblical times, a redeemer was a close relative who would step in and buy back a lost inheritance. The Kingdom existence--living under the influence of the Spirit of God-- is our inheritance. Failed attempts at self-sufficiency have forced us to pawn off years of our lives. In the process, we have hocked our soul for earthly gain.  Jesus sacrificially gave of himself to repossess what we unwittingly gave away. He is our Redeemer, who stepped in and bought us back our lives.  

“He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” (Colossians 1:12-14 NLT)

Growing and Changing

“When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.” (1 Corinthians 3:11 NLT)

When I was younger, I enjoyed social events, dancing, and other forms of amusements. I no longer do. These days, I prefer quieter pursuits--reading good books, writing, having real conversations, and learning new things. I also tend to lean more to type 2 fun--activities and experiences that are not necessarily pleasurable when one is doing it, but are satisfying upon reflection: long runs, deep thinking, listening to people who lead inspiring lives, and helping people through their struggles.

“We cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning; for what was great in the morning will be of little importance in the evening, and what in the morning was true will at evening have become a lie.”  (Carl Jung)

We often think of aging in terms of loss, not gain. We may no longer have the physical or mental prowess as we did when we were young. We imagine that we have lost our ability to enjoy life. Many of us try to cling to our youth, refusing to give up the values and priorities we had in the early days, even though we sense that they no longer hold true. We fail to savor the freedom that comes in the afternoon of life--when our egos and external validation hold less dominion over us. We miss out on the benefits of maturity and wisdom.

“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT)

Savior

You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18 NLT)

Although slavery is illegal in almost every country, it is still prevalent. According to the Walk Free Foundation, there were more than 46 million people enslaved around the world in 2016.  Modern slavery takes on different forms: bonded labor, forced migrant labor, sex slavery, child labor, etc.  There are several great organizations that are dedicated to rescuing children and adults out of slavery. These savior-heroes extract people from bondage, putting themselves at risk to end the exploitation of the poor and defenseless by the wealthy and powerful.

In the context of slavery, the term ‘savior’ takes on a whole new meaning. As Christians, we see Jesus as our Savior--but we rarely think of what He is saving us from! At one point or another, we are all in bondage to the powers of darkness. When this is the only thing we have experienced, and everyone around us is also in the same situation, we just accept it as how the world works. Jesus offers a different life. He gave everything to the cause of rescuing humanity from the grip of evil. He came into the slave camp and showed us how to get out. Now, it’s up to us to follow Him out of bondage and into a place of freedom from oppression.

Jesus, You are our Lord and Savior. You liberate us from darkness, guiding us by example into the light of God. Equip us with courage, strength, perseverance, focus, and faith--so that we may follow You.

Praying Psalm 107

I shall thank you, Lord, for your goodness.

Your love is consistent and unconditional.

You have freed us from oppression.

When we wandered in the wilderness,

Lost and overwhelmed,

Stumbling in exhaustion,

We called out to you in desperation:

LORD, HELP!

And you rescued us from our distress and led us to security.

You cared for us and revived our strength

Bringing healing, peace, and contentment.

We shall praise you for the wonderful things you have done.

When we were stuck in darkness and gloom, shackled by misery,

We called out to you in desperation:

LORD, HELP!

And you rescued us from our distress and led us to security.

You led us out of the darkness and gloom,

Breaking the chains that bound us.

We shall praise you for the wonderful things you have done.

Mineral Rights

“Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11 NIV)

Most people who own homes in Texas and Oklahoma are unaware that they only own the surface land on which their houses are built. The mineral rights to their properties have often been sold separately to energy companies who are allowed to exploit, mine, or produce any oil, gold, coal, natural gas, etc. that may be lying below the surface of the property. These companies can drill holes miles away and tunnel under your property--draining you of valuable resources.

Similarly, many of us are unaware that our souls are being exploited by unseen forces.  We live on the surface--building, planting, and harvesting according to our desires. We are blissfully ignorant of what is going on underneath. Our Spirit can be sucked dry because of our inattention.

Lord, breathe your holiness into me. Teach me to be diligent and alert. Prevent me from leading a superficial life. Infuse me with sincerity.  Sustain me through Your Holy Spirit.

Potential Energy

“Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:30 NLT)

During the Great Depression, a family from Texas was struggling to make ends meet. They owned some dry land on which they tried to raise sheep. However, all their hard work didn’t amount to much. Then, an oil company offered to see if there was oil under their land. They drilled a well and hit a huge oil reserve. This discovery changed that family as well as the economy of the whole area.

Many of us are struggling to find superficial significance. All our striving amounts to little. We are unaware of the vitality of the Holy Spirit that has been deposited deep within us--the power of healing, encouragement, wonder, discernment, and influence. Once discovered and tapped into, this energy can change our lives as well as influence all those around us.

Lord, help us to be brave--to dig deep and expose the potential that You have embedded in us. Awaken the Holy Spirit within us. Reveal Your power. Heal us. Confirm Your presence through signs and wonders that we can recognize.

Standing Up to Evil

“So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you.” (James 4:7 ERV)

On our last road trip, my husband noticed that our car was acting weird. We were on the freeway, and there was a subtle vibration coming from one of the tires. Plus, the gas mileage was lower than usual. I thought maybe the road was just bumpy, but my husband pulled over to the shoulder and looked at the tires. Everything looked okay, so we got back in the car and kept going. After we got home, we had our local mechanic check out the car. He said the issues could have been related to a rock stuck in one of our tires or lower quality gasoline.

“It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” (The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis)

When we are agitated or exhausted, it’s natural to blame it on external circumstances. Invisible sins can go unnoticed. Their effects are often subtle, so we may choose to ignore them. Here are a few common iniquities that may be hard to recognize as sin: lethargy, apathy, judgmentalism, contempt, gluttony, self-righteousness, gossip, vanity, covetousness, impatience, worry, entitlement, materialism, a craving for distraction. Subtle sins may lead us into destruction gradually, but they are just as dangerous. Thus, we must give ourselves over to God and ask Him to help us remove these little vices before they cause major damage.  

Lord, protect us from evil. Help us to recognize it in all its various forms, so that we don't unwittingly give it space in our lives.

Aligned with God

“Let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants.” (Galatians 5:16-17 GWT)

When a pipe is attached to an artesian well, pure spring water flows through it. However, a pipe that is connected to a sewage line will never be clean. What flows through us is determined by what source we are attached to--when we are connected and aligned with God, we become a channel for godliness. On the other hand, when we are detached from God, we do not stay empty or neutral. Something will always pass through us--and if it isn’t good, it’s evil.

"The Gulf Stream can flow through a straw, provided that the straw is aligned with the current and not at cross purposes toward it." --Anne Lamott

When we follow our natural human urges, we are filled with ambition, worry, immorality, fear, anger, jealousy, divisiveness, possessiveness, pride, envy, egotism, selfishness, and unforgiveness. When we give ourselves to God, the fruits of the Holy Spirit flow through us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control.

Lord, help us to align our minds with your purposes, so that only goodness flows through us.

_

Praying Hebrews 3

Jesus, you are the centerpiece of everything we believe.

You are the Builder of our lives.

Help us to keep a firm grip

on this bold confidence in Your power.

Soften our hearts so that we may hear Your voice.

Help us to trust you in the wilderness.

Fix our minds on You.

Direct us away from evil unbelief.

Turn our hearts so that we may follow You.

Protect us from anything that may trip us up

or throw us off course.

Show us how to keep each other encouraged,

So that sin doesn’t slow down our reflexes.

May we remain faithful to the end,

Trusting God as firmly as when we first believed.

Fearless Confidence

“Give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:29 MSG)

The Apostle Peter was not known for his courage. The Gospels describe him as wavering back and forth between cowardice and cockiness. His natural character is far from heroic--one minute he pledges allegiance to Jesus; the next minute he is denying that he ever knew him.

The Book of Acts describes a different Peter. His prayers are not for his own comfort and safety, but to be an agent for healing, miracles, and wonders. These activities are sure to lead to persecution.  He is no longer displaying his natural traits; instead, he is operating from his supernatural essence. He has been transformed by the Holy Spirit. He is fearlessly confident, consistently bold, and intensely focused.

Lord, give us fearless confidence as we represent You.  Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through Your name,  Jesus.

Credentials

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NLT)

Are you qualified to speak about Jesus? What are your credentials?

These days, most clergy have degrees in theology, attend seminary, and are licensed to perform ministerial functions. Because of their education and credentials, we recognize them as representatives of Christ.

The apostles had no special training. But they had other qualifications:

--They had been with Jesus.

--They were filled with the Holy Spirit.

--They were fearlessly confident in Christ.

Those of us who know Christ are called to represent Him, speak up for Him, and follow His teachings. We must live sanctified lives--constantly listening and making necessary adjustments according to God’s directions. This requires us to spend time daily with Jesus, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and to be fearlessly confident in Christ.

Messiah

“The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ.” (John 4:25 NLT)

The word Messiah comes from the Hebrew Mashiach, meaning anointed/consecrated/chosen one. The word Christ comes from the Greek word Christos, also meaning anointed one.

There are several accounts of Jesus being anointed by women in the New Testament:

“You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.” (Luke 7:46 ESV)

“Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:1 ESV)

“When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.” (Mark 16:1 ESV)

Judaic Scriptures predicted  a Messiah, but many Jews who encountered Jesus did not recognize him as the anointed one. Instead, they saw him as a rebel who questioned their preconceived beliefs and threatened their way of life.  They were waiting for someone who would support their worldview, not challenge it.

Are we able to recognize Jesus as the Messiah? As imitators of Christ, do our lives reflect His anointing? Are we fully consecrated--set apart, dedicated to serving Him? Or, like the religious elite who encountered Jesus, are we blinded by the conventions of our time?

Team Challenge

“Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.”(James 1:12 MSG)

When facing difficult challenges, many of us take stock of our resources. Do we have the skills, time, and energy to handle this situation? Do we have the support of others? If not, despair and panic set in.  

When we rely on ourselves or others, we still feel some semblance of control. Our hope is based on manageable factors.  Faith is only required when we have nothing tangible to cling to. Many of us refuse to submit to God until we have exhausted all other options. Trusting in God should be our default setting, not a last resort.

For those who loyally love God, adversity is not an individual test, but a team challenge. We have to acknowledge that God is in charge and we are subordinate to His power. In every doubles team, even the weaker member has a role to play. We have to be tuned in to our Partner so that we know when to do our part and when to get out of the way. Enduring trust and love leads us to victory.  Every difficulty becomes an opportunity to witness God’s strength and providence.

Soaking in the Presence

“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:5 NIV)

My running socks get really dirty. I have to soak them in hot water and soap to get all the dirt out. This is cumbersome. If I skip this step and wash them in the washing machine with the rest of my clothes, the white socks look dingy. Dark socks, on the other hand, don’t show the dirt. Thus, I pay less attention to laundering them.

Sin is like ground-in dirt that is enmeshed in every fiber of our being. It can remain concealed in darkness, but it becomes obvious in the light. Normal methods of purification leave us dingy. Soaking in God’s presence loosens up resentment, insecurities, anger, unforgiveness, apathy, fear, shame, and mistrust. Immersion in God allows us to be permeated by His holiness. This requires extra attention and time. We have to set ourselves apart from the rest. We have to quit being agitated and stop trying to control everything. We have to be still so that we can be saturated by His Spirit.

“God, create a pure heart in me, and renew a right attitude within me. Do not cast me from your presence; do not take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:10-11 ISV)