Reinforcing the Good

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” (Colossians 3:16 NLT)

Nobody wants to listen to love songs after a breakup. We usually prefer to listen to music that matches our current mood. What kind of music plays in the background as you go about your daily activities? Have you noticed how this affects your perspective? The tune that plays in our heads influences our minds, reinforcing our attitudes.

There is plenty of bad in our lives. Every day, we experience some disappointment, we hear about someone who is suffering, we are filled with fears for tomorrow. If we dwell on the these things, we allow negativity and anxiety to seep into the core of our being. This gives evil undue influence over our minds.

Instead of focusing on the bad, we could reinforce all that is good. We can do this by changing the environment of our mind. Let us fill our lives with godly influences. Let us meditate on the message of Christ. Let us share what we learn by teaching and counseling others with all the wisdom that God gives us. As we surround ourselves with gratitude and praise, we amplify the good. We are no longer slaves to our past or present sorrows. We become free to rise above our circumstances, bolstered by faith. 

Lord, may we reinforce the good by surrounding ourselves in Your influence. May the negativity in our minds be replaced by gratitude and praise.

Fantasy Faith

“People look at you and think you’re saints, but beneath the skin you’re total frauds.” (Matthew 23:28 MSG)

I know several guys who are really into fantasy football. During football season, they become completely occupied in picking players, watching games, and comparing stats. It’s hard for me to understand why grown men would invest so much time, money, and energy in a fake activity.  I wonder if these men ever feel like frauds. I guess everyone involved knows that the whole thing is based on pretending, so it is acceptable.

Many of us approach faith in a similar way. From the outside, we look like saints--praying, going to church, attending Bible studies, volunteering with local charities, donating money to worthy causes, etc. We invest a great deal of our resources in proving our goodness. However, on the inside we are filled with worry and desire for control. We refuse to trust and submit to God. People look at us and think we are saints, but beneath the surface we are total frauds. Yet, we don’t think of our faith as fraudulent. No, we would characterize it more as fantasy faith. Everyone knows that there is a certain amount of pretending involved; thus, it is widely accepted.

Things that are acceptable by human standards are not always acceptable in God’s sight. God desires to have more than a fake relationship with us. He wants us to be real, inside and out. This requires that we be totally honest with ourselves, with others, and with God. We must have skin in the game. We must be willing to suffer and submit. We must trust. No more pretending. No more wasting time and energy on fantasy faith. 

Lord, we realize that You want a real relationship with us. Help us not to be satisfied with our fantasies of faith. May we be willing to shed all our pretensions and have an honest connection with you.

The Big Lie

“My people have left me to worship the Big Lie. They’ve gotten off track, the old, well-worn trail.” (Jeremiah 18:1 MSG)

I’m training for another half marathon. I don’t like to run with large groups. I could run the 13.1 miles by myself on the familiar trail where I do my daily training. However, I find myself looking up public, half marathon races. I’m particularly attracted to the events with large medals. I want the bling. I believe it will give legitimacy to my accomplishment.

This craving for validation extends to all areas of my life. I am seduced by opportunities to highlight my abilities and hard work. Like most humans, I am inclined to chase after earthly concerns. I behave as if that which is visible, tangible, and temporal matters more than the eternal. I operate under this false illusion. I am tempted to leave the path where I am meant to run. I tend to worship my own desires instead of glorifying God. I have gotten off track. I worship the Big Lie. I realize this is Sin. Yet, I act like an addict who knows she is hooked but can’t kick the habit. I need divine intervention.

Lord, please rescue me from the temptation to chase after validation. May I pay attention to your instructions and guidance. Help me to stay on track and run only down the path that You have chosen.

Expectantly Waiting

"God's kingdom," he said, "is like a king who threw a wedding banquet for his son. He sent out servants to call in all the invited guests. And they wouldn't come!” (Matthew 22:2-3 MSG)

The basement of our house is my son’s domain. He has it set up so he doesn’t have to come upstairs too often. He has a fridge and a microwave and a large stock of pop-tarts and easy mac--enough for a college student to survive on. When I’ve made a nice meal, I want to share it with him. I invite him up to eat with us several times each day. Sometimes he joins us, and sometimes he doesn’t.

This must be how God feels. He prepares for us and yearns for us. He wants to feed us and spend time with us. He wants us to get to know Him better.  Yet most of us never show up. We get lazy. We get busy. We sleep in. We go for a run. We go to work. We entertain ourselves. We would rather do other things than keep company with God. We stay in our domain where we imagine we can survive independently. We feed ourselves with inferior food instead of the fulfilling meal that is prepared by God.  

God is expectantly waiting for us today. We must be responsive and receptive. We must come prepared with our hearts cleansed by confession and our minds cleared of distractions. As we spend time with God, we get to know Him more intimately. The more we focus on Him, the less distracted we become. The more we understand Him, the more we love.

Lord, thank you for inviting me into your presence. Thank you for waiting for me. Please be patient with me. Draw me close to you. Help me know you and love you.

Incapacitated by Pain

“You took over and set everything right; when I needed you, you were there, taking charge.” (Psalm 9:10 MSG)

The whole family was sick with the flu. Everyone was weak and incapacitated. We couldn’t help each other. We couldn’t ask outsiders to come over since we were contagious. We were miserable, but in a few days we all got stronger. It reminded us how much we  take our health and our ability to function for granted.

Not everyone is so lucky. I know a man who had a stroke and is now totally incapacitated. He used to be a highly functional individual. Now he needs help with even the basics--bathing, feeding himself, going to the bathroom, dressing, etc.  It is especially devastating to watch someone who was once very capable become debilitated.

Many of us become similarly incapacitated by pain. Tragedy strikes us in unexpected ways: cancer, death of a loved one, unemployment, disability, divorce. We who were once highly functional adults become incapable of helping ourselves. We are crippled, discouraged and completely occupied by our suffering.

The Lord sees our intense suffering. He moves in when we are weak and incapacitated. If we surrender, His power shall take over. Yet, many of us stop short of complete submission. Instead, we take a detour into the land of resentment. We expend what little energy we have left on sharpening the weapon of bitterness. We are unable to access God’s peace and comfort.

Lord, help us to come to you when we are incapacitated by pain. Please take over our lives. Strengthen us. Comfort us.

Placebo Friends

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Proverbs 27:17 NLT)

True friends are a rare gift. They care enough to be available. They reach out and help when we need them. They are consistent and truthful. They strengthen our character. We are better human beings because of them.

However, since true friends are so hard to find, we often settle for placebo friends. A placebo is something that gives you a false sense of satisfaction but no real benefit. Placebo friends make us feel like we are actively involved in relationships. We go out, we have them over to our homes, we do activities, we talk, we take trips, we buy each other gifts, and we share secrets. From the outside, it looks like we are good friends. Yet, there is no growth in our character. In fact, these relationships merely distract and drain us in the long run. We are no better off than we were before we ever met.

True friends sharpen and improve each other. We do not remain dull and blunt. Instead, we become more effective because of our friendship. We challenge each other to become better human beings. Like good medicine, we heal, comfort, and strengthen each other. 

I pray that we may all have true friends and be true friends.  

The Crowded Pedestal

“I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.” (Psalm 145:1 NLT)

Who or what is on your pedestal? Whom do you worship? What is most important?

It is in our human nature to place the Self/Ego on the pedestal. We promote our desires and seek honor and recognition. Many of us worship and praise God. However, we exalt ourselves at the same time. Our pedestals are crowded.

“He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” (John 3:30 NLT)

We need to humbly step down. The less time and energy we spend on elevating ourselves, the more we can focus on glorifying God. The more we depreciate our desires, the more we can appreciate Jesus.

Lord, grant me the humility to take a few steps down. Show me how to keep the pedestal clear for You, and only You.