Shadow of the Almighty

"'But have you not heard?

I decided this long ago.

Long ago I planned it,

 and now I am making it happen.

I planned for you 

to crush fortified cities into heaps of rubble.'"

Isaiah 37:26 NLT

They are mocking God's righteous ones, those bought by the blood of the lamb.  They confidently predict the victory of their wicked agenda, citing examples of recent progress made.  I can't deny the power they seem to have to accomplish their evil plans.  What's going on?  How do I respond?  Do I just give in and call it quits?  

No!  God has a message for us in this age of wickedness.

God's Sovereign Plan.  Nothing happens outside of His will.  While everything that happens in this world is not good, God is completely and wholly good and righteous and He is at the helm of all that exists.  Since all of creation is under His dominion, even the Evil One himself, then I can rest in His sovereignty.  Either He ordained for the success of darkness I now see in order for Him to bring about His plan of redemption and to knock people to their knees where many will submit their hearts to Him, or He is allowing it for His own purposes.  Either way, it went through His hands.  He is not standing by wringing His hands and wondering, How could things have become so bad?  Oh, dear!  What will I do!?  No, God is firmly enthroned on high and no agenda can go forth apart from His divine permission (Romans 9:15-18, Job 1:12).

With such knowledge firmly implanted in my heart and mind, I can go forth with the assurance that God has a plan in the midst of the mess.  The success of the gay agenda, for instance, is not an accident but part of a greater purpose that will bring about good for God's people and His glory.  I must look for the ways He is at work through it and trust Him, believing that He knows what He is doing.  Similarly, the rise of ISIS can be a scary thing as I consider all who are at the mercy of such ruthless men.  I must remember, however, that they only have as much power as God has allowed them to have and they will never be given the authority to take away the hope in Christ His children have for eternity with Him (Psalm 27:1).

God the Almighty rules supreme and nothing happens outside of His sovereign plan.

Don't Listen.  I have to admit that I love reading the weather forecast.  I enjoy looking ahead to what the "experts" think will happen in the days to come.  While I hardly miss a day, I take it with a grain of salt, knowing that God is in control and He can do whatever He wants, even with the weather.  Can anyone predict God's plan? 

It's the same with anything else.  Since God is firmly seated on the throne, ruling over all there is, I don't have to pay attention to the proud proclamations and forecasts of those whose agenda is contrary to godly values, that which is downright dark and evil. So when political heavies predict their continued success in promoting their destructive agenda or terrorists boldly proclaim their plan to march forward and conquer the earth, I can remember they will only get so far as God allows.  I don't have to listen to what they say, or at least filter it through the lens of God's sovereignty.

Since God the Almighty rules supreme, I don't have to listen to any proud proclamations meant to strike fear into my heart.

Depend on the God of Heaven's Armies.  It is His desire that all come to know Him as Lord and Savior through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).  Some of us, however, are more stubborn and set in our selfish ways than others.  It is then that God must bring out the big guns, so to speak, to humble us to the point where we come to the end of ourselves and see our need for Him.  Until then, we'll most likely rely on our own resources and pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, thinking we're strong enough to carry on alone.

There is a better way.  I can willingly submit myself to the God who is able to fight my battles for me in the way that brings about the most glory for Himself.  When I sit back and entrust Him with His rightful job of Commander in Chief, crying out to Him to break the strongholds of evil entrenched in this dark world, I will have the honor of seeing Him vanquish the enemy.  He has a plan to make His name known to all the earth, and sometimes this plan takes drastic measures in order to bring it to fulfillment.  There is no better place to be than in the camp of such military might as this!

I choose to depend upon the Almighty One with all the power to vanquish the enemies of His people with a mighty army of multitudes.

It is aggravating to see the arrogant posturing and to hear the confident proclamations of those promoting an evil and immoral agenda.  While I must stand firm against such wickedness, it is not with the desperation of those on the losing side.  Instead, I can keep in mind that nothing happens outside of God's sovereign plan, giving me the perspective I need to take their progress with a grain of salt knowing that God is the One truly in control.  I can depend upon Him to fight the battle in the way that will make His name famous through all the earth.  When I keep in mind that everything that happens is His doing, either by will or permission, then I can rest easy in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1)!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stand firm against evil, knowing the One who has my back is beyond compare.

When do I sink into despair at the plight of this world, forgetting that God has a plan to redeem His creation?

How am I more focused on what Evil is doing than on what God is accomplishing? 

Last-Minute God

"A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law

in every province and made known to 

the people of every nationality so that

the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves

on their enemies."

Esther 8:13-14

For over two months they must have agonized over the message of the first edict issued at the hand of Haman (Esther 3:12-14).  Their destruction was imminent.  In a few short months, the people of God would face mass slaughtering, ethnic cleansing, a holocaust, with no mercy for women, children or the elderly.  There was nothing they could do to prevent their complete annihilation.  The waiting for such horror must have been a kind of nightmare.

God's timing is perfect.  To me, however, it seems He waits too long, creating this drama, tension, and the perfect conditions for worry.  Why would He drag things out, resulting in the suffering of His own?

Part of faith means I have to trust God in the midst of the crisis, believing that He is always at work.  Just because I can't see what He is doing, like the Jews scattered throughout the kingdom were not aware of what was happening in the lives of Esther, Mordecai, King Xerxes, and Haman, culminating in events that would ultimately bring about their salvation, I can't always see behind the scenes to witness the hand of God.  Still, I can choose to have confidence in God who is my Savior, my Protector, my Sovereign Lord.

Faith is not a natural quality.  It is a gift of God that is honed and refined through trials and tribulations.  He uses the difficulties of life to teach me to trust Him as the deadline approaches, D-day draws near, and the worst threatens to happen.  The darkest moments are often just before the dawn.  

Why is He a last-minute God?  He has His reasons.

Power Made Known.  Softening the hardened heart.  Opening the door sealed shut.  Making a way where there is none.  There is much that is impossible, at least for man.  For God, however, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).

While this is true, not everyone believes it.  Some have never witnessed the mighty hand of God.  Others deny the existence of a Higher Power.  A few would rather think God is a distant Being who doesn't interact with people but leaves them to their own devices.  

When God comes through in a way that no one can explain, His power is made known to all who witness the miracle. Doubts are extinguished, skepticism is overcome and qualms are quenched.  When circumstances work out in an unusual way, the attention its peculiarity brings shines a spotlight on God's might.  When God is allowed to choose for His people, those watching may sit up and take notice.

Waiting on God's timing results in His power being made known.

Sovereignty Made Known.  There were too many details.  Coincidence could not explain it.  Things worked out in a way that no one expected.  Obviously, there is a master plan about which I have no clue.

When I moved across the country with my family, it was our expectation that we would buy a house in a small community close to the water.  As we traveled, it became clear that this was not what was going to happen.  After struggling for a couple of weeks to find a place to live, a door suddenly opened.

Even though we would have never chosen our current rental on our own, now that we live here, we are finding opportunities to praise God for His sovereign plan.  His way is far superior to ours. 

As I walk with God, letting Him lead, others will discover the dominion He has over the details of my life.  Those watching will learn that He is in control of all things, weaving together a marvelous tapestry with each thread of my life.  They may even want such a loving Father ordering their own footsteps as well.

Waiting on God's timing results in His sovereignty being made known.

Glory Made Known.  Some think life is a crap shoot, that things simply happen as they should, that each is a product of their own destiny.  Without anyone at the helm of their life's ship, it steams on, ending up wherever the current takes it.

I know better, however.  It is my intention that everyone know of the greatness of my God, that I can make much of Him in the details of my life, and that I give Him all the credit for every bit of goodness.  I want many to know that only God could choreograph such a perfectly orchestrated dance.

If everything happened the way I planned, the way I wanted it to be, the way I dreamed it would be, then it would be done according to my puny, limited scope.  Since God is the One with the sweeping, unrestricted vision, letting Him lead means things will happen in a way I would have never expected, making it obvious that my life is designed by His hand.  Then, He will get all the glory for the great things He has done, is accomplishing, and will complete.

Waiting on God's timing results in His glory being made known; He gets all the credit.

It's hard to understand why I often have to wait to taste God's provision, salvation or protection.  If I trust Him through the crisis, however, I will find that His power, sovereign plan, and glory are made known to all who are witnesses.  While I may think God is late, He often works at the last minute so that all will know that He is the Lord my God!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God as I wait.

When do I feel discouraged as I wait instead of believing God is at work on my behalf?

How am I desiring my own comfort more than God's plan?           

In the Midst of Trouble

"Now, do not be upset 

and do not be angry with yourselves 

because you sold me here,

for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life!

For these past two years 

there has been famine in the land

and for five more years there will be neither plowing

nor harvesting.

God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on earth

and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

So now,

it is not you who sent me here,

but God.

He has made me an adviser to Pharaoh,

lord over all his household,

and ruler over all the land of Egypt."

Genesis 45:5-8

It was just plain wrong!  Here she was, a woman enduring every mother's nightmare, yet instead of being treated with sensitivity by the media, her story was used to bring in higher ratings for the station's news program.  While the investigative authorities had the opportunity to bring justice for her daughter's sake, they instead used her as a means for their own political ends.  Even though she had many friends, colleagues, acquaintances and well-wishers, many condemned her demeanor throughout the crises, treated her like a celebrity or only cared about what details of the case they could glean from their conversations.  This woman had every reason to be angry.

Even though I will probably never face such injustice, there are times when others use or abuse me or I face what I think are unreasonably hard times.  When I'm mistreated, I have two choices.  Either I can grow angry, letting bitterness fester and the desire for revenge control me, or I can look for God's sovereign plan in the midst of the trouble.  

Forethought

It is always said that hindsight is 20/20.  Looking back on the past, it is easy to see signs of what was to come that I missed at the time.  Peering into the future, however, there is no way for me to know how all the pieces of my life are going to come together. 

This is precisely the reason we need God.  He has a plan that takes into account what is to come.  The Lord places each person where they need to be and only He knows the perfect timing for the forward progress of His plan.  Nothing can advance until everyone is position.

Since God is the One who possesses the vision, only He knows why there is a delay.  While I may perceive a time of little or no movement as a holdup, frustration or even a setback, God knows it is a necessary time of shifting all the pieces into place.  In the same way that I need all the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle to come together before the picture can be completed, the Sovereign Lord is putting all the necessary players into place in order to finish His masterpiece.

When I'm stuck in traffic and my blood pressure is rising, I'm usually only focused on the time I'm wasting or the appointment I'm missing.  God, however, sees the future and is protecting me from an accident that is about to happen.

It is easy for me to feel abandoned when I'm waiting for God to deliver me from my present crisis.  The truth I can't perceive is that God is building my faith until I'm strong enough to handle the resolution He has planned for my predicament.

There are even times when I want to enthusiastically rush forward, believing I am ready to take on the world.  God, however, knows the training I need to undergo before I'll be prepared for such a heavy mission.

When it seems life is not fair, I must remember the forethought of God and let Him move in His own time.

Preservation

People all around them were starving to death.  The man considered his options, consulting the Lord for guidance, and settled on the plan to send his sons down to Egypt to purchase some grain.  While it may have seemed risky, it was part of God's sovereign plan to deliver His chosen people from a slow and steady demise.  

When Jacob saw how desperate was his family's situation, he would have done anything to save them.  Little did he know, however, that God already had a plan to preserve those who called Him Lord.  While many suffered around him, calling on their gods and making sacrifices to their idols as they sought mercy, God had a stake in those who claimed His name as their own.

In the same way, I belong to the Lord as His very own.  I am His adopted daughter through faith in Jesus Christ and thus am infinitely precious to Him. (1 John 3:1, Matthew 6:26)   Therefore, He will go to great lengths to preserve my life and the lives of those who are called by His name.

So, when I'm tired of the struggle against the disease that ravages my body, I can remember how God is using me to deliver the good news of Jesus Christ to all with whom I come in contact.  Or, when I feel like God is against me as He sends trial after trial, I can take heart as I keep in mind how the hard times are keeping me on my knees and in His arms.  I can even draw strength from the fact that God is shielding me from harm that is found in the world by occupying my time with caring for others at home.

When it seems life is not fair, I must remember how God uses circumstances to preserve the lives of His holy people.

Sovereignty

The young woman found blessing and treasure in her enemy's demise.  While Esther would have never killed the evil Haman herself, his death meant great fortune for her.  It also meant deliverance for her people. (Esther 8:7-8)  God is so much in control that He can even use evil to bring about good.  

It is hard to stomach all the news that comes at me in this modern age: There are killings, kidnappings, violent protests and terrorist attacks to name a few atrocities.  If I can keep in mind the sovereignty of God that allows Him to use the bad to His own advantage, however, it may be a bit easier to stomach the reality of living in this fallen world.

The next time I hear some bad news, then, I can look for the good that is hidden within.  As His child, it is vital that I become an expert at recognizing His hand in the midst of evil.  While it is true that I live in Satan's domain, I must always remember that God's plan is not thwarted by the wicked, nor is it overcome by evil.  Instead, Jesus has conquered the world (John 16:33) and nothing is outside of His sphere of influence.

When it seems life is not fair, I must remember the sovereignty of God, trusting that He can even use the evil to bring about good.

When life deals me an unreasonably difficult blow, I can either simmer in my resentment, or I can look for the hand of God in the middle of the crisis.  When I choose the latter, I may see a bit of the forethought of God, how He works to preserve His people, and the miraculous way that He uses even the enemy of our souls to bring about good.  It is then that I will find peace in the midst of the trouble.   

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes of Jesus and all the good that is coming out of the trouble.

When do I lose sight of what God is doing?

How am I paying more attention to the trouble than in looking for God's plan?

Lessons of Faith (Part Three)

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for

and assurance about what we do not see."

Hebrews 11:1

Kids love to play "Follow the Leader" where one child takes on the role of leader and all the other children follow behind.  It is especially fun in the snow or in a field of tall grass where a path must be plowed or trampled in order to make the way clear for those who come behind.

In the same way I am following behind a parade of giants of faith whose testimonies have been left behind as guideposts.  I can learn a lot by paying attention to the way they handled the situations God brought into their lives, and apply these lessons to my own so that I can stay on the path God has for me. 

Let's see what the Hall of Fame of Faith inductees found in Hebrews 11 have to teach us today.

Promise Receiver

It didn't make sense to him, but he had already accepted the fact that he'd be the father of many nations so he knew God would make a way for Isaac to survive.  The very instrument through whom the world would receive this tremendous blessing was now being placed on the altar of obedience.  Abraham would do nothing else but comply with His heavenly Father, receiving the promise into the depths of his being as he did. (Hebrews 11:17-19)

The fact that Abraham had taken on the role God had placed upon him as a conduit of blessing, he didn't hesitate to do something out of obedience that seemed to contradict God's promise.  Instead, he trusted that God had a plan he didn't know anything about.

It is easy to hear a promise God has made to me, like that I am His child, but not take it on as part of my identity.  Abraham received his promise so fully that it was bonded into his flesh so that nothing could divide him from that blessing.  It reminds me of when I make chocolate milk. Once I mix the chocolate syrup and the milk, there is no separating them: They are now a new compound.

If I am to truly receive the promise of my adoption into God's family, it will change my chemical makeup and I will become a whole new creation.  Instead of fearing when hard times come, I will trust my Father in heaven who supplies all my needs because that's what it means to be a child.  Any other reaction stems from my inability to embrace this promise.

A lesson I can learn from Abraham is to fully receive the promises God has made to me, taking them on as a part of me.

Yield

Legacy.  Many people talk about the legacy they will leave when they have departed from this life.  It is good to consider for what we will be remembered when we're gone, but I see something a little bigger going on during these beginning stages of the nation of Israel.

When Isaac, Jacob and Joseph each came to the end of their lives, they thought not of their own legacy, but the heritage of God.  Jacob was blessed by Isaac as the eldest, even though he was second born. (Genesis 27)  While it was his mother Rebekah who hatched the plan for her favored son to receive the special blessing, God was the one who had chosen Jacob from the beginning. (Romans 9:10-13)  

Likewise, Jacob and Joseph each spoke life into God's sovereign plan through their blessings and instructions given on their death bed.  Each of these men was used by God to propel the master plan into action, keeping in mind that what was to come in the future depended upon what they did at the time.

While God's plan is not dependent upon my actions, whether or not I'll be on His side is up to me.  If I do things out of selfish ambition or self-preservation or self pity, I am not following my Shepherd and will not glorify His name.   When I submit myself to His ways, however, future generations will benefit and I will get to be a part of His legacy.

A lesson I can learn from Isaac, Jacob and Joseph is to yield to God's sovereign, far-reaching plan instead of only being concerned with the here and now.

Fearless

It was a scary time.  The king had issued a decree that all boys should be thrown into the Nile upon birth. (Exodus 1:22)  This man was known for his cruelty and no one dared to defy his wishes.  Yet one family, seeing that their son was a special gift from God, hid their baby boy away for three months, revering God more than they feared Pharaoh.  (Exodus 2:1-2, Hebrews 11:23)

What do I fear more than God?  I sometimes let my dread of failure, or standing out in a crowd, or looking like a fool stop me from doing what is right.  A lot of times I'd rather not try than to fall short, blend in with the masses than to rock the boat, and save my reputation than to look stupid.

If I were to take on the same attitude as the parents of Moses, however, I would fearlessly and recklessly place God's call above my own welfare, knowing how much more important that is than my own comfort and safety.  Then I'd plunge forward with abandon, relish sticking out like a sore thumb, and live like a fool for Christ.

A lesson I can learn from Isaac, Jacob and Joseph is to live my life without fear.

Today's lessons can take me far in my walk with God.  These faithful few compel me to fully receive God's promises as part of my being, to yield to God's Sovereign plan in all my ways, and to live fearlessly for Him.  In these ways I will become like one of the giants of faith.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God more than I fear failure.

When do I doubt God's promises because I haven't really accepted them as my own?

How am I a coward for Christ?