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.