When Scripture Lives

You have removed my acquaintances far from me; You have made me an object of loathing to them; I am shut up and cannot go out. Psalm 88:8 (New American Standard Bible)

Well known author and speaker, Beth Moore, has said, “God’s Word is alive and active in me.” I see the truth of her statement every time Scripture pin-points an area in my life and reads like a “tell all” book of my heart. I stand amazed that not only does God know me thoroughly but exposes much about myself in His Word. But He doesn’t stop there, He guides me in steps of application.

Like many of you, I have lived today’s verse. The removal of acquaintances, the feeling of being an object of loathing to them, and the sense of being shut up and unable to escape. Such prisons of the heart and mind are very confining but not impossible to leave. For me it is a matter of changing my thoughts and that on which I choose to dwell. Each time I experience imprisoned moments they are more and more uncomfortable and my desire to be free is greater. My most recent “incarceration” ended when I realized I don’t have to keep thinking through the same issues or continue asking myself the same unanswerable questions. The sky is the limit when it comes to what I can meditate on through out the day. Negative, destructive thoughts close the prison door, but truthful, right thoughts are my keys to freedom. It is not just a matter of positive thinking. It is a matter of obedience that produces freedom.

I find it interesting that as soon as I come out of my “cell” God is ready with some precious truths that speak powerfully to me. One such truth came while reading COME AWAY MY BELOVED by Francis J. Roberts. She writes entries that sound like God is speaking in the first person. It gave me one of those clear pictures I needed in order to replace the distorted images in my mind. It will be a thought I embrace and recall throughout today. She wrote, “I have deliberately put thorns in your nest in order to drive you forth. I understand your reluctance, but I shall surely deal with you until you break out of your bondage.” I take comfort in seeing God’s ultimate goal for me.

Father, I have felt the thorns. Forgive my reluctance to move and keep dealing with me until my bondage is broken. Amen.

Asking For and Receiving Help

He said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you shall help me, but if the sons of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will come to help you. 2 Samuel 10:11 (New American Standard Bible)

A war had been declared against Israel based solely on false accusation and suspicion. When David sought to extend comfort to the king of the Ammonites after the death of his father, his actions came into question and the new king hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers to join him in battle against Israel. His plan ended in defeat but today’s verse has captured my attention, because it shed’s light on an aspect of the body of Christ that I have often struggled to grasp.

Just as I spent decades with skewed thinking in regards to God and what He is really like, I have spent recent years with skewed thinking in regards to living out the Christian life….particularly when it comes to seeking advice and help from other Christians versus complete reliance on God alone. In my mind it often became an “either or” scenario. Victory meant God alone and if I dared to confide in a fellow believer it meant I was failing. At the same time, I knew the verses that spoke of encouraging one another and praying for one another. A conversation with a friend last night and an email from another friend later in the evening both assured me that this aspect of the body of Christ was meant to be embraced by me. Not feared! Not denied! Not kept at arm’s length!

God in His graciousness has once again used His Word to give me the “permission” and freedom I am needing. When I read the words “too strong” and “help me” I knew they were meant for me. My personal internal battles are not meant to be fought independent of the believers God places in my life. Ultimately HE is the One who will set me free in areas of bondage and strongholds but He has also strategically placed “foot soldiers” across my path to be His hands, mouth piece, and heart to me. I dare not continue to say, “Thank you but no thank you” to the One who is so readily offering me His help through people. Their help, encouragement, and counsel is available if I will but reach out and accept it. May God help each of us to ask for and offer help when the things we “fight” are too strong for us. God does not call any of us to be totally isolated soldiers in His Kingdom work!

Father, I once again open myself up to receive what You are graciously providing to me through Your children. May my walls of resistance and fear fall as I ask for and receive their help. Amen.

Receptive to Teaching

And He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths. Micah 4:2 (King James Version)

In order for someone to teach me something I must be receptive and desirous to learn. I have been a student in many classrooms where that was not the case. The reason? The subject matter was not put on a level that I could understand, my mind was on other things, I was physically exhausted, the information given was not important to me at the time, my interest was not peaked, too many distractions, etc...

But I found that if I really liked the teacher I was drawn to the lesson being taught. My thoughts of and relationship to the teacher were the catalyst for my actual learning. What they were saying became important to me.

Likewise I have sat under many speakers. If I failed to connect with them I became bored and distracted. I am sure that what they had to say was useful but I was unreceptive. On the other hand, if I connected with them, I hung on every word, drank in their wisdom, and desired to apply the truth of their message to my life.

My Father desires to teach me His ways so that I am able to walk in His paths. Does He have my attention? Am I hungry to learn all I can from Him? Do I see the importance of what He is teaching me? Is my focus on him?

I am assured that He'll put the lessons on a level I can grasp. He allocates time for me to digest what he is saying. Sometimes it is one on one instruction through His Word and prayer. Other times He uses individuals, songs, books, or situations. I use to think if the lesson came through a chosen source of His, I wasn't really receiving it from Him. I equated spiritual maturity as being attained when God was my ONLY source for instruction. But the Bible speaks of the wisdom found in many counselors. So whether I learn something new about God or the Christian life through God's sources or through God Himself, I can now see that it is still from Him.

Father, may you be my ultimate Teacher! May I always be attentive, receptive, and eager to learn from You…..no matter the route through which You choose to teach me. Amen.

They Went Because They Heard

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with difficult questions. 2 Chronicles 9:1 (New American Standard Bible)

As many times as I have read the account of the queen of Sheba’s visit to see King Solomon, I missed what led her to that visit. It was because of what she had heard from her own people. Their words and enthusiasm got her attention. Much like how the Samaritan woman’s words to the people of Samaria drew them to see Jesus for themselves. In both cases, it was the talk of others that awoke in both the queen and the Samaritans an urge to become their own eye witnesses.

This has prompted me to ask myself whether or not I talk enough about who God is and what He means to me to get people’s attention in a way that will cause them to want to know Him for themselves. That is the heart of witnessing! But that was not always my thought. I still recall my own ideas about witnessing and why it was so difficult. There were actually a couple of problems.

When I thought of talking to someone about the Lord I envisioned myself grabbing them by the scruff of the neck and cramming Bible verses down their throat! Conversations had to be maneuvered just right and it fell to ME to be the one to convince them to turn to God. Needless to say, it wasn’t something I looked forward to doing or even did very often. It took a long time for me to realize I had it all wrong!

It is not a matter of “cramming” and “convincing”. It is simply a matter of sharing what I know when I know the opportunity is in front of me. No “working” the conversation. God is the One who prepares hearts and God is the One who causes those hearts to search for Him. As I share what I know, God is the One who takes my words and plants them as seeds in the heart of those I talk to. He knows what they are looking for and will give me the words to say in the form of thoughts. It may be in answering a question or adding to a conversation. I have learned to leave the time and the response to Him.

Each time I have been a part of a God-ordained witnessing moment I have walked away in amazement. I marveled at the ease and at what He led me to say. In most cases, I don’t know the end result of the conversation. Eternity will reveal that! But just as in my own salvation experience, many words were spoken before I understood and came to Jesus. I, like you, are always a part of a bigger picture of others coming to know Him.

Father, use me to draw others to Yourself. Let me be a mouthpiece for You! Amen.

Exposing the Lies

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Luke 12:1

Hypocrisy is pretending. How good the Pharisees had become at pretending what was seen on the outside was realistic of what was present on the inside. Jesus knew better. He not only confronted them but warned others against taking on the same heart attitudes. I have to ask myself this morning what the pay off was for them to play the pretend game. Not only with others, but with themselves and even God. If something is not real what good would the pretending do?

People fall into this trap all the time. Some will pretend to be better off financially than they are. Some will pretend to be happier than they are. Some will pretend to be more confident than they are. Some will pretend to be more problem free than they are. Some will pretend to be friendlier than they are. For some reason, believing and purporting the lies they are living gives them a sense of security and accomplishment. But God knows real freedom does not come until the lies are exposed and honesty becomes that person’s lifestyle.

Hypocrisy blocks a lot of things. It blocks others from really getting to know you. It blocks God from being able to transform you. It blocks you from being able to be the person God intended for you to be. The Christian life must not be lived out of grit, determination, behavior modification, pretend, or outward appearances. It is a relationship of the heart with God. He wants to go deeper than the surface with us. He wants to help us see what is really going on inside our being. When all the facade is set aside and we are left with the truth of our own condition, that is when God can begin to change us from the inside.

It has helped me to realize one very important aspect of God’s working. When He targets a specific area in my life it is not to condemn or shame me. He is simply revealing what it is He wants to change in me. I have learned to grow comfortable during His process of examination. I have had my fill of living with my own hypocrisy. I take Jesus’ warning to heart and once again come to God with honesty and a desire for His touch on my life.

Father, make me comfortable enough with You to be honest. You know the truth already. Let me see what You see when You look past the outward appearance. Amen.

Pendulum Living

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17 (New American Standard Bible)

A conversation with a friend last night brought a mentality to the surface. I call it the “pendulum” mentality. The enemy of our soul is good at attempting to get us to swing from one extreme to another. I never bought into his lie that I had to earn my way to Heaven but once I accepted Christ I lived with the idea that I could somehow earn God’s love and favor if I just worked hard enough. My Christian life was revolutionized the day I realized God’s love is NOT dependent on what I do. Since that time, God has continued to show me areas in my life that are affected by a pendulum mentality.

It usually comes about when I have seen victory in an area and because I don’t want to re-enter a place of bondage I go to the other extreme. Like the person who conquers over eating only to begin starving herself, I have seen myself struggle to have a healthy balance between extremes. Emotional dependency can be replaced with the thought that I will live independent of others. This means not asking questions, not seeking advice, not letting any needs known, not fully enjoying the people God has placed in my life, and not receiving their gift of friendship or giving them mine. It is a desert island experience God is not calling me to but the enemy is inviting me to.

God is gradually slowing down the swing of the pendulum and He is using many factors to do it. For one He is using His Word and letting me see how often He crossed the paths of people with significant individuals. Sometimes the relationship lasted a life time and sometimes it was for a specific season. He is also giving me “safe” people with whom to interact. They are encouraging, truth tellers to me without condemning and judging me. They know how to lovingly redirect my thinking if I begin heading in the wrong direction. They see the work God is doing in my life and cheer me on as growth is evident. These things run both ways as they allow me to encourage them.

So how do I keep these precious relationships from becoming unhealthy attachments? I keep in mind that God is my primary Source for all things. I make sure I connect with Him on a daily basis and live out of that connection. I learn to give and receive the gift of friendship in the context of what God meant it to be. I am free to embrace God’s gifts to me but am not free to idolize them. God must be the central focus of my life. The healthier my relationship is with God, the more balanced my relationship will be with people. As I live out of this truth, the “high wire” under my feet becomes wider and wider. For any who seek to find a balance in certain areas of their life, I invite you to ask God to show you that balance and watch as He moves Heaven and Earth of do so. He longs to show each of us life is not meant to be an “all or nothing” experience!

Father, none of this has surprised You. You know the balance You have called me to and will eventually help me to fully live in it. Amen.

Keys For Kingdom Living

You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. Deuteronomy 13:4 (New American Standard Bible)

Today’s verse is nestled among warnings to Israel to not allow anyone to seduce them away from God. His words to them are meant for our ears as well. I see them as a prescription for victorious living and ignoring them spells defeat for any of us. They are meant to be taken as a whole in order to prevent becoming obsessed or unbalanced with any one aspect. They are descriptive of a life lived in relationship with God and dependence upon God. To each of us who know Him as Savior, He whispers, “Follow Me, reverence Me, obey Me, listen to Me, serve Me, and cling to Me.” For if we reverence, listen to, and cling to God the result will be obedience and service. Not mustered up in our own strength but brought about by the Spirit who lives in us.

So I am asking God what it is that hinders this from happening on a consistent basis. His answers to me are numerous and have only begun to scratch the surface. For starters, it is identifying the tactics of the enemy and implementing warfare against him. I must realize that ANYTHING I harbor in my heart is fair game for him to use and abuse. Be it anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, jealousy, self pity, fear, ingratitude, or pride, it is imperative that I confess it and release it to God. It requires a continual inventory on my part as well as aggressive “house-cleaning.”

It is also necessary to see the importance of my words. This entails calling the enemy on his attempts against me and proclaiming the truths of Scripture against him. He should never be allowed to have the last word! Each time he approaches the door of my mind with his banner of lies and distortions I have the authority to say “no” and turn him away. But that is only part of the story. I must also proclaim the truths and praises about my Heavenly Father! To do so is empowering!

Finally, I must see the difference between needing God’s healing and deliverance for areas that are out of my control, and walking in cooperation and obedience in areas for which I have a choice. Attitudes of my heart and mind (which drive my actions and words) must be aligned with God’s truth and I must follow His prescription for walking and standing in victory.

Father, I confess I have given ground to the enemy and walked in defeat when all the while You have invited me to join You! I take Your message to heart and ask that You continue to transform my life through Your Spirit and Word as well as the renewal of my mind. Amen.