Category: Spiritual Growth

Look Up Before Looking Out

It happens more often than I’d like to admit. I have an interaction with another person that throws me into a tailspin and causes me to feel discouraged or insecure. It might be a text message that sounds a little abrupt that causes me to fret, thinking I’ve annoyed or offended a friend. At other times, my mind ventures into negative territory when I read an unsettling news article or hear a podcast with an alarmist tone. Suddenly I’m sure the world is going to hell in a handbasket and there’s nothing I can do about it. At other times, it happens when I’m watching a show that reveals the transformation of a home. Inevitably, I look around my house and feel like it’s inadequate by comparison, causing me to be hesitant to invite others over. Sometimes it’s a pop song on the radio with an underlying message telling me that fueling anger, resentment and bitterness is the best way to feel powerful.

Sadly, the list of examples could go on endlessly, but in each case, they have one thing in common: my focus is horizontal instead of vertical. A few years ago, I realized that where I’m directing my attention has a profound effect on every aspect of my life. When I have a horizontal focus, I’m letting the standards of the world and the people around me inform my worldview, my actions, my choices and my attitudes. When I don’t think about it, my natural inclination is to let the input I receive on a horizontal plane affect me. Sadly, most of it is negative.

However, I’ve discovered a remedy that works to counteract these destructive thought patterns. It’s called having a vertical focus. When I take the time to read the Bible consistently, to apply what I’m learning, and to pray, everything changes. Maintaining an eternal perspective by looking to Jesus and the Bible to inform my worldview, actions, choices, and attitudes significantly impacts the way I approach every person and situation I encounter during the day.

The Bible encourages a vertical focus in many places, but one of the most succinct is in Colossians 3:1-2: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”

With a vertical focus, I stop examining myself and evaluating how people and circumstances make me feel and I start looking at how the Lord is calling me to respond to them. As I set my heart on the things of God, He influences my hopes, dreams, feelings, desires and goals. When I fix my mind on Jesus, I filter my thoughts, attitudes, opinions and intellectual pursuits through Him and choose to fill my mind with things that would honor and please Him.

When I’m focused horizontally, it’s easy to get offended, to nurse a grudge, or to be annoyed by another person. However, when I’m looking vertically, I consider what God would have me do with those negative feelings. It’s hard to cling to pride and stay resentful toward another person after reading a passage like this one:

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful…And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:12-15 & 17, NLT)

Having a vertical focus changes my daily life drastically and puts me in a balanced, healthy place where I am grounded and able to see myself and others with the love of God. And as I spend time with Him and in His Word, the natural effect is that I begin to have a horizontal impact on others. God’s love and grace flow through me without my effort. I don’t have to try harder, I just need to be with Him consistently.

With a vertical focus, I can shrug off the poorly worded text message from a friend and assume a more generous explanation for her harsh tone. Instead of feeling insecure and wondering what she thinks of me, I can give her grace and pray for her. With a vertical focus, I can read a disconcerting news article and be thankful that God is still sovereign.  I can flip through a magazine with beautiful décor but realize that opening my home to others is a way to show God’s love through hospitality, not to impress them. I can also recognize more quickly when input I’m receiving is having a negative effect on me. When the stream of pictures I’m scrolling through on social media is making me feel inadequate or left out; when the song I’m hearing makes me feel justified in staying angry; when the show I’m watching is tempting me to think outright sin is reasonable or acceptable, that vertical focus kicks in and tells me to stop feeding myself lies.

Ultimately, having a vertical focus builds a firm foundation for my life. And it will do the same for yours. It starts with spending time consistently with the Lord and letting His Word speak into your life. Gathering regularly with others who are striving for a vertical focus is also a key part of maintaining that perspective. Over time, you’ll notice a difference in your heart and your mind. And you’ll be equipped to show God’s love to others in a way you could never do on your own.

Want to boost your vertical focus right now? Click on the link and enjoy FOR KING & COUNTRY’S song, “Fix My Eyes.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeZoQoyPn6I&start_radio=1&list=RDEeZoQoyPn6I

Knit Together

Turning the page on the calendar, there is finally the slightest hint of fall in the air. Kids are back in school and the long sunny days of summer are starting to wane. It’s cool and damp in the mornings and temperatures seem to drop as soon as the sun sets in the evenings. Suitcases have been emptied and stowed away. We scroll through vacation photos with fond memories, but are ready for the rhythm of the fall to begin. Although we enjoy the unstructured months of summer, many of us are craving a more regular routine. It’s not so much the repetition that we long for, but the consistent overlap with others. As much as we love the freedom of doing what we want when we want, we all need consistent encouragement, accountability, and support. Relationships with others keep us tethered to the things we value.

Without a doubt, one of the things I look forward to most is returning to a group Bible study. Although I continued to study Scripture and pray on my own during the summer, I’m looking forward to being with others who are ready to dive into God’s Word together. I think that’s why Paul’s remarks in Colossians jumped off the page when I read them recently:

I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. (Colossians 2:2, NLT)

I love visualizing the community of believers as being “knit together by strong ties of love.” I picture God taking individual strands of yarn and looping them together to create a warm blanket of love. Another translation describes being knit together as being “encouraged in heart and united in love.” Who wouldn’t want that?

Although I’m not a knitter, I’ve noticed something about those who are: they’re always working on a blanket, sweater, scarf or hat and looking for someone they can bless with it. And because we were created in God’s image, I know they are mirroring what their Maker does. Turning the pages of Scripture, it’s clear that God created us for one another.  He loves taking stray threads and knitting them into the fabric of fellowship. He offers this gift to us throughout our lives, just as He’s done with people since the beginning of time.

The Greek word for fellowship is Koininia, which author and teacher Kelly Minter describes as “joint ownership, mutual sharing, community with God or one another around the shared life of Jesus in our everyday lives.” My favorite part about Koininia is that it’s not a closed system or a defined group—there is always room to add someone else. This has been true since the early days of the Christian faith:

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper) and to prayer…all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42 & 47, NLT)

So, I can’t wait to see God’s “knitting projects” for this year. I look forward to re-connecting with old friends and discovering new ones. I’m eager to see how the Lord will use His Word to speak to us, to inspire us, and to call us to action. I love that He’ll be doing this wherever people gather in His name all over the world. He creates beautiful things as He knits believers together.

Fellowship starts by building our lives on the firm foundation of God’s love. When we pursue Him, we’ll be blessed to experience authentic community with others who are doing the same. It’s worth the time and effort to invest in a group that desires to grow in faith and to be grounded in biblical truth. If you haven’t made plans already for this fall, take the time this week to find or start a group you can grow with this year. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be encouraged in heart and united in love.

“Build My Life” by Housefires is an awesome worship song that puts words to this idea.

When Plans Reroute

I didn’t see it coming. With one swift move on the game board, my son thwarted my carefully constructed plans. We’d been playing the game Ticket to Ride and I had been quietly building my railway empire laying my black trains on tracks spanning from east to west. With each turn, I’d been amassing the cards I needed to connect cities between New York and Seattle. The route was obvious and the rail lines I needed had remained unclaimed for many rounds of play. It was a good sign that no one had drawn cards that would impede my progress. However, in one move, my son’s blue game pieces blocked my westward path in Helena, Montana.  

Despite my disappointment, I studied the game board carefully and discovered an alternate course I hadn’t considered. It was less direct and forced me to veer south to Salt Lake City, but would still enable me to link New York and Seattle on my fictional railway line. After a few more rounds of play, I successfully reached my destination, although the route looked much different than I’d planned.

Playing that game has been an illustration of my life in the past year. Time and time again I’ve anticipated plans moving in one direction only to have them rerouted. Family members have had illnesses and injuries that have caused major shifts in our routines and schedules, cars have broken down and created significant inconveniences, and ministry commitments have had unexpected and abrupt changes that have required continual flexibility.

While none of these life derailments has been catastrophic, each of them has had the potential to cause major discouragement and bitterness in me. Through a negative lens, I could tell you about many situations from the past year that have caused frustrations layered upon inconveniences compounded by heartbreak. However, choosing a negative focus would only  encourage me to have a sour attitude or to wallow in self-pity.

Think about it. Any time something doesn’t go according to our plans and we react negatively,  it’s because we think we’re being ripped off. We believe we deserve to get what we want. Really, this is veiled entitlement—the assumption that everything should go the way we prefer. And when our expectations aren’t met, we feel indignant, disillusioned, angry or bitter. The resulting behaviors are rudeness, impatience, self-absorption, and harsh treatment of others.

Most of us like control and when life goes according to plans, we assume we have it. But what if that control we thought we had was only an illusion? What if we learned to loosen our grasp on the need for control and to trust God when our plans get rerouted? What if we saw roadblocks as an inevitable part of life instead of an anomaly?

Like my train route on the game board, there are times when we are so singularly focused on getting from Point A to Point B that we can’t imagine any other way for something to work out. Yet when we’re open, flexible and willing to accept unexpected changes and interruptions, we leave room for God to teach us a few things along the way. This is how we grow.

Scripture emphasizes this idea: “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21, NIV) So when things don’t go according to plan, maybe instead of getting frazzled and upset, we’d be better off asking God to show us His purpose. Surely there is something we can learn from each rerouted journey we face.

Better still, we might consider including God in our plans and asking for His guidance and involvement from the start:

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  (James 4:13-15, NIV)

God reveals His will through His Word. When we’re continually studying it, applying it to our lives, and pursuing a relationship with Him, we can find peace knowing our plans align with His.  Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean things will always go smoothly. Life is messy. People are complicated. Things change. We can rail against this and throw a tantrum or learn to accept it and let God refine us through it. And when our plans do get rerouted, instead of getting upset, our first inclination can be to rest in the knowledge that God is still in control.

If you’re in a season of “rerouting,” be encouraged by Micah Tyler’s song “Even Then.”

Five Ways to Stay Plugged In

Recently I returned from a mission trip in Mexico. The week away from the normal comforts of home was both inspiring and exhausting. Our group adapted well to riding on bumpy local buses to and from our worksites, doing manual labor without power tools, camping in tents, attempting to bathe with water slowly draining from a plastic “sun shower,” and even using port-a-potties with a rather pungent aroma. But there was one comfort of home that most people couldn’t do without: cell phones. While they were used mostly for taking photos and communicating with family back home, they appeared to be the one convenience that was indispensable.

The first year I went on the trip my eyes widened as I observed students clamoring for any outlet they could find to charge their phones. Every plug at the fast-food restaurants where we stopped on the way would be charging phones from the moment we arrived until the moment we left. Some creative students even hung phones from ceiling outlets.

My first year on the trip, I was fortunate enough to be on a worksite with a foreman who had a truck and a phone charger. I never had to jockey for position at a power strip in camp during the few hours the generators were running. Every year since then, I’ve relied on my first foreman to be my power source and he has graciously obliged. On our most recent trip, I scurried to his truck before program one evening and plugged in my phone. When I returned later, I was disappointed to see that it hadn’t charged at all. A quick investigation revealed that the cord had been unplugged from the lighter to make room for a different type of charger. I just hadn’t noticed in my haste. No matter how long my phone remained plugged into that cord, it was worthless without a power source.

And what is true for our all-important technology is even more essential in our spiritual lives. We simply can’t function well when we’re not consistently connected with our Power Source, God. Maybe this is the twenty-first century equivalent of abiding with the vine that Jesus describes in John 15.

I’ve been mulling over another passage on this theme written by Paul and Timothy:

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:9b-12, NIV)

The prayers offered by Paul and Timothy in this passage show the value and necessity of staying plugged into God for the source of our power. As we do that, we receive wisdom and understanding from the Spirit so that we bear fruit and grow, continually strengthened with His power so that we have endurance, patience and joy.

As summer approaches, most of us look forward to a break from our regular routines. We anticipate the ease of a relaxing vacation at the beach or the excitement of traveling abroad. Leisurely days reading a book by the pool or finally tackling a project on our to-do lists sound inviting after the rigors of the year.

What is unfortunate, however, is that for many of us a break from gathering for a large-group Bible study also equates with a break from our spiritual lives altogether. This is like hoping the charge on your phone will last throughout the summer without bothering to plug it in. It won’t.

So before you kick up your feet and revel in the newly opened places in your schedule, why not plan how you’ll stay connected to your Power Source during the break from your usual Bible study? Need some suggestions? Well, I’m glad you asked…

  1. Choose a new devotional to read daily. Take the time to do the suggested activities and to read and study the Scriptures included. Instead of rushing through it, make the time to absorb what it says.  Here are several I’d recommend:
  • Embraced: 100 Devotionals to Know God is Holding You Close by Lysa TerKeurst
  • Awaken by Priscilla Shirer
  • Encouragement for Today by the Proverbs 31 Ministry Team

2. Choose a book of the Bible and keep a journal. After each chapter, stop and answer these four questions:

  • What does this teach me about God
  • What does this teach me about myself?
  • What do I need to do as a result of reading this passage?
  • What character qualities do I see in God displayed in this passage? (Questions adapted from Day 5 lessons in Finding I Am by Lysa TerKeurst)

3. Choose a Bible study to go through or finish a Bible study workbook that you didn’t complete during the year. Invite a few friends to do it with you.  Take the time to let the lessons sink in and then apply them to your life. Schedule times when you can meet during the summer to discuss what you’re learning. Text or e-mail each other in between meetings so you can hold one another accountable.  Here are several I’d recommend:

  •  The Quest by Beth Moore
  • Becoming a Vessel God Can Use by Donna Partow
  • Women of the Word: The Family Tree of Jesus by Marybeth McCullum (I’ve revised and updated this since it was done at Focused Living in 2015-16) Click here for more information

4. Read a book to gain deeper insight on a topic you want to learn about. Get some biblical perspective from a trusted Christian author.  Here are a few I’d recommend:

  • Love Does by Bob Goff
  • Chasing God by Roger Huang (founder of SF City Impact and SF City Academy)
  • I Give You Authority by Charles Kraft
  • Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi
  • Flourish by Natalie Maki (An author from CPC Danville!!)
  • The Peacemaker by Ken Sande
  • Fervant by Priscilla Shirer
  • Forgive and Forget by Lewis Smedes
  • The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns (revised and updated)
  • Surprised by Hope by NT Wright

5. Subscribe to an online study or devotional from one of your favorite Christian authors. You can start by subscribing to this blog if you don’t already. I’ll be posting throughout the summer.  Scroll back to the top of this post, look at the right side of the screen and you’ll see the heading “Subscribe to Blog Via E-mail.” Just fill in your e-mail address and click the blue “subscribe” button. Be sure to confirm your subscription the first time you receive an e-mail from this site. You might also check out the offerings at Proverbs 31.org. (The ministry founded by Lysa TerKeurst.)

Whatever ideas you decide to try, make it a priority to continue engaging your faith. My prayer is that you’ll connect to your spiritual Power Source during the summer months with the same consistency that you charge your electronic devices. Happy summer!

Staying Connected to the True Vine

I wish I was one of those people known for having a “green thumb”—the type that loves spending all day working in the garden. But truth be told, I’m more of the “black thumb” type. I’m not very good at tending to plants (or keeping them alive). There is only one place I’ve had success with something that grows and I can’t even take the credit for that.

My family has an old tree in the front yard that produces some of the sweetest, crunchiest apples I’ve ever tasted.  It was planted long before we ever bought the house, so we are just the grateful recipients of a previous owner’s forethought.  Every autumn we’ve picked enough to enjoy with our family and to share with friends and neighbors.

Then, a few years ago, the tree was getting a little tall and we decided it needed to be pruned back and thinned out.  The next spring, we were dismayed when not a single blossom sprouted on the tree. That fall, it was bare.  Not a single apple.  I was sure we’d ruined it for good.

Two years passed before the tree showed signs of returning to its former glory. Bountiful blossoms in the spring hinted at what was to come. By October the tree was so laden with apples that one of the limbs split away from the trunk.  Every weekend I would pick them to thin out the huge amount of fruit and lighten the load the branches were bearing.  I could work steadily for an hour, filling several bags, but when I’d look up at the tree, I’d barely made a dent.

Our experiences with that tree over the years have helped me to understand Jesus’ teaching in John 15 about the vine and the branches:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:5-6, NIV)

Of the many concepts illustrated in this multi-faceted metaphor, there are three that I’ll explore briefly:

1) Remaining in Christ 2) Pruning Dead Branches 3) Producing Fruit

Remaining in Christ: The word “remain” here comes from the Greek “meno” and means “to stay.” It implies a commitment over the long haul. Some translations use the word “abide.” Lysa TerKeurst explains, “If we want to know God, we have to abide in Him…Really follow. Follow hard. Follow passionately. Follow fully. Follow with engaged minds and willing hearts and open hands and ready feet.” (Finding I Am p. 144)

When Jesus says, “apart from me you can do nothing,” He’s talking about doing things that are of spiritual or eternal significance. No matter how gifted, organized, engaging or passionate we are, we simply can’t be effective in the Kingdom of God if we aren’t continually attached to the Vine.  This is what Jesus illustrates when He explains that branches that don’t remain in Him wither and die. Just like the broken branch on my tree couldn’t produce any more apples, good works and ministry apart from Him are dead.

Pruning Dead Branches: To the casual reader, Jesus’ words about pruning sound harsh: dead branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. But as I learned with my apple tree, the pruning process is necessary to yield even better results. Pruning doesn’t damage or kill a tree. In fact, our apple tree’s productivity exploded after we thinned out the branches and gave the remaining ones more room to grow. It took time, but the results were worth the wait.

Submitting to God’s pruning in our lives can be painful and confusing at times, but I’m reassured as I look back on those seasons in my life. Sometimes God must clear away “good” things in our lives to make room for His best. When we grasp His gifts too tightly, we can thwart opportunities for further growth. Although a pruned tree looks bare, it also allows in more sunlight and absorbs nutrients more effectively to produce better fruit.

Don’t let the pruning metaphor unsettle you—it’s not implying you can lose your salvation, it’s illustrating the vital importance of abiding consistently with Jesus.

Producing Fruit: Like a can of fruit cocktail, there are several types of fruit Jesus produces through us when we abide intimately with Him.  First and foremost, when we stay connected with the Vine we display the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These aren’t characteristics we can manufacture in ourselves for any sustained amount of time. They only reveal themselves in our lives through the Holy Spirt as we abide closely with Jesus on a consistent basis.

We also bear fruit by sharing the gospel and leading other people into a saving relationship with Jesus. Good works flow out of us as we spend time with the Lord and align our hearts to His. The fruit we bear is the outward manifestation of intimacy with Him. (Colossians 1:6 & 10 also describes this.)

As we’re consistent about spending time in prayer, studying Scripture, obeying God’s Word, confessing our sins, and connecting with other believers, we’re receiving the nutrients we need for spiritual growth. So, if you’re lacking a green thumb in your garden like I am, be encouraged knowing you can be spiritually fruitful through the One who has the greenest thumb of all. All you have to do is abide in Him.

Click on the link and enjoy Matt Maher’s song “Abide with Me.” Make it your prayer today.

Lysa TerKeurst, Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart, Lifeway Press 2016 & 2017.

Light of the World

The little condo wasn’t fancy, but it seemed to have everything we wanted: two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a small living room and a basic kitchen. It even had covered parking and was within walking distance of downtown. My husband and I were newly married and having fun setting up our home together. However, soon after moving in, we began to discover issues that hadn’t been apparent when we’d toured it with the rental agent. Some problems could be changed, but others were beyond our control. The one that bothered me most was the darkness. Surrounded by towering redwood trees, the condo never got direct sunlight. Over the months, this wore on me and I wanted to be away from home as much as possible.

It wasn’t until we moved a few years later that I realized how much I needed light in my surroundings. I’ll never forget unpacking boxes on the day we moved into our house. Feeling the sun warming my back as I worked in the kitchen filled me with a joyful contentment that I hadn’t experienced at home in quite a while.

So, it’s no surprise when Scripture tells us that the source of all light is God: “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5, NIV)

The theme of light and darkness threads throughout the Bible, starting in Genesis: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:1-4, NIV)

John’s gospel opens by describing God’s choice to send His son to earth: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” (John 1:4, NIV) Jesus took this a step further by making a bold statement followed by a promise: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12b)

When we believe in Jesus and accept Him as our savior, He gives us joyful contentment. God’s light not only shines on us with His blessings, it also shines through us. Jesus explains this in the Sermon on the Mount when He says: “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)

As followers of Jesus, we are conduits of His light to a world that is mired in spiritual darkness. We are like sacred solar panels, basking in God’s love, grace, and power. Once we soak it in, we’re called to pass it on to others who need it too. Most of them just don’t know it yet.

When we moved to our home many years ago, I began praying that God would use us as lights in our neighborhood. Over time, that prayer has grown in its scope to include any place where my family encounters other people: school, work, sports teams, community events, volunteer commitments, social gatherings, etc. As I pray, I often envision what a gathering of people looks like from a spiritual perspective. I picture myself with the light of Christ glowing from within me. At those times, I can choose to keep the light to myself or to let it shine so that it can bless others.

Imagine a sunset over the ocean. The rays of light affect everything they touch so that the glow of the sun shines on the water and reflects off the wet sand, creating vibrant hues and stunning scenery. In the same way, the warmth and light of the Lord’s love impacts everyone who encounters it. He intends for it to spread from one individual to another. God’s love changes people and colors the atmosphere around us with His grace and peace.

If you’ve never thought about it before, start inviting God to let His light shine through you. Pray that He’ll give you spiritual eyes whenever you encounter other people. Ask Him to give you the strength and courage to shine brightly when you’re the only Christian at a gathering. Pray that He’ll connect you with other believers so you can radiate the warmth of God’s love together. Draw strength and confidence from Christ’s light within you and let it bless others wherever you go.

Christy Nockels’ song “Life Light Up” made a significant impact on my understanding of being a light to the world. Listen to it and let the lyrics become your prayer today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNZ6L6qGR7s

Josh Wilson’s song “Pushing Back the Dark” gave me the courage to ask God to shine His light through me. Listen to the lyrics if you need a little inspiration too.

Lysa TerKeurst, Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart, Lifeway Press, 2016.

Truth That Sticks

Stepping into the steaming shower felt glorious. Rivulets of brown water poured off my filthy body and circled the drain. It was my first time serving on a mission trip south of the border and I’d never been dirtier in my life. During our lunch break, we got word that a nearby “beauty salon” not far from our building site would allow us to pay for showers in their little shop. It was the only chance I’d have all week to bathe with hot water. The drawback was that I would have to put on the same dirt-encrusted, sweat-saturated clothes I’d been working in all morning. Rubbing off several days’ worth of grime in the shower rejuvenated me, but having to put the filthy clothes back on was unpleasant, to say the least.

It never feels good to cover over something clean and new with something old and dirty, and yet we often default to that mode when it comes to our spiritual lives. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians reminds us, “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV). After studying Paul’s teaching for the past two months using Kelly Minter’s Bible study: All Things New: A Study on 2 Corinthians, I want the truth I’ve learned there to stick with me so I don’t put back on the ways of my worldly life without Christ.

Re-reading the thirteen chapters of 2 Corinthians, I’ve chosen some key truths that I want to incorporate into my life for the long haul. Below you’ll see the new perspectives I’m striving to put on in place of the old I want to leave behind. (If you’ve been doing the study along with me, make your own list before you read mine—no cheating!!)

  1. Hardships create opportunities to learn patient endurance and to receive God’s comfort. Going through hardships allows our capacity for empathy and compassion to grow so that we can share God’s comfort with others who experience similar difficulties. (Chapter 1:3-6)
  2. We are the aroma of Christ. This will draw some people to us as the scent of life and will repel others from us as the smell of death. (Chapter 2:15-16)
  3. Our hope in the gospel makes us bold and transforms us into the likeness of Christ through the Holy Spirit. (Chapter 3:12 & 18)
  4. We are like fragile, ordinary jars of clay that contain the light of knowledge and the glory of God. This reminds us that our power is from God, not from us and causes us to fix our eyes on what is unseen and eternal instead of what is seen and temporary. (Chapter 4:6,7,18)
  5. We live and walk by faith, not by sight. We are new creations and have become the righteousness of God through Christ. (Chapter 5:7, 17,21)
  6. We must strive to keep open hearts with those we love and minister to rather than letting negative responses deter us. We must use discernment and not yoke ourselves with unbelievers in our close, consequential relationships. (Chapter 6:11-12, 14-17)
  7. Godly sorrow recognizes how our sin hurts God. Repentance leads to salvation. (Chapter 7:10)
  8. Giving to those in need is a privilege, not a burden. We need to take our good intentions about giving and follow through with them. (Chapter 8: 4, 10-12)
  9. When we sow (give) sparingly, we will reap sparingly. This goes for our finances, our time and our gifts. God loves when we give of ourselves cheerfully. Giving shows that we trust Him and allows us to be conduits for His abundant generosity to others. (Chapter 9:6-11)
  10. We must demolish anything that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, take our thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. (Chapter 10:5)
  11. Paul experienced tremendous hardships for the gospel but persevered to the end of his life. We should not be surprised when we suffer for the gospel but can rejoice knowing it’s evidence He’s using us too. (Chapter 11:23-29 lists some of the major things Paul experienced. The hardships I’ve faced for Christ seem minor in comparison).
  12. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. When we are weak, we can find our strength in Him. We need to lean into Him to access His strength. (Chapter 12:9-10)
  13. As believers, we are called to be of one mind and to live in peace. This requires significant and intentional effort for all who call Jesus their Lord. (Chapter 13:11)

Although we’re new spiritual creations from the moment we receive Christ, practicing these alternate ways of operating is a daily battle. It takes a lifetime of consistent Scripture reading and regular study. It requires a lot of prayer and time spent with others who will spur us on in our faith journey. We’re already new creations through Christ, but we won’t be completely perfect while sin exists in the world. For these truths to stick, we must lean into God daily to renew our minds and take our thoughts captive.

That tension of the “already but not yet” is a constant theme in Scripture. We’re already new, but not yet perfected. We’ve already received salvation, but are not yet at home with Christ.  But it’s that tension that keeps me humble and causes me to rely on Him daily. It reminds me to cast aside those filthy clothes and opt for the clean ones given to all who are new creations in Christ.

What truth will stick with you from my list? Is there something impactful you’ve learned that I didn’t mention? Share it in a comment so that others can be inspired too.

Enjoy a worship moment celebrating your new life in Christ with Chris Tomlin’s song “Resurrection Power.”

Kelly Minter, All Things New: A Study of 2 Corinthians, Lifeway Press 2016.

One Mind

It was the spring of my senior year in high school and I felt like an eagle ready to take flight. I was excited about college in the fall, but also eagerly anticipating the three weeks I’d be serving at a Christian camp that summer. My dream to work there had begun four years earlier when I’d been a new camper on the brink of starting high school.

I loved everything about the camp and couldn’t wait to be old enough to apply for the “work crew” position available to graduating seniors. The positive and encouraging environment there was infectious and intoxicating. The camp staff was young and fun-loving but also had a deep faith that I admired. Of course, I also enjoyed basking in the sunshine, learning to waterski, socializing with friends, and sleeping on the houseboat roof at night. But more than that, I was drawn to something deep, authentic, and inspiring about the whole environment.

Naturally, I couldn’t wait to work there. When I was finally old enough, I jumped at the opportunity to apply. A few months later I stepped onto the front deck of a little houseboat for my first round of staff training. I was giddy with excitement. As the weekend unfolded, however, feelings of dismay began to eclipse my enthusiasm. Others on staff seemed to know and love Jesus in a way that I’d never experienced. They sang worship songs with passion and relished the idea of sharing their deep love for Jesus with campers. I felt like a fraud by comparison. My walk with God had been inconsistent in high school and pleasing Him had not been my focus. My motivation to serve at camp had been fueled by wanting extended time in the Christian environment I’d loved so much as camper. Improving my tan and getting in a little waterskiing were side bonuses that didn’t sound so bad either.

Looking back, I see now that although I’d accepted Jesus as my savior years earlier, I’d never allowed Him to be Lord of my life. I enjoyed parts of the Christian lifestyle, but I’d never pursued my personal relationship with Jesus consistently. I had several areas I’d been unwilling to surrender to Him. My motives and goals for being on staff weren’t bad, they were just immature. I had been focusing on the positive experiences I could gain from serving at camp; others on staff were fueled by a love for Jesus and the desire to impact campers for Him. Our contrasting goals give a good illustration for Paul’s words: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2, NIV). Their minds were on heavenly things, while my mind was on earthly ones.

Paul’s closing remarks in 2 Corinthians echo this sentiment: “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” (2 Corinthians 13:11, NIV, emphasis added) Paul encourages all believers to have a shared vertical perspective, looking to God to define their identities, goals, and worldviews.

This teaching applies to us now as much as it did to the church at Corinth then.  As followers of Christ we’re meant to pursue Him individually, but we’re also called to “be of one mind” collectively. Unfortunately, it’s all too common for believers to gather with a variety of intentions and motives and to have no unity at all. Like my camp experience, we can be in the same place for entirely different reasons. Earlier in 2 Corinthians 13:5 Paul encourages the Corinthians to examine and test themselves. This is something we can only do on a personal level and with the help of the Holy Spirit. No one else can determine what’s truly going on in our hearts and minds.

When we’re in sync and “of one mind” with other believers, we create opportunities for God to work in powerful ways. However, when our minds are set on conflicting priorities, it creates frustration and ineffectiveness.

Maybe it’s time to take stock and determine if you’re “of one mind” with other believers in your midst. Consider a Christian group where you have an ongoing investment of time and resources—it could be your church, a Bible study, a small group, a ministry team, or a group that serves in some other way together. Ask yourself these questions and answer honestly. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you through what you learn about yourself.

  • Was this group set up to serve a specific goal or purpose? If so, are you striving to help it accomplish those goals through your words, actions and attitude?
  • When it comes to this group, do you usually think about what you can get from it or what you can give to it?
  • In this group are you typically more concerned about your personal comfort & personal preferences or aligning with the bigger picture purpose?
  • Are your motives for being a part of this group pure? Is there an ulterior reason you’re there?
  • When things in this group aren’t going well, are you more inclined to complain and criticize or to voice constructive concern and to pray for resolution?

As you answered these questions, did you discover anything that needs to shift in your perspective? It might be as simple as adjusting your focus and attitude. It could involve having a hard conversation or making a difficult choice. Maybe, like my camp experience, recognizing that your focus needs to change will bring much needed clarity that leads to spiritual growth.

Being “of one mind” doesn’t happen naturally for a bunch of sinners like us. It requires effort, intentionality and the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.  Striving to be likeminded with other believers leads to unity, which was Jesus’ prayer for us from the start. On the night before His death He prayed to His Father, “I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23, NIV)

Being “of one mind” allows us to accomplish God’s purposes and to show the world that He’s real. The song “Make Us One” by Jesus Culture gives even more context to the importance of striving to be unified with other believers. Make it your personal prayer as you listen today.

Godly Sorrow

It was a brisk fall evening when the sport utility vehicle sped down our street, careened around an unexpected curve, lost control, and mowed down our neighbors’ mailbox. After flattening the sturdy wooden post, it was still going fast enough to plow through our front hedge and hit our parked SUV, spinning it backwards before slamming it into the corner of our house. The speeding car finally came to a stop on our front lawn. Despite the sturdiness of the vehicle, its front end was a crumpled mass of metal. The sixteen-year-old driver emerged from the mangled car without a scratch. He had been racing his buddies down our street and misjudged the turn in the dark.

As the teenage boys sat on the curb waiting for the driver’s parents and the police, they discussed the incident with great enthusiasm, seeming to revel in the excitement of having totaled not one, but two, eight-passenger vehicles. Although this incident happened many years ago, I’ll never forget the behavior of the driver and his friends. At the time of the accident, my own boys were only six and four. I can remember making them study the smashed cars carefully so that they’d remember it when they were old enough to drive.

A few minutes after the accident, the driver’s father arrived on the scene. We exchanged insurance information and he muttered, “I’m sorry this happened.” He never had his son look us in the eye and apologize. The boy didn’t return the next day to help clean up the mess in our yard or to replace our neighbor’s mailbox. I’m not sure if he learned any valuable lessons from that incident, but I know my boys did.

I was reminded of that accident as I studied the concept of repentance and godly sorrow. These aren’t very popular topics in today’s culture. It seems we’ve become a society averse to accepting responsibility for our wrongdoing, let alone labeling it as sin and seeking forgiveness. We shift blame whenever possible. Or even worse, we try to rationalize why the wrong things we’re doing are actually justified. Many in our culture want to excuse or even condone sinful behavior altogether.

No one likes to admit they’re wrong, but for those who call themselves followers of Jesus, this needs to be something we do regularly. When we humble ourselves, admit our sins and seek God’s forgiveness, He offers it freely. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Here’s the catch: we can’t be forgiven if we don’t acknowledge our sin.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses the value of godly sorrow and true repentance. Following up on a previous letter he sent that rebuked them for some sinful behaviors, he says: “Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—  yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:8-10, NIV)

Godly sorrow involves repenting–literally and figuratively turning away from our sins and going in a different direction. It is sorrow over the wickedness of our sins. It expresses grief, understanding the hurt we cause our heavenly Father when we engage in sin. Coming to God with a contrite heart enables us to experience the tremendous grace and forgiveness He offers us through the blood of Jesus.

Conversely, worldly sorrow is self-centered. It is focused on the painful consequences of sin, not on the offense it is to God. It is sorry the situation happened, but it accepts no blame and has no intention of changing. (Sounds like my opening story, doesn’t it?) Worldly sorrow is an apology with words, but with no heart behind it.

It’s easy to get swept up in the attitude of our culture—to want to avoid responsibility for wrongdoing or to explain it away. We receive this message subtly, but constantly. If we follow Jesus, we must be on our guards lest we get lured into this way of thinking.

When was the last time you came before God with a contrite heart, deeply troubled by the hurt you’d caused Him through your sin? It’s never too late to get down on your knees and humbly ask for forgiveness. God has so much more to offer us than the world does. The first step to discovering that is our humble repentance.

The song “Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)” by Hillsong United captures several themes from 2 Corinthians beautifully. Using Paul’s metaphor of Christ-followers being jars of clay, it describes the gratitude we feel when we recognize God’s love and grace and turn from our sin. With simple but profound lyrics, it communicates the value of godly sorrow and repentance that leads to the fullness of life in Christ.

Kelly Minter, All Things New: A Study of 2 Corinthians, Lifeway Press 2016.

*This story was adapted from an essay that appears in my Bible study Women of the Word: The Family Tree of Jesus. Click here for more information.

Old Made New

You can’t help but smile when you see it. The vintage ice cream truck transports you to a time in history when life seemed less complicated. SLO Mama Sweets touts itself as “an ice cream experience and sweet taste of the past.” I still remember when my brother and sister-in-law first told us about their dream of starting this business. After a lengthy search, they found a beat-up 1954 Chevrolet and began the painstaking process of refurbishing it into the beauty that it is today. When their truck rolls into an event with its music playing and the family members dressed in vintage garb, they create a magical atmosphere.

I admire people like them who can see the potential and beauty in an object that looks worn and tattered to a casual observer. We love to see things that are old and tired have new life breathed into them, don’t we? Makeovers of any kind fascinate us with their stunning contrasts, whether it’s examining before and after photos in a magazine or watching a rundown old house be transformed on a TV show.

I think there’s a reason we’re drawn to this concept of old being made new—it’s because the idea originated with the Author of life. God has always been about the business of re-making what is broken and worn. And that’s why I’m especially excited to spend the next couple of months sharing thoughts on Kelly Minter’s book All Things New: A Study on 2 Corinthians. Its theme verse gives us hope that we can be made new again at any age or stage of life, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV)

The process of being made new, however, doesn’t happen overnight. Makeovers in glossy magazine spreads and thirty-minute TV shows minimize the hard work behind the scenes. That beautiful truck pictured above took two years to refurbish from bumper to bumper. There were numerous setbacks and frustrations along the way. The process required incredible vision and tenacity for my brother and sister-in-law to see it through to completion. Making that old thing new again also involved a significant investment of their time and financial resources.

As we journey through the pages of Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we’ll discover the key ingredient to new life comes from being rooted “in Christ.” We’ll learn that leaving our old selves behind requires commitment over the long haul. There are no quick fixes or easy routes to true life transformation.

With Kelly Minter as our guide, we’ll learn to apply Scripture in practical ways so that we can become new creations in Christ. No matter what your age or spiritual maturity, 2 Corinthians has something to offer. I hope you’ll join me on the journey ahead through this foundational book in the New Testament as we experience the sweet taste of life in Christ.

“Made New” by Lincoln Brewster seems like the perfect way to kick of this study. Click on the link and make this song your prayer of praise today.

Kelly Minter, All Things New: A Study on 2 Corinthians, Lifeway Press 2016.

Top photo courtesy of Kathy Callahan

To learn more about SLO Mama Sweets click here.