Category: Christian Living

Not Limitless

Strapping the new watch on my wrist, I tap the screen and scroll through the different functions it performs. Besides telling time, it tracks my heart rate, my physical activity, the number of steps I take daily, the number of calories I burn, and the quality of my sleep. By linking it to an app on my phone, I’m able to see detailed statistics complete with bar graphs, line graphs, and circle graphs measuring each of these things. Some days I find it interesting, other days it feels like another critic reminding me when I’m not measuring up.

I score points for every minute my band senses I’m moving. The harder I push myself, the more points I score. (I can also get negative points for being sedentary for too long, so that’s fun). The watch automatically sets the goal of 150 points per week. When I meet that goal, it vibrates on my wrist and flashes a message: “You met your goal, way to go!” Here’s the part that’s maddening, though. Once I “earn” all of the points towards my goal, the watch establishes a new goal for me that’s higher. So instead of feeling satisfied with what I’ve accomplished, I focus on the corner of the screen that tells me what my next goal is and how many points I’ll need to get there.

As long as I keep a healthy perspective, the watch serves as a useful tool. But, at times, I’ve found myself getting sucked into the stats a bit too much—especially when I’m obsessing over meeting the goals it sets for me.  It’s a great example of the direction our culture has been moving for the past few years. We’ve become captivated by measuring, quantifying, and assigning value to so many things—whether it’s how many steps we take each day or how many likes we get on a social media post. In every realm, we’re pushed to reject limitations and to see how much more we can accomplish. We’re programmed to want “all the things” and to feel serious FOMO if we’re not keeping up with everyone else.* We are fed the lie that it’s possible to be amazing in every category: having a successful career, a thriving family, a vibrant marriage, a robust social life, a deep faith, a fit body, a beautiful home, and time to serve others with sincere hearts. We’re led to believe there’s no limit to what we can do.

And that’s why I love that the Bible includes what happens to Elijah after his miraculous showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. After calling down fire from heaven and proving God is the ultimate power and authority, Elijah transitions into a season of despair and discouragement. This begins when he receives word that Queen Jezebel plans to kill him for making fools of her prophets before ending their lives. “Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. ‘I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’’’ (1 Kings 19:3-4, NIV)

Stop and think about all that Elijah has experienced leading up to this: he lived by the brook Cherith for eighteen months while God sent ravens to feed him; he stayed with a widow in Zarephath where the Lord rescued them from starvation by replenishing their food supplies daily; he prayed for the widow’s son to be raised from death and God granted his request; at Mt. Carmel he poured water over an altar and then prayed God would set the sacrifice on fire and the Lord consumed not only the sacrifice, but the rocks and dirt as well. Yet now, when he hears Jezebel plans to kill him, he loses heart. He runs away, tells the Lord he’s ready to die, lays down under a bush, and falls asleep. Recognizing Elijah’s deep exhaustion, the Lord sends an angel to minister to him: “All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.” (1 Kings 19:5b-6, NIV)

Elijah had been faithful and obedient to God through so many incredible challenges. At Horeb, he reached his physical, spiritual, and emotional limits. Utterly depleted, he needed rest. I wonder, though, in our current culture how this would’ve played out. Would Elijah’s watch have said something like this: “Great job slaying the prophets of Baal! Your next goal is….”? 

Friends, it’s time for us to realize we have limits. We can’t do it all because God didn’t design us that way. Even when the Lord does great works through us by the power of the Holy Spirit, we still need rest and replenishment. “God is not mad at you because your body is tired or your mind is frayed or your soul is unusually heavy—not after the kind of project you’ve just finished, or the difficulties you’ve just endured, or the emotional marathon you’ve just run. He isn’t agitated by the limitations of your flesh. Instead, He stands patiently ready to minister to you, to work through those deficiencies, and to nourish you as you recover from them.”1

This is a message I’m writing for myself as much as for you. We have to stop believing the lies fed to us by our culture and by the enemy that we need to push ourselves to the limits of our capabilities in all realms. There is so much pressure to do more and to be more. We’re wearing ourselves out trying to prove it’s true. “With all the busyness, legalism, strictness, and tension that may be an ongoing part of your daily life, take a moment to breathe deeply, enjoying the gracious and sincere affection of your Father today. He sees. He knows. Sister, rest.”2

By all means, allow yourself to be stretched. Accept challenges and celebrate growth. Let the Holy Spirit use your gifts to build the Church and expand God’s kingdom. Don’t shy away from opportunities for refinement. But realize, also, that you’re only human, and that’s exactly how God made you.

Click here and be encouraged by Jordan St. Cyr’s song “Weary Traveler.”

  1. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 193  
  2. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 193.

*FOMO is “fear of missing out.”

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Bold and Gentle

Weaving through the crowd on my way to class was always an adventure in college. As I walked through the heart of campus, people milling on the main pathway peppered passersby with a barrage of requests. They called out asking us to sign petitions, offering tickets to movie screenings, and handing out pamphlets espousing political agendas. Some of them were annoying or aggressive, others were intriguing. But there was one person that always made my heart hammer with anger and embarrassment when he visited campus. He would stand on a stairway to the side of the walkway holding a hand-made sign that read: “Sinners: Repent or burn in hell!” As if that wasn’t jarring enough, he would shout harsh judgements at us based on Bible verses taken out of context. There was never a trace of love in his words.

Sometimes students would stop and engage in animated conversations with him; often they escalated into shouting matches. For me, as a follower of Jesus trying to be a light on my dark campus, this man’s presence was devastating. I feared people who knew I was a believer would lump me in the same bucket with him and that any chance of sharing the gospel would be ruined. His boldness and passion to share his faith lacked the balance of love and grace.

I thought of the importance of that symmetry when I read Priscilla Shirer’s words this week: “BE UNASHAMED—public and bold in your allegiance to Him.”1 Being bold, public, and unashamed doesn’t imply that we have license to be rude or aggressive as we show allegiance to Jesus. Peter explains: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15-16, NIV italics added) We need to engage others with respect no matter how strongly we disagree with their stances, especially in matters of faith. If we bait others or lash out with hurtful words, it’s unlikely they’ll be open to hearing anything we say. How we treat people matters as much as the words we say.

Imagine throwing a rubber ball against a wall. The harder you throw it, the more forcefully it bounces back at you. The same is true with our words. When our passionate feelings lead us to speak with anger, judgement, or harshness, it’s likely that’s what we’ll get in return. In the book of Romans, Paul tells us that God’s kindness is intended to lead to repentance (Romans 2:4). When we’re bold with our kindness to others, it’s more likely to soften the tone of their responses to us. It might even open the door for more genuine conversations about our faith.

In another one of his letters Paul says, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:5-6, NIV) We need to think carefully before we speak, text, or post comments about sensitive topics. “Our words should impact our conversations for the better as we bring a different ‘flavor’ to our interactions, build others up, and share as well as defend the gospel.”2 The world already has an atmosphere that’s divisive and contentious. It doesn’t need harsh words from Christians making things worse. It’s important to consider others’ perspectives and not to stoke bitterness or animosity on purpose. Sarcasm and insensitive humor often alienate and marginalize. So, let’s demonstrate allegiance to Christ in a manner that is empathetic and filled with grace. 

Strong opinions and feelings often stem from personal experiences. If someone riles you with a viewpoint that you know opposes Scripture, take a deep breath and pray instead of reacting immediately. Anger and harshness often cover pain and hurt. Instead of responding with indignation, take the wisdom of James to heart: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (James 1:19-20, NIV) 

Our world gravitates toward quick reactions and sharp retorts, but meaningful conversations that explore differing viewpoints rarely occur in this environment. It takes love, patience, and perseverance to show allegiance to Jesus in a way that will draw others to Him. 

If we want to be bold, we need to start by cultivating our relationship with the Holy Spirit “until His presence overflows in our actions, attitudes, and ambitions. His fruit and His gifts become outworked through our lives…His fire is what we need if we expect to live up to our calling and experience the freedom of serving others with selfless joy and real power.”3

What do others experience when they interact with you? What tone do you project as you speak, text, or post online? How do you treat people as you go about your day? Click here and listen to “Relate” by For King and Country and let it inspire you to be bold with your love but gentle and empathetic as you encounter those who think differently.

  1. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 175   
  2. GotQuestions.org, “Why are we told to ‘let your words be seasoned with salt’ (Colossians 4:6)?”
  3. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 183

Photo Credit: pixabay.com

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Stop the Frenzy 

Reading aloud to my sons was one of my favorite activities when they were little. It was a sweet way for us to slow down and enjoy time together with undivided attention. One of my boys’ favorite books was Jennifer and Josephine by Bill Peet. Completing a portion of Priscilla Shirer’s Elijah Bible study entitled “Stop the Frenzy” reminded me of it recently.

The opening scene depicts a junkyard with a rusted-out car named Jennifer. A stray cat named Josephine spends her days lounging in Jennifer’s backseat. Then, one day, the sleeping cat unwittingly becomes a stowaway when a traveling salesman buys Jennifer.

After riding in the backseat for a few miles, Josephine nicknames the salesman “Mr. Frenzy,” highlighting his constant rush to get from one place to the next. She describes him as a pushy, rude bully who drives Jennifer quickly and carelessly over winding country roads. Mr. Frenzy takes one risk after another, not heeding other drivers or the property that he destroys along the way.1

Mr. Frenzy’s frantic demeanor seems to echo Priscilla Shirer’s comments about the prophets of Baal in her Elijah Bible study: “A frenzied life is not a faith-filled life. Whether it’s God’s people not staying firmly tied to Him, or godless people tying their hopes to godless pursuits, it invariably leads to an empty, hollow, unsatisfying conclusion, even after all the time and energy, after all that work and effort.”2

There are times when I could be nicknamed “Mrs. Frenzy.” As I cram more into my schedule, I’m less sensitive to those around me. Leaving no margin in my time causes me to be thoughtless, impatient, and irritable. Anything that stands in the way of accomplishing my agenda becomes an annoying obstacle. (And being fueled by caffeine only exacerbates the situation.) In my frenzied state, I’m not open to being interrupted by people who need my help or attention. And most important of all, my frantic pace causes me to feel impatient even when I’m trying to spend time with God.

Have you ever felt that way? For me, it’s a warning sign that I need to slow down and seek the Lord first before jumping into a frenzied day. As I pump the brakes and refocus on Him, He puts everything back into the right perspective. I accomplish exactly what I need to do and discover that some tasks that felt urgent really weren’t. I guess that’s a picture of Jesus’ words:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)   I love how the Message version paraphrases the last part: “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”3

The “yoke” Jesus mentions is a tool used for plowing a field. It is a curved piece of wood with two slots fitted over a pair of oxen. Imagine how unbalanced it would be to have one animal trying to carry a yoke meant for two. Similarly, when we try to carry our burdens on our own, we feel weary and beaten down. The added weight often causes us to feel frenzied and overwhelmed. However, when we yoke ourselves to Jesus, He gives us the strength we need because we are walking in step with Him. There is no need to be frantic when the Maker of the earth and stars walks beside us and shares the load.

One of my favorite verses sums it up: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:10, NIV) Another translation says: “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (NASB- italics added for emphasis) Our striving is a vain attempt to be in control of our lives that depletes and exhausts us. When we stop our frantic activity to be still, God reminds us He is Lord and we are not. Quieting our souls prompts us to return God to His proper place in our lives.

You can’t put gas in a car while it’s running. Similarly, it’s difficult to let the Holy Spirit fill you when you’re constantly on the go. Stopping to let Him rejuvenate and refresh you gives you a new perspective and enables you to be a restful presence for others.

Priscilla Shirer encourages us: “You have not been called to an exhausting spiritual life—wavering, weaving, overworking, selfishly wanting. You are His beloved [child]. Heir to a great inheritance. You can live in settled confidence. You can adjust from folly to faith. You can apply the hard-learned lessons of the process and rest in His sure provision.”4

Writing this was a convicting reminder for me. If you feel the same, then consider praying something like this: Lord, I confess that I can be like those frenzied idol worshipers Elijah mocked on Mt. Carmel. I want to repent of the areas where I’ve stopped trusting You and have traded faith for doubt, panic, and fear. Please empower me with your Spirit so that I can live in a way that’s clearly distinct from those who don’t know You. Remind me of the favor and approval I can claim because of my relationship with You through Jesus. Teach me to rest and live in step with the rhythm of your grace. In Jesus name, amen.

Slow down and let Johnny Diaz’s song “Breathe” help you gain perspective on your frenzied life. Click here to listen.

  1. Bill Peet, Jennifer and Josephine, Houghton Mifflin, 1967.
  2. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 145.
  3. Eugene H. Peterson, The Message, Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018.
  4. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 147.

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Sharing Hope

Feeling the vibration of my phone in my purse, I pulled it out and checked my texts. A long-time friend was reaching out to ask for prayer as her father neared the end of his life. Feeling weary and discouraged from months of dealing with doctors, caregivers, and grim diagnoses, she’d dashed off a text to a small group of us who had been supporting her. Empathizing with her grief, I replied with words of encouragement and a few verses that had sustained me in similar situations. Other friends chimed in with additional support, prayers, and Bible verses. Later, she replied to tell us how grateful she was to be reminded of the hope found in Jesus. 

In the past few years I’ve had many opportunities like this one. It’s a privilege to help someone reframe hard circumstances by looking at them from an eternal perspective. Experiences like this affirm Priscilla Shirer’s words in her Elijah Bible study: “What God says pinpoints the hinge that separates hope from hopelessness, possibility from impossibility…Elijah’s time in Cherith is what enabled his faith reflex to be so easily ignited during his interaction with the widow. He seemed almost to jump at the chance to introduce God’s provision and promise to her. He didn’t minimize her lack or pretend it wasn’t real…[but] he emphasized the word of the Lord that applied to her specific circumstance.”1

Elijah had experienced God’s miraculous provision first-hand during the eighteen months ravens fed him while living by the brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:2-6). So, when he left Cherith and encountered a starving widow in Zarephath preparing to make her final meal “Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid….For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” (1 Kings 17:13a, 14-16, NIV)

Elijah’s experience in Cherith enabled him to offer life-giving hope to the widow in Zarephath. But this story isn’t meant to stay tucked in the pages of Scripture. Priscilla Shirer challenges us, “Listen to me: Zarephath strategically brings you face to face with someone else’s impossibility—the terminal diagnosis, the unreachable child, the failing marriage, the crippling depression. Hear them and sincerely empathize when they tell you what they see, but don’t leave the conversation without inserting what their omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign, promise-keeping God says.”2

Of course, being able to give hope to someone else implies you’re pursuing God on your own—investing time in His Word, claiming His promises, and trusting that He’s going to come through for you. Our ability to encourage others and point them toward hope depends largely on how well we know God for ourselves. A firm foundation of faith is laid one day at a time. Intimacy with the Lord builds trust and provides hope when the world tells us all is lost. Priscilla Shirer describes the benefit of doing this: “As God matures and refines us, life’s crises won’t be capable of flipping the switch inside us that rams us into fear and anxiety mode. Instead, they will trigger and innate reaction within us to call out, to cry out, to the Lord. To trust Him. To rely on His sovereignty.”3

As we learn to lean into the Lord and let Him speak to us in trials and difficulties, He’ll use those experiences to give us “Zarephath moments” to encourage others. In the New Testament, Paul affirms this saying “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)

It’s a privilege to come along side others in their pain and struggles; it’s a joy to point them toward hope found only through Jesus. To do this effectively, here are a few suggestions to keep in mind:

1) Don’t rush your own healing process in your zeal to help others. If you’re enduring a trial or hardship, be tender and patient with yourself. Recognize your own limitations. Helping others while you’re still in the midst of your own hard situation can short-circuit your healing and be detrimental to them. You need the benefit of perspective before you’re ready to offer support. Elijah couldn’t attest to the Lord’s provision until he’d completed his tenure by the brook Cherith. 

2) Remember that others’ struggles aren’t exactly like yours. While there may be parallels between the difficulty you’ve had and the one someone else is facing, there are also differences. There’s usually not a one-size-fits-all approach to trials and challenges each of us face. And no one needs to hear how much worse your situation was in comparison with the one they’re enduring. Be honest about what you’ve experienced, but be sensitive and listen well.

3) If you’re going to share a Bible verse, take time to explain why it impacted you. Don’t make Scripture trite by throwing random verses at a hard situation and hoping they’ll stick. It’s meaningful to share promises from the Bible, books, songs, and articles that God used to encourage you, so be sure to tell your struggling friend how you benefited from them.

As you expand in your knowledge of Scripture and experience personal encouragement from it, the Lord will give you opportunities to share His truth with others who need hope too. Why not take a moment to pray about it right now? Try something like this: Lord, help me commit to studying your Word and applying it to my circumstances. Show me where I need personal healing before I can help others. Prompt me with the right words when you’re calling me to be a spokesperson for Your promises, as Elijah was for the widow in Zarephath. Help me to be sensitive and listen well. Please continue to encourage me in my struggles and lead me to opportunities to share hope with others who need it too. 

Let Mike Doheny’s song “All Together” inspire you to be authentic in your personal hardships and empathetic with others. Click here to listen.

  1. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 104.
  2. Ibid, 104
  3. Ibid, 109 

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In Between Times

I’ve always loved flowers that grow from bulbs: daffodils and tulips are my favorites. Plunging the small brown bulbs into the earth in the fall is like tucking away a gift that will delight me when shoots push through the soil the following spring. 

Once I’ve planted bulbs, there’s a process taking place underground that is hidden and quiet, but crucial for the flowers to bloom. Bulbs use the dark, cold months of winter to sprout roots at the base to anchor the plant in the soil. Then they lie ‘dormant,’ awaiting the right amount of sunlight and moisture to bring those tiny green shoots through the dirt. The ugly brown bulbs will eventually bloom into beautiful flowers in vivid colors.1 

The process of planting bulbs and waiting for them to bloom gives a perfect picture of those “in between times” when one season ends, and another hasn’t quite begun. Waiting isn’t my favorite activity and resting is hard for me. But I’ve learned that just as bulbs require the cold and quiet months of winter before sprouting, those “in between times” are vital for our mental, spiritual, and emotional lives. 

Elijah’s story gives us a perfect example of how God uses “in between times” in our lives to root us more deeply in Him before we can sprout and grow. After empowering Elijah to confront King Ahab, the Lord tells him: “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.” (1 Kings 17:3) With that simple command, God shifts Elijah from speaking with authority in the the king’s chambers to living in obscurity, isolated in the wilderness by a brook named “Cherith.” The brook’s name means “to cut off” or to “to cut down.” “[Elijah] was cut off from any visible means of support, but he was also being cut down to size, learning the invaluable lesson of how to depend on God alone.”2 During this season of waiting, the Lord prepares Elijah for future assignments that will be even more challenging.

Priscilla Shirer provides insight that helps us to apply Elijah’s story on a personal level: “’Cherith’—a season of life that I perceived at the time to be undesirable, obscure, isolating, unproductive and relatively mundane…It’s sometimes seemed to me like a waste of  weeks, months, and years, away from the work He’s been calling me to do—work that seems a lot more important to me than the little I appeared to be accomplishing while at Cherith. But just as Elijah apparently needed to learn, I’m not as necessary to the greater work of God, as much as the greater work of God is necessary to me.”3

Can you recall Cherith seasons in your own life? Are you in one now? As I’ve studied week 2 in Priscilla Shirer’s Elijah, God has reminded me of several “in between times” in my past that I didn’t welcome or enjoy (at first). In retrospect, I can see how each one deepened my connection to Him and prepared me for something yet to come. Cherith seasons have taught me to slow down, be patient, and trust God in the waiting. 

I’ve written before about my freshman year in college, when I was lonely and aching for deep friendships. That season of longing drew me into a more intimate relationship with God than I’d ever had before. Now I see that the Lord was teaching me to want Him more than I wanted anything else from Him. Times alone in prayer and Scripture reading built a solid connection between us. God filled my need for security and belonging when I was tempted to look for it in unhealthy places with ungodly people. Seeking Him first gave me the freedom to enjoy friendships without expecting anyone to fill all my longings and meet all my needs.

Later in life, God led me into another Cherith season after the birth of my first child. My son was born in May, which was always one of my busiest seasons at work. His birth pivoted me from overseeing a bustling schedule of student activities at the high school where I taught to sitting in a quiet house nursing a newborn. As much as I loved my son and relished the gift of maternity leave, I felt restless and insignificant. My schedule had been overwhelmingly full for so long that I didn’t know what to do with the time between feeding my baby and changing his diapers. I wrestled with God about staying home with my son or going back to work. My uncertainty led me to begin praying consistently for wisdom, direction, and peace. The Lord also used that quiet season to ignite a hunger in me to study His Word. Choosing to take a leave of absence from my teaching job opened the opportunity to try an inductive Bible study class. Soon, the quiet hours in my house while my son napped became sacred time to meet the Lord in prayer and discover truth in the pages of Scripture. 

Those two “in between times” laid a foundation that I’m still building on today. Cultivating a personal, intimate relationship with the Lord in college and then prioritizing studying His Word in my first years of motherhood continue to sustain me today. Like a bulb sprouting roots underground before pushing upward to the surface, God used those times, and many others since then, to deepen my spiritual roots so that I could blossom and give Him glory.

If you’re in a Cherith season now, let the Lord sustain you as He did for Elijah at the brook. Rather than lamenting the waiting or questioning His purposes, trust that He’s at work in ways you can’t see. Soak up the nutrients of His Word. Reach towards Him in prayer and trust the He’s preparing you for the next step on your journey with Him. “Remember this: Waiting time doesn’t have to be wasted time. Even though you feel like God’s clock is moving at a glacial pace, God knows exactly where you are right now, and He knows exactly what He is doing. Elijah went through a Cherith experience, but during that time of waiting Elijah learned vital skills every one of us has to learn if we are going to be used by God in an extraordinary way.”2

While you wait, take heart and let David’s words in Psalm 27 become your own:“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14, NIV)

Need some encouragement while you wait? Click here and listen to Elevation Worship’s “Do It Again.”

  1. All My Favourite Flower Names: “Spring Bulbs and Other Storage Organs”
  2. Dr. Robert Jeffress, “Two Purposes for Elijah’s Waiting”
  3. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah, Lifeway Press, 2020, 51-52.

Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com.

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When Convenience Leads to Compromise

We first meet Elijah in 1 Kings 18 as he confronts wicked King Ahab of Israel and tells him the Lord will withhold rain from Israel for three years. To understand this bold confrontation, we need some historical context. Priscilla Shirer takes us back in time to Solomon’s dedication of the temple, “over the course of eight decades in Israel, spanning six different kings, the God-honoring families who once esteemed Him had incrementally relaxed their commitments. They’d departed from the singular worship of Yahweh. They’d welcomed idolatrous activity into their lives as an accepted practice.”1

This downward spiral picked up speed about 50 years before King Ahab, when his forefather, Jeroboam, became the first king of Israel’s Northern Kingdom. Jeroboam feared any threat to his power, especially from his southern rival in Judah, King Rehoboam. This fear led him to reinvent what and where his people worshiped: “After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, ‘It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’”(1 Kings 12:28, NIV)

So, to maintain his power and influence, Jeroboam rejected the ways of the Lord by making new religious symbols (golden calves) and new sanctuaries closer to home. Additionally, he installed new priests who complied with his wishes instead of following the Word of God. Finally, he replaced the Lord’s decrees to celebrate festivals at specific times and created new ones to replace them.2 He did all of this under the pretense of making worship more convenient for his people.

This rejection of the Lord, His ways, and His decrees set up future generations of Israelites to follow similar patterns and to add additional offenses on top of them. Ironically, Jeroboam ignored the promise the Lord had made to him years earlier: “I will take you, and you will rule over all that your heart desires; you will be king over Israel. If you do whatever I command you and walk in obedience to me and do what is right in my eyes by obeying my decrees and commands, as David my servant did, I will be with you. I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you.” (1 Kings 11:37b-38, NIV)

It seems so ridiculous, doesn’t it? We wonder how someone who had been promised so much could veer in the opposite direction and take a whole nation with him. It would be wise for us to learn from Jeroboam’s example and its consequences on future generations. Let’s examine them together.

-Jeroboam ignored God’s promises. He let fear of losing power and the desire to control his people drive him to create idols and devise new religious practices. It makes me wonder: When do we let fear cause us to ignore God’s promises? When are we so consumed with maintaining control of a situation that we do the opposite of what the Lord wants us to do? 

-Jeroboam made new gods for the Israelites to worship. People worship what captivates their time and attention. If we’re too busy or distracted to prioritize worshiping the Lord, praying, and Scripture reading, then what’s attracting our focus? We know better than to bow down to golden calves, but are there other less obvious “new gods” that dominate our thoughts and dictate our actions?

-Jeroboam used convenience as an excuse for compromise. Rather than traveling all the way to Jerusalem to worship in the temple, he created new sanctuaries closer to home. Where are we tempted to compromise for the sake of convenience? Are online church services making it easy to opt out of gathering with others for in-person worship? Do we tune out or numb ourselves when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin? Are we approaching church as consumers looking to be accommodated and expecting to be served? 

-Jeroboam appointed new priests who didn’t honor God or follow His Word. Are we tempted to follow the teachings of those who are revising beliefs to align with popular culture? Are we picking and choosing which biblical standards we want to follow? Are we replacing the authority of sound teaching with opinions of people who have charisma but lack character and biblical knowledge? 

-Jeroboam invented new religious festivals to replace ones instituted by God. Each feast on the Jewish calendar prompted God’s people to remember specific events that showed His faithfulness, or to make atonement for their sins. Additionally, observing the Sabbath created a weekly opportunity for the people to stop, slow down, and reconnect with the Lord. I wonder: Have we allowed holidays rooted in Scripture to be overshadowed by secular culture? Do we build in time for Sabbath rest once a week to experience spiritual refreshment and renewal? 

Those Old Testament stories that seem remote have more relevance than we realize at first glance. The questions I’ve asked may be unsettling, but they’re meant to help you consider any needed course corrections for your good. Are you willing to evaluate where you’re being influenced to compromise your faith for convenience, comfort, or acceptance?

Let Priscilla Shirer’s comments motivate you to realign with God’s truth and prioritize obedience to Him: “He has revealed Himself in creation so clearly that even those who aren’t seeking Him or wanting Him can be captivated by His majesty and power, His beauty and tenderness, as seen in the world around them. In fact, the evidence is so conspicuous that those who don’t believe are held responsible for ignoring it because in self-deceit they have willingly suppressed the mountain of evidence…When people foolishly declare there is no God, or when they dishonor Him by refusing to acknowledge Him or give Him due reverence, He eventually lets go. When people hate the things God has called good, or love the things He’s called evil, He finally just lets them have what they want, as well as the consequences that come with it.”3

Consider responding with a prayer like this: God, please make me more like Elijah. Show me where I’ve been tainted by idolatrous influences or dulled into spiritual apathy. Help me to recognize where I’ve compromised with secular culture and adopted attitudes and perspectives that align with it more than Your Word. Free me from the need to impress or please others. Help me to value your righteousness and to eliminate anything that I’m holding in higher regard than You.

While some people want to factor God out of the equation like Jeroboam did, the Lord’s power and presence remain as strong as ever. Be reminded of this by listening to “My God is Still the Same” by Sanctus Real.

  • 1. Priscilla Shirer, Elijah: Faith and Fire, Lifeway Press, 2020, p. 27
  • 2. John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Victor Books, 1985, p. 512-514
  • 3. ibid, p.30 (commentary on Romans 1:28)

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Elijah: Just Like Us

Choosing which people in Scripture to include in Extraordinary Prayer posed some challenges for me. Because there are more individuals with prayers recorded in the Bible than I could include in one study, I had to make some hard choices. One person that I left out was the prophet Elijah. Despite being a mighty prayer warrior, his unusual story has so many facets to address that it seemed like he needed a study devoted only to him. That’s one of the many reasons I’m excited to pick up where we left off last fall by studying his life in Priscilla Shirer’s Elijah: Faith and Fire.

Shirer explains, “The Bible sets [Elijah] beside Moses as the primary prophetic figure of the Old Testament and uses him as a point of spiritual reference throughout the New Testament, centuries after he lived. He seems almost super-human, right? An exception to the rule instead of an example to which we can aspire.” (p. 16) And yet, the book of James tells us: “Elijah was a human being, even as we are.” (James 5:17, NIV)

Did you catch that? Elijah was just like us. He was an ordinary person through whom God accomplished the extraordinary. That theme probably sounds familiar if you spent time doing Extraordinary Prayer with me last fall. Studying Elijah for the next couple of months will give us the opportunity to pull back the curtain on his life so that we can see not only the spectacular feats God performed through him, but the human frailty that makes him so relatable. 

Priscilla Shirer points out: “Elijah’s limitations, weaknesses, and emotional quirks didn’t scare God off or disqualify him from serving God in a mighty way…[God] didn’t ignore His prophet’s needs and neuroses. He worked with them; He made use of them in showing His care for Elijah, as well as showing what He can accomplish in each of us despite our human imperfections.” (p.20)

I have plenty of limitations, weaknesses, and emotional quirks. I’m guessing you do, too. Isn’t it comforting to know that they don’t disqualify us from serving the Lord? Let’s commit to giving this study our effort and attention. Consider the next seven weeks of guided time in the Bible as an invitation to discover new things about God’s character, Elijah’s story, and how the Lord wants to grow your personal faith. It’s one simple way to follow the example of Elijah, whose quiet and consistent devotion to the Lord allowed God to work in mighty ways through him.

How about stopping right now to offer a short prayer of commitment? Try something like this: God, I praise you for using ordinary people to accomplish the extraordinary. Forgive me for doubting this or for being too distracted to invest in our relationship consistently. Thank you for the gift of your Word and the opportunity to study it with others who are committed to following you. Help me commit to doing the study of Elijah consistently over the coming weeks. Please multiply my time, increase my ability to focus, and give me the motivation to study the Bible with the attention it deserves. Remind me to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me and to show me how to apply what I’m learning. Help me to rely on your strength and to let you work in and through me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Let Danny Gokey’s “Stand in Faith” inspire you as we kick off this new study together.  Click here to listen.

Priscilla Shirer, Elijah: Faith and Fire, Lifeway Press, 2020.

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Seeking Spiritual Renewal

Pulling out of the driveway, my son smiled and waved as he drove off with his buddies. The growling engine and over-sized tires broadcast to the neighborhood that they were headed out to have a four-wheeling adventure at an OHV park. (In case you’re unfamiliar, OHV stands for “Off Highway Vehicle.)” My son and his friends enjoy bouncing on dirt trails, crawling up rocks, driving through streams, and problem solving when they get stuck or break something. 

That day’s adventure happened not long after a rainstorm. When the boys returned in the evening, it was impossible to tell the Jeep’s paint color. Every inch from roof to tires was covered in layers of thick, caked on mud. The following day they spent as much time cleaning the Jeep as they’d devoted to getting it dirty. They admitted it wouldn’t stay pristine for long, but knew it was better to wash it before the grime was too deeply embedded. 

Lately, I’ve been thinking about that cycle of cleansing and renewal as it relates to our spiritual lives. When we choose to follow Jesus we’re washed clean from our sin and given new life in Him: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV) Unfortunately, we’re still living in a broken world so, even as “new creations,” sin and distractions pull us away from God. Right now, so many believers seem to be struggling and forgetting to look to the Lord for hope and fulfillment. We’ve drifted from the rhythms that keep us tethered to Jesus. Some of us have gotten complacent or apathetic, forgoing opportunities for growth and opting for comfort instead. We’re distracted by social media, news, COVID, or other concerns about our health. We’re engrossed in political and social issues. We’re fearful and anxious, forgetting the hope we have in Jesus. In some instances, we’ve let the grime of sin build up and block our connection to the Lord. But no matter what kind of mess we find ourselves in, God delights in cleansing and renewing us when we draw near to Him again: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV)

Maybe that’s why we resolve to start over and try again when a new year begins. God affirms this notion saying, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV) The Lord doesn’t want us stuck dwelling on the past. He’s ready and waiting to lead us down fresh paths.

Have you drifted from Jesus or grown complacent in the past year? Are your habits and patterns distracting or detracting from your spiritual growth? Are you fearful and anxious? Maybe it’s time to seek spiritual renewal and incorporate some fresh rhythms into your life.

Try slowing down and starting your day with a devotional and the Bible before checking your phone. Consider limiting negative inputs that make you anxious, fearful, or envious. Process your thoughts and emotions with the Lord by writing in a prayer journal. Prioritize time in your schedule to join a group that studies God’s Word regularly. (See below for some ideas). Make a fresh start keeping Paul’s words in mind: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2, NIV)

Let’s stop conforming to the patterns of the world and make 2022 a year of spiritual renewal. Are you in?

Click here to be inspired by Mac Powell’s song: “River of Life”

Click here to see options for Bible studies and small groups at CPC Danville. And click here if you’d like to get a huge boost of spiritual refreshment through IF:Gathering 2022 online.

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Looking Back at 2021, Looking Ahead at 2022

We’re turning the page on the calendar and kicking off a new year. Before diving into 2022, let’s take some time to look back and look ahead. For starters, what stands out from the past year? What shaped your character, faith, and worldview? Where did you see God at work? How did you grow? Looking ahead, where will you focus your time and energy in the coming year? To get you started, I’ll share my answers below. 

What stands out as you look back on the past year?

Seeing Extraordinary Prayer come to fruition and watching God use it in the lives of many people has been a noteworthy part of 2021. I learned so much through writing, teaching, and discussing the study. God led me to an amazing group of women who agreed to teach some of the sessions. Our times meeting and praying together were highlights of the year for me. Also, with the ongoing challenge of COVID restrictions, I am amazed 150 women were able to meet weekly to hear powerful teaching and to engage in rich discussions about the study. I loved hearing about other groups who were meeting on their own to study it. Most importantly, I’m grateful for how God used it to transform people’s prayer lives and to draw them closer to Him.

I’ve only surfed a handful of times, but watching the Lord pull this study together felt like paddling hard and then catching a wave and taking a thrilling ride. Writing a book has been a lifelong dream for me, and I’ve loved seeing how God has used it. Now, what stands out as you look back on the last year in your life?

What shaped your character, faith, and worldview?

I try to be intentional about what shapes me. Just like the food we consume affects our physical health, the inputs we allow into our brains affect our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Social media feeds, news articles, podcasts, shows, movies, and books all impact us powerfully. Here are few that have shaped me in positive ways in the last year:

Podcasts: This Cultural Moment with John Mark Comer & Mark Sayers has helped me to understand trends and issues in our culture, how they are affecting people and the Church, and how I, as a follower of Jesus, am called to respond. These pastors are godly, biblical, smart, and well-read. I’ve learned so much from listening to their conversations about following Jesus in a post-Christian world. Click here to learn more.

Made for This with Jennie Allen has helped me to apply Scripture to my daily life. Jennie’s teaching and interviews explore and expand on important aspects of how to be a healthy, wise, and biblically literate follower of Jesus. Click here to learn more.

Books: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer has caused me to consider how and where to invest my time and focus. It’s helped me understand how technology has shaped us and shortened our attention spans. This book has inspired me to be more intentional and thoughtful about incorporating spiritual disciplines like silence, solitude, Sabbath rest, and simplicity into my life consistently.

Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley and Henry Lodge has motivated me to care for my body and my mind so that they are durable for the long haul. I’m looking at exercising, nurturing friendships, eating healthy, and challenging my mind as vital for my well-being. Maintaining my own health frees me to serve and bless others with fewer limitations.

Gay Girl, Good God by Jackie Hill Perry is one of many books I read this year that helped me to explore a polarizing and sensitive topic. Hill’s autobiographical perspective is filled with grace and biblical truth.

Now, consider what shaped your character and worldview this year. Did your inputs draw you closer to God? What will you add or eliminate for 2022?

Where did you see God at work? How did you grow personally or spiritually?

It has been a year of emotional highs and lows for me. I’ve written a lot about God working through Extraordinary Prayer. I’ve written a little about how He comforted me in grief over losing my mom and selling our family home of 45 years. I haven’t mentioned how those painful events triggered some old challenges. The Lord has been at work healing my heart and helping me to re-route some unhealthy thought patterns as I’ve spent time with a Christian therapist. God continues to help me recognize roadblocks that I’ve been unable or unwilling to confront. He’s helping me grow in understanding myself and how I relate to others. It’s been hard work, but so worth it. Now, where did you see God at work and how did you grow this year?

Where will you focus your energy in 2022?

Looking ahead at 2022, I am inspired to make prayer and presence a bigger priority. I want to pray consistently for renewal among believers so that they long for God’s presence, kingdom, and righteousness more than anything else. I also want to pray for the hearts of people who have been deceived by the enemy and have believed lies about the Lord. Corporate renewal begins with personal renewal, so I’d like to be more focused on God’s presence in my life. I’m considering trying a new spiritual discipline like fasting to help my prayers be more targeted and intentional. I’m also hoping to continue sharing Extraordinary Prayer with others so they can grow deeper with the Lord. How about you? Where will you focus your time and energy in 2022?

Whether you’re heading into the new year feeling hopeful or discouraged, let “Come What May” by We Are Messengers remind you of God’s nearness. Don’t miss the beautiful reassurance it includes from Psalm 23. Then, take some time with these questions and let the Lord guide you as you chart your course for 2022. Happy New Year!

Light of the World

Pushing aside tissue paper, I reached into the gift bag and pulled out a bright yellow sweatshirt with “Be the light” written on the front. It was an early Christmas gift that brought a colorful reminder of the meaning of this season. We can’t live without light. It nourishes our bodies, souls, and minds. Light helps us to walk confidently. It gives us warmth. It lifts our spirits and guides our paths. It is also something we’re meant to share with others.

Christmas is the season when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. I love how the twinkling lights on my tree and on buildings all over town remind me of this. Inspired by my new sweatshirt, I thumbed through the pages of Scripture to see how Jesus embodies light and uses it to bring hope in and through us. Let’s explore a few key passages to see this powerful theme woven throughout Scripture.

About 700 years before Jesus, Isaiah prophesied about Him. He described many aspects of the coming Messiah, including using the imagery of light: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:2, NIV) Without the light of Jesus, we walk in spiritual darkness. His light gives us hope and purpose in this life and the promise of eternity with Him.

Turning to the New Testament, we see John start off his gospel by referring to Jesus: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1-5, NIV) Life in Jesus is the source of spiritual light. His light is more powerful than any dark force and has defeated sin. This gives us hope, no matter how dark the world or our circumstances feel at times.

John’s gospel also includes Jesus describing Himself: “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” (John 8:12, NIV) True life is found only in Jesus. One commentary explains, “Coming to Christ for salvation results in a different kind of life. A believer will never walk in darkness, that is, he will not live in it (12:46, 1 John 1:6-7). He does not remain in the realm of evil and ignorance (John 12:46) for he has Christ as his Light and salvation (Ps. 36:9).”1

John speaks about the power of light again in another New Testament book: “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-8, NIV) God doesn’t just provide us with light, He is light. As we’re drawn to Him, we’re blessed to join with people who are like-minded. This fellowship with other believers provides us with the comfort and encouragement we need to function in a world filled with darkness and sin.

Knowing God is light and that He gives it to us through Jesus has powerful implications for us as believers. Consider Jesus’ teaching on this in the Sermon on the Mount: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV) Surrendering our lives to Jesus not only enables us to walk in the light, it lets His light shine through us to bless others. That’s what my new yellow sweatshirt reminds me every time I wear it. What I love about this is that we don’t have to try to be the light—it automatically shines through us when we’re walking with Jesus and aligning with the Holy Spirit.

Peter, another one of Jesus’ disciples, also teaches followers of Jesus about light:  “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9, NIV) We’ve been called out of darkness and have the blessing and privilege of walking in the warmth, comfort, and hope of God’s light. That’s what we’re celebrating at Christmas!

Peter’s second letter circles us back to the prophecies from the Old Testament about the coming light: “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:19-21, NIV) 

A Bible commentary explains, “Peter told how to derive meaning from God’s Word—pay attention to it. As a Light, God’s written Word has validity and authority…God’s prophetic Word is a Light…shining in a dark place. Though the world is darkened by sin (Isa. 9:2, Eph. 6:12), God’s Word pointing to the future, enlightens believers about His ways…Much as a lamp at night anticipates and is outshined by the bright morning star, so Old Testament prophecy looks ahead to the coming of Christ, ‘the bright Moring Star’ (Rev. 22:16). Until he comes, believers are to let the Scriptures illumine their hearts.”1

So, this Christmas, we celebrate Jesus’ first coming as a baby who was heralded by a special star in the sky, and we anticipate His second coming as the bright Morning Star who will return at the end of days. During this “in between time,” let’s continue basking in the light by drawing near to Him and spending time in His Word.

How about pushing the pause button on the bustle of the season and devoting a few quiet moments to marveling at Jesus as the Light of the World? Be inspired to let His light shine through you wherever you find yourself this season.

Enjoy a worship moment with Lauren Daigle’s “Light of the World.” (I can’t watch this video without shedding a few tears!) Click here to watch.

  1. John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Victor Books. 1983, pages 303 & 868.