An Extension Of Himself

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 (New King James Version)

If I fail to search Scripture and implement it into my daily life, I can so easily take the wrong approach to situations. When life gets messy and failure marks my path, the enemy of my soul is all too anxious to take me to extremes. In order to avoid making the same mistakes, I will build up walls of defense and mistakenly assume I am walking in safety. God has recently revealed to me an area in my life where this was happening and is showing me how to redirect my thinking and my journey.

For a couple years, I sat under a mentor who gave me much wisdom and insight into the Christian life. I feasted off the question and answer times with her. But the day came when it was necessary for this mentor to step away and for me to live independent of her influence. THAT was painful and led to God walking me through a difficult transition time. As I began to see what He was doing in all of it, I came to a wrong conclusion. I felt that in order to avoid future dependency issues and hence more pain, it was time I “made it on my own.” That meant (in my thinking) that all future concerns, questions, and difficulties had to go to God and only God. What I had to come to realize was within God’s system of operation He is the One who has established the vehicle of human agencies. While He is to always be my main Counselor and Guide, He also encourages me to seek the advice, help, and direction of the godly people He has graciously brought into my life. I have a handful of people whom I readily turn to at certain times and I am the richer for it. The people vary according to the situation.

When I have made an important decision, I have a couple women who serve as my witnesses to the vows I am making. Telling them my plan of action solidifies the area of surrender and helps me to stay the course. When I am confronted with areas of turmoil and uncertainty, I have people who will listen and give me the perspectives I need but have been missing. When I am headed in the wrong direction but am not quite sure how to get turned around, I have people who will lovingly but firmly tell me the truth and encourage me to walk in it. And when a time of deep prayer is needed I have several people I can call and one who even affords me the opportunity to come to her home and avail myself of her kneeling bench. The only prerequisite to all of these encounters is that I have first taken the issues to God and sought His heart. Once that has taken place, He is then the One who brings the right people to mind. Within that context, I am safe to seek out counselors for their wisdom, discernment, and instruction. God bless each one!

Father, You have enriched my life with a multitude of counselors. They have listened and then wisely advised. You have gifted me with them as an extension of Yourself. I embrace this aspect of the journey! Praise You! Amen.

The Touch That Changed Everything

And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Luke 8:43,44 (New American Standard Bible)

Twelve years of hemorrhaging. Twelve years of enduring medical treatment that left her physically and financially drained. Twelve years of being ceremonially unclean. Twelve years of public shunning. Twelve years of questioning her own worth and value to anyone and everyone. Twelve years of a life on hold and in pain. All of it came to an immediate halt when her hands reached out and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment.

This was no easy task, for Jesus was surrounded by a great crowd of people. Getting close enough to Him to touch the fringe of his clothing would have taken time, persistence, and a great deal of maneuvering. With no exchange of words, she came from behind with one thing on her mind….”If I can but touch the hem of His garment I will be made whole.” What a seed of faith God had planted in this woman! The simplicity and uniqueness of her faith captures my attention in a powerful way. Jesus was aware of her need, her faith, her plan, her anticipation, and finally her touch. How He must have smiled in His Spirit to know what was about to take place in this woman’s life.

What truths do I take in from this miraculous account today? Jesus is approachable. He sees my pain and the magnitude of my situation. He acknowledges my faith whether it is in words or actions. I can still metaphorically reach out my hand in faith and touch the hem of His garment. I am not a lost face in a crowd to Him. My relationship with Him is unique and simplistic but His response to me is powerful.

Many have been the times He instantly dried my tears, anointed me with wisdom for a particular decision, renewed my strength, or settled my heart. Each of us have moments of crises in our lives. Today, Jesus is inviting us to come to Him with whatever is burdening us, hindering us, or draining us. This woman, who is our spiritual ancestor, wants us to know this same Jesus has the power and desire to radically change our lives like He did hers.

Father, I do not call out or reach out to You in vain. With You my story can change in an instant. Jesus, I come. Amen.

Losing My Grip

Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord! Job 1:21 (Amplified Bible)

I take loss hard. The more significant something or someone is in my life the harder it is to experience the departure. Whether it be relationships, seasons of life, health issues, jobs, or experiences each must be viewed as a gift from God subject to change and temporary status. If I mistakenly believe otherwise, I am merely setting myself up for disillusionment and disappointment. But if I see God’s involvement in all things, then I can treasure the moments yet hold them loosely. My ability to do that will increase as I become more aware of God’s nature and heart.

If I stand suspect of Him and think He is cruel and out to ruin my life the losses will appear to be “proof” of that very mindset. But if I see Him as a loving, heavenly Father who knows what is best for me and is intent on molding my life for His glory, then I learn to rest in what He is doing and trust Him during the process. It is His desire that I learn to view life through His grid of truth and with spirit eyes. Living each day cognitive of His presence, person, and involvement in my life. My days are not made up of mere random, pointless events. God is working in profound ways and I can so easily miss the realization of that truth if I shift my focus away from Him.

These thoughts were triggered last night as I reviewed the dynamics of changed or lost friendships over the years. Without the awareness that “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away” I can too easily live in a state of grieving as well as torture myself with the question of “What did I do wrong?” Last night, God interrupted my thoughts with some precious instructions and reminders. He whispered to my spirit, “Pam, don’t limit your thoughts concerning the people and events of your life. You must see My hand and involvement in it all. Most of the people in your life and the relationship you have with them is for a season of time and a divine purpose. I am the One who “lends” you the moments. It is not about their change of heart or yours. It is about My timing and My design. Trust Me. Cling to Me. I am your permanent Source and Companion. Enjoy my gifts to you but don’t refuse to let go of them when I initiate the change. Poise yourself to receive the new things that await. Rest in My love.”

Father, I now see what I have been blind to for so many years. You are constantly aware and constantly working on my behalf. May I hold the things of this life loosely while You hold me tightly. Amen.

No Tolerance for Spiritual Lethargy

I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles were covering its face, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction. Proverbs 24:30-31 (Amplified Bible)

I have witnessed enough accounts in Scripture to learn that God often uses physical objects to reveal the state of our hearts and teach kingdom principles. Today’s passage strikes me as a sad commentary on the spiritual state of too many Christians. It serves as a reminder of my own internal world of the not too distant past and the realization of it becoming a present condition if I do not intentionally guard against it. Spiritual lethargy has the painful consequences of covering our lives with wound inducers and the over throwing, tearing down, and destroying of protective walls. It is not God’s intent or desire for us to possess thorns and allow easy access to the enemy of our souls.

My walk with God must have balance. It is imperative that I possess a determination and steadfastness to practice spiritual disciplines as well as increase my dependency on and for God. I am not left on my own but neither am I void of the responsibility to take in truth and daily apply the truth. Scripture makes it clear that I am to feed my spirit, put on my armor, appropriate spiritual warfare tactics, be filled with the Spirit, live a life of obedience to God, and poise myself with a teachable spirit. This is not possible if I simply live with a haphazard mentality concerning my relationship with God.

There are certain things that must be non negotiable in my life. For decades I failed to make them a vital part of each day and the disarray of my Christian life was the result. On the outside things appeared fine but on the inside I stood defenseless, confused, and empty. I was wide open to thorns and wounds that were not only useless but unnecessary. So now I guard the time I spend in the Word and prayer along with surrounding myself with that which would encourage and increase spiritual growth……fellowship with Christians who are passionate about their walk with God, reading rich books that feed me necessary truths, listening to music that attributes praise to God as well as enlarges my view of Him, and keeping my ears attuned to His still, small voice. Then and only then am I equipped to minister to others out of the overflow of a deep rooted relationship with my Abba.

Father, may I keep my hand on the plow and my eyes on You. I desire to live well protected and in Your presence! Amen.

A Shift for the Good

But God, Who comforts and encourages and refreshes and cheers the depressed and the sinking, comforted and encouraged and refreshed and cheered us by the arrival of Titus. 2 Corinthians 7:6 (Amplified Bible)

I have a list of people in my life whose names could easily be slipped into this verse. This morning, God and I have reviewed them. I am touched by the fact that the God of all comfort chooses to many times comfort and encourage us through one another. The ones He has brought into my life have been used of Him to not only comfort me, but to instruct me, mold me, and leave a lasting impression upon me. I value the impact they have made on my life. Conversations with them still play from time to time in my memory. Even decades later I can still recall their facial expressions, tone of voice, and warm embraces. Spending time with them was and still is a high light for me. Any more though, those times are rare. For most of the people I am referring to are geographically removed from me. God has wisely made that the case.

He knows how easily I can become comfortable in a relationship and allow it to dominate my thinking and capture all of my attention. If not guarded, my heart can be torn between looking to people instead of to God as my primary source for many things. That is a sure recipe for stunted growth and hindered relationship with Him. For most of my Christian life I will admit to that being my greatest struggle. And I have absolutely no doubt there are many in the body of Christ who see that as a truth for themselves as well.

This morning, as I listened to Sandi Patty’s rendition of the song “Made Me Glad” it occurred to me that I am at a place in my life whereby no one is any longer in competition with God for the attention of my heart. While I still value them highly, God has finally captured my heart and affections. I am no longer looking for an individual to fix me, heal me, deliver me, or constantly be there for me. Will they still play a part in my life? Absolutely. And there will be times I seek their advice and counsel. But relationship with them can no longer be my main craving and goal.

While the transition has been painful at times I am finally seeing the beauty of what God has been doing. He has been wooing me to Himself as He has caused unhealthy attachments to fall away. What I thought would crush me has actually freed me. Although I will still falter at times, I know a shift has taken place and the journey will never be the same. For once in my life, I rejoice at such change!

Father, it has taken over 34 years for You to bring me to this point. Thank you for your patience and persistence. With gratitude and joy I proclaim that I am yours! Amen.

Crucibles for the Heart

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts. Proverbs 17:3 (New American Standard Bible)

The Bible is filled with word pictures that are meant to help us take in truth in an understandable and meaningful way. Such is the case when God speaks of refining pots (crucibles), furnaces, and heart tests. The processes and end results are quite similar….purification by fire. The heat (trial or test) is what exposes the impurities, the skimming removes the impurities, and the eventual result is a pure and useable substance. God desires to work with my heart in the same way that a refiner works with precious silver or gold. What He starts with is not beautiful in itself but He knows what will eventually come forth.

I have known for some time now that God exposes areas of my life for the purpose of healing and transforming me, not for the purpose of shaming me. That issue was settled when He helped me grasp Romans 8:1 which says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” He continues to fix the images I have of Him and correct the distortions and lies the enemy has given me in regards to His character and heart. What I am learning is helping me to trust in Him and cooperate with Him more fully.

Like everyone else, I do not like trials or discomfort. If it brings tears, pain, or heartache I want no part of it. But God is letting me know that is the only way to show me what is inside of me. The hardships of life reveal where my trust lies, what I really believe about God, in whom my security is tied, what my real desires are, and the many areas that need to be changed. As I learn to connect with Him on a daily basis the revelations are powerful.

Just last night He opened my eyes to something I had been missing and He used a sense of sadness to do it. As the sadness hit, I found myself wanting to contact somebody….anybody. Relationships have always been great pain relievers for me. Sort of like Novocain for my soul! That is when God intervened and began to show me my own tendency to avoid pain through external sources rather than take the pain to Him for true healing and wholeness. I was opting for a bandage instead of surgery! I was settling for miniscule, temporary fixes at best while God was offering me continual, lasting comfort and change. As I ended my day with Him, He ministered to me in a way no human could come close to doing. May He continue to do His refining work in me.

Father, I have often misunderstood the process and power of Your refining techniques. You have once again peaked my interest, aroused my curiosity, and captured my heart. I love You! Amen.

Armed and Ready

In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:26 (New King James Version)

My level of confidence is proportionate to my view of and relationship to God as is my sense of security. I find that the times I am in turmoil, distress, confusion, or emotional resignation are the times my mind and eyes are no longer fixed and focused on Him. His truths must be the plumb line for my thoughts, words, and actions. It is imperative that God is my object of confidence and my place of shelter. Not just a shelter from the dangers and storms of life but from falsehoods that abound.

The enemy of my soul knows all of this. Therefore his main objective is to chip away at my connection to God. If I am not on guard to his tactics and lies, I can very easily have my confidence shaken and my outlook on many things distorted. If I am not intent on purposefully bringing my thoughts captive and in line with truth, they will actually work against me and fill my soul with a foreboding darkness.

It has been my practice to write devotionals in an honest and open way. Usually God’s instructions to me include remaining general enough so people are able to see themselves and their situations in the truth I am sharing. This morning I sense His nudging to be specific with a personal example. Yesterday’s devotional centered on walking in God’s forgiveness of past sins and mistakes and moving forward. Little did I realize when I sent it off that I would later become engaged in a four hour attack from the enemy over that very issue. He was ruthless!

While at work, the enemy fed me a lie about a past situation. His interpretation and conclusion of the event left me with a feeling of being a disappointment to the body of Christ, to myself, and even to God. I lost perspective on everything that my journey of the last three years entailed. I could not sense one moment of God’s delight in me. The darkness enveloped me until I was able to identify the enemy being at work. With the renouncing of lies and embracing of truth, my thought process became clear and my confidence and security returned…..until later in the evening when he sideswiped me again as I emailed a friend. I can reread the email I sent her and literally see where my conversation shifted and the enemy’s lies surfaced.

This morning I woke with a completely different perspective. There are no dark thoughts, no question of God’s view of me and love for me, no overwhelming sense of despair. The enemy has backed off but I know he will return. Before he resurfaces with repackaged lies I must put on the armor of Ephesians 6 and stand ready to stand in truth. I must realign myself with what God’s Word says and place my reverential trust in Him and Him alone. He is my covering for any battle that takes place today.

Father, I sustained wounds from the enemy yesterday. May I not give him such pleasure today. I take Your hand, Your Word, and Your Spirit with me into every confrontation that lies ahead. Amen.