Category: Spiritual Growth

A Spacious Place

Sitting in the driver’s seat as my husband backed the boat into the water, my heart pounded with apprehension. The launch ramp was short and the levee across the narrow slough was only a few feet away. The tight space to maneuver made me nervous, especially with other boats in the water nearby. I breathed a sigh of relief once I tied up at the miniscule dock to wait for my husband.

Only a few hundred yards away, a much wider channel on the Delta beckoned us, promising a day of boating in the summer sun. I had to remind myself of the fun that awaited us every time I felt dread about launching the boat.

It may seem funny that I imagined that scene as I read Elihu’s words of wisdom to Job:

“He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.” (Job 36:16 NIV)

He encourages Job that his season of hardship will draw him out of dire straits and into a broad place. It’s a surprising use of the word “wooing.” Why would he need to be wooed from distress? Wouldn’t he run from it on his own? After researching the meaning of “woo” in the original language, I discovered it’s defined as “to stimulate, seduce, move, persuade, or provoke.” Elihu’s metaphor shows that it is only by passing through the jaws of distress that we can enter the fullness of the “spacious place.” It’s not so different from labor contractions that help with delivering a baby.

Bible commentator W.F. Adene provides a deeper understanding of the contrasting metaphors depicting a life in narrow straits and one in spacious places. He explains that various influences combine to make life “narrow” for us. These things include:

Selfishness: The tendency to think about ourselves overshadows the world around us. If we’re living “chiefly for our own ends, we are shut into a small circle of personal, private interests, and, the great world being ignored, we ourselves shrink into littleness.”

Worldliness: When we’re consumed by the things of this world and overlook the eternal, we become short-sighted. Our thoughts and interests are “shut in to the domain of the visible and temporal.”

Conventionality: Our worldview narrows when we lose the courage of personal conviction and “fall back on the ideas and practices” of the world around us. 

Routine: When all goes smoothly in our lives, “the mill grinds on in a dreamy atmosphere of changeless indifference.” We grow apathetic if nothing rouses us to see beyond ourselves.

Consequently, there are times when “God delivers us from narrowness by means of affliction.” The Lord sees how hurtful and limiting narrowness is to us, so He uses difficulties to spur us onward and out of our rigid, stunted ways of thinking. Like the birthing process, the pressure of our hardships awakens us and goads us to move forward. “Then, as it cures our errors, it leads us out of its own constraints.”

Adene goes on to explain that God’s deliverance takes us to a more spacious place in three ways:

Liberty of Action: Jesus tells us in John’s gospel “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:38, NIV) Freedom of the soul comes when we look beyond ourselves. “There is a large place with great scope for work, which can only be enjoyed in unselfishness and unworldliness.”

Breadth of View: Our vision is broadened and deepened through experiencing sorrow. “Although at first it may be cramped and confined to the immediate present by the absorbing influence of pain, when deliverance comes, this is followed by a wonderful mental expansion. No one knows the depth and breadth of life who has not been through the waters of affliction.”

Largeness of Joy: Emerging from the confines of a painful season, we discover a new sense of freedom. As we grow out of stunted and limited ways of thinking, our ability to experience the deep joy of the Lord grows. Our minds become spacious places as we become more accepting of the variety of ways God works.

Seasons of suffering and hardship open our eyes and give us new perspective on ourselves, our circumstances, our relationships, and God. They teach us in ways that good times can’t.

Lisa Harper explains, “Whether the genesis of the pain and hardship you’ve had to walk through was caused through no fault of your own, like Job’s agony, was the consequence of bad, perhaps even sinful, decisions, or was the result of God’s sovereign, albeit mysterious pruning, we all have a choice in how we respond after we’ve been injured. We can choose to isolate in shame, become prickly and accusatory because of guilt, or move toward God in the tenderhearted posture of humility, trust, and repentance—the only path to healing and restoration.” (p. 116)

Perhaps God is using difficult circumstances to woo you into a more spacious place where the richness of a broader perspective awaits. Consider how He might be urging you toward freedom as you enjoy Austin French’s “Freedom Hymn.”

This post is primarily an adaptation of a sermon entitled “A Broad Place” by W.F. Adene. You can read the original outline by clicking here.

Lisa Harper, Job: A Story of Unlikely Joy, Lifeway Press 2018.

Suffering Isn’t Punishment

We have lots of names for it: payback, karma, retribution. We use clichés like “you get what you deserve” or “you had it coming to you.” Often, we examine a person’s life to make sense of why they’re enduring hardships. And, like Job’s friends, we make faulty assumptions like this: “(1) All suffering is the result of sin. (2) God punishes each act of sin with a penalty that corresponds to the gravity of the sin. (3) Suffering is proof of personal guilt.”1

It’s clear in Scripture that God punishes evil and sin. A few notable examples are the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 18 & 19 and the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 (you can read them later if you need a reminder).  

That said, any punishment we deserve for sin has already been dealt with on the cross: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-26, NIV)

Anyone who puts faith in Jesus as Savior is no longer subject to the penalty that sinners deserve because restitution has already been made. So, if we’re not being punished, what other reasons might there be for our suffering? Here are a few:

Discipline: Sometimes hard things happen to us because we need to be disciplined. When we receive correction from God and let it refine us, we prove that we are His children and that we trust Him: “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?” The passage continues, “God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:7, 10b-11, NIV)

If you’re enduring hardship right now, ask the Lord to make it clear if He’s disciplining you for some reason. Invite a godly friend to give you some perspective. Maybe you need accountability on some sinful behaviors or attitudes that you’re overlooking.

Spiritual Maturity: Sometimes God allows hardships because they develop spiritual maturity in us and prove our faith is genuine. Suffering can foster character qualities we need to grow in our relationship with the Lord: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4, NIV)

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7, NIV)

Perhaps there’s a latent quality in you that God is uncovering through what you’re enduring. Or maybe there’s an aspect of your character that God is refining through your hardship.

To Display God’s Glory: As Bible teacher Lisa Harper says, sometimes our suffering is a conduit for God’s glory. When we lean into Him and trust Him, we grow closer to the Lord. We also impact others with the hope we find in Him, whether we get a favorable outcome or not.

When Jesus and His disciples encountered a man blind from birth, they asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned…but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Later, the man shared his story with the Pharisees, saying “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:1-3, 25, NIV)

Paul also explained that suffering displays God’s glory, even while we’re experiencing it: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” (Philippians 1:12-14, NIV)

Are you willing to pray and ask God to show His glory through your suffering? 

To Experience God’s Power: Suffering strips away anything else we’ve relied on for strength and drives us to God. Paul explains: “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NIV)

Have you tapped into the sufficiency of God’s grace to strengthen you through your hardships?

Encouragement for Others: Walking faithfully with God through suffering opens us to His blessings and gives hope to others enduring hardship: “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:11, NIV)

Have you considered the way your response to suffering could be like Job’s? Like him, we have the opportunity to inspire others and lead them to the God of hope.

If you’re suffering right now, let the words of “King of My Heart” by Bethel Music encourage you today.

  1. J. Mark Terry, “Job’s Friends: Models of Compassion?” quoted from Job: A Story of Unlikely Joy by Lisa Harper, Lifeway Press 2018, p. 56

The Blessing of the Broken Road

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I tossed the essay on my son’s bed and congratulated him. Across the top of the page, his teacher had written “This is AMAZING!” in bold blue print. He’d been assigned to write about an event that sparked a period of personal growth for him. His descriptive language impressed me, but it was the recognition of how a difficult season in his life had changed him for the better that made me weepy. What a joy it was to see him choosing to learn and grow through hardships instead of letting them make him bitter and cynical.

It’s hard work to re-frame the way we view difficult times. We’re quick to label them as bad and to rail against the unfairness of having to endure them. Most of us view setbacks as interruptions from the way life is “supposed” to unfold, betraying a sense of entitlement we may not realize we have. But when we pause to examine hard circumstances further, there is much we can learn. The opportunities for personal and spiritual growth are only limited by our willingness to shift our perspectives. When we begin to view hard circumstances through a biblical lens, we start seeing that what looks bad on the surface is brimming with good.

Perhaps one of the best examples of this comes from the life of Joseph recorded in Genesis. After being sold by his jealous brothers to slave traders, he finds himself in a series of unfortunate circumstances. Despite being a person of honor and integrity, he’s falsely accused of rape, thrown in prison, and left there for two years. Eventually his character and faithfulness to God lead to a stunning reversal. After interpreting a prophetic dream for Pharaoh, he’s made second in command of Egypt. In this position, he’s tasked with ensuring the crops produced during seven years of plenty are stored to prepare for seven subsequent years of famine, in keeping with Pharaoh’s dream.

Meanwhile, Joseph’s family in Canaan experiences the ravages of the famine and heads to Egypt to buy food. His ten older brothers appear before him to buy grain and, “Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.” (Genesis 42:8, NIV)

After several interactions with them over time, Joseph can’t restrain himself any longer and proclaims, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.’” (Genesis 45:4b-7, NIV)

Rather than spewing anger at them for selling him into slavery and inflicting years of misery upon him, he reassures them. Joseph sees the big picture and realizes that God, in His sovereignty, used him to save his family and many others from starving to death during the famine. Later, he reiterates this to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20, NIV)

Reading that leads me to think of someone else who endured hardship for the good of many: Jesus. Just as Joseph tumbled downward from his privileged position as Jacob’s favorite son to a lowly slave, Jesus left the glory of heaven to become a lowly man: “[Jesus] made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” (Philippians 2:7, NIV)

Joseph endured the humiliation of being falsely accused and punished for a crime he didn’t commit.  In the same way, Jesus was falsely accused and received punishment for the sins of all humankind: “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV)

Scripture explains the purpose behind this: “For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 8:3-4, NIV)

Joseph traveled a broken road, but he saw how his painful circumstances led to ultimate good—the saving of many lives. Like him, Jesus’ suffering led to an even greater good–the saving of humankind. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17, NIV)

God allowed His son to walk a painful path for the sake of ultimate good, triumphing over evil, death, and sin. Could it be possible that the lesser hardships we endure can also be used for His glory and our good? 

Beloved author and theologian C.S. Lewis describes pain as “God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Are you willing to listen? How about refocusing your perspective on hardships using the lens of God’s goodness? This can move you past the pain and discomfort to discover the greater significance, as Joseph did.

Keep his story in mind and consider how your hurts and hardships might be pointing you toward the Lord as you listen to “Bless the Broken Road” by Selah.

To learn about other parallels between Joseph and Jesus, click here.

The Best Request

As a kid, I loved listening to records (yes, the vinyl kind). One of my favorites was called “Tales from the Arabian Nights” and had a storyteller that regaled listeners with accounts of exotic people, places, and events. The one I loved most was the story of Aladdin and the magic lamp. Sometimes I fantasized about how I would answer if a genie appeared to grant my most extravagant wishes. 

Of course, those stories were pure fiction. However, there is one character in the Bible who was given the opportunity to make any request he wanted from the source of all power and authority: God Almighty. Maybe you’ve already figured out I’m talking about the story of Solomon, King David’s son and successor to the throne of Israel. Not long after being crowned the new king, Solomon went to offer sacrifices to the Lord and had an unforgettable encounter with Him. Here’s how it starts:

“At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’

Solomon answered, ‘You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.’” (1 Kings 3:5-6, NIV)

Did you notice what Solomon says before making his request? He starts by recognizing the Lord’s faithfulness to his father, David, and acknowledging that the Lord is responsible for his privileged position. Despite being king, he offers humble recognition that he is merely the recipient of God’s goodness and confirms the Lord’s authority over his life.

Stop for a moment and reflect on your typical conversations with the God. Is it common for you to acknowledge Him for the ways He has provided for you and given you privilege and power? If you don’t think you have privilege or power, here are some things to consider: the family that raised you and what benefits came from it, the country where you were born and the privileges that come with being a citizen, your education and intellect, your material/ financial resources, your relationships, your children/ grandchildren, your skills, gifts and abilities, your connections, etc. Many times, we’re so focused on what we want or need from God that we forget to notice what He’s already given us. Yet Solomon stops to acknowledge the Lord first, even when he’s offered anything he wants. Perhaps we’d be wise to follow his lead in our prayers.

Let’s examine the next portion of Solomon’s interaction with God before looking at the request he makes: “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.”(1 Kings 3:7, NIV)

Note how Solomon accepts his humble position in relation to the Lord, describing himself as “only a little child.” He recognizes that as king, he is God’s servant. He understands the enormous responsibility that accompanies his privileged position. Considering this, evaluate how much you include the Lord in carrying out your regular responsibilities. Do you acknowledge God’s sovereignty? Do you invite His guidance and involvement in all areas of your life– including less “spiritual” places like work, school, volunteer positions, and social circles? Be honest. Are there areas that you’re afraid or unwilling to surrender? Will you risk humbling yourself to let Him be Lord of every part of your life?

Finally, we come to Solomon’s request:

“Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?’” (1 Kings 3:8-9, NIV)

In one word, what Solomon wanted most was wisdom. And here is the result: “The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” (1 Kings 3:10-14, NIV)

Solomon recognized his need for God’s wisdom in governing the people of Israel, and this pleased the Lord. He not only granted Solomon’s request, but blessed him in many other ways as well. Maybe you’re thinking this story isn’t applicable to you. After all, most of us will never rule a kingdom. However, the New Testament promises we, too, can ask God for wisdom at any time for any circumstance–even ones that don’t seem overtly spiritual in nature. The book of James explains: “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 seas, blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6, NIV ’84)

Is it time to change up your prayers a bit? Instead of telling God the specifics of how you’d like Him to deal with a situation, start by praising Him for being Lord of your life. Then ask Him to equip you with the wisdom you need and leave the rest up to Him. Let Him surprise you with the blessings that flow from there.

Casting Crowns song “God of All My Days” beautifully captures this kind of prayer. Why not listen now and let the words speak for you?

Lamp Image by Vicki Nunn from Pixabay.com

A Clean Heart

Playing alone quietly, I accidentally ruined the small toy I’d found to occupy myself. I couldn’t have been more than five, but I still remember the horror of realizing I had broken something that didn’t belong to me. We’d been visiting the home of family friends and, since their kids were the ages of my three oldest siblings, I’d been left to my own devices. On that day, I’d found an old mobile with a dangling yellow bird in a back bedroom. I hadn’t meant to ruin it, I’d only been testing to see how far I could stretch the spring before it would recoil again. But my experiment backfired when I stretched it so far that the spring’s metal bent and stayed extended for good. Realizing my mistake, I decided to hide it and pretend nothing had happened.

Not long after, one of the older kids discovered the mobile and accused me of ruining it. Stammering to cover my mistake, I blurted out the only thing I could think to say, “I, I, just found it that way, it was already broken!”

Everyone knew I was lying, but I wouldn’t admit the truth (until now). I’ll never forgot that moment–it’s the earliest memory I have of not confessing a wrongdoing. Of course, my behavior was simply human nature. It started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, hid from God, and then tried to shift blame when their sin was uncovered.

None of us likes to admit we’re wrong, but confessing our sins to God regularly needs to be a part of our ongoing communication with Him. Unconfessed sin separates us from the Lord and hinders our relationship with Him. It also prevents spiritual growth and hardens our hearts, closing us off to the things God wants to teach us. Confessing our sins consistently helps us to keep short accounts with the Lord and stops us from traveling too far down roads that will lead us away from Him.

One of the best examples of this kind of prayer comes from King David in Psalm 51. It was written in the later days of David’s rule over Israel when he had become powerful, prosperous, and revered. Although he was a wise and godly king, he was far from perfect. In fact, he wrote this Psalm to confess and repent after committing adultery with Bathsheba, getting her pregnant, and trying to cover his wrongdoing by having her husband killed in battle. If you need your memory refreshed, you can read the story in 1 Samuel 11 & 12. This is probably the best-known example of a prayer of confession and repentance in Scripture. David uses several different words for sins in this Psalm including “iniquities” and “transgressions.” These words can be used interchangeably. Here’s how it starts:

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” (Psalm 51:1-4, NIV)

Using the metaphor of being physically washed, David describes the need for spiritual cleansing from sin. Think about times when you’ve been physically unclean- covered in dirt, sweat, and grime. It feels amazing to shed grubby clothes, step in a hot shower, and rinse off all the filth. But have you ever thought about the ways sin makes you spiritually dirty? Confessing to God allows us to “come clean” and gives that same feeling of refreshment and renewal on a spiritual level. 

Reviewing recent events in your life and confessing specific times that you’ve dishonored God in thought, attitude, or behavior stops sinful ways from getting deeply ingrained in your life. The more quickly you recognize sin and let the Lord root it out, the less hold it has over you. The metaphor of physical washing illustrates this so clearly. The longer we go without bathing, the more effort it takes to get clean. The same is true of our spiritual lives, but the consequences have much higher stakes.

Sometimes we feel bad about having our sin discovered or about the consequences it causes, but how often do we recognize that our sins hurt God? David’s prayer acknowledges this when he says, “Against you, you only, have I sinned.” (Psalm 51:4, NIV). Jesus paid for our sins by choosing to die on a cross. He experienced unthinkable pain to free us from the bondage of sin, yet so often we hold onto behaviors and thoughts that hurt Him deeply.

David understands the severity of his sins and takes full ownership over them. He recognizes that only God’s mercy can save him and cleanse him. He also knows that he needs a clean heart to be restored into a right relationship with God: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10, NIV) 

David’s request for God to purify his heart exemplifies the second part of confession: repentance. This happens when we recognize we’ve been headed in the wrong direction (away from God) and ask Him to turn us back around. Repentance invites the Lord to realign us with His ways, because confession with no intent to change is hollow and meaningless. 

There is a tension to this, I know. We’ve been saved from sin, yet we continue to struggle with it. Scripture understands this paradox and urges us to press on: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9, NIV) 

Instead of feeling dread at the thought of owning up to your sins, think of it like you would a daily shower. Our bodies don’t stay clean permanently, so we wash them regularly. We don’t see this as futile, but necessary. In the same way, sin happens in our lives daily, even if we try to avoid it. Confessing it is our chance to reconnect with God and to renew our efforts to follow Him wholeheartedly.  When we lay it before the Lord and let Him cleanse us, we get to start new again. 

In another psalm, David tells us “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12, NIV) Why not stop now and confess to the Lord? Then thank Him that He doesn’t keep a running tally of your sins.

Confession isn’t a popular topic in the world of music, but For King and Country does have a good song about it. Listen here.

Spiritual Spring Cleaning

Opening the closet door, I recoiled at what I found on the other side. In the six months since we’d stowed our summer gear, a few critters had taken up residence in the dry, dark space. Thick spider webs laden with dust hung in the corners and mouse droppings were strewn across the plywood floor. Before we could enjoy a day of fun at the lake, we would have to clean out our storage locker and wipe down all of our gear.

It hadn’t taken long for the elements to have their way over the winter months. Armed with a broom and a bucket of water, we got to work killing spiders, removing webs, sweeping out droppings and dirt. The season of fun couldn’t start until we cleaned the grime off our summer toys.

As we worked, I thought about how the gradual decline into disorder had occurred. It was a perfect example of entropy. Without our regular presence there to keep things tidy, nature had taken its course. It was our responsibility to get things back in order.

The more I cleaned, the more I saw the parallel to our spiritual lives. We have great intentions and set plans in place. We commit to people and activities that will help us to grow consistently in our relationship with God. We resolve to do a variety of things to stay on track, whether it’s reading our Bibles more, saying “yes” to serving or using our spiritual gifts. We have noble intentions about being held accountable by others or eliminating behaviors and activities that don’t honor God. But somewhere along the way, we just can’t tend to all of the things we want to do and spiritual entropy sets in. Our lives default to old behaviors and thought patterns when we’re not paying attention. 

Is it time for you to do some spiritual spring cleaning? Have some of those commitments you made in September or January been pushed aside? Are you having trouble remembering the “one word” you chose to focus on this year? Take a look at the questions below and see if any of them resonate. Use the corresponding verses for encouragement to get back on track.

-How are you doing with making Bible reading a regular discipline in your day? “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8, NIV)

-Are you making it a priority to gather consistently with other believers at church, Bible study and/or small group? “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV)

-Is it time to clean out some unhealthy thought patterns that are influencing what comes out of your mouth? Have cynicism, negativity, gossip, foul language or criticism slipped into your conversations with more regularity? “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29, NIV)

-Are other negative thought patterns affecting your perspective consistently? Are you holding onto bitterness, anger or malicious thoughts and letting them color your outlook? Are you withholding forgiveness from those who have hurt or offended you? “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32, NIV)

-Have you stopped trying? Maybe apathy and complacency have a hold on you. Perhaps you’ve gotten comfortable with the way things are and don’t want to put yourself in situations that require effort or change. “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.” (James 1:22-24, NIV)

-Have you let busyness force you to replace the important with the urgent? “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'” (Luke 10: 38-42, NIV)

-Are you fighting against your natural inclination to critique and judge others? “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12, NIV)

-Do you need to clean the cobwebs of worry out of your mind? “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:25-26, NIV)

If you’re feeling convicted, why not pray and ask God to help clear out the grime? Invite Him to partner with you in your spiritual spring cleaning. “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)

Don’t beat yourself up if you’ve defaulted to some thoughts and habits that have sidetracked you spiritually. Instead, embrace the powerful truth of “Maybe It’s Ok” by We Are Messengers.

Staying Open to the Movement of God

Staying open to the movement of God means we must be attentive to the Lord and open to change. Being flexible and ready to deviate from our comfortable patterns and predictable routines becomes our “new normal.”

The opportunity was amazing, but the timing couldn’t have been worse. Saying “no” seemed like the only logical answer. I’d been a member of a writers group for a while when the leader invited me to write a blog for a local news website. Saying “yes” would mean writing regular posts for six weeks as our church studied a book called The Hole in Our Gospel by World Vision’s President, Rich Stearns. My assignment would involve reading the book, listening to the sermons, participating in weekly small group discussions and then writing my thoughts and reactions consistently. 
 
I saw a few roadblocks that would have made it easy to say “no.” First off, I’d never written a blog and didn’t have any idea what was involved. On top of that, I already had a plate full of responsibilities and couldn’t imagine how I’d have time to complete the weekly reading, let alone post my thoughts about it. Beyond those obvious reasons, my family was struggling through a disastrous home remodel. I was already feeling overwhelmed and stretched thin emotionally since we’d been living in our house during construction.
 
Despite all that, when I told my husband about the invitation to write the blog, he said, “How can you pass on that chance? Haven’t we been praying that you’d have more opportunities like this? Now you’re being invited to write about a Christian book for a secular news site that thousands of people read? Sounds like God is dropping the opportunity right in your lap.” 
 
Clearly, my husband was more open to the movement of God than I was at that moment. After listening to his wise words, I said “yes” and embarked on the adventure of writing my first series of blog posts. Little did I know that would usher in a new season in my life that would lead to writing many more blogs, a Bible study, and an unpublished book manuscript. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought when I said “yes” that I would later have the courage to launch my own website and to have God inspire me to write over 260 posts.
 
Author Nicki Koziarz explains, “Most of us believe God wants to do great things in and through us but moving toward these things is often difficult.” (p. 107) Staying open to the movement of God means we must be attentive to the Lord and open to change. Being flexible and ready to deviate from our comfortable patterns and predictable routines becomes our “new normal.” Following God’s prompting may involve being thrust into situations that are beyond us, forcing us to rely on His strength, wisdom and power. Although it seems scary, this is where exponential growth happens.
 
Ruth and Naomi’s story provides a perfect example of staying open to the movement of God. Ruth just so happened to find herself gleaning in the fields of Boaz, who showed her great kindness: “As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, ‘Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.’” (Ruth 2:15-16, NIV)
 
When she returned home to Naomi that night with an abundance of food, Naomi realized the hand of God at work through the kindness of Boaz: “’The Lord bless him!’ Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. ‘He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.’ She added, ‘That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.’” (Ruth 2:20, NIV)
 
Naomi saw that Ruth’s gleaning in Boaz’ field was no coincidence. She recognized the providence of God: His care and guidance even in the smallest details. Naomi hadn’t sought out the help of her relative, but God had led Ruth to his field. This was only the beginning of seeing God’s hand move in their lives in mighty ways. Once He had their attention, they were ready to follow His lead.
 
What does it take to imitate their example and be open to the movement of God in our lives?
 
Be Teachable
For starters, we need to pay attention and ask God to show us where He’s moving.  We need to trust the Lord and invite Him to reveal what we need to learn, especially when plans aren’t unfolding according to our preferences. God often places opportunities before us that we miss because they don’t look the way we expect. If you find yourself in a situation that isn’t going the way you want, stop and ask God to show you what He wants you to learn from it. Tell Him you’re open to how He wants to move in your life through the situation.
 
Maintain Margin
Another way to be open to God’s movement is to maintain margin in your life. When your schedule is packed and your to do list is a mile long, it’s hard to be flexible and available to the Spirit’s prompting. Prayerfully consider where you invest your time. Don’t rush to fill every second with a scheduled activity. Instead, try starting your day with a simple prayer, “God show me who You want to bless through me today. Show me where You’re already at work and inviting me to join You.” 
 
Remember You’ve Been Equipped
Ephesians 2:10 tells us that God prepares good works in advance for us to do. The Lord equips those He calls and gives us gifts to use to bless others and to further His kingdom. Ask Him to show you where He wants to use the gifts He’s given you. Invite Him to lead you to the good works He’s prepared in advance for you.
 
Be Flexible
Nicki Koziarz says, “I think one of the worst things we can do for ourselves in the process of becoming women who complete our God assignments is to stay stuck in the patterns that paralyze us. Change often seems to be a far off concept we can’t always wrap our actions around.” (p. 95). Being open to the movement of God means being flexible and agreeable to change. God rarely does things the same way twice. He often calls us to be stretched beyond our comfort zones so that we can discover new things He wants to do in and through us. If we’re not flexible and open to change, we’re closing ourselves off to the movement of God.
 
If you want to see God work in your life, just ask. Remain expectant, teachable and flexible so that you’re ready to respond when He reveals Himself to you.
 
Listen to Plumb’s song “Lord, I’m Ready Now” and make it your prayer today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBUQqLp6N24

Interested in reading the blogs I wrote for the The Hole in Our Gospel?Check out the links below.

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-2

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-3

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-4

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-5

https://patch.com/california/danville/bp–the-hole-in-our-gospel-part-6

Nicki Koziarz, A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit, Lifeway Press, 2018.

Accepting the Assignment of Refinement

Vibrating beneath my hands, the power sander spewed a cloud of fine dust as I ran it over the wood. The dresser had an ugly, opaque finish and I was curious to see the quality of the wood hidden beneath it. To my delight, the sanding revealed pure, unblemished maple with a beautiful grain that far exceeded my expectations.

I was reminded of that recently as I turned the page of my Bible study book and read author Nicki Koziarz’ first habit of a woman who doesn’t quit: “She Accepts the Assignment of Refinement.” Refinement is defined as the process of removing impurities or unwanted elements from a substance; the improvement or clarification of something by the making of small changes. I believe this definition doesn’t just describe the process for inanimate objects, it also explains the way we can be refined spiritually.

This makes me think of one of the first Bible passages that ever jumped off the page at me. It was during my freshman year in college, which was a season of tremendous loneliness for me. I had surrendered my life to Jesus, and really wanted to honor Him in the choices I made, but was finding it challenging in my secular surroundings. One morning, I read this passage and found renewed strength to persevere:

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7, NIV)

I took heart because the passage assured me the trials and challenges I was facing were refining my faith and proving it was genuine in the same way gold is purified by being refined by fire.

Like using a sander on wood, trials refine our faith. They remove the ugly layers of protection we often put on ourselves over time. Pride. Self-sufficiency. Impatience. Selfishness. Faith that was obscured by those layers is revealed and clarified when trials draw it to the forefront of our lives. Persevering by keeping our eyes on Jesus enables us grow deeper in our relationship with Him. This opens a conduit for us to experience His love and comfort in ways we never would in times of ease and comfort

Oftentimes when we study a passage like this one, we envision major “life event” sort of trials. A cancer diagnosis. The death of a family member.  The loss of a job. An ugly divorce. A traumatic event that derails plans and dreams.

While those life-altering trials often refine our faith, smaller difficulties can produce the same results, if we let them. A challenging person or situation becomes spiritual sandpaper in the hands of God. Any trial we face is ripe to become an assignment of refinement, if we’re open to it.

The Bible makes many references to the Lord as a refiner. Psalm 66:10 states it clearly. “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver.” God uses people and situations to magnify our impurities so that we can be cleansed of them. When we submit to Him, this process changes our perspectives and makes us look more like Jesus in our actions and attitudes. 

In the book of Zechariah God speaks again about refinement. “I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” (Zechariah 13:9b)

A few years ago, my family experienced a relentless chain of hard circumstances that led us to deeper intimacy with Jesus and profound spiritual growth. Ironically, at the center of many uncontrollable difficulties was a situation that we’d brought on ourselves: a home remodel.

With every annoyance we experienced, from doing laundry on our back patio to living without a kitchen for seven months, to working with an unreliable contractor, we learned we had a choice. We could wallow in self-pity and bitterness or we could let God refine us through the process. 

We started praying a one line question each time we faced a setback: “God, what are you trying to teach us right now?” Then, we braced ourselves for the answer. God revealed many ugly impurities in us that needed to be surrendered to Him throughout our remodel. And, as painful as it was, we chose to let Him do His refining work in us. He uncovered a lack of patience and a craving for control. He taught us to wait and watch for His answers in His timing. Submitting to that process transformed us in ways we never would have expected.

The struggles and challenges we face, both large and small, are an amazing opportunity to uncover the faith planted deep within us. As I learned with refinishing my dresser, true beauty shows only after the refining process removes the ugly outer layers. “When we start to see the hard, messy places as assignments of refinement, something shifts in our souls…It’s about letting the hard things make us strong.”*

Rather than lamenting the difficult things we must endure, we can rejoice knowing that they are revealing a genuine and lasting faith that is more valuable than anything this world could offer.

Are you in a season of waiting and wondering how in the world God could use your hard situation for good? Let the lyrics of “Take Courage” by Bethel Music bring you hope today.

*Nicki Koziarz, A Woman Who Doesn’t Quit by , Lifeway 2016, page 55.

Adapted from my post entitled “Genuine Faith: 1 Peter 1:1-12″ originally posted 2-21-17

Weaving God’s Truth into Your Day

In her closing comments of Discerning the Voice of God, Priscilla Shirer urges us not to compartmentalize our faith, but to let it be woven throughout our daily lives. She says, “What you’ve read in your quiet time or heard from your pastor at church the previous Sunday is not disconnected from the happenings of a regular morning, afternoon, or evening. If you’ll consider Him throughout the day, even when it’s a busy one, He’ll weave it all together so you can know His will and ways—as long as you’re actively listening.” (p. 194)
 
One of the best ways I’ve found to keep God’s truth in the forefront of my mind throughout the day is by listening to Christian music. Priscilla comments, “As the worship music speaks of His attributes, I ponder the lyrics and allow them to lead me into personal worship. The music envelops me. I am both overwhelmed and encouraged by an awareness of His presence.”  (p. 184-285) And in the Psalms, David mentions music many times, including this prayer, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7 NIV)
                       
For me, lyrics I hear continually shape my perspective and impact how I see myself and others. They help me to maintain a vertical focus on God and to let His ways inform my attitudes, actions, and choices instead of defaulting to my sinful human nature.
 
Looking back, I see that Christian music began steadily influencing me during a season when I ached with loneliness and longed to be loved and known. It was during my first year away at college. I’d chosen a huge, secular university filled with people who had diverse ideas and life choices. As much as I enjoyed being a student at the school, I felt like a tiny guppy swimming in a vast ocean. I longed to connect with true friends who shared my love for God and who would journey with me through the challenges college held. But finding and making like-minded friends took time—especially in the beehive of activity at a major university. To soothe my aching heart, I started playing an old cassette tape I’d brought from home. It was one of the few Christian albums I owned. Each night, I’d find solace from Amy Grant singing:
 
“In a little while we’ll be with the Father, can’t you see Him smile? 
In a little while we’ll be home forever, in a while
We’re just here to learn to love Him, we’ll be home in just a little while
Days like these are just a test of our will, will we walk or will we fall?
Well, I can almost see the top of the hill, and I believe it’s worth it all.”
 
I would drift off to sleep with those words of comfort filling my mind. Throughout the day, I found reassurance remembering them—especially when I faced difficult circumstances or felt tempted to wallow in loneliness.
 
Since that time, the options for good, Christian music have expanded considerably. And, not surprisingly, I associate many songs with different seasons in my life when I needed hope, encouragement, or direction. 

When our niece lost her battle cancer at the tender age of two, songs like “Your Love is Life to Me” by FFH and “Every Minute That I Breathe” by Jana Alyra helped me to trust God and to recognize that hope in Him stretches into eternity. Life on earth is only a shadow of what’s to come. And when my dad went home to heaven a few years later, it was Amy Grant’s rendition of “This Is My Father’s World” that soothed me with the reminder of God’s sovereignty:
 
“This is my Father’s world/ Oh, let me never forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong/ God is the ruler yet
This is my Father’s world/ Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is king, let the heavens ring/ God reigns, let the earth be glad.”
 
It was Francesca Battistelli’s song “This Is the Stuff” that helped me to keep my perspective when our simple home remodel went sideways and became a source of painful, but necessary, spiritual refinement. And Matt Maher’s “Hold Us Together” prompted me to thank God for the people who rallied to support my family during that difficult season.
 
Christian music hasn’t just buoyed me in hard times, but has broadened my understanding of Scriptural truth and showed me how to apply it in my daily life. Rend Collective’s “Build Your Kingdom Here” deepened my understanding of the part of the Lord’s Prayer that says, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” I’d never fully understood that God meant for me to participate in bringing more of His kingdom to earth before hearing that song. Similarly, Jason Gray’s song “With Every Act of Love” inspired me with tangible examples of how my actions could further God’s kingdom every day. Josh Wilson’s song “Pushing Back the Dark” instilled me with the courage to shine the light of God’s love in secular environments. It also inspired me to accept the invitation to lead a Bible study for women exploring faith.
 
Listening to Christian music isn’t a replacement for reading Scripture or praying, but a way to reinforce God’s truth as we go about our days. Song lyrics playing in our minds can give us hope, encouragement, perspective, and words for our prayers. They help us to keep the right focus in a world filled with distraction and discouragement. 
 
In the book of Zephaniah, we’re reminded, “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NIV ‘84) Do you let God rejoice over you with singing regularly? You’ll find it much easier to include Him in your day when you do.
 
I often include a song at the end of my blog posts– now you know why. If you’ve never taken the time to listen to one before, then today is your day! I’ve posted my current favorite: “Build My Life” sung by Pat Barrett. The lyrics have become a regular prayer for me. Why not let them do the same for you?
Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God, Lifeway Press, 2018.


Listen for God Right Where You Are

She wanted to be a missionary, but God gave her eight children who needed her love. Although she never got to share the gospel overseas, Priscilla Shirer’s grandmother “accepted what God had placed in front of her as an invitation to partner with Him in the purposes He’d planned for her life.” (p.142) Her faithfulness and obedience changed the trajectory of the lives of her children and grandchildren. And many of her family members continue to have a far-reaching impact on others today.  What she did can happen in the life of any person who trusts God and follows His lead. Priscilla explains, “In discerning God’s leading one of the most impactful requests you can make is to ask God to open up your eyes to see—to really see—where He is working around you and then jump on board with it…The Holy Spirit reveals God’s plan to you as He orchestrates the circumstances of your life.” (p. 142)
 
The Bible provides numerous examples of people who traveled on unlikely paths to achieve God’s purposes. Each of their stories illustrates powerful truth we can apply to our own lives. Priscilla encourages those doing her study to learn from some of these characters (see page 144 if you’re doing it). Below you’ll find a brief summary of each of their stories. Choose the one you identify with most and use the suggestions that follow to prompt your prayers.
 
Joseph: We find his story in Genesis 37-50. One of Jacob’s twelve sons, he received a coat of many colors from his father that showed he was the clear favorite. As a teenager, he was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and sent to Egypt. Through years of slavery and an unjust incarceration, God continued to refine him as a leader and to equip him with experiences that would shape his character. Eventually he rose to be second in command of Egypt and saved the entire region from a deadly famine. Amazingly, he also saved his brothers from the famine, forgave them, and acknowledged that what they had intended for harm, God had used for good. He traveled down a long and difficult path into the “sovereignly arranged purposes of God.” (p. 144)
-Are you in a season where life seems unfair? Does it seem impossible that God could use the bad things that have happened to you for good? Maybe, like Joseph, you can ask God to use this time to shape your character and to prepare you for what comes next.
 
Moses: His story unfolds in the book of Exodus, starting with being spared from a death sentence as a baby. His mother’s plan to save his life by floating him in a basket in the Nile led to adoption by a princess. He was raised in the house of Pharaoh, where he learned how to be a leader. After murdering a slave driver at age 40 and fleeing into the desert, he spent the next 40 years herding sheep. Only then did he discover God had been preparing him to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites to freedom. Once he brought them out of Egypt, he spent another 40 years with them in the wilderness before leading them to the Promised Land (which he never got to enter).
-Are you in a wilderness season like Moses was for forty years (twice)? Ask God to show you what He wants you to learn as you’re waiting for Him to reveal His plans for you.
 
Ruth: We find her story in the Old Testament book of Ruth. As a young widow, she chose to leave her home country of Moab and travel to Bethlehem with her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. With no money and no prospects for the future, she provided for herself and Naomi by gleaning in the fields alongside other poor people and foreigners. Her upstanding character and faithfulness to her mother-in-law caught the attention of the field owner, Boaz. Eventually they married and had a son who was in the lineage of Jesus.
-Are you in a season where the tasks before you seem menial? Pray that God gives you the faithfulness and character of Ruth to execute them for your good and His glory. You may be surprised to discover how He uses them to impact others and to bless you.
 
Esther: We read her story in the Old Testament book of Esther. As a Jewish girl living in Persia, she found herself recruited into the harem of King Xerxes after the execution of his previous queen. Eventually, she became his replacement wife and later risked a death sentence when she approached him in the throne room without an invitation. The courageous appeal she made saved her people from annihilation and turned the tables on those plotting against them.
-Do you have a personal or professional relationship with a powerful person? Can you leverage that relationship to help someone else? Pray and ask God to use you to influence him or her in ways that glorify Him and further His kingdom on earth. 
 
Daniel: His story unfolds in the Old Testament book of Daniel. As a captive from Israel brought to Babylon, he served in the royal courts of three different kings. During his lifetime, his integrity, wisdom, and faithfulness to the one true God always showed clearly. In one story, rivals plotting against him created a trap that would make his devout faith worthy of a death sentence. After being thrown into a lion’s den for praying to his God, his life was miraculously spared and God received all the glory.
-Are you facing persecution because of your faith? Is there a place in your life where others disregard or dislike you because you follow Jesus? Pray and ask God to help you stand firm, to protect you, and to bring glory to Himself through you, just as He did with Daniel.
 
Ananias: We find his story in Acts 9 when God appears to him in a vision and calls him to restore Saul’s sight after he’s struck blind on the road to Damascus. Knowing Saul was actively persecuting and killing Christians, Ananias questioned God’s directive to help him. After the Lord made it clear that this was His plan, Ananias overcame his fear and went to find Saul. He healed him, prayed for him to receive the Holy Spirit, and baptized him.
-Is there a challenging person God has placed in your life for you to impact? Pray and entrust your fears to God and allow Him to use you.
 
None of these characters knew how their situations would turn out, but they chose to trust God anyway. For some, they endured decades of hardship before seeing how He was going to redeem their circumstances. When we get discouraged waiting and wondering how God is going to work something out, we can take heart remembering these stories.
 
“So, instead of asking God to reveal His will for the next twenty years of your life, refocus your request. Ask Him to give you the courage to fully engage in what he has put before you today, as well as the faithfulness to stay on the path until He gives you different or new directions. Keep a firm confidence in His purposes, His plans—and His perfect timing.” (p. 153)

Click on the link below and find some inspiration by listening to “Confidence” by Sanctus Real.

Priscilla Shirer, Discerning the Voice of God, Lifeway Press 2018.