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.

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.

...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.

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.