Heart of Flesh

Originally published on April 30, 2012

"I will give you a new heart 

and put a new spirit in you;

I will remove from you

your heart of stone

and give you a heart of flesh."

Ezekiel 36:26

September has always been a special month for me.  Not only is it the month of my birth, but as a child and even as a homeschool mother, I always enjoyed the beginning of the new school year.  The preparation for the upcoming year brought a sense of hope and excitement to my days as I purchased new clothing and supplies, preparing myself for the challenges that lay ahead.

As the first day of school approached during my junior high and high school years, I would organize my notebook, making new dividers and filling it with fresh paper and pencils.  I then would turn my attention to my attire, deciding which outfit I would wear for the first day.  Often, I would get a pair of new shoes and somehow, this made me feel like a brand new person tackling a brand new school year.  

In the same way that my fresh, never-before-worn clothes and virgin pencils groomed me for the new classes I was about to face, the new heart of flesh that God has given me through faith in Jesus Christ prepares me for living my life as a member of the family of God.

Empowered Obedience

A friend of mine recently gave a great visual of the battle that occurs between my spirit and God's Spirit as described in Galatians 5:17.  "The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." 

My friend likened this contrariness, this conflict to a tug-of-war between me and God. As God's Spirit moves me in His direction, my flesh pulls back against Him, pulling me in the opposite direction. The only way for me to go in God's direction is for me to stop pulling and let Him lead me.  If I drop the rope altogether, giving up the fight and surrendering my will to Him, I can freely walk along with Him.  

As one who has been provided through Christ with a tender and responsive heart (Ezekiel 36:26), I am given the ability to withstand the temptation to do things my way.  The grace of God which constantly flows through me from His indwelling Spirit empowers me to, "offer the parts of (my) body to him as instruments of righteousness.  For sin shall not be (my) master, because (I) am not under law, but under grace." (Romans 6:13-14)  Either I choose to give myself over to the pull of God, or the influence of sin.  

Each time I sense the tug of God leading me in His direction, there will be the temptation for my flesh to fight against Him.  But thanks to God's grace abundantly found in my life and manifested through His Son's death on the cross, I have the option and ability to drop the rope, giving in to God's will.  When I submit, the fruit of the Spirit are produced and there is no law against these things! 

I don't have to try harder to be good and please God, rather I have to nail, "the passions and desires of (the) sinful nature to his cross and (crucify) them there."  (Galatians 5:24 NLT) Or, as 17th Century Puritan preacher Peter Bulkeley said, "If God be God over us, we must yield him universal obedience in all things.  He must not be over us in one thing, and under us in another, but he must be over us in everything."  

I am empowered to obey by the grace of God when I submit to Him and allow Him to lead me.

Godly Devotion

Our neighbors own a huge German Shepherd who looks quite intimidating but who is actually a big baby.  He's gentle, calm and pretty laid back. . . until his owner brings out the beloved tennis ball.  Then he turns into the fetching machine, never taking his eyes of the yellow orb.  Nothing can distract him from the job at hand; squirrels, food, other dogs, they all fade into the background as the ball takes center stage, monopolizing his attention.  He's all about his ball.

In the same way, I am called to be wholly devoted to God.  He may allow a variety of attractive belief systems or alluring distractions to come my way in order to test me "to find out whether (I) love him with all (my) heart and with all (my) soul.  It is the LORD (my) God (I) must follow, and him (I) must revere.  Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him."  (Deuteronomy 13:3-4)

This kind of devotion comes with maturity as we progressively work toward, "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming."  (Ephesians 4:13-14)  Growing in my walk with God means I will gradually become more Christ-like, little-by-little gaining an immunity to distractions.  The goal is to become like my neighbor's dog; all about my God!

As I cultivate my personal relationship with God through faith in Christ, I will increasingly develop my devotion for Him and Him alone.

Spontaneous Love

Have you ever tried really hard to love someone, especially someone who is particularly prickly?  I have. . . and it doesn't work.  I just don't have it in me to love like God loves me!  

I like the way Oswald Chambers put it in his entry for April 30th in My Utmost for His Highest:  "Love is not premeditated, it is spontaneous, i.e., it bursts up in extraordinary ways.  There is nothing of mathematical certainty in Paul's category of love.  We cannot say--'Now I am going to think no evil; I am going to believe all things.'  The characteristic of love is spontaneity.  We do not set the statements of Jesus in front of us as a standard; but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without knowing it, and on looking aback we are amazed at the disinterestedness of a particular emotion, which is the evidence that the spontaneity of real love was there.  In everything to do with the life of God in us, its nature is only discerned when it is past."

It is not my effort that produces a loving attitude or loving acts, rather it is in extension of God's Spirit working through me.  "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."  (Romans 5:5)

As I let God's Spirit have it's way in me, I will find that the irritation I used to experience when dealing with a certain difficult personality has vanished and in it's place is patience and gentleness.

When I let go and let God, it will become apparent that my previous penchant for perfection and high expectations for others' actions has been replaced by a desire to let go of past failures and to always hope, believing with faith that things will get better.

If I follow God where He leads, I will soon see that circumstances and situations that used to anger me and send me into a tailspin now have no affect on me.  My blood does not boil and I'm no longer compelled to chew someone out, defending my position.  

Love comes as a natural extension of God Spirit as He becomes greater and I become less and will show up unprompted in ways I can't explain.  

God is the craftsman of my new heart.  Only He can, "Create in me a clean heart. . . and renew a right spirit within me."  (Psalm 51:10)  And with this heart of flesh I am empowered to obey God, to be wholly devoted to Him and to love spontaneously.  In this way, I am growing "in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church."  (Ephesians 4:15 NLT)

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will let go and let God have His way in my life this moment.

When do I insist on having my way, thus preventing God to love others through me?

How do I hang onto my own desires, refusing to nail them to the cross?

Eternal Benefit

Originally published on January 22, 2014.  Republished today in honor of my mom, who on this day one year ago realized her hope in Christ and went to live with Him for the rest of eternity.  

"When you were slaves to sin,

you were free from the control of righteousness.

What benefit did you reap at the time

from the things you are now ashamed of?

Those things result in death!

But now that you have been set free from sin

and have become slaves to God,

the benefit you reap leads to holiness,

and the result is eternal life.

For the wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 6:20-23

He was a man who tried everything in his search for meaning and happiness.  Hundreds of women crossed the threshold of his bedroom, countless philosophers and teachers discussed the wisdom of the ages, wealth and pleasure all were his, but still he lacked peace and contentment.  His conclusion?  It's all meaningless!  Nothing in life brings genuine fulfillment.

In the end, Solomon did draw a deeper conclusion from his lifelong quest for meaning.  He said, "Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty.  God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NLT)  

God had blessed Solomon with everything most people desire.  Wisdom, wealth and honor like no other king had ever possessed belonged to him.  Still, Solomon felt empty as he explored these good things throughout his years.

This famous ruler found out the hard way that following the flesh gives no lasting benefit.  Pleasure is fleeting, happiness is transient and any meaning that is found is usually empty and ends in death.  The only thing that makes sense is to live as God intended me to exist, in submission to Him.  When I become a slave to God instead of to my own desire for happiness, I will come to the same conclusion as Solomon: I am created to live in relationship with God.

Control of Righteousness

"I can do whatever I want!"  Anyone who is the parent of a toddler or a teenager has probably heard these words at some point in their youngster's life.  We as humans have strong wills that want to have things our way.  No one knows this better than a parent with a rebellious child.  

If I'm honest with myself, though, I realize that I am no different than that preschooler throwing a fit in the grocery store aisle.  I want my way which is counter to God's way.  My Father knows what is best for me but I only care about fulfilling my own desires.  

When I've worked hard on earning a college degree, for instance, I feel it is my purpose to use that diploma to find a good job in my field.  God, however, has another plan as He waits for me to seek His will.

Then there are the times when I enjoy telling my friends or family about the struggles a sister in Christ is battling.  Instead of heeding the still, small Voice that calls for discretion, I continue exposing her hurts and pains for all to judge.

Sometimes I know that I would be better off without all the electronic gadgets that bring worldly values streaming into my home on a continual basis.  Instead of standing for what is good, however, I give in to the desire to be entertained.

As one who has been bought with a price, I can no longer think of my life as my own to do with as I please. (1 Corinthians 6:20)  Instead, I can move forward from here as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, bringing my will into submission to His. (Romans 12:1)  Allowing God to be in control means sin no longer reigns in my life.

Now I have an obligation to do what is right as one who desires to please God in thought, word and deed.  I can't separate myself from the world as a hermit in a quest for righteousness; after all, if there's no temptation, there's no sin, right?  Maybe.  But perhaps I need to consider the encouragement of Oswald Chambers when he said, "It is of no value to God to give Him your life for death.  He wants you to be a 'living sacrifice,' to let Him have all your powers that have been saved and sanctified through Jesus.  This is the thing that is acceptable to God." 

What good am I to God if I am cut off from a world that needs Jesus so desperately?   I may become more holy, but does this please God in and of itself, or does He want more from me?

Living in relationship with God brings me under the control of righteousness so that I can live to please Him.

Holiness

As artists, my daughters own brushes that are created for one thing, and one thing only; painting on canvass.  While I can see other functions for their use, such as cleaning in tight corners, touch-up painting in my living room, or dusting delicate figurines, these tools are set aside for only one specific function.  Using them otherwise would damage their delicate nature and deny their purpose.

In a similar way, I am set aside for the single purpose of glorifying God.  I can think of all sorts of other functions for which I can be used, but not all will please God.  Selfish ambition can drive me toward worldly success, leaving me with much material wealth but devoid of peace.

Strong family relationships give much satisfaction and pleasure as I strive to do my best for my husband and children.  Emptiness soon comes, however, because I have left God out of the family.

Seeking a culturally diverse existence propels me toward many religions, but none contains the truth that has the power to set me free.

As one who belongs to God, my reason for existence is found in His plan for my life.  There are many paths I can choose to follow, but until I accept that God holds the blueprint, nothing will ever make sense.  Once I seek Him with all my heart, He will give me a desire to live a life that is radically different from those around me.

Instead of working toward success, I labor alongside the Lord as His servant without regard to my accomplishments.  Or I desire to fulfill my purpose as a wife and mother in a way that makes God the center of my home.  Or my fascination with foreign people groups compels me to share the gospel with a lost world.

Living in a relationship with God illuminates the greater purpose for my life.

Eternal Life

She once lived to die.  Her life brought forth seven children and a loving husband who was the joy of her life, but also drugs, alcohol, abuse and violence.  When living to please herself, she nearly died too many times to count.  Once she came to Christ, however, her outlook changed.  Instead of seeing her life as a series of failures and trauma, she began to see it as an opportunity to live for Him.

Once my friend invited Jesus into her life, her perspective changed.  In the past, despair ruled as she wallowed in the guilt and regret of all the pain her loved ones suffered by her hand.  Now, she has hope for what is to come.  

Paul shared this same expectation for eternity that drove him to persevere through the trials that came his way.  He said, "That is why we never give up.  Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.  For our present troubles are small and won't last very long.  Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!  So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."  (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT)

As one who is a slave to God instead of sin, I have eternal life to look forward to.  Everything in this world pales in comparison to the glory of heaven!  The pain of sickness will become as a faint shadow in my memory as I enter into the presence of the glory of God.  All the hurt that is as a result of sin will only serve to showcase the greatness of our God in comparison.  Nothing I can imagine will prepare me for the magnificence and beauty of my eternal home.

Living in a relationship with God through the tough times in this fallen world gives me the hope of eternal life that will spur me on.

Solomon found out that seeking happiness ended in disappointment, but living for God results in meaning.  As I give my life to God through faith in Jesus Christ, I will find I am under the control of righteousness that leads to a life that is set aside for God's glory, and all the suffering is not in vain as I realize my final destination outshines any pleasure I can find here on earth.  Living in relationship with God ends in a rich eternal benefit that far outweighs my wildest dreams.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can stop following the flesh and begin to live as a slave to God.

How do I live as if I'm still a slave to sin?

When do I tend to give up hope, as if my problems in the here and now overshadow what I have to look forward to in eternity?

Who's My Master?

Originally published on June 30, 2015, four days after the Supreme Court legalized Gay marriage

"Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!

For the LORD has spoken:

'I reared children and brought them up,

but they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows its master,

the donkey its owner's manger,

but Israel does not know,

my people do not understand.'"

Isaiah 1:2-3

The past few days have been quite eye-opening.  After the news came out that the Supreme Court had narrowly decided to legalize gay marriage nationwide, I was shocked to see the opinions of many self-professing Christians who celebrated the decision.  I wondered how anyone claiming Christ as Lord and Savior could buy into such a morally corrupt belief.

While I tend to think we have reached new lows as both a society and a people of God, I read the words found in the prophecies of Isaiah and I realize there really is nothing new under the sun.  We have been here before, and the problems are quite similar as to the ones facing the nation of Israel.  While beasts of burden instinctively know who their master is, man is quite another story.

Without Excuse.  He left His mark on everything He created, giving His image-bearers clues to His character.  The consistency and predictability of the rising and setting of the sun and moon speaks to His steadfast, unchanging nature (Malachi 3:6).  The delicate intricacy of a flower reveals His love of beauty and His attention to detail (Psalm 139:14).  The joyous singing of the birds each morn gives me a glimpse of how much He adores the praise from His designed creatures (Psalm 66:4).  There are constant reminders of Himself throughout creation.

Therefore, I am without excuse when I turn away from Him and choose to follow my own darkened heart (Romans 1:20).  Even more, those who truly have repented of their sinful ways and have put on Christ Jesus as Lord experience the benefit of the Holy Spirit to guide, convict of sinful ways, and empower to live a holy life (John 7:39, Titus 2:11-12).  Consequently, I grieve His indwelling Spirit when I act as if I know no better by living according to my flesh and as if I belong to the world (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19).

I am without excuse when I choose to believe as the world does instead of trusting in what my conscience knows is right.

Rebellion.  I've seen plenty of rebellious children in my day, some right under my own roof.  In fact, I'm so familiar with defiance because my heart often disregards the leading of God's indwelling Spirit.  But there is more to this rebellious spirit than meets the eye.  

When I fail to acknowledge God as sovereign, that He is my master through faith in Jesus Christ, I am in a sense dissenting from God's righteous judgement.  I am saying that I think my way is better than His, that I know better or can see more clearly than He can.  I am bucking His authority over me as His child and am instead bowing to a different god, one who is more like me, is socially acceptable and morally lenient:  A god with whom I am more comfortable.  This kind of idolatry, however, is not welcomed in the kingdom of God, and therefore belongs not in the heart of a Kingdom dweller (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

For example, Gay marriage is not marriage at all, but is a cheap substitute created by man to serve his sinful purposes.  Since God did not create it, I, as His child, have no business supporting it let alone rejoicing in it's lawlessness (Matthew 19:4-6, Genesis 1:27, 2:20-25).  Doing so defies the very nature of love which does not "rejoice at wrongdoing"  (1 Corinthians 13:6).  Real love did not win out that historic day, and to profess so is to blaspheme a holy God whose very nature is love (1 John 4:8).

When I as a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ turn away from God's standard of holy living, I have become rebellious against Him (1 Peter 1:14-16).

Clueless.  His ways are difficult, going against my nature, conflicting with my natural desires (Romans 7:15-25, Galatians 5:17) .  Therefore, when I come up against God's infallible wall, His standards and law, I must either adjust myself and my way of thinking until I agree with it, or I reject it.  I cannot, instead, try to conform God into someone with whom I am more comfortable, a cuddly, Father-time type character who looks the other way when it comes to the sin I welcome into my life.  This is called idolatry and it is a serious offense to God because I am creating a false god who doesn't mind my sin (1 Corinthians 10:6-14).

Who is my master if I rejoice in sinful lifestyles, refusing to warn those who are perishing of the consequences of their actions?  It may not make me popular, but can my conscience let me ignore the suffering all around me or even support those who are doomed to destruction (1 John 3:4-10, 2 Peter 2:4-10)?

I am acting as if I were clueless to God's true nature when I create an altogether false god to worship in His place.

I call myself a Christian yet do I know who my Master is?  I would be wise to let God examine my heart in terms of my response to the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling of June 26, 2015 and all subsequent actions by its supporters, including the aggressive agenda to indoctrinate our children into believing gay marriage is a healthy alternative or the endorsement of a former president claiming Jesus would approve .  I am without excuse as to God's immutable character yet often rebel in my desire to fit in with the world, acting as if I were clueless as to the nature of God.  In these ways, beasts of burden seem to have more sense than I.  Who is my master, anyway?

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can honestly open my heart to God so He can test my intentions.

When do I support a cause without truly understanding its root or implications?

How do I follow my own understanding instead of trusting God?

Merely Man

This post was originally published in October 2015.

"This is what the LORD says:

'Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,

who rely on human strength

and turn their hearts away from the LORD.'"

Jeremiah 17:5 NLT

It's easy to be intimidated by those who oppose my faith, especially if they have credentials, power or position to bring me down.  The time is here when more and more Christians will be called to take a stand for our beliefs.  When it is me against the entire federal government, the state officials, or even the local school board, I may feel frightened when considering what they might do to me.  But I need not be afraid, for I have the Lord my God, and they are merely men (2 Chronicles 32:8).   Here's how I can be greatly encouraged as I stand firmly within God's blessing.

Trust.  There is much in which I can place my faith.  I can trust in political insiders who support my cause, or influential leaders who come alongside me, or cunning lawyers who take my case.  While these benefits may help me, I must not place my faith in them to save me.

Ultimately, it is God who has the power, influence and wisdom to save me.  Do I believe it?  Or are these only words I say out of habit or tradition?  I must walk forward in confidence with the understanding that He goes before me, He has my back, and He envelopes me with His sovereign power (Deuteronomy 31:8).  He literally hems me in (Psalm 139:5)!  If I really believe this, I will not doubt, will not fear, will not waver.

Blessed am I when I trust fully in God alone as my Savior.

Rely.  I can depend on man to make my case before the powers that be, believing if I have a well-crafted argument, justice will prevail.  I can count on the knowledge I have about the judge who may oversee my case, depending upon him to make a wise ruling.  I can bank on the support of other believers to hold me up during a difficult time of persecution.  While it may seem most important to have such benefits, I must not rely on them to sustain me.

Ultimately, it is God who has the might, not any man-made entity.  Even if it seems I have no hope, with God there is always a way through.  He has resources I know nothing about, ways I cannot fathom, power that is not of this world.  Therefore, I must place all my weight on Him, standing on the Solid Rock that will not let me down (Psalm 62:6-8).  

Blessed am I when I rely completely in God as my source of power.

Heart.  It's easy for my heart to become tainted by the beliefs, attitudes and corruption of this world.  I may start off being motivated by a passion for Jesus and a deep love for Him until another affection begins to draw me away from Him as my true devotion.  Or I close myself off from His leading, afraid to head down the path He is taking me on, unwilling to experience such hardship for His sake.  Or I resist the painful molding process as the Potter's hands attempt to fashion me into the image of His Son, chipping away all that doesn't belong.

It is then that I can cry out to God as David did, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and restore a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).  Make me loyal to You again, Lord, led by a heart that desires to please You and You alone.  A heart that does not worry about what man may do, or how unpopular I may become, or how difficult the path may be.  A heart that only is concerned with Your opinion of me, desiring to hear those coveted words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"( Matthew 25:21).  This is the kind of heart that He will cultivate within me when I submit to Him.  

Blessed am I when my heart is fully devoted to God as my greatest delight (Psalm 37:4).

Times are getting difficult and I must be prepared to take a stand for my faith.  When I do, I may feel intimated by the powers of this world that I face, feeling overwhelmed by their authority and influence.  It is then that I will do well to trust in God alone, rely completely on Him as my strength, and be driven by a heart that is fully devoted to Him.  When I do, I will say with confidence that if God is for me, who can stand against me (Romans 8:31-34)?  Whoever tries is merely man!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that God will be my greatest hope.

When do I trust more in human power than in God's?

How am I afraid to go against the status quo?  

  

Humble Response

Originally published on July 14, 2015

I recently heard it said that our nation is where it's at because the Church has fallen away from Christ.  When we as God's people live as He's called us to live, God blesses.  The responsibility lies squarely on our shoulders.

This post is even more relevant today than when it first published.

"The Lord has spoken out against Jacob;

his judgment has fallen upon Israel.

And the people of Israel and Samaria,

who spoke with such pride and arrogance,

will soon know it.

They said, 

'We will replace the broken bricks 

of our ruins with finished stone,

and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars.'"

Isaiah 9:3-11 NLT

God was warning His people of their pride and arrogance.  They had lived a pattern that was counter to His ways and refused to humble themselves before Him, submitting to His law and guiding Hand.  Their response to this warning of coming destruction?  It sounded more like determination and selfish ambition, like they were proving their independence and ability to do anything they set their minds to do.  When they banded together, they believed there was nothing they could not accomplish.  Sound familiar?  Sadly, yes.

God is constantly at work drawing His people back to Him, yet do we even recognize His hand at work?  Or do we arrogantly vow to stand firm in our ignorance?  We are the strongest nation on the face of the earth, nothing can bring us down.  We stand for truth and justice, we determine what is best for us.  We bow to no one.  We had better take note of God's warnings found in His Word, for they resonate strongly in this day and age.  We would be wise to take heed.

Discipline?  Hard times hit, both on a personal level as well as nationally.  I wonder why.  Why me, Lord?  Can't I catch a break?  I've tried to live a good life.  I'm involved in church, I keep my nose clean,  work hard to better myself.  Why all the trouble?  Following Jesus is not a religion.  It is a relationship based squarely on the work of Jesus Christ completed on the cross that freely gives me peace with the God I've offended by my sin (2 Corinthians 5:18).  With such work of reconciliation already accomplished, there is nothing left for me to do but to submit myself to Him (Hebrews 4:6).

Still, I try hard to prove myself, to earn points with God, to show Him and others how serious I am about my faith.  Despite my hardheadedness, God loves me wholly in Christ and never gives up on me.  He knows what it takes to get my attention, to bring me to my knees where I realize my own inadequacies, my deficits, my inability to do anything of eternal value on my own.  He wants me simply to rest in Him and trust Him to direct my life.  For many, it takes a crisis of major proportions to teach this lesson of humble submission to His better plan.  If I never consider that He could be using the hard stuff as a tool to whittle away my fleshly resolve, I'll miss out on the sweetness of knowing and submitting to Him as Father.

When hard times hit, I'd be wise to ask myself, "Is God trying to get my attention?  What is He telling me?"

Examination?  I get in a rut, in a groove, and life keeps humming along.  I live as I've always lived and assume I'm doing alright.  Then the crisis hits, the hardship comes, the difficulty slaps me across the face and my rhythm is interrupted.  What now?  I don't get whats happening and I long for the smooth sailing again.

When I look at myself I can't see what God sees.  He is the Master Potter who is in charge of the sanctification process, molding me into the image of His Son (Isaiah 64:8, Romans 8:28-29, Romans 12:1-2).  Only He sees where I'm off in my thinking, what habits and ways are destructive, what sinful patterns offend Him.  While I'm covered by the blood of Jesus which protects me from His wrath, He still desires to purify me for His Namesake.  Therefore, it is good for me to do as David did by asking, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life"(Psalm 139:23-24). Inviting Him to examine my innermost parts, my motivations like David did is an intimate gesture that shows my faith in God, my belief that He will do what's best for me, and that I trust Him wholly.

When hard times hit, I'd be wise to ask God to examine me and show me where I'm off in my thinking and behavior.

Approval?  The first thing they wanted to do was rebuild.  They didn't want anything, even the weather, to get the best of them.  So when lightning destroyed their home by fire, they made immediate plans to rebuild.  This seemed like the logical step to take and most of us would have done the same.

I hate to slow progress and hamper the return to life as usual, but it might be wise to consider God's will in every situation.  Did I run my plans past God?  Did I consult Him?  Did I seek His plan, even if it differs from mine?  Or would I rather just continue on with what makes sense to me?  If God doesn't lead me to rebuild, to repair the damage done, to make improvements on what I've already been given, should I boldly and confidently move ahead?  Or am I just assuming its His intention for me because it is the logical next step?  I'll only know if I take it before the Lord for His approval.  

When hard times hit, I'd be wise to ask God how He wants me to respond.

It's easy to become proud and arrogant, believing I'm the captain of my own ship, the designer of my destiny, responsible for the plan for my life.  Yet, when I gave my life to Jesus by faith, I agreed to let Him lead me wherever He wants me to go.  Therefore, I'd be wise to consider that every hard time I encounter could be His discipline as He attempts to get my attention so He can teach me a lesson.  The crisis that threatens to wipe me out is also a time to ask for His examination of my heart so that I can draw even closer to Him as a result.  And as I attempt to recover from life's latest disaster, I must learn to seek His will for how to proceed.  While it may require that I learn some new patterns, this is more of a humble response to God's warnings compared to how I might naturally respond.  In His hands, every difficulty I encounter is used for my good and His glory!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to submit to His humbling tools. 

When do I assume I should respond to a crisis by rebuilding without ever bothering to consult the Architect?

How am I guilty of keeping God at arms' length?

Growing Deep Roots

This post was originally published on October 1, 2015

"'But blessed are those who trust in the LORD

and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat

or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green,

and they never stop producing fruit.'"

Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

Who doesn't want deep roots so we don't fall apart when facing hard times?  We all do, but how do we cultivate such an advantage?  Here's the answer as God revealed to the prophet Jeremiah.

Trust in God.  It's stamped on our money.  The phrase, "In God We Trust" first appeared on the two-cent coin in 1864 in response to an Act of Congress, followed by the passage of the Coinage Act in 1873 which opened up the way for all coins to bear such a proclamation.  This act was no mindless formality but an intentional attempt to acknowledge God as a nation in response to several letters from citizens across the land during the Civil War.  One such letter stated, in part, that "No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense."  And another claimed that "From my hearth I have felt our national shame in disowning God as not the least of our present national disasters." *  Our leaders at the time recognized the importance of trusting in God.

When I do the same, realizing He is the one Source of strength, power, wisdom, protection, and everything, I'm placing all my weight on Him, resting in His provision and shelter (Psalm 91).  When I think of Him as only one of many supplies, choosing to rely on my own wherewithal or that of others, I am failing to fully trust in God.  Either I place all my eggs in His basket, or I keep my options open in case another offer comes along.  The first shows that I believe He is able to satisfy every need and all my longings, while the second reveals my doubt in His power.

If I want roots that grow deeply, I must fully and wholly trust in God alone.

Hope in God.  It's easy to lose hope in such a dark world in which we reside.  I can become discouraged when trouble comes my way, especially when it seems there is no let up, as if it's my lot in life to suffer.  When enduring such difficulty, I can begin to wonder why I'm here, what is the point of life, what's my purpose.  Then I remember Who is in control of all things (Romans 13:1).

God is a good God (Psalm 136:1).  Everything He does is thoroughly and completely good.  Additionally, He is a God who is always at work (John 5:17).  He doesn't slack on the job, or forget someone's needs, letting them fall through the cracks.  Instead, He is constant and trustworthy.  Therefore, when I keep my eyes on Jesus, I have every hope in the world no matter my circumstances, because I know good things are happening.  The only missing factor, then, is my perception of His beneficial acts.  I often don't notice what He's up to because I'm looking in the wrong place.  It reminds me of a friend who just returned from a trip to New England.  She and her husband were disappointed to see the lack of fall colors but realized that if she looked closely, she could see a kaleidoscope of hues hidden beneath the green.  It only took an eye to see for her to enjoy the show.

If I want roots that grow deeply, I must hope in God, looking for all I believe He is doing.

Confidence in God.  It's easy to doubt.  It's not so much that I don't think God is up to the job, but that I think I will somehow mess things up, or that I see all that could go wrong, or that I've become cynical and jaded, preferring to brace myself for the worst instead of hoping for the best.  Then I waver in my faith, failing to walk forward in confidence with the strongly rooted certainty that God will come through no matter what.  I hold back, indecisive and vacillating between wanting to trust God and skepticism.

I notice a difference when I'm around someone who has confidence in God.  Their prayers are self-assured, as if they are simply endorsing what they believe God is at work doing.  They step out in faith often and speak with boldness, knowing that God is providing the words they need and fully backing them up.  In contrast, those with a lack of confidence result in prayers that are weak and reserved, as if they don't want to bother God or ask too much of Him.  They rarely if ever do anything beyond their own abilities or power and speak timidly, worried they may offend someone.  I'd rather live like the confident Christian.

If I want roots that grow deeply, I must place my confidence in God alone, not doubting in His might.

Life is difficult and I often face hardship.  If I want to learn to cope with the stresses of life, I would be wise to heed God's advice by resting fully in Him, expectantly looking for the work of His good hands, and walking forward with assurance that He's gone before me and has my back.  This is how to grow deep roots that will always reach His living waters.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to place all my weight on Him.

When do I hold back, afraid to let go of some semblance of control?

How do I doubt that God will come through?  

     

* http://www.treasury.gov/about/education/Pages/in-god-we-trust.aspx