Be Quiet

"The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent." (Exodus 14:14 NASB)

One of our computers is minimally responsive these days. It’s always busy--the hard drive is constantly whirring, and the cursor keeps spinning as if it’s caught up in an endless loop of processing. As long as it remains consumed with running background tasks, we cannot use it for our purposes.

When we are busy fulfilling our ambitions, pursuing distractions,  or tangled in worry--we become non-responsive to God. We get caught up in an endless loop of processing and striving. We try to figure out how to work things according to our agenda. As long as we remain consumed by worldly issues--daily tasks, relationships, diversions--we are of minimal use to God. Busyness and striving may make us feel relevant. It is natural to want to be noticed, heard, and appreciated. However, while we are occupied with defending, explaining, influencing, and demonstrating our knowledge, we become numb to divine promptings.

Be still and let God work. Wait on God to provide, answer, and take care of things. Be quiet. Allow God to fulfill His intended purpose through you and every circumstance.

The Branches

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5 ESV)

The heart is the center of the human body. The circulatory system consists of many branches that transport blood back and forth to the heart for oxygenation. The aorta branches directly from the heart to supply blood to the rest of the body. If this main artery gets severed, the result is fatal.

Jesus is the main artery that directly connects us to the heart of God who supplies and upholds everything. We are the branches--secondary vessels in the supply chain. As long as we stay connected to Christ, His life blood flows through us.  Severed from Him, we can no longer accomplish our purpose. Everything we do becomes meaningless.

Lord, help me to abide in You, remain intentionally aware of You. 

The Benefit of Discipline

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good.” (Genesis 50:20 NLT)

I am disciplined when it comes to exercise. I run, lift weights, and practice yoga by choice. None of these activities are pleasant while they’re happening; it takes a long time before there are any noticeable benefits.

Voluntary forms of discipline like exercise, fasting, silence, and solitude are far from fun, but they can be productive. These habits can lead to right living, peace, and wholeness. Since  we get to choose when to start and stop training, these practices can be less burdensome than ones we have no power over. However, imagine you are taken prisoner by an oppressive government. You are starved, forced to do manual labor, and kept in solitary confinement. It would be much harder to see anything beneficial coming out of these experiences, because they are externally imposed against our will.

Both voluntary and involuntary discipline can bring about good. It all hinges on our perspective. If we succumb to despair, fear, and negativity, we become enslaved by our circumstances. However, if our adversity prompts us to turn to God, and we learn to depend on Him, it leads to a mature faith that is invaluable.

“No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening--it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” (Hebrews 12:11 NLT)

NOT on My Own

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 ESV)

The above verse has been my lifeline in tough times. I have chanted it like a mantra as I crawled through dark valleys of helplessness:
Yes, I have strength for all things because Christ empowers me!
Yes, I can make it through anything through Christ who infuses me with inner strength!
Yes, I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency!

I thought I had sucked all the marrow out of this verse, yet, today I got a new insight about it. There are several people for whom I pray regularly. I also try to give them advice and support. As I was stewing in frustration about the lack of positive results, a sudden thought occurred to me:
My loved ones are strengthened for all things because Christ empowers them.
They can make it through anything through Christ who infuses them with inner strength!
They are self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency!
NOT because I have what it takes to influence them with good advice! Their progress, their faith, their fulfillment is not dependent on me. I don’t have enough power to empower anyone. 
BUT Christ does. 

Choosing to Surrender

“When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’” (Acts 21:14 NLT)

It was a season of busyness, and I had been maintaining an unremitting pace of daily activities. I ignored my fatigue and pushed through in the name of diligence. As long as I had any semblance of control, I continued to work my plan. Then, I got injured; everything came to a standstill. When it became clear that I had no other choice, I surrendered to God’s will.

I pride myself on being a good student, but the lessons of surrender have been difficult:
-My ability to influence others is limited. Any results are temporary.
-The delusion of control can be damaging.
-I must relinquish my agenda before I can yield to God.
-I am powerless unless I am empowered by God.
-Absolute trust in God is essential.
-I must wait patiently and confidently. God’s timing may not match my timetable.

In His Name

“You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:14 NIV)

I’ve been to a few land auctions just to watch the proceedings. Large parcels of land are sold to the highest bidder for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The auctioneers speak rapidly, and the bidders are quite subtle--a nod of  the head or a touch of a cap can signal the next high offer. Sometimes I see proxy agents who make offers while on the phone. These representatives are making bids for buyers who are not even present at the auction. The proxy agent has been given the authority to commit whatever the buyer has previously approved. The agent doesn’t have the money, but he is confident that the buyer will pay.

When we pray in the name of Jesus, we are interceding according to His directions. As representatives of Christ, we have been given the authority to make huge bids beyond our capacity. There is a certain amount of detachment that we have in the results, since we are merely go-betweens in this process. We stay in constant communication with God so that we know His will at all times. Mutual trust is essential. We must be committed and attentive to the Lord. We also have to be confident that the  One whom we represent will come through on His promises.

“And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Colossians 3:17 NLT)

I Need Thee

“I count on you from morning to night.” (Psalm 86:3 MSG)

I depend on oxygen to breathe, yet I rarely think about it. The only time I’m conscious of my need for oxygen is when I am under water. I can only hold my breath for so long before I have to come up for air.

We are dependent on God; some of us are oblivious to this truth.  Even though we are unaware, our need for Him does not diminish. Our appreciation for God is often proportional to our level of desperation. When we are drowning in adversity, we become conscious of our insufficiency. This makes us turn to God who is always near. The more we lean on Him, the more we understand Him. The more we acknowledge Him, the more we experience Him. The more we depend on Him, the more we realize our need for Him--every second, every hour, every day.

“I need thee every hour
Most gracious Lord 
No tender voice like thine
Can peace afford
I need thee oh I need thee 
Every hour I need thee
Oh bless me now my savior 
I come to thee
I need thee every hour
Stay thou near by 
Temptations lose their power
When thou art nigh.”
(Lyrics by Annie S. Hawks)