How to Strengthen Our Knees

"With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,

and encourage those who have weak knees.

Say to those with fearful hearts,

'Be strong, and do not fear,

for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.

He is coming to save you.'"

Isaiah 35:3-4

I remember a silly scene in an unknown film, possibly Monty Python, where some men were buried up to their knees in the ground.  As my memory goes, they laid down and stood up in tandem while chanting, "We must strengthen our knees!"  Even though I was unable to find the clip as I remembered it, today's scripture passage brought this scene to mind.  When times are tough and it seems there's nothing for which to live and I'm weary and weak in the knees from fear or worry, Jesus will give me hope and courage to press on.

Restoration.  It's not always going to be like this.  Entropy rules in this fallen world.  Everything moves toward chaos and disorder.  It all is deteriorating in one way or another.  My body is aging; skin loses elasticity, muscles and tendons lose flexibility and strength, organs wear out, joints cease working properly, cancer threatens.  Similarly, relationships tend to fall apart.  If no effort is made to improve, no input of energy made toward building bonds, they too deteriorate.  Even my garden left to its own devices will become covered in weeds and the plants would die of neglect.  Without my constant attention, little fruit would be produced.

It's no wonder I need a master Gardener to tend to my soul (John 15:5).  I need the hope that comes from knowing that His Spirit is at work within me, growing me and transforming me into the woman He originally created me to be ( Philippians 2:13, Romans 12:2): The me that was His design apart from the sin that now corrupts it.  While I'm in this world I'll never fully achieve His vision for me, but I have the hope that He continues to work in me, never giving up (Philippians 1:6). 

God is a God of restoration who is always at work returning His image bearers to their original condition with the full realization coming when Christ returns (Isaiah 35:1-2).  I have hope in Christ!

Splendor.  It's sometimes hard to see.  I really have to look for it.  It's there but I often focus on the broken, the ugly, the hurtful that blares up in my face.  The beauty is quiet, not vying for my attention like the shattered is.  It's easy to see the litter strewn along the road but fail to appreciate the wildflowers growing among the tall grass in the ditch.  Or the fluffy, white clouds looming above the parched, barren land.  Or the sparkling eyes peering out of the face mangled by horror beyond imagination.  

There will come a time when God's splendor will be displayed for all to see.  There will no longer be any doubt that Jesus is Lord as every knee bows to His magnificent beauty (Philippians 2:9-11).  All will see with clear eyes, no longer hampered by sin.  Some will rejoice at His coming, others will weep and gnash their teeth as they realize they missed His majesty when they had the chance to get to know Him (Luke 13:22-30).

God is a God of splendor that is fully displayed in the glory of His Son (Hebrews 1:3).  I have hope in Christ!

Salvation.  I'm broken in so many ways, inside and out.  The world is also messed up as everything is turned upside down with evil reigning and good being suppressed.  Pain is the mantra of the broken.  To where can I turn to find help?  Who will rescue me?  My greatest fear is to be left all alone without anyone to call out to, that the evil criminal is pounding on my door and when I call 9-1-1,no one answers.  From where does my help come in times such as these?

I need a Savior, and I've found Him in Christ Jesus.  He's the strong One, the brave One, the compassionate One.  Not only does He care, but He has the power to save.  And He has. In dying on the cross He destroyed the power of sin and death, the root of all evil, the thing that ruins beauty, and ushered me into a state of forgiveness where I'm made right with God (Hebrews 2:14, 2 Timothy 1:10, Romans 6:6, 2 Corinthians 5:21).  And if God is by my side, who can really hurt me (Romans 8:31)?  Who is greater than God that they could overpower Him?  No, Jesus is the Victor and I am His beneficiary by faith (Romans 8:37).  In Him, I have the hope of freedom from anything that I could ever fear.

God is a God of salvation delivered through faith in Jesus Christ.  I have hope in Christ!

It's easy to get downhearted in this broken world filled with heartache and things to fear.  I can quickly become overcome with fear and worry.  But in Christ I have hope.  I have restoration, God's splendor revealed, and salvation in Him.  This is the hope that can strengthen my knees and empower me to stand firm until the end!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to keep my eyes on Jesus no matter what is thrown my way.

How do I get so overwhelmed with the bad that I cannot see the good that is coming through Christ?

When do I see only the hurt and not the good that comes from it?       

Steady Heart

In honor of yesterday's 800th post on 

Writings on the Doorframe, 

I am offering free signed copies of my book: 

If you would like to be entered in the drawing, 

please email me at boosehome@aol.com
or leave me a comment below 

by the end of the day on Sunday, March 22nd.  

Winners will be announced on 

Monday, March 23, 2015!


"Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
their hearts are steadfast,
trusting in the LORD.
Their hearts are secure,
they will have no fear;
in the end they will look in triumph on their foes."
Psalm 112:6-8

What's the secret of a steadfast, firmly-grounded-in-the-Lord heart?  One that doesn't fear the unknown, what could be, or the threatening?  One that resists doubting no matter how impossible the situation, how weak the flesh, or how great the odds are against me?  What's the secret of a steady heart?  It's no secret, really.

Righteous.  There's a difference between being self-righteous and declared righteous.  The first is where I use my own standard, measuring myself using my own yardstick and ending up smelling like a rose.  The second is where I am deemed as right with God through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).  Even though I fall short of God's perfect standard, I am measured according to the perfection of Christ and therefore my faith in Him as Lord and Savior places me in right standing with God despite my sin.

Since my identity in Christ is not based on my own merit, I know I am a well-loved daughter who is fully accepted and I can be assured of my eternal place in God's family.  Knowing that there is nothing I will go through in life, nothing that can be done to me or nothing that I can do that will shake my position or make God stop loving me makes a huge difference in the way I live my life (Romans 8:1-2, 8:38-39).  If God is for me in such an astounding way, then what does it matter what man does to me (Psalm 118:6)?  Or how much heartache I face?  Or how my enemy lures me into doubt and fear?  There is no match for my Father who has my heart so I, as His child, know that I am always loved and accepted.

The secret to a steady heart is to know I am declared righteous by faith and my right standing with God can never be shaken.

Trusting.  Trusting God means believing He has a plan in the midst of the chaos.  Believing God is sovereign is not about me trying to understand the mechanism by which He will save me but to only know that it is His mission to bring about my salvation.  My faith in the Lord is less about the odds of success and more about the enormous size of my God (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Therefore, when I place my full weight on God's faithful nature, my heart is firmly entrenched in His trustworthiness.  It's not so much that I believe I'm able to walk the path I'm called to walk, but that I know that my own weakness is not too big of an obstacle for God to overcome.  In other words, my trust in God is more about God's strength than in my weaknesses.  It's more about God's trustworthy nature than my unreliable one.  It's more about who God is than who I am.  And so, my trusting heart gives me confidence to step out in faith, to bet my life on God, which is really no gamble at all. 

The secret to a steady heart is to take a chance on the God who will never let me down.  

Triumphant.  I have an enemy who constantly tempts me to falter in my faith, who consistently tries to remind me of who I was before I met Christ and get me to believe I'm still that same wretched being, who is always at work attempting to lure me back into past sin, future strongholds and tempting distractions.  Even though the attacks of Satan and his minions are relentless, in Christ I am triumphant over them.  How so?  Because in Christ, I'm on the winning side!

And so I can say to my tempter, as Pastor John Piper suggested, "You're out of your mind.  Who wants to join forces with a loser?"  There truly is no weapon formed against me that can prevail because God is the glorious Victor (Isaiah 54:17).  And when I take up His sword and I place my allegiances in His camp, I join in the victory.  

This means my helplessness is only an illusion.  The reality is that in Christ I have the unlimited power of God on my side!  It means my hopelessness is only a misconception on my part.  In reality I have all the hope in the world through Christ!  It means my powerlessness against enormous odds is a deception of the enemy.  In reality I have the favor of a God with unlimited resources.

The secret to a steady heart is to remember I am on the winning side.

When do I despair, giving in to fear?  It's usually because I forget my firm standing in Christ, the unfathomable character of my God, and the triumph of God's mission here on earth.  When I remember these truths, I will have discovered the secret of a steady heart.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep focused on God's character instead of getting distracted by the problems that overwhelm.

When do I feel unworthy of His love?

How am I forgetting I am on the winning side and that my enemy is a loser?  He knows it, but he is testing me to see if I know it.    

No Matter What

"God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear,

though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging."

Psalm 46:1-3

Think of your worst, your greatest fear.  Got a picture of it?  Okay, now, how will you face it?  If it came to pass, what would you do?

The answer is, "God."  He is how you and I face our greatest fear realized.

Refuge.  Wherever I am, He is there.  There is nowhere I can go where His Spirit is not there also (Psalm 139:7-11).  If I sink into the darkest depths of despair, He is there.  If I rise to the heights of success, He is there.  If I run far away in an effort to prove my worth by finding my own way, He is there.

My Father is always there.  It's not just that He is omnipresent, which He is.  Rather, it's the fact that His heart is always there with me.  He is a romantic, constantly seeking me out, as afraid I am of intimacy.  No matter how much I fear revealing the dark things found in the deepest parts of me, He is there.  And He is safe.  

I can trust Him with my greatest fears!  He will not turn away in disgust, withdrawing His love out of disappointment.  No!  I am secure in His steadfast love.  So secure that I can open up myself to Him and share it all with Him.  He is my refuge.  When no one else understands, He does.  When I feel abandoned by all, He is there.  When fear grips my heart, giving me an ugly countenance, He sees me as beautiful in the midst of the distress.

When facing my greatest fears, God is my safe place where I will always be accepted as a well-loved child.

Strength.  My greatest fear saps me of energy.  It leaves me helpless and vulnerable.  In the face of it, I lose all ability to think rationally, to push through the wall that rises up, to carry on.  Even though I loathe quitting, I want nothing more than to give up, letting the failure come because I think it's so much better than what I dread.

If I keep my eyes on my Father, however, as He stands steadfast in love before me, I will have the strength I need to persevere.  What seemed so impossible suddenly becomes possible in the presence of my Savior.  He rescues me from hopelessness and delivers me into a new realm where I can put one foot in front of the other, moving toward what scares me.  Instead of backing off, as is my natural self-preserving inclination, I have been given the supernatural ability to endure, to withstand the storm, to persist (Isaiah 40:28-31).

When facing my greatest fears, God is my source of strength to face my fears as I grow in His love for me.

Ever-present.  Soldiers spend a lot of time caring for their weapon.  When in combat, their firearm is their best friend, their hope for survival, their greatest ally.  Therefore, they want to make sure it works properly, that it can be counted on.  It is tested often, cleaned regularly, and maintained consistently.  When it is needed, it must work; their life depends on it!

When I'm facing what weakens my knees with fright, I want to know without a doubt that God is trustworthy and constant.  If I'm going to put my faith in Him, it will be with the understanding that He can be counted on.  I must realize that He will never let me down.

When I comprehend these aspects of God; His faithfulness, His proven dependability, His willingness to help me when I call on Him, I will be able to put my life in His hands.  He is exactly who He says He is in His Word.  He is close to the brokenhearted, hears me when I cry out to Him, and is my source of hope (Psalm 34:18, Psalm 18:6, Psalm 62:5).

When facing my greatest fears, God can be counted on as a well-proven presence in my life as I place my trust wholly in Him.

It's hard to think about facing that which sends my heart into panic.  If my greatest fear is realized, it will not be the end.  God will be my answer as I discover how safe He is, that His strength can be mine, and He is a constant presence that can be counted on.  In these ways, even though I'm in the middle of my worst nightmare, I'm finding that He is the answer, no matter what.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep close to the God who is always close to me.

When do I pull away from God, uncomfortable with His advances?

What do I fear the most and spend a lot of energy avoiding?     

     

Laugh in the Face of Fear!

"The LORD is my light and my salvation--

whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life--

of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1

Alzheimer's and dementia threatens to develop.  Cancer looms.  Heart disease strikes all around.  Strokes render loved ones helpless.  Governments topple.  Wars break out.  Terrorists attack.  Unrest continues.  Anger provokes violence.  Injustice rises.  

There is much to fear in this world.  Because of who God is, however, I can laugh in it's face!

Light.  The darkness pressed in around me, palpable in it's completeness.  My eyes strained to pick up some kind of image, but none was to be seen.  The blackness in the cave was absolute, and I had rarely felt such fear.  What if we can't find our way back out?  Will we be doomed to die down here under the earth?  Then the tour guide ended my panic with the flick of a switch and light again flooded the cavern.

Light in the darkness brings comfort and security, especially when you're almost a mile under the earth in a deep cave.  While I rejoiced when the light turned back on during that tour, the beam of a few 100-watt bulbs cannot compare to the Light that comes from the Lord.  

When my life seems filled with evil and gloom, Jesus delivers hope for something better.  When everything is swirling in a whirlwind of confusion and I don't know what to do, Jesus stands firm in the storm, giving strong guidance and grounding me in truth.  When the unknown lurks like a terrifying monster in my future, Jesus is already there, completely aware and in control of all that is to come.

While it is easy to fear all that I face, I need not be afraid for Jesus is the Light of the world (John 1:4-5).

Salvation.  She couldn't help herself.  The bottom of the pool was suddenly out of her reach and she realized she was in over her head.  She began to panic as her feet no longer felt the hard, welcoming surface.  Suddenly, a strong arm reached in, pulling her back to the shallows.  The girl was saved by an alert swimmer.

In the same way that this youngster could not save herself, I am incapable of getting myself out of the deadly bind to which my sin has fated me.  I am doomed to die as punishment for all the ways I've failed (Romans 6:23).  Suddenly, a Lifesaver reaches in and plucks me from my destiny of death, giving me a chance at life eternal.  Jesus died so that I could live (John 3:16).

Even more, Jesus rescues me from a shallow existence devoid of meaning and purpose (John 10:10).  I'm told I am nothing more than an accident, a mistake who happened to land here in this place and time.  Then Jesus enlightens me to the truth: I was made on purpose for a purpose by a God of purpose (Ephesians 2:10).  Significance is born.

As if that weren't enough, He did more.  My flesh desires nothing more than to live for me, meet my own needs and desires, and run after what will please myself.  Then Jesus gives me a power I never knew before and a transformation takes place.  As I'm molded into a new creature, the old things fade away as new desires form.  Sin is no longer the ruler of my life as a new King takes His throne (Romans 6:14).

While it is easy to fear what seems inevitable, Jesus rescues me from such a dismal certainty.

Stronghold.  I could see no way out.  There was danger all around yet no path on which to escape.  I was trapped, surrounded by the enemy.  As I realized by fate in this cyber war, I accepted death as the soldiers descended upon me.  My turn was up as I let someone else play the game. 

While life is not like a video game, there are situations when I may feel just as hopeless.  The Enemy of my soul is out to get me, giving me grief every time I turn around.  Yet Jesus has given me the upper hand at the mention of His name.  I am not without defense, being outfitted with a mighty Sword as I wield the weapon of God's Word boldly, dealing deadly blows as I submit to the Truth (Ephesians 6:17).

Other times the evil all around me seems to close in like a deadly wave of attacks.  It looks like the darkness is winning, ready to overtake all the good and overwhelm what is left of the noble and virtuous.  But Jesus has overcome, claiming victory in the battle of good versus evil (John 16:33).

Then comes temptation, rising up when I least expect it, crushing any pretense I have of self-control.  But Jesus offers a way out, and I gratefully escape from the heavy pull of sin (1 Corinthians 10:13).

While it is easy to fear what seems inevitable, Jesus has conquered every danger in my life, standing as a stronghold that cannot be penetrated.

Yes, danger is lurking around every corner, giving me many reasons to fear as I live this life.  But Jesus offers relief from such distress, shedding Light, offering salvation, and serving as a stronghold of victory.  Because of Jesus, I can laugh in the face of fear! 

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to accept all that He is offering me through Jesus Christ.

When do I attempt to give myself a meaningful life when Jesus has already died to deliver such bounty?

How am I walking in darkness because the Light seems out of my reach?  

  

Whose Side Are You On?

When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai,

he sent back this answer:

'Do not think that because you are in the kings' house you alone of all the Jews will escape.

For if you remain silent at this time,

relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise 

from another place,

but you and your father's family will perish.

And who knows but that you have come to your 

royal position for such a time as this?'"

Esther 4:12-14

Relief would come.  Protection would arise.  Deliverance would occur.  God faithfully hears the cries of His people.  The only question that remained was this:  Would Esther be a part of what God was doing?

It is the same with me today.  God has a plan and He is always at work to progress His purpose.  In the end, when His perfect design unfolds, will I be found faithful to Him, or will I be on the sidelines, cowering in fear?

The choice is mine.

Silence.  It's easy for me to want to stay out of the fray, to avoid the conflict at all cost, to keep from getting caught up in the controversy.  In an effort to keep the peace, I stay silent.  Refusing to get involved in the struggle for righteousness in a world that is drawn to the unrighteous, to keep the Light within to myself as the darkness creeps closer and closer, to remain quiet even when the voices of deceit grow louder and stronger, I am not staying neutral as is my intent.

Inaction when action is called for is a vote against God (Matthew 12:30).  In an attempt to preserve my reputation or to avoid escalating the conflict, I am actually choosing to oppose God.  As a follower of Christ who is the salt of the world, I am called to stand firm in what I've learned in the faith, to be strong and courageous, tempering it all with love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). 

This doesn't mean that I'm a vigilante who seeks justice wherever I go, but that when God presents an opportunity to join in with His unpopular work in a world that desperately needs His love and salvation, I can participate.  My attempt to stay neutral ends up placing me on the wrong side of history.

Keeping silent when speaking up is called for is a choice to stay out of God's unfolding plan.

Fear.  There is much to worry about in this dark world.  Fear, however, is not from God (2 Timothy 1:7).  He did not place me where I now find myself so I could cower in the corner, afraid to speak up.  His plan does not include my attempts to preserve my safety, my reputation or my way of life.  I am not here, in this place and time, so that I can hunker down until Jesus comes again.

No!  I am called to enter the battle, to interject into the fray, to live as salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).  What good is salt, however, that has lost it potency, its salty quality?  How would a lamp hidden under a bowl do anyone any good?  

Thanks to God's Spirit living within me, I'm bold and powerful, able to tear down strongholds and render the most influential argument as foolish (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  His Spirit gives me a calm spirit in the face of danger as I let Him fight the battle through me.  The perfect love that urges me forward drives out any fear that lurks in my heart (1 John 4:8).

Letting fear rule my life won't succeed in preserving myself as is my intention but only succeeds in placing me in a position that is against God and His plan.

Denial.  I'm pretty good at ignoring God's still, quiet voice (1 Kings 19:11-13).  It's easy to pretend I don't know what He wants me to do.  Living in such a way, however, does not release me from liability.  I will one day stand before Him and give account for my choices (1 Corinthians 5:9-10).

Since I, as a follower of Christ, has been given gifts to use in service, opportunities to share the Gospel, and purposes for every situation in which I find myself, I must not see myself as a victim who has been dealt a crummy hand (Matthew 25:14-30).  God has a beautiful tapestry He is weaving out of my life, and every thread that seems difficult, hurtful or agonizing at the time, is actually an integral part of the masterpiece that is my life.  Therefore, I don't have to think of my calling as something to avoid, but I can embrace it with passion as I realize how God is using it for my good and His glory.  I will never be sorry that I responded to His gentle appeal for me to join in with what He is doing around me.

Pretending I don't know what God wants me to do does not absolve me of responsibility and places me in a position opposing God.

Many are suffering all around me but it's easy to turn a blind eye.  When God brings something to my attention, however, my silence, fear, and denial do not keep me neutral, safe and free of obligation.  Instead, refusing to speak out, letting fear drive my actions, and pretending I don't know what God wants me to do not only robs me of the blessing that comes from obedience but also places me on the side that is fighting against Him.  I can't get my way and follow God at the same time.  I must decide whose side I am on and act accordingly.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember my inaction is a choice against God.

When do I feign ignorance when I know full well what God wants of me?

How do I make it a habit to choose not to get involved? 

          

Worldly Wisdom

"He immediately consulted with his wise advisers,

who knew all the Persian laws and customs,

for he always asked their advice.

The names of these men were

Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,

Marsena, and Memucan--seven nobels of Persia and Media.

They met with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire."

Esther 1:13-14 NLT

Who is my go-to person?  From where do I gain wisdom for living?  How do I acquire understanding in tricky situations?  King Xerxes had a whole group of men who were well-versed in the laws of the land but also the ways of their culture.  They knew how certain actions might affect the people and thus the king's ability to reign, but they also possessed good insight into the mindset of the average person.  It's no wonder that the king met with them often.

The problem with such advice, however, is that it is based on faulty human reasoning.  When I follow suit and make man my source of wisdom, I will soon discover the difference between insight from God and that of man.

Reputation-focused.  How will this make me look?  People will talk.  They'll think I'm weak. . .or foolish. . .or just plain dumb.  Wisdom from the world is based on the influence my actions may have on others and their perception of me.  Since no one can predict perfectly how people will respond to certain news, this kind of advice is based on conjecture and assumption.  I'm guessing how my decisions will influence others and responding in a way that is most favorable to my reputation.

Politicians do this all the time.  Many base their professional decisions on the latest opinion poll instead of acting on convictions and beliefs.  When I live my life in such a way, I'll find myself like a wave, tossed around this way and that, pushed wherever the judgments of others dictate. 

Instead, I can ask God for wisdom, believing He is the true Source of good advice (James 1:5-8).  When I do so, I will find an Adviser who guides me in the way that is most excellent for me.  He has my best interests at heart so I can trust Him to lead me right.

God's wisdom is concerned with what is best for me while man's considers only how it looks to others.

Fear-based.  King Xerxes knew he had to do something in response to his wife's public display of disrespect.  If he let it go, he believed every wife would follow suit and they would have a revolt on their hands!  Therefore, he decided to send a strong message to the women of the land.  Your husband is king of your home and you should respect him always, or else!

Wisdom based on man's way of thinking often uses such tactics to obtain the desired results.  It's manipulative, influencing the behavior of others by holding something over their head.  If I don't do "this", then I will receive "that."  And the "that" is always something I want to avoid.  In this kind of advice, I don't willingly comply out of respect for the law or law-giver, but out of fear of the consequences for disobedience.  This kind of tactic is often found in countries ruled by dictators, or organizations led by the power-hungry, or families headed by the insecure.  

In contrast, God gives me free will to decide which path to take.  I will experience the natural consequences for my actions, but He does not strong-arm me into doing things His way.  He desires for me to obey Him because He knows it is what is best for me, but the choice is always mine to make.

God's wisdom is freely given while man's depends on coercion and intimidation.

Comfort-aimed.  The solution was simple:  Get rid of the problem.  Since Queen Vashti was rocking the boat, the king's advisers recommended that he dispose of the queen and find a new one.  Problem solved.

This is often the case with worldly advice.  It follows the path of least-resistance, that which causes the smallest fallout, or whatever gives a minimal amount of trouble.  In short, it's all about what is the easiest and least troublesome.

God does not avoid pain, and neither does He expect me to take such an easy way out. He does what is right, looking for the outcome that will bring about permanent healing, beauty out of ashes, and joy from the darkest night (Isaiah 61:1-3).  While man's brand of wisdom doesn't usually solve anything, God's brings about surprising goodness from the rubble.

It reminds me of an injury our cat Blacky sustained one day as he roamed the woods behind our house.  He sustained a puncture wound that required lancing for proper healing.  Any kind of similar injury must be healed from the inside out.  This meant that all the pus and putrid fluid had to be drained from the wound, a painful process.  In order for our cat to experience complete recovery, however, he had to go through this treatment.  Similarly, my healing may require that I face painful realities as I purge the ugly hurts from my heart.  

God's wisdom brings about health and wellness while man's is most focused on comfort and avoiding pain.

Advice is everywhere, free for the taking.  Trouble is, the kind of counsel I receive from the world is focused on preserving my reputation, manipulation using fear, and aims for my comfort as it's highest goal.  If I want true wisdom, I'll need to ask God who will give me His best, let me choose to follow or not, and results in wholeness.  When it comes to advice, I'll take God's over worldly wisdom any time!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can make God my go-to source for wisdom and advice.

When do I rely on what makes sense to me instead of following God's advice?

How do I prefer comfort over true wisdom?    

More With Us

"Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid or discouraged

because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him,

for there is a greater power with us than with him."

2 Chronicles 32:7

They were experienced in conquering nations.  Having never tasted defeat, they were pretty confident in their ability to take down the tiny nation of Judah.  So, they set to work, laying siege to all the fortified cities.  In the face of such a threat as this, Hezekiah didn't waver in his faith in God.  Even though the armies of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, surrounded him, he realized they were no match for his mighty God!  Therefore, he encouraged his people to stand firm and put their trust in the Lord (2 Chronicles 32).

It may look like things are pretty hopeless in my life, as well.  Perhaps I face an insurmountable opponent such as the federal government, or a powerful corporation, or a team of lawyers.  No matter how much they posture, threaten and attempt to intimidate me, they are no match for God.  Even if they've never lost a case or failed in their efforts, God cannot be defeated.  If God is for me, who can be against me? (Romans 8:31, Psalm 118:6)

I have nothing to fear because no matter how things look, there's more with me than with my enemy.

Arm of Flesh.  The plan is solid and they've all had a good night's sleep.  The team is filled with hard-working people, the best in their field.  It seems everything is working in their favor.  As they set to work, though, they face many obstacles.  As time goes by, their fervor wanes and their strength fades.  Before they know it, they are burned out.

It doesn't matter how well-prepared man is; he will run out of steam at some point.  The abilities and power of man are limited.  If I place my trust in any man-made entity, I will be disappointed.  If, however, I place my faith in God, I will never be let down.  He never grows weary or runs out of answers and I can't go wrong by waiting on Him (Isaiah 40:27-31).

When I place my faith in God, there is more with me no matter how strong or intelligent man may seem.

Warrior.  It seems counter-intuitive in the face of a battle.  Isn't an army supposed to fight?  Usually, yes, but God has a history of fighting battles for His people.  So, Joshua trusted in God's plan and led his people in marching around Jericho, never lifting a weapon against the mighty, fortified city they were there to conquer.  To their great astonishment, the impenetrable walls fell on the seventh day of marching, purely as a result of God's supernatural work, and the Israelites took the city (Joshua 6).

God is not just my protector, provider and sustainer.  He is also my warrior.  As such, it is His desire that I let Him fight my battles for me (Deuteronomy 20:4).  Therefore, I can rest easy and watch for the Lord's deliverance.  Even though it seems like I should be fighting to protect my rights, or further my agenda, or liberate myself, it is God's desire that I leave the battle to Him.  In the end, when I stand in wonder at all He has done to rescue me, He will get all the glory for a battle well-fought.

When I place my faith in God, letting Him fight my battles, there is more with me than with my enemy.

Help.  It feels good to help others, knowing I have made their lives a bit easier and have blessed them in some small way.  Asking for help, on the other hand, is not something I am naturally willing to do.  I'd rather muddle through on my own, trying my best to make things work.  

I was never designed to walk alone on the path God has laid before me.  It is His intention that I walk with Him, allowing Him to bear my burdens, hold onto my fears, and carry my worries.  When I insist on trying to make a go of it in my own strength, I will fall every time.  When I instead cast my cares on Him, trusting in His mighty power, I will be able to walk calmly and assuredly through any calamity that comes my way, knowing He is my ever-present source of help (Psalm 46:1-3).

When I place my faith in God, allowing Him to help me in my time of need, there is more with me than with the unknown I face.

In the same way that Hezekiah faced a great opponent yet stood firm in his faith, I can trust God even when the going gets tough.  When I do, I will realize the futility of trusting in man and will allow God to fight my battles for me and give me the help I so desperately need.  Then I will truly be able to say, there is more with me than with whatever it is I face.  

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God instead of giving into fear.

When am I afraid to let God fight for me?

How am I unwilling to let God carry my burdens for me?    

I Belong to Him

"But now, this is what the LORD says-

He who created you, Jacob,

He who formed you, Israel:

'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.'"

Isaiah 43:1

My family and I just arrived in a land to which God called us.  As a result of His calling on our lives, we sold all our furniture, packed up the rest of our belongings and moved 3200 miles away from the place we had called home for over eight years.  Now we sit in a motel room, waiting on the Lord's provision for housing for 6 people and as many pets.  For man this is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible. (Matthew 19:26)

As I waver on the edge of doubt, wondering what God has up His sleeve, I rest in the knowledge that I belong to Him.  What difference does this make in the uncertainty of my current situation?

It means that I have a heavenly Father who not only knows my needs, but faithfully supplies.  It means that despite the seemingly out-of-control nature of our situation, God is completely in control and has a plan of which I know nothing.  It means that if He went through the sacrifice of giving up His One and Only Son in order to buy me back from the grips of Death, there is nothing He won't do in order to take care of me.

What, then, do I have to fear?  Nothing.  Fear is a choice to stop trusting the God to whom I am eternally bound by the blood of Jesus.

Today, I choose to trust in the God who has called me by name.  I belong to Him!

The Danger of Fear

"Such love has no fear,

because perfect love expels all fear.

If we are afraid,

it is for fear of punishment,

and this shows that we have not fully experienced 

his perfect love."

1 John 4:18 NLT

Fear.  It casts out all reason and treads faith under its feet.  It disguises itself as my close companion, all the while destroying any hope of peace within.  Fear is a product of the enemy of my soul. (1 Peter 5:8)

Our Father is the God of the impossible.  Still, the expert says there is no way to receive what I've been promised.  I can either trust my God to do what man says can't be done, or I can give in to the message of sound judgement and common sense that appeals to my desire to work within normal channels. (Luke 1:37)

My God is supernatural, able to heal the sick, lame and afflicted.  Still, the doctors say there is no hope and I should prepare for the worst.  I can either trust my Father whose arm is not too short, or I can choose to believe the facts that tell me the odds against deliverance are overwhelming. (Numbers 11:21-23)

The Lord Is my shield and fortress.  Still, the papers are delivered and all evidence is pointing to the end of my marriage.  As the storm rages around me, I can either trust my Lord and Savior to deliver me from such a snare, or I can surrender to the seemingly inevitable, consoling myself with the thought that I did everything that could be done.  (Psalm 91)

If I truly understood the depth of God's love for me, driving Him to care for me extravagantly, I would no longer doubt His ability to do the impossible, to work supernaturally or to protect that which is precious to Him.  As my Father who loves me perfectly, He knows exactly what I need and takes delight in giving good things to me. (Matthew 6:31-33, Matthew 7:7-11)  Therefore, fully accepting this love God has for me will leave no room for the fear and doubt that threatens my peace.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust the God whom I cannot see more than I believe the signs that point away from Him and His work in my life.

When do I doubt God's provision simply because I don't understand how He could deliver me from such a mess?

How do I limit God by my lack of faith?