It is Not Left Up to Me

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6 (Amplified Bible)

Have you ever stopped to ponder God’s consistent and purposeful involvement in your life? In particular, the growth and development of your Christian life? If you are like me, you can become weighed down with the responsibility of striving, obeying, cooperating, and serving to the point that you draw the false conclusion that it ALL rests on YOUR shoulders. You might even be tempted to view God as One who simply sits back and watches how you are doing. While you know His Spirit lives in you to empower you and instruct you, and His Word gives you knowledge and wisdom for the journey, you still come away with a feeling that it is ALL up to you. The only thing you are “convinced” of is that you must keep up the pace and eventually there will be the pay off of growth.

Through the inspiration of God, Paul is coming along side us this morning to whisper essential truths to us. Primarily, the truth of God beginning the work, doing the work, and perfecting the work He started in each one of us. Recall the words of Isaiah the prophet who said in Isaiah 64:8, “ Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of you hand.” Make David’s words of Psalm 57:2 your prayer, “I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]. Review the words of Psalm 138:8, “The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your loving kindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Hence, God’s assurance in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

So what is it God is reminding each one of us this morning? He is the One doing the work in us! Yes, we are to cooperate. Yes, we are to obey. Yes, we are to daily connect with Him. My own journey has included reading a multitude of books, devouring Scripture, thriving under rich relationships, sitting under sound teaching, embracing incredible music, and replacing a lot of lies with the truth. But He is the one doing the changing and producing the growth. And He is the one doing so in you as well. Dance in the midst of it all! Delight in the awareness of being held in His hands as He accomplishes His masterpiece which is you! He is not only completely capable of such a thing, He is joyfully doing it!

Father, I am not on my own and You are not a distant observer. With a heart of joy I review the many ways You have worked in my life so far and anticipate all that You will accomplish in the days and years ahead. Amen.

By Your Side - Tenth Avenue North
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J95rAr0gOFU

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

Signs of Life

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3 (New American Standard Bible)

There are many conditional promises in the Word of God. Today’s verse is one of them. There are times when I seek solitude in a beautiful cemetery in our city of Indianapolis called Crown Hill. It is massive with rolling hills and numerous trees. At moments when everything in me seems like it has died, I find this place of burial so similar to how I feel on the inside. I go in hopes that God would once again resurrect in me hope and healing for the journey.

One visit to Crown Hill comes to my mind this morning. As the tears flowed I heard God say to my heart, “Speak to Me. Tell Me what you are thinking and feeling.” When the tears ceased and the lump in my throat diminished I spotted a large tree with absolutely no leaves on it. I felt like that tree; bare, vulnerable, and exposed. I looked around at some other trees. Pine trees that were still green. Large oaks and maples that displayed beautiful fall colors. But the bare tree was my mirror and Psalm 1:3 seemed far removed from my experience.

God quickly assured me the bare tree still had life sap flowing through it. The potential for foliage next spring was still there. Its outward appearance was not the total picture. One woman said it so clearly, “Like a bare tree you may be in the winter of life right now. But God is still working. The sap is still running even when we don’t see it and there is nothing on the limbs.” What I see and feel cannot be my measuring stick for reality. My view and emotions are often skewed and limited. My faith must be in a God who sees clearly and completely the entire sphere of my life.

And yet there are conditions for baring fruit and leaves. The previous verse states those conditions when it says, “His delight is in the law of the LORD and in His law he meditates day and night.” Whom I delight in and what I meditate on will make all the difference in the world. It made a difference in the way I left the cemetery and will continue to make a difference in how I live each day.

I have not been to Crown Hill for quite some time now and yet the lessons learned from that former visit is speaking to me once again this morning. God is still working. The “sap” is still running. Potential for growth and change lies within me by His grace.

Father, I no longer fear the times of sadness that come over me. They have become Your invitation for me to meet with You. Be my delight and meditation today. Amen.

You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIAdgLR1ZGw&feature=related

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

Learning Where to Stand

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. I Corinthians 2:4,5 (King James Version)

I get excited when I come across people who have a dynamic and intimate walk with God. I see characteristics in them that I want in my own life and before I know it I am in a struggle to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus…the author and finisher of my faith. They suddenly take center stage in my thinking and have much of my attention. I hang on their every word, read any book they have suggested, follow their advice, and rub shoulders with them as often as I can. The problem with that is my Christian life becomes too entangled and tied to a person. Without meaning to I begin to look to them for answers, direction, and growth. While my goal may be to get to know God better, I end up going about it the wrong way. In the end, God has to expose my idolatry and take me through a painful time of correction, repentance, and restoration.

Paul had such a desire for believers to base their faith on God’s wisdom and work. He sought to point people to God as their source for faith and growth through his life, words, actions, and message. For someone to become enamored with him instead of with God would have been tragic in his eyes as well as in God‘s eyes. That is why he often referred to himself as a vessel, a servant, a prisoner, and a messenger.

How I must take Paul’s words to heart each day. For if I do not guard my heart I will find myself once again in the throws of following the creature more than the Creator. Beth Moore’s words are a wake up call to me when she says, “People crave a human worth worshiping.” Ouch! That craving has side tracked and side swiped me more times than I care to admit. It is one of the hugest battles I fight on a daily basis.

So where is my hope and answer? In God! As He has shown me this aspect of myself, He has also presented Himself as my Healer. He redirects my steps, adjusts my focus, and woos me back to Himself. He is faithful in contrast to my unfaithfulness. He sees my desire for change and will continue to bring about that change.

Father, keep showing me what hinders me from abandoning myself to You and abiding in You. Help me to worship You alone. Amen.

In Christ Alone - Brian Littrell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alm6YWm-zfc&feature=related

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

Not Setting Myself Up

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Corinthians 6:12 (New King James Version)

Paul knew there were many things he was allowed to do and yet if doing those things led to addiction or bondage he avoided them. Unless things are spelled out specifically in Scripture and begin with the phrase, “Thou shalt not” each of us must individually determine what to steer clear of….what to avoid. Sometimes, many times, the knowing of those things is brought about after experiencing the pull.

This truth is easy for me to grasp when it comes to an area such as food. Certain foods are trigger foods for me. To partake means an over whelming urge to over indulge. They are not the foods I can eat in moderation therefore they really should be avoided. This is cut and dry for me. It is a black and white area. I have no question as to whether or not I should make other choices. I know my limits. I know the consequence if I don’t apply this principle. My track record speaks for itself.

This morning, I am applying this truth to another area of my life. Unlike food, this is not a physical aspect but rather an emotional one. I am aware of certain things that will trigger negative emotions in me. Presently, I do not do well when those emotions are triggered so it is necessary for me to see what things should be avoided so that I am not “brought under the power” of a downward spiral.

I look back over the past week, one that has been filled with battles in my mind, and I see certain things I could have chosen NOT to do….certain things I could have not said, certain emails I could have not sent, certain expectations I could have not entertained. With each one a negative emotion resulted. I paid the price as did those who crossed my path. God and I will be walking through those instances in a time of acknowledgement, confession, and receiving of forgiveness. It will allow me the fresh start I need as I head into a new day.

I look forward to the day when the things I avoid now can once again be enjoyed. When my walk becomes such that a trigger is handled in the right way. For now, I would rather not set myself up for a battle.

Father, bring me to the place whereby I operate out of faith and confidence rather than out of dread and fear. Amen.

A Different Road - Kathy Troccoli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P2awWTLmGU

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

Ongoing and Unchanging

Why has my pain been perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will You indeed be to me like a deceptive stream with water that is unreliable? Jeremiah 15:18 (New American Standard Bible)

Perpetual and incurable. Ongoing and unchanging. Do you have issues or circumstances in your life that feel like that this morning? It may be poor health, financial difficulties, habits and addictions, or failure upon failure. For me, it is emotional battles and faulty perceptions. It is the cycle that continues to repeat itself. Short lived victories, repeated desires for change, restated decisions to do better “next time.” Each time I succumb to the pulls downward everything becomes clouded and the view I have of myself, God, and others becomes clouded as well.

Unlike Jeremiah, I don’t see God as One who deceives me or is unreliable. But I sense His displeasure, disapproval, and disappointment. I sense the same from others and at that point, my default mode is to pull away in order to do less damage. My hopes are that I can get away, get my act together, and step forward later on in better shape. All the while hoping the relationships will still be intact but fearing that they won’t be. People are people and their patience and resolve may or may not last. Hence, the war in my mind perpetuates and the pendulum swings between feeling loved or unloved.

God’s answer to me is found in the very next verse, “If you return, then I will restore you.” Returning for me implies getting things right once again with God. Stop running, start confessing, and stay close to Him. Ask Him for truth and correct views. Embrace the forgiveness and mercy He offers. Learn from the mistakes and as verse 19 says, “extract the precious from the worthless.” No matter how deep the sin, no matter how horrible the fall, there is always something precious I can take from the experience.

The precious I am taking is the sense that I am not a lost cause, a ruined vessel, or a hopeless case. As long as I get up one more time than I fall, I am still on the journey and there is still hope for improvement.

Father, I don’t know what others are thinking of me now, but I find comfort in the thoughts You have toward me. I don’t understand Your love but I receive it! Amen.

Unfailing Love - Chris Tomlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_MyC6kJzPg&feature=related

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

In All Honesty

Jesus called His disciples and said to them, I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance. Mark 8:1-3 (New American Standard Bible)

When Jesus walked on this earth He never failed to connect with the heart of the people. That was because He knew them….not as a group but as individuals. He knew their strengths and weaknesses, where they had come from and where they were headed, and what their needs were. It is one thing to see those qualities of compassion in another individual. It is quite another thing to see them in the Creator of the universe.

Two of the most profound aspects of God that I have come to realize is His unconditional love for me and His individual knowledge of me. He knows me thoroughly and still loves me. It has taken me a long time to crawl into that truth and feel at home. It has also taken a long time for me to see that when God reveals my own internal world to me He does not do it to condemn and shame but rather He does it show me what He desires to touch, heal, and restore. Taking in that truth has done more for me than anything else to cooperate with His process.

I have found that growth on this journey is possible only as I admit to God and myself what is really going on in my heart, mind, and emotions right now. Not dwelling on the past or longing for the eventual change He will bring about in my life. But rather it is standing in His presence stripped of all pretenses, masking, and camouflaging and simply acknowledging the truth of my mindsets, my feelings, and my perspectives pertaining to God, myself, and others. It is a time of coming clean and setting the record straight. It is easier for me to “hide” with the hope that I can fix whatever is wrong and then be able to present God with a more palatable picture. Oh, how He must ache for us to step away from all that and walk in truth. When I do that, I find acceptance not rejection. I find freedom and not condemnation. I find compassion and the realization that I have moved forward one more inch!

But what of the times when I don’t walk in truth? The times that I remain in the darkness of my own thoughts. He waits until I finally step in His direction.

Father, Your ways continue to astound me. You do not see me through the lens of yesterday or tomorrow but rather this moment. I marvel that Your mercy, love, and compassion truly are new every day! Amen.

One Desire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUbbq6t0qT0&feature=related

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

When Things Don't Match Up

I fear the LORD God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land…..and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he told them. Jonah 1:9,10 (New American Standard Bible)

Let the world know that you are a Christian and they will expect your actions to match what you say. When there is a big difference between what we say and what we do, people will ask us the same question these men asked Jonah, “How could you do this?” It did not make sense to them how Jonah could SAY he feared the LORD and yet BE fleeing from His presence. His words and his actions were polar worlds apart from each other…they were incongruent and dissimilar. This kind of inconsistent living is easy to spot.

The harder cases are those who externally display the life of a Christian but internally their world is falling apart. They have the actions down pat, but their heart is far removed from God. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day come to mind. That is why Jesus always directed the conversation back to their motives, their thoughts, their heart. He called them white-washed sepulchers (graves). In other words, their outward show was beautifully decorated but inwardly there was death and decay. Others may not have been able to detect the contradictory life but Jesus could. God was not fooled! His desire was to help them see the truth about their spiritual condition and allow Him to transform them.

For me, it was having God bring me to the point where I was confronted with my core beliefs of who God was and what my relationship was like with Him. I had the outward things down pat….church attendance, involvement in spiritual activities, sporadic conversations with believers that sounded good. I had my sterling moments as a believer but in the privacy of my own life I carried a secret. I had a wrong view of God that kept me at arms length from Him. I knew Jesus as my Savior but failed to relate with Him on a deep, personal level. My mental assent of God was not sustaining my heart. It was when I finally admitted my own emptiness that I made room for God to fill me with Himself. He taught me how to say, “God, I need You!” His desire has always been that my internal relationship with Him matches my external show. I love the change!

Father, You are remaking me and I marvel at Your work! 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.