Necessary Conversations

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 (King James Version)

I use to read this verse and limit it to simply admitting my sin to others. This morning the Lord is broadening the scope for me and helping me to see that faults include sins, weaknesses, deviation from truth, skewed thinking, and a host of other things I can so easily keep to myself. My healing and wholeness is dependent upon not only walking in honesty with God but also in honesty with others. Willingly being open, authentic, transparent, and vulnerable with individuals whom God is using in my life. It is not His intent that I become an “open book” to every person I meet, but rather to learn to confide in the ones who are God’s safety net for me.

At one time I would have thought I already do that, but recently God has shown me where I still have the tendency to be selective in what I share. Openness for me is hindered when I fear disclosure will result in rejection, a loss of love, or loss of respect. I buy into the lie that my weaknesses or struggles are not worth talking about with others. It is not just a matter of pride. It is a matter of sensing shame and disapproval in myself. I keep thinking I am suppose to be at an age where talking with others is no longer necessary. That allowing another person to walk me through issues is forbidden. Even as I write out the thoughts I can see all the lies that abound and how they have confined me to something God does not want for me.

God’s solution? Talk to the people He has given me to talk to and take the matter to Him in prayer. He is the One who will ultimately reveal the necessary truth. It may be He shows me the answer and it may be He shows the other person the answer. Either way we each get the benefit of seeing God work! While the joy will be ours the credit and glory will be His. Seeking another person’s advice and help does NOT mean I am replacing God with them….although that is an area I must continue to watch. It is simply operating within the boundaries He has established. My “lone ranger” mentality must give way to community. As a member of the body of Christ, it is imperative that I stop living as an amputated limb!

Father, I need You and I need the ones You graciously give to me. Heal those places of distrust and insecurity that abide in me. You are my true Healer but You have chosen to bring others into the operating room of my soul. Thank you. Amen.

Redemption and Reunions

Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21 (New King James Version)

The countless offenses Joseph forgave became the distinct backdrop to an exquisite portrait of grace and mercy. Joseph was not in denial. He plainly stated the evil intent of his brothers along with the sovereign working of God. After years of separation from family and imprisonment, Joseph came to see that God had never taken His eye or His hand off Him. What was meant to destroy him actually became the passage way to his life’s calling and vocation. By the time he was reunited with his brothers he was ready to provide for them, comfort them, and speak kindly to them.

I believe much of this was contingent on the fact that Joseph had fully embraced the truth that God meant the things in his life for good. It was not just a lofty thought to him. While his life entailed much pain, sorrow, and tears, he knew where the path ultimately led…..the saving of many lives including his and his family’s. He knew that only God could bring about such a story of redemption. That only God could bring beauty from his ashes. His incredible reunion with his brothers hinged on his personal connection with God and the acceptance of God’s plan for his life.

Within that context hope is born in me this morning. I am daring to believe that God could do such a work in me as He did in Joseph. He can redeem ANY story in my life that I allow Him to redeem. He can bring about reunions with individuals that I consider impossible. He can transform my internal world into a thing of beauty.

Joseph’s story far exceeds anything I have ever faced and that in turn helps me to see the possibilities of God’s intervention on my behalf. That is one of the reasons there were so many stories recorded in Scripture. It is so we can know that our stories too can be redeemed by the same loving, personal, devoted, and capable God.

Father, it is with joy and confidence that I offer to You my own story. Do Your work in me. Thank you for what I will see come of this. Amen.

Answering the Questions

And in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?" Nehemiah 4:2 (New International Version)

The decision to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in the days of Nehemiah came up against criticism and skepticism by the enemies of God and His people. The same will be true for us whenever we take steps to draw closer to God, allow Him to work in our life, or begin rebuilding areas in our life. We have an enemy (Satan) who will be the quickest and loudest to bombard us with questions which are intended to discourage, distract, and dishearten us, but we can take refuge in the truths of God’s Word and the truth of Who is actually working in us!

Two questions stand out to me from today’s verse that reflect some wrong mindsets I once held. “Will they restore their wall?” and “Can they finish in a day?“ Many have been the times when I thought I was one to do the restoring of areas in my life. If things had gone awry and I had gotten off tack I was under the impression that it was up to me to “fix” myself or my situation. Whether it was an area of bondage, addictions, sinful habits, character flaws, or insecurities, I actually believed I needed to somehow muster up the internal fortitude to bring about desired change. What I learned was THAT NEVER WORKS. While I may see some change, it will never be deep enough or last long enough. God is the One who promises to do a new work in me and God is the One who will bring about the transformation. It is true I must be willing to let Him work and cooperate with Him as He works, but He is the Restorer of my life, soul, and spirit. Therefore, I do not have to buy into the lie of Satan or myself that it is all up to me. Just as God enabled the Jews to work and protected them as they worked, He will do the same for me (and you).

At the same time, that which took years to “mess up” will certainly not be restored in a single day! That, too, was a lie that had to go. My spiritual journey, as well as yours, will last a lifetime. If I don’t understand that simple truth I will set myself up for disappointment and disillusionment when the change I am looking for is not quickly forthcoming. It is imperative that I look for the small changes that God brings about on a daily basis. That from time to time I look back and see advancements that have been made. I hang on the words of my Abba Father who promised to finish the work He started in me and when that is the case there will be NO doubt who did the work! He alone deserves the praise and glory for all that He does!

Father, I trust You for that which needs to be done in me and I trust You to work within Your perfect time table. Amen.

One Week

I am challenged this morning with the verse that says, "Be still and know that I am God." Much needs to be stilled in me internally, therefore, I am sensing a need to shut off my computer, set books aside, set CDs aside, and become still for one week. I covet your prayers as I am not sure all that will come of this.

Seeking Him,
Pam

He Gives the Ability

To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. Luke 1:74,75 (New American Standard Bible)

When God led the children of Israel out of Egypt it was so they could live out the truths of this passage of Scripture. It was an incredible rescue that demonstrated God’s power and protection for His people. The whole battle really was the Lord’s as they did not have to do any of the fighting themselves. After seeing the plagues, walking through the Red Sea on a dry path, and watching their enemies perish, what could possibly cause them fear in the future? How could they look at anything else they would come up against as “too hard for God?”

But Scripture is not meant to read as mere interesting historical facts. It is meant to come alive to me in applicable ways. Every time I open my Bible, God wants me to see that the stories are meant to fuel my own faith and affect change in my internal world which will result in change in my external world.

I must realize that I too have been rescued from the hand of my enemies. My biggest enemy being Satan of course. But there are other enemies I have been rescued from….habits, addictions, generational bents, insecurities, past woundings, etc….. Now while my mind knows this to be true am I living out the truth of it? Do my actions match up with my knowledge? Or do I metaphorically still abide in the hands of my enemies?

I am encouraged by the little word “grant” in this verse. It means to enable or allow the fulfillment of something. When I trusted Christ as my Savior, God not only gave me His Spirit but He gave me everything I would need to live the Christian life. That means that as His child I possess the capability of serving Him without fear and in holiness and righteousness. It is not a matter of mustering up the courage, holiness, and righteousness on my own.

So this morning I once again start with the premise that I am God’s daughter with all the kingdom rights, responsibilities, and privileges that come with that position. May the truth of that make a radical change in the way I walk through this day!

Father, doing all things through Christ literally means doing all things through Christ. Let me see You as my Enabler. Amen.

Hidden From Our Eyes

When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.” Luke 19:41,42 (New American Standard Bible)

At one time Jesus spoke these words to Jerusalem and this morning He speaks them to me. I can hear Him saying, “If you had known in this day, but now it has been hidden from your eyes.” This life is filled with moments of seeing through a glass darkly. Countless are the stories that we don’t know the endings of yet. Oh, yes, we know that ultimately we will be in Heaven and all will be well, but for now, on this earth we don’t always know how things are going to turn out. Hence, we walk by faith and not by sight. We hold the hand and trust the heart of our all seeing and all knowing God. He alone knows the beginning from the end. He alone knows what lies ahead and the avenues He will use to take us to each point.

We are not alone. Many are the examples in Scripture of people who faced situations and didn’t know what God would do and how God would work. A few come to mind even now. Abraham ascending Mount Mariah with his son, Isaac. Moses and the children of Israel sandwiched between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. Joseph being led to prison. Ruth leaving the land of Moab. David being chased by King Saul. Esther standing in the courts of a palace. Peter in prison. Paul on the road to Damascus. In each case, God’s ways and thoughts were higher than their own. Even in their wildest dreams they could not have imagined what God had planned all along.

Such examples give me hope, for there are numerous “endings” in my life that are presently hidden from my eyes. I know what I would like to see happen. I know what I question will ever happen. Before my eyes actually see what God will do, there are lessons to learn, spiritual muscles to develop, “Thy will be done “ statements to be made, obedience to walk in, hands to open in yieldedness and submission, and a heart to daily draw closer to the One who can be completely trusted. Joy comes when my delight is found in knowing and following the One who knows what He has in mind for each of my situations and the day it will no longer be hidden from my eyes.

While I do not see all the endings of my stories yet, there are some things I am learning to see. Things such as: God’s faithfulness, forgiveness, provision, power, presence, fingerprints, ministry through others, and heart. He is lovingly enlightening the eyes of my understanding and safeguarding within me a teachable spirit. Praise Him!

Father, thank you that one day I will see it clearly. Until then may my eyes be fixed on You, the Author and Finisher of my faith! Amen.

It is a Process

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 (New King James Version)

It is easy to become discouraged over the seemingly slow process of spiritual growth. I am learning (relearning) the truth that God’s work in me is NEVER at warp speed. It took years for me to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally, and it will take a life time for me to grow spiritually. The renewing of my internal world is a day by day process. Even though I am in a hurry, God is not. He wants it to last and to run deep.

He knows my tendency to just want to learn a lesson and move on. Many are the times I think, “Just give me the missing puzzle piece for this problem and I am good to go!” And my Father has to then take me aside and correct my faulty belief. He wants me to understand that each trial and difficult situation I face is not to be looked at as an individual puzzle that needs to be put together only to quickly move to the next one. The entire course of my life is a “puzzle” that God is masterfully putting together to bring about His portrait of beauty. Lessons learned from one experience will be carried over to the next. He does not waste time, material, or opportunities to teach me His tools for living.

While it is necessary for me to see this, it is also necessary for me to see things to avoid.

*Comparing my life with others. I must see that each portrait that God works on is unique and special. He makes no duplicates.
*Dishonesty. Hiding the truth or denying what is really going on inside my heart and head will not work. God requires truth in the inward parts and He will bring me to the point of honesty each and every time. This morning it was once again a matter of admitting to Him and myself my core beliefs about situations and individuals.
*Distrust. Nothing does more damage to my ability to follow and embrace Him with abandon than that of not trusting Him to do what He says He will do and be what He says He is.

May I, like Solomon, ask God to teach me the very things I am not skilled in.

Father, I so often come to You with an “all grown up” mentality but in reality I am still a child in many respects. Help me to learn and grow at the rate You know is best. Amen.