Week Forty-Three - Running Free

God's children are free to run about the house.

Joyful play is one sign of a happy home and a healthy relationship. Security, confidence, and acceptance blossom in children from happy homes, and the redeemed child of God should be the same.

God's children are free from the law, have no condemnation, are sufficient in all things, enriched to all bountifulness, living by the faith of the Son of God, who loves them and gave Himself for them. 

They are children of the free with liberty, walking worthy, edified in love, equipped and supplied by the Spirit, raised to sit in heavenly places, striving together for the faith of the gospel, filled with fruits of righteousness, able to do all things through Christ, always rejoicing, complete in Him, forgiven, able to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God, etc... and we could go on and on about who we are in Christ and the privileges of being God's child. Such is our freedom.

Spurgeon said, "When Jesus comes into the heart, He issues a general license to delight in the Lord." And what does the Bible say about delighting in the Lord? "Delight thyself in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4). That's a tremendous promise to claim. Add the promise of Psalm 84:11, "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly," and you should be rejoicing and running free in the promises of God. 

God desires to bless His children. He delights in their joys. He loves seeing them joyful and confident because this reveals their faith and love for Him.

Happy children are a joy, aren't they? Though happiness isn't God's only goal, it is a product of His activity in our lives. And God gives more than happiness—He gives joy! A deep abiding stream of life flowing within from the fountain of life—Christ our Saviour.

God's children are marked by this evidence of joy and the expression of love to each other and those around them. How, or why, should it be any other way?

Why would God's children ever fear when He is always there as the Protector? Why would God's children ever hide when His acceptance and forgiveness are secured in Christ? Why would God's children recoil from His love when He comes without condemnation? Spurgeon said, "No chains are worn in the court of King Jesus." Amen! God's children are free!

Friend, if you know Christ, you can run about the house! I don't mean without restraint or good manners, but without fear, hiding, and shame. You are free - free indeed - in Christ. So run about your Father's house confidently, enjoying your place in the family.

Week Forty-Two - People and Peonies

"These gorgeous peonies arrived at my door Sunday afternoon. I knew who they were from as soon as I saw the box. A friend who has known my joys as well as my sorrow. A friend who has grown and blossomed with me. We have supported each other. Laughed together. Cried together. Have we always seen eye to eye? Of course not, but our goal and desire have always been the same: to love the Lord our God with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We haven't always gotten it right, but I know we are both thankful for the time God has given us to grow, learn, and change. To bloom where we are planted.

For the past few days, I have watched these gorgeous peonies quickly open, arrive at their fullest bloom, and then quickly begin to fade. Oh the sadness I felt on realizing their peak had already come and gone. Did I enjoy them enough in that moment? Did I appreciate their beauty as they gave me all they had? I can honestly say I did. I've sat in my living room soaking up their vibrant color, observing their open, eager faces basking in the sun. They have brought me joy these past few days. And now, even as they fade, I can see the beauty they hold. There is beauty in every phase of life if we look for it. The color has faded to a softer, gentler hue. The petals droop a little now, maybe tired from the energy they used to shine so brightly for their moment in time. Yet, I still sit here, looking long, appreciating these amazing flowers God created. I sit here, finding myself in their story. Maybe you can find yourself there, too."

These words came from RuthAnn, a precious colleague and friend I recently lost to cancer. Her journey was unexpected and mercifully short, but her influence and friendship will remain as vibrant as the flowers she enjoyed.

Friendships come in many forms. There are childhood friends, college mates, friends made at work, friends that seem only for a season, and even friends that grow estranged. Each plays a part in our lives, and we play a part in theirs. We, like the gorgeous peonies, are temporary. As brightly as we may glow in someone's life, we will droop and eventually fade. 

The precious thing about my friend and I is that we shared a mutual friend, the Lord Jesus. His friendship throughout the years, and especially during these final few months, has been the glow that carried my friend on her journey. As I write and reflect today, I know that His friendship is the only one that can carry the grieving.

Songwriter Arthur Luther wrote:

Earthly friends may prove untrue, Doubts and fears assail;
One still loves and cares for you: Jesus never fails.

Tho' the sky be dark and drear, Fierce and strong the gale,
Just remember He is near, And He will not fail.

In life's dark and bitter hour, Love will still prevail;
Trust His everlasting power; Jesus will not fail.

Jesus never fails, Jesus never fails;
Heav'n and earth may pass away,
But Jesus never fails.

RuthAnn closed her note to me with these two scriptures. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:33-34). 

And Isaiah 40:6-8, "The voice said Cry, and he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

Dear reader friend, it is my prayer that you have loving earthly friendships to encourage you along your journey, but it is my greater prayer that you know the friend above all friends, the Lord Jesus. If you have questions, you can contact me via my website www.gailgritts.com or follow this link for more information - https://www.questionsgod.com/word-pdf/roman-road-to-salvation-kjv.pdf

Week Forty-One - Need a Lift?

Sometimes, we feel low because we are physically, mentally, or emotionally exhausted. Other times, our lowness comes from the things happening around us, such as bad news, frustration, sadness at a friend's illness, or even the inability to keep life peaceful or without unwanted drama. Lots of things bring us down, but our Lord never does.

Psalm 3:3 tells us He is the "lifter up" of our heads. I've had to claim that promise many times when my spirit dropped to empty and my head was bowed in grief. I've always found the Lord met me there and lifted me up, placing me into His loving arms and renewing my outlook.

The Bible is full of encouragement for low times, and His Spirit has a precious way of bringing comfort and assurance when we feel low. 

Psalm 31 gives us several positive promises and truths that lift us up.

Verse 1 - He will deliver.

Verse 3 - He is our rock and fortress.

Verse 5 - He will redeem us.

Verse 7 - He knows our troubles and understands the adversity of our souls.

Verse 8 - He will not leave us in the hand of the enemy.

Verse 15 - Our times are in His hand.

What a precious promise! Our Father cares for us every moment of the day, lifting us up with His precious promises and eternal love.

Psalm 41:12 reads, "And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever." God watches us always—forever!  Even when our heads hang low, and our knees are weak, He is still there beside us, ready to lend a helping hand and lift us up.

So, we can say with the psalmist, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance" (Psalm 42:5).

Friend, you may be in a low spot right now. Remember, it is just for a moment. Take yourself to Psalm 31 and read for a while. The closing verse is yet another precious promise. "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." It is my prayer that God would do just that for you today - lift you up and renew your strength. So, be of good courage. God knows where you are!

Week Forty - I Stopped

Several years ago, the Lord gave me a word that became a spiritual instruction. The word was enough. His Spirit said, "That is enough, Gail. Enough trying to figure things out. Enough fretting and fear. Enough trying to solve everyone else's problems or thinking you can fix things for them. Enough." 

I wish I could tell you I obeyed immediately, but I didn't. It was several months of heartache and disappointment before I decided to obey by faith. And let me tell you, I have never regretted my decision. When I stopped figuring, fretting, and fixing, I found such peace, and I began seeing God work and even answer prayer.

We are often too slow to respond when it comes to stopping. Maybe that's why we crash! Or maybe our spiritual brakes are bad, causing us to appear erratic or swerving. Learning to stop is a vital safety maneuver!

I read a post a while back where another person talked about stopping. Here's what it said.

"I once asked a very successful person to share their secret. They smiled and said, 'I started succeeding when I started leaving small fights for small fighters. I stopped fighting those who gossiped about me. I stopped fighting with my in-laws. I stopped fighting for attention. I stopped fighting to meet people's expectations of me. I stopped fighting for my rights with inconsiderate people. I stopped fighting to please everyone. I stopped fighting to prove they were wrong about me. I left such fights for those with nothing else to do but fight, and I started fighting for my vision, dreams, ideas, and destiny. The day I gave up on small fights is when I became successful and so much more content.'" 

I must agree. Contentment and peace became my overriding state when I stopped and obeyed the Lord.

Why do we struggle with stopping? Let me offer a few suggestions. 

We may think no one else could solve the problem like we can. 

We may think that if we walked away from the situation, we would be perceived as not caring or loving enough. 

We might even believe our way is the right way, and if we stopped putting in our two cents or keeping our fingers in the pie, things wouldn't turn out well. 

Do you see the pride in those thoughts?

Let me give you a couple of Scriptures to consider. James 4:1-2 reads, "From whence come wars and fighting among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not."

Isn't this what we do when we refuse to listen to God's Spirit? We push and shove and try to get things to go our way. God calls that the lusts that war in our members—the desires that drive us. 

Proverbs 13:10 says, "Only by pride cometh contention." If we combine that with the verses in James and study the subject throughout the Bible, we will learn that pride is the core problem.

We don't stop because we are driven by pride. We want to look good, sound good, be perceived as the ones with the answers, and be able to solve all the problems, but that is not our place! 

You find the key when you read chapter four of James. That key is humility. Verse ten reads, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." 

Listening and obeying when God's Spirit told me it was enough was humbling. I knew I should stop, but I feared what might happen. And you know what? None of the things I feared happened. Instead, God gave me great peace and a secure contentment that my obedience was enough. He would do the rest.

So, what do you need to stop today? Fretting? Fussing? Complaining? Fixing? There can be many things we push with a background of pride. I challenge you to go before the Lord and see what word He gives you. Then, obey by faith and let God take care of the rest.

Week Thirty-Nine - Ruth, the Gleaner

Do you know the story of Ruth? This poor girl finds herself a widow in a strange country, caring for her aging mother-in-law and gleaning grain from the corners of the field. Probably wasn't the life she'd imagined, but this is where she finds herself, and Ruth's attitude and demeanor are well worth our attention.

As we look at some of her gleaning qualities, apply them to your own in the fields of prayer, meditation, and the Word as you gather spiritual fruit.

Ruth gathered her portion bit by bit. She gained little by little. Are you content to search for single truths? Do you store them up to create a bundle of truth for your benefit? Are you consistent in your gathering?

Ruth kept her eyes open. She was watching for the precious fruit. Are you watchful? Do you see the value of the opportunities God gives you for service, and do you glean diligently with your eyes on the harvest? Are you aware of the opportunities for witnessing? Or do you walk through life without concern for others?

Ruth had to stoop for all she found. We, too, must stoop with lowly minds to glean and receive benefits. A humble heart reaches deep down for the truth, while a prideful gleaner will not. Does Bible truth seem too cheap for your attention? 

Ruth held on to what she had gathered, carefully retaining her fruits. Are you doing the same? Or do you easily forget what you hear and read? Do you understand the importance of storing up truth? 

Finally, Ruth labored with a sense of necessity. She knew that meeting her physical needs demanded this activity. Do you understand that feeding your soul on the Bread of Life is paramount to a healthy spiritual life? Do you labor in the Word or just snack?

Ruth's story doesn't leave her as a poor gleaner in a field. She meets the man of her dreams and becomes part of Christ's lineage. Those are some wonderful benefits for the girl who gleaned. God blesses those who value His Word and spend time in His field.

Revelation 1:3 reads, "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

Until He comes, let's be gleaning everything we can! The blessing is assured.

NOTE: Yesterday, my friend RuthAnn Pickett went home to be with the Lord. She was a faithful gleaner and I dedicate today’s blog to her, my friend and colleague in ministry.

Week Thirty-Eight - Why is Life So Hard?

One of my little sayings was, "If we'd all work together, we can get this done in thirty minutes." But, trying to get my children to work together was like herding cats, and the thirty-minute job turned into a several-hour event. Today, as adults, my children look back and see things would have been much easier and quicker if they'd just worked together, and they laugh as they hear themselves saying similar things to their children.

It's a shame it takes us so long to learn certain skills. Our obstinance and refusal to cooperate make life harder than it needs to be. For example, we purchase packet furniture and ignore the directions. Then, we get angry because it doesn't go together correctly. We speed and get angry at the policeman for the ticket. We lose our temper and spout hateful words, then wonder why people avoid us. We disrespect our spouse and then wonder why they don't respond lovingly.

Why do we do these things? Why do we make life so hard? It's hard enough without our adding to the situation. What can we do?

There is no simple formula for making life easy. We are broken and live on a broken planet with broken people. We cannot change that, but we can do some things to make life gentler and less difficult.

Initially, we can obey. Nike's slogan, "Just Do It," would be good for us to adopt. Obey without question or delay, and things usually go much smoother for everyone. Just following instructions and doing as we are told helps loads! 

Obeying our parents is the first skill we should learn because obedience brings happiness to the home and creates healthy relationships. Then, we learn obedience to authority in school and society. This brings unity to the community and earns us a good reputation. Ultimately, obedience must be applied to our submission to God's Word.

We make life less difficult by trusting the Lord, committing our lives to Him, taking one step at a time, living with a confident faith, and believing God's will is best. But we are so fatally prone to do the opposite, making life more difficult. 

When we don't obey, we hit hurdles. When we aren't trusting the Lord, we are trusting ourselves, which rarely works out well for us. When we don't commit our lives to Him, we are saying we can do it on our own, and that's a very lonely place. When we race ahead without taking each necessary step, we may arrive at our destination, but we will be ill-equipped for continuance. When we aren't living by confident faith, the Bible says it is a sin, the sin of self-reliance and pride. And when we fail to believe God's will is best, we create a world of chaos that makes life so hard.

So, today's challenge is to look at the hard spots in your life and ask yourself if they result from your disobedience toward God, your parents, your spouse, or even your employer. Is it a failure to fully trust God and believe His way is best? Is life hard because your self-reliance and pride put you at odds with others? Have you created a world of chaos by your unwillingness to obey or demanding your way?

If so, by cooperating with the Lord, most things can be sorted—maybe not in thirty minutes, but in His timing. Are you willing to cooperate? Or are you going to continue running riot like a herd of cats?

 

Week Thirty-Seven - Spiritual Mildew

This past spring, we returned to England from a year's furlough in the States to a lawn choked and dying, overtaken by weeds and moss. After I applied weed and moss killer, dead, dry patches covered the lawn, but the grass wasn't coming back to life. 

Finally, I paid a professional to come in with heavier chemicals, and after several weeks, my lawn began recovering. Moss, mildew, and other destructive things like parasites and fungi attack gardens, vegetables, and flowers. Surely, if it weren't for the goodness of God, they would spread and create famine all over the land. 

Comparatively, spiritual mildew is also a great blight. It takes root when a debilitating general apathy, a deep trial, or a hurtful confrontation leaves you empty and dry. Have you noticed a deficiency of sincerity in yourself or those around you? Do you see or experience spiritual laziness or debilitating pride? Are your prayers shriveled and your service cold? All of these are warning signs of spiritual mildew creeping into your heart.

When it comes to the moss in the garden, intense heat must dry it out and kill the roots. Spiritually, the moss and mildew of our blighted hearts need the light of the Word and heat from the blessed Son of Righteousness to shine intensely. The roots of pride, bitterness, apathy, and laziness must be killed so new spiritual energy and hope can grow.

Friend, maybe you, like my lawn, suffer from spiritual mildew. You feel flat, overtaken, and covered in dry, dead patches. It may be time for you to call in the professional, the great Healer of your soul, and let Him use Spirit-filled chemicals to restore the beauty of your soul's garden. Forgiveness, repentance, and honest confession must be tilled into the soil of your soul before weeds and mildew can ever be removed.

Psalm 51:10-12 is one of David's prayers about his personal spiritual mildew. He prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit."

Let this be your prayer, and may His Word shine into your heart today and create lush spiritual beauty!

Week Thirty-Six - I'm Not Listening

When rebellious teenagers or stubborn adults set their minds to having their own way, they stop listening. Proverbs 13:1 reads, "A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke." Very straightforward, isn't it? Wise people listen; scorners don't. 

This short chapter in Proverbs reveals more about people who aren't listening. 

They want everything to come easily to them. Verse 4 reads, "The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing."

Their pride creates continuous friction. Verse 10 reads, "Only by pride cometh contention."

They spend until they are poor. Verse 11, "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished."

They are frustrated when plans fail. Verse 12, "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick."

They can't understand why their way is so hard. Verse 15, "The way of transgressors is hard."

Yet, they refuse to alter their course. Verse 19, "It is an abomination to fools to depart from evil."

So they look for people to agree with them. Verse 20, "A companion of fools shall be destroyed."

And they are never satisfied. Verse 25, "The belly of the wicked shall want."

And all the while, they refuse to listen."A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise" (Proverbs 15:12).

Friend, refusing to listen to wise counsel is the surest way to an unhappy and unproductive life. 

Let's compare the benefits of listening to what we've just drawn, still from Proverbs 13.

Verse 4 - "The soul of the diligent shall be made fat."  Hard work pays off.

Verse 10 - "With the well advised is wisdom." Receiving sound advice makes for better decisions.

Verse 11 - "He that gathereth by labour shall increase." Earning and saving create wealth.

Verse 12 - "When the desire cometh, it is a tree of life." Good goals produce good outcomes.

Verse 15 - "Good understanding giveth favour." Life is easier when you make good decisions.

Verse 19 - "The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul." Progress feels good.

Verse 20 - "He that walketh with wises men shall we wise." Good companions are paramount.

Verse 25 - "The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul." Doing right brings satisfaction.

Which side sounds more beneficial to you? And are you listening?

Week Thirty-Five - Persevere

I keenly remember the drudgery of young motherhood. The constant scheduling of feeds and naps, the demands of expectations I put on myself, the constant laundry, housework, and meals. I thought it would never end. I remember being so very tired and even disillusioned as I tried to raise my little brood of five and do ministry. 

Thankfully, my grandmothers and friends would occasionally take the kids and give me a reprieve! But nothing changed the drudgery of keeping up with young children, except when I remembered my love for them and the blessedness of having a family.

Childrearing was only for a season, and I survived! You will, too! But drudgery isn't reserved only for the young mother. Life has a way of settling into ruts, and we get bored, disillusioned, and chained to our schedules until beauty seems to be squeezed out.

James 1:24 is the verse we will consider today in light of this idea of drudgery. It reads, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

Elizabeth Elliot tells of a visit to Dohnavar Fellowship India. "There, day after day, year in and year out, Indian women (most of them single) care for little children, handicapped children, infirm adults, old folks. They don't go anywhere. They have none of our usual forms of amusement and diversion. They work with extremely primitive equipment - there is no running water, for example, no stoves but wood-burning ones, and no washing machines. In one of the buildings, I saw this text: 'There they dwelt with the King for His work.' That's the secret. They do it for Him. They ask for and receive His grace to do it. I saw the joy in their lovely faces."

Why do we do what we do? If we do it for ourselves, it will become drudgery. If we do it only for the benefit of others, we will burn out with the sacrifice. But if we do it for Christ, we serve a higher purpose and have a richer resource.

In James, the phrase, "Let patience have her perfect work," points us to that purpose and source. There is an outcome, reward, measure of growth, and blessing to all we experience. 

So, how can I help myself rise above the drudgery of today and see the better purpose and source of life?

Let's look a bit more at James 1:24: "Count it all joy." Count your blessings. Look for the good things in your situation—even the tiny ones. You can live a long time on tiny blessings! They add up, and eventually, your perseverance and faith will reward you with greater patience and maturity.

"Let patience have her perfect work." You aren't going through what you're going through for nothing. Those little ones will grow up, and if you have done your part, they will be happy and productive, bringing you great joy and pride. You aren't working your job or doing your ministry for nothing. God will give the increase in every area of life when we persevere. Someone else said, "The glory of tomorrow is rooted in the drudgery of today."  So don't give up yet!

"Perfect and entire, wanting nothing." I love that phrase. You can't be mature, whole, and fulfilled at the beginning of any project. Those things are reserved for the ending. So, remaining steadfast and perseverant is the only way to reach this position. It's a great place to be when you can look back and see all God accomplished through your consistency and what you considered years of drudgery.

This is how we stay motivated - looking for the benefit ahead. I call it futurizing!

We do it for the King! We do it patiently and persistently, with the purpose of His glory, until we become "perfect, entire, wanting nothing" - or not lacking - in any grace!

Week Thirty-Four - How Was Your Sunday?

How was your Sunday? Did you go to church? Did you sing as unto the Lord? Did you have sweet fellowship with the family of God? Did the Word preached permeate your spirit? Or did you go expecting the music to lift you, others to listen to you, and the preacher to get it over with?

What a real challenge the minister faces each service. Folks come with burdens and resentments, and sometimes only out of duty. Others are out there singing their hearts out with the joy of the Lord written across their faces. How is he to meet the needs of such a variety?

S. Martin, speaking of the minister, wrote, "You expect the minister to confess, give thanks, and pray for you, and you do not so much join with him as listen to him. This ought not to be, for you yourselves are a priesthood. We are God's ministers, but we are not God's priests. Our great high priest is Jesus Christ, but as you are priests unto God, we want your sacrifice. Our desire is that you should pray with me, and give thanks with me, and confess with me. Allowing me to lead you, but not allowing my prayers to be substituted for your own - thoroughly congregational."

Thoroughly congregational. That means we all participate in the service, not just watching or listening but joining in as a part of the family. This joining in, this joying in, shows on your face. By the way, to be congregational necessitates attendance - you can't be congregational online!

S. Martin says, "There is something in the effect of the human face which is not to be despised in worship. It awakens sympathy, and there is something pleasant in the idea of making others glad by one's countenance. Assist each other in the House of Prayer by the help of your countenance. Gladness, we say, will throw light into your countenance and will give a brilliant tone to all your utterances."

So here's your challenge for this coming Sunday. Show up! Show up with joy and anticipation on your face. Come expecting God to meet with you and expecting yourself to open your heart and voice to Him in praise through song and conversations. Don't just watch church take place; be a part of it. Be congregational!

Week Thirty-Three - God Is For Me

Psalm 56 is precious. Written when David fled to Gath to escape Saul, the psalm is full of phrases revealing David's precarious situation and solid expectation in God. Before discussing the phrase God is for me, let's read a few of these little verses.

You might already know verse 3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." I taught that one to my children when they struggled to sleep, afraid of the dark. It is a verse we all need to memorize because fear comes too easily.

Verse 8 is comforting as well. "Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?" God is so attentive, even to our tears. Nothing escapes His attention.

One more verse, verse 13: "For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" Our souls have been delivered from death by salvation and are protected by His Spirit as we walk in sanctification upon this earth. God watches and guides our every step.

Verse 9 is our focus for today. It reads, "When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me."

Spurgeon took the "for me" phrase and ran with it, saying, "He was for me before the worlds were made; He was for me, or He would not have given His well-beloved Son; He was for me when He struck the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of His wrath upon Him. He was for me, though He was against Him; He was for me, when we were ruined in the fall. He loved me notwithstanding all; He was for me, when I was a rebel against Him, and with a high hand was bidding Him defiance. He was for me, or He wouldn't have brought me humbly to seek His face. He has been for me in many struggles; I have been summoned to encounter hosts of dangers; I have been assailed by temptations from without and within; how could I have remained unharmed to this hour if He had not been for me?

He is for me with all the infinity of His being; with all the omnipotence of His love; with all the infallibility of His wisdom; arrayed in all His divine attributes. He is for me - eternally and immutable for me; for me when those blue skies in the distance shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture; for me throughout eternity. And because He is for me, the voice of prayer will always ensure His help. This is no uncertain hope, but a well-grounded assurance - this I know!"

Oh, friend, do you have this assurance? God is for you in more ways than you can imagine. If you can grasp this truth, you can agree with David and Paul when he writes in Romans 8:31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

Week Thirty-Two - I'm Slipping

I found some notes the other day about Peter during Jesus' crucifixion. Peter slipped. He failed big time. We'd all agree, but some previous steps made him vulnerable when it came to the crunch.

The first indicator of trouble ahead is in Luke 22:33. Peter uses a dangerous pronoun, I. "I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death." Jesus knew they were boastful words. His next statement is that Peter will deny Him. In Matthew 26:33, Peter is recorded as saying, "Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I not be offended." 

That dangerous I attitude is the first sign of a falling away from God. When we get into I-mode, we don't listen, think we are stronger, and believe ourselves better than others. That is pride. The book of Proverbs tells us pride goes before destruction. It also says pride will bring us low (Prov 29:23). So that first step is a dangerous one.

The second indicator is neglecting prayer. Remember the night in Gethsemane when Jesus took His closest men with Him as He agonized in prayer? What did they do? They slept. A lack of prayer is another sign of pride. It says I can do everything without talking to God or seeking His advice. But without prayer, Peter reacted wrongly and hurt others. He lost discernment. 

Without prayer, we fight the wrong enemy, use the wrong weapons, and have the wrong attitudes. Compare Peter's response as he roused from sleep and cut off the servant's ear to Jesus' response after a time of close communion with His Father: "Put up thy sword into the sheath:" Jesus said, "the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I drink it?" (John 18:11). Prayer keeps us prepared and submissive.

The third indicator is following at a distance. As Jesus was arrested and brought to the high priest's house, Peter followed afar off (Luke 22:54), Which shows his spiritual location. No longer was he close, but now he felt the distance and maintained his distance. 

The fourth indicator is hanging around with the wrong crowd. Where does Peter find himself? No longer with his fellow disciples but around the fire with the world. The world is ready to turn him over as an equal traitor like Jesus. And what is Peter's reaction? He denies his Lord, just as Jesus predicted, three times.

Why talk about Peter's steps away from the Lord? Why tell such a sad tale? Because we need to learn from Peter's indicators. We, too, can fall away. And when we do, these same four steps will mark our falling away. 

Pride, the I-mode, begins taking over our words, thoughts, and actions. We might not initially see it, but if we trace our words, we will hear the I-word becoming a major part of our conversation and inner justification. Our prayer life will diminish. A trickle of prayer will seem too much of a burden. Our pride feeds the idea that prayer is a waste of time, and soon, we find ourselves at a distance. We may notice something is wrong, but pride keeps us from turning around. We feel more comfortable at a distance, and before long, we look at the companions around us and realize we are in a desperate place. Too weak to take a stand, we warm our hands with the world and deny we are Christians. We are backslidden.

But let's not leave it there because Jesus didn't leave Peter there. In Luke 22:60-61 we read, "And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."

That tender, precious gaze from the Saviour brings Peter back to reality. He knows he is in the wrong place. He sees where his decisions have taken him; the result is repentance, a broken acknowledgment of wrong. The last chapter of John records how Jesus came to Peter and restored him to fellowship and ministry, but this one significant moment was the spur that turned him around.

Friend, are you close to Jesus or far away? Do you think prayer is a waste of time? Is your conversation punctuated with too many I's? Is pride and self-serving your mode of life? Are you hanging around with a crowd that draws you away from close communion with the Lord? 

My prayer today is that one look at your Saviour will draw you back. He is willing and able to forgive and restore no matter how far you have slipped. He is the God who seeks, and He is seeking you today.

Week Thirty-One - It's Not Supposed to Be This Way

I want to share some thoughts from a book I enjoyed by Lysa TerKeurst: It's Not Supposed to Be This Way. It's well worth reading!

Here's what she writes,

"What makes paintings so delightful? We already know a painting isn't going to look like a photograph. And that's what makes it art. It's been touched by a human. It's been created by someone whose hands sweat and who can't possibly transfer divine perfection from what her corneas see to what her fingertips can create.

Even the best painters will get something off-scale, out of alignment, a shade too dark, or a hair too thick. It will be flawed. And that's why we must make a crucial decision: What will we do with the disappointment?

Will we see the human behind the work? The heart that dared to hold the brush dripping with color? Remember that she was the courageous one. She was the one who showed up and took the risk. She braved the disappointment of others. She lived. She made her mark.

I fear you have a picture of my messy that's way too tidy. Maybe you've looked straight on at my faith and made some fine-sounding assumptions and conclusions that are impressive but not true. If you do this, you may think that when things get messy in the process and progress of your journey, maybe your faith isn't strong enough. Dear one, that's not true.

Weak moments don't make weak faith. Weak moments make us even more aware of our need to press into faith. A faith in God that helps us know that what we see isn't all there is. Weak moments are also clues telling us what needs to be addressed right now in this part of the journey. Don't beat yourself up for weak moments. But don't ignore them, either."

I enjoyed those thoughts, and they left me with some questions. Are we guilty of looking at the faith of others and feeling we pale in comparison? Do we expect things to be perfect and fall into disappointment when reality hits? Do we judge our weak moments as defining instead of challenging us to greater growth? Do we give up too easily?

Then, she went on to talk a bit about dust.

"Dust is messy. We don't even like to touch dust, especially if it's made up of the shattered pieces of our own hearts.

Thankfully, we don't have to. We can hand it over to God, the One who forms our dust into something we want but never could have made for ourselves.

Jesus used the dust of the ground to restore a man's sight in John 9:5-6  When mixed with water, dust becomes clay. Clay, when placed in the potter's hand, can be formed into anything the potter dreams up. Isaiah 64:8 & John 18:6

Dust doesn't have to signify the end. Dust is often what must be present for the new to begin."

Friend, we are but dust, nothing very beautiful or valuable, but in the hands of the Potter, we are bound for new creation. 

So today, if your life isn't perfect, if it doesn't look like a fine work of art or a porcelain vase, don't be discouraged. God is the designer. He is the creator of beauty. Yield yourself to Him and in time, you will be amazed at what He can do!

Week Thirty - The Spiral Staircase

God's Word holds the idea of rising higher and higher, like climbing a spiral staircase, always returning to the same standpoint but from a higher position on the circling circle. This is especially true when we consider our position in Christ and the growth of understanding that comes to the Christian.

The first step is salvation, the blessedness of knowing we belong to an invisible, heavenly family. Psalm 32:1 reads, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."

Another step leads us to recognize the blessedness of being comforted with the comfort only God can give. Assurance and peace become our companions as we continue to climb."

The steps of understanding our privileged position in Christ, that we are complete in Him, and that we serve the Lord Christ compels us to strive for greater heights. 

The higher we climb, the more we appreciate the blessed work of the Spirit. His guidance, conviction, and instruction help us make steady progress. 

Humbled, we rejoice in the blessed knowledge that we are recipients of mercy, undeserved yet dearly beloved. 

And as we behold the vision of God - His majesty, power, and great love with which He has loved us - we are compelled to hold on more tightly as we breathe heavenly air. 

This cycle continues as we grasp more of the spiritual blessings bestowed upon us and begin to see ourselves as saints and children of God whose sins are forgiven.

Note the rising circle pattern of Ephesians 2:6-10

Step One: Salvation - But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

Step Two: Learning our Position in Christ - "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" 

Step Three: Learning more of Grace -  "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. "

Step Four: Humble Understanding - "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." 

Step Five: Heartfelt Service - "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

As we grow in Christ, we learn more about grace and begin serving with a pure and genuine heart. God repeatedly assures us of His love, and we grow in confidence and humility each time we consider His grace applied to our lives. 

Where are you on this learning curve? Are you growing in Christ? 

If you don't know Him, it's time to get on the ladder! The first step is to believe in Jesus, trust Him, and accept His gift of salvation.

Why not join me on the staircase, and let's learn more about what it means to "sit together in heavenly places in Christ."

Week Twenty-Nine - Finding Your Feet!

This past year, we enjoyed spending time with our grandkids. Several of them are at the point where they are ready to leave home. They are testing out their wings, learning to drive, finding jobs, heading to college, and looking to see where life will take them as they try to find their feet. We've had some long conversations and shared stories about ourselves and their parents launching into life.

Finding their feet can take some time. Unless they know their goal, they may wander around for a while, making parents and grandparents nervous. However, finding our feet is not a challenge reserved for teenagers. Even adults can find it difficult. Why? 

Maybe you are standing on slippery rocks. Like those moss-covered ones by the riverbank, you slip before noticing the danger. Slippery rocks are those where we are taking risks. Risks that involve lies or cheating. Risks of being found out or getting caught. Slippery rocks will trip us up every time. 

Or maybe you are afraid to put your feet in the water. You've been hurt, failed before, or don't know if you have what it takes. You'll never know what God has for you until you wade out into the deep.  Faith calls for us to get our feet wet; to walk on water, you must get out of the boat!

If you are standing on the shore with only your toes in the stream, you'll never know the thrill of the ride. You might enjoy a measure of refreshing, but you'll never reach your full potential. 

Are you afraid you can't stand against the current? That might be a concern, especially if your faith is only in yourself. Getting into the river of life with God will hurl you down fantastic plunges, but you'll never regret taking the opportunity to know His power. 

Finding your feet in a stream requires getting onto solid rock, anchoring deep, and adjusting to the current. It is similar in life. You need to be on that solid rock. 1 Samuel 2:2 reads, "There is none holy as the Lord; for there is none beside thee; neither is there any rock like our God." He is solid. When we place our faith in God, He gives us footing.

1 Corinthians 10:4 gives us a couple more assurances about the Rock. It speaks of the children of Israel and the great exodus: "And did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ."

Let's focus on two words. The first one is drank. When we drink the water of life, we never thirst again. He becomes our source; that spiritual water gives us the power to stand and adjust to the current of life. And the second word is followed. The spiritual Rock followed them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. They were never outside His view or out of reach. You, too, are never out of His view or reach. You can launch yourself into life because you are covered! You will find your feet because He is leading, He is following your every step, and He is in control.

As I pray for my grandchildren to find their feet in life, I'm excited to see where God will take them. They may hit some slippery spots and face fears and disappointments, but I know they are cared for by the Rock because they are His.

The same is true for you if you are in Christ. So, get out there and find your feet!

Week Twenty-Eight - When I Remember

Praying always. That's what the Bible says. "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Eph 6:18). 

Does that mean we walk around with our eyes closed and hands folded? Are we to be like the Pharisees, lifting our hands and praying aloud in public? Are we to always be in our prayer closet? Hardly. The instruction is about an inner sanctum, an attitude, and readiness for prayer.

So, the question today is, "Are you praying always?" 

I drew this little poem from Spurgeon's devotion, Restraining Prayer.

When I remember God is omnipotent,
I pray for larger things.

When I remember God is tender and full of compassion,
I pray for the little things.

When I remember God is great,
I pray boldly.

When I remember God is faithful,
I pray confidently.

When I remember God is full of majesty,
I pray with awe and delight.

When I remember God is forgiving,
I pray in humble confession.

When I remember God is my Father,
I pray with love.

When I remember God is my Provider,
I pray with earnestness.

When I remember God is my Protector,
I pray with expectation.

When I pray,
Let me always remember.

And how important it is to remember to Whom we are praying. No gimmicks, luck charms, or magic words are necessary, just a humble recognition of who He is. He remains faithful, loves to bless, knows and cares, never leaves nor forsakes. We pray to Him, and He answers our prayers based on His attributes.

Friend, we can pray always because He is always there! Not one moment of your life goes unrecognized or undesigned by Him. Surely, when you remember His greatness, constant prayer and praise will be your response.

Week Twenty-Seven - Hard-hearted

For my Bible reading this year, I am taking a chapter at a time and asking the Lord to reveal a little truth or fresh insight. I wanted to share a sample with you that significantly spoke to my heart.

In Exodus 8, Moses stands before Pharoah as the plagues of frogs, lice, and flies occur. Verse 15 reads, "But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said."

The only thing Moses knew as he obeyed God was what God had said - Pharoah would be stubborn, yet God would bring Israel out with a strong hand. "Then the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharoah: for with a strong hand shall he let them (the Children of Israel) go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land" (Exodus 6:1). Moses didn't know how long this would take.

As God increases the severity of the plagues, he must have wondered what it would take to break Pharoah's stubborn resolve. He didn't know all God had planned; he simply did his part by obeying God's direction as he brought God's word to Pharoah.

As I read, I began to think of the hard-hearted around us. Maybe they are our shopkeepers, co-workers, or even members of our family. They staunchly reject the gospel and resist all our pleas. I've even known God to shake the hard-hearted through tragedy, but like Pharoah, they refuse to yield. We, like Moses, may feel we can only watch as they move further and further away from God.

Do you have a stubborn loved one resisting the gospel? Have you witnessed repeatedly but to no reception? Don't give up! You can rest knowing you have done your part by sharing the light and will continue sharing. You have obeyed, as Moses did, by doing what the Lord has directed. If they refuse, that is their decision  - a sad decision but one you cannot make for them. 

He is not willing that any perish. Do you doubt that? Look at all the opportunities God gave Pharoah to repent and yield. And yet, he wasted God's grace. God is not willing for your loved one to perish either, so keep shining your light. Keep offering God's grace and mercy, and at the same time, rest yourself in the sovereign knowledge of God. You don't know what God has planned, but you can remain faithful and obedient in giving them the gospel.

Week Twenty-Six - Don't Get So Hung Up

Often, we read statements and accept them without thinking of their meaning. For example, we looked at trust your heart several weeks ago. It sounds good, but it contradicts the Bible's truth. Another phrase we accept, but Jesus never commended, is You deserve to be happy. You won't find that in the Bible, either. We all prefer to feel happy, but happiness is not a Bible quality. The Bible gives us joy, which is considerably different and much deeper than any fleeting happiness. 

I read an interesting quote by Michael Marshall highlighting another of these well-intended statements: "You need to find your identity."

According to Psychology Today, finding one's identity involves discovering and developing one's potential, choosing one's life's purpose, and finding opportunities to exercise that potential and purpose. 

That sounds good, and doing those things is wise, but we miss a significant component of life if we only use what we do or accomplish to define our identity. What I do is not who I am. I am more than a writer, more than a Christian worker, more than my job description, aren't you?

When you go home at night, do you continue thinking of yourself in terms of your job? Do you carry on with the same motivation and attitude as at work? Or do you relax and return to being yourself- the self outside your job description?

Another definition of identity states that it is not static. It is a dynamic concept that changes throughout life, with time, and through your struggles. I'd agree. I'm not the same person I was in my teen years or even in my 30s. But I'm still me, with all my insecurities, fears, and personality traits. How about you?

So, that definition doesn't help much, either.

Here's the thing: we can search to find our identity, but we still struggle to define it because it differs for each of us. We have a variety of sides because we are complex creatures with moral qualities, spiritual needs, varying levels of intellect, and social strata. Yet we desire to understand ourselves, define who we are, why we are here, and where we are going.

It may be time for you to read the quote that prompted my thoughts. Michael Marshal writes, 

"Modern man is hung up on his identity. The Christian realizes that his true identity is a mystery known only to God and that any attempt at this stage on the road of discipleship to define himself is bound to be blasphemous and destructive of that mysterious work of God forming Christ in him by the power of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, the Christian does not define his identity by his actions; that is the very ultimate in anti-Christ, for it is in effort saying that I am my own creator."

Let's unpack that a bit.

We are a mystery known only to God. How true. We cannot discover our hearts. As Paul puts it in Romans, we try to do good but fail miserably. But God knows our hearts, and He is at work in our lives to bring us to Christlikeness. We step outside our authority and ability when we try to unravel this mystery or define ourselves through actions. We have been bought with a price. We no longer define ourselves by ourselves, but our identity is intrinsically bound in Christ. He becomes our identity. We belong to Him.

I don't know about you, but this takes loads of pressure off my life. I don't have to "become" anything or "be" anyone because I am already a child of God. No need to figure anything else out because I now live by faith in Christ, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 

So, let's not get so hung up on who we are that we overlook the beauty of who He is and what He is doing in us. Let's rest ourselves in the Bible's definition of identity and keep moving forward into Christlikeness.

Galatians 2:20 reads, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." That sounds like a healthy place to start.

Week Twenty Five - Delightfully

One of the first verses that meant anything to me was Psalm 37:4, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart." I took this promise to heart, and I can tell you that God keeps His promises. He has given me more than my heart could have ever imagined because I chose to take Him at His word. I set Him to be my delight.

Spurgeon took this verse as a subject of one of his devotions, writing, "The life of the believer is here described as a delight in God, and we are thus certified of the great fact that true religion overflows with happiness and joy. Ungodly persons and those who merely profess faith never look upon religion as a joyful thing; to them it is service, duty, or necessity but never pleasure or delight."

When I read his devotion, I had to stop and think about this. Are there people who think it is a waste of time to serve the Lord? Yes. Are there people who believe you have lost your mind when you speak of all God has done for you? Yes. Are there people who see the church as demeaning, demanding, or brainwashing? Yes. Are there Christians who begrudge service, withhold, and resist the leading of the Lord? Yes.

To them, Spurgeon says, "The thought of delight in religion is so strange that no two words in their language stand further apart than "holiness" and "delight." They do not equate the two together.

And yet, those who know the Lord and choose to accept the promise of Psalm 37:4 understand the blessed unity. Those who love God with all their hearts find His ways pleasant and His paths peaceful. For all the joys, delights, and blessings the saints discover in their Lord, Spurgeon says, "that so far from serving Him from custom, they would follow Him though all the world cast out His name as evil."

To the child of God, there is no coercion. Our faith is not a fetter, bondage, or duty. It is a joy. There is joy in serving Jesus, delightful joy. Spurgeon says, "Our piety is our pleasure, our hope is our happiness, our duty is our delight."

Dear friend, how do you view Christianity? Do you know joy? Do you delight yourself in the Lord? Do you serve Him willingly? Is He your source of contentment and purpose? That is the only way you can claim the promise of this verse. "He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." It's like a blank cheque, an golden opportunity, or a limitless blessing for those who love God and delightfully serve Him. 

Where is your delight?