But to You I have cried out, O Lord,
And in the morning my prayer comes before You.
14 Lord, why do You cast off my soul?
Why do You hide Your face from me?
Ps 88:13-14 NKJV
There will be times in the life of every believer when God appears to have deserted him/her. These are times of darkness and despair. Our prayers seem to fall limply from our lips never reaching their desired destination while never being heard. The circumstances which engulf us keep us from feeling God’s embrace, seeing His majesty, or hearing His voice. Our flesh cries out, “God are You even out there?” and “If You are, do You really care?” These are the times when our faith is severely tested and proven to be real or counterfeit. True faith needs nothing to support it other than a heart felt belief that God is who He says He is and can do what He says He will do even when the circumstances of life shout otherwise. These are the times when we grab hold of God and say, “Although I can’t see You, or hear You, or even feel You, I am not letting go.” Our faith is purest when everything is stripped away and we have nothing to hold onto but God. As the storm passes, and it will, we then begin to see that He was present all the time sheltering us. He had been there all the time. Faith is believing He will never forsake you or leave you regardless what the circumstances might seem.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Fulfilling God's Purpose
Esther 4:13-14 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" ESV
By the providential hand of God, Esther, the orphan Jewish girl, had been made queen of Persia but now was wavering in fear to be used to deliver her people. God had placed her there for a purpose, a time such as this. Now, Mordecai, the wise man who reared her, reminded her that it was not God who needed her but she that needed Him. Let none of us be so full of ourselves to believe that the fulfillment of God’s plan and purposes depend on us. How arrogant to think that God anxiously awaits, wondering if we will be faithful to our task. God is sovereign and complete within Himself. He nor His plans are dependant upon man. He can work through us, around us, or in spite of us. Yet, God chooses and desires to work through man to accomplish His plan. This gives Him opportunity to reveal His glory through us and also to bless us. Fulfilling God’s purpose and plan for our lives not only brings glory to God, but also brings us great peace and joy as only through faithful obedience can we truly experience the abundance that God desire for us.
By the providential hand of God, Esther, the orphan Jewish girl, had been made queen of Persia but now was wavering in fear to be used to deliver her people. God had placed her there for a purpose, a time such as this. Now, Mordecai, the wise man who reared her, reminded her that it was not God who needed her but she that needed Him. Let none of us be so full of ourselves to believe that the fulfillment of God’s plan and purposes depend on us. How arrogant to think that God anxiously awaits, wondering if we will be faithful to our task. God is sovereign and complete within Himself. He nor His plans are dependant upon man. He can work through us, around us, or in spite of us. Yet, God chooses and desires to work through man to accomplish His plan. This gives Him opportunity to reveal His glory through us and also to bless us. Fulfilling God’s purpose and plan for our lives not only brings glory to God, but also brings us great peace and joy as only through faithful obedience can we truly experience the abundance that God desire for us.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Heart’s Aflame
Luke 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
When is the last time your heart burned within you concerning the things of Christ? I speak of that feeling deep within your soul that you know that you are hearing from your Creator and Redeemer. This fire alerts you to take notice. Christ is in your midst. I speak of that flame within your heart that in the same moment warms you with comfort while simultaneously it is burning unnecessary chaff from your life. Sadly, many who call themselves Christians have not sensed the heart burning of Christ’s words for years. Their faith has become mechanical and mundane. Christianity has been reduced down to a series of disciplines and a cultural identity. It has become mere religion, yet this fire from the soul is rooted in relationship with the Almighty God and the Blessed Savior: a relationship whereby you can hear His voice and experience His presence. Although the disciples of Emmaus did not recognize His face they heard His voice and His word. One’s appearance is external, but relationship is internal. The words from the internal soul of Christ reached deep within the internal soul of the disciples and burned deeply. They knew something was different. Yes, Christ was in their presence. We should all long to be in such a relationship with Christ that we can hear His words and they burn within our hearts. Nothing is sweeter and nothing is more life changing. Religion speaks to the mind. Relationship speaks to the heart, the seat of our passion. Let us all yearn for hearts aflame from the presence of our Jesus.
When is the last time your heart burned within you concerning the things of Christ? I speak of that feeling deep within your soul that you know that you are hearing from your Creator and Redeemer. This fire alerts you to take notice. Christ is in your midst. I speak of that flame within your heart that in the same moment warms you with comfort while simultaneously it is burning unnecessary chaff from your life. Sadly, many who call themselves Christians have not sensed the heart burning of Christ’s words for years. Their faith has become mechanical and mundane. Christianity has been reduced down to a series of disciplines and a cultural identity. It has become mere religion, yet this fire from the soul is rooted in relationship with the Almighty God and the Blessed Savior: a relationship whereby you can hear His voice and experience His presence. Although the disciples of Emmaus did not recognize His face they heard His voice and His word. One’s appearance is external, but relationship is internal. The words from the internal soul of Christ reached deep within the internal soul of the disciples and burned deeply. They knew something was different. Yes, Christ was in their presence. We should all long to be in such a relationship with Christ that we can hear His words and they burn within our hearts. Nothing is sweeter and nothing is more life changing. Religion speaks to the mind. Relationship speaks to the heart, the seat of our passion. Let us all yearn for hearts aflame from the presence of our Jesus.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Our Sufficiency in Christ
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee… 2Corinthians 12:9
…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Php 4:11
The Christian life is a paradox to the lost world. The more a Christian loses, the more he gains. This is in reference to the “losing of self” and the “gaining of joy” from the Lord. As Christians, we are not to receive our pleasure from the world, but from the person of Christ. We must remember His promise made to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” We need nothing more than Jesus Christ Himself to live the abundant life. Does this mean that we do not need material possessions to live abundantly? Yes! Millions live daily in abject poverty with the joy of Christ abundantly overflowing from their soul. Does this mean that we do not need good health to live the abundant life? Yes! Some of the most joy-filled individuals are terminally ill. They have not their health but they do have Jesus. Does this mean that we do not have to surrounded by a multitude of friends. Yes! Abundance is experienced when one can truly say, “I have a friend in Jesus.” We must understand, “Our sufficiency is in Christ and Christ alone.” If we place our sufficiency in anything other than Christ then we position ourselves to be disappointed or discontented if that is removed from our lives. What joy, what contentment, and what abundance is the realization that all we need is Jesus and His grace is sufficient to meet any need. The world has nothing to compare.
…for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Php 4:11
The Christian life is a paradox to the lost world. The more a Christian loses, the more he gains. This is in reference to the “losing of self” and the “gaining of joy” from the Lord. As Christians, we are not to receive our pleasure from the world, but from the person of Christ. We must remember His promise made to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” We need nothing more than Jesus Christ Himself to live the abundant life. Does this mean that we do not need material possessions to live abundantly? Yes! Millions live daily in abject poverty with the joy of Christ abundantly overflowing from their soul. Does this mean that we do not need good health to live the abundant life? Yes! Some of the most joy-filled individuals are terminally ill. They have not their health but they do have Jesus. Does this mean that we do not have to surrounded by a multitude of friends. Yes! Abundance is experienced when one can truly say, “I have a friend in Jesus.” We must understand, “Our sufficiency is in Christ and Christ alone.” If we place our sufficiency in anything other than Christ then we position ourselves to be disappointed or discontented if that is removed from our lives. What joy, what contentment, and what abundance is the realization that all we need is Jesus and His grace is sufficient to meet any need. The world has nothing to compare.
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