Tag: Psalm 139

Search Me, O God

Barefoot and sun-kissed, we crowded onto the couches and floors in the houseboat’s tiny front room. Sitting on faded linoleum as someone strummed a guitar, I joined the heartfelt voices of my fellow camp counselors worshiping the Lord. A growing understanding of God’s holiness had transformed the way I praised Him during those pure and powerful worship sessions.

I had arrived at Houseboats a few weeks earlier and was glad to be serving at a Christian camp instead of joining my friends for graduation festivities in Mexico. I’d been stretched and humbled but had also experienced deep joy in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Praising God for His transcendent attributes and meditating on His character gave me a clearer perspective of His worthiness and my weakness. Awestruck by His perfection and holiness, a surprising awareness of my own sinfulness also came to light. I knew I needed to confess it and come clean before Him. Like David in Psalm 139:19-22, I was beginning to recoil from sin as I understood how much the Lord hates it. 

My experience was personal, but not unique. Through the prompting and conviction of the Holy Spirit, many believers pray as David did: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” (Psalm 139, 23-24, CSB) 

After accepting Christ, we are cleansed by His blood and receive eternal salvation, but we still struggle with sin. So, we need to examine our hearts and actions consistently and confess where we’ve fallen short of His standards. The prophet Isaiah explains how sin hinders our communication with God: “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2, NIV) 

David expresses an understanding of this in Psalm 51: “Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:9-12, NIV)

Responding to the Lord’s loving forgiveness, we then repent and allow Him to transform our thoughts, attitudes, and actions once again. We turn back towards God and away from whatever dishonors Him; repentance is about surrender—welcoming the conviction of the Holy Spirit and seeking God’s help to do things differently.

With that in mind, let’s consider several reasons we’d be wise to let the Lord search our hearts and shine light on unconfessed sin. 

–Unconfessed sin is a burden that weighs us down:  In another psalm, David says, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me, my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:3-7, NIV)

Guilt warns us we’ve done something wrong, but when feeling guilty becomes a a permanent state of mind, that’s condemnation–which isn’t from God. Jesus was condemned to die on the cross to pay for our guilt! Instead, the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin so that we can confess it and be restored to close connection with the Lord. Here are a few differences between guilt that leads to condemnation and holy conviction that leads to restoration:

CondemnationConviction
Comes from the enemyComes from the Holy Spirit
Points us back to ourselvesPoints us back to God
Causes shame, regret & self-loathingCauses humility, repentance & change
Causes us to dwell on failuresCauses remorse for sin
Leads us to feel helpless & hopelessLeads us to spiritual maturity

–Unconfessed sin hinders us from growing spiritually: “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 our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV, italics added) It’s a struggle to move forward in our faith and accomplish God’s will and plans when we’re entangled by sin. It holds us back from experiencing deep, intimate fellowship with God. It also dulls our spiritual senses, weakens our ability to persevere, and takes our eyes off Jesus.

–Unconfessed sin limits opportunities to be used by God and steals our joy: David offered these wise words for his son, Solomon, shortly before his death: “I am about to go the way of all the earth…So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.’“ (1 Kings 2:1-3, NIV italics added)

Jesus also emphasizes how obedience enables closeness to God when He says, “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:10-11, NIV, italics added)

Paul elaborates further: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness… Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 4:22-24 5:15-17, NIV, italics added)

Although confession and repentance may feel difficult, or even scary at times, Scripture explains the benefits: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19, NIV, italics added) 

Consider inviting God to search your heart today. Let adoration of Him lead you to confess sins that are keeping you from becoming the person He’s made you to be. Experience refreshment and joy by removing any barriers to connection with Him

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Inspired by When You Pray: A Study of Six Prayers in the Bible, Session 4, Kelly Minter, Jackie Hill Perry, Jen Wilkin, Jennifer Rothschild, Jada Edwards, Kristi McClelland, Lifeway Press, 2023.

Your Body Matters to God

There’s a lot of talk in the world today about our bodies. Controversies about what we can and can’t do with them, how we can alter them, and how to handle our sexuality dominate news headlines, social media posts, and personal conversations. They are confusing and deeply personal subjects. Many of us struggle silently, wondering where to find answers. The internet abounds with advice, but how do we know what we can trust? For those who follow Jesus, there’s one obvious place we can look to find answers: the Bible. As the designer of our bodies, God has deep wisdom to offer us on some of the most confusing issues today. Let’s explore a few key points Scripture makes regarding our bodies and how they relate to our identity.

1. Your Body is a Dwelling Place for the Holy Spirit

Accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sin opens the door for us to have a relationship with God. This isn’t only great news for life after death, it also means the Holy Spirit comes to live within us: “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them…All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’” (John 14:23,25-26, NIV)

It’s amazing to realize that the Spirit of God resides within us when we surrender our lives to Christ. He teaches us God’s ways and reminds us what Jesus taught in the Scriptures. What a gift it is to have access to His wisdom and guidance any time we ask. How often are you tapping into this incredible power inside of you?

2. Your Body is a Temple

With the Holy Spirit living inside of us, it makes sense that God sees our bodies as His temple: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?”  (1 Cor 3:16, NIV)

God cherishes us, so the way we treat our bodies matters to Him. The way others treat our bodies also matters to the Lord. Just as buildings with spiritual significance deserve honor and reverence, the Lord has a high view of our bodies and calls us to treat them with dignity and respect. Do we treat them like we believe that’s true?

3. You Are Made in God’s Image

Humans have the distinct honor of being made in God’s image. Unlike animals, we are visual representations of God—much in the same way children resemble their parents: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NIV)

Just as we see similarities between parents and children in appearance, personality, giftedness, and character, we have correlating characteristics with God. We are His offspring and reflect His glory. He’s given us gifts, talents, and skills that bless others and make the world a better place. Our acts of goodness, love, and beauty point back to our Creator and reveal His character. The Bible gives us operating instructions for life–are we looking to it to form our characters and guide our choices?

4. You Are Known by God

Not only did the Lord make us in His image, He also knows us intimately, both body and soul. David’s eloquent words capture this beautifully:

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely…

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book   before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:1-4, 13-16, NIV)

God knows us better than we know ourselves. So, if we’re His children, our Heavenly Father should be the one we turn to for answers to hard questions. He is trustworthy and good; filtering the challenging topics of our time through His Word leads us to His unchanging truth. When we come across perspectives in the Bible that differ from the prevailing views of our society, we need to grapple with the Lord in prayer and seek the wisdom of godly people with biblical knowledge. If we’re floating with the tide of popular opinion or following the loudest voices, we’re missing out on the rock-solid truth found in the Bible.

God loves you and wants what’s best for you. He designed your body and has good plans for you. He is trustworthy and faithful. It’s just that simple. Will you prioritize seeking His wisdom over believing the confusing messages in our world today?

If you’re ready for a deeper dive into related topics, scroll down for some suggestions on podcasts, books and articles. 

No matter where you stand, be comforted by the truth that God knows and loves you fully. Let that sink in by listening to “Known” by Tauren Wells.

Podcasts: 

God & Sexuality by John Mark Comer and Jon Tyson

Live No Lies Podcast Episode 4: John Mark Comer & Dr. Nancy Pearcy on gender, abortion, sex and more

Books: 

Live No Lies by John Mark Comer 

Love Thy Body by Dr. Nancy Pearcy

Articles:

got questions.org is an excellent resource to find answers from the Bible to many different questions.

How is the Sexual Revolution Affecting Women and Girls Today?

Learn with a Humble Heart

Sitting in front of the TV, I watched in dismay as footage of angry mobs rioting and looting flashed across the screen. It was April of 1992 and I was finishing my last quarter at UCLA. Four police officers had just been acquitted for usage of excessive force in the arrest and beating of an African American man named Rodney King. Although the riots were several miles away, the smell of smoke from burning buildings wafted into the window on that warm, spring evening. Living in huge, multi-ethnic city like Los Angeles had been an eye-opening experience for a suburban girl like me. It had been both exhilarating and exhausting. 

Less than a year later, I found myself driving into one of the neighborhoods where the looting and rioting had been severe. Charred buildings and boarded up storefronts still punctuated the city blocks as the neighborhood struggled to rebuild. Now in graduate school, I’d been assigned to do my student teaching at a large high school in the heart of this neighborhood. Pulling in that first day, a guard at the school’s entrance rolled back the chain-link fence to let me into the parking lot. As I walked on campus, the color of my light skin seemed to draw the attention of many eyes.  A few of the other student teachers, faculty and staff members shared my ethnicity, but not a single student on campus did.

My semester teaching at that high school was one of the most intense seasons in my life. Not only was I learning how to manage classrooms of students while teaching 10th grade English and 12th grade Writing Composition, I was also encountering hard truths about racial tension and inequality. Issues that had created shocking news stories on TV a few months earlier became personally relevant as I got to know my students and saw the reality of their lives.

After mornings of teaching, afternoons of graduate classes, and evenings of lesson planning, I would lie in bed at night with a clenched jaw. I wrestled with feelings of frustration, helplessness, and discouragement. It was a struggle to find ways to get students to come to class consistently, let alone do their assignments. The more I got to know them, the more I began to see how tangled and complicated their situations were. I felt powerless in the face of the broader social issues that plagued my students, but I did my best to connect with them and teach them how to read critically and to write thoughtfully. Some students warmed up to me, others remained at a cool distance. In those months, I learned how to teach, but I also gained a new understanding and sensitivity for people of color with struggles and challenges that I’d never experienced personally.

Memories of that time have been at the forefront of my mind as protests and riots fueled by racial injustice and senseless deaths have dominated the news recently. Those old feelings of frustration, helplessness, and discouragement have resurfaced. The tangled and complicated situations I saw as a student teacher haven’t gotten any better. It’s so overwhelming and exhausting, I’m tempted to disengage. However, as a committed follower of Jesus, I don’t have the luxury of tuning out.

This week I’ve been studying Philippians 2:3-4, which includes these challenging words: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (NIV) I don’t see anything in there that gives permission to turn a blind eye to the racial injustices that have plagued our nation and reached a boiling point. It’s a delicate and uncomfortable topic that can no longer be avoided. This isn’t a Black problem, it’s an issue we need to care about as a nation, and especially as followers of Jesus.

I wish I had a simple solution or action point, but I don’t. Here’s what I do know: Jesus is the answer to every problem we face. He is the cure to the sin that is manifesting itself in so many ugly ways in our nation right now. I keep coming back to a quote by A.W. Tozer: “As God is exalted to the right place in our lives, a thousand problems are solved all at once.” And that leads me to the two greatest commandments in Scripture: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27, NIV) Imagine what our world would look like if loving God was our highest priority and loving our neighbors (which means all people) was how we showed this. 

If, like me, you’re struggling with how to respond in this time of unrest and tension, may I humbly and respectfully offer some starting points?

  • Seek wisdom from godly, biblical leaders rather than relying on news headlines (see my suggestions at the end of this post). Commit to listening and learning before reacting. And keep pursuing knowledge and understanding even when upsetting headlines no longer dominate the news cycle.
  • Ask trustworthy people to dialogue with you about what you’re learning and how you’re being challenged.
  • Process your thoughts and feelings with God. Share with Him honestly. Invite Him to speak to you through His Word to show you how to respond in your attitude and actions.

Here are passages from Scripture that have been shaping my prayers recently:

Psalm 139: 23-24: “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.” We can tell God what is on our hearts and identify anxious thoughts in our minds related to current events. Be bold and ask Him to show you any blind spots you have that are hurtful towards others– especially regarding race. Confess anything He shows you. Thank Him for helping you to see what needs changing so that you can grow closer to Him and be an agent of reconciliation with others.

2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Once we’ve humbled ourselves and confessed our sin, we’re ready to pray for our community, our nation, and our world. Pray for others who need to humble themselves, seek God’s face, and turn from evil. Pray that people will desire to surrender their sin to God and that they will look to Him to heal the hurts in our nation and world. Whenenver you see gut-wrenching headlines, let them prompt you to pray for the people involved.

Luke 6:37, 41-42:“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven…Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Ask God to show you where you’re judging others and magnifying their faults—especially those who have differing opinions and reactions. Pray for a forgiving heart. Pray that God would be at work in others to help them examine themselves and turn from sinful attitudes and behaviors. Pray for people in our nation to have hearts willing to forgive and heal.

 Daniel 9:18-19 “Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” Let’s pray for God to show His mercy and to intervene in the midst of racial strife. Our real enemy isn’t social injustice, police brutality, racism, poverty, or violence. Those are merely tools the devil uses to cause chaos, hatred, division, and distress in our world. Let’s ask the Lord to forgive us and to bring hope, peace, healing, and reconciliation to our hurting nation for the sake of His glory.

Invite the Lord to speak to you through these passages and to show you how to respond. Consider using some of the resources below to help you listen and learn. Just start with one. Praying, educating yourself, and sharing with others are simple actions that have powerful consequences.

Watch or Listen: 

  • Pause. Listen. Pray. CPC Pastor Tyler Scott, Earl Smith & Miles McPherson. Click here to watch now.
  • IF:TV. Jennie Allen’s conversation about racial reconciliation with LaTasha Morrison and Mike Kelsey on Wed. June 10. Click here for more information and to find additional resources.
  • Fuller Seminary President, Mark Labberton’s candid conversation with Dr. Dwight Radcliff. Click here to watch now.

Read:

  • The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation by Miles McPherson and Drew Brees
  • Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race. Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us. by Benjamin Watson and Ken Petersen

Idols Erode a Firm Foundation

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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 5th 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.

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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.

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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.

 

God Cares About the Small Stuff Too

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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 139:23-24

We recently turned the page on our wall calendar and find ourselves in August.  My boys are still in denial about school starting at the end of this month despite the fact that “Back to School” ads are flooding our mailbox daily. I’ve never been a big fan of the ramp up to school and my mind churns at night with all of the things I have to do:  arranging sports carpools, filling in dates on my calendar, scheduling appointments, buying needed supplies, sifting through closets and drawers… the list is endless.  I can spend hours thinking through logistics and trying to make arrangements.

Recently I was having a conversation with another mom who was feeling a bit overwhelmed about the start of school.  A few carefully arranged plans she’d made for the school year had fallen apart unexpectedly and she was frantically trying to re-group.  I spent some time listening to her lament and trying to encourage her.  When I went home that night, I sent her a short e-mail.

“I know logistics and planning can be overwhelming at times.  One thing I’ve learned is that if I’m thinking about it, God wants to hear about it.  My default mode is to worry instead of trusting God with my problem.  I’m try to trust God more with all of my logistical details and watch to see how He works them out.”

She responded with a thought I’ve heard echoed many times in the past.  “I guess I just feel like it’s selfish to ask God about the small stuff.  I should be able to work it out on my own instead of wasting His time.”

Let me be perfectly clear on this.  The notion that God has limited time is absurd.  He exists outside the boundaries of time and always has enough for all of us all the time.  He’s never overwhelmed.  He’s never in a hurry.  Need some Biblical proof?  Check out this passage from 2 Peter 3:8-

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”

God delights in us when we admit that we need Him- even for the small stuff.  The myth of self-sufficiency and personal control keeps us from trusting God in so many places in our lives.  God cares about every detail of our lives—even carpools, school schedules and frustrations at work.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”   Matthew 10:29-31

IMG_5665Can you count how many strands of hair there are on these two heads?  (Yeah, me neither– and I look at them every day!!)IMG_5659I’m learning that when I pray about my logistical frustrations, I’m more at peace with the way things unfold.  Instead of telling God how He should work in a situation, I rely on Him to resolve it according to His will and thank Him that He is trustworthy.  That way, no matter how the situation ends up, I know that it has happened for a reason and I look for the ways God wants to use it in my life.  It’s easier to recognize His hand in a situation when I’ve laid it at His feet in advance.

Praying about my frustrations doesn’t always mean that God answers the way I want or expect.  However, I’m much more apt to accept less-than-favorable outcomes and to look for the ways God is using them in my life.   When my kids don’t get the teachers or coaches I was hoping for I remind myself that God has a reason and I have to trust Him for it.   When I don’t end up with a close friend in my small group at Bible Study, I’ve learned to trust that God has a plan instead of getting indignant.  When the carpool doesn’t work out, I try to enjoy the one-on-one time with one of my sons on the way to practice.  And when my plate is simply too full, I’m learning to see the things God wants me to clear off of it.

Being anxious and trying to orchestrate every detail and logistic just wastes energy and causes angst.   I think Paul must’ve known this when he penned these verses:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-8

The passage admonishes us not to be anxious about anything.  It also says that in every situation we can thank God for how He’s going to work it out.  Once we lay it before Him, we’re freed up to experience His peace and to wait for Him to work.  When we feel anxiety creeping in, we need to stop and pray: “Guard my heart and mind, God.”

In case you’re still struggling with the idea that God doesn’t want to be bothered with the details, take a minute to think about your own children (if you have them) or your parents.  Loving parents care about the smallest details in their children’s lives.    God cares about details in your life the same way.

The Bible often refers to God as our “Abba,” which is simply the Hebrew way to say “Daddy.”   We are his children, whom He loves and cherishes.  No logistical detail is too small to escape His attention.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”  Romans 8:14-16

It seems like I have a new challenge to trust God with every day.  I have a hard time applying what I’ve written about, but God keeps reminding me to come back after I’ve become too overwhelmed trying to do things on my own.

If you can relate to the August Angst I’m feeling, chime in and share how God is at work in your life through it.