God's Invitation to Me

He said, “Take it up for yourself.” So he put out his hand and took it. 2 Kings 6:7

2 Kings is full of short but powerful miracle stories. The one I read this morning is just 7 verses long. In condensed form it goes like this. A man was chopping a tree down when the axe head fell off the handle and went into a lake. He panicked because it was borrowed and took the situation to Elisha. He showed Elisha where it had gone into the water. Elisha cut a stick, threw it into the water, and the iron axe head floated! He then told the man to take it up for himself and the man did so. What a precious reminder to me that if it matters to me, if it concerns me, if it weighs heavy on my heart, it matters to my heavenly Father. What a personally involved God we love and serve!

This morning, 2 Kings 6:7 speaks volumes to me in another way. It becomes the words whispered to me from the Lover of my soul each morning when I open His Word and drink in His truth. I have many books I enjoy reading that feed my soul in incredible ways. I feel blessed to metaphorically sit at so many people’s feet and take in their words of wisdom. I also enjoy going to ladies’ events. As they share from their hearts the messages God has integrated into their lives I am encouraged and enlightened as well. Many songs have reached my heart. Some bring me to tears and others fill me with indescribable praise! People come and go in my life that never fail to leave impressions on me as I see God’s fingerprints in their own life. But none of these experiences surpass the first one.

When I open the Bible for myself I am responding to God’s invitation to “Take it up for myself.” I am reaching forth the hands of my soul. While it is good to learn from others, I must make sure I am daily spending time with God in His Word. It comes alive to me in practical, applicable ways. The words that were penned thousands of years ago are just as fresh and alive today for each person who dares to read them for themselves. Not only do I find myself relating with the feelings and emotions of the people I am reading about but many times God shows me another “twist” to the story. One that is relevant for me. When that happens, my spirit takes a leap and I am filled with wonder!

Father, Your Word is so inter-active! As I take it up once again for myself I am learning and changing. How gracious of You! Amen.

God's Endings to My Stories

I will magnify Myself, sanctify Myself, and make Myself known in the sight of many nations; and they will know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 38:23

My daughter, a freshman at IUPUI this year, came home with a paper she had been given in her religion class. As she handed it to me she said, ”It will make you angry….it did me!” As I read it, I was struck by the arrogance with which the author defied the Word of God and the truths of Scripture. More than angry, I was amazed that someone could hold such a high view of their own opinion against the Bible. It caused me to realize how much I hold to the fact that Scripture is God’s Word and it will always stand higher than any person’s view. The bottom line is God’s Word is preeminent. If anyone contradicts it, THEY are wrong. If anyone ridicules it, THEY are gravely mistaken.

How refreshing and reassuring to come across Ezekiel 38:23 this morning. God reminds me of the end of the story! These words are to be spoken over the skeptics of any age. I may not always see it evidenced in the here and now but God WILL be magnified, sanctified, and known by both His children and His enemies. What an awesome thing to take in!

God knows how easily we can grow weary or tired in the battles. He knows the harsh words of critics can sting. He knows the things we read, hear, and see can attempt to chip away at the foundational truths of our faith. So numerous times in Scripture He gives us reminders of His victory.

Wouldn’t it be interesting if each time we read a story from the Bible we read the ending first? God always has the last word and it is a good one! Someone might be saying, “Yes, but there is no ending written for my own story yet.” Oh, yes, dear one, there is! Ezekiel 38:23 is one and so is Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for good!” What we so often fail to remember is that God, in eternity past, already “wrote” the endings of all our stories. Each circumstance we face, if we are His child, already has a victorious ending scripted for it by the One who will be magnified, sanctified, and known!

Father, I do not know all the details but I trust You to bring about the ending of every story of my life! Your words are truer than any words spoken by others. Amen.

Giving What Is Due

There is none like You, O LORD; You are great, and great is Your name in might. Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You. Jeremiah 10:6,7

Sometimes….many times, we need to just stop everything and proclaim the truth about our God. He is incomparable to anything or anyone in this world. His greatness reaches far above my ability to grasp with my mind. He is great in His might, His forgiveness, His love, His watchfulness, His presence, His knowledge, His very being! He deserves far more than we give Him and He gives us far more than we deserve.

It is so easy to become enamored with His creation and that’s okay if it ultimately leads me to worship and praise Him! He has given us so much in this world to enjoy and He delights in our enjoyment of it. Like a parent who can’t wait for their child to see the surprise they have in store for him, God waits for the moment our eyes are open to one of His gifts.

Last night I was out walking past a beautiful wooded area near our home. I love to go just before dusk so I am sure to see numerous deer. I was not disappointed as I saw 7 bucks and 1 doe! They were so strong and graceful. Exquisite pictures of God’s creation and His character. But God waited for me to notice the night sky He had prepared. Red, wispy clouds against a blue sky. Gorgeous! He knew the minute my eyes saw it and He heard me take in my breath. It was a moment of appreciating His hand once again.

There are times I am so taken by His greatness and so appalled by my own lack of appreciation for Him. Tears fell as I asked Him to give me a heart of gratitude for all He has done and continues to do in my life. I want to be grateful for the circumstances of my life and the growth that will result from them. I want to acknowledge the many ways He touches my life. I want to see the precious people in my life as God sent.

It occurred to me last night that people are the only ones created in God’s image. And yet of all creation we are the ones who can break the heart of God. No other creature turns away from Him to worship something or someone else. May He give us a heart to follow Him, love Him, serve Him, praise Him, and bring delight to Him.

Father, give me a heart for You. My praise is Your due! Amen.

Getting Our Question Answered

The crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” Luke 3:10

John has just finished preaching his first sermon that is recorded for us in Scripture. He is at the Jordan River baptizing people and letting them know their inward change needs to be displayed by their outward actions. Christianity goes beyond just what we internalize, give mental assent to, and claim to believe. There is the necessity of bearing fruit. How else can a person tell a tree is alive but by the signs of life as seen in its fruit, leaves, and blossoms? How can our salvation be evidenced (not earned) except through our actions? James expresses this same sentiment when he says, “Faith without works is dead.” Our works do not save us but they do give verification that we are saved. In other words, if a person claims to be a Christian their actions and life style need to bear witness that what they say is true! This is God’s way of showcasing His touch on that person’s life.

Three different groups asked John the same question, “What shall we do?” They had listened to what he had to say and now they wanted to know how to flesh out the truths in their own life. I can detect the sincerity in their question. They are ready to allow John to be direct and personal with them. Can you imagine a church service whereby when the sermon has ended people stand to their feet and ask the pastor to tell them how they can apply his sermon to their life?!

As the people, the tax collectors, and the soldiers each ask the same question, John very strategically pinpoints specific areas in their life that demand attention and change. He tells the people to give to others in need out of the overflow of what they possess. To the tax collectors and soldiers he tells them to stop the things they are doing to rob people of their money as well as their reputations. Both actions stem from discontentment in their own life. My what a change this town would be in for!

Be assured that when God begins working in a person’s life they too will begin to ask, “What should I do?” God is ready with some very direct answers when we bring the question to Him. He has a way of letting us know exactly what we need to start doing and what we need to stop doing. If we receive His words in the right way our life will never be the same.

Father, show me what I should do today. I know You will empower me to institute whatever changes are necessary. Amen.

Fruit and Roots

I even destroyed his fruit above and his root below. Amos 2:9

What is it in your life that God is seeking to destroy? If you are His child, it would be anything that hinders you from having a close, intimate relationship with Him. I have come to realize that EVERY Christian faces their own mix of strongholds, addictions, perversions, and habits that need God’s destructive touch on them. These are usually the areas of our life that no one else knows about but they have the ability to torment us. God’s intent is to first shed light on that area and then proceed to destroy the fruit and the root.

The “fruit” would be what is being produced. It is the outward bi-product of my internal world. The more I feed this part of me, legitimize its presence, embrace it and hold on to it, the more fruit it will produce. This morning, God’s Word assures me of the destruction of that fruit. While I may have to live with the consequences of choices I have made in the past God’s intent is to produce new fruit.

But surface cosmetics is not going to change what is within me. It is only as God reveals the root system and source of my fruit bearing that He can begin working in that area as well with the intent of actually destroying the roots. What is it I am attached to that keeps feeding the worst parts of me? It may be an attitude, an action, a false belief, a fear, or any number of other things. God’s answer is always to get to the heart of the issue…the very starting point! He is good at helping us to wade through the cobwebs and entanglements of our life to reveal the roots.

God’s “destructive” work begins when I finally come to Him and am ready to walk in truth. To stand before Him in full acceptance of His searching. It often starts with the simple question, “God, why am I like this? Why am I doing and saying these things? Where is this all coming from?” When we ask from a genuine heart He begins the process of probing, uncovering, and disclosing our root system. Every wrong thing in me can be traced back to a faulty root system of lies, deception, and misinformation. I can trust Him to expose and destroy the smallest, deepest roots in me.

Father, You are in the process of exposing the real problems and issues. Your gentleness astounds me. May I cooperate with You as You destroy the harmful fruit and roots of my life. Amen.

Finding Encouragement

And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God. I Samuel 23:16

Do you have a Jonathan in your life? Someone who encourages you in God? I hope so! God has blessed me with a number of special Jonathans. A couple of them I have never met face to face. We have corresponded via emails but our souls are connected and the encouragement runs deep. Many times God has used their words to sustain me during difficult times.

Last evening I experienced an all too familiar feeling of discouragement. I knew it was coming. For a number of days it had lurked in the background and I kept the battle between God and myself. But this time I felt the urge to phone a friend for the specific purpose of being encouraged in God. I knew she would remind me of the very things I needed to hold on to in my journey. I knew she would speak life giving words to my weary soul…and she did!

At the same time, I knew there would be one specific word she would have for me that would energize my faith once again. Sure enough, about 30 minutes into the conversation she said something specifically about standing in my faith. That resonated very powerfully with me and my downcast eyes sprang to life again. The dark clouds of my spirit gave way to pure sunshine. Jonathans are truly God sent!

But what about those times when we must encourage ourselves in God? God has recently shown me how to do that. Encouragement is found in simply proclaiming to Jesus all He is to me! To voice out loud, “Jesus, You are my Peace. You are my Rock. You are my Comforter. You are my Strength. You are my Shelter. You are my Sustainer. You are my Healer. You are my Teacher. You are my Shepherd. You are my Compass. You are my Guide. You are my Protector. You are my Friend.”

I encourage you today to begin your own list of proclamations. The sky’s the limit. A trip through the book of Psalms will give you many “You are my ________” statements. Truth spoken out loud will minister to you whether you are doing the talking or someone else is. May you be encouraged in God in profound ways today and always.

Father, whether I say the words to myself or a friend says them to me, Your truths reach my heart. I cherish them all. Amen.

Emaciated Living

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. Psalm 106:15

We can all recall pictures we have seen of starving children in third world countries, concentration camp victims from Hitler’s era, and even individuals caught in the vicious cycle of anorexia. Gaunt faces, pronounced thinness, and skeletal like features leave us horrified. For some the condition was brought on by another person. For others it was a result of their own choices. But either way it is heart wrenching to say the least. It is easy to detect physical problems. It is much harder to detect a leanness of the soul….whether in another person or in ourselves.

It does not take a person much time to begin formulating in their mind what they think will bring satisfaction to their life. For some people it is material wealth. They think if they could just earn enough money and possess enough “stuff” they could live internally satisfied. For others it is in gaining power and prestige in their community. Popularity, adventure, and recognition allure many with the false hope of satisfaction. For me, it has always been in relationships. For decades I thought people could give me what I lacked on my own. I wanted to find that special person who could take away the hurt, give me significance, nurture my spirit, and somehow make me feel loved. But that person does not exist outside of Christ.

Many times, God will allow us to have the very things we think will bring us satisfaction but in addition to that He will also send a leanness into our soul. An emptiness, a void, a cavern. I am reminded of the saying that each of us is born with a vacuum deep within us that only God can fill. That is so true! And I am just now beginning to learn how to go to Him for that filling.

On July 13 I will have known Him as my Savior for 33 years but I am just now taking baby steps into allowing Him access into the parts of me that no person has been able to reach, fix, heal, or satisfy. I feel like blinders are being removed and I am catching the first glimpses of what the Christian life is really meant to be like. May He never allow me to find satisfaction in any source other than Himself.

Father, You have waited so long for me to begin to see my idols. They didn’t satisfy. The hunger in my soul now seeks nourishment from You. Feed me! Amen.