Breaking the Silence

“Am I a God near at hand,” says the LORD, “And not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?” says the LORD; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the LORD. Jeremiah 23:23,24 (New King James Version)

God’s Word brings comfort to me this morning. As I reflect upon feelings and emotions I do not like to experience, loneliness tops the list. There are times I want to be with people and yet I have experienced loneliness even in a crowd. When it seems I cannot reach others or be reached by them, separation envelopes me and I grow lonely. I can begin to feel isolated, invisible, and forgotten. I use to not know what to do with the thoughts. It seemed I had no choice but to curl up with the ache until it went away or something happened to distract me. If nothing else, I could hope for evening when I could just fall asleep and not feel any of it. God has a better way and I have choices!

I am learning that the raw emotions and discomforts of life are not meant to be ignored, glossed over, or denied. What I think and feel is meant to be acknowledged and voiced to God. He invites me to tell Him how I am feeling and when I am feeling it. The ache of my heart is never hidden from Him or ignored by Him. He wants me to know I am safe to tell Him about it and give the feelings to Him. He always stands ready to give me some exchanges. If it is lies I am believing, He offers truth. If it is loneliness I am feeling, He offers me His presence. If it is fear I am experiencing, He offers me courage. If it is insignificance I am sensing, He offers me worth and acceptance. The list is endless as are His offers.

Learning to go to Him and accept His offers has been slow in coming. I grew up being hesitant to share that which was hidden in my head and heart. The enemy of my soul had convinced me that silence was best when it came to areas of hurt, shame, or disappointment. But God, in His graciousness, placed people in the path of my life to coax me out my self imposed prison and as I opened up to them they counseled, nurtured, and helped me. His purpose in ministering to me through the body of Christ was so that I would eventually learn to go to Him. What people could do for me was a mere shadow of what He stood ready and willing to do for me. But He continues to leave the choice to me as to whether or not I will take Him up on His offer. I am learning to choose wisely and I am the richer for it!

Father, I kept silent when you longed for me to speak to You. I carried pain that You invited me to give to You. May those choices no longer mark my life. Amen.

Shout to the Lord - Darlene Zschech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-j7CFfDvHc

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

What to Feed On

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Psalm 37:3 (New King James Version)

I can feed on (meditate, fix my thoughts on, and mull over) many things. I wouldn’t call myself a worrier, but my mind can become preoccupied with energy-draining, spirit-weakening, heart-burdening things that have absolutely no value or benefit. I can become consumed with thoughts of inadequacy, failure, what others think, unfulfilled desires, and limitations, but none of those serve a good purpose. They distract me from all that God would have me focus on and direct my attention. They rob me of the peace, contentment, and confidence that God would have me walk in and live out of on a daily basis. As one friend put it when I shared with her my tendency to dwell on a particular situation, “You have no business going there!” She was right, because allowing my thoughts to be on unnecessary things robs me of energy needed to do the right thing.

A sermon I once heard helped me to realize that what I focus on determines the direction of my words, actions, and attitudes. Today’s verse sandwiches my actions between God’s invitation and command to trust Him and feed on His faithfulness. His faithfulness is my sustenance, provision, and power for living. It might be His faithfulness toward me or other people. It might be His faithfulness so clearly seen in Scripture. There is not a story in the Bible that does not display the faithfulness of God. Many are the individuals who experienced God’s faithful call on their life and His faithfulness to carry out that call. I love the verse that says, “Faithful is He who calls you, who will also do it” (1 Thess. 5:24). True also, is His faithfulness demonstrated in the lives of those I know or about whom I read. That encourages me because I know God will act faithfully on my behalf as well.

Trusting God and feeding on His faithfulness are the extensions and benefits of being in close relationship with Him….one of intimate friendship. What He is doing on a continual basis is removing all that hinders me from enjoying such a rapport and connection with Him. His desire is that my associations, mindsets, and motives be conducive to growth and strength. That which weakens me is what He is working to weed out of my life. Is the process easy or enjoyable? Not usually. But whether I cooperate with or strain at His hand, His faithfulness continues. That’s what I carry with me into today. Let the feasting begin!

Father, Your faithfulness is beyond my ability to fully grasp but that does not stop me from reaching out to You. Thank you for Your demonstrations of faithfulness which are new and abundant each day! Amen.

What a Faithful God - Robert Critchley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLEgyKpzyUw&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Trustworthiness

However, there was no accounting required of them for the money delivered into their hands, because they dealt faithfully. 2 Kings 22:7 Amplified Bible

Money was given to carpenters, builders, and masons to repair the damages to the temple. No receipts were demanded, no doubts were felt, and no one had to double check to make sure the money was being properly used. Why? The workers had proven themselves trustworthy and the ones giving the money had trusting hearts. It is a picture of unity that God delights in!

The strength in any relationship lies in the ability to trust and be trusted. What is it that can be entrusted to us with abandon? What is it that we are able to entrust to others with abandon? How many people in your life hold such a place of trust for you? How many people unquestioningly hold that same trust in you? Nothing hurts more or wounds deeper than to experience betrayal at the hands of another. Be it in marriage, business, church, family, or friendship. Jesus knew what it was like to be betrayed by one of His disciples. Joseph knew what it was like to be betrayed by his own flesh and blood. Who we trust and who trusts us will be determined by track records.

As much as we may wish for all individuals to be trustworthy, we are neither wise nor discerning to live with a blind faith. Jesus warned of wolves in sheep’s clothing. He told us to test the spirits. He spoke of people being led astray. No matter the level of relationship His warning is clear that there will be the risk of an abuse of trust. How imperative then that we ask Him to help us stay alert to any warning signs. Not everyone we come into contact with is trustworthy. But as a child of God trustworthiness should mark our lives.

What are some areas of trust we may find ourselves in? Responsibilities at work. Our employers should not have to wonder whether or not we are giving them our best and the jobs are being done with high standards. Commitment to our wedding vows. Our spouses should never loose sleep or peace of mind over the thought that we would be unfaithful. Things shared in confidence. The deep things of another person’s life should be handled as treasure. Fulfilling our promises. Even when the commitment suddenly means we will be inconvenienced it should still be carried out. Advice we give to others. We need to give advice that lines up with Scripture and God’s principles for life. Reputations of another. We should be able to take the things we have learned and make them a matter of prayer rather than future topics of destruction.

Many things may cause us to mistrust others but NOTHING should hinder us from being a person others can trust.

Father, no one is as trustworthy as You! As Your Spirit lives in me, help me to become more like You. Amen.

He's Been Faithful - Damaris Carbaugh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNoLUVTtr98&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

The Ingredients for a Different Life

And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.2 Kings 18:3 (New King James Version)

As I read through 2 Kings I am struck by how many kings are described as doing evil in the sight of the Lord. The few times that it states a king doing right in the sight of the Lord always grab my attention. The first six verses of 2 Kings gives an amazing list of what Hezekiah did that was right in God’s eyes. I like to think of it as God’s brag book on His servant. Since it is important enough to make its way into the pages of Scripture it is important enough to gaze upon. Look at what this king did!

He removed the high places, broke down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah, broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made (because the people were worshiping it), trusted in the LORD, clung to the LORD, and kept His commandments. The things he broke down and destroyed had to do with the idolatry of the nation of Israel. The breaking down of those things were the results of Hezekiah’s personal walk with the LORD. Though many kings before and after him did just the opposite, Hezekiah broke the generational bents and ruled his life and his kingdom with love, obedience, and dependence on the King of Kings. The result was that God was with him and wherever he went he prospered.

I see a principle here that God has established. My private relationship with God will have an effect on my public relationship with people. As I open His Word and allow it to take hold of me, it has a profound effect on the choices I make, the things I do, the things I say, the way I treat others, and the person I am in my home. As I trust the Lord, cling to Him, and obey Him, He is reshaping and remaking me from the inside out. While I can change outward behavior only God can change my heart. And with that change of heart comes a change of life style.

It is never too late to open God’s Word and say, “Father, speak to me. Show me who You are and what You are like. Make me hungry for You. Make me thirsty for You. Be the One to satisfy me in the deepest parts of my being. Help me to take hold of You with both hands and all of my heart.” The results will astound you as God answers the cries of your heart!

Father, my life changes when it was You I chose to trust, cling to, and obey. Continue to do Your work in me as I sit on the Potter’s wheel. Amen.

The Motions - Matthew West
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHmiFaX_pk&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Seeing it the Way God Sees It

This is but a slight thing in the sight of the LORD. 2 Kings 3:18 (New American Standard Bible)

What can compare to God speaking the worlds into existence? Think of the majestic mountains, the vast oceans, the intricate details of a flower, the force of a waterfall, the wonder of the human body. All brought into existence by the words of God’s mouth. What He conceived in His mind He spoke into being.

I look at the miracles in the Bible and I marvel at the vast array. Water from a rock, dry paths through the Red Sea and Jordan River, 40 years of manna in the wilderness, barren wombs bringing forth life, blind eyes seeing, the lame walking (leaping and running), a boy’s lunch feeding thousands, the dead brought to life, storms at sea calmed with a word, numerous battles fought and won in creative ways. Not to mention the miracles of the heart. Atheists becoming Christians, persecutors of the church becoming preachers, lifestyles changing, God’s Word becoming understandable and alive.

The things I bring to God begin to shrink in comparison to these things. So often I think of the size and difficulty of my requests and yet God wants me to see that what seems so huge in my mind is a slight thing in His sight. Not that it isn’t important. For every detail and concern of my life is of utmost importance to Him. If it matters to me it matters to Him. Not only do my tears touch His heart but so do the reasons they fall. What is slight in the sight of the LORD is not my situation, my need, my desire, my request but rather what it will take for God to intervene, answer, and act.

God does not look at the difficulty of my situation in the same way I do. It took no more strength for Him to divide the Red Sea than to turn water into wine. I come to Him like a kindergartener approaching a college professor with a question about simple addition. It is like asking a marathon runner to jog around the block. Like asking a weight lifter to carry a small suitcase for me. If I compare my need to God’s strength, wisdom, and ability I begin to understand His question when He said, “Is anything to hard for Me?”

Father, let me fully comprehend Your vastness as I bring any situation or request to You! What is slight to You has me in awe! Amen.

Is Anything too Hard for God
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4O5Uvm7yqc&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Truth That Was Skewed

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6 (New American Standard Bible)

Wounds go deep. A physical wound may require anything from a bandage to stitches to major reconstructive surgery. An emotional wound is often harder to detect and more difficult to remedy. The first time I ever read this verse I equated it to simply being told the truth by a friend even if the truth hurt. It was a concept that made me squirm. Why? I didn’t like being hurt, even if it was for my good and even if it was necessary. Why? Because I developed a spirit of suspicion toward others at a young age.

Discipline, correction, and punishment in our home was often given out in anger, impatience, irritation, and harshness. Afterwards there was not a time for reassurance of love or welcoming back into good graces. I simply waited until things seemed to be back to “normal” and life went on. Hence, when my actions evoked the displeasure of my parents, the message I took in was that I was unlikeable, burdensome, disgusting, and unloved. There was not an opportunity to develop a healthy attitude when it came to being corrected, even by well meaning people. I didn’t realize until years later that my view of being corrected and my view of the one doing the correcting was skewed. What God had intended to be a picture of His heart for sin, correction, and reconciliation, had quickly been distorted by the father of lies, Satan.

This distortion did not begin or end with my parents. It was the experience they were raised with and it became my own experience when it came to my correcting others. The day I saw my parents in me was a jolt beyond words. But God is assuring me the cycle can be broken. He is not only capable of helping me to see the right view of friend-induced wounds but the right way to be that kind of friend to others. It comes as I admit my own bankruptcy in this area and my own weaknesses. It entails discovering the root of my attitude about myself and others. It demands confession of my wrongs, exchanging many lies for truth, and a desire to see life from God’s perspective. He has given me countless individuals in the Bible who did it right and many who did it wrong. As I read their examples, may they become my personal tutors in the school of life.

Father, I have experienced changes in some areas and have a long way to go in others. Your unchanging love for me helps me to continue this process of growth. Amen.

Make It Real - Mark Lowry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-B3IeE9K58

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Finding the Answer to the Question

Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah? 2 Kings 2:14 (New American Standard Bible)

These words were voiced by Elisha just after Elijah was taken to heaven by a chariot of fire and horses of fire. He had walked with Elijah long enough to see God’s mighty work and involvement in his life. He had no doubt God’s hand was on Elijah’s life and ministry. He knows he is to succeed him as the next prophet to Israel. This question is his request for God to be as powerful in his own life. I know how he feels!

I too have looked at the characters in the Bible and at the lives of Christians I have known and marveled at God’s work in their lives. There is no doubt of God’s calling on them. I enjoy looking at their life as a whole and seeing how God orchestrated the details of their life in a profound way. How He weaved the color schemes of their life into a magnificent portrait. But when it comes to my own life it is easy to miss God’s involvement unless I purposefully go back and see what has transpired so far.

Whenever I sing the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness” my mind immediately begins to play back the scenes of my life. I close my eyes and the “movie” begins to play out itself in vivid fashion. I marvel at the scenes that unfold: my salvation experience, graduating from high school and then Bible school, moving to Colorado to teach in a Christian school, meeting and marrying my husband, Tim, giving birth to our three children, making our move to Indianapolis, stepping back into teaching, finding freedom in Christ six years ago, resigning from teaching and seeing God provide full time employment, and daily learning to walk with Him in a whole new way. I also review the precious people He has brought into my life. This simple exercise never fails to bring me to tears as I become fully aware of God’s personal and powerful involvement in my life.

The same God who lived in the lives of Bible characters and demonstrates Himself in the lives of precious Christians I know today, is my God and heavenly Father! He is just as involved, just as personal, and just as interested in me as any of His other children. In that I rejoice and take great delight! Where is the God of Elijah? Living right in each of us who know Christ as Savior!

Father, You have once again over whelmed me with Your touch, favor, and presence. Today is another opportunity to see Your face, feel Your hands, and know Your heart. I love You! Amen.

He's Been Faithful - Damaris Carbaugh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNoLUVTtr98&feature=related

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.