Category: Spiritual Growth

God of Deliverance

The labor pains began early on a Sunday morning. They were subtle and intermittent enough that I ignored them and got dressed for church. My due date was still a week away, and I didn’t want to be an alarmist with first-baby jitters. As a precaution, we called the doctor and were surprised when she advised us to meet her at the hospital on our way to church. 

An hour later, she’d broken my water and informed my husband and me that worship services wouldn’t be on our agenda for that day. To our surprise, she got up to leave and informed us she wouldn’t be back until it was time to deliver the baby. At that point, we knew we were in for a long day.

Labor progressed at a glacial pace. The nurses encouraged me to walk around the room to kick the contractions into gear. Wheeling my IV pole beside me, I shuffled in circles wearing my hospital gown and non-slip socks. I was famished and annoyed the staff would only allow me to eat popsicles and ice chips. When my husband asked if he could slip out to get something to eat, I was surprised to discover it was already mid-afternoon and disheartened that I was still nowhere close to delivery.

Eventually, the waves of pain made it difficult to walk, so I got back into bed and waited for labor to progress. As the contractions became more powerful, my stomach rejected all the popsicles I’d eaten earlier. Colorful liquid came back up with a vengeance as my husband bravely held a shallow kidney-shaped dish to my mouth. At that point, I recognized the wisdom of the nurses who had seemed so cruel for not letting me eat solid food a few hours earlier. 

My labor had begun at sunrise and family members had started arriving at the hospital after lunch. As dusk faded into darkness, most of them were still in the waiting room anxious for news of our child’s arrival. It wasn’t until around 8pm that I started pushing. Only then did I truly understand why the birth of a baby is called “labor.” With each push, I envisioned the most difficult workouts I’d ever experienced. I pictured myself pedaling hard up a steep dirt trail with my heart pounding, lungs burning, and sweat pouring off my face. Still, the duration and intensity of the delivery far exceeded even the most challenging hill I’d climbed on my mountain bike.

An hour and a half after starting to push, our firstborn child finally arrived into the world. I’d delivered a healthy baby boy on a warm, Mother’s Day evening. Never had I felt such a powerful combination of pure joy and utter exhaustion.

If you’ve ever given birth or witnessed this miracle, you know delivering a child is painful, messy, beautiful, and emotional. It’s a grueling process we willingly endure because the results are worth it; labor and delivery result in new life.

While it might sound strange, this process of giving birth is what I envisioned as I turned the page on a new Bible study: Jen Wilkin’s God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18. Webster’s dictionary defines an exodus as “a going out; particularly (the Exodus), the going out or journey of the Israelites from Egypt under the conduct of Moses; and hence, any large migration from a place.” 

Just like a baby “goes out” of his mother after she expends tremendous effort, the children of Israel went out from Egypt after considerable trials. Look at the language in Scripture and you’ll see the parallel: “The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God.” (Exodus 2:23b)

We’re going to see that like the delivery of a baby, the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery was a long, messy, and challenging process. As we study, we’ll also discover parallels between the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery under the leadership of Moses and the deliverance of all people from the bondage of sin through Jesus: “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25a) Jen Wilkin describes Jesus as the “true and better Moses.”1

Even now, we await deliverance from our earthly bodies when Jesus returns in His glory: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:22-23, NIV)

Author and pastor Paul David Tripp explains, “Difficult moments of life are not the failure of God’s plan or in the way of God’s plan; these moments are part of his plan. They are placed in our lives as tools of his ongoing work of rescuing, transforming, and delivering grace. They are in our lives because the God we serve esteems holiness more than he esteems our temporal definition of happiness. He is not working to give us that temporary situational emotional high; he is working to produce something much better—eternal joy.”2

As we study Exodus, let’s keep in mind that deliverance is a process. This was true for the Israelites, but it’s also true for us as we grow in faith and continue to grapple with sin. Like childbirth, deliverance is painful and not always linear. It requires strength, courage, and trust in God. Sometimes it stalls or takes longer than expected. What may seem harsh or cruel has a purpose that is for the good of those being delivered—both the Israelites then and followers of Jesus now.

I hope you’ll join me on the journey through Exodus 1-18. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us.

Enjoy the song “Deliverer” by Matt Maher and celebrate the freedom you have through Christ. Click here to watch and listen.

1. Jen Wilkin, God of Deliverance: A Study of Exodus 1-18, Lifeway Press, 2021.

2. Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional, Crossway, 2014, September 7 entry.

Not of the World

Studying in Europe for a few months in college taught me the importance of recognizing and valuing cultures that were different from mine. Although my group was in an English-speaking country, the customs and social cues had many differences from the US. The ways we looked and spoke as Americans made it obvious that we weren’t locals. Although we tried to be respectful and blend in, our identity was distinctly different from the people there. 

I’ve experienced that same feeling of being different even in the country where I was born. Rooting my identity in Jesus has affected the choices I make, the viewpoints I hold, the language I use, and the way I interact with others. I’m often out of sync with the dominant culture, but when I feel like the odd one out, I take comfort remembering that Jesus described His followers as “not of the world.” He prayed for them saying, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:17-18, NIV) 

Before continuing, let’s clarify what “the world” means here. Pastor John Mark Comer defines it as: “a system of ideas, values, practices and social norms that are institutionalized into a culture that is organized around rebellion against God and the redefinition of good and evil.”1

Jesus saw His disciples as citizens of heaven temporarily residing on earth. Knowing His followers would need help, He asked His Father to sanctify us (set us apart) by the truth. Since Jesus says that God’s word is truth, understanding and following it becomes essential for us as believers. Studying the Bible and praying are like fueling our cars with gas. Only after we’ve been still in God’s presence, connected with Him, and taken in His word can we go out into the world and live differently from it. 

Peter, one of Jesus’ closest companions, provides additional insights on this, reminding believers to live as strangers in the world. Take a look at these three translations of 1 Peter 1:17 to get the fullest picture of what he means:

“Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.”  (NIV, italics added for emphasis)

“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.”  (ESV, italics added for emphasis)

“And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as ‘temporary residents.’” (NLT, italics added for emphasis)

Living as an outsider, a foreigner, an exile, or a temporary resident means that we hold loosely to this world because we know better things are yet to come. Striking the delicate balance of remaining an outsider while finding connecting points with non-believers is key. As we seek ways to be culturally relevant, we must also live “in reverent fear,” recognizing that our love for God means aligning with the truth of His word instead of embracing worldly perspectives.  It’s not always easy, but Peter gives clear instructions on this:

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.” (1 Peter 1:13-14, NIV)

Here are a few practical ways to apply Peter’s wisdom to our lives:

-Remain clear thinking and obedient to God.  No matter what people or circumstances you encounter, view them through the lens of God’s grace. Base your confidence on Him, not on being liked or accepted by others. When engaging with non-believers, pray that you can be a greater influence on them than they are on you. And when people around you are embracing sin, remember we no longer live “in ignorance” as they do. Choosing not to take part shows you’re different and honors God more than anything you can say.

-Dialogue with people about perspectives that differ from yours but speak with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15) Ask the Lord to give you words of wisdom and grace for those who have accepted worldly influences and perspectives. Pray for empathy and sensitivity. Listen well. Be patient and gentle rather than becoming aggressive. Remember Scripture tells us to “speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15)

-Remain set apart (holy) in your actions and attitudes, but not in your proximity to non-believers.  Living in a Christian bubble and looking down on the world around you misses the point of Jesus’ prayer. We are strangers here for a season, so that we can lovingly share Christ with the broken world that desperately needs His saving grace. Pray for God to lead you and equip you to engage with people who are ready to hear about the hope found in Him.

Living in the world without being of the world requires an ongoing pursuit of God and a deepening knowledge of His word. Joining a Bible study or small group will provide the structure and accountability needed to press on. Maintaining godly relationships that spur on your faith will help to keep you aligned with God’s truth. The end of summer is the perfect time to get connected and prioritize spiritual growth. Why not find a group today and get started?

If the world is making you weary, you’ll find encouragement in “Strangers Here” by Tenth Avenue North. Click here to listen to the song.

1. Quote from John Mark Comer’s sermon “Fighting the Flesh, the Devil & The Way of the World.” You can also learn more about this topic from his book: Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies that Sabotage Your Peace.

Spirit Come Down

I’ve had the same worship song playing on repeat in my mind for several weeks—ever since I got home from serving as a leader at our church’s annual houseboat trip for high school students. Living on a boat with thirteen teenage girls and another adult leader alongside 23 other houseboats was both exhausting and exhilarating. There’s something awe-inspiring about staking boats to a piece of land, setting up camp, and creating a vibrant, Christ-centered community.

Spending a week away from the world not only provided respite from normal responsibilities, it also freed us to connect with one another and the Lord. Without many of the distractions of regular life at home, we had time to play outside, enjoy creation, worship God, pray together, and learn from the Bible. Perhaps most impactful were the times we gathered by the water’s edge nightly to sing worship songs and listen to a teaching from Scripture. 

We started the week by inviting the Holy Spirit to move among us, and He didn’t disappoint. Sitting on the shoreline looking out at the lake, I thought of the words in the opening lines of 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.” (Genesis 1:1-2, NIV)

That same Spirit that hovered over the waters at creation transformed hearts and lives on a rocky shoreline at Lake Shasta. But long before students set foot on the boats or dipped their toes into the water, the prayers of many people laid the groundwork for that week at camp. Some of us gathered as a group to pray, many of us also prayed on our own. The day before students arrived, I felt prompted to pray for specific kids by name. At the end of the week, I brushed tears out of my eyes as some of those students professed their faith in Jesus before being immersed in the waters of baptism. Many others saw similar answers to prayer as they listened to students share about their lives being transformed.

Since returning home, I’ve thought a lot about how the Spirit moved at camp. Being away from daily routines, having time and space to enjoy creation, and focusing on spiritual growth opened the floodgates for the Holy Spirit to work. Although the camp experience was powerful, the same Spirit who hovered over the waters there is with us always. Jesus made this clear in His teaching: “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17, NIV)

So, while it’s easier to focus on the Spirit when we’re surrounded by the beauty of creation with our days scheduled around worship, prayer, and spiritual conversations, we can still find Him in regular life too. The Bible assures us: “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.” (1 John 4:12-15, NIV)

This year I’ve been praying God would make me more aware of His presence on a daily basis. I’m beginning to notice not just the obvious places where He reveals Himself (like on the shores of Lake Shasta while singing worship songs), but in the subtle ways He answers simple prayers, reassures me with encouraging words, or prompts me to show love to others.

The Holy Spirit lives within every follower of Jesus, but we can invite Him to fill us and spill out from us in increasing measure each day. The experience on Houseboats was inspiring, but God’s presence isn’t only in places of beauty and respite. If, like me, you want to see more of the Holy Spirit in your life, invite Him to pour Himself out on you, to lead you, and to prompt you every day. 

Ever since singing it on Houseboats, I can’t get the words of “Rest on Us” out of my head. Enjoy this short video clip from our week at Lake Shasta:

Or, listen to the full length version by  Maverick City Music and let it become your ongoing prayer. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qryRCbNYro

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Psalm 107: Redemption Stories

Sometimes I write to remind myself what’s true. It gives me hope when the world churns out bad news faster than I can process it. Whether it’s another mass shooting, a respected leader making a questionable decision, a brutal and unjust war, or a gut-wrenching situation with a friend or family member, there’s no shortage of news to send me into a downward spiral of angst.

Thankfully, the Bible includes plenty of examples of people experiencing difficult and sad situations. This week my devotional led me to Psalm 107, which gave me several relevant illustrations. Written by an unknown author, most scholars believe it was penned to celebrate the Jews’ return to Judah after being held captive in Babylon for 70 years. Their time in exile was God’s discipline for their disobedience following numerous warnings by different prophets. After being humbled in Babylon, the psalmist calls out God’s goodness and reminds us of the blessing of following His ways: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.”  (vs 1-3, NIV)

The psalmist continues by calling upon those who have been redeemed to praise the Lord and recount stories of His goodness. He includes examples of people who pleaded for God’s help and received His deliverance. Some were redeemed from problems of their own making; others were redeemed from circumstances beyond their control. In each case, their stories have something in common: those in distress were humble enough to ask God for help and to thank Him for their deliverance.

The first example describes people wandering in the wilderness who are lost and hungry: “They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.” (vs 5-6, NIV)

I see a modern parallel in this example. So many people in the world today seem to be wandering in the wilderness, trying to find meaning, identity, hope, and comfort apart from God. Author and pastor Paul David Tripp explains the result of these hollow endeavors: “Whenever you name something in creation as the thing that will satisfy you, you are asking that thing to be your personal savior…you are looking horizontally for what will only ever be yours vertically. In other words, you are asking something in creation to do for you what only God can do.”1

In contrast, the psalmist reminds us where to find true fulfillment: “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (vs 8-9, NIV)

Next, the psalmist describes prisoners in bondage who had rebelled against God and despised His plans. Deep in their misery, they finally sought Him for help: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains.” (vs 13-14, NIV)

There’s another modern parallel in our culture today. Have you noticed we’re repeatedly fed the lie that true freedom is found in doing whatever we want? Ultimately, as we distance ourselves from God’s ways and give in to our selfish desires, we discover we’re actually not free at all, but in bondage to sin. Only when we cry out to God and admit our need for Him do we find true freedom through Christ.

Next, the psalmist describes rebellious fools who suffer physically because of their sins: “They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” (vs 18-20, NIV)

The people he describes harm themselves physically as a form of rebellion against God.2 I shudder to think of the many examples of this in our world today. Yet, God in His goodness remains ready and willing to save anyone who calls out to Him. He sent out His word to heal and rescue in the past, and still does it now.

Lastly the psalmist describes sailors at sea who witness the might of God’s creation and then seek His help in the midst of a storm: “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.” (vs 28-30, NIV)

Storms in life may take us by surprise, but they don’t catch the Lord unaware. Sometimes we get angry at God during hard seasons and want to blame Him for our misfortune. We feel resentful, viewing pain and discomfort as “bad” instead of seeing them as normal parts of life.  If we’re honest, we often feel entitled to ease and comfort and get offended when we don’t have them. But storms in life have much to teach us about ourselves and God. They mature us, teach us to rely on Him, and lead us away from taking good things for granted. This perspective enables us to appreciate times of ease instead of expecting them.

The Bible includes these stories and examples so we can learn from them and, hopefully, not repeat the same mistakes the Israelites did. God is good and wants to share His goodness with us. He has plans for us that are good, so let’s take the advice of Psalm 107: “Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” (vs 43, NIV)

The ache we feel when upsetting events happen in the news or in our personal lives sometimes leads us to discouragement, anger, or hopelessness. When we feel this way, it’s important to remind ourselves of God’s sovereignty. We don’t know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future. Let’s humbly remind each other of this truth on the days when the world feels especially hard, sad, or ugly.  Listen to “Reign Above It All” and let it give you a fresh perspective today. 

  1. David Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional, Crossway 2014, May 24 entry.
  2. Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Victor Books 1985, 871.

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Don’t Compensate, Confess

True story: many years ago I received a bouquet from the leader of a group I’d been serving. Although I love flowers and accepted them with a smile, I threw them away as soon as I got home. I’d been hurt repeatedly by the person who presented them to me, so her grand gesture in front of others felt hollow and forced. The flowers were like salt being poured into a gaping wound that she had created. It took a long time and some good counseling to to work through the hurt and bitterness I felt.

Can you relate to my reaction? Have you ever had a relationship with someone who struggled with apologizing? Maybe they tried to compensate for hurting you by giving you gifts, paying you compliments, or offering kind gestures. Whatever they did, it probably didn’t improve your relationship the way admitting they were wrong and asking forgiveness would have.

It doesn’t feel good when people hurt us and then try to “make nice.” Does it surprise you to know that God feels the same way? Consider this passage from Haggai:

“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’”

The priests answered, “No.”

Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.”

 Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.” (Haggai 2:11-14, NIV)

This somewhat strange example illustrates a hard truth: Our sin not only hurts God, it repulses Him. One commentary explains, “disobedience renders even sacrificial worship unacceptable.”1 Just as a kind gesture doesn’t replace an authentic apology, doing good things to honor the Lord doesn’t compensate for our sin. Approaching Him without confessing our sins hinders our connection to Him.

The prophet Isaiah explains how sin blocks our communication with God: “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2, NIV) Although confessing our sins may feel uncomfortable, it’s vital for keeping the lines of communication open with God.

Let’s pause for a moment to clarify what sin is. In ancient Greek it means “to miss the mark” and in ancient Hebrew it means “to go astray.” In archery whether an arrow veers from the bullseye by a millimeter or a foot, it still misses. The Bible says we’ve all missed the mark of perfection that God requires: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, NIV)

This isn’t just about sins that show on the outside that we consider “big” like murder or adultery. We also fall short by smaller, hidden sins like harboring bitterness, envy, jealousy, and unforgiveness. Being prideful and unwilling to admit we’re wrong are also quiet but destructive sins. 

Our culture doesn’t like to talk about sin or even to acknowledge its existence. But for those who follow Christ, it’s important to remember that our forgiveness was bought at a massive cost. Sin is so bad Jesus came to earth and died to pay for it. Admitting we’re sinners and accepting Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross is the only way to compensate for our sin.

There are two elements to forgiveness we need to keep in mind. First is positional forgiveness: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” (Ephesians 1:7, NIV) This happens when we accept Christ’s death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Acknowledging that we’re sinners and accepting Jesus’ death on the cross as the punishment for our sins eliminates the barrier of sin that kept us from connecting to God personally.

This amazing truth can be confusing, however. We all know that even after accepting Christ, sin is still a factor in our lives. Because of this, we need to be intentional about examining our hearts and actions regularly. Confessing to God when we’ve sinned against Him enables us to receive relational forgiveness. Jennifer Rothschild explains, “He doesn’t love you less because you sin. Rather, He loves you too much to let you stay there.”2 Scripture reassures 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 1:9, NIV) So, positional forgiveness is a one-time event that redeems our sinful state, saving us from God’s wrath and eternal judgement. On the other hand, relational forgiveness restores fellowship with God and purifies us from our ongoing sins.

Take a few minutes and consider: Is there an action or attitude that might be blocking your connection to God right now? Are you covering over sin and trying to compensate for it instead of confessing it? Perhaps you’re serving God in a specific ministry while harboring sinful thoughts and attitudes. Maybe you’re involved in “doing good” for others but overlooking the ways you’re hurting people closest to you. If you’re trying to cover the stench of sin instead of cleaning it out, be honest with yourself and God. 

Jennifer Rothschild encourages us: “Our personal purity of heart not only honors God and gives our obedience greater significance, it can be an influence for good to all we encounter…through Christ’s grace and strength, we can maintain pure motives and pure hearts not only for our sakes, but for God’s glory and others’ protection.”2

Confession and repentance may feel difficult and even frightening at times, but Scripture tells us they bring refreshment to us: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19, NIV)

Listen to “Come to the Altar” and let it prompt you to stop ignoring the sin God wants to cleanse from your life so you can enjoy close fellowship with Him again. Click here to listen.

1. Walvoord and Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Victor Books ©1985, 1543.

2. Jennifer Rothschild, Take Courage: A Study of Haggai, Lifeway Press 2020, 156 & 159.

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Acts of Obedience

My husband and I call them “acts of obedience.” They’re actions we feel God calling us to take that are confirmed by His Word. Usually they involve things we’re not eager to do because they’re inconvenient, uncomfortable, or costly. Sometimes they require a commitment of time or financial resources. Usually there’s some kind of blessing that springs from our obedience, but it’s rarely immediate, obvious, or what we expect.

Jennifer Rothschild highlights the importance of obeying God using the example of the Jews rebuilding the temple in the book of Haggai: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,’ says the Lord.” (Haggai 1:7-8 NIV)

The people had stopped building the temple, opting to tend to their own homes instead. In this passage, they’re urged to reconsider and obey God’s command to re-build His house. Jennifer Rothschild explains, “Sometimes we obey…because deep down, it serves us. But sometimes obeying God just isn’t convenient—kind of like the Jews who preferred to finish their own paneled houses instead of God’s house. Who wants to go up a mountain, gather wood, and build God’s house when you’ve got your own fixer-upper that needs paneling?”

She continues, “We don’t obey to get good stuff from God. We obey to give glory to God. We do it for Him, not for what we get from Him. We can find blessing in the process of obedience regardless of the outcome of obedience.”

Let’s consider three acts of obedience that honor God and explore the underlying blessings they bring.

1) Finances: Including God in our financial decisions is a simple act of obedience that isn’t always easy. Early in our marriage, my husband and I committed to tithing consistently. Although there were many ways we could have spent the first ten percent of our income, we knew God’s Word was clear about the importance of giving. This act of obedience has been painful at times and has meant setting a budget that required us to “give careful thought to our ways.” However, we’ve also discovered an unexpected blessing by giving to God’s work through our church and other organizations. The funds we set aside are the Lord’s, not ours. We’ve loved partnering with Him to give financially because we know we’re honoring Him and blessing others. Obeying the Lord has also brought us joy and led to freedom and peace with our finances. (For a deeper dive on this see Malachi 3:9-10, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Hebrews 13:5)

2) Relationships: Sometimes God calls us to acts of obedience in relationships. For my husband and me, that started before we met. Both of us prioritized marrying someone who followed Jesus because we didn’t want to be unequally yoked (2 Corinthians 6:14). We also honored God’s plan for sex to be saved for marriage, even though the world told us this was impossible and outdated (Hebrews 13:4). Over the years, we’ve been called to many other acts of obedience in relationships: initiating hard conversations that we wanted to avoid; offering forgiveness when we wanted to hold a grudge; spending time with people who haven’t been easy to love. Each time we’ve chosen to obey God and do things that are counter to the world’s wisdom, we’ve discovered greater peace and health in relationships. (See Romans 12:9-21, Ephesians 4:17-32, Colossians 3:1-17 for more on this.)

3) Gifts & Talents: Each of us has been given specific spiritual gifts and natural talents to benefit the world around us, to bless others, and to build the Church. I love discovering potential in people, drawing it out of them, and watching how God uses it to grow His kingdom. Scripture explains our responsibility to use what God has given us: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” (1 Corinthians 12:7, NLT) Gifts and talents are resources we’re required to steward, just like our finances. This means considering how we spend our time so that we can share them with others. Using the gifts God has given also leads us to spiritual maturity. If you’re unsure of your spiritual gifts, try taking a spiritual gifts assessment online or check out S.H.A.P.E. by Erik Rees. (See Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Corinthians 12 for more on this).

At first, obedience to God sounds like a burden or a chore, but it’s actually an incredible blessing. When we choose to follow the plans laid out by our Maker, we’re aligning with the way we were designed. This brings pleasure to the Lord while evoking great joy and peace in us.  So, while we aren’t guaranteed specific material rewards by obeying God, we do receive spiritual blessings that are far more lasting and fulfilling.

Is there an act of obedience you’ve been avoiding? Consider praying about it and asking the Lord to help you follow through for your good and His glory. 

Many years ago when I worked at a Christian camp, we sang a song called “I’ll Obey.” The lyrics are simple, but profound. Click here to listen and make it your prayer today. 

Jennifer Rothschild, Take Courage: A Study of Haggai, Lifeway Press 2020, 76.

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Small Beginnings

Tearing out the sheet of binder paper, I wrote a bullet-pointed list of discussion questions based on a Bible passage I’d been studying. Each week I’d take my hand-written questions and photocopy them in my sorority’s study lounge, known as “The Pit” because of its location in the basement of our house. Climbing the steps to the expansive living room, I’d sit on the floor near the fireplace glancing regularly at my watch, waiting to see if anyone would come.

Inviting girls in my house to join a Bible study had been a stunning leap of faith for me as a sophomore in college. Before God had emboldened me, I’d always been someone that craved approval and validation from others. I liked fitting in, not creating a stir. This venture launched me way past the limits of my comfort zone. Not everyone cheered on my efforts. As you might imagine, Bible study veered beyond the typical activities for girls at my secular university. Some weeks ten of my sorority sisters would show up, others no one would come. 

I didn’t know that God was preparing me for many other opportunities to write, lead, teach, mentor, and serve. Looking back, I see how the Lord used that time to equip and prepare me to walk alongside others growing in faith. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of pouring into a variety of women at different seasons in my life. Usually it’s only a few, but over time this has added up to a lot of lives.

That’s what I thought of when I read this passage: “Do not despise these small beginnings for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zechariah 4:10a, NLT)

So often when God prompts us to act, we expect big, splashy results immediately. When we don’t get them, we become discouraged and want to quit. Or, we get distracted and lose our focus, as the Jews re-building the temple did in the book of Haggai.

Jennifer Rothschild encourages us saying, “You may feel small, insignificant, thinking who you are or where you are is unimportant compared to the seemingly big significance of others’ lives and situations. But no one and nothing is really small and insignificant. The big impact of small things can be overlooked if we aren’t careful… God does know your name. He doesn’t overlook you just because somebody has a bigger problem, a bigger project, or a bigger personality. No matter how big the world is and no matter how small you may feel, God has called you to take courage and finish the work He has called you to…Let His voice be louder than the outside voice of opposition and that nagging inner voice that tries to convince you that you are too small for your call.”1 

Recently, I returned from IF:Gathering—a conference attended by thousands of women in person and online all over the world. Sitting in the audience with 4000 other women, I watched as one gifted speaker after another took the stage. Their teaching energized me and spurred on my faith. But, if I’m honest, there were moments that I also felt a little angsty and cynical. I’m not proud to admit that I slipped into comparison mode a few times. As soon as I did this, joy drained out of me. Listening to accomplished speakers with multiple published books and thousands of followers made my own efforts to impact others for Jesus seem small by comparison.  For a few moments I bounced between envy and self-doubt, until the Holy Spirit reminded me of truth. 

I couldn’t stay in a negative mindset for long when I remembered the good things God has done in and through me. The fact that friends had accepted my invitation to spend time and money flying 1500 miles to attend IF:Gathering was cause for celebration. My “small beginning” with my traveling companions started almost 9 years ago when I invited them to join a Bible study to explore the Christian faith. Seeing how much they’ve grown is a testament to the way God uses small beginnings to bring big results. But this takes time; typically we don’t get the instant gratification we crave when it comes to matters of faith.

I wonder if you can relate to my feelings. Are you ever tempted to dismiss or discount a work of the Lord in your life? Do you ever feel like the part you play isn’t big or important enough? Some small beginnings lead to big things that are large in size—like Jennie Allen’s vision to start IF:Gathering. But other small beginnings lead to things that are big in value—like journeying alongside a few people consistently and helping them to grow spiritually over time. Taking the step of faith to respond to God’s prompting matters more than the size of what He’s calling you to do.

Is there something you’ve begun that’s stalling right now? Do you need to re-engage with that small group Bible study you’ve stopped attending? Or, is it time to reach out again to that neighbor you’ve been meaning to invite for coffee? Do you sense God stirring in you to mentor someone? Or is it time to ask a more mature believer to mentor you? What about starting that Bible study with your neighbors that you’ve been talking about for years? Or is it time to say “yes” to that invitation into leadership that seems like a big stretch for you?

Let this song we sang at IF:Gathering inspire you. Click here to listen to “God of Revival” by Phil Wickham.

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  1. Jennifer Rothschild, Take Courage: A Study of Haggai, Lifeway Press 2020, 60-61.

Sharing Hope

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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In Between Times

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photos courtesy of Pixabay.com.

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Elijah: Just Like Us

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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