Walking Without Light (Job 29:2-3)

As a teen, my father and I went to the mountains of Pennsylvania for deer hunting season.  Early in the morning of the first day, I made my way from the camp and through the dark woods to my post.  It was an area some distance from camp.  I previously had marked the trees on the way with a can of gold spray paint.  I experienced some difficulty walking though the cloak of darkness which wrapped around my small lighted area.  Staggering and stumbling as I did, I made it safely.  Many would equate this experience to the Christian life as we walk through trials.  However, walking through darkness with the guiding of God's light is not a trial, but instead the living experience of the redeemed man in fellowship with God.  A trial is when you walk in the darkness without the light of God's presence. 

While in your trial, there are two things that you must cling to.  The first is to believe that The Lord will honor his word and one day, when his predetermined time arrives, will bring light into your darkness (Psalm 18:28).  The second is to maintain righteous living.  God promises that to the upright he will bring light to their darkness (Psalm 112:4).  Therefore, dabbing with sin can hinder you from receiving this blessing.

Thanks be to God for the many blessings in his word.  Not only are they a guide for times of trials, but also a strength to the weary and forlorn.

#darkness

#light

Decisions Without Leadership (Job 28:28)

Decision making is a difficult task in itself.  Couple that with the confusion of trials and the level of difficulty escalates.  In chapter 28, Job explains this by talking about all the hidden things of the earth and nature and how man has found them out, but wisdom is beyond him.  It is hidden from all man and beast and all wealth cannot buy it.  It belongs to God and God alone.

What do you do when you cannot find a principle in scripture to apply or implement in your life?  Job explains it well, "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom."  You may not know what step to take, but the first thing you can do is step back, fear that you may go against the plan that God is working in your life, seek his face and proceed with caution.  In Scripture, this is called the fear of The Lord.  The second step you can implement is to depart from evil.  Evil is responding to a life situation in a manner contrary to God's word.  Whatever actions you take that are not motivated by faith are sin.  Romans 14:23 states, "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin."  Our efforts to work out our plan or to deliver ourselves is always.  This can be summed up simply with "If you don't know what to do, do nothing.  Wait on God." 

#wait

#wisdom

Direction When There Is No Direction (Job 23:8-12)

It seems that the most difficult part of trials is that either for periods of time or for the entire duration, God cannot be found.  He is sought diligently with the heart, but to no avail.  His presence is not sensed and direction for steps is unavailable.  His promises of being ever present and guiding our footsteps appear to be untrue.  Those faltering in faith stumble, fall and choose to depart from him.  Enduring without direction is painful, confusing and wearisome.  What should be done?

At this time, faith heralds that God is in control.  He does know the way that you take and a purpose greater than you can imagine or understand is being accomplished.  Faith wants to direct you to the principle and statutes in his word.  These are the lamp for your feet and the light that will shine upon your path.  As Job did, take hold of your steps, keep his ways and decline not from following the principles of his word.

#trial

#direction

Too Weak To Run (Jeremiah 12:5)

If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? ... Jeremiah 12:5

Most who read this blog live in America.  Many in Russia, the Ukraine, and other not so free countries who read this may experience life differently than us.  With the prosperity in America and the liberty that we enjoy, our lives as believers are not plagued with levels of persecution as our brothers and sisters in Christ experience in foreign lands.  Most difficulties that we face are trials to test our faith.  They may be financial in nature or be in the realm of health, child raising, marriage, abuse or pressures from work.  I am not belittling these trials nor am I saying that these trials are not difficult to face, but most are not coupled with the threat of losing life, possessions or physical security.  If we cannot endure the aforementioned trials, how do we expect to face the greater trials that await us?

Some may say that if life is going to get more difficult, why not quit now.  Life will become more difficult with or without Christ.  However those who are abiding with him will gain the strength, peace, comfort and consolation that come with him.

If you feel that you cannot endure, you must ask yourself why.  Why don't you have strength?  Why is not God leading you?  Why are you not experiencing the joy that he has to share?  The answer is that you are not abiding and resting in him.  Your duty of Bible reading is good, but it is not abiding.  Your scheduled prayer time may seem productive, but if it does not turn into a time of sweet fellowship with The Lord, but simply remains a time a reciting your needs and the needs of others, than it to is not abiding.

Strength for trials only comes by the hope we experience from spiritual interaction with Christ.  Communion with him brings the peace for which our hearts long.  Begin today to break out of the routine of Christianity and experience The Lord through prayer and his word.  As you pray, pour out your heart.  As you would share your fears, hopes, dreams and longings with a friend, do the same with God.  He wants to hear your heart's desires.  He wants to hear you talk of your fears, worries and struggles.  He loves it because it is during those times that he has ordained that he would reveal himself to you.  He chooses to move in a reciprocating manner.  Remember that he said, draw nigh to me and I will draw nigh to you (James 4:8).  This is his plan.  We must approach him as Moses approached the burning bush.  When we do, he manifests his presence to us and it is this interaction that brings hope and strength beyond reason.

Find a person who continues on in the face of the gravesite of circumstances and you will also find a person who has met with God in the private area of their heart.  If they can, then you can as well.

#prayer

#hope

#strength

Have Pity (Job 19:21)

Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.  

Job 19:21

As people go through trials, we cannot see the extent of what they are experiencing nor do we understand the depths of their wounds and hurt.  Job was stripped of his glory and crown.  Friends acquaintances, neighbors, children and his wife were all estranged from him.  His loss was great and his pain even greater.

When trials come upon people, we are always so quick to believe that the cause must be some form of chastening or judgment.  Why must we think so?  Why can't we deal with them in love and pity as brothers in Christ?  If their plight was caused by sin, should not our actions towards them still be the same?  Are our hearts still so calloused by pride and legality that we cannot reach out in love?  God forbid if we continue on in this way.  Why is it our responsibility to point out another's sin?  Are there today a group of people without sin who are able to cast the first stone of judgment?  The answer is still, no. Then to reach out in love as Jesus did and restore people is the act that we should follow.

We are admonished to help the afflicted, pick up the fallen or cast down and in the spirit of meekness restore others.  So if you see a brother suffering a trial for whatever reason, reach out in love.  If he is being chastened for his wrong, God will perform his work.  Our acts of love may be that which breaks the hardened heart to repentance.  If he is suffering a trial for the development of his faith, your love will be an oasis in the desert of his trial.  We would do best to allow God to perform his work and for us to follow his command and example and perform our work.

#trials

#pity

#love

Hard Hearted (Prov. 4:23)

When a person hardens their heart, they are making their heart to stand firm and unchanged by forces which move against it.  The term is used when a person resists influences that come against them which are intended for the good or benefit of the individual.

A person with a hard heart resists those who love them.  Many times these loved ones that they resist have led and rejoiced with them in victories that they shared together.  Now because of a hard heart those helpers are being hurt by the hard hearted.  This happens because people with hard hearts act in concern for themselves and as a result hurt those who love them.  These loved ones' hearts hurt from love as they see the hard hearted make decisions that will destroy their lives.

When a person has a hard heart, it moves them farther away from that which is right.  This happens because they are no longer sensitive to the Holy Spirit and decisions made for sin harden their hearts even more.  This only leads to trouble for the hard hearted.  They have lost God's blessing on their lives and because they are following a way of transgression, it will be hard (Prov. 13:15).

Why are they hardening their heart?  Pride.  The Israelites hardened their hearts because they were not pleased with what The Lord provided for them.  Pharaoh's heart was hardened as he tied to prove the invincibility of his gods.  David hardened his heart so that he could satisfy himself with another man's wife.  Some may harden their hearts by being drawn away with the lust of their flesh and are longing for what it promises to give.  This also was the case with Israel and the list can go on.

But many people harden their hearts because they have been hurt and tried to deal with it in a spiritual manner, but for some reason were unsuccessful and now have decided they will deal with life in their own manner and no longer God's.  This also is pride.  

Can your heart be hardened?  Yes, even the disciples's hearts were hardened when they were in a storm at sea (Mark 6:52).  What can you do to keep from becoming hard hearted?  Spend time with The Lord daily.  When you pray ask him to feed you spiritually and to keep your heart tender and yielding.  Keep short account of sin and and when you experience hurt, deal with it biblically.  If you cannot get victory, get help.  The longer you wait, the greater chance you will have in becoming hard hearted.

#hard hearted

#rebellion

Praying For Strength (Luke 22:44)

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  Luke 22:44

While in the garden, Jesus was in agony.  At this time, he was not beaten nor had he experienced any wounds.  The agony experienced by Jesus was an internal struggle that he faced.  The previous verse seems to indicate that the angel strengthened or invigorated him physically and as God he could not struggle spiritually.  Therefore, the internal struggle must have been an emotional one.  

How did he seek or gain emotional strength?  He gained it by praying more earnestly.  As we seek God's face and pray, we gain strength in the area that we become the most weak.  As we struggle emotionally through trials, don't forget that God wants to strength you so that you can stand and bear the emotions of your trial.  Remember, prayer is not just a time for communicating with God, but an opportunity to gain what is needed for victory in the emotional struggle that accompanies trials. 

Pray and Submit (Luke 22:41-42)

Prayer is an important part of the Christian's life.  There are many promises concerning prayer.  We are told that if we ask, we shall receive.   So that the Father may be glorified in the Son, we can ask in Jesus' name and receive it.  To those who abide in the vine, asking what they will shall be granted.  But what do you do when you are struggling in a trial?  You don't feel as if you are abiding because the world is turned up side down.  You are so confused and you can't tell what is God's will.  You are afraid that if you ask for something in particular, God may become angry with your request.  So then, how do you with great confidence pray?

From Jesus' prayer in the garden, we learn that it is okay to simply pour out your heart and ask God for what you want.  It may sound selfish, but it is alright.  You may pray that God would take vengeance on your enemies or on those that are trying to destroy you.  David did so with great liberty.  You may be asking for monetary gain, healing or some other form of divine intervention.  However, after bearing your burden to God and asking for what you want, you should submit yourself to him and his divine plan.  That is what Jesus did.  He actually asked that if possible, the cross could be avoided, but then submitted to the Father's will.  I am really glad for the submitting.  Had it not been for those few words, I would still be lost and continue to experience all the hurt that came along with it.

So, when you are in a trial, pray for your heart's desire, but don't forget to submit to God and his plan.  As we benefited from Christ's submission, somebody needs your submission as well.

#submission

#prayer

Intercede For Others (Luke 22:32)

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.  Luke 22:32

Peter was determined that he would be faithful to The Lord: even unto death.  But regardless of his intentions, he still fell and did so terribly.  In our own lives, we have been close to The Lord and believed that because of what we have experienced in him, we would never fail or falter.  However to our dismay, we have found ourselves fallen to the wiles of the enemy who also desired to sift us like wheat.

Thanks be to God that even though we may fall, God's plan for us is not over.  He did not condone our actions which led us to fall away or into sin, but he has determined that he will use this occasion to strengthen us and make us a help and influence on others.  A just man may fall seven times, but he always gets up again and we are promised that it is the Lord's grace that is picking us up and that he will be there waiting to help and restore us.

This work of conversion or turning around is accomplished by God, but is dependent on the prayers of others.  We have a responsibility to brothers and sisters in the faith to pray for them regardless of how badly they have fallen and to carrying them in our hearts before God so that they may be restored.  Many times our prayers for the fallen have selfish motives.  We may want them to turn so that they no longer bring shame to the church or the family.  Their turning may make our lives more at ease or we may pray because we need them back in a ministry, a number to be counted or another person to offer tithes and offerings.

Jesus interceded for Peter.  In other words, he prayed for the benefit of Peter and what Peter would need.  Our prayers for others are greatly needed, but the prayers must be for others and not for something to be done in their lives for our benefit.  This is true intercessory prayer.

#prayer

#fallen

Rejected For His Name's Sake (Luke 21:17)

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.  Luke 21:17

Do you find yourself cut off from others.  Do others act together in friendship in and outside of the work environment, but exclude you?  Do you experience attitudes of rejection without identifying what you could have done to bring it upon you?  The good news is that you are not alone and it is not just your imagination.  The cause of the rejection is probably your testimony of faith.

There are some people who are rejected because they take or make opportunity to give the gospel whether the individuals wants to hear it or not.  They may be rejected because of their faith or possibly not and just because of their demeanor.  Sometimes people like this bring rejection upon themselves.  Sometimes their actions are right meaning they are led of God and other times their actions are not right because they are motivated by self or selfish reasons.

There are others who reach out to workers in love and try to be a help and support.  They strive to be a friend and build relationships with others so as to be a source of help for them in times of crisis.  As loving as these people can be, they still find themselves rejected.  The reason this occurs is because of their testimony for God and righteousness.  Each time the lost see them, they are reminded of the error of their ways.  Regardless of their humanistic views, they still become convicted by the Holy Spirit and the conviction often times comes when they see you.

I remember one occasion when I took a position as an electrician at a small manufacturing plant.  News ran through the building about a new employee coming who was a ministry major in college.  The day that I walked in the door, I had more than half of the employees refuse to speak to me or even say hello.  I didn't even have the opportunity to do anything to make them made at me.  Why was I treated in such a fashion?  They hated me because of his name's sake.

As you struggle through life and the trials that it brings along with experiencing this same rejection, do not be discouraged.  They are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Christ.  This thought does not take away the hurt of rejection, but it should keep you from thinking it is for personal reasons.

#rejection

#testimony

Coming To The End Of Self (Job 17:11)

My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.  Job 17:11

Once the trial had begun, Job's health deteriorated nearing the point of death.  The enemy was not permitted to take Job's life, but he was able to smite his body and this writer believes he smote him until death was believed to be near.

Job's heart was still very much alive and continued to experience the devastation of the trial.  As he neared the trial's end, he viewed his life as if all the days were past or behind him.  As he tried to look forward, he saw no plans: all that he had planned had been lost.  Plans for his family dissolved before his eyes.  All wealth to pursue other purposes had been stolen or killed.  Nothing in the future waited for him.  No longer were there even new dreams.  The trial seemed to prove that everything in the past and future were lost.  Job's only consolation was to get to the end and right quickly.  No plans: just death.  No hopes or dreams: just death.  

However, he could not have been any more wrong in his views.  Soon, there again would be laughter.  Soon again there would be children born and wealth to finance plans and dreams for himself and the family.  But until that time, Job needed to experience life when it appeared to be hopeless and in that state continue on in faith.  By continuing on in faith, he was no longer living a life for his hopes and dreams, but instead living life for the sake of what faith wanted him to pursue.  This is the outstanding Old Testament example of dying to self.

If your trial has crushed your hopes, plans and dreams.  Remain faithful to him.  With your own purposes dissolved, it is time to live for his plan.  Bringing you to this point is one of the purposes for the trial.  Without this decision, the trial and your efforts are in vain.

#trial

#death

Father Forgive Them (Luke 23:34)

Why did Jesus say, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do". Didn't the father know that they did not know what they were doing?  Was not the father willing to forgive?  Why was the son willing to forgive and the father not?

God, The Father, has many attributes, but his governing attribute is holiness.  All his actions stem  from demonstrating holiness or satisfying it.  He is the Judge of all the Earth and has demonstrated this by his actions towards the kingdoms of the Earth.

From Jesus' birth until his return to Earth for setting up his kingdom, he personifies mercy and truth.  All that he did was to fulfill him seeking and saving that which was lost. The attributes we saw him demonstrate on Earth are the same qualities that he has as our High Priest.  The problem we have is that we view him in our relationship as a holy and righteous judge, when he continues to deal with us in meekness, kindness and love.  Yes, he continues to hate sin, but he is concerned about helping, healing and empowering us for victory.

With the exception of his dealing with the hypocritical Pharisees, he always dealt with fallen sinners in love and mercy.  We must remember that he reaches out to us in this same manner.  We no longer need not walk before him in fear.  He is there to help, there to pick you up, there to restore and will do all this in love.  What a wonderful savior!

Words and Prayers (Job 16:5, 21)

Many think that to be a Christian would mean a life of ease and that difficulties of life would be avoided.  However as we know, that is not the case.  Before being Christian, we were enemies with God, but children of this world.  We experienced these difficulties alone and without God.  After coming to Christ, we not only continued facing the natural trials of life caused by the results of the fall of man, but in additional, we became enemies with the god of this world and were no longer a part of this world's system.  That standing brought oppression from this new enemy.  Life for the Christian may have mountaintop experiences, but many more trials fill their lives.  At any time, there are more believers experiencing heart breaking troubles than are not.  With all of us hurting, what can we do to aid each other as we journey through the darkened times of trials.

The answer is found in Job's response to Eliphaz.  But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief (Job 16:5).  Job states that he would use his words the provide the strength needed by believers.  He would seek to use his words to bring about a change in their soul to where their heart would experience courage, be established and with fortified strength prevail against the opposition in their lives.  He would also use his words to either halt or hold back their grief.

In addition to encouraging others to strength with words, Job states that he would make intercession to God.  O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! (Job 16:21). His prayer to God would be earnest as if to argue, convince or make a dispute.  He would carry the burden of others in his heart and take it to God in their stead.  This would be much more than adding them to a prayer list or mumbling a few words before God daily.  He would pray for them as he prays for himself.

We too should do the same.  As I look back over the decades that I have been saved, I am saddened by how little I have seen christians help in this manner others, whether right or wrong, who were experiencing troubles in life.  

#troubles

#encouragement

#prayer

Removing Pride (Job 14)

In anguish, Job describes the condition of his life.  To paraphrase, he is saying, "My life of troubles is short and weak and I am nothing before God.  Because I am a sinner, nothing good can come from within me.  The boundaries of my life are set and as a slave I am bound to them."  Job's solution for his life is still death.  In death, he would avoid all the hurt, pain and wrath of God until the appointed time that God calls him again.  The Apostle Paul understood this quite well, but also recognized the importance and purpose for his life (Phil. 1:23-25).

This error of Job is caused by him being unable to see and understand the complete work and purpose of God for his life.  The trials that Job is experiencing are revealing to him the nature of his life and this revealing is also breaking away any independence that Job may have placed in himself.  Man's problem has always been that he thinks and acts like he is something and that he can live independent of God.  Job's children lived that way and his wife as well.  Because of Job's relationship with God, he continually submitted himself before him.  Through these trials, God is removing him from any self reliance that he may have.

In man, is a nature of rebellion and the cause of rebellion is pride.  As all of the law hangs on two commandments of God: loving him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself, so pride is at the root of every sin.  Trials are intended to break man of this prideful independence and to focus all praise and glory to God.

In the end, Job's testimony will bring glory to God and encouragement to countless believers.  He will resist his pride and pray for those that brought false accusations against him.  This victory is eventually what brings about his deliverance from the trials.

As Job, we need to allow God's perfect work to take place on our lives.  The trail may appear to be unjust, but we must remember that a righteous God always works righteousness.  Until we understand exactly what he is doing, we cannot grasp the righteousness behind his works.  For now, faith must carry us through.

God, Be What I Need (Psalm 68:5-6)

Psalm 68:5-6. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains:

One of the things that I enjoyed as a father was to provide things for my kids that they needed or desired.  It pleased me to see their faces light up as they opened presents or became excited about something that we were doing together.  Some may think that God is the same way and that he wants to bless us with things that we need.  However a biblical view of God presents him differently.  God does not want to give you what you need.  instead, he wants to be what it is that meets your need.  

He did not give the fatherless a father, but instead became a father to them.  He didn't supply widows with a strong male defender, he became their judge and defender. God wants to do the same for you.  If you are lonely, he wants to be your friend.  If you face life in fear, he wants to be your security.  As you face trials and wax lean in strength, he wants to be that strength.  If you are confused, he wants to be knowledge and wisdom for you.

It is time to change from looking to God with your hand out and wanting him to fill it, to instead looking to him with your heart out so he can meet with you and be what it takes to meet your need.

#prayer

#trial

Rebellion (Psalm 68:6)

Psalm 68:6 but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

There are only two ways to walk in the Christian life: either with God in his way or in our own way.  Our own way may be the idea of another or we may make a choice for our way because of influences other than God, but it all comes down to one of two ways.

God's way is God's will and in God's will, we will find that which is good, acceptable and perfect (Romans12:1-2).  However outside of God's will, we will find ourselves in a desert place: having dryness of soul, thirsting for joy, and longing for peace and contentment.  

Be not quick to think that because you struggle with sin, you are out of God's will or rebellious.  Rebellion occurs when we turn away, revolt or become stubborn before God.  It is not an impulsive reaction to life by turning to sin.  It is a stirring in the heart that decides no longer to follow God and to resist him from ruling, guiding or using us in his way for his purpose and subsequent glory.

King Saul was like that and his life demonstrated this truth.  He fought God and became lean in his soul.  Each step away from God led him into deeper depression, anger and greater rebellion.

Being stubborn is to resist that which we know is good for us and doing so only because of pride.  Failing is not rebellion, but turning against God and determining not to fight is.  No matter how difficult life may be, we will never be right to fight against God, who in love is leading us through the difficult passages of life so that we may know him, escape the pain of sin's circumstance and instead experience his joy and peace.

We must keep close to God so that seed thoughts from hurt, pain, fear and worry do not become a root of rebellion in our hearts.

He Never Causes Us To Stumble (Psalm 66:9)

Psalm 66:9  Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.

God, who keeps us alive, promised that he will not allow us to stumble or fall.  Although trials do come, he will not allow them to over power us.  This Old Testament passage is similar to Paul's writing in 1Cor. 10:13 where he states that our trials are not unusual to man, but that with them he will not allow them to be greater than we can bear.  This promise has kept many from calling it quits.

What is so sad is that there are people in trials that have felt that they cannot go any farther.  They believe they have taken their last step and that the trial, which has no hope in sight, is more than they can bear.  The truth is, they really are right.  When you cannot see hope, every trial is more than you can bear.  However, God is present with us in all our trials and is trying to bring us the hope that we desperately need.

The victory battle for trials is not won at the circumstance level.  In other words, you do not win the battle of the trial when the circumstances change.  You win the battle in your mind when you by hope can see beyond the circumstances.  Trials may over flood your soul like deeps waters (Psalm 69:1), but hope is the rock that you can place your feet upon to lift your head above the tide.

Remember, God's plan is not for you to stumble.  He is holding you steady and will guide your steps through the trial.  

Praying To Get (Luke 19:37-38)

Jesus was entering Jerusalem.  As he rides, the people were casting palms and clothes before him.  Their hearts were rejoicing and their mouths extended words of praise.  At first glance, it seemed as if they were accepting him, but they were not.  They were accepting a person whom they believed would give them what they wanted, but instead, Jesus was bringing to them what they needed.  After being beaten and scourged, it was apparent that their hopes of an earthly king were dashed.  When it was believed that he could not fulfill their expectations, they rejected him.  Many who read this account judge the Jews as foolish for rejecting him.  However before being quick to judge, you may want to search your own heart for similar motives.

How often are your prayers focused on what you want God to do for you?  How often do you pray for a need to be met or an undesirable situation be removed?  Do your prayers continually focus on relief from hurt, pain, trouble or fear?  If so, you may have more in common with those in Jerusalem than you thought.

God did not save us so that we could have him at our disposal, but instead redeemed us so that we may be at his.  It is not wrong to pour out your heart to God and ask for deliverance.  Jesus did the very thing in the garden of Gethsemane, but along with that he coupled his heart's request with submission to his father's divine plan.  If you have been praying for the same trial to be removed or for circumstances in life to change, why not change your request and ask for strength to endure, power in living for a testimony to others or for the trial to prune away that from your life, which hinders you from producing fruit for him.

If you make this change, God will hear and answer.  However if you continue praying in your same manner, you may become discouraged and possibly turn your heart against him in the same way as those in Jerusalem did.  Over the years, I have met countless people who have become angry with God and the similar thread is that they prayed and God did not deliver as expected.  God wants to deliver, but he will do it in his time and manner.  He may deliver you from the trial or he may deliver you through the trial.  Until then, make sure that the requests of your prayers align with his will.  The answer is not praying more or harder, but instead to submit yourself to his will and abide in him.

John 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

#abide

#trial

Refuge (Psalm 62:5-8)

Some time ago, my wife and I were on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic.  While there, we broke away from the rest of the group and ventured to see the island.  At one point, we sat on the shore and looked across the Caribbean Sea.  In the far off distance, we could see a storm approaching.  Needless to say, the storm came upon the shore more quickly than anticipated.  Suddenly my wife and I were scurrying along the streets near the shore looking for a place to take cover.  As it began to down pour, we came upon a small cafe.  We jumped inside and took our refuge from the storm.  Although our hair and clothes were already somewhat wet, we were safe.  It wasn't anywhere near as romantic as the movies convey, but it was memorable.

Trust is a word that is a pillar of the Christian life and is found countless times through scripture.  The word trust carries the idea of taking refuge.  We first trusted Christ when we took refuge in him and the work that he did for us on the cross of Calvary, but it doesn't stop there.  God wants us to continually take refuge in him as storms of life smash against our hearts.  It is in moments of refuge that we learn of his comfort, safety, strength and care.  For David, he saw him as his rock, salvation, defense, glory and strength.

Taking refuge does not mean that we need to run to a church building or physically position ourselves at any specific location, but it means to place our heart or soul under his divine care.  When we were trouble with our lost condition, we ran to him for refuge.  Now he wants us to run to him for all troubles of life.  We do this each time we pour out our hearts before him.

As you travel through your day and face the troubles that are certain to approach your heart, run to God and meet him in the refuge that he has prepared for you.

#refuge

#trouble

#faith

Wait and Expect (Psalm 62:5-6)

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.  Psalm 62:5

One of the most difficult aspects of a trial is to decide what actions should be taken.  As you are pressed between a rock and a hard place, many thoughts and ideas run through your head: some are good while others are not.  An internal battle rages and the confusion increases.  During a time such as this, David admonished himself to wait upon God.

When you wait upon God, you cease activity.  You no longer try to deliver yourself, work out a plan, figure out what to do or solicit aid from others.  Man does not and never will have the ability to rule his life according to God's mandates.  So to wait upon God would be waiting for power or instruction outside of ourselves.  In other words, expectation would be waiting for God's tug on our hearts.  

Our hearts are tethered to him.  This tethering or chord is the expectation of which David speaks.  The Israelites pitched their tents around the tabernacle in the wilderness and remained there until the cloud moved.  It was only at that time did the children of God pack up a move on.  It is the same way today.  We must remain where God places us.  Remaining may refer to a location or the circumstances we are in.  We move ourselves from his ordained place by trying to work out our own deliverance.  What God requires is for us to wait or to stand dumbfounded and to be tied together with him.  Being tied together with him is hope.  It is the expectation that at any moment we will feel his tug of leadership bringing the trial to an end or showing us the next step to take.

Moses waited when he stood still.  Peter waited in the prison until he was delivered by the angel.  The three Hebrews, Daniel and the host of saints mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11 also waited.  And you too will wait.  You will do this because you see him as your rock, salvation and defense.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14

#trial

#hope

#faith

Offenses (Luke 17:1-5)

It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

This passage admonishes us about offenses and warns us that what is worse than an offense is to be the person bringing it.  With the words "take heed", he begins to discuss forgiving those who have wronged us that repented and are seeking forgiveness.  What this passage teaches is that people who bring offenses are those which will not forgive others who wronged them.

Each of us sin daily and the sins that we commit affect those around us.  People may not see or experience the direct results of each committed sin, but as we live out of fellowship with God and walk in our flesh until fellowship with God is restored, the actions that we commit during that time do affect those around us.  Our short fuse, uncooperative spirit, complaining, etc. wounds others and we are wounded by the same in them.  Because of this, we will need to forgive or seek forgiveness from others.

However, when we refuse to forgive and restore fellowship with brothers or sisters in Christ, we commit an occasion against them that is an offense, snare or occasion to fall.  This behavior is contrary to biblical teaching and is warned against by The Lord.  It hinders the growth and spiritual condition of both involved: the repentant is hindered from complete restoration and may continue to carry guilt and the unforgiving will fail in experiencing forgiveness and avoiding temptation (Matt. 6:12-13).

When we refuse to forgive, we attempt to exact our judgment upon the person who sinned against us or to bring them to a point of performing some action to demonstrate their degree of sorrow and repentance for their sin.  This sin of not forgiving is not their greatest.  Their greatest sin is living in the place of God and through their own decision making decides who should be forgiven and by what criteria needs to be met before forgiveness is to be granted.  Because of this condition, The Lord brings a warning of woe to such believers.

We have been forgiven of a great debt.  When The Lord forgave us, he made a right decision that met his criteria and then performed a wonderful work in us.  We as believers need to allow God that same opportunity with others.  By not forgiving, we hinder God, the repentant and also bring a woe upon ourselves.

#forgiveness

#stumble