Real Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled

and do not be afraid.

John 14:27

Hindu Prince Guatama Siddharta, founder of Buddhism, is credited with saying, "Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without."  The problem with this philosophy is that I would have to live away from people, away from the troubles of this world, and away from all the things I fear in order to have any chance of finding quiet and tranquility in my heart.  And then I'm afraid it wouldn't be authentic peace I would find but simply a lack of conflict and difficulties.

Living in the real world, however, I find myself deep in conflict and difficulties leading to all kinds of worry, strife and drama.  It's funny how followers of Buddhism find it essential to separate themselves from the world in order to find enlightenment and peace.  This is because life is filled with trouble and sets my heart to trembling.  If I choose to go off by myself in order to find some peace, I would be ignoring all the suffering around me as well as all those who depend on me, like my family.  God did not put me in this world so that I could go on a selfish quest for inner peace.  He put me here so I could find Him, my Creator, and in so doing would find the peace that only He can give in the midst of the hullabaloo.

From God

Academic, writer and deep thinker CS Lewis said, "God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there.  There is no such thing." 

The Apostle Paul revealed the secret of inner peace in chapter 4 verses 6 and 7 in his letter to the believers at Philippi.  " Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Peace is available from God as I give Him all my worries, allowing Him to carry my load for me.  The disharmony I experience in my heart comes from holding on to everything that troubles me.  Letting go gives His peace a chance to rule in my heart.   

I am able to experience peace within, but it comes from without.  Real peace comes from God.

How the World Gives

Apart from God my life is harsh and filled with suffering that offers nothing but pain.  In relationship with God, the cruelty and pain still exists, but I have peace within.  

All those who live for themselves apart from God make up what Jesus calls, "The World."  Without God's influence, I am self-centered and only give that which will benefit me in return.  I am more concerned with what's in it for me than in the welfare of the receiver.

Jesus does not give like this.  Instead, He is primarily concerned with the will of His Father and in carrying out His plan.  Part of God's plan is to bring glory to Himself.  The only way I, as a fallen, sinful human, can bring glory to God is through the transforming work Jesus does as I submit myself to Him.  In this way, more of Jesus shows through me as I go about my day and I consequently please God. 

When I exchange my worries for God's peace, I am not simply concerned for my own welfare but am glorifying God as a side-effect.  Jesus gives peace so that I can glorify God.  The world gives things so that I can feel satisfied and fill my desiresled. 

The world gives to please itself, but Jesus gives to glorify His Father.

Heart

I often hear the advice to follow my heart.  But God gives us the truth through the prophet Jeremiah, "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure."  (Jeremiah 17:9)

Following my heart will lead me into trouble, taking me to places I do not belong.  My heart is only concerned with my wants and desires, but does not know what is best for me. Following God, however, will not disappoint.

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes;  its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”  (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Better to lives as aa leafy green tree that thrives even in the midst of hard times than a scrawny dry stalk that shrivels at the first sight of trouble.

If I want real peace I need to look beyond my heart and instead trust in the Lord. 


The quest for peace is a praiseworthy pursuit.  Peace comes from God in order to bring glory to Himself as a result of trusting Him.  Give real peace a chance, won't you?


As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can surrender my worries to my Father and allow peace to rule in my heart.


Is peace lacking in my heart?  If so, what worries of which do I need to let go?


In what ways do I give as the world gives; only to please myself?

God is Greater

"Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
   sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own,
   Israel to be his treasured possession.

 I know that the LORD is great,
   that our Lord is greater than all gods."

Psalm 135:3-5

"The secret of the mystery is: God is always greater.  No matter how great we think Him to be, His love is always greater."

Brennan Manning

Sometimes I think I have God all figured out.  In my mind, I believe that I know how things will turn out based on past experiences, or what lessons someone will learn because I discovered a certain truth from a similar incident.  But God constantly surprises me and I have to humble myself and admit that I know nothing about God.

The human mind is not large enough to comprehend the greatness of God.   I can study God my whole life, experience a lifetime of God-encounters and think I have a handle on Him, but I have only scratched the surface.  God is so much more than my puny mind can grasp.

There are many reasons to celebrate the fact that we worship a God who is greater. 

Troubles

Jesus warned us that life would be filled with difficulties and tribulations.  He said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)  God is greater than anything I can face.  Sickness.  Death.   Financial disaster.  Fear.   Hunger.   Homelessness.   Loneliness.   

He is greater than all these things.  Trusting in Him may not make my troubles go away or my situation improve, but will give me a sense of peace, quiet strength and a hope for better things to come.  If not here on earth, than in heaven with Him.

God is greater than any tribulation I may face.

Evil

I don't think anyone could argue against the fact that the world in which we live is evil.  Just look at how children and animals are treated.  Statistics show that children dying in the United States from the effects of abuse has risen from 3.13 per day in 1998 to over 5 children dying daily at the hand of an abuser in 2010.  But death is not the only consequence of abuse.  Other results include a higher risk of out of wedlock pregnancies in abused girls, an elevated incidence of criminal behavior and incarceration of mistreated and neglected individuals as well as an almost certain development of a psychological disorder of some kind. 

Studies show that where abusers target children, they also victimize pets.  Add to that the flourishing market found for the human slave trade throughout the world, the existence of serial killers, cruel dictatorships and religious warfare and we can easily conclude that we live in an evil world. 

It is easy for me to fall into despair in light of all the suffering going on around me.  But God has a plan.  He did not leave me here without reason!  He placed me here in order that I would shine as a beacon of hope in a dark world.  Jesus shines through me and out to those who are suffering in darkness because He promised to never leave me, even in the most wicked of times. 

God and His plan are greater than all the suffering found in this evil world.

I am His

Perhaps the most astounding thing about God's greatness is that He would choose to relate to such lowly creatures as those He has created.  As a sinful woman who has fallen far short of God's standards, He could easily cast me aside as unworthy of His goodness. 

But His love is greater than that.  In fact He, "demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)  Even though He is far greater than my comprehension, He chooses to make a way through faith in Jesus for me to enter into an intimate Father/daughter relationship with Him.

God's love is greater than my sin.

One of my favorite songs is Chris Tomlin's "Our God is Greater."  As you listen, take a moment to meditate on God's greatness which transcends our troubles, overcomes all evil and is great enough to love me as a precious daughter.  God is greater!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will remember His greatness when fear or troubles threaten to overcome me.

When do I take for granted the love God has for me?  How can I better pass that love on to a hurting world?

How can knowing God is greater than anything I can face change the way I handle difficulties?

Iron Sharpens Iron

"As iron sharpens iron,
   so one person sharpens another."

Proverbs 27:17

I was inspired recently by a friend of mine who uses this blog as a devotional for her 3 sons.  They explore the Biblical truths, talk through difficult issues and ponder deep thoughts.

When I first began writing this blog a couple of months ago, that was my intention; that the thoughts recorded here would inspire readers to live out Deuteronomy 6:6-9 as my friend so beautifully demonstrates. 

"These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

God desires for me to do more than simply read His Word.  He wants me to delight in it, to examine it, and to put it in to practice.

Delight

When I think of delight, I think of the way my dog reacts when he sees the leash and knows he is going for a walk.  He becomes very excited and can't wait to hit the road and start his adventure!

This is how I want to be with God and His Word; to brim with enthusiasm over studying His Word and learning more about Him.  

Examine

I remember an inspection we endured when moving out of Army housing at Ft Bragg.  We had hired a cleaning team to come in and thoroughly scour the entire quarters, but first we had to pass the inspection.  In anticipation of the renowned difficult clearing process at the North Carolina Army Post, I had done some preliminary cleaning and inspection of my own.  But nothing prepared me for his thorough examination of the bottom of the inside of our garbage can or the corners of the outsides of the windows!  Needless to say, we failed that inspection.

If I examined God's word using the same gusto this man employed in carrying out his inspection duties, I would know God better than I do.  Examining involves careful scrutiny and thorough investigation.  It takes time and effort, but produces a deeper understanding of God and His law.

Practice

It is relatively easy to read and study God's Word.  The real difficulty comes in putting it into practice!  James implores me in chapter 1 verse 22 to, ". . . not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

I love to read the Proverbs and chuckle at some of the vivid word imagery or stand in awe of the wisdom Jesus dispensed during His time in human form.  But when it comes to living it out, I struggle.  For example, Jesus said in Matthew 5:39 to, "not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Another difficult word comes in Ephesians 4:29 where the challenging instruction is to, ". . . not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. "

And I always snicker at the picture conveyed in Proverbs 27:15-16, but I struggle with the content of the message. "A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day;
restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand."

I want God's Word to transform me and fashion me into a new creation! 

Spending time with others in deliberation and discussion of scripture is vital to my spiritual growth.  I am inspired by my friend to take Deuteronomy 6:6-9 to heart and make a conscious effort to delight in His Word, examine it and obey it as I meditate upon His statues and discuss them with my family and friends throughout the day.  Won't you join me?

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will take your commands seriously, keeping them always on my mind.

When am I more eager to discuss the latest book or movie, but not what I'm studying in the Bible?

How can I begin a practice of regular discussion of God's Word in my home? 

Land of the Living

"Anyone who is among the living has hope--"

Ecclesiastes 9:4

"Wait for the LORD;
   be strong, and let your heart take courage;
   wait for the LORD!"

Psalm 27:14 (ESV)

It is easy in this life to lose hope, no longer expecting that things will get better, that situations will improve or feelings will return to a healthy state. Life is hard and has a way of running me down into a state of discouragement, desperation and hopelessness.

Life

There was a point in my life when I felt hopeless.  My situation was such that I feared nothing could improve and I contemplated suicide, thinking that if things couldn't get better, I might as well end it all.  But I soon learned this train of thought is a lie and could not be further from the truth!

If my life is a mistake, created through a random sequence of events that just happened to form me in my mother's womb and the place in which I find myself is due to pure chance, then it follows that the odds of my circumstances getting better are slim to none. I therefore have no hope. 

On the other hand, if life is created with a purpose in mind, each part fulfilling a part of a master plan, then my present circumstances serve a function. 

Since God did, in fact, create me for a specific reason, everything I go through supports that purpose and as a result, my life bears meaning. 

As long as I am still alive, it is safe to assume that He has a reason for my life, and in Him I have hope!

Hold On!

There's a great song my Mandisa that encourages me to wait on the Lord. As you listen to "Stronger", consider the following:

God has a plan, but sometimes the execution of that plan requires that I wait.  In the time of waiting I learn patience, grow in my faith, and gain experience in trusting the One who is above all things and never lacks for resources needed to help me.  Above all, waiting teaches me that God is the One in control, not me!

If it were up to me, I would never have to wait for anything.  I would get everything I want exactly when I want it.  Have you ever seen a spoiled child?  This is who I would become.  Waiting on the Lord builds my character and humbles me so that I am put in my proper place.  Instead of naively thinking I can control all circumstances, I learn to surrender my will for God's, giving Him dominion over my life.

I can hang on because God has a plan and I am a part of that plan!

Give God a Chance

I am not renowned for my patience.  I have been known to make rash decisions, lash out in frustration and hurt those I love the most.  But one of the most common mistakes I make is that I don't give God a chance to work in my life.  Instead, I try to fix things myself.  I analyze the situation, come up with a solution and execute that plan.

If, instead, I stood strong and let God encourage my heart, my situation may not change and my problems would probably still exist, but my heart would be at peace.  And a heart at peace can handle anything!

Then I could confidently say, " Surely God is my salvation;  I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)

 



Life is filled with seemingly hopeless situations.  But I don't have to fall into hopelessness.  Instead, I can remember that as long as I'm alive, God still has a use for me and that I need to hold on just a little bit longer.  Then I can keep in mind that He's in control and I can give Him a chance to work in my heart, enabling me to move forward with quiet strength.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will remember that I am here for a purpose and everything that happens plays a part in the fulfillment of that plan.

Where do I dismiss God's plan and His sovereignty, thinking I can fix my own problems?

Redeemed

Then I asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied. 

“Now get up and stand on our feet.  I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you.  I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles.  I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”

Acts 26:15-18

When someone is an enemy, my natural tendency is to write them off, never imagining that they could be my greatest ally.  Thankfully, Jesus does not think this way!  If He did, none of us would have been redeemed by faith in Him.   My sin makes me an enemy of God, but in His great mercy, He offers reconciliation to me through Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross.  I can now be His friend! 

Get Up!

When Jesus called Paul, He identified the man as His persecutor, but did not waste any time listing his transgressions or condemning his actions.  Instead, Jesus instructed Paul to get up.

It is easy for me to feel weighed down by the guilt of past sins.  When I am faced with my Savior, my own wretchedness is all too evident.  It is natural for me to wallow in the pit of past failings.  But Jesus is calling me to get up out of the mire!  He has a plan for my life that I will miss if I don’t rise to the call.

Stand on Your Feet

Getting up out of the muck of past sins frees me to stand on the solid ground the gospel has placed beneath my feet.   I can now put the past behind me and move toward Jesus as He forms me into a new creation. 

I am no longer the same person who used to dwell down in the pit.  As a redeemed child of God I now stand on solid rock and need not slip back into past behaviors or strongholds of sin.  With the power of God’s Spirit within me, I am now able to stand on my feet!

The Ministry of Reconciliation

God is all about bringing His people back into a right relationship with Him.  He wants me to enjoy an intimate connection with Him and everything that happens in my life is with this ministry in mind.  

When I am going my own way, He will not rest until I have been brought back into the fold, once again following Him as my Shepherd.  The hard things that happen to me are not a punishment for me or meant to hurt me, but to draw me back to Him. 

During the time of the prophet Isaiah, God's people were in exile as a punishment for their unfaithfulness.  But God, in His great love for His own, promised that their place as His nation would be restored.  

As the people of God through faith in Jesus, we too can claim this promise made to the nations of Israel and Judah.  "Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant.
I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.  I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,  your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:21-22)

God does not lift me out of the quagmire of sin, standing me on solid ground in order to give me a comfortable and happy life.  He does this in order to reconcile myself with Him so that I can live for Him.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will live my life as one who belongs to God, seeking to please Him with my words and actions.

Where do I tend to easily slip back into past areas of sin?


Where do I forget the gospel, instead thinking I need to try to be good enough for God?

Swimming Upstream

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,

set your hearts on things above,

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

Colossians 3:1-3

I awoke with the memory of a strange, disjointed dream plaguing my mind.  As I lay in bed, allowing myself to become fully awake, my thoughts turned to things I needed to do, then to people I needed to see and what I should say when I see them.  Trivial things.  A still small Voice beckoned me but my thoughts distracted from His call.

As a child of God, I belong with Him in my heavenly home, but I temporarily live down here in the world.   The good news is that I am still able to enjoy a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  The bad news is that I am encircled by all sorts of things that distract my heart and mind from Him. 

Herein lies the struggle of every follower of Christ; how to live in the world yet keep focused on my Savior.

My Heart

Jesus teaches that, “Where (my) treasure is, there (my) heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)  There are many things I treasure on this earth: my marriage, my family, my friendships, my hobbies, my pets, my writing to name a few.  If I ask myself if I treasure my relationship with Jesus, I hesitate.  Yes, He is important to me.  Yes, I value His redemptive work on the cross.  Yes, my life depends on Him.  But do I treasure Him and my bond to Him?

Sometimes I’m afraid my attitude is more of a casual friend who comes and goes instead of a devoted disciple whose very existence depends on His grace.  Maybe I’m too cavalier in my position as His follower.  If I truly treasured Him, wouldn’t my heart be inclined toward Him at all times?  Wouldn’t I wake up desiring nothing more than to converse with My Savior?

If Christ is my greatest treasure, then the world and all it’s distractions and influences will fade away and my heart will dwell with Him.

My Mind

The greatest battlefield in my walk with Christ resides in my mind.  My thoughts consistently fall to insignificant yet urgent tasks to be done, problems to be worked out or past events to be analyzed.  I am highly distracted from the heavenly by the earthly!

Isaiah recorded a praise in chapter 26 verses 3 and 4 that shows the importance of keeping my mind on the Lord.  He sang praises to God, saying, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” 

A steadfast mind is one which does not waver or falter, but is persistently trained on God.  And a mind concentrated on the Lord is showing faith in Him.  It follows, then, that when I am distracted from keeping my mind on things above, I am not trusting God with my life.  Instead, I am trusting myself and have become my own savior.

If I make the effort to direct my attention toward God in my thoughts, the battle in my mind will be won.  I must remember, however, that this is an ongoing battle.  I cannot let my guard down, but must constantly train like an athlete in controlling my thought life. 

I am Dead

Without Christ as my Savior, my life belongs to me.  But since I have professed Him as my Lord, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)   As a follower of Christ, all claims I have to myself are to be surrendered to Him.

The thing is, there are many things to which I cling.  I desire to be in control, dictating my own plans.  I prefer to work out my own problems instead of turning to God first in all things.  I want to take credit for all the good things that happen, choosing to mark it up to my own hard work instead of the grace of the One who created me and keeps all things flowing.

If I surrender each desire as it hits me, Christ will be the one who is seen by those around me and God will be glorified.

Following Christ is hard work.  I cannot float along, letting the current take me wherever it goes.  Instead, I must sturdily paddle upstream toward Jesus, treasuring Him, waging war in the battlefield of my mind, and constantly turning over my natural inclinations so that He can reign in my life.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that this day, I will treasure Jesus.

How do I put other things or people above Jesus?

What area of my thought life demands the most attention?

Loving with Abandon

The Word of the Lord came to me:

“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem:

‘I remember the devotion of your youth,

how as a bride you loved me

and followed me through the desert,

through a land not sown.’”

Jeremiah 2:2

I remember when I first met my husband.  I was a college student and he was a soldier serving at an army post 6 hours away.  I would wake up thinking about him, getting a little thrill in the pit of my stomach at the thought of him.  Every time the phone rang, I hoped it was him.  As I walked to class, I imagined I saw him even though he was miles away. 

Even after we married and raised four children, my heart jumps when I see him and I can’t think of anyone with whom I’d rather spend time.  I am in love with my husband!

Am I in love with Jesus, wanting nothing more than to spend time with Him and please Him with the little things I do throughout the day?  Or am I in love with what He has done for me, thankful that He sacrificed His life so that I can live forever, but not really treasuring Him as my Savior?

Maybe I’m too uptight, but loving Jesus with abandon is hard for me.   Jesus wants all of me: my heart, my mind, my life.  But all too often I focus on what I can do for Him out of a sense of duty, or an expectation of what I think a “good Christian” should do, or out of gratefulness for what He’s done for me.

If I performed little acts of kindness to my husband for these same reasons, I don’t think it would mean as much to him as if I did them out of devotion to him, desiring to please him and bring him pleasure.  So why do I have a hard time abandoning myself in pure devotion to my Savior? 

Fear

I am a fearful creature.  I am hesitant to put myself into a situation where I don’t know the outcome.  Even though only God truly knows how things will turn out, I have deceived myself into believing that I have some semblance of control and I consequently make choices according to what is comfortable or familiar to me.

But this is not how to live a life abandoned to Christ.  When Peter jumped out of the boat to walk toward his beloved Jesus, he did so out of pure devotion without a second thought toward what might be the consequences of his actions.  All he knew was that he saw Jesus and he wanted to go to him.

As long as Peter kept his eyes trained upon the One he loved, he was able to walk on the water.  But as soon as he turned his attention to the waves crashing around him, he lost faith and gave into his fear, sinking down into the depths of the sea.

Loving Jesus means keeping my attention upon Him, not on my circumstances, problems or surroundings.  If I only had eyes for Him, my love for Him would grow.

To love Jesus with abandon, I must turn from my fears and desire Him only.

Misunderstanding Love

As a sinful human living in a fallen world, I don’t really understand God’s love.  Love in my world is conditional, coming and going in direct proportion to my behavior.  Love in my world is a physical love, tied closely to romance or sentiment toward a parent or child.  Love in my world is shallow, based mostly on feelings.

God’s love is different.  His love is not based on my performance but on His character.   It does not come and go with the changing seasons, but as David said in Psalm 138:8, “your love, O Lord, endures forever—“

The love of God is not a physical thing but is His defining feature.   1 Corinthians 13:4-8 lists the qualities of His love as patience and kindness.  His kind of love contains no envy, boasting, pride, rudeness, or seeking of selfish desires.  God’s love is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, and always celebrates the truth, shunning evil.  God’s love always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres.  God’s love never fails.

God’s love is deep.  The Apostle Paul’s desire for the believers in Ephesus was that they would, “have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Understanding this love gives me insight into how I can love Jesus His way.  Just as He chose to demonstrate His love for me by dying on the cross while I was still deep in my sin,  I can choose to demonstrate my love for Him in a real, tangible way by loving those around me, especially the ones who live a life deep in sin, rendering them unlovable.

Myself

I may be the biggest obstacle to loving Jesus without inhibition.  If I am honest with myself, I am very important to me!  My desires, my comfort and my plans matter to me.  In fact, I could even go so far as to say that they matter more to me than anything else.

To love Jesus supremely as the Lord of my life, I cannot cater to my needs as I tend to.  Instead,  I need to do as Peter advised in 1 Peter 3:15.  He said that in my heart I should, “. . .set apart Christ as Lord.”

If I exchange Jesus for myself as the one who is most important and lord of my life, then I will be able to love Him in the way He designed me to love.

In order to give myself in devotion to my Savior I must first let go of the fear that grips me, understand His kind of love and pass that love on to others, and take myself out of the position as lord of my life and put Jesus in that place.  Then I can love Jesus with abandon!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I can give Jesus my first, my best and my all.

How do my own selfish desires get in the way of Jesus’ longing to truly reign in my life?

What fears are holding me back from loving Jesus?

God is There

“You will not have to fight this battle.

Take up your positions;

stand firm

and see the deliverance the Lord will give you,

O Judah and Jerusalem.

Do not be afraid;

do not be discouraged.

Go out to face them tomorrow,

and the Lord will be with you.”

2Chronicles20:17

“…blessed are those have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:29b

God does not need me.  I like to think I am irreplaceable, but God isn’t crippled without my help.  Although I am valuable beyond measure as His child, my service is not necessary to the completion of His plan.

God wants to include me in His plan, but in order for this to happen, I must understand that it is Him who does the work through me.   My only job is to step forward in an act of faith, showing my willingness to be sent forth.  He does the rest.

So what am I waiting for?  Why do I not heed His call, instead focusing on my plan for my life, fulfilling service I am doing for His Kingdom, keeping busy working for Him?  Does any of that really matter in the eternal scheme of things?  Does it make an impact when I am doing it instead of God doing it through me?  When will I step forward as a show of confidence in my God so I can experience His power flowing through me, delivering me from whatever bondage restrains me?  Or when will I say, “Yes” to Him and “No” to my fears? I hear His call, but I don’t think I’m the appropriate one for the job.  What is holding me back?

Fear

I, like most people, have a healthy fear of heights.  I didn’t want this to hold me back, though, so a few years ago I attempted climbing a 20-foot cargo net wall.  I made it to the top and froze with fear as I tried to swing my leg over the top beam.  There was nothing to hold on to and the netting was shifting beneath my feet.  I nearly panicked as I felt the vulnerability of my position. 

Fear can immobilize me, stopping my forward motion and creating an attitude of worry and helplessness.   God reminds me many times in scripture to not fear because it sends me into a state of panic that is counteractive to faith.  Not only is it hard to move when I am terrified, but it is also hard to think about anything else besides that of which I fear!

Instead of focusing on what it is that alarms me, it is helpful to keep my eyes on the One who will deliver me and Who will supply all I need to answer His call. 

Discouragement

It is frightening how easily I can become discouraged.  A few difficulties take place and I am ready to throw in the towel.  God does not want me to give up hope, courage or confidence because with Him, all things are possible!

The key is to let God have His way with my life.  I only get discouraged when I think I’m in control .  Then, when things go a different way than I expected, my limited resources are spent and my vision is clouded.  I think all hope is lost and I must turn around and go a different way.

But if I let God lead, I become a follower of a mighty warrior who has complete, sovereign power.  He will not lose, so as His child, I will not suffer defeat.  His plan will always go forth.   If I want to be on the winning team, I must step onto His side and stop trying to serve God and live life my way.  Apart from Him, I can do nothing that matters in His Kingdom. 

Tomorrow

The unknown looms in my future.  I can plan, thinking of every possible scenario and strategy, but only God knows what is yet to come.  Trusting Him means letting Him choose the who, what, when and where.  It’s kind of like following behind someone who has blazed a trail in the snow, all I need do is walk forward on the path He has cleared.

God has promised that if I will only step forward into the great unknown, He will be there.   Moses knew how vital God’s presence was for his success.  He did not even want to go toward the Promised Land if it meant God would not go with them.  Moses knew that the power of God is what set the Israelites apart from every other nation.  He was their defining feature. 

My attitude should be similar as I step into the unfamiliar and indefinite territory of tomorrow.  Even though I have no idea what will happen, God knows and He has promised to be with me.

Knowing God is with me can give me the strength to face anything and everything as I follow behind Him.

Fear can keep me from answering God’s call and discouragement is common when I try to do things my way.  Likewise, tomorrow can be a scary place, but God has promised to meet me on the battlefield, if only I will take a step of faith, setting aside fear and discouragement and instead trusting Him to fight the battle for me.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will choose to trust God despite my inability to see Him standing before me.

Where is fear crippling me from taking a step of faith?

How am I showing my mistrust in God’s ability to triumph in the strongholds of my life?