Uncategorized – Page 13 – Marybeth McCullum

Straining Out Truth From Lies

Nehemiah was an impressive man with a singular focus. One of the things I most respect about him was his ability to discern truth from lies quickly and not to second-guess himself or God. In Nehemiah chapter 6 his enemies hatch a scheme to derail him while he leads the people of Jerusalem in their wall re-building efforts. The three schemers, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem repeatedly send messengers asking Nehemiah to stop work to come and meet with them. When he refuses, they finally fabricate a lie to strike fear in him. They write and tell him there are rumors that he is planning a revolt and offer to “confer together” with him. I love Nehemiah’s response: “I sent him this reply: ‘Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.’” (Nehemiah 6:8) Nehemiah goes on to explain: “They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.’” (Nehemiah 6:9)

Nehemiah saw the lie for what it was and didn’t let it upset him. He didn’t lose his focus or spend time fretting over what other people might be thinking about him. He didn’t worry about politics because he knew he was doing the right thing and that he had the king’s support. His only response to their threat was to pray for strength and continue building.

Nehemiah’s story gives a great example for what Satan often does in our lives. Sometimes we are working steadily toward accomplishing God’s call for us when Satan slips in and sows seeds of deception to get us off track. Sometimes he uses other people, as he did with Nehemiah, and sometimes he uses our own doubts and insecurities.

We see a clear example of this in the New Testament in a conversation between Jesus and Peter:

“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’ Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.’” (Matthew 16:21-23)

Peter was one of Jesus’ closest friends, but Jesus recognized Satan was using him. Peter’s words were dissuading Him from carrying out the very purpose for which He came to earth: to suffer and die for the sins of all people. Although Peter didn’t understand his error, Jesus recognized that his friend’s “supportive” words were actually clouding His focus.

Jesus knew well that lies and deception came from one source. In an earlier exchange He has with a group of Jews who refuse to accept Him He says: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

Both Jesus and Nehemiah immediately recognized Satan’s attempts to distract them from God’s goals for them. Satan isn’t very creative and tends to grab from the same bag of tricks to derail us over and over again. The best way we can arm ourselves from falling for his lies is by knowing the truth of God’s word and having our gaze singularly focused on Him. Satan wants nothing more than to render us ineffective by succumbing to our weaknesses and insecurities. Lukewarm, complacent, insecure Christians rarely make an impact for the kingdom of God.

Our best defense against believing lies is being able to recognize God’s voice. This happens when we spend time with Him and in His word consistently. Jesus explains this using the metaphor of a shepherd (God) and His flock (us): “The gatekeeper [shepherd] opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” (John 10:3-5)

There are many times in my life when I haven’t stopped to think about the voices I’m hearing. Without God’s wisdom and discernment, I easily fall prey to Satan’s lies. One of the fastest ways he does this is by causing me to focus on myself. When I wallow in my feelings of inadequacy and insecurity I prevent myself from being used effectively for God’s purposes. When I find my confidence in Christ and focus on God and what He can do through me, He moves in my life in powerful ways. This can be as simple as taking my eyes off myself to smile at a stranger or as involved as saying “yes” to a ministry opportunity that is going to stretch me beyond my comfort zone.

A few years ago I attended a silent retreat sponsored through our church. Included in the materials was a handout called “Three Voices” that provided wisdom for discerning between God’s voice, Satan’s voice and the world’s voice. It has been like a spiritual and mental strainer for my mind. All the internal and external voices I hear throughout the day get filtered through it. I hold onto the voices containing God’s truth and discard the rest. Over time, I’ve added to the list through my own experiences and observations. I hope you’ll find it a useful tool as you learn to strain out truth and let the lies wash away.

Three Voices:

God’s Tone of Voice is: soothing, quieting, peaceful, encouraging, invigorating, inspiring

Satan’s Tone of Voice is: insistent, demanding, mesmerizing, hurried, rash, accusing, discouraging, doubt-producing, pride-building, vengeful, selfish, self-centered, critical, negative, defeating

The World’s Tone of Voice: agrees with the world’s standards and attitudes, is driven to be accepted and acceptable, lets the culture set personal standards, compares self to others, believes we are what the world says, is fearful of what others think, seeks value in exterior and measurable qualities, constantly struggles to “measure up”

God’s Motives and Character: builds relationships, empowers us, give us courage, provides wisdom, gives peace, stretches and challenges us, reassures us, convicts us to bring positive and healthy changes, offers grace, understands, forgives

Satan’s Motives and Character: destroys, deceives, accuses, divides, isolates, turns people away form God, lies, makes us feel guilty, creates self-loathing, capitalizes on insecurities and doubts, exaggerates faults, magnifies misunderstandings

The World’s Motives and Character: to please people, to fit in, to satisfy self, to look out for self, to judge self and others, to compare self to others

As you ponder the voices in your own life, let the verses below encourage you:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” –Romans 12:2

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” –Philippians 1:9-11

Click on the link below to hear Jason Gray’s song “Remind Me Who I Am.” It’s a great encouragement to keep our minds fixed on God’s truth and not to believe the lies that assault us throughout the day.

Letting Your Heart Break

This week our Focused Living Bible study launched a new study: Nehemiah: A Heart That Can Break. In the opening video author Kelly Minter explains that Nehemiah was a Jewish exile living in Persia. He was a descendant of the Jews who had originally been carried off to Babylon when Nebuchadnezzer conquered Jerusalem in 587 B.C. By 539 B.C. Cyrus, King of Persia had conquered King Nebuchadnezzer and allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. Over the years some returned to Jerusalem, while others remained living in Babylon, the only home they’d ever known.

Nehemiah was one of the Jews who stayed in Babylon. As the story opens, about 140 years have passed since the Jews were first carried off from Jerusalem. We learn in Nehehmiah chapter 1 that our main character was cupbearer to King Ataxerxes. Minter explains that a cupbearer would have been like a butler. My mind immediately pictured the character “Carson” on the popular show Downton Abby. The time periods and cultures are wildly different, but I imagine some things about the job would be consistent in any era. A butler would be responsible for running an esteemed household with proper etiquette and decorum. Although he would not be wealthy personally, he would be at ease living and working among people of great stature. He would be accustomed to fine things and grand surroundings.

In Nehemiah 1:2-4, our hero heard news about Jerusalem while he was serving King Ataxerxes at his winter resort in Susa:

“Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem. They said to me, ‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.’ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.”

From his location of opulence Nehemiah wept for his fellow Jews living in disgrace. Minter points out “though the suffering of the Jews would have naturally been of some concern to him, technically this was not his problem. He didn’t live there.” (p.13) Nevertheless, Nehemiah’s heart broke when he learned the news. His first reaction was to seek God in prayer:

“Then I said: ‘Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.’” (Nehemiah 1:5-6)

Nehemiah ended his prayer asking God to give him success and to grant him favor in the presence of the king. Then, he waited for an opportune time. Several months passed before his chance to ask King Ataxerxes for assistance finally arrived. When it did, Nehemiah entreated him boldly, knowing that God had gone before him to prepare the way:

“The king said to me, ‘What is it you want?’ Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, ‘If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried so that I can rebuild it.’” (Nehemiah 2:4-5)

Nehemiah’s heart broke for his people and he asked to leave his place of comfort so he could help them. Minter explains Nehemiah had “a God-inspired heart that couldn’t bear the thought of letting his fellow Jews suffer—a heart that had no choice but to do something.” (p.14) Spurred on not by obligation, but by a desire to obey God and love others, Nehemiah set out on a monumental quest to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem.

Minter uses Nehemiah’s example to challenge us saying “You may not be in a position to leave your job like Nehemiah, but surely there is someone whose well-being you can seek and promote…When embraced by God’s grace, the called to serve is no longer a guilt-trip but the gospel.” (p.27)

Maybe her words confirm what you’ve already sensed God doing in your life or maybe they are convicting you a bit. Perhaps God is nudging you to alleviate the suffering of others in some way. Personally, I spent far too many years feeling unsure about what “doing something” should look like in my life. I vacillated between feeling guilty that I wasn’t serving the needy and rationalizing all of the reasons why it wasn’t feasible for me. Then, in 2011, I was asked to write a blog for a secular website about Rich Stearns’ book The Hole in Our Gospel. Reading the book and writing my thoughts about it changed me. I started praying God would show me where and how He wanted to use me. I didn’t move to Africa or start a Missions organization in the inner city, but God did break my heart and has prompted me to serve the needy in a variety of ways since then.

One small example of this happened a few weeks ago. My twelve-year old son’s youth group was planning a fun day in San Francisco. I was excited to go, but something inside of me cringed as I thought of the many homeless people we would encounter. It felt wrong to expose the kids to people with such profound need without preparing them to show God’s love and compassion. After praying about it and talking with the Middle School Director from church, we made a plan to have the day be a combination of sight seeing and serving the needy. All of the kids were invited to bring bags filled with supplies such as toothbrushes, wipes, chapstick, granola bars, and socks. Each bag also included a pamphlet with the Gospel clearly and simply explained.

When we got off the BART train at Powell Street we walked the kids through a nearby neighborhood where our church has been partnering with a ministry called City Impact. We knew we’d encounter needy people on the streets, but also wanted the kids to see the location of the ministry since they’d participated in donating items to help it in the past.

Most of us were tentative and uncomfortable as we walked through the neighborhood at first. The kids were looking to the adults for reassurance and we silently prayed for the Spirit to give us courage and confidence to lead them well. One man standing in a doorway stepped out and questioned me with a concerned tone: “Do you folks mean to be here? Union Square is in the other direction.” Clearly, we did not look like we belonged there. However, as he soon as he saw us pulling bags out and offering them to people, he smiled and nodded. A few blocks later, we encountered him again, this time he’d rounded up a few friends: “Do you all still have some of those bags left? These guys could use them.” As the kids handed out the supplies the men smiled, thanked us and said “God bless you.”

Further down the block we came to a long line of people waiting for a free lunch from a well-known church. As we walked up the sidewalk offering bags, some recipients were bold enough to ask for specific items: “Do you have deodorant? How about a razor and shaving cream?” I answered honestly: “Sorry, no, this is all we have.” Not everyone was polite and a few even inspected the bags to choose which ones had items they wanted more. We encountered unsavory sights and smells. We felt awkward at moments and anxious at others, but we stayed and gave out all the supplies we had. Some of the students even gave snacks they’d brought for themselves.

Within thirty minutes, we’d given away all the bags and headed to Union Square for lunch. A few of the kids were surprised at how quickly we ran out. Some felt badly that we didn’t have more to give. There were eighteen people in our group and we probably handed out at least thirty bags. We barely made a dent in giving them to everyone who needed or wanted them.

Thinking about it in retrospect, I realized that “doing something” doesn’t mean we are going to save the world single handedly. We’ll never be able to feed every hungry person. However, any time we act to alleviate the suffering of others our efforts make a difference. All the people who received bags that day knew for a moment that they mattered– someone saw their need and sought to meet it.

Serving others can be messy, time consuming and inconvenient. Sometimes it’s complicated and uncomfortable. Often it means stepping out of our comfort zones and being stretched in new ways. However, when we pray first and let God guide and equip us, we have nothing to fear. He will lead us to the specific things He wants us to do and will use us to bless others and glorify Himself. Demonstrating this kind of obedience is one of the most profound ways to show our love for Him.

Matthew West’s new song “Do Something” sounds like it was written specifically for the Nehemiah study. Click on the link below to hear it and be inspired to pray about what “doing something” might look like in your life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I2csO7_pOI

Boosting Your Spiritual Metabolism

October, November and December are months filled with celebrations in my family. It seems we’re continually enjoying birthday dinners, Halloween candy, Thanksgiving delicacies and Christmas treats at a fairly steady pace for a long stretch of time. Although we generally try to eat healthy food, it seems there is always an excuse for a “splurge” during those months. This December, my husband and I realized that our “fun splurges” were becoming a regular part of our diet. By the end of the Christmas holidays, we were both feeling the effects of too many months of making bad choices with food. It was time for a change.

My meal planning and cooking had been on autopilot for quite a while. I’d chalked it up to a busy schedule, but the truth was, I was getting pretty lazy. We were eating the same four or five meals all the time and making things interesting by eating plenty of unhealthy snacks and desserts in between. We didn’t feel good physically and often criticized ourselves for the bad food choices we were making. Then, we’d do the same thing again the next day.

Driving home from a visit with family over the holidays, I began perusing a book that outlined a twenty-eight day plan for eating healthy, cleansing our bodies and rebooting our metabolisms. It sounded a bit daunting, but after some serious thought, we decided the health benefits were worth the effort.

To implement this plan required full buy-in for both of us. We had to commit to following all of the guidelines of the plan for twenty-eight days. There was no way to eat on autopilot anymore. I was checking our book so much that the pages were dotted with splotches of food from reading recipes while I cooked. I had to write meal plans for the week in a spiral notebook and check it frequently. My husband would regularly ask, “Is this in the plan?” I’d grab the book to check, not trusting my memory to guide me.

Having to think about meals so much required more effort than our old ways of interacting with food. We had to be intentional in planning menus, preparing ahead and anticipating possible challenges along the way. However, we were also seeing the benefits of the plan and were feeling great. I’d never given so much thought to what, when and how I was eating until then- but my metabolism seemed to be responding well.

I realized a striking similarity between our new eating plan and our spiritual lives. We can’t go on autopilot. We can’t just check off our thirty minutes reading the Bible and praying in the morning and then move on with the day. Instead, we need to be in tune with God’s Spirit and connecting with Him at regular intervals throughout the day to get the strength and wisdom we need. My eating plan required healthy snacks and meals at regular intervals to fuel my metabolism and keep it burning. Our spiritual metabolisms also need regular fuel to function fully. I’m finding Beth Moore’s words to be true: “Dependable discernment comes only by walking in the Spirit, and walking in the Spirit comes only by walking and talking with God Himself…The Spirit of God fills us only to the extent that we yield to His authority and welcome His Presence. (Beth Moore, Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still p. 138)

There is an obvious comparison between eating healthy and maintaining spiritual well being. Both require constant vigilance. We need to be intentional with our efforts to connect with God instead of becoming lazy spiritually or relying on others to keep us growing in our faith. Beth Moore uses the story of the Israelites and Moses from Exodus 20:18-21 to illustrate this:

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

Beth explains: “That’s how a lot of people still want their religion today. We still say in effect, ‘I’m not looking to be close to the Father God and to get to know Him intimately through His Son Jesus Christ. I just want someone to tell me what to do and what not to do and I’ll go on with it from there’…What people with this mind-set don’t understand is that they’re missing the most satisfying love relationship of their entire existence…We will never live one single day in the Spirit accidentally. It simply cannot happen…You show me a godly woman, and I’ll show you a woman who pursued God” (Beth Moore, Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still p. 137 & 139).

Not surprisingly, the Bible has quite a bit to say about staying tuned into the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:25 tells us: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Our job is to match the cadence of our steps to those of the Holy Spirit. We can only do this through consistent time in God’s Word and prayer.

Over the past few years as I’ve learned more about the Holy Spirit, I’ve incorporated a few regular phrases into my prayer life. They help me keep in step with the Spirit and remain intentional in my pursuit of Him. The first is: “God, pour out your Spirit on me today.” When I pray this, I imagine God taking a pitcher of water and pouring it over my head so that everything around me is soaked with His Spirit. Although I know that His Spirit already resides in me, asking for more of Him increases my capacity to be filled and used by Him. Ephesians 5:18b admonishes us to be “filled with the Spirit.” The footnotes in my study Bible explain this verse well: “The Greek present tense is used in this verse to indicate that the filling of the Spirit it not a once-for-all experience. Repeatedly, as occasion requires, the Spirit empowers for worship, service and testimony.” (Zondervan NIV Study Bible p. 1832)

Another regular prayer of mine is “God, align my heart with Your Spirit.” Essentially, this means asking God to make me want the things He wants. This is what it means to pray “in Jesus’ name.” In John 14:13-14 Jesus says “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” When we ask in Jesus’ name, it acknowledges our desire for God to be glorified by our requests. It’s not like a closing salutation for a prayer; it is a statement of wanting our wills to align with God’s and to ask in prayer for the things we know He wants.

Just like I read my meal-planning book throughout the day, we have to consult the Bible regularly to stay aligned with God’s will and Spirit. We have to be actively engaged in studying His word, praying and seeking Him. We can’t base our faith on memories of the past. That would be like cooking on autopilot and making the same default meals over and over. God has something new to show us all the time. He wants to keep our spiritual metabolisms moving to ingest new truths so that we can use our gifts to bless others and honor Him.

“I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not yield my glory to another  or my praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place,  and new things I declare;  before they spring into being  I announce them to you.” -Isaiah 42:8-10

Maybe it’s time to think about your spiritual metabolism. Are you on autopilot cruising along spiritually without giving much thought to your need for the Spirit? Is there an area you need to surrender so that you can obey God more fully? It may seem daunting, but once you address these things, you won’t want to go back to autopilot again. God has too many great things in store for you and will give you exactly what you need to live walking in His Spirit.

I’ve attached a link below to a song that is a little older. It is called “Rushing Wind” and is by a Christian musical artist named Keith Green who passed away in a plane crash in 1982. Although it may not sound as current as some of the songs I usually include, I hope it will bless and inspire you. I first heard it as a freshman in college in 1988 and it is still one of my favorites.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqhS17wt_pE

The Aftermath of Being “Punked”

Beth Moore told a story in Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still about a time when she was duped by a woman with a testimony that seemed too amazing to be true. When Beth learned that she and her ministry had been deceived, one of her staff members said: “We’ve been punked!”

I decided to look up the word “punked” online to see some of the definitions for this slang term that has become popular in recent years. Here are a few of the definitions I found: punked: A way to describe someone ripping a person off, tricking, teasing; humiliated completely, as in disrespected; putting oneself in a position of being open to ridicule; having been lied to or fooled.

Like Beth, I still wince when I think of a few times that I’ve been “punked” by Satan through hard circumstances with others. While I’ve never had someone “punk” me in such a deliberate way, I’ve experienced my fair share of pain. What I chose to do with the pain often led me down a path of being spiritually attacked. People may hurt us intentionally or unintentionally, but it is really Satan who does the “punking.” First Peter 5:8 says it clearly: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” When we’re hurt, we can either draw closer to God or look for unhealthy ways to cope that leave us spiritually vulnerable.

Looking back, it’s clear there were times when I made myself pretty easy prey for that prowling lion looking for someone to devour. Beth Moore gave a big and extreme example of when Satan used a situation to “punk” her, but we all have situations that can lead to being “punked” by him. It’s just one of the down sides of living in a fallen world. We can be sure that even if someone didn’t intentionally mean to “punk” us, Satan looks for ways to capitalize on our hurt and use it against us. Here are a few situations he can use to “punk” us when we’re not staying alert:

-A pastor or ministry leader disappoints you personally causing you to withdraw from Christian community or to stop attending corporate worship services

-A pastor or ministry leader’s sinful nature is suddenly exposed and you stop trusting anyone in a leadership position and cynicism begins to take root in you

-Your tight knit community of friends fractures and goes its separate ways causing you to feel hurt and wary of engaging in deep relationships anymore

-Your spouse, friend or business partner betrays you, leaving you choking on your own bitterness and unable to see past your own problems

-Your teen or adult child seems to do the opposite of everything you taught him, leaving you disillusioned about the Christian parenting tools you thought were foolproof

-The ministry where you’ve been serving seems to be changing in a way that doesn’t fit with your vision so you disengage and stop seeking ways to use your gifts

-You have a difference of opinion with someone you serve with and decide it’s not worth it to be involved in ministry anymore

-A close friendship falls apart and your fear of being hurt prevents you from cultivating new friendships

If you can relate to any of the scenarios above, you are not alone. What if it’s too late? What if you’ve already been “punked?” Here are a few thoughts on dealing with the aftermath and moving back into a place of health and wholeness.

-Don’t let being “punked” make you bitter

Ephesians 4:31 tells us: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.” When bitterness takes root in us, it flavors everything in our lives negatively. Bitter people rarely exude joy, peace, or grace. It’s hard to share the love of Christ when bitterness plunges its roots deep into the soil of our lives. Pray and ask God to remove the bitterness you feel welling up inside of you.

-Don’t lose trust in all people because you were burned

In Matthew 10:12-14 & 16 Jesus says: “As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet…I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” Being shrewd and innocent means having discernment to know the difference between people who are trustworthy and people who are not. It is unwise to assume the negative about all people you encounter because of one or two bad experiences.

-Pray against cynicism

Colossians 3:12-14 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Cynicism doesn’t coexist well with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness and love. It makes us sarcastic, jaded and unable to be authentic in our relationships with others.

-Don’t lose sight of the other good things in your life

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Sometimes it’s easy to focus on the hurt we feel and to miss all of the other places good things are happening. Good things and hard things usually co-exist in our lives. We show wisdom when we can be thankful noticing the good and instead of fixating on the bad.

-Get help to access the tools you need for healing

Matthew 18:15-16 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’” Often we try to muscle through hard situations on our own when what we need is the help of others. There was a time when the same person was repeatedly emotionally hurting me. I was afraid to talk to anyone about it for fear of being a gossip. When I finally confided in a wise friend, she spoke the truth and reassurance I desperately needed to hear. Eventually a Christian counselor equipped me with the tools I needed to heal and learn from what I’d experienced. The ways I grew by facing my pain caused much good to come from a very difficult situation.

-Practice Forgiveness

Matthew 6:14-15 says: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” I don’t think I could say it any clearer. If we love God, then we need to forgive. This is a choice we make, not a feeling. Think of forgiveness as a cycle that may need to repeat rather than a one-time transaction. You’ll feel tremendous relief when you’re able to release your hurt at the feet of Jesus.

-Take time to heal, but don’t withdraw permanently

Matthew 5:14-16 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.” Taking time to heal is healthy and good, but we can’t hide our lights forever. If you need to push the “pause” button for a while to re-group, that is a good thing, just don’t let it become your new “normal.” Hebrews 10:25-26 says: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

-Don’t let Satan sideline you and keep you from using your gifts to bless others

1 Peter 4:10 says: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” If you’ve been hurt while serving in a specific area and want to step back, take some time to pray and see what is next. Maybe there are some issues you need to confront in your current situation. Maybe it is time for you to find a new place to plug in and use your gifts. Just make sure you don’t leave any unfinished business behind before you move on. Running from a difficult or frustrating situation doesn’t bring healing– it just delays it.

-Put on your spiritual armor

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Be aware that you are vulnerable to spiritual attack and access the spiritual armor God gives you to stand firm against it.

Just in case you need a reminder if you’ve been “punked”, you are not alone. You might be wondering how I compiled the list of suggestions above. It’s all from personal experience. I’ve let the messiness of life open me up to being “punked” by Satan more than once. Hopefully, the things I’ve learned will bless you and enable you to avoid having to learn the hard way like I did.

There are many helpful resources to assist you if you’ve been “punked” and don’t want to find yourself there again. A few books that have made a difference for me are:

Forgive and Forget by Lewis Smedes (Don’t let the title fool you- this book is about learning from your hurt so that you won’t be doomed to repeat it)

Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Safe People by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

If you have other resources that have helped you, please make a comment and share them with others.

Need a little encouragement right away? Click on the link below to hear the song “Holding Nothing Back” by Ryan Stevenson. It will remind you that it’s best to keep our eyes on Jesus in the midst of our hurts and disappointments. There is no better way to safeguard against getting “punked.”

When Praying Expectantly Wears Thin

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. –Proverbs 13:12

California is having its driest winter in the state’s 164-year history. While I know this is bad news for our water supply, I must admit I’m enjoying the dry days, warm weather and clear blue skies. I can’t make it rain, so I might as well enjoy the sunshine. Who could blame me?

Recently our family took advantage of a warm and sunny Saturday to go mountain biking together. My younger son had been asking to ride on a specific trail that he spied a while back, so we thought it was the perfect day to try it. He knew that getting to the fun downhill part would require quite a bit of hill climbing first. I was pretty impressed he wanted to do such a challenging ride. At first the promise of that grand finale on the second half buoyed his spirits as we started our ascent. Pretty soon, however, he started falling behind the rest of us. The excitement for the descent evaporated as his muscles burned and his lungs gasped for air. When he finally reached the top, he’d lost all desire to finish the ride and wanted to turn around and go back the way we came.

I cheered for him as he walked his bike up to where we were waiting and reminded him of his goal. “You can’t stop now, buddy! The trail you’ve been waiting for is coming soon. Just two more small hills and we’ll be on the fun part. You can do it!” I was trying hard to sound positive and encouraging, but he wasn’t buying it.

“This ride is stupid and I don’t want to do it anymore,” he grumbled as he dropped his bike to the ground and sat hunched at a picnic table nearby.

He’d been waiting expectantly for what he thought would be a fun ride, but the journey there was harder than he anticipated. Maybe you can relate. We all have those times when our enthusiasm begins to wear thin the longer our expectations go unmet. I couldn’t help thinking about this as I did the lesson for Week 4, Day 4 of Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still. I love that Priscilla Shirer is encouraging believers to pray big prayers. She says “Knowing God and the resources He’s made available to you … changes not only how you pray but what you feel free to ask God for. You will begin to realize that you don’t have to pray small or with reservation. You can ask the Lord for exactly what you desire no matter how outlandish or impossible it may appear to be” (p.92).

I wholeheartedly believe Priscilla’s words to be true. God can do anything we ask. However, I also know firsthand that “whether God moves is a question of His sovereignty, not His ability. What He does is His business. Believing that He can is our business” (p.94). Sometimes praying expectantly gets tiring, maybe even a little discouraging. Waiting with no clear sense of when a prayer might be answered is hard work when we try to do it on our own strength. Over the years of waiting for different prayers to be answered, I’ve learned some things that have helped me not to lose hope. Below are a few thoughts and verses on how to keep your focus where it needs to be as you pray expectantly and wait for God to reveal His plans to you.

-Keep Your Eyes On God Instead of on the Answer You Seek

It can be easy to fixate on the answer we’re looking for instead of on God. Praising God for who He is and reminding yourself of all Jesus did for you can bring you a peace that is not dependent upon your circumstances or a particular answer you’re seeking.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. –Hebrews 12:1-3

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. –Isaiah 26:3-4

-Maintain An Eternal Perspective

Sometimes we get so consumed with the thing we’re praying for that we forget this world is not our permanent home. It’s helpful to take a step back sometimes and see your situation from a different perspective. We are just passing through this world on our way to our home in heaven. A good question we can ask ourselves to keep in check is: “In the light of eternity, how much does this really matter?”

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:16-18

-Remember that God Does Things His Way, Not Yours

It’s easy to focus so much on the outcome we’re expecting that we miss the ways God is already at work in our lives (or even in a particular situation we’re praying for). When we pray expectantly, it’s helpful to take God’s sovereignty into consideration. We need to give Him room to move and work in the way He sees best instead of expecting Him to do things according to the expectations we have.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. –Isaiah 55:8-9

-Focus on Gratitude

When we are praying expectantly about a specific situation, it might be easy to forget all the things God has done or is doing in our lives. It builds our faith and our trust in God when we take time to list the specific things we can already be thankful for in our lives. We can even thank God for how He is working behind the scenes while we wait. In all circumstances, there is something for which we can thank God.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

-Pray for Strength and Confidence in God as You Wait Expectantly

It is okay to admit to God that we are growing weary or that our confidence in Him is waning. We can ask Him to restore our strength, confidence and hope as we wait. We can ask Him to show us what we can be learning as we trust Him for the answers to our prayers. It helps to be honest and admit when we’re struggling and need help adjusting our attitudes.

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

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. –Psalm 139:23-4

-Let Others Encourage You

It’s always easier to wait for something when we have company. Enlisting a trusted friend to pray with us and to encourage us as we wait for God helps us to stay hopeful. It also keeps us from getting bitter or disillusioned if the answer is taking longer than we think it should.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. –Hebrews 10:23-25

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. –Hebrews 3:12-14

You may be wondering how things turned out for my son on our bike ride. After he regained his strength and listened to our encouraging words, he was willing to get on his bike and continue. At first, he was sullen as he trudged up the next hill pushing his bike, but he was definitely trying harder. Not surprisingly, all of his grumpiness disappeared when we finally reached the trail that wound back down the mountain. When we stopped to enjoy the sweeping views part way down, he was back to his old enthusiastic self and couldn’t wait to keep riding. He led the way down the hill and was thrilled with what he’d accomplished at the end.

I pray that you’ll find hope and courage as you pray expectantly. There can even be joy in the waiting if you’re open to seeing it. God has great things in store, there is no doubt about that.

Click on the song “While I’m Waiting” by John Waller for some further encouragement as you wait.

The Rest of Faith

“Twenty-six days until Christmas!” My twelve-year old son announced gleefully as we pulled into the driveway after a Thanksgiving trip visiting family. I could feel the knot of dread forming in my stomach. Christmas was less than a month away and I had not done one thing to prepare. It felt like the train was leaving the station and I was standing on the platform watching it go. On top of that, I was already worn out and not looking forward to jumping back into the regular responsibilities of daily life. I was feeling heavy hearted and discouraged that some old frustrations were re-surfacing after I thought they’d been resolved. Suffice it to say, it was not a good way to kick off the Christmas season.

I woke up early the next morning with my mind swimming. There were so many things I needed to do, I felt overwhelmed with where to begin. Knowing I wasn’t going to fall back to sleep, I pulled back the covers and decided I might as well be productive in spite of my lack of energy. I could already sense I was starting the day off on the wrong foot and realized before I tackled any tasks, I needed some time alone in God’s word and prayer. I grabbed my Bible study book and thumbed through to Week Two, Day Four in Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still. I had to laugh as I read the title “The Rest of Faith.” I’d never fully understood this phrase before and certainly wasn’t experiencing it at that moment. Did “rest” mean “remainder” as in “the rest of the story”? Or did it literally mean “peace of mind or spirit?” As I delved into Kay Arthur’s study it was as if the lesson had been written specifically for me to read on that very day.

The study examines the passage in Hebrews 3:7- 4:3. In case you don’t have a Bible handy, here it is:

So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts  as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,  and they have not known my ways.’ So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”

“Today, if you hear his voice,  do not harden your hearts  as you did in the rebellion.” Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies perished in the wilderness? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed? So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger,  ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.

Before diving into an explanation of the passage, the lesson directed me to read Numbers 13 & 14, which is the story that the Hebrews passage refers to in chapters 3 & 4. The Numbers passage describes the Israelites arriving at the Promised Land (the first time). In the Numbers story, 12 spies are sent by Moses to scout out the land for 40 days. Upon returning, they report that the land is flowing with milk and honey, just as God had promised. However, ten of the spies finish the description of the bountiful land with foreboding: “But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large” (Numbers 13:28). Only two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, advise the Israelites to go through with God’s plan. In Numbers 14:7-9, Joshua and Caleb say to the people:

“The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Instead of listening to Joshua and Caleb, the people cry out against them and ultimately, against God. Because of this rebellion, God declares that the Israelites will wander in the desert for 40 years, one year for every day the spies scouted out the land. Further, He strikes the 10 spies who had given a bad report with a plague and they die immediately. Out of all the adults over 20, only Joshua and Caleb survive and live to enter God’s rest in the Promised Land 40 years later. (You may remember the story of their second time entering the Promised Land from my earlier blog and/ or the live talk at Focused Living entitled “Finding Your 20 Seconds of Courage.”)

Kay Arthur points out how sad it is that “instead of believing and trusting God and His Word, [the Israelites] threw a tantrum of unbelief that cost them 40 years of wandering in the wilderness…Only Joshua and Caleb were spared, and that is because they were the two spies who believed in God” (p. 47).

Contrast the fear of the people with the reassurance that Caleb tries to provide them: “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30). Kay explains: “This… is the rest of faith…Rest is uniting the Word of faith and living in it at that very moment. It’s the action of faith for today—for this moment, this situation” (p.47). According to Hebrews 3:19, the Israelites were disobedient because they showed unbelief. This is what prevented them from entering into God’s rest in the Promised Land. For them, the rest would have been both literal (not having to wander in the desert anymore) and figurative (having spiritual peace).

Hebrews tells us we do not have to make the same mistake the Israelites made. “For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said” (Hebrews 4:3). We enter into God’s rest when we accept Christ as our Savior, and we continue to enter into His rest every time we show Him we believe His word to be true through our actions and attitudes. Entering God’s rest starts with one decision and then becomes an ongoing series of choices in our lives daily.

Belief in God shows by our actions. This boils down to a simple question: Do we live like we believe? If so, we should be receiving His rest. For me, that means spending less time trying to work things out on my own wisdom and spending more time seeking God. Once I’ve laid a situation at His feet, my job is to trust Him by resting in Him. In my life, this has more to do with a change of focus than anything else.

The morning that I woke up with a bad attitude, heavy with discouragement and totally unprepared for Christmas, I had to do some serious soul-searching. I was convicted that if I really believed the Christmas season was about celebrating the birth of Jesus, then I had no reason to be stressed and anxious. I’d lost my focus by worrying about all of the tasks that seemed so daunting to me.

The start of the Christmas season is often accompanied by a ramp up of stress for many people. The holidays tend to accentuate areas in our lives where we don’t have peace. It could be something simple such as worrying about all of the shopping, decorating and cooking to be done. It could be something deeper. The holidays often exacerbate loneliness or shine a spotlight on difficult relationships. Sometimes they remind us of our weaknesses when we succumb to the temptation to eat and drink too much. They might emphasize the inadequacy we feel when our bank accounts can’t cover the purchases we want to make. For those struggling with depression, the dark days of December and the swirl of activity can make their spirits descend even further. Sadly, there are many of us who feel exempt from the Angels’ pronouncement in Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Regardless of the circumstance in our lives that rob us of our peace, God invites us to believe His promises and to find rest in Him. Scroll back up and take a look at the photo at the top of this posting. That sleeping little boy is my younger son when he was two–the same one who is now twelve that I mentioned earlier. He was so worn out after a busy day he’d spontaneously fallen asleep on the couch. He had no choice but to enter into the deep rest he so desperately needed. That’s what the rest of faith is all about- relinquishing our need to control and trusting God to work in His perfect timing.

If you find yourself feeling weary and worn, let the song below bring you some encouragement. You are not alone—let God’s redemptive power work in you as you trust Him to give you exactly what you need for each moment.

Click here to listen to “Worn” by Tenth Avenue North.

The Spiritual Nutrients in the Bread of Life

I grew up in a household that placed a high value on knowing and studying the Bible. It wasn’t so much in what my parents said as in what they did to show us their priorities. Throughout my childhood I watched my parents devote themselves to participating in weekly Bible studies that required a fair amount of homework. I can remember coming home from school to find my mom at the kitchen table with her papers spread all over as she pored over her enormous “parallel” Bible (four translations in one book). Any time I stayed home sick, I couldn’t watch TV until my mom had finished listening to her favorite Bible teachers on the radio. This was a daily activity for her as she worked in the kitchen or did housework while all of us kids were at school. It seemed boring to me at the time, but her actions influenced me more than I realized.

Looking back, I see my parents treated studying the Bible as a priority in their schedules. It wasn’t drudgery or something they did because the “had” to do it. And it wasn’t a luxury that they did only when they’d finished all of the other “important” tasks that demanded their time. It was just woven into the fabric of their schedules.

When my oldest son was born, one of my goals for my first year at home with him was to find a Bible study. Following my parents’ example, I wanted to immerse myself in God’s word with more discipline and consistency than I had before. It has been fourteen years since I set out to get serious about studying the Bible. I’ve been blessed to see the benefits of pursuing that goal. The more I’ve studied it, the more I’ve realized what a rich and layered book it is. And the more I’ve studied, the more I’ve changed, grown and gained wisdom as God has revealed Himself to me through the pages of His holy word.

Once I started seeing positive results, I was motivated to keep pushing myself further. Old things that used to seem appealing suddenly weren’t as enticing anymore. Each new truth I discovered opened my eyes to God’s character, goodness and grace, causing me to love Him more and to be grateful for all He’d done for me. His word gave me hope and strength in hard times and confidence to be stretched in new ways. Studying with others who had similar goals also helped me on the road to growing deeper.

Making time to study the Bible has not always been easy. Over the years I’ve crossed paths with many people like me who have faced challenges in their quest to know and live God’s word. Here are three of the most prevalent issues students of the Bible face:

Viewing Studying the Bible as Drudgery

Sometimes it’s easy to fall into the mindset of thinking studying scripture is something we “should” do because it’s good for us. Kind of like eating your vegetables when you’re a kid. Yet, in 2 Timothy, Paul says: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) If we dabble in Bible study and view it as drudgery, this makes it difficult to handle the word of truth correctly. If we’re doing it just to check it off our “to do” lists, chances are it’s not really impacting our lives much.

The writer of Hebrews describes it this way: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good from evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14).

Viewing Studying the Bible as a Luxury

Kay Arthur comments in the Session 1 video of Faithful, Abundant, True: Three Lives Going Deeper Still that “we’re so entangled with the affairs of this life that we’re not studying the Word of God as we ought to.” Sometimes we view time studying the Bible as a luxury or a “bonus” that we can indulge once we’ve gotten all of our “important” tasks finished. When I get up in the morning I’m often tempted to check my phone or computer before I open my Bible. However, when I do this I usually get sucked into the day’s events and neglect that quiet time in God’s word I so desperately need. “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4) Just like we need food every day, we need God’s word every day. It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity.

Losing Focus with Priorities

Sometimes I joke that the problem with America is that we have too many choices. There are so many things vying for our time and attention that seem good, important or just plain fun. We fill our schedules full and then complain that we “don’t have time” for studying the Bible. We’re so busy doing that we’ve forgotten how to be. Many Christians find disciplined study of the Bible infringes on their schedules in light of all their other obligations. When they do find themselves with “down time,” they are too exhausted for the serious study that leads to maturity.

Yet, in Hebrews 2:1, we see an important reminder: “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Paying careful attention requires time, effort and commitment. Reading, studying and knowing the Bible needs to be woven into the fabric of our daily lives, not something we do haphazardly when we have a few extra minutes. When we let other priorities take precedence over studying God’s word, we don’t grow and mature as we’re meant to and we forego the vital spiritual nutrients we need to survive.

Ideas for Realigning Our Focus

Most of us have probably found ourselves in one or all of the categories above at different points in our lives. Read below to diagnose your current challenge and to get some practical ideas for getting back on track.

Drudgery: It may feel like drudgery when we’re more motivated by outward influences. If you find yourself feeling “guilty” for not studying the Bible more, it might have more to do with worrying what others think than really wanting to know God’s word. Perhaps you are someone who just plain doesn’t like reading, studying and doing homework. If either of these describes you, pray and ask God to increase your desire for His word and to help you see and feel why studying it is beneficial.

Luxury: If your problem is viewing studying the Bible as a luxury, try fasting from food for a day. (I’m serious). Every time your stomach rumbles, you’ll be reminded that food is a necessity, not a luxury, just like God’s word.

Prioritizing Your Time: If you struggle with making time in God’s word a priority, try evaluating your schedule. Take an honest look at how you spent your time in the last week. Are there moments that you could have used more wisely? In my life, screens can often be major time-suckers- whether it is checking e-mail, scanning Facebook, researching something online, relaxing in front of the TV or checking my phone. If you can relate, try to put time studying the Bible before these activities instead of saving it for after. Or, try turning off screens half an hour earlier so you can get up in the morning and start your day in God’s word.

Whatever might be keeping you from delving into the Bible more deeply, I encourage you to seek God’s help and ask a trusted friend to keep you accountable.

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things” (Philippians 3:13b-15a).

What tips do you have for encouraging others to be disciplined in their study of God’s Word? Take a moment to comment and let us know.

Finding Your Twenty Seconds of Courage

Throughout the story of Gideon we see moments of incredible bravery when Gideon had to step out in faith to trust God. Gideon’s weakness became a conduit to reveal God’s incredible strength. In each pivotal moment of Gideon’s story, he had to take the first step in deciding whether he would follow God’s plan or cower in his own weakness. I like to think about those crucial twenty seconds of courage in each terrifying situation he faced: tearing down his father’s altar to Ba’al, accepting military leadership despite his lack of experience, sending home 31,700 soldiers despite the 135,000 Midianites he was called to attack, and entering battle with only 300 men armed with nothing more than clay jars, torches and trumpets.

What we need to realize is that we have access to that same power Gideon had. We have opportunities every day to entrust our weaknesses to God and to watch how He gives us strength to accomplish His purposes.

This whole idea of “Twenty Seconds of Courage” was inspired in me by watching the movie We Bought a Zoo. Check out the clip here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmMFIganRQY

Matt Damon’s character says these inspiring words: “Sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally, twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery and I promise you, something great will come of it.” When we trust God to give us 20 seconds of courage to obey Him, it can transform our lives for good and impact others in powerful ways.

Gideon was not the only one who stepped out in faith relying on God’s strength in the midst of his weakness. Let’s look at a few other people in the Bible who did this to see if we can discover how they found the courage to step out in faith when the odds were against them.

Joshua:

One of my favorite stories takes place in Joshua, Chapter 3. Joshua has just become the new leader of the Children of Israel after Moses’ death. Imagine how daunting it must have been to come after Moses, the man who spoke directly to God and led the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land. That is probably why God tells Joshua three times in Joshua 1 “Be strong and courageous.”

His task in Joshua 3 is to lead roughly two million Jews across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. The biggest problem is that this is during flood stage and the swollen river was probably several hundred yards across. God instructs Joshua to have the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant into the river and to trust that He will hold back the waters. Imagine the twenty seconds of courage it must’ve taken Joshua to tell the priests the plan! Amazingly, the priests agree to the plan and God parts the waters to allow all of the people to walk on dry ground and pass safely into the Promised Land.

I’d guess that Joshua’s courage came from his past experiences with Yahweh. He’d seen God part the Red Sea in Exodus 14, he’d seen him provide manna for the people throughout their forty years wandering in the desert (see Exodus 16 for the first occurrence), and he’d won a battle against the Amalekites against amazing odds. This passage describing that battle is too good not to share:

“So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.’”

God wanted to make sure Joshua remembered this amazing victory so that he would have courage to lead in the future.

The bottom line? Joshua found his twenty seconds of courage through remembering God’s faithfulness in the past.

Jehoshaphat:

The story of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 might be one of my favorites of all time. In earlier chapters, we learn that Jehoshaphat was a king who honored God by removing the high places and Asherah poles from Judah. He also valued God’s word and sent officials throughout Judah to teach the Book of the Law to the people.

In chapter 20, Jehoshaphat learns that a vast army is marching to attack Judah. I love his response in verses 3-4:

“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.”

Jehoshaphat’s impulse wasn’t to gather his military advisors, count his troops or inventory the weapons in Judah’s arsenal. His impulse was to seek God. He gathers his people together to pray and fast. In his public prayer before all the people, he doesn’t’ start by pleading with God to save Judah, instead, he praises God’s power. Next, he proclaims God’s past deeds. He finally gets around to presenting God with his problem and then shows ultimate humility by admitting his position of powerlessness. In verse 12 he says:

“We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

The next day God sends Jehoshaphat to meet his enemies. The prophet who shares God’s plan reassures Jehoshaphat by saying in 20:17:

“You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.”

In 20:21 Jeshoshaphat follows God plan and marches out to battle after appointing men to go out at the head of the army singing: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

Much like the story of Gideon, God causes the enemies to turn on one another and by the time Jehoshaphat and his army arrive the enemies have all destroyed one another. All that is left for Jehoshaphat and his men to do is collect the plunder.

The bottom line? Jehoshaphat found his twenty seconds of courage through praising God.

Peter:

The story of Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14:22-33 is one of my favorites from the New Testament. I love the fact that he was the only disciple with enough courage to ask Jesus to enable him to walk on water when he saw Jesus walking on the waves towards the boat. Even though Peter does falter for a moment when he lets the wind and the waves take his eyes off Jesus, he remembers where to turn for help in verse 30:

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”

Much like Jehoshaphat, he knew that in his powerlessness, God was the only one who could save him. Just how did Peter become so trusting of Jesus that he was willing to step out of the boat into the storm tossed waters? I turned to the beginning of the book of Matthew to see what events took place prior to this one. It’s quite an impressive list. Here are a few of the things that happened earlier in the story:

-He saw Jesus heal the sick (Matt 4)

-He heard Jesus preach the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7)

-He saw Jesus calm a storm (Matt 8)

-He saw Jesus heal two demon-possessed men (Matt 8)

-He saw Jesus heal a paralytic (Matt 9)

-He saw Jesus raise a girl from death (Matt 9)

-He was sent out to preach, heal, raise dead, cleans lepers and drive out demons (Matt 10)

-He saw Jesus feed a crowd 5000 people using 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish (Matt 14)

Peter had already witnessed Jesus doing amazing things. He had developed a relationship of love and trust and knew that through Jesus he could do seemingly impossible things. The bottom line? Peter’s twenty seconds of courage came through trusting Jesus.

There are several common threads that we can see between the characters in all three stories.

1. All three knew and valued God’s Word

2. All three shared God’s truth with others

3. All three knew God was capable of doing more than they could do on their own

4. All three knew their own weaknesses

5. All three impacted others using God’s strength

6. All three had personal and intimate relationships with God

7. All three led courageously in seemingly impossible situations

Here is the best part: None of the things on this list are specific to a particular person, culture or time period. All of them can be true of us today as much as they were for Joshua, Jehoshaphat and Peter.

As we wrap up our study of Gideon, what will be different in your life going forward? What areas do you need to work on so that you’ll be ready when God calls you to step out to give Him 20 seconds of courage?

Our moments of courage can be large or small, but each one matters to God. Do you sense God nudging you in some way that may seem frightening?

-Maybe He’s calling you to pick up the phone and mend a broken relationship

-Maybe He’s prompting you to speak an encouraging word to someone who is outside of your comfort zone

-Maybe He’s calling you to invite a friend or neighbor to church or Bible study

-Maybe He’s nudging you to open your home to someone in need

-Maybe He’s telling you to say “no” to a few commitments that will enable you to spend more time with Him or studying His word

-Maybe He’s prompting you to spend more time pouring into others or less time with people who are dragging you down

-Maybe He’s calling you to go on that Missions trip you’ve been talking about for years

-Maybe He’s inviting you to trust Him with your finances and tithe or give sacrificially

-Maybe He’s nudging you to make that appointment with a Christian counselor that you’ve been putting off

-Maybe He’s telling you to use that Spiritual Gift you know you have but have been afraid to use

The list could go on. The point is, any act of bravery requires that first twenty seconds of courage to get started. Are you up for it? When you look back at the story of your life, what things do you see God has given you to draw on for courage? Are you ready to give Him your weakness and watch Him turn it into His strength? Post a comment and let us know!

Idols Erode a Firm Foundation

My mountain bike skidded to a stop, kicking up a billow of dust on the trail behind me. Something had caught my eye as I’d ridden down the hill and I wanted to investigate. The trail I’d been riding had a steep incline on its left side and perched on it was a large, old tree with its branches spread wide. The rain of many winters had taken its toll and had carried off much of the soil foundation. Large gnarled roots sat exposed to the elements revealing evidence of significant soil erosion. I guessed the whole tree would eventually slide down onto the trail if nothing were done to correct the problem.

Looking at the tree that day, I couldn’t help but think of the story of Gideon. Sadly, the end of Gideon’s tale is nowhere near as inspiring as the beginning. The firm foundation of Gideon’s faith slowly eroded over time as he allowed an idol to creep in and take center stage in his life. The story winds down with the Israelites quickly forgetting that it was God who led them to victory over the Midianites, not Gideon. Here is the first part of the story from Judges 8.

22 The Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us—you, your son and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” 23 But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule over you.”

While Gideon may sound humble here for refusing the position of King, what he did next shows he was a wee bit off base. Chapter 8 continues 24 And he said, “I do have one request, that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.” (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)

25 They answered, “We’ll be glad to give them.” So they spread out a garment, and each of them threw a ring from his plunder onto it. 26 The weight of the gold rings he asked for came to seventeen hundred shekels,[a] not counting the ornaments, the pendants and the purple garments worn by the kings of Midian or the chains that were on their camels’ necks. 27 Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.

While it’s not the uplifting ending I’d hoped for, it is a jolting wake up call for those of us trying to apply the story to our lives. Gideon and the Israelites wanted a tangible symbol of their victory. The ephod was meant to be a vest worn by the high priest and used to relay God’s guidance and instruction to the people. It wasn’t meant for use outside of these purposes. What was intended as a tool to draw people closer to God had become an idol instead.

It seems easy to recognize their folly, doesn’t it? Priscilla Shirer draws some modern comparisons that don’t let us dismiss this story as quickly as we’d like. The week 6 Lesson of Gideon: Your Weakness, God’s Strength is full of examples of subtle idols that may have crept into our lives in the twenty first century. As I read her examples, many more flooded to my mind. Several are ones that have been snares in my own life. I’ve chosen a few that might make you squirm a bit. Rest assured, I have no specific person in mind for any of these. If you feel the discomfort of conviction as you read, ask God to show you how He’s calling you to respond rather than feeling offended or annoyed.

Scenario 1: Laura loves people and enjoys socializing. Whether she is staying late after Bible Study, attending a dinner party with her husband or enjoying a hike with girlfriends, she always makes time for other people. Sometimes she has a hard time being “present” with people because she’s worried she’s missing out on another conversation going on nearby. Laura gets so busy spending time with others that she often has overlaps in her schedule that require her to leave early or arrive late. Weekends become especially hectic as she squeezes in several social events each evening sandwiched between full days running her kids around to their activities. One Friday night, her kids finally decide they need a break and they beg for a family movie night at home. Laura can’t stand the thought of foregoing the neighborhood get together down the street. Her “fear of missing out” causes her to be fidgety and distracted instead of enjoying a peaceful night at home.

Scenario 2: Bob and Sue have a great, new pastor at church and they’re so excited to invite their friends to hear him preach. The Bible has come alive for them in a new way since he joined the staff. They look forward to the Sundays when he speaks. One Saturday they have an especially late night and when they wake up the next day, they’re too tired to make it to church. They find out later that a different pastor was preaching and are relieved they didn’t miss their “favorite.” Over time, they begin checking in advance to see who will be preaching. They make less of an effort to attend church when he’s not speaking. Two years later when the pastor announces he’s taking a new position at a different church, Bob and Sue seriously consider following him, despite the fact that the new church is over an hour away.

Scenario 3: Jason works hard and feels blessed to be his family’s provider. He sees himself as a steward of all God has given him and does his best to take care of things and to make them last- whether that is his car, his clothes or his house. He spends a lot of time on the weekends working in the yard or taking care of maintenance on the house. He adores his kids, but sometimes feels frustrated when they track mud inside or leave sports equipment in his car. There is nothing that feels better to him than having a place for everything and everything in its place. He often feels inadequate when he spends time with friends who have larger homes in more manicured neighborhoods than his. He works hard to make the house look nice and to feel comfortable. He can’t figure out why his kids never want to be at home or to invite friends over.

Scenario 4: After having her third child, Amy resolves it’s time to get serious about taking care of her body. She joins a gym, meets with a nutritionist and begins a weekly regimen of exercise and healthy eating. After a few months, she feels great both physically and mentally. Amy has more energy and focus, not to mention a slimmer, more toned physique. She’s quietly pleased when friends comment on how great she looks. When it’s time to sign up for her women’s Bible study, Amy hesitates, fearing that a morning away from the gym may interfere too much in her fitness regimen. She decides to sit out the study and do it by herself on her own time—that way it she won’t miss her favorite class at the gym.

Scenario 5: June and John are a recently retired couple with 4 adult kids living all over the United States. They love to travel and pride themselves on never missing a significant event in the lives of any of their 8 grandchildren. When they’re not with family, they enjoy visiting exotic new places and traveling with friends. Lately, June and John haven’t been motivated to go to church when they’re in town. Most Sundays they have a hard time finding old friends and barely recognize most of the people sitting around them. The bulletin is full of classes and activities, but most will cut into their desire to keep their schedule open, free and spontaneous, so they don’t want to commit. They lament their lost sense of community and feel that their church has become too big and impersonal.

Scenario 6: Francesca’s days are full and busy balancing a part time job, a baby and a toddler. There’s nothing she enjoys more than having a few minutes at the end of the day to unwind and enjoy a glass of wine with her husband when he gets home from work. At first, it’s a treat they look forward to on Fridays as a celebration for the end of the week. Over time, they begin cracking open a bottle mid-week when the day has been especially crazy. Evenings just seem easier to manage after a cold glass of Chardonnay. One week, Francesca’s husband is away on business and she finds herself counting the minutes until she puts the kids to bed. That evening as she enjoys a glass of wine on the couch, a friend calls to check in. Francesca jokes with her, “Do you know what’s the most expensive thing about having kids?” “What?” Her friend asks, innocently. “All the wine!” She laughs into the phone. She is surprised when her friend is silent on the other end of the line.

Scenario 7: Mike has a huge servant’s heart. There is nothing that brings him greater joy than meeting the needs of others. Over the years he’s served in a variety of capacities at church and in the community—serving as an elder, working on a long-term missions project in the inner-city, heading up outreach for Men’s Ministries, teaching 5^th grade Sunday School and more. Lately, Mike has become so busy serving that he feels exhausted and lacks some of his usual joy. Getting out of bed for worship on a Sunday mornings is daunting after serving all day at the inner-city mission every Saturday. Waking up early to spend time with God daily or attending the Men’s Bible study once a week seem like luxuries he can’t afford.

Scenario 8: Kari loves her kids and wants to see them develop their potential. Whether it’s out on the soccer field, in the dance studio, in an after school class or at piano lessons, she’s determined to give them every opportunity available. Afternoons are crazy as she drives carpools, helps with homework and takes care of the household. With three active kids, she rarely has time for the things she says she values like spending time with friends and studying the Bible. Weekends are full of activities for the whole family and when they aren’t up early for a sports game, the family loves nothing more than sleeping late on Sundays. Kari is proud of her kids and all that they’ve accomplished, but sometimes she worries that they don’t care much about attending youth group or other church activities. She finds solace by deciding they’ll have more time for that later, when they’re older. Besides, they’re so busy with all of the activities, they don’t have time to get into trouble or run with the “wrong crowd” anyway.

Scenario 9: Josh loves sports- whether it’s watching, playing or coaching. His car radio is pre-set for every sports talk show he can find. He loves to watch Sports Center at night and spends his breakfast poring over the sports pages. He knows practically every statistic from every major sporting event in a given season. He arranges weekends around his Saturday golf game and Sunday football games on TV. He’s willing to go to church with his wife most of the time. He even agrees to go to a special men’s event at church when a well-known sports figure is speaking. During the talk, the speaker quotes a verse from Joshua, “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you maybe careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” Josh can think of a lot of things he meditates on during the week, but none of them involve the stuff the speaker is talking about. He’s disappointed the guy didn’t focus on his sports career more in his speech.

————————

Idols give us a false sense of security, comfort or self-worth. Often the things that become idols in our lives start out being something good. There is nothing wrong with exercising, socializing, traveling or volunteering. However, when they govern our decision-making processes or have authority in our lives that is higher than God, they can become idols.

If you see a glimmer of yourself in one or more of these scenarios, please consider praying about it and asking God what changes He might be calling you to make. Remember, the goal here is to prevent ourselves from ending up like Gideon, who created an idol that had enough ties to his Jewish faith that he felt justified having it. Erosion happens slowly over time, like the tree in the picture.

If you see a glimmer of someone you love in one of the scenarios above, let me caution you against appointing yourself as a personal holy spirit for that person. Rather than having him/ her read the scenario, commit to praying for the person and the possible idol you see in his/ her life. Wait to see if God gives you an opportunity to have an honest conversation when the time is right.

Personally, I’d like to end the study of Gideon on a high note. I want to be cognizant of the potential idols in my life and to recognize that my weakness is a platform for God’s strength. Here are a few ideas on how to keep the potential idols in our lives at bay:

-Make it a priority to spend time with God in prayer every day

-Read the Bible daily

-Be intentional about studying the Bible with others

-Be aware of our weak points and ask for accountability and prayer support

-Pray David’s prayer in Psalm 139:23-4 regularly and be open to what God reveals:

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

It Never Hurts to Ask

I’m generally a rule-follower by nature. I don’t like to ruffle feathers or make requests that inconvenience people. I don’t like to draw attention to myself. I’m not particularly dramatic. In the last few years, however, I’ve started getting a bit more courageous about taking risks and making requests. A new phrase has been finding its way into my vocabulary: “It never hurts to ask.” My husband chuckled at my newfound courage a few months ago as I loaded two giant resin pots into the back of our car. We’d owned them less than a year and they were already starting to fall apart due to sun damage. I figured it was worth asking for our money back. “It never hurts to ask,” I told my husband. If they said “no,” we weren’t any worse off than we were before. I lugged the pots into the store and politely explained the problem to the woman at the return counter. She took one look at the cracking and sun-bleached pots and gave me a store credit equal to their value. That night, I proudly showed my husband the gift card I’d gotten. “See? This will pay for two new ones. I told you, it never hurts to ask!”

Apparently, Gideon had a similar thought when he boldly asked God to show him a tangible sign that He was calling him into battle against the Midianites. Here is the story from Judges 6:36-40.

Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water.

Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

Priscilla Shirer’s contention in Gideon: Your Weakness, God’s Strength is that once Gideon finds the fleece and the ground exactly as he asked, he begins to doubt. Gideon wonders if he’s mistaken because the ground would naturally dry faster than the absorbent fleece. So, he risks asking God for a second sign of confirmation. This time, he requests that God make the ground wet and the fleece dry. In His infinite patience, God grants Gideon’s second request.

Priscilla points out that Gideon had been heavily influenced by the predominant “religion” of Baalism. “The universe, a Baalist would subscribe, was self-sustaining, with no eternal Being actively involved in supporting and maintaining it. While they believed it possible to stimulate or manipulate nature/Baal to respond in a certain way, they firmly believed that the world and its happenings were independent of God’s involvement. This made the personal, intimate relationship that Yahweh offered to Gideon contrary to his Baal-instructed mind. He had never felt a need to pray for certain things, because the processes that nature put in place were set and could not be altered” (Gideon, p. 111).

Priscilla then turns the tables and makes this personal: “consider how many things we don’t take to God in prayer because we’ve grown accustomed to the usual processes we experience daily… Even God’s people have been duped into believing that either He will not really do anything on our behalf or that He doesn’t need to because certain things just happen anyway” (Gideon, p. 112).

The book of James echoes this sentiment: “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives… Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:2b, 3a, 8a).

Last week I heard a story from a friend. It shows the contrast between asking God to intervene and assuming natural processes will just run their course. A few years ago, my friend’s uncle found himself in the Emergency Room with crushing chest pain. He was told that he needed to have emergency open-heart surgery to repair a dissected aorta. The prognosis was grim. Doctors predicted he had mere hours to live if he didn’t have the surgery and preparations were quickly made to begin. My friend and her family members gathered in the waiting room and began praying. Her stepfather, who was a surgeon, was granted permission to observe the surgery. As he stood in the operating room and watched the surgeons work, the situation looked dire. He decided to go out and give family members the sad update. As he rounded the corner to the waiting room, he found the family sitting in a circle deep in prayer. Not a man of the same faith, he made a hasty retreat, deciding he preferred the grim scene in the operating room to the prayer circle in the waiting room. As he re-entered the surgery, he was shocked to discover the doctors completing a full repair on the aorta. Miraculously, they’d been able to salvage enough tissue to suture it back together. The doctors were incredulous and my friend’s stepfather could hardly believe what he was seeing. In fact, the heart surgeon calls her uncle his “miracle patient” to this day. My friend’s stepfather had just accepted that there was little hope for the uncle. Seeing his family members praying in the waiting room had seemed like a vain and foolish attempt to ward off the inevitable. How wrong he was.

My friend’s uncle has gone on to live for thirteen more years. He’s had a rich and full life and has been blessed to watch his youngest daughter marry and to be a part of the lives of his three grandchildren. And all because his family members refused to give up hope and trusted God to intervene.

Are there things in life you’ve just accepted without even considering praying about them? Are you plodding through life not even thinking of the ways God could intervene in your circumstances if you asked Him? Maybe it’s a spouse or family member whose heart seems totally hardened toward God. Maybe it’s a child you lock horns with daily. Maybe it’s your health. Maybe it’s a broken relationship that won’t seem to heal. Maybe it’s a hidden addiction. Maybe it’s the ongoing struggle that you’re tired of fighting against depression, anxiety, loneliness or insecurity. Maybe it’s financial distress. Or maybe, you’re tired of just surviving and you long to be thriving in a fuller, richer, more passionate life.

Whatever it is, there is nothing that we cannot bring to God in prayer. He delights in invitations for Him to move and work in our lives. We can’t necessarily tell God how to work something out, but we can grow through the act of praying and drawing near to Him. Sometimes prayer changes our circumstances, sometimes it changes our perspectives. Sometimes it changes both. One thing is for sure- it never hurts to ask.

Do you have a story of God’s intervention in a situation that others assumed was “just the way it is?” Take time to comment so that others can be encouraged by it and God can receive the praise.

Category: Uncategorized

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