God Ministers To Us in Our Needs

Today was rough, not having a job for seven months got to me, and I began to question God and become discontent with my situation.

God lovingly gave me exactly what I needed throughout the afternoon and early evening.

The first song that came on the radio after I was really down was Before the Morning ~Josh Wilson. There was a part of me that didn't want to hear it because I wasn't sure if the morning would ever come.

The first commercial break had a clip from a message that had been aired on the station that essentially said...

You can ask God why, but he doesn't have to answer you. He never answered Job.

This evening in devotions it was my turn to lead in our Old Testament survey, and the section was on major themes in Joshua. The author made the point that Joshua is not primarily about Joshua, or Israel's military victories. Instead it is about God fulfilling his promise to Abraham to give them the Land of Canaan, and how He worked powerfully to fulfill it.

I Will Rather Boast in My Infirmities...

II Corinthians 12 contains the well known story of Paul's thorn in the flesh. All we know about it was that it was something meant to keep him humble. (Many theorize that we are intentionally left guessing so that we can relate better.) After praying against this thing intensely, God responds by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (II Corinthians 12:9) What struck me about this passage is the way Paul responds to God. He doesn't resign himself to his fate. He doesn't even just commit to keep serving God joyfully inspite of this.

Paul commits to boasting (v. 9) and taking pleasure (v. 10) in the infirmity itself.

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Most of us are willing to accept the idea of being strong when we are weak. We may even believe it in our hearts and experience it. Are we willing to boast in and take pleasure in the things that are making us weak? It is something to think about. I know I don't. I still desperately want them to go away.

God Uses us When we Give Up

Here is one more powerful quote from The Heavenly Man. Brother Yun tells the story of four demon possessed men who were a scourge on a local church. They prayed for them and immediately three of them were cleansed. However, the fourth man mocked them, and they prayed for a long time with no result. In frustration they gave up, and told the Lord they couldn't do anything. It was then that God drove the demon out of that man. Brother Yun concludes that story by saying...

"We learned a lesson that morning. When we arrive at the end of our own strength it is not defeat, but the start of tapping into God's boundless resources. It is when we are weak that we are strong in God."

Forced Rest

So it may seem ironic that I am writing a post about rest during a time when I am getting up early, but this passage from The Heavenly Man (p. 198, 199) struck very close to home. It partially explains why I am where I am.

After being released from jail for the first time, Brother Yun returned to ministering the gospel. Eventually it became very dangerous to evangelize as many were coming to Christ. The Holy Spirit spoke to Brother Yun directly, and through his wife and co-workers, telling him to go into hiding...

Because I'd been operating in my own strength for months, I was physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted. My spiritual eyesight had grown dim and my hearing dull. Pride had sprung up in my heart like a choking weed. Instead of obeying God's voice, I reasoned with human logic and based my decisions on my own wisdom.

My co-workers had warned me not to stay at home, but I didn't heed their advice. I wasn't waiting upon the Lord with a pure heart. This was the root of my failure. I was tired, overworked and backslidden in my heart...

Because of disobedience and disrespect for the Lord, my wife, and my co-workers, I went to prison for a second time. The Lord saw I was exhausted in the ministry, so he graciously allowed me to rest in Him behind bars for a while and learn about inner spiritual life.

If you are a servant of the Lord, let me encourage you to please, please, humbly watch that you don't slip into the same error I did. The Lord God jealously desires us for Himself. He is the lover of our souls. If we ever put anything before our relationship with Jesus--even our work for Jesus--then we will be ensnared. If you are burned out, stop! Rest! Your lamp needs a constant infilling of the Lord's oil or your light will be snuffed out. (Isaiah 30:15, 18)

Two Good Articles

For the Days When you are Bone Tired ~A Holy Experience

Praying for Big Stuff Again ~New Life Blogs

Will to be Faithful

I did it. I actually got up a couple minutes before 6:00. It is the first time in a long time I can remember getting up this early just to read and pray. I'm reading through the daily devotionals in My Utmost for His Highest every morning. Today's meditation was from Joshua 24:15. "...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve..." I found it very appropriate as this has been a determined choice for me to get up and follow God again.

Below is the first half of the meditation.

"A person's will is embodied in the actions of the whole person. I can not give up my will--I must exercise it, putting it into action. I must will to obey, and I must will to receive God's Spirit. When God gives me a vision of truth, there is never a question of what He will do, but only what I will do. The Lord has been placing in front of each of us some big proposals and plans. The best thing to do is to remember what you did before when you were touched by God. Recall the moment when you were saved, or first recognized Jesus, or realized some truth. It was easy then to yield your allegiance to God. Immediately recall those moments each time the Spirit of God brings some new proposal before you.

'...choose for yourselves this day who you will serve...' Your choice must be a deliberate determination--it is not something into which you will automatically drift."

The Eve of the Journey

Tomorrow I start a month long journey in prayer. The last couple days I've been hesitant about it. Getting up early is not my strong suit to say the least, and while I need more time in prayer, I've been so out of it I almost feel guilty doing it. After two days planning this, I'm finally excited.

Prayer meeting tonight was good. Talks with friends have been encouraging. Reading The Heavenly Man has been inspiring. I know I can do hard things for a long time after the gtalk fast. Most importantly ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(Philippians 4:13, New King James Version)

Sometimes you have to do what you know is right, and the feeling and excitement will come in time.

I will be keeping this updated regularly over the coming month. I also plan to read a powerful book on trust, so expect posts from both books as well.

I look forward to what God will teach me over the coming month.

A Month Long Journey

I finally realized this weekend what I need to do. I need to get up every morning for the next month and pray. I need to pray for the three things I want to change the most, but can't change: my job, getting back to school, and something else. In this way I will be acknowledging that I can't do anything about them (I've failed pretty miserably so far) and acknowledging that God is the only one who can do anything about them.

One of my best friends is going to help keep me accountable to get up early, and hopefully it works. I've been asking my friends to pray for me a lot this year, but I haven't ever made it my number one priority myself. I will be keeping a personal journal, and keeping this blog updated as the month goes on. I pray God will give me the perseverance and grace to carry this out.

The journey begins July 8th.

Psalm 27

A portion of Psalm 27 was read today in church. I was just blown away by how applicable some of the verses were. The whole Psalm is very good, but below are some of my best verses.

Psalm 27

A Psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?...

⁷ Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
⁸ When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”
⁹ Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
¹⁰ When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the LORD will take care of me...

¹⁴ Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD! (Psalm 27, New King James Version)

Fears About the Future

Recently Mark Dever has been quoted as saying, "For a Christian, our fears about the future are rooted in the places where our will is different from God's will." When I saw this quote I was struck by its penetrating bluntness and accuracy. To be afraid is to doubt God. If we believe in God's sovereignty to our core, and trust Him in everything (Proverbs 3:5-6) we should FEAR NOTHING.

We Have to Stop Taking the Supernatural out of Salvation

"You can't save yourself, but we know someone who can, and He is strong enough to save."

Another Promise

⁷ “ For the Lord GOD will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
(Isaiah 50:7, New King James Version)

A light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out...

Just as the Light of Eärendil gave light to Frodo in the darkest of times, so to are God's promises and acts of providence for the Christian.

The middle of last week things were very bleak. Things were just getting tougher and darker all week long, and I had to minister to a bunch of kids the end of the day. I finally got to Wednesday afternoon, and I didn't know how I was going to smile the next day. (Usually I can fake it when I need to.) I prayed and read some psalms for a while, and afterwards decided I would apply for a few more jobs, and God gave me the possibility of a job interview. It didn't materialize as I wanted, but it was the hope I needed. It was enough for me to know once again that God is watching out and caring for me. I am so thankful not only for God's promises but the way He works through providence to bless us, and remind us that He cares personally for all his sheep.

Safe in the Hands of Christ

I heard these two songs back to back on the radio the other night. Very powerful.

God's Promises are the Key to the Dungeon of Despair

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5, New King James Version)

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, New King James Version)

Cling to these promises as you press on.

...Yet not Crushed.

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ⁸ We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, New King James Version)

I look forward to the morning, in the meantime I can only trust God.

A Promise of Blessing for those who Help the Helpless

I ran across this verse the other day, and it was such an encouragement. I try to be there for those in need. When I read it, it seemed like a promise God would bless me. If you are not helping those in distress, start doing it. God promises to bless those who help those in need.

Psalm 41:1-2 (New American Standard Bible)

Psalm 41

The Psalmist in Sickness Complains of Enemies and False Friends.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

¹How blessed is he who considers the helpless;
The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble.
²The LORD will protect him and keep him alive,
And he shall be called blessed upon the earth;
And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies.

I don't think I would have noticed the verse if I hadn't been reading in my NASB. Most the other translations render the word "helpless" as "poor".

As Long as You are Glorified

When the storm clouds billow and grow dark and the seas rage, remember the times of sunshine and calm. The same God who was gave us the pastures will carry us across the mountains.

This should quiet our restless hearts

God is good.

God is love.

Nothing can change those facts.

Will you let God chisel EVERYTHING that is not like Him?

I watched this video again last week, and it struck me in new ways. Below the video are some of the thoughts this video sparked.

Chisel or Control? This is one of the great questions of the Christian life. Will we let God take complete control of our life, and remove anything and everything that is not like Him? This is the command we are given in Proverbs 3:5-6, and the great call on the Christian to the life long process of sanctification, and mortification.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

(Proverbs 3:5-6, New King James Version)

This is the challenge the Rich Young Ruler faced when he went to Jesus to find the way to eternal life. (Luke 18:18-23) Some have argued that this story, tells of someone whose money kept him from eternal life. It is actually the story of Christ putting the chisel to what this man treasured most. When he asks the way to eternal life, he claims to be a moral man and Christ doesn't dispute that. Instead Christ asks the man to trust that God can take care of his financial and earthly needs by getting rid of his riches. In this case the Rich Young Ruler chose control over the chisel and it cost him eternal life.

Will you acknowledge, and trust God with everything in your life? Will you let Him chisel away ANYTHING that is not like Himself? Are you willing to trust every plan, desire, dream, and fear to Him? The Rich Young Ruler wasn't and it cost him eternal life. If you are, ask God to take control of EVERY aspect of your life, including that part you want to cling to the most. Be careful. It will be a very tough ride, but it will also be very good.

When You Feel Overwhelmed, Look at the Stars...

For me the stars are one of the greatest reminders of the power and love of God. Over the past year there have been points where I have been overwhelmed with life: fears, difficulties, sin, and at least two of those times God has stopped me and shown me the stars. Those have been beautiful moments of standing in awe before a great and loving God.

The same God that hung the stars, knows their number, ordered them across the heavens, and gives them to us as a gift, loved us enough to send His son to die and forgive us while we were still sinners.

Enjoy the stars, as well as the rest of God's creation, and the next time you are overwhelmed go in a field, look at the stars, and stand quietly before God

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,

⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,

And the son of man that You visit him?

(Psalm 8:3-4, New King James Version)

God's Mercy Through the Darkness

God Moves In A Mysterious Way

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Deep in unfathomable mines Of never-failing skill He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower. Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain. William Cowper

How He Loves Us

This song seems to be a book mark of sorts for this season in my life. I first heard it the beginning of this semester as things were very difficult. Today I got a semi long term job, and just signed up for college classes again. I finish finding out I have a job, and this is the first song that came on the radio.

To all who doubt it, God does love you, and no matter how difficult things may seem He is taking care of YOU.

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realize just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.

Oh How He Loves Us ~David Crowder Band

The Resurrection

C.S. Lewis believed stories could bring out aspects of Christian truth that we otherwise miss or take for granted. Here is a beautiful excerpt from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe.

At that very moment they heard from behind them a loud noise -- a great cracking, deafening noise as if a giant had broken a giant's plate.

"What's that?" said Lucy, clutching at Susan's arm.

"I-I feel afraid to turn around," said Susan; "something awful is happening."

"They're doing something worse to him," said Lucy. "Come on!" And she turned, pulling Susan down with her.

The rising of the sun had made everything different -- All the colours and shadows were changed -- that for a moment they didn't see the important thing. Then they did.

The Stone Table was broken into two pieces by a great crack that ran down it from end to end; and the was no Aslan.

"Oh, oh, oh!" cried the girls rushing back to the Table.

"Oh, it's too bad," sobbed Lucy; "they might have left the body alone."

"Who's done it?" cried Susan. "What does it mean? Is it more magic?"

"Yes!" said a great voice behind their backs. "It is more magic."

They looked round.

There shining in the sunrise, larger than they had seen Him before, shaking his mane... Stood Aslan.

"Oh, you're real, you're real! Oh, Aslan!"

"But what does it all mean?" asked Susan when they were somewhat calmer.

"It means," said Aslan, "that though the Witch knew the Deep Magic, there is a magic deeper still which she did not know..."

~~~

Then with a roar that shook all Narnia from the Western lampost to the shores of the Eastern sea the great beast flung himself upon the White Witch.

Lucy saw her face lifted towards him for one second with an expression of terror and amazement.

Then the Lion and the Witch had rolled over together but with the Witch underneath; and at the same time all the war-like creatures whom Aslan had led from the Witch's house rushed madly on the enemy's line... And Peter's tired army cheered, and the newcomers roared, and the enemy squealed and gibbered till the wood re-echoed with the din of that onset.

Christ has conquered death, and the devil himself. I have read the last chapter and He is the victor.

Pain Molds the Individual

All true passion is born out of anguish. -David Wilkerson

More Power to Ya ~Petra

This song really meant a lot to me last September. (I definitely helped raise the view count.) Thankful to have found it again.

God's Will

The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it's going to be a lot better and a lot bigger. ~Elisabeth Elliot

Courage

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. - Mary Anne Radmacher

When You are Down, Remember God Loves YOU

From Brother Lawrence, author of Practicing the Presence of God...

(Huge Thank You to the person who sent it to me.)

Fifteenth Letter: God knows best what we need. All that He does is for our good. If we knew how much He loves us, we would always be ready to receive both the bitter and the sweet from His Hand. It would make no difference. All that came from Him would be pleasing.

The worst afflictions only appear intolerable if we see them in the wrong light. When we see them as coming from the hand of God, and know that it is our loving Father who humbles and distresses us, our sufferings lose their bitterness and can even become a source of consolation.

Let all our efforts be to know God. The more one knows Him, the greater one desires to know Him. Knowledge is commonly the measure of love. The deeper and more extensive our knowledge, the greater is our love. If our love of God were great we would love Him equally in pain and pleasure.

We only deceive ourselves by seeking or loving God for any favors which He has or may grant us. Such favors, no matter how great, can never bring us as near to God as can one simple act of faith. Let us seek Him often by faith. He is within us. Seek Him not elsewhere.

Are we not rude and deserve blame if we leave Him alone to busy ourselves with trifles which do not please Him and perhaps even offend Him? These trifles may one day cost us dearly. Let us begin earnestly to be devoted to Him. Let us cast everything else out of our heart. He wants to possess the heart alone. Beg this favor of Him. If we do all we can, we will soon see that change wrought in us which we so greatly desire.

I cannot thank Him enough for the relief He has given you. I hope to see Him within a few days. Let us pray for one another.


Brother Lawrence died within days of this last letter.

Hello

This is a place for me to journal my thoughts as I grow up. I prayed last summer that God would take me and mole me into the man He wanted me to be, no matter what it cost. He's answered that prayer in ways I never would have imagined. (He tends to do that when we pray sincerely.) The past months have been tough, but good. I have a feeling the same will be true for the coming months as well. I need an outlet to write and record what I am thinking, and maybe this will encourage someone.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair...

2 Corinthians 4:8