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

Understanding of the Holy

"The commander of the LORD's army replied,

'Take off your sandals,

for the place where you are standing is holy.'

And Joshua did as he was told."

Joshua 5:15 NLT

He was ready to lead his people into conquering the land God had promised to them. The entire nation had miraculously crossed through the swollen Jordan River on dry ground.  The next generation of men had been circumcised according to the Lord's command.  Passover had been celebrated and the provision of manna had stopped.  God was providing for His people by the fruit of this land of Canaan.  All the signs indicated that the time was now to receive the promise.

At least that's how it probably felt to Joshua.  God, however, knows the heart of a man and He had one more lesson for Joshua to learn before the time was right.  Before Joshua could receive his orders for defeating Jericho from the commander of the Lord's army, he had to acknowledge the holiness of God.

It is the same for me.  I may feel ready to run ahead into the plan God has for me, anxious to get started on what God has in store.  First, however, there are a few things I must get straight.

God's Ways are Higher

In military maneuvers, intelligence and operational details are only dispensed on a "need to know" basis.  This means that information is only passed on according to what is needed in order to complete the mission.  Most soldiers, then, only receive orders pertaining to their own unit's assignment but they probably don't know the entire scope of the operation.

As a soldier of Christ, I am to live by this same principle.  God is the One who holds my marching orders in His hands, but He only enlightens me to the information He wants me to know.  Since my mind does not think the way His does, it is futile for me to try to understand the reasoning behind His specific plan for me(Isaiah 55:8-9).  If I don't have a "need to know," then I just have to trust that God knows what He's doing.

The thing is, I think that I have a "need to know."  What I really have is a "want to know," but I've convinced myself that a basic understanding of my situation and how the future will play out is necessary in order for me to fall in line behind God.  In other words, I think my obedience is contingent upon my understanding of the plan.  If I don't get it, how can I climb on board? I reason to myself.

Faith, however, in it's very nature is based on a belief in what I can't see(Hebrews 11:1). There is no way to rationalize my way to faith.  I can't make a list of pros and cons and utilize my common sense to reason my way to a place where I'll trust God.  Faith is about me taking a chance to put my full weight on the God I cannot see to fulfill a plan I've never had the pleasure of approving.  When I believe God is who He says He is without any concrete evidence to support His claims, I am exercising my faith.  Conditional faith, then, is no faith at all.

In order for me to trust God, I must grasp His holy nature and let go of my desire to understand what He's doing.

God's Ways are Perfect

I have no idea what perfect looks like.  I have adapted to living in a fallen world surrounded by imperfections.  Nature is filled with inconsistencies, flaws and blemishes that I find beautiful.  Perfect would be boring.

While I have no concept of perfection, I must realize that God's ways are perfect.  There is nothing false about His line of thinking.  He doesn't forget what He's doing and then have to cover up His mistakes.  God doesn't ever get it wrong:  He is perfectly holy, perfectly righteous and perfectly just.  (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Since God is unable to think, act or speak wrongly, I must never put Him in the same category as man. Unfortunately, while I may not consciously think I do this, I hold this false belief in my heart when I take a low view of sin.  I welcome sinful thoughts, actions and words as if they are my bosom buddies.  I tell myself that God will understand if I give into temptation because He knows I'm not perfect.   

Grasping His perfect nature, however, means I must maintain a godly view of sin.  Instead of making excuses for what I allow into my life, I must be always aware of how my sin offends His holy nature.  If He went through the trouble of offering His own precious Son as a sacrifice to atone for my sin, there must be something very offensive to God regarding my sin.  Why, then, am I so quick to explain it away, turning a blind eye and accepting it as part of my nature?

My sin nature has been crucified with Christ so that I can live a new life through the power of His Spirit. (Galatians 2:20) Not that I will never sin again, but that I am so sensitive to the sin in my life that it makes me uncomfortable.  To live by the Spirit is to desire His path more than my own. (Galatians 5:16) To live by the Spirit is to deny myself and all my sinful tendencies and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24).

In order for me to trust God, I must gain an understanding of His perfect nature and how my sin offends Him.

My True Identity

Most people identify themselves by what they do:  I'm a doctor.  I'm an accountant.  I'm a homemaker.  It's easy, then, to take on this same mindset when it comes to who I am to God.  I may think I'm a Sunday School teacher or a choir member or a part of the cleaning crew.  

My true identity, however, is as a sinner who is saved by the grace of God.  I am His adopted child by faith in Jesus Christ.  I am a hopeless loser who has been made righteous by the blood of the Lamb.  Everything I am is thanks to Jesus;  He is my only hope (Romans 7:24-25).

The Apostle Paul teaches in Romans 12:3, that I am to measure myself accurately based on God's standard, not my own.  When I use my own ruler I either look better than I really am or worse.  Either way, I'm not seeing a clear picture.  

I would be wise, then, to see myself as God sees me.  There is no good within me (Romans 7:18). I can't accomplish anything of eternal worth in my own effort.  My sin nature condemns me, earning me nothing but death and destruction (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23a).  In the midst of such bad news, however, there is some good.  While my sin condemns me, Jesus came to save me(John 3:16-17)!

When Jesus died on the cross, He took my sins on Himself, taking my punishment so that I could have a chance to live.  Trusting in Him as my Savior, then, exchanges the wages of death my sin has earned for God's free gift of life that will last for all of eternity (Romans 6:23).

If I come to God with a sense of my own merit, trying to impress Him with what I bring to the table, I have forgotten my true identity.  If I am afraid to even approach the Lord, feeling inadequate and guilty for all the ways I've failed, I have forgotten my true identity.  If I boldly approach the throne of grace to receive all the grace and mercy I desperately need in my own weakness to get through each moment, I know my true identity (Hebrews 4:16).    

In order for me to trust God, I must gain an understanding of my true identity.

I am often ready to run headlong through the door God is cracking open, foolishly thinking the time is now to plunge ahead.  If I pay attention to His leading, however, I may find that He has a lesson for me to grasp before I can go any further.  Like Joshua, I may need to let go of my desire to understand His plan, to realize the perfect nature of God, and to accept my true identity in Christ.  It is then that I will have a better understanding of the Holy.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can maintain a holy reverence for God.

When do I relate to God as if He were my servant, telling Him what I want to happen?

In what ways do I forget who I am in relation to God?


Originally published on February 21, 2014

Tell the Story

"In the future, when your children ask you,

'What do these stones mean?'

tell them that the flow of the Jordan

was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

When it crossed the Jordan,

the waters of the Jordan were cut off.

These stones are to be a memorial 

to the people of Israel forever."

Joshua 4:6b-7

Osmosis is the process by which molecules of a liquid pass through a semi-permeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one.  The result?  Equal concentration on both sides of the membrane.  This process is spontaneous and requires no input of energy.

While this process is useful in science, it doesn't work when it comes to relationships.  Sometimes, I tend to think that just because someone spends time with me, they know what I know, perhaps by osmosis.  Instead of making the effort to tell the story of how God has worked in my life, I assume they already know.  This is especially true for my children.

The truth is, however, osmosis is only possible in biology and chemistry, not in relationships!  Therefore, it is important that I intentionally and purposefully work to leave a legacy.  Just as Joshua was called to set up a lasting memorial that would initiate conversations about the greatness of the Lord and His mighty works in the lives of His people, I must do the same.  God has called me to tell the story of His power at work in my life.

Stones of Remembrance

The journal rests on my nightstand beside the bed.  Each night I record what God has done in my life.  Sometimes, it's an answered prayer.  Other times, it's an unexpected blessing.  Many times it's the little ways He cares for me.  When I'm feeling discouraged, I can pick up that Stones of Remembrance Journal and flip through the pages, reminding myself of the mighty acts of the Lord that I have witnessed in my life.  Before long, my heart soars as I see with my own eyes what God has done, giving me hope to believe I'll witness the same tomorrow.

Life can be hard and my memory is so fleeting.  While difficulties easily overwhelm me, God's provision, care and protection often escape my consciousness.  Since my fleshly mind tends to focus on the negative, I must make the effort to refocus my thought pattern, training my mind to think about what God can do instead of what I can't.

Unfortunately, I am not wired for positive thinking.  Instead, I'm naturally inclined to fear, anticipating the worst scenario that could happen for every situation.  God knows my fondness for fear.  He knows me better than I know myself.  Since He understands the way I'm wired, He has left a message for me in the pages of His Word.  If I'm paying attention, I'll heed the warning and take the advice given.

In the same way that the people of Israel needed a lasting memorial to trigger their memory of the greatness of God, I need the same.  I won't naturally keep the Lord's power and sovereignty in mind when I've been diagnosed with the unthinkable, or am plagued with excruciating pain, or feel like I could die of a broken heart.  No, I must build my own memorial designed to prompt thoughts of God's great plan for my life that will spur on my faith in times of trouble.

If I want to leave a lasting legacy of God's goodness for others to see, I must set up my own stones of remembrance memorial.

Eyes of Faith

I couldn't believe we were looking at the same thing.  Where I saw an old, decrepit piece of junk, my husband saw a treasure that needed to be saved.  Not surprisingly, I was ready to set the old boom box out at the curb for trash pickup but my beloved wanted to hang onto the stereo like some kind of prize.  What does he see that I'm missing? I thought.

As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  What one may see as a field of beautiful wildflowers, another sees as a pasture full of weeds.  We perceive according to what is important to us.

Therefore, if I want to notice all the good that God is doing in my life, I must put on eyes of faith.  Moses used his eyes of faith when he fled Egypt, believing that God had gone before him even though He couldn't be seen with the naked eye.  (Hebrews 11:27)  

Abraham also looked through eyes of faith as he raised the knife above his one and only son, believing God would somehow preserve the life of the one through whom the promise would come.  (Hebrews 11:17-19)

Another man who chose to see through eyes of faith was Noah.  He believed in God enough to build a huge sea-going vessel in the midst of dry land.  (Hebrews 11:7)  Noah's view of God's sovereignty was greater than any doubt he may have felt at such an odd command.

Today is the day for me to utilize my eyes of faith, choosing to look for evidence of God's work in my life.  In this way I will leave a type of memorial which can hearten those whose faith has grown dim.

If I want to leave a lasting legacy of God's goodness for others to see, I will need to look at the world around me through eyes of faith.

Quick to Tell

Once I've set up some kind of memory-trigger to remind myself of God's amazing deeds and have donned my eyes of faith, I'm equipped to give testimony to His greatness.  While I may naturally talk about all that is difficult in my life, I can learn to share what I've discovered about God and His goodness through my observations.  This kind of story-telling will work to spur on the faith of those who are listening.

Once I commit to telling this kind of story, I will find that my lips will often speak of God's amazing grace.  Words that give testimony to His great love for His people will easily spill from my mouth.  Testimonies of His provision and protection will spring forth from my heart and mind, making their way to the ears of others.

I will find that once I get on a roll, it will be hard for me to talk about anything without including words of praise for God and His goodness.  It will become habit for me to speak of His kindness and care.  Soon, others will catch on that the Lord is worthy to be praised and may start telling their own stories of faith.  Before I know it, there will be legacies of God's greatness left all around.

If I want to leave a lasting legacy of God's goodness for others to see, I must be quick to tell the story of God's work in my life.

Everyone has a story to tell.  The only question is what kind of a tale will I be passing on?  If I keep some kind of memorial to God's great works in my life, intentionally look for how God is at work and am quick to tell of His greatness, that story will be one that glorifies God.  If I assume that my children and those around me will know of these testimonies through osmosis, I'm only fooling myself.  Therefore, let today be the day I tell the tale of God's amazing deeds so everyone will know that He is the Lord my God!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can look for evidence of God's love all around me.

When do I tend to pay more attention to what is difficult than on how God is using the hard circumstances for my good?

How am I quick to gossip or complain instead of telling my latest testimony?  


Originally published on February 20, 2014

Expect Opposition

Originally published on October 13, 2014

"I also told them about the gracious hand of my
God on me and what the king had said to me.

They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.'

So they began this good work.

But when Sanballat the Horonite,

Tobiah the Ammonite official

and Geshem the Arab heard about it,

they mocked and ridiculed us.

'What is this your are doing?' they asked.

'Are you rebelling against the king?'"

Nehemiah 2:18-19

The hand of God was upon Nehemiah.  The God of the universe went before him, paving the way for his mission.  His favor was upon Nehemiah.  Still, there was opposition.  There was difficulty.  There were bumps in the road.

Even though I'm following God and am under His favor through faith in Jesus Christ, I can't expect clear sailing.  In fact, I had better realize I will experience trouble of some kind.  Thankfully, though, resistance to or defiance against God's plan for my life does not mean I have to give up.  No!  I am on the side of the Overcomer (John 16:33)!  The opposition that rises up against me only means I must adjust.  What must I do?

Carry On.  Before any work could be done, the wall around Jerusalem had to be inspected.  How bad was the damage?  What kind of materials would they need?  How would they go about repairing the walls and gates?  A plan was made and work had begun.  Then came the enemy to mock and make fun of them.  They could have given up, doubting their mission or fearing for their welfare.  Instead, they carried on with the proclamation that, "The God of heaven will give us success (Nehemiah 2:20)." (Nehemiah 2:11-3:32)

It is the same with me.  Who is discouraging me in the race God has marked out for me to run (Hebrews 12:1-2)?  In what ways am I being ridiculed for the peculiar life I'm living (Matthew 7:14)?  If I'm being teased or criticized for what He has called me to do, I have a choice to make.  Either I doubt whether I'm on the right path, or I speak words of faith about the God who empowers me and then carry on.

When opposition rises up against me, I can carry on with the mission at hand.

Be Wise.  As a follower of Christ placed in the middle of a cold, harsh world, I am vulnerable.  Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves." (Matthew 10:16)  Sheep are defenseless against predators.  They don't have a way to fight back.  In fact, their only protection against danger is their shepherd and to huddle together in a group:  They must rely on their guardian and each other.

Likewise, I must realize my Shepherd's rod and staff will protect and comfort me in times of trouble.  I also have been placed in a family of believers who can stand with me when trials come my way.  There are some things, however, Jesus warned me to keep in mind as I live in such a helpless state.  He wants me to be on guard, not ignorant of the dangers at hand but savvy of their presence.  Still, I am not to enter the battle as everyone else does.  Instead, I am to keep my hands clean as I let my Warrior God fight on my behalf (Matthew 10:16-20).

This means when the powerful seek to bring me down, I can place my defense in God's hands and watch as He lifts me up (James 4:10,Psalm 27:5).  Furthermore, I can't expect everyone to agree with me.  As a result, I can take precautions to protect the mission and leave the rest up to God.  It also means when people make fun of me I must preach the truth to myself, replacing their ridicule with pure, just, lovely, gracious, excellent thoughts that bring honor and glory to God (Philippians 4:8). 

When opposition rises up against me, I must be wise in the way I respond.

Trust God.  I naturally want everyone to like me.  At my core, I am a people-pleaser who feels better when I receive lots of affirmation from those around me.  I'd rather do something that is widely accepted than do what sets me apart from the crowd.

Unfortunately for my sin nature, I am following One who is highly controversial and is not well-liked by all.  Therefore, I must expect to face some kind of harassment or maltreatment as I walk with Jesus (John 15:20).  The suffering I endure, however, is not in vain.  Instead, it is used by God to conform me into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).  Everything, whether it was meant to harm me or just irritate me, is woven by the Master Weaver into the beautiful tapestry of my life.

When opposition rises up against me, I can trust God to use it for my good and His glory.

I often mistakenly believe God will protect me from all hindrances when I am careful to obey Him.  As an alien in a foreign land, however, I must expect opposition of some kind.  When I do experience some form of harassment, I can carry on, be wise, and trust God.  In so doing, I will experience peace in the midst of turmoil as I watch God's plan prevail.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God even though my outlook is dismal.

When do I assume everyone will agree with the trajectory of my path?

How am I offended when opposed instead of realizing it's to be expected as a follower of Christ?

Work at Hand

Originally published on October 6, 2014

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate.

They dedicated it and set its doors in place,

building as far as the Tower of the Hundred,

which they dedicated,

and as far as the Tower of Hananel.

The men of Jericho built the adjoining section,

and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah.

They laid its beams 

and put its doors 

and bolts and bars in place.

Nehemiah 3:1-3

It was a team project.  Each group took responsibility for one section of the wall, repairing, rebuilding and reestablishing the structures and gates.  Instead of Nehemiah assigning sections to various work parties, respective families and people groups busied themselves with the area closest to them.  The rebuilding of Jerusalem was a beautiful picture of God's people working together to bring glory to Him.

Sometimes it seems I must go to some exotic, far away location to do impactful things for God's kingdom.  In reality, I can do as the people in Nehemiah's time did and busy myself with the work at hand.

See the Need.  The homeless beg for money.  The distraught search for relief.  The elderly wonder about their purpose in a lonely, isolated existence.  The driven pursue significance.  The hopeless look for a reason to carry on.  The world around me is a needy place.

When I ask God to open my eyes to see what breaks His heart, He will show me suffering.  Wherever the need is, that will be what God brings to my attention.  Either I can respond to the love of Jesus that swells up in me, letting His compassion move my feet to action, or I can turn away.  It's not necessary to start a ministry, find someone who has created a formal organization to address the needs, or be officially sent to fill the need.  I can simply join in where I see God at work.

If He opens my eyes to the mothers in my neighborhood who need support, I can offer to watch their children so they can have some time to themselves.  If God shows me how much my coworker suffers from depression, I can offer to introduce the hope found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and pray with her for deliverance.  If I'm suddenly aware of how lonely the forgotten segment of society is at the local nursing home, I can visit the sweet souls found there who crave meaningful connections with people who care.  There is no formal training, preparation or certification needed.  Instead, it only takes a willing heart.

To be used by God to impact the world for Christ, I can start where God shows me the need in my own community.

Do What I Can.  "Sometimes in life you start slow."  I heard the words spoken by a high school football player as he described their come-from-behind win and my heart was moved.I was struggling with feelings of failure and thoughts of doubt as I considered the small turnout for a Bible-study outreach I recently started.  As I listened to the godly wisdom coming from the mouth of a youngster, I realized the truth found there.  God's idea of success does not include the number of people involved.  Instead, He is concerned that I obey His calling on my life with wholehearted compliance.

Every ministry has to start somewhere.  So, I begin by doing what I can, letting God grow my faithful efforts to accomplish what He desires for His kingdom.  It doesn't have to complicated or endorsed by an official organization.  Instead, my response to God's calling just has to be sincere.  Wherever I see God at work, I can do what I can to be a part of what He is doing, walking through the door He opens, filling the need He highlights, or ministering to those He places close at hand.

To be used by God to impact the world for Christ, I can do what I can to join in where God is already working.

Lose the Expectations.  It doesn't always feel good.  Sometimes, it's downright grueling.  No one may even notice what I'm doing.  If I expect feelings of well-being, meaningful work, and some kind of recognition for my efforts, I will be disappointed as I labor with God in the mission field all around me.

In his first letter to the followers of Christ, Peter talked about the various areas I should pay attention to as the end draws near.  He concludes by encouraging God's people to use His gifts given to serve others (1 Peter 4:10-11).  

If I give my all with the understanding that it comes from Him in the first place, I will bring glory to Him.  If, however, I work in my own strength, trying hard to impress others with my dedication, find meaning for my life, or discover a sense of satisfaction, I will only end up seeking credit for myself.

To be used by God to impact the world for Christ, I can lose the expectation for any kind of selfish benefit and do it only for the glory of God.

It's easy to wait to serve with God because I think my efforts won't matter if it's not an organized mission or done in an exotic locale.  In reality, I can ask Him to open my eyes to the need all around me, joining in by doing what I can, and losing the grandiose expectations.  Then, I will impact the world for Christ as I busy myself with the work at hand.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can do everything I do, small or big, for the glory of God.

When do I wait for something better to come along instead of being faithful in the little things?

What do I reject doing because I think it's not enough to make a difference?

         

God is God. . . and I am not

Originally published on February 28, 2012

"Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon;

serve him and his people,

and you will live."

Jeremiah 27:12

Common sense is defined as, "normal, native intelligence," or "sound practical judgement that is independent of specialized knowledge, training, or the like."  I make decisions everyday based upon my common sense.  I think, If it doesn't sound logical and make sense, it must not be the right choice. 

Even Guatama Siddharta, founder of Buddhism agrees with me. He said to, "Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense."

The problem is, God calls me to, "Trust in the Lord with all (my) heart and lean not on (my) own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5)  Following God sometimes means I will do things out of obedience to God that do not make sense to me, that goes against every piece of sound logic and which looks downright irresponsible.  But God is God and I am not.  

Trusting God many times means I will go against my common sense.

Zedekiah, King of Judah

God sent a message to the King of Judah that went against Zedekiah's good judgement.  The Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah that when the Babylonian army came in to conquer and destroy his land, he was to roll over and surrender willingly.  If he did so, he would be allowed to live.  In fact, all the nations in the region were sent a similar message, saying that if they did not resist, they would be able to stay in their own land.  

What king worth his salt is going to passively stand by while a foreign army invades his land?  Even a puppet king placed in power by a foreign ruler cannot easily surrender to an invading army.  King Zedekiah did what came naturally instead of obeying God and he rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar.   Consequently, he was forced to watch his sons' violent deaths before suffering the gouging of his eyes and exile to Babylon.

Trusting God many times means I will be asked to go against my common sense.

Jim Elliot

God used the life and death of missionaries Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, Roger Youderin and Peter Fleming to open up a door for the Gospel to enter the lives of the mysterious Auca tribe in Ecuador, as well as to other people groups in the region.  

These men acted recklessly, going against all standards of good judgement in making contact with such a violent and primitive tribe who regularly killed six out of every ten of their fellow tribesmen.  Not surprisingly, the five men were brutally killed upon making their first contact with the people with whom they had come to share the gospel.   But, as Steven Curtis Chapman sings in the video he shot in the same Amazon Basin jungle with descendants of Nate Saint and his killer along with other tribe members who are now followers of Jesus Christ, God is God and I am not. 

Please take a moment to watch this powerful video.

Trusting God many times means I will do things that go against my common sense.

Youcef Nadarkhani

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been held under charges of apostasy in Iran since 2009 when he spoke out against Islamic indoctrination in his childrens' school. (He was released in January 2013 but since has been arrested and persecuted numerous times.) His actions go against every bit of common sense in my being.  When living in an Islamic state who is violently opposed to the message of the gospel, it is a matter of self-preservation to keep quiet about one's beliefs.  

But God inspired this young man to speak up and take a stand for Christ at risk of his life and the lives of his young family.  God is God and I am not.  Who knows what fruit will come from this act of obedience?

Trusting God many times means I will take a stand that goes against my common sense.

What is God calling me to do this very day that goes against all sound judgement?  Give away my savings?  Show love to someone who hurt me deeply?  Sell everything and go to a hostile land?  Quit my job?  Take a pay cut and a demotion?  

Whatever it is that God is calling me to do, I can rest in the knowledge that God is God and I am not.  He has a plan. . . and that plan is far in scope beyond all I can ever imagine!

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that I will be challenged by these stories to obey God at all costs.

When do I rely on my common sense instead of listening to and obeying God?

How does knowing that God's ways are higher than my ways inspire me to obey even when it doesn't make sense for me to do so?