Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
I have been in this same spot, believing, but stating it in a "God if you can" kind of way. I don't know that this is so much a faithless statement as it is an uncertainty of what I think I know that God is going to do. Did you get that? One of the hardest parts about following God is knowing what you know. Ya know? 😉 It's not giving in to the the fatalist life where everything is just going to go as it goes, and I have no control anyway. Or...giving in to the sovereignty of God in a way that makes it appear that He has none of my interest in mind, just His own. Neither of those is a good place. God's sovereignty, simply put, is that God has control over all of His creation...always. He is in control...always. It does not mean that He is running us like robots and making us do whatever He wishes, not even close. God has set the world in motion. It got off course very early with the original sin in the garden. Now, God intervenes as He sees the need for my betterment and my growth toward Him. Sometimes His intervention is coming to me in my time of need, not fixing my need. Sometimes His intervention is a miraculous healing. If I am to know the will of God and understand what actions He will do, then I have to be talking to Him on a regular basis. I have to know that voice. I have to understand that individual. I have to become friends with Jesus. It's not that God has certain things He can't or won't do. He can do anything. It's that He is always, I mean always, seeking to be closer to me, and will do whatever that takes to make it happen. Even to death on a cross.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Friday, March 20, 2020
Savoring His Last Moments
Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
During Lent waiting seems to be a part of the journey. Jesus is on the road to finish the work he was sent to do, but it doesn't just take him a day or two. He spends time with people and in places that are significant from his own journey. He takes the long road for reasons I cannot fully understand. He spends time with his disciples and in prayer. He is taking his time. Is it to prepare himself? Is he not quite ready? What is the purpose behind his waiting? There are so many verses about waiting, so there must be some positive to it. The longer something takes the more we get a clear view. We learn more information. We find others who are in the same experience. We seek understanding in the long term rather than the quick fix for the short term. It's as if Jesus knows what the long term effects of this journey will be. He knows that I will be reading his Word in 2020 and finding new life in it. He knows that his impact is far more reaching than just those people with him on his trip to Jerusalem. He is savoring his last moments on earth for my benefit. He is showing me His Kingdom here on earth. Waiting on God is not about growing your patience. Waiting on God is about experiencing His Kingdom here and now.
During Lent waiting seems to be a part of the journey. Jesus is on the road to finish the work he was sent to do, but it doesn't just take him a day or two. He spends time with people and in places that are significant from his own journey. He takes the long road for reasons I cannot fully understand. He spends time with his disciples and in prayer. He is taking his time. Is it to prepare himself? Is he not quite ready? What is the purpose behind his waiting? There are so many verses about waiting, so there must be some positive to it. The longer something takes the more we get a clear view. We learn more information. We find others who are in the same experience. We seek understanding in the long term rather than the quick fix for the short term. It's as if Jesus knows what the long term effects of this journey will be. He knows that I will be reading his Word in 2020 and finding new life in it. He knows that his impact is far more reaching than just those people with him on his trip to Jerusalem. He is savoring his last moments on earth for my benefit. He is showing me His Kingdom here on earth. Waiting on God is not about growing your patience. Waiting on God is about experiencing His Kingdom here and now.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Faith Made Visible
Exodus 33:15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."
I have a feeling that this was the same statement Jesus made when he started his journey to Jerusalem. It seems that every step he took on that trip was led by a very particular Holy Guide. He crosses the Jordan into the edge of the wilderness. He will cross back just as the Israelites did years before him. It's such an interesting journey with so many parallels to the nation of Israel. Jesus is leading the way. Yes, he is the very Presence of God this time, but he still needs the Father. When I think about my life and how I look at new ventures and new paths, how do I handle them? Do I work to get up enough gumption to make the change on my own? Do I find all of the information to be sure I am making the best possible decision and then move forward? Do I check my feelings to see if I am happy with the change and then move on? All of these are important steps in the decision-making process, but the most important one I have overlooked. Is God going before me? Has God prepared the way for me, and is He pressing me to move forward? Faith becomes visible when God goes ahead. His peace becomes my guide. There may be chaos outside, but seek first His Kingdom and peace will reign within.
I have a feeling that this was the same statement Jesus made when he started his journey to Jerusalem. It seems that every step he took on that trip was led by a very particular Holy Guide. He crosses the Jordan into the edge of the wilderness. He will cross back just as the Israelites did years before him. It's such an interesting journey with so many parallels to the nation of Israel. Jesus is leading the way. Yes, he is the very Presence of God this time, but he still needs the Father. When I think about my life and how I look at new ventures and new paths, how do I handle them? Do I work to get up enough gumption to make the change on my own? Do I find all of the information to be sure I am making the best possible decision and then move forward? Do I check my feelings to see if I am happy with the change and then move on? All of these are important steps in the decision-making process, but the most important one I have overlooked. Is God going before me? Has God prepared the way for me, and is He pressing me to move forward? Faith becomes visible when God goes ahead. His peace becomes my guide. There may be chaos outside, but seek first His Kingdom and peace will reign within.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Look Death In the Face
John 18:37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
I often wonder at what point Jesus understood who he was. Did he know when he was a teenager? Did he know in his twenties? When did it start to become clear to him? And what must that have been like? He would have understood so many things before they happened, and I still don't understand them on this side of it. As Pilate questioned him, Jesus did not waiver in who he was or why he was sent. He was on a mission. He knows what's coming. He knows where this conversation is going to take him. He isn't clueless about any of it. He knows all too well. He also knows the final victory, but I'm not really sure if that was even able to be in his mind at this moment. He's going to have to go through some horrific moments to get to that victory. What kind of man can do that? What kind of man can look death in the face with peace and calm. He doesn't shout. He doesn't get tough. He doesn't "man up" to use today's vernacular. He doesn't need to. His Kingdom is not of this world, and it is about to overcome the world. He is going to look death in the face with Authority and remove its hold on humankind. There is no fear, only peace. There is no anger, only love. There is no discouragement, only hope. That's the Kingdom I long for...peace, love, and hope. And it's offered to me here. How incredible!
I often wonder at what point Jesus understood who he was. Did he know when he was a teenager? Did he know in his twenties? When did it start to become clear to him? And what must that have been like? He would have understood so many things before they happened, and I still don't understand them on this side of it. As Pilate questioned him, Jesus did not waiver in who he was or why he was sent. He was on a mission. He knows what's coming. He knows where this conversation is going to take him. He isn't clueless about any of it. He knows all too well. He also knows the final victory, but I'm not really sure if that was even able to be in his mind at this moment. He's going to have to go through some horrific moments to get to that victory. What kind of man can do that? What kind of man can look death in the face with peace and calm. He doesn't shout. He doesn't get tough. He doesn't "man up" to use today's vernacular. He doesn't need to. His Kingdom is not of this world, and it is about to overcome the world. He is going to look death in the face with Authority and remove its hold on humankind. There is no fear, only peace. There is no anger, only love. There is no discouragement, only hope. That's the Kingdom I long for...peace, love, and hope. And it's offered to me here. How incredible!
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Shield of Faith
Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Oh, the flaming arrows of the evil one...tiresome...annoying...discouraging. All of my responsive words there are not words from God, and that is exactly what Satan is hoping for. He is hoping that when he throws his little darts at me that he pierces me enough to get my attention, to remove my focus and put my attention on my little wounds. I don't like to say it, but it often works. I find myself focused on the little things going on that seem to be frustrating or binding. I look at the inconveniences of a situation. I check out the small problems that are truly miniscule but many. I pay attention to how I'm adjusting my wants to take care of my needs and am frustrated with not getting my way. Jesus dealt with these flaming arrows too, although I think the arrows he dealt with were way larger than the small dart-like ones I deal with. What I need to remember is that Jesus never lost focus. He never took his eyes off the Father. When Satan tempted him in the desert, he responded with the Word. He didn't lose focus as he walked the way to Jerusalem, even as people started to question his authenticity and authority. He didn't pay attention to the petty earthly things, which take my attention. No. He stayed the course with steadfast love and Kingdom eyes. His mind was set. He fixed his eyes on Jerusalem for my sake and there was no discouraging him. We were his joy and there was no distraction that could remove us from his mind. His shield of faith was fully in tact, fully placed. He was not going to be deterred. I have access to that same shield. All I have to do is call on the One who wields it and He will put it in place. Focus on Jesus and let His armor shield you.
Oh, the flaming arrows of the evil one...tiresome...annoying...discouraging. All of my responsive words there are not words from God, and that is exactly what Satan is hoping for. He is hoping that when he throws his little darts at me that he pierces me enough to get my attention, to remove my focus and put my attention on my little wounds. I don't like to say it, but it often works. I find myself focused on the little things going on that seem to be frustrating or binding. I look at the inconveniences of a situation. I check out the small problems that are truly miniscule but many. I pay attention to how I'm adjusting my wants to take care of my needs and am frustrated with not getting my way. Jesus dealt with these flaming arrows too, although I think the arrows he dealt with were way larger than the small dart-like ones I deal with. What I need to remember is that Jesus never lost focus. He never took his eyes off the Father. When Satan tempted him in the desert, he responded with the Word. He didn't lose focus as he walked the way to Jerusalem, even as people started to question his authenticity and authority. He didn't pay attention to the petty earthly things, which take my attention. No. He stayed the course with steadfast love and Kingdom eyes. His mind was set. He fixed his eyes on Jerusalem for my sake and there was no discouraging him. We were his joy and there was no distraction that could remove us from his mind. His shield of faith was fully in tact, fully placed. He was not going to be deterred. I have access to that same shield. All I have to do is call on the One who wields it and He will put it in place. Focus on Jesus and let His armor shield you.
Monday, March 16, 2020
The Wrong Side of the Jordan
Luke 9:56 and they went to another village.
This is the point of Jesus' journey where he is headed to Samaria and the rejection of His Kingdom begins. Jesus makes the decision to cross the Jordan, and take the long way to Jerusalem through the valley, literally. It's definitely not the simplest or fastest way to get to Jerusalem. God seems to do this often. We want there to be a quick, easy fix, but that doesn't seem to be God's plan. He seems to take His time and not fix the hard things in our time. Jesus does that here. He heads to the "wrong side of the Jordan" and takes the disciples with him. He's taking his time. He's not choosing the easy road. He's choosing the path that draws him nearer to God and nearer to us. When I have circumstances that I think have a quick and easy fix, I'm always a little leery. I've learned to give God time to do what He has planned. I've learned His plans always prepare me for something bigger down the road. It's never about the moment I'm in; it's always about the moments to come. That's what Jesus is focused on now. He isn't concerned about being rejected in Samaria. He's concerned about my rejection of God and my redemption in Him. My redemption isn't a quick and easy fix for Jesus. It's an arduous battle that he's preparing for. He knows it. He knows exactly what I need. Sometimes I need the longer, difficult road, but He's been there with me before.
This is the point of Jesus' journey where he is headed to Samaria and the rejection of His Kingdom begins. Jesus makes the decision to cross the Jordan, and take the long way to Jerusalem through the valley, literally. It's definitely not the simplest or fastest way to get to Jerusalem. God seems to do this often. We want there to be a quick, easy fix, but that doesn't seem to be God's plan. He seems to take His time and not fix the hard things in our time. Jesus does that here. He heads to the "wrong side of the Jordan" and takes the disciples with him. He's taking his time. He's not choosing the easy road. He's choosing the path that draws him nearer to God and nearer to us. When I have circumstances that I think have a quick and easy fix, I'm always a little leery. I've learned to give God time to do what He has planned. I've learned His plans always prepare me for something bigger down the road. It's never about the moment I'm in; it's always about the moments to come. That's what Jesus is focused on now. He isn't concerned about being rejected in Samaria. He's concerned about my rejection of God and my redemption in Him. My redemption isn't a quick and easy fix for Jesus. It's an arduous battle that he's preparing for. He knows it. He knows exactly what I need. Sometimes I need the longer, difficult road, but He's been there with me before.
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Prayer to My Lord
Lord, today I invite You to sit with me. Come near that I may draw near to You. Father, Your justice and mercy have been an ever-present Light in these days. You have shown Your truth through the Word. You are in control and have made all things possible. Jesus, friend, I am humbly grateful for the sacrifice You made on my behalf. You took my penalty in the form of pain and anguish because of Your love and compassion for my brokenness. By Your blood I am redeemed. Holy Spirit, you renew and restore my soul daily. My entire life is being transformed through Your grace. You lift me to heights unseen and from depths untold. Lord, you are my everything. You are the reason I am who I am. You are the One who continues the good work You began. You will complete it because You have spoken it to being. You are enthroned as the Holy One. All praise and glory to You, Sovereign Lord. For you reign over all of Heaven and Earth, and Your will is being accomplished. So be it!
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