Endurance

“We know that affliction produces endurance...” (Romans 5:3 CSB)

Long distance running has taught me to be mindful of what I yield to. Giving in to sore muscles, tiredness, boredom, and negative thoughts gets you nowhere. Athletes learn that a certain amount of pain is inevitable during training. Your desire to finish the race must outweigh your intolerance for discomfort. You yield to the goal, not the pain.

Giving power to the wrong thing can sabotage progress in all areas of life. For example, capitulating to self-pity, weakness, despondency, or fear keeps us from moving forward. Permissiveness leads to negligence and disorder. Endurance, on the other hand, gives purpose to affliction. Fortitude accepts pain as part of the growth process. Perseverance knows that strength and discipline are essential to resilience. When we  trust God, we give in to His power. The awareness of a higher purpose eclipses suffering. When we yield to God, instead of to our natural inclination to avoid pain and humiliation, we reveal His glory.

A Spirit of Despair

“...A garment of praise in place of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3 BSB)

It was one of those days. Gray clouds blocked the sun. The howling wind whipped the trees, shook the house, and churned up chaos within my soul. A spirit of despondency took over, weighing me down with unexplainable sadness. Everywhere I looked, I saw suffering, disappointment, failure, and meaninglessness. Melancholy, like an uninvited visitor, had appeared at my door. She talked her way in and refused to leave. She drew the drapes closed, blocking the light of grace. She ransacked every nook, creating chaos and disorder. She maximized my burdens while minimizing my perception of God’s wisdom.

My energy reserves were being depleted quickly. The longer I waited, the further I would sink. I knew what I needed to do. I had to shake off the oppressive spirit of despair and replace it with a covering of praise. At times like this, when I have no words of my own, I rely on the Word of God to revive me. There are times when I can neither access a Bible quickly enough, nor can I recall scripture verses that I have memorized. That is when lyrics to songs I have heard in the past wash over me. The windows to my soul are opened and the fresh wind of the Holy Spirit blows out the musty air of despair. I am reminded of who God is. I feel His presence. Gradually, grace seeps in; hope peeks through; strength returns. I lean on the Lord to rescue me. I am confident that the Eternal will finish what He started in me.

“Whenever I walk into trouble, You are there to bring me out. You hold out Your hand to protect me against the wrath of my enemies, and hold me safely in Your right hand. The Eternal will finish what He started in me.” (Psalm 138:7-8 VOICE)

Faith Food

“There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen... Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” (Hebrews 5:11, 14 NLT)

What do you eat when you are hungry? Where do you go? Most of us gravitate toward foods that are tasty rather than healthy. We follow our cravings for sugar, salt, and fat. We take pride in our sophisticated palates. We justify our habitual indulgence as part of enjoying life. It is not lack of intelligence or knowledge that prevents us from making good choices. We know what is nourishing, but our desire for pleasure dulls our senses.

How do you feed your spirit? Where do you go? Most Christians look toward their church to be fed. We gravitate toward like-minded folks within our socioeconomic strata. We want to be in communities of faith which uphold our traditions, beliefs, and values. We follow our cravings for affirmation, acceptance, enjoyment, and comradery. We take pride in our service projects, offerings, and feeling needed. We justify our habitual religion as how we practice faith. It is not a lack of intelligence or knowledge that prevents us from choosing what is right. Our spiritual senses have been dulled by imbibing a steady stream of pre-packaged religion with processed fillers. Solid truth is for those who are mature in faith. Like whole food, it requires chewing and digesting. The mind has to be trained to distinguish between what is authentic vs. inauthentic, what is elevating vs. distracting, what is right vs. wrong.

Braveheart

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

The 1995 film, Braveheart, depicts the life of William Wallace, a Scottish warrior. Most viewers don’t remember that Wallace was hung, drawn, and quartered by the end of the movie. Instead, we remember the iconic scene where the lead actor gives an inspiring speech--his long hair flowing in the wind, blue war paint on his face, sword held high. We associate this image of the brave soldier with the title of the movie. Surprisingly, ‘Braveheart’ is not a nickname for the main character but the name of Wallace’s double-edged broadsword.

Have you ever felt ill-equipped to do what you sense you are called to do? Not all of us who are called to the frontlines of battle are tall, muscular, white, or male; we may not be brave, strong, or inspiring, either. These inadequacies can prevent us from stepping up when needed. I, for one, do not feel qualified to be at the frontlines of anything. If they were to make a movie about me, it would be titled Fearheart.

The antidote to fear is faith. We do not go to the frontlines of battle ill-equipped. Instead, we learn to wield the double-edged sword which is the word of God. This makes our hearts brave, even though we fully expect to be humiliated and tormented. It is not our physical appearance, strength, or courage that allows us to lead the battle. It is not our abilities of articulation that inspire others. It is not a belief in our own suitability for the job that helps us stand firm. It is our confidence in the living God.

Prophets and Missionaries

“Pray for the insight and ability to bring others into that intimacy.” (1 Corinthians 14:13 MSG)

Terms like prophet, missionary, evangelist, minister, pastor, priest, and apostle have been used to describe those who have dedicated their lives to sharing the Gospel of Christ. Yet, are we not all called to this purpose? We do not have to travel to a foreign country or speak to people who have never heard of Christ to be missionaries. We are all given missions from God and, thus, are called to be missionaries, but as they say in the Mission Impossible movies, it's up to us whether we 'choose to accept it'.

Every day, we have innumerable opportunities to draw people into intimacy with Christ--wherever we are. Oftentimes it's easier for us to build relationships with our neighbors and friends than it is to do so with those in foreign countries. Those of us who are not overtly proselytizing, who do not hold the title of minister or missionary, sometimes have better luck at making Christ known. Sometimes, Christian 'evangelists' inadvertently turn Christianity into a multi-level marketing scheme like Mary Kay or Amway. This scares people off more than it attracts people to Christ. People have to trust us before we can influence them. This takes time, agenda-free love, and kindness.

Micro-decisions

“If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it.” (James 1:5 MSG)

How much time would you take to research a trip that costs $3000. In contrast, how much time do you take before making a decision to spend $10 a day on coffee or a fast-food meal? The latter decision costs more per year and has longer-lasting effects on your health--yet, most of us rarely give it a second thought.

Before major decisions, I take time to pray and think carefully. Choices like changing jobs, moving, getting married, buying a home, etc., only have to be made occasionally. However, I make hundreds of decisions daily--about how to spend time and money, the food and drink that I consume, my choices in entertainment, the words I speak, the people I associate with, and how I respond to situations--without much consideration. These micro-decisions have significant ramifications in the long run. Thinking before making small choices may feel dumb. Praying about these things may seem completely unnecessary.  Yet, once we recognize the cumulative impact of every micro-decision, we realize our need for Divine wisdom. We learn to pass everything by God and to ask for His help.

Lord, be with me and my loved ones today. Help us with every little choice we make. Protect us from impulsiveness and wastefulness. Give us clear vision and understanding. Let every micro-decision in our lives lead us closer to the purpose You have planned for each of us.

Time Management

“This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out.” (Romans 13:11 NLT)

I watch a popular baking show where contestants make towering cakes in a few hours of time. From start to finish, everything is made from scratch. Every task--planning, sifting, mixing, baking, decorating--is geared to the goal of finishing the one project at hand. Cakes of different sizes, multiple colors of icing, macaroons, decorative accents, are all made and assembled in the alloted time. Bakers often crouch next to their ovens and monitor their work, so they know when to adjust the temperature or take their cakes out. They don’t dabble in unrelated activities, even during times of waiting.

Time management skills and attention to detail are just as crucial as creativity and baking in this setting.

The older I get, the more I realize how little time I have left. I don’t have a bucket list or a vision board filled with different things I want to acquire, accomplish, or experience. Nevertheless, I am deeply aware that there is an all-encompassing purpose to my life and limited time to get things done. Everything I do must somehow contribute to this specific role, this ultimate goal. There is a strong temptation to fill up my life with whatever everyone else is doing. Yet, I also sense that dabbling in unrelated activities, however interesting and enriching they might be, merely uses up what time and energy I have left.

No Wasted Steps

“My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.” (Acts 20:24 NIV)

When I am running a marathon, I try not to take unnecessary steps in the wrong direction. This might seem like an obvious choice, but you would be surprised at how many new runners mindlessly waste energy. I have seen some going back to water stops after they have passed them, going back for things they have dropped, running off the course for pictures, etc. However, the most common misstep is failure to run the tangents. In geometry, a tangent is a straight line that touches a point on a curve. According to some estimates, running the outer part of curves rather than the inner part can add up to an extra half mile during a marathon, depending on the course. This is inefficient and counterproductive.

Life is a lot like a marathon. Most people waste a lot of time and energy, because they are unsure of their goal and purpose. They wander back and forth, pursuing distractions, pausing unnecessarily, and running on the outer edges of goodness. This failure--to consider every step, to ensure that they are facing the right direction, and to take the shortest distance to their goal--is a waste of time and energy.

Lord, teach me how to live with purpose. Show me the steps in the right direction. Remind me of the task that You have given me: to reveal Your generous grace. May everything I do and say today be toward that aim. Help me to finish strong.

Prism

“Let people see God in and through your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:20 MSG)

Back when my husband was in a rock band, we used to have some stage lights that were used at gigs. These multi-colored, flashing, strobe lights added visual excitement to the performances. Each self-contained unit consisted of rotating bulbs that were sound activated.  Unfortunately, these lights burned out after a certain amount of use. In contrast, my son has a crystal that he got when he was a child. This prism has no light of its own, but when placed on a windowsill, it refracts sunlight into many colors. Two decades later, it still sits in the light casting rainbows all around us.

Who wouldn’t want to be seen as self-sufficient, charismatic, and enlightening? The temptation to always be perceived as exciting and interesting can lead us to inauthentic displays of faith. Self-generated light is bound to burn out after a limited time. As followers of Christ, we are called to refract God’s light, to disperse His generous grace, to let people see His glory in and through us.

Hot Pot

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” (Romans 12:6)

Last month, I was invited to a Chinese hot pot dinner at a friend’s home. The centerpiece of this communal meal is a large pot of simmering broth over a fire. My friend had a portable electric burner in the middle of her dining table surrounded by all the ingredients.  Meat, vegetables, noodles, etc., are added to the broth by each diner. After a few minutes of cooking in the hot broth, the food is ready to be scooped out and eaten. A lukewarm broth cannot cook the food and, thus, is useless. Therefore the fire under the pot must always keep the broth boiling. The items you placed in the pot are not always what you end up taking out. Give and take is the essence of this communal meal.

While I was sitting around this wonderful dinner with my good friends, I was reminded of God’s generosity. In his grace, God gave each of us different gifts for doing certain things well. He also gave us the fire of the Holy Spirit which keeps our own souls simmering. Contact with the fire is imperative; a lukewarm spirit is of no use. Each of us is meant to take the gifts we have been given and place them in the hot broth in order to make them usable. There is no place for possessiveness, greed, or showing off. We give what we have and take what we need. This is the essence of a community of faith.

Unshakeable

“Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakeable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights his heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe. (Hebrews 12:28 TPT)

We live in an unstable world. Drastic changes in climate, economies, leadership, morals, health, and priorities are now common. Stability is something we still desire but no longer expect. A balanced existence has become an aspirational luxury.

God operates in an unshakeable realm. His sphere of influence envelops everything. As His heirs, we stand to inherit this stability. When we are influenced by the Holy Spirit, our choices are infused with godly wisdom. We become participants in the spiritual realm--which is intangible, yet very real. We need to be extremely grateful for this privilege, offering God the purest worship of absolute surrender, reverence, and awe.

Sacrifice of Praise

“Through Jesus we should always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, words that acknowledge him.” (Hebrews 13:15 GWT)

If someone you loved was diagnosed with a terminal illness, what would be your reaction? Mine would most likely be a mixture of fear, panic, depression, and self-pity.  This is why the following response from a friend whose husband recently got diagnosed with cancer made an impact on me:

“Offer a sacrifice of praise on our behalf- because God is faithful. He is moving right now. All things work together for those who love the lord, those who are called according to His purpose. His arm is not too short to save nor His ear dull to hear. He fashioned the earth and beyond. What can He not do? Praise God!!!” (E.C. email from 2/27/19)

What is a sacrifice of praise?

Praise acknowledges God’s power, love, and trustworthiness--no matter what the circumstances. Praise is not meant to cajole God into blessing or healing us. God does not need us to remind Him of His greatness. He knows.  It is we humans who forget. Thus, we need to call our attention to God’s goodness. When things are going well, glorifying God is not difficult. However, in the midst of a crisis, words of praise become a sacrifice.  We offer up our broken spirit, humility, and powerlessness. We surrender any illusions of sufficiency and continue to trust unswervingly. We acknowledge God’s power, love, and glory, in Jesus name.

A Worthy Life

“Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew  6:26 ESV)

What makes you feel worthy? Is it your accomplishments, acquisitions, influence, relationships, or uniqueness? In a society that emphasizes productivity, usefulness is often conflated with value. A life that doesn’t show progressive success can seem meaningless.

Dogs can be trained to guard homes, detect bombs, assist those with disabilities, pull sleds, and herd livestock. My dog does none of these. She likes to hang around people and eat. I feed, brush, and clean up after her. She is completely dependent on me. She is the least productive member of the family; yet, her value to me is immeasurable.

Even pets that do no work are highly valued by their human caretakers. Do we think that God loves us any less? If God loves and cares for the birds, who neither reap nor sow nor gather, why do we think He wouldn’t do the same for us? Our worth is not based on our usefulness but solely on God’s love for us.

Seasonal Depression

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God. I will praise him again and again.” (Psalm 42:11 NLT)

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that many people go through in the winter months. For those who live far from the equator, shorter amounts of daylight can lead to lower energy, less motivation, and isolation. Prolonged periods of inactivity can cause us to feel useless and discouraged about our lives. Thus, experts recommend getting more natural light, exercising, scheduling social time, and doing seasonal projects as ways to combat the winter blues.

In some ways, I prefer winters in Iowa over other forms of dark periods in life. At least winter is predictable. Since I know it is coming every year, I can prepare and plan for it. I can attest to the benefits of exercise and having focused activities during this season. I bring my potted plants in and put them near the windows that bring in the most light. I water them regularly and turn them a few inches every day, even when they look pathetic. Regardless of whether I have the energy or motivation, I make time to write, study, cook, and keep in touch with friends. I know winter will end--at the latest by May. This makes it bearable.

Cycles of darkness that accompany tragedy, illness, loss, disappointment, and failure are much harder. They are unpredictable, devastating, and overwhelming. There is no way to know when these periods will end. During these times of sadness and discouragement, I put my hope in God. I place myself, like a potted plant in His presence, His light, His truth. This is a daily practice which requires active discipline, intentional dependence, and trust on my part. The longer this season of darkness, the more my energy wanes. Fear, anxiety, and self-pity sap my motivation further. However, I keep turning to God’s light. I soak in His presence. I remain confident in His love. I place my hope and expectation in God alone. I praise Him again and again.  

Opportunity and Opposition

“There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.” (1 Corinthians 16:9 NLT)

Wrestling is a popular sport where I live, but I know very little about it. I have been attempting to learn some of the basics of this regional sport from a friend. Here are a few interesting tidbits I’ve picked up:

--Wrestlers attempt to ‘pin’ each other down; this involves getting an opponent on his back, with his shoulders touching the mat, and holding him in this position for several seconds.

--Wrestlers prevent their opponents from scoring by applying pressure and remaining in an offensive position of control.

--Wrestlers compete against others in their weight class. Competitors may be similar in size but have different skills.  

--Each time a wrestler advances to a new level, he expects to face a tougher opponent.

The sport of wrestling has some interesting parallels to spiritual conflict:

Neutrality is not an option. One minute you may be standing, but the next minute you may be pinned down on your back. Do not expect to stay standing very long; either you are on the top or on the bottom.

The Enemy’s goal is to throw you off balance. He figures out your vulnerabilities and uses them to take you down.  He is always applying pressure, trying to be in control. It is up to you to develop awareness, strength, and skill.

Opportunity for advancement comes with tougher opposition. Expect more resistance as you step up to higher levels of faith. Do not become overconfident and let your guard down. Do not allow your opponent to outmaneuver or outsmart you. Stay alert and lean--using every skill that you have learned to stay on top. Spiritual growth is never easy. There will always be pushback. Opportunities for great work will be accompanied by opposition in the form of trials.

Yahweh-Nissi

“Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-nissi (which means ‘the LORD is my banner’).” (Exodus 17:15 NLT)

After the battle, the Israelites honored God. They built a monument and named it Yahweh-nissi to remind themselves that the Lord was their banner. In a battle, each side marches under the flag of the king whom they serve. This heraldic standard was usually a pole with an insignia that identified those who gathered under it as being under the protection of their leader.

Yahweh-Nissi--the Lord is our banner. We know whom we represent, whom we follow in every battle. His presence and power fill us with courage. He is our protection. We fight under His name, under His standard. Fearlessly, we gather behind the King. Boldly, we march forward.

Spiritual Fatigue

“As long as Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed.” (Exodus 17:11 BSB)

As the Israelites battled the enemy, Moses raised his arms up in prayer. As long as Moses continued in steady intercession, Israel prevailed. However, Moses became tired as the day progressed. Spiritual battles can be just as exhausting as physical ones.

“Moses' arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.” (Exodus 17:12 NLT)

Intercessors need spiritual encouragement and reinforcement. Moses had Aaron and Hur by his side to prop him up when he grew weary. Each of us is called to accomplish specific tasks at different times in our lives. Some days we are on the forefront of earthly battles, other days we intercede in prayer, and sometimes we support others who are spiritually fatigued.  Whatever stage we are in, we need and are needed to provide spiritual reinforcement. Recognizing this is critical to sustained victory over the Enemy.

LENT: A Time of Spiritual Cleansing

“Let's make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let's make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God. More Passionate, More Responsible.” (2 Corinthians 7:1 MSG)

I have been noticing the dust accumulating on ceiling fans, vent covers, light fixtures, and picture frames in my house. There is also a fair amount of clutter that has been building up. My weekly cleaning routine does not include dusting or decluttering. Spring is a good time to tackle these deep cleaning projects.

Similarly, tiny bad habits can coat every surface of our day, building up like dust. Certain types of beliefs, behaviors, surroundings, and associates can add clutter.  It’s easy to just accept mess as inevitable and get accustomed to living in filth. However, this is not how we were meant to live.

Lent is the season for spiritual deep cleaning. This is the ideal time to get rid of anything that impedes our spiritual progress. Habits that take up space and time, merely cluttering our minds, need to be discarded. Every sin--that which separates us from God--needs to be looked at carefully and wiped clean. Let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, making our entire lives fit and wholesome. It’s time to do a reset: to live responsibly and passionately!

Divine Insights

“I was depressed and ill for several days. Then I got up and went back to the work that the king had assigned to me, but I was puzzled by the vision and could not understand it.” (Daniel 8:27 GNT)

Divine insights are often complex and mysterious. They may start as a vague premonition--unclear, amorphous, peripheral. You go about your daily work in a daze. You can sense there is something significant that you need to process, but it remains cloudy. This gap between insight and understanding can be quite frustrating.

People who ignore insights eventually become accustomed to blurry vision. They are like those who need reading glasses but opt out of wearing them. Clarity requires focus. Each of us has different ways of processing. For me, it involves contemplation and writing.  The key is to know our individual modes of understanding. Intentionally practicing these techniques can enable us to progress from intuition to discernment.

Praying Psalm 40

Lord, I waited patiently

For you to help me

You turned to me

And heard me cry

You lifted me out of depression

Restored my balance

Made me stable

I gain strength

From praising You

Others see what you have done for me

And put their trust in you as well

I have told everyone how dependable you are

Now Lord, don’t hold back

Intervene and protect me from trouble

Rescue me

Come quickly

Help me

You are my Savior

Do not delay

Investing Wisely

“Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength.” (1 Corinthians 15:43 NLT)

My husband and I lived in rented housing for several years before we bought a home. As renters, we did minimal work on home improvements or maintenance. We didn’t even invest much time in building relationships with our neighbors since we knew we would be moving on shortly. However, when we bought our current home, we spent a great deal of money on our downpayment, finishing the basement, landscaping, etc., before we even moved in. We spent time getting to know our neighbors. We knew this was a wise investment of our time, money, and energy since this was going to be our permanent home.

Our earthly lives are temporal and subject to the laws of entropy. Those who have foresight invest more in their forever home rather than in this human existence which decays and depreciates over time.  Our bodies are bound for brokenness, weakness, and wasting away. Yet, within each of us, we have a spirit that is made for eternity. Our souls were created for strength, glory, and communion with God. Thus, let us invest fully and confidently in serving the Lord, knowing that living according to God’s purposes is never wasteful.

“Don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 MSG)