Live as a Conqueror

"The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD

stopped in the middle of the Jordan

and stood on dry ground,

while all Israel passed by until the whole nation

had completed the crossing on dry ground."

Joshua 3:17

I wonder if Joshua stood at the banks of the swollen Jordan River, the only thing standing between his people and the land God had promised them, and wondered how he would lead his people across?  Sure, the two spies were able to negotiate the raging river, he might have thought, but they were young, strong, and unencumbered.  The multitudes I am responsible for carry all their belongings with them.  There are mothers with young children and tiny babies, livestock and inexperienced men and women; so much to make us vulnerable.

Then the words of the Lord must have fortified his heart as he reminded himself of the truth.  Be strong and courageous.  Don't be discouraged or afraid because God is with me. He told me I would lead these people into the promised land.  He didn't tell me how I would lead them; He only said I would lead them.  I must trust God to negotiate this obstacle for me. (Joshua 1:1-11)

Like Joshua, there is much in life to dishearten me and cause me to question.  How will I make it until the next paycheck?  When will the pain stop?  What will it take to mend my broken family?  It's easy to have many questions but no answers.  I want to trust God but I may think, I just don't see how He can work this out.

There is no obstacle so great that it can separate me from the promises of God.  Just as He went so far as to stop the flow of the flooding Jordan River in order to deliver His people to the land He had given to them, there is nothing so great a barrier as to keep me from my promised land. As Moses reminded the people of Israel when they were trapped between the approaching Egyptian army and the Red sea, "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:14). 

No Enemy Too Great

He must have felt like the world was out to get him.  First, he was sold into slavery by his own brothers.  Then, his master's wife falsely accused him of rape and he was thrown into prison.  As if that weren't enough, he languished there for 8 years when he finally thought he'd get a break.  He interpreted the dreams of two prisoners, pleading with them to put in a good word for him, but they obviously forgot about him.  Finally, a couple years later, Joseph was summoned to the Pharaoh to try to decode the message of the ruler's haunting dreams.  Finally, his day had come! (Genesis 37, 39-41)

Joseph didn't do anything to deserve the treatment he received.  He must have sometimes felt as if he had an enemy too great to resist.  How else could so many bad things happen to him?  Someone must be waging war against him.

While this was not the case for Joseph, it is for me.  As a follower of Christ, I do have an enemy; a foe who is prowling, ". . . around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).  Satan's mission here on earth is to, "steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10).  As he wages war against me, planting seeds of doubt in my heart, sending people to rise up against me, setting up obstacles designed to dishearten me, I can take courage with the truth that, "If God is for [me], who can be against [me]" (Romans 8:31)?

God went so far as to send His beloved Son to the earth He created, placing Him in the hands of wicked men in order to conquer sin and death for me.  If He was willing to go to such lengths in order to defeat such formidable enemies, is anything impossible or off-limits for Him (Romans 8:32)?

Therefore, I can trust Him to fight my battles for me.  Even though the doctors say I have two months to live, cancer is no match for the Great Physician.  If the mounting debt threatens to bring me down, I can take heart in the thought that my heavenly Father has resources about which I know nothing.  When strife seems to rule my home, driving out the peace, I can trust God to soften the brittle hearts of those I love.

There is no enemy so great that God is not stronger still.

No Charge too Formidable

I wanted to defend myself against the ridiculous rumors floating around the neighborhood.  A couple of the kids in our afterschool program alerted me to the gossip they had heard about me.  "Mrs. Boose, the story is that you are having an affair with another man and have been meeting him up at the pool."  

At first I laughed at the absurdity of the idea.  "If I were going to cheat on you," I asked my husband, "why would I do it at the neighborhood pool?"  Clearly, this was a tale cooked up by a child, but the fallout could be disastrous.  My name could potentially be slandered to the point that I could lose credibility as a neighborhood volunteer and teacher in our home-based outreach program.  What if people believe this lie?  It could really bring damage to my reputation and ultimately bring shame upon the name of the Lord.

Thankfully, God protected me from harm, shielding both my good standing and His holy name.  I never had to say a word in my defense.  Instead, God revealed the truth over time and the lies faded away.

God is the only One who can justify.  Since He is in charge of fighting my battles for me, there is no need for me to try to prove my innocence when accusations fly.  Instead, I can rest in the hands of my perfect Defender. 

Furthermore, since I have Jesus as my defense lawyer, I never need to worry that my sin might condemn me to death.  There is no transgression so great that the blood of Jesus cannot cover.  Through his sacrifice, then, I find peace with God even though I've been convicted as one who has fallen short of His standard. (Romans 8:33-34, 2 Corinthians 5:21)

What, then, can man say to diminish my standing with God?  If I've already been pardoned from the worst, what more can be said or done against me?  Let the accusations fly because I've been appointed the best defense Counsel ever known to mankind (1 Timothy 2:5)!

Therefore, what's a little heartache at the hands of another in the here and now?  Even if I land in prison based on the word of another, my eternal reward is still intact.  Despite the fact that I may lose my job due to the false testimony of a coworker, my place in God's kingdom is not diminished in the least.  Regardless of whether or not my loved ones believe in my innocence, my Father only sees the purity of heart He originally created for me and is now possible through the blood of Jesus.

There is no charge so formidable that God cannot justify.

No Hurdle too High

I wanted nothing more than for the struggle to be over.  I was tired of living a frugal life and looked forward to a day when money would be plentiful, when a trip to the grocery store was not an exercise in restraint and when gifts for others didn't have to be homemade.  I had grown weary of the fight.

As I sat with the Lord one morning, asking Him again to deliver us from the latest problem, He showed me the error of my ways.  To state it more accurately, He showed me the corruption of my heart.

Instead of seeing all I could buy without money, I chose to pay attention to what I couldn't have.  While God had prepared a veritable feast for me, I still preferred to dine at the pauper's table (Isaiah 55:1-2).  Even though I am abounding in the love my Father has lavished upon me, I focused mainly on the difficulties(1 John 3:1). Although God's mercies are new every morning, making it possible for me to live a rich and meaningful life filled with peace, I ignored those treasures and looked mainly at my disappointments(Lamentations 3:22-24).

It's easy to get caught up in a cycle of seeing what I don't have instead of what I do.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, I not only have the assurance of eternal life, but I also have the security of knowing there is nothing that can separate me from the astounding love of God.  This love can propel me through any hardship, satisfy in ways the world cannot, and bolster my faint heart in the midst of calamity (Romans 8:35-36). The love of God should be my most prized possession because it is what best defines Him(1 John 4:16).

There is no hurdle so high that the love of God is not higher still.

Life is hard.  I am constantly faced with those who seem out to get me, with accusations that seem impossible against which to defend, and difficulties that threaten to block God's love from my life.  Thankfully, there is no obstacle so great that God is not bigger still.  This day, then, I desire to live the life of a perfectly protected, eternally justified, and wholly loved conqueror!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will focus on what God has done instead of what I think is lacking.

When does my enemy seem formidable?

How do I live as a victim instead of as one who has God as her Warrior?


Originally published on February 18, 2014

Go Deeper

"Ask all the people of the land and the priests,

'When you fasted

and mourned in the fifth and sevenths months

for the past seventy years,

was it really for me that you fasted?

And when you were eating and drinking,

were you not just feasting for yourselves?'"

Zechariah 7:5-6

I go to Bible study so that I can learn more about God and grow in my faith.  I worship as a part of the Body of Christ on Sunday mornings so I can feel the connection to God.  I  study His Word each morning so that my understanding will increase.  I pray so that I can hear God's voice and receive answers.  I am almost always selfishly motivated when it comes to God and His Kingdom.

I once had a neighbor who put a lot of demands on me.  As soon as our family moved into our new house she was on me like white on rice.  She had all kinds of plans for me as her new friend.  Her intention was that we would be the kind of friends that could just walk through each others' back doors unannounced.  To say the least, I was uncomfortable with her plans. 

Part of my frustration with that neighbor was that everything she did was all about her.  It seemed her only concern was with what she would get out of the friendship whether it be shared meal responsibilities, help with the kids or companionship.  She did not care about getting to know me or what made me tick.  Rather, she wanted to use me as a pawn in her game of life.

If I'm honest with myself, my relationship with God is much the same.  I don't really care to know about God unless it will help me become a better person, grow as a Christian or build my faith.  Rarely do I study His Word just to know Him more, without an ulterior motive.  I build healthy habits, godly friendships and good practices because I know it's good for me, kind of like eating broccoli.  

God wants more from me than regular ritual, shallow efforts and selfish motives.  He wants me to be like Caleb and Joshua who set themselves apart from their fellow Israelites by following God wholeheartedly.   He wants me to go deeper.

Awareness

Pastor Calvin Miller said, "Hate is born when men call evil good.  And like an infant serpent bursting from its small confining shell, it can never be cased so small again."  I may not like to think of myself as someone who hates, but I find I am quick to judge another's sins as wrong.  As I think about the wrongdoing of another, my heart turns proud and I self-righteously look down my nose at them.  I condemn them while turning a blind eye to my own sin.  

My pastor, Paul Pepin, says that it's hard to be judgmental when you remember who you are: a sinner saved by grace.  If I'm more focused on other people's sins but never take a good look at my own, I will never recognize how much Jesus suffered under the wrath of God because of my sin.  He willingly went to the cross to take the punishment for my selfishness, pride, intolerance and the like.  If I remember how much I've been forgiven, I'll be able to have mercy on others and love them right where they are. . . just like God does.

Anytime I overlook my own shortcomings and label them favorably, I am staying on the surface in my relationship with God.  He desires my honesty and sincerity.  Since He already knows my every thought, I am only fooling myself when I pretend to be better than I am or to gloss over my areas of sin.  Laying it openly before Him and allowing the Light to touch the darkness will bring healing and wholeness.  

Listen to the lyrics of "Bring it into the Light" by Haley Johnson and reflect on God's loving mercy, allowing sinners like me and you to connect meaningfully with Him.

If I want to go deeper with God, it is important for me to stay in a state of awareness of my sin and thus my intense need for Jesus.

Investigation

When I first met my husband, I wanted to know everything about him.  As our love grew, it was important to me that I understood his likes and dislikes, his family background, his motivations and his deepest thoughts.  Learning more about him helped our relationship as I could better appreciate him as a person, not just as my husband.

In my relationship with God I want to cultivate a similar investigative attitude, seeking to know Him intimately so I can better appreciate Who He is.  It is easy for me to take God for granted and think I have Him all figured out.  But God is complex and His workings unfathomable.  I could dedicate my whole life to studying Him but only discover a fraction of His character.  

On the other hand, God knows me intimately.  There is nothing about me that is a surprise to Him.  He delights in me! In the same way, He wants me to learn what is important to Him, what makes Him smile and what boils His blood.   Most of the time, it seems I only find out what is relevant to me.  I love to know He's got a great plan for my life but do I care to find out that He hates my tolerance of sin?  Jesus said it would be better for me to cut off my right hand if it caused me to sin.

If I really know His attitude toward sin, for example, why do I tolerate it in my life?  Why is it so easy to turn a blind eye?  Why do I minimize it and call it a weakness?  If sin wasn't a big problem, He would not have sent His only Son to make a way of reconciliation and redemption.  

Seeking to know God means I'll discover some personal sins, distractions and trivialities that I must cut off in my own life.  As Oswald Chambers said, "There are many things that are perfectly legitimate, but if you are going to concentrate on God you cannot do them."  

For instance, television can potentially bring a lot of worldly attitudes, sinful behaviors and raunchy entertainment into my home.  While I can choose to only watch God-honoring shows, I must ask if this is the best way to spend my time and whether it is serving to draw me closer to God.  

If I want to go deeper with God I must seek to know Him and ask the hard questions that will draw me even closer to Him.

Devotion

When my dog looks into my eyes, you'd think I was his whole world.  He follows me around and desires nothing more than to be in my presence.  He even keeps tabs on my emotions; if I show a slight change in demeanor, he rushes to my side to comfort or calm.  Coal is devoted to me as his master.

This is the same kind of devotion I want with my Master.  As I go through my day, I have many tasks to accomplish and responsibilities to shoulder, but nothing needs to overshadow my attention to my Lord.  

Unfortunately, this is not the life I currently live.  I may start off each day well, but the moment a frustration or difficulty rears it's ugly head I lose focus of God.  I forget Who I'm following and start running after solutions.  I forget that everything that happens to me is used for the good and that I exist for His glory, not for my own.  In essence, I lose my single-minded, wholehearted devotion.

When my whole heart is committed to God, His love overflows in my heart and into the lives of others.  It won't matter that those I'm serving treat me like dirt because such will be my love for God.  When I'm fully dedicated to the Lord, the outcome of my service will matter not as long as I'm obedient to Him.   The time I spend will never be thought of as a waste even if no human notices my efforts.

Maybe my reactions could serve as a barometer measuring my level of devotion to God.  If I'm easily offended by offensive treatment, disappointed by lackluster results or hurt by a lack of recognition, then my heart is not with God.

If I want to go deeper with God, it is important that I dedicate my whole heart to Him.

It's easy to fall into the pattern of going through the motions when it comes to my relationship with Jesus.  But if I really want to please Him, I must go deeper.  That means I'll have to stay aware of my identity as a sinner saved by grace, ask the hard questions and gain a level of wholehearted devotion to God and God alone.  If this is my quest, my life will never be the same again.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can fully open my heart to God, not holding back any fears or secrets.

When do I tend to seek to know myself more than I strive to know the heart of God?

What is it that I'm afraid to look at within myself?  What would happen if I exposed that area to the Light?    

Expect the Unexpected

"When (Jesus) had finished speaking, 

he said to Simon,

'Put out into deep water, 

and let down the nets for a catch.'  

Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night 

and haven't caught anything.  

But because you say so, 

I will let down the nets.'  

When they had done so, 

they caught such a large number of fish 

that their nets began to break."

Expect the unexpected when following Jesus.  He doesn't work in ways I anticipate.  He doesn't do things the way they've always been done.  Jesus is unpredictable.

I live in a physical world created to behave in a predictable way.  Every morning the sun rises and every evening it sets.  The cycle of the moon phases can be used to tell time and fishermen know the tide schedule like they know the back of their hand.  

Knowing what to expect makes me feel like I'm in control, and I like to be in control.  The problem is. . . I'm not in control.  God is.

Trusting Jesus means letting Him work in supernatural ways that push the limits of my common sense.

Implausible Position

Joseph, favored son of Jacob, found himself in an Egyptian prison after a series of unfortunate events.  But God had a plan for good, and after spending several years in prison and some thirteen years after he was first sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph found himself to be placed in a position of second-in-command in all of Egypt. 

How does a foreign slave end up being put in charge of the whole land of Egypt unless it is by the supernatural work of God?  Joseph found himself in this position not for his own glory or comfort, but in order that God could use him to draw His people to Egypt for help during a time of drought and famine.  Ultimately, this would be the mechanism by which God's people would become enslaved in Egypt and would eventually need a savior to rescue them.

What position do I hold that could be used for God's glory and to further His Kingdom?  Community leader?  Mother?  Teacher in a seemingly hopeless situation?  Mail Room Clerk?  CEO of a large corporation?  Mechanic in a dead end job?  Father?  Wherever God has placed me, he has chosen that position for a reason.  He has put me in contact with particular people for His purposes.  He has a plan that will defy common sense. 

If I find myself in a position I never dreamed I'd hold, it's time to look for where God is working and join in.  

Improbable Calling

Flash forward 400 years and witness a middle-aged man, self-exiled from his once lofty position in the Pharoah's palace to Midian, where he lived as a lowly shepherd.  As he was tending the flocks one day, Moses encountered the Lord in the unlikely location of a burning bush on a hillside.  Curiously, the bush burned but was not consumed.

It was there that Moses received his calling from God.  "I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." (Exodus 3:10)  The Lord spent some time reassuring Moses, giving him several signs he could use to show that his message came from the Lord.  

Still, Moses could not get over his logic which told him, "Hey. . . you can't speak worth a lick!" Apparently, Moses had experienced some embarrassing or awkward incidents which left him with the impression that he wasn't any good at talking to people.  Especially large crowds of people.  Or leaders of powerful countries.  

It's easy to get caught up in my past experiences, snagged by my flaws and unable to move forward out of the fear of failure due to my own imperfections and weaknesses.  

But, as God said to Moses, "Who gave man his mouth?  Who makes him deaf or mute?  Who gives him sight or makes him blind?  Is it not I, the LORD?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."  (Exodus 4:11-12)

God is well aware of my flaws when He calls me to a certain task.  He made me that way, defects and all.  And He is not calling me because of my impeccable qualifications or my flawless record.  No.  He is calling me so that in my weakness, He will get all the glory.  He will supernaturally work through me to overcome those flaws.  And people will know that only God could do something like that!

Common sense says to pick he best person for the job, but God says the best person for the job is the one He picked.  

Incredible Strategy

Forty years later, the next generation of Israelites now led by Joshua, finds themselves on the cusp of a new adventure.  They finally get to enter the Promised Land they've been hearing so much about!  But there is one problem.  First, they must conquer the might city of Jericho.  This metropolis is surrounded by a lower retaining wall that measured about 12-15 feet high supplemented by a 20-foot wall built on top of that.  Further up the hill stood the inner wall, rising about 46 feet about ground level.  

Leveling this mighty fortress would not be easy.  But God had a plan. . .an incredible strategy. . . for the Israelites to leave the battle in His hands while they simply walked around the walled city, day after day.  On the seventh day, the wall collapsed as they finished their seventh trip around the city and, "every man charged straight in, and they took the city. " (Joshua 6:20)

What impossible feat has God placed before me today?  Waiting for a husband or wife?  Climbing out of debt?  Controlling my tongue?  Loving my enemies?  Healing a sick body?Whatever it is, God is up to the challenge!  

The biggest acts are not the ones accomplished with good strategy and common sense but which are left in God's hands and consequently give rise to spectacular endings.

My expectations can get in the way of God's supernatural work in my life.  If I only expect ordinary things from God, I will miss the implausible positions He places me in, the improbable ways He calls me to action, and the incredible strategies He uses to topple unbreachable foes.       In a nutshell, I should expect the unexpected when following Jesus.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will leave the battle in God's hands and stop limiting the scope of His work in my life.

How do I minimize the power of God in the way I expect Him to work?

When do I show a lack of faith in not giving a problem completely over to God and let Him solve it?