Mistakes 5

Humble yourself under the mighty hand of your God so that I may exalt you in due time.   1 Peter 5:6

Humility.  There's a characteristic we battle against on a daily basis.

Our world screams at us to stand up for our rights; to not let others push us around; to demand that our voice is heard.

And yet that was not the way of the Savior, was it?  He was led silent, like a lamb to the slaughter.  When He was on the path that led to His death, He remained silent.  Can you imagine how it would've looked otherwise?  If Jesus had fought and kicked and screamed?  If He had demanded a lawyer, who would stand up for His rights?  If He had struck back at one of His captors?

A huge part of the torture and crucifixion of Jesus was His humility that led Him to not fight when He not only had the right, but also when He had available to Him the power to do so.

So should we let other people run over us and just take take it? 

No.  What we should do is strive to live a life of humility.  Not trying to elbow our way into the world for our 15 minutes of fame, but striving instead to be people of high character and great service to others.

God will take care of the rest.  He promises.

What impresses you about this passage?

Mistakes 4

If I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.   1 John 1:9

Confession.

They say it's good for the soul, but it is also hard on the ego.  A confession is an admission of wrong.  Straight up.  No qualifiers.

Why would God make that a prerequisite to forgiveness?  If we've given our lives to Him; done all the steps of believing in Him and repenting of sin and confessing the name of Jesus and putting Him on in baptism...why wouldn't God be satisfied?

Because the lack of confession still puts us in charge of our lives, not God.  Even if we regret our sin, without confession, we are still calling the shots.

But in confession, we assume a humble posture, a posture that says, "You're God and I'm not."  And when we assume that posture, a miracle happens.

We're clean.

What are your impressions of this passage?

Mistakes 3

I am confident of this very thing, that You who have begun a good work in me will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus.   Philippians 1:6

When we have fallen prey to sin and are convicted of it, it is diificult to think that God still has use for us, isn't it?

And yet, not only is He not finished with us, He restores the penitent and continues to use us until we go home to be with Him.

Is other words, our mistakes do not define us.

God's love does.

What does this scripture bring to mind for you?

Mistakes 2

Return to me, the LORD your God....I will heal your backsliding, I will love you freely, for my anger is turned away from you.   Hosea 14:1, 4

Return.

For God, there is one thing in His sights when our mistakes, our sin, lead us away from Him.  He's looking for our return.

Our return to Him brings healing.  Our return to Him causes His anger to turn away from us.  And best of all, our return to Him reminds us that His love for us flows freely.

The important thing for us to remember is that His love for us doesn't go away when we choose to turn our back on Him.  When we turn away from our Creator, we run away from the benefit of His love.  We lose track of the depth of His care.  We have no understanding of His compassion.

So if your mistakes, your sin has led you away from God and you don't think He could ever take you back or forgive you, there is only one thing that you need to do to have all the benefits of His undying love for you.

Return.

What does this passage mean to you?

Relying on God when struggling with mistakes

Who is the one who condemns?  It is Christ who died, yes, rather who is risen again, who is even at Your right hand making intercession for me.   Romans 8:34

Have you ever worked for a boss that was harsh and unforgiving when someone made a mistake?  I realize some mistakes can be costly and repeated mistakes can damage a company, but that's not what I'm talking about.  I'm talking about the guy who is a tyrant and demands perfection from everyone.  Except himself, of course.

In life, as in business, some mistakes are costlier than others.  Some mistakes are made honestly and some would be more accurately called sin.

Thanks be to God!  He is not like that harsh boss.  His forgiveness is instantaneous when the request comes from a contrite heart.

And the best thing of all?  Not only does God forgive our mistakes and our sins, He goes one step further.

He stands in the gap for us.  He intercedes for us so that one day, we won't have to pay the price for our mistakes.

Because He already has.

What are your impressions of this passage?

Illness 7

O Israel, you have destroyed yourself, but in Me is your help.....I will ransom you from the power of the grave; I will redeem you from death.  O death, I will be your plagues; O grave, I will be your destruction.   Hosea 13:9, 14

Sometimes we call on God for healing and He does so.  And we are thrilled and grateful.  Sometimes we call on God for healing and He does not.  And we are crushed.

Who knows the mind of God?  We fall so short of having any grasp of why God moves the way He moves.  Why He sometimes says yes, sometimes no and sometimes wait.  I think I like wait the least of the three.

But here's something not only to remember in times of struggle with illness, but something to cling to: God will defeat death.  God will overcome death.  God will master death.

God will destroy death.

No more pain, no more sorrow, no more heartache, no more tears.

The destruction of death means one thing for those will believe in Jesus.

Life.

What are your thoughts on this passage?

Illness 6

LORD, You preserve the simple.  I was brought low and You helped me....I will walk before You, LORD, in the land of the living.   Psalm 116:6, 9

When is the last time you've been brought low?  Of course, we don't have to consider the question, "Have you ever been brought low?" because it is a given that we all have.

Life does that to us.  It knocks us down.  It humbles us.  Sometimes, it crushes us.

Especially when we struggle with illness.

But God has the answer.  As always, He gives us exactly what we need.  We are not always blessed with being immediately delivered.

But He goes a step further than that anyway.

He preserves us.

How does this scripture strike you?

Illness 5

You, LORD, will deliver me in time of trouble.  You will preserve me and keep me alive, and I shall be blessed upon the earth, and You will not deliver me into the will of my enemies.  LORD, You will strengthen me upon the bed of lauguishing.  You will restore me on my bed of sickness.   Psalm 41:1-3

Deliver.  Preserve.  Blessed.  Strengthen.  Restore.

Look at the words in this passage!  Can you imagine more powerful words being spoken about you from your Creator?

In our time of trouble, in our dark night, we have a God who not only loves us, not only cares for us, not only hurts with us...but who promises to deliver us, to preserve us, to bless us, to strengthen us and to restore us.

God is telling us in no uncertain terms to take heart.  We can't win the battle.

But He can.

How does this scripture strike you?

Illness 4

Is any sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord shall raise them up.   James 5:14-15

The elders' prayers will save the sick.

Is there a difference between saving the sick and healing the sick?  Yes.  Sometimes the recipient receives both saving and healing.  Sometimes not.

But the clear fact here is that James is pointing out that there are things worse than physical illness.  Like spiritual illness.

The prayer of faith will save the sick.  Why don't we do this much more often?

What is your take on this passage?

Illness 3

He bore our sins in His own body on the tree so we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness.  By His stripes, we are healed.   1 Peter 2:24

There's the word we're after when we are struggling with illness: Healed.

After a certain point in the torture and crucifixion, there was no doctor that would've been able to heal Jesus' body.  It was too far gone. 

And yet, the great paradox of the crucifixion is that it healed us!  The torture that killed Jesus' body healed our souls!  The agony of Jesus served an important purpose.  He certainly didn't want it to happen, right?  He even asked God to not let it happen.  Three times He asked.

But the answer was no.  His suffering served a purpose.

In the middle of illness, we are focused on the cure.  And understandably so. 

But it would also be healthy to consider what purpose it might serve.  Might it serve a purpose of getting our attention off of something we had focused on that wasn't good for us?  Might it serve a purpose of allowing us to demonstrate faith to some person around us?

We all want to be healed.  And ultimately, the sacrifice of Jesus does that for us.

But in the meantime, until our bodies are healed on this earth, it might be worth praying for God to show you a purpose the illness can serve.

That purpose very well could save another person's life.  Or maybe even their soul.

What is your response to this verse?

Illness 2

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.  Your rod and your staff comfort me.   Psalm 23:4

Fear.

Illness strikes fear into the hearts of those who are struggling with it and fear into the hearts of their loved ones around them.  Because what illness does is bring us face to face with the unknown.

Now the fact is, we're surrounded by the unknown with every breath we take, but we don't really come to grips with it until we experience serious illness.  And serious illness sometimes brings us into the valley of the shadow of death, doesn't it?

God Himself wants us to know something very important: We do not walk there alone.  Our loved ones do not walk there alone.  He will never forsake us.  His love for us never ceases or even diminishes.

And because of that, His desire is that we lay our anxieties on Him.  That we trust Him.  That we rest in Him.  His desire for us is clear.

No fear.

What does this verse bring to your mind?

Relying on God when dealing with illness

Why are you so downcast, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God. Psalm 43:5

"I've done everything I can do. All I can do now is just pray."

Have you ever heard someone say something like that? Have you ever said something like that?

Isn't it funny how we often look to prayer or to God as a last resort, after we've exhausted every other avenue we can? I wonder how that makes God feel, when His promises are eternal and His power is over all, that we keep trying our own little cures?

He is the health of my countenance. In other words, whether I get better physically or not, when I turn it over to Him, I get better, regardless.

What do you think about this passage?

Grief 5

Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me.  LORD, be my helper.  You have turned my mourning into dancing for me.  You have put off my sackcloth and surrounded me with gladness.   Psalm 30:10-11

Two things that are not a part of our vocabulary when we are in the midst of grief: dancing and gladness.

As a matter of fact, those things seem so far away when our souls are aching that it seems absolutely impossible to even conceive that we might even feel like dancing again.  That we might have gladness in our hearts again.

Well, that's what happens when God's mercy gets involved in our lives; when He comes to help us.

The real trick is to not let the Evil One convince us that this grief we're experiencing will never go away.  That the clouds will never lift and the sun will never rise.  It is difficult to avoid thinking those things when our heart is breaking.

But God will be faithful.  He promises that to us when we cling to Him. 

And just the thought of His great love for us, when we really ponder it, when we really spend time with it...can make us feel like dancing.

What is your take on these verses?

Grief 4

Blessed are You, God, even the Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and ther God of all comfort.  You comfort me in all my tribulation, that I may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble by the comfort with which I myself am comforted by You.   2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Pay It Forward.  That was the title of a movie with Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt in which a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) comes up with this concept of paying forward to others good deeds that are done to you.

That concept is far from originating in that movie.  God came up with it before anyone walked on the earth.

When we're in the middle of grief, God's comfort is the only comfort that will last.  And yet He isn't content with our pain subsiding.  He then wants us to be instruments of comfort to others around us who are also in need.

In other words, God calls us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to people we come in contact with.  Why?

Because He started it with us.

What are your thoughts on this passage?

Grief 3

You will swallow up death in victory, and You, Lord GOD, will wipe away tears from all faces...for You, LORD, have spoken it.   Isaiah 25:8

That middle part.  The wipe away all tears part.  That almost seems more comforting to us than the swallow up death in victory part.

Why is that?

Well, we almost take for granted that in the end, God wins.  We've heard that so many times that sometimes we lose the magnitude of it.

But the wiping away of all tears?  That's life now.  Here.  On this earth.  One day brings joy and happiness and the next brings grief and sorrow.  And we often don't have any control over either one.  Or in some cases, our own behavior brings our tears.

So to think that one day, there will be no more tears, brings a deep sense of comfort that nothing else can. 

You know why that's true?

Because of that last part.  The You have spoken it part.

How does this passage strike you?

Grief 2

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice...   Isaiah 42:3
 
Have you ever been taken advantage of?  Dumb question.  If you breathe, you've been taken advantage of.  Everyone hates it when that happens, but I think it is even worse when someone kicks a person when they're already down.  It can be devastating.
 
God's assurance here that He will not allow His people to be pushed beyond their endurance level is one of the most powerful promises in scripture.  It goes well with what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 about God being faithful to us and not allowing us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.
 
Check out the way Eugene Peterson translates this passage from Isaiah in The Message:
He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right.
 
That's a promise we can count on.
 
What does this scripture bring to mind for you?

Vacation!

The blog has had the past week off, but it is back with post number 2 on Grief coming tomorrow...

Relying on God when dealing with grief

He was despised and rejected of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.  Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried...   Isaiah 53:3-4

Any conversation about grief has to start from the bottom-line reference point of Christ.  There really can be no meaningful discussion of the topic without addressing the suffering of Christ.

I wonder what it must have felt like for Jesus to read scripture like this and know they were talking about Him?  The verses that precede and follow these are no better.  Actually, they are worse.

This passage is in God's Word for who-knows-how-many-reasons.  However, I can't imagine that one of them wouldn't be to remind us when we are living in the pit, that He has walked where we're walking.  He has hurt where we're hurting.  He has grieved where we're grieving.  He has wept where we're weeping.

Does that take the pain and suffering away?  Of course not.  Does it give new perspective for our lives?

Of course. 

If we let it.

What is your response to this passage?

Finances 7

A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.   Proverbs 11:28  

Everything in life is relative, isn't it?

One man appears to be filthy rich to another, but to yet another, he looks poor.  One woman's car is nicer than some people's cars, but not as nice as others.  One kid's toys are better than some of his friends, but not as good as others.

There is always someone who has more and nicer and shinier things than we do, isn't there?  And then there is always someone who has less than we do.  Right?

If we know this, why do allow ourselves to get caught up in materialism that throws us into the slavery of debt and steals our opportunities to serve others?

I guess it goes back to our human nature.  When we feed our selfish, self-centered side, it always asks for more.  It is never, ever satisfied.

But when we feed our Christ-like nature, it has an incredible result.

It fills our souls.

How do you feel about this scripture?

Finances 6

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.   Psalm 37:3

Trust.  It all ends up coming back down to trust, doesn't it?

We can talk about generosity and prosperity and priorities, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to trust.  As in, who are you going to?

As fallen human beings, even in our best moments, we have a hard time getting this passage in the right order.  First comes trust and good works and the result is dwelling in the land and enjoying safe pasture.  The King James translation renders "safe pasture" as "you will be fed."

Our typical order is to go be fed, assure ourselves and our loved ones of safety and then we'll trust in the LORD and do good. 

In other words, "Me first, then You, God."

But if we truly trust God's hand at work in our lives, we can throw ourselves in His care, being His hands and feet wherever we find ourselves and be confident of His provision for us.

Trust in the Lord and don't lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

What does this verse say to you?

Finances 5

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."   Luke 6:38

Generosity, take 2.

Here's a different way to look at generosity.  It's a formula.  When we're generous, we'll receive generosity.  When we're not, we won't.

God seems to work this way often, doesn't He? 

Certainly Jesus taught that way.  He said that when we forgive, we'll be forgiven.  If we don't, we won't.

Same goes for mercy.  When we show mercy, we'll be shown mercy.  If we don't, we won't.

All of us want to act out of the kindness and purity of our hearts, don't we?  Our biggest problem is that we're human and we don't always do what we should or think how we should.

So sometimes God compels us.  Why?  To be harsh? 

No. 

Because He thinks it is that important to be generous.

How do you feel about this verse?

Finances 4

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.   Psalm 1:1-3

Prosperity. 

There are a whole lot of preachers out there proclaiming the good news that God wants you to be rich.  And they're not talking about Heaven.  They're talking about right now, here on this earth.  And if you're not, you may (probably) have a faith issue.

Hmmmm....

What about the poor widow gave two small coins (all that she had) and was commended by Jesus?  No record of her driving up in a new chariot the next day.

What about the man who already was rich?  Didn't Jesus tell him to give away his possessions and focus on heaven instead?  No record of him doing so, only Jesus' remarks about how hard it is for a rich person to go to heaven.

Prosperity is a strange thing.  As a matter of fact, it is totally a perspective thing.  If we are in a mindset of this world being the end-all, then it makes sense that we would want as much as we could get while we're here.

But if we believe God's promises of a better place; a far, far better place where there will be no such thing as moving trucks, then prosperity takes on a whole new meaning.

And it has nothing to do with money.

What are your thoughts on this passage?

Finances 3

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave Him up for us all--how will he not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?   Romans 8:32

Generosity.

We're interesting creatures when it comes to generosity.  We are almost unwavering generous when it comes to opportunities to spend other people's money, but not so much when it comes to spending what has been put in our own care.

Recent studies have shown that half of the people in the United States who claim Christ as their Savior give nothing on an annual basis to the church they attend.  For the 50% who do give to their congregation, the average is 2% - 4% of their income.

I'm not trying to make a point that we need to give a higher number per se.  But it does become pretty clear by looking at the numbers that God and humans have different ideas when it comes to generosity.

What does this scripture say to you?

Finances 2

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.   Proverbs 3:9-10

One of the hardest lessons for us to learn in life is the principle of giving our firstfruits.

Why is that?  Basically, because people tend to be selfish.  People like the fact that God has blessed them; they sometimes tell Him thank you and then they tend to wrap their arms tightly around that blessing, not really wanting to share it with anyone, including The One who blessed them with it.

Does that remind you of anything?

Like how children act sometimes?

No wonder we struggle so much.  When God blesses us richly, then asks us to give back to Him off the top instead tossing Him whatever might be leftover, our true character shines through.

Why do we tend to buck God, even when He promises He will bless us even more if we'll give our firstfruits to Him?

Could it have anything to do with trust?  Or selfishness?

It is a hallmark of maturity in Christ to give of our firstfruits and be very generous with the things and money God has put in our possession.

How do these verses strike you?

Relying on God when dealing with finances

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.   Matthew 6:33

Priorities.

We can't have any meaningful discussion on finances without talking about priorities.  We've all heard the old adage about being able to tell where our true priorities lie, regardless of what we say, by looking at our checkbook and calendar.

How would our checkbook look differently than it does now if we were truly seeking God's righteousness above everything else?  How would our calendar look differently than it does now if we were truly running after God's kingdom?

There is no way to live life without priorities.  They are either clearly articulated or they are ignored (which is still establishing priorities), but life is always lived through priorities.

Our biggest problem is that, by ignoring the teaching of this verse, we really are only robbing ourselves.

What does this verse say to you?

Doubt 7

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.   Matthew 28:16-17

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders decided to kill Him.

Read that sentence again.  It is a sentence that should make absolutely no sense whatsoever.  Yet it isn't a misprint.

AFTER Jesus pulled off the most impossible of miracles; bringing a man back to life who had been dead for four days, His opponents didn't fall to their knees in praise or worship or submission.  They set their collective jaw against the Creator of the Universe and His Son.  They were so blinded by their own hatred, they ignored irrefutable proof of Jesus' claims.

Amazing.

What's more amazing, though, might be the reaction of His disciples.  After everything they had been through with Christ, some of them still couldn't get their head around two things: the fact that Jesus was standing with them after being tortured and murdered and all the implications that fact carried with it.

Before we come down too hard on the disciples, let's remember our own struggles with faith.

"Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of Me." - Jesus

What are your thoughts on this scripture?

Doubt 6

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.   1 John 5:13

It is so difficult to believe in something we cannot only not see now, but that we've never seen.  Doubt takes root quickly in those circumstances.

I'll tell you what I have seen, though. 

I've seen a sunset so breathtaking that no person's painting or photographs could ever do it justice.

I've seen people run to help folks they don't even know when disaster strikes.

I've seen an ant carry a piece of food that is several times it's own size and weight.

I've seen a thunderstorm roll in that rattled all the windows in our house.

I've witnessed childbirth.

God's fingerprints are all over the world, clearly visible in our everyday lives.  If we'll only slow down and look for them.

What does this scripture make you think of?

Doubt 5

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."  Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"  Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."   John 20:27-29

Those who haven't seen. 

That would be us.  All of us.  And God's call to each of us, regardless of our lot in life at the moment, is to stop doubting and believe.

Sometimes the only reason we really struggle is because our eyes can't see and our ears can't hear.  But that isn't God's fault.  It is our own spiritual immaturity.  God wants to bless us.  Are we throwing out a roadblock of doubt?

What is your reaction to this passage?

Doubt 4

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.   James 1:5-7

Wisdom is an interesting thing. 

How can you tell how much wisdom a person has?  Can a man be partially wise?  Can a woman possess some wisdom in some areas, but none in others? 

In many ways, wisdom falls into the category of the old phrase, "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it."

True wisdom comes from one source and one source alone: The Creator of the Universe.  And the amazing thing is that He desperately desires to lay it on us.

But there's a catch.  There's one condition that absolutely, positively will blow any chance of us ever gaining Godly wisdom.  The dealbreaker on receiving wisdom is...doubt.  God won't send His wisdom on us if we doubt Him.

Sounds easy, right?  Wrong.  We all know better.

Earnestly seek His face today.  Beg Him for wisdom.  Ask Him to forgive all doubt and take it far, far away.

And be transformed.  How will people know when you've been transformed?  Well, they won't be able to describe it, but they'll know it when they see it.

What are your thoughts on this passage?

Doubt 3

Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe His prophets, so shall you prosper.   2 Chronicles 20:20

What is your idea of personal prosperity?

Of course, we all know the world's ideas...power, position, possessions.  But that description probably didn't fit very many of the prophets, if any.  These were guys who lived hard lives speaking truth, enduring torture and succumbing to murder.  They weren't talking about the world's kind of prosperity.

What then?

Well, if we are established - planted, rooted - by believing in God, then the things that are important to God are the things that will be important to us.

Prosperity for the believer has to do with relationships with others and service to others.  Ultimately, it ends up square in the middle of love for others. 

Doubt festers when we become fixated on ourselves.  Prosperity comes when we become fixated on the LORD.

What impresses you about this verse?

Doubt 2

"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."   Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"   Mark 9:23-24

What do you believe in most fervently?  The stock market has let everyone down in the past couple of years, so we really can't believe in that.  How about our talents or gifts?  Well, they may serve us well for a number of years, but they'll eventually fail us, without fail.  That's what Brett Favre is wrestling with right now.

But what about friends or family?  The people we're closest to and love the most?  Nope.  They all, regardless of how incredible they are, have a fundamental flaw: they are human.  They will let us down at some point.  We really can't put our belief in them either.

As a matter of fact, there is no person or thing on this earth we can unconditionally believe in.  Including ourselves.  We really are our own worst enemy in some ways.

Our answer to the initial question would be God, the Creator of the Universe.  And of course, that's the right answer.

But what keeps us from living like it? 

Or maybe the better question is, what are we missing out on in our lives by believing in anything or anyone else?

What do you think about this scripture?

Relying on God when wrestling with doubt

Faith comes by hearing the Good News and people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.   Romans 10:17

Doubt and faith.  Polar opposites.

Have you ever been wandering around in a wooded area and lost your bearings?  That horrible feeling of not knowing which way home is?  Or maybe you've seen the scene in a movie in which someone is lost in a desert and has no clue which way to go to get to civilization. 

That feeling of not being able to trust in what you know is very frightening.  Because when we've wandered away from what is known to us, our bearings are lost and we become helpless.

Doubt creeps in when we veer away from home base.  The further we drift from an active relationship with our Creator, the more doubt will seep into our heart, mind and soul.

Relationship with God is the antidote to doubt.

What kind of impression do you get from this passage?

Discouragement 7

He does not ignore those in trouble. He doesn’t hide from them but listens when they call out to him.  LORD, I praise you in the great meeting of your people...   Psalm 22:24-25

When battling discouragement, it is easy to feel isolated and alone.  And that starts a vicious cycle that drives us deeper and deeper into negative thoughts and isolating ourselves.

And the last thing we can sense in those times is God's presence.

But the great thing about God is that He promises just the opposite of what we perceive.  He promises not to ignore us, but to listen to us when we call out to Him.

And our response is praise.

But what if we started the praise part early?  What if we decided we were going to start praising Him even before our struggle is resolved?  What would we call that?

We would call that...faith.

How does this passage strike you?

Discouragement 6

Delight yourself also in Me, your LORD, and I will give you the desires of your heart.   Psalm 37:4

Desires. What things do we deeply desire?

Well, most people have a set of things they'd like to have: new car, new or upgraded home, etc.  And then we usually have a bucket list, either in our head or written down, of places we'd like to go and things we'd like to do before our time on earth ends.

But what do we deeply desire?  If we deeply desire the items listed above, then we're in trouble.  Spiritual trouble.

At our core, what our God desires most for us is to be in relationship with him.  So the more that our deepest desires shift toward having a relationship with God, not just knowing facts about Him, but KNOWING Him, the more we will delight ourselves in Him.  And the more we delight ourselves in Him, the more our deepest desires will move toward being in a relationship with Him.

And that would be at the top of our bucket lists; number one with a bullet.

What do you think about this scripture?

Discouragement 5

I will remember the years of Your right hand, most High.  I will remember Your works, LORD.  Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.  I will meditate also on Your work and talk of Your doings.  Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary.  Who is so great a God as our God?  You are the God who does wonders.  You have declared Your strength among the people.   Psalm 77:10-14

When discouragement swallows us, we neglect a fundamental issue with God: remembrance.  God is a God of remembrance. 

Throughout scripture, over and over we are instructed to remember.  Remember what the Lord your God has done for you.  Remember where He has led you out of.  Remember His mercies toward you.  Remember His undying, unfading love for you.

Remember.

Unfortunately, when we slide into discouragement, we tend to forget.  When we do so, it is far worse than just not thinking of specific ways He has come through for us. 

It is forgetting who He is.

What do you think of when you read this passage?

Discouragement 4

Because I have set my love upon You, You will deliver me.  You will set me on high, because I have known Your name.  I call on You, and You will answer me.  You will be with me in trouble; You will deliver and honor me.   Psalm 91:14-15

Dead center.

Have you ever thought about what is dead center in your life?  Seems like a cliche question until we consider that how we live from moment to moment actually answers it truthfully for us, regardless of what words we might use to answer it.

How many times have we made the statement, "Well, I guess all we can do now is pray"?  That answer betrays where our heart is.  It says that God is a last resort after we've tried everything else.

When we wrestle with discouragement, it usually means we've tried everything we can try and have failed.  We've used every weapon in our arsenal and come up short.

The Psalmist tells us what we already know.  Dead center is not us.  Dead center is God the Creator.

Our problem is not in the knowledge.  It is in the application.

What are your thoughts on these verses?

Discouragement 3

I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.  I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.    Psalm 3:5-6

How many times have you gone to sleep with your mind racing, wondering if things were going to be ok the next day?  Wondering if you were going to be able to sleep?  Wondering if you were even going to be able to function?

David was in a crisis time in his life.  He wrote these words while running away from his son Absalom.  Not only was he dealing with the heartbreak of his son rebelling against him, but even worse, his own son was trying to kill him.  He had become a fugitive in his own land. 

How would you sleep if you knew someone was tirelessly searching for you in order to kill you?  I don't think I'd sleep very much and certainly not well.

Yet, in the middle of this horrendous time, he could not only sleep, but even say he wasn't afraid of a vast army coming after him.  How did he do that?  How did he keep from crumbling under the weight of the pressure and the fear?

Because he trusted that the LORD would sustain him.  And he was right.

The same Lord will sustain you too.

How does this scripture help you?

Discouragement 2

Lord, You lead me beside still waters.  You restore my soul.   Psalm 23:2-3

Bad behavior is all over the headlines in these times.  Celebrities, actors and athletes who make their living off of the love people have for their talent, unfortunately also live under the glare of the continuous spotlight.  And because of that, their every action is followed.  And their every misstep chronicled.  In detail.

After an incident of bad behavior, many of them have people who begin to work on restoring their image to the public.  They may try to highlight good works they've done or they may get them involved in good works so that people can see they are still worthy of the adulation of the public.  And so they can still sell tickets.

But those of us who don't the papparazzi following our every step also fall into bad behaviors.  Or are victims of someon'e else's.  Our hearts sometimes are filled with desperate thoughts or negative feelings.

When these things linger for very long, they can bring us into a state of discouragement.  And when we're there, what we really need is restoration; God's hand clearly visible to us and in us.

He promises that very thing when we turn to Him.  Not that all the circumstances that brought us to that place will suddenly disappear, but that He will restore us.  And if we know our Father is at work in our lives, we can live in hope and not discouragement.

How does this scripture strike you?

Relying on God when dealing with discouragement

Not one sparrow will fall to the ground without Me, your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered; therefore, do not fear.  You are of more value than many sparrows.   Matthew 10:29-30

Value.  What do we value? 

Financial security.  A job.  Good health.  Friends.  Family.  Our possessions.  Our hobbies.

Know what God values?  You.  Above all the things mentioned above.  Combined.

Every time you see a fallen bird, let it be a reminder of God's immeasurable love for you.

You are of great value to Him.

What does this scripture say to you?

Depression 7

When I cried out to You, the LORD God of my fathers, You heard my voice and looked on my affliction, and my labor, and my oppression.   Deuteronomy 26:7

Have you ever been in a conversation, explaining what you consider to be something important, and the people to whom you're speaking just start talking amongst themselves?

Of course.  That's happened to us all.

But it still makes us feel foolish, doesn't it?  Like what we're saying doesn't matter or the people to whom we're speaking don't care.

In the middle of depression, a person feels alone.  They deeply desire to be heard, to think that what they say or think has value or meaning to the people they care about.

Well, here's a promise that every person who has ever struggled with depression needs to hear: when you cried out to God, He heard you.  He listens and He cares about your affliction and your oppression.

That means something very important that needs to be imprinted on your soul.

You are not alone.

What does this verse make you think of?

Depression 6

LORD, You will give me rest from my sorrow, and from my fear, and from the hard bondage in which I was made to serve.   Isaiah 14:3

Of all the emotions human beings are capable of, sorrow may be the toughest.  Because when a person goes into the depths of sorrow, it is very difficult for a friend's kind words or loving actions to bring them out.

And the longer a person stays in sorrow, the more it wears them out. 

Emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Our Creator understands that dynamic.  And the great thing about that is that He has the power to do something about it. 

It may not be immediate, but it will come if we continue to trust Him.  Because God never intended for us to live in the pit.

He intended for us to live in His promises.

What is your response to this scripture?

Depression 5

O God, You are my God; I will seek you early.  My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is....Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.   Psalm 63:1, 7-8

There are two types of people in this world: morning people and night owls.  I have never known anyone who claims they are a mid-afternoon person or an early evening person.  Only night owls and morning people.

For those who are night owls, the word 'morning' is almost a curse word.  It takes them a while to get rolling in the morning and conversation is not the first thing they want to have.

Yet that is when David would seek God.  Early in the morning.  Before he got into his day, while the world was still quiet, David sought God.

Is it worth getting up early in the morning to seek God if your body doesn't really want to?

All I know is this: it worked for David.  Would it work for me?  Would it work for you?

What do you think about this passage?

Depression 4

Through the heartfelt mercies of our God, God's sunrise will break in upon us, shining on those in the darkness, those sitting in the shadow of death, then showing us the way, one foot at a time, down the path of peace.   Luke 1:78-79

Sunshine.  When a person is in the throes of darkness, the last thing that seems possible is sunshine.  And yet God makes this crazy, unreasonable, unlikely, improbable, sometimes seemingly impossible promise.

His sunrise will break upon us, shining on those in the darkness.

Does that seem unbelievable from where you're sitting right now?

Believe it.  God will make this happen.

One step at a time.

What does this scripture make you think of?

Depression 3

My offenses have gone over my head, as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me....I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all day long...my heart pants, my strength fails me.  As for the light of my eyes, it is also gone from me....In You, O LORD, do I hope.  You will hear, O Lord my God...Do not forsake me, LORD.  O my God, do not be far from me.  Make haste to help me, O Lord of my salvation.   Psalm 38:4, 6, 10, 15, 21-22

Desperation.  We've all been there at one point or another.  Maybe at many points.

When we're desperate, we often do crazy things.  Sometimes stupid things.  We may run after unhealthy relationships.  Or we may run after an addiction that bring us a momentary diversion from our troubles.  Desperate times call for desperate measures, right?

If there was one person who was written about in the bible that experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, it was David.  From the mountaintop of being a king that God blessed to the depths or running away from someone trying to murder him to the seemingly bottomless pit of adultery and murder, David had seen it all.  And he wrote those words above.

When he was desperate, he had a rountine he followed: call on the God who is the God of desperate times.  Over and over, David cried out to his God.  And his God rescued him.  Not always immediately.  As a matter of fact, not often immediately.  But He rescued him.

And God called David a man after His own heart. 

Not because David was sinless.  But because he was dependent.

How does this scripture strike you?

Depression 2

The LORD executes justice for the oppressed; He gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free.  The LORD opens the eyes of the blind; The LORD raises up those who are bowed down; The LORD loves the righteous...   Psalm 146:7-8

There are many people on earth that God uses in many ways. 

Sometimes He uses family members to deliver a message that we might not hear from anyone else.  Sometimes he uses trusted friends to bring comfort to us when we are struggling.  Sometimes He uses counselors or therapists to help people who are too close to the situation to be able to be objective.

But make no mistake of who holds the power or does the healing.  It is not family members, friends or counselors.

The LORD raises those up who are bowed down.  Searching elsewhere for the answers to deep struggles is an exercise in futility.

May God use you and I to be His conduits in bringing peace and comfort to those who are hurting.

And if you are hurting, may God bring you exactly who you need to speak His words, give His hug, express His love or show His direction.

How does this scripture impact you?

Relying on God when struggling with depression

LORD, You will be a refuge to the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.   Psalm 9:9

One thing that is a mainstay in action movies is the chase scene.  While the scenes involving car chases are louder and more testosterone-filled, the chase scenes on foot are far more suspenseful.  And in those scenes, the person being chased is always looking for one thing: a place to hide.

You've been at that point in life, right?  Me too.  The world seems to be caving in, we feel overwhelmed and what we'd like the most is a place to hide.  Well, there's a word for that.

Refuge.

A refuge is a shelter or protection from danger or distress.  We shouldn't feel alone if we feel that way at different points in our lives because God knew we would before we were even born.

That's why He makes this promise to us in the Psalms: I'll be your refuge.  Run to Me.  Hide in Me.  Rest in Me.

The God of all creation waits to shelter you and me.

What does this passage bring to your mind?

Conflict 7

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your sins. Mark 11:25-26

Forgiveness.  The final frontier.

I'm positive this will come up again and again throughout our study about relying on God.  It's a bottom-line essential in our lives.

And pretty easy.  Sometimes.  Like when someone backs into your car in the mall parking lot.  We can let that go (eventually).

Or when we get into an argument with someone.  Most of the time we can forgive pretty easily (but not always).

But how about when someone speaks words to us that tear a hole in our soul?  Can we forgive them for that?

Or even worse, how about betrayal?  Maybe the hardest thing to forgive of all.  Someone you love betrays you.  They shatter the trust that had been built in your relationship and stab you right in between the shoulder blades.  And it crushes you.

That's not an easy thing to deal with.  There are no nice platitudes that help.  There are no easy VBS answers.

Just one thing we have to keep in mind: our own forgiveness depends on our willingness to forgive others.  Even those who betray us. 

And that is a powerful motivator.  Especially since it has been done before.  On the cross.

What are your thoughts on this scripture?

Conflict 6

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which you shall not see Me, your Lord.   Hebrews 12:14

Peace. 

Do you ever wonder if we'll experience peace on any kind of broad scale in this life?  Will the world ever have total, true peace?  I know the answer to that one.  No.  Not as long as there are believers and non-believers.

How about personal peace?  Is that possible for the long term?  I know that one too.  Yes.  But it's tough and it is not attained without deep maturity in our relationship with our Creator.

Here's a touchy one.  Is peace in the church possible?  I would hope so.  But there are big obstacles to overcome.  Like ourselves.

Last one.  Is it possible to be at peace with all people we come in contact with?  This passage is clear that if we don't pursue peace, we won't see God.  What would it take for that to happen in our lives? 

Maybe a different view of how we handle conflict.

What would that look like for you?

Conflict 5

Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.  But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.   1 John 2:10-11

Blindness has got to be one the toughest things in the world to live with.  Have you ever tried to navigate your way through an unfamiliar place in the dark? 

Like trying to find the bathroom in a pitch black house in the middle of the night?  Or wearing a blindfold? 

For the person living in darkness, running into things is a common occurrence.  Stumbling over things happens all the time.

So when John says that hatred of another person puts a person in darkness and causes him to be blind, he saying something very significant. 

How do we fall into hating someone?  And are we fully aware of the devastating consequences of hatred?  Hatred can easily cost us our soul.

How does this passage impact you?

Conflict 4

Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.   Proverbs 26:20

Fuel. 

Cars need fuel to be driven.  No fuel, no driving.  And fires need fuel to burn.  No fuel, no burning.

Sometimes, at the heart of conflict are words spoken frivolously by someone who either wants to be in the know or can't stand it when the waters are still.  Either way, gossip fuels conflict.  There is no way to gossip about someone and for those words to be in a vacuum where the threat of them of spreading doesn't exist.

How many friendships have been damaged or destroyed because someone couldn't keep their mouth shut?  How many people have been hurt because someone not only presumed something about another person, but then shared their presumption with an acquaintance?

And worst of all, how many people's souls have been lost by unfair or untrue words spoken about them?  How many people have abandoned faith because they were mortally wounded by a person of faith?

Let's remove the fuel that stokes the flames of gossip.

What is your take on this passage?

Conflict 3

Christ also suffered for me, leaving me an example, that I should follow in His steps...When He was insulted, He did not insult in reply; when He suffered, He did not threaten but committed Himself to You who judges righteously.   1 Peter 2:21, 23

The last word.

We all want it.  It puts an exaclamation point on the discussion and it proves we won.

Right?

Or are there times we are better served by keeping our mouths shut and not entering into the fray?  Even if we are right?

Apparently there are because Jesus did. 

The trick is in discerning when those times occur.  And doing so in the heat of the moment can be tricky, especially when our emotions are engaged.

My guess is that they occur much more often than I think they do.

What are your thoughts about this passage?

Conflict 2

The one who is of a proud heart, stirs up strife; but the one who puts his trust in You, LORD, shall be satisfied.   Proverbs 28:25

Control.
  
Our lives ultimately come down to control.  It is the thread that runs through everything we do.
 
Our pride causes us to pursue and demand our way at times in our lives when we should be surrendering control instead of trying to claim it.

And the tough thing is that when we try to grab control, it will eventually lead us into conflict.  We'll fight with family, co-workers, neighbors or total strangers to try to gain and keep control of things.

But the biggest conflict by far we'll run into when we try to claim control is with our Creator. 

If we don't trust Him with control, we will never be satisfied.

And that is a lonely, harsh place to be. 

How does this text inspire you?

Relying on God when handling conflict

Be complete, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and, I, the God of love and peace, will be with you.   2 Corinthians 13:11

We enjoy seeing the right thing done.  Especially when it is done our way.

So how do we navigate the choppy waters in which two people are completely convinced they are doing the right thing, yet they are 180 degrees apart?

We've all been there.  Neither side is going to back down.  Both sides know they are right.  And so the conflict takes root.

And Satan laughs.

How can we be of good comfort when we cannot be of one mind?  

Maybe it starts with the understanding that every issue is not a fall-on-my-sword issue.  When we make every conflict a battle that we must win, we will eventually realize a hard truth the hard way:

We may win the battle of the day, but in the process, we are losing the war.  Because the bottom line of that mindset is that we lose God's presence and comfort.

What does this scripture say to you? 

Anxiety 7

It is vain for me to rise early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows, for You give Your beloved sleep.   Psalm 127:2

Sleep.  The ultimate victim of anxiety.  

Julia commented about it yesterday.  We've all experienced it.  Fitful sleep for a couple of hours, then wide awake in the middle of the night, thinking about something we can't do anything about at the moment. 

Yet, our Creator gives us this great gift of sleep, when we'll put our trust in Him and stop trying to be in control.  Or acting like we are.

At the heart of anxiety is a control problem.  Right?  As in, we want to be instead of God.  And so it robs us of what we often need the most; sleep. 

Charles Spurgeon once said, "Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of it's sorrow, but only empties today of it's strength."

So trust.  Rest.  Relax.  Let go.

And sleep.
 
What does this scripture say to you? 

Anxiety 6

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.   Psalm 4:7

Look both ways before you cross the street.  Buckle your seat belt.  Don't get too close to the edge.

From the time we're born, we have people who are looking out for our safety.  And as we grow into adults, we start to look out for our own safety.  And that of our children.  And the cycle repeats.

Safety is paramount to life.  If we are in an environment that isn't safe, we can never relax.  We can never let our guard down.  And that will drain a person of all energy, enthusiasm, happiness and joy.

However, if we feel safe, then the result is peace.

The real question is, "Is there anyplace in this world that is truly safe?"

The real answer is, "Only one."  

In the arms of our Creator.

What is your reaction to this scripture?